The 30th of October arrived and it spelt the beginning of the end for the Hogwarts it couple, not that anyone (even them) knew it yet. The entire student body were currently gathered around the external entrance to the school listening to McGonagall yelled orders as they froze in the chilling dark air of the autumn evening. The harsh wind easily overwhelmed the thin school uniforms they were wearing and complaints if cold were rife and consistent.
"Achoo!" Queenie sneezed, her body shivering from her spot cuddled into Cedric, his robes wrapped around them both. Queenie's Hufflepuff scarf did nothing to deter the cold, so she had resorted to thieving Cedric's body heat.
"First years in front … no pushing" McGonagall's voice rang out. Cedric stood clutching his freezing cold girlfriend close to him as her teeth began to chatter, her skin going blue.
"Achoo!" Queenie sneezed again stepping out of Cedric's warm embrace and robes so not to sneeze on him.
"Miss Askoy if you could please reattach yourself to Mr Diggory his robes hide your 'modified' uniform" McGonagall said icily and Quennie threw her glare but obliged.
"Stupid old hag" Queennie muttered into Cedric's shoulder and he laughed.
"Little one, shush" He kissed her head and his fan girls 'awe'd' from their multiple spots in the line. Cedric found Queenie's hands, that had previously been wrapped around his back.
"Merlin, you're freezing! Here …" Cedric began and took Queenie's hands and placing them under his school shirt and flat on his muscled warm torso. In the process of doing this he inadvertently flashed his defined, muscular lower torso to everyone and squeals quickly erupted. Cedric blushed as he hid his face in Queenie's hair and cocooning them both in his robes again while McGonagall tried to calm the love struck teens.
"Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!" Dumbledore hollered and thankfully all attention was taken off the school's it couple as McGonagall was just making it worse.
"Where?" Came the shouts of many students in unison.
"There!" Nathan yelled from directly behind Queenie, into her ear, making her jump and fall deeper into Cedric's arms
"Sorry" she mumbled
"It's ok, as long as their my arms you can run into me at the speed of light. I promise I'll always catch you and make sure your safe from harm" Cedric hugged her tighter to him after his little declaration which one of his fanclub, Tessa May a 7th year Gryffindor, overheard an quickly scampered off to tell the other members of his appreciation society.
Queenie and Cedric looked up into the pitch black sky. A large object was hurtling towards them.
"IT'S A DRAGON!" A first year Ravenclaw screeched before being shot down by Dennis Creevey, Collin's little brother and fellow Gryffindor.
"Don't be stupid! … It's a flying house!" He called as a massive carriage pulled by white winged horses that themselves were taller than Elephants. The horse drawn flying carriage came dangerously close to the Hogwarts opening party. The first years began to shuffle back and Hagrid tried to use his landing pads to ensure a safe landing but ended up diving on the floor, his head narrowly missing a horse's hoof as he did.
A boy with a complexion similar to Queenie's hopped the carriage before unfolding a set of Golden steps to allow a woman to step out.
"Wow" Daniel, mouth fell open. The women was massive, like Hagrid massive. The students watched as her and Dumbledore's exchange of pleasantries as her students (that's faces were hard to determine in the shadow of their giant headmistress) filed out the carriage. The tall woman then went inside, her students following.
"What? We have to stand out here in the freezing cold while to bloody foreigners get to want up in out home!" Marie fumed and she wasn't the only one. Multiple students were begging to go back inside but McGonagall was having none of it.
"Achoo!" Queenie sneezed again, her whole body shaking.
"Your lips are pu-" Cedric began before he was interrupted by:
"THE LAKE … Look at the lake!" Lee Jordan yelled, pointing and everyone did. Rising out of the black lake was a mast and that mast soon rose and then were sails and then a deck and then suddenly a whole ship emerged from under the murky depths. The ship docked and a group of bulky young men marched off, their headmaster leading the ordered brigade. Much like the tall woman off Beauxbatons he greeted a Dumbledore and led his students into the school. Eventually McGonagall gave the all clear and the Hogwarts students hurried inside and to the great hall. Cedric and Queenie were among the mass of students rushing inside. Cedric guided Queenie at a steady pace that still had some pace.
"Miss Askoy?" A sardonic voice called. Queenie and Cedric turned to see Snape approaching them.
"Miss Askoy this will remove your purple tinge" he said, handing her a small vial of light pink liquid.
"Thank you Professor" She called, though her voice was weak but he'd already stalked off into the sea of pupils.
