The Fifth Champion

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

"Cedric, who's that?" Charissa asked, discreetly pointing at a brown haired boy eating dinner at the Ravenclaw table.

"I don't know." Cedric said. "I think he's in fourth year." He crumpled up a napkin and threw it lightly towards Hannah Abbott.

"What's up?" She asked, slipping into an empty seat across from Cedric.

"The boy over there, the brown one at the Ravenclaw table, what's his name?" Cedric asked.

"Him?" Hannah pointed. Charissa nodded. "That's Terry Boot. Why do you ask?"

Cedric looked down at Charissa, who quickly blushed under their gazes. "No reason." She said quickly, gazing at the boy.

"If you say so." Hannah grinned, heading back over to her friends.

"Somebody's got a crush." Cedric teased.

Charissa's face grew redder, blushing more intently. "No!" She exclaimed. "I just saw him in the hallway looking at me this morning."

"Charissa, everyone was looking at you." Amber grinned, joining in.

"I don't," Charissa's face was bright red. "Like anyone."

Luckily, the conversation couldn't continue, as the mail had arrived. Several Howlers dropped in front of Charissa. "Oh Merlin, what now?" She sighed, quickly opening both at the same time.

"FREAK!" Both Howlers screamed at time before exploding in midair. Several more letters dropped in front of her. Charissa shredded them up without even opening them.

"Did you ever open the letter I gave you this morning?" Cedric asked in a low voice.

Charissa shook her head. "I was waiting until tonight."

Cedric nodded. "Don't forget, Professor Sprout's office after dinner. It's about the Tournament."

"Alright." Charissa replied, getting up. She walked down to the greenhouses, unsure of what to expect.

"Ah, Charissa!" Professor Sprout said, setting down a plant of some sort. "I wanted to see you!"

"Cedric said it had to do with the tournament?" Charissa asked.

Professor Sprout nodded. "It's always been a traditional part to hold a ball on Christmas Eve, called the Yule Ball. It's also traditional for the champions and their partners to open the ball."

"Their what?" Charissa said flatly. "No way. I'm not asking someone to some ball."

"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice." Professor Sprout smiled sympathetically.

"Professor, I hate social gatherings. Do I have to go?" Charissa asked.

"Charissa Malfoy, you are a terrible liar. Now, I know you love gatherings, especially dances, so yes, you do have to go." Professor Sprout said.

Charissa said goodbye and walked out, distracted and annoyed. "Ask someone to a ball." She muttered. "No way."

"Oof!" She exclaimed a second later, crashing into the Ravenclaw boy. "Oh, sorry." She replied, trying not to blush. She swore she heard giggling somewhere.

"No, it's my fault." The boy said. He quickly shifted his books and extended a hand. "Terry Boot."

"Charissa." Charissa responded, taking his hand. They paused for a moment in awkward silence. "Well, I should go."

"Right." Terry said, messing with his hair awkwardly. Charissa began to continue walking down the corridor.

"By the way, I thought you looked pretty in the flower crown this morning." Terry called after her. Charissa blushed, but didn't say anything.

"Alright, tell me honestly." Cedric pulled her into the library. "You like him." Charissa turned bright red. Cedric grinned. "I knew it!" He exclaimed. "You should ask him to the Yule Ball."

"Cedric, about the Yule Ball," Charissa started. "I can't dance. And I'm not asking him to the Yule Ball."

"Don't worry about it, I'll teach you tomorrow. It's easy." Cedric promised. "And you should ask him."

"Absolutely not, and that's final." Charissa said, darting out of the library before Cedric could say anymore.