Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except Chloe and anything else you don't recognize.
Okay, so sorry I didn't get this up sooner. This chapter was a little difficult to write but it's done now. Enjoy!
Chapter 23:
The Third Task
I say back down in my seat. Emma was chatting with another Hufflepuff so she didn't notice me and I had some time to think. I kept worrying about Cedric. Would he come out? Would he be alive or would they drag his dead body out? I drew in a sharp breath and pushed the thought away. I couldn't think like that, not now. It didn't help, just made things worse. Emma noticed me sitting beside her after a while.
"Oh, Chloe, when did you get back?" She asked.
"A few minutes ago, actually," I answered, my voice dull.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong,"
"Chloe, you can't lie to me," was I really that bad a liar? I sighed.
"I'm just worried," I admitted.
"Chloe, you really need to stop worrying," she said.
"I know, I just can't help it, he might not make it out…alive, that is,"
"Cedric will be fine. The Goblet wouldn't have spit out his name if he wouldn't be able to survive this competition."
"Yeah, I guess your right," I sighed. I tried not to worry but do you know how hard that is? Emma turned back to the student she was talking to before and I just sat there, waiting for this stupid task to start. The band started and Amos ran-yes, he literally ran-into the pitch. Cedric followed after and the cheering started. He caught my eye and smiled. I couldn't help but smile back. Curse his charm! Fleur was the next to come out and the Beauxbatons started their obviously rehearsed cheer. I couldn't understand what they were saying because it was in French but I could understand their school name. Vain little French people. Karkaroff and Krum were next out, Karkaroff egging the Durmstrangs on. He was really starting to bug me. I think my dad said he used to be a Death Eater, probably still is. Last out was Harry and Dumbledore. Harry looked a little on edge. I don't blame him, I think they all were and so was anyone who had a close relationship with any of the champions, like me! Dumbledore walked to the podium that had been placed in the center of the pitch, pressed his wand to his throat and yelled,
"Silence!" Everyone quieted down immediately. "Earlier today Professor Moody placed the cup deep in the maze. Only he knows its exact whereabouts." Well, no duh! "Now as Mr. Diggory," all of us Hufflepuffs and Cedric supporters stood up and cheered. Amos lifted his sons hand in the air. Cedric forced it back down making me laugh. He looked a little embarrassed making it all the more hilarious. "And Mr. Potter," the Potter support group stood up and cheered. I clapped. I was a little worried about him to. I mean, he was only fourteen! Seriously! "Are tied for first position, they will be the first to enter the maze. Followed by Mr. Krum," the Durmstrangs started cheering. Karkaroff was egging them on again. "And Ms. Delacour," the Beauxbatons started cheering. I then realized that everyone, and I mean everyone, was spilt into their own little teams, I guess you could say. There was Team Diggory, Team Potter, Team Krum and Team Delacour. I don't think anyone was neutral.
"First person to touch the cup will be the winner!" Everyone cheered at that. Everyone hopeful that the champion they were cheering for would win. I was just hoping that Cedric would make it out safe, sound and ALIVE! "If at anytime any one of the four champions wish to withdraw from the Tournament, they need only send up red sparks with their wand." Oh great, now anytime red sparks flew into the air I would think it was Cedric and then be disappointed when it wasn't him! That's just perfect! Dumbledore turned away and beckoned the champions to him. They stood in their little circle. It was literally impossible to hear what Dumbledore was saying unless you were close to him.
"Champions, prepare yourselves," I had to strain my ears to hear him say that. Each of the four went to a separate entrance and the cheering started again as everyone stood back up. One the count of three, one-"
BOOM! Filch had terrible timing. I looked over to Cedric. He looked back at me as he began to walk into the maze. I bit my lip to keep from crying as he stepped into the maze and the hedge closed behind him. That might very well be the last time I see him.
Cedric POV:
The hedge closed behind me after I had entered. Chloe's face burned in my mind. She looked ready to cry. I hated seeing her like that. I was determined to keep my promise to her, no matter the cost. Without another thought, I started running through the maze looking for the cup.
This way, that way, left, right, forewords, backwards, this was enough to make someone go insane! In fact, I do think I feel myself slipping into insanity. No, no. I couldn't go crazy, must stay sane. I turned right and came to a dead end. Well, it wasn't a complete dead end. There was another right turn the seemed to go on forever. I sighed and started heading back. Without warning, it started to close on me. I feared for my life and rushed out just before I got closed in. Well, that left only one way to go. I sighed and headed off on the never ending path.
Well, I guess it did have an end, if you count the left turn I took. It was just too overwhelming to continue on that path. It just seemed to go on and on and on. Where the heck could that cup be? This was frustrating. Who knows how big this maze was and how deep Moody had placed that cup? Maybe I had been going around and around in circles for who knows how long! How long had I been in this maze? Minutes? Hours? Days?! No, it wasn't days. But it felt like it. I took a few more turns, feeling lost and hopeless. And then, when I turned the corner, I saw that shiny Triwizard Cup and the Bulgarian Bum-Bum himself attacking Harry. Well, I couldn't just stand around and do nothing. Like Chloe said, we were presenting the same school.
"Get down!" I ordered. I pointed my wand my wand at Krum. "Expelliarmus," Krum flew back. Well, now he was unconscious. I ran up and kicked his wand out of his hand. Stupid Durmstrang buddy of stupid Filip who gave stupid compliments to my Chloe. Oh I how loathed him. I could finish this guy off right now, it wouldn't be that hard, if it weren't for that stupid fourteen year old cheat.
"No Cedric, he's bewitched," he said. "He's bewitched," that gets annoying fast.
"Get off me!" I threw him off and started running towards the cup. Harry was close behind me. Annoying fourth year. How did he get in this tournament anyways? Ah, yes, there was the cup.
"Yes," Harry said from beside me. Uh, no, that cup is mine. We took off towards the cup, the enchanted hedge doing its best to try and trip us or something. Harry just brushed past it like it was nothing. It was much harder for me. I kept stumbling but I didn't fall.
One of the branches wrapped around my ankle and pulled me down. I tried to get away but I couldn't! It was too hard. They kept wrapping around me and pulling me down every time I tried to break free.
"Harry," I begged. He wasn't too far away from me. He could help. I kept begging but he just stood there. He wasn't going to leave me here was he? He couldn't! I had someone waiting for me back there and I desperately needed to get back to her. I couldn't leave her in this world all alone! And I made her a promise that I'd walk out, Harry couldn't let me break the promise. "Harry," I begged again.
"Reducto," he said, breaking the branches. Finally, thank goodness to. I thought I was a goner.
"For a moment there I thought you were going to let it get me," I admitted once I was on my feet again.
"For a moment there so did I," well, that's comforting. Then, the wind picked up and leaves started flying everywhere. We both knew that that meant trouble.
"Go, go!" I exclaimed. We took off towards the cup.
"Take it," I said to Harry. It was only fair. He saved my life after all. Besides, I didn't care about winning the Tournament, just getting back to Chloe. "You saved me take it," I repeated.
"Together," alright, that seemed far.
"1, 2, 3,"
Muahahaha! Cliffy. Actually, this is where I need your help. My original plan was to kill him off but some of you guys don't want him to die, so there's a new poll on my page as to weather Cedric should live or die. Don't send your answer in a review, take the poll so it's a surprise as to which answer got the most votes. But, live or die I have sequels planned for both. Anyways, R&R!