Alright all, sorry for the far-too-long wait. I've had this chapter done for almost two weeks now, but I put it off for a bit because I wanted to start the next one first (which didn't happen) but then I got grounded from Fanfiction because I'm on here too much. Sigh. Anyhow, I'm back now, so I hope you like this chapter. Drea seems a bit out of character to some people, but if you look in the right places, it's actually quite accurate, you just haven't seen this side of her yet. Enjoy thoroughly and let me know what you think, be it good or bad.

Anna – I'm really glad that you like this one; that makes me feel good. The reason that Snape knows that Drea's mad at him is because she isn't even attempting to hide it. Snape is quite could at reading people's expressions and feelings and the fact that she isn't concealing it makes it quite obvious, probably even to some of her other classmates, like Draco and Candra. I'm glad you find Drea realistic; that's a good sign. Thanks for the review.

Sage and Snape - I was a bit unsure myself as to why he didn't get angry, which sounds weird but sometimes that the way it works. I'm thinking that it's probably because she's only stating her opinion at first and he's kind of trying to analyze her, but once it gets too personal that's enough for him.

Kerichi - Thanks for your review. I wanted to clear a few things up because I tend to write without thinking that other people don't know what's going on in my head. Firstly, I must state that none of that stuff with Snape not caring about Sirius has happened yet, as this takes place in the fourth book, and if it had, Drea still wouldn't have realized that, she doesn't know the boy. Drea is simply stating what she believes to be true, she knows nothing about their relationship. Also, a Mary-Sue is a character who is perfect, and if she were perfect she would be able to control her temper.

On a lighter note, I made one of those nut thing-ies in grade 2, it was awesome, only it was in French. I think I still have it somewhere. Thank you for your continued support, both in writing and in my personal life.

Earelen - So glad to here that you're back! I've missed your awesome reviews, which include both positive and negative comments. Nobody tried to kill anyone, by the way, and it's probably my fault for not specifying that better. The point was that someone mixed a potion with a drug-like effect (to get high) and alcohol (which we all know is a horrible combination.) Drea is the only one who had such a poor reaction to it, although others did get ill. Snape didn't recognize the poison because of the fact that a student, who intrigues him (although he doesn't take a liking to her yet), does well in school and has an obvious skill for potions, is having convulsions and visions that are quite life-like in his chambers. It isn't a direct affection toward her, but the fact that she is in danger does make him a bit flustered. He is quite aware that he doesn't have much time and although he has quite certainly dealt with more dangerous situations, we don't know if he's been able to keep his calm through them. He's also mentioned that Drea is the only person who's asked him how he was feeling in quite a while, therefore perhaps it triggered something inside him; not a romantic feeling or a feeling of deep caring, but perhaps something that made him not want to lose that. If you read my story, Goddess of my Shadows, that may cast some insight on the situation. Now that I've finished blabbing, I'll let you get on with the chapter. :D

Chapter Thirteen - Something Beautiful

On the Saturday before the first task, all the students in the third year and above were permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade.

Candra and Jadon had gone to look for early Christmas presents and Drea didn't want to know where Cristi and Chase had gone. She now sat in the Three Broomsticks with Xander, where they quietly discussed, for the hundredth time, what the first challenge might be.

Xander had been explaining his theory that perhaps they would have to do battle with a large troll. Drea was trying very hard to listen, even though she'd already heard him telling Chase about it in the Common Room, but found that her mind's tendency to wander was too strong to fight any longer.

She looked around the building, observing all the different kinds of people that the village attracted. There were hags, normal folk, dangerous-looking men, fortunetellers, and a woman whom Drea was quite certain was actually a man in a miniskirt.

After she had satisfied her visual senses, she focussed on her hearing. She'd learned at quite an early age that the most interesting conversations were the ones that were difficult to hear, so she blocked out the loud shouting of the rambunctious teenagers around her and felt around for something more subtle.

She heard a deep, gruff voice speaking quietly, though she could not hear what was being said. She focussed in on the voice and noticed that it came from Professor Moody, who was leaning over Hermione's table. She was sitting alone, and yet Drea could have sworn that she'd heard Harry Potter's voice. Next, Hagrid bent over and asked 'Harry' to meet him at his cabin at midnight. Drea's eyes widened in excitement.

"Xander, stop talking."

"What? Why? I was just about to finish, give me a minute."

"No, you have to hear this," she said, and explained what she'd heard to him. "I haven't done anything exciting since I got here, I've been trying so hard not to get into trouble. I'm going through withdrawal."

"Hm, my memory must be failing me, as I thought I remembered you punching a girl in the nose on the first day," he said in his semi-sarcastic voice that always let you know that he was teasing you.

"That was a spur of the moment thing. This would be pre-meditated," she said, ignoring the mocking voice. "Tell me, do you have an invisibility cloak?"

"I know a good spell," he said, winking at her.

"You are a horrible Prefect."

