Chapter 117: Plans gone wrong

"Fleur Delacour?"

I frowned. What could she have sent me? I opened it and saw a neat and elegant words, written in French.

(Here's a translated version)

"Dear Chris,

I feel compelled to write you this letter as I feel more and more grateful towards you for your tips and advices to solve my social issues. For the past few months, I've been trying to follow your instructions, and to my pleasant surprise and relief, they actually worked!

As you said, the effects were not instant, and I was also quite awkward at first, but now, it's all working out! These days, living and studying here feels quite better, because now, even if many people hate still hate me, I now have people who are acknowledging and supporting me as well. And that's making all the difference!

Anyways, this is just about me. How is your life at Hogwarts? I am curious to know. I read that a school teacher of your school turned out to be a fraud! Is that true? Is that also true that you had a duel with this Professor? I wouldn't be surprised if you duelled him and beat him in the worst and insulting way possible. You are such a skilled cheater! Did you know, by copying some of your cheating moves, I finally beat the Dueling champion of Beauxbatons who is in his seventh year? I am now the Dueling Champion here, and I still don't feel confident in winning against you.

If you really have bad teachers there, come to Beauxbatons. We have the best teachers who are meticulously tested about their job, skills and knowledge. Their background is also thoroughly verified before they are allowed to teach the students. It is also better in terms of the architecture, and the variety of subjects available for study. You won't be disappointed. Honestly, I'd very much like you come.

Also, it's a bit unfair that you exchange letters with Gabby but not with me. So, I'm expecting your response soon. Thankyou again for all the help you've given me over summer and hope you decide to come to Beauxbatons.

Best regards,

Fleur

***

I closed the letter and shook my head. Gabrielle had been missing me a lot. After all, I had spent the summer with both Esmée and Gabrielle. So Esmée wouldn't be the only one who misses me. Thus, Esmée had me write letters for Gabrielle and then she'd give it Gabrielle and then she'd take Gabrielle's letters and give them to me. To avoid all this, I simply gave her one of my Online chatting diary.

Anyways, I'm glad that things worked out for Fleur. She was going through something that Dora herself had suffered, so I felt compelled to help her out.

I paid attention back to the current situation. For good or for bad, the daily Prophet still didn't report anything related to the chamber of secrets, but the rumors in Hogwarts are spreading and many people already know that Hagrid's been arrested.

And that's why, many have begun thinking that the danger has now gone since even Michael Corner the fake Heir hasn't attacked anyone for the past few days.

Thus, some students are thinking that maybe, the danger has passed and now they're free to roam around. Some are even spreading rumors that my dueling club is going to be restarted soon. And Quidditch match a that's due in tomorrow is being being anticipated a lot. It's Ravenclaw v/s Hufflepuff.

What stupid people. It's like they're asking for the Heir to come and do another attack.While I was still silent thinking all this, the people around me were curious about the letter.

"Whose letter is it?" Asked Harry curiously after seeing me silent for so long.

"Oh, this? It's from Fleur. The friend from France I told you guys about." I replied, throwing it into my pocket. I was just thinking about the Heir stuff right now, but they thought it was about the letter.

Susan smiled mischievously, "Oh, so guys are exchanging letters, huh? I think I need to exchange letters with Tonks." said Susan while wiggling her eyebrows.

"Don't try to do that." I said, pointing his her eyebrows. "You can't do it properly so it looks stupid. And she's asking about the fraud Lockhart thing and me dueling him. The matter has reached even France." I said honestly, hoping the earlier words about Tonks were not what I think they were.

"Anyways, how badly do you think should I beat Hufflepuff in the match?" I asked getting back at her and also changing the topic.

Susan stuck out her tongue at me. "Oh, don't try that. I know you'd go easy on us because of Tonks."

"...." Wizard kids here sure mature faster. I shouldn't take these guys lightly. Very few muggle 12 year olds would talk like this.

This is getting serious now. "... What do you mean by that? Dora isn't even here now." I asked innocently. I have a bad premonition.

"Oh, do you think no one knows it? You're famous in Hufflepuff for making the infamous Tonks fall for you in your first year."

"...."

What the hell?! There's something like that?! I should really start paying attention to what's going on around the school!

"Aren't you two in love?" asked Hannah, as if she it was obvious and I smaked my own forehead.

...Well, Dora and I did sit together a lot at the Hufflepuff table. And now that I look back on it, we did act all lovey-dovey and flirting with each other all the time.

"Wait a moment, err...why don't I know anything about this?" asked Harry, offended.

I patted him other the shoulders. "You have should never change, my comrade."

Well, at least someone remains as clueless as ever about this. Harry was always very insensitive to these things, which is why I thought everyone else would be the same.

But even in canon, the conversations that the other kids of Hogwarts were having should have made me realize that they all mature faster and would notice things like this.

I looked back at Susan and Hannah curiously. "Why have you never mentioned this before to me if knew it already." I asked, but I could already guess. I'm not dumb, I just never paid attention to minor and inconsequential matters like these.

