𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 23

It was now the night before the second tournament, and the four pranksters were up in the boy's dorm, playing a round of Exploding Snap. Natasha had just placed down her final card when Ron stuck his head in, much to the disproval of his brothers.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley how many times have-" George was quickly sat on by Natasha, who grinned as he heaved uncomfortably from the weight on his chest.

"Oh, hello Ron, what can we do for you?" she asked sweetly, causing Fred to gag.

Ron ignored his brothers and looked at Natasha. "Minnie wants you, well actually I think Dumbledore wants you, but Minnie's waiting with Hermione down in the common room and wanted me to fetch you," he explained. Natasha looked over to Fred with her eyebrows furrowed, and he shrugged.

"Go on love, we'll wait for you," he insisted, and Natasha nodded, quickly kissing him and ruffling the other two's hair.

"Don't you dare start a new game," she threatened, and all three boys gulped, and she happily skipped out of the dorm. Minerva was waiting by the fireplace with Hermione just as Ron said, and he awkwardly waved to the two girls as McGonagall led them down to Dumbledore's office.

"Professor?" Hermione asked, and Minerva ignored them, quite flustered herself. Natasha noticed and made sure Hermione was close to her, gripping her wand just that slight bit tighter.

Minerva quickly whispered the password to Dumbledore's office and led them up to where Mr Crouch, Dumbledore, Cho Chang and Fleur's younger sister Gabby were. The two other girls looked confused, and when Natasha entered, Gabby ran to her side, clearly more comfortable since her older sister was already friends with the girl.

"Now, for the second task, the competitors are asked to fetch something dear to them," Dumbledore started. Natasha had a feeling she already knew what was coming and put her hand up. "Yes Miss Black?" he asked, and Mr Crouch stiffened at the mention of her last name.

"Sir, if I may, I'm taking it we are the 'dear' things, which is absurd since I was planning on helping the boys bet tomorrow. But may I just ask, that whatever you do, my hair stays this perfect?" she finished, and she grinned as Minerva silently groaned.

"Of course, Miss Black," the headmaster answered, sending a small wink her way. Natasha breathed a sigh of relief and summoned a chair to her side, swinging her leg over. Gabby giggled as Minerva looked on horrified, though she couldn't expect less from a child of Sirius Black.

"Now, the Ministry has made sure that nothing will happen to you during the tournament. Protective charms shall be placed over you that will be broken once the task is completed," Mr Crouch drawled on, and with that, he pulled out his wand.

"I suggest, like Miss Black has already done, that you get a chair before we send you to sleep," Minerva suggested, and Hermione summoned a chair for her and Gabby whilst Cho just manually took one.

The four girls sat completely still as Mr Crouch raised his wand, before the lights went dark and they were all sent to a land of dreams.

~.~

By morning, Fred, Lee, George and even Angelina were concerned for Natasha's whereabouts. It wasn't like her to disappear, though she had stolen back her father's and uncle's map from Harry during the World Cup at the start of the year, so she could have easily fallen asleep in a hidden passage.

Fred couldn't stop stressing in the Great Hall, but as soon as he noticed Harry and Ron doing the same, he knew something was up. "Let me guess," he said, sliding in across from them. "Hermione's disappeared without a trace."

The boys first expression was one of shock, but as soon as they realised Natasha wasn't joined to Fred's hip, they realised he was on to something. "I take it Natasha's gone then too?" said Ron, and Fred nodded, unconsciously gripping the hair tie on his wrist that belonged to Natasha.

"I'm sure the girls are both safe," said Neville, from his spot beside Harry, and they all nodded in agreement.

"They're the best witches in the school, and combined they're like a super witch," George commented. Fred and Lee snickered at this, and even some of the Gryffindor's surrounding them laughed as well.

It was true though. Minerva hadn't seen such bright witches at Hogwarts since Lily Evans and Aurelia Hope had graduated, and it warmed her heart that one of the witches just happened to be Lily's goddaughter, and Aurelia's child. No Ravenclaw could outmatch the brightness of Hermione and Natasha, and even some teachers were terrified of the power the two had.

Minerva had bet against multiple teachers that Hermione would be the Minister for Magic one day, but no one bet against her believing Natasha would be Head Auror. The boys looked over to their head of house to see if she was concerned, but she showed no emotion as she engaged in a conversation with Professor Sprout.

The rest of breakfast was silent as everyone on the Gryffindor table wondered where the Pranking Queen and the Brightest Witch of her Age were. Fred noticed that some of Cho Chang's friends were also anxiously looking around, as well as Fleur, who was in hysterics next to Lauren and Angelina.

"She 'ez only a young girl, she doez not own a vand," she cried out, as the two girls beside her rubbed her back supportively. After a few minutes of her crying, Madam Maxine ended up coming to the Gryffindor table to escort her to the tournament early, desperate to keep the image of her school immaculate and pristine.

The rest of the Great Hall followed suite after the French woman, and as Harry wringed his hands in stress, the three pranksters wandered around aimlessly, lost without their queen.