And now we get to see Cedric's side.

CEDRIC V

Cedric had a hard time following what Professor McGonagall was saying. Despite the fact he would be exempt from final exams this year, it was only of final exams that he was exempted. He had to keep studying and to complete his homework, no matter his new status as champion of Hogwarts.

He tried to keep track, taking as many notes as he could about human metamorphosis. In this very instant, he regretted taking Transfiguration among his lessons in sixth year. He knew that once the class would be over, he would reason once again that it was better to have as many N.E.W.T.s as possible, but right now he regretted his choice. Though truth be told, all lessons were very hard this year.

Suddenly, McGonagall stopped in her explanations. The door of the classroom just opened. A small boy with black hair stood in the doorframe, and everyone was looking at him. Cedric guessed that the poor boy must feel quite intimidated. Cedric recognized him as one of the first-years who joined Hufflepuff at the Sorting. Having wizards who were all at least five years older than him staring in his direction had to be quite intimidating for the small boy.

"Mr Whitby."

All students moved their heads towards McGonagall who just said the name.

"Yes, Professor McGonagall?"

"Come here."

Slowly, hesitatingly, under the gaze of each and every student in the class, Kevin Whitby advanced between the desks until he stood in front of the professor, his back turned on them. Cedric had sympathy for the little boy. He just arrived at Hogwarts, and one of the most severe professors of the school had him standing in front of her, in the presence of dozens of other students who were way older and more experienced than he was.

"So, there must be a reason why you're interrupting this lesson, Whitby," McGonagall continued.

"Yes, professor."

A silence continued afterwards.

"So, what is it?" she finally asked. "Or are you going to stand there and offer your comrades the very interesting view of your back."

"Sorry, professor," the young boy stammered. "Mr Bagman asked me to bring Cedric Diggory upstairs. It's to…"

McGonagall stopped him by simply raising her hand. "No need to say more. I was already made aware this morning that it would happen today." The Transfiguration teacher turned her attention to Cedric. "Well, Mr Diggory, it seems you will be spared the last hour of this lesson. I expect you to borrow notes from your comrades to know what you missed. Even the champions of the Triwizard Tournament must study seriously. And I wouldn't want you to fall behind your comrades."

"Er… Yes, professor. I will do what's necessary," Cedric replied.

He shot a glance at Heidi sitting next to him, and she nodded, meaning she would inform him of what he missed afterwards.

"Well, Mr Whitby, what are you waiting for? Escort Mr Diggory. And you, Mr Diggory, what are you waiting for? Don't make Mr Whitby wait for you."

Cedric scrambled to gather his material, pushed it to the bottom of his brand new bag his parents sent him when they learned he was selected to be Hogwarts' champion, and followed Kevin out of the classroom. At the same time, while he left, he felt something he sadly felt too often lately. Tension. Lessons in Transfiguration had become tense. His comrades from Hufflepuff were obviously hostile towards their Transfiguration teacher. They didn't show any outward sign of disrespect, but the words pronounced behind her back when they were out of the classroom, and their general silent behavior towards her in class were part of the current tension between the houses of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff that settled ever since the night of Halloween. This was a situation Cedric regretted, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

"So, why does Mr Bagman want to see me?" he asked the young boy once they made a few steps away.

"Something to do about photos. And checking the wands."

"Checking the wands?" Cedric had no idea what this meant, and the boy neither. But the boy in question changed subject right away.

"How do you become Hogwarts' champion?"

"Oh. Well, we just put our name into the Goblet of Fire, and we wait to see if it's chosen us."

"That's all? We can't increase our chances to be chosen?"

Cedric thought for some time about it before he answered. "I don't know." He wasn't aware of how the Goblet made its choice. "How old are you?"

"Twelve. My birthday was on October 27," he said proudly.

"Really? Then this means that in five years, if you want, you could participate to the Triwizard Tournament."

"Really?" the boy asked, all hopeful all of a sudden.

"Yes. The Tournament takes place once every five years."

He kept discussing with Kevin on the way, until they reached a door where the first-year left him.

"Good luck, Cedric!"

Cedric walked in, to find himself in a small classroom where a few desks were placed at the front and covered with velvet.

"Ah, Cedric!" Ludovic Bagman stood up from his chair behind the table and came to shake his hand. "Glad to see you again. Don't worry. It will not take a lot of time. The other judges will arrive soon, and we will begin the Wand Weighing ceremony."

"Wand Weighing?" Cedric asked, uncertain.

"Yes. Something very simple. We must ensure that your wands are functional for the Tournament, since they will be your main tool. Karkaroff, Barty and Dumbledore are already with the expert upstairs, and… Oh, when we talk about the wolf."

