Skye arrived into the great dining hall with her Quidditch team mates, having a few more bruises than she did when she had left Jemma in their shared History of Magic class. Jemma seemed to grow more and more interested as they went further and further back in time, while Skye had been content to doodle in her notebook and show her clever drawings to her girlfriend. She had been scolded before rushing off to the pitch, but she knew Jemma enjoyed the doodles all the same.
She sat in her usual place with them, making sure that she could see Jemma at the Ravenclaw table across the room. Skye smiled wide and waved, hoping the girl would see. She always did. Jemma might also notice a rather large bruise slowly getting darker on her forehead, just above her left eye. What could she say? The bludgers had been especially naughty at practice today.
What was even more interesting was that rumors had been circulating around the castle all day. Skye hadn't thought too much of them, until the Slytherin Seeker had told the rest of the team about it. Apparently while flying around for the snitch, he had spotted a large ship on the horizon of the lake. This was particularly unusual, because, again, it was a lake, and there weren't normally ships on it, of any sort.
Other students had apparently seen a flying wagon, carried by the most beautiful flying pegasus circling the grounds in the late afternoon just before coming in for dinner. This all made for a rather unusual set of circumstances, as Hogwarts did not usually receive visitors...at least not ones that weren't sent from the Ministry of Magic, and they normally used floo powder.
Skye hadn't had a chance to talk to Jemma about it, and she wondered if her girlfriend was just as curious as she was. They wouldn't have to wait long to find out, as the Headmaster stood, signaling for all to be silent so that he could begin the evenings announcements before the meal.
Headmaster Coulson placed both his hands on each side of the owl-shaped podium and cleared his throat before beginning his speech. Every student in the hall knew that this was about the gossip spreading around like wildfire. They didn't usually have announcements before dinner.
"This year, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event: The Triwizard Tournament." Coulson paused and let the whispering run rampant for a few moments before reining them back in.
"For those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single student is selected to compete. Let me be clear. If you are chosen, you must stand alone. There is no backing out, no change of heart. Trust me when I say these contests are not for the feint-hearted." The students were silent, but a buzz of energy and excitement could be felt in the air. Coulson's facial expression quickly changed from solemn and serious to lighthearted, and the reason for this was revealed as he continued.
"But more of that later. Now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbaton Academy of Magic, and their headmistress, Maria Hill." As he spoke, the doors of the Great Hall swung open and a group of very pristine, well dressed girls entered in a tight formation.
Skye would be lying if she told herself that these new girls rushing in weren't pretty. Her mouth hanging open just a little was enough proof of that. She wasn't alone though, because the other Slytherin Beater, along with most of the other boys at the table were doing the exact same thing.
That was until the tall pretty blonde one in front made eyes at Jemma. Of course Skye couldn't have possibly known that's who she was looking at, but it was her general direction, and Skye wasn't anything if she wasn't jealous. She would know that blush anywhere. Skye loved to make Jemma do it every chance she got.
"Look at them, man."
"Yeah...the one in front is totally ho-"
Skye jabbed her elbow hard to the right into her teammate's side, causing him to cough and grab the table.
"Shut up. She's not that pretty…" She grumbled, mouth now fully closed and brooding, paying more attention to her girlfriend from across the room who was busy watching the ladies prance in like they owned the place.
When the girls finished their routine, Coulson introduced the final school.
"And now our friends from the North, please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang, and their headmaster, Robert Gonzales." Before Coulson was even finished, the group of boys burst through the entrance followed by their own headmaster.
The only word that could be used to describe their walk down the aisle was aggressive. The way they slammed their staffs against the floor and sent sparks flying into the air was intimidating enough, but their facial expressions were what made them terrifying. The girls had at least smiled at everyone, but the boys looked as if they were ready to bite the head off of something.
"Damn...talk about testosterone," Skye mumbled. The girls at her side of the table all snickered with her while she got a shove back from the one she had jabbed before.
"Oh hush, you're just jealous your face doesn't look that stiff," Skye snapped back, "If you ate less pumpkin puffs you would look like that too. And probably be a better Chaser!"
