As usual, Platform 9 ¾ was filled with wizard families— both old and new— excited for their children that we're going to Hogwarts.

But this time, there weren't just murmurs of excitement. People also talked in hushed whispers about the incident that happened at the Quidditch World Cup. There were also one or two whispers about Remus Lupin and the revelation of his lycanthropy, but Ria managed to ignore them just fine.

It was raining outside, and Ria found herself clicking her tongue every now and then. "What happened, Ria?" Her uncle asked.

"Just the rain." She answered.

"I thought you liked the rain." He suspected, and Ria nodded.

"I do. But it's kind of disturbing me right now."

Amos nodded, not taking his eyes off her. He was a bit concerned for his niece. She always seemed lost into her own world, now-a-days, staring off into distance, eyes unblinking and full of thoughts.

He wondered if it had something to do with what happened at the Quidditch World Cup. Ria wouldn't tell. And the thought that she wouldn't speak with him as freely as she did with Isabella concerned him a bit. He was supposed to take care of her..

An abrupt but warm hug brought Asteria back to reality, and she relaxed into Sophie's arms with a soft smile. "How're you holding up?"

Ria nodded, knowing that question was because of the mayhem at the World Cup. "Great, now that you're here." She said. "How was the Ball at Blaise's Manor?"

"It was.." Sophie's eyes flickered towards Isabella for a quick second. "Good." And that suggested that she had something more to tell, but not in front of her uncle.

"Anyway.. where's Cedric? He's always with you at the start of the year."

"Oh.. he's out there with Professor Sprout, discussing his duties." Amos said, smiling proudly. "He's been selected as the Head boy, you see."

A smile dawned on Sophie's face. "Is he?" She asked. "That's great! Someone from my house, huh? And that too Cedric!"

Ria nodded. "Hmm.. He'll be busy now, I assume." She sighed. "Where are the two idiots, by the way? Haven't seen them since I got here."

Sophie chuckled. "They're on the train already. This girl at the Ball, she danced with Blaise, and.. well.. got a little obsessed." She told Ria. "He told her he doesn't her like that, but that didn't do any good. But looks like she's some distant relative of a student, and she's here on the Platform. Now he's trying to hide from her."

Ria sighed in pity. "I mean.. those two do look quite handsome, don't they? Not surprising."

Their attention was taken away by a large group of people.. the Weasleys, and Harry and Hermione, of course. They greeted each other.

Ria handed her tabby to Harry because Mrs. Weasley had taken her into a quite literally bone-crushing hug, having seen her after a long time. Not that Ria minded, of course, she talked to her with matching enthusiasm.

Though towards the end of their conversation.. "I'd invite you for Christmas, but.. well, I expect you're going to want to stay at Hogwarts with everyone for.. one thing and another." said Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum!" said Ron, mildly irritated. "What d'you three know that we don't? You've been tormenting us all summer."

"Three?" Bill laughed, "Five.. Ron. Pretty sure Mr. Diggory and his sister know too."

Charlie looked around the group, searching for someone. "Where is she, by the way? I hoped to meet her." He said. "I've read about her work with wild dragons. Impressive, really."

Amos smiled with a small nod. "Ah.. she's off to Romania for some months. Same work." He nodded.

"Uncle Amos!" said Ria, taking his attention away. "What's happening at Hogwarts this year?"

"You'll find out this evening, I expect," he said, smiling. "Oh, I wish it was happening at our time, I would've ran for it. It's going to be very exciting— but, gladly, they've changed the rules."

"Yes, thank Merlin." Mrs. Weasley agreed.

"What rules?" asked the children together. The ones that knew just laughed at their confusion.

"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you.. Now, behave, won't you? Won't you, Fred? And you, George?" The twins nodded nonchalantly.

All the students boarded the train, but still did not let go of the fact that the adults were hiding something. They kept firing questions.

"Tell us what's happening at Hogwarts!" Fred bellowed out of the window at Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie and Amos. But the four only smiled and waved. Ria scowled at them, finally giving up. She knew a person who might know about this.

Soon, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her up. She squealed, chuckling soon after. "Harry!"

He let go of her. "What was I supposed to do, then? You were ignoring me."

She smacked his arm playfully. "Stop being clingy. It's been like two days." And he only pouted in response. "And where's Cassie?"

He didn't know why he felt the need to keep her close, all the time. He missed her a bit too much. Whenever he saw her, he felt like throwing his arms around her and hiding his face into the crook of her neck, where he'd be safe, and warm, and loved.

