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Chapter 8

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

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𝕴𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌 harder than ever as I lugged my trunk and Sadie out of the train. I covered Sadie's cage the best that I could.

"Hi, Hagrid!" Harry called over the crashing thunder and somehow, Hagrid managed to hear him.

"All righ', Harry? See yeh at the feast if we don' drown!" Hagrid yelled back and gave us all a gigantic wave.

I climbed into the first horseless carriage that I saw and found myself in a carriage with Susan Bones, Ernie Macmillian, and Hannah Abbott.

"Hi Elizabeth." Susan said with a smile.

"Hey Susan." I said, setting my trunk down and putting Sadie on top of it. "How was your summer?"

"Pretty good. Did you go to the World Cup?" she asked and then asked, "Since when do you wear glasses?"

"Yeah, it was amazing. Did you go? I've worn glasses since I was born."

She shook her head, "Quidditch isn't really my thing."

"Did you see the Death Eaters?" Hannah asked with large eyes.

I nodded. "I'm just lucky our tent wasn't burned. What about you Ernie?"

"We were okay." Ernie said, pushing his classes up on his nose. "We didn't really hear about the commotion till most of it was over. We'd gone to bed after the cup. We'd been cheering on Bulgaria so we didn't really have a reason to celebrate."

I nodded, "Yeah, you were farther into the campsite. We were near the beginning so we saw the start of it. Mr. Weasley sent us all in the forest. We were right by the person who cast the Dark Mark too."

The other three gasped. "Did you see who it was?" Susan asked in excitement.

I shook my head in disappointment. "No. We only heard his voice. It was a deep male voice, but that doesn't help any." I didn't mention Harry's wand or Winky or Barty Crouch's secret.

The rest of the carriage ride was spent in speculation about the wild possibilities of the identity of the man. I wondered what Barty Crouch knew about him and who he was to Crouch. His son? A brother? A father? A friend? But it was probably a relative or he wouldn't be protecting him so hard.

When the carriage rolled to the stop, I was out first, and I ran up the stairs as fast as was possible. I wrung my hair out when I got inside. Using my wand, I pointed it at my robes like a heater, waiting for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to come up. I put my trunk with the others and let Sadie out of her cage. She shook her wings, throwing water off of her, and flew off to the Owlery.

"Blimey." Ron said, coming into the Great Hall and shaking his head like a dog. "if that keeps up the lake's going to overflow. I'm soak- ARRGH!"

Peeves had just dropped a large red water balloon on Ron's head. A second one narrowly missed Hermione, and I dropped as it exploded on the floor, sending water into Ron and Harry's shoes. I dodged a large green one that Peeves had thrown right at my face. I wasn't sure why it mattered- I was already soaking wet.

"PEEVES! Peeves, come down here at ONCE!" Professor McGonagall shouted, running out of the Great Hall. She skidded on the wet floor and grabbed Hermione's throat to stop from falling. I winced theatrically.

"Ouch- sorry Miss Granger-" she apologized.

"That's all right, Professor." Hermione gasped out, massaging her throat.

"Peeves, get down here NOW!" Professor McGonagall shouted as Peeves lobbed a water balloon at a group of fifth years and cackled saying, "Not doing nothing! Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeee!" Another water balloon was aimed at a group of second-years who had just come in.

"I shall call the headmaster!" Professor McGonagall shouted, "I'm warning you, Peeves-"

Peeves stuck out his tongue, threw the rest of his balloons high up into the air, watched them all fall down on the students and zoomed up the staircase, laughing.

"Well, move along, then!" Professor McGonagall said sharply to the crowd, "Into the Great Hall, come on! Miss Kane-"

I turned back and walked over to her and she held out her hand and dropped something into mine and I pocketed it. Then she asked, "You wear glasses?"

I sighed and wondered how many more times I was going to get this question asked, "Just for reading." I said and ran to catch up with the others. I ran my wand over my clothes, drying them out as I said good-bye to the others and headed over to the Hufflepuff table.

First day of school, Hufflepuff Quidditch matches, and last day of school were the only times I sat at the Hufflepuff table. Otherwise, I sat down at the Gryffindor table with the others.

Cedric raised a hand and I waved back. He shouted, "Since when do you wear glasses?"

My patience was starting to wear thin and I wondered if maybe I should just let my left eye go blind. "Since I was born." I shouted back, "I just don't wear them anymore."

