Charmolypi

Six

" What's the matter?" Ron asks, slowly pulling out of the hug Arabella pulled him into. " I just- Draco and-," Arabella truly had herself at a loss for words. Was it because of what Draco had said, the kiss, what she had said, or the slight possibility that maybe, just maybe the kiss was a good thing. While kissing somebody to shut them up is very wrong in many ways, Arabella was clinging onto hope that it meant Draco still had some type of love for her. Not necessarily romantic love, but the love they shared as kids. " Arabella spit it out," Ron blurted, allowing Arabella to snap out of her wordless trance. " Draco. I went to see Draco," She hurriedly rambled to Ron. Arabella took a step back, dropping her arms from the grasp they had on Ron's. " Okay. . ." Ron wasn't sure of how to respond. He knew the situation between Arabella and Draco, so he was unsure if this visit was of good intentions or bad, " How'd it go?" Arabella looked down, then away from Ron. " Arabella what happened?" Ron asks once more, a sense of worry present in his voice. " We fought," She started, being slow with her words as she walked back over to the lookout. " Okay. . . what else happened? You fight with him everyday so it had to be something bad enough to make you cry." Arabella took a heavy sigh, looked over her shoulder slightly, now seeing Ron in her peripheral vision, " He kissed me." Ron didn't respond.

Stupid, Draco. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Draco. That's what he thought, of himself. What would his father think of him now. What does he think of himself now? He kissed her to shut her up. That's what he's telling himself and that is what he hoped she believed. Part of him wanted too though. The thought of the two of them sharing any love, whether romantic or platonic was an idea that he often thought off. At least then they still had some sort of their childhood with them. The love they shared, being best friends for sometime. He knew he shouldn't have, but he wouldn't have not either.

" He- Uh?" Ron swallowed his words, unsure of how to react, " He what?" He couldn't tell whether he was sad, or angry, or both. " He kissed me," Arabella repeated, facing Ron, " I mean I assume it was to stop me from talking." Ron wasn't sure how to respond, he actually bit his lip a bit in response, to stop himself from saying anything rude that he'd regret. " We got into an argument, I'm sure it didn't mean anything." Ron kept his mouth shut, thinking to himself. " Are you going to say something?" Arabella asks, taking a step towards Ron. Ron took a step closer to Arabella and grabbed her face. Somebody watching would say the way he cusps her face would make anybody think he's to kiss her. But he didn't. " I'm not going to kiss you," He starts, holding onto Arabella's face," But that feeling that you just got, the feeling I know you got when I grabbed you, that's why you should kiss somebody." Ron looks at Arabella for a moment, letting her grasp what he's saying. " You don't kiss somebody to shut them up," He adds once more, removing his hands from her face and taking a step back, " You kiss them," he pauses for a moment, not finishing his sentence. He turns towards the door of the class room, readying to leave. As he walks, you hear Arabella from behind him, " Ron?"

" Hmh?" He hums, Arabella doesn't step towards him, but Ron looks back over his shoulder. " Ron, what were you about to say?" Ron gives a small grin, before responding, " You kiss somebody because you love them." With that, Ron leaves Arabella with her thoughts.

The days pass by, no proper communication between Arabella and Draco, and awkward conversations between Ron and Arabella as she tries to figure out what he meant. " Hello, Harry," Arabella smiles, taking a seat next to him in the hall. " Arabella, " Harry smiles, pulling his books off the table to give her room, " How were your classes?" Arabella groans, sitting her books on top of Harry's, " They were class." This gains a laugh from the both of them, as they wait for the rest of their friends to join them. Hermione and Ron join in soon, but the fun doesn't last long. Harry's hand jolts up to his scar. " It's hurting again, isn't it? Your scar?" Hermione asks. " I'm fine," Harry responds. " You know Sirius is going to want to hear all about this, what's happened so far. He is a bit of a gossiper," Ron jokes, Harry holding up a letter and nodding, " I'm ahead of you." Harry hands the letter to an owl that flies off right as Dumbledore makes his way to his podium for an announcement, " Now that we're all settled, I'd like to make an announcement. This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guests as well. You see Hogwarts has been chosen. . ." He looks around the room momentarily, " So Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Tri-Wizard tournament. Now for those of you who do not know, the tri-wizard tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contests. From each school a single contestant is selected to compete. Now let me be clear, if chosen you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint hearted, but more of that later. For now please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons Academy of magic and their headmistress Madam Maxime."

Each group dances and marches in, standing beside one another. The students of Hogwarts clap and cheer as they see other wizards like them. Dumbledore continues once they're settled, " Your attention please! I would like to say a few words. Eternal glory, that is what awaits the student who wins the tri-wizard tournament. But to do this that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks." You hear Fred in the back, " Wicked." Arabella mocks him, " Wicked." 

          " For this reason the ministry has seen fit to impose a new rule. To explain all this we have the head of the department of international magic cooperation Mister Bartimus Crouch," Dumbledore welcomes Bartimus Crouch to the stand as he sits. " After much deliberation the ministry has concluded that for their own safety no student under the age of seventeen shall be allowed to put forth their name for the tri-wizard tournament. This decision is final." What? The students have an uproar, only to be silenced by Dumbledore as he continues to explain. " The goblet of fire. Anyone wishing to submit themselves for the tournament merely write their name upon a piece of parchment and throw it in the flame before this hour on Thursday night. Do not do so lightly, if choosen there's no turning back. As from this moment the tri-wizard tournament has begun." 

          " How are you going to do it?" Arabella asks the twins as they all walk from the hall and back towards their common room. " Age potion," George starts, Fred finishing with, " That should do the trick." 

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A/N

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