fourth year

Sage had spent the last week and a half with her father, constantly questioning him about the dark mark in the sky at the quidditch World Cup. He wouldn't say a thing.

Now here they were standing at King's Cross Station as Sage prepared for her fourth year at Hogwarts. She gave her father one last goodbye hug before boarding the train.

She walked around the aisle until she found Dean and Seamus. The three had grown close since their first encounter on the train ride before their first year. She slid the compartment door open and the two boys looked up "Finally!" Seamus cheered, standing up to hug her, Sage hugged back, before she hugged Dean.

"Oh my gosh it is great to see you," Sage said, sitting down and propping her feet up, "I swear this summer has been crazy,

"Well spill!" Dean exclaimed.

Sage smiled "Well first my dad has been acting weird like he's keeping more than usual. Then with the whole thing at the Quidditch World Cup he's just been off-" Sage explained.

"You were there?" Dean interrupted.

"Let her speak!" Seamus hissed.

"Yeah," She replied, "But that's not even the weirdest part, Draco Malfoy. Yes Draco fricking Malfoy helped me when people knocked me over,"

"What?" Dean questioned, "Like Slytherin, arse, Draco Malfoy? The one that's hated you since you guys met?"

"He doesn't hate me," Sage defended "He hates who I'm friends with, Harry? Ron? Hermione? Y'know cause he's a pureblood and his father was working for the dark lord so, but yes that Draco Malfoy,"

"That's insane," Seamus commented, "I wonder why,"

Sage shrugged, "I dunno, I didn't get the chance to ask him before I ran off,"

"Are you gonna ask him?" Dean asked.

Sage looked at him "What? Are you crazy?" Sage shrieked, "No of course not!"

"Why not?" He questioned.

"Because I'm not stupid enough to approach him," Sage replied.

"That's not a reasoning," Seamus pointed out.

Sage rolled her eyes, "Oh shut up," she hissed. The three stayed silent before laughing.

"Holy Hufflepuff that sounds like a lot," Dean commented.

"Ya think?" Sage chuckled, "But it's whatever. How was your summer?"

Dean smiled "I spent the practically whole summer in America with my father's parents, but overall pretty fun. We spent time in New York mostly,"

Seamus shrugged "Well uh I never do much but my mother is trying to get me to join quidditch still, that's your thing, Sage," Seamus joked.

Sage was one of the best keepers Hogwarts had seen. Once Oliver graduated she took up the position. "God I cannot wait for quidditch," she complained.

"Can't wait to see you beat Slytherin's arses!" Dean cheered, catching a glance from Seamus.

Sage knew the two's true feelings for one another. Dean always pretended to like Ginny and Seamus was well Seamus. But Dean and Seamus loved each other but were both afraid to admit it.

"Me neither," Seamus agreed.

Sage shook her head slowly at her two friends, "Whatever you guys," she joked.

Sage was finally excited once she saw Hogwarts appearing in the view. "Finally!" Sage cheered. Everyone slowly got off the train and into carriages. Seamus, Dean, Neville, Parvati, and Padma all got in a carriage together with Sage.

"Hello Sage," Neville said kindly.

Neville was one of the sweetest boys Sage had ever met, she knew what happened to his parents, he knew she knew, but she never brought it up unless he wanted to talk about it. "Hello," she greeted.

The carriage started moving, "How was your summer?" He asked, a smile forming on his face.

"It was great, yours?" She answered.

"Mine was good as well," he replied.

Sage smiled at the kind boy, and turned to the Patil twins "How are you guys?" She asked.

"We're great," Parvati answered.

"Good to hear," Sage said.

There you have it Sage's friend group. The people she chose to hang out with over anyone. Of course, she was closest to Seamus and Dean. The carriages stopped when they got to Hogwarts and Sage and everyone else made their way to the great hall.

The usual introduction and sorting happened until Professor Dumbledore stood up "Before we eat, I have a very special announcement. Hogwarts has been chosen to hold the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Two schools will be staying here," he announced.

Everyone started cheering, including Sage as Barty Crouch walked over to Professor Dumbledore. "Change of rules for safety reasons, each participant much be of the age 17 or older," he explained.