I sat down next to Susan, pretty much my only favorite Hufflepuff besides Cedric and Heidi. Her and Hannah were talking about the weather. My robes were pretty much dry, though uncomfortable as somewhat wet clothes are. I let my hair down from its ponytail and started running my wand over it.

"I love your hair Elizabeth." Hannah said wistfully. "How do you keep it so long?"

I combed it out with my fingers, still running the wand over it, and said, "Not without a lot of work. But I've never cut my hair once so that's an explanation."

I realized after four years I've never really given a description of myself beyond the basics of colors and height. I have the brown eyes from dad and the red hair from mum. But it's not bright red like the Weasleys. It's a mort subtle red like. . red-brown? So more brown than red and the red shows up in the sun. I'm about 4"8' and getting taller. I'm pale in the winter and tan in the summer. My hair reaches all the way down to my knees.

I was a bit excited for the new sorting. I hadn't been to a sorting since my own. I'd been caught up with the platform wall in my second year and Professor McGonagall had given me my time-turner on the third year. That was what she'd dropped into my hand in the hallway before asking about the damn glasses.

The door to the Great Hall opened at that moment and Professor McGonagall led the students in. The first-years appeared to have swam across the lake, not rowed across. They were all shivering either from cold or nerves or both.

Professor McGonagall placed the three-legged stool on the ground before the first years and the Sorting Hat atop that. The first years stared at it, the same thoughts that ran through every first-years mind ran through theirs. The students sitting at the four tables and the professors stared at the Sorting hat as well.

And then, the Sorting hat opened up its mouth near the brim of the hat and started to sing:

A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly sewn, There lived four wizards of renown, Whose names are still well known: Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, Fair Ravenclaw, from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin, from fen. They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan To educate young sorcerers Thus Hogwarts School began. Now each of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value different virtues In the ones they had to teach. By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest; For Ravenclaw, the cleverest Would always be the best; For Hufflepuff, hard workers were Most worthy of admission; And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition. While still alive they did divide Their favorites from the throng, Yet how to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone? 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, He whipped me off his head The founders put some brains in me So I could choose instead! Now slip me snug about your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I'll have a look inside your mind And tell where you belong!

I smarted a little about the never yet been wrong. He'd put me in Hufflepuff when he'd explicitly whispered in my ear that if it weren't for my visions I'd have ended up in Gryffindor.

I clapped anyways. I knew I belonged in Hufflepuff.

Professor McGonagall unrolled her parchment with the names of the newest students coming this year. Then she said, "When I call our your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool. When the hat announces your House, you will go and sit at the appropriate table. Ackerley, Stewart!"

"RAVENCLAW!" The hat roared.

The Ravenclaw table, which was one of the middle tables, clapped.

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"SLYTHERIN!" The table on the farthest side of the room clapped.

"Branstone, Eleanor!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

I clapped with the other Hufflepuffs. Our table was on the complete opposite side of the room as Slytherin with Gryffindor and Ravenclaw in-between. The small blond girl stepped down the stairs and took her seat on the edge of the table.

"Cauldwell, Owen!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

I clapped again as the young sandy haired boy came and sat down next to Eleanor. They shook hands and spoke quietly to each other.

"Creevy, Dennis!"

I gave a start, recognizing the last name. So Collin's brother had come to Hogwarts as well? He had Hagrid's huge moleskin coat wrapped about him. I assumed he must've fallen into the lake. I looked for Hagrid and watched him come in through the back door.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Dobbs, Emma."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

I clapped again. I wondered if maybe we could win the House cup this year. That would be nice.

There were multiple other students with Gryffindors and Ravenclaws and Slytherins.

"McDonald, Natalie"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Pritchard, Graham!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Quirke, Orla!"

"RAVENCLAW"

"Whitby, Kevin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF."

Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment and picked up the stool and hat and made her way off the stage. Professor Dumbledore stood up expectantly and, looking around the entire Great Hall said, "I have only two words to say to you. Tuck in."

Food appeared on the dishes. I sighed. I looked up at the table and frowned. Uncle Moody still wasn't here. The Defense Against the Dark Arts table was empty. I frowned. Had Mr. Weasley had trouble getting Uncle Moody out of trouble? Maybe I should've gone with him.

I speared some hot Italian sausages and cut them up, popping piece after piece into my mouth. Crap, I was stress eating. I put my fork down and picked up my pumpkin juice, sipping it slowly.

