At seven-fifty, Poppy and her friends arrived at the Great Hall. Poppy's curly hair had been straightened with liberal amounts of Sleakeazy's Hair Potion, and was now flowing down her back and left shoulder in Cass' best attempt at 'Hollywood Waves'. Her dress, which contrasted beautifully with her brown skin, hugged her waist and hips and extenuated her hourglass figure, and the fabric sparkled in the candlelight.

She'd been conscious of her slightly larger frame- her height and the way that she carried her weight was different to her friends who were athletic or naturally skinnier and shorter than she was. But, she'd remembered what Charlie had said - "You look good." She wondered what he would say if he could see her now.

"Thank you for agreeing to come with me," Poppy said, kissing Mathieu three times on alternate cheeks in greeting. He was waiting for her by the main doors, wearing smart navy blue robes.

"Well, if we can't go with the ones we want, why not go together and have some fun?" he replied, smiling.

"I never told you there was someone else," Poppy said, raising her eyebrows.

"You didn't need to. I wasn't sure, not at first, but Fleur told me there was. He is a lucky man."

"First, you only say that because you know me now. You should've seen me before I grew into my robes…"

Mathieu laughed. "I was the same."

Poppy grinned. "His name's Charlie."

"Mine," Mathieu said, looking over the tops of heads, "is Daphne. There she is. Do you see? I came to Hogwarts to become a champion and I will return broken hearted and empty handed."

"You never know," Poppy said, frowning. "You could meet someone else."

"Says you. How long have you loved Charlie? He's the dragon tamer with the strong arms, right?" he asked in what Poppy had to admit was a rather good impression of a posh English accent, with just a twinge of French on some words. "Oh come on," he added with an exasperated groan when Poppy raised an eyebrow. "Esther already told me."

Poppy frowned and looked around, trying to find her friends in the crowd so she could glare at Esther.

"Wait," she said, her eyebrows creasing even more as she turned to Mathieu, whose accent still hadn't reverted back to fully French. "Your voice."

"What about eet?" he asked in an exaggerated accent, but his sly smile gave him away.

"Mathieu…?"

Mathieu laughed and dropped all pretence. "My Mama is English and I went to primary school in London for a couple of years."

"What?!" Poppy exclaimed. "But you… you keep saying you don't remember English words! You made me say I was going to Romania in broken French!"

Mathieu smirked and, seeing the look on Poppy's face, bit his lip. "It was a little bit funny… okay. From when I was little I always thought it was fun to use my French accent when I first met people in England, and my English voice in France. People seem to prefer that in England for some reason, and in France I used to get smiles and sweets for picking up the language so quickly. But here? At Hogwarts? I think it comforts them to think I can't understand what they are saying, and at first I found it funny to see what they really think- sorry, thought. Past tense," he muttered to himself, "of me. Also it helps for those times when I accidentally use the wrong words. Bilingual problems."

Poppy, who had been listening intently and was still slightly miffed, rearranged her naturally slightly downturned lips into a smile. "Well you fooled me. Ugh… please say I haven't said anything bad in front of you…"

"No, worst thing was when you tried to explain what a fizzing whizzbee was and just kept getting louder and louder." While Mathieu chuckled, Poppy groaned and hung her head. It wasn't her favourite memory.

A minute later she looked up to see Mathieu's smile had gone, replaced by a rather pensive look as he stared across the hall. She crossed her arms and asked quietly, "So you act like you're undercover?"

"Exactly," he said, quietly. "I thought people would be fine about it when they found out. But it backfired on me. Daphne lost interest when she found I was fluent in English…"

Poppy winced, but Mathieu smiled goodnaturedly. "At least you're not angry."

"I think it's funny. And my friends would too. Trust me."

Mathieu's smile broadened and he bumped her shoulder with his.

"Mathieu! Poppy!" Fleur cried, walking towards them both with her arms outstretched, her silver hair flowing behind her, her silver robes sparkling beautifully in the candlelight. Her smile shone as well, making the people she was passing turn and stare. The men or boys began to crane their necks, a few flexed their muscles, and her date, Roger Davies, walked in her wake like a jealous boyfriend, glaring at everyone who stared at her.

