Author's Note: I appreciate the alerts, the reviews and the faves! I do want to update soon because I am moving to my apartment for university on September 17, or 18 and I might not have much time to update as I used to.
~Of Silver and Gold~
Chapter 35: The First Task
Tuesday morning arrived and for a certain student, morning had come too early. Angel was currently curled up in her twin sized bed covering her face from the sunlight entering her window. She didn't want to get up; she just wanted a day of rest which was definitely needed. She let out a happy sigh and stretched out lazily in her bed, followed by a certain feline that copied her movements.
Soon all that was interrupted by a door being slammed opened. She tensed up and wondered who it was. Astoria wouldn't do that because she knew she would get jinxed in a second if she even thought about waking Angel up. She had a reputation of having a short temper and that was true.
Hearing nothing but Coeur hopping off the bed, she closed her eyes once more and tried to go back to sleep. She was then grabbed by her ankles and tugged forward. She groaned and clung to the mattress as she was pulled by Pansy. She cried in protest and clung all the more, but it was no use. All that was heard in the room was a thump and a groan of pain.
"Get up!" Pansy chirped.
Angel's face was still pressed against the cherry wood floor and her body was flat as well, except for her legs that were still held by Pansy.
"I loathe you" she grumbled and pushed herself up.
Pansy let go with a satisfied smile and then helped her friend up.
"I love you too. Now get up, and get ready!"
Angel huffed and rubbed her forehead that was still red from the incident. Even with the pout that Angel had, Pansy wasn't moved, she instead pushed her forward towards the loo and slammed the door closed.
"Today is the day the Triwizard Tournament starts, now get ready and let's go!"
Angel was about to protest till she repeated what Pansy had told her. She froze and couldn't believe just how fast the time had passed. Meanwhile, hearing that Angel was no longer protesting, Pansy smiled satisfied and walked out of the room.
She wasn't stupid, she had a treat for Angel, and she supposed Potter too. After all, she was the best cupid there'd ever been! She giggled and wondered just what'd she'd wear during the first task.
Walking across the hall, she heard Draco talking to Blaise, well more like boasting.
"I can't wait to see Potter die. I bet he'll only survive ten minutes" his tone was gleeful.
Pansy frowned and continued on her way. She never really liked Potter, she couldn't count the times that four-eyes had called her a pug face and insulted her looks along with her brains, but despite it all, she knew that her best friend had a little something for the idiot. She was more present when he was there. She'd seen Angel be all the more aggressive around him, more snarky and make her presence known. Wrinkling her nose she begged the boys to stop talking of such atrocious comments and instead change the conversation.
...
With a flick of the wrist, Angel's hair was dry and she was ready for another day of classes. She couldn't really understand how it would be possible for her to even call this a normal day. She sighed and walked out seeing Pansy waiting for her before they could head off to breakfast.
"Where are the-"
"-Eating already. They didn't want to wait."
"For me? Did I take that long?"
"Not really, but to boast about Potter and his failure" Pansy said sighing.
Angel didn't really have time to hide her frown, before Pansy had seen it. Seeing that no one was around, Pansy got up and patted Angel's hand in an almost motherly way.
"You still fancy him?"
"Hm?" Angel said acting as if she wasn't listening.
Pansy gave her the look and then she had no choice but to give up. Eventually her shoulders sagged and she looked at her older friend somewhat bashful.
"Yes, yes I do" She said softly.
"Good"
Angel was expecting an argument, but as she heard that simple phrase she was surprised.
"What?"
"Well…it's good! I think so..you know forbidden love, and j'ai adore le romance!"
Angel laughed shrugged.
"Don't make it more than it really is…" she murmured. "It's not a forever love or anything"
"For now" Pansy sang out.
Angel snorted and walked out of the common room, leaving Pansy no choice but to follow.
After breakfast she had her first classes and soon it seemed that the half day ended and now lunch was starting. She walked in and she sat in a location where Pansy and she could look at Harry clearly during lunch. Pansy had thankfully said nothing and instead let her simply eat and fuss over the possible consequences of him competing.
"Poor Potter" Pansy whispered.
"I know…he looks so pale"
"Paler than usual you mean?"
"Shut up"
"I'm serious, it's as if he knows what's coming or something."
"I know…I'm worried for him."
"How roman-"
"Pansy" Her tone was warning her.
