Chapter 3: Trouble in paradise

It was almost Halloween and the first challenge of the triwizard was approaching. This time around the students were told the basics of the challenge so they could be slightly more prepared, unlike last time. Albus often saw Sage in the library surrounded by books, when he was studying with Natalia. At the moment though he was sitting in the Gryffindor common room with Natalia and Lily.

"Lily I can't help you if you don't pay attention." Albus said with sigh. Lily was dreamily looking out the window.

"Lily!" Albus shouted. Lily started.

"What?" Lily looked confused at Natalia, who began to giggle.

"Pay attention. What are you thinking about that is more important than your education?" Albus said passing Lily her quil.

"I was just thinking about Scor… I mean I was thinking about the first challenge. I'm still a little scared for Sage." She said blushing noticeably.

"No need to lie Lil. We all know you and Scorpius like each other. Why don't you just ask him out already?" Natalia asked.

"She's not asking anyone out." Albus said glaring at Natalia.

"Hello, mum started dating dad when she was in her 5th year. It doesn't matter what you say anyway, I wasn't going to ask him out. He doesn't like me like that." She said looking down at her shoes.

"What are you talking about Lil? Scorpius is practically falling head over heels for you." Natalia said putting her hand on Lily's shoulder. Lily shook her off.

"Just leave it. It's none of your business." She said as she grabbed her stuff and left up to the girls dormitory. Natalia's eyes turned a light shade of violet, almost lilac.

"Hey don't be sad it's not your fault, Lily and Scorp are always really touchy about it." Albus said squeezing her hand.

"I know I just feel a little bad. Wait, how could you tell that I was sad?"

"Your eyes turned lilac, they always do that when you're sad. I mean you are a metamorphmagus. When it comes to most metamorphmagus' a certain part of their appearance changes with stronger emotions."

"Wait how do you know I'm metamorphmagus? Unless you saw my eyes change and just did your research."

"No I didn't research you. My father's godson Teddy is a metamorphmagus. His hair changes not his eyes, but I guess it's genetic."

"Yeah it is, my grandfather is a metamorphmagus, his eyes change as well." At that moment Scorpius walked into the common room.

"Hey guys. Where's Lily, we were supposed to hang out after she was done working with you two." Scorpius said as he took a seat across from Albus.

"She's in her dormitory." Natalia said sheepishly.

"Why? She said she would meet me here." Scorpius said looking confused.

"Umm, she got a little mad over something we were talking about." Albus said letting go of Natalia's hand.

"Well, what were you talking about?" Scorpius asked.

"I'm not sure if you want to know." Natalia said looking down at her shoes.

"Lily's my girl… I mean my friend. Why won't you tell me?"

"Ok I'll tell you, just don't get mad." Albus said nervously.

"I promise I won't get mad."

"Well, we were trying to study but Lily wasn't paying attention. More than usual. So when she finally snapped out of it we asked her what she was dreaming about…" Albus said trailing off.

"And… what did she say, tell me." Scorpius said impationaly.

"She said she was thinking about the first challenge, and how she was worried about Sage. Before that though she almost said she was thinking about you." Natalia said finishing Albus' thought. Scorpius looked a little confused.

"Nat told her she didn't need to lie because we all know that…" Albus said trailing off again.

"That you all know what? Finish your thoughts mate." Scorpius said looking between Albus and Natalia

"We all know that you two like each other, and we asked why she hasn't asked you out yet." Natalia said looking at Scorpius nervously.

"Well than. Is there anything else?" Scorpius asked looking down at his shoes.

"She said there was no point because she doesn't think you like her that way. We then told her that it was obvious that you like her. That's when she got mad and left." Albus said placing his hand on Natalia's arm.

"Thanks for letting me know. Just so you know I'm not mad, I'm just worried about Lily. Umm, Al can I borrow a small piece of parchment and a quill?"Scorpius asked holding out a hand.

"Uh, sure. Here." He said passing the stuff to Scorpius. He began to quickly write out something.

"What are you writing, if you don't mind me asking?" Natalia said looking over at the paper.

"I'm writing a note for Lily, telling her to meet me by the black lake under the beech tree tomorrow after lunch."

"Why do you want her to meet you under the beech tree tomorrow?" Albus asked looking at Scorpius questionaly.

"I want to meet her there to tell her that I actually like her, and to ask her out. Hopefully, if things go well."

"Wait, what? No way! That's my little sister." Albus said standing up. Natalia grabbed his hand and pulled him back down.

