A/N: ...hi, readers & reviewers. I don't really have an authors note today. So...err. Listen to Metric because they kick.

And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you

-Lifehouse. Song: You and Me.

Blue Roses.

Chapter seventeen: You and Me.

Cedric had his eyes closed tightly as he clutched Skye's hand equally as tight. The Goblet of Fire's flame had just turned red for the first time, and a charred piece of parchment shot out of it and into Dumbledore's waiting hand.

"The champion for Durmstrang," he said, with excitement in his voice, "is Viktor Krum!"

There was a loud chorus of applause from the awaiting audience. The room went completely silent as soon as the flame once again turned red and spit out another piece of parchment. Tension was vivid within the waiting audience.

"The champion for Beauxbatons," Dumbledore said, "is Fleur Delacour!"

There was another chorus of applause integrated with a few cat-calls as the beautiful girl proceeded to the front of the Hall to shake Dumbledore's hand before exiting in the same direction as Krum.

"This is it," Skye whispered to Cedric. "This is your moment."

The flame turned red again, and Cedric opened one eye to stare at Dumbledore. Dumbledore raised one eyebrow and smiled. There was a pause as the entire room stared at Dumbledore with anxiety, awaiting the truth on who their future Hogwarts champion was.

"The champion for Hogwarts," he said, excitement in his voice, "is Cedric Diggory!"

Cedric shot out of his chair, knocking it aside, and pumped his fist into the air.

"Yes!" he cried, giving Skye a kiss as she had stood up too. Everyone around Cedric was clapping loudly for their local hero. Cedric shook hands with masses of Hufflepuffs before walking to the front of the room. Dumbledore held his hand out for Cedric to shake, though Cedric decided to, instead, embrace Dumbledore in a hug before heading out to the side chambers where Krum and Fleur had went.

"He did it!" Chad whispered to Skye when they had sat down.

"I'm so proud of him," Skye said, a smile on her face.

"Nervous?" Anne whispered from her other side.

"Of course I am! People have died! But I believe Cedric can do it; in my eyes, he's the greatest wizard of the future."

Skye stared fondly at the door where Cedric had just left, apprehension on her face. Yes, she was scared. Who knew what he'd have to face? She knew the only thing she could do, now, was support Cedric, and that was exactly what she was going to do.

The room was bustling with excitement as everyone discussed their future prodigies. Skye stared at the door where Cedric had just exited, missing him more then ever. As she daydreamed, she didn't really notice that the Goblet had just spit out another name until the entire room went silent and she snapped back into reality.

Dumbledore stared at the piece of parchment that the Goblet has just spit out, confusion on his face. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Open, closed. Open, closed.

"Harry Potter!"

Skye averted her eyes from Dumbledore to Harry, her mouth open. How had he passed the age line, and why was that jerk taking away from her boyfriends glory? What had Cedric ever done to him? Skye shot Chad a questioning look, who just shrugged.

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore repeated, more confidence in his voice.

Harry stood and whispers broke out through the entire Hall, though Skye remained silent. She was livid; Cedric had his hopes set on this for two months, now, and this petty 'Boy who Lived' dare took away Cedric's glory after all his hard work? Skye slumped back in her chair, a sulky look on her face.

- - -

"I can't believe it!" Skye said, pacing in front of the fireplace. "I just can't!"

"Skye, it's alright. I got what I wanted," Cedric said, taking a swig of his Butterbeer. The large celebration party that had just been held in the common room was waning, and only a few drunken fifth years, Cedric and Skye remained.

"What have you ever done to him?"

"It's not his fault, Skye!"

Skye stopped pacing, looking at Cedric with sadness in her face. Cedric had just yelled at her for the first time in months. She knew, at that point, that she had to cool down, so she chose to sat in a chair beside Cedric in front of the fireplace. There was a silence as they both stared into the fire, watching the flames flicker softly.

"I'm scared," Cedric said.

"I'm worse than you are."

"The first task is in under a month. I don't know what it is so I don't know how I'm going to prepare myself."

"I have faith you'll do fine."

"You just said you were scared for me!"

Skye laughed and used a refilling charm to fill up her Butterbeer.

"Well, whatever you do, I'm behind you supporting you."

"That's all I needed to hear," Cedric said, leaning over and kissing Skye.

- - -

Cedric sat at the lakeside with Shaun, Valencia and Anne. It was about a week before the first task, and tensions were running high in Cedric's mind. He only had a few days before he went and risked everything for glory and the 20 chance of a thousand galleons. He was beginning to regret entering the tournament.

Milo walked to the lakeside, a bag in his hands.

"Look what I got!" he said, pulling pins out of the bag and handing them out to everyone. "Anti-Potter pins!"

Cedric turned over the pin, which was enchanted to say 'Support CEDRIC DIGGORY the REAL Hogwarts champion'. Milo tapped his with his wand and showed everyone how the words changed to 'POTTER STINKS'. This caused Valencia to laugh uncontrollably as she placed the pin onto her robes.

"Hey, look, it's Potter!" Shaun said, pointing to the approaching fourth Hogwarts champion.

"Potter!" Milo called, pointing to his badge. "What do you think?"

"I find them quite fashionable," Anne said.

"Cedric, can I talk to you?"

Harry walked away from the group, and Cedric followed closely.

"If it's about the pins, I'll get them to take them off, they're just being stupid..."

"No, it's not that, Cedric. It's the first task. It's dragons."

Cedric felt as if his brain had shut down in shock. "Dragons?" he sputtered out.

"Krum and Fleur probably both know, so I thought it would be best for you to know, as well, to make it fair."

After a long pause, Cedric said, "Thanks Harry. I'm gonna go now."

- - -

"Dragons!" Cedric said to Skye when he saw her in the common room. "Dragons! How am I going to deal with dragons! Do I have to destroy one? Or do I have to charm one, or what do I have to do? Skye, I'm so nervous!"

Skye sighed, and stared at her knees which she had pulled up to her chin. "I don't know, Cedric. Dragons are so dangerous. I thought Dumbledore said that the challenges were going to be safe this year."

"Well, he obviously lied!" Skye sensed a bit of panic in Cedric's voice.

"Well you can't talk to him. He'd know that you know, and he'd know that Harry knows, and...oh, Cedric, what're you going to do?"

"I don't know." Cedric took a seat on the bed beside Skye and wrapped his arms around her. "I just...don't know anymore. I want to pull out of this."

"Don't say that, Cedric, you're just facing a setback. It's better that you know than going into it in a few days and not knowing that you're going to face this."

"That's why I love you," Cedric said. "You're always right. I think, to clear my head, I'm going to go for a jog around the grounds."

"Brilliant!"

Skye watched as Cedric pulled a sleeveless shirt and track pants out of one of his drawers.

"Need help getting changed?" Skye cooed, standing up and pushing his robes off of his shoulders. Cedric kissed her for a long period of time before letting go.

"Now, really, I want to go out for a jog."

"Alright," Skye said, slumping onto his bed.

"When I come back, I'll give you a surprise," Cedric said, giving Skye a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out of the boys' dormitories, a little extra spring in his step.

- - -

A/N: Y'know. Read and review. Do your thing. Y'all.