Blair

She couldn't believe her eyes. Even though she cast the spell herself, the results were astonishing. It had nearly been a month since Rose confessed she was starting to be distracted by Scorpius, but she had just witnessed the same confrontation she saw frequently over the past years. She only agreed to perform the spell because she did not want him getting closer to her, or for her to get tangled up in arguments with her family again. Scorpius was not a terrible guy in her opinion, just suspicious. A Malfoy being so interested in a Weasely just did not add up. She knew that Rose saw a side to him that was invisible to everyone else, that drew her into his mysterious life. But what did he see? A rival. A game. A trophy.

Reluctantly, she turned to Scorpius. Just as she expected, his face was contorted from confusion and in a state too shocked to stand. Guilt washed over her conscience. She felt even worse when she looked to Abby who appeared to be just as confused at the scene. At least she could tell Abby, but she didn't dare tell Scorpius she tampered with Rose's mind to make her forget her changed opinion of him. No way. Not an option. With that renewed resolve, she tilted her head to the Great Hall to hint to Abby it was time to make their escape. Silently, she apologised to Scorpius - after all she had single-handedly wiped all Rose's memories of a decent Malfoy. Honestly, even thought she would not admit it, a part of her was glad she would never have to deal with James' rampage again. When she finally caught Abby's eye they fled the scene, completely aware of Caleb's piercing stare on her as they escaped.

Caleb

He knew it all along. Last night something did happen between those two. Scorpius refused to go to the party - his excuse was to get some books from the resitrcited section. Yeah right. The only time Scorpius visited the library was to pick on Rose for being a bookworm. He was in half a mind to follow him, but he had already cast his costume on himself - he decided to go as Godric Gryffindor since he wanted a huge beard. When that weird paralysing game started he left and Scorpius came up a few minutes later. Scorpius kept mumbling about needing to tell her something and then disappeared. When he returned he was even more detached than ever. He was dying to ask what happened. From experience he knew she was the only one to make him look like that. Unfortunately, he didn't get the chance. Scorpius fell into his bed to block out any potential questioning.

Now he could see it - the extent of the collision last night. Her eyes did not reflect the alliance he knew the two of them had made. But something told him that there was something Scorpius didn't know either. Scorpius' eyes looked just as clueless as Caleb was. Blair and Abby had left the two of them standing there without an explanation. Blair definitely knew something - her reaction was oddly muted. He wondered if she knew too. How they desperately wanted to understand one another. He had no idea if they actually liked each other (as if Scorpius would tell him anyway), but he did know what drew them together. She was dying to follow in her parent's footsteps, whereas he wanted to prove he could be more than his last name. They both want to be heroes - they just don't know it yet.
He walked over to Scorpius who had regained his balance to avoid the stampede of hungry students.
"What was her problem?" Caleb asked.
"No idea." Scorpius replied.
"She hates you and you have no idea?"
"I couldn't care less."

Rose

She had only a fleeting moment to compose herself before she sat down with the others. Students lined the tables assorted into their houses. She tore down the aisle to the Gryffindor table, found a space next to James and Leo and sat down with a thump. James greeted her with a smile for the first time in days - finally she had done something right. Leo was engrossed in trying to transform the contents of his goblet to Firewhiskey but still had the time to shoot a wink over. Seconds later, Blair and Abby rushed down the aisle imitating a pair of meerkats as they searched for their group embedded in the crowd. Abby dashed over and threw her hands on Rose's shoulders enthusiastically.
"You okay Ro?" Abby asked as she peered into her face.
"I'm good, why?" Rose replied.
"You seemed pretty mad about being knocked down."
"Malfoy should get it through his thick skull to keep out of my way, that's all."
James' face lit up at her comment and Leo even took the time to look up to examine her face. Just talking about him irritated her. At the same moment, that same person walked into the hall. He decided on a space several students away on the opposite row - far too close for her liking. A Malfoy should not be in Gryffindor it is just unnatural. Her hands clenched into fists as she struggled to restrain herself from blasting his butt out the room.

Just as the last few students filed into the swarming Hall - with one Malfoy too many - Professor Mortem strode down the aisle with his eyes trained to the head table lined with all the teachers of Hogwarts. His black cloak billowed behind him like a raging storm and in his wake several students span to face the wall so they could escape the nerve-racking eye contact - which Rose had plenty of experience of. The challenging expression she had always been braced with from him was gone, instead a cruel twisted snarl claimed all the emotion on his face. His footsteps echoed past us and throughout the now silent Hall, the only sound other than the heavy breathing of a student with flu, was the Headmistress' chair scraping as she stood up. All the rage that had built over the past few weeks suddenly snapped within her, if anyone deserved laser beams from their eyes it was her, Rose thought. Say your prayers Sir.

