Chapter 2: New Year New School
It was September 1st and everyone had arrived upon the platform to board the Hogwarts Express for the journey to Hogwarts. "Are you sure we should send them," Cassandra asked her husband, she had been nervous since the attacks at the World Cup.
He took her hand and looked into her eyes, "They will be perfectly fine at Hogwarts."
"Yeah mom we will be fine," Periwinkle said looking at her mother.
"Please behave this year. I do not need to be getting letters from Dumbledore saying how you have not been acting correctly. He is doing us a great favor and accepting you, Hallie, and Holly into the school even though you are not first years."
She rolled her eyes, "I am perfectly capable of learning magic on my own. I do not need a school to teach me."
"Watch your tongue, young lady. You are a great witch…much better at making potions that performing spells correctly though," she sighed then hugged her, "I am going to miss you my darling. My first baby, I love you so much."
Periwinkle hugged her back and rested her head on her shoulder, "I love you too."
They all said their final goodbyes then Hallie, Holly, Mallory, and Periwinkle all boarded the train with the golden trio. Once onboard, the four of them found their own compartment while the golden trio was in one next door to them. Hallie and Holly did not stay in the compartment long before deciding to go 'explore' which was really just an excuse for them to go find Draco and Fred.
Mallory noticed that they had been gone a while and mentioned this to Periwinkle, "I will go find her stay here but they probably ran into," she left to go find her.
Holly discovered Draco and his friends in the Slytherin section of the trained approached him, "Hello," she said to all of them.
"What do you want?" Pansy looked her up and down not approving of an unknown person speaking to them and especially one, not from Slytherin.
"I was coming over to say hello to Draco. We met at the World Cup."
This did not sit well with Pansy, "Are you a first-year?"
"Do I look like a first-year?"
Draco spoke up a bit too eagerly, "Holly is a transfer student from Ilvermorny. She is a fourth-year like us, right?"
"That is correct," she smiled glad to see he still remembered her, "but I was born here. My parents and godmother attended Hogwarts,
"Well…Holly, you will soon learn that some people are best to stick with their own kind like our houses. Us Slytherins stick together," she looked at Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaise they all nodded in agreement except Draco who just sat there.
"My parents were Ravenclaws but my godmother was a Slytherin during their time at Hogwarts."
Pansy put the pieces together "Oh your godmother is the odd Slytherin my mother told me about. Your godmother did not belong in Slytherin, she was too…nice."
"What is wrong with being nice? People treat you better if you treat them with equal kindness."
"No. People respect power and money. Your godmother had money, the Rice family is very wealthy but she gave it all up when she decided to go get herself knocked up and have a mudblood as a child. If I was having a baby that was not a pureblood, I would have definitely gotten rid of it. Such a disgrace to bring that kind into this world. Mudbloods disgusting," she snickered, "Oh that is right she adopted twin halfblooded babies." Holly was speechless.
Periwinkle approached at this point to bring Holly back to their family, "What did you just call her?"
"Peri, it's…"
"She called you a mudblood."
"It is not the worst thing I have been called. Let's just leave it," she tried to pull her away.
She nodded and started to follow then turned and punched Pansy in the face, "Do not mess with me or my family, bitch!"
"Peri!" Holly said looking at Pansy screaming on the floor holding her nose this got the attention of the other Slytherins nearby
Periwinkle dragged Holly away from the forming crowd as they could hear Pansy saying through her cries, "That new girl with the black hair did it! She just hit me for no reason. She is crazy!"
The train arrived at Hogwarts, "Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!" Hagrid called to everyone.
"Mallory, you go that way we will meet you in the great hall," Holly told her and she went with the other first years.
They got into the carriages, but when they arrived Hallie, Holly, and Periwinkle were approached by Professor McGonagall, "Periwinkle King, Hallie Porter, and Holly Porter?" she asked looking up from the piece of parchment she had in her hand.
"Yes," Holly answered for the trio.
"Come with me. You will join the first-year students for their sorting ceremony."
"The first years but we are fourth- and fifth-year students," Hallie groaned, "this is not good for my image."
Holly and Periwinkle rolled their eyes as they followed McGonagall through the school and to the group of first-years waiting outside the great hall. McGonagall cleared her throat and spoke with the trio and the first-years. "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your house. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." This got everyone excited especially the first-years, "We have two fourth-year transfer students and one fifth-year transfer student who will be sorted first then we will continue with the first-years students," with that the doors opened and they proceed into the hall. Once they reached the front of the hall, they all gathered around as close as they could with Hallie, Holly, and Periwinkle at the front.
Holly was looking at all the teachers trying to put a name to a face from the names and descriptions that Hermione had given her. She spotted Snape right away, especially since he was looking directly at them, "Peri...that professor is staring at us," she whispered glancing at her then back at Snape.
Periwinkle looked at her then Snape who quickly looked away from them just as McGonagall spoke, "Before we begin the sorting ceremony for our first-year students we are welcoming three new students from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We will begin with their sorting then will move onto the first-year students," she looked at the girls and first-years, "when I call your name you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat upon your head and you will be seated into your houses." She looked at her list, "Periwinkle King."
Periwinkle stepped forward with everyone watching her, the other professors had a look of confusion due to her strong resemblance towards Snape but they tried to hide it until she turned and the students at their tables began to whisper to one another. She took a seat on the stool and let out a deep breath as the hat was placed on her head, the sorting hat then called out, "Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table cheered as she got off the stool and walked over to the table, "Hallie Porter," McGonagall said as the cheers from Slytherin died down. Hallie took her seat on the stool and the hat was placed upon her head. Her sorting took longer than Periwinkle's but she was eventually sorted into Ravenclaw.
"What?" Holly said confused but gave her sister a smile as Hallie walked past her to join her house.
