───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"The English do it better, Ignis!"

"Wait until you taste a boxty, Caelum!"

"Well, from the name of it, I bet it tastes like a box."

"How dare you, you uncultured swine?"

As Blair and Seamus were in the middle of their debate about whether the English or the Irish made pancakes better, the Prancers stood up from their table and started on their way out.

"You know what, let's settle this." Seamus turned his gaze to Dean and Neville. "Tranqs, Gramen. Which is better?"

"Don't bring me into this." Dean threw his hands up.

"I prefer waffles." Neville smiled sheepishly at the pair that were still in hot debate.

"Come on." Seamus let out a groan then slung his arm around Dean. "I gave you a boxty last year, Tranqs, don't tell me it wasn't good."

Dean rolled his eyes in amusement and sighed in surrender. "Well, it was..."

"HA! TOLD YOU, CAELUM!"

"Wait, you gave Tranqs a boxty before me?"

While Seamus was busy celebrating, the betrayal was evident on Blair's face as she crossed her arms and let out a heavy sigh. Neville and Dean only exchanged glances while amusedly shaking their heads. These two, ever so dramatic.

"How could you, dear Ignis?" Blair shook her head and turned her back on her best friend. "After everything we've been through?"

"You just said the boxty tasted like a box!" Seamus protested indignantly before he let go of Dean and slung an arm around Blair instead. "I sincerely, deeply, madly, truly apologize, dearest Caelum. Know that in my heart, you will always be my number one. My bestest friend. My sister."

"...How can I ever stay mad at you, dearest Ignis?" Blair grinned as she wrapped an arm around her best friend. "I am expecting my boxty soon."

"Don't worry, Mum's been waiting to send me some – "

Seamus was cut off in the middle of his sentence by a body crashing into Blair's.

Having her head stuck in a book, Hermione didn't see the Prancers there, hence bumping into Blair. She let out a yelp and prepared to kiss the ground, but strong arms wrapped around her waist and brought her to a warm, strong chest.

She found herself face-to-face with a smirking Blair. That smirk. It made the boys and girls of Hogwarts fall at the Wood's feet. It made everyone who saw it want to chase after the Chaser. It stirred feelings in the Granger. Feelings she didn't want to entertain.

"Godric, Granger. I wanted you to fall for me, not the floor."

"I – What – Err – W-W-Wood." The usually put together Hermione found herself stuttering as Blair steadied the both of them. The Prancers were trying to stifle their laughter behind them but were terribly failing to do so. Hermione rolled her eyes as she tried to act unaffected, but the blush on her cheeks was evidence of how affected she actually was by Blair's actions and words.

"I... Thank you, Wood." Hermione gave her a stiff nod then went to go without another look back, without seeing how Blair's smirk turned into a soft gaze as she watched Hermione walk away.

"Smooth, Caelum." Neville grinned and clapped Blair on the back. "I didn't know Hermione can actually grow as red as our robes."

"I didn't know that girl could actually lose her words." Seamus, now that Hermione had gone, was full on laughing while leaning on Dean for support. "Caelum, I called it since first year, and I will say it again. She definitely likes you."

"A woman can hope, Shay." Blair could only say as she led the way to Professor Moody's classroom with an unerasable smile on her face.

"Merlin, it was Hermione that almost fell, but from the looks of it, it's our dear friend that fell even more." Dean shook his head in amusement while Neville and Seamus snickered.

Blair, lost in her thoughts of Hermione, did not even hear Dean. The memory of her catching Hermione was simply playing over and over again in her mind. She was only broken out of her stupor when they arrived at the classroom, and she caught sight of Hermione. The Wood beamed at Hermione who was coincidentally looking at the doorway. The Granger, having remembered what happened a while ago, blushed once more and avoided Blair's gaze, making the latter pout.

Everyone quieted down when Professor Moody came in. To their surprise, he announced that he would be putting the Imperius Curse on each of them in turn, to demonstrate its power and to see whether they could resist its effects. Blair didn't like it, but she did not say a word because after everything they've been through this summer, she trusted the man with her life.

