As the carriage ride continued, it felt like it was going slower every second and no matter how hard I prayed it didn't change.

When we finally reached the Hogwarts doors, I slowly got out of the carriage and followed everyone else inside. I could feel everyone's eyes on me but I ignored them. So many things were going through my mind but I was too afraid to voice them out loud. When we arrived at the Gryffindor table, I slipped into my seat without a word. Harry and Ron sat across from me. They knew with me in this kind of state, it wouldn't be a very good idea to be near me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I smiled as I looked up. My smile disappeared when I saw who it was.

"Hello," Viktor greeted. "Nice to see you again."

"Hello," I said pushing his hand off my shoulder.

"I was wondering, could have a word?" Viktor asked. "In private?"

I stared at him for a second. "Sure," I said uneasily.

Viktor grabbed my hand and led me away from the table. He led me out of the Great Hall and into a place in the entrance hall where he was sure no one would see us.

"I know this is last minute and we have only known each other for a short time, but I was hoping you would like to go out with me."

"What?" I asked. I couldn't believe he just asked me out. "I already have a boyfriend."

"Oh, you mean the boy you were with," Viktor said, sounding not at all threatened.

Boy? I thought angrily

"What was his name? Derek?"

"Cedric," I corrected angrily. "Cedric Diggory."

"Yes, him," said Viktor still sounding unthreatened. "I thought he was your brother."

I scoffed.

Viktor suddenly smiled and stood so close to me that I was pinned against the wall. He grabbed my upper arm with one hand and stroked my cheek with the other.

"So, what do you say?" Viktor asked. "First Hogsmeade trip?"

"Please, don't touch me," I whispered, trying to get away, but I couldn't move. "I can't go with you. I love Cedric."

Viktor scoffed this time. "I could give you so much more," he whispered in my ear. I shut my eyes tightly as I felt his hot breath in my ear.

"Please, let me go," I begged, my eyes still shut. I felt Viktor slowly let go of me. When I opened my eyes I realized my vision was slightly blurred from tears. Viktor was still standing in front of me with a smile on his face.

"I'll wait then," he sneered.

I took this time to sneak away from him. As I ran I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I was too upset to keep my eyes open. I ended up bumping into someone who grabbed both of my arms again.

"I said let me go!" I nearly screamed, not opening my eyes. I tried to put my arms up in defense but they were pin to my sides.

"Mione, it's me," said the voice. "Open your eyes."

Slowly I opened my eyes to see Cedric staring at me with concern.

"Oh, Cedric!" I cried, flinging my arms around his neck and burying my face in his shoulder. "Thank God, it's you."

"Are you all right?" he asked concern still in his voice as he stroked my hair. "You're shaking."

"I'm fine," I assured him as we let go, though my voice cracked a little and I found I couldn't look him in the eyes.

Cedric raised my head to look him in the eyes.

I smiled at him a little.

Cedric grabbed my hand led me to the bottom of the Grand Staircase where we sat on the steps. He held my hands in his lap.

"Mione, when I ran into you, you told me to let go of you and you tried to put your hands up in defense. You were crying, you're still crying," he pointed out.

"I'm fine," I repeated, my hand on his face. "I promise."

Cedric laid his hand on top of mine. "You would tell me if anything was wrong, wouldn't you?"

I smiled as I wrapped my arms around his neck again and sat gracefully in his lap and kissed him.

"Yes, I would," I said. "I would never keep something from you." My stomach tightened with guilt because at that moment I was keeping something from him.

Cedric just smiled at me.

"So, where did you go?" I asked. "Harry and Ron said you bolted out of the train as soon as it stopped."

Cedric's smile disappeared. "I went to see Dumbledore."

"Before the feast?" I asked. "You said you were going to wait until after the feast."

"I know."

"Then why didn't you?" I asked starting to sound angry.

"When you told me the poison was still inside you, I knew I couldn't let him get away with hurting you," Cedric explained.

I sighed, bowing my head, but Cedric raised it back up.

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

"So, what did Dumbledore say?" I asked, ignoring his apology.

"He said I can go," Cedric said sadly.

My stomach tightened. "When are you leaving?" I asked, fearing the answer.

"First thing in the morning."

"What? Why so soon?" I asked.

"Once I told Dumbledore of Malone he agreed with me that Malone has to be stopped as soon as possible." I opened my mouth to say something, but Cedric interrupted me before I could. "Dumbledore already offered to send someone with me but I said no. I have to do this alone, Mione. This is my fight."

