Chapter Two
Hogwarts Express: August 1994
The rhythmic clatter of the Hogwarts Express echoed through the train compartment as the Greye siblings—Elizabeth, Madelynn, and Carter—settled into their seats. The chaotic events of the Quidditch World Cup night still lingered in their minds as the train carried them towards another school year at Hogwarts.
Madelynn, her prefect badge catching the sunlight streaming through the window, was the first to break the silence. "Well, that was one way to end the summer, wasn't it?"
Carter, lounging casually, flashed a lopsided grin. "Definitely beats the usual 'What I Did on My Summer Holiday' essay."
Elizabeth, gazing out the window, still seemed lost in the memories of the Death Eaters and the chaos that had unfolded at the campsite. "I never thought the World Cup would turn into... that. It was terrifying," she admitted quietly.
Madelynn nodded thoughtfully. "Father always said the wizarding world can be dangerous, but Death Eaters at the World Cup? That was something else entirely."
Their conversation was interrupted when the compartment door swung open, revealing Fred and George Weasley, grinning mischievously.
"Mind if we crash this little family reunion?" Fred quipped.
Carter gestured toward the empty seats. "Come on in. We were just reliving our eventful summer." Standing up, he added, "I'm going to find my friends. See you guys later," before slipping out of the compartment.
With just Madelynn and Elizabeth left, the twins wasted no time bringing their usual lightheartedness to the atmosphere.
"So, Madelynn, the new prefect in town, huh?" Fred teased.
"Does that mean we have to be on our best behavior?" George chimed in with a sly grin.
Madelynn rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You don't even know what 'best behavior' means."
Fred smirked. "Fair point."
"But seriously, congrats on the badge," George added. "Guess you'll be bossing us around all year."
Elizabeth chuckled. "She's always been good at that. Now she just has the badge to make it official."
Madelynn shot a mock glare at the twins. "Don't make me start deducting house points."
"Oh no, we're shaking in our boots!" Fred teased, his grin wide.
"We're proud of you, though," George said sincerely. "Prefect Greye does have a nice ring to it."
Madelynn smiled softly, her usual sharpness giving way to a shy acknowledgment.
As the Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop at Hogsmeade Station, Madelynn stood, brushing off her robes. "I should check on the first years and get them to the carriages. You two go ahead; I'll catch up later."
Fred mockingly saluted. "Right away, Prefect Greye!" he called after her as she gave them one last withering look before leaving.
Elizabeth stepped off the train and scanned the bustling platform, her gaze settling on a familiar figure in Hufflepuff robes. Cedric Diggory was making his way through the crowd.
"Cedric!" Elizabeth called, smiling as she hurried to catch up with him.
"Hello, Lizzie," he greeted with a warm smile as they walked together towards the castle, their conversation flowing naturally. The cool breeze carried the scent of magic and adventure as the towering silhouette of Hogwarts loomed ahead. The subtle glances and shared smiles between them hinted at something more—something unspoken yet palpable.
As they entered the Great Hall, the familiar buzz of excitement surrounded them. The hall was filled with students, old and new, eager for the start-of-term feast. Candles floated above the long wooden tables, illuminating the scene, while magical dishes appeared before them.
When Dumbledore stood to speak, the room fell silent. His long silver beard and twinkling blue eyes commanded attention as he greeted them. "Good evening, students of Hogwarts! I trust you've all had a restful summer and are ready for another year."
Applause filled the hall as Dumbledore continued, but his next words brought an unexpected shock. "I regret to inform you that there will be no Quidditch matches this year."
A collective gasp swept through the room, followed by murmurs of disbelief. Dumbledore raised a hand for silence, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.
"Instead, we will be bringing back a tradition that has been absent for many years—the Triwizard Tournament."
The hall erupted into a flurry of excitement. Whispers and wide-eyed glances were exchanged as the significance of the announcement sank in. The return of the Triwizard Tournament, a legendary competition between three wizarding schools, had everyone buzzing with curiosity.
As the noise died down, Dumbledore concluded, "I urge you all to extend a warm welcome to our guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, who will be joining us for the duration of the tournament."
The news sent a ripple of excitement through the hall. At their respective house tables, the Greye siblings each reacted differently to the announcement.
Madelynn, sitting with the Slytherins, remained composed, her sharp mind already analyzing the opportunities and challenges the tournament might bring. Around her, Slytherins murmured excitedly, dreaming of the glory that could come to their house.
