Hi everyone! Just like I promised- a new chapter before the end of the week. Feels good to get this done. I've been trying to figure out how to write this one properly for the past couple of days. Anyway, like always, I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. That's all J.K. Rowling's work (grumble grumble.) I do own the Carlett family and anything that is tied directly to them- pets, friends, family, etc. ENJOY!

Ch. 10

Sammi's POV

"Mr. Diggory, may I have a word with you?" Professor Moody asked Cedric as he gathered up his things. It was Thursday afternoon, and we just finished up the last class of the day. Everyone was excited for the second task, which was on Sunday, and they rushed out of the room, probably wanting to try to get through the essay that Professor Snake-head gave us yesterday. 2 scrolls on the subject of the Living Dead draft! Can you believe it? 2 scrolls!

Cedric looked over at me as I slung my book bag over my shoulder, giving a slight huff as I felt the full weight fall on me. "Why don't you go back to the common room? I'll meet you there, alright?" I nodded my head and pecked him on the cheek before dashing out of the room.

When I got back to the Hufflepuff common room, I ran up to the girls' dormitory and dumped my bag onto my bed. Tia came skidding out from underneath the bed, jumped up onto it and plopped down on my bag. I leaned down to pet her on her head and she immediately started licking at my face.

"Hey Princess! How are you girl?" I asked the pup and she just barked happily at me. Shaking my head, I stood back up and walked over to my closet and pulled out my black turtle neck sweater and tugged it on over my school uniform. Then I picked Tia up in my arms and brought her with me to the common room and plunked down on one of the couches in front of the fireplace.

"Man, this week is just one hell of a killer Tia," I told the small puppy, who looked at me with that adorable, confused face. "Professor Snake gave us that huge assignment, Moody's been practicing with us on how to resist the imperious curse, and Cedric's got the second task, and he still doesn't know what the clue means! I'm really worried for him Tia."

"Well, you don't have to worry for much longer," Cedric said from behind me, causing me to practically jump a foot into the air.

"For Merlin's sake Cedric Diggory! Don't do that! You scared the crap out of me! And what do you mean?" I said to him- well, more like yelled, but what's the difference really?

"Language Samantha," Cedric pretended to scorn me, but the amusement in his eyes gave him away. "And I meant that you won't have to worry so much. Professor Moody told me what to do."

"Really?" I asked as he sat down beside me. "I thought that the teachers weren't allowed to be helping the champions. Whatever- so what did he say?"

"He told me to take a bath," he simply answered, and I looked at him like he could have grown two extra heads.

"'A bath'? Are you kidding me?" I asked him, seriously confused by what that old bat of a wizard was talking about. "No, he said to take the egg with me and to put it into the water," Cedric answered.

"Well, you have fun with that!" I said in a really goofy voice as I turned back to Tia and began to play with her.

"Feeling like joining me?" I looked over at Cedric in actual shock, but I couldn't have missed the amused look that was still in his eyes from before. And of course, being the little mischief witch that I am, I wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily.

"Cedric Diggory! Who the hell do you think I am?" I nearly shouted at him, gaining a few stares from the younger students that were just coming in. It was all I could do to stop myself from cracking up when Cedric started turning bright red.

"Merlin Samantha, that's not what I meant!" Cedric stammered as he tried to redeem himself.

I simply stood up and walked over to the entrance, leaving Cedric sitting by the fireplace. Before I had walked out, I turned to look over my shoulder and said, "I know that Ced. I was just messing with your head!" And I ran out of there like a bat outta hell, laughing my head off as I heard Cedric snap out of it and ran after me.

Later that night, we went up to the prefect's bathroom and I have to say one thing about that place- WHOA! The room was humungous! Hell, I'm sure you could have fit a 5 ½ room apartment in there and still have enough space to have a small party. Also, the tub was really crazy, with at least ten or twenty different taps and all that.

"You ready?" Cedric asked me and I noticed that he had on a pair of dark green swimming trunks, showing off his amazing six-packs. Thank you, Quidditch! I nodded and pulled off the hoodie and sweatpants I was wearing to show off my black bikini set with the dark purple flames.