There was more laughing from her section of the Slytherin table, which quickly quieted down after a sharp stare from their head of house. Skye was pleased enough with herself at her commentary. She wondered if Jemma and Fitz were enjoying their own. The two were so smart, so close, and so similar, Skye might have been jealous if Jemma weren't already hers. She was quite the green monster when she wanted to be. Which reminded her, and her gaze turned back to the many girls in blue dresses now at the front of the hall, standing along with the fur and leather clad boys. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at the tallest blonde of the Beauxbatons. She was going to keep an eye on that one.
"Your attention please! I'd like to say a few words," the Headmaster continued, and the muttering in the room quieted again, all listening eagerly. "
"Eternal glory. That is what awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Tournament; however, to do this the chosen student must survive three incredible tasks. These three tasks are extremely dangerous and will test your courage, problem solving, and mastery of magic. For this reason the ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule."
At this, Jemma and her best friend, Fitz, exchanged eye rolls. She'd read about this whole tournament in Hogwarts, A History, and she thought the entire idea of it was barbarac. People died in this tournament, but who cares, as long as the schools were being friends, right? Everyone around her was whispering and bragging about the fact that they were going to enter. Even students from her own house were hastily deciding to put their names into the fire.
"I thought Ravenclaws were supposed to be wise," Jemma leaned over and quietly said into Fitz's ear so that no one around her would be offended. She couldn't imagine anyone she knew even considering setting themselves up for something so pointlessly dangerous.
Jemma snuck a look over at the Slytherin table, and more specifically, at Skye. As Skye and her quidditch teammates were talking, she finally noticed the bruise above Skye's eye. It hadn't been as visible when Skye had waved to her, or she surely would have seen it sooner. Even though the two weren't related at all, Jemma began to worry that Skye's aptitude for sports, along with the peer pressure of her teammates, would somehow convince her to enter. No, she wouldn't. Skye was reckless, but she wasn't stupid.
A tall, black haired woman took the podium as Coulson stepped down. She was dressed in traditional business robes of someone of high rank in the Ministry of Magic. The only thing that really would catch attention was the streak of red in her hair. With a stern face, she adjusted her glasses and waited for the murmurs to quiet again, "After due consideration, the ministry has concluded that for their safety, no student under the age of seventeen will be able to put their name for the Triwizard Tournament. This decision is final and nonnegotiable."
Almost immediately, the hall filled with grumbled protests. This should have eased Jemma's annoyance, but it didn't. The ministry obviously knew how dangerous this was, or they wouldn't have created an age limit, but yet, they were encouraging students to participate anyway.
"Thank you, Ms. Hand," Coulson moved back to the podium after she stepped down and back to her seat at the table. He then waved his hand in front of the stand and a large stone goblet appeared. Another second later some in the room gasped as it lit suddenly with blue flames.
"The Goblet of Fire! Anyone wishing to participate must simply write their name on a piece of parchment and throw it into the flame before this hour on Saturday evening. But be warned-do not do so lightly. If chosen, there's no turning back. As of this moment, the Triwizard Tournament has begun!" Cheers erupted from around the room, echoing through the hall and suddenly food filled the plates set up for dinner all along the tables. Those from the other two schools were asked to go and intermingle with the Hogwarts students during dinner to get acquainted.
While every other student in the hall was busy inviting their guests to sit with them, Jemma and Fitz couldn't care less and went back to the conversation they'd been having before all of this had started and interrupted them. To Jemma, the tournament was like a fly buzzing around her head. She knew it was there and it was vaguely annoying, but she chose to ignore it.
"You should have seen the look on Skye's face," Jemma continued telling Fitz her story about the way Skye had finally found out about her time travel. "It was priceless." She opened her mouth to continue speaking, but Fitz's eyes widened as he looked at something behind Jemma. She slowly turned her head and was looking up into the eyes of the blonde from before, the one who had smiled at her when they made their entrance.
"Can- Can we help you?" Jemma asked shyly. She wasn't good at talking to regular strangers, much less tall, attractive strangers from other schools. Jemma was in no way being disloyal to Skye by thinking it, she simply paid very acute attention to detail and she couldn't help but notice how well formed and symmetrical the other girl's body was.
"Is this seat taken?" The stranger asked sweetly, smiling at Jemma's nervousness. Jemma glanced at the seat on the bench next to her and then back up at the girl's face.
"Please, sit," Fitz answered for her. "Excuse my friend here, she doesn't know how to talk to women." he joked, holding his hands up in surrender when Jemma launched a dagger at him from her eyes.
