"That man is totally mental." Riley scoffed as she and Hermione walked out of the DADA classroom. "I miss Professor Lupin. No one can compare to his lessons."
"Blame Snape for it." Harry replied bitterly.
"He didn't deserve it. Neither did…. Or Buckbeak. D-do you…. Is he okay?"
"How are you with the whole Neville thing?" he asked trying to change the conversation from his godfather to something else. Harry knew everything that happened to Riley. Riley was running into the castle and bumped into him. She knew she could NOT talk to her brothers about the issue, so she ended talking to Harry, who was also like a brother but more understanding when it came to her.
Riley ended up confessing her crush for the shy Gryffindor and how Malfoy offered her a place with his stupid pure-blood loving family. Harry became her shoulder to cry on and Harry felt like he has a sister, a family, someone he had to protect.
"He asked out my sister! My younger sister to the ball rather than me!" Riley's voice snapped Harry out of his thoughts. For anyone passing by she seemed angry, but Harry knew better. He could hear the hurt in her voice and he wished there was something he could do to fix it. He knew he just had to listen to her and be there, that was all he could do. Although, he knew he wasn't the best. Merlin, he sucked at giving advice and he knew Riley thought the same thing, she just wouldn't admit it to him.
"How did asking Cho go?"
"Didn't happen. I get to… I freeze up." He answered as he led her to the great hall. The champions were going to be selected and Riley was so thankful none of her brothers were able to put their names in.
"Harry James Potter! You are the boy who lived! You defeated You-Know-Who as an infant yet you can't ask a simple girl out?" She asked shocked. "The world is going to bloody shite. You know I can cancel my date to the ball and I'll let you take me."
Harry rolled his eyes at her comment. He loved that she was able to cancel her own date for him, but he would never let her do that. He opened the door for the great hall and let her go in first, "Go on your date. He seems like a nice guy."
Riley gave him a small smile, squeezed his arm, and went to sit with the Durmstrang boys, who she had become friendly with. Dumbledore began with a speech that Riley did not care enough about. The only positive Riley could find to the whole Triwizard dumb tournament was the ball. The ball, where she got to put on a beautiful dress, do her hair and make-up, and dance the night with her very, very handsome date, Aleksandar from Durmstrang.
"And now the champions!" Dumbledore announced as he made his way to the Goblet of Fire and Riley reached over to Aleksandar, squeezing his hand tightly. Although she wished none of her friends would be able to enter the tournament, Aleksandar has expressed how important it was to him, so she felt like she had to support him. Riley suddenly felt eyes on her and she looked up to locks eyes with none other than Draco Malfoy. She glared at him and looked back at Dumbledore. Her interactions with the blonde caused her to miss the other pair of eyes that were looking at her with sadness, but Aleksandar didn't. He saw Neville Longbottom's eyes glide from the beautiful red head to their joint hands to him. Aleksandar raised an eyebrow and smirked before pulling the girl closer to him. She blushed, her face matching her hair and giggled.
"From Beauxbatons, the champion is Fleur Delacour." Dumbledore announced as Beauxbatons students clapped for her and she made her way to the front of the great hall.
"From Durmstrang, the champion is Viktor Krum." Dumbledore announced as Durmstrang clapped for Viktor. Riley squeezed his hand, "I am so sorry. I was rooting for you."
Aleksandar ignored her as Viktor made his way next to Fleur. Riley sighed and tried to take her hand back, but he just tightened his grip to keep it there.
"From Hogwarts, the champion is Cedric Diggory."
Riley let out a sigh of relief that Angelica Johnson did not get chosen. All the Hogwarts clapped for him as he made his way to the other three contestants. Dumbledore started to congratulate the champions when the Goblet of Fire began to rumble. The whole room became quiet as they stared at the Goblet. A slip of parchment flew out and Dumbledore reached out to grab it.
"Harry Potter." Dumbledore spoke out. Everyone stared in shock as three-fourths of the golden quartet looked towards Harry, who just looked confused.
"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore repeated as Hermione pushed Harry toward Dumbledore. After a bit of awkward silence, the headmasters of the three schools, the three champions, and Harry Potter left the great hall. Riley stood up and made her way to Ron and Hermione. Neville stood up to talk to her, but Riley walked right past him.
"He entered and didn't tell me." Ron asked Hermione shocked. "Bloody hell! What kind of friend does that?"
"Ron Weasley! He never entered! He would have told us," Riley argued.
"I don't know. After You-Know-Who is gone, he probably did this for more fame."
"What a bloody idiot." Riley rolled her eyes and heard Hermione scowled him. She was so angry she went to her room to wait for Harry to come back so they could talk it through. Riley just hoped Harry would at least be safe this year but know his history, danger seemed to follow him.