(A/N: Helloooo out there. No I have not died :). You see, I was extremely busy(lie)... okay My computer fell out my window(lie) okay fine I had come down with a deadly illness and couldn't look at anything bright(lie) Okay fine I was lazy! So I picked my lazy butt of of my bed and wrote out this chapter for you. I may be a bit rusty as to well... not having writing for like a month so if this chapter is missing some well... goodness... sorry. I hope I don't disappoint? Now read away :) )
Chapter 19
Finally, after a long hour of preparation in the dorm room they decided that they looked aweing enough for the feast. Massie's hair had been straightened to perfection and her smoky eyes were stunning. They exited their room and walked down to the Grand Hall.
"Where has Harry and them been all day?" Massie asked Claire as they rounded a corner.
"I think they went down to Hagrid's," Claire responded.
"Who?"
"Really, Mass? Y'know, our teacher?" Claire tried.
"Oh… the really big one?"
"Yes… Him. Apparently they're really close to him."
"Why?"
"I don't know," Claire finished as they stood outside the Grand Hall. They walked through the doors and the present excitement of the air hit them like a boulder. Claire even had to gasp a little. Fellow students chattered noisily and kept sneaking glances at the Goblet, hoping desperately for a member from their household to be chosen. Massie got excited as well, even though she didn't want to. Massie spotted Hermione and ushered Claire over along with her.
"Hermione! Where have you been?" Massie asked, sitting down.
"Oh, we were at Hagrid's," Hermione explained, smiling.
"Oh."
"Hey, Massie," Fred said from across the table. His eyes seemed devilish but inviting.
"Oh, hey," Massie responded as if she had no idea he sat right across from her.
Soon, the food appeared on their plates. They ate hurriedly, except for Massie, who preferred to remain looking classy. In good time though their plates were finally cleared and the choosing of the champions began.
"Well, the Goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top if the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the nest chamber,"-he indicated the door behind the staff table-"where they will be receiving their first instructions."
Dumbledore pulled out his long, mystical want and gave a giant sweeping wave with it and suddenly the candles along the Great Hall were extinguished and they were plunged head first into an engulfing semi-darkness. The Goblet of Fire shone out alone like its own sun, sparkling and shining. Everybody watched it, their lungs filled with an anticipation breath.
Massie heard Lee Jordan mumble something but couldn't quite make out what he said.
Then, as if on cue, the flames of the Goblet turned a startling red and sparks emitted from the top. A tongue of flame shot into the air and upchucked a single piece of parchment.
Dumbledore caught it, and with his beautiful blue eyes, he read the tiny paper.
"The champion for Durmstrang," he read in a clear, loud voice, "will be Viktor Krum!"
Thunderous applause commenced and cheers erupted from the tables. "No surprise, there!" Ron cheered, simply adding to the excitement.
Viktor Krum rose from his table and walked awkwardly towards the back chamber. Cheering followed him until the red flames began to spurt from the Goblet once again. Another slip of paper shot up from the Goblet and fluttered down delicately. Dumbledore reached up and caught it with a weathered hand.
Excitement hushed over the crowd and Dumbledore began to speak again, "the champion for Beauxbatons is…. Fleur Delacour!"
Cheering rose through the crowd again, except only from Hogwarts and Durmstrang. The other girls from Beauxbatons were too jealous to display sportsmanship and several of them had dissolved into tears.
"It's her, Ron!" Harry cheered. Massie stopped cheering immediately. The beautiful girl pranced off into the back chamber room and Massie's jealousy only increased.
The champion for Hogwarts was to be called next ad the excitement only tripled. Massie bit her lip, and Claire's nails fell victim to her gobbling teeth. Across the room, Kristen held her breath and gripped Mary's hand intensely.
The red flames shot up once again. A small sheet of paper fluttered through the air and floated into Dumbledore's eagerly waiting hand. His eyes focused behind their half moon spectacles and with one loud booming voice he announced the champion.
"The Hogwarts Champion… is Cedric Diggory!"
Ron's scream of protest could barely be heard above the tumultuous applause and cheering coming from the Hufflepuff table. Once Massie saw the strapping boy stand up she nearly gasped. He was breathtakingly handsome.
"Ehmagawd… Kuh-Laire… I call him," Massie announced, her amber eyes scanning her prey.
"Damn," Claire said while staring at him as well. This time it was Harry who stopped clapping.
