Disclaimer: I own nothing but my character, plotline and a few other characters strewn out about the story. If I owned Harry Potter then I'd be sitting in my glorious mansion at 10:22 PM, looking over the latest cast list. But of course, I don't own Harry Potter, so I'm sitting here eating oreos. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. ROWLING -- zee rather amazing author. However, I did use a number of pieces of dialogue in this chapter and I probably will steal a phrase or two during the story.

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Chapter Three

"Meeting French-Boy"

Ever since Harry got selected by the Goblet of Fire, people have been taking snaps at him. We all know that Malfoy handed out those pins that said 'VOTE CEDRIC' and when you pushed them revealed 'POTTER STINKS!'

And then there was the fact that Ron was avoiding the poor boy. When I asked him why, I didn't get quite a helpful response.

"Oh, why don't you go ask him?" Ron had spat at me. "Because I'm just Harry Potter's stupid friend".

He proceeded in stomping out of the common room, mumbling to himself.

"He's gone mad", George shrugged while playing a game of Exploding Snap with Lee.

"Why don't you try and help them make up?" I asked the boys.

Fred snorted. "Ickle Ronnie-kins is a big boy. He can take care of himself", he told me.

The first task was amazing to watch and needless to say, Harry's go at it was by far the most entertaining. After he succeeded in getting the egg, I was glad that him and Ron made up. Those two couldn't stay mad at eachother.

"Did you finish your Transfiguration essay, Katie?" Angelina asked as we all made our way to our third period.

"Obviously not", Katie replied, rolling her eyes. "Not with trying to get the pudding out of my hair all night long".

Me and the twins grinned sheepishly.

"Alright", I admitted. "Maybe starting a food fight in the Great Hall wasn't the best idea".

"Maybe?!" Angelina asked skeptically. "I'm still attempting to get gravy stains off the skirt I wore yesterday!"

"How much detention did you three get?" Alicia asked, digging through her bag.

"Not that much", Fred said, shrugging. "Surprisingly, McGonagall only made us clean the Gryffindor table".

"I reckon she got a good chuckle out of it too", George added, grinning.

We took our seats in Transfiguration, me sitting in between the twins.

"What about the other tables?" Katie asked.

George waved his hand airily. "They're wizards, they can do it themselves".

Our lot quieted down a bit as McGonagall began to drone on.

"Do you think Malfoy got that load of jello out of his hair that I threw at him?" Fred whispered to us.

"Probably not", I replied, "It was cherry, after all".

George nodded. "Plus I saw him at breakfast this morning and I swore I saw some red!"

"Weasley's, Lovette!" McGonagall interrupted. "Can you both listen up?"

"Of course, Professor", we answered, feigning an innocent look.

She rolled her eyes. "I hope you three dance as well as you can throw food", I swear I saw her mouth twitch – threatening to smile, "Because there's going to be a ball!"

The girls squealed, while the boys groaned. I however, followed the boys by groaning in protest.

A ball? Really? Is that necessary?

"The Yule Ball is a tradition with the Triwizard Tournament", McGonagall said. "Find an escort, look your best, and act your best".

These last few words were shot towards me and the twins. In other words, no pranks.

"Dismissed", she announced and kids leaked from the room.

"A ball!" Katie squealed.

"A ball", I rolled my eyes.

"Awh, come on!" Katie sighed, "How can you not be excited?"

I shrugged. "It just seems really … expectant", I told her.

"Of what?" Alicia asked.

I twisted my mouth to the side. "I mean, we have to go out, get a dress, do our hair, find a date", I listed on and on. "What if I don't get asked? I'm going to look like a fool!"

Angelina scoffed. "You?" she asked me, "Ryleigh Marie Lovette not get asked to the dance? Impossible".

I sighed. "You over exaggerate too much for your own good".

She grinned. "So you say".

"So, girls", I said, "Who are you guys hoping to be asked by?"

Katie, Angelina and Alicia all looked pointedly to Fred, George and Lee.

"Alright, alright", George said.

"I see when we're not wanted", Fred sighed, pouting.

"We'll just go, er – talk – to Ryleigh's brother!" George exclaimed happily before they all ran down the hall.

I groaned. Xavier was going to owl to Dad one day, talking about how many pranks have been pulled on him. And then Dad's going to turn on me.

