Fred works me hard.

This room he has found is something else. The floor is padded under foot, the walls are adorned with posters instructing how to use various spells, and assorted training equipment sits at the sides.

"I never knew this room was here," I say in awe upon entering it for the first time.

"It wasn't, until just now," Fred says mysteriously. "I made it just for you."

I go along with it, even though what he says makes no sense. I am just so grateful he isn't dumping me for being a needy child.

He spends hours teaching me all the spells he knows. We practice disarming over and over again, non-verbal spells, and casting Patronuses. We spend many hours laughing as we watch Fred's magpie fly around my stag's head, feeling happier and safer than ever.

George often joins us, making it even more fun. Together, the twins use this space not only to teach me magic, but to try out their inventions, which I'm always happy to help with and be a part of.

When it is Fred and George's eighteenth birthday, we invite all our friends to the Room for a massive party. Even the Slytherins come, with Draco taking great interest in the purpose of the room, asking Fred exactly how he conjures it and what its limitations are.

In fact, pretty much the entire school is present (including the Durmstrang and Beauxbaton visitors), the room changing size to accommodate the crowd. The teachers have no idea, and that makes it even better.

There is so much joy and laughter in the room as we dance, drink and eat lots of cake, that I almost forget about the approaching third task.

Almost.

*****

The day of the third task finally arrives.

And, despite my chill leading up to it, I find I wake up with a sick feeling in my stomach.

And no, before you ask, I'm not pregnant. You actually have to have sex for that to happen.

The Slytherins cheer as I step out into the common room. A banner reads 'GOOD LUCK HARRI! SLYTHERIN PRIDE FOR THE WIN!' and everyone is wearing their Cedric Stinks badges which Draco made in my honour.

I push my way through the cheering Slytherin crowd, until I find myself at the sofa where Draco and Pansy have saved me a spot in between them.

"You good?" Draco asks.

I nod, because I feel too sick to speak. Pansy places an arm around me and hugs me tight.

"You'll nail it," she says, "just remember everything you have learnt in your training sessions with the twins."

Again, I nod, but I still can't speak.

We all go down to breakfast, where I am greeted by the biggest and best surprise of my life.

There, sat waiting for me at the Slytherin table, is-

"DUDLEY?!"

I am so shocked by the sight of my Muggle cousin sitting right here in Hogwarts - like witnessing a collision of my two lives.

"What the hell?" I hear Blaise mutter as I break away from my friends to go charging at full pelt towards Dudley.

He stands up in time for me to go flying into his arms, and I feel like sobbing against his large chest as he holds me tightly to him.

"How are you even here?" I gasp, looking up into his smiling face. "I thought Muggles couldn't-"

"Your headteacher wrote me a letter, inviting me here today." He explains just as my friends join us, all staring at him in shock. "Apparently, enchantments have been lifted so I can come and support you. Bloody hell, Harri, you weren't joking when you said this place is amazing. I just had five helpings of breakfast, the food kept on coming."

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Draco drawls disdainfully, clearly forgetting he had already met my cousin when he burst uninvited into my aunt and uncle's living room last summer.

I look up at him, and I can see the hostility all over his face as he glares at Dudley. A Muggle, at the Slytherin table.

"Of course," I say breathlessly, stepping out of my cousin's embrace. "Everyone, this is my cousin Dudley. Dudley, this is... Everyone."

I am too flustered with excitement to introduce everyone properly. Instead, I want to hear more about Dudley, about what he has so far seen, and how he arrived and when.

So, as we all settle down with him for our breakfast, Dudley explains how his headmaster is actually a Muggle friend of Dumbledore's and so had arranged it with him for Dudley to have a one day transfer to Hogwarts. He had arrived via the fireplace ("Not going to lie, Harri, but I nearly shit myself when Mr Turnip pushed me into the fire.").

Dudley, also explains that Dumbledore had led him down to the Great Hall where he was told to wait at this table.

"And here I am," Dudley grins, his pudding like face cherry red. "So, I guess the rest is up to you."

I am so happy that I throw my arms around his neck, knocking my pumpkin juice over in the process.

A cough makes me jump and I quickly pull away from Dudley. I look up to see Fred looking curiously down at us.

He thrusts his hand in Dudley's face. "Hello, I don't believe we've met. I'm Fred Weasley, Harriet's boyfriend."

I don't miss the pointed way he says this last part.

