"Shack, wait up," Cedric called to her. It was the morning before the final task and all of her free time had been devoted to practicing defensive maneuvers with Harry or Severus depending on who was available. She didn't know what was coming, but she wanted to be as prepared as possible, given how she reacted in the face of extreme stress.
"What now, Cedric," she sighed, continuing her brisk walk toward breakfast. She was going to gulp down food and then spend the rest of the day reviewing her notes on defensive movements and practice all evening. She was busy, she was stressed, and she had no time for his bullshit.
"You've been acting different," he said as he matched her stride. She rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Yes," she said evenly.
"You lied to me about Professor Snape thinking my potion was shit, by the way," he informed her. She bit her lip but said nothing. "What were you trying to tell me that day?"
"It doesn't matter, you chose Cho."
"It does matter, Jamie, it matters a lot, especially right now," he grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to stop walking. She yanked it from his grasp, but he grabbed hold of her sleeve, keeping her facing him. "Listen to me! It matters Jamie, it's been eating at me all this time and you've gone out of your way to ignore me and I need to know. Just tell me and I'll drop it."
"It doesn't work like that, Cedric," Jamie shook her head. "Maybe it was my wakeup call in a lot of ways, but this back and forth we've been doing all year…well that's on me and sometimes it's just too late."
"Wait—what are you saying?" Cedric's eyes had widened.
"The day I came to find you, Cedric, it was after days of thinking and realizing things," she said slowly. "The lake scared the living crap out of me, and it clarified many things in how I live. I talked to someone I respect a lot, and I realized I had been forcing myself to bury my feelings for you and all it was doing was making me weaker or more miserable, because I wasn't being honest with myself."
"So—so…so you were—"
"Coming to tell you I was ready to be vulnerable and make things right with you, yeah," Jamie sighed, feeling her heart twinge. "But I was too late, and I respect that, because you picked Cho."
"The night I came to see you Jamie…after the lake…I thought it was our goodbye," Cedric caught her eyes with his. "I had given up hope, I thought you didn't want me, and so I thought well she's hurting, and I love her, so this is the last way I can show her."
"And I thank you for that Ced," she took a shuddering breath. "It changed me forever."
"But I didn't want to say goodbye, I still don't want to say goodbye!" Cedric reached out and cradled her face. "Jamie I'm in love with you and I want to be with you. That will never change!"
"Ced," she closed her eyes, her internal defenses automatically locking up and telling her to resist. She opened her eyes, locking with his. Severus' words echoed in her mind: "the biggest weakness isn't love…it's closing yourself off from it."
She reached out to stroke his cheek, watching as his hopeful eyes glittered with emotion.
"What about Cho?"
"I'll tell her, right now," Cedric said quickly. "I'll tell the world; I'll shout it from the rooftops."
"No," Jamie shook her head. "I don't want the drama from everything hanging over me before I go into the final task…wait to tell Cho it's over when it's all said and done, please."
"I can do that," Cedric nodded. He pushed her gently, backing her up into an alcove, his lips skimming across her cheeks and nose. Jamie smiled, joy radiating from her, as their lips crashed against each other, their arms clinging, determined to be as close as possible.
"I've waited so long for this," Cedric whispered in her ear.
"Me too," Jamie sighed, closing her eyes in bliss. But students were heard walking down the hallway, and they broke apart, unable to go further despite how badly they wanted.
"Tomorrow, after the final task, we can be together," Jamie told him, widening the distance as they caught their breath. He grinned, truly triumphant, nodding his head.
"I'll be waiting for you," he told her, a lingering look was all he could give her as he made his departure. Her heart was full, bursting, a smile on her face as she clutched her stomach, butterflies erupting.
Her thoughts soon drifted to the final task and she shook herself, forcing herself to concentrate. Cedric would be waiting for her after it was all over and they would have all summer and the days to come to join enjoy being together.
She gathered her book bag, exiting the alcove and hurrying toward breakfast now that she was running late, a serene smile on her face. She side-stepped Mad Eye who glowered at her as he limped his way down the corridor, his cane thumping loudly and clattering off the floor stones.
"No running in the halls, chit," he snarled after her.
