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chapter eighteen | endless teasing

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KAYA SHIVERED as everyone waited for news on the champions.

"It's colder than a witches tit out here,"

"You are a witch,"

"And?"

Someone placed his large hands on Kaya's shoulders and started rapidly shaking her, as some kind of greeting. She pulled a face and turned around to see Fred sitting down next to her. George and Lee has also appeared, and sat between Maisie and Milo.

"Hello to you, too," said Kaya.

"You love it really," he replied with a grin. "Who do you reckon'll win this one?"

His eyes switched from the brunette girl to the black lake, staring eagerly.

"Cedric," said Kaya.

"You're so biased," said Jaeden.

"He's one of our best friends, I think we're allowed to be,"

"And we know Cedric well - we know he'll win." Maisie backed Kaya up.

"How'd you know that?" Lee asked.

"Because it's Cedric," said Kaya. "He's good at everything,"

"Exactly," Maisie nodded. The boys silently agreed.

It was around an hour before two heads emerged. The two girls had put their faith right in Cedric - for he was indeed the first champion to appear on the surface - pulling Cho Chang along with him.

"What in- they put people in there?!"

"Oh, brilliant, apparently kidnapping is a thing at this school, now," said Kaya sarcastically.

"Is that allowed?!" asked Maisie.

"I mean - we are in Hogwarts," said Milo. "They kept a killer Basilisk under the school once, what do you expect?"

Kaya let out a nervous laugh, before cheering for her friend. Cedric climbed out with a large grin on his face, before being wrapped in a towel.

"Guess who was right?" Maisie said, gesturing to herself and Kaya.

"Let's face it, we were all thinking the same thing," said George.

The girls both rushed over to congratulate Cedric on first place, giving him tight hugs.

"Well done!" said Maisie with a grin.

"We knew you'd win," said Kaya. "Right from the beginning, we said,"

Cedric laughed.

"Good job I have you two for support, isn't it?" he grinned down at them both.

"I know! We're the best!"

"Maybe," he joked, his face still bright from the fact he'd placed first. He was shivering, though, and received many towels from others who layered them up on him.

Many more of Cedric's friends were desperate to congratulate him, and so the two girls left him and decided to go back to sit with their group of boys whilst they waited for the other champions to resurface. Maisie sat back down next to George and Lee, whilst Fred practically pulled Kaya to make sure she sat back down, huddling next to him. She wasn't complaining.

Viktor Krum emerged from the water with Hermione, and helped her onto the dock. They too were shivering and dripping with water, although they were happy to be out, and Krum was pleased to be in second place.

"Who do you reckon the school would choose to go underwater if one of us were champions?" Jaeden asked with interest.

"Well for us, it would probably be our brothers," said Kaya to the boy. "Right?"

"What, do you think they'd put first years in that position?"

"I dunno... maybe?"

"If not," said Milo. "You two would end up with each other, anyway, considering the amount of times you've gotten into trouble together. The school would have no doubts at all, on that one," he nodded to Kaya and Jaeden, who laughed.

"Fair enough,"

"Well, mine would obviously be the lovely, gorgeous Kaya Bennett," Fred joked, wrapping his arm around the brunette, who was a bit soggy from hugging Cedric. She scoffed.

"Yeah, and I'd end up dying down there because you couldn't get there quick enough, or you'd have messed up,"

"Your lack of faith in me is offensive,"

"I'm offended!" George interrupted with a huff. "I'm your twin and you've known her, what, half a year? Disgusting,"

"Face it, George, I am just the best!" Kaya grinned. He shook his head, crossing his arms.

"Never,"

There was a short silence, in which everyone took note on who had returned and who was still underwater. Fleur appearing on her own, injured, and upset caused a wave of anxiety to fill Kaya's stomach.

"Anyone else feel a bit uneasy at the fact Fleur's back injured?" she muttered. "Like... what's in there that's gonna hurt them?"

"I'm just worried for Harry," said Milo. "He's the only one left, and if Fleur came out before him, injured... how bad is it gonna be for him?"

"Okay, but why is nobody talking about the fact Fleur's empty handed?" said Jaeden. "Like... what are they gonna do with the person she was supposed to save?"

Nobody had an answer to that.

Suddenly some bubbles appeared in the water, shortly followed by Ron Weasley and who Kaya could only assume was Fleur's sister. The twins cheered for their brother, the rest of the group joining in, as he assisted the younger girl over to the dock.

"Bless him," said Kaya, until her smile faded a little. "Where's Harry?"

She didn't have to linger on that question for long, though, for Harry soon appeared in the water, and everyone sighed with relief.

Cedric obviously received the most points and came first. But, because of Harry's act of bravery in saving two students instead of one, he was awarded extra points and was now tied with Cedric. Krum came second, leaving Fleur in last place.

Two tasks had now passed, and there was only one to go.

Of course, there had to be a celebration later in the Hufflepuff common room. Kaya and Maisie had stopped by the kitchen and gotten cake, bringing it to the common room and placing it on a table. It was Kaya's job to tell everyone to back off until Cedric got back - he had to have the first slice, being he was their Hufflepuff champion and one of Kaya and Maisie's best friends. He deserved the recognition.

