The Halloween feast was something Arabelle had been looking forward to for days. But no one could have predicted the events that followed. As Harry's name was read aloud silence fell over the crowd like a cloak. It trailed behind him as his steps echoed through the great hall. Arabelle couldn't help but stare open mouthed like everyone else as he made his way towards the trophy room. As soon as the door clicked shut the cloak was lifted voices filled the air. Questions, accusations and cries of outrage bounced around the walls.

"SILENCE" Dumbledore roared. "Everyone will please return to their dorms." He said firmly, the air silenced again by what Arabelle presumed was some form of silencing charm as students were still moving their lips but no sound was produced. "Prefects if you would lead the way, goodnight." He dismissed the hall and strode hastily towards the trophy room followed by professor Snape and professor McGonagle.

Arabelle was the first to stand, and clapped her hands at the angry and confused faces around her. "Come on girls back to the carriage. Up. Get up. Quickly." As they stood she lead them towards the doors before the rest of the hall had time to make sense of what was going on.

Once they were in the carriage the girls exploded with questions.

"'Ow did that young boy get his name in?"

"They will not let 'im compete will they Arabelle?"

"What magic do the 'ogwarts students know that we do not?"

Arabelle sighed and turned to face them. "Okay I'm going to make this quick, Claudia I don't know how he did it, or if it was even him that entered himself at all, he looked as shocked as the rest of us." She held up her hand to silence them from arguing. "Félicia I have no idea what will happen, it is I believe up to Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch what will happen, and Stephanie, don't be so sure that it because of Hogwarts that Harry's name was drawn, be careful of making any false accusations is what I mean. Okay no more questions, I want everyone in bed in 15 minutes. Go."

Over the next few days tensions ran high. Arabelle was at the other end of constant jabbering from Madame Maxine how it was "absurd, down right cheating, foolish" and many more other things that they were allowing Harry to enter the tournament.

Arabelle longed to speak to Harry to find out what had really happened, she knew he must be having a hard time from the other students, but he seemed to have disappeared from Hogwarts all together. She never saw him around and even if she did would she have dared talk to him for fear of being called a traitor to Beauxbatons. She continued with her lessons and any other free time was spent on private lessons for Fleur teaching her anything that she remembered from her old classes that Fleur might not. She didn't have much free time. She hadn't even yet had time to seek out the twins, Ron or Ginny.

The days blurred into each other as the air got colder and the ground got harder. The girls moaned un-relentlessly about the cold weather, how the air was drying their skin and the food was too rich, and the castle too confusing.

Late one night after Madame Maxine had gone out rather mysteriously, and Arabelle had done her last check to make sure the girls were asleep, she sat alone at her dressing table, a second glass of red wine next to her. She pulled her hair out of the burn on top her head as her long brown hair cascaded down her back. Beginning to brush her hair she looked at the three photo frames by the mirror, as she always did. One of Charlie, about 10 years old, sitting on a tree branch in the burrow garden calling for her to join him as she was finding her footing making her way up the tree towards him. A second frame of Bill and Charlie as teenagers sitting in the common room laughing, she remembered taking that picture. The light from the fire lighting up their faces as they joked around. The third stood closest to the front. The whole family the night of Charlie and hers engagement party with them centred in the middle, Charlie kissing the side of her head and smiling at the camera like he used to smile when the Gryffindor team won the quidditch cup. The same proud look in his eyes. Arabelle then looked at herself smiling, she had felt untouchable that night. Perfect friends and family, a great job, and Charlie, with his arm around her ready to take on the world. She thought nothing could bring them down as long as they were together.

But they had torn each other down.

She returned to the mirror, her eyes dull and tired in comparison. The make up could only cover so much, it was unable to help her hide the twinge of emptiness that had never gone away.

Deep in sorrow thoughts Arabelle Didn't hear Madame Maxine enter the carriage. The door to her room burst open and Arabelle jumped so much she almost fell out her chair dropping her hair brush which hit the floor clattering loudly.

"Arabelle!" Madame Maxine cried "dragons"

"I'm sorry what?"

