The beaming Lockhart nodded, "That sounds awesome! We'll do that" but it sort of needed to be soon, before the ice could melt, after that they'll only slide into the lake, which didn't sound less fun that the former idea.

He eyed the maze again, "I don't know, the Champions, possibly" a shrug came to his shoulders. You know, he hoped the Champions were already in there, otherwise they'd be staring into an empty maze.

That's why you don't bring a book to the Stands, you may miss a thing or two.

He was shaking his head, "Nothing they can't handle, that's sure" he'd told Arya that same thing when he was trying to cheer her up, and it was true, Headmaster Tate wouldn't make them go through something they couldn't handle.

"They'll be all fine, you'll see" they all got out alive last time, bloody, but alive.

A boy! Finally! Another boy! And one that supported Fletcher, and Fletcher only, right?

"Keefer! I've been doing great, I think" if you left the Niffler things aside, and everything else. "How about you?" because he hadn't seen the boy since that time in class...er, whatever lesson it was.

"I don't know who'll win, sadly" he was shaking his head in disappointment, if only he had the sight, "But I'm hoping Fletcher does...." cue serious inquiring face, "...you DO support him, right?" serious glaring eyes looked at Keefer. He better say he was. If Treyen heard him say 'Raiden', then he'll make him go back to the Castle.

"I'm really cold. You?" Amber laughed, sitting down next to him. "Thanks! Yeah, I wasn't very prepared was I? Next time I'll bring my own blanket and some hot chocolate." She grinned, laughing with him. "Yeah, I like to cheer the Hogwarts champions on. Plus Nikolai, but that's only to embarrass him." She smiled, taking Brant's arm hostage as a heating device. Why did she decided to do this again? Oh yeah, team spirit. "Yeah, I'm kind of thinking of doing that myself."

Carter laughed. "Kinda. I want to play quidditch." he said. Quidditch players were famous right?

Carter nodded as he took a few notes. Kita felt about the same way that he did about the tournament. "That's a really good point. The whole school unity thing. I never really thought about that." he said writing that bit down.

He chuckled. "Thanks. I've had a bit of experience doing this now." That is, if you counted interviewing the quidditch captains last year as experience.

The girl nodded, and did nothing else but that.

It can happen. Sure. It shouldn't have, but it did, and there was no point on regretting it. All she could do now was support the ones that were still fighting for their place in the Tournament, and..well, she actually liked the freedom it came with not being able to move forward.

A freedom from Zitnik. Entirely.

Then the ferret. Draco? Danika laughed, a very real and nice laugh, "I am positive the real Draco Malfoy vould have liked that" she commented, it was rather funny that Grayson decided to name him Draco, just when the real person had been turned into a ferret at least once in his lifetime.

It was rather funny.

"How do you manage to keep him so still?" because it was barely moving, and they weren't usually like that. "Do you mind?" she said, hand raised as if asking if she could pet him just a bit. Yes, Danika loved all things living, as hard as it would be to believe it, it was true.

She smiled back, and certainly hoped he didn't get into trouble with Lafay. That Professor was as close as to a Durmstrang one would be, and Detentions with her must not be a very wise thing.

For some reason she thought she knew the boy from somewhere else, other than Hogwarts, but couldn't place him.

"Miss Malfoy..." She said spotting a girl that kept looking their way. "Come sit with us. You seem... alone." She ordered. "There is space right here." She said motioning to the spot.

"Miss Malik, I assume you are cheering for one of your classmates? Or did one of ours or one of the other school take your favor?" She asked. The French boy was rather handsome... and the 'glitterpuff' as the student's called him, was not horrible to look at... Her own Prefect was not bad looking, and well... she could see how the girls would want to cheer for them. Not that looks had ever mattered to her now, or when she was young. Her first husband was old and had been disfigured by a potion in his youth... but he had been her first love nevertheless.

Someone else with a ferret?? Ewww... disgusting, they weren't even good potion ingredients... Just ewww... "Just be careful with those things... they are viscous. And those fangs are sharp." She said.

She was arguing with her about her attitude?!? Before Hecate could get angry with the girl for talking back, she looked up at her and saw her goofy smile. She couldn't help but smile. "Shut up Caddock. Just apologize for how you came off, and let's move on." She said.

"I see..." She said of his disinterest in potion. "Not many people have the ability to become a potioneer.... I'm just glad you turn in your homework and pay attention in class. I am aware of your stronger skills, and am disappointed you won't be captaining this term. I will write you a recommendation, if you need." She said with a nod.

