Aly shivered with excitement as she headed down to the Quidditch stadium.
"It's absolutely freezing!" Bella exclaimed, rubbing her arms.
Char took a bite of his chocolate bar. Bella grabbed it from him.
"Stop that!" Bella snapped. "You've been eating chocolate nonstop since Halloween!"
"Thas na fair!" Char said his mouth full of chocolate, while accidentally spraying some on Bella.
"Excuse me?" Aly asked, revolted.
Char swallowed.
"That's not fair!" he repeated. Aly rolled her eyes and continued walking down to the Pitch.
"Aren't you excited?" Bella asked, wrapping her Gryffindor scarf around her neck tighter. "I really hope Ced..." she started, faltering when Char glared at her, "And Harry both do really well!"
"Yeah," Aly said carefully, as Char scrutinized her.
"What do you see in that guy? He's not even that handsome!"
"Well, you're not a girl, are you?" Bella asked stiffly. "So you wouldn't understand."
"Well, you're the one who fancies him, Bella," Aly reminded, with a grin. "Me and Ced are just good friends." She smirked. "And I don't mean to burst your bubble, but he's got his lovely little hazel eye set on Cho."
Bella frowned at her as they approached the stadium and climbed the stairs over in the Gryffindor section. Aly looked over the tops of other heads and gasped.
"Is that...a dragon?!"
Bella looked to where Aly's eyes were. "I don't believe it!" she gasped.
"The first task is dragons!"
Char's eyes bulged.
"Whoa."
Aly looked around as other students started piling in. "I've got to tell Harry!"
"Aly!" Bella called as Aly stood up and raced down to the ground. "Alyson, get back up here!"
Aly walked coolly through the crowd, excited as the same time. She spotted a familiar blond head, and walked even faster.
"Hey!" Hayden said, noticing her. Aly nodded stiffly and headed for the champion's tent.
Someone grabbed her arm. "Since when do you nod to people?"
Aly shrugged her arm out of Hayden's hold and turned around. He grinned at her.
"Sorry, I've got to go somewhere," she said hastily, and took off.
Hayden looked at Damien, who shrugged. Hayden shook his head and continued heading for the stadium.
Aly looked around and spotted Harry walking into the tent.
"Harry!" she called. He didn't hear her and disappeared into the tent. "Hey!"
"Hey," someone replied coolly. Aly's hand flew to her chest and clutched her heart as it thumped. She turned around.
"Cedric! Don't ever do that again!"
Cedric laughed. He was dressed in Hufflepuff clothing.
"It's not funny. You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"I know," he grinned. Aly glared at him. "Looking for Harry?"
"Yeah, actually," Aly said, her eyes darting around. "Could you get him for me?"
"No, I can't."
"Excuse me?"
"I said I can't," Cedric repeated, his eyes twinkling. "You'll have to get him yourself."
"Are you off your rocker?" Aly exclaimed. "I can't go in there!"
"Why not?"
"I'm not a champion," Aly replied, obviously.
"So?" He looked behind her. "That Krum fan isn't a champion, but she's sneaking in there."
Aly turned around, and winced as she heard yelling.
The girl squeaked and rushed out of the tent, running away. Ludo Bagman's head popped out of the tent and his face was angry.
"And don't you ever come back!"
He turned his head and saw Cedric and Aly standing there, surprised. His face softened.
"Cedric, old boy!" he exclaimed jovially, coming out of the tent. "Ready for the task?"
Cedric nodded politely. "Ready as ever, sir." Ludo looked down at Aly.
"Is this your girlfriend? Or one of your fans?"
Aly's face reddened slightly.
"I'm not sure; a fan, I think," Cedric said, composing his face seriously. "She's been following me around for a while."
Aly's face turned red and she scowled.
"I'd get a move on, if I were you," Bagman said. "I don't think you're supposed to be around here." He turned Cedric away from Aly.
"Give me a call if she bothers you too much. Restraining orders have been working quite well on Krum," he muttered. Ludo nodded stiffly to Aly and walked into the tent.
Aly fumed, to Cedric's enjoyment.
"You are such an idiot!"
Cedric burst out laughing after holding it in so long, and dodged a punch meant for his face and ran into the tent.
"Diggory! Get back here!" she roared.
Someone grabbed her arm again.
"Hayden! Geroff!" she said, wheeling around.
Black eyes met green.
"Oh," Aly managed. "Professor Snape."
"Yes," he said silkily. "Are you supposed to be over here?"
"Um...well..."
"I thought not," Snape sneered. "15 points from Gryffindor, and a detention." He held onto Aly's arm and began to drag her away.
"Professor, wait!"
Snape whirled around. Cedric came out of the tent.
"Don't," Cedric pleaded. "I wanted to speak with her."
Snape didn't look convinced. "What did he want with you, Ms. Trevelyan?"
Aly looked between Snape and Cedric quickly. "He wanted to know why I gave him leprechaun gold."
"Excuse me?" Snape drawled.
"I owed him for paying for my Omnioculars," Aly explained, looking at Cedric. "And I didn't have any more money on me. So I gave him leprechaun gold. It disappears, sir."
Snape stared at her.
"He wanted his actual money back."
Snape scowled and stormed away.
Aly sighed with relief.
Cedric smiled. "You're a good liar."
"Thanks."
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament!"
Happy Belated Christmas, everyone!
