The students made their way out to where the first task was to be held. It reminded Vanessa of a Quidditch pitch, but bigger. The weather was getting colder. She tightened her scarf around her and walked with the twins to an empty bench. They waited with the rest of the students, everyone curious as to what the first task would be, but she knew. She had borrowed one of her brother's Hufflepuff Quidditch jumpers, which was too big for her, but she didn't care. She was there to support him.

The dragon tamers brought out the first of the four dragons, a Swedish Short-Snout. The dragon she would find out moments later, that her brother was to face. She watched the whole scene in horror, scared for her brother's life. She gripped one of Fred and George's hands, neither of them objecting. At one point she even buried her head in George's chest, not wanting to see what was happening. But then a booming voice announced that Cedric had retrieved his egg.

"Looks like pretty boy Ced just burnt his face a little," Fred joked, earning a hard punch in the side from Vanessa. She had let go of their hands and was composing herself. The Common Welsh Green was being brought out, and it was Fleur's turn against the dragon. She came out somewhat unscathed. Her skirt caught fire for a moment but was put out quickly.

Next was the Chinese Fireball. It was Viktor's turn. "Look Ness, it's your boyfriend."

"Shut up George."

She watched as Viktor maneuvered around the dragon, finally hitting it with a curse that blinded it. He retrieved the egg but was docked points for the fact that the dragon had crushed her eggs, not being able to see. "The poor dragon."

The twins looked at her with wide eyes. "Poor dragon? These things almost killed your brother," Fred said.

She rolled her eyes and watched as the Hungarian Horntail was brought out last. They all watched in awe as Harry thought to summon his broom for the task. This helped him retrieve the egg so quickly that he tied with Viktor for first place, followed by Cedric and then Fleur.

Students started to file out of the stadium, making their way back up to the castle. Vanessa had received a letter from Charlie the day before, telling her to meet him near the edge of the forest after the task.

"Where are you going," George asked when he saw her walking in the opposite direction.

"To meet up with Charlie." She said this as if it were no big deal.

"Our brother Charlie?"

"Yes, Fred. He's here with the dragons."

"How do you know that?"

"Hagrid." She shrugged. Didn't matter now if they knew. The task was over. "Charlie and Hagrid put in a word with Charlie's boss. I've got a possible summer internship in Romania."

They both looked at her with their mouths open. "Do you want to come with me?"

They looked at each other then back at her. "Probably shouldn't. Wouldn't want to ruin your chances," said Fred.

"I'm sure you have a party in the tower to get to anyway. What with Harry winning." She waved at them and walked off toward the forest.

"I swear she gets better-looking everyday Freddie."

"You sure Charlie isn't trying to get her alone?"

George shrugged. "I don't think he would do that to her. Not when he knows how much she wants to be a Magizoologist ."

"She is right about one thing though."

"What's that?"

"We have a party to get to."

They smiled at each other and headed up towards the castle with the remaining students.

As she got closer to the forest, Vanessa saw Charlie near one of the trees. She walked over to him and smiled. "So where is this boss of yours?"

"He'll be along in a second. He was trying to wrangle in the Horntail. What did you think of the contest?"

"Well aside from my brother's face getting burnt, it was exciting."

A tall, muscular man walked through the trees moments later. "Weasley, is this the girl?"

"Yes, Harvey, meet Vanessa Diggory. Vanessa, this is Harvey Ridgebit. His great-great-grandfather was the Dragonologist who opened the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary I work at.

Harvey took her outstretched hand and shook it. She could feel the calluses on his hands. "Diggory. Are you related to the first boy that took on the Short-Snout?"

"Yes, he's my brother," she beamed.

"Well, Charlie here tells me you want to be a Magizoologist and that you're interested in studying dragons. And Hagrid has told me you're very gifted when it comes to caring for magical creatures."

"Yes, it's a passion of mine. I've helped Hagrid on several occasions with wounded animals he's found in the forest. I've been told my healing skills are very advanced for my age."

Harvey looked at Charlie and then back down at me. "Think you could heal a dragon?"

