Harry Potter 1. Chapter 1

**Chapter One**

_The Wolfsbane potion is an exceedingly complex potion that assists in relieving the symptoms of lycanthropy, but does not act as a cure. The person suffering from lycanthropy must consume a goblet full of the potion for an entire week preceding the full moon to work properly. Failure to do this –_

"Ah!" I jumped, clutching my chest in one hand and _Wolfsbane: A Medicinal History_ in the other. A loud bang followed by muffled swearing from the aisle over had interrupted my reading. As hesitant as I was to leave my reading (as wolfsbane had become my personal topic of the month to study, following last month's history of elm used in wand making), I reasoned I should probably go and investigate the source of the noise, lest we all face Madam Pince's wrath. Despite her being more wrinkles than skin now, the batty old librarian still refuses to leave her post in the library and takes it as a personal insult of the highest offence whenever a student defaces a book or so much as speaks in here.

Actually, she seems to be offended whenever anyone wants to borrow a book. She's like an old dragon guarding a hoard of library books. I'm starting to think she doesn't actually understand what a library is, and beginning to doubt the intelligence of whoever hired her.

How Hogwarts is one of the best magic schools, I'll never know.

Murmuring a quick charm on the ladder that was holding me approximately three metres in the air so I was able to reach the highest shelves, I slowly (and reluctantly) descended to the ground. Clutching my book against my chest, I withdrew my wand and tiptoed around the aisle. Okay, I say 'tip toed', but being completely honest, I tripped over about four stray books and knocked my hip against a table when turning the corner.

I'm amazed I even managed to stay on that ladder.

Upon turning the corner, it took my eyes a moment to adjust to the sudden brightness lighting the small study area. When they did, I had to refrain myself from screaming again. What I previously had thought was a student that made the noise was actually some kind of almost dead animal with an insane amount of untidy black fur. Actually, thinking about how big the library is and what's previously been found in it (for example, in my first year, the biggest source of excitement came from when four trolls clubs had been found in some musty old corner – they never found the trolls) this isn't that surprising. It's still pretty gross though.

The black thing moved. "Why…why do we even have to know this…I hate this…urghh…" It moaned. Wait – that's not an animal. As far as I know (though I wouldn't put it past Hogwarts) animals don't talk, nor do they wear Slytherin ties. So that weird black haired thing must be a weird black haired person.

I pity their hairbrush.

Sneaking up behind the groaning figure, I peeked over their should to see what all the fuss was about and spotted an empty piece of parchment with the title 'Centaur Massacre of 1759'.

I sighed. "Well, for one thing, the massacre was in 1749, not 59."

…

Oh dear.

The black haired figure lifted their head from the table and I found myself looking into the bright green eyes of Slytherin 6th Year, Albus Potter.

"Huh?" He replied groggily, wiping at a few tears (which I pretended not to notice).

Resigning myself to finish the situation my big, annoying mouth has gotten me into; I take a seat next to Albus and point to his title. "Er, sorry, but the massacre was in 1749, not 1759. 1759 was when elm began to be used to make wands and centaurs protested, outraged over the substantial loss of forest –"

"No, I meant 'huh' as in who are you?" Albus interrupted, eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at my Hufflepuff tie.

Well, rude.

It's not like we've shared classes for the past six years or anything.

I however was above such petty things as inter-house rivalry and gave him what I hoped was a kind smile. "Sorry. I'm Clio Appleberry, 6th year Hufflepuff. I'm in the same History of Magic class as you. I heard a bang when I was reading in the next aisle over so I thought I should probably come over and see what it was in case it happened to be one of those missing trolls from a few years back." He cracked a bit of a smile at that. "Anyway, when I saw what you were working on, I couldn't really stop myself from pointing out what was wrong. I'm a bit obsessive about History of Magic." I finished apologetically.

He was quiet for a few seconds before dropping his head into his hands and groaning again. "It's fine. I'm just having a bit of trouble with this essay, that's all. I'll be fine."

"Oh…are you sure? It's due tomorrow after all and it's already 9pm." I said hesitantly.

"Yes, thank you for that reminder!" He snapped.

I leaned back in the chair. "Whoa. Chill. I was just trying to help." Never mind the fact that he never asked for my help…

"Well, I never asked for your help."

Well then. That was a lot ruder coming from his mouth than my mind.

I sighed and stood up to leave, before glancing down at his hunched figure.

Sitting firmly back down again, I reached out and grabbed _Magical Massacres _from next to his parchment and opened it up to the chapter on centaurs. "Okay Albus, literally everything you need to know to write a decent essay is in this chapter. Trust me, I tried other sources when writing mine but they all just repeated the information that was already in here. "

I flipped over the page and pointed to _The Massacre of 1749._

"This has everything you need. Binns' mind is a terrifyingly boring, uncharted place that works in terrifyingly boring and mysterious ways so make sure you fit in as many statistics as you can. Even if your writing is complete shit, he will literally not even give two Hippogriffs as long as you have a heap of _accurate _statistics." I explained, grabbing his quill and beginning to note down important facts on a spare bit of parchment.

Albus scratched his head. "Why are you helping me?" He enquired.

"Because," I replied, continuing to jot down dates and numbers, "I want to. It's sixth year; we all want to do well on out subjects to pass into NEWT level, and I think we should all be trying to help each other out as much as we can so we all can achieve that."

"Oh…that's, er, nice of you." He cleared his throat. "Thank you. And sorry, for being such an arse before."

"Not a problem." I smiled at him.

He grinned in response, though it faded away when he looked back down at the parchment. "Wait, so, um, how do I go about writing this?"

"All right, so first you want to start with a stand out sentence to catch Binns' or, more importantly, an examiner's attention…"

After parting ways with Albus outside the library with a bright wave from me and a hesitant smile from him, I made my way down to the Hufflepuff common room.

Upon arriving at the 6th year girl's dormitory however, I almost wish I'd stayed in the library.

"_Neville I love you, Neville I do! When we're apart, my heart beats only for you…"_

"G! STOP! And give me back my sunflowers! Stop dancing with them, you're going to damage them or they're going to fall out of the pot and die! G! GERALDINE!" Screamed a hassled looking Vivian Wen. Her normally pale skin was flushed red with anger and her long black hair was covered in leaves and strange herbs, which, actually, was quite normal for her.

Vivian Wen is a complete Herbology nut. Seriously. She spends so much time in the Greenhouses with Longbottom that the girls and I are wondering how long it'll take before she pops the question to either him or the giant venomous tentacula.

My money's on the latter.

Speaking of Longbottom, he seems to be G's topic of choice to tease Viv with. G herself is currently waltzing with a large potted sunflower around the dormitory, warbling an ode to Longbottom at a painful pitch, her bushy blonde hair in its usual plaits.

I looked helplessly towards Panna Patil (the last inhabitant of our dorm) to find her rolling her eyes in exasperation. She caught my eye and smiled, shrugging her shoulders and I laughed.

This behaviour was pretty normal for our friends.

"_NEVILLE I LOVE YOU NEVILLE I DO-_"

"Panna, Clio, help!" Pleaded Viv, looking between us with wide eyes.

"All right Geraldine Gribbles I think that's quite enough, don't you agree Clio?" Enquired Panna, looking at me.

I nodded firmly and smirked slightly. "Definitely. I don't think my poor ears could deal with a reprise of your singing."

Panna and Viv laughed whilst G placed her hand over her heart in mock offence. "Excuse _moi_, Clio, I'll have you know my voice has been compared to the likes of Celestina Warbeck and is, and I quote – 'a delight to listen to!"

"Who said that; your mum?" I replied, laughing.

"Well, yes. But the sentiment stands!"

"Okay G, give the plant back to Viv and apologise." Said Panna, the peacekeeper of our group.

G shrugged and smiled apologetically at Viv, handing her the Sunflower. "Sorry Viv, you're just so easy to wind up!"

"I don't mind when you tease me because I know it's all in good fun, but don't bring my plant into it next time! Apology accepted though." Viv said to G, smiling.

Panna clapped her hands together. "Excellent! Now that your tiff has been resolved and Clio's _finally _back from the library, our monthly sleepover can commence! I've already gotten all the food and drinks, so let's change into our pj's and build the fort."

As we were changing, G suddenly turned to Panna. "Panna, I've got a bone to pick with you."

"Pick away." Replied a confused looking Panna.

"Please, in the future, refrain from calling me by my birth name." G said in a huffy tone.

We all laughed; it was common knowledge how much G hated her name.

"I'm serious! I mean honestly, it's bad enough my surname sounds like some sort of dog treat, but was it really necessary for those nincompoops to call me Geraldine?! Geraldine Gribbles. I sound like the main character of some dramatic muggle four o'clock soap opera! All I need to do now is marry some bloke called Fabio, sleep with his brother, have an illicit child and my life is bloody complete!"

The rest of her complaints were drowned out by our laughter and as we began building our blanket fort, my encounter with Albus in the library was pushed to the back of my mind.

* * *

**AN: Disclaimer - the marvellous world of Harry Potter of course belongs to the brilliant J.K. Rowling!**

**The "_Neville I love you..."_ song bit as sung by G was taken from the movie of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, when the twins and Harry are teasing Ron about Krum. **

**The explanation of Wolfsbane potion at the beginning of the chapter was primarily drawn from the harry potter wiki page of it. **

**Whoo! First Harry Potter fan fic on here for me! Okay, bit of an explanation is necessary - I've this account for a few years now and literally just logged back on to post this and I found an old fan fic I wrote. I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe as I read through it! It was completely terrible hahaha, I was actually so embarrassed by it I had to delete it. **

**Anyway, explanation for this story - right now it may not seem like much but I have grand plans for it! A proper plot will be introduced in a few chapters and don't worry - Clio and Albus and the other girls will all be developed as the story goes on and more of their insecurities and flaws will be exposed. I know right now there's probably a lot of cliches and such but the story will get deeper as it goes on!**

**I'd love to hear your thoughts on it so far though! What do you think of Clio? Albus? G, Panna and Viv?**

**Thank you for reading, I hope you have a lovely day! :) **


	2. Chapter 2

**Chapter Two**

"Of course, I told her everything would be okay so long as she believed in herself and I hope that helped her! She's so nice and sweet; I really hope she gets on the house team. Ravenclaw will be five times brighter with her smile!"

This incredibly (boring) optimistic speech isn't the gushing of a devoted boyfriend/girlfriend about their significant other. No. Unfortunately, this is my younger sister - Ravenclaw 4th Year Saule Appleberry. This is how she speaks about everyone.

"And I saw Scorpius Malfoy studying for his mock exam for Ancient Runes last night in the common room and I wished him the best luck in the world; I really hope he does well! After all of the effort and time he's put in to that subject he deserves it."

Being exposed to this much optimism in the morning can make anybody a pessimist.

"That's really nice of you, Saule. I'm sure Scorpius will be fine; from the classes I share with him he seems very smart." I told her, smiling in what I hoped was an encouraging way but which probably made me look constipated. Which was how this conversation was making me feel.

Saule beamed at me as she finished braiding her blonde hair before piling eggs and bacon onto her plate.

I turned to the dark haired girl sitting next to hair. "How are things going with you, Epona? The first week of classes went well I hope?"

Epona is my other younger sister and Saule's un-identical twin. Saule was blonde and all bubbly smiles whilst Epona was brunette and slightly frightening stares. However, they do share the same dark eyebrows, as well as twinkling brown eyes. The latter is a feature we all share, that is; Saule, Epona, our older sister Maia (who is currently travelling the world with her girlfriend of three years, Char) and I.

"I found out that a horse's eye is up to nine times larger than a human's and they also have three eyelids. Their nictitating membrane occasionally sweeps across the eye, cleaning and lubricating it if necessary."

She also has an obsession with horses.

I nodded and gave a strained smile. "Wow, that's er, really something. Cool."

Epona smiled at me serenely and began eating her fruit salad.

Breakfast with my two sisters was something we did every Monday morning without fail. We caught up on gossip and stories and it was also just nice to see them once in a while. I don't get the chance to visit them as often as I'd like to, as they're both popular 4th years in a different house to me, which makes things difficult.

"Excuse me ladies, but could I offer you these?" A snickering voice said behind me. I turned around to see Christopher Wood holding out-

"Apples and berries? Wow, that's really original of you Wood. We've never heard that one before." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes and turning back around to my food ignoring the dejected mumbling behind me.

Appleberry wasn't the worst last name in the world, but it tended to make us the butt of the same stupid joke a fair few times.

"Honestly, what a daft idiot." I said to Saule and Epona, biting into my toast.

Saule gasped. "Clio! Don't be so rude!" She admonished.

"What? It's the truth. You agree right, Epona?"

"Hm, yes. Wood once said the world would be a better place if unicorns replaced horses. I told him the world would be a better place if he ceased to exist in the time and space continuum."

Some things never change.

* * *

I walked to my afternoon History of Magic class feeling sad and betrayed. The explanation behind my mood was due to one Vivian Wen. She had been taking this class with me for the first week of classes but apologetically told me about ten minutes ago that she'd dropped out and decided to have a spare period instead so she could focus more on Herbology and spend more time in the greenhouses.

I swear if that girl spends any more time in there she's going to become a plant.

So basically now I don't have any body to sit with. Granted, it is an interesting subject, but Binns is just so bloody boring!

I arrived at the classroom and looked around, seeing most of the students seated already. There were only around ten people taking it this year, which thoroughly confused me as it was an amazing area of study.

As I was looking around, I spotted the slightly familiar messy head of black hair at one of the middle tables. Smiling, I made my way over to where Albus was sitting. I know that helping him with one essay didn't make us friends or even acquaintances but there was no way I was going to suffer through Binns' toneless monologues by myself.

I sat down next to Albus and pulled out my notebook and quill.

"Hey!" I said, smiling brightly at him.

"Er, hey?" He replied, looking around the classroom confused. "Not to be rude or anything, but don't you usually sit with Wen in this class?"

"Well, normally yes, but she's decided to be even more of a Herbology nutter than usual and legitimately convinced Hainsworth to let her drop this class so she could spend more time in the greenhouses studying the plants. So now I feel betrayed but at the same time I'm worried for her. I mean being around plants as often as she is cannot be healthy." I explained incredulously.

Albus chuckled. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Last I heard, plants produced oxygen, not sucked it out of passing humans." He said.

I felt my cheeks heat up. "I know that. I just meant – oh, you know what I meant!" I cried over his laughter.

"Anyway, is it okay if I sit with you? I really don't want to suffer alone." I asked hopefully.

"Yeah, it's cool. We'll suffer together."

I grinned. "Awesome."

Binns chose that moment to glide through the wall and settle at the front of the classroom, as the whole class simultaneously sighed.

"Here we go."

* * *

"Freedom at last!" I cried dramatically as Albus and I left the classroom.

"You know for someone who loves History of Magic so much, you sure do seem to hate it a lot." He said, laughing.

I shrugged. "I find it really interesting, but Binns makes it so boring. If we had a teacher who's voice didn't sound like an old vacuum, I guarantee there would be more than ten people in that class." I told him.

"Oh my Merlin. He does sound like a vacuum…" Albus whispered, looking into the distance.

"Plus, he also sucks all of the fun out of lessons so that's another thing they have in common." I said, and we both laughed as we continued walking to the Great Hall for lunch.

"Ah! Miss Appleberry, just the girl I wanted to see."

Normally, those words coming out of the mouth of a certain Professor Hainsworth would make me swoon and blush so much that my face resembled a giant tomato.

Today was no different.

"Oh, h-hey Professor Hainsworth. S'up?" I asked, nodding my head at him.

Bloody hell. I just bro nodded my Head of House.

Excuse me while I go pack my things and move into to the Forbidden Forest where I shall spend the rest of my life as a tree. Maybe I can get some tips from Vivian…

"Not much Miss Appleberry. I actually just wanted to say I hope you work extra hard in potions this year. I know you have the talent, but last year your marks just did not reflect that at all. You can do better. I'll see both of you after lunch for class." He said, smiling at Albus and I.

Wait.

Albus and I. That means Albus heard that whole thing.

Honestly, that man does not have even a single drop of tact or subtlety. It's a good thing he's pretty.

I groaned as Hainsworth walked away in all his 6-foot 3 muscly glory. "That was so embarrassing."

Albus shrugged and gave me a small smile. "Not as embarrassing as thinking the Centaur massacre was in 1759."

I smiled back, appreciating his attempt to cheer me up before an idea came to me.

"Hey, you're really brilliant at potions, aren't you?" I enquired, narrowing my eyes slightly.

"Um, yeah I guess so?" He replied, looking a bit startled before seemingly catching on to my idea. "And you're amazing at history of magic…"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I think I am thinking what your thinking."

We both grinned before shaking each other's hands.

Let the tutoring begin.

* * *

**AN: Disclaimer – the wonderful world of Harry Potter of course belongs to the lovely J.K. Rowling!**

**Second chapter! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story and characters so far! The next few chapters are when the plot is introduced :)**

**Thank you to Messed up Reality for the review on the last chapter! :)**

**Also, a few explanations:**

**Professor Hainsworth is the potions master and the Head of Hufflepuff house, succeeding Professor Sprout who retired a few years back (for the purposes of this story)**

**Also, you may have noticed that the Appleberry sisters (Clio, Maia, Saule and Epona) are all named after figures that correspond to their respective interests or personalities (though Maia hasn't made an appearance yet)! **

**Thank you for reading and I'd love if you could leave a review! **


	3. Chapter 3

**Chapter Three**

"Yeah…can you repeat that in English this time?" I asked Albus, my eyes wide in horror at what he had just said.

Albus and I were in the library for our second tutoring session, this time focusing on potions for me. Professor Hainsworth had just introduced Golpalott's Third Law to the sixth year class and I was having a lot of trouble wrapping my head around it, which was stressing me out.

"Okay, I'll say it slower this time and I just want you to focus on the ideas behind my words. Golpalott's Third Law states that 'the antidote to a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components'". He explained slowly.

Silence.

"Okay…er, you understand what they mean by a blended poison in relation to the antidote right?"

Silence.

"Er, how about the sum of the antidotes?"

Silence.

"Okay, what's an antidote?"

I stared at him. He shifted uncomfortably.

"Erm, can you stop looking at me?"

I groaned and dropped my head onto the table.

"I'm never going to understand this. It's just not clicking. Why did I continue with potions when I'm obviously not smart enough to pass it? I have so many regrets." I grumbled into the wood, massaging my temple to try and stop the pounding headache currently occupying my head.

"Clio. Stop it."

I continued to groan into the surface of the table.

"You're obviously not going to pass potions if you keep this up."

_Excuse _me?!

"You're supposed to be tutoring me, not insulting me!" I said, sitting up and staring at him incredulously.

He shrugged, looking unconcerned as he examined his wand.

"Just stating a fact. All of this time you've spent whining could be spent trying to understand the Third Law."

I sat in stunned silence for a few seconds.

"Well, I suppose you're right. But that still doesn't change the fact that I don't understand Golfaglott's Law." I groaned, running a hand through my hair. Oh Merlin, I've started picking up Albus' habits.

Albus pulled a face. "Well, for starters, it's _Golpalott, _not Golfaglott."

"Eh, tomato tomahto." I said, waving a dismissive hand in front of me.

He ducked his head to avoid my flailing limb before shaking his head.

"Er, no not really, but we'll move on. Okay, rather than stating the law to you this time – though you will have to have it memorized at some point – I'll explain it in basic terms. Ready?" He told me, opening up his potions textbook.

I nodded, stretching out my shoulders and neck. "Ready."

"Good. So first off, a blended poison just means a whole bunch of poisons mixed together. Now, the law is basically just stating that the antidote for the blended poison can't be created by simply making each antidote for each poison and mixing them together. You following me so far?" He asked, glancing at my face.

I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I think so."

"Cool. So now, the second part of the law where it says; 'must be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for the separate components' is saying that the potion maker must find the ingredient which will transform the blended antidotes near-alchemically into a blended whole to counteract the blended poisons. Does that make sense?"

"Yep."

"Well, now you understand Golpalott's Third Law."

"That was it?" I asked, confused. I was positive there was going to be more to it.

He cracked a small smile and nodded. "Yep, that's it. Not really worth the fuss, don't you agree?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't be mean, Albus. But yeah, I suppose it wasn't really worth the fuss. You're a good teacher." I told him, smiling.

"Er, thanks." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Well, I suppose we should get started on the essay then." I sighed, dipping my quill in the pot of ink next to my parchment.

"Probably should, before Pince comes over and claws our eyes out for disrespecting the sanctity of the library with our talking." He said, turning a few pages of his textbook.

"Yeah, how did she not hear my groaning? I mean, I wasn't exactly quiet. Okay Albus because I'm a good person, I will pretend that snort was a sneeze."

He laughed. "I wouldn't worry about it. She's probably making out with a book somewhere."

"Hm, true."

* * *

"I still can't believe you and Potter are tutoring each other." G said as the four of us made our way to the Great Hall for dinner. It was currently the third week of term and we'd all resigned ourselves to spending the whole year studying and living off coffee and calming droughts; thus all Hufflepuff six and seventh year student trudging along to dinner looked like a bunch of inferi. My friends and I had been searching for gossip to keep us going (though Panna firmly disapproved of this) as barely anything interesting ever happened to us. As much as I hated House Prejudice, I've developed a theory over my time at Hogwarts that has led me to believe a Hufflepuff tie is like bug repellent, with interesting things being the bugs.

So naturally, G has been obsessing over the tutoring sessions I have with Albus twice a week. When I told my friends what was going on, their reactions were pretty much as expected – G: "WHAT", Panna: "That's really admirable of the both of you; it's lovely you're helping each other out" and Viv: "You know, when the sunlight hits them, his eyes look exactly like wolfsbane in the moonlight".

"Honestly G, it's really not that big of a deal. We both just realized how horrid we are at certain subjects and made a deal with each other to attempt to rectify that and hopefully pass out exams. It's really just self-preservation when you think about it." I stated matter-of-factly.

"Okay first of all; you _live _to help others so that makes no sense, and second of all; how do you know he doesn't have some slimy Slytherin scheme slipped up his sleeve?" She questioned narrowing her eyes at me as we entered the hall behind Panna and Viv (Panna being selflessly beautiful as usual and patiently putting up with Viv's plant talk).

"Nice alliteration," I high fived her, "but seriously G, stop with the Slytherin hate! I don't get it. I mean I know the majority of them didn't help the 'good' during the war but why should how they were perceived like thirty bloody years ago have any effect on them now? It's unfair. You should know first hand – everybody thinks we're a load of duffers but the Head Boy's been a Hufflepuff for the past 5 years _and _statistically speaking, we score the highest on end of year exams compared to the other houses. It's a bit hypocritical of you to presume Albus is inherently evil, don't you think?" I ranted as we sat across Panna and G (still engaged in their own conversation) and next to some second years (one of which was picking his nose and then examining the contents). Shuddering and shuffling closer to G, I looked at her expectantly.

G sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, fine, good points as usual. I suppose my assumptions are making me look like a bit of a twat-" the second year next to me stopped examining his snot and gasped, "- oh, fuck off back to preschool you tosser. Anyway, as I was saying, I won't be all hasty and arsehole-y and promise not to judge based on house. Happy?" She finished, looking at me with a raised brow, ignoring the outraged shrieks of a flock of offended second years.

I beamed and gave her two thumbs up. "Happy as Viv in a greenhouse!"

"More like 'happy as Viv when Longbottom enters a room'". G snorted.

Viv turned to us with narrowed eyes, "Hey!"

Before they could undoubtedly begin yet another argument, Headmistress McGonagall stood up.

"Silence please! Before we enjoy our wonderful meal, I have a few important announcements to make." All sounds ceased at once as every head turned to look at the severe looking witch stood at the front of the Hall. It was a bit strange that she was making announcements three weeks into the year rather than at the welcoming feast, but it must be something important. Despite getting on in years, McGonagall was still a fully capable witch and going strong.

"As some of you may already be aware, this year will in fact be my last year as Headmistress of Hogwarts."

Or not.

Gasps of shock and even a few shouts of outrage and protest rippled through the Hall before McGonagall held up a withered hand and silenced everybody once more.

"I have enjoyed my many years as first a student, then teacher and finally Headmistress here. Hogwarts is a truly magnificent place and I could not have asked for anywhere better to work. I have full faith that whomever shall succeed my position as Head of the school will do an admirable job." She told us, giving everybody a rare smile. Looking around the Hall, I found everybody in similar states of shock as myself, with some even having succumbed to tears (including Flitwick and Hagrid, who were both blowing their noses up at the Staff Table).

"However that is not the only thing I have to say to you all tonight. Unusual as it is to introduce such a thing this late into the start of the school year, various obstacles and complications have pushed back this announcement to just now. Hogwarts has been invited to participate in the First Annual Interschool Academic Tournament, introduced and organized by Hermione Granger-Weasley."

Shocked, I looked over to the Slytherin table to find Albus staring at McGonagall with a look of utter surprise on his face. It seems his Aunt had kept this news pretty quiet.

McGonagall again held up a hand to silent the whispers that had broken out around the hall before continuing. "Whilst normally it would be prudent for Seventh Years to participate in an event of this nature, it has been agreed that they already have a fair amount on their mind with their N.E.W.T. exams. So, instead, this Tournament will be for Hogwarts sixth years." She explained, as Panna, Viv, G and I all looked at each other with wide eyes.

"There will be ten schools around the world competing and ten subjects, of which ten students from each school will represent and compete against each other. The students for Hogwarts will be chosen based on their marks in that subject in addition to their dedication and passion towards it. They will find out if they have been chosen tomorrow after being approached by their respective teachers. A meeting will take place in my office after classes tomorrow afternoon, during which more information will be revealed to the competitors. Now, please enjoy this wonderful meal." And with that, plates of food began appearing on the tables, however they were mostly ignored as people began discussing the information that had just been revealed.

I turned to my friends and found them in similar states of shock as me.

G was the first to break the silence. "Okay, what the bloody hell was that all about?"

* * *

**AN: Disclaimer – Harry Potter of course belongs to the brilliant J.K. Rowling!**

**The information on Golpalott's Third Law came from the Harry Potter Wiki page**

**Also an extra note – the reason I have Hermione named as Hermione Granger-Weasley is because following Emma Watson's tweet on the matter, I too think she would have kept her maiden name (with Weasley).**

**I think that's it!**

**Anyway, I'm not too happy with this chapter :/ It didn't really turn out the way I wanted, but after a few re-writes this'll have to do haha. Also sorry to Messed up Reality, I wanted to have a scene where Clio's friends find out about the tutoring but I couldn't write one that worked! :(**

**Thank you so so much to everyone for the lovely reviews on the last chapter and for the follows and faves! :) **

**The next chapter should be up in a few days! xx**


	4. Chapter 4

**Chapter 4**

I left my afternoon double Alchemy class the next day feeling a bit lightheaded. As Alchemy was an elective subject only available to sixth and seventh years, Professor Zeller had been explaining basic theory to the class for the past three weeks. Today's lesson however had been spent on attempting to transmute base metals into the noble metals (gold or silver), before Zeller stopped us all ten minutes in and explained (with a huge smirk on her face) that we had to have an thorough understanding of muggle chemistry, particularly nuclear decays/reactions, atomic numbers, acids, bases, crystallization and about ten billion other things currently listed on a piece of parchment in my notebook before being able to make even a miniscule change to the metal.

But of course she had to watch us suffer first and look like buffoons prodding pieces of metal and yelling out random spells (some of which I'm positive were made up).

So basically, now my homework has tripled in size to include learning about muggle chemistry and writing at least 3 pieces of parchment on previous attempts by muggles to change metal into gold by next Monday.

Yay.

Sighing, I left the other few people in the class with a smile and wave before turning into a separate corridor that led to the Hufflepuff common room.

I was just contemplating possible essay starters before a voice wheezed "Miss Appleberry," into my ear.

Naturally, I screamed bloody murder, dropped all of my books and tripped over my own feet trying to run away.

Oh my Merlin. I'm the extra that dies in the first five minutes of a horror movie.

With my heart beating frantically, I got to my feet and slowly turned to face my demise, only to find…

"Professor Binns?!"

"Miss Appleberry, I have finally found you."

That's really not the right thing to say to somebody in an abandoned corridor.

"Erm, yes, you have? Why were you looking for me?" I questioned, bending down to gather my books strewn across the floor.

"In light of the Headmistress's revelation of the Academic Tournament, I have reviewed each sixth year's marks and essays and come to the conclusion that you are top of the class in History of Magic, and thus the most obvious choice to compete in the Tournament." He droned. Just how he's managing to make this news sound like he's talking about taxes or commentating on grass growing, I'll never know.

Straightening up with my books in my arms, I looked at him in shock. "Oh my Merlin. Wow. Er, are you sure you want me to represent the school?" I enquired, feeling slightly panicked. I wasn't sure I could deal with this much responsibility. I mean, just this morning I was eating my cereal and it took me ten minutes to work out the reason I wasn't getting any milk in my mouth was because I was eating it with a fork.

"Yes, I am quite sure. Headmistress McGonagall is expecting you in her office in ten minutes. The password is 'Wulfric'." He replied, before floating back through the wall he came from.

I stood there in disbelief for a few seconds, before loudly cursing. McGonagall's office was on the third floor, which would take me at least ten minutes to reach from my current position in an abandoned corridor on the highest Northern Tower.

Groaning in defeat, I began running down the corridor, my footsteps echoing around me.

* * *

"Wu….wulf….wulfric…" I wheezed to the stone Gargoyle, gasping for breath. I had run down countless flights of stairs, dropped my books about seven times and knocked over three people. On the plus side, I did manage to make it to McGonagall's office with five minutes to spare. This is a prime example as to why I'm not a Quidditch player.

The Gargoyle nodded and jumped to the side, revealing a stairway. Still gasping for air, I slowly made my way up the stairs and upon reaching the top, was surprised to find the doors open and a group of people already inside.

McGonagall stood up, beckoning me inside. "Welcome Miss Appleberry, please come and take a seat. Here, between Mister Potter and Miss Wen." She said, gesturing to an empty chair in front of her desk between Albus and Viv, both of who were smiling at me.

Pleasantly surprised, I sat in the empty chair and looked at them both. "Hey guys! I didn't know you were chosen!" I exclaimed, still slightly short of breath.

"Well, Hainsworth just told me around half an hour ago." Albus explained, running a hand through his hair.

"Same here, I was in the greenhouses last period and Longbottom told me." Viv said, before looking at me strangely. "Are you alright Clio? Your face is all blotchy and you look like you're about to cry."

I dumped my books on the floor and crossed my arms, pouting. "Wow Viv, you really know how to charm a girl."

She rolled her eyes. "Clio, seriously."

"Okay, yeah, I sort of ran down here from the North Tower."

"Why?" Albus asked, confused.

"Because Binns is a sadistic tosser who only told me about this ten minutes ago. And when he told me, he decided it would be a brilliant idea to float out of a wall in an abandoned corridor when I was alone." I replied, shaking my head.

Albus and Viv burst into laughter.

However, before we could say anything else, bright green flames erupted from the fireplace at the other end of McGonagall's office as somebody flooed in.

McGonagall walked over to the person. "Welcome, Hermione. Everything is well, I hope?"

Hermione Granger-Weasley had arrived. She looked exactly as I had expected her to; effortlessly cool. She was wearing a business suit and held a briefcase, with her hair elegantly done in a twisted knot at the nape of her neck. Being the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she was a very admirable woman and one I personally looked up to.

"Yes everything is wonderful Minerva, thank you. How are you?" She answered with a smile.

"Perfectly well. I suppose we should get everything started now?" McGonagall enquired, leading Mrs. Granger-Weasley over towards a chair behind her desk and opposite the gathered students. Upon closer inspection, there were ten of us altogether and I recognised nearly everybody. I probably should have noticed that earlier, though my surprise at seeing Albus and Viv here did take up most of my attention.

Speaking of Albus, Mrs. Granger-Weasley looked very surprised to see both him and her daughter Rose Weasley (seated next to Albus), though quickly recovered and smiled warmly at both of them.

Clearing her throat, she then smiled in turn at all of us. "Hello everybody, and congratulations for being chosen! Before I get started though, I think you should go around and introduce yourselves with your name and the subject you will be representing. Let's start with you." She said, pointing to a boy in a Ravenclaw tie at the very end of the line of chairs.

"Er, I'm Zeph Zane and I'll be representing Astronomy." He said quietly, his dark eyes fixed firmly on the desk in front of him. I recalled him being in a few of my classes, though I've never talked to him before.

The dark skinned girl next to him, also in a Ravenclaw tie, smiled brightly at everybody. "Hello! My name's Araminta Fortescue, though I prefer Mint, and I'll be competing in the Care of Magical Creatures section." I've also never spoken to Mint before, but I've heard she's a lovely person and she seems quite popular.

"Hey, I'm Millie Bell and I'll be representing Charms." Said a pale, dark haired Slytherin girl whom I recognised from a few classes.

Unfortunately, the next person I have had the, ahem, _pleasure _of conversing with.

"Good afternoon, my name is Quentin Ramsbottom and I shall be representing Hogwarts in the Defence Against the Dark Arts sector." He said pompously, straightening his Gryffindor tie. Honestly, what a prat. My conversion with him consisted of him telling me off for ten minutes for wearing the school uniform inappropriately because my tie was loose. They were the worst ten minutes of my life to date.

The Gryffindor girl seated next to him rolled her eyes and scoffed. I liked her already. "Anyway, I'm Bobbie Thomas and I'll be doing Transfiguration."

"Scorpius Malfoy; Ancient Runes for me." Scorpius said quietly. I quite liked him. Despite only talking with him a few times, I saw him a lot as he was in the same house as Saule and Epona and he seemed like a good bloke.

"I'm Rose Weasley and I'll be representing Arithmacy." A red headed girl said, beaming at all of us. Rose was nice; I shared some classes with her and we were Potions partners last year.

It was now Albus' turn. He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, making it even more ridiculously messy. Has he never heard of a brush?

"Er, hey. I'm Albus Potter and I'll be competing in the Potions one." He said nervously, before looking at me.

"Hi, I'm Clio Appleberry and I'll be representing History of Magic." I said, smiling at everyone.

We all turned to look at Viv, who looked positively frightened at all of the attention. "Er, hello? Uh, I'm Vivian Wen and Herbology for me." She squeaked, eyes wide.

I smiled encouragingly at her and we all turned to the front to face Mrs. Granger-Weasley, who looked delighted.

"Excellent! Well, my name is Hermione Granger-Weasley and I am one of the people behind this Tournament. We thought not enough recognition went to specific studies and felt the need to rectify that and so the idea for an Interschool Tournament was born. Now, you all will be competing against ten other students in your section from schools around the world. The schools are as follows; The South African School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Moscow's School for Gifted Witches, the Tokyo College of Magic, Salem Witches', Beijing's Wizardry College, Durmstrang Institute, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the Brazilian School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Australian Institute of Magic."

Most of us looked at each other in confusion; we'd never heard of half of these schools.

"Now for the specifics of the Tournament. All rounds will be held at the Ministry of Magic, with the first on the 20th December in the Christmas Holidays. The second round will be in the Easter Holidays and the third round at the beginning of the Summer Holidays. Each subject will have a quiz section, which will require quick thinking on your behalf and then a practical component specific to different subjects. Participation in this Tournament is not to be taken lightly. You will be representing Hogwarts not only to the Ministry, but also to other countries. It's a huge responsibility. Are you all positive about your participation?" She enquired, fixing us all with a serious look as we hesitantly nodded.

Smiling once again, Mrs. Granger-Weasley continued. "Brilliant. I trust you'll all do a marvelous job." She opened her briefcase and grabbed a stack of papers. "These will provide you with more information for your specific subject as well as more details on the Tournament itself." She informed us, distributing one to each of us.

"Unfortunately, I have to go now. If any of you have any questions whatsoever, my contact details are on the last page of each of your booklets and I'd be more than happy to answer your queries. Goodbye for now, and good luck studying!" She said, waving to us and smiling warmly at Rose and Albus again, before talking quietly with McGonagall as she walked to the fireplace. It was a bit strange that she didn't talk to them directly, but I suppose she needs to appear as an objective outsider.

All of us sat in silence for five seconds before I exhaled shakily and broke the silence. "Does anyone else feel like they've just been hit by a broomstick at top speed?"

"Yep."

"Mhm."

"Yeah."

"That about sums it up."

"Uh huh."

"Yes."

"Pretty much."

"Er, well, it might be fun?"

All of us turned to stare incredulously at Rose.

She shook her head and sighed. "No, you're right. This is going to be a nightmare."

"Oh Weasley, I don't know about that! I think this will be a fascinating educational endeavor."

"Shut up Ramsbottom." Grunted Bobbie Thomas, rolling her eyes.

Before he had the chance to protest, McGonagall walked back over to us after having said goodbye to Mrs. Granger-Weasley.

"Excellent! However, one thing Mrs. Granger-Weasley did forget to mention was that in order to prepare effectively for this Tournament, you will be taking extra lessons with your respective teachers for two hours every Sunday morning." McGonagall informed us, as my stomach dropped.

I was facing an extra two hours a week listening to Binns' toneless drone.

