Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter J.K Rowling does and I own, Nikki, Mara, Krystle and this idea so yea

Chapter 12

It's been two months since the ball, and the fact that Cedric and I were an item. Basically the whole school knew. It felt weird at first getting the stares, the whispers, typical high school stuff whenever Cedric and I walked together around the castle. But on the bright side, Pansy hadn't bother me since the ball as well. Life was pretty good. For the most part.

Lately, I have been pretty busy with Hannah and Mara. We've came down to the final two solutions on to getting me home. One is to go back the way I came. Which I think id the most obvious plan and the other was probably sneak into the third task and use to cup as a portal cup for me to go home.

"I hope these work." I said while we were in the library. It was the day before the second task. I know Cedric has been trying hard to figure it out what it was. So far, it was to no avail.

"Yeah, have you figured it out how do you plan on telling him though?" Hannah asked me.

"Pretty simple, I tell him before the third task is to be done in the tournament. I know it sounds stupid though, but whenever I had the chance, interruptions happen. Is it my fault? Partially yes. But half the time is isn't. Bad timing you know. That's why I'm going to plan him by the black lake the day before." I assured her.

"The day before what?" a velvet voice scared me as Cedric came and sat down next to me to plant a kiss on my lips.

"Ew, PDA much" Mara said.

"Then why were you even looking in the first place" I retorted back playfully.

"Oh bloody hell Nikki" she muttered. I smiled as I snuggled closer into Cedric. He is far by the most perfect guy that I have ever dated. He studied along with us for awhile until he had to leave early to get some rest for tomorrow. For all he knew it involved water. Oh joy. I knew what it was actually. I just didn't want to tell him.

It was a few hours later when it was close to curfew. Cedric had to go to do head house duties. I made him promise to get some sleep for tomorrow. I knew he would need it. I was heading back towards the dorms by myself. He was worried that god forbid anything would happen since Hannah and Mara left the library prior to. After assuring him probably a thousand times, I told him I would be fine on my own. We had a little make-out session which didn't last long. He gave me his famous grin and headed our separate ways.

I was heading down the hall, rumming in my bag to see if I had everything, when I walked into something. I looked up only to see McGonagall staring at me.

"Oh! Professor, sorry I was just checking to see if I had all of my stuff" I said a bit to fast.

"That's alright, actually I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment." she said. Great. I hope I didn't do anything wrong.

"Um, what about um curfew?" I asked shyly.

"Don't worry, I made sure that you won't get in trouble, the prefects know that you wont be coming back now if you follow me" she said as she hurried along the way me following quickly behind. Something was really up. What would happen now?

We reached into her office where Hermione, Ron and Gabrielle Delacour in the room. I put my stuff down and went over to wear they were. I sat down and all I remember was McGonagall was talking about the second task and I felt a world of darkness as my eyelids closed.

(a little a/n: italics are what is appearing in Nikki's thoughts as she is the "bait" for the champions underwater)

I open my eyes and I see a room, it looked like mine. Could I be home already? That is surely impossible! I walked towards a mirror and saw that I'm in regular clothes as before all of this. I walked away from it and I see a door.

I opened it and it appears to be a hallway. I looked up and down and I headed down south of the hallway. It appears to be getting a bit darker, but more along the way it became darker and darker and darker. Only a light was shown in the hallway as I was walking down it further. Just as I was about to head towards a door that was not far from me, I feel that I'm being pulled away. I struggle to try and break free from two strong arms as I'm drifting more and more.

Back at Hogwarts by the black lake,…

I feel wetness on my clothes and me. What in bloody hell happened here? I looked around and saw people on land and I looked down and I'm in the lake. I started to breathe heavy and struggle more to break free. But then, I heard a voice "Calm down, we're going on land, don't worry" I turned and saw that Cedric had me in his arms, he was wet as well. So this was the second task. I thought to myself.

We made it back to the docks. He got out first, then he pulled me out. I was shivering like no tomorrow. He went over to find more towels when Hannah and Mara came over with some towels for the both of us. I took mine furiously and draped it around myself, trying to make myself warm.

"Are you okay?" Mara asked me.

"Well, let's think, I was walking from the library, then I get knocked out sort of speak, and I wound up in the black lake of all places and I'm wet and freezing cold so yeah how do I feel, I feel very freaking peachy" I said sarcastically.

"Gee, don't get your knickers in a knot" she said as she plopped down next to me.

