The Bad Touch Trio and the Goblet of Hilarity

The Revenge Arc (the conclusion)

~.

Lovina had never been in an actual fight like this before, though she'd been in muggle fights, a ton of them back at home, this fight seemed different. Maybe it was because it had nothing to do with sticking up for Feli or even the stupid Potato Bastard (like that one time when they were ten). This time the stakes were so much higher, the fight escalating from simple hair pulling (like she was used to) to all out punching, kicking, biting and even some well placed objects being hurtled.

But it would be worth it in the end, it had to be. Lovina was used to losing everything- her mother was never home and her father was a drunk so her childhood had gone to shit because she had to make sure that Feliciana was taken care of, the loss had not been so bad if she thought of it like that. She'd lost her old friends from back in the States when she'd been selected for transfer to the Scotland Highlands School of Magic (which is what they called Hogwarts back home because...who in their right mind would name a school after a pig with pimples?) and worse yet, she'd lost her carefully crafted comfort, the tree house in the woods where she felt safest. It had been the last thing her father had done for her before he turned to the drink, their little secret that no one, apart from Lovina, her father and Antonio knew about. She'd lost that too.

And now, some prissy, smartypants princess was trying to take away her Stupid Tomato? No, no way in hell. Lovina had to lay and take it when everything else was ripped away from her, everything she loved everything she never got the chance for and when it was all said and done at least she'd had Tonio and his stupid coddling. Even Feli couldn't quite make Lovi feel so effortlessly special and pretty like that idiot could. There was no way that Cho Chang was going to take him away. Cho could have anyone else she wanted (except maybe Cedric Diggory and even then, she had almost had him until Pansy had shown up). What was it about Antonio that Cho wanted other than the good looks, the great personality, the curly hair and...

Fuck it. Lovina knew what Cho liked about Antonio. Everyone liked him, girls wanted to date him, boys wanted to befriend him (even the Slytherin's like him...that's saying something.) Antonio Carriedo Fernandez, despite being a perfect idiot (and not really that either, not only was he Ravenclaw, the idiot was also top of the class for fifth year) was probably the most endearing, softhearted, kind individual anyone this side of the universe could ever hope to meet. He was perfection-

- and still Lovina had pushed him away. Why? Because she was just like that, it didn't mean she didn't like him it just meant that she wasn't all in your face about it. She liked quietly, privately and maybe she was still shocked that someone like Antonio could have feelings for her. Sometimes, and she would rather die than admit it, she would stare at her reflection in the mirror trying to see what he saw in her. She was never satisfied in herself, she wasn't as pretty as her little sister, wasn't as smart as her little sister, wasn't as friendly as her little sister or that great of a cook in comparison. Feli had always been the one everyone liked to flock around, even her parents. Lovina wasn't bitter over it, not to Feli. Feliciana couldn't help that she was naturally a great person who everyone loved. Lovi loved that aspect about her sister, made it easier to look out for her.

It just grated on her sometimes, how someone as wonderful and perfect as Antonio could settle for less than what he deserved. Lovina wasn't blind she wasn't stupid either. She'd heard the gossip. If Antonio and Cho were the almost perfect couple then Antonio and Feliciana would be the ruler supreme of perfect couples, everyone said so.

Cho's knee to her eye stopped her rambling thoughts of not being good enough. Lovi's head flew back, her back arching painfully as he whole body moved. She landed on the floor with a woosh and a cry. Cho immediately straddled her waist, blood trickling from her hairline and fat lip. She stared down at Lovina with such profound anger that it surprised those closest to the fight. The cheers from the students watching escalated in volume.

Lovina heard someone shout; "where are the teachers?"

The voice sounded suspiciously like Alfred Jones, the other supposed hero from the Gryffindor House (it was full of hero wannabe's). Some hero, couldn't stop a girl fright if he tried.

Lovi lifted her hands, palm upward, and shoved Cho off of her waist. The Asian girl fell back with a shout as Lovi, quickly, lifted her foot and kicked her. She caught Cho's shoulder with the heel of her mary-janes and winced as she felt something snap out of place. Gabriel Ryder, sixth year Slytherin whooped loudly, chanting Lovina's name. Soon, everyone joined.

Lovina!

Lovina!

Lovina!

"What is the MEANING OF THIS?"

