#❣ {; everyone's just POINTING fingers ( trial ) }

[minachuuu]

Follow The Light [P1]

❣Follow The Light❣ Part 1/3

First Hogwarts AU! This prompt was incredibily interesitng when I got it. I gotta say I’m not the biggest Wizarding World fan but I know my fair share and investigated throughly. I really, really hope you like this one!🧡

❤ Pairing: Hufflepuff!Jihan x Ravenclaw!Reader

❤ Genre: Fluff & a bit Angst.

❤ Word Count: 9k

❤ Song Suggestions: La Luna by Weeekly & Only You, Lonely You by Ivano Turco

October 30th

“Now I know why you weren’t chosen into Gryffindor!” Seoun sneered, playfully hitting you on your shoulder. “Someone’s got cold feet!”

“I didn’t think you were serious, alright?” You defended yourself, “I don’t really want to participate in the Tournament.”

“People have died on it before Soeun…” Jihan’s arm was tangled with yours as you walked through the halls of Hogwarts, heading to the Great Hall. “I don’t get why you would be so excited to enter something like that.”

“Well, there’s money, eternal glory, and you get to skip tons of exams.” Soeun shrugged. “Besides, it’s not like we’re going to be chosen anyways! We’re nobodies, there’s like a ton more qualified than Y/n to be picked up by the cup!” 

“Yeah- Hey!” You complained. A deep breath that tried to get your Slytherin friend off your back escaped violently from your lips. “Then why do we even bother?”

“Just a fun little bet to prove your guts.” Soeun challenged, poking your cheek. “C’mon, I’ll do it if you do it.”

“Ha!” Jaehee, your own house mate, raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. “I’m buying everyone butterbeer if you both really dare!”

“Jaehee!” Jihan’s eyebrows furrowed as she punched her arm. She was sweet, but the only way she was able to keep up with all of you as a Hufflepuff is because she knew how to defend herself. “Y/n, please tell me you’re not thinking about it seriously.”

“I- I don’t know…”

You sighed, looking up at your three friends. Two that looked at you waiting for you to give up your ‘untouchable’ facade and the other one that was internally asking you to not let them get to you. 

“A good pint of butterbeer doesn’t sound bad right now so…” You sighed, passing your fingers through your hair to try and alleviate the nerves the idea caused you. “Fine.”

Not fine. When the first paper flew out of the cup and Dumbledore read it out loud it was definitely not fine at all. Because that was the paper with your name written on it.

November 21st

That scene replayed over and over again in your head as you were swarmed with students wanting to know more about you, even the press, some teachers, students from the other two schools, and only one answer rounding up everything: ‘Ah, if only I had listened to Jihan.’

It was all so quick and blurry, that it wasn’t until the first trial that everything really dawned in, when you found yourself face to face with a Chinese Fireball about to turn you into charcoal.

Sure that you screamed the entirety of the time, your throat was hurting and some bruises and scrapes along your skin grounded you in your body now that the danger was gone. After a few drops of dittany essence, you lay resting over a bed trying your best to understand everything.

You weren’t even sure how you survived a lot of those falls and fire balls, but at least the shining golden egg loomed in the nightstand beside you along with your best friend.

“Ah!” You winced at the wet cloth gently caressing your skin. “That hurts.”

“It’s just a little gash on your eyebrow,” Jihan sighed, shaking her head. 

“That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt!” You growled, furrowing your eyebrows at her as you sat up.

Jihan rolled her eyes, looking around at the mostly empty medical wing, before pulling her wand out of her robe. She pointed it straight to your eyebrow, making your face drop paler than it had ever been.

“Jihan- I don’t think we need to-”

“Episkey!” She whispered, circling her hand, immediately followed by a bolt of heat over your eyebrow, quickly replaced by cold.

The wound closed itself, no longer stinging. Jihan’s smile widened in pride before swiftly hiding her wand again. 

“Where did you learn that?” You gasped, amazed and curious.

“Madame Pomfrey…” She shrugged quite happily about herself, before raising her hand to count. “From when the cauldron exploded right on Soeun’s face, Jaehee accidentally rammed herself into a wall and you forgot that the stairs moved, all on the same day in year two. She told me it would decrease your visits significantly.”

A soft chuckle escaped both your mouths as you leaned back against the bed again, unable to keep your eyes from the girl in front of you.

“You’re too good for us, you know that?” You scoffed, a playful smirk being drawn over your lips. “Why haven’t you run away after all these years is far beyond me.”

“Mostly because I like you.” She whispered, just before her eyes opened wide and she cleared her throat with urgency. “Like, you know-”

“There’s our Hogwarts champion!” The doors bursted open to reveal Soeun rushing to you, followed by Jaehee closely behind. “I knew you could do it! I totally didn’t bet on that cute Durmstrang girl and lost my money so I could only get you this chocolate!”

“That’s the least you could do for putting me in this mess, Park Soeun!” You bolted up, piercing through her with your glance. “You’re going to pay for this! I almost died!”

“Bah! Nothing that a few magic drops from Madame Pomfrey couldn’t fix.” The Slytherin girl dismissed, handing you the candy. “Look at you, with enough energy to want to strangle me with only your gaze.”

“That’s because I really, really want to strangle you…” You muttered under your breath while taking the chocolate off her hand with a smile plastered all over your face. “But you’re right, Zoa and Monday… they had it rough.”

“I heard Monday had to get casted with Brackium Emendo and Vulnera Sanentur a few times.” Jaehee nodded her head, her eyes clearly reviving the moment that they, as the audience saw how Monday from Durmstrang almost got slayed by her dragon. “That arm was not fine.”

