#distant cousin of the Look Up at the Ceiling sit in the lecture hall where I avoid the visual input of looking at people | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

walkerduchess · 6 years

Text

A Game of Hearts - Prologue: Promised (The Royal Romance AU)

Pairing: Drake x MC [Liam x MC]

Notes: I feel I must introduce myself since I don’t really post much original content here. So... hi! This is the prologue to a The Royal Romance fic series situated in an post-apocalyptic AU. This is the first fanfiction I’ve ever written and English is not my native language so I’m a bit scared! It’s big, so I had to make it a series. Usually I just make stories in my mind and work on them there but this one wouldn’t get out and I just had to get the details out, so I beggined to write it down. At first I felt apprehensive because I don’t really have many followers and honestly I have no clue if anyone would be interested in a post-apocalyptic story. Regardless, it’s been fun to write it and I figured if one person reads and enjoys it then it’s worth sharing! So if you do read it, I would really like to know what you think!

I do not own these characters, they belong to Pixelberry.

Summary: Decades after the only survivors of the end of the world started building a new realm, a young princess has to deal with the role assigned to her by her ancestors.

Word Count: 2912

Prologue: Promised

The ten year old is restless in her seat as the voice of her tutor fades into background noise. Her eyes are desperately searching for anything interesting enough to catch her attention. Not that she doesn’t care for history lessons, but she has too many of them. And this specific one - about the prophecy that came with the end of the world - she swears she could lecture it herself for the numerous times she heard it ever since she was born.

"Your Highness." She fidgets with the strings in the waist of her dress when she notices a pause in her tutor's voice and realizes he is addressing her.

"Yes?"

"Have you been paying attention?"

She’s annoyed by his question, but replies politely as she knows she should. "Yes Mr. Frederick."

“Then I suppose you wouldn’t mind repeating what you learned today for Dominic here.” The tutor motions to the teenage servant who just walked in the room with a jar of water for them. The boy’s eyes widen and his cheeks turn pink, but finally he approaches the table and gives the girl a smile. She knows Dom, he is funny and always lets her get away with whatever unadvised activity she conducts within the castle. The girl returns the smile and is about to complain about how Dom already knows the history - who doesn't? -, but right before any words can come out, the older man interrupts, looking at the door “But unfortunately I believe it will have to wait.”

The girl looks across the room. It is sort of empty, with only one bigger table, the tutor’s chair opposed by two other chairs, one on which she is seated. The walls, as well as the floor and ceiling, are stone-gray and filled with maps and notes, some of them relics from the world of before. At the door stands her governess, a lady the girl reckons to be something between 40 and 50 years old, announcing she came to escort her to her chambers to get ready for her sword lesson.

“Why do I have to go anyway? Liam doesn’t go.”

“Prince William has private sword lessons”, Mr. Frederick corrects her.

“Why though?” She insists, getting up from her seat.

“Because he is a prince”

“Well I’m a princess.”

“No. You are the crown princess of Cordonia. And the Promised Princess of the Last Prophecy. It’s other people’s duty to keep you safe, not the other way around. Even so, it is important that you know how to defend yourself as well, during these days of war.”

“I thought the prophecy said that the Promised Princess would bring salvation and peace.” she defies. She can recite the prophecy by heart. She knows every word. She has to, after all. But there are so many things she still doesn’t understand, the words aren’t clear about anything. She doesn’t understand how the council of holders determined that she was the Promised Princess, or that peace will come from and for the North kingdom out of the four kingdoms built after the resurgence. Well, three, now that the East kingdom celebrated its allegiance to the North, originating the united kingdom of Cordonia. She doesn’t even understand why they are at war for so many years now.

The tutor scowls at her “You are much too young to comprehend all things.” With that, the man closes with a thump the book in front of him, as well as the subject.

