THE MAZE

It was the day of the last trial. The students were led to some steps, in front of a giant maze. As usual, Fred and George were making bets with the rest of the crowd. Alex sat next to Draco, which meant having to sit way to close to Crabbe and Goyle. But she wanted to spend more time with him and she was more diligent than him when it came to friendships.

Music started playing and the champions entered the arena. Each one of them was accompanied by a handler: Karkaroff with Krum, Madame Maxine with Fleur, Amos Diggory with Cedric and, finally, Harry, who stood alone until Dumbledore emerged. The air was full of tension. Moody showed up, coming off the maze, squishing Harry's shoulder to cheer him up. Dumbledore addressed the crowd.

- Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the tri-wizards cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now, as Mister Diggory… - the crowd started cheering. - and Mister Potter tied for first position, they will be the first to enter the maze. Followed by Mister Krum… - the Bulgarian crowd went nuts. Draco and his friends as well. – And finally, Miss Delacour. The first person to touch the cup will be the winner. I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter, if at any point should a contestant wish to withdraw from the task, he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Contestants, gather round. – Dumbledore said something to the champions, probably some advice about the task.

- Champions! Prepare yourselves! – Moody said.

- On the count of three…One… - the cannon went off. Mister Filch had gotten ahead of Dumbledore one more time, which made Alex and other students laugh.

Harry and Cedric entered the maze through different entrances. The entrances closed up behind them. The crowd saw through the screens the champions. Some heavy mist set in around the maze. Harry started traversing the maze, creature's noises all around. The crowd was completely silent as they watched the contestants walking through the maze. Alex grabbed Draco's hand, way too nervous. He squeezed hers. Cedric was walking along when suddenly, the maze walls started closing in on him. He made a ran for it and managed to get out of that hall.

- I don't think this tournament should be allowed at all. At least not for minors… - Alex was actually concerned. Those trials were way too dangerous. How could they allow kids to participate in?

Fleur was running around the maze, clearly scared. Suddenly, Krum attacked her and knocked her down, his eyes completely white.

- What the hell is his problem? – Alex said.

- Look at his eyes…something's off. – said Draco.

He was right. Those eyes were not normal. Alex looked around, everyone looked afraid and confused. She looked at the teachers. Were they going to do nothing? Harry saw Fleur on the floor, who was now being swallowed into the undergrowth. He was too late. All he could do was use his wand to send a red spark into the air, making sure Fleur was found. At that moment, some teachers entered the maze, in the direction where Fleur had vanished, to rescue her.

- They could have interfered sooner… - Alex didn't like that.

Harry had to start running away, since the walls were closing in on him. When he managed to escape, he arrived to a hall where, in the distance, he was able to see something shining. He started running towards it when Krum tried to attacked him with a spell. Cedric was there as well, and he helped Harry with Krum, leaving him unconscious. Then, both Harry and Cedric started running towards the cup. Alex squeezed harder Draco's hand. People were keeping their breaths. The maze started shifting, making Cedric fell to the ground. Harry doubted for a moment, but then he helped him up, and both of them reached the cup, touching it at the same time.

People started cheering! But something was off. The teachers looked around them, worried. Alex looked at the screens. They were nowhere to be seen…People started gasping and chattering.

- Something's wrong…

- They disappeared. The cup must be a portkey. – said Draco, trying to calm Alex down.

- Yeah, but if that's the case…they should be here. Where are they? – Alex was right.

Everyone was looking around, trying to understand what was going on. Dumbledore asked the crowd to remain calm and silent. But it was obvious, for his face, that they were worried as well. They all waited there. There was nothing else they could do. After some minutes passed, suddenly, in the middle of the arena, Harry and Cedric showed up with the cup. People started cheering and clapping. The band started playing. All the worries disappeared. Suddenly, a scream was heard, and people stopped clapping. Everyone was up, trying to see what had caused the scream. Music stopped.

- He's back, he's back! Voldemort's back! – Harry's words were heard all over the arena. Alex grabbed Draco's hand tighter.

- Keep everybody in their seats! – the minister of Magic spoke. - A boy has just been killed. – Alex was able to see through the crowd. He was right. Cedric was laying on the ground, still. - The body must be moved Dumbledore, there are…too many people. – Amos Diggory made his way through the crowd. When he saw his son dead, his heart completely broke.

- Let me through! That's my son! My boy! – he broke down, wailing.

Moody took Harry away from the place. People gasped and cried all over the arena. Alex hugged Draco crying, looking away from the scene. He held her softly. McGonagall and Snape started taking the students away as well, to the castle, leaving Dumbledore, Mister Weasley and Amos Diggory behind, next to Cedric's body.

There was a lot of commotion. The students were led into their common rooms and instructed to stay there until further notice. The next day, they were all reunited at the Great Hall. All in uniform, seated on the rows of chairs facing Dumbledore.

- Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard working, intricately fair minded. And most importantly, a fierce, fierce friend. – people started sobbing at his words. - 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.

Hogwarts mourned the death of one of their own. And with the end of the year coming, returning home felt…empty. Alex packed all of her stuff and, with Draco's help, she took it out of the common room. Harry was there, waiting for her, apparently.

- Hey, Harry. How are you?

- As good as everyone else, I suppose… - he looked at Draco behind them. – Come, I need to talk with you. – Alex followed Harry around, to an empty hall.

- What's wrong, Harry?

- He's one of his followers. Lucius Malfoy. – Alex heart stopped. "Get out of here". The memories of that day came back to her. Remus was right. The rumours were right. – You can't go back there, Alex…

- I can't just disappear. They're my legal tutors. If I left and went with Remus, he would get in trouble. They could blame him for abducting me, Harry.

- Then what are you going to do? Pretend like everything's fine?

- Yes. I have to. – Alex looked around her. Her mind was rushing. – I'll be fine. I'll manage. Thank you for letting me know, Harry. – Alex turned around and left, before Harry could say anything else. When she went back to the common room, Draco asked her.

- What did he want? – she looked at him. She thought about telling him about his father, but…she knew Draco. He wouldn't believe it, not until the proofs were right in front of his face. Telling him would only cause them pain and trouble. So, for now, it was better for him to remain oblivious to the truth.

- He just wanted to know how I was doing. – she smiled at him softly. He returned the smile. He got closer to her and kissed her. She couldn't lose Draco.

Everyone gathered on the exit of the castle, saying their goodbyes to the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students, who were going home. They all clapped at them as they left in their amazing means of transport. Alex looked at her friends. She looked at Draco. She knew things would change, probably for worse. With Voldemort's return and Lucius as one of his followers, it was only a matter of time. But Alex would enjoy as long as she could. And when the time came…she would do everything on her hands to protect what she loved. No matter the price.