Welcome, one and all, to the next chapter of HP: The Path of Trials! Ugh, just ugh. Between my job, my personal problems, and lack of progress in the series (until recently), I've done a terrible job keeping up with updates. However, I will continue to post the chapters until the very end of this series. I will not give up! Now, moving right along into this chapter...

Disclaimer: No rights to the HP series except for the OCs I have created.

Now, here's...

Chapter 24: One Wild Night

Enjoy!

With the very heavy load of homework that the fourth years had been given for the holidays, it took Marcus all that he had to finish it, owing his rather scattered mind to the arduous events that were the Yule Ball and the Second Task. It didn't help matters that Gryffindor Tower was no less crowded than it normally would be; rather, it seemed to have shrunk slightly, as its inhabitants were being so much rowdier than usual. Fred and George had great success with their Canary Creams, and for the first couple of days of the holidays, people kept bursting into feather all over the place. It didn't take long for everyone, however, to learn to treat food anybody else offered them with extreme caution, in case it had a Canary Cream concealed in the center, though George confided in Marcus that he and Fred were now working on developing something else. Even if he was glad that Fred and George were chasing after their dream, Marcus made a mental note not to accept even a crisp from the twins in the future. He still hadn't forgotten about the Ton-Tongue Toffee incident over the summer.

Snow was falling thickly upon the castle and its grounds now. The pale blue Beauxbatons carriage looked like a large, chilly, frosted pumpkin next to the iced gingerbread house that was Hagrid's cabin, while the Durmstrang ship's portholes were glazed with ice, the rigging white with frost. The house-elves down in the kitchen were outdoing themselves with a series of rich, warming stews and savory puddings, and Marcus was not all surprised to see that only Fleur Delacour seemed to find anything to complain about.

"It is too 'eavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food," they heard her saying grumpily to a fellow Beauxbatons student as the four of them were leaving the Great Hall behind her one evening (Ron skulking behind Harry, keen not to be spotted by Fleur). "I will not fit into my dress robes!"

"Oooh there's a tragedy," Hermione snapped as Fleur went out into the entrance hall. "She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?"

"Hermione - who are you going to the ball with?" said Ron.

He kept springing this question on her, hoping to startle her into a response by asking it when she least expected it. However, Hermione merely frowned and said, "I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me."

"You're joking, Weasley!" said Malfoy, behind them. "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"

Marcus, Harry, and Ron all whipped around, but Hermione said loudly, waving to somebody over Malfoy's shoulder, "Hello, Professor Moody!"

Malfoy went pale and jumped backward, looking wildly round for Moody, but he was still up at the staff table, finishing his stew.

"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" said Hermione scathingly, and she, Marcus, Harry, and Ron went up the marble staircase laughing heartily.

"Hermione," said Ron, looking sideways at her, suddenly frowning, "your teeth..."

"What about them?" she said.

"Well, they're different...I've just noticed..."

"Of course they are - did you expect me to keep those fangs Malfoy gave me?"

"That's not what Ron meant," said Marcus, who just noticed the change himself. "You're teeth are different to how they were before he put that hex on you...They're all...straight and - and normal-sized."

Hermione suddenly smiled very mischievously, confirming what Marcus was saying: It was a very different smile from the one he remembered.

"Well...when I went up to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk, she held up a mirror and told me to stop her when they were back to how they normally were," she said. "And I just...let her carry on a bit." She smiled even more widely. "Mum and Dad won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on with my braces. You know, they're dentists, they just don't think teeth and magic should - look! Pigwidgeon's back!"

Ron's tiny owl was twittering madly on the top of the icicle-laden banisters, three scrolls of parchment tied to his legs. People passing him were pointing and laughing, and a group of third-year girls paused and said, "Oh look at the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?"

"Stupid little feathery git!" Ron hissed, hurrying up the stairs and snatching up Pigwidgeon. "You bring letters to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!"

Pigwidgeon hooted happily, his head protruding over Ron's fist. THe third-year girls all looked very shocked.

"Clear off!" Ron snapped at them, waving the fist holding Pigwidgeon, who hooted more happily than ever as he soared through the air. "Here - take them, guys," Ron added in an undertone as the third-year girls scuttled away looking scandalized. He pulled Sirius' reply to Harry off Pigwidgeon's left leg and gave it to Harry while handing the other two parchments to Marcus, leaving the latter confused as to what the second parchment could be. Regardless, the two boys pocketed their mail, and they hurried off to Gryffindor Tower to read them.

Everyone in the common room was much too busy in letting off more holiday steam to observe what anyone else was up to. Marcus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat apart from everyone else by a dark window that was gradually filling up with snow, and Harry read out:

Dear Harry,

Congratulations on getting past the Horntail. Whoever put your name in that goblet shouldn't be feeling too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitus Curse, as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point - "That's what Krum did!" Hermione whispered - but your way was better, I'm impressed.

Don't get complacent, though, Harry. You've only done one task; whoever put you in for the tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. Keep your eyes open - particularly when the person we discussed is around - and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble. Keep in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual.
-Sirius

"He sounds exactly like Moody," said Harry quietly, tucking the letter away again inside his robes. "'Constant vigilance! You'd think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls..."

"But he's right, Harry," said Hermione. "Both you and Marcus still have two more tasks to do. You really ought to have a look at that egg, you know, and start working out what it means."

"Well, you don't have to worry about me, Hermione," said Marcus, grasping what he knew was Sirius' response in his hands. "I've already figured out the egg."

"What?!" said Ron in surprise. "Well, then, help out Harry, then!"

"You know I'm not going to, Ron," said Marcus, opening the parchment. "Harry has to figure it out on his own."

Marcus then read the contents of the letter out loud:

Dear Marcus,

A truly outstanding job succeeding in the first task against the legendary American Shieldhide, Marcus. Even though you don't view the first task as a personal win, the fact of the matter is that you were able to get the egg, and that counts as success.

I know you feel rattled about your circumstances, but you must keep a level head. Not everyone within the castle walls are trustworthy, so be on your guard. Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll get through this year unscathed, I assure you.

Keep in touch, I want to know anything unusual that takes place.
-Sirius

"Well, that's Sirius for you," said Marcus with a smirk. "Always trying to keep me focused. Now, what's this second letter?"

