I apologize how late this chapter is, school takes up a lot of my time. So does Pottermore ;)
More reviews = faster updates. This will be the last time I'll say it :p
Christmas was uneventful; Harry had gone to the Weasley's and Celosia sent him a few sets of new winter robes, and yet another picture of Lily when she was younger. Celosia was forced to stay in the castle, thankful that Dumbledore had allowed her to keep the mistletoe up. Severus often patrolled around there during the holiday, pointing his wand at students that were too heavily involved with each other and separating them. Celosia didn't go down there often when students were around. She knew Severus would always be there too.
Their kiss from the Yule Ball had turned out to be more than just a peck. It was something they both had wanted dearly but didn't want the other to figure out. Although they didn't get as far as groping like the other students had, they had spent three extra minutes outside before Severus came to his senses and left immediately. Celosia hadn't been offended at all and smiled all the way back to her private chambers.
After the Christmas feast, Severus left early to patrol around, although he seriously doubted any students would be there. His assumption was correct and he walked around the courtyard a few times, no sign of any students and none coming from dinner to the area.
About to go patrol somewhere else, an arm grabbed his, the jerking motion making him spin around until he was facing the other direction. Lips went up to his and he could smell the mistletoe growing above them. His first reaction was to pull away but after feeling the softness pressed against his mouth, he knew exactly who it was.
It was over too soon and Celosia looked up at Severus with a smile, her eyes shining in the moonlight. "Merry Christmas, love." She grinned and before anything else could be said, she skipped off. Severus watched as her form disappeared, a smirk plastered on his face.
New Year's Eve was pretty much the same, the mistletoe gone and the staff preparing to emit brightly coloured sparks in the sky once the clock chimed at midnight. Students were either in their common rooms, outside on the grounds or looking at the sky from the Astronomy Tower. The staff in turn were all around the castle grounds, goblets of Firewhiskey or wine in their grasps as their wands were at the ready.
Celosia sipped at her own cup of red wine, smiling at Severus, who was staring up at the starry night with a bored look on his face. He had downed his Firewhiskey in one go, the burn in his throat persisting as the goblet magically refilled itself.
Chanting came from all around and the two set their wands high in the air. "Three…two…one!"
Emitting purple sparks from her wand, Celosia smiled, the contrast of green, red, yellow, orange, blue, purple and pink from all around the castle reflecting in her eyes. Without thinking she set her wand down, striding over to Severus and pressing her lips against his for their New Year's kiss.
That was the last kiss they shared for the holidays and once students had come back from vacation, they never talked about it. The two would share the occasional eye contact and a smirk here and there but otherwise they never talked about the three kisses they had shared. Soon the second task of the tournament passed without anything interesting happening, Harry receiving first place for getting Miss Delacour's sister as well as Ron.
Before she knew it, Celosia was stationed on the outside of the giant magical maze, wand at hand and her attention to the sky. The third task had started and she was deathly afraid for Harry. This was the one task that most students died from. Anything could be hidden in the maze.
Moving around her station, Celosia thought fondly about Severus, a smile gracing her lips as they started to tingle. They hadn't spoken about it and remained professional, for reasons quite unknown. Severus also obviously prided himself too much as well. The fact he was a double agent was probably what was making him avoid involving her into anything.
Red sparks from the sky around her area made her look up and she quickly dove into the maze, keeping her wand ready as she found Fleur Delacour lying on the ground. Taking the girl Celosia quickly exited the maze, leaving her post to go back to the stands.
"Oh no, Fleur!" Maxime exclaimed as Celosia approached with the weak girl at her side, Fleur's arm tightly around her shoulders. Maxime took her and set her in a chair, her classmates quickly fanning her and giving her water, asking what happened and making a fuss in French.
"It seems that Miss Delacour is out of the third task." Dumbledore announced and Celosia sighed, seeing Severus sitting alone on the stands. She quickly walked over, sliding beside him.
"You got out of your job early." He muttered, taking a side glance at her.
"I doubt any of the other three will need to get out, Kingsley and the others can handle it from here." She smiled, leaning back into the cool wood. The stars were shining brightly and everyone in the stands were chatting, Severus staring at the ground as if he expected something to happen.
"Do you believe Potter will win?" He suddenly asked and Celosia blinked.
"It's possible he will and I am rooting for him." She nodded. "Luck has been on Harry's side for a while."
Severus scoffed. "If luck is what you would call it."
"I suppose you think Diggory will win then?" Celosia smirked, sitting straight to look at him.
"Krum is a much worthy candidate."
"And Harry isn't?"
Severus smirked. "Just in the beginning of the year you were refusing that Potter compete."
Celosia pursed her lips, pouting as she leaned back again, her shoulder brushing against his. "Well maybe I've changed my mind. If Harry had to compete, I'd want him to win."
"You're not proving Crouch wrong if Potter wins." Severus chuckled and Celosia smirked a little. That was the closest that she ever heard of him laughing of any sort.
"Well I can be very emotional about my nephew." She said finally and Severus rolled his eyes. "I know that you too would rather someone from Hogwarts win than Durmstrang."
"They already have all the glory they need." He explained. "Krum is on a Quidditch team that played during the World Cup; their entire school is full of pride."
