"Alright," Liesel's father said, glancing around. "Here we are, I guess."
Liesel, Dominik, and her father observed the gates with curiosity. "Caeslum Habente, Nullus Modus," Liesel read aloud. Below the phrase, was the symbol of the Ministry of Magic. "Hmm."
"Wow, when they said it was a camp, they meant it," Dominik said, looking at the tents that were lined up along the dirt road. "Are there enough tents to fit all of those people? Don't you think they're a bit small?" He was holding Liesel's broom in his arms; a brand new Nimbus Two Thousand and One. It was a nice broom, she would admit, but it was nothing compared to Harry's Firebolt.
Liesel shrugged, as they made their way through the gates, pulling her trunk behind her. They were walking along a dirt path. Liesel could make out a large, glittering lake hidden behind all of the trees that were planted around the camp. Behind the lake, she could see three sets of Quidditch hoops from the opposite end of the camp. "They have three Quidditch pitches! Three!"
"I see," Dominik muttered.
"It's not too late to change your mind, you know," Liesel said to Dominik. "This looks as though it's going to be loads of fun."
"I'll pass," he said with a shrug. "I'm going to be spending a week or two over Cam's, anyways," he said.
"Oh—tell him I said hi," Liesel said. "And that I miss him."
"Don't worry, I will," he said. "So, where exactly are we going?" he asked, glancing around.
"We need to find the Registration," Liesel's father said. "From there, you should be fine, Liesel."
"Hmm. All right," Liesel said. They continued making their way down the dirt road, looking for the registration.
"Oy, Liz!"
"Look, it's Henry!"
"And Dominik!"
Liesel, her father, and Dominik turned around to see Fred and George walking over to greet them. "Hi Fred, George," Liesel said with a smile.
"Hey, there Liz," George said, opening his arms for a hug.
But, Fred cut in and gave Liesel a hug instead. "We've missed you!" The hug lasted much longer than what is was meant to be, so Dominik moved things along with the clearing of his throat. "Right," he muttered, pulling from the hug.
"Have you registered yet?" George asked.
"No, we just got here," Liesel said. "Have you?"
"Yup!" the twins said simultaneously.
"We've already settled in our tents and everything!" George said happily.
"We can take you to get registered, if you like," Fred offered.
"Well, good. Take this," Dominik said, handing him Liesel's broom.
"Well, I guess, we'll be going now," Liesel's father said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We'll see you in, what, three weeks?"
"That sounds about right," Liesel said with a grin.
"Have fun," her father said, squeezing her in a tight hug and giving her a kiss on the cheek. He turned to the twins, "Keep an eye on her, will you, boys?" The twins saluted.
"Will do, Henry!"
Liesel turned to Dominik. "Have fun with Cam."
"I will," he said, nudging her with his elbow. "Say hi to Draco for me," he said teasingly.
Liesel gave him a shove. "Goodbye!"
Dominik started off after his uncle. He glanced over his shoulder with a grin. "See you, Liz!" Liesel watched as he continued to walk, but her cousin ended up walking into a girl who appeared around Liesel's age, causing her to fall to the ground. "Watch where you're—" Dominik paused. "—Oh, sorry," he murmured, holding out a hand.
The girl looked up at Dominik accusingly. She got to her feet, not accepting his hand. She then dusted off her clothes before walking off.
"Bye, Dominik!" the twins called.
Dominik looked over again and gave the twins an awkward wave before continuing after Liesel's father, once again.
"Come on," George said, throwing an arm around Liesel's shoulder. "Registration is right over here," he said, leading the way.
"How long have the two of you been here?" she asked. So far, she'd seen kids between the ages of eleven and seventeen all over the camp socializing. Who she was really looking for, however, was Draco.
"About two hours," Fred answered. "Ah, here we are," he said, pointing towards a booth, where a girl was seated. She had to be no more than eighteen. Above all, she didn't look happy to be there.
Liesel made her way up to the booth and stood before the girl, who was preoccupied with a book. Her legs were propped up on the table, where all the paperwork was placed. Liesel cleared her throat. The girl continued reading her book. Liesel cleared her throat, once again. This time, however, she was a bit more impatient.
