The Day in which all of Ila's Troubles Ends

Ila woke up with a terrible headache. She twisted and turned in her sheets, becoming entangled in them but she didn't care. She wanted five more minutes before she opened her eyes. When she opened them, that would mean the day would start.

The day she had been dreading.

This was what the whole year had led up to. All of that effort for something she didn't even want to do in the first place. At least it was ending today. At this point, she couldn't care less if she was the loser or winner. She just wanted to survive.

But just to think, in less than 24 hours, she could be back in her bed, no longer having to think about the blasted tournament anymore.

She supposed that was made her open her eyes.

She sat up to see her entire was empty. All the beds were messily done. She rubbed her eyes a few times before putting her glasses on. It was strange.

While the last few weeks moved too quickly, now, it felt like she was moving at a snail's pace. She headed to the bathroom to get changed. When she was brushing her teeth, she stared into the mirror.

The mirror reflected someone she couldn't recognise. A girl with scruffy hair, tired eyes. Ila blinked a few times, to find that the girl in the mirror did the same. She turned her head to the left, and the girl did the same. To the right, and yet again the girl copied her move. She peered closer, and the girl too, did the same until they were nose to nose.

Ila left the bathroom, making sure to cover any of the mirrors in her room before getting changed. The Ministry had given her a special uniform. It was a black top, trousers that looked more like the ones Mr Weasley wore when they went to the Quidditch Cup Final. On top, she had to wear a red cape, red for Gryffindor, she assumed. She was even given a special pair of dragonhide boots. She wasn't going to face another dragon was she? As she headed out, she noticed her trousers had special pockets to keep her wands and anything else that could help her.

Should she have had anything else?

Surprisingly, when lla arrived at the Great Hall, it was packed. People from the Ministry, journalists from the Daily Mail, families of the competitors were there. None of her friends were there. They still had lessons to go to. Not to mention, this was the final day of exams for everyone. Ila didn't know which one she would've preferred.

She found a seat, away from most people on the Gryffindor table and stared at her porridge. It was the only thing available. She looked around to see the others were also eating it. Unfortunately, her looking up resulted in Cedric catching her eye. His father turned around and saw her sitting by herself. Immediately, she looked down, but it was too late. Both Cedric's parents walked towards, and she cursed herself. There was nothing left to do but –

"Ila! How have you been? It's been a long time since we saw each other, hasn't it?" Cedric's father said loudly, causing people close to them to look around. Ila glanced up. Cedric was red in the face, while his mother whispered in her husband's ear to quiet down.

"I'm fine," Ila said quietly, "how are you?"

"I'm amazing! I've got the Third Task to look forward to. How've you been holding up? I don't know how it was in here, but out there, everyone seemed to hate you being the fourth champion."

"Dad!"

"What? I can't tell the truth time to time. I mean, I don't have any grudges. Clearly you'll be better."

"Dad I said stop!" Cedric said, throwing an apologetic look before tugging his father away from her. Ila was too nervous to even care. She stared back down at her sludge. She wasn't sure how long it had been before she heard McGonagall's shaky voice call out to the four champions to head down to the Quidditch Pitch. She wasn't in control of her body. She found her legs moving out of the bench and straightened out. One in front of the other, she found her feet walking towards the direction of the Pitch.

It only took a few steps before she was interrupted. However, she was glad for this one.

"Ila!"

She turned around at the familiar voice of Mrs Weasley, who, with open arms, was walking towards her. The next moment, Ila was engulfed by Mrs Weasley. It was as if she was snapped back into reality. She could finally see everything in focus.

"How have you been?" Mrs Weasley pulled away slightly to look over her with concerned eyes. "I saw the papers. It must have been so hard for you. Oh, when I heard about what happened with Ron, I was very ready to send him a howler again. That idiot boy!"

Before Ila could reply, Mrs Weasley crushed her in another hug.

"Relax mum," another voice drifted through, "you'll kill her before the task started."

Over Mrs Weasley, Ila saw Bill and Mr Weasley walking, giving her a smile.

"Oh, don't say that Bill," Mrs Weasley said, breaking away to hit Bill on the arm.

"I would say don't feel nervous, but I doubt that'll do anything," Mr Weasley said.

"Don't worry Mr Weasley, I'm…. only slightly nervous," Ila said, her voice getting quieter and quieter.

"You haven't seen the other two yet, have you?" Mrs Weasley asked.

