Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development. M rating for sexual content anticipated.
** As requested, a heads up that this chapter contains some mild sexual content. Please comment any feedback; I would love to know how you all like it. :) **
The Doting Rival
Chapter 29
Adelyn was bombarded by fellow Gryffindors upon entering the Great Hall. Even some students in the other houses were cheering and yelling for her. Fred and George lifted her into the air.
"Good one, Adelyn!" yelled George.
"Tied for first with Krum! We knew you'd smash it," Fred agreed.
They carried her over to the House Table and set her down. Mountains of cake and pumpkin juice and butterbeer covered the surface. Adelyn sat down with Ron and Hermione to help herself to some food. She had almost forgotten what it was to feel properly hungry.
Aside from the food, Adelyn kept her focus on Ron. Now that they were speaking again, they wouldn't shut up. Ron showed no more signs of resentment, instead, boasting proudly to anyone within ear shot the details of her success of completing the task. She had not felt such happiness in quite some time.
Once Lee Jordan started letting off some Filibuster's Fireworks, supper was announced as finished. The professors anticipated the celebrations to continue and thought it would be better controlled in each respective Common Room. And they were right.
Upon entering the Common Room, Adelyn was met with another round of cheers. An impressive banner was strung across the room depicting Adelyn zooming around the Horntail's head on the Firebolt. A few smaller banners mimicked the faults of the other champions: Cedric with his head on fire when the boulder transfigured into a dog did not distract his dragon, Fleur with her skirt on fire caused by her snoring dragon, and Krum with his dragon crushing most of the eggs.
More fireworks were let off, creating a thick haze of smoke and sparks. Gryffindors endlessly took turns coming up to touch the golden egg and offer words of support.
"I knew you would be the best, Adelyn!"
"You're going to win this!"
"Hufflepuffs could never beat Gryffindor!"
Dean Thomas picked up the egg from the table. "Blimey, this is heavy." He held it out to Adelyn. "Open it, Adelyn. Let's see what's inside!"
She smiled and looked around the room. "You want me to open it?"
"Yea!" the crowd answered.
"Should I really open it?"
"Yea!" they said louder.
"Come on, Adelyn. Do it! Open it!" Fred shouted.
She found the notch on the top and twisted it. The egg opened from the top, four pieces falling away from it. The inside was hollow and empty. But the moment it was opened, a horrendous loud and screeching wailing erupted, filling the room. The students groaned, covering their ears with their hands.
"Shut it!" Fred took back his request almost immediately.
"What was that?" Seamus Finnigan asked staring at the now closed egg.
"Sounded like a banshee. Maybe you must get past one of those next," Parvati Patil chimed in.
"It was someone being tortured," Neville interjected. "You're going to have to fight the Cruciatus Curse." His face was white, eyes blankly staring at the ground.
"Don't be a muppet, Neville, that's illegal," George answered.
"They wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on champions," Fred confirmed. He clasped Adelyn on the shoulder to calm the sudden fear Neville brought her. "Honestly, it sounded like Percy singing. . . you probably have to attack him when he's in the shower, Adelyn."
This brought another round of laughter. "Oh, sorry Neville!" Fred stepped away toward a large yellow canary. "It WAS the custard creams we hexed."
It was well past one in the morning when Adelyn finally went up to bed. She placed her miniature Horntail on the bedside table where it yawned before curling into a ball.
"They really are magnificent creatures," Hermione stated, "when you don't have to fight one, that is."
"I couldn't have done it without you Hermione," Adelyn thanked her.
"And Draco." She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head in a reminding gesture.
Adelyn gasped. "Draco! I've been so distracted. I meant to speak with him."
"I'm sure he understands. There is tomorrow, you know."
"Yes, of course. You're right." Adelyn wanted to rush out with her Invisibility Cloak, but there had been no plans of meeting in the Astronomy Tower tonight. Instead, she laid back staring at the canopy of her four-poster bed as she recalled the most exciting moment of the evening: her first kiss.
The next day was the most relaxed since the start of the school year. There were far fewer jeers aimed at Adelyn. And the Potter Stinks pins were minimally seen. Adelyn assumed Cedric may have contributed to this in some way. It made Care of Magical Creatures much more bearable in the snow.
It felt like an agility course. Hagrid had the students wrestling Blast-Ended Skrewts to crate them for hibernation. It was not going well. The pumpkin patch had been halfway demolished. Students had numerous burns and cuts. Some fellow fourth years had fled to Hagrid's cabin to escape the rampaging skrewts.
Adelyn noticed Draco was not one of them. She found herself continuously staring as he worked, focused, and collected. Determined. It was an attribute she had learned to admire in him. She watched as he parried toward one of the skrewts, wand perfectly cupped in his long slender hand. She imagined it cupping her face again. That thumb tracing the line of her lip -
"Adelyn!" Hermione called her back to reality.
