The Rosenwalds and Hermione were up and ready, trunks being loaded into the car with good time. Hermione was surprised that the Rosenwalds owned a car, but Skylar had to remind her that there wasn't much other way to get to Kings Cross under the radar.
"When it was just Nick we apparated alongside mum and dad, but with three trunks now that's impossible."
Midori brought Nathaniel a letter as they were having breakfast and he sighed as he read it. "Seems Mad-Eyes in a bad spot again."
"What happened now?" Dominique wondered.
"Claims he's had an intruder in his backyard and enchanted dustbins as a security system."
"Mad-Eye Moody's a bit mad though, right?" Nick chuckled.
"Don't say that to him when you see him." Nathaniel warned.
The Three Rosenwalds and Hermione looked confused, why would they be seeing Mad-Eye Moody, an ex-Auror?
"No. Way." Skylar mumbled, looking at her father. "Mad-Eye Moody is our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher!?"
"Dumbledore insisted." Nathaniel nodded.
"Why would he need an Ex-Auror as a teacher?" Leon frowned.
"After what happened at the cup, maybe it's for the best." Hermione offered.
"Arthur has apparently been called to go and help Moody out, he wishes you all a good year." Nathaniel nodded.
"Aren't you going to help?" Leon wondered.
"Nothing I can do, it's up to Arthur and the Improper Use of Magic departments."
"I can't believe we're getting an Ex-Auror for a teacher." Skylar grinned. "He put away how many dark wizards?"
"Half of Azkaban at least." Nick nodded.
Dominique was looking at her watch. "You'd all better finish up, we should get going."
So they all loaded into the Rolls Royce and Hermione was surprised by how it fit the four of them in the back.
"Engorgement Charm. Don't tell Arthur." Nathaniel smiled.
And they were off. The ride was long as usual and the weather was throwing buckets of rain down upon them, but they soon reached London and Nathaniel had the car parked.
They all dragged their trunks, owls and cats to shelter before Nathaniel grabbed four trolleys and they hurried on their way for platforms nine and ten.
Getting onto Platform Nine and three quarters was always an interesting event. Skylar sometimes wondered if Muggles did see the witches and wizards running at the brick wall and disappearing into it. Newcomers all ran at the wall, but those who were used to it had learnt to slide through it simply instead.
Nick leaned against the barrier first, Leon joining him before they slipped through it. Skylar and Hermione followed, chatting simply as they walked forward and through the barrier and the Rosenwald parents then followed.
The Hogwarts Express, a gleaming scarlet steam engine, was already there, clouds of steam billowing from it, through which the many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform appeared like dark ghosts.
"Think they're already here?" Hermione asked.
"Only one way to find out." Skylar said.
As it turned out the Weasleys and Harry were already by the train and they found Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Charlie on the platform with Harry, Ron, Ginny, while the twins were currently missing.
"Morning." Skylar grinned. "Which compartment are we in?" Harry showed her and Nathaniel had Hermione and Skylar's trunks stowed away while the two placed Meridem and Crookshanks inside, ready to be let out when the train departed.
The Twins arrived and Nick went with his dad to have him help with his trunk while Dominique helped Leon with his.
They then all came back together to say goodbye to each other before the train departed.
"I might be seeing you all sooner than you think," said Charlie, grinning, as he hugged Ginny good-bye.
"Why?" said Fred keenly.
"You'll see," said Charlie. "Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it… it's 'classified information, until such time as the Ministry sees fit to release it,' after all."
Skylar beamed. "No! Are you kidding me!?"
"Sky." Dominique said.
"I can't help it! It's so exciting!"
"Yeah, I sort of wish I were back at Hogwarts this year," said Bill, hands in his pockets, looking almost wistfully at the train.
"Why?" said George impatiently.
"You're going to have an interesting year," said Bill, his eyes twinkling. "I might even get time off to come and watch a bit of it…"
"A bit of what?" said Ron.
The Rosenwald children were all laughing at the interest and irritation of Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny not knowing something.
At that moment, the whistle blew, and Mrs. Weasley chivvied them toward the train doors.
"Thanks for having us to stay, Mrs. Weasley," said Hermione as they climbed on board, closed the door, and leaned out of the window to talk to her.
"Yeah, thanks for everything, Mrs. Weasley," said Harry.
"Thanks for looking after us." Skylar nodded.
"Oh it was my pleasure, dears," said Mrs. Weasley. "I'd invite you for Christmas, but… well, I expect you're all going to want to stay at Hogwarts, what with… one thing and another."
"We'll send you lots of pictures!" Skylar promised. "I can't wait to get all dressed up!"
"Dressed up? Mum!" said Ron irritably. "What d'you all know that we don't?"
"You'll find out this evening, I expect," said Mrs. Weasley, smiling. "It's going to be very exciting — mind you, I'm very glad they've changed the rules —"
Nathaniel and Dominique were laughing at the woman and her children.
