You'd think - I'm sure you would - that this global situation we find ourselves in would be fodder for the creative mind. Instead, I have had a serious bout of writer's block for both stories. It took more than a month of fiddling with words to come up with a new chapter. But here it is at last.

It might sound hokey, but comments really do help! They encourage me to hunker down and write something - anything - even if it isn't the new chapter. So thank you so much to those who comment and continue to comment. You really are feeding the artist!

Chapter 11

Astoria,

You did the right thing in letting us know about the Triwizard Tournament right away. We were not aware such an event was taking place at Hogwarts and are rather disappointed that the Headmaster didn't warn us. Your father is going to make some inquiries with his friends at the Ministry, just to make sure we know what's going on.

But there's no need to cause any fuss. The only thing your father and I ask of you is to take extra caution with yourself. Don't get overly excited, and be extra careful around the foreigners. There's no telling what disruptions they'll bring with them into the regular Hogwarts year. We've written Daphne as well to make sure she also knows what's going on.

Be sure to write us regularly to let us know how things are. Best to destroy this letter, I think.

Mother

Astoria sighed and rolled up the parchment. She'd burn it early tomorrow morning in the Common Room fireplace, when she could ensure its complete destruction. She did think her parents might be acting just a touch overprotective - there really wasn't anything that interesting in the letter. But better safe than sorry.

She whispered "Nox" and her wand went out, leaving her in the darkness of her curtain-drawn bed. What a first day, she yawned.

The year began uneventfully. Astoria and Tullia dove into their lessons with gusto, as if they'd never left for the summer. Halfway through October, Tullia got a letter at breakfast.

"Another from your parents?" The week after they'd arrived, Tullia's parents had sent an entire box of little cakes (something called 'basbousa') and a note pleading for Tullia to behave herself in front of the international guests. As different as their parents seemed to be, Astoria often thought they had more in common than not.

"Yes," her friend murmured distractedly as she read the letter. Astoria waited as Tullia's expression warmed into a smile. "And it's really excellent. Looks like a family friend of ours has made the short list for Beauxbatons! He'll be one of the contestants showing up next week!"

"You know someone at Beauxbatons?" Tullia had mentioned family friends before, but mostly from her time in Egypt.

"I do! His name is Farid Ishak. His family moved to France when I was little, but they would come back every summer to visit. He's really sweet! He has three older sisters, so even though he's older, he ended up spending more time with me and my younger cousins than with them. His father is second cousins with my mother, I think… or is it first cousin once removed…" As Tullia started doing the arithmancy involved, Astoria chewed her toast patiently. Tullia's family was so extended, she didn't bother trying to keep track.

"Anyway," Tullia burst out after her vocalised confusion of genealogical terms. "He's coming here! I can't wait for you to meet him. Can you imagine if he gets chosen to compete?"

Astoria smiled reflexively, but the thought actually startled her. What if he did? She didn't want to think about what her parents would say if her name was linked in the press with a foreign student five years older than her. Especially after their start-of-term letter! But Tullia was buoyant, and Astoria was happy for her friend. It struck her that her friend had no family, other than her parents, here in Britain. Tullia must get homesick for her family and life in Egypt. How had she never thought of that before? She was very aware how much her friend talked about Egyptian sweets, and flying carpets, and family members, but had never made the connection before. She felt ripples of shame creep over her. Some friend I've been.

Tullia hadn't noticed her friend's inner revelations; she was still imagining into words about the potential glory of a family friend being a Triwizard Champion. "...and can you imagine what everyone in Karnak would say? Auggh! Oh, I can't wait! Dumbledore said they arrive in October, didn't he? It's already halfway through the month! How much longer?"

It was a chilly evening near the end of the month when the Ravenclaw prefect marched them outside to welcome the international guests. Tullia was near insufferable.

"Do you think he'll recognize me right away? I wasn't at Hogwarts the last time he saw me… maybe I've changed! Maybe he's changed! Oh, I'm so proud of him for being shortlisted with Beauxbatons. I always knew he was smart. What if he thinks I'm boring now, and doesn't want to spend any time with me? What if…"

Astoria couldn't take it any longer. "There is zero chance that he will find you boring. Ready to talk his ear off, maybe, but not boring."

"I'm talking too much, aren't I? I always do this when I'm nervous. Ohhh, he's going to pretend I don't exist."

She couldn't help it; Astoria laughed. "Can you attempt to be normal for at least five minutes? Marcus Turner is going to take points away. Again." It was true; their prefect was eyeing them sternly. A few days past, he had taken five points from Ravenclaw after Tullia had badgered him incessantly for information she was convinced he possessed about the Beauxbatons' arrival.

Tullia pinched her mouth together with two fingers, but Astoria could hear her humming. She shook her head, amused.

The sky darkened and the temperature dropped. Astoria and Tullia huddled into each other for warmth. "I swear, I should have brought one of the coverlets down with us." Tullia was hopping from one foot to another.