She actually adores her sword lessons, out of so many lessons she has since young age - archery, history, diplomacy, engineering, physic. Although she is best at engineering, she prefers her sword lessons solely because she can be with friends there. She thought about telling them the truth, who she really is, her real name, several times, but her mother reminds her everyday how important it is that it remains a secret, for her safety. As she follows the governess through the halls of the old castle, her mind drifts back to her first day of sword lessons.

"I know, I know. I'm Elia and not Sophie."

Queen Aurora gives her a stern look, but the princess knows her mother is just worried about her. With no cause, she thinks. Her mother is always loving and concerned, differently from her father, the King, who is always strict and distant. "And what if they ask you who you are?"

"I'm Bert and Max's cousin."

The older woman raises her eyebrows, as if waiting for more.

"On our mom's side. I know all this, mother!" Her tone is pleading for the questioning to end so she can join Max, her real cousin on their father side, to go to her lesson.

“Good.” The woman gives her a smile. “Go, then.” With that, the girl smiles before running out of her chambers.

Young Lord Maxwell is already waiting for her by the castle doors. He is her age, about her size and has his usual playful smile on. He is Sophie's best friend, she knows him since forever and they always have fun together. They often get in trouble together too. Sophie runs to him but as soon as she opens her mouth to speak, she hears a voice from beside her cousin.

"Shall we go?"

It’s her other cousin. Maxwell's brother, Bertrand. He is about four years older than Sophie and Max, and used to play with them, but not anymore. He says he doesn’t have time for children’s affairs. ‘Utterly boring’, is how Sophie would define him. He was assigned to take both the children to their lesson in the yard just some blocks outside the castle limits, so they don’t have to get a car to get there.

Sophie doesn’t get to leave Stormholt Castle when it can be avoided, so she takes in the view surrownding the pathway to the yard. She notices the big metal fences outlining the way and how the grass outside of them looks different, brown and too short. She considers asking the reason for such contrast, but decides it’s better to stay quiet until she gets to the lesson. It’s not like anybody explains anything to her.

Once there, Bert mutters some sort of farewell and disappears. Sophie is excited to finally be around some more kids. There are about a dozen of them, each one with different patterns drawn on their faces, all holding their training swords and waiting for the master, a man sitting in front of them, to begin the lesson. All around the yard there are guards securing the location for the class.

“You’re new”, a freckled girl approaches her. Her hair is red and she looks so beautiful, Sophie thinks. For a moment she wishes that she, too, had red hair, for she has never seen it before. Three other girls stand behind her, as if an audience for wherever she goes.

“What are you looking at?” The girl asks.

“Nothing.” The scolding tone from the girl is enough to make Sophie annoyed by her, so she just walks past her and her followers to stand beside some other girls.

“Hi” she says, hoping they are more pleasant.

“Hi”, a slim girl with dark brown hair answers. “What’s your name?”

“Elia”, she is prepared for that question. “And yours?”

“My name is Hana, this is Kiara and this is Penny”, Hana motions to the other two with her hand.

“So who are your parents?” Kiara asks.

“Kiara!” Hana exclaims with wide eyes. “Quit the rudeness with the new girl”.

“What? We’re all holders here, everybody knows that. Well… almost all of us are.” She gives a quick glance to the direction where Max is chatting with a boy she doesn’t recognize.

“My mother is Max’s mom’s sister.” Sophie tells her rehearsed lie.

“You’re Max’s cousin?” Penny jumps in the conversation, with a sudden interest.

“Yes… why?”

“Oh, he’s just… funny, I think.” Penny’s cheeks get pink.

“Well, children”, their conversation is cut short by the loud voice of the master, “Get in your positions, the lesson is starting.”

Sophie walks back to stand next to Max, who is excitedly holding his sword up.

“Hey Soph- Elia! You’re gonna love this.”

Sophie gives him a warning look. He knows better than to screw this up by revealing who she is to anyone.

She indeed loved the lesson and was congratulated by the master afterwards. The red haired scowled at it, it is clear that she is one of the very bests amongst them.