"Uh- hi," Dudley grunts, ignoring Fred's hand. "Yuh, Harri's told me about yer in her letters. All she sodding goes on about actually. Three pages of telling me how good looking you are, and only one on how she faced a bloody dragon!"

Fred's scowl instantly vanishes, his expression warming by the charming smile tugging at his lips. "Ah! You must be the famous cousin - Dudley, right? Blimey, I didn't think Muggles were allowed in Hogwarts."

"Special permission on account of her parents being dead." Pansy helpfully says.

Dudley drapes his arm around me. "I'm family, ent I? And I wanna be here to cheer her on when she wins this Wizard thing."

I beam, my heart bursting with pride as I gaze up at my cousin. Having Dudley here with me makes me suddenly feel so unafraid. In fact, I cannot wait to make him proud tonight.

Nevertheless, Fred invites himself down at our table, also draping an arm around my shoulders. "Well, as Harri's boyfriend, I'm sure you realise noone will be prouder than me."

He kisses my forehead, almost pointedly, it seems.

Ha! So much for keeping your jealously in check, Fred.

"Aren't you eighteen?" Dudley asks with a scowl.

I feel Fred flinch. "Yeah, so?"

"A little weird for you to be dating my fifteen year old cousin, isn't it? Not anyone your own age available?"

"Dudley!" I hiss, desperately not wanting a fight to break out, "you know I'm sixteen next month!"

"Whatever," Dudley says, glowering at Fred. "Just remember, you may be older than me, but I could still knock you out anytime I like. Hurt my cousin, and I'll come and prove it."

"I've no intention of hurting Harri." Fred says, his arm around me so tight now, I can scarcely breathe. "And don't forget, your Muggle fist is nothing against my wand hand."

I see the fear flicker in Dudley's eyes, clearly recalling a certain pig tail.

"Guys," I say with exasperation, "please, today is really special for me, and it would be great if we can all get along."

"Fine," Dudley mutters after glaring at Fred a few more moments.

Finally, he holds out a meaty hand, which Fred looks at before eventually shaking it.

Relieved, I get stuck into my bacon and eggs, talking at length to Dudley about all the new spells I have perfected thanks to Fred and George's training sessions.

I then spend the rest of the day showing Dudley around the castle and grounds, proudly showing him all the highlights and telling him stories of past adventures.

Fred, having given us space throughout the morning, joins us after lunch. " I thought maybe we could give Dudley a proper Hogwarts welcome," he says winking, showing us the contents of his bag: fireworks.

"But its daytime," Dudley says, scratching his head. "What's the use?"

"Ah, but these are indoor ones that my brother and I invented. Thought you could come and watch us try them out."

And so, leading us up to the Room of Requirement, we do just that. Dudley is massively impressed with the display, even asking about placing an order for some to take back to his school.

But eventually it is time for the Triwizard Feast, the very last meal before the third and final task. Butterflies are back in my stomach as we make our way downstairs, and I grip Fred's hand tightly.

"You'll be fine," he reassures me, letting go of my hand to snake his arm around my waist. "And I'll be there at the end, ready to give you the biggest kiss."

His kisses the top of my head, and squeezes me tight to his side. I can do no more than give him a smile which I know does not reach my eyes. I am nervous.

"Yeah, you'll be fine, cuz," Dudley adds as he walks my other side, smiling down at me. "From what you've been telling me, you're pretty brilliant at this magic stuff."

Fred and Dudley sit either side of me during the feast, Fred again not caring about gatecrashing the Slytherin table.

I try to eat, but I find that for the first time in my life, I've lost my appetite.

"You must eat, Harri," Draco says from across the table as he catches me placing my knife and fork down on my untouched roast chicken dinner. "Given your tendency to faint, it's probably not a good idea to go into that maze on an empty stomach."

I pull a face at him. But I know he is right, and so I force myself to have a few bites.

Dudley, not liking to see food go to waste, finishes the rest for me.

And then I am called up to leave the room alongside the rest of the champions.

As I rise shakily from my seat, so do Fred and Dudley. They both hug me tight, both wishing me luck. I can feel my heart thudding against my ribcage as I walk away from them, nodding a thanks to my Slytherins as they all cheer me on.

And then, quite suddenly, I am outside the maze. I glance sideways at Cedric who gives a small comradery nod of his head, his eyes full of the same fear I feel.

"See you on the other side, Potter" he murmurs.

And then in we go.

******