I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed this story. Your comments are much appreciated. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time, but school has been taking up most of my time. I will try to update more often. As for whether or not Cedric is going to die I'm not sure yet, and when I figure it out I'm probably not going to tell you to keep up the suspense. Sorry, I know I'm terrible
Chapter 4
After dinner Cedric, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Hagrid's hut for their detention. Hagrid greeted them as they walked up to his hut.
"Hello there." Hagrid said too friendly for the likes of detention.
Hi Hagrid." The four of them said in unison as they hung their heads.
"When Professor Snape told me about your detention I couldn't believe it, you all are such nice students. Of course Snape never really likes the nice students." Hagrid said adding the last part to himself.
"Yeah well Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle should be here too, but Snape likes to play favorites with his Snakes." Cedric said.
"He never was the nicest wizard, but he gave you detention so I got to abide by the rules." Hagrid explained.
"What will we be doing?" Harry asked.
"Well something's been killing the unicorns in the forest and I have to find out what it is. I figure me and Ron can go one way and you three go the other way." Hagrid explained.
"You mean you're going to leave us alone in the dark forest with something in there that's killing unicorns!" Exclaimed Cedric.
"Dust trail." Hermione whispered giggling.
"What are you laughing at? You're going to be alone in the dark forest with a first year and a third year at night."
That shut her up.
They left Hagrid's hut and separated. Harry, Hermione, and Cedric walked slowly together as close as sardines in a can. Cedric was in the front followed by Hermione who had his robes in a death grip, and Harry was last practically walking backwards holding Hermione's robes to make sure nothing was following them.
"Why am I in front?" Cedric asked raising his wand at every little sound in the forest.
"Because you're the oldest therefore you should be best equipped to fight something that attacks us." Hermione said.
"Well I hate to break it to you, but if something attacks us we're gonna die!" Cedric said earning a scoff from Hermione.
"Fine then I'll go first." Hermione said walking ahead of Cedric.
"NO!" Cedric yelled and pushed Hermione behind him again. "I may not be a Gryffindor but I'm not such a coward that I would let a girl go through the dark forest before me." Cedric said.
"You're not a coward at all. I was just teasing you before." Hermione said.
Just then they heard rustling in the distance. Something was out there. The three young students raised their wands and crept toward the sound.
They could make out a unicorn lying dead with a cloaked figure drinking its blood. They huddled behind a tree.
"What should we do?" Hermione whispered looking completely frightened.
"We should use that spell you used in the bathroom." Harry suggested in a whisper.
"No we should use Bombarta. It should blow up whatever that thing is." Cedric said feeling just as scared as they were but trying not to show it.
"Alright: on the count of three.1, 2, 3." Hermone said.
"Bombarta" the three of them yelled and the hooded figure went flying backwards.
"We did it." Harry exclaimed.
"Not quite!" Cedric exclaimed as the figure began flying back at them.
They screamed. Hermione threw her arms around Cedric. Harry threw his arms around Hermione, and Cedric tried to shield the two first years from whatever blow would come, but the hooded figure never made it to them. As the figure came at them a centaur came running through the forest and scared the hooded figure away.
"What the bloody hell was that thing!" Cedric said as the three students tried to compose themselves. They straightened and Harry stepped away, but Cedric kept holding onto Hermione's hand for dear life.
"That was not something young students such as you should be looking for in this forest." The centaur said.
"Who are you?" Harry asked the Centaur.
"I am Firenze. You children need to be heading back to the castle. Especially you Harry Potter. It is extremely dangerous here for you." Firenze said.
"Thank you for saving us Firenze." Hermione said still holding Cedric's robes.
"Yeah thanks but can you please explain what the bloody hell is going on!" Cedric said again.
"That was Voldemort." Firenze said calmly.
"Voldemort? Why would he be drinking unicorn blood?" Harry asked.
"Unicorn blood will give life to someone on the brink of death, but it will be a half-life, a cursed life." Firenze said.
"Harry, Hermione, Cedric!" Hagrid yelled from somewhere to the left of them.
"Over here Hagrid!" Hermione yelled.
Hagrid and Ron came through the forest.
"Firenze what are you doing here?"
"Hagrid, it is unwise to let these children go into the dark forest alone. Voldemort is the one killing the unicorns."
"he who must not be named? I better tell the headmaster. Thank you for protecting them Firenze."
"You're welcome." He said as he ran back into the forest. Hagrid told them to follow him and stay close. They all huddled together too in shock to say a word the whole way back to the castle. They were so close that no one noticed Hermione holding Cedric's hand the whole way back. When they were almost back to the castle Ron broke the silence.
"Are you guys alright?" Ron asked
"Yeah. Firenze stopped … him before he could do anything." Cedric said
"Did you guys know it was him at first?" Ron asked.
"No we didn't know what it was we just saw the dead unicorn and something drinking its blood. We couldn't tell what it was. Cedric came up with the idea to use Bombarta on it, but it didn't kill him he charged at us, and that's when Firenze came." Harry explained.
"Wow. I can't believe … he was right in front of you guys." Ron said.
They were now out of the dark forest, and Hagrid turned to them.
"All right you lot listen here. Don't you tell a soul what happened tonight. I'm gonna tell Dumbledore, but that's all. No one else can know. Understand."
They all nodded.
"Alright. Now I'm sorry this happened to ya. Are you all okay to go to your common rooms by yourselves?" Hagrid asked.
"Yeah I think we are." Harry said.
"Alright: goodnight everyone."
"Good night Hagrid." They all said.
The four students went into the school.
"Why don't we walk Cedric to his common room and then we'll go to ours together so no one has to walk alone. " Hermione suggested finally letting go of Cedric's hand.
"Alright let's go." Harry said.
They walked through the dimly lit hallways and down to the basement near the kitchen. No one said anything. They just walked side by side still in shock of what happened to them. When they reached the entrance Ron once again broke the silence.
"Wow Cedric your common room is right next to the kitchen!" Ron yelled.
The other three winced at Ron's loud voice.
"Keep it down Ron everyone is sleeping, and yes the kitchen is right there convenient for a midnight snack." Cedric said.
"It's a good thing Ron's not a Hufflepuff, or he might weigh 400 lbs." Harry said chuckling.
"Shut up Harry" Ron said in an angry whisper as Hermione and Cedric chuckled.
As the laughter died down they became serious again.
"Alright, be careful you three." Cedric said to the three first years.
"We'll be fine Cedric. It's not like Voldemort can get in the castle. Right?" Harry said.
Ron and Cedric flinched at Harry's use of his name.
"He is the greatest dark wizard of all time you know. Getting into Hogwarts is probably easy to him." Ron said.
"He's not even a person. Didn't you hear Firenze he has a half-life. He's not strong enough to get into the castle. Besides, he who must not be named is afraid of Dumbledore. As long as Dumbledore is here Hogwarts is safe." Hermione said.
"How do you know everything?" Ron said exasperated. He turned to Cedric and Harry "How is it that she knows everything?"
They all rolled their eyes at Ron.
"Alright well this has been fun." Cedric said sarcastically. "Remind me to never get in trouble with you three again."
"Yeah well don't forget about our detention with Snape tomorrow." Hermione said.
"Ugh I'd rather take my chances with you know who." Cedric said with a big sigh. "Well goodnight you three and try to stay out of trouble."
"Good night." Ron Hermione and Harry said.
"See you tomorrow" Cedric called to them as they walked toward the stairs to get to Gryffindor tower. He waited for them to get out of sight before he went into his common room.
