Chapter 8

Chapter 8

EDWARD WRIGHT

"Have you entered your name?" Fleur asked me as we made our way toward the Great Hall.

I shook my head at that. Even though I planned to do it, I had not gotten the chance to do it last night with all the commotion.

"Have you added yours?" I asked fleur,and she nodded her head.

"Headmistress Maxime had us all place them last night."

I nodded at that as both of us took a seat and food appeared in front of us.

"Have you given any thought to my proposition," she asked suddenly.

I just nodded my head. Fleur had written to me about the charms professor at Beauxbatons retiring. The school was looking for someone to take his place. Fleur had mentioned that I should apply for that post. It was not a bad proposal and there was a high chance that my application might even get accepted.

"I have, but I have not decided yet. After all, it is a big decision," I said. Fleur nodded at my answer though I noticed the slight change in her expression.

"I personally think you should accept, in the international community, Britain has amongst the most archaic laws. You could fulfill your potential in France," she added once more, a small hint of desperation in her voice. I just narrowed my eyes at that. Was my suspicion correct then?

"I am not ruling it out. Plus, I have some time to think about it," I said once more. And Fleur nodded her head at that.

Fleur finally focused once more on the food. Though her eyes still had that worried look. She picked up her spoon, and held it tightly, chewing her lips. I noticed her hesitation and placed my own spoon down. Placing my hand over her other hand, she looked up at me.

"What is bothering you?" I asked.

Fleur tried to shake her head, smiling weakly.

"It is nothing." She said squeezing my hand and then just as I was about to ask her once more, someone interrupted us.

"Ah, would you look at that? So, you are her latest prey? You are a pretty one!" I looked up and saw a boy wearing a blue jacket, the Beauxbaton insignia shining on his pocket. His face was something I could say was above average, if not for the heinous glint in those eyes.

"Beside me, I could feel Fleur stiffen slightly, and my eyes immediately narrowed at the boy.

"I am Nelson Dupont, final year at Beauxbaton." He offered me a hand. Which I ignored. Still staring at him.

"Well, it seems that you are completely ensnared by that harlot, well I …" he suddenly stopped. His eyes were wide with fear and amazement. My hand now right over his shoulder, on his face's side, fire dancing along it.

"You wouldn't want me to burn your pretty face now, would you?" I said sweetly and he just gulped. As I moved my hand closed to his face, the fire in it singing his sideburns.

"Now, you are going to simply apologize to her, and then you are never going to approach either me or her ever again." I finished as I moved closer to him, our eyes level at each other. He simply nodded and gritted his teeth and turned towards Fleur who was staring at all this with an aghast face.

"I apologize!"

Fleur just nodded a little dumbfoundedly. As the flame in my hand extinguished. I pinched his shoulder making him squirm. And I got up close to his ear and spoke in an exceedingly small voice.

"Next time, there will be no warning," the kid nodded and started walking back. His steps hurried as he moved out of the Great Hall.

I looked up and saw several people staring at me. The Hall was staring at us. I just shook my head and picked up a sandwich and then took Fleur's hand and started walking out of the Hall. Fleur was following me quietly, though her eyes were staring at me intensely.

0000

HERMIONE GRANGER

"Now, that was intense," Ron said from the side. The redhead had given her a small apology and Hermione had accepted it for the sake of their friendship of three years.

"That was wandless magic. I thought only extraordinarily strong wizards could do it," Harry said with an amazed tone. The implication behind his words was clear.

"No, that is not the case," Herminone shook her head, and both Ron and Harry stared at her.

"What do you mean? I have always heard that wandless magic can only be performed by powerful wizards," Ron asked.

"That may be true in general, but it is not the only case. With enough practice, we can use wandless magic, but it requires extreme focus and a very profound understanding of magic. The rumor that 'only very strong wizards can use wandless magic' was propagated because it is often these people that can control their magic without a wand, otherwise, our underage magic was also wandless," she explained. She had found the theory in Edward's notes and had looked it up herself consulting even the Professors.

"Well, it is the same thing," Ron said, and she just shook his head at that answer. From Harry's expression, it was evident that he was still trying to process her words.

"Well, leaving that. Do you have any idea who is placing their name in the Goblet from Gryffindor?" she asked.

"Angelina's done it from Gryffindor. Though I have heard that Warrington from Slytherin has done it as well." Ron said.

And Hermione nodded, it was good that someone from Gryffindor was participating. Though, she had noticed that Ron had not mentioned Edward's name. Was he not going to participate?

"Well, did they mention anything about that exhibition duel?" Harry asked her.

She nodded her head at that.

"McGonagall mentioned that it will be before the tournament's first task, so next week most probably."

Harry nodded and then she saw the Twins walk in along with Dean Thomas.

"We did it. We did it," they shouted and a cheer went through the whole hall. Dean approached their table and she asked.

"What are they so excited for?" she asked him.

"We made the aging potion. Now we are going to enter our names and if we win it we are going to split the money," Dean replied excitedly as he cheered and whooped with the rest of the table while Hermione just stared at them like idiots. There was no way that they were going to fool Dumbledore's age line with an aging potion.

The twins took a small gulp from the two vials they held, and she saw their features change slightly. At least, the potion was brewed perfectly.

'HOOOOOOOO,' the whole Hall cheered.

Then both walked up to the Goblet of Fire and looked at each other before jumping over the line. And the line let them pass through.

Hermione was surprised.

This was not going to work, she thought.

"HOOOOOOOO," everyone cheered, and just as the twins were about to place their names In the Goblet. The age line glowed and a ripple went through the Hall, and the twins were thrown back.

Their faces had begun to morph, their hair becoming white as frowns and wrinkles appeared on their face. The Hall was laughing now.

"Honestly, do you guys have a thing for the Hospital Wing? You guys just got out of it a week ago," a somewhat annoyed and amused voice said from the entrance. And she saw that the Headgirl was here.

Elizabeth White, the Head girl, was shaking her head at the twins even though Hermione spotted a small smile on her lips.

"Terrance! Take them to the Hospital Wing and tell Pomfrey what they did," she shouted, and Hermione saw the tall boy get up and levitate the twins and take them out of the Hall.

"That was unlucky," Ron said.

"That was stupid, they are idiots if they think they can fool Dumbledore so easily," she commented and went back to her breakfast.

0000

ELIZABETH WHITE

Elizabeth was just about done with the Weasley twins. Honestly, did they have any limit? She made her way to the front of the table and sat down to start her breakfast. She had woken up a little late today. She looked around the table and noticed the absence of a certain person.

He is usually awake by now, she thought.

She suddenly felt a slight tap on her shoulder and saw Cedric approach her. She smiled and greeted her year mate.

"Good morning, Cedric," she said.

"Good morning to you as well," and he took the seat by her side. Both of them were about to begin their breakfast when suddenly she noticed someone else rushing towards them

"Did you guys see it!" Amy asked impatiently as she took the seat by her side. Amy had rushed to the Great Hall, her hair was still a mess and she seemed very excited about a twins prank.

"Yes, I was here when the twins attempted to enter the tournament," she replied but Amy cut her off.

"NO! I am not talking about that. I am talking about Edward's confrontation," and Elizabeth's heart dropped. Her head jerked towards Amy.

"What happened to Edward?" she asked, trepidation building in her heart. By her side, she noticed that Cedric had stopped eating as well.

"One of the girls told me about it. Edward was having breakfast with Fleur and then someone from her school came and began bad-mouthing Fleur." As soon as those words left Amy's mouth, Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat.

She had heard rumors from some Slytherin about the retaliation from Edward. Edward had been vicious to those who insulted or bullied him. And the way he had treated Fleur, it was clear that she had a certain place in his heart, and if someone was going to insult her like this. Well, he was going to retaliate.

"She said that Edward burned the guy's face and made him apologize." Elizabeth stiffened at that. Burning someone's face. This was going to get him into trouble, she thought.

"Where is Edward?" Cedric asked, looking around the Hall.

"He is not here. She said that she was Edward with the silvery blonde. He was making his way towards the basement," Amy replied.

Elizabeth nodded and got up, leaving her breakfast unfinished.

"Where are you going?" Amy asked her.

"I am going to the Hospital wing to check with Pomfrey if someone with a burned face has come to her," she replied. If Edward had done such a thing, the injured person would have gone to the Hospital Wing.

Amy also got up, as did Cedric, and joined her. All three of them were rushed to the Hospital wing. And upon reaching it, Elizabeth asked Pomfrey about any student coming in with a burned face.

"No one with a burned face came in, but someone did come in and had singed his sideburns due to some prank spell," Pomfrey replied.

And Elizabeth's heart eased at that. Well, at least he had shown restraint. This could have become a huge incident.

All three of them left the Hospital wing a lot more relieved.

0000

OK People. The chapter is done. Honestly. This story has been a challenge to write, against all my expectations. But we tread on, without stopping at all.

A thank you to the fish loving^devouring^ beta reader.

As always, you can read ahead on patre0n. It would be a delight to have your support.

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