Adelyn blinked, refocusing her thoughts. She quickly turned away, red pooling into her cheeks. Draco's eyes had met her in response to hearing her name. She had been caught.
"Sorry," she replied, returning her focus to the six-foot long creature advancing with its sting arched.
"Concentrate, please," Hermione continued, slightly annoyed.
It was not long before the bell rang from the castle, signaling the end of the lesson. Though unsuccessful in crating the skrewts, they had been rounded up and contained. Adelyn had never been more eager to get to the next class. Not only would she not have to wrestle anything in Transfiguration, but Draco did not have that class with her. She was thoroughly embarrassed to have been caught staring and needed to escape his constant smirking.
The lesson seemed shorter than usual. Or rather, the task was simpler. Less time consuming. They only had to change guinea fowl into guinea pigs. Though, Neville's still had fathers. It was about halfway through class when Professor McGonagall ordered the pigs returned to their large cage. Within a few minutes, the rest of the Gryffindor students had been escorted in.
Fred and George found seats next to Ron, Hermione, and Adelyn.
Adelyn leaned towards Fred and whispered, "What's going on?"
"Dunno," he shrugged.
"Alright, students. Settle down, please," Professor McGonagall instructed. "I have something to say to you all. This holiday, we will be continuing with a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament – The Yule Ball."
Many of the female students gasped and giggled excitedly.
"This is an opportunity," McGonagall raised the tone of her voice, warning the room to settle once again, "for us to socialize with our foreign guests. This is a formal event, so dress robes will be worn. The ball is open to fourth years and above, though you may invite a younger student if you wish. And it will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day."
"Won't be as quite as usual, will it?" Ron nudged Adelyn.
"Mr. Weasley."
Ron corrected how he sat. "Ye-yes Professor?" he gulped nervously.
"Thank you for volunteering. Please, come up here." She motioned him to join her at the front.
The tables and chairs at the front of the class had finished floating to the side, creating a large empty space. Mr. Filch had snuck in to set up an old phonograph in the corner. Adelyn shoved Ron's arm to coax him up, stifling a laugh with Fred and George.
"Now, the Yule Ball is primarily, a dance. As the host school of this event, I expect each one of you to be familiar with this and maintain the exacting standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts. Mr. Weasley, take my right hand in your left and place your right hand on my waist."
"Where?" he gulped.
"My WAIST, Mr. Weasley." She grabbed his hand and placed it high on her back. "Mr. Filch, if you please." A classic waltz resounded from the horn and Professor McGonagall counted off. "One, two, three. One, two, three."
She guided Ron around the room, all be it, clumsily. He had a pained expression across his face and continually searched for a moment to escape.
"Poor, Ron. He really doesn't have rhythm, does he?" Adelyn laughed pitifully.
"Don't say that, Adelyn," Hermione scolded. She watched nervously as Professor McGonagall further broke down the steps of the waltz with Ron.
"He may not. But WE sure do," George chimed in.
"Oh, really?" Adelyn scoffed.
"Alright. Everyone, select a partner and join us up here," McGonagall instructed.
"Yes, really," Fred answered, offering his hand to Adelyn.
She smirked and accepted. Fred confidently paraded her to the front of the room. In one smooth motion, he whipped around to stand directly in front of Adelyn, and scooped her into his embrace by her waist. Fred towered over her at his six foot and three inches of height. She had to crane her neck far back to look him in the face from such proximity.
Whether making exaggerative twirls while dancing or pointing out the fumbles of the other students, Fred kept Adelyn laughing for the remainder of the class. It was much needed fun from the stress of the week prior. She was almost sad when it had concluded as the bell sounded.
"Ms. Potter – a word, please," Professor McGonagall called above the noise.
"See you in the Great Hall." Fred gave her a wink and a broad smile before leaving.
Adelyn approached the teacher's desk reluctantly. "Yes, Professor?"
"It is traditional that the Tournament Champions open the ball. So, make sure you get yourself a partner."
"A partner?"
"Yes. To dance with."
"But - I don't dance. . ."
"Nonsense! You and Mr. Weasley were wonderful today. I'm sure, with his. . . exuberant. . . personality, he would agree to be your partner."
"Oh. No. I meant, in front of people -"
"You are a Hogwarts champion and will do what is expected of you as a representative of this school," she interrupted sternly. "So, get yourself a partner and practice. That will be all."
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked once Adelyn finally arrived at lunch.
Adelyn sat down between her and Ron with a sign. "I have to open the ball with the other champions. . ."
"So?" Ron was genuinely confused. "Ow!" He rubbed his arm where Hermione whacked him with her book.
"Don't be daft. She means she has to dance first. In front of everyone," Hermione explained.
"Ohh." Ron made a wincing sound. "I'm glad I'm not you, Adelyn."
