As the days grew closer to the other school getting there, people eventually lost most of the interest in Ron. He was relieved to be able to sit without being stared at.
Ron was excited about the day that the students were going to be arriving. He missed Sol and his sassy nature. And that meant soon, the Tri-Wizard Tournament would begin.
Madame Maxime was a very large woman just like the flying horses she brought with her. As all the students filed out behind her, Ron grinned at Sol who spotted him in the crowd. Sol smirked and winked.
A bunch of girls near him giggled "I think he winked at me," Lavender said.
"Really, I thought it was me," Ron rolled his eyes thinking how devastated they would be finding out Sol wasn't and would never be interested.
The Beauxbatons wore powder blue in various styles. Sol wore a light grey slacks, white shirt, and silk blue vest with the Beauxbatons crest (two golden wands crossed.) A blonde girl, one of the most beautiful he'd ever seen, about the twins age bent to his height and whispered in his ear. She glanced at Ron.
Sol nodded to her and Ron wondered what they were talking about. His gaze was elsewhere when he heard something off in the distance. "Screwts," Harry commented and Ron turned to him.
"Oh," Ron said when he recalled Dumbledore tell Madam Maxime. Ron smirked when Seamus commented on how big did they think the Durmstrang horses would be.
It was getting a bit cold as they waited for Durmstrang, Ron was glad he opted for his thicker, velvet lined cloak. He looked at the lake "I hear something," Ron said.
"Where?" Harry asked.
"Lake," Ron said then moments later everyone could hear it and bubbles appeared at the surface of the lake and a great big ship burst out of the water. Everyone was enamored with the look of it.
When Karkaroff emerged Ron couldn't stop his narrowed gaze. "Ron," Hermione gripped his arm "just play along," she said quiet enough that no one else can hear. It was a testament to her research that she knew he could.
Ron closed his eyes and breathed, he moved his arms so that her grip loosened. He took her hands in his and squeezed before he let go. He was calm because she was there with him.
And then his eyes were wide when he caught a glimpse of Viktor Krum. "It's Krum," he said, his heart soaring "do you have a quill?" he asked Hermione who huffed.
"He's just a Quidditch player," she said and Ron disagreed. Honestly, this woman! The best seeker in the world and she has no bloody interest at all? They walked towards the great hall, most of Durmstrang sat at the Slytherin table. Beauxbatons at Ravenclaw.
Sol was giving Ron a look that he couldn't quite decipher "what?" Ron mouthed.
"Come here," he mouthed back then pointed at the ground.
Ron shook his head "give it a minute," he told him.
And sure enough, Dumbledore was saying his thanks for coming. "Better go see what Sol wants," Ron told his friends at the table.
"Who?" Seamus asked.
"The other Prince, he's Professor Grey's son," Harry replied and Ron walked over to the Ravenclaw table.
"I just got here and you're already making orders," Ron told Sol, his friend stood up from the table then hugged him, and kissed both cheeks.
"I missed you, stupid," Sol told him in Romanian. Probably to deter anyone else from eavesdropping. They did have a bit of audience, quite a people from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor seem to choke a bit at the kiss.
Considering Sol's tendency to be dramatic and wanting to show off, Ron didn't bat an eyelash though his ears reddened. He simply hugged him and when they parted said "me too but next time, mention that we'll see each other again before you just take off."
"It was fun," Sol shrugged "also did you see the look on everyone's faces when I kissed you. British are so fun to tease," he said. Ron stared at him then pinched his cheek "ouch," he tugged still "I'm sorry," Sol whined taking his wrist, he let go.
Sol rubbed his cheek, the girl he was sitting next stood and Ron was surprised to find her taller than him a couple of inches. "You are Ron?" she asked, her French accent was apparent.
"That's me," Ron replied, flushing at her deep, blue-eyed stare.
"You 'ave very pretty eyes," she said offering her hand which he took, despite her delicate features she had a good grip. "I am Fleur Delacour."
"Er thank you," he said, "Ron Weasley."
"You speak French?" she asked switching to her language "I'm not very good at expressing myself in English yet," she admitted.
"Oui, I can manage well enough," he replied switching to French, thanks to Sol refusing to talk to him in anything else during the summer months, he could speak it as well as Romanian.
"I read the French copy for Of Importance, so it is true you can speak three languages," she said. "Since you speak French so well, will you look out for my classmates, they are nervous about their classes,
Ron nodded, unused to have to look up at girls besides Angelina Johnson and a very small number of seventh-year girls. "I'm an ambassador for Hogwarts and Beauxbatons, let them know if they need anything.."
