Chapter 56: Pages of the Calendar
It was six o'clock on the thirtieth of October and Zoey found herself standing at the front of the school in the cold with the rest of the Hogwarts population. She gave a small breath of air and looked around trying to find any signs of the coming schools. Months have passed since the first day of school and by then everyone knew about the Triwizard Tournament, a tournament that Charlie and Bill vaguely told her and the rest before boarding the Hogwarts Express.
Zoey stood with the rest of the Weasleys, saying her goodbyes to them like the Weasley kids. She had just hugged and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and then approached the elder Weasleys, Charlie and Bill. By the time she reached them, Charlie had pulled Ginny into a hug.
"I might be seeing all of you sooner than you think," Charlie said as he released Ginny from his hug and gave them all a grin.
"Why?" Fred keenly asked.
"You'll see. Oh, but don't tell Percy I told you. This is classified Ministry information," Charlie then turned to Zoey.
"If it's classified," Zoey held out her hand, "Then wouldn't you get in trouble for telling us?"
"I didn't exactly tell you, now did I? And come on, Zoey. You should know by now that Weasleys give hugs not handshakes," Charlie enveloped her in a bear hug that was so strong that Zoey had to gasp for breath.
Fred patted his brother's shoulder; "You can let go of her now. I would rather have her pale skinned than blue," Fred joked.
Charlie released Zoey and ruffled her hair. "And Weasleys like to mess up others hair as well," Zoey said lightly and gave the Dragon tamer a smile. She then turned to Bill who was looking thoughtfully at the train.
"I sort of wish I was back at Hogwarts this year now," Bill said, "You lot are lucky," he paused, "I don't what to miss any of this, come to think of it. I might just visit to watch."
"Watch what?" George grew impatient at his brother's vagueness.
Billy placed his hands in his pockets and looked away mysteriously. "Never you mind"
"What's up with you?" Ron raised an eyebrow.
Zoey smiled at the memory and rubbed her hands up and down her arms, praying for Beauxbatons and Durmstrang to hurry up. She bit her lip and looked around, spotting Bridgit in the distance. She remembered the Quidditch World Cup. Bridgit had known about the Triwizard Tournament in advance. She had probably heard it from the Death Eaters. Zoey's eyes widened. If the Death Eaters knew about the tournament, were they planning to do something? She quickly searched for Harry. Would he be in harm's way?
"Are you okay, Zoey?"Cedric asked from beside her. Zoey looked up and gave him a smile.
"Just a little cold. I can survive," she said. Cedric smiled in return.
"You'd just have to wait a bit longer," he then removed his scarf, "Here." He wrapped it around Zoey. She blushed and thanked him. She then looked back at where everyone was guessing where the other schools will come.
"So, you're entering the tournament?" Zoey quietly asked him as if it were a secret though almost everyone knew. Cedric nodded.
"I'm seventeen," he said ruffling her hair, an activity that everyone seemed to be fond of doing to her, "I'm allowed."
Zoey sighed in relief. That's right, she thought to herself, The tournament can't harm Harry. He's not even seventeen. I'm just being paranoid. She returned to looking around and listened to the students murmurs on guessing how the other schools will arrive. She was guessing that the students were getting a bit reckless seeing as it was getting colder, later and there were still no signs of anything approaching. Zoey listened to their guesses and found them frankly entertaining especially when some guessed Apparation.
Zoey felt herself getting reckless as well and had the need to move. She looked around and looked behind her to see the teachers and Dumbledore waiting as well. Her eyes looked suspiciously at her new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mad-Eye Moody. He was an ex-Auror and was told to be one of the best. Despite that, Zoey still felt the need to favor her Uncle, after all her Uncle didn't have and electric blue eye that swirled a lot and was told that can see through objects. Mad-Eye gave a cough and Zoey swiftly turned away.
She placed a hand over her heart and tried to steady her breathing. Mad-Eye could see almost everything and she would not doubt the fact that he probably knew she was looking at him. She was scared in an uncomfortable way. It was not like she did not hate the man, no, in fact the only thing she felt against him was fear. He was a good teacher, yes and he really knows what's out there but ever since he taught the class about the Unforgivable Curses then well, seeing as Zoey was a victim of one, it did not do her any good.
