Blooming: The Untold Goblet of Fire Story

As they walked through a grand archway, they emerged into the Transfiguration Courtyard, where clusters of students buzzed with anticipation, eagerly awaiting lunchtime.

"Veronica! Cedric!"

A voice rang out across the bustling courtyard, cutting through the chatter of students. It was Ginny, the red-haired girl Veronica had spoken to briefly after the Sorting, waving enthusiastically from a bench where she sat with two boys and another girl.

Veronica and Cedric exchanged amused glances, a shared understanding passing between them. The day promised to be full of new experiences, after all. They made their way toward Ginny, who was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Come on!" Ginny urged, her excitement infectious as she bounded toward them. "I see Cedric is still giving you the tour." She shot them a teasing look, her gaze lingering with an inquisitive spark that suggested she suspected more than just a simple tour.

Cedric chuckled, half shy and half amused, his cheeks tinged with color. Veronica couldn't help but grin, rolling her eyes playfully at Ginny's lack of subtlety. The girl had a knack for reading situations with uncanny accuracy.

"This is Hermione," Ginny introduced, gesturing to the girl seated beside her. Hermione was looking at them with a friendly smile, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes as she took in the dynamic between Veronica and Cedric.

"I've heard a lot about you over the past few hours," Hermione said, extending her hand to Veronica. "I can't even imagine what it must be like to study in a giant castle surrounded by a forest, not to mention the protective spirits of the forest and the advanced herbology you must have—" She paused, catching herself as she noticed the bemused expressions on their faces. With a sheepish grin, she lowered her voice. "Well, that's what I read."

Veronica's heart warmed at the enthusiasm in Hermione's voice; she didn't mind the attention at all. "It was definitely an adventure," she replied, a playful glint in her eye. "But I have to say, nothing compares to being in the middle of great scotland in a place like this."

Cedric leaned in slightly, his breath warm against Veronica's ear. "You seem to be handling all this remarkably well," he murmured, his voice low and playful. "But duty calls me."

He glanced over at a group of boys from Hufflepuff—could they be from the Quidditch team? They were waving energetically, clearly eager for Cedric's attention.

"See you later, France? Or will you be too busy with your new friends by then?" He held her gaze, a teasing smile playing on his lips. With a wink, he stepped back, his presence lingering in the air as he waved goodbye to Ginny and her friends, leaving a hint of anticipation behind him.

It definitely felt like Cedric had left something hanging in the air—maybe it was the way he spoke or the exchange of glances, the four students present almost felt embarrassed for interrupting something between, until the red-haired boy finally broke the silence.

"So, it's true? You guys are really going out?" he asked, a perplexed look on his face mixed with a hint of disappointment.

Veronica was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by the boy's direct question. What did he mean by that?

"Mmm, what?" she asked, her tone calm but confused. "Diggory and me?" She pointed to herself as if distancing herself from the idea. "That's absurd. No, no... No!" She laughed nervously, trying to shake off the unexpected implication. "He's just a good friend and the captain of Hufflepuff; he was showing me around the castle until I, well, made friends." She stumbled over her words, trying to sound relaxed while completely denying any connection she felt in the last few hours.

Hermione and Ginny seemed totally invested in Veronica's reactions, their curiosity palpable.

"Well, that's not what The Hogwarts Gazette says," Ginny declared, picking up the paper that lay beside her and waving it in front of Veronica.

Then Veronica narrowed her eyes, scanning the mixed small and large letters on the paper: "New Hufflepuff, just arrived at Hogwarts, messing with not only the Sorting Hat but also the Hufflepuff Captain." She froze, shock and confusion washing over her as she glanced at the four faces around her, then back at the paper. There it was—a moving photo capturing the exact moment when she and Cedric had been walking down the hallway, their playfully act, engaging with one another, entertaining everyone and piquing their curiosity. That was it, she thought.

"Ah, that… But that was just moments ago" Veronica laughed, her relief washing over her as her nervousness began to dissipate. "Well, Cedric and I were just playing around, giving the public what they wanted. I didn't think we'd become the news of the day…" she confessed with a half smile.

"Well, news travels fast here at Hogwarts, especially when it's as interesting as the two Hufflepuffs of the moment." Ginny said shrugging but still amused by the situation.

"Well, that's good. You don't want your name tied to Diggory. He may seem good-looking," the red-haired boy leaned in, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret, "but I wouldn't be surprised if he says that to all the girls."

A twinge of confusion hit Veronica at Ron's words. Was it jealousy she felt? She briefly wondered, What if it were true? But the way he spoke about Cedric rubbed her the wrong way. Did he even know Cedric well enough to make that judgment? Well, she hadn't known him for long either. She didn't like the uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach, so she forced a smile, hoping to dispel the tension. Ginny caught on quickly and intervened.

"Don't be silly, Ronald. People might notice your envy," she teased, shooting him a playful look before turning back to Veronica. "This envious person is my brother, Ron. Ron Weasley."

Veronica let out a reassuring smile, leaving her earlier thoughts behind. She was a bit surprised to discover that Ginny didn't just have twin brothers but another brother as well.

"Wait," Veronica said, intrigued. "How many brothers do you have?" She asked playfully.

"Well, I don't know—try counting all the redheads at Hogwarts, and you'll have your answer," Ginny joked, prompting a burst of laughter from everyone around.