"I'd like to register."
The girl looked up from her book, sending Liesel a sharp look. She snapped the book shut and removed her legs from the table. She picked up a quill and grabbed an application. "Name?"
"Liesel Greenwood."
"Age?"
"Fourteen."
"School?"
"Hogwarts."
"Have you ever played Quidditch?"
"Er, yeah."
"Have you ever played on a Quidditch team?"
"Yes, I have."
"Do you have your own broomstick?"
"Well, that's required, isn't it?"
"What kind of broom do you have?"
"A Nimbus Two-Thousand and One."
"What position do you play?"
"Only one?" Liesel asked.
"Yes," the girl said irritably. "One."
"But, I can play every position on the team."
"Choose one."
"Fine. How about Keeper?"
"Keeper it is," the girl mumbled, scribbling down on the application.
She scribbled something down on a smaller piece of parchment and handed it to Liesel. "Tent Fourteen."
"Thank you," Liesel said, taking the card. She walked back over to the twins, who were waiting patiently. "What's that girl's problem?" Liesel muttered.
Fred and George shrugged. "Dunno."
"She wasn't there when we registered," Fred said with a shrug. "What tent are you in?"
"Fourteen," she said, handing him her card.
"That's not too far from ours!" George said excitedly.
"I don't understand," Liesel said as Fred and George led the way. "How are people fitting in these tents? They're immensely small."
"You'll see," Fred said with a grin as they walked through the camp.
Liesel noticed that there were racks that the campers could place their broomsticks in when they weren't in use.
Each tent was different colors, and matched the most famous Quidditch teams in the league. There ne team the Liesel immediately recognized. The tent was a pale blue and decorated in brilliant silver arrows. A banner hung from the tent that read:
THE APPLEBY ARROWS
TENT TWENTY-FOUR
"The tents are nice, aren't they?" George asked.
"Yeah," Liesel said with a smile. "What team is your tent?" she asked the two.
"The Kenmare Kestrels," Fred said with a shrug. "Not my favorite team, but they're not too bad."
"We're in tent eleven, by the way," George added. "I think Ron is in tent nineteen, but I'm not sure."
"What about Ginny?" Liesel asked curiously.
"Hmm…Dunno," Fred said. "She ran off as soon as she could."
"If you two were my brothers, I'd probably do the same," Liesel said with a laugh.
"Ah, here we are!" George said happily. "Tent fourteen."
"The Windborne Wasps," Liesel said with a smile of satisfaction. The tent was decorated in horizontal, vibrant yellow and dark black stripes; very similar to the team's robes. "A team that's good."
"No fair," the twins said. "They've won the League Cup eighteen times."
"I know!" Liesel said with a grin. "Can you help me bring my stuff inside?"
"Sorry."
"Can't."
"Why not?" Liesel asked with a frown.
"Boys can't enter the girls' tents," Fred shrugged.
"You're joking," Liesel sighed. "I guess I'll have to carry all of this inside by myself…"
"Sorry," said the twins.
"It's fine," Liesel sighed, "but thanks anyways."
"Catch you around, Sleepyhead," George said, nudging her with his elbow.
"See ya, Cutie," Fred said ruffling Liesel's hair. He took her broomstick and placed in the rack where there were two other brooms were placed; one slot was still empty. "We'll see you later."
"Bye," she said to the two. She let out a sigh and dragged her trunk behind her, wondering how four people were going to live in one small tent. But, that question was answered the second she stepped inside of the tent.
It appeared to be much, much larger on the inside than out, and Liesel finally understood . There was a sitting room, which was furnished with soft chairs and large pillows that were also decorated in black and yellow.
"Wow," Liesel breathed. "This is brilliant." She pulled her trunk behind her as she went further into the tent. "Hello? Is there anyone else here?"
"Back 'ere!" A voice called. A girl emerged from a room. She had a smooth face spotted with freckles. Her eyes were brown and were practically covered by her fringe. Her hair was straight and was light chestnut brown. She smiled at Liesel. "Hi—" she began, but her eyes fell to the floor. "Your shoes! Ce qui n'est pas bon!" the girl shrieked, pointing at Liesel's trainers. Liesel looked at the girl in confusion. "Zat is not good!" the girl translated.
