Hey guys. Sorry this chapter took a while to be released. I have had more work than I expected for school... and I may or may not have been reading waaaay to much fanfiction. But, here is the next chapter and it is another long one. YAY!

I hope you enjoy :)

Alec POV

"So, Alec, care to tell us where you were yesterday?" Izzy asked as casually as if she were asking what the weather was like.

Alec was sitting at the Gryffindor table again. He had been dragged there, with a twinge of disappointment, as he had hoped that if he sat at the Ravenclaw table, Magnus would be there as well, when Jace and Izzy saw him by the entrance of the Great Hall, with Simon and Clary following a few steps behind. Izzy and Jace had tried to pester on the subject then, but were interrupted by Jace's fan club. Izzy, however, wasn't about to let it go.

"I was just…walking around," replied Alec, shoving food into him mouth.

"Uh huh," Izzy mumbled suspiciously, narrowing her eyes.

"What? It's true…,"Alec replied. It was the truth. Somewhat. It just wasn't the whole truth

"Okay," said Izzy, still not convinced. "Then why didn't you sit here last night?"

"I just sat at the Ravenclaw table with… friends."

"Friends?"

"Yeah, friends. That's what you call people you hang out with."

"Alec, you have gone to school here for years and I have never heard you once mention your other friends."

"Oh, he was talking with some people," Jace put in through a mouth full of scrambled eggs.

Izzy turned to Jace in shock. "What?"

"Yeah, he was sitting with some girl with curly brown hair… what's her name? Oh! Tessa, that's right."

"And you somehow forgot to-" Izzy began.

"OH, and then Bane sat down at their table too," Jace added, interrupting Izzy.

"WHAT?" Izzy's jaw dropped.

"Weird, right?" Jace said to Izzy, then he turned to Alec and asked, "Wait, Alec, why did you sit with Bane and Tessa, especially when you could've dinned with my magnificent self?"

"You and your just as magnificent fan club. Why would I ever choose to sit somewhere else?"

Jace put his hand over his heart in fake offense. He pulled it away a moment later, grinned, and said, "At least you agree that I'm magnificent."

Alec rolled his eyes as Izzy replied, "Well, with how you've been preparing, let's just hope your magnificent self doesn't get killed in the first task."

"See Clary, I told you I was magnificent," Jace said, turning to Clary, ignoring the rest of Izzy's sentence.

"You're impossible," Izzy mumbled.

"Magnificently impossible?"

"I swear Jace, you're lucky we need you for the Triwizard Tournament or else I would strangle you."

"I would too," Simon added, raiding his hand a little awkwardly.

"Same," said Clary.

"Hey! Clary!" Jace said, shocked.

"What? You are being very annoying right now. I'm starting to question my relationship choices," Clary said playfully.

"Oh? Really?" Jace started, smirking. "Are you questioning this?" And with that, he pulled her into a kiss.

Alec looked away, letting his gaze drift across the hall as the conversation continued without him.

However, just when Alec thought he had luckily avoided any further questioning, he turned his focus back to his group of friends and Izzy gave him a look that said "I'm not done with you."

And so, after breakfast, during which Alec constantly stole glances at Magnus (which did not go unnoticed by Izzy), who was sitting next across from Tessa at the Ravenclaw table, Isabelle pulled him aside.

"Alec, what were you really doing yesterday afternoon?" she demanded.

"I told you, I went for a walk," Alec answered, only receiving a disbelieving look from his sister. "…with Magnus."

"I KNEW IT! You two are dating, aren't you? Did you kiss?" Izzy asked, causing Alec to turn a deep crimson. "You DID!"

"No! Izzy! We didn't kiss!" said Alec. "We're not even dating. We just talked."

However, as he said that, his mind drifted back to their walk. He smiled to himself as he remembered all the times he caught Magnus watching him, all the times the two bumped into each other as they walked, sending shocks through Alec's body, all the times their eyes would meet, that moment when, and as they were about to part ways, he could have sworn Magnus leaned in just a fraction, before Alec had regretfully walked away, yet still he felt eyes watching him as he walked away. No, there was no way. He just likes you as a friend. It's no good to get your hopes up. How many times to we have to discuss this? That did nothing to change the goofy smile he had on his face, however.

"Alec!" Izzy said, waving a hand in front of his face. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Hm?" Alec replied, snapping out of his daze.

"God, you need to ask him out Alec! He clearly fancies you. And don't get me started on your obvious feelings. "

"What! I couldn't-"

"And I'm picking out your outfit for your date."

