💌🏹

╰┈➤ ❝ [𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑇𝑊𝐸𝐿𝑉𝐸] ❞ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
⁺⤾·˚.⃗. [ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪsᴛɪɴɢᴜɪsʜᴇᴅ ɢᴜᴇsᴛs ] 𑁍ࠜೄ ･ﾟˊˎ
﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

The Great Hall
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
- Scottish Highlands
( October, 1994. )

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐔𝐙𝐙𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍, the air crackling with excitement as students eagerly turned to the enchanted doors, waiting for the arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegations. The long wooden tables filled with whispers, laughter, and a few nervous glances, everyone aware that tonight's feast would be unlike any other.

First, the soft echo of high-heeled shoes could be heard tapping against the stone floor, and the doors opened, revealing the Beauxbatons students. They glided in with an elegance that left the entire hall speechless. Their uniforms were impeccable: flowing blue satin robes embroidered with gold, designed to catch the light with every graceful step they took. The Beauxbaton girls walked with an almost ethereal quality, heads held high, faces serene and poised, as if they were part of the hall's very architecture.

Fred and George Weasley, sitting at the Gryffindor table, were instantly riveted. The twins exchanged wide-eyed glances, both equally entranced, though Fred seemed to be looking a little harder. His eyes were fixed on one girl in particular: a stunning figure with long, honey-blonde wavy hair that cascaded down her back, and large, brown doe eyes that sparkled like melted chocolate. She was graceful, walking as if the floor itself bowed to her presence.

Fred leaned toward George, his voice low but filled with conviction. "That's my future wife, right there," he said with a grin that could rival a Cheshire cat's.

George snorted in disbelief, shaking his head. "You've got to be kidding me, Fred. You barely know her." But even he couldn't suppress a hint of amusement in his voice, watching his twin's head follow the girl's every movement.

Meanwhile, at the Ravenclaw table, Olympia couldn't help but notice the commotion at the Gryffindor table, but she quickly turned her attention back to the book in front of her. She wasn't interested in getting involved in the drama, yet she couldn't ignore the flicker of jealousy she felt. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw George watching the Beauxbaton girls, his eyes lingering on the same honey-blonde beauty Fred had already claimed. The sight of George's gaze made Olympia's stomach twist in an uncomfortable way, and she tried to focus harder on her book, but it was no use.

"You know, you really should get out more, Oly," Elvira teased, nudging her friend with an elbow. "You're missing all the fun. Are you actually going to stay buried in that book all night?"

Olympia barely spared a glance at Elvira. "I'm just not interested in watching some ridiculous display," she replied, though it was more to convince herself than Elvira.

Just then, the doors creaked open again, this time revealing the Durmstrang students. A collective gasp of admiration swept through the hall. The boys strode in with a raw confidence that seemed to radiate from them like heat from an open fire. Their dark, heavy cloaks billowed behind them, and their intense stares sent a shiver down the spines of every student present. But none of them caught the girls' attention quite like Viktor Krum, whose broad shoulders and powerful stance had a magnetic pull on the girls at every table. Elvira, in particular, couldn't tear her eyes away.

"Oh, I want to climb him," Elvira whispered, her voice full of dramatic longing as she watched Viktor Krum with undisguised admiration.

Olympia glanced up from her book, slightly distracted by the girls' reactions to the Durmstrang boys. She couldn't help but notice how the room seemed to vibrate with excitement. But as her eyes flicked back to George across the hall, she caught him in the act of glancing back at her, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

A heat spread through Olympia's cheeks, and she quickly dropped her gaze, not sure what to make of the sudden attention. She busied herself with turning the pages of her book, though she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate.

As the last of the Durmstrang students entered the Great Hall, the door shut behind them with a heavy thud. The room was filled with hushed murmurs and expectant silence as both delegations took their places. The students of Beauxbatons gathered gracefully around their table, while the Durmstrang boys stood in intimidating rows. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation for what was to come.

The headmasters stepped forward. First, Madame Olympe Maxime, the towering, elegant headmistress of Beauxbatons, rose to speak. She was a vision in her regal blue gown, her broad frame commanding respect, her voice deep but soft as it filled the hall.

"Welcome to all, from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic," Madame Maxime began, her tone warm yet dignified. "We come to you not only as competitors, but as friends, and as representatives of our great school. We look forward to the exciting events ahead and to the chance to exchange our knowledge and spirit with you all."