Dessert appeared and I put a block of vanilla ice cream on a hot brownie and called it a hot fudge cake. I added a cherry and fudge sauce.

After dinner, Dumbledore stood and said, "So! Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that 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 it." His eyes twinkled and he continued saying, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students-" His eyes flashed towards me "-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."

"What?" Harry gasped from across the room with multiple other Quidditch players.

Suddenly Fred shouted, "A little warning would've been nice Elizabeth!"

Every student in the Great Hall (minus the first-years and Slytherins)- along with multiple teachers- laughed as I put my head down on the table and tried to die of embarrassment. Of course Fred was going to embarrass me in front of everyone.

"Yes well," Dumbledore continued with a smile, "regardless of the future, this is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy- but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-"

The Great Hall doors banged open and I turned to see what the commotion was. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff and shrouded in a black traveling cloak. For one heart thudding moment, I thought perhaps Voldemort had invaded the school and then I breathed a sigh of relief as lightning flashed, and I saw that it was only Uncle Moody.

He was walking down the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw aisle. The students stared at him with gaping mouths and expressions of shock. I found that I was grinning like an idiot. Uncle Moody reached Dumbledore and reached out a hand. Dumbledore shook it, muttering. Then Uncle Moody took his seat behind in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's chair and pulled a plate of sausages towards him, not unlike the ones I'd just finished eating.

I turned my attention back to Dumbledore as he said, "May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody."

Before, I had envisioned Hagrid and Dumbledore being the only ones who clapped for him. But since I'd warned the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione before now- Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione and I all clapped along with Hagrid and Dumbledore. This seemed to encourage some of the others students and soon there was scattered applause throughout the hall. But still, none of the teachers but Dumbledore and Hagrid had clapped.

Uncle Moody, of course, was completely indifferent to this welcome and was drinking out of his hip flask.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and I brought my attention back to him once again. "As I was saying, 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 at Hogwarts this year."

"YOU'RE JOKING!" Fred shouted loudly and everyone laughed. I was just glad he hadn't called me out this time.

"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 and I wondered why'd they never married. She always kept him in line. Of course, I'd heard rumors that people liked Professor McGonagall with Snape. I wasn't sure how much I liked that one considering I fancied myself with Snape. Oh wait. . . I didn't say that.

"Er- but maybe that is not the time. . . no. . . where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament. . . well, some of you will know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities- until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."

There were murmurs of excitement from the tables, but I didn't join in. It would be exciting to watch for most of us, because we wouldn't be allowed to compete.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament, none of which has been very successful." Dumbledore continued over the soft murmurs. "However, our own department of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

I watched Fred hiss something down the table of Gryffindor. He wasn't the only one of course. And in complete honesty, only the first years looked nervous as though they might be required to possibly compete without knowing anything.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts, the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age- that is to say, seventeen or older- will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." Dumbledore's eyes started to twinkle in the direction of George and Fred, both of them looking mutinous and I grinned. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen."

Dumbledore cleared his throat, paused, and then continued, "The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend ever courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give you whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. 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!" He then sat down and started to talk to Uncle Moody.

I looked up at the table, frowning thoughtfully. There seemed something different about Uncle Moody but I couldn't put my finger on it. I would've thought after the attack- if there had been an attack (and I felt that there had)- he would've been more. . . nervous wasn't the right word but it fit best. But he seemed extremely confident.

"Elizabeth!"

I jumped. Hermione, Ron, Harry, Fred, and George were waiting by the door and, looking around, I saw I was the only other student left besides them. I jumped up and hurried over. "Sorry, just thinking." I said.

"Who's this impartial judge who's going to decide who the champions are?" Harry asked, I think to the general group, not just me.

"The Goblet of Fire." I said and Hermione oohed. They didn't get to ask anymore questions as I headed off down a corridor to my dorm.

In the dorm, quite a few Hufflepuffs had stayed up to talk about it. I pushed my glasses up on my nose and went to go up the dorm, but Ced called my name and I slowly turned.

The whole Hufflepuff dorm paused their conversations to hear what was going to be said and Cedric waved his hand at them, "It's not about the cup, carry on."

I rolled my eyes as the conversations started back up again, though a few others listened in anyways to make sure Ced wasn't lying.

"What's up?" I asked warily.