Merlin help me.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – I own nothing of the world of Harry Potter, which of course belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling!**

**Alchemy was said to be one of the elective subjects available only to sixth and seventh years, so I thought it would be fun to have Clio take it :)**

**Also, I decided to have the Tournament in the Holidays as I believe Hermione would hate for them to have to miss any school time. **

**Whoo, fourth chapter! Finally the details of the Tournament have been revealed! **

**I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review about everything - Favourite character so far? Least favourite character? Any predictions so far for the outcome of the Tournament? **

**Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews on the last chapter and for the faves and follows! **

**To WhatsTheTimeMrWolf – I also never hear anything about Australia in the wizarding world either so they'll definitely be one of the schools competing! Also same here, I wish McGonagall could teach forever too, she's by far one of the coolest characters in Harry Potter :) **

**Next chapter should be up soon! xx **


	5. Chapter 5

**Chapter Five**

It was 12:30pm on a chilly Sunday afternoon, and my first extra session with Binns had just finished. Yeah, half an hour overtime. My head was feeling fuzzy and my stomach was growling, so hefting my book bag higher onto my shoulder, I made my way to the Great Hall for lunch.

News of the competitors had leaked out and unsurprisingly, nobody really cared about History of Magic which at least saved me from the threats of "you better beat so and so school blah blah blah don't fuck it up blah blah blah". However, I was about the only person out of the ten of us who didn't face them. Albus (and Rose, from what he has said) had been feeling the pressure from their families and Saule told me Scorpius had been studying more than usual. Viv was spending the usual amount of time in the greenhouses (which was basically all of her free time), Zeph and Millie were walking around muttering under their breath, Mint was still her usual bubbly self and Bobbie was glaring at anybody who so much as looked in her general direction.

"Beautiful day, isn't it, my fellow Hogwartians? Of course I wouldn't go as far as calling you my 'fellows', as I have been selected for the Tournament over you, but I can't be getting a big head this early on!"

And then there was Ramsbottom.

Rolling my eyes, I let my hair shield my face from his view as I power walked past his boasting figure and into the Great Hall.

Also, he really needs to stop trying to make 'Hogwartians' happen. It's not going to happen.

"Clio! I feel like we haven't seen you in _ages_!" A voice squealed in my ear as somebody yanked me into a tight hug. Spotting the familiar blonde locks, I smiled and returned the hug.

"Hey Saule, sorry." I said pulling back. I turned to the dark haired figure next to her (clad in horse-printed clothing) and pulled her into a tight hug. "You too, Epona."

Epona returned the hug just as enthusiastically as Saule, before pulling back. "We've missed you."

"Aw, I've missed you guys too! The preparation for the Tournament's been absolutely insane; I mean I feel like my head's about to implode! I just had to spend two and half hours in the presence of Binns, and Binns alone." I said seriously.

Epona winced and shot me a sympathetic glance whilst Saule continued smiling.

"Binns isn't that bad! I know some people find his voice boring, but I happen to think his monotone is very soothing for the soul." She told me, widening her eyes.

"Er, okay Saule. You think that. Anyway, I think my stomach's started devouring itself so I'm going to go eat some lunch. We still on for family breakfast tomorrow?" I asked them.

They both nodded before Saule gasped and grabbed a small package and letter from the pocket of her jumper, handing them to me.

"These are from Maia. She sent them this morning for you with Epona's and mine. Anyway, see you tomorrow sis!" She exclaimed, before linking her arm with a reluctant Epona and skipping away.

I put the package in my bag making a mental note to open it later, before walking further into the hall, searching for my friends at the Hufflepuff table. They didn't seem to be seated anywhere along it's length, so I looked around the rest of the hall, spying Albus at the end of the Slytherin table resting his head in one hand.

I walked over there, smiling at Mint and Rose as they walked past. Reaching where Albus was seated, I dumped my bag onto the bench next to me and plopped down onto the seat opposite him.

He didn't react at all to my presence.

"Hey Albus."

Still nothing.

Reaching out a tentative hand, I lightly tapped him on the head and he jerked up, looking around wildly before spotting me and calming down.

I looked at him in concern. "You okay there?" I asked, piling a few roast beef sandwiches onto my plate.

He sighed and shook his head. "Hainsworth is insane. And how come you're not sitting at the Hufflepuff table with your friends?"

"You are my friend you ninny."

"Oh, er I meant Vivian, Panna and G." He corrected, clearing his throat with a pleased expression.

"I actually have no idea where they are, I just got back from a torture- er, I mean _tutor _session with Binns." I replied grumpily, shoving half a sandwich into my mouth.

He groaned. "Yours have been horrible too?"

"You have no idea. My hand is cramped because Binns kept me an extra half and hour and didn't stop talking for the whole thing meaning I ended up taking seven double sided pages of notes. He also gave me a whole page filled with extra reading to be completed in _two weeks_. I swear he gets his life – well, _ghost _force from the pain and sadness of students."

"That's nothing compared to mine. Not only have I got some extra reading, but Hainsworth has legitimately given me a spare _dungeon _where he's forcing me to make at least three potions a week excluding the ones we do in class. I'm starting to think all of the teachers here feed off our pain." He grumbled, furrowing his eyebrows.

I sighed. "I wouldn't put it past them, to be honest."

I began eating again before I felt my stomach drop as a sudden thought occurred to me. I looked across the table at Albus, frowning.

"Hey, Albus… with Hainsworth making you do all of those extra potions and the ridiculous amount of reading Binns is forcing me to do, on top of keeping up with regular classwork…I seriously don't think we'll have time for our tutoring sessions anymore." I told him apologetically.

He looked at me for a second, before sighing and rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"You're right. It's-…wait," He said, straightening up suddenly, "You're going to be in the library a lot doing extra reading, right? And I'll be in one of the spare dungeons making potions three times a week. Well, I could hang out with you in the library when I can between studying and Quidditch, and you can come to one of my potion makings a week."

I grinned at him across the table.

"Albus, you are brilliant."

He shrugged and ran a hand through his hair with a smirk. "I try."

"So, when's your next Quidditch match anyway?" I asked, taking a quick sip of my pumpkin juice.

"Next Saturday." He replied nervously, fiddling with his fork.

I swallowed my food and looked at him in confusion. "Why do you sound so nervous about it? You've been on the team since second year, right?"

"Well, yeah. But that's not the reason. You know how the families of the players are allowed to come to the matches?"

I snorted. "How could I forget; I think I've memorized the sound of Oliver Wood's voice." I replied. Oliver Wood had been at every single Quidditch match I could remember. He was a constant, intimidating presence in the teacher's area, yelling at all of the players and getting far too invested in a game a bunch of pimply teenagers were playing. He comes under the guise of supporting his idiotic son Christopher on the Gryffindor team and quiet stepdaughter Millie Bell on the Slytherin team, but we all know he really wants to captain a house team again. This is despite the fact he's currently the manager of Puddlemere United whom are first in the league. Honestly, you would think he would have other obligations, but he's actually been to more matches than the majority of teachers.

"Yeah, matches wouldn't be the same without his screaming." Albus said fondly. "But anyway, my older brother James is captaining the Gryffindor team this year and Mum and Dad and who knows how many other relatives are going to try and come in to watch his first match as Captain. Against me." He finished, furrowing his eyebrows as he averted my gaze and studied the table.

"Are you worried they're all going to cheer for him rather than you?" I asked, keeping my voice soft as I sensed this was a sensitive topic for him.

He sighed and ran both hands through his hair. Okay, I really need to buy this boy a comb.

"I don't know. It's just- I don't know." He said in frustration, before stabbing his fork into a potato.

Taking that as a sign he didn't want to discuss his family anymore, I quickly smiled at him.

"Well, I'll definitely be there in green and silver cheering you on." I told him in an attempt to cheer him up.

He looked up at me and smiled slightly. "Really? Thanks."

"Of course."

He looked as though he was about to say something else but was interrupted by three people dropping onto the benches around us.

"I wasn't aware we were associating with snakes now." Said G snidely as she reached for the roasted pumpkin.

Panna (seated on my other side) and I both turned to her and simultaneously told her off, to which she help up her hands in mock surrender until we both turned away rolling our ears. I caught Albus' eye across the table and gave him an apologetic look that he waved off.

Hearing a loud groan, I looked down to the dark figure next to Albus.

"Er, Viv, you know you're lying in a plate of sandwiches right?"

I only received a louder groan in response.

Panna sighed. "Poor thing, she's exhausted from her first study session with Longbottom." She explained to Albus and I, before looking at the groaning mass in concern. "Viv, love, you've got leaves and bugs in your hair again…I think they're beginning to set up their own ecosystem…"

G, who had been eating a rather frightening amount of pumpkin, ignored Viv's moaning and looked at Albus and I. "So what were you two nerds talking about before we got here?"

Rolling my eyes at the name she had been consistently calling us ever since we found out about the Tournament, I replied, "Just discussing Albus' upcoming Quidditch match against Gryffindor."

Panna looked up from where she had been picking things out of Viv's hair and gasped. "Ooh! Good luck Albus! We'll all definitely be in the Slytherin stands supporting you." She told him excitedly. Despite not being on our own house team, Panna was actually quite talented at Quidditch but preferred watching it rather than playing. She absolutely loathes large crowds and fainted when she tried out for the house team in second year. Suffice to say, she now prefers having both of her feet firmly on the ground.

The tips of Albus' ears turned red as his rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, er, you guys don't have to do that." He said, though he looked quite pleased at the prospect.

Panna waved a hand. "Nonsense! Of course we will. Won't we, G?" She asked in a dangerous tone, fixing G with a firm stare.

"Oh, you bet we'll be." G replied darkly, glaring at the Gryffindor table and violently ripping off chunks of pumpkin with her teeth.

I shuffled a bit closer to Panna.

"Wait, I thought you hated Slytherin." Albus said skeptically, narrowing his eyes at the angry blonde.

G tore her gaze away from the Gryffindor table to look at Albus with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, I do. I just hate Gryffindor more. Specifically, I hate your brother more."

Albus looked surprised, but G wasn't finished.

"When you're in that match, you better aim every single bludger at his big head. You also better score against him so much so that the mountainous amount of points Slytherin wins by will crush his insufferable ego. Have no mercy, small Potter. No. Mercy."

And with that frightening message, she grabbed another piece of pumpkin and walked out of the hall glaring at the Gryffindor table the whole time.

Albus just sat there, looking extremely confused.

"But I'm the Seeker."

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer –Harry Potter of course belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling!**

"**Stop trying to make Hogwartians happen" is drawn from Mean Girls ("stop trying to make fetch happen – it's not going to happen!" – classic quote right there)**

**The idea for Oliver Wood coming to every single Quidditch match was a head canon I saw on tumblr; I'll try and find the post and put the appropriate credit here! **

**So, Chapter 5! Sorry, it's a bit of a filler chapter, and the next chapter (the Quidditch match) also won't have that much to do with the central plot but will be important the story later on! I've also only written a bit of it, so it might take a bit longer. The chapters will also most likely start to become longer a bit later on :)**

**I'd love to hear all of your thoughts on this in a review! How do you like it so far? Opinions on the characters? Any theories on why G hates James so much? **

**Thank you so much for the lovely reviews last chapter and for the follows and faves! **

**WhatsTheTimeMrWolf –I would never take alchemy either; I dropped out of it after taking it for a year in high school because of how terrible I was at it! Definitely true - Hermione totally thinks they're all excited haha :)**

**The Chirpy Bitch – Clio definitely got the short straw - Binns is so boring haha :) **

**Thank you for reading; it shouldn't be too long for the next chapter! xx**


	6. Chapter 6

**Chapter 6 **

"Albus, you'll be fine." I told him quietly, pushing a plate of food towards him.

Today was the morning of the first Quidditch match of the year between Gryffindor and Slytherin, though to Albus it was more so between him and his brother James. The girls and I were all sitting with him at the Slytherin table, offering our support. Well, Panna, Viv and I were. G was too busy glaring at the Gryffindor table and stabbing her bacon. In the past fortnight, it had become somewhat regular to for us to sit at with Albus for meals or for him to join us on the Hufflepuff table.

As promised, we were all wearing something green and had even made a massive enchanted banner last night before bed that read; "GO ALBUS!" and had drawings of two snakes that slithered around the edges. He was not aware of this, however, as we wanted it to be a nice surprise for the beginning of the match.

He let out a shaky breath and pushed the food back away. "I think I'm going to be sick." He mumbled.

Panna and I looked at each other in concern. I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder as Viv attempted to boost his confidence.

"Albus, you're a brilliant player! I know you're nervous because of your parents being there, but you'll be fantastic." She told him cheerfully.

He just stared at her incredulously before dropping his gaze back down the table.

"Al! How are you feeling?" A mane of red hair obscured my vision as Rose Weasley gave her cousin a hug.

"Like I'm about to face a hundred Dementors at once." He mumbled into her hair.

She looked at me over his shoulder and mouthed, 'is he okay?' to which I only shook my head in response.

Rose pulled back and studied his face. "Al, calm down. You'll be fantastic. No matter what happens, you'll be amazing. Okay?"

"I'll try." He murmured, resuming his staring at the table.

Rose looked at us and we all shrugged helplessly in response. She sighed. "Well, good luck Al. I'll see you guys later, yeah?" She said, waving at us as she walked off.

"Bye!" We chorused back at her before turning once again towards Albus' hunched figure.

"Okay team, I want you all in the changing rooms in half an hour!" Yelled out Lydia Zabini, captain of the Slytherin Quidditch, looking nervous. Lydia is in sixth year as well and this match is also her first as captain. She quickly left the hall, followed by the majority of the team.

G raised an eyebrow. "Having the team leave all willy-nilly at their own pace isn't showing much unity." She observed.

"Zabini's terrified. She just wants to give us an opportunity to calm down on our own before the match." Albus explained, still staring at the table.

"I guess that makes sense." G conceded, turning back to her bacon and eggs.

Albus sighed and stood up. "I should go." He said, looking frighteningly pale.

I spared a worried glance at Panna, who was looking pointedly from me to Albus and back again.

I caught on quickly. "I'll walk down with you." I told him, standing up too.

"No, I'll be fine." He said, shaking his head.

"I know, but I want to get us good seats so we can cheer you on properly." I lied. In reality, I wanted to make sure Albus got down there without fainting.

He seemed to believe me though, as he accepted my explanation. The girls wished him luck and Panna and Viv both gave him a hug, whilst G gave him a weird sort of arm pat and told him to crush Gryffindor.

Albus and I left the Hall together and began making our way down to the Quidditch pitch.

"So, er, how are you going with studying?" I asked in an attempt to draw his mind away from Quidditch.

"Fine." He replied absently, staring ahead.

I sighed as we left the castle. "Well, that's good. How's Kyra?" I questioned. Kyra was Albus' pet cat and quite possibly the cutest thing I'd ever seen in my life.

"Good."

Another one word answer. I was about to ask yet another question when Albus suddenly stopped walking. I stopped as well and looked at him in concern.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to give this to you before I forgot." He answered, taking off his Slytherin scarf and placing it around my neck. "I brought this down for you because I know you don't really own that much green and it's kind of chilly out." He explained, looking a bit embarrassed.

I smiled at him. "Albus, that's so nice of you. Thank you." I told him, feeling grateful.

He smiled slightly in return and we continued walking.

Finally reaching the pitch, I spotted a group of figures standing at the other end. I couldn't make out their features from this far way, but when I turned to Albus to ask him I saw his cheeks had turned a faint pink.

"Everything okay?" I asked in concern. This was the first time I'd ever seen him blush.

He cleared his throat. "Er, yeah. That's my family." He muttered, avoiding looking at the huge group.

"Oh, cool! I'll go up to the stands now then, so you can s-"

"Actually, could you come with me?" He interrupted, widening his eyes and furrowing his eyebrows.

"All right. Mainly because your puppy dog eyes are adorable." I told him, rolling my own eyes. The real reason I agreed was because Albus was clearly uncomfortable facing them alone, but I felt like he wouldn't feel too fond of that. Though his puppy dog eyes _are _adorable.

He let out a breath. "Thanks, Clee. Shall we?" He said, and we both began making our way over to the group.

I looked at him sideways in amusement. "'Clee'?" My eccentric parents are the only other people who had ever called me that.

"Yeah, it's a nickname. You should try it sometime." He replied sarcastically.

"Sure thing, _Albie._" I said snidely. A rude remark warrants a rude answer.

He made a high-pitched noise in the back of his throat. "What in Merlin's name is an _Albie_?"

"You, for now." I told him smugly, as we reached his family, effectively cutting off any of his further protests.

Albus was attacked by a hug from a woman with flaming red hair. "Al! How are you, love? You need to write me more often! I'm lucky if I get even one letter a month from you!" She scolded, pulling back and fixing him with a frown.

He rubbed the back of his head. "Er, sorry about that, mum."

His Aunt Hermione walked over to greet him with a hug whilst the various other family members either clapped him on the shoulder or waved. In the group, I spotted Oliver Wood talking to fourth year Gryffindor Lily Potter and making wild hand gestures that were whacking anybody in a 3-foot radius. His wife, Katie Bell, was standing beside him and alternating between ducking and shaking her head in embarrassment. I don't blame her; he may be completely fit for an old guy, but he's also a complete nutter. It's the best of both worlds, I guess.

Whilst these greetings were happening, I was standing next to Albus awkwardly clasping and unclasping my hands in front of me. I probably looked like a young child attempting to clap. A brilliant first impression on his family, I'd say.

After everybody had finally greeted Albus, his mother turned to me suddenly looking extremely confused, before looking back to her daft son who _still _hadn't said anything.

"Al? Who's this?" She asked kindly, looking towards my awkward figure.

Al turned to me, as if just realizing I was still there. Yeah, it's not like you pleaded with me to come over or anything. Honestly.

"Oh! Er, mum and, well, everyone, this is my friend Clio. Clio, this is my mum, and family. Er, Dad and Uncle Ron are on a last minute work call, so they couldn't be here" He explained and introduced.

"Hello." I said, smiling and giving a quick wave towards the group.

Unfortunately, my greeting was met with silence. Even Oliver Wood had stopped his ranting, and was looking at me in confusion as well.

Mrs. Potter, whose face had broken out into a huge smile, broke the silence.

"Clio, wow, hello! I'm Ginny Potter, Al's mother. It's lovely to meet you." She told me, shaking my hand.

I smiled in return. "It's lovely to meet you too, Mrs. Potter."

Mrs. Potter looked at Albus' Slytherin scarf that was wrapped around my neck. "So, you're in Slytherin with Albus, then?" She asked kindly.

"Er, no, I'm actually in Hufflepuff. Albus just lent me this for today's match." I explained, fidgeting awkwardly with the scarf.

Mrs. Potter sent her son a sly look. "Oh, he did, did he?"

Albus' cheeks turned pink. "Mum…" He groaned.

"Oh hush, drama queen." She told him, rolling her eyes.

It was at that moment that I heard a gasp and turned to see Mrs. Granger-Weasley looking at me, recognition dawning in her eyes.

"Oh! You're Clio Appleberry, aren't you? One of the competitors in the Tournament."

I nodded and smiled, as Mrs. Potter muttered, "smart, too" causing Albus to groan even loud and cover his flaming face with his hands.

"Ooh, what are you competing in?" A man with turquoise hair asked me.

"History of Magic." I told the man.

3…

2…

1…

Ah, there are the faces of disgust.

"Ew, why?" Questioned 7th year Gryffindor Fred Weasley, rather rudely.

"Fred!" Admonished a woman who I assumed to be his mother.

I chuckled. "It's a fair question. I don't know really, I just find it to be an interesting area of study." I explained, shrugging.

They all still looked extremely confused.

"How in Merlin's saggy balls do you stay awake through Binns' monotone?" James Potter asked incredulously, dark hair almost as messy as his brother's.

"James Sirius Potter, watch your language! Though, er, how do you?" Mrs. Potter enquired, going from angry to confused in .2 seconds flat.

Slightly alarmed at the change of mood, I ran a hand through my shoulder – length hair, trying to think of how to answer.

Albus beat me to it with a snort.

"Clio falls asleep in almost every class."

I shrugged. "It's true. I just take a few notes and then find books in the library to fill in the blanks, which are much more interesting that Binns' drone." I explained, as some of the group nodded in understanding, whilst others (a.k.a. Fred and James) were still looking at me as if I'd just told them I kill small animals for a living.

"Well, Lily, Fred, Roxy and I should be going now." James said, gesturing to his family and sending me another strange look.

Albus looked at his watch in alarm. "Oh Merlin, I really need to get to the changing rooms as well. Er, bye everyone." He said, accepting 'good luck's' and hugs from everyone, except for Roxy, Fred, Lily and his brother who just shook his hand tensely. Honestly, Quidditch players and their stupid rivalries.

After saying goodbye to his family, Albus and I walked away to make our way to the Slytherin changing rooms. We both came to a stop outside the door, turning to each other.

"Er, sorry about them. They can be a bit much at times." He said apologetically.

I waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it. Your family seems lovely."

He smiled slightly. "Yeah they are. Completely nutty of course, but still great. Anyway, I should really go or Zabini'll have my head as a side dish for her Yorkshire pudding."

I laughed. "Yeah, you should go then. Good luck. I know you'll be fantastic."

Leaning forwards, I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug. He hesitated for a second before I felt his arms wrap around my waist tightly. We stayed that way for a few seconds, before pulling back.

"You'll be amazing. Have fun out there." I told him, smiling.

"Er, thanks." He replied, looking a bit flustered.

We parted ways, as he went to get changed and ready and I made my way to the girls in the Slytherin section.

* * *

"And the score currently stands at 200 – 50 Gryffindor." Said Dax Jordan, who had been commentating for the match. A match, which was currently 3 and half hours long with no sign of the snitch as of yet.

I was beginning to drift off and my stomach had begun grumbling periodically ever five minutes. I was receiving some particularly dirty looks from a group of second years from the row in front whom I'm pretty sure included Snot Boy. Shuddering slightly as he stuck his finger into his nose, I focused my attention back on the game with a grimace.

We'd brought out the banner at the beginning of the match, causing Albus to laugh and beam at us, sending us a thumbs up from up in the air. However, all of our arms began to hurt after thirty minutes of holding it up (none of us were particularly sporty or strong save Panna), so we were now just lifting it whenever Slytherin scored. Which they hadn't really been doing very much unfortunately.

"Potter of Gryffindor with the quaffle! He passes to Spinnet, who quickly performs a sloth grip roll to avoid a well-placed bludger from the beautiful but deadly Daisy Avery. Spinnet tosses the quaffle in to the air and Potter makes a swift catch! Approaching the goal posts now, Bell is hovering between hoops; clearly unsure of which direction Potter will go in! He shoo- wait, he passes back to Spinnet, who races forwards, fakes out the left goal, shoots, annnnnd SHE SCORES! 210 – 50 GRYFFINDOR!"

Deafening cheers rose up from the Gryffindor end of the pitch, which was equally matched by groans and complaints from the Slytherin end. Millie Bell particularly was looking extremely sour as she threw the ball rather hard so it knocked into James's chest.

Whilst everybody was watching the movement of the Quaffle, my eyes were drawn to Albus, who had suddenly shot forward, heading straight for his sister Lily who was the Gryffindor seeker. Not slowing down, he reached out his hand as he came up to a few metres behind her and, passing her, grabbed something from under her nose.

The golden sparkle that caught me eye made my heart drop.

"Wait, what's this? Albus Potter has caught the Snitch literally from under Lily Potter's nose! Fortunately, Slytherin _doesn't _win – "

"JORDAN!"

"Sorry, Professor! Well, the score ends on 210 – 200, with Gryffindor winning but Slytherin catching the snitch!"

If I thought the Gryffindor cheering was deafening before, this was downright painful. A sea of red and gold swarmed onto the pitch as the Gryffindor team was swallowed under the mass of hugs and congratulations.

The Slytherin stands were slowly beginning to empty as people left, dejected and grumbling, whilst the Slytherin team flew down to the ground, looking as though they were about to cry.

"We should go to Albus." I said to my friends, concerned.

They all nodded in agreement, and, nudging people out of the way (G being a bit more violent with her pushes), we finally reached the grassy pitch.

Looking around, Viv was the first to spot Albus.

"There!" She yelled, pointing to a figure in front of us who was standing slightly apart from his team, holding his head in his hands.

"You know what this calls for?" I asked my friends. "Group hug." Panna and Viv nodded in agreement whilst G groaned and rolled her eyes, accepting her fate.

Breaking into a sprint, the four of us ran towards Albus' melancholy figure. Upon reaching him, we all attacked him with a hug, which left the five of us in a messy tangle of limbs, kneeling on the ground. I had my left arm around Albus' back with my right arm around Viv's shoulders and was being slightly suffocated with my face pressed in between Albus and Panna's shoulders.

Yeah, I'm not sure how this hug was working either.

"You were fantastic! That Wronski faint you performed half way through was so bloody on point." Viv encouraged, her voice muffled from somebody's shoulder or neck or back or chest. I really didn't know what body part belonged to who anymore.

I felt Albus' breath on my neck as he sighed. "Thanks, Viv. And thanks, you guys. For cheering me on. But we didn't win." He mumbled, resting what I assumed was his cheek, on my shoulder. I rubbed comforting circles on his back, wishing I knew what to say.

"Albus, seriously, don't sweat it. If you beat Ravenclaw next match, and then if Gryffindor loses to Hufflepuff, you'll still be in the running for first place! And I don't know about Ravenclaw, but Hufflepuff gotten pretty sodding good since last year. Trust me." Panna said firmly from somewhere to my left.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He replied, a bit hopefully. "It could all work out."

"It will." She said confidently. "Now, should we try and reclaim our limbs from this mess? I can't feel my legs anymore."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure Clio's bony elbow is digging into my side."

"Hey! Your hip's like jammed into my ribs!"

"Panna, is that your arm in my neck?"

"No, but I'm pretty sure that's your knee in my stomach."

"Well, I think I'm sitting on Albus' leg."

"You are."

"Sorry."

We all simultaneously leg go of each other and collapsed on to the ground, rubbing our arms and legs.

"You know, for a hug, that was pretty painful." G complained, rolling her shoulders back.

"It was nice though." Albus said quietly. I beamed at him, and squeezed his shoulder.

"So, what now?" Viv asked, lying on the pitch and gazing at the sky.

G looked at Albus, who was still looking a bit down, and let out the biggest and most dramatic sigh I had ever heard in my entire sixteen years of life thus far.

"Well, I know it must suck losing the match to Large Potter and Tiny Potter, so, Sma – _Albus, _why don't you come and hang out with us in the Hufflepuff common room? We can drown our sorrows in Butterbeer and Honeydukes finest. What do you say?" She proposed with a slightly pained expression, as if it physically took all of her effort to be nice to him. Which, actually, it probably did. I love her, but she's extremely selective with who she likes, which is why none of us have really questioned her hatred for James. She knows we're there for her and will tell us in her own time.

Albus stared at her in shock. "Are you actually being _nice _to me?" He asked incredulously.

"Don't get used to it." She snapped back, crossing her arms.

He rolled his eyes. "Okay. And er, yeah, hanging out sounds really good, actually." He answered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Brilliant!" Panna exclaimed. Then she gasped, "Oh my Merlin, we can have a _sleepover_!" She squealed, as we all recoiled back at the volume.

Albus looked embarrassed. "Er, no, I'm okay. I don't want to intrude or anything."

I rolled my eyes. "Nonsense, Albus. You're part of the Gang – capital G – now whether you like it or not! It's customary for you to take part in a sleepover where we stuff our faces with food and dance to crappy 80s Wizard Rock."

"And build a pillow fort." Viv added, nodding her head solemnly.

Albus looked to G, as if she would refuse to have him over. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Okay, I'm only going to say this once – you're okay."

Viv, Panna and I all smiled widely as Albus just sat there looking extremely confused.

Panna took pity on him. "In G speak, that basically means she considers you a friend now."

"Oh, well, thanks. And you're okay too." He said to her, amused. "So, er, the sleep over sounds pretty fun, actually. Not to brag or anything, but I'm a blanket fort master." He told us, sounding more comfortable now that G had given her approval.

G placed a hand over her heart in offense as she gasped. "Excuse _moi_, but my blanket fort designs have been compared to the likes of Vespasian and Titus. I highly doubt yours could even hold a sickle to mine."

"I guess we'll just have to find out." Albus said, narrowing his eyes competitively.

G, honest to Merlin, legitimately _growled _at that. "Oh, you're _so_ on."

* * *

"Okay, so I've got the Butterbeer, but we've got no chocolate. I mean, we could go to the kitchens but I just really can't be stuffed." Panna announced, pulling out enough Butterbeers from under her bed to quench a small army.

It was almost 9pm that night, and our sleepover had officially begun. Albus had grabbed his things from his Dorm in the dungeons, and was lounging on the floor of our dorm, resting against Viv's bed.

At Panna's announcement we all groaned, before I suddenly remembered something.

"Wait! I have a shitload of chocolate in my trunk! Maia sent it to me with her last letter. It's from some random chocolate shop in Sweden, and she says it's absolutely to die for." I said, jumping up and rummaging through my trunk, pulling out three huge blocks of milk and caramel chocolate, tossing them to the center of the room.

G opened one and broke herself off a few pieces, biting into it with a moan. "Clio, I think I'm in love with your sister."

I laughed. "You'll have to get past Char first."

Albus looked confused at that, so I took pity on him and explained. "Maia's my older sister. She graduated Hogwarts a few years back and is now travelling the world for her job with Gringotts. Char's the name of her girlfriend - they've been dating for a few years."

He nodded. "Ah, okay. That makes more sense."

Settling down after building the blanket fort (to which Albus graciously accepted defeat against G – she's obsessed with winning, I swear) we were mindlessly chatting, eating and drinking our Butterbeers as we lounged around on countless pillows.

Viv soon steered the conversation to a more personal matter.

"Er, Albus?" She asked tentatively. "Could I ask you something a bit personal? You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Sure. Go ahead." He replied, looking confused.

"It's just, well, I mean, you're a brilliant bloke! I guess I'm just confused as to why you've never really sat with anybody before us." She asked quietly, avoiding eye contact.

Huh. I'd never really noticed it, but the more I thought about it, I realised that Albus had been somewhat of a loner outside of his family. Suddenly, his family's strange reactions to my introduction made a lot more sense.

"Er, well, I sort of hung out with Lydia, Millie and Theo a bit but they were better friends with each other than me. I'm still friends with them, but just more so with you guys, I guess." He answered uncomfortably. Despite being friendly with Millie, Lydia and Theo, he mustn't have introduced them before. Guilt began stirring in the pit of stomach. I was a terrible friend.

Viv nodded. "Oh, okay."

Feeling the need to change the subject, I cleared my throat. "Well, we're lucky to be friends with you. You're a top bloke." I said, winking. "On a different subject, did anybody see Longbottom's sweater? I could have sworn it looked like it had a bunch of dicks sown into it."

"Hey! Those were _obviously _Mandrake roots!"

G scoffed. "They looked like dicks to me, too."

As those two got into yet _another _pointless argument, I caught Albus' eye. He sent me a grateful look, to which I smiled in return.

As Albus laughed at G and Viv's antics and Panna attempted to play peacemaker, I felt happier than I had in a while. Between Binns' horrible study sessions and the stress of both the Tournament and sixth year, things were really beginning to look up with these guys by my side.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – I own nothing of Harry Potter!**

**SO – Chapter 7! I'm so sorry that this was a bit of a filler and that there wasn't more of the Quidditch match written, but as you can tell, I'm horrible when it comes to writing Quidditch scenes! **

**Also, hopefully Clio meeting some of Albus' family wasn't **_**too **_**cliché or cringe-y, as it'll be integral to the story later on (I feel like Ginny would be the sort of parent constantly trying to embarrass her kids haha). The same goes for the sleepover – Albus is essentially now fully initiated and an accepted member of the Gang! :) **

**The reason this chapter took a bit longer to update was because I couldn't write it in a way I liked that matched my plan, but this'll have to do! I might go back and edit later on though :)**

**Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews, faves and follows! You guys made my day :)**

**I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter! Do you like the friendship between Albus, Clio, Panna, Viv and G so far? Any favourite characters yet?**

**Thank you so much for reading, and I'll try to have chapter 7 up in a week or so! Xx **


	7. Chapter 7

**Chapter 7**

_**5 weeks until the Tournament**_

"Clio – when, and why, did the Wizarding World begin to withdraw itself from the Muggle world?"

"It's not known for sure, but popular theories from Historians such as Alvilda Cauldwell date the withdrawal of the Wizarding World to approximately sometime before 993 A.D., around the time of the creation of Hogwarts. Her theory then goes on to state that the majority of people attribute the disappearance of Magical Culture to Muggles due to the hate and distaste spread by Salazar Slytherin, who was a prominent and intimidating figure at that point of history. However, she believes this to be highly unlikely and rather accredits the Magical withdrawal to the threat many witches and wizards felt from muggles, a hate that would later manifest in the Witch Burnings, most popularly shown in the 1300s. Bathilda Bagshot also agrees with Cauldwell's thoughts on the matter, but additionally credits the withdrawal to the threat some witches and wizards posed to muggles, as practical jokes on them were beginning to become more fatal – an example being Weir the Wicked; responsible for the torture and murder of over 200 muggles over the course of 880 to 882 A.D. It was a combination of all of these reasons that led to the Withdrawal of the Wizarding World form the muggle world."

There were five short weeks left of the first term. That was five short weeks left until the first round of the Tournament. Nerves were beginning to get the best of Albus, Viv and I, and thus we found ourselves one drizzly Saturday morning studying in the library. Panna and G were testing the three of us on our respective topics, alternating whilst the five of us simultaneously attempted to complete a particularly challenging Charms worksheet.

Panna quickly read through my notes. "Fantastic! Almost spot on. However, you should probably explain a bit more about Salazar Slytherin, and connect your example of Weir the Wicked a tad more, but other than that it was mega." She beamed at me.

I let out a sigh of relief and leaned back in my chair. "Okay. I'll make sure to do that. Thanks, Pan."

"No problem. G?" She questioned, looking towards the frizzy blonde haired girl seated next to her, currently almost being buried by a pile of textbooks.

G sat up and looked around blearily. "Whuzza?" She slurred, rubbing her eyes and smearing her eyeliner in the process.

Panna rolled her dark eyes. "Honestly, G. Sometimes I find it hard to believe you're the only one out of the five of us who's 17. It's your turn to ask Albus a question now." She reprimanded, cleaning the black smears under G's eyes with a quick '_tergeo'._

With a filthy look at Panna, G reached over and pulled out Albus' notes, buried underneath a pile of Herbology books.

Turning to the nervous dark haired boy next to me, she opened up the notes to a random page, closed her eyes, and pointed at a spot. Opening her eyes and looking at where her finger had landed, she cleared her throat importantly.

"Okay, Smellbus – "

"For the love of Salazar, can you _please _stop calling me that!" Albus exclaimed, running a hand through his already messy hair. Resisting the urge to pat it down, I busied myself with writing down an answer to a question on the Charms worksheet.

G sniffed haughtily. "No. You called me by my full name last night, so now you have to pay the consequences. On to your question – tell me about the origins and two dangers of what is nicknamed 'The Luck Potion.'"

Albus looked thoughtful for a moment, before answering.

"Felix Felicis, more commonly known as 'Liquid Luck' or 'The Luck Potion', was invented at an unknown date during the 16th Century by Zygmunt Budge. He deemed it the 'crowning achievement' of his career. The dangers associated with the consumption of Felix Felicis include that it causes recklessness, giddiness and dangerous overconfidence if taken in excess, which can lead to injuries and even death. It is also toxic if taken in high quantities and is not made to be consumed continuously." He answered with a furrowed brow.

G skimmed through his notes, before nodding. "Spot on, Smellbus." She said, turning back to her Charms worksheet.

Panna looked at her watch and let out a strangled, high-pitched noise and began to gather up her books. "G! Muggle Studies starts in two minutes! Come on! I'm so sorry guys, but we're going to have to go now. Albus, can you test Viv?" She asked, passing him Viv's stack of notes.

"Of course." He replied, skimming through the pile.

"G! Move your arse now!" Panna said, poking G's shoulder.

Rolling her eyes, G gathered up her books and bag. "Calm your tits, Pan."

"My tits will be calm if we arrive in time to class. Now, hurry up!"

With a hurried good bye to the three of us (who all had a spare), Panna left, dragging a complaining G behind her, as Madam Pince stalked out from behind a shelf and shot us a dirty look, as if we were the ones making all of the noise.

"Ugh, what an old bat." I said, watching the Velvet-clad librarian distastefully.

Albus snorted in agreement, before turning to Viv. "Okay, Viv, name four medicinal uses of Snargaluff pods."

As Viv answered, I let my eyes wander around the study area. A few groups of sixth and seventh years were milling around, most with their heads stuck in books and frantically scribbling down essays and notes. As I looked towards the entrance, I noticed a blonde haired Ravenclaw walk in and look around warily.

I waved a hand and gestured for him to come over. With an apprehensive look at Albus and Viv, he slowly walked over and sat down where Panna had been.

"Hey Scorpius. How are you?" I asked, smiling.

"Er, I'm fine. You?" He replied quietly, pulling out his Ancient Runes books and notes.

"Eh, I've been better. The stress of the Tournament really is beginning to hit me." I told him with a frown, stretching out my legs under the table.

He nodded and made a noise of agreement, before turning to his notes. For the few years I've known him through Saule and Epona, he's always been a man of very few words with a tendency to create awkward situations. Speaking of awkward situations, I looked at the occupants of the table to find them gazing at Scorpius in utter confusion.

I suppose I probably should have introduced him first. Well, better late than never.

"Oh, er, Scorpius, these are my friends Viv and Albus. Viv and Albus, this is my friend Scorpius." I introduced. Technically, Scorpius is more of a slight-acquaintance-that-I-occasionally-make-polite-small-talk-with-when-I-bump-into-him-in-the-Ravenclaw-common-room, but 'friend' is about ten times easier to say.

The three of them exchange awkward pleasantries, before averting eye contact and looking back at their respective study notes.