"I know I know, but still!"
"He's getting up?"
"It's probably time!"
Angel frowned. It was bad enough that she couldn't really eat, and once realizing that this would be the last time she saw him until the end of the trial. She felt Pansy's eyes on her and before she could tell her that she was fine, Pansy spoke up.
"We need to follow him."
She ignored the incredulous look by Angel's gaze and instead smiled widely. Was it ridiculous? Absolutely. But was is romance without some action? Grabbing her friend's hands she began to get her up.
"What? Are you crazy?"
"Nope! Come on!"
"But-agh!"
Soon Angel was being dragged by Pansy with a mission. She sighed and tried to act as casual as she could, her expression looking unpulsed by being tugged by the older girl.
When unsure where to go, they decided to follow professor McGonagall till they found the tent. Seeing the champions enter, they tried to follow too, that is until they saw the Professor walking out.
"Quick!"
Soon Pansy and her ducked under a bush. Seeing her pass by, Angel winced hearing buzzing near her ear and she swatted it away.
"What's wrong?" Pansy asked.
"Beetle near my ear" she said wrinkling her nose.
"Disgusting"
"I know."
"Go, it's free!"
Angel smiled and walked as quietly as she could towards the tent. She popped her head in and saw that no one in the tent looked as confident as she had expected. Fleur looked paler than usually and her usually golden hair was no longer shining. Viktor wasn't doing anything better, he was surlier than usual, and Cedric wouldn't stop pacing. She really didn't care about anyone but the certain green-eyed boy. She smiled seeing him, but that quickly disappeared seeing him shaking.
Seeing that he was in a corner she pulled back and walked around trying to find another entrance where she could possibly get contact with him. Seeing another slit showing another entrance she saw his shadow. It was unmistakable: with his small stature and the messy black hair, she knew it was him. She slipped her hand in and she saw the shadow jump.
"H-hermione?" he whispered.
She wrinkled her nose. That sure was a blow to her ego.
"Try again Potter" she said in a dry tone.
"Angel" he whispered in a way that made her feel special.
His tone was soft and relieved which warmed her all over. Soon enough, he grasped her hand and held it tightly. Hearing a small giggle she turned to see Pansy swooning at the sweetness and she glared cheeks red.
"Shut up Pans"
"What?" Harry said.
"Is anyone around you?" she asked ignoring his inquiry.
"No, I'm behind the crates"
"Good"
"What-"
Before he could finish the sentence she was already in the tent and in front of him. He let out a relieved smile seeing her before him, and despite the slight separation they recently had, he pulled her into a hug immediately.
She smiled against his chest and she returned the hug holding him tighter than usual. Feeling him hold her, she felt her eyes water thinking that she could possibly lose him at this very moment. They held each other tightly trying to comfort one another and in reality failing.
"You'll be alright H-harry" she whispered against his chest.
"I-I hope so" he whispered.
She nuzzled his neck and he held her tightly. Soon they pulled back slightly and looked at one another showing their fears. He wiped her worried tears and kissed her forehead.
"You came here alone?" he asked.
"Pansy is waiting for me."
"Does she know?"
"I think so" she whispered. "Doesn't matter"
He would have smiled that is if he wouldn't be facing the dragon soon.
"You'll be fine you know" she repeated.
He hugged her closer and before some searching he felt her lips touching his. He was surprised by it, but soon he kissed her in return. It was sweet and meant to be short. He feared it not being a goodbye kiss, because he honestly thought he was too young for it.
They pulled back for air and he looked down to see her wearing his pin. He poked it and smiled despite it all reading it once more.
"Five minutes everyone, five minutes" they heard Bagman say.
She saw him so pale and she sighed trying to tone down her surprising worrisome nature and instead comforted him, with small touches and constant hand squeezing. He closed his eyes and he felt her hands softly caressing his cheeks, his shoulders and squeezing his arms.
"It can't be that bad right?"
He was going to tell her it was dragons, but looking at her big brown doe eyes, he couldn't find a real reason to tell her that he knew what was waiting outside for him. Instead he forced a smile and squeezed her hand tighter.
"Y-you're the boy who lived" she murmured.
"So?" he said.
"If you survived him…you can survive this" she said.
He couldn't help but really find some kind of pride in someone else believing in him. He had forgotten how it was to be cared for, without being treated like a little boy like Hermione did.