"W-what's wrong with them?" Liesel mumbled, looking at her feet. "They're only old trainers."
"You are walking around zees brand new tent in your shoes!" the French girl shrieked. "Do you do zat in your own 'ouse?"
"No, but—"
"Well, zees is your new 'ome!" the girl said frantically. "So you can not walk zrough here with your shoes."
"All right, I'll keep that in mind," Liesel said. "I'll take them off as soon as I get to the—"
"No," the French girl said, shaking her head. "Now."
Liesel scowled. "Okay, mom," she grumbled before slipping off her shoes. "See?" she said, holding them up.
"Zat's all I ask," the girl said with a satisfied smile. "Ze bunks are back zees way."
Liesel followed after the girl as she made the way to the back room. There were four bunks, also decorated with the wasp-like pattern.
"As you can see, zere's a top bunk and bottom bunk free," the girl said. "I 'ave zees bottom bunk, 'ere. She—" she pointed towards the girl on the top bunk on the opposite bunk bed "—'as taken zat one."
"I'll take the top bunk, then," Liesel said. "Where do we place our things?" she asked the girl on the top bunk, who was reading a copy of the Quibbler. Another thing that Liesel noticed was the girl's mismatched socks.
"There's a closet near the bathroom, I think," the second girl said in a soft voice. Liesel noted that this girl had an American accent. Though, she never looked at Liesel when she spoke. "I haven't unpacked yet."
"Oh, well, thank you," Liesel said in a friendly voice.
"Oh—my name eez Eloise-Jean, by ze way!" the first girl said. "But, please, just call me Eloise."
"My name is Liesel, but you can call me Liz, if you like," she said, offering her hand to Eloise.
"Oh—wait," Eloise said as she reached into her back pocket and pulled out a tiny bottle. "'Ere we are," she muttered, squeezing a bit of the clear liquid onto Liesel's hand. "Now, just rub your 'ands togezer," she said, making the gesture with her own hands. Liesel gave Eloise an odd look, but did as she instructed. The liquid was cool, and made her hands feel slightly sticky before it dried.
"Okay," said Eloise, "now we shake 'ands," she said, grasping Liesel's hand and giving it a quick shake.
"What did you put on my hands?" Liesel asked slowly.
"'And sanitizer," Eloise answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh," Liesel said, observing her hands.
"It's alright," Liesel's other roommate said. "She did the same thing to me," she said. The girl set down her magazine and sat up. She turned to let her short legs hand over the ledge.
Liesel looked up at the American girl. The girl had large, inquiring brown eyes complimented with dark, sharp eyebrows. Her nose was fairly-button like and her lips held a soft smile. The girl's hair was dark and cut short and her skin a satiny brown. Liesel recognized her as the girl Dominik had knocked down minutes before he left. She seemed much different than what Liesel had expected.
The girl hopped down from the top bunk and turned to Liesel. "My name's Melanie," she said in her soft voice.
Liesel glanced at the girl's hand before shaking it. "Hi," Liesel said as she shook her hand. "Liz." Liesel put on a smile. "Are you American?"
"Yeah," Melanie said shyly. "I'm from America, but I haven't been there in a really long time."
"Where 'ave you been?" Eloise asked as she seated herself on her bunk.
Melanie shifted slightly, looking uncomfortable. "I-I've been just about everywhere, I think. My father travels a lot." Liesel frowned. She had never travelled anywhere with her father; she'd never even left the country.
"Really?" Eloise asked, her eyes widening. "What for?"
"For his job," Melanie answered. "He's a reporter." Liesel frowned inwardly; her father was a banker for a muggle bank in London.
"What kind of reporter?" Liesel asked curiously.
"A sports reporter," Melanie answered, "mainly Quidditch."
"C'est brilliant! Zat's brilliant, Melanie!" Eloise exclaimed, sounding impressed. "Your dad must know everybody!"
