Hello again readers! My apologies in the longer wait this time. I've been very busy costuming a show, and my life has been far too crazy to make any progress on this story. However, things have settled down now, so expect more regular updates on Cassi's story!
My deep thanks to those of you who have taken the time to review! I really appreciate it!
Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter characters or plots. J.K. Rowlings does.
Chapter Eight
Thunderous footsteps along the corridor outside her room woke Cassi the next morning. The next moment Hannah burst into the room and nearly catapulted onto the bed, sending the curtains flying.
"Dragons!" she shouted. "It's dragons!"
"Dragons!" Cassi had her wand in an instant. "Are they attacking Hogwarts?"
"No silly! The first challenge!"
"I thought no one was supposed to know until it began?"
Hannah rolled her eyes. "Get up sleepyhead, and go out to the grounds. You'll hear them right away."
That was all Cassi needed to pull her robes quickly over her head and rush out to the sunlit morning. Dragons. Real dragons. Of course, Hagrid had taught them that such creatures existed, but like everything else in the magical world, you couldn't quite believe until you saw for yourself.
Or in this case, heard. Hannah was right. The faint episodic rumbles echoing across the ground from the arena could really be nothing but a dragon's roars. Or- multiple dragons. The more knowledgeable students were muttering amongst themselves.
"Hungarian Horntail," said George Weasley confidently. "My brother Charlie works with them in Romania." He imitated the deepthroated growl of the horntail.
Fred nodded. "There's a Swedish Shortsnout too." He let out a higher pitched screech.
Ron was standing next to them, anxious to try his hand at it as well. "And- it's an African Hornet, isn't it?"
"Idiot!" George smacked him on the head. "That's a Welsh Green! Hornets buzz- like bees!"
But from the way he and Fred laughed, Cassi wasn't sure that they were telling the truth. Ron apparently didn't either. He rubbed his head and walked off with a scowl on his face.
"Dragons!" Hannah was still shaking her head. "And this is supposed to be the first task?"
Right, thought Cassi. No wonder Cedric had looked so worried. Someone must have tipped him off. "How does one defeat a dragon?"
Her friend shrugged. "No idea. We could ask Charlie Weasley, I suppose, if we could find him."
"As if he'd tell. He'd probably think we were trying to get clues for Cedric."
Hannah shot her a disgusted look. "Don't be daft. No one in Hufflepuff would do that."
Cassi wasn't so sure. Most people thought Harry had cheated to get his name in the cup. Which meant that a lot of students felt that some rights had been forfeited when it came to playing fair. And, from all reports, the Durmstrang headmaster wasn't intending to follow the rules anyhow.
Breakfast was eaten in a hurry. Even with all of the theories being tossed around about which methods each contestant would use. But Cassi didn't pay much attention to these. She ate the smallest possible substance and sped out of the hall to the Triwizard arena.
The Beaubaxton students were already there, along with half of Durmstrang. Some Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs had already claimed good seats, but there were still no Ravenclaws or Slytherins. It was still an hour until the trial would begin.
Fred and George were already down, of course, trying to get takers on their bets. After a moment of hesitation, Cassi waved them over.
"All right Young," said George. "Who are you betting gets the highest- Cedric?"
She shook her head. "I have a different kind of bet. I'm going to bet that Harry gets the Horntail."
George looked at her silently for a minute. It was the first time she had seen a look of any seriousness on his face. "What makes you say that?"
"Well, someone obviously has it in for Harry."
"That's not new. He's been target number one since he was a year old."
"Come on George, you know this year is different."
He shook his head. "I'm not taking that bet. Now if you want to bet that Harry will lose an arm or something…"
"You have a weird sense of humor, George."
He shrugged, smiled mischievously at her, and moved on.
Cassi slipped her knuts back into her pocket. So someone did agree with her. There was more to Harry Potter getting into the Triwizard Tournament than mere competition.
On the other side of the stadium, the teachers were filing into their seats. Dumbledore was the only one missing. Well, obviously he was down with Harry and Cedric. All the contestants had been hidden away since before breakfast. Probably a good thing, since Cassi had no doubt that they had all turned a pale shade of green by now. It was rather difficult to cheer on a nauseous champion.
Hannah appeared, then Ginny. As usually, Cassi had positioned herself between the Hufflepuffs and the Gryffindors. Though Cedric and Hannah had drawn her into Hufflepuff House, she had never been able to resist the fun and liveliness of her Gryffindor friends. Plus, there was the fact that Hannah was sweet on Neville.
Neville himself didn't look too good. Though he loved plants, he didn't do so well with dangerous magical creatures. Even now he was muttering something about "will they be chained up?"
And then- it began.
When asked about it later, Cassi was never able to recall how Krum and Fleur had defeated their dragons. Goodness, she barely even remembered what Cedric had done, although she knew that he had done something. Because from the moment when the challenge started, all of her thoughts had become a sort of prayer for Cedric's safety. Those dragons were fierce. How they ever expected mere students to defeat them, Cassi couldn't possibly tell.
But they all passed with flying colors- though somewhat singed for their efforts. Cedric had a rather nasty burn on his cheek, though Cassi couldn't remember when he had gotten it. The moment he finished, he found herself rising and squeezing past they other students. He needed medical attention. Somehow the idea that Madam Pomfrey was more than capable of caring for him didn't quite penetrate her mind.