The chanting was silenced immediately, impressive really, because the silence came all at once. Lovina and Cho scrambled apart. Cho was covered in bruises, some blood at her mouth, knuckles and hairline. She was holding onto her injured and possibly dislocated shoulder, wincing. Lovina felt immediately awful for it, for fighting in the first place.

She wondered how she looked and before turning to her teacher she caught her reflection on the stove door. She wanted nothing more than to cry at how she looked. The victor of the fight, if it went by looks, would not be Lovina who had sustained; two black eyes, blood tricking out of both nostrils, a blooming bruise at the side of her face, a fat lip. Clothes torn and ripped, knuckles a bruised and bleeding mess and her ear! She was bleeding out of her ear!

She turned her attention back to the new DaDa teacher, Professor Crowley in his crisp black muggle suit and amused expression. If she didn't know any better she would think that he enjoyed the fight (and might have been watching, Lovi wouldn't be surprised-he was a Slytherin through and through). He placed his hands into the pockets of his black slacks and narrowed his eyes at the crowd, stopping for a moment on the Slytherin's before his gaze met Lovi and Cho.

"Well. Ladies, if you would stand." He said, accented voice smooth as oil. "If you could stand, I mean. Came following the sounds of fist cuffs imagining Gryffindor's and Slytherin's fighting to the "death" and surprise surprise. What do I find? A Bird and a Duffer."

The girls stood on shaky legs, almost leaning against each other. Cho looked resolute, ready to face the loss of precious house points and detention. Lovi just wanted to get punishment over with, wanted to get to the infirmary and then to bed. House points and detention be damned she was exhausted, sore and looked like shit.

"You lot, out of here before my wand casts a few accidental jinxes!"

The crowd of on lookers dispersed and suddenly it was just Lovina, Cho and Professor Crowley left in the kitchens. His black eyes took in the mess around him and then to the girls. He laughed.

"Clean up this mess and then get to the infirmary. In that order-" He said, noting Cho had eased herself closer to the portrait, hand at her injured shoulder. "No detentions, no house point removal. Just clean up the mess."

That was it? Lovina felt a bit surprised at that. Professor Crowley loved detentions and removal of hose points, granted he loved giving detentions to Gryffindor's and removing an insane number of house points from them...something felt off. Fishy.

"Oh don't look at me like that, Sweetheart. I'm feeling generous today." he clucked his tongue. "And I seem to recall a tournament going on. Teachers have to prepare for it and the like and I don't have time to waste on silly little girl fights and detention. Although," His voice dropped, threatening. "-the next time I see something like this I will remove so many points your own houses will turn against you and the number of detentions will last the length of whatever time you have left in this Merlin Forsaken School. Do. You. Comprehend?"

And there it was, the creepy and terrfying Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher they knew and loved (feared immensely). Lovina and Cho nodded at Professor Crowley, who snapped his fingers summoning the recently absent House Elf staff. He gave strict orders for the elves to let the girls clean the mess themselves before he left with a cheery 'no wands!'

Lovina glared at Cho like it was all her fault as she dropped down onto her sore (and possibly busted kneecaps) knees and began to collect prices of broken dishes and silverware.

It was going to be a long day.

~.~

"That...was exhausting." Draco fell onto the emerald green armchair with a thud. He swiped at his sweaty brow, grimacing but worth it. He wondered when it had become so much...fun to pull stupid pranks, wondered how something so childish became so addicting. He wouldn't admit it to Gillian, never. She would hold it over his head until the day he died, but he could admit that it was fun.

He, with all the sincerity a Malfoy could muster, was having stupid and childish fun. It was so...normal (no normal, never normal when Gillian Beilschmidt was concerned). His gray eyes crinkled in amusement as they focused on the ringleader. Gillian grinned widely at him as she sat cross-legged on the black tiled floor.

"But so worth ir, right? Think we beat those Murauder guys? I bet our prank totally out does anything they ever did!"

"Not sure." Draco said. "We might have."

"Awesome says we did. I mean, have they ever got into all the houses and done what we did?"

"Doubtful." He answered, leaning forward and plucking the yellow chick off of her head. He place Gilbird in his lap and with his finger stroked the downy feathers. He liked Gilbrid, thought that, maybe they should have an army of Gilbird's as a calling card. After all, Kennedy has his armored badgers and that seemed pretty cool.