���Maybe you should go and give her something?” Jihan suggested to you, “Like a ‘Get Well’ card and a few sweets from Honeydukes?”

“The finest.” Soeun raised her hand. “I volunteer myself to go with Y/n. You know, one has to be friendly with-”

“She’s kind of entitled, a bit rude.” You sighed, making Soeun sulk in her place. “You know Durmstrang always is.”

Eating your chocolate in a newfound silence while Jihan still attended to some of the smaller insignificant wounds, you turned to see the golden egg sitting beside you. And it just felt so heavy over your shoulders. Representing your entire school that was known as the best, your house that was known as the one about intelligence, your friends who definitely weren’t known for their brains or skills and… yourself.

Maybe that was the most difficult part of it all.

“I don’t think I can do this…” You muttered, lowering your head. “I don’t know what that goblet was thinking for picking me, I can’t-”

“Oh, shut up Y/n!” Soeun was the first to almost jump over you, shoving your arm gently before remembering you were still recovering. “Of course you are completely capable of doing this!”

“You’re the best in almost all of our classes!” Jaehee also closed in over you, “The only ones you’re not it’s because only I’m above you, but still, you can’t say you’re not qualified for this!”

“But the classroom is way too different. I know I won’t die because a teacher has my back.” You continued, looking back at them with pleading eyes. “But in all of this… I’m alone”

“What if you’re not?” Jihan was quick to answer, gently putting her hand over yours. “Right, I know we can’t be right there in the middle of the action with you but, whatever you need in preparation, practice or help, we’re here.”

“You know that I can’t receive any help.” You sighed while taking her hand. “It’s against the rules.”

“Oh, and you always have been such an avid rule follower Y/n!” Soeun scoffed out loud, earling a groan from another patient in the room. “C’mon, we’ll get through it together.”

“And no one will know!” Jaehee winked while offering you a finger gun. 

“Now, you need to rest.” Jihan helped you down back into the bed, pulling the sheet over your chest. “You need to be ready for your next task.”

“And to meet everyone!” The Slytherin jumped, putting her hands over her waist. 

“Everyone?” Both you and Jihan furrowed your forehead, confused.

“Of course! you have a fans club forming out there, everyone wants a piece of you Y/n!” Soeun leaned into the shoulder of the other Ravenclaw girl, who crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “There’s only one Tournament every five years! One of you every five years, and in comparison to what we saw in our second year here… Hogwarts might have a chance at winning this time!”

December 17th

Absolutely no pressure. From being relatively unknown for six years, to everyone in the school knowing your name, your life outside of Hogwarts (thanks to the very invasive press interviews that came with the whole ordeal), your favorite candy from Honeydukes (which always rained in generosity wherever you went), even your favorite color.

Flocks of students, not only from Hogwarts, always followed you around in hopes that you would invite them to the Yuleball because apparently that was something that you had to worry about now. There was a plan forming in your head, but there was some hesitancy about it.

‘Fifth floor, then search for the statue of Boris the Bewildered and the fourth door to the left. Ah, make sure no one follows you, bring your egg.’ You repeated those words over and over in Jihan’s voice as you made your way through the castle.

The halls were getting darker with the sun hiding behind the horizon, a few echoed steps and voices in the distance made you stop and hide against the wall. Any soul that could see you would recognize you and the stealth mission would be ruined. 

They thankfully weren’t coming any closer and as the echoes faded into the distance, you felt safe enough to continue your journey. 

Silent, you looked into your left and into your right, even behind you as an extra -but never unwelcome- safety precaution. It was amazing how, even in your last year, the castle could still play you dirty and become an unknown maze for you.

‘And if you’re lost, always follow the light.’ Jihan’s last advice echoed in your mind. You frantically looked around, a faint white glow emanating from one of the halls around you. 

Following it as the light became stronger, one more turn to your right and there she was, leaning against the wall and waving her wand around while it lit the hall with the Lumos incantation.

“Jihan!” You rejoiced after finally having arrived.

“There you are!” Jihan whispered, the few strokes of yellow from her robe dancing with an invisible air as she vaulted up. “I thought you had forgotten!”

“Sorry! A girl from sixth grade held me back because she wanted to talk about dinner? I don’t even know why- And someone else, I think from the fifth grade, gave me this pack of Every Flavor Beans that we can open together later!” You closed in through the hall, rushing to her side. “You wouldn’t be mad with Hogwarts Champion, would you?”

“If you think that gives you a free pass from leaving me waiting for half an hour…” She playfully punched you. “You’ll have to go to one of your crazy fans next time.”

“I already apologized, okay?” You rubbed your arm, right where she had hit you. “I brought the egg, just as you told me t-” 

“Shhhhh…” She was quick to cover your mouth and stop you from taking the egg out of your robes. “Not here, we need to go inside.”

“Inside? Inside where?”

“Pine-fresh!” She turned to the wall, the door in front of her opening with a creak. 

Too amazed by the sight in front of you to notice, Jihan grabbed your hand and pulled you in with a sudden urgency before the door almost slammed right in your face. 

Laying in the middle of the room an indoor pool surrounded by embellished walls and tinted windows of living images, that painted the room in rainbow streaks of light that made the place look… heavenly. 

“What is this place?” You gasped, turning to your best friend. 

“One of the few privileges there is to be Hufflepuff’s prefect!” Jihan crossed her arms as she offered you a sweet smile, prideful .

“Prefects get this bathroom to themselves?!” You scoffed. 

“Well, we share it with Quiddich captains and Head-”

“You think they’ll let me use it after this?” You interrupted her, slightly sulking your shoulders. “Wait… this isn’t gonna get you in trouble right?”

