It was impossible to try to compare Beaubaxtons and Hogwarts. There really wasn't, Adelena though.

Beaubaxtons was a beautiful, sparkling peice of glass that was placed in front of the shelf. It was alluring, charming, elegant and exquisite all at once, drawing the eyes in with it's appearance. Elegance and intellegance was what placed it as one of the best. Glamourous, divine, and breath-taking all at once.

Hogwarts an ancient antique, placed alongside Beaubaxtons, though looked nothing alike. Hogwarts was dull, perhaps not as appealing, but the designs were once-in-a-lifetime. Secrets were asking to be explored. The first glance would be casual. The second would have a double take, because every second, there seemed to be something new, different, changing.

"Hogwarts is amazing," said Adelena, slightly breathless. A tour of Hogwarts ground took a lot of walking.

"Yeah. It is," said Albus, the pride in his voice was clear to hear. He played the part of tour guide, after offering a tour to Adelena.

They sat underneath a tree by the lake, both resting. The sun was mid-way through the sky; they'd spent the entire afternoon touring. Though Adelena couldn't claim knowing Albus, she'd been given the impression that he had rather enjoyed showing off.

A mirror of the sun's light, the lake was shining, made Adelena raise a hand to cover her eyes. It was more than likely that her outfit was soiled, something she was sure to be scolded on. Especially now she was a contender.

Closing her eyes, Adelena leaned along the bark of the tree, letting the gentle breeze caress her face and the chatter of students serenade her ears. A wisp of a smile lay upon her face. "It's so peaceful here," she said.

She heard Albus laugh."That's because my brother isn't here. He graduated last year," he said.

"Well, I'm glad I don't have any brothers, I guess," said Lyla, looking at the blue sky. "Sisters?" asked Albus.

Lyla shook her head. "Only child."

"Lucky," said Albus. "Wish I was an only child. Then I wouldn't have to watch out for the hidden water balloon."

"It does have a bad side, you know. You have to work extra hard not to disappoint your parents. Make sure you do well, good grades, don't get in trouble," Adelena told him. "It can be...stressful at times."

"I'm guessing Beaubaxtons is stricter than Hogwarts, isn't it?" Albus said.

Adelena nodded, "Very."

"What's it like?" Albus asked, curiosity in his voice. "What's Beaubaxton's like?"

Adelena paused, forming the school in her head before describing it. "It's a beautiful palace. There are only three houses, not four. The first is Sournois, known for they're cleverness, but they can be awfully arrogant to others and boast of their pureblood statis."

"I have a feeling Slytherin would get along with them," Albus commented.

Adelena, who knew not of Slytherin, just nodded. "And then there's Rouerie. They're a bit of a mixed group. Some of them are vain, others are always kind, but the majority cares learning and grades. It's said that the founder, Adora Rouerie, was much like Rowena Ravenclaw."

"Sounds like it. But some Ravenclaws can be quite stuck-up," Albus said. He waved his hand in front of his as if trying to picture it.

Adelena gave a small, breathy laugh before continuing. "The third house is Cossu. It's said to be the most creative house. The common room is a glimmering white tower, plain on the outside. When you take a step in, however, a whirlwind of colours leaves you breathless."

"Which house are you in?"

"Cossu," anwsered Adelena.

"I thought that was the best," said Albus, a smile accompainied his words.

Adelena grinned back. They grinned like two timid cats, sure of themselves and relaxed. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Adelena noticed a fellow Beaubaxton student walking towards them. Adelena stood up, brushing the stray leaves that had stuck to her robes. Albus gave her a questioning glance, saw the student, then just closed his eyes again.

Once the Beaubaxtons girl stood in front of her, Adelena started the conversation with a polite question. "Yes?"

"Headmistress Seracoth wishes to see you at the carraiges," said the girl.

"Now?"

The girl nodded. Adelena shrugged agreement then waved bye to Albus. The girl accompanied her to the carraiges.

"Wait," the girl said, right before Adelena entered.

Adelena waited.

The girl looked almost embarrased to say what she wanted to, "Um. Good luck in the competition." The girl turned beet red and fled almost immediately.

Adelena watched her walk away. She felt thrilled, as would any other be in her position. A complete stranger had just complimented her. It was strange how a few words could lift anyone's mood.

Raising a hand, she knocked on the carraige door. A voice called for her to enter. Opening the blue door, she went inside to be greeted by what looked like a tea room. White was clearly the theme in this room.