Well…Any normal father would. But my dad encourages my pranking!

"Continue", I told my friends.

Katie squealed. "Well, you know that cute brunette I pointed out in the Great Hall the night the other schools arrived?"

"Ooh, the one with dreamy blue eyes?" Alicia demanded, intrigued.

She nodded happily. "That's the one! I want him to ask me", she sighed dreamily.

Angelina patted her shoulder. "You should probably learn his name".

Katie looked appauled. "Of course I will!" she insisted then bit her lip thoughtfully, "In due time".

I shrugged. "You have all the time in the world, Kate. It's a Christmas Ball".

"A month is all the time in the world?"

"Exactly", I said simply before we were off to our next class.

"Ry", Alicia sighed as we sat down in Charms. "You can't tell me that you don't even feel the least bit interested in the Yule Ball".

"Alicia", I looked her in the eyes, "I'm not the least bit interested in the Yule Ball".

She hit my arm. "Lies!"

"Ow!"

"Settle down, children", Flitwick said as we began an exciting lesson of copying notes.

"Ry, we need your help", George said as he sat down next to me at dinner a week or too after we were told about the ball.

"What is it, boys?" I asked warily.

"Well, you see", Fred explained, sitting down on the other side of me, "We're going to prank Moody".

My eyes widened. "You want to prank Mad-Eyed Moody?!"

"Any louder!"

I smiled sheepishly, glancing around the table. Nobody was paying me any attention.

"But yes", Fred said. "We're planning of stealing that flask he always drinks from and replace the – well, whatever he's drinking – with Laughing Liquid".

"What's Laughing Liquid?" Angelina asked from beside me.

"Exactly what it sounds like!" George insisted. "It's liquid that makes you laugh!"

"Guys", I sighed. "We don't even know what he has in there. If we put in the Laughing Liquid and it tastes different, we're going to get caught. Am I the only one that thinks around here?"

"Am I the only one who's devishly handsome around here?" Fred asked, faking a sound of exasperation while flipping his hair.

"No, I believe that would be me", George interrupted. "I've always been told I was the more attractive twin".

"Rubbish!"

I rolled my eyes, listening to the twins bicker.

"Really", I said finally, "We all know that Lee is the most charming boy at this table!"

Lee grinned widely and nodded quickly. Fred and George looked at me, then to Lee, and then started arguing again.

"My eyes are brighter!"

"Well, my hair is redder!"

"I'm more dazzling!"

"You're off your rocker, is what you are".

"I'm going to hit them", I muttered to Alicia and she giggled.

"Care to leave, arm-in-arm with me?" she asked, grinning.

"Leesh, I think that's the smartest thing I've ever heard come out your mouth", I replied, returning the grin as we left the Hall.

We were sitting in the Common Room, discussing when we would go shopping for something to wear to the Ball, Fred and George walked in – laughing.

"I see you've made up", Alicia commented, smirking.

"Well, how could I not forgive this face?" George commented, pinching Fred's cheeks.

"Oh, no. I could never stay mad at this handsome devil!"

"Oh, please; you're making me turn as red as my hair".

"Which by the way, is luscious!"

I slapped my hand to my forehead. "Merlin, why do I put up with you guys?"

"Because you love us!" they replied in unison, wearing the same impish grins.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to the library", I said as I was standing up.

"I'll come too", Fred told me, a twinkle in his eye.

I smile. "Alrighty then, Freddy-boy!" I linked arms with the ginger-haired boy and we skipped out of the common room, running into the rest of our lot entering.

"Where are you two off to?" Angelina asked.

"Library!" I admitted proudly. "Where's Katie?"

Lee shrugged. "Off finding some French bloke", he replied.

Fred and I returned his shrug before continuing our walk to the library.

"So", he said as we sat down at one of the tables. "Anybody asked you to the dance yet?"

"Well", I started, blowing my bangs out of my eyes. "I've had a few guys ask but I turned them down".

"Really, now?" Fred asked, smirking.

"No, Fred. I'm not telling you their names".

"Awh, come on, Ry!"

"No!"

"Shh!" Madame Pince shushed us, narrowing her hawk-like eyes.

"The woman's a complete nutter", I muttered under my breath.

"Hey, Ryleigh", Fred whispered.