"Since there won't be Quidditch this year and next year Heidi will be gone, I was thinking about having Gladys Prescott for her spot-"

"And you want me to. . . what?" I interrupted, my heart breaking. "I mean, I'll give the Chaser position to-"

"No, no! Blimey Elizabeth, I won't even be here next year!" Cedric interrupted me, looking alarmed, "I was hoping you'd be the Hufflepuff Seeker. Besides, this is my last year so you wouldn't have to leave the team anyways."

I blinked for a moment, considering that. "Really?"

Cedric nodded, "Of course. I'll train you this year, I want you to be Seeker."

I grinned, "You really think I can be a good seeker?"

"I've watched you fly for two years Elizabeth. You're a natural, you'll be amazing."

"Right, thanks. I'm going to bed before I'm bombarded by the tournament." I said, grinning, and headed up the stairs. I was quite pleased with this turn of events. I wondered who be captain next year.

I fell asleep quickly and when I woke up, I headed down to breakfast. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already down there. Hermione saw me and raised my schedule up in her hand. I noticed Uncle Moody was sitting in his seat this morning, looking at me. I raised a hand and he nodded.

I sat down and took my schedule from Hermione. Herbology with Gryffindors, Transfiguration after that. Lunch, Ancient Runes and Divination were at the same time afterwards dammit. I was going to have to use the Time-Turner today. Luckily, though I would only have to use it two days a week instead of nearly every day.

"You're eating again, I notice." Ron said and I looked up to see Hermione putting jam on her toast.

"I've decided there are better ways of making a stand about elf rights." Hermione said in a haughty voice.

"Yeah. . . and you were hungry." Ron said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing my own piece of toast. "Harry stop worrying, your anxiety is giving me anxiety." I snapped angrily. "You have no idea how hard it is to stop visions when they have emotions embedded in them."

Harry gave me a shocked look, "Sorry."

"Sirius will write back." I muttered to him, "Just give him some time, okay?"

"When will I get the letter?" Harry asked in a hurried voice. "He's not in trouble, is he?"

"I don't know the exact day." I said. "But I know you'll be in the Gryffindor common room. And apparently you're frustrated by the news so you take your anger out on Hedwig which I suggest you don't do, do you understand? Make sure you have some sort of treat and no matter how upset you are, be nice." I glared at him and then started to put grape jelly on my toast.

"Message understood." Harry muttered. "I'll have a treat for her."

"Good."

I grabbed a second of piece of toasted, lathered it with grape jelly, and then said, "I'm going back to get my dragon hide gloves. See you soon."

I got up and headed out of the Great Hall. Soon a familiar clunk sounded through the hallway and I turned to see Uncle Moody. "Hi Uncle Moody."

"Hello Elizabeth." He said, using the walking stick to get around.

"Getting ready for your first class?"

He nodded, "Sixth year Gryffindors."

"Oh Fred and George Weasley are in that class." I said thoughtfully. "They cause a bit of trouble but they're good kids. Of course, Dad gave you a bit of information about the classes this summer." I grinned. "Anyways, I'm gonna be late for Herbology, see you later."

He nodded and I ran up the corridor.

I met Harry, Ron, and Hermione back outside and we walked to Herbology. I took my customary spot at a solo table. We were working with Bubotubers today. They were a plant that looked like a giant black slug. They grew vertically out of the soil and they squirmed. Each one had large, shiny swellings across the plant which were full of pus. The pus could be collected and used for acne. However, in it's undiluted form- what we were working with today- it could create horrible rashes or cause your skin to swell. I quickly put on my dragon-hide gloves.

I usually worked by myself in Herbology with a table to myself. I seemed to have an affinity to plants. They worked with me and I worked with them. I usually got more done than the other students, though Neville worked at a fast pace.

"Bubotubers." Professor Sprout told us quickly as we were settled around our tables. "They need squeezing. You will collect the pus-"

"The what?" Seamus asked, sounding revolted. I giggled quietly.

"Pus, Finnigan, pus." Professor Sprout said impatiently. "and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles. Wear your dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted, bubotuber pus."

Most of the students started squeezing the bulbs and letting them burst. I, on the other hand, took out a sewing pin. I gently eased the needle into the bulb and then pulled it out slowly. Then holding the bulging pod over the glass pint jar, I squeezed gently. It squirted into the Pint jar the way pus burst from a popped pimple. A disgusting description, perhaps, but effective. The liquid was a thick yellowish green like mucus and smelled of petrol.