The name Sunshine was suiting her a bit too much. Not that I mind. He'd think. How could I? She is perfect.

"She's with Ron and Hermione. They're trying to see who Cassie likes better." He answered. And Ria chuckled.

"That's fine. Well.. about the World Cup. What happened out there after you left the woods?" She asked, her tone now serious.

Harry nodded, his smile leaving too. "Many things. I'll tell you once we've found a compartment—"

"Ria!" A pair of arms pulled her away from Harry and into a hug. And he suddenly felt cold because of her absence. All he could do was watch until she had finished meeting with her other friends.

But seriously.. What did she see in Zabini and Nott? Why was she friends with them?

She smiled as she hugged him back. Blaise looked way too happy to meet her. "What happened to you?" She asked.

"Nothing. I was just way too pissed off, spending time with Nott." He answered with honesty, and she laughed.

"Okay.. good for you, I guess." She answered. "Who're you looking for?"

"Your mother, of course." answered Blaise.

"She's off to Romania for some months." She said. "I thought she told you that."

Harry was keeping a close ear on their conversation. Since when did Blaise and Isabella know each other that well?

"Why'd you ask, anyway?"

"I was hoping to embarrass Theodore, of course." He shrugged with confidence.

The girls chuckled. "Where is Theodore, anyway?"

"In the compartment. Fighting for our seats." He answered, pointing.

Sophie shook her head fondly. "I'll go help him negotiate, then.."

"We'll be there in a minute." said Ria.

Beside them, Harry cleared his throat. "Hey, Ria. You're sitting with us, right—"

Outside the train, a girl looked straight at Blaise, and her face lit up with a smile. His eyes widened. Not her again.

"Ria, love! Let's get going!" He grabbed his arm and dragged her with him, out of the girl's sight.

An ache went straight through Harry's heart, and he quite literally grabbed his chest as he watched them leave.

Why was he overreacting about all this?

Blaise was her friend.. just as he was.

But then the ache melted into a puddle when she jogged back with a small smile. Ron handed her Cassie, and she looked at Harry. "See ya in a while, Prongslet!" She kissed his cheek before leaving.

But when realisation hit her, her face heated up. Why did I do that? She just shook her head. He's probably not much bothered by it..

Butterflies erupted in his stomach, and he watched her leave with a lopsided grin. But then suddenly, Ron smacked his head. "I know you're in your wonderland, but they're waving you goodbye."

"Oh.. right."

"..Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the Headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore—" Sophie rolled her eyes at the bragging mess in front of her.

"The man's such a Mudblood-lover-" She looked up at Theo, who had the same expression as her. Draco paid no mind to the two bored teenagers and continued bragging to his side-chick; Pansy Parkinson.

"And Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defence rubbish we do.."

Theodore now had the urge to hit him with something, while Sophie looked outside the window, busying herself with the view.

"Well, you should've left." Ria said as soon as she seated herself. "Hogwarts would've had an idiot less to deal with, then." She taunted, simultaneously leaning onto Theo who took her in a quick side-hug.

"How are you holding up.. after whatever that happened?" He asked. And there was a quick look exchanged between Ria and Malfoy.

"I'm doing alright.." she answered. "Can we not talk about it? I just don't know what to—"

"Yeah, yeah, sure." He nodded quickly. His hand then reached out for Cassie and he scratched beneath her ear. He was quite fond of his friend's pet.

"Thanks." She breathed out. "Anyway.. now are you going to tell me what happened at the Ball?" She looked at Sophie. And this time, the curly-haired girl was the one to exchange glances with the blonde.

Ria caught that somehow. She looked at him, and then back at her again. "Sophie, what the—"

"We danced, that's all." She quickly answered. "Grandpa and Mr. Malfoy agreed that we should keep our grudge aside now. Since Buckbeak escaped anyway, there was no damage done. That's what his father claimed."

All of them looked at him, but the most outrageous gaze was Pansy's. "You went to the Ball? You told me you were going to the World Cup."

"I never told you I wasn't going to the Ball." He answered, his tone icy. "Your fault you didn't show up, because I'm pretty sure your sister was there."

"Step-sister!" She corrected him at the same time as Amelia, who was now standing beside them.

"Oh, Lord. What happened to you?" were the first words to leave Ria's mouth.

Amelia's hand was in a sling, her forehead bruised near her left temple.