“Only if they catch me!” She chuckled, shrugging her arms to the side. “Now, get that thing out here.”

You understood her order, quickly taking the golden egg out of your robe and raising it to your head level to analyze it. 

“I hope this works because so far it has only worked as a very noisy and huge paperweight.” You groaned, slightly turning it around in your hand. “Not my first choice when it comes to decor either.”

“Can I?...” She reached for it and you let her grab it. Her eyes carefully glazed all over the strange thing before sighing. “Jaehee told me earlier that while walking through the halls, she overheard one Beauxbatons’ girl named Soojin, who is very close to Zoa, talking about this. She heard that apparently you have to open this thing underwater.”

“O-okay…” You tried to put together the mental map in your mind. But with a gasp, you took the egg back from Jihan’s hand and shook it. “Wait, this thing opens up?!”

“Sometimes I wonder how exactly you ended up in Ravenclaw.” Jihan giggled while shaking her head.

“Wait, what-” You stopped shaking the thing to glare back at her, before nodding with a light chuckle, turning to look at the bath already filled and ready. “Well, would you care to join me?”

“Me?” Jihan jumped, completely taken aback by the question. Her cheeks flaring up in tones of pink but barely noticeable in the dim room. “I just brought you here, you don’t need me anymore. In fact, I think it would be better if I left so you can undress-”

“What? No! I already took a bath today, I’m not going to do that!” You chuckled, taking the robe off and untying your tie just to loosen the upper buttons. “We’re just going to dip our heads a bit. Besides, aren’t you curious?”

Jihan’s hesitance dropped significantly with the redness of her cheeks. Slightly biting her lips, she took a step towards you while fidgeting nervously with her hands.

“No one has to know.” You nodded, suggesting she should come even closer while you sat beside the flowing pool. “Not even Jaehee and Soeun for that matter. Like a little secret just between us.”

“Fineee!” She dragged the word, with a contrasting smile over her lips as she took off the robe and imitated your gesture with the shirt. 

Laying down with your stomachs against the floor in the edge of the bath, you carefully lowered the golden egg until it was completely submerged. Searching with your hands for a ledge or something that could open the thing you finally arrived at its top, sighing before trying to turn it. 

“Ready?” You turned to your friend for reassurance.

“I’m always ready!” She cheered. 

Nodding while counting up to three in silence, you dunked your head in the water and turned the golden star over the golden sculpture. 

The pool filled with a golden light that filled both your sight. Exchanging confused glances for a second, a slow and melodic sound arrived to your ears making you snap back to that thing.

“Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground,” A voice sang in an alluring, sweet tone. “And while you're searching ponder this; we've taken what you'll sorely miss.”

A few bubbles were already escaping from your nose, your breath starting to run short. Tightening your gut, you braced yourself to last a few more seconds, enough to listen until the end of the song.

“An hour long you'll have to look, and to recover what we took,” The song turned from calm to more of a warning. “But past an hour, the prospect's black, too late, it's gone, it won't come back.”

The egg snapped closed by itself right as the last note ended. You bolted up in a big breath, immediately followed by Jihan. You stood there a few seconds in complete silence, trying to understand a thing about that. 

“What does that even mean?!” You gasped as you tried to recover your breath. “Why can’t they just say ‘Hey, see you in the Astronomy Classroom at nine! Don’t be late!’. It would be greatly appreciated for once.”

“‘We cannot sing above the ground.’” Jihan repeated to herself. “Is there something that can’t sing above the ground?”

“Me, whales, mermaids, I also think some dolphins-”

“There are some in the Great Lake right?” She turned to you with her eyebrows furrowed.

“Dolphins?” You muttered. “Not as far as I know, but if there’s a giant squid I wouldn’t be surprised if there were dolphins too-”

“No, I wasn’t talking about-”

“OH!” Something clicked in your brain just in time. “You’re talking about the mermaids, right?”

“Yeah.” Jihan giggled. “You’re bright huh?”

“And you’re nice!” You scoffed, rolling your eyes and letting out a really deep sigh. “So the second task has something to do with the mermaids on the Great Lake.”

“They’re going to take something from you.” Jihan shrugged while pulling all her wet hair back, the image entrancing you for a second there. “Maybe something important.”

“I’ll be sure to hide my stack of snacks.” You giggled, caught off guard by your reddening cheeks. “That would be important enough to keep me an hour under water.”

“I doubt that’s what they’ll take but we need to find out, we still have time.” She nodded, while buttoning up her shirt and tightening her tie. “We’ll see the girls at the library later tonight and maybe-”

“Jihan?” You interrupted her before your strike of bravery could fade. Your shaking hands immediately bolting up to try and button up your shirt.

“Yeah?” She slowed down her movements, gently closing up to you. 

“The Yuleball… It’s in less a week and I haven’t figured that one out yet.” You stammered your way through the sentence, leaving a silent gap as you thought of your next words.

“You don’t really have to worry about that,” She chuckled, lightly bumping her elbow to you, before reaching to help you tighten your own tie. “The way everyone was watching you and hoping to get a bit of you in that dancing class McGonagall gave us… You could invite anyone and they wouldn’t resist. No one could ever refuse going to the Yuleball with Hogwarts’ Champion.”

“Including you?” 

The question made Jihan halt her movements and silence up, slowly pulling herself back as she glanced at the floor.

“Me?” She pointed at herself in disbelief. Your usually talkative friend had nothing but one word as an answer, and made your heart start to race.

“Yeah, you.” You muttered. “You said no one could resist so, would you resist if Hogwarts’ Champion asked you to go to the Yuleball with them?”

