Please REVIEW sweethearts! I was incredibly happy to receive the reviews on last chapter and although I wasn't planning on it, I immediately went to write/finish the next chapter. So here it is! I'm a terrible procrastinator (which is why all my stories always take so long hehe) but this new chapter was pretty quick wasn't it? The power of reviews! Keep 'm coming!

CHAPTER 4

Dear Aidan (you see? You can address people without resorting to stupid nicknames),

I'm happy to hear your job is going well! You'd be perfect for advertising and I'm sure your bosses will realise the same thing soon. As for "Nina".. How pretty is "risking my job and career"-pretty exactly? I think that's enough answer from me. I mean, it's your choice but these things can end up horribly complicated.

Now, as for the rest; yeah, it's been pretty intense these past few months! I haven't noticed much from the foreign students yet. We have meals all together in the Great Hall but other than that don't really have anything to do with each other. It's not like there are activities planned or something so I suppose they're counting on the social skills of the students (which is a bit of a stretch on the school's part I think, haha!)

My friends are doing great, they told me to tell you hi from them. There is no boy that I like so you can shove off already. But if there was he'd be in Gryffindor, one year above me and be really funny and cool. That's all I'm saying. Now, never mention this again (incendio this letter when you're finished, please).

By the way, did you check in with dad while he was doing his bookshop categorization? He said in his letter that he did it all by himself. You could've helped him out a bit after work you know, it's not like you've got anything worthwhile in your life right now (yes, that was a dismissive statement about your social life). But seriously though.

What are you getting mum and dad for Christmas by the way? I have no idea what to get them and was looking to steal some ideas from the Great Mind of Advertisement. If flattering gets me anywhere I mean.

Talk to you soon!

Love,

Cecilia

I sent my letter off with a school owl and made my way down to breakfast. I had told Mathilda that I'd meet her there after I went to the owlery so when I entered the Great Hall and scanned the Ravenclaw table for my friend and didn't see her, I frowned. I sat down next to Aurora and opposite from Marietta and Cho. 'Have you seen Tilda?' I asked and judging by Aurora's scandalized face, she had.

'We were about to go into the Hall when Adrian Pucey like literally grabbed her wrist!' She hissed secretively. 'He did?' I asked with surprise evident on my features. 'What happened next?' I asked. Marietta answered. 'Nothing much. He asked her if she could come talk for a moment.' She said with a shrug. 'Not much!?' Aurora said, bordering the hysterical. 'He had that look on his face!' She said as loudly as a whisper permitted. 'What look?' I asked but Aurora shushed me as she saw Mathilda come in over my shoulder. 'What happened!?' Asked Aurora immediately as Mathilda sat down to my left.

Mathilda looked immensely pleased with herself. 'All that I planned!' She giggled. 'He's positively dying to date me.' She said and Aurora squealed in excitement. 'So he asked you out? Did he kiss you? He looked sort of desperate out there!' She said hastily, hoping to get the answers all the sooner. Mathilda shook her head though.

'He didn't kiss me no, but he did ask me out to the next Hogsmeade weekend but I told him I'd get back to him. Keep 'm wanting and all that.' She said. 'Keep 'm desperate, to use your lingo Rory.' She added with a wink.

I couldn't understand this at all. I could understand pining after someone from a distance and not doing anything about it at all. Actively pursuing someone and making that someone pursue you? That was unimaginable! But Mathilda and I had always been very different.

We had been friends since we were small children. I was a sickly child, always inside, reading the books from my dad's shop. Mathilda lived next door practically and was outgoing and fun and played outside with the other kids a lot. When she found out there was a girl her age that lived around the corner, she wouldn't rest until I came out with her. We were inseparable for a long while until she moved to Oxford when her dad got a job there. We lost contact for a bit (we were only ten years old after all), but we met again at Hogwarts, waiting in line together for the sorting. Luckily we both got into Ravenclaw.

Mathilda had done a lot for me and she was still doing that. She drew me out, made me want to stand up for myself, express my opinion, all those things I had so much trouble with doing naturally. But I did equally much for Mathilda. When we were children I introduced her to books, to how fun they could be. I taught her to have fun without having to go all out, just by herself without having to lean on all the people around you. We were good for each other.

