"Girls, it is time to wake up!" The familiar voice of Molly Weasley urged as she shook Alex awake.

Groggily, Alex opened her eyes and glanced around the room to see Mrs. Weasley had moved to wake up both Ginny and Hermione as well. Alex groaned before stretching her arms out and climbing off her cot to begin getting ready.

Ginny and Hermione were slightly slower than her, but Alex had managed to run on little sleep before. She just needed some food and she'd be wide awake.

After brushing through the rats nest that was her hair, she braided it back as best as she could before pulling on a plaid green jumper and black pants with her black and white trainers.

"See you girls downstairs," Alex told them before grabbing her rucksack with a change of clothes for the match, as well as money for any merchandise she could want to buy.

As she made her way down the stairs, Mrs. Weasley marched right by, mumbling about how the girls were taking forever to get downstairs but greeted Alex kindly. She walked into the kitchen to find the boys and Mr. Weasley all down there, except for the three older Weasley boys.

"Charlie had to take the test twice," Fred spoke up. "He failed the first time. Apparated five miles south of where he meant to, right on top of some poor old dear doing her shopping, remember?"

Alex couldn't help but snort, which caused all eyes to turn toward her as she entered the kitchen. "He failed his Apparation test?"

"Yes, well, he passed the second time," Mrs. Weasley told her as she came back into the kitchen.

"Percy only passed two weeks ago," George said as Alex sat down to eat some porridge. "He's been Apparating downstairs every morning since, just to prove he can."

Alex shook her head before beginning to eat as Ginny and Hermione now joined, looking equally as tired as everyone else. As soon as her bowl was empty, Alex stood and took it to the sink to rinse it out, Fred following right behind her.

"Would you do me a favor?" He whispered discreetly as he stood next to her and eying his mum.

"What?" She responded as quietly as she could as she stirred sugar and milk into some tea.

"Keep these somewhere safe and completely out of sight," he responded, passing a handful of the Ton-Tongue Toffees into the pocket of her jacket.

She did her best to bite back a laugh but nodded in agreement. "I'll guard them with my life," she whispered.

He smiled before going to sit back down and act as if nothing had just happened. Alex carefully sipped at her tea while Mr. Weasley explained how wizards congregating in such big groups had to be careful. But he was cut off.

"George!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed suddenly, causing everyone to jump and wake up a little more than they had been before.

"What?" He asked innocently, though no one believed it for a second.

"What is in your pocket?"

"Nothing!"

"Don't you lie to me!" She exclaimed before pointing her wand and saying, "Accio!"

The same candy that was currently in Alex's pockets zoomed out of George's. He tried to grab them but they managed to land right in his mum's hand.

"We told you to destroy them!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed furiously. "We told you to get rid of the lot! Empty your pockets, go on, both of you!"

While Alex thought she was safe, the more Mrs. Weasley said the spell, the more the toffees in her pocket began to move, which caused her to quickly shove her hands in to keep them still.

"Are you alright, Alex?" Mrs. Weasley asked while the young girl squirmed, feeling the toffees trying to slip past her fingers.

"Just fine," she lied with a tight smile, still squirming.

But of course, that didn't fool Molly Weasley.

Without hesitating, she pointed her wand at Alex and continued to use the Summoning Charm. The toffees that she thought were safe came flying out between her fingers into Mrs. Weasley's hands. A loud groan escaped the twins as Alex sent Fred an apologetic look.

"Sorry, Fred."

"I cannot believe you were going to aid them in their useless mischief!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed with a disappointed shake of her head. "You know better, Alexandria!"

"Oh, no," Alex mumbled under her breath. "She used my full name. I'm in deep shit."

"We spent six months developing those!" Fred shouted as she threw them all into the trash.

"Oh a fine way to spend six months!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. "No wonder you didn't get more O.W.L.s!"

By the time everyone was gathering their things to leave, the environment in the Burrow was very tense. Alex didn't even look at Fred or George, worried they'd be mad at her for not being discreet enough. She had done her best.

"Well, have a lovely time," she called to everyone, "and behave yourselves!" That last part was directed toward the twins who had walked out without saying a single word to her. "I'll send Bill, Charlie, and Percy along around midday," she added as everyone began to walk across the yard after the twins.

