Chapter 7
The days flew by before the first task in the tournament and throughout those days, Lestrange found herself surrounded by the Weasleys more and more as time went on. Of course, this didn’t sit well with the other Slytherins, not that she had much care for their opinions; however, it did become a problem when Draco approached her one day after her detention with McGonagall.
“Lennie!” Draco said sitting up on the leather sofa that was right in front of the fire in the Slytherin common room. Most students had made their way to their room to do homework, but some still lingered in the common room.
“Dray,” Helene said to her cousin with a soft smile as she made her way over she rubbed her wrists and sat next to him. Her wrists ached from grading multiple classes worth of transfiguration essays for the deputy headmistress, it took her about three hours to get through half of them, the rest she would have to finish another time.
“So, what’s been going on with you?” Draco asked almost immediately after she sat down.
“Well, besides spending my whole afternoons in detention, I would say nothing strenuous why?” She asked with a blank face.
“What? Can’t I simply ask you about your day?” He shrugged a little sheepishly. Helene knew that look; he was trying to get information out of her. No matter how much they may love each other, they didn’t create small talk by simply asking how the other day was. It was usually just said to the other in a rant when necessary, otherwise they just thought it was awkward. So, in response to his question, she sent him a silent look with an eyebrow raised, telling him to spit it out.
“Right, what is going on with you and the Weasel boys?”
“Pardon?” She asked, confused.
“Lennie, practically the whole school knows about you suddenly spending time with the Weasley twins,” Draco said with distaste. “And frankly I’m confused as well, just a few weeks ago you couldn’t even stand to see them in the hall, and now everywhere I turn those red-headed devils are practically nipping at your heels,”
“Draco, whom I associate with should not be of any concern to anyone,” Helene shot him a pointed stare. “And besides it’s not like that anyway Dray,”
Draco looked at her skeptically. “Well, okay,” then he sighed. “But, if you decided that one of those Weasley twins was worthy of your affection, I suppose you could have chosen worse out of that bunch,” he said as he reached for the book he had placed on the couch beside him. Helene looked at her cousin with shock on her face as he stood up and walked upstairs as if he hadn’t said what he did.
~~~
The next morning the school was filled with excitement, it was the first task, and everyone was preparing for the show that was about to be put on. Helene of course was going with Celia and naturally, the twins planned to tag along as well. Helene had chosen to bundle herself up in a deep green sweater which was spelled with a heating charm to keep the chilledNovemberr air from bothering her as well as a black pea coat and black earmuffs, paired with cream slacks, and black boots. Winter was something she loved to see but hated to experience, the cold was something she didn’t like especially when the chill was so strong it felt as if it would seep into her bones.
Celia was also bundled up, but she wore a giant brown pullover that was twice her size, with black pants, and black and white shoes, with her hair splayed out around her shoulders.
“Lennie!” She waved to her friend who was seen walking towards her in the courtyard where all the other students seemed to be meeting before heading to the pitch.
“Hey, Lia,” The girl called back. Once meeting up with her friend they stood and talked for a minute, knowing the twins would somehow find them.
“I brought us hot chocolate to keep us warm,” The girl practically shoved a canister at the Slytherin with what obviously held the hot chocolate she spoke about. “I’m so excited!” Lia bounced around. Helene smiled at her friend. “Also, George said something about being a little late, something about them needing to get their things for the show,” Celia looked confused as she tried to recall what the ginger boy had told her.
“Speaking of George, we haven’t really had the chance to talk about what’s going on between you too, have we?” The Lestrange girl asked her as she unscrewed the lid for the hot chocolate and took a sip, letting the rich-tasting liquid warm her up.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Celia shrugged her eyes a little sad. “He hasn’t asked me out, I mean all we have done is talk about schoolwork, which I never would have guessed he would care so much about, and the different types of prank ideas he and Fred have come up with. To be frank I'm a little worried he may not fancy me as much as I fancy him.” Celia shrugged, taking a sip of her own hot chocolate.
