Stevie: You know, it's really not fair that cheapxperfume gets spring break and I don't. I mean, there she is in the next room, raving about some guy named… Robert Pattinson? I dunno. But anyway, the point is that I'm here, clacking away at the keyboard, and she's over there watching movies. It's not fair, I tell you, it's not. Apparently she wants me to let you know that they did a cover of Black Balloon at the Valentine's Day assembly at her school… and she screamed really loud? I don't know why she thinks these things matter. I'm only here to beg for reviews.
Madam Pomfrey won't let me out of the hospital wing right away, so I have to stay an extra day or two. Cedric promises to bring me all my homework and everything, but he's not too happy about delivering the message that I won't be able to attend Snape's detention. Can't blame him, really.
But unfortunately for me, I'm stuck in bed all day. I try to read, but I can't focus. I try to write a letter to my mum and dad, but I can't think of anything interesting to say. Eventually I just take all the flowers out of the bouquet and start picking off the petals, one by one… He loves me… He loves me not…
I'm on my thirteenth flower when Cedric bursts into the hospital wing sometime after dinner. His face is as white as a sheet. "Dragons," he chokes out. "First task… dragons…"
I stare blankly at him, then risk a quick glance toward Pomfrey's office. It's closed. Cedric pulls up a chair beside my bed, still breathing unsteadily.
"Relax," I say, trying to sound like a psychiatrist. "Just breathe, Ced, and tell me slower this time."
He glares at me, then takes a deep, shaky breath. "Potter told me earlier today. For the first task, we have to battle a dragon."
I get it now. My eyes widen, then narrow. "But why should we trust Potter?" I snort. "I mean, just look at all the rubbish that Skeeter woman wrote about him –"
"Which you said was all lies anyway." Cedric sighs. "Just look at the facts, Skylar. We don't have much else to go on." He pauses to lug out a few heavy books from his bag. "Now, I need your help. I brought a bunch of books on dragons, so we should look for the –"
I barely pay any attention to the books I'm supposed to be reading. All I can think about is Cedric, alone, facing a humongous, fire-breathing dragon.
I think that's the whole point of denial. So you don't have to think about what could happen if the thing you're denying is true.
x x x
The countdown of the final hours to the task is a blur of vibrant colors and murmured phrases. Cedric and I completely ignore all our teachers, instead focusing on his plan to take on the dragon. When Professor Vector finally notices we're not listening, he regretfully moves us to opposite sides of the room. I block out a meaningless lecture on the magical properties of quadrilaterals and doodle a miniature dragon on the edge of my parchment. It looks too cute and unrealistic, like something out of the My Little Ponies line. I laugh hysterically under my breath to relieve some of the nervousness building up in my gut.
Because that worry for Cedric has come back, multiplied.
Much to my dismay, he gets let out of class early, and we're right in the middle of Potions, making a ridiculously complex Infatuation Potion. The only comfort I get after Cedric leaves is watching Flint completely destroy his own potion. It resembles several lumps of moldy goat cheese by the time we're done. You can almost see the internal battle play out across Snape's face – fail his favorite student and actually give a correct grade for once? Or live up to old Slytherin prejudices and let the prick get away with another top mark?
Being Snape, he chooses the latter. And, as Flint skips away, he fails me and tells me to hurry out to the First Task or he'll give me extra homework. Like I need any urging.
I have to sit by myself in the bleachers; I'm guessing that Cedric's already getting debriefed or whatever. I hope he doesn't look too guilty when they tell him it's dragons. We've got a good plan laid out and I don't want him to get disqualified before it goes into action.
Listen to me. I almost sound excited! What's wrong with me?!
A few minutes later, Cedric's out. I can see, even from here, that his face is a very interesting shade of green. I'll have to tease him about it later.
But during his whole encounter with the dragon, I find myself wondering if there's going to be a later. We had a pretty good plan – Cedric would use his Transfiguration skills to turn a rock into a dog. We'd expected that the dragon would go after the dog instead of him. Well, it sort of did.