I bowed my head and Cedric raised it to look him in the eyes, wiping the tears I didn't realize were falling. He then pressed his forehead against mine. We both closed our eyes.

"Will you be all right?" he asked.

I gave a chuckled sob.

"I just never picture myself with a boyfriend who would turn out to be a war hero," I explained trying to stop the tears but I couldn't.

"I'm hardly a war hero," said Cedric.

"Are you kidding me?" I nearly shouted. "You're about to save the world from a madman."

"Harry will do the same thing," Cedric pointed out.

"Harry's not my boyfriend," I pointed out with a smile.

Cedric chuckled. "Will you wait for me?"

I began to kiss him passionately for my answer. As we kissed he switched the direction I was laying. We heard someone clear their throat. We slowly looked toward them.

"Professor!" I exclaimed louder than I meant to. I tried to get to my feet, but all I managed to do was cause myself to fall back into Cedric's lap. He helped me to my feet. "I'm terribly sorry, we were just-"

Dumbledore raised his hand and I fell silent.

"No need for apologies, Miss Granger," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "Public display of affection is not a crime. I've seen all around the school grounds, but I would prefer it not happen during school hours."

"I'm sorry," I repeated.

Dumbledore merely smiled as he headed for the Great Hall.

As soon as he was out of sight I covered my face with my hands and buried it Cedric's shirt. Cedric chuckled as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Oh my God! That was embarrassing," I mumbled.

"It wasn't that bad," Cedric comforted still laughing.

"Shut up!" I said in a higher voice.

Cedric chuckled as we headed for the Great Hall. I wanted to slap him for his continued laughter at me, but I fought against it. When we entered the Great Hall we headed for our separate tables. As I sat down next to Harry, Ron sat across from us. Professor McGonagall clinked her glass to get the whole hall's attention.

"Welcome one and all to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore greeted with his arms out wide. "As you can see we have some visitors from the schools of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang."

My stomach tightened at the very mention of Durmstrang. I didn't even have to look over at the Slytherin table to know Viktor had his eyes on me. Harry gently grabbed my hand from under the table and squeezed it slightly. He must have seen me flinch or something.

"Are you all right?" he whispered.

"Yes," I whispered back, noticing my voice shake. I prayed he didn't notice.

Harry smiled as he loosened his grip on my hand and rubbed his thumb along my knuckles.

"Not only do we have guests," Dumbledore continued. "But, this year will be a little longer, for this year we will be holding a very special event. The Tri-Wizard Tournament!"

The hall broke into many mutterings. I wasn't part of it. Too many other things were going through my mind for me to pay attention. Dumbledore waited for the mutterings to die down before he continued.

"The Tri-Wizard Tournament was held for many years to bring many countries together, that was until the death toll became too high."

"Death toll," I whispered, jerking my eyes toward Cedric. He had his eyes glued on Dumbledore. I could see a hint of a smile on his face.

No, I thought, my other hand quickly reaching for my stomach. He wasn't thinking about entering, was he? Cedric going after Malone was one thing, but Cedric entering a tournament where most people have gotten killed? That was too much.

"Due to this, the Ministry has requested an age limit. Only students of the age of seventeen and older are permitted to enter."

Cedric smiled brightly. I just realized that he turned seventeen not too long ago. My stomach tighten even harder that I groaned with pain.

Harry glanced at me. I nodded telling him I was fine.

Dumbledore finished by telling us that the Tournament would begin on Halloween. He warned us that once you entered the Tournament, there was no coming out of it.

Soon the feast over and it was time to head for our dormitories. I walked up to Cedric who was at the bottom of the Grand Staircase. He looked over at me with a smile, his arms out stretched, but I ignored it.

"You're not going to enter the Tournament, are you?" I asked when I close enough.

"Mione -"

"Are you?"

"I don't know yet," Cedric said slowly. The tone he used told me he was going to enter.

I sighed. I heard movement from behind me. I didn't have to turn around to know it was Harry behind me.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Everything's fine," Cedric answered and then he looked to me. "Can you give me a second to talk to Harry?"

"Sure," I said. "I'm just going to go to bed. See you up there, Harry."

"Okay," said Harry.

Before I turned to leave, Cedric gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Will you be here before I leave?" he asked.

I swallowed as I nodded.

"You're leaving?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," said Cedric. "I'm going after Malone."

I didn't want to hear what he was going to do again. As I left I heard Cedric and Harry start to whisper. Why were they whispering? I decided that I wasn't going to wait for Harry to come in and I headed straight for my bed. I thought I would have a hard time getting to sleep, but as soon as my head hit the pillow sleep overtook me.