"Wow.." she voiced with sarcasm. "I really thought my nose ring and the shining Prefect badge on my chest would take the attention."

The Quartet didn't know what to say. "'Melia, both are great. Don't get us wrong, but.." Sophie trailed off.

"It's nothing to worry about." She waved her hand dismissively. "I just tripped on my Ball gown and fell down the stairs, that's all."

Malfoy snorted, but all he received was four glares that were enough to shut him up.

"Are you okay, though? Didn't you take any medicine?" Pretty sure if she had, she would have been healed already.

"I will, don't worry. Once I get to Hogwarts." She answered all too easily. "This happened like— two hours ago? I didn't want to be late, so I just carried on like this."

"Oh.. okay." Ria said. "Congrats on being the Prefect, by the way."

Amelia grinned proudly, flicking her long black hair off her shoulder. Merlin, her hair.. Ria was pretty sure many girls were jealous of how beautiful her hair were; in fact, she was one of them.

"Thank you. And you just let me know if you need anything." She winked at her. "Anyway.. have you seen Fred, George and Lee—"

Just as the question left her mouth, a firework went past zooming behind her, and she smiled. "Nevermind. See you at the feast!"

Wait— why was she trying on a Ball gown before she left for Hogwarts?

Before Ria could ask her, she had left already. With a huff, she looked at the boy in front of her.

"Hey, Malfoy. What's happening at Hogwarts this year?" She asked.

He raised an eyebrow at the question. "Why do you think I know?" He asked.

"Really? You are one of those that would know!" She shrugged. Sophie looked at her in confusion. "Some event is happening at Hogwarts this year.. My Uncle, Mum, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, the graduated Weasley brothers; all of them know, but they aren't telling us!"

Draco smirked tauntingly, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Ria rolled her eyes playfully with a small smile of disbelief on her face. Of course, why would he tell her?

The remaining four paid close attention to their interaction, confused. Asteria Edwards and Draco Malfoy having a friendly interaction? That had to be a dream.

The topic wasn't discussed any further, but only until they had finally reached the Hogwarts platform, and when all of them saw Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Ron seemed to be talking about the seats they had gotten at the World Cup, and how he had seen Viktor Krum play up close. And Malfoy just had to share his opinion.

"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley." He said, making Crabbe and Goyle snigger (they had just joined them). "Don't get too used to it."

"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy," Harry said, his tone cool. "You.. though. You are more than welcome." He said to Ria, making her smile.

Malfoy grimaced. He really wasn't interested in hearing them flirt with each other. "Weasley.. what is that?" said Malfoy, pointing at Ron's owl-cage. A sleeve of Ron's dress robes was dangling from it, swaying as he walked, the mouldy lace cuff very obvious.

Ron hurriedly stuffed the thing back, but Malfoy was too quick and he pulled at its sleeve. If only he'd use this skill while playing Quidditch.. Ria thought.

"Look at this!" said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle, "Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean— they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety..."

Ria sputtered, taking his attention. "I'm sorry. You're— You're not allowed to discuss fashion when you have that bleached crust of hay on your head." Her friends laughed.

There she was.. the Asteria that argued with Malfoy.

But Malfoy only rolled his eyes, too focused on dragging Ron at the moment. "So... going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know.. you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won.."

"Is he talking about the event?" Sophie asked curiously. Ria nodded, answering with a 'maybe'.

"What are you talking about?" snapped Ron.

"Are you going to enter?" Malfoy repeated. "I suppose you will, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?"

"Either explain what you're on about or walk away, Malfoy," said Hermione testily, hugging her book close to her chest.

A gleeful smile spread across Malfoy's pale face. "Don't tell me you don't know?" he said delightedly. "You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about it ages ago.. heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry.. Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley.. yes.. they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him.."

"Hey! Crusty head!" said Amelia walking towards them. "So eager to lose points already, huh? Shut your trash can and get going.."

The blonde muttered some like 'you'll regret it' under his breath before leaving with Crabbe and Goyle. Pansy followed, throwing an obvious glare towards her step-sister.

"Ah.. feels great to do good." She sighed. "Come on, now. Let's go!"

The Great Hall looked its usual splendid self, decorated for the start-of-term feast. Golden plates and goblets gleamed by the light of hundreds and hundreds of candles, floating over the tables in midair. The four long House tables were packed with chattering students; at the top of the Hall, the staff sat along one side of a fifth table, facing their pupils.