Two other people just came from behind Cedric. Madame Maxime and Fleur walked into the classroom, and Mr Bagman quickly went to see them, clumsily kissing their hands. Madame Maxime left after he indicated her where the other judges were and after he told her he would take great care of her champion in the meantime. Cedric had gone to put his bag in a corner of the room. When he straightened up, he found that Fleur graciously sat down on a nearby chair. Krum was already there when he entered, alone in a corner, while a man with a camera now looked to Fleur attentively, and a woman covered with jewels and a complicated haircut remained behind the table of velvet, looking with interest at both Cedric, Fleur and Krum. A feather kept writing on a piece of paper next to her. Cedric supposed these two people were a photographer and a journalist. Bagman went back to discuss with the woman at the table.

"So, everyone is fine? You had a good day?" Cedric asked to Krum and Fleur.

The Bulgarian Seeker only made a movement between a nod and a shrug.

"Yes, we have. This place is not as beautiful as the Beauxbatons Academy, but I must admit that it has its own charm, in a certain way," Fleur said, smiling brightly in his direction.

Cedric laughed a little. "Look. I know we are adversaries in this tournament, but… I wish you both good luck. Sincerely."

Krum acknowledged his words with the same gesture again.

"Thank you, Cedric. You're very kind," Fleur told him. She threw her hair back. Cedric had to admit she was very beautiful. "It seems that there are indeed gentlemen at Hogwarts. How long have you been there?"

"At Hogwarts? It's my sixth year."

"Oh. I thought you were in your seventh."

"No, sixth. My birthday just happens to be early in the year."

She nodded, throwing her hair again in the process, catching the sunlight. "How will you do to get through your exams? Are you going to be delayed for an entire year? Or will you be able to complete them this summer?"

Cedric shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think I'll have to go through them at all. The N.E.W.T.s are only next year."

Fleur frowned. "N.E.W.T.s?"

"Ah…" Cedric was a little uncomfortable explaining the meaning of this acronym. "Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test."

Fleur didn't react immediately. Then she burst into laughter, her hair flying in the air once more. "You really call your final tests this way?"

Cedric laughed as well. "Yes. I know. But it is an accurate and appropriate name to describe them."

"At Beauxbatons, we have examinations in our last year as well. But we call them Examens ministériels de Maîtrise Magique. I guess if I translated, it would give something like Ministerial Exams of Magic Mastery. M.E.M.M."

"Without wanting to lack respect, I think our name and acronym are the best."

"They're funny. I'll give you that. I'm supposed to graduate this year, but it will have to wait after the Tournament. I'll be given a chance to complete my exams in the summer instead. Are you going to complete your BUSEs this summer as well."

This time, it was Cedric who frowned. "My what?"

"Your BUSEs. Your Brevets Universels de Sorcelleries Élémentaires." Then Fleur's eyes widened, and she laughed again while throwing her hair back once more. Cedric found her hair very interesting to look at. "Sorry. It's my fault. I believe here your call them Ordinary Wizarding Levels."

"Ah. The O.W.L.s. Yes, we have them. But I had them last year."

"Really?"

Fleur seemed very interested. Cedric was very pleased to explain to her that they had their O.W.L.s during their fifth year. Fleur explained to him that they had their own in the sixth year of their schooling. They kept talking, finally sitting in front of each other, very close. Cedric was so absorbed by the conversation that he barely noticed Harry's arrival or his departure with Rita Skeeter. They only stopped talking when Dumbledore and the rest of the judges arrived in the room. Only then Cedric managed to tear away his attention from Fleur. Cedric was surprised to see Mr Ollivander, the wandmaker who made and sold Cedric his wand, walk with them.

"Hello, champions. Ludo, is everyone here?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, everyone is here. We can begin," the former Beater enthusiastically replied.

"I hate to contradict you, Ludo, but I beg to differ. It seems that Rita Skeeter is absent, yet the Daily Prophet made it clear she would be there. And it seems one of the four champions is absent."

Cedric noticed how Karkaroff and Madame Maxime seemed unhappy at the mention that there were four champions.

"Rita wanted to ask a few questions to Harry before…"

"Then I'll bring them both back here immediately," Dumbledore said, leaving on this.

Barely a minute later, Dumbledore was back, with both Harry and Rita Skeeter. Cedric, Krum and Fleur had taken place on seats in front of the judges who sat behind the velvet table. Harry sat down next to Cedric, while Rita Skeeter placed herself in the corner, her feather still writing by itself.

"May I introduce Mr Ollivander?" Dumbledore said. "He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the Tournament."

Cedric nodded in the direction of Ollivander, who was standing next to a window now. The very old man stepped forward.

"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you forward first, please?"

