Chapter 10: An Unexpected Proposal
The feast that followed the arrivals of the other schools, was very large and spectacular. Not only were there the traditional dishes that were usually served at Hogwarts feast, but there were also several foreign dishes that Kaylee had never heard of.
The Durmstrang students sat at the Slytherin table, but the Beauxbaton students spread out among all the house tables. A stunningly beautiful girl from Beauxbaton sat next to Kaylee. She had white blonde hair, smooth tan skin, and straight white teeth that shone like pearls when she smiled. Kaylee noticed she warranted a good amount of attention from boys all over the great hall.
"Hello," Kaylee had said politely when the girl had sat next to her.
"Bonjour. I am Fleur," she replied, her voice muffled as her face was wrapped up in her silk shawl.
"I'm Kaylee and this is Heather, Jason, Daniel, and Roger" Kaylee said gesturing to her friends. "Nice to meet you. I imagine it doesn't get this cold where you are from?" Kaylee had noticed Fleur was shivering as if she had just taken an ice bath.
"No, my school rarely gets snow. We are much further south zan zis," Fleur said, her voice thickly accented.
"Oh! Zat table zere haz bouillabaisse! Do you zink I could bring zat over here?" Fleur asked, looking at the Gryffindor table near where Ron and Harry were sitting.
"Sure. It doesn't look like anyone is eating it," Kaylee replied, grinning at Ron who couldn't take his eyes off Fleur.
Indeed, when she crossed the hall to Gryffindor table, heads turned in every direction. She definitely had the attention of at least 80 percent of the male population in the room. Without thinking, Kaylee looked to where Fred and George were sitting. Kaylee was glad to see George wasn't looking at the pretty blonde girl, but rather staring at her instead. Kaylee's cheeks started to burn and she looked away quickly.
"Kaylee, your face is red," Heather said grinning, who looked from George to Kaylee knowingly.
"Shut it. So we've got Hogsmeade tomorrow, then another feast and we find out the champions. Should be a fun day eh?" Kaylee asked quickly changing the subject.
"Yeah! I can't wait to find out who the Hogwarts champion is!" Roger exclaimed excitedly.
"Are you entering?" Fleur asked Kaylee, sitting back down with her bouillabaisse.
"No, I don't think so. I have a problem with performing anything in front of crowds, I doubt I'd do too well," Kaylee said with a chuckle.
"I will be very surprised indeed if I don't get chosen az champion," Fleur said with an annoyingly superior look on her face.
"Er, right. Good luck then," Kaylee said awkwardly.
After the feast ended, Dumbledore stood up and presented the Goblet of Fire. He explained how champions were chosen, and went on to say he would be drawing an age line to ensure no one under 17 entered. Kaylee saw Fred and George look slightly crestfallen by this news.
"Once a champion has been selected, the champion must see the tournament through to the end," Dumbledore said. "The placing of your name in the Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure that you are whole-heartedly prepared to play before you place your name in the Goblet. And now, time for bed."
Kaylee got up and walked over to Fred and George.
"An age line. Well that should be fooled by an ageing potion, shouldn't it?" Fred was saying.
"And once your name is in that goblet, well it can't tell if your 17 or not," George said excitedly.
"I hope you're not actually thinking about entering. You heard what Dumbledore said. Being a champion is dangerous, and once you've been chosen you can't get out of it," Kaylee told them.
"Kaylee's right. I don't think anyone under 17 stands a chance. We just haven't learned enough," Hermione told the twins.
"Speak for yourself," said George. "You'll try and get in won't you Harry?"
Harry remained silent as he thought about it. Kaylee could tell that part of him wanted to, but he also had enough been in enough trouble at Hogwarts in the last 3 years. Kaylee looked at the twins exasperatedly.
"Dumbledore himself is going to draw an age line around the goblet. The day you two fool Dumbledore is the day I buy Malfoy a Firebolt."
"We'll see tomorrow then won't we? We'll take the potion before breakfast and put our names in before the teachers come down," Fred said, grinning at his brother.
"I'll see you two in the morning then, so I can be sure to watch you make fools of yourselves," Kaylee said rolling her eyes.
Kaylee walked out of the Great Hall and up the stairs towards Ravenclaw tower. Outside the door to the common room, Jason stood waiting for her.
"What's up? Can't figure out the riddle again?" Kaylee asked, grinning.
To get into the Ravenclaw common room, you didn't give the door a password. Instead, you had to answer a riddle. The Ravenclaw House valued intelligence above everything else, so a riddle to test your intellect was deemed more appropriate than a password.
"No, I just wanted to ask you something in private," Jason said nervously. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow."
"Well yeah, of course. I thought we were all going," Kaylee said confused.
"Well actually….I meant, er…would you like to sort of make a date of it? Just you and me?" Jason muttered looking at the floor.
