Another new character by MentalRetardedLlama, Victoria! Hope you like this chapter.

Chapter Eight: Let the Challenge Begin

"Glad to see you're finally coming around," a cool voice spoke. I blinked my eyes open. The light was causing me to squint. I looked around to see that I was in the oh so familiar hospital wing cot. What happened? I turned my head to see Draco sitting in the seat next to my cot. It was impossible to hide the confusion on my face. First of all, what was I doing here. Second of all, what was Draco doing here? I adjusted myself into a sitting position.

"What happened?" was the first thing I could ask.

"Well Snape told me to inform you that you received a failing grade on your awful potion first off. You were supposed to make a Dizziness Draught, yet yours was way too strong. It caused you to pass out for two whole days. But lucky for you, Weaslette also got a failing grade." Two days? He was joking right? I stared at him in confusion there was no way I was out that long. The potion situation though...now that was coming back to me. I think it was my fault too. Ginny and I were arguing over Harry when I accidently dropped the extra ingredients in. "You even missed the first challenge."

"I did?" I gasped. I was so interested to see how the games were going to be and was looking forward to the first one. Of course something like this would happen to me."What happened in the first challenge?" I asked curiously. Damn! I was so looking forward to seeing the first challenge and too see how everyone made out. The games don't happen too often.

"Well they each had to battle a dragon," he said slowly. Now that would have been interesting to see. I would have loved to have witnessed actual Dragons. I wanted to scream, how I could have missed it. "And then Potter died."

"What?!" I yelled, sitting up even more before I noticed the look on his face, a smirk was forming. "Wow Draco, you are just so funny." He then fell into a fit of laughter at himself. I should have expected that one.

"Yes, I know sadly Potter survived. Though there are two more chances left." He was actually laughing at his jokes which caused me to laugh. His hatred for Harry I'll never understand. Although Harry and I were in a fight, I didn't hate him. I know it's just jealousy because Draco wants to be the center of attention.

"I should not be laughing," I said and then began to stand up. "I can leave right?" I looked around but there was no sign of Madama Pomfrey or really anyone around at the moment. She probably was in her office.

"Yes and Snape also sent me here to tell you that once you wake up, you are no longer excused from any classes." I groaned. I would have loved to have taken a shower right now, but if my calculations were right today was a day of classes. "I have to return to Potions now. See you later Nyx." He then walked away. That was a strangely pleasant encounter with Draco. Usually our conversations would consist of him insulting me, but luckily instead he chose to insult someone else. Even if it was Harry. Although Harry currently did not like me at the moment, so I didn't feel too bad about it.

I began walking to my Transfigurations class. I realized I was just in time for the last five minutes of class. Couldn't complain about that I suppose. When I arrived to the classroom and pushed the door open, yet everything was already put away which was strange for McGonagall's class. She usually worked us until the very last minute. Everyone in the classs looked at me when I opened the door. As I entered I said, "Sorry Professor, I was in the Hospital Wing." I hated walking in from the front. I wish I could have just slipped into a seat or something.

"Yes I am aware Ms. Nyx, take a seat. I have something to tell you all." McGonagall said and I quickly rushed to a seat in the back. I was avoiding Dasha and Eowyn at all costs, even though I had absolutely no idea what their problem was. "Now this does not apply to third years or below, but I feel as though I should inform you. The Yule Ball is approaching. It is a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament and is strictly a dance. Now it is only open to Fourth Year and above-" A few sighs of complaints were muttered but McGonagall continued on. "Though if you are asked by an older student, you are permitted to go." A few of the girls around me eyes lit up at the thought. "It is formal and students shall be in dress robes or gowns. It takes place on Christmas night, so if you are attending than you will stay here for the Holidays and if not you shall go home like planned." Either way I was staying, but it wasn't like anyone would ask me anyways.

I had been up in my dorm for a majority of the night. Despite sleeping for two days straight I was pretty tired. I pretended not to listen as Celina, Amelie, and Christina entered the room and took seats on their beds. Celina was so proud that she got one of the fifth years Slytherin's to ask her. She was bragging and going on about how excited she was to go to have a gown delivered to her. I could see right through Amelie and Christina's fake excitement that they were more than jealous. Shortly after they left to go down to the common room, probably to find dates for themselves and Celina was going to help them.