Liesel could have sworn she saw Melanie's face go slightly pink. "He knows a lot of people," Melanie said slowly, "but I don't think he knows absolutely everyone."
"You must be a Quidditch expert, zen!" Eloise exclaimed.
"I wouldn't call myself an expert," Melanie said sheepishly. "I'm only here because my father's on business."
"Is he covering the World Cup?" Liesel asked.
"He is," Melanie said with a nod. "He said it's going to be the event of the year."
"I believe it," Eloise said with a nod.
"So, if you travel a lot, where do you go to school?" Liesel asked curiously.
"I don't go to school," Melanie said quietly. "I'm home schooled."
"What eez zat like?" Eloise asked. "Surely, you get to do whatever you want?"
Melanie let out a short laugh. "No, not exactly." She turned to Liesel. "What about you?"
"I go to Beauxbatons," said Eloise.
Melanie turned to Liesel. "Do you go to Hogwarts?"
"I do," Liesel said with a nod.
"Ooh, 'Ogwarts!" Eloise exclaimed, falling backwards on her bed. "I wish I could go zere, instead! I would love to see what 'ouse I was sorted into! Maybe I would even meet ze one and only 'Arry Potter!" Eloise's eyes widened and she looked at Liesel. "Do you know 'im?! What 'ouse were you sorted into?"
"I do know him," Liesel said, "and we're in the same house: Gryffindor," she said proudly. Though, she felt a twinge of irritation in her chest; she wasn't quite sure why.
"Oh, I do wish I could meet 'im," Megan said in a dreamy voice. "Liz, you must tell me everyzing you know about 'Arry, you must! Please! Je vous en prie!"
Melanie giggled at Eloise. "Why is everybody obsessed with Harry Potter?" she asked. "I understand that he defeated the 'Dark Lord', but what's the big deal? Was he really that bad?"
"'E was ze worst zing zat ever 'appened to ze Wizarding World," Eloise said, sounding shocked. "You really don't know about 'im?"
"I know some things, but not much," Melanie said with a shrug.
"Everyone should be 'ere by five o' clock," Eloise said, observing her wristwatch. "Where eez ze last roommate? She should be 'ere by now!"
"I'm not quite sure," Liesel said with a shrug. "Why does everyone have to be here by five o' clock?"
"Eet's on ze bulletin," said Eloise as she got to her feet.
"There's a bulletin?" asked Melanie.
"Yes," Eloise answered. "Eet's right zis way, in ze sitting room."
Liesel and Melanie followed Eloise into the sitting room, where was, in fact, a bulletin board right by the entrance of the tent.
"Zere is a schedule right 'ere," Eloise said, pointing to a blue piece of paper. "Ze schedule for today, at least," she added. "Tomorrow's schedule is right 'ere," she said, pointing to a pink sheet of paper that was tacked up beside the blue one.
Liesel read the blue schedule closely:
5:00 pm – Meet and Greet
Gather at Quidditch Pitch Number Two. Bring your broomstick for Trials shortly after.
6:00 pm –Trials
Be sure to put forth your best effort to be placed in the appropriate level.
7:30 – Rest after Trials
Rest after Quidditch Trials. Get prepared for the Opening Summer Feast.
Dress Appropriately.
8:30 – Opening Summer Feast
Be prepared to celebrate the first Opening Summer Feast of Quidditch Camp.
"Thanks, Eloise," Liesel said with a smile.
Eloise grinned. "No problem, Liz."
"But, what do they mean by 'dress appropriately'?" Melanie asked.
"I zink that it means zey want us to dress nicely," Eloise said thoughtfully. "I am not really sure," she said with a shrug. "Maybe we can ask someone."
"Good idea," Liesel murmured.
"It's about time zat we get going," Eloise said, observing her wristwatch. "We do not want to be ze last ones zere."
"Eloise is right," Melanie said. "We should get going."
The three roommates set out to leave the tent.
"So, Liz," Eloise said, turning to Liesel excitedly. "Please, tell me more about 'Ogwarts! I—"
The three girls came to a stop once they were outside of their tent. There, stood a girl struggling with all of her bags attempting to place her broomstick on the rack.
