Here's a nice long one for you...took me a while. I hope that it suits your taste. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. Well, hope you enjoy the new chappie!

When Christianna rolled over in her bed the following morning, it took her a moment to remember why she felt so uneasy. Then, looming in her mind's eye, she saw the enormous horned head of the dragon and all of her apprehension returned, causing her stomach to roll and her head to spin.

I can't tell Cedric about the task…that would be cheating, she thought to herself. But if I don't tell him he could get hurt. But he knew about the danger when entering so it isn't my fault that he's battling a dragon…wait…a DRAGON! He could be killed. He's one of your best friends…what am I going to do? Christianna, knowing she would go crazy if she let herself think too much, grudgingly got out of bed and got ready for the new day.

---

A very solemn looking Christianna groggily sipped her coffee at breakfast. She looked up to see a quiet Cedric sit down across from her. She smiled despite herself. At least she wasn't the only one with a lot on their mind. Fred and George were oblivious to their friends' silence and instead whispered to one another about a way to get Filch back for taking all their dung bombs.

A troop of teenage girls sheepishly came up behind Cedric asking for autographs, of which he willingly gave. When he was done signing he suddenly realized just how quiet Christianna was.

"Are you alright?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine…I didn't sleep well last night," she lied. He smiled reassuringly at her, and both fell back into their preoccupied silence.

This behavior went on for two whole weeks. Both Cedric and Christianna fought and struggled against internal battles. She had not had any new visions, but the dragon's face would appear in her dreams a few times a week. She could not bring herself to tell him about it.

Cedric became more and more on edge as the dreaded day neared. The fact that he did not even know what the task was did not help his state of mind at all. Every day he would have spell battles in empty classrooms to practice jinks, curses, and advanced dueling techniques, just in case he might need some long forgotten archaic charm to protect himself in the task.

One day, Christianna found herself among the back shelves in the library. She had to write an extended essay for Professor Sprout and had found the book she needed, but was frustrated to realize that it was well beyond her reach. Standing on her tip-toes, Christianna stretched with all her might to grab the book, but to no avail.

Suddenly, a very nervous looking Cedric appeared from behind the neighboring isle.

"Ced…what's wrong?" she asked.

"Dragons…the first task is dragons. Potter just told me. Fleur and Krum already know…" Cedric stopped short. He now found himself staring down at a very guilty looking Christianna. Her attempt to reach the book was forgotten.

"What? Did you already know about the dragons?" he asked.

"Yes…" was all she managed to mumble.

"How?" he asked with confusion.

"My visions…" she replied. Realization lit his face.

"And you couldn't find it in you to tell me?" he yelled, now very cross.

"It wasn't as easy as that," she tried to begin.

"Have you seen me, Chris? I've been going crazy over this task. And here I find out that you could have told me the whole time…" His eyes had turned to stone as he glared down at her.

"Well, if you had opened your eyes you would have seen me going through a similar thing. Do you think I like these visions? They terrify me…"

"You told me you were fine."

"Cedric, when a girl says she's fine she never means it. Now, I'm sorry that you're upset, truly I am, but I am still trying to figure out these visions and what they mean."

"You still could have told me," he said, his voice beginning to calm down.

"That would have been cheating."

"Potter told me…" he began.

"Harry is like that, always trying to help…And now I will help you," she said with a shy smile.

"I thought that was cheating," he shot back at her.

"I'm trying to make it up to you. Now, the dragon I saw was blue-gray and had blue smoke coming out of its mouth. If we put our two heads together, I'm sure we can figure out where that puts us and then we'll go from there." She looked up at him, a hopeful smile on her face. After a moment, he returned it and ran a large hand through his already mussed hair.

"Just promise me that next time you'll trust me enough to tell me these things, ok?" he said, looking intently at her. Glancing up from the book shelf, she smiled.

"I will and I do. It's just these visions are…"

"Unsettling, I know. But it unsettles me that you don't ask for help. I'm here for you Chrissy." Cedric placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her square in the face.

"I want you to know that."

"I do," she said, suddenly very aware of their closeness and the warmth that spread from his body to hers.