-line break-
Queenie and Cedric sat down at the Hufflepuff table and all chatter was about the guests.
"… but those girls, they aren't like that Hogwarts!" Rohm declared and his male peers made a sound of agreement.
"Girls aren't made like what at Hogwarts?" Queenie asked as she removed the lid of the vial pouring it into a glass of water, mixing it in before beginning to sip it.
"Don't ask" Harriet hissed as Queenie tucked herself into Cedric's side
"The Beauxbatons chicks, they're amazing! Right Ced?" Crete declared. Queenie raised her eyebrow at her brother's words but it didn't phase him.
"Meh, they're alright" Cedric shrugged, his focus remaining on the lock of Queenie's hair he was playing with.
"Well you would say that! You're going out with the only girl in this school that puts them French lasses to shame" Nathan said
"Yep, Queen Bee is the school pin-up so she's gonna outshine them but also just attractive to everyone she meets" a 3rd year, Aaron Hayback agreed.
-line break-
Dumbledore began his speech, where he welcomed everyone and announced the feast was to begin. As they were eating Mr Crouch and Mr Bagman entered all but unnoticed in chaos of the feast.
"So Ced you still entering the contest?" Ernie asked after swallowing a mouthful of minestrone soup
"I don't know, it depends …" Cedric replied glancing at Queenie who was looking up at him lovingly, following their conversation.
"Don't look at me! I'm not your mother" She exclaimed in mock chastise fashion, causing everyone who heard to laugh. The group continued to eat until Dumbledore made another announcement and revealed the Goblet of Fire and how students had 24 hours to enter their names. Mr Bagman and Mr Crouch were introduced and now everyone was leaving, chattering excitedly about the Triwizard Tournaments and the other schools.
"Bloody hell" Queenie heard Ron say as she brushed the crumbs off her skirt, standing from the Hufflepuff table as Cedric quickly finished his drink
"Viktor? Where are you going?" Karkaroff's voice also sounded and then a sudden stamp of a pair feet and rattle of buckles caused Queenie to turn around. When she did so she came face to face with Krum.
"Viktor?" Queenie squeaked, Viktor bowed and a huddle of students gathered from all three schools. Krum stood back up and took her hand kissing it gently.
"Sweet Queen of mine, you never owled me" he sounded hurt and Queenie gulped. Cedric stood quickly, placing his hands on her waist throwing a slight glare at Krum.
"Viktor, I told you I'm seeing Cedric" she replied in a slight guilty and embarrassed tone.
"You still could have owled me, I awaited eagerly for your letter"
"Oh I'm sorry! It's just after the World Cup I was kinda knocked out in the whole thing that kicked off" even though it was true Queenie still felt awful for making it sound like she'd been out for days.
"Oh, my sweet Queen! 'Re you ok?" He pulled her into a bare hug that she awkwardly reciprocated and Cedric's hands remained firmly around her waist.
"VIKTOR! Why did you run off like that?" Karkaroff parted the crowd of students which began to disperse upon his arrival, knowing the drama would be over soon and they could go and gossip about it.
"My Sweet Queen" he said kissing her head before turning on his heal and staking back to his fellow Durmstrang friends, his Headmaster following behind him.
-line break-
Cedric had his robes over both his and Queenie's heads as they ran into school across the courtyard in the pouring rain coming back from Arithmancy (well Cedric had had Herbology but waited for his lover outside her class) Queenie had her arms wrapped his waist as the hurried across the cobblestones, splashing themselves with puddle water as they did. Once inside Cedric dropped his robes an pulled her damp body into his own equally wet one for a quick cuddle. Cedric 6th year male friends all then popped up and encouraging him to enter his name into the goblet now, effectively dragging him and in turn her (as Cedric had not relinquished his hold on her) in to the great hall. Upon here arrival they saw multiple students gathered around the Goblet. Queenie noticed Hermione sat by herself, studying or doing homework as her Gryffindor classmates watched who were outing their names forward and making not so subtle judgements on all of them.
"I'll leave you to have your 'guy time', I'll be with Hemione" She jerked her head in the direction of Hogwarts' most famous squat.
"Please don't" he fake begged
"Come on Ced you can romance her later!" Gabriel whined, trying to tug him away. Cedric rolled his eyes and leaned down placing a lingering kiss on her lips before pulling away and handing her school bag back. Queenie gave him a little giggle with her amused small smile before skipping over to Hermione, all the Gryffindor boys eyes suddenly on her. The boys eventually stopped staring when their interest in the goblet outweighed their testosterone levels.
