The wood nymphs were singing a cheery tune this fine morning and the quiet clink of silverware echoed around the dining hall, along with chatter and laughter. I have got to admit, Adrienne was real good-looking, and she laughed at my jokes, even though I was sure half of them were not even funny at all. I cannot say that is a bad thing, as long as she is entertained anyway. The breakfast spread was pretty fine, omelettes, baguettes, croissants, and cheese, along with a variety of fruit tarts. I scooped some onto my plate, and then onto Adrienne's plate, I mean, it is only polite, right?
"Oh, Albus," she sighed, stretching my name out, "you're such a nice boy!" I grinned at her sheepishly, and she 'accidentally' touched my hand which I drew back because I was surprised, making her giggle.
Meanwhile, Scorpius was looking real awkward between two Durmstrang guys, clearing his throat and looking only at his plate in front of him. One was dark-haired, while the other was fair-headed, both looking like they could knock you out with a single punch. It was quite a contrast, as their uniforms were a dark shade of maroon, while Scorpius was wearing a cool blue cloak around his shoulders. Also, they were talking softly to each other across Scorpius, who was trying to ignore them and eat his chocolate croissant. It was a pretty comical scene.
"I have so many places to bring both of you around, and so many years to catch up on with Scorpius!" Adrienne said softly, bringing my focus back to reality.
"We used to play around my parents' estate, run around the hedges and pick berries to eat, fresh from the bushes, did you know?" She continued. I shake my head. That sounds very… wealthy.
"One time after breakfast, I locked him in a closet and didn't let him out until dinner. It would have been so funny if I didn't get punished!" I guffawed. Scorpius was totally ruled by Adrienne when he was younger.
"But since then, Uncle Draco didn't bring him back to stay over. Visit, yes, but never a stay over. That was pretty fair, I guess." She furrowed her eyebrows. I mouthed an 'Oh' in response. That would suck, I mean my cousins and I had a pretty consistent relationship when growing up, and we always slept over at each other's houses during the holidays, talking about what we want to be when we grow up, where we were going for vacation, all that jazz. Maybe we had drifted a little when we started school, but that was that.
"Well… Scorpius is totally fine now! Look at him! He is the epitome of sociability and friendliness!" I wave at him across the table, beaming brightly. He just stared blankly at me and blinked once, in his hands a dissected fruit tart. Oh, Scorpius.
Adrienne cracked a smile, her lips curving perfectly.
"Indeed!" We both burst out laughing. It was only then I realised I didn't put Ferret back into his cage. Hopefully he doesn't pee on anyone else's bed.
"Al, where's Sage?" Scorpius asked, as we walked around the school grounds. He looked around, expecting her to pop up around the corner, or from the ground, or from one of those trees lining the walkway. There was a large fountain with birds and human-sized fairies smack right in the middle of the park. It was a watering-hole for students to just relax when there isn't class. Sometimes, the statues change their positions. I squinted at them to watch for the slightest movement.
"I don't know, haven't seen her since breakfast." I say, shrugging. She was probably off exploring somewhere around the back of the school, where the unicorns are kept.
"Oh… The stables?"
"I think so, yeah." Wind whistled through the trees, and leaves floated onto us.
"Hey, Albus and Scorpius! I'm here!"
Both of us turned around and there was Adrienne, sauntering over. Her blonde hair flowed in the wind, and I could see her starry eyes twinkling from like, two metres away.
"I should totally bring you two out of the school; my classes are over and I'm free now. So, what do you say?" I say that is bloody awesome.
"I… Sorry Adrienne, Albus, excuse me." Scorpius muttered. I notice Rose was walking with some Beauxbaton students and chatting animatedly before going out of sight behind a hedge. Then Scorpius started sprinting away towards her.
"SCORPIUS, WHY ARE LEAVING ME! I'M PREGNANT!" I scream, causing a few heads, both guys and girls, to turn and gasp in horror at the both of us. He turned around, jogging backwards and flipped me off very charmingly, then kept running forward. I love him.
"Oh," Adrienne pouted. "Looks like it's just you and me then," she suddenly smirked and grabbed my arm, power-walking through the elegantly crafted school gates. "Curfew is 8pm, I know, but we'll be back before then!"
I was glad I carried my wallet around all the time, like always in a foreign country.
Hogsmeade for Hogwarts, Beauxvin for Beauxbatons, of course. It looked like Hogsmeade, but somehow French. The atmosphere, the air, the scenery. Maybe it's just the French music streaming out of the cafes. I don't know. Besides, Adrienne has been a really good host, introducing me to people that we meet. I noticed that her perfume was floral, kind of, and I think it would be clinging onto me by the time we got back to the school. It got colder as it got darker, so I offered her my coat.
"Albus," her eyes softened gratefully.
"I think you should get a proper jacket, you know, bring it around. Silk doesn't really do it for sudden temperature drops. In the day, alright, but I wouldn't want you to get sick, yeah," I say, awkwardly, looking away. Without my coat it was actually starting to get chilly because I was wearing only a shirt and vest on the inside.
With pants, you pervert.
"Do you think we should, head back now? It's, what, seven thirty already."