Just as they left, that's when Dasha and Eowyn had walked in. I haven't seen them since the day of the potion accident and really wanted to talk to them about their attitude towards me the other day. "Let me get straight to the point and just ask what did I do?" I said sitting up straight looking at them. If they were going to be mad at me for some unknown reason, they better clear it up. Dasha responded by sitting on her bed with her back to me.

"Don't pretend you don't know Carlie!" Eowyn said speaking up. "Friends don't kiss friends ex-boyfriends." Wait, what? I had honestly no idea what they were talking about at all. I think they noticed because I did not even know how to respond to that. "Carlie..."

"What are you talking about? I didn't kiss Aidan, Eowyn I would never do that and besides he's not even my type!" I responded. He was too hyper for me. Why would they think I would ever do something like that? Seriously, they needed to calm down and stop listening to rumours they hear.

"I'm not talking about Aidan, Carlie I'm talking about Zane," Eowyn said. Confusion spread on her face and Dasha slowly turned around to look at me as well confused.

"What? I didn't kiss Zane, he's not my type either." I wasn't even going to bother with adding 'no offense', because I was rather offended they would believe I even kissed Zane. Especially after knowing how upset Dasha was over it this summer.

"But Draco said-" My eyes widened. Why would Draco go around starting rumors about me too my friends. I stood up from my bed in rage. "Well, I guess he was lying..." Eowyn realized. The two shared a look of a regret and then turned to look at me. "Oh Merlin! Carlie we're so sorry!" It hurt to know that they would even believe it. I ignored them and I rushed down the steps to the common room where I knew Draco was sitting. I stormed over to him.

"Ah, Scarlett," he said looking up from the couch. "Sorry, but if you're looking for a date you're a bit late. I've already been asked, and many times might I add. But Parkinson here-"

"Did you tell my friends I kissed Zane?" I yelled, not caring about his love life. And did he really think I wanted a date...with him? Please. What happened to the pleasant conversation I had with him earlier. He was so confusing it was unbelievable. Zane was actually seated rather close and gave me an odd look but I chose to ignore him.

"Probably," he stated with a shrug. Probably? So basically that meant yes.

"Why?" I asked loudly extremely confused at his intentions.

"Boredom, you know it's fun to mix things up at times." I shook my head. Parkingson and the rest of Draco's group laughed. An amused grin was plastered on Draco's face. I rolled my eyes and stormed off back up to my dorm where Dasha and Eowyn were waiting with their apologies.

"Carlie you don't know how sorry we are," Dasha said right away waiting for me at the door. "I should never have even thought-"

"Yes! Truly sorry! I should have known you wouldn't have kissed him, I mean the only person you've ever kissed was Draco because of that dare last year!" Eowyn said and I cringed at that last part. I would prefer to forget about that at the moments.

"Guys it's fine," I said to them in a rush. I've already lost my friendship with Harry, Ron, and Hermione...I couldn't really afford to lose them too. "And never bring that up again, please!" I added about the 'Draco' comment. "Just promise to never believe anything you hear from him ever again?"

"We won't listent to him ever again," Dasha said. "We promise." I could tell she was really appolgetic over this. I could forgive them this time. At least now they know not to believe anthing Draco says.

Over the next week, people were getting a bit too obsessive over having dates. Seriously. Third years especially were hunting down anyone they could find left to go. There was about a week away until the actual Yule Ball. Dasha and Eowyn did not plan on going at all, even if anyone asked them, they said they both wanted to go home for the break. I didn't blame them. If I had a nice home and loving family, I would definitely go to get a break away from here.

I was walking around the Courtyard once more to look around at the snow. I never lasted too long out in the could, but it was a very pretty sight to see. I looked up at the mountains when I noticed Jake talking to that pretty girl from Beauxbatons, Monique. I guess he already had a date as well. I haven't actually talked to him in a while and every time I did, he seemed to be in a rush. Monique was probably the reason why. He probably didn't know how to tell me he already had a date. It wasn't like I was going to be mad or anything, I didn't expect him to take me or anything because I wasn't old enough to go. I would never ask anyone to do that for me. Instead of interrupting them I just decided to walk away and leave them to be.

