Sorry for the delay, I thought I had a beta but now I don't so right now I'm still searching and edit chapters myself! I know I should have done this at the very beginning but give me a break I'm stil a newbie!
Well read and review and make me happy!
The third task came quickly with everyone growing in expectancy with each passing day. Hermione tutored Harry in defensive spells and hexes in an empty classroom as soon as he found out about the Maze and the race to find the trophy against the other champions. George would watch them practice sometimes, lightening the mood whenever Harry was starting to get frustrated. It was tedious and time consuming, and Harry seemed to be concentrating on other things besides surviving the maze.
A few weeks before the task, Harry left the classroom, with his shoulders slumped over, tired and worn, giving a wordless wave goodbye to Hermione and George to clean up the room. The couple surveyed the classroom with a heavy sigh. Cushions littered the floor from their practice of the Summoning charm, quills were burned to the nib with pieces of feather still settling in the air, and books Hermione opened for reference were scattered over the table.
"You do too much you know," George mused, picking up quills off the floor.
She smiled, "I can't sit by and watch him fail, I'm not that heartless."
George laughed, "They should be lucky, to have 'The Brightest Witch of the Age' as a mate."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the label but turned a way with a sigh. George saw this, and walked to her side, putting books away on shelves.
"What's wrong?" he asked, leaning against the shelf.
"Nothing," she said, too focused on the task of shelving the pile books stacked in her arm.
He stilled her hand, took the pile away and set them on the table before taking her hand back.
"You can tell me anything ok?"
She nodded, still looking at her feet.
"Hey," he prodded, lifting her chin with his chin. Once she was looking at him, he gave her a smile, "A Sickle for your thoughts?"
A laughed escaped her as she shook her head, "It's silly really…I just wished that we didn't have to do this."
"Do what?"
"Fight for our lives."
The moment of silence hung between them, letting Hermione's words sink in.
"I mean, I'm glad we're doing it for something good and I don't regret meeting Harry and helping him but…I would rather want to worry about him passing his Potion's final than coming out of the tournament alive."
George gave a sad smile, running his thumb against the back of her hand. She smiled at him and took a step towards him.
"But when I'm with you, some of the worry goes away,"
His smile grew at that," I'm glad I'm here then,"
"Me too," she agreed softly
He leaned forward and kissed her sweetly before pulling away. They smiled at each other, the somber conversation forgotten between them.
"Ahem,"
Hermione jumped at the throat clearing, while George rolled eyes in frustration. They turned to the door to find Harry averting his gaze with a hand scratching the back of his head.
" I uh… forgot my bag," he explained pointing towards the corner window where they set aside their things.
"Of course, you did," George puffed in annoyance.
Hermione's cheek flushed as she turned back to shelving books and George started stacking cushions, as Harry scurried to grab his bag and left with an awkward wave goodbye.
"Good moment gone," George sang, flicking his wand about the room to get rid of the feathers that littered the floor.
Hermione laughed, shelving the last book, "We'll get another, hopefully when we're not interrupted next time."
He chuckled picking up their bags, "We just have to remember to lock the door."
She took her bag from him and shouldered it. George wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked her out the classroom.
"The sooner this tournament is over the better," Hermione sighed, falling into his hold.
He kissed the top of her head, "We just got a couple weeks then it's over in a couple hours."
She nodded, "What are you um…doing for the summer?"
He grinned down at her, "Working with Fred on a few of our products causing mum to pull out her hair."
She giggled, "I was wondering if you…would like to meet my parents, sometime this summer."
"Really?" George said thoughtfully, "Meeting the parents…"
"It wouldn't be anything big," she explained, "Maybe dinner somewhere just for them to get to know you."
"Well…I don't know, I don't know how they would react to my charms," he bragged.
Hermione shoved him playfully, "As long as you don't get too cocky, I think they'll like you."
He tickled her side, laughing as she squirmed, "Who wouldn't?"
The task came too quickly to Hermione as she watched all the other spectators around her.
The day of the third and final task was nothing but pure energy from the castle to the Quidditch field, which now inhabited a large hedge maze filled with a eerie dark fog, making it impossible to see what it held. People around her were chatting in excitement and watching with wide eyes to make sure that they didn't miss anything important. Fred and George were collecting final bets, yelling out the odds and goading people easily into placing down some money.
She sat down with the other Gryffindors, next to Ron, Ginny and Neville, watching the champions on the ground in front of the stands. Harry, Cedric, Fleur and Krum were gathered around Dumbledore who looked to be explaining the order of entry into the Maze. Harry and Cedric would go together, then Krum, and then Fleur. The twins closed their bets and settled in with the other Gryffindors; George finding his way to Hermione while Fred went to Lee Jordan and Angelina.
George was about to speak, when the cannon fired, signaling the beginning of the final task. Cedric and Harry entered the Maze and the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs cheered for their signified champions. Krum soon followed then Fleur, as soon as the blonde girl disappeared into the fog the crowd's cheering began to die down and the only thing left to do was wait. Barely a moment went by before Ron began to complain.
"Now what do we do? Wait here 'til we're bored out of our minds?
"Well Ron, we were going to wait till they come out in body bags," Fred said sarcastically. "Exploding Snap anyone?"
Once Fred got a game going between Ron, Neville, Ginny and George, Hermione's gaze ventured away from the game and to the maze. With the maze engulfed in the thick fog, spectators had no idea as to where the champions were within the labyrinth. Occasionally, she could see flashes of light from wands that were casting hexes but she couldn't make out the silhouette of the caster. It was unnerving to see nothing but the tops of the hedges and being keep in the dark about what was happening inside the maze. She couldn't even imagine what the champions were feeling right now, surrounded by darkness and alone…
"You alright?"
