A/N: Surprise? haha

Disclaimer: you recognize it, that's right it's not mine

July/August 1994:

"What's taking them so long?" Ascella asked trying to crane her neck around the two large ginger heads sharing the kitchen table with her in an effort to give herself a better view of the Weasley's kitchen fireplace.

"Excited, I see," Bill, Ron's oldest brother and one of the large ginger heads in her line of sight, dryly stated, with a wry curve to his lips. He shared a knowing look with Charlie, the owner of the other large ginger head.

"Oh hardy har har," Ascella mocked, having caught the look and knowing exactly what they were implying. "You'd be excited too if your best mate, who you hadn't seen in well over a month, was on his way too."

"Just best mate?" Bill asked her but he was looking at Charlie, with a raised eyebrow and all.

"Ah - young love. So young they don't even know it's love yet," Charlie added, clutching at his heart with both hands in a mock throe of passion.

"I'll have you know - Harry and I are not like that!" But she might as well have been talking to a brick wall for all the good it did to stop their teasing. Just why was it that adults always thought male/female best friends were secretly in love with each other?

"That's what they all say," Bill said with that certain air of superiority reserved for people more than twice his age.

"Can't convince us - we saw all those letters you got - " Charlie added.

"And the blushes - "

"And fond smiles - "

"While reading said letters," Bill finished with a wink.

"You two are worse than the twins," Ascella mumbled, her cheeks flaming. It wasn't Harry that had been the cause of all her letters, letters that had indeed been going in and out, back and forth at least once a day all summer but which were more often closer to three or four times ever since she'd arrived a week ago but she certainly wasn't about to tell them who it was she'd been corresponding with so incessantly.

In fact, the real reason Ascella was so anxious to see her friend was her father had informed her of what happened with Harry and his scar and the dream he'd had. She was worried about her friend. She could tell her father had tried to play it off - well at least she thought he was trying to play it off anyway. Communicating with him was still all rather new and she wasn't sure she knew exactly how to interpret his written words yet. She just didn't know his personality well enough. And to make it worse she had no one to talk to about it.

She could hardly walk up to Meda or Ted and start asking them all the questions about her father she had spent the greater part of 14 years stubbornly never asking, even if they knew the truth about his innocence. Add the fact that they didn't and couldn't know about Sirius's innocence made the whole situation all the more difficult. They'd be suspicious for sure. As to why they couldn't know the truth, Ascella hadn't the foggiest idea - but it seemed Dumbledore sure liked his little secrets.

Ascella was also finding it to be a difficult topic to discuss with Harry as well. She could tell he felt like he'd found a sort of father figure he'd never had - his Dad's best friend and all and his godfather - in her father. Ascella, who had always had a father figure (and an amazing one at that) in Ted, didn't have that same blind need for that in her life. Sure, she had a chip on her shoulder the size of Draco Malfoy's arrogance but that had mostly been to do with thinking her father a raving mad murdering lunatic. Now that she knew she didn't come from killers - well at least in the immediate line - she wasn't sure what she wanted from her father and therefore Harry's advice just wasn't helpful.

The one time she'd voiced her concern in a letter to him he'd just told her 'It's your Dad, Cells! I'd give anything to have my Dad back - just take it for the gift it is. You don't have to over analyze everything.' And he was right, it was a gift. But it didn't mean it wasn't confusing. But maybe he was right and she was just over analyzing it.

Hermione was a bit more understanding but her advice had been clinical and basic. 'Just give it time! I'm sure you'll get to know each other better and will figure it out.'

Ascella hadn't even bothered to ask Ron about it - that boy had about as much chance of giving good advice on this as Dora did not tripping over the umbrella stand in the entryway of the cottage every time she visited - which was to say absolutely none.

The one she'd really wanted to talk to about it was Kevin Entwhistle, her fellow Ravenclaw and neighbor from the muggle side of town. But she and Kevin hadn't been talking much. Since his parent's divorce because his father had been hiding the fact he was actually a squib and his muggle mother's subsequent memory charm to forget everything about the magical world, his father's growing problem with alcohol and Kevin's efforts to shield his younger sister from as much of the drama as possible, Ascella had figured Kevin had more than enough on his plate. Plus, she couldn't exactly confide in him even if he was around - he didn't know the truth of her father's innocence either. When they did catch up it was mostly to blow off steam and torment old man Archie. She'd lost track of the number of dungbomb and stink pellet traps they'd set up around his property after the 50th.

"Seriously - how long does it take to floo into a fireplace, pick up a person and floo back with said person?" Ascella asked drawing everyone's attention back to the fireplace. She, Bill and Charlie were currently waiting for Mr. Weasley, Ron and the twins to come back from picking up Harry. They were all soon to be going to the Quidditch World Cup which would be taking place in England the following evening. Ascella had been meant to go with her family but when she'd heard about the tickets Ron's dad had snagged she'd begged Meda to let her go with them instead. ("TOP BOX Meda! TOP BOX!" "Yeah! TOP BOX, 'Dromeda!"). Ted had almost seemed as excited as Ascella was and he wouldn't even be going with her. Meda had finally given in when Ted had managed to resell the ticket meant for Ascella to a co-worker at the Wizarding Library in Diagon Alley. They had already been camped out at the site of the match for a week now which is why Ascella had come early to the Weasley's.

