Chapter 53

The next two weeks went by fast. Nobody asked questions about my absence. The twins, Angelina and Alicia just asked if I was feeling better when I came down for dinner that evening. The twins had brought me soup, just like the year before. They had it levitated to just outside the dorm with a note. They didn't make it easy not to like them. It was getting harder and harder to keep my eyes of them, or to focus on class. It's not like they did something major. They just helped me pack up my things, carry my bag, make me laugh. Every time one of them winked or give me their lopsided smile, my heart nearly exploded.

I was happy that they were gone most of the nights with their pranks or trying to find a way to enter the tournament. I could focus on my homework, talk to Harry, or just relax without feeling their eyes on me. A few days ago, I was talking to the Gryffindor head girl. She had strawberry blond hair that just reached her shoulders and a cute button nose. She was obviously flirting, and for a moment I thought, why not? I needed something to distract me from the twins. So, I flirted back. But of course, the men who occupied too much of my thoughts, interrupted us. Neither of them noticed that we were leaning in, or maybe it was just because she was a girl, they didn't think about it. Because I knew if it was a guy that was standing so close to me, they would be sending daggers at him. They still send Cedric daggers, but Cedric was just as friendly as he always was. To me and to the twins. None of them spoke about the kiss at the party which I was grateful for.

LB

Classes were ending early today because the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would be arriving soon. We just finished our Charms class; Flitwick soon gave up on the class as everyone kept talking about their arrival. My stomach was in knots the whole day, not knowing who would come. Jack hasn't answered my last letter, and a dreadful part of me thought it was because he didn't get to come and was too ashamed. He could be proudful like that. We were walking in a fast pace to the courtyard.

"Are you nervous?" Angelina asked me as she eyed my hands, that I was wringing together.

"A little. I haven't seen them for so long. And I don't know who's coming."

"They're going to be happy to see you." Angelina smiled.

"Can't wait to see all those French boys."

"Not only French." I pointed out to Alicia with a smirk, and she rolled her eyes smiling.

The twins were walking behind us next to Lee and were unusual silent. I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw their eyes already on me. I shot them a little smile before turning back as we stepped out on the courtyard. Students were trickling out of the castle and the courtyard filled quickly.

"Do you how they will get here?" George asked, standing right behind me as we took are places.

"I have a feeling." I smirked up at him. He squinted his eyes at me before smiling.

"Again, so mysterious." He winked and my cheeks heated.

I turned back forwards, and my foot started tapping as my eyes scanned the sky. All the students and teachers had gone quiet in the courtyard, waiting. Over five silent minutes had passed before I saw it. I saw the horses and the carriage flying violently through the sky. I grinned up at the sky, just when a second-year student called out, pointing up at the sky.

"Look! Look!"

Every eye flickered up to the sky. And when they saw the carriage and the horses, they all gasped. Even Fred and George behind me, which made me smile. Although the carriage was swaying in the air violently, it landed gracefully and softly in the middle of the courtyard. The horses were bigger than Hagrid, who came over with buckets of water and apples.

I took a step closer without thinking, then the door of the carriage opened. Madame Maxime stepped out first with the help of Headmaster Dumbledore. I held back a snicker as everyone around me gasped at the large woman. Then the students came flittering out, all dressed in their blue robes. Oh, how I had missed those robes. I looked at the students that had joined. Fleur, obviously, I didn't expect anything else. Eloise, Chloé. I knew them all, not real friends but we had shared a few classes.

Then I grinned from ear to ear when I saw Jasmine exit the carriage. Her dark skin was a large contrast to Fleur's fair one, her eyes were dark brown, and her curly hair was bigger than the last time I saw her. Then the boys came out. The first one that came out made my breathing stop. Jack. He was light skinned, with a buzz cut, his piercing blue eyes scanned the large crowd around them.

"Alec?" The twins chorused as I leaped forward, but I ignored them.

"Jack!" I called out. Jack's eyes found me in a second and his smile was so beautiful, I couldn't help but mimic it. He pushed himself through the other Beauxbatons students, who glared at him, as he made his way towards me. As I was running, I saw Jasmine lifting her wand, and she changed my Hogwarts robes into those of Beauxbatons with a wink. I flung my arms around him tightly and nuzzled my nose in his neck. He just smelled like he always did, making me lightheaded. His arms were around my waist, and he twirled me around.

