Hogwarts Year 4

Chapter 12

Once everything settled down and everyone was back inside the castle, Harry gave a more detailed explanation of what had happened. "Cedric and I both grabbed the cup at the same time and were taken to a graveyard." he began "Once there we decided that it might be a good idea to be prepared since we expected to be back at the start of the maze. We were attacked by 7 or 8 people in black robes and white masks. Cedric and I were doing okay until one got behind us and got Cedric; I was able to push the cup into Cedric's hand and send him back. Somehow they got to me, maybe I wasn't as alert as I should have been. I woke up tied to a gravestone and one of the people was starting some kind of ritual to raise Voldemort, but the ritual didn't work for some reason. Somehow the ropes loosened I guess someone let me go when no one was watching closely and I was able to get my wand back, that was when Hermione arrived followed by Sirius, my friends, and shortly the aurors. The death eaters, except one, were either captured or killed. How many of those wankers are there anyway? I did hear one of them say something about Bagman's plan had really helped them after Crouch Jr. was captured." Harry explained.

At that point Sirius added more information, it turned out that Crouch Sr. had been found and he showed signs that he had been under the Imperio curse. The last thing the man remembered was talking to Ludo Bagman. Sirius wanted to speak with Bagman immediately, Flitwick told them that a couple of Goblins had taken Mr. Bagman, "Something about a fixed bet, I believe they said." It was announced that Cedric was the winner of the third task since he was the first to return, but Cedric said he and Harry both won so they would split the prize money. Sirius also relayed that the French were still very determined to get Dumbledore for trial on kidnapping charges.

The tournament was completed and the final results were Harry and Cedric tied for first place, Krum in second and Fleur came in last since she hadn't complete the last two events. Cedric insisted on splitting the prize money and Harry just gave his share to the fund for those students who needed help with educational expenses.

The nine met that night in the chamber and Harry said that he thought it was time to think about adding more people to the group, but as a second group. He wanted ideas as to who to include in this second group from the houses, but was very leery about any Slytherins, and didn't see adding seventh years since they would be gone in a few weeks when school let out. Harry also told the group what really happened and why the ritual didn't work, they couldn't get any of his blood to add to the caldron due to the skin-toughening ritual. This made the girls want to do the ritual again so they would be as tough as Harry; Harry told them to have Hermione take care of that for them as she knew the ritual, but to make sure they were completely nude this time except for the hair on their heads.

Harry went on to say that anyone who was suggested and accepted would be asked to go to Peaks with the group this summer, this got Daphne's attention. "What is Peaks?" Daphne asked.

"Peaks is a school in America that all of us have been to at least once. It is there that we learned all the advanced magic that you've seen us do. You would have been asked to join us this summer anyway since you are a member of this group. You get a year's worth of classes in a month's time since they use time compression. By the end of the summer you will already have taken your OWLs and know your scores. All of us are at least a year ahead of what we are taught here, except Hermione and myself – we are three years ahead. A few of us are going to be taking our masters level this summer in some subjects. We fly to America the muggle way since it is too far to apparate and international portkeys are expensive, besides everyone isn't qualified to apparate yet. There are a few things you will need to know about and a few things you will need to acquire before you go, one of the things you will need is a new wand that doesn't have the trace on it and is created especially for you. Most, if not all, of your supplies aren't available in Diagon Alley, without causing someone to notice, but are available in the States without problem. You will be in fifth year classes so you need to decide what you want to specialize in, if anything, so you can take the classes you really need. The first few weeks will be review and catch up as Peaks goes by international standards and not the ones here in England, which are much lower than international. We usually have about three weeks to prepare for the trip and I will get you an application as soon as I can. The cost is subsidized so it won't cost you the full amount for tuition, supplies, and travel, you will need to have your own spending money." Harry explained.

Daphne just stood there with a big smile on her face and said something to the fact that she would really let Malfoy have it next year, and Pansy too. Then she asked where she could get that special wand, and when, so she could start practicing at home. Daphne noticed everyone was looking at Harry, who had a "shit eating" grin on his face, "Well actually you would need to see a wand maker that isn't under the watchful eye of the Ministry of Magic; and I just happen to know of one real close by and he only charges G11 unless the wand is very hard to make and more than three core items. He is also able to make staffs, but they tend to be more expensive and he is very picky as who he makes a staff for."

