“𝘞𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦.”

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25/09/2000 - Great Hall

It became clear that Professor McGonagall liked to deliver important announcements on Monday.

"Students of Hogwarts, before you start dining I wanted to let you know that our guests will be arriving in four days. You need to behave in the best way possible." She glares at some people in the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables, before continuing.

"As you already know, I hope, the schools that will be competing in the Triwizard Tournament alongside Hogwarts are Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute."

The students whisper excitedly.

"They will be sharing the castle with you, so you better be kind and keep any prejudice away. Discrimination in all its forms is highly unaccepted."

The students nod in understanding, as the food start appearing.

It is known that outside some students not liking much those with muggle heritage (something the teachers certainly didn't appreciate), Hogwarts was a very welcoming place.

"I can't wait to meet the students from the other schools... I was during my first year during the last tournament, if I'm not mistaken. Does anyone of you recall how the students acted?" JINA asks, feeling both excited and nervous for the arrival of the guests.

"I was during my third year, with Shua and Cheol. I recall taking this huge crush on a guy from Beauxbatons. He had those big, shiny green eyes. He was taller than me and he looked fine as hell!" LILLIAN recalls, making Jina giggle.

'toujours a simp'

Joshua clears his throat very loudly.

"What happened, Hong? Chocked on something?" Chan mocks his friend, earning a glare.

"Nah, man. You're too much of a softie. Even when you glare, you look cute." LILLIAN winks playfully, but that was enough to make Joshua blush crazily.

"Anyway, there were only two guys in the the Beauxbatons group. Meanwhile... Ah, everyone that arrived from Durmstrang was a guy, except a girl. Who, dare I say, was very hot as well." LILLIAN continues, taking a bite of strawberry pie.

Joshua coughs again, uncomfortable.

"Sorry, the baby was listening. Anyway, I'm surprised that Jina isn't feeling scandalised as well!" LILLIAN laughs.

"I just lost hope with you, love." JINA replies, with a proud smile.

"Who did you go with to the Yule Ball? I know third years weren't allowed, unless if they received an invitation from older students." ALEXIA asks, tomato sauce covering her face.

Joshua didn't say anything, but rolled his eyes in annoyance. He knew that Lillian was going to tell the same story of her Yule Ball date.

"I went and asked the Beauxbatons guy out. I didn't want to miss my chance! And to my extreme happiness he said yes and was impressed by my bravery of approaching him first. I mean, I wasn't sorted into Godric Gryffindor's house for nothing!"

Everyone but Joshua laugh.

"I need to uh... Start a very important homework for professor Fudge. Bye!" He basically runs away, embarrassed.

"Lilypad, that was mean. Did you have to let the guy leave like that?" SEUNGCHEOL shakes his head, amused.

"What? I thought we were just friends. Why would he have problems with me talking about a date I had 5 years ago?" LILLIAN raises an eyebrow, pretending to not understand.

"But have you seen how annoyed he looked?" VERNON smirks.

Lillian blushes lightly, understanding that Joshua might be really head over heels for her, like everyone has been telling her for years. She didn't mind the idea of Shua having a crush on her.

Ravenclaw's was the most quiet table, as always.

"You think Beauxbatons will be sitting with us this time too?" JIHOON asks, putting away the book he was reading.

"Probably. Why are you asking?" WONWOO smiles mischievously. He seemed of a better mood than he was since the day of the fight with Jeonghan.

"Pure research purposes. What are you assuming?" JIHOON asks, indignant.

"Nothing... But remind yourself that Jina is just across the room." WONWOO's smkle turn more and more evil.

"You're starting to develop a liking for trouble aren't you, Jeon?"

"Maybe I am. What do you want to do, mister Lee? Put me in detention? Professor McGonagall did that already. Remove house points? I wouldn't suggest that after seeing the hourglasses this morning."

"You look in a too good shape for someone who is forced to spend a lot of time with someone they supposedly hate..." JIHOON stares at Wonwoo, suspicious.

"You know nothing, Lee Jihoon. I think they spend their detention talking about life and realising how many things in common they have." JIHEON jokes.

"Guys, have you seen Taerin today?" LUCY asks looking around.

"Not yet..." MINGHAO replies, worried.

