31

31. The Triwizard Tournament

Mrs. Weasley, Charlie and Bill brought us to London the next morning. They acted strange but didn't want to tell us why. Annoyed, the four of us parted from Ginny, Fred and George as we entered the train. We found an empty compartment but were soon joined by Seamus and Neville. Of course, we talked about the Quidditch World Cup. Hermione preferred to read a book, commenting something from time to time. We all looked up as the door to our compartment opened loudly.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked angrily but Draco was staring at me, his serious expression turning into a smug grin.

"Jackson." I saw right through his mask. He had come to see if I was alright after what happened at the World Cup. Playing the same game, I returned his stare with raised eyebrows.

"Malfoy?" I asked, emphasizing every letter. His grin only grew bigger.

"Tell me Weasley, are you going to enter? Win some money for your family?" Ron – looking totally confused – turned towards Draco. "Or are you too afraid?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ron asked through clenched teeth and I shot a warning look towards Draco.

"You don't know? Your father and your brother work for the Ministry but they didn't tell you?"

He was about to say more but I cut him off. "If you're not here to tell us something decent, Malfoy, you should leave now." I said in an uninterested tone, not even looking at him. I was amazed at how easy it was to keep our games on going in front of my friends. They thought we were hating each other but it was the complete opposite. We couldn't talk to each other normally so we had to find another way. We provoked and challenged us all the time and people around us believed we were insulting each other. And right now, I was annoyed by the fact that Draco knew what was happening in Hogwarts this year and I didn't…

Draco wasn't impressed, instead he turned his gaze back to me, his expression amused. "Whatever, Jackson. Whatever. Just don't forget what I told you!" And with that he left, followed by a smugly looking Blaise who grinned in my direction before he closed the door shut.

"What was that?" Harry mumbled and I shook my head chuckling. "Bloody Malfoy."

It was raining cats and dogs as we entered the castle. We were all happy to enter the warm, familiar corridors we knew too well. I couldn't stop grinning as I entered the Great Hall, nor could I prevent myself from looking up at the teacher's table automatically. I found Severus in less than a second and felt the all too familiar comforting wave rushing through my body. Our gazes met and the corner of his mouth twitched. He couldn't smile openly so he nodded discreetly and I returned it. Feeling light and carefree all the sudden I raised my head a little and smiled the happiest smile I had. Never before had I felt that happy! My stupid dreams about Severus and me kissing were forgotten, right now I was just happy to see him again.

"Oh, come on. Hurry up! I'm starving!" Ron groaned as the huge doors opened again and Professor McGonagall entered, followed by first years. They all got sorted and the feast appeared. When we had finished eating Dumbledore stood up and the Great Hall fell silent. As usual he welcomed us back and warned us to enter the Forest.

"Furthermore, I have to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch Cup won't take place this year." A lot of people shouted out in protest but he silenced them by raising his hand. "I can assure you that the reason for it is totally worth it." At this he smiled and winked. "There's an event that will take place during this year. It'll start in October. I have great pleasure in announcing-"

He was cut off by the banging noise of the huge door to the Great Hall. A man stood in the doorway right as the bewitched ceiling started to rumble and shooting lightnings everywhere. People started screaming but I couldn't turn my gaze away from the man who had now taken out his wand. The ceiling calmed down again. The man limped towards Dumbledore, leaning on a walking stick seeing as one leg seemed to be a prosthesis.

"That's Mad-Eye Moody." Ron said baffled.

"Alastor Moody? The auror?" Hermione asked impressed and I exchanged a short look with Harry.

"May I introduce our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody." Dumbledore exclaimed cheerfully into the silence.

Professor Moody had reached him now and they greeted each other, then he sat down next to Severus. Dumbledore turned everyone's attention back to him before he continued. "Now, as I was saying I've great pleasure in announcing the Triwizard Tournament!"

Along with a handful people I cheered and grinned brightly in George' direction whose brother had jumped up, looking like a child at Christmas.

"You're joking!" Fred shouted out loudly, making everybody laugh. Dumbledore seemed amused and smiled with sparkling eyes.

