SHE WAKES UP, SWEATING PROFUSELY AS SCREAM TEARS from her lips.
Gwen's going to kill me! Gwen's going to kill me — I'm going to die! I'm —
Her whole body feels like it's on fire but not in a painful way, her muscles are tensed up — I'm in danger — I'm in —
A pillow hits her square in the face, startling her but dragging her out of her panicked stupor because there had been no pillows before.
It's just a nightmare, she realises, her body cools down significantly as she lets out a sigh of relief. Gwendoline Goyle's not here and she can't hurt her.
"Why are you bloody screaming?" Hannah asks annoyed.
Aurelia glances at her "Sorry, bad dream."
Hannah raises her eyebrows, huffing.
"I'm fine, go back to sleep."
Without hesitation, Hannah buries her head under her covers once more.
Aurelia glances around the dorm, unsurprisingly Olivia had slept through her scream; Olivia can sleep through anything, she swears on it. Aurelia's surprised to see that Susan hadn't woken up; Susan Bones never sleeps. That statement is only slightly exaggerated, Susan sleeps very little, she's the last to go to sleep and the first to wake up, when she does sleep, Susan's a very, very light sleeper.
She crawls out of bed and heads for the bathrooms, as she passes by Susan's bed, she hears a mumble of: "You alright, Blue?"
Aurelia lets out a startled gasp, though she shouldn't have been surprised that Susan's awake, she's still on edge because of that bloody nightmare.
Unsure if her screaming woke Susan up or not, Aurelia says: "Oh, sorry, Suse! I —"
"I've been up since four. No worries, Blue." Susan waves her off, tucking her blankets under her chin as she stares up at Aurelia, "I just got up to use the loo a few minutes ago, I saw you tossin' and turnin' but you do that a lot so I didn't say nothin'. I saw Diggory sittin' by the fire when I passed."
"Oh, okay." Aurelia says, nodding as she slips out of the dorm and down the hallway to the bathrooms.
She's in definite need of a shower after that nightmare. Her pale, freckled skin is glistening with sweat and it kinda makes her looks like she's dying. She fees like she's dying, not psychically but mentally.
The cool water against her heated skin feels good, she rubs the scrub brush up her left arm and to her shoulder the one where her sun-shaped birthmark resides, as it brushes the mark, burning jolt rubs up and down her arm, her entire body feels like it's been engulfed in flames — DANGER! Her brain screams — DANGER!
Aurelia blinks, she's not in danger. Why does she think she's in peril danger when she's in the bloody shower? There's no danger here. The burning sensation dissipates immediately and Aurelia continues showering without another thought.
ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ
Like Susan had said, Cedric had been sitting in an armchair by the fire. When Aurelia had come down and greeted him, he had just stared at the fire like it had murdered his entire family, she knew that look all too well.
There had been a piece of parchment in his hand, which he had been debating whether or not he wanted to put it in the Goblet of Fire. And Aurelia had managed to convince him to do it with opposite intentions.
So now, Aurelia's scrambling after Cedric who's practically strutting his way to the Great Hall, oozing more confidence than usual, an excited smirk plastered on his handsome features.
Just because she wholeheartedly believed he would win the tournament if he was chosen does not mean she wants him to enter. Does he not comprehend how damn dangerous the Triwizard Tournament is?
Entering the Great Hall, Aurelia's greeted by the sight of Noelle about to put her name in the goblet.
"Hey, Noelle!" Aurelia calls out, growing flustered.
Noelle almost drops the parchment in her hands but she quickly recovers. She glances over her shoulder, an almost malicious smirk takes over her intimidating but pretty features "Hello, Aurelia."
"Good morning, Noelle!" Aurelia says as she blushes furiously, "Entering are you?"
Noelle's shark-like grin widens "Oh, yes. I am."
"Well, er, good luck."
"Oh, I won't need it." Noelle says, bringing a new air of confidence to the already confident girl.
Aurelia giggles.
Noelle stares intensely into Aurelia's eyes as she drops the parchment into the goblet.