"Hi Carlie," a voice said and I turned to see Nico with a dark haired girl sitting on the bench. I smiled in return at them. I guess he found his date as well.

"Hi Nico," I smiled in response, glad he was distracting me at the moment. I really had no where to be and wanted to stay far from the Slytherin common room.

"This is Victoria, she goes to Durmstrang." He introduced her to me and she formally held out her hand and I shoke it. Durmstrang, now that was interesting. They seemed to be all over the Beauxbaton girls last time I saw them. The girl he was with was very pretty and Nico wouldn't stop smiling at her. "She's going to be my date to the Yule Ball."

"Nice to meet you Carlie," she said in a strong Irish accent, which caught me off guard for a minute. Everyone I have met from Durmstrang had some sort of Eastern European accent.

"You're from Ireland?" I asked her confused, wouldn't she go to Hogwarts then? She didn't look too Irish though. She did have the dark brown hair and was a little bit paler than the other Durmstrang students, but I felt as though she fit in with the Durmstrang crowd well.

"No, my mother lives there and I stay with her in the summer for a few weeks," she explained to me. "But my father is from Bulgaria and would only allow for me to go to Durmstrang, so I go there. I'm fluent in both my parents languages" That would make more sense. I felt as though anyone who had Durmstrang connections automatically went there, because they were very secretive. Seriously, no one could tell me where it was located. I swear it has to be Northern Russia, but that's just my guess.

"Yeah, I'd be interested to see what Durmstrang looks like." I had to add. From what I've heard it was very dark and cold there. Though I'm sure it would interesting to see. It sounded like the medieval castle from the Vampire textbook I read a few years ago. "Weren't you the girl sitting with Krum the other night?" I realized and she nodded in response.

"Yes, we've been friends for years. He actually lives rather close to my father's house." I immediately liked Victoria, she wasn't like those few Beauxbatons girls who would barely talk to anyone other than eachother. I didn't want to interupt her and Nico any longer.

"Well I better get going. See you around," I said to both of them as I walked towards the castle.

That night after dinner, I walked in late to the common room. Once again Draco and Pansy were ever so casually snogging on the couch, even with all the people around. He looked up at me with a proud smirk. Yes Draco, I am very jealous of Parkinson right now. Not. And if he thought that, he had to be kidding himself. I was still furious at him for causing unecessary drama between my friends and I. Ignoring them I walked past them without even a second glance.

Walking up into my dorm, Eowyn was sitting there when I got upstairs. "Carlie I have something to tell you!" she yelled jumping up from her bed. "Where have you been!"

"Just walking around, why what's going on?" I asked while sitting across from her on my bed and putting down my bag.

"Okay so all week I have heard of three guys who have wanted to ask you to the Yule Ball!" she said quickly. Seriously? Me? My eyes widened up a bit because no one has even looked interested in asking me. I was surprised yet honored, I wanted to ask who but she continued. "I was wondering why I hadn't heard anything from you, but I didn't want to ruin the surprise in case none of them had asked you yet. So today on my way to Charms, I saw Draco with one of the boys Theo Nott and I overheard him telling Nott that he should go with Amelie instead...because you didn't want to go. I guess he did that to all of them."

"What!" I burst out. Why was he doing that? Was there any logic to doing that? Obviously Draco didn't want to go with me because he got a date with Parkinson on the first night and secondly, he was out to destroy me. I was convinced. Him being somewhat nice to me that day was just to keep me from seeing his true colors. I would never let it happen again.

"I'm sorry! I should have told you but I really didn't want to ruin the surprise! I'm so sorry Carlie!" Eowyn said and it was not her fault at all. Draco was obviously trying to stop me from going to the Yule Ball, so I was going to find a way to go. I was going to get a date no matter what it took and it was going to be someone who would make him angry.

Three days passed and no date. Apparently the guys who were interested in asking me found dates by now. I heard that Harry and Ron were looking for dates, but I was definitely not going there. We technically weren't on speaking terms. Apparently Ron and Harry made up, but Ron was of course on his side. It had to be someone else but at the moment my mind was blank.

