"I've heard that that Gryffindor, Kurt Hummel, is going to sign in", Quinn said when she stopped by the Hufflepuff table during breakfast. "We so not have chances of getting in."

Brittany shifted in her seat to greet her Ravenclaw friend.

"Oh, hi, Quinn… I've heard that too. But, I don't know. They say the Goblet Of Fire doesn't always choose the most obvious competitor." She said, smiling at her friend. "And, anyway, I don't think I stand a chance of being chosen. I'll just sign in for fun."

Quinn rolled her eyes.

"It's always about fun for you, isn't it, Brittany?"

"Why shouldn't it be?"

Quinn shook her head.

"Yeah, why shouldn't it?"

Quinn Fabray and Brittany Pierce had been friends since they met at King's Cros, sever years before. Quinn was with her parents, afraid of running through the wall that leads to platform 9 ¾, but then she saw a very beautiful blond girl, who was all by herself, seemingly lost.

"Hi." Quinn said, holding her head up high and approaching the girl. "I'm Quinn. Quinn Fabray." She extended her hand so that the other girl could shake it. But the tall blonde hugged Quinn.

"Hi. My name is Brittany. Brittany S. Pierce…" She said, her blue eyes shining. "Do you know how to get to platform 9 ¾? I had it written in a piece of paper, but I can't seem to find it…"

Quinn smiled at the other girl; she looked like a nice person. Also, Brittany S. Pierce seemed to need someone to tell her what to do. Quinn liked showing superiority, and if she knew something the other girl didn't, well, that was great.

"You see this wall? You just have to run into it. The Hogwarts Express is on the other side."

"Run into the wall? It might hurt…"

"Nah… Just do what I'll do." With that, Quinn hugged her parents and ran to the wall, pulling her luggage, closing her eyes, and hoping she wouldn't crash against solid brick, making a fool of herself in front of that beautiful girl. A few seconds later she heard a lot of noise: owls, cats, frogs, the train, people… It worked! She was on platform 9 ¾. On the other side, Brittany had her eyes open wide in wonder.

"Wow, that was amazing!"

Judy Fabray nodded to the girl, remembering the first time she ran through that same wall. Then, the woman was surprised when she felt Brittany's arms around her. She barely had time to understand what was happening, because soon Brittany was hugging Mr. Fabray and running to the wall.

"What was that, for Merlin's sake?" The man asked.

"I guess she literally understood that she should do exactly what Quinnie did." Judy replied, laughing a little. "It's good our little girl made a friend here on the platform."

Quinn and Brittany went searching for a place on the train, chatting happily. Quinn's parents were Ravenclaws while in Hogwarts. Her father worked for the Ministry, testing new spells. Her mother didn't work, just took care of the house.

"My mom is an arts teacher, my father works in a bank." Brittany said.

"Wait, your father works at Gringotts?"

"No, no. My parents are aren't wizards." Quinn widened her eyes.

"Your parents are muggles?"

"No, my parents aren't mugs! They are people." Brittany replied, thinking that, perhaps, Quinn Fabray was a little nuts.

"No, not mugs. Muggles"

"What's a muggle?"

"Muggles are people who aren't able to perform magic."

"Oh, so yes, my parents are… muggles." Brittany said, still unsure of the word. "Is it a bad thing?"

"No, that's absolutely nice. You know that Hermione Granger is muggle-born too, right?"

"Hermi… who?"

"Hermione Granger. She's like, the brightest witch of our time. She's one of the Golden Trio, you know."

"No, I don't."

"Well, I guess I have a lot to teach you, then." Quinn said, smiling. She liked Brittany. The girl seemed so sweet, and she needed Quinn to explain to her the simplest things of the wizard world. Yes, that friendship would be perfect.

"So, you are from a muggle family… aren't you afraid of the wizard world?"

"Actually, no… I think it should be fun."

Quinn was sitting by the lake, working on her homework for Professor Longbottom's class. It was her last year at Hogwarts, and she was decided to study hard for the NEWT tests. "I'm getting Outstanding in everything!"

The sun was setting and it was a chilly October evening, but she didn't want to go to the castle yet. "Lumos" she thought, the tip of her wand instantly lighting up. A second later, Brittany appeared by her side.

"What are you doing?"

"Homework. How about you?"

"I had Quidditch practice. Finn wants us to keep practicing, even though we don't have Quidditch this year…"

"That sucks." Quinn offered, sympathetic.

"Not really. I really like flying."

