𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐘 || 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳

✿ CHAPTER FIFTEEN ✿

Days bled on and the day of the first task rolled around too quickly. Rita Skeeter had released an article on the tournament a few days ago, however it was less focused on the Tournament and more on Harry.

One particular section of the article even mentioned my name.

Harry Potter has at last found love at Hogwarts. His close friend, Mr Colin Creevey, states that Potter is rarely seen out of the presence of Ruby Weasley, an intelligent and vivacious girl, and fellow Gryffindor to Potter snd Creevey. The two were found asleep together on the couch of their common room only days ago.

How completely stupid and childish of a fully grown woman to be writing about high school gossip in a newspaper.

From the very moment the article first made an appearance in the halls of Hogwarts, newspapers were waved in Harry's - and sometimes my - face by students (mostly Slytherins) whenever we walked down the halls, quotes from the newspaper read aloud to us as though we hadn't heard them a billion times already.

Harry and Ron had not forgotten whatever bad blood ran between them, the latter still believing Harry had entered the tournament for attention.

Walking down to the arena that the first task is to be held in, I passed Fred and George, who calling out to the floods of students trying to sell them merchandise and beckoning them to place bets.

I crept over to the champions tent, where I peeked through a gap in the tarp. Harry sat in the corner, head in his hands as the other three champions, their friends and their teachers milled around.

"Hey, stranger." I greeted him, sliding down on the bench next to the dark haired boy. "Bit nervous?"
"Just a little." His smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You'll be great, okay?" I said confidently. He nodded slowly, his eyes travelling over my face. I didn't have anything else to say, and I guess he didn't either did he, so instead I flung my arms around his neck and he grabbed around my middle in a comfortable hug.

A loud click sounded from the other side of the tent, followed by a bright flash. Harry and I sprung apart and looked up to see the one and only Rita Skeeter, her photographer having just taken a photo of Harry and I.

"Vat are you doing in this tent?!" Krum bellowed at the reporter, "this tent is for champions and their friends only!"
Rita's sickly smile dropped. "That's a bit unfriendly, Mr Krum, but it seems I have all I need." She giggled gleefully as her and her team strode out of the tent.

"You should get going, okay?" Harry smiled at me. I nodded, but instead of leaving the tent to the stands, I followed in Rita's direction.
"Ruby, No!" Harry called from behind me. I didn't listen.

******

It was time. After I confronted Skeeter about her article, I had felt extremely head-strong for a while, but the nerves had once again returned in anticipation for Harry's turn.

When I told Hermione about my talk with Rita, she had blown up at me, saying that was a stupid thing to do. I didn't care.

Cedric, Victor and Fleur had all passed their dragons and secured their eggs.

"And finally, Witches and Wizards, Teachers and Trolls, ghosts, guests and ghouls! Please welcome... Mr Harry Potter!" Ludo Bagman blew his whistle and I watched as Harry stumbled through the exit of the tent, eyes wild. I followed Harrys eyes to where the Hungarian Horntail stood at the other end of the enclosure, crouched over her nest of eggs, and sitting at the very top of the pile - the golden one.

The Horntail moved forward, pulling against its chain. Fire blew out from its open mouth, aimed at the dark haired boy.

"HARRY!" He looked up and caught my eye. "YOUR WAND!" I screeched over the roars of the dragon.

"Accio Firebolt," he yelled with a flourish of his wand. The crowd waited with bated breath to see if the spell had worked. Harry continued to duck behind rocks in an attempt to shield from the flames still streaming out of the Horntail's mouth.

There was a whizzing sound, and I turned to see Harry's broomstick approaching at top speed. I cheered along with Hermione and a few other people - mostly Gryffindors-  as Harry grabbed his firebolt, swung his leg over the broomstick and took off.

The Horntail, realising it was chained up, pulled and pulled against the metal, and with an ear splitting snap the dragon was free. Several people screamed, and Harry took off towards the castle. The dragon, flapping its humongous wings, followed quickly in suit.

The two disappeared, and an eerie silence settled over the arena before groups of people broke out on conversation. Two minutes passed, according to Hermione, but they felt like hours. When Hermione let out an ear-splitting cheer from beside me, I turned to see what she was looking at.

"YES!" She screamed, and pointed to the sky where Harry whizzed towards the arena at tremendous speed. Students all around me clapped and cheered at the approaching boy, who swooped down and collected the golden egg before disappearing back into the champions tent.

A dozen wizards on broomsticks whizzed of at top speed towards the castle, wands drawn in search of the escaped Horntail.

"Oh my! Would you look at that! Harry Potter, our youngest champion is the first to collect his egg!" Tremendous applause broke through the arena, almost everyone was on their feet, cheering and whooping.

I ran back down to the champions tent, Hermione in tow, where we found Harry.

"You were brilliant!" Said Hermione squeakily. "You really were incredible." I agreed.

"Harry?" Ron walked over timidly. "Harry, I reckon you'd have to be thumping mad to put your own name in that goblet." I watched in exasperation as the two boys acted as though the last few weeks had never happened.

"Finally caught on, have you?" Harry said it playfully but I could tell he meant it, "took you long enough." Ron opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak, but no words came out.

"It's alright, forget it." Harry nodded.
"No, it's not alright. I shouldn't have-"
"Ron, forget it" Harry assured him.
"You two are so stupid!" Hermione had burst into tears from beside me. Before anyone could stop her she brought us all in for a group hug and then skipped away.

||||||||||||AUTHORS NOTE||||||||||||

HI GUYS!!
I hope you're all doing fantastic and enjoying the story!

Question of the chapter: What's your favourite colours?
Answer here: ⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨

Mines pink.

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Love you all lots, have a great day 🫶🏻
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