"Aha!" Dumbledore called from the back row, "Unless I am mistaken. I do believe that Beauxbatons is approaching!"
The students' murmurs became louder as they looked around trying to find where the Beauxbatons were coming from. Zoey looked at Cedric and saw that he had no idea what they were looking for. What did Dumbledore see that they couldn't seem to find. All of a sudden a loud voice said: "There!" Zoey saw many heads turn to the direction of the Forbidden Forest and looked there as well.
Her eyes widened at the sight. A large carriage had flown through the air, its bottom grazing the top of the trees. It was being driven by a large horse with wings. Zoey felt the ground shake, though it was just her imagination, when the horse and carriage had landed in front of them. She watched as the horses shook their heads and the carriage door opened, revealing a handsome woman who looked as if she were half-giant. Zoey shook her head; no doubt she was a half giant.
Zoey quietly watched as Dumbledore kissed the woman's hand before she took her place beside him. She looked back at the carriage and saw that students were beginning to exit. There was no doubt about it, each and every student that exited the carriage was beautiful. Their uniforms were made of light blue silk and they walked elegantly to their place. Zoey raised an eyebrow to them when she saw a particular woman with silvery blonde hair walk with her head held high. She seemed to stand out. She was beautiful but not a beauty that the others could compare too. No, hers was special, unique.
She looked away from the silvery blonde and scanned the rest of the students. All of them seemed to be normal until her eyes landed on another blonde. This blonde was attractive as well but that's not what caught Zoey's eye. No, she knew this student. It was Mary Sue. Zoey felt her heart stop and fear whelm in her body. The girl who had entered her home without permission, who roamed the Emeraude Suburb even though she wasn't and Emeraude herself, the girl who was perfect in every way possible was in Hogwarts. She was closer to Zoey and Zoey did not like that.
"Are you alright?" Cedric asked her, "You've gone all stiff"
Zoey shook her head, "It's nothing. I just thought I saw something," she tilted her head towards the direction of the Beauxbatons students. Cedric looked towards them and raised his eyebrow.
"They look rather cold don't they," he told her.
"They do?" Zoey looked back at them and saw that they were shivering, "Oh, you're right. I don't think the silk helps either. They don't even have cloaks. I feel cold just looking at them"
Cedric gave a laugh when Zoey forced a shiver. He rubbed her back. Zoey gave him an appreciative smile before looking around like the rest of the Hogwarts students. Beauxbatons had arrived now all they had to do was to wait for Durmstrang. Zoey saw that most of the students were looking at the sky, hoping that Durmstrang would enter the same way, but Zoey couldn't help but doubt them.
It was getting later and colder and Zoey found herself moving slightly closer to Cedric in hopes that she would get warmer. She looked up at him and saw that he didn't even seem that cold. She knitted her brows in worry and offered him his scarf back but he politely declined, claiming that he was used to the cold.
"Liar," Zoey said to him.
Before Cedric could retort there was a sound that came from the darkness. Zoey raised a curious eyebrow and turned towards the source. The sound was loud and eerie. It was like a muffled rumbling and sucking sound. It came from the Black Lake. Zoey heard Lee shout where the sound was coming from but she was already ahead of him. The once smooth surface of the lake seemed to be disturbed and out came a ship from under the water. Zoey brought her hands to her mouth in shook as the ship glistened under the moonlight.
"Way to make an entrance, huh?" Cedric breathed out.
"Yeah," Zoey found herself whispering though she didn't really have a reason as to why.
There was a splashing sound and Zoey guessed that they had dropped the anchor. She watched as people began to get off the ship and make their way towards them. At first glance they looked like they had the same built as the Slytherin's Crabbe and Goyle but the closer they got Zoey saw that their bulkiness was due to their coats that were made out of some kind of fur. She felt her stomach churn.