But she closed her eyes, gently shaking her head. There was something about the way you phrased it and your tone that didn’t quite add up to her. It was like it really wasn’t you inviting her, but the one that the interviews talked about, the one being talked about in the halls.

“Unless you don’t want to or it makes you uncomfortable of course, I just thought that maybe we could-” You cleared your throat, urgently looking elsewhere. “Or even if you already have a date, I’ll completely understand if-”

“I would say yes...” A smile gently took up her lips, perking up in an excited but contained wiggle. 

“Wait, really?!” You gasped, now being the incredulous one.

“Of course.” She quickly continued fixing your tie, now a bit closer to your face. It only makes your heart race faster, and your cheeks paint themselves with a slight hint of pink. “I would love to go to the Yuleball with Hogwarts’ Champion.”

“Oh wow! Okay! Great! Eh-” You snapped as you stood up finishing your tie yourself, part flustered and part rushed. “I should be going, I just remembered that the press- I’m sorry for just leaving like this, I’ll catch up with you guys later, I promise!-”

“Hey, it’s alright…” She stood up beside you, patting you in the back as she watched you stumble your way to the exit while putting your cloak around your neck. “Good luck!”

She sighed as you shyly but enthusiastically waved goodbye and disappeared through the halls. Crossing her arms over her chest she turned around to the images of the mermaids and creatures in the tinted glass, all of them looking curiously at the scene. 

“No telling anyone about this alright?” She pleaded, the mermaids in the windows nodding in agreement and turning away their heads. Except one that tilted theirs in curiosity, enough to make Jihan sigh and drop her arms to her sides. “I’m worried, okay? I don’t want everything to get to their head. Of course I would love to go to the Yuleball with Hogwarts’ Champion but…”

The pause resonated through the room, leaving the gentle waves of the water and the echo bouncing of the room’s walls against her thoughts. 

“I would really prefer going with just… Y/n.”

December 25th

“Did you know about this?” Jihan whispered as she hung on to your arm. You could feel how she trembled alongside you.

“I had no idea. Flitwick just told me!” You whispered, shaking your hands to release some of your nerves. “Do I look alright?”

She took a quick glance at you and immediately stepped forward to fix your neck and gown. You took advantage of the situation to have another good look at her. A red, gleaming gown draped over her body with a white belt over her waist that added just the bit of innocence that Jihan posed well with. Her hair was styled with a half ponytail and she had just enough makeup that didn’t completely mask her face but still made it really hard for you to look away.

After tucking a hair behind your ear, you grabbed one of the fresh roses she had in her pocket and gently pinned it on your hair. 

“It’s going to be fine.” She patted your shoulder, tilting her head in a way that caused something inside you. “We’ve danced before.”

“But we were just playing! Having fun!” You let out, bouncing on your place.

“I don’t see why this should be different.” She grabbed on to your arm and let out a deep sight

“Last time we weren’t dancing in front of the entire school with all eyes over us-” You swallowed hard as a pair of doors opened in front of you. “Oh dear.”

“Just- Focus on me okay?” She tried calming you down as the two pairs before you walked forwards.

Glancing over your shoulder, you met her eyes as you nodded at the same time. With a deep breath, you took a first step into the adorned, well lit, applause-deafening open space where everyone was waiting for the Triwizard Tournament’s Champions to lead the Yuleball’s first dance.

You watched as Zoa, Beauxbatons champion, gracefully greeted the crowds. Monday, Durmstrang’s champion, was marching right behind her causing a stir in some attendants, helping you find Jaehee and Seoun thanks to a loud screech from the latter. 

As soon as your friends turned their attention to you, you found them waving enthusiastically and giving you both thumbs up, only to be drowned among the applause and cheers of your own school colleagues chanting your name.

It all made you drop a weight from your shoulders, taking with them the tremble and nerves that overwhelmed you moments ago.

“I could really get used to this.” You muttered only for Jihan to hear. 

“Oh, I know.” She giggled, hiding the fact that she didn’t like the smug smile that was growing over your lips.

As soon as the three champions took the dance floor, the orchestra filled the room with beautiful music. You grabbed Jihan by the waist, still too shy to bring her too close, but she herself closed the distance that was left. 

Her arms were comfortable and familiar, as you glided with ease around the dance floor. The looks, the cheers, the spotlight, everything faded into the background as your attention only focused on the girl in front of you. 

It was only you, Jihan and those nights you spent with Jaehee and Soeun from your first year all the way here, your last and far from ordinary year. 

Speaking of those two, they joined the dance floor with their respective dates. Occasionally stealing glances from you, winking and cheering.

It was a lovely night, the cold barely noticeable when you surround yourself with friends and an entire school rooting for you.

Refreshments, more dancing, a more juvenile band overtaking the stage and even more dancing. The night went by incredibly fast for you and your friends. You had just stopped for a second while Jaehee, Jihan and Soeun went to grab some drinks.

Some acquaintances from fifth and seven year pulled you with them as they made small talk and babbled over who was closest to you or was your biggest admirer. 

Once you finally freed yourself from that, there was yet another group of people you barely knew already approaching you. You swerved through the crowds trying to lose them, but then you found yourself completely alone.

“Hey Y/n!” A voice you didn’t recognize called your name across the crowds. You snapped to it, searching through the sea of faces. “Over here!”

Not far away, a table with four people waved your way. You recognized two of them, Monday and Zoa, sitting with two strangers looking at you with big smiles and open arms. You hesitated for one second before walking their way, as they took a chair and pulled it out for you. 

“Ah, Y/n!” Monday enthusiastically patted the empty chair beside her. “Come join us at the cool table!” 