Considering Viv spends more time around plants than people, Albus loves his cat more than any human and Scorpius always has his nose stuck in a book, this really isn't that surprising.

Throw in the fact that I spend more time focusing on the past than the present, and we really make one hell of a group.

Fortunately, we were all saved from attempting to start a conversation by the arrival of another person to our mismatched group.

"Hey Al, hey guys." Rose Weasley said tiredly, dropping into the spare seat next to Viv.

"Hi." We chorused back. I noticed Scorpius looking at Rose with a funny expression, and her avoiding making eye contact with him.

"Er, do you two know each other?" I asked, hesitantly.

"Yeah." They both murmured, looking away from each other with bright red cheeks. I turned to Viv and Albus with a raised eyebrow. That wasn't suspicious at _all._ Viv mirrored my expression, but Albus was staring between the pair suspiciously.

Wanting to avoid a confrontation, I cleared my throat.

"So, Rose! How are you going with studying for Arithmacy for the Tournament?" I asked, taking in her dark bags and exhausted expression worriedly.

She yawned. "As well as I can be, I suppose. Mum's been refusing to help me organize study timetables but keeps forcing dad to try. I swear, the man hasn't studied a day in his life with the 'help' he's been giving me."

Albus scoffed. "Tell me about it. Mum's been okay but dad's complete shit. I've no idea how he actually passed any subjects whilst he was in school." He said, shaking his head.

"Well, he did defeat Voldemort. That took some brains." Rose replied, smiling.

"So did Uncle Ron." Albus retorted.

Whilst this cousin exchange was happening, Scorpius, Viv and I were awkwardly continuing our studying, not wanting to interrupt them. Despite being friends with Albus for a good two months now, we were still hesitant when it came to breaching the subject of his family. I sort of got the feeling he harbored some resentment towards certain family members due to initial reactions to his Sorting into Slytherin. This was all unfounded though, as he had yet to open up about it to us.

Descending into a comfortable silence, the five of us went back to our respective studying for a while. I was the first to break it, after I saw Zeph walk past our table.

"Hey, do you guys know how the others are faring? I just saw Zeph walk past then and he doesn't look too good." I said in concern.

"Zeph's terrified, but he's got a good grasp on the knowledge. He'll be fine." Scorpius reassured me quietly, putting down his quill for a quick break.

"Mint seems pretty excited from what she's told me, but I've noticed Bobbie's been a bit more touchy than usual." Rose told us, furrowing her eyebrows.

The four of us simultaneously let out snorts.

"'A _bit_ more touchy'? Yesterday I sneezed whilst she was studying and she spent five minutes yelling at me." Albus replied incredulously.

Rose shot him a look. "That's not her fault, Al. She's obviously stressed, just like the rest of us."

Albus shrugged and stretched his arms behind his head.

"Well, how about Millie? Is she doing okay?" I asked him.

He shrugged again. "She's gone a bit quiet, but I think some of that has to do with left over resentment from the Quidditch match."

"You know, I think we should invite the others to study with us as a group sometime. It'd be nice." Rose proposed, twirling her quill around.

Viv groaned. "As long as that excludes Ramsbottom. You know, he found me in the Kitchens eating last night five minutes before curfew and lectured me about it for twenty minutes, meaning I ended up being out after curfew and then he gave me a detention for it! I can't stand the bloke." She told us, shaking he head as we all laughed.

"Well, if we're inviting all of the others, I suppose that means we should include Ramsbottom. It'd be rude to exclude him." I said, looking at Viv apologetically.

"If it helps, he won't say yes anyway." Rose said matter-of-factly. "He's convinced one of us is spying for another school."

* * *

_**4 weeks until the Tournament**_

"Most people prefer Arabian Horses, but I myself am more partial to Warm blood horses. Of course, they're all unique in their own way and I think they're all absolutely brilliant, but that's just my individual opinion."

Four pairs of eyes swiveled around to look at me incredulously. I offered my friends a shrug and continued eating my toast.

It was a dreary Monday morning, an hour before classes began. Saule had enthusiastically invited my friends along to our family breakfast, as she was very keen on meeting Albus, and also because her and Panna got along famously.

Epona, as per usual, was creeping them all out with her incessant horse talk.

G clapped her hands together. "Well, that was very insightful." She replied, shooting me a look as if to say, '_why are your siblings so fucking weird?_'

I ask myself that question every day, G.

Epona gave her a serene smile. "What's your favourite horse, Geraldine?" She enquired, sipping her pumpkin juice.

"Well first of all, it's _G_. Not Geraldine, not Gribbles, and _certainly _not Geraldine Gribbles. 'Geraldine' just makes me sound like an utter twat." G shot back with an exaggerated shudder.

Panna broke off from her conversation with Saule to lightly smack G on the arm. "Oh, hush G. Just answer her question." She told her, before turning back to continue talking to my smiling sister.

G rolled her eyes. "Ugh. Okay, whatever, fine. I suppose my favourite horse is, er…. cold blood horses?" She replied hesitantly.

"Hm, that's an interesting choice. I don't like them as much as the horses that fall under the hot-blooded category, but I can definitely see the appeal." Epona said, nodding thoughtfully, her horse shaped earrings dangling around.

G looked at us in confusion and whispered, "That's an actual breed? I just made it up."

Albus, Viv and I all snorted into our plates.

"How about you, Albus?" Epona asked, delicately eating a strawberry. Meanwhile I'm sitting across from her, already on my third piece of toast with crumbs visible on the dark material of my robes. I glanced around subtly before quickly wiping them off.

I'm all class.

Albus looked up, startled. "Oh. Er, well I suppose I like the White Friesian the best." He replied, shrugging.

Now it was his turn to be stared at incredulously by four pairs of eyes.

He leaned away from us. "What? Lily's obsessed with horses too." He claimed, holding up his hands.

I grinned and winked at him. "Sure she is."

"I swear it!"

"Yeah, we believe you." G replied sarcastically.

"I'm being serious!"

"Sure you are." Viv giggled.

The rest of his protests were drowned out by our laughter and Epona's reassurances that "it's okay to admit you like horses, just embrace it!"

"Ooh! Post is here!" Saule exclaimed, pointing excitedly above her. I looked up and sure enough, countless owls of all different shapes, sizes and colours were swooping down holding various letters and packages.

My parent's owl Circe landed in front on me and hooted softly.

"Hey there beautiful!" I cooed, stroking her feathers before untying the letter from her leg. She nipped my finger affectionately before moving over to Saule and Epona to greet them.

G and Albus had also received letters, whilst Viv received her '_Unbeleafable'_ Herbology magazine courtesy of her monthly subscription and Panna had gotten '_The Quibbler_'.

"What's the letter about?" Saule enquired, as both her and Epona fussed over Circe.

"Have they finally agreed to get me a horse?!" Epona asked, widening her dark eyes and slamming her hands down onto the table in her excitement. Circe screeched reproachfully at the sudden movement and Saule shot Epona a disapproving stare.

I rolled my eyes and opened the letter. "Chill, Pona. Let me read it first."

Skimming through the letter, I sighed as I handed it to my sisters. "It's just the usual. You know, 'keep up your grades', 'have fun', 'don't get into too much trouble', 'try to stop threatening people who don't like horses, Epona', etc, etc." I told them.

Epona sniffed delicately. "It's not my fault if Christopher Wood is a bumbling horter."

**Horter**

_noun_

1\. A person that feels an extreme or mild irrational dislike towards horses

2\. A person who experiences a lower level of intelligence than the regular homo sapien

3\. Someone that Epona is guaranteed to dislike

Yes, Epona actually made up a word and a dictionary definition to match it.

This is what I have to live with.

"Yeah, but you shouldn't threaten people! It's not nice." Saule said, flicking her hair over her shoulder and shaking her head at her twin.

Epona glared at her. "I am not nice."

Sighing at their antics, I turned to my friends. I was about to ask Panna if I could look through _The Quibbler _briefly, before I caught sight of the look on Albus' face.

"You okay?" I asked in concern.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Er, mum's told me to invite you all over for dinner after the Tournament." He said, keeping his eyes focused on the letter.

Panna was the first to respond.

"I'm so sorry Albus, but I'll be in India visiting my Grandparents for the Christmas break. I'll be missing the Tournament, too." She told us all apologetically. We nodded in understanding; she had told us this as soon as we found out we were competing.

"And while I consider _you_ a friend, I'd honestly rather die than spend any extra time around your brother. Seriously. I'd take _avada kedavra _any day over extended exposure to his inflated ego." G replied, shaking her head with a slight shudder.

Albus nodded. "Fair enough." He turned to Viv and I. "Er, how about you guys?"

"I'd love to. I'll have to check with mum and dad but I reckon they'll say yes." I responded with a smile.

"Same here." Viv said, giving him a brief smile before turning back to her Herbology magazine.

He nodded, looking simultaneously nervous and relieved. It was a strange combination.

"Okay, well I'll write back to mum tonight to tell her."

"Write back to mum about what?"

I looked up to see James Potter standing behind Panna and Viv, with Fred Weasley at his left. Cautiously darting my eyes towards G, I was unsurprised to see the murderous expression that had taken over her features.

Albus sighed from next to me. "What do you want?" He asked his cousin and brother flatly.

James held a hand against his chest in mock-offense. "What, I can't say hello to you nerds?"

G spun around, her blonde plaits whipping out behind her. "Don't call them that!" She yelled angrily.

"But G," Viv started, "you _always _call us that."

Despite the truth to that statement, that probably wasn't the best thing Viv could have said.

G scoffed weakly. "Well, er. I uh- I've got to finish my muggle studies essay before class," She offered, grabbing her bag and almost running out of the hall. We all watched after her, worried and confused.

"I should go after her." I said, half standing.

"I didn't know you guys had a muggle studies essay." Viv said to Panna, confused.

Panna sighed and stood up. "We don't. It's okay Clio, I'll go. I've got class with her first thing anyway." She said, giving us all a wave before leaving the hall after G.

James looked around us in confusion. "Was it something I said?"

The thing that troubled me the most about his statement was how he said it. From what I could tell, James seemed genuinely concerned that he'd upset G. I'd always thought their hatred was a mutual thing and as I thought about it, a horribly guilty feeling stirred around my mind. What kind of friend was I to not know that?

"Will Gribbles be alright?" Fred asked us, looking concerned as well.

"Well, she'll be going to Azkaban for murder if she ever hears you call her that." I replied, to the chuckles of Viv and Albus. "But Panna will talk to her, don't worry." I reassured them, though all I could feel was worry.

Albus rubbed his eyes. "Again, what in Merlin's name do you two want?"

"What, we can't just visit our favourite relative?" Fred said cheekily with a wide grin that showcased a truly frightening amount of adorable dimples.

"Cut the shit." Albus deadpanned.

Both James and Fred snickered like seven year old that had successfully stolen off-limit sweets.

"Fine. We just came to tell you all to avoid the third floor corridor near Mimbus the Marvelous at 6pm tonight." James said, an odd glint in his eyes. I rolled my eyes as I realized they were planning yet another prank. How those two haven't been expelled yet; I'll never know.

Fred then caught sight of Saule and Epona next to us, who had been having a quiet conversation of their own (most likely initiated by Saule who regarded it as the highest dishonour to eavesdrop).

"Ah! Appleberry twins. Because I like you, make sure you avoid the moving staircases near the Ravenclaw Common Room, okay?" Fred told them, as they both nodded in understanding.

With a surprisingly sweet smile towards my sisters, Fred turned back to James and nodded.

James nodded in return and turned to smile at all of us, before turning away.

"Smell ya later!" He shouted over his shoulder as they both walked away.

Yes, James Potter is a 17 year old wizard that still says 'smell ya later' any chance he gets. Sometimes the differences between him and Albus astound me.

However, what Fred said to my sisters suddenly came to my mind as I turned to the two of them in bewilderment.

"How do you two know Fred Weasley?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

"I encourage him with his homework in the library. He's incredibly smart and I just help him to se that." Saule explained, beaming.

Well, that I can understand. Turning to look at Epona, no reason I could think of made sense. As far as I knew, Fred was not obsessed with horses and that was pretty much all Epona talked or thought about.

She picked up a strawberry. "I got him an O on a muggle studies paper he had on horses."

Ah, there it was.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – Harry Potter belongs to the lovely J.K. Rowling – I own nothing!**

**Okay first off – I AM SO SORRY! It's been about ten days since my last update which is pretty poor on my part! I've been incredibly busy with Uni and it was also my birthday a few days ago so my writing in the past few days was pretty sporadic. I'd had half of this chapter finished and it took me a while to find motivation to finish the rest of it, but at last I did! **

**Anyway, I hope you like this chapter! Thank you so much for the lovely reviews on the last chapter and for the faves and follows too! You guys brighten my day :) **

**To pettybureacrat – you'll definitely be seeing more of James, Lily and the other cousins in later chapters! James, Lily and Fred will probably have the most prominent parts, but I'm going to try and bring them all in! :) **

**Also thank you so much to 'reader' who pointed out I said 'penny' in the last chapter – I've changed it to sickle :)**

**Thank you so much for reading, and I'd love if you could leave a review with your thoughts on the chapter! Do you like Fred and James so far? Any theories on the tension between Rose and Scorpius? Favourite and least favourite characters?**

**I'll try to update sooner this time! I hope you all have a lovely day/night :) xxxx**


	8. Chapter 8

**Chapter 8**

_**2 weeks until the Tournament**_

"Wait, so explain this potion to me again?" I asked Albus, scratching my head with my quill in confusion.

Albus was currently brewing a potion to fulfill part of his tutoring with both Professor Hainsworth and myself. The cold dungeon room was slightly hazy, due to the lime coloured smoke rising from his alarmingly large cauldron. I was working on an essay on the side effects of Polyjuice Potion, which had been set earlier that day, whilst Albus busied himself with his own potion as he had already finished the three feet of parchment due. What a nerd.

Albus took off his glasses and wiped the steam off of the lenses, before placing them on his nose again.

"It's the Wiggenweld potion. Basically it can awaken a person from a magically induced sleep, or counter the effects of the Draught of Living Death." He explained, measuring a steaming brown liquid into a clear vial.

I snorted. "If only Snow White had some, that would've saved them all a whole lot of trouble."

I laughed at my own joke, before catching sight of Albus' confused expression.

"Who?" He asked, with furrowed brows. I stared at him incredulously.

"Snow White? You know, seven dwarfs and all that jazz? No? Never mind." I murmured, drifting off as he just continued to look even more confused. With a muggle mother and magical father, my sisters and I had been raised with both muggle fairytales and magical fairytales. It seemed quite obvious that Albus, on the other hand, had only been brought up with the magical ones.

Albus shook his head, turning back to his potion. I sighed; some people just didn't understand proper humor. I was just about to turn back to my essay, before the door to the dungeon opened.

"Oh, hey Professor." Albus said, barely looking up from where he was stirring the bubbling mixture.

Professor Hainsworth, dressed in robes of a rather blinding shade of turquoise, stepped into the dungeon and strolled over to where Albus and I were working.

"Albus. Everything's well, I hope? The Wiggenweld potion is a particularly complex one, but I feel like it's a very real possibility you'll be asked to – Clio? What are you doing down here?"

Looking up into the bemused face of the Potions master, I grinned sheepishly and gestured to my essay.

"Er, Albus is helping me. For the essay. And potions. Tutoring?" I attempted to explain, feeling my cheeks heat up as I suppressed the urge to groan at my awkward and disjointed answer.

Catching sight of my flushed face, Albus rolled his eyes and took over. "Clio's helping me with History of Magic, so I'm just returning the favour with Potions."

"Well, that's a very admirable deed you're both doing." Hainsworth said, beaming at the two of us. "How are you both feeling about the Tournament, anyway?"

"Eh."

"Okay?"

Well, we couldn't have given more detailed answers even if we tried.

I resisted the urge to face palm, as Professor Hainsworth stood there confused by our short replies that were said simultaneously.

A silence ensued. It wasn't a comfortable silence either. Albus was still stirring his potion and looking at a wall like it was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen in his life. Hainsworth had his hands clasped behind his back and was rocking back and forward on his heels. And me? Well, I was giving quite possibly the most awkward and strained smile as I looked between them both.

Merlin save us all.

Hainsworth clapped his hands together after a few more painful seconds, interrupted only by the occasional bubble from Albus' cauldron.

"Well I'll leave you two to it then. Don't forgot to clean up afterwards." He told Albus.

As I let out a relieved breath, I heard Albus murmur, "Oh thank Merlin." Attempting to cover my snort with an unconvincing cough, I waved at Hainsworth.

"Bye Professor!"

"Goodnight." And with that, Hainsworth turned around and powerwalked out of the dungeon.

I laughed and turned to Albus. "He really has no tact at all. That was quite possibly the most awkward couple of minutes of my life."

"You're not wrong there."

Giving up on finishing my dreaded essay, I got up and walked over to Albus.

"Watcha doin' now?" I asked curiously, peering into his cauldron.

"Er Clio, you really might not want to do-"

BANG!

"…that."

I doubled over coughing as I waved away a lingering cloud of foul smelling smoke from my face. After a few minutes of choking with Albus hitting my back, I straightened up, gulping in deep breaths of slightly cleaner air.

"Are you making a potion in there or cooking sweaty socks?!" I asked incredulously, leaning against a desk with my chest heaving.

"Er, well, that'd probably be the main ingredient. It has a rather potent smell."

"And what is the main ingredient, pray do tell?"

Albus held up a small vial of green jelly with a sheepish smile.

"Flobberworm mucus."

* * *

_**1 week until the Tournament**_

"How long now?"

"Still a few hours left. Merlin G, we left the platform not even ten minutes ago."

G groaned and stuck her feet on Viv's lap. Viv - who had been tending carefully to her gorgeous sunflowers - shot G a foul look. G merely popped a stick of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum into her mouth and chewed it obnoxiously with a raised eyebrow towards the dark haired girl next to her.

Rolling my eyes, I looked out the window at the passing scenery. My friends and I – minus Panna who, as the only Prefect out of the five of us, was patrolling – were sitting in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, heading back home for the Christmas holidays. While they came as a welcome relief from the stress of school for most, that was not the case for some of us. The arrival of the Winter Holidays, for me, meant the arrival of the beginning of the Academic Tournament. Which was something I was most definitely dreading.

Due to timetable clashes, our planned group study sessions with the other competitors had never actually happened, however Albus, Viv and I continued to study with Rose and Scorpius. Speaking of the pair, the more time I spent with them the more suspicious I became that there was more than meets the eye to their seemingly awkward 'friendship'. Well, whatever it was, it could wait until after the first round of the Tournament. Stress was already taking up far too much of my mind and I really couldn't afford dwelling on the matter for too long.

Feeling a pressure drop onto my shoulder, I looked down to find Albus fast asleep. Grinning slightly, I picked up a heavy book that I had borrowed for some last minute studying from the library. I swear to Helga Hufflepuff, the way Pince acted as I borrowed it, you'd think I was taking her first-born child.

That woman needs to sort out her priorities.

Just as I opened my book on the Goblin Wars, Albus let out a particularly loud snore causing me to jump slightly.

G snorted and Viv laughed. Narrowing my eyes at them, I attempted to regain some of my dignity and turned back to my book.

Another enormous snore shook me out of my studying. I glanced down at Albus' sleeping figure and laughed.

"You know, for someone so cute, he's really a rather unattractive sleeper." I commented to my friends, still grinning.

Viv made a noise of vague agreement that made me suspect she hadn't heard a word I had said. G was silent for a moment before her mouth curved into a sly smile.

"I didn't know you fancied Albus." She said, waggling her eyebrows as she took off her purple and orange knitted scarf.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't. I'm allowed to find people attractive without fancying them. The two aren't mutually exclusive, you know."

G shrugged, still grinning. "Eh, whatever you say."

"G." I said in a warning tone, beginning to get annoyed. "Don't start."

G held up her hands. "Chill, Clio. I was just joking around." She folded her arms and pouted at me. "You used to be fun."

I grimaced and adjusted my knitted beanie. "Sorry, G. It's just the stress –"

"- from the Tournament is really getting to you. Yeah, yeah, I know." G finished, sighing in a dejected sort of way.

I felt terrible. Despite it's perks, the Tournament was beginning to put a strain on everything in my life. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a few chocolate frogs and gave them to G.

"Consider these part of my apology. I'll make more of an effort in the future. Promise." I told her earnestly, a familiar crawling sense of guilt eating me up inside.

G accepted the frogs happily, but shot me a stern look at the same time.

"Clio, you've done nothing wrong. If anything, I was the asshole."

"No, really, I've been so preoccupied lately –"

"It's my fault for annoying you – "

"I feel like I've been ignoring – "

"You've done nothing wrong – "

"I've been neglecting – "

"YOU'RE BOTH IN THE WRONG, OKAY? Now please, shut your gobs and let me finish this!" Viv squealed in a shrilly voice.

As she turned back to her sunflowers muttering darkly to herself, G and I stared at her in stunned silence. Albus gave a grunt and shifted slightly on my shoulder, before continuing his steady stream of snores.

Before G or I could say anything, a loud knock on our compartment door interrupted our thoughts. The door slid opened and fourth year Gryffindor Lily Potter stuck her head inside the door with a grin.

"Hey, is Al in here?" She asked, surveying the compartment. Catching sight of Albus' sleeping figure on my shoulder, she suddenly barged into the compartment, grabbed the camera from around her neck and snapped a picture. All in the space of three seconds.

Honestly, I worry about the Potter children sometimes.

"Oh, mum'll love this." She murmured deviously, smirking. Her expression changed very quickly as she peered closely at Albus' face. "Oh my Merlin, is that _drool?_" She asked, disgusted.

Quickly glancing over to Albus, her suspicions were confirmed.

I groaned loudly. "Unfortunately, yes."

Lily laughed as she tossed her long red hair over her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll put you out of your misery." She said, flicking Albus' particularly hard on his forehead.

He jolted awake and looked around the compartment. "Huh?" He asked groggily, removing his glasses to rub his eyes.

"Oh hey, Lils." He greeted through a large yawn. "What do you want?"

As Lily laughed at him, I subtly siphoned his drool off of my shoulder with my wand. Shuddering, I tuned back into the conversation.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" Lily asked, placing her hand on her hip and raising an unimpressed eyebrow at her brother.

"Oh er, right, well – "

"I'm G." G interrupted, saluting at Lily and popping her gum.

"Viv." Viv muttered distractedly, still grooming her sunflowers.

"I'm Clio. It's nice to meet you." I greeted, giving Lily a kind smile.

She smiled in return. "Nice to meet you all too! I don't know why you're friends with this loser, though." She said, lightly pushing Albus' shoulder.

I laughed. "He's not so bad once you get past the layers of misery and angst." I replied jokingly, ruffling Albus' messy hair fondly and winking at him.

He pushed us both off half heartedly, grinning. Turning to Lily, he raised a dark eyebrow at her. She rolled her eyes with a sigh.

"Okay, okay, I really came in here to tell you that Mum and Dad are meeting us near the green bench on the platform." Lily explained, shifting her stance.

Albus nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "Okay, thanks. Does James know?"

Lily grunted and rolled her eyes so hard that her whole head moved. "Ugh, who knows. I can't find that idiot anywhere. He's probably with Fred, doing something that'll most likely get them both expelled. I don't even want to know, to be honest. Sometimes I feel sorry for Mum and Dad; it must be hard for them when I'm the only normal child."

"_You? _Normal?" Albus exclaimed incredulously. "You're the one who started up a fundraiser for flobberworm rights!"

Lily sniffed delicately. "I just think the treatment they receive is inhumane."

"Well, yeah, because _they're not human_!"

"Oh, don't get your panties in a twist Al. Anyway, I should be off now; Hugo and Minnie are saving me some food but I don't really trust them not to eat it. It was nice meeting you guys." Lily said to us.

"You too." We chorused back.

"Well, see you!" With one last cheeky grin that bore a startling resembles to James, she left the compartment.

* * *

A few hours later, the train finally pulled up to Platform 9 ¾. Panna (who had returned from patrolling), G, Viv, Albus and I all put on our coats, scarves and beanies, before braving the chill to collect our trunks and find our families.

Panna was the first to leave.

"Ooh, there's my Mum. Well, I best be off now. Good luck for the Tournament guys, and G, make sure you cheer loud enough for both of us! Merry Christmas!" She said, giving us all a hug. "Don't forget to write to me."

"Yes mum." G said, rolling her eyes but accepting the hug anyway.

"We won't forget." Viv added.

"Merry Christmas." Albus smiled, hugging her.

"Have fun in India." I told her when she turned to hug me.

Beaming at us all, she bade us a final farewell before turning to her Mum.

G and Viv were the next to leave. As they lived practically next door to one another, Viv was getting a lift from G's parents. Albus and I hugged them with the promise to see them on the 21st, and then it was just the two of us.

As we reached the spot near Albus' distinctive family, 90% red haired and surrounded by curious points and murmurs from others on the platform, I spotted the familiar figures of my parents.

"Ah, my mum and dad are over there." I told him, pointing over his shoulder.

He glanced over, before turning back to me. "Right, well I'll see you soon for the Tournament then." He said, looking slightly nauseous.

I grimaced. "I would say I'm looking forward to it, but that'd be a blatant lie. Well, see you then I suppose." I replied, giving him a quick hug.

Pulling back, we both grinned and said goodbye, before turning to our respective families.

As I walked away from Albus, the knowledge that the Tournament was only a few days away suddenly hit me, and a wave of nervousness swept over me. Merlin, I was so screwed.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – everything you recognise belongs to J.K. Rowling! (including 'she needs to sort out her priorities'- thank you Ron Weasley haha)**

**Chapter 8 is here and the Tournament's extremely close!**

**I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter - Do you guys like Lily so far? Favourite Potter sibling? Any predictions for the outcome of the first round of the Tournament?**

**Thank you for the lovely reviews, faves and follows on the last chapter! You guys are the best :) (and don't worry – there will definitely be more Rose and Scorpius later on ;) )**

**I might take a bit longer than usual to get the next chapter up because I've got a fairly busy week coming up, but I'll try my best! **

**Thank you for reading :) xx**


	9. Chapter 9

**Chapter nine**

_**5 days until the Tournament**_

_Tap tap. Tap. Tap tap tap. Tap. Tap._

Grumbling, I shoved my head under my pillow and tried to return to my dream, in which I was marrying a young Myron Wagtail. I felt a dreamy smile stretch over my lips as I thought of his luscious locks, his mysterious eyes, his crooning voice, his -

_Tap. _

My eyes flew open.

_Tap tap tap._

I shifted my position.

_TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP-_

"What?!" I screamed, bolting upright in bead. Blinking blearily at the window, I noticed a dark shape that I assumed to be an owl, perched on the windowsill.

Groaning in defeat, I untangled myself from my bed sheets and tripped over onto the floor. I sighed and picked myself up, continuing to make my way to the infernal bird. However, in my delirious half asleep state, I could barely notice objects that were five feet in front of me.

Such as my very heavy school trunk.

"Oof…" I groaned as my face met the floor. Rolling on my back, I got up yet _another _time and proceeded to stumble blindly to the bright window.

_Tap tap tap tap-_

"OKAY! I'm here, I'm here, calm your bird tits! Honestly…"

Opening the window, I reached out my hands to untie the letter from the haughty-looking black owl's leg.

I wasn't expecting it to be thrust into my face.

I recoiled back and grabbed my throbbing nose, yelling out curses that would make even G cover her ears. Walking back over to the Demon Owl (seriously, I don't know if it's just the morning light or my bleary vision, but those eyes look suspiciously red to me) I quickly untied the letter and slammed my window shut. As it threw me an offended look, I very maturely stuck my tongue out at it.

I know, I know. I'm not usually this horrid. In my defense, I can't be held responsible for whatever happens to the poor soul who wakes me up on holiday mornings. Seriously. Just don't do it.

Dropping down on my very yellow bed, I ripped open the letter, only half registering the important looking wax Ministry seal.

I don't care if this letter's from the Minister of Magic himself. There better be a good reason for waking me up.

_Dear Miss Appleberry,_

_I hope you have been studying hard for the First Annual Interschool Academic Tournament! I know this is rather late, but the lists of the subject order have just been decided upon, and are part of the reason for this owl. The subject order is as follows – _

_History of Magic_

_The Study of Ancient Runes_

_Arithmacy_

_Charms_

_Transfiguration_

_Care of Magical Creatures_

_Astronomy _

_Potions_

_Defence Against the Dark Arts_

_Herbology_

_The second reason for this letter is to remind you of the time in which you are to arrive. Hogwarts students must be at the Ministry by no later than 1:00pm for a starting time of 2:30pm, with an approximate finish of 5:30pm. You are to meet with the rest of the competitors from your school at Courtroom 11 (see the information desk for directions)._

_I'm looking forward to seeing you there!_

_Sincerely,_

_Hermione Granger _

_(Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement)_

"Merlin's beard." I whispered, staring incredulously at the evil piece of parchment. "No way. There's no bloody way I'm first. This is some sort of sick joke, right? Am I on Prank'd? Where are the cameras? You guys can come out now! Come on Barnabus Collins, I know this is one of your jokes! Very funny guys, really hilarious…"

But nothing happened. My room stayed the same; simple and unassuming.

I flopped back onto my mattress.

"Merlin save me."

* * *

"Clio, pumpkin, you've got cereal in your hair."

I groaned and half-heartedly swiped a hand through my messy locks.

My parents looked at each other in concern and my Dad put down his cup of coffee and pushed aside the Daily Prophet.

"Clee, we know you're worried about the Tournament but you'll be brilliant. We have full faith in your abilities." He encouraged my kindly as Mum smiled.

"But that's just the thing Dad; I won't be brilliant. I'm going to fail horribly and be embarrassed in front of not only my friends and family, but also _the _Hermione Granger – Weasley and nine other magical schools from around the world! I'm not cut out for this!" I exclaimed hysterically, covering my face with my hands.

"Well, not with that attitude you're not!" My mum said with a tut, pulling her blonde hair into a low bun.

I lifted my head to stare at her incredulously.

"Believe and you will achieve!" Saule said from her position next to me, patting my shoulder as my mother voiced her agreements.

Dear Merlin, her personality's multiplying.

"Oh Sweet Hufflepuff, this is too much positivity for me to deal with." I grumbled, dropping my head into my hands.

Saule ignored me. "The true measure of success is how many times you can bounce back from failure!" She exclaimed, smiling.

"Well that's bloody fantastic Saule, I'll just make sure to remember that while I suffer horrific embarrassment in front of the Minister of Magic and Saviours of the Wizarding World!"

"Exactly! That's the spirit." She said encouragingly, patting my back.

I rolled my eyes and groaned. "This conversation is draining my spirit." I muttered.

"Clio!" My mother said sharply. "Don't be so rude. Now, apologise to your sister! She's only trying to help." She admonished, brown eyes glaring.

I sighed and turned to Saule. "Sorry." I mumbled half-heartedly, to which she beamed in response.

Being completely honest, I regret nothing.

It seriously cannot be good for your health to be that positive all of the time.

Dad cleared his throat. "Moving on from Clio's moods, Maia sent a letter this morning. She can't make it to the first round but she's going to try to be back for the second. The Dragon program her and Charlotte and doing in Romania requires full attendance for the whole four weeks." He told me apologetically, stirring obscene amounts of sugar into his coffee.

Eyeing his sugary concoction distastefully, I replied, "That's fine. It's two less people to laugh at my inevitable failure."

"'Inevitable failure' would be a terrible name for a racehorse. Of course, I don't approve of the muggle racehorse industry. It's barbaric and cruel to the horses, not to mention it only serves to fuel the modern aristocrat's greed and gives people an excuse to get drunk and waste all of their money on the torture of poor creatures. But it's just an observation."

I stared at Epona in shock.

"How long have you been here for?" I asked incredulously.

She leveled me with a blank expression.

"Long enough."

Wow, creepy much?

"How is it that you always manage to sound like a serial killer?" I asked in genuine confusion.

Epona didn't reply; instead, she raised an eyebrow at me and plucked a grape off its stem with slightly more force than necessary.

I shuddered and turned back to the slightly less frightening members of my family.

"What are you up to today Clee?" Dad asked, pouring yoghurt into his coffee.

"Oh er, probably just studying – wait, is that _yogurt_? You're putting yogurt in your coffee?!" I asked in disgust, feeling my appetite pack its bags and leave my body. I pushed away my plate of toast slightly.

"Hm, studying eh? That much studying can't be healthy."

"That much yogurt in your coffee can't be healthy!"

He shook his head, stirring the clumpy mixture with a teaspoon. "Nonsense Clio. We don't want you studying all day."

I shook my head in disbelief.

"So we're just going to ignore the yogurt-in-coffee shaped elephant in the room?"

Mum leant forwards and shot me a concerned look. "Your father's right, sweetie. Why don't you send an owl to your friends? You could catch up for lunch tomorrow with them." She suggested.

Clearly I was the only person noticing Dad's strange coffee habits, and with one last disgusted look to the dairy infested drink from hell, I stood up.

"Good idea, I'll go send them one now."

* * *

_**3 days until the Tournament**_

"Er, three burgers, one extra large serving of chips – with tomato sauce, please – a double chocolate milkshake and two cokes please." G rattled off as the pretty waitress nodded and jotted the order down. She turned to walk away, before G faced the rest of us. "What'll you guys have?"

Trying not to laugh at the expression on the waitress's – Emma's – face, I quickly looked over the menu in front on me.

"Fish and chips for me please, just with some water." I said, smiling and handing the menu to the girl.

"Er, same with me." Albus replied, as Viv ordered a fancy salad that I couldn't replicate even if I tried.

With Panna in India, it was just the four of us out for lunch in Muggle London. Albus, Viv and I were more than happy to journey into one of the cafes in Diagon Alley, but G insisted she would 'literally die' if she went another week without a decent Muggle burger and coke. Honestly, her dramatics could give even Ramsbottom a run for his money.

Emma the waitress smiled at us. "I'll be back with your drinks soon."

"Thanks, no rush." G said, returning her smile enthusiastically.

We all stared at her in silence as Emma the waitress walked off.

"Er, G? What was that?" I asked, with a raised brow.

G tore her eyes away from Emma the Waitress. "What was what?" She asked, slightly blankly.

My other brow rose to join its partner. "_That. _'No rush'? You literally just told us that you would die if you went another hour without Muggle food." I said, looking pointedly between her and the dark haired waitress.

She shrugged and shifted. "Just being polite." She said unconvincingly, attempting to be nonchalant as she fixed the collar of her coat.

Viv, Albus and I all exchanged glances.

There are many words I would associate with G, but 'polite' is not one of them.

I smirked and leaned forward slightly. "Well, I can't blame you. She's gorgeous." I said, nodding to Emma the Waitress (currently serving an elderly corner at the window of the café).

Albus nodded in agreement. "Nice hair, too." He added with quirked lips.

Viv grinned. "Not to mention, those eyes…"

G groaned and dropped her head into her hands.

"Why are you guys so annoying." She said, her voice muffled.

We laughed and Viv ruffled her hair playfully.

"It's our job as your best friends." Albus told her, grinning.

"Plus, I have to have _some _form of revenge for all of the teasing you put me through last term." Viv told her, still grinning insufferably.

"So, why don't you make a move?" I asked, pushing my hair away from my face.

G sighed and leaned back. "It's not that simple." She said, rolling her eyes. "I mean, for one thing, how do I even know if she likes girls?"

"You don't." Albus said simply. I smiled, expecting him to say something inspiring afterwards like 'that's why you have to try'. However, the silence drew on as Albus began glancing out the window into the Muggle street, observing an eccentric street performer with an orange and lime green leather suit on.

Sweet merlin, that man dresses like a Muggle just about as well as purebloods do. Once, I saw a Wizard dressed in purple bootleg jeans, yellow Doc Martens and a woolly orange jumper. Paired with a red tea cosy perched precariously on top of his curls.

For all of his success in school, Ramsbottom just hasn't grasped the concept of Muggle fashion.

I glanced warily at the others, to see them staring at Albus expectantly. Albus himself was now playing with a sugar packet.

Rolling my eyes, I nudged his shoulder. "Er, are you going to elaborate on that more?" I murmured, casting a worried glance to G, who had begun sending wistful glances to Emma the Waitress.

"Oh!" He said, looking startled. "Er, that's why you have to try." He finished, rather lamely as the rest of us rolled our eyes.

I know it must be weird that we're all acting like this has happened before, but that's because this has. A few times, in fact. For all her cynical tendencies, G's a complete romantic at heart. Not to mention a terrible flirt as well. Her last boyfriend that she dated for five months in fifth year was a boy named James Zeller, whom she promptly became lovesick over after her first glance towards him and his 'mega hair'.

Of course, she broke up with him after discovering his insect collection, but that's beside the point.

G scoffed. "Albus, you're absolute pants at inspirational stuff."

"Eh, that's true." Albus conceded, shrugging.

I lightly hit Albus' jumper clad arm enthusiastically. "G! She's coming back! Quick, quick, everybody laugh like G's just said something hilarious." I whispered furiously.

Albus, Viv and I all burst into loud, obnoxious laughter that caused G to groan and face palm.

"G! You're an absolute laugh!" Viv exclaimed loudly, giving a rather obvious glance towards Emma the Waitress, who had now reached our table.

"Er, here are your drinks." She said, placing the tray down on the table and distributing them to each of us, with a strange look towards the three of us who were still continuing with our very fake laughter.

"Thanks." G murmured, bright red in the face.

"No problem. Your food will be out soon. Enjoy." Emma the Waitress told us, smiling, before glancing at G discreetly and walking off.

"G! She totally just gave you _the look_!" I whispered excitedly, dropping the loud laughter.