Life settled down in the next few days,until the day Amelia showed up at Hogwarts to inform McGonagall that the French had finally been persuaded to not adjudicate Dumbledore, but he had been banned from French soil for life. Amelia also told them that Bagman had been located and had admitted he had been the one to put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire in hopes of preventing the tournament from taking place due to many outstanding debts he owed. All of the Death Eaters had been identified, even the dead ones, and steps taken to keep them out of society for a long time. An investigation of the site that Harry and Cedric were taken to, showed it to belong to the extinct Riddle family, the fore-bearers of one Tom Riddle, a half-blood, who attended Hogwarts over fifty years ago. All of this news was overheard by Fawkes and reported to Harry. Many of the staff wondered why Fawkes was still around since he was supposedly bonded to Dumbledore and should have left to be with the old man.

Hermione spent a portion of her time instructing Daphne in the common household spells that she would be required to demonstrate at Peaks to get out of that class. Daphne even showed Hermione a spell that could be used to remove hair from delicate areas instead of the muggle way of using a razor. Once Hermione saw that spell she went into full spell-crafting mode and had to analyze it and improve it, which she did. Hermione got to test the spell on one of the Slytherin girls when she responded to a prank, the girl was suddenly hairless all over – except for a new mustache that appeared and refused to be removed for good portion of that day. Hermione had improved the spell and also invented a prank spell to go along with it, wait until the twins got a hold of that spell.

Defense classes were getting more interesting. Mad-Eye announced that the term final would be in two parts, one written and a practical. They would have two hours for the written and then they had to schedule a time to do the practical, and the practical would cover all spells up through their own year – this would be especially hard on the sixth years, seventh year students had NEWTs so no final in any of their classes. Luna was the first surprise for Moody as she had been taking fourth year classes all year and preformed at a fifth year level on the practical. The second surprise was when Moody scored Harry's written test and could not find a single wrong answer, Harry was the only person in the school to make a perfect score on the written, much to Hermione's chagrin, plus he blew the practical away.

The ICW sent a notice that no OWLs or NEWTs would be accepted from Hogwarts unless the test itself was ICW standardized and the answer sheets had to be sent to the certifying body to be regraded this was a real blow to Hogwarts and it's former standard of excellence. They would allow past scores to stand as posted but any further had to be the standardized test or no certification. This caused many students to worry about their upcoming tests, they had already been exposed to some of the standards and they were tough. McGonagall said all classes for the fifth and seventh years were canceled in that only review and catch up work was to be done in those classes.

The only subject Harry, or any of the group, had a problem with was Astronomy, they all passed but Harry just barely got an Acceptable on his test. McGonagall and Flitwick both had their "advanced" students take the certification exams, OWLs for Harry, Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Susan; while the twins had to take their NEWT level written exams. Ginny had to take the same exam as the regular fourth year students. Both professors weren't surprised that their "advanced" students passed the exams. Both professors wondered what kind of grades these students would get on the real exams next year.

The end of term feast was in two days and all the students were exhausted from end of term tests. The nine had not come up with anyone to invite to the group, except Ron who was suggested by both the twins, Ginny, and Daphne, who did like Ron once he settled down. Even Harry had to admit Ron had preformed well that year and had really applied himself in class. Ron had only pestered them a few times and it was always to ask if someone would explain something in a way he could understand it better, most of the time it was Daphne who did the explaining with help from Harry, Hermione, and Neville. It was decided to ask Ron to join them in the chamber that night and introduce him to it.

Ron was scared when he was told to meet his brothers in the bathroom after lights out, he was even more scared when he was met by not only the twins but Harry and Neville also, and they all had a very serious look on their faces. "Guys, I don't know what is wrong but I promise I didn't do it. I've kept my mouth shut all year and haven't said anything to anyone about your sneaking out or anything. Please don't kill me!" Ron cried. He started shaking when both twins took an arm and the next thing he knew he was in a cave somewhere standing on a red square. "Well come on Ronnie-kins, get off the landing zone before someone comes and kills us all" the twins said in twin speak.