Marcus opened the second letter and read:

Dear Marcus,

I'll be coming to visit you on Christmas Day, to catch up and see how you're doing. Meet me outside the entrance hall at 10 am.

-Mom

"Mom's coming to visit me on Christmas Day?" Marcus said. "Well, I'm glad something's gone right for once."

"Oh, that's awesome!" said Hermione, smiling. "Congrats, Marcus!" She then turned to Harry and said, "So, Harry, are you going to figure out that egg or not?"

"Hermione, he's got ages!" Ron snapped. "Want a game of chess, Harry?"

"Yeah, okay," said Harry. then, spotting the look on Hermione's face, he said, "Come on, how'm I supposed to concentrate with all the noise going on? I won't even be able to hear the egg over this lot."

"Oh I suppose not," she sighed, and she sat down to watch their chess match, Marcus going to change and, after changing, proceeded to go to the Room of Requirement for one last training session.

At the end of the session, Cedric, Marcus, and Lorelei all looked at each other.

"Well, this is the final training session we'll be having before the Yule Ball," said Cedric. "After the Yule Ball, we'll focus on Marcus' Second Task training in the evenings until he's good to go."

"But, how will that happen?" said Marcus. "Doing training at the Black Lake, someone's bound to catch us."

"Not a problem," said Cedric, who proceeded to cast -

"The Disillusionment Charm!" Marcus said, surprised to see Cedric disappearing before his eyes.

As Cedric reappeared before his eyes as he said, "It took a long while, but after seeing you doing it countless times, I got the hang of it quite well."

"You're truly impressive, Cedric," said Marcus. "I really don't understand why everyone thinks you're an airhead."

Cedric's smile faded a little and said, "Well, I don't want people to think that I'm this perfect, all-around guy, because I'm not. So, I act dumber than I am so that I don't get unwanted attention."

"In essence, the same as me," thought Marcus.

"But, enough about that," said Cedric. "Here's hoping that we'll all have a great time at tomorrow's ball."

"Right," said Marcus, suddenly not feeling so great about the Yule Ball.

"Oh, Marcus?" said Lorelei. "Have you found someone to go to the ball with?"

"Yes, but I rather not say who," said Marcus, who turned towards the door. "Have a good night, guys."

Marcus then left the room, not entirely sure how he felt about Christmas Day...


The Dark Prince, just finishing up with his own training, was overseeing the potion that Voldemort needed for his master plan. It would be strenuous for anyone else, but for him, it was mere child's play.

Just as he was finishing up with the necessary steps of the potions, he saw the last person he wanted to see come into the room: Peter Pettigrew, better known as Wormtail.

"Oh, it's you," the Dark Prince said scornfully. "What do you want?"

"It's the Dark Lord, my Prince," said Wormtail, trembling. "He wishes to see you."

The Dark Prince gave a sort of disapproving noise before saying, "Fine. I'll go see him. Don't do anything stupid, peon."

He made his way to Riddle's room, not approving of his constant interruptions.

He crossed the threshold of the doorway, stoppped in front of Riddle, and said, "How can I be of service, my Lord?"

"I wish to know the status update of our plans, Dark Prince," said Riddle in his decrepit state.

"The potion needed for this plan to work is going perfectly," stated the Dark Prince. "However, as our spy has informed me, Harry Potter has made no progress with how to succeed in the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament."

"This is a problem," said Riddle. "Have we taken any countermeasures to make sure our plan goes as it should?"

"The spy has already started to take the necessary countermeasures, but the spy is in a rather delicate situation," stated the Dark Prince. "This is a situation that may have to be played by ear."

Riddle's face contorted to one of disapproval, but nonetheless said, "Very well, Dark Prince. What will you do?"

"There are some tasks I have to take care of, now that you mention it," said the Dark Prince with a smirk. "I'll be gone a while, but Wormtail, as incompetant as he is, should be able to follow the instructions for the potion."

"Don't forget, Dark Prince, that I'll need you for the time period between the Second and Third tasks," Riddle told him.

"Oh, I won't, my Lord," said the Dark Prince as he exited. However, upon going down the stairs, he thought, "As much as I would like to."

Once he stepped outside of the manor, he said to himself, "Now, time to get things moving along."

He then Disapparated in the night...


Marcus woke up quite slowly on Christmas Day, not altogether looking forward to tonight's events. However, the silence was suddenly disturbed.

"Dobby!" Marcus heard Harry yell. "Don't do that!"

"Dobby is sorry, sir!" squeaked Dobby anxiously. "Dobby is only wanting to wish Harry Potter 'Merry Christmas' and bring him a present, sir! Harry Potter did say Dobby could come and see him sometimes, sir!"

As Marcus was sitting up, looking around, he heard Harry say, "It's okay. Just - just prod me or something in the future, all right, don't bend over me like that..."

As Marcus pulled back the curtains around his four-poster bed, he saw Harry doing the same thing.

"Someone attacking you, Harry?" Seamus asked sleepily.

"No, it's just Dobby," Harry muttered. "Go back to sleep."

"Nah...presents!" said Seamus, spotting the large pile at the foot of his bed. Ron, Dean, and Neville decided that now they were awake they might as well get down to some present-opening too. Marcus looked at his own pile and saw that he had a few presents of his own. He looked over to Harry's bed once again and saw that Dobby was standing nervously next to Harry's bed, looking worried that he had upset Harry somehow. There was a Christmas bauble tied to the loop on top of his tea cozy.

"Can Dobby give Harry Potter his present?" he squeaked tentatively.

"'Course you can," said Harry. "Er...I've got something for you too."

Marcus could tell that Harry was lying and that he really didn't get Dobby anything. However, Harry quickly opened his trunk and pulled out a particularly foul pair of socks. He handed the socks to Dobby, saying, "Sorry, I forgot to wrap them..."

But Dobby was utterly delighted.

"Socks are Dobby's favorite, favorite clothes, sir!" he said, ripping off his odd ones and pulling on the nasty socks. "I has seven now, sir...But, sir..." he said, his eyes widening, having pulled both socks up to their highest extent, so that they reached to the bottom of his shorts, "they has made a mistake in the shop, Harry Potter, they is giving you two the same!"

