Over the next few weeks, Nora tried to use every single distraction to keep her mind on anything but the tournament. She was sitting in the library, her hair was messily tied up in a bun, her shirt and tie undone. She was writing her transfiguration essay when Cedric came to sit down next to her.
"Hey Nora." He said looking guilty.
"Don't look like I beat up your puppy Ced." She teased making him laugh.
"How long have you been in here?"
"Far too long. Have you finished this paper?"
"Haven't even started." He sighed passing his hand through his hair. "I brought licorice." He smiled.
"You know me too well." Nora laughed as he took out his books and they started working on their papers.
"Nora!" Fleur said happily putting her books down on the table. "Cedric! 'ow are you?" She asked her french accent prominent.
"Très bien toi?" Cedric answered making Fleur gasp.
"Oh tu parles francais!"
"Un petit peu." He smiled.
"Cedric likes showing off." Nora teased. "Fleur needs to practice her terrible English."
"Thank you Nora... It ees very terrible." Fleur laughed flicking hair over her shoulder. "I need to work on my alchemy. Do you mind if I study wit you?"
"No problem at all." Cedric smiled.
The first task kept getting closer, Nora was getting more anxious by the day. She was getting more irritable as specially when Fred and George would talk about taking bets. That evening, Nora was talking with Nataleigh, Aveline and Alicia about the upcoming tasks.
"Hey Freckles." Fred said hugging her from behind.
"Hey Fred. What stupid things are you up to today?" She teased looking back at him.
"Nothing you wouldn't approve of Freckles. We were just trying to get things in order with Bagman." He sighed.
"Not to say I told you so... but..." She grinned.
"Sorry Freddiekins, Nora is always, always right. Better get used to it." Nataleigh said compassionately.
"That's what she likes to think." Fred teased making Nora roll her eyes.
"I've got to go patrol." Nora said wiggling out from his grasp before leaving.
"Hey Nora!" Fred called out running after her.
"What is it Fred..." Nora asked turning around.
"What's going on Freckles..." Fred sighed putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Nothing..." She sighed looking away from him.
"Come on Nora..."
"Fine..." Nora said pulling him into an empty classroom. "I'm stressed out about the task, I'm freaking out about our exams, I'm worried about my mum and Sirius at home and you playing around with bets on my cousin's and friend's life is kind of pissing me off!" She said her voice rising.
"Nora..." Fred sighed running his hands through his hair. "It's just a way to make more money."
"Find another way! This is bloody stupid and frankly disrespectful! Work on your products instead!"
"Some of us actually have to work for money!" He shouted back at her.
"What do you want me to do Fred? Apologize because my family has money?!"
"That's not what I'm saying... It's just that you don't understand that I need to make money... It's not always easy for everyone." He sighed frustrated.
"Because having money fixes everything..." Nora said sarcastically. "My family is perfect because we're so bloody rich. Don't bother following me. I have nothing more to say to you right now."
Nora was patrolling the halls in silence thinking about her fight with Fred. Even as friends, they rarely argued except the previous year. She was pondering her thoughts not looking where she was headed when she bumped into someone.
"Hey Freckle Face." Nikolaus said with a tentative smile.
"I'm not in the mood for you crap Niko." Nora sighed crossing her arms.
"Can we talk? I'm patrolling as well."
"I thought we weren't up to your standards..." She answered coldly.
"I just want to talk..." He sighed looking at the floor. "Please... I miss you."
"You left us Niko... What is there to say?"
"It's more complicated than that... I just really miss you all."
"Fine... You can walk with me and I won't hex you." She smiled nudging him.
"I'm not lying you know... I really do miss everyone." Niko said with a guilty expression.
"I know... Your face tenses up when you lie and your hand twitches." Nora answered looking over at him.
"How's Mama?"
"She was devastated when you left, still is, but she's trying to seem strong as always."
"I never wanted to hurt anyone." He said quietly. "Things are just so complicated. Some things I just can't say yet..."
"I get that. We've always lived with secrets in our family anyways." Nora said shrugging her shoulders. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. I'm okay. I'm glad to be talking with my crazy twin." He smiled putting his arm around her. "What about Nat?"
"Nat will probably kill you if you go near her. She's not as forgiving."
"I noticed..." He said sadly. "How are Meg and Neil?"
"Meg is still crazy about her grades and Neil is still as weird as ever. They're more mature though, the last year made everyone grow up quite fast."
"I'm sorry this had to add on to everything..." Niko sighed. "Especially for Mama..."
"At least she has Sirius... He really makes her happy. It's nice to see her smile again. And not that fake smile she plasters to her face."
"I'm glad to hear it." He said tensing up at the mention of Sirius.
"Can I ask you something?" Nora asked.
"Shoot."
"Does he know about Sirius?" She asked but Niko shook his head.
"He doesn't know. He only thinks Sirius may go after Mama because of their history but he knows nothing more."