"Hey" Queenie said, sitting down next to the Gryffindor 4th year
"Hi" Hermione replied looking up
"What're you doing?"
"Writing a letter to the ministry about the lack of promotion of Elfish welfare in wizarding society" Hermione said nonchalantly with with a shrug of the shoulders
"What me to proof it" Queenie said after a moment, watching a Durmstrang put his name in the goblet.
"Um, sure" Hermione gave her the half finished letter that was a neat piece of parchment and Queenie began to read it.
Meanwhile on the other side of the hall Cedric and his friends were messing about, pushing and shoving him closer to the Goblet.
"Come on Ced!" Nathan cried exasperated and Cedric just laughed at his friends desperate tone. He glanced across the hall to see his girlfriend handing a sheet of parchment back to Hermione, a happy smile on her face. Cedric then pulled his wand from his robe pocket.
"Accio Little one" he whispered and his mates began to laugh with realisation about what was about to happen.
Queenie was completely oblivious to this as she handed Hermione back her letter
"That's really good. You've got a strong argument with a lot gravitas-it should really hit home that Elfs need basic rights as well" She smiled and Hermione looked delighted.
"You really thin … QUEEN BEE!" Hermione began but stopped when Queenie got ripped up from her seat by a seemingly invisible force into the air before she flew backwards across the room.
"AHHHHHH!" Queenie's shrill scream overpowered the chatter of the great hall as people turned to look at her. Her body collided with someone else as she began to drop, the person grabbing her bridal style. This person caught her in their strong, muscular … and familiar arms. Queenie rolled her eyes realising who it was. Her suspicions were confirmed when said person cuddled her into his warm, defined and inviting chest while kissing her hair. Cedric gently placed Queenie back on to her feet and clutched her hand.
"Don't worry Granger, you can have her back in a minute" He yelled and the Gryffindor boys rolled their eyes. To them Cedric was the 'big I am'. The Hufflepuffs and the others in the hall laughed whilst Cedric moved closer to the Goblet, not yet crossing the age ring as their friends trailed behind
"Good luck kiss?" he turned to her and asked in a hushed whisper. Queenie obliged, leaning in and placing a chaste peck on his lips which her gladly reciprocated. They pulled away, and Cedric stepped through the age line, one hand still grasping Queenie's who was stood as close to the edge as she could be without entering. Cedric dropped a precise if parchment with his name on it into the Goblet. The once gentle, billowy blue flame became rather more crackly and green as he did so. Cedric stepped out of the age line circle and many people clapped (Cedric's fan girls taking it to the next level and squealing and giggling). Cedric's friends then started jump around him in a congratulatory fashion, clapping him on the back and offering there regards and well wishes. Cedric merely offended them a smile before picking Queenie up with a laugh from him and his friends and a giggle from her. Cedric's arms were under her her bum, his head flat to her stomach while clutched his shoulders
"Excited much?" Queenie asked a little laugh leaking from her smile.
"Very much! Very much indeed!" He replied and started using his arms to bounce her body up and down.
"We are too!" two voices said in unison before Queenie was lifted out of Cedric grip. Fred and George had gone round either side of him, each of them clutching her under arm and hauling out of his grasp and towards the group of Gryffindors. Cedric pouted but let them have their time, waiting on the outskirts of the group with his peers.
"We done it!" George claimed, high-fiving and handshaking one side of the group
"Brewed it up just this morning!" Fred finished, high-fiving and handshaking the other side. They both stood sandwiching Queenie. Their furthest away arm, doing all the hand shakes while their' inner ones wrapped around Queenie's waist in a friendly way.
"It's not going to work" Hermione sung, patronisingly and Fred and George left Queenie's side to flank the 4th year on either side. Queenie laughed at her younger friends brainiac ways, moving back slightly to rejoin her friendship group. Once there Cedric's hand quickly find hers as they watched the scene unfold from a safe distance.
"Oh yeah?" Fred said from her left
"And why's that Granger?" George demanded from her right.
"You see this? This is an age line. Dumbledore drew it himself" she told the twins
"So?" Fred didn't see the issue
"So a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possible be fooled by something a pathetically dim-witted as an ageing potion" she declared
"That's why it's so brilliant!" Fred started to explain
"Because it's so pathetically, dim-witted" George finished and the two laughed. They the stood up, climbing on the bench Hermione was sat on and gave their' vials a final shake
"Ready Fred?" George asked
"Ready George" he confirmed, before they linked holding the little glass vials close to their mouth
"Bottoms up" they said in unison before uncorking the little glass contains and gulping the liquid down. Once they'd finished s they unhooked their arms and jumped down inside the age line successfully, or so it seemed. Everyone began to clap and cheer. The twins approached the flame, dropping their names in and then everything went wrong. The flame split open into long windy ribbons, spiralling around. Cedric grabbed Queenie and cuddled her close to his chest, his head resting on her that lay on his shoulder, trying to protect them both from the flames. The other students dodged the twirling blue flames as well as the flames threw Fred and George from inside the age circle.