"You forget," Charlie reminded her. "Fred and George went too."

"Yeah, no. I most certainly did not forget." Ascella crossed her arms and pouted.

"Aww look! She's still pouting about it," Bill nudged Charlie and pointed at her.

"I am not!" She was, her whined outburst only making the pout more pronounced. Both the older boys busted up laughing at her.

"Oh bollock's. Is this what it'd be like having older brother's? Funny - I thought it would be a bit more fun..." Ascella continued to pout. When Ascella had first arrived at the Weasley's a week prior and found the oldest Weasley boys already staying there she had foolishly presumed it would be a laugh. Instead, they had constantly nettled at her and attempted pinching her cheeks and took great joy in telling her how much she'd grown. Apparently, they had both known Dora in school and had heard about her from Ron and the rest of the family enough to treat her like their own sister.

"Careful what you wish for love," Bill winked. Ascella sent a rude hand gesture his way. He laughed.

"But seriously - just how did the twins manage to convince Mr. Weasley to let them go but I was 'too much, don't want to scare the Muggle's with too many Witches and Wizards showing up'?"

"Dad somehow still thinks they are innocent - well for Fred and George at least," Charlie amended, grinning, when Ascella had snorted at his use of the word 'innocent' when tied as a descriptor for the twins.

"Plus, they did make a valid point - they will be able to help with Harry's belongings," Bill added.

"Puh," Ascella snorted, crossing her arms. "I'm strong too," she muttered. But her words were drowned out by the fireplace roaring to life, the telltale green flames indicating a witch or wizard was about to arrive. All three of them turned their heads to discover who was returning.

"Oh. It's only you." Ascella sat back seeing the grinning face of Fred Weasley.

"Oh dear 'Cella," Fred began, both hands going to clutch over his heart. "You wound me! I'll have you know I risked my life back there!"

"HA! As if."

"Did he go for it?" Bill asked Fred, ignoring their bickering.

"Dunno. I spilled them but couldn't stay long enough to see if he ate - " But Fred was cut off by the rushing noise of another arrival. This time it was his twin George, accompanied by what looked to be Harry's trunk. Shortly after that Ron followed along. The now six count in the Weasley's small kitchen made it even harder to see towards the fireplace, especially with Ron's lanky frame - her friend had shot up over the summer now taller than even Ascella for the first time. They were all quiet watching the fireplace and expecting Harry and Mr. Weasley to be along shortly. Only they weren't. Seconds dragged into minutes until finally a soot covered Harry fell, quite literally, out of the fireplace and onto the floor. Fred pulled him to his feet and asked Harry if his cousin ate it, whatever "it" was.

"Yeah," Harry said, straightening up. "What was it?"

"Ton-Tongue Toffee," said Fred brightly. "George and I invented them, and we've been looking for someone to test them on all summer..."

Everyone in the kitchen, including Ascella, exploded with laughter.

So that was what Fred had been talking with Bill about. He must have spilled a bunch of the candies and Fred, knowing Harry's cousin Dudley had been on a diet all summer (and by extension Harry had been as well until he'd written all his friends of the plight and they had begun supplying him with snacks and real food - Ascella, with the help of Ted the only one of her guardians who was at all useful in the kitchen, included) had correctly guessed the boy would go for the brightly colored candies.

Once they'd all settled down a bit, Harry gave the room a glance around. He stopped and took in Bill and Charlie, the only of Ron's brother's he'd never met Ascella knew. But he didn't waste long on the introductions, his familiar bottle green eyes already drifting away from them in search of something else. Or rather someone - as they found Ascella's eyes and stopped, a large exuberant grin spreading all the way across his face, the round frames of his glasses riding up so full were his cheeks.

"'Cella!" he exclaimed making his way towards her. He was taller too, was all Ascella had time to notice before their reunion was cut short by the arrival of Mr. Weasley and his subsequent rage at the twins. Everything seemed to be going well until Mrs. Weasley showed up, demanding to know what all the ruckus was. Mr. Weasley appeared to be attempting to not tell Mrs. what had happened but everyone knew she'd get it out of him eventually, so when Hermione showed up at the door and suggested Ron show Harry where he'd be staying they all took the hint and skedaddled out of there, excepting the twins who were directly involved and forced to stay.

After filling Harry in on why Mrs. Weasley was already short with the twins - their lack of OWLs from last term and her finding the order forms for their joke shop idea Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, a venture Ascella actually found to be quite brilliant but that Mrs. Weasley found to be immature and not worth anything - they continued on up the stairs and ran into Ron's other brother and recent Hogwart's graduate, Percy, who stuck his head out of his second floor room.

He was working on a "very important report - It's for the Department of International Magical Corporation. We are trying to standardize cauldron thickness."

