A Weasley Twin

4.

The train journey to Hogwarts dragged on far longer than I remembered. The whole time I was talking to my friends, I was fully intending to listen but I just couldn't. My mind wondered to a better place that I couldn't bring myself to leave and I tackled the constant struggle of keeping my mind off of Fred for what felt like days but was only really a couple of hours.

In the great hall at dinner, something was different- exciting- everyone was whispering eagerly as Dumbledore made his speech. I heard scattered voices hinting at the big surprise but I couldn't exactly put together all of the random sentences that were floating through the air.
'Do you think the Bulgarians will talk to us?' one girl squealed.
'I heard the headmistress is huge!' Seamus grinned at Dean.
'I'm going for one of the French ones,' another boy joked a bit too loudly, causing Dumbledore to pause before continuing his ramble.
'As many of you may already know, this year Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament!' I caught Dumbledore announce.
The whole room filled with loud mumbling.
That's what everyone's so excited about, two other schools are coming to take part in one of the biggest wizarding competitions in the world!
'Now that's wicked,' smiled Ron.
'You aren't thinking of entering are you? People die in these competitions,' I said.
'Before any of you get too carried away with yourselves,' Dumbledore began, 'I must inform you firstly that for safety purposes, you may only enter if you are over seventeen.'
'That's rubbish!' The twins yelled in sync and I rolled my eyes at Fred in response, earning a chuckle from him.
My mind drifted away again, not caring to hear what else Dumbledore had to say until I heard the doors opening loudly at the back of the hall.
'-Beauxbatons Academy!' Dumbledore grinned.
A parade of beautiful French girls in blue dressed filed down the centre of the hall, twirling and laughing as they did so. My eyes fell to Fred. His friends were nudging and whispering to him, mockingly and I felt jealousy fill my lungs. But I shouldn't be jealous. He can do what he likes because we're not dating. We're not.
After the girls were seated elegantly, Dumbledore made his next announcement.
'Now, please welcome Durmstrang institute!'
The doors swung open once again, but this time to a much different performance.
A swarm of strong, muscular-looking boys entered, entirely in sync with one another, doing sharp, loud movements to ensure that everyone's attention was on them.
As I watched, my eyes wandered into contact with one Bulgarian boy, who stared back. A grin formed on his lips and I felt myself blush before I looked away. Another pair of eyes met mine. Fred's. He looked at me almost angrily before glancing at the Bulgarian boy and then away from both of us entirely.
When both schools were sat down, we began eating. Every time there was a pause in conversation, I would suddenly be aware of a pair of eyes on me. Sometimes it was Fred, seemingly daydreaming. Other times it was the boy from Durmstrang, making me highly uncomfortable.
When I got back to the common room that evening, I was tired and confused and only wanted sleep. But my brain was awake and it craved attention, I didn't know what I was doing with these two boys but I knew it wasn't good.