Dumbledore began his speech on what the champions were to do. Massie's interest had officially scampered away.
However, something interrupted Dumbledore. The Goblet began to redden and sparks began to fly again.
"What the F-"
But Massie's curse was cut off by Dumbledore's booming voice which announced:
"Harry Potter."
Massie began to clap unknowingly, although everybody else in the Grand Hall silenced and began to emit cries of confusion. Massie stopped clapping.
Harry sat there, frozen and lost but mostly confused.
"Harry, how'd you do it?" Claire asked first.
"I didn't…" Harry responded and looked at her with his great green eyes, which currently were swimming with confusion.
"I didn't put my name in," Harry said and looked at Hermione and Ron, "You know I didn't."
They didn't respond; they didn't have anything to say.
Massie was the most hopelessly confused. She whispered to Claire, "so what? The object made a mistake… my laptop locks up all the time… Why is everyone all pissy?"
"Mass, it's a magic object. It doesn't just make mistakes," Claire whispered back.
"Harry Potter! Harry, up here if you please," Dumbledore called to him.
"Go," Massie said and pushed Harry into a standing position.
Dumbledore ushered Harry through the door and the Hall remained answerless.
Everyone in the Hall began to talk at once, as if glad they had left and could now talk about them behind their back, a tact Massie used often in the presence of unwanted company.
"What's going on?" Massie asked Fred. He turned to her, an awed expression still present on his face.
"'Dunno," he responded.
"That git!" Ron spoke ferociously to Hermoine in hushed tones. Massie watched as Hermione tried to desperately calm him.
Suddenly Seamus arose to a standing position at his table. "No need ta worry! A Gryffindor has been chosen for the Tournament!"
That aspect began to dawn on the entire Gryffindor table.
"A celebration, tonight! In Honor of Harry Potter… The Gryffindor Champion!" Fred called out, raising his empty glass for a false toast.
The rest of the table joined him, including Massie and Claire, raising their glasses and laughing until their eyes filled with tears at Fred's impression of the other champions learning of Harry competing.
Eventually the teachers shuffled the students out of the Grand Hall and towards their Common Rooms.
Once the Gryffindors were in their room the partying truly began. Lee Jordan dug out a Gryffindor banner and hung it from the ceiling. Massie helped Fred create punch from juices they got from the nice little elves in the kitchen. When Massie wasn't looking, Fred spiked the punch.
People cheered and danced and partied to magically conjured music and lights. Massie ate some strawberries that they had also stolen. Fred sat on the couch and beckoned Massie over. She fell into the couch next to him and smiled at him. Fred pulled her closer, his breath slightly smelling of Butterbeer.
"I think you've had enough to drink," Massie said and pulled away the one he was currently nursing.
"I think we don't talk enough," Fred said to her, his eyebrows raised, eagerly awaiting her response.
"I think we do," Massie coyly flirted. Fred smiled and began to lean forward to kiss her but Massie ducked out of the situation and hurried off to find Claire.
Finally, she found Claire eating a plate of chips and talking with Katie Bell.
"There you are!" Massie said firmly.
"Hey, Mass, what is it?" Claire asked and stood up.
"Come with me…" Massie dragged Claire to a small portion of the Common Room that was currently rather empty.
"What?" Claire asked, her light blue eyes filled with concern.
"Fred almost kissed me!" Massie said with much dramatization.
"Ehmagawd!"
"I know!"
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know…"
"Do you even like him?"
"Not as much as I like Harry… but both of them are cute and interesting. Fred hold more potential for fun but Harry… well he's the Boy Who Lived!"
"Yes… true… does Harry like you?"
"I really don't know. Maybe… sometimes he seems like he likes me a lot but not always…"
Claire thought for a moment, speculating on what Massie had told her. Claire's thoughts were soon interrupted, however, by the portrait door opening and much cheering and welcoming commenced.
"Harry must be here," Massie said to Claire as if it wasn't obvious. They stood up and watched people swarm to him and ask him questions ranging from "Did you put your name in?" to "Does Nancy-boy Cedric not get to compete now?" to "Are you expelled?"
Massie watched the tide of questioners ebb for a moment and walked up to Harry herself.
"Mass…" Harry gasped slightly. He had a right to; Massie had dressed up into casual part clothes that looked amazing on her. He was also glad to see her. He had been looking for either Massie, Hermione or Ron and finally found one of them. Massie reached up and hugged Harry, a longing hug that lasted.