Her words were brief but powerful, and with a subtle nod, she returned to her seat, allowing the crowd to digest the importance of her presence.

A sharp contrast in stature and presence was the next figure to speak. Igor Karkaroff, the headmaster of Durmstrang Institute, stood and glared out at the assembled students. His piercing eyes swept across the room as his voice, cold and authoritative, echoed through the hall.

"Durmstrang Institute is not a place for the faint of heart," Karkaroff began, his deep voice tinged with a certain fierceness. "We believe in strength, discipline, and the true mastery of magic. Our students have trained hard to represent our school, and I expect nothing less than the best from each and every one of them."

His gaze lingered for a moment on the students of Hogwarts before he continued. "May the best school win. But remember, the contest is not just about skill-it is about pride, and honor, and what it means to truly be a wizard. We are here to prove that Durmstrang is second to none."

The hall grew silent after Karkaroff's words, the tension in the air palpable. He gave a curt nod and returned to his seat, his eyes never straying far from the crowd, a calculated power radiating from him. His speech had been a call to arms, and the students could feel it.

The room buzzed once more as the three headmasters returned to their places, but the mood had shifted. The Beauxbatons students now had a sense of purpose, while the Durmstrang boys stood proudly, ready for whatever challenge lay ahead. The feast began shortly after, but the weight of Karkaroff's and Madame Maxime's words lingered in the air as the evening continued.

"I'm not going to the welcome party," Olympia said suddenly, her voice firm as she slammed her book shut. "I've got enough to do."

Elvira, who had been listening in with rapt attention, raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you have no choice, Olympia. You're coming."

"Yeah, don't be such a wet blanket," added Seraphina. "You'll regret it if you don't come."

Olympia sighed, knowing full well they wouldn't let her back out. "Fine, but I'm not dancing with anyone," she muttered, though even she knew that would likely change the moment she stepped into the Room of Requirement.

The tension in the air was thick with anticipation. The arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had ignited something in everyone. And though Olympia wasn't about to admit it, a part of her couldn't help but feel drawn into the whirlwind of excitement and possibility that the night held.

The feast was in full swing, but Fred Weasley was hardly paying attention to the platters of food being passed down the Gryffindor table. His eyes were fixed on the Beauxbatons girls, particularly the one with the honey-blonde hair and doe-like brown eyes. It wasn't subtle. Every few seconds, Fred would glance over at her, trying to catch her eye again. He was completely lost in the thought of her, and George noticed.

"You're doing it again," George muttered, stabbing his fork into a roast potato but barely noticing it as his twin continued to stare across the room.

Fred grinned, not even attempting to hide it. "You don't get it, George. You don't get it. I've found her."

George snorted, shaking his head. "Yeah, I've heard you say that about, what, five different girls this year alone?"

Fred waved his hand dismissively. "No, no. This one's different. I know it in my gut. It's like-" He paused, searching for the right words. "It's like the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew. I knew I was looking at the future Mrs. Weasley."

"Right," George said sarcastically, raising an eyebrow. "You're going to marry her, and you've spoken to her exactly... never?"

Fred's grin only widened. "She looked at me, George. She looked at me, and there was a spark. You could see it. I can tell she felt it too."

George scoffed, taking a bite of his food. "You're ridiculous."

Fred leaned forward, eyes twinkling with unshakable conviction. "You're not getting it. I swear, George, when she looked at me, it was like... like the whole room faded away. I can't even remember what anyone else was saying. It was just me and her."

George rolled his eyes, though he couldn't hide the amused grin tugging at his lips. "So, what's her name then, oh wise one? You know, besides 'future Mrs. Weasley'?"

Fred paused, as though the question had just occurred to him. His brow furrowed, and he glanced over at the Beauxbatons table, his gaze quickly zeroing in on her again. "Uh, right, right, I'm getting to that. She's-uh-her name is... I'll get it. I'll find out. She'll be too busy looking at me to even notice, but I'll get it. She's perfect."

At that moment, Fred's voice dropped to a whisper, as though he was sharing the most precious secret. "She's the one, George. I'm telling you. You'll see it when you meet her."