"Albus calm down. This is none of your business. Lily is capable of making her own decisions. Remember what she said, your mum started dating your dad at her age. Plus it's not like she wants to date someone that acts like Hugo's girlfriend, Sam was it. She's extremely overprotective and completely controlling him." Natalia said trying to calm Albus down. Scorpius looked nervous.

"True. Scorpius is better than Sam, and if he hurts her I know where to find him." Albus said looking a little better.

"I'm sitting right here." Scorpius said.

"Oh right. Sorry mate." Albus said giving Scorpius a look that said 'Fine go ahead'.

"No problem. I understand, if Sage ever starts dating I'll be watching the guy like a hawk." Scorpius said grinding his teeth. He turned to face Natalia.

"Would you mind running up to Lily's dormitory and giving this to her, boys aren't allowed up." He asked passing her the folded up note.

"Sure. I'll be back in a minute then." Natalia grabbed the note from Scorpius and headed up the stairs to the girls dormitory. When she reached the 5th year's dormitory she knocked on the door. Lily answered it.

"Come in." She said holding the door back.

"I'm sorry for getting mad at you earlier, I just get really sensitive about that stuff. I've never really liked someone before, I mean I've had a crush on Scorpius since I was ten. Sorry I'm rambling." Lily sat on her bed.

"This for you from Scorpius. He's down in the common room, don't ask just read it." Natalia said handing Lily the note.

"I'm gonna get going, Albus and I are going to help Sage with preparation for the first task. I'll see you at dinner." Natalia left Lily alone in her room and met Albus in the common room.

"I gave her the note. She's reading it. You want to come with to help Sage?" Natalia asked Scorpius as she packed up her bag.

"Sure, I guess Lily and I aren't hanging out anymore." They all grabbed their stuff and headed down to the front doors where they met Sage. From there they headed out to the far field near Hagrid's hut to practice.

"So what's the first challenge?" Scorpius asked setting his bag down in the grass.

"Professor Mcgonagall said that for the first two challenges the pairs would work separately to really test our individual knowledge and only during the last challenge will we work with our partners. I'm also not allowed to talk to Rose or the other students in the tournament about the challenges. She said the first challenge would be based around potions and riddles. I'm not sure what that really means though." Sage set her bag down next to her brother's and pulled out her wand. She began to twirl it between her fingers.

"You said potions and riddles. It might be something like the seven chalice riddle." Natalia said taking a seat in the grass next to Albus.

"What's that?" Scorpius asked.

"It's a riddle based around a knight trapped in a room with seven chalices laid out in front of him. One chalice holds eternal life, one will kill him instantly, three will slowly poison him to death, and the last two are just wine. He is given clues and has to figure out which one will give him eternal life." Albus said.

"Wow, sounds complicated. I'm glad I'm not you Sage." Scorpius said laughing. He stopped once Sage hit him over the head with her wand.

"Oww. What was that for?" Scorpius said rubbing the top of his head.

"Being annoying." Natalia and Albus laughed.

"But that does sound hard. I guess the Minister did say they would be based around wits." Sage said with a sigh.

"Hey Sage, I might have a way to help you practice for this, if it is indeed the riddle." Natalia said standing up.

"Go ahead, I'll take all the help I can get."

"What if Albus and I head back to the castle and get seven goblets from the kitchen and bring them to the Hufflepuff common room, where we'll meet you and Scorpius. Then we, Scorpius, Albus, and I can fill the goblets with different drinks. Water instead of wine, gilly water instead of poison, pumpkin juice for the instant death, and butterbeer for eternal life. Then we'll write out clues and get you to solve the riddle, and we'll time you."

"That was a lot all at once, but I think I've got it. Let's do it." They all grabbed their things and headed out. After many hours of challenging Sage, the three 6th year's went off to dinner and then bed.

Saturday morning came and went with nothing really interesting. Finally lunch arrived and Natalia, Albus, Rose, Scorpius, Hugo, and Sam were all sitting in the great hall eating.

"Hugo let's go. I need to study." Sam said standing up and grabbing her bag.

"But I don't need to study. I'll just meet you later." Hugo said not meeting her eyes.

"Well if it's going to be like that, I guess I'll just leave. I don't know why I even try." Sam pounded off to the library.

"Why don't you just break it off with her already? Clearly she makes you unhappy." Rose asked as she grabbed a piece of toast.

"I want to, but I just don't know how. I don't want to seem like a prat." Hugo said gloomly.

