The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 16

"Oi!" he shouted, splashing her.

"You started it." Grinning, she splashed back.

And then a full out splash war commenced. Finally, when they both were soaked to the skin, they hopped out.

Smirking, Delilah did the Hot Air Charm, drying herself. Draco... he tried to. Instead, he set his suit on fire. Yelping, he jumped back into the lake.

Delilah laughed and he pulled her in, again. Still laughing, they both got out. This time Delilah dried both of them. Laughing they both headed back up to the castle.

On the way, Delilah caught sight of Harry and Hermione, walking around the lake.

"Wait here," she instructed, heading over to them.

"Hey Delilah, here to shout at me?" Harry grumpily said.

"No, I came here to tell you that I know you didn't put your name in, your expression last night was proof of that. I also want you to know I want to help you. You see, your death isn't on my bucket list."

Harry stood, slightly speechless, before nodding.

"Oh, thanks."

Delilah turned and walked away, but not before hearing Hermione say, "See, I told you not everyone doesn't believe you."

Honestly, Harry could be quite thick headed.

"Come on," Delilah told Draco. And they walked back towards their common room.

Over the next few days, however, Delilah noticed that the whole school actually did seem to hate Harry. Even the Hufflepuffs, who usually were on good terms with everyone, thought he had stolen the first bit of glory they had received in, well, ever. The Ravenclaws even thought Harry wanted the glory and so put his own name into the goblet.

Classes were enough to prove this. In every class people were muttering about it and how it was unfair. The Slytherins also found it ridiculous, but they knew better than to say it in front of Delilah. The last person who had was stuck in the hospital wing for a week, maybe more.

For the first time Delilah was excited for Care of Magical Creatures, not because of the Skrewts, but because she could talk to Harry and how he was going to prepare for the tournament.

Predictably, as soon as the Gryffindors arrived, Blaise sneered.

"Oh look boys, it's the champion" he said to his friends. "Got your autograph books? Better get a signature now, because I doubt he's going to be around much longer.... Half the Triwizard champions have died... how long do you reckon you'll last, Potter? Ten minutes into the first task's my bet."

Delilah turned.

"Oh, I think he'll last just fine, but if you don't shut up I'll make sure you won't."

Either way Blaise would have had to shut up, Hagrid had emerged from the back of his cabin, balancing a teetering tower of crates, each containing a very large Blast-Ended Skrewt. To the class's horror, Hagrid proceeded to explain that the reason the skrewts had been killing one another was an excess of pent-up energy, and that the solution would be for each student to fix a leash on a skrewt and take it for a short walk.

"Take that thing for a walk?" Draco muttered to Delilah.

"Where exactly are we supposed to fix the leash? Around the sting, the blasting end, or the sucker?" Delilah asked, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

"Roun' the middle," said Hagrid, demonstrating. "Er — yeh might want ter put on yer dragon-hide gloves, jus' as an extra precaution, like. Harry — you come here an' help me with this big one...."