Ria dug her face into her hands, her stomach rumbling with hunger as the sorting of new first years took place. "I'm hungry!" She groaned, much to her two friends' amusement.

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"And there's still 24 more alphabets to go!" She growled, clapping along with her House as the boy trudged towards their table.

"Honestly, I feel bad for him." Theo grimaced, shaking his head.

"It's the name, isn't it?" asked Blaise. The brunette nodded pitifully.

"Aw.. look at you.. two pretty best friends silently judging people's names." She said playfully. "But yeah.. poor boy. What is that name?"

The boys chuckled. "What? Of course I have a humour like you. I'm friends with you for a reason, you know?"

"Aw, look! She thinks about something else rather than Quidditch, food, and Harry Potter too!" Theo gasped, jokingly slapping his hands on his cheeks.

Ria rolled her eyes. What was up with people this year?

Her eyes skimmed over the teacher's table. As always, Professor Flitwick was sitting on a pile of cushions beside Professor Sprout. Then there was Professor Sinistra, who waved when she caught her gaze.

Beside her was Snape, who she hadn't talked to yet recently. She didn't want to, really.. not after he exposed Remus.

The sorting was over with the last Exchange student being sorted in Gryffindor, whose name sounded similar to boner (and of course, the Slytherin trio had laughed about it). Finally, Professor Dumbledore had got to his feet. He was smiling around at the students, his arms opened wide in welcome.

"I have only two words to say to you," his deep voice echoed around the Hall. "Tuck in."

The golden plates filled with delicacies, and Ria dug in as if she had been starved for years. She took the first bite of steak and moaned in satisfaction, making her two boys snigger. She looked at them with wide eyes and a full mouth, replying "Wha'? Am 'ungry!"

Though, a loud clunk of a utensil took their attention. The pumpkin juice in the goblet in front of Hermione had been splashed across the Gryffindor table.

"Everything okay there?" Ria mumbled. Unexpectedly, Hermione turned back towards the Slytherin table, looking at her with a deranged expression. "There are house-elves at Hogwarts?" She asked, almost angrily.

Asteria covered her mouth, not bothering to stop chewing and nodded. "Yes, there are."

"There are house-elves at Hogwarts?!" She repeated her statement, as if trying to prove something.

"I know!" replied Ria. But Hermione just turned back towards her table, while the four Slytherin; Amelia, Blaise, Ria and Theo stared at her in confusion.

"Is she alright?" Amelia asked, while Ria shrugged, continuing to eat while the thundering rain still boomed outside the castle.

The plates were soon cleared, and every sign of food from the table disappeared. The Headmaster stood up from his seat, beaming at his students.

"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices."

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it."

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year."

"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

Two loud gasps saying "No!" simultaneously echoed through the Hall. Almost all heads turned towards Harry and Ria, who sheepishly exchanged glances. Dumbledore looked around the hall. Many Quidditch lovers were mouthing soundlessly at him, apparently too appalled to speak.

He went on, "This is due to an event that will start in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy— but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts—"

A loud rumble of thunder cut his voice off, scaring many students in the hall. The doors of the Great hall banged open, a man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black travelling cloak.

Every head in the Great Hall swivelled toward the stranger. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark grey hair, then walked up toward the teachers' table. Every step he took, a dull, eerie clunk scared the younger students.

"Oh, goodness.. Isn't that Mad-eye Moody? That deranged Auror?" Theodore gushed over to Blaise, who nodded, seeming shocked.

Another huge lightning struck, making his face visible. Ria winced slightly, never having seen a face so disfigured. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. His mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a sizeable chunk of his nose was missing. The man's eyes were the most frightening. One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue.

The blue eye was moving carelessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, independently of the normal eye— and then it rolled right over, showing all the white.

"Who's that again?" Ria asked the three, who were looking at the man with astonishment. The man shook Dumbledore's hand like an old friend.

"He's an Auror— dark wizard catcher, well-known at that one. Half of the cells in Azkaban are filled because of him." answered Blaise.

"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."

It was normal for the new staff to be applauded by everyone. But no one from the staff table, nor the students clapped. The only claps that sounded through the halls were by Dumbledore and Hagrid, but they died down soon too. Everyone was too surprised or too disturbed by the new Professor's appearance.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "As I was saying," he said, smiling at the sea of students before him, who were still gazing at Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will take place at Hogwarts this year."

A silence filled the hall. All eyes now moved from Moody to Dumbledore. "You're JOKING!" said Fred Weasley loudly from the Gryffindor table.

