Asphodel and Wormwood

Prohibited Magic

The weeks following Viktor's discovery about the challenge awaiting the champions during the first task had been the most hectic of Hermione's life. On top of her schoolwork and mastery project, she had spent the last month meeting with Blaise to review upper-level charms capable of penetrating dragon hide and balancing helping two champions prepare for their official introduction to the Triwizard Tournament. Fleur's jealous nature had flared up more than once at the division of Hermione's attention, claiming that it would hurt her chances of winning the tournament in the long run. Today would be the true test of whether or not their preparation had been sufficient.

Hermione stood at the back of the Champion's Tent, sneaking a look between the canvas panels meant to keep outsiders from intruding on the four students' final preparations. Around the corner she could hear the red-haired wizard she'd snuck by earlier, giving instructions to members of his team. He was obviously a dragon tamer based on the protective clothing that covered his broad chest and long legs. Other than his muffled voice, silence surrounded the area - in direct contrast to the buzzing energy enveloping the arena just a few hundred yards away.

Flicking her wand with ease, a tempus charm revealed that there was just under half an hour before the task was set to begin. Hermione braved another look through the panels, attempting to catch the eye of the blonde half-veela seated across the enclosure who was methodically tightening her fire-resistant gloves. Tired of waiting for the witch to look her way by chance, Hermione wordlessly produced a small breeze that caused Fleur's ponytail to tickle the back of her neck, drawing her attention towards the interloper. Cerulean eyes widened with recognition as Fleur stood and approached, obviously attempting to not draw attention to herself during the process.

Like that would ever be possible.

Hermione watched Harry and Cedric's eyes trail the beautiful young woman they'd soon be competing against as she crossed the tent. Despite her intentions to solely focus on Fleur, Hermione felt her gaze shift to Viktor's muscular frame. Assuming that he would also be ogling her friend, she was surprised to find his eyes resting on her. When she finally dared to look at his face, one side of his mouth pulled up to produce a smirk he wore like a badge of honor.

Beside her, a soft sigh of indignation broke her trance. "I should have known better than to think you were only coming here to check on me; you can't seem to go a full minute without seeking out Krum's approval lately."

Hermione looked at her closest friend through the gap in the makeshift canvas wall and shook her head with a condescending laugh before delivering a reply that dripped with sarcasm. "I appreciate your vote of confidence in where both my loyalties and priorities lie, Fleur."

The part-veela paused before replying, pinning Hermione with a sharp look before crossing her arms over her chest.. "It's not my fault that I'm suddenly wary of who holds your true allegiance The shift is a direct result of the sudden change in your entire personality. In the five years, we've been friends, I've never known you to get distracted by anything, let alone by a boy."

"Oh, give it a rest," Hermione spit back, hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"No, I don't think that I will. The girl who chastised me for looking at Roger Davies in the Great Hall a couple of months ago now has one young man following her around like a puppy, while she waits for a different one to give her the time of day, and that doesn't even bring into question the fact that magic has been radiating off of you recently like you've become a conduit of some kind."

Fleur tilted her head to the side with an expectant look, clearly waiting for some sort of explanation. Hermione didn't have a good rebuttal; it was true that the amount of magic she'd been using recently should have depleted her core, leaving her feeling exhausted. Instead she was experiencing the exact opposite, feeling more powerful than she'd ever felt - magical fatigue was no longer a barrier to her extracurricular activities.