Chapter 38 The third task

Cedric was nervous. Cho noticed it at everything. He was a little bit more edgy. Which she could take, we she evenly found a little charming because he always was so focused on pleasing her she was pretty much amusing herself with his attitude. Now she was making homework. Because Cedric might have the luck of not having to do that as a Triwizard Champion, but she had to. But he was next to her not really helping he concentrate. He took her pencil out of her hands several times. Just for attention or just to annoying while his face leaned on his hand and he had put on a face of pure boredom.

'Cedric!' Cho called out annoyed as he grabbed her pencil again.

'Choho…' he whined. 'the third task is tonight!'

'Don't be such a baby,' Cho said. Cedric wrapped her arms around her.

'I need some love,' he said. Cho pressed an absentminded kiss on his head and he groaned.

'Hey!' she called out as he lifted her and swayed her over his shoulder. She laughed half.

'Seriously Cedric! Put me down!'

'No!' he said as a stubborn child and dropped on the couch with her and he made her lay down on his lap and he started to stroke her face and hair. Cho sighed deeply.

'Hush!' Cedric said on edge before she could say something. 'Today you are mine and you can't protest because I need you,'

'Fine…' Cho said rolling her eyes. Cedric smiled content and kept on stroking her face.

'Shouldn't you practice or something?' she asked then.

'I can't! I don't know where for to practice! It's a maze!'

'Well you could practice the spell that makes your wand go north so you know which way to go?' Cho said. Cedric blinked and then grumbled something about having a too smart girlfriend. Cho chuckled.

'Don't be nervous, it will be alright, you are going to win I can feel it,' she smiled.

Cedric looked down at her.

'Yeah, why won't you say what's really on your mind?' he asked.

Cho bit her lip. 'Well?' Cedric asked,

'I think you shouldn't go join in the third task I have a really bad bad feeling about it I think you should just drop out and stay with me…comfy..' Cho spoke her thoughts.

Cedric snickered. 'You're really weird,' he said loving kissing her nose. Cho was the one who grumbled now.

'I'm not going to drop out, I'm not a coward and you are right, I'm going to win this thing!'

Cho sighed and she smiled a little then. 'I'm secretly so very proud on you,'

Cedric smiled widely and kissed her lips.

That evening Cedric's parents arrived. Cho greeted them cheery and she received their hugs. Cedric's father talked about how displeased he was that Harry Potter had stolen all the glory and how Cedric should have made the front page of the Daily Prophet. Cho giggled agreeing fiercely with the man, which Amos seemed to appreciate. Cedric seemed a little calmer holding his hands around her shoulders. There was a short moment he needed to leave her for the other three champions and Dumbledore who had something to discuss but he returned to her afterwards and they together walked to the big maze and the tribune.

'So this is it,' Cho said smiling, encouraging him as they stood behind the tribune, hiding from all the people.

Cedric took a deep breath.

'This is it,' he agreed.

Cho stroked his hair tenderly and looked into his eyes.

'You can do this,' she said.

Cedric nodded seriously.

'Now kiss me,' Cho smiled. Cedric grinned pressing his lips on hers. It was a long long kiss, he didn't want to let go off her, knowing if he did the moment was there to go and they both didn't really want that. When Cho broke the kiss Cedric still eagerly tried to hold on to her, still trying to kiss her. Cho answered them all smiling but she wouldn't deepen it. Cedric sighed.

'I love you,' Cho said you can do this.

Cedric nodded again, looking at her. 'This will be for you,' he smiled.

Cho smiled flattered.

'When you win this thing, I will be your price,' Cho said. She saw how his face started to shine with determination while hearing that.

