The Dark Mark | D.M

The four Triwizard Champions

VI

All three schools gathered around in the Great Hall, both in excitement and anticipation. The most awaited event of the evening was about to happen—the announcement of the Triwizard Champions. Every teenager finds their seats and spots by the tables, moved and some stacked at the corner. The seventh years were all excited and anxious as the seconds pass, Dumbledore and the rest of the faculty occupied themselves behind the Goblet of Fire as they waited for all students to settle in.

Astrid, with the rest of her classmates, including Madame Maxine seated beside the Ravenclaws. The seventh years of Beauxbatons were rather chattery than most days—all seventeen-year-olds are conversing as they nervously rubbed their hand together and their eyes glued upon the Goblet with blue fire.

"Do you think your cousin will make it?" Amelie questioned as she faced the brunette beside her who has a subtle frown.

"I don't know," Astrid replied lowly, maintaining her gaze on the floor.

Upon hearing her friend's answer, Amelie nod then shrugged, overlooking Astrid's lack of confidence in an answer—however, a redhead did. Charlotte noticed Astrid's sudden change of attitude the moment they left their potions class a few hours ago. Knowing Astrid, she may be reserved and look somewhat, disinterested at most times, but she has a concealed excitement in her tone whenever she speaks. However, the moment the blonde Slytherin spoke to her, and both ended up having a heated conversation, Charlotte grew curious and concerned about her friend. Amongst the three, Charlotte being a year older than the two was like an older sister that the pair did not have. She cared for them like her own sisters—and so, when Astrid started acting a little less herself, Charlotte wasn't able to keep her worry any longer.

"Astrid, that blonde at potions class—I noticed the two of you bickering at each other." She began, catching both her friends' attention.

"Oh yeah, I noticed that too." Amelie cuts in, "You two were quarreling as if you two known each other for so long and just reunited after a hell of a ride." She commented, hitting almost the exact logic.

Charlotte nodded, agreeing with Amelie before facing the brunette, "What did he do to make you act like that? You've been acting a bit more distant since then."

Astrid took a moment to reply as she ran through her thoughts. Telling her friends about Draco wasn't a problem, but her conversation with him is. Thus, Astrid thought that it might be wiser to say a word to her friends—she might need to hear what they have to say on the matter.

"He's a friend." She uttered, earning a startled reaction from the two. "Or... was."

"Was?" Amelie repeated, gaining a nod from the brunette.

"So, that argument earlier... you two were fighting about, what I assume was about what happened five years ago?" Charlotte cut in as she catches up with what Astrid was saying.

A stressed sigh left Astrid as she raked her hair using her right hand, closing her eyes for a moment as she does. "I left without saying goodbye to him in person." She started, "I asked Maman if I can at least send a letter since she forbid me to speak to him the day before we left. But Maman told me that I should occupy myself with my trunk and she'll send the letter herself. However..."

"Madame LaBlanc did not send any." Amelie completed her sentence for her as she slowly catches on.

"That's what he uttered— he said that I did not choose to send him a letter when in reality I did." Astrid let out another sigh.

"You seemed very bothered by it. Of course, I will too, especially if they're important to me." Charlotte stated, offering Astrid a comforting smile. "I suggest you speak to him, the moment you find the opportunity. Tell him everything."

"It is easier said than done. He's pretending like I do not exist—I don't even know how we finished brewing." Astrid shook her head.

    "Oh, he'll come around eventually. He just needs a bit of getting used to, now that you're back. For now, give us his name and get excited for this coming tournament." Amelie gushed, brightening up their conversation like always.

    "Don't give the name, she might beat you into talking to him," Charlotte warned in a teasing manner.

    "Hey!" Amelie took offense, earning a giggle from the other two.

    "Draco. Draco Lucius Malfoy." Astrid said lowly with a small smile.

    "Oh, so he's a Malfoy." Amelie's eyes lit up. "Right! Monsieur LeBlanc is friends with him—I briefly remembered when we attended this banquet, my Papa spoke to a man named Malfoy, he has long silver-like hair and... a scowl." Amelie babbled earning a short heartfelt laugh from Astrid as she remembered what Lucius Malfoy looks like most of the time, causing her two friends to join her.

    A subtle familiar laugh was heard from across the room, a genuine heartfelt laugh. Draco's gaze lifted and halted at a particular brunette, beautifully dressed in satin blue—her hat was off and her hair was left loose. Her pearly white teeth were on display as she smiled widely, her eyes looks like upsidedown u's and her cheeks were twice as rosier than they normally look. Draco did not pay much attention before, but now that his long-lost friend is back, and somewhat felt so far from his reach—Astrid was honestly stunning.
    However, Draco being himself, shook the thoughts out of him as he slowly went back to reality. His attention soon turned to where Dumbledore stood as the Headmaster prepared himself to disclose the long-awaited champions.

    "Did I see that right?" Blaise questioned in a whisper with a cocked eyebrow as he looked at Draco.

    "See what?" Draco whipped his head towards his friend.

    "That Draco Malfoy was staring at a girl with a small smile." Blaise taunted.

    "I'm not." Draco hissed as he denied his previous actions.

    "Alright, if you say so." Blaise smiled before turning his gaze back to Dumbledore.

"Care to enlighten me? Tell me, why exactly that people enjoy these tournaments? I mean, the tournament itself spells disaster." Charlotte ranted.

"Well, first of all, who wouldn't? Three randomly chosen students represent their schools, battling it out to win a crummy shimmering cup—risking their lives to prove they're stronger and smarter than the other. Chances of dying yet nonchalant. Exciting! is not?" Astrid listed out with sarcasm sugarcoating her excitement.

"Hm, I guess so. But still, very dangerous." Charlotte uttered.

"Oh, come on, it's not like the teachers would leave the chosen champions to die during the competition—unless it was too late to save them I guess." Amelie shrugged before Dumbledore finally spoke and began announcing the names that came out from the Goblet.

    Four unexpected names of champions were spewed out from the Goblet; One from each Beauxbatons and Durmstrang whilst two champions from Hogwarts, which quickly became the talk between school bodies.
A fourth-year becoming a champion alone is already too much of a scandal. Let alone, Harry Potter, the boy who lived chosen to be one of them.

    "Harry Potter? A fourth-year Triwizard champion? Now, that's a cheat." Amelie commented as everyone left the Great Hall in groups. "How did he even do that?"

    "No idea." Astrid shrugged.

The Dark Mark