,:~:,

Friday was here, and Cedric and I were heading to Care of Magical Creatures class. I shivered and tugged my cloak tighter around me.

"Why the hell does it have to be so damn cold?" I complained as the wind picked up a bit. My teeth were chattering so bad, I think the giant squid in the Black Lake could probably hear it.

"Well, what exactly do you expect, Samantha? After all, it's only February," Cedric grinned as he pulled me closer to him, rubbing my arm to create some heat.

"I know that Cedric. It's just that I'm still not use to the weather being this cold! California chick, remember?" I asked as I pointed a gloved hand to myself. "I can't help it if I'm use to weather that lets you wear tank tops and shorts almost all year long!" He chuckled and kissed my hair, and I grinned as I looked ahead. "Hey look. It's Hermione and Harry."

"Hang on a minute Samantha," Cedric said, pulling me to a stop. Nearly fell on my ass in the process.

"What's up?" "I just want to go tell Harry about the egg. You know, as a way to make it even for his help with the dragons," Cedric explained. So I just stood to the side of the bridge while Cedric went over to talk with Harry.

"Hello Carlett," I heard someone say. I turned around to see Cho Chang with her group of lackeys trailing behind her.

"Hi Cho," I said, literally having to force the venom out of my voice before speaking. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes actually, there is," she stated as she got up in my face. "You can dump Cedric so that I can have him for myself!" she hissed, spraying spit onto my cloak. She practically looked like a rabid dog.

"Now look what you did Cho," I talked down to her like she was a little kid. "You know it's really impolite to spit. Not at all lady-like." I wiped off the little bit of it off with the back of my glove and wiped it on the ledge.

"Listen here Carlett," Cho said as she pointed a finger in my face. "I don't know why Cedric would find interest in you, but I swear to Merlin that you'd better just-"

"What's going on here?" Cedric asked as he came up beside me, wrapping his arm around my waist protectively.

"Nothing Cedric," I said, never removing my gaze from Cho's. "Cho here was just leaving, actually. Isn't that right Cho?" She didn't answer me, but instead just huffed and walked off with her 'friends' rushing after her.

"What was that all about?" Cedric asked me as we continued walking to class.

"Honestly Cedric, it was nothing important. Just Cho being Cho," I waved it off, but it didn't convince him.

"Well whatever the case may be, I still worry about you. I love you."

"I love you too. Now come on! We're gonna be late!"

,:~:,

Ced's POV

I woke up late the day of the second task extremely nervous. I clue in the egg was that something I would truly miss would be taken and I had only one hour to find it or else it would be lost forever. Also, Samantha had helped me figure out the rest- that the merpeople in the Black Lake had taken it and it would be underwater. Luckily, she also taught me how to perform a proper Bubble-Head charm. What would I do without her?

That's what had me so worried. Is it possible that they took Samantha as the thing I would miss most and hid her somewhere? Just the idea of her being in danger had a block of ice forming in my stomach.

I quickly dressed in my swim trunks with a yellow shirt with my name stitched on the back- courtesy of my lovely girl- and tugged on some warmer clothes before heading down to the Great Hall. When I got there, I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find Samantha anywhere.

"Hey mate," Jacob greeted me as I sat down and reached for the pitcher of pumpkin juice with a rather shaky hand. "What's the matter with you?"

"Have you seen Samantha at all?" I asked him, worry creeping throughout my entire being.

"Yeah mate, I did. Professor McGonagall had to see her this morning. Probably about some assignment or something along the lines of that," he said calmingly. It did the trick. If she was with McGonagall, then there had to be nothing to fear.

After a quick breakfast, I had to head to the Black Lake for the task. There were large platforms set in the middle of the Lake and already more then half of the schools were there waiting. I shrugged out of my coat and sweats and lightly jumped up and down so I wouldn't be too cold.

"Put that in your mouth," I turned to see Professor Moody tell Harry, who ate a rather slimy and revolting green plant. The poor guy looked ready to nearly vomit as soon as he did. Then I heard the cannon sound and quickly dived into the murky waters performing the charm.