The stranger laughed and slipped onto the bench. With the extra students, the tables were crowded and Jemma's shoulder was lightly touching the girl's. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment because of Fitz's comment.
"My name's Bobbi Morse." The unfamiliar girl informed her.
"Simmons," "Fitz," Each best friend introduced the other simultaneously.
"So Simmons," Bobbi began. Jemma felt another leg press against hers under the table and shifted uncomfortably. This was one reason she enjoyed the fact that she and Fitz didn't have many friends. They had more space, which was something Jemma valued. She'd never really liked people touching her, Skye being the exception. "Are you enjoying Alchemy? I took it last year and it was just as fun as potions."
"What- how?" Jemma was wondering why this random girl knew what classes she was taking, but she quickly silenced herself. As an answer, Bobbi looked pointedly at Jemma's lap, where her textbook was still lying. She'd been doing some light reading before the evening meal and hadn't put it away.
"Yes, very much." Jemma smiled. "It's a wonderful challenge." The fact that Bobbi was staring at the collection of books stuffed into the bag behind her made her heart fall just a little bit. Sure, this girl might have wanted to be friends with her, but once she realized how much of a nerd she was, she'd move on.
"That is a LOT of books." Bobbi grinned, and Jemma wished she could crawl into a shell and hide away forever. This is why she never tried to make friends. "Ah, it makes sense now." Jemma looked up at the giant of a teenage girl. Even when they were sitting, Jemma's head only reached her shoulder. It was very, very nerve wracking.
Her nerves only got worse when the blonde hooked her finger under the chain around Jemma's neck and pulled until the pendant fell out of her shirt. Heat rushed to the tips of Jemma's ears because she swore she felt Bobbi's finger brush against her clavicle. Bobbi held the pendent in her palm, observing the hourglass carefully.
"I heard that these were issued sometimes here. I wanted one myself, but Beauxbaton doesn't allow them. You must be really smart to have gotten one." Bobbi complimented her. She released the necklace and Jemma let out a breath of relief when the object returned to its place hanging against her chest.
"Yes, well, I enjoy schoolwork." Jemma smiled back.
"What's your favorite class?" Bobbi asked. Jemma smiled and continued to talk with the girl, pleased with herself for having a little confidence. Although she didn't approve of the dangerous task part of the tournament, she should at least try to make some friends. That was the point of it, after all.
Skye had been immediately preoccupied by a giant stack of turkey legs which appeared out of nowhere after the Headmaster's speech. Practice had been a rough one, and Skye, as well as her other teammates were starving, because the pile was gone, quickly replaced with more. She scooped this and that onto her plate. Load it with carbs to replace the ones she had worked off.
She was already teeth deep in the turkey leg when the Chaser next to her nudged her, pointing his mildly chubby finger towards the Ravenclaw table.
"Isn't that hot one hitting up your girl?"
Turkey was everywhere. The leg dropped into the mashed potatoes and she was pretty sure she had just spat some turkey bits into the pumpkin juice. She had lost sight of the blonde from before, and when Skye looked in the direction her teammate had pointed, she found her. Sitting. Next to Jemma and Fitz. Next to Jemma.
"That...mmmm…" Skye grit her teeth together. She was pretty sure she had bent the fork she had been holding in her spare hand. They were sitting all close. Touching. They were touching, that's how close they were. Jemma's face was all red and cute and flushed. She was the only one allowed to make her that red. Even her ears. Even her ears were red.
"Yeah. Look, she's totally hi-"
"Shut the fuck up, Garry."
Skye's hand was on the back of his head and suddenly he got a mouth full of potatoes and gravy as she slammed his head down into his plate. He wouldn't be saying anything else for a while.
The jealous creature she was, Skye's brows furrowed and she didn't eat for the rest of dinner. Instead brooding as she sat there, bubbling over with rage watching as the new girl played with Jemma's time turner.
"Probably doesn't even know what that is...blonde. Dumb...dumb blonde...damnit."
She was fairly certain the girl had grazed Jemma's neck on purpose. She was leaning over her, all tall and seductive and gorgeous.
"Damnit."
She spent the remainder of dinner silent, glaring over at the table, watching her stupid smile and Jemma laugh. The way she ripped into the remainder of her turkey leg, one would have thought she was imagining ripping out someone's throat with her teeth. It's because she was.