ONCE UPON A TIME.

14. jalousie

     THE CAMERA GOES OFF WITH A PUFF OF SMOKE. Rita Skeeter walks up to the Triwizard champions with a pompous air, her bewitched quill following her as she does so. "What a charismatic quartet," she comments. "I'm Rita Skeeter. I write for the Daily Prophet. But of course, you know that, don't you?" 

     Though Viktor and Fleur probably had no idea was, Cedric was well-acquainted with her poison-pen stories. Cedric had heard his father say that Rita would 'do anything for a story'; by the way she spoke to them, it seemed to be true.

     "What quirks lurk beneath those rosy cheeks? What mysteries do the muscles mask? Does courage lie beneath those curls?" Rita says in a sickeningly sweet voice. She pinches Fleur's cheek and ruffles Cedric's hair, eventually navigating to be by Harry Potter's side. "So,who's feeling up to sharing? Mmm?" When no one says anything, Rita snaps her attention to Harry. "Shall we start with the youngest? Lovely." Rita whisks Harry in to a nearby broom closet, leaving Fleur, Viktor and Cedric. 

     "Vell . . ." Viktor says awkwardly. "She is . . ." 

     "Something." Cedric finishes for the Durmstrang champion. "She peenches like a crab." Fleur mumbles dejectedly, rubbing the side of her face for emphasis. The three chatter aimlessly about Rita for a few more minutes, their conversation coming to a pause when the classroom door creaks open.

     An old man with pale, silvery eyes and white skin steps in to the room, his eyes twinkling. "You must be the champions." Garrick Ollivander says, eyeing Fleur, Viktor and Cedric in turn. "There should be four of you, or so I've heard . . . well, we can begin the Wand-Weighing anyhow." 

     Cedric had read up on the tournament enough to know why Mr. Ollivander was present. The Weighing of the Wands was a Triwizard Tournament tradition; each wand was to be examined closely by the veteran wand-maker to ensure that it was fully functionality, a single spell with each wand to test its functionality. 

     "Thank you for accompanying me, Ms. D'Amore."

     Involuntarily, Cedric straightens. From behind Mr. Ollivander, Amata watches Cedric with poorly masked amusement. "My pleasure, Mr. Ollivander." Amata answers. "D'Amore?" Fleur calls out, giving Amata a look of curiosity. "Are you perhaps related to Altheda?"

    "They are triplets." Viktor says abruptly. When he realizes what he'd done, he lets out a cough and a low apology; Cedric's insides twist for reasons he isn't completely sure of. "Viktor knows too, huh?" Cedric comments dryly. Neither Fleur nor Viktor pick up on his tone, but Amata does; she raises an eyebrow at him as though daring him to say more.

     "I am friends with Antioch." Viktor offers, seemingly picking up on the tension between Amata and Cedric. "Ve talk often, and he is always mentioning his . . . er, triples? . . . Amata, and Altheda."

    "Altheda mentioned seeblings, but she nevair said that you were triplets." Fleur prods. As much as Cedric wants to spite Amata, he can't bring himself to ignore her visible discomfort. Mentally cursing himself, Cedric walks towards her and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder.

     "You've done what you must. Mr. Ollivander is here for the ceremony," Cedric says as kindly as he can. "You can go now."

    "Now, Mr. Diggory, I don't think you're in the position to go dismissing people."

    "Bloody hell," Amata breathes, eyes widening as she looks past Cedric's shoulder. "Is that - ?"

    "In the flesh." Cedric answers in a low hiss. Turning to Rita, he offers the journalist a polite smile. "Amata has class." he says diplomatically. "I'm sure she could spare a moment or two." Rita coos in response. Her eyes snap to the hand Cedric still has on Amata; the sight of it seems to thrill her, even more so when Viktor gruffly agrees that Amata ought to stay.

    Rita turns to Viktor the same time Cedric glances his way. Hufflepuff and journalist alike catch the smile that the Bulgarian offers Amata; whatever had been simmering at the pit of Cedric's stomach damn near spills over. What's worse, perhaps, is how Amata gives the smallest of grins back. 

     "I'll keep her company as you go through your Wand Weighing." Rita insists, even more driven this time, before taking the few strides towards them and practically grabbing Amata from Cedric. 

     Amata shoots Cedric a look of exasperation, which he finds unable to reciprocate.