"Absolutely fascinating," Ascella drew out at the same time Ron said, "That'll change the world, that report will. Front page of the Daily Prophet, I expect, cauldron leaks." Ascella and Ron high fived while Percy turned a bit pink and told them not to sneer and began what was sure to be a long winded speech about the importance of his work that might have been entertaining to tear down with well informed rebuttals if not for the fact that all of them were already so sick of hearing him talk about his new and "super important" job.

Eventually, they finally reached Ron's room at the top of the house. They all gathered on or around Ron's bed, Ascella joining Harry on the kip bed set up for him, while Ron told his owl, Pigwidgeon, to calm down. The tiny bird was currently zooming around the room in it's usual zany and erratic way.

Ascella couldn't help but think her father had been playing a bit of a prank on Ron when he'd told him he could keep the owl in the letter he'd sent Harry and Ascella that they received on the train from Hogwarts at the end of last term. It was the first of many letters Ascella had received from him over the summer. In the first one he had explained about how he'd been the dog she'd played with over the last summer (he'd wanted to stop in and see her before traveling north), confirmed he'd both sent Harry his Firebolt and Ascella her mother's locket she still wore, and he'd also mentioned stopping in to watch a bit of Ascella and Harry play Quidditch. While he only had praise for Harry 'you fly just like your father', he was a little more reserved with Ascella. 'I'd thought you'd killed your captain with that Bludger' were his exact words. Of course he'd seen the only match Ascella had played in which she'd been put in as beater out of necessity and had smacked a bludger straight into her captain, Roger Davies. Granted Davies probably deserved it but still... Ascella had practiced and gotten much better at being a beater since. Even still, while Ascella may not know him well yet, she could still hear him barking out a laugh as he wrote that. She suspected he was laughing too when he gave Ron that owl - he may be better than Scabbers/Pettigrew (anything would be, honestly) but he was hardly the most amazing owl out there.

"Er - why do you keep calling that owl Pig," Harry asked Ron. Ascella snorted.

"Because he's being stupid," Ginny, Ron's younger sister said. "Its proper name is Pigwidgeon."

"When did you get here?" Ascella asked the year younger girl. She hadn't noticed her in the bustle of the downstairs events or noticed her following them up to Ron's room. Usually, Ginny avoided any room Harry was in and if she was present she never spoke.

Overall though, considering Ascella had arrived a week prior to Harry, she had been seeing a lot more of Ginny than usual. The most obvious reason for this was that she was staying with Hermione in the girl's room after all, but she hadn't expected the girl to still be so casually around while Harry was there. It seemed that Hermione's advice from a chat a few nights ago was sticking. Hermione had had a chat with Ginny, and by proxy with Ascella, about Ginny cooling off her behavior around Harry so he could notice her as more than the girl that had a silly childhood crush on him.

Ascella had been a far less than willing participant in the conversation. Her first instinct had been to tell Ginny she didn't have a chance in hell no matter what she did in an effort to put an end to the conversation so she could sleep but Hermione seeming to sense what Ascella had opened her mouth to do silenced her with a look even Minnie would have been proud of. Instead, Ascella had said her silly crush was only making Harry uncomfortable and that "look - you are a fun kid. Harry will see that. But only if you show him that. He can't possibly get to know you with you blushing and running out of the room every time you see him."

Based on the look Hermione gave her, Ascella's words were far from the perfect thing to say despite being true but it did manage to get Ascella out of the rest of the conversation even if she still had to listen to their whisperings while she failed to get the sleep she so desired. Ascella did not sleep well when she could make out every word of a conversation - she'd jinxed Lisa Turpin with a tongue gag more than a few times when she'd spent the night in Ravenclaw tower for the same reason.

Ginny blushed faintly at Ascella's pointed question but didn't lower her head when she responded from one of the kip beds set up for the twins who were also bunking in Ron's room. "I was with Hermione and came up with you to avoid the row I'm sure you heard start just before we got in here."

"Cheeky," Ascella mused, eyeing the girl. Maybe she'd have to reevaluate her opinion of the girl. She appeared to have more spunk than Ascella had previously seen from her - she was finally showing some of that Weasley fire.

"Have a good summer, Harry?" Hermione interrupted the sudden silence in the room. "Did you get our food parcels and everything?"

"Yeah mate," Ascella added. "Ted is a right mean good cook. So you better have enjoyed the food."

Harry grinned at her. "Yeah - I got them," he answered Hermione while still shaking his head in amusement at Ascella.

"Have you heard from - " Ron trailed off looking at Harry, expectant, but he stopped at the glare from Hermione and Ascella. The idiot had been about to ask about Sirius, in front of his sister no less. Luckily, Hermione covered the moment by saying she thought it had sounded like the fighting had stopped and that they should go down to help with dinner.

Mrs. Weasley was in a right mood - storming about the kitchen and muttering under her breath but luckily she sent all of them outside to help Bill and Charlie set up. Saddled up with silverware and plates they were met with a most delightful show in the garden where they would be eating.

