AN: Alright so, this was supposed to be up yesterday. My bad. Totally exhausted after class and it slipped my mind! So, well I don't have much to say about this one, minus the fact that I agree with Paige that men are so bloody dense! This chapter is the first task and leads up to the ball, which shall be the next chapter! So, sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own Paige.
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Paige snuck away and stood by the tent door.
"Psst, Harry!" Harry walked over to the door and stood by Paige. "Is that you?"
"No, it's Fleur." Paige laughed despite herself.
"How are you feeling? Ok? The key is to concentrate. After that you just have to…"
"Battle a dragon. You have quite the pep talk, sister" Harry said with a laugh. Paige made sure no one was watching before she lunged through the door and hugged Harry with everything in her. A camera flashed and Paige pulled away.
"Aw, sibling love. If everything goes unfortunately today, you might make the front page!" Rita said as she walked in. Paige frowned at her.
"You have no business here. This tent is for champions and friends." Rita smiled, already on her way out.
"No matter. I got what I want." With that, Rita left as Dumbledore entered.
"Good day champions. Gather round please. Now you've waited, you've wondered and at last the moment has arrived. The moment only four of you can fully appreciate." He looked down and saw Paige. "What are you doing here, Miss Potter?" Paige grinned sheepishly.
"Oh um… Sorry I'll just go." Paige ducked out and headed back for her seat between Remus and Sirius.
"Where were you?" Remus asked. Paige grinned and turned to the field just as Cedric was coming out. She watched as the three champions before Harry all successfully grabbed their golden eggs. Paige almost cried as Harry stepped out. She and Sirius stopped breathing as the dragon swung its tail down at Harry, missing by inches. Harry jumped behind a rock as the Horntail breathed out fire.
"Accio Firebolt" he muttered. As he peeked out behind the rock, he saw his broom flying in. The dragon took a breath and Harry ran out and hopped on his broom, the dragon flying behind him. The crowd went silent as Harry and the dragon flew out of sight. Paige held her breath as she looked for him.
"I don't like this" Sirius muttered. Paige didn't either. Suddenly the crowd started cheering and Paige let out her breath as Harry came back into view, grabbing the egg and landing in a safe place. She joined the cheering once he was safe.
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Paige stood between Ginny and Hermione as Harry was lifted in celebration. The Gryffindors had stopped caring when she came. Seamus once said minus the robe, she was a Gryffindor. Speaking of Seamus, he lifted the egg to Harry.
"Go on then. What's the clue?" Harry grinned as he lifted the egg.
"Who wants me to open it?" The room cheered. "You want me to open it?" The room cheered again and Harry grinned as he flipped the latch, a loud screeching sound came from the egg. Paige covered her ears with her hands and saw Harry being dropped by the twins as they covered their ears. Harry quickly closed the egg again.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron asked from the edge of the room. Harry stepped forward as the twins cleared their throats.
"Alright everyone, back to your knitting. This is gonna be uncomfortable enough without all you nosey sods listening in." Paige laughed at Fred and George. That was one way to embarrass them. Neville and the twins walked over to them. "We're going to pretend to talk, but really we're watching them getting back together." Paige snorted as Neville wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. She leaned back into his chest.
"That would make your life wouldn't it? If they kiss and made up, literally?" The twins grinned and positioned themselves to see. Paige laughed as Harry and Ron turned to stare at them. "Our plan backfired. They caught us staring." She waved and laughed as Harry and Ron shook their head before turning away.
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"Package for you, Ron" a small first year said as he dropped the box in front of Ron.
"Thanks Nigel. Oh look, mum's sent me something." Paige and Hermione exchanged looks as he opened the box and pulled out a long puke green piece of fabric with orange fringes. "Mum sent me a dress?"
"Well it does match your eyes. Is there a bonnet?" Harry grinned as he held up the other item in the box. He laughed as Ron pushed it away. He walked down the table a few steps and turned to his sister.
"Ginny, these must be for you" Ron said. Ginny looked up and frowned as Hermione whispered in Paige's ear and they burst out laughing.
"I'm not wearing that. It's ghastly." Ron frowned and moved to sit back down. He frowned at the laughing girls.
"What are you two on about?" Hermione regained her composure.
"They're not for Ginny, they're for you! They're dress robes!" Ron and Harry looked at the hideous robes.
"Dress robes for what?"
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"The yule ball has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament since its inception. On Christmas eve night we and our guests gather in the great hall for well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the yule ball is first and foremost... a dance." Paige sat among the Gryffindors listening to McGonagall. She had begged the older witch to not make her learn in Slytherin. Snape had, surprisingly, allowed McGonagall to teach Paige. At the mention of a dance, the boys groaned.
