Boxing Day morning was not a very welcome one. Cedric and Queenie awoke in a tangled mass of bed sheets and limbs. Their nude bodies flush at every point in their spider like embrace. The sound of other students moving in the common room or entering and exiting dorms slowly brought Queenie from consciousness.
"Ced … Ced … CED!" Queenie went from stroking circles on his chest to jabbing it.
"Wh- wh-wh-at? … what?" Cedric lurched foward, resting his body up on his elbows.
"Time to get up I think" Queenie sat, wrapping the sheet around her slightly to eliminate the chill that Cedric's body had been protecting her from.
"What time is it?" He yawned, sitting up to and stretching
"No idea" came Queenie's yawned response
-line break-
After a slow start to the morning with reluctant wakings, long showers and a slow breakfast lessons had started again. Queenie was sat in Charms when Rita barraged in, far to happy and far to loud, evoking moans and grunts of protest from the depleted class of less than half capacity and even then some apparently were top hung over to function, their heads on the desk.
"Queen Bee! Queen Bee!" Rita hollered and Queenie pinched her nose, sucking in a breath. She was not hung over but sleep deprivation had made her head hurt.
"Rita?" She questioned
"Have you heard?" Rita asked, perking Queenie's interests and snapping her from her daze with a:
"Heard what?"
Rita pulled a paper out of her satchel handing it to Queenie.
"Dumbledore's giant mistake? What is this?" Queenie asked but Rita urged her to continue and so she did. Reading how Rita Skeeta (fuelled by Malfoy's lies) had unearthed Hagrid's heritage and was shaming him and Dumbledore, making out Hagrid's mother worked for Voldemort and that they'd both lied purposely to deceive the students.
"This is rubbish" Queenie scoffed
"I know but I though you might want to know as well, Harry's gonna flip" Rita explained and realisation hit Queenie at the speed of a Hippogriff in full flight.
"Harry" Queenie sounded suddenly alarmed
"The poor boy what's he going to do? Hagrid's always been there for him! To have such slander, to have his name tarnished in such a way, Harry'll … he'll … oh! I'm going to see Dumbledore" Queenie announced and quickly left the near empty class in long elegant strides. She did go to Dumbledore and did see him. There meeting however was not exactly mutual. Queenie and the professor argued back and forth about how the rumours started, what the rumours would do, what effect they were having and much more. It irritated Queenie that Dumbledore could be so placid in light of what had happened. Did he not care about Hagrid at all? After hours of what seemed like futile spat Dumbledore agreed he'd go to see Hagrid, putting across all the concerns and worries the 5th year raised.
-line break-
"Have you seen Ced?" A question Queenie found herself constantly asking as she ran around the halls of Hogwarts looking for her seemingly vanished boyfriend.
"Hey, Freddie have you …" she began only to stop as she saw said boy enter the courtyard through the opposite entrance.
"Nevermind" she dismissed quickly, darting over to Cedric where he stood with his friends.
Cedric looked up after a good old laugh at one of Lewis's jokes to see Queenie bounding towards him. He smiled and opened his arms to her.
"Hey little one, I was just coming to get you fr-" he was cut off by her running in to his arms and hearing a few small sobs escape her.
"Hey, hey … what's up" Cedric drew her out of his chest, cradling her face making her look at him. A few tears danced down her cheeks from her classy eyes and she gulped before saying:
"H-Hagrid"
"Hagrid? What about Hagrid?" Cedric pushed as his friends hung back to give them some space.
"He … well, Malfoy … Rita Skeeter … she …" Queenie couldn't find the words
"Hush, little one, calm. Deep breaths now. What's happened?" Cedric tried to mask the worry in his voice for her sake.
"Well, Rita Skeeter's wrote an article-" Queenie took a breath before beginning the long story of the article and the argument and her frustration.