Her eyes widened. Had she heard him right?

"The Fireball's eyes are still messed up from that hex Krum put on her."

"Think you could handle it Diggory," Charlie asked, looking at me curiously.

"I can give it a try."

Harvey motioned for them to follow him into the forest clearing. They walked the same path Hagrid had taken her on previously. They reached the clearing a few minutes later, tamers at each of the cages, trying to sedate the dragons.

One of the dragons had spit out fire, causing Vanessa to gasp. She had never been this close to an actual dragon before.

"You got this Charlie? I'm going to go finish with the Horntail."

Charlie nodded. He took her hand unexpectedly and led her over to the cage. She stood several feet away, watching the dragon writhe in what she assumed was pain. She let go of Charlie's hand and took out her wand, stepping closer to the dragon. The tamers who were previously helping the Chinese Fireball had all stepped back to watch her. Ever so gently, Vanessa outstretched her hand and put it gently on the snout of the dragon, and it seemed to calm the creature down.

She looked back at Charlie momentarily, and he nodded at her. She turned back and waved her wand, wordlessly muttering an incantation she had learned in one of the library books. Several minutes had passed, as she continued to wave her wand, pointing it at the eyes of the dragon. And then, unexpectedly, the dragon's eyes reopened, as if nothing had ever happened. It worked, it worked and she couldn't believe it.

She hadn't realized that all eyes were on her until she turned back around. Harvey was walking back over to her. "I've never seen someone heal a dragon as fast as you just did. Not to mention the way you calmed her down. Miss. Diggory, we would be honored to have you intern with us over the summer."

"Thank you so much, Harvey." She shook his hand again, before walking back towards Charlie. He looked stunned.

"I can't believe you did that. You were amazing."

"Thank you, Charlie. I honestly didn't think I would be able to help her. I've only ever healed small creatures."

"Well, we better get you back up to the castle. I'm sure my brothers will be wondering where you are."

She followed him back up the pathway. "I told them I was coming to meet you, and what you had done for me. I think they thought you had ulterior motives."

Charlie laughed. "They're still mad at me for bumping into you at the Burrow over the summer."

She rolled her eyes and laughed. "It was just an accident."

They had reached the edge of the forest and she turned to look at Charlie in the light of the day. She smiled at him, she was genuinely grateful for the opportunity she had just received. "Thanks again, Charlie." She hugged him and started heading towards the castle. She would have to thank Hagrid later too.

She went to check on her brother, who she was told had gone to the hospital wing to be looked at for his burns. When she arrived, she saw Cho sitting next to him, and a few of his friends surrounding the bed. She pushed her way past a few of them, garnering looks of annoyance.

"What were you saying about playing this by ear?" She looked down at Cedric, the sarcasm in her voice was evident.

"Hey I came out alright, didn't I?" He looked over her shoulder and his friends. "You guys mind giving us a few minutes?" They nodded, some making comments about how I really didn't care about Cedric, or how I should be checking on Krum instead. Cho had gotten up to leave as well, but I stopped her.

"Please don't leave on my account. I won't be long." The Ravenclaw smiled at her and took her seat once again, reaching out to hold Cedric's hand. "I've got some great news." Vanessa conjured up a chair and sat across from Cho. "I'm going to intern in Romania this summer at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary."

Cedric and Cho looked at her with wide eyes. "What?!"

She smirked. "Do I need to say it again?"

"Sis, dragons are no joke."

Vanessa recapped what had just happened in the forest. Cedric was still looking at her like she was a crazy person. "You know Mum isn't going to let you do that."

"I'll be seventeen over the summer, so she won't have a say in the matter. Plus, it's not like I'll be alone. Charlie will be there too."

"Well if it makes you happy Ness, then I'm happy for you. But enough about dragons. Who are you going with to the ball?"

She looked down, playing with her hands that were resting in her lap. "No one has asked me yet."

"You're joking? I would have thought you would have had multiple offers by now." It was Cho who spoke this time. Vanessa and Cho had never really talked much. Occasionally when the three of them would hang out together sure, but other than that, not really.