"Ah, no, Harry, how come you didn't spot that?" said Ron, grinning over from his own bed, which was now strewn with wrapping paper. "Tell you what, Dobby - here you go - take these two, and you can mix them up properly. And here's your sweater."

He threw Dobby a pair of violet socks he had just unwrapped, and the hand-knitted sweater Mrs. Weasley had sent. Dobby looked quite overwhelmed.

"Sir is very kind!" he squeaked, his eyes brimming with tears again, bowing deeply to Ron. "Dobby knew sir must be a great wizard, for he is one of Harry Potter's greatest friends, but Dobby did not know that he was also as generous of spirit, as noble, as selfless -"

"They're only socks," said Ron, who had gone slightly pink around the ears, though he looked rather pleased all the same. "Wow, Harry, Marcus -" He had just opened up their presents; from Harry, a Chudley Cannon hat, and from Marcus, a signed Chudley Cannon jersey. "Cool!" He hurriedly put on the jersey and afterwards jammed the hat onto his head, where both clothing items clashed horribly with his hair.

Dobby then proceeded to hand Harry his present, which turned out to be - socks.

"Dobby is making them himself, sir!" the elf said happily. "He is buying the wool out of his wages, sir!"

The left sock was bright red and had a pattern of broomsticks upon it; the right sock was green was a pattern of Snitches.

"They're...they're really...well, thanks, Dobby," said Harry, and he pulled them on, causing Dobby's eyes to leak with happiness again.

"Dobby must go now, sir, we is already making Christmas dinner in the kitchens!" said Dobby, and he hurried out of the dormitory, waving good-bye to Ron and the others as he passed.

Marcus turned his attention to his presents and was very happy with what he got this year. From his parents, he got a book about ideal food diet plans to maximize his workout results. From Hermione, a sword-sharpening kit for his personal weapon, Abscido. From Harry and Ron, a number of meats and vegetables that Marcus loved to have as part of a meal. From Mrs. Weasley, her usual sweater and mincemeat pies, and from Lorelei, a simple necklace charm in the form of a dragon, which he couldn't help but admire as he eagerly put it around his neck.

Around five to ten, he made his way down the marble staircase into the entrance hall, eagerly waiting for his mother to show up.

It actually didn't take too long, as he saw the double oak doors opening to see -

"Mother!" said Marcus, running to her.

"Oh, Marcus," said Brynn, hugging her son as Marcus closed the distance. "I know it's only been a month, but I couldn't help myself."

"It's all right, Mom," said Marcus, who was smirking.

"Why don't we walk the grounds?" said Brynn. "I'm not granted much time this visit, and there are some things I'd like to talk to you about."

As they started walking, Brynn asked, "So, how are things going for you since the First Task?"

"Not all that great," said Marcus, his smirk disappearing. "I wasn't able to ask Lorelei to the ball in time, I'm too afraid of what's in store for me in the Second Task, and worst of all, I have to go to the Yule Ball and lead the dancing! Gah, if I wasn't a Hogwarts Champion, I would have nothing to worry about this year!"

"Well, the fact still stands that you're a champion, so there's nothing you can do about it," said Brynn. "What exactly are you worried about for the Second Task?"

"Well, it's what I know about it," said Marcus. "I figure, at this point, I'm the only champion that knows what's lined up in the Second Task. Basically, I have an hour to go to the bottom of Black Lake to retrieve something that's stolen from me and resurface."

Brynn's face went serious as she said, "What?"

"I know," said Marcus. "Never mind the time limit, I'm not even sure how I'll survive for five minutes."

"No, no, I don't think you realize the ramifications of your situation," said Brynn, putting a hand on Marcus' right shoulder. "Oh, things are worse than what you realize."

"Wait, what?" asked Marcus, who trembled a bit.

"It's because of -" Brynn looked around, ensuring that there wasn't anyone around before she leaned in to Marcus' right ear and whispered, "your heritage. Your Shieldhide heritage."

As she stood upright, Marcus, confused, said, "I don't know what you're talking about, Mom."

"You remember when you were told that the body and, more specifically, the muscular system of the American Shieldhide is one of the most magically advanced systems in the entire world?"

Marcus nodded, leaving Brynn to continue.

"Well, even if our bodies are magically enhanced so that we can be lighter and stronger than anything else, the fact stands that we still have to obey the laws of nature."

"And...that means...?"

"We still have to worry about the laws of gravity, Marcus," said Brynn, looking a bit flustered. "Now, it's not a big concern on land or in the skies, but it's a major problem with bodies of water. The Shieldhide dragons can only be active in water for so long before we proceed to drop to the bottom like a rock."

"What?!" said Marcus loudly. "Well, what does that mean for me?!"

"Well, since the average mature Shieldhide weighs around a ton and a half of magically enhanced muscle and can only last in bodies of water for around five minutes," said Brynn, who was then silent for around twenty seconds, no doubt figuring it all out. Finally, she said, "You'll only have a half hour underwater, give or take."

"HALF THE TIME I'M ALLOTED TO COMPLETE THE TASK?!" roared Marcus, turning quite delirious. "What the hell am I going to do?!"

"Well, first, you can pull yourself together, you're going to make a scene," Brynn told him.

"Right, right," said Marcus, trying to regulate his breathing.

"Now, you remember the book your Aunt Em gave you shortly after the First Task?" Brynn asked him.

"Yes, I've been learning as much as I can from that book," said Marcus. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, there may be something in there that, if mastered, will alleviate the reduced timeframe issue," said Brynn.

"Oh," said Marcus. "Oh, okay."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to get somber there," said Brynn. "Anyway, are you excited about the Yule Ball tonight?"

Marcus looked at his mother's face, so full of joy and glee.

"Please, I don't even want to go," said Marcus. "The only reason I'm going is because I have to go. I'm not even going to be taking who I wanted to go with."

"And that would be...?"

"Lorelei Flamel, my friend and training partner," Marcus stated. "I mean, I only wanted to go as friends, but I still feel irate about not being able to take her. Justin Finch-Fletchley," he added with venom, "is going to take her."

Brynn, unknown to Marcus, made a short facial contortion of understanding before correcting herself and saying, "Well, surely, you're taking someone, right? You are opening the ball, after all."

"Yeah, I am," said Marcus. He sighed before stating, "I'm taking Fleur Delacour."

