Haley Potter and The Goblet Of Fire

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As Haley trudged through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, her footsteps echoed softly against the cold stone floors. The night seemed darker than usual, and the familiar warmth of the castle felt distant, almost suffocating. Each step toward the Astronomy Tower weighed heavy, as though the burden of the world had been thrust upon her shoulders. Her mind was a whirlwind of frustration, replaying the events of the day—Ron's accusations, the whispers from her housemates, the constant stares. 

To them, she wasn't Haley Potter anymore. She was just the Champion, the name spat out by the Goblet of Fire. It was like they couldn't see her—really see her—beyond the fame, beyond the story everyone thought they already knew.

She wrapped her arms around herself as she stepped onto the open tower landing, the cold night air biting at her skin, though the ache inside her was far worse. Staring up at the endless expanse of stars, Haley felt small, unseen. She let out a bitter laugh. 

They don't care about me—they care about what I can do for them. Another hero, another distraction, another bloody name.  She thought

The world only saw her through the roles they wanted her to play. The Girl Who Lived. The Chosen One. Now, The Champion. But who was she to them, really? She tightened her grip on the stone railing, feeling a mix of anger and exhaustion welling up inside her. She was tired—tired of always being strong, always having to prove herself. Couldn't anyone see she was just a girl, just trying to survive?

The cool breeze of the night stirred Haley's hair as she stood at the edge of the Astronomy Tower, staring out into the distance. The stars twinkled above her, offering a rare moment of peace. Up here, away from the whispers, the stares, and the endless questions about the Triwizard Tournament, she could finally breathe.

Her cloak was somewhere down on the floor of the tower, but she could not bring herself to care. She had just started to relax when the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed behind her.

Haley turned, her hand automatically twitching toward her wand. The figure that appeared, illuminated by the soft glow of the moon, was all too familiar.

Fleur Delacour. 

They had only met once before—the strange, awkward encounter involving Draco, his cousin Fleur, and Ron's absolutely pitiful attempt at holding a conversation in her presence. Haley sighed, knowing this was going to be awkward.

Fleur glanced around as if trying to confirm she wasn't intruding, her blue eyes scanning the area. "Bonsoir," Fleur greeted softly, her accent lilting, almost hesitant this time.

"Hey," Haley responded, a bit too quickly, standing up straighter. "You, uh... looking for your cousin again?" Her attempt at humor fell flat, and she winced internally at how awkward she sounded.

Fleur smiled briefly, clearly picking up on the tension. "Non, not zis time." She hesitated for a moment, her eyes briefly flicking to the sky, then back to Haley. "I did not expect to see you 'ere."

"Yeah, well," Haley muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, "I come up here sometimes... to think." She glanced away, shifting uncomfortably. This was so much easier when she was under the cloak, unnoticed.

Fleur nodded, her eyes lingering on Haley with a kind of quiet curiosity. The silence stretched between them, neither one knowing exactly what to say next.

After a beat, Haley cleared her throat. "So, um... the stars, right? Pretty... magical and all."

Fleur blinked, then let out a small, genuine laugh. "Oui, zey are," she replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Though, I do not think you came 'ere to admire ze stars tonight."