Poppy grinned and kissed Fleur three times on the cheek when the silvery-blonde arrived at the couple.

"You look beautiful," Poppy said truthfully, smiling down at her friend, their hands still held together.

"Really? I was worried I would not fit into my dress robes. The 'ogwarts food is so 'eavy…" Fleur complained.

"Yeah, well, it's cold and we tend to carb load in the winter. I'm sure I'll come to visit you one day and complain that I'm losing weight..."

"Well zen, we should meet in ze middle. I'm sure we could find something we both like. I will 'ave a look at ze map and see where we can visit," Fleur said, grinning.

"Nah," Poppy replied. "I live in London so we'd need to meet in France and I don't fancy snails…"

"'Ey!" Fleur chastised. "Zey can be very well done and are a delicacy. You wish you could come to France and try a good snail, but you will not because we keep our best cooks to ourselves. Now, 'ow was ze food in Paris? Sublime, non?"

"It was so good," Poppy admitted. "But I think I indulged a bit too much in Romania," Poppy said, releasing Fleur's hand to pat her own stomach.

Fleur laughed and pulled Poppy's hand away, swinging their arms slightly. "Well I zink you look absolutely wonderful."

"Says the woman who thinks she needs to lose weight..."

Fleur shrugged a beautiful shoulder. "We all come in different shapes and sizes. Zere is no 'arm in knowing what size you think looks best on you and trying to maintain zat. Perhaps if I did not 'ave zese robes to fit into I would 'ave 'ad third 'elpings of zose truffles you sent from Paris. Thank you so much, we kept zem until today and I am afraid to say zat I don't think we will 'ave many left tomorrow!"

"Oh good, I'm so glad! I was worried they hadn't got to you, the girls-"

They were interrupted by a cough and Fleur turned around, dropping Poppy's hand and linking their arms when she stood beside her.

Poppy smiled at Professor McGonagall, who didn't look impressed.

"As I said, it is time for the champions to line up. Are you together?" she asked, looking at the friends.

Poppy shook her head and nudged Fleur towards Roger, who was hovering at her elbow. "Sorry Roger. I'll see you inside," Poppy said, linking arms with Mathieu who guided her around the few remaining couples and into the Great Hall. When they walked in, it seemed like most people were taking their seats.

The Great Hall was decorated beautifully - mistletoe and ivy garlands decorated the ceiling, below the enchanted night's sky. The walls were covered in what looked like fake snow, and there were round tables for the students and guests to sit at.

"When were we called in?" Poppy asked, marvelling at the scene.

"I think you were planning your meet up when Dumbledore announced it," Mathieu explained dully. "I didn't even get to say hello," he complained.

"You live with her!" Poppy replied, laughing. "Though I am sorry, I didn't realise."

She made eye contact with Ginny and grinned, waving. The redhead frowned, went a little red, and then turned to her date, a boy who Poppy didn't recognise.

"Not your fault. The English boy should have talked to me. It's only polite. I think he was too busy glaring at people… Fleur won't like that."

"You know her well, don't you?"

"As well as you can. We are not too close, but there are only twelve of us here, so with proximity comes a level of kinship," he explained, pulling out her seat for her.

"Oh, uh… thanks," she said, sitting down. Her friends, who were sitting with their dates at the same table, grinned at her. Poppy smiled back. There were three other couples who Poppy recognised vaguely but couldn't quite place since they were all dressed up.

She looked around and smiled. "It's gorgeous, isn't it?"

"Christmas at Beauxbatons is more beautiful than this," Mathieu said quietly, mournfully.

"Do you miss it?" she asked sympathetically.

"Every day," he replied. "But this experience is incredible, and so I'm glad that I'm here."

"Did your mum come here?"

Mathieu smiled and nodded. "She loved it. It's why I volunteered to come."

The doors closed and then opened again, music playing to announce the entrance of the champions and their dates.

When Krum walked in with Hermione on his arm there were surprised and then shocked whispers, but Poppy grinned and bounced on her heels in excitement for the younger girl.

