Brutal. | Fred Weasley

three!

Madame Maxime disappears again as quickly as she had come back, though nobody else knew she'd returned apart from those who had seen her in the hallways. Talk of the Second Task starting soon spreads through the school as the latter half of February draws nearer. Letters from Aurelia are being sent to Fleur by owl every two days, switching birds so that none of them get too exhausted. She's excited for her friend to show just how talented she is again. School drags by as people get more and more excited for any scrap of news from Hogwarts. Many have relied on Aurelia's friendship with Fleur, but she'd kept conversations like that brief and had painted Fleur in the absolute best light (because she can't really imagine anything more terrifying than having every move scrutinised by everyone).

Meanwhile, Aurelia's focus has been on pushing her magical ability as far as possible to keep Dumbledore's idea of moving her to Hogwarts firmly out of her thoughts. She's not unfamiliar with the headmaster, but she definitely avoids seeing him as often as possible. He's all blue eyes and stern looks, distrustful and secretive. It's ironic how he can be so closed off and yet implicitly trusted by so many, but the second that Aurelia would rather keep something to herself, she's treated with disrespect and scrutiny. She, however, wouldn't trust that man as far as she can throw him and that's the way she likes it. She's in the middle of making a Potion when an older student, one of the few who hadn't gone to Hogwarts as a potential participant, knocks and requests Aurelia. She frowns, this potion being one of her favourites to make at this level.

"It's alright, you can finish it another time," her teacher nods as Aurelia collects her things. She wanders through the extensive, bright corridors of Beauxbatons, arriving at the headmistress's office for the second time in a couple of weeks. She hasn't been here that frequently for anything other than being in trouble before. She's wary before she can even knock on the door, but she shrugs away her concerns over whatever this could be about and knocks. She hears Madame Maxime call for her to come in. She's speaking English, something that also strikes Aurelia as strange. She wouldn't be unless she had company. Aurelia quickly checks her pale blue uniform before pushing the door open and sending her headmistress a smile.

"You asked for me, Madame Maxime?" She makes a point of speaking French as soon as she recognises the British Minister for Magic and Albus Dumbledore, among some other faces that she can't quite place.

"Aurelia, you already know Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, and Headmaster Dumbledore," Madame Maxime nods. She gestures to a man who looks incredibly nervous. He's short, slightly round and looks as though he's far past his prime. "This is Mr Ludo Bagman, Head of the Division for Magical Sports and Games. He's one of the people responsible for the Triwizard Tournament being held this year."

"Nice to meet you, Mr Bagman," she says, holding her hand out for him to shake. She stares at him expectantly as he clearly struggle with whether or not to extend his hand in return. She's just about to drop her hand awkwardly when he grasps it firmly and shakes it quickly.

"And you, Miss Riddle."

Madame Maxime shows her appreciation for Aurelia's tolerance before moving on. "This is Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress of Hogwarts." She stands confidently, moving faster than Bagman to shake Aurelia's hand. She wears deep emerald robes and a pointy hat, her slowly greying hair tied into a tight bun. She seems much less bothered than Bagman had been.

"Have we met before?" Aurelia asks, squinting slightly and tilting her head. There's something unnervingly familiar about Professor McGonagall.

"I don't believe so, Miss Riddle, but it is nice to finally meet you," the woman replies with a small smile. Her Scottish accent is a sharp contrast from the softer French accents that Aurelia is used to, but it's a nice change. Aurelia returns the smile before turning back to Madame Maxime with curious eyes.

"Please, take a seat," Madame Maxime says, gesturing to the seat in front of her desk. Aurelia drops her bag by her feet and sits in the chair confidently. "As you well know, Fleur is going to be completing the Second Task in a few days. For this, we need someone that Fleur cares about deeply. Initially, we were considering her sister, Gabrielle, but we decided that she was too young to participate. My thoughts then went to you. You've been friends with Fleur for many years now, since you started at this school, especially because of your further education." There's a tinge of pride as Madame Maxime lays this out for everyone. "You don't have to accept, of course, but we would like to explain to you what it would entail."

Aurelia nods. "I'm willing to listen."

"What we say," Mr Bagman says in what Aurelia assumes is his sternest voice, "must not leave this office. It would give Fleur an unfair advantage if she knew what was coming before the Task." Aurelia has to repress a laugh. She probably already knows. Everyone knows that nobody follows the rules about solo participation. Instead, she just nods.

"For the Second Task, Miss Delacour must make her way to the bottom of the Black Lake on the Hogwarts grounds," Dumbledore explains. "At the bottom, the Merpeople will be... holding, for lack of a better term, someone close to the Champions. No harm will come to any of the people chosen to participate, but you will need to be put into a magical sleep that will break once your head breaks the surface of the Lake."

Aurelia looks to Madame Maxime. "How long will I be at Hogwarts after the Task?" she asks.

"A day or two at most," Madame Maxime answers, understanding that she's apprehensive of the British school and their tendency to base everything on last names. "Then you'll be back in France." She nods as she digests the information, weighing up the two options. If she does go, perhaps she can have a little look around. She'll be able to maybe consider Dumbledore's urge to get her in England. She'll also be able to see the main bulk of her friends again, something she'd missed this year.

"I'll do it," she accepts, sending Madame Maxime a small smile. "It'll be nice to see them all again, at least."

"I'll have your bag taken back to your dorm, Aurelia. For now, please lay down on the desk," the headmistress says, gesturing to the wooden furniture in front of her. She sends her a confused and slightly weirded out look before complying. She lays back on the wood and the last thing she sees is Madame Maxime waving her wand and the utterance of a spell.