"The Beauxbatons Champion?" asked Brynn, a little bamboozled.

Marcus nodded as she asked, "Isn't that the girl you spent your time with the summer of your fifth birthday, the first time we were all in France?"

"One and the same, mother," said Marcus.

"Is she really that bad?"

"On the contrary, she's amazing. She understands me, we really connect, and she's an amazing, talented witch."

"Then what's the problem taking her, Marcus?"

"Because I lost, mother!" yelled Marcus louder than he meant to. "I feel like Fleur is only a consolation prize, which is ridiculous because I only meant to take Lorelei to the ball as a friend! I don't understand how I can feel this way!"

Marcus was looking at the ground, feeling frustrated with himself all over again.

They finally stopped walking when they reached the edge of the Black Lake, and Brynn put her arms around her son and said, "Marcus, nothing in this life is perfect. You're not going to win every 'battle' that you find yourself in. So, you weren't able to ask Lorelei to the ball, Marcus. That doesn't mean that everything is ruined. I mean, look at it this way: How many guys do you know that would want to take Fluer Delacour to the ball tonight?"

"Pretty much every guy I know, plus the rest of the guys in the castle," stated Marcus without hesitation.

"See? There you go, Marcus," said Brynn. "You turn a bad scenario into a great scenario, Marcus. Make the most out of what you've been dealt with. Go to the ball with Fleur, treasure each moment that you get at this event tonight with the person that wants to be with you because, let's be fair, it's the first of its kind in centuries. All right, Marcus?"

Marcus looked at his Mom and said, "You're right, Mom. I can't dwell like this. I'll have a good time at the ball with Fleur and treasure it...with everything I have."

"That's the spirit, Marcus!" said Brynn, hugging him. She then looked at the time and said, "Oh, drat! I told your father I'd be back in the office by noon, and it's already eleven thirty."

"Wait, where's dad?"

"He's following a lead in America at the moment," said Brynn. "We were notified by American Aurors that the Dark Prince has been active in the East Coast, and he went on ahead to investigate. I have to be in the office at noon so that I can use the Floo Network to meet up with him."

"Well, what are you still doing here, Mom?" Marcus said. "Hurry up and catch him!"

"You're right, you're right," said Brynn. "The Dark Prince is one slippery bastard."

She then cupped Marcus' face, ensuring he was looking at her eyes before saying, "Remeber, Marcus, make the most out of tonight and treasure it."

"I will, Mom, don't worry," said Marcus, smirking once more.

"Good," said Brynn. "I've got to go. Have fun tonight, let me know about it the next time I get to see you."

He saw his mom walking towards the boundary gate and said, "I will, Mom!"

Marcus then walked back to the castle in much better spirits than he had when he first woke up. He met up with Lorelei, Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Great Hall for a rather magnificent lunch, which included at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas puddings, and large piles of Cribbage's Wizarding Crackers.

They all went out onto the grounds in the afternoon; the snow was untouched save for the deep channels made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their way up to the castle. Hermione and Lorelei chose to watch Marcus have a snowball fight against everyone else rather than join in, and at five o'clock, they told them that the two of them were going back upstairs to get ready for the ball.

"What, you ladies need three hours?" said Ron, looking at Hermione increduously and paying for his lapse in concentration by a joint attack from Marcus and George, hitting him hard in the side of the head with their snowballs. "Who're you going with?" he yelled after Hermione, but she just waved and disappeared up the stone steps in the castle with Lorelei.

There was no Christmas tea today, as the ball included a feast, so at seven o'clock, when it had become hard to aim properly, the others abandoned their snowball fight and trooped back to the common room, Marcus starting to feel butterflies in his stomach for the first time in a long time outside of fighting. The Fat Lady was sitting in her frame with her friend Violet from downstairs, both of them extremely tipsy, empty boxes of chocolate liqueuers litterling the bottom of their picture.

"Lairy fights, that's the one!" she giggled when they gave the password, and she swung forward to let them inside.

Marcus, Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville changed into their dress robes up in their dormitory, all of them looking very self-conscious, especially Marcus with his top-of-the-line dress robes, which earned him a few nasty looks. However, despite what he felt, he knew that Ron had him beat. Ron surveyed himself in the long mirror in the corner with an appalled look on his face. There was just no getting around the fact that his dress robes looked more like an actual dress than anything else. In a desperate attempt to make them look more manly, he used a Severing Charm on the ruff and cuffs. It worked fairly well; at least he was now lace-free, although he hadn't done a very neat job, and the edges still looked depressingly frayed as they boys set off downstairs.

"I still can't work out how you two got the best-looking girls in the year, Harry and Ron," muttered Dean.

"Animal magnetism," said Ron gloomily, pulling stray threads out of his cuffs.

"At least we finally get to find out who Marcus is taking," said Seamus, grinning at Marcus, which was a bit unsettling.

"Unless he wants to go ahead and tell us now," said Dean, grinning at Marcus as well.

"Not happening," said Marcus flatly, rather anxious to break away from the boys.

The common room looked strange, full of people wearing different colors instead of the usual mass of black. Marcus could see Parvati waiting for Harry at the foot of the stairs. She looked very pretty indeed, in robes of shocking pink, with her long dark plait braided with gold, and gold bracelets glimmering at her wrists. Marcus was a little happy that Harry was taking someone decent, at the very least.

"You - er - look nice," Harry said rather awkwardly.

"Thanks," she said. "Padma's going to meet you in the entrance hall," she added to Ron.

"Right," said Ron, looking around. "Where's Hermione?"

Parvati shrugged. "Shall we go down then, Harry?"

"Okay," said Harry, leaving Marcus to go on ahead, but not before George tried to ask him who he was taking to the ball, to which he avoided the question altogether.

The entrance hall was packed with students too, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd trying to find one another. Marcus saw Parvati finding her sister, Padma, and led her over to Harry and Ron.

"Hi," said Padma, who was looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright torquoise. She didn't look too enthusiastic about having Ron as a partner, though; her dark eyes lingered on the frayed neck and sleeves of his dress robes as she looked him up and down.

"Hi," said Ron, not looking at her, but staring around at the crowd. "Oh no..."

Ron hid behind Harry, leaving Marcus to suddenly feel not so good about his situation.