"What?"

There was silence.

"Tell me".

"Fred, no!"

"Tell me".

"No".

"A name?"

"No".

"Two names?"

"If I wouldn't tell you one name why would I tell you two?"

"Ryleigh", Fred whined.

I laughed. "You're being immature", I told him.

"Oh, and you always act your age?" he asked me, smirking.

I scrunched up my nose and stuck out my tongue. "Shut up".

"Make me", Fred replied, grinning.

"I'm gonna hit you", I stated, matter-of-factly.

"Do it!" Fred said with a wide grin.

I used my wand to levitate one of the books infront of me and whip it at my best friend's head.

"Ow!" he yelled and Madame Pince shot him a sharp look. He lowered his voice. "Ry, I never said you could hit me with a book!"

I shrugged. "You never said I couldn't either", I replied, smirking.

"I hate you", he muttered.

"Lies", I stated simply, my smirk morphing into a smile. "There's love".

His face broke out into a grin. "Alright, I lied", he admitted.

"Thankyou", I said, "Now, Fred. Who are you planning on asking to th – ".

The library's doors barged open and with an apologetic look towards the rather ticked librarian, Katie Bell sprinted towards us.

"Ryleigh!" she whispered eagerly. "You'd never guess who I was just talking to!"

"Bigfoot?!" I asked hopefully.

"Calvin Beaumont!" she told me with a squeal. I nodded in understanding.

"Who's Calvin Beaumont?" Fred asked, clearly confused.

"French guy from Beauxbatons that Kate's had her eye on", I explained. She had been talking a lot to the brunette lately.

He nodded also. "I see".

"Yeah, except when I was talking to him, I realized he didn't want me", she said although she sounded overly happy.

"Okay…?" I said, clearly confused.

"He told me he wanted to ask my cute friend that always hangs out with the redhead twins to the ball!" Katie squealed.

I blinked. "Alicia?"

"You!"

My eyes widened. "W-What?"

"Ry, have you ever talked to this guy?" Fred asked, sounding skeptical.

I shook my head. "Never!"

He played with his fingers before standing up. "I have to go talk to George about our prank. See you guys in the common room later", he told us before walking quickly out of the library.

"What was that about?" asked Katie as she sat down in the seat now unoccupied.

"I don't know…", I muttered, thinking about what just happened.

She shrugged. "He seemed mad".

"I know".

"…Weird".

"Yup".

Later that night, Katie, Angelina, Alicia and I sat awake in our dorm, talking about the Yule Ball.

"Alright, so who's asked who?" Alicia asked once she closed the door.

"I want to go with Krum", Angelina sighed dreamily.

"Too late", I pointed out to her. "He's already asked his dearest Her-my-own-ee".

We all found it rather funny the way Viktor addressed Hermione, but she had no problem with it, it appeared. I wonder how Ron was taking it, or even he even knew yet.

She pouted. "Well seeing as I'm out, who else?"

Katie immediately squealed. "I'm going with one of Calvin's friends! Jean-Luc!"

Alicia and Angelina seemed shocked. Even I was surprised; she hadn't mentioned this in the library.

"What about Calvin?!" Angelina demanded.

Katie waved her hand airily as if it were old news. "Jean-Luc is that blonde boy I spotted in the Hall", she explained, "Plus, Calvin wants Ryleigh".

"WHAT?!" the unknowing girls exclaimed.

I buried my face in my hands. "He said he wanted to ask me!" I confessed, "But he hasn't done it yet!"

"Ooh, Ryleigh!" Alicia squealed. "Go for it! He's cute!"

I sighed. "I know nothing about him!" I told them.

Angelina grinned mischievously. "Not yet", she said. "But you will".

The next morning, I quickly learned what Angelina meant. It was a Saturday and she had demanded that it be just us girls today, walking to breakfast.

As we were walking to the Great Hall, she spotted Calvin right outside the doors, talking to his friends.

I shook my head, realizing why she made us get up earlier this morning.

"No! Angelina, don't do this!" I pleaded, but it was too late. She was already yelling.

"HEY, LOOK! IT'S RYLEIGH LOVETTE!" she exclaimed before running inside the Hall with the other girls.

I groaned and covered my face with my hands, hoping that he hadn't heard or seen me.

He had.

