𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 19

There was an exciting vibe at the Great Hall as all the students filed in, the students from visiting schools now spread out amongst the new friends they had made. Fleur Delacour, one of the students from Beauxbaton, had taken a liking to Natasha, and the two girls had become fast friends.

She had seen a picture of the Weasley family, curtesy of the one framed next to Natasha's bed, and was now constantly swooning over Bill, his name escaping from her lips 24/7. "Zat Bill, is he single?" she asked, and Natasha nodded as she took a bite from her pumpkin pasty.

"Yeah, he's a curse-breaker, currently working in Egypt. He's actually coming down for the last task to visit us, I could introduce you, if you'd like?" Natasha offered, and Fleur nodded eagerly.

"Zat would be, er, wonderful, Nat!" she squealed, turning back to her dessert. Fred had his head on Natasha's shoulder, with his arms around her waist, opening his mouth to try and get a bite of the pumpkin pasty she was eating.

He was just about to successfully take a bite, when he noticed Felicity looking at him oddly. "Hey Nat, any idea why Pearce is looking at us?" he whispered, and Natasha looked over to where Felicity was sitting, a slight furrow in her brow.

"I have no clue Freddie; I don't even think I've ever had a full conversation with the girl come to think of it. Rumour is she fancies someone in Gryffindor though, but I don't know," Natasha answered. Fred quirked his eyebrow at the girl and she quickly turned away, but it still left him with an odd feeling.

Hermione, Ron and Harry were seated just slightly in front of the resident pranksters, though Natasha could tell something was on Hermione's mind as she constantly kept on glancing over to the Slytherin table, where the Durmstrang boys were.

Finally, the dishes disappeared, and Dumbledore stepped up to the Tri Wizard Cup, surrounded by Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman, both who were anxious just to get to their rooms and drink.

"It is now time for the Tri Wizard champions to be chosen. However, I must tell you, if chosen, you stand alone. Now, for the Beauxbaton champion..." The cup's flame shot out a slip of parchment and it landed in Dumbledore's hands.

"... Fleur Delacour!" The hall erupted in claps as Fleur smiled, quickly hugging Natasha before heading through the door behind the faculty's table.

"Now for the Durmstrang champion!" The cup once again produced a piece of parchment, and by now Natasha could feel her eyes closing, her head leaning against Fred's which was still situated on her shoulder.

"Viktor Krum!" Durmstrang was the loudest group as they patted Viktor on the back, his red uniform striking and his boots well-polished. He shot a look to the Gryffindor table, smirking as he saw the girl, he had had his eyes on since he arrived, before heading through the door Fleur had entered just moments ago.

The Hogwarts students, bar Fred and Natasha who had just fallen asleep on each other, were now on the edge of their seats, even some teachers who had placed bets on their students. Minerva had her sights set on Diggory, and she had bet 50 galleons against Madam Pince, who was certain a Slytherin would make it in.

"And now, for our Hogwarts student." By now, Natasha was softly snoring, and the whole Gryffindor table had their eyes on her and Fred, laughing as the two contently slept through the speech.

The cup lit up and one last piece of parchment slipped through, landing in Dumbledore's hands. "Cedric Diggory!" The Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, and Ravenclaws all erupted in cheers as Cedric was pushed forward by his friends, loud enough that it woke up Fred, but not Natasha.

Cedric wore a huge grin on his face as he disappeared through the door, and the hall quietened, waiting for Dumbledore to speak again. He drawled on, speaking his cryptic sentences, when the cup produced one more piece of parchment, the onlookers gasping in surprise.

Even Dumbledore's brows were furrowed as the parchment landed delicately in his hand, the scrawl unrecognisable but the words as clear as day.

"Harry Potter!"

Silence crept over the hall as Harry looked around in disbelief. "Harry Potter!" Dumbledore called out again, and Natasha jostled awake as the headmaster's voice boomed around the hall.

"Go on," Hermione said, and reluctantly, Harry stood up, the hall completely quiet as he walked through the door. McGonagall immediately rushed in after and Natasha froze, completely shocked as her godbrother was followed by Dumbledore, Crouch, Bagman and Moody.

"No," she whispered. "He couldn't have, he's too young," she rambled as other students started to protest about the unfairness. The Slytherin table booed in unison, along with the Hufflepuffs who were usually the nicest in the school.

Natasha looked to Fred, who saw her concern coming as she latched her arms around his neck. "Freddie, he's going to get himself killed," she mumbled, and Fred rubbed her back supportively.

"Something doesn't add up love," he whispered, and she nodded, completely agreeing with his statement.

"You're right Freddie. Something doesn't add up."

She looked down the table where Felicity's eyes caught hers, her crystal blue ones meeting the other girl's muddy brown. Felicity sneered at the girl, and Natasha jumped in shock, clearly not expecting that type of reaction from her.

George was silently watching the interaction between the two as the Great Hall descended into chaos, not liking how Felicity was acting towards Natasha. He kicked Fred under the table, who was up until then completely oblivious to the exchange, and discretely pointed down the table.

Fred did a quick glance with his eyes and tightened his grip on Natasha, who now had her attention back to Fred. "Everything alright with her love?" he asked, and she shook her head, her eyebrows quirked as they did when she was deep in thought.

"I think Felicity likes you Freddie. It's either that or I've become a Basilisk, and I'd prefer the first option entirely over the second." Fred chuckled, pressing a kiss to Natasha's cheek.

"You should know by now Nat that you're the only girl for me. You always have and you always will be."