"You know her?" Mathieu asked.

"Yes, she's a few years younger. Harry Potter's friend," she explained quickly.

"You know a lot of people," he replied.

"I would say the same to you if we were at Beauxbatons," Poppy replied with a shrug, continuing to clap as the champions and their dates took their seats at the head table with their headmistress, headmasters, Ludo Bagman, and…

"Is that Percy Weasley?" she asked her friends, gasping when she recognised him. "Why…?"

"My dad said Crouch is ill," one of the girls at the table said, and Poppy looked at her properly now - she was one of Esther's friends from Gryffindor.

"Oh, hopefully he gets better soon," Poppy said, taking her seat.

"How do you know him as well?" Mathieu asked, nodding at Percy across the hall. He was in deep conversation with Harry already, and Poppy felt sorry for the boy - she could see Percy talking a lot.

Poppy smiled. "I know a lot of people… but I only know a handful."

"You can say that again, I only just found out she doesn't live with her parents anymore, and I'm her best friend!" Esther said, raising her glass to her lips. She seemed to realise that she'd revealed a little too much when Poppy looked away and Cass began to hiss at her and make cutting motions with her hand.

"Oh no, uh…" Esther said, trying to recover the situation, though the damage was already done - the other inhabitants of the table were all looking interestedly at Poppy. Esther picked up her menu and said "Oh look, pork chops!"

Suddenly, her plate was filled with pork chops, mash, and vegetables.

Poppy hid her face behind her menu. She didn't know why, but it felt like a massive secret had been revealed. Probably because she'd spent the last two years successfully keeping mum about it, and had only told a select few people, and she was already emotional from leaving Charlie.

She avoided everyone's looks, her chest and throat heating up, and ordered the first thing she saw on the menu, barely tasting it. She ate a small amount and then pushed it away.

"I'm so sorry, Pop," Esther said, leaning across Mathieu, who leant back in his seat.

"It's fine," she replied, though her voice was tough and strained.

"I can… intervene, if you'd like? I think that's what dates are meant to do," Mathieu whispered when the food was cleared away and Poppy finally felt the constriction around her chest easing.

"No, it's okay," she replied. "I just need a breather. It's been a long day… I uh… I'm still overwhelmed if I'm honest."

"Come on," Mathieu said, standing. "We'll be back in time for dessert," he said to the table as a whole, holding his hand out to Poppy.

She took it anxiously - she was incredibly aware that they would have to walk past a few tables to get out of the hall, and that meant more eyes on them.

Mathieu guided her out of the hall with a hand on the small of her back. When they reached the Entrance Hall he took her straight outside, to where a garden had been enchanted on some of the expanse of lawn.

"I quite like fairies," he explained, leading her to the maze. "I find them beautiful. In fact, for a while my grandmother had a fairy who lived in her garden in Godric's Hollow."

"Where's that?" Poppy asked, feeling a bit better already.

"Ah. Wizarding town. You were born to a Non-magique?"

Poppy nodded and watched Mathieu's expression closely. Though he only betrayed interest. "I would not have thought… well. Would you like me to describe her house for you while we walk? For me it is normal, but for you it might be interesting?"

Poppy stared at him for a moment and then nodded.

For the next ten minutes they walked around the maze and Mathieu spoke. He stopped for breath, to ask if a certain topic was okay, or to greet a fairy or two. Otherwise, he gave Poppy the space that she needed.

"Thank you," she said, as they made their way back inside.

"It's fine," he replied. "My father was in Grindlewald's war. Sometimes he needs this comfort as well."

"I wasn't in a war," Poppy whispered, making her way into the Great Hall again. She kept her eyes on the walkway and Mathieu pulled out her chair for her again.

"No," he replied. "But there must be a reason you do not live with your parents. Your being on good terms with everyone makes sense as well."

"What?" she asked, raising her glass to her lips - they'd been allowed one glass of wine each if they were overage.

"Well, you want people to like you. You are a people pleaser, and you will never know the effect you have on people. You will always wonder if we like you as well, and you will not understand why we like you. Am I right?"