"Marcus would have wrapped you in it and locked you in your trunk if you'd tried," Astoria mumbled just as Dumbledore also spoke. She hadn't heard the words through her own teeth chattering, but the hum through the crowd made her look around excitedly.

"There!" A sixth-year Hufflepuff student was pointing in the sky. A large carriage the colour of summer skies came closer and closer.

"Yaaay, they're here!" Tullia bounced nearly as much as the vehicle's touch down.

As the Head of Beauxbatons - Madame Maxine - and Dumbledore exchanged pleasantries, ten or so students descended from the carriage. Tullia peered around the heads and over the shoulders of the students in front of her, trying to get a glance of her friend. As a young man with dark curly hair stepped out, Tullia waved and grabbed at Astoria's arm excitedly. He didn't spot Tullia's mad waving right away, but when he did Astoria saw him smile kindly and nod in acknowledgment.

"He sees me, Astoria!"

"Yes, I see that. Do you want to wait for the Durmstrang stu… no, no you don't. Right then." Astoria had to hurry to follow her friend following the Beauxbatons students up the stone steps. When they entered the Entrance Hall, Tullia could wait no longer. "Farid!" Her voice echoed loudly in the cavernous space. As her friend turned, Tullia launched herself at him and he caught her in a laughing embrace.

"Tuli, you have not changed a bit."

"Don't tell my mother. She believes that I've mellowed since I started at Hogwarts. Come sit with us at our table and meet my friend!"

The unstoppable force that was Tullia Burke had the hesitant group of Beauxbatons seated at the Ravenclaw table in no time, making introductions between her and Astoria and launching into how she and Farid knew each other.

"Farid's father's brother is married to Auntie Dina, who is my mother's cousin. Is that right, Farid?"

"Something like that," he confirmed. "Though I don't believe they are cousins by blood." He seemed the polar opposite of Tullia, Astoria thought. Calm where Tullia was manic, soft-spoken where she was loud. He formed his words slowly and carefully, as if he were afraid to misspeak. I bet English is his third or fourth language. I'd be worried about saying something wrong too.

Tullia frowned. "Really? I didn't know that."

"I could be wrong. I don't remember details as you do. But you are definitely family, and it is very good to see a familiar face here." He smiled again, his dark brown eyes looking warm and appreciative.

"Tullia has been so excited to see you," Astoria added. "She told me about the time when you brought home a stray cat that liked to eat her socks."

One of the Beauxbatons students tapped Farid on the shoulder and posed a question in French. "Non, 'socks' veut dire les chaussettes," he responded to them. The student and her friend giggled.

"Great," Tullia complained. "Now all the Beauxbatons students will call me the sock girl."

"It could be worse," Astoria grinned. "I could have told the story about the two skinks..." Tullia's hand clapped over her face.

"If you so much as mention the skinks to anyone else… oh look, the other Ravenclaws! Time for more introductions."

Supper was one of the most interesting evenings Astoria had had at Hogwarts. With the help of Farid's interpreting, they talked about the Tournament, the differences in the schools, the temperature, and of course, the food.

"It is tellement étrange - pardonnez-moi, strange - that there is no fruit for dessert! Do you not eat fresh fruit at all? It is a dessert toujours at Beauxbatons. They have oranges fresh from the orangerie after every dinner." The young woman named Anaïs shook her head disbelievingly.

"It's near impossible to grow oranges here in Britain," Astoria explained. "It isn't warm enough. But I'm sure if you asked the kitchens, they would find some for you. Tullia got them to make jalebi once."

"It wasn't as good as Auntie Dina's," Tullia conceded. "No one's is," Farid added and then the both of them sighed longingly. Astoria and the other students listening laughed.

Dinner soon came to an end, and the announcement of the Tournament rules was shared. As the Hall slowly emptied out, Astoria and Tullia walked alongside Farid.

"Shall we have breakfast together tomorrow?" Farid looked sidelong to the girls.

"Of course we will! But it's Saturday, so you're not getting me out of bed any earlier than nine." They arrived at the front doors of the Entrance Hall, and Tullia turned to Farid to hug him again. "I'm glad you're here. Salaam 'alaykum, Farid."

"Wa 'alaykum as-salaam, Tullia."

Tullia chatted endlessly all the way back to the dorms, reliving the dinner word for word. Astoria couldn't fault her for it; it had certainly been one of the most dinners she'd had at Hogwarts since she arrived.

It was very quickly topped by the Hallowe'en feast the next night. Farid's name was not pulled from the Goblet of Fire; a young woman named Fleur Delacour's was instead. The Hogwarts champion chosen was Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff to everyone's surprise. And then Harry Potter's name was announced as an impossible fourth competitor.

"That doesn't make any sense," Tullia figured out loud. "He's only two years older than we are. Do you think he asked someone older than him to put his name in?"

"No idea," Astoria said. She'd looked over at the infamous Potter after his name was announced, like every other student in the Hall, and saw the genuine shock and fear on his face. "He didn't look like he was expecting it."

"I mean, it's called the Triwizard Tournament, not the Quadwizard Tournament. They can't possibly let him compete."