"Yeah, I know."

At eleven thirty that night, Drea found herself squatting in wet grass, waiting for Harry to arrive. Sure, it wasn't the riskiest thing she'd ever done, but it was still more exciting than sitting around the Common Room reading. Plus, it gave her time to think.

She hadn't spoken to Professor Snape since her little outburst, aside from during the detention, at which time he simply told her to prepare the frog's liver, but she had spoken to Draco, though it hadn't been pleasant. It seemed like it was impossible for them to be friends for more than a week at a time. Every time she started to think that he was growing up, he pulled some stunt like the badges.

She'd spent most of her free time in the library, either studying or talking to Viktor. She found out from him that only two Durmstrang students had drunken the 'punch,' but several of the Hogwarts students had been in the infirmary for it, though none had suffered the way that she had. She assumed that it was due to the fact that she'd never had alcohol before. One of the more serious cases involved the cute red-head that often caught her attention in the Great Hall. She wasn't sure why, however, for he never really did anything out of the ordinary. She could have blamed it on the fact that he was always around Harry Potter. She could have also convinced herself that it was because Hermione always waved to her in the hallways and Ron was with her, but she would have known that it wasn't true because she always flicked her eyes in his direction before anyone else's. She wondered if it was the way that his eyes always showed how he was feeling…

She made sure to eat lunch with Candra and Xander and Chase and Jadon, though Chase was absent more often than not. She hadn't heard Jadon talk since he'd spoken about Draco, and that intrigued her more than anything else did. He was so quiet, but it didn't seem to be from lack of intelligence, like Vincent or Greg, it was more like his thoughts were so complex that he couldn't bring himself to voice them. His eyes were full of wisdom and concern for other people, but he usually just pursed his lips and looked away rather than offered his opinion.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps on crisp grass. She pushed herself further against the wall of the cabin, even though nobody could see her. She felt her pulse quicken and the familiar feeling of exhilaration that she normally felt when she was at risk of getting caught doing something that she shouldn't be doing.

The invisible person, whom Drea assumed was Harry, knocked on the door. "You there, Harry?" Hagrid whispered, opening the door and looking around.

"Yeah," said Harry. He must have moved into the cabin because he voice became more muffled. "What's up?"

"Got summat ter show yeh," said Hagrid.

"What're you showing me?" Harry asked. He sounded a bit afraid.

"Come with me, keep quiet an' keep yerself covered with that Cloak," said Hagrid. "We won' take Fang, he won' like it…"

"Listen, Hagrid, I can't stay long … I've got to be back up in the castle for one o'clock-"

If Hagrid had bothered to wonder why Harry needed to be back in the castle at that time, he didn't voice it. Drea's mind, on the other hand, was racing now. She was subconsciously coming up with wild reasons as to why he might possibly need to be there.

The Prefects probably just check the rooms then, she thought to herself. Snap out of it. Drea didn't snap out of it though, no matter how badly she wanted to. The adrenaline had taken over.

Drea looked up and realized that Hagrid and Harry had already left the cabin and were walking toward the Beauxbatons carriage. She ran quietly to catch up with them, careful to control her breathing. She'd been caught too many times because of her poor lung capacity; she wasn't about to get in trouble because of it again.

Drea missed the entire conversation at the carriage, but apparently Madam Maxime had been invited to 'see' as well.

"Wair is it you are taking me, 'Agrid?" she asked.

"Yeh'll enjoy this," he said gruffly. "Worth seein', trust me. On'y - don' go tellin' anyone I showed yeh, right? Yeh're not s'posed ter know."

"Of course not," said Madam Maxime.

They walked for such a long time that Drea considered tripping Harry, just for fun. Instead she spent her time following his footsteps.

Suddenly she heard a loud roar and the sounds of men shouting. Her heart leaped in her chest; something exciting was happening.

She nearly began running toward the sounds, but then remembered that they would probably notice her, so she kept behind Harry, who was walking painfully slow.

She finally looked up and to her amazement, saw dragons. Four huge, powerful, vicious-looking dragons.

"Keep back there, Hagrid," someone yelled. The dragons were beautiful. Drea hardly noticed when the couple started walking forward. She followed them without looking away from the dragons.

" …put them out with a Sleeping Draught on the way here, thought it might be better for them to wake up in the dark and the quiet - but , like you saw, there weren't happy, not happy at all - "

"What breeds you got here, Charlie?" she heard Hagrid ask.

When she finally looked away from the dragons, she saw something else beautiful. He was called Charlie.

Charlie had gorgeous red hair, which looked absolutely fantastic on him. His muscular arms shined in the firelight, covered in sweat from dealing with the dragons. He ran a hand through his hair and turned toward the creatures, at which point she got a better look at his face. His eyes were framed with dark eyelashes, a rare occurrence for someone bearing red hair. His eyes were a dull blue-green, but they showed his passion for the beasts, which made them lovely too. His lips were pulled back in an exhausted smile.