"Alec." He breathed softly. He put me down and looked down at me beaming, a twinkle in his eyes, I knew by heart. He tucked a curl behind my ear before taking my cheeks in his hands and kissed me. He kissed me in front of the whole school. Oh! This could work! I thought to myself and let myself fall completely in the kiss. When the crowd started cheering and wolf whistling, we parted. "Ik heb je gemist." He smiled.

I let my head fall on his chest and laughed. "Ik heb je ook gemist."

"Gelukkige verjaardag, schat. Ik heb je cadeau in de koets liggen." He winked. But before I could reply, Jasmine interrupted.

"Mijn beurt, Jacky." Jasmine pushed him aside and enveloped me in a hug. "Gelukkige verjaardag."

"Noem me niet Jacky, Jasmine." Jack muttered with a smile as he watched me and Jazz. She didn't like her name, we always call her Jazz except for the teachers.

"Well." Dumbledore clapped his hands with a smile. "That's what I call a warm welcome."

The Hogwarts students all laughed, and I ducked my head as Jack wrapped his arm around me, probably grinning from ear to ear.

"Alexandra?" I turned to the headmistress.

"Madam Maxime." I bowed my head.

"Hoe gaat het me je, lieverd?"

"Goed, goed. Ik mis Beauxbatons wel."

"We missen je ook." She gave me a rare smile.

"Madam Maxime, why don't you follow us inside, so you and your students can warm up." Dumbledore said, offering his arm.

I stayed with the Beauxbatons group, locking my arms with Jack and Jazz as we walked inside the castle. While the others stuck up their noses as they walked in the castle, Jazz and Jack just looked around in amazement, asking me all kind of questions. I needed to leave them when they needed to get ready for their "show", whatever that meant. Jack and Jazz didn't look forward to it, that was for sure. So, I walked to the great hall, which was still empty. Five minutes later the Hogwarts students started walking in.

LB

"That's Jack?" The twins choked out as Alec ran to him.

"I guess I'm more her type than you two." Lee joked and he nudged George's side. "She really does fits in, doesn't she?" He looked at the twins, after one of the girls had changed her robes to the one from Beauxbatons. "Shit! You really like her, don't you?" Lee's eyes large as he looked at the twins.

"Yeah." They both sighed not looking away from the hugging duo.

"B-both of you?"

"Lee, shut up." Angelina pushed her elbow in his side. Lee opened his mouth again without a sound before closing it. "Oh, damn."

The twins knew at what her reaction was because they didn't tear their eyes off Alec. Jack had kissed her, in front of everyone and with much enthusiasm. The twins felt nauseous and took a step back. They couldn't watch this. Diggory was one thing, but this, her ex. No. They took another step backwards.

"We'll be right back." They said in unison, and they disappeared in the crowds. They hid in an alcove not far from the entrance of the great hall.

"We waited too long. We should have just told her." Fred frowned.

"What? Just tell her; Oh, Alec. We think you're the one for us. Not me, but us. You are the one to complete our triad." George huffed.

"Yes! I - maybe, I don't know." He sighed, leaning against the wall.

"We still have the book about triads, maybe we should let in linger somewhere. Just to see her reaction to it."

"Does it really matter with Jack here?" Fred muttered.

"He won't be here forever. She's in the tower now, so it should be easier to let her see the book. Then she has time to think it over. We can't rush this."

"I know, but what if she doesn't see us that way? If Jack is her type... We're complete opposites."

"She dated Nott. I don't think she falls just for looks. But I think she does like us. At least she was giving us certain signals."

"I don't know." Fred frowned. "We need to know for sure before dropping a triad book in front of her." They stared at each other for a moment before Fred started grinning.

"Oh, no. Bad idea." George shook his head.

"It's the best idea." Fred grinned, nodding his head. "It doesn't have to be something serious. We just need to see if she gets jealous."

"I don't know, Fred. Can't we just check with Angie?"

"Even if she knows, she'll never say anything. This is the only way, George."