The smell didn't bother me though. I didn't mind the smell of gasoline, though it usually made me lightheaded after a while.

I worked on popping the pustules in this way and collected about four pints by the time I was done. "This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy." Professor Sprout said, popping corks into the pint jars necks. "An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubotuber pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples."

"Like poor Eloise Migden, she tried to curse hers off." Hannah Abbott said in a hushed voice from across the greenhouse.

"Silly girl, but Madam Pomfrey fixed her nose back on in the end." Professor Sprout said with a shake of her head.

There was the booming bell which ended the lesson. I trooped back to the castle for my Transfiguration lesson where we attempted to turn a Guinea Fowl into a Guinea Pig. My Guinea Fowl did not seem to like me and kept pecking at my hands and pulling my hair. I was covered in bite marks by the time the lesson ended, but with a successfully transformed Guinea Pig- which also didn't like me.

I had a free period after that and I spent the time in the library finishing my Transfiguration homework that had been given after class. There had been no homework for Herbology. The bell rang for lunch and I put my completed essay away and headed down to the Great Hall.

After a quick lunch, I went to Divination and then redid my hour for Ancient Runes. Then I went down to the Great Hall for dinner.

I met up with Hermione and the two of us met up with Harry and Ron.

"That'll take all weekend, that will." Ron was saying to Harry.

"Lots of homework? Professor Vector didn't give us any at all!" Hermione said brightly.

"Well, bully for Professor Vector." Ron said moodily.

We reached the entrance hall which was packed with people who were ready for dinner. A loud voice rang out behind them.

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!"

The four of us turned around. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle were standing there and they looked pleased about something which was always a terrible thing.

"What?" Ron asked hotly, already in a bad mood from Professor Trelawney's' homework.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley! Listen to this!" Draco said and the whole Great Hall seemed to quiet down to listen. And Draco read:

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."

At that moment, Draco looked up. My hand was in my pocket, ready to pull out my wand at any moment. I pushed my glasses up on my face as he said, "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?" The entire Great Hall was listening and I wondered why there wasn't any teachers around.

Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder.

I smarted at that. Uncle Moody retired because he was tired. He was still smart, just wary. And there was nothing wrong with that considering the amount of enemies he had. I narrowed my eyes at Draco, just about ready to curse him to hell.

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily

Prophet questions about why he had involved

the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene.

"And there's a picture, Weasley! A picture of your parents outside their house- if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?" Draco crowed with joy, turning the paper around so that we could see two figures standing outside the Burrow, arms around each others waist, smiling.

"Get stuffed, Malfoy. C'mon Ron. . ." Harry said, pushing Ron's shoulder to go into the Great Hall.

"Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you Potter? So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?" Draco.

"You know your mother, Malfoy?" Harry asked rhetorically as both he and Hermione grabbed the back of Ron's robes to stop him from jumping Draco. "- that expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?"

I laughed aloud along with some of the others in the Great Hall.

Draco went pink and said, "Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter."

"Then shut up." I said as Harry said, "Keep your fat mouth shut, then." The four of us turned away to go into the Great Hall.

There was a BANG! and people screamed. Something rushed past my cheek- and Harry's-, as we'd been standing right next to each other.

I spun around as there was a second BANG! and got ready to defend myself but Draco was gone, a white polecat in his place. I burst into laughter, though I was confused as I had originally seen Draco turning into a ferret. Uncle Moody stomped down the stairs as fast as possible and shouted, "OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!"

There was a terrified silence in the Great Hall considering a majority of people had seen the transformation. Once again though, I wondered why no teachers were here.

Uncle Moody turned and looked at Harry and I with his good eye, the other eye was pure white, meaning he was looking at Draco and the others behind him. "Did he get you?"

"No, missed." Harry and I said together.

"LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted.

"Leave- what?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Not you-him!" Uncle Moody said, jerking his thumb behind him. I was grinning. Crabbe had been about to pick up the polecat. Uncle Moody limped toward the polecat which gave a terrified squeak and started to run towards the dungeons

"I don't think so!" Uncle Moody roared, pointing the wand at the polecat and it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor and bounced once more like a basketball. "I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned. Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do. . ."

Yes, this was Uncle Moody alright. Any doubts last night that he was different were gone. I started to laugh as the polecat flew into the air, flailing its legs and tail around helplessly. "Never- do- that- again-" Moody said each time the polecat bounced.