"Sorry, I just had a freak attack by all of this" I said sadly. Then I felt a arm around me and I looked up to see cedric holding me in a protective way. Then an older looking man, I think it was his dad, came over and whispering in his ear. Then, Cedric got up and told me he would be right back. After he left, Hannah and Mara sat down next to me.

"So how was it down there?" Hannah asked me.

"Well, we can rule out very cold and wet and dark" I said and they giggled. "But when I was down there I had a weird dream but I'm going to have to tell you later on, I don't want nobody to listen." They nodded as they understood what I meant. Whatever that dream I had, must mean something.

I told them to tell Cedric to meet me by the courtyard in an hour. I desperately need to change out of these wet clothes. I walked away from the scene after Cedric saw me leaving I turned to him and mouthed out "one hour in courtyard" he got the memo and smiled at me.

I headed into the woods which leads to Hargid's house which then leads to the stairs to the castle. Too bad that someone could've told me that it was a bad idea when out of nowhere I heard screams. I ran as fast at my wet clothes can let me to where the screaming was. I hid behind a tree as I got closer. What I saw was an altercation between an older man and a dark figure in a cloak. I saw the older man being knocked down into the ground. I moved a bit closer, trying to see who it was when I heard a voice coming from nowhere.

"I wouldn't even dare if I was you." I turned only to see the dark figured once again.

"You did this?" I asked my voice becoming a whisper.

"Yes, he had it coming after what he did! Now get this pretty lady" the figure came up to me and put his hand near my cheek, but I slapped it away, taking a step back. I had no idea what this guy was capable of. "Oh feisty aren't we? Well, besides the point, tell anyone about this, I'll make sure you're next." he said and with that, he vanished. I took off running like hell.

After that, I showered, changed into regular clothes seeing it was going to be turning dark, and headed towards the courtyard. I made there about ten minutes later and sat down on a bench and waited. Just a few minutes later, I felt a chill going down my back. It hadn't hit me that I was the only one there. Then, I felt an arm go around my shoulders and I jumped and landed on the ground, turning around only to see Cedric standing behind the bench,

"God, don't scare me like that!" I shrieked as I climbed back up and sat down on the bench.

"Sorry, you seemed out of space for a minute there" he noted and he put his arms around me and I snuggled in them.

"Yeah, I don't know you were right about the last part. Um, I have a question." I said with an expression not so sure if I wanted to tell him what I saw.

"Go ahead, I'm all ears" he said. I breathed in a deep breath.

"Let's say that you witnessed something and then the person who did the act threatened you if you say anything you're next, what would you do?" I asked.

"Um, to be honest, I would tell someone right why what happened?" he asked me. Before I could tell him anything else, a third year student from my house came over to us with a look of horror on his face.

"You guys didn't know?" he said while trying to catch his breath.

"What's going on? What happened?" Cedric asked while we sat up.

"Potter found Barty Crouch murdered" he said.

"What? Where?" I asked. Boy I wish I hadn't.

"He found him in the woods while coming back from the black lake. Apparently he was off dead before he was discovered. Who did it now that's the big question" the third year said. My eyes widened when he said that. He was the one that got killed!? My hands started to shake as I saw flashbacks from before. I felt my breaths was get staggered minute by minute.

"Nikki are you alright? Can you breathe? Oh god what's wrong with her?" Cedric was asking questions frantically when I turned my head towards him, his eyes showing mixed of emotions and my eyes started to swell up in tears.

"Um, yeah just in shock that's all, um I said, wiping my eyes to get rid of the tears threatening to fall from my face "um, look I'm going to head off to bed." I said standing up.

"Are you sure? Do you want me to walk you back?" he asked.

"That would be nice" I mumbled as we walked away. We headed back in total silence. Which by the way was creepy. We got towards the second flight of stairs where we shared our kiss for the night. I said the password and I entered.

I saw Hannah and Mara by the fire, talking about what had happened. I sat down still staring into oblivion.

"Nikki, what's wrong?" Hannah asked worriedly coming to my side.

"Guys, I got to tell you what happened…" I said.

A/N: a cliffy! I know I've been horrible at updating it seems that my professors decided to pile up homework on all of us that are due within 2 days of each other, isn't that nice? I think not! So the highlight of the chapter is coming up soon and I'll try to update it as possible, more explanation of Nikki's dream will take place next chapter I promise! I know it came out like crap but I rarely had any time to write it so here it is please enjoy!