Round Two
"But didn't your uncle Harry and your own mother tell you the horrible stories?" Brea ranted as she changed for bed,
"Yes, but things were different back them," Victoire excused,
"Just because we don't have deranged witches and wizards trying to storm the castle, doesn't mean the tournament won't be any less dangerous."
Thrill and anticipation lingered around every inch of the castle after the grand announcement and arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students. Hundreds of students were debating whether to enter their name into the goblet of fire, to put their reputations on the line and to test their knowledge, however, Victoire was not debating. The moment they left the grand hall, Brea instantly knew what was going on in Victoire's head, and like the protective friend she was, she wanted Victoire to at least think about her decision for a couple of days. Everyone was going to be like that. Pleads and begs to reconsider would come her way if she notified her family about the Triwizard tournament and just thinking about it was making Victoire even more exhausted as her eyes began to struggle to stay open. She sat on her bed as she plaited her soft hair and watched Tonka drag her slippers into place by her bed.
"All I'm saying is, maybe you should give it two or three days before you make a definite decision and talk to your parents first," Brea yawned as she got into bed,
"Brea, it is something ridiculous o'clock in the morning and you are not going to change my mind, so let's just sleep and talk about this over breakfast," Victoire sighed,
"Okay but promise me you'll at least tell Teddy before you enter."
A brief silence occurred as Victoire slipped into bed with Tonka nesting comfortably against the curve of her waist. Telling Teddy everything had become habit to Victoire, but was the Triwizard tournament going to be the one and only exception? Having someone outside of school to talk to could be better and especially when he would be a real asset when it came to preparing for the tournament. There would be someone at home for her to confide in. She pulled up the collar of the shirt she was to sleep in and heavily inhaled the scent of muskiness mixed with fresh hay and a faint hint of bacon.
"So, you promise?" Brea spoke softly,
"Yes, I promise."
Dear Tedster,
I miss you too. I don't think I want to take your shirt off, but I have to get ready for lessons soon. Excitement has met Hogwarts along with an autumn breeze and the arrival of students from two other schools. You should've seen how beautiful all the Beauxbatons students looked in their pristine uniforms and their shoes looked so expensive. I admit that my heart gained weight thinking about how that could've been me. They all read different books as well and their bags are like mine, not like that tatty one father wanted me to use, although I admit, it is a great bag for storing my magazines in.
This is the part that is important and that I wish for you to keep from everyone else. The Triwizard Tournament has started again! It was a shock to me, and you should've seen the dread on Professor Longbottom's face.
Yes, I plan on entering, I don't know why you would even ask that.
Yes, I know how dangerous it is, I have Brea here on your behalf making a very thorough risk assessment.
No, I do not plan on telling any of the family (other than Fred) about it until I am selected. There is no point of making a fuss and giving grandmama Molly a heart attack when there is a high chance that I won't be chosen.
I know you'll support me no matter what and that's honestly all I want from you.
Just please do not tell anyone about this until I say. It's bad enough I have to try and keep it from Miss-big-mouth-Dominique and I know it will be a struggle for you because there isn't an even close to bad bone in your precious body, but you are one of the only people I trust to be able to keep my secrets, Edward. That's all I have to say really.
Your Angel Victoire xox
P.S. The biscuits from France are in the fuchsia velvet box under my bed and next to it will be your backup skateboard.
Victoire ended up having her mind shuffle from the tournament, to Teddy, to studies and back again throughout her ancient runes class. She knew someone was talking, who to and what about, she really couldn't tell you as everything around her, even the sound of book pages being turned were muffled. She needed a plan of action in case she was chosen for the tournament. Acting surprised was a must, but was she going to hug her friends and then skip down towards the front of the hall or was she going to be more graceful about it? She had to revise her charms beforehand, maybe four pages of revision a night and then going over the same pages in the morning was a good routine and what about herbology? Knowing the basics on everything surely necessary. Maybe Teddy would come to watch her, and he'd wear the black turtleneck tucked into the jeans that hugged his hips beautifully and he'd hug her at the end of every tournament as well as smother her with kisses and…
"And Victoire, if you could translate the first line and the third line," interrupted her racing thoughts,
"Graphorn, quintaped, demiguise, demiguise, and erm, ehwaz, dragon and tail," the answers were somehow found within seconds of being demanded,
"And here I was thinking you weren't paying any attention, Miss Weasley,"
"How little you know me then, Professor Babbling."
Thankfully, Professor Babbling gave the signal for them to leave and Victoire sped out to find Brea and Aaron waiting for her opposite the exit. Concern filled Brea's face, whereas Aaron had a hint of excitement in his subtle smile as he lifted a large brown paper bag. The three found a tree to form a circle under around the paper bag. Once opened, red, blue and silver fireworks soared out of the bag into the air, creating swirls, stars and a climatic dragon as the mouth-watering fumes of food followed. Aaron's mother sent him a bag like this at the beginning of each month with enough for exactly three people and their names written on which dish was meant for them with personalized chopsticks. This time, Victoire's chopsticks were a midnight blue at the top with an ice blue dragon which seemed to breathe out the silver at the bottom. Opening her lunch made her sigh with relief as the torrent of thoughts came to a halt and were pushed to the back of her mind.