“Cool?” You sneered as you closed on them, looking around. “What’s so cool about it?”

Everyone laughed at your not-so-sarcastic comment, shaking their heads before Monday patted the chair once again with more eagerness. You had no choice but to sit with them.

“I told you they were fun!” Monday explained to the two strangers. “Before anything, I think we should start with introductions!”

A short, brown haired girl leaned towards you from behind Monday, excitedly offering her hand to you.

“Hey! Good to finally meet you!” She quickly took your hand, shaking it with surprisingly lots of strength. “I’m Jiyoon, this gal’s future manager!”

“You wish! She’s my best friend. Ride or die since the first year.” Monday chuckled playfully, pushing her shoulder. “And that is…”

“Soojin.” A gorgeous girl leaned over a bit more gently than the latter from behind Zoa, taking your hand delicately and just slightly nodding. “I’m Zoa’s big sister, it’s a pleasure to meet you!”

“The pleasure is mine.” You answered courteously, not completely convinced of your words. “I’m Y/n.”

“Gotta say Y/n…” Monday wrapped her arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to her. “I wouldn’t have expected you to be so nice after our rough start. Thanks for the basket and all the good wishes-”

“The- The what?” You stammered, confused.

“You know, the one filled with flowers and ‘the finest of Honeydukes sweets’ as the letter said.” She reminded you, but those words seemed more out of Soeun’s mouth than yours, the idea of the basket definitely not yours. “My arm is fine now, like new.”

“Glad to hear that.” You muttered, freeing yourself from her grasp. 

“It was only fitting that I returned the favor somehow.” She leaned back into her seat, her smile full of that entitlement that you loathed.

“By doing what? Exactly?” You furrowed your eyes, shaking your head.

“Letting you into our little alliance!” She smashed your back with her hand as everyone else giggled. “I know the tournament pins us against each other, all while proclaiming to bring everyone else together. We just don’t think that’s fair!”

“After all, the only ones who know the true burden of being a champion…” Zoa closed in on me, putting her hand over my leg. “...are the other champions, right?” 

“Then why are they here?” You sneered, pointing out to the other two people on the table.

“Moral support.” Monday shrugged, leaning back against her chair. “Probably our only real moral support.”

“Everyone pretends to be your best friend the moment you’re picked as a school’s champion.” Zoa complemented, almost like they had rehearsed this entire speech before. “We all know how they’ll turn their back on those two that lose the tournament.”

“How about you?” Jiyoon lounged forward, eager to talk to you. “We thought you were quite popular around here, why were you wandering around alone?”

“Did your date also get on your nerves?” Monday asked while grabbing her glass of punch, raising it up to her mouth. “I know mine did, they’re huh… sleeping tight on the maintenance closet.”

“Didn’t you come with your girlfriend?” Soojin pointed out, looking at the crowds far from us.

“Jihan? No! No.” You chuckled, denying with your hands in front of you. “She’s not my girlfriend.” 

“Oh, sorry!” Soojin apologized. “One would’ve thought…”

“No, not at all.” You dismissed her, leaning back on your chair. “I’m not interested in her…”

“So it was that kind of date huh?” Monday nudged your arm. “Needed to take a break?”

“No I…” You glanced over at the crowds for a second, before sighing and staring at the floor. “I just lost her among the crowds.”

“Of course you did.” Zoa giggled. “I ‘lost’ mine too! Didn’t even look like they knew my name, they just kept dragging me around to show me off like I was a trophy.”

“Sounds like a jerk.” Jiyoon commented, gaining everyone’s agreement.

The conversation between them went on as your ears muffled them away, your eyes searching through the crowds for any sign of your friends.

“So what do you say?” Monday’s sudden volume called you back to the table. “Are you joining our alliance?”

“What precisely about it is an alliance?” You furrowed your eyebrows, skeptical of their intentions. “You know we can’t all win the tournament.”

“Of course not.” Monday scoffed, making you feel less than bright. “But we share all our secrets, every clue or lead about the next two tasks. We share our contacts and introduce each other to important people that could even do much more for our future than any prize the tournament could have.”

“But most importantly,” Zoa continued just in cue. “We’ll keep each other safe. We make sure we all get out of the tasks alive, and shield us from all the fake people that surround us. Undying loyalty by your side from people who really understand you.”

“In exchange, the winner gives a cut of the prize money to the other two.” Monday crossed her arms, a smug, confident smile growing over her lips. “And after all of this is over, one will get the cup but all of us three will win. Deal?”

You glared at her hand extended towards yours. Never, in the history of the tournaments that you knew had the champions formed an alliance. On the contrary, some of them became sworn enemies, to the point of actually sabotaging each task or even trying to end each other's life. 

Either this could be an incredibly good deal if you knew how to play your cards correctly, or it could turn into a trap that could lead you to your ultimate demise. 

“Deal.” You slammed your hand against hers, shaking it strongly.

“Awesome!” She closed in on you, closer than what you would be comfortable with. “You bet this will be a historic tournament! Let’s give them a show, shall we?”

“I say we go celebrate!” Zoa raised her hands to the air, standing up from the table. “Far from all this!”

“Agreed!” Monday followed soon after, making you feel little against their towering selves. You had forgotten how tall they were. “Let’s go!”

You agreed to match their energy, their laughter and their chatter. After all, if you really wanted to know what all of this was about, you were not going to get anywhere trying to fend them off.

You did your best to blend with the crowds, trying to exit the ball without anyone noticing the three champions leaving together. One person calling attention to you and this whole operation could be blown off.

“There they are!” Your stomachs sank at the call, yours even more when you immediately recognized the voice as Soeun’s.