Bill and Charlie were currently raging a magical aerial battle between two battered old tables, with the goal to knock the other's table out of the air. Fred and George were cheering, one siding with Bill and the other Charlie, while Ginny was giggling and Hermione looked like she was trying to enjoy it but also looking worried.

Ascella, Harry and Ron though, found it highly entertaining. Ascella's favorite part was when Percy stuck his head out his bedroom window looking frazzled and irritated as he shouted at them to keep it down after Bill had caught Charlie's table with a loud bang knocking a leg off.

"Sure thing Perce! How're the bottoms coming along?" Bill asked grinning, while he and Charlie both lowered the tables to the ground of the Weasley's back garden. Fred and George snickered.

"Cauldron bottoms! And very badly!" Percy tersely replied, before slamming the window shut, the rattling of the glass panes echoing in the walled off garden.

Ascella joined the twins in their snickering. Bill reattached the leg and conjured a couple tablecloths using his wand and the rest set about setting the table.

Dinner was a raucous affair, if uneventful. The only real event of note was when Ron asked Harry if he'd heard from Sirius. Ascella and Hermione leaned in closer.

"We know Ascella has," Ron whispered, eyes darting to hers and back to Harry, "but she didn't tell us much..."

"As I shouldn't have to - I don't ask you about every conversation you've ever had with your dad."

"Yeah, but you could tell us how he is!" Ron fired back.

"He's good," Harry interrupted Ascella who already had her mouth open to retort. She huffed and deflated back into her seat. It was just as well Harry answered as her volume had risen and they didn't need to draw any unwanted attention to their end of the table and to the conversation they were having.

Shortly after that Mrs. Weasley ushered them off to bed and before Ascella knew it she was being awoken the next morning by Hermione. Ascella groaned loudly. It was far too early. The sun wasn't even up yet. And if the clock on Ginny's bedside table was to believed the sun wouldn't be up for hours yet.

"Five more minutes," Ascella moaned sinking back into her kip bed. Well five minutes turned into five more minutes which turned into an undetermined amount more before Ascella was being shaken awake by a frantic Mrs. Weasley.

"Ascella! Everyone is already downstairs and leaving! You've got to get up now! You'll miss the Portkey if you don't!"

Ascella shot up out of bed at hearing those words. She was being left behind! She ran to the bathroom while Mrs. Weasley rushed to put clothes out for her and throw some more in a knapsack for her. Ascella cursed her own negligence - she knew she should have packed the night before. Back from the toilet so rushed was she, she hardly knew what clothes she pulled on and had shoved into her bag, her hair all in disarray splayed about her head, with heavy bedhead. She had time to grab a hat though she didn't put it on.

Mrs. Weasley helped her into a jacket and rushed her out muttering things like "Oh I knew we were short on the number of breakfast plates! I'm so sorry Ascella!"

Then Ascella was rushing out the door, and headed for the top of Stoatshead Hill. Luckily she knew the way from having flown around on her broom so often in the area, playing pick-up Quidditch games with the Weasley boys. By the time she reached the bottom of the hill she was already sweating, the jacket Mrs. Weasley had put on her hanging off her arms, her side fringe sticking to her face and soaked dark in sweat, her face red. But she saw the outlines of everyone up at the top. They appeared to be moving about as if looking for the Portkey. She thought she heard Harry call for her to hurry up, but she couldn't hear him over her labored breathing as she put her head down and chugged it up the hill.

As she made her way up, the sun creeping up the horizon and making her warmer than she already was, she had time to be grateful for all those runs Cho Chang had made her go on last term though she did wish she'd kept it up over the summer. She could only keep her head down and keep pushing herself up the hill. Maybe if she'd kept in shape she would have been able to reach the top and still have breath for some choice words for her friends for forgetting her. Maybe she'd have at least been able to see where she was going as she began to crest the top of the hill. Maybe then she wouldn't have bowled over a rather large and athletically built person.

"Ow! Yikes - shit - sorry!" Ascella said through gasps for air, while trying to untangle herself from the unknown person, but actually only managing to almost fall over again. She felt whoever it was she'd knocked over put their hands about her waist to steady her instead, allowing her to sit back in comfort and get a look at who it was.

"Thank yo-" she stopped abruptly, yipped, and shoved the person - no the young man - away from her. It was Cedric freaking Diggory. He was the one she'd oh so unceremoniously plowed over. She recoiled from him like he was a magnet of opposite charge, her cheeks flaming hot and not from the run she'd just done. She couldn't meet his gaze. Fortunately for her, Mr. Diggory, Cedric's dad called them all over - he'd found the portkey.

Ascella sidled up to Hermione, brown rucksack over one shoulder, suddenly conscience of just exactly what she was wearing. It was a white tank top with a purple and pink muggle My Little Pony across the bust, a silk purple bra underneath, and an overlarge zip up Gryffindor Quidditch hoodie Mrs. had helped her into, Ascella thinking it was a jacket, that must be one of the twins or Charlie's as it was at least two sizes too large, currently unzipped, falling off both her shoulders and pooling about her elbows. If she wasn't so hot from her scramble to get there she might have tried to pull the shoulders up to where they should be, if nothing else to hide the obvious bulge of her breasts which had already been a right size before but which had grown even more over the summer, which her heaving breathes and the tight tank top - it must be Ginny's - did nothing to hide now.

