Chapter 1
The American Institute of Magical Studies
Sarah scratched at the embroidered badge on her blazer's left pocket. One of the gold threads from the crest was coming apart.
"Mum…what was the stitching spell again?" She called loudly from her room. Her mother who was talking to her father outside, frowned and poked her head into the room.
"Sarah…" She clicked her tongue at her daughter, who smiled at her with eyes pleading.
"Sometimes, I worry as to how you're going to live away from us for an entire year!" Zenia Lincolns shook her head, she waved her wand over the jacket fixing it.
"Thanks Mom!" Sarah smiled as she put on her school blazer over her white shirt. She pinned her prefect badge over it and picked up her backpack, entering the living room.
"Ready?" Michelin Lincolns asked smiling at his daughter watching her tug her brand-new trunk behind her.
"This is so inconvenient!" Sarah snapped; she'd never gone to school with luggage by her side.
"Locomotor Trunk!" She stated, placing a simple charm on the trunk. The trunk now began to magically follow her out of the house.
Sarah turned to look at their home for one last time. She would sure miss it for the rest of the year, but she was headed on an adventure, and she had bubbles popping in her stomach from all the excitement. She hardly ever did anything adventurous, she read about it a lot, she heard about it too much! But adventure did not suit their family, or as her great Grandma M would say, placing yourself in danger and calling it adventure, was for people who have zero acumen for anything else. Sarah knew who that cutting remark had been meant for. It was certainly not for the Lincolns.
The family of three apparated right outside the school. Michelin smiled as the large black iron gates parted for them. He and his wife had been AIMS graduates themselves.
Ilvermorny and AIMS were the two American wizarding institutes both based in Massachusetts. AIMS- The American Institute for Magical Studies, was not as ancient as Ilvermorny. Although, Ivermorny through the years, had become a private boarding school, their selection was heavy secretive and prestigious. Not everyone would receive an invitation to attend. Simply, because they were no longer affiliated with MACUSA and had their own private trust and rules. AIMS on the other hand was a relatively newer institution. Sure, they didn't have a fabulous backstory like Ivermorny did. It was just a school that the MACUSA had started along with the founders of the 27 Coven- The Firsts. That probably made AIMS at least 200 years old…well it was certainly newer that Ilvermorny. But it was extremely large. It held over 1000 students at once. Decked with countless great professors teaching there for years. In the course of those 200 years, AIMS had managed to produce countless successful Alumni. There most successful alumni's signed images could be found hanging in the corridor on the AIMS Alumni Wall, along with their professions and a motivation quote they were meant asked to provide that would inspire the generations to come.
Michelin and Zenia left Sarah to go mingle with her friends who were all waiting in the main hall where that the headmistress would be addressing the attendees shortly. Only the seventh years had been asked to assemble.
Michelin and Zenia, walked hand in hand through the long corridor of photo frames. Zenia instantly found Michelin on the wall. He smiled at his wife. It was a picture of him when he had been much younger. It was him and besides his frame was his friend Reggie's, both forces ready to take on the MACUSA and its bureaucracy back then. Reggie had become the president of MACUSA while Michelin MACUSA's advocate general, gaining himself a high-ranking place in the International Confederation of Wizards. Zenia was on the wall too.
"Such a gorgeous girl…" He said smirking at her photo pulling her closer to his side by her waist. She shot him a teasing look and placed a soft kiss on his scarred cheek.
Zenia was a potions mistress and owner of the most popular apothecary on Witch Burn Street in Salem, a store that had been passed down in her family for centuries. WBS was once a site of muggles burning witches, now completely cordoned off by the wizarding community, because of all the ghosts of old witches roaming around and attacking muggles. Now, WBS was most popular for students and magical folk looking to shop for supplies.
Michelin and Zenia stopped next to another picture. Michelin smiled looking at the picture of his sister. He then sighed.
"It's frustrating…that all we ever get to see of her…are these photographs…" He said looking at the frame.
"It's been a while since we last saw her, hasn't it? I keep writing to her, but she hardly has time to remember to even go home these days. Sarah is most upset with her though; she missed her 17th Birthday…and apparently sent her an unwrapped parcel of Troll Bogeys. Sarah told me, she scribbled a little note that said…if you don't want it for school, give it to mom!" Zenia said now looking at the picture of her sister-in-law and best friend.
Michelin chucked lightly and shook his head. His sister had always been a bit eccentric. Who sent Troll Bogey's as a birthday gift? Zenia detached herself from her husband as she walked closer to the frame. She scoffed when she read the motivational quote under her best-friend's frame.