Quinn smiled. Now that Brittany was there with her, she knew she wouldn't concentrate on Herbology anymore.

"So, do you have any plans?" She said while folding her homework.

"Not really… I just need to take a long shower, and then do my homework. I know it's Friday, but I think I should do it already. Professor Binns won't be happy if I don't hand in it… again." Brittany's blue eyes lit. "Hey, Quinn… can you help me with my homework?"

"Of course."

Brittany offered her hand, to help Quinn get up, and the girl gladly took it. While they were walking to the castle, they passed by a group of Slytherins, who were chatting excitedly.

"Yes, that's right. I've heard that when I was in detention." Noah Puckerman said with pride in his voice. "Instead of arriving on Sunday, the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons delegations are arriving tonight." Puck petted his mohawk, a smug grin on his face. "I'm glad they delayed this Triwizard Tournament for two years… I can't wait to be Hogwarts' champion and get those French girls crazy about riding my broomstick, if ya know what I mean."

"Ugh, Noah, you're so gross!" who said that was Rachel Berry, a Slytherin whose main ambition was to get into WADA (Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts), and was always teasing and being teased by Quinn.

"For the first time in my life, I agree with you, Berry." Quinn chimed in. "You are gross, Puck. I can't believe I've dated you."

"Nobody asked you in this conversation, Fabray!" Puck said. "Instead of intruding into other people's business, you should just take your dumb-but-hot girlfriend to somewhere private and make out. Or, better yet… take her to a place that isn't private. I'd love to watch it…"

"Brittany is not my girlfriend!" Quinn said, her face becoming red.

"But I bet you wanted her to be…"

Quinn pulled her wand out, and pointed directly to Puck. Alarte ascendare, Quinn thought. Suddenly, Puck was being shot up the air. Quinn grabbed Brittany's hand and they ran to the castle. They heard a loud THUD and a lot of swearing when Puck fell back into the ground, but they were already out of the Slytherins' sight.

The two girls walked towards the Hufflepuff's Common Room, so that Brittany could pick up the things she needed for her shower and her homework. But instead of entering the room, Brittany asked Quinn:

"Is it true?"

"What are you talking about?"

"About what Puck said… Is it true that you wanted me to be your girlfriend?"

"Brittany, no!" Quinn said, making a disgusted face. "I mean, you are awesome, but I don't want you to be my girlfriend… I don't want a girlfriend. I don't like girls. I'm not gay." Quinn said that so fast that Brittany barely could understand her words.

"Well, it wouldn't be a problem if you were. I like boys and I like girls. There's nothing wrong with that."

Quinn raised her eyebrows, unsure of how to react after her friend's confession.

"I'll just go grab my things…" Brittany said, not noticing Quinn's expression.

A few hours later, when Quinn and Brittany were heading to the Great Hall for dinner, there was something in the air – the girls could feel it. The news Puck had heard during detention spread between the students, and everybody was anxiously waiting for the moment Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students would arrive at Hogwarts. Students were sharing stories they had been told, stories from the last Triwizard Tournament that took place at Hogwarts, the one with four competitors: Viktor Krum, the greatest Bulgarian seeker ever, Fleur Delacour, who was a quarter veela, Cedric Diggory, who died by Voldemort's wand, and Harry Potter, the Chosen One. It was right after the last task that Voldemort returned. When talking about these events, some students didn't feel brave enough to say his name… they would whisper or use other ways to refer to him: The Dark Lord. You-Know-Who. He Who Must Not Be Named.

All these stories made the anxiety grow even more among everybody. Even the professors seemed a little less focused.

"Professor McGonagall looks like she's afraid of being tickled by a group of Cornish pixies." Brittany commented when they got into the Great Hall. Quinn laughed at the absurdity of it, but, she noticed, the Headmistress did look uncomfortable.

"Well, the last time they had a Triwizard Tournament here wasn't exactly successful. No one can blame her for being worried."

"Attention, students!" The cat-like woman said. The Hall was instantly quiet. "As you all already know" she glared towards Puck, "the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegations are arriving today, two days earlier than the usual. I beg of you to behave yourselves. It might be an unusual day, but our rules remain the same. Anybody caught doing something they shouldn't, is going to detention, and points will be deducted from their house."

Mr. Filch, the caretaker, approached the professors' table, and said something to the Headmistress. She nodded.

"We've been informed that they may arrive within 20 minutes or so. Please…" Before McGonagall had the chance to complete her sentence, the students were all running to the front of the castle, making a lot of noise and being extremely excited.

