CHAPTER 3

STORMS

Once they were dressed in their robes and train had arrived, Zara and Lyra quickly walked from the bus towards the castle, using their robes to avoid the rain. Unfortunately the cold, thick rain soaked through their robes pretty fast. 

They jumped into a carriage and it began it's path to Hogwarts. Lyra couldn't help the joy that reached her chest when she saw the castle. She had some of her best memories here and heard some of the greatest stories from this place to.

This was where her parents had fallen in love, where she had met her best friend, where she had learned and seen so much. She would never trade her life with her dad for anything, but this, this felt like home.

When the carriage stopped in front of the stone steps that lead to the great oak doors. People began scrambling up the steps. Lyra and Zara ran up the steps until the reached the entrance hall. Zara dashed towards a torch, reaching up so her hands were near the fire. 

Lyra began walking towards her best friend when a large, red ballon landed on her head splashing her even more with ice cold water. Her eyes filled with water and she closed them, then began slipping, distantly she could hear Peeves laughing.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, as she fell she crashed into a body, equally as wet as her own. Fumbling she held on to the arms that began to try holding her up.

When she was finally standing again she began wiping the water from her eyes, and looked towards the person who had saved her from face planting with the marble floor.

The person in question was glaring at her and snarled, "Watch it next time, would you?" 

Blaise Zabini stood before her, in his Slytherin robes. Next to him, glaring just as angrily was Draco Malfoy, who had Pansy Parkinson on his side and Crabbe and Goyle standing behind.

"Wasn't my fault, Zabini. You get splashed in the face with a water balloon and see how you like it." Lyra snapped back, the gratitude long gone. 

Malfoy rolled his eyes, "You should be thanking him, as he saved you ass from landing on the floor, Knight."

"First, it would have been my face. Second, I don't need to thank anyone who acts like a jerk."

Zabini rolled his eyes but didn't say anything, and Knight took it as a sign to walk away from the Slytherins who were willing to start a fight if she gave them enough reason to. 

When she reached Zara, who still had her hands near the torch she did a quick wave of her wand and aimed at her friend, hot air was expelled from her wand and quickly dried her off. Lyra then turned her wand to herself and dried her clothes.

"Thanks," Zara said, sticking her hands into her robes, she had abnormally cold hands all the time, "What was that with Zabini?"

Lyra rolled her eyes, "I slipped and crashed into him. He caught me and then started acting like a jerk about it." 

The two girls quickly ran into the Great Hall to void another balloon. Lyra walked towards the Gryffindor table while Zara went to the Ravenclaw. 

She sat next to the Fred and George, and across from Ginny and Katie Bell.

Katie smiled at her, "Hey Knight, ready for a great Quidditch year?"

"You know it Bell, Slytherin won't know what hit 'em."

Katie and Lyra were two chasers on the Gryffindor team, along with Angelina Johnson. When Lyra had tried out in second year, Oliver had picked up on the great chemistry between the three girls and immediately gave her the spot.

"Oy," Fred called to the girls, "Who do you reckon the new DADA professor will be?"

Lyra shrugged looking up at the staff table. It seemed that there were more chairs than usual. 

Suddenly a thunderclap sounded and lightning flashed, Lyra looked up at the ceiling, the clouds were black and purple. She then looked back down and made eye contact with Blaise. His eyes seemed as dark as the sky and when lightning struck again she saw a white streak across his eyes. For some reason it was difficult to look away. 

Suddenly the Great Hall's doors opened and in walked the first years. They all shivered as they walked forwards, both from the cold and their nerves. Lyra smiled at the memory of her sorting ceremony. 

"Granger, Hermione."

A girl with bushy hair ran up and practically jammed the hat on her head. 

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.

"Knight, Lyra."

Lyra felt her stomach drop and took a deep breath before stepping forward and sitting on the stool. She wasn't breathing anymore.

"A Knight," the hat spoke softly, "Oh I remember your father. Sarcastic little tyke from what I remember."

Lyra smiled, "That sounds like him."