Ron watched as Harry then Neville appeared on the square. Next was Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Susan, and Daphne to appear on the square. When Ron looked around he saw many snake statues and at one end of the cave he saw a huge statue of a man's head, Salazar Slytherin. "Ron we promised you if you got good grades and behaved in class we would reward you. Well, you did as asked so we are asking you to join our group as of tonight. If you accept that is great, but if you don't want to then you will have to be obliviated so you can't tell anyone what you see and hear here tonight." Hermione said most of Hermione's lecture was lost though as Ron passed out when a small spider coming down from the ceiling landing on his arm.

When Ron woke up he was staring into the green eyes of Daphne Greengrass who had a smile on her face, "Ron you really need to get over that fear of spiders before you hurt someone besides yourself. You passed out because a small harmless spider landed on your arm and you fell on top of your sister. Susan and Hermione healed her black eye so maybe she won't kill you. Now get up lazy bones and come with me to see the rest of the group" Daphne said and then kissed Ron on the head.

It didn't take much to convince Ron that it would be in his best interest to join the group after learning where he was and what went on there. The chance to learn more magic was too great, maybe he too could be at the top of a class. Besides, he would get to spend more time with Daphne and find out what that kiss was about. He also got to see Daphne receive her new wand and saw the results of the testing against the targets Hermione made, the new wand made a real difference in her scores. Ron even got to test his strength on the targets, it wasn't real great. The summer trip was explained and Ron was offered a "helping hand" with the money part by Daphne.

After a long and trying year it was time to go home for the summer, in a way Harry was sorry to leave Hogwarts, but not so sorry as to offer to stay all summer. The train ride back to London was crowded until Harry did a little rearranging so the ten could be more comfortable. Things were going fine until Draco Malfoy showed up again. Seeing eight wands pointed at him, and two up his nose, helped Draco to decide to keep his mouth shut, mostly. He just had to say something to Daphne about being a "blood traitor" and got Hermione's special hair removal spell for his trouble from Daphne. All was quiet after that.

The group was met by parents and guardians as usual, but once again Harry was surprised to his aunt there, and Dudley! Harry had to ask and was told by Petunia that Vernon was at home and wondering why he was alone and why there was a fire burning in the fireplace that he couldn't put out, even if it didn't produce heat. As everyone was being welcomed they heard a loud voice saying it would get even. Everyone on the platform, except two people, turned to look at the young bald boy who was very red faced and shouting, Draco Malfoy. Then the woman who was standing by him started to shout, "Who did you upset this time? Why is it you can't come home like the rest of the school, all in one piece? At least your wand is intact this time".

Sirius looked at Harry who just shook his head "NO" and pointed at Daphne and whispered "shaving charm all over". Sirius busted out laughing and was soon joined by half of the people on the platform. When Draco heard this he tried to pull his wand, only to fall over breaking it. Very few people noticed the two redheads putting their wands away and laughing at the boy. "You know Ollivander should give us a commission on all the wands he sells to that idiot" Hermione said between laughing bouts. Harry had to explain to Petunia and Dudley why everyone was laughing so hard. "Dudley, he was on the receiving end of a shaving charm, all over. He upset one of the girls and she showed her displeasure. Now you see why it isn't a good idea to upset women, especially witches" Harry explained.

Harry told Daphne that he would send the application to her the next day or so; Daphne asked if maybe he could send one for her sister also, Harry agreed. He then reminded her that she needed to explain to her parents before he sent the applications in to the school as they needed to sign them and possibly arrange for someone to go and sign last minute permission slips. It was Ron who introduced Daphne to his parents and invited her to call or come over sometime, but he was very red faced himself, especially when Daphne thanked him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

A/N: Another year over with at Hogwarts and another summer to be planned and written. Yes, I'm going to include Ron in further adventures and he will be paired with Daphne. That shaving charm sure would be nice to know, just imagine not having to slice yourself up (and the fun you could have) in real life.

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