"It's not a big deal. There's still time left."

"What about Fred or George Weasley," Cho asked.

"As I said, I haven't been asked."

"I'm sure it will happen soon. If not, you could always ask someone."

"Shut up Ced." She leaned over and hugged him gently. "Feel better." She looked over at Cho. "Make sure he doesn't do anything too crazy before the next task."

Vanessa went to her dormitory to change for dinner. She had been looking forward to telling Fred and George about her internship. When she arrived in the Great Hall, it was nearly empty. Most people must have eaten as soon as they returned from the first task. Thankfully the twins were still there, talking amongst themselves. She walked over to the table and smushed herself in between them. She filled the plate that had popped up in front of her and started eating and telling them everything that had happened and how she was offered the internship in the end.

"Well, looks like we'll be taking a trip to Romania this summer, eh Fred?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking George."

She just smirked and finished her dinner. "I'm going to the library. There are a few books I want to borrow about dragons that I haven't read."

"I'm surprised there is a book in that library you haven't read. You're in there enough."

"You could come in there with me sometime you know."

"Books aren't our thing," said George.

She moved from in between them and took off towards the library. When she arrived, she noticed there were more people there than usual. Mostly girls. She looked over at what they were staring at and rolled her eyes. It was Viktor's posse of fangirls. Vanessa walked past them and right up to the table he was sitting at. She heard the girls all whispering behind her.

"I know a great spot in the back of the library - they won't be able to bother you at." He looked up from his book and smiled at Vanessa. She motioned towards the back and he stood up, grabbing his book and following her, the group of girls following at a distance. A few of them gasped. To them, it appeared Vanessa and Viktor had just vanished.

"What did you do," he asked curiously, looking back at the group who clearly couldn't see him anymore.

"Madam Pince set this up for me in my fourth year. I wanted a quiet place to come and study without distractions of friends or teammates, or anything like that." She closed the door to the room and walked over to a table that was piled high with books.

He looked at her in awe. He had never met anyone like her before. He set his book down on the table and listened intently as she proceeded to tell him all about her internship opportunity and how she healed a dragon.

"I've never met anyone like you. You are so smart and beautiful. Will you go to the ball with me?" She wasn't expecting his question. She also wasn't expecting him to grab her hand.

She blushed, looking up at him. "Yes, I would love to go with you."

He pulled her into him, and closing the remaining distance between them, leaned down and kissed her. Her eyes fluttered shut. She had never done this before. Was she doing it right? She leaned into the kiss, wrapping her arms around him, as his arms snaked around her waist.

They finally pulled apart after a minute or so, but it felt like a lifetime to Vanessa. She looked down at the ground, not wanting to look at Vikor. But he wanted to look at her. He put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up to look at him.

"Why do you always try to hide?"

She bit her lip, staring into his brown eyes. "That was my first kiss."

He just continued to look at her and smiled. "It was very good. I wouldn't mind doing it again if you want."

And so they did, for several hours. They had eventually moved to the couch she had in the room. She even moved on top of him at one point. But finally, they had pulled apart, both of them smiling at each other once more.

It wasn't until Vanessa looked out the window, that she realized how late it must be. She looked down at her watch that read eleven o'clock.

"It's past curfew. We should probably get going."

They both stood up from the couch. Vanessa adjusted the sweater she was wearing and fixed her hair.

"You're not going to get in trouble are you?"

She shook her head. "I'm a Prefect, so no one will mind. Though Madam Pince might if she catches us in here so late."

He leaned down for one more kiss, before taking her hand and leading her out of the room. The library was empty, and it appeared Madam Pince had retired for the evening. Once they were out of the library, Vanessa took the lead and made her way down to the entrance hall using all the hidden corridors she had known of thanks to the twins and the Marauders Map.

Thankfully the front door was still unlocked when they arrived. Viktor snuck in one last kiss before heading out the door and leaving towards the Durmstrang ship. She turned on her heel and headed down to the dungeons, thankful no one was around to see them.