'I won't let you down!' he said. Pressing one last kiss upon her lips and then it was time for her to leave to the tribune and for Cedric to leave at the maze. He held her hand helping her up the little stairs, he touched her as long as he could and then let go. Cho would sit in the Hogwarts section, some people supporting Harry others Cedric. She sat in front of Seamus Finnigan. Cedric and Harry were allowed to enter the maze first because they were on a shared first place. Cho cheered loudly when Cedric's name got called. Amos pulling up the arm of his son in victory. Cedric pulled it down a bit embarrassed, muttering: 'Dad,'

Once it was time for them to go into the labyrinth Cedric's father hugged him tightly. Cedric turned around, looking for her face in the audience. She rose the slightest and he would look at her while slowly strolling into the maze. Cho felt like she held her breath all the time. It was pretty boring to wait and not being able to see anything. Then red sparks rose up from the maze. Everyone gasped. Who would be the first one to return? Who would officially lose the game? It was Fleur who returned as first. She seemed pretty upset and her friends enclosed her in their arms. Cedric was still in there. Cho wrapped her arms around her stomach, she felt sick. Again red sparks. Victor returned. He seemed more confused. Mumbling something about the imperio spell. Cho blinked. She noticed how David tried to get her attention. He seemed worried about her. Cho put on a miserable smile and he didn't buy it and started to make his way towards her, apologizing to Katie who he had been next.

'What about Katie?' Cho said as David came to sit next to her wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

'Katie doesn't have a boyfriend in a stuffed up with dangers maze,' he smiled and Cho smiled back feeling a bit more calm. Nothing happened for such an awful long time.

'I think I need to throw up,' Cho said a bit pale.

David groaned. 'Get yourself together Cho, deep breaths.'

Cho did so taking deep breaths. With the third deep breath again red sparks got brought into the air and everyone held its breath. A few moments later, Harry Potter got guided out the maze. Cho grabbed David's arm.

'Does this mean Cedric wins? Does this mean he won?'

'Sure, if he doesn't get killed,' David said teasing. Cho hit him gentle and Harry got received by his friends. Suddenly there was a bright blue flash and Cedric Diggory appeared in the middle of the field with the cup in his hand. He looked a little disorientated. Then everybody clapped and cheered so loudly then Cho almost put her hands in front of her ears.

'THE WINNER OF THE TRI WIZARD TOURNAMENT, CEDRIC DIGGORY!' Dumbledore called out. Cho watched how Cedric looked unbelieving and how his face started shining and how his father ran down to hug him tight. Cho smiled at Cedric though she wasn't sure if he would see. People were running down all wanting to congratulate him. His eyes looked over the heads of people, greenish grey eyes that were looking for her! Once his gaze found her he smiled widely.

'CHO CHANG!' he yelled. 'MARRY ME!'

Cho gasped. Everyone gasped. Harry groaned. Cedric started pushing through all the people, running towards her. David muttered something like: 'Show off,' though Cho saw he was proud on his friend.

The moment she was within reach Cedric grabbed her hugging her tight, close, kissing her. 'I love you, I love,' he said. Cho let the tears stream over her face, smiling kissing him back. 'I'm so proud on you,' she said.

'Marry me?' he said again while kissing her.

'Sure,' Cho wept emotional. Cedric seemed outside himself from happiness.

'DIGGORY, DIGGORY, DIGGORY!' Everyone started to cheer his name. Cedric turning around amazed. Pictures got made from him and Dumbledore mace him come forward. Cedric wanted to drag her along but she wouldn't let him. This was his moment.

'We gladly give you, one thousand Gallions!' Dumbledore yelled, giving Cedric the money. His father smiled proud and Cedric held it up together with the cup, very very proud. Cho clapped the loudest.

It was one big party on Hogwarts! It was all so exciting. Cho would feast with Cedric in the Commonroom, but the moment he could, he left the party with her, going to their spot at the lake. He was so euphoric, so cheerful! He was almost jumping. She chuckled.

'I'm so very prou…' Cho couldn't finish. Cedric grabbed her tightly in his mood and started to kiss her wildly. He took off his shirt without a pardon and Cho blinked, seeing some scratches on it from the maze.

'Cedric?' she asked.

'Later…' was his answer and he kissed her again. She kissed him back. Cedric reacted out all his happiness onto her and it was such a sensation! Once they were both in the grass, both undressed, Cedric started moving inside of her just as cheerful as he must have felt. Cho took it gladly, it making her happy too. 'I couldn't have done it without you,' he said longing and he kissed her face, placing his hands on her hips. Cho moaned the slightest as an answer. Cedric fastened. This was their spot. Their moment. And they both got carried away in their own celebration.