Ila shook her head. "It's their last day of exams. By the time I woke up, everyone was gone."

"Oh, you poor thing – it's a good thing we came at the time we did," Mrs Weasley said, before linking arms with Ila and the two walked out of the hallway, with Mr Weasley and Bill following them. "You know, everyone was complaining on the way here that I woke them up to early and being all fussy, but I told them, put yourself in Ila's shoes. Imagine going to the trial without anyone there to be with you."

"Did it help?" Ila asked.

"Merlin no," Mrs Weasley said rolling her eyes. "It made it even worse."

"Ila?" she heard Bill call her.

"Yeah?"

"Who's that?"

"Who's who?" Ila said, before turning around. She unlinked her arms with Mrs Weasley and walked to him.

"Her," Bill said, nodding her head to a certain blonde headed Veela.

Ila smirked. Perhaps it was a Weasley thing to be besotted with Veelas. "What would you say if I said your brother got to her first?"

Bill's eyes bulged out of his sockets, even Mr and Mrs Weasley were somewhat surprised to hear Ila say that. "You're joking? You're actually being serious? Ron? Our Ron? He got with her?"

Ila smiled. "He asked her out to the Yule Ball."

Bill was looking back and forth between her and Fleur before his head was getting too dizzy. "He actually went with her?"

"No, he got rejected within two seconds," Ila said, and she could visibly see all three take a sigh of relief. "But why are you asking?" she asked him.

"Isn't obvious?" he said with a shrug.

"You know she's 18? And a Veela?"

"I've seen worse…does she have a boyfriend?"

"Probably."

"Oh c'mon, you've literally gone to school with her for a whole year."

"Yeah, and for most of it, I've seen her with loads of guys…"

"Competitors, say your final goodbyes and head to the tents. Family cannot come beyond this point," McGonagall reminded all the families and competitors.

"Alright, Ila?" Mr Weasley said, patting her shoulder. "Remember, there is nothing wrong with losing…just…survive."

"Oh Arthur," Mrs Weasley sighed.

"Thanks, Mr Weasley."

"I'm sure you'll be completely fine dear," Mrs Weasley said, pulling her into a hug. In the distance, she could make out the familiar shape of three figures Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sprinting towards them, their robes flying in the wind.

"Wait for us!"

"Where did you three come from? I thought you had exams."

"We just finished them, Mum," Ron wheezed. "Can't believe you were going in without us."

"I don't have long," she said, watching the other competitors start to head in.

"Ok, ok, er – group hug," Hermione said, pulling Ila, Ron, and Ginny altogether, with their heads, bent down. "You'll be fine Ila…just remember the training we've done…ok?"

"Yep. I'll try to remember if I don't shit my trousers."

"Well, you haven't have you?" Ginny asked, looking up.

"Not yet," Ila murmured before feeling a comforting squeeze from Ron.

"That's a good start."

"C'mon," Ron said, breaking the hug, or to Ila, the protective ring between her and the Third Task. "I don't think you should be late for this one."

Ila was the last one to enter the Quidditch tent. She had a wave of déjà vu sweep by her as she saw Krum pacing back and forth in the corner of one of the tents. Fleur was talking animatedly, gesticulating wildly with her hands as Cedric tried to keep up with what she was saying in French.

Bagman was talking to a group of Professors, Moody, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Hagrid, all of whom, barring Hagrid wore large red hats. The group were whispering furiously until they saw Ila enter the tent. Something about that was making her uneasy. She remembered what it was like the last time she had entered the tent. Merlin, it was so long ago. So much had changed. She took one last look through a gap in the tent. She could just about make out the back of Draco.

"Come along Ila," Bagman said, the circle of Professors widening to make space for all the Champions.

"We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze," Professor McGonagall said to the champions. "If you get into difficulty, and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you, do you understand?"

The champions nodded.

"Off you go, then!" Bagman said brightly, completely unaware of the four green faces of the Champions, to the four patrollers.

"Good luck, Ila," Hagrid whispered, and the four of them exited the tent to go to their respective corners of the maze.

"Everyone ready?" Bagman said and was met with silence. "No toilet uses? Can't get a toilet break out there."

No one laughed at his poor attempt at a joke.

"Alright," Bagman said, getting the hint, "let's go!"