"Okay," she responded, not slowing at all as she sped away from him. Let the cranky old professor try to ruin her mood, it was impossible! Things were finally starting to look up and she would be damned if she let anything or anyone get to her now that she was on the eve of the final task and she and Cedric had finally gotten over their crap and could be together.
Everything was going to be okay, she just had to keep reminding herself that.
The Hogwarts band was playing loudly, an energetic fanfare conducted by Professor Flitwick as the extra-large crowd cheered from the stands. The school had been flooded with parents and Ministry officials from near and far to witness the final event of the historic Triwizard Tournament.
Back in the gear they had worn for the first task, the four champions had arrived at the pitch holding hands in a show of comradery, which the crowd and the press ate up. Jamie caught sight of her friends and family sitting together and waved, feeling calmer than ever.
Her eyes looked briefly for Cedric but didn't see him sticking out from the large crowds. She wasn't bothered, she knew he was in there somewhere.
"This is it, dear, I know you'll make us proud," Professor McGonagall approached her quickly, patting her shoulder before wishing Harry luck.
Dumbledore called attention to the crowds, silencing them.
"Earlier today, our Professor Moody placed the Triwizard cup deep within the maze," he announced, voice magnified by a charm and his wand to this throat. "Only he knows it's' exact position. As Miss Shacklebolt and Mr. Potter—" he cut off to allow the Hogwarts section to finish cheering loudly— "are tied for first place, they will enter the maze first. Followed will be Mr. Krum and lastly, Miss Delacour."
Jamie winced, as they had all hoped to at least start the maze together. they exchanged uneasy yet apologetic looks, shrugging.
"The first person to touch the cup will be the winner!"
Dumbledore explained that various professors and a few select upperclassman would be patrolling the perimeter of the maze. If for any reason something went wrong, competitors would only need to send up red sparks with their wand and help out of the maze would be granted. He gathered the four contestants, warning them.
"You'll encounter something even more challenging…" he warned them quietly. "You see, people change in the maze. Find the cup if you can but be very weary… you could just lose yourselves along the way."
Jamie met Harry's eyes; matching fear reflected in their gaze.
"Champions, prepare yourselves!" Dumbledore strode away as the four champions moved to four separate openings of the maze. Jamie's hands were shaking as she clutched her wand tightly in her hands, trying her best to tune out the drone of the crowd and settle her nerves.
The canon sounded and Jamie and Harry stepped into the maze as the band began playing again, the hedge sealing shut behind them, shuttering them into silence. Starting from opposite sides, they were truly alone inside.
Jamie immediately began jogging, traveling to what she only felt would be a more center part of the maze, her breathing heavy. It was dark, foggy, and one could hear the shifting and movement of the hedges and other unthinkable inside.
Keeping a neat, steady jog, she darted around corners, seeking out some sort of sign she was moving in the right direction.
"Jamie!" her father's voice—James' voice, startled her and she skittered to a halt, looking around. A moment later, she could hear Lily's scream. Confused and horrified, she began moving forward, hoping to get away from whatever trick she was encountering.
She glanced up to see two figures standing at further down her path and she immediately back-pedaled, shaking her head in terror.
James and Lily Potter were walking toward her and she had completely frozen in her tracks.
"Jamie…you let us die…" James told her, his face twisting and mocking. "You let us die and you did nothing."
"Coward, you're a coward, you aren't a true Potter," Lily jeered at her, her beautiful face haunting.
"This isn't real, it's not real," she covered her ears, shaking as she felt tears prick her eyes. This was a test…a trick…it was not possibly real.
"Look at her, cowering…she isn't fit to be a champion either," Lily told her husband.
This was her greatest fear come to life.
Wait.
Greatest fear.
She lifted her head, dread settling in her stomach as she lifted her wand, pointing it at them.
"Riddikulus," she said calmly, watching as the figures of her parents immediately twisted and shifted into Fred and George attempting to juggle whoopie cushions, shouting with laughter which caused her to smile as she waved and walked away, putting distance between herself and the bogarts.
Rounding several corners, she slammed into something hard and fell backwards, completely caught off guard—