"Thanks." She said sarcastically rolling her eyes. "Now, I have two things to worry about. . ."
"We'll help you. Won't we, Ron?" Hermione comforted.
"Of course! Oh! Pumpkin pasties!" Ron started piling his plate with food.
"Boys." Hermione sighed.
Adelyn laughed in agreement, but mimicked Ron and eagerly started digging into food. Her appetite was thankfully much improved. But she still found her mind wondering. There were just so many things to worry about still. She opted to people watch to try and distract her mind.
The students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were regularly dining in the Great Hall with the Hogwarts students. It was prevalent friendships were forming by the various groups found sitting together. Overheard conversations often consisted of heavy accents detailing the lives of the foreign students. Adelyn found herself staring far across the hall as she tried to listen to some nearby Beauxbaton girls describing local French party etiquette to a couple of Ravenclaw girls.
Suddenly, Draco caught her eye. In her peripheral view, she saw him stand and head for the exit. Without hesitation, Adelyn got up to leave.
"I'll meet you guys in Divination." She grabbed her bag and left Ron and Hermione bewildered.
As she exited the Great Hall, she scanned the entrance and found Draco at the top of the first flight of stairs. But he was not alone. He was in conversation with fellow Slytherin Theodore Nott. On their way, she presumed, to the tower for Divination, as they both were in her class.
Adelyn followed at a steady distance, nervous to just call to him when he wasn't on his own. Why am I nervous? Prior to the first task, she and Draco were constantly together. Now, she was having a challenging time finding him by himself. By the time they made it past the fourth staircase, she had an idea. She tucked herself behind the wall to the corridor and quickly jotted down a note before folding it into an origami bird.
"Locomotor Draco," she whispered to the paper. It fluttered out of her hands and flew up the stairs chasing its target. She peered around the corner watching intently.
The small bird circled in front of Draco until he held out his hand for it to land. Upon reading it, he looked back down the staircase from where it came. Adelyn peaked further out giving a small wave. She retreated only after he acknowledged seeing her. He exchanged a few words to Theodore and left him to continue to class while he backtracked towards Adelyn.
She motioned him to follow her around the bend. He looked tentatively around them as he approached. "Is there someone you're hiding from?"
"Uh, not in particular, no," She answered bashfully.
He chuckled. "Then why are you hiding over here?"
"I just wanted to speak with you alone. That's all." She cleared her throat and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Is something wrong?" Worry began to creep on his face.
"No! No," she replied quickly. "I mean, at least I hope not. . . I don't want you thinking I was avoiding you last night."
"Distracted is more along the lines I would say."
"Well, I'm not distracted now. And, I wanted to finish our conversation. . . when we left the champions' tent. . ." A crimson hue filled the tops of her cheeks as she recalled where they left off.
A sensuous grin formed across his face as he understood what she meant. With a gentle, decisive hand, Draco pulled up her chin, directing her gaze straight at him. "Adelyn. I would like to kiss you now." He paused, anticipation filling the air, waiting for her response.
Adelyn's heart was beating ardently. His warm skin against hers brought back the butterflies deep inside. She was trembling with excitement. Breathily she replied, "I would like that too."
Without another moment of hesitation, Draco seized her mouth with his. He dropped his bag with a thud to the floor. He clasped the back of her neck, intwining her hair in his slender fingers. With his other hand at the center of her back, he pulled her against him.
Adelyn steadied herself on his chest, leaning deeper into his kiss. His lips moved fervently, exploring this new contact. His tongue played with her lips, slowly coaxing them to part until he could slip in. She moaned into his mouth. She was intoxicated, her senses on fire. His touch made her ache between her thighs. His breathy growls sent chills down her spine. She inhaled deeply, relishing his spicy floral scent. She wanted him.
She grabbed the robes of his chest, trying to pull him closer. Begging for more. He swiftly turned, pinning her between him and the wall. He thrust his pelvis forward, pressing his entire body against hers. Both his hands were in her hair, hungrily stroking. They were consumed by each other, oblivious to the world around them.
"Oh, my! Oh, gosh! I'm so sorry."
A dainty voice shocked Draco and Adelyn to break apart. They were panting from the intensity of affection. Adelyn cleared her throat. She attempted to flatten down her now tangled hair as she looked up to see Cho Chang holding her beet red cheeks, her eyes shut tight.
"I, uh, didn't mean to interrupt," Cho continued embarrassed. "I – I just need to, uh, get to class. Excuse me." She scooted around the couple before swiftly rushing up the staircase.
"Damn. I forgot about class!" Adelyn hustled to pick up her bag.
"You're welcome," Draco said smugly. He couldn't help the grin on his face.
"Oh, shut it! You've got the same class, remember?" she pestered while failing to prevent a smile from forming. "C'mon. Before we're late."