Chapter Two: Midnight Conversation
By Natali K. A.
Lily was huddled over her homework late one Saturday night, the second Saturday spent at Beauxbatons. The champions for each school had not yet been chosen-the Goblet of Fire had not made up its mind. She found it amusing that it held so much power.
While most students were anxious about it, Lily couldn't have cared if they'd had to wait another two months to find out. She was simply having a nice, relaxing time at Beauxbatons. Just that.
She was working on the assignment she and the rest of the Seventh Year students had been given last Monday, which she'd put off until now.
Amazingly, she was the only student left awake, which meant she was the only student who hadn't finished, which was testament to what kind of Head Girl she was. It was true they still had tomorrow to finish, but no student was that stupid-besides, they were all so tired from a day full of flirting and giggling and winking and snogging and perhaps even something else.
Or, as in her case, chatting it up with a quite handsome student of Durmstrang whose name was Horace.
Heh, heh.
"I didn't think anyone else was up," said a deep, sleepy voice she instantly recognized.
"Nor did I. But from the sound of it, you've just woken up," she replied, a little irritated at the fact that her precious privacy had been violated. She'd begun to feel the effects of claustrophobia, inevitable when sharing a tent with thirteen other students and two professors.
He gave her a lop-sided grin that she didn't see. Actually, she hadn't even glanced up at all. "You're right. I don't know, just wanted to get out of bed for some reason."
"Want to swap? You do my essay and I'll go sleep in your stead?" she asked dryly. She finished writing a sentence and finally looked up at her intruder.
Her nearly naked intruder.
"Er, want to put a shirt on, maybe?"
"I told you I didn't think anyone was still up."
"So you make a habit of strutting around naked?"
"You're lucky I even bothered to put on my boxer shorts." He laughed at the face she pulled. "Only joking. I don't sleep in the nude. That's a Sirius thing. Does it bother you to see me shirtless? Too steamy for you?" He cheekily kissed one of his bulging biceps. "Grr, baby, grr."
Lily sniffed indignantly. "Don't flatter yourself. I was just thinking of what people would say if the Head Boy and Girl were found up late at night, one in her jammies and the other with just his shorts and no slippers to boast of."
"They'd say what a very lucky fellow that Head Boy was-Triwizard Champ and a breath-taking girlfriend? With an arse so tight you could bounce a galleon off it to boot. Care to try?"
She didn't doubt that his arse really was that tight. Damn him.
Lily grunted, torn between blushing prettily, agreeing to bounce that galleon (tempting indeed), or getting angry at his arrogance and overall hotness. "You're just as bad as you were in Fifth Year, James," she told him disgustedly. Ah, anger won out.
He raised an unbelieving eyebrow. "I find that hard to believe. You lower yourself to calling me `James' now."
She had nothing to retort with, as he was totally correct. Blast it.
With no other option, Lily went back to her essay, thankful that he remained silent as she did so. She was unaware, however, that James was staring at her most intensely.
She finished eventually and stood to head in the direction of her warm, soft, inviting bed.
"It will happen, you know," he called after her. "People will say that about me."
She stuck her nose in the air and snorted. "What, that you'll get the Triwizard Cup and me as a girlfriend? How can you be so bloody sure?"
He looked at her seriously. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. Good night, Lily. Sleep well."
She sighed, almost in a sympathetic way. "'Night, James. Go to sleep so you can dream a fool's dream."
With that, she went to bed, leaving him to lust after her on his own.
But even asleep, she just couldn't forget the confidence his voice had held when he'd told her it would happen-or how much she wished he'd never put on another sodding shirt.
Oh, bugger.
*~*
"It's supposed to happen tonight," Ashley whispered in a hushed voice as they headed in to the Dining Hall to eat. "I overheard the headmaster and McGonagall discussing it. The Goblet's made up its mind finally."
"It doesn't have a mind," Lily muttered, wishing she hadn't agreed to come along. N.E.W.T.s weren't such a bad thing and she really did miss Hogwarts, as much as she loved the enchanting school of Beauxbatons. Also, in Hogwarts she didn't have to share a tent with James.
Bugger.
"I just know you're going to get it," Betty told her. "If not you, one of the Marauders. I can't imagine anyone else being Hogwarts champion, can you?"
"No fair! How come you can't imagine me being champion?" Ashley whined.
