The Houses Competition

Ravenclaw

Charms

Drabble

[Action] Drowning

993 Words

AN Possible AU? Off-screen interaction between Cedric and Fleur before Second Task; warning for descriptions of drowning

Fleur Delacour shivered as her gaze rested on the waters of Black Lake, recalling memories from long ago.

"Bit of a strange choice having a water challenge in winter, am I right? We'll be lucky if we don't all get sick from this stunt… Hey Fleur, you okay?"

Fleur flinched. When had Hogwarts' champion, Cedric Diggory, joined her? The consequences of such a blatant lack of attention… Once again, she couldn't suppress shaking at the very thought.

Diggory shrugged off his coat and put it over her shoulders. Fleur fought for the safety of indifference and responded haughtily, "I'm not cold, and besides that, I am quite certain your peers would not take kindly to your consorting with an enemy, Mr Diggory. How do you even know I've figured out the clue?"

She made to hand back the coat, but Diggory just shrugged. "What's victory if it comes at the cost of my opponents' lives? At the end of the day, it's just a game, 'eternal glory' or no," he replied with finger quotes. "Besides, it's not very sporting if only some of us figure out the clue."

Fleur huffed. "I'll have you know that I am quite familiar with the shriek of selkies." Memories of the first time she'd heard their call came to mind, and even the Hogwarts student's thick coat couldn't hide her shudders.

Cedric continued, "When I was a boy, my aunt had a demented canary that loved to divebomb me. You wouldn't know it to see me now, but it wasn't until second year that I could watch a Quidditch game. The only reason I joined the team was to get over my phobia of the snitch. Silly, right?"

Grey eyes looked into her own deep blue, and Fleur felt like he'd peered into her soul. Hoarsely, she whispered, "It sounds difficult, getting to that point. Surely, it is not as simple as that."

"You're right. They're all sworn to secrecy now, but my mates in Hufflepuff really came through for me, letting me talk it out. I–I'd be willing to listen if there's anything you need to discuss."

It felt wrong to talk to a stranger like this, but the waves haunted her. Maybe it could be worth the ridicule?

"Mon père is an ambassador to non-human peoples in France. It is how my parents met, and it is how I came to be in la Côte Magique, France's premiere beach for magical beings. Father had a meeting with the selkie leader, and I had begged to go along against Mother's wishes." Fleur paused as images flickered in her mind's eye.

Maman yelling, her Veela side coming out in her anger.

Papa, trying to assure her all would be well.

Herself, begging for her own destruction.

"Veela hold a strong connection to the elements of fire and air. We are not meant for water. Father should have listened. As the meeting commenced, I entertained myself by making fireballs–"

The warm glow in her palm made Fleur smile, and when she'd looked up, a little merchild was watching her. An audience! Quickly making another ball, she started juggling them with her magic. The child did the same with balls of water. It was beautiful, and soon the two were locked in a competition to do the most elaborate trick.

Fleur's normally melodic voice taking on an unnaturally monotone cadence, she continued her tale. "Selkies are protective of their young. I cannot blame the guards for their actions. That's what it really was, despite the consequences." A hand gripped hers as Fleur was overtaken by the memories. "My attention slipped. The fire got too close!"

Burning flesh meets Fleur's nose as she reels back in horror. Before she can cry out for Papa's help, a wet hand has grabbed her ankle and pulled.

Water surrounds her; the pretty blue feels dangerous from underneath the waves. She wants to go back to the dock, but the pressure around her grows, and her lungs burn. She can't breathe! Everything is heavy. It's darkening… Why can't she see?

"–leur! Fleur Delacour!"

Limbs weighed down, Fleur tried to place the voice calling her name, but the darkness wouldn't let her go. As light began to filter into her awareness, Fleur realized her eyes had been closed. The water before her was similar to the one of her memories, but there were differences too. It wasn't as blue, and the sand looked duller. Fleur took stock of herself like she'd been taught to do after flashbacks, and she noticed an unfamiliar coat.

"Merlin, are you okay? Idiot! Stupid question. New one, how can I help?" Diggory's voice filtered in.

"What, of your belongings, will be taken, Cedric Diggory?" Fleur tried to focus on the present and calming her companion. "Every time I think of the riddle or gaze at your lake, my mind shies away. There's nothing I prize more than the air I breathe, and it's horrifying that I may be faced with willingly going under again for some bauble. Alas, the competition will accept nothing less from me. I wonder if this will cure me of my fear of drowning like exposure to Quidditch did you?"

No answer.

For the first time since her flashback, Fleur looked at the man next to her to find him shaking.

"They… They're making a Veela who almost drowned face a water-based task? That's sadistic! Don't worry. I'll help. Would the Bubblehead charm help or be worse after what happened? That's what I'm planning on using. If it won't hurt things, you could try it too. We'll probably be docked for unoriginality but screw it. This whole task is stacked against you. What do you think?"

Fleur stared, stunned at his willingness to help.

"All I've been able to come up with was Gillyweed, and its time limit has not made it a pleasing thought. If you truly don't mind… Merci, Cedric Diggory."

"Call me Cedric."