"Maybe she went to check on Reggie?" JIHOON suggests.

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Hospital Wing

Taerin was sitting by a half asleep MacQuoid.

"I'm sorry for the mess I made next time..." She apologies.

"Pff, it was nice to have some drama. It was starting to get boring around here." Reginald laughs.

"Are you somehow related to Boo Seungkwan?" TAERIN shakes her head with an amused smile.

Before MacQuoid can reply, someone enters.

It was Yoon Jeonghan.

"Hello..." He greets.

"Hi, Yoon. Came to check on me?"

"Maybe? I mean, yes. If that's not a problem and if I'm not bothering you two." JEONGHAN blushes slightly.

"If you brought some sweets, then you're welcome. I haven't eaten since lunchtime." TAERIN smiles.

"I- Didn't bring food. Uh, but if you want I have some flowers here..." JEONGHAN shows the bouquet he brought.

"I'm not a cow, but I appreciate flowers." TAERIN laughs.

"I am the sick one here Tae. So I get to keep the bouquet." Reginald raises an eyebrow.

"Whatever dude. Anyway, take a seat Jeonghan."

"I can't, I need to write an essay for Wednesday for professor Binns."

"I feel bored for you, man." TAERIN says.

"Before I go, I wanted to... I'm sorry for what happened and for insulting Yang. Even though that wasn't really an insult... The point is I apologise." JEONGHAN says, defeated and face as red as a cherry.

"Did we just witness a miracle, Reggie?"

"I think we did, Tae. And I accept your apologies Yoon, but you should say sorry to Jiheon personally."

Jeonghan nods and turns around to leave.

"I'm sorry for what Wonwoo told you. I know how bad it feels, but he is just very protective of us. We're all the family he has left." TAERIN's eyes become glassy, feeling guilty for what she told her friend the other day.

Jeonghan pauses, considering what Taerin said. Somehow, he felt bad for Wonwoo now.

"I started it, I deserved it." He pauses.

"I'm sorry for your argument with Jeon, but thank you for defending me." JEONGHAN lowers his head.

"It's nothing, really... I think you should apologise to Jessica though. She seemed very angry at you for that damned match." TAERIN laughs softly.

"I will. Maybe. If I don't chicken out." He mumbles the last phrase, but Taerin and Reginald hear him and laugh.

Jeonghan leaves the hospital wing and crosses paths with Wonwoo, Jiheon and Mingyu.

"What, Yoon? You ended up in another fight?" JIHEON jokes, lighthearted.

"Yeah, yeah. Or maybe I just came to do the thing you'd least expect from me." JEONGHAN shrugs, but he was embarrassed by being caught doing something nice.

"I knew that you weren't a bad guy under that icy armor." MINGYU smiles.

"As I'm in an embarrassing situation already, Yang I'm sorry for whatever I said that offended you." JEONGHAN says quickly.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you." JIHEON seems to enjoy the situation.

"I. Am. Sorry. For. Whatever. Offended. You. Better?"

"Better. And well, I guess I can accept the apology. Let me think about it for a few days, first." She corsses her arms, amused and surprised.

"Whatever. Now excuse me. Jeon, Yang and Kim." He nods and leaves as fast as he can.

"Okay, that was unexpected." MINGYU says.

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Girls Dormitory, Slytherin

"Do you think I can should Chan out for the ball?" YEONMI asks an amused Yuyan.

"Well, both of you kids are third year students. I don't think you'll be allowed to come." YUYAN laughs, but covers it up immediately with a caugh, as Yeonmi glares at her.

"What if I ask a fourth year and I force Chan to ask another fourth year, so we'd be allowed to go to the hall together, even if not really?"

At this, Yuyan loses it for the first time in a long time and starts to laugh.

"Yeonmi, if my kids aren't as adorable as you are, I'm not having them."

"What’s so funny about what I said?" YEONMI seems confused.

"It wouldn't be nice to those older students, for starters."

"We'll tell them in advance what our intentions are, so they know."

"And do you think they'd accept?"

Yeonmi thinks about it.

"Maybe?"

Yuyan wipes her eyes.

"Why don't you just ask that Gryffindor boy out on a casual date?"

