Chapter Eight

The Chosen Path

:.:.:

I hold the silver, oval-shaped locket in the palm of my hand, the strange inscriptions staring back at me. I still haven't the slightest idea what they mean. I'm seated on the edge of a green, velvet-sheeted bed, and just as I begin to rise from it, I am greeted by a very young girl, running into the room and repeatedly shouting "Mum!" This child, clad in a red dress, bares a shocking resemblance to me, except for her eyes which are a pale blue.

"Mummy, come downstairs!" she prods, taking my hand in an attempt to pull me along. "Daddy said I could open one of my presents tonight!"

But I find myself staring into her blue eyes before I can even think of responding. And just as I am about to, 'Daddy' comes strolling in.

"I hope that's all right, love." The voice is only remotely familiar, at best. And I don't look to see who it is until I've decided in my mind. But I quickly find out my speculation is wrong.

It looks like Lucius Malfoy, but the eyes suggest otherwise. These eyes are far too kind to be Malfoy's. Though I'm not entirely wrong, for it is a Malfoy. Our supposed daughter stands between myself and an older version of Draco, his eyes meeting her's now.

"Why don't you head down, Aurora? Your mother and I will be right there." And after Aurora flees from the room, Draco's gaze returns to mine. "Y'know, darling," and then he steps in closer and whispers seductively in my ear, "we still need to have a boy…if we want an heir."

"We don't, your father does," I clarify acidically, pushing Draco away from me.

"Well this is our life now," he says matter-of-factly. "Nothing we can do about it."

I open my fist and stare at the locket. There was something I could have done.

"No, Demetria, not this again," Draco says sternly. "It's time to move on."

"You took my Light!" I accuse.

Draco quickly matches my increased volume and shouts back, "I took nothing! You gave it to me!"

"Because I was forced to!"

He doesn't say anything for a split second, but his expression is hard as stone. And in the second which follows, he snatches the locket from my hand and takes off. I'm shouting his name and running after him, down the grand staircase and through winding hallways. I only stop once after I catch a glimpse of myself in a hallway mirror. I hardly recognize myself. Sure, it sort of looks like me…but I'm older…and I look like…Narcissa Malfoy. And that's when I release a murderous scream at the sight, Draco now shouting my name from somewhere in the house.

"Demetria! Demetria!"

–

"Demetria! Demetria! Dem, c'mon!"

I awoke, mid-scream, to find my body being shaken by Finn. And for a moment, all I could do was stare at him through the darkness, his sea-foam green eyes popping out against it. And he didn't even have to ask anything, for he was fully aware of what happened and was already helping me down from my bunk, a slight smashing sound emitted as he did so. Then we moved up the ladder, and through the hatch. As soon as I emerged from below deck, the December air immediately whipped against my face, then my bare arms and legs. Luckily, Finn came through the hatch with a pair of sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and my combat boots. He was already bundled up.

"What was it this time?" he inquired, moving over to the ship's starboard railing.

I followed and recounted the dream, though I was still in a bit of a haze as I attempted to tie up my combat boots once I'd put my feet in. Finn noticed my trouble and aided me, not only in lacing up the boots, but he also helped me get into the clothing which I figured was his own. By the time I was finished explaining my dream, so was he with clothing me in his black sweatpants and white Scottish flag sweatshirt, both of which were slightly big on me.

"So you didn't get another locket then?" he prodded almost teasingly.

My hand instinctively reached for the locket which was missing from around my neck. "I didn't even get that one back," I told him in bewilderment.

But just like last time, Finn remained unusually calm. "All right, so your mother gives it to you and you wake up with it…Draco takes it, it's gone… D'you s'pose it's somewhere around your bunk?"

"It's not, I went to sleep with it on," I replied, near tears. And I wasn't even sure why, but I knew I just felt like crying. And so I just…did.

Finn already had me wrapped up in his arms as soon as he detected the saddness in my voice. So I just returned the embrace and let his own sweatshirt sop up my tears.

I was just so tired of all these secrets. My own life was one, big mystery. And anytime I'd shut my eyes and try to sleep and escape it, I woke up with more questions than answers. And now I'd even lost my mother's locket…in a sodding dream!

"Shhh, Dem, it'll be all right," Finn cooed. "We'll figure this out, don't worry," And I could feel him smile against the top of my head as he spoke again. "Don't cry on Christmas."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that as I pulled away. But I did still swat at his arm teasingly.

The sun could be seen rising ever-so-slightly over the forest then, and that would mean everyone below deck would be waking up and getting ready for breakfast in the Great Hall.

"Happy Christmas, Finn," I said softly.

He returned the smile I gave him and said, "Happy Christmas…Demetrius."

"Really, Winifinn?" I said mockingly, but couldn't help cracking a smile. "Just had to go and ruin the moment?"

"I live for ruining moments," he teased, draping an arm over my shoulder. "and helping mates decode mysterious lockets."

With his arm still snaked around me, we began walking off the ship and across the grounds. "Oh, is that right?" I said, feigning impression. "How many would you say you've decoded then?"

"Well as it turns out, madame, you are the first," he said, tipping his imaginary hat to me and winking.

Just as we'd made it to the castle and I'd stopped chuckling at Finn, I remembered why we were there in the first place. I mean, why we were ahead of the rest of our school who could then be seen casually making their way through the snow on the same path we'd taken (because there's no point in marching intimidatingly when in sweatpants or, like Grigor, footie pajamas).

"Oi!" I said suddenly, hitting Finn, who didn't react other than by looking at me. "How did you do that?"

"Get Grigor out in public in his footie pajamas?" he asked, appearing rather proud. "Well I saw his mum sent them to him and I used an art known as blackmail to —"

"Not that, you tosspo — That's because of you?" I looked again at Grigor and his fluffy cloud themed ensemble and caught sight of his miserable expression as he and the rest of the blokes drew closer. "Impressive."

And finally, Grigor and Viktor and the rest had passed Finn and I and entered into the Great Hall. But not before Grigor raised a certain finger to Finn, who returned the crude gesture with a thumbs-up.

"You just did it again!" I told him. And this time he just looked at me, still smiling, but with confusion. "You just…distract me. Had I been with Sir Puff N' Stuff, I'd still be worrying about the locket."

"That's because I'm a professional, Dem," and with that, he stepped toward the Great Hall entrance and pretended to hold open the door for me which was already propped open. "Ladies first."

But just as I was about to step through the threshold, I heard a certain voice behind me say, "You forgot to bow, mate." And another say, "If you're stealing our jokes, steal them right."

Upon turning, I found it to be the very same tall, lanky ginger twins I suspected. They were undoubtedly referring to the night they'd snuck me into the kitchens for a snack, and they'd used that same line and bowed. And I hadn't remembered until I saw the uncertainty plastered across George's face that I was supposed to be mad at him. Hard to believe it was just the previous night when his twin brother came and gave me the speech of the century.

"I'll meet you inside, Dem," Finn said to me before I figured he'd left. I wouldn't know for sure, my eyes had never left those of George Weasley. And then for what felt like hours we just stood there staring, him looking rather uncertain and I…Well actually, I wasn't entirely sure of what face I was making.

"Could you two hurry up this stare-off?" Fred interjected. "I'm rather famished." And I saw, from out of the corner of my eye, Fred signal me toward his brother with a rather pleading expression.

"Happy Christmas, George," I said finally, and with a genuine smile. Ugh, I was going to make for such a Godric-awful Death Eater. And the closer I got to them, the more they'd hate me once I became one. But I decided to ignore that for the time being, especially after watching George's face light up like…well, a child on Christmas morning.

"Happy Christmas, love," he said, and looked for a moment as though he might come in to hug me.

