Chapter 23

Krista's POV

It was October 28th, one year since I had regained my memories. One year since Sirius gave me back my life. I still wasn't sure what we were, together or not, would be or wouldn't be… At the moment, I just wanted him to be safe. I wanted the Ministry to not be after him.

Grace had written me a few days previous, telling me that he was coming north again. Apparently, there was something going on and he wanted to be close. I didn't know where he had been, or where he was planning on staying. It wouldn't be here. It couldn't be. He wouldn't endanger me like that, would he?

But here it was. Thirteen years ago today we became an official couple. Had it really been that long? Half of the time I sat, thinking that time had barely passed, but then others, it felt like hundreds of years.

I curled up on the couch, a blanket tossed over my lap, trying to hold off turning up the heat until the last possible moment. As was typical of London, the past few days had been cool and rainy. The weather matched my mood, miserable and dreary. For once, I was actually glad Grace was at school and not home. I wasn't sure if I would have had the desire to be positive and upbeat for her.

Then, just as quickly as the idea popped into my head, I tossed the blanket off my legs and stood, quickly grabbing my purse and heading out the door. I knew where I wanted to be this moment. I knew what would make me feel at least a little better.

I drove through the English countryside, my windscreen wipers swiftly brushing away the large and heavy raindrops that fell on my car. And then, an hour after I had started driving, pausing once to check my worn-out map for directions, I reached my destination: St. Jerome's graveyard.

Pausing to look out my window through the cool rain, I stared into the hallowed ground. I had come here just one year ago, nearly the first thing I did after acquiring all my memories again. I had sat with James and Lily, apologizing over and over for not remembering them, and telling them how sorry IW as that this had happened to them. And now, one year later, I was back in the same spot.

I steeled myself and opened the driver's side door, pelted immediately with the rain. I shivered and pulled my jacket tighter around me as I locked and shut my door, depositing the keys in my pocket. The wind blew gently as I walked into the cemetery, nearly tripping over the raised cobblestones. If only I could walk a short distance without tripping over my own two feet.

I walked carefully until I reached the graves of my deceased friends. Carefully, I pulled a picture from my pocket, one I had hastily tossed into my purse before leaving the house. "My daughter is in her second year of Hogwarts, in Gryffindor, which makes Sirius so happy. I wish you could have met her. She looks a lot like me, but with Sirius' eyes, kinda like Harry has yours', Lily.

"Sirius is doing okay, for being on the run. I get owls from him every once in a while, and I even got to see him a couple times last year. I know he wishes he could visit, and I'm sure here will be one of his first stops once his name is finally cleared."

Rocking back on my heels, I smiled at the tombstone. "I miss you both, and not a day goes by that I don't think about you." Pressing my fingers to my lips, I gently laid a kiss on the top of the tombstone before turning and walking quietly out of the cemetery.

When I arrived home, there was an owl sitting on my windowsill. My curiosity got the better of me and I carefully opened the window, letting the brown owl hop inside. 'And where did you come from?' I asked, knowing I couldn't receive an answer.

He hopped onto the sill and stuck out his left leg, a rolled parchment tied there. 'Thank you,' I said softly as I untied the string. 'Would you like some water?'

The owl hooted and followed me into the kitchen and stuck his beak into the bowl of water I placed on the counter. Once he had his fill, he flew through the kitchen, back through the living and out the window. I followed him, shutting the window from the chilly night air.

Grabbing the blanket I had dumped on the couch when I left, I pulled it over me as I curled up and unrolled the parchment. His familiar script came into view and I smiled in spite of myself.

Dear Krista,

I'm so sorry that I can't be there with you today. You're so close, and yet so far away. One day, one day soon, we'll be together and I won't ever let you go.

I miss you, Kris. I'll see you soon, I promise.

~ Sirius

Tears filled my eyes as I reread his words. Someday soon. I just hoped it wouldn't be soon as in right now, it was too dangerous for him to be around London, far too dangerous for him to be anywhere close to me.

Grace's POV Two Days Later

'Oh my gosh, can you believe it?' Kaitlyn was bouncing up and down on my bed, shaking me from some much deserved sleep. 'They're coming today!'

Groaning, I pulled my blankets up over my head and tried to drown out the sound of her voice. No such luck. 'Yeah, I know. I remembered last night when you told me.' I pulled the covered off my head and mock shoved her back. 'Now get up so I can get out of bed.'

'You know you're excited too. More cute boys to look at. Because seriously, I love our Hogwarts boys, but I've seen them all.' She picked up her knapsack as I swung my legs over the bed and my feet landed on the cool floor.

Kait had discovered boys over the summer and desperately wanted a boyfriend. Her brother, on the other hand, didn't want her to have anything to do with boys. He was a sweet guy, sometimes. 'I'll meet you for breakfast. Give me a few minutes to get dressed.'

'You best not take forever.' She shook her finger at me as she disappeared through the door.

I took one look at my messy bed and shook my head. I'd had that nightmare again. Sirius was caught. They caught him in the Ministry. Or at least, I thought it was the Ministry. I'd never actually seen the place. Why would he be there? Why would he go to the Ministry if they wanted to catch him?