They walked onto the Quidditch field, which was now completely unrecognizable. A twenty-foot-high hedge ran around the edge of it. There was a gap right in front of them: the entrance to the vast maze. The passage beyond it looked dark and creepy. Five minutes later, the stands had begun to fill; the air was full of excited voices and the rumbling of feet as the hundreds of students filed into their seats. The sky was a deep, clear blue now, and the first stars were starting to appear. Ila could see Hermione and the Weasleys, who were all waving at her, giving her a thumbs up. She could see a few of the students holding up signs for her. Albeit it wasn't as many as the other three Champions, but the thought warmed her.

"FLEUR MIGHT BE HOTTER

KRUM'S A TOSSER

CED LOOK'S ABIT LIKE AN OTTER

BUT COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

THE WINNER'S ILA POTTER!"

Well, most of them did anyway.

"Do you think I look an otter?" Cedric whispered to her as they walked past the sign.

"Nah…more of a badger."

Past his shoulder, Ila could also see Draco, sitting with his friends. She stilled momentarily, as the memories of last night swam to the surface of her mind. It must have been obvious what happened to her because Draco smirked at the sight of her. He gave a small nod, the only acknowledgement he could give considering he was sitting in a pit of Slytherins.

Bagman finally stopped right in front of the entrance of the maze. She peered over to see the entrance was completely dark. It was just leaves, vines and bushes. She couldn't see very far into it.

Bagman now pointed his wand at his throat, muttered, "Sonorous," and his magically magnified voice echoed into the stands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin!" The crowd screamed in delight, waving their signs, singing chants even louder than when they entered the pitch. Ila could see Ron shaking Dean and Seamus, yelling, "THAT'S MY FUCKING BEST FRIEND! LET'S GO!"

"Ron, would you please watch you're language," Mrs Weasley said, though she was clapping just as avidly if not more.

"Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Miss. Ila Potter, both of Hogwarts School!" The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. "In second place, with eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!"

More applause.

"And in third place - Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!" Ila could just make out Mrs Weasley and Hermione clapping politely, while both Bill and Ron, stood up to cheer for Fleur, halfway up the stands. The two brothers looked at each other strangely, once the clapping died down. Cedric and Ila got into their starting positions. As she stepped in front, the maze somehow managed to look even longer than before. The entrance was more than big enough for the two of them to run. She was pretty sure all four contestants could run comfortably in there. With one final wave to her friends, she turned around.

"Good luck," Cedric whispered.

"You too!"

"So ... on my whistle, Ila and Cedric!" Bagman said. "Three - two - one -" He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Ila and Cedric sprinted into the maze.

"I really hope she'll be ok," Hermione said as she watched her friend's figure shrink more and more the further, she entered the maze.

"You said that last time Mione," Ron replied, "and look what happened to her then."

"If you mean nearly getting burnt alive…"

"Relax Mione," Ron muttered. "Besides, your boyfriend's going up next."

"On your marks, get set…" The whistle blew and Krum sprinted forward. To be honest, she wasn't as worried seeing Krum disappear into the depths of the darkness. She was never that worried. In fact, she was more worried for Ron and Fleur's sister than Krum during the second task. She glanced over at him. Just like the majority of the men in the stands, they were all cheering for Fleur. He was clapping wildly, along with Bill as she walked forward to the maze.

"Are you boys really that simple?" Hermione asked Ginny, who looked equally as bored watching everyone faun over the vela.

"You'd be surprised," Ginny replied. "One time, I heard Dean and Seamus argue about wearing socks in bed…"

"How – how are thing - " Hermione was interrupted by a particularly loud scream from Ron as Fleur ran into the maze, the final contestant to enter the maze.

"She looks so good running into the maze," Ron yearned.

Ginny scoffed at her brother before looking back at Hermione. "Carry on."

"How are things with you and Dean?"

Ginny was mildly surprised if she was being honest. Hermione had never taken an interest in anything that wasn't academic. In fact, every time Lavender and Parvati would gossip, Hermione would always leave them to work on her homework…

"Good…better than before. I don't know what you said to Ron, but he's finally stopped bothering Dean," Ginny said, glancing at him. He was sitting in front of them with Seamus and Neville. "Why? I hope you're not interested in Hermione…You're a bit too late for that one."

"No, no, no I'm definantly not interested," Hermione said quickly.

"I'm kidding," Ginny said. "Why are you so on edge?"