"Good," he said, releasing her from his hold. "Now all I have to do is defeat a dragon…" he laughed.

With a slight pang of regret at their sudden separation, Christianna joined Cedric in rummaging through the dusty volumes of the library.

---

Another week came and went, and Cedric and Christianna were still spending hours on end in the library, so much so that it became their main place to hang-out. The two friends had large books spread out around them on one of the back tables. Both were bent over, noses inches from the page, scanning the many lines for any clue as to how to defeat a dragon.

"I can't do this any more!" cried a very frustrated Cedric. He slammed the book shut and shoved it away from him in a fury. "I should just give up now. Face it Chris, there is no way I am going to be able to get past a dragon."

"Ced, don't give up. You're just getting frustrated and distracted," she said, trying to calm his nerves.

"Me? Distracted? What made you think that?" he said sarcastically. "It's not like in a week I have to go up against a fire-breathing monster in front of the whole school with no game plan."

Christianna stared at him sympathetically, knowing that he was under a lot of pressure and stress. I know I wouldn't be able to do it, she thought. Sighing heavily, Cedric just closed his eyes and leaned his head against the chair, leaving Christianna to her thoughts.

If only he wasn't so distracted…

"That's it!" she suddenly exclaimed. Cedric opened one eye and stared at her stoically.

"That is what, Chris?"

"Distraction! You can't stun the dragon because it's hide is too thick, but you can distract it. Make it go for something that's easier to catch than you!" She looked at him eagerly. Cedric was quiet for a moment as he thought the plan over. Little by little a smile grew across his face.

"You are a genius Chris!" He rushed over to her and swiftly picked her up out of her chair and spun her around, hugging her fiercely. "You just saved my butt you know," he said while putting her down.

"Well, a butt like yours is worth saving," she said, a suggestive grin on her face. Astonishment lit his face.

"I don't think I have ever heard you say something like that, Ms. Greenwood," he said, taking a step closer. Christianna saw something new flash behind his eyes, but it was soon replaced with his normal friendly stare.

"Can't a girl have a little fun now and again?"

"She certainly is entitled to, especially when her birthday is in two days."

"Oh my goodness, it is isn't it? I had entirely forgotten! This tournament and helping you 'distracted' me." She leaned up against the book shelf as Cedric smiled at her.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well what?" she replied.

"What do you want to do for your birthday?" he asked.

"I have no idea…honestly," she said, looking up at him.

"Well, I guess it'll have to be a surprise then, eh?" he said grinning wolfishly.

"I always like a good surprise."

"Then a surprise it is…"

---

She was in the arena, waiting for the canon to sound. A deep noise echoed from the tunnel as a large shadow moved in the darkness. Blue smoke issued forth from the cavity, casting everything in a strange haze.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Christianna sat straight up in bed. "That was a close one," she whispered to herself. Looking around for the source of her alarm, she saw a barn owl perched outside her tower window. Upon opening the window, the owl fluttered in onto her bed and held out its leg for her. Christianna untied the note and gave the owl a grateful head scratch. It cooed in return before flying out the window.

Christianna,

You are cordially invited to your birthday breakfast. Please meet your escort on the seventh floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Come attired in your best (and in this case we mean p.js.).

Happy Birthday,

Cedric

Her mouth was open wide in astonishment and flattery. That he would go to so much trouble for her birthday made Christianna's heart flip. He's just doing this for a friend…she assured herself. All the same, she got out of bed with a silly grin on her face as she readied herself for the breakfast, green pajamas and all.

---

Barnabas the Barmy was a short stumpy man with obviously no intelligence at all, seeing how he willingly went into a pack of trolls that were armed with clubs. The tapestry that hung in the seventh floor corridor illustrated the clubbing of Barnabas, and, since all magical artworks moved, was quite a scene to behold. Christianna studied it with a mixture of disgust, morbid fascination, and shock. However, the scene disappeared from view as someone from behind covered her eyes.

"Guess who?" tickled a warm voice in her ear. Christianna laughed.

"Cedric…what good is a surprise if I can't see it?" she teased.