Draco shook his head. When had he become so ridiculous?

"I wonder who won the fight." Gillian asked suddenly. She had a faraway look in her ruby colored eyes that Draco couldn't quite place. "I feel kinda bad about it."

"Why?" Draco asked. "Why would you feel badly about it? If what you said previous was true, than this was going to happen regardless. All you did was make it happen sooner rather than later. You just took an opportunity while it happened."

That didn't make her feel all that better, Draco knew, but he offered her the truth. Besides, it wasn't his problem anyway. He'd wiped his hands clean of the entire dramatic mess when he was landed in the hospital wing. If Chang, Vargas, Braginski and Fernandez were too stupid to be honest with each other than that was their problem. Draco knew what he wanted, who he wanted and how to go about it. No sugarcoating, no games. Trickery yes cunning of course, he was Slytherin after all. He dealt with being sneaky with finesse that the other houses obviously lacked.

In other words, this was not Draco's problem and by extension, not the problem of his associates (friends).

"I place my galleons on Vargas." He said suddenly.

"Awesome has to disagree. Cho's bigger and on the quidditch team-not that I'm saying Lovi's weak just that-"

"That she is a delicate flower...?"

"Shut up Coco, and you are so on for that bet! Name the stakes! Anything!"

He grinned. Gillian should have known better than that...

~.~.~

Arthur had decided, a long time ago, to ignore situations that had nothing to do with him. The situation between Lovina, Cho and Antonio had nothing to do with him. He also, did not particularly care either. Since they were children Lovina and Arthur had never particularly cared for each other. He was sort of friends with Antonio therefore he knew Lovina. That did not mean that he cared enough about her to get involved into her personal business.

Until he came face to face with the situation head on. Pushed forward by the surge of people headed somewhere and when they stopped he'd nearly fallen forward into the kitchens if not for Alfred Jones pulling him back by his vest.

"What the bloody hell is going on?"

Alfred shrugged, stupid face split into a stupid grin (Arthur would forever refuse to call it handsome, there was no way Alfred F. Jones would ever be handsome).

"Dude, its a chick fight." He pointed to the girls scrambling on the floor. "Obviously a brutal one." He winced as the girl with dark hair (Cho) kneed the much smaller girl in the face (Lovina). "Where are the teachers?"

"I don't know. Someone ought to put this fight to rest."

"Yeah, but who. Besides, its a long time coming. I say let them beat the crap out of each other and get it over with. This hostility is really annoying."

Arthur rolled his eyes. Of course, leave it to Alfred Bloody Jones to let violence carry on. Arthur straightened his tie and walked off but not before calling Alfred a wanker. He pushed passed the students and made for the end of the hall towards the dungeons. He didn't particularly like the dungeons, not since he caught sight of Potter being dragged to the Slytherin commons by Natalia, so he tended to avoid them unless he had potions or it was time to tuck into the dorm.

He came across the potions classroom, and with a light cough, pushed the door opened. It wasn't uncommon nowadays to catch sight of his Head of House beating James Potter with a cauldron, and Arthur was prepared to find such a scene now. Of course he was surprised to see Professor Snape and Professor Crowley having a hushed conversation.

Everyone knew that they loathed one another, of course this had to do with Professor Crowley getting the Defense against the Dark Arts job, of course. Although, it also seemed as though the dislike leaked from a previous time (Professor Crowley had been Professor Snape's dorm mate in Hogwarts some twenty years previous and the hatred carried on from some boyhood incident, whatever that meant...)

Snape's black eyes zeroed in on Arthur quickly while Professor Crowley glared at the conversation being interpreted.

"Mister Kirkland, whatever do I owe the...pleasure of your visit?" Professor Snape's voice dripped its usual amount of disdain but there was something else there that Arthur recognized as thanks. Apparently he'd saved his Head of House from a rather dull conversation.

"A fight sir." Arthur began. "In the kitchens."

"Oh? Between whom?"

Arthur furrowed his thick brows, wondering if this was the right thing.

"Lovina Vargas and Cho Chang."

There was a moment of silence before Professor Snape swore, actually swore. Professor Crowley threw up his head and laughed shoving his hand towards Professor Snape who handed him a few Galleons. Arthur stood there gaping. The professors had made bets?

Just what kind of school was this!

Professor Crowley placed the galleons in his pocket and walked passed the desk, coins jingling in his pocket as he went.