"Poor, now bald, animals," she muttered under her breath causing Cedric to give her an amused look before turning his attention back to the Durmstrangs. Zoey shook her head and watched as their Headmaster approached Dumbledore and greeted him. At this, Zoey had disconnected her attention from everything and just prayed all will be over soon so she could warm up in the castle
It was now Saturday and even for a weekend Zoey had found herself awake at a rather early hour. She stood in the area near the Goblet of Fire and watched as other students, age and underage, gawk at the cup and cheering whenever someone had passed through the age line to place their name into the cup. Late at night, she figured, the Durmstrangs had already entered their names yet she had caught sight of a few who entered their names earlier that day. No one from Hogwarts had entered yet.
"They're planning to do what?" Zoey said in a loud panicked voice as she sat down beside Echo, "are they off their rockers?"
"I thought they were off their rockers from before," Echo shoved her book into her messenger bag.
"But this is completely mental. An Aging Potion? Like that would fool the age line! They could get in trouble," Zoey said in a worried tone.
"Merlin's beard to Zoey," Echo waved a hand in front on Zoey's face, "Do you even know the Weasley Twins?"
Before Zoey could respond there was a yell. She looked back and saw Fred, George and Lee running into the room all looking extremely excited. Zoey feeling extremely suspicious.
"We did it!" Fred announced.
"Cooked it up just this morning!" George added.
Zoey looked at their hands and saw that they each clutched onto what looked like a test tube. They stopped in front of the Golden Trio.
"Cooked what?" Ron asked.
"An Aging Potion," Fred said and removed the cork from his test tube.
"We only need to be a few months older," George followed in suit and popped open his.
"It's not going to work," Hermione told them before they could drink the potion.
Fred and George looked at her. "Really?" Fred asked.
"And why's that Granger?" George raised an eyebrow.
Hermione scoffed and bookmarked her page before closing her book and placing it beside her. She then pointed her finger at the age line. "Dumbledore drew it himself and I'm sure he made it so that an idea incredibly dimwitted as an Aging Potion won't work," she told them.
Fred and George ignored her and drank their Potion. Zoey curiously watched them as they finished their potion, threw the test tubes away, grabbed hold of their piece of parchment with their name on it and jumped into the area within the age line. She watched in silence, as did everyone else, and only reacted when the twins made a yell in triumph. She saw them throw their names into the Goblet and listened to them give another yell of triumph.
"They think that it's so dimwitted, Dumbledore wouldn't have to worry because no one underestimates him," Echo said from beside Zoey, "Except maybe those dimwits"
Zoey looked back at the twins. "I don't know Echo it looks – Oops, I'm wrong"
It almost seemed like the twins' idea had worked until there was a loud sizzling noise and a second later Fred and George were hurled out of the circle the age line made and landed painfully on the cold hard floor at the other end of the room. Out of reflex, Zoey had ran towards them in worry and half a mind to lecture them like their mother but the half a mind idea soon disappeared when she saw that the twins began to grow identical long white beards. She began to laugh along with everyone else in the room.
"I thought you two could do better," Echo muttered loud enough for Zoey to hear and began laughing like everyone else.
"I did warn you," Dumbledore had now entered the room and looked at the bearded twins with amusement, "Now, I suggest that you both head to Madam Pomfrey who is treating two others who thought that an Aging Potion would do…but before you go," he stopped the twins from leaving, "I must say that your beards look very fine," he looked at Zoey, "I have to say, Ms. Emeraude, that I must trouble you to accompany the twins. I think Madam Pomfrey could use an extra hand"
"Right away, Sir," Zoey smiled and looked back at Echo, "I'll just catch up with you okay?"
"Hope you survive," Echo called out to Zoey before walking off to another direction.
Zoey decided not to reply anymore and patted George on the arm. "Come on Father Christmas let's go, oh and bring your clone with you," Zoey looked at Fred and began to walk towards the direction of the hospital wing.
"I'm hurt that you actually think I'm the clone" Fred said as he plopped down on one of the Hospital beds, George taking a seat beside him while Lee, who tagged along, took a seat on a chair. Zoey uncorked the antidote seeing as Madam Pomfrey was treating other students. She poured the potion into two goblets and handed it to the twins.
