It was weird and familiar at the same time sitting with the other Beauxbatons students in class. Not all of them of course, some, like Fleur, were in their seventh year. I tried to switch each class so I could sit with everyone. Ancient Runes with Emmett was still the smallest class, only Jack and Deirdre were in this class. I kept my seat next to Emmett as we worked great together.

The first task was coming up quickly and I had to go to the weighing of our wands. George came knocking on the door when I was in Arithmancy with Lee and Jazz.

"Sorry for the interruption." He said, not looking remotely sorry. "Alec needs to come to the weighing of the wands."

"Of course." The professor nodded. "Miss Lupin-Black, take your things with you, I think it might take a while."

As I packed my stuff, Jazz wiggled her eyebrows at me. She leaned closer as I clasped my bag shut. "Which one is it?"

"George."

"How do you know?"

"I always know." I shrugged. "I'll see you later." I walked over to the door and when George closed it behind me, I said. "Hey, you."

"It's been a while since we had some alone time."

I hummed, because he's right. It has been a while since I've been alone with him or with both of them. "Is that why you're the one that is escorting me to the room?"

"Professor McGonagall asked the ones who had a free period, and I volunteered. Fred had detention."

"For what?"

"For jinxing Crabbe, or was it Goyle? I never know which one is which."

"Because they look so alike?" I grinned with a raised eyebrow. I never knew who was who either, but he didn't need to know that.

He gave me that lopsided grin that made my heart speed up. "All dumb, half troll Slytherins look alike to me."

I laughed as I looped my arm through his. I'd missed this. I had missed him. George was beaming next to me, proud that he made me laugh. "Thank you for trying to get to know Jack and Jazz."

"They're important to you, so they're important to us." I squeezed his arm in return. "I don't want to overstep my boundaries but you and Jack, are you like, back together?"

"I -" I looked up at his deep brown eyes, he was searching for something. I didn't know what to say, should I tell the truth, I mean part of the truth. Or should I lie and tell him we were boyfriend and girlfriend. So, maybe we can all break from this tension. "You're not overstepping." I looked to the floor as we walked through the great hall. "Jack and I will always be friends, what we're doing now is just some fun. It's easy and familiar. What about you?"

"Me?"

"I haven't seen any girl around you or Fred this year."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Enjoying the single life."

"George." I placed my hand on his arm when we stopped in front of the door. "It's not because of me, is it? I don't mean to sound all big-headed, but I heard someone talking. They thought... they thought you or Fred might... like me. Like more than a friend." George stilled in front of me. He was staring at me, it seemed like both of us couldn't look away. I was holding in my breath, afraid of the answer. "George?"

"It's not you." He finally said. "We're friends, great friends but just friends."

"Oh, alright." I really didn't know what answer I wanted, but this one cut through my heart. "Good. Glad we cleared that up." I looked away, trying to hide the hurt in my eyes. "I should go inside."

"Yeah." He answered, his voice a little off. But I couldn't look at him, I stepped inside the room and closed the door behind me, effectively shutting him out.

LB

Fleur and Viktor were already there. Fleur was warming up in front of the fire, and Viktor was hanging casually in on the couches, his robes shucked off. Then I spotted Harry, he was sitting hunched over in a chair, I barely saw him.

"Ah, miss Lupin-Black." Bagman said. I looked at the man, I really didn't like him. "The rest of the judges will be here in a moment, please take a seat."

I sat down on the couch next to Krum's chair and Harry came over and sat next to me. We gave each other a small smile.

"The expert is upstairs with Dumbledore. He should be here in a minute. There will be a little photoshoot." Bagman said and Harry and I shared a frown. "This is Rita Skeeter." He gestured to a witch in magenta robes. "She's doing a small piece on the tournament."

"Maybe not that small, Ludo." The Skeeter woman said, her eyes flickering between me and Harry. She had short blond curls, jewelled spectacles settle on her nose. "I was wondering if I could have a little word with Harry, seeing that he is the youngest. Bring a little colour to the whole event."

"Certainly." Bagman clapped excitedly. "If Harry doesn't mind."

"Er-" Harry started.

"Lovely." Skeeter said, already tugging on his arm.

"I think not." I stepped between her and Harry.

Skeeters eyes turned large behind her glasses. Her eyes flickered between me and Harry who was standing behind me. "Excuse me?"

"Harry is underage. He's not going to spend a minute alone with you." I said defiantly. "He will be accompanied by an adult. So, either you call on Harry's godfather, Sirius Black or he won't say a single word to you."

"Sirius Black?" Her eyebrows rose. "Your father is Harry Potter's godfather?"

"My father is Remus Lupin." I said through gritted teeth.

"The werewolf." Her lips curled up in an evil smirk.

"You better watch your mouth." Fleur interrupted, her eyes blazing. She stepped up next to me and pushed down the hand that was reaching for my wand. Viktor Krum had risen from this seat and took my other side. "I think I'm not feeling well enough for an interview I'm afraid."

"Me neither." Krum grunted. And I was so happy to have their support. I reached my hand behind me, and Harry took it, squeezing it tightly.

Skeeter looked enraged, her eyes flickering between the four of us, a united front. Then her head snapped to Bagman. "Ludo, do something!"

"I - Young lady." He said to Fleur but couldn't finish as the door opened. Dumbledore walked in with Karkaroff, Madam Maxime, Mr Crouch and an elder gentleman with grey hair. "Headmaster Dumbledore, these young champions don't want to do their interview."