"And having the Chosen One at Hogwarts isn't?" She raised a brow.
"Nothing is proud about a boy who lost his parents at a young age when he himself cannot remember them." He sneered and Celosia sighed, knowing he was thinking about Lily. She didn't blame him, she missed her too. Lily was nothing but nice to Severus, more than Celosia ever was.
Celosia's attention turned when they saw Kingsley levitating an unconscious Krum towards Karkaroff. Celosia smirked and looked over at Severus, who had also been snapped out of his thoughts. "So who will it be now, Harry or Diggory?"
Severus rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat, Celosia letting out a soft chuckle before leaning back with him, their sides touching each other tightly. There was space on the entire row they were in, the next wizard about three or four seats from the two. Celosia found this a great advantage and looked at Severus, his hand placed on his left leg as his right gripped his right knee slightly.
After much thought Celosia slipped her hand into Severus' left one, looking away casually as Severus stared down at their hands in surprise. She gripped it softly and he sighed inwardly, knowing that no student would be able to see their fingers from where they were.
About twenty minutes later Celosia started to get worry, gripping onto Severus' hand hard whenever she thought of a horrible possibility. But no, he was with Cedric, that was for sure and no sparks had been emitted from their wands. If they were dead – Merlin forbid – then they all would have known long ago.
As if on cue the Triwizard Cup came flying into the area, Harry and Cedric appearing along with it. Everyone stood in surprise and Celosia did as well, her hand leaving Severus as he stood with her. Clasping her hands together Celosia was about to clap before she saw the look on Harry's face. He was bent over Cedric's unmoving body, making Celosia run towards him.
Severus noted this and so did Dumbledore, Fleur letting out a high pitched scream that silenced everyone.
"Harry," Celosia kneeled beside her nephew, her arm around his shoulder as another one went to his arm. "Harry, what happened?"
"He's back!" Harry gasped out through sobs, looking up at Dumbledore, who was standing beside Celosia with Severus at his side. "You-Know-Who, he's back! He killed Cedric!"
"Oh Merlin." Celosia muttered and helped Harry up, giving him a tight hug as the boy sobbed into her cloak. She pet his hair gently, whispering to him that it would be alright while Amos Diggory came running from the stands, screaming at the sight of his son.
Dumbledore went to comforting the man and Celosia let Harry go, Kingsley asking her for assistance on taking care of Cedric's body. Celosia nodded and after giving Harry one last hug she flicked her wand, a stretcher and a thin white sheet appearing. As Kingsley levitated Cedric's body onto the stretcher Amos cried out, Dumbledore keeping his hand on the man's shoulder in comfort as Celosia looked down at the body. Cedric's blue eyes stared back at her and she placed her hand over his eyelids, slipping them downwards before levitating the white sheet on top of him.
After the entire stadium had absorbed what had happened and were sent back to their dorms, Celosia noticed Harry was gone. "Where is he?" She exclaimed, whipping around frantically.
"Mad-Eye's not here either." Severus sneered and Dumbledore looked at Celosia with a worried look. It took that look alone for the three of them along with McGonagall to run into Moody's office.
Celosia's eyes widened as she saw Moody pointing his wand at Harry through the small crack in the door and she growled, whipping her wand out and pointing it at the door. "Reducto!" The door along with Moody crashed into the next wall and Celosia barged in, immediately taking Harry into her arms.
All of them watched as Moody's face began to disintegrate and soon the face of Barty Crouch Jr was revealed. "Well, well, well." Crouch smirked and Severus sniffed his flask.
"Polyjuice potion." He confirmed and they all had their wands out, Celosia keeping Harry back.
The blue trunk in the corner started shaking violently and Crouch stared at it, Celosia moving Harry away from it as Dumbledore flicked his wand. The trunk slowly opened and they all peaked inside, the real Alastor Moody staring up at them weakly.
"We'll get you out of there soon, Alastor!" Dumbledore assured and turned back to Crouch. He eyed Harry and Celosia tightened her grip on him.
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours." Crouch grinned and lifted up his arm to reveal the Dark Mark.
"Your arm, Harry." Dumbledore requested and grabbed him, Celosia watching helplessly. If Voldemort had branded her nephew with the Dark Mark she would definitely have a new reason to want to kill him.
To her relief, Dumbledore rolled up Harry's right sleeve, and sudden anger surged through her at the deep cuts that criss crossed on his forearm. Severus saw her stiffen and his left hand brushed against her back lightly, making her calm down slightly.
"Severus, take care of Mr. Crouch." Dumbledore directly. "Celosia, make sure your nephew is cleaned up and tucked into bed."
With that he fled the room, McGonagall hot on his heels. Harry immediately went to Celosia, who pulled an arm around his shoulders, Severus pointing his wand threateningly at Crouch, who only smirked. Celosia took one last look at him before walking out of the area.
Once they got outside Celosia pulled Harry into a bone crushing hug. "I'm so glad you're alright." She whispered, feeling a tear roll down her cheek. She held him, no words being exchanged between them as Harry wrapped his arms limply around her middle, feeling thankful that there was someone out there who cared deeply for him.