"Oh Merlin" Paige sighed. Ginny glanced at her. Paige just shook her head.
"Silence. The house of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons. Now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight. Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr. Weasley, will you join me?" Ron gulped and Paige turned to Ginny.
"Is your brother about to hurl?" Ginny grinned.
"I hope so!" Paige snickered as Ron was instructed to place his hand on her waist. Ron spluttered, but did as she said. One of the twins gave a wolf whistle as the music started.
"One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three." She smiled as Ron went back to his seat. "Everybody come together." The girls walk forward, but the boys remain seated. "Boys, on your feet." Neville reluctantly stood and moved towards Paige. She winked at him.
"I've got the best boyfriend" she muttered to him. His cheeks turned pink and Paige laughed.
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"We don't travel in packs Harry! It's called friends" Paige sighed as she walked through the courtyard with Ron and Harry.
"Blimey Harry, you slay dragons. If you can't get a date, who can?" Harry smiled at a group of girls who frowned at him.
"I think I'd take the dragon right now" he muttered. Paige rolled her eyes.
"Maybe if you two stop acting like we're animals and start treating us like people, then you'll find a date!" Paige hissed. She pushed past them and headed back in the school.
"Paige" Cedric called. Paige stopped and smiled at him. He looked nervous. "Well I was wondering if you want to go to the ball with me?" Paige froze. Oh. Well Neville hadn't asked her yet, maybe he just assumed they were going.
"Oh well, can I think about it?" Cedric nodded quickly.
"Of course. You know where to find me" he smiled and walked off. Paige let out a long breath. Now to find Neville.
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"At this rate we'll be the only ones in our year without dates. Well, us and Neville" Ron said as the four sat doing their work. Snape walked by and smack the back of Ron's head.
"It might interest you to know, Neville's already got someone. He asked Ginny." Paige stared at Hermione. "You… you didn't know that?" she asked. Paige shook her head, but returned to her work. The tears burned her eyes, but she pushed them aside. She was almost done.
"Well Hermione," Ron said, bringing the direction back around to him, "you're a girl." Hermione stared at him.
"Oh well spotted, Ronald."
"Well it's one thing for a bloke to show up alone. For a girl, it's just sad." Paige raised her eyebrows. No wonder they couldn't get dates.
"I won't be going alone because believe it or not, someone asked me." She and Paige both handed Snape their books before grabbing their things. "And I said yes!" she hissed, the two women leaving.
"Bloody hell" Ron muttered as Harry laughed at him. Snape came up behind them and pushed their noses back into their books.
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Paige stared at her reflection in the girl's bathroom.
"Krum right?" Paige asked. Hermione nodded. Paige let out a breath. "Why are men so bloody dense?" Hermione let out a humorless laugh.
"Because they're men. Look, sorry about Neville. I thought you knew."
"Not your fault. It sucks, but someone asked me. I just have to tell him yes." Hermione grinned.
"Who?" Paige laughed.
"You'll just have to wait and see."
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Paige walked over to Cedric and his friends.
"Guys, give us a bit, yeah?" His friends wandered off and Paige smiled at him. "Have you decided?" Paige nodded.
"I'd love to go with you, if you still want me" she said. Cedric grinned and kissed her cheek.
"I'd be delighted."
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Ginny and a group of Gryffindors helped Ron into the common room. Paige and Harry stared at him wide eyed as Hermione joined them.
"What happened to you?" Harry asked. Ginny grinned, trying to hold back laughter.
"He just asked Fleur Delacour out." Paige stared at him blankly.
"What did she say?" Harry asked. Hermione motioned to him.
"No, obviously." Ron shook his head.
"She said yes?" Paige asked incredulously. Ron shook his head.
"Don't be silly. There she was walking by. You know I like it when they walk. I couldn't help it, it just sort of… slipped out" he explained. Ginny frowned.
"Actually he sort of screamed at her. It was a bit frightening." Paige bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"What did you do then?" Harry asked. Ron snorted.
"What else? I ran for it!" Paige let out a snort of laughter, Ginny's eyes bright with humor. "I'm not cut out for this, Harry. I don't know what got into me." Paige sighed, about ready to reiterate the fact that girls weren't animals, when the Patil twins walked by.
"Hi Harry" they said together. Harry's eyes lit up. Paige almost groaned.
"Hey!"
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AN: So? How did you like it? Men are dense most of the time. I mean, her boyfriend asked someone else to the dance. *shakes head* Even fictional men have their faults. Look at Cassie's husband! *grins* So thank you for reading now please leave me a review!