True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness Albert Einstein
Chapter three: To Dream the Morbid Dream
It hadn't started out weird. In fact the dream was quiet innocent in the beginning as most dreams are at the start of them. Cedric found himself walking through a long dark hallway. He sensed that he was inside of some building, but then the cement walls turned into bushes.
That was pretty weird.
Then the bushes attempted to attack him. They shot out of the ground and tried to lock his legs and pull him under. At first he was able to fight off the giant roots, by kicking at them. But then one of the roots wrapped itself around Cedric's legs.
That was weird too.
But it got even worse when, not only did the root achieve victory and grab him, but also it started sucking him into the bushes. It was pulling him closer towards death. In just a few seconds he wouldn't be able to see anymore. He wouldn't be able to breath. He'd lose his brainpower.
That was when he saw that hand. There was nothing else, just bushes and roots entangling him, but there was that hand. It seemed to come from a place where there were no more bushes. But try as Cedric might he couldn't seem to reach the hand. If he could just inch himself a little closer to the fingertips of the hand…he'd be free.
Then he heard a voice. "Grab my hand Ced!"
Immediately Cedric shot out from his bed.
He realized that tiny drops of water were falling from his head. He had been panting as well and his palms felt moist. That had been one intense dream. Cedric had almost died. He had almost been saved. What did that mean?
Now Cedric Diggory was not one who normally thought that there was any meaning to dreams, but it seemed that this particular one was so real. He stood up from bed and shook his head from side to side. There had to be a logical explanation for this recent morbid dream.
Okay, thought Cedric. Let's think for a minute. The roots and vines could be a metaphor for my father, trying to pull me into his world.
Well that sort of made sense, but then what about that mysterious hand? And where did the voice come from? Was that the owner of the hand? All of these questions collided in Cedric's brain threatening to kill him.
What was he going to do now?
Cedric had no idea. He could ask one of his friends for help, but they might think he was crazy. "It's just a dream," they'd explain calmly. "Maybe you're a little nervous and your nervousness trickled into your subconscious."
But he wouldn't believe it. That dream, if it was really a dream, was too real to be caused by mere nerves.
Could he come to his dad for help?
Cedric shook his blond hair from side to side and sighed. That was a no too. His dad would smile kindly and produce the same answers his friends would give.
You're just nervous son. Dad would say. It's perfectly logical to be scared but you're going to be great. You're my son. You'll succeed.
Cedric certainly didn't feel like he'd succeed at anything now. He closed his eyes and started breathing slowly and calmly. Cedric stood up and walked out of his dormitory to the common room he shared with the rest of the Hufflepuffs. He flopped onto one of the chairs and then jumped up with fear.
The fear was because he was not the only one down here. Sam Markson was also sitting in the common room. Sam had been Cedric's friend for as long as Cedric had been at Hogwarts. Sam had long, uneven brown hair that fell to his eyes. He was tall, and gangly with big hands and black eyes. And now he sat staring at Cedric. This was what caused Cedric to jump.
"Feeling all right Ced?"
Once Cedric had regained his breath he managed a chuckle. "Sure I guess."
"Nightmare?" Sam was a good guesser.
Cedric nodded.
"Was it really weird?" asked Sam.
"I don't think anyone would be able to understand it, that's how weird and crazy it was," explained Cedric.
"Anxiety dream?"
"Death dream."
At this Sam looked away from Cedric out at the window. His eyes had a far away look as he tried to answer a question, which he could not and had no words for. At last he turned back to Cedric.
"I can't solve your dream Ced, but I think I know someone who might be able to help you."
Cedric's eyes were wide. This was the best news he had heard all night, even better than the triwizard stuff. "Who?"
Sam beckoned Cedric to lean closer towards him. "Go to the library tomorrow," explained Sam. "On third shelf on the right hand side, there's this book. I think it's called Wizards and their dreams. It's supposed to help wizards with confusing dreams that they can't explain."
Cedric smiled. "Who wrote this book?"
Sam shrugged. "Beats the hell out of me, but I've heard it's helpful."
Cedric laughed. "Thanks, I'm going back to bed."
"I'll be here."
The boy called Cedric started walking up the stairs towards the dormitory when Sam called, "Hey Ced!"
"Yeah?"
"Congratulations on being the Hogwarts Champion. You'll make your dad proud, I'm sure of it."
Cedric shrugged. "Yeah I think so, or at least die trying."