The tension that had filled the Hall ever since Moody's arrival suddenly broke. Nearly everyone laughed, and Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively. "I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar.."

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. "Er— but maybe this is not the time.. no.." said Dumbledore, and Ria almost chuckled at the genuine sadness in his tone.

She also kind of wanted to hear that joke.

"Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament.. well, some of you will not know what this tournament involves, so I hope those who know will forgive me for giving a brief explanation, and allow their attention to roam."

"The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks."

"The schools took it in turns to host the tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be a most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities— until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the tournament was discontinued."

"Death toll?" Ria asked alarmingly, "People fucking died in this tournament? What do they make them do? Fight dragons?" She added.

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger."

"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

"Guess who's going for it?" Amelia smirked, eyes gleaming with ambition as she looked at the Headmaster.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year."

"Only students who are of age— that is to say, seventeen years or older— may put forward their names for consideration. This—" Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, for several people had made noises of outrage at these words, and the Weasley twins and Amelia were suddenly looking furious— "is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them."

"I will personally ensure that no underage student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His light blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over to the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables one after another. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen."

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"

The uproar of disappointed students died down, and they walked out of the hall. Amelia looked deep in thought, which concerned Asteria. "What are you thinking about?" She asked.

Amelia suddenly turned around, "I need to meet the Weasleys." She informed quickly, walking away.

"Oi! You're a Prefect!" Blaise bellowed. Amelia stopped in her tracks and huffed angrily, muttering something under her breath as the other Prefect ushered her towards the first years.

"So.. Ria? What do you think?" asked Theo, bumping his shoulder into her. Though he did that a little more forcefully than intended, making Ria stagger to a side. He gripped her forearm, bringing her to balance again.

"About what?" She asked.

"About opening a strip-club together and naming it 'Slyther in the Chamber of Secrets'?" He asked, pulling his lips in a straight line.

"Nah.. A bad idea." She responded, making Blaise snigger. 

Theo scowled. "I was being sarcastic, you know?"

"Yeah, no shit Sherlock. It's me. Of course, I know sarcasm." Ria retorted. "I know you were talking about the tournament.. and I would've loved to enter, if there wasn't a possibility of me fucking dying. And it's not like I can enter either way.."

"Yea, sure.. It's not like you risk your life fifty feet up in the air while playing Quidditch." Blaise added, sarcasm dripping through his tone. Asteria rolled her eyes.

"Well, I hope none of my friends. My visions are enough to keep me distressed, and I don't need another thing adding to that."

Ria looked up at a dangerously slow pace, glaring daggers with her eyes. "You're fucking kidding, aren't you?!"

"No swearing here!" Madam Pince's sharp voice made the two flinch. The two looked back into their books.

"Damn, woman, calm down." He whispered, "And no, I'm not kidding." He added.

"Did you not listen to what Dumbledore said about death tolls? It could be dangerous, Ced!" She whispered back harshly.

"But, eternal glory—"

"What worth is eternal glory if you die so fucking early?!" She cut him off, shouting in whispers.

"Ria, listen—"

"Don't do it, couz.."

If shouting wasn't gonna work, puppy eyes were always an option.

"I'm not gonna do it, couz.. I'm just thinking about it." He muttered.

Ria huffed in annoyance, praying that the 'I did it' part would never come.

The two sat in a comfortable silence before Cedric spoke up again, "And it's not like I'm deciding it all on my own, you know? I asked you. I'm gonna ask Dad and Aunt Issy too."

"Alright." She said, secretly hoping that those two would lash out at him for having a literal death wish.

"Good.." He huffed, "Look at me— an adult wizard— asking for permission from a petty, time-travelled, fourteen-year-old—"

The sentence wasn't even completed when Ria smacked him with the newspaper beside her, making him look at her in shock. Ria's angry expression dropped, and she gave out a chuckle.

Cedric snatched the newspaper from her hand and smacked her back on the head, making her wince. He chuckled in victory, but after seeing her rubbing her eye, his amused expression faded away.

"Oww.." Ria whispered, barely able to open her right eye that had gone red now.

The two broke out into silent chuckles as Cedric pulled her to his chest, hugging her as she rubbed her eye. The two laughed as he constantly apologised to her, fondly patting her head.

Ria sighed. She really couldn't bear it if anything happened to him. Please make the right decision, Ced..

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[word count: 4964]