star shopping ✰ d.m.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Watching the champions attempt to retrieve the golden eggs while a dragon was trying very hard to kill them was stressful, to say the least. Arabella hid her face in Charlie's arm several times while Cedric and Harry were out, not wanting to see either of them get hurt. This didn't do much good, however. She still witnessed Cedric get badly burned.

Viktor Krum was the second champion to compete, and while Arabella wasn't nearly as obsessed with him as Ron was, she still thought he was some kind of genius that wouldn't have any trouble at all getting past a dragon. She was wrong, and by the time Krum got his golden egg, he stood on a much lower pedestal in her mind.

Fleur Delacour performed just as Arabella expected. While she was successful in grabbing the golden egg, she did get her skirt caught on fire at one point. Arabella laughed at this, which greatly confused and concerned Charlie and his coworkers.

After Harry had gotten his golden egg by Summoning his Firebolt as planned and the first task of the Triwizard Tournament was over, Hermione, Ron, and Arabella rushed out of the stands to meet him in the infirmary tent.

"You did it!" Arabella exclaimed, hugging Harry. "Of course, I knew you would, but you actually did it! You defeated a dragon!"

"I couldn't have done it without you," Harry said appreciatively.

Just like last time, there was a flash of bright light in their direction, and Arabella pulled away from Harry and faced Rita Skeeter and her photographer with a furious expression.

"Get out!" Arabella shouted. Rita's and the photographer's eyes widened as the angry ginger chased them out of the tent.

Hermione grabbed Arabella's arm and pulled her back into the tent. "Now you've done it," she said. "Watch, the Daily Prophet tomorrow is going to have an article about Harry Potter and his crazy girlfriend who tried to kill Rita Skeeter."

Arabella opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted.

"Harry, whoever put your name in that goblet," Ron said, "I- I reckon they're trying to do you in!"

"Caught on, have you?" said Harry. "Took you long enough." Ron opened his mouth to speak. "It's okay. Forget it."

"No, I shouldn't've-"

"Forget it."

Next to Arabella, Hermione suddenly burst into tears.

"There's nothing to cry about!"

"You two are so stupid!" Hermione sobbed before dashing out of the tent.

"And you say I'm emotional," Arabella said to Ron before following Hermione.

That night, back in the Gryffindor common room, everyone cheered for Harry. Fred and George hoisted him up onto their shoulders and Harry tossed his golden egg into the crowd, allowing it to be passed around.

"Yes, Harry!" George cheered.

"Knew you wouldn't die, Harry," Fred said. "Lose a leg."

"Or an arm."

"Pack it in altogether?"

"Never!" they chorused.