"Your mum is a gift from some sort of god," Brea smiled as she stuffed ramen into her mouth,
"I know, but she doesn't," Aaron was about to take a bite of his food when he was disturbed by the arrival of Dominique.
Smiling at the arrival of her little sister was something Victoire hadn't done in a while, but there was something about her confused yet confident face, the sun emphasising the hints of ginger in her hair and the booked clutched to her chest that was endearing.
"I don't get this place, why is it so big?!" Dominique complained.
Victoire made a space for Dominique and gave her one of her strawberry milk bottles. Fighting was common between sisters, especially with such an age gap, but there had to be moments where the bickering ceased, and they could have moments to laugh at in five years time.
"If anything goes wrong, go to Lucas," was just about audible from Aaron's full mouth,
"I'm not like his group of friends, he won't want to talk to me," Dominique's head began to hang low,
"What are you talking about? He has to look after you; it's his job," Brea assured,
"Oh, and I threatened to crush his crystal balls if anything happens to you," Victoire handed her little sister a spoon while she took the lid off of her bibimbap,
"I don't remember you mentioning he had taken divination,"
"Wrong balls, ma sœur."
As they howled with laughter with good food, the sun beamed down on them and all thoughts of studies and the tournament were picked up and whisked away by the occasional pleasantly cool breeze. Tales of embarrassing first year experiences were shared as Victoire started to pack all the rubbish back into the brown paper bag. Stress had completely taken over her so quickly within the first couple of days and it was starting to affect her emotions, but this joyous lunch kept the storm at bay.
"I'm glad we could put your mind at rest," Brea softly spoke,
"Yeah, this will get you thinking clearer about the whole tournament thing," Aaron said light-heartedly.
There was a short chuckle shared by the three, all of them knowing that such a subject could never just be swept under the carpet. Victoire appreciated her best friends' efforts and she allowed a grateful grin to show before taking the second to last gulp of her strawberry milk.
"I think Lucas should enter, but you, Vicki, couldn't survive for five minutes," Dominique's joke wasn't being well received.
Brea and Aaron slid closer together as they witnessed the sister bomb hit zero seconds and prepared for the explosion. Rapidly growing rage crept up on Victoire as she bit her lip with the hope that she could hold herself back.
"What part of your logic deficient brain thought that that comment was necessary?" she gritted her teeth and closed her eyes,
"I was just being truthful, like Mama taught us to," Dominique didn't seem phased,
"She also taught us French, loyalty and how to be respectful, yet you obviously weren't paying attention,"
"Why do you always have to be such a bitch to me?"
A sharp gasp left the two spectators' mouths upon hearing a word they had crucially learnt to never say to Victoire. Talking to your own sister shouldn't be such a gruelling task, yet no matter how hard she tired, an argument was inevitable. Love for her sister, like the sun being hidden by the thick grey clouds, was becoming blocked off by frustration.
"The list of reasons why is longer than my arm. You've become impossible to be around," Victoire attempted to keep her voice down,
"You're no easier," retorted Dominique,
"That's probably because nothing can penetrate that small thick skull of yours,"
"Well, at least I'm smart enough to get my Beauxbatons letter!"
Ambushed by heavy rage, Victoire threw the remaining contents of her cold strawberry milk in her sister's face; not even feeling any remorse as she watched drops of the pale pink liquid drip from her nose. Hitting such a sensitive spot in Victoire's life rendered her unable to control both her words and her actions- something she expected her own sister to be aware of. Scorching anger darted though her veins, making her almost oblivious to all the students eagerly watching her like an intense drama. If she wanted to, she could slap Dominique or spit the most vicious and vile words at her; no one was holding her back and she was sure that many would even support her.
"Get out of my face," she spoke in a low growl as a single tear crawled out of the corner of her right eye,
"I'm telling Papa about this!"
"I said GO YOU LITTLE BRAT!"
Stumbling hastily to her feet, Dominique scooped up her books and ran inside, wiping milk out of her eyes and off of her nose. Victoire's eyes did not stop glaring at the spot where her sister sat and bravely said those wicked words that triggered a scarring memory. The trees morphed into her rustic grey wooden front door with the grass becoming the cold floorboards and the hurt struck her as she stared at the letter box, waiting for her Beauxbatons letter. There was almost silence, apart from the sound of the clock ticking and the waves gently rolling in and retreating back to keep her company. Staring at the letterbox would achieve nothing and she'd even close her eyes for a minute, hoping that when she opened them, the letter would be floating down to the floor. Her hands trembled as the scene left her mind and she glanced at those watching her.
"Even the Mona Lisa doesn't get this many stares. Bug off!" the crowd did as they were commanded with the sound of chattering increasing as they went back to their lives.
Limply, Victoire slid the pile of rubbish out of the way, rested her head on Brea's thigh and pulled her robe over her head so she could only see darkness. Endless studying was draining, but fighting with Dominique rendered her weak as she hated speaking to someone she loved unconditionally that way. Not everything in her life could be perfect, but she would trade her seemingly near perfect image for a better relationship with her sister in a heartbeat. Strong was the sensation to scream, but her emotions couldn't win this time as Aaron comfortingly stoked her head.