𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍

* = translation at the end of chapter :)

❀

     𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 the room at an extremely high speed, looking like a deer that might have had a bit too much alcohol. In Anastasia's eyes, he was literally bouncing off of the walls, which had rendered the girl speechless when she entered the room.

     "What's got him all riled up?" she said, asking Janelle who was in the corner paying close attention to the French book she was reading.

     Janelle looked up at Anastasia and then to Augustus who had noticed his friend's presence, and was already skipping towards her.

     "Why bother saying anything when he's going to tell you anyways?" the roommate sighed, turning back to her novel. Anastasia chuckled at the attitude in the room. Augustus almost rammed into the girl when she suddenly turned around to face him.

     "Tasia, Tasia, Tasia, guess what!" he exclaimed, grabbing his best friend by her biceps and shaking her fiercely. That definitely got her attention.

     Anastasia's eyes slowly got bigger as he continued to shake her forwards and backwards, "Seigneur*! What the matter?" she asked.

     "I said guess."

     "I don't want to guess. Tell me."

     "Guess."

     "No."

     "Please?"

     Anastasia shook her head as Augustus let out a loud groan, "You're so annoying sometimes you know that right?" Anastasia nodded. "Yeah, well, anyways I have been invited to a PuffleHuff party tonight." he stated proudly, puffing out his chest.

     Anastasia looked confused, "Why? You don't know anyone there."

     "Is that really the point?" Augustus asked, "I got invited by a cute guy in yellow, and I said yes." he said 'stating the obvious.'

     Anastasia rolled her eyes subtly and quirked her eyebrow at the boy, "And..?"

     He looked at her with a blank stare for about ten seconds before answering, "And what?"

     "And am I invited?" she inquired, smacking the back of her friend's neck. Augustus exclaimed in surprise at the unexpected action and tried to hide from the brunette girl. He crept up to Janelle and crouched behind the chair she was gracefully sitting in.

     "Oh please, Gus, I'm not going to hurt you or be upset if you don't want me to come," Anastasia started saying the the boy mock cowering on the floor, "I mean, I'll resent you for life, but I won't hurt you." she smiled.

     Augustus stood up, glaring at Anastasia, "Okay, you know what? Fine. You can come, but don't make me look like a fool." he warned, pointing his finger at her chest.

     Anastasia put her hand over her heart, "When have I ever embarrassed you in front of people?"

     Augustus opened his mouth to speak before Anastasia cut him off, "Don't answer that."

     Augustus chuckled and gave the girl a quick hug, "Oh!" he almost-screamed, causing both Anastasia and Janelle to cover their ears slightly, "I need to pick out an outfit for you Tasia!"

     "Gus, why can't I pick one for myself?" she asked the boy who was wildly clapping his hands together, "I have a great fashion style."

     "The basic depressed bitch look isn't working anymore okay?" he said with "sympathy" as he put his hand on Anastasia's shoulder, "You have to help me help you help me give you a makeover."

     Anastasia shifted her gaze from his hand on her shoulder to his, looking into his bright blue eyes before shrugging his arm away from her.

     "I'm not sure why this is so important. "Can't I just go in what I'm wearing?" She stated this while glancing down at her dark blue trousers and white button-down blouse, which she wore under a light blue crocheted vest. Augustus groaned and took her by the hand into her chamber at the back of the huge carriage, looking at her in astonishment.

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     As two teens made their way to the area where a party was now taking place, the sound of heels clicking and clacking on the stone floor rang throughout the hallways of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

     "I knew giving you a makeover was a good idea." Augustus exclaimed proudly, gazing across at his closest friend, who had transformed into a whole different person with only a little wardrobe help. Anastasia awkwardly tugged at her strapless top, becoming acutely aware of what she was wearing.

     "Where did you even get these clothes, Gus?" she asked, referring to the dark blue strapless top and short skirt that adorned her figure but did not conceal as much skin as she had intended.

     Augustus stopped in his tracks and turned to Anastasia, "Tasia I can hear the insecurity in your voice for Merlin's sake! You look great, trust me. Any straight guy would be lucky to have you tonight." he smirked and hip bumped the girl.

     Anastasia giggled at her friend's comment, "That's lovely, but you didn't answer my question." she shook her head.

     "Well, the answer is for me to know, and for you to never find out." he winked before resuming his walk down the corridor. As they walked into the PuffleHuff common area together, Anastasia giggled at his antics and linked her arm around his.