Our opinions did clash a lot though. 'Don't you think that's unfair towards Adrian?' I asked her and she huffed. 'How so?' She said, picking apart a piece of rye bread. 'Well, he's obviously invested, shouldn't you at least respect him enough to do him the same honours?' I argued and she narrowed her eyes, looking at me from the corners of her eyes while still facing forward. 'How would you know, it's not like anyone's interested in you.' She said. That was a bit low and it was clear that she knew as well because she turned towards me completely with an apologetic expression. 'Sorry, that was mean.' She just said and I nodded. 'It was a bit.' I said but I chuckled.

Mathilda and I worked well. Our opinions clashed a lot, we didn't always agree on everything, but we respected each other enough that it didn't get in the way.

As the First Task got closer, speculations on what the challenge was going to be were running wild. 'First Task is traditionally an animal challenge.' Said Marietta. 'I read it in Hogwarts: A history.' She added. 'Hippogriffs? Hagrid's got a bunch of 'm.' Mathilda offered. 'Not sensational enough.' Aurora argued.

Whatever we came up with though was tame compared to some of the rumours that had been going around the school. I had overheard Felix Smythwick from Hufflepuff tell his friend that he had heard that it was going to be the Giant Squid during a shared Herbology hour with the Hufflepuffs. Aurora said that the Gryffindor Katie Bell thought it was going to be Blast-Ended Skrewts from professor Hagrid's classes and I had even heard someone say that it was going to be dragons!

At some point the Witch Weekly ran a story on what was supposedly about the Triwizard champions but that was essentially about Harry Potter. The Beauxbatons champion and the Durmstrang champion weren't mentioned until the very last lines and Cedric wasn't mentioned at all. It made it all the worse for Harry Potter as the Slytherins couldn't get enough of it. There was a copy of it rolled up in most Slytherin school bags, ready to read aloud some of the more ridiculous passages when they saw him walk by.

The First Task was practically on our doorstep when I got an answer from Aidan.

DEAR CILLYHEAD (You'll never get me to act like a civilized brother!),

Too late! Already asked Nina out and she said yes. You're probably right but I'm going to go Gryffindor about this and see where it'll get me. She seems nice so it's going to fiiiine. (and to answer your question: really pretty!)

And you (DON'T) like a boy!? Is it anybody I (DON'T) know!? Gryffindor? I must know him! Or NOT know him! This is confusing, allow me to talk plainly please! "One year above me" you said, which means that he was (in my house!) in third year when I was in seventh year, right? I'm bad at these things. I must've known him. Funny? Not funnier than me I hope! And cool? Well, I know he isn't cooler than me.

People have talked about this thing called "protectiveness", particularly concerning older brothers and their younger sisters but I've never been worried about you much. However, I feel a bit of that stuff creeping up on me now. And I don't like it! Stop (NOT) liking that boy immediately Cecil, you're causing me stress!

I was actually working on a project for work, having me stay in the office till late in the evening each night, or I would've helped dad in the bookshop. I don't need lectures from my fifteen year old pet-gnome, thank you very much!

As a punishment I won't tell you what I'm getting mum and dad! Although it's an idea I'm so eager to brag about that I might just spill if you ask me again.

What more is new?

Love and stuff,

Aidan-putting-his-shades-on

PS that doesn't rhyme nearly as well as I want it to.

I was left smiling by his letter as I always was. 'Is it Aidan?' Asked Mathilda, knowing me well. I nodded. 'Which reminds me! You want to go Christmas shopping coming Hogsmeade weekend?' I asked, folding the letter and putting it in my bag. 'I haven't gotten my parents and Aidan anything yet.' But I didn't need a reason for Mathilda nodded eagerly. 'That gives me a great excuse to keep Adrian at bay for just a little while longer.' She explained her happiness to me and I raised my eyebrows but decided against saying anything else.

So that Saturday we put on our thick cloaks, as it was already quite cold halfway through November, and made our way to the village. I didn't get much of the shopping done, although I had gotten mum a woollen, knitted cardigan with a fun design of stripes crossing each other on it. There was still next trip though, I still had a little bit of time.

