salvation - f.weasley

Disaster and Alihotsy leaves

come a little closer - cage the elephant 

• • •

Grace tightens the yellow scarf around her neck and inspects herself one last time in front of the mirror.

She turns around when she hears Ania snort. "What?"

"Yellow, really? Don't you think red would be more appropriate?" she tells her with a wink.

Grace fakes a laugh. "Funny, Johnson."

"Besides, not your style to do that."

"I know. But hey, it means a lot to Diggory that I show my support."

Ania sighs and Grace sees her sudder. "I have a strange feeling about tonight."

"You do?" Grace frowns and she nods. "Well let's hope it's just a hunch. Come on, we're going to be late."

The two witches find Roger Davies in the common room. He is also wearing Hufflepuff colours ; he has paint on his cheeks and a yellow sweater. They head to the Quidditch pitch. Night has already fallen and the atmosphere feels special, almost surreal.

They are greeted by a crowd of students shouting and cheering for their champions and by the orchestra playing. The three friends sit wherever there is room and squeeze.

Grace takes in her surroundings and narrows her eyes. "What did they bloody do to my pitch?"

"That's exactly what I said!" A voice behind them exclaims.

Grace turns around and finds Oliver Wood, the twins and Lee Jordan. Everyone is dressed in the colour of their house and displays banners in honour of Harry Potter.

"They better give it back to us. I have a cup to win next year."

Grace catches the eye of Fred who glares at her, his eyebrows furrowed. His gaze travels from her eyes to her scarf and Grace understands very quickly. She raises an eyebrow playfully and turns back to Wood.

"Keep dreaming, Wood. The Cup is ours next year" she answers, clapping Roger's hand.

She hears Oliver Wood mumbling things, crossing his arm. "What is it, Wood ? I didn't quite catch that ?" Grace asks, teasing him.

He glares at her and she takes it as a sign to turn around. Grace then spots Cedric at the top of the stands and gets up to talk to him before the task begins.

"Hey, Diggory!"

He turns around and his face relaxes when he sees the brunette coming towards him.

"Grace. Nice scarf."

She smiles. "You better win, just so I didn't betray my own house for nothing."

He snickers but Grace sees his worry. "Hey, it's going to be okay! And even if you don't win, we'll all be proud of you."

He smiles tenderly and ruffles her hair before pulling her into a hug. "Thank you, Grace. See you later, okay?"

She nods and turns back to find her place. Before sitting down she catches Fred's eye right behind her. His gaze is black, hard. He runs his tongue into his mouth and finally looks away.

After a few minutes, the orchestra finally stops playing and Dumbledor announces the third task. The four champions enter the field and everyone shouts to support their favourite.

As they begin to enter one by one, Grace feels a presence behind her and a breath on the back of her neck. She swallows. "You'd look so much better in red anyway."