"But — but you said it's illegal, Professor," said Hermione uncertainly as Moody cleared away the desks with a sweep of his wand, leaving a large clear space in the middle of the room. "You said — to use it against another human was —"

"Dumbledore wants you taught what it feels like," said Moody, his magical eye swiveling onto Hermione and fixing her with an eerie, unblinking stare. "If you'd rather learn the hard way — when someone's putting it on you so they can control you completely — fine by me. You're excused. Off you go." He pointed one gnarled finger toward the door.

Hermione went very pink and muttered something about not meaning that she wanted to leave, earning grins and chuckles from their fellow Gryffindors. Everyone knew Hermione would rather eat bubotuber pus than miss such an important lesson.

Moody began to beckon students forward in turn and put the Imperius Curse upon them. Blair watched as, one by one, her classmates did the most extraordinary things under its influence. Dean hopped three times around the room, singing the national anthem. Seamus danced like a Hippogriff. Neville performed a series of quite astonishing gymnastics he would certainly not have been capable of in his normal state.

Out of everyone that had a turn so far, Harry did the best. He seemed to try to fight it, but in the end, he smashed his head into the desk.

"Now, that's more like it!" growled Moody's voice. "Look at that, you lot... Potter fought! He fought it, and he damn near beat it!"

His eye swiveled before settling on Blair. "Save the best for last. Now, let's try it on Little B, shall we?"

Blair chuckled at his dramatics and gave a bow. "Give me your best, Mister Alastor."

Moody raised his wand and pointed it at her. "Imperio."

Blair was surprised to feel nothing but heard Moody's voice came into her head. 'Dance around, Little B.'

Blair raised an eyebrow at him. 'Why would I?'

Moody looked at her with surprise. 'Why wouldn't you?'

'Look, if I want to dance around, Mister Alastor, I would have done it for Hermione, not for you. Silly old man.'

Moody brought down his wand, and the voices left Blair's mind. He let out a bark of laughter and nodded at Blair. "Well done, Wood! The rest of you, did you see that? She fought it! Indeed, Little B. They'll have trouble controlling you and Potter!" Blair smiled weakly before she went back to her position.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"My arms hurt." Seamus groaned as they went out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. "Did you tell him I'm a good dancer, Caelum?"

The effects of the Imperius curse have not yet worn off on Seamus, Neville, and Dean. Seamus was still dancing like a Hippogriff every 8 counts, Dean would belt a note from the National Anthem every now and then, and Neville would give a backflip from time to time.

Everyone but Harry and Blair had a hard time with the curse. Well, for Harry... Moody had insisted on putting Harry through his paces four times in a row, until Harry could throw off the curse entirely. He too tried it on Blair a couple more times but gave up when nothing happened at all.

Blair couldn't help but snort at that. "Not at all, Ignis. I believe your natural aptitude for dancing has caught his attention indeed."

"Well, I cannot deny that."

"Hey, Bee, do you still have some of that leftover cream Dean gave you?" Neville asked while rubbing his arms and stretching his sore legs. "I think I'll need it to sleep well tonight."

"Yeah, I do." Blair smiled sympathetically at them and gave Neville a gentle pat on the back. "I got you, Nev."

"God save the King!" Dean belted out once more, prompting him to let out a sigh. "But I have to say, the way Moody talks. It's like a dark wizard is waiting for us at every corner."

"That's just how he is. I swear." Blair let out a sigh, knowing that it might have been overwhelming for others to experience Moody firsthand. She knew she was overwhelmed in the beginning and simply warmed up to him over time, just as he warmed up to her. "He's been like that all summer. Kept on shouting in my ear about Constant Vigilance."

"He even told me about the witch he hexed because she shouted 'Boo' behind him on April Fools' Day." Seamus gave a shudder. "Let's just say she's the one who got scared for a lifetime."

"He also gave us extra readings, didn't he?" Neville's question made the other three groan.