Hermione sighed, leaning back in her seat slightly. "I don't know, it feels like I've been on edge this whole year. From Ila's…thing to Krum and his stupid fan girls…it's like I haven't had any time to myself."

"Oh yeah – how are things between you and Krum?"

"I'm pretty sure he's going to invite me to visit his family in Bulgaria."

"Oh…that's…quick…are you going to go?"

She shook her head quickly. "Definantly not."

"Why not?"

"It's…I don't know – I never really liked him in the first place…I mean the only reason why I said yes was to piss off Ron."

"Huh?" Ron snapped his head to the girls at the mention of his name. Hermione shifted nervously in her seat, something that didn't go unnoticed by Ginny.

"We said that it was a good thing Fleur rejected you to the Yule Ball," Ginny said with a smile.

"Don't bring that up," Ron muttered darkly.

"Oh Ron, Ila told me about that – you never mentioned it. Are you ok?" Mrs Weasley said, joining in their conversation.

"I'm going to kill her," he grumbled before forming a separate conversation with his mother.

"Why'd you do it to piss him off?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know – it was a…spur of the moment kind of thing…"

"Still. Strange that he was the first thing in your mind when Krum asked you out," Ginny said.

"I mean not really," Hermione said. "I only thought about him when I saw him ask out a fifth-year Hufflepuff."

"Hermione," Ginny groaned. "I don't think you're hearing what I'm trying to tell you…you're thinking about him out of all people when Krum – a world famous Quidditch player might I add – asked you out…don't you think that it's a bit weird…"

It took a moment, but Ginny could see the recognition etch onto her face, realising what Ginny was implying.

"Don't worry," Ginny said, rubbing her arm, "it was going to be you or Ila so…"

"It was never going to be Ila," Hermione muttered.

Ginny perked up, sitting straighter in her chair. "Why? Does she like someone? Oh my god, I knew she liked someone…who is it?"

Hermione shook her head.

"We're all friends, Mione. She's going to tell me eventually – just to tell me now."

"She doesn't know that I know."

"Even better," Ginny said. "What she doesn't know, won't hurt her."

"Fine," Hermione cracked, "but we need to go somewhere more private."

Hermione grabbed Ginny by the arm, excusing themselves to go to the toilet and headed to the stairs.

"Is it really that bad that you can't tell me in front of everyone?" Ginny asked, her brain already racking up with loads of boys' names.

"Not everyone – just Ron."

"What have you done Ila?" Ginny muttered. "Who is it?"

The two girls reached the stairs. Unfortunately, next to the stairs were all the Slytherins.

"It's…it's…"

"Oi! Mudblood! How much are you willing to bet Potter's going to kill herself out of embarrassment for losing?" Parkinson yelled.

The two girls stopped in their tracks, slowly turning around. Parkinson stood there, proud of herself as the Slytherins were yelling out numbers.

"Piss off Parkinson," Hermione said, before pulling Ginny down.

Parkinson gasped. "She curses – how fun. Where did you get that from? Potty herself?"

"Shut up Parkinson," Draco grumbled.

"Y'know I've had it up to here with you," Parkinson said, her attention diverting away from the girls, and to Draco. "Are you in love with her or something?"

Ginny's eyes bulged out of their sockets. While she should have been thinking about a smart comeback for Parkinson or just Ila's honour in general, she couldn't help but rack through all the boys that fit Hermione's criteria. Who could be someone that would piss Ron if he ever found it he was dating Ila? A DING! went off as it landed on the boy.

Draco Malfoy.

The same boy that was shouting at Parkinson to shut up about Ila because it was annoying for him to constantly hear about her. Ginny recognised one of the boys as Blaise Zabini. He was sitting next to Draco, glaring at him while the other boys were trying to break up the fight, but this resulted in Parkinson's friends getting involved, clapping back at his friends.

All in all, it was a shit show.

But there was only one thing that Ginny was interested in.

"You've got to be kidding me," Ginny mumbled before looking at Hermione. She knew that Ginny had figured it out but just in case, nodded in confirmation. "How? I thought the two were…I guess that article makes sense now – y'know the one about those two…but I thought – I didn't think it would have actually happened."

"He isn't like he was before," Hermione mentioned. "I mean…he's changed that's for sure…"

"Never would I see the day Ila have a crush on Draco Malfoy…"

"AARRGGHHH!"

