Chapter 79 - The Start of the Fourth Year

"A new year is ready to begin." Albus Dumbledore said.

His colorful robe and long white hair fluttering in the wind. Next to him in jeans and a simple grey tee shirt was a teen with long raven black hair and emerald eyes. Both of them walked across the castle ground under the cloudy skies and high winds.

"An interesting year no doubt." Harry smiled. "Now that Fleur is coming to Hogwarts."

The aged wizard just shook his head as he lost count on how many times Harry said this. Ever since he returned from France he heard this phase quite a bit. Now only if he can get a sickle for every time he heard it, he could afford his candy addiction for the rest of his life.

'Well, I can already afford it, but it wouldn't come out of my paycheck.' Dumbledore thought to himself.

"So why aren't you on the train?" Dumbledore attempted to change topics.

"Daphne wanted to spend time with her sister Astoria and friend Tracey. Luna is hanging with Susan and her friend Hannah, while Katie is with Angelina and Alicia." Harry replied with a smile. "It's nice to see them hanging out with their friends."

"So I won't get a report of a weird haunted compartment?" Dumbledore asked joking. "That no one can find or get into?"

"At least not from me." Harry whistled with a large megawatt smile.

Dumbledore just snorted at him as he was sure he would be getting complaints from Headmaster Maxime. Most of them probably are about Harry sneaking upon their carriage or rumors of him preying upon their female students. Rumors he sure would probably be true if the last few years were anything to go on.

---

While time flashed forward with the students of Hogwarts filed into the castle and the coming storm arrived. The sound of crackling thunder could be heard among the joyous reunions of friends and sorting of first years. Once the sorting ended, the sound of a loud bang broke the atmosphere as a man limped in.

He had a face as if carved from wood with chunks of his nose missing and scars covering his body. His dark grey, grizzy hair flopped with each limp he took as a wooden leg tapped across the stone floor. The most noticeable feature however was the electric blue magical eye covering his right eye.

Whispers began as students wonder who this man was. Standing from his seats, Dumbledore quickly gained everyone attention.

"Welcome Professor Moody." Dumbledore greeted as the man went towards his seat. "Professor Moody has agreed to come out of retirement to teach Defense Against the Dark Art. So can everyone give him a warm welcome."

While the claps were unorganized and didn't feel very welcoming as most were stunned at his appearance. The man didn't seem to care and poked at his food as if testing it to be poisoned or some trap. Something for those that actually know him is precisely what he is doing or what Barty Crouch Jr imitating.

"Now that I have everyone's attention I guess I will make a few announcements. First I am sorry to say but Quidditch is cancelled this year." Dumbledore annonce much to many disbelief. "This is mainly an event starting in October to the end of the year taking up most teacher energy and time. However I am sure you will all enjoy it as Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard tournament."

"You're joking." One of the Weasley Twins shouted.

"No, I am not but I did hear a good one over summer." Dumbledore said but was cut off by McGonagall before he could.

'Another change that happened. Dumbledore didn't even get to start his joke.' Harry thought sadly. It didn't last long as Fenrir was patting his paw against his leg before looking at the food.

Seeing the small black wolf cub hungry, Harry pulled him up to his lap. He earned a few licks as it eyed the food clearly wanting to try them all. Sadly, Harry thought ahead and prepared him a dish safe for him to eat.

"Harry, did snuffles have puppies?" Hermione asked, seeing the wolf cub.

"No, he was fixed when I found him. I got this little guy while I was in France." Harry answered as he lifted the drooling pup head.

"Oh, ok." Hermione answered. "Are you surprised at the revival of the tournament. It was canceled because the death toll was so high."

"Not really. I knew about it for over a month as I lived with Dumbledore." Harry shrugged. "Did you know they had a few attempts to reinstate it before now too?"

--

Later that night in his dorm room, Harry was chatting with Sirius through the mirror. He just finished explaining Fenrir was now his 'son'. Something that got Harry laughing at Sirus' proud, yet disgusted face.

"I like dogs, but not that much." Sirius answered.

"Well, jokes aside. How is your mission of collecting Lestrange's fortune?" Harry asked.

While it was a small joke in the passing over the summer before Harry adventure of getting shot. He mentioned kicking Bellatrix out of the family while taking their family fortune for the fun of it. Since then Sirius has been digging through some contracts and laws seeing if he can find a legal way of obtaining them.

Truthfully neither one of them needs the money, but it was an interesting project. Also neither were going to complain about getting a small fortune. After all, it was better than sitting down in the vault as the goblins waited to take it for themselves.

"Well, it turns out to be a bit easier than I thought. Turns out that Lestrange's signed a contract to get Bellatrix." Sirius said before he gained a smile that Harry swore was brighter than the sun. "Basically one of the conditions was that Bellatrix had to bear a child who would become the legal heir by the time the age thirty five. If not, then the Black's family will seize all their properties and fortunes."

"Since there is no legal heir and the deadline passed nearly seven years ago." Harry smiled.

"I have a meeting with the goblins in the afternoon tomorrow. Nasty buggers but they do a good job banking." Sirius answered. "Well it's getting late and you should be in bed. So good night Harry."

"Night, Sirius."