"Children!" McGonagall said, divided between frustrated and amused.

Some students were near the castle's main entrance, some were walking around the front lawn. Quinn and Brittany were standing up by the lake. The two were very quiet, looking around, waiting for a sign, something that would tell them the delegations had finally arrived.

After 10 minutes, Brittany asked:

"How do you think they are? The Durmstrang and the Beauxbatons students?"

"I've heard that some Beauxbatons students are really beautiful. They even have students who are part-veela! But I'd be afraid of Durmstrang students. The school doesn't accept muggle-borns. Also, they teach Dark Arts there… What kind of person goes to a school like that?"

Brittany arched her eyebrows, but not because of what Quinn said. She was looking to the lake, and she was the first to notice when the water started to move.

"Earth to Brittany! Brittany!" Quinn said, a little angry.

"Oh, sorry Quinn… It's that…" She pointed over Quinn's shoulder, towards the lake. When the Ravenclaw looked to where Brittany was pointing to, she widened her eyes and gasped.

"That's the Durmstrang delegation!"

Brittany didn't reply; she just observed the mainmast slowly emerging from the lake's dark water. Behind her, all the conversation died. Everybody –students, professors, ghosts— was watching Durmstrang ship's arrival. Some students approached the lake, to take a better look. The mast looked like bone, and it made Brittany shiver in discomfort.

The deck finally appeared. Despite having just emerged from under the water, it was magically dry. A tall, strong, blond woman in her fifties was standing there, in an army-like attitude. Her hair was really short, and she had blue eyes. Obviously, she was the Headmistress of Durmstrang.

The ship kept going up, until it stopped. The Hogwarts students were quiet, trying to even hold their breaths in the presence of the impressive ship, which looked like a skeleton, and the woman aboard. The Headmistress clapped her hand twice, and then two doors opened at the same time. Instants later, the Durmstrang students started appearing in the deck; girls coming through one door, boys from the other. As they walked out to the cold evening, Brittany paid attention to their uniform: the robes were blood-red and they wore fur hats and cloaks.

"Professor Sylvester!" McGonagall said from the castle's entrance, her voice magically amplified. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

The woman nodded to Hogwarts' Headmistress.

"Thank you." Professor Sylvester replied. "We'll be on land soon." She turned around and gave an order in a language Brittany couldn't figure out. The Durmstrang students started moving.

Brittany turned around, to look at Quinn. Her friend's eyes were wide –just like everybody else's eyes.

"Quinn… what language was that?" She whispered.

"Are you really worried about that now?" Quinn whispered back, impatient. The other girl nodded. Quinn closed her eyes, annoyed by the disturbance. She really liked Brittany, but sometimes she needed to focus a little more. "Just pay attention to them!"

Brittany knew Quinn's moods, and right now, the best thing to do was to act exactly like the Ravenclaw wanted.

She turned her head back to the lake, and was surprised to see two lines of Durmstrang students –one line of boys, one of girls-, marching down towards the land. It was like they were marching on the air, but Brittany knew it was more likely to be an invisible runway or something similar. There should be about 30 students, more boys than girls.

The first two students to hit the ground were holding their head up high. They looked alike a lot, with wavy red hair, green eyes and light freckles. They had almost the same height and weight, but the boy's muscles were more defined than the girl's, and her hair was longer than his.

Brittany and Quinn were standing closer to the girls' line, and, as the second of each line reach the ground, it became difficult to see the Durmstrang boys. The next girl was shorter than the first, and her dark hair was very long, which only made her look shorter. She also held her head up high, just like the first girl. The third looked a lot like Rachel Berry, and the fourth made Brittany remember of a girl who was her neighbor when she was seven. Brittany's thoughts started wandering back in time, when she had no idea that a Wizarding world existed hidden from her muggle childhood. Well, not completely hidden. Many "unexplainable" things happened to her, from as early as she could remember. Boxes of Lucky Charms, full of marshmallow, that would fly off the shelves when she was hungry, a teddy bear that hugged her back when she was feeling particularly afraid of the dark, and her cat, Lord Tubbington, the first, would sometimes say things in human language…

"Wait!" Quinn squealed, grabbing Brittany's hand, bringing her back to the present. "Isn't that Dustin Barnes?" She pointed to a boy on the other line. He was tall, his skin was really pale, contrasting with his dark hair and deep green eyes. He had a strong facial complexion, and his face was shaved.

"Justin Bieber?" Brittany asked, confused.