The princess starts making her way towards Max, who is again with the same dark haired boy from earlier, talking beneath the shadow of a undergrown tree, the only surviving tree in that yard. However, the red haired gets to them quicker, along some other kids.

“When are you going back to cleaning the grounds and leave the fighting for the real holders?”

“Stop pretending you’re one of us, settler!”

As she approaches, Sophie hears some kids speaking down on the unknown boy. He looks angrily at the ground and Max tries to pull him away. She furrows her brows, wondering why they’re being so pointlessly cruel.

“Hey!”, she shouts. “Stop this absurdity at once!” Her voice is full of authority and she realizes she sounded just like her governess when she catches the princess in some wrongdoing.

“Seems like the new girl thinks she’s in command”, one of the kids says.

The girl with the red hair frowns at her and stands in front of her. “Who do you think you are?”

Oh, if she could only tell her… “My name is Elia. And you are…?”

“I don’t need to tell you anything… Elia.” Her judgmental eyes scan the new girl head to toe as she pronounces her name.

The princess looks at the other kids that were also being mean to the boy, “What has he ever done to you?”

“Are you another prince’s settler protegee to be in his side too?”, The girl asks with a disgusted look.

Sophie had never been disrespected like that, nor had she ever seen anyone be humiliated for apparently no cause.

“Are you really so miserable that you need to belittle others so you can feel superior? Because I thought I heard you claim your nobility.” Sophie knows how to be mean, too. She can see that the girl was not expecting her answer by the shock in her face. “Didn’t really catch your name” the princess adds.

Then, finally Max is able to elaborate words “Don’t waste your time with Liv.” He starts pulling his cousin and the boy to a corner of the yard.

The red haired glares at him. “It’s Olivia”, she states, anger in her eyes.

Walking away behind Max and the dark haired boy, Sophie looks back to shoot Olivia a smirk and mischievous eyes “I’ll call you Liv.”

When they distance themselves enough, the unknown boy finally says something. “I didn’t need your help there.” Sophie raises her eyebrows.

“Come on Drake, don’t need to be ungrateful with her.” Max speaks up.

Sophie is finally able to give the boy a proper look. He’s a little taller than Max, slightly tanned skin, just like hers, and his dark hair falls messily upon his face, almost touching his eyes. His eyes are a dark shade of brown, not caramel like hers or blue like Max’s.

“Are all the kids in this class unpleasant, Max?”

“I’m sorry, Drake is not very good at making new friends.”, Max states.

Drake looks even more peeved than he was before. “I’m not.... it’s just… thank you.” He looks defeated, although he can’t hide a small smile “It was enjoyable to see Olivia put in her place.”

“Wasn’t that hard, was it... Drake?” She speaks his name with a smirk and a newfound curiosity. “Why were those kids talking about you being a prince’s protegee?”

That evening, Sophie sits in her bed, with a book in front of her. She is inside her chambers waiting for the right moment to sneak out. Her parents won’t let her out during open events, they say it is far too dangerous. It’s been a couple of years since she discovered the secret passageway behind the fireplace in her chambers, so she can come and go without the guard outside her door noticing she left.

Once she’s out, the girl silently occupies her usual spying spot. She looks down at all the people that came for the festivities but her eyes are searching for one in particular.

She spots him with his back against one of the walls of the front hall, and a man, which she recognizes as his father, speaking to him in what seems to her quite a rispid tone.

The girl gets up quickly and makes her way to the kitchens, where she knows the servants will be busy enough with all the food for the guests to notice her petite figure sneaking out of the castle through the back doors. She makes her way around the castle and stops right outside the main hall’s front window to leave her message there, and runs towards the side gardens.