"Well, zee you later, pretty girl." Noelle says, winking as she departs from the Great Hall.
"Wow." Aurelia says breathlessly, not even noticing Cedric stepping up and placing his name in the Goblet of Fire.
Noelle's so pretty.
"Hmm, Neville's better." Cedric remarks, ruffling her hair.
"Well, Neville doesn't like me like that. Noelle, I'm pretty sure, does."
"Since when have you been fancying girls? Isn't that Liv's thing?"
Aurelia's eyes widen in alarm, she may have told Neville but she's not quite ready to tell more people, she looks around the Great Hall for a distraction.
"Since when have you — uh — oh, shit — since when have you liked — NEVILLE!"
Neville's tired, round face enters the Great Hall and Aurelia runs for him leaving behind a very confused Cedric who had only asked a simple question.
"PLANT BOY!"
Neville's engulfed in a hug before he even knows that Aurelia had been charging towards him.
"Good morning, sunshine!" Aurelia says cheerily.
Neville wishes that the 'sunshine' nickname doesn't make his heart flutter as much as it does.
Cedric watches the two of them fondly before rolling his eyes "'Neville doesn't like me!' she says." he mutters, the look on Neville's face says otherwise.
ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ
"That's the seventh Durmstrang kid." Aurelia says to Neville, "They're a bunch of daring bastards, ain't they?"
The pair had been sitting in the Great Hall for hours, chatting and watching the students placing their names in the Goblet of Fire.
"Would you put your name in there?" Neville asks, peeling an orange.
"No." Aurelia replies, popping a raspberry into her mouth, "I've read so many horror stories about this tournament, the reward isn't worth it."
Neville nods, biting into an orange slice.
"What about you, Plant Boy? Would you enter?"
He snorts quietly then shakes his head.
"Noelle entered, so did Cedric. And, I'm bloody certain Elliot's going to enter whenever the hell he wakes up." Aurelia says, shuddering.
Neville rolls his eyes at the mention of Noelle, chewing an orange slice aggressively.
"I hate this tournament." Aurelia says bitterly.
"It hasn't even started yet but I'm sure it'll be over before we know it." Neville reassures.
"Anyone entered yet?" Ron questions as he, Harry, and Hermione take a seat at the table.
"Good morning to you too." Aurelia says as she rolls her eyes, "Pretty sure all the Durmstrang lot has. As for Hogwarts, I've only seen Cedric enter."
"Bet some of them put it in last night after we'd all gone to bed, I would've if it had been me . . . Wouldn't have wanted everyone watching. What if the goblet just gobbed you right back out again?" Harry comments.
"That's not how it works. The goblet takes all the names put into it and when the time comes it chooses the names it deems most worthy." Aurelia explains.
Harry and Ron stare at her bewildered as it's usually Hermione who spits out information like that.
"What? I read all about the tournament last year because Professor Binns recommended it to me since I was so far ahead in the class." Aurelia says, shamelessly bragging that she's top of the History of Magic class.
Hermione and Draco are usually the top students in classes but when it comes to History of Magic, it's Aurelia's time to shine, and Aurelia doesn't let anyone forget that. It's nice to finally be better than her brother for once.
Laughter echoes around the Great Hall as Fred, George, Lee, and Elliot come running in. She rolls her eyes, immediately knowing that they've found a way to enter. Whatever they've got planned, Elliot doesn't need it as he had just turned seventeen five days prior to this.
Elliot brushes his shaggy hair out of his face, he grins smugly as he steps up to the goblet and drops his name in it.
"Done it." Fred tells them as he grins triumphantly, "Just taken it!"
"What?" Ron asks.
"Aging Potion, dung brain." Fred replies.
"One drop each. We only need to be a few months older." George adds, rubbing his hands together with glee.
"We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three of us if one of us wins." Lee says, grinning broadly.
"I'm not sure this is going to work, you know, I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this." Hermione warns them.
The three boys ignore her.
"Ready?" Fred asks George and Lee, quivering with excitement as he pulls out a piece of parchment out of his pocket.