This year, they were given an extremely noticeable increase in workload. There was Transfiguration homework from Professor McGonagall, dream journals for Professor Trelawney, weekly essays for Professor Binns, Charms readings for Professor Flitwick, and even Hagrid gave them a project on the Blast-Ended Skrewts. Just to top it all off, newly added were the readings on the Imperius Curse from Moody.

According to Professor McGonagall, it was because they were nearing their fifth year, which meant they'd have to take their Ordinary Wizarding Levels or O.W.L.s, and they had to take all the time they needed to prepare for these exams. How were they supposed to have time for more important things like the Perfect Prancer Ploy, their pranks, and their plans?

"Looks like we'll have to burn the midnight oil, mates." Seamus let out a sigh.

Dean raised an eyebrow at that. "You mean, I'll be burning the midnight oil while you will all be rushing your homework tomorrow by copying off mine?"

Blair, Seamus, and Neville exchanged glances before smiling innocently and embracing Dean, making him yelp. "We love you, Tranqs."

"Alright, alright! Get off." A grin on his face, Dean pushed them away playfully and brushed imaginary dirt from his clothes. "Not like I have a choice."

When the Prancers arrived in the entrance hall, they found themselves unable to proceed owing to the large crowd of students congregated there, all milling around a large sign that had been erected at the foot of the marble staircase. The four of them exchanged glances before they made their way to the front.

Dean read the sign aloud:

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday the 30th of October. Lessons will end half an hour early —

Seamus nudged Blair. "Seems like you have to postpone your date with Snape, Caelum."

"Awww, I was looking forward to it." Blair faux pouted, making them laugh before Dean continued reading.

Students will return their bags and books to their dormitories and assemble in front of the castle to greet our guests before the Welcoming Feast.

"By the way, have you finished helping the twins with their plan to enter the tournament?" Neville asked as they walked towards the staircase.

"Well, I gave them the recipe we found for the Aging potion. But I already warned them. Professor Dumbledore is brilliant, he won't be fooled by a mere Aging potion." Blair let out a chuckle as they stopped behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione whose conversation was easily overheard with the loud volume of their voices.

"Diggory? That idiot, Hogwarts champion?" said Ron with disbelief. The Prancers exchanged glances as they simultaneously slowed down to listen in.

"He's not an idiot. You just don't like him because he beat Gryffindor at Quidditch," said Hermione. "I've heard he's a really good student — and he's a prefect."

Blair furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips. She never heard Hermione talk about her like that. Who the hell was Diggory?

"You only like him because he's handsome," said Ron scathingly.

"Excuse me, I don't like people just because they're handsome!" said Hermione indignantly.

Ron gave a loud false cough, which sounded oddly like "Lockhart!"

Unable to keep it in, Blair butted into their conversation with a playful smirk on her face. "Hey, Granger. Lots of people have said I'm handsome too."

Hermione rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Again, I don't like people just because they're handsome."

"So, you don't deny it. You think I am handsome." Blair wiggled her eyebrows victoriously at the blush on Hermione's face, a grin growing on her face. "How about a date then, Granger?"

"In your dreams, Wood." Hermione uttered out hurriedly and immediately walked away, Harry and Ron amusedly following after her after they said their farewells to the Prancers.

As Hermione disappeared from sight, Blair turned to her friends with a huge, dopey smile on her face. "Does that mean she dreams about me too?"

"Oh, dear." Dean could only mutter out as Seamus immediately began indulging Blair's delusions.

"Why, of course, that is the only thing it means, Caelum! She didn't say 'no' or 'never', she said 'In your dreams.' Probably means you'll have to meet her there."

"What are we waiting for? We have to go sleep!" Blair started rushing, pulling Seamus who took ahold of Dean who grabbed Neville as the Prancers found themselves running towards the dorms, looking like one big worm with how they were moving towards the crowd with their hands linked together.

Finally, they arrived at their empty dorm room with no sight of Harry and Ron, and Neville and Dean could only exchange exasperated stares as they sat down on their beds while Blair and Seamus were fighting over one another to get to the bathroom first.