"No, Mr. Weasley, I'm not joking…" A long explanation followed, nevertheless, everybody was listening interested. I knew what a Triwizard Tournament was, Severus had told me when I had lived with him. The newest rule they had added this year was that only students of age could enter the Tournament. It didn't bother me; I didn't want to enter but I had always wanted to meet other schools. In a month, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would come to Hogwarts.

"Go without me guys, I'll catch up later." I told them as we left the Great Hall and entered the next bathroom. I waited until I couldn't feel anybody left in the corridors. Quietly, I made my way towards the dungeons, heading to Severus' office. My good mood was more than enough to make the darkness and coldness appear more comfortable. With a bright smile, I pushed the door open.

"Arya." Severus was seated behind his desk but as he realized that it was me he stood up. Severus greeted me with the warmest smile I'd ever seen. Chuckling he pulled me towards his chest and I returned his embrace. Sighting deeply, I inhaled his all too familiar scent.

"You've grown over summer." Severus determined amused, not letting go of me.

"Well, I can't look up to you for the rest of my life." I replied into his robes. Goose bumps appeared on my body, making me shiver, as Severus deep chuckle made his chest vibrate against me. In a second he had pushed me back gently.

"Are you cold?" He watched me closely and I shook my head smiling.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." He remained silent, only raised one eyebrow. I couldn't hold back my laugher as he looked at me with this expression. Oh, how much I wish I knew how to do this…

"If you say so." With that he turned around and sat down behind his desk again. Turning the empty chair in my direction with a flick of his wand he leaned back and crossed his arms grinning.

I ignored the chair and sat down on his desk with folded legs. "So… The Triwizard Tournament. You couldn't tell me about it?"

"Oh, I could have. But I didn't want to." Severus grinned mischievously and I exhaled loudly.

"Draco knew about it and kind of rubbed it in my face during the train ride." I glared as Severus started laughing. "Oh, quit it." I mumbled annoyed making him only laugh harder. I couldn't stay angry, on the contrary, I started laughing too. It feels so good!

"Honestly, I didn't think you'd be so relaxed; with the Tournament, I mean. After all, it's dangerous." I said still chuckling.

Severus shook his shoulders and stared at a piece of parchment on his desk. "You cannot enter, that's fine by me. It's way better than you making the Quidditch team."

His words touched me, I couldn't say why. Maybe it was because he had said it so incidentally. He's always looking out for my safety…

As I remained silent, Severus raised his head looking at me intensely. "I didn't mean to insult you if I did. But you know how I think about Quidditch."

"I'm not insulted…" I reassured him and he sighted. "Hey, I guess you know what we need the dress for! It was written on our list." Quizzical, I raised my eyebrows as Severus smiled.

"It's a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament that there's a Yule Ball at Christmas."

"Oh, Merlin. You mean with dancing and music and everything?" I awed with an open mouth.

Severus shook his head in disbelief, groaning: "Merlin… Yes, it's a real Ball where you have to go with a date."

Feeling amazed, I smiled brightly. As his words sunk in I furrowed my eyebrows and bit my lip nervously. "Wait. Did you just say I have to find a date?" Where do I find a proper date?

Now he turned his eyes in annoyance. "Yes, that's what I said. Honestly, I didn't think you'd react so… girlish… otherwise I wouldn't have told you…"

"Oh, shut up." I told him thoughtfully.

"Excuse me?" Severus asked grinning smugly now and I glared in return.

"Where am I supposed to find a date?" I asked desperately as if he hadn't said anything.

"Oh, there are enough boys in Hogwarts that look at you more than they should…" For the first time this evening Severus' good mood seemed to have vanished. Gloomy he stared into space, obviously thinking about bad mannered boys. And I didn't like it!

I snapped my fingers in front of his face making him look at me again with a dark expression. "Oh, please don't play my dad who doesn't want me to go out with boys." Suddenly, feeling annoyed I took a deep breath, playing with my fingers.

Through clenched teeth, he replied: "I'm not. I just don't want you to go with somebody who's only interested in y-".

"No, no, no, no, no, Severus. Just NO!" I raised my hands and watched him angrily.

"What?" Quizzical, he looked at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"I'm not talking with you about boys." Determined, I crossed my arms.

"Fine." Severus clenched his jaw and folded his fingers tightly.

"Fine." I stated matter of fact.