A loud disappointment could be heard across the hall "RUBBISH!" Fred and George screamed.

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore yelled, silencing everyone "How can I welcome the lovely girls of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic,"

Girls with sky blue outfits came in dancing, the guys drooling over them. "Holy-" Seamus said slowly, admiring the girl's beauty.

Dumbledore kissed their headmistress's hand before speaking up again "And the strong men of Durmstrang Institute!" Bulky men in red suites walked into the great hall, pounding torches on the ground. Dumbledore shook hands with their headmaster before explaining the rest of the tournament. And now the girls were drooling over them, at least most of them.

Sage just stared until she saw a familiar face, Viktor Krum, from the World Cup. The girls will be after him, she knew that. Once the other two schools took a seat, the feast appeared.

Sage scooped some food onto her plate and started eating. It wasn't long until Professor McGonagall walked over to her, tapping her on her shoulder. Sage turned around "Miss Lupin, can you come with me," she asked.

Sage nodded "Um yeah sure," she answered. Sage stood up, giving Dean and Seamus a questionable look.

She walked next to McGonagall as they exited the great hall. "How was your summer?" She asked politely.

"It was fine," Sage replied, "Yours?"

"It was great," McGonagall said, "The quidditch World Cup... did that give you a scare or anything?"

Sage looked at her "Is that why you wanted to talk to me? About that? Because I really don't want to," Sage asked.

McGonagall shook her head, "No just concerned for my students that's all," she explained. McGonagall opened the door to her transfiguration classroom.

Sage could see a familiar blonde boy sitting at the front desk. "Malfoy?" Sage questioned.

"Lupin," Draco said blankly.

McGonagall signaled Draco over "Well Sage you are second-highest in your year. After Miss Granger. You know that?" McGonagall explained. Sage nodded, she was, it had always been like them. "Mr. Malfoy here, might need some extra help with a few of his classes, transfiguration being one of them. So I want you to tutor him, Monday's Wednesday's and Friday's after school,"

Sage bit her lip and looked at Draco, who was staring at her intently. "Um sure," Sage finally agreed, "I'll do it,"

McGonagall smiled stiffly "Great! You guys can talk the rest over, thank you Miss Lupin," McGonagall said.

Draco and Sage left the room together "Why did you go with me?" She asked almost immediately.

"Because," Draco replied, "It was your or Granger. I don't wanna have a mudblood tutor me. Y'know how embarrassing that would be?"

"If we're gonna do this, and you want help passing school. Then don't call her that, or anyone," she commanded.

Draco sighed "Habit sorry," he said.

"Shouldn't be," Sage mumbled. "Why did you help me? At the uh World Cup?"

Draco looked at her "I didn't think you deserved getting hurt over something you weren't a part of, it didn't mean anything to me. If you'd rather me left you there-" Draco explained.

"No! No it's fine, thank you," Sage interrupted. Draco Malfoy saving her? A Gryffindor half-blood? Almost seemed unbelievable.

Draco stopped in front of the great hall "We should split, I can wait for a few after you walk in. I don't think we should be seen together," Draco suggested.

Sage nodded "Okay, that works for me," Sage agreed. She didn't really mind but Draco probably did.

Sage pushed open the great hall doors and made her way back to the Gryffindor table. She took a seat across from Seamus and Dean. "Sage we got some unfortunate news," Seamus told her.

Sage looked at them "Um okay? What is it?" She asked.

Dean looked at Seamus "No quidditch this year, because of the tournament;" Dean replied.

"Ah damn. That really sucks," Sage said. "Guess I'll just enjoy something else this year,"

Dean nodded "What did McGonagall want?" He asked.

Sage quickly made up a lie "Uh she wanted me to try out dueling club," Sage lied. She felt bad lying to them, but they didn't need to know everything.

"We also not Alastor Moody as Defense against dark arts Professor this year," Seamus said. Alastor Moody, commonly known as Mad-Eye-Moody. Auror, one of the best. Their Professor? She still with her father decided to say.

"Well, that'll be... interesting," Sage said. 'Very interesting' she said to herself.

A/N:
hope you enjoyed the second chapter. The next chapter should be out in the next few days!