"To come to you, yes. Thank you," she smiled, she practically glowed and Ron wondered if she was a veela, or part veela or something.
"Well you better get to your table before you distract more people," Sol said.
"You are the distraction," Ron said with a heavy-lidded stare and raised eyebrows. "I'll see you at around midnight?" he asked him, back in English without even noticing he did.
"See you then," Sol agreed.
"I'll see around, Ron," Fleur said.
When Ron sat down, everyone nearby was staring at him "can I help you?"
"Are you and uh that guy together?" Neville asked "not that it would matter," he hastened to add. "Or, are they a she?
Ron should have expected that Sol's show would make people wonder. He opened his mouth to reply when Hermione answered for him. "Of course not," Hermione said, a bit higher than a usual volume. "I mean," she adjusted her volume "you don't know him but Sol likes to put on a show." She turned to Ron "right?!"
"Right," Ron said, a little startled "Sol is like my mischievous brother."
"Sure is lucky then," Dean said glancing at Fleur "that girl next to him is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
"I think she might be veela," Ron replied.
"She is not," Hermione huffed.
"Fine, half then," Ron amended "sorry but girls, even the prettiest ones, don't attract that much attention by existing," he said.
"Oh, I'll keep that in mind," Hermione huffed and Ron looked to meet Harry's gaze but he was distracted, gazing at the Ravenclaw table but nowhere near Fleur. What was his deal?
Soon, Dumbledore was standing up and the plates were cleared. Ron watched with rapt attention as Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch were introduced and the Goblet was presented.
The twins especially looked excited, already plotting ways to manage entry into the tournament. "If you could enter, would you?" Harry asked him "physically, you might have an advantage," he said.
"Yeah but I'm average on spell work. I don't know any more spells than you do," Ron replied, "actually, no you've got me beat on Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Really?" Harry said, "I would have thought Don would be teaching you all sorts of special vampire techniques or something."
"Most vampires don't have magic like we do, though," Ron pointed out.
"That's right, then it's most physical training?" Hermione asked.
"Besides the obvious bits of politics and things, yeah. But I might be learning something interesting from Sol soon if he agrees," Ron said, thinking about the magic circles and onmyoji's.
"You'll show us then, right?" he asked.
"Course," Ron agreed.
Xxx
Ron was unsurprised to find Sol sitting with Don in their little room with a fireplace and couches. "I was telling Sol you wanted to learn about magic circles," Don said.
"Yeah?" Ron asked.
"I suppose I can teach you," Sol said "but I have a condition," he said.
"Shoot," Ron crossed his arms.
"You have to learn Spanish," Sol said.
His jaw dropped "I'm up to my neck in French, Romanian, and English! Half the time I don't remember which language I'm actually speaking" Ron said.
"But you speak perfect Romanian and French," Sol said, "you can read decently well in Romanian and your French is good enough to read a magazine."
That was true, he could read most things in French and Romanian. It wasn't terribly difficult. "That's like two Romance languages, so Spanish should be easy," Sol encouraged.
"Isn't three enough?" Ron asked.
"Maybe I just want to talk to you in my language?" Sol said Ron stared at the ceiling.
"Spanish?" Ron asked "fine, why not," he said, already regretting everything.
Xxx
Percy decided that Lester was a very good assistant, the man was tall and that was by his family's standards. Bill wasn't exactly small. The man was efficient and quick, a quick read, and remembered everything.
"Sorry, did you mention before that you couldn't get a job?" Percy asked. "Why not?" he did understand how because the man was top notch with his skills.
"The ministry has regulations that make it impossible," Lester had told him, his bright yellow eyes darkening at the admission. Percy dove into those regulations and was outraged on the behalf of the skilled assistant and his little brother.
The laws went something like this:
"In reference to Beings (or half wizard/witch)
Species thus forth titled as:
Vampire
Werewolf
Goblin
Veela
Giant
(Extended on page 357)
The beings aforementioned when working under the ministry and thus are subject to its laws must announce their status as a Being or half wizard/witch upon initial interview. Failure to announce their blood status may result in immediate dismissal upon a background check."
Percy became more disgusted when he read further that the person who is hiring was allowed to turn down the Being if they felt they didn't feel safe around this person due to their status. "This is just blatantly specist," Percy said.