"The first task" she planted breathlessly " dragons. She 'as to face a dragon."

"How can you possibly know this?" Arabelle asked stunned still recovering from the sudden interruption of her reverie.

"They are 'olding them deep in the forest. Four. One for each. Fleur must begin training with you first thing tomorrow."

"What sort of dragons?"

"All sorts, they 'ave flown them in tonight from a reserve in Romania"

Arabelle's stomach dropped. Before she had time to react she pulled her powder blue coat off the back of the chair and flew past Madame Maxine towards the door.

"Arabelle what are you doing?!"

Arabelle hit the frost bitten floor with bare feet. She hadn't even thought about shoes. A madness really had overcome her but adrenaline pumped through her and she barely noticed the cold. She hit the forest in a matter of seconds and followed the path deeper and deeper. The lack of shoes was starting to create a problem as she stood on thorns and brambles, she slowed slightly pulling the fur collar of her coat closer. She could hear voices far away and ran faster again. The voices became louder the faster she ran and she kept going until the sounds of dragons and men were so loud her ears rang and the brightness of the flames in the distance made her eyes water. She didn't stop though, she came to a clearing in the trees and collided heavily with a chain link fence at least 50 feet high. She gazed at the dragons, wonderstruck. The flames coming from them warmed her cheeks. She looked around at the Dragon keepers all in uniform, overalls with Dragon hide gloves and balaclavas. They all looked the same, she couldn't see him. If he was here at all.

Madness took control again. She had to find him if he was here. She ran along the side of the fence until she found a gate and yanked the lever open. She was closer to the heat of the dragons here, the back of her neck was moist and her hair was wild around her face. She slid off her coat to the ground, now only dressed in a navy blue fitted lace dress. She looked crazed.

None of the keepers had noticed her yet. She edged closer to the group of keepers nearest her, all of them had wands drawn facing the Welsh green as it swayed from side to side woozy from the strong sleeping draught. Then everything blurred.

"What are you doing?!" One of them yelled as he spotted her standing there.

The sudden yell startled the Dragon as it flicked its head towards the group of keepers nearest to Arabelle. It's eyes narrowed and its claws dug into the ground.

"Get her!" Someone else yelled as the Dragon drew breath, Arabelle was hit square in the chest and tackled to the ground so hard darkness came over her eyes. She couldn't see but a second later she felt a heat so hot over her it paralyzed her.

"Stupify!" A chorus of voices yelled and the Dragon retreated.

The body on top of Arabelle withdrew, as her eyes adjusted he pulled off his balaclava and laughed loudly showing off his white teeth and spoke with a thick German accent "If I'm not mistaken you must be Arabelle. Charlie is right you really are a mad bitch" he laughed again as he stretched out a muscular arm, took her and and in one swift motion pulled her to her feet.

"ARABELLE!" A voice called in the distance. But she was too dazed to see where it came from.

"Are you okay?" The German asked her still grinning, he swept back his bright blonde hair.

Arabelle could only stare blankly at him in reply.

"ARABELLE!" The voice called again, getting closer.

"It's a nice dress you've got there" the German continued still smiling "I'm sorry I ruined it."

"ARABELLE" the voice called again much closer this time. She turned her head towards her name and for the second time a body collided with hers. Just as strong but more gentle it pushed her into the mesh fence.

She could sense him before she could focus on him properly.

"Arabelle you stupid girl!" He cried gripping her face tight in his hands he kissed her head then began stroking her hair "are you hurt? What were you thinking? Are you mad? What were you doing?" He kissed her head again, then the side of her face and the other side more and more vigorously, checking for and injuries. His body still pressed against hers, the light from the flames throwing light over his muscular body highlighting his tattoos.

Arabelle looked in to his eyes that were filled with panic and fear, she whispered feebly to him feeling foolish "I just needed to find you"

He kissed her forehead hard then pressed his lips roughly against hers, pulling the back of her head into the kiss. She ran her tongue along his lips as they parted. They groped for each other, pulling closer. His tounge pushing passionately into her mouth. He tasted like salt and her heart began beating properly again, like it had done years ago.

"I'm here now" he murmured into her.