"WHO?"

"Justin Bieber… A Canadian muggle singer. I think he looks like a girl, but there are many muggle girls who like him. Ashley loves him." Brittany explained, remembering the teen idol her sister was crazy about. "I think he's okay, but I prefer Ke$ha."

"No, Brittany. That's Dustin Barnes, you know. The poet…?" Quinn tried to explain, but Brittany's confused expression showed that she remained clueless. "He writes cool stuff." She gave up trying to explain.

"Oh, nice."

There was only one more girl walking down the invisible runway. The first thing Brittany noticed was that her expression was different. This girl had her head up in the same way the others had it, but her beautiful, chocolate eyes were shining, and her lips were curved up in a shy, almost imperceptible smile. Her skin was darker than all the other Durmstrang students', and so was her hair. She was very beautiful. This girl, Brittany realized, wasn't exactly looking straight ahead. She was searching around Hogwarts, studying that place that was going to be her new home for the next months. The girl finally hit the ground, and she looked to her right. Her dark, deep eyes found Brittany's blue ones, and, for a moment, there was nothing else in the world but the two of them. Brittany forgot how to breathe; she didn't need air when this gorgeous girl was looking intensely into her eyes. The only thing Brittany needed was looking into those eyes.

The Durmstrang girl blinked and averted her eyes, now looking straight forward. She walked to where the other Durmstrang girls were gathered, and when she finally was there, she turned around and stopped, at attention, focused on the ship. Brittany, however, couldn't stop staring at the girl. Who was she? What was her name, why did she make Brittany feel so… pulled towards her? Those were questions Brittany would have to wait until she could find the answers.

Professor Sylvester was now walking down the runway. With determined steps, she soon was on the ground, facing her students.

"At ease." She said, making Brittany remember the last semester before going to Hogwarts. Her magical abilities caused her big problems at previous schools, and military school seemed the only possible solution to it all. But a few months later, an owl dropped a letter at her mail box, and everything changed in her life.

Professor McGonagall walked towards Professor Sylvester. The tall woman offered her hand, and McGonagall shook it. Sylvester had a strong grip, and Hogwarts' Headmistress had to fight against her pain.

"Ugh… So, how was the trip, Susan?"

"It was great, Minerva. Thank you" She replied. "These students are the very best we have back in Durmstrang. So well-behaved, disciplined… We didn't have any sort of problems during our journey."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Are Olympe and her students here already?" Susan asked.

"Not yet. They are to arrive at any moment."

Brittany was still looking at the mysterious girl, who was quietly listening to her schoolmates chatting. The Hufflepuff yelped when Quinn poked her on the ribs.

"What?"

"Don't look, but Dustin Barnes is looking at us…"

Brittany turned her head in the direction of the poet, and, indeed, he was looking to them. She waved, and he waved back, his cheeks reddening.

"He's a cutie. And he looks nothing like Ashley's poster."

"Brittany, stop it!" Quinn pulled Brittany's arm down. "Do you want to embarrass me?"

"No, I just want to make him notice you."

Quinn rolled her eyes.

"Okay, thanks for that. But I don't want you to do it."

Brittany shrugged, and looked back in the direction of the Durmstrang girls. Despite the cold wind that was coming from the lake, all the girls had taken off their fur hats and cloaks, and were now only wearing their blood-red robes. The mysterious girl was saying something to the red-head, seemingly bored. The red-head replied, and then the two girls turned their heads. They looked at Brittany, who gave a surprised, shy smile to them –no, actually it was only to the beautiful brunette. She averted her eyes as fast as she had looked at Brittany, but the red-head threw her head back, laughing.

"What the hell is that about?" Quinn asked, using her head to indicate the Durmstrang girls.

Brittany smiled at her friend, and before she could say anything, they heard horses neighing above their heads.

"There they are!" Brittany heard Hagrid shouting in excitement. It was well known among the students that the half-giant was involved with Beauxbatons' Headmistress.

In just a few moments, 12 winged horses appeared in the sky, pulling a beautiful carriage. Soon it was landing on the earth. The door opened, and Madame Maxime appeared.

"She's taller than Hagrid!" Brittany whispered to Quinn, who nodded.

Madame Maxime climbed off the carriage, smoothing her elegant black satin robes. Despite being so tall, she was very graceful.

Professor McGonagall and Professor Sylvester walked towards her. She shook hands with them while the students started climbing off the carriage. Brittany was interested in watching the interaction between the three witches, but when a boy with short, curly, dark hair jumped off Beauxbatons' vehicle, girls –and some boys- started shouting hysterically.

