Despite the fact that it was the very first day of the school year, not one teacher failed to remind them heartily of the O.W.Ls approaching them at the end of year. They stressed the importance so much that by the end of the day it seemed like everyone in the class rolled their eyes every time the tests were so much as mentioned.

Having given up Care of Magical Creatures after all of the animals seemed to hate me, I had chosen to take up Divination this year; that was a mistake. Maybe it would have been better if I'd recieved Firenze as a teacher, but Professor Trelawney clearly hated me. Apparently I was messing up the atmosphere of the room and distracting all of the boys' "Inner Eyes." Plus, she too seemed to be prejudiced against anything that wasn't purely human; I suspected her continued rivalry with the centaur that was the other Divination teacher had something to do with that.

Muggle Studies and Arithmancy had gone well as usual, and although I was horrible at Charms, Professor Thompson treated me extra kindly and helped me out. Professor Shalf made potions miserable as usual, docking points from me (but no one else) for the most insignificant things like "not stirring fast enough" or "taking up too much table space." I was reminded of all the stories I'd been told about the Potions teacher from my dad and his siblings' time; of course, Uncle Harry had always amended his stories of Snape's torture by saying something like "still, in the end he turned out to be a very good man." I wasn't sure if it was because he really felt that way or because his son, Albus Severus, always looked annoyed at all of the complaint's people were giving his namesake.

The old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, an older woman who had been there since I started Hogwarts, had finally retired in place of a new, younger teacher called Professor Jackson. He was kind and energetic, obviously smart and powerful but still fun; it was clear that everyone who had had him that day loved him already.

Meanwhile, the quidditch captain for Ravenclaw, John Wood, had scheduled tryouts for that Friday. I really wasn't prepared; as I'd told Annelies, I had only actually ever flown twice in my life. That probably wouldn't cut it.

So, after dinner on Wednesday night, I snuck out of the dormitory with Annelies, who'd agreed to come with me to help me practice.

We'd just learned Disillusionment in Charms yesterday, so naturally, Annelies could do it without hardly even trying. She tapped the top of my head, muttering the incantation, and then twirled her wadn around her own head to place it on herself.

It felt like a raw egg had just cracked on my head as the charm slowly trickled down my body and I blended in with the wall behind me. It didn't make us completely invisble, but it was the best we had.

We crept slowly and cautiously out of the dormitory, thankful that the common room was empty of anyone who might question us.

We continued along with out seeing anyone except for Peeves, who we quickly hid from by leaning against the cold, stone walls, letting the Disillusionment Charm do it's work and blend us in.

When we finally got to the pitch, Annelies summoned one of the school's brooms; it wasn't exactly a Thunderbolt (the newest edition to the Firebolt series), but it'd due for now. She also summoned a huge trunk complete with a Quaffle, Bludger, Beater's bat and Snitch.

***

I was dreadful. Even kind, supportive Annelies had a hard time finding anything in the whole practice that had gone well. Five times, I'd let the Quaffle that Annelies go through the hoop (even though she was not a Quidditch player herself). Twice I missed the goal hoops when I through the Quaffle and twice Annelies blocked it; I only made it in once. After Annelies let out the Snitch, it took me over a half hour to catch it, even on the empty pitch. The only position I was mildly good at was Beater, which is what I'd hoped to try out for anyways, but I'd still nearly fallen off of my broom three times while whipping the Bludger as I hard I could across the stadium.

By the time I dismounted my broomstick and Annelies decided hesitantly that it might be better to just leave the Quidditch supplies outside rather than trying to smuggle them back to wherever they belonged, I was feeling quite disheartened. I had hoped that Quidditch might be a way to prove myself to everyone, prove that I was more than just a pretty seductress. It seemed the only way to show off the other side of me, but now it wasn't looking tomorrow. I wasn't sure anymore wether I actually wanted to try out tomorrow.

***

We redid our Disillusionment Charms and hurried back into the castle and through the entrance hall. We were halfway to the Ravenclaw Tower when I stopped.