He steps over the line an nothing happens, so George lets out a victorious cry as he jumps over the line as well.
Then a sizzling sound can be heard and both of them are thrown back over the line with brutal force. They land on the stone cold floor ten feet away, both sporting long white beards.
"Oooh, damn!" Aurelia wheezes, laughing. She wishes she hadn't forgotten her camera in her dorm.
Professor Dumbledore enters the Great Hall, surveying the twins with an amused expression as he tells them to go see Madam Pomfrey.
Aurelia turns back to Neville and tells him: "I'm gonna go down to the Quidditch pitch, get some practice for next year. Y'know for when the game's not cancelled for a stupid reason such as the Diewizard Tournament."
"Can I come with you?" He asks.
Her eyebrows furrow together in confusion "Why? I'm sure you have more important, entertaining things to do."
He shakes his head quickly — he's got a Potion's essay that's due Monday — "No, I've got nothing."
"You'll be bored."
He shakes his head again "Not at all!"
She raises an eyebrow "Ye really wanna sit an' watch me fly 'round an empty Quidditch pitch?"
"Sure!"
"But, why?"
"Because it's fun. I like watching you fly and I like spending time with you."
"O — oh. Okay." Aurelia stutters, blushing.
Neville grabs Aurelia's hand and they head for the Quidditch pitch.
ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ
The Quidditch pitch isn't as empty as Aurelia had expected it to be. It's not full by any means but there's two more people here than she had been counting on.
It's Viktor Krum and the Headmaster of Durmstrang; Viktor's practicing as well.
Aurelia internally screams.
She's not his biggest fan by any means but he's still famous. Not to mention, he's an amazing Seeker. She can't practice now, there's no way she's going to fly in front of Viktor bloody Krum and make a fool of herself as she's nowhere near as good as he is.
Aurelia's eyes are wide as he glances between Aurelia and Krum "Is that . . .?"
She nods quickly "May — maybe we should —"
"What are you two doing here?!" The Headmaster demands harshly, pointing at the two of them.
Neville gulps loudly and Aurelia clutches the broom she had grabbed from the locker room to her chest.
"This is our school?" Aurelia says meekly and when the Headmaster's glare hardens, she regrets letting her snarky-ish comment be said aloud.
"Uh — well, you see — well, we were just co — coming down here t — to pratice." Aurelia stammers.
The Headmaster sneers at them "Viktor does not have time for fans."
Viktor Krum lands on the ground gracefully and Aurelia almost swoons. Not because she finds Krum attractive or anything but because his landing had been so smooth, she wishes her landings could be that smooth.
"Vot is going on, Karkaroff? Are these fans?"
You have no time for fans, Viktor. You must practice." Karkaroff says.
"There are only two, it von't take long." Krum says.
"We — we're not here for a — a — autographs, hon — honest. I was just comin' down here to practice flying and he was comin' along to watch. We didn't know that anyone w — would be here." Aurelia stammers nervously, Karkaroff's an intimidating bloke and Viktor bloody Krum's standing right in front of her.
"You play Quidditch?" Krum questions, looking her over.
Aurelia nods, picking at her Quidditch sweater nervously.
"Vot position do you play?"
"S — Seeker."
"Vould you like to practice vith me?"
Aurelia blinks "You want me to practice with you?"
Krum nods.
Uh, holy shit!
"O — okay." Aurelia agrees.
"How long haff you been a Seeker?"
"A year now. I was a Keeper before that but, Ced — my cap — captain said I made a better Seeker. I had a habit of screamin' when I saw the Snitch before he did, I think he mostly made me Seeker just so he wouldn't have to hear me scream no more." Aurelia rambles.
"You haff the perfect build for a Seeker. So you haff only been flying for a year now?"
"Oh, no! I've been flyin' since I was a wee thin'. About three, my brother and I had little broom we used to play on. I got my first real broom when I was seven."
"So you haff had lots of practice?"
"I guess." Aurelia replies, shrugging her shoulders.
Krum grins lightly, turning to Karkaroff "I vill practice vith her. It vill be more of a challenge than vith only myself."