When he didn't, I put my arms out and said, "Come on then, you great git."

I didn't realize until he and I were embracing eachother that we'd never hugged before. And I hated to admit how much I liked it. Just the feeling of his arms around me, and how it felt different from when someone like Finn did it. Just his warm, ambery scent engulfing me. And I found myself getting far too caught up in all of it, so after what felt longer than it probably was, I looked out from against George's chest and found Fred just looking on with a smirk.

"Care to join, Freddie?"

"Nah, not much of a sharing bloke, Princess," Fred said, keeping his smirk intact and heading for the Hall entrance. "But you two have fun. Happy Christmas, and save me a dance tonight, would ya, lovie?"

At that, Fred left us, George releasing me and looking rather nervous about something. "So you're not mad anymore, right?"

"George, I don't often hug those I'm in a row with," I told him, which seemed to help visibly calm his nerves.

"Well you certainly would've made an exception for me," he said with his joking bravado back in check. "But I wouldn't be able to resist such a god-like figure such as myself either."

"Right, that must be it," I said, playing along with a smile of my own. "I just can't resist, is that it?"

"You can't, and I don't blame you," he continued. "Which is why my answer is yes, I'll go with you to the ball tonight. Just don't beg… Actually —"

I snapped right back into reality. "George, you don't have a date yet?" And I was so full of shock and disappointment that I hadn't realized how mean that must've sounded. "It's just that…No, I…I would've liked to go with you but…er, I thought you had a date and…now I do…"

"Oh no, no worries, no, not at all," he assured. "I've got a date, Demetria. Yeah, no, I was only joking around, y'know, just…pulling your leg."

"Oh, all right, well that's…good then, yeah?" I floundered. "We both have dates, I mean."

"Yeah! It's just great actually," George agreed.

"Excellent."

"Superb."

"Ace."

"Peachy."

"See you tonight."

"Save me a da — a damn seat."

"Good."

I turned and rushed off into the Great Hall, making my way immediately toward my usual spot at the Slytherin table.

Good? What was I thinking? What even happened?! I didn't even have time to think as we were speaking. But none of that really mattered anymore once I sat down at the bench, for whatever the previous conversation had been, it ended as I arrived and shifted to me.

"So, Demetria," said Adrian at once. "Hope you're ready for tonight. I just went with the classic black-and-white dress robes if that's all right."

"Good," I told him. Bloody hell, that wordagain. I began fixing myself a mug of coffee.

"Demi, I may know someone who can help interpret your dreams," said, of all people, Draco. I just stared from across the table for a moment. "Finn only mentioned you were having some rather unusual dreams."

I looked to Finn, but Viktor came to his rescue. "The entire cabin heard your screaming," he reasoned.

"Well alright then, just how far out of the way d'you reckon we'll have to go?" I asked Draco.

He released a small breath of laughter and assured me, "Not far."

–

"A Seer! Right here in the bloody castle! And this is the first I'm hearing about it!" said Finn, astounded. "This wasn't in Hogwarts: A History!"

We were standing in the classroom of a Professor Trelawney, teacher of Divination at Hogwarts. Although it didn't look like much of a classroom at all. More like a cross between an old-fashioned tea shop and someone's attic. But apparently, at least according to Draco, this was the woman to see on dreams.

"Don't wet yourself, Finnick," I told him. "We don't even know if this woman's a load of rubbish or not."

"The Inner Eye speaks for itself, Demetria Harris," came a soft, misty voice. And upon turning, I found it to be who I assumed was Professor Trelawney.

My immediate impression was that of Rita Skeeter in a disguise…or not much of one, really. They both resembled large, glittering insects, differences only perceived once she moved closer to Finn and I.

Trelawney wore large spectacles which greatly magnified her bug-eyes. She was swallowed up in a spangled shawl with numerous chains and beads hanging around her neck. Her arms and hands were jingling with bangles and rings.

Finn immediately looked to me with a smirk as if to say 'I told you so.'

"So she knows my name," I dismissed airily. "Anyone with the slightest clue of this sodding tournament could piece that together."

But Finn remained unphased, as did Trelawney, who was then ushering us toward one of the small, circular tables encircled by fat little poufs. Finn collapsed on his knees on to one first while I remained reluctant.

"Sit, my child," insisted Trelawney. I did, but I couldn't help thinking what I'd just gotten myself into. "Now then, to what do I owe this visit?" She sank into a pouf at the same table, her eyes buldging out and darting between Finn and I.

"Nothing," I said abruptly, shooting off the pouf. "Wrong part of the castle." I turned to leave, but Finn's arm reached out to stop me.

"What're you afraid of?" he stood up and whispered to me.

"Nothing!" I whispered back fervently. "I just don't reckon we're going to be getting any straight answers from Miss Crystal Ball For Brains!"

"Or maybe you're scared of what we'll find out," he said gravely.

I actually pulled back and looked to him. "Why would that scare me?" I asked as though he knew something I didn't.

He immediately shrugged, telling me in innocence, "You just may not like what you find, is all."

And Finn had a point, that maybe some secrets were better off kept. But then I remembered how I broke down in tears from all of my frustrations, and I remembered how tired I was of the secrets.

"I want to know," I decided aloud. Finn half-smiled encouragingly and we both sank back into the poufs. Trelawney was waiting, her eager eyes as big and bug-like as ever.

"Are we ready to begin?" she asked us, though mainly me. Finn and I shared a look before nodding toward Trelawney, who immediately began rattling her many bangles as her hands flew about. "I am Sibyll Trelawney, Seer of the Inner Eye, teacher of the —"

"Yes yes, that's all very good, now can we skip the theatrics? I'd like answers," I snapped.

Trelawney's face slowly fell, her eyes shrinking back down to a reasonable size…for a bug. "Very well," she said slowly. "Tell me about these dreams, my dear."

And so I did. Careful not to miss any detail, I recounted my first dream and how I received the locket, and then my most recent dream and how I'd lost the locket. Trelawney's eyes never moved from mine until I had finally finished. But she allowed my final words to hang in the air for a moment, and she looked away as if to ponder what she'd just heard. Nothing registered across her face until her eyes finally made their way back to me and she whispered sympathetically, "The poor child is destined to be a Death Eater."

Note to self: Thank Draco for all the help.

"No shite, I'm destined to be a Death Eater!" I shouted, standing up and nearly flipping the table. "How about telling me something I haven't known since I was seven years old!?"

"I was not speaking to you, my child," said Trelawney, remaining completely calm. She closed her eyes and I let my anger subside before risking a glance at who she had been speaking to — Finn.

He was staring blankly ahead, his expression as unreadable as…well, Trelawney. I didn't even know what to say to him…if there was anything to say. I'd been right when I said Finn and I didn't know one another. And now he had to find out one of my darkest secret the hard way. And then I thought of all my other dark secrets… What if they were to be revealed tonight as well?

"Finn, you can leave," I said, barely audible. "If you want," I added when he didn't respond for a while.

But he finally did reply, though his head remained facing forward. "I'm not leaving," he said, his voice hollow. "I deserve to know."

"Deserve to kn — ?"

"Anything else you're hiding!" He looked at me, but I would have preferred it if he'd just kept staring ahead. I'd never seen him so angry. "And don't tell me that we barely know eachother, because I spilled my heart out to you on, what, our third day of speaking?!" He was standing now, moving closer to me. "And I've been the one helping you through all of this! And not once, did you ever even care to mention or perhaps even drop a bloody hint that you would one day become a fucking Death Eater!?"

I swallowed hard, staring at Finn, and had to find my voice before speaking. "No one was supposed to know!" I wasn't yelling, per say, but I spoke loudly enough to compete. "No one was ever s'posed to find out about me until they no longer knew me!"