"Okay mate. I get that you don't want to be a prat, but you need to break it off. This isn't doing anyone any good, also I'd do it before Christmas." Albus said.

"Well I've got to get going, I'm meeting Lily." Scorpius got up and left the great hall. He walked through the grounds until he came to the beech tree, where he found Lily waiting for him. He took a seat on the grass next to her.

"Hey." He said brightley.

"Hey. Why did you want to meet?" Lily asked.

"Yesterday, I went to the common room to find you but you weren't there. So I asked Albus and Nat where you were, they said you got mad and went up to your dormitory."

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry Scorp. I completely forgot that we were supposed to hang out."

"It's fine. Albus and Nat told me why you got mad." Lily look down at her shoes. Her face was turing a bright pink.

"Lil, I know you like me. Not just as a friend."

"Oh. I know you don't think of me in the same way." Scorpius stood up, as he did he pulled Lily with him.

"Scorp what are you do…" At that moment Scorpius kissed her. After a few minutes they broke apart. Lily was blushing furiously.

"Why did you do that?" Lily asked sheepishly.

"So you'd know I like you. Lily everyone keeps saying you think I don't like you, but that's not true. Lily I've liked ever since I was eleven. Also I'm kind of obvious with the way I act around you." Lily looked a little happier. For the rest of the afternoon Scorpius and Lily talked about everything. That evening when they entered the Gryffindor common room they were holding hands. There was only one arm chair left as their friends had taken the rest, so they shared. Lily sat down and Scorpius sat on the arm of the chair.

"Wait why are you two holding hands? Did I miss something yesterday?" Hugo said bewildered.

"We're holding hands because we're dating now, and you didn't miss anything yesterday." Lily said smiling across to Hugo.

"Finally. It's been what like five years? I truly am happy for you guys though." Hugo said getting up and giving his best friend a hug.

"Thanks, H. That means a lot to me." Lily said hugging him back.

A few days had passed and Halloween was finally upon them. Hugo was heading up to Ravenclaw tower to meet Sam. when he got there Sam was standing outside the door waiting for him.

"Hey. Shall we go?" Sam said.

"Yeah." Hugo and Sam started walking down the stairs.

"So what did you want to talk about? In your letter you said it was important." Sam asked, as she did she tried to grab Hugo's hand but he pulled away.

"Look Sam, you're a great girl but I don't think this is working out. I don't think this relationship is good for me right now."

"Wait are you breaking up with me? After all we've been through? After all the work I've put into this relationship?" Sam stopped in her tracks, she was furious.

"What work? Sam all you do is drag me around to places, and make me hangout with you and your friends. I braley get to hangout with my friends anymore, and any time I talk to girl that's not Rose you freak out and say I'm cheating on you. I'm not sure if you even trust me."

"I have done so much to keep us together. With you running of to hangout with that Lily girl, or what's that Bulgarian girl's name, oh yeah Natalia. Where I have been faithful to you this entire time."

"Running off, I haven't been running off with anyone. Lily is my best friend and cousin and Natalia is kind of with Albus. Also you have not been faithful. I see you with those guys from your Herbology class, flirting acting like I'm no one. You don't trust me and you don't care about me. So I'm sorry if I hurt you but we're done, I just can't do this anymore." And with that Hugo left. On his way back to Gryffindor he bumped into a boy, who dropped his bag. Hugo stopped to help him with his things.

"I'm so sorry for knocking your things over." Hugo said handing the boy a few books.

"It's all my fault. I'm Edwin by the way, from Ravenclaw." Edwin held out his hand to Hugo, who shook it in return.

"I'm Hugo from Gryffindor."

"I'll see you around then Hugo from Gryffindor." Edwin left, waving as he walked away. Hugo finally made it back to the Gryffindor common room where he met up with Albus and Rose.

"Hey. How did it go?" Rose asked moving over on the couch so Hugo could sit down.

"I think it went alright. We had a row in the middle of the hall but other than it was fine."

"Well that's good." Albus said offering Hugo a chocolate frog, Hugo took it.

"On my way back I bumped into a boy, his name was Edwin. He's in Ravenclaw. Do either of you know him? I think he might be in 6th year."

"Edwin you said? Yes I think I know him. He's in our DADA class and Transfiguration and Charms and my Arithmancy class. Why do you want to know?" Rose explained.

"I was just wondering because I've never seen him before." Hugo, Rose and Albus talked about the upcoming challenge for the rest of the day.