"Does…it...does it say…seriously! Sometimes I will never understand that woman! And she calls me her best friend!" Zenia chuckled shaking her head.
"What's wrong…?"
"Michelin…that number…under her picture…it's the number of arrests…the number of people she's thrown in prison! It keeps changing every time she arrests another criminal…seriously…trust your sister to do something so big-headed!"
"You know what she's like Zee…"
"I know…and I don't know how…but I still love her so much!"
"She has that effect on most people." Michelin smiled at the picture.
"Yes, probably how she enchanted most of the American Wizarding Community…charm and criminal hunting…it seems." Zenia laughed shaking her head.
The couple slowly walked back into the hall, where now most seventh years and their parents had gathered. They were greeted with warm smiles and many handshakes. Michelin and Zenia took their designated seats as Sarah sat in the row ahead, along with her friends.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lincolns?" Asked a gentle looking man sitting next to them. When the couple looked at him, he introduced himself and his wife as Sarah's friend's parents.
Michelin and Zenia, got chatting with them and invited them home for lunch after this assembly was over. They obliged, appreciatively.
The headmistress soon took the stage and stepped in front of the large podium that held the AIMS logo.
"Athena is looking rather serious…" Zenia whispered frowning.
"When does she not?" Michelin countered.
"No…I mean…more so than ever."
"I suppose when you're dealing with the influx of a thousand students…it does that to you"
The crowd then fell silent as the headmistress cleared her throat.
"Good morning, parents and students! I am Headmistress Athena McGonagall. I would like to begin by thanking you all for joining us here today!"
"As you can see, we have only gathered the families of our seventh years. For what I am about to announce, makes me truly proud to stand in front of you and say…"
"…That AIMS has been selected as one of the three schools to participate in this century's Tri-Wizard Tournament. Now, you must be wondering, why our day scholars were asked to pack their trunks for the year? It is because we will be travelling to compete in the tournament. The Host school, being Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the highlands of Scotland."
Parents and students alike burst into chatter as Athena pursed her lips and continued, talking a little louder to retain their attention.
"Now, I understand the apprehension…parents. What about their NEWT level exams? Trust me, I am an alumnus of this great institution myself. Hogwarts has the best professors who will be able to guide your children through their NEWT level exams, just as well as the professors at AIMS would."
Once more the parents and students began their torrid whispering.
"Although, we must show ourselves in numbers, it is not mandatory for all students to compete. In fact, there is a strong age-barrier that only allows witches and wizards of age to compete in the tournament." Athena added as the chatter died away once again.
"For students, looking to compete, this is a great opportunity, to make AIMS proud."
"And get our frame on the wall?" One young man yelled from the audience.
"Perhaps…Mr. Williams, if you win." Athena stated chuckling at the man, his friends hooted loudly for him.
Zenia looked at Michelin worriedly. This wasn't the most appropriate thing for their daughter. Of what, Michelin had told her about the Tri-Wizard Tournament over the summer, many champions had died competing through the years. It had been the hot-topic of the season at MACUSA. Michelin had told Zenia, how he had been in complete disagreement with Reggie. But it seemed as if the International Wizarding Confederation had the president's hands tied. America would have to send at least one school to compete. And seeing as how MACUSA had very little control over Ilvermorny…who were quick to decline, calling this a ludicrous show of power. AIMS was left with no choice.
"The portkeys are ready to take the students on our journey to Hogwarts. My dear students, I suggest you say your goodbyes, as we embark on an adventure of a lifetime!" Athena exclaimed, trying her best to keep the morale up.
The crowd clapped politely for the headmistress who bowed her head gratefully and stepped off the podium. She began walking towards the grounds, where the students were collecting their portkeys.
Michelin walked over to Athena, she beamed at him.
"Hello Darling! How have you been…I haven't seen you in weeks!"
"Aunt Athena…this…whole thing…it's…"
"I know your views Michelin, but there has been some international policy between nations that states that this is a way to learn from each other's cultures…there was not much I could have done. You know how restrictive Ilvermorny is when it comes to anything that has to do with MACUSA, being a private school not run partially by the government has its advantages." Athena snapped shaking her head.
"I'm worried about Sarah!" Michelin said taking a step closer to his aunt.
Athena smiled at him.
"Come now…you can't possibly be worried about her…your daughter is a very capable and level headed girl, Michelin. She's not stupid enough to compete for champion."