"Professor Moody!" A shocked voice came from the marble staircase. Professor McGonagall came down the staircase, her arms full of books. I sighed in disappointment. The fun was going to end.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall." Uncle Moody said, bouncing the polecat even higher into the air. I laughed at how calm he sounded as though he was having a very normal day. Who knows, maybe he was.

"What- what are you doing?" Professor McGonagall asked nervously, her eyes following the progress of the polecat as it bounced up and down.

"Teaching." Moody said and I laughed even louder. Some other students laughed too, though we were in the minority. Most of the others didn't realize that this was just how Moody was.

"Teach- Moody, is that a student?" Professor McGonagall shrieked in horror, the books falling out of her arms and spilling across the floor.

With a wave of my wand, the books were picked up from the floor and settled into my arms.

"Yep." Uncle Moody said with pleasure and I giggled, almost dropping the books.

"No!" Professor McGonagall ran towards the ferret and with a wave of her wand, the polecat turned back into Draco. His face was pink, his blond hair a mess, and he got to his feet wincing. "Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment! Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?" She finished weakly.

"He might've mentioned it, yeah, but I thought a good sharp shock-" Uncle Moody said, scratching his chin in an unconcerned way and I grinned. So Uncle Moody- screw rules, do as I want, teach how I want, and they'll learn. I thought Draco would certainly learn this lesson better than doing lines.

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!" Professor McGonagall said in exasperation.

"I'll do that, then." Moody said with great dislike. Draco's eyes were watering with pain and humiliation and muttered something about his father.

"Oh yeah? Well I know your father of old, boy. . . You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son. . . you tell him that from me. . . Now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"

"Yes." Draco said in a resentful voice.

"Another old friend. I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape. . . Come on, you. . ." Uncle Moody said, grabbing Draco's upper arm and dragging him out of the room toward the dungeons.

Professor McGonagall stared anxiously after them and then looked around for her books. I stepped forward and handed them back to her.

"Tha- thank you Miss Kane." She said, blinking and taking them from me.

I went back with Ron, Harry, and Hermione to the Gryffindor. Many people were getting their laughs out now that Moody, Draco, and McGonagall were gone.

"Don't talk to me." Ron said quietly to the three of us.

"Why not?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Because I want to fix that in my memory forever." Ron said, closing his eyes. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing polecat."

"To be honest." I said with a frown after the three of us stopped laughing. "I had foreseen Moody turning him into a white ferret."

"Hmm." Ron said, his eyes still closed. "That might have been better."

I nodded but didn't say anything as I slowly ate my beef casserole. Why had the vision changed? I'd definitely seen a ferret, not a polecat. Was there something wrong with my visions? Something wrong with me? I'd never had a vision change before. I'd tried to change the future before- and had succeeded before (sometimes) like with Ron's robes- but I'd never not interfered with the future and have something different happen.

Harry's voice broke my revere. "Don't tell me you're going back to the library this evening?" He asked in amazement and I looked over to see Hermione eating at top speed. I stared at her in surprise, trying to register what I was seeing.

"Got to, loads to do." Hermione said thickly with a full mouth.

"But you told us Professor Vector-"

"It's not schoolwork." And in five minutes she was up, and speeding out of the Great Hall. I didn't mind to much as her seat was replaced by Fred.

"Moody! How cool is he?" He asked.

"Beyond cool." George said, sitting down across from me.

"Supercool." Lee said sliding down next to George, "We had him this afternoon." he said to us.

"What was it like?" Harry asked eagerly.

The twins and Lee looked at each other. "Never had a lesson like it." Fred finally said.

"He knows, man." Lee said, looking awed.

"Knows what?" Ron asked, leaning forward.

"Knows what it's like to be out there doing it." George said, sounding extremely impressed and I was getting a bit annoyed that he wasn't saying much more. I didn't have him until Wednesday.

"Doing what?" Harry asked.

"Fighting the Dark Arts."

"He's seen it all."

"'Mazing."

Ron dived into his bag for his schedule. "We haven't got him till Thursday!"

"I got him Wednesday." I said smugly. "I'll keep all the secrets."

Ron glared at me and I got up from the table to go and do my Ancient Runes and Divination homework.

💙💙💙💙

𝕿𝖚𝖊𝖘𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘, always a lovely time for me.

