Letters From Home

When I wake up the next morning it takes me a while before I remember the happenings of the previous day. But when I do I don't think I can bear getting out of bed. I have no choice however as Professor McGonagall asked to meet me today and I need to get my schedule for the classes I'll be taking at Beauxbatons. I pull the covers back reluctantly and step out of bed, fully clothed. Everyone's left for breakfast it seems. Well everyone except Ali who has a tendency to sleep in. I walk over to her bed and shake her awake "Come on Ali, time for breakfast, everyone's already gone". "Oh" she says groggily, wiping at her eyes, "didn't get a chance to speak to you last night Dominique, congratulations" she says, sitting up. "Thanks" I say "First person to tell me that". "Yeah" she says sympathetically "Heard about you and Roxanne.." "I'm gonna go take a shower" I say abruptly, not wanting to think of Roxanne, or worse, Lorcan. "I'll meet you back here; we can go down to breakfast together". She nods in agreement and I head out in search of the bathrooms.

I return 20 minutes later dressed in a clean pair of jeans, a black fitted top, and pleasantly smelling, fresh clean hair. Needless to say I'm feeling a lot better than I did 20 minutes ago. We head down to the great hall together and I find myself bombarded with questions regarding how it feels to be champion. I give her the standard answer; it's very exciting. When we reach the dining hall Ali goes off in search of her boyfriend, assuming I'll go take a seat with James, Fred and Lorcan. The three boys I call my best friends however, are nowhere to be seen. The only familiar person in sight is Lysander, who come to think about it, I haven't seen in days.

I walk up to him and say "Hey Lys!" in greeting as I take a seat beside him. "Haven't seen you in ages" I say, mostly due to the fact that he hasn't even bothered to look up yet. "Mmmh" he says vaguely, and continues with "I've been exploring the palace, found some great hidden passage ways, secret rooms..." He's voice trails off. "Oh... well that's nice" I say. Lysander has a way of making me feel uncomfortable in the same way that Lorcan makes me feel the exact opposite. Ouch, that hurts, stop thinking about Lorcan.

I'm glad for the distraction when an owl swoops down on my table and drops a letter. It's from Dad. I begin opening it, but before I can two more letters are dropped down in front of me. "I think you must be very popular today Dominique" Lysander comments "Can't think why" he states dreamily, spooning cereal into his mouth. Does that boy seriously not know I've been chosen as Hogwarts champion? Does he even know why were at Beauxbatons at all? All I know is he's a poor replacement for Lorcan. I return to opening Dad's letter and begin reading.

Dear Dominique

I received an owl last night informing your mother and I that you have been selected to compete in the Tri-Wizard tournament as Hogwarts champion. What on this earth were you thinking? Do you have any idea what you've let yourself in for? Your mother almost died competing in this tournament and a close friend of hers, don't pretend you've never heard of Cedric Diggory, actually did! Dominique, I can't relay to you in words just how angry I am. I will be arriving in France this week end to see you.

You're Father

I gazed down at the letter in silent anger and fear. My father is so angry with me he is coming to France, that, is most definitely not good. In fact it's categorically bad, it's terrible!

I pick up the next letter, experiencing a jolt as I recognize the hand writing, it's Victories'! My sister hasn't spoken to me in months. Not since that fateful summers evening when Teddy kissed me and got so paranoid I would tell Victoire that he made it he's life's mission to keep us apart. I open the letter, exercising extreme caution.

Dear Dominique

I'm so sorry we haven't spoken properly in so long, and that the only reason that I'm writing you this letter is because I have just received an owl from maman, who is hysterical and has just informed me that you will be competing in the Tri-wizard tournament. Dominique, I'm so worried about you I feel like I can't breathe! I don't know what else to say to you, please write back Dom, I need to hear from you.

Victoire

An intense guilt is rising up inside me. But still, in the back of my mind I'm furious, why is this such a big deal? Do I really come across as a talentless, useless, self harming witch? If James had been chosen, he's parents would be supporting him, not angry with him. I reach across the table, bracing myself for the third and final letter, but instead I get a pleasant surprise, it's from Louis.

Hey Dom!

Just heard you got chosen as Hogwarts champion, Dad sounds angry enough to burst into flames! While this is extremely amusing for me I think you better prepare yourself for a howler. But wow Dom seriously! Eternal glory, you'd think with being your brother and all I'd get some of that too right? Rose and Albus are well impressed, and that's something coming from Rose. Anyway, tell me if anything exciting happens, I want to be the first to know!

Your handsome brother who loves you oh so very much

Louis.

Typical Louis, I think smiling to myself, always trying to get in on the action.

I look around me and realize Lysander has vanished, as have all the other Hogwarts students. They've already received they're schedules and gone to class, this means I should be at professor McGonagall's office in Hogwarts tower at this very moment. I jump up in shock, retrieve my three letters, grudgingly taking my Dad's one and run out of the great hall. I climb the two flights of stairs hurriedly and make my way to the Hogwarts common room, and from there, Professor McGonagall's office. I knock twice lightly on the polished mahogany door and her stern voice instructs me to enter.

I open the door and step inside, still hastily stuffing my letters into the back pocket of my jeans. She gives a disapproving look in the direction of my now abnormally large bum cheek and instructs me to sit down. "I sent an owl to your parents last night to inform them of your entry into the competition" she begins. I nod solemnly. "Have you received a reply yet" she asks, eyebrows raised. "Yes" I answer stiffly. "And what was they're reaction" she asks. I give a frustrated sigh and look down at my hands "Well, it wasn't that good" I say. "You mean to tell me" she continues briskly "That they're unhappy with the situation". "Well it seem that way, doesn't it" I say rather more fiercely than I had anticipated. Professor McGonagall looks simply outraged. "I'm sorry" I say, meeting her eyes. She just purses her lips and glares at me.

"Moving on" she says in a stiff voice "You will need to think of me as your partner in this tournament, I am here to help you". "But professor, I thought we had to do this on our own". "Well" she says, clearing her throat loudly "Those are the rules, but..." she coughs again "That particular rule is rarely obeyed". "Oh" I state simply. "We would be kidding ourselves to think that Zukanov character" she says he's name with disdain "isn't going to help that Krum boy. And Madame Maxime will surely offer guidance to her competitor, so it's only fair I do the same for you".

"Thanks Professor" I say, and I genuinely mean it. "Professor, may I ask you a question?" I say after a moment of silence between us. She nods her head curtly so I continue. "Do you think I have a chance in this tournament?". For the second time since I stepped into her office she looks simply outraged. "And who has told you that?" she says in a high pitched voice, so unlike her own. "I, it's just... nobody seems very pleased about it. My parents, cousins, friends.." I say, thinking of Lorcan. "They think I have no chance what so ever, they're all angry with me" I finish.

"Well then" Professor McGonagall says after clearing her throat loudly once again "We're going to have to prove them all wrong, aren't we". A rush of affection for Professor McGonagall rises up inside me. "If the goblet chose you Miss Weasly, then I have every confidence in you, and so should they". She then reaches under her desk and pulls out a scroll of parchment, taps it once with her wand and hands it to me. "Your time table" she says "As you speak French you will be taking quite a few of your classes with the Beauxbatons students".

She gives a little nod of her head and leans back somewhat in her chair. I take this as my dismissal and stand up to leave. Just as I get to the door I hear her stern voice behind me "And take those letters out of your pocket Miss Weasly, They'll think the Hogwarts champion has cast an engorgement charm on her left buttock!".

My face flushes red as I depart the office.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! It wont be too long until i'm writing the first task dont worry

And a special thanks to Black Rose for her kind words!