Poppy shifted uncomfortably in her seat and Mathieu smiled. "Unfortunately my mother likes to study what you Non-magique call psychiatry. She is a healer and believes we can learn from your medicine."

"That makes sense," she said, smiling.

"Well, to accidental therapy," he said, raising his glass.

Poppy laughed now and clinked her glass against his. "I don't know if that counts as therapy, I barely said anything."

"Sometimes you don't need to."

"I don't know why, but I assumed you were a flirt when I first met you."

Mathieu laughed and picked up his menu - their tablemates were all eating again and sending the duo interested looks which Poppy ignored. "Well," he said, "that's because I was flirting with Daphne. Of course that would be your only impression. I hope I've added to your character file."

"Wait… did you pretend to not know how to translate stuff?" she asked, remembering an instance from Charms.

Mathieu laughed and nodded. "Sometimes I pretend. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes it's just too tiring trying to translate in my own head and then out loud. Now, what would you recommend?" he asked, trailing a finger down the menu.

Poppy frowned and read through the options "I had an apple cake in Romania. It was pretty good…"

"You were just there?" he asked.

Poppy nodded. "I was with Charlie."

"Ah, yes," he said, nodding as well. "That's why you have had a hard day. When did you leave him?"

"Eight this morning," she admitted.

"Just over twelve hours… well, then it's time I told you that I took a page from Moody's book…" he said, pulling out a hip flask.

Poppy laughed and shook her head. "I'm okay for now. I was thinking of leaving early…"

"You can't. Fleur would kill you."

"Ah, I'm not afraid of her beak," she said, winking - she remembered the Veela at the World Cup who had turned into beaked winged creatures when angry. Mathieu laughed loudly, and Poppy ducked her head.

"Banoffee pie," Mathieu said to his plate. A beautiful mini pie appeared, garnished with a dusting of sugar and a ball of ice cream.

Poppy turned up her nose - the dessert definitely wasn't her favourite. Feeling much better, she took a long moment to choose her dessert, and finally said, "Torta Garash."

A beautiful slice of layered cake - dark chocolate and walnuts sandwiched together and covered in dark chocolate ganache, with what appeared to be dessicated coconut and walnuts - appeared on her plate.

"A good choice," said the Durmstrang girl at their table who Poppy now recognised from her Transfiguration lessons. "I am having the Torta as well. It is very good."

Poppy grinned, and then turned to Esther. She screwed her face up. "Of all the desserts, you went for spotted dick?"

Esther looked at her with wide eyes and nodded. "You know me, I prefer to stick to things I know."

"Weirdo," Poppy quipped, winking at her. Esther smiled happily. "Love you," Poppy added quietly.

"Love you too. I'm so-"

"Nope, moving on," Poppy said, smiling.

Esther breathed in deeply and her smile widened.

They finished their desserts and then Dumbledore stood and everyone in the hall followed suit. Poppy and her friends laughed as the tables zoomed away and then the Weird Sisters walked onto the stage and they screamed and whistled and clapped.

Poppy leant over to Cass and shouted over the noise, "The World Cup and now this?"

"Who said turning eighteen sucked?" Cass screamed back. "It bloody rocks!"

Poppy laughed and watched as Harry and the other champions, Hermione and their dates all walked forwards. Her eyes stayed on Hermione, who looked so happy that it made Poppy feel emotional once more.

She felt Mathieu's hand on her lower back again and she turned to him. "May I have this dance?" he asked.

She smiled, and followed his eyeline - he was half watching Daphne and her partner.

Poppy smiled and nodded, and they joined the other dancing couples on the dancefloor. Luckily the song was slow so Poppy didn't need to know any specific steps, but she felt her smile drop when they began to sway and moved round in a circle.

"It's horrible to say, but I wish you weren't you right now," she said quietly.

Mathieu laughed. "I feel the same way."

Finally, after what felt like hours the music stopped and they turned to the stage to applaud the band.

Poppy screamed when they started to play the next song. "Cass! Cass!"

She found her friends quickly and they began jumping around in a circle, and then they brought in their dates. Poppy noticed the Durmstrang girl who had complimented her food choice at dinner was now on her own, and they invited her to join the now large jumping, screaming circle that they'd made.

