AN: Sorry for such a long wait guys, but I have a harder time with filler chapters and this was a bit a filler. Anyways, glad that you all are still following the story and I hope it's progressing smoothly for you all. As always, don't mind the typos they will be fixed eventually haha and I appreciate all your follows, reviews, and faves! Keep it coming!
Chapter 12: Sublimity
The next few days were filled with younger students trying to put their names in the Goblet of Fire and failing miserably. Hermione smiled as she walked through the halls after class on a Friday to join Ron and Harry in the Great Hall to watch Fred and George try and trick the goblet. When she arrived, there were already a bunch of Gryffindors and other fourth years sitting around, watching as older students came and entered their names in the blue fire.
"Hey, Hermione!" Ron called from the benches that were set around the goblet. "You come to watch Fred and George? They sure took their time, seeing as it's the last day to enter." The brunette looked around to see the lack of twins and shrugged.
"They're not here." She said wistfully as she pulled a book out of her shoulder bag and opened it up. "I thought they were going to try their hand at an Aging Potion."
"I'm sure they'll be here soon." Harry said as the hall quieted down when Fleur Delacour walked in and gingerly dropped a piece of parchment in the blue flames. Hermione rolled her eyes as she watched all the boys follow her as the blonde turned and floated out of the hall.
"She sure is something, isn't she?" Seamus mused as he smiled goofily and stood up to make sure he could see the Beauxbatons girl before she disappeared into the corridor. "They don't make them like that at Hogwarts."
"Oh, I don'tknow." A voice said smoothly as Hermione looked up and smiled when she saw Jade walking towards them. "I think they make them pretty well here." Hermione couldn't stop her blush as the lycan smirked and sat down next to the brunette. "Hey."
"Hi there," Hermione leaned up and gently pecked the blue eyed woman on the cheek before scooting closer to her. "Come to watch the festivities?" Jade nodded as she wrapped an arm around the brunette's shoulders and pecked her on the forehead. Fred and George finally entered the Great Hall as the Gryffindors erupted into cheers and clapping as the twins held up small glass vials in their hands. "That's not going to work." The brunette muttered as she rolled her eyes and Jade looked down at her.
"Oh no?" Blue eyes looked down expectantly as Hermione closed the book in her lap and nodded.
"No, do you see that shimmering circle around the goblet?" Jade nodded as she looked at the white glow around the goblet. "That's an Age Line, Dumbledore drew it himself so there's no way that something as dimwitted as an Aging Potion would work."
"Ah, and that's why it'll work." Fred said as he sat down next to Jade and smirked.
"Because it's so incredibly dimwitted." George finished as he sat next to Hermione who just rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Ready, Fred?"
"Ready, George." His brother answered as they shook the potions in their hands and then linked arms.
"Bottoms up!" Both drank at the same time and then jumped past the Age Line, and when nothing happened they cheered before dropping their names into the blue flames.
"Something bad is going to happen, isn't it?" Jade whispered to Hermione as she smiled and nodded. "This will be good." Suddenly, the fire in the goblet turned red and it shot out two blasts of fire that hit Fred and George in the chest, launching them out of the Age Line and landing hard on the floor. When they sat up, they had long white hair and beards that made them look like a younger Dumbledore. The hall burst into laughter as the twins started blaming one another and started to wrestle. Jade smirked as she shook her head and saw Viktor Krum, along with a few of his classmates, walking into the hall with a mission. Everyone quieted as the quidditch seeker trudged in and dropped his name into the flames. As he turned to leave, his eyes fell on Hermione and Jade's blue eyes narrowed as a coy smile grew on his face before he left.
"Are you ok?" Hermione asked as she noticed the lycan's hardened expression. "You look a bit miffed."
"I just don't like the way he looked at you." A deep growl vibrated in the lycan's throat and the Gryffindor followed Jade's line of sight to the retreating back of Viktor Krum. "Like you were a trophy he wants to win."