Everyone remained quiet as they watched the Weasley twins land with a thump at the other end of the hall but that quickly changed into uncontrolled laughter when Fred and George sat up having a gained Dumbledore worthy hair style, moustache and beard each, in a snowy white colour.
"You said …"one twin trailed off
"You said!" The other retaliated and they started to roll around the floor fighting.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" A chant quickly rose, and all though Queenie and her Hufflepuff peers were not among those chanting she couldn't help but, hiding her smile in Cedric's neck.
"You know Hufflepuffs aren't suppose to laugh at violence, they're are supposed to be loving and kind" Cedric whispered into her hair and Queenie laughed against his skin before muttering:
"Oh, hush!" And then kissing a spot of exposed skin on his lower neck to the side, sucking and nibbling on it while using her tongue to reprieve the blood vessels, giving him small and red love bite.
-line break-
That evening they were all gathered in the great hall, waiting anxiously for the champions to be announced. That was probably why no one ate that much of the lavish feast and the fact it was the second one they'd had in 2 days. At the Hufflepuff table, Queenie was pigging out on a plate full of roast potatoes. Cedric had an arm around her waist, leaning her against his side.
"Your boyfriend is about to be recognised as the first Hogwarts champion from this century! How can you sit there eating?!" Jenny cried and Queenie shrugged, stabbing a roast potato wedge with her folk and turning to her lover.
"Ced?" She called and he turned to her, suddenly not interested on Nathan and Justin's Quiddicth conversation. Queenie then lifted her folk and gently waved it in the air as if she was feeding a toddler using a aeroplane anecdote.
"Mind the teeth, round the guns watch out tummy here it comes!" She cooed, her voice taking on one a mother feeding a baby. Cedric grinned and opened his mouth letting her feed him. Queenie giggled, visibly resting more on him as she snuggled up into his side.
"Our Children will be lucky to have you as a mother, little one. You're great" Cedric said quietly in her ear and Queenie blushed, they'd talked about their future before but never out in the open where so many people could overhear.
"Harry you're staring!" Queenie heard Hermione hiss. Her, Harry and Ron were sat in the bench behind Queenie but she could still hear them.
"I wasn't" Harry insisted
"You were every time you look at Queen Bee you always end up staring" Hermione insisted
"leave him alone 'Mione there's a lot to stare at with her" Ron said cheekily, Hermione made a noise of repulsion and Dean and Seamus agreed.
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make it decision. I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber where they will be receiving their first instructions" Dumbledore got the students attention immediately as soon as the plates and food had been removed and the tables wiped clean by spells. Dumbledore proceeded to put out the
a swish of his wand, the only light coming from the goblet and the fixed lanterns that were sparsely placed on the walls. The flames of the goblet turned red suddenly and the game roared. The whole watched in silence as a piece of parchment was spat out. Dumbledore unfolded it before beginning:
"The champion for Durmstrang is … Viktor Krum!" he announced and the hall broke into cheering and clapping. Viktor stood from the Slyerthin table and stride towards the front, turning before disappearing into the next chamber. The hall had quietened down again as Viktor exited but as soon as the flames turned red again, tension slowly began to creep back in.
"The champion for Beauxbatons is … Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore announced and at Veela looking girl got up in the midst of the raucous applaud and wolf whistles and sashayed out the room.
"I don't think that school has much unity!" Rita yelled over the noise which she herself was contributing to.
"Why?" Queenie shouted back
"Look" Leah instructed loudly and all them glanced over to the Ravenclaw table where the students that hadn't been picked all looked disappointed, two of them so much so they'd crumbled into tears.
Anticipation then expanded to the maximum as Hogwarts, the largest single student cohort were yet to be called. Cedric had both hands grasped tightly on Queenie's waist as her body sat at an angle, tilting towards the front. Queenie had her right arm pulled back behind her and resting on Cedric's left arm, her hand laying in her bicep-squeezing it in reassurance and out of anticipation. The goblet's flames turned red for a thirds time and the piece of parchment was propelled through the air and caught by Dumbledore.