"Thank you." Nora smiled. "You're not all that bad Niko you know?" She teased.
"Right." He rolled his eyes laughing. "What about you? How's your love triangle?"
"Shut up! It's not a love triangle you idiot..." Nora said shoving him lightly. "I just got into a fight with Fred... It was stupid. I've been so annoyed with the Triwizard Tournament and everything..."
"Afraid your other boyfriend might get hurt?"
"Cedric isn't... I'm not even going to argue about this with you..." She rolled her eyes.
"Fine fine... Anyway, I've heard he's going out with Cho Chang. It's his loss, you're twenty times better than she'll ever be."
"Oh..." Nora said slightly taken aback.
"You didn't know..." Niko said scrunching his face.
"It's fine. Good for him. I'm happy to hear it." She forced a smile not convincing neither Niko nor herself.
"You're jealous..." Niko teased nudging her.
"Shut up..." Nora rolled her eyes.
"Oh Norabel is jealous..."
"You're annoying as hell..." Nora said shoving him playfully.
Nora came back later that night trying to make as little sound as possible smiling as she saw Fred's sleeping figure on one of the couches. He had books scattered all around him as he breathed steadily. She sat down on the side of the couch brushing a strand of hair from his eyes when he stirred lightly.
"Hey..." He whispered hoarsely rubbing his eyes.
"Hey Freddikins." Nora smiled looking down at him. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was nuts..."
"I'm the idiot." He said sitting up to face her. He rested his hand on her cheek taking a deep breath.
"How about we both have tempers and overreacted?" She grinned leaning in to kiss him.
"I guess I could live with that." Fred said before claiming her lips with his own. They fought for control of the kiss as they usually did for a while, before they broke apart.
"Merlin I love you." He said pecking her lips once again.
"So do I you frustrating man." She said scrunching her nose. "Or boy, depending on the day."
"Ha ha ha." Fred chuckled sarcastically before kissing her on the forehead.
"I've got to get going, I've got ancient runes tomorrow morning." Nora sighed looking at the time.
"Fine... But you don't know what you're missing." Fred winked at her.
"Oh I know." She grinned kissing him before heading upstairs.
The first task arrived faster than expected, it was the only subject of conversation scurrying the school walls. Nora had barely slept that night and decided to head out for an early run to clear her mind. She rested for a while in her usual spot next to the lake when she was surprised by a familiar voice.
"Nice to see things haven't changed much since I left. Still looking good Freckles." Erik's voice rang. Nora grinned turning around before he picked her up and spun her around. "God I miss you guys." Erik sighed smiling at her.
"What are you doing here?" Nora asked shocked.
"Not happy to see me? You don't appreciate pure charm and sex-appeal anymore?" He teased smirking.
"Yeah well, I'm not used to hanging around a sex god anymore so I need a minute to take you in." She countered. "But seriously, not that I'm not glad, I'm thrilled but why are you here?"
"I'm coming to see the first task! I can't believe the year I leave all of this happens... This sucks."
"Well the school just waited for the second you left to do something exciting." Nora laughed as they walked towards the castle. "So how's the pub?"
"It's great! I actually can't believe how well things are going. Business has picked up, I actually have regulars now."
"I'm really proud of you." She smiled. "And for what it's worth, we do miss you here."
"I miss it too, oh the joy of 5am Quidditch practice in the rain... Thank god Oliver finally got in with Puddlmere, he was driving me insane."
"I know right?" She laughed fondly at the memories. "So still an manwhore?"
"I prefer the term serial monogamous but yeah... Not much has changed in that department. Still haven't had your shot Freckles." Erik teased nudging her.
"We both know very well I'm not the Montgomery you want to sleep with." She answered with a smug expression.
"Officially switched the last name! Nice! Ah! Talking of the beautiful Nataleigh, how is she?"
"Back to the old Nat, flirting with the Beauxbatons and Durmstrangs to forget Oliver..." Nora rolled her eyes as he threw his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah well, it's always an effective way of moving on." Erik laughed.
"Yeah right!" She scoffed.
"We know you and Fred are the perfect little couple but we don't all find our soul-mates when we're six..." He said raising an eyebrow making Nora smile to herself. "You two are just too much."
"Thanks I think." She laughed shaking her head at him.
A/N : Another chapter! Yay! And Erik's back! I was glad to bring him back! I hope you are enjoying the story, if you have a minute to review it would be greatly appreciated! It really does mean a lot to me to know that people still enjoy this story.
On my profile, there are links to pictures of what the characters look like, so for anyone who's curious, have a look :)
P.S. Sorry for my eternal absence from this story, I've been insanely busy with my life, my three year old has been in and out of hospitals four times this winter because of her cystic fibrosis and I am twelve weeks pregnant... with twins... Which seems adorable on paper but truly terrifies me in real life... Anyways, it's all been quite overwhelming and hobbies have been neglected quite a bit but I am now very happy with everything and glad to be back.
Love you all, XO