"Hi," she said, panting heavily. "Are you three in this tent, as well?"
"Fay?" Liesel asked.
Fay Dunbar's blue eyes lit up. "Liz!" she said, obviously happy to see a familiar face. "Would you mind helping me, here?" she asked, glancing at all of the bags that she was carrying.
"Of course we will 'elp you," Eloise said, taking a heavy bag from her hands. "You are stuck wiz ze bottom bunk, I'm afraid."
"Oh, it's fine," Fay said, sounding relieved.
Liesel took another bag from her hands. "Fay, where's your trunk? Why didn't you use that?"
"I wasn't thinking," Fay admitted.
"You've got a lot of things," Melanie said thoughtfully, taking her last bag from her hands. "You must be really strong."
"That's hardly the case," Fay said with a dry laugh, taking in the appearance of the tent. "Where is everyone headed?"
"To the meet and greet," Liesel answered, placing one of Fay's bags on her bed.
"I am Eloise," she said, "I would give you a handshake and ze whole welcoming committee, but we 'ave to go!"
Melanie made her way over to Fay, "I'm Melanie, it's nice to meet you."
Fay smiled. "You, too."
The four exited the tent together and grabbed their respectable brooms.
"So, Fay," said Eloise, "you know Liz already?"
"Yes," said Fay, "we're roommates at Hogwarts—"
"Ooh! Anozer 'Ogwarts student!" Eloise said excitedly. "Tell me, do you know 'Arry Potter?" Liesel rolled her eyes while no one was looking.
"Well, I know him, yes, but not as well as Liz," Fay said, grinning at Liesel.
"Exactly 'ow well do you know 'Arry, Liz?" Eloise asked, a grimace appearing on her face.
"He's my best friend," Liesel said with a shrug.
"No need to get your hopes down, Eloise," Fay said, grinning at Liesel, once more. "Harry is free." Eloise let out another excited squeal.
A smile reappeared on Eloise's face and she let out a loud squeal. "You must introduce me to 'im, Liesel!"
"Liesel, here, is dating Draco Malfoy," Fay said smugly. Liesel blushed. Melanie giggled quietly.
"Ooh, even 'is name sounds handsome!" Eloise said excitedly. "Does 'e go to 'Ogwarts? Eez 'e friends with 'Arry, too? Eez 'e in Gryffindor with you?"
"Yes, Draco goes to Hogwarts," Liesel said, trying to hide her smile. "But, no, he's not friends with Harry. And he's not in Gryffindor."
"What house is he in, then?" Melanie asked curiously.
"Slytherin," Fay answered for Liesel.
"So 'e eez a bad boy, no?" Eloise asked with a grin.
Liesel's face turned a deeper shade of red. "I wouldn't say that…"
"Zat means yes."
Fay and Melanie giggled.
"So, what eez zis Draco like?" Eloise asked.
"Find out, for yourself at the meet and greet," Liesel said. "He's here at camp."
"Your boyfriend eez 'ere at Quidditch Camp? 'Ow romantic!"
Fay snorted. "If Malfoy is what you want to call 'romantic'."
"What about you, Ellie?" Melanie asked. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"'Ellie'?" Eloise repeated. "Are we getting nicknames already? J'adore! I love it!"
"I've already got a nickname," Liesel laughed, "unless, you decide to come up with another."
"No, I zink ze name 'Liz' fits you," Eloise said.
"It does," Fay agreed. "Too bad my name is too short for a nickname."
"I'm sure we'll come up with one," Melanie said.
"Well, your nickname is obvious," Fay said in reply. "You're Mel."
Finally, the four roommates made it to the second Quidditch pitch, which was crowded with campers. Liesel lost her roommates in the crowd while she was searching for Draco. She continued to search for his platinum blonde hair, but was having no such luck.
Someone placed a hand on her shoulder. "Two weeks was far too long." Liesel didn't even have to see who it was to know that it was Draco. She dropped her broomstick on the ground before turning around and throwing her arms around his neck.
"Draco, I've missed you so much!" she said, pulling away from the hug to get a better look at him. "How've you—"Draco kissed her before she could finish her sentence. "—been?"
