Do I even want to ask how long it has been? I have no idea why this took so long and I can't say sorry to all you devoted readers enough!
Chapter 11: The Triwizard Tournament
"Seriously Chelsea! How many questions could one boy have? You were gone the whole train ride?" Ginny's voice filled my head as I slipped into the carriage, pulling the door shut behind me to keep the rain out.
"He's just excited that's all. I ended up tutoring him a bit anyway, which was good because it got my mind back into school mode." I simply shrugged apologetically at Ginny as I noticed Luna and Colin staring out the window towards the lake.
"Don't worry Colin," Luna's languid voice filled the damp air brightly. "The boats will be fine crossing the lake in this weather and so will your little brother.
Ginny and I both glanced out the window as well, seeing the waves rush across the water's surface. "At least tornados can't travel on water. We might not be safe but your brother is!"
I whacked the red head lightly. "You never know when to not say the wrong things do you? It must be a Weasley trait." I smiled playfully as Colin's face grew wide with fear.
"Oh come on Colin," Ginny sighed impatiently. "I lived through Death Eaters invading the World Cup and you are scared of a…"
"Death Eaters? There were Death Eaters at the Cup?" I stood anxiously as Luna pulled me back down onto the bench before the lurching carriage toppled me.
"You didn't know? Something happened in the wizarding world and I knew before you!" Colin was smiling widely as he pulled out a Prophet. "How could you miss it? It's been front page ever since the cup."
"That's why I didn't say anything in my letters. I assumed you already knew!" Ginny shrugged apologetically, very simple-minded like.
"You all are acting like it was no big deal! Death Eaters! I trust you know what those are!" Luna grabbed my arm before I could attempt to stand once more.
"Relax, and read the Prophet. No one was hurt." Colin handed me the newspaper. "I still can't believe you hadn't seen it."
"Our prophet stopped being delivered. We haven't gotten one since the day… Merlin's beard I will kill my father!"
Suddenly, life made sense. I hadn't known because I hadn't seen a Prophet. Dad was hiding them from me since he found out; he didn't want me to know for some reason. That's why he had been so stressed lately, so cautious every time we stepped out the door.
"Dad must have been hiding them from me, just saying our subscription had stopped showing up. Why wouldn't my own father want me to know?" I flipped open the paper, reading the latest news on the event.
"I don't know Chelsea." The carriage fell silent as I continued to read about the muggle family who was tortured being released from St. Mungos finally. "He most likely didn't want you to panic. You do have a habit of impulsive behavior when you panic."
"Alright, Luna. Give me one example of me being impulsive." I could only laugh as the three rattled off a long list. "I got it. Here Colin, this is too unnerving to read. Take back your newspaper." The carriage fell silent, each lost in our own thoughts. Mine felt like betrayal.
I knew my father hid things from me, such as who my parents are or the mark on his arm. I've grudgingly accepted it through the years, gone along with the game because there was nothing else I could do, no one else I could go to.
Yet this was different. From a short letter or finding another copy of the newspaper I could find out easily. I failed to see the point in hiding the papers from me, hiding the largest news story since Harry Potter defeated Voldemort. What did he have to gain?
The carriage rolled to a stop, and each of us slipped back into the rain, and then ran up to the large doors of Hogwarts castle. One step into the building allowed warmth to flood my skin, so as I could pretend I was fully dry.
Grandma Minnie stood in full teaching dress, eyeing each of us careful. I made no move to smile at her, for in her teaching mode I would not receive one back.
"Hurry it up students, you must be in the hall before the first years arrive." Arm in arm with Ginny, we began to move forward up the stairs as a few fifth year girls were screaming."Peeves, get down here now!"
The castle poltergeist was indeed carrying a large bucket filled with water balloons. "Already wet, aren't they? Little squirts! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!" With a quick throw, a second year became a target.
