joelle | d.m

22 | targeted tone

December, 1994.

"You've got months until this second task," Crouch explained.

"When does it take place?" Viktor inquired, intrigued.

"On February twenty-fourth," the man answered. "But this doesn't mean you stop figuring out what the clue is. Remember—without that clue, you won't know how to prepare for the task."

Once more, the champions, Crouch, and the headmasters were in Dumbledore's office for a meeting about the tournament.

Once again, Joey was pulled out of class for this. She didn't like the fact that she was in the Daily Prophet, nor did she like how some of her peers looked at her like she was a star. It all really irritated her due to the fact that she did not put her own name in the goblet.

Per usual, Joey tuned out most of the stuff Crouch had to say and the questions the other champions had. She usually just figured stuff out on her own—or with her mates.

Lately she wasn't talking so much to them. Not intentionally, but she just found herself rather quiet lately. She knew why, but she preferred not to think about it.

After they were dismissed, she grabbed her book bag and was the first to leave the office. Classes would be over now, which she dreaded because she had a tutor session with Draco after school.

"Joey," came Viktor's voice as he hurried to catch up to her.

"Krum." Joey merely spared him a glance as she continued to walk toward the library where she was meeting the blond.

"Call me Viktor, I insist," the boy said warmly with eyes scanning over the side of her face.

"I'll stick with Krum."

"I was wondering if you're up to doing research in the library about the second task." His tone was calm and casual. "As a study-date, I suppose."

She entered the library and he walked next to her. "I've sort of got a lot on my plate right now," she thinly said.

"And one of those things is the second task, isn't it?" he mused.

She nodded as she strolled around the library for the platinum-haired boy. She spotted him sitting at the table she always sat at with his textbook and some homework out. She wasn't very excited for this tutor session—or any of them since their date. But especially any tutor sessions since the day she told him to leave her alone.

He really did mean it. He hadn't spoken to her since then. Didn't even try approaching her. Didn't even look at her as often as he used to.

"I was thinking we could do research together and go over the best options and tactics for the task," Viktor suggested. "I've figured out the second task with the clue. Have you?"

Draco's head turned and his eyes met hers. His expression was unreadable, but for the quickest millisecond, she saw something darken his eyes before his features masked themselves.

"I have a tutor session right now," Joey said to the Durmstrang boy.

"Okay, no problem." Viktor tossed her a smile and slowly backed out of the book aisle. "See you around."

Joey crossed to the empty chair next to the Slytherin and sat down, absently scooting her chair further from his.

"Does he know you're both supposed to be going against one another?" Draco disturbed their silence as he pulled out a pen from his book bag. "Not sharing thoughts and brainstorming ideas?"

She shrugged and dropped her book bag onto the desk. As she took her things out of her bag, he explained—in a very dull tone—what she needed to do for another assignment for tutoring.