"No longer knew you?!" he parroted. "What does that even mean?! You're telling me if I ask Viktor or Grigor they won't have any idea what I'm talking about!?"

"Yes! That's exactly what I'm telling you!" I said. "They don't know! No one does! No one except my grandad and Draco and —"

"Malfoy knows?!"

"Malfoy is expected to become one too! His father and my grandfather have been taking us to meetings and gatherings since we were seven!" Alright, so perhaps then I was yelling. "Ugh, listen! The whole plan was for me to graduate from Durmstrang, cut ties with Viktor and Grigor, marry a Pure-blood, and join the Death Eaters! By then, no one would remember me or care about me, and they could read about it in the bloody Prophet or something!" I took a moment to breathe, my voice coming back just as strong but not as loud. Even Finn's expression seemed to be softening ever-so-slightly. "Vik and Grig used to be the only ones I had to worry about. But now there's you, and the twins, and Ginny, and Godric-forbid Harry Potter!"

I dropped right into the pouf, silence speaking once again. But it wasn't Finn who spoke after it, much to my dismay.

"Darkness may line your path, but there is Light in you," said Trelawney in a distant voice.

Finn and I turned to look at her, hoping she might say more. When she didn't, I spoke up. "That's what I keep hearing in these dreams. What does it mean?" I asked urgently.

"It means you're a good person," said Finn softly. And I knew there must have been a deeper meaning to it, but Finn was speaking from the heart. I could hear that, even without looking at him. I hoped that meant I was forgiven.

"Certainly that, my dears," said Trelawney once again in a distant, misty voice. And even more so when she spoke next. "Demetria Harris, there is Light within you."

"Yes, we've established th —"

"Capital L." Trelawney's bug-eyes flicked upward, as did her body from the pouf, and she stumbled across the floor to one of her many shelves. They were all lined with odd sorts of trinkets, but she returned to the table with a quill. And without parchment or ink, she began dragging the quill against the table. It screeched until she'd finished, throwing the quill down and saying, "Light. Capital L."

Finn and I had to stand up and walk around to see that Trelawney had carved into the table the very same inscription which was on my locket.

"This means Light?" I asked fervently.

"Yes," was her, still distant, reply.

"So, 'don't take my light' is 'don't take my locket'?" asked a still very confused Finn.

"No!" Trelawney whipped around. "The Light is inside you!" She pointed to me. "Inside the locket! You don't have the locket?"

Finn and I shook our heads.

"You must go so I can recover!" Trelawney instructed, still shaking and sounding odd. "Return! But only with the locket! It is the key!"

"Wait, what language is it in?!" I practically begged her to tell me.

"Return with the locket!" She grabbed on to me by the shoulders, her eyeballs flickering up into her head. Finn ripped me away from her and pulled me along out of the room. He opened the hatch and moved me along through it until we were both making our way down the ladder.

When we finally dropped back into the castle corridors, it was as though nothing had even happened. The bell had just rung and students were bustling along the staircases, making their way down to lunch. I stood still, rather shaken…and frustrated.

"I'd say that aside from finally decoding that inscription, that was pointless," said Finn.

"Even so, it was still rather pointless," I said desolately. "We still don't know what bloody language it's in . . . or what it even means, really."

"We're closer than we were an hour ago," he offered. "We'll just come back when you've got the locket and get all the answers we need. Now, let's go eat. I need to rest my Inner Eye."

But as it turned out, there was simply no time for resting. Not for me, anyway. As soon as Finn and I had come within earshot of the Great Hall, we were automatically approached by Ginny and Hermione who seemed to have just finished a conversation with one another.

"Demetria!" Ginny greeted rather anxiously. Her eyes darted to Finn in a flash. "Is this Grigor?"

I couldn't determine why she appeared hopeful at that…until I realized she'd never seen or actually even met Grigor before. "Er, no, sorry," I apologized. "I know you two should've met sooner but I've been b —"

"It's fine," Ginny assured, seeming slightly crestfallen. "I just…don't know who to look for."

"I'll send him off with Viktor and you can go with Hermione to wherever they've arranged to meet," I suggested with a sort of upward inflection.

"Ace," she commented, anxiousness then replaced with excitement.

"So Demetria," began Hermione rather tentatively. "we were wondering if you'd…like to get ready for the ball with us."

"Hermione offered me, and… Well, we just thought you'd prefer a girls' dormitory rather than a ship full of…testosterone-filled gorillas," said Ginny, quoting me on what I'd called my Durmstrang brothers.

"Yeah, sure, that'd be great actually," I told them thankfully. "'Cause I've absolutely no idea what I'm doing."

"So it works out then," said Ginny with a small chuckle.

"Why don't you just meet me here around five o'clock and I can take you up to the dormitory? Ginny'll already be there." suggested Hermione.

"All right, I'll see you both then."

And after we'd exchanged our "see you"s and parted ways as we entered the Great Hall, I realized I'd possibly just added another person to my list of people who will especially hate me after I become a Death Eater. And speaking of becoming a Death Eater, Draco was the first to speak to me as I sat down at the Slytherin table.

"Y'know it's not too late to switch dates, Demetria," he practically begged with What's-Her-Pug-Face draped over him once again.

"Oh but it is," Adrian interjected, his hand crashing down on Draco's shoulder comfortingly. "Sorry, mate." And he truly did look it.

"D'you reckon I could get a nap in before the ball?" All I wanted to do was have another dream and get that locket back.

My question had been directed toward Finn, but Grigor replied with a mouth full of turkey. "This ball is not until eight. You haff much time."

"I'm s'posed to start getting ready at five," I explained.

Being that I was surrounded by blokes (I'd say 'except for Draco's bird' if it hadn't been for that face), all of them looked to me in complete and utter confusion.

"You need three hours?" asked Draco incredulously, speaking for the rest of the gents.

"I don't need three hours," riffed Whatever-Her-Bloody-Name-Was.

But it was really just to Draco, so the rest of us ignored it. Actually, even Draco ignored it. And then I believe it was Adrian who made a comment about how they didn't understand birds, and that became a rather heated debate with Pug who swore men were far more complicated. I, personally, was no longer even paying them any mind. I focused solely on my food and…the Light, though I still had no idea what it meant. But I'd spoke too soon, because I did figure something out…just not necessarily about the locket.

The Light…the sodding Light… Light with a capital L. Huh, there's a difference? Oh, just focus. Don't let him take my Light. The locket…Light…

"And then just bevore she floated to the surface, there vas a flash of light from underneath the water…"

Flash of light…or is it flash of Light? Oh what the bloody hell is the difference! Wait, the light…the egg! The clue!

"Son of a banshee," I swore under my breath, immediately rising from the bench and seeking out the Hufflepuff table.

Ignoring the questioning from the blokes as I took off, I made my way over to the other side of the Great Hall and seeked out Cedric. Luckily, I was able to spot him due to the excessive use of his name. There was a whole group of younger students huddled around him, practically praising him by the looks of it. Nevertheless, he appeared thankful when I interrupted.

"Demetria!" he enthusiastically welcomed me before I had the chance to speak. "D'you need a word in private?" And he'd already stood up from the bench, his ickle fan club shooting me daggers.

"Um, yeah," was the brilliant response I'd mustered up. Not that it mattered, because Cedric was already practically dashing out of the Hall before I'd even replied. I kept pace with him though as we exited the Hall together.

"I really did though," I told him. "Have to speak with you in private, I mean."

"Well no offense, but I planned on using you for that excuse either way," he told me with a charming smile.