"Makes sense when you think about how Dumbledore has a lot of Beings at Hogwarts then, right?" Lester agreed. Percy hadn't thought about it that way, of course, Hagrid was fairly obvious he was part giant. He knew Professor Flitwick was something like a quarter Goblin. And his Professor, the best deference teacher they'd ever had at Hogwarts, was a werewolf.
And now, Ron's mentor was a vampire. "Dumbledore doesn't really ask about that sort of thing, he knows but I guess he doesn't judge them on their species," Percy said.
Percy was even more determined to change those laws, there needed a no-discrimination policy put in place. The main problem was that Fudge was run by Lucious Malfoy.
"Lester?" Percy paused in what he was doing to look up, he found a woman about thirty or so walking into their office. "Oh, sorry," she smiled a little, she looked sort of Asian.
"He just stepped out," Percy said.
"You must be Percy," she said brightly, her sleek black hair had a purple stripe in it. She wore a white tunic-like dress "I'm Maria, Lester's girlfriend," she said.
"Oh, pleasure," Percy greeted her, his eyes unconsciously zoomed to her neck. It had two bite marks on the right side of her neck.
"I like them," Maria said and Percy snapped his attention to her face again, he flushed.
"What?" he asked.
"The marks, Lester can heal them you know. In an instant but I ask him not to," she said.
Percy tilted his head, that was interesting "why?"
"Because I'm not ashamed that I'm dating a vampire, I don't care what he is just that he's mine. Also, I kind of like the pain that comes with the bite. The sex is mindblowing," she tossed her hair and Percy choked.
"You are like Lester's polar," Percy said.
She laughed.
Xxx
Ron was laughing so hard he felt like he would bust a gut at the sight of twins sporting beards as long as Dumbledore's. "That was brilliant," he said sitting back on the steps around the cup, quite a lot of people were.
"I quite agree with you there, why don't you try it out Weasley, I mean Ron," he turned to find Draco standing there. Harry almost seemed to glare but seemed to remember that they weren't really enemies.
"No thanks, I don't fancy a white beard would go with my coloring," Ron said with a smirk.
"So, the latest gossip, give it here," Draco said.
"I thought you didn't gossip?" Ron asked and he rolled his eyes then looked expectant.
"Let's see, so far we know Cedric Diggory, Angelina Spinnette" Hermione volunteered to name those who put their name in the cup so far.
"We can't have a Slytherin competitor," Seamus said.
"Why not?" Draco asked, frowning "Slytherin has a lot of great people that could win it."
"No, it has to be Gryffindor, Slytherin's would just run away," Seamus said now facing Draco. Dean looked unsure how to break them up, they weren't actually fighting yet.
Ron opened his mouth but Hermione covered it then shot him a look. He raised his eyebrows and she lowered it. "Oh yes because that is definitely the trait of a Slytherin, ambitious but a bunch of cowards. That how you feel?"
"You sure haven't convinced anyone otherwise," Seamus replied. Draco looked almost hurt but lifted his chin with a glare.
"Well you haven't convinced me that Gryffindor's aren't stupid," Draco said then winced.
Ron couldn't keep quiet anymore "okay, that's enough, Seamus. Stop provoking Draco," he said patting Draco on the shoulder. "I think a Champion from any house would be great, who cares which one. It's Hogwarts pride on the line right now, not house pride," he said.
"He just called us stupid," Seamus said.
"Right, I retract my statement and just call you stupid. Ron and G- Hermione are intelligent, Potter's passable," Draco said.
"Thanks?" Harry said quizically.
Seamus glared at Draco and walked away "sorry about him, he's ah redirecting his anger at you guys. It's not really personal," Dean said then made to follow Seamus.
"Well, as fun as that was, I'm gonna go," Harry said.
"Same," Draco said in a tone that forced boredom.
"Wh-" Ron was shocked when they both started walking in the same general direction. Draco mentioning as they left that Harry should stop following.
"Harry's been acting weird, I caught him leaving the library earlier," Hermione said.
"Imagine that," Ron said absently before looking to Hermione. She was acting weird too. Normally she would be one of two places: the library or the common room until it was closer to curfew.
Lately, there were quite a few times that she wasn't either place. "So where have been then?" he asked "you weren't in the common room when I came back from my run, yesterday," he said.
"I was in the library," she said quickly and he raised an eyebrow.
"No, I'm pretty sure you weren't there because I stopped by there looking for you. Harry was there so I figured you would be sitting with him."
Hermione flushed "oh! You mean yesterday, sorry. I was helping Ginny with something she needed," she said, her voice going high-pitched.
"What did she need?" Ron asked.