A high-pitched scream silenced the entire crowd, including the fight going on with the Slytherins. The crowd held their breath as they watched Bagman taking two steps down the stairs to try and figure out what was going on.

"Red sparks, c'mon, give us some red sparks," he kept saying, unaware that the sonorus charm was still on.

Soon after, a shot of red emerged from the tall hedges of the field. While no one in the crowd knew what was going on, there seemed to be a collective sigh of relief when they saw the flash of red. Moments after, Professor McGonagall arrived, with a dishevelled Fleur cowering next to her. Her usually sleek bun had fallen out. Her face was covered in scratches. There even seemed to be a large gash that had ripped through her jumper. McGonagall comforted the girl, walking with her to an empty bench.

"Fleur!" Madame Maxime's voice boomed before she too went down the stairs to comfort her students. A few of her friends had pushed past Hermione and Ginny and ran to their friend. Fleur was hysterical. Even though they were far up, the crowd was quiet enough to hear her crying and yelling in French about all the terrible things that were going on.

Ginny could feel Hermione's grip tighten around her arm. She cast a look at Draco, who looked even paler than he already was. He looked down at his hands, which were in fists. There were a few drops of blood dripping down, onto his seat.

"Let's go back," Ginny said. At the sound of the two girls walking back up, it seemed the trance that the crowd was in had lifted. Everyone continued talking – though it was more hushed.

"She'll be ok," Hermione said, more to herself than to Ginny as they reached their seats. Ron was still staring at the crying Fleur.

"It's rude to stare, Ron," Mrs Weasley gently reminded.

"But look at her," Ron exclaimed before turning to Hermione and Ginny. "What the fuck is in there to make her be like that?"

"I don't know," Hermione said before taking Ron's arm. "But she'll be ok."

"Ok look, look, there is a very good reason why I'm not in Ravenclaw – ok. I can't fucking figure out a stupid riddle ok. I'm in Gryffindor for fuck's sake. Do you want me to show you something brave? Because I can go that – I can show a new trick I learn with my broomstick – do you want me to show you that?"

"You must answer the riddle. That is the only way I will let you pass. If cannot answer, you must find another way. But need I remind you; you are very close to your goal."

"Oh, that's the same bullshit excuse you gave me the last two times!" Ila yelled, kicking a bush in anger. "What the fuck am I doing? I'm arguing with a fucking sphinx," she whispered to herself.

For the past half an hour, Ila Potter had battled Hagrid's Blast Ended Skrewts – creatures she thought were dead, a dementor-shaped Boggart, a bunch of vines that pulled her upside down and here was her last obstacle. A large Sphinx took up the entire path. It laid there, its paws crossed, waiting for Ila to answer the stupid riddle. Of course, she wasn't going to answer the riddle. She had no time for that. So, ever since she reached the sphinx, which felt like forever, she tried to haggle/threaten her way through.

"Listen…alright…," Ila said, walking closer to the Sphinx that looked unimpressed. She didn't always look like that. It wasn't until she realised Ila's unwillingness to answer the question did she switch up. "Do you like fish? Huh? Do you want me to get some tuna? The house elves can whip a very good tuna sandwich. And they're pretty -"

"Either answer the riddle without insulting me or go find another place," the Sphinx said, leaning forward until its head was a mere inch away from Ila. "Besides, it's not fish that I enjoy eating, but rather annoying fourteen-year-old girls that are too stupid for my riddles."

Ila scoffed, walking back.

"Wow…to think I was actually going to some tuna sandwiches for you."

Just as Ila was about to give a finger to the Sphinx, she heard something…alarming.

"What are you doing?" yelled Cedric's voice. "What the hell d'you think you're doing?"

And then Ila heard Krum's voice. "Crucio!"

The air was suddenly full of Cedric's yells.

Horrified, Ila began sprinting up his path, trying to find a way into Cedric's. When none appeared, she tried the Reductor Curse again. It wasn't very effective, but it burned a small hole in the hedge through which Ila forced her leg, kicking at the thick brambles and branches until they broke and made an opening; she struggled through it, tearing her robes, and looking to her right, saw Cedric jerking and twitching on the ground, Krum standing over him.

Ila pulled himself up and pointed her wand at Krum just as Krum looked up. Krum turned and began to run.

"Stupefy!" Ila yelled. The spell hit Krum in the back; he stopped dead in his tracks, fell forward, and lay motionless, face down in the grass.