"Oh?" His eyes sparkled behind his glasses as he looked at us. All standing protectively in front of Harry. "No matter, Mr Olivander is here. He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the Tournament."

"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you forward first, please?" Said Mr Olivander, stepping forward to the middle of the room. Fleur gave me a small smile before she walked over to the elder man. Skeeter had perched herself on the edge of the couch, glaring as her quill scribbled down behind her.

Harry took Fleur's place next to me. "Mr Olivander is the wand-maker from whom I bought my wand from when I was eleven." He whispered to me.

"I've heard of him." I nodded. "Remus got his wand from him too."

"Hmmm." Mr Olivander said, he twirled the wand between his long and bony fingers. Then he held it close to his eyes and examined it carefully. "Nine and a half inches, inflexible. Rosewood and containing... dear me."

"A hair from the head of a Veela." Fleur said. "One of my grandmothers."

My eyes went large at that. I knew she was part Veela of course, but that her own grandmother's hair was in her wand was something entirely different.

"Yes, yes. I haven't used Veela hair myself, of course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wands, however to each his own and if it suits you..."

Temperamental, that really suits Fleur, I mused.

"Orchideous." The wandmaker said. And a bunch of flowers burst from the wand tip. "Very well, very well. It's in fine working order. He scooped up the flowers and handed them to Fleur alongside her wand. "Mister Krum, if you please."

As the wandmaker was examining Viktor's wand, I saw Harry trying to clean his wand with his robes. It made my lips curl up, trying to push back a laugh. Dumbledore wasn't watching the wand weighing, he was watching me and Harry. Harry smiled sheepishly at me when I nudged him with a grin.

"Avis." The wandmaker suddenly said and when I looked up and a number of small twittering birds flew out of the end and through the open window outside. "Good, good. Miss Lupin-Black." He gestured me forward as he handed Viktor's wand back.

LB

I whipped my wand out of my boot and handed it over with a twirl. The wandmaker smiled at me. "Here you go, Mr Olivander.

"Thank you." He looked over my wand, and without looking up, he said. "I made the wand of your mother and both of your fathers. I'm sad I'm not the one that made this one." He held it closer to his eyes. "It's quite exquisite. Who made this? It looks familiar, but I can't seem to point it out."

"Miss Maes from Belgium."

"Ah, yes, now I see. It's one of the last ones she made, I guess."

"It is the last, sir. She made it a few weeks before she passed away. My father, Remus Lupin, met her when we moved to Belgium when I was four. She promised me then she would be the one that would make my wand, even though she had been retired for years."

"I used to study under her, many, many years ago. Her work was – is – just really exquisite." His fingers slid over my wand carefully, like it was a prized possession. "Apple wood... Phoenix feather." His eyes flickered to Harry for a second. "Thirteen inches... smooth and ribbed on the end." He looked at the wand for a long quiet moment, and I glanced at Harry with an amused look. "Papilio Crepitus."

Out of my wand dozens of colourful butterflies burst out, flying above our heads. Two monarch butterflies landed on my shoulders. Their orange wings slowly moving up and down. Fleur was watching the butterflies with a smile, while Viktor had a blue one on his finger, lifting it up to his eyes to look closer. Harry had several butterflies in his hair, all white with a yellow shine to it. I wonder if it had a meaning. I saw one single monarch butterfly on the tip of Fleur's wand, the others already flying out of the window.

"Fascinating." Mr Olivander said, looking at the butterflies. "It was an honour to see the last wand of Miss Maes, truly." He bowed his head a little as he handed over my wand. "Mister Potter."

Harry came over as I stepped back, the butterflies still on my shoulder.

"Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember..." Mr Olivander said softly, looking over at Harry's wand. Harry himself looked like he was having a flashback to when he bought it a few years ago. "Made of holly... Phoenix feather... eleven inches..." After a long time of examining the wand, maybe as long as he examined mine, he shot out a fountain of wine. A nifty spell to remember if there was a party, I mused. Harry accepted his wand back and stepped up next to me.

"Thank you all." Dumbledore said, standing up with the other judges. "You may go to the great hall, dinner will start shortly."

We started to make our way to the door when Bagman called out. "Photo's, Dumbledore, Photo's. All the judges and champions."

"Yes, yes. Let's do that first." She said, her eyes on Harry. "And then perhaps individual."

I immediately stepped closer to Harry. Then the parade began. The photographer, needed to move Madam Maxime around since she casts a shadow over the others. Once the group shots were done, they started with the individual ones. But not once, did I let Harry alone with that hag or the photographer. Finally done, we made our way to the great hall. It was still empty, but it shouldn't be that for long. The four of us, took a seat at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"I heard about Hermione, is she okay?" I asked once we sat down.

"Yeah, Madam Pomfrey should have fixed it by now."

"Who was it?"

"Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy just watched from the side-lines."

I nodded, it was better than if he would be the one casting it. I don't think he's ready to publicly defend or protect a Gryffindor that wasn't me.

"And how is it going with Ron?"

"Still ignoring me." He grumbled.

I shook my head, disappointed. "I don't care what you say Harry, but I'm going to smack some sense into him."

"I would like to see that actually." He grinned.

"Me too." Viktor and Fleur chimed in with a grin of their own.

LB

A little update for you...

And OMG, I just literally finished chapter 80, the last chapter of Part Two, so the end of Alec's sixth year.