The Hogwarts Chronicles -7-

Chapter Seven: So Brendon’s A Champion; What About Ryan?

“Well, well, well, look who we have here. If it isn’t Brendon Urine. You’ll be an easy one to beat,” Gabe started when he saw Brendon. “Stupid little half-blood. You don’t deserve to be chosen.”

Brendon rolled his eyes and sat down on a comfy looking chair, ignoring what Gabe was saying. He just wanted to get underneath Brendon’s skin and Brendon wasn’t going to let that happen, he was smarter than that.

“I think it’s awesome that you got chosen as well,” Shane exclaimed, sitting down next to Brendon. “Although it kind of sucks that we have to be competing, but it’s just a game, it’ll be fun!” he said, patting Brendon on the leg. “What do you think the first challenge will be?”

“I have no clue,” Brendon answered, shrugging his shoulders.

“I’ve heard that it was going to be something with trolls,” Greta spoke up, looking at the two boys. “My father is good friends with Mr. Stump and apparently he’s taking care of the trolls now in the Forbidden Forest.”

Gabe snorted loudly and shook his head. “Do you really think they’d let someone as dumb as Stump take care of a troll? He’d get himself killed. Not that it would be such a bad thing, though.”

“Shut up, Cobra,” Shane hissed, giving Gabe a dirty look. It was known that Shane, Brendon and Ryan had become good friends with Hogwarts’ caretaker Patrick Stump. And it was true that he wasn’t the brightest candle on the cake, but that didn’t matter to the boys because Patrick had a heart of gold.

Gabe opened his mouth to say something in reply, but he quickly closed it again when the door behind him opened and Professor Wentz entered the room, followed by Professor Way- the head of Slytherin -, Professor Hurley – the head of Hufflepuff -, Professor Marin – the head of Ravenclaw – and Professor Beckett – the head of Gryffindor.

“I think the goblet selected four fine candidates.” Professor Wentz nodded, his eyes travelling over each of the students. “All of you are brave with a good set of brains. I’m sure you will be all great contestants.”

Brendon glanced over at Shane and smiled at the boy. His heart was racing rapidly in his chest. “What is the first challenge, Professor?” he asked, looking at Professor Wentz again.

Shane’s eyes widened, a large smile plastered all over his face as he looked at Professor Wentz, also desperately waiting for the instructions of their first challenge.

“And eager as well I see.” Professor Wentz chuckled and took a step closer to the four students. He sat down on the table, cross-legged, and then he fell silent.

The four other Professors looked at the headmaster with almost as much curiosity as the teenagers. They hadn’t been informed either and wanted to know about the challenge as well.

“The first challenge,” Professor Wentz started, lifting the index finger of his left hand. “Will take place in two weeks,” he continued, his finger still raised. “And that’s all I have to tell you for now.” He smiled and then he lowered his hand again. “All you are allowed to use for the first challenge is your wand, other objects are strongly forbidden.”

“But what do we have to do?” Greta asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“You’ll find out in two weeks, about an hour before the challenge will take place,” Professor Wentz answered. Then he stood up again and clapped his hands. “You may go now. I’m sure there’s a party already going on in your common room to celebrate this wonderful event.”


***

“Where is Ryan?” Brendon asked, scanning the entire common room but not seeing his boyfriend.

“I think he went to bed,” Spencer answered, shrugging his shoulders. “But who cares? It’s time to party now! You’re a Triwizard Tournament champion! That’s so amazing,” he added, smiling widely and throwing his arm around Brendon’s neck.

Brendon shook his head and pealed Spencer’s arm off of him. “I’m going to talk to Ryan. I’ll be back soon, you can party without me for a little while,” he told Spencer.

Why was Ryan hiding in the dorms? Wasn’t he happy that Brendon had been chosen by the Goblet of Fire? Or maybe he was feeling a bit sick and decided to go to bed early? Whatever it was, Brendon needed to know.

“Ryan?” Brendon questioned, closing the door of the room behind his back. “Are you sleeping?” he asked, walking over to Ryan’s bed. When he didn’t get an answer, he sat down on the edge of the bed. “You’re not sleeping, Ry, I can tell. What’s wrong?”

“How did you know I wasn’t sleeping?” Ryan wondered out loud, finally opening his eyes, looking at Brendon.

“Because your breathing is a lot more different when you’re sleeping and you also snore a bit. Not that loud, though. I think it’s cute,” Brendon said, bringing his hand to the back of Ryan’s head to stroke his hair.

“Oh,” Ryan muttered and then he sighed. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Brendon smiled and laid himself down next to his boyfriend. “So are you going to tell me what’s wrong now? I thought you’d be partying with the rest of the guys,” he stated, still stroking the back of Ryan’s head.

“I don’t know. I just didn’t feel so well, I guess,” Ryan answered, closing his eyes and sighing. The truth was that he didn’t want to celebrate. Brendon had been chosen to do all the challenges. Brendon and not him. He knew that he should be happy for Brendon and support him, but he couldn’t help but feeling disappointed and jealous because he had wanted this so badly as well.

