It has been fourteen years since Hope Andrea Mikaelson was announced dead to the world.
Hayley has spent the past decade blaming herself for Hope's death. She has been on the run from Klaus, whom she believes is hunting her to exact revenge for the...
I hand out the food to Harry and Hermione, and chuck a Chocolate Frog at Ron's head. To my disappointment, he manages to catch it before it hits his face.
"Everything is going to be different this year, now that our O.W.L.s are coming up," Hermione begins.
"What are you talking about? We're only just starting our fourth year," I say.
"Exactly. Why worry about something that's not going to happen for another... Twenty months?" Ron shrugs.
Hermione rolls her eyes, and mutters something that I really don't care to listen to.
"Anyways, who do you think the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be, now that Lupin's quit?" I wonder.
"Well, we've gotten a two faced servant of Voldemort, an idiotic fraud, and a werewolf so far," Harry says.
He ignores me, Hermione, and Ron when we all flinch at the name 'Voldemort'.
"Who knows? Maybe we'll get a vampire this year," Harry laughs.
"So, Ron," I turn to my brother. "Any thoughts on trying out for Quidditch this year? Ginny's considering it," I say.
Ron shrugs. "I'd try out if I had a decent broom," he says. "But unlike you, the rest of our siblings don't own Nimbus 2001s."
"I'm sure Harry would be more than happy to trade you his Firebolt for your mangy old broom, Ron," I smirk at Harry.
"In your dreams," he remarks.
"Speaking of Quidditch," Hermione says, "What's happening between you and Cho, Harry?"
"Cho Chang? The Ravenclaw seeker?" Ron frowns confusedly.
"How daft are you, Ronald? Harry's in love with her," I grin.
Hermione and I laugh as Harry's face deepens into a dark shade of red.
"Any word on who's become the Gryffindor captain this year?" Ron asks.
"Not sure. Probably Angelina," Harry replies, extremely relieved at the change of topic.
"What about Slytherin?" Hermione asks me.
"I'm guessing Montague," I mutter. "You know, I saw him push a second year down the stairs on our last day. Snape was literally right there when it happened, but of course, he didn't care at all."
We continue on with our conversation for hours on end, until the train finally comes to a stop in front of Hogsmeade Station. From there, we ride the carriage pulled by invisible horses all the way up to the Hogwarts castle.
"To our new students, welcome. To our old students, welcome back," Professor Dumbledore begins, once all the students have entered the Great Hall.
I wave goodbye to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and walk over to the Slytherin table.
"Now, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century," Dumbledore says.
The Great Hall quiets down, and I stare up at the Headmaster, wondering what he means by this.
"The Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore announces.
At these words, the entire hall erupts into a series of excited whispers and chatters.
"The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry. Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities. Until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."
Death toll? Did he just say death toll?
"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday the 30th of October. Lessons will end half an hour early. Students will return their bags and books to their dormitories and assemble in front of the castle to greet our guests before the Welcoming Feast," he says.
Dumbledore then goes on about how the tournament will be held, and who will be allowed to enter. Fred and George make their complaints extremely audible when Dumbledore says that no students under the age of seventeen will be able to compete.
"We're seventeen in April, why can't we have a shot?" Fred shouts.
"And because of the tournament, all Quidditch matches will be cancelled this year," Dumbledore finishes.
A huge wave of frustrated shouts ripples throughout the entire hall. I smack my head down onto the table angrily. I need Quidditch to help maintain my wolf urges. Where else am I going to find the opportunity to go around swinging bats at everything and everyone?
"And now, allow me to introduce our new teachers," Dumbledore says.
"First, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Let us welcome Professor Freya Mikaelson."
I watch as the new professor takes a bow. I frown at her. She looks... Familiar, for some reason.
Her eyes seem to be scouring the crowd of students for someone. She seems extremely distracted, though she does a good job at hiding it.
"Next, we've been informed that Professor Charity Burbage, the professor for Muggle Studies, will not be joining us this year. She has decided to resign, and in her place, we will be welcoming Professor Aurora Vaughan to our school."
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A polite round of applause is heard. I stare up at the red haired woman named Aurora Vaughan, who nods and smiles happily from the staff's table.
A single glance at her causes something in my heart to quicken. There's something dangerous about her, I can feel it. I don't know what it is, but...
I take in a sharp intake of air when her green eyes meet mine. Her gaze drills itself into the back of my skull. The way she is glaring at me suggests that she wants...