"Oh, crap," was all he could think before he turned around to an amazing sight.

Fluer Delacour was standing behind him, looking amazingly beautiful in robes of silver-gray satin and with a grin on her face that seemed to light up the whole room.

"There you are, Mar-kees," Fleur said. "Iz my date to ze ball ready?"

Marcus looked back to his housemates to see flabbergasted looks from all except for Ron, who seemed to have a look of fury he had never seen before.

Marcus gupled before turning back to Fleur, smiling and saying, "Of course, Fleur. Let's step to the side for a few seconds."

Once they were as isolated as they could be in the Great Hall, Marcus said, "Before we go in there, let me change my robe color to match yours."

Marcus then used his wand and proceeded to change the colors of his robes to silver-gray.

"What do you think, Fleur?"

"Not bad, Mar-kees, but let's try this instead," Fleur said as she tapped her wand on Marcus' robes.

Suddenly, his dress robes were as white as his hair color, which Marcus really wasn't too thrilled about.

"You really look the most handsome in white, Mar-kees," Fluer told him.

He then noticed her blushing, which caused Marcus' face to go hot.

In that moment, Marcus heard the oak front doors opening, causing him to turn in that direction. He saw Professor Karkaroff and the Durmstrang students entering with Krum in the lead. He was accompanied by by a pretty girl in blue robes that looked familiar, but his attention was then pulled by an area of lawn right in front of the castle, which had been transformed into a sort of grotto full of fairy lights - meaning hundred of actual living fairies were sitting in the rosebushes that had been conjured there, and fluttering over the statues of what seemed to be Father Christmas and his reindeer.

Then, Professor McGonagall's voice called, "Champions over here, please!"

Side by side, Marcus and Fluer made their way to Professor McGonagall, who was wearing dress robes of red tartan and had arranged a rather ugly wreath of thistles around the brim of her hat. She instructed them to wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside; they were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down.

Marcus was rather eager to put himself in the back, but Fleur was having none of that.

"No, no, Mar-kees!" Fleur said to him, putting them both in the front. "The best couple goes first, now, don't they?"

Marcus, rather entranced by her genuine smile and the tingling feeling of her left arm, felt the urge to look around him. He looked at Harry, whose looked both nervous and fidgity, and then at Krum, who was looking at Marcus with the same steely, cold eyes. He then focused on the girl next to Krum and, suddenly, he knew who she was, making his jaw drop.

It was Hermione.

But she didn't look like Hermione at all. She had done something with her hair; it was no longer bushy but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow - perhaps it was due to not having to carry all of her books around on her back. She was also smiling - rather nervously, yes - but the reduction in the size of her front teeth was more noticeable than ever; Marcus was astounded by the Hermione that was standing before him.

"Hi, Marcus!" she said. "Hi, Harry! Hi, Parvati!"

Marcus saw Parvati gazing at Hermione in a rather unflattering disbelief, though she wasn't the only one. When the doors to the Great Hall opened, Krum's fan club from the library stalked past, throwing daggers of deepest loathing in her direction. Pansy Parkinson gaped at her as she walked by with Malfoy, and even he didn't seem to be able to find an insult to throw at her. Ron, however, walked past Hermione without looking at her.

Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. With Marcus and Fleur directly behind her, they entered in the Great Hall to great applause, though Marcus couldn't help but notice the many death stares from the guys. Professor McGonagall was leading them toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.

The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.

As they were getting closer, Marcus spotted Ron amongst the crowd and didn't like what he saw: A look of anger, fitted with narrow eyes and complimented by obvious loathing, though he wasn't sure if it was directed at him or Hermione. He looked to Fleur, who was smiling and waving at the crowd and he couldn't help but smile, knowing that she was actually enjoying herself.

Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, but Karkaroff wore an expression remarkably like Ron's as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, tonight wearing robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiatically as any of the students; Madame Maxime, who changed out her usual uniform of black satin in favor of a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely. Marcus then noticed that Mr. Crouch was nowhere to be seen. In place of him was Percy Weasley, which Marcus was not too fond of seeing.

When the champions and their partners reached the table, Percy drew out the empty chairs on either side of him, staring at Marcus and Harry. Reluctantly taking the hit, Marcus proceeded to sit on Percy's left while Harry sat on Percy's right. He was wearing brand-new, navy-blue dress robes and an expression of such smugness that Marcus wanted to deck it right off his face.

"I've been promoted," Percy said before any words could be exchanged, and from his tone, he might have been announcing his election as overlord of the universe. "I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."

"Oh, how I feel lucky to know that," Marcus thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"Why didn't he come?" Harry asked.

"I'm afraid to say Mr. Crouch isn't well, not well at all. Hasn't been right since the World Cup. Hardly surprising - overwork. He's not as young as he was - though still quite brilliant, of course, the mind remains as great as it ever was. But the World Cup was a fiasco for the whole Ministry, and then, Mr. Crouch suffered a huge personal shock with the misbehavior of that house-elf of his, Slinky, or whatever she was called. Naturally, he dismissed her immediately afterward, but - well, as I say, he's getting on, he needs looking after, and I think he's found a definite drop in his home comforts since she left. And then we had the tournament to arrange, and the aftermath of the Cup to deal with - that revolting Skeeter woman buzzing around - no, poor man, he's having a well-earned, quiet Christmas. I'm just glad he knew he had someone he could rely upon to take his place."

As much as Marcus wanted to ask Percy if Mr. Crouch had stopped calling him "Weatherby" yet, he resisted and turned his attention back to the table.

There was no food yet on the glittering golden plates, but small menus were lying in front of each of them. Marcus looked at his, perusing through his options, when he heard Dumbuldore very clearly saying, "Pork Chops!"

He looked at Dumbledore to see that pork chops appeared on his plate. He then snuck a glance at Hermione to see if she would have a recation about the new and more complicated method of dining - which meant more work for the house-elves - but, surprisingly, Hermione didn't seem to be thinking about S.P.E.W. She was deep in talk with Viktor Krum and hardly seemed to notice what she was eating.

In the few times that Krum was talking to him, it was always with an angry and brooding sort of tone. Tonight, however, his voice was jubilient and very enthusiastic.

