Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch. 44

The next day was Saturday, Halloween. Everyone got out of bed earlier than they normally would to go to the entrance hall.

Céline headed there alone, since their friends weren't ready to leave the dorm yet. She was thankful that she didn't run into any of Beauxbatons students on the way. She did see her favorite trio sitting at the bottom of the marble staircase, so she headed to them.

"Morning." Ron said to Céline as she approached

"Good morning." She said as she sat down next to Hermione, resting her head on her shoulder. "So has anyone put their name in?

"All the Durmstrang lot," Ron said, "But we haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."

"Bet some of them put in last night after we'd all gone to bed." Said Harry as he handed a bunch of grapes to Céline, which she gladly took. "I would've if it had been me... wouldn't have wanted everyone watching. What if the goblet just gobbed you right back out again?"

Céline laughed lightly as she popped a grape into her mouth. Someone else laughed behind Harry. They all turned their heads and saw Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, another Gryffindor that was the same age as the twins.

The four of them were sitting on the staircase, by the railing. The three upperclassmen were hurrying down the staircase eagerly.

"Done it," Fred said quietly. "Just taken it."

"What" asked Ron.

"The Aging Potion, dung brains." Said Fred.

"One drop each," George said excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "We only need to be a few months older."

"We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three of us if one of us wins." Said Lee, grinning widely.

"This...isn't going to work, is it?" Céline whispered to Hermione, popping another grape into her mouth.

"It's not going to work." Said Hermione, "I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this."

Fred, George, and Lee rolled their eyes at her.

"ready?" Fred said to the other two. "Come on then. I'll go first."

They all watched in anticipation as Fred walked up to the Aging circle, pulling out a slip of parchment that had written Fred Weasley — Hogwarts. He rocked back and forth on his toes, before taking a breath and stepping over the line. Every person in the entrance hall was watching him.

For a moment Céline thought it had worked, George thought so to as he let out a triumphant yell, before stepping over the line after his brother. But the next moment there was a loud sizzling sound, and both twins were hurled out of the golden circle as though they had been thrown by an invisible force.

They landed painfully, ten feet away on the stone floor, and to add insult to injury, there was a loud popping noise, and both of them sprouted identical long white beards.

The entrance hall rang with laughter. Céline clutched her stomach as she laughed.

"I did warn you," said a deeply amused voice. Everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore coming out of the Great Hall. "I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything as fine as yours." He chuckled.

The twins set off to the hospital wing, with a laughing Lee Jordan right behind them.

Céline and her friends stood up from the stairs, still giggling as they entered the Great Hall for breakfast.

The Great Hall had changed that morning. Since that day was Halloween, there was a cloud of live bats fluttering around the enchanted ceiling. While hundreds of carved pumpkins layed around from every corner.

Céline decided to have breakfast with her Gryffindor friends, seeing that none of her roommates had arrived yet. She sat down next to Harry, who looked to his friends Dean and Seamus who were discussing any seventeen year olds from Hogwarts that might be entering.

Dean looked over to Harry after quickly giving a nod to Céline, "There's a rumor going around that Warrington got up early and put his name in." He said, "That bloke from Slytherin who looks like a sloth."

Celine filled her plate with her usual fruits and toast with marmalade, looked up at them as she took a bite of her toast.

"We can't have a Slytherin champion!" Harry said, before quickly looking at Céline who was frowning, "Sorry... nothing against you, Cél." She just rolled her eyes.

"And all the Hufflepuffs are talking about Diggory." Seamus quickly added to save Harry from getting scolded.

"Oh!" Céline chimed in, "Yes, Cedric and I were talking about that a while ago. I think it would be great if he became champion." They all looked at her incredulously.

"Listen!" Said Hermione suddenly.

People were cheering out in the entrance hall. They all turned their bodies to face the door, and see Gryffindor girl coming in, grinning in slight embarrassment.

"That's Angelina Johnson, she's the chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team." Harry whispered to Céline.

She walked over to them and sat down, "Well, I've done it! Just put my name in!"

"You're kidding!" Said Ron, looking impressed.

"So you're seventeen, then?" Asked Céline. Angelina looked at her as if she just noticed her.

"Course she is, Céline. Can't see a beard can you?" Ron said amused.

"I had my birthday last week." Said Angelina.

"Well I'm glad someone from Gryffindor's entering." Said Hermione. "I really hope you get it, Angelina!"

She thanked her. They all ate their breakfast and after a while, got up.

"So what are we doing today?" Asked Ron.

"Well, we haven't been down to Hagrid's in a while." Harry suggest.

"Alright.." Rom said reluctantly, "as long as he doesn't ask us to donate any fingers to those Skrewts." Céline giggled.

"I've just realized, I haven't asked Hagrid to join S.P.E.W. Yet!" Hermione exclaimed, "Wait for me, will you, i just need to go upstairs and get the badges." She quickly ran up the marble staircase.

"Hey Ron," Harry said suddenly, "It's your friend..."

Ron and Céline looked up to see the students from Beauxbatons were coming through the front doors from the grounds. Céline stiffened, quickly taking a step behind Harry, so that she was hidden.

Madame Maxime entered the hall behind her students, and then organized them into a line in front of the Goblet of Fire. Everyone in the hall watched as one by one, the Beauxbatons students stepped across the Age Line and dropped their name into the blue-white flame.

"What do you reckon will happen to those who weren't chosen?" Ron whispered to Harry and Céline, "Reckon they'll go back to school, or hang around to watch the tournament?"

"Dunno..." Harry said."

"I hope they go back..." Céline muttered. Harry looked to his side, only to realize she had moved to stand behind him. He moved his body to turn to her, but she quickly pushed him to face forward again.

He looked at her confused but continued,"Madame Maxime's staying to judge, isn't she? So I suppose they'll hang around."