"It's not a date! It's going to be with all of-"

"Oh, no, I will make it a date, don't you worry. I'll find a way to get the rest of us to leave the group, older brother."

"You really don't have to-"

"And I'm picking out your outfit, once again."

"I was just going to wear some old jeans-"

"Oh no, no, no. I'm picking your outfit and that's that."

"But-"

"And feel free to sit at the Ravenclaw table with him for the next few days. I'll make up some excuse."

"Izzy-"

"Oh, I should probably get to class." And with that, she started to walk away.

"Wait-" Alec called.

She turned around so she was walking backwards. "Oh, and Alec, I expect full details when you actually do hook up."

"I would like to welcome you all to the first task of the Triwizard Tournament!" boomed a voice through the stands.

Alec, Izzy, Simon, and Clary were all sitting in the first row of the elevated stands. In front of them was what used to be the Quidditch Field, but was currently turned into a rocky, slightly forested, area. It was a cloudy day, and there was fog hugging the ground. There was also a strange chill in the air, but Alec paid no mind to it. It was probably just a sign of the coming winter.

"So, you are probably all wondering, what is the first task? Well, let me tell you. In this task we will have one competitor at a time search around the rocky area we have here in attempt to find a box much like this one," the announcer held up a golden box with strange writings on the sides. "The competitors will be timed on how quickly they achieve the task. However, there is a twist. We will also have a dementor in the area, and it is the champions' jobs to go as unnoticed as possible." The crowd all gasped at the mention of the creature. "Now, now, don't worry; we have put a protective barrier around the stands and around the perimeter to prevent the dementor from attacking any of you or from escaping. Now, the competitors can use whatever magic they want except the Patronus Charm, unless they are in dire need. However, as the task is to go by as unnoticed as possible, the need of the use of the Patronus Charm will remove points from their final score. Also, the dementor was instructed not to perform the dementor's kiss, but if anything gets out of hand, we have professionals on the side ready to get the dementor under control once again. So, the contestants will be judged on time, tactics, skill, and how successful they are at accomplishing the task at hand. We will go in the order of which the champions were selected, so, would you please give it up for the Beauxbaton school champion, Jean André Courtade!"

Said competitor walked onto the field from under the stands. He had a grin on his face and he was waving to the audience. He threw a wink over to Camille's direction before turning to the task at hand. The announcer counted down from three, and then the task had begun.

Jean André immediately crouched behind the nearest rock, clearly think over his next move. He only had a few moments before the dementor was released. His faced looked screwed up in concentration. Alec assumed he was probably trying to apparate, as he wasn't sure if the other schools knew or remembered that you can't apparate on Hogwarts grounds.

Jean must have realized this, as he gave up trying to apparate and started running around the field, trying cover as much ground and learn his surroundings before the dementor was released. It came gliding silently, casting a chill over the nearby trees and rocks. The fog thickened and you could see Jean's breath. A brief flash of fear sparked in his eyes, but was gone quickly. He took a deep breath, turned his wand to himself, and casted a spell.

The crowd "oohed" and "awed" as Jean disappeared. He must've used the Bedazzling Charm, which can turn a person or object invisible. Alec, however impressed he was, knew it was useless. Dementors are blind anyways and can sense human emotions, so being invisible won't prevent them from finding you. And sure enough, the dementor started to glide towards a spot near where Jean had been moments before.

The dementor changed directions a few times before, finally, Jean was revealed. The dementor's presence was sapping his strength; he could no longer keep the spell going. Jean, however week he was, was trudging along determinedly, his eyes focused on the rock in front of him. Just when it seemed that Jean could go on no more, he collapsed. The crowd gasped as the dementor neared him. He was done for it, he failed the first task. He should have just casted the patronus charm, Alec thought. Even if it would take away points, at least he would have completed the task. Alec wondered if he even knew how to cast a patronus charm.

Wait.

What was that?

Jean's arm moved from under him, clutching something gold. He lifted it, and stood up, and the crowd burst into applause. Wizards and witches came in to take away the dementor. As soon as the dementor left, Jean collapsed on the ground again and was swarmed by Healers, all with chocolate in their hands. And although he was in such a weak state, the applause took a while to die out.

The announcer tried to get them settled to give the scores. The audience turned to the judges. One by one they all held up their scores: 6, 7, 8, 6, 8. A total of 35. Alec hoped Jace would do better than that as the applause erupted again. True, it wasn't that good of a score, but it wasn't that bad either. And the boy had accomplished the task even though he was about to pass out. Alec had no clue what Jace would decide to do.