Alex pulled the faded jean jacket she wore closer to her body because of the chilly weather as she kept walking along until the twins slowed down to come up next to her. She didn't look at them as she felt embarrassed to have been caught by their mum smuggling their trick sweets out of the house.

"I'm sorry," was the only thing she could say to them.

"You did your best, I guess," George responded with a shrug.

"I just can't believe she threw away all the toffees," Fred grumbled while George nodded in agreement. "All that work down the drain."

"Well, if you need help developing more, I can offer my assistance," Alex told them with a shrug.

"You would do that?" Fred asked.

Alex smiled as she looked up at him. "Of course, I told you I supported your business ventures, didn't I?"

Fred's smile widened but they remained silent for the rest of the time as they began the climb up Stoatshead Hill where the Portkey would be located. Alex felt her lungs burning, as well as her legs as they made it up to the top.

"Oh bloody hell!" Alex spat as she tripped over her seventh rabbit hole, falling flat on her face for the seventh time. "Damn rabbit holes."

"Are you alright?" Fred asked while laughing as he helped her up.

"Just peachy," she gritted, brushing her jeans off.

"Now we just need the Portkey," Mr. Weasley called out to the group. "It won't be big... Come on..."

Everyone immediately spread out and began to look for it. Alex thought she was careful as she walked along looking for it, but the rabbit holes seemed to just appear out of thin air, causing her to fall flat on her face again.

"Alright, I'm calling for mass genocide to all of the rabbits that live on this hill!" She yelled out into the darkness. Everyone laughed in response as she struggled to stand back up.

"Over here, Arthur!" A new voice called into the darkness. "Over here, son, we've got it!"

Alex sighed in relief as she spotted two silhouettes not too far from where she was standing. "Thank Merlin," she mumbled and took another step, only to trip over another rabbit hole. "I am convinced these rabbits have it out for me!"

"Amos!" Mr. Weasley called as he walked up to help Alex back onto her feet. "This is Amos Diggory, everyone," he told the group.

"Diggory?" Fred questioned to George as he felt his face pale.

"And I think you know his son, Cedric," Mr. Weasley finished.

"Hi," Cedric greeted everyone before his gaze fell on Alex. "Hey there stranger."

"Cedric!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck in a hug, which he returned with a laugh.

While everyone else had said hello to him in response, Fred and George merely nodded, never fully forgiving the Hufflepuff for defeating them the previous year in the first Quidditch match. And no one saw the glare that Fred was giving Cedric as he had yet to take his arm off of Alex's shoulder.

"All these yours?" Amos Diggory asked as he looked over the group.

"Oh no, only the redheads," Mr. Weasley was quick to correct as he pointed out his kids. "This is Hermione, friend of Ron's; Alex, another friend of Ron - and Harry, another friend -"

"Merlin's beard," Amos exclaimed with wide eyes. "Harry? Harry Potter?"

"Er - yeah," Harry responded awkwardly.

"Ced's talked about you, of course," Amos stated. "Told us all about playing against you last year... I said to him, I said - Ced, that'll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will... You beat Harry Potter!"

Alex covered her mouth to hide the laughter over the awkward situation that Amos Diggory had unintentionally caused. Or intentionally, she didn't know.  She glanced at Cedric, who was looking embarrassed over his dad's outburst.

"Harry fell off his broom, Dad," Cedric reminded his dad. "I told you... it was an accident..."

"Yes, but you didn't fall off, did you?" Amos cut in, slapping Cedric on the back. "Always modest, our Ced, always the gentleman... but the best man won, I'm sure Harry'd say the same, wouldn't you, eh? One falls off his broom, one stays on, you don't need a genius to tell which one's the better flier!"

"Oh, absolutely!" Alex agreed, causing all eyes to turn to her in shock before she looked up at Cedric with a smirk. "So how are you enjoying the House Cup from last year's win - Oh, wait a second, Gryffindor actually won it instead, my bad." She then patted his arms teasingly as Cedric shook his head at her with a smile.

Everyone sniggered before Amos looked at Alex. "And who are you again?"

"Dad, this is Alexandria," Cedric told his dad. "The girl who helped me in Potions while I helped her in Transfiguration?"

"Oh!" Amos realized. "The beautiful young bird you wouldn't stop talking about in your letters!"

"Dad!" Cedric exclaimed while Alex looked away in an attempt to hide her face in embarrassment and everyone in the group tried to cover their laughter.