"Don't worry," The shorter girl leaned up and pecked Jade on the cheek. "I'm already taken." The lycan smiled as she stood up and offered her hand to the younger girl who took it, allowing Jade to pull her up to her feet.
x-x
Jade was sitting out in the courtyard before dinner while Hermione was studying Arithmancy. Usually, the lycan would go with her girlfriend, but Arithmancy wasn't one of those subjects that everyone could understand and Jade often found her brain hurting when she tried to comprehend Hermione's homework. So that's why she was sitting out in the fall air, trying to bask in the last bits of sunshine before winter moved in. Fall seemed like a season that seem to make Jade nostalgic for something she couldn't pin point. The forest called to her more often in the fall and she found herself resisting for some reason, like whatever she would find there would be too overwhelming. Something wasn't right, Jade knew that now. Something was missing, but she just didn't know what it was. Everything seemed right now that she had Hermione, but in the back of her mind, something was burning, clawing at her subconscious and it was becoming harder to ignore.
"Such a look of confusion," Blue eyes glanced up to see the silver blonde girl standing next to her with a small smile on her lips. "Somezhing on your mind, mon loup?" Jade sighed as Fleur sat down next to her, folding her legs and resting her school bag on her lap. "You seem…troubled, non?"
"Fall is just an odd season for me." The lycan answered as she adjusted so she was resting her elbows on her knees and looked over at the Beauxbatons student who was dressed in her powder blue uniform. "I feel like something bad is going to happen, not the best feeling to have. Anyways, how is everything going for you?" Fleur hmm'd and sighed before she looked down at her nails nonchalantly before glancing her icy blue eyes at Jade.
"Very well," Fleur answered as she sighed and rested her chin in her hand. "I am exciteed to see 'oo zhe champions for zhe tournament will be."
"You're hoping to be chosen?" The raven haired girl asked as she sat up straight and quirked an eyebrow at the blonde Veela. "Even though people have died in this competition?"
"Oui," A bright smile grew on Fleur's lips as she nodded and uncrossed her legs. "Eet'd be an honor to be chosen to compete and to represent my school. Are you worried about me, Jade?" A playful smirk now adorned the girl's lips as Jade rolled her eyes and scoffed before leaning back on her hands. Fleur giggled while she flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and her eyes seemed to glow in the orange light from the setting sun. Her laughter was melodious and Jade chuckled, finding the sound contagious. "Would you not be honored to represent 'Ogwarts eef you were a student?"
"I'm not sure." The older girl answered truthfully as she looked up into the sky and sighed. "I sure as hell wouldn't want to die for a cash prize and a cup."
"What about zhe eeternal glory?" Fleur queried as she watched Jade shrug lazily.
"I'm immortal," Jade leaned forward again before standing, stretching her arms and releasing a groan. "In a few centuries, people would forget and then where is my eternal glory, Miss Delacour?" The blonde smiled and stood as the clock chimed for dinner.
"I see your point." She answered as the two girls headed towards the castle along with several other students that had been lazing in the fall sun. "Eizher way, eef I am chosen, I'll do my best to win. Eet's not in a Veela's nature to lose." Jade rubbed the back of her neck and sighed as she held the door open for Fleur who thanked her before walking into the castle.
"Well, good luck to you then, Fleur." The lycan said gently as the blonde was called over by a group of girls that were dressed similarly to Fleur. "If you get chosen that is."
"I will, mon loup." The Veela winked as she headed off towards her classmates and smiled charmingly. "You just wait and see." Jade smirked entered the Great Hall to see Harry and Ron sitting at the Gryffindor table, but her wavy haired girlfriend was absent. She made her way over to the boys who were chatting about something she couldn't catch.
"Where's Hermione?" Jade asked as she put a hand on Harry's shoulder, startling him slightly before he turned and smiled up at her.
"Oh…well," Harry sighed as he scratched his head and adjusted his glasses. "She's probably still in the library. We told her we were going to dinner, but she must've been studying too hard." Blue eyes rolled as Jade sighed and smirked before shaking her head.