Ila dashed over to Cedric, who had stopped twitching and was lying there panting, his hands over his face.

"Are you all, right?" Ila said roughly, landing on her knees.

"It feels like I've been stabbed a million times," Cedric said, breathlessly. He removed his hands from his face. "I can't believe this…he just…he just crept up behind me. I mean I heard him and turned around, but I wasn't expecting his wand…"

"Do you need some help?" Ila asked, feeling a bit stupid about trying to comfort him. She held out her hand and Cedric grabbed it. He was still shaking as he got up, his legs nearly giving in. Ila grabbed onto him, holding onto him until he could stand up again.

"Did you hear Fleur?"

"Who knows what she went through," Cedric said darkly, looking back at Krum, who hadn't moved.

"What the fuck was into him?" Ila said. "I mean, I know his team's pretty tough during Quidditch, but I didn't think…."

"It was weird," Cedric said, staring at him, "his eyes – they looked different. They were…glazed over – I don't know how to explain it…Do you think he got Fleur as well?"

"I'm pretty sure I saw sparks at the same time as her scream. She's probably back by now."

"Maybe I should just go back as well," Cedric said, turning to Ila. "I think all my adrenaline's gone by now."

"Same here," Ila said, "though mine's drained out from a talking Sphinx…I should get back."

"Alright," Cedric said.

"Should we leave him here?" she asked.

"We could…or we could be nice people and send someone to get him," Cedric said, hesistation before holding up his wand. Red sparks burst through his wand, flying into the sky. When he brought his wand hand down when Ila noticed something.

"Oh, you have a spider – hang on," Ila said, who unlike her best friend couldn't give a flying fuck about the insect and grabbed his hand. There was a small web that had attached to his wrist. Ila pulled it, taking the spider with it before throwing it into the bushes.

"Is it bad for me to say that was one of the scarier moments in the maze?" he said sheepishly.

"Nah, Ron's worse with them. He once said that he'd rather stay in a room with 1000 locusts than 100 spiders because they'll crawl over your…face…spiders…spi…ders…spi…ers.."

"You ok Ila?"

Without another word, Ila took off sprinting, leaping over Krum's unconscious body. Cedric could hear Ila's echoing words, "I'M A FUCKING GENIUS."

"Figured it out?" the Sphinx said, yawning.

Ila couldn't care less. With a big smile, she asked, "Repeat the riddle."

The Sphinx narrowed its eyes but obliged, remembering what Dumbledore told her.

"First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies?

Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of the end?

And finally, give me the sound often heard During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together, and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling -"

"Spider. It's a fucking spider, isn't it? I know I'm right. I swear to Merlin right now, if it isn't a spider, I will mur - "

"Congratulations," the Sphinx said deadpanned as she got up, stretched her front legs, and then moved aside for her to pass. "I'm sure if you were actually in Ravenclaw you would've gotten in minutes."

"I NEVER HAVE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" Ila yelled, skipping past her as she held up her middle finger to the cat. Once she couldn't see the Sphinx, Ila broke into a run. She had a choice of left and right again.

"Point Me!" she whispered again to her wand, and it spun around and pointed her to the right-hand one. She dashed up this one and saw light ahead. The Triwizard Cup was gleaming on a plinth a hundred yards away.

Suddenly a dark figure hurtled out onto the path in front of her. Cedric was going to get there first. Cedric was sprinting as fast as he could toward the cup, and Ila knew she would never catch up, Cedric was much taller, and had much longer legs - Then Ila saw something immense over a hedge to her left, moving quickly along a path that intersected with her own; it was moving so fast Cedric was about to run into it, and Cedric, his eyes on the cup, had not seen it –

"Cedric!" Ila bellowed. "On your left!" Cedric looked around just in time to hurl himself past the thing and avoid colliding with it, but in his haste, he tripped. Ila saw Cedric's wand fly out of his hand as a gigantic spider stepped into the path and began to bear down upon Cedric.

"Stupefy!" Ila yelled; the spell hit the spider's gigantic, hairy black body, but for all the good it did, she might as well have thrown a stone at it.

"For fuck - Stupefy! Impedimenta! Stupefy!"

But it was no use - the spider was either so large or so magical, that the spells were doing no more than aggravating it. Ila had one horrifying glimpse of eight shining black eyes and razor-sharp pincers before it was upon Cedric. He was lifted into the air in its front legs; struggling madly, he tried to kick it; Ila could see his leg connect with the pincers and next he yelled out in excruciating pain.

