Rose Weasley stood in shock as the big screen focused on Bulgaria's seeker. At a neck-to-neck split second, Andrei Krum snatched the snitch out of England's seeker's reach before the Bulgarian chaser shot his goal, thus ending the match. England won at a ten point difference. While everyone else around her rejoiced at their victory, Rose remained frozen when she saw her new friend in the center of attention.
The friend who happens to be male and somewhat attractive in his own way was front and center for everyone to see. Sure, his facial structure was too rigid and firm for her taste, but his smile just seem to take her breath away. Not to mention his extensive knowledge of Arithmancy had gotten her excited in a way that no one has ever done before. For Rose, talking to males outside the family was never easy (Score and the Scamanders don't count as they're going to be officially family one day anyway). However, this Andrei inspired her to discuss her favorite subject and managed to steer the conversation elsewhere. What they argued about earlier today, she doesn't exactly remember, but all she knows was that talking to him was rather stimulating, and well… simply, fun!
It was quite careless of her to not notice him throughout the game. But even she admits that though she inherited her mother's brain, there are many times that she finds herself like her farther, clueless and oblivious to one's surroundings. Crud! She needs to pay attention to these quidditch things more often! No wonder Scorpius was laughing!
"Rose, are you alright?" her best friend, Francesca Longbottom asked, concerned. The Longbottoms have joined them in their booth just before the match started. Therefore, as of this moment, Frankie still doesn't know the latest update on her life.
"I'm fine, Frankie," Rose answered.
"So Rosie," Lucy piqued up, "Is he the Andrei you were talking about?" The short Weasley asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"Woah! Wait! Rose has an Andrei?" Alexis, Frankie's younger sister and Lily's best friend joined in.
"First off Lucy," Rose glared at her cousin. "You were talking about it…"
"But second off," Dom interrupted, "You are avoiding the question." The other girls nodded.
"Wait! I'm missing something!" Frankie exclaimed and pointed straight at Rose accusingly. "Rose Ginevra Weasley! Are you hiding something from your best friend! Spill!"
Rose looked at Frankie and the rest of her cousins who were staring her down. She sighed. She knows when to accept defeat. "Can I tell you about it later?" She blushed. "I don't need a bigger audience." She said looking away from her smirking family only to lay her eyes on a certain Bulgarian that was flying her way.
….
His coach would've killed him if he knew that during the first ten minutes of the match, Andrei wasn't even bothering to look for the golden snitch. Instead, he was scanning the arena, the English side particularly, for curly bright red hair. He was quite surprised when he saw a small army of them on prime seats near England's Minister of Magic. There were dozens of them and he almost flew towards them to find her when a bludger came flying his way. Andrei looked up, only to find the famous Harry Potter's son glaring murderously at him.
"James! Chasers first!" Potter's blonde partner laughed. "You can get the seeker later!" She giggled as she flew to beat a bludger towards one of Bulgaria's Chaser, hitting the end of his broom. The malfunction brought Andrei back to reality and went to search for the snitch.
Righter after the match, Andrei looked back at the red-headed stand and saw that out of the cheering red-heads, one stood frozen in the middle. She looked shocked. But then again, she didn't even know his name a few hours ago. Her blond friend must have kept her in the dark.
Either way, Andrei flew towards her. Might as well get properly introduced now. He needed a smile from her after that disappointing loss and somehow he knew that Red Rose would be just the right medicine to brighten up the rest of the day.
….
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Rose screamed mentally. He's coming this way. She doesn't need this right now! Especially now that her father's in hearing distance, beaming with English pride. Or her mother, who used to date this guy's uncle (She knows who Viktor Krum is from Hogwarts, A History chapter on the Tri-Wizard Tournament Uncle Harry was in).
Rose looked sideways. Seeing that none of her cousins were going to help her (no, they were grinning like Cheshire cats with extra cream), she did the only thing she could do. She ducked. On her knees, she pretended to look for something.
"Hello Mr. Krum!" She heard Dom's voice oozing with nefarious sweetness. Rose fumed. Her cousin's turning into Veela mode. "Congratulations on your catch. We're utterly delighted that you've graced us with your presence." Rose could just feel her cousin batting her eyelash towards her man, so she grabbed the first thing she could reach.
"Found it!" She exclaimed, standing up.
"A Chocolate Frog wrapper?" Lily asked dryly.
"They were having a contest with the candy wrappers." Rose glared. She scanned the wrapper and shrugged. "I guess this isn't it." She said as she tossed it aside. Shyly, she mustered up all she could to look at Andrei and gave him a small smile. "Nice catch!" Really, what else could she say?
"Thank you" was his polite reply. No one continued the conversation.
"This is awkward… Oh! By the way, I looked into what you said, but no! The irrational number of the Egyptian's view of infinity doesn't work in getting the average to use for d(x)." She blurted the first thing that came to mind.
His eyes sparked as he retorted, "I hardly think that's the case, Red. I told you, getting the 'x' is imperative in solving the first quarter of the puzzle." he smirked.
"On the contrary," Rose countered. "I've already solved half the puzzle in which…"
"Are you kidding me!" Roxanne interrupted. Rose realized that more and more people (the adults included) are now looking their way. "Is this your idea of flirting?"
"Now Mr. Krum," Molly said, "Our family camp is on the Eastern side of the English camp. We'll be staying for another night. We leave early morning. "
"Molly!" Rose blushed.
"We're celebrating England's victory, of course," Lily added, "but you're welcome to come!"
"Lily…" She could feel a vein almost popping.
"What time?" The cocky seeker asked.
"We should be starting at around 8ish." Lucy added with a big grin on her face.
"I'll be there." Krum said as he flashed her cousins a smile.
"Don't you have better things to do!" Rose blurted out. Her cousins shot her daggers, but he merely smirked.
"I'm sure I have other things, Red." He started, "But I'm sure none as beautiful as you. " And with that, he flew off to join the rest of his team.
"Damn, he's good!" Molly snickered. "Rosie, if you don't stake your claim on that boy, I will!" The rest giggled. Rose couldn't help but smile. Maybe, just maybe this evening would end up better than she expected.
"Rose Weasley" a male voice boomed over their circle. "would you kindly explain to your father as to why Bulgaria's seeker was here flirting with his favorite little girl?" (Everyone could hear Hermione's 'Oh Ron!' in the background.)
Rose sighed. Maybe not…