"Oh, he was clever, had a hard time with him. Had a sense of adventure to him as well. He would have done well in Gryffindor too. You are a lot like him. The cunningness however, you get that from your mother, don't you?"

"I suppose."

"But where shall I put you? Clever like your father, cunning like your mother... Adventurous... Yes, you would do well there.

"GRYFFINDOR!" 

Lyra smiled at the decision and ran towards the table in scarlet and gold, loud cheers sounded from the table, welcoming her to join. She sat next to the girl who had gone up before her.

"Congratulations!" said Hermione, her smile probably as big as Lyra's.

"You too," she responded breathlessly. 

Lyra watched as the first years went up one by one. Clapping respectfully when they were sorted into other houses and whistling loudly when "GRYFFINDOR" was heard. 

Soon Dumbledore rose. He beamed at his students and opened his arms wide. "I only have two words to say to you: Tuck in."

The dishes quickly filled with food and Lyra noticed how hungry she truly was. Her mouth watered at the scents and she quickly stuffed her plate and began eating. 

She ate until she could no longer swallow and her jaw hurt from chewing. 

George gaped at her. "You ate five helpings!?"

Lyra nodded, "I have a super power called I can eat until I'm at the point of passing out and not gain any weight. It's a blessing and a curse."

As the last of the food disappeared Dumbledore stood again. The hall quickly fell into silence.

"So! Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once again ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include: Screaming Yo-yos, fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check."

Lyra grinned at the twins knowing the three of them were responsible for most of the things on said list and had still managed to smuggle them into their luggage this year.

Dumbledore continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

Lyra gasped and agin turned to the twins who mouthed at her, then at each other, then towards Dumbledore. 

"What?" Katie gasped from across, "Why do I even bother coming to school then?"

But again Dumbledore went on, "This is due to an event that will be starting on October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy - but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts -"

Suddenly, a rumble of thunder sounded as the doors of the Great Hall bursted open again. A man stood at the doorway, leaning upon a staff, in a large traveling cloak. Lightning stuck , illuminating his face as he pulled the hood, revealing long, grizzled, dark grey hair. The man began walking towards the staff table.

His face seemed carved of weathered wood  and every visible inch of skin looked scared. One eye was small and beady while the other was round and bright blue. The blue eye moved without blinking and rolled in every direction. 

Mad-Eye Moody 

Lyra recognized him. She hadn't seen him in years but his appearance was memorable. She remembered being 7 when he had arrived at her home, asking for her father. Lyra quickly called for Elliot who sent her up to her room while she spoke with the man. 

When the Mad-Eye Moody reached Dumbledore they shook hands, they spoke in murmurs and Dumbledore gestured him towards a seat on his right. 

He sat and pulled a sausage towards him, sniffed it, then took a bite. The blue eye continued to dart, watching the students. 

"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody."

Only Dumbledore and Hagrid applauded, everyone else was transfixed at the new professor who didn't seem to mind the quiet or the staring. 

"As I was saying," the headmaster began again, cutting the awkward silence. " 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 in Hogwarts this year."

"You're JOKING!" Fred said, loudly. 

Everyone began laughing, breaking the tension from Moody's arrival. 

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley. Though, now that you mention it I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar..."

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, giving Dumbledore a look Lyra had seen many times from her father and Zara. 

"Er - but maybe this is not the time...no... where was I! Ah yes the Triwizard Tournament,"

Dumbledore continued with the history, rules, and other information about the tournament. Students either payed great attention at what he was saying or began whispering amongst themselves.

"And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"

Lyra quickly jumped from the table and ran towards the entrance doors, hoping to beat the rush and confusion of first years who would look for their way towards their common rooms. 

Meeting a few sixth years at the portrait of the fat lady she smiled before one of them gave the password and they all entered. 

Hermione, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and Fay Dunbar arrived in their shared dorm. The five girls chatted for a while before each began dozing off until they had all fallen asleep

*****

wow, two chapters in a day. your girl be dedicated or somethin

*most dumbledore dialogue is exactly from the books*