When Cedric first comes out, the dragon just stares at him, breathing steam very slowly through its nose. Then it lets out this almighty roar. Everyone claps their hands to their ears and grimaces, but Cedric is undeterred. Suddenly there's a cute little Labrador scampering around the Pitch.
Dragon snaps at it angrily, but Dog is not afraid. It bounces back with a sharp little bark and runs in the opposite direction. I hold my breath. Move, Cedric, move!
For a moment, he seems frozen in place, watching Dog and Dragon do their strange little tango. Then, out of the blue, he remembers what he's supposed to be doing: getting the golden egg from Dragon's nest. He finally starts to run.
Now, don't get me wrong – Cedric is one of the fastest, most athletic people I know. Especially compared to me. But he's up against a bloody dragon. And I know from the moment that Dragon sees Cedric that his chances just got very, very small.
There's another roar, followed by a burning gust of flame. I can feel the heat from my spot in the bleachers. It's so sweltering that the air feels tangible for a moment, like I could grab a chunk and stuff it in my pocket. Then suddenly it's gone.
I squint through the smoke, trying to get a better view of Cedric, and then I have to stifle a gasp. He's been hurt! Half of the skin on his face has been scalded by the sheer heat of the flames. I start to hyperventilate without realizing it.
He's only a few feet away from the golden egg now, but Dragon's still chasing him. Dog is completely forgotten and has curled up into a ball, making pathetic squeaky noises. I cover my eyes and whimper.
The whole Pitch is dead silent except for Cedric's footsteps and the sound of Dragon's roars and heavy breathing. For a moment the steps pause, like Cedric has just leaped a good distance. Or been captured by Dragon. I hold my breath.
Suddenly cheering shocks through the stands, like thunder in a rainstorm. I peek through my fingers just in time to see Dragon stand on its hind legs and roar painfully; Cedric's gotten the egg! He holds it up victoriously, a tired smile lighting up his face until a few MediWizards come onto the Pitch and float him off on a stretcher.
I'm on my feet in milliseconds, running towards the First Aid Tent, where I know Cedric's going to be. At first, Pomfrey doesn't let me in. Then she recognizes me as the broken ankle girl and sighs. "Okay, but make it quick."
I thank her hurriedly and rush over to Cedric, who's still on a stretcher. I pause and stare, despite myself. "Oh… Ced…"
"You don't have to say it. I look terrible." He gives me a weak smile, because he knows he's right. The entire left side of his face is a horrible, shiny red. It looks like Hell took up a part-time residence on his face.
"No, no, you look fine," I lie casually. I take the ointment from the table next to his bed and start to cake it on the burn, talking just to keep myself busy. "Delacour's up next now, you know," I babble. "She's probably going to start crying the moment she singes her pretty hair, I don't know why anyone from Beauxbatons even entered the Tournament; they're so prissy. Krum's probably going to use some amazing Quidditch strategy, but I don't know what Potter's going to do. Run for it, probably. Go hide out with his Muggle family for a few years, maybe, get a name change. Or maybe –"
I stop, because Cedric's got this really weird look on the part of his face that I can see. "Do you want me to shove it?" I ask.
"No, I was going to ask you to keep going, actually," he says, closing his eyes half-way. "You've got a really nice voice, Skylar, has anyone ever told you that?"
I pause again, but this time simply out of surprise. My voice has been called a lot of things, but definitely never "nice." Maybe Dragon hit him on the head, too.
x x x
It's supposed to be a short visit, but Pomfrey can't seem to get rid of me, and Cedric turns the famed Diggory charm on her, so she gives in and lets me stay. After the last champion (Harry) has gone, more people start trickling in – Cho included.
"Oh, Cedric!" she says dramatically as she enters the room. Yep, right on cue – the flirtatious hair flip, paired just perfectly with the sassy smile. Mister Champion just lies there and eats it all up. I turn away and gag.
Cho starts yammering about how it's completely unfair that Potter and Krum tied for first, and how Cedric totally should've gotten their spot, because what he did was so amazing, and…
I'm about to tell her that I'M the one who came up with the dog idea, but I bite my tongue before I give Cedric away. In the end, I just walk out.
Stupid Cho.