"Holly Porter," McGonagall said, Holly approached the seat as she sat down, she scanned the hall her eyes locking with Draco's with sadness as McGonagall placed the hat upon her head.
"Ah, Holly Porter. I wondered when I would be having you join us. You have your mother's kindness perhaps Hufflepuff would do you well but you have an excellent mind. You do great to follow your parents and sister into Ravenclaw but I do not see this as the house that is truly the one for you. Let me see I think you belong in…Gryffindor!"
The hall cheered as she joined the Gryffindors receiving a hug from Hermione as she sat down, "Mallory Banks." Holly watched as Mallory sat down and also sorted into Gryffindor.
"I cannot wait to tell mom I got into Gryffindor!" she said excitedly as she sat down next to Holly while the other first-years got sorted.
"She will be very proud of you. Just like I am," Holly gave her a hug then watched the other students get sorted. She felt eyes watching her and glanced over to see Draco looking at her and this is when he knew their friendship was over.
"He is not worth it," Hermione said noticing where she was looking, "you can still love Peri. She probably ended up in Slytherin because of Cassie and her family this does not mean Peri is evil."
Holly looked at her, "I do not like him. He is probably part of the death eaters who attacked the campgrounds. He is not worth my time. I am here to learn not to worry about love."
Hermione just nodded unable to believe this, she looked at Ron and Harry who seemed to have the same concern. Once they were all settled in their seat Harry looked towards the staff table, Hermione looked as well and asked, "Where's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Everyone who had been listening looked at the table as well looking up and down the table.
"Is it common to have this many empty seats?" Mallory asked.
"It is common for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to be replaced each year. We have had a new one the past three terms," Ron told her as a flashing of lighting filled the sky above them, "I do wish they would hurry though and let us eat." With that Dumbledore approached the podium and announced the serving of the feast.
Once everyone was fed Dumbledore stepped forward again and smiled towards all the sudden before him, "Now that we are all fed and watered. I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices," he then went over Mr. Filch's list of forbidden objects and places that were forbidden to all students. He also made the reminder that all third years and above were the ones who were allowed to go to Hogsmeade as long as they had permission from a guardian, "It also pains me to say that the Inner-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
"What?" Harry gasped as were the other quidditch players at each house table.
"This is due to an event that will be occurring in October and will be requiring much of the teachers' time and energy. I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year—"
At this exact moment, the hall filled with a great rumble of thunder and the doors of the hall blew open. A man stood in the doorway and every head in the hall turning towards him. The figure was suddenly illuminated by a flash of lighting. The man began to walk to the front. Once at the front he approached Dumbledore. He shook hands with Dumbledore then took a seat. "May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Professor Moody." No one clapped at this except Dumbledore and Hagrid, Holly started to but stopped when she noticed no one else at the tables were.
"As I was saying," Dumbledore started again smiling at the students, "we have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months. To explain this with more detail we have Mrs. Cassandra Banks, who works with International Affairs at the Ministry of Magic."
"Mom?" Mallory said confused as Cassandra entered from a side door behind the staff tables.
Cassandra approached the podium, as she approached, she glanced at Professor Snape then continued towards Dumbledore and greeted him with a shake of the hand. Dumbledore took his seat and she turned towards the students, "Good evening, everyone. I hope everyone has enjoyed the feast that was served tonight. Now like Professor Dumbledore mentioned my name is Cassandra Banks and I am here to discuss this exciting event that will be occurring here. The event that will be happening is called the Triwizard Tournament.
"You are joking!" Fred said loudly.
"Thank you for that, Mr. Weasley," she and the other students laughed as she looked at him then back at the other student, "I am not joking though. Let us discuss the Triwizard Tournament more. Some of you may not know what the tournament actually is. I will give a small explanation for those who do not know what it is. The Triwizard Tournament was first established hundreds of years ago as a friendly competition between three of the largest European schools of wizardry. These schools include Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school and the three champions selected go on to compete in three different tasks. The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their contenders in October and the selection of students will take place on Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory for their school, and a thousand galleons in prize money."
"I'm going to win it!" Fred said to everyone around him at the table.
"This is a very deadly tournament, Fred," Holly said, "I am pretty sure they will have strict rules as to who can and cannot join."
"The Ministry of Magic though has imposed an age limit for those who wish to enter. Students who wish to enter must be seventeen years or older if they wish to be considered. This is due to how dangerous and difficult these tasks will be. Dumbledore will be making sure that no one hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion," she looked towards Fred, George, and Periwinkle. "If anyone has any further questions about the tournament, I will be glad to answer them I will be here most of the term. With that I wish everyone goodnight," she turned and walked to sit at one of the seats.
Dumbledore stood, "Thank you, Mrs. Banks. And with that every one it is now bedtime."
Everyone stood and left the hall, "come on Holly and Mallory we will show you the way," Harry told them.
"You go ahead," Holly said, "I want to talk to Cassie for a minute."
"Won't you get lost?" Hermione asked, "you do not know where our dorms are or the password."
"McGonagall can tell me. I am sure she will understand."
The snickered, "Alright," they said and walked off with Mallory.
Holly waited a few minutes left the Hall and was searching for Draco, she tried to find the other Slytherins but as she rounded a corner an arm grabbed hers and pulled her down a side hall, "hey! Let…" she looked and saw Draco, "Draco," she smiled.
"Holly, I'm sorry…I cannot talk to you around others anymore."
"It is because I am a halfblood?"
"That is part of it but you are a Gryffindor and I cannot talk to Gryffindors since I am a Slytherin."
"Yes, you can. Cassie did when she attended here."
He sighed, "Holly…we just can't."
"I thought you were different," she walked off from him upset.
He watched her leave, "I do not have a choice," he said to no one but himself.