I felt very disturbed as I followed the same singing noise that I'd heard from the egg the other night. It was melodic but at the same time haunting. Also, merpeople were known for being very bad tempered and very dangerous when threatened. Hopefully, I would just be able to finish this task as quickly as possible.

Eventually, I found myself to be in a large underwater city with seaweed and other water plants wrapping around the stone buildings. I looked around and in the middle of the city was something I'd really rather not have seen.

A large statue of a merperson was placed in the very center of the city and there were four people tied tightly to it in seaweed, all of them in a sort of deep sleep but still breathing. I recognized Ginny Weasley by her fiery red hair and Hermione Granger was tied next to her. Beside them was another girl who looked no more then eight years old or so, with a mane of silver colored hair. I guess that she must have been a little sister of Fleur's. But the last person tied there was the last person that I'd hoped to see there- Samantha.

I quickly swam over to the statue, placing my hand on Samantha's cheek. I couldn't tell if it was cold due to the freezing water or from the spell placed on her, but I didn't care. I wanted to get her out of here now.

I undid the straps on my leg that my wand was secured in and shot a Diffindo charm at the binds around her. As I was about to start carrying her up to the surface, I saw Harry come up to the rest of the treasures. I tapped at my watch with my wand, signaling that he had to hurry up. I guess that he nodded because before he could, I was already swimming away with Samantha in tow.

Eventually I finally made it up to the surface, and as soon as we broke it, the spells disappeared. Samantha was coughing out the water from her lungs and gasping for oxygen.

"Samantha, are you alright?" I asked her worriedly as I started pulling her to the nearest platform.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Same old Samantha. Never wanting to show weakness no matter what.

I lightly pushed her up the ladder, where some of the other students were draping towels over her shoulders. They gave me a bath robe and a couple of towels as well, but I took the towels and draped those over Samantha too. Then I pulled her protectively close to me and rubbed at her arms through the layers of fabric to warm her some more.

The next two people to come up were Krum and Hermione. It was rather odd to see Krum's head turn back to its original form from the half-shark he'd done. IT was then that I noticed Fleur was already on the platform before me, but the little girl was nowhere to be found.

"Jacob, what happened to Fleur?" I asked him.

"She got caught by Grindylows. Never got past them and had to quit," Jacob told me. It sort of made me feel somewhat better. I'd been the first one out successfully, but I was worried for Fleur's sister.

Then I saw Ginny and the other girl break the surface of the water. Fleur was down at the ladder helping her sister out of the lake as fast as lightning, leaving Ginny to get out herself.

"Here Ginny," Samantha said as she held out her hand to the third year, who gratefully accepted with a smile. "Where's Harry?" she asked as Ginny was given a towel.

"Harry? He's down there?" Ginny asked worriedly as she looked back to the murky water. Just as he shot out of it and onto the platform, sputtering and choking on the water. "Harry!"

"Hey Ginny," he said just before he was bowled over by the little girl. "It's alright. I'm fine… I'm fine…" he kept telling her and stroked her hair as she cried into his chest.

"Attention!" Dumbledore yelled as his voice was magnified. It rather hurt my ears. "The winner is Mr. Diggory!" All my mates started cheering for me and Samantha gave me a kiss on the cheek. "…Mr. Potter would have finished first if not for his determination to not only rescue Ms. Weasley, but the others as well. We've agreed to award him second place for outstanding moral fiber."

"Way to go there mate," I held my hand out to Harry, who accepted it. "You did a good job down there."

"Thanks Cedric. You did pretty well yourself." That was how I truly became friends with Harry Potter.

Here ya go! That's it for today's chapter! Sorry if it seemed a little bit short, but please cut me some slack. After all, prom's in two days, I'm not exactly sure what I'm planning on doing right after that- going with my friends, hanging out with my family, or maybe have some me time- and I've got a lot of other stuff on my mind. A nice review would be a really great graduation gift for me.

Thanks! 3

Nancy (aka megamatchmaker)