Chapter: Five
Whatever

Hailey sat beside Hermione as they studied for their upcoming Charms exam. She wasn't exactly interested in studying at the moment, but rather wanted to see who had put their names into the goblet of fire and gossip. But didn't have a say as her best friend had forced a book into her hand.

Just beside the duo were Harry and Ron. The boys cheered loudly as Angelina put her name in. More Hogwarts students were putting their names in. And one of those students was Cedric Diggory. "Here he comes," Harry said as Ron audible groaned. Harry glared at his friend before turning back to the boy who just gave his name. The crowd began cheering making Ron roll his eyes.

He glanced in Hailey's direction to see the girl clapping with the biggest smile on her face. "Go Cedric!" The boy walked over to her as his friends clapped him on the back.

"Hailey hi. Haven't seen you around in a while." He smiled.

"Well, I've been in the library a lot I guess." She shrugged holding the book up. "And best of luck with that." She pointed at the goblet just behind him.

"Thanks. Hope to see you around more. Or maybe I'll just visit the library more." With that, he walked away. Ron swore he saw Cedric turn towards her one last time and wink.

"What in the world is going on between them?" Harry muttered under his breath with a horrendous look. "She is fourteen. One, four. And he is seventeen. One, seven. Eww..."

"I know right," Ron said, happy that he and Harry were on the same page. Just the mere thought of Hailey with Cedric made him want to vomit. He turned towards the said girl to see her pale face had a rid tint as she hid her face with her book at something Hermione had said. And knowing those two, Hermione most probably had started planning on Hailey and Cedric's wedding.

His thoughts were interrupted when the Weasley twins entered making the Great hall burst into claps and cheers. "Well lads, we've done it!" Fred said as the students around them cheered even louder if that was possible.

"Cooked it up just this morning!"

"It's not going to work." Hermione interrupted with a smug face.

"Oh yeah, and why is that Granger?" Fred asked as the twins sat down on both sides of Hermione and Hailey.

"You see this? This is an age line. Dumbledore drew it himself."

"So?"

"So," Hermione said with emphasis closing the book ready to drop some facts. "A genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by dodge a pathetically dim-witted as an ageing potion."

"But that's why it's so brilliant, cause it's so pathetically dim-witted." Fred challenged putting his face incredible closer to hers. Hailey and George shared an amused look before he stood up.

"Ready Fred?"

"Ready George."

"Bottoms up." Both of them drank the potion before jumping off the bench. The crowd applauded as the two gave their name. But within the blink of an eye, the twins were thrown back to the ground with a loud thud. Both of them had grown a white beard and their hair too turned white.

"You said!"

"You said!" They yelled before both of them attacked the other one, starting fight.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The student body cheered as George put Fred in a chokehold. "I knew it." Hermione rolled her eyes opening her book. "Sometimes they just have to listen to me. They are like big babies." Hailey said nothing and just laughed along.

All of a sudden the hall fell into pin-drop silence as the door opened. Viktor Krum followed by his headmaster walked in. Everyone watched in awe as he gave his name in the goblet.

Fred and George then were taken to the hospital wing. Hailey closer her book with a laugh as she walked over to Ron and Harry. "That was hilarious." She said as both of them nodded.

"Mental," Ron said as he smiled down at her. Hailey smiled back as they looked at each other. Both of their gaze locked. She could feel her heart beating faster by the second. What the hell? Why was her heart beating so fast? The moment was ruined when-

"Guys," Harry said clearing his throat and making the both of them jump slightly. Hailey's face turned red like her hair and so did Ron's. She quickly walked away with Hermione trying to escape this awkward situation. Though Harry felt a bit weird as this was his sister and his best friend, he was enjoying the fact that he could make them so uncomfortable.

And he loved every second of it.

_______________

"Sit down everyone!" Dumbledore said. Hailey sat down between Ron and Hermione. Harry sat down in front of them with Seamus beside him. There was a bubbling excitement among all the students. Everyone wanted to see who would be lucky enough to have the glory.

"Now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The selection of champions." Dumbledore said as he raised his hand and the lights dimmed. The blue light of the Goblet went red and a paper flew out of it. "The Durmstrang champion, Viktor Krum!" The hall started applauding, especially the Durmstrang students. "The champion of Beauxbaton, Fleur Delacour! And finally the Hogwarts champion, Cedric Diggory!"

The crowd went the loudest as he was a Hogwarts student. Hailey clapped loudly and was about to stand up but Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her back on the bench. "What the hell?" She whisper shouted.

"Nothing." He said blankly looking ahead.

"Excellent! We now have our three champions." Dumbledore announced. But in the end, only one will go down in history." Dumbledore said as Hailey turned towards her friends.

"Didn't think Cedric would be chosen. I always thought he was the nice type. Not the rough, you know what I mean." She said. "But guess I was wrong... We should go to him later and congratulate him."

"Are you two friends?" Seamus asked.

"Well... I mean. We've talked a few times here and there." She shrugged. Suddenly the fire went red again as everyone started whispering about the unusual scene.

"I thought there were supposed to be three champions," Ron whispered in her ears as she nodded. A paper flew out of the goblet as many gasped. Dumbledore took the paper in his hand as his face turned pale. He muttered something before announcing.

"Harry Potter," Dumbledore said as Hailey clasped her hand over her mouth. Harry who was standing now sat down quietly so that no one would notice him. But it was of no use. Every single eye in the great hall was watching him. "Harry Potter!"

"Harry," Hermione whispered jabbing the boy in his back. He grunted slowly turning back at them. "Harry go." Hailey watched as her brother slowly walked toward Dumbledore. He took the paper from his hand and stared at it a while before making his way out of the great hall.

"He's a cheat!"

"He's not even seventeen!"

Insults were being thrown at him as he walked by with his head hung low.

No, no, no that cannot be. This was the one year she wanted their life to be normal. They had found a family, and had a safe place to go. It was supposed to be a perfect year. Besides, Harry didn't put his name in the goblet of fire. He wasn't even interested in it. Hailey was sure of that much.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron asked as she turned her head to look at him with one brow up.

"What didn't I tell you?"

"That your brother put his name in there!" He said with his voice rising by the second. A few eyes were on them as Hailey was well- Hailey. And Ron was talking above the normal talking tone. His voice was loud and hoarse.

"Ron... He didn't."

"Oh yeah? And how did that happen then?" He said with a mocking laugh. Hailey looked at Hermione then back at him.

"He couldn't have given his name. Didn't you see what happened to Fred and George?" She asked Ron who scoffed. "Please don't be like that. You're his best-"

"Whatever." He muttered getting up and leaving the hall with Seamus. She just stared at the back of his head and sighed. Harry was close with Hailey. But not as close as he was with Ron.

This is going to be a long week.