Name Fame and a Twisted Game

A New Beginning

I rushed onto the Hogwarts Express in a hurry, even though we were half an hour early. But that's just life when you have an overly punctual father and two chronically tardy brothers. After Viktor and Charles managed to be late to their own orientation, Dad refused to take any chances with their youngest. He was determined to get me to school before the sun even had a chance to kiss the castle walls.

Stepping into my assigned coach, I couldn't help but wonder how different things were going to be. Back home, school wasn't a place I traveled to—it was the very building I lived in. Yes, my father was the headmaster. Now, I was boarding a train, heading toward an unfamiliar school with unfamiliar faces.

I glanced at the two seating allocations and chose the right one, sinking into the seat with a sigh. And when I say "settle down," I mean I immediately rested my head against the window and drifted off. Socializing with new kids? Yeah, no thanks. Sleeping was the best way to avoid that particular nightmare. Also, I was exhausted—between my brothers keeping me up for one last Quidditch match and my dad waking us before dawn, a full night's sleep was out of the question.

I had no idea how long I was out before I was suddenly jolted awake. Blinking, I found myself face-to-face with—well, not exactly a boy. More like a man, with light brown hair and a yellow scarf draped around his neck.

Noticing I was awake, he let out a quiet chuckle.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," he said. "I'm Cedric Diggory. You, uh—dropped your bag in your sleep. Here you go."