There was a long silence…

"Do you have any idea who you would like to go with?" Severus asked looking at me through his eyelashes. Now it was my turn to shake my head in disbelief. I opened my mouth to answer him but then I realized that I didn't have an answer.

"Well, I'd love to go with Draco, Blaise or Derek." I said quietly after a moment. "But they're out of range. Officially, I hate Draco and Blaise… and Derek's not here. And- ".

I stopped midsentence as I realized what I had just thought. I would go with Severus... But I can't. The picture of me and Severus kissing formed in my head. No! I'm being stupid. I clenched my jaw and lowered my gaze.

"Arya?" Severus leaned forward, watching me closely.

I smiled nervously, feeling suddenly uncomfortable and awkward. "It's nothing." My voice broke, of course, Severus saw through me.

Gently, he took my hands in his making them burn under his touch. "I'm sorry I asked…" To my utter annoyance he was trying to suppress a grin. Before I could say something, however, he continued quickly. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course." I replied confused.

"Then believe me if I say that you'll go with somebody you like." Mischievously, he grinned at me and I took my hands out of his.

"If you say so." I wasn't convinced at all but Severus truly seemed to believe it. Annoyed, I let my gaze wander around the room. I felt him staring at me but I refused to look at him, I couldn't look at him without thinking about my dreams.

My gaze stopped on a piece of parchment that lay next to me on the table, the one Severus had looked at before. Wait… I know the writing…

"Why do you have a letter from Draco?" Confused, I finally looked at Severus who sighted. I sensed he being nervous.

"He wrote me about what happened the night of the Quidditch World Cup."

I buried my head in my hands. "He had no right to tell you! You're always too worried about everything and I guess you're angry now but you don't have the right to be. After all, you cannot always flip out if you're imagining a 'what if'-situation. –"

Severus tried to interrupt my rant by raising one hand but I ignored him. So, he cut me off loudly. "Aryanna!"

Taken by surprise, I stopped staring at him. Severus took a deep breath, obviously thinking about what to say. He knew if he used the wrong words I would continue going on about him.

"I'm not angry. I mean, I was when I heard what happened and I wanted nothing more than making sure you're okay. But before you went to the Weasley's Albus sent a letter in which he asked them to tell him if something happened to you. And the morning you came back to the Burrows Mrs. Weasley wrote a letter to tell him that you were completely fine. And to tell you something about me being worried: I'm always worried about you but I trust that you could have handled one or two Death Eaters. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't help you if you would find yourself in such a situation."

Severus was being completely serious what left me totally speechless. He continued gentler than before. "By the way, I trust the Weasley family. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley know who you are so they know how important it is to keep you safe."

"They know who I am?... You mean they know I'm his daughter?" My quiet voice showed how taken aback I felt. Severus nodded smiling and I needed a moment until the meaning of his words had sunken in.

The corner of my mouth twitched slightly upwards. I couldn't believe what he had just told me. "They don't hate me! I mean they like me as much as Harry and Hermione."

Severus chuckled as I desperately tried to understand it. "Yes, they do and that's why I trust them. Albus told them who you are when you and your friends saved Ginny." He looked me deeply in the eyes. "The first thing they've said after a short silence was 'Somebody who doesn't know wouldn't guess. She's nothing but a true Gryffindor'."

I couldn't suppress a small grin as Severus said it. I could see in his eyes that he knew how happy I was. Relief flooded my whole body and I felt how the tension left every muscle. "Do you think the rest of the family knows it too?"

"I don't know but I know they would never condemn you for who you are. I mean you just need to look at these nerve-wracking twins, they love you." I laughed and Severus grinned.

"Thank you." I told him softly and he answered with a quizzical look. "You said you trusted me; that I could take care of my own. It's the first time you said it."

Severus gazed at his hands, his voice suddenly serious. "It's the truth even if I always act opposite."

Smiling, I jumped off the table, making him look up.

"Maybe it's time for you to go." He told me reluctantly, giving me goose bumps again. He didn't want me to go…

"Yes, I think I should." Severus sighted deeply and stood up as well. We embraced us warmly, I inhaled his scent with closed eyes before pulling away.

"Good night, Severus." He smiled and nodded in return. Suppressing a yawn, I left the office making my way towards Gryffindor tower.