"I was fine before, but now I feel brilliant," he said with a grin. "You got a broom?" he asked.
Liesel picked up her broom and threw it over her shoulder. "Yeah. A Nimbus Two Thousand and One—the same as yours."
"Good," Draco said with a smirk. "What tent are you in?"
"Number fourteen," Liesel answered. "The Windborne Wasps."
"How're your roommates?" he asked, a sneer appearing on his face. "I got stuck with Weasel, can you believe it?"
"Ron's in your tent?" Liesel asked, stifling a laugh.
"Unfortunately," Draco drawled. "The little Weasel thought he was going to get the top bunk—I taught him otherwise."
Liesel rolled her eyes. "Draco, don't get yourself into any trouble."
"Tell Weasel and the rest of his family to stay out of my way and there won't be any problems," he replied. "Besides him, the rest of my roommates seem all right," he said with a shrug. "No one I would generally be associated with."
"What tent are you in, anyways?"
"Tent nineteen," Draco answered, "Bigonville Bombers," he said with a shrug.
"Your tent isn't too far from mine, then," she said with a smile.
Draco grasped her hand as he and Liesel stood there. He glanced through the crowd, watching all of the campers. "Are you ready for trials?" he asked her.
"I think so," she said. "I'm not really sure what to expect."
"It shouldn't be that hard," Draco said passively. "I am curious to find out how the levels work, though."
"So am I," Liesel said.
"Zere she eez!" Eloise's voice said.
Draco turned around with his eyebrows raised. There, he saw Melanie, Fay, and Eloise approaching them. "Who're they?" he muttered.
"My roommates," Liesel said with a smile.
"Ooh, Liz, you were right! 'E eez 'andsome!" She cooed. "I am Eloise-Jean," she said to him.
"Draco Malfoy," he said slowly, offering her his hand.
"A pleasure, Draco," she said, reaching into her back pocket and pulling out her tiny bottle of hand sanitizer. She did what Liesel suddenly realized was a routine. "Ah, zere we are," she said, finally shaking Draco's hand. "I 'ope you don't mind," she said. "I am not very fond of germs."
"Right," Draco mumbled, rubbing his palms on his pants.
"I can hardly feel my legs," Liesel groaned to Melanie.
"Me either," she said in reply.
The sun was quickly setting as the two roommates dragged their feet (and their broomsticks) back to their tent. The trials were more pressing than Liesel would have ever imagined. In spite of it all, Liesel thought that she did fairly well. In other words, she felt that she'd done her best.
"I really wish they would postpone this dinner," Liesel groaned. "I'm really not very hungry."
"You don't have to eat," Melanie said thoughtfully. "You can just show up."
"Hopefully."
"Where do you think you're going?" Draco's haughty voice called.
"Back to our tent, so that I can take a nap," Liesel called over her shoulder.
Draco quickly caught up with the two girls. "You can't go back yet," he said to Liesel, sounding very much like a child who was being denied ice cream.
"Draco, we've got an hour-and-a-half until the feast," Liesel said sternly. "One hour that goes toward my nap, and thirty minutes go towards me getting ready. Nowhere in between is there time for me to run off with you to snog."
Melanie let out a soft giggle, watching the couple in amusement. Liesel frowned slightly—but not so much that Melanie or Draco would notice. Melanie's laughter was very humble and had a sweet ring to it. Liesel's laughs, she thought, were very obnoxious and loud.
"But, Liz, I haven't seen you for two painstakingly long weeks," Draco whined. His whining made Liesel cringe; Draco sounded very familiar to Dudley.
Liesel huffed. "Draco, I'd like to get a little more acquainted with my roommates," she said, glancing at Melanie.
"I don't mind," Melanie offered. "I'm sure Fay and Eloise wouldn't mind, either."
"See? This friend of yours has got sense," he said. "More than Granger," he drawled, a sneer appearing on his face.
"If you're still not over the fact that she slapped you in the face, I'll remind you that I broke your nose," Liesel sighed. "And somehow, you managed to snog me not too long afterwards," she added.
Melanie's eyebrows shot up, looking between the two. She appeared to be confused.