"I don't know, mate," Lee snickered, "You do look awfully phony. I mean Georgie here is the real deal"
Fred playfully smacked Lee's head while George just laughed. Zoey rolled her eyes at them. "Enough rough housing and drink your medicine"
"Whatever you say, mum," George rolled his eyes and took a whiff of the potion. He hastily gave it back to Zoey. "I'm not drinking that"
"What? Why?" Zoey gave the goblet back to him.
"Why? It smells like shi –"
"Don't finish that word," Zoey glared and looked at Fred, "Go on then. Drink it"
Fred looked down at the potion and made a face. "Yeah, I rather pass"
"It can't be that bad," Lee took his goblet and sniffed it. He almost dropped it when he inhaled its scent. "Yeah, it can't be that bad. It's worse!"
Zoey looked at them pleadingly. "But if you don't drink it you'll be bearded forever!"
"I doubt it," Fred said
"We can just have a clean shave and it's gone! No need for that swamp water," George grinned, though the smile was slightly hidden by the beard.
"Yeah, I have a pair of scissors," Lee pulled them out of his pockets, "If I can chop of their beards then they can shave it off"
Zoey raised a brow and made a gesture telling him to go on. She watched as he reached over to Fred, took his beard in his hand and chopped off a large chunk. He did the same with George and sat down with a grin on his face as if saying 'See! Told ya!' Zoey gave him a look and pointed at Fred and George. Lee looked back at the twins and his mouth hung open in disbelief. The beards were rapidly growing back but only longer.
"Now, that we've established that that didn't work," she folded her arms, "Can you please just drink the potion"
"What if we like having the beards?" Fred asked.
"Yeah, we think it makes us look mature," George added.
"Looks, George, looks. It doesn't actually make you mature," she pinched the bridge of her nose, "In fact you both are acting like two year olds. Please, just drink it as a sorry for dirtying the floor with your maturity."
Fred and George looked at each other before looking back at their potion and at Zoey. They gave a sigh, pinched their noses and drank the potion. Zoey smiled in victory before turning to look at Lee. The potion took a watery appearance but in reality was actually really thick and would take some time till the twins downed it all.
"So anyone else besides these two who entered their name in the goblet?" she asked him.
Lee scratched his head in thought. "Well, there's Angelina. She had her birthday last week. What about your house?"
"Well, there's Cedric," Zoey grinned, "I heard that some guys in our house would throw him into the circle if he backed out at last minute but I doubt it."
"Oh?" Lee wiggled his eyebrows, "Do you like him?"
Zoey blushed and Fred seemed to have chocked on his potion. She quickly headed to his aid and patted his back. He looked both surprised and sick, surprised from Lee's question and sick because he lost his concentration on drinking the potion and had the vile taste in his mouth. He covered his mouth with his hand and Zoey's eyes widened.
"Uh oh," she said and rubbed Fred's back, "Please don't throw up. Please, if you do you're going to have to take another potion and I don't think you'll like that"
Fred's eyes widened and Zoey watched as he painfully swallowed. His eyes were slightly watery and Zoey rubbed his back some more until he looked fine. He quickly brought the goblet back to his mouth in hopes that he could get it over and done with. Zoey looked back at Lee and saw that he was trying to hold in his laughter, she looked at George and saw that he was struggling to do the same.
"So, do you?" Lee asked after she got a hold of himself.
Zoey made a wave of her wand and got rid of the hair on the floor before looking back at Lee. "As a friend, yes, in any other way, no," she told him, "What would make you think I did?"
"Nothing," Lee shrugged, "Just thought you did. You two are rather close and in the same house so I figured maybe something was going on between you guys"
"Well there's none. What about you? Do you like Angelina?"
Zoey then heard a scoff. She looked back at the twins and saw that George had already finished his potion. He made a face at it before turning his attention back at them. "Like? Likes is an understatement. He's hopelessly in love with her"
"He's like a lost puppy," Fred finished his potion as well.
Lee looked slightly embarrassed at what his friends were saying. "Like you guys are one to talk!" he said, "Seeing as you're both in love with your best fri –" he didn't get to continue for Fred and George both shot up from the bed and tackled Lee to the floor, each covering his mouth with their hands. Lee tried to fight against them but they were too heavy. He tried to yell but what came out were muffled words. Zoey was confused.
