Cerulean - Fred Weasley

Chapter 2 - New year, new hogwarts

Simone walked up the steps towards the entrance hall. She barely had a chance to appreciate its elegance before-

"Arghhh!" Sophie let out a shriek. A large, purple water balloon had hit her square in the chest. Before Simone could laugh, a second one flew through the air, striking Roger. 

"Run for it!" Simone yelled, using her arms to shield her head as she sprinted for the great hall.

"Fucking peeves. Not even a minute into this school year and I'm already sopping wet."

Simone couldn't help but giggle at the misfortune of her very grumpy friends. The great hall was bedecked in its usual decorum. Hundreds of candles floated above as the four Ravenclaws joined their chattering students. Taking a seat next to Michael Corner, Simone was forced to listen to Padma Patil's horrendous stories. She had barely had any lunch and was itching to start the feast.

"And then, my aunt stormed out just like-"

"Where are those stupid first years?" Simone moaned.

It was a full five minutes before Professor McGonagall entered the great hall, first years trailing behind her like ducklings. After a rather drawn-out sonnet by the sorting hat, the ceremony began.

"Were we ever that small?" Ruth marvelled as a teeny boy was placed in Gryffindor.

"We can't have been. My god, that one is half the size of me!" Roger shook his head in disbelief. 

"Why is this taking so long?"

Many minutes elapsed before Whitby, Kevin was placed in Hufflepuff and the sorting ended.

"Merlin's pants!" Simone dug into a large slice of Sheppard's pie, euphoria sweeping through her bones. 

"So. Many. Types. Of. Potatoes." Ruth moaned. The greatest invention in history."

The great hall became oddly silent for the next twenty minutes. It's quite challenging to talk with a mouth full of chicken. Once all the pudding was devoured, and the last crumbs demolished, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet. 

"So!" He said, smiling down at them all. "Now that we are properly fed and watered, I can share this year's notices."

Simone zoned out for this next part. She knew quite well by now that the forest was forbidden and that Filch hated all fun. 

"The quidditch cup will not take place this year." Simone was jerked back to reality. 

"Are you kidding me!" She hissed. Roger looked as if he was going to faint. The school stared up at Dumbledore, too appalled to speak.

"There better be a damn good reason for this." Cho Chang muttered through gritted teeth.

"Shhh!"

The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Dumbledore continued. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing to the end of the school year. Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard tournament."

"You're JOKING!" a loud voice from the Gryffindor table proclaimed. The hall broke out into laughter. Simone craned her neck trying to see who had spoken.

"I am not joking Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore chuckled. Simone smirked, not entirely surprised that it had been one of the twins. She directed her attention back to dumbledore. Her dad had told her legends of the Triwizard tournament, a crazy competition between Europe's best wizarding schools. 

Simone could hardly contain her excitement. "I'm going to do it," She hissed to Ruth. Bringing glory to herself and Ravenclaw, not to mention the thousand galleon prize... what could be better? Who cares about the death toll? Besides, she turned seventeen in two weeks, meaning she was completely eligible! She was so caught in her fantasy that she didn't even notice when they were dismissed. Her friends had disappeared in the general commotion. Sighing, she began to make her way across the great hall.

"Oi, Simone!" One of the Weasley twins was grinning at her. "Since there's no quidditch this year, I'll have to settle for beating you in this tournament."

she rolled her eyes, walking towards the Gryffindor table. "Don't be so sure of that. Maybe I'll have to crack your head open with another bludger."

Fred smirked, remembering the time Simone had sent him to the hospital wing for three days. 

"We Gryffindors were made for this kind of challenge," he said, puffing his chest out in mock nobility. "Maybe you should stick to your books."

Simone smiled slyly. "I'll beat you to death with a book." The boys seemed slightly taken aback by this violent turn. She walked out of the great hall, heading towards Ravenclaw tower. 

"Where have you been?" Roger asked, arms crossed. He, Sophie, and Ruth were waiting on the couch adjacent to the hearth.

"Got a little lost in thought. Can you believe the Triwizard tournament is happening?  Just think of all that money and glory." she said longingly.

"I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say that you will be running?"

"All this hunger for power, it's a miracle you're not in Slytherin," Sophie added.

"Oh shut up," Simone said, shoving Sophie. "Let's head up to the dorm."

"Guess I'll just wait down here!" yelled Roger. They ignored him.

Their dormitory was just how they'd left it last year, cozy and circular, sapphire drapes hanging from four-post beds. 

"I've missed this place!" Ruth yelled, flopping onto her usual bed. "I don't think I could stand another day at home with my maniac brother."

Simone took a seat beside her. "Come on, he can't be that bad."

Ruth rolled her eyes. "He's a fourteen-year-old Gryffindor. His voice is constantly cracking. Trust me, that does not sound good with a Scottish accent."

"Yeah, I remember when you were going through puberty."

"Take that back!" Ruth reached over to smack Simone. 

"Aww, is this a group hug I see?" Sophie jumped on to the bed, embracing the two squirming girls.

"Argh stop it, Soph! That hurts!"

"I've missed you too" 

The three girls curled up in the bed, watching raindrops race down the window.

"Have you seen the latest season of Friends?"  Sophie asked. 

"I spent my entire barmaid salary on a television set just to see it. My dad thought I was mental." 

"Still can't believe you're a barmaid Sim, you're not even legal to drink!"

She smiled wickedly. "The best thing about magic is that it allows you to forge legal documents."

"Well, one could also argue that it defines an entire group of people" Ruth interjected.

"Nah, the legal thing is better."

"Well, well, well," said a lofty voice. "Are we invited to this slumber party?" Devon and Lottie, the two other dorm mates had arrived.

"So good to see you guys!" Sophie rushed over to hug them, elbowing Simone's head in the process.

"Oww," she grumbled.

Paying her friend's injury no attention, Sophie began to badger the other two about their vacations. Simone kept quiet. She had never been close with Lottie and Devon and wasn't great at making new friends. 

" I'm dead tired. Think I'll turn in." Simone stood up and climbed into her bed. The other girls soon followed. Simone lay, staring at the top of the velvet drapings, perfectly at peace. With the faint sound of rain and the delicious feast settling in her stomach, she was asleep in minutes.