Chapter 32

The hall was packed, much to Malfoy's annoyance. Pupils were sitting on tables, bumping into each other and so on and Draco wouldn't stop ranting on about it. Unfortunately for Reece, Crabbe and Goyle had sandwiched him in between them so that he would stay seated with the three lads instead of going off with the girls and Zabini. Therefore he got a front seat to one of Malfoy's many monologues with both Crabbe and Goyle pressed into his sides.

"Sit down. Please." Dumbledore called out to the hall. Everyone who wasn't already seated sat down eagerly and Reece caught the nervous glance of Fleur as she scanned the goblet hopefully. The French witch had her heart set on being champion after all; just like Danielle, Juliette and the rest of the Beauxbatons students. "Now the moment you've all been waiting for:" He said excitedly. "The champion selection."

"A Slytherin better get this." Draco mumbled to the three. "I don't think I'd be able to cope with a bloody Gryffindor champion." All of a sudden Dumbledore turned and began to dim the lights one by one, taking away the orange from the room and allowing the blue flame from the goblet to be the only light source. The elderly man ran his palm across the goblet before stepping back and waiting for the light to turn to a blinding red. As it do so, a burnt piece of parchment shot out and landed in Dumbledore's hand. "The Durmstrang champion is…Viktor Krum."

"Get in." Both Crabbe and Goyle commented simultaneously as the hall erupted in cheers and Viktor stepped down from the bench. The two shook hands and the first champion made his way past the staff members as the applause died down. The fire soon went red again, and outshot a rather fancy looking note that Dumbledore once again caught between ringed fingertips.

"The champion for Beauxbatons…is Fleur Delacour." The male population of the hall began cheering ecstatically along with the jealous French witches that still appeared to be happy although not chosen. Fleur stood proudly, flashing Reece a quick grin as she soaked up the applause and went to shake Dumbledore's hand. As soon as she was out of sight, the final piece of parchment shot out of the goblet. "The Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory!" The expression of Malfoy's face was a sour one, but it could have been worse. The Hufflepuffs along with other houses began cheering as Cedric was congratulated by the headmaster. "Excellent! We now have our three champions." Dumbledore shouted a little overdramatically over the commotion. "But in the end, only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions…this vessel of victory…the Triwizard Cup!"

"Oi what's Professor Snape looking at?" Theodore Nott questioned loudly from a little further down the table. Reece glanced at Snape and then followed his line of sight, noticing that the goblet was once again active, its blue flames turning to red as Dumbledore approached it to see what was happening. And then another piece of parchment shot out into the hands of the headmaster.

"Harry Potter." Dumbledore muttered to himself. A few students overheard the name and speculation began immediately. "Harry Potter?" He repeated, looking around the hall in a rather frantic manner as Malfoy scowled at the thought of the boy-who-lived getting more attention. "Harry Potter!" Reece watched on keenly as Granger gave her friend a push forward.

"Look at Weasley's face." Reece snickered quietly to Draco. The blonde seemed amused at the 'slapped arse' look and Reece silently congratulated himself for putting a stop to Malfoy's Harry Potter rant for the time being. Potter walked out slowly, taking the parchment that Dumbledore handed him coldly. When he began making his way past staff members that was when all hell broke loose in the tense hall.

"He's a cheat." One boy shouted.

"He's not even seventeen yet!" Another followed.

"Unbelievable." Draco hissed once Potter was out of view and many people in the hall began muttering amongst themselves. "Every year it's Potter this and Potter that. Just can't stay out of the spotlight can he?" He spat rhetorically with clear resent in his tone.

"Come on Malfoy." Reece said calmly. "Did you see his reaction? The guy couldn't even bloody stand on his own; Granger had to shove him forward." In his opinion Harry was as shocked as everyone else, judging by his reaction. People had been trying to beat the age line since it had been drawn so what made Potter so different that he could outsmart Dumbledore's magical abilities?

"It doesn't matter what that mudblood did." Malfoy spat once again. "Potter isn't supposed to be Hogwarts champion, Diggory is. I think we need some propaganda." Reece rose a brow in question as Vincent and Gregory watched on with blank, confused expressions. "We need to remind everyone that Potty shouldn't be in this tournament. What do you think? Crabbe? Goyle?" The two nodded their heads quickly in agreement. "What about you Lestrange? Are you up for it?" A little mischief wouldn't hurt would it? It would get him back in Malfoy's good books – not that he was bothered that he wasn't but still.

"Yeah I'm in." Reece said after a moment's thought. The grin on Draco's lips was a smug one as Reece then went on to inquire: "What do you suggest we do?"

"If we just charm these badges with a- no that wouldn't work." Reece sighed in irritation, throwing the badge onto the dark coffee table. These flaming badges were a nightmare. Reece and Draco had been sat in the common room for hours into the night and they still hadn't got anywhere. Crabbe and Goyle had retired to bed early, getting out of the way as this was currently theory and they would have no idea what to do. So now it was just the two of them and although the designs had been figured out the charming of them was proving to be a difficult task.

"Let's just give up for tonight Lestrange." Draco said as his eyes drooped tiredly at the thought of heading to bed. "At the rate we're going we'll have them done way before the first task anyway."

"Sound." Reece replied as Draco picked up the single badge that they had been sculpting. "Once we've got this done all the hard work is over anyway. We'll just have to duplicate this one over a hundred times…" Both boys groaned at the thought of casting the same spell repeatedly. "Fuck it, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. What time is it?"

"Bloody hell its quarter past four." Draco groaned tiredly as he shoved the badge into the pocket of his robes. "We're going to be knackered tomorrow." He complained as he rose from the sofa, blinking multiple times to keep himself from getting dizzy.