Her cheeks were flaming - she hadn't meant to look like a tart. She couldn't make eye contact with Diggory. When she did catch glimpses of him, he looked to be trying very hard not to laugh at her. "'Mione," she whispered, one hand going to the mess that was her hair. "How's my hair?" When she'd tried to finger comb it she'd been able to get through it - but only barely.

"Well - all things considered it actually looks rather nice."

"Really?" Ascella stood a little taller at her friend's words.

"Don't listen to her, love," Fred loudly jumped into the conversation from behind them. He waved to the birds waking up and flitting about in the trees surrounding the top of the hill. "I think the birds are going to mistake it for their nest if we don't shield you." He then proceeded to stick his hand in it and ruffle it up worse. Ascella batted his hand away, glaring and pouting. She dared a quick side eye to where Cedric was now standing next to his father talking with Harry and Mr. Weasley. He looked amazing still, not even a twig in his perfect hair or a rumple in his shirt despite his forced introduction to the grass at the top of Stoatshead Hill, induced by Ascella.

She felt the twins poke her hair again this time with a couple of sticks they'd picked up. She swatted them away and shoved the hat she'd been carrying, one of Harry's Gryffindor ones, onto her head despite still being over warm from her run. She couldn't believe this was happening. She so wanted to take her wand out and perform a quick spell on her hair but there were too many adults around. Besides, it was time to go, everyone scrambling to touch a part of the portkey.

Somehow, Ascella ended up squeezed in next to Cedric, despite her best efforts to avoid him. What must he think of her now? She looked a right mess. And she hoped she didn't smell of BO from her run. Cedric for his part didn't mention either her hair nor her taking him out, bless him. But maybe it was only because they didn't have much time for more than catching eyes and the knowing smile he sent her, before the portkey was set to leave. Ascella's heart raced as she reached a finger out for a bit of the boot that was their portkey and it had nothing to do with her run or the imminent departure of the portkey.

Upon arriving only the two Mr's and Cedric were still standing - the rest of them strewn about in various states of disarray on the ground, Harry and Ron completely tangled up like a pair of surprised lovers. And of course it was Cedric that reached a hand to help Ascella up.

"Alright there, Ascella?" he said so only she could hear. She grudgingly grasped his hand and he easily pulled her up. She really hoped her hand wasn't as clammy as she suspected and tried to ignore the flutter of her heart at how easily he'd muscled her up.

"Yeah - fine thanks," Ascella replied, brushing her bum off to rid it of dirt for the second time already today. She did it more to avoid making further eye contact with Cedric than anything else. How was he still being so nice? She just couldn't understand him at all. In the midst of her thoughts she missed that the two groups, Diggory and Weasley, had gathered themselves from their Portkey journey and moved off to receive instructions regarding where to check in to their respective campsites. They received the information from a Ministry wizard Mr. Weasley called 'Basil'. From what she did catch the Weasley party was in the first field and the Diggory's in the second.

They all began their journey's together, towards the first field where they parted from the Diggory's, altogether too much time with them for Ascella's liking. She was all too conscience of how she'd somehow ended up walking in step with the handsome older boy and she had no idea how - she'd quite convinced herself Cedric would never want to speak to her again. Turned out she was wrong.

"Enjoy the match, Ascella," Cedric turned to her and addressed her expressly, after a polite goodbye to the rest of her group as a whole. This time, though, his voice was loud enough for all to hear. "If you are walking about today, don't be afraid to stop by. But I'll talk to you later, either way!" And with a cheery grin, a jaunty wave and without waiting on a response from her, he finally followed his father on towards their camp, his father only turning back once to wonder at what was keeping his son.

Too late Ascella came to herself and attempted to return his wave, no doubt looking like a complete loon. Too bad the twins saw this. As well as all of her friends. The twins were glaring and proceeded to begin lecturing something about "being careful" and to "watch out for those pretty boy sorts". Ascella wasn't really listening though but she heard enough to surmise that the twins appeared to have not forgiven their year mate for the Hufflepuff win over Gryffindor the previous year. Ascella ignored them and moved off to walk with Harry. But if she'd thought he hadn't noticed Cedric expressly address her and was going to keep quiet she was sorely mistaken.

"Hey, what was all that about with Diggory?" he asked, not a second after she'd joined him.

"Nothing!" Ascella tried to smooth over the event but Hermione wasn't helping. She'd clearly picked up on what had been going on as she was grinning and giggling like mad with Ginny. Harry glanced between the three girls, his brow crinkled up. "Am I missing something?" he asked. Hermione and Ginny only giggled harder.

"Nope!" Ascella linked arms with Harry and forcibly began dragging him away towards where Mr. Weasley was speaking with the muggle park ranger in charge of their campsite. "Let's go help Mr. Weasley with that muggle money, yeah?" Only Ascella was in no way any help with the muggle money.