When Liam notices the small horse-shaped piece on the window in the front of the main hall, he feels conflicted. He really doesn’t want people wondering where he is. Yet, when he catches himself, he’s already standing by the window, chess piece in hand. It’s not like he’d been able to ever tell her ‘no’. He wonders how someone ever could. As he slips through the doors he feels a little embarrassed to be giving in to some plotting of a ten year old. Not that he’s much older, but two years made a big difference at their age. He really doesn’t feel like she is younger when he’s with her, though. Actually, sometimes she would have him lost in the midst of so many ideas and other times he would be unable to understand her or read the expression in her eyes. He doesn’t know if tonight will make any difference in that matter, but it’s been a while since he had come to Stormholt Castle, and he doesn’t know when he’ll return.

Sophie finds Max already in the maze and feels a little jealous. She wonders what would be like to be able to be seen at festivities and roam around the castle freely during open events or meetings.

“Finally” Max speaks. “Did you manage to tell him?”

“Of course.” she states, matter-of-factly. “I don’t know if he’ll come though” The girl answers, slightly disappointed. She doesn’t say it out loud, but she hopes Liam will show up. She wants him to be her friend, not because he is a prince, not for the reasons the other girls her age brag about when they get to meet him in some formal gathering or festivity. She yearns to be close to someone who will understand her. She wants his friendship because he is the Chosen Prince of the Last Prophecy. They are in this together, they have to be. She is going to marry him after all.

“Hey” Liam’s voice startles her.

Turning around, she smiles “Thought you weren’t coming.”

“I’m here.” He sounds serious, as he always does. She wonders if he ever had fun. Or maybe she’s not like a proper princess should be. Maybe that’s why she feels uneasy with Liam, like she can't just say what she wants to say or he won’t approve of her. However, he gives her a smile and hands her the chess piece.

She extends her hand and takes it back “So you got my message right.”

“Yeah. Why are you the knight anyway?”

“Because I don’t like following a straight line.” She smirks.

Her answer manages to get a chuckle out ou Liam, so she felels good about it. “Of course not. Would you care to tell me why am I the rook then? I hope it’s not because I’m dull”

“You’re not dull, you’re just… steady, I think.” She doesn’t really know how to explain her choice.

Liam furrows his brows “I guess that’s… better than dull.”

“What?” Max interrupts “He gets to be the rook? Why am I only a pawn?”

“Oh Max…” the princess giggles “you should feel lucky you are my pawn.” Liam joins her and they both laugh.

“Are we going to play something or just stand here in the dark while you make fun of me?” Max inquiries.

“Yeah, why is it so dark here?” Liam asks, looking up at the big lamps that rise above around the gardens, turned off.

“Something about the generator.” Sophie shrugs “Someone is going up there in the morning to fix it, I suppose. It’s a separate generator from the castle, that’s why there are lights there.”

“Well then…” Max begins, impatiently.

“Have you any ideas, Liam?” Sophie interjects.

“Um… I used to play maze tag with Drake all the time back at Thorngate Castle”

Sophie smiles at the idea, but somehow she feels it would be more fun if Drake was there too. “Why don’t you ever bring Drake to these open events?”

“I would, but he never wants to. He says he can’t endure being around so many holders.”

“Heh” Max giggles “That is what Drake always says.”

She feels slightly disappointed, but then what is she thinking? She only sneaks out to see Max and Liam because they already know who she is. It is too risky for other kids, the ones who know her as Elia, to see her here, in her home.

Her parents spare no efforts to make sure other holders or settlers who aren’t servants or guards at Stormholt Castle don’t know who she is. People outside their small circle of trust cannot acknowledge what Princess Sapphire Aurelia looks like. Not during the war, and not until she is old enough to be able to fulfill the prophecy. That’s why it comes as a surprise to all of them when, twelve years later, she disappears.

33 notes · View notes

dylanssprayberries · 7 years

Text

Telesthesia - Liam Dunbar

Chapter 5.

Allison’s old laptop weighs heavy in my backpack. Not as heavy as the guilt I carry with me. Uncle Chris told me I could use Allison’s laptop for educational purposes. Although I’m not doing anything I’m not allowed, I’m sure my uncle did not mean for me to educate myself on the supernatural.

