Luna Mia || Theodore Nott

Chapter: 29

The winter break soon finished, and we were back to studying at hogwarts. I had successfully avoided Nott for the remaining of the time, busying myself with studying, crocheting, writing letters home..., literally anything to stay away from him. I also ate at the Gryffindor table all the time, quickly leaving once finishing my meals, sitting with my back to the Slytherin table. I had told Elle and Katie about what happened eventually, with Elle promising to kick his ass. My anger hadn't died down yet, and everytime I think of what happened or I remember Nott I feel the urge to cry, scream, and go hit him. On the brighter side of things, Katie and Blaise are absolutely adorable. They spend some time together between classes, and sometimes on meals when she's not sitting with me, and I've never seen Katie this happy. I was disappointed not being able to be there with her when they would invite me to sit with them for dinner or to grab a drink in Hogsmeade, but I just couldn't risk bumping into him. Elle's love life wasn't any better than mine though, still ignoring Draco since they're both more stubborn than the other. It was quiet ironic honestly.

I ignored Theo with all my will power, sitting next to literally anyone in the classes me and him only shared. He tried stopping me or talking to me but I just didn't let him speak, I'd be out of the class before he could stop me. I would spend my time studying in my dorm or common room, even sometimes in an isolated corner in the library after being sure he wasn't there. Me and Elle hung out sometimes when Katie was with Blaise, and ofcourse us three studied together and hung out between classes. For the most part I was successful avoiding Nott, that is until the 2nd task. The entire school  plus its guests gathered near the Black Lake, where  small boats waited to ferry us to the viewing towers newly constructed.

"Your attention please!"
Dumbledore's voices hushes the buzzing of students. Katie stood next to Blaise on one side and Elle on the other, while I was standing on Elle's opposite side. The slytherin boys weren't so far though, standing next to us, but I made sure me and Theo were on opposite sides. He was standing right beside Baise on the other end with Draco and Goyle next to him. Someome came and stood to my other side, and I looked to see, to my surprise, Matheo Riddle.

"Welcome to the Second Task. Last night, unbeknownst to our Champions, something they value exceptionally was taken from them. That something now lies at the bottom of the Black Lake. Their mission this morning is to retrieve it. Champions, you may begin-"
A lound voice bangs as filch fires the cannon, Dumbledore shaking his head.
"...now"
The crowd roars and the champions sprint into the icy water. I see Harry stuff his mouth with something before chewing furiously. He then claps his hands to his throat.
"What's happening to him?" I asked Elle.
"He can't breathe.." and Harry's finger slip from his throat. Someone screams. Harry has gills now. I was shocked in my place, watching him jump to the water. This boy..
I could feel a pair of eyes staring into me, but I decided to ignore them just like I've been doing before.
"Well that's not as bad as the last task." Katie said after a while.
"Don't be so sure love, we still dont know what they put down there." Blaise said, and he was right.

Not so much time later, Fleur bursts through the water, but the Beaxbaton's girls stop themselves from cheering when they see her panicking and crying. She was talking about her sister. I frowned in confusion.
"I think they're using people they care about as the mission." Riddle said from beside me.
I looked towards him, part of me concerned, and the other surprised he was addressing me. I could practically feel the glare burning the back of my head in that moment. And as if to prove his words right, Cedric breaks through with Cho is his hands, followed shortly by Viktor and Hermione. The students cheer, but I was too busy trying to process what is going on.
"Are they bloody insane?! First dragons, and now this?! They're literally threatening the lives of not only the champions but their friends and family. And for what, Eternal Bloody Glory?! That's unbelievable!" I was boiling. Merlin, how is this even allowed.
"Calm down Lupin, it's the wizarding world, nothing makes sense." Riddle said from beside me.
"He's right moons, good thing there's still one task left." Elle said as she held my hand for comfort.
"What's taking Potter than long?" Theo then spoke from the other side. I didn't even glance in his direction.
"Drowned probably?" Darco said from beside him.
"Hmm makes sense" Theo replied.
I wanted to lash out, but I didn't. I knew that he was saying those things for that exact reason; to get a reaction from me. It's something I've learnt from hanging out with alot of slytherins, they tend to be mean when they want to be seen, to get a reaction out of people so they would acknowledge them. Malfoy was certainly a great example of that, as he was also doing it right now. I wasn't going to give Nott what he wanted though.

So I focused on the water anxiously waiting for any sign of Harry. And finally, he broke the surface, gulping for air. Ron spews a mouthful of black water, grimacing, and Gabrielle coughs. Fleur, even more fetching in anguish, pulls her sister from the water and embraces her. She then proceeds to kiss both Harry's and Ron's cheek, leaving the boy's mouths hanging open. The Gryffindor gather around Harry as he dried, and I exhaled a breath I didn't realise I was holding.

"Your attention please! Your winner is Mr. Diggory, who showed innate command of the bubble-head charm. However, seeing as Mr. Potter would have finished first if not for his determination to rescue not only Mr. Weasley but the others as well, we have agreed to award him second place. For outstanding moral fiber!"
I see Karkaroff spit, and stalk away taking Krum with him. I had to admit he did have the right to be mad, as rightfully, Krum got the second place, and no matter how noble Harry's actions were he still was last, but I guess Dumbledore favouritism towards Harry and the Gryffindors had to show up one way or another.
We rode the boats back to the shore and the students headed towards the castle. I started walking too, not knowing that my life was about to change in a minute.