Snape was in a horrible mood, probably because his prized student, Draco, had been bounced around the Great Hall and he'd had to talk to Moody.

I grinned at him as I took my customary seat on the right side of the classroom near the back so people couldn't watch me. Snape's cheeks flushed for some reason and he looked away, addressing the class that we'd be brewing a strengthening solution from memory today.

I stayed behind after class and asked when he wanted to start up private lessons again. He stared at me for a moment, looking slightly preoccupied, and then said we could start again on Friday nights.

My schedule was a bit more free now since there was no Quidditch, though Ced had said he'd train me to be seeker. I thought this was bloody brilliant and I couldn't wait to start.

On Wednesday, the Hufflepuffs showed up early to Uncle Moody's class. We waited anxiously and he let us in. I hurried to get a front seat. Uncle Moody quickly read down a list of names and we assented if we were here- everyone was.

Then, Moody tossed the roll of parchment on his desk and said, "Right then, I've had a letter from Professor Lupin about this class."

I frowned, tilting my head just slightly. Had dad sent a follow up letter to Uncle Moody after the meeting? Or perhaps before, and that was when Uncle Moody decided to pay a visit for more details?

"Seems you've had a pretty thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures- you've covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, is that right?"

I nodded as others stated yes out loud or also shook their heads. "But you're behind- very- behind on dealing with curses. So I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark Arts and I reckon you pay attention so you keep up."

He clapped his hands together once and said, "Right. So, curses. They come in many strengths and forms. Now, according to the Ministry of Magic, I'm suppose to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not supposed to show you what illegal Dark curses look like until you're in the sixth year. You're not supposed to be old enough to deal with it till then. But Professor Dumbledore's got a higher opinion of your nerves."

Not to mention, I thought, You would show us anyways no matter what the Ministry or Dumbledore thought.

"He reckons you can cope, and I say, the sooner you know what you're up against, the better. How are you supposed to defend yourself against something you've never seen? A wizard who's about to put an illegal curse on you isn't going to tell you what he's about to do. He's not going to do it nice and polite to your face. You need to be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful. So. . . do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?"

My hand shot up in the air but much to my disappointment, a large majority of hands were in the air as well.

"Mr. MacMillan?" Uncle Moody asked and though I was disappointed, I supposed I was glad of not being favored.

"Er- Cruciatus curse." Ernie said a bit hesitantly as though he wasn't supposed to say the words.

"Yes, that would be one." Uncle Moody said and went to his desk and pulled out a spider from a glass jar. I felt my mouth go dry. He put the spider down on the desk and said, "Crucio!"

The spider began to wither on the desk and if it could have made noise, it would've been screaming. I felt an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and did a quick glance around. Some people's eyes were fixated on the spider and others were looking away.

Uncle Moody lifted the curse after a few seconds. "Any others?"

I raised my hand again but he called on Leanne. "Imperius curse." She said.

"Yes." Moody said, nodding. He put the second spider in the jar and went to the first jar and pulled out another spider. He put it on the desk up front and growled, "Imperio!"

The spider leapt from Moody's hand onto a piece of silk that had been attached between two jars on the desk. It started to swing from two legs, as though on a trapeze at a circus. It did a back flip and landed on the desk and then did two front flips and started to tap dance.

Everyone in the class was laughing now except for me. I watched the spider, doing whatever Uncle Moody wanted it to do and I shuddered. Imagine, just imagine for one second if that spell was used on you. . . a puppet on a string.

"Think it's funny, do you?" Moody growled, "You'd like it, would you, if I did it to you?"

The class stopped laughing, looking slightly nervous now.

"At least Miss Kane has some common sense." He growled and everyone's eyes flickered to me, seeing that I had not laughed nor smiled at all. My cheeks grew red and my stomach churned as I thought of the last spell. "Total control." Uncle Moody continued softly. "I could make it jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself down one of your throats. . .Years back, there were a lot of witches and wizards being controlled by the Imperius curse. Some job of the Ministry, trying to sort out who was being forced to act, and who was acting of their own free will. The Imperius curse can be fought, and I'll be teaching you how, but it takes real strength of character, and not everyone's got it. Better avoid being hit with it if you can. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He barked at the end and everyone but me jumped.

"What's the last spell?" Moody asked and I reluctantly put my hand in the air for a third time. Everyone else kept their hands down, knowing what was coming and not wanting to say it.

"Miss Kane?"

"The killing curse." I said.