“Noelle, wait up!” Liam easily jogs up to me in the hallway. “Everything okay?” He asks as we walk to our English lecture. It’s the only class we have together.

“I told you I’m fine.” I mutter.

“And your heart skipped a beat.”

“Because you’re making me nervous, Liam.”

“Another lie.” He states. “That’s okay, I only asked because I care.”

“Why do you? We barely know each other.” I roll my eyes.

“Because you saved my life.” His voice is low and he looks down to the floor.

“And if there’s anything-“

“There isn’t.”

“If you insist.” Liam mutters.

“I do.”

We walk in silence for a moment, avoiding the mass of students roaming the halls. They quickly disappear into their assigned classrooms. Great, now we’re late. Then Liam stops in his tracks, but I don't wait up for him. Within seconds he grabs hold of my arm, causing my books to fall to the ground. He pushes me up against a row of lockers and corners me by putting his hands on either side of my face.

I’m frozen in spot, staring into his big, bright eyes. I swallow hard to get rid of my nerves and ignore the pleasant feeling of his breath fanning across my skin.

“What? No biting back?” Liam raises his brows, his lips twisted into a smirk.

“Figured that’s more your thing, fangs and all.” I release the breath I was holding. I’m awfully aware of how fast my heart is beating.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me, Noelle.”

“You have me cornered up against the wall, what the hell do you expect?” I snap.

Liam shakes his head. “That’s not it.”

“Just let go of me.” Thankfully my voice is steady, unlike the rest of my body. My legs feel like they could give out on me any second now.

“Tell me what’s wrong with you.” He almost pleads.

“What’s wrong with me?” I exclaim. “Liam you have me pushed against a wall and you’re asking what’s wrong with me? Let go of me you asshole.” The tears start to well at the brink of my eyes. As soon as Liam notices this, he takes a step back.

“I’m sorry.” He mumbles. He brings his hand up to his mouth before he runs it through his hair.

I shake my head. “No, you’re not.”

“You’re being impossible here Noelle, clearly there’s something wrong with you, why won’t you tell me what it is?” He clenches and unclenches his jaw with so much force I’m surprised I can’t actually hear his teeth brittling.

“Because we’re not friends Liam.” He looks taken aback at this. “And after this I don’t think we ever will be.” I turn around to walk away but knock straight into Scott. We haven’t met before, but I recognize him from the pictures in Allison’s room. She kept every memory of him, even after they broke up, which I think is beautiful. Scott eyes me warily as he helps me up. “I’m her cousin.” I explain, because the question Allison? is written all across his features.

“Noelle, right?” Scott quickly recovers. “She used to tell me about you.”

I nod. “I should go.” I step aside to move past Scott but his voice brings me to a halt again.

“Or you could come with us?”

I hesitate but turn around again. I lock eyes with Liam, who’s now leaning against the lockers he had me pushed up against. “Where?”

“You should stay in the car.” Liam says to me. We’re seated in the backseat of Stiles’ Jeep.

“Because I’m weak?” I raise my brows.

“Because you’re human.”

“Same difference.” I shrug.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.” Liam mumbles.

“You hurt me today.” I remind him. This gains us the stares of Scott and Stiles through the rear view mirror. They don’t say anything, though.

“I said I was sorry.”

“‘Sorry’ isn’t some magic eraser that undoes what you did.” I snap.

“You’re staying in the car.” Liam states, then he gets out.

“Everything okay Noelle?” Stiles asks. When I don’t reply, he continues. “Liam can be a pain in the ass.” He states. “But most of the time he’s alright.” With those words he gets out of the car. Scott looks at me once more before he, too, goes outside.

For a moment I just sit there, studying Stiles’ car a little. It’s a cool ride, falling apart at most parts, but the nostalgic feel about it makes up for that. I decide to study a little, it’s only my first day of classes, but I have a lot to catch up on.

