Chapter 4 – Rest of the Year

I was reading a novel in the Great Hall when I felt someone take a seat next to me. I continued reading though. I heard this person clear their throat and say, "Hi, Nat."

I immediately shut the book and looked at him, "Harry…uh…hi! I'm sorry, I didn't look up when you sat next to me." Did I really have to apologize for that? I'm really nervous. Last night ended very suddenly and now I don't know what to say to him.

"That's okay. I…uh…thought we should talk about last night." He said nervously.

Thank God! I'm not the only nervous one. "What about last night?" I asked confidently. Just because we're both nervous doesn't mean I can't toy around with him a little.

"I had a great time last night." He smiled at me.

"I had a great time last night too."

"I didn't think last night was going to be that good. You made it nice for me. I'm sorry for stepping on your feet."

"It's okay you don't have to be sorry for that. I understand."

"Anyway, I was thinking…I was wondering…I think we should…"

"Harry, calm down. You can tell me whatever you want."

"I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to Hogsmeade the next time."

"You mean like a date?"

He smiled shyly, "Yes, like a date."

I felt warmth spread through my body. "I would like that." I grinned at him.

"You knew all along that I was going to ask you out right?"

"Maybe."

He chuckled, "Great!" He quickly pecked me on my cheek. "Hermione wants us to meet her in the library soon to continue our research on 'How I will breathe underwater'."

He said that even before I was able to process the fact that Harry just pecked me. Harry Potter, my friend, the guy I have a crush on, just pecked me on the cheek.

Harry was amused yet pleased with my reaction. "Do you want to go now?"

I didn't trust myself with words right now, so I just nodded. He got up from his seat and held his hand out for me. I smiled and took his hand and he pulled me to the library. I was swept away by these simple gestures. I'm so asking Hermione to pinch me later.

Hermione and Ron were ignoring each other as much as possible. They spoke to each other when it was absolutely necessary. Everything other than that was perfect.

There was a Hogsmeade weekend a week before the Second Task. Hermione decided to stay back and continue researching though it was not getting us anywhere. So, here we were, at Three Broomsticks along with Ron. Oh ya! Ron decided to join us because he didn't want to be stuck with Hermione alone. I was mentally hurling abuses at him. Some date this is turning out to be.

By the time, we got back to the castle, I wanted to get away from both Harry and Ron. I might as well as stayed back with Hermione. I can't believe Harry couldn't tell Ron this is was supposed to be a date and a date happens only when there are two people involved. Ron spotted Seamus and excused himself saying he needed to discuss something important with him. Why couldn't he do that before the 'date'?

"Hey, I'm sorry about today. I couldn't say no when Ron said he wanted to join us." Harry explained when I was about to move away from him.

Someday the too much goodness in Harry's heart is going to be the death of me. I sighed, "It's okay. I understand. There was just no way to explain it to him unless you literally spell it out for him."

Harry chuckled, "I'm really sorry."

"There'll be other dates. I hope."

"Yes of course." He pecked my cheek and squeezed my hand. "I'll see you later."

I nodded. "I'll go find H. I'm sure she forgot to eat."

Neville was our saving grace at the last minute. Dumbledore had asked for Hermione and Ron's presence. They were gone a long time. Neville told us about Gillywater. He told us that depending on the amount consumed people could breathe underwater, which means more gillywater equal to more underwater breathing time. I was so excited that I pecked Neville on his cheek and he went red in the face. Harry called for Dobby and asked him to bring some gillywater.

I wished him luck. I could tell he was nervous though he didn't say it out loud. The task began. Fleur Delacour gave up pretty soon, apparently she had gone in the wrong direction and got lost completely. Cedric Diggory came up with Cho Chang, soon after them, Victor Krum came up with Hermione. Harry as always had to save everyone, so ended up coming last with Ron and Gabrielle Delacour.

But his goodness paid off in the end, as the Merpeople and the judges were very impressed with him. So Harry was placed second in the task. Which meant he was tied with Diggory for the first place.

The third and final task was this huge magical maze. It looked pretty scary to me. Hermione and I hugged Harry tight and wished him luck. Ron patted him and wished him luck. Dumbledore announced it was time for Diggory and Harry to go in. We wish him luck again as he went in. Before the maze closed up, Harry turned back to look at us. I smiled at him. I was praying that he comes out safely. Krum went into the maze after some time. Delacour went in last.

There was a nervous edge around everyone who was present in the audience, no one knew what was going on inside. Hermione and I held hands and prayed for Harry's safety. Suddenly, we saw red sparks shot to the sky from a faraway part of the maze. One of the professors got Fleur out of the maze. She looked pale and frightened, if she weren't breathing I would have thought she was dead. At least, Harry was safe till now.

Then something very strange happened in one part of the maze. A small portal opened and closed before anyone could say anything. You'd have missed it if you'd blinked.

"Portkey?" Hermione whispered. She was perplexed and so was I.

"Is the task supposed to continue somewhere else?" I asked trying to reduce the tension.

By now even the professors had realised something was not right. The problem was none of the professors could enter maze unless someone from the inside had asked for assistance. This turned out to be the longest wait of my life. More than one hour and we didn't know anything. I felt so helpless. I looked at Draco. He nodded at me kindly and I felt a little better but I was still anxious.

Out of nowhere, Harry appeared. There was a commotion down there. I heard gasps and a few screams. I could hear Harry crying loudly. What the hell is going on? When we got down, I saw Diggory's body and the Triwizard cup next to him. Professor Moody was escorting Harry.