Four days had passed and there were only three days until the Yule Ball. I was basically out of luck, for all I know there wasn't anyone without a date. Besides I would barely have time to get a dress now. On the fifth day, I realized I was basically screwed. There wasn't going to be any Yule Ball for me. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and that's when the train left with all the students who weren't attending the Yule Ball. I would be stuck up in the dorm on Christmas night like a helpless loser.

I was sitting outside on the rock wall reading a letter I had gotten from Silvius. He wrote about how he hoped I had a nice Christmas and that he had sent my gift already. He also wrote about how nervous he was for his Apparition exam coming up soon, there they held it a lot sooner than they did at Hogwarts. "Hey Carlie," someone said from behind me and I jumped a bit slipping off the wall.

"Jake, you gave me a heart attack," I said but laughed a bit even though I did just stop breathing. Oh, so now he wants to talk to me.

"What are you reading?" he asked me looking at the letter in my hand.

"Just a letter from Silvius," I said folding it up and sticking it in my pocket. "His Apparition test is really soon I think, he's really nervous." I said leaning onto the wall now instead of sitting back up onto it.

"I know the feeling," he said laughing nervously and then he paused. It was weird for him to be silent and I didn't know what to say. "Sorry if I've been acting distant for the past few days." I shrugged.

"I noticed that," I told him. "It's okay though, I know why." I didn't want Jake to feel like he had to drag me around with him everywhere. It was nice for him to let me sit when them on my first trip to Hogwarts, but he didn't have to always treat me that way.

"You do?" ge asked looking at me really confused.

"Yeah, and it's fine I saw you with Monique the other day," I explained. I was happy for him. "You obviously need to spend time with your date. Jake I think she's really nice and she's very pretty-"

"No, Carlie that's not it. She's going with Cal, she was just nervous and wanted to know some stuff about him so they would have stuff to talk about," he said while laughing. Then why was he ignoring me?

"Wait, then what..." I asked now more confused than he was.

"I was trying to find a way to ask you to go with me."

I ran back to my dorm room with a wide smile on my face. Of course I bumped into Draco right when I got in there, but even that couldn't ruin my day. "What are you smiling about Nyx?" ge asked me. "It's Christmas Eve tomorrow and you're staying here while the Yule Ball goes on. Your Gryffindor best friend there was talking to his Beauxbatons date the other day." So he saw Monique and Jake too. He didn't know it was just a misunderstanding. "Even he won't bring you. You will be stuck here alone. What is there to be happy about?"

"You're right," I responded quickly. "I'll just be sitting in the common room all alone. Oh well, it'll give me time to write my letters." I then passed by him and left him to gloat in his glory while he thought he had honestly ruined all my chances of going. Guess he'll be in for a surprise tomorrow.

I ran into my dorm to see Eowyn and Dasha sitting there quietly as if they were waiting for me. "Guys I'm going with Jake tomorrow!" I said to them excited, yet a part of me felt as if they knew. Two knowing smiles appeared on their faces."But I don't have a dress." That was my only problem.

"We know," Dasha said standing up. "Jake came to us early to see if you had a date because. he was wanted ask you. He kept thinking people were going to ask you."

"And we know about not having a dress because I went through your wardrobe," Eowyn said and I laughed. She would do that. "So..." she said stepping out of the way to reveal a package left on my bed. "As an apology for treating you so awfully a few weeks ago and believing Draco about everything, we got you a little gift." I had an idea of what it could be.

"You guys didn't have to do that..." I said with a smile on my face I opened up the box. Inside was the most beautiful gown I have ever seen in my life. It was even prettier than the dresses my mother and sisters wear at the family balls. The color and detail to the dress was stunning.

"My aunt owns her own gown and robe shops for stuff like this," Dasha said. "We had her mail it out as soon as possible." I held up the bright red dress and it looked as though it would be fitting me perfectly. It was a bit lower at the top as it went down into a V and was outlined in silver glitter all around the neck and up the straps. The glitter then faded down as it was tight till about my waist where it then flowed out.

"I love it!" I said truly happy with it. "Thank you guys so much!" I put the dress down on my bed and hugged them both.

"It's Gryffindor red by the way," Eowyn added. "I thought it would go with occasion." I laughed and was thrilled at the moment. Everything was going so perfectly for once in my life.