Kaylee was stumped. Jason was asking her out? On a date? She had been friends with Jason for nearly 3 years now, and she had to admit that yes he was good looking, but she had never thought about dating him. Her head was too full of George to think about anyone else in that way.
"So? What do you think?" Jason said, looking at her.
Kaylee realized she had been silent several minutes. What am I doing? Say something already!
"Er, yeah. Why not?" Kaylee said, her cheeks turning scarlet.
"Great! I'll meet you outside the Great Hall after breakfast then," Jason said smiling widely at her. He turned and went inside the common room.
Kaylee stood outside the door for several minutes trying to process what had just happened. Jason had asked her out on a date, and she had said yes?! She had agreed without even thinking about it. She knew she was in love with George, and yet she had agreed anyways?
Yet, she couldn't deny she was a little excited. After all, Kaylee was nearly 17 years old now, and she had never been on a date or even kissed anyone. Truthfully, she wished her first date would be with George, but she doubted he'd ever come around. She had already spent the last 3 years waiting on him to show some interest in her.
Besides its not like I have to marry Jason, she told herself. I just have to go to Hogsmead with him. It's about time I had a date. I'm the only one in my year who hasn't. It will be fun.
She entered the common room, grinning slightly. Heather found her immediately and pulled her over to their usual spot by the fire.
"He asked you didn't he?" she said grinning.
"Jason? Yeah he just did. I take it he told you?" Kaylee asked.
"He told me he was going to ask you when you went to talk to Fred and George after the feast. What did you tell him?"
"Er…I said yes," Kaylee said going red again.
"I knew you would! I'm so happy for you!" Heather gushed.
"I don't know why I said yes. It just sort of slipped out," Kaylee continued.
"It's about time you had a date! And Jason is very good looking, and I know he fancies you," Heather said happily. "Come on we have to decide on what you're going to wear!"
The next morning, Kaylee woke up early and spent more time getting dressed than usual. Heather had helped her select a pair of tight jeans, a nice black and white sweater that showed off her curves, and a black form fitting coat. Kaylee wore her hair down, something she rarely did, and brushed it until the length was straight and smooth. She even put on a bit of makeup; just some eyeliner and mascara. With a nervous sigh, she went downstairs to the entrance hall.
There was already a small crowd gathered, and suddenly Kaylee remembered the Goblet of Fire was still placed there.
"There you are! Fred and I just took it," George said, appearing beside her.
"Took what?" Kaylee asked.
"The ageing potion of course!" Fred said appearing on the other side of her.
"Ready?" asked Lee Jordan.
"Ready!" said the twins together.
Kaylee watched as Fred took a slip of parchment from his pocket bearing his name. He looked at George who smiled and nodded. Together he and George walked up to the line that enclosed the stool the Goblet sat upon. After taking a deep breath, the twins stepped over the line. For several seconds, Kaylee thought it had worked. Lee Jordan whooped in triumph and was just about to step over the line as well, when suddenly, they heard a cracking sound.
Fred and George were suddenly hurled out of the circle, where they landed painfully about 10 feet away. Kaylee rushed over quickly.
"Are you alright?" she asked them worriedly.
Fred and George turned to look at her, and Kaylee stared stunned. They had both sprouted identical, long white beards. Kaylee just laughed and laughed. She laughed so hard, she had to clutch her sides. Soon, everyone else began laughing as well, including the twins.
"I did warn you," called an amused voice.
Professor Dumbledore was coming out of the Great Hall, and stood surveying Fred and George with interest. His eyes sparkled as he took in their bearded complexions.
"I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett of Ravenclaw and Mr. Summers of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though, I must say, neither of their beards are as fine as yours." Dumbledore said, smiling.
"Coming?" George asked, as Fred and Lee started towards the Hospital Wing, both laughing.
"I can't. I, er, promised I'd meet Jason here after breakfast. We're going to Hogsmead together," Kaylee said awkwardly.
"Like a date?" George asked in a low voice, all amusement gone from his eyes.
"I suppose. He asked me last night, and I agreed without really thinking about what it meant," Kaylee said nervously. For some reason, she felt like she needed to explain herself to him.
"I see…Well…see you later then," he said angrily, and he turned and walked down the hallway.
Kaylee stood there, feeling as if she had just done something awful to her best friend. You haven't done anything wrong. There's no reason to feel so guilty. He's never shown interest in you, so you aren't cheating on him or anything.
"Hey," Jason suddenly appeared, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Hi," she smiled nervously at him.
"Are you ready? Or do you need to eat breakfast first?" Jason asked politely.
"No, I'm not hungry," Kaylee said.
"Alright. Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm courteously. She grinned at him, and took it. They set off towards the large front doors where other students were beginning to file out. Ignoring the odd twisting sensation in her stomach, Kaylee walked out of Hogwarts and started her first date.