Starling Darling, Harry Potter Love Story

Chapter Twenty-Three

Star and comment!

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Star twisted the rings on her hands nervously.

"Who? Your boyfriend?" Aveline giggled.

"Yes."

"No."

"Aveline!"

"Star, the only thing that is going to happen to him is maybe, just maybe, his pretty hair gets singed."

~~~

"I can't believe this is valid! Like, hello," Aveline threw her hands into the air. "This man is 15 years old and can barely tell left from right and he's allowed to fight a dragon? Hell to the no!"

Star sat there looking like she was about to throw up.

"Oh, sorry, Star," Aveline winced. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure Dumbledore won't let him die!"

"You're so much help, Ave!" Noren smiled cynically. 

"Oh, shut up!"

"You know what? I'm going to go see him," Star stated bravely, standing up.

"What? You're going to go sneak into the tent?" Noren asked, a concerned tinge to his voice.

"Exactly!"

"And you wonder why you're not a Gryffindor?" Aveline giggled.

"Merlin, don't insult me like that."

Star could faintly hear Dumbledore speaking over the announcements as she stealthily walked to the back of the tent where the contestants resided. Her anger toward Dumbledore had not subsided as of yet. 

"Harry!" She whispered outside of the tent, her fingers crossed. "Hear me, hear me, hear-"

"Star?"

"Oh, thank Merlin! How are you feeling? Alright?" She could only hear his ragged breaths through the flimsy tent. "The key is to concentrate. After that you just have to-"

"Battle a dragon," He finished for her. 

Star ripped open the curtains and slammed her body into his, hugging him tightly. 

A camera flashed. 

"Ah! Young love!" A woman interrupted, her voice sickeningly sweet. "How... stirring!" The woman pointed to a floating notepad and quill and immediately began to write on its own. "If everything goes unfortunate today, you two may even make the front page!"

"Star, just go. I promise I'll see you after," He smiled, turning toward her.

"Star?" The same woman questioned. "Don't tell me you're Starling Lupin-Black? As in the best teen model? Vogue, Runway, Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar? Oh, you two will definitely be on the front page! I can see it now! "Harry Potter's Heartache!" Oh, isn't it just wonderful?"

"Star. Go," Harry said more sternly.

"Even though I hate I actually agree with you. Fine. Bye," She smiled, before slipping out of the back of the tent. 

~~~

"Oh, that Rita Skeeter makes my fucking blood boil," Star growled. Her anger was searing in her veins, and it scared her. Aglaope's words sounded throughout her head, reminding her of who she was. What she was. 

"Don't judge something that you are a part of, Starling, especially when you'll have to do it soon too," Aglaope's voice rang. 

Star blocked her anger out as she heard screams, signaling the first contestant was coming out. It was Cedric Diggory.