"Actually, that's a good idea for a potion." Neville supplied thoughtfully while cleaning up his things. "Instead of the usual dreamless one, we can make one that allows people to meet in their dreams."

Potion-making was a talent shared by the Prancers as proven by the Mandrake Restorative Draught they created back in their second year to save the petrified students. It was only unfortunate that Neville wasn't able to show his skills as much during classes with Snape with how much the Professor terrorized Neville.

During their free time, they would always make whatever potions they could think of – potions for pranks, potions for healing, potions to get you out of class when you're bored. You name it, the Prancers will make it. One particular potion that they were extremely proud of was the Vox Vortex, which swapped the voices between two drinkers... They aimed to give it to Filch and Snape, but it was too bad the potion was accidentally drunk by Professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawney. That earned them a detention cleaning all the crystal balls in the Divination classroom and sorting Professor McGonagall's entire collection of books without magic. Ever since, they've made sure their pranks would reach the actual target.

"That's brilliant, Gramen!" Dean nodded appreciatively. "I've been thinking of another potion product we could make. We could make just that."

"The herbs I used to make your paint, we can try putting those in too!" Neville grinned at Dean.

The two bonded over their fascination of the arts and herbs, often finding ways to find a common ground and create collaborations between their passions. Blair and Seamus were the sky and fire, carefree and loud. Neville and Dean were the earth and water, grounded and calm. While Blair and Seamus saw each other as brother and sister, partners-in-everything, Neville and Dean definitely saw each other as a safe space, their soft spot.

"IGNIS! LET ME GO FIRST, I WANT TO SEE IF I REALLY MEET GRANGER IN MY DREAMS!"

"YOU KNOW MY HAIR NEEDS A SOAK FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR TO HAVE ITS NORMAL LUSTER. SO, SHOO, CAELUM, SHOO!"

Neville let out a sigh and clapped Dean on the back. "Maybe later when they're off to bed?"

"Deal." Dean sent Neville a smile before standing up and prying Blair and Seamus away from each other. "Alright! That's enough, you two are squabbling like children. Bee, go on first. But do it quickly so that Nev and I can go after you. Shay, you go last since you need to soak your hair and do your entire blush on routine that convinces the entirety of Hogwarts that you have naturally red cheeks. Just do what you need to do, as long as you need to do it once everyone's done. Is that clear?"

"...Yes, Mum." Seamus grumbled while Blair smirked victoriously.

"Ever the peacekeeper, Den." Neville let out a snort. "How are the gray hairs going for you?"

"Thankfully, you've only caused two. These two have caused half of my hair to turn grey." Dean rolled his eyes good-naturedly as Blair went inside the bathroom, and Neville was busy reading the Herbology book Moody gave him.

Then, Dean noticed how Seamus was still at the door to the bathroom with a pout on his face and his arms crossed across his chest. The corners of his lips twitched up as he sighed and took Seamus by the hand, pulling the firecracker to sit on Dean's bed. "Stop your pouting, Shay, at least you get all the time you need for your pampering."

"...You really know how to get me, huh, Sil."

"Nobody gets me like you, Dec."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The appearance of the sign in the entrance hall had a marked effect upon the inhabitants of the castle. During the following week, there seemed to be only one topic of conversation, no matter where they went: the Triwizard Tournament. Although Blair was still slightly bitter with the fact that Quidditch was cancelled for this tournament, she showed her support for it by helping the twins with the Aging Potion. Thankfully, she was almost done with it, and she could get back to the Perfect Prancer Ploy in no time.

It was evident how the entirety of Hogwarts was preparing for the tournaments. The portraits were being scrubbed, the suits of armor were suddenly gleaming and moving without squeaking, and Filch was behaving so ferociously to any students who forgot to wipe their shoes that he terrified a pair of first-year girls into hysterics. Other members of the staff seemed oddly tense too.

