One of the best things about the aftermath of the second task was that everybody was very keen to hear details of what had happened down in the lake, which meant that Tori was getting to share Cedric's limelight for once.

She only told it as it was; Dumbledore had put all the hostages into a bewitched sleep in Professor McGonagall's office, first assuring them that they would be quite safe, and would awake when they were back above the water.

Many people asked if she was scared. Tori admitted she was nervous, but knew Cedric would be able to get her.

Tori sat, finally in some dry clothes, in the common room surrounded by a couple of first-years who wanted to hear the story again. She quickly retold what had happened, glancing over to see Fred chuckling at her.

She rolled her eyes, finishing her tale and watching as the group rushed off to now talk to Ron. "How does it feel to be a celebrity?" Fred asked her, eventually coming over.

"Exhausting." Tori chuckled, her eyes grazing the fireplace. Despite saying so, Tori wasn't tired at all. She guessed that's what being unconscious underwater did to you.

"I have to admit. I was worried you guys might have drowned." Fred sighed. "Awe. You care about me." Tori teased, earning an embarrassed grin.

"Of course I do," Fred replied.

The two were silent for a moment. The common room was still filled the loud chatter of excitement about the day's task. Tori was staring at the fire when Fred finally spoke up.

"I guess I should give you a fair warning. I ended up telling George about what happened." Tori groaned loudly, placing her face into her hands. "He kept bugging me!"

"He's your brother! Merlin's beard, he's going to tell everyone."

Fred laughed, running his fingers through his hair. "Yeah. Most likely." Tori groaned loudly again. "It was bound to come out at some point!"

Tori sighed, looking over her shoulder to see Lee trying to balance three books onto his head. She paused for a moment, biting her lip. "Fred... what are we?"

"What do you want to be?" Fred replied. Tori paused, thinking about it for a moment. A smile played at her lips as she shrugged.

"I dunno. I think—" Tori began before George decided to plop himself directly in between them. "Alright. No funny business on my watch."

Tori rolled her eyes. Lee came and sat down next to her on the other side. He quickly put his hands up. "Am I cool enough to sit here? I mean, I assumed since they're here." He gestured towards Fred and George, who frowned.

Tori laughed. "Yes of course." She then turned towards the twins. "How much money did you make today on bets?"

"A good amount. Bagman said he'd hook us up with someone from Zonko's to test out products. Hopefully, he'll give us our money too."

✧    ✦    ✧

"Rubbish. All of it. When I find that nasty Skeeter woman..."

Luckily for Skeeter, Fred was taller than Tori. He also happened to be a bit stronger. That came useful when he needed to stop Tori from committing a murder.

"She... can't just write that stuff!" Tori struggled to grab her wand back. Her face showed pure rage, and Fred was about ninety-nine percent sure Tori was going to hunt down Rita Skeeter.

"Harry Potter's Secret Heartache

A boy like no other, perhaps - yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. Little did he know that he would shortly be suffering yet another emotional blow in a life already littered with personal loss.

Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone cannot satisfy.

Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Viktor Krum, Bulgarian Seeker, and hero of the last World Quidditch Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections. Krum, who is openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to visit him in Bulgaria over the summer holidays, and insists that he has "never felt this way about any other girl."

However, it might not be Miss Granger's doubtful natural charms that have captured these unfortunate boys' interests.

"She's really ugly," says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth-year student, "But she'd be well up to making a Love Potion, she's quite brainy. I think that's how she's doing it."

Love Potions are, of course, banned at Hogwarts, and no doubt Albus Dumbledore will want to investigate these claims. In the meantime, Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart on a worthier candidate.

"Everyone knows it's rubbish, Tori. But we can't just charge towards Skeeter and upset her! That's exactly what happened to Hermione."

Lee, who was now holding Tori's wand, looked at the girl with fright. "I think I'm going to keep this for now..." He slipped it into his bag, making Tori frown.

"That's my wand!"

"Yeah. Are you're scaring me. I didn't know someone so small could have so much rage." Now it was time for Tori and the twins to give Lee an odd look, since, Lee wasn't much taller. "I've wanted to use that for a while now... but Tori's still scaring me!"

Fred was a bit scared himself. He'd seen Tori mad, but never this mad. Tori shot him a death glare, turning on her heels and heading down the corridor.

"Doesn't she need this?" Lee then pulled out her own wand, only to see she had handed the twins one of their fake wands. "Tricked by our own trick..." George mumbled.

"Uh. What period do we have now?" Fred asked.

"I think it's a free period..." Lee said slowly. The three of them came to a startling realization. Their eyes widened as the swiftly raced down the hall after their friend.

"Tori! No! You can murder Rita Skeeter!"

tori's like "come on, just a little murder!"

wakanda forever. ❤️
rip chadwick boseman