When I go to take my books out of my backpack, my eyes catch hold of Allison’s laptop. More intrigued than ever, I find myself typing in her password, completely forgetting about the Biology chapter I intended to read.

Allison has loads of documents saved. I make a mental note to look through her school papers some time, could spare me a lot of work. Hidden further away, I find a folder that says Scott. I feel intrusive and pray I won’t find anything too disturbing, like collages or nudes. Or collages of his nudes.

Thankfully, I find exactly what I was looking for. There are images of beasts with fangs bigger than the people shown. Accompanied by script work I cannot make out, I’m guessing it’s latin. I sigh, guess anything on here is completely useless if I can’t even read what it says.

Bored again, I shut the laptop close and get out of the car. Liam carefully warned me to stay inside, but he’s not the boss of me. Besides, I came along to get more information out of the pack. What a complete waste of my time it would be if I stayed in the car. Plus, agitating Liam is quite the bonus.

I climb out of the Jeep, slam the door shut behind me and wander out into the narrower parts of the alleyway. “Great. A fucking dead end.” I mutter, staring at the wall that’s blocking me. I frown, certain Scott, Stiles and Liam all went this way. The only way they could have entered the building from here is through the window, about five meters high above the ground. There's no way I could climb up there, not even if I push the garbage can up against the wall. I sigh, but not defeated, and decide to walk around the building in search of another entrance.

I find one, and once inside, I find the building eerily quiet. What pieces of furniture are left are all broken, ripped and the materials are sprawled across the floor. I move through the first room, not one sign of anyone else being around.

The same goes for the next four rooms I make it through. I reach a hallway, with ceilings higher than I’ve ever seen before. There’s a stairway in the middle of the room leading to the second floor. I hesitate to climb the stairs, but my decision is made for me when a body flies through the air and lands right in front of me. I am blocked from the stairs, but even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to move. The body in front of me doesn’t look human, nor alive. I cannot help but scream.

“Noelle what the hell are you doing here?” Liam’s voice drags me out of my daze. I blink rapidly, dragging my eyes from Liam in his wolf-like state to the body in front of me. Taking in as much of the body as possible, I conclude that it does not look like a wolf. “Noelle.” Liam’s voice cuts through the tick air. He looks like his normal self again when he grabs hold of my arm and drags me out of the room. Only when we’re outside he releases his grip on me. “I fucking told you to stay in the car.” He snaps. I don’t reply to him as I walk back to the car.

“Noelle are you listening?” Liam exclaims, following behind me. “I’m talking to you!” he snaps again.

My vision is a blurry combination of the car I’m walking towards and the body that came towards me. There was blood all over it, eyes open wide with shock. I think it missed a limb or two.

“Noelle!” Liam grabs hold of my arm again, like he tends to do.

“What?”

“Talk to me.”

“No.” I say, even though answering him defeats my point. I shrug my arm loose and keep walking.

“Where are you even going?”

“I’m going to study Biology and pretend I didn’t just see what I did. Or better said, what you did.” I snap at him. My hands are shaking when I open the door to the Jeep. I climb into the backseat and grab hold of my backpack, easily finding my Biology textbook in there. It’s easier to avoid Liam’s eyes when I have my gaze focussed on my book, although I can’t make out a thing I’m reading. All I see is the body, and its lifeless eyes staring into mine.

Liam sits beside me, not saying a word. Every once in a while I flip a page, none of the words stick in my mind, though. “This is ridiculous.” Liam mutters suddenly. He grabs the book from my hands and closes it shut. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to study.” I state.

“Noelle,”

“Don’t.”

“That wasn’t my doing.” He says, quietly.

“I don’t care.” I mutter.

“It wasn’t me.” He repeats. “Peter showed up.”

“Hale?” I frown.

“Yes.” Liam frowns as well. “You know of him?”