"I'd best go fetch her then." The blue eyed girl spun on her heel and headed out towards the library after she left the hall before scaling flights of stairs to the third floor. "Oof!" Jade's body jolted as something solid collided with her and she stumbled back slightly before hearing a squeak of surprise.
"Gods, Jade." Hermione whined as she sat on the floor and looked up at her girlfriend. "Are you made out of a brick wall?" Jade chuckled as she offered her hand to the brunette, who took it gladly, and pulled her up before leaning down to pick up her bag.
"Are you all right, Hermy-owny?" Blue eyes glanced up to see Viktor Krum standing next to the brunette with a concerned look on his face. Jade stood slowly and narrowed her eyes at the man as she handed her shoulder bag to the Gryffindor.
"She's fine." The lycan answered firmly as dark eyes locked with blue and Jade bit back a growl as the seeker narrowed his eyes, puffing his chest slightly. They stared each other down for a moment before Hermione cleared her throat and grabbed Jade's hand.
"We should really get to dinner." The brunette muttered as Jade kept her gaze locked with Viktor's before feeling the younger girl tug her gently. She finally complied and let Hermione lead her away before casting one last glare at the boy. "Was that little stand-off really necessary?" Hermione asked as they descended the stairs and Jade rolled her eyes.
"Has he been following you?" Jade asked quietly as they made it down the last flight of stairs to the Great Hall. Hermione brought her hand up to her chin and narrowed her eyes in thought.
"He has been in the library more often." Hermione said absentmindedly as she tapped her chin and Jade growled softly before the brunette gently tugged her hand to pull her to a stop. "Jade, it's nothing, I hadn't even noticed until you asked me. I don't know if he's actually been following me though."
"I still don't like the way he looks at you." The older girl grumbled as she quirked an eyebrow and huffed. "He likes you."
"Don't be silly." Brown curls swished as Hermione shook her head and they began walking towards the hall again. "It's just coincidental."
"Sometimes you can be really dense," The blue eyed lycan sighed as she let go of Hermione's hand and rested it on the top of the brunette's head. "For being so smart."
x-x
"Harry!" Dumbledore rushed into his office where the chosen four were waiting for him. "Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" He asked as he gently grabbed the boy by the shoulders as the heads of the visiting schools and McGongall as well as Snape, along with Barty Crouch, Alastor Moody, and Jade. The Giantess was furious as she stormed into the Headmaster's office and glared at the boy. "Did you have one of the older students do it for you?"
"N-no, sir!" Harry stuttered as he felt the other three champions staring at him.
"Obviously 'e is lying!" Madame Maxime scowled as she took a step towards Fleur who had an equally confused look on her face.
"He's not lying." Jade muttered as she stepped forward and stood next to the boy who gave her small smile. "I'd be able to tell if he's lying. You yourself put those enchantments around the Goblet, Professor. I doubt you would've made a mistake for a fourth year student to somehow get his name in the Goblet, anyone who doubts that fact, is doubting your power as a wizard in my opinion." Jade's gaze glanced over to Madame Maxime and Fleur as the Beauxbaton's Headmistress glared back.
"The girl is right," Moody piped in as he limped in front of Dumbledore. "The Goblet is a powerful magical artifact and it would've taken an extremely powerful Confundus charm to get fool it. Skills far beyond that of a fourth year." They all began to argue again as Jade ran a hand through her hair and sighed. Something was definitely wrong with this whole situation and it was eating away at her mind as she tried to think of who in the school would want to hurt Harry. All of Harry's enemies at the school weren't a threat enough to try and put his name in the Goblet's fire, let alone old enough. Malfoy popped into her mind, but again, there was no way he was skilled enough to get past the charms around the goblet.