"Vell, ve have a castle also, not as big as this, not as comfortable, I am thinking," he was telling Hermione. "Ve have just four floors, and the fires are lit only for magical purposes. But ve have grounds larger even than these - though in vinter, ve have very little daylight, so ve are not enjoying them. But in summer ve are flying every day, over the lakes and the mountains -"

"Now, now, Viktor!" said Karkaroff with a laugh that didn't reach his cold eyes, "don't go giving away anything else, now, or your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!"

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Igor, all this secrecy...one would almost think you didn't want visitors."

"Well, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, displaying his yellowing teeth to their fullest extent, "we are all protective of our private domains, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?"

"Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor," said Dumbledore amicably. "Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turn on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five-thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon - or when the seeker has an expectionally full bladder."

Trying his best not to bust out laughing, Marcus looked at his plate and said, "Marcus special!"

Suddenly, his order appeared and he smiled upon seeing it: Two grilled chicken thighs, steamed vegetables, and a sweet potato covered in a special vinagarette of his own making, dubbed the Marcus Marinade.

"Oh, c'est magnifique!" said Fleur. "I believe I will take a leaf out of ze book. Mar-kees special!"

As the same plate of food appeared on her plate, she looked around at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall and stated, "Zis is nothing. At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course...zey are like 'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb, much like ze food you put together, Mar-kees. And we 'ave choirs of wood nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we eat. We 'ave none of zis ugly armor in ze 'alls."

"Hogwarts has its own particular charms, Fleur," said Marcus, feeling slightly irate with Fleur's words. "There are much more beautiful things here at Hogwarts."

"Well, zis is true," said Fluer with a smile which vanished as she continued, "But zat poltergeist! I tell zou, eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, 'e would be expelled like zat."

"Now, that's something I can agree with," said Marcus vehemently. "I would boot out Peeves quicker than lightning if it were up to me."

Suddenly, Marcus heard a lot of "ooh!" and "aah!" coming from the entrance of the Great Hall and saw a very familiar bright light of stardust flying towards him.

"Twink, did you get bored?" asked Marcus as the bright light landed on his left shoulder, the energy dissipating to reveal his Star Child.

"Oh, incroyable!" said Fleur. "Zou 'ave got a Star Child?"

"His name is Twink," said Marcus with a smile. "Say hi to Fleur Delacour, Twink."

Twink looked over to Fluer and waved one of his points to her.

"Aw, ze Star Child is super cute!" Fleur said, gently caressing Twink with her left index finger.

Marcus then had an idea.

"Twink, why don't you go around Hogwarts tonight when I tell you to?" said Marcus. "Be my eyes and ears for anything that may come across as interesting, all right?"

Twink then nodded his head fervently, looking rather eager to get started.

Just then, Marcus saw the Weird Sisters trooping up onto the stage to wildly entusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their instruments and, almost instantly, the lanterns at the other tables had gone out.

"Guess it's time," Marcus thought reluctantly as he stood up with Fluer, who took him by the hand and led them first onto the dance floor.

The Wierd Sisters started to play, and Marcus recognized it to be -

"The waltz?" Marcus said to Fleur.

"I had Madame Maxime speak to zem and requested zis song before zey came to ze Hall," said Fluer with a smile. "Zou ready, Mar-kees?"

"Let's do it," said Marcus with a smile of his own.

Of course, Marcus was not fond of dancing overall, but it was a skill he picked up during his Muggle school days, nonetheless. Even though it was his mother who practically scared him into learning to dance in the first placed, he felt slightly relieved that he had it for moments like these and hoped that he wasn't too rusty.

Keeping the "1,2,3" rythem of the waltz playing in his head repeatedly, Marcus led Fluer in twirling around the room, Twink swaying along on his right shoulder, seeming to enjoying the movements, like it was a ride of some sort. He could feel the stares of everyone in the room, most likely due to the fact that his date was none other than Fluer Delacour.

He was just starting to enjoy the waltz when he heard the outro of the song. He whispered, "Twink, twirl around us when I dip her for a finishing flair, all right?"

They twirled around a couple more times before he heard the cue to dip her. Twink started to twirl around them as he dipped her, showering the both of them in a stardust cloud.

Then, something happened that made the whole crowd gasp in suprise and shock.

Before he knew it was happening, he could feel Fleur's lips passionately pressed against his at the end of the dip, leaving Marcus so shocked that he almost dropped her.

When his lips seperated from hers, leaving a clear view of Fluer's blushing face, she said to him, "Sorry, Mar-kees. I vas too enticed to rezist."

Finding himself blushing, he said, "Um, don't apologize, Fleur. It felt...amazing."

Feeling his face getting too flushed, he glanced at Twink and said, "All right, Twink, gather me some information."

Twink rose from his shoulder, gave a salute, then zoomed past the hall doors and out of sight.

Suddenly, the Wierd Sisters started into a fast pace song, making everyone come on the dance floor and join in on the dancing.

As he got into the dancing, for the first time in a long time, he was able to let go all of his worries. None of them mattered tonight, not in the slightest. With Fleur by his side, enjoying herself as much as he was, he let himself be a normal teenage wizard instead and it felt like nothing else in the world.

Eventually, the Wierd Sisters broke into a slow song and Marcus was about to extend his hand out to Fleur when he heard an all too familiar voice saying, "There you are, Marcus."

He turned to the source of the voice and his jaw dropped, his heart skipped a beat.

It was Lorelei Flamel.

Standing in front of him, wearing a conforming, shimmering red ballgown, her long, wavy, flowing red hair caressing her back, and her diamond smile with her sparkling emerald eyes, she looked an angel from heaven.

She gave a slight giggle before saying, "You did promise me a dance, did you not?"

"Um, yes, yes I did," said Marcus before he looked to Fleur and said, "Sorry about this, Fleur. I did make a promise, after all."

"It iz okay, Mar-kees," said Fleur, though her smile did not reach her eyes. "Make zure to find moi when ze song is over."

As she walked away, the slow song was starting to play. Marcus put his hands around Lorelei's waist while she put hers on his shoulder.

They started to slowly revolve in place as she said, "I could see why you wanted to keep your date under wraps."

"I didn't think it was good for anyone to know that tidbit of information until the start of the dance," said Marcus, unable to draw away from her eyes. "That reminds me, how is Justin doing?"