The five of you turned around, clear disdain in your fellow champion’s faces. You swallowed, not sure how to handle the situation.

“Y/n?” Jihan was the one stepping up towards the group, Soeun and Jaehee a bit starstruck by your new company. “I’ve been searching for you all over- Oh!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of it.” Monday was quick to put you behind her arm, walking Jihan’s way with Zoa.

“What, wait-” You tried to hold them back to no avail.

“We’re sorry, Y/n is not available at the moment.” Monday started, extending her hand so that your friends stopped in their tracks. “It’s just some… ‘Champions official thing.’”

“Ah!- Sorry,” Jihan giggled, “I’m Jihan! I’m Y/n’s date!”

“We know sweetheart.” Zoa put her hand over Jihan's shoulder, making some weird impulse of running and taking it off to spark inside you, but you managed to repress it. “It’s just that… I don’t know how to put this so that I don't sound rude but…”

“Y/n really need to rest.” Monday walked forwards, imposing herself to the rest. “All of this has been so overwhelming for them, for us even. We just really need to go away for a bit, hope you don’t mind.”

“Hey…” You tried to pitch in, but your weak voice was heard by no one.

“No, hm…” Jihan’s eyes locked on yours as you tried to get to each other with subtle moves that hid fear. “I just want to talk to Y/n for a bit, it’s gonna be quick I promise-”

“Y/n doesn’t want to see you now!” Monday blurted out, regret immediately filling up her factions as she cleared her throat. But you could only step back, completely taken aback by the scene in front of you. “I know it sounds harsh but Y/n is a champion now and with the tasks, we don’t have the time to take every burden-!”

“Burden, of course…” Jihan had stepped back, her posture completely shrunken by the words blurted out at them.

“We hope you don’t misunderstand!” Zoa was quick to notice how people turned to the scene, curious. “We’re just trying to look up for each other. Champions and schools united right?”

“Right…” 

“Thank you so much for understanding!” Monday chuckled, before scoffing and looking over their shoulders. “Now, in between us, you should really go try that thing beside the shrimps in the refreshments table. It looks weird but it’s worth it.”

“Really?!” Soeun was trapped with Monday’s wink as she squeezed Jaehee’s arm in excitement. 

“Really. You’ll thank me later.” The champion shrugged, crossing her arms. “Keep having a great night!”

Jaehee was pulled away by Soeun, who didn’t hesitate one bit to follow Monday’s suggestion, but Jihan stayed looking up at her with an uneasy glance.

But your fellow champions just turned around, catching up with you. You felt Jihan’s stare as both of them grabbed you from your shoulders and dragged you away.

“That was close huh?” Monday nudged you in the arm, but your mind wasn’t entirely into the conversation that followed.

You wanted to say something. You really did. But what? What could not make a scene or ruin your chances of discovering Monday and Zoa’s hidden intentions? At least you knew Jihan enough and hoped that she understood.

The evening went by with the other champions dragging you around the school, hiding from the big bulks for crowds. To your own surprise, you had realized how much you had misjudged them. 

Zoa was a really competent and intelligent witch, but cared and respected her big sister and studied more than anyone you could know. You learned how she kept her head high because Soojin told her to do so every time she felt nervous and insecure. Something that didn’t look like it was possible from an outside point of view.

And Monday was this very clever and direct person, but incredibly attentive and warm too with the people she cared for. Her and Jiyoon told you stories about all their mishaps from the first year, including the time Jiyoon became incredibly ill from a misfiring prank and had to stay in care for a long time. 

They included you, made you feel welcome and a part of them. So much that you had even forgotten at one point they weren’t from Hogwarts or people you had just met that year.

And they weren’t wrong either, the breath out and far from the spotlight was a very needed one. 

But when the night dawned over everyone and only a few students were still awake, they too retired to their resting quarters, leaving you in the middle of the school and its spacious halls. 

You walked with your jacket over your shoulder to your dorm, your shirt with loosened buttons and your hair far from the neat, fixed updo with which you started the Yule Ball.

A deep sigh near you startled you, but not enough to shrug it off as maybe one of the castle’s ghosts or any surprises that the castle had. But when you walked the corner, you stopped your tracks at the sight of a familiar silhouette sulked on the stairs, draped with a pastel pink dress.

“Jihan!” You called her, making her raise her head to you.

Her head snapped up in surprise, but her entire figure shrunk at the sight of you.

“Y/n…” She sighed, pushing herself up.

“What are you doing here?” You approached her, offering her a helping hand in standing up which she ignored. “I thought you were-”

“One of your new ‘important’ friends?” She fixed her gown, dusting it away.

Her words shocked you, but the flat tone she answered you with stood up to you even more. She was usually warmer, more bright. 

“You’re mad about it?” You reached for her arm, stroking it lightly “I swear I didn’t mean to-”

“I’m not mad, okay?” She interrupted you, gently straying away from your touch and trying to walk to the other side. “I understand, you need your space because everything is overwhelming. I get it, don’t worry.”

“Are you sure you’re not mad?” You furrowed your eyebrows, turning to her. “It’s just that I get the impression that-”

“I’m not, I swear.” She chuckled, but every sound that came out of her mouth was ingrained with some kind of pain. Her weak smile dropped with a sigh, as her eyes focused on the floor. “Maybe I’m a bit sad. All of this made me realize that sometimes the people you think you know better change...”

“Oh c’mon,” You plead your case, raising your hands. “I didn’t change, I promise.”

“Oh really?” She sneered, snapping her head up to meet your eyes. And her question was sarcastic, defiant. It was finally angry. “The Y/n I know would’ve never let anyone talk to me like that.”