"I'm warning you, Peeves-" Professor McGonagall's voice was crossed as I slipped the rest of the way into the great hall, only hearing Peeves' laughter and he retreated.
I took a deep sigh as I walked into the Great Hall, seeing the décor shining brightly after a long summer. "Hiya Harry!" I turned on the spot to find Colin had rushed off to talk to the famous boy. Ginny shrugged, making her own way to the Gryffindor table as Luna and I headed for Ravenclaw.
My eyes cautiously glanced towards the staff table, finding my father seated between Professor Sinastra and an empty seat I assumed to be McGonagall's. He turned his gaze towards me, knowing I was watching him. I tried to channel every feeling of anger I had through my eyes, then he just turned away.
I didn't turn to look as he sat right behind me at the Hufflepuff table. I only closed my eyes to listen to his voice as he started a conversation with a friend.
"Merlin's beard Ced. All summer you spent running around to different towns and there wasn't one cute girl you met? I stayed home and must have snogged at least three. Maybe four if you can count twins separately."
"I told you. Not a single girl caught my attention as we traveled. And you should be careful, certain people might be listening."
"Like who? The only other people around are those third year Ravenclaws behind us. Why would they care what we talk about?"
"Don't know. They could care though."
"Wouldn't mind. Snape's daughter isn't too bad looking, is she?"
"But to know her dad was watching every time you wanted to hold her hand wouldn't be so cute, would it?"
I tried to hold back laughter; the problem was he was simply stating the truth. I glanced anxiously at my father, who was staring down a few Gryffindors. In one short movement, his eyes could be on me. A fact I always was forced to remember.
"This year, Hogwarts will play host to a legendary event. The Triwizard Tournament!" The headmaster's voice, and the loud cheers that followed it, pulled me quickly from silent thoughts. I could barely hear the announcement of an age limit from all the sudden protest.
The Triwizard Tournament, the man was crazy. People died, it was dangerous and hadn't been done in years. At least there was an age limit; no one I really cared about could compete. My friends were safe… Cedric.
The thought hit me cold. Cedric was seventeen, he could enter, he could get chosen and end up dead. Yet a voice like a cold current slipped over my shoulder.
"Ced! You should enter! Didn't you turn seventeen a few days ago?"
"Could be good. It's time to show those Gryffindors that they aren't the only brave ones!"
"What?" I turned quickly, his eyes suddenly meeting mine. "You can't!" For a moment I forgot that anyone could be watching, but Cedric remembered.
"And who would you be to tell me what to do? You're only like a third year right?" His eyes spoke against his words, silently begging me to drop the conversation.
"I just don't think a Hufflepuff could survive. What are you guys supposed to be good at anyways?" The Ravenclaws seated around me broke into laughter as the table beside us yelled in protest.
"Students! Students! The contest need not be between houses at this time!" We fell silent as Dumbledore watched us over his half moon spectacles. My eyes found my father staring at me coldly. I assumed he witnessed the whole incident.
"Yeah! There won't be a need for Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs to compete…"
"Because Gryffindor will take you all!" The red haired twins high fived each other loudly.
"Thank you to the Mr. Weasleys. Now I think there are beds waiting for each of you! Off you go!" Dumbledore smiled once more as he dismissed us from the hall.
Screeches filled the air as a each bench was pushed back, students standing hastily. Luna grabbed my hand, pulling me along as she began to skip from the room. Before I could take a step, a body crashed into me.
"Ced! Stop letting that Ravenclaw get to you! It looked like she tried to trip you!" His friends laughed as he mumbled fake apologies. Lightly, a piece of paper was pushed into my hand. "Come on Ced!" He didn't look at me as he slipped away.
Meet me in the fourth floor corridor. On the right side, there is a tapestry. I'll meet you there.
"Chelsea! We need to go to the dormitories or the nimbeturans might escape from my trunk!" Without question, I followed her, not wanting to know what sort of creature might be planning to live in my dormitory for the term.
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