George rolled his eyes dramatically, though the playful glint in his eyes couldn't be ignored. "Uh-huh. So, you're going to marry a girl you don't even know yet, and you're still going to be able to make it to your fourth date? All while charming every other girl in the school?"

Fred's grin only deepened, a look of complete certainty on his face. "I'll handle it, don't worry. But I'll make sure she knows she's the one, all right?"

George glanced over at the Beauxbatons table once more, watching Fred gaze in the direction of the girl as if she were the sun. "Right. Just don't get too distracted, mate. You don't want to miss the Triwizard Tournament stuff-especially with our chances at winning."

Fred waved him off, his mind clearly elsewhere. "The tournament? Yeah, yeah, I'll be there. But trust me, George, when I get my eyes set on something, I'm all in. And this is it. This is the one."

George could only shake his head in amused disbelief. "Well, good luck with that, Fred. But you might want to start with asking her name first."

Fred shot his twin a wink. "Don't worry, George. I've got this in the bag."

Meanwhile, across the room, the girl in question-who had just so happened to glance over at the Gryffindor table at that exact moment-caught Fred's gaze. Her eyes locked with his, and for the briefest second, there was an unspoken understanding. Fred's heart skipped a beat, and though he had no idea what her name was, he was more certain than ever that she was everything he'd been waiting for.

George, noticing the almost absurdly dreamy expression on his twin's face, sighed dramatically and shook his head. "Merlin help us all," he muttered under his breath.

As Olympia tried to immerse herself back in her book, the teasing from her friends only seemed to intensify. Seraphina, Cho, and Elvira exchanged sly glances before focusing all their attention on her once more.

"So, Olympia," Seraphina began with a playful glint in her eyes. "Tell us-if George doesn't ask you to dance, what if Cedric does?"

Olympia's head shot up at the mention of Cedric Diggory's name, and for a brief moment, her gaze flickered towards the Hufflepuff table, where Cedric was laughing with his friends. Her heart skipped a beat, though she immediately tried to hide it behind a sharp glare.

"I-what?" she stammered, a little more flustered than she intended. "Why would Cedric-"

Elvira cut in, leaning forward eagerly. "Oh, come on, you can't tell me you don't see it. The way he looks at you sometimes? He's definitely interested. You two would look great together."

Olympia's face flushed even deeper, and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. "It's not like that," she muttered quickly, wishing they would drop it. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

Cho, who had been quiet up until now, smiled knowingly. "You were practically the only one he noticed at the lake bash. He made an effort to talk to you, remember?"

Elvira raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying teasing her friend. "So, which is it, Olympia? George or Cedric? Who's catching your attention more tonight?"

Olympia felt trapped. She was caught between the undeniable pull to George and the warmth she felt whenever Cedric smiled at her. Both boys had their own qualities, but she couldn't bring herself to admit that either of them had a hold on her.

"I don't know," she finally managed, trying to sound uninterested. "I'm not planning to worry about it."

Seraphina chuckled, clearly unconvinced. "You're not fooling anyone, Olympia. We can see right through that." She nudged Cho, and they both shared an amused look. "So, if George asks you first, what are you going to do? And if Cedric does...?"

Olympia groaned inwardly. She wasn't about to confess her feelings for either of them, but the idea of dancing with them both made her nervous and excited at the same time. She tried to shake off the question with a shrug. "I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. But I'm not going to get worked up over it."

Elvira, clearly not satisfied with the answer, pressed on. "Come on, someone has to get your attention tonight. We all know you're not as immune to a good-looking guy as you pretend to be."

Cho, who had been watching the exchange with quiet amusement, added, "We're just trying to get you to admit what everyone else already knows. There's something between you and George. But, if you're feeling adventurous, Cedric wouldn't be a bad choice either."

Olympia's mind raced. The teasing from her friends was almost unbearable, but she still refused to admit what she was secretly feeling. "You're all insane," she muttered, hoping the conversation would die down.

Elvira leaned back, looking pleased with herself. "Oh, I think we've stirred the pot enough for tonight. But don't think we're letting this go, Olympia. Whatever happens, you'll have to spill the details."

Olympia sighed in frustration but tried to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "You won't get anything out of me."

As her friends laughed and continued their teasing, Olympia tried to focus back on her book. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder who would ask her to dance tonight-George or Cedric-and what would happen if they both did.