"You asked for me, Madam Seracoth?"

"Indeed I did. Come here, Miss Zenore." Madam Seracoth, as much as Adelena tried to hide it, intiminated her. As Adelena stepped forward, she felt as if she were a piece of fruit, being inspected for bruises.

"Your robes are soiled, my dear. Here." Madam Seracoth turned and opened a door in which Adelena could only guess held a closet.

The Headmistress pulled out a robe, though it was anything but ordinary. While it did hold a few resemblances to her normal school robes, the robes Madam Seracoth held were remodeled.

"Um..." Adelena hesitated, unsure what to say.

The woman waved her wand. A full-length mirror appeared out of thin air in front of Adelena. Not a second later, Adelena found her normal robes replaced. It was as if someone had apparated her clothes.

The bewildered student stared at her reflection, unsure of anything that was happening.

Madam Seracoth gave her a once-over before nodding. "It does well on you."

Her words were true. The new robe was very flattering to Adelena's figure, yet simultaneously looked sophisticated.

"What...why...?" Still, she had not yet caught on to what was happening.

The Headmistress raised a cynical eyebrow. "Why, the photoshoot of course. You are photogenic, my dear, but sometimes that is simply not enough. Any champion of Beaubaxtons must be elegant and beautiful."

"The photoshoot is today?" Adelena had been informed of the photoshoot, but hadn't kept track. "And the interviews too?"

"Of course. We must be leaving now, we are already late." With those words, the Headmistress turned and headed back to Hogwarts. Adelena hurried to catch up, the robes didn't do much to help her.

The walk wasn't long, but it felt so for Adelena. Her heartbeat had surely sped up. It was due more to nervousness rather than anything else.

But a moment before they entered the large ornate doors, her Headmistress stopped her.

"Remember, Miss Zenore. Be impeccable with your words. Speak with caution. Avoid using words that can be used to speak against yourself and others."

Adelena nodded wordlessly, wondering what type of interveiw it would be. What would provoke such a warning?

The doors opened. 7 pairs of eyes swung to the Beaubaxton student and headmistress. The room was rather simple, filled with equipment. Cameras, chairs scattered with no particular pattern. The most striking thing of the room were the trophies strewn around. They were everywhere, along the walls, placed in protective glass cases.

This must be the trophy room, she thought.

"I'm sorry we're late," said Madam Seracoth, paying no attention to the flashes of the camera.

A woman walked up to them. She wore a tightly fitted bodice of shamrock green, with leaf earings to match. Thin redish-black feathers protruded from her cuffs along with her neckline. A stylishly curled pile of blond hair lay on top of her head as she looked at them from above her glasses. A conned laugh escaped from her ruby red lips as she reassured them everything was fine. "Don't worry about it, Ebella. We're just testing the camera a bit. You're actually right on time."

As headmistress Seracoth flinched from the use of her first name, the woman's predatory gaze swung to Adelena. After a judgemental filled glance, she smiled. It seemed everyone was judging the Beaubaxtons champion these days.

"I suppose this is the Adelena Zenore?" she asked.

Madam Seracoth made a gesture, drawing Adelena closer. "Yes, this is the Beaubaxton's champion. Miss Zenore, this is Rita Skeeter, writer of the Daily Prophet."

Adelena smiled through her dislike, holding her hand out. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

An icy cold hand met hers halfway. "The pleasure is all mine."

From behind, Madam Seracoth gently guided her inside the room. She recognized the other two champions and their Headmistresses. A stranger sat in front of them, along with one behind a camera. Her headmistress made her sit down next to the Durmstang student.

"My name is Mykew Kiddell. Why am I here, you ask? Well, I think the three champions should have three wands that work quite well."

The man who spoke was aged, wrinkles lining his face. Red sleeves slid down his arms as he reached for the Hogwarts champion's wand. He flipped it one way, then the other, pronounced a spell to create sparks, then handed it back along with words Adelena could not hear.

He repeated the same process with the girl next to her as Adelena looked at her wand. Only a few fingerprints were visible upon it, compensation of Adelena's obsessive cleaning hobby.

Mykew slid his chair over to her side of the bench. She handed her wand over and waited.

"Holly wood, 12 and a half inches," He muttered. "And dear lord..."

"A Threstral tail hair," said Adelena.

