note: Crossposted on AO3

Disclaimer: This is an original work based off the characters and events from Harry Potter which is owned by J.K. Rowling.

Twin Flames - Prologue

"What do you reckon they were going off about?" Ron asked grumpily as they entered their train compartment. "That was weird, even for my mum," he mumbled, referring to Mrs. Weasley's and Charlie's vague statements and excitement about this year. He was clearly not pleased at being kept in the dark.

"You're guess is as good as mine, mate," Harry replied lightly as they stowed away their trunks and took a seat.

"What do you think Charlie meant when he said he'll see us sooner than we think?" Ron continued, not wanting to let the topic die. "There's obviously something going on at Hogwarts."

"Obviously," Hermione remarked with a smirk before reaching into her bag. Ron shot her an indignant look.

"Well you don't need to be so-" Whatever retort Ron had on his lips quickly died away as he spotted the giant book the girl just pulled out of her bag. Ignoring the jaw dropped redhead, Hermione simply opened the book and began scanning its contents. Ron fought to reign in his incredulous expression.

"Are you seriously studying already? We aren't even at school yet!" he exclaimed, sounding almost offended as if studying in front of him was a personal insult to his character. Hermione shot Ron a dark look, before looking back down at the book.

"It's not homework," Hermione clarified with a defeated sigh. "I just have a feeling that with everything that's already happened," - she alluded to the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup - "that we won't be getting the peaceful year I wanted after all. Better to be as prepared as possible if something does happen," she explained, flickering her eyes to Harry briefly in emphasis.

Over the summer, and especially after the appearance of the Dark Mark, Hermione had not taken a break from her studies. Instead, she'd doubled down on her reading and had even asked Madam Pince if she could borrow a few books from the library for research over the summer - the cross librarian was clearly displeased but there wasn't much she could do against a signed permission slip from McGonagall.

She sincerely hoped for an uneventful year at Hogwarts. Bless her friends, but knowing them, she just knew that wouldn't be the case. Instead of fighting the inevitable, she instead resorted to preparing herself the only way she knew how.

Harry could only smile and shrug his shoulders. It wasn't his fault people were always after him. But he was glad that he could always count on his friends to have his back. Without them, he wasn't sure he would've been able to face what he had to in his first three years at Hogwarts.

Glancing out the window, he watched as the green scenery whizzed by. Deep inside, he also hoped for a peaceful year, however he knew in his gut that trouble would find him no matter what. The fact that his scar had been throbbing more and more did not help things either. Their prospects of an uneventful year seemed grim.

Arriving at Hogwarts, the three Gryffindors bustled into the Great Hall in a hurry, not wanting to be caught in another one of Peeve's pranks on the first years as tradition permitted, or worse, Professor McGonagall's fury.

"I hope they go through the sorting quickly," Ron mumbled under his breath as they hurried to their seats at the Gryffindor table. "I'm starving."

Hermione found herself quirking her lips in a dry grin at the characteristic complaint. "You're always starving," she couldn't help but retort humorously. "All you ever think about is food."

"So?" Ron shot her an indignant look. "A man's gotta eat, right Harry?"

Harry, as usual, remained silent. He was smart enough not to choose sides whenever these two bickered over trivial matters. Instead, he glanced up at the staff table. Hermione, noticing his silence, followed his gaze up to the table of Professors, where she noticed one seat was conspicuously empty.

"Where's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor?" she wondered out loud. Everyone else was present.

"Reckon they'll announce it later," Harry shrugged.

"I'm so hungry I can eat a basilisk," Ron moaned, flopping himself lifelessly onto the table top.

Fortunately for him and the other hungry students, the Sorting ceremony went by smoothly, as did the welcoming feast. However, while Ron was gratefully shoving the food down his mouth, Hermione was busy voicing her complaints about the usage of kitchen elves when Nearly Headless Nick revealed how the food came about.

"It's slave labor!" she protested hotly, refusing to put another bite of food in her mouth. She pushed her plate and fork as far away from her as possible and crossed her arms.

"They're happy to do it," Ron argued, his mouth full of pudding causing a small portion to dribble down his chin. "They want to do it."

Hermione huffed as righteously indignant as she could. "That's only because they've been suppressed for centuries! They don't know what they want!"

Knowing better than to try to fight Hermione when she's set her mind on something, Ron simply rolled his eyes and continued to happily dig into his Yorkshire pudding.

