Well as it turned out, things got a whole lot worse...

"I'm so tired of these badges." Thea lamented to Max and Alexander one day.

The badges that read "Support Cedric Diggory---The Real Hogwarts Champion" in bright red letters and then changed colour to a foul green now reading "Potter Stinks."

These badges had made their way around the school quickly and now you almost couldn't walk through the corridors without seeing one.

"I agree, they are horrible," Alexander replied as the three watched as a group of Slytherins paraded down the corridor with the badges on full show.

Sadie fully believed that one of the Slytherins had created them and even sometimes walked around with one on. However, Thea didn't believe in house prejudice and didn't want to blame just one house for the horrendous badges because people from all houses were wearing them.

Thea had already had an argument with the girl about them. Despite Sadie being one of her best friends for so long she just couldn't understand why Sadie was so serious about all of this. Harry clearly couldn't put his name in the tournament and Cedric had politely asked several times for everyone to not wear the badges.

Thea walked down the hall averting her eyes every time she saw one of those horrible badges. Why couldn't everyone just be happy and peaceful instead of always against someone?

"Thea!"

"James."

"How are you? You look certainly confused and concentrated at the same time. I didn't know that was possible."

"I'm okay. Just tired of these stupid, bloody badges."

"The 'Support Cedric Diggory---Potter Sucks!' ones?"

"Yeah."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know besides asking everyone to stop wearing them. I've already tried that so has Cedric."

"I think you need to introduce me to Cedric?"

"Why?"

"Because of the whole reason of this tournament."

"To win?"

"My god, you are competitive," James said grinning. "But no, to make friends."

"Of course."

Max was wandering down the corridors, a stack of books tucked under her arm on her way to the library when she saw Thea and mystery boy sitting avidly discussing something.

"Hi, Thea? And?" Thea looked up surprised to see Max there.

"James Duerre. It's nice to meet you."

"Max Lindsay. Same. I'm a good friend of Thea's and she was supposed to come to the library with me but she is welcome to just stay here if she wants."

"Or you could join us, Max?" Thea asked. "We were just discussing about those awful badges and what we could do."

"I have an idea."

Max and Thea's previous plans of going to the library might not have happened when Max found Thea with James but now the three of them were crouched behind a statue waiting for the perfect moment.

"We just have to wait until a group of people with the badges walk past."

"Okay. You don't mind telling us what the plan is?"

"Just wait and see but I assure you it will get rid of these awful pins."

Fred and George were casually walking through the corridor not pranking anyone for the first time in forever when they spotted Max, Thea and a Durmstrang boy crouched behind a statue. Upon seeing Max, Fred's smile widened slightly.

"What do you think they are doing?" George asked curiously.

"Pulling a prank."

"What? Thea and Max? No way! They are two goody-two-shoes." Lee chipped in appearing out of nowhere. Typical Lee.

A group of students walked past the statue where the three of them were hiding and Max snapped into action.

She called an incantation that Thea or James couldn't pick up but the effect was instant.

The badges all hit the floor with a dull thud all along the corridor, their unsuspecting owners tried to pick them up only to be shocked and thrown back similar to Fred and George when they tried to enter their names into the Goblet of Fire.

Max hi-fived James and Thea happy that Max's plan had worked perfectly.

Fred, George and Lee were also watching the badges as they attacked the students. Lee and George were laughing heartily as a Slytherin student got thrown back only to go back to his badge and try again and again and again. Fred looked over to where he had spotted Thea and Max. They were laughing as well and hi-fiving. Thea and Max, he would have never picked them as the pranking type.

A chill had settled over Hogwarts, it was winter and in a few very short weeks it would be Christmas. It was the end of November which meant the first task of the Tri-wizard tournament would be taking place.

Luckily, Harry had the intuitive to tell Cedric what the first task was. Thea was certainly glad that Cedric knew in advance so he had plenty of time to prepare however she wasn't too happy about what the task was.

Dragons. Her brother would be fighting dragons. As in fire-breathing dragons that only existed in storybooks, except that wasn't true. Thea was torn between excitement at getting to get a dragon in real life for the first time and the fact that her brother would soon be fighting one.

It was the morning of the tournament and the group had gathered in the common room early to wish Cedric good luck without other people around. 

"Please be careful. I need you, big brother!" Thea said probably crushing Cedric's sternum with her hug. Oops! That's probably not a good idea. 

"I'll be alright Thea, I promise. I'm just going to need all of you to cheer me on."

"Of course we will!" Sadie said cheerfully. Since having the shock of her life literally from the badges, Sadie had changed her outlook on Harry and was wishing him good luck in the corridors almost as much as she cheered on Cedric. 

Thea, Max and James often laughed about that day, it was great to do something to things they all hated. But Max didn't hang around the two that often. There was obvious chemistry between Thea and James and Max didn't want to third-wheel or ruin a potential relationship for her best friend.

The group found themselves a spot to watch. Cedric entered the arena and stood ready to face the dragon.

Thea clasped her hands together for something to distract her, she was terrified for her brother. What was he going to do to get past the dragon?

"A dog?" Marquis asked confused.

Cedric had turned a rock into a Labrador to hope to distract the dragon. Thea hoped that it would work and he could get out of there quickly but no such luck. The dragon had originally begun to pursue the dog but decided Cedric looked better and began to pursue Cedric instead.

Thea looked out from behind her fingers. Bad idea. She looked out just in time to see the dragon let out a roar and send a stream of fire towards Cedric burning a part of Cedric's face. The dragon handlers stepped in to stop the dragon from inflicting any more damage.

Thea was torn between staying to watch the rest of the task of to go to the Hospital Wing but in the end, it was decided that Sadie and Marquis would go up to the hospital wing and Max, Alexander and Thea would stay behind to watch the rest of the task. 

All the competitor's dragons were vicious and Thea got to a point where she could barely watch.

Harry was the last one to go and after having watched the others he was probably terrified. Poor boy. Not only did he have to go last he had to face the aggressive Hungarian Horntail. The dragon quickly tried to attack Harry but Harry did finally realise that he had a wand and summoned his Firebolt broom to fly away.

Harry finally retrieved the egg and the first task of the Tri-Wizard tournament was over. Thea was certainly glad it had certainly been stressful just watching. Cedric had got burned, Viktor crushed the dragon's eggs, Fleur's skirt was set on fire and Harry just being Harry Potter it had been extremely stressful.