"She's into you." Albus added, slurping down his milkshake.

"Go for it." Viv encouraged, pushing her braided hair over her shoulder.

"Maybe. But no more meddling, all right?" G replied, pointing a warning finger at all of us.

Albus smirked. "I dunno. I mean I never really got back at you for calling me Smellbus all of those times." He said, arranging the slouchy beanie over his wild dark hair. I felt a small jolt in my stomach as he did this, which must have been due to my hunger so I began eating my rather delicious lunch.

G leaned forwards slowly. "Albus, I swear to Merlin, if you mess this up for me you will _pay._" She told him lowly, sending a vicious glare his way.

Albus matched her gaze evenly and scoffed. "You don't scare me." He replied with narrowed eyes.

Being completely honest, I wasn't sure anything scared him. When we were studying in the library one time, I opened a dusty old book to find a very much alive spider in there and promptly screamed and fell off my chair, naturally. Albus, on the other hand, scooped the gross thing up tenderly and _began stroking it_. I think that was the moment I began to truly question why all of my friends were completely barmy.

"Clio, why are you shuddering?" Viv asked with a strange look, effectively breaking up the staring, or should I say _glaring _contest between G and Albus. This is why we need Panna.

"Eurgh, I just suddenly remembered the Spider Incident." I answered, sending a disgusted look towards Albus, who promptly stopped drinking his milkshake and turned towards me, offended.

"Hey! Spiders have feelings too! How would you like it if you spent your whole life being hated simply because you have a few extra legs and are a tad hairier than what's expected?" He defended, narrowing his eyes.

I recoiled and moved away slightly. "Ew, Albus! Stop defending them, it's weird." I told him, shuddering lightly.

"It is not. I just don't like seeing innocent and misunderstood creatures being hated for no apparent reason. I'm not completely heartless, like _some _people." He replied, sending me an obvious look.

My hand flew to my chest. "Ex-_squeeze me_?!"

"You heard me."

"Well, I'll have you know – "

"Er, food's here."

Both Albus and I stopped arguing to look up and find Emma the Waitress tentatively standing in front of our table with plates of food. She glanced around at the four of us warily. "Is everything all right? Should I come back in a bit?" She asked, worried.

G waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, we're good. They're just having a bit of a lovers tiff, is all." She explained, sending a devious smirk our way.

Emma the Waitress visibly relaxed and began smiling as she passed us our food. "Oh, okay. Well, you two make a cute couple, for what it's worth." She told Albus and me.

I felt my cheeks heat up as I avoided looking at Albus. "Er, we're not – "

"Yum, I love cherry tomatoes!" Viv interrupted unknowingly, stuffing a bunch of her salad into her mouth with a blissful expression on her face.

Emma the Waitress walked off with one last smile, and G turned to us.

"Come on lovebirds, dig in!" She said, taking a smug bite out of her burger.

I really need some new friends.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – Harry Potter of course belongs to the marvelous J.K. Rowling!**

**Prank'd is the, in my mind, the magical version of Punk'd**

**'Ex-squeeze me' is taken from the Mindy Project (which you should all definitely watch it's amazing)**

**Also the yogurt in coffee thing was inspired by my Grandpa who actually puts yogurt in his coffee to the disgust of the rest of us haha**

**OHMYGOODNESS I AM SO SO SORRY**

**I just started Uni and it's been an absolutely **_**insane **_**week! We've already got a load of work to do, which took priority over this story. Though I finally finished the chapter! I'm realllllly not happy with it at all though, and I'm sorry that it's a major filler! I sort of just wanted to flesh out G's character more (who is bisexual) and show a bit more of the friendship between them (minus Panna **** ) as well as a look into Clio's family. **

**However…the next chapter will be the first round of the Tournament!**

**Just a bit of a heads up, it may take a little while longer than this one did to get the next chapter finished, as I'll be trying to settle into Uni at the same time, so sorry in advance for that!**

**The Chirpy Bitch – Yes! A Potter chapter will definitely be coming up (hopefully in the next chapter) as they'll be having dinner over there :) And don't worry – there's **_**definitely **_**more ScoRose to come ;)**

**Thank you so, so, so, so, so much for all of your lovely reviews! Honestly, they make me smile for the rest of the day and just lift my spirits! Also thank you for the follows and faves, you guys are the absolute best!**

**Thank you for reading! **


	10. Chapter 10

**Chapter Ten**

"Okay, Pona – hair?"

"Uh aghou eh?"

"What?"

"Whu?"

"Wait, what?"

"Eh unno?"

"Huh?"

"Whu!"

"Epona, I cannot understand a word you're saying."

Epona spat out the foamy toothpaste into the sink and looked into the bathroom mirror, fixing my reflection with a glare.

"What about it?" She asked impatiently, pushing a lock of dark hair from her face.

"What about what?" I asked blankly, looking away from the floral patterned curtains I had been studying.

Epona made a loud noise of frustration and whirled around to face me, her horse printed dressing gown fanning out around her dramatically.

"Clio, we're not doing this again. What about your _hair_?"

I smiled in realization. "Oh, yeah! That." Epona rolled her eyes. Ignoring the high levels of sass exuding from the angst ridden teenager in front of me, I continued, "Well, I was just wondering how I should have my hair for the Tournament." I said, swallowing nervously.

It may seem strange that I'm asking my horse-obsessed sister for hair tips, but that's exactly the reason I'm asking her. When Epona was younger, Mum and Dad took her to see a few award winning horses; the types that always have braids in their manes.

It's fairly obvious what happened next.

Epona promptly learned how to braid and then proceeded to wear her hair in a painfully tight French braid for the next two years.

However, one day she decided she didn't want to look like a horse and instead actually wanted to own a horse, so she stopped with the braids and started with the pestering and pleading with our parents.

She still hasn't grown out of that phase.

Epona leaned against the sink, crossing her arms thoughtfully. "Hm, it's tough. You don't want to look _too_ extravagant, but then you can't just go like, well, _that._" She explained, gesturing distastefully to the knotted bird's nest masquerading as my hair.

"Ugh, I know." I grimaced, leaning closer to the mirror to examine my worn out reflection. I poked the tangled mess on my head. "This must be how Albus feels everyday."

"Hm, maybe. At least his hair looks good though." Epona observed.

I turned to face her. "Hey!" I exclaimed, offended. It's true though – despite how horribly messy it is, Albus always manages to make it work.

She shrugged. "Just telling the truth. Anyway, I'll do your hair. Messy braid into a messy bun?" She questioned, grabbing a hairbrush.

Wincing slightly as she yanked the brush through my hair, I looked at her reflection gratefully.

"Pona, you're a lifesaver."

She just smiled in response and continued brushing my hair.

* * *

"Clio, are you ready sweetheart? We're flooing in to the Ministry in ten minutes."

"Almost!" I shouted to my father, before turning back to face my worried reflection.

I took a deep breath. "Let's do this."

* * *

"Clio, let me fix your tie." Saule said softly, pausing from where my family and I were making our way to the information desk in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic.

I stopped and allowed my sister to quickly redo the knot on my Hufflepuff tie, as I fiddled nervously with my robes and glanced around. Before we left for the holiday break, McGonagall had informed us that we were required to show up for the Tournament in full and correct school uniform, which was slightly annoying (who likes wearing their uniform during the holidays, honestly), but did save me that hassle of having to choose my own outfit.

I sighed as I looked up at the Second Wizarding War Memorial, held in the centre of the busy floor. Upon request of Mr. Potter, Mrs. Granger – Weasley and Mr. Weasley, after the War the Ministry had erected a Memorial commemorating the lives of every person and creature that died at the hands of Voldemort and his followers.

An everlasting fire had been set up in front of the Memorial and fresh flowers lined the area around it. It was both a beautiful and sad sight.

I felt Saule squeeze my arm, and turned to see my family watching me.

"Are you okay Clee?" Mum asked, fiddling with her navy coat nervously.

I nodded and attempted a smile. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit nervous."

Understatement.

"Okay then. Well, we better ask the information desk where to head. You've still got twenty minutes until 1pm, so no rush." Mum said, leading us all through the Atrium.

My family and I pushed past the crowds of people towards the bored looking worker seated behind the information desk.

"Level ten. Head to elevators, Bob'll show you. Walk upstairs from level nine. Next to courtroom ten. Have a nice day." The guy droned to us as we reached the desk.

My parents looked at each other in confusion. I cleared my throat and stepped forward.

"Er, sorry, it's just I'm here for the Tournament and –"

"Level ten. Head to elevators, where Bob is. Walk upstairs from level nine. Next to courtroom ten. Have a nice day." He repeated, with a dismissive hand gesture at the end.

My family stood in stunned silence.

"Er-"

"Level ten. Head to elevators, Bob's there. Walk upstairs from level nine. Next to courtroom ten. _Have a nice day._" With that, the worker grabbed his wand and swished it towards the small window, closing it and effectively blocking us from him.

"Well, that's not very nice." My mother harrumphed and indignantly flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder.

"Mum, don't be so quick to judge. For all we know, he could be going through a difficult situation at home right now that's impacting heavily on his work ethic." Saule reasoned earnestly as she fixed the Peter Pan collar on her pastel blue blouse.

"Now Saule, honey, I know you like to see the best in everybody, but – "

"Guys, is this really the time?!" I said, my voice taking on a rather shrilly tone towards the end.

Four heads swiveled to face me in shock as I stood there breathing rather heavily.

My father cleared his throat. "Of course not, Clee. All right Appleberry's, you heard the man! Let's find this 'Bob' then."

I sighed in relief as we followed my father towards the elevators, located just around the corner from the information desk. Dad actually worked in the ministry in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, as some type of coordinator for Quidditch. None of us actually knew what exactly his job entailed, as none of us were exactly very interested in it.

Harsh, but true.

As we finally reached the elevators, I caught sight of a hunched over old man standing off to the left of them. He grinned a toothless smile at my family and I caught sight of "Bob" written on a tag on the lapel of his lime green robes.

"Ar, here for the Tournament, ey missy?" He rasped, eyeing my Hogwarts uniform.

I forced a smile as I moved behind Dad slightly to shield myself from his stare. "Er, yes."

"We were told to find you to lead the way to Courtroom eleven." My mother interjected.

"Ar, ar, this way." He said, as he led us into the elevator.

"'Ar'? Is he a pirate or a wizard?" I mumbled to my sisters. Saule shot me a reproachful look while Epona snorted in agreement.

Once we were all in the lift, the door slammed shut rather forcefully, making my whole family jump in surprise.

"Hold on!" He yelled, as he tapped something with his wand.

"Wha – oof."

That was the sound of my whole family crashing into the back of the elevator.

Bob cackled. Like, actually cackled. "Ar, gets them every time it does! I love me job." He exclaimed, cackling some more.

Ignoring the sadistic tendencies of the crazy old man controlling the (very violently moving) elevator, I pulled myself up and then helped Epona up, as my parents grabbed Saule.

"Oh my Merlin, I'm going to die before I even reach the tournament." I groaned, holding onto a pole as the lift took another sharp turn.

"Don't be so dramatic, Clio. We're perfectly safe here." Mum admonished.

I gave her a pointed look as she screamed when the lift suddenly dropped.

"You were saying."

"Okay, I take it back. We're all going to die!" She screamed, wrapping her arms around another pole.

"I can't die, I'm too young! I DON'T EVEN HAVE MY OWN HORSE YET!"

"I'm interviewing the Wimbourne Wasps tomorrow!"

"Oh my Merlin, _slow down you mad man_!"

"Ain't able to! Only one speed me love, and it's _warp speed_!"

Merlin save us all.

* * *

"Sweet Hufflepuff, solid ground. Beautiful, beautiful ground." I gasped, falling to my knees as soon as the doors to the lift opened.

Epona and Saule stumbled out afterwards and leant shakily against a wall. My parents soon followed.

"Good luck missy!" Bob shouted, as the elevators zoomed away.

"Never again." I whispered, as my Dad helped me up.

I looked around as I stood up. The corridor leading to the Department of Mysteries, which I'm guessing was previously dusty and dark, had been illuminated by floating orbs of light and temporary charmed windows along the walls. The door that led to the Department of Mysteries itself was obviously shut off from view, and illuminated arrows lined the walls to point us to Courtroom ten. Several witches and wizards could be seen at the end of the corridor though thankfully, nobody was close enough to see our embarrassing departure from the elevator that seemed to be channeling the spirit of Circe.

Straightening my robes, I cleared my throat and followed my family down the corridor on slightly shaky legs. Smiling at the people milling around, we made our way up the staircases to level ten, where the Tournament will be held.

"Ah! Miss Appleberry!"

I looked to my left to se Mrs. Granger – Weasley beaming at me. She turned to my parents and sisters and shook their hands. "Hello, you must be Clio's family. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Same to you." My mother and father said, returning the handshake and smile.

Mrs. Granger – Weasley clapped her hands together once. "Brilliant! You're the last Hogwarts competitor to arrive, so you're all here now which is fantastic. You can just head in through this door, where you'll find the other competitors and your teachers. Unfortunately, family is not allowed in there, so you'll have to say your goodbyes now." She explained apologetically, before suddenly raising a hand to her ear. "What? No – no Harold, I said they _can't_ practice inside! What do you _mean _'fire dragon'?!" Mrs. Granger – Weasley turned towards my stunned family. "I'm so sorry, I have to take care of this. Feel free to go into Courtroom ten after you've whished Clio luck." She said, waving at us before walking away and muttering angrily.

"Er, okay then. Well, good luck Clee." My mother said, smiling at me as she wrapped me in a tight hug. "We're so proud of you."

"Thanks, mum." I said as she pulled back. I hugged my dad, before grabbing Saule and Epona in a group hug.

"You two better cheer me on." I said in a warning tone.

"You can count on it! We'll cheer you on so much that you'll wish we didn't." Saule told me cheerfully as I let them go.

I laughed and ruffled their hair. "I look forward to it. Anyway, I should go in." I told them, glancing towards the door nervously.

My family nodded and waved, sending some last well wishes my way before making their way down their corridor.

Steeling myself, I turned towards the double doors and opened them slightly, slipping inside.

"CLIO!" Somebody shouted.

I turned around to see Viv and Albus frantically waving at me from across the courtroom, from where they were seated on the floor. I beamed and ran towards them, jumping down the stairs.

Viv hugged me when I reached them. "Clio, oh Merlin, I'm so nervous." She said worriedly.

I grabbed Albus in a hug. "Me too. I could barely sleep last night."

After hugging them both, I took a seat on the floor, smiling at both Rose and Scorpius who were also seated with the other two.

"All right, Rose? Scorpius?" I greeted.

"As well as we can be." Rose returned, smiling nervously whilst Scorpius merely shrugged and ran a hand through his slicked back platinum hair.

I cocked my head to the side. "You don't usually wear your hair like that, do you?" I asked, genuinely confused.

Scorpius sighed in frustration and tugged on his Ravenclaw tie. "No, my father made me." He mumbled, looking at the ground.

"Oh. Well, it looks good." I told him, smiling. Truthfully, I personally thought it looked better without all of the product, but we all needed to be told a few little lies to calm us down.

He shot me a small smile, while Rose rolled her eyes and batted his hand away from his tie. "Stop that. You're ruining it." She said in frustration, undoing his tie and doing it up again properly.

Scorpius' face turned bright red as he purposely avoided looking at any of us.

I shared a meaningful glance with Viv. Albus was staring at the two of them with narrowed eyes.

Deja vu much?

Rolling my eyes, I glanced around the courtroom. In one corner, I spotted Millie and Bobbie talking quietly to each other. Up in the highest seats, Ramsbottom was flicking his wand around and muttering to himself. Finally, close to the doors, Zeph was seated with Mint, who appeared to be giving him a pep talk.

However, one thing about this situation didn't sit right with me.

"Wait, where the Circe are the teachers?" I asked in alarm, swiveling my head back around to stare at the others.

Albus rolled his eyes. "Calm down Clio. They've just gone to talk to the judges. All of the teachers from each school have to check in before the Tournament starts. They'll be back soon." He explained.

I sighed in relief. "Oh, thank Merlin. I know most of them are insufferable, but I could really use a pep talk right now."

"I know what you mean. I usually can't stand Hainsworth, but right now I could really use his help." Albus agreed.

My gasp echoed around the courtroom.

"You 'can't stand Hainsworth'? What in the name of Merlin's saggy underpants are you talking about, Albus Severus Potter?" I questioned in a shrilly voice, holding my hand over my heart in offense.

Dear Merlin, that boy is _delusional._

Albus looked at me in alarm. "Er…"

"'Er' is right, you ninny. Hainsworth is brilliant." Rose said with narrowed eyes.

"Ooh! Are you guys talking about Professor Hainsworth? He's amazing, isn't he? And those eyes…" Mint shouted from across the room, fanning herself.

Albus looked around at her. "Wait. What?! You guys all like Hainsworth?"

"Well, I mean, he _is _a good Professor." Zeph added quietly, with a shrug. Scorpius and Viv nodded in agreement.

I turned to Albus in triumph. He pulled a face.

"He's so _annoying _though."

"Have you looked in mirror lately?" Rose said snidely, flipping her red curls over her shoulder.

We all laughed and high fived Rose as Albus crossed his arms moodily and pouted. I grinned and pinched his cheek.

"Aw, don't be like that Albie."

He swatted my arm away and poked his tongue out, which just made us laugh harder.

"Due to the racket you are all making and the startlingly accurate impressions of hyenas you're performing, I take it you are not fussed about whether you do well in this Tournament and are perfectly happy making a fool of yourselves and Hogwarts in front of high ranking ministry officials and other countries. I however, am not. So, if you will kindly stop your talking, then maybe at least _one _of us will be able to do Hogwarts proud." Ramsbottom huffed, sending us a glare from his high vantage point.

Holy shit of a Hippogriff.

Who shat in his morning coffee?

"Yeah, it sure as hell isn't gonna be you though." Bobbie said from her spot next to Millie on the floor, examining her nails unconcernedly.

I turned towards my friends with wide eyes and shared a panicked look with Scorpius across the circle. Both him and Albus ran a nervous hand through their hair. Viv was glancing nervously between Bobbie and Ramsbottom and drumming her fingers on her legs.

"Oh Merlin, this is not good." Rose whispered, biting her nails with a worried expression.

"Excuse me, Thomas? And what – you think that person will be _you_?" Ramsbottom replied snootily with a derisive snort, looking down at Bobbie.

Bobbie jumped to her feet and cracked her knuckles.

"Actually, I think if you don't stop talking _right now_, I'm going to fucking punch –"

However, whatever threat Bobbie was going to (rightfully, in my opinion) reply with, was cut off by the doors loudly opening to the Courtroom and the teachers returning.

McGonagall, dressed in brilliant emerald robes, sent a sharp glare towards Bobbie and Ramsbottom who immediately sat back down. She then looked around the room towards the rest of us.

"I know you are all feeling pressured at the moment, but need I remind you that you are acting as representatives of Hogwarts?" She said sternly, to be met with our tense silence. "I expect you all to be on your best behaviour. Do you understand?"

"Yes Professor McGonagall." We chorused.

She nodded. "Good. Keep in mind that you are also going into this competition as a team, not individuals. The points you earn will all add up and impact on whether you make it into the next round or not. Don't let prejudices destroy your chances." McGonagall warned. She then turned around and gestured to Hainsworth to step forward. Upon looking at the teachers, only five had come, however this was expected. Binns point blank refused to leave the castle (being completely honest, he's been there so long I don't even think he _could_) and McGonagall decided that they only needed a few to chaperone for the event. Thus, we had Hainsworth, Professor Capella (Astronomy), Professor Chahine (Ancient Runes), Professor Flitwick (Charms) and Professor Longbottom (Herbology).

Hainsworth beamed at all of us as his tousled hair shone under the courtroom lights.

"So! Is everybody excited?" He asked, clasping his hands together.

Silence.

Okay, I don't know what exactly he expected when he asked that.

He cleared his throat in embarrassment as McGonagall pursed her lips in the background.

"Er, anyway. So, your judges will alternate each Tournament. Today, there are three – one from Australia, one from South Africa, and one from England. Each is a high-ranking ministry official in the Department of Education and rest assured are _completely _unbiased. How the competition is going to work is in," He glanced at his watch, "approximately an hour," my heart skipped a beat, "a ministry official will come in to the Courtroom. They will then call out the name of the first competitor, which of course, is Clio for History of Magic." He explained, beaming at me.

The other competitors whooped and cheered, clapping me on the back (excluding Ramsbottom, who gave a half hearted finger clap). Meanwhile I had to focus on trying not to vomit up my breakfast.

Lovely.

"Clio will then follow the worker out of the courtroom, where she will be briefed on some last minute instructions and brought into Courtroom ten, where the Tournament is taking place. Now, I know you all must be confused about how the Courtroom will work, so to put your minds at ease I can reveal that it has been charmed and transfigured to resembled a large type of theater, so as to be able to seat the hundreds of guests."

Wait back this broomstick up – how many people are going to be there to witness my inevitable failure?!

"Any further questions?" He questioned, looking around the room.

Millie raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Bell?"

"Is it too late to pull out?"

* * *

"Clio Appleberry?"

Oh sweet Hufflepuff.

That's me.

I stood up shakily as my classmates silently watched on. The bored looking ministry worker gestured for me to follow him out of the door.

Taking a deep breath, I turned towards my friends.

"Well, er, bye." I said lamely.

Viv stood up and quickly hugged me. "Good luck."

Albus then wrapped me in a tight hug. "You'll be fantastic." He said in to my hair.

I can only hope so.

Pulling back, I smiled nervously at Rose and Scorpius. They both gave me quick hugs and well wishes.

As I left the room, Bobbie, Millie, Mint and Zeph all called out their support and encouragement (Ramsbottom was still sulking by himself). I stepped out the door and faced my friends a last time, seeing their smiles before it shut in my face.

"Follow me." The man said. I followed him down the now deserted corridor, around other courtrooms and several turns. Finally, we reached the entrance to what I assumed was Courtroom 11, where nine other students my age were currently standing outside. As we approached them, I felt their stares on me. I gave them a slightly forced smile as the man directed me to stand at the end of the line, behind a dark skinned girl with a logo bearing the 'South African School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' on her golden robes.

The Ministry Worker then took his place in front of the ten of us.

"Right. Good afternoon, and of course, congratulations. Now as you know, History of Magic is the first sector of the Tournament. I trust you've all read through your manuals thoroughly?" He questioned, as I shifted guiltily.

What?

That manual is basically just the magical version of the muggle terms and conditions.

Nobody's got time for that.

"On the off chance you haven't, here's how it's going to work today. The host, Serafine from 'Witchy Night' on the Wizarding Wireless, and Mrs. Granger – Weasley are currently inside, introducing the Tournament to the audience. You will all then be introduced and I will direct you inside one by one as your names are called. The Tournament today for you is a quiz. Your buzzers will be in front of you on your tables, to be activated with your wands. The points will be tallied as you go, but you will not be able to see them. Each question is worth a different amount of points, and you will be awarded them depending on the quality of your answer. The places will be announced once every sector is completed. Is that clear? Any questions?" He finished, raising a thick eyebrow.

We all shook our heads.

"Great. Chat amongst yourselves for a few minutes while I check everything is ready."

I turned towards the girl from the South African school next to me and smiled at her. "Er, hey." I greeted.

She returned my smile happily. "Hello! Are you from Hogwarts?" She questioned.

I nodded. "Sure am. My name's Clio. What's yours?"

"Toni. It's nice to meet you Clio." She answered, shaking my hand with a smile.

"You too." I replied, beaming.

The doors opened slightly as the worker returned. "Okay, they're calling you in now! Line up! Quick, quick!" He whispered frantically to us, as we hurried back into our spots.

I could hear Serafine begin the introductions.

"Mei Wang, from Beijing Wizardry College!"

The Worker directed the first girl in.

"Lucien Roux from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic! Penelope Jones from Salem Witches Academy! Haruki Yoshida from the Tokyo College of Magic! Aleksandr Draganov from Durmstrang Institute! Vasilisa Kozikov from the Moscow School for Gifted Witches! Rafael Cava from the Brazilian School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Ruby Ellis from the Australian Institute of Magic! Toni Kuhn from the South African School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

Toni turned towards me with a smile. "Good luck!" She whispered, before disappearing through the doors.

"And last but not least, Clio Appleberry from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

If I thought the cheers that met the last few names were deafening, they were nothing compared to what met mine.

Taking a deep breath, I walked through the door.

As the worker directed me on to the stage, I could, in fact, hear my sisters screaming my name. Smiling at the audience, I took my seat on the bench next to Toni, who gave me an excited smile.

Serafine stepped forward, smiling brilliantly at both the audience and us. She was dressed in magnificent magenta and navy robes (that, if I'm being completely honest, hurt a bit to look at) and her grey hair was piled up elegantly on her head. Serafine had been the host of a segment called 'Witchy Night' on the Wizarding Wireless for around a decade now, and was extremely popular not only in England but also internationally. It confused me a bit as to why she was hosting a teenage academic tournament, but I suppose Mrs. Granger – Weasley wanted all the publicity she could.

I think maybe she forgot that she partly saved the world when she was a teenager.

How much more publicity could you want?

"Welcome, contestants! How are you all feeling?" Serafine asked, beaming at us. We all gave her awkward smiles in return.

"Excellent! So, I suppose we should get started then, hm?" She held up her hand and clicked her fingers, out of which a burst of pink smoke erupted and an envelope materialized. The audience clapped.

Smiling, she faced us once more. "Right, before we get into the questions, let's check your buzzers are working. Mei?" She asked, looking at the girl from Beijing.

Startled, the dark haired girl got out her wand and hesitantly tapped the small circle on her table. A shower of green sparks shot out. Again, the audience clapped.

Serafine then repeated this process down the line.

White sparks for Beauxbatons.

Silver for Salem Witches'.

Red sparks for Tokyo, and orange for Durmstrang.

Pink shot out for Moscow.

Purple for Brazil and turquoise for Australia.

When it was Toni's turn, blue appeared.

"Clio?"

Taking a deep breath, I hesitantly tapped my wand on the small black circle, watching in amazement as brilliantly yellow sparks fired out.

I couldn't stop the large smile that spread across my face.

Hufflepuff pride.

"Brilliant! Now, all that's left is to…begin the first round of the First Annual Interschool Academic Tournament!" She roared as the crowd cheered and yelled.

Serafine used a manicured nail to slice open the envelope. I started taking calming breaths.

She pulled out the enveloped.

She flipped over the first one, and grinned at us.

"Let's begin."

Toni caught my eye and gave an encouraging smile, which I returned.

"First question – what historical Quidditch team was founded in the year 1422?"

Okay, think Clio. Quid –

Too late.

White sparks erupted.

"Lucien Roux?" Serafine pointed.

The brunette boy straightened importantly. "The Wigtown Wanderers were formed. They consisted of seven children of a butcher - thee three sons and four daughters of Walter Parkin. Not much is known of them, however they won most of their matches perhaps owing to the fact that Parkin attended each game with a wand in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other. Currently, their playing robes are blood red with a silver meat cleaver, which is a nod back to their origins." Lucien rattled off through a thick French accent (this raised a question – how exactly were all of these foreign students understanding and speaking English? Mental note – ask Mrs. Granger – Weasley after).

I sighed as the audience applauded. I really needed to step up my game.

Squaring my shoulders, I hovered my wand over the black spot as I waited for the next question.

"Nice one, Lucien. Next – What is the most famous failure of a conduct the Ministry has ever seen?"

What?

No sparks shot up this time as every body sat in confusion.

Okay Clio, you can do this, just break up the question. Famous failure of a conduct. Famous conduct that failed…famous –

_I know this_!

I tapped the black circle, perhaps a little too enthusiastically as yellow sparks shot out a few metres towards the audience. I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment as I heard the laughter.

"Yes, Clio?" Serafine smiled.

"Er, it was the Werewolf Code of Conduct?" I said shakily. I cleared my throat before going on. "The Werewolf Code of Conduct was developed in, er, 1637, by the British Ministry of Magic. It consisted of, well, er, it was uh, basically a rule sheet of sorts? That is, it provided a list of responsibilities the ministry felt were necessary for werewolves to follow. An example was that they wanted them to lock themselves up secure once a month to prevent any possible attacks, which is actually quite inhumane looking back on now… Though I suppose that's because we have the Wolfsbane potion now which they didn't and, er, that's a bit beside the point so, yeah. Er, it was ultimately a failure though, due to how nobody actually showed up to sign it, which was rather expected when, you think about it. I mean, who was going to voluntarily admit to being a werewolf? Unfortunately, there are still some negative connotations associated with it now, but I mean, it was like a gazillion times worse in the 1600s. Nobody was going to walk up into the Ministry and openly admit to being a Werewolf. It would ruin their life, and possibly cause their death by the hands of superstitious Witches and Wizards of the time. So, er, that's the most famous failure of a conduct that the Ministry's ever seen." I finished, rather lamely.

Shit.

Word vomit or what?

I internally cursed myself as the audience politely clapped my answer.

"Fantastic, Clio! Okay, what event in 1709 sparked worldwide protests?"

I didn't even have to think about this one. Turquoise sparks had shot up before Serafine had even finished the question.

Serafine raised her eyebrows. "Ruby for Australia."

I turned to my right to look at the blonde haired Australian girl.

"The Warlocks' Convention outlawed dragon breeding in 1709, due to the increasing death toll of both magical folk and non-magical, not to mention various other animals and creatures. A rising black market had also appeared, which was very worrying for the Convention due to the dangers it posed." She rattled off, finishing with a brilliant smile towards the audience, who clapped appreciatively.

I clapped along though I couldn't help but noticing she failed to give examples of the protests, which could have a negative result on the points she received. At least she didn't pause and stammer like I did, though.

"Brilliant Ruby! Question number four – name a prominent rebellion group that had an important role in the Goblin Rebellion in the 18th Century." Serafine said.

I gasped and tapped my wand to the black circle; however, blue sparks had already arisen next to me.

"Toni for South Africa!"

"Uh, I believe it to be the Council of Rubies? Though they weren't too well known to the public, one of their members – Urg the Unclean – was. Having suffered public humiliation and torture at the hands of a group of young Wizards, he harbored bitter feelings that were, in my opinion, valid. The Council of Rubies followed him into battle in the Goblin Rebellion of the 18th Century, though that is all of the information known of them as they seemingly disappeared after the 18th century. Some historians hold theories that they still exist to this day, fighting for Goblin rights, though some believe they don't even exist at all." She answered, fiddling nervously with the embellished sleeve of her robe.

"Excellent!" Serafine complimented as the audience applauded. Toni breathed a visible sigh of relief, and I gave her a thumbs up and a grin when I caught her eye to which she laughed in response.

The rest of the quiz continued in a similar manner. I managed to answer a fair few questions, though I did continue to ramble, stammer and blush. Ah well – I'll set the bar low so the other Hogwarts contestants can impress. Toni also got in a few, and the other two who seemed to dominate the answers were Lucien and Ruby. Speaking of them, I got a bit of a nasty feeling about Lucien, though I'm absolutely positive it's just my nerves causing the distrust. Vasilisa and Haruki also stood out to me, so I really couldn't tell who would come in which place.

Before I knew it, it was almost over.

"And now, my lovely contestants and audience, we have reached the final question for the History of Magic section. Let's give these wonderful students a round of applause, shall we?" Serafine boomed, smiling as the audience cheered and whistled.

"The final question. Are you ready?" She questioned, looking at us as we gave small nods and took deep breaths.

"Okay. For the final question – 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named strived for immortality. When was his first step into this?"

I had tapped the black circle almost automatically, and watched in slight shock as yellow sparks shot up in front of me.

"Clio from Hogwarts!" Serafine called, pointing to me.

I took a deep breath.

I can do this.

"In September of 1943. He-Who-" I stopped, shaking my head. "_Voldemort_," I corrected, ignoring the few palpable shudders that arose from this name, "created his first Horcrux in September, using the murders of his father and grandparents to power it." I swallowed in distaste; he made me feel ill. "The first Horcrux created by him was a diary, in which he wished to preserve his sixteen year old self, in the hopes that one day he could manipulate somebody into reopening the Salazar Slytherin's chamber of secrets as he had done before. His wishes were made a reality when in 1992 he possessed, er," oh Merlin this is awkward, "Ginevra Weasley," sorry Mrs. Potter, "and opened it through her. However, this Horcrux was destroyed later that year through the joint efforts of Hermione Granger," awkward, "Ronald Weasley," so awkward, "and, er, Harry Potter." So, so awkward. "Voldemort then later went on to create a further five horcruxes and another one unintentionally, in the form of, er, Harry Potter." I am officially never going to be able to look Albus' dad in the eye. "However, the diary was his first physical venture into immortality, though he had been studying it for some unknown amount of time beforehand. It is also unknown where the knowledge about horcruxes was retrieved, though many historians theorize that some of his elder contacts outside of Hogwarts provided him with this information." I concluded, feeling my face burn.

I just answered a question, mentioning people who are currently sitting in this room right now.

People who I'm going to have dinner with tonight.

Merlin help me.

"Brilliant, Clio! And that concludes the History of Magic section of the First Annual Interschool Academic Tournament. Let's give up for the contestants!" Serafine said, gesturing to us.

The cheers that came from the audience were deafening, and only served to make me blush more.

I saw the other contestants beginning to walk off stage, so I hurriedly stood up. As I begun to follow them, Toni fell in step beside me and gave me a thumbs up which made me laugh.

That wasn't so bad after all.

* * *

"CLIO! Oh my Merlin how was it?"

"How'd you do?"

"What'd they ask you?"

"Did you win?"

"What place did you get?"

A flurry of screams and questions met me when I returned to the common room, still embarrassed from the last question I answered.

I shifted uncomfortably under everyone's stares.

"Er, it wasn't too bad, I guess –"

McGonagall sighed in relief. "Now all of you can calm down –"

"- but I don't think I'll ever be able to look your relatives in the eye, Albus." I finished, looking at him and cringing.

He pulled a face. "Huh?"

"Clio, what are you talking about?" Rose asked, bemused. Viv worriedly put a hand against my forehead, which I rolled my eyes at.

"Well basically, the last question was about Voldemort's horcruxes and in my answer I talked about both of your parents and now they probably think I'm some creepy stalker or otherwise I just _completely _embarrassed them in front of hundreds of people and oh Merlin Albus, they're not going to let me have dinner at your house anymore are they oh no, I stuffed up, this is bad, thi-"

"Calm down!" Albus said, grabbing my shoulders in alarm.

Viv giggled. "Clio, seriously. You're being a bit of a drama queen."

I made a high-pitched noise of offense. "Am not!"

"You are, a bit." Rose said, hiding her smile behind her hand. Albus didn't even have the decency to do that and was openly grinning. I took his hands off my shoulders in annoyance.

"I am not. Your parents must think I'm such a loser now!" I cried, flinging my hands up in the air.

I could practically hear Albus' eyes roll.

"Oh my Merlin Clio, stop. They've heard worse." He said, folding his arms across his chest.

Rose nodded in agreement. "They're not going to hate you for answering a question properly. In fact, that probably made mum like you even more." She comforted, as Albus nodded.

I looked between the two cousins with wide eyes. "Are you guys sure?"

"Positive." Rose said with a smile.

I nodded. "Okay. Okay, that's fine then." I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great, now that _that's _sorted, can you please tell us just what the hell is the deal with this Tournament?" Bobbie interjected, flipping her curls over her shoulder.

"Language, Thomas." McGonagall reprimanded, eyes flashing.

I smiled at Bobbie. "Of course. It's actually not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I met this really cool girl from the South African school too, which was nice. I mean, everyone was really like fierce and competitive and stuff in the quiz section, not to mention _inhumanely _fast with their wand-tapping-on-the-button skills, but overall it was okay. Not really what I'd classify as a mega experience, but yeah. Just okay." I answered, in what I hoped was a reassuring way.

Due to the high numbers of freaked out questions my statement raised, I'm going to say it wasn't as reassuring as I had hoped.

However, I couldn't really bring myself to get too worked up now. The first round was basically over for me and now I just had to wait until the points and places were revealed.

I'd done my part.

Now it was their turn.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – Harry Potter of course belongs to the marvellous J.K. Rowling! Also, most of the information for the questions came from the harry potter lexicon timelines.**

**Chapter 10 is finally here, whoo! I'm so sorry for the wait, I had a few uni assignments to do before I could write this chapter, but I finished it! **

**I really wanted to have the points and places revealed in this chapter but it started getting a bit long so I decided to split it in two! The next chapter will also have the dinner at the Potters, and should hopefully be up in the next week as I'm on Easter break now :) **

**Also just a note about the last question Clio answered – I know that Slughorn provided Tom Riddle with the information about the horcruxes, but due to the nature of how Harry retrieved that memory and Slughorn's intense regret over it, I believe Harry wouldn't have released that information to the Wizarding press. **

**Thank you so much for the lovely reviews, follows and faves on the story! You guys all brighten my day :)**

**To SomeoneThatCares – All will definitely be revealed with Scorpius and Rose soon! ;) And in this story, James is definitely not a player, but more of a jock (think frat bro haha)**

**I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Tournament section for History of Magic! For the next two rounds, I'll write out more of the questions and show the other subjects as well :)**

**Thank you so much for reading and I'll try and have the next chapter up soon! :) xx**

**(p.s. – if you guys want a visual on how I imagine the characters I've got some links in my bio for a polyvore collection for some of them – though it's totally fine if you don't either!) **


	11. Chapter 11

**Chapter 11**

"Wow! What a _phenomenal _start to the First Annual Academic Tournament!"

