Gwendolyn O'Shea sighed in her seat.

She had not been very young when the war against Voldemort was raging on. She remembered reading the Daily Prophet and other papers and articles, reading contradicting stories. She heard whispers in the halls that made more sense than what she was reading. Trying to understand what was true and what was not, she would ask everyone she knew what they had heard. It was thrilling, discovering the stories. She loved it.

Her first year, the war had ended. Professor Dumbledore announced the morning after Halloween that while everyone had been in a food induced sleep after the feast, Lord Voldemort had fallen and Harry Potter defeated him. Except Harry Potter was a baby. Dumbledore explained briefly, but it was not enough to satisfy her. After breakfast, she had scurried up to Dumbledore's office, since it was a Sunday and she didn't have class. He was welcoming and offered candy, but she wanted facts, not sweets. What had happened? How did a baby stop a war? Where was the baby? And while her Headmaster had not given away everything, for some information was classified, he gave her more insight into what occurred. As she was leaving his office, he had said, "Perhaps I'll see your name as a reporter for the Prophet, Miss O'Shea."

She fell in love with the idea.

Her fifth year, she went for counseling with Professor McGonagall. Though Gwendolyn never understood why she was a Gryffindor, she was proud and very grateful she had such a helpful Head of House. She told McGonagall what Dumbledore had said.

"I have one pamphlet. After you graduate Hogwarts, usually the norm is to do a year of training with the Daily Prophet's journalism team. You merely need to apply at the end of your seventh year and submit an essay on why you want to report. If you're accepted and do well, you'll be working for the Daily Prophet when you're 20." McGonagall looked at her grades and teacher recommendations list. "If your OWLs go as expected, you are set to take Advanced Transfiguration, Potions, Defense, Astronomy, History of Magic and Charms. Professor Sprout does not believe you are apt for Herbology and your Care of Magical Creatures grade is not too fine. Nor is Ancient Runes, but who can blame you."

"What would I need for journalism?" she asked anxiously. She was so excited to finally start preparing for her future. McGonagall looked over the pamphlet.

"They recommend NEWT level Charms, Defense, History of Magic, and Muggle Studies. They also are impressed with NEWT Ancient Ruins." Gwendolyn groaned. How she despised Ancient Runes. "I suggest you work hard to raise your Ancient Runes grade and study well for the exam. It is doable, if you really want it."

"I do!" Gwendolyn exclaimed. She then paused. "Professor, I've never taken Muggle Studies."

"Perhaps we can arrange something, seeing as that is quite important, according to the pamphlet." She handed it to Gwendolyn. "I would also advise you to take Transfiguration and Potions again. You are doing quite well in both and if you change your mind, NEWTs in those subjects could be of aid to you."

So off she went, excitedly grasping the pamphlet of her future. Her OWLs were fine, and she was able to continue with Ancient Runes and started her journey in Muggle Studies. She kept Transfiguration and Potions, as per McGonagall's recommendation, but by the end of her seventh year, she found them pointless and ignored them.

And like everyone else, her Hogwarts journey came to an end and she graduated, having been accepted for journalism training. When she was 20, she started working as a proofreader for the Prophet.

She didn't like it. It wasn't what she wanted. Everything was too sketchy and she soon learned not all news was true. She wanted to write thrilling stories about battles and scandals and government issues. She wanted to tell the truth and investigate. But she told herself that if she worked hard, she'd win in the end. And she did.

Now, she was here, 24 years old, at the TriWizard Tournament. She had been asked to write about the final task. Rita's stories had been thrilling! Dragons and love affairs and Harry Potter, the boy who lived, stealing the stage from Cedric Diggory. The glories of Hogwarts, the graceful Fleur Delacour, and the scheming Viktor Krum.

It was a dream come true when she was told to go to Hogwarts that day. But nothing was happening. The champions were in a maze and nobody could see them.

She saw a shadow cross over her notebook, which she had been staring at blankly. Looking up, her eyes met Molly Weasley's. "I thought that it was you from across the bleachers!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. Gwendolyn smiled and stood to hug her.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley! What on earth are you doing here?"

"Well, all the champions families are here and Ron- you remember little Ron, don't you?- he and Harry have been good chaps since their first year, so me and Bill have come as Harry's family."

"Bill's, er, here?" Gwendolyn asked awkwardly.

"Yes, he's just come back from Egypt." Molly could feel the tension. "Don't worry, dear, you don't have to see him if you don't want to."

She wasn't sure. Perhaps, had things been different, she would have wanted to.

She had been in school with Bill Weasley and they had been fast friends. Her fifth year, they both became Prefects and after spending so much time together, began dating. At the end of seventh year, Gwen applied for her training and Bill applied to Gringotts. And he was given a job in Egypt. So he broke up with her.

She would have been over it by now, had it not been for… oh well. It didn't matter. She didn't have time for boys anyway. She had tried dating Andy Smudgley, who worked with her, but it faded as soon as it had started. They were too busy and too different.

But none of this mattered. Her mind was always going off track. "I wouldn't mind saying hello," she said gleefully. Molly beamed and motioned for Gwen to follow her.

They reached their seats and Bill stood up when he saw them approaching. He smiled warmly at her. "Hi, Gwen." They hugged and Gwen could see Molly beaming when she saw.

"Hi Bill. How are you?"

"I'll be right back," announced Molly. She dashed away quickly.

"I'm alright. I'm sorry I haven't written. Work has been really busy."

"Same," she agreed half-heartedly. It was busy, but never too busy for Bill. Obviously, Bill didn't feel the same way. "I didn't know Ron was friends with Harry Potter."

"Yeah, I just recently met him. He's a good kid. I'll introduce you later, if you want. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I'm writing the article for the third task!" Gwendolyn exclaimed. "Rita Skeeter is banned from Hogwarts, so I was picked."

"That's fantastic! I never liked that Skeeter woman anyway. Did you get anything?"

"Yeah, plenty. I interviewed Karkaroff and Dumbledore briefly. I'm hoping to interview a champion once they come out. But it's been rather dull for a while now." They both looked at the maze. She turned her gaze back to Bill. "Bill, I'm sorry about the summer." He looked back at her.

"Don't worry about it," he said with a shrug. "It happens. I'm sorry too. Friends?"

She nearly grimaced at the word, but instead, smiled. "Friends."