I love everything you do.

melanie martinez; training wheels

[unedited]

[All rights go to J.K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [chapter 12] as some of the text was copied straight from the book, I have no intention to steal her work.]

***

River was doing better.

Of course she wasn't fully over it, all of those times her parents said they would love her no matter what, they were all lies.

Everyday she was hoping she had just faced a nasty boggart, and every morning she woke up she was hoping it was all just a dream, and her mother was down stairs making the blueberry pancakes she loved.

But she wasn't, and instead of being in her old bed in her old bedroom she woke up in Zola's older sister's room, in her older sister's bedsheets.

River was ever so greatful that Ms. Green was so accepting, and she couldn't be more thankful that she welcomed her into their home.

Despite doing better, River was definitely not ready to go back to Hogwarts, but unfortunately when September first came Ms. Green forced both Zola and River on the Hogwarts Express.

River felt bad for avoiding Hermione on the train, but to put it lightly she was the last person she wanted to see.

River knew it wasn't Hermione's fault that her parents didn't accept her, and she knew it wasn't Hermione's fault she was born this way. 

***

Hermione was confused.

River hadn't answered her letters for the past two months, and she wasn't sitting with her like she promised.

Hermione, being the intelligent girl she was, had figured out something was clearly wrong with River. After passing the compartment she was occuping, Hermione could tell River was not being her usual smiley, optimistic self but in fact looked miserable in cold. Despite being friends with River for a short time, she still cared for the girl and noticed when she was upset. She also learned that whenever River was sad or angry, she wanted to be alone. So she sent River a small wave while passing the compartment, and returned to her own.

***

A few of River's housemates gave her weird looks, and she couldn't blame them. Her eyes had large bags under them, her hair was in some sort of style that looked liked a bird's nest, her tie was in a large knot across her neck, and the stockings on her uniform looked like she'd worn them for weeks despite putting them on less than an hour ago. Not to mention, thanks to Peeves, she was soaking wet from water balloons.

Despite being absolutely miserable, River still put a smile on her face (although it was partially forced) when the jittery first years came strolling in behind a strict looking McGonagall.

She still clapped whenever a first year was welcomed to her house, although her mind was elsewhere, as usual.

But River was snapped out of her own little world while she was eating, but she was interrupted when a group of students in blood red robes came strolling in, putting on a ceremony with walking sticks.

Multiple girls at the Hufflepuff table raised their eyebrows at some of the boys in the group, their eyes scanning them up and down. 

They finally sat down at the Slytherin table, and River internally groaned when another group of students bursted through the Great Hall's doors, this time in Pale Blue robes. River recognised them to be Beauxbatons' students, her parents wanted to originally send her there. She snorted at the thought of that, most of the students at Beauxbatons were very, very attractive veela girls. Whispers filled the Great Hall as the students stared at the giant Headmistress, and River couldn't help but stare as well.

River glanced over at the Gryffindor table as the students performed their little act, and noticed Hermione was refusing to eat. All River could make out by lip-reading was something about "elves" and "slavery."

Dumbledore had started off with saying that the inter-house Quidditch championship was canceled (which River didn't necessarily care about,) but was interrupted when a man came in with a prosthetic leg, a false eye, and a face with many scars on it. Dumbledore introduced the man as "Mad-Eye" Moody, who only seemed to be drinking out of a flask.

"As I was saying, 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. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year." Dumbledore announced, his eyes twinkling.

"You're JOKING!" One of Weasley twins shouted out, making the entire Great Hall fill with laughter, and River just snorted.

Professor McGonagall made sure to clear her throat loudly as a way to interrupt Dumbledore explaining a joke he heard about a troll, a leprechaun, and a hag at a bar. River couldn't help but be curious to know about the joke.

"Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament...well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely.

"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."

All of River's thoughts of joining immediately left after the words "death toll" left Dumbledore's mouth, who would want to enter a Tournament where you could die?

Apparently a lot of people would, as excited whispers filled the hall.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger.

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

Enthusiastic whispers filled across the Hufflepuff table, students whispering about joining. Meanwhile River was shaking her head, shoving large spoonfuls of pudding in her mouth.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age - that is to say, seventeen years or older - will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This -" Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these words, and the Weasley twins were suddenly looking furious - "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion. I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen."

Excitement was wiped off multiple students' faces, and the students who were seventeen and up looked smug.

After Dumbledore had sent them off to bed, River could hear the multiple students' complaints, and rolled her eyes.

Whispers went around the Hufflepuff common room that Cedric Diggory would be entering, and River couldn't help but feel a little excitement. Despite wanting nothing to do with the Tournament, it would've been amazing to have a Hufflepuff champion, especially since Hufflepuff doesn't get a lot of recognition.

River grabbed two lilacs, marching towards the kitchens. She had almost forgotten, but she didn't want to lose her streak.

Repeating the same routine as last year, she thanked Zooby and left, returning to her dorm room.

She crawled into her bed, thoughts flying around her mind.

River was thankful for the buzzing and excitement flowing through the school, because maybe, just maybe, she could forget about her parents, and have a peaceful year.

Unfortunately for River, it is never a peaceful year at Hogwarts.

*** 

I KNOW I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN LIKE 100 YEARS BUT THIS WAS AN EXTRA LONG CHAPTER

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