Cheers erupted from the hall and I awkwardly removed my arms from Viv and Scorpius' shoulders to clap along. Currently, all one hundred contestants were squished up on the stage, awaiting the results to be announced. How did we all fit up there?

Magic.

In all seriousness though, being blocked by a particular large teenage boy and having to practically hug the people standing next to you so you can actually _fit _on the stage isn't fun.

Especially because I sweat profusely when I get nervous.

And I am very, _very _nervous.

(Sorry Viv and Scorpius).

Scorpius, Viv and I all put our arms around each other once more, as Viv slung her other arm around Albus, and Rose rolled her eyes and put Scorpius' arm around hers after he stood there blushing and averting his eyes for a few painful seconds.

I grinned at that, before bringing my attention to Serafine.

"Well, without further ado, it is my great pleasure to welcome Mrs. Hermione Granger-Weasley to the stage, without whom this competition would not have been possible!"

More clapping.

Groaning, the ten of us Hogwarts students once more extracted our arms and gave a few round of applause, before squishing back in again.

I couldn't actually see Hermione (seriously, I know people can be tall, but is that guy's height even _possible?!_), but I assumed she was beaming from the tone of her voice as she congratulated us.

And then, the moment we had all been waiting for.

"This is all very exciting, I know. Before I announce the school's that will be going through to the next round, I will first announce the three highest scorers for the category. First, our very first subject of the day – History of Magic." Hermione said.

Viv gasped in excitement and Scorpius gave my shoulders an encouraging squeeze.

Me?

Well, I was just trying to focus on not throwing up.

"In third place, Ruby Ellis from Australia!"

The group next to us screamed and began congratulating a familiar blonde girl in their midst.

"Congratulations, Ruby! And now for second place. In second place, is... Clio Appleberry, from Hogwarts!"

Deafening cheers rose up from all around me as I was engulfed a humungous hug. I could hear Viv squealing in my ear and felt many hands patting me on the back. I couldn't stop smiling as the joy set in; I had come _second. _

Hell yeah.

As the group settled down somewhat with the encouragement of Mrs. Granger-Weasley, Albus poked his head around Viv's and gave me a dimpled grin.

"I knew you could do it." He told me.

I couldn't even think up a response to that; instead I simply grinned in elation at him.

"Okay, congratulations Clio! And finally, first place…The winner of the first round in the History of Magic segment, is Lucian Rioux from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic!" Hermione announced, as the powder blue Beauxbatons group cheered in triumph.

I clapped along, but felt a weird twist in my gut as I looked at Lucian. And then, something strange happened.

He turned around and smirked at me.

…

Ex-_squeeze me?!_

I could only stand there in shock as he faced his friends and classmates once more, with a charming grin.

I developed a strange, twisting feeling in my gut as Mrs. Granger-Weasley called for quiet. Did he really just smirk at me after winning something? Was he _that _much of a prick that he felt an uncontrollable need to rub a win in an Academic Tournament in my face?

But as soon as the feeling came, it dissipated. Surely I was imagining things. I mean, for all I know that could have been a perfectly pleasant smile and I just misinterpreted it.

Or perhaps, unknowingly, I was jealous of his win.

Guilt began stirring in the pit of my stomach as I cursed myself for thinking so irrationally and jumping to unfounded conclusions. Shaking my head quickly, I tuned back in to Mrs. Granger – Weasley, who was now announcing the places for potions.

Third place went to a boy from the South African school, and I clapped enthusiastically.

As the clapping began to die down, I took Albus' hand in my own and gave in a quick squeeze. He looked around the back of Viv's head at me in confusion, though I could see how nervous he was. I smiled encouragingly, and he squeezed my hand back in appreciation, as we both tuned back in to Mrs. Granger-Weasley.

"Brilliant! And now, for second place. Second place goes to Albus Potter, from Hogwarts!"

This time, I joined in with the screams. Almost all of us tried to hug Albus, resulting in a very uncomfortable group hug, filled with laughter and squeals of delight.

"Fantastic, Albus!" Hermione said, and I could hear the pride in her voice. "And now, for first place." She said, as we attempted to untangle ourselves.

After we had resumed our previous positions, still grinning with our two second places, Mrs. Granger-Weasley continued with the awards.

"In first place is…Fabian Rioux from Beauxbatons!" She announced, as Beauxbatons once again burst into cheers.

Still reeling with guilt from my horrible assumptions before, I made sure to clap with more enthusiasm than I usually would.

The places continued. Hogwarts received one more second place in Charms, and four third places for Ancient Runes, Defense Against the Dark Arts (Ramsbottom may be insufferable, but he sure knows his stuff), Arithmacy and Astronomy. And for Herbology?

First place.

When Mrs. Granger – Weasley announce that, we all burst into cheers so loud that my ears were still ringing from. Viv's still in shock.

"Fantastic job, everybody! You're all brilliant students, and as much as I hate to have to do this, unfortunately only five schools can go through. Before I announce who will and will not be going through, however, I'd just like to take a moment to thank you all for participating and making such a brilliant effort. You've made your schools, your countries, and me, very, very, proud. I think a round of applause is in order!"

We all clapped, though the nervous tension amongst the students on the stage was palpable.

"Thank you. Unfortunately, the following five schools will not be making it to the next round. I do hope, however, that you will all continue to inspire in your endeavors, and participate in the Tournament again. Thank you, to the Moscow School for Gifted Witches, the Brazilian School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salem Witches' Institute, Durmstrang Institute and the Beijing Wizardry College. You were all _brilliant_." She finished, with a sad tone in her voice that gave me the impression it wasn't her idea to eliminate schools from the Tournament.

Groans and sad murmurs arose from the schools, whilst sighs of relief and claps came from others who had made it through. As I felt a hand clap my back and turned to meet Albus and Viv's grins, I couldn't help but smile.

We'd made it.

* * *

I took a deep breath before rapping my knuckles on the door three times. Standing back, I nervously straightened my floral dress with one hand and clutched the bottle of Elderflower wine my mother had made me bring in the other like a lifeline. As I waited for the door to be opened, I looked around the neighbourhood of Godric's Hollow. Surprisingly, the Potter's did not own a mansion, but their house was not what you would exactly classify as _small _either. It was nice, and it was far too nice for me.

Just as I was contemplating whether I could leave before they noticed I was here and pretend to be ill, the door opened to reveal a grinning James Potter.

"Appleberry! Lovely to see you. Might I also congratulate you on your performance earlier on today? I especially loved the part where you stumbled over the question about my parents." He said, leaning against the doorframe, that insufferable grin still on his face.

I felt my cheeks hear up as I groaned in embarrassment.

He laughed and put a hand on my shoulder, guiding me inside. "Chin up, buttercup! It's all good – now come on in."

I followed him inside the hallway, my cheeks still flaming.

He gave me a small bow. "May I take your coat, Madam?"

"Er, you may?" I replied uncertainly, not yet sure if I was at the stage where I could joke around with him yet. Taking off my dark coat, I handed it to James who hung it up on the coat rack. He laughed as he saw my dress.

"Yellow, eh? Predictable."

I scoffed and pointedly looked at his red jumper. "Red, eh? Predictable." I replied huffily.

He raised an eyebrow at my small outburst. "Touché. Well, shall we?"

I followed James around the house, vaguely noticing the hundreds of pictures along the wall of the Potter family and friends. Suddenly, the hallway ended and opened into a large living room, filled with squishy armchairs with a roaring fireplace on the opposite wall. The two occupants turned to face us.

The one I recognised as Ginny Potter stood up, took one look at my bright red cheeks and turned to her son with a glare.

"James Sirius, _what did you do_?" She asked dangerously.

I saw James grin and lift his hands up in defense. "Nothing, mum! I swear. Well, I _may _have just complimented her on her question answering from earlier, but that's it."

I couldn't take it anymore.

Here comes the word vomit.

"About that, Mrs. Potter, I'm really, really sorry. It was so awkward and I would've answered the question without saying your names but I panicked and couldn't think and oh Merlin I'm so, _so _sorry, I completely understand if you don't want me to hang out with Albus anymore, oh Hufflepuff I probably just ruined both of your days, I'm so sorry-"

I was cut off by the laughter of the room's three occupants.

Mrs. Potter placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and grinned. "Clio, we don't hate you and we certainly don't want you to stop hanging out with Al."

"Plus, it added a bit of extra entertainment too."

I looked up at that voice, to be met with a pair of startlingly green eyes that had become very familiar to me. But I don't remember Albus having a scar on his forehead in the shape of a lightning bolt.

"I'm Harry Potter, Al's dad." He introduced, sticking out his hand.

Oh my Merlin. Calm down Clio. You can do this; it's just the Saviour of the Wizarding world, like, no big deal or anything.

Just act cool.

I shook Mr. Potter's hand. "Swell to meet you, Mr. Potter. I'm Clio. Appleberry. That my name – it's – my name is Clio Appleberry." I finished rather lamely, internally cursing myself.

'Swell'.

I _literally _just said 'swell'.

Merlin help me.

He smiled a bit, though I could see the confusion in his eyes. I feel you, Mr. Potter. I 'm confused about that train wreck of an introduction too.

"Er, it's swell to meet you too, Clio." He replied, looking bemused.

I grinned slightly in embarrassment, before turning to Mrs. Potter and greeting her properly, presenting her with the Elderflower wine.

"Thank you, Clio. This is lovely." She smiled, looking at the bottle, before turning to James who had been watching me make a fool out of myself in front of his parents with a smirk. "James, call down your brother and sister please."

That wiped the smirk right off his face.

"Why do I have to do it?" He asked incredulously.

Mrs. Potter raised a challenging eyebrow at her son. "Two words: firebolt-"

"Okay!" He squealed, darting his eyes towards me in panic. "Just, please, don't talk about that again." Sighing, he walked over to the staircase, sucked in a big breath of air and screeched out the names of his siblings.

Not going to lie, I jumped about three feet into the air.

As I subtly checked to see nobody saw that, two pairs of footsteps thundered down the stairs.

"James, what the fu- Clio!"

I looked up to see Albus walking towards me with a grin. I smiled in return.

"Hey! How are you?" I asked, despite having seen him less than five hours ago.

"Pretty good yeah, still basking in that second place glory." He replied with a crooked grin as I laughed.

I turned to Lily, who had been watching us carefully. "Hey, Lily," I greeted enthusiastically, if a little cautiously. I still hadn't forgotten the photo on the train.

"Hello Clio," She replied happily, with a glint in her eye that told me neither had she.

Excellent.

* * *

"This looks amazing, Mr. and Mrs. Potter." I complimented, looking at the dinner in front of me.

"Thanks so much for having us over." Viv added with a dimpled smile.

Mrs. Potter waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, it's nothing. Help yourselves!"

As we piled the delicious looking food onto our plates, I saw Viv swiftly engage a poor unsuspecting Mr. Potter in an intense conversation that was either about a) Herbology, b) Mr. Longbottom, or c) both.

Grinning, I turned to Albus next to me. "I can't believe G's on a date with Emma the Waitress! I'm so happy for her." I said, as I poured myself some pumpkin juice.

Albus nodded, but looked troubled at the same time.

"Everything okay?" I questioned, looking at him in concern.

"Er, yeah. It's just, well, I mean – what's going to happen when she goes back to Hogwarts?" He replied. "She's not going to be able to keep in touch. You can't exactly send an owl to a muggle waitress, and it's not like she'll wait around for a semester after one date."

"Albus!" I admonished quietly. "Don't be such a downer. If G's happy, then it's a good thing. And you never know – Emma the Waitress could be The One." I continued wisely.

He raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but do you have to keep calling her 'Emma the Waitress'? It's getting weird."

"I dunno, I think it's got a nice ring to it." I replied, shrugging. "It just rolls off the tongue, y'know?"

Before he could reply, Mrs. Potter cut in.

"So Clio, tell me about your family! Any siblings?" She asked, looking interested.

I beamed. "Yep! I've got three sisters – one who graduated Hogwarts a few years ago, while the other two are twins in fourth year."

"Wow! Are they Huffelpuff's too?"

I laughed. "No way. Maia's a Gryffindor through and through, meaning we were kind of surprised when she told us her girlfriend was a Slytherin. Though house prejudices shouldn't be barriers to relationships. Saule and Epona, on the other hand – those two just scream 'Ravenclaw'." I answered, fondly thinking of my sisters.

"'eah! They're the happy and horse obsessed ones, right?" James interjected with a mouth full of food.

I nodded and laughed as his mum chided him. "Yeah, that about sums them up."

Lily nodded, her red braids bouncing. "I quite like those two, though Epona can be a bit, er, frightening at times." She finished, with a sheepish look towards me.

Albus shuddered. "You're not wrong there," he added in a mutter, probably thinking of one of the many horse lectures Epona had forced him to listen to.

Conversation turned to more trivial matters for a while as we continued eating our dinner, before James steered it elsewhere through a question posed to Viv, Albus and I.

"Can I just ask, is the curly haired prick from earlier _always _such a curly haired prick?"

Albus sighed and shook his head. "You know James, you're 17. I think it's about time you stopped referring to yourself in the third person."

"Oh, _snap_!" Lily added, cackling.

James' brown eyes narrowed as he glared at his younger brother. Mr. Potter sighed and Mrs. Potter rolled her eyes, forcing Albus to apologise.

In an attempt to defuse the tension, I addressed James' original question.

"Er, do you mean Ramsbottom, James?" I asked.

He nodded and clicked his fingers. "Yeah! That's his name. Is he _always _so bloody insufferable?" He asked incredulously.

"Language, James. But er, yeah, is he?" Mr. Potter questioned as he grabbed a few more potatoes.

"Pretty much." I replied with a shrug.

Viv groaned. "I just really hope his ego won't get any worse. I mean, it was hard enough having to deal with him in the limited times we were forced to for this round, let along for the next two." She lamented in despair; taking on the tone of a woman who knows the end is coming.

"Want to know what I think?" Albus said seriously, looking at us.

"No, not really."

"Shut up, James. Anyway, I guarantee it's just going to get worse. Like, did you see that fight between Bobbie and Ramsbottom earlier on? I reckon that's only the beginning. It's just going to get worse from here on out, take my word for it." He finished, nodding his head sagely.

I frowned. "I hope not."

I heard someone clearing their throat, and turned to see James across the table flexing his arms with a wide grin.

"Well, if you guys ever need someone to sort out the tosser, you know who to call." He told us, finishing with a wink.

Lily scoffed loudly, causing six heads to swivel towards her.

"You? Sort someone out? You couldn't even sort _yourself _out last year on the firebolt-"

James squealed and slapped a hand over her mouth, with wide eyes.

Viv and I looked at each other in confusion, as the rest of the Potters burst into laughter.

What in the name of Merlin happened with James and the firebolt?

* * *

"Your coat, Madam." James said, presenting my coat to me with an extravagant flourish that would have been impressive, had it not caused my coat to fly out of his hands and fall to the floor.

"Er, thanks." I said, walking over and picking my coat up myself.

"Thank you so much for having us over." Viv said to Mr. and Mrs. Potter with a smile.

"Yeah, dinner was fantastic! Thank you." I added, pulling on my coat.

Mrs. Potter waved her hand. "Not a problem at all girls! You're welcome over any time you like. It's about time we finally met some of Al's friends."

"That's because Al's never had any friends." James said with a snide look towards his brother that quickly turned apologetic once he caught sight of his face. "Al, I didn't-"

"Stuff it, James." Albus murmured angrily, shoving his hands in his pockets as he avoided making eye contact with us. Viv shared a concerned look with me.

"It was lovely meeting you two." Mr. Potter said, shaking our hands and looking at his youngest son in concern.

"You too, Mr. Potter." We replied, before Mrs. Potter hugged both of us.

"I mean it, come over anytime you like."

"Thanks, Mrs. Potter."

"Well, see you at school next week!" Lily told us, quickly hugging both Viv and I.

After saying goodbye to James, Albus walked us both to the gate in front of his house. Viv caught my eye and looked at Albus, then back to me, her eyes bugging out.

Huh?

She continued looking frantically at the two of us, then giving me a meaningful expression.

Oh!

"Er, Albus." I interrupted the silence quietly. "About what James said-"

"Drop it, Clio." He murmured.

I sighed and nodded, before catching sight of his forlorn figure and squaring my shoulders.

"No. Albus, it doesn't matter, okay? All that matters is that you're our best friend now, and we're going to stick by you no matter what. Nothing will _ever _change that. Got it?" I told him, with a slightly threatening gleam in my eye.

Eh, as long as it got the message across.

He stared at Viv and I, before nodding.

Hufflepuff may be viewed as the stupid house, and we may be referred to as 'Dufferpuff' more than I'd like, but above all, we're loyal. And we always stick by our friends.

Until the end.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter – it belongs to the marvelous J.K. Rowling!**

**Okay.**

**It's been a month since I last updated…I'm so, so sorry! Half of it was continuous assignments from uni, and the other half was that I just couldn't seem to write this chapter! I was completely stuck, and I'm still not very happy with it now, I'm so sorry :(**

**On another note – 51 REVIEWS?! 23 FAVES?! 50 FOLLOWS!? That's amazing! Thank you all so much, I'm so happy you guys are all enjoying this story! **

**I just want to add as an extra note as well for the future – I know I'm absolutely terrible at sticking to a good updating schedule, but please know that I will not abandon this fic and will continue until it's finished :)**

**some review answers-**

**WhatsTheTimeMrWolf – you're definitely right, the beginning's always the best – you can just get it all out of the way first! And hahahaha yes omg that would be absolutely perfect for Epona!**

**JDTEA – thank you so much! We'll definitely see some more of the other history competitors very soon (and they're not all as nice as Toni!)**

**FaerieFlowers – wow, thank you so much! I'm so glad G's bisexuality helped! The reason I wrote her to be bisexual is that, like what you said, representation is just so poor at the moment. I think it's just so, so incredibly important to have people with a wide range of sexualities and diversity shown in literature and media! I am too, and you're not alone! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, I'm so happy you're enjoying the story :)**

**Thank you to everybody for your lovely words and favs and follows! I'll try to be a bit better with my updating next time :) xx**


	12. Chapter 12

**Chapter 12**

"Viv! G!"

"Clio!"

I ran towards my friends and flung my arms around the pair in a hug.

"All right?" G asked, grinning.

I laughed and pushed her shoulder. "C'mon, let's get a compartment before all the good ones are taken."

Lugging our trunks behind us, we pulled ourselves up onto the train with some difficulty.

"I swear this thing gets heavier every time." G grunted, pushing a blonde curl away from her eyes.

"That, or you're just getting weaker." Viv replied smugly.

"Whoa Viv, nice!" I high fived her, proud she had thought of a comeback to G's statement.

G huffed. "You guys are so mean." She pouted, crossing her arms.

"And you three are _so freaking slow_! Do you _mind_?"

Looking at each other in shock, we looked behind us to the source of the angry squeaky voice. A young boy stood behind us impatiently with crossed arms and a screwed up face, glaring at us as if we had just cursed his entire family.

"Uh-"

"I'm not getting any younger here!" He interrupted, throwing his arms up in the air.

"You're not getting any easier to look at, either." G murmured, staring at the boy distastefully.

"G!" I hissed reproachfully, before turning back to the kid with a smile. "Sure, sorry. Go right ahead." I said, moving my trunk so he could pass us.

"Finally." He muttered, shoving past us and knocking viciously into my shoulder.

Frowning, I rubbed my shoulder as the kid bolted down the train corridor.

"Oh my Merlin, Clio!" G gasped, looking at my forehead in horror.

"What is it?!" I squealed feeling my face, expecting my hand to come in contact with a huge spider or insect of some sort.

"Is that- is that a _footprint_ on your forehead?" She asked in concern, before looking at me disdainfully. "Because you're being a real doormat."

My hands dropped to my sides. "Huh?"

She sighed, picking up the handle of her trunk and beginning to make her way down the corridor. "Never mind."

I shared a confused glance with Viv, who shrugged at me. "Er, okay…" I murmured, dropping the matter.

We continued down the corridor, peering into each compartment in the hopes of finding an empty one but with no luck.

"Oi, watch it!"

I looked behind me in confusion, before screaming and ducking as a Weasley's Wizard Wheeze's 'aviatomobile' flew past my head, followed by two hassled looking second years.

"I _told _you this would happen! It's not meant to be used after you drop it in pumpkin juice you nitwit!" One exclaimed to his friend as the pair dashed past us.

Shaking off our confusion, the three of us once more continued down the seemingly never-ending corridor.

We had made it not even four steps before G yelled and flung out an arm, pushing Viv and I against one wall. Not even a millisecond later, a fanged Frisbee followed by two self-propelling custard pies flew past us, just missing our heads.

"Shit." G breathed, releasing us. "Did everyone on this train go for a shopping spree at WWW before coming here?"

"They do that ever year." I replied, thinking disdainfully of last year's start of term train ride, in which I was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time as a flock of fourth year Gryffindors set of a pack of demon dung crackers.

It took me five showers just to clean my hair and a further two paired with a deep conditioning to get the smell out.

Not a fond memory.

G snorted. "Demon Dung?"

I grimaced. "Demon Dung."

"Well, as nice as this reminiscing talk is, we should probably get a compartment before we end up like Jeffery Corner over there."

The three of us turned at the sound of the voice and let out a simultaneous, "Panna!"

Forgetting our trunks, we all rushed over to give our smiling friend a hug.

Laughing, she pulled away and gestured for us to follow her. "C'mon, I saw an empty one just a bit further up."

Following her, we were chatting happily about her visit to her grandparents and G's plan to stay in touch with Emma the Waitress before something caught my eye. Turning my head, I saw a human sized pigeon wearing a pair of thick glasses and a frown.

Poor Jeffery. That kid really can't catch a break. When he was in first year, he made his entrance into the hall dripping wet and five minutes after the rest of the first years. He'd fallen in the lake, and then proceeded to get lost on the way from the entrance hall to the great hall, despite being part of the large group of first years.

It's still a mystery as to how.

Taking pity on my fellow Hufflepuff, I mumbled the counter curse to the transfiguration spell as we passed him (figuring that the number of overage witches and wizards on the train would mask it), giving him a smile as he turned back to a human.

"Thanks, Clio." He sighed with relief, checking his jumper.

"Don't mention it. You might want to get into a compartment though, just in case it happens again." I told him in concern.

He nodded, and with a final wave began running down the train, knocking over three first years in the process.

Ah, Jeffery.

* * *

"G! Stop groaning, you're being so rude." Panna hissed, before bringing her attention back to McGonagall's start of term speech.

"Well, I'm _sorry _I'm a growing girl! I have needs, you know! Oh Merlin, I can practically feel myself starting to waste away…" G moaned, before letting her head drop back into her arms.

"Actually, you don't waste away at first. Your body basically starts storing more fat and calories at first, before you start losing the weight." Viv chimed in, not looking up from _Herbs: The World's Icing._

G and Panna shared a look.

"Okay, well…I'm not saying that's fake but that definitely doesn't sound real, so…" G said with an arched eyebrow.

I merely sighed, and looked away.

"And Clio! What's up with you? You look like someone's kicked your crup!" Panna whispered, shooting me a warning glance.

G snorted. "Haven't you noticed where she's looking? Albus not being allowed to sit with us during the welcome back feast is basically the equivalent."

"Clio, we all wish Albus could sit here, but it's the rules, okay?" Panna explained sympathetically as food begun appearing on the table.

I stabbed my fork into a potato. "Yeah, well, the rules are stupid and outdated."

"Correction – all of Hogwarts is stupid and outdated. In the a hundred years or so the school's been here, not even _one _person's bothered to find a way to get us wifi! I need my internet fix. You know what? I'm gonna start a riot. Right here, right now." G said, scrambling to get to her feet. "_We want wifi! We wa-_"

Panna grabbed her tie and yanked her back into her seat, looking frantically at the staff table to see if any of them noticed.

"What were you _thinking?!_ You can't just start a riot in the middle of dinner!" She whispered angrily.

"Well, not with that attitude I can't." G replied snootily.

I turned towards her in confusion. "Actually, the thing I'm most concerned about with this situation is you thinking Hogwarts has only been her for a hundred years. G, haven't you read _Hogwarts: A History_?" I asked.

She shrugged, piling pumpkin onto her plate. "I said a hundred years '_or so_'. Y'know, give or take a few."

"Yeah, give or take a few _thousand _years."

"Eh." She replied, pouring herself pumpkin juice.

"To be honest, the only reasonable thing in this situation to be concerned about is the frightening amount of pumpkin G's consuming." Viv said, eyeing our friend's meal of roast pumpkin, pumpkin soup and pumpkin juice distastefully.

"Nah, this is quite tame for G." Panna replied. "She's even having potatoes with it."

* * *

If I had thought that this term may be a bit better than the stressful horror that was last term, well, I was _seriously _mistaken.

"Apparition lessons? Finally!" A sixth year Hufflepuff yelled across the common room, to be met with the cheers of the sixth year boys and my friends.

"Bloody hell! It's about time too. I'm so sick of travelling by floo." G exclaimed, putting her feet up on the table in front of the fire.

"Floo? Try having parents that force you to take the Knight Bus everywhere you go." Panna replied, pushing G's feet off the table and looking slightly green.

"It'll be really great!" Viv added, clapping her hands together.

While all of this was happening, you may be wondering what I was thinking.

Well, I was a bit preoccupied with trying not to throw up.

"Yeah. Great." I said faintly.

I caught my friends strange looks from the corner of my eye.

"Clio? What's wrong?" Panna asked in concern.

"Wrong?" I replied, laughing awkwardly and flinging my hands in the air, hissing in pain when they hit a fourth year behind me. "Nothing's wrong! I don't even – why would you ask that. Psh. Wrong."

"Um – "

"Well actually, I mean I'm like, totally 100% spiffing. But have you guys heard about that case last week where those two Wizards splinched themselves trying to apparate to the next tow over? And, the week before that, there was that lady that lose her whole left arm trying to apparate downstairs in her own home. Not to mention that bloke that almost died a few weeks back after apparating, losing his whole right side – limbs and all – and causing a traffic pile up in the middle of muggle London which took three teams of Obliviators to clear up and even now there's still sweeps going on and well basically to be honest I'm just a little, _teensy _bit concerned, is all." I rattled off, breathing deeply.

They all sat in stunned silence, until G, ever so eloquent, broke it.

"So basically you're fucking terrified and about to piss your pants."

I scoffed. "Psh. No, like, I don't even – that's so _unfounded_. It's totally rational to be concerned! And speaking of which, we should get to Defence pronto!" I answered, jumping up from the bright yellow armchair, scooping up my book bag and power walking to the entrance hall, leaving three very confused friends behind me.

Of course, not every problem can be solved by simply power walking away from it.

"I cannot believe you're seriously frightened about apparating." G laughed, as we walked up the third level corridor towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.

"_I _cannot believe that magical society has become so dangerous and life threatening that the prospect of apparating - which, by the way, is literally transporting your body across long distances with the very likely chance you'll leave half of yourself behind – is one that apparently you're not allowed to be concerned about!" I shot back.

"Whoa, Clio, guys, what's happening?"

I looked up to see Albus standing outside the classroom, running a hand through his hair with a furrowed brow.

"Albus! Finally, somebody who'll understand." I said happily, walking over and linking my arm with his.

"Er…" He looked at me, before raising an eyebrow at the others.

"Clio's terrified at the prospect of apparition." G stated bluntly.

Albus laughed, before abruptly stopping and looking down at me.

"Wait. Seriously?"

I let go of his arm and threw my arms up in exasperation. "Not you too! And I'm _concerned, _not frightened."

"You keep telling yourself that." G said, smirking.

"I am _not _terrified!" I yelled, stomping my foot.

My friends looked shocked at my outburst, and then –

"Did you seriously just stomp your foot?"

Nothing I said or did could stop the obnoxious laughter pouring from their traitorous mouths.

"I hate you all," I growled, narrowing my eyes at the four of them as their laughter only increased in volume.

"Come in, come in!" A shout from the doorway resounded around the corridor.

Turning to look, I saw old Professor Calloway standing there with a goofy smile on his wrinkled face. Calloway was an excellent teacher, but he was a few knuts short of a sickle, if you know what I mean. Currently, he was sporting some brilliant polka dot robes in a violent shade of cerulean, coupled with a lovely pair of tartan earmuffs that looked as though they had been a hand knitted gift from Professor Hagrid.

The class filed in past Calloway, some laughing at his outfit though the majority of us were used to it by now.

We all begun walking to our seat, before realizing that they had disappeared and the only thing in the usually quite packed classroom was a lone cupboard.

"Practical lesson today, my little badgers and snakes! Wands out, bags by the door and gather around the cupboard." Calloway announced joyfully, his white flyaway hair sticking in all directions.

"The fuck?" G whispered as we set our bags down, only to be met with four equally confused shrugs.

A few minutes later, the whole class was huddled around the now shaking cupboard, awaiting instruction from Calloway.

"Today, we'll be reviewing Boggarts."

Startled murmurs coupled with groans filled the room.

"Ugh, but why sir? This is _third _year content." Ramsbottom piped up snidely, staring at the cupboard with a sneer.

I rolled my eyes, as G called him some colourful words under her breath, making Panna giggle. G turned to her in surprise, smiling when she continued laughing.

Calloway merely raised his thick, bushy eyebrows at Ramsbottom.

"Well, I trust you shall be more than happy to complete the task first then, Mr. Ramsbottom. As I recall, you failed to properly defeat your boggart in your third year exam, but if this is too easy for you then go right ahead."

The whole class, myself included, snickered as a red-faced Ramsbottom made his way to the front of the room.

I felt a hand on my back and turned to see Albus looking at me.

"If what Calloway just said is true, then why is Ramsbottom the Defence representative if he couldn't even beat a boggart?" He whispered in my ear, causing me to shiver slightly.

I shrugged, hyper aware of how close he was.

"Dunno. Maybe he improved heaps?" I whispered back, looking into his startling eyes.

Albus held my gaze for a few seconds, before turning away and dropping his hand from my back. "Yeah, maybe." He murmured, looking thoughtful but not convinced.

Turning back to where Calloway and Ramsbottom stood, I groaned along with the rest of the class as Calloway cast a shield that effectively blocked our view of the happenings with the boggart.

It was disappointing, but we all knew why. After the War, too many boggarts had become absolutely horrifying and tied too closely to dead family members or the fear of finding family or friends dead.

The sheer amount that had become Voldemort was absolutely terrifying.

Hogwarts petitioned to the ministry to have Boggarts removed from the curriculum, but the Ministry would not budge on the matter, so our school had to make do and gave the caster privacy to deal with their fears away from the prying eyes of classmates.

A sudden scream brought my attention to the dark shield.

"Come now, Mr. Ramsbottom! You've got this! A bit louder now!" Calloway shouted, his voice drifting across the room.

There was a sniffle, a muffled "_Riddikulous" _and then silence.

A moment later, a pale-faced Ramsbottom appeared from around the shield, followed by a beaming Calloway.

He clapped Ramsbottom on the shoulder. "Good man! Excellent form there, my boy."

"Thanks." He murmured, shuffling over to the rest of the class and wiping at his eyes.

I felt a pang of sympathy for him. I mean, don't get me wrong – he's an utter tosser, but he's still human. He has very real fears, and just had to face an imitation of them. That's enough to freak out even the most steady minded person.

"Miss Appleberry, if you will?" Calloway called, gesturing for me to follow him behind the curtain.

My face screwed up as my stomach churned uncomfortably. At least I wasn't going in unprepared though. I know what my biggest fear is – inferi.

When I was younger, only a little tyke of three or so, I went with Maia and Mum to visit Dad at work. Well, long story short, I somehow got extremely lost, went past around five different security stations undetected and wound up in the Department of Mysteries in a room full of inferi.

I think you can imagine how scarring that would be for a three year old.

I followed Calloway behind the shield, and took my place in front of the floating unidentifiable shape in front of the wardrobe. However, that shape, as soon as I stood in front of it, latched straight onto my deepest, darkest fear.

And next thing I knew, I was facing Epona.

My heart seized up. It wasn't her – well, it was, but not fully. I could see the rotting flesh; the milky eyes; the blood.

My fear had changed.

"Clio…" The thing wearing Epona's face groaned, stumbling forward a few steps as I shakily stumbled back.

Breathing heavily, I went to raise my wand, but Epona's features become twisted and gnarled and suddenly I was facing Saule.

"Saule?" I murmured, feeling my eyes water as my heart begun racing.

Saule opened her mouth and then Maia was there. Twisting. Char. Changing. My parents.

I vaguely heard Calloway's voice, but it sounded as though he was screaming at me from the end of a long, dark tunnel.

My vision blurred as Panna appeared.

"Pan?" I gasped, clutching my heart, but I blinked and there was G. Viv, with flesh hanging off her pale face, her long black hair a matted and bloody mess.

I drew in a few shaking breaths, panicking when Viv's dark eyes turned into emeralds, the hair shortened, and then –

"Albus…" I whispered, my chest heaving with gasps.

Inferius Albus took two heavy steps towards me. "Look at what you've done…" He breathed out in a hiss, pointing a gnarled finger at me.

"No…no…" I whispered, struggling to move backwards, feeling my back hit the shield.

"You did this…"

I gasped and shook my head, tears flowing in a frenzied panic.

"I would never – "

"The spell, Miss Appleberry, say the spell!"

I lifted my wand, but the words wouldn't come. My wand fell out of my hand and fell to the floor with a clang, as my hand flew to my mouth in an attempt to muffle my sobs. I sank to the floor, as I heard a clear _"Riddikulous" _in front of me and then the only sound were my loud, strangled cries.

"What's happening?"

"Clio?"

"Clio, are you okay?!"

A pair of brown lace up boots entered my vision, as Calloway bent down in front up me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Miss Appleberry, are you okay?" He asked in warm concern, eyes crinkling with worry.

I tried to nod and say 'yes, I am', but I could only blubber in response.

Calloway stood up, grabbing my hands and gently helping me to my feet.

"Wait here, Miss Appleberry. " He told me, as he made his way around the shield to where the rest of the class was. "We had a bit of a faulty boggart there, so that'll be all for this lesson I'm afraid. Everybody's dismissed, no homework today. Er, could Mr. Potter, Miss Wen, Miss Patil and Miss Gribbles please remain behind?"

I heard shuffling and confused murmurs as the class filed out of the room, but I merely stood where Calloway had left me, still sobbing with my arms around myself.

As the door closed, signifying the last student leaving, Calloway vanished the shield.

"Oh my Merlin, Clio." Panna murmured, running towards my terrified figure, the others close behind.

"I'm – I'm so s-sorry." I hiccupped, as Panna rubbed my back. "I'd n-never let that happen to _any _of you." I said earnestly, looking into their faces.

Albus drew me into a hug as G and Viv asked Calloway what happened. I heard Calloway sigh, sounding nothing like the airy Defence teacher we knew.

"Well, er, fears tend to change over time." He said.

"It was just inferius when I was in third year. Why did the inferi have their faces this time?" I asked, my voice muffled by Albus' shirt.

"As students change and develop into sixteen to seventeen year olds from twelve year olds, I begin seeing more family related fears. Specifically, family and friend related fears to do with their deaths in some way. Now, Miss Appleberry here originally had a fear of merely inferi in her third year. However, as she grew and changed, so did her fears. And thus, her ultimate fear became seeing all of you and her family turned into inferi because of her." Calloway explained, sounding tired.

"Why not just remove them from the curriculum if they cause this much pain?" G asked in a snappy voice, squeezing my arm.

Calloway sighed once more. "I wish we could, Miss Gribbles. The ministry won't let us; in their opinion boggarts have to be examinable content.

"Now, Miss Appleberry is very shaken up at the moment. I trust you all know where the kitchens are by now?" He asked, as my friends murmured in agreement. "Well, I'd suggest you take Miss Appleberry to the kitchens and have some nice warm hot chocolate. I shall send a message down there to have Esther make you some." Calloway said, referring to the house elf in charge of the Hogwarts kitchens.

Albus and Panna flanked my sides, as the five of us made our way down to the kitchens.

* * *

"I feel so stupid." I murmured, stirring my hot chocolate, smiling kindly at Esther as she placed an éclair in front of me.

"What are you talking about, Clio?" G asked, draining the last of her drink.

"It's just, I feel like I made such a big deal about nothing. And the whole class saw right through Calloway's speech, so they all know it's because I was too much of a flobberworm to defeat a simple boggart."

"Clio, stop being silly." Panna admonished. "You just faced your biggest fear. I think we'd all agree that your reaction was very appropriate." She assured, glancing around at the others.

Viv nodded. "Especially because you were only prepared for inferi, and instead you got your family and friends as inferi. I mean, that's not even my biggest fear but I'd react worse than you if that's what I just faced." She told me truthfully.

"Honestly, Calloway should have said our fears change as we get older. That would have helped." Albus added.

I nodded. "Yeah, it would have. I guess it's done now, though." I breathed out and shakily smiled at my friends. "Thank you. For comforting me, I mean. And…you know I'd never let anything like that happen to you, right?" I asked quietly, looking at their faces worriedly.

G rolled her eyes. "Clio, do we even need to answer that? Of course we know. We'd never let it happen to you, either." She said, knocking me with her elbow lightly.

I grinned and opened my mouth to add something, before the door to the kitchens swung open and a loud voice filled the room.

"Ah! There you are, my favourite Puffers! And er, Albus too I guess."

James Potter stood in the doorway, a large grin on his face. However, he was only there for about a second before being pushed over by a small red head.

"You're such a prat, James." Rose Weasley said, rolling her eyes as she made her way over to us. "Anyway, I just borrowed James for the map." She explained to Albus, as he rest of us shared a look. What map?

