Chapter Eleven

Despite what happened at the Quidditch World Cup, Harry had really enjoyed his holidays and was slightly sad to be standing on platform nine and three quarters waiting to get on to the train. Remus and Sirius where holding tightly to Danica's hands as she's already managed to sneak on board… twice.

He looked around the crowded platform at the students and families that were saying hasty goodbyes while loading pets and trunks into the waiting train.

Harry caught a flash of black hair and froze,

"She's here." He muttered.

"Who?" Lily asked, looking around.

Harry took another look, it was definitely Bellatrix, stalking through the crowd, as it parted in front of her.

"Bellatrix." Harry said, through gritted teeth. He knew it was stupid to be annoyed at her but there was just something not right.

"Mrs Snape." Bellatrix said spotting them and dragging over her children and husband, "How… pleasant to see you."

Lily looked rather shocked at her and mumbled some response.

"And dear cousin Sirius." Bellatrix smiled, not her normal, bitter smile, this one could actually be considered polite, "How are you?"

Sirius gave her a tight smile back, "Very well. I believe you've met Nikka."

Bellatrix gave her a little nod, "Lady DeGere, lovely to see you."

"What are you doing here?" Danica burst out from where she was half hidden behind Lily's skirt.

Bellatrix let out a light, tinkly laugh, "I'm seeing my children off of course and then we're off to Paris."

Harry watched in shock as Bellatrix snuggled back into her husbands arms.

"I think you've not met my children yet." Rodolphus said, he looked rather happy having his wife in his arms. He also looked neater; hair trimmed and neater robes. Harry also noticed that for once, he was stone cold sober.

"No, we haven't." Lily said, smiling to the three children behind them.

Gemini glared back at them.

"This is my eldest, Rodolphus." Rodolphus pulled his son forward so they could see him, "And Gemini and my youngest Corvus."

Harry saw the small boy step forward to be shown. He was small, even for an eleven year old and looked a little scrawny. He struggled to look up at them from under his brown hair. Harry got the impression he was looking over everything he saw and taking everything in.

"Well youngest for now anyway." Rodolphus grinned, moving his hand to Bellatrix's stomach.

Bellatrix flinched at the movement and subtly pushed his hand away, "Well, the youngest for now." she let out a small laugh.

Lily looked rather awkwardly, "Well we should get going."

Bellatrix nodded and led her children away.

"You think she's pregnant?" Harry whispered, once he was sure that they had gone.

Lily shook her head, "No. But I think they are maybe getting on a bit better now. Which is good, must be nice for the children."

Harry nodded and let Lily pull him into a hug.

"Are you going to have another baby?" Danica asked, as they walked slowly through the crowd towards the train.

Lily laughed, "No sweetie. I am perfectly happy with just you and Harry."

Danica nodded, "Oh. OK. I don't think I'd want to be a big sister."

They made it to just by the train and out of the way enough that people wouldn't be constantly bumping into them.

Lily gave Harry another, large hug and tried to smooth his always messy hair, "Now listen, should something happen and you're not wanting to come home for Christmas, don't worry; we completely understand." she smiled.

"What's going to happen? Why wouldn't I want to be home for Christmas? Come on tell me!" Harry asked.

Lily let out a light and happy laugh, "Nope, sorry. I will tell you that there is no way I can think of that you can get into trouble this year, with everyone who will be at the school and it's going to be so much fun for you all."

Harry rolled his eyes and grinned at his mother's lack of an answer. The large clock ticked loudly and chimed, letting them know there was only fifteen minutes until the train left.

Harry and his family moved over to the compartment which already had his trunk, along with his friends, safely tucked away. Danica came and gave him a large, tearful, hug, making him promise to write to her and she would try and write back, all by herself.

Sirius and Nikka also wished him well with large hugs and several chocolate frogs for the journey. Remus also wished him well and told him to keep his nose clean and enjoy what was to come.

Lily came last, she smoothed a hand down his cheek and smiled, "Take care of yourself."

Harry nodded, "I've made it this far." he grinned.

Lily closed her eyes and grinned, "You remind me so much of James sometimes, I'm telling you. But be good? Promise?"

"I promise." Harry smiled, "And I'll see you soon."

Lily nodded and gave him one quick last kiss before stepping back to let him onto the train. The compartment was quickly filled as Daphne, Astoria, Pansy, Hermione, Neville, Neville's brother Thomas who was just starting at Hogwarts, and Draco all piled in and waved out the window as the great scarlet train pulled away.

It was a quiet and uneventful train journey. They waited at the back of the long queue of students until they could get a carriage to themselves. The only other occupant was a tall blonde haired girl that Harry recognised as Luna in the year below them.

She had her nose buried in a magazine that Harry hadn't seen before and seem totally unaware that they were even there. She didn't bother them so they just left her alone.

Once they reached the castle and climbed, slightly stiffly after so much travelling, out into the Hogwarts court yard.

Harry watched as Luna paused to stroke the air in front of the carriage for a moment. He was going to ask her what she was doing but a stern Professor McGonagall was glaring at them.

"Quickly now, that's it, hurry up. We've got a busy evening." she barked at them.

They quickly took their seats on the long tables that currently were empty of food but would soon be heaped with large and fancy dishes.

Astoria had moved off to sit with her friends who had saved her a seat. Hermione waved goodbye and went to sit with Neville who was watching the large doors nervously. Harry smiled at him, to reassure him that Thomas would be fine.

It wasn't long, several of the Professors seemed in a hurry, until everyone was seated and watching as the large doors opened and a stream of scared or worried looking first years entered the hall and lined up facing the sorting hat which Professor McGonagall placed, neatly, on it's three legged stool.