For a moment, I was so caught up in that smile that I'd forgotten what I needed to say. I just smiled back until he arched his eyebrows, urging me to get on with it, I'm sure.

"Right, yeah!" I felt idiotic as I said it, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. "Oh! The egg!"

"You solved it then?" he guessed.

"Yeah it's — You've got to open it underwater and listen," I explained.

Realization flickered across his face. "Mermaids?"

"…and… Vell, I had thought for a short moment I heard a…morska sirena."

"Er, yeah," I said slowly, my head growing foggy. "Just…pass it on to Harry."

"Sure thing. Blimey, I really owe you, don't I?" And I just looked to him in confusion, my thoughts clearing up as I came to. "You've tipped me off on both tasks and I haven't been able to do the same."

"Well then," — the bell sounded — "the third one's all you."

"You've got it," said Cedric, smiling. "You still owe me a dance tonight."

"Given the stakes, I'd say you owe me," I teased.

Cedric and I smiled at one another until the sea of students began their stampede out of the Great Hall. But we continued to grin like complete tossers until we lost sight of one another. That was when I moved off to the side of the entrance and waited for a familiar face to stroll by. But after the first few faces I saw were not, I simply gave up and made my way back toward the ship.

The snow out on the grounds still remained completely untouched, aside from the deep channels up to the castle made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students and, obviously, myself. And suddenly, I felt the urge to disturb that untouched snow. So I began branching out from the paved pathway, trudging actually being a more appropriate term. It then dawned on me how burly or just plain strong my brothers really had to be to move any of this sodding snow. I watched them plow that pathway without so much of a struggle. But no such luck for a girl of my size. So I simply began trying to hop through it…that absolutely did not work.

And no sooner did I try it than I heard the shouts of Fred Weasley. "Very graceful, Princess!"

Upon turning, I found him standing with George, Hermione, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter. "Saw that, did you?" I was thankful they couldn't see how rather sheepish I must have looked.

"Couldn't miss it!" George shouted back, all five of them making their way toward me then. "Care to join us in a snowball fight?"

Ron ran up to George and we were all then close enough for me to hear him say, "Then it's uneven!" He then turned back. "Unless Hermione wants to join!"

"No thank you!" she called from the castle steps quite a ways back. I could tell by her tone that he'd asked her at least a hundred times already.

"Then uneven the teams shall be," declared Fred.

"And don't get your rainbow unicorn bloomers in a bunch, Ronniekins," George said at once to silence his younger brother whose mouth had opened and closed in that moment. "You two beasts can have the beauty. You'll need all the help you can get." He and Fred high-fived perfectly without even looking to each other.

"And you two ginger mingers don't get your fairy princess knickers in a twist," I shot back at the twins good-naturedly, detecting chuckles from Harry and Ron behind me. "I never agreed to play."

Fred and George shared a look before peeking into their trousers and then looking back at me.

"How did you know we wore fairy princess knickers on Tuesdays?!" George gushed, his hands over his heart.

"Speak for yourself, Georgie. I've decided to keep it festive today with a bit of mistletoe," said Fred. And what scared me most was that I had absolutely no idea if he was joking or not…

"Well thank you, Fred for the nightmares I'm sure I'll be having during my nap now," I told him, only half-jokingly, as I attempted to get past the two of them; they wouldn't allow that, however.

"Sorry, love, but there's a toll to pay if you want to get on your ship," said George, he and his twin now wearing their mischievous grins.

"And let me guess, that toll is a snowball fight," I stated dryly.

"Precisely!"

"Oh, but do perk up, Dem," advised Fred. "We've taken the liberty of upping the ante so as not to bore your majesty."

"I'm listening." What were they up to?

"The losers must lay buried in snow for five minutes…stripped down to their fairy princess knickers —"

"— or mistletoe —" said Fred proudly.

"— or rainbow unicorn bloomers —" George eyed Ron.

"— or leopard thongs —"

"For the princess?" inquired George, intrigued.

"Nah, for Harry. I reckon he's got a wild side." I figured it was Ron who I heard chuckle at Fred's response. "What were you thinking for the Princess?"

"I dunno, I was hoping to get to Harry first actu —"

"It's on!" I declared, turning back and bringing Harry and Ron back a ways before huddling up with them.

"Just for the record, I don't wear, nor do I even own, any rainbow unicorn bloomers," Ron assured Harry and I.

"I'll be honest, Ron, I find it a bit unsettling you felt the need to actually tell us that," I told him, earning a chuckle from Harry; Ron's ears brightened with pink just as I'd seen George's do. "Then again, I don't exactly want to find out for myself…"

"Then let's win this!" cheered Harry determinedly.

And win it, we did. The snowball fight continued until Hermione called out to me that it had reached five o-clock and Ginny would be waiting for us.

"Looks as though I won't be able to bury you in the snow myself, gents," I said to the twins, making my way toward Hermione who was waiting at the stone steps of the castle.

"What, you need three hours?" Ron called out to us. And I'd turned around just in time to watch George throw a large snowball right at the side of Ron's head.

"We win!" the twins chorused.

Ron ignored the snowball and shouted to Hermione, "Who're you going with?" Hermione simply waved.

"Hold on, Princess!" George called out to me. "A deal's a deal!" And then I, too, simply waved, Hermione and I laughing as we made our way towards the first staircase.

"So why's it such a big secret that you're going with Viktor?" I cautiously inquired.

"It's not," she insisted airily. "I just haven't told anyone but Ginny." And then she looked to me curiously. "How did you — ?"

"Vik's one of my best mates," I explained. "Although he didn't exactly come right out and tellme either. I saw you two in the library and used it against him."

"That happens quite a bit actually — us in the library," Hermione shared. "But we don't do much talking."

I smirked at her implicitly. "You saucy minx, you."

"Oh no, I didn't mean that!" she insisted, blushing fiercely. "We just — Well he mostly watches me study."

"Viktor's a bit shy with the birds," I told her. "I'm actually surprised he asked you at all."

"Well believe me, I hadn't exactly thought I'd be going with him," Hermione's tone grew bitter when she spoke again. "But seeing as how Ronald decided to wait until Viktor asked me to ask as a last resort…" And she didn't finish, but didn't need to. She simply gave an exasperated sigh.

"Ah, so it's Ron you fancy then, is it?" I inquired.

"Absolutely not," she frowned. "Ron is like a brother to me. Romantic feelings for one another are simply nonexistent."

I could tell she was lying, or at least I thought she was. And then I remembered something.

"Oh bollocks…" I cursed under my breath, but Hermione heard it.

"Demetria, your language," she scolded as we continued to make our way along the changing staircases.

"Sorry, It's just…" But it wouldn't be in anyone's best interests to reveal that Viktor truly fancied Hermione, considering she didn't exactly reciprocate said feelings. And besides, it wasn't my place…though that certainly never stopped me before. "I just remembered I never got to see what my grandad sent me for Christmas." I'd used it as a lie, but it was true.

"Oh, well did you want to go back and see?" she asked thoughtfully.

"Nah, I'll see it later," I assured her.

"Well wait, d'you have your dress?"

"I left it with Ginny. Figured it'd be safer out of the way of the gorillas," I explained.

We halted in front of a portrait of a very fat lady wearing a pink silk dress who said, "Password?" to which Hermione replied with, "Fairy lights." The portrait then swung forward, revealing a circular hole in the wall which Hermione and I climbed through.

The Gryffindor common room reminded me quite a lot of the one back at Durmstrang. They both possessed the roaring fireplace, numerous tables, and different types of scarlet seats. Really the only difference between the two was that Durmstrang's common room had more scarlet couches and armchairs, being that it was also far bigger than the circular room I was standing in.