We met up with most of the rest of our year in Ravenclaw at the Three Broomsticks. I sipped at my butterbeer and listened to my housemates as they were talking about the First Task that would take place Tuesday. 'Cedric hasn't told me anything!' Cho promised, laughing at the prodding of the others. 'Although I wouldn't tell you if he had.' She added which earned a whole new round of people asking her more questions. Mathilda was visibly annoyed.

'What's with that girl hogging a whole table by herself?' Marietta asked at some point, subtly pointing out a younger Gryffindor student sitting alone at a fairly large table, a book under her nose. I recognized her vaguely as the bushy haired girl who was always hanging around with Harry Potter. The article in Witch Weekly had mentioned her by name as well (which made it all the weirder that Cedric wasn't mentioned). Hermione Granger, that was her name. Apparently she and Potter were going out. 'She shouldn't have a table all to herself while we all have to stand by the bar here.' Marietta said sulkily. We all agreed with her but no one did anything about it. The only one who potentially would've said or done something was eyeing Adrian Pucey who had just come in so she wasn't much use.

It was Tuesday before I knew it. We lazily got up for breakfast, the Hall buzzing with excitement from all students. I saw Viktor Krum come in first out of the four champions. He sat with his fellow Durmstrang students. He didn't seem too nervous, but perhaps he was just good at managing his nerves. He must've been somewhat used to it, considering the fact he was an international Quidditch star, nearly winning the World Cup over the summer. Cedric Diggory came in next and Cho immediately got up to join him at the Hufflepuff table, cooing over him and pouring him a cup of coffee. He looked a lot more nervous than Krum, almost physically ill judging by his pale face. Fleur Delacour was only slightly better. Her ridiculously good looks prevented her from looking really sick but it got the concern of most boys in the Hall who all flocked towards her, trying to help her out as she dismissed them, just looking at her empty plate, not eating anything. I didn't see Harry Potter come in at all and even as we left the Hall, on our way to the stadium that had been erected overnight.

I was sent ahead so I could get us some good seats. I still had a mug of tea in my hands as I sat down, putting my bag and some books on the seats to my right, the pathway to my left. It was a big stadium as it easily seated all students for as far as I could estimate it, but other than it was also a big space inside the arena itself. The ground seemed rocky, not much greenery at all and there were only two entrances, one being a small door at the centre and another being a wide metal gate. What could it possibly be that the champions had to face?

'Hey, you're interested in a bit of gambling?' a familiar voice asked, grabbing my shoulder. I spun around in a sudden shock, spilling half of my tea on the front of my own robe. I swore, trying to pat myself dry with my mittens before I looked up into the blue eyes of Fred Weasley. 'Oh, sorry, didn't mean to frighten you!' He said to my gaping face.

'No, you, no. You didn't.' I muttered, my cheeks burning in embarrassment. He was wearing a big money purse and notepad around his neck, the weight of it pressing down the Gryffindor scarf and flattening it against his chest. 'It's just that me and my brother are running a couple of betting pools and I was wondering if you're interested?' He asked and simply because I didn't know how to answer if I said yes, I shook my head. 'You sure? You could make some good money today!' He said but I just mumbled unintelligently and he shrugged, moving over to the group of Hufflepuff seventh years behind me, repeating the words he had said to me a moment before.

My dorm mates soon found their place next to me, handing me the thermos of extra tea and the napkin with chicken (as it soon would be lunch again) and I gratefully took it off their hands. 'This should be good!' Mathilda called out to me over the loud talking of all the people on the stands. 'Exciting at the very least!' Aurora called over from Mathilda's other side.

Although the First Task was exciting, incredibly exciting even, I couldn't focus on anything other than my humiliating behaviour in front of Fred Weasley. It were indeed dragons, as some people had said, but although my eyes were following all the movement of the four(!) different dragons that were brought out to challenge each contestant, my heart wasn't in it anymore. Cho was screaming a few seats away from me for her boyfriend to do well and he did do well and so did the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions and when the tiny figure of Harry Potter came out at the end, did even he do well with an impressive summoning charm, summoning his broom from the castle.

