It was time for the final task of the triwizard tournament. Krum beckoned Hermione over to him, and she stepped out from the crowd blushing, aware of all eyes on her. Vicktor's smiled widely at her.
"My good luck charm!" he greeted her, and pulled her into a hug. It was a bit too tight, and when Hermione pulled back she noticed fear behind his eyes, "I hope I'm not overstepping in requesting a kiss for luck?" Vicktor asked. Hermione flushed deeper, and tried not to think of all the Durmstrang girls that were watching and no doubt glaring. She reached on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, but Vicktor still looked happy, and miraculously the fear had faded a bit. Hermione excused herself, and made her way over to Harry, stopping to wish Cedric luck along the way. Cedric hardly noticed he was so enraptured by Cho.
"Be careful," Hermione pressed Harry, though she knew she was wasting her breath. Harry nodded, but it was an empty gesture. Hermione clenched her fists angrily, but said nothing. It wouldn't help any to yell at him now. Ron gave Harry a nod and a grunt, and Hermione rolled her eyes. It was hard to stay mad at him when their best friend was about to enter a death maze.
Hermione sat back in the stands, near the front. It wasn't hard to get a seat close to the maze because there wasn't exactly much to see. Some students on the top benches claimed they could see the lights from spells shoot up above the hedges occasionally.
A low voice came from just behind Hermione's left ear, "ten galleons says Krum takes himself out before any of his competitors can."
Hermione didn't have to turn around to recognize the voice, "that's an awful thing to say Malfoy, you don't have to wish ill on him in order to support Hogwarts."
"Ha! I'd be on the edge of my seat to see that big dumb oaf fail even if he were a Slytherin."
"What do you have against Vicktor?" Hermione asked in spite of herself.
"He's almost as dumb as the Weasel!"
"You've never even spoken to him. He's actually very bright," Hermione said matter-of-factly, and then added, "and so is Ron," but this part sounded less convincing.
Draco scoffed, "I'm sure."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue further, but stopped herself. Draco waited for her retort, and when it didn't come he nudged her, "what, no smart remarks? Lost your edge have you?" he prompted. Hermione stayed silent. Draco dropped down into the bench beside her, and leaned front of Hermione, so she had to turn her head away to avoid his gaze. "The silent treatment? What are we, five?"
Hermione pushed Draco's face away, but he took her hand and moved it aside. Malfoy moved in front of her face again, and Hermione sighed, "I'm done arguing with you Malfoy, it does no use. You're a lost cause."
Draco's face darkened, and he released Hermione's hand. His shadow disappeared from her peripheral vision.
Harry emerged from the maze, and before Hermione had the chance to be relieved, she saw Cedric's limp body. Cedric had been so animated, so lively, that the expression he wore now couldn't possibly be one he could make had his soul still been inside of him. The rest of the crowd didn't see what she saw, and they cheered and rushed at Harry to congratulate him. Hermione sat still in the stands. Ron tried to pull her with him, but gave up when she resisted, stiffly.
Amos, Cedric's father, weeped over his son's body. Cho sat alone in the stands, the only Hogwarts student who remained there, other than Hermione. Cho sobbed quietly, and slipped away unnoticed. Hermione felt a few tears trail down her face. She sniffed, wiped them away, and followed Cho out.
She found Cho crying in the grass in a secluded area outside the castle wall. Hermione held the girl as she cried, and remained stone-faced and stiff, but she willed her arms to be comforting and soft.
Draco stood up to try and get a closer look at Potter and Diggory. Who had the cup? Who had won?
Amos' wails filled the air, answering Draco's silent question.
He searched the crowd, curious as to how Cho would react. Mourners tended to be unpredictable, and he was morbidly curious. He watched the girl slip away, and Granger follow her. After a moment, he got up and went after the witches.
Draco saw Hermione hold Cho in her arms in the most uncomfortable embrace he had ever seen. Still, Granger was the only one around who even tried to comfort the girl. Malfoy was well aware that quiet mourners hardly got the help they needed, even if they were the ones who needed it most. Draco turned, and made his way back to the maze. The students were being ushered out, and all who was left were Amos clutching his son's body, Dumbledore standing beside him, and McGonagall casting a spell to get rid of the hedge maze. Fleur and Vicktor were left looking around them in bewilderment as the vicious plants evaporated before them and they found themselves in an empty field. Malfoy might have laughed at the absurdity, under different circumstances. Instead, he returned to the Slytherin common room, and tried to tune out his classmates gossiping.