"I don't know if they have a choice," Farid offered. "We were told by Madame Maxime that putting your name in the Goblet of Fire was a magical contract that could not be broken easily, if at all."

"He does seem to keep finding himself in risky situations, doesn't he?" Astoria was thinking of his broom fall the past year.

"Classic Gryffindor," Tullia rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry you didn't get chosen, Farid."

"Thank you, Tuli. It is a little disappointing to come all this way and not be chosen, but at least I will have more time to learn about Hogwarts and Britain. And practise my English."

"And help me convince Astoria that halvah is a perfectly acceptable breakfast food."

Farid laughed as Astoria rolled her eyes. "You're on your own there."

Harry Potter turned out to be allowed to compete after all, which challenged the loyalties of all the Hogwarts Houses. Ravenclaw was famous for being neutral and impartial, but they also loved rules, so many of them lent their support to Cedric Diggory. Astoria stayed out of the drama as much as possible, and Tullia spent much of her time with Farid. It was amazing that a boy five years older than them wasn't bored with them yet, but Astoria could tell that Farid was a peculiar boy - in the best sense. He was patient and kind, always happy to listen to Tullia's wild opinions and ideas. He was cordial to the other Beauxbatons students, but Astoria could see he was a bit of a loner, and she wondered how many friends he'd made there.

So when the Yule Ball was announced, Astoria was not surprised to hear that he had invited Tullia to go with him. She was happy for her friend who was very obviously ecstatic to accept, but part of her was disappointed to be left out. She'd already convinced her parents that since Daphne was staying over Christmas holidays, as were many other Hogwarts students, that she be able to stay as well. They had reluctantly agreed.

The night of the Ball, Astoria helped Tullia get into her beautiful gold-edged dress robes and tame her black curls into an intricate updo. Tullia was so excited, she didn't notice her friend being quieter than usual.

"I'm ready, I'm ready, oh, I'm so excited. I promise, I'll tell you everything! What Dumbledore is wearing, who Viktor Krum has for a date - everything. No details too small." Astoria followed her through the Ravenclaw common room to the door. "Don't wait up! Actually, wait up. I just wanted to say that. I'll see you after!" And with a flash of silk, she was gone.

"She's going to the ball?" A voice came from behind Astoria and she whirled around. Iain Bradley was sitting in one of the reading alcoves with a book.

"Iain! I didn't see you there. Yes, she's going with her family friend Farid." She walked over to Iain and curiously inspected the book he was reading. "I see you're planning on a quiet night in with, what is that, 'Quidditch Through The Ages' again?"

"I'll have you know that it's actually 'The Top Twenty Quidditch Events of the 20th Century'." He put it down and smiled up at Astoria. "And yes, it's a reread. I'm really missing this year's lack of Quidditch. I thought I was going to get to try out for the team. Pull up a chair, won't you?"

Astoria pulled one of the nearby desk chairs over. "I can't remember, you wanted to be a Beater?"

"A Chaser. My mum played Keeper when she was here. She was a Ravenclaw too." He put the book down and gave Astoria his full attention.

"My parents were both Slytherins, but my Grandmother was a Ravenclaw."

"Happy Christmas, by the way." He looked up with her and smiled so sweetly that Astoria felt her heart skip a beat. She was immediately reminded of Tullia's observation that he 'liked liked' her. Suddenly, words became much harder to force out.

"Uh, happy Christmas to you same. I mean, too. To you too."

"Flitwick was here an hour ago in the common room and said that there was no formal tea tonight, as the Ball is serving food there. So the house elves will send up some trays to those not attending."

"Ah," she managed. "That's good. Food is good. I like food."

Iain smiled at her incomprehensible string of words, and Astoria wanted to vanish from mortification. "Do you have a favourite Christmas food? Something you look forward to every year?"

Thank Merlin. Something other than her nerves to think about. "Well, I do love Yorkshire Pudding. But I also love the mash we have - it's swimming in butter and chives. And just a touch of crème fraîche." She could practically taste it. "I think they use bacon grease to cook the mash here at Hogwarts. It's good, it just isn't the same." Iain was watching her intently, and she blinked. "Sorry. You asked me about food. I really like food. I tend to ramble sometimes."

"No, it's okay." He was still smiling, and it caused the corners of his eyes to crinkle attractively. They were green, she noticed. Had she really noticed his eyes before? "I like food too. I'm more of a sweets person though."

"Ha. You and Tullia would get along perfectly."

"Oh yeah?"

"Like two peas in a pod. She keeps making me try all these different Egyptian sweets. Have you ever had anything that tastes like roses? Because it's very off-putting. I feel like I'm eating flowers."

"I dunno," he frowned as he thought it over. "My gram makes something called Elderflower Fool, and it's pretty delicious."

"To each their own, I suppose." Astoria sat back in her chair. Talking about food had dispelled her nerves, thank goodness.

"Astoria? Would you like to eat Christmas supper with me tonight?"

And the nerves were back. She blinked as if someone had shone their wand in her eyes and then managed to nod.

"Yeah, alright."