"It has to be someone outside of the school." She whispered to herself as she narrowed her eyes and rubbed her chin in thought. Harry stirred next to her and she looked over to see his confused green gaze. The only new addition to the schools, besides the visitors, was Alastor Moody, a trusted friend of Dumbledore so even though he'd be a worthy suspect, one couldn't jump to conclusions. "Harry, you'd do well to keep an eye on all your enemies here."
"What do you mean?" He asked quietly before looking over to see the professors still arguing over what to do with the boy. Jade sighed as she shook her head and glanced over at McGonagall who was trying to get her student out of participating. "You think they'll make me compete?!"
"Even if they don't," The older girl turned slightly and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You still need to be cautious. Someone wants you to compete and people die in this tournament Harry, it isn't like a game where the important rule is you have fun. Especially since your opponents will be above you in skill." They both turned back to Dumbledore who was now addressing a very distraught looking Barty Crouch Sr.
"It's a binding magical contract," The man said with a shaky voice as he turned and face Harry and Jade. "He has no choice, he must compete. As of right now, Mr. Potter is a Triwizard Champion." The boy groaned and Jade smacked her palm to her forehead with an exasperated sigh. As the professors and Mr. Crouch left, Jade stayed behind as Fleur approached with a hardened expression on her face.
"Did your friend really put 'is name in zhee goblet?" The blonde asked as she stopped in front of the lycan with her arms folded, hands holding her elbows. The blue eyed lycan just shook her head and glanced sideways at Fleur.
"Believe me when I say this," She said softly before turning to fully gaze at the part-Veela. "Harry doesn't have the skill or desire to try and get past the charms around the Goblet of Fire, nor does he have the want to compete in the tournament."
"'Ow can you be so sure?" Icy pale eyes narrowed as Jade smirked and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Maybe you 'elped 'im." A sardonic chuckle as she shook her head.
"You think I'd help a fourteen year old boy try and enter a tournament that could get him killed? A friend no less?" Fleur just shrugged before running a hand over her silvery blonde hair and down her neck. "I didn't know you thought so little of me."
"I'm just trying to figure out zhee truze, Jade." The Veela sighed before Madame Maxime called out to her in French. "'E seems like an honest enough boy, but sometimes honesty can lead to misplaced trust." With that, Fleur Delacour nodded curtly at the lycan who nodded back and left the room with her Headmistress. Harry was just leaving after speaking with the Headmaster and McGonagall was now escorting him back. Snape shot the lycan an icy glare as Jade returned it with a small snarl.
"Severus, leave us." The Potion's master sneered before spinning around and storming out of the Headmaster's office. "Jade, you need to watch over him, along with Ron and Hermione. Someone means them ill and we both know that Harry isn't much use without his friends."
"Of course," Jade answered as she watched the man bring the tip of his wand to his temple and pull it away, dragging a silver wisp from his head. "What about Moody?"
"What about him?" The Headmaster asked as he tapped his memory into the Pensieve before turning towards the young lycan. "You don't trust him?"
"He's the only new addition to your staff and then something like this happens." Jade rubbed the back of her neck as she felt the exhaustion seeping into her body. "I think I have a reason not to trust him, he doesn't seem like the most honorable human being." Dumbledore hummed in agreement as he stroked his beards and sighed.
"I will admit," The elder wizards muttered softly as Jade took a few steps closer to him. "He was a bit eager for this position and he's never been one to enjoy teaching, or children for that matter. And here I just told him to keep an eye on Harry." An ironic laugh left the man's lips as Jade rolled her eyes and tried not to sigh. "Watch him too, but not too closely. If he, in fact, is on this little rue, I don't want to act rashly." Jade nodded as the Headmaster turned and gave her a sad, exhausted smile. "You should be off to bed now, don't worry about patrol, I'll have the Head Boy and Girl take care of it. Off to bed now." The blue eyed girl nodded as she turned and exited his office.
x-x
Hermione was waiting, rather impatiently, in the common room with Ron who was fuming silently beside her. It had been a while since Harry had returned and he and Ron got in a row about how he had left Ron in the dark about entering the tournament. Boys. The brunette shook her head to try and rid herself of the sleep was the slowly working its way into her eyes as she watched the fire crackle and pop in front of her. Finally, the portrait door opened and a weary looking raven haired lycan walked in before glancing over at Hermione with a tired smile.