"What do you need?" Albus asked, accepting her explanation as James got up and dusted himself off, glaring at Rose.

"You, Clio and Viv, actually. Mint wants us to have a group study session tonight, so she asked me to tell you three to meet in the library at seven, after dinner."

"Tonight?" G asked incredulously. "But it's like, the fourth day back! Why are you studying so soon?"

Panna nodded. "Exactly, you just finished the first round only a week or so ago. This is a bit overwhelming, don't you think?"

Rose nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Don't worry, I completely agree. But Mint's being insistent on this. I think she wants us to work on team dynamics or some thing like that. Which is stupid, because we work together just fine."

"So hatred and unresolved sexual tension is the new teamwork, eh?" James questioned with a raised brow, sauntering over to where we sat. He swung onto the seat across from me, next to Viv.

Albus rolled his eyes. "What are you on about, James?" He asked tiredly.

"Well, hatred – Ramsbottom. I really don't think that needs any further explanation. And unresolved sexual tension? Boy is there a lot in your team. I'm beginning to wonder if the teachers did this on purpose to help things move along a bit, because this glacial pace is getting more boring than Astronomy." He said matter-of-factly, helping himself to some of Viv's hot chocolate.

"James, seriously."

"Actually it's just 'Sirius'-"

"_James!_"

"All right, all right! Don't get your knickers in a twist, Allie!" He said, looking at Albus incredulously. "Well, there's the obvious Rose and Scorpius-"

"Hey!"

"- and there's also, well…" James drifted off, looking at Albus and I pointedly, before biting into a biscuit.

Albus and I glanced at each other before looking away quickly, both red in the face.

"James that's ridiculous-"

"Honestly, I don't even know what you're talking about-"

"Me and Clio? Psh-"

"Yeah, like Albus and I like each other, that's so dumb-"

James merely looked at us. "The denial is pretty cute, but it's going to get very old very quickly. So hurry things up, yeah?" He suggested, swiping a muffin before strutting out of the kitchens leaving silence behind him.

As ever, G was the first to break it.

"He's got a point, you know."

A fantastic start to the term, I'd say.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – Harry Potter belongs to the marvellous J.K. Rowling!**

**So, finally an update! I'm so sorry about the wait, I got really caught up in studying and exams for the past month, but I'm officially on uni holidays for a month so expect more chapters and updates! **

**I'm not too happy with this chapter (it was definitely a **_**major **_**filler) but expect more action and tournament stuff in the next one! **

**Thank you so much for all of the faves, follows and lovely reviews! You guys are seriously the best :)**

**I'd love to hear your thoughts in a review! Any favourite characters so far? Opinions on this chapter? Favourite hogwarts house? tell me everything! :) **

**Thank you so much for reading, and the next chapter will be up in week! xxx**


	13. Chapter 13

**Chapter 13**

The library was unusually quiet for a Thursday evening, though that was perhaps due to the fact that most people didn't have homework, considering it was only the fourth day back.

Of course, I didn't have homework either and only came so as to not hurt Mint's feelings.

Speaking of the peppy Ravenclaw, she suddenly stood up from the long table and clapped her hands together.

"Thank you so much for coming tonight, everyone! I had the idea for this group session in the hopes that it could help us work more efficiently as a team," she explained, beaming around at the nine of us.

I heard an unfortunately familiar scoff and automatically rolled my eyes.

"I don't see _why _though. I mean, it's not like we're answering the questions together." Ramsbottom said snidely.

Bobbie groaned. "Our points are tallied together, you daft idiot." She insulted, glaring at him with her dark eyes.

Ramsbottom merely spared her a side-glance, before straightening. "I still don't see why we can't just study alone then. This is stupid." He stated, puffing out his chest ridiculously.

As he said this, I watched sadly as Mint's face fell from its enthusiastic beam. She began mumbling something with downcast eyes, as I felt my sympathy grow.

"Er, well, I think it's a brilliant idea?" I said tentatively, wincing at how it came out as more of a question than a statement.

Well, as I proved in the first round of the Tournament, I'm not exactly the most eloquent speaker.

(If I'm being completely honest, I still have nightmares about that last question).

"Me too," Rose added, winking in response to my grateful look.

Viv also nodded enthusiastically and smiled at Mint to show her support.

See, why couldn't I have done some non-verbal communication like that? I mean, it's quick, efficient, you don't actually have to talk, and most importantly it looks so cool when you can just chat to someone purely using facial expressions.

Granted, the last time I tried, I ended up with pumpkin juice all over my school robes, but still.

(Long story short, G mistook my meaningful glances from her to Viv - whom she had been teasing earlier- as meaningful glances between the pumpkin juice and me. Well, let's just say G doesn't have the best hand eye coordination in the world).

The blinding smile returned to her face. "Fantastic!" Mint squealed, regaining her confidence. "Okay, down to business. First, I think it would be wonderful if we worked on some team bonding. So, let's go around the table and say something interesting about ourselves that nobody else would know." She finished, smiling so happily that I didn't even have the heart to think about how pointless this was.

Bobbie, on the other hand, didn't have the same problem.

"We're not twelve year olds, Mint." She said with a snort, crossing her arms.

I sighed as Millie nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. I mean, it's not like we'd know or want to know anything about each other, considering nobody here really likes each other." Millie added, flicking her dark hair over her shoulder.

I raised an eyebrow at that. With the exception of Ramsbottom, I was actually quite fond of everybody and I knew this was the same for the majority of them.

Rose apparently thought the same, as she sent an incredulous look towards the dark haired Slytherin. "I don't know what you're on about Bell, but I happen to like everybody here."

I noticed how she had purposefully turned her back to Ramsbottom and disguised my laugh with a cough.

"Oh, you like _everybody _here? And here I was, thinking it was just Scorpius." Bobbie replied with a smirk, her dark tight curls bouncing as she leant forwards.

I winced and shared a panicked look with Viv and Albus, as both Rose and Scorpius went bright red (though due to very different reasons). As Scorpius shifted uncomfortably and averted all eye contact, Rose slowly edged closer to Bobbie, staring her down as a wolf would its prey.

"And what exactly are you implying, Thomas?" She asked, in a deathly calm whisper. The rest of us watched with bated breath.

Bobbie merely grinned as Millie laughed; an uninviting sound.

"Oh _please _Weasley, we all know the two of you have been fu –"

"My patronus is a golden retriever and I get really sad every time I cast it because it looks exactly like the dog I had when I was younger!" I blurted out with my eyes screwed shut.

I'm not really sure why. I know I hate confrontation, and I think my brain just thought _perhaps _if I couldn't see the fight, then maybe it wasn't actually happening.

Oh well. At least it stopped Millie from talking.

Oh Hippogriff shit on a stick.

Now I'm going to be the target.

Opening my eyes slowly, I took in the stunned looks and tense silence, making a split second decision to take advantage of their momentary shock. Desperately searching the faces across from me, I latched on to the first one I knew would help, whether he wanted to or not.

"Zeph!" I exclaimed, pleading with the quiet Ravenclaw. "Er, tell us a random fact about you."

He looked startled, pointing to himself as I nodded quickly and raised my eyebrows at him to hurry and start talking.

He cleared his throat, glancing around before deciding to stare at the wooden table in front of him instead.

Fair enough.

The others are looking at Zeph like he's the last fish in the ocean and they're a school of hungry sharks.

Honestly, where is Pince when you need her?

"Er, well, I live on a small farm in Scotland with my dad and four older brothers." He said quietly, looking intently at a carving on the table. After he said this, I noticed a slight Scottish accent that laced his words. Slightly guilty I hadn't picked up on it before, I reasoned it was probably due to how this is one of the first times I've actually heard Zeph say more than two or three words.

I sat back in relief, as Rose sent me a grateful smile.

Once again, Mint beamed. "I never knew that; that must be great! I've always wanted to live on a farm. Living in London isn't that great, but it could be worse," she replied to Zeph, who gave her a slight smile which seemed to satisfy her as she turned back to the rest of us. "Well, a random fact about me is that both of my parents are archaeologists for the ministry."

I gasped and straightened. "Really?! That's so cool! I've been looking in to archaeology for after school and it looks mega, how did they get in? What type of digs-"

Albus cleared his throat slightly and sent me a look, to which I suddenly came to my senses at. "Oh, er, probably not the best time to ask," I mumbled, slumping back down into my chair with burning cheeks, suddenly noticing the tension in the study space.

"Well, hm, I guess a fact about me is that I hate pumpkin juice," Albus said, before nodding at Viv.

Viv looked around the table with a startled expression. "Er, I met the Weird Sisters when I was three?"

"I once thought I could fly, so I jumped off my Grandparent's roof when I was six and broke my arm. Dad was convinced I was a squib after that until I tried again at age nine and bounced off the ground." Rose said, exchanging a reminiscent smile with Albus.

Scorpius scratched his head. "Erm, I don't really like the snow," he mumbled.

There was a few seconds of silence following this, so we all swiveled to look at the person sitting next to Scorpius.

Three guesses who it was.

Ramsbottom looked around the group with a steely expression before sighing. "Ugh, fine. A fact you may not know about me is that I think this game is stupid and pointless and a waste of my time."

We all groaned.

"Honestly, just shut up for _once." _Millie pleaded, rubbing her eyes.

Ramsbottom bristled, and I felt my stomach drop, knowing that he wasn't exactly gearing up to give her a compliment.

"You shut up, snake."

"Oi!" Albus shouted, as Millie made a noise in outrage.

As the group once more dissolved into indiscernible arguments, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned my head to meet Viv's wide-eyed gaze.

"_Do something!_" She whispered, eyes darting around.

I nodded queasily and took a breath. "Ramsbottom, that wasn't very nice of you. You shouldn't revert to outdated House prejudices and stereotypes for insults – in fact, you just should use insults at all," I said loudly, as Ramsbottom looked at me.

He scoffed, effectively stopping the argument for the time being.

"You're only saying that because you're from Dufferpuff." He insulted, narrowing his eyes and flickering them to Viv too, who sunk back in her chair.

I rubbed my eyes tiredly. Ramsbottom should write a book with these insults. It could be called, 'How to insult people as if you're living in the past'.

"Did you not hear anything I just said?" I asked weakly in disbelief.

However, he merely continued as if he hadn't heard me, which pretty much answered my question.

"We all know you're failing practically every subject apart from History of Magic." He continued, as I sat back down in shock, vaguely processing Viv's indignant squawk and Albus jumping to his feet.

I mean, I was actually doing quite well in every subject apart from Potions, but it was merely the fact he actually had the audacity to say that that got to me.

A cold smirk grew on his pimpled face as he surveyed my face. "I'm right, aren't I? We all know you were too dumb to defeat a simple boggart-"

"Oh please, you could barely defeat one," Bobbie snorted.

"- and the only reason you're passing Potions is because of Potter's tutoring which you're probably only getting by repaying him with what Huffelpuff's are known best for. Actually, it's probably the same with Wen and Longbottom, right? It's common knowledge Hufflepuff is just full of slags-"

However, whatever he was about to say next was cut off by Albus. More specifically, by Albus punching his jaw. Not even one second later, two spells courtesy of a furious looking Rose Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy also hit him square in the face.

As I sat down slightly, my head still unable to process his words, I vaguely registered Millie and Bobbie screaming at him. Looking around, Zeph was practically shaking while Mint had her hands over her mouth, eyes wide. Viv's expression was a mirror to the disbelief I was experiencing.

As I watched bat bogeys attack Ramsbottom's new elephant trunk, a different screaming voice joined the mayhem.

"_What is going on here?!" _

And suddenly, as soon as it had begun, everything had stopped.

Pince stood at the head of the study table, practically fuming.

"Never in all my years – an absolute _disgrace _– Headmistress's office, all of you." She ordered, breathing heavily through her hooked nose. "_Now!_" She screamed, as we scrambled to our feet.

* * *

The mood in McGonagall's office was a somber one. Even Dumbledore's portrait had lost its usual twinkle of the eye.

I hung my head in shame as Rose recounted her version of the events to a thin lipped McGonagall. As the story went on, her lips simply became thinner and thinner, and her nostrils flared wider and wider.

And me?

Well, I was sinking further and further back into the wooden chair.

However, I was glad McGonagall had picked Rose. She was an eloquent speaker and posed a less biased version than what Bobbie and Ramsbottom had put forth earlier.

McGonagall surveyed us as Rose finished speaking.

"Well. Are the rest of you satisfied with Miss Weasley's story?" She asked, as we all nodded, avoiding looking her in the eye.

When McGonagall was angry, students tended to treat her as one would Medusa.

Basically, if you make eye contact, you're dead.

McGonagall sat back, an expression of shame and disappointment on her face. I suddenly felt the urge to cry.

"I'm having difficulty conjuring words to describe the utter disgust I am feeling with all of you at this time. This type of behaviour is shameful, especially coming from students supposed to be representing Hogwarts internationally." She reprimanded tightly, pausing to look at the guilty faces of each student. "Calling other students names, relying on old stereotypes, resorting to muggle fighting," I felt Albus sink back beside me, "I am beyond words at this point. I have half the mind to pull Hogwarts from the Academic Tournament."

"Professor, you can't!" Ramsbottom interjected, as I resisted the urge to face palm.

She stared him down. "I can, actually, Mr. Ramsbottom. However, I will let you off with a warning this time. Any such behaviour again, and Hogwarts will be pulled from competing. Am I understood?"

We all nodded.

"Good. Of course, you will all be punished for your abominable actions. 50 points will be taken from both Gryffindor and Slytherin. 40 will be taken from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Ramsbottom, Potter and Thomas, you each have three detentions. Weasley, Bell and Malfoy; two detentions. Appleberry, Wen, Fortescue and Zane, you will be serving one detention. I will contact you each during the week with details of your detentions." She looked down at us through her glasses, lips still pursed as if she had swallowed a lemon.

"I expect better from you all. If I catch wind of anything like this happening again, the punishments will be far more severe. Is that clear?"

Once again, the ten of us quickly nodded.

"I shall also be writing to each of your homes, informing your parents and guardians of what has happened. You are dismissed. Mr. Zane and Miss Fortescue, please escort Mr. Ramsbottom to the Hospital Wing. The rest of you, go straight to your common rooms." And with that, she returned to writing on her parchment.

* * *

Once outside McGonagall's office, Mint and Zeph walked off with a muttering Ramsbottom between them. I sighed as I caught sight of Mint's watery eyes. I know she only wanted to help, but I don't think she accounted for the number of conflicting personalities of the group.

Bobbie and Millie walked away without a glance or word to any of us, Rose and Scorpius shortly following after a murmured goodbye.

That just left Viv, Albus and I.

Viv turned towards him. "Er, Albus? Do you want to come back to Hufflepuff with us? Or, I mean, we could go to Slytherin with you?" She suggested tentatively, hands stuffed deep inside the pockets of her school robes, dark eyes looking at him nervously.

Albus let out a short breath and run a hand through his unruly locks.

"You heard McGonagall. Straight to our common rooms. And I'd rather not get in any more trouble tonight." He replied sourly, scuffing the floor with his shoes.

I reached out and touched the hand he punched Ramsbottom with hesitantly. "Are you okay?" I questioned softly.

He pulled his hand back so quickly that I jumped slightly.

"It's fine." He answered shortly, flexing it, before turning on his heel and stalking down the corridor.

Viv and I stood there. "Should we go after him?" She asked, staring at his retreating figure.

I sighed. "I don't think he wants us to. Let's just go back to the common room."

* * *

"Ramsbottom said _what_?!"

Currently, Viv and I were sitting on my bed in our dorm, having just told Panna and G what happened.

"I can't _believe _that disgusting piece of soggy lettuce called Hufflepuff the slag house! And insinuated that about you two!" G shouted in outrage, dark eyes blazing.

"Did you just call him a 'piece of soggy lettuce'?" I questioned in bemusement.

"He's a fucking wanker. An absolute prick. A literal pile of hippogriff shit that a crup has eaten and then shat out again. That's what he is." G stated, pulling her frizzy pigtails.

"He's garbage. He's a – you know what - he's a _fucking twat._" Panna insulted with a decisive nod. I felt my eyebrows rise at her language.

G nodded in agreement. "Why aren't you more pissed off about this?" She asked, looking at Viv and I strangely.

I shrugged. "Ugh, don't worry, I'm plenty pissed off. But I know it's not true, though. And it's not as though Ramsbottom can spread a rumour - nobody likes him enough to listen." I stated simply.

"Exactly. Plus, it'd be kind of sad if we cared about what Ramsbottom of all people thought. I mean, this is the bloke that once wore brown velvet bootleg jeans." Viv added in agreement, as we all grimaced at the memory of that outfit. "Also, Albus punched him in the face and Rose and Scorpius hit him with spells. What other revenge do we need?" She added with a shrug, as G and Panna laughed appreciatively.

"Where _is _that Albus? I want to congratulate him for punching that fucker in the face. I hope he broke something." G said, with a content smile on her face.

Viv and I exchanged a look, before explaining Albus' strange behaviour outside McGonagall's office.

Panna and G looked stumped as we finished.

"That is strange… I think maybe he just needs some time to cool off. I wouldn't worry too much," Panna suggested kindly, patting my knee.

I ran a hand through my hair, wincing as it caught in a knot.

"I hope so."

"We'll talk to him tomorrow. It'll be fine, chill Clio." G said dismissively.

But despite their reassurances, I still had that nasty feeling in my stomach that things _wouldn't _be fine. Things had been said tonight that couldn't be taken back and I really didn't want to experience the aftermath.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – I own nothing – it of course belongs to the lovely J.K. Rowling!**

**Whoo, new chapter! I'm sorry it took a few days longer than I said it would be, but the reason for that is because my family adopted a cat! She's 11 years old and hasn't had an easy life, so it's taken a while to help her settle in (she's absolutely gorgeous though, we all love her so much). **

**Also, I've finally got the plot back on track for this story! I've got a solid plan now for how the rest will pan out :)**

**Thank you so, so much for all of the faves, follows and wonderful reviews! I appreciate every single one and they all make me smile! **

**To berryblood – don't worry, it will be revealed! :)**

**Thank you for reading, and I'm sorry this chapter was a bit intense… but it must happen for the rest of the story! Also, the next chapter will be longer too!**

**Thank you again! :)**


	14. Chapter 14

**Chapter 14**

_**2 months until Round 2**_

Despite the hundreds of talking bodies cramped in the Great Hall Friday morning, it was as if a muffliato charm had been cast around my friends and I. None of us dared speak to one another, as the only sound penetrating the silence between us was the occasional buttering of toast or slurping of coffee and juice. Well, that was until G had decided enough was enough.

"So. This is weird." She stated, clasping her hands together and looking around at the three of us with a raised eyebrow.

Yes, it was only the three of us. Despite Albus definitely having a class in his first period, he failed to show up to breakfast, which did nothing to dispel my leftover worry from yesterday's events. Speaking of those events, I passed a very melancholy Mint on the way to the Great Hall, intensifying the guilt churning in my stomach.

As the image of her red-rimmed eyes and hunched figure filled my mind, I suddenly dropped my toast and pushed my plate away with a grimace.

"Yeah. I suppose I'd never really noticed how close we'd become to Albus. Well, you know what they say – you never notice how much you'll miss something until it's gone." Viv added, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

Panna looked at her in alarm while G rolled her eyes.

I stared at Viv. "Er, you know, he's not actually _gone_, right? Like, he's still here." I said.

She shrugged. "Well I mean yeah, I know he's still here, but he's not exactly _here. _And being not exactly _here, _means that consequently Albus isn't here _here. _You know?" Viv explained wisely, looking around at our confused faces.

"Er, no." I replied hesitatingly.

G shook her head in bewilderment. "Viv, that was _the _most fake-deep thing I've ever heard."

Panna smiled before quickly covering her mouth, as I felt a small grin spread on my face at the sight of Viv's offended expression.

Viv sniffed delicately. "Oh please, your mum's a muggle fortune teller. You wouldn't know fake-deep even if it flew past you naked on a broomstick." She shot back.

I only vaguely registered G's snorts. I was too busy trying to make sense of Viv's comeback.

"Exactly. Mum's a muggle fortune teller and the most fake-deep person on the planet, which sort of makes me an expert on the matter." G returned, leaning back with a victorious smirk. "Check and mate." She finished smugly as Viv slumped back with a defeated huff.

Panna and I exchanged a glance.

"That was, by far, the strangest argument the two of you have ever had and I think I'd like to just forget it ever happened lest I spend the rest of the day trying to work out what exactly it was even about." Panna breathed.

I laughed, before a thought came to my head. "Ooh, Panna! You've – "

"'- got class today with Albus, right?' Yes Clio, I do. And yes, I will talk to him, don't worry." She interrupted, smiling kindly at me.

I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment, but returned the smile nevertheless. "Thanks Pan."

"Anytime."

* * *

Double Alchemy passed in a boring blur. Despite most of the class, myself included, having successfully transmuted a base metal into gold or silver at least once last term, Professor Zeller was insistent on holding yet _another _theory class much to our dismay. I grimaced as I remembered the three feet of parchment I had to fill by next class with a detailed inside into muggle beliefs of the spirituality behind the practice of Alchemy.

Sighing, I slumped into the Great Hall and dropped onto a seat next to G at the Hufflepuff table.

G sent me a knowing glance. "I told you not to take that subject. Zeller's crazy. And trust me, I should know considering I dated her son who, need I remind you, kept a very large insect collection under his bed. He had to have gotten that from someone." She told me knowingly.

"Well, James Zeller's always been a tad strange. Besides, I like the subject and Zeller's a good teacher, but it's just _exhausting_. And I haven't even begun sessions with Binns for the second round!" I exclaimed, cursing myself for forgetting.

G shuddered. "I don't envy you. But speaking of the tournament and those competing," she begun, pointing at a figure walking towards us.

I sat up, my heart soaring but quickly settling as the person sat down across from us.

"Oh. Hey, Pan."

She shot me a look. "Well, no need to be so excited to see me Clio."

"Ugh, sorry. That was rude of me. I am excited to see you though!" I reassured her with a wince.

She waved me off. "Don't sweat it. Anyway, I have news." She said, as Viv joined us at the table.

The three of us leaned in close to Panna.

"So, Albus did show up to transfiguration – looking like absolute hell, mind you – and I sat next to him, struck up conversation, but he was having none of it. All one word answers and he didn't even make eye contact once! It was rather rude, if I'm being completely honest." She told us, sounding scandalised.

We all sat back, looking thoughtful.

"That seems so out of character." I mused.

G looked at me incredulously. "Er, Clio? Are you talking about the same Albus here? You know, moody, incapable of talking about his feelings, always looking like he's plotting to murder somebody Albus?"

"He may have been like that before, but he changed so much!" Viv answered before I could open my mouth.

"Exactly! And we don't want him going back to that," Panna said. "So, Gang, what are we going to do about it?"

I scanned the Hall quickly. "Well, he's not in here, so first we have to find him."

G nodded. "And when we do, I suggest we corner him and pull that stick out of his ass," She added, looking pleased with her input as the three of us rolled our eyes.

"While I don't like the vivid imagery G's put forward, I have to agree with the general gist of her suggestion," Panna added, as G puffed out her chest proudly.

"Okay sure, but first things first – how are we going to find him?" Viv said, looking around at our stumped faces.

The next minute was filled with a lot of er's as quite a few uh's, before a thought suddenly struck me.

"James!" I exclaimed, looking around at my friends excitedly.

"Ew, what about him?" G asked, looking as though she had swallowed something distasteful.

"Well, he found us in the kitchens, didn't he?" I said, referring to yesterday before the figurative storm had arrived.

Panna looked thoughtful. "Yeah, I suppose he did. I guess we should talk to him then," She said reluctantly.

And then –

"Not it!" G and Panna both yelled, touching their noses, closely followed by Viv.

I groaned as I slowly stood up. "I hate you all."

"You love us!" G shouted after me as I made my way to the Gryffindor table.

A small smile spread across my face because yeah, I really did love the Gang. They were family to me and that's why it was so important to find out why Albus was avoiding us.

Squaring my shoulders, I made the few steps towards where James Potter was sitting, surrounded by various family members and what looked like the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team. Which, now that I think about it, was practically comprised of his family.

A tad nepotistic, but hey – talent is talent.

Swallowing nervously, I ignored the curious glances of those seated around him and tapped James on the shoulder.

"So then I told the old hag to go – oh, hey Clio!" James greeted with a wide grin.

"Er, hey. Would I be able to talk to you quickly?" I asked quietly.

He nodded.

I sighed when he didn't move. "_Privately_?" I added, looking around at the others meaningfully.

"Oh! Yeah, of course." He agreed, standing up and following me out of the hall with a wave to his friends.

I stopped walking once we were out of the hall and turned to face James, almost jumping back in surprise when I saw the concern on his face.

He bent down (I wasn't exactly short, but James' height was just plain ridiculous). "I hear about what happened yesterday, and wanted you to know if you and Wen need me to deal with any of those prats-"

I interrupted his whispers with a strangled sound. "Er, James, that's very sweet of you? But, er, this isn't about that. Well, it kind of is, I suppose, but not entirely – though I suppose it stems from what happened – but, well, again it might be something else-"

"Clio!" James exclaimed, interrupting my rambling.

"I'm fine." I murmured, before taking another breath. "Okay, basically after what happened last night, Albus has been completely avoiding us and we can't find him and we're all really worried. And, well, when we were thinking of ways to find him, I remembered how you and Rose had found us in the kitchen last night and was wondering if you could help us find Albus so we can talk to him." I explained.

"No problem. Albus does tend to be a prat every once in a while. He just gets in these moods sometimes, you know?" James replied, as he searched his robe pockets.

A grin and a small "aha!" followed shortly, as he brought out a worn and slightly brown piece of parchment. Taking out his wand, he went to tap it before suddenly glancing up and looking at me pointedly.

Taking the hint, I slowly turned around in confusion. How an old and mouldy bit of paper was supposed to help find Albus I had no idea, but if it worked, then I was happy.

I heard James muttering to himself for a few seconds; before he told me I could turn back around.

He stuffed the parchment back in his pocket. "He's in the paddock near the Forbidden forest. You know the one?" He asked as I nodded.

"Thanks, James." I said gratefully.

"No problem. Now, go to him, Clio! Run like the wind!" He yelled dramatically with an arm flourish.

I stared at him. "Er, well, I was actually gonna tell the others first."

James sighed. "Fine. First, tell the others. _Then _go to him and run like the wind!" He conceded.

I gave him an awkward smile. "I will?"

He nodded seriously and ruffled my hair, ignoring my grimace.

"I have full faith in you, young one."

* * *

"Well, we already know James is a tosser," G said as we made our way to the paddock, after my explanation of what James had told me.

Panna glanced at G with a raised brow. "You know, G, some people would say that all this hostility is a cover-up for some, ahem, _deeper _feelings."

Hearing a squawk, I turned around to see G dry retching.

She straightened up after a few seconds, breathing heavily. "Pan, I love you and all, but _never _say that again. The thought of James and I together-"

She paused to dry heave again.

I rolled my eyes. What a drama queen.

"-excuse me. As I was saying, thinking of _him _in any sexual situation is enough to make me vomit." She finished with a large shudder.

"You can like somebody without feeling the need to have sex with them, you know." Viv said, sounding disgruntled.

I frowned, and swung an arm around her shoulders. G scratched her head. "Sorry, Viv." She apologised, looking concerned.

"We know the two aren't mutually exclusive," Panna added softly, as I squeezed Viv's shoulders. "Is everything okay?"

She sighed rather violently. "I dunno. Just, that berk Wood made an offhand comment the other day-"

"But he doesn't know, right? About you?" G interrupted.

What G was referring to was the fact that Viv had come out as asexual a few years back. After our confusion had settled a bit, she explained that essentially (in her case, at least) it meant she experienced no sexual attraction nor had any desire to partake in any sexual activity. It had followed from a rather horrid summer for her, in which her primary school friends had forced her to join them in a very nosy game of 'never have I ever'. Viv had borrowed her mum's laptop and researched, until she had found a definition and along with it, the assurance that she wasn't the only one experiencing these feelings.

Viv shook her head. "No, of course not. Only you guys and Albus, as far as I know."

"Wood's always had some rather unsavoury views on everything though." Panna said.

I grimaced, remembering his disgusting tirade of insults when Ravenclaw beaters Alberto Morales and Eoin O'Sullivan came out as a couple after they won the Quidditch Cup last year. I then smirked, remembering the black eye and broken nose Roxanne Weasley (Ravenclaw star Keeper and best friend to Alberto) gave him.

I nodded. "He's a grade-A git and you shouldn't listen to a word he says."

"It's not like anybody else does," G added with a smirk, which made Viv giggle.

"Yeah, I suppose you guys are right. Thanks." She told us, smiling.

"Never doubt yourself, okay? Only _you _know who you are." Panna replied seriously, as Viv nodded.

"Okay, that's either a dead animal on top of his head, or Albus is in that field and has somehow been electrocuted." G stated, pointing ahead.

Pulling my cloak tighter around me, I squinted against the wind to follow G's line of vision.

"What are you talking about, G? That's how he normally looks." Viv said.

G pulled a face. "Oh Merlin, it hasn't even been twenty four hours and I'm already forgetting what he looks like."

"You sound like a devastated lover."

"Yeah G, maybe you should tone it down a bit or Clio will get jealous." Panna threw a smirk my way.

"I don't know what your talking about," I replied with my head held high, ignoring the bright blush that was spreading across my cheeks. "Let's go."

"What's he doing?" Viv asked, as we got closer to the gate of the paddock.

Squinting to where he was kneeled, I saw that Albus was actually petting-

"A unicorn foal. He's petting a unicorn foal." Panna replied, sounding as dumbstruck as I felt.

"How'd he manage to pull that one off?" G whispered in disbelief as we observed the scene in front of us.

"Dunno," I murmured back, "but unicorn foals don't mind blokes patting them too much. It's the adults that hate it."

"Still, how'd he find a foal though?"

"'He' can hear you."

We all jumped at the new, deep voice and guiltily glanced over to where Albus was staring at us with a raised brow.

"Er…" I begun apologetically, before awkwardly clambering over the locked gate, the others (Panna, after what looked like an internal debate over whether this counted as rule breaking) following shortly.

We slowly approached the pair, the unicorn foal regarding us shrewdly. We stopped about a metre behind Albus, all of us paralysed in awe.

"It's beautiful," I breathed, my eyes dancing over the golden creature.

"She's only about a year or so old, "Albus begun, before gesturing for us to move forward. "You can come closer, she won't hurt you."

Tentatively, we all crouched down and shuffled slowly forwards, hands held out in a non-threatening manner. Stopping around the foal, we slowly begun to pet it. I felt a delighted smile spread across my face as the unicorn responded happily.

"Where's her mum?" G asked curiously, gazing fondly at the small animal in question.

Albus sat down, letting us pat her. "She's getting patched up by Hagrid. Had a nasty run in with some acromantula. He thought her foal would be safe in here." He explained, running a hand through his hair.

I smiled fondly at that. "I missed that."

Five heads swiveled towards me in confusion, some in horror.

"The fuck are you talking about, Clio? Why would you _want _a unicorn to be hurt?" G asked incredulously.

I felt my cheeks heat up. "Oh Merlin, that came out wrong. Shit, I didn't mean that, it's absolutely horrid what happened to the unicorn and I hope she makes a full and speedy recovery! I just meant that, well, okay it _still _sounds weird now that I think about it, but I missed Albus running his hands through his hair every five seconds." I explained sheepishly, averting my eyes to the grass.

I heard a snort, followed by an, "of course you did," courtesy of G.

"Yeah, Albus, what's up? Why have you been avoiding us all day?" Panna enquired softly, accepting my grateful look with a wink.

He sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "I, er, well it was – I just mean that, well – maybe it – er, because," he sighed, "I dunno," Albus finished rather lamely.

G shot him a vicious look. "'I dunno'. We haven't seen hide nor hair of you all day with absolutely no explanation, and especially considering what happened yesterday, and all you have to say for yourself is _'I dunno'_?!" She reprimanded, nearly yelling by the end of her speech.

And irritated screech broke the ensuing silence and G soon turned all her attention to the disgruntled unicorn foal.

"Blimey, you sound like my nanna." Albus commented, rubbing the back of his neck.

"If you don't explain yourself mister, next thing you know I'll be channeling the spirit of McGonagall." G replied in a warning tone.

Albus visibly recoiled as Panna lightly whacked G's arm.

I sighed. "Look, you don't have to tell us why, but we were just really worried about you." I told him truthfully.

He met my eyes for a few seconds before turning away with a huff.

"Well, nobody asked you to be worried."

"Well, of course they didn't! You're our friend, Albus." Viv said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I didn't ask to be that either!" He shouted.

It had felt as though somebody had punched me in the chest, and one glance at the rest of the Gang told me the same.

My eyes teared up against my will. "You don't ask to be people's friends, Albus. It's something that happens naturally, and our friendship with you is something that happened naturally. We care about you, Albus. We _love _you. Of course we're going to worry about you when you avoid us and of course we're going to care about you! Because that's what friends do," I said, feeling tears slide down my cheeks.

I wiped at my tears as I took in his startled expression. "Now I'm crying. _Merlin's beard. _I hate crying," I blubbered, sniffling pathetically as I wiped the sleeve of my robe across my face.

Taking a deep breath, I composed myself (slightly – by which I mean I at least could form words again) and narrowed my eyes at a now slightly guilty looking Albus.

"If you don't want to be our friend, that's fine. But we want you to be our friend. We care about you." I finished, continuing to stem the flow of tears with my sleeve.

Ugh, rather pitiful of me, isn't it? I've always been a bit of an easy crier though.

One time, a drunk bloke on the street swore at me and spat on my favourite jumper as I passed him. I stood there in shock for a few seconds and then promptly burst into tears right there on the sidewalk.

Yeah, I know, rather expected when you're young, right?

Wrong. That happened last week.

"Now, can somebody please say something? I can't deal with the silence on top of, well, _this,_" I pleaded, gesturing to myself (smeared eyeliner and mascara included – I'm quite the catch, I know).

"Er," Albus began, staring at me with wide eyes.

"What's wrong, _Smellbus_?" G asked maliciously. "Never seen a crying girl before?"

"Actually, he saw Clio crying two nights ago, remember?" Viv added in, helpfully.

Please note the sarcasm.

I growled, which must have been rather nonthreatening due to how it evolved into hacking coughs.

Recovering swiftly I sat back up and glared at Viv. "Okay, I think we've established that I cry a lot. Can we move on, please?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Of course, of course. So, Albus?" Panna replied, gesturing to the boy.

He still had that wide-eyed look on his face. A quick shake of his head brought him out of his daze once he noticed that all eyes (unicorn included) were on him.

I bet that unicorn's enjoying all of this drama.

Smug little bastard.

Albus exhaled heavily through his nose. "I was a bit of a prat – I heard that, G – and I'm sorry. For just before and for avoiding you guys. And, well, thanks for caring." He apologised, finishing with his eyes firmly on the tree line ahead.

G looked at us as if to say, 'was that it', but Albus has always been a bit stumped over the whole concept of emotions.

"Of course. You know we're here if you need to talk, right?" Panna reminded him softly, a slight mothering tone coming through.

Panna is the mother hen of the group, after all. The amount of times she's stopped G from accidentally dying (let alone all of us) is staggering.

He nodded hesitantly. "Yeah. Yeah, I do. Thanks. For finding me and for putting up with me. And, er, Clio, I'm sorry for making you cry," he added, staring at me in worry.

I waved off his apologies, a bright grin on my face. "Nonsense, I cry a lot. It was bound to happen sometime today, believe me."

"Mhmm. A day's not complete until Clio cries like a character on a soap opera." G stated, before returning to cooing at the unicorn foal.

I frowned. "It's also not complete until G gets shirty with someone for using her full name."

She slowly looked up at me. "You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would."

"Clio, _don't you dare – _"

"Okay fine, chill. Merlin." I interrupted, holding up my hands. I turned to Panna as G breathed out a relieved sigh. "Pan, isn't that Geraldine Gribbles' headband?"

"_CLIO!_"

I laughed along with the rest of my friends.

"Okay, okay, sorry G. It was just too good to resist." I said, giggling.

She huffed, but accepted my apology anyway.

I lowered myself onto the ground and stared at the clouds, hearing Albus lie down next to me a moment later. Turning my head, I smiled at him.

"I really am sorry, you know. Ramsbottom just really got to me and I just don't really know how to deal with – _things_ – that well." He murmured to me after a beat of silence.

I reached over awkwardly and patted his arm. "It's okay. But, maybe next time, just tell us you need some time to cool off. It might stop another misunderstanding."

He quirked a smile. "Yeah, I will. Sorry again."

I simply smiled and hooked my arm around his, as we both looked at the sky together.

…

"As romantic as this all is, I hope you two remember we're still here."

I heard Panna tut and reprimand G.

I laughed. "How could we forget you, G?"

"She wouldn't let us." Albus muttered.

"You're damn right I wouldn't. Now, budge up Smellbus. Goldilocks and I want to stare at the sky too."