"A hair thing, you wouldn't care about it," she said.
Ron stared at her "are you lying to me?" he asked and her cheeks remained red and she ducked her head.
"Maybe I don't want talk about it with you," she huffed.
"Oh," he blushed, trying to brush off the hurt he felt "um, that's fine. Well, then uh good luck with wherever you were."
"Right," Hermione said.
Xxx
"I'm such an idiot!" Hermione moaned into the pillow that was in Hattie and Zoey's chamber. She felt like hitting herself with it. She was hitting on Hattie's bed with back against a fuzzy headboard. The tv trunk sat on the girl's large dresser.
"I think you're overreacting," Hattie said, brushing out her long hair. Hermione thought that they were unfairly beautiful.
"He looked hurt, I hurt his feelings," Hermione said, "I did this so that I could keep up with him more and be like cool or something but-"
"You are cool already and he'll get over it," Zoey said popping in the movie.
"Would it be the worst thing in the world if you told him what you were doing?" Hattie asked.
"Well- no," Hermione said objectively "but you don't know Ron like I do. He'll tease me about it, I have mentioned how pointless I think Quidditch is. And I don't want him dropping in on our sessions, it's embarrassing."
"Then we'll tell him," Zoey offered "if we say to keep out of it, he'll listen. I'm sure."
"Just not yet," Hermione said.
Xxx
"What are you doing Potter?" Harry spun around in his seat to find Malfoy staring at him and his stack of books.
"I'm studying, as you can tell," Harry replied then copied the spell he thought looked useful into his notes. He'd written Sirius to send him a journal to write in about DADA. Sirius went overboard and sent him that and a bunch of exclusive spell books that they didn't have in the library.
"That doesn't look like a textbook," Malfoy commented picking up the Defensive Spells for Ambushes. "You're actually doing extra work?" he asked. Harry reddened and glared at his notebook.
"Is that surprising? How stupid do you think I am?" Potter huffed, glaring at Malfoy as he snatched up the book from his hands.
"I don't," Malfoy said quietly.
"Really?" Harry rolled his eyes but Malfoy held his gaze, his chin up.
"No," he said and Harry relaxed his shoulders.
"Oh," Harry looked away "why are here then?" he asked.
"I figured that Weasley's friends with me and my friends, and I surprisingly get along well enough with Granger, we could be acquaintances," Malfoy replied.
Harry stared then smirked "don't you know how to talk like a teenager? Acquaintances? Really?"
Malfoy blushed furiously "is that how you react to a serious request? Salazar, you're a prat."
Harry laughed "there we go, now you're acting like a 14-year-old. That whole diplomatic stuff, that's not going to work with Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs."
"Oh so suddenly you're an expert?" Malfoy sputtered.
"Did you know I'm half-blood?" Harry asked and Malfoy raised eyebrows. He shook his head that he didn't.
"Apparently, my mum was muggle-born. When I fainted last year in the presence of dementors, that happened because I relieved their deaths. My mother screaming at Voldemort to spare my life, she defended me until she died. They affect me more than others because… I guess I didn't get enough happiness as a kid," Harry said, looking away.
When he glanced at Malfoy, he saw that his face had paled. An unreadable expression was on his face. "So that idea that you have about someone's blood meaning anything, I don't buy it. Hermione should tell you that, she's powerful and intelligent but you already know that."
"Fine," Malfoy said eventually "blood purity means nothing," he said. Harry stared at him, he never expected Malfoy to say something like that. "Keep that quiet with Slytherin house alright? I've thought about it for a long time. But there's more to being a pureblood than blood, it's the least important thing."
"Go on," Harry gestured to a seat and Malfoy sat.
"Our culture is dying. Do you know what Samhain is?" he asked.
"Uh, isn't it like Halloween?" Harry asked and Malfoy sighed.
"That's what I mean, you're a Potter. Your family has a long line of wizards that had traditions they would do. I've seen pictures of Marcus Potter, your great grandfather, dancing with your grandmother Ariana Potter at the annual Samhain ball. There used to be huge dances at Hogwarts," Malfoy said.
"Well, kicking out and disowning a lot of your line who doesn't follow ridiculous and old fashioned rules isn't exactly helping your population," Harry mentioned.
"Agreed," Malfoy sighed "but why cancel the traditions and celebrations that happened at Hogwarts? Did muggle-borns push for it or was it to openly defy pureblood tradition?"
Harry considered that "maybe you could look it up but if you have a problem with not upholding wizard culture, why not bring it back?"