Everyone but Fred, who was silently fuming.

How many people talked about me in letters home to their family members? She wondered.

"Must nearly be time," Mr. Weasley quickly said, pulling his watch out to try and clear the awkward tension that befell the group. "Do you know whether we're waiting for any more, Amos?"

"No, the Lovegoods have been there for a week already and the Fawcetts couldn't get tickets," Amos told Mr. Weasley. "There aren't any more of us in this area, are there?"

"Not that I know of," Mr. Weasley responded. "Yes, it's a minute off... We'd better get ready..."

Alex grabbed one of the shoelaces on the boot that Amos Diggory was holding. Everyone fell silent as they waited for the Portkey to go. Alex hadn't traveled by Portkey ever. When she had traveled with her mum when she was younger, it was usually by Side-Along Apparation.

"Three..." Mr. Weasley spoke as he eyed his watch, "two... one..."

Suddenly, Alex's feet left the ground as she banged into Cedric's shoulder, as well as Fred, who stood on her other side. She did her best to blow her hair out of her face but it proved difficult, since the wind was blowing wildly.

Then it stopped.

Alex slammed on her feet before stumbling and falling over, right on top of someone else.  She groaned, pushing herself up before looking to see that it was Fred who she had fallen on top of.

It just always had to be Fred.

Her cheeks immediately heated up as she realized how close their faces were and how well she was able to see the small gold flecks that were in his eyes, as well as the freckles that peppered his nose. She had never noticed them before but now, she couldn't take her eyes off them.

"Here, let me help you up, Alex," Cedric said, bringing Fred and Alex out of their moment.

Alex looked up at him before taking his outstretched hand and quickly pulling herself up. Fred watched her go and couldn't ignore the tightening of his chest when she didn't even look back at him and continued walking with Cedric.

"Are you sure that you and Fred are still just friends?" Cedric mumbled, which caused Alex to shove him hard as he laughed.

"Shut up, you wanker!" She whispered, taking a glance back to see George helping his twin stand. "Yes, we are just friends!"

They both followed along behind Amos and Arthur before they separated to find their different campsites. Alex hugged Cedric goodbye but not before promising that they would try to meet up before the match.

Eventually, the group walked up to a cottage with a Muggle man standing there, watching the tents that covered the field. Alex was more toward the back, so she was unable to hear the exchange between the man and Mr. Weasley.

"What's going on?" Fred asked as he came to stand next to her.

"No idea," Alex told him. "I'm too far to hear and too short to try and read their lips."

"It's okay, Alex," George teased as he patted her head.  "We still consider you as our mate, our very short mate."

"Shut it, you!" Alex snapped, swatting his hand away but biting back a smile.

After they had finished their interaction with the Muggle man, who appeared to have to be Obliviated in the middle of their interaction, they began to make their toward the groups of tents.

As they walked through the crowds, Alex glanced around, trying to find any familiar faces, but not spotting any since very few people were awake or were in the process of waking up for the day.

They made it to the edge of the wood where the Muggle man had said their spot would be. Hammered into the ground was a small sign that read Weezly. Alex snickered when she saw that.

"Couldn't have a better spot!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed happily. "The field is just on the other side of of the wood there, we're as close as we could be."

Then the real fun began. At least for Mr. Weasley. Because the group had to assemble their tents the Muggle way.

Alex had gone camping with her mum when they lived in Romania but Alliana would simply flick her wand and the tent would erect itself.  She had quite fond memories of spending the night in the Romanian countryside, observing creatures in the wild and enjoying the stars without any lights around to dim them.

Somehow and eventually, they managed to get the two little tents up.

Alex followed Ginny into the tent that they had set up for the girls and flopped down onto the bottom bunk while Ginny claimed the top. Hermione then came in and took a step back in amazement over how the tent was bigger on the inside. She claimed the cot across from Ginny and Alex's bed.

"I need a nap," Alex grumbled, the exhaustion from all the walking getting to her.

"No time for naps," Ron's voice spoke as he and Harry came in to admire their tent. "Dad's sending us to go get water."

"Fine," Alex groaned, standing up and pulling her shoes back on.

They then began to make their way across the field to where the map they had been given had a tap marked on it.  The entire way there, Alex glanced around as people had begun to wake up for the day and begin prepping breakfast.

"Er - is it my eyes, or has everything gone green?" Ron asked.