Ila raised her wand once more yelling "Expelliarmus!"

It surprisingly worked. The spider opened its pincers, releasing Cedric – making him drop twelve feet to the floor. Ila cringed at the sight before yelling "STUPEFY!" at the same as Cedric.

With the power of both spells, the spider swayed from side to side before collapsing, flattening a nearby hedge.

"Cedric!" Ila yelled before running towards him. He was lying down, gasping for air. Ila looked down at her leg. It was bleeding freely. She could see some sort of thick, gluey secretion from the spider's pincers on his torn robes.

"Take it, then," Cedric panted to Ila as she helped him to a seated position. "Go on, take it. You're there."

"This wasn't how it's supposed to be Cedric," Ila said quickly. "Your leg's not too bad, you can walk on it. C'mon."

"Ila I can't!"

"It's only a few steps," Ila exclaimed.

"I'm telling you I can't do it," Cedric said. "I already got hit by Crucio…I can't…"

"Cedric I'm telling you, just lean on me, you'll be - "

"What don't you get Ila?" Cedric said. "Take the Cup. Be the Champion."

"But – fuck I didn't even want to do this shit in the first place – I didn't even put my name in the cup in the first place."

"And how do you think that person will react when they see you coming out of the other side, holding the cup, Ila."

"Is it really that bad? At least try to lean on me," Ila said, crouching down. Cedric obliged, looping one arm around her shoulder. She slowly stood up. Cedric's leg was oozing out some black goo that Ila wasn't in the mood for figuring out what it was. Ila took a step and Cedric hobbled onto his left. They weren't that far. They entered the space that encased the Cup. There was a small gap in the hedge for them to enter.

"We'll do it together," Ila whispered, trying to encourage Cedric when she could feel his grip slipping, or when he was slowing down.

"Ila I can't – it hurts too much, put me down." Ila crouched down and Cedric untangled herself before throwing up from the pain. Ila patted his back as he threw up his lunch and breakfast. He leant against the hedge.

"If you want, you can crawl your way," Ila said, taking a seat next to him. "I can even give you a head start."

Cedric chuckled. "I can't Ila…I just want to go back…"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah…"

"I think someone Imperio'd Krum," Cedric said.

"What?"

"Someone Imperio'd Krum to Crucio me," he repeated. "But I don't know who."

"Do you think he'll get sent to Azkaban for it?"

"Not if they realised, he's been Imperio'd," Cedric said. "My dad told me that's how most of You Know Who's followers managed to get out…probably the most pissed off I'd seen him…well, second to meeting you."

"Oi! I'm not that bad."

"Nah, it's really not you…it's him…he's just…he can never understand no matter how many times I tell him. Oh, maybe you should just leave me here, so I don't have to deal with him."

"He'll be better if he saw you holding the cup."

"Not going to happen," Cedric said, wiping away a tear. "Fuck it!" A shot of red sparks shot through the sky for the second time. "Go on."

"I'll feel bad if you're watching me."

"I'm pretty sure I gave up half an hour ago – ow!"

"What? Is it your leg?"

"No, it's – it's my bum!" Cedric lifted himself a bit, patting his back pocket before taking out a coin.

"What's that?"

"My ticket home," he said before showing Ila. On the coin were the words, "circle the coin three times to get you back. H will be waiting."

"Thank you," Ila said.

"For what?"

She shrugged. "Everything…letting me win, believing in me, making those badges."

"Oh what? These badges?" Cedric said, throwing one of the badges to her.

"You still have them," she said, tapping the badge with her wand.

"They'll cost a fortune in the future – the Triwizard winner memorabilia. I'm planning to sell it for 1000 galleons."

"I hope I get some too."

"Nah…see you on the other side," he said, circling the coin with his finger. By the third, he had disappeared. Ila was left alone.

She stared at the cup. It was the only thing that was lighting up the maze. Everything that happened to her, was all because of this. She wondered if she should touch or just stay here. At least she wouldn't have to deal with all the Voldemort bullshit anymore.

I didn't do all of this for nothing.

Ila grasped a handle. Instantly, she felt a jerk somewhere behind his navel. Her feet had left the ground. She couldn't unclench the hand holding the Triwizard Cup; it was pulling her onward in a howl of wind and swirling colour.