"What rules?" said Harry, Ron, Fred, and George together.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you… Now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you, George?"
The pistons hissed loudly and the train began to move.
"Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!" Fred bellowed out of the window as Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie sped away from them. "What rules are they changing?"
But Mrs. Weasley only smiled and waved.
"Have a fun year!" Dominique shouted after them, waving. They watched the adults and, before the train rounded the corner Mrs. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie had Disapparated while the Rosenwalds headed back for their car.
"What are they going on about?" Fred demanded.
"This years going to be completely different to the last ones." Nick grinned. "You better get those order forms ready, we've got quite the opportunity this year."
"What are you talking about?" Ron snapped.
"We're not telling." Leon smiled.
"Besides, watching you all get irritated over it is funny." Skylar laughed.
"I hate you Legilimens, you know." Ron said
"No you don't." The three chorused.
Harry, Ron, Skylar and Hermione went back to their compartment. The thick rain splattering the windows made it very difficult to see out of them. Ron undid his trunk, pulled out some maroon robes, and flung them over Pigwidgeon's cage to muffle his hooting.
"What are those?" Skylar questioned, looking unsure.
"Mum says they're dress robes." Ron grumbled. "They're all frilly, for some reason we need them."
"We do, but you can't wear those." Skylar believed. "You'll be a laughing stock."
"Thanks."
"I'll ask mum to get you nicer ones." She said, her nose turned up at the sight of the outfit.
"What do we even need them for?" Harry questioned.
"For Christmas." Skylar smiled.
"Since when do we need dress robes for Christmas?" Harry asked
"We do this year. We're having a great party!"
"Why?" Hermione wondered.
"Because of what's happening this year."
"Will you stop it, just tell us." Ron snapped. "Bagman wanted to tell us what's happening at Hogwarts, at the World Cup, remember? But my own mother won't say, or my best friend—"
"Shh!" Hermione whispered suddenly, pressing her finger to her lips and pointing toward the compartment next to theirs. Harry, Skylar and Ron listened, and heard a familiar drawling voice drifting in through the open door.
"… Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore — the man's such a Mudblood-lover — and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defence rubbish we do…"
Hermione got up, tiptoed to the compartment door, and slid it shut, blocking out Malfoy's voice.
"So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does he?" she said angrily. "I wish he had gone, then we wouldn't have to put up with him."
"Actually, Durmstrang probably would suit him." Skylar sighed.
"Durmstrang's another wizarding school?" said Harry.
"Yes," said Hermione sniffily, "and it's got a horrible reputation. According to An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe, it puts a lot of emphasis on the Dark Arts."
"I think I've heard of it," said Ron vaguely. "Where is it? What country?"
"Well, nobody knows, do they?" said Hermione, raising her eyebrows.
"Er — why not?" said Harry.
"There's traditionally been a lot of rivalry between all the magic schools. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons like to conceal their whereabouts so nobody can steal their secrets," said Hermione matter-of-factly.
"Well, they're not that secret. Beauxbatons is in France, though no one really knows exactly where, but Durmstrang is far north, they have really thick uniforms for the cold." Skylar knew.
"Come off it," said Ron, starting to laugh. "Durmstrang's got to be about the same size as Hogwarts — how are you going to hide a great big castle?"
"But Hogwarts is hidden," said Hermione, in surprise. "Everyone knows that… well, everyone who's read Hogwarts, A History, anyway."
"Just you, then," said Ron.
"Well you'd know too if you had an interest in the school." Skylar rolled her eyes.
"So go on — how d'you hide a place like Hogwarts?"
"It's bewitched," said Hermione. "If a Muggle looks at it, all they see is a mouldering old ruin with a sign over the entrance saying danger, do not enter, unsafe."
"So Durmstrang'll just look like a ruin to an outsider too?"
"Maybe," said Hermione, shrugging, "or it might have Muggle-repelling charms on it, like the World Cup stadium. And to keep foreign wizards from finding it, they'll have made it Unplottable —"
"Come again?"
"Well, you can enchant a building so it's impossible to plot on a map, can't you?"
"Er… if you say so," said Harry.
"But Skylar's right about it being far north, they've got fur capes as part of their uniforms."
"Ah, think of the possibilities," said Ron dreamily. "It would've been so easy to push Malfoy off a glacier and make it look like an accident… Shame his mother likes him… Now Sky, spill."
"No, I want to see your faces when they announce it."
"Why?"
"Cause it's going to be excellent. We get to see all kinds of things and learn all sorts of new information and meet new people!" She grinned.
"Sounds like we're having a festival." Harry said.
Skylar sighed. "It's a tournament. But I'm not saying anything more." She crossed her arms and turned to the window.