"The Hogwarts champion is … Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore cried and Queenie turned she'd buy at lightning speed and threw her arms around his neck. Cedric returned her tight embrace immediately wrapping his arms around her back. Clapping, cheering and whooping filled the air and he was vaguely aware if his friends congratulations and pats on the back as Queenie pulled away from and slamming her lips to his a short but passionate kiss.
"Go back the common room, afterward. I'll meet you there" he told her giving her one last squeeze before standing up and walking to front, past his the headmaster with a smile and into the chamber.
"… By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real-" Queenie had zoned out in elation hed succeeded and fear and what the tasks would be but was brought of her daydream by the flames turning avert angry red and hissing as it spat out a piece of, now chargrilled, parchment.
"Harry Potter?" Dumbledore sounded confused and everyone returned to him. He whispered an insistence to Hermione he hadn't put his name in.
"Harry Potter! … Harry, up here, if you please!" Dumbledore was now starting to sound slightly irate. Queenie left back and pinched his his upper arm, effectively snapping him out of his confused and terrified state. Harry turned to her his eyes wide, he began to mutter:
"Queen Bee, I-"
"Shush, I know but you've got to go up" she soothed and Hermione gave him a light shove, pushing him into his feet.
-line break-
Cedric arrived in the common room and the whole house was waiting for him. Queenie leaped into his arms and Cedric spun then both round whilst their smashed lips together in a feverish kiss. The other students crowded around them, patting Cedric and hollering their congratulations not phased by their kiss.
"You best not die on me!" Queenie joked once Cedric placed he on the floor, their house mates having already put on some wizard wrock, blaring it out as they began to dance giddily.
"I wouldn't dream of it!" He exclaimed over the noise, kissing her head.
The two then danced the entire evening away with the rest of their house. Most dances were silly, some that caused the students to head bang and act like they were in a muggle mosh pit and a few sexy ones too. They'd also raided the kitchens for some party style buffet food, inviting the house elves to join them-which they did. So 4 and a half hours later the students of Hufflepuff had either collapsed on a chair or sofa in the common room (or been lifted on to one by a semi-conscious house mate) or dispersed into their dorms and up to bed. The house elves were too trudging back to the kitchens but some were flat out, laying on top of students o the soft furnishings.
Cedric and Queenie were walking back to their dormitories.
"So how'd you think Potter got his name in?" Cedric asked contiuing the conversation that had just had with Queenie informing her of the events that occurred in the chamber off the great hall and his brief talk with Harry afterwards.
"Honestly, I don't think he did. I mean he's had 3 years of constant drama he must be sick of all the attention and his face when his name was read out, Ced he was petrified! I thought was gonna cry!" Queenie answered
"How come your opinion always gives mine defined clarity and more often than not enlightens me to things I didn't see before?" He smiled and Queenie laughed before turning her sass on:
"Because some people are practically perfect in every way" she made a reference to the muggle film Mary Poppins and she could see the cogs turning in his brain. Having dated for along time, Queenie had ever so slowly educated him to juggle life and customs. This included showing him her favourite childhood films.
"Bed-knobs and broomsticks?" he guessed with a uncertain smile before Queenie shook her head laughing.
"No not quite, Mary Poppins but you were close enough" she smiled as they reached the two passageways that led down to gender separated dorms. Cedric turning to go down the corridor to his dorm when Queenie on pulled his hand and dragged him down the corridor to hers.
"Little one, what?" He asked laughing
"You're staying with me tonight" she stated as if it was common fact, pushing her dorm door open.
"Not that I'm objecting but your roommates?"
"Leah's with Nathan, no surprise there. Harriet's still in the hospital wing recovering from her fight with Pansy. Jenny is passed out in the common room and I saw Rita being dragged off by Ernie into dorm …" she assured, both if them entering the room
"When did that happen?" Cedric didn't know his dorm mate was dating his girlfriend's best friend but Queenie's only response was a shrug as she shut the door, locking it and began to strip off as Cedric did the same. Cedric flopped into her bed, nude, laying in his back watching her prepare for bed. He was shocked when Queenie settled next to him also completely bare.
"Little one?" He asked
"Well you rave about how sleeping naked is very liberating so thought I'd give it a go" she replied, cuddling up to him and throwing the quilts and sheets over them.
"Are you sure this is the best time to try it with your hormonal, sex mad boyfriend right next to you?"
"It's the best time to try it because if I get cold I can just leech some of your body heat as punishment"