“Who do we fancy?” A voice called out from behind the girls and Celia started coughing from choking on her drink. Turning around, the boys stood with smiles on their faces, George had walked over and bumped his arm with Celia’s to make sure she was okay. Fred stood beside Helene with what looked to be a large briefcase connected to a strap that was thrown across his body.
“Well?” The boy beside the shortest girl asked again.
“What?” Helene asked, looking up at him in confusion.
“You were talking about people you fancy, come on now spill the beans,” He smiled waving his finger.
“Sorry Weasley, girl business only,” Celia shrugged her face a bright red.
“That’s a bit rude,” The twins laughed, while the girls shrugged and turned to finally start heading to the pitch.
“What’s in the briefcase?” Celia asked.
“We’re going to go around the pitch and see who people are betting on winning,”
“For free?” Celia asked again.
“No love, that’s the fun part, people spend their money, and we get a percentage,” George threw his arm around her shoulder. Helene rolled her eyes at the fact that her best friend really believed that the same boy didn’t fancy her.
“Right, so you’re gambling?” Helene raised her brow.
“It’s not gambling, it’s just business darling,” Fred smirked, copying his brother’s move, and wrapping his arm around the girl. Who simply glared in response but didn’t move his arm knowing resistance was futile. After the last few weeks, Helene learned Fred was a physical type of person, especially with the Slytherin girl, who would ignore the knowing stare from the Hufflepuff when caught up by it.
“Right,” The girl said in an exasperated tone, finally having made it to the pitch and going to find a seat.
“We’ll be back, we want to go ahead and get some pre-bets in,” George told them but was specifically looking at Celia in assurance, in response she nodded her head.
“We’ll be back darling, keep our seat warm, won’t you?” Fred asked Helene with a giant smile before rushing off.
“Honestly, Celia, if you can’t tell that boy is unbearably smitten with you, you need to get your eyes checked,” Helene immediately turned to her friend once the boys were far enough away.
“Oh come off it, it’s not like he’s asked me properly,” The dark-haired girl looked at her friend like she was daft.
“I believe it was you who stated that ‘that men are emotionally constipated, now just add the fact that they're Gryffindors into the mix and it's like you get an emotionally constipated man with no brain cells’, remember?” she said with air quotes.
“I’m going to need you to stop using my quotes and throwing them into my face Lennie, it is rather rude.” Helene laughed at her friend's scrunched-up nose.
“Besides, if I do recall I said that because you were in denial that a certain Fred Weasley liked you,”
“Don’t make this about me,” Helene said, offended.
“Actually, let’s talk about that for a moment, what’s going on between you two, hmm?” Celia smirked.
“Lia, you know that it is not like that at all Fred is a natural flirt and half the girls at Hogwarts can attest to that,” Helene shrugged while turning to look at their surroundings.
“Right, but that’s just harmless flirting,” The Hufflepuff tried to protest.
“Then how he acts with me would be considered the same,” Helene shrugged.
“Denial is a river in Egypt, my friend,” Celia laughed, and Helene shot her a look.
“Denial about what?”
“Lennie there is nothing wrong with admitting that you may be a little smitten with the boy or even attracted to the idea of him liking you. I can see the flush on your face when he throws an arm over your shoulder,”
“That is just my natural red splotches!” Helene objected.
“We have been friends for six years now, I also know you better than anyone, don’t try to lie,”
“I don’t-”
“Celia!” A voice yelled from further down, cutting off the Slytherin girl.
Celia looked over and waved to another Hufflepuff, which happened to be a boy by the name of Hagen Combs.
“Hey Hagen,” Celia smiled at the boy.
Helene looked him up and down and studied his profile. She wasn’t one to talk to others, especially if she didn’t need to. Celia was the only person that she could really call a friend, but she couldn’t recall seeing the boy around much besides in passing. He has blonde hair she observed, not as blonde as Draco’s of course but still blonde nonetheless, if anything Helene would describe it as a dirty blonde that laid in a long shag look, sort of like the twins. He had striking blue eyes and freckles covered his cheeks.