"Sarah's going through a rather rebellious streak Athena!" Zenia added quickly, biting her lip. Athena looked at her and shook her head. They were paranoid about nothing. Sarah was a lovely girl. If anything, she was Athena's favourite student…even if she wasn't supremely gifted at potions…she was still extremely gifted in charms, arithmancy and even transfiguration.
"—suppose we all know who we can blame for that!" Athena snapped.
Neither Michelin nor Zenia said anything about her comment, knowing it was partially true. Sarah's aunt had spent a few weeks during last summer with her niece. Sarah obviously had picked up a thing or two from her…outspoken nature.
"I'll keep an eye on her Michelin…" Athena said patting her nephew on his arm.
"Well, I suppose mom did say you'd have reinforcements this year…doesn't your sister teach at Hogwarts? Minerva? Mom's been constantly chewing our ears off about her, every Sunday at lunch." Michelin said as Athena nodded.
"Yes, Minerva is the transfiguration professor and the deputy headmistress at Hogwarts."
"I am sure, if you asked, she'd help you keep an eye on Sarah!" Michelin offered. Athena waved him away.
"Michelin…you worry too much…she's not a child anymore…trust her a little!" Athena patting his shoulder lightly. Zenia and Michelin shared a worrisome look. They had a feeling; Athena wasn't taking this as seriously as she should.
"We shall see you at Christmas…Margery has decreed that this year, we shall all be dining at Hogsmeade…your mother and her Christmas lunches!"
"Hogsmeade?"
"It's a little village near Hogwarts…oh it's lovely during winter…"
"I'm assuming Grandma M will be joining us?" Micheline asked carefully, Athena nodded sympathetically. Zenia threw a short glance at her husband. They both telepathically agreed that his sister would obviously be making up another excuse to not show up.
"It'll be a good reason to go see Sarah, I suppose!" Zenia piped up.
Michelin beamed at a sudden thought that crossed his mind.
"Albus Dumbledore will be there at Hogwarts…" He said smiling.
"Michelin…you are so obsessed with that man!" Zenia scoffed.
"Zee…watching him fight a case at the International Council when I was 14, was like a dream come true! He's the reason I got into law in the first place…that man is a genius…an absolute legend!"
"Would you send him my regards Aunt Athena…? Tell him what a big fan your nephew is. Possibly invite him for this Christmas lunch…if nothing else!" Michelin beamed at his aunt, who had a sour look on her face.
"I doubt…I'll be doing that!" She stated curtly. Michelin tsked, remembering his sister's famous words, she secretly used for Athena.
Stick-in-the-mud
Athena excused herself quickly after saying goodbye to the couple. Michelin and Zenia then moved towards their daughter, hugging her tightly and saying their gentle goodbyes, but not without warning her about the consequences of entering the tournament.
Sarah felt a sharp tug on her navel as everything spun in circles. This felt worse than apparating did. She'd never used a portkey before. She fell face first on the soft grass as her other two friends who were traveling with her helped her up.
Dusting off her blazer, she laughed it off.
"Guys…look…at that!" Dennis said pointing at the large castle in front of them that was lit beautifully by the dusk, just about to end.
The three friends, Sarah, Dennis and Amanda, walked towards a floating AIMS flag. The rest of their class of 60, joined them, at last came Athena gliding graceful from the skies, and landed next to the flag.
"Come now, let me show you around…my alma mater!" She said proudly. She asked the youngsters to follow her into the castle. She began to brief them about Hogwarts as they walked through the hallway.
"Hogwarts…unlike AIMS does not take day scholars, anymore. It used you centuries ago, however they stopped the process when they began to curtail their acceptance policies. This, may not be the first wizarding school in the world, but it is up there with the oldest ones. The castle itself was built by Four Founders, after whom, they have named their houses. Every student who joins Hogwarts is sorted into a house basis their skills and personality. There is a sorting hat that does that. It is said to have been crafted by these four founders themselves. It is indeed very powerful magic, more of which you will find scattered generously across the castle."
"Houses?" perked Dennis quizzically.
"Yes, Mr. Spector, Houses…teams…just like Ilvermorny has them. At Hogwarts, they have, Gryffindor for the one's brave of heart, Hufflepuff for the one's fiercely loyal, Ravenclaw for the one's gifted with intelligence and Slytherin…for the one's with raw ambition."
"Just like Ilvermorny…except…they've got cool beasts on theirs." Said Dennis.
