Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Harry Potter.

Clash of the Gods

By Rogue Wingweaver

Chapter 4

A Trial of Love

On the morning of the second task, Draco did not wake up as usual. He heard voices talking over him and when he went to open his eyes and see who was in his room something made him fall back asleep. While he slept, he was taken out of the castle and down to the lake. There he would wait to be rescued with the others.

When Cedric woke up and a strange calm came over him. He knew what was expected of him but today the pressure was different. All his life he had been doing things like winning in quidditch and getting top grades to please his father, today he was doing something for himself.

He was quiet as he dressed and went to eat breakfast. The food had no taste in his mouth but he needed the energy. He was used to being this nervous. He left the great hall a little before it was time so he could have a look at the lake before everyone else was there.

As he walked down to the lake he saw that he was not the only one early. Krum was standing to the side of the stands that were now set up by the lake. He looked over when he heard Cedric approaching.

"Vhat do you think, vill it be difficult?" Krum asked trying to laugh.

"I guess we will find out soon." Cedric answered as he looked at the vast lake in front of him, it had to be hundreds of feet deep.

How am I going to find him in an hour?

Soon the two contestants were joined by Fleur and the judges. It was almost time and whether they were ready or not, the champions were minutes away from the Second Task of the Tri Wizard Tournament.

Soon all the students had filled the stands and everything was ready but they didn't start.

What is holding things up? He wondered. Wait, where is Harry?

A few minutes after they had been set to start, they saw Harry tearing down the grass from the castle. Now they could start.

Ludo Bagman rose from his seat at the judges table and said,

"Now, all our champions are ready for the second task and we will start on my whistle. An hours time will be given to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One . . . two . . .three.!"

The whistle blew and the crowds cheered. Cedric grabbed his wand and took a deep breath.

I hope this works.

"Oxcious Cerebro." He yelled and then jumped into the water. A good sized bubble had formed around his head and be breathed deeply to test it. It was a weird feeling to breath under water but he had little time to think about it. As he looked around he could see that the lake was even larger than it looked from the surface. He would need to hurry if he was going to find Draco in time. He swam deeper into the lake and spotted a huge shadow to his left. He could only imagine what it belonged to. Panic was gripping him but he had to urge himself to keep swimming.

Time sped past as he searched. He had no idea how long he had been down there but his legs were starting to ache. Relief flooded him as he saw small huts in the distance. He was close, he could feel it. As he passed the deserted homes he started to worry.

Where is everyone?

Harry was the first to reach the captives. What he saw gave him quite a shock. There, all tied together was Ron, Hermione, a young girl that must have been Fleur's sister and Draco Malfoy. They were tied to a huge stone statue of a merperson. The gray skinned merpeople surrounded them, many of them carrying spears.

Harry mind spun, what was Draco doing there? He knew Ron was there for him to rescue and Hermione for Viktor. The girl was Fleur's so that must mean that Draco was there for Cedric. It didn't make any sense.

Cedric kept swimming until he came into a clearing which he guessed was the town square. Then he spotted Harry and the captives. A crowd of merpeople surrounded them and he could hear a choir of them singing. He let out the deep breath he had been holding when he saw Draco tied up but safe. He had made it in time. When he got to Harry and the others, he pulled a knife out of his pocket and quickly cut the rope that tied Draco down. When he had freed him, Cedric turned to Harry and mouthed,

"Get lost! Fleur and Krum're coming now!"

Then he pulled Draco close and swam off towards the surface.

When they came up, Cedric could hear gasps and sounds of shock echo all over the stadium. He ignored everything as he saw Draco was now awake and looking around confused.

Then Draco turned to him and smiled, everything was alright.

The judges all had looks of shock and Madam Pomfrey looked worried as she wrapped the boys in towels. Cedric knew why and had expected what was to come next.

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall marched over to them and McGonagall was the first to speak.

"What is the meaning of this? I want some explanations. I was sure you would be bringing up Cho Chang, where is she?"

"She wasn't down there professor, Draco was." Cedric answered her calmly.

"Draco must be the most important person to you." Dumbledore said with a smile

"The Merpeople are never wrong. It is one of their powers to know the hearts of wizards. That is why I put them in charge of the kidnapping."

McGonagall still seemed annoyed but she wasn't going to argue with the headmaster.

Soon Viktor had come up with Hermione and Fleur had come up empty handed. For a while there was no sign of Harry and everyone began to worry.

Where is he, Cedric thought. He had been there before me. I wonder what could have happened to him.

Then they saw something and with a splash Harry emerged from the water, swimming with a person under each arm.

The crowd cheered, most looked relieved. Harry had not only rescued Ron but also Fleur's little sister.

They were joined by twenty or so merpeople all singing in screechy voices.

When they reached the shore, He looked at the others and was surprised, Draco looked happy. There was a smile on his face as he sat next to Cedric. Harry couldn't see the usual malice and spite he had come to expect from the pale Slitherin. Something had changed in him.

The judges announced the points awarded to each champion then people slowing drifted back to the castle until only a few were left beside the peaceful lake.

Draco sat beside Cedric in the warm sun. At a distance he could see Harry and Ron also sitting in the grass. It was one of the few times that Hermione wasn't with them. Draco saw Ron stare at Harry with the same desire Draco had when he looked at Cedric. When Ron realized he had been caught he turned red and started bad mouthing Draco to Harry. Draco shook his head and turned to Cedric.

"Thanks for saving me."

"How could I do anything else?"

"So I am the most precious person to you?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad." Draco laid his head on Cedric chest and closed his eyes. Cedric wrapped his arms around the one he loved and settled his chin on top of Draco's head.

So this is what love feels like, Draco thought to himself