"Yes! Awesome!" Ellie beamed and held her hand up for a super-awesome high five of awesomeness. "It's gonna be so much fun!" She could picture it in her head. The frosty air whipping their faces as the slid down some awesome Hogwartsian hill.

She chuckled at his answer. That was too obviously true. Definitely the champions. "I wonder what they're doing..." she said. She realized they had basically just gone over it. But, it was all that really could be discussed about the task. If only they had SOME idea of what was in store for the champions, conversation would be much better.

The girl nodded. "I'm sure they're all alright and doing brilliantly." If only they could SEE.

Could you tell that bugged her? Missing quidditch to watch nothing? And knowing friends are in possible danger, but not knowing to what extent? It kind of made her wonder whether the task was more torturous, or waiting to know the results...

Then she turned to the newcomer. Keefer? Er... "Hi, I'm Ellie."

She smiled at her friend's Fletcher comment. So far, he has been almost on his own with that. Not that she didn't support him, either. Just second to Raiden. That wasn't a bad thing, right?

He was just a little bit late but he had a legitimate excuse - the flying rocks had to be put away and he needed to grab his bag of sour gummy worms.

There was much cheering and oohing and ahhing as he made his way through the Stands and plopped down next to Hecate Lefay.

"So, wadda I miss?" Vindictus asked and pulled out a sour gummy worm from his treat bag. "Want one?"

He held up his worm and slurped it. His lips puckered up and his eyes squinted shut in reaction to the unmistakable sour taste of the sweet.

To the unsuspecting, it looked like the Flying professor had his lips puckered up for a kiss.

As her attempt to make Danika feel better only got a simple nod, Grayson wasn't sure if she'd really said the right thing or not. It wasn't exactly something she was used to. Talking her way out of things, sure, but making people feel better was still something she was working on. The Durmstrang girl seemed like she was thinking about a lot, too, which led Grayson to simply pay attention to everything else. The conversations Professor Lafay was having, the maze, anything other than feeling awkward about making her new acquaintance think so much. But at the laugh, she grinned. That seemed so normal, and not awkward. "I guess. I mean, he might not want the reminder, but it's pretty funny," she commented. It seemed Danika must know the stories after all, which made her like the girl more.

A thoughtful look crept onto her face, though, at the next question posed. "I don't know that I do anything, really. He's just really comfortable with me. And maybe it's a bit 'cause of the cold. Like, he likes being curled up there 'cause it helps him keep warmer." Draco'd just always been like that. Kind of hyper when she was, but pretty calm otherwise. It balanced her out a lot. But she smiled again as it seemed Danika wanted to pet him. "It's okay. He likes pets, as long as you don't move too fast." Or do any of the long list of things certain people like her little brother kept doing. Or be a cat.

Her eyes widened as Professor Lafay spoke again, though, realizing the professor had noticed Draco. Probably because of her conversation with Danika. Turning her head slightly to look at the woman again, she wanted to shrug, but thought it would look bad. "Draco's only vicious when people are mean, but I'm always careful," she said, a bit hesitatingly. She didn't want it to seem like she was talking back. Not to Lafay.

But she was saved by Professor Vindictus suddenly showing up and taking the seat she'd left open between her and the Potions professor, and she bit back a giggle at how he was acting. "Hi Professor Vindictus," she said. Not wanting to be accused of being rude to professors. Like the Head Boy had been, when it came to Professor Lafay. And besides, she still sort of idolized her head of house after last term. And right now it almost seemed like he was rescuing her from the scary awkwardness that was dealing with the Potions professor's dislike of her pet. Although at least maybe it meant she wouldn't eat him, like she'd been afraid of.

"Naw Im not really that cold and yes you need to be more prepaired." he laughed. "Oh hot chocolate that sounds good right about now." while still looking up and down the stands to see who came out to watch. "Well I would love for Hogwarts to win, but I think there could be a safer way to have a triwizard turny. I just believe its too dangerous for students, I think it would be great for Adults."

Brant was quickly taken by surprise when Amber took hostage of his arm, he started to go red in the face. No one has done that since Miranda and they were still dating, just because she was a professonal quidditch player now didn't mean they had to break up. But he didn't want to think of her taking his arm they were great friends and that was it. Brant managed a smile at amber.

"Yeah... maybe." She nodded at Enya before the latter asked the most annoying thing. Here we come at Enya's sensitive side; caring. "I care about what you do because I happen to know you for months and become your friend." Well it was a fact no matter how Enya felt about Louisa. "How could you ask such a question?" She said eyeing her friend disgustedly.. for some reason.