Holding each other close, was ironically a comfort for her as it was to Harry. But their moment was robbed by a buzzing noise over their heads and they ducked hearing another bug pass by.
"I hate insects" she whispered.
"I know" he whispered in return softly with a hint of fondness.
They switched positions so she could lean against the crates and he hugged her close. She felt his hands delicately through her hair, treating her like glass. He murmured something along the lines of remembering her, and she felt her stomach twist.
"We'll see each other afterwards" she murmured as she kissed his chin softly.
The minutes felt too short and before long Harry heard.
"One minute left"
Angel was pulled by Harry for comfort and she held him in return. Soon she leaned up to give him a small peck on the lips, followed by a tight hug. Her face was pressed against his chest and she kissed over where his heart would be trying to comfort the quick nervous heartbeat she heard.
Their farewell was once again interrupted but this time it was interrupted by a flash. Both were blinded and she immediately hid into the crates.
Harry turned immediately to see Rita Skeeter in a gob smacked expression. She was surprised that she saw a girl with Harry, seems that there was really a romance. So there was a speck of truth in that little nervous boy she had cornered to get information.
"Well" she said in a light tone. "Who is this charming lady?"
Before she could get an answer she saw the flap of the tent open and soon that girl was out of sight. She frowned wondering just how would she be able to get a good story out of this, but by seeing Harry's shocked and embarrassed expression, she figured she could use it.
"The press is not allowed here" Viktor gruffed out. "Only friends and champions allowed."
She looked taken aback by the Bulgarian talking so clearly to her and she smiled nervously.
"Anything you say dear"
She merely smiled at Harry in an almost frightening smile.
Meanwhile Angel was on a run, running like she hadn't ever run before. As Rita exited the tent, she frowned seeing no real trace of the girl still there, that is until she looked down and found something. Lifting the pin, she smirked seeing what it said.
"Well…won't this be a great piece" she murmured.
Pansy thankfully kept her pace but on the way towards the entrance of the stadium, she kept asking questions.
"Come on what happened?" Pansy panted.
"Rita!" Angel hissed out.
"Did she catch you?"
"I don't know! I hope not" she exclaimed nervously.
Soon as they ran up the stairs to where the boys were waiting, they were breathing heavily.
"Where were you guys?" Draco said annoyed.
"I was putting on my makeup!" Pansy whined.
Draco had no choice but to roll his eyes and just tugged the girls to their saved spot. As much as she hated this event, she had to admit Draco had gotten a good spot. She walked forward and grabbed the banister pushing herself forward to see just what the task was.
She let out an audible gasp seeing a blue-grey Swedish Short-Snout Dragon. She felt herself being held by Pansy. She knew that Pansy understood her and both girls simply stared in shock.
"What number is Potter?" Pansy whispered.
"I don't know" she whispered.
"He'll be fine" Pansy said.
"Shut yer gobs ladies and let me hear Diggory win" Blaise said.
They both appreciated the fact that their conversation was not clearly heard considering the noise that the audience was doing. They had no choice but to see Cedric go on and take the golden egg that was given to the dragon to protect . One by one the champions came and Angel was no more calmer.
She knew that the last one would be Harry. She was almost frustrated at seeing him compete last. She bit her bottom lip nervously and knew that it was time. She saw him being so lost, looking surprised at the faces looking at him. She subconsciously slid her hand down towards her bosom trying to find the pin, but as she looked down, she noticed it was gone.
She didn't have much time to think about it, for seconds later it seemed that Harry was ready to try and get the egg. He got such a vicious dragon and she imagined, if only for a split second that she was going to see his death.
She was shocked to see him summon his broom and while the others had their own style towards how to get the egg. He was so nervous, but heroic, something that she could not help but admire. The dragon was horrid looking and the most ferocious of the four.
When Harry disappeared from view, she froze for a second.
"Oh!" Pansy gasped.
Angel simply couldn't react to what had occurred. He knew they had flown away and in the midst of a fog all that could be heard were the growls and howls of the dragon itself. Soon the cheering and cries of the crowd dimmed and then the worst thing that could occur happened: utter silence.
Author's note: Sorry that it's up so late, not to mention that it really is short. But I started my freshman year at this university and this was all I could write. I felt that something was better than nothing and that you would appreciate it. If not then I'm sorry and I do hope it was somewhat worth the wait.