And that's how Hagrid found the five of us (six, if you count the unicorn foal - fondly dubbed 'Goldilocks'); laying on the cold ground on a January afternoon, staring at the clouds and laughing.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter – it of course belongs to the magnificent J.K. Rowling!**

**So, I finally finished this chapter! It took me a while to get into the swing of writing it and life got in the way, but it is here! **

**I was going to have their first apparition lesson at the end, but I liked how it finished so that'll definitely be in the next chapter (which I'll hopefully get up earlier). This chapter and the past few have been a bit intense which I'm really sorry for, but you can definitely expect them to get a bit more light hearted soon! **

**Also, I am definitely not intending to offend anybody who cries a lot (I myself cry very easily)! That's just something that's important to who Clio is, so I wanted to show it. **

**And the deal with Christopher Wood - Oliver Wood is one of my absolute favourite characters ever and you can definitely tell from reading the books that he doesn't have any prejudices at all (only against the other Quidditch teams - classic Oliver). So his son didn't get any of his horrible views from him!**

**Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews and for the faves and follows! They really encouraged me to finish this chapter :)**

**I hope you guys have a lovely day/night! Xx**

**p.s. – the second round of the tournament will be in two or three chapters time! :) you may notice that I changed it a bit – instead of being in the Easter holidays, I'm going to have it in March, so just a bit before hand as that fits in better with the last round :)**

**p.p.s - I really hope I wrote the bit about asexuality correctly, I researched it but please tell me if it's wrong! **


	15. Chapter 15

**CHAPTER 15**

_**2 months to go**_

"Welcome to the beginning of your future as adults in the Wizarding world! A Ministry regulated Apparition test after each of you turn seventeen will follow this twelve-week course. But, oh Merlin! I seem to be getting ahead of myself here. My name is Wilkie Twycross the Second and I will be your instructor," the short man introduced. Beaming at the group of students in the hall, Wilkie Twycross the Second rocked back and forth on his heels, his long golden ponytail swishing out behind him.

I gulped and nervously nudged the hula-hoop on the floor in front of me, accidentally sending it a few feet in front of me due to my shaking foot.

"Calm down."

Whipping around to my right, I met Albus' eyes. He raised a dark brow at me, while G, who was on his other side, snickered. I flipped her the bird and pointedly turned back toward the front with my head held high.

"Oi, knock it off Wood," someone hissed from my left. I whipped around to see Christopher Wood holding his hands up with a smirk.

"Don't know what you're talking about Patil." He replied smugly, grinning as she turned back towards Twycross, visibly fuming.

"Everything good Pan?" I whispered, shooting a nervous glance to the instructor, still yammering on about how to safely ensure our deaths.

She breathed out heavily through her nose. "Fine. Wood's just being a prat as usual."

I turned to look at the boy in question and saw him dart forward quickly and poke her in the shoulder.

"Wood! Don't be such a tosser," I reprimanded, as Panna smacked his hand away.

"Stop touching me," she hissed venomously and he simply rocked back on his heels with a careless shrug.

Wood let out a noise of offense as he held up his hands. "Patil! How could you accuse me of such things? I was just standing here minding my own business, right Tommo?"

Thomas Davies raised a cool eyebrow, before turning back to the front. "Stop touching her."

Wood stomped his feet down and tuned on his friend. "Bro, you're supposed to be on my side, not the Puffers!"

"Actually, I'm supposed to be learning how to apparate. So if you could kindly shut up now?"

I grinned as Wood huffed and focused my attention back on the lesson.

"Right! Give it a go now, then." Wilkie Twycross the Second said, gesturing to the hula hoops in front of us.

Panna and I exchanged panicked looks.

"Give _what _a go? Apparating? He must be bonkers! We haven't even learnt how yet!" I stated, looking around to find my classmates concentrating and jumping around.

Viv swirled around from her position in front of Albus. "What are you on about, Clio? He just explained it then. The three D's," she said, before turning back to her book.

"Wait, _what? _And are you seriously studying right now?" I asked incredulously.

"Eh," She shrugged, once again burying her nose in the large Herbology book.

I turned to my left to find Panna in conversation with Zeph, who seemed to be explaining what we'd missed.

"Oh, Merlin's beard," I breathed out, feeling the panic rise in my chest. "Oh no…"

I looked around desperately before feeling a hand on my shoulder. Turning around, I was met with the sight of a pale neck. Looking up, I saw –

"Albus! My saviour," I gushed, hugging him tightly.

"Er, right." He said, patting my back awkwardly a few times. Dislodging himself from my grip, he steered me to stand in front of my hula-hoop.

"Destination, determination and deliberation. You must be completely _determined _to reach your _destination, _and move without haste but with _deliberation_." He explained, hands resting on my shoulders.

I frowned. "The rhyme doesn't make this any less frightening."

He clapped me on the back and walked back to his hoop. "If it makes you feel any better, there's no possible way any of us will be able to actually apparate properly until at least halfway through the lessons."

And he was right.

During that first lesson, I managed to trip over my own feet and fall head first into my hoop. Viv was too busy reading to try and Panna actually managed to get a few fingernails into her hoop to the delight of Twycross and the disgust of pretty much everybody else. Albus and G, meanwhile, spent the entire lesson trying to outdo each other but in reality were actually just spinning in circles, pirouettes and all. From a dancers standpoint they were doing quite well, but from an apparition perspective it was very embarrassing to watch.

Our year level poured out of the Great Hall, chatting and groaning. Walking next to my friends as we made our way to the Hufflepuff common room, I rubbed my still-aching head with a grimace. G and Albus were still bickering like siblings, Panna was cursing herself for only apparating a few fingernails in and Viv was reading, as usual. Sighing, I grabbed Viv's shoulder and steered her to the side, narrowly saving her from hitting a pole. As G and Albus' argument reached new levels of ridiculousness, I physically stepped in between them.

"So, are we still on for Hogsmeade next Sunday?" I asked my friends as we turned down a deserted corridor.

"Of course," Panna answered, as Albus and Viv both made noises of agreement.

We all turned to the member of our group who was being suspiciously quiet. "G?" I prompted.

She grimaced. "Er, don't hate me, but I kinda sorta maybe have a date…"

"What?!"

"Why didn't you tell us!"

"What about Emma the Waitress?" I asked with a gasp. How had G moved on that quickly?

G looked at me strangely. "Clio, the date _is _with Em."

An awkward silence fell as we all looked at each other in confusion. Something seemed off about that, but I couldn't quite work out what…

"Isn't Emma a muggle?" Albus asked, as Pan, Viv and I all clicked our fingers with relieved smiles.

"That's why I felt so weird!" I exclaimed, before shooting G a look. "Er, how exactly are you planning on seeing her then? Considering the security at Hogsmeade, I can't exactly see you getting out, let alone Emma the Waitress coming in."

G wrung her hands. "Yeah, about that. I was sort of hoping for your help there."

* * *

The following Wednesday night found the five of us (minus Albus and G and plus Epona and Saule), sitting at the Hufflepuff table, an underlying current of nervousness bubbling in each of our stomachs.

"I'm so excited Maia and Char are finally home! I can't wait for the Easter break," Saule commented happily.

Well, in almost all of our stomachs.

Hearing a loud groan, I turned just in time to see Albus slump into the seat next to me and right onto a plate of mashed potatoes. As everyone around us descnded into laughter, I patted his back sympathetically, holding back a grin.

"Just do it, Clio. Let it out," A potato coated Albus said. A peal of laughter, snorts and all, burst forth from my mouth.

As his face slowly became more and more downcast with our laughter, Panna finally took pity on him.

"_Tergeo,_" she murmured, as most of the potato vanished off his face. He took his glasses off with a sigh and wiped the rest of with his robe sleeve.

"Thanks Pan."

As we all dug into dinner, Albus told us about his rigorous training session. Apparently Lydia Zabini had been horrified after their last loss and was working them harder than ever.

"Tell you what," he remarked with a wince, "if I hadn't seen him just yesterday talking to the Gryffindor team, I'd have reckoned she was channeling the spirit of Oliver Wood."

We all grimaced, before returning to our food. However, it wasn't long before that momentary glimpse of peace was shattered.

"Guys, I've been thinking about it and how exactly are we gong to pull of the mission on Sunday?" Viv murmured, glancing pointedly to G's empty seat (she was talking to Professor Hainsworth about her last essay).

"Ooh, what mission?" Saule butted in excitedly, blonde ponytail swinging.

"The one where they're going to try and sneak G into muggle London without the teachers finding out," Epona replied, much to our shock.

She took in our wide eyes and open mouths, before shrugging.

"You guys weren't exactly quiet on Monday morning."

We all sighed. This 'plan', if we could even call it that, was looking like more and more of a disaster every day.

"It's not going to be-"

"Albus Potter?"

We all turned around to see a nervous looking Slytherin first year.

"What?" Albus replied grumpily.

"Albus! Don't be so rude," I reprimanded, before turning to the kid with a smile. "How can he help you?"

He tentatively held out a piece of parchment. "Er, this is from the Headmistress."

Albus groaned as he opened the parchment. "Detentions. Damn, I was hoping she'd forgot about those."

"Are any of you Araminta Fortescue, Clio Appleberry, Vivian Wen or Bobbie Thomas by any chance?" He asked, looking desperately as though he hoped we were all of them.

"I'm Clio and she's Vivian," I replied, accepting the small piece of parchment and watching in concern as he scurried away, tripping over his own feet on the way.

Same.

I opened the parchment to read the details of my detention.

"Ugh, cleaning out hospital wing bedpans," Viv read with a grimace.

"I'd rather that then mine. Two are cleaning the suits of armour and the other's unclogging the third floor toilets by hand." Albus shot back, shuddering.

"Gross," Viv groaned. "What about you, Clio?"

I frowned. "I'm not too sure. It just says I'm helping out Professor Hagrid next Friday morning during my spare."

"Lucky!" Albus exclaimed, looking at his own detentions with dismay.

"Yeah, but knowing McGonagall, she'll probably force Hagrid to make you clean up Hippogriff dung or something." Epona said, as Saule gasped.

"Epona! No offence at all meant to you, Clio, but whatever punishment Professor McGonagall assigns will be rightfully deserved," she defended, as the rest of us groaned.

Albus rolled his eyes. "Anyway, as I was saying, it's not going to be easy," he continued, lowering his voice.

Panna nodded as I spared a quick glance at the teacher's table. "G said she was just planning on winging it," I whispered.

Albus scoffed. "Amateur. If we're going to pull this off, we're going to need some _real_ help."

* * *

5 minutes to go.

The tapping of my quill became louder.

4 minutes.

I had given entirely on Binns' monologue.

3 minutes.

I bit my lip.

2 minutes.

My foot joined the tapping.

1 minute.

Here we go.

"-and that was how the Australian Magical School was founded. A united force from both the original land owners and – "

"Er, Professor Binns? Sorry to interrupt, but would it be possible for me to leave now?"

"- those who travelled there in the 1700s. Much debate still surrounds the British colonization from both a muggle and magical perspective, with many referring to it as an invasion – "

"Sir? Er, Professor?" I interrupted once more, increasing the volume of my voice.

He broke off and looked at me in surprise. I sighed. The old coot had obviously forgotten I was eve here (not that I wanted to be). That actually got me thinking – what exactly does Binns do when he's alone? Does he just talk about history? Is that why he's already talking when we arrive to class? Does he just never stop? Is it like a constant tirade of history facts inside his head? Does he know he's a ghost? I bet he doesn't. Probably just bored himself to death without realizing. But then what if –

"Yes, Miss Strawberry?"

I forced a smile. "Er, it's _Appleberry_, sir. And I was just wandering if I could go now, please? It's ten past, after all," I said, glancing at the clock, which showed indeed that it was past 10am, which was when I was supposed to finish. I couldn't afford to stay back either – it was Hogsmeade today.

"Nonsense. You still have one more essay to get through. Anyway, as I was saying, the invasion –"

I sighed and swore under my breath. Whilst I found the topic Binns was speaking of very interesting, I had already learnt it last semester for my Tournament study and thought it to be pointless to spend this session on it. Binns disagreed, however. Actually I'm not sure he heard me. Maybe being a ghost interferes with your ears? But wait, the Fat Friar can hear just fine. And the Bloody Baron did hear G that one time she called him a 'bloody tosser' – probably not the best choice of words, if the stains on his body were anything to go by.

I shook my head – I was getting way too caught up in my daydreaming. Okay. Find an escape.

Resting my leg against my chair, a sudden idea struck me.

"Er, Professor?" I raised my hand. He stopped talking and looked at me in surprise, which I took as a cue to continue talking. "I'd love to complete that second essay, but I just realised I'm missing a textbook. I'll just grab from the shelf quickly, shall I?"

Standing up, I allowed myself a small smirk as I purposefully hooked my leg around my chair with my first step, sending both the seat and myself to the floor.

Lying on the cold floor, I started making obnoxious groans of (fake) pain.

Hopefully, Binns would notice these, allow me to go to the hospital wing and I could finally meet up with the others.

I know, I'm a genius. Ravenclaws ain't got nothing on me.

However, as I moaned and groaned, there was one tiny little flaw in the plan that I didn't account for – Binns' absolute inability to notice anything else happening around him.

The old bat was still talking.

My fake groans of pain quickly turned into real groans of annoyance. As Binns' continued his never-ending lecture, I cleared my throat loudly.

"-of course, Captain Phillip was a muggle however it is little known fact that there was a wizard amongst the convicts–"

Making a noise of frustration, I sucked in a large breath and delivered a series of obnoxious hacking coughs.

"-he was an alumni of Hogwarts – Miss Waterberry?" He stopped, sounding as surprised as a History Professor can.

I shifted around and poked my head out from the side of the desk. He started in surprise.

"What on earth are you doing down there?"

I scrunched my face up in fake-pain. "I tripped over, Professor. I think I may've broken something," I lied.

"Oh dear," he replied, looking very much like this wasn't something they had covered in his contract.

I rolled my eyes. "I think I should go to the Hospital Wing, maybe," I suggested loudly with raised brows. Honestly, how has this man been employed here in both life and death?

"Oh, yes. I suppose that would be the most logical course of action. Well, er, off you go then, Miss Applefairy. Please finish the essay by our next session," he replied, before floating backwards and promptly vanishing behind the back wall.

So, I just told the man (ghost? Ghost-man? Man-ghost?) I'd broken a bone, and he leaves me alone in a classroom to make my own way to the hospital wing.

"What an arse," I grumbled in annoyance. "On the bright side, I don't have to pretend to be in pain anymore."

I quickly got to my feet, stuffed my books and parchment into my bag and sprinted out of the classroom, feeling victorious.

Reaching the Hufflepuff common room in record time, I threw my school bag onto the bed, tossed on my plaid coat and Hufflepuff scarf, grabbed my purse and sprinted back out to the Entrance Hall.

* * *

I arrived five minutes later, red-faced and sweating like a Quidditch player.

Jumping over a small boy who was kneeling on the ground to pick up his scarf, I stumbled and skidded to a halt in front of a large group of people.

"Clio, you're twenty minutes late! What happened?" Panna asked, glancing around nervously.

"B-binns," I said, panting heavily. I suddenly began feeling an unfortunate familiar tightening of my chest as my breath turned to wheezing. Fumbling with my purse, I quickly found my inhaler. Shaking it a few times, I brought it to my mouth, breathed in slowly, held it for ten seconds and breathed out. As my breathing became easier, I stowed away the inhaler and beamed at the group.

"I didn't know you had asthma!" James exclaimed.

I shrugged. "It's not very bad, hasn't been terrible since I've been a kid but I still need my inhaler occasionally."

As James nodded, I surveyed the rest of the group. Looking around, I saw Viv, Pan, a nervous looking G, Albus, Rose, Epona, Saule, Lily, Hugo, Scorpius, Fred, James and Dax Jordan. I clapped my hands together with a smile.

"Whoo, look at this House Unity! The dream team is united!" I exclaimed, to the groans of everybody else.

Fred shook his head. "Clio, you poor, naïve child; if I've said it once I've said it a million times – we're obviously the meme team!"

Dax scoffed. "No way, Weasley. We're the steam team; steamrolling our enemies in the name of true love since two days ago."

G groaned and put her head in her hands.

"We're not _any _team. I'm only working with you," she shot James, Fred and Dax a dirty look, "because I have to."

Shaking off the intended insult, Fred and Dax pretended to blush while James dabbed at his faux tears.

"We'll do anything to help young love."

"Okay, down to business!" Fred yells, effectively shutting down all conversation as the thirteen of us look towards him with rapt attention. He was the mastermind of the whole plan, after all (which took G a while to warm up to, but not even she could deny the brilliance).

"First thing's first; does everybody know their positions?"

We all nodded.

"All right, so who's on McGonagall and Flitwick?"

Rose and Scorpius raised their hands.

"Excellent, okay, Hagrid, Longbottom, Hainsworth and Zeller - " Epona, Saule and Viv nodded, " - students and residents of Hogsmeade – " Fred high-fived James and Dax, "- clearing the path – " Panna nodded along with Lily and Hugo, "- lookouts – " I grinned at Albus, "- and finally, the precious cargo," he finished, as we all turned to look at a grumpy G.

Fred clapped his hands together and looked at us with a smirk.

"Let's do this."

While that would have been a mega ending to the beginning of our mission, unfortunately many were still feeling nervous.

"Er, not to be a downer or anything, but what's going to happen if we're caught?" Scorpius asked quietly.

Fred waved his hand dismissively as James and Dax scoffed.

"We won't be caught, Malfoy. Chill," Fred assured.

"And even if we are," James begun with a roguish grin, "there's always…"

"_Plan B!_" He screamed, along with Fred and Dax.

G groaned. "I'm surrounded by idiots."

* * *

"How long is this going to take? I'm bloody freezing," G complained, teeth chattering. I shivered and nestled into my scarf against the cool breeze.

"Should only be a few minutes if everything goes to plan," Albus answered, rubbing his hands together.

Currently, the three of us were huddled together outside a small house on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. The plan was that Albus and I would help G use the floo network to get to Emma and then we'd wait for her to come back.

"Guys," Albus started. We both turned to look at him and saw the tip of his wand light up ever so slightly.

G sighed. "Finally."

Quickly unlocking the door with the key Fred gave us, Albus ushered us both inside the arm little cottage. Breathing out in relief, I quickly took off my coat and scarf as the warm air hit me, seeing Albus do the same.

Looking around, I noticed several family portraits on the wall and felt my stomach twist.

"I feel kind of weird about breaking and entering," I said with a grimace.

Albus shot me a funny look. "Clio, this is Aunt Angelina's sister's house. Look," he answered, pointing to a picture where a younger Fred and Roxanne were running around next to a kiddie pool.

I beamed. "Oh! That's all good then."

"Oh my Merlin, you _actually _thought we were breaking into a stranger's house, didn't you?" G said, looking at me with a raised brow.

I shrugged and crossed my arms defensively. "No. Well, maybe. Okay fine, yes."

G snorted as Albus shook his head.

"How were you okay with that?!"

"I wasn't! I just thought that you guys were all cool with it, and I didn't want to be that uncool loser that's like, 'oh guys, this is illegal, we shouldn't be doing this', y'know?" I explained, wringing my hands nervously.

G's laughter increased as Albus just continued shaking his head, completely speechless.

"Oh, shut up. Anyway G, you should head off now," I said, thrusting a pouch of floo powder at the laughing blonde.

Wiping away a stray tear, G grinned and took the pouch.

"Righty-o." She walked over to the wall and stood in front of the large fireplace. Taking a handful of powder out of the pouch, G threw it in front of her and watched as it manifested into brilliant green flames. Stepping into the fire, she cleared her throat. "Diagon Alley!"

With one last burst of flames, G disappeared.

I sighed and slumped onto the squishy couch, vaguely registering Albus sitting beside me.

"You okay?" He enquired quietly.

I shook my head as I watched the green flames die down. "I don't know. I know Fred's a genius and wouldn't let us get caught, but we just helped our friend sneak out of Hogsmeade grounds. That's like, the number one thing we've been told not to do since Third year. Not to mention the warning McGonagall gave us," I answered, fiddling with the sleeve of my jumper.

Albus sighed. "How could I forget – one more toe out of line and she'd pull everyone from the Tournament."

I groaned and let my head fall into my hands.

"Clio. James, Fred and Dax may be gigantic idiots, but they're not assholes. They wouldn't have helped pull this off if they thought we'd be caught."

"How could they know that, though?"

"I don't know. But what I do know is I've known those wankers for my whole life, and they'd never leave a man behind. Figuratively speaking," he corrected quickly.

I sighed again, before sitting up and nodding. "All right. I believe you."

He grinned. "Good."

Tapping my fingers on the arm of the chair, I frowned.

"Now we wait, I guess."

**\- Two hours later - **

I hate waiting.

"How long left?" I asked Albus.

"Hard to say. Could be an hour, could be two. It's all up to G," he answered as I groaned.

Lying down on the sofa, I plunked my feet onto Albus' lap as I stared at him.

"You've got really nice hair," I blurted out.

Albus raised an eyebrow as I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

He quirked a smile. "Er, thanks. You do too," he added as I scoffed.

"Yeah right. My hair's a disaster. The last time it was cut was over a year ago. You probably don't remember this, but I actually used to have really long hair," I said, running a hand through my choppy locks.

He looked at me in surprise. "Seriously?"

I nodded. "Seriously. Well, anyway, 14-year-old-me got really sick of her hair getting everywhere and one day just decided to chop it all off."

"By yourself?"

"Yep. By myself. Originally I was aiming for a below the shoulders style, but as you can see, my hair's actually at my shoulders now and that's after a year of growing. Nope, I was so invested in evening out my hair that I ended up with a strange overgrown bowl cut that ended just at my chin."

Albus laughed. "No way!"

I nodded sagely. "Way. Ugh, I still feel queasy thinking about that." Shrugging, I let out a loud yawn. "At any rate, I quite like my hair this length."

"It's nice," Albus agreed, sending me a small smile that made my stomach twist.

Frowning slightly, I sat up quickly. "Do you hear that?" I questioned, straining my ears.

"Hear what?"

"That noise! It sort of sounds like –"

The fireplace erupted into green flames as a grinning G fell out onto the floor.

"-the floo network," I finished, smiling as Albus and I helped her up.

G began talking a mile a minute about her date (which sounded rather lovely) as Albus and I brushed the soot off her. As she continued her spiel, I caught Albus' eye over her head. He stared at me for a second, before smiling softly and returning to G's soot covered clothing.

I felt my stomach unsettle for the second time today. Frowning once again, I quickly shrugged off the feeling and tuned back into G's currently one-sided conversation.

Quickly forcing a smile on my face, I laughed along with the conversation, pushing away that strange feeling. That's a problem for another day.

* * *

**A/N: Disclaimer – I own nothing, Harry Potter belongs to the marvelous J.K. Rowling!**

**I'm so sorry it took me over a month to update this! I'd had it almost finished for around half a month, but then I was just hit with so many assignments for uni that took up most of my time!**

**Anyway, another filler chapter, but we'll get right back on track with the Tournament next chapter (with the second round most likely being in chapter 16). **

**Thank you so much for the faves, follows and lovely reviews! Seriously, you guys leave the most wonderful reviews that always make me smile!**

**I'm so glad you all liked how Viv's asexual as well! **

**I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter and I hope you all enjoyed it! I tried to make it longer than usual as an apology for taking so long to update! The ending of this chapter was also originally going to go in a very different direction concerning Clio and Albus but while I was writing it it just felt really off, so I hope it's okay now - it took me a while to get it to sound okay!  
**

**I've gotten most assignments out of the way now so I'm hoping I'll be able to update quicker :) **

**Thanks for reading! Have a lovely day/night :) x**


	16. Chapter 16

**Chapter 16**

**_2 months to go_  
**

The following Friday, I found myself wrapping my scarf tightly around my neck as I slowly made my way down to Hagrid's Hut for my detention. As I passed a headless statue, I suddenly grinned to myself, thinking back to the past Hogsmeade weekend.

On the way back into Hogsmeade, the three of us had ben spotted by a very suspicious-looking (and quite dashing, too – his dark beanie really made his bright brown eyes pop) Professor Hainsworth. Apparently, he'd found it highly incredulous that Epona would willingly talk to a teacher in any situation, let alone at Hogsmeade. To top that off, he said running into us so far away from the village had just confirmed his suspicions.

"Er, what suspicions, Professor?" I had asked tentatively.

His eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure yet. But they're confirmed!"

As he stood there watching us calculatingly, we all struggled to come up with excuses as to why we were so far from the village. I know, I know, we literally could have just said that we felt like a change of scenery, apologised and then made our way back into Hogsmeade, but the three of us weren't exactly known for our social prowess.

Just as I had been considering making a break for it, Viv and James came bounding towards us, the former with a strange looking green plant clutched in her hands.

"Professor! Thank Merlin we managed to catch you," James exclaimed, cheeks slightly red from the wind as Viv came to a stop next to him, panting.

I sent her a questioning look. She looked between the three of us and Hainsworth with wide eyes, before jerking her head to the road back to the village.

"Huh?"

"What was that?" Hainsworth had asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

"What was what?" I replied squeakily with wide eyes.

"That just then, what –"

"Well, Professor, we _could _stand here all day debating on just what the 'what' was, however Vivian here has some extremely urgent questions for you regarding the matters of the competition," James cut in with a winning smile, placing an arm around Viv to guide her forward.

"Ah, but of course Miss Wen! What can I be of assistance with," he asked kindly, turning his back to the rest of us.

Sending a look towards James, Viv shook his arm off and held out the plant.

"Oh, what a fine looking Alihotsy! The main ingredient for a laughing potion," Hainsworth said, examining its leaves.

"Er, yes Professor, but I actually had a few questions about why its hysteria can be damaged due to over-stirring, if that's quite alright?"

"I'd be happy to help, Miss Wen. Perhaps we should move into the Three Broomsticks though, it's getting a bit chilly out," Hainsworth suggested to Viv and James.

"Brilliant! Oh Al," James said, popping his head out from around Hainsworth, "Mum sent a letter to us before, I've left it under the brick in the Owlery, yeah? It's urgent," He added with an exaggerated wink.

"Ah well, who am I to stand in between family matters? Mr. Potter, Miss Gribbles, Miss Appleberry – you're all free to go. Just try not to stray too far from the village again, hm?" Hainsworth told us, turning around.

"Of course, thanks Professor," Albus replied.

And with one last wave (and yet another over the top wink from James) the three of them made their way back to the village.

I giggled a bit as I reached Hagrid's, remembering the reluctant admiration G had displayed for James' lying skills. She'd never admit it out loud, but I could tell she was warming up to him a bit.

However, once I reached the hut, I got a bit of a surprise.

"Zeph! I didn't know we'd be serving detention together," I exclaimed with a warm smile.

He gave a small wave with a quirk of his lips.

The sound of a door opening prevented any further conversation, as I turned to my left to see Hagrid and Fang leaving their house, the former holding a rather large crossbow.

"Hi Hagrid," I greeted.

"Hullo Clio! How's yer sister been doin' lately? Told me she was plannin' on taking Charlie's dragon course, last I heard," he asked, as Fang bounded over to an awkward looking Zeph.

"Yeah, she's good thanks! I'm pretty sure she's planning on coming home in the next few weeks, I'll tell her to drop you an owl," I said. Maia had always succeeded in Care of Magical Creatures and subsequently had become one of Hagrid's favourite students – he always enquired about her whenever he saw me.

"Can' wait to hear all 'bout her and Char's trip, 'spect it was a right sight studyin' all those dragons," he replied, as I grinned and nodded.

"How're you holdin' up, Zeph?" Hagrid greeted, clapping Zeph on the back as the latter jerked forward from the force.

Straightening himself up, Zeph gave Hagrid a quick smile. "Alright, thanks."

"Good ter hear. Righ'," he said, as his demeaner changed to a more imposing one, "the Headmistress has given me specific instructions ter focus on proper disciplinary actions – so fer today's detention we'll be takin' a trip inter the fores'," he explained.

I grimaced. The only place in the forest I'd ever been to was the paddock on the very edge for the occasional Care of Magical Creatures class, but I knew it wasn't uncommon for detentions to take place in there. Sharing a frown with Zeph, I could tell he was just as put off by the idea as I was.

"Er, what will be doing in there, Hagrid?" I asked, as Fang nudged my hand. Gasping, I lent down and scratched behind the bloodhound's ears. "Hello, Fang! Aw, who's a good boy? You are! Yes you are!" I cooed, grinning as he preened at the attention.

"Careful Clio, he's bin a righ' diva lately, he won't leave yeh alone now," Hagrid warned.

"I don't mind," I smiled, as I continued petting him, slightly grimacing as some slobber fell onto my robes.

"Suit yerself. Ter answer yer question, we'll be lookin' fer 'n injured Thestral an' Augurey. Couple o' centaurs tol' Professor Hainsworth and meself abou' a troll fight that hurt a few creatures," he explained.

"But if there was a troll fight, doesn't that mean the trolls will still be there?" Zeph asked shakily, as I found myself nodding along.

"Yeah Professor, defense spells have never really been my strong suit," I added warily.

"Nothin' ter worry abou'. No creature in that fores' will harm yeh s'long as yer with Fang or meself. Now let's go."

We had been walking in the Forest for around ten minutes, the only sounds puncturing the silence being Fang's labored pants and the occasional rustle of a leaf from the plants surrounding the narrow path. A particularly loud hiss from a thorn-covered plant to my right caused a strangled sound to leave my mouth that I wasn't proud of.

"Nothin' ter worry about!" Hagrid shouted, crossbow resting on his shoulder as he led us into a denser part of the forest, trees crowding together and blocking out the light.

"Might want ter use yer wands up here, visibility's a bit poor," Hagrid said over his shoulder.

Zeph and I shared a startled look. "_Lumos._"

The tips of both of our wands lit up and provided some light to the dark path. I noticed Zeph edge closer to me and gulp.

"Do you know what an augurey is, by any chance?" He asked shakily.

Squinting ahead, I nodded, before remembering he couldn't see me. "Er, yeah. It's nothing to worry about; they're harmless, really. It's an Irish phoenix that sings when it's about to rain. Er, except it's singing voice sort of sounds like a long, mournful cry? So for centuries, magic folk believed it cried before someone died, sort of like a death omen. The main reason that myth was widely dispelled was because of a book written in 1824 by Gulliver Pokeby, called 'Why I Didn't Die When the Augurey Cried'," I explained, slightly distracted by the faint chirps coming from a suspicious looking tree to my left. "Er, Hagrid?"

"Hmm?" Came the faint reply.

"I think that tree just chirped at me."

"Strange things in this forest, Clio."

Great. That was helpful.

"Is the augurey a topic for the tournament?" Zeph asked, interested.

"Oh, not the augurey, but just the general idea of death omens. Y'know, the Grim and all that codswallop," I answered.

"'Codswallop'? You don't believe in death omens?"

I shrugged. "I dunno really. Mostly, I just think dictators created them in the past to keep the townspeople frightened and vulnerable and subsequently easily controllable. And now, the myths and rumours have been around for so long that the majority of witches and wizards just take them in their stride and allow themselves to prepare their wills or shut themselves up in their homes at the first glimpse of a slightly intimidating black dog."

"Huh. That actually makes sense. I'd never really thought about it that way before. My family's pretty superstitious though."

I hummed in agreement. "Mine too. Honestly, you should see the way my mum reacts to muggle superstitions, let alone magical ones."

A thought suddenly struck me as we climbed over a fallen tree.

"Hey, speaking of omens and superstitions, do you know why there's no Divination section in the tournament?" I asked, intrigued.

"I can answer that one," Hagrid said from in front of us. "Ol' Trelawney and every other Divination professor refused to give permission because accordin' ter them, 'the inner eye canno' be accessed on demand, nor shall we allow it's exploitation for selfish gain'. Tell yer what though, gave me a righ' laugh hearin' that said seriously," he said, as Zeph and I burst into giggles.

"Oh my Merlin, that's gold!" I breathed, between laughs.

"We're here," Hagrid announced, as the path widened and the overhead trees became more sparse, allowing light to filter in.

"_Nox," _I murmured, sticking my wand into my robe pocket and looking around. I could see the faint outline of the injured augurey in the middle of the small clearing.

"Here, you two tend to the augurey, I'll help the Thestral, if I can spot it," Hagrid said, passing Zeoh and I a muggle splint set.

"It's there," Zeph and I said at the same time, pointing to the large panting skeletal creature a few metres away. We both turned to each other, startled.

Being able to see a thestral meant that not only has a person had to have seen death, they additionally must also have accepted the reality of the death and not be in denial.

I briefly wondered what death Zeph had seen, before reprimanding myself internally.

When I was nine, I was in the same hospital room when my elderly grandmother passed away. Being as young as I was and knowing for months beforehand that it was going to happen, I was readily able to accept it and understand it without fear. My sisters and I had all been able to see the Thestrals since our first year.

After another look at one another, Zeph and I quickly ran over to the injured augurey. I frowned in concerned as I placed a soothing hand on its uninjured wing. The augurey's normally greenish black feathers were covered in blood, and one of its wings was clearly broken. Its breathing was very labored and it gently squawked from pain as Zeph touched its injured wing.

I sighed as I petted it softly. "I wish we could help with the pain."

Zeph hesitated, before placing the splint set on the ground and pulling out his wand. "Maybe we can." Hovering it above the bird, Zeph murmured a quick spell. He looked up and met my confused gaze. "It's just something to help with the pain."

I smiled, and looked at the augurey who did indeed look a bit better. "Well, it seems to have done the trick. Line up the splint, will you? I'll place the bandages down under the wing." As we worked, my curiosity got the better of me. "How'd you know that spell, anyway?"

Zeph turned a bit red and refused to meet my eyes. "I, er, want to be a healer after school," he murmured.

"You'll be fantastic at it, I'm sure," I said truthfully. Despite his shyness, I could tell Zeph was a very genuine person, which was important in the healing profession.

He smiled quickly. "Thanks. Er, I've never really gotten the hang of the bandage spell though, if you want to take the reigns on that one?"

I nodded. "Of course, just hold down the injured wing."

I tapped the wing, murmured "_ferula_", and watched as the loose bandages sprung around the splint and the wing tightly.

I noticed Zeph's hesitance when it came to moving the augurey, so I slid my arms under it and slowly lifted it up, cradling it to my chest. Levitating the poor thing with a broken bone wasn't the wisest idea.

Hearing a pitiful moan, Zeph and I (augurey safely in my arms, still in pain but seemingly content for now) moved towards Hagrid and the thestral.

Looking at the creature, I suddenly felt a bit nauseous.

"Merlin. That troll really did a number on him, didn't he? Poor thing," I said sympathetically, frowning as it twisted in pain while Hagrid tended to it's broken leg.

Hagrid finished placing the splint on its broken leg and then unrolled a portable stretcher, lifting the groaning thestral onto it.

"Zeph, would yeh mind placin' a levitation charm on this?" He asked, tapping the side of the stretcher.

Looking slightly startled, Zeph cleared his throat and complied.

"Righ'. Let's head back now," Hagrid said, as he guided the levitating stretcher back through the path, Zeph and I (augurey still in my arms) following closely behind.

* * *

"And then we helped Hagrid take the thestral and augurey to an empty classroom. Apparently Hainsworth and Madam Brown were coming down later on to see if they could help in any way," I finished with a shrug. It was later on that night in the Hufflepuff common room and I had just been telling my friends of my detention at their request.

Albus groaned loudly. "That's so unfair. How did you guys get it so easy?"

"Well, it was pretty horrible that those innocent creatures had been hurt in the first place. You should've seen the state they were in; I would've taken cleaning out bedpans in a heartbeat if it meant that troll fight would never happen," I replied, affronted. Frowning, I picked up Kyra and placed her on my lap as she purred contentedly.

Albus rolled his eyes. "Clio, you know what I mean. You and Zeph got to have Hagrid supervising your detention! I've got Hainsworth," he said with a grimace.

"That's not so bad! After all, he's rather easy on the eyes, isn't he?" Panna said, looking up from where she had been painting G's fingernails a bright sparkly blue.

G nodded and fanned herself. "That man could get it," she added, pretending to swoon.

I giggled as Albus fake-retched.

G rolled her eyes and swatted his arm. "Don't even pretend Albus. Hainsworth is one beautiful man and you know it."

Albus rolled his eyes, yet again.

"They'll get stuck like that one day, you know," I told him wisely, lightly flicking his forehead.

He frowned and flicked mine back.

I frowned and flicked his.

He furrowed his brow and flicked mine.

I gasped and –

"Oh my _Merlin _you two are five year olds," G interrupted, knocking away my hand on it's way to Albus forehead.

I stuck my tongue out at him when G wasn't looking.

Turning back to the group, I smiled brightly. "In other news, who's excited for defense next week? I've always wondered what my patronus would be."

We had begun one new topic of the year in between all of the revision – the Patronus Charm. Most people, myself included, had only been able to produce a silvery wisp, but some (aka Albus and Ramsbottom, much to my dismay) had produced a corporeal one in the second lesson. Before the Second Wizarding War, the Patronus Charm hadn't been covered until seventh year, and even then it was only discussed in small detail. However, course changes rectified this and required that it became a core topic for sixth years. Despite this, some witches and wizards were still never able to produce a corporeal patronus (and in some cases, not even the silvery vapour) but I tried not to let that thought deter me and powered through.

G snorted. "Oh please, Clio – if yours isn't a golden retriever I'll eat my own shoe."

Panna, Viv and Albus laughed as I frowned.

"Why would it be a golden retriever? It could be a fox or something," I replied, pouting as I scratched behind Kyra's ears.

Viv shook her head, finally glancing up from her Herbology homework she had been working on for the past hour. "Albus' is a fox and you two are practically nothing alike," she stated matter-of-factly.

Albus grinned proudly, leaning back onto the sofa and resting his long legs on the coffee table.

"Yep, cunning and manipulative. Prominent fox traits," G added, watching with a grin as Albus glared at her.

Panna smiled at me kindly, "Clio, you're helpful and loyal to a fault."

"Exactly, you exude 'golden retriever' vibes," G said, blowing on her drying fingernails as Panna painted her other hand.

I rolled my eyes and decided to let the matter drop. "Well, what about you G? What do you think yours will be, if you're such an expert on the subject?"