Just as her mouth opened to deliver, what we hoped would be the thrashing of a lifetime, another figure clacked her way to join him in front of the teacher's table. A tall woman dressed in an angular grey skirt suit and a black cloak sliced through the air like a blade. Her blonde hair was almost blinding as it travelled down her back in a slick pony tail. From the look of the wrinkles around her grey and lilac tinged eyes she was far to old to be sporting the heels that clacked on the stone. Professor McGonagall's eyes widened and she quickly turned to greet the new arrival, but her decorum towards the woman was too well rehearsed to be a first attempt. The Headmistress took the woman's outstretched hand and returned the plastered smile, after exchanging a tense conversation the woman took pride of place behind the head of the golden eagle and faced the perplexed students. Finally an explanation.

"Good evening, my name is Mrs Kespion, I am head of the Department of International Relations at the Ministry of Magic. As you all know, this year marks the 22nd anniversary of the Triwizard Tournament and the death of a cherished son, friend and student, Cedric Diggory. In tribute to this great loss, the Ministry and School have decided to host the Agora Intertrials. The idea of these games is to set up five trials created by five international schools to improve international relations and pay respect to the tragedy of the past. We welcome only the bravest and strongest students in the sixth and seventh years to compete. Professor Mortem has collected a list of the most promising students and you will all take an entry test to decide whether you allowed to compete. I wish you all luck."

Nothing. Not one single sound. Just quick drawn breaths and the constant mumbling from the teacher's table who exchanged shaded expressions. Nothing. Not one single movement. Just hundreds of faces and emotions swimming through the thick atmosphere. Something.
Scattered around the room, a few of the students glowed with excitement at the thought of a challenge like this. Rose was one of the few who felt something other than nothing. Her mind raced through the opportunity she had just been given, her Uncle Harry had won the Triwizard Tournament (even though it was rigged by Barty Crouch Jr) and now she had the chance to win the Agora Intertrials. Concealed in the shadows underneath the table, she clasped her hands together and begged that her name was written on that list. She tilted her head to look at Blair and Abby, curious to see their reaction. Well, unlike her they certainly did not see it as a gift. Blair appeared thoroughly confused at the idea, her brows furrowed and her eyes trained on Mrs Kespion as if trying to read her mind. Abby seemed to have better things to do as her gaze was directed at Malfoy with sympathy smeared all over her expression. When Rose followed her line of sight, two glassy green eyes met hers. Malfoy could have studied her by the looks of things. Rose filled with disgust and mouthed 'go to hell' before she turned her view back to the front. To her surprise the Headmistress had already assumed her rightful place behind the eagle.

Leo

Unexpected did not even begin to cover it. His mouth gawked open freely as he faced the reality of everything. Yes he knew the games were coming but not this soon. Through family connections he had met with Mrs Kespion recently, their discussion had been vague and brief but no more so than the speech she had just given. After his Uncle introduced him to the Ministry worker she had told him that Hogwarts would play host to a large event, and how if he put enough effort into his test he could take his part in the games. Dammit he needed more time to prepare. When she said it was coming up he estimated early next year - not a month after she announced it to him. Questions crossed his mind over and over. Can I pass the test? Can I defeat the others? Is my magic good enough? He was aware that his magic was not up to the standard of many seventh years, but his determination alone should be enough, right? Right?
A sigh escaped him at the thought of all this effort. Quidditch seemed to be the last thing on his mind - even when it was the only thing he truly cared about. If only he knew he would be the Captain earlier. Lately, that seemed to be the root of every problem he had. Bad grades, impulsive decisions and panic. Lack of information.
"Leo are you going to close your mouth?" Rose called.
"Only if you close it for me darlin'." Rose laughed to herself.
Replying to her was like clockwork now, he could snap out of any distressed situation if she called out to him. As soon as he heard her voice, words uncontrollably flowed from the part of his mind that was the closest to reality.

Boy was he wrong before. No wonder he got so mad, but it took all this to figure that fact out. He always worried you know. If the teasing was too much, if he had crossed that line, if he had gone too far. Way too far...