“That wasn’t me okay?” You walked to her, defending yourself. “You need to understand, they offered me a really great deal, I couldn’t ruin it-”

“Money. They offered you money” Jihan spitted, raising her voice in a way she had never done with you. “Jaehee and Soeun heard Monday talking to her friend-”

“Jiyoon.” You corrected her, still trying to plead your case. “And it’s not just money Jihan. It’s protection, help and just overall support that could mean life or death in those tasks, coming from people who really get what I’m going through.”

“I’m glad you were able to find that,” Her words sounded hurt. She crossed her arms, not trying to fend you off but defending herself. “But you could’ve just tell us that our support wasn’t enough..”

“I didn’t mean that-”

“We tried alright? We really did. I really did.” A stray tear caressed its way down her cheek, and only then it dawned on you that you had screwed everything over. “I get it, the tournament changes lives, people… You’re a champion now, you have to surround yourself with people of your level. Nobodies are not really the kind of connections that you would want to have.”

“Jihan, I never said-”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to.” She cleaned up the tear, shrugging while she turned around and continued her path. “You wanted to give them a show, I just don’t want to be a part of it. Not like this.”

“Jihan-” Your hand reached for her but missed, and you weren’t sure if to run behind her, leaving enough time for her to get to the other side of the hall, halting unexpectedly.

“Good luck on the second task Y/n.” She muttered, looking at you over her shoulder. “Go Hogwarts.”

February 21st

You rubbed your eyes as you entered the bright, sunrise lit Great Hall. Tables were slowly filling themselves with waking students eager for a hearty breakfast that could withstand the exciting day.

Unlike you who just wanted to get all of this over with as soon as possible. They weren’t the ones having to jump into the freshly-thawed waters of the Great Lake in a few hours.

“Y/n!” One first-year student waved at you from their table.

“Hey…” You nodded back at them with a weak smile, making him and his entire group of friends chuckle excitedly. 

You were just recovering from that one interaction when a mob of fourth graders rushed into the room with cheers and horns. As you turned, you discovered them with face paint and banners. They pointed at you, erupting in a loud roar.

“Go Hogwarts!” Those precise words pierced your heart in a wound still way too fresh. But they were so into their chaos to notice your anxiety.

“Go… Hogwarts.” You muttered, imitating very forcely their celebratory gestures.

They quickly went to their respective table, letting you catch a breath as you searched for your seat. A pair of hands raised up and waved your way, Monday and Zoa smiling your way from a corner of the room, remote enough from the rest of the students.

“Hard to miss that kind of entrance.” Monday sneered as you approached them.

“Don’t mention it.” You scoffed, letting yourself fall into your seat and leaving your bag of things beside you.

“Glad you finally made it,” Zoa  gently put her hand over yours, offering you a comprehensive and warm grin. “We were starting to worry about you.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” You muttered, rubbing your temples. “I couldn’t really get much sleep last night.”

“Neither did we.” Monday groaned, grabbing a piece of whatever she was having for breakfast. “Especially after you mentioned the giant squid thing.”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about it.” You giggled, punching her lightly in her arm. “It’s pretty friendly.”

“Still a giant squid.” She shrugged.

“Where are the others?” You looked around for Soojin and Jiyoon, who usually joined you three.

“We have no idea,” Zoa shared a concerned glance with Monday, before addressing you back. “I was just going to ask you if you had seen Soojin around.”

“No, I’m sorry Zoa.” You sighed, shaking your head. “I haven’t been paying much attention either, I’m very lightheaded.”

“Eat something before we go, you’ll feel better.” Monday nudged at the empty plate in front of you, concern clear all over her glance.

“Sure, let me just…” You reached for your bag to search for something, but your hands encountered something that you were sure you had not put there yourself. “Huh?”

A closed plastic bag with a paper attached to it, a paper that felt made from the same materials of some of your books. 

You snapped your head up, trying to see if anyone could have put that in your bag while you weren’t looking. But there was no one being suspicious enough of something like that. 

Something in your mind, maybe a voice or your subconscious told you to keep it a secret, not tell anything about it to Zoa or Monday. You followed your gut and ignored the thing, leaving it right there.

Breakfast was quick and silent in between you three, with all the students from all schools gathering and decorating the room with loud battles of school pride, some of them so immersed in their chants that they didn't even notice the three champions were eating together in peace just a few feet away from them.

So far, after the fiasco that occurred after the Yuleball, you had stuck with Zoa and Monday, showed them around the place and hung out when you could. You still had your guards up, but every day that you spent with them made you think that the whole entire alliance thing could be genuine.

You could see it in their faces, the worry building up on Monday and Zoa’s faces. You wouldn’t be surprised if it was noticeable in your face too. People were betting right in front of your faces, over things that were dangerous enough that had claimed lives in the past.

They turned their faces from time to time to search in between the droves of people entering the Great Hall for Soojin and Jiyoon, but never to any avail. You didn’t bother, there wasn’t anyone left for you to search like that.

“Well, time to go.” Monday sighed, looking at the clock on the wall.

“But they never showed up.” Zoa’s voice cracked a bit, surprising you. Her eyes frantically looked around through the crowds.

“I’m sure they’ll catch up with us.” Monday patted her shoulder, offering her an insecure smile. “I hope.” 

You just looked as they stood up, remembering the mysterious bag and note in your bag. Shuffling around, you grabbed a piece of bread and put it on your plate to take as an excuse.

“You guys go ahead, I'll catch up later too.” You cleared your throat, taking a bite of the bread.

“Sure, we’ll see you there!” Monday slammed your back, almost making you spit out. “Just don’t eat that much or you’ll get cramps.” 