"This is a Hungarian Horntail," he said, pointing to the black dragon lying on the ground. "There's a Common Welsh Green over there, the smaller one - a Swedish Short-Snout, that blue grey - and a Chinese Fireball, that's the red."

Drea didn't have to turn her head to know what he was talking about; she's already figured out their breeds, aside from the Chinese Fireball.

"I didn't know you were bringing her, Hagrid," he said, frowning in Madam Maxime's direction. "The champions aren't supposed to know what's coming - she's bound to tell her student, isn't she?"

"Jus' thought she'd like ter see 'em," he said, shrugging. He appeared to be as fascinated by the dragons as she was.

"Really romantic date, Hagrid," said Charlie, shaking his head. Drea immediately thought of dating the boy - no, man - standing before her. Dragons would be perfectly fine for her, if she had any say in it.

"Four …" said Hagrid, "so it's one fer each o' the champions, is it? What've they gotta do - fight 'em?"

"Just get past them I think," said Charlie, crossing his arms. The action only made his muscles become more firm. "We'll be on hand if it gets nasty, extinguishing spells at the ready. They wanted nesting mothers, I don't now why … but I tell you this, I don't envy the one who gets the Horntail. Vicious thing. Its back end's as dangerous as its front, look."

Drea hardly had to look to know that it's end was covered in a large, spiky weapon, but she did anyway. She had to get her eyes away from the shag-worthy man in front of her. The firelight glinted off the copper-coloured spikes and reflected weird shapes onto the trees. Her mind had finally calmed down when Charlie spoke again.

"I've got them counted, Hagrid," he said sternly. "How's Harry?"

"Fine," said Hagrid. He was staring at the heap of eggs that the other workers had just brought in.

"Just hope he's still fine after he's faced this lot. I didn't dare tell Mum what he's got to do for the first task, she's already having kittens about him …" Drea realized that the man standing in front of her was a Weasley. Even though she didn't know Harry personally, she knew enough about him to know that he'd stayed with the Weasleys quite a bit. He began to imitate his mother, which nearly made Drea laugh. "How could they let him enter that Tournament, he's much too young! I thought they were all safe, I thought there was going to be an age limit! She was in floods after that Daily Prophet article about him. He still cries about his parents! Oh, bless him, I never knew!"

Drea wanted to stay and hear more, but she knew that she should leave. She stood there for a moment, as her body would not comply with her brain. She then heard Harry begin to walk away, which drew her out of her trance. She followed him carefully, which proved to be difficult, as he was walking quite quickly. He was obviously upset about something.

Without warning, Harry fell backwards, as though he'd hit something. That's what you get for walking like a drunken blind moose. Drea looked up and saw the very irritated face of Professor Karkaroff, looking around wildly, trying to find what he'd come in contact with. After a minute, he stormed off into the forest.

Harry began to stand up, but Drea put a hand on his shoulder and told him to keep quiet. When even she couldn't hear Karkaroff anymore, she gave him her hand and helped him up. She removed the spell quietly and revealed herself to him.

Harry rushed to explain. "I didn't know that he was showing me the task, I just - "

"Don't worry about it. Do you honestly think that Madam Maxime and Karkaroff aren't going to tell their students?" she asked, raising both eyebrows questioningly.

"I guess not. Who are you?" he asked after a pause.

"Drea Daray, Slytherin house." Harry glared reproachfully and took a step back. "I'm not going to curse you," she said in a frustrated voice. "We aren't all pricks like Draco."

"Forgive me for saying so, but I thought you two were friends."

"We were. We are. I don't know anymore. It's not important," she said, shaking her head.

"Why are you out here, anyway?"

"I heard you and Hagrid speaking in the Three Broomsticks and I decided to find out what was up." Harry looked frightened. "I'm not going to tell anyone. Honestly, considering Gryffindors are supposed to be brave, you're quite jumpy."

"I've got to go. I've got to get back to the castle -"

"By one o'clock. Yeah, I heard that part too. Just give me a second and I'll walk with you." Drea reapplied her spell and they walked back to the castle. She learned a lot about him in such a short amount of time. She found that, despite the fact that she'd never taken much of an interest in him because of Viktor's fame, she quite liked him. The fact that his best friend was Charlie's younger brother was a perk as well, though she didn't reveal this little bit of information.

Harry ran up the stairs to his Common Room, which Drea found that he also did like a drunken moose. She was forced to walk back to the dungeons alone, and accidentally released a short sigh. She whispered the password to the portrait and walked into the Common Room, which was empty. Not surprising at 1 o'clock in the morning, she thought tiredly. She walked to her room and flopped onto the bed. Without meaning to, she fell asleep without even brushing her teeth.

I'd like to give credit to Allison for the drunken moose line. YOU'RE MY INSPIRATION, YOU MOOSE YOU. Yeah, so like, review and all, because I like it, and you'll probably like it too. :D