~The Big Five at Hogwarts: The Triwizard Tournament~ *Sequel*

Chapter 13

Rapunzel

I sit down on a bench outside the castle's front entrance before anyone else, where the lanterns are going to be released. I remembered to grab my winter robe before we left, so I pull the big thing around my shoulders. Soon Eugene joins me, holding two frosted cupcakes.

"Brought you one."

"This is great and all--" I smile gratefully, but it falls soon after. "I mean, I've been dreaming of this my entire life. But what do I do afterwards?"

"I think that's the best part." A soft smile springs to his lips. "That's when you get to find a new dream."

"And if it's not what I thought it would be?"

"It will. I know it." We bite into our cupcakes during the short silence after.

"Hey Eugene," I ask as I wipe frosting from my cheek, "why were you trying to get away from your brothers when I met you in the Hufflepuff common room?"

He looks down, so I know I've guessed correctly. But when be looks up again, he's staring past me.

"Looks like it's started." When I follow his gaze behind my shoulder, I forget what it is I was talking about. Because a small cluster of lanterns are being released by a group of people at the doors.

I find myself throwing my robe off and clinging onto the back of the bench, fixated on the five dots of light before me. Pascal pulls his green body out from the violet pocket. He must have stowed away, but that's not what I'm focused on.

All of a sudden, thousands and thousands of the tiny bright cylinders are taking to the sky, hovering all around us. The little licks of flame in each seem to reach into me and light my own flame, filling my body with a tingling warmth. After I've drunken in the sight, I turn back to Eugene.

A gasp escapes my mouth when I see the two lanterns in his hands, each with the Ministry's insignia painted on.

I hold the lantern as delicately as if it were a living thing, and lift it into the sky with Eugene's.

For a moment the two lanterns circle each other, and I find myself shifting under Eugene's gaze.

My lips pull up into a smile. He delicately brushes a strand of my hair away from my face before returning the smile.

"Um, why don't we go back inside? I hear The Snarfblatts are gonna be playing, and its getting kind of crowded out here." I turn my suddenly flustered face away and Eugene picks up my coat.

"Oh! Yeah, you're right," he stutters. Pascal perches on my shoulder, making a face as if to say, What are you doing? He was about to make a move! But I keep a respectable distance from the guy as he leads me inside. My mother's words keep flashing through my mind: "Men are pigs who are only good for treachery and deceit."

Hiccup

"Who the heck are The Snarfblatts?" I narrow my eyes at the stage in the Great Hall.

"Oh, It's just like you to not know about the biggest wizard band of the year!" Astrid laughs. "Now shut up and dance with me!"
"That's a pretty inaccurate generalization. They can't be that popular." I raise an eyebrow, not budging.

However, that doesn't stop Astrid from grabbing my arm and yanking me from the staff line, into the crowd of loud sweaty people.

But I find myself having fun, laughing and dancing along with her, despite our awful dance skills.

Finally, after I've lost track of time, Astrid leans in and whispers.

"You wanna get out of here?"

* * *

"So how's Jack doing on figuring out the First Task's clue? He only has a few more weeks left." Astrid swings her legs over the Black Lake's dock, making sure the fur-lined edge of her red skirt doesn't trail in the water. I eye the bag of Barry Bott's Every Flavor Beans she drops on the wooden deck.

"Not even close. He's completely procrastinating." I swing my legs down next to hers and cautiously pop a white bean in my mouth.

"That's just like--what's wrong?" She stares at my grossed out expression. "What flavor did you get?"

"Defeat," I mutter and swallow with a grimace. Astrid stifles a grin before falling quiet.

She scoots closer and lays her head on my shoulder silently.

"What do you plan on doing after...this? After graduation?"

"I have no idea," I sigh truthfully. "Maybe stay here as gamekeeper. You?"

"Quidditch is all I've ever been interested in. Though fighting Cribrune has kinda gotten me interested in Aurors."

More silence.

"I know what you mean. Still, it'd be tough to leave all this behind."

I feel her head nod sadly under my chin.