"But—"
"Just let me put my broomstick away, Draco," she said. "And I'll give you fifteen minutes."
Draco smirked. "That's all I need." Liesel rolled her eyes. "Meet me at my tent—number nineteen."
"Don't worry," Liesel said. "I haven't forgotten," she replied. "Come on, Melanie," she said to her roommate. "Let's hurry before he starts whining again."
"It seems like he makes you happy," Melanie commented as the two walked off.
"He does," Liesel admitted. "Do you have someone that makes you feel that way?"
"My dad," Melanie answered.
Liesel grimaced. It seemed as though Melanie didn't quite understand what she meant. "I love my dad, too."
Melanie smiled at Liesel as the two approached their tent. "My dad is really all I have."
"What about your mum?" Liesel asked.
"My mom?" Melanie repeated. "I don't know…" she trailed off. "I don't really know her. I think she's in her third marriage now. Or maybe it's her fourth..."
"Do you have any other family?" Liesel asked as she placed her broomstick on the rack.
"My dad has a brother, who I think has a daughter," Melanie pondered. "They live here, somewhere. I don't know them too well, though."
Liesel seemed hesitant to ask, but she did so anyways. "Well, what about friends?"
Melanie looked at Liesel. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly into that small smile that Liesel wished she could pull off. "The closest I have to friends are you, Fay, and Eloise," Melanie admitted. "My father and I never really stay in one place for too long," she explained. "I guess I've never really had a chance to make any."
"Oh," Liesel said softly.
Melanie entered the tent, and Liesel followed.
"Stop right zere!" Eloise demanded. She was seated on one of the comfortable-looking couches, but she hopped to her feet and marched over to the two girls. "Take of your shoes! We do not need to be tracking mud around ze tent."
"Right," Melanie murmured, removing her shoes.
"Well?" Eloise asked Liesel. "Aren't you going to take your shoes off?"
"Nope," Liesel replied. "There have been a change of plans for me."
"A change of plans?" Fay asked. "Eloise and I just checked the bulletin—things looked the same."
"What does 'snog' mean?" Melanie asked her roommates. "Because, whatever that is, it's what she's going to be doing with her boyfriend."
Fay's eyes lit up. "Oh, really?" She turned to Melanie, "that means that they're going to—what do you Americans call it, I always forget—making out?"
"Oh!" Melanie said with a giggle. "Now it makes sense."
"Ooh, Liz!" said Eloise, clapping her hands together. "Zat is so cute! Tell Draco zat we said 'ello!" she said, urging Liesel out of the tent.
"Have fun!" Fay called, still giggling with Melanie.
Liesel shook her head after she was forced out of her tent. "Some roommates I have," she murmured.
As she made her way to tent nineteen, she saw that not everyone had made their way to their tents quite yet. In fact, many people were socializing, ecstatic about the tiresome trials that had just occurred. Liesel didn't quite understand how they weren't as exhausted as she was. Perhaps, they were but were simply too excited to acknowledge it.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Weasel?" Draco's voice drawled. "The bloody top bunk is mine."
"Malfoy, I was here hours before you were!" Ron's voice retorted. "If that's the case, you can sleep outside for all I bloody care."
"You would be used to that, wouldn't you?" Draco snapped. "Tell me, how is it?"
"It's the first night!" Liesel shrieked, making her way over to the two. "Will you two shut up?"
"Hey, Liz," Ron greeted, still glaring at Draco.
"Hi, Ron," Liesel said. "Are you two seriously arguing about who's going to get the top bunk?"
"Tell your boyfriend that I was here first, and that the top bunk is mine!"
"Draco—"
"Nope," said Draco with his nose in the air. "I'm not giving it up."
"Fine," Liesel said with a simple shrug of the shoulders. "I guess I'll just go back to my tent—"
"Okay, fine—take the top bunk, Weasley," Draco said immediately. He grasped Liesel's wrist. "Let's go."
"See you, Ron!" she called over her shoulder.
Draco led Liesel further into the heard to the camp where the glistening lake rested. "Draco, where are we going?"