"Well darlings, I'm off to stop this fight." He paused at the door and gave a gaping Arthur a look. "Oh do untangle those twisted panties, mate. We professors have got to get our kicks from somewhere..." He walked out the door leaving a bewildered Arthur (who swore never to get involved in anyone personal business ever again) and a cursing Professor Snape (who was a few galleons short) behind. The silence was awkward and near tangible...until it was interrupted by James Potter's sudden arrival through the doors.

He stared at the two Slytherin's with a confused expression.

"Alright...what'd I miss?"

~.~.~.~

Antonio stared at Lovina as she slept, carefully concealed under Harry's invisibility cloak. The Gryffindor had offered it to him after then mention of the fight. Said to talk to Lovina and Cho, that he needed to.

Now that he stood there, at Lovina's bedside, cot right beside a slumbering Cho, he had no idea where to start or what to do. They were both beaten and battered, both the girls he loved in different ways. He was so certain that he would find Lovina and apologize and then he would find Cho and thank her for what she'd done but now...he felt like the biggest asshole this side of the world. How could he have agreed to make Lovina jealous in the firsst place? Worse yet, he had the audacity to beat up Ivan for being Lovina's boyfriend, as though Ivan had no right to date her (they weren't dating but still, it didn't really matter).

Not only that but...he'd actually...started liking Cho on a different level. He groaned, rubbing his tired face with his hand trying to wipe away the guilt for that. He was a teenager, this was normal to develop light crushes on pretty girls. Of course he was in love with Lovina, always and forever-he'd marry her someday after he managed to make her admit how she felt about him, but there was something lacking in his wait.

Cho liked him, she'd said it outright and he had appreciated that honesty. No pussyfooting around it, no denial and angry shouting. He entertained the thought of it, only the thought. If he decided to date Cho than everything would be so simple. He would wake up and get ready in the morning certain that his girlfriend would welcome him with a smile. No shouting, no hitting, no insults or aggravation just happiness. They would hold hands, go on dates, they would share meals and meet with each other during the summer time each growing up and together without much hardship.

He entertained the thought with a smile until he realized that it was Cho and not Lovi. Antonio loved Lovi, couldn't love anyone else, wouldn't love anyone else for as long as he lived. It'd taken him a long time to realize that he loved her and now with the realization he knew there was no turning back.

He stepped forward, turned his body to lean against the wall in between both beds. They both slept so soundly, unhindered by his watching. Antonio felt awful, he wanted to say something to them, wake them and apologize and then...

what?

What was there to do, who was he supposed to choose because at the end of the day it was up to Antonio, wasn't it? It was his decision. Cho or Lovina. The easy road or the treacherous one.

Deep like or deep love.

The hours passed slowly, the sun beginning to peek over the gloomy horizon. Light spilled through the windows and both girls began to wake. Cho was the first top open her eyes, bleary and slowly, he body ached. She sat up and looked towards Lovina and almost yelped. Antonio was seated on the floor between beds staring at her.

"Antonio?"

"Hola, Cho." He greeted with rumbling voice. He smiled up at her, but it didn't reach his green eyes. He stood up and leaned against the stone wall. "We need to talk."

"Yes," she found her voice. "I suppose we do."

A moment passed and Lovina sat up rubbing her bruised black eyes with the heel of her palm. She winced, letting her hands drop into her lap. Her eyes focused on the scene beside her suddenly, her eyes widened.

"What the hell do you want?" She asked.

"To talk." Antonio answered. "The three of us need to talk."

Lovina crossed her arms across her chest and looked away making Antonio almost smile. His Lovina never changed.

"Lo siento. Both of you didn't deserve this, its my fault but now I'm going to make it better." Antonio turned towards Cho and reached for her hand, ingnoring the snort of distaste Lovi made. "Cho, Lo siento because, I know how you feel about me I always did and I let myself think differently and pretended that I didn't know any better. I used you, even though I knew you were just using incentive as an excuse to go to the ball with me. I'm sorry about everything and I wish that I could like you enough to be your boyfriend, and I could be. I could be with you and we would be happy...but I can't. Lo siento."

Cho looked at their hands, his dark ones holding onto her-so much smaller than his and dainty. She let his words absorb and felt incredibly sad about the whole thing because he was right. She had always liked him and she had used the fact that he liked Lovina to go on a date with him telling him that it would be good to get Lovina jealous.

