They found the twins who had saved them seats and sat down.

"Evening, everyone!"

"Hi, Nick," Megan smiled.

"Hi Megan!"

"Hello, Colin," she said.

"My brother's here! He's starting this year! I just hope he'll be in Gryffindor!"

He scurried off to his seat, which was, to Megan's relief, on the other end of the table.

"Won't he automatically be in the same house since they're family?" Megan asked.

"Oh, no, not necessarily." Hermione said. "It's easy to think so, isn't it, with Ron and the others,... but it's a question of character, not blood. Parvati's twin, Padma, is in Ravenclaw, you'd think twins would be together, wouldn't you?"

"Is it me or are there more empty seats than usual?" Harry asked.

Megan looked around. Now that she looked, it was true that the staff table had a lot of empty seats...

"Wonder who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is." Ron wondered.

"I wonder where he is," Hermione said, frowning. "D'you think they maybe couldn't find anyone?"

Indeed, Megan didn't see any new faces. Snape still looked scathingly at her, maybe even more so after last year and the Sirius Black incident... he had escaped right under Snape's nose, and being an old school enemy, he hadn't taken it very well. His animosity to Megan about that was due to the fact that she had been responsible for his escape. Fortunately, no one had believed Snape when he had accused her of the deed. Megan then looked at the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. He was glancing up at the stormy enchanted ceiling, deep in thought. McGonagall then arrived with the first years and proceeded to the sorting. All of them were shivering, reminding Megan how nervous she had felt that fateful day she had first arrived. Although most of the shivering was probably because they were soaking wet from the lake. McGonagall was now telling them how the Sorting would proceed, as she placed the tattered old Sorting Hat on a stool. As they stepped up one by one, Megan glanced at Cedric, wondering if he had felt nervous.... Probably not, she thought; His father would have told him all he needed to know, given him advice...

"Oh, come on, I'm starving..." Ron groaned.

"Ron, the Sorting Ceremony's important!" Hermione said.

"Yeah, so's my stomach."

Megan shushed them, partly to prevent them from arguing for what felt like the hundredth time. Finally, the Sorting ended with a Hufflepuff and food covered the table.

"You know, it's lucky the feast even took place," Nick told them.

"Why?" Megan asked, biting a bread bun.

"Peeves wanted to attend the feast, which, is of course, absolutely unfathomable."

"Yeah, I thought Peeves was particularly irritating..." Ron said. "What else did he do?"

"Wreaked havoc in the kitchens, terrified the staff..."

McGonagall tinkled on her glass and called for attention.

"First and foremost, welcome to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. "Now I have a few little notices to give, so let's get it over with." He cleared his throat. "First, the forest is out of bounds to all students, as is Hogsmeade village to all under third year. And it is also my painful duty to announce that the Quidditch Cup will not occur this year."

There were cries of outrage. Even Megan was astounded. How could they not maintain Quidditch...? She looked at the twins, who were just as shocked as her. Just then, the door to the left of the staff table opened and revealed a tall man with a wooden leg and a cane.

"Ah, Alastor," Called Dumbledore. "Everyone, I would like to introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Alastor Moody."

There was usually a polite clap when teachers arrived, but he was too intimidating and the noise as he pulled up the chair echoed when he sat down.

"Ron, isn't that the man your brothers were talking about this morning?" Hermione asked, glancing up at him.

"Yeah." Ron said. "Said he was starting a new job today... didn't know it was here, though."

Megan was too intrigued by Moody's appearance to say anything. She now noticed one of his eyes was in a strap around his head, and an electric blue. It kept whizzing around the room, scrutinizing each and every one of them. This was probably why he was called Mad-Eye. It made her feel rather uncomfortable, like it could see her naked. She instinctively folded her arms in front of her chest. He also had several scars and a chunk of his nose was missing.

"As I was saying, we shall not be hosting our annual Quidditch cup." Dumbledore said. "Instead, I am delighted to announce that this year, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: the Triwizard Tournament!"

There were excited whispers.

"What's that?" Megan asked.

"It's a great event, it only happens every few years! It hasn't happened in a century." Harry said. "Three schools are represented by three students, and they participate in three tasks. The winner is rewarded with the Triwizard Cup."

"What are the tasks?"

"Depends, but it's always pretty big."

"Like fighting a dragon?" she suggested.

"Not in my memory but it's something in that league, yes."

Megan looked up at Dumbledore.

"And this year, we will be joined by the Beauxbatons Magical Academy and Durmstrang, as we have been so fortunate to before. As the three largest European magical institutions, we created the Triwizard Tournament together as friendly competition. It was hosted every five years and enabled bonds to be formed in between nations. However, the high death toll caused it to be discontinued."

"Death toll...?" Hermione repeated nervously.

The others were more interested in hearing about the tournament.

"However, now, the time has been deemed adequate to reinstate the tournament, and it has been done thanks to the precious efforts of our Minister for International Magical Cooperation of Magical Games and Sports, Mr Bartemius Crouch. He has a finer detail to inform you of."

Barty Crouch entered the same way Moody had and stood in front of the assembly.

"After much consideration, it has been decided that no witch or wizard under the age of seventeen will be permitted to compete. This is of course for all the contestants' security, as the tasks can be most perilous. As for the selection of each school's champion, an impartial judge shall determine who is worthy of the glory the victory brings or the thousand Galleons of prize money."

Outrage echoed through the room.

"Silence, please." Dumbledore ordered. "As I have told you, we shall be joined tonight by the girls from the Beauxbatons Academy and the young men from Durmstrang Magical Institution. I remind you that only one champion is selected for each school. And let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And these contests are not for the faint of heart. Now please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of Beauxbatons Academy with their proud headmistress, Madame Maxime."

A group of ladies entered in a neat row strode in, wearing periwinkle blue cloaks. They seated themselves at the Ravenclaw table.

"And now, the proud sons of Durmstrang and their headmaster, Igor Karkaroff."

This time, also in perfect unison, a group of burly-looking boys marched in.

"Oh, my god!" Ron gasped.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Look! It's Viktor Krum!" he said, pointing.

Megan looked. Sure enough, there he was, striding next to Karkaroff, the same grumpy expression as she'd seen on him at the World Cup. Megan remembered Ron saying he was young, but she hadn't thought he still went to school. It had sounded unlikely if he was a national team Quidditch player. Clearly, most of the Hogwarts students had recognised him too because the Great Hall was soon abuzz. Once everyone was seated, Dumbledore called again for attention.

"You have been told about a judge who would select the champion. And now it is time to reveal it."

He turned to the golden pedestal beside him, raised his wand and the material vanished, revealing a pretty ordinary stone goblet. But just then, it lit up with bright blue flames, making it no so ordinary.

"Any one over seventeen wishing to enter need merely write their name and school on a piece of parchment and throw it into the flames before this hour Thursday. And I shall personally be ensuring that there are no attempts at bypassing the age rule. But do not place your name lightly for there is no turning back. As of this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun."