RECAP:
‘It can be… Hufflepuffs have that too… just at a more, suitable amount than those two, and Ravenclaws think things over too much to have any impulse.’
‘Slytherin and Gryffindor think too, it’s just we think, act, think and then realize everything we should have thought of before.’
‘And that is what makes Hufflepuff great.’
‘Ah but impulse and thinking combined, plus very good thinking is what has made Gryffindor beat Hufflepuff in quidditch all those times.’
‘Bite me.’
NEXT PART:
‘Hannah Get up!’ Hermione shouted at you. You had managed to force yourself into sleep; the Gryffindor common room isn’t all that exciting for 9 to 10 hours of being alone.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s three days until the ball and we still need to get shoes and go Christmas shopping, and yesterday you said you wanted to go running this morning while I go to the library so can you please get up and go!’
‘I did? Wait, how long till the ball?’
‘3days.’
‘Yesterday it was six…’
‘Well no Hannah it obviously wasn’t, yesterday was four, see how that works?’
‘Urhmm.’
‘Will you stop grumbling, you’re the one who told me to get you up at 6.’
‘Right.’ Apparently if I sleep I skip through time.
You decided that a run would do you good to clear your head; you now had to re-work out what was happening and think over everything. You put on a t-shirt, jacket, shorts and trainers. You made your way outside after being practically pushed down the stairs by Hermione and told that if you weren’t back by 9 she would make sure your Christmas with her would be hell.
‘Look, I don’t know about me stalking you but you have certainly been everywhere I am for about the last week.’ You heard a muffle and immediately new who it was, you pulled on earphone out and looked at the guy who was running behind you.
‘Considering I was in front of you I really don’t think that makes me a stalker.’
‘So you going to Hogsmeade today?’
‘Uhuh.’
‘Getting your shoes today?’
‘Uhuh.’
‘Getting Christmas presents today?’
‘Uhuh.’
‘Do you want to go with me?’
‘Nuhuh.’
‘Oh, why?’
‘Because if I ditch Hermione I won’t even be able to go to the ball I will be in st. Mungos.’
‘Right-o.’
‘Plus I don’t think Cho would be all that happy about that.’
‘We’re just going together.’
‘Yeah but imagine that, you go down to Hogsmeade and you find your date out with someone you really don’t like. It would be like me going with Harry but going to Hogsmeade with Malfoy.’
‘Ok, but you know I’m not interested in Cho.’
‘Then it’s stupid of you asking her then isn’t it.’ You took that as your cue and you sped up and ran back to the castle to find Hermione and get ready for Hogsmeade.
---
‘Hannah it’s the ball tonight!’ three girls squealed from the end of your bed.
‘It’s what?!’
‘The ball.’
‘Right… Time?’
’11, we let you sleep in so then you wouldn’t be doing a load of stuff before you start doing Ball stuff, thus having no time to help us.’ Lavender told you.
‘The boys are meeting us at the bottom of the steps at 7, and then they have got a table with two other couples for our dinner.’ Hermione said pulling you up, giving you a towel and pushing you into the bathroom.
---
‘Ok, lets just go together, I know what I said about going separately but I’d rather we just went together seeing as Victor and Henry are meant to wait together.’
‘Sure Hermione, whatever you want.’
You began your decent down the stairs; you kept talking to Hermione so you would look more natural and relaxed as you came down the stairs and you noticed loads of people were watching you. Ron’s face had turned from a generally pissed off to a look of awe, Hermione looked around smiling and Victor and Henry walked towards the bottom of the stairs. In the corner of your eye you could see Cho talking to Cedric but he was looking your way, but you did your best to avoid eye contact.
All thoughts that this had all happened before seemed to fade away, and you couldn’t stop yourself getting into the moment. All logical thoughts fell away and how ever much you tried to grip to them you could not hold on and although there was a little voice at the back of your head screaming at you, you involuntarily blocked it out.
‘Thank you so much for joining me.’ Henry said taking your hand and kissing it, a thick accent coming through. You both said goodbye to Hermione and Victor and let them go to dance the opening champions dance.
Henry led you over to watch and he stood behind you with hands on your waist.
Henry was a good looking boy, dark hair although it was shaved rather short, no facial hair which was a plus as it seemed as though Durmstrang lads grew beards as soon as they hit eleven, and dark brown eyes. The only problem with him is that he didn’t speak all that much English, enough for you to have a basic convocation alone, but you couldn’t really do more than that.
‘Krum really likes Miss Granger you know.’ He spoke into your ear as they walked onto the dance floor. You nodded and clapped as Harry and Pavarti walked onto the floor last, the look on Harry’s face was more scared than when he had fought the dragon.
The hall was decorated beautifully; icicles and ice sculptures filled the room, without it being too cold. Christmas decorations in colours of silver and blue twinkled in the light.
‘This room is beautiful.’ You said turning up to see Henry.
‘Much like you.’ He replied, making your cheeks burn a rose pink.
A band opposite started to play and the four champions and partners began to dance. You were wearing a knee length blue dress that fitted in with the whole theme beautifully.
Soon the dance was over and the couples found their tables for dinner. You were sat with Henry on your left, Hermione on your right, then Victor was next to her, across the table were a guy named Joe and another called Kel, both of which were short for really long names that no one could pronounce, their dates were Roseanna and Felicity.
Felicity had an… interesting laugh, it was like nails on a black board or a car screeching to a halt, which made everyone try not to say anything funny, apart from Joe who seemed to make her laugh at anything he said, making the rest of the table eat and run as fast as possible.
‘That girl is asking to be choked to death.’ Henry said after you had made your get away to the dance floor. The lights had dimmed and the bands had finished playing so now it was time for some normal muggle music.
‘Yeah and that guy should not become a comedian.’ You both laughed and he led you onto the middle of the dance floor near where Hermione and Krum were dancing. You noticed Harry and Ron sat out and waved at Harry, who nodded, and then shortly left your view. A new song started up and everyone began to dance in a cramped crowd, yet the closeness seemed to make it easier for everyone to get into it. Soon enough everyone was enjoying themselves and a few people were dispersing to get snacks and drinks, as Henry went to get you a drink with Victor you sat down at the side and Hermione went to see Ron. You watched everyone dance until you noticed Cedric, who was looking your way and once he noticed you were looking back smiled, you returned it and then Hermione came storming back saying that Ron did not think it was suitable for the two of you to have come with eighteen year olds.
‘Hermione calm down, we can go and talk to him in a while, Victor and Henry have to go at 10 don’t they, for a meeting?’
‘Mhmm.’
‘Well then we can go and talk to Ron and tell him what a dick he is then, okay?’
‘Mhmm.’
Soon the two boys returned and you both went back to dancing, Cedric kept looking at you and catching your gaze.
Henry was being a perfect gentleman and kept messing around and dancing with Victor to make you and Hermione laugh.
‘Thank you for coming with me Hannah.’ Henry said as he kissed your cheek.
‘No problem, thank you for being an amazing date.’
‘So we will meet up again soon then, yes?’
‘Yes.’ He kissed your hand and turned and left with Krum, Hermione came over and squealed. ‘Hermione, I don’t care who you date or marry in the future, you now can say you were asked out by and dated the top seeker in Bulgaria.'
‘He was so perfect.’ Hermione breathed dreamily, but the expression soon changed. ‘Right, let’s go kick some Weasley butt.’ She grabbed your wrist and dragged you back into the hall.
‘Victor and Henry had to go so we have come to join you.’ You said to Ron who looked up at you both disgustingly.
‘Victor? Vicky and Henrietta if you ask me.’
‘Well we didn’t though did we Ron?’ Hermione threw back.
‘They’re from Durmstrang!’ Ron shouted at the two of you, ‘Vicky’s competing against Harry, You’re fraternising with the enemy.’
‘What? Don’t be so stupid!’ you replied.
‘The enemy?! Honestly, who was the one who stopped breathing when they saw him arrive? Who’s the one that wanted their autograph? Who’s got a bloody model of them up in their room?!’
