Pyrrhic Victory

sixty four.

Year Four
sixty four. Mermaids

February 24th approached Hogwarts quickly and the second task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament was here. Magnolia's plan to get Draco and Lucille together had been a bust, so far. Fred and her had also not gotten very far. He had sent her a cheesy Valentine, but other than that, no dates, and no more kisses had happened.

The weather was typical for a day in February in Scotland, freezing. Magnolia layered up and pulled on a green sweater and Slytherin colored scarf. Lucille and her were planning to walk out together. Lucille had one almost the same as Magnolia, but a bit more yellow than green.

"Have you seen Everett?" Magnolia questioned Lucille as they started their walk down to the Black Lake to watch the task. "She was not in her bed last night. I know she hangs out with the Beauxbatons girls a lot, but she always comes back."

"No... I haven't. Maybe she slept with Fleur? You know how nervous she gets when these tasks come around." Lucille tells her as the two of them started to walk towards the Black Lake. Once the girls got down there, Magnolia searched around for where Draco, Daphne, Theo, and all of them were sitting. She spotted them as she took Lucille's hand and started heading up.

"Are we not sitting with Fred?" Lucille questioned her best friend who usually sat with the boy she liked during these events.

"Uh, no not today. We haven't interacted with our other friends for awhile anyway!" Magnolia smiled which Lucille thought was weird. She wondered if Magnolia and Fred were having troubles but she was not going to question her at this moment. Little did Lucille know it was all apart of Magnolia's big scheme to get Draco and Lucille together.

"Hi Maggie! Lucy!" Daphne greeted the two of them as they sat down. Magnolia made sure that Lucille sat next to Draco as she stood up until Lucille sat down. Lucille turned to her side and gave Draco a half-smile which he returned. Lucille looked out over the edge to see Fleur, Viktor, and Cedric all standing on the edge, Harry Potter not in sight.

"Mags, where is Harry?" Lucille whispered to Magnolia so that only she could hear. If Draco, or any other the Ophidians heard they would've made fun of her for wondering where Harry was.

"No idea," Magnolia whispered back and almost as if Magnolia was the que, Harry came running down and panting next to all the rest of the champions. The two girls looked at each other as their question was answered as they anticipated the start of the second task.

The four of them jumped in the water as everyone cheered them on. They had an hour to achieve their 'valuables'.

Soon enough Cedric came up with Cho Chang as people started to cheer loudly and it soon clicked into Magnolia's mind where Everett was... underwater. Fleur had come up without Everett as she was attacked which made Magnolia and Lucille worried as they were scared for their friend. Dumbledore wouldn't let Everett drown, but the thought was still scary. Next, Krum with Hermione and then finally Harry with Ron and Everett.

"Everett! Is she alive?? Is she urt?" Fleur rushed over to her sister who was coughing as she just caught her breath. Everett's hair was covered in seaweed and her face was pale. Everett looked around in embarrassment as she regain consciousness.

Magnolia gave Everett a nod of encouragement as she smiled at her and embraced her sister who was worried to death about her. Just then Fred came around the corner to see her, he was holding a box full of money.

"You and George still going on with that gambling thing?" Magnolia questioned the boy who raised his eye brows as he was sorting through the galleons

"Yeah, it's working too Mags, look how much galleons we made," He showed it up to her with the biggest smile on his face. The two of the them started to follow the crowd back to the castle. "Aren't you supposed to pay the winners of the bets?"

"Well- er- yes, but George and I take a percentage for- well you know," He kept his voice down low. George and Fred wanted to open a joke shop after they graduated Hogwarts, like Zonkos, but with the gadgets they have created- well attempted to create.

"So~ Maggie, I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to Hogsmeade next week, a date?" Fred asked her and Magnolia started to blush, but since the wind was already harsh it was hard for Fred to tell. "I'd love to Fred, under one condition..."

"Condition?!" He seemed shocked that Magnolia wanted to propose a condition. "We make it a double date, and I invite Lucy and Draco,"

"Maggie," Fred warned but she quickly stopped him. "Pleaseee, I have this operation going on with myself to get them together and I feel like this would be perfect."

"First, Draco and I don't necessarily run with the same blokes. Second, would Draco and Lucy even agree to this? Third, Mags, this seems like a recipe for disaster. Why don't you just let things work it out on it's own?" Fred tried explaining to her but if anyone knew anything about Magnolia Malvorseve was that she was determined to get any of her goals done, even if it meant getting Lucille and Draco together.

"Frederick, I am already too committed, no backing down now." She smirked at the taller ginger who still had a couple of galleons in his hand. "Pick me up at the dungeon next Saturday morning say around 10? I'll have Lucy and Draco with me!"

Magnolia waited a couple of days before she wanted to ask Draco to take Lucille to Hogsmeade with him. She waited until he was alone studying in the common room before she sat beside him just as she did when he asked him to take Lucille to the Yule Ball.

"What do you want now Maggie?" He questioned her without even looking up from his potions textbook.

"I have another proposition for you!" Magnolia smiled widely which caused Draco to look up from his potions textbook. "Why do I keep doing these for you? I don't owe you."

"Go on a date with Lucy! Double date with Fred and I, this Saturday?" Magnolia told him and his expression stayed unchanged.

"Lucy and I don't like each other." He lied straight through his teeth and Magnolia rolled her eyes as she looked around the common room. She spotted Terrence Higgs sitting in the corner with some of his mates. Terrence was the Slytherin seeker until the Malfoys paid for Draco's spot. In Magnolia's opinion, Terrence was the better seeker.

"Fine, maybe Terrence will join her," Magnolia smirked as she said that to Draco, knowing it would get under his skin. "Fine. What time on Saturday?"

"Meet me down here at 9:50 am?"

[ A/N - sorry this took so long- not that anyone reads this anyway... I finished finals and school so uploads should be more often <3 ]