Rose Between Two Thorns.

Chapter 20

"Miss Granger?" a scrawny boy asks me as he comes up to the Gryffindor table during lunch "I was told that you have to go see Professor Dumbledore in the Hall along with the other Champions—after you've finished eating of course" he says, looking around at our small huddled group.

"Thanks kiddo" I say, turning back to my food. It is a mixture of bacon, fried eggs and slightly warm toast. I can't help but think that this could be my last meal, so it sours the mood a little.

"You know, the whole point of having lunch is to you know...actually eat it" Ron says, with his mouth full.

"Well I'm certainly not going to eat after seeing that" Hermione says pushing her plate away

"What?" Ron asks, looking at everyone else, his eyes wide and his mouth full of bacon.

"Well it's certainly not attractive" I say, and everyone laughs. I allow a small smile to grace my face. I pick up my own fork and poke at the egg, smiling a little when the yolk wobbles a little.

"Want me to do the airplane thing?" Fred asks.

"Sure" I sigh, as he takes my fork and cuts a piece of egg. He makes a brrrrrrmmmmmm noise as he aims the fork towards my mouth. I open it and he shoves the egg inside, poking it a little when it refuses to stay.

"Nom nom nom" I say, as I chew it. Fred laughs as he prepares another forkful of food.

Fred manages to get me to eat the eggs and part of the bacon, when I tell him I better go see Dumbledore. He pecks me on the lips, before I leave.

"Professor Dumbledore?" I call out as I see him in the Hall outside the Great Hall

"Miss Granger, good to see you" he says, seeming a little flustered.

"Are you alright sir?" I ask

"Fine, fine" he waves my concern away. "Anyway Miss Granger, every Tri-Wizard Tournament, in the Third Task, we ask the families of the Champions to come support them. Unfortunately we were unable to bring your family, due to Wizard Law, but we did bring the Weasley family, seeing as you are close to them" he points over to the group of people huddled together in a corner of the room. I recognise the flaming red hair.

"Molly!" I cry as I run over to them. Molly, opening her arms, welcomes me into a hug, as I crush her.

"Merlin's beard Tabitha, I swear you've gotten stronger over the year" she laughs as she pats my hair. I let her go and give her a small smile.

"We thought it would be best if we came along, instead of some other wizarding family you might know." Arthur says, stepping forward, looking very short compared to the taller Weasley male standing next to him. "Gotta support you in any way possible" he adds.

"Thanks you guys, you're the best" I say smiling. "The others are eating lunch if you want to join them" I gesture them towards the Great Hall. They follow me in and I lead them to where I was sitting earlier. After a lot of confusion and hugs, the remainder of the Weasley family was welcomed warmly at the table.

***

As the time came closer for the Third Task, my nerves got worse. Arthur is my walk in companion to the maze, and is constantly trying to calm me down, as I walk around in circles. Luckily we are at the back of the line-up so I can freak out a little.

Calm down gurl I keep thinking, everything is going to be alright, you can do this.

The stampede of the schools together with the band would probably deafen me, but I am too focused on trying to remain calm. I barely notice that it's time to go, until Arthur tugs on my arm.