Melody Riddle and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 5: True Friend

Despite wanting to finish packing that night so I could be at the wand shop in the morning, I fell asleep in the midst of taking what was supposed to be a short break. My plan was to pack light for the Quidditch Cup and, if we didn't get back in time, at least have my trunk ready for going back to school.

I realized my mistake as grandpa shook me awake the next morning to give me a hug goodbye as well as a "good luck" and "enjoy yourself."

Other than that, I was able to finish packing and set my stuff down by the fireplace to enjoy a free day relaxing with mom and Blake — this only being after she insisted that she'd pack my trunk for me if I didn't come back within a week.

We played with wizard cards in a game of go fish, which was interesting to say the least. Each card staring back at me raised their hands when it was my turn to show that they wanted me to ask mom if she had another one of them so they'd have a friend. If they could yell at me without giving away who they were, I bet they would've done so.

When the clock struck three, we put the cards down and that's when they started yelling at us and each other:

"No, not yet! This game isn't over! Melody, you could have asked for another King of Hearts! A King of Hearts, I tell you!"

"Orele, don't you dare end the game like this! All you needed was an extra Three of Spades and you would've beat her!"

"I would never change to your side!" the Three of Spades from my pile announced. "This is why I tried so hard to get her to choose me! We would have kidnapped all of you!"

"Shut up, Three of Spades! You're not that special!" a Ten of Diamonds from my deck screeched.

"None of us are," a Joker of Hearts in mom's deck chortled. "If we were, we'd be —"

Before the sentence was finished, Blake — who sat on the floor in between us — started picking up our piles and tossing them in the air. He giggled as they all screamed, flying up and fluttering back down to the ground only to be smushed back together and thrown again.

Mom and I laughed as she picked Blake up. The child wailed in dismay, throwing a tantrum by waving his arms and legs in an attempt to get back to torturing the poor cards.

"Can you put the cards back up, honey?" mom asked as she struggled to keep the energetic baby in her arms. "I'll go get Blake's teddy bear and meet you downstairs."

"Okay," I replied, gently stacking the cards together to their collective sighs of relief.

The last thing I heard before I closed them back up in their box was, "After that, I'm glad they didn't do another game. I'm exhausted. Little ones are the worst."

I thought about the Quidditch World Cup as I reached to put the little box back on the shelf, pausing in contemplation. Maybe these would help. They ought to have plenty of breaks for everyone to eat and sleep, so there may be free time. Free time where Draco will be bored.

"Hey mom?" I called.

"What?"

"Is it okay if I bring the cards with me?"

"I don't see why not! Go ahead!"

"Thank you!" I ran down the stairs to my bag, opening it up and stuffing the little box into an open space before zipping it closed again.

Mom and grandma made their way down the stairs, making silly faces at Blake to make him smile. He merely hugged his teddy bear even tighter, pouting. The look on his face was still peeved at his fun with the cards being interrupted, the tear stains on his cheeks fresh.