monophobia • harry potter³ [UNEDITED]

𝐱𝐥. the third task

×

       HERMIONE AND NYX TURNED UP HALFWAY THROUGH LUNCH. Nyx was prepared to devour whatever food had been prepared and laid out at the Gryffindor table only to find that they had come unexpected guests with them. Mrs. Weasley and Billy Weasley were sitting at the Gryffindor table with Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny.

Ron and Harry were the first to notice the girls arriving. 

"Are you going to tell us—" Ron started to say (remembering Rita Skeeter), but Hermione and Nyx shook their heads warningly glancing at Mrs. Weasley. 

"Hermione, Nyx, how are you girls?" Mrs. Weasley smiled, warmly. 

"Hello," said Hermione, smiling. 

"We're doing just fine," Nyx stated, though Mrs. Weasley didn't seem convinced. 

"Now Nyx, putting on a brave face is commendable, but it's all right if things aren't going too well for you given the circumstances." 

Nyx glanced at Hermione as they sat down. "So you've read the Witch Weekly article I take it?" 

"Oh I knew beforehand, dear, Arthur had told me when the Ministry decided to send you your Hogwarts letter, never did I imagine Rita Skeeter would find out!" said Mrs. Weasley shaking her head. "The nerve of that woman to write something so horrible. Don't worry, no one who understands you believes any of those things she wrote about you." 

"Um, right," Nyx shifted uncomfortably. 

"Mum, I doubt the poor girl wants to talk about it right now." Bill Weasley stepped in and Nyx was revealed. 

She was appreciative of Mrs. Weasley's words... but now wasn't the right time; Nyx was hungry and worried about Harry facing the final task tonight. 

Harry took Bill and Mrs. Weasley for a long walk around the castle in the afternoon as the rest of them headed to class; he got to miss so much because he was a champion, and today was the day that the day the champions got visited by their families. In the Durselys' sted Mrs. Weasley and Bill came to encourage Harry; they returned to the Great Hall for the evening feast.  

Ludo Bagman and Cornelius Fudge had joined the staff table now. Bagman looked quite cheerful, but Cornelius Fudge, who was sitting next to Madame Maxime, looked stern and was not talking. Madame Maxime was concentrating on her plate, Nyx noted that her eyes looked red. Hagrid kept glancing along the table at her. 

There were more courses than usual, not that Nyx was complaining; she chatted with Hermione and Ginny while taking a bit of everything she set her eyes on. 

As the enchanted ceiling overhead began to fade from blue to a dusky purple, Dumbledore rose to his feet at the staff table and silence fell. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now."