"It's not as cold at the bottom."

Viktor jumped, turning sharply to stare at the bundled English boy who'd snuck up behind him. "Vot?"

"The lake," Cedric answered. "Something to do with the peat, or... I don't know. It's just not as cold down at the bottom." He grimaced slightly. "Bit gross to think about, but... nice enough, if you don't dwell on it."

Dropping his bag at the base of a tree, he moved to the water's edge, pushing his robes out of the way as he crouched down. The loch was frigid, of course, but not as cold as the air above it - evident by the curling tendrils of mist rising of the water. It was beautiful imagery, but the truth behind it - not something he cared to think about.

"And vy does this interest you?" Krum asked, still unsure of his competition.

Cedric glanced over his shoulder at the Bulgarian Quidditch star. As a Quidditch player himself, he wasn't immune to the jealousy of Viktor's profession. Then again, when it came to those broad shoulders and muscular arms - he found he wasn't really immune to anything.

"Don't play stupid," he answered.

It had been several months since he'd seen Oliver - another man lost to the allure of professional Quidditch. They'd never made any commitments or had any pretense towards monogamy, but it hardly mattered. Cedric had never felt a similar pull to any other human being - male or female. Of course, he was publicly dating Cho Chang, and in that regard, he felt a certain degree of guilt. But he'd never pretended to be anything more than platonically interested in her, despite her best efforts.

"The second task involves the lake."

Krum maintained his stony, distrusting expression.

"Your fanclub saw you looking through books on the lovely lochs of Scotland yesterday."

He sighed. What was the point of being ridiculously wealthy if you couldn't buy a moment or two of privacy? "Seek us vere our voices sound." The headaches he'd gotten before he'd worked that one out - brutal. "How did you guess it?"

"Accidentally dropped it into the Prefect's bath."

"The vot?"

Cedric paused. The full extent of what he was doing had only just occurred to him. He had gone beyond fraternising with the enemy. He was rapidly approaching flirtation. His father would have been appalled.

"The... Prefect's bath," he answered after a moment, thumbing his badge. "Special privilege for school prefects."

Viktor looked unimpressed. "A bathtub?"

"No- well, yes, but it's more than that. It's a bathroom, with a massive great swimming pool, and strange taps and-" he stopped before he could make a complete idiot of himself. "It's... difficult to explain," he finished, standing up again.

"Of course."

Biting his lip, the Hufflepuff looked back at the castle briefly. "I could show you. If you like." It was a bizarre invitation, he knew, but he was hoping that the Bulgarian would pass it off as some strange English custom he had yet to understand. Thoughts of steam and biceps and proper bubble baths were quickly fogging up his thoughts.

"Show me this... Prefect's Bath," Viktor repeated, unsure of the situation. A sixth sense suggested that the Hogwarts Champion might be trying to lure him to his death, but Diggory hardly seemed capable of something so sinister.

Cedric nodded.

The Bulgarian pursed his lips, considering the request. The English boy baffled him - almost more than the English language. But perhaps there was something to be learned by acquiescing. If nothing else, more time with Diggory might reveal his weaknesses - something to use against him in the upcoming months of competition.

"Alright," he answered, pushing himself to his feet. "Lead the vay, Diggory."

A slight smile played at Cedric's lips as he nodded and turned. Not bothering to stem the flood of inappropriate thoughts bubbling through his mind, he followed the path back to the castle - with his weakness in tow.