Albus

No. Yes. No. Yes... yeah definitely yes! Wait, last time was a disaster would dad even let me compete? Who cares I am a member of the Order and I am doing this.
Albus' mind was a mess right now. Morals and desires flung around his mind continually bouncing off one another. He knew Rose and James would jump at a challenge like this, hell their names would be top of the list - so what was really stopping him? Family. At least that is what he told himself. Obviously his mum and dad would not be pleased about their sons diving head first into the Agora Intertrials - after all they were based on the Triwiazrd Tournament. Albus' mind was suddenly claimed by a flashback.

6 years ago

"Dad please one more story!" Albus begged.
"Alright just one, but no more or your Mother will curse me." Harry answered to the puppy dog eyes growing bigger by the second. "How about the time I almost swallowed a snitch?"
"Heard it like a million times." Harry laughed.
"It's a great short story!"
"What about the story where you fought a dragon?"
"Sure. I was told to get an egg from a Hungarian Horntail who really hated having it's stuff taken. So I hid behind a rock and summoned -"
"Why was a dragon in Hogwarts?"
"Well... you know what Uncle Hagrid's like he loves deadly creatures."
"Why did you have to steal the egg, I thought you said stealing was bad?"
"Er... yes it is, very bad. It was put there by my Headmaster and I had to get it back."
"Couldn't he get it back himself?" Harry was extremely stuck for words now.
"Only students could get it back."
"Why?"
"Because it's the rules!"
"Rules? So it was a game?"
"I give up! Yes it was the Triwizard Tournament."
"Triwizard whatsit?"
Harry exhaled loudly, as if releasing all the barriers he had put up around the dragon and mermaid stories. When they were younger they didn't ask these questions. He swore he would never talk about the maze, but it was about time Albus heard the entire story. Not the clips of fantasy he had created.
"Triwizard Tournament. There were three tasks, first fight a dragon, second rescue captives from mermaids, and - and- and finally - the m-maze."
"You haven't told me about a maze!" Albus sat eagerly up against his headboard.
"And I hoped I never would..."

His mind returned to the current situation. He remembered how much his Dad had struggled to tell him the story, he stammered as he filled in the pieces of the heroic façade of the story he had built. Albus relived his Father telling him the tragic events within the maze and the graveyard, and it felt almost cruel to even think about voluntarily entering these games. But just like everyone else, he had something to prove to the others, that he could hold his own. Anyway, a Potter had won the original games so there was a good chance one would again. Luck was definitely on his side!

Scorpius

He knew it.
He could already figure out her plan.
He knew exactly what she intended to do.
He could see it in her eyes.
He knew she would act the hero.
He could almost read her mind.
He knew that proving herself was everything to her.
He could never get close to her because of that.
He knew there was no use.
He could try to stop her.
He knew she would not listen.
He could not find a way out.
He knew he only had one option.

He should have seen this coming...

"To reiterate the words of Mrs Kespion, these games are to pay our respects, and will in no way recreate the past events. I assure you all these games will be strictly managed, however this does not mean they will challenge you in every way humanly possible. Entry tests will begin at the start of next week, if you do not wish to compete please make it clear to Professor Mortem if you are called for testing. I encourage all of you to think very carefully before charging into these games, I hope you make the right decision."

His eyes returned to the glistening brown eyes that were brimming with excitement. Of course she would want to compete. Little Miss Wannabe Hero would never pass up an oppurtunity like this, he thought to himself bitterly. In his eyes, this was just another opportunity to land herself head first in dangerous situations. But then again, why should he care? There was nothing to stop him from walking away and watch her struggle recklessly to claim the crown she had waited all her plain life for. No. He didn't care. She could do whatever the hell she likes, he thought as he angrily slammed his goblet on the table. He could stay out of this mess and if she gets fatally injured then all that means is one less of them to worry about. It's not like he cared about that brat in the first place. How could he when she's his mortal enemy?! If it hadn't been for her constantly finding an excuse to wriggle her way into his life, they could have kept up the feud. Damn her, it's all her fault.
Obviously, he would enter if she did. Not to protect her - as if he would waste his time on her! It would be pretty annoying if a Weasley won the Agora Intertrials and Rose would never let him hear the end of it - this left him no choice. For the Malfoy family he would kick her ass and win the games as the best wizard in Hogwarts.

Get closer to her they said. Learn her weakness they said. At what point did she become his weakness?

Finally you get to see what these crazy bunch of heroes are thinking! Welcome to the start of the Agora Intertrials, things are about to get interesting! Review guys, I really want to hear what you think :)