-line break-
The weeks passed and there was not much development with Hagrid or his case and with Queenie constantly feeling tired and now upon occasion sick not mentioning staying up with Cedric and all their friends all night trying to find away for Cedric to be able to breath under water the weeks were tough. Currently Queenie, dressed in her school uniform and Cedric in his practice champions kit and big fluffy towel were walking up from the black lake where Cedric had been practicing his bubble head charm which he planned on using the next day for the 2nd task. They were walking with their arms wrapped around each others waists in loops, giggling and laughing despite Queenie having been taken by another raging temperature-something that was happening quite often along with intense fatigue.
"… then, Geoff pretty much screamed at Ian that if he wanted to Professor Trelawney's favourite then he'd have to fight him" Queenie exclaimed through her laughter
"Oh my god! Really? I bet poor old Trelawney didn't know what was going on" Cedric pulled her further into him
"I don't think she did she just stood there, frozen. It was hila-" Queenie was cut off by a shout, or possible two.
"QUEEN BEE!" Fred and George ran down the bank towards them.
"Boys" Queenie warily regarded them, expecting a prank to be aimed at her momentarily.
"No need to look so scared we've come to fetch you" one twin said
"Fetch me?" Queenie scrunched her eyebrows and Cedric drew her even closer to him, not liking the idea of giving her up regardless for who or what.
"Yeah, fetch. McGonagall wants you" the other said
"McGonagall?" Queenie was now really confused
"Yes McGonagall" the first twin said while the other faked chastised her with:
"Blimey, woman! If we wanted a parrot we'd have bought Percy now come on" and with that he grabbed her hand and pulled her forward out of Cedric's grip only for him to recapture her waist seconds later, pulling her back to him while the twins tugged on her arms, trying to free her.
"Come Diggory, she has to go" the first twin sighed and Queenie shook her hands loose of the two red heads hold. Content she couldn't be stolen Cedric set her down but didn't relinquish his grasp on her as she tuned to face him.
"I have to go" she whispered and Cedric whined
"But what about my good luck cuddles?" He pouted, dropping his head to her shoulder and kissing the side of her neck innocently
"Later or if needs be tommorow. The sooner you let me go the sooner you have me back" Queenie ran her fingers through his damp hair.
"I'm never letting you go"
"Please"
"No"
"Please"
"No"
"There's a kiss in it for you"
"Oh god!" The twins cried in horror, in unison
"Hum, ok, you're selling it. What else?" Cedric asked cheekily
"Ok enough!" The second twin exclaimed as they both took one her upper arms and carried her away but not before she planted a quick but meaningful peck on Cedric's lips
"GOOD BYE MY LOVE! UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!" Queenie proclaimed as she was carried away, leaving Cedric to smile and chortle at her silliness.
-line break-
Once in Professor McGonagall's office, Queenie realised she wasn't the only one who'd been summoned. Also there was Hermione, Ron and little duplicate version of Fleur Delacour in Beauxbatons uniform who Queenie assumed to be her sister.
"Hermione, what's going on?" Queenie asked sliding in to the chair next to her.
"No idea" the Gryffindor shrugged
"Ron?" Queenie then directed her question at him
"If Hermione doesn't know how am I supposed to know" Ron stated like it was obvious. As Queenie went to protest saying he possessed his own brilliance, but McGonagall walked in cutting off her voicings
"Askoy, Granger, Weasley, Delacour. Please help yourself to a drink" she offered but it sounded more like an order so the students did. Pouring some of the yellow cloudy liquid into beakers from the jug. McGonagall began to rummage and re-arrange leaving the students to quietly sip on the nice if not a little sweet beverage she had given them.
"Right, sorry about that. Thank you for your patience. You've been gathered here this evening as preparation of the next task. As your all close to your respective champion I'm sure you're aware that they need to recover a precious object from the lake tommorow. That object shall be you" McGonagall stated and the four shared looks if confusion and terror.
"B-But … you can't-t, can you? … we'll d-drown!" Ron exclaimed
"Precautions have been made to ensure that doesn't happen" McGonagall dead panned
"Well I for one will not. I'm not a object and I will not be used as a pawn in a stupid game" Hermione said indignantly, standing up before flopping back into her seat. Queenie suddenly winced. Her vision was blurring and her ears were ringing. She felt faint and alert all at once. Queenie noticed the other 3 were suffering of similar complaints as the pain in her head intensified.
