Dark Sister

Chapter 6 Hogwarts Invited

The rest of Severus's summer was spent traveling the world with Lucius and his father. Soon the two friends found themselves sitting in the great hall watching the sorting ceremony. Slytherin had now gathered ten new students to their house and was feeling very smug. The start of term feast began, but before they were allowed to eat, however Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood to address the school.

"Welcome to all of our new students, and to our old students welcome back. As most of you may know Great Britain has decided not to compete in the Legendary Tri-Wizard Tournament. This year, however you have all received permission forms along with your Hogwarts letters and supply lists. You may be wondering why this was done?"

"For that reason I would like to read aloud this letter that was sent to our school," said Professor Dumbledore as he unrolled the scroll of parchment, and adjusted his spectacles.

"Dear Students and staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,

It has come to our attention that Great Britain has opted out of competing in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. It is for that reason that we have extended an invitation to schools all over the world. It is our hope that you will join us at our esteemed school in The United States to take part and observe the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Please send your reply no later than September 31st. if you are interested in attending. Transportation will be arranged for you.

Sincerely,

Selene Luna Whiterose

Super intendant

Niagara Falls School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

After the headmaster had finished reading the letter the students whom were lucky enough to observe the Dueling World Cup competition were whispering animatedly. Headmaster Dumbledore cleared his throat to silence the excited students. "As many of you have by now guessed Hogwarts School will in fact be attending the Tri-Wizard Tournament this year."

"Any student whom does not turn in a signed permission slip from their parents will be staying behind with the Deputy Headmistress and the rest of the staff. You may hand in your signed permission slips to your head of house. Those who stay behind will have a regular year of classes and exams. Those who are lucky enough to have a signed permission slip will accompany me to the Niagara Falls School."

"The Tri-Wizard tournament is a dangerous competition many students have died while competing. It is for that reason that nobody under the age of sixteen will be permitted to submit their name into the Goblet of fire. One student from each school will be chosen as school champion. If you are chosen you stand alone. It is against the rules of the competition for anyone to aid the Champions to complete their tasks."

"Now that you know what's happening this year, it's time to eat, tuck in," said Professor Dumbledore as the golden plates filled with sumptuous food. By the end of September all of the students had turned in their signed permission slips, which meant that all of the teachers were able to attend as well. The students were all very excited as they imagined what kind of transportation would arrive to take them on their trip to the States. No one expected what was waiting for them at five thirty in the morning on October first.

The students were lined up in lines of two by house and escorted out of the front doors of Hogwarts. As they exited the school they were shocked to see a Black and gold western style stagecoach pulled by eight white winged unicorns and one Black one. The driver was dressed in what looked like muggle blue jeans, black cowboy boots, a red checked flannel shirt, and a large gold buckle with two rearing winged unicorns crossing their horns with a witch and wizard.

Penelope Greenwood, jumped from her seat on top of the stagecoach, took off her hat, and bowed revealing platinum blonde braided pigtails. There was also an elderly looking man on the driver's seat holding the reins. He nodded down at the girl, who opened the door of the coach and brought down the step so that the students and staff could enter the enchanted stagecoach.

Sirius and his friends edged out of line so that he could get a closer look at the very familiar looking Black winged unicorn. He reached his hand out to touch the animals face and was rewarded with his hand being hit by the long bullwhip held by the elderly looking man. "Don't touch the black one she's got a nasty temper, and a fast bite," said the elderly man as he drew his whip back and coiled it back up.

The black winged unicorn tossed her magnificent head and pawed the ground sending red sparks from her shoes as they scraped the cobbled stone ground of the court yard. Sirius and his friends stepped back fearfully as the blonde girl stepped forward to calm the hot temper of the black winged unicorn, which was rearing and flapping its wings angrily.

All of the students were ushered into the magically enlarged stagecoach and the door was magically sealed to prevent anyone from falling out by the girl before she climbed back on top of the driver's seat beside the elderly man. The Stagecoach started moving out of the gates of the castle then golden sparks started to surround the coach and it started to rise into the air pulled by the winged unicorns.

As the stagecoach leveled out Severus stuck his head out of the window and tried to look at the winged unicorns. Their horns were glowing and sending golden sparks all around the stage coach as they flapped their wings. The blond girl looked back at Severus and smiled. "The golden sparks that you see act as a stabilizer to keep the coach from rocking and swaying madly. Without them you and your school mates would be very sick when you arrive, and we just couldn't have that," said the girl as she smiled and turned back to the front. Severus watched the winged unicorns as they flapped their wings and bobbed their heads in a rhythm.

The stagecoach flew through the night and on into morning. The students and staff all awoke as the stagecoach landed and rumbled through a heavily wooded path. It then slowed and came to a stop in a massive clearing overlooking the massive falls. The girl from before came and removed the protective charm on the door of the coach and let the students and staff disembark from the interior of the coach.

The elderly man was now on the ground and busy releasing the winged unicorns from their harnesses. As each animal was released they momentarily glowed then shook the dew from their wings and leapt off of the cliff overlooking the falls. After the last person was off of the stagecoach and the house elves had exited the elderly man shrunk the stagecoach down to the size of a child's toy and walked off into the woods.