Lemon Grass and Sleep

THE SECOND TASK

This might come off a bit snobbish, but the second task really was pretty boring. I remember hearing from Fred that Harry was having a lot of trouble with this one, that finding something to help you breath underwater wasn't really easy enough to do.

"Has he got some gillyweed?" I asked, feet tossed over the back of the couch.

"What?" Fred asked quietly.

"Gillyweed? I'm sure he could get his hands on some, being a champion and all."

Of course, Fred wanted to rush over and let him know, but some kid named Neville had beaten us to it by a hair.

"Mm, will I see you at the task?" Fred has asked as we slowly walked back to the seventh floor.

"I suppose," I mumbled, "Not like there will be much to see."

And you know what? I was right. Sometimes we would get a pocket of bubbles and the professors would gather in a small huddle, probably trying to decipher if we'd all just watched a student drown or something.

"Who do you think they put down there for Cedric?" Halla asked from beside me.

"It's probably Cho, he brought her to the ball after all."

"Ooh, yeah, maybe. Then is one of the twins down there for Harry?"

I glanced over to the Gryffindor bleacher, scanning for Ron or Hermione. Surprisingly, both were missing.

"Well, I thought it would be one of his friends," I explained, my eyes still trained on the crowd. "But it seems both of them are missing?"

"I bet Granger is down there for Krum," Jeremy said haughtily, "They seemed smitten to me."

"Smitten? Get your head out of your ass," John replied.

"I bet you wish you could swim down there and save her," Jeremy teased relentlessly, nudging John harshly.

"Piss off," he groaned, a reluctant smile spreading across his face.

"No worries, he's way too old for her anyways."

"Well, I think he's kinda cute," Halla defended, making sure her eyes never once glanced at us.

As my eyes slowly began to look away from the Gryffindors, my eyes locked onto a familiar head of red hair. We would have to stop doing this at these events.

I could tell the same thought crossed his mind as he glanced to his left to find me already staring at him. A cocky smile blossomed across his face as he shot me an exaggerated wink, making me roll my eyes.

"Who's over there?" John asked, following my eyes to the Gryffindor section.

"Just Fred," I replied, sending him a smile and turning back to my friends.

"So, um, Thomas," Halla said smally. "You and Fred, uh, who's the girl?"

"What?" I said, caught off guard.

"You know, like," she gestured vaguely with her hands, "Who's the girl?"

"Uh," I stalled, the question rolling around in my brain. "We're both guys?"

"Well, yeah, but I-"

"Which one of you takes it up the ass?" Jeremy asked more forwardly, "Is what she's trying to figure out."

I felt my entire head heat up extremely fast, and I bet my cheeks flushed red hot within seconds.

"I don't see why that's any of you guys' business," I muttered, lacing my fingers together nervously.