I followed Hermione up one of the two spiral staircases, but she stopped me just as we'd reached what I assumed was the door to the fourth year girls' dormitory. "Just so you know, my room-mates can be a bit…unbearable," she warned me before opening the door. And sure enough, it revealed two girls screaming like banshees and jumping on to the four-poster beds.

Both were clad in bright colored dresses, their hair looking like they had just been in the midst of grooming it. One girl was light-skinned with blonde hair, the other presumably Indian with long, black hair. Ginny also looked to be in the middle of untangling her long, red mane, but had quickly drawn her wand, eyes determinedly scanning the floor.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked.

"There's no mouse, you tossers," Ginny snapped at the birds, ignoring Hermione's question…but also answering it. "You just stepped on your bathrobe."

The girls stepped down from their beds and made their way back over toward the full-length mirror where the blonde picked up her fuzzy, purple bathrobe.

"Better safe than sorry." She scowled.

"Y'know she's got a point there, Gin," I interjected, causing the two banshees to jump. "You can never be too careful with natural fibre weavings — all soft and fuzzy and whatnot."

Ginny and Hermione stifled laughter, the other two girls looking unamused.

"And who are you?" the blonde asked me.

"Demetria Harris," I said it as though it were an insult for them not to know. And quite honestly, it sort of was. I was one of the sodding champions for Merlin's sake. But as soon as I saw both of their faces light up, I almost wished they had remained clueless on who I was.

"The winner of the First Task!" gushed the dark-skinned girl.

"Only girl at Durmstrang!" added the blonde before rushing over to me, arm extended. I reluctantly shook it. "I'm Lavender Brown, this is Parvati Patil. It's an honor to have you in our dormitory!"

"We're huge fans!" Parvati told me.

"You two are aware I'm from an opposing school?"

"Of course."

"We think you're far better than that Fleur Delacour," said Lavender.

Alright, so perhaps they weren't totally unbearable.

–

"Demetria, you've got to stay still," Hermione instructed for the upteenth time. And I would have, had it not been for the pain she was inflicting upon me. She claimed she was doing my makeup, but I was fairly certain she was dragging very dull daggers across my eyelids.

Hermione and Ginny had finished getting ready before I did, and I could only hope I would look at least half as good as they did — Ginny in her mint green dress, her long, red hair falling in gentle waves; Hermione in her floaty periwinkle-blue dress, light brown hair twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. And I'd helped her apply liberal amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion in order to transform her naturally bushy hair to the sleek and shiny mane which she now possessed.

"There, done," Hermione proudly declared.

I risked a glance in the mirror and could hardly believe the girl staring back was myself. The red dress I'd already been amazed by, but I still found myself in awe over it. My eyes were outlined with a black liner, my lids and creases were shimmering with a silvery eyeshadow, and my lashes were coated with mascara. Even my lips, which possessed nothing more than clear lip gloss, looked better. And though the three of us had agreed to leave my hair to embrace it's natural curls, I loved how Ginny had helped me pin it half-up-half-down, the top half spun into a knot similar to Hermione's.

"So this is what it's like to have girl mates," I said, mostly to myself.

I could see Ginny and Hermione exchange smiles to one another from the mirror, before coming in and placing a hand on my shoulder from both sides.

Yep. Hermione had definitely made the list.

–

"I s'pose Ron and Harry've already gone down," Hermione observed as we climbed down the stairs from the dormitory.

"That's too bad," said Ginny. "I wanted to see Ron in his dress."

"Ron's wearing a dress?" I asked in amusement.

"Might as well be. Those robes are ghastly," Ginny commented.

"Can't wait to see," I said; we all gave a chuckle, making our way out of the Gryffindor common room.

The entrance hall was packed with students, all milling around in a sea of color, waiting for eight o'clock when the doors to the Great Hall would open. Those from different Hogwarts Houses and even schools appeared to be searching for one another around the edges of the massive crowd. My own eyes scanned said crowd, not for my date, but Hermione and Ginny's. Actually, mainly just Ginny's. I had to make sure Grigor looked presentable.

"Viktor!" Hermione called out before I could even so much as look in the direction which he stood.

But sure enough, there he was, and with Grigor (who, as it turned out, didn't require my assistance thankfully).

Hermione made her way over to Vik, Ginny quickly looking to me with a significant glance. I nodded as if to confirm that the bloke standing next to him was Grigor. She smiled and mouthed me a thank you before walking off with Hermione. And as I looked over, Viktor and Grigor were both resting their eyes upon me. Grigor appeared as though he'd never seen me before in his life, and Viktor had closed his mouth for him, smiling at me and giving a thumbs-up which I returned. And with that, I finally began searching for my own date, though I wasn't for long. It just wasn't Adrian who found me first.

"'Scuse me, beautiful stranger," came an all-too-familiar Scottish-accented voice. "have you seen a Miss Demetria Harris?"

"Oh shut it," I said humorously. "First Grigor doesn't recognize me, now you?"

"In all seriousness though, Dem, you do look beautiful," he complimented.

"You're looking rather beautiful tonight yourself, Winifinn," I told him with a good-natured smile which he returned, giving me a gentle push.

"Any sign of Prince Charming yet?" he inquired.

I stole another quick glance around and shook my head. "I'm almost certain Adrian plans on being fashionably late."

"I wasn't talking about Adrian." Finn smirked, his head gesturing for me to turn around.

At first, I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be looking for, until I saw him — Cedric — looking as handsome as ever in his black and white dress robes. He seemed to have just found his date — an oriental girl with shining dark hair in an elegant up-do, and a long-sleeved, silver dress. It was when Cedric reached out to take and kiss the girl's hand, that my heart sort of…dropped into my stomach. And then I recalled what Finn had said.

"I dunno what you mean," I turned abruptly to tell him, but he had re-located. I found him only a bit of a ways off, speaking with the bird I assumed was his date. I'd never seen her before, but judging by the group she'd arrived with, I'd imagine she was a Slytherin. That dreadful bird with the pug-like face was one of those people. She was clad in a frilly dress of pale pink, clutching Draco's arm for dear life, as though he may try to sneak off, and I wouldn't have blamed him if he did.

Branching off from the Slytherin group now was Adrian, his black velvet robes possessing a splash of red from a small handkerchief. He smiled as soon as he caught sight of me, striding right over.

"How'd you know I was wearing red?" I asked him before he could utter a single word.

"Would you believe…a lucky guess?" he offered.

"Not for a moment." I smirked.

"Then how about I brought a number of colors and spotted you before you could me?"

I couldn't tell if he was joking or not. "Did you?" I curiously asked.

In reply, Adrian revealed the left inside pocket of his robe. Sure enough, it appeared to be packed with something. He reached in to pull out a few different colored handkerchiefs before tucking them away again.

"Well I'm impressed," I told him, chuckling.

"Only the best for a champion," he told me, grinning.

And then, as if right on cue, that Professor McGonagall appeared to call out, "Champions over here, please!"

Adrian and I did just that, the other champions and their dates following suit. McGonagall instructed us to wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside; we were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students sat down. Phlegm and her date, a bloke I didn't recognize, positioned themselves nearest the doors. This didn't surprise me that Phlegm would want to be the first one everyone laid eyes on. Cedric stood with his date in front of Adrian and I. He turned back for just a moment to smile and wink at me. I mentally scolded myself when my heart skipped. What the sodding hell was wrong with me?!

Harry stood behind me with — if you can believe it — Parvati, one of Hermione's screaming banshee roommates.

Once the doors had opened, everyone walking past us and settling in their seats, McGonagall told us to keep in our lines, stand by our partners, and follow her. That was exactly what we did. The Hall errupted in applause and even some cheers as we started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were all seated.

