An Unlikelyhood of Endings

chapter two: choosing champions

Clover's Perspective

Halloween was finally upon us, and Alice and I had been impatiently waiting to celebrate since last year's blunder. You see, for whatever reason, the students at Hogwarts didn't dress up for Halloween. We had found out the hard way last year, met with laughs and stares when we entered the great hall dressed as a rabbit and a vampire. Since then, we decided that it would be our own little tradition. Being the American students in the English school was okay as long as you didn't pretend to be someone you weren't.

In the bathrooms, Alice brushes my eyes with an iridescent pigment as I sit still on the counter. I was dressing as a fairy this year; I had flowers woven into my two loose braids, and a pair of dainty light green wings strapped to my back like a backpack. I dare a glance at Alice, who's wearing a horned headband, dark red lipstick, and more exaggerated eyeliner than usual. She's a devil, which is quite fitting. "Eyes closed!"

She snaps. I shut my eyes and try to suppress a smile as she finishes my eyeshadow. When I hear the zipper on her makeup bag close, I turn to look at myself in the mirror. I don't usually wear makeup, but the sparkles she insisted on adding brought my costume together. "I love it!"

"You look adorable." She says with a smile. We make our way out of the bathroom and into the flow of people walking to the great hall. As expected, a few looks were cast our way.

"Letting the horns out today are we?"

Fred Weasley shouts as he and George quickly pass. Alice and I look at each other and roll our eyes. "Assholes."

"I completely agree. Not worth your time."

We continue our walk to breakfast, Alice's eyes peeled for anyone else with a snide comment. The best I could offer was moral support, but she had assured me over the years that that was plenty.

As we enter the great hall, we still get glances our way; more out of interest for what we were this year than surprise. We find our usual seats at the Hufflepuff table where Hannah and Susan are waiting to take us in. "Why do I feel like you two would always look like this if you could?" Susan remarks.

"That's the fun of Halloween Bones, I can't believe you people don't dress up!"

"What do you think I would be if I dressed up?"

"A skeleton-"

Hannah and Alice answer in unison. I laugh along with them while Susan rolls her eyes. Before the moment could end, my eyes wander down the table to steal a glance; one quick look at the one boy at the school who had won me over without even trying. Cedric Diggory. I knew he was the crush of dozens of other girls at school, but I couldn't help it. He was tall and built well with soft brown hair and grey eyes, but his looks were hardly the best thing about him. He was the best both in class and on the quidditch pitch, and one of the kindest people; even for Hufflepuff. He was probably the only reason why Hufflepuff was remotely taken seriously at Hogwarts. He had put his name in the Triwizard cup, and with the decision coming in today I was anxious to see if he would be chosen.

I came back to reality before anyone could notice.

"We ought to get to class." Hannah remarks as students slowly file out of the great hall. With that, the four of us begin our day.

* * *

The school day crept on slowly, what with everyone buzzing about the choosing of the champions. Potions class was especially slow; it was the hour that I dreaded the most. Even though I was partnered with Susan and we stayed as far from the insufferable Malfoy as possible, we were never spared from dirty looks and hushed comments. I was especially teased about my costume. Regardless, we had survived another day. Alice and I met up in the Hufflepuff dorms to quickly shed our costumes.