But it did serve to distract her friend from the happening with Cedric at the very least, too absorbed was he in talking Mr. Weasley through the "notes and pounds" whatever that meant. Too bad it didn't look like the girls had forgotten, if their knowing smirks and eyes thrown her way were any indication. No, those screamed 'we will talk about this later' and Ascella was much less than thrilled.

Upon reaching camp, they all quickly made up the tents. Well all was actually just Hermione and Harry with Mr. Weasley hindering more than helping as it was all meant to be done without magic. Upon finally getting them up Ascella was unsurprised to learn the inside of the two tents were much larger than their outsides suggested though Harry seemed to be very surprised. 'Magic,' she mouthed to him seeing his awestruck face. His look of realization was almost comical.

Ascella took a moment in the girls tent to look through her knapsack in the hopes of finding a less tartlike outfit. To her dismay she only had embarrassing shirts that all looked to be two sizes too small but she was able to find a nude bra at the least which she changed into so she at least didn't look completely like a hussy.

After, Mr. Weasley sent Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ascella to get water from the well, while he decided to get a fire going, looking far too thrilled at the prospect of getting to "light it like a muggle!"

Along the way they walked through the Ireland and Bulgarians sections running into Harry's Gryffindor friend and dorm mate Seamus Finnegan and discovering Ron's obsession with a certain grumpy looking Bulgarian seeker. But it was at the well that Ascella became truly engaged for who should be in front of them in a heated discussion with what was obviously a Ministry wizard holding a pair of muggle pinstriped trousers but none other than old man Archie from Ascella's village. And he was wearing a long flowery nightgown! Just wait until she told Kevin.

"Just put them on, Archie, there's a good chap," the Ministry wizard was pleading. "You can't walk around like that, the muggle at the gate is already getting suspicious -"

"I bought this in a muggle shop," Archie replied with his usual stubbornness. "Muggles wear them."

"Muggle women wear them, Archie, not the men, they wear these," said the Ministry wizard, and he brandished the pinstriped trousers.

"I'm not putting them on," said old Archie in indignation. "I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks." Hermione had to excuse herself so overcome with giggles was she at this interaction but Ascella had no such concerns to hide her amusement.

"You tell 'em Archie!" Ascella clapped her hands in delight. The man turned to beadily eye her, the Ministry wizard looking as if he was about to cry at the distraction.

"What's that - who're you?" he asked as he tried to place her. "OH!" he said his face alighting with recognition, a gnarled forefinger coming out to shake in her direction. "You're that Black girl who keeps setting up pranks around my house!"

"Who me? I don't - I don't think so..." And it was Ascella's turn to excuse herself away, suddenly very interested in finding out where Hermione had gone.

Finally, old man Archie moved off in his nightgown with his bucket of water and the foursome began their way back towards camp, Ron and Harry manhandling the full bucket of water between the two of them. Along the way they ran into many of their fellow Hogwarts friends. Oliver Wood, former Gryffindor Quidditch captain dragged Harry away to meet his parents where he proudly stated he'd be starting for Puddlemere United in the upcoming season. Ernie MacMillan was next. It looked like he practically pulled Harry's arm out of his socket, with how forcibly he dragged Harry over to meet his parents, proud in that over eager Ernie MacMillan way that he was friends with the boy who lived. It was a miracle Harry didn't spill all of the water in the bucket.

Next, the group ran into Cho Chang. Ascella was the first to spot the older girl and her fellow Ravenclaw.

"Cho!" she called out, jauntily waving her hand above her head so the girl could spot her over the crowd on witches and wizards walking about. Cho grinned wide once she recognized Ascella and waved her over. Ascella didn't miss the way Cho's eyes alighted on her and then passed over to look around. If she was a betting person, Ascella would reckon she was looking for Harry, for everyone in Hogwarts knew, where there was an Ascella, a Potter wasn't to be far.

"Looking for Harry?" Ascella teased under her breath when she had joined Cho in her family's campsite, the other still looking beyond Ascella. She was looking through her long black hair as if trying to be discreet but Ascella cottoned on. Especially when Cho's face lit up and she wildly waved to someone behind Ascella. Ascella turned to see her best mate, stupid grin on his face, dump half the bucket of water in his haste to return Cho's wave.

"Bloody idiot," Ascella muttered. Cho just giggled into her hand. Ascella waved her friends on when Harry moved his gaze from Cho a question in his eyes. She wanted to catch up with Cho and figured it couldn't be all that hard to find her way back. What was the worst that could happen?

Ascella turned to face Cho head on. "Sometimes I wonder at your taste in men," she told her, shaking her head.

"He's your best mate!" she retorted, still giddy with seeing Harry.

"Yeah. And as you can see he is clearly a loon." Cho cracked up and smacked Ascella on the arm.

"I think it's endearing," she sighed with a dreamy look in her eye. Ascella made retching sounds.