"What is happening?" She turned to Quinn.

"Do you see that Beauxbatons guy who just came out of the carriage?" Brittany nodded. "That's Blaine Anderson, le rossignol." Quinn said, and Brittany scrunched her face in confusion. "The warbler."

"I've never heard of him."

"He's a singer that has been really popular among teenage witches, and a few teenage wizards." Quinn indicated a particular group of noisy Gryffindors nearby, in which they could see Kurt Hummel. "I don't get why they like him… He has triangular eyebrows! And he doesn't wear socks!"

Brittany checked the boy. Indeed, he didn't wear socks.

"Well, he has his charm…" Brittany offered.

The carriage was slowly emptied. The last girl to jump out of it was an Asian girl.

"Oh, my God!" Quinn said, excitedly. "That's Tina Cohen-Chang!"

"Who now?"

"Tina Cohen-Chang. She's the best Wizard's Chess player in the world." Quinn explained. "The Quibbler made an awesome coverage of her on this year's Wizard's Chess World Cup."

"Sounds boring." Brittany replied.

"Not boring at all. Ron Weasley praised her a lot on her skills and…" Quinn realized she was rambling. "Well, she's an amazing player and that's what matters."

Brittany nodded, just so that Quinn would shut up. They were friends, but sometimes Quinn was too… Ravenclaw.

"Attention." They heard Professor McGonagall's voice, and soon everybody was quiet. "First, I would like to officially greet our visitors from Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. We are honored to have you here at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, I'd like to invite our guests inside our castle, to share a feast with us. Hogwarts students, please, be polite and kind."

All the Hogwarts students started marching back into the castle, but both the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons delegations remained where they were, waiting for further instructions from their professors. Brittany walked with Quinn, and from time to time she would turn her head around, and look to where that Durmstrang student was standing.

Gorgeous, Brittany couldn't stop thinking of that word.

Quinn went to the Ravenclaw table, sitting by Arthur Abrams and Michael Chang, while Brittany sat at the Hufflepuff table, between her friends Sam Evan and Rory Flanagan, with Finn Hudson opposite to her.

"So, Brittany" Rory, a 15-year-old Irish boy who was part leprechaun started, "are you signing up for the Triwizard Tournament?"

"Yes, I am." Brittany replied. Rory's accent was difficult to understand, but now Brittany was used to it. "But, like, I know I don't have any chances. I'll do it just for fun."

"I think you have a chance." Sam said. "Actually, I think we all have a chance. I know everybody thinks Kurt Hummel is going to be chosen, but it's the Goblet of Fire that decides it. Let's wait and see."

They talked some more, and then the doors of the Great Hall opened. The Durmstrang delegation walked towards Slytherin table, and professor Sylvester went to sit with Hogwarts professors, by McGonagall's right. Brittany then noticed that sitting at the table there were two witches she didn't know. One had ginger hair and big, wide eyes, and she seemed a little too anxious; the other was big and strong, had curly short hair and her expression was gentle. A few moments later, the Beauxbatons delegation walked to the Ravenclaw table, and Madame Maxime walked to the professors', sitting by McGonagall's left.

When everybody finally sat down, Professor McGonagall stood up and all the conversation died.

"Thanks for your attention. Before we have our feast, I'd like to introduce Ms. Emma Pillsbury, head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation," the redhead smiled shyly, "and Ms. Shannon Beiste, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports." Some students –mostly the Quidditch players- started cheering at her name, and the woman waved at them. Beiste had been coach of the Holyhead Harpies, and the team had an impressive performance while she was in charge. "They are going to be the judges of this Triwizard Tournament, along with me, Professor Susan Sylvester from Durmstrang, and Madame Olympe Maxime from Beauxbatons."

All the students clapped politely.

"Let the feast begin!" McGonagall said. Food magically appeared on the tables, and the students gladly started serving themselves.

From where Brittany was sitting, she could look to the Slytherin table, and –she was more than pleased when she realized it- the brunette Durmstrang girl was practically sitting opposite to her. Brittany shyly smiled at her, and the girl, once again, averted her eyes.

"Britt? Brittany?" Rory called her. "Won't you eat? The potatoes are lovely."

"Oh, sorry… I was distracted!" She reached for the potatoes, and served herself. But she barely touched her food, glancing at the Slytherin table, trying to make eye contact with that girl who had been floating around her mind for the last half hour.