Looking away at the maze again, she stopped feeding Kitty and just continued rubbing her head gently. She wasn't thinking of what Enya's just said but about something else. Something was ringing in her head for more than two days and her confession of Enya as a friend brought it alive. "I was thinking..." She started uncertainly choosing her words carefully.. This is Enya we're talking about. ".. do you know if they keep a book with the names of students who went in Hogwarts since... like ever?" She asked slowly trying so hard that it'd sound like a casual thing to ask. Pure curiousity.

All he wanted was to SEEE.

Was it so much to ask? How could all these people in the stands possibly spectate when their only way of seeing was blocked by high hedges from the maze where all the cool stuff was happening. Jack was actually now in the mood to cheer on his twin, wherever he was in the maze. Meh, at least he had come down here today to witness something, anything.

It seemed like the boy had popped up out of no where, and it made Jack jump ... but only just a little. "Umm .. yeah, sure." It wasn't like Jack owned the seats. Hehe. "You can sit anywhere you want, mate."

Evan had to hide his smile when he seemed to startle the boy. He didn't know why, but suddenly he felt like laughing, which was rude. He bit his lips when the boy answered him, then smiled at the answer. Sure, he could sit anywhere but maybe the boy waited for someone, right? Or wanted to sit with his friends or something? Anyways...

"I'm Evan," he said with a smile/grin as he sat down. Did the boy look like... Fletcher?

She didn't look at the Flying instructor as he spoke, but she was courteous enough to answer. "I'm not sure what you missed, I can't see much from up here..." And then he asked if she wanted 'one.' She heard him slurping and when she turned to look at him, his eyes were shut and his lips were puckered.

What. In Hades Name!

The man was married!!! He was rude and disrespectful and a child! Now he wanted to kiss her?!? She was about to smack the living lumos out of him, when she realized just how many students were around. No need to cause a scene. Not just because of the students but Sage might see... where ever he was... or Lexi and she could blow this out of proportion... or Jeremy and he might think it alright to try and kiss her... Or worse. The Headmaster. No no no... she wouldn't slap him... yet.

"No." She said decisively, without a thank you, and turned back to the maze.

"As long as you know the risks..." Why couldn't people be smart and have a kneezle as a pet. Smart domesticated animals who know the hand that feeds them... Oh well...

Alice looked up at the sound of someone sitting next to her. "Oh hey Rubiey, how are you?"

Alice placed her bookmark into her book and closed it, holding the book firmly on her lap. After all it wasn't hers so she didn't want anything to happen to it. Alice saw Professor Lafay and Professor Vindictus sitting nearby, so she leaned a bit closer.

"Were you able to find any tea in the Great Hall? I couldn't find any, but I was wondering if you had better luck?" Alice was excited to work on the potion, and to be honest she felt quite strange just carrying around a tiny bag with some of Salander's hair in her pocket. If anyone were to find out they'd probably think she was stalking him or had some kind of creepy obsession with him....or both...

There was a single nod as her eyes left the maze, "Yes, Miroslav" and Nikolai, of course, always Nikolai.

But if someone else had to win, other than any Durmstranger, she'd thought she'd support Raiden, until the end of Task One. "Mayve Fletcher" she said, with a slight shrug. He had after all helped her to get to the nurse, how could she not sort of support him.



True, though, who knows how the Malfoy fellow had turned out? Perhaps he'd enjoy it. For all they knew he could be dead or close to death, anyway.

Danika smiled. "He is a clever one, then" the ferret, of course, because he didn't want to be cold, apparently, so he was smart enough not to let that happen. Perhaps they acted only on instinct but the Durmstrang girl liked to believe there was something else hidden in the minds of all creatures. They didn't react on instinct only, there had to be something else.

The girl nodded, and ventured her hand a bit closer to Draco, ever so slowly she reached the ferret's head, "Hi Draco, can you see something vehind the hedges?" she said, as she petted his head. Soft, it was.

Then she turned to Professor Lafay again as she was speaking as ferret being vicious things. Here's a guess, perhaps Lafay didn't particularly liked all living things. And that was totally fine, she didn't have to.

And Grayson seemed to know what ticked her ferret off, no problem there. There were ways she could...control his reactions, or prevent them.



Oh, this was the Flying Instructor, was he not?

Zitnik spoke about him, if only her mind would be so kind as to remember what he said.

Danika almost laughed at the face he made after the gummy worm was eaten. If only there were a Photographer around, the Daily Prophet would love to have that on film. "Hello Professor" it was only polite to greet them. The Professors.

Rubiey smiled. "Insanely bored. Entertain me Aliceeeeeeee." She whined jokingly. Gah, staring at hedges was not something she had wanted to do all day.