Once they finally broke free, she asked him the question she had been dying to ask him.
"How did you do it?" Massie asked, her eyes staring into his soul, trying to determine whether his answer would be a lie or not.
"I didn't do it," Harry replied earnestly. He hoped she would believe him; he needed someone on his side that knew the truth.
Massie knew lies and liars, and what Harry said wasn't a lie. She smiled and said, "I believe you."
That was all Harry needed. His smile broadened and he hugged her again. They walked over to a chair, the only available one. They both sat in the chair, making it somewhat squished and caused them to be rather close to each other.
"What happened?" Massie asked.
"A lot of things. I have to compete, though."
"Why?"
"The rules bound me or something like that."
"That's ridiculous. You're not old enough."
"I know… Hey, have you seen Hermione or Ron?"
"Well, they both came in… I don't know where Hermione is but I know that Ron went straight up to his room and, honestly, he seemed really pissed off. I think he's jealous or something like that."
Harry sighed audibly and stood up. "I should go find him."
"Alright," Massie said and watched him walk off.
Although she was in a crowded room with many people who were loud and rambunctious, Massie couldn't help but feel lonely. She missed the attention of being the most gorgeous and fashionable in the entire room and the fact that half of the Pretty Committee was at some other school away from Massie certainly didn't help. Massie heaved a big sigh and adjusted her top and accessories.
The room danced around Massie and people cheered and surrounded Harry. Massie watched on from her small little chair and cherished this lonely moment. She wasn't going to fake a smile or dance to a boring and tiring beat.
Perhaps going to this school would help Massie beyond teaching her magic and giving her new cultural experiences. Massie was learning that she didn't need to be the center of attention 100% of the time and she didn't need to be happy and lively constantly. She could have moments where she didn't want to party or impress anybody.
Then, a moment came that relinquished Massie of her calm moment of serenity. Claire walked up to her, still laughing from a joke that was unknown to Massie and pulled her up into a standing position. Massie's fake smile returned, her amber eyes seemingly full of excitement and good cheer. Her skin glowed once again and she reentered the part scene.
Music thumped loudly for the rest of the night, People partying, and some of the older students were tipsy and nauseous. A few students pulled out their wands and began practicing minor spells that they knew. Massie and Claire knew a few spells and began to join in.
"Come awn! Is that the best you can do, Fred?" Massie teased. Fred has just finished lighting up his head by sticking his wand in his mouth and conjuring "Lumos!"
"Well, then let's see you have a go at it," Fred quipped back.
"Alright then." With Massie's acceptance of the challenge, many students, mostly the tipsy ones, cheered with her.
Massie summoned up courage and cockiness and retracted her wand from her purse. "Does anybody have something they won't ever need again?" Massie asked the crowd, causing a few people to become shift and nervous. George pulled out a Slytherin tie that Massie took without question because he probably stole it while terrorizing the other household.
Massie clutched the tie and threw it into the air, and then in one sweeping, fluid motion, Massie aimed her wand at it and shouted clearly and precisely, "Expulso!"
The tie exploded in the air and fluttering fabric fragments fluttered flawlessly through the Common Room like green and silver confetti. The whole room stared in disbelief at Massie. None of them had ever seen that spell completed before.
"That… that… was… Bloody Brilliant!" Fred gasped and the rest of the Common Room erupted into applause.
"Where did you learn a spell like that?" Seamus asked Massie over the commotion.
"Moody taught it to us," Massie explained as if it was nothing out of the usual.
"I'm pretty sure that it is a dark spell," Neville Longbottom said nervously and scratched his neck.
"Well, I've never been taught it," Fred agreed, which scared Massie but excited her. She was learning spells that nobody knew. She liked this.
The party continued on until about 3am when Massie finally got to bed. She entered her dorm room, Hermione and Claire were already in bed and Lavender Brown was just settling in.
"Hey, Lavender," Massie said as she took off her heels and began to undress.
"Hey, Massie," Lavender said and began to settle into her bed.
"What do you think is going to happen to Harry?" Massie asked her while she dressed into her white silk Ralph Lauren nighties.
"I dunno. I doubt it'll be all good though," Lavender answered truthfully. "Good night, Massie."
"Night," Massie said before lying down in bed. She didn't go to bed immediately though. She pulled out her State of the Union from underneath her bed.
In-Out
Harry Potter-Cedric Diggory
Partying-Studying
Expulso-Lumos
Champions-Students
(review? :))