Harry watched as a large crease opened up near the brim and coughed slightly.

"A thousand years or more ago

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards of renown,

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,

They hatched a daring plan

To educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders

Formed their own house, for each

Did value different virtues

In the ones they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest were

Prized far beyond the rest;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest

Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were

Most worthy of admission;

And power-hungry Slytherin

Loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide

Their favourites from the throng,

Yet how to pick the worthy ones

When they were dead and gone?

'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,

He whipped me off his head

The founders put some brains in me

So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,

I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your mind

And tell where you belong!"

The hat took a small bow as the students and teachers gave it a round of applause.

"Pretty good one this year." Harry whispered across the table.

Daphne and Pansy nodded before they all turned their attention back towards the line of students.

"Abbot, Michael."

Was the first to be sorted, he became a Hufflepuff.

"Carlos, Sasha" Slytherin.

The line continued steadily, some taking no more than a few seconds, others taking several minutes.

"Longbottom, Thomas."

Harry crossed his fingers as Neville's brother, nervously made his way up to the stool and sat down. The hat paused for a moment, it's large brim completely covering Thomas's eyes.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted.

Harry stood and cheered for Thomas as he walked quickly but grinning to sit next to Neville who was also cheering loudly.

"I'm pleased for him." Draco smiled, "Always nice when families can stay together."

"It's so weird that Danica will be here and I'll have left already." Harry said.

"Lestrange, Corvus."

Harry snapped to attention again, he glanced down the table and saw Lestrange twins glance over, trying very hard to look as though they didn't care.

The hat fell over Corvus's dark hair and eyes, blocking him out from the world. A minute passed, then two. Gemini had abandoned her pretence of not caring and was staring nastily at her brother.

"What is taking so long?" she hissed to Rodolphus as three minutes had passed. Rodolphus shrugged and glared at Corvus.

A full six minutes had passed when the hat finally called out, "SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table clapped as they did for every new student. Corvus brushed his hand nervously though his hair and went to sit next to his siblings.

Their group of followers refused to move for a moment before Gemini flicked her eyes at one of the fifth years and they moved down to the edge of the crowd. Corvus dropped down into the now free seat and gave an awkward smile at his siblings.

Gemini rolled her eyes.

"Don't slouch." Rodolphus hissed.

Corvus sat up straighter and nodded, "Sorry."

"What took so long?" Gemini whispered.

Corvus shrugged, earning him another glare from Rodolphus, "I don't know. It was just muttering to itself."

"Attention all!" Dumbledore's voice echoed across the hall, "I would like to welcome you all to yet another school year, I hope you are all well rested. The same rules apply this year as before, the forbidden forest is completely forbidden to all students. Magic is not to be used between classes in the corridors. This year we welcome Professor Alastor Moody as our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There was a burst of applause from around the hall.

"I know him, well, sort of." Harry whispered.

Draco, Daphne and Pansy all leaned in to hear what he was saying.

"He used to work with Mum and James, back during the first war." Harry told them, "I've only seen him once but he was one of the best Aurors there has ever been."

Dumbledore clapped his hand again and the plates filled with food. Harry always forgot how hungry he was after the long train journey and filled his plate with chips, roast potatoes, steak and vegetables.

"Hungry?" Pansy laughed.

Harry nodded, he glanced over to where Hermione was introducing herself to Thomas. Ron had even more plied on his plate than Harry did.

Harry finished the meal with two large helpings of treacle tart and ice cream and leaned against the table, more than ready to fall into bed.

Dumbledore stood once more once they had all finished and with a clap of his hands the dirty plates were cleared away, leaving the tables clean.

"I have another, very important, exciting, and unusual announcement." Dumbledore paused, his bright eyes, sparkling, "This year, due to some very fine work from the Ministry of Magic, we will be playing host to two other magical schools from Europe. Representatives from the Beauxbatons Academy and the Durmstrang Institute will be staying with us from October to the end of the school year. Why are they coming you ask? Well this year we will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament!"

The hall erupted in whispers and excitement. Dumbledore let them talk for a moment before coughing and returning the hall to quiet.

"I release you are all very excited, as are the staff." Dumbledore smiled, "It will be a very exciting year. Now more information will be given out when the other schools arrive, including how to enter. The Tournament will be dangerous, although we are assured that there have been several safety precautions put in place, I must inform you that as a consequence there will be no Quidditch this year but I'm sure that the Tournament will keep us all entertained. The winner with receive the Triwizard cup, one thousand Galleons in prize money and eternal glory."

"I am so entering." Several of the Slytherins around them said.

"Because of the challenging nature of the tasks that will be required of the champions the Ministry has put an age limit. You must be seventeen years old or over to enter." Dumbledore told them.

There were loud shouts of complaint from around the hall.

Dumbledore raised his hand for quiet, "The ministry's decision on this is final. Now that really is all can say for now, so off to bed with you all."

Dumbledore said, ushering them all of to bed. Harry, Pansy, Draco and Daphne stood and joined the queue to leave the hall.

"This is going to be brilliant!" Draco said.

"Can you imagine winning? If we were old enough I mean. You'd be a hero!" Pansy grinned.

Harry smiled back and a picture of him winning filled his head, him holding the cup up high and the whole school worshipping him; he shook his head.

"Trust me, everyone knowing your name isn't all it's cracked up to be." He smiled, rubbing his aching scar.

Daphne nodded, "It sounds like it's going to be really dangerous. I think they made the right decision, not letting us enter until we're a bit older."

Harry shrugged, "We're fourth year now, we're not that young."

Harry and Draco said goodnight to the girls in the common room and headed up to bed. He was very grateful to fall into his familiar bed that evening and fall quickly into a deep sleep.