They danced through three songs like this until finally there was a slow song, and Mathieu pulled Poppy away, "To get drinks!"

Poppy was glad now more than ever that she was with Mathieu, as he seemed to understand that they had done their perfunctory slow dance and now the evening was all about distraction and fun. It was nice that she had found such a kindred spirit, even though it was sad in a way.

They took their friends' orders and then ran over to the drinks table, where they began to fill their arms with bottles of butterbeer and a few glasses of champagne.

"Ah, Poppy," Percy said from behind her. She turned around to see him standing there with a proud and happy smile on his face. He was wearing a set of navy baby blue robes, almost the same colour as Mathieu's, and he seemed to be puffing out his chest even more than usual.

Poppy, extremely excited and with her adrenaline pumping, grinned at him and greeted him far more warmly than she would otherwise have done. "Perce! How are you?"

"Good, good," he said, barely registering the nickname. "I would ask you to dance but I'm not sure that would be within the rules, even though I know you well," he said, smiling.

Poppy silently thanked the rules, but decided to be kind. "Well if the rules allow it, I'll be on the dancefloor and you're welcome to join my friends. I'm sure you remember Esther?"

"Yes, well, good. Ah, I almost forgot," he said, frowning at Mathieu who joined them.

Mathieu did look a little odd, as he had the neck of a bottle of butterbeer in his mouth and the bottom of the bottle was precariously balanced on top of three other bottles and a few glasses which were all shoved into his arms. Poppy felt lucky to just be holding the bottle of champagne and the remaining butterbeers. (She was still slightly shocked that Flitwick had turned a blind eye to her taking so much of the alcohol.)

"Percy?" she asked, smiling at the older man to get his attention again. Mathieu bumped her shoulder and nodded over to their group and she smiled and said, "be right there." Mathieu grunted at Percy and walked back across the dancefloor.

"I hope that's his bottle in his mouth," Percy said, watching him go unenthusiastically.

"You said you forgot something?" she asked, trying to stay on topic.

"Ah yes. Well, I'm sure you've heard already but I received a promotion. I'm now Mr Crouch's personal assistant!" he said, drawing his arms out wide.

"Oh Perce, that's brilliant news! Really brilliant. All your hard work!"

"Finally paying off, yes, yes," he said, grinning. "Well, you know what… I'm sure it's fine for one dance, why-"

"Pop, are you almost done?" Mathieu asked, appearing again. He began to scoop the bottles out of her hands. "Esther wants some pictures."

"Be right there," she said, smiling. She turned back to Percy. "Are you coming?" she asked.

Percy eyed up the group and shook his head. "Perhaps not."

"Well, okay, see you in a bit," she said, scooting round him.

"Oh," he said, and Poppy groaned inwardly but hopped back on her heels to hear him. "Charlie told us about your stellar performance at the Sanctuary. You should be proud. And he said to say hi."

Poppy's smile couldn't have been bigger if she'd tried. "He did?" she asked. Percy nodded and looked at her weirdly. "Would you tell him I said hi back?"

Percy nodded, but he was pushed forwards by Hermione who apologised quickly, not glancing at them as she continued to walk quickly past.

"Well I never," said Percy, righting himself. "What's going on?"

Poppy frowned in the direction of where she'd come from. "I'm not sure," she replied, looking over the heads of a couple of younger students, who were looking between Hermione's retreating form and Harry, Ron and Harry's date. "Hopefully Krum's not upset her or anything… must have done though. Ron looks quite annoyed, doesn't he?"

Though a moment later she began to wonder if it had been Ron who'd said something as she watched as Krum approach Ron and Harry with two drinks in his hands and a confused expression on his serious face. Ron looked even moodier.

"Ah, looks like Krum's talking to Harry now. I'm sure it'll all sort itself out. I'll show my face anyway in case they need some help. See you in a bit," Percy said, and Poppy smiled and let out a long sigh when he retreated.

She looked over to see if she could see Hermione, but she was in deep conversation with Ginny now, so Poppy decided to leave them. Instead, she ran over to her friends and was given a butterbeer and a glass of champagne when she arrived.