Susan and Hannah looked at each other, then Susan said, "We didn't ever mention her earlier because I thought you'd be sad about her leaving and being so far away. But right now, I mentioned her because..." Susan looked around, as if looking for an excuse, and I narrowed my eyes sat her.

But, the innocent Hannah just exposed it all. "Before going, Dora had told us to send her a letter if you were... you know, dating with some girl in her absence..."

"...."

Dora oh Dora, you still surprise me upto this day. But now that I know this, it just seems so much like something she would do. And upto now, we're still not even officially dating each other, what the hell?

And, show some trust here, Dora! Even if everything about me screams suspicious and mysterious.

"She especially asked to keep an eye on your team Captain Andrea." added Hannah.

Susan smacked Hannah on the head. "Idiot! We weren't supposed to tell him all this!"

"We weren't? But Tonks never said that!" She protested while pouting. Susan smacked her own head in frustration at that.

I rubbed Hannah on the head where Susan had smacked. "Leave her alone Susan. Are you friends with us or Tonks?"

"..."

Hahaha, I added Susan in my question just in case she says she's better friends with Dora than me.

"Hope that Cedric Diggory defeats you." muttered Susan under her breath.

***

The next day was the day of the match. In the changing room, Andrea was still as focused as ever, going through the strategies and tactics. And repeatedly warning us, especially me, to not get cocky after a few wins and lose this time.

And I didn't have the heart to break it to her that as long as I'm not too unlucky, they could just chill out the whole time and I'd get the snitch before the other team gets a 150 points. (Though only if I went full cheating and underhanded mode)

"Listen, Chris. From what I've from the rumors, Cedric Diggory is actually very skilled. We can't afford to lose again." said Andrea for the umpteenth time as she adjusted her cat-eye glasses and fixed them to her nose with a sticking charm. Cedric Diggory obviously must be good if he debuted in his fourth year and became the captain of the team in his fifth year.

"Don't worry about Quidditch, Andrea. Worry a little more about your NEWTS that are this year." I said as I bumped my broom with hers. I feel like she's too much invested into this.

"Yeah! Leave the Quidditch to us!" said Ella Harper the chaser, fifth year as she joined our brooms. "Yeah!"x 5, And all the teammates voiced their agreement and seven broom gathered together. It's a thing we do before our match, just to get the hype up and get the blood pumping.

Today is actually a much anticipated match.

Firstly because Ravenclaw got defeated the last year by the Hufflepuff when I hadn't ywt joined the team and the Ravens had been sore ever since.

The second reason is because of the face off between two players for the first time. The Prefect guy Cedric Diggory vs the... Chris Martin. I don't know what my title is. But I guess the opinions are quite diverse in my case. The Hooligan, The legend, The crazy dude, The don't-mess-with-me guy etc...and of course, there's my favorite, the Nut Crusher.

...And about a hundred other names you could make out of the act of someone brutally kicking a person in the balls.

(btw, I'm wearing a supporter or groin guard today... you know, just in case. A great manchild has said: Make sure not to take from others, what you gave them in your merciless moments.)

And then there's one that I don't support because, one, it's a bit cringy and cliche to me. Two, it actually hits the nail on the head about my cheating. They call me 'The Blue Bolt.' It may be due to my blue Ravenclaw Quidditch robes, but... they got too close to my super Trigger 'blue'.

We went onto the pitch and greeted by a round of cheers more intense than the last time.

"What the hell?"

But...from the Hufflepuffs' side, only five players came out.

Damn I knew something like this was gonna happen. I'd already felt the notification ward going off yesterday night, but I thought I'd deal with it after the match, hoping that no one sees whoever is Petrified untill the match is over. But to directly target the Hufflepuff team?

"Where are you other team members?" asked Madam Hooch

The Hufflepuff captain answered, "We haven't seen them since morning. Our housemates are currently trying to find them." He said, but there was something off about his expression.

"Let me guess, they're both muggleborn?" I asked the obvious.

"No. One was muggleborn and the other was half-blood." replied Cedric.

'...What the hell? Something seems wrong.' It shouldn't be like that.

The most obvious question was: What the hell were they doing outside alone when they have a match the next day? Of course, there's the fact that people have become relaxed Hagrid getting arrested and after so long with no attacks. Really, when a pandemic almost gets over, people start becoming very careless all of a sudden. And then... it hits back, usually with an with an even greater intensity.

While I was busy in my thoughts, Professor McGonagall came to the pitch and we waited her to approach. She had a very grave expression and a pale complexion right now.

Putting her wand to her throat, she said, "THE QUIDDITCH CUP THIS YEAR... IS CANCELLED."

"What?!"

"What the in the Merlin's—"

"Why so suddenly?!"

...

The whole crowd started questioning and protesting. Even the Slytherins did not look happy. Because McGonagall was talking about straight up cancelling the event. And I knew... that something big has happened.

I asked around a bit, and turns out, even the half blood was Petrified! And that's not all, there's two more people who got Petrified.

And.

Even that wasn't enough. One student was kidnapped.

Damn. Did he go on steroids or something? This... kinda messes up with my plans.

The end game, is already here.

....

***

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