"He's enjoying himself," she replied. "He told me that he liked me for a long time and only got the courage to talk to me when he heard about the Yule Ball."

"I think it's pretty obvious by now, but I really wanted to ask you to go with me."

"I know, and there's a part of me that wishes that would've worked out."

He felt his heart beat rapidly, making him take deep breaths to calm down.

"Only a part?"

"Things happen for a reason, Marcus. Nothing truly happens by chance."

"I see."

Suddenly, the song ended, causing the two of them to break apart.

"You - you better find your date, Marcus," Lorelei said, not meeting his eyes. "I imagine she's patiently waiting for your return."

She turned around and walked away from Marcus, leaving him wanting to run after her, but knew that he couldn't.

Eventually, he found Fleur at the champion's table. When seeing him approach, she asked him, "Who was that?"

"That was Lorelei Flamel, a friend and training partner," Marcus responded.

It looked like Fleur wanted to say more on the subject, but she stopped herself, instead saying, "It's getting too hot and stuffy in here. Let's go outside."

Marcus smiled and said, "Lead the way, madam."

They went together out of the front oak doors and into the garden with the fairly lights, taking in the beautiful scenary.

"Ah, I must admit, Mar-kees, Hogwarts does have its charm," Fleur told him, surveying the wonderful surrounding.

"It wouldn't be nearly as charming if you weren't here with me, Fleur," said Marcus, who felt a little blush on his face.

Fleur looked at him and said, "Mar-kees, though many things have happened in these past ten years, I still can't help but be charmed by you. The joyful, energetic boy back then is still there, if only buried under a stubborn front."

As she giggled, Marcus retorted, "That's not - er - entirely true. I can let my guard down, you know. I have so far around you, haven't I?"

Fleur smiled as she stated, "Yes, you have. There is no need to put on your front with me."

She took his hand into hers as she stated, "Mar-kees, let us be together, side by side, tackling life's troubles head on and smiling along the way."

"I'd be glad to, Fleur," said Marcus, his genuine smile going from ear to ear.

They spent what remaining time they had together in the fairy garden, talking about everything, yet nothing in particular. For Marcus, it just felt natural to be with her, despite her being part Veela.

Somehow, all too quickly, Fleur looked at the people starting to exit the castle and said, "Oh, my, the Ball has already ended?"

"Must be," stated Marcus.

"Will you walk me to the carriage, darling?" she asked him with a smile.

"Sure."

He used his wand to clear a path for them while his right arm was linked with hers and it was in this moment that Marcus realized something.

"Fleur, what about the Triwizard Tournament?"

"Hm?"

"We're still competitors, after all."

Fluer cupped her chin with her free hand, thinking hard before saying with a smile, "We can still be rivals while we're dating, can't we?"

Marcus smirked and stated, "Well, I don't see why we can't."

Much too soon for their liking, they were standing in front of the Beauxbatons carriage.

"Well, this is it," said Marcus. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

"Of course, my darling boyfriend," said Fleur, who kissed him again, making his face feel really hot. She opened the carriage door, said, "Good night, Mar-kees Villiams," and entered in the carriage, closing the door behind her.

For the duration of the walk back to the castle and to the Gryffindor Common Room, Marcus was lost in thought over his sudden good fortune. He was glad that he took his mother's advice to heart, for he was sure that the events would have not played out the way they did if he didn't had set aside his needless, self-inflicting suffering. He replayed the last few hours in his mind, vividly seeing the events pass in his head, smiling for every second he was doing so.

The only thing that snapped him out of it, and rather violently at that, was when he entered the Gryffindor Common Room.

He walked in next to Harry to what was no doubt a screaming volley of words. He saw that Ron and Hermione, despite only standing ten feet apart, were both scarlet in the face.

"Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?" yelled Hermione; her hair was coming down out of its elegant bun now, and her face was screwed up in anger.

"Oh, yeah?" Ron yelled back. "What's that?"

"Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!"

Ron mouthed soundlessly like a goldfish out of water as Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls' staircase to bed. Ron turned to look in their direction.

"Well," he sputtered, looking thunderstruck, "well - that just proves - completely misses the -"

He then only realized that Marcus was standing alongside Harry and his face contorted to the same dark look Marcus saw when he first entered the Great Hall with Fleur earlier tonight.

"Oh, it's you," Ron said in such a menacing manner that it caught Marcus well off guard. "Did you enjoy yourself tonight, traitor?"

"Excuse you?" asked Marcus, feeling threatened.

"Going to the Ball with the Beauxbatons Champion, despite competing against her," stated Ron, still keeping his menacing tone. "I would've thought you better than to go fraternizing with the enemy, but I guess you couldn't help yourself, seeing as she's entrancingly beautiful, huh?"

He really didn't want to square off against Ron, as he enjoyed being back on speaking terms with him, but the jab he used against him was not something Marcus was going to take lying down.

"And I suppose you brought up the same, stupid point with Hermione, didn't you?"

"So what if I did?" Ron stated, raising his voice slightly.

"Then it comes as no surprise that you didn't think it through," said Marcus, raising his voice to match his. "The whole point of this tournament is to establish ties with foreign wizards and making friends with them!"

"It's about winning, Williams!" roared Ron, using the exact same decible he had against Hermione. "That woman's going to make you lose focus or use you as a stepping stone!"

"This is coming from an idiot who couldn't read between the lines and had a self-inflicted, miserable time at the Ball!" Marcus roared back, summoning his wand. "Looks to me like the only one who's lost focus is you!"

"You'll pay for that one, traitor," said Ron, whipping out his own wand and pointed it straight at Marcus.

"Then make me pay, Weasley," Marcus growled through gritted teeth, raising his wand for -

He felt a tugging sensation on his left sleeve and looked to find Twink, tugging as hard as he could so that Marcus couldn't do anything.

Upon seeing this, he calmed himself down, allowed his wand to shoot back up his sleeve, and said, "I'm going to turn in. No use wasting my time down here, anyway."

He kept his focus on the stairs and didn't bother looking anywhere else until he had changed out of his dress robes, into pajamas, and sat on his bed, closing the bed curtains around him.

He looked to Twink, who was sitting on his left shoulder, and said, "Thanks for the stop, Twink. I'm not sure where that would've headed if you hadn't been there."

