Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Last Moments
By: ChoCedric
Cho Chang and Cedric Diggory lie together on the grass by the lake, Cedric holding Cho in his arms. The sky is picturesque and blue, its beauty shining through. It is the day of the third task, and they lie with their hands intertwined. Cedric's skin feels so soft and warm, and Cho revels in the life she feels pulsing from it.
"Cedric?" Cho says softly, looking into his beautiful gray eyes. "I'm worried."
"I know, love," says Cedric, holding the girl he loves a little tighter. "But I promise you, I'll be careful."
"What is it you have to do again?" asks Cho, nuzzling his neck.
"The maze," answers Cedric. "Apparently there's some creatures in there the champions have to get past."
"Cedric, I don't want to lose you. People have died in this tournament before," Cho whimpers suddenly, breathing in the scent of her boyfriend's hair. "If I lost you I don't know what I would do. I wouldn't be able to handle it."
"Shhhhh, love," Cedric soothes, rubbing tender circles on her back. "Listen, I'll make you a promise if you make me one in return."
"Okay," says Cho, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. Cedric gently wipes them away with his thumbs.
"I promise you I'll be careful," Cedric whispers. "But Cho, if anything does happen to me, I need you to do something, little missy. I want you to remember me, but don't spend the rest of your life clinging onto my memory and never letting me go. I want you to find someone else to love and to cherish. If I can't be here loving you, I want someone else to do it for me. I have enjoyed every hour, every minute, every second I've spent with you over these past six months of our relationship. I want you to know it wouldn't be an insult to my memory, or make me angry, if you loved someone else."
"But I love YOU, Cedric!" Cho sobs, clinging onto his hands.
"I love you too, Cho, but please promise me," Cedric urges, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I don't know what's going to happen tonight, but I assure you, whatever happens, things will be all right.'
Cho looks tearfully into his honest, youthful face. "I promise," she whispers.
"Good," says Cedric, squeezing her hand.
"And whether you win tonight or not," says Cho, "I'll be proud of you."
Cedric chuckles lightly. "Always piling it on, aren't you?" he teases. "You know, you're really inflating my ego."
Cho lets out a watery giggle, and the two lovebirds kiss passionately. They stroke each other's hair, reveling in the fact that they are safe, warm, loved, and together.
"If you win, what do you plan to do with the prize money?" asks Cho. "And don't say you'll spend it all on me! You need to spend some on yourself!"
Cedric laughs. "Whatever you say, Your Majesty," he says with a bright smile. "Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to do with it if I do win it."
"I'm sure you will win," Cho says confidently.
"Thanks," Cedric says, blushing. "I really feel bad for Harry, you know. After he told me about the first task, I realized he didn't put his own name in the Goblet. He was somehow forced into this tournament."
"Yeah, I think so too," Cho whispers. "It's so unfair."
"I'll do everything I can to protect him tonight," Cedric says adamantly.
"I know you will. You're wonderful like that," Cho replies, smiling gently at him.
A few hours later, it is time for them to part, and as the couple kiss for the last time, Cedric murmurs in Cho's ear, "Remember your promise, little missy, and I'll remember mine."
"I'll remember," Cho says, stroking his hair one more time. "Good luck tonight, love."
"Thanks," says Cedric. "I love you, with all my heart."
"I love you too, Ced," Cho answers, bravely holding back her tears as she watches her boyfriend walk away. "And I always will."