"Near the lake," he said over his shoulder. "It's a nice to look at, isn't it?"
"Yeah…" Liesel said, following close behind him.
"Things have been weird, lately," he said quietly. Liesel noted that Draco's hand was warm, though slightly sweaty. She furrowed her eyebrows. "No, not with you," he added hastily. "At home, at the manor," he explained.
"Why?" Liesel asked tentatively.
"Mother's been very edgy lately," he said. "It seems like she's worried about something. She's been looking at father in a wary way..."
"Well…" Liesel said, not quite sure what to say; she didn't want to pry. "Has your father done something to make your mum act that way?"
"I'm not really sure what father has been up to, honestly," Draco sighed, leaning against a tree and gazing at the lake. Though, he never let go of Liesel's hand. "He's always leaving at odd hours of the night—he's even gone for days at a time."
Liesel frowned. "Well, is he working?"
"Of course my father works," said Draco, "but, never nearly this hard. He doesn't have to."
"Right," Liesel said with a nod. "Maybe he's working on something important?"
Draco frowned, turning to look at Liesel. "Have you ever met my father?" he asked her curiously.
"Not personally," Liesel said slowly. "But, I do hear what people say about him. I saw him in Diagon Alley once, back in second year."
"Right," Draco said, nodding his head. "I remember that. You were with the Weasels." Draco stood up again, "Come on." Liesel followed him again, still trailing the lake.
Liesel observed the grounds of the camp, realizing how beautiful it actually was. She looked over to see Draco watching her. "What?" she asked sheepishly.
Draco gave her a half smile before kissing her on the cheek. "Nothing," he said. "I just think you're pretty." Liesel felt her face go pink. She was glad Draco couldn't see it in the darkness. Finally, he placed a kiss on her lips. And then another.
The two adolescents would have continued to kiss if a book hadn't fallen out of a tree, landing nearly two feet away from them. Liesel and Draco broke apart, exchanging questioning looks. They glanced at the book suspiciously.
"Where did…" Liesel began. But, she suddenly realized where the book had come from. Draco must have realized the same thing, because the both looked up in the tree.
"Cedric?"
Draco's face twisted into a scowl. "Think you're funny, do you?" he called up. "What were you doing up there?" he demanded.
Cedric hopped from the tree and stood before the couple. "I was reading a book," he said, picking up his book and tucking it under his arm.
"In a tree?" Draco asked.
"At night?" Liesel added.
Cedric let out a perturbed sigh. "I wasn't spying," he said more so to Liesel than to Draco. "I was up in that tree long before the two of you decided to sneak off to…to snog." Liesel could hear that he was slightly irritated, but if anyone were to be irritated it would be Draco and herself.
"Do you really expect us to believe that, Diggory?" Draco snapped, stepping in front of Liesel. "What were you really up to?"
"Draco, stop it," Liesel said desperately.
"I believe I've already explained that to you," Cedric said offhandedly, his posture stiff. His eyes landed on Liesel; they didn't seem to hold the usual friendly gleam, but something else. "Nice to see you, Liz," he murmured, nodding his head jerkily.
"You, too," Liesel said apprehensively.
He glanced between Liesel and Draco, quickly turning his gaze to the ground. "I'll just be going now," he said awkwardly, clumsily making his way past the two. Liesel thought it was very unlike him to behave that way.
"He was up to something," Draco said, watching as Cedric walked away.
"I don't think he was," Liesel said modestly. "Maybe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time," she mused. "He doesn't have bad intentions."
"Did you see how he was looking at you?" Draco asked enviously. "I don't like it."
"Cedric is my friend, Draco," Liesel said slowly. "You don't have to be that way."
"I don't have to be what way?"
"Well….jealous."
Draco let out a short breath and then turned to look at Liesel. "You're probably right, Liz. I'm probably just imagining things."
Author's Note:
Okay, so I lied. There are two new original characters: Eloise, the neat-freak French girl, and Melanie, the shy American :3 yayyy
Just letting you all know now: Quidditch Camp = Drama Fest
Whoa! 300 reviews! Thanks, guys!
Oh-and happy birthday, Fred and George! c: