❁❁❁

"That evil little Skeeter!" Serena huffed one chilly, Saturday morning. She sat beside Magnolia and Ramona in the Great Hall, throwing down a copy of the Daily Prophet on the table. "Have you two read the article yet? It's absolutely atrocious!"

The pair shook their heads as Ramona reached for the newspaper, skimming the front page. "This is supposed to be about the Tournament and the Champions, but it's more like a high-coloured life story of Harry Potter."

"Life story?" Magnolia snorted. "He's only fourteen."

"Never mind that, check page two," Serena said, angrily pouring her cereal into a bowl.

Ramona nodded, flipping the page and began reading. After a minute, her eyes widened. "Holy cricket! They mentioned Iyla!"

"Wait a minute, let me see that," Magnolia said, plucking the article out of Ramona's hands.

Harry has at last found love at Hogwarts. His close friend, Colin Creevey, says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one Hermione Granger, a stunningly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Harry, is one of the top students in the school. Creevey also tells that Iyla Mallard, a beautiful Half-blood with voluminous curls, remains by Harry's side at all times, an arm securely, if not possessively, wrapped around his own. Which girl Harry would prefer in his company more, we can only guess.

"That damned Skeeter, putting my little sister in the Daily Prophet, painting her as... as-"

"As some clingy, boy-obsessed, preteen fighting for the attention of the famous Harry Potter?" Magnolia said, handing the paperback to Ramona.

"Yes!" Serena scrunched her nose in irritation. "Honestly, the way that woman writes, it's defamation!"

"I feel bad for the Beauxbatons and Drumstrang Champions. Their names were sort of squashed in the last line, misspelt too. And Cedric wasn't even mentioned." Ramona said as she neatly folded the newspaper.

"Well, it'll definitely help Krum keep that ego of his at bay," Serena muttered bitterly.

Magnolia rolled her eyes. "Are you still pouting over how he caught the Snitch at the World Cup? It's been months!"

The Gryffindor crossed her arms in response. "And I'll pout over it for much longer because Aidan Lynch did not deserve to be wronged like that."

"You're unbelievable."

"And you're unbearable."

"Anyways," Ramona said before their bickering could continue, "People are going to be talking about this for days, Serena. I do hope you won't do anything stupid."

The girl scoffed. "What could I possibly do that's stupid?"

"Oh, I don't know, like whip your wand out and hex anyone that even says the name Iyla?" Magnolia said.

"I have more self-control than that, Magnolia. Honestly, you two have no faith in me."

Except, Serena didn't have any self-control at all. Everywhere she went, she heard people quoting the article and making sneering comments about Harry, Hermione, and Iyla. Serena tried her best not to pull out her wand when defending them, but when someone talked badly about her sister, she didn't hesitate to set them straight.

"One more word, Zacharias Smith, and I promise I'll send you to the Hospital Wing with a pair of pretty antlers to match Warrington's, got it?"

The Hufflepuff boy, who had seen Serena and Magnolia's small duel in the entrance hall a week prior, nodded vigorously. In the corner of her eye, Serena saw a boy in silk robes of light blue, the uniform of Beauxbatons, quietly laughing in the corner, sending her a thumbs up. She gave him an approving nod, turning back to Smith with one last glare.

It wasn't like Iyla needed her older sister to defend her. No, the youngest Mallard could take care of herself just fine. Serena was walking to her Charms class the Friday before the Hogsmeade visit when she saw Pansy Parkinson and her regular gang of Slytherins approach Iyla, Harry and Hermione. Serena was going to step in, but the latter handled the situation rather well, simply ignoring her taunts. Iyla, on the other hand, sent Pansy a well-aimed Densaugeo hex, the Slytherin's teeth extending past her chin at an alarming rate.

What bothered Serena was how Iyla pointed her wand at every one of those Slytherin girls, seemingly missing the blonde with vibrant green eyes- Daphne Greengrass.

However, Serena didn't have much time to dwell on it, as she was suddenly bombarded by Fred, George, and Lee.

"Hey, Rena, got any plans for Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Lee asked with an unusually bright grin.

"Yeah! Fred here wanted to- ouch!" George rubbed the back of his head, Serena glancing at the twins with furrowed eyebrows.

"Er, I think I'll be going with Magnolia and Ramona." The girl paused, a wicked idea in her head. "Scratch that, Magnolia and I will be there."

George and Lee simultaneously turned to Fred, who sent them a sharp glare. "But er... wh-what about Ramona?"

Serena chuckled. "Oh, Ramona won't be alone. Oh no, she'll be going with someone special."

George rolled his eyes. "Let me guess, Pretty Boy Diggory?"

"Precisely."

The four entered settled into their seats in Charms, Serena beside Angelina and Alicia, while George and Lee sat with Fred, pushing him around teasingly until he finally shoved them off of him.

After two very long, very uneventful hours with Professor Flitwick, Serena rushed out of class, much to her friend's confusion. "I've actually got to talk to someone. I'll see you lot at dinner!"

Serena ran towards the greenhouses, where she knew Cedric Diggory had Herbology last on Fridays. Just as she suspected, she saw the Hogwarts Champion trudging up the lawn with his usual group of Hufflepuff friends. "Hey Cedric!" she called, rushing over to him. The boy turned towards her, offering a smile.

"Oh, hey Serena!"

"Hi," she looked at the rest of his friends. "Mind if I borrow Pretty Boy here real quick? No? Great, thanks!" Serena didn't bother waiting for a proper response, grabbing Cedric's hand and yanking him away.

"Er, just save me a seat in the Great Hall!" Cedric called out before looking down at Serena with a light smile. "You have got to stop calling me Pretty Boy."

The girl laughed. "But it's such a befitting title!"

"But I can't tell if it's an insult or not."

"If it's from me or Magnolia, it's a well-meaning sarcastic compliment. If it's from Fred and George... well, it's most likely an insult." Serena chuckled. "Alright, let's get right to it. Do you have any plans for Hogsmeade?"

"Well, my friends and I were-"

"You're going to have to cancel because you're taking Ramona."

Cedric's grey eyes widened, cheeks reddening instantly. "I-I thought she would be going with you and Magnolia."

"That was the plan, but I changed it. Just now. You're welcome."

The flustered boy scratched the back of his neck. "I mean, I wanted to ask Ramona, I was going to... but I wasn't sure she would say yes, so-"

Serena slapped a hand to her forehead. "Cedric, for someone as smart as you, you're really thick. Of course Ramona would say yes! Goodness, you two are unbelievable."

"Wait, what's that supposed to mean?"

Serena didn't answer. "Just be glad it's me arranging this. If it were Magnolia, she would have stuffed you two in a broom closet."

"You totally would have helped though," Cedric said with a roll of his eyes.

"That is true," Serena said. "Alrighty, we'll be at the Ravenclaw table tomorrow morning. Make sure your hair is as messy as possible! Ramona's a sucker for guys with curls!"

Cedric blushed even more if that were possible. "Wait, Serena! Are you sure- and she's gone." He shook his head, trying to keep from smiling.

~~~

The next day, Serena got up extra early, rushing to the Great Hall before Ramona. With a sigh of relief, she saw Magnolia alone at the Ravenclaw table, head in her arms. "Oi, Magnolia! Stop sleeping!" Serena bellowed, plopping down into the seat across the brunette.

Magnolia didn't move at the girl's loud voice. "Do me a favour, Serena."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

The Gryffindor scrunched up her nose. "Rude. Anyways, guess who Ramona is going to Hogsmeade with."

"Us? Like every year?" Magnolia mumbled, still half asleep. "Have you forgotten already? Maybe you should get that checked out, Rena."

"No, you idiot, I haven't forgotten. And no, Ramona will be going with the one and only Pretty Boy Diggory."

Magnolia snapped her head up. "You're kidding. Did Cedric ask her? Or did she ask?"

"Well, that's not quite how it went."

The brunette rose a single eyebrow. "Okay, which one doesn't know they're going with the other?"

Serena reigned an expression of hurt. "What makes you think I had something to do with it?"

"Because you always have something to do with it."

"Fair," said Serena. "I told Cedric last night to ask her. He was planning too, but was apparently scared." she rolled her eyes. "As if her feelings couldn't be more obvious. Anyways, Ramona doesn't know-"

"I don't know what?"

Serena choked on her apple juice.

"Serena, are you alright?" Ramona quickly patted the girl's back in a panic.

Serena coughed one last time before turning to Ramona. "Bloody hell! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

Ramona still looked concerned. "What do you mean? I just sat down."

"A little too quietly, almost ruined the..."

"The what?"

"Erm... nothing!" Serena chuckled before taking a large bite of her toast. Ramona was still suspicious, but let it go. That was until Cedric tapped her shoulder.

"H-hi Ramona."

Serena and Magnolia glanced at each other before fully turning around to watch the scene. "Hey, Cedric! Do you need anything?" Ramona said, her cheeks dusted pink.

Cedric ran a nervous hand through his hair, which was notably more curly than normal. "I was erm... wondering if you'd like to, you know... go to Hogsmeade with me?"

Ramona's hazel eyes widened. "Oh, really? W-with me? You don't want to take anyone else?"

"Yes! No, I mean no! I mean..."

"He means he doesn't want to go with anyone besides you," Serena said, slurping her juice in amusement.

Ramona flushed, a regretful frown on her face. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry Cedric, but I sort of promised Serena and Magnolia I'd go with them."

"Well, Serena and Magnolia say that promise is totally irrelevant." Magnolia grinned.

Serena nodded. "And because it is irrelevant, we insist you go with Cedric."

"What about you two? I can't just leave you." Ramona asked.

"We'll be going with Fred, George, and Lee."

"Actually," Magnolia said, "I have a date."

Serena, Ramona, and even Cedric stared at the Ravenclaw. "What?"

Magnolia laughed. "Why do you lot look so surprised?"

"Because it's surprising." Ramona hit Serena's arm.

"So, who are you going with?" asked Ramona excitedly.

"Can't say, it's a secret." Was all the Ravenclaw said before gulping down the rest of her pumpkin juice and walking away, not without a wink, of course.

"Well, you two better get going now!" Serena said, ushering Ramona out of her seat, watching as she and Cedric walked out of the Great Hall. "Ah, young love. How adorable."

"Hey, Rena! Ready to go?" Lee's voice sounded from behind her, dragging along a slightly red Fred. Serena nodded with a smile, not noticing how Fred wasn't looking at her.

"Where's Magnolia?" George asked as he stood beside the girl.

"Apparently, she's got a date."

"Damn, I guess I'll have to go back to pinning after Angelina."

Serena hit Lee upside the head before the group of four set off for Hogsmeade. They were walking along the village for all of five minutes when George and Lee looked at each other.

"Well, we've got to stock up on our Zonko products, right George?"

George nodded. "That is correct Lee. Looks like we've run out of Dungbombs and we're a little low on the Frog Spawn Soap."

"Hey! I've got to get stuff from Zonko's, too-"

"We'll get it! Meet us at the Three Broomsticks after!" George said as and Lee disappeared through the crowd.

"Is it just me, or do people always seem to leave us alone?" Serena asked.

"Definitely not just you," Fred said, still glaring at where his brother and friend had been standing.

Serena played with the ends of her sweater. "Well, actually, do you want to come with me to Tomes and Scrolls?"

"The bookshop?" Fred chuckled. "Never knew you were an avid reader, Mallard."

The girl scoffed, grabbing the sleeve of his own sweater and pulling him forward. "I'm not, it's for Ramona. Her birthday is coming up in December, and I've got to get her something better than what she got me."

The pair entered the bookstore, the smell of old books and parchment clouding their senses. It was a small shop, only a few witches and wizards roaming around, buried deep into whatever book they held on their hands. Books upon books filled the selves from the grey carpeted floor to the ceiling. The pair went down each aisle, and Serena couldn't help but smile as she ran her hand along the spines of each book.

"I like this place. It's pretty cosy. Might have to visit here more often."

Fred, who was leaning against a bookshelf, absentmindedly nodded. He didn't know why he felt his heart skip a beat at the soft curls that framed the girl's freckled face. He didn't understand why he kept staring at her warm brown eyes that seemed to light up whenever she picked up a book that interested her. Fred couldn't get why he looked down at her smooth, naturally pink lips that-

"Fred? You alright over there?"

Serena was suddenly standing in front of him, her doll-like face much too close to his. Fred hastily stood, clearing his throat. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Have you... found anything yet?"

Serena didn't see his flushed face, instead, she was looking down excitedly at the heavy books in her hand. "Found two! I think Ramona will find this... very useful."

Fred peered over her shoulder, reading the titles out loud.  "Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks and Powers You Never Knew You Had and What To Do With Them Now You've Wised Up." He laughed, and Serena stiffened as his breath tickled her ear. "Brilliant gift idea, textbooks are. Just brilliant."

"I mean, of course I'm going to get her other things, but she loves reading books. Especially practical ones she can actually use. Ramona's a real nerd, to be completely honest."

"So what else are you going to get her?"

She shrugged. "I dunno maybe a few paintbrushes and-" Serena abruptly stopped talking when she glanced behind her, only to be met with Fred Weasley inches away from her. She was frozen, looking into his brown eyes that matched her own and getting lost in them.

It felt like time had momentarily paused; the quiet chatter had ceased entirely, the bell over the door did not sound. It was as if Fred and Serena were the only two people in the old bookshop, looking at each other as if they could not look away.

The two didn't know what they were doing when they began to lean forward. They were in some sort of trance, acting without thinking. It wasn't until the book Serena was holding slipped from her hands when they jerked apart. Unfortunately, that book just happened to land right on top of her foot.

"Ouch!" Serena exclaimed, throwing off her boot to clutch her right foot. However, in her haste to attempt to relieve her pain, the second book most unfortunately dropped onto her other foot. "OW!"

The customer in the quiet bookshop peaked into the aisle where they heard the scream, just to see a girl with a mass of curls hopping around on one foot while a redhead doubled over in laughter.

Serena was too busy worrying over her poor feet to take a glance at Magnolia's mood ring, in which a light purple swirled around the heart of the stone.

❁❁❁

Author's note: Please read :)

Hi!! I feel so awful that I haven't updated yesterday like I was supposed to. To make up for that, I stayed up until four am to finish this extra-long chapter :).

So, it's been exactly one month (well, only a day off) since I posted the first two chapters of this book. And can I just say, I was not expecting such an amazing result.

I didn't really have any goals for this book. I wasn't confident enough to make any. But to have gained 2.26k reads and 170 votes in just a month... I'm astounded. I thought I'd get 500 views at best.

What I really want to say is thank you. Thank you for taking a chance with my book. Thank you for reading, and commenting, and voting. It means the world to me. I say that a lot, sure, but I mean it every time.

With lots of love,

~Lena