"This isn't the one you had in your mouth, is it?" she asked, frowning down at the bottle as she thought of Percy's words. Mathieu laughed, but didn't answer, and Poppy carefully placed it onto the table just in case.

"Waltz!" Cass shouted, and she grabbed Poppy to slow dance together.

Mathieu rolled his eyes and promptly asked Esther (whose date was dancing with the Durmstrang girl) to dance. Esther took his hand with a little blush on her face and Poppy gasped, "No."

"Yes. She didn't know how to ask him to the dance so she asked him to go with you instead!" Cass laughed. "It's why she's been so weird all evening. She's been trying to impress him. It was amazing. Someone asked if Mathieu was dating you now…who was it? Oh yeah! Daphne Drinkle? She's in History with us? Anyway, he said you two were just friends and then she kissed her new boyfriend in front of him and Esther did this amazing save. Just popped up and took his arm and stuff, and now…"

"Amazing. Perfect. I love it!" Poppy grinned.

When the waltz ended, Esther came up to Poppy sheepishly, and Poppy laughed and hugged her tightly. "Esther and Mathieu sitting in a tree," she began to sing.

"No! Stop!" Esther squealed, whacking Poppy and a laughing Cass on the arm. "I hate you both!"

"Nah, you love us, just like you love Mathieu!" Cass teased.

"You mean just like Poppy loves Charlie Weasley," Esther cut back.

Cass' eyes widened and Esther clapped a hand over her mouth again. "I'm so sorry!" she cried. "I keep putting my foot in it!"

Poppy shook her head and bit her lip. "Nah," she said, smiling slowly. "You're just two for two…"

"You don't…" Cass said, her mouth dropping open.

Poppy bit her lip again.

"Pop!" Esther cried, throwing her arms around her. "You love him!"

"I think I do!" Poppy cried, throwing her head back as her friends hugged her. "I'm so doomed. He's just wonderful."

She didn't think now was the time to explain her reservations. Not when Esther was apparently terrible at keeping secrets.

The girls screamed, and then the music started again and they began to jump.

Later, when Fleur and Roger joined their group (and Cass' date was sent away for ogling Fleur while Cass was right next to him), Esther pulled out her camera again and they all lined up - Fleur, Cass, Esther and Poppy - for a group photo. They were then joined by Mathieu when Roger was sent off for more drinks.

"Une autre photo?" Fleur asked quickly, pointing between herself and Poppy. Esther frowned. "Oh, er… Can we 'ave anuzer?" she asked again, slower this time as she thought of each word and pointed between the camera and Poppy and herself now. Esther nodded and Poppy and Fleur smiled at the camera, an arm around each other's waists.

"Are you 'aving a good time?" Fleur asked, eyeing up Mathieu and Esther, who were talking closely.

"It's been a weird day, but yes," Poppy replied. "I-"

Roger joined them, and Poppy fell quiet, taking a butterbeer from him. He seemed to be too busy staring at Fleur to notice that he'd spilled a little bit of his drink on his shirt.

"Would you like to take a walk?" he mused, eyeing up Fleur. Poppy tried not to laugh, and instead spluttered some of her butterbeer onto Roger.

He screwed up his face and wiped it away, as if she hadn't simply added to his pre-existing problem.

"Zat sounds wonderful," Fleur said, batting her eyelashes. Not that she needed to, Poppy thought, watching the half-dazed Roger lead Fleur away.

She turned around and saw that Cass was busy talking to one of Mathieu's friends now, and Esther and Mathieu were on their way out towards the garden as well. Even Hermione seemed to be in better spirits - Poppy waved at her as she danced past with Krum.

So, rather than staying inside, Poppy ran back to her dorm and grabbed a quill, some parchment and a pot of ink, and made her way to one of the carved stone benches she'd passed in the fairy garden earlier.

In the magical light she wrote down her evening so that she could send it to Charlie when he wrote to her. She knew it was sad, but she wanted him to know that she'd been thinking about him during one of the most wonderful and magical nights of her life.