Haley Potter and The Goblet Of Fire

In the Cozy Library. . .

In the early hours of the morning, Haley found herself in a predicament of truly magical proportions. She was hunched over her potions book, which might as well have been written in Parseltongue for all the sense it made. Five inches on antidotes? It was like Snape was challenging them to write a dissertation on the intricacies of brewing tea.

Three and a half inches of parchment later, Haley was starting to feel like she'd been tasked with transfiguring a Snitch into a cauldron. She had poured her heart, soul, and a few spare drops of dragon's blood into it, and yet, she was a pitiful 1.5 inches short of completion.

She couldn't help but entertain the notion that Snape had a secret stash of Skele-gro somewhere, accounting for his perpetually sour mood. It was the only reasonable explanation.

But there was no way she could let Malfoy see her unfinished essay. They were now potion partners, a fate worse than being stuck in a room full of Blast-Ended Skrewts. She'd sooner ride a broomstick through a thunderstorm than endure Malfoy's sarcastic comments. The mere idea of him making one of his trademark sarcastic remarks was unbearable. She groaned at the cruel irony of being paired with him as her potion partner. Merlin save her.

But with determination rivaling Hermione's, Haley decided the library might hold the key to her salvation. It was a rare sight to find her there without Hermione by her side, but today, Hermione seemed lost in a daydream. Nevertheless, Haley was determined to tackle the potions assignment solo, she settled herself into a cozy corner.

As she squinted at her parchment, a familiar face caught her eye. Cedric Diggory, the charismatic Hufflepuff Quidditch player and accidental heartthrob, was engrossed in a book. His perfectly combed hair, which had once earned him the title of "Most Likely to Star in a Wizarding Romance," among the student body, now slightly obscured his eyes.

Feeling bold and eager to break the library's silence, Haley decided to approach Cedric and strike up a conversation.

"Hey, Cedric! Fancy meeting you here in the ungodly hours of the morning," she said with a mischievous grin.

Cedric looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face as he recognized her. "Hello, Haley! Well, I can't be soaring through the skies at this hour, can I?"

Haley couldn't help but chuckle. "True, true. So, no more time-traveling hero entrances today?"

Cedric laughed. "What do you mean?"

Haley leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "Last time, you landed like a valiant squirrel, greeting people like a medieval knight. I half-expected you to say, 'Milady, 'tis a fine day for scholarly pursuits in the hallowed halls of knowledge.'"

Cedric burst into laughter, his smile infectious. "You've got quite the memory, Haley. I guess I've toned down the dramatic entrances."

Haley grinned. "Just a tad. So, what brings you to the library today? Studying up on Quidditch plays or perfecting your time-traveling landings?"

Cedric leaned back, looking thoughtful. "Well, you know, even the bravest heroes need a bit of bookish wisdom now and then. Besides, I can't let you Gryffindors have all the fun with your daring adventures. Hufflepuffs can be studious too!"

Haley chuckled. "I stand corrected. I won't underestimate Hufflepuff dedication again. But seriously, what's in that book?"

Cedric showed her the cover: "History of Triwizard Tournament." "Just some light reading. Got to keep up with the game, you know. Besides, it might come in handy if I decide to give the Triwizard Tournament a shot."

Haley nodded, genuinely impressed. "So, you're thinking of entering?"

"Well, they say it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Cedric replied with a grin. "Why not take the leap? Besides, it'll be a great chance to practice those time-traveling landings."