Chapter 12
Amelia was slightly worried. She was sitting in the emptied classroom, where they had put the goblet of fire, joined by her group of friends. Angelina was sitting next to her, looking around frantically.
"Would you keep calm?" Amelia grinned as Angelina looked around for the fourth time in a minute.
"I don't see them anywhere. Where in the world are they?" Amelia shook her head.
"Angie, please. Dumbledore drew that age line himself. They will not succeed. We just have to be here and help them to the hospital wing, when needed." Just as the words left her mouth, the twins came casually strolling in, holding a vial each, triumphantly throwing their hands in the air and taking in the applause of several students around them. Amelia noticed Fred winking at her, as he and George got told off by Hermione, who was obviously thinking the same thing she was. She saw them walk towards the circle, before clinking the vials together and downing them in one go. "Ready Ange? We're about to be needed." The moment she said that, blue wisps of magic shot out of the circle, throwing the twins out. Amelia couldn't help but laugh as she noticed the twins getting up. They were sporting long, grey beards, that reminded her of Dumbledore. As soon as they looked at each other, accusations were thrown around and they started wrestling.
"I guess that's our cue." They walked over to the twins and started pulling on their arms, making them get up and walk to the hospital wing, where Madame Pomfrey was already waiting for them.
"I should have known that you two would be the ones to show up first."
X- Harry Potter -X
It was time for the welcoming feast that was being held for the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students. Amelia was sitting between Fred and Harry, looking up at the teachers' table. It was almost time to find out who was being chosen for the tournament. The thrum of excitement was apparent, as students and teachers alike listened to Dumbledore's speech silently speculating about who's names would come up. Soon Dumbledore's speech was finished and the goblet spit out a large, blue flame.
"The champion representing the school of Durmstrang is… Viktor Krum." Amelia grinned at the star struck look in Ron's eyes. The twins and herself still couldn't resist teasing the youngest Weasley boy about his admiration for the Bulgarian quidditch player. They all watched as Krum stood from the Slytherin table, where he had been seated next to Malfoy, looking quite bored, and walked through a door behind the teachers' table. The goblet fired up again.
"For Beauxbatons… Fleur Dellacour." A fragile looking blonde stood from the Ravenclaw table, her fluent way of moving was like honey to the bees for the male students. Amelia huffed, not liking the way the girl made the guys lose their head.
"Don't look so sour." Fred's voice carried the chuckles he was trying to hold in.
"I'm not."
"You look like you swallowed a lemon." Amelia didn't dignify his teasing with a response, instead choosing to focus back on Dumbledore. Just as she did so, the goblet broke out in a blaze for the third time.
"And lastly the Hogwarts Champion… Cedric Diggory." Amelia applauded loudly, along with every other Hogwarts student. Cedric would do great, she was certain of that. When Cedric disappeared through the door, Dumbledore was just about to conclude the ceremony. But the second he opened his mouth, the goblet was ablaze once again. Blue flames, even larger than before lit up the great hall, spewing out a tattered, slightly burned piece of paper, which Dumbledore caught with the agility of a young man. Amelia noticed his eyes widening for a second, before he called out the name on the parchment.
"Harry Potter." Amelia's eyes widened, her chest tightening, as she turned to Harry.
"Harry? What's going on?" Harry looked confused as ever.
"I don't know, Amelia." As Harry was forced to disappear through the same door as the previous champions, Amelia felt herself slowly slipping into a panic. Suddenly her hand was enclosed by a larger, warmer hand.
"Just breathe, Lia. He'll be alright. They're never going to let him compete." The rational side of Amelia knew he was right, but then again when had the rules at Hogwarts ever been rational?
X- Harry Potter -X
"What the bloody hell are they thinking!" Harry had just told Amelia and Hermione that he was being forced to compete. "You're a bloody minor! This tournament is deadly and they're going to let a fucking fourteen year old compete?!" Her side was throbbing, something it did when she was stressed. "And what is that bloody wanker, that calls himself your best friend, thinking?!" Harry's face fell even more, as did Hermione's. Harry had just told her about the way Ron had reacted, accusing him of putting his name into the goblet, without telling him. Amelia knew she was going to hit Ron as soon as she saw him, that much was certain. The twins and Ginny were watching the three of them from a little distance. They knew better than to try and calm Amelia down before she was done. She may only have turned sixteen the day before, something that had been completely forgotten by not only her friends, but herself as well, she was still scarier than Mrs. Weasley and professor McGonnagal combined. She was so absorbed in her own anger that she didn't notice the way her eyes were ablaze and the two younger students in front of her cowered a little. Not that anyone could blame them, they didn't know Amelia for as long as the Weasleys did. "I am going to kill Ron! And those wankers from the ministry too! Putting you in danger like this! They really-" She went quiet when she felt a hand on her shoulder. When she turned, Fred, George and Ginny were standing there, the last two standing two steps behind Fred.
"Lia, you need to calm down. Harry and Hermione are going to have nightmares about you if you keep going." Amelia let out a deflated sigh, before apologizing to her nephew and his friend. She was surprised when Harry threw his arms around her. Despite still being thin, he had grown quite a bit and had surpassed her in height by a long shot. While still in shock from having Harry hugging her, she did not immediately notice that Hermione, Ginny and the twins had joined them in a group hug. Amelia couldn't help but smile, surrounded by the love of her family. When she looked up, she noticed a pair of familiar blue eyes looking their way, jealousy apparent in the way they narrowed. Ron. Amelia stiffened, which immediately was noticed by their little group. She felt a pair of arms tense, telling her Harry had also noticed him standing there. She decided to spare Ron. For now. This moment meant too much to her to let it be ruined by Ron being stupid.
