I do not own these characters :-(
Chapter 10
Edward's POV
As Krum, Fleur, Harry, and I entered the arena, the cheering and music were at full volume. Homemade signs were being thrust in the air as the students chanted and cheered for their favorite competitors. Amos Diggory was there of course, patting me roughly on the back and waving eagerly at the crowd. Professor moody stomped back and forth in front of the giant hedge maze, which took up most of the arena floor. The cheering didn't waver until Professor Dumbledore stood at his platform and shouted for silence.
"Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now, as Mr. Diggory…" the chanting crowd caused him to pause here, and Amos grabbed my arm, hoisting it above our heads in triumph.
"….and Mr. Potter…" again he paused until the cheering subsided. "…are tied for first position they will be first to enter the maze, followed by Mr. Krum and Miss Delacour." The cheering wasn't quite as enthusiastic as before, but it still caused Dumbledore to pause.
"The first person to touch the cup will be the winner! I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Contestants! Gather round. Quickly!" he stepped from his platform and waved us in with his arms.
We stood in a circle, shoulders touching, beside Dumbledore as he spoke to us in a hushed voice, "In the maze, you'll find no dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead, you'll face something even more challenging. You see, people change in the maze. Oh, find the cup if you can. But be very wary, you could just lose yourselves along the way."
Dumbledore walked away as the four of us stared nervously at each other. "Champions, prepare yourselves!" he shouted. We broke apart and stood at separate entrances to the maze.
Amos approached me, pulling me into a fierce hug, "good luck" he breathed releasing me from is grasp.
"See you later, Dad" I whispered the words feeling guilty because I knew I didn't mean them. I looked over at Harry and nodded.
"On the count of three. One…" the sound of the cannon interrupted Dumbledore's countdown and I stepped slowly into the maze. The hedges close behind me, and a foggy darkness filled the long leafy corridors of the maze.
I stood listening for a while. The silence was deafening; the maze seemed to go on forever. I walked slowly through the maze, wandering aimlessly down its long green passageways, occasionally glancing over my shoulder. As I wandered down one passageway, a strange wind blew past closing the trail behind me. The closing branches hit my face as I ran quickly through. I reached the end just as the trail disappeared with one last angry slap of branches. Fleur screamed somewhere in the near distance, and I saw red sparks soar high above the maze. I crept slowly towards the ruckus.
About three passageways down, a jet of blue light shot passed my shoulder. Krum stepped confidently from the pathway just in front of me, his wand raised. This is it; I'm finally going to get what I've wanted since this whole competition started! I thought as another streak flew past my head. Suddenly, another jet of light flew past, but from the opposite direction hitting Krum, square in the chest knocking him to the ground, his wand flying from his hand. Of course it was Harry Potter to the rescue, I turned, threw him a thankful grimace, and took off down another passageway.
Of course I couldn't get off that easy, Harry was right on my heels as I skidded around a corner. Seriously he's like this guy that's always there, like a spare guy who's always around when you don't need anyone. We were running, and shoving each other down the aisles, pausing only when we saw the shining blue cup at the end of the passageway. We ran faster then, roots pulled up from the ground grabbing at our legs. The roots twisted around my ankles bringing me to the ground with a loud thud. They wrapped themselves around my legs and torso pulling me towards the hedges. Harry stood a few feet ahead of me, his head whipping back and forth from me to the cup. I wanted to tell him to go, to let the bush drag me under, but I knew he wouldn't listen. So I did what I thought anyone else would do in my situation.
"Harry! Harry! Harry!" I shouted, pleading for him to cut me loose. With one more glance toward the cup, he turned to me running closer so he could cut the roots that were slowly inching towards my head.
"Thanks" I gasped. Maybe I was going to make it out of this tournament alive. I really needed to stop making plans; plans obviously didn't work in the wizarding world. I think I'll have to wait until I'm out of school and back at Cedric's home before I try to come up with another plan.
"No problem" Harry replied in a shaky breath.
"You know, for a moment there, I thought you were gonna let it get me." I tried to joke.
"For a moment, so did I" he said in a tone that made me question his sincerity.
"Some game, huh?" I questioned. There's nothing like a little awkward conversation to make your time in death defying tournament challenges worth while.
"Some game." He agreed just as the hedges began closing around us. We ran quickly from slapping branches and stood just in front of the glowing Triwizard cup.
"Go on, take it. You saved me, take it!" I urged.
"Together." He said determination clear in his voice.
"One…Two" he started.
"THREE!" we shouted together, each of us grabbing a handle of the cup.
Our feet left the ground, and within the next second, we were spinning.