Mykew Kidell seemed fascinated with her wand. "Amazing. I haven't seen a masterpiece like this for a while. Where did you get your wand?"

"My cousin is a wandmaker," she told him. "Well, not really. He's a wandmaker assistant. He made it, and it chose me later on."

The man created blue butterflies, then handed the wand back to her. "I'd like to meet him one day."

Mykew nodded to the three of them. "Your wands all seem fine. Good luck on the tournament. It's been a pleasure meeting you."

The champions nodded and smiled, responding with "The pleasure is all mine" or "Thank you".

Rita Skeeter walked up to them. "Now that that's over with. Let's have a few pictures, yes?"

She coralled them in front of the photographer. Then she just sat and stared at them for a while.

Rita tapped a finger on her chin, "Hmmm. I think we should rotate the champions, so they all have a turn being in front. I'll see which picture looks best in the end. If we could just have the headmistresses right behind them..."

The next few minutes were a whirl of flashes, smiles, shifting around. It was a bit tiring. When finally Rita said they could sit, they all held an air of relief.

"Now," said Rita. "Interviews. Who wants to go first?"

She had pulled a green quill from her purse, holding it with the tips of her fingers. A notepad floated along next to her. Rita was smiling as if on the verge of spilling a juicy secret to the world.

Adelena noticed neither of the other champions looked to eager.

"I'll go," the Hogwarts champion spoke up. Rita smiled then beckoned for the girl to follow her. Both disappeared around the corner.

Adelena inspected the champion sitting next to her. The girl is slim, looking quite relaxed as she leaned back along the bench. Then the champion opens one eye and stares right back at her.

"I'm Adelena," said Adelena, knowing it was only polite to start a conversation.

"Mia," responds the girl, then closes her eyes again.

Moments pass in silence as Adelena looks around aimlessly. Rita comes back not long after, the girl following her looks frazzled.

"Adelena," said Madam Seracoth, giving her a pointed look.

She stood up, "I'll go next."

Rita smiles as the Hogwarts champion takes her seat. "Wonderful."

"Come with me." Rita said, turning and walking away. Adelena followed on her heels.

They arrived at a little room filled with boxes. It was a crowded, stuffy, dusty room, clearly not used for a while.

Adelena, though feeling unsure about the place, sat down across from Rita, who had sat on one of the boxes.

"Tell me, Adelena." Rita leaned in until she was almost nose to nose with Adelena. Adelena scooted her box back a bit, not wanting to be unpolite. "What is your biggest fear in the Triwizard Tournament?"

"Um...I don't have one?"

Adelena noticed the quill scribbling on the notepad by itself.

Adelena Zenore, Beaubaxtons champion, looks as sweet as a flower. But when asked about her fear in the tournament, she responds that she doesn't have one. Is this confidence, or simply the result of a pampered life-style?

"I did not have a pampered lifestyle," Adelena snapped. Noticing her tone, she instantly tried to calm down.

"Don't mind the quill, dear. Why did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?"

Adelena thought a moment. "I want to bring my school pride, and I guess I want to be recognized a little more."

What bitter thoughts does she hide? Blinded with fame and fortune, Miss Zenore entered her name in the Goblet of Fire. Overlooked, forgotten, and unoticed, she looks to redeem herself in the Triwizard Tournament.

"Redeem myself?" Adelena asked, trying to hold in her anger. "Blinded by fame and fortune?"

Rita smiled, reaching a hand out and making Adelena look back into her green eyes. They stared at each other, green to blue.

"Do you consider yourself to be a better witch or wizard than the other champions?"

Adelena forced a smile on her face. "Of course not. I think we all have an equal chance of winning. May the best witch win."

With a smile, Miss Zenore says she is just as equal to her competitors. It's not an ordinary smile. It's as deadly as poison ivy. Her motives remain opaque behind the alluring grin.

Deep breaths, Adelena told herself. If she could deal with high heels, she could deal with a simple interview. Rita simply smiled.

"What will you do if you win?"

"Smile," said Adelena, quite simply. "Be happy."

Miss Zenore claims that winning is the key to her happiness. Losing would tear her apart. Already the tears have started forming in her sparkling blue eyes at the thought.

"I am not crying." Adelena's patience was nearly gone. "Can I leave?"

Rita looked at her above her glasses. "Yes. I believe we are quite done here."

The last thing Adelena saw was the quill writing the words: Watch out for this bittersweet beauty.