The Language of Flowers | Fred Weasley

6: C A L A D I U M - immense delight

Everyone shuffled inside, all of us hoping to get a better look at the students. Some girls were arguing about getting Krum's signature as they shoved their way to the front of the Hogwart's crowd. "Those girls have no ambition," Joanna whispered to me, "I'm gonna get more than just Krum's signature." I rolled my eyes, nudging her in the side. She was so dirty minded.

Joanna could have been a Slytherin, no doubt about it. She had confessed to me last year that the sorting hat had tried to put her in that house, despite her being a muggle born, but Joanna had refused. One of the older Slytherins had been rude to Joanna on the Hogwarts Express the first day and she's held a grudge against all Slytherin ever since.

Adhera and I were good friends with some of the Slytherins. We didn't see them as much because of the amount of studying we had to do, but I knew quite a few Slytherins who were wonderful. No amount of convincing could sway Joanna though. A few times Joanna had seen me talking to them and she would refuse to talk to me for a few days after. She also refuses to tell me what that Slytherin had said to her that day on the train, so I can only assume it was the worst of insults.

That's why when Victor Krum and the other Durmstrang students sat with the Slytherins, Joanna's demeanor changed. She began muttering under her breath as we sat down at the Gryffindor table. Ron seemed to share Joanna's attitude, he kept turning around to look at Krum.

The Beauxbatons were sitting with the Ravenclaws and I scowled as Adhera's boyfriend, Pierre, began to openly flirt with the girls. He was such a prick. Adhera was acting like she didn't even notice, but she kept zoning out. I shook my hand in front of her lightly, and she looked at me. "You alright?" I asked.

"Sorry," Adhera chuckled, but her eyes wouldn't meet mine. I frowned. It made no sense to me why Adhera suffers through this. He obviously flirted with any female around, he's even tried to flirt with me several times. I shut him down quickly but he was undeterred and he moved on to Katie or María within a few seconds. He doesn't talk to any of us anymore, he likes girls he can get easily.

But Adhera chose to ignore all of this, she was blinded by love. I was dreading the day her eyes finally opened. I know her heart will just break into a thousand pieces.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts, and most particularly, guests," Dumbledore began, drawing the attention to the teacher's table. I strained in my seat, trying to see over the taller students.

"I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable." Dumbledore smiled. One of the Beauxbaton girls let out a haughty laugh in reply and the room became awkwardly silent. I don't bother turning to see which girl it was but Joanna, who can see the Beauxbatons from her seat, had a fierce look on her face.

"I know who I'm pranking this week," Joanna whispered, her lips curving up into a crazed smile.

"The tournament will officially start at the end of the feast. I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!" Dumbledore took his seat and the Great Hall came to life. The Gryffindor table was still the loudest table, of course, but our group was uncharacteristically quiet that night.

I tried to enjoy myself best as I could, sampling all of the food on the table despite the looks Joanna was throwing my way. María tried coaxing Adhera to talk, but she just moved her food around with her fork.

A girl from Beauxbatons walked over to our table, began talking to Ron, and then left. I watched the interaction with a grin. Ron had a look of absolute awe on his face and I fought the urge to laugh at him. That boy was so strange when it came to girls, his reactions to interactions with girls were always hilarious. Joanna often tried to recreate his reactions when we are in our dorm and she always leaves me laughing until my stomach hurts for hours.