"Wood, kindly turn out your pockets. I will be keeping these in my office until the delegates from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons are here." Professor McGonagall barked at the end of one lesson when she accidentally dropped the Moo Chews the Prancers had enchanted to make the consumer moo every time he or she tries to speak.

The Wood pouted and tried to convince McGonagall to let her keep it, even winking at her Professor but failing to persuade her. To Blair's dismay, McGonagall even gave her a detention at her failed attempt to steal back the candies. Blair should've known no one gets past McGonagall.

When the Prancers went down to breakfast on the morning of the thirtieth of October, they found that the Great Hall had been decorated overnight. Enormous silk banners hung from the walls, each of them representing a Hogwarts House: red with a gold lion for Gryffindor, blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw, yellow with a black badger for Hufflepuff, and green with a silver serpent for Slytherin. Behind the teachers' table, the largest banner of all bore the Hogwarts coat of arms: lion, eagle, badger, and snake united around a large letter H.

"Granger." Blair automatically greeted the girl as she sat down in front of her. "See that big letter H there? That's what you'll see when you look into my heart, and it stands for your name, Hermione."

"Well, when you look into my heart, Wood, you'll see a big, red B."

"W-W-What – "

"It means buzz off." Hermione held in her triumphant smile while Blair pouted and crossed her arms, but she couldn't help her adoring gaze at Hermione as she noticed the way the corners of her lips tilted up, the way she shook her head in amusement, and the lingering joy in her eyes from their banter.

The Wood was only broken out of her stupor when Dean gave her a smack on the head and pushed a plate of food he prepared for Blair to her. "When you're done daydreaming, you can now eat your breakfast."

"Thanks, Tranqs." Blair grinned and started eating her food.

"By the way, don't any of you want to try your hand at entering the Triwizard Tournament?" Ron directed his question to the Prancers.

The Prancers exchanged glances. They did wonder about it, but none of them wanted eternal glory or fame, whatever awards the tournament had to offer. They were content with the simplicity of their lives, with being the ragtag group of Prancers, wreaking havoc then and there... And add the fact that Blair kind of promised Hermione she wouldn't

Ultimately, the questioning gaze Hermione had on her that prompted Blair to answer immediately. "We may have thought of it, Ronniekins. But as I promised my lovely Granger, I wouldn't even try to enter."

"Yeah, imagine if I wanted to join, but here's my best friend telling me that we can't because she promised the woman she loved." Seamus sighed dramatically.

"I think two things we can agree on is that Blair would do anything for Hermione, and Hermione is scary when she's making a point." Harry supplied, earning him a glare from Hermione and making him raise his hands in surrender.

"At least your lives are safe." Hermione muttered and hid her face behind her book so that no one would see how wide her smile was. Despite how their dynamics changed over the years, one thing that didn't was Blair keeping her promises no matter what.

"Always so whipped, you are, Blair Bear." Ron rolled his eyes. "Anyways, McGonagall said that champions get awarded points according to how well they've done the tasks."

"Who are the judges?" Neville asked.

"Well, the Heads of the participating schools are always on the panel," said Hermione, and everyone looked around at her, rather surprised, "because all three of them were injured during the Tournament of 1792, when a cockatrice the champions were supposed to be catching went on the rampage."

She noticed them all looking at her and said, with her usual air of impatience that nobody else had read all the books she had, "It's all in Hogwarts, A History. Though, of course, that book's not entirely reliable. A Revised History of Hogwarts would be a more accurate title. Or A Highly Biased and Selective History of Hogwarts, Which Glosses Over the Nastier Aspects of the School."

Blair looked at her with amazement and adoration in her eyes, the cogs in her head already turning. What does it take to change the name of a book? Where could she find Bathilda Bagshot and give her a talking to on why she revised the history of Hogwarts to be highly biased and selective?

"What are you on about?" said Ron.

"House-elves!" said Hermione, her eyes flashing. "Not once, in over a thousand pages, does Hogwarts, A History mention that we are all colluding in the oppression of a hundred slaves!"