Calvin grinned and bid his friends goodbye before he started walking towards me.

"Hello", he greeted in a remarkably entrancing voice. Was it possible he was Veela? Wait, could there even be male Veelas?

I'll have to ask Hermione, I thought to myself.

Realizing that if I didn't respond now, I would give off the impression I was mentally retarded, I shot him a small smile.

"Hi", I said in a voice, very much unlike my own. It sounded shy and sweeter than usual.

Weird.

"You're Katie's friend, no?" he asked in a very cute French accent.

"No", I said nodding then bit my lip. "Wait, yes, I – I'm Katie's friend". I let out a sigh at my own stupidity.

He smiled at my confusion let out a small chuckle. "I am Calvin".

"I know".

Oh Merlin. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. That sounds kind of creepy.

But he just chuckled once more. "I know who you are too, Ryleigh", he said with a small smile.

But that smile was contagious and I felt a smile bloom on my lips.

"How do you like Hogwarts?" I asked awkwardly, looking anyway but his drop dead gorgeous blue eyes.

"Ah, it is amazing. Especially since there is a tres magnifique girl here", he replied, looking pointedly at me.

A small blush appeared on my cheeks, so I looked away to hide it.

"Where uh – ", I stuttered. "Where do you sit for meals?"

"I sit with the Ravenclaws", he told me in his thick accent.

"Oh!" I said. "Well, you should sit at the Gryffindor table sometime".

"Do you sit there?"

I bit my lip and nodded.

He grinned at me. "Then I will try my hardest to make it to your table for supper, ma belle".

It was so not fair! Him being able to speak a cute language and what not. What could I speak? English? Not that impressive.

"Ryleigh", Calvin started, sounding very nervous, "Do you have a date for this Yule Ball yet?"

I shook my head. "Not yet".

"Would you like to – ", he started but was cut off by somebody calling my name.

"Ry!" George said again, his head poking out from the Hall doors. I was surprised that his twin was not with him.

"Yeah, George?" I asked, tearing my eyes away from Calvin.

"Are you coming inside to eat…today?" he asked, the usual twinkle in his eyes gone, "We have to start planning our, er, thing".

By thing I know he meant the prank on Mad-Eye and I admit – I will never turn down a chance to prank somebody.

I turned back to the French boy infront of me to tell him I would have to talk to him later, but he held up his hand.

"Do not worry, Ryleigh. I understand you must leave", he took my hand in his and kissed it. "Avoir, cherie".

"Uh", I said lamely, "Yeah, bye".

George quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me into the Hall, a sigh of relief escaping my lips.

"Thankyou", I said to the twin. "That was the most awkward conversation of my life".

"Oh, yeah. I heard that Frenchie wanted to ask you to the Ball", he said, the twinkle not yet arriving to his eyes.

I furrowed my brow. "Something wrong?"

George shook his head and before I knew it, he was smirking; the twinkle was back. "Nah, I just find it funny that you're going to be some guy's croissant", he explained.

I gasped and hit him, laughing. "George!"

He grinned and shrugged as we arrived to the table. I took my usual seat in between Fred and George before helping myself to some eggs.

"So", Angelina grinned, "How'd it go?!"

"Oh, besides being completely weird and him using tons of French words that I'm sure were compliments but I have no idea what they mean…", I said sarcastically, "Just great".

She rolled her eyes. "You'll thank me one day", she insisted.

"Not really".

Don't think it was left unnoticed to me that during this entire conversation about Calvin that Fred was silent, picking at his bacon.

"You gonna eat that?" Lee asked, his mouth already full with food.

Fred looked up at him, gaping. "Are you seriously asking me for my food?" he asked his friend. "You're off your rocker!"

He then shoveled all of his food into his mouth and I grinned. At least whatever was wrong with him wasn't that bad.

"So!" George said as we started to walk out of the Great Hall. "How are we going to get that flask off him?"

I thought about it for a moment and then grinned, turning around. "Oi! Potter!" I called.

Harry looked up at me and grinned, walking up to us – Hermione and Ron in tow.

"Reckon I could borrow your cloak?" I asked him, smirking.

"Sure", he said. "What for?"

I smiled mischievously and the twins matched my grin, realizing my plan.

"Oh", I replied. "Don't you worry".