“Hey, Helene,” He turned to acknowledge her as well with a bright smile. Helene looked at him kind of strangely, the only people who called her by her first name were Celia, Draco, and slowly but surely the twins as well.
“Hello,” She nodded her head in politeness as would be expected of the Lestrange heir.
“Are you two here with the twins today?” He asked.
“Yeah, they just went off to go take some bets,” Celia laughed while pointing in the direction they went. Helene took notice of the fact that he immediately asked if they were with the twins. She guessed that people were slowly starting to become accustomed to seeing the mix of them together.
“Ah, I see, so they are sitting with you?” Celia nodded her head again.
“They are, may I ask why?”
“Well, I was going to see if you both would like to sit with Cooper and me, only if you wanted of course!” Helene looked around the boy to see where he had just come from, a boy with dark brown curls and tanned skin sat looking over to where they were sitting.
“Actually, if you like, you and Cooper could-” Before the Hufflepuff could offer the two boys to join them, a boy quickly plopped down next to her.
“Combs! Hey mate,” George, who appeared literally out of nowhere, was now sitting next to Celia. Helene looked around expecting Fred to do the same, but she found him talking to two boys with a briefcase open, but his eyes trained on her. She looked back to George then back to Fred with her brows raised, he simply gestured to Combs and shook his head, laughter in his eyes and he subtly swiped his finger over his throat. Helene could only assume that to other people the boy was being a little weird with the gesture, but the Slytherin understood. George, whom Fred had admitted to liking her Hufflepuff friend since third year, had seen the Combs boy and had rushed over to stop whatever he had seen transfiguring between the two Hufflepuffs.
Helene, against her better judgment, snickered out loud causing the heads of the three people next to her to look at her as if she lost her mind.
“Right, sorry don’t mind me,” She waved them off.
“Hey Weasley,” Combs answered, still smiling but not quite as bright.
“What are you up to mate?” George asked, trying to be nice.
“Oh well, I was just seeing if the girls wanted to sit with Cooper and me if they were by themselves,” The boy rubbed his hand behind his neck smiling sheepishly.
“That’s very gentlemanly of you mate, real swell, but they aren’t alone,” The Gryffindor said while slipping his arm behind Celia and resting his hand right next to her hip on the bench.
“I was just about to ask if they would like-” This time the Lestrange girl cut her oblivious friend off.
“If they would like to place any bets! I for one would love to know who you think will win, my money is on Krum, no one is as fast of a flyer as him!” She spoke as she lightly nudged her friend's foot to signal her to shut her trap.
“Sorry Helene, but you are wrong our boy Harry has it in the bag,” George called, his eyes showing thanks. “How about it Combs? Any bets?”
“Oh well, not this time I guess but I have to disagree with both, Cedric has definitely got a high shot at winning this,” he said politely. “I should probably get back to Cooper, it was nice talking to you mate” He nodded at George, “and you to Helene,” He shot her a dazzling smile, which George also caught. “I’ll see you later Celia, hopefully we’ll be able to celebrate Diggory’s win later!” He said waving as he walked off.
“Well, that was nice of him,” Celia smiled, and Helene looked at her dim-witted friend.
“Yeah, very nice of him,” George proclaimed face tight, “I’ll be right back, I’m going to help get some last bets and then we’ll be right over,” George said walking off for the second time. Helene quickly turned.
“You ma’am, are as dim-witted as they come,” She groaned.
“What? What did I do?” She asked confused
“Nothing, absolutely nothing,” She simply shook her head.
Eventually, the boys came back just as the task began. First up was Diggory who had managed to get burned by the Dragon After it realized that it wasn't very amused by a transfigured dog. Then Fleur, who had been burned just a little by her dragon, and Krum had managed to pass his dragon and obtain his egg without any scratches. Which left Harry Potter to be the very last one. As everybody waited for the dragon tamers to prepare Harry's own dragon, Helene turned to her three companions.