"Hear, hear." Blair raised her goblet in agreement, ignoring the stares of exasperation the Prancers, Harry, and Ron had on her. While they did agree with the cause, Hermione was just... sometimes overly passionate about her beliefs.

"You do realize that your sheets are changed, your fires lit, your classrooms cleaned, and your food cooked by a group of magical creatures who are unpaid and enslaved?" she kept saying fiercely to any Gryffindor she came across.

People mostly bought the badges because of the chance to talk to Blair, who was the Public Information Officer, the others bought it to silence Hermione. A few seemed mildly interested in what she had to say but were reluctant to take a more active role in campaigning. Many regarded the whole thing as a joke, and it hurt Blair's heart.

Blair knew Hermione's heart was in the right place, and so, she made sure that Hermione would never be alone in this battle. If no one was listening to Hermione, she would. If no one was wearing their S.P.E.W. badges, she would. If no one was campaigning and standing with Hermione, she would. For Hermione Granger, Blair Wood would.

"Anyways, we have to go." Blair suddenly stood up with the Prancers as she looked at her watch and discreetly took a glance at the faculty table where Professor McGonagall was engaged in a lively discussion with Madam Pomfrey. "While she's still distracted."

"Don't tell me you're going to try and steal back your Moo Chews." Hermione's eyebrows raised at Blair.

"Hey, you remembered the name! Don't worry, Granger, I won't say a thing." Blair beamed at her while picking up her bag and starting to walk away, looking back at Hermione and raising a hand in farewell. "Don't miss me for too long!"

"Take as long as you need." Hermione muttered and shook her head, knowing that the Prancers were about to do just what she told them not to.

Technically, Blair did exactly what Hermione asked her to do. She didn't tell the Granger about their plan... But when the Prancers walked into class mooing every time they opened their mouths (McGonagall most certainly expected that they would steal the candies back and enchanted them to fly right into the mouth of anyone who tried to take them), Hermione most definitely had a look that said, "I told you so."

If it were anyone else, Blair would have been annoyed. But looking at the Muggleborn, she could only think of how beautiful she looked when she knew she was right.

And Hermione was always right.

There was a pleasant feeling of anticipation in the air that day. Aside from the spectacle of the Prancers being bested by McGonagall, nobody was very attentive in lessons, being much more interested in the arrival that evening of the people from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang; even Potions was more bearable than usual, as it was half an hour shorter.

When the bell rang early, the Prancers hurried up to Gryffindor Tower to fix their mooing, deposited their bags and books as they had been instructed, pulled on their cloaks, and rushed back downstairs into the entrance hall. The Heads of Houses were ordering their students into lines.

"Weasley, straighten your hat," Professor McGonagall snapped at Ron.

"Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair." Parvati scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the end of her plait.

Professor McGonagall let out an exasperated sigh at the Prancers. "Miss Wood. Fix your tie and your hair. Mister Finnigan, tuck in your shirt properly. Mister Longbottom, you think an Expansion charm will hide those Moo Chews – "

"Technically, they're Bawk Bites." Neville muttered with a sheepish smile before folding his arms as if he was a chicken. "This time, they make you go cluck, cluck, bawk!"

"I don't care what they're called, give them to me now!" Professor McGonagall gave her wand a wave, and the candies immediately flew from Neville's pocket to McGonagall's. She looked at Dean for a good three seconds then gave a sigh. "Good to see that you are in order, at least, Mister Thomas. You four better be good, or detention it is for you."

"Yes, Minnie." The Prancers responded in unison, making them burst into giggles while McGonagall gave up, throwing her hands in surrender, as she moved to the next student.

None of them heard their Professor mutter as she turned away. "First, the Marauders. Now, these Prancers. Give me a break, Godric Gryffindor."

"Awww, I was sure the Expansion charm worked." Neville pouted as he patted his now empty pockets.

"That's okay, Nev, we still have a lot of candies in our room." Dean patted him on the back before giving a shudder. "Just... let's not try getting into Minnie's office ever again."