She smiled conspiritorally at Alice. "Well, no, there was none in the Great Hall. Buuuuuuuut, I wrote to my Grandma - She says hi, by the way - and said that I wanted some herbal tea but they weren't serving it here, so she sent me LOADS of it! We can do it sooooon!" She laughed. Man, she was clever when she wanted to be.

A disembodied voice from within the stands is heard, making the following announcements:

"Hogwarts' champion, Raiden Kururugi is the first person to successfully exit the maze. He's followed closely by Beauxbatons' champion, Noel Laurent."

Rubiey jumped when she heard the faint sound of a voice. Raiden was first?! WOO!!! "GOOO HOGWARTS!" she cheered.

Alice laughed. "I'll do my best, although it's hard to feel inspired when all you have to look at are a bunch of hedges," said Alice with a little chuckle.

"That's great about your grandmother sending the tea!" Alice said with a big smile. "Perhaps we can give it a go this weekend? Or perhaps after the tournament?"

Just as Alice was about to ask Rubiey when the best time to try the potion out was she heard the voice of the narrator. A Hogwarts champion made it out first? Awesome!!

"WOOHOO!!! GO HOGWARTS!!" Alice called out, clapping. She was also glad to see that the boy from Beauxbaton had made it out as well. Ultimately Alice wanted a Hogwarts champion to win, but she certainly didn't want anyone else to get hurt.

Iris looked away from the little boy and 'Lani, when some voice came out of the maze.

Raiden... had gotten out of the maze first.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
GO RAIDEN!!!"

Ahem.

Iris probably didn't need to be THAT loud. Teehee. Anyhow... What where Iris and Leilani talking about? Looking at the short girl, slightly confused, she frowned. Ooooh yeah. Jimbo's whereabouts. That's what they were talking about.

Teehee.

Noel was rather excited to see everyone there. In front of him. There. Right there. Close by. *silent cheer*

This task, it felt rather short to him. Perhaps it being mostly mentally challenging made it feel shorter than the first task being rather physically challenging? Maybe. No, he was sure that was the case.

He did pick up a rather loud voice as he watched the crowd. Followed closely by... Aw, he wasn't first? Second was good he supposed.

Walking into full view, the little treasure chest like box still in his hand and his wand in the other, Noel couldn't help but still be a bit cautious, even though this all was actually real. Still though, just the thought of finally finishing made his mind wander to the fact, that his eyebrows still needed fixing. Oh, oh Merlin! Everyone was going to see them! They were three times as bushy before he went into the maze like task.

They needed to be fixed. Pronto! No one look!

Oh dear, the loud voice. He hadn't been expecting his exit to be announced; as he stepped out of the maze, freed from the dark hedges, he looked up at the stands, wondering just whooo that had been.

No matter. He'd made it out, and this time there was no blood or scratches or need to bother Miss Healer Moretti. There was only self-assuredness as he grinned up at the stands, eyes searching for those certain people even as he heard a few people calling his name.

Like Iris. Hiiiiiii Iris. Heehee. The young man waved at his co-prefect, who was easy enough to pick out from her shout.

...why did Noel... look funny?

Marie jumped out of her seat when she heard that Raiden was the first one out of the maze.

WAY TO GO RAIDEN!!!!!

Seeing him at the bottom of the stands she ran all the way down to him only to give him a HUGE hug when she got to him. "I knew you could do it, I knew you would be the first one out." she said not letting him out of the hug just yet.

Oh yeah, she was the first to tackle him again.

Nia was sipping a cup of hot chocolate from her flask, gloved hands wrapped round the warmth. She'd given up trying to see something she blatently couldn't. Her Quidditch mag was spread across her lap. And then she heard the announcement. Raiden was out first? Whereeeee?!

And then she spied him. A grin spread across her face, and her eyes lit up. Standing up (magazine sliding off her legs in the process), Nia proceeded to run down the stands to go find him.

"Way to goooooooooooo!" she cheered, and forgot herself as she went for a big hug. "You go, Champ!" she said, squeezing him tight.

Iris looked away from Leilani when Raiden emerged, and waved up at her. Muahaha. Had her cheering really been loud enough for him to hear it, too? Bahaha, clearly!

The fifth year waved back to her co-prefect enthusiastically, and stuck her thumbs up; mainly because she didn't want to go yelling louder than she just did. She might ruin her voice box or something.

It was weird to think that they were two thirds of the way through the Tournament... Raiden was looking like he was in a good spot for getting a place in the last round, too. Which meant HE could become THE Triwizard Champion!!

HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE?!