The black-haired, blue-eyed boy who had been watching Veronica since she arrived seemed to be holding back his laughter, his gaze distracted, as if he was contemplating something else entirely.

Veronica smiled at him, sensing his nerves. "And you? Are you also a Weasley who dyed your hair black?"

Everyone turned to the boy, who chuckled awkwardly before replying, "Harry…"

"Harry? Harry Weasley?" Veronica quipped, trying to ease his nervousness.

"Harry Potter," he corrected, a grin breaking through as he relaxed in her presence.

Veronica paused, her mind racing. "Harry Potter?" She took a moment, then added with a playful smile, "I've heard of you. Even wizards from other schools know who you are."

Her tone shifted slightly, recalling discussions about him during her time at Castelobruxo. "You must know what it's like to be in the spotlight. It can be exhausting."

Harry smiled at Veronica's answer, feeling reassured by her friendliness. He had noticed her the moment she made her grand entrance into the Great Hall, but he hadn't known how to introduce himself. Now, he felt grateful that fate had done it for him—he certainly wouldn't have had the courage.

Veronica paused, something deeper flickering in her memory as she looked at Harry. "Wait, Harry? Harry Potter? Your father was James Potter?" she asked, intrigued, recalling what she had discovered in the werewolf room with Cedric.

Harry nodded, a jolt of surprise coursing through him at her question. He was intrigued and slightly taken aback by how she knew, while the other three looked at her in confusion, trying to understand what was happening.

"The Marauders?" Veronica leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, waiting for Harry's confirmation.

"Yes, but how…?" Harry replied, caught between confusion and a smile. A mix of emotions swirled within him as he processed how this intriguing girl knew so much about his father and his friends.

"Well," she replied, calming down and leaning in conspiratorially, "I know about, you know, Animagi." She whispered, her eyes almost shining with excitement.

Harry paused, his own eyes sparkling back at her. He felt a surge of exhilaration; he was definitely interested in this strange new Hufflepuff. How did she know all this? Was she an Animagus? Maybe she was a beautiful swan, just like he had assumed from her appearance. Harry thought. Yet, he held back the questions bubbling up in his mind, too caught up in the moment.

"I warned everyone—she's the coolest," Ginny chimed in, her pride evident.

"So, Ve," Ginny continued, using the intimate nickname as if they had been friends for years, though Veronica didn't mind at all, "I was thinking, maybe you'd like to join us at the little secret meeting we're having today in Gryffindor, after curfew."

"Ginny…" Ron began, as if she shouldn't be inviting just anyone, but Harry nudged him, urging him to keep quiet.

"It's nothing big, just a welcome meeting, Gryffindor style," Ginny said, her excitement infectious. "If you're up for it, you can bring a friend. The password is Caput Draconis." She finished, linking arms with Hermione as Ron and Harry stood nearby, eager to head to the Great Hall.

"Be careful and don't get caught" Hermione said in a whispering tone to Veronica, her eyes bright with anticipation as they departed with Ginny.

Veronica felt a wave of relief and joy wash over her. Her first party at Hogwarts—an invitation from Gryffindor—had come much faster than she expected. She couldn't help but feel excitement bubbling up inside her as she thought about what to wear and the friendships she could form.

When Veronica decided to finally head to the Great Hall, following the slow stream of students making their way there. Cedric, standing on the other side of the courtyard, was still being bombarded with questions from his Hufflepuff friends about the new girl. But when he spotted Veronica walking toward the hall, something pulled him in her direction.

With a quick goodbye to his friends—cutting them off mid-conversation—he made his way to her.

"Hungry, France?" he called out as he approached, a playful smile on his face, his eyes glinting with amused curiosity.

Veronica turned to him, raising an eyebrow, already sensing his tone.

Cedric tilted his head toward the retreating figures of Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, who were almost disappearing up the corridor. "Friendship with the Gryffindors already?" he asked, still keeping it casual, but with an intrigued undertone that betrayed how interested he was in her sudden connection with the other house.

Veronica smirked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, you know me," she said, shrugging playfully. "I make friends wherever I go." She cast a teasing glance over her shoulder in the direction the Gryffindors had disappeared.

Cedric chuckled, falling into step beside her. "Oh, I don't doubt that. The whole school's talking about the mysterious new Hufflepuff with a Sorting Hat story and a certain captain as her tour guide," he teased, nudging her gently.

Veronica rolled her eyes, but her smile didn't falter. "Oh, please. You're the one causing all the rumors, Diggory. How many girls did you give this 'grand tour' to before me?" she shot back, her tone light but the question clearly meant to provoke a playful reaction.

Cedric placed a hand dramatically over his heart, feigning hurt. "Now that's unfair, France. You wound me," he said with a mock serious expression, before his eyes softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Besides," he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make her pulse quicken, "you're different."

Veronica raised an eyebrow, her heart skipping a beat at the way his words lingered in the air. "Different how?" she asked, her tone casual, but there was a challenge in her gaze as she looked up at him.

Cedric smiled, meeting her gaze with a confidence that made her stomach flutter. "Guess you'll just have to stick around and find out," he replied, his voice light, but the meaning behind his words deeper.

They shared a look, the playful energy between them simmering just beneath the surface. Neither one of them needed to say anything more as they walked side by side toward the Great Hall, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air between them.