Next was the Durmstrang champion, Viria Karsten. She walked onto the field, her red hair blowing in the wind behind her, her blue eyes shining. The announcer counted down again, and then she was off, searching the fields just as Jean did before her. She covered a lot more ground however, as she didn't waste time in the beginning with apparition, and she was very fast. She dashed in and out of trees and rocks before the dementor was released.

When it was, she crouched behind a rock and… disappeared. But not like how Jean did. She vanished, and no one knew where she was. The dementor floated around aimlessly, and if a dementor could be confused, this one definitely would be. The crowd started whispering, wondering where the girl went. What did she do? This was magic unheard of.

And, almost as soon as they realized she was gone, she was standing up from behind a tree in the right corner of the field, holding a golden box, with a triumphant smile on her face. It was a smile much like Magnus's, Alec thought. He remembered Magnus's face, smiling at him as he shared a story, how his eyes brightened and how he laughed and-

No, stop. Really, you're thing about him now, of all times? A small part of his brain told him. He mentally kicked himself as he heard a voice say, "Alexander."

Great, now you're imagining his voice. How pathetic can you be?

"Psst, Alec!" The voice said more urgently.

I must be going crazy, Alec decided.

He suddenly felt something on his hand (along with a familiar shock) and he looked down in surprise to see a hand on top of his. He quickly drew it away, and looked under the stands, where that hand was coming from. And to his surprise, he was standing there.

Magnus.

"Magnus?!"

"The one and only," he replied, smirking. "And now that I have your attention, would you come down here?"

"It's almost Jace's turn! I can't miss that."

"I promise I won't be too long. Now would you please come down here?"

He seemed to be begging now, and hearing that in his voice, Alec knew he couldn't say no. He mumbled some quick excuse to Izzy, he was barely listening anyway as she was in deep conversation with Simon and Clary as to what Viria did. Alec snuck away and went down the stairs and behind the stands until he found Magnus.

"Ah, Alexander, there you are," Magnus said with a grin.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Alec?" Alec asked, even though he secretly loved the way Magnus said his full name. "You did it once, a few moments ago, when you were trying to get my attention. Why is it so hard now?"

"It's just so much more fun to say Alexander. It rolls off the tongue. Not to mention its beautiful, much like the person it belongs to," he added with a wink, and a step in Alec's direction.

Alec blushed. "So, anyway, did you call me down here?"

"I just wanted to talk to you," he answered without a second thought. "We haven't spoken or even seen each other since our walk on the grounds." He stepped closer to Alec.

"Why would you want to talk to or me?" Alec asked, trying not to focus on how close they were.

"Oh, Alexander," he said with a smile. He closed the distance between the two of them. Alec tried to stay calm, or at least look calm. He was practically bursting with excitement and fear on the inside. His heart was beating a million miles a minute when Magnus continued, "I thought I made the answer perfectly clear."

Alec caught his breath when Magnus began to lean forward, slowly closing any remaining distance between the two. Is this really happening? Do I want this to happen? Alec knew the answers to both of those questions. But he was still worried. Scared that he was going to mess this up. He decided to push those worries away and just go with it. But just before Magnus pressed his lips to his, there was a thunder of applause and a loud stomping of feet above his head, and Alec was shocked into stumbling backward. Magnus looked surprised and disappointed.

"I-I should probably go see what's happening," Alec stuttered out without looking at Magnus. He walked away a little faster than he intended.

He was mentally kicking himself as he made his way up the stands. Leave it to him to mess up everything. He was about to kiss you, idiot. Why did you walk away like that? Alec barely registered what was going on around him until he reached Izzy. She was jumping around with excitement, as was Clary, and Simon had a smile on his face as Izzy turned to hug him. Alec turned to look towards the judges. The scores for the past contestants were written below the judges. Viria had manages to get 43 points. He lifted his head a fraction to see Jace's score. And there, above each and every head of the judges, was a 9. Somehow, Jace had managed to get the highest score in the first task.

And, for that moment, all Alec could think and feel was happiness and excitement and pride for his best friend, and his worries about the moment with Magnus were briefly forgotten.

Nope, you don't get the first kiss now. Hahahaha, I'm such a tease.

I promise it will be coming soon, just you wait.

Now, what did you think of the chapter? What do you think Viria did to accomplish the task?

Anyways, the next chapter should be up by the end of next weekend and if its late feel free to, I don't know, spam me with demands for the next chapter.

If it's early, consider it my little gift to you to help you get through the week of school/work.

Thanks for reading :)