The walls of the Hall had been lined with sparkling silver frost, hundreds of garlands of mistletoe (reminding me of Fred) and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished with a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones seating about a dozen people, taking their places.

I stole a quick glance over at Adrian who seemed to be enjoying himself, my arm linked in his. Or perhaps he was just good at acting like he was enjoying himself. I, for one, hadn't particularly cared for it, but I was sure Karkaroff would've wanted me to at least pretend, so I smiled at the students. Only when I found Fred and George at their table did my smile become genuine, both twins staring with their jaws dropped. I winked at them.

Dumbledore smiled happily as the rest of the champions, myself, and our partners approached the top table, while Karkaroff's narrowed eyes distracted the rest of the champions from seeing the thumbs-up he was giving me from low at his side. Ludo Bagman, in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and Madame Maxime, who had traded her usual uniform of black satin for a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding us politely. But it took me a moment to realize Mr. Crouch was missing. And instead, in his place in the fifth seat, was a red-headed bloke in navy blue dress robes a rather smug expression. In fact, it looked to be one of the Weasleys. And according to Fred and George's descriptions of their elder brothers, I assumed this was Percy.

When we all reached the table, Percy drew out an empty chair beside him, staring at who I was relieved to find out was Harry and not myself. Though Adrian and I were still seated rather close by, no food on the glittering golden plates before us. No waiters either. Just small menus lying in front of each. I picked mine up and began to review, for I was familiar with such dining. It was customary at the annual Christmas Ball held by the Malfoys. In fact, now that I'd thought about it, everything about this Yule Ball seemed similar to the Malfoy's ball.

Held for the most elite of pure and half-blood society (mainly Death Eaters or those who supported), Grandad's and my attendance had been consistent every year for as long as I could remember. In fact, I'd actually danced with Adrian at each one! But I couldn't believe I'd forgotten! He'd even tried kissing me when I was ten and he was twelve!

I laughed to myself as I recalled it.

"What did you think of?" Adrian asked me urgently. "Because I know you're not laughing at this bloke's story."

I heard a bit of Percy's discussion of his job with Harry and confirmed Fred and George conclusion on Percy being a stick in the mud.

"I'll tell you later," I assured Adrian, placing my menu down and saying clearly into my plate, "Roast beef." It appeared instantly.

"It looks as though Demetria gets the idea," said Dumbledore pleasantly before saying into his own plate, "Pork chops!" They appeared.

The rest of the table caught on, declaring their own orders into their plates. No one really spoke much for a while — except Percy, mainly — for we were all occupied with eating. Conversations started back up once the feasting had begun to dwindle down.

"So, Demetria," began Adrian. "How does Hogwarts compare to Durmstrang?"

I swallowed a forkful of roasted potatoes before answering. "Well, we have a castle too, but I wager it's not as big as this one. We've only got four floors. But our grounds are larger than these. Though during this time of the year, we don't have much daylight, so we don't enjoy them as much. But come summer time, we fly almost every day, over the lakes and mountains —"

"Now, now, Demetria!" said Karkaroff with a laugh that didn't reach his cold eyes. "Don't go giving away anything else, now, or else your charming friend will know exactly where to find us!"

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Igor, all this secrecy… One would almost think you didn't want visitors."

He didn't. At least, that's what I figured. Karkaroff was always insistent on making our school Unplottable, concealing its whereabouts so no others could steal our secrets. We weren't hiding anything Dark like some contrary rumors said. Truth be told, I wasn't sure what secrets Karkaroff meant. But I did learn to stop wondering and simply accept the fact that he was a bit barmy.

"Well, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff. "we are all protective of our private domains, are we not? Do we not jealously guard the halls of learning that have been entrusted to us? Are we not right to be proud that we alone know our school's secrets, and right to protect them?"

"Oh I would never dream of assuming I know all Hogwarts' secrets, Igor," said Dumbledore amicably. "Only this morning, for instance, I took a wrong turning on the way to the bathroom and found myself in a beautifully proportioned room I have never seen before, containing a really rather magnificent collection of chamber pots. When I went back to investigate more closely, I discovered that the room had vanished. But I must keep an eye out for it. Possibly it is only accessible at five-thirty in the morning. Or it may only appear at the quarter moon — or when the seeker has an exceptionally full bladder."

I would've felt foolish for releasing a quick breath of laughter, had it not been for Harry's snort into his plate of goulash. Percy frowned at the two of us, but we simply smiled at one another, Dumbledore sending us a very small wink. Meanwhile, Phlegm was criticizing the Hogwarts decorations to her date, who was probably too busy staring at her to hear a word she said.

"Zis is nothing," she said dismissively. "At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we 'ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course…zey are like 'uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb. And we 'ave choirs of wood nymphs, 'oo serenade us as we eat. We 'ave none of zis ugly armor in ze 'alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, 'e would be expelled like zat." She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.

Her date was in such a daze, he kept missing his mouth with his fork. "Absolutely right," he said at once, quickly catching on and slapping his own hand down on the table in imitation of Fleur. "Like that. Yeah."

I whispered my own imitation of Fleur to Adrian…except mockingly…and with a French accent. "Oh, ze Palace of Phlegm is just so mageecal. I 'ave zese seven dwarves 'oo follow me into ze bathroom and tell me I am ze faireest of zem all and take turns wiping my 'uge —"

"I invite you all to stand," said Dumbledore, rising from his seat.

Adrian ceased laughter and we all stood up as well.

Then, with a wave of Dumbledore's wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.

A popular wizarding band known as the Weird Sisters, of whom I was never really a fan, now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that had been artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their instruments and Adrian extended his hand to me.

"May I have this dance?" he asked.

"I have no other choice," I teased.

"That's the spirit!"

We followed the rest of the champions and their partners out onto the brightly lit dance floor, the Weird Sisters striking up a slow, mournful tune. Adrian placed his other hand on my waist, mine resting upon his shoulder, and we began to dance.

"So what were you laughing about before?" he inquired curiously.

"You mean this doesn't remind you of anything?" I asked.

After a moment, realization struck his face. "Ah yes, the famous Malfoy Christmas Ball," he said fondly.

"Don't act as though you forgot," I smirked. "I wager this was your plan all along to redeem yourself."

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," he said, dipping me. "I never reveal my secrets." And with that, he brought me back up, causing me to laugh a bit.

My eyes began scanning the crowd of students who'd joined us on the dance floor, in an attempt to find a familiar face…but to no avail. I'd been hoping to see how Viktor and Hermione were, or Grigor and Ginny…or Cedric…

But as the final, quavering note from the bagpipe rang out, applause filling the hall as the music ceased, a familiar face did find me…two familiar faces, actually…just as the band struck up a new, and much faster, song.

"Mind if we cut in, Pucey?" asked Fred.

Adrian looked to me and I smiled. "It's fine with me," he assured. "I was going to sit this one out anyway."

"I'm with you on that," I told him, beginning to walk off with him. But I should've known by now that wouldn't work. Adrian waved to me with a smirk as he made his way back to the champions' table, the Weasley twins pulling me back with them.

"Don't you two have dates of your own to pester?" I asked in jest. "Why torture someone else's?"

"Not to worry, love," George insisted. "They're off dancing."

"Rather exuberantly, at that," Fred added, nodding in their direction. Sure enough, upon turning, I found two birds dancing…well…exuberantly. People were beginning to back away from them.

"Blimey, I hope they don't take someone's eye out," said George only half-jokingly.

"I do, just so long as it isn't Moody's," said Fred humorously. "Bloke's only got one good one as it is."

