77. It's coming!

The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station, and students began pouring out onto the platform. The air was crisp with the approach of autumn, and lanterns flickered as the carriages awaited to take them up to the castle. Ryan, Yue, Rachel, Luna, and Hermione stepped out together, blending into the sea of students heading towards the Thestral-drawn carriages.

As they climbed into one of the carriages, Harry and Ron squeezed in beside them, still grumbling about the mystery surrounding the upcoming school event.

"So you really won't tell us anything?" Harry asked, peering at Ryan suspiciously.

"Nope," Ryan said, smirking. "But you'll find out soon enough."

Ron groaned. "This better be worth all the secrecy."

The carriages rolled forward, carrying them through the darkened landscape towards the towering silhouette of Hogwarts. When they arrived, they followed the flow of students into the Great Hall, where the enchanted ceiling reflected the cloudy night sky. The long tables were already filling up, students chattering excitedly about the new school year.

Ryan and his group took their seats at the Ravenclaw table, Luna sliding in comfortably beside him. Across the hall, the first years lined up nervously, waiting for the Sorting Ceremony to begin.

Professor McGonagall led the Sorting, and each new student was greeted with cheers from their respective houses. Once the last first-year had taken their seat, Dumbledore stood, raising a hand for silence.

"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" His voice echoed throughout the hall. "Before we begin our feast, I have some announcements."

The Hall quieted as students leaned in eagerly.

"This year, Hogwarts has the honor of hosting the Triwizard Tournament."

A wave of murmurs and whispers rushed through the crowd. Even those who had no idea what the tournament was could tell from the older students' reactions that it was something big.

"For those unfamiliar, the Triwizard Tournament is a prestigious magical competition between the three largest wizarding schools in Europe—Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. One month from now, in October, our fellow students from these esteemed institutions will arrive, and a champion from each school will be chosen to compete in a series of dangerous and thrilling tasks."

Excited chatter broke out among the students, but Dumbledore raised a hand, bringing them back to silence.

"However," he continued, "due to the nature of the tournament, and to ensure the safety of all participants, the Ministry of Magic has set an age restriction. Only students who are of age—seventeen or older—will be permitted to enter."

A loud groan of disappointment rippled across the Hall. Many younger students had clearly hoped for a chance to compete. Ryan, of course, already had plans to circumvent that particular rule, but for now, he remained quiet, letting the others voice their frustrations.

"Additionally," Dumbledore went on, "because of the tournament, Hogwarts will not be hosting a Quidditch season this year."

This time, the reaction was immediate and deafening. The Gryffindor and Slytherin tables erupted in protest, Quidditch players looking especially furious. Even at the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, disappointed voices filled the air.

"What?!" Ron nearly choked on his pumpkin juice. "No Quidditch?!"

Harry looked equally stunned. "But—why? Surely we could still—"

"The tournament will demand much of our time and attention," Dumbledore explained, though it was clear that his words did little to comfort the more passionate Quidditch fans. "I assure you, however, that this year will be filled with more excitement and challenges than any before."

The murmur of discontent continued but gradually faded as the feast began. Plates filled with food, and students dug in, though Quidditch players continued to sulk between bites.

Ryan exchanged a knowing glance with Yue, Rachel, and Serenity—who was quietly observing from the shadows as always. They all knew the tournament was the real event of the year, and if all went according to plan, Ryan would ensure he had a spot in it.

As the feast carried on, Fleur was on the other side of Europe, counting down the days until October.

Ryan had no idea what was coming for him.

~~~~

The school year began as usual, though some changes from the books were already evident. Sirius remained the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the third year in a row, a feat unheard of given the usual curse on the position. Remus and Slughorn were also still present, meaning there were no new additions to the staff this year.

Hopefully, this stability meant that Harry could have another peaceful year—one where he could just be a normal student. So far, Ryan and his group had done an admirable job ensuring that his school life remained as ordinary as possible. Merlin knew the boy deserved it.

Classes started the next day, mostly consisting of turning in summer homework and brief review sessions to shake off the rust from the holiday. The usual routine quickly took over, days blending into one another as September gave way to October.

Yet, beneath the surface of normalcy, excitement buzzed through the castle. Students poured over books detailing past Triwizard Tournaments, fascinated by the dangerous history of the event. Many whispered about why the tournament had been discontinued in the first place, recalling the horror stories of past deaths—including the infamous last tournament, where all three champions and a large portion of the audience had perished due to a cockatrice attack.

Despite the grim history, anticipation for the upcoming arrival of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang only grew stronger with each passing day.

Of all the students eagerly awaiting the arrival of the foreign schools, two stood out above the rest—though for vastly different reasons.

Fleur Delacour could barely contain her excitement. The days dragged on unbearably, each one bringing her closer to seeing Ryan again. She had prepared meticulously, ensuring she would look absolutely perfect when they arrived. Every letter from Yue had only fueled her obsession, and she had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by. The moment she stepped into Hogwarts, she would make sure Ryan knew exactly how she felt.

Yue, on the other hand, was simply looking forward to the chaos. Watching Ryan's face when Fleur finally confronted him—after months of careful manipulation—was going to be the highlight of her year. She had cultivated this moment with expert precision, feeding Fleur's obsession just enough while keeping Ryan blissfully unaware. The confusion, the realization, the inevitable exasperation—Yue could already picture it all.

Oh, it was going to be glorious.