At the Gryffindor table, Carter joined in with his housemates' uproar of disappointment over the loss of Quidditch but couldn't hide his curiosity about what the tournament might hold. His grin hinted at the thrill of the unknown.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth, nestled among her fellow Hufflepuffs, felt a mix of emotions. The absence of Quidditch brought a pang of disappointment, but the excitement of the Triwizard Tournament quickly replaced it. Hufflepuffs around her exchanged excited glances, their usual sense of camaraderie strengthened by the prospect of representing their school.
As the feast continued, Elizabeth glanced over at Cedric, who sat next to her. He seemed lost in thought, his brow furrowed as if the news had stirred something within him. Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder what the year ahead would bring, not just for the tournament but for the bond slowly forming between them.
Hogwarts was buzzing with anticipation, and the Triwizard Tournament had cast a new enchantment over the school.
Elizabeth nudged him gently. "So... what do you think about all of this?"
Cedric glanced at her, a small smile forming on his lips. "It's exciting. The Triwizard Tournament, it's legendary. I never thought I'd see it happen while we were still at school."
Elizabeth nodded, picking at her food. "Yeah, I mean, no Quidditch is going to be weird, but..." She paused, watching the flicker of something cross Cedric's face. "Are you thinking about entering?"
Cedric looked away for a moment, as if weighing the question, then turned back to her, his gray eyes more serious than usual. "Maybe. It's dangerous though, isn't it? People have died in this tournament before."
Elizabeth swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in. "Yeah, Dumbledore made it sound like no joke. But you'd be a good champion, Cedric. I mean, you've got the brains and the skills. You could win it."
Cedric chuckled softly, though there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice. "I don't know. It's not just about the glory. There's a lot at stake... But then again, it's a chance to prove myself, isn't it? A chance to represent Hufflepuff. Show them what we can do."
Elizabeth smiled, nudging him again. "You'd do us proud, that's for sure."
Cedric gave her a thoughtful look, his smile softening. "Thanks, Lizzie. That means a lot. But what about you? You'd have to wait a couple of years, but would you ever consider it?"
Elizabeth laughed, shaking her head. "Me? No way. I don't have a death wish." She smiled but then added, more earnestly, "But you? You'd be brilliant. Just, promise me you'll be careful if you do it."
He looked at her, his expression serious again. "If I do enter, I promise."
They shared a quiet moment, both lost in thought. The Triwizard Tournament was thrilling, but the dangers were real, and Elizabeth couldn't shake the feeling that if Cedric entered, things were about to change—perhaps in ways neither of them could foresee.
As the conversation around them swirled with excitement about the tournament, Cedric caught her eye and smiled again, this time with more determination. "I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow when they bring the Goblet out."
Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table, Madelynn Greye sat amidst the murmurs of her housemates, her arms crossed as she stared at her plate. While the rest of the hall buzzed with excitement about the return of the Triwizard Tournament, Madelynn couldn't quite shake the feeling of deep disappointment. The news about Quidditch being canceled for the year had hit her harder than she'd anticipated. Quidditch was her escape, her passion, and the thought of an entire year without it left her feeling unsettled.
Across from her, Draco Malfoy was equally displeased, though his irritation was more directed toward the idea of sharing Hogwarts with students from other schools. He'd already made several snide comments about Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, but for once, Madelynn wasn't joining in his complaints.
"Can you believe it?" Draco said, clearly exasperated. "No Quidditch. Just because of this... this bloody tournament. What a waste."
Madelynn sighed, absentmindedly poking at her food with her fork. "I know. I can't believe it either. I was looking forward to the matches this year, especially now that we've got such a strong team." She shook her head, her disappointment still heavy. "Now we'll never know."
Draco scowled, leaning back in his seat. "We're going to have a bunch of pompous students from other schools parading around like they own the place, and on top of that, no Quidditch. It's ridiculous."
Madelynn cast him a sideways glance, but her expression softened. She wasn't quick to judge the other schools, not like Draco. Besides, she knew better than anyone that houses and schools didn't define a person—after all, her own siblings were spread across Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.
"You're overreacting, Draco. We don't even know what the tournament's going to be like yet," Madelynn said, her tone more measured. "And just because they're from other schools doesn't mean they're all going to be insufferable."
Draco rolled his eyes. "You're too soft, Madelynn. Wait until they get here. You'll see what I mean."
Madelynn gave him a small, amused smile. "Maybe. But I'm not going to make up my mind before I meet them. Besides, just because I'm disappointed about Quidditch doesn't mean the tournament won't be interesting."
Draco huffed, still clearly annoyed. "You're just saying that because you're trying to be 'fair' to everyone." He mimicked air quotes with his fingers. "You always do that."
Madelynn raised an eyebrow at him. "And you always jump to conclusions, Draco. You've already made up your mind without knowing a thing about the people coming here."
