A Black And A Weasley.

Part 22

" Oh, Merlin! What I wouldn't give to have been able to see that!" Fred laughed loudly as Cedric told us what Moody did to Draco.

" A ferret!" I laughed loudly. No matter how much George disliked Cedric he couldn't help but laugh.

" Shauna, I wanted to ask you a favour." Ced said as our laughing subsided.

" What is it Ced?"

" Well Harry told me that the first task is about dragons and I was wondering if you'd help me prepare later in the library?" Cedric asked.

" Of course, I would love to!" I told him.

" Great, I appreciate it. I'll meet you after lunch, is that okay?"

" Sounds good." He smiled and walked away. George glared at Cedric as he walked away. I shook my head at him and pecked his cheek, that made him smile and loosen up a bit.

The day of the first task had arrived. Cedric and I had been working on his strategy building up to this moment. Everyone was out waiting to see what the Champions could do. Fred and George were wandering around taking peoples bets before the task began. When they finally came over they sat either side of me with Lee next to George and Angelina next to Fred. Everyone was on edge waiting for the first Champion to emerge from the tent. Suddenly the cannon fired and Cedric came out of the tent. I had my fingers crossed watching carefully. He looked around, his wand held up. Suddenly, the Swedish Short-snout jumped down from a rock and directed fire straight at him. Cedric quickly jumped behind a rock. Briefly, he looked around and then pointed his wand at a rock, he said the spell and then the rock turned into a Labrador. The playful puppy ran around distracting the dragon whilst Cedric quickly ran for the Golden Egg. He was making his way back as fast as he could when the dragon suddenly lost interest in the dog and saw Cedric getting away. In a last attempt the dragon set his flame upon Cedric again only this time it caught him. I let out a gasp as Cedric stumbled into safety. The dragon was quickly caught and moved ready for the next Champion. I got up and started to leave when George called after me. " Where are you going Shauna?"

" I'm going to see if my friend is okay!" I called back frantically running. Once I got there I saw Madam Pomfrey tending to Cedric's injury. The dragon had managed to burn the side of his face. Pomfrey was putting an orange paste onto the burns to  heal it. Cedric thanked her as she moved away. " Ced! Are you okay?" I asked as he looked up and saw me. A smile broke out on his face.

" Yeah, I'm fine just a little burnt is all." Cedric said chuckling a bit.

" You make it sound like you've been out in the sun too long and not breathed on by a dragon." I chuckled sitting down next to him.

" I am fine though." Ced reassured me. I nodded and looked at the egg.

" What do you suppose is in it?"

" I don't know. Lets have a look." Cedric opened up the egg and a horrible screaming noise came out of the egg. I covered my ears and Ced quickly closed the egg back up. " Well that was a pleasant sound." I spent a while talking to Cedric, by the time Fleur and Viktor had finished the task I decided I should go and watch Harry try. I said goodbye to Cedric and made my way back up to Fred and George. Fred saw me coming and asked:

" Is he okay?"

" Yeah, he's alright. He got a burn to the side of the face but he'll be okay." I smiled at them. George patted the seat beside him gesturing for me to sit down. " How did Fleur and Krum do?" I asked.

" They did good. Harry's been left with the Hungarian Horntail though." George filled me in.

" Oh Merlin." Soon Harry emerged and the task quickly went into play. The Horntail was being very aggressive. Harry was hidden behind a rock for a while when his Firebolt came from the castle. Harry was soon flying around avoiding the dragon's flames. Suddenly, the Horntail's chains broke and the dragon was soon crashing through the teachers seating area and chasing Harry out of the stadium.

" Yes! Well done dragon!" Fred and George cheered. I hit them both on the arms.

" You can't cheer for the dragon! Harry's our friend!" I scolded them. They both smirked but went quiet. We didn't see anything for a while. The faint sounds of the dragon could be heard faintly in the distance. Until suddenly, both Harry and the dragon came hurtling back into the stadium. Harry grabbed the egg and the dragon was quickly taken away. Everyone cheered as Harry held up the egg.

Everyone was back in the Gryffindor common room celebrating Harry's victory of the first task. Harry was suggesting opening the egg. I quickly covered my ears, Fred and George looked at me oddly as I did so but soon understood when Harry opened it. Fred and George directed everyone away as Ron and Harry talked but we were obviously listening because well, it's us.

I was sat at the Gryffindor table the next morning for breakfast when Cedric approached me. "Have you seen this mornings Daily Prophet?" He asked.

" No, why?"

" Take a look at what Rita Skeeter's been saying." He said as he passed me the paper. Fred and George were now looking over with interest. The article said:

Romance lingers around the male Triwizard Champions. The young and ambitious Miss Granger has been hopping around between the Bulgarian bon bon Viktor Krum and the surprise Champion Harry Potter. Also the dashing Cedric Diggory is getting his fair share of romance with the Hogwarts witch Shauna Black, a very dark Slytherin blood line. She may be a Gryffindor but could she be using any means to achieve her ends?   

Beneath the article there was a picture of Hermione and Harry hugging, Viktor and a one of me and Cedric laughing together after I went to check on him. 

  " That evil, little-"

" Watch your language Shauna, firsties at the table."  Fred chuckled weakly trying to lighten the mood.

" Who the hell does she think she is?" George exclaimed.

" How does her rubbish even get printed?" Cedric burst out.

" For once I agree with the Puff." George said. Cedric furrowed his eyebrows but nodded along anyway. Cedric walked over to the Hufflepuff table and we continued with breakfast. We noticed Ron stood up with some horrible dress robes. Hermione pointed out that they were for him and soon people were laughing.

Gryffindor students were sat around wondering why we were sat in a room with Professor McGonagall and a massive Gramophone. That's when McGonagall announced the Yule Ball to us. I had of course heard of it as a Triwizard Tournament tradition. I began daydreaming about the idea of dressing up, and being taken to the dance by George of course. I didn't normally wear dresses at all, however this could be an exception. I wasn't really listening to what McGonagall was saying. Something about Godric Gryffindor and baboons. However my attention was caught when she approached Ron. McGonagall and Ron were now stood in the centre of the room.

" Now, Mr Weasley. Take my waist." She said calmly.

" What?" Ron whimpered.

" Take my waist." She reiterated. Ron placed his hand on her waist and I made a wolf whistle. I could see Fred and George mocking him from across the room. Ron and McGonagall began moving around the room. She then called for everyone to stand. I was pulled forward with all the girls whilst the boys sat awkwardly. No one moved, well I say no one. George sprung across the room and bowed deeply in front of me.

" My Lady Black, may I have this dance?" He proclaimed loudly as everyone watched.

" You certainly may, Sir Weasley." I giggled. George stood up straight and held my waist and we began to move around the room like McGonagall and Ron. George was surprisingly good at dancing.

" That's it Miss Black and Mr Weasley well done!" McGonagall called, " come on everyone! Get up and dance just like that! It's easy." Soon everyone was dancing.

" So, lovely Lady Black," George whispered causing me to giggle, " I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to the Ball before any other man snatches you up." He smirked down at me.

" I couldn't imagine spending it with anyone else."