X- Harry Potter -X
Amelia was sitting on the couch in front of the fire, her nose buried in a book, when Fred let himself fall in the seat next to her, his arm around her shoulders. His free hand threw a small present in her lap. Amelia felt a small fluttering in her stomach as she realized that not everyone had forgotten her birthday, even though she had. She smiled up at his grinning face and carefully started pulling at the colorful paper, revealing a small box. When she carefully removed the top of the box, she gasped at the beautiful pendant that was laying there. A large ring made of silver kept two small pieces of glass pressed together, a small, dried flower. Her eyes sparkled as she looked back up at Fred, not missing the bright smile that had formed on his face as he watched her reaction.
"Thank you. It's beautiful." She leant into his shoulder and let out a happy sigh. "Thank you for remembering."
"Of course. I wanted to give it to you last night, but… you know."
"I know." Suddenly noticing the chill that hung in the common room, Amelia cuddled up to Fred, enjoying his warmth, and opened up her book once again. That's how they spent the evening. Fred's gaze alternating between the light of the fire and the girl leaning against him and Amelia buried in her book, while the fingers of her left hand occasionally stroked the pendant that was still laying in the small box.
X- Harry Potter -X
The next morning Amelia was surprised by an unknown owl landing in front of her. She quickly removed the letter from its claw, before feeding the barn owl a piece of bacon from her plate. Fred, who was seated on her right side, turned to her, after she opened the envelope.
"Who's it from?" He asked.
"Dad." Amelia smiled at the D on the bottom of the letter. She quickly scanned the faces of their friends, before starting to read.
Dear A.
It's good to know that you've arrived safely at school. Harry told me that the school's hosting the triwizard tournament? Dumbledore really must have gone crazy. Remember that I asked you to keep an eye on Harry for me? Don't forget to keep an eye on yourself as well. The first Hogsmeade visit is coming up in two weeks, am I right? I might see you then. Oh and before I forget: I'm sorry I missed another birthday.
Love,
D.
Amelia passed the letter to Fred, who read it quickly, before handing it back to her.
"Are you going to tell him about Harry?" He asked. Harry, who was sitting on Amelia's left turned at the mention of his name.
"Tell who about me?" This time the letter was handed to Harry, who read it along with Hermione. "I was actually about to write him a letter today. I need to talk about the tournament and some other stuff. We can send a letter together." Amelia nodded and gave Harry a message to pass on to her dad. As Harry and Hermione left, Amelia noticed Ron staring after them, jealousy in his eyes. That boy really needed to be thwacked up the head. Which was just what she was planning on doing as she stood from her spot next to Fred, when she was pulled back down.
"He's not worth it, Lia. He'll see the light sooner or later." With a sigh Amelia relaxed, leaning her arms on the table. Fred was probably right, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to tell Ron off.
X- Harry Potter -X
Amelia was on her way to the hospital wing, the twins following close behind. Apparently there had been a duel between Harry and Malfoy. The two wankers themselves hadn't been hurt, like they should have been for getting in a duel in the middle of the corridor, but Hermione had been hit by a spell. They entered the hallway, immediately spotting the bushy haired girl on the bed nearest to the door, boy wonder sitting next to her on a stool.
"Are you alright, Mione?" Amelia asked, as she hugged the girl that had become a good friend to her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I got hit by a growing hex." There was something different about the younger girl, by Amelia couldn't quite put her finger on it. Harry laughed at Hermione's words.
"She got hit right in the teeth!" Amelia was about to hit Harry for making fun of Hermione, when she realized what was different about the girl.
"Hermione Granger! Did you get Madame Pomfrey to shorten your front teeth?" Hermione blushed, making Amelia and the twins laugh.
"We didn't know you had it in you!" The twins said in unison. They laughed and chatted until Madame Pomfrey gave Hermione the go ahead to leave the hospital wing.
X- Harry Potter –X
"Out of the way!"
"Move!"
"Watch out!"
"She's on war path!" Students jumped out of the way as Amelia stomped through the halls, eyes narrowed and lips forming a thin line. She was on her way to Dumbledore's office.
"Ah, miss Sterling. To what do I owe this pleasure?" He was already waiting outside his office. Amelia didn't say anything, just storming past him into the office and starting to pace the floor there. Dumbledore sat down in his chair, following the pacing student with his periwinkle eyes, waiting for her to tell him what she needed to get of her chest.
"Where does that nasty, slimy little reporter get the nerve to write such vile, vile things? We need to do something about this!" Dumbledore, true to his nature, already knew what she had wanted to talk about and didn't interrupt her as she gave a ten minute speech about what a vile woman Rita Skeeter was. When she was finished yelling and cursing, which she probably didn't realize she was doing, she sat down on the chair across from him, throwing the newspaper she had been clutching on the desk.
"You know we can't do anything about this, miss Sterling. As much as we'd like to, we do not have any influence on the daily prophet."
"But professor, we must! She can't talk trash about Harry like this! It's not right. He's just a boy. He-"
"Has always been thoroughly watched and criticized and that will continue for as long as he will live." Amelia slumped in her seat, defeated by the thought that Dumbledore would not help her with the issue at hand.
"There really is nothing we can do about her, is there?"
"I'm afraid not."