Uncle Moody looked at me for a moment. I stared back, unfazed, and he turned to take a third spider out of the jar. I kept my face neutral.

Pointing his wand at the third spider he said, "Avada Kedavra!" There was a blinding green light and a rushing sound and the spider was dead. Some of the students stifled cries as the spider rolled onto its side.

My face betrayed nothing. Moody of course, never knew my real parents. He'd always thought dad did a good job with me. But a part of me inside wanted to cry and my head said, That's how my parents died. Voldemort had killed my father first, mum screaming for him as he hid me in the basement, kissing my forehead one last time. He'd gone to fight Voldemort, telling her to take Harry and run. But Voldemort had gotten to her after that.

"Avada Kedavra's a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it- you could all get your wands out now and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed. But that doesn't matter. I'm not here to teach you how to do it. Now, if there's no countercurse, why am I showing you. Because you've got to know. You've got to appreciate what the worst is. You don't want to find yourself in a situation when you're facing it. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" He roared and the class jumped again.

"Now. . . those three curses- Avada Kedavra, Imperius, and Cruciatus- are known as the Unforgivable Curses. The use of any one of them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban. That's what you're up against. That's what I've got to teach you to fight. You need preparing. You need arming. But most of all, you need to practice constant, never-ceasing vigilance. Get out your quills. . . copy this down. . ."

And the rest of the class was spent taking notes on the Unforgivable curses. I watched my quill make mindless loops across the parchment. They were words, but they didn't look like words at all.

As the bell rang- the class filed out and started talking excitedly, but Uncle Moody called me back, and I hurried over to his desk.

"Yes Un- I mean Professor?" I asked breathlessly, ignoring the dead spider on the desk.

Professor Moody waved his hand aside, "Call me what you want Elizabeth. I was talking to the other Professors and I heard you did private lessons with a couple of them?"

"Oh yes." I said. "Snape, McGonagall, and Flitwick. Sometimes Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, and Hagrid but those are more for when I have nothing else to do and want to help out. Why?"

"I was wondering if perhaps you'd want to learn more with me." He said solidly. "Not favoritism- of course."

"Right." I said, getting excited, "Yeah, I'd love too!"

Uncle Moody nodded and gave me a twisted smile. Or rather, a normal smile that his scarred features twisted. "Let's give it some time, three weeks perhaps as you fall back into pace with the other teachers and such. I'll let them all set up their lessons and we'll work something out."

I nodded, excited about what Uncle Moody might want to teach me. "Sounds perfect. See you next class."

💙💙💙💙

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖉𝖆𝖞 went smoothly and I got to the Great Hall for dinner before the Gryffindors. I ate at the Hufflepuff table because of that, and then headed to the library to knock out as much homework as possible.

I was working for about forty-five minutes before Hermione came and sat down at the table with me, working on something herself. It was a box of badges and a piece of parchment. I ignored her and continued on my Curses homework.

"Look at this Elizabeth." Hermione said, sliding over the long piece of parchment. I looked at it warily. Across the top was the title: Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status.

I sighed. "What are you doing Hermione?"

"I'm making a club to promote the abuse of house-elves." Hermione said, in a proud manner.

I sighed and rubbed my head. I had a headache. "Lovely."

She showed me the badges. Across the the badges were the letters: S.O.E.A.

I stared at the badges. I had foreseen the letters S.P.E.W. Why had she changed it.

"Er- Soea?" I asked hesitantly. I felt almost frightened of the badges, that they were different from what I had seen.

"S.O.E.A." She said. "Stop Outrageous Elf Abuse."

"Right. . ." I said, still hesitantly. "What about S.P.E.W. which stands for Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare?"

"Well I did think of that." Hermione admitted, "But I was talking with Professor Moody about it, and he said that if I was so adamant about this, I should change it to be more persuasive."

Moody again? First the polecat, now this? But surely, it wasn't as though he was doing it on purpose. Of course not, I scolded myself. It wasn't as though he knew what my visions were anyways.

"I'm going to go show Ron and Harry, want to come with?" she asked, putting a lid on the box and standing up.

"Yeah." I said reluctantly, rolling my parchment up and putting in my bag.

Hermione pointed to my neck, "You're still using the time-turner?"

I nodded. "One of my classes overlaps with each other. But it's not as crazy as last year."

Hermione debated this for a second and then shrugged, "Let's go talk to the boys."

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