The First Task
After what felt like forever for the students, and nothing at all for the champions, the first task was today. Yourself and Angelina had woken up early to get ready, especially Angelina. "Is this too much makeup? Do you think he'll notice?" She gave you a worried look as she set her brush down. "You look stunning Ange, makeup or no makeup. And he knows that." The girl beamed back at you, perfect teeth shining. Over the last few weeks Fred had relaxed his demeanor entirely, even taking a spare moment to tell you that he was just trying to side with his brother all these years. As such, you'd become far more accepting of your best friend's relationship with the ginger.
"Okay you ready Y/N?" Wrapping yourself in a scarf you nodded and you both headed to breakfast. Walking into the great hall, Angelina made eye contact with Fred and you walked over. Unlucky for you he was accompanied by George. "Carrot top, morning." You gave him a tight lipped smile and sat down. "Tonks." He didn't even look up from his plate, feigning disinterest. Fred shoved his arm, making him look up at you with an uneasy grin.
Strange, was all you thought before turning to your breakfast. Hushed murmurs filled the hall as Harry, Hermione and Ron walked in, taking seats next to you and Angelina. "Hey you okay? You look pale." Hermione shot you a look as if answering your question with her eyes alone. "I'm fighting a dragon." Harry grimaced, head in hands. "Blimey, that is rough." He only grumbled further, dreading the day to come.
You could see the anxiety building up, you patted his back reassuringly in an attempt to be supportive. "You'll be okay Harry." Angelina smiled sympathetically, the atmosphere now dulling. "Um, anyone seen Ginny? Mum's sent her a letter." George asked breaking up the tension whilst waving an envelope. "I think she's at the end of the table, saw her when I walked in." You moved your head to indicate which end of the table you'd spotted her at, not looking up from your bowl of porridge.
"Oi! Ginny! Mail!" Fred and George bellowed simultaneously, the young red head got out of her seat with an eye roll and began to head over. "Your synchronisation is so creepy." Your eyes bore into the pair of them, feeling slightly unnerved at their near telepathy. "I think it's cute." Angelina smiled, making goo-goo eyes at Fred. "Why thank you, you're cute too Ange." George winked back sarcastically, placing a hand on Fred's shoulder.
"Pfft, yeah right mate." Fred scoffed at his brother just as Ginny approached. "What you scatter brains." She boasted, crossing her arms. "For you dear sis." George smiled, handing his sister the letter. The breakfast interaction made you nervous, he was so nice to everybody else. Why couldn't he be nice to you too? "Godric Gryffindor no. That bloody woman." Ginny scrunched up the letter and her nose at the same time. "What? You fail a test or something?" Ron sputtered, a mouthful of eggs slipping out.
"Of course not, I tutor her myself." Hermione interjected, feeling rather proud. "Mum's making me spend the first task with you two, says it's too dangerous." Ginny grumbled, unable to even look at her brothers. "What? Absolutely not, you- you just can't!" George began tripping over his words, a sad look on his face. "Agreed, no chance. Hang out with Ron and Hermione if you're such good mates." Fred protested, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I'm not getting a howler like Ron. Besides when Mum found out about Angelina and Fred she asked me to snoop. So I'm here to stay, not that I'm happy about that mind you lot." Angelina blushed at the idea, thinking about her boyfriend-to-be's mother. Ginny sat down next to Fred and the two twins began hurling arguments at the poor girl. "That is enough! Leave her alone you two, I don't mind the added company. Surely there's a good apple among the veggie patch." You gave Ginny a wink, signaling that you were in her corner. She giggled back, trying to hide a smile.
Shortly after the great hall filed out and Harry had to leave to visit the other champions. The four, now five, of you walked out towards the quidditch patch where the first task was to be held. "You must be Angelina." Ginny said, extending a hand to Ange. "Yes, your brother's told me a lot about you. A promising witch I hear." Ginny blushed back, trying to play it cool. "And Y/N right? George never shuts up about you." Her words had you and her elder brother turning pink. "What are you talking about." George pinched Ginny's cheek before walking ahead with Fred.