     "Hey! Hey wait up!" A call came from behind them, prompting them to turn around, either in confusion, fear, or both. Anastasia recognized the charming blonde girl she had met at the previous supper as she walked into the dimly lighted corridor. She had evidently been running for a long time since she was absolutely out of breath when she arrived at Anastasia and Augustus.

     "Good gracious you two walk fast!" she laughed, "Are you going to the Hufflepuff party tonight?"

     'So that was the name. Hufflepuff.' Anastasia thought to herself, "Yes, we are. Do you think you could help us get there?" she asked with a genuine smile, "We seem to be a little lost." Augustus snorted at the girl's words, but covered it up with a minimal cough, causing Anastasia to slap him on the back while still smiling at the blonde girl. 

     "Oh my goodness of course I'll take you!" she nodded quickly, "It gets a little confusing since it's all the way by the kitchens, which is near the dungeons and such." she said before heading the opposite direction that the duo was going, "Well come on you two! We're already late enough!" Anastasia and Augustus looked at each other, and then back to the girl who was skipping down the corridor. Anastasia started sprinting off after her, leaving Anastasia standing there behind him.

     "Children." Anastasia muttered to herself, taking off after the two teenagers now racing towards the dungeons.

❀

     "What's this girl's name again?" Augustus whispered to Anastasia once she finally caught up with them.

     "Uh, Hannah I think. It's palindrome, which means you can spell it forwa-"

     "I know what a palindrome is, Tasia." Augustus cut her off, " I'm not stupid, God."

     Anastasia sighed, "You asked."

     When they approached a cluster of barrels in a dimly lit tunnel, Hannah turned back and said, "You can cover your ears now." She looked at Augustus and Anastasia with a serious expression.

     "I, uhm, why should we cover our ears?" Anastasia asked, quirking one eyebrow with a confused smile.

     "It's the password to get in," Hannah explained to the two, "I have to tap a rhythm, and it's supposed to be a "Hufflepuff students only" thing, so I'm just following the rules."

     Anastasia and Augustus looked at each other, feeling somewhat foolish, then back to Hannah with questioning looks.

     "I don't make the rules!" Hannah chuckled and mock-surrendered her hands in the air. Anastasia and Augustus turned their backs to the barrels that blocked the dormitory's entrance, carefully moving their fingers to plug their ears. They went inside the Hufflepuffs' doorway after feeling a touch on their shoulder and seeing Hannah had stopped tapping. They were immediately greeted with the sounds of bass reverberating from every nook and cranny of the room, music turned up to an inhuman level. Anastasia turned to Augustus, her brows arched high, nearly cringed at the sounds.

     "It's a little loud don't you think?" she asked, shouted, at Hannah.

     "What?" Hannah shouted back.

     "The music is a bit loud isn't it?"

     "Of course not! This is how the Hufflepuffs party, Anastasia!"

     Anastasia merely nodded at the blonde as she walked to the center of the circular area to dance with her companions. She noted that the common space was rather round, with earthy colored walls and low-ceilings with light fixtures and plants hung in virtually every corner. The overstuffed sofas were pushed to the sides, allowing students to set up a dancing floor in front of the charming and round fireplace, which was right across from the door. Highly polished tables sat in various locations throughout the room, now filled with plastic cups and other people's belongings, and they were accented with a bee-like pattern of yellow and black, which Anastasia assumed were the house colors. Handmade blankets were strewn across the couches and the floor. Anastasia figured that the two circular, honey-colored doors on opposite ends of the room led to the separate boys and girls dorms. A few circular windows above the entrance and around the rim of the room gave views of the flowing grass and flowers that grew just outside the castle. Anastasia felt strangely at home in the sitting area, which was furnished with yellow highlights and copper ornaments. 

     "Now this is what I call a party," Augustus shouted into Anastasia's ear, already holding two plastic cups that Anastasia knew she didn't want to touch, "This must be the party house 'cause WOW this drink is strong!" he yelled, throwing the cup into Anastasia's hands.

     Anastasia grabbed Augustus by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back to her side, "Listen here, we've got to go over the rules first." Augustus groaned at her, crossing his arms over his chest, listening nonetheless.

