i tried to make my way out of a large crowd but I slipped and fell down. i quickly tried to get up but was again pushed on the ground by someone.

"potter?" a voice called out, helping me up.

the blonde haired boy dragged me away from the the terrified crowd towards the forest.

"what the hell were you doing there?" malfoy screeched, holding me up against the tree.

"searching for my brother. and if you'll please excuse me, I'm in a hurry." i panicked.

i jerked my hand from his grip and ran towards harry.

the campground was almost empty now. I spotted harry, hermione and ron at a distance. i ran towards them when i spotted mr. weasely and mr. crouch.

i ran and hugged garry tightly. soon, mr. weasley lead us to the portkey.

"what had happened? why was mr. crouch there?" i asked curiously.

harry told me what he had seen. i gasped at the mention of the dark mark.

"do you think he's back?" i whispered.

"i don't know." he sighed,"but I'm glad you're okay. i was so worried." he said, hugging me.

────

the next day, the weasely's bid us a goodbye as we sat on the way to hogwarts. finally, a new year. I just hope that this year gets away swiftly without any trouble. but again what's mine and harry's life without a trouble?

i smiled and waved at the plump, read headed woman who was like a mother figure to me,"thank you for letting us stay mrs. weasley."

"you're welcome dear." she smiled and we were off.

the sweet lady came after a while asking if we needed anything. harry stood up to buy something for him when he spotted cho chang, the so called prettiest girl at hogwarts. even though there were prettier girls than her, she still had something unusual in her which seemed to attract my brother towards her.

harry smiled awkwardly on seeing her and she smiled back sweetly.

he plopped down on the seat and i smirked at him. he scoffed and rolled his eyes.

when we reached the hogsemade station, i hurried out of the train and smiled at everyone. "hey dean!" i called when i saw him slinging his arms around seamus.

"hazel!" the two of them chorused and approached me while harry, ron and hermione left me behind.

"how was your summer?" seamus asked, slinging his arms around her shoulder as a way to greet her.

"hell because of the dursleys and then at the world cup, you know what happened right. . ." i trailed off, feeling quiet uncomfortable.

"oh yeah." dean sighed.

"oh merlin!" i exclaimed out of a sudden startling the two,"i forgot the sweets mrs. weasley made for me."

"go, get it. you still have time." seamus suggested.

"yeah, go ahead. i'll catch up to you two at the castle." i waved at them and climbed the train. i entered my compartment and squatted down to look for the stacked packet of sweets i might have dropped accidentally. a wide smile took upon my features when i found it lying under the seat. i hurried out of the train and alas! it was drizzling.

"bloody hell." i cursed and tried running as fast as possible to the carriages.

"having a bath potter?" malfoy taunted as he caught up behind me, drenched in water as well.

"seems like you enjoy it as well." i scoffed, the need to get away from him made me run faster.

"so this is the thank you i get for saving your ungrateful ass." damn! he was fast enough to catch up with him.

"shut up, you never saved me." i snapped at him.

"hazel!" ginny's voice caught me off guard as i looked at her to find her sitting on one of the carriages with dean and seamus.

"merlin! hurry up." dean screeched when he found me drenched from head to toe. with dean's help, i climbed the carriage and sat besides ginny, just careful enough not to drench her as well.

"you're gonna catch a cold." seamus worried. "i guess." i laughed awkwardly, wrapping my arms around myself.

out of nowhere, i looked back to make sure that malfoy got a carriage as well. i had no idea why i even care if he got a carriage or not.

on reaching the castle, i decided to change into some warm clothes so i made my way towards the gryffindor common room instead of the great hall.

once i was warm enough, i sneaked into the great hall while everyone was already having their feasts. "hazel!" harry exclaimed when i suddenly slid next to him,"you scared me there."

"sorry i left mrs. weasley's swe─"

"ginny filled me in don't worry." harry said cutting me off.

"anything important i missed?" i asked, digging in my dinner as i was starving.

"hogwarts is hosting the tri-wizard competition." hermione who was sitting next to me, non-chalantly replied.

"what's that?"

"tri wizard tournament brings together three school for a series of magical contests. from each school, a single contestant is selected to compete." hermione summed it up for me,"but we have a age restriction. only students who are 17 and above are allowed to compete."

"why's there an age restriction?" i was really lost.

"cause students die in the competition. it's dangerous." ron said with his mouth filled with food.

"holy shit." i raised my eyebrows in surprise before going back to my dinner.

"hazel!" hermione nudged me in the arm.

"what?" i frowned, looking at her.

she jerked her head in the direction of slytherin table. i looked towards it only to find malfoy looking at me. as soon as our eyes met, he turned his head towards the the sorting hat.

"what are you two looking at?" harry asked, looking at me and hermione.

"nothing." i quickly spoke up and looked at the staff table when i spotted someone unfamiliar.

"guys, who's that?" i whispered lowly, staring at the man with beady eyes.

"oh that's mad eye moody." ron answered me,"the new defense against dark arts teacher. though he's an auror."

i made an oh face and nodded.