"Exactly!" Athena exclaimed, smiling as the group paused outside large wooden doors. A rush of nostalgia hit her, she remembered each corner of the school so vividly.
Athena cleared her head as she turned to the group.
"Now…beyond these doors, I want us to be nothing but the perfect guests! Is that understood? I will not tolerate any misbehaviour here. We must uphold the AIMS name and our school's prestige! Am I clear?" Athena asked looking at each of them sternly.
The seventh years nodded, excited to see what was held behind those doors.
Athena pushed them apart with a simple Depulso. The heavy doors parted for them, revealing an entire hall filled with students sitting at tables full of food. They turned their heads noticing the new group.
Sarah followed Athena and her classmates into the hall, as the group began whispering about Albus Dumbledore who was striding over to them. Sarah laughed softly to herself, she wondered how jealous her father would be right now.
Athena asked her students to be seated on their preferred tables. AIMS did not segregate students bases houses, every student was equal and there to learn, not to be distinguished between. The students picked their table and sat down wherever they found empty spots. Sarah and her friends sat down at the red house table, along with the few more from the group.
The AIMS students watched as Albus Dumbledore walked up to their headmistress and greet her with a delightful smile. He kissed her hand in a rather gentlemanly way. Athena however, to their surprise, did not smile back at him. Instead, she looked disdainfully at him and pulled her hand away hurriedly.
He then gestured her towards an empty chair beside his at the staff table. He rushed to then speak to an old moustached chap, who looked like he was probably a politician. Then he walked to the podium, smiling at the entire student body.
"Please give a warm Hogwarts welcome, to the third competitor school, who have graced us all the way from America. The students from the American Institute of Magical Studies and their headmistress, Professor Athena McGonagall!" Dumbledore said happily announcing to the whole hall. Resounding claps welcomed the students who smiled at the people around them. They soon began to have their own conversations with the rest at the table while piling their plates with food.
Athena settled into a seat at the head table looking across a few seats to smile at another woman who looked incredibly like her. She must have been the "youngest sister-Minerva" who her grandmother wouldn't stop talking about at every Sunday lunch, over the summer, thought Sarah.
"Who knew McGonagall had a sister…" whispered two red haired twins. Sarah looked at them.
"She has two actually…" She replied placing a forkful of shepherd pie into her mouth and looking impressively at the rest of it on her plate.
"Really?" Asked a younger bushy haired girl.
"Ummhmm…" Sarah hummed nodding her head while picking up another bite of the delicious pie.
"How would you know?" Asked another red-haired boy who seemed to be younger than the twins.
"This here…is Sarah Lincolns…she specialises in the McGonagalls!" Dennis laughed slapping Sarah on the back. Sarah rolled her eyes at her friend's boisterous behaviour.
The bunch from Hogwarts looked at her in surprise.
"Athena McGonagall is my great aunt…my father's aunt…my grandmother is her older sister…making your professor McGonagall their youngest sister…so yeah…I'm a quarter McGonagall." Sarah replied nonchalantly. The rest looked at her as if she had said the most interesting thing ever. Sarah wasn't really affected by the odd stares she received every time someone at school found out she was related to Athena. The students at AIMS had been nice enough to never bring it up, and she was nice enough to never let them have to.
"Give us the family gossip about the youngest McSibling then?" Asked one of the twins.
"I…uh…honestly…don't have any…sorry…to be honest…this is the first time I've ever seen her!"
The twins looked at her oddly.
"She lives all the way in England…my grandmom and she constantly write to each other though…that's all I know…" Sarah replied shrugging.
Dinner was then continued with a series of introductions. Sarah met literally four people who were Weasleys, one Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, a couple of students from Durmstrang (the other competing school) and the famous Harry Potter.
"Wait! You're saying you're the Harry freakin' Potter!" Dennis almost yelled. Potter gave him a painful smile. Sarah had a feeling Potter clearly did not like being noticed. She felt bad for him, so she shot Dennis her best glare. Dennis however, seemed unperturbed by his friend's looks.
"Damn…how'd you, do it?" Dennis asked him in wonder. Potter shrugged and replied he was a baby and had no idea.
"Sorry about Dennis…he's the…uh…inappropriately one…I'm Sarah Lincolns, that's Amanda Winters, and of course, Dennis Spector." Sarah said calmly introducing herself to the Hogwarts gang.
"Don't worry about it…he'll fit right in with us!" Announced the twins happily.
They swapped pleasantries and jokes, while discussing their lives at their schools, discovering that their subjects were the same, and they too had professors they loved and disliked. The Gryffindors particular warned the Durmstrangs and AIMS-ites, about a terribly nasty Potion's master called Severus Snape. On the other hand, they sang praises of Professor McGonagall, who was their head of house. They also mentioned something about the retired auror, Alastor Moody, the new DADA professor and his intense arrival right before the AIMS students had.
"What's with your headmistress snubbing Dumbledore though?" Fred Weasley, one of the twins asked.
"Honestly, we were equally surprised…Athena is usually rather refined when it comes to these things. I mean…she's amazing to the nasty MACUSA ministers who are constantly trying to butt into how she should run the school. She must really dislike him." Replied Dennis tucking into some jelly.
"How can anyone dislike Dumbledore? He's like the nicest human around. Leave aside the fact that the man's a bloody legend...he's also literally a walking candy dispenser!" said Ron surprised by what Dennis had just said.
"Athena's got the 27 Coven to deal with on a daily basis…I doubt he impresses her…the way he impresses us." Dennis replied matter-of-factly.
"The 27 Coven?" Ron wondered as Hermione quickly shot a myriad of information at them about some extraordinary American coven.
Before Sarah could add her own defence of Athena's odd behaviour. Two men, one funny looking skinny balding fellow who walked with a hop and a burly half giant, brought in two large covered items. The hall erupted into whispers, wondering what the caretaker and the Care of Magical Beasts' professor had dragged in.
Dumbledore now stood, in front of an ornate owl podium, clearing his throat, he smiled down at the student body.
"My dear students, you must all be eager to know why we are joined today by students from AIMS and Durmstrang. I assume their schools have been able to reveal all about what is to come. So, without much ado, let me put you out of your misery." Dumbledore said, waving his hand over the sheets covering the two large pieces. One piece looked like a large cabinet and the second, a glowing trophy cup. Dumbledore then walked over to the cabinet and waved his wand over it, melting away the exterior to reveal an extremely large goblet.
"As some of you may have already guessed what this is…headmaster…headmistress, please join me in lighting the Goblet of Fire." Dumbledore said, smiling over at Athena and the gaunt looking man with a sharp beard, who most people now guessed by Durmstrang's hoots and claps was their headmaster.
The three heads of the schools raised their wands in unison setting a streams of fire jet through, the Goblet caught on fire instantly, coming to life after centuries, the flames changed from amber to blue as the heads took a few steps back.
"This year, Hogwarts will be hosting the Tri-wizard tournament after an entire century of the tournament being dormant." Dumbledore said addressing the students again as bursts of excited cheers rang through the hall.
"Eternal Glory. That is what awaits, the winner of this tournament. But to do this, you must place your names in the Goblet of Fire, the Goblet will then select a champion from each school to represent it. However, each champion must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks. For this reason, all our ministries have through mutual agreement deemed it important to add this new rule. To explain it further, we have the British ministry head of International Magical Corporations Department, Mr. Bartimus Crouch and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department for Magical Sport, to explain in the same in detail." Dumbledore said clapping.
The moustached politician looking chap and an older blonde gentleman with a baby-face stepped forward. The Blonde's smile seemed to run for miles when Dumbledore took his name.
Mr. Crouch, the more serious fellow. Addressed the student body.
"After much deliberation our ministries have concluded that no student, above the age of seventeen will be allowed to enter their name in the Goblet of Fire."
An uproar rang through the Hogwarts student body as they sounded in revolt against what Mr. Crouch had just said.
"It's for your own safety…!" Mr. Crouch tried to sound back logically, slightly angered by such a display of indiscipline.
Before the situation could worsen, Dumbledore stepped in to control his students.
"Silence!"
The hall fell quiet instantly,
"There is will be a powerful age line that will be drawn around the Goblet to make sure only students of age are allowed to enter. Those who wish to enter, merely need to write their names on a piece of parchment and add it to the Goblet by Thursday this hour. But remember, the Tri-Wizard Tournament is not to be taken lightly. It is not meant for the weak at heart!"
"Now. Perhaps it is time to show our new friends to their respective dormitories. Each house has a head, as per the table you are seated at, the head of that house, will lead you to your quarters. For the rest of you, I am sure the prefects will do a fine job leading you back to your common rooms. Goodnight, and rest well."
Dumbledore stated in finality as grumbles were heard along with scraping of feet that shuffled out of the great hall, causing a mild chaos but nothing that heads of houses and prefects were not equipped enough to handle.
AN/- Please do let me know what you think. Leave a review :)