Alex Weasley: Book 3

26

"Hello, you must be here for the brew-off?" A woman greeted them at the door. Alex turned to Cedric.

"Ced? What is this?" She pulled him to the side.

"Well, you know how there's a Wizarding schools potions championship every seven years?" She nodded. "I thought it might be something you're interested in. And I found out that there's a nationals competition every year. Participants who win generally take part in the championship. This brew-off is the first step to the nationals. I figured since the championship's in two years, this could be practice, you know? Please tell me the blank expression on your face is you being thrilled on the inside?" She gave him a hug, squeezing him tightly.

"I'm really, really thrilled and I think it's so sweet that you did all this for me." She giggled as he audibly sighed in relief.

"Come on. It starts in fifteen minutes, and you still need to get set up." He nudged her towards the entrance.

"I don't have any equipments."

"They provide it. To stop people from cheating."

"I haven't practiced."

"Haven't you?" She frowned before her eyes widened.

"I had no idea you were so sneaky. You went to Snape? All those extra potion sessions after my DADA lessons?"

"Did I do good?"

"This is the best thing anyone's ever done for me." She told him. His smile widened and he led her inside.

"Hi. Again." The hostess seemed a little annoyed. "Just head in through there and sign in. There's approximately sixteen minutes and twenty seconds before the brew-off commences." Alex nodded and followed Cedric to the front.

"Name?" There was a man sitting at a desk.

"Alex Weasley."

"Application form?" Cedric pulled a folded parchment out from his pocket and handed it over. He looked through it twice, his eyes widening in surprise. He tapped his wand on the paper and it glowed green. "Contestants through there. Family and friends there." He pointed at two different doors next to each other.

"Thanks." Cedric said and the students headed to the doors, stopping once they would be separated. "I'll be watching the whole time." He promised.

"Thanks. I'll look out for you." She said, before leaning forward to give him another hug. Changing her mind, she instead gave him a kiss on the cheek and darted into the door leading to the hall. Cedric grinned widely.

"Oi, move it, would ya." He heard from behind and saw a rather large man looking impatient. Muttering an apology, he rushed into the spectators' room and found a seat at the front. There was a screen, separating the spectators and the contestants. Seats filled up the spectators room while the contestants all had a workstation each to themselves. Cedric found Alex relatively easy, despite the protection suit each contestant was forced to wear. He smiled, but quickly realised the screen must have been one way since she didn't seem to see him.

"Alright, potioneers!" A woman at the front said. "We'll be starting relatively simple for this first competition. You have five minutes until it begins. When the clock reaches ten you will have two hours to brew a sleeping potion- not to be confused with draught of the living death. Your ingredients will appear on your potions rack as soon as the clock hits ten. Any cheating will immediately disqualify you. You will be graded by the accuracy of your potion, the time it took you to make said potion and the amount of ingredients used. During the competition, you are not permitted to use any fact sheets or to speak to your neighbours. You are not allowed to look at those around you to see their progress. You are not allowed to talk to those around you to exchange tips. Some of you come highly recommended from prestigious potions masters. This is not a guarantee of a place in the championship. You will succeed on your merit only. Prizes will be announced at the end of the session. There is ten seconds until the start of the competition. I wish you all the best of luck. And three... two... one... begin!" The clock turned red signifying the start of the brew-off.

An hour into the competition, a few house elves came around offering refreshments. Cedric took a cup of blackcurrant juice. A woman sitting next to him leaned over.
"And who are you with, dear?"

"My friend." He said.

"Isn't that sweet? My son's the one right up front. He's been under the tutelage of Damocles Belby himself." She bragged.

"Belby. Any relation to Marcus Belby?" Cedric asked.

"His brother's son. They don't get along much, these days, but he's a wonderful mentor. Which one's your friend?"

"Oh, I can't really see her properly." He lied. "I think my view's blocked."

"Oh, of course. You're a Hogwarts student, aren't you?" There was a note of disdain in her tone.

"Yes. Does your son go to Hogwarts?"

"Oh, good heavens no! He goes to Ilvermorny." Cedric nodded, his smile slightly strained. "So has your friend got any sponsors, or is she on her own?"

"She has a sponsor." Technically, Alex had two, but he didn't know how much information he should share with this... overly concerned parent. He turned back to the screen hoping she'd take the hint and stop talking to him.

Alex was the tenth person to finish, with a half hour to spare. As soon as the invigilator took her potion away, she was directed to a door. He watched the door appear beside the screen and saw her walk in. She looked around and saw him, and went to sit with him.
"That was so cool!" She muttered breathlessly, melting in the chair beside him.

"I'm proud of you."

"You can't say that until we know if I've gotten through to the next round."

"I know you have. And either way, I'd be proud of you regardless."

"That's what people say to losers."

"You're doing this to wind me up, aren't you?"

"Depends, is it working?"

"It's never gonna work."