As the feast neared the end, Dumbledore stood up to make his final announcements. After his usual warnings about the Forbidden Forest, his speech took an unexpected turn.

"It pains me to say that this year, we will not be holding an inter-house Quidditch Cup," he announced.

"What?!" Harry nearly jumped out of his seat at the news, if it weren't for Hermione's hand on his arm, pulling him back down into his seat. He gasped and looked around at the others at the table for some sort of explanation. They all looked equally ask shocked.

Hermione quirked an eyebrow at the Headmaster, wondering what would be so important as to cancel Quidditch. Though she didn't particularly enjoy the sport as much as her friends did, she understood that it was still a huge part of the Hogwarts experience.

Before the murmurings of the Great Hall could escalate, Dumbledore continued his explanation. "This cancellation is due to an event that will be starting in October and taking place throughout most of the year. It is with great pleasure that I announce that Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year!"

The crowd erupted into whispers once again.

Harry looked over to Hermione who had a frown on her face. "What is that?" he asked.

"It's a wizarding tournament," said Hermione, her face darkening. "A very dangerous wizarding tournament." That was all she said before Dumbledore shushed the hall.

"This tournament has not been held for over a century, however, we have decided to reinstate the tournament to promote relations amongst the wizarding community. In a few weeks time, students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving to Hogwarts for an opportunity to compete in such a prestigious competition. One student from each school will be chosen as the champion of his or her school and the ultimate winner will receive eternal glory as the Triwizard Champion as well as one thousand Galleons."

"Sign me up!" Ron whispered excitedly, his face brightening up at the mention of the prize money. Down the table, his brothers reacted similarly, nudging each other with mischievous grins.

Hermione however, only had a bad feeling about this tournament.

"However due to previous deaths during the tournament-"

"Deaths?" Hermione hissed anxiously. She was right to be apprehensive after all! What kind of school allowed for events that would put their students' lives at stake? (Though the safety of Hogwarts had been rather questionable of late - with you-know-who appearing in their first year, a basilisk petrifying students in their second year, and a supposed murderer running loose in the castle in their third year).

"We have decided to instate a new law," Dumbledore continued. "Only students who are of the age seventeen or older may enter their name for consideration."

There was another eruption of whispers, mostly outrage and protests at the new rule, Ron being among them along with his twin brothers. Only Hermione and a few others seemed to agree with the new rule. Dumbledore raised his voice slightly in order to talk over everyone.

"I will be taking it upon myself to enforce this, therefore do not waste your time in trying to bypass this rule," he warned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. His gaze seemed to be looking directly at the Weasley twins who were the loudest in their disapproval of the new rule.

"We're still going to do it, aren't we?" Fred grinned impishly at George.

"Of course," George quipped back.

Despite her disapproval of the tournament, Hermione couldn't help but grin at the twin's antics. Though she would never admit it out loud, she rather looked forward to whatever tricks they had up their sleeves. Dumbledore wouldn't be fooled that easily though, that she knew for sure.

Before she could get lost in her thoughts, the doors to the Great Hall slammed open. In limped a small old man, with wispy hair and a heavily scarred face. His cane thumped loudly against the floors as the students watched the man enter in silence. The feature that stood out most about the man of course was his eyes, specifically his one electric blue eye that whirled about ceaselessly, inspecting nearly every inch and corner of the Great Hall.

It was unsettling. Hermione couldn't help but stare as the eye darted about, her mind suddenly whirling with theories behind the magic of the eye.

"Is that-" Ron's question died on his lips as he stared at the man.

"Mad-Eye Moody!" Hermione heard Fred gasp in recognition.

"What is he doing here?" Harry asked, bewildered. He found the answer to his question soon enough.

"Students," Dumbledore's deep voice broke through the silence. "May I introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Moody!"

The trio looked at each other from across the table. Just how many surprises were they in for?

After the feast was over, the students all got up to head to their respective dorm rooms, eager to discuss all the revelations from the feast.

Hermione was about to follow Ron and Harry up to the Gryffindor Tower when she heard her name being called in that familiar Scottish lilt. Whirling around, she came face to face with her head of house.

"Professor," Hermione greeted McGonagall, surprise coloring her voice. "Did you need me for something?"

The old witch ran her eyes down Hermione's figure once in a scrutinizing manner before flickering her eyes back up. As sharp eyes met her own, Hermione wondered briefly if she'd somehow already gotten in trouble. But that wasn't possible. Right?

"The Headmaster wants to see you in his office," McGonagall informed the girl. "The password is Fizzy Pops."