“Not really.” I shrug. “Just the name.” And the fact that Lydia resurrected him from the death, which he made happen by mind control. He and I should have a chat some time.

“Yeah well, you should know he isn’t very patient.” Liam mutters.

“Got that much.” Again we sit in silence for a little while. I watch the minutes pass by on the dashboard clock. After exactly six minutes, Liam speaks up again.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.” He sounds honest, not forced like usual. I look up into his eyes and can tell he really means it.

I want to shrug and tell him it’s what I get for being so stubborn. I should have listened, should have stayed in the car. I deserve to have him rub it in. I can’t help but smile a little that he isn’t doing just that. He’s different now, less distant. Acknowledging I’m human, and that it’s quite horrifying to see a dead body. So instead of the cold reply my instincts tell me to give him, I tell him thanks.

#telesthesia #liam dunbar #liam dunbar fanfiction #liam fanfiction #liam fanfic #teen wolf fanfic #teen wolf #stiles stilinski #scott mccall #lydia martin #Allison argent #peter hale #teen wolf writing

7 notes · View notes

calicoe · 6 years

Text

West of Gray (chapter 3)

"I knew this was going to happen."

Kate watched from her spot at the Gryffindor table as Shawn's sky blue eyes darted around the Great Hall wildly. His pupils were dilated, and his mouth was stuck in a permanent grin for the time being. He was shaking slightly, but that was due to the bouncing of his leg underneath the long wooden table.

"How much did he eat?"

Kate turned her head to the girl sitting next to her, shaking her head in annoyance. "Merlin knows."

The girl laughed, her blonde hair almost white against her black robes. Having just cut it before arriving at King's Cross, it fell to a straight line midway down her back, entirely flat and shining. When she turned her head back to the hyperactive Shawn sitting across from them, it moved with her like a waterfall, and about her freckled face, the shorter strands hung forwards to hide her hazel eyes. The only thing holding them back was the think black frames of her glasses.

"Anywho, how was that vacation with Mum, Dad, and the others? You were with your cousins in the states right?" Kate asked, focussing all of her attention on her "sister", Clyo Thornton, Gryffindor's other Chaser along with her brother, Paul. Her tanned skin glowed in the candlelight of the Great Hall and with the little makeup she wore her freckles danced across her face like ballerinas, showing themselves off to the world.

"Yeah, we stayed with them all summer and honestly, I was ready to come home to the gloomy and sun-deprived country that we live in by the second day. Do you see this? It looks like I got a spray tan!"

"What did you do? Roll around in a bag of Doritos?"

She glared at Kate, "Not funny." Flicking her eyes in the direction of her older brother, Paul, who was casually conversing with his twin, Caspian, and their best friend, Ethan Cunningham, a little way to the girls left. "They weren’t complaining though. They love it! The bloody gits were so happy they were getting tan, I can't even look at them. They look like fucking Mexicans!"

Clyo groaned in exasperation, burying her head in her hands. "Next time Kate, you can go in my place. You're practically family anyway so it won't make a difference who goes and who doesn't. As long as two girls and two guys are going, we're good." She picked her head up from the long oak table and looked around. "Where are the first years? I want the sorting to be over with asap. I'm starving."

Kate shook her head and laughed as the doors to the Great Hall swung open and a line of first years entered the room, following Professor Sprout obediently. Their gazes wandered around the Great Hall in awe, and a few of them had their jaws hanging open as they stared up at the velvety black ceiling dotted with numerous stars, and the thousands of candles floating above them. They crowded around the top of the Great Hall where the professors' table was located along with a lone stool sitting at the centre of the stage. An old, tattered hat was sitting atop it.

Silents cloaked the hall for a few moments before the hat twitched, and a rip near the brim opened up, startling some of the first years. An old, raspy voice echoed about as the Sorting Hat began to sing.