And then as the twins stared off at Mad-Eye Moody clunking about the dance floor, I took the opportunity to sneak off. But rather than return to the champions' table, I instead happened upon the table with Ron, Harry, and — Bloody hell, two Parvatis!

"What's with you two?" I asked Harry and Ron, both gazing sulkingly at the dance floor.

Just then, some bloke I figured was from Beauxbatons asked me to dance. "No thank you," I told him, then catching sight of Parvati — one of them, anyway — sitting on Harry's side with her arms crossed, staring hopefully at the Beauxbatons bloke. "But I wager she might."

"Would you?" he asked her in, sure enough, a French accent.

"You don't mind, do you, Harry?" Parvati asked Harry who barely said a word. "Oh never mind," she snapped. "Thanks, Demetria!" And she went off with the gent.

"Oi! Earth to the world's worst dates!" I claimed Harry and Ron's attention. "What's up?" But I lost it just as quickly.

This time, I followed their gazes, tracing Ron's to be on Viktor and Hermione, who appeared to be having a great time dancing together. Next, I followed Harry's to Cedric and his date. That was where my own gaze stayed for a while. In fact, I almost didn't even notice when the song ended and Hermione took a seat in Parvati's empty chair. She was pink in the face from dancing.

"Hi," Harry and I deadpanned in unison. Ron remained silent.

"It's hot, isn't it?" said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. "Viktor's just gone to get some drinks."

I couldn't help but notice Ron shoot her a withering look. "Viktor?" he parroted. "Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?"

Hermione looked to him with surprise. "What's up with you?" she asked.

"If you don't know," said Ron scathingly. "I'm not going to tell you."

Hermione stared at him, then at Harry and I; we simply shrugged.

"Ron, what — ?"

"He's from Durmstrang!" spat Ron fermently. "He's from a rival school! You — you're —" he floundered for the appropriate term. "fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"

Hermione's mouth fell open.

"Don't be stupid!" she said after a moment. "The enemy! Honestly — what of Demetria then?!" She then turned to me and said softly, "No offense, of course."

I simply shook my head to her indifferently, Ron choosing to ignore that comment.

"I s'pose he asked you to come with him while you were both in the library?"

"Yes, he did," said Hermione, the pink patches on her cheek glowing more brightly. "So what?"

"What happened — trying to get him to join spew, were you?"

And though I'd looked to Harry in hopes that he might share with me what spew was, he was far too caught up in the argument.

"No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he — he said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!"

A chorus of "awww"s went off in my head. Vik truly was a shy bloke, and he really was quite smitten with Hermione.

"Yeah, well — that's his story," said Ron nastily.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang around with…He's just trying to get closer to Harry — get inside information on him — tell Demetria so she can —"

"You little prat!" I couldn't help it. The words simply came out before I could even think about it. "How dare you accuse Viktor — accuse me!? Because we're Karkaroff's students?! I ought to hex you into the next bloody Tournament, you miserable — !"

But before I could utter a single syllable more, a strong arm had been wrapped around my waist and another covering my mouth. They pulled me away until Ron's table was hidden by the crowd of dancing students. And once I was back on the dance floor, my capturer revealed himself…and began dancing with me.

"I thought it best to save you from making a horrible mistake," said Finn with a knowing smile. "Wouldn't want one of Karkaroff's students causing a ruckus, now, would we?"

"I wasn't going to cause a ruckus," I assured.

"No, of course not," he said. "Just hex him, right?"

I smiled. "Ron's not a bad bloke, I just — He's confused."

"Well, I hope that hasn't ruined your date," he said pleasantly. "Speaking of which, how is that going?"

I turned to look back at the champions' table, but Adrian was no where in sight. "Shite," I swore.

"Not to worry, Dem," said Finn through a small chuckle. "I explained to Adrian the responsibilities of a champion at such affairs. He's off with my date."

"Well how was your date going before our dates made their own date?"

"Just peachy," he replied. "Daphne Greengrass is her name, by the way."

"Duly noted."

"I trust it's also been duly noted that you still owe someone a dance," Fred popped up again, but this time without George. "May I?" he referred to Finn.

"She's all yours," he said, handing me off. "Just have her home by midnight."

"No promises." Fred winked.

And now it was just the two of us, dancing. "So where's your better half?"

"I'd imagine he's back at the table, summoning the bollocks to ask you to dance," I couldn't tell if that was a serious answer or not. But when he spoke again, it was sincere and he wore a genuine smile. "But you ran off before I could tell you how beautiful you look tonight, Princess."

"Well thank you, Fred," I said, mirroring it. "You clean up rather nicely yourself."

But that smile quickly vanished and was replaced by his usual smirk. "Don't I, though?" he said in jest, but once again, his next words were serious. "So why Pucey?"

"Why not?" I challenged.

"You have two of Hogwarts' most debonair and eligible bachelors in the palm of your hands," he said as though it were obvious.

"I was under the impression that said bachelors already had dates, considering they're so debonair and eligible," I played along.

"Well, I did. George did not," clarified Fred.

"Yeah, I think he mentioned that."

"And you didn't go with him?!"

"Well then he told me he did have a date!" I defended. "And I was already going with Adrian!"

"Did you tell him that?"

"Er, I think I may have."

"Then of course he'd say he has a date!"

"Does he?!"

"Yes, of course! I wouldn't leave Georgie dateless!" Fred assured me fervently. "Honestly, what kind of brother d'you reckon I am?"

"Sorry, I'm just not really sure what you want me to say," I told him honestly.

Fred's expression softened. "You're right," he admitted.

"Right about wh — ?"

"No use crying over the wrong date," said Fred airily.

"I believe the term is spilled —"

"Trust me, Princess," he said with a sly smile, the song having just ended. "Wait right here."

And as I watched him disappear into the crowd, my gaze finally fell upon Cedric once again. Only this time, our eyes met and he smiled at me before saying something to his date and then walking toward me. I quickly met him more than halfway in order to catch up with the bird and say to her just loudly enough for only her to hear, "You should dance with Harry Potter." She looked to me with a small grin before walking off, hopefully, to Harry's table.

"Talking about me?" said Cedric, as another slow song started up again. "Because if you wanted to know whether or not I'm a good dancer —" He gently took my hand in his and placed my other one on his shoulder, his on my waist; my heart skipped again. Stupid heart.

"Well you do owe me one," I reminded him.

"Looks as though that debt is being fulfilled," he said to me, mirroring my smile. "So how's your evening been?"

"Eventful," I shared. "Yours?"

"Not bad, but nothing special either," he confessed indifferently. "Don't get me wrong, Cho's a great girl…but I couldn't exactly come tonight with my first choice."

And because I wasn't entirely sure if he meant me…I made a joke. "Madame Maxime," I said decidedly; Cedric laughed.

"A bit too tall for my liking," he said. "I prefer shorter girls." And then he leaned in to me, pressing his forehead against mine.

Okay, he definitely meant me, right?

"Well that's…good," I said lamely. That bloody word again…

"Yes it is."

We'd been just swaying to the music, looking into one another's eyes and smiling. But what happened next was purely on accident…at first. Someone bumped into Cedric from behind, pressing his lips against my forehead. He almost immediately pulled back, his face slightly reddening.

"I'm — That wasn't — Sorry," he mumbled.

"No, it was good." Son of a banshee!

Yet somehow, that was the right thing to say. Cedric seemed to gain confidence, a small smile re-appearing as he leaned in slowly. And I do mean slowly. Finally, just before I considered closing the distance myself, someone else (or perhaps the same person, I never bothered to look) bumped into me and pushed me into Cedric, our lips finally meeting. And I wouldn't have pulled away, had it not been for the interruption which came next.

"Son of a — !"