Hermione flinched in surprise at feeling George's arms wrap around her, breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Don't do that," She shivered with a laugh, "One of these days my heart will stop from being scared out of my life."
He kissed the side of her head, "Sorry, you were starting to space out luv,"
She leaned into him, her eyes still focused on the maze as George rubbed her arm sympathetically.
"They'll be ok."
She nodded, "It's like they're mice in a cage, I don't have a good feeling about this."
Suddenly, a feminine scream echoed through the maze silencing the spectators. A few moments later red sparks were shot into the air, and a few people let out a sigh of relief.
"Was that Fleur?" Ron questioned watching the sparks disappear.
"No Ron, that was Krum," George explained, biting his lip.
The people around them erupted in loud laughter, earning disapproving looks from the teachers and the other students. Hermione shook her head, stifling her laughter, and watched as the Tournament officials went off to the sparks on the broomsticks.
One down, three to go…
Krum came out of the maze in a daze and neither Cedric nor Harry was brought out of the maze. Hours passed by and Hermione was starting to get worried, the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach still not going away. Most of the students were getting exciting to see the final two Hogwarts champions battle it out between themselves. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were standing on the stands cheering and hoping to be the first that would catch a glimpse of who would come out first.
Hermione watched Krum as he was being looked over by Madame Pomfrey. His eyes were foggy and distant, except when he glanced at her his eyes had a glint in his eye that made her squirm in discomfort. George glared at him and turned so that she didn't have to look at him.
"Ignore the bastard, he'll be gone in a few days."
"Thank Merlin, I don't want him looking at me like that anymore."
"I won't let him ever again, if he doesn't want a foot in his arse," George promised, kissing her forehead.
Hermione shoved him softly, but felt warm and safe at his protectiveness.
Crack!
Everyone's eyes darted to the entrance of the maze, and cheers broke out at the sight of Harry clutching the trophy and Cedric crumpled beneath him. The band exploded into an excited march at the two champions with everyone in the stands jumping up, cheering and hugging, celebrating the win and end of the Tournament.
Hermione smiled, relieved at seeing Harry. But then…something wasn't right.
Harry was shaking, with his face on top of Cedric's chest…and Cedric wasn't moving.
Suddenly, a scream pierce through the excitement and slowly everyone started to realize the situation.
Dumbledore, Bagman and Fudge hurried towards the boy, seeing the boys Fudge stepped away and fell back to stop the crowd trying to escape onto the field.
"Keep everybody in their seats," Fudge instructed frantically to the officials, "A boy has just been killed…"
Hermione could barely hear Harry as he cried out to Dumbledore.
"He's back…he's back…"
Mr. Diggory started to push through the crowd, "Let me through, that's my son! That's my boy!"
"Oh my god…" Hermione said softly.
"Is Cedric…?" George whispered in disbelief.
Mr. Diggory's wails echoed into the air, each cry like a sharp knife cutting through the air and into everyone's hearts. Mad-Eye pulled Harry off of Cedric and away from the scene, revealing the lifeless body of Cedric Diggory to the crowd. His eyes were wide and lifeless. His face showed an expression of utter shock and surprise, a haunting look made several people turn away.
George wrapped Hermione in his arms, and at the feel of his strong arms around her, trying to protect her from the sorrow of the scene, she cried. She sobs and tears were engulfed into his shirt and jacket and her hands clenched at his back, clutching to him tightly. Other girls' cries were muffled around her but Mr. Diggory's dog-like wails pierced through the air and ringed through her ears.
They all felt hopeless watching the scene. No one knowing what to do or say, everyone silent, basking in the sorrow of a father's lost.
A couple days later Dumbledore summoned all students—Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons—into the Great hall
"Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss," Dumbledore addressed them, "Cedric Diggory was as you all know, exceptionally hard working, intricately fair minded, and most importantly a fierce friend. I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see…Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. The ministry of magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I think would be an insult to his memory. Now the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain, you remember that. And we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true right to the very end."
George wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulder and covered her hands that were clenched in her lap with his free hand. She looked at him sadly and managed a weak smile, then with a tender kiss on her forehead he rested his forehead on the top of her head.
"I love you," he whispered.
A tear escaped her eye, "I love you."
"I want to protect you," he stated, kissing away the tear, "Keep you away from everything that's happened, but…no one can really promise that,"
She nodded her understanding, wrapping her hands around his, "As long as you're here, I feel safe."
He looked at her, unaware that students were beginning to rise out and exit the Great Hall, "Write to me."
"As long as you answer,"
He let out a stiff laugh, "You don't have to worry about that,"
Hermione looked at him. He was tired just like she was, the third task still fresh in their memories. His eyes were bright but didn't have the same twinkle that they use to before the task. No one was truly the same now, not after seeing Cedric dead before them.
"I love you," she voiced.
He gave her a grin, "We said that already,"
"I wanted to say it again," she murmured with a smile.
He leaned forward and their lips met in a strong kiss. Every bit of love they had for each other was poured into that kiss. Not the sexual, lust-filled love that they did feel for each other, but the need to be close and protected to the one they loved filled their kiss. Neither of them wanted to end the kiss, but the need for air overpowered their want.
"Mi," George breathed, his arm around her shoulder holding her close, "I hope you know I'm not going to let you go."
Hermione smiled, resting a hand on his cheek, "Good, because I'm not either."