"You didn't have to wait up for me, 'Mione." Jade whispered as she slowly ambled forward and offered her hand to the young witch. Hermione smiled and took it, Jade lifted her easily and they both made their way to the stair case leading up to the dorms.
"So, what happened?" Hermione asked quietly as they came to the portrait for the Head Girl's room. "Harry didn't tell us much, just that he has to compete and then Ron got all upset about it. He thinks Harry found a way to enter his name and kept us out of the loop."
"Someone put his name in." Jade answered as she spoke the password and the door swung open. Brown eyes were watching the lycan closely as she stepped into the room and Hermione followed. The lights jumped to attention as the older woman snapped her fingers and a heavy sigh escaped Jade's lungs. "I don't know who, but it's pretty evident it's someone from inside the castle. Who else would have access to the goblet?"
"You think one of the older students did it?" Hermione watched as Jade un-tucked her shirt and began undoing the buttons one by one as she sat on the plush king sized bed.
"More so, I think it was one of the professors or Mad-Eye." The lycan replied as she removed the gold badge from her shirt before slipping the garment off her shoulders and tossing it into a nearby hamper by the bathroom door. Hermione tried not to let her eyes wander as she averted her gaze to her hands and felt her cheeks begin to burn. "But I can't be sure, I suppose it could be one of the older students if they had a grudge against him."
"Do you think Snape would put his name in?" A sigh rang into the air as Jade shook her head and turned towards the girl who was blushing, but trying her hardest to keep her composure. A smirk grew on the lycan's lips as she made her way over to where the younger girl sat and watched as Hermione flinched when a hand reached forward to tuck a stray curl away from her face.
"It's hard to say," Brown eyes wandered Jade's skin and the map of scars that adorned her torso. She was resisting the urge to reach out and trace the large scar that marred the lycan's skin, traveling from her left shoulder where the marks were the darkest, to her sternum where they lightly faded. "I don't think Snape would do that, but he was a former Death Eater. Although, I hear Karkaroff was as well. Jade crouched down in front of the brunette so they were eye to eye and gently sketched her jawline with the tips of her fingers. Hermione shuddered slightly as her skin erupted with goose bumps and she swallowed hard. "Am I making you nervous, Hermione?" There was a playful tone to Jade's voice as she placed both hands on the mattress on either side of the brunette's thighs.
"N-no." Hermione held her head up and shook it before hardening her gaze and averting it towards the opposite wall. "Although I wish you'd cover yourself up." Jade chuckled before moving so her body was in between the brunette's knees.
"Do you really want me to put a shirt on?" The lycan asked as she arched an eyebrow and Hermione blushed even more. Truthfully, the sigh before her was more than welcomed, but Hermione thought she should have control over her teenage hormones that were urging her to look and touch while the opportunity presented itself. Before with Jade, age had always been an issue, but now, it seemed, that with the lack of Rayna's memories, age was the last thing on the lycan's mind. Hermione cleared her throat and slowly shook her head as Jade leaned up, taking the brunette's face in her hands gently. The breath in Hermione's lungs froze as her girlfriend leaned up and gently pressed lips against hers. Kissing Jade was always enjoyable, but something about this kiss was different. It was equally as gentle as others in the past, but there was an equivalent amount of force behind it, pushing for more if Hermione allowed. Which, of course, she did as her eye fluttered shut and her hands tentatively moved forward until they were resting on the warm skin of the taller girl's shoulders. She could feel taught muscles flexing as Jade leaned forward to deepen the kiss and the brunette sighed before letting her hands slide up to tangle in thick black mass of silken locks.
