Chapter 16: Task Nervous Breakdowns

After my talk with George, I felt immensely better. I busied myself with studies and pranking. I resort to ignoring Viktor's presence whenever I can. Edmond's friendship with him is, thankfully, okay, so I don't feel guilty. Amandine tries to do what she calls "her part", which is trying to make me wear make up. George's jokes still have me in stitches. Sometimes, I wish George was the one I like instead of Viktor. I have admitted to myself that I like him… more than a friend. I think it is a part of moving on.

"Are you going with us to the Quidditch pitch the night after next?" Nikki asked Ianthé carefully.

"Huh?" Ianthé looked at her, "Oh… I suppose…"

"Really?" Nikki asked unbelievingly, "You'll go? Promise?"

"Yeah…"

"Come on, let's go find your cousins… Those two lovebirds…" Nikki grabbed Ianthé's arm, "I bet those two found a nice cozy cupboard somewhere…"

Ianthé laughed loudly.

The third task, which was held in the Quidditch pitch at dusk, is the last part of the tournament. It would be a race to the middle of a maze where the Triwizard cup is placed. I was pretty nervous. I read from I researched on that majority of the death toll happened during the last task. I'm afraid I might never see him again. I completely gave up the hope of being the special one in his life, but I would try to retain the friendship we had before this all had happened. I still keep the owls he had been sending to me. Yes, I gave up… but not got over him…

"Are you positive you want to do this?" Edmond repeatedly asked Ianthé.

"How many times do I have to tell you I'm okay? I am okay. Period." Ianthé said exasperatingly.

"Come on!" Nikki egged them, "…Oh my dear warlock!"

All of them stopped as they saw Nikki who seemed to be rooted to the ground.

"Nikki, are you okay?"

Nikki, however, wasn't moving a single muscle. It was as if she saw a ghost.

"It's… it's…"

Ianthé looked to where Nikki was looking at, "The Weasleys… Charlie Weasley. Nikki here has the biggest crush on him," she explained to Edmond and Amandine.

It seemed like Charlie Weasley spotted her. Nikki, I noticed, was beginning to hyperventilate. I held Nikki's hand and squeezed it.

"Nikki, you're already slobbering!" Ianthé whispered.

Nikki regained her composure exactly at the right time Charlie approached their group, "Hi, Nikki. It's good to see you here."

I don't know how Nikki did it, but I guarantee, she winged the whole thing.

"Charlie! It's nice to see you here! Supporting Harry?"

"Yeah! How do you know?"

"Your brothers from Hell!"

"Oh them!"

Nikki nodded, "By the way, this is my best friend Ianthé, her cousins Edmond and Amandine."

"Hi, nice to meet you all. Why don't you guys join us at the Quidditch pitch."

"Sure!" Nikki smiled at Charlie. The rest of the group followed Charlie to the pitch.

"Mum, this is Nikki, my boss' daughter."

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Weasley. These are my friends Ianthé, Edmond and Andy."

"Nice to meet you, dears."

Out of another twist of fate, my gaze met Viktor's mother. She looked like she recognized me. I smiled back. She walked towards where we sat.

"Zdravaite, Mrs. Krum. My Bulgarian is a bit sketchy."

"Hello, dear."

Edmond stood from where he sat to greet and shake her hand.

"It's good to see you, Mrs. Krum," Edmond greeted her in Bulgarian.

"I see Viktor taught you our language well."

Edmond smiled, "Why don't you sit with us?"

Mrs. Krum nodded. She sat beside Ianthé.

"I will expect you this summer in Bulgaria. Your mother wrote to me regarding the matter." Mrs. Krum said with a heavy Bulgarian accent.

"Of course, Mrs. Krum."

I suddenly remembered I would spend the summer holidays with the Krums. Drat! I thought I'm supposed to forget him the moment the Durmstrang ship submerge back in the water!

The announcer shouted at the pitch that the third task is about to start. He soon announced the names of the champions. We cheered hard for Viktor, together with the other Durmstrang students.

After about thirty minutes or more into the task, we heard a shrill scream of a girl. I know it was Fleur Delacour. We immediately saw red sparks being shot in the sky. I clutched Mrs. Krum's hand tightly. A few minutes, we heard shouting from the maze. The shouting ensued until we saw another series of wand sparks. I held my breath. A few minutes later, we saw Viktor unconscious being brought back to the castle on a floating stretcher. Perhaps, out of instinct, both Mrs. Krum and I ran towards the stretcher.

"Viktor!" Mrs. Krum was weeping.

Ianthé immediately checked for his pulse in the neck, "He's alive, Mrs. Krum. Just unconscious."

Mrs. Krum let out a sigh. Both of us followed the stretcher up to the hospital wing. The nurse led us to a couch beside the bed where Viktor was transferred. I suddenly became dizzy and I felt my head hit the floor.

Author's notes: "Zdravaite"(pronounced as zdravé) is the Bulgarian form of "Hello."