The three continued to pester her as the train continued north, moving through the rain which became heavier and heavier. The windows became so steamy that the lanterns were lit by midday. The lunch trolley came rattling along the corridor, and Harry bought a large stack of Cauldron Cakes for them to share.
Several of their friends looked in on them as the afternoon progressed, including Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Neville Longbottom, a round-faced, extremely forgetful boy who had been brought up by his formidable witch of a grandmother. Seamus was still wearing his Ireland rosette. Some of its magic seemed to be wearing off now; it was still squeaking "Troy — Mullet — Moran!" but in a very feeble and exhausted sort of way. After half an hour or so, Hermione, growing tired of the endless Quidditch talk, buried herself once more in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4, and started trying to learn a Summoning Charm.
Neville listened jealously to the others' conversation as they relived the Cup match.
"Gran didn't want to go," he said miserably. "Wouldn't buy tickets. It sounded amazing though."
"It was," said Ron. "Look at this, Neville…"
He rummaged in his trunk up in the luggage rack and pulled out the miniature figure of Viktor Krum.
"Oh wow," said Neville enviously as Ron tipped Krum onto his pudgy hand.
"We saw him right up close, as well," said Ron. "We were in the Top Box —"
"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley."
Draco Malfoy had appeared in the doorway. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, his enormous, thuggish cronies, both of whom appeared to have grown at least a foot during the summer. Evidently they had overheard the conversation through the compartment door, which Dean and Seamus had left ajar.
"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy," said Harry coolly.
"Weasley… what is that?" said Malfoy, pointing at Pigwidgeon's cage. A sleeve of Ron's dress robes was dangling from it, swaying with the motion of the train, the mouldy lace cuff very obvious.
Ron made to stuff the robes out of sight, but Malfoy was too quick for him; he seized the sleeve and pulled.
"Look at this!" said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle, "Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean — they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety…"
"Eat dung, Malfoy!" said Ron, the same colour as the dress robes as he snatched them back out of Malfoy's grip. Malfoy howled with derisive laughter; Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly.
"So… going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know… you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won…"
"What are you talking about?" snapped Ron.
"Are you going to enter?" Draco repeated. "I suppose you will, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?"
"Draco, they're not allowed to enter, they're too young. Or did your father forget to mention that the rules have been changed." Skylar said obviously.
"So you're not going to give it a go, Skylar?" Draco grinned.
"Oh so you want to see me eaten by a dragon, is that it? Maybe you should enter, given how popular you are, people would love to see you chomped to bits."
Draco was grinning rather than scowling at her. She raised an eyebrow, that was new, usually he sneered when she upstaged him.
"Really think the rules are going to stop people?"
"Clearly your father didn't tell you all the mechanics that have been done for this tournament. No surprise given he isn't in the Ministry and holds no standing at all with important people, he is just an extra. If he did know, you'd understand all the regulations put in place to stop you from entering under the age of seventeen. Come on Draco, you think you're more powerful than all those Ministry wizards? And Dumbledore? The only person You-Know-Who was ever scared of?"
And now he sneered at her.
"I wish you luck though, I bet you don't last five minutes in the first round."
"Come on." And Draco beckoned Crabbe and Goyle to leave the compartment without another word.
Ron got to his feet and slammed the sliding compartment door so hard behind them that the glass shattered.
"Ron!" said Hermione reproachfully, and she pulled out her wand, muttered "Reparo!" and the glass shards flew back into a single pane and back into the door.
"Well… making it look like he knows everything and we don't…" Ron snarled. "Skylar, will you just tell us already what's happening? What can't we enter? And what about dragons?"
"It's a surprise!" She snapped back.
As the train approached Hogwarts, they all changed into the Hogwarts Robes before the train started slowing down to at last finally stop in the pitch-darkness of Hogsmeade station.
As the train doors opened, there was a rumble of thunder overhead. Hermione bundled up Crookshanks in her cloak, Skylar cast a water repelling charm on Meridiem's carry cage, and Ron left his dress robes over Pigwidgeon as they left the train, heads bent and eyes narrowed against the downpour. The rain was now coming down so thick and fast that it was as though buckets of ice-cold water were being emptied repeatedly over their heads.
"Hi, Hagrid!" Harry yelled, seeing a gigantic silhouette at the far end of the platform.
"All righ', Harry?" Hagrid bellowed back, waving. "See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!"
First years traditionally reached Hogwarts Castle by sailing across the lake with Hagrid.
"Oooh, I wouldn't fancy crossing the lake in this weather," said Hermione fervently, shivering as they inched slowly along the dark platform with the rest of the crowd. A hundred horseless carriages stood waiting for them outside the station. Harry, Skylar, Ron, Hermione, and Neville climbed gratefully into one of them, the door shut with a snap, and a few moments later, with a great lurch, the long procession of carriages was rumbling and splashing its way up the track toward Hogwarts Castle.