Alex glanced around at the tents that were covered in shamrocks.  She knew this would be where the Irish supporters were most likely staying.  And her suspicions were confirmed when she heard a familiar voice calling all four of their names, "Harry!  Ron!  Hermione!  Alex!"

They all turned to see Seamus Finnigan waving them over to one of the shamrock covered tents.  Sitting by him was a sandy-haired woman, who looked like his mother and Dean Thomas, a fellow Gryffindor and Seamus' best friend.

"Like the decorations?" Seamus asked. "The Ministry's not too happy."

"I wonder why," Alex mumbled to Hermione, who snickered slightly.

"Ah, why shouldn't we show our colors?" The sandy-haired woman stated with a thick Irish accent. "You should see what the Bulgarians have got dangling all over their tents. You'll be supporting Ireland, of course?"

"Absolutely!" Alex exclaimed happily, sending a knowing glance at Ron, who she knew was rooting for Bulgaria, more specifically, their Seeker.  "They obviously have the best team in the league."

They walked away after saying goodbye when Ron leaned over toward the other three and said, "Like we'd say anything else surrounded by that lot."

"Speak for yourself, Ronald," Alex told him. "My money is on Ireland."

"Yeah, but Bulgaria's got Krum."

"Like I told the twins, Krum's good but Ireland's got seven superior players compared to Bulgaria."

"I wonder what the Bulgarians have got dangling all over their tents?" Hermione wondered, obviously trying to stop a fight from occurring between Alex and Ron.

"Let's go and have a look," Harry suggested, obviously catching onto what Hermione was doing.

The closer they got, Alex glanced up to see a familiar face blowing against the wind on their flags. She couldn't help but shake her head with a smirk forming on her lips.

"Krum," Ron whispered, staring at the Bulgarian Seeker.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Krum!" Ron said louder. "Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker!"

"And the focus of Ron's current unhealthy obsession," Alex teased, causing Ron to nudge her with a shake of his head.

"He looks really grumpy," Hermione stated as she glanced around at all the flags that surrounded them.

"'Really grumpy'?" Ron questioned like it was the greatest offense ever spoken.  "Who cares what he looks like? He's unbelievable. He's really young too. Only just eighteen or something. He's a genius, you wait until tonight, you'll see."

Alex rolled her eyes as Ron continued to fawn over the famous Seeker while they finally joined the queue line for the tap. Taking a glance around, she tried to see if she could spot Velkan since Charlie had told her that he would be coming. But her search was interrupted when Hermione began to cover her mouth, trying to conceal her laughter.

"What?" Alex whispered to her, only for Hermione to gesture to a Ministry wizard, who was talking to a very old wizard wearing a floral nightgown.

Only a floral nightgown.

"Just put them on, Archie, there's a good chap. You can't walk around like that, the Muggle at the gate's already getting suspicious -"

"I bought this in a Muggle shop," the old wizard called Archie responded. "Muggles wear them."

"Muggle woman wear them, Archie, not the men, they wear these," the Ministry wizard sternly said, holding out a pair of trousers.

"I'm not putting them on," Archie stated. "I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks."

Alex and Hermione were both attempting to hide their laughter, they had to walk away for a second while Archie got his water.  They stood off to the side, wiping their eyes because of how hard they were trying not to laugh and seem disrespectful.

"Isn't that the same nightgown your mum wears?" Alex laughed, which made Hermione begin laughing hard as she nodded.

After Archie had walked away, the two girls made their way back toward the queue when Alex heard an unfamiliar voice call out, "Alliana?"

Turning, Alex came face to face with a fierce looking woman, whose face softened when she realized that Alex wasn't who she thought she was.

"My apologies," the woman spoke with a soft smile. "I thought you were someone I knew."

"You know Alliana?" Alex asked, forgetting about getting water for the moment. "How?"

The woman had a faint smile grow on her lips. "I'm her older sister, Ivory."

⊰ ⁜ ⊱

Anyone else seen Lord of the Rings?? Remember that scene in the Two Towers when they're at Helms Deep when the Urak-hai are about to begin attacking and Theoden just very ominously says, "So it begins.."

My thoughts exactly lol

Sorry this took so long. Like I said, I've been working more hours and actually been going to the gym to better myself and I'm even working with a personal trainer. Go me!

Please vote and comment!

-Squid♡