Karkaroff gives Aurelia a look that can only be read as 'Her? A Challenge? Ha!' but he nods his head, saying: "If that is what you want, Viktor."
Krum nods.
Aurelia glances at Neville, grinning widely; Viktor fucking Krum wants to practice with her. Wow.
The two mount their brooms and Karkaroff releases the Snitch into the pitch and they take off.
Both her and Viktor seems to have their eyes on the Snitch as they race across the field.
They stretch their hands out for the Snitch, Aurelia's graze the golden surface of the ball but she's not close enough to catch it.
The Snitch suddenly shoots upwards, the action happens so suddenly Aurelia almost misses it and Krum misses it completely.
Aurelia shoots upwards after the Snitch, it takes Krum a few seconds to realise the Snitch was no longer in front of him and then he's shooting after her.
She reaches out her hand — almost, almost, almost — her slender fingers latch around the golden ball — got it!
Her eyes widen in realisation, she beat Viktor bloody Krum!
Holy shit!
"I — I got it?" Aurelia announces.
She actually caught the Snitch before the professional, famous Quidditch player! Wow, so maybe she's better at this than she thought?
She lands on the ground, the Snitch clutched tightly in her hand as she internally screams.
Aurelia waves the golden ball in the air to show Neville, who grins brightly at her and lets out a little cheer of: "Whoo! That's my Sunflower Girl!"
Krum lands beside her, he holds out his hand to shake "Vell done . . . I never caught your name?"
"I'm Aurelia Black, what's yours?" She says — you dumb bitch!
"Oh — I — sorry, force o' habit!" Aurelia stammers, cheeks going red with embarrassment.
However, Krum grins brightly "I am Viktor Krum. It is nice to meet you."
It's probably not often, he's asked his name, he must like the normalcy of the gesture, she thinks. Either that or he's just going along with it to save her the embarrassment.
"So, O-rah-lee-yah —"
Aurelia snickers loudly but then her eyes widen "Oh, I'm so sorry! It's just that — well, that's not how you pronounce my name."
"It is not?" Viktor questions, thick eyebrows furrowing together in confusion.
She shakes her head "No. That's okay though, my name's real hard to pronounce. Even my parents pronounced it wrong at times and they were the ones that picked it! It's like 'Ah-rail-yah' or it can be also be pronounced like 'Ah-rail-lee-yah'. That's how Nev pronounces it but — uh, most o' my friends call me, Blue."
Aurelia prefers the way Neville says her name; it sounds nicer.
"So I can call you, Blue, like the colour?"
Aurelia nods turning her brunette curls, blue.
"Yep, exactly like the colour! Sorry for laughin' at ye like that. 'Nother force o' habit of mine, I find it real funny when people pronounce my name wrong, I laugh at everyone, if it helps."
It does!
Viktor sounds incredibly giddy as he says this but then Aurelia realises he hadn't opened his mouth to speak, he had only thought it. She blinks, clearing her mind to the best of the ability, she really needs to stop doing that. She really needs to find a way to control it but the only person she can think to ask is Snape, and, well . . . She's not really sure if she's that desperate yet.
She can learn this on her own . . . She hopes.
"Vell, Blue, care for another round?" Viktor questions.
Aurelia looks to Neville, who nods as he lifts up a Herbology book. She turns back to Viktor, nodding "Sure thing!"
ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ | ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏʟᴅ
"YOU ASKED VIKTOR KRUM WHAT HIS BLOODY NAME WAS!" Ron exclaims flabbergasted.
Aurelia blushes "Leave me alone, Ronald!"
"Did you at least get his autograph?!" Ron demands to which Aurelia shakes her head, earning an exasperated groan from him.
"I didn't have anything for him to sign! Plus I was way too busy gettin' my ass kicked by Viktor!"
"You won twice!" Neville cuts in.
"Yeah, but, Viktor won the other seven times!"
"You still did amazing! Viktor Krum says so himself." Neville reminds, grinning at her with pride.
Aurelia blushes "I could've done better."