"Well, it's true. He's always moping about how, if Tonks was here she'd ruin this and if Y/N was here she'd loooooove this." She remarked sarcastically, revealing that even if he did talk about you, it didn't sound like good things. "Though Hermione says great things about you." Ginny gave you a smile, partially lifting your spirits. "Hurry up! I want good seats!" George hollered back, walking backwards so as to not slow down. Fred turned around, smiling at Angelina before trudging ahead with his twin.
Soon thereafter, students from all three schools packed into the quidditch stands. "Tonks! Ginny! Saved you both a spot!" Fred called out, as you walked over you noticed him taking Angelina's hand in his. She flashed you a shy look and you smiled back at her nervousness. Fred's so called spot was nestled between George and Ginny. The order proceeded as such; Ginny, you, George, Fred and Angelina. "Sorry." Quietly you murmured apologies to George as you squeezed in next to him, shoulders touching from how many students were sat in the area. "So Tonks-" George began, "Y/N! I've heard your sister is a metamorphmagus! Is she really?" Ginny whipped her head around and gave you an awe-struck look.
"Yes, she is. Quite a good one at that, she's at the ministry as we speak." As you spoke she nodded along thoughtfully. "Any cool powers for you?" She raised a mischevious eyebrow and leaned in closer. "No, Tonks is just plain old." George shurgged, butting into the conversation. "Nobody asked you, big sod." Ginny gave her brother a deathly look, causing him to turn straight ahead. Yourself and Ginny made conversation the entire time before the matches began. Just as all students had packed in, George turned to Fred. "She won't let me get a word in!" He whisper-shouted like a child.
"Try harder! No way Ginny can pick up a girl and you can't." Fred matched his volume, giving the boy a determined look. "Damn it's cold out." Angelina murmured, burying deeper into her scarf. "Come here." Fred pulled her in lovingly, causing the rest of you to stare. "Disgusting." "Horrendous." "Abominable." The three of you muttered simultaneously to one another. "Fred won't shut up about her, it's driving me up the wall." George whispered, leaning over slightly so you could hear him. "Oh stop it, you're just jealous you don't have someone like that to cuddle up with." George flushed and his eyes widened, were you referencing the incident in the common room? Did you know?
Whenever George couldn't get to sleep, or was struggling to pay attention in class. His mind would always bring him back to that moment, it was special. It was his. Every time it happened he berated himself for it, but he still couldn't help the butterflies in his stomach or the familiar redness that would tint his cheeks. "Mmmm, do you have anybody like that Y/N? I'm reporting back to Mum about Frangelina anyway, may as well slip in more gossip." Ginny gave you a wink, strangely reminiscent of her older brothers.
George's ears perked up at the question. Was there someone you fancied? Did he even stand a chance? Your loud laughter pulled him out of his thoughts. "Merlin no! Who at this school do you actually think I would go for? Gaggle of gits I say." At this point you'd nearly doubled over. "Oh yeah? What about our George here? Not interested?" Fred interjected, leaning over to join the conversation, pulling Angelina in tow. The question made your body tense, you'd thought about it before and even more so after George's recent change in character.
"Ummm... Well, he hates me anyway so you better ask him that than me." Redirecting the question you stared ahead noticing the first champion enter the arena. "Look it's Cedric!" Angelina pointed at the Hufflepuff, up against a Swedish Short-Snout. Your face was burning and you were hardly paying attention to the action in front of you. At this moment you became acutely aware of George's shoulder touching yours.
You zoned out for all three champions before Harry, thinking about George's recent weirdness. "It's Harry!" George called out, leaning forward to get a better look. You noticed Ginny hiding behind her scarf, a pink tinge on her face. "Do you fancy Harry?" Turning away from the twins, you whispered in her ear. She gave you a wide eyed stare, looking between you and Harry before nodding slowly. Lightly you punched her arm, "I won't tell." Ginny gave you a smirk, "I'll hex you if you do Tonks." Quickly you both refocused your attention on Harry's task.
As if on cue, Harry's broom flew past the crowd's faces, knocking you into George's side. "Sorry! I didn't mean to fall into you..?" The words came out jumbled and awkward as you steadied yourself on George's arm, his other hand supporting your side. "I've got you, it's alright." It was like time froze, he was holding you so carefully. Like he was protecting you. "Gross." Ginny muttered, snapping you back into reality you quickly pushed yourself off of George.
Butterflies flooded your stomach as you were overcome with a sense of dread. Merlin's beard... why had that felt so good?