PART 6-THE MIDDLE

"You know the sun is shining, don't you?" Brooke asked, she had snuck into the boy's dorm when Fred and George were no shows for breakfast and lunch. She was now sitting on the bottom of Fred's bed bouncing up and down in an attempt to wake him up.

"Mmm," Fred mumbled, then pulled a pillow over his head.

"You can't sleep the day away."

Fred continued to ignore Brooke so she leaned across him to try and pry the pillow from his face. He jerked himself onto his back and Brooke ended up sprawled on top of him. Her face flushed as she realized the way she was laying on top of Fred in his bed. She didn't understand why this was awkward now, her and the boys always used to wrestle together, even sleep together when she stayed over. Now it felt wrong to be laying this close to Fred, Brooke slipped herself into a sitting position and crawled off of Fred. He was now awake and staring at her oddly.

"What?" she asked.

"Why are you blushing?" he asked.

"I'm not."

"Your cheeks are bright red."

"I'm not blushing."

"If you say so, what does it matter to you if I sleep the day away?"

"Because I'm bored out of my mind and the first task is in uhm.....an hour."

Fred jumped up and looked over at his clock.

"Bloody hell," he said. "I'll meet you in the common room once I get dressed."

"Great!"

Brooke jumped up and walked out of the boy's dorm running into George on the stairs as she did.

"There you are!" George said.

"There you are," said Brooke.

"What were you doing in the boy's dorm?"

"Waking up your lazy brother, I was coming for you next, be glad you're already awake."

Brooke looped her arm through George's and pulled him down into the common room and onto a couch. She laid back in the couch and closed her eyes, she had woken up too early that morning.

"Brooke?" George asked.

"Yeah, George?" Brooke replied.

"........nothing, never mind."

"Don't do that, what do you want to ask me?"

Brooke sat up and looked over at George, she hated when people did what he had just done.

"It's nothing, just forget about it," said George.

"You are frustrating," Brooke said, and laid back into the couch.

"Did you take the bets?" Fred asked as he walked down the stairs.

"That's what I was doing this morning," answered George.

"You guys didn't?" Brooke asked.

"Might as well make a profit, it's the best part of this tournament," Fred said grinning.

"Do you two have no souls?"

"Of course not, we sold them to the devil a long time ago," George said.

"Well come on then, let's get there early and get a good seat."

Brooke stood up and the twins followed her out of the common room and to the grounds. It was easy to spot the giant stadium where the first task was being held and Brooke followed the trail up to it.

"Fred, George, Brooke!" Lee called from up ahead of them on the trail.

"Hello, Lee!" Brooke called back then made her way to him. "How are you?"

"Spectacular, I was just waiting for those two sods to get here as we all agreed to sit together."

"Sods?" George asked.

"Us? asked Fred.

"Of course not, boys, he meant the other red-headed twins," said Brooke.

"Thought he did," said Fred, winking.

"Come on, there's quite a few good spots left," said Lee leading them into the stadium. They came across a front seat and Brooke sat down between the twins and Lee.

"Do we have any idea what the first task is?" Brooke asked.

"Ron told us it was dragons," Fred and George said in unison.

"Can't be, would the schools really put their students in that kind of danger?"

"Why do you think the students had to be 17 plus?" asked Lee.

"I'm glad you two didn't get in, I don't want either of you dead," Brooke said pointing at the twins.

"Do you not believe in our magical abilities?" asked Fred.

"I would, had you both attended classes more than half your time at school."

"She's got a point, mate," said Lee.

"What have you done, Brooke, you've turned our best friend against us!" George said.

"What can I say, I have a certain charm about me."

"Says you."

Brooke smacked George playfully on the arm then all the sudden everyone seemed to quiet instantly. She looked down and saw Dumbledore who began to speak about the first task. Apparently the students would have to steal a golden egg from one of four dragons, the dragon being randomly chosen by the student. He then left and the first dragon was brought in, the first person out was Cedric.

"Think he'll try to flirt with it to get to the egg?" asked Fred.

"He does seem the type," answered Lee.

"Don't tell me they've gotten to you?" Brooke asked looking at Lee.

"Look at the guy, Brooke, he's a pretty boy, I swear he wears make-up."

"You three should have been triplets."

"Must be the hair right?" asked George, and Brooke began laughing, she laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes before she could answer.

"The only similarity between your hair is that you both have some," she said, and ruffled both George and Lee's hair. "Anyway, does anybody have any idea what's going on in the tournament?"

"No, not really," said Fred.

"Brilliant, I'll have to get a play by play from Angie."

"Does that mean you aren't enjoying our distractions?" asked Lee.

"Of course not, Lee, it just means I find the tournament more entertaining than you, big difference."

"And here I thought you were implying something really mean."

"Never," Brooke said winking, then she turned her attention back to the tournament.