"Charity, watch out for Neville alright?" Gran says as I board the train, gently pushing Neville ahead of me,
"Of course, Gran. I love you!" I tell her, and she smiles back at me as I follow my adopted brother onto the train. We got here early as an extra precaution in case something went wrong with Neville, as it always seemed to. First year, he lost his frog. Second year, he lost his luggage. Third year? Started crying because of a dementor attack (of course, that did happen after the train took off). But so far, his fourth and my sixth year seem to be off to a decent start.
Though if history truly does repeat itself... that couldn't go on for much longer.
"Are your friends here yet Nevy? Harry? Hermione? John?" I ask, glancing around the cabin for one of the other fourth year Gryffindors, but to be quite honest I'm not sure if I'd recognize them even if I did see one of them.
"It's Ron. Gosh Rity! School hasn't even started and you're already fried!" Neville jokes as we see a parade of red-heads climb onto the train, including my two biggest and only enemies: Fred and George Weasley. Neville runs off to join Ron, Harry and Ginny Weasley, and I try to avert my gaze from the twins.
Ever since first year when George stuck a wad of super sticky candy in my hair, the two gingers have pranked me relentlessly because apparently I was 'overtrusting and too shy to tell anyone about the pranks.' Though I couldn't exactly argue on the shy part, if anything the pranks have made me extremely weary of everyone.
"Oi! Longbottom!" I inwardly groan as Fred spots me, and suddenly I'm flanked on either side by the two extremely tall boys.
"H-how was yo-your Summer?" I stutter, a mixture of fear and timidness causing me to stumble on my words.
"Great of course. We went to the Quidditch World Cup." Fred says casually.
"Bit of a nasty ending we must say, but still a great show." George adds as soon as his brother finishes.
"That's n-nice." I mumble, and try to walk past them, but they've seemed to have intertwined their arms with mine. "I need to go to the Prefects' Car, if you d-don't mind." I tell them.
"In a bit. I think we should start this year off in a classic manner-don't you Georgie?" Fred quips, and I groan. Classic manner has to mean a prank.
"Sounds like a good plan. What do you think, Itty-Rity?" George asks, and I shake my head hastily. "Come on, you Ravenclaws are always worrying about fun pran-"
"Hey, are you bothering her?" A new, sturdy voice asks, and I whip my head up to see the most popular boy in my year, Cedric Diggory, glaring at the Weasley twins. They let me go and run off immediately, causing me to fall to the ground. Cedric extends a hand and helps me up.
"Th-thanks." I tell him quietly, and he smiles warmly at me.
"No problem. You're going to the Prefects' Car too, right?" He asks, and I nod. "Cool. I'll walk with you then?" Giving him a small smile and a nod, we begin walking towards the other end of the train.
"I'm Cedric, by the way." He tells me, and I laugh a bit, "What is it?"
"Well, for one we've been in classes together for the last six years, and two you're extraordinarily popular." I explain in a strong voice, then suddenly feel self conscious as I notice Cedric staring at me intently. "S-so of course I know who you are." I finish in a small voice, and he gives me another wide smile.
"Right, should have thought about that. The being in classes together part, of course. I'm not saying I'm popular-that'd be pretty vain of me." He says in an almost awkward voice as we reach the car. Almost as soon as we step in Cedric is surrounded by his friends.
"Ah well. See you around then, Charity?" He asks, and I nod. Smiling, he gets swept up into the crowd, leaving me to fend for myself once again.
***
I'm one of the first people in the Great Hall, and I choose a seat right in front of the reserved area for first years, as I always enjoyed being the first to congratulate them.
Soon after all of the new students are sorted-ten new members for Ravenclaw this year-Dumbledore stands to make a speech,
"Now that we're all settled and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year, but home to some special guests as well," He begins, and I hear hushed murmuring all around me. I straighten up a bit in my seat, trying to catch bits of conversation, but ultimately fail and slump back down,
"Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Tri-Wizard Tournament. Now for those of you who do not know, the tri-wizard tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school two contestants are selected to compete. Not as partners however, as the competition shall be against strangers and friends."
A large majority of the students gasp, surprised that anyone would even think of returning the tournament to the schools, as it was such a dangerous event. People have died, but admittedly, it could be a good oppurtunity for the student who wins. I would never think to enter though. I would probably have the magical aspects down, I'm not exactly the most athletic student. So any physical feats would destroy me. Dumbledore clears his throat to recollect the attention of the students.
"For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and their Headmistress Madam Maxime."
A group of girls dressed completely in light blue enter the Great Hall. They dance up the aisle and make butterflies flutter into the air. All of the male students stare at them with gawking expressions. Pretty and all, but if attracting boys was their greatest talent, the girls didn't seem like the biggest threat in the world,
"And now our friends from the North. Please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang, and their headmaster Igor Karkaroff." Dumbledore announces, and next a series of boys (who looked far too old to be in their teens, but nobody protested) enter the hall, stabbing staffs into the ground in what is probably meant to be intimidating manner. I snort as Viktor Krum, star Quidditch player, enters alongside the headmaster.
"Blimey! It's him, Vikor Krum!" I hear someone scream, and turn to the Gryffindor table to see Ron Weasley looking prepared to faint. I roll my eyes as everyone converses avidly about the new guests,
"Your attention please!" Dumbledore shouts, and everyone turns to face him, "I would like to say a few words. Eternal glory, that is what awaits the student who wins the tri-wizard tournament. But to do this that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks."
"Wicked." mumbles The Weasley twins.
"For this reason the ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explainall this we have the head of the department of international magic cooperation Mister Bartimus Crouch." Thunder crashes overhead, and rain begins leaking through the ceiling. Everyone looks to the door, where none other than Mad-Eye Moody is standing, and shoots a spell up at the roof and everything calms.
Everyone watches in silence as the man walks up to Dumbledore. I didn't know what it was exactly, but there was something about him that made my hair stand on end.
"After much deliberation the ministry has concluded that for their own safety no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the tri-wizard tournament. This decision is final." He announces, and I see most of the younger students lose interest. I could see where the ministry was coming from though, I wouldn't want anyone younger than a sixth year competing, either. It was far too dangerous.
"That's rubbish! You don't know what your doing!" George Weasley shouts in protest, but I could already spot a plan brewing behind his and his twin's eyes. I don't know what it is, but it definitely won't end well.
"Silence!" Dumbledore orders, as two men carry in a large box. He casts a spell over it, and the box melds into a giant goblet,
"The Goblet of Fire. Anyone wishing to submit themselves for the tournament merely write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly, if chosen there's no turning back. As from this moment the tri-wizard tournament has begun." For some odd reason, my heart beats a little faster at the sight of the goblet, and I almost feel slightly drawn to it.
Shaking my head, I stand and begin rounding up the first years to help them to their dorms.
"Hi everyone and congratulations on making Ravenclaw! I'm Charity Levine-Longbottom, and I'm a sixth year prefect. We're coming now to the common room, where you'll be spending a lot of your time-most of it asleep!" I explain, smiling encouragingly at the overwhelmed new students.
As we reach the common room, I pause in front of the great door knocker.
"In order to enter the Common Room, you have to answer a riddle that it will give to you. Don't worry-most of them are easy." I assure them, and the knocker lets out a snort of indignation before saying the riddle.
"I run and run but never tire, down and down but never up." It says in a ghostly voice.
"Anyone know?" I prompt, and they all shake their heads. "A river." The door swings open and a chorus of 'oh's travel through the small crowd. I point them to the dorms before deciding to head to the Prefects' Bathroom.