"Oui, Albus," Adrienne breathed, clutched on to my arm, leaned up, and gave me a peck on my mouth. I froze. That was my first kiss. I mean, non-family kiss. I mean non-Sage or non-Scorpius kiss. (I don't go around kissing Sage or Scorpius but you understand.) We only knew each other for a few days!
My heart did the salsa in my chest, and then we were at the front of the school gates. I made up my mind then. Before we entered, I stopped Adrienne in her tracks and mustered the courage of a hundred courageous men.
"Adrienne, I… as much as I think you are beautiful and all, I don't think this is going to work out. But we can still be friends, yes?" I spoke slowly, looking into her eyes and waiting for her response. The stars in her eyes dimmed, then sparked again, and I knew everything was going to be ok.
"Ah, I see. Of course we can always be friends!" She smiled and I sighed in relief. Then we begin walking again, our shoes crunching against the gravel. Soft murmuring could be heard around the park and the statues in the fountain had moved, apparently.
"Do you… have a girl back at home?" She asked, looking up at me with those blue eyes. I shake my head.
"No, I don't…" I feel that when you're young, why not enjoy being free and single? Your youth does not last forever after all. I hug my arms as the wind started blowing again.
"Do you… have a… boy?" She asked, curiously. That is the best question ever. I died right there.
"No, NO I DON'T!" My eyebrows were probably in orbit above earth right now. I laughed nervously and ran my fingers through my hair.
"I'm not in a relationship, and I probably will not BE in a relationship until I'm like, old. Older." I wince.
"You're so mature, Albus, I like that about you." Adrienne hopped away happily. She must be kidding me because mature is the last thing I will ever be until I touch forty, maybe.
I walked her to her dormitory, said goodnight and all that, and then walked back to the carriages where Grant, Scorpius and Frank were waiting to beat me up because Ferret peed on everyone's bed.
A few days later, Scorpius and I waited again for Sage outside of her carriage. It was Magenta first who walked out (who frowned suspiciously at us), Kitty and Prisca next (who both were friendly to me and slightly less friendly to a non-Slytherin), and finally Sage to be the last to come out. We jumped at her from both sides of the door as she rushed out, managing to scare the daylights out of her.
"YOU LITTLE SHITS!" She shrieked, punching me in the gut while Scorpius dodged and danced behind me. Totally worth it.
"Alright, Sage, at least you were earlier today. Breakfast starts in ten minutes! At least we can get a table together," Scorpius had to take pauses between words as he was laughing at me being doubled over.
"Yeah, sure…" Sage sounded a little distracted, I thought. Glancing at Scorpius confirmed I was spot on, he had noticed too. Maybe she was worried about some Sage-y thing, and the only way to get rid of Sage-y things was by a good breakfast.
"Come on then, to the dining hall!" And off we went. We made Sage sit in between us so she would be like the centre of our friendship, you know what I mean. Adrienne sat beside me but she has toned her act down, and we've been talking quite often when I wasn't with Sage or Scorpius, as friends. But Sage kept zoning out of our conversations and I didn't know why. Until Scorpius tapped me behind Sage's back, and flicked his eyes to the table opposite Sage meaningfully.
Oh, now I know why Sage was so distracted. There was this Beauxbaton guy who was smiling at her and being all flirting like. I narrowed my eyes.
"Isn't he perfect?" I whisper into Sage's ear quietly.
"Yes," she sighed. "Yes, he- wait, Albus!" Sage batted at me. Yep, that was Sage's distraction.
A clinking of glass could suddenly be heard, and all the students turned their heads to the centre of the dining hall, where the Principle and staff were seated.
"Attention, please!" Madame Olympe stood up, causing the tables closest to her to crank their necks at an angle that looked really uncomfortable. Thankfully for them, she walked up to the stage, and the wood nymphs slowed their song until it completely stopped. She then took out a piece of blue parchment that matched their school colour and begin reading from it. After all, English wasn't her first language and she needed a script to read from.
"Today, until the next Monday, will be the submission of the names of the students who want to enter the Triwizard Tournament. As the Triwizard Tournament suggests, there will be three champions, one from each school, taking part in this competition. However, after much further thought and consideration, the Ministry of Magic and the headmasters of the three schools have decided that for each school, there will be three champions instead, meaning there will be three to form a team, from each school." At this, the dining hall begins to roar with excitement. There has never been such a thing ever. Of course, this was the fourth Triwizard Tournament, but still! Madame waved her hand over the hall, and immediately everyone shut up, anticipating further news.
"That will also be known as Triwizard! Of course, the challenges will be altered to suit three people, but remember, as a team, always work as a team. Students only sixteen years old and above, will be allowed to enter, for safety issues. Should you wish to enter," and with a flourish of her hand, an intricately carved box appeared, glowing brightly. "Write your name down on a piece of parchment, beautifully, and put it in the box." Her face turned serious, and she looked up from her script, scanning the hall like a hawk.
"But remember. Once you have entered your name and have been chosen, there is no backing out. This Tournament is not a game and is not for the weak -minded and poor health." With that, she stepped down from the stage, leaving the hall in silence, even after she strutted out through the door. Everyone seemed to be in deep thought, including the younger Beauxbaton students.
When I look at Sage, her eyes were sharp and clear again. Good, she was back to no-nonsense, logic-oriented Sage, not some clumsy, in-love girl.
A/N: From this chapter on, updates may go very slowly due to upcoming exams.