"The tiredness will be worth it when we finally get your badges up and running though." Reece said as he spun sideways and kicked his feet up on the sofa. "We'll get most of the school wearing them within days."

"I'd say sell them but there's no point when we don't need the money – ooh maybe we could donate the money raised to the Weasleys." Malfoy chuckled harshly at his joke and Reece snorted in amusement. He still liked Mrs Weasley and Ginny, and perhaps even Percy and his cauldron bottoms but the fact that Reece liked them wasn't important here. He had to find it funny. Even if he had to force himself, because it was essential that no one knew that he genuinely liked some members of that family. "I honestly don't know how they live like that." He continued. "Books that are missing pages, robes that trail on the floor and a house that could collapse at any moment,"

"They just don't help themselves." Reece cut in, trying to keep any emotions that were surfacing at bay. "As a father you should be doing everything you can to provide for your family, not spending time playing with muggle shit and driving your family into poverty." Draco seemed a little shocked by the sudden rant but nodded his head in agreement nonetheless. "Now that I look at it Arthur Weasley is as selfish as they come. He may be humble but he's selfish…"

"Because he has a job that peaks his interest." Draco continued quietly. "And the job that he finds fun just doesn't pay enough." Reece nodded his head furiously, ignoring the fact that he was getting worked up over this random conversation.

"But he continues to work in that pathetic muggle loving department. Even though he could get a better job and actually get paid enough money to support the stupid amount of kids he has." Reece spat. He'd been inside the warm home. And yes it was full of family and all that but honestly Mrs Weasley deserved so much better than that. She was a strong woman, and the love for her husband and children allowed her to look past their poverty. "As the man of the house he should be doing his best to take care of his family: both emotionally and financially."

"Reece." Draco said as he sat down in a nearby armchair. Reece looked at him for a moment, and it appeared as if Malfoy had realised something. What? He had no idea. But the tiny gleam of sympathy in the blonde's eyes showed Reece that Draco had seen something. "You know how much I detest those traitors, but I know you're not just ranting about them." Reece swung his legs off of the sofa and sat facing Draco with full attention, wondering what on earth the boy was getting at. "There's a part of you that knows that you're talking about your father too."

"Don't start Malfoy." Reece snapped while waving his hand dismissively and leaning forward, resting his elbows on his legs.

"I'm just trying to be your friend here." Draco said calmly, masking the tinge of irritation in his tone well. "You've got money and all that, but the stuff you were saying about a father needing to look after their family – that's also about your dad."

"And what would you know?" He questioned darkly. "You've still got both parents-"

"You're starting to sound like Potter now." Malfoy said harshly. "Is that what you want? You want to sound like the golden boy?"

"No."

"Then man up." Draco shot back, as if his answer was the most obvious thing in the world. "Your father might get released one day. You might come across your mother if you want to find her. It's all down to you Lestrange and if you never get them, you've still got your house. Us Slytherins look out for our own as well as ourselves you know." And with that he stood up, finally heading to bed.

"Hey Drake-" Reece called from the sofa after finding the will to speak again. Malfoy's advice had been harsh after all, but some of it made sense. Some of it was even right and Reece had to thank him in the only was he knew how.

"Don't call me that."

"-you're actually tolerable at the moment."

"Ah Reece." Fleur said as she caught up with him just as he was leaving a hellish transfiguration class. "I 'aven't seen you since I was picked." She said as Granger walked past with the youngest Weasley, giving the two a once over. Reece internally groaned when he saw the two Gryffindors rolling their eyes, noting that they seemed to dislike Fleur. "Are you en évitant me?" (Avoiding)

"No not at all Fleur." Reece said, watching as the nervous tint in her eyes disappeared leaving the confident gleam to exist as per usual. "I've just been…what's the word? Brooding, at the moment." She looked across at him, concerned, as they made their way through the corridor and outside into the cold autumn air. "It's nothing serious." He said quickly. "There's just those times when I think about my father and I get – I don't know – angry I guess. I just start thinking about what ifs and just about actually knowing the guy but then I start getting annoyed, because I don't know him and he's not around and all that."

"I understand." Fleur said softly, taking his hand in hers for a moment and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You don't 'ave to brood petit frère, I'm always 'ere for you."

"Thank you." He muttered, ending the conversation quickly. "So how are you feeling? Now you're a champion." Reece asked as they walked round the school grounds, passing students from all three schools as their conversation continued.

"Proud." She replied, backing up her statement with her perfect posture and holding her head up high. "A little nervous for 'ze first task, but who wouldn't be?"

"Look I know you won't need it, but if you ever need help I'm usually free." Reece said. Fleur's smile widened considerably as she looked across at her friend and then a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

"Oh I forgot you tell you." She piped up excitedly. "Danielle thinks you're cute. She 'zaid she doesn't care about the two year age gap becauze you are a tiny bit taller than 'er and she thinks you are mature." Reece smirked smugly. Today was his lucky day. He still really, really liked Granger but Danielle was only here for the rest of the school year, and it wasn't as if the Gryffindor knew about his feelings for her anyway.

"So if I make a move, what does she like?" Reece questioned as Fleur gave him a grin. "Does she like the flowers and chocolate and shit? Or does she just want me to go up to her and straight up ask her out?" He took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp winds and breathing out, watching as the white cloud of his breath floated in front of his face for a moment.

"I think you should talk to Danielle more first. Get to know 'er better." She said. "If you know 'er better, you will know 'ow to ask 'er out."

"Why can't you just tell me?" Reece whined.

"Where's the fun in that?" Fleur questioned back.