“I do hope Potter knows what he's doing,” Helene exclaimed out loud, “he’s only fourteen after all, and if I do recall when we were that age, we weren't necessarily taught spells to protect us against dragons,”
“I agree,” Celia replied. “Poor boy must be worried out of his mind right now,”
“He’ll be alright,” proclaimed Fred.
“Harry's a natural at taking down things bigger and scarier than him!” George responded after his twin.
“He is just a child, he doesn't know what he's doing now!” Helene said and she gave them a look.
“Don't be worried, besides if it gets too scary you can always hold onto me darling,” Fred smiled, and Helene punched his arm. Head turned back to the pit once the sound of the cannon went off for the fourth and final time for the evening. Helene couldn't even imagine what she would do if Draco was in the same predicament, of course, the Malfoys would have never let it get this far. Fred pulled out a weird muggle contraption that allowed him to see into the stadium, and Helene clenched her fists in worry.
Harry, once in the ring, immediately spotted the shiny golden egg and began walking toward it completely ignoring the fact that a fire-breathing dragon was somewhere in the ring with him. When suddenly the same mentioned dragon landed behind him.
“Is that a bloody Hungarian horntail?!” Helene shouted; her worry had just gotten ten times worse.
Harry suddenly made a jump for it when the dragon followed behind swinging its tail down. Everyone gasped and flinched as shards of rocks flew up and Harry’s arm slipped and he rolled down. Suddenly, he was up just in time before the horntail spewed fire in his direction.
“Your wand Harry! Your wand!” The Granger girl shouted from the stand in front of Helene.
“Oh, Merlin’s beard!” Helene shouted in exasperation as Harry waved his wand and cast a charm, though she wasn’t sure what. Harry went back to diving behind the different rocks to avoid the dragon. As the beast was ready to spew more fire, Harry managed to get behind a giant boulder.
Once the fire was gone, Helene noticed something in the stadium flying toward the boy.
“Look! Look!” she shouted, as she grabbed Fred's arm and pointed with the other, not even realizing what she did, eyes focused on the scene in front of her. The boy had managed to summon his broom and jumped on it just in time, however, he missed his chance to grab the egg when more fire was spewed at him. Harry flew out of its bounds, the dragon's chain only allowing it so much room, when suddenly it broke.
“Oh my!” Celia shouted. Helene was on edge as the dragon followed the boy away from the stadium and towards the school, destroying the administrators' stand in the process.
“Yeah!” George screamed, now with the weird muggle tool in his hand.
“Yeah! Well done, dragon!” Fred shouted at the same time, clapping vigorously.
“Salazar!” Helene shouted again completely on edge; in fact, the whole stadium was. No one could see the boy let alone the dragon. No one had a clue what was happening.
“What’s happening?!” Celia cried out, caving under the pressure of not knowing.
It remained silent for a few moments, everyone waiting and watching for the fourteen-year-old to appear and show everyone he was okay. Helene clenched her fist even tighter. When suddenly, a black speck appeared in the sky heading straight for the stadium.
“Yes! Yes!” Granger shouted again. Everyone started to clap once they realized what that speck was. Helene jumped in excitement and hugged the closest thing to her, arms flung around the being's neck, as the person lifted her short frame up. Naturally, it was Fred Weasley who immediately took the opportunity to hug her back, his own arms wound tight around her waist. Helene pulled back and looked him in the eyes, her own face she could feel was flushed beyond belief, and she froze her heart racing. Fred was looking at her with so much intensity, gone was the cocky smirk that usually adorned his face, and in its wake was a genuine smile.
“Yeah!” Someone screamed and Helene quickly unwrapped her arms from his neck, and she turned back to the pit. Harry had the egg. She missed it. She wasn’t even sure when he grabbed it, just that now in this moment it was in his hands raised in the air as the crowd was going wild. Helene clapped just not as enthusiastically, her mind still reeling from the way the red-headed boy looked at her.