"Easy, Georgie," Fred attempted to calm his twin, which, I turned to see was not the easiest task to accomplish.

"Get off of me!" Georgie demanded, finally pushing past his brother and striding up to me angrily. "What's going on here?!" And he wagged his index finger between Cedric and I.

"George, what is your problem?" I asked urgently, but not yelling.

"I don't have a problem! What makes you think I've got a problem?!" People were beginning to turn and stare.

"Don't you reckon you're over-reacting just a bit here, mate?" Fred came over and tried to soothe him.

"You're the one who told me to come over here and — !"

"Yes, well, perhaps I was wrong," Fred continued to speak calmly. I stole a sideways glance at Cedric, who was appearing rather uncomfortable.

"Perhaps?!" parroted George heatedly.

"Alright, what is going on?" I demanded to know, voice raised.

"Apparently you and Pretty Boy is what's going on!" George shot back.

At this point, I hadn't dared look at whatever crowd had gathered to watch us argue, I simply didn't care. All I could focus on was how sodding ridiculous George was being. "Oh my Godric! First you're cross with me for landing myself in the hospital wing, now this?! What is going on with you?!"

"Don't worry about what's going on with me!"

"Then don't worry about how I live my life and keep your nose out of my sodding business!"

That was the second Weasley of the night I'd yelled at, and that was two Weasleys too many. It wasn't until I took off through the crowd that I'd actually noticed the people who'd been staring. And, surprisingly, it wasn't many (at least not as many as I'd assumed) but I did easily pick out Ron, Harry, and Percy to be three of those who had been watching. Regardless, I cut my way through, even accidentally breaking up some dancing couples on the way, but I needed to get out and get some air. I was suddenly finding this dress to be a bit of a hassle to stride through a crowd in, not to mention the heels. Oh, for the love of Merlin, don't even get me started on the heels…three inches of pure hell.

"Who does he think he is!" I spoke softly but furiously to myself as I exited the Great Hall. "Constantly getting angry with me…I haven't done a bloody thing wrong!"

I could see through the front doors in the entrance hall, the fluttering fairy lights of the rose garden and decided to make my way toward them. The lights winked and twinkled as I came down the front steps, where I found myself surrounded by bushes; winding, ornamental paths; and large stone statues. My ears could detect splashing water, which I assumed was a fountain. Here and there, people were sitting on carved benches. I set off along one of the winding paths through the rosebushes, but it wasn't long before I'd heard an unmistakably familiar voice…two, at that.

"…don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor."

"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroff's voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. "It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it —"

"Then flee," said Snape's voice curtly. "Flee — I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts."

Snape and Karkaroff came around the corner, Snape's wand out and blasting rosebushes apart, his expression ill-natured. Squeals issued from many of the bushes, and dark shapes emerged from them.

"Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!" Snape snarled as a girl ran past him. "And ten points from Hufflepuff too, Stebbins!" as a boy went rushing after her. "And ten points from Gryffindor, Harris!" he added, catching sight of me on the path ahead.

"But I don't even —"

"That hardly matters!" he continued to snarl. "What're you doing out here?"

Karkaroff was appearing rather discomposed to see me standing there. His hand went nervously to his goatee, winding it around his finger.

"Just out for a stroll, Snape," was my cheeky response.

"That's Professor Snape to you, Harris," he said shortly.

"As I tried to tell you before, I don't even attend this school," I casually reminded him. "You're not a professor of mine, Sev."

He and Karkaroff drew closer. "I'll be keeping an eye on you, Harris," Snape warned.

"Fine, but just one." I smirked, Snape appearing unamused and brushed past me, his long black cloak billowing out behind him. Karkaroff hurried away after Snape without so much as a glance at me. And while I was rather curious of what such a pair could have been discussing, I'd given up on guessing rather quickly, my brain still occupied with what had just occured with George…and Cedric, actually.

I shouldn't have been associating with any of them to begin with. In fact, the only ones suitable to spend time with were the ones I'd been spending the least amount of time with. I could only imagine how disappointed Grandad would be if he knew…or my parents. What would they think? Their only child — a disappointment, a failure. They were probably turning in their graves right then and there. The very thought sent me over the edge. I hardly knew my parents and yet, I only longed to make them proud. But there was always a small part of me that hoped maybe…they would just want whatever made me happy. Sometimes I wanted to know, but for the most part, I just wanted to remain ignorant so I could keep that hope alive.

But two things I knew for certain — Grandad would never approve if he found out who I'd been socializing with…and I couldn't stay any longer. Tournament or not, I couldn't allow these — dare I say — friends I made to grow any more attached to me, nor I to them. I wouldn't be difficult to replace anyway, I'm sure Karkaroff would be overjoyed to throw Viktor in. And come morning, he'd have his chance.

Following the path I'd taken to enter the rose garden, I made my way out, stopping just before the Great Hall entrance. The Weird Sisters had struck up another slow song and I resisted the urge to peer in and see who Cedric was dancing with, if anyone at all. But just as I was about to succumb, two redheads dashed out in the direction I was headed for the ship. It was George and Ron, probably on their way to find me and apologize. And then I found myself fighting a new urge — one to run over to them and embrace them, tell them it was okay. But it wasn't. I couldn't. And I couldn't go back to the ship either. I had to leave now, and there was only one way to do it.

Destination. Determination. Deliberation.

I closed my eyes trying to calm myself, trying to focus on Harris Manor. That was just about the extent of my knowledge on Apparition considering it was all my grandad had told me, insisting I should wait until my legal license at seventeen to Apparate. But I still wasn't going anywhere. I opened my eyes to make sure, but the music from the ball was still pounding in my ears. It was then that I realized Hogwarts must've had the very same Anti-Disapparation Jinx which Durmstrang possessed. A right shame too, although it probably would've saved me an undoubted and rather inevitable splinch.

So then how was I to leave?

"Troubled, Miss Harris?" Dumbledore had just stepped out of the Great Hall, eyes twinkling as they always seemed to from behind those half-moon spectacles. "I do hope tonight's festivities have measured up to the many Malfoy Christmas Balls I'm sure you have attended."

"Tonight was better than any of them," I told him honestly.

"But you no longer wish to partake?" he asked, tone laced with curiosity.

"My heart's just not in it, Professor." And that, too, was honest.

"Then perhaps your heart is elsewhere," he said wisely, looking away from me and in the direction of what I could only imagine was the ship.

"Perhaps," I agreed. And then I seized the oppertunity. "It just doesn't feel the same. I've always gone home for Christmas."

"I can only imagine the pleasures of routine and tradition being lost to me," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "Especially being involved in such a tournament, you must be in need of it more than you know."

"I s'pose so." Maybe he was right about that.

Dumbledore continued to peer down at me from behind his half-moon spectacles, blue eyes twinkling in thought. "I'm sure a small visit wouldn't hurt."

"D'you mean that, sir?" I perked up my body, my eyes, as though an electric shock had been surged throughout it. This was the response I'd been hoping to get. "But how would I?"

"Come with me, Demetria," he said, leading me down the familiar path to his office.

I'd only been in it once before, and really just from a distance when I eavesdropped on the conversation held between Dumbledore and Karkaroff. But it was a bit too dark now to see much of anything, although Dumbledore still seemed to know his way around quite well. I followed directly behind and make sure not to bump into anything. From what I was able to make out in the darkness, items were all rather antique. But my eyes had to adjust again, once Dumbledore had thrown something ahead of us and stepped aside. The Floo Powder caused a glow from the emerald green flames now dancing in the fireplace before me. I looked eagerly to Dumbledore who simply gave me a smile and nodded. I stepped into the heatless fire.

"Harris Manor," I declared, and was gone...with no intentions of coming back.