Ruth is the youngest of the Ash triplets. Born only three minutes after her sisters, Ruth has always been the odd one out.
She's been invisible all her life.
She's been stuck in the shadows of her sisters throughout her five years at Hogwarts. She...
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February came by quickly, much to the dismay of the Champions and the excitement for the rest of the school. The second task was upon the school, and hearts were racing.
"Upon my whistle," Ludo Bagman was announcing. "The champions will have one hour to retrieve what has been taken from them."
Ruth eyed the water of the Black lake, which the champions were preparing to dive into. Deep and dark, Ruth was afraid to know what lurked beneath the small ripples.
A whistle sounded and the champions threw themselves into the icy lake, Harry Potter being the last to leave the shore.
"So we just wait here?" Casper asked to anyone who would listen. "For an hour?"
"I don't know what you're worrying about," Ruth smirked. "I find this very entertaining."
She stared at the lake, which was looking very calm as the four champions had already disappeared into its depths.
"I'm hungry," Casper commented. "Can we get some food?"
"Lunch isn't for another hour," Ruth reminded him. "There will be no food in the Great Hall."
Casper huffed. "They can't seriously expect us to just stand here with no entertainment."
"I think I've some sweets in my dorm, that'll keep us going," Ruth said. "Save our spots. I'll be back in a minute."
"I swear if you bring back liquorice," Casper warned.
"That's up to me to decide," Ruth replied smugly.
Casper pouted before letting Ruth go, telling her to hurry. Ruth casually strolled out of the crowd to annoy her friend.
The castle was completely silent, with everyone out by the lake. Ruth Hayes how loud her footsteps sound in the silence and almost wanted to tiptoe to the Gryffindor Tower.
The fat lady swung open when Ruth gave the password. Deciding Casper has waited long enough, Ruth ran up the stairs to the girls dorm and grabbed a bag of fudge she'd stolen from Casper the week before.
She went back down to the common room, coming face to face with the last person she wanted to see.
"Ruth?" Fred asked.
Ruth ignored him and pushed past, but Fred caught a grip on her forearm.
"Why haven't you been coming to our tutor classes?" He asked. "You've missed over 5 sessions."
"I got a new tutor," Ruth said coldly, shaking her arm out of his grip.
Fred raised his eyebrows in surprise. "A new tutor? But I'm your tutor, why would you want another one?"
"Because my new tutor actually wants to help me," Ruth spat. "And they aren't using me for their own benefit, like you were."
Fred looked stunned. "Wha- I- I thought you enjoyed our meetings, I really did," he stuttered. "And I was using it to get out of detention at first, but not anymore-"
"I'm not going to let someone walk all over me Fred," Ruth cut in, feeling the anger building in her stomach. "I'm not just something you can use for entertainment whenever you're bored!"
Fred raised one eyebrow. "I feel like this is about more than our tutor lessons," he said. "Why are you so angry with me?"
"Because you're so inconsistent Fred!" Ruth burst out. You act all friendly to me on Wednesdays at 12pm, but treat me like a complete stranger outside of that damn library! You ask me to dance at the Yule ball but don't say a single word to me for a week afterwards!"
"I have friends outside of the lessons, you know!" Fred shot back.
Ruth shook her head. "You brought me outside at the Yule Ball because you were embarrassed to be seen with the third Ash Triplet, right?" she cried. "Because I would totally bring down your popularity meter because I'm the old one out!"
"Hey I asked you to dance with me outside because I wanted to dance with you outside!" Fred exclaimed.
Ruth laughed; it was mocking and cold. "You wanted to dance with me? Are you sure it wasn't because you felt bad for me because apparently, I was outside on my own!"
Fred's mouth opened and closed, he then let out a sigh. "You heard me and Angie talking."
"Yes Fred. I did," Ruth said, trying to calm her voice, but her anger was still clear. "Why are you trying to make my life so complicated?"
"I'm not," Fred said softly. "Please just let me explain, Rue."
"I don't want you to explain," Ruth said. "Casper's waiting for me. I have to go."
She was out of the common room before Fred could even get a word out.
As she arrived back to the lake, Ruth noticed that Cedric Diggory had completed the task first. He and Cho Chang were soaking wet, sitting by the lake with towels and hot chocolates. Fleur was also by the lake, looking extremely worried and calling the name of a girl.
"There you are!" Casper exclaimed and took the fudge from Ruth. "The thing they had to retrieve was a person!"
Ruth hummed in response and looked back at the lake, just as Viktor Krum and Hermione Granger appeared from beneath the water.
"Are you ok?" Casper asked Ruth through a mouthful of fudge.
