Hello All. Sorry it's been a few. Work is short staffed, means extra hours for me. We also had a death in the family. So it's been rough but we're good. Hope you all are hanging in there too. Here's a chappy for you. Hope you enjoy.

"What a day to have the first task," Daphne said as she put some eggs onto her plate. The day was rainy and gloomy. Kind of matching the moods of the champions. Them also being nervous as hell didn't help.

"I don't know who's more nervous, Ems or Cedric," commented Pansy. Emerald was out jogging as she didn't want to eat.

"Poor Ems. Well let's finish up and meet her at the pitch to show our support. Who are you going for?" asked Blaise.

"Safe to say, all of us agreed on Cedric. But I think Ems is going for both Cedric and Harry. To be fair and all. You know how she is." Daphne sighed.

"Well, I guess Cedric is better than the others, no voting for Potter for me, and Krum, well, that's a no too." Draco grumbled.

"Ah, so your giving in to the charms of Diggory are you?" Pansy said quirking an eyebrow.

"Oh shove off Pans, the guys not bad. Emerald seems happy, that's all that matters." Draco scoffed.

The group finished their breakfast and made their way to the pitch. They didn't see Emerald on the way and decided to head up the post to find her.

'What am I going to do? I don't want anything to happen to them. Merlin help them.' Thought Emerald as she watched from a hill up a tree. She came after she finished showering after her jog. Her nerves got the better of her and she didn't want to see or talk to anyone. She did send Cedric and Harry each a good luck letter.

"A few Galleons for your thoughts?"

Emerald jumped and saw Garrett sitting a few branches above her.

"Damn it, you scared me!" Emerald said clutching her chest.

He chuckled. "My apologies miss."

"Yeah well, what do you want?" she asked grumpily. 'So much for peace and quiet.'

He smirked and looked out to the pitch, "a few Galleons for your thoughts Emerald."

She looked slightly up to him, 'damn handsome man'. "That's expensive."

"What is?" he asked.

"Galleons for my thoughts," she looked out to the pitch too.

"Nonsense."

She looked up to him again. "Nonsense?"

He then got up and jumped down a branch and sat down.

'How does he do that? And so quietly?' Emerald thought.

After he sat down and tucked his legs under another branch he leaned back and hung himself upside down next to her. She backed up slightly and met the trunk with her back.

"Your thoughts Emerald, are worth more than anything this world can offer." He whispered.

Her breath caught in her throat. He turned slightly to face her. Still upside down. He brought his hand to just the edge of her cheek his fingertips brushing it.

"They will be just fine Emerald. Go, your boys need you. Especially Cedric. I'm sure he would like his girl to be there."

It happened so fast. She was up against the trunk of the tree and the next she was on the ground standing underneath the tree.

"What the hell?" she said as she looked around. "How'd you do that?" she whispered. Hearing a cannon sounding from the pitch, Emerald shook her head and ran as fast as she could to the pitch.

From another tree, not too far from where they were, a figure stood in the highest branch looking out over the field. Blazing amber eyes watching as Emerald ran, pulsing with need, sorrow, want, love.

Emerald found her friends and made her way over to them. There was a bunch of screaming and clapping.

"Oiy Emerald! About damn time, I just about wet my knickers with all the excitement!" Pansy said as the others burst out laughing.

"Oh my Pans, keep that to yourself," Emerald laughed, "Who's up first?" Emerald looked out over the pitch. She saw the dragon but no champion.

"Diggory." Draco said.

Emerald felt her heart drop.

She saw movement off to the left and saw Cedric creeping slowly. She silently prayed that he'd make it out ok.

There were a few whispers, a few claps and shouts, but was relatively quiet. After about fifteen minutes Cedric did a spell and a dog shot out of his wand and started barking and running around.

"A diversion, smart." Blaise mumbled.

The dragon took off after the dog giving Cedric time to make it to the eggs. After getting it he looked at a second too long and the dragon roared and made its way to the eggs.

"Run Cedric, run!" Emerald shouted. The others followed with shouts of their own. After falling down some rocks Cedric got off the small mountain, but before he could get back up to run, the dragon roared and flames came out.

"NOOOO!" Emerald shouted. A hand gripped hers. She turned to see Hermione. She smiled and looked back out over the pitch.

Emerald looked again and she could see Cedric running towards the entrance. He made it through just another wall of fire came up behind him. It missed.

"Oh thank Merlin!" Emerald sighed and ran with Hermione to the entrance of the tent.

When Emerald got to the edge of the tent Dumbledore stopped them.

"I'm sorry ladies, no one is allowed in." he said.

"But professor, Cedric needs Emerald, he's hurt." Hermione said shocked at the Professor.

"He's being attended to by Madame Pomfrey. I assure you, he's in good hands." He said.

"With all due respect sir, we are seeing the injured, not talking to the other champions." Emerald said angry, but keeping her voice calm.