I begun to follow but Dumbledore stopped me. "Ms. Shepherd, let us talk to him first and find out what happened, then you, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley can meet him." He told me gently.

I nodded. Dumbledore went in the same direction that Professor Moody took Harry. Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape followed him. The entire Hufflepuff house looked sad. Diggory's father was inconsolable. What the hell happened in that maze? I looked at Draco, Draco looked as perplexed as I was feeling.

After about half an hour, Professor McGonagall found us and told us that Harry was in the hospital wing. Before we ran in the direction of the infirmary, she warned us, "He is very traumatised, right now. I would save the questioning till tomorrow if I were you." We nodded but I didn't know if I could make it through the night with all this suspense and unanswered questions.

Madam Pomfrey had healed him by the time we reached. But Harry looked really shaken. I couldn't hold myself back. "Harry." I ran to him and hugged him. He held me tightly and started crying on my shoulder.

"He killed Cedric. He killed him. I couldn't do anything." He kept repeating.

I was afraid to ask him who. I think I know the answer that. But Ron beat me to it, "Who, mate?" He asked with concerned.

Harry pulled back and looked at him, "Voldemort."

"What?" Hermione sounded scared.

"He had Wormtail do it for him but ultimately it is Voldemort who killed him." Harry said.

"Tell us everything that happened." Ron demanded.

I didn't let go off Harry when he told us about what happened in the maze. He told us that Krum was put under the Imperius Curse and that he attacked Fleur and Cedric. He told us about the Triwizard Cup being a portkey that sent Cedric and him to a graveyard. He told us how Voldemort now has a new body and about the deatheaters present there. He mentioned Goyle Sr., Crabbe Sr., Macnair and Lucius Malfoy being there. He told us that Professor Moody was actually Barty Crouch Jr. He was using Polyjuice potion this entire time. To say I was shocked is an understatement.

This explained why Professor Moody always has a flask on him. This also explained why Professor Snape accused Harry of making Polyjuice Potion two years after we actually brew the said potion.

Lucius Malfoy was there? Did Draco know this was going to happen? I need to see him soon. If I'm not wrong, I'm sure he is around somewhere. I just have to let him find me. But I didn't want to wait. I absolutely have to know now. Draco wouldn't have hidden such a big thing from me.

"Harry, I'll be right back." I said suddenly. He nodded but didn't say anything. I got up and left the hospital wing quickly. I didn't know where to look for Draco so I just kept walking ahead, looking for any sign that Draco was near by. I found him as soon as I turned the corner. He pulled me behind a suit of armours, drew a pattern on the wall with his wand and wall opened up to reveal a small room.

I'll have to ask him about this room later on. "Did you know?"

"Is it true?" He asked at the same time. We just looked at each other for a few moments neither saying anything, both of us regarding each other's question. "What was I supposed to know?" He was bewildered.

"Did you know this was going to happen?" My patience was wearing thin.

"No. How was I supposed to know this was going to happen?"

"Your father was there."

He looked at the floor, "So, it's true then? He really is back?"

I nodded. "How did you know?"

He handed me a piece of parchment.

Draco,

Good News. The Dark Lord has risen again. It happened tonight. Too bad that nosey Potter got away or else The Dark Lord would have ended his wretched life. No worries, now that he has risen again, I'm sure Potter is living his last few days.

The Wizarding World will once again be able to destroy the mudbloods and pathetic muggles. The blood traitors will be forced to take our side or die. The first to go will be Potter's mudblood and the Weasley who follows him like a pet. That abomination that you are forced to be engaged to will be gone as well and you'll be free from this engagement. Freedom is very close for you.

The Purebloods will rise again with the Dark Lord leading the way. This is the time for you to prove your worth. If you get noticed, you may get your mark sooner than later. Then you will also follow the path that your grandfather and I took.

The Dark Lord wishes to keep his return in the wraps at the moment, so he can create chaos. So don't share this information with anybody.

Father.

I felt like I was punched in the gut.

Draco held me in his arms and wiped the tears on my face. I didn't even know I was crying. "Don't cry." He said softly while running his hand through my hair.

"You can't do it. You can't take the mark, Draco. Please, please tell me that you won't do it." I begged him.

"You know, I don't have a say in this. It's not happening now. Don't worry."

"You don't want it, right?"

"No, I don't want it. I'll try my best to avoid it as much as I can. It's not like The Dark Lord is going to induct an under aged wizard." He kissed my forehead.

That is a valid point. I hugged him tight. "I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I know." He whispered in my ears. He pulled back. "Now stop crying. I can't believe you're more worried about me rather than your friends."

"You're my friend too. I'm worried about them as well. Don't do it, Draco please."

He pulled me closer and kissed me. And I let him continue. He always did this when I was too nervous and scared about something. It was slow and soft.

"Better?" He asked me when he pulled back.

I let out a breath and said, "Yes."

Dumbledore started of the year-end speech by paying homage to Cedric Diggory. Despite the lovely food, everyone was sad about the turn of events. When Dumbledore announced the return of Voldemort, I could see a lot of students looking conflicted. I could tell by the mood around that the next few years are going to be are going to be really difficult.

I wonder if Voldemort is going to attack during the summer or during the school year. The deatheaters used the Quidditch World Cup to stage a comeback. So I guess, He will be looking to make a big entrance. Right now, I'm just worried about Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco.

This chapter turned out to be a bit longer than i anticipated! I hope you like it though! Enjoy!

Please read and review! Thanks for reading!

Neepa :-)