She knew that if he could get over Lovina that he would be with her, and Cho saw what could have been if there was no Lovina involved. She and Antonio could be very happy together. Suddenly, Cho felt betrayed and angry, as she looked over at a smug and bruised Lovina. Lovina Vargas smug as though she had won Antonio (realistically, it seems like she did). Cho's eyebrows furrowed. Okay, if the boy of her dreams doesn't want to be with her, so be it. Cho couldn't change Antonio's mind however, she would be damned if she let Lovina continue to be a horrible towards him.

Cho fixed Tonio wit a glare.

"So that's it then? I know I can't change your mind and at this point, its useless to say anything else. You know how I feel and you've rejected me, that's fine. I can deal with that as long as we can remain friends." She paused as Antonio nodded. She turned her attention towards Lovina. "And you, you bitter stupid little girl! You're horrible and rude, you're too stupid to realize what a catch you have or maybe you know he's a catch and for whatever reason you're unusually cruel to him which makes you even worse. I'll admit that I have been underhanded and sneaky with sending those girls to tease you, in retrospect that was not the right thing to do but I was desperate. I'm sorry."

"Apology not accepted-" Lovina began but was interpreted as Cho continued.

"But, I will say this, you don't deserve Antonio. You don't deserve his kindness or his strength you barely deserve his friendship. If you want to be with him at all you have to start showing some level of interest or next time, the next girl will really be his girlfriend, you understand? One day, Merlin willing, Antonio will wise up and drop you like week old chocolate frog and move on to someone more deserving. Lovina, you can't expect for the world to revolve around you. You have to move with it (1). You understand?"

They were silent, Cho breathing deeply ignoring the other patients in the infirmary that were sitting up and staring at them. She glared hateful daggers at Lovina before she twisted, swung her legs over the bed and marched right out of earshot. She sat on another cot and swung the curtains closed, her piece done with.

Antonio stared off at her and then to a sour faced Lovina.

"I'm not stupid." She mumbled, face red in either anger or embarrassment. Antonio sighed.

"Lovinita," Antonio began. "Lo siento. That's all I can really say. I went to the ball with Cho to get you jealous, that was wrong of me but..." He took a great breath and released it with a whistle. "I was desperate to get your attention. Sometimes I think you hate me, for real, and it hurts. I thought that if you were jealous you might realize that you love me and you would tell me. But then you go on and you use poor Ivan."

"Poor Ivan?"

Antonio leveled her a look.

"You know he's in love with you and you let him pretend to be your boyfriend to make me jealous...it worked really well but then we started fighting and I couldn't stop hurting him. Lovina," He reached over and held her hand, brought it up to kiss softly. "I love you but...I don't think that's enough for you right now." He stood up and stared down at her with determined eyes. "I think that we shouldn't talk for a little while. Maybe go on dates with other people and see where it leads up."

He left soon after without glancing back. Lovina's eyes wide and hurt. She didn't know what to think or how to explain how she felt. Antonio had just dumped her. Dumped her, it seemed, for real.

For now.

She lay back in bed, hauled the covers over her head and wept at her own stupidity.

No one had won.

~.~.~.~.~

(1)This awesome quote is by The Wistful Bloom.

Muse: *hides* don't kill me for this! I have a plan I swear. I know it blindsided everyone with the whole Tonio essentially dumping both girls but hear me out! There is a reason. I want Lovina to come to realizations on her own, not with Tonio right there in the wings waiting. They're 'on a break' to see other people. They might get back together if they were together or they might drift apart. I'm not sure yet. I know I'm gonna get soooooooo much hate but it had to be done.

Now moving on! Crowley as a professor? Some of you sharp Supernatural fans probably laughed at that one. There's a story there, seriously funny story with Young Crowley and Young Snape with the Young Marauders. Oh and Alfred and Arthur...I bet you all thought there would be an Ally due to the Feli and Lovi G-bends...don't worry Ally will be here soon as...not saying yet.

More Hetalia characters to come. By the By, if you Supernatural Hogwarts fans would like, review if you want a Castiel gets his letter and meets the magical world story (which I am actually in the process of writing. Might be standalone if you don't want it here.) Ya gotta review. Please review, it makes writing up chapters so much easier!

Bye!