"What –"
"It's nothing, Zoe!" Fred quickly said
"He's just talking nonsense!" George continued
"I think the fumes of the potion got to his head," Fred continued
"And is messing with his brain," George said after him
"He doesn't know what he's talking about," they ended in unison.
Zoey looked at them worriedly. Not sure what to make out of what just happened. She slowly nodded her head and took the goblets off the table and held them in her hand. Fred and George slowly pried themselves off Lee and touched their faces. The beards were slowly disappearing. In a matter of minutes it would be all gone and their skin will go back to its smooth and freckled appearance.
"Well," Zoey changed the subject, "I see the potion's working. It just looked like you have five o'clock shadow or whatever you call it. I'm just going to take these back to Madam Pomfrey"
She turned around and left the Gryffindor Boys.
Zoey felt like her entire world has ended. She felt like nothing could make sense anymore. Like everything would no longer go right, only worse. She was beginning to doubt humanity and faith. She was beginning to doubt reality. She was believing that everything that had just happened was a dream. A bad dream. A nightmare. A sick joke and who ever played the joke should be sent to Azkaban to rot. She was silent, dead silent. She felt like she could no longer speak again or breathe. She wasn't the only one who was shocked with what she heard, everyone was.
It was already the time to pick out the names of the contestants for the Triwizard Tournament, actually the choosing had already began and seemingly ended but no, the Goblet didn't think so. No, the Goblet was just pure evil and wanted to mess with an innocent boy's life.
The Goblet was standing on the teacher's table in front of Dumbledore's chair its flame already calm for it had already given out the last person to join the tournament. The goblet had already done its job. It had chosen Victor Krum for Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour for Beauxbatons and Cedric Diggory for Hogwarts but no, the Goblet had chosen another person. Another competitor to join the Triwizard Tournament and ruin its namesake by having four people join.
Zoey felt the pit of her stomach churn once more when Dumbledore recited the name on the burnt piece of parchment, the name of the fourth competitor.
"Harry Potter"
Okay, I know you all saw it coming but meh I enjoyed typing it out.
Odd thing actually was that I had extreme writer's block for this chapter.
I really didn't know how to begin it and just decided to do a time skip.
I took out the part during their ride to Hogwarts and just inserted a little flashback of before boarding the train.
As you can see, this story is on October and I skipped an entire month that end I did a lot of time skips but I doubt it would make much of a difference.
I decided on this because I didn't have much use for the events taking place before the arrival, I hope you aren't mad.
Gosh, my head really hurts right now. I need to take a break.
I want to thank all my reviewers and HayleyPradox for helping me out.
I want to apologize if many or some of you did not understand what Molly had shown Zoey in the previous chapter.
She had shown her a dress. And not just a yellow one. More of black and yellow but no, it isn't a bumblebee style but I can see how some of you might think that.
You have to excuse my choice of dress. I've lived about 3 years of my life in Black and White and frankly I've lost all sense in style when it comes to colors now. That and I wasn't really -err - "fashionable" (sorry for lack of word) to begin with.
What else? Oh, advance apologies for any typos you may or may not see.
Now, hmm... what else to say? I'm not really sure. I know I want to say something and I have a feeling I'll remember when I upload this chapter and I can't do anything to change it now so yea. Sorry also for the shortness of the chapter.
Now, for chitchat with my lovely reviewers~
Luxord's Xigbar : Oh okay. I'll check it out. I like SasuSaku as a pairing :)
wHaT's In A pEn-NaMe: I like long reviews :D Actually, I really enjoy reading yours and many other long reviews. i just like reading reviews in general :P
ZoomSkater14: What do you mean about mad? Do you mean like they're rather jealous that Harry has joined the tournament?
Razbash: I'll check out Facetaker's Story soon.
Sorry, what does "Que Paso" mean?
Zorge, Goey. Whichever works for you.
I am still in the middle of thinking how I'll make a Bridgit/Fred/George moment and you'll just have to wait and see so please be patient with me.
beba78: Hints...hints... hmmm... :P And don't we all wish for guys like that XP
Now, that's about it and my final words are
Don't forget to review and the like
Stay tuned for the next chapter
and
I only own what I own.
