Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

113. Another Year Begins

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but Hogwarts Hogwarts Hoggy Warty Hogwarts teach us something please

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The first day of term had arrived.

Bel was stood up on the balcony of the Astronomy Tower dressed in a certain boy's black hoodie, using the height and view to have a good look towards the Hogwarts station platform that would soon play host to the Hogwarts Express, bringing with it all of her friends.

She had decided that the Quidditch World Cup most certainly didn't count as their reunion.

Not that she was dismissing the entire situation at all, considering all of the problems it might have started, but she didn't want her first memory of her friends that year to be one where their lives were all threatened.

This was a new year. And Bel intended to head into it with her head held high.

After turning fourteen yesterday, she found it easy to start clean.

Leaving behind all of the torment she experienced last year in order to keep a level head.

She would need it considering everything to be done with the Triwizard Tournament.

Speaking of, she was due to join Dumbledore in greeting their guests from the other schools later that day.

The first of which was Beauxbatons.

A magical academy located in France.

The second of which was Durmstrang.

Another school located in the far north of Europe.

Bel was rather nervous about the latter.

Durmstrang was notorious for using the Dark Arts as part of their curriculum, as well as not admitting muggle-borns into their school.

She could only imagine the types of people that were students there.

But, as usual, she wasn't one to judge before witnessing.

Besides, worrying about Durmstrang students was the least of her issues.

The entire issue at the Quidditch World Cup had finally been reported in the papers.

The Ministry made the announcement that they weren't able to locate the individual who conjured the Dark Mark that night.

Naturally, it threw many people into a panic as they were all starting to ask the same questions Bel was.

Why was this all happening?

More importantly, why now?

What did it all mean?

Bel found herself feeling grateful for her involvement with the Ministry, hoping that, despite their usual habit of leaving her out of anything remotely important, she would get some answers.

Nothing more had come from it all, but the Hufflepuff was on edge.

Mostly because of her most recently exchanged letters with Harry.

Bel had immediately written to him to explain the whole Malfoy situation.

She still felt guilty about it all and was desperate to clear it all up before they saw each other again.

Harry wrote back that he understood, and to consider it in the past. But he also added something else into that letter which nerved her.

He had a dream the night before the world cup. Apparently, it involved Peter Pettigrew, some man that he didn't recognise, some semblance of Voldemort, and a snake.