When the scores had been awarded and it was over and the stands started clearing out, I could only passively listen to Mathilda as she analysed the moves of each champion. 'It wasn't the most complicated piece of magic but I prefer simplicity and it proved its effectiveness. That summoning charm was all he needed – very clean.' She said and I just agreed with her. She immediately caught onto my mood though. 'Merlin almighty, what got into you? You look like you had a puke-flavoured Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean.' She said and I started walking faster. She was taller than me and her legs were longer so she had no problem keeping up. 'You didn't scream quite as hard as us either. What's wrong?' She asked again. I told her I didn't want to talk about it. I wanted to just wallow in my own self-pity. That never worked with her though and I finally told her the next evening when I decided that it just wasn't worth it.

She only laughed though. 'This is a good thing!' She argued and I frowned. 'How is me embarrassing myself in front of the guy I've got a crush on a good thing?' I asked, genuinely surprised. 'Because now he'll remember you!' She said and I shivered slightly at that thought. 'That's what I was afraid of!' I said and she laughed.

We were sitting in our dorm, the rest still in the common room. We were both sitting on our own bed but as our beds were the ones neighbouring each other we could look at each other as we lay down. 'Fred Weasley will remember you as that adorable sweetheart who spilled her tea and didn't know what to say after.' She tried to tell me but I just made a face. 'Or as that unintelligible idiot who had trouble stringing words together and whose face looked more like a tomato than an actual face.' I countered and Mathilda smiled wishfully at the thought. 'If only I could've been there!' She said and I threw my pillow at her head. She laughed, throwing my pillow back so I could lie comfortably again.

'You should really ask him out though, you'll never live peacefully like this.' She said after a few moments.

What Mathilda deemed the perfect opportunity came knocking sooner than I thought.

It was nearly a week after the First Task that professor Flitwick delivered us some news before we left his Charms classroom. 'As you may or may not know, the Yule Ball is part of the Triwizard Tounament tradition, so on Christmas Day, at eight in the evening till midnight, we'll be hosting a Christmas dance in the Great Hall. You're free to invite a date, as I suspect some of you might want to.' He squeaked, smiling at us from the front of the room.

There were definitely giggles going through the students as people whispered to each other who the other should go with. Mathilda was no different. 'You should ask Fred Weasley! This is the perfect opportunity!' She hissed and the thought alone brought a fiery blush to my face. 'You must be kidding me.' I said but Mathilda didn't seem to be.

'Don't forget that this is a formal event so brush up on your dance steps, dust off your dressrobes and please think of the reputation of both Hogwarts and the house of Ravenclaw! I'd very much regret it if any of my students would embarrass me in any way.' Flitwick told us and we all promised we'd be good in the form of an inarticulate mumble. After that we were dismissed.

We waved at Aurora as she motioned that she'd go to the bathroom with Cho and Marietta and walked out of the classroom. Mathilda still hadn't let go of her idea. 'I'd absolutely die from embarrassment, Tilda.' I said and Mathilda snorted.

'Cecil, love, you're making far too big a point out of this.' Mathilda said blasé, as we both walked down the corridor on our way back from Charms. 'It's not like you're going to die if he says no at all.' She said, as if that was supposed to convince me on the matter. 'Tilda, it's not so easy.' I tried to say but she wouldn't listen. 'Look, I'll prove it to you.' She said and before I could stop her from doing something stupid she had dashed forward and put her hand on the shoulder of a short, black haired boy who had his back turned to us.

'You want to go to the ball with me, Potter?' She asked Harry Potter as he turned around with absolute shock read on his face. He opened his mouth and closed it again. 'Well, I'm afraid that.. I don't know if..' he stuttered but his efforts of refusal were in vain because Mathilda had already turned around and started walking back to me making a face at me as if to say 'You see? No big deal!'

Although, Harry Potter had turned a bright shade of red to match his house and his friend Weasley, Fred's little brother who stood next to him, nearly collapsed against the wall in laughter.

When Mathilda was standing next to me again, I poked her in the side. She expertly avoided my tickly fingers as she chuckled. 'Now you ask Fred Weasley.' Said Mathilda. 'I asked Harry Potter after all. What if he had said yes! He's like a foot shorter than I am; I would've looked ridiculous with him!' She said and at that I cracked a smile also.

But that did leave me with the question I couldn't help but ask myself. Did I dare ask Fred Weasley to the Yule Ball?

Next chapter more Fred :D

Review please! You really have no idea how it motivates me!