"Do you hear someone talking?" I whispered. Annelies halted, too, and we both waited in silence. For a moment, it seemed as if I'd imagined it, but then someone started up again.

"Are you sure it's a good idea, though?" I heard a man's voice say from the staffroom. It sounded like Professor Longbottom. "We all know what happened last time."

"Yes, well, last time Lord Voldemort interfered. That can't exactly happen now," said an impatient voice, Proffesor McGonogall. "They even asked all of the previous champions, Potter, Delacour (well, now Weasley), and Krum what they thought, and they all agreed it was a good idea now that it's a good idea to do what they tried to last time, rekindle international relationships, now that the war is over and the Dark Lord is gone."

"True, true," I heard Professor Thompson say.

"Fair enough," Professor Longbottom agreed. "But someone should always be watching the Goblet, so that something doesn't happen like last time. Even without Voldemort, someone could take a leaf out of Barty Crouch's book and submit themselves under a separate school so that they're sure to have a chance at winning."

"Yes, I'll see that extra precautions be put up around that. I just needed to make sure that I had all of your approvals as Heads of Houses, and as it seems I do, we'll tell the students tomorrow. The other schools will be arriving in October. Now, I don't know about any of you, but I'm an old woman and I value my sleep. I'll see you all in the moring."

Annelies grabbed me sharply and dragged me back to the common room as I took it all in.

"Sorry," she muttered when we got back, panting. "I just really didn't want to get caught. Do you have any idea what all of that meant?"

"I've... got a hunch."

****

My hunch, educated by all of the stories my mom had told me, was proved true the next morning. I knew what was happening when McGonogall silenced the whole hall at breakfast, an uncommon occurence in itself.

"Good morning, students," McGonogall said when everyone had finally quieted. "I have much exciting news to share with you. Now that the Dark Lord is finally long gone and damage has been repaired, The Ministry of Magic has decided to address one of the final remaining issues of the war, and this is international cooperation." Everyone looked around in confusion, raising their eyebrows, whispering to their neighbors, but I knew what was coming. "Therefore, in order to make up for the unfairness of the last time this event took place, Hogwarts will once again play host to the Triwizard Tournament. Upon request of-"

For a second, everything was silent. Then, whispering began to break out among the tables. Someone let out a whoop. The quiet resumed quickly when Professor McGonogall raised her hand.

"I am not finished. As I was saying, upon request of Durmstrang, the age limit has been lowered to anyone in their fifth year and up," I looked over at Annelies excitedly, "although, I must make it clear that any fifth year competing will not be exempt from taking their O.W.L's." A few people booed, but McGonogall ignored them. Our guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be joining us in early October, and the selection of champions will take place on Halloween. I apologize that you were not notified earlier, but the other schools only recently agreed. Also, in light of the Tournament, the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not be taking place this year."

A few people booed, but most of the students, myself included, seemed to find the Tournament much more exciting.

***

As we left the Great Hall that morning, the only topic of discussion seemed to be the Triwizard Tournament, who would enter, what the tasks would consist of, and who'd be selected as champions.

"So who do you think'll be chosen as Hogwarts champion?" I heard a Slytherin sixth year ask his friend.

"Who knows.. Probably some Gryffindor. They always get the best rep, don't they?"

"It was a Huflepuff last name..."

"And a Gryffindor."

"Maybe it'll be a Ravenclaw," I said to Annelies.

"Doubtful," she replied. I laughed.

"Are you going to enter?" I asked her.

"Of course not," she said as though it were totally obvious.

"I am," I said casually.

"What?" she snapped, looking over at me. "I'm sorry, Victoire, but..."

I tried not to be insulted by her comment. "Well, if I'm not good enough, the Goblet won't pick me. It's that simple." Annelies pursed her lips, looking as if she wanted to say something more, but she didn't.

I knew it was a reach; I knew I'd probably never get picked by the Goblet compared to all of the talented witches and wizards at Hogwarts. But still, it was something, a little glimmer of hope that I might finally find a way to prove myself, prove that I was more than the pretty bimbo everyone obviously thought I was, as Quidditch obviously wasn't going to do the trick, and it wasn't even an option anymore.