"You're aware…" The Gryffindor breathed as she pulled away, just barely enough so she could speak. "That I'm breaking the rules by being here, right?"
"I'm aware." The blue eyed woman answered softly before smiling playfully at her girlfriend. "Would you like me to kick you out then?" Hermione shook her head before she pulled Jade back to her eager lips and smothered the chortle that was building in the lycan's chest. Hormones were something Hermione was not used to dealing with, let alone, hormones that were making her crave Jade's touch or to touch said lycan. She felt herself getting lost as her lips parted and teeth gently grazed her bottom lip. The lycan moved her hands from the bed to Hermione's waist before maneuvering the girl back, more onto the bed, and slowly guiding her down. The brunette didn't fight as she felt the satisfying weight of Jade's knee moving on the mattress between her legs. The older girl still hovered a few inches above her, keeping their bodies touching, but Hermione planned to remedy that issue as her arms snaked around her girlfriend's neck to pull her down as black hair cascaded over shoulders and shielded the brunette from the flickering light around her.
Lips parted as Jade ran the tip of her tongue along the brunette's lower lip and Hermione released a soft moan before welcoming her girlfriend with parted lips. Every thought that had been running through the witch's mind was snuffed as her tongue danced and swirled around the raven haired girl's as she felt warm hands slip under the hem of her shirt and move up her sides. Hermione hadn't noticed that her own hands had moved down Jade's back and were clutching at the waist of her jeans, pulling softly to try and bring the girl closer. Jade growled softly as she felt nails dig and drag around her hips as she pulled away to press tantalizing kisses down the brunette's neck which elicited a gasp from Hermione's lips. Breaths were becoming ragged as Hermione whimpered feeling teeth nip gently at the skin on her neck before she brought her hands back up to grip at her girlfriend's hair. It was almost too much, the pressure and want that was building rapidly in her body was overwhelming every one of her senses. Every touch ignited her skin as every breath and sigh from Jade's mouth left Hermione wanting to hear more, but even though the pleasure was immense, her mind was still itching behind all the desire.
"Wait," Hermione breathed as she pressed her hands against Jade's shoulders and gently (reluctantly) pushed the lycan away. Jade's eyes were glowing dimly as Hermione bit her lower lip and took a deep, steady breath. "We should…we should stop before we can't." The lycan smirked as she hoisted herself up on her hands and peered down at the younger girl with hooded eyes.
"Ok," Jade sighed as she leaned down and left a lingering kiss on Hermione's nose before straightening up on her knees and brushing her hair over right shoulder. "Are you doing to stay the night?" The lycan asked as she moved off the bed towards the bathroom after grabbing a pair of boxers and a tank top. Hermione let out a breath as she sat up and ran her fingers through her mussed up curls. Her heart was still thundering in her chest as she sat on the bed and watched Jade's silhouette play on the door.
"I probably shouldn't." She smiled as she heard her girlfriend laugh and poke her head out of the door as she was washing her face. "Just because of…uhm…a few moments ago." Hermione began to blush again as Jade smirked and rolled her eyes.
"But it's the weekend." The lycan argued gently as she moved back into the bathroom to rinse her face. After a few minutes the girl re-emerged toweling off her face and in her night attire. "I promise to behave." The brunette chewed the inside of her lip as she thought about her girlfriend's logic. She did want to stay the night, she always got a restful sleep with the protective embrace of Jade. But it wasn't Jade she was worried about, she was more worried about her own raging hormones. The raven haired girl walked over to her and pressed her lips to her forehead. "You're already here after all."
"You won't quit until I comply, will you?" Jade shook her head as Hermione looked up into bright blue eyes that were back to their normal hue with the adrenaline back down to normal levels. "I suppose I'll stay then."
"Don't pretend like you don't want to." Her girlfriend quipped as Hermione scrunched her nose at the lycan before capturing her lips in a soft, more innocent, kiss. "Well, you know the drill, just find something that's comfy to sleep in."