"Wait, so does this mean you're friends with Viktor Krum?!" Ron questions.
"Yeah, I guess it does." Aurelia replies with a grin, "Viktor, Nev, and I are goin' to get Butterbeer when the first trip to Hogsmeade comes around. Viktor's never had Butterbeer before, can ye believe it?!"
Ron who had been about to sit down at the Gryffindor table misses the bench by an inch and falls right on his arse.
"What?!" Ron splutters.
"I know! I was so surprised that he's never had —"
"No!" Ron croaks out, "I — you're going to Hogsmeade with Viktor Krum?!"
"It's not a big deal — okay, it is! I'm friends with Viktor fuckin' Krum!"
Hermione rolls her eyes at the two of them, Fred and George plop down across from the lot of them, instantly changing the subject as Fred says: "I hope it's Angelina!"
"So do I! We'll know soon!" Hermione says.
Aurelia glares at the Goblet of Fire, she doesn't want anyone to be chosen, she wants the bloody tournament to be cancelled.
She piles some mashed potatoes, smoked ham, and peas onto her plate and digs in.
The feast seems to pass by quicker than the last, much to Aurelia's dismay, and soon enough the plates are cleared and Professor Dumbledore's gotten to his feet.
"Well, I do believe the goblet is almost ready to make its decision, I estimate it requires another moment or too."
Aurelia groans, burying her face in her hands. Please just cancel it before it begins, that's the smartest decision you can make when it comes to this tournament.
"Now, when a champion's name is chosen, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber where they will be receiving their first instructions." Professor Dumbledore explains.
Using his wand, he extinguishes the candles in the Great Hall save for the ones in the carved pumpkins and the flames of the Goblet of Fire.
"Any second now." Lee whispers from the seat across of Aurelia.
She glances at the goblet which suddenly turns red as the flames spit up a charred piece of parchment.
Professor Dumbledore grabs it and announces: "The champion of Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum!"
The Great Hall bursts into applause.
"No surprise there!" Ron cries out.
Viktor walks up to the staff table and follows it along until he reaches the side chamber and disappears through the door.
The applause dies down soon afterward and then seconds later the goblet turns red again, shooting out the second champion's name.
"The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"
The Great Hall bursts into applause yet again.
The Hogwarts champion is next, Aurelia thinks, oh, shit, please don't be Cedric! Please don't be Cedric.
She knows it's rude of her to wish for this as Cedric's so excited for this tournament but Aurelia really can't help it.
The Goblet of Fire turns red for the third and last time.
Please, please, please.
"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!"
"Oh, no!" Aurelia mutters worriedly.
She frowns, she wants to cheer for Cedric because he deserves support but she's so bloody worried about him.
Everyone at the Hufflepuff table jumps to their feet, screaming and stamping, as Cedric makes his way past them, grinning broadly, as he heads toward the chamber behind the staff table.
The cheering of the Hufflepuffs lasts longer than the cheering for the other schools but finally it dies down and Professor Dumbledore begins to speak: "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real —"
He stops speaking, distracted by the Goblet of Fire which had turned red again.
"Oh, no!" Aurelia gasps, this can't be happening! There's only supposed to be three champions!
Aurelia's filled with dread as a fourth name is spit up from the goblet.
No. No. No.
Professor Dumbledore reaches out and grabs it, there's a long pause as he stares at it.
It's Harry. Somehow it's got to be Harry. It's always Harry.
Aurelia bites her nails nervously, waiting for the Headmaster to read the name but before he can the goblet turns red and spits up a fifth name. Professor Dumbledore reaches out and grabs that, without tearing his gaze from the other piece of parchment.
Whose names are those? One of them's got to be Harry's! Aurelia's mind is racing and her heart is hammering, this isn't supposed to be happening. There's never, ever been more than three champions picked before.
There's a long, terrible pause before Professor Dumbledore clears his throat, announcing: "Harry Potter and . . . Aurelia Black!"
It feels like someone had stomped hard on her chest, knocking all the air from her lungs "Oh, fuck!"