a/n: this chapter is based on both the book and the movie so parts are from the book and others from the movie. For I wanted Krum to say something because until now he has been the silent character, even more than Tim and Chuck.

Closer than Before

Cedric woke up that morning of the twenty second like it was any other day. His mind had been cleared all expect the kiss with Cho. He did not want to remember that in a few hours dragons awaited him. The thought ripped him up inside. He got dressed in the clothes his parents sent to him, a long yellow and black robe with DIGGORY in red letters on the back. Breakfast was short because for him time was moving faster by the second. All around him people were wish him luck telling him that he was going to do great things today. In his head though he knew what awaited him and it felt like death.

The walk to the arena was a long one. Cedric was surrounded by his friends yet he felt alone. There was behind him ninety percent of the school all waiting to see who would be crowned the Triwizard Champion. Professor Sprout escorted him into a small tent that Fleur and Krum were already inside.

The tent was quite for the Campions were prepared for the dragons that awaited each of them. Cedric was green as a pear walking the length of the tent back and forth. Time now was moving slower and the task felt light-years away. He sat down for a minuet collecting his thoughts and praying that he would make it through, make it through to see Cho. Siting down and wondering if he would make it through did not help his nerves. In moments he was up again pacing around the room. Harry came inside looking even greener then Cedric at the moment. Cedric just kept moving for if he did at least his mind was away from the task.

Hermione walked into the tent and went to consol Harry. Cedric noticed but did not care about Harry and his problems for more awaited the four of them sooner than they thought. Hermione gave Harry a hug and there was a flash from the opposite side of the tent from where Cedric was.

"Oh, how . . . stirring, young love. Amazing. If all goes well today you two may just be on the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow. Have fun today." Rita Skeeter said as she entered into the tent with her photographer.

"You haff not right to enter this tent, it is for friends and Champions only."

"Well, well, I'll remember that." As another flash went out in Krum's direction. Baghman, Dumbeldore, and Crouch entered the tent as Rita Skeeter left.

"Today is the beginning of the Tournament, the first task. When the audience has been seated, I'll offer you each this bag in which you will pull out a life size model of the dragon you are about to face! They are each different so no person will face the same dragon. Your task this time is to face the dragon but you must collect the golden egg without damaging it." Lodo Baghman said a he held a red satin bag in his hands. Cedric nodded once to show that he understood and then stared pacing back and forth greener than before. The task was closing in on him and he was afraid that the spell wound not work. Moments later Baghman was opening the bag and offered it to Fleur.

"Ladies first." Her hand trembling she placed it inside the bag and drew out a life size model of a dragon with the number two around the neck. "Welsh Green." Krum was next. He pulled out a red Chinese Fireball with the number three around it's next.

"Cedric." Baghman said as he offered the bag to Cedric. His hand was still but sweating very much. He kept it inside the bag for few second before pulling out a bluish-grey, Swedish-Short Snout, with a number one around the dragon's neck. Harry pulled out a Hungarian Horntail with a four around its neck.

Baghman then said, "There you have it. Each of you now has the dragon you will face and the order you will go in according to the number around the dragon's neck. Mr. Diggory just go out into this enclosure at the sound of the whistle and there you will face your dragon. Now Mr. Potter may I have a word?" Both he and Harry left the tent with Cedric still pacing round the tent concentrating on what laid ahead of him. At the sound of the whistle Cedric did as he was told and walked out onto the arena through the enclosure green than he had ever been.