Ascella stayed and chatted with the older girl for a bit longer, meeting her parents and chatting about how exciting it was that the Tornadoes, the Quidditch team both girls had long supported, were finally doing well in the league. After Ascella moved on she found she must admit she did get a bit lost. It wasn't until she ran into a clearly international section filled with brightly colored tents in all colors of the rainbow that she confirmed she had definitely not come this way before. Fortunately, she ran into Padma, a close friend and the only of Ascella's dormmates in Ravenclaw that she could stand.

"Oh! So this is where all the Indian witches and wizards are staying!" Ascella exclaimed upon seeing Padma.

"Yup! We were going to stay in another camp but my relatives from India managed to get tickets so we are all staying together."

"Fascinating!" Ascella couldn't take her eyes off of everyone around her. The smells alone were intoxicating, pungent almost, a heavy mix of cooking spices like coriander and cumin coming from steaming pots of thick delicious looking curries and sauces. Ascella never wanted to leave. Ascella hadn't seen many international Witches and Wizards so she looked around in wonder, overwhelmed at all the sights and sounds to take in.

Ascella was introduced to Padma's family and extended family and Ascella quickly stopped trying to remember everyone's name. They all had large welcoming smiles for Ascella and Ascella thought Padma's mother was surely trying to fatten her up so often was she offered food, everywhere from these crisp hollow, donut hole shaped bread rolls that Ascella didn't catch the name of to some amazing deserts. And Ascella would have gladly stayed for the butter chicken and saag over rice she was offered but she knew she should probably start working her way back. The sun was already starting to get lower in the sky. Padma seeming to sense Ascella's tension, intervened while Ascella was insisting once again that she really couldn't join them for dinner, and escorted her out of the camp area.

Padma was able to lead her to the field where Ascella's campsite was in for which she was grateful. Wishing each other the best, they separated with, "See you at school!" Ascella found herself on a slightly different path than the one they had taken to the well since she had wandered too far west but she was able to recognize some landmarks she'd remembered seeing before. But of course she didn't get far before she ran into another familiar face. Or should she say a familiar shock of red hair.

"Oy! Who let you wander without a leash?" Ascella shouted. George Weasley turned, his face screwed up in confusion until he spotted the offensive haggler.

"Oh come off it. You know you are just happy to see someone you know. Get lost did you?" Ascella wanted to wipe that smirk off his face but more than that she didn't want him to know how close to the truth he was.

"Fat chance. Just been making the rounds with my mates," she said as she strode closer to him. "Who're you seeing? And without Freddo too." But Ascella didn't have to wait for George's answer as she spotted who he was sat next to on a log by a roaring fire.

"'Lo Black," Andreanna Fawley, Hufflepuff and George Weasley's long term girlfriend, greeted Ascella with a soft smile.

"Ah," Ascella nodded in understanding. Then she started looking around the campsite for her year mate and younger brother to Andreanna.

But he found her first. "'Cella!" he greeted her with a one armed hug. He was holding a bundle of firewood in the other, which he dispensed with an unceremonious dumping on the ground next to the fire. Gabriel Fawley was Ascella's favorite (and only but really, who was counting) Hufflepuff friend. Ascella ignored George's suggestive raised eyebrow look he made at her from over Gabriel's shoulder.

"How're you? Supporting Ireland I presume?" Ascella asked him.

"'Course! Gotta support the semi-home team."

"It is a shame England wasn't able to do better. But what are you going to do." He nods in agreement, poking at the fire with a stick he'd picked up.

"Excited to see the Irish chasers in action though. Heard their teamwork is flawless!" Gabriel enthused.

"Too right. Though I am a bit worried about Krum. I heard he is one hell of a seeker."

"Same. I think Bulgaria's best chance is for him to catch the snitch early. Otherwise the Irish Chaser's will put up too high a score for them to come back from."

And who knows how long Ascella and Gabriel might have gone on discussing the possibilities of the upcoming match if Ascella hadn't felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck. Almost like she was being watched. She turned expecting to see George with a tooth rotting mocking grin, only instead she met eyes with a pair of soft gray eyes she was all too familiar with. It seemed that while she had been distracted with Gabriel, Cedric Diggory had shown up to visit the Fawley's with his friends Declan Hawthorne and Emily - something (really, why could Ascella not remember her name?) in tow. Ascella wanted to kick herself. How could she have forgotten that Cedric Diggory was in the same friend group as Andreanna?

"You know - I should probably go..." Ascella rushed out to Gabriel upon seeing Diggory. But it was too late - the older boy had seen her. And he gracefully fell into step with her as she attempted to make her exit.

"Uh - what are you doing?" Ascella asked after it became clear he had every intention of continuing to walk with her.

"Walking you back," he replied, an easy lilt to his words. Ascella's face flushed. She ducked her head and cast a glance back at the Fawley camp site. Gabriel was grinning at her, while Diggory's friends watched with varying expressions from Hawthourne's dark unreadable face to Andreanna's gentle support. George on the other hand scowled and made the "I'm watching you" hand motion. Ascella flipped him off. Cedric half turned to see what she was up to but Ascella rushed him along instead.

"Come on come on," she gently shoved him, he really did have nice biceps, and the soft green sweater he wore was rather fetching on him. "I am perfectly capable of getting back but if you insist."