Ron completely ignored either of the things that the two of you had just said.
‘I suppose he asked you to come with him when you were in the library?’
‘Yes, he did.’ Hermione said blushing very slightly through her frustration. ‘So?’
‘So what happened? Trying to get him to join SPEW were you?’
‘No I wasn’t, if you really want to know he said he had been coming up to the library everyday to come and talk to me but he hadn’t been able to pluck up the courage!’ Hermione said so fast that if she hadn’t of made the ends of her words quite so sharp then it all would have come out in a blur.
‘Yeah well,’ Ron began snarling, while thinking of a come back, ‘That was his story!’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ You asked, more calmly than the other two but even so you still had your own bite.
‘Obvious isn’t it? They’re Karkaroff’s students; they know who you hang around with, they’re probably just trying to get close to you to get inside information on Harry.’
‘Ron that’s absolutely obscured!’ you snapped while Hermione’s jaw dropped and her face became pinker than ever.
‘For your information, he hasn’t asked me one single thing about Harry, not one, and I very much doubt Henry has asked Hannah anything either.’
‘No of course he hasn’t!’
‘Then he’s hoping you’ll help him find out what his egg means!’ Ron said trying to pick at another hole.
‘Ron, is it not at all possible that he actually likes her-‘
‘I suppose you’ve been putting your heads together during those cosy little sessions – in more ways than one.’ Ron said completely ignoring what you had just said.
‘I’d never help him work out that egg!’ Hermione shouted, complete and utter outrage coming out in her voice. ‘Never. How could you say something like that? We want Harry to win the Tournament not anyone else!’
‘This whole Tournament is meant to be about making friends with foreign wizards!’ you added.
No, it’s about winning!’ Ron threw back in your face; people everywhere were starting to notice the brawl going on between the three of you as it gradually moved from a table near the dance floor to the hall outside. ‘Why don’t you both go and find Vicky and Henrietta they will be wandering where you’ve got to.’
‘Don’t call them that!’ Hermione screamed, you looked around and most the people who had been dancing now weren’t and looking at you, including Cedric and Cho.
‘Hermione its Victor Krum! And Hannah, some Henry guy?’
‘Well I’m sorry it’s not Bill and Ben but not everyone gets a perfect name.’ you replied.
‘Well Ron, if you’ve got a problem you know what to do next time?’ Hermione shouted as they made their way into the hall and tears started seeping through her eyes.
‘Oh yeah, what’s that?’
‘Next time there’s a ball, pluck up the courage and ask me before someone else does! And not as a last resort!’ Ron was rendered almost speechless by Hermione’s come back.
‘W-w-we-well that’s completely beside the point.’ Ron stuttered as they near the stairs, mean while you stood still in the arch of the entrance to the Hall watching the now two on two fight.
‘HARRY, where have you been?’ Hermione seethed out through her tears, Harry immediately realising he had returned from his walk a minute too early.
‘I-I was j-just-‘
‘Never mind! Up to bed, BOTH OF YOU!’ Hermione shoved the both boys off away from you and you went to follow. ‘No, stay Hannah; I’ll make sure they get up there.’ Hermione said whipping away her tears and turning swiftly away to shout at Ron once again.
You sighed to yourself and wandered outside into the crisp cold December frost and bitterness that was the air outside. The sky was completely clear, making it much colder than usual meaning no snow would be falling, and the small sprinkle that you had earlier that evening was freezing into ice patches.
You stood leaning against one of the walls that look out over some of the grounds. Breathing in the cold that was so refreshing after your heated fight. The nipping breeze gave you goosebumps as you rubbed your bare arms in an attempt to warm them back up, and you looked up at the starry night sky that was twinkling above you.
Unexpectedly, you felt a warm jacket upon your shoulders.
‘Are you alright?’ Cedric asked coming up and leaning on the piece of wall next to you, you nodded and kept your gaze on the stars above. ‘That was quite an argument you three were having.’ You nodded again, a silence falling over you.