Twink glowed a pink aura, which he took to mean blushing.

"Say, Twink, did you find out anything good tonight?"

Twink flew around him excitedly, looking rather eager.

"Well, I'll take that as a yes," he said with a smirk. "Let's start from the top, then."

To this, Twink flew to his forehead and latched onto it.

Suddenly, he was seeing Ron and Harry sitting at a table in the Great Hall from above them, Ron wearing a glowering look. He also saw Hermione coming over and sitting in the vacant seat next to him.

"Hi," said Harry. Ron kept silent.

"It's hot, isn't it?" said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. "Viktor's just gone to get some drinks."

Ron gave her a withering look. "Viktor?" he said. "Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"

The line of sight was revolved so that their faces could be seen, Hermione looking surprised as she said, "What's up with you?"

"If you don't know," he replied scathingly, "I'm not going to tell you."

Hermione stared at him, then at Harry, who shrugged.

"Ron, what -?"

"He's from Durmstrang!" spat Ron. "He's competing against Harry and Marcus! Against Hogwarts! You - you're -" Ron was obviously casting around for words strong enough to describe Hermione's crime, "fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"

Hermione's mouth fell open.

"Don't be so stupid!" she said after a moment. "The enemy! Honestly - who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory? And look at Marcus! He went to the ball with the Beauxbatons Champion, and you don't see him making an enemy out of her!"

Ron, ignoring this, said instead, "I s'pose Krum asked you to come with him while you were both in the library?"

"Yes, he did," said Hermione, the pink patches on her cheeks glowing more brightly. "So what?"

"What happened - trying to get him to join spew, were you?"

"No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he - he said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!"

Hermione said all of this pretty quickly, and blushed so deeply that she was the same color as Parvati's robes.

"Yeah, well - that's his story," said Ron nastily.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang out with...He's just trying to get closer to Marcus and Harry - get inside information on him - or get near enough to jinx them -"

Hermione looked as though Ron had slapped her. When she spoke, her voice quivered.

"For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about -"

Ron changed tack at the speed of light.

"Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cozy little library sessions -"

"I'd never help him work out that egg!" said Hermione, looking outraged. "Never. How could you say something like that - I want both Marcus and Harry to win the tournament, Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?"

"You've got a funny way of showing it," sneered Ron.

"This whole tournament's supposed to be about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!" said Hermione hotly.

"No it isn't!" shouted Ron. "It's about winning!"

"Ron," Marcus could hear Harry saying quietly, "I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum -"

Ron ignored Harry, as well, saying, "Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are."

"Don't call him Vicky!"

Hermione jumped to her feet and stormed off across the dance floor, disappearing into the crowd.

Suddenly, the scene changed.

He was seeing what he knew to be the fairy gardens, for he was near the fountain close to where Twink was. He found himself seeing two familiar, yet unpleasant sights: Snape and Karkaroff.

"Surely, you must see that things are not looking good for us, Severus," stated Karkaroff. "Even as we speak, the Dark Lord is somehow growing stronger with time."

"Do you even hear yourself right now?" said Snape, keeping a straight face. "Besides, I really don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor."

"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroff's voice sounded anxious and hushed, which was highly suspicious. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it -"

"Then flee," said Snape in a curt manner. "Flee - I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts."

Snape and Karkaroff then suddenly started to walk around the corner and the scene became a whirling myriad of colors until it stopped on a scene with Hagrid and Madame Maxime.

"Momen' I saw yeh, I knew," he was saying in a rather husky voice.

"What did you know, 'Agrid?" said Madame Maxime, a purr in her low voice.

"I jus' knew...knew you were like me...Was it yer mother or yer father?"

"I - I don't know what you mean, 'Agrid..."

"It was my mother," said Hagrid quietly. "She was one o' the las' ones in Britain. 'Course, I can' remember her too well...she left, see. When I was abou' three. She wasn' really the maternal sort. Well...it's not in their natures, is it? Dunno what happened to her...might be dead fer all I know..."

Madame Maxime had been silent since Hagrid started to talk about his childhood, which was bizarre hearing about considering he never talked about his childhood before.

"Me dad was broken-hearted when she wen'. Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him up an' put him on top o' the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh..." Hagrid's deep voice broke. Madame Maxime was listening, motionless, apparently staring at the silvery fountain. "Dad raised me...but he died, o' course, jus' after I started school. Sorta had ter make me own way after that. Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he was..."

Hagrid pulled out a large spotted silk handkerchief and blew his nose heavily.

"So...anyway...enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it on?"

Madame Maxime suddenly got to her feet.

"It it chilly," she said, the tone of her voice colder than the weather around them. "I think I will go in now."

"Eh?" said Hagrid blankly. "No, don' go! I've - I've never met another one before!"

"Anuzzer what, precisely?" said Madame Maxime, her tone becoming very icy.

Marcus was hoping against hope that Hagrid was going to keep silent, but it was no good in the end.

"Another half-giant, o' course!" said Hagrid.

"'Ow dare you!" she shrieked. Her voice exploded through the peaceful night air like a foghorn. "I 'ave nevair been more insulted in my life! 'Alf-giant? Moi? I 'ave - I 'ave big bones!"

She stormed away, leaving great multicolored swarms of fairies rising in the air in her wake as she was angrily pushing the bushes aside.

The last thing Marcus saw was the darkened figure of Hagrid staring after before for a minute before he stood up and strode away back to the direction of his cabin before the visions stopped.

As he was seeing the curtains of his bed again, he looked at Twink, who was resting on his left shoulder, and said, "Wow, Twink, you really saw a lot tonight. Thank you so very much, Twink."

He saw that Twink looked at him with his grateful, cute smile before he went back to resting again.

He gently took Twink off his shoulder and onto his designated pillow, saying, "Take a rest, Twink. You deserve it. Speaking of which, time to turn it myself."

He then rested his head against the pillow, bidding the world good night...

And this concludes another chapter of HP: The Path of Trials! Feel free to leave a review on the story, it'd help me strengthen my writing skills. Also, if you have any questions, feel free to leave me a PM and, I promise, I will answer those questions to the best of my ability. Until, keep your eyes peeled to the next chapter of HP: The Path of Trials!