"Oh really? Perfectly capable?" Ascella looked up at Cedric to see the playful pull of his eyebrow. "I heard you got lost."

"What?" Ascella's mouth fell open. "Who - "

Cedric bent double, a shout of laughter escaping him. "Wait - did you really?"

"Oh sod off," Ascella pouted. So he had only been teasing. Stupid, handsome, smart, Hufflepuff, correctly guessing what had happened. She used his laughing to plod along and get a few paces ahead of him but he soon caught her, slowing her with a gentle touch to her upper arm. It was enough to get Ascella to look up at him.

"Don't pout," he said. "It's cute that you got lost. Probably too busy ogling all the international witches and wizards." Ascella's breath caught. He'd remembered. Cedric had been one of her correspondents this summer and she had written in one of her recent letters that one of the things she had been most looking forward to at the World Cup were all the international witches and wizards. And then she couldn't help but smile. He wasn't malicious with his teasing, she could see it in the gentle way he was looking at her now.

"Yeah. You aren't wrong. I think it was the, frankly mouth watering, cooking smell alone that got me wound up where all the Indian's were staying." They'd resumed walking and Ascella felt more than heard Cedric's appreciative "Yummm." She tried to tuck some of her fringe behind her ear in an attempt to give herself something to do with her hand. But instead she brushed Cedric's hand. She took an abrupt step to the side, her hand retreating as though burned - since when were they walking so close to each other?

"Are you alright?" Ascella's heart pounded in her ears. He was looking at her with too much intensity. She couldn't control herself when he looked at her like that. It was also maddening that it didn't appear the brushing of their hands bothered him in the least. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Ascella didn't even know when she wanted it to be. Or what good meant to her. Was good that she wanted him to not notice because he also liked it or was good that he hadn't noticed because he was unaffected?

"Nothing," Ascella finally answered, falling back in step with him, this time trying to keep at least a foot between the two of them. But then it happened again. And a third time. Ascella tried to peer up at Cedric through her fringe and read in his face what it all meant. Was he doing this on purpose?

It wasn't until they were back at the Weasley campsite, where it appeared Mr. had been having fun with the matches in an attempt to light the fire the "muggle way", that Ascella realized it must have been intentional. In bidding her good-bye he had clasped her hand fully in his and squeezed in time with a dimpled smile that left Ascella's heart soaring. She hardly knew what he said or what she said to him, just that the Cedric Diggory was holding her hand. And then he was gone.

And Ascella was left with the sinking realization that this had all taken place in view of the Weasley campsite. She ducked her head tried to ignore looking at the unintended audience, which in addition to those that had arrived by port key, now included Bill, Charlie and Percy, two of whom were attempting to preen and mock flirt, staring moonily at each other in what was surely a bad attempt at imitating Ascella, Bill even going so far as to dramatically whip his hair over his shoulder, making his eyes go dewy like a doe.

Hermione dragged Ascella away from all of the looks and jeering though, Ascella not able to meet even Harry's questioning eyes, Ginny following along as they headed for their shared tent.

"Well?" Hermione asked, when Ginny had secured the tent flap behind them. "What was all of that with Diggory?! First, all that tension this morning and then you go off with him for how many hours and he walks you back to camp! Just what is going on?"

Ascella shrugged sheepishly.

"Would you believe me if I told you we were friends?" Hermione just stared at her. Ascella deflated in defeat sighing through her nose, resigning herself to a long few hours yet of interrogation.

The problem was - Ascella really didn't know what to make of it all. She had no idea. Sure, it was Cedric who had been the source of all the owls in and out of the Weasley home the two oldest boys had teased was Harry, but those were letters and she still had no idea what the older boys' intentions were. Because he couldn't possibly like her. That was just too ridiculous. But Ascella couldn't help but secretly admit that she really hoped he did. She wasn't sure when it had happened but somewhere between the time she'd unceremoniously knocked into him on the train beginning of third year to when he'd sent his first letter a week after school let out, she had fallen for the Hufflepuff prefect. And she didn't like how vulnerable it made her feel - besides, she didn't exactly have the best track record with boys, Kevin and Aaron both coming strongly to mind. But she wasn't about to tell all of that to Hermione and Ginny - well she might have told Hermione but Ascella didn't really want Ginny knowing all her deepest secrets.

But luck seemed to finally be on her side for once that day and Mr. Weasley shouted to them that it was time for the match.

"Well, would you look at that. Can't tarry now," Ascella said as she marched her way to the entrance of their tent. She didn't miss Hermione's bright eyes telling her that this conversation wasn't really over. Yeah, she figured as much but at least it might be without Ginny's ears listening in too. For now Ascella was going to join in with the excitement teeming around her and enjoy what the night would bring.

A/N: I am so sorry for the delay! But I have the rest of the year mostly laid out. It is just taking forever since there is so much more canon material to deal with this year so I am a bit overwhelmed with what I want to include, what I have to include, what I'm changing, where Ascella's story fits in etc. But here it is! I'm excited for all that's to come!

So what do you think?