“Poor baby,” Brendon replied, shifting a bit closer to Ryan. He pressed a small kiss against Ryan’s nose and smiled. “I’ll stay here with you. Try to get some sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow,” he said and gave the boy another kiss, on the cheek this time.

“Thanks,” Ryan whispered and nuzzled his nose against Brendon’s cheek. A little voice in his head was telling him that he should let Brendon go back to the common room, to party, but the selfish part of him wouldn’t let Brendon do that. Ryan wanted Brendon for himself because he knew that the boy was going to get a lot of attention the upcoming days and then he’d have to share his boyfriend with all those other people which was something that he hated. Brendon was his and his only.

“No problem,” Brendon replied, patting Ryan’s arm. “Now close those pretty eyes of yours and sleep. I love you.”

“I love you too, Brendon,” Ryan said and then he closed his eyes, even though he knew he wasn’t going to fall asleep anytime soon. He was going to keep on wondering what was better about Brendon that he was chosen for the Triwizard Tournament and he himself hadn’t been. Was Brendon that much smarter? Their grades were always pretty much the same, so Ryan didn’t think it was that. Was he more courageous? Or physically stronger? Ryan kept on pondering about it, never finding the answer to his many questions.

***

“Good morning, Ry.” Brendon smiled once Ryan had opened his eyes. He pressed his lips against the corner of Ryan’s mouth and gave him a good morning kiss, pulling away again with a loud smacking noise. “It’s going to be a beautiful day today.”

Ryan forced a small smile for Brendon and nodded. He didn’t want Brendon to know that he was jealous because he loved Brendon and he found that he deserved this. Only did Ryan also found that he deserved this himself as well. “Morning,” he said, nudging Brendon’s nose with his own.

“Are you feeling better today?” Brendon asked as he sat upright with his back against the headboard of Ryan’s bed.

Ryan nodded in response. “A lot better,” he answered, sitting up as well. He leant his head against Brendon’s and let out a long sigh. “What is our first class today?” he wondered out loud while absently playing with one of the multi-coloured bracelets that were hanging around Brendon’s wrist. They were both still wearing the clothes from yesterday evening, but neither of them seemed to care about it.

“Defence Against the Dark Arts,” Brendon replied and made a disgusted face. “If there was one thing that I didn’t miss during the holidays it was Way’s stupid face,” he told Ryan already dreading the first two classes of this day.

Gerard Way was Brendon’s least favourite teacher in Hogwarts. From the first day that they had met, Brendon felt as if the teacher couldn’t stand him and that soon led to a mutual feeling of hatred between the teacher and the student. Or better said, between the teacher and two thirds of Hogwarts. Not a lot of students were that fond of Professor Way. His little brother, Mikey, was the same age as Brendon and Ryan, but luckily he was anything like his brother.

“Ryan?” Brendon questioned after a long silence. “Are you sure everything is okay with you?”

“Yeah, why shouldn’t I be?” Ryan replied, turning his head to look at Brendon.

“You haven’t mentioned the Triwizard Tournament once,” Brendon stated, looking straight into Ryan’s eyes. “You didn’t even congratulate me for getting chosen,” he added with a small pout. “It’s almost as if you’re not happy for me that I made it.”

“I am happy for you, Brendon,” Ryan told Brendon. “I guess I’m still a bit sick from yesterday. Maybe it was the food or so,” he said and then he looked away from Brendon. “I’ll be fine. Let’s get ready for breakfast now, okay?”

“Sure,” Brendon answered and sighed. He could feel that Ryan wasn’t speaking the entire truth but he decided to drop it for now because he didn’t want to get into a fight with Ryan. He got out of the bed and walked over to his own where all of his clothes and some books were dumped. He wasn’t really planning on sleeping in this bed anyway, so he just used it as some sort of odd closet. He picked out a set of clean clothes and then he walked over to Ryan’s side of the room again.

“Can’t you get dressed on your own side?” Ryan asked with a smirk after taking some clean clothes out of his trunk. “I’m sure there’s plenty of room over there.”

“Mmm, yeah, but the sight isn’t as nice as the one I have here,” Brendon stated, winking at Ryan.

“You guys! Fucking stop it already. I already saw more than I should have yesterday,” Bob started, throwing a book into the two lovers their direction. “Please.”

“We’re just getting changed into fresh clothes!” Ryan protested, resting his head on Brendon’s shoulder as he looked at Bob, whose bed was standing close next to his. “We’re not even touching. Just… looking.”

Bob rolled his eyes and rolled onto his side, so he was facing the window on his left, instead of the couple on his right. “Fine,” he muttered and tried to block any mental images of what the two boys might be doing after he had turned around.

Ryan grinned and pressed a small kiss against Brendon’s cheek. “Now get dressed so we can have breakfast. I’m hungry.”