As I gathered my clothes and headed for the bathroom, I tried to forget the nightmare. There was no need to dwell on that, not when there were dozens of students coming today!

Late that afternoon, we all crowded around in front of the castle anxiously anticipating the arrival of our guests. Dumbledore said they'd be here by 6pm, and, when I glanced at my watch, it was almost six. 'How do you think they're going to get here?' Kaitlyn whispered to me as we both scanned the horizon.

'You can't apparate inside the Hogwarts grounds, how often do I have to tell you?" Hermione practically yelled from behind me.

I glanced at Kait, a smile playing on my lips. 'I dunno, guess we'll find out, won't we?'

'Ah, Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!' Professor Dumbledore called out, causing a chaos of students jostling and trying to get the best view.

I looked around, shorter than almost everyone who was around me, trying to get the best view of our incoming new friends. 'Look,' Kaitlyn called out, pointing toward the distance.

Coming quickly up, was a large object, growing larger and larger the closer it came. Finally, I could make out exactly what it was: a large horse drawn carriage being pulled by a dozen winged horses, probably the size of elephants! I'd never seen horses that big!

The carriage crashed loudly into the yard in front of the castle. A gust of wind blew up, threatening to yank my cloak from my shoulders. I shivered, pulling my flapping cloak tighter as the largest woman I'd ever laid eyes on stepped from the carriage. 'Do you see her?!" Tommy asked, his eyes wide.

"Oh, my goodness,' Kait whispered from beside me.

Professor Dumbledore stepped forward to meet the large woman as the students from Beauxbatons emerged from the carriage behind her. They were dressed in blue, with none of them wearing cloaks over their robes. They must be freezing!

The crowd came forward, following Professor Dumbledore inside the castle as the Hogwarts students stayed on the lawn to await the Durmstrang students. We shivered for a few more minutes until a strange noise drifted towards us. 'The lake!' Lee Jordan, George & Fred's friend, called from behind me. 'Look at the lake!'

We all turned, looking out toward the dark surface of the lake. Soon, a large pole rose and then the ship emerged from the black water. Our crowd gasped as it glided toward the bank and an anchor dropped. Students emerged, their outlines passing the porthole lights as they moved towards us. 'Dumbledore,' the man called out as he walked up towards our castle. 'How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?'

'Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff,' our headmaster replied as he shook the man, Karkaroff's, hand.

'They're cute!' Kaitlyn whispered in my ear as she nudged me in the side. 'Not that you can see much of them covered in all those furs.'

'Kait, do you think of anything else?' I asked, rolling my eyes. 'Seriously, anything else?'

She shrugged, 'what else is there to think about?'

Tommy met my eyes and we both shook our heads, smiling. 'Come on,' he said, taking our arms, 'let's go get a seat and get some food. I'm starving.'

We sat in our usual seats at the Gryffindor table, listened to Dumbledore's quick speech, and then dug into the large amount of food spread before us. Never before had we had such a variety of foreign dishes; I wanted to try some of everything!

Too soon, the food spread switched to desserts, and then the desserts disappeared. Professor Dumbledore stood, announcing the start of the Triwizard tournament. He introduced Mr Crouch, the head of International Magical Cooperation, and Mr Bagman, the head of Magical Games and Sports.

'The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: The Goblet of Fire.' I gasped along with the rest of my classmates as the large wooden casket cracked open and Dumbledore pulled out a large wooden cup, filled with dancing blue & white flames. 'Anyone wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop it into the goblet. Aspiring champions have twenty-four horse in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools.'

'Could you imagine?' Dean Thomas asked quietly from next to me.

'To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation, I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross the line. Good night to you all.'

Everyone stood and started to make their way toward their common rooms. I walked slowly with Kaitlyn, trying not to stare at the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. How neat was it to have foreign students here! I knew there were other magic schools, but hadn't even thought about meeting someone from those schools. Wouldn't it be brilliant?

Someone nudged me from behind and I turned quickly, smiling when Fred & George appeared on either side of us. 'So, you putting your name in?'

Raising an eyebrow, I shook my head. 'Did you miss the part where Dumbledore said you had to be at least seventeen? I'm barely twelve; and you both are sixteen. You can't put your names in either.'

'You wanna bet?' One of the twins said from next to Kaitlyn. I still couldn't tell them apart.

'What are you going to do?' Kaitlyn asked, glancing around at the people surrounding us.

The twin next to me smiled sneakily, 'come to the Great Hall tomorrow morning and you'll see.

'Come on, George, we've got work to do.'

The two hurried off, leaving Kaitlyn and I to slowly meander with the crowd. 'What do you think they're going to do?'

'Knowing those two? Something ridiculous that will probably get them in trouble. Come on, let's head to bed. I'm knackered from standing outside so long.'

A/N: Hope I at least have a few readers left. It's been forever since I've updated this. So, if you're still around, let me know!
Once again, anything that is from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire belongs to J.K. Rowling. Its not my sandbox, I only play in it :)