"Why does he want to see me?" Hermione asked.

"I suggest you go and find out, Ms. Granger," McGonagall answered curtly in her no-nonsense voice of hers. "Run along now."

"Yes professor." Hermione nodded her head, blushing and silently degrading herself for asking such a stupid question. She quickly headed towards the Headmaster's office, telling Ron and Harry that she'll catch up with them later. The entire way there, her mind raced with all the possibilities of what the Headmaster could ever want with her.

Entering the office, Hermione saw Dumbledore patiently waiting for her with that signature kind smile and twinkle in his eyes.

"Ah, Ms. Granger. Thank you for coming to meet me. My I offer you a lemon drop?" he asked.

Hermione smiled and shook her head politely. "No thanks, Professor," she replied before sitting down across the wizard.

"What did you want to see me about, Professor?" she asked. The curiosity was killing her. Her apprehension must've been noticeable because Dumbledore was quick to reassure her.

"Relax, Ms. Granger, you have done nothing wrong. The opposite in fact," he grinned knowingly.

Hermione quirked an eyebrow. Dumbledore always loved his riddles. It seemed she wouldn't be getting a clear answer this time either.

"I've heard that you've been diligently going through your studies over the summer," Dumbledore began.

Hermione blinked, before suddenly relaxing. So this discussion was on her studies. This, she could handle.

"Yes, of course," she answered matter of factly, earning a chuckle from the Headmaster.

"And from what I know, you have been reading rather advanced books," Dumbledore continued cryptically. That reminded Hermione. She needed to return those books back to Madam Pince tonight lest she anger the librarian and get banned from the library. She shuddered at the thought.

"Er, I guess," Hermione blushed, not used to praise.

Dumbledore only beamed more gleefully. "Yes well, I brought you here today to talk to you about your academics," he explained. At the widening of her eyes, Dumbledore hastily added. "As I said, there is nothing you need to be worried about. You are doing fine in all of your classes."

Visibly deflating, Hermione wondered where this conversation was going. Did Dumbledore really call her up here just to tell her she was doing well in her classes? That didn't seem likely.

"It has come to my attention," Dumbledore declared. "And the attention of several of your professors," he added with a pointed look. "That the material they teach in their classes may no longer be challenging for you. So-" he cut in, seeing Hermione open her mouth about to protest. "I have devised a schedule that may be more fitting for your intellectual needs," he revealed.

Hermione could only gape at him at a loss for words.

"You will continue taking the required classes of a fourth year student," Dumbledore explained, grinning at the expression on the girl's face. "But in your free periods, you will be taking private lessons from either McGonagall, Flitwick, or Snape in advanced Transfigurations, Charms, and Potions topics."

He slid a parchment toward the still shocked girl containing the edited schedule.

"This is the best I could do," Dumbledore told her, his eyes twinkling knowingly. "Since we are unfortunately all out of Time-Turners this year."

Hermione forced her jaw shut. "Thank you, Professor. This is so amazing! I will definitely do my best-" Her words came out in a flurry as her eyes roamed the schedule greedily though she brought her gaze up immediately once she realized she was being rude. She was flustered at the gesture but immensely grateful.

She couldn't believe she would be taking classes directly from McGonagall and Flitwick, both masters in their own fields. And though she knew she was going to have a difficult time alone with Snape, she had to begrudgingly admit that the man was brilliant at potions though his personality left a lot to be desired.

"Thank you so much," Hermione couldn't help but let the words escape her mouth.

Chuckling, Dumbledore responded. "No need to thank me, Ms. Granger. It is a delight to foster such a bright student. You remind me much of a young Minerva."

Flushing hotly at the praise, Hermione remained mum, not knowing what else to say. McGonagall had always been her role model ever since the witch had stepped into the muggle home of the Grangers and declared Hermione a witch. To be compared to her was like a dream come true. She would have to do her best to live up to the praise.

"I look forward to seeing what you accomplish, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore grinned, his eyes smiling along. "I'm sure Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley will need you to keep them in line, hm?" He hummed knowingly. "Now run along. We don't want you to be caught roaming in the halls after curfew now, do we?"

Thanking the Headmaster once more, Hermione rushed to the Gryffindor tower, her heart light with excitement and schedule gripped tightly in her hand. She all of a sudden couldn't wait for classes to start.

Determined to do her best in her private lessons, Hermione promised to show what it really meant to be the brightest witch of her age.