Finally, the Hufflepuff boy returned and grinned at the sight of everyone waiting to congratulate him yet again.

He took a slice of cake, and once he had, Kaya and Maisie both took theirs, leaving everyone else to cram and try to get one. The brunette girl made no hesitation in giving Andrew Edwards a great shove as she passed through the group of Hufflepuff's trying to get a slice.

Cedric and Kaya sat on the comfy, bright yellow sofa placed in front of the fireplace, and Maisie sat on the snug, green stool opposite.

"What was it like?" asked Kaya. "Did you see any mermaids?"

"A few," he said. "They were a bit nasty, though, some of them. I suppose they're known for that, aren't they?"

"Eurgh, I could never have done that task," Maisie said. "Don't get me wrong, I love swimming, but not with all those creatures," she shivered at the thought.

"Yeah, me too," Kaya agreed.

"Hey, only one more task to go, now, Ced! And you'll be the winner!" Maisie smiled.

"I mean..." he said. "We don't know that for sure. I'll try my best, though,"

"What else is there stopping you? You've fought a dragon, you've swam with mermaids, what can't you do?"

"I had clues for those, though," he said. "We haven't got anything for the third task,"

"You'll still boss it," said Maisie.

"Trust us," Kaya grinned at him. He smiled at them both in return.

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Kaya, Jaeden and Milo all decided to go to Hogsmeade on Saturday, because they had nothing better to do than stalk Maisie on her date with Stefan.

The two lovebirds were in the Three Broomsticks when Maisie's three friends walked in, much to her dismay. She was good at hiding it, though, and although they made faces at her from the table across the room, she'd ignored them pretty much the whole time and kept her eyes on Stefan, who was visibly a lot more confident at talking to her, now.

"Right," said Milo, turning to Kaya and Jaeden. "Butterbeers?"

They both nodded, handing him some money to pay for theirs, and the blonde boy headed off to get their drinks.

"I wish Fred would hurry up and ask you out," said Jaeden. "Then we can stalk you, like these two."

"How is it different to this?"

"I don't know Stefan, so I can't take the piss as much, in case it scares him off," said Jae. "Fred, however, won't hear the end of it. And neither will you,"

"Lovely, perhaps you should tell him that. What about you and Alicia, anyway? How are things with you two?"

Jaeden's mischievous glint faded once Kaya had flipped the subject to him.

"I said, we're taking it slow. You know, just get to know each other a bit more,"

"Right... does she know you're 'taking it slow'?" Kaya asked, with a raised eyebrow. She had to admit, she hadn't seen the two speak for a while. Jaeden paused for a second, and then huffed.

"She said she just wants to be friends, alright!"

The girl hated to admit, she'd seen it coming. Jaeden might've been a bit too wild for Alicia, as much as he'd thought they were compatible.

"Awh," she said, unsure of what to say. Kaya wasn't very good at comforting people, that was usually Maisie's job. "Never mind, Jae. There'll always be someone else... maybe it just wasn't meant to be."

"...Yeah," Jaeden muttered, although he was still visibly upset.

Milo returned with their drinks, to which Jaeden shook off his blue expression. Milo didn't fail to notice it, though.

"Oh," he said, glancing towards Kaya. "Did he tell you about Alicia?"

She nodded.

"It'll be alright, mate," said Milo. "At least we can have a laugh, whilst these two bugger off with their blokes,"

"Hold on, I don't even have a bloke-" Kaya began.

"-Yet," said Jaeden. "We all know you will though. Fred's so whipped, it's actually quite depressing for us,"

"How?" Kaya frowned.

"We're losing one of our own!" Milo said loudly.

"Ah yes, you're losing one of your own to another of your own. Makes perfect sense,"

"Ha! Even you admitted it. Fred and Kaya are definitely going to happen - you heard it here, first," Jaeden grinned. Milo sniggered.

"I hate you both,"

The three did a bit more stalking, practically commentating Maisie's date to each other. Stefan didn't suspect a thing, and cheerfully talked with the girl, his face bright and jolly. Maisie was also wearing a big grin.

Eventually, they finished their drinks and stood up, Stefan grabbing Maisie's hand and leading her out. She turned back and glared at her friends who pulled faces at her as she passed.

"Right," said Kaya, after downing her drink. "This has been fun. I need some new boots, though, so we'll have to go and get some, while we're here."

The two boys groaned.

"Come on! You're both coming with me, especially you, Jae, since you're the reason I need a new pair,"

"I didn't mean to put a hole in them!"

"Yep, well you still did,"

They continued to bicker as they left the Three Broomsticks, heading towards the shop Kaya wanted to buy her boots from. Milo lost interest halfway, and could only hope Maisie's date would end soon enough so he had his friend back to chat to whilst Jae and Kaya argued.

He empathised with all the parents having to deal with brother-sister quarrels.

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A/N: Hi! I hope you're enjoying so far. I just thought I'd let you know I've published a Harry Potter fic called 'Swing Lynn' which will crossover with this book! You don't have to read it if you don't want to, but I would really appreciate it if you did!

<3