Being A Champion

Visitors

Riley groans at every step she takes. Yesterday, Hufflepuff scrimmaged Gryffindor and well, Zay is probably the best beater Riley has ever seen. Her whole body feels bruised, but it feels oddly satisfying.

As Riley goes to step into the library, she sees Farkle leaving in a rather upset and angry state. She wants to follow, but her eyes catch Zay's and the way his head hangs says it's probably a good idea to leave the Ravenclaw boy alone. She walks briskly over to the group, Lucas has his head low while Zay rubs his back in small circles and Spencer looks amused.

"Okay, what just happened?"

Lucas sighs and picks his head up. "Farkle really hates the Triwizard tournament, huh?" She can feel her stomach drop and she just knows.

"You're gonna put your name in the Goblet." Her voice comes out in a breath as she sits next to Spencer.

"Both me and Spencer." Riley looks over towards Zay and raises an eyebrow.

"Hey, whoa no!" He holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Listen I know I do some very stupid and reckless shit, but I know better than to mess with that tournament. No matter how safe they say it will be." 

Riley is actually surprised by Zay, she would expect his name to be the first in the Goblet. She nods once and turns back to the other two. "Honestly, Farks is just freaking over nothing. Yeah we can put our names in, but we have to be chosen. I mean look at us!" Spencer points to herself and Lucas with an exasperated face. "Lukey here is far too nice and soft for the games and well, I'm a damn hot mess. One of us being chosen is slim to none." She says with confidence and conviction, but it does no good for Riley.

"But the thing is, one of you could be chosen." She stares holes into Spencer's face. "And honestly, it scares me just as much as it scares Farkle." 

Spencer rolls her eyes and scoffs. "It's just a tournament Riles." Now Riley understands why Farkle left in a rage, Spencer can be rather impossible.

"A tournament that has resulted in injury and death." Riley bites her lip. "I-I just don't want you guys to get hurt."

Lucas reaches across the table and grabs Riley's hand. "And we won't Riley. Minkus would never let anything bad happen to the Champions, especially if me or Spencer is chosen." He squeezes her hand. Riley swallows hard, feeling the air around their group grow still. Riley has her eyes locked on a knot in the table and battles a range of emotions inside her. She doesn't know why she's so scared, but something just...gives her the wrong vibes. Even as she was arriving to Hogwarts, something felt off, something made her want to retreat back home. And that song, has done no good to ease her worries.

After a few moments a warm presence next to her draws her eyes up. Spencer stares at her with apologetic eyes.

"You don't need to worry so much." Spencer rests a hand on her shoulder. "It means a lot that you care about us this much, but...Minkus said this year will be different." She places a platonic kiss to Riley's forehead. "It's gonna be fine-We're gonna be fine."

Riley wants to argue and convince her friends not to, to scream and beg them not to. But, there's a glint in Spencer's eyes, determination. Riley bites her tongue, that look tells her she won't win. Sighing, Riley drops her gaze and nods."Okay..." she forces a small smile. "Okay, I'll be here for support if one of you gets chosen." 

Riley hopes neither of them do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...I should've went to Durmstrang." Spencer breathes out as her and Riley stare at the gigantic ship docking in the Great Lake. To say the ship is impressive is an understatement, the beautifully carved patterns in the side keep Riley's eyes captivated. Her eyes roam the carvings until, a loud boom interrupts her. The door from the ship falls open and the woman to walk out leaves Riley almost speechless.