"Mister Finnigan, would you be a good Sir and help me fix up my tie and hair?" Blair gave a dramatic bow.

"Only if you help me with my shirt and sleeves, Miss Wood." Seamus bowed back as he and Blair tried helping each other clean up but only led to making a bigger mess of each other's hair and clothes.

"Oh, for goodness sake." Dean rolled his eyes good-naturedly before fixing the two up and looking over Neville as well. "There, all cleaned up. Don't you dare mess up your hair and clothes."

"Thank you, Saint Thomas." Blair and Seamus said simultaneously with another bow, and Neville gave a laugh before doing the same as them. Dean, as much as he tried not to, couldn't help but smile and bow back.

"Follow me, please," said Professor McGonagall. "First years in front... no pushing..."

They filed down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear evening; dusk was falling and a pale, transparent looking moon was already shining over the Forbidden Forest.

Seamus checked his watch. "It's almost time. How d'you reckon they're coming? The train?"

"Could be. Or maybe broomsticks? Merlin, I miss Quidditch." Blair sighed and frowned. She missed the feeling of freedom in the air. She missed the breeze against her skin.

"Could they Apparate?" Neville asked.

Blair shook her head. "Nah, Granger said you can't Apparate inside Hogwarts."

Hermione, who was behind them and overheard the last part of their conversation, smiled shyly at the thought of Blair actually listening to her. Always attentive Blair was when it came to her.

And then Dumbledore called out from the back row where he stood with the other teachers — "Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"

"Where?" said Neville eagerly, looking in different directions. "Do you see them?"

"Over there, Gramen!" Blair pointed over the forest.

Something large, much larger than a broomstick — or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks — was hurtling across the deep blue sky toward the castle, growing larger all the time.

"Blimey, it looks like a huge dragon." Seamus said in wonder.

"No, it's... it looks more like a flying house." Dean said as the structure came closer, and he was almost right.

As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.

The front three rows of students drew backward as the carriage hurtled ever lower, coming in to land at a tremendous speed. A second later, the carriage landed too, bouncing upon its vast wheels, while the golden horses tossed their enormous heads and rolled large, fiery red eyes. Blair just had time to see that the door of the carriage bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars) before it opened.

A boy in pale blue robes jumped down from the carriage, bent forward, fumbled for a moment with something on the carriage floor, and unfolded a set of golden steps. He sprang back respectfully. Then Blair saw a shining, high-heeled black shoe emerging from the inside of the carriage — a shoe the size of a child's sled — followed, almost immediately, by the largest woman she had ever seen in her life.

"Bloody hell." Blair, Seamus, and Neville muttered at the same time.

"Do you think I could set her and Hagrid up?" Blair suddenly wondered.

"Buy Hagrid some heels first, maybe they'll see eye-to-eye. Literally." Seamus responded with a grin, making the Prancers have to stifle their laughter.

The four brought their attention back to the woman. Her hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.

Dumbledore started to clap; the students, following his lead, broke into applause too, many of them standing on tiptoe, the better to look at this woman. Her face relaxed into a gracious smile and she walked forward toward Dumbledore, extending a glittering hand.

Dumbledore, though tall himself, had barely to bend to kiss it. "My dear Madame Maxime," he said. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

"Dumbly-dorr," said Madame Maxime in a deep voice. "I 'ope I find you well?"

"In excellent form, I thank you," said Dumbledore.

"My pupils," said Madame Maxime, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her.

Blair now noticed that about a dozen boys and girls, all, by the look of them, in their late teens, had emerged from the carriage and were now standing behind Madame Maxime. They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of them were wearing cloaks. A few had wrapped scarves and shawls around their heads.

"'As Karkaroff arrived yet?" Madame Maxime asked.

"He should be here any moment," said Dumbledore. "Would you like to wait here and greet him or would you prefer to step inside and warm up a trifle?"

"Warm up, I think," said Madame Maxime. "But ze 'orses —"

"Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher will be delighted to take care of them," said Dumbledore, "the moment he has returned from dealing with a slight situation that has arisen with some of his other — er — charges."