"I was aware you'd probably of that opinion Ms Granger so I took the liberty of mixing the vial that'll enable you to breath under water into the drinks" McGonagall explained.
"I can't … C-Ced … he'll worry himself … to death" Queenie slurred as her body rocked from side to side in her chair.
"Mr Diggory will have no need to worry the vial will place you in a complete comatosed state and we have Merpeople ready to intervene should anything go wrong" Was the last thing Queenie heard McGonagall say before her vision went blank and her other senses faded into no existence.
-line break-
Cedric felt shocking. He hadn't slept a wink, he'd waited for Queenie to return the night before but she did not and she wasn't here now it was safe to say he was absolutely mortified. However her disappearance seemed to effectively make him forget about the task-now instead of competition stress he had 'I've lost the love of my life' tear out your hair stress and panic. He was on edge after a night restlessness because he was aware of her absence followed by an unproductive morning of searching high and low, all over the school to find her he felt like he could brake in to tears. He felt hallow, like an empty shell. His ever growing possy of fan girls had also taken advantage of Queenie's absence, trying to make advances but he was to out of it to notice. Queenie had all his thoughts, her silhouette in the corners of his eyes and when he blinked her happy, smiling face appeared. Cedric needed her and he needed her now.
After a long speech of reassurance from Nathan, Clarke & co (who'd assured him they'd search for her) Cedric went to the great hall for breakfast but the mere thought of food made his stomach roll. Instead Cedric decided to go straight down the black lake. Upon arriving Cedric noticed the two champions present were, like him, not themselves. Fleur looked green and kept mumbling to Madame Maxime about 'Ma Soeur' (French for 'My Sister') and even Viktor was a bit jumpy, scanning the Gryffindor girls that were helping filling up the stands discreetly while Karkaroff wasn't looking. Now Cedric was no Ravenclaw but he was by no means dumb. Yet his intelligence evoked worry at his hunch at what had happened. Was it possible people were the prized possession? Was Queenie under the lake with Hermione and Fleur's sister? The thought made Cedric shudder and he tried to suppress it but the image of his lover's pale form, floating in the lake-cold and lifeless really killed him.
As the stragglers filed into the stands Harry ran down to them panting and wheezing at the Champions table. Cedric barely registered Percy Weasley's chastise of him, too caught up in his worry. Before he knew, Ludo Bagman was ushering the Champions to their allocated spots on the platform.
"Remember Ced, Bubblehead charm. Aquafis tete. Single small swish of the wand! Basic charms. Make Flitwick proud, you can do this!" The memory of Queenie in his head reeled and Cedric suddenly became aware even if she wasn't at the bottom of the lake but she was 99% sure she was, he was still going to have to try his best. Cedric slowly brought out his wand, he'd concealed up his sleeve murmuring:
"Aquafis tete" and a small sack of air bubbled in his mouth and nostrils. It was uncomfortable but they'd expand as soon as he entered the water. He was pretty sure he saw Fleur out the corner of his eye do the same but couldn't be sure, his mind was scatty and addled with worry.
"SONORUS" Mr Bagman's voice boomed out over the speakers and the stands fell silent.
"Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely one hour to recover what has been taken from them. One the count of three, then. One … two … three!" Bagman finished and with that he determinedly and carefully waded into the water. The cheers and whooping that consumed the air were almost defining but Cedric had bigger things to worry about. Once his feet no longer touched the gravelly base he broke into a few long strides of front crawl before diving under the water, the air bubbles immediately engulfing the lower part of his face.