"With all due respect Ms. Malfoy, the same rules apply. Now Mr. Diggory needs his rest. You may see him after the task is finished and he's been moved to the infirmary. I assure you his wounds are not bad. Just slight burns is all. He will be just fine. Full recovery." Dumbledore said.

The girls turned and walked away.

"That's compete bullocks. How dare he!" Emerald hissed.

"Even I'm shocked." Hermione stated. "I know! Come on!" she grabbed Emerald hand and pulled her.

"Where are we going?"

"You're seeing Cedric, I don't care what Dumbledore says!" Hermione hissed.

"Harry certainly changed you with rules Herms." Emerald said, and Hermione grinned.

After twenty minutes Hermione procured Harry's invisibility cloak and lent it to Emerald. Hermione went back to watch the rest of the task. Emerald got to see Cedric although she had to stay under the cloak. Cedric thought it was brilliant, but also was upset at the headmaster for not letting his girlfriend come in. When it was Harry's turn, Emerald kissed Cedric and left to go support Harry. Harry has summoned his broom after Hermione yelled at him to use his wand. Nearly dying of fright, the girls were glad to see Harry make it through and grab the egg. All four champions will be moving on to the next task. Which will be held after the holidays.

It was about a month until Christmas and the excitement was mounting. Decorations were going up and it seemed the champions wounds have healed.

"Oh Cedric, quit it. You're still handsome even with a slight scar." Emerald said as she pushed his hand away. It seemed even Madame Pomfrey couldn't get all the scars healed. There was one on Cedric's temple. It was slight, but it was there. Cedric didn't like it.

"I think it makes you more dashing," Hermione said as she sat beside Emerald. Emerald and Cedric were studying in the library after dinner. Hermione needed to return a book and spotted them.

"See, she agrees with me." Emerald said smiling.

"Yeah, I guess. If it makes you smile like that I'll get a hundred more!" Cedric said grabbing Emerald's hand and kissing the back of it. Making her blush.

"Oh, no, don't go through so much trouble." She laughed.

"Ahem, Ahem, ladies and gent. Time to head to bed." Came the voice of Madame Pince. They nodded to her and she walked away.

They picked up their items and made their way out. Once reaching the stairs they separated and each headed to their respective dorms.

It was Friday the following day. Professor McGonagall announced during breakfast that it would only be half day as she was going to make an important announcement.

"Oh my, I'm so excited!" Pansy squealed as she sat in Potions.

Emerald got out her book, "Excited for it being half day, or the announcement?"

"Both, what do you think she's going to announce?" Pansy whispered.

"Hell if I know, at least it gives me extra time to finish my essay." Emerald mumbled flipping through her Potion's book.

"Sure. Like you haven't revised it a hundred times already." Draco smirked.

"Shut up Draco." Emerald stuck her tongue out.

"Will you silence your adolescent behavior!" boomed Snape's voice. "Now let's get started on the potion on the board. You have two hours."

Emerald and Draco looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

After Potions was over everyone made their way to the Great Hall and sat at their tables. Once everyone settled Professor McGonagall tapped her wand.

"Good Afternoon All. Before we eat our lunch, I have an announcement. Now, as with tradition of the Triwizard Tournament, to help in commemorating the event and to help the schools integrate, there will be a Yule Ball held. Now the Yule Ball is first and foremost a dance."

During this time, there was a bunch of excited squeals and giggles, but there was also moans and groans heard all around.

"Now the four founders of Hogwarts have demanded respect from the Wizarding world for nearly ten centuries and we will have respect. We will celebrate the union of our schools during this time honored tradition. The Yule Ball will be held on Christmas Eve. Years four and up shall be able to attend. There will be dance lessons given and I will post the schedule in the Entrance Hall later this evening. It is of course a formal occasion. If there are any questions a teacher will be happy to help you. Thank you."

"I can't believe this." Emerald sighed in her seat.

"Emerald! A dance! I can't believe this!" Pansy said.

"I have to owl my mum! I need to shop!" Daphne said.

"Argh, anything but a dance. This is mental!" Draco said putting his face in his hands.

"Oh come on mate. It's not that bad. Better start looking for a date." Blaise said.

Immediately Draco's eyes went searching for a head of unruly hair at the Gryffindor table. He spotted her talking to Potter. Emerald looked over at the Hufflepuff table and saw Cedric looking at her, smiling.

"Damn his cheekiness." Emerald grumbled grabbing a sandwich.

"Well least you've got a date. That's half the battle right there." Theo said eating.

"Emerald hates formal occasions as much as I do," Draco also grabbed a sandwich.

"Now it makes sense what mom was having us do this summer. Draco our parents knew!" Emerald said looking at Draco.

Draco had a shocked look on him too. "Well of all the bloody sneaks. I thought we were getting fitted for parties at home."

"Bloody sneaks indeed." Emerald hissed.