“Oh and…” Zoa fidgeted her hand nervously. “If you see Soojin or Jiyoon just tell them we've been looking for them.”

“I will.” You nodded and they did in return before heading out of the room. 

You waited until there was no one in sight to scrape through your bag and find that bag, only for your fingers to find a viscous and slimy texture covering them up. 

Having been trapped inside the plastic bag itself you raised it up to discover some kind of green, maybe grayish thing that looked like rat tails. You slammed the bag over the table in disgust, quickly cleaning your hand with one of the cloth napkins around. 

You looked for the piece of paper and unfolded it, and realized that in fact it was a ripped page of an Herbology book detailing every property of this weird slimy thing that was now in your hands. 

“Gillyweed?-”

“Y/n?” A voice behind you made you jump and scramble to put everything back in your bag. 

You snapped around only to find Jaehee and Soeun standing there, staring back at you with serious faces.

“Hey guys!” You greeted them with a nostalgic, almost excited tone. Quickly remembering that you had also grown apart from them. “Eh…”

“You tell her.” Soeun pushed Jaehee to the front, as the latter rolled her eyes. 

“Hey Y/n,” Jaehee had no problem talking to you, asking in a warmer voice that you greatly appreciated. “Have you seen Jihan?”

“No. I- I haven’t, I'm sorry.” You sighed in disappointment, rubbing behind your neck.  “She hasn’t talked to me since the Yule Ball…”

“Yeah, we know.” Soeun cut you up dryly from behind Jaehee. “We already asked everyone else. We just wanted to be sure.”

“Sure…” You muttered. “I’ll let you know if I see her.”

They silently nodded, awkwardly looking around and turning to head out of the room.

“By the way,” Jaehee turned around, walking backwards beside the other girl. “Good luck on today’s task Y/n.”

“Thanks Jaehee.” You answered with a gentle smile, which she quickly returned and turned back around to continue her path.

With that strange interaction leaving a sour taste in your mouth, you looked down to your hand still stuck inside your bag, grabbing on to the strange plant. 

You scanned around, just a very few pairs of eyes actually noticing your presence there, and with more arriving in flocks it was a perfect time to fade into the background as you exited the Great Hall. 

You rushed out of the castle, avoiding the crowds gathering and making their way to watch you and the other champions battle their way into the Great Lake. 

After changing yourself with the attire given to you for the task, a very uncomfortable swimming suit in a dark blue hue, the Hogwarts logo shining in gold on your back and your house insignia over your left chest. 

But when you arrived at the shore, there was nothing but a series of boats waiting. In the distance you could make up a tall, steel-made structure towering in the middle of the lake. 

You shrugged, getting into one of the boats as it filled with other excited students, eager and honored with sharing the same space as you. But everything they told you muffled out, your heart ramping up as the closer you got to the steel structure, the more people you saw already gathered and ready to witness the second task.

Just arriving in the middle and biggest platform you found Zoa and Monday already getting ready with their own headmasters.

"Did you find them?" Zoa was quick to ask you as soon as she saw you, startling you.

“They’re not here?” You came to a screeching halt, starting to really worry.

“No…” Monday assured both of you, looking straight at the floor. You could even say her voice was starting to shake a bit. “They should be on their way though.”

“But there aren’t any more boats coming.” Zoa quickly refuted. 

“Well, then they must be in the crowd.” Monday's voice finally broke, swallowing hard. “We- we just can’t see them.”

“Yeah, they should be…” You echoed her, trying to calm yourself too. Soon you remembered the slimy plant waiting in your bag, as you quickly got it out and handed them a sprig of it. "Hey, eat this when I give you the sign.”

“What the hell is this?!” Monday’s face immediately contorted in disgust as she stared at the thing you had just left on her hand.

“Gillyweed.” You assured them, trying to focus while the sound of a speaker boomed around the structures. “Just- trust me okay?”

“Welcome to the second task.” Dumbledore’s voice overtook the cold air, the student's loud cheers almost drowning it out. “Last night, something was stolen from each of our champions, a treasure of sorts. These three treasures, one for each champion, now lie at the bottom of the Great Lake.”

As far as you had checked, everything in your room was tidy and orderly. The nerves that kept you up almost all night made sure that every single tiny noise snapped up your ears and woke you up. Pretty sure you would have noticed anyone or anything trying to steal something from you.

“Are you sure about this?” Zoa played with the plant on her fingers, its texture leaving a trail of mucus over her fingers.

“In order to win, each champion will need to find their treasure and return to the surface.” The headmaster’s instructions scrambled up with your thoughts and the other two girls talking to you. “They will have one hour to do so, and one hour only.”

"Now?" Monday asked, breaking up your thought train.

"Now." You sighed. 

The three of you closed your eyes, and tried not to breathe as you shoved the grotesque plant in your mouth. The taste could only be described as dirty water, while the texture in itself made all of you start gagging.

Find the treasure and return to the surface. Sounds easy if you at least knew what you were searching for. But there was nothing missing.

“After that, they’re on their own. No magic will save them. They may begin at the sound of the canyon.”

There was nothing missing. No, there was. But it wasn’t a thing. It was people.

"Y/n?..." Zoa’s voice was only a choked whisper to you.

People were missing. People important to every single one of you. Jiyoon, Soojin… Jihan.

“I can’t breathe.” Monday coughed, her hand reaching up to her chest.

Because the treasure was never something material, but someone.

A gasp filled your lungs with air, choking you up too. Your eyes widened in response to the newly arrived clarity in your brain, and you snapped your head to warn the other two girls.

“Wait!-" 

BANG!