"Well, first I have to get to it. Wait just a moment, and no peeking," he said, his hands leaving their positions on her face. Carefully opening her eyes, Christianna was amused to see a very concentrated Cedric pacing back and forth pass a space of the wall three times. Suddenly, a door appeared. Christianna could have sworn that the wall was empty just a second before.

"Chris…" warned Cedric. "I said no peeking."

"And you believed I wouldn't?" she said jokingly.

"Ahh. Frailty, thy name is woman."

"You got that right buster. Oh, am I to be blinded again?" she asked as Cedric once again placed his hands over her eyes.

"You got that right buster," he mimicked. All she heard was their footsteps into an unknown room. Suddenly…

"SURPRISE!" Christianna opened her eyes to be met by the smiling faces of all her friends. Fred and George had managed to smuggle all sorts of food from the kitchens, all of which was placed on a long table. Another smaller table held a variety of brightly wrapped gifts. Christianna's eyes spanned the room in awe. It was all decorated in green, her favorite color, in an array of shades. Balloons flew all around as floating candles gave off showers of rainbow sparks. A giant banner flashing 'Happy Birthday Chris' hung on the wall.

A small tear trickled down her face. A worried Cedric looked at her with concern.

"Chrissy, are you ok?" he said, cupping her chin and brushing away the tear with his thumb.

"It's just all so perfect. Thank-you so much, Cedric." She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck; a hug he instinctively returned. An extremely suggestive whistle broke them apart. Chris glared at the backs of Fred and George, who had suddenly became very interested in an arrangement of daisies.

Christianna thoroughly enjoyed all of her presents. She received a box of assorted Zonko products from Fred and George, chocolate frogs from Ron, a quill with different colored inks from Harry, and a book of fairy tales from Hermione. As everyone was enjoying the many food items, Cedric quietly came up behind her.

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" he whispered. Christianna spun around. Cedric held out a small silver box for her. She stared down at it for a moment before taking it and opening it. A small gasp escaped her lips when she saw what was inside. Inside the small box lay a beautiful necklace. Made of copper, it was fashioned with an adjustable chain. Charms of leaves, flowers, and dragonflies embedded with red jewels adorned the chain and twinkled in the light of the floating candles. Christianna glanced up at a very shy looking Cedric.

"Ced…it's beautiful…" she managed to whisper.

"I'm glad," he said, standing very close. "Here, let me put it on for you." She graciously accepted the offer and turned around as Cedric gently put the necklace around her neck and clasped it in the back. The feeling of his fingertips on the base of her neck gave Christianna goose bumps. She turned around so that he could admire his gift.

"It's perfect for you…" he whispered, a strange look in his eye.

"I had no idea you had such a refined taste in jewelry, Mr. Diggory. Should I be worried?" he teased. He just laughed and went over to help clean up.

Christianna said good-bye to all of her friends as they left to go to their early classes. Hermione commented on the necklace, and gave her a significant wink before exiting. Soon, Cedric and Christianna were alone.

"Did you like your surprise?" he asked while blowing out the last of the floating candles.

"I loved it. Thank you."

"You are very welcome."

"I have one question though," she said.

"And what might that be?" he asked, coming to stand in front of her.

"Why go to all this trouble for me?" she asked hesitantly, knowing what answer she wanted, yet knowing she would never get it. He studied her for a moment, and then took a step closer, so that they were only inches apart.

"I would have thought it was obvious…" he said softly. She stared up into his eyes and saw the same flash of something that she saw in the library. He brought his hand up and cradled her face.

"You are my best friend, and I wanted this day to be perfect," he said, his eyes staring deep into her own. For a moment, they stood like that…Their faces were so close…Hesitantly Cedric leaned in closer.

Without warning, the bell signaling the end of breakfast reverberated throughout the castle. Cedric suddenly broke apart and with a hasty "Good-bye" left Christianna alone.

She stood there, breathless and unmoving. Her heart was racing and her cheeks were flushed.

What just happened? she asked herself. What almost happened? Did he almost…no…we are just friends. But then, what was that? Stupid bell…

Despite her confusion, Christianna knew that she had just glimpsed something very important.

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Please review. And if you have any ideas as to scenes or senarios to put in the story just let me know. I am always up for advice!