G thoughtfully stroked her chin with the hand that wasn't being painted by Panna. "Hm, in an ideal world I would say it would be a wolf. I am majestic, strong and healthy but will fight to protect if needed," she finished, flourishing a hand for added dramatic flair.

I stared at her.

"Healthy? G, you haven't exercised since flying lessons in first year."

G waved a hand dismissively. "Semantics, Clio. I have a healthy mind and that's all that matters."

"And majestic? There are many words one could use to describe you, G, a lot of them good, but somehow majestic just doesn't really fit," Panna said truthfully, still painting G's nails.

"None of us are majestic though, are we? I mean, Clio trips over on an hourly basis, half of the time over people, G, well, you can't really eat without food going everywhere, Panna's very graceful but tends to lose her head when it comes to Quidditch and Albus is just a bit too creepy to be majestic. Er, no offence," Viv said, adding the last bit on as an afterthought as she turned back to her homework.

G raised her eyebrows. "Wow, Viv. Just lay it all out in the open. It's not my fault that the cutlery here's shaped really weirdly!"

I huffed in agreement. "Not to mention the floors here are a health and safety lawsuit just waiting to happen! Loose and protruding stones _everywhere_, you try not tripping over. And I maintain that the incident with Louis Weasley was entirely G's fault for distracting me while I was walking and all had been forgiven and forgotten until you just had to dig up my dirty laundry to air it out," I ranted, crossing my arms with a furrowed brow.

"And I'm not creepy!" Albus exclaimed, standing up.

We all turned to face him.

"Er, you are a bit," G said.

Albus looked like he was going to argue, before shrugging in agreement and sitting back down.

"Thanks for calling me graceful, though," Panna dimpled as we all groaned and chucked pillows at her, which she dodged with a giggle.

Albus sighed and glanced at his watch, before swearing and standing up suddenly.

"Is that the time? Merlin, I'm supposed to be meeting Neville at the third floor toilets in five minutes," he said, quickly pulling on his robes.

Placing Kyra on Viv's lap, I stood up too. "I'll come with you; I need to borrow some library books for my Alchemy assignment."

Albus and I chatted along the way about the present he was planning for Lily's birthday and of Maia's upcoming return. Greeting Professor Longbottom at the third floor toilets, I gave the pair a cheery wave before I left, laughing at the sour expression on Albus' face.

As I reached the library, I smiled at Zeph who was leaving it. Making my way inside, I headed straight for the mythology section of the library.

"'Omens; a comparison between countries'," I muttered, scanning the spines of the countless books on the tall shelf in front of me.

Squinting slightly, a rather large faded purple book caught my eye. Sighing as I realised it was on the shelf just slightly out of reach, I stood on my tip-toes and stretched up to get it.

Just as my hands grazed the spine, however, a scoff from behind me had me spinning back around.

I rolled my eyes as I saw Ramsbottom throwing me a glare as he flipped through a book.

"Can I help you?" I asked tiredly, not in the mood for a fight.

"You should really lower your hem a bit, you know. School policy states that a witches skirt shoulder be no lower than two inches above their knee and yours –"

"Those rules were written ages ago and were updated in 2001, excluding the requirements of skirt length," I interrupted coolly with a raised brow.

Ramsbottom raised his eyebrows. "Well, perhaps you should consider wearing trousers or at the very least your outer robes."

Rolling my eyes, I spun back around and got the book off the shelf I needed. "You know, I really don't see how you think you're allowed to have any say over what I wear," I replied, forcing myself to stay calm.

"I'm a prefect, Appleberry. So you should watch what you say to me."

I snorted. "Well, maybe you should mind your own business."

"I could give you a detention. It'd serve you right for making me serve all of those detentions –"

"'_Making'_ you serve them? Are you delirious? You're the one who started that whole fight!"

"I did not! You were the one acting like a right bint!"

"You bloody liar! I didn't do anything!"

"Oh for Merlin's sake, stop playing the victim! I know you're slagging off with Potter –"

"Sweet Agrippa, you're off your rocker," I interrupted, staring at Ramsbottom as if he'd grown a second head.

"Oh please, don't act all innocent. You're just playing the Hufflepuff card."

"I'm surprised you can even _see_ what house I'm in, considering how far your head is up your arse," I fired back.

"You bloody bi-"

"Whoa man, the fuck's going on here?" A voice to the left interrupted.

Whipping around, I saw my fellow sixth year Hufflepuff Ackerley Smith staring at the two of us blankly with raised eyebrows, a slight smile on his rosy-cheeked face. His Hufflepuff tie currently is knotted around his head and his white shirt unbuttoned to display a yellow jumper, currently shaking slightly due to giggles.

"Are you – are you high on a cheering charm right now?!" Ramsbottom screeched.

I am going to _kill_ Marcus Bones.

Ackerley scoffed and made his way to my side, sliding an arm across my shoulders. "Of course not! Because that would be _bad_ and I," he paused for dramatic effect, "am not bad. I am a good student. In fact, I was just finished up an essay on, er, toadstools for Professor Longbottom. That's how best of a student I am," he finished proudly, leaning his weight onto me as I grimaced and helped to hold him up.

"I think you mean '_good_' of a student. And you know you could be expelled for this? I could report this to McGonagall. Recreational use of the cheering charm is classified under illegal drug use and –"

"- blah, blah, blah. You know, you talk a lot but never really say anything. Doesn't that get boring?" Ackerley asked, looking genuinely interested.

I sighed and decided to intervene before things got messy.

"Er, Ackerley, shouldn't you be in the common room or something? Curfew's coming up."

He looked down and beamed at me, plopping a friendly kiss onto the top of my head. "Cleopatra! Lovely, lovely Cleopatra!" Suddenly he turned to Ramsbottom and frowned. "Mate, why is your stick out?"

Looking at Ramsbottom, I frowned slightly as I saw that he did indeed have his wand out.

"My _what_?" Ramsbottom asked, looking at Ackerley in disdain.

"Your stick! Y'know," he made some very strange hand gestures before continuing, "your magical wand!"

"Er – "

"Because it's not polite to stick it in the faces of lovely ladies such as Miss Appleberry. And I have known the lovely Miss Appleberry here for almost my entire life – "

" – well we _did _only meet in first year – "

" – my _entire _life, Cleopatra – "

" – no matter how many times you call me that it'll never be my actual name – "

" – Cleopatra! Please."

I apologised, amused, as he continued.

"As I was saying, Cleopatra and I have been buds forever. And I don't like people being rude to my buds. So, _bro, _why don't we just all walk away and pretend nothing happened here?" Ackerley said, a startlingly focused glare on his usually blank face.

Glowering, Ramsbottom stuck his wand back in his pocket before stalking away.

I turned to Ackerley with a grin. "Ackerley, you absolute legend."

He beamed and ruffled my hair, giggling.

Sighing slightly, I linked my arm with his. "C'mon, I'll help you back to the common room. Where I'm then going to have a very stern talk with Marcus Bones."

* * *

**_3 weeks to go_  
**

The next month passed alarmingly quickly with a lot of stress, essay writing and very little sleep.

It was a dreary Sunday morning and I had just returned from an extra session with Binns. Grumbling, I sat down on the Slytherin table next to Albus.

"Tough session?"

I groaned I response, leaning my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes.

"I just want to sleep. I don't think I've had a full night's sleep in over a month," I said.

He sighed. "Same here. Well, my shoulder is more than happy to be your pillow."

I smiled and patted his head. "Thanks Albus. You're sweet."

"Who's sweet?" The sound of G's voice drifted across to me as a few people (presumably Panna and Viv) sat down.

"Albus is. Now shush," I mumbled, feeling myself beginning to drift off.

"Yeah G, shush," Albus said, amused.

"Oh shut up Smellbus."

…

"Wanker!" G hissed.

I'm guessing Albus flipped her off, then.

I have such lovely friends.

"Anyway," Panna cut in loudly, "I think we should congratulate G and Clio for producing their corporeal Patronus Charms in the last Defense lesson."

"Yay," I mumbled, still half asleep on Albus' shoulder.

"Totally knew yours was a golden retriever," G said smugly.

It's true. After more than a month of trying, I finally produced a corporeal patronus for a few seconds and it was indeed a golden retriever.

I cracked a bleary eye open and glared at G.

"Yours was the giant squid. And not just any giant squid, it's literally the exact replica of the one in the black lake," I replied.

G snorted. "Clio, if that was meant to offend me you are sorely mistaken. My patronus is _literally _the coolest thing ever. And it totally goes to show how chill I am, y'know, I just sort of go with the flow."

"The giant squid is also super lazy, which fits too," Albus added.

"Albus!" Panna admonished, as G gasped and narrowed her eyes.

"Watch your back, Smellbus," she whispered, before straightening up with a smirk. "So, Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin match next Saturday."

Albus scoffed. "Please, we'll steamroll you."

I sat up with a yawn and flicked his ear. "Not even in your dreams, Potter."

"Last names, Appleberry? You wound me," he replied, grinning slightly.

I narrowed my eyes. "Hufflepuff will _crush you_," I hissed.

Albus laughed. "That was almost scary, but then I remembered what your patronus is," he said, ruffling my hair as I swatted his hand away.

"Okay! Save the smack talk for the field! Clio, I thought you didn't like Quidditch?" Panna interjected, looking between us worriedly as Viv grinned and G howled with laughter.

I huffed and pointedly scooted away from Albus.

"I don't. But that doesn't mean I don't have house pride," I answered matter-of-factly.

"House pride can only get you so far. _Skill _is the difference between winners," he gestured to himself and the rest of his table, "and losers," he gestured to us, tone completely serious.

G gasped again. "Why you little – "

"You're such an pompous arse sometimes," I cut in, rolling my eyes.

"It's not called being pompous if you know you're going to win," he replied smugly.

I shared a scowl with Viv across the table. This was the side of Albus that none of us liked. He had a tendency to get cocky and not listen to anyone and it really drove us up the wall.

"Enough Quidditch talk," Panna said firmly, as we all instantly shut up. "Besides you three have got the second round of the Tournament coming up in a few weeks and with all of the drama happening with Ramsbottom, you can't afford to have rifts form here too."

As always, Panna was completely right. Every single one of us needed to be united.

And with the Tournament coming up in only three short weeks, I was beginning to have my doubts.

* * *

**A/N – Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling!**

**Oh my Gosh. It's taken me over three months to update. I'm so, so sorry! My exams finished about a month ago but it just took me ages to write this chapter for some reason! :(**

**Anyway, next chapter is the second round which should definitely be out soon because I'm super keen to write it !**

**Thank you all so much for the faves, follows and lovely, lovely reviews! They honestly just make me smile all day after reading them! You guys are the best :)**

**I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for sticking with me despite my terrible updating haha…**

**Hope you all have a lovely day/night! xx**


	17. Chapter 17

**Slight spoilers for Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them!**

* * *

**Chapter 17**

_**The day of the Tournament**_

Panna shook me awake in the early hours of the morning.

"Mm. What time's it?" I mumbled, shoving my head into my pillow.

Panna sighed and ripped off my blanket. "Time to get up."

Hearing a cry, I looked to my right just in time to see G perform a belly flop onto Viv's bed, and Viv herself.

Turning to Panna with wide eyes, I clasped her hands in mine. "Thank you for waking me," I whispered, shooting a look towards a manically cackling G and a groaning Viv.

She rolled her eyes and shoved me towards the bathroom. "You're welcome. Now shower; you smell like the Quidditch locker rooms," she told me distastefully.

Gathering my robes, I sniffed haughtily. "Well, I'm _sorry _that my genetics include over-enthusiastic sweat glands. I'm nervous; so sue me," I replied, offended.

"Just have a shower!" Panna shot back. I stuck my tongue out in response before closing the door to the bathroom, sparing a moment to worry about Viv's wellbeing as she continued groaning.

* * *

"Albus, mate, you have to eat more than a single grape," G said, looking at him worriedly.

Albus put his half finished grape down with a grimace. "Not hungry."

"Well I don't bloody care whether you're hungry or not but I bet you'll be regretting your breakfast of half a grape when you faint on stage," G fired back.

"Aw, you do care," Albus replied, wiping a fake tear from his eye.

"I care about you embarrassing Hogwarts."

I smirked. "You totally care about him, G."

G said nothing, simply turning back to her bacon and eggs with a long-suffering sigh.

"Is that all you're eating?" Rose exclaimed, sliding into the empty seat next to me on the Hufflepuff table.

"I'll have you know that grapes contain polyphenol, which medical research has discovered may contribute to lowering the risk of certain types of cancer and not to mention their properties which assist in treating fatigue, constipation-"

"Half a grape isn't going to do much, Al," Rose interrupted, an unimpressed look on her freckled face.

I stared at him. "Why, in the name of Merlin, do you know so much about grapes?"

"They're his favourite fruit. Once, when he was eight, he decided to live off a grape only diet and actually composed a power point presentation and speech which he delivered to the whole family after Nanna told him it was unhealthy," Rose answered, looking at him with fond exasperation. "Of course, that just turned in Grandpa asking him about ten billion questions on 'komfluters' and 'the enternet'."

G snorted into her pumpkin juice as I laughed.

"_Please _tell me you still have that power point," I said as Rose nodded.

"Yep! Aunt Ginny asked Mum to save it. She's waiting for his 17th birthday to share it again," she answered, grinning.

Albus huffed. "I still maintain that a grape-only diet would be beneficial in the long run, but we've digressed from the original topic at hand. Which is that I'm _fine._ We should probably head off to McGonagall's now, anyway. So, bye!" He said, jumping out of his seat and quickly walking out of the hall as we all stared after him in shock.

"He's something else, isn't he," I said, shaking my head in amusement.

"I believe the term you're looking for, Clio, is 'incredibly annoying'," G said, curling her lip in distaste as she watched him exit.

"Er, no offense G, but _how _are you a Hufflepuff?" Rose wondered.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, don't take this the wrong way, but, er, you're quite scary at times. And a bit manipulative. I still remember giving you detention last year for convincing those two second years to carry you up four flights of stairs," she answered.

I rolled my eyes as G grinned proudly.

"One thing you need to know, Rose – second years would do _anything _for a galleon."

Rose stared at her blankly. "But you never paid them. That's how I found out – they came to me to complain."

"Okay, fine; _two _things you need to know, Rose – second years are a bunch of slimy snitches who can't be trusted and would do _anything _if you _promise_ them a galleon."

Rose raised her eyebrows. I could practically see the internal debate she was having. Taking pity on her, I touched her arm.

"Don't bother. Many a time have we tried to see if G feels remorse with no results. I think Viv's still convinced she's a robot," I whispered, with a meaningful glance to Viv across the table.

Rose looked at Viv, who nodded with wide eyes and shuffled a bit further away from G.

"I still don't understand what a robot is," Panna pouted.

"Aw, poor little pureblood," G cooed, ruffling Panna's long dark hair.

Rose sighed, most likely having decided that dealing with G first thing in the morning wasn't the best idea.

"Well, I'm going to go now. You guys coming?" Rose asked, standing up.

"Yeah, of course. I'll bring a muffin up for Albus. Merlin knows how hungry he must be," I replied, wrapping a muffin in a serviette. "See you guys later on?" I said to Panna and G, who nodded.

"Wouldn't miss the second round for the world! I hope Ramsbottom trips and face plants onto the stage," G said, sighing wistfully.

"I'm so grateful McGonagall organised for the sixth and seventh years to attend! It'll be a wonderful learning opportunity too; if we have time I might visit the Department of Magical Games and Sports and see if they have any summer internships," Panna added.

Viv stood up too and we said our goodbyes before leaving the hall together.

Just outside the hall, however, I was tackled by a bright yellow blur.

"Hi, Saule," I sighed, patting her back as she latched onto me in one of her infamous hugs.

"Good luck Clio!" She squealed, pulling back. I smiled and thanked her, before spotting the metaphorical stormy cloud behind her.

Well, maybe not so metaphorical.

"Er, Epona? What…" Viv trailed off, staring at the storm cloud above my younger sister who was drenched and looking rather like an angry cat.

"Why don't you ask Christopher fucking Wood?" She spat viciously.

I sighed. Of course it was him.

Saule lightly smacked her shoulder. "'Pona! Watch your mouth."

Epona whirled around to glare at her twin. "Oh, I'm _so _sorry if I offended your delicate ears! Would you like me to rinse my mouth with soap for saying a bad word? I mean, I have an endless fucking supply of water up here!" She screeched, drawing the attention of sleepy students drifting into the hall.

"Wow, it really captures your essence!" I turned around to see James Potter grinning with thumbs up. Fred Weasley rolled his eyes before strolling over to us.

Pulling out his wand from his robe, he flicked it towards the cloud and we watched as it evaporated, leaving a soaking and furious Epona behind.

Grabbing my wand, I pointed it at her and murmured, _"exaresco_." Immediately, her clothes and hair dried, but the glare and palpable anger were still present.

"Better?" I asked, straightening out her horse-printed shirt.

Shaking my hand off, she gave a tiny nod. "Thanks," she mumbled at Fred, who simply grinned and ruffled her hair.

"While I can see the comedic appeal, this is clearly the work of Christopher Wood, and for that, he shall pay," James announced, eyes glinting in a way that made me take a step back.

"_Please _don't do anything illegal," Rose said tiredly, rubbing her temple.

"As me no questions and I will tell you no lies, my dear Rosemary."

"Oh, Merlin," she muttered. " Whatever, I don't care anymore. I've got the tournament to worry about; do what you want."

James beamed and planted a kiss on her cheek, before bringing us all into an uncomfortable hug.

"Good luck, my small, sweet, naïve children. Vivian, can I trust you to record any victory kisses if they happen? Thanks, you're the best!" He exclaimed, before grabbing Fred's arm and dragging him off down the hall.

"But I didn't even get to eat any breakfast!" I heard Fred yelling, before James' faint reply drifted towards us.

"Revenge, Freddy! _Revenge_!"

"That boy is off his rocker," I said, shaking my head. "Is that a family thing? Are all the guys in your family this strange?" I asked Rose curiously.

"Not just the guys. The whole family is. I'm the only normal one, Clio, it's _hell,_" she replied, eyes desperate.

Glancing over at a bickering Saule and Epona, I sighed. "You're not alone there."

Viv glanced at her watch, before looking back to my squabbling sisters. "You should probably break them up. We have to be in McGonagall's office in ten minutes."

I stepped forward and scooped them up into a hug. "Love you guys, gotta go, bye!"

Letting go, I grabbed Viv and Rose's arms and ran down the hall, hearing the twin's argument start back up behind me.

"Clio, you didn't even try," Viv huffed, giving me an unimpressed look as we slowed down to a walk.

I stared at her incredulously. "Last time I interfered with one of their arguments, it took four hours to resolve and that was only because Maia stepped in! It was over a _toothbrush, _Viv!"

Viv shrugged in agreement before pulling a large pile of study cards out of her pocket and reading as we walked.

* * *

"I trust that you all have thought long and hard about what I told you last time you were here," McGonagall said, staring at us sternly from behind her desk.

We all shuffled nervously and nodded.

She straightened. "Good. I meant what I said before – one toe out of line from any of you, and you're not just out of the competition – you'll be serving detentions for the foreseeable future. You are representing our school internationally, and I expect you all to behave. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, Professor McGonagall," we mumbled.

I shifted uncomfortably from where I was standing between Albus and Viv. I was beginning to realise that McGonagall's disappointment was even worse than her anger.

"Right. Now, as you all know it will only be Professor Longbottom and myself accompanying you. Professor Hainsworth will, however, be travelling up to meet us later on with the students who wish to observe the competition. We have to register in half an hour, so Miss Wen, if you will?" She asked, holding out a box of floo powder to Viv.

When Viv had made no attempt to move, I gave her a subtle shove. She shot me a glare but nonetheless grabbed a handful of floo powder and disappeared into the bright green flames.

"Miss Appleberry?"

I stepped forward into the fireplace, the floo powder seeping though my hands.

I cleared my throat. "Ministry of Magic!" I said, as I was engulfed by the flames and begun the sickening journey of the horror that is floo travel.

A few seconds later, I tumbled out of the Ministry gate and face-planted onto the chest of a passing worker.

"Well, I say!" They exclaimed, as I hurried to roll off and help them up, spewing apologies with a bright red face.

"I'm so sorry Sir, oh my Merlin this is so embarrassing! Are you okay? Here, let me help you-"

"You've done enough, young lady. I'm late enough as it is," the middle aged man said with a glare as he stomped past me and disappeared into the swarm of Ministry workers.

Viv was cackling.

I huffed, brushing the soot off my robes. "You know, you're acting like a real _witch_, Viv."

She just cackled even louder.

I rolled my eyes just as another person tumbled out of the grate, though far more gracefully than I had done.

"S'up?" Albus asked, running a hand through his hair as he stood up.

"Clio just full on tackled a random guy when she fell out of the grate," Viv explained breathlessly through her laughter, "it was the best thing I've ever seen!"

I pouted as Albus snorted.

"Somehow, I'd be more surprised if she actually made a graceful exit from the grate," he said.

"Just so you know, you guys are horrible friends and I hate you both," I said, crossing my arms.

"Aw, don't be like that! You love us, really," Albus replied smugly, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as I huffed.

"I'm using you for your cat, Albus. It's time you knew the truth," I said dramatically, looking up at him with wide eyes.

Albus gasped, stepping away from me. "I trusted you. I thought you loved me!"

"I love Kyra," I replied, referring to his kitten.

"The wedding's off," he declared, turning away from me.

"But I need the money the divorce settlement would have given me!"

"So, after thirteen years of an on and off affair, your true colours are revealed. I should have known."

"You guys are weird."

We turned to see Viv staring at us.

I grinned at Albus as we both slowly walking towards her, jumping on her in a hug.

"You love us, really."

* * *

The light-hearted mood didn't last very long.

"Bobbie, _don't!_" Rose screamed as Ramsbottom was hit in the face with a bat-bogey hex.

The teachers had left us alone in our room not even five minutes ago, and we were already trying to kill one another.

I cursed and yanked Viv out of the way as a purple hex went soaring past. Looking back, I saw who sent it and scowled. However, just as I was about to go and yell at her, she was stunned.

Whipping around, I watched as Ramsbottom dodged a spell right after throwing a hex at Bobbie that caused her face to break out into boils.

Stepping forward, I flung my hands out. "Right. That is _enou_ –"

A ball of heat zoomed past my face, brushing my forehead. I didn't even need to look in a mirror to know my eyebrows had just been singed.

I turned to my right to see Albus standing there, looking horrified and clutching his wand.

"That was meant for Ramsbottom. Clio, I swear –"

"Save it," I bit out, turning back around, pure anger coursing through my veins.

"What the _hell _is wrong with you people?" Rose screamed from next to me.

"McGonagall told us if we so much as put one more toe out of line, she'd send us home. This is _far _more than a toe out of line. You could have killed somebody!" I yelled. "You're a bunch of immature, irresponsible idiots who can't even _pretend _to play nice for one bloody day! I can't believe this; all of this because of a buggering quill!"

Yeah, you heard that right. This battle to the death is purely because Ramsbottom wouldn't lend Bobbie a quill for her to complete her attendance form.

Honestly, the house elves must be putting a little something extra in the pumpkin juice. There's no way actual human beings are this bloody weird.

Mint burst into tears. "Why couldn't you just _try _to get along?" She implored, as a frightened Scorpius tentatively comforted her.

"Don't take it personally, Mint. They're just a bunch of selfish pricks," Viv said, before looking back down at her Herbology notes with a sense of finality.

Rose took a deep breath. "Professor McGonagall and Neville will be back here any minute now and I think it's best if we spend that time in silence."

I nodded in agreement, taking my wand out of my robe pocket. Ignoring the looks Albus was sending my way, I fixed the overturned desks with a flick of my wrist.

Rose looked at me gratefully, before going to undo the stun on Millie. I sighed and walked to Ramsbottom as Zeph tended to Bobbie.

"Shut up," I hissed, as he went to say something. Murmuring the counter curse, I watched as his skin cleared.

I made my way back over to Viv, ignoring Albus. I wasn't really angry with him about the eyebrows, just more so about him actually getting involved rather than trying to break up the fight.

Who am I kidding; I'll probably forgive him in about five minutes.

Sitting down, I sighed. Why couldn't Ramsbottom just keep his mouth shut? And why did Millie and Bobbie have to be so volatile? Not that it was necessarily their fault; if he made a comment like that about my family then I'd hex him too.

I had just hoped we could have gotten along for one day.

The room was silent for all of five seconds, before I suddenly stood up. I made my way over to a forlorn looking Albus and sat down on the step next to him.

"You know," I began, "when I said I needed to do my eyebrows, this style wasn't quite what I had in mind."

He looked up me, green eyes guilty. "Clio, I'm _so _sorry. I didn't mean to hit you, I swear," he apologised as I shook my head.

"I know. Don't worry about it. Though, I'm kind of bummed you missed Ramsbottom. What I wouldn't give to see him with no eyebrows," I sighed wistfully, glaring at a frowning Ramsbottom.

I sat up suddenly, my heart sinking.

"Oh Merlin. I haven't actually seen how bad it is yet. How bad is it, Albus?" I whispered, eyes wide and gripping onto his cloaked arm for dear life. "My eyebrows are my best feature! I can't live without them! They're the only good things about me! My hair's ratty on a good day, my eyes are always watery even when I'm not around pollen, my skin is so bloody pale I'm practically translucent, I-"

A sudden wave of warmth interrupted my breakdown.

I looked to my right to see Albus putting away his wand.

"I took them away; it's only right I give them back," he said apologetically.

I beamed and patted his cheek, ignoring his embarrassed huffs. "Thanks."

I was still stroking my newly regrown eyebrows and cooing at my reflection in my small compact mirror, when a ministry worker entered the room with Professor Longbottom.

"Albus Potter? You're up," the worker said, reading off a parchment with a longsuffering sigh.

"Good luck," I whispered, squeezing his hand. He grimaced in return, before leaving the room.

He'll be great, I can already tell.

* * *

Once again, my constant stream of 'Troll' grades in Divination has foreseen that I was wrong.

"What _was _that, Albus?" Longbottom murmured, looking concerned as Albus stalked past him, jaw set in anger.

Ignoring him, he simply walked over to a lone chair in the far corner of the room and sat down, crossing his arms.

I felt my stomach contract. Today was getting worse and worse. From what I could gather, Albus had completely flunked in his section, which is strange considering how much he'd studied for it. For Merlin's sake, the guy could list the ingredients of any potion without even looking at the recipes.

The atmosphere within the ten of us was not affecting anyone positively.

Longbottom sighed, before gesturing to Rose. "Rose, you're up."

Rose looked at Albus in the corner, her brows furrowed. After a moment's deliberation, she simply sighed and shook her head as she stood up. Before she could leave however, I saw Scorpius catch her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze, his cheeks blazing.

Smiling to myself, I watched as Rose turned bright pink and gave him a grin before following Neville out of the room.

* * *

"Clio Appleberry? Come on," the ministry worker called, looking bored out of her mind.

Hey, nobody ever said an academic tournament that included History of Magic was going to be a blast.

I took a steadying breath, smiling at Viv as she wished me luck. Scorpius and Rose murmured their own well wishes as I stood up.

Smoothing out my skirt, I followed the tired worker to the exit. Just before I left, I caught Albus' eye. He gave a small smile, which I returned enthusiastically. Until my eyes met Ramsbottom's. Then my enthusiastic smile turned into an enthusiastic glare.

To make matters worse, that one look from him brought back all of the feelings of panic and despair caused by the fight over an hour ago.

Shaking myself slightly, I simply pushed all thoughts of pompous know-it-alls to the back of my mind, and followed the ministry worker out and down the hall.

"Clio!"

I looked ahead to see Toni, the friendly girl from South Africa's school, waving at my enthusiastically. A wide grin spread across my face as I quickened my pace.

We hugged each other quickly, both beaming.

"Toni! How are you?" I asked enthusiastically. Even though I had only spoken to her for a few minutes in the last round, she was definitely the type of person who felt like a longtime friend.

"I'm great! A little nervous though, of course. How about you?" She asked, looking concerned. "We heard shouts coming from your school's room earlier. Is everything okay?"

I sighed and ran a hand down my face. "Oh Merlin. That's so embarrassing… We, er, have some very strong personalities on our team that tend to – erm, how do I put this…"

"Clash and cause a massive shitfest?" Toni suggested, an impish grin tugging at her lips.

I giggled. "That's one way to put it."

A loud voice suddenly drifted over to where we were standing.

"It was totally barbaric, as Fabien said. And I'm in complete agreement. I mean, we come here to represent our schools, no? It is a privilege, yes? And these ungrateful students cause a ruckus, not only disturbing themselves, but also Beauxbatons, though we were three rooms away. I always heard Hogwarts was a school full of animals, but this has really proved it," Lucien Roux, the Beauxbatons representative, said to the girl from the Australian school.

I felt my heart constrict and my breathing stop. He was talking about the fight before. I hadn't realised it had reached every school. If McGonagall finds out…

"Clio, ignore him. He's just being a brat," Toni said, saying the last part loudly.

A feeling of gratefulness spread warmly through my chest, increasing as I watched Lucien sputter and fail to produce an adequate comeback.

"All right guys," a ministry worker whispered, poking his head out from the 'stage' door, "you're up. Here's the order: Ruby, Lucien, Toni, Clio, and Haruki. Follow me, and _please _be quiet."

I caught Toni's arm just before we walked inside. "Thanks, Toni. Good luck."

"No problem. Same to you, see you up there!" She whispered excitedly with a wink.

* * *

"Welcome, History of Magic students!" Serafine said, beaming widely. I tried to smile in return but became a bit distracted by the lime green sequined robes she was wearing.

Wizarding world fashion confuses me.

"Now, before we begin, please check that your buzzers are working. The rules are exactly the same as the previous round – if you know the answer, tap the circle. Off you go!"

Hisses sounded as five different coloured sparks shot out of the podiums.

"Excellent! Let's begin," Serafine grinned, slicing open an envelope with a manicured finger.

I took a deep breath.

Okay, Clio, you can do this. Just shove all of the drama to the back of your mind, and concentrate on the present. Be in the here and now. Don't reminisce and let go of –

"Yes, Ruby!"

"The answer is Percival Graves. Grindelwald stole his identity for an unknown amount of time, ending in the fall of 1926. His true identity was discovered by Newt Scamander."

Oh, bugger.

"Excellent!"

I completely missed the first question. Okay, that's fine; there are still plenty of questions left. I just have to pay attention and not think about the fight. Oh Merlin. The fight. Bloody Ramsbottom! Why do all of our troubles boil down to his bad attitude? Can't he just –

"Lucien!"

"MACUSA, or the Magical Congress of the United States of America, was formed in 1693, following a need for secrecy amongst witches and wizards due to the fear mongering and hunting that the muggles had introduced following to Salem Witch trials."

Sweet Merlin! Where's my head at?!

"Wonderful!"

Okay. No thinking. Just listening.

"Next question! Name a record that proves witchcraft was recognised in Babylonia."

I tapped the circle without thinking.

"Clio!"

Oh, Agrippa. Maybe 'no thinking' wasn't the best advice I could have given myself.

"Er," I hesitated, eyeing the blank faces of the audience warily. "It was uh, the uh…" My eyes drifted to my right, where Toni gave me an encouraging smile and nodded. I took a deep breath. "The, er, Code of Haramni? No! I meant the Code of Hammurabi. Sorry. Nerves," I laughed nervously, internally cursing myself. "Um, written in approximately 2000BCE, it's a Babylonian law code, corresponding to Mesopotamia. The passage that referred to magic actually mainly said that anyone who cast a spell that was unjustified would be punished or rewarded through a trial by drowning. The victim of the spell would be placed in a river – if they drown, the person who cast the spell wins his home. If they live, the person who cast the spell will be executed and the victim will get _his _house," I finished shakily.

"Fantastic!"

I allowed myself a small smile. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

* * *

I was wrong.

I was so, so wrong.

New resolution – how about I _stop _trying to predict the future, because every time I do, it ends in tears. Mainly mine.

Much like the one's I was trying to hold back.

"That is incorrect, I'm afraid," Serafine said, shaking her head. "Well, let's open it up to the rest of the competitors. Yes, Lucien!"

Lucien rattled off the correct answer effortlessly, shooting me a look.

I took in a shaky breath. That was my third wrong answer, in a row. I'm not entirely sure what happened. One minute I was feeling quietly confident, the next I glanced at Lucien and what he said outside the courtroom came flooding back into my mind. Next thing I knew, I was caught up thinking about the shambles that our team was in while simultaneously trying to listen to Serafine, causing me to tap the circle when I'd only listened to half of the question.

I ran a shaky hand down my face, ignoring the muttering of the crowd and the concerned looks Toni and Haruki were sending me.

I couldn't trust myself to look up, or open my mouth. My throat felt like I had a tennis ball stuck in it and I knew I was going to cry any minute.

"And that concludes the second round for History of Magic! Let's give these talented students a warm round of applause."

Everything was a blur, but I was hypersensitive to my watery eyes and clenched fists as I followed Haruki off the stage.

Toni grabbed my arm as soon as we got outside. After one look at her kind expression, a choked sob came out of my mouth.

"Oh, Clio," she said, pulling me into a hug. "It's okay."

I pulled back and gave her a small smile, wiping my eyes. "Thanks."

She nodded seriously. "Are you going to be alright?"

"I'll be fine. I know it seems like we all hate each other, but I've got some really good friends in the Hogwarts team," I replied with a shrug, my voice still clogged and shaking.

She nodded and linked her arm in mine. "Well, I'll walk with you to the room."

I nodded gratefully, and joined in the small talk as we walked down the corridor.

"Well, here you are. You'll be fine, okay? This academic tournament will not even be a blip in your life when you look back on it."

"You're right. It's just hard to keep that in mind sometimes," I said, wrapping my arms around my stomach.

"Well, be sure you do. And don't beat yourself up about it, 'kay? And make sure you owl me! We should catch up. Bring your friends, we'll take a portkey to a beach or something, it'll be great!" Toni said enthusiastically and I couldn't help but smile.

"I will. See you soon, then. Thanks again."

She squeezed my shoulder before walking off to her school's designated room.

I took a deep breath before walking into the room, head downcast. Immediately, Viv, Rose and Albus walked over to me.

"Merlin Clio, what happened? McGonagall and Longbottom came in a minute ago saying you froze up!" Rose whispered, placing a comforting hand on my arm when she reached me.

"You too, huh?" Albus said, brows furrowed while looking at me in understanding.

I grimaced and nodded, avoiding his eyes. "I gave three wrong answers and almost burst into tears on stage. It was bloody humiliating."

"Yikes," Albus murmured, grinning impishly when I shot him a look. "Hey, you said it yourself though; it's not a proper day until you cry, right?"

I snorted in amusement, rolling my eyes. "I mean, I was excluding crying from public humiliation from that, but yeah, you got me there."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Zeph sneezed earlier and a piece of snot flew like a missile and landed on Ramsbottom's cheek. Not gonna lie, it brightened my whole day," Viv told me, her eyes distant, no doubt reliving the memory.

I snorted and clasped a hand over my mouth to stifle my laughter.

Rose giggled and pointed to the corner, where Ramsbottom was pouting. "He's been sulking ever since. It's brilliant."

"I gotta say, I know it was an accident, but Zeph's my new hero. Nothing cheers you up quite like watching an seventeen year old wizard squeal and use a teacher's robes to wipe his face," Albus said appreciatively.

"Oh merlin, he didn't!" I gasped, chest shaking with laughter.

Albus shook his head. "Longbottom'll be cleaning those robes for weeks. Or, I guess we should call him Long_snot_ttom now?"

Rose and I laughed as Viv tried to valiantly defend him.

"Don't call him that, he didn't ask for the snot!"

"Ah, well Ramsnottom didn't ask for it either," Albus said, his lips twitching into a smile.

As Viv continued on her defence, constantly rebutted by Albus, I couldn't help but think Toni was right. Of course I was embarrassed, upset, and worried, but this Tournament isn't the end of the world. With friends by my side to cheer me up with tales of flying snot and defaced teacher's robes, I think everything will be okay in the end.

Not saying it definitively though. I think I'll steer clear of predictions from now on. Trelawney always seemed to hate me; I guess now I know why. My broken Inner Eye. Either that or the one time I accidentally spat tea on her because she startled me when we were reading tea leaves.

Nah. Definitely the Inner Eye.

* * *

**Disclaimer - I own nothing, this is JK Rowling's fantastic world!**

**I'M SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRY! I'M ACTUALLY THE WORST I FEEL SO BAD OH MY GOSH!**

**I cannot believe it has seriously taken me over a year to update?! I honestly do not even have a legit excuse to cover that time except for pure laziness and a lack of ideas. I struggled more with Uni this year but I still had time to write, but I couldn't write anything that i felt fit witht the plot line. I've been adding and deleting stuff to this story during the whole year but I just wasn't really feeling it, you know? I got here eventually though! I know this chapter's kind of a bummer, but believe me, it was originally going to be way more dramatic, haha. I had the intense one written out but it really felt wrong. That's not the type of story I was really aiming for, so I re-wrote it to be a bit lighter, but humour was pretty tough to write with Uni deadlines and stress about my grades, hahaha**

**Anyway, a humungous thank you to all of you lovely people for sticking around and putting up with my horrendous updating! All of your wonderful reviews, faves, and follows kickstarted me into putting my butt in gear and forcing myself to write this! **

**And like Clio, I probably shouldn't make any more definitive promises with my updating because we know how they always turn out lol**

**Thank you and sorry again! xxx**


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Harry Potter, Humor, Romance