"Where are the champions?" she asked one of the prefects at the entrance.
"Harry Potter is still in the arena. The others are down the hall-"
She didn't wait for him to complete his sentance. It seemed odd to her that the entire house of Hufflepuff was still sitting in their seats when their champion had already finished. Cedric was done. Cedric had defeated the dragon. Cedric-
Cassi stopped dead in her tracks.
She wasn't the only girl who would be worried about Cedric. Cho Chang- his almost girlfriend- surely she would have already reached the medical tent?
"Oh blast!" muttered Cassi. She had forgotten Cho. It would hardly be appropriate for her to go barging into the tent if Cho was already there. But neither could she stay away.
So, subdued, she walked quietly down a short flight of stairs to the small green medical tent. One flap was drawn open- a good sign. If any of the contestants had been badly wounded it would have been closed.
Cautiously she poked her head in. Fleur was there, her hands being salved by her headmistress. Her long pale hair had been released from its ponytail and flowed over her back without a hint of blackness. Either it had escaped the fight unscathed- or it had already been tended to.
Fleur glanced up and noticed the intruder. "Well? What ezz et?"
"Is- is Cedric here?"
Looking annoyed, Fleur motioned towards the second curtain. "He ezz on ze other side."
"Is he- is he very badly hurt?"
"He ezz not making noise."
"Yes but-" Cassi gave up. "Thanks. Congratulations to you."
Fleur looked slightly pacified, but Madame Maxine didn't. Cassi didn't wait any longer. If there weren't any voices, than Cho must not be here. Unless- well, even snogging made some noise.
She peeked around the second curtain and saw to her relief that Cedric was sitting up. His cheek was already bandaged, and Madam Pomfrey was trying to make him drink a rather nasty looking potion.
"For the shock!" she said. "Dumbledore said I was to give it to you all immediately. Snape made it especially for-"
"Oh hang Snape!" said Cedric. "I'm fine Madam, really. I'm just hungry."
"Well, all right," said the nurse. "I'll fetch you a tray. And I should probably send your father in as well and-" she saw Cassi. "Who might you be, dear?"
"Er- a Hufflepuff," said Cassi, feeling her cheeks grow warm. "I came to see if Cedric was all right."
Cedric's eyes brightened. "Cassi! What did you think of the dragons?"
She shuddered. "They were horrible! No wonder you-"
"No wonder I looked a bit pale yesterday?"
"Well, yes."
He chuckled. "Harry tipped me off. I thought he was joking at first- but Harry isn't the type to joke around about things like this. How did he do?"
"I don't know. I left as soon as you- well, as soon as you finished."
"Oh. Thank you. Is anyone else coming?"
"I didn't see anyone."
"Are you sure? I thought maybe Cho-"
"Probably."
"What?"
"I'm sure she'll come- soon. When Harry is done." Cassi found herself feeling more awkward by the minute. "So I should probably leave."
Cedric nodded. "You should see how Harry did. And if you see Cho-"
"I'll tell her to hurry."
He grinned. "Thanks."
She nodded with a sigh and left the tent. Why did she even hope? He was so far above her. A champion. A seventh year. A Quidditch captain.
She didn't attend the celebrations that night. Her heart was too sore. She had known from the first that it was a hopeless attraction- and yet she had been foolish enough to allow it. And now she must pay for it.
Stupid, stupid fancies.
It was Ginny who told her about the Ball. Apparently there were dancing lessons for any who were interested. Though she had little hope of getting any sort of a date, she agreed to accompany her younger friend. Hannah, surprisingly, was already a proficient dancer and preferred to spend her time trying to attract Neville's attention.
"It's sad," said Ginny. "Neville is much too shy to ask anyone."
"Couldn't we help them, at all?" Despite her own disappointments in love, Cassi wasn't so selfish as to wish the same fate on her friends.
"I don't' know. A love potion would be a bit out of our league…"
"A love potion! Are there such things?"
"Well, Fred and George say there are. They're sixth years, so they would know."
Cassi thought for a moment. She would never want to use such a thing for herself- but in this case…poor Neville did need a bit of a nudge to help him along. "How could we get one?"
Ginny looked surprised. "Get one?"
"Yes. Surely there must be someone in the castle who could brew one."
"Snape?"
"Oh yes, I'm sure Snape would be most understanding."
Ginny giggled. "Oh Professor, it's a most tragic case…they're simply dying and they don't' know it!"
"Well, one of them knows it."
"Which makes it so much worse…"
"Miss Weasley, love is a foolish and irresponsible thing. Five points from Gryffindor and I expect one scroll on the foolishness of love potions by tomorrow morning."
The two girls went off into a chorus of giggles. Ron, who was passing them in the hallway, turned and gave them a mystified look. "What on earth at you going on about, Ginny?"
"Ha! As if I'd tell you…"
He grunted. "Girls."
Cassi grabbed Ginny by the arm and pulled her out of her brother's earshot. "Seriously, Ginny. Where could we find one?"
Ginny thought for a moment. "Well…it's the sort of thing that Fred and George might be able to brew up. Especially if we tell them it's for a good prank."
"Would they believe that?"
"They just might."
I thought it was time for another subplot.