‘Do you know what pisses me off?’ you asked rhetorically after a long silence. ‘The fact that those two will never be happy, always picking at each other. Ron’s jealously is bigger than Krum’s ego, and Hermione will not give Ron a break over the tiniest things in every day life creating more and more arguments. Yet one day they will hate each other, then the next they are normal best friends, and Harry and I just have to fucking endure the whole shit fest.’
‘Wow.’ Cedric replied distantly.
‘I know.’ You sighed, glancing at the boy and then back out at the darkness and distant lights. ‘How was your night with Cho?’
‘Uh, pleasant..?’
‘Right…’
‘Well it was nice but, there was no spark about it, she wouldn’t be herself and constantly bitched about other people.’
‘Well what did you expect, someone that’s not Cho Chang?’
‘How was yours with Henry?’
‘Fun… but no sparks, not that I was expecting to fall in love with him or anything but it was just like being out with someone you hardly know but think is good fun… which is all it was really. It was a little difficult as we didn’t talk all that much…’ You trailed off a little and turned to look at him only to find him looking back.
‘I’m just so fed up of the same old girls, you know?’ Cedric began looking around and back at you in intervals. ‘They always think they have to be someone else to impress me.’
‘Well then you know what you need to do.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Stop dating Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.’ You said in an obvious tone and he made a scoffing noise. ‘Slytherins think they are the best thing since sliced bread when really they are the toy in a kinder egg, if you don’t mind all the muggle references.’ Cedric laughed. ‘Sure they are a little stuck up but at least they are “this is what I am and if you don’t like it fuck you.” Now, Gryffindor girls are a little trickier.’
‘Really?’
‘Oh yeah, you see you get a mixture of everything, Slytherin type Gryffindors, Fake Gryffindors, and normal Gryffindors who are themselves but like to be a little over the top on the flirting.’
‘Mhm, and what would you be Miss Warren?’
‘Oh well I’m just completely different.’
‘And why is that?’ He smirked.
‘Because I am a little of them all, and it depends on my mood. I can be a little sure of myself, a little too boyish, a complete flirt, but the one thing that you can always depend on is that I am never faking it.’
‘Well that’s a good thing.’
‘Of course if none of those fit the bill you could always try a man?’
‘Erm, tempting, but I’m good.’
‘So what are you looking for then Mister Diggory?’
‘Someone who is themselves, confident, flirty but not over the top, fun, funny, sporty, all the usual things.’
‘Give me an example of who that would be. Fleur?’
‘Oh no that’s too high maintenance.’
‘Ok then a different one.’
‘Erm, tell me if I’m being to bold but, you?’
‘Oh are you calling me low maintenance? Easy perhaps?’
‘Yes and no.’ he smiled.
A comfortable silence fell between the two of you again, before you decided to break it.
‘You never get to just look at the sky in astronomy, it’s so beautiful.’
‘A lot like you then.’ He said, you turned to him to see him studying your face, before turning and looking down at your hands and forcing yourself not to give in and blush. ‘Let’s play question and answer.’
‘I’ll give you five.’
‘Ok, why do you always brush me off so easily?’
‘Because you’re a stuck up jerk.’ You laughed and he pretended to be offended, ‘Or at least that’s what you are at face value.’
‘Do you see past that face value?’
‘Occasionally.’
‘Do you think I’m Hot?’ he half laughed.
‘Now I do not want to make your head explode.’
‘I’ll take that as a yes then.’
You gave a light laugh, ‘can I nick your fourth and fifth?’
‘Only if you give me a bonus question at the end.’
‘Deal. Why do you seem to have me all figured out?’
‘Like I said before, Hufflepuff students sit and work out more about body language and remember things about people better.’
‘How did you know I was out here?’
‘Because I’ve been looking out all night for a chance to talk to you.’
‘Last question.’ You said an amused grin on your face as you pulled his jacket a little tighter around you.
‘If I kissed you right now, would you run?’
‘… You know you should act on impulse instead of figuring things out.’ You replied, and he jumped in for the kill. His arms holding your waist and your arms resting on his chest and biceps, his soft lips moulding into yours and so a sweet kiss began.
A whole new Chapter Began.