After the food had disappeared, McGonnagal stood up and talked about the rules of the Triwizard Tournament. Only the students over 17 were allowed to sign up, and they should do it by writing their names and the name of their school in a piece of parchment and depositing it inside the Goblet Of Fire. To make sure there wouldn't be any kind of fraud, the three Headmistresses were going to place charms around the Goblet area. The winner would receive a prize of 1000 galeons, and the Triwizard Cup.

"Sign up period begins on Sunday, and those of you who are over 17 and are willing to participate on the Tournament have 24 hours to place your names." McGonagall said. "Don't do it as a joke. If your name is chosen, you have a magical contract with the Goblet Of Fire, and you have to honor your school and your own name. In case you have any doubts, Hogwarts students can talk to your House Headmasters, and Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students, with your Headmistresses." The Great Hall was in complete silence. McGonagall wished them a good night and good luck to the students who were signing up. A few moments later, people started to move out and head to their dorms (Beauxbatons students were heading to the carriage and Durmstrang students, to the ship).

"Hey, Brittany, aren't you coming?" Finn asked her.

Brittany had her eyes still upon the Durmstrang girl.

"Oh, I'm going to meet up Quinn… I have a book from hers and I forgot to give it back earlier." She lied.

"Okay. Just don't stay out for a long while, okay? Filch won't like it." Sam said.

Brittany smiled at the boys, not really paying attention. The Durmstrang girl was standing up, so Brittany knew that, if she wanted to get to know her before going to bed, she should do it now.

The Great Hall was almost empty now.

Brittany was practically running towards the girl and her red-head friend. The two girls were too involved in a conversation in a language Brittany didn't know and seemed oblivious to her presence as she approached. Brittany was just a few steps from them when the red-head looked around and saw her. She turned her head and whispered, motioning her head in Brittany's direction:

"Santana!"

"Santana? Is that her name? It's beautiful, but it doesn't sound like… Durmstrang.

Santana and her friend stopped and turned to Brittany. The Hogwarts student felt suddenly shy at the attention, but she was able to muster her friendliest smile.

"Oh, hi there. I… uh… My name is Brittany S. Pierce, and I wanted to…" To meet you, Santana, you are a really beautiful girl. "uh… to welcome you to Hogwarts."

Santana smiled shyly at Brittany, but her friend gave Brittany an open smile.

"Hello. It's nice to meet you." She answered in a strong accent. "My name is Natasha. Natasha Petrova and this is my friend, Santana Lopez." Natasha extended her hand and Brittany shook it.

"Hi. Nice to meet you." Santana said, shaking hands with Brittany. The moment their hands touched, Brittany knew that was a very special handshake, for several reasons. The first was that shiver that ran down her spine, in a way that made everything look brighter and warmer. The second was the feeling of being protected when Santana's hand was holding hers. The third reason was that Santana's eyes lit up, and Brittany could swear she had never seen anything that beautiful before. But the next reason was something even more beautiful: for a brief instant, Santana smiled, and Brittany discovered what her favorite thing in the world was – Santana Lopez's smile. And then there was the fifth reason: Brittany knew the handshake had affected Santana just as much as it had affected her.

Brittany looked into Santana's eyes again. There were thousands of things she wanted to say, but Brittany wasn't sure of any of them. Even though, she knew it was worth a try.

"So…"

"LOPEZ, PETROVA!" Professor Sylvester had just walked out of the Great Hall. "You shouldn't be fraternizing with the enemy! Go right back to the ship! If you aren't there in three minutes, you two are swimming back to Durmstrang!"

Brittany widened her eyes, shocked with the witch's harsh words. Santana and Natasha exchanged glances. Santana looked defeated; Natasha closed her eyes, shaking her head.

"We have to go back." Natasha said to Santana.

"I know." She replied. She looked back at Brittany. For the first time since Brittany saw her, Santana wasn't shy. She had a confident smile when she said her next words. "We have to go, but I'll see you again, Brittany S. Pierce." Santana smiled once more, and this was different from all the ones Santana had smiled since arriving at Hogwarts: it was confident, charming, piercing almost. Brittany smiled back, feeling dizzy from happiness.

"Santana!" Natasha called. Santana turned around to go back to the ship. Brittany watched her and Natasha walking and when they were about to leave the castle for the night, Santana looked back to where Brittany was standing still. It was quick, but Brittany was sure her heart skipped a beat when Santana's eyes met hers for the last time that night.

What a night.

Yes, I edited the chapter.