The water was bitterly cold, Cedric could already feel his toes numbing but continued to swim down. The waters were dark and the thick foliage easily snared and trapped unfortunates. He was convinced he saw the odd silhouette of some one who definitely wasn't person nor mer person and there were rumours of giant squids, all thoughts of which Cedric cast aside as he ducked and weaved hastily through the reeds. Sooner than anticipated he heard a familiar song:
"… An hour long you'll have to look. And recover what we've took …" without a second though Cedric sped up and ploughed towards the sound of their voices. In his peripheral vision he saw Fleur and Krum so motored on. Upon navigating the grabbing vines and reeds of the lake Cedric cam face to face with his worst night mare and felt his heart stop. In front of him were the 4 precious objects (and Harry) and although he realised he should probably speed up to beat him, he couldn't. As soon as he saw Queenie, her mile longs legs fastened by a thick, throned weed. Her arms splayed at either side of her and her white curls diluted into light brown straight hairs. He quickly swam towards her, feeling the need to get her out of their as quick as possible. Noting the curious look Harry gave him he mouthed a:
"Got lost. Fleur and Krum're coming now!" Harry nodded in recognition as Cedric pulled a knife out of his pocket and began to cut the slimy vine trapping Queenie. He felt immense relief once the thick root snapped and grabbed her waist quickly and hauling her up, with fast kicks of his leg and free arm, out the water.
-line break-
Cold. Wet. Uncomfortable
The three words that immediately popped into Queenie's head when she awoke from the effects of the vial. She took a massive gulp of breath, the cold air stinging her lungs like a million tiny needles. She felt heavy and her head hurt like she had a humongous head cold. Her azure eyes scanned and darted around her. It appeared that she was in the black lake and everyone was watching her, screaming, whooping and celebrating? Queenie thought that this must've been a dream as it was far too surreal to be true until Cedric surfaced next to her and wasted no time grabbing her body and holding her close to him.
"It's ok, your safe now. I'm sorry. I'll never let you go again little one, I promise" Cedric rested his chin on top of her head and began to swim towards the platform. Her stiff les began to kick a little but she had to rely on Cedric for the most of it.
They reached the platform in no time. The judges were stood watching along with 20 or so mer people screeching their terrible song. Madame Pompfrey quickly scurried down the bank, onto and across the platform, thrusting towels at the pair as soon as they got out.
"T-T-Thank you" Queenie's teeth chattered as Madame Pomfrey wrap a towel around her shoulders before doing the same to Cedric. Glancing at him, she could see tears in his eyes and they weren't from the coldness of the water. Without asking she delicately embraced him before vicing her grip, holding him tight. He returned the hug with the same ferocity while swaddling them both in more towels. His head was tilted, his cheek resting on her head and she buried her face into his cold yet familiar shoulder.
"I'm so so sorry little one, I-I didn't know … I-I … I'm sorry" he was close to crying so she held him even closer as she stammered out through her chattering teeth:
"Hey, hey it's ok. I'm alright. My knight in shining armour-well swim shorts rescued me and now we can live happily ever after" pulling back slightly to peck his lips once, aware of the many eyes trained on them.
"Yeah but-" Cedric began to protest
"No buts! I'm here and safe and your here and safe that's all that matters. I'll just never trust anything McGonagall offers me again"Queenie comforted as Dumbledore approached them, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Mr Diggory, Ms Askoy. Congratulations would you like to take a seat on the medical bench while we wait for the other champions?" He asked and the two nodded. They slowly meandered over to the medical bench, while still hugging each other tightly. Once there Cedric sat, pulling Queenie down to sit in his lap while Madam Pomfrey piled more towels on top off them and gave them hot chocolate to warm them up.
"I love you" Cedric murmured after a moment of comfortable silence as the couple silently reacquainted themselves by the medium of cuddling.
"I love you" Queenie mumbled, kissing his head. The crowd then erupted as an injured Fleur was pulled out of the water by the mer people before her Beauxbatons friends, Madame Maxime and Madame Pomfrey ran over to help.
"I was … attacked by … ze … ze grindylows!" She panted out and Queenie tensed, turning to face Cedric, worry smeared across her face.
"But what about her sister? What about Gabrielle? They can't leave her down there!" Queenie vented in worry and Cedric tried to calm her.
"Ms Delacour's sister will be quite safe I assure you" Dumbledore spoke suddenly giving the couple a fright. Neither of them had noticed his presence how long had he been-
"By the way your exchange of 'I love you's' were muggle film worthy and very very sweet" he smiled before walking off and Queenie dropped her head to Cedric's shoulder, groaning in embarrassment as he just laughed.