"Let me think about-" He stopped when he heard her voice. They both glanced out of the alcove and saw her walking in the castle, talking to Jack and one of the Beauxbatons girls. They were talking but it wasn't English. Dutch probably.

"I can't understand a word they are saying." Fred whispered. "Do you think they are talking about us?"

"Doubtful. They don't know us, probably just catching up." They watch them turn a corner. "We should head to the great hall before they come looking for us."

LB

The twins came in a few minutes after Lee and Angelina. Lee just said they got lost in the crowds. They took a seat in front of me but didn't say anything, they just stared at the doors.

"You missed Durmstrang."

I shrugged. "Let me guess a large, crooked old ship?"

"Yeah, how do you know?" Angelina asked.

"Hogwarts kind of isolates itself, at Beauxbatons we had exchange students and met with other schools more than once. So, I know how they work."

"Do you know any of the students?" Fred asked finally looking at me.

"I do." I grinned. "You are all going to recognize one for sure."

Now they were all looking at me intrigued but just then the doors opened at the students of Beauxbatons walked in. I bit my lip to stop from laughing as the boys started drooling over the girls, at Fleur especially. Angelina had to slap Lee's arm from gaping, but he wasn't as bad as the others. Probably because he was so in love with Angelina. Jack and Jazz both winked at me as they walked, I mean danced by. I leaned forward to the twins as I winked back at my friends.

"Like what you see?" I asked before turning to face them. But they were not looking at Fleur or any of the other girls but at me. I leaned back quickly.

"Hm?" They both came out of their thoughts, blinking at me owlishly.

"Never mind." I cleared my throat.

"You could fit right in." George said as he eyed the blue robes.

I looked down. "Oh." I quickly changed them back. "That was Jazz's doing."

"Who's -" Lee was interrupted when the Beauxbatons students could choose a place to sit. The students were glancing around the room, debating where to sit. But Jack and Jazz were already making their way towards us.

"Hey, schat." Jack said as he dropped down next to me, his arm already on my shoulder. Jazz took place on the other side me and leaned her head on my shoulder.

"Ik ben moe." She yawned. "Denk je dat dit nog lang gaat duren?"

"Eerst nog eten." I smiled, I looked around the table. Angelina and Lee looked just confused, while the twins stare was hard, and their jaws fixed as they looked at Jack. I cleared my throat. "Maybe we should talk English if my friends are around, yeah?" I smiled at them.

"Oh, sorry, didn't think about that." Jazz said. She looked to the people around us. "So, these are your friends?" She asked with an accent.

"Yeah. This is Angelina and Lee." I pointed to the couple. "This is George and Fred. Then we have Harry, right there." I pointed a little further. "Everyone, this is Jack and Jazz."

"Jazz?"

"Short for Jasmine, but she hates when we call her that." Jack grinned. "Nice to meet you all. Alec told me all about you." His eyes were fixed on the twins. I should have never told him about my feelings for them.

"You act as if I gossip about them all the time." I nudged his side, grinning. I saw that Fleur and Louise had decided to join us at the Gryffindor table while the others sat at the Ravenclaw table. Ron was openly gaping at her. "Ronald!" Me and Hermione said in unison. "Close your mouth."

The whole table laughed as Ron abruptly shut his mouth. Harry grinned at me before his eyes shifted as the Durmstrang students walked in. The whole room was whispering when the last student walked in. Fred and George's eyes flickered from me to the Durmstrang kid.

"Blimey, it's Viktor Krum!" Ron gasped, openly gaping again.

LB

Translation

Dutch English

Ik heb je gemist I've missed you

Ik heb je ook gemist I missed you too

Gelukkige verjaardag, schat. Ik heb je cadeau in de koets liggen Happy birthday, darling. I have your present in the carriage

Mijn beurt My turn

Gelukkige verjaardag Happy birthday

Noem me niet Jacky Don't call me Jacky

Hoe gaat het me je, lieverd How are you, dear

Goed, goed. Ik mis Beauxbatons wel Good, good. I do miss Beauxbatons

We missen je ook - We miss you too

Hey, schat Hi, babe

Ik ben moe - I'm tired

Eerst nog eten First, dinner