"A thousand years or more ago, Before Hogwarts came to be, There lived four kingdoms of renown, Whose names are still cloaked with mystery;

Bold North, from wild moor, Shrewd South, from glen, Sweet East, from valley broad, Cunning West, from fen.

By North, the bravest was Prized far beyond the rest; For South, the cleverest Would always be the best; For East, hard workers were Most worthy of admission; And power wallowing West Were loved for their ambition.

Now millennium later, When the Kingdoms have long been gone Time comes that rivers run salty, And the false sister shall break the bond.

Each of these four descendants, Plagued by an unfortunate casualty, Shall cause the rise of a new God, To rule over one's chastity.

The great queen, upon seeing herself vanquished, Will exhibit an excess of masculine courage; On horseback, she will ride unprotected entirely, Pursued by swordsmen through a forest long forbidden.

'Twas navigation that showed the way, For the founders of Hogwarts to find me, And now I hope to aid in a battle, Only four will be witnessing.

Now slip me snug about your ears, For the Sorting must commence, I'll have a look inside your mind And tell where you'll place best!"

Applause broke out around the Great Hall as the hat sat motionless once more. Kate and her friends shared quizzical looks as they clapped. "Well, that's new," Kate whispered to Clyo as Professor Sprout started to read off the names of the first years.

"No kidding. The last time it gave advice was before the second wizarding war." Clyo replied, her eyes fixated on the young first-year girl sitting on the stool.

"Well, I thought it was really pretty." Shawn cut in just as the Sorting Hat yelled out the girl's house. The whole Gryffindor table burst into applause as she made her way towards the front of the table.

"Of course you did."

"Now before dinner begins, I have a few announcements that I'm sure will be the topic of conversation this evening."

Clyo let out a loud groan, mimicking that of many others throughout the Great Hall as Headmistress McGonagall approached the Phoenix podium at the centre of the platform. Kate elbowed her in the side, ignoring her childish whimpering as she waited for Headmistress McGonagall to continue.

"This year the inter-house Quidditch Cup will not be taking place," McGonagall said, pausing at the outraged yells from a few Quidditch players, Clyo, Shawn, Caleb, and Kate included. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance as she looked about the great hall, stalling on Kate. Kate quickly shut my mouth and kicked Shawn in the shin, causing him to yelp in pain as the Great Hall quieted down.

“Violence is never the answer.” He whispered, glaring in his fellow Prefect's direction as he clicked his tongue in distaste.

“It is in my book,” Kate mumbled, causing Clyo to let out a little chuckle in amusement as the group focused their attention back onto McGonagall

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy." Whispers spread about the Great Hall like wildfire as the Headmistress continued on with her announcement. "I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that with much convincing the Ministry of Magic has allowed for Hogwarts to be the host of the first annual Tetrad Trials."

"Similar to the Tri-wizard Tournament, the Tetrad Trials will consist of five magical tasks. From each of the four schools participating, a single student is selected to compete in the competition." Professor McGonagall paused, her eyes (if possible) hardening even more. She leaned her pale, wrinkled hands upon the podium, her face impassive. "Now let me be clear. If chosen, you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint-hearted."

"But we will continue that conversation later, we will be housing three other wizarding schools from across the globe," whispers of excitement and curiosity started to work their way about the Great Hall, and Kate shot Clyo an excited look. Xavi? Kate mouthed, earning a shrug in response. She signed, crossing her fingers that her childhood friend's school was one of the three coming to Hogwarts for the Tetrad Trials. "A student from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Mahoutokoro School of Magic, and Uagadou School of Magic will be participating in these trials alongside one of our own. They will arrive in three days time, and I expect a warm welcome to be given when they do. . ."

Kate and Clyo discreetly high-fived at the announcement of Mahoutokoro School of Magic. The rest of McGonagall's lecture on etiquette was lost upon the students as they whispered and gossiped about the coming trials and once dinner appeared all thoughts about the Sorting Hat's song were that of a distant memory.

0 notes