𝐎𝐃𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 harry potter.

15: Brewing Tensions

DAYS PASSED BY QUICKLY since the start of term. Not that the students had much of a choice with how they'll manage their time, as there is only one right way: classes and homework. Fourth-years were faced with their own challenge, having to prepare themselves for their O.W.Ls in their fifth year, while third-years had to learn how to manage time properly the hard way, once parchments rolled on top of the other and the number of essays to write seemed to have no end.

Ally Weasley found herself often dozing off, staring out the window during classes and imagining she was at the Burrow, playing Quidditch by the paddock with Ginny, embroidering, or cooking with her Mum. Girls in her year had developed a new amusement, beyond boys. They weren't simply ranking them, putting their names on a parchment of 'Who's Cute and Who's Not', but betting one another on who to date, who to snog, who to go out on a Hogsmeade weekend with, etc, etc... It was restless.

She found herself unamused with all of her classes, and her motivation for academic pursuits seem to be dwindling more and more as the days pass by. Still, almost everyday, she looked forward to visiting the Matron at the Hospital wing, who always urged her to do better in Potions so she could have a chance to become a Healer. The thing is, maybe Poppy was too far ahead with that one. Ally never said she wanted to be a Healer. She simply enjoyed watching the Matron frisk around, always scolding her. It reminded her of her mum, only a little less frantic.

And of course, with the absence of a Quidditch match in the corner, came the bustling excitement of the arrival of the two Wizarding Schools by the end of October. The thought of students competing very dangerous tasks were enough to truly send a thrill to them, forcing them to bear the burden of their classes.

She had Divination with Ginny that afternoon, another lesson on Tessomancy which involved reading tea leaves to predict a person's future. Ginny had found amusement with this whole affair, obviously not taking any of it seriously. "I think it's some sort of dragonfly," she said, handing the tea cup over her twin. Ally scanned her book and found nothing on dragonflies. They had to come up with an abnormally larger than usual amount of bull to come out of the class unscathed.

The next week, Ally's excruciating class in Arithmancy had been cut short when the bell rang early. She hurried back to the dungeons, placing her books and bags in their common room, and trying to find her friends, but only met with a Blaise Zabini who tore away from his usual group. He towered over her, walking next to Ally without saying so much as a word.

The Heads of Houses were ordering their students into lines, where she found Amelia and Lottie. She squeezed herself between them, much to the disapproval of the other Slytherins who had to be pushed to make space for her.

Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived in their own means of splendor, sending the students the involuntary fits of 'ooh' and 'aah's, and no matter how hard Draco Malfoy and his friends tried to look unimpressed, their mouths had gaped at the majestic beasts laid in front of their eyes.

The Durmstrang students settled themselves at the Slytherin table, and Ally had been seated next to a girl who refused to say a word to any of them. Upon her observation, none of the Durmstrang students said much, really. It wasn't like they were unapproachable or rude, they were just. . . not very vocal.

The next day, most students had risen early, anticipation building with every corner of the castle as they watched the eligible students place their name in the Goblet: all hoping for a chance to  be chosen.

Ally had to bury her face in her hands when her brothers, Fred and George grew mighty white beards after drinking an Ageing Potion. She didn't follow immediately, but waited a good few minutes to make sure the visiting students had no idea that she was related to them, before going to the Hospital Wing.