Betty laughed. "That goblet might not have any mind to speak of but it's not stupid either!"
"Stop it," Lily sighed, putting an end to the ensuing argument that would no doubt crop up. She sat between them at the table offered to them by the host school in order to decrease the chance of a later fight as well. "Shh, Dumbledore's going up."
The Dining Hall fell silent as Professor Dumbledore went up, two of the gentlemen from Durmstrang pulling the Goblet behind him on a wagon.
"Students, students! The time has come. The Goblet has decided which student shall represent each school!" He turned to the Goblet and said a few sentences in a language no one in the giant room understood, though Lily suspected it was an old form of Troll mixed in with Gaelic.
Down the table, James was leaning forward and winking at her, giving her the thumbs up as if to wish either of them good luck.
He just would not win, she decided. He would never let her live it down.
The entire hall stared in wonder as the flames changed colors and a piece of parchment was spat out. Dumbledore took it and read it, smiling as he shouted, "Horace Ivanov of Durmstrang!"
Several girls shrieked and clapped hysterically as Horace-the same Horace Lily had been speaking to on Saturday-made his way to the front, to the room where the Headmistress of Beauxbatons was directing him. As he passed Lily, he smiled at her and she returned the favor.
Once again, everyone turned their attention back to the flames as they changed colors and spat out another name.
"Evette Godenot of Beauxbatons!"
A pretty, fit-looking blonde with strawberries and cream skin jumped up and headed after Horace to a chant from the Beauxbatons girls. You could tell, even if you couldn't understand what they were saying, that Evette had been a favorite among them to represent them.
"Just the Hogwarts champ left, Lils!" Betty giggled, poking her in the ribs. "Good luck, mate. Here goes nothing!"
Suddenly, Lily regretted very much putting her name in that stupid Goblet.
But she had nothing to worry about, she soon discovered, as something even worse happened.
"James Potter of Hogwarts!"
Oh, bloody fuck.
But she cheered and clapped and congratulated him anyway. If anyone could win for them, it would definitely be him.
"Sorry, Lily. Wasn't meant to be. But maybe that Horace fellow will ask you out and you'll be dating one of the champions!" Ashley said excitedly, biting into a turkey leg.
Oh. Joy.
*~*
James got back into the tent after most were asleep. Only Remus and Sirius were still up, waiting for him.
"What happened? What'd they say? You're so lucky. I wonder, if I kill you, can I go in your stead?" Sirius asked excitedly.
"Nope. If I die, that's it. No one else represents Hogwarts," James smiled, high-fiving Remus. "The first task is a month from now."
"Any hints?"
"Not one. Though Dumbledore did say something about the possibility of things getting off to a rocky start."
"Hmm. Wonder what that was about," Remus mused. He broke into a spontaneous grin. "Well, no worries, mate! You need your rest, however, so we can charm all the ladies of Beauxbatons tomorrow. You know they'll all be after you. And once you choose one, they'll go after your best mates."
"Yeah, and they'll love Remus and his wolfish qualities," Sirius snickered, climbing into bed. He slipped off his boxers. "'Night."
*~*
A/N: Ha, short, I know. But… Yeah. I want the first task to have its own chapter, you see. I'm so very picky that way. Thanks for all your reviews, they were just lovely and I adored them! I have a few things to reply to in general, of course, so I'll just post it here.
Yes, I know. Boo boo in the very first line. I had originally planned for Hogwarts to host it but then changed my mind as Beauxbatons would be such a nice thrill. So, yes, I am aware of it, and thanks to all of those who were so keen to catch that and mention it, more specifically Alicia78 and loonymoony8.
On another note, did anyone catch in the first chapter the possibility of jealousy and heated arguments between Lily and James concerning the other schools since they're either male or female? I know that UnbirthdayGirl did!! Yay!! I was hoping someone would mention it. Shall Horace be a factor? Oh, you betcha!
Another thing. Several reviewers pointed out that in the books, Beauxbatons is not an all-girl school and Durmstrang is not an all-boy school, but only in the movie. Whoops is all I can say. But, I do think this is so much more interesting. All I can do is ask forgiveness for my little mistake and promise you all that rereading Goblet of Fire is on my To Do List.
And I had to restrain myself from making a Sirius pun in this chapter, can you figure out where? Oh, it was so tempting! But I won!!
Otherwise, te veo el lunes!
Much love,
Natali K. A.
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