"The bloody Skrewts," Seamus muttered to them, grinning.

"My steeds require — er — forceful 'andling," said Madame Maxime, looking as though she doubted whether any Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts could be up to the job. "Zey are very strong..."

"I assure you that Hagrid will be well up to the job," said Dumbledore, smiling.

"Oooh, is this the start of their love story?" Neville wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, making the other three laugh but shut up immediately when McGonagall glared at them.

"Very well," said Madame Maxime, bowing slightly. "Will you please inform zis 'Agrid zat ze 'orses drink only single-malt whiskey?"

"Why are the horses allowed whiskey but not us?" Seamus complained. "Can't believe a bunch of horses are given more luxury than us."

"Well, at least now we know where to get whiskey when we need it." Blair pointed to the stables.

"It will be attended to," said Dumbledore, also bowing.

"Come," said Madame Maxime imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps. One of the girls smiled at Blair, who smiled back at her.

"Bloody hell, Caelum. You're going global." Neville nudged her playfully. "Someone's caught your attention, eh?"

Blair just laughed. "Not at all, Gramen. All of you know I have only one true love."

Her eyes found Hermione who was a few meters away from them, and surprisingly, the Granger was already looking at her. Blair simply gave Hermione a wink while ruffling her hair, and the Muggleborn rolled her eyes and looked away immediately, a red flush to her cheeks that Blair thought must have been because of the cold.

"Do you think Durmstrang's going to come on horses as well?" Neville asked them.

"Well, if they do, I hope they aren't even bigger than these ones. Hagrid's got his work cut out for him." Dean said worriedly.

"He's got this." Blair smiled reassuringly. "He's good with the Skrewts, he'll be able to handle a bunch of whiskey-drinking horses."

They stood, shivering slightly now, waiting for the Durmstrang party to arrive. Most people were gazing hopefully up at the sky. For a few minutes, the silence was broken only by Madame Maxime's huge horses snorting and stamping. But then —

"Can you hear something?" said Neville suddenly.

Blair listened; a loud and oddly eerie noise was drifting toward them from out of the darkness: a muffled rumbling and sucking sound, as though an immense vacuum cleaner were moving along a riverbed...

"Hey, look at the lake." Dean pointed down at it.

From their position at the top of the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the smooth black surface of the water — except that the surface was suddenly not smooth at all. Some disturbance was taking place deep in the center; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now washing over the muddy banks —

And then, out in the very middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake's floor... What seemed to be a long, black pole began to rise slowly out of the heart of the whirlpool... and then Blair saw the rigging...

"Woah, it's a mast!" Seamus said to them.

Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.

People were disembarking; they could see their silhouettes passing the lights in the ship's portholes. As they drew nearer, walking up the lawns into the light streaming from the entrance hall, Blair saw that their bulk was really due to the fact that they were wearing cloaks of some kind of shaggy, matted fur. But the man who was leading them up to the castle was wearing furs of a different sort: sleek and silver, like his hair.

"Dumbledore!" he called heartily as he walked up the slope. "How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?"

"Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Dumbledore replied. When Karkaroff reached Dumbledore, he shook hands with both of his own.

"Dear old Hogwarts," he said, looking up at the castle and smiling; his teeth were rather yellow.

"A Hufflepuff he is, from the sight of his teeth." Blair whispered to the Prancers. The boys had to clap their hands over their mouths to prevent themselves from laughing.

"How good it is to be here, how good... Viktor, come along, into the warmth... you don't mind, Dumbledore? Viktor has a slight head cold..." Karkaroff beckoned forward one of his students.

As the boy passed, his face familiar to all, an excited grin came onto Blair's face as she grabbed Seamus' arm. "Ignis, Ignis – it's Krum!"

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Hi, guys! Sorry, it's been a long time, school has been weighing down on me. But rest assured, updates will come regularly again by August. Once again, thanks for all your support. I appreciate you <333

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