"Well, I know what I know," Draco shot back, folding his arms across his chest in a classic stubborn Malfoy pose.
Madelynn sighed but didn't push further. She'd known Draco long enough to understand when it was better to let things go. After all, she'd always been like an older sister to him, someone who gave advice but never forced it. And even though Draco was prone to arrogance and quick judgments, she cared for him, flaws and all.
"You'll see," she said softly, more to herself than to him. "This year might surprise you."
Draco didn't respond, but Madelynn caught the faintest twitch of his lips—perhaps the smallest hint that he knew she might be right.
As the conversation in the Great Hall swirled around them about the Triwizard Tournament, Madelynn's thoughts drifted back to her siblings, Elizabeth and Carter, sitting at their respective tables. She knew they'd both be thinking about the tournament in their own ways, and a part of her wondered how the year would play out for all of them.
The champions hadn't been chosen yet, and while Draco might not be interested in anything other than Quidditch, Madelynn couldn't help but feel a small flicker of curiosity. The Triwizard Tournament could be dangerous, yes—but also thrilling. And deep down, she knew it might be a year unlike any other.
The Gryffindor's table, atmosphere was anything but quiet. Laughter, chatter, and excitement filled the air as the news of the Triwizard Tournament spread like wildfire among the students. While the disappointment over the lack of Quidditch lingered for some, it was quickly replaced by the buzz surrounding the upcoming competition.
Carter Greye sat among his fellow Gryffindors, watching with a bemused smile as Fred and George Weasley, ever the troublemakers, boasted about how they were going to outsmart Dumbledore's age limit for the tournament.
"I'm telling you, we've got this one in the bag!" Fred declared loudly, grinning ear to ear as he leaned back in his chair.
"Too right," George added, matching his brother's confident smirk. "Age line or no age line, we'll be entering the Triwizard Tournament. There's no way we're sitting this one out."
Carter shook his head with a chuckle. He had known the twins long enough to realize that once they set their minds on something, there was little that could stop them. "You really think you can get past Dumbledore's magic?" Carter asked, raising an eyebrow.
Fred winked. "Dumbledore's brilliant, but we've got a few tricks up our sleeves."
"You're mad," Carter replied, laughing.
Across the table, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were listening to the twins' boasts with varying degrees of interest. Harry was leaning forward, clearly intrigued by the idea of competing in the tournament, while Ron seemed more interested in the food piled on his plate. Hermione, however, wore her typical expression of disapproval whenever the twins plotted something reckless.
"You're going to get yourselves expelled," Hermione interjected, folding her arms and giving the twins a stern look. "You know Dumbledore wouldn't have set an age limit without good reason."
Fred waved off her concern. "Oh, come on, Hermione. Where's your sense of adventure? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Besides, we're not going to do anything too dangerous."
Ron, his mouth full of roast chicken, chimed in, "Yeah, Hermione, live a little. I mean, if I were seventeen, I'd be entering for sure."
Harry nodded, his thoughts clearly wandering to the possibility of competing. "I wonder what kind of tasks they'll come up with. I've heard they can be pretty dangerous."
"They are dangerous, Harry," Hermione said sharply. "That's the whole point. People have died in the tournament before. It's not just fun and games."
Carter, who was listening closely, couldn't help but agree with Hermione. The thought of facing whatever trials the tournament might hold sent a shiver down his spine. Still, like Harry, the idea of competing was undeniably exciting. But at sixteen, he was too young to enter, just like the twins.
"Think they'll let you in, Harry?" Carter asked, leaning forward.
Harry gave a small shrug. "Not if the age limit stays in place. But I guess we'll just have to see."
George, overhearing, slapped Harry on the back with a grin. "Don't worry, mate. If anyone can pull something off, it's us. And when we do, you'll be the first to know how to slip past that age line."
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "Honestly, you lot. It's not worth the risk."
Fred, however, leaned across the table, lowering his voice dramatically. "Ah, Hermione. But what's life without a little risk?"
The rest of the Gryffindor table burst into laughter at that, and even Hermione had to suppress a reluctant smile. As the conversation swirled around the table, Carter found himself caught between the excitement of the tournament and the nagging realization that it could be far more dangerous than any of them were imagining.
The evening wore on, and though they had no Quidditch to look forward to this year, the Gryffindors had a new topic to rally around. The Triwizard Tournament was on everyone's mind, and as Carter listened to his housemates discuss potential champions and strategies for sneaking past the age limit, he couldn't help but feel a growing excitement as well.
Whatever this year would bring, it was clear that it was going to be anything but ordinary.