     "Number one: don't become too intoxicated; I don't want to accompany you to Madame Maxine and explain why you returned with Merlin knows what scribbled all over your body. Number two: let me know if you're planning to sleep with someone because I need to approve first. Number three: if I get uncomfortable or weary, we're leaving because I'm the sober one, and there's no bloody way I'm leaving you on your own." Every rule, she declared firmly, poked Augustus in the chest.

     "I wouldn't be the only one here anyways, silly goose." he laughed, bopping Anastasia on the nose.

     "Gus, what do you mean?"

     Augustus looked around the room before pointing to a group of very familiar girls, "That's what I mean." 

     Anastasia gently smiled and shook her head at the sight of some of her friends clearly having a good time. She began to walk up to the cluster, but was abruptly halted by an all-too-familiar figure.

     "I never thought I'd to see you here," the figure murmured, leading Anastasia to raise her gaze to stormy grey eyes that gave her the oddest feeling in her chest.

     She gulped before saying, "What? You think a girl like me can't party?"

     "I know a girl like you can't party," he chuckled, leaning down to her height, "especially with the way you were dragged in by your friend over there." he said, pointing to where Augustus was chugging drink after drink with some Hufflepuff guys chanting beside him.

     "Well, you've cracked the code then," Anastasia asked, slowly crossing her arms over her barely covered chest, "I don't come to these gatherings often. Your point?"

     Cedric grinned and quirked his brow before heading over to the corner where his buddies were huddled around a suspicious-looking bag, leaving Anastasia to watch him with her brows furrowed in the middle of her forehead. She eventually brushed the look off her face and walked over to her friends with caution.

     "Putain de merde*! Anastasia! I did not know you vere coming!" Fleur Delacour, of all people, yelled at the brunette as she came up behind the group of roommates.

     "How did you guys know about this?" Anastasia yelled even louder over the music at the girls who started shouting various responses at her, which led to Anastasia backing away from the heavily intoxicated french girls.

      A hand touched the small of Anastasia's back which made her jump back into none other than pretty-boy Diggory himself. He looked at Anastasia up and down, scanning her face for any signs of discomfort. 

     "You look like you need a breath of fresh air," he remarked. Anastasia sighed and nodded. That was all the brunette lad needed before he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the common area. He led her out into a sort of courtyard, which was surrounded by various plants and flowers. Against a vine-covered concrete wall, a few metal chairs with beautiful garden patterns rested.

     "Anastasia," he said quietly, motioning for her to sit on the bench next to him, "I feel like we may have had a weird first impression on each other, don't you?" he asked. Anastasia nodded, unable to say much of anything.

     "Don't you think we should start over? Why don't we just meet again?" he inquired. He extended his hand to shake the hand of the girl sat next to him. Anastasia raised her eyes to his before firmly grabbing his hand in her own.

     "Anastasia Dupont. Pleasure to meet you."

     "Cedric Diggory. Believe me, the pleasure is all mine." He grinned at her, staring so deeply into her green eyes that Anastasia felt practically naked in front of him. After that, the two exhaled and avoided eye contact, creating a wide chasm filled with unintended quiet.

     It was a few more moments before Cedric finally started talking to the brunette on his left, "The moon is high tonight."

     "Yeah, just like your friends." Anastasia giggled to herself, before she realized what she had said. She covered her mouth as her eyes widened while she struggled to find the right words to apologize to the laughing boy.

     "Je suis vraiment désolé*! I didn't mean to offend you!" She rambled on and on as Cedric continued to clutch his chest in laughter.

     "That was the greatest thing you could've said in that moment, Ana," he added, causing Anastasia to pause at the mention of the long-forgotten nickname. "It's true, I won't lie." Anastasia gradually began to laugh along with him, feeling a little more at ease after learning that he thought her remark was amusing.

     "Well, to make things less awkward, let's change the conversation topic" she said, crossing her knees into an Indian style stance on the bench. "What type of novels do you prefer to read? Like, which books do you have on your nightstand?"

     "You're speaking like a Ravenclaw," he said, looking captivated by the young lady sat across from him, "I will admit that there are certain novels beside my bed, such as Angels in America, Fight Club, and even Emma. Jane Austen is for everyone, and I stand by that. Why are you suddenly asking?"

     Anastasia grinned to herself and made a mental note as to which books to read next on her list.

❀

*Good Lord!

*Holy shit!

*I'm so sorry!

author's note:

guys what 5k??? brb sobbing

in case you couldn't tell, you can start the Paper Rings song now (listen to the first few lyrics you'll get it)

so uh how was it?