"Because it just sounds weird. And he's an idiot. He'd think I asked him out as friends." YEONMI pouts, making Yuyan laugh again.

"Tell him that you don't have friendly intentions."

"He'd think that I declared myself his enemy!"

"Say that you like him then. Simple, isn't it?" JESSICA joins the conversation.

"You do that with Jeonghan first, then we talk." YEONMI hides her face in a pillow.

"She gave you a nice burn, didn't she Jess?" YUYAN mocks the head girl.

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Girls Dormitory, Hufflepuff

"Natalie!" ARIA whispers.

"Evelyn, leave me alone." She replies sleepily.

"I'm not Evelyn, I'm Aria."

"Aria? What are you doing here?" NATALIE gets up immediately.

"I'd like to tell you to not worry, but..."

"What happened?" NATALIE instinctively picks up her wand and starts to look around in the dark.

"Lumos." She whispers, making it easier for her and Aria to see face to face.

"There is a hooded person in the common room. I went to drink some water and maybe have a midnight snack and let's say that I nearly peed my pants." ARIA explains, keeping her voice low.

"What was the person doing?" NATALIE asks, keeping her voice steady to not scare Aria more than she already was.

"Nothing, just sitting in front of the fire."

"Could you tell if it was a man, a woman? Tall, short? Could you catch a glimpse of their face?"

"No, the cloak they are wearing makes it very difficult to see anything."

"Have you locked the dorms entrance door?" NATALIE asks and Aria nods.

"I'm going to check."

"Don't be stupid, Nat. It can be dangerous." ARIA pleads.

"Who do you think can enter to Hogwarts and to our dorm like that? It can't be anyone bad." NATALIE smiles, hiding her fear.

"I'm coming with you."

"You're going nowhere. Stay here and wait for me to return."

"What's going on?" MISUN wakes up.

"It's nothing Sunny. Go back to sleep." NATALIE leaves the wand on her bed and goes to cover Misun, so that she can sleep again.

"Can you girls stop talking please? I'm exhausted for once and you wake me up." EVELYN yawns and Natalie shush her, so the other girls don't wake up.

"Nat, please don't go. Let's wait for the morning, so everyone will be awake." ARIA proposes.

"I must go, it's my duty. I'm the head girl of this house and I won't let any harm be caused to you and the other students. Who knows what that person might want. It could be someone harmless, so there is no need to worry."

NATALIE reaches the door, before being stopped.

"Be careful, okay?" ARIA hugs Natalie, who appreciates the gesture.

"I will. Stay in the room here with Misun and Evelyn. You can take my bed and go back to sleep. When I'll come back, I'll stay in your room, don't worry. It won't take long, okay?" NATALIE smiles.

Aria does as asked, but she doesn't fall asleep. She simply can't.

NATALIE uses the Colloportus charm, after leaving the room and starts to walk her way out the tunnels that brought to the common room of her house.

Before opening the door and facing whoever was sitting outside, she uses the imperturbable charm, for extra protection and to muffle whatever sound might come out of the common room.

She knew that anything could happen and that scared her, but she didn't want the others to wake up.

Natalie takes a deep breath, hoping that it wouldn't be her last, and walks out of the round door.

She sees the hooded figure starting into the fire and starts to walk towards it, quietly does the imperturbable charm for the boys' dormitory door as well.

"Identify yourself, intruder." NATALIE says, putting all her confidence in these words.

Silence.

"State your name and your business here." NATALIE asks again, feeling slightly annoyed now more than worried.

More silence.

The mysterious figure whispers incomprehensible words and a loud thud is heard in the most peaceful common room in Hogwarts.

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𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠!

-what do you think happened? 👁️👄👁️
-oc: what are your favourite foods and beverages?
-oc: a magical creature you're actually intimidated by? (include why, if you want!)

note:

Lucy, Yuyan, Taerin, Yeonmi, Jessica, Jiheon if they answer this active check, they'll be receiving 10 extra house points, as they've answered all the last active checks.

Everyone else, this is the last notice for you to answer at least the active checks in chapters 7 and 8, or points will be removed from your house (I consider an active check missed if I receive no answer after 3 chapters; it used to be after one chapter only because it took me longer to update!)

𝘼𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚:

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“𝘞𝘦’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦.”