Fleur graciously stood up, threw back her hair once more while shooting a gazed to Cedric, then slowly walked in such a way that she seemed to be sliding on the floor. Ollivander carefully took the wand she presented him. He turned it between his hands, looking at it closely as a few pink and goal sparks emanated from it.

"Hmm… Yes… Nine and a half inches… Inflexible… Rosewood… And containing…" His eyes grew. "Dear me…"

"A hair from the head of a Veela," Fleur answered, almost proudly. "One of my grandmother's."

Cedric stared at Fleur's back. He knew that her appearance was familiar to him. She somehow reminded him of the Bularian mascots at the Quidditch World Cup. He even heard some boys pretend that she was a Veela. But now everything made sense. She was part Veela. A quarter of it.

Cedric felt quite uncomfortable all of a sudden. Was this why he was so enthralled by her only a few moments ago? Did she use some kind of seduction on him? His mind wandered to Cho, and he felt irrationally quite guilty.

"Yes… Yes…" Ollivander slowly confirmed. "I've never used Veela hair myself, of course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wands…" Remembering how the Veelas almost turned into nightmare creatures in August, Cedric understood why he said so. "However, to each his own, and if it suits you…"

Ollivander touched the wand, and pronounced a spell. A bouquet of flowers burst from it. He gave the bouquet with her wand back to Fleur.

"Very well, very well. It's in fine working order," Ollivander said, inviting Fleur to sit down. "Mr Diggory, you next."

Cedric stood up as Fleur passed him, a beaming smile towards him. He returned her smile, but knowing her heritage now, he felt awkward about all this and the reactions it elicited within him. Cedric stopped in front of Mr Ollivander and gave him the wand this man sold him years ago. He then waited the verdict as Ollivander looked through and through his wand, showing as much carefulness as with Fleur's. Cedric hoped there would be nothing wrong.

"Ah, now, this is one of mine, isn't it?" the wandmaker asked, to which Cedric replied with a nod to confirm. "Yes, I remember it well. Containing a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn… Must have been seventeen hands… Nearly gored me with his horn after I plucked his tail." He heard Fleur muffling a laugh behind, and Cedric himself had to contain one. "Twelve and a quarter inches… Ash… Pleasantly springy… It's in fine condition." Cedric was relieved. "You treat it regularly?"

"Polished it last night," he replied, not without pride. He always took great care of his magical instruments, whether it was his wand or his broomstick.

Ollivander seemed to approve. He then produced several rings of smoke that travelled across the room. "Working very well. Keep taking good care of it," Ollivander said, giving back his wand to Cedric with a smile. "Mr Krum, if you please."

Cedric and Krum didn't exchange a gaze when their paths crossed. Cedric looked to Harry, who seemed to be avoiding his gaze. He had his wand in his right hand, close to his leg. Ollivander, in the meantime, examined Krum's wand, mentioning it came from another wandmaker by the name of Gregorovitch. He finally created small birds with it and gave his wand back to Krum.

"Good. Which leaves… Mr Potter."

Harry stood up and walked to Ollivander, giving him his wand.

"Aaaaaaah. Yes." Ollivander began to turn the wand and to look at it from various angles. "Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember."

Ollivander seemed to take a keen interest in Harry's wand. He examined it longer and more carefully than any other. He looked so absorbed in the examination that he almost didn't say a single word of the whole time. He only sometimes seemed to mutter something, but at such low volume that Cedric didn't understand at all what he meant. In the end, Ollivander used the wand to produce a fountain of wine.

"She is in excellent condition."

Despite his smile, Cedric couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong as he handed the wand back to Harry. Ollivander looked concerned as he looked at Harry walking away from him.

"Thank you all," Dumbledore said then. "You may go back to your lessons now. Or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end."

Some like Harry and Krum just got up, but the man with the camera and Mr Bagman made it very clear at this moment that photos had to be taken.

The group photos took quite some time. The positioning of people proved very problematic. One of the main problems was Madame Maxime. She was so tall that the photographer could hardly get her to fit into the frame of his device. He tried every angle, every position to no avail. They all finally gave up, and they brought a chair so she would sit with everyone else around. What made the arrangements more complicated was that everyone wanted the champions to be arranged differently. Fleur didn't hesitate to position herself at the front, which the photographer encouraged. In the meantime, both Harry and Krum were trying to stand in the back of the group, almost hidden. But Karkaroff tried to bring his champion at the forefront, and Rita Skeeter also insisted on positioning Harry in front. Cedric had to admit that the latter made more sense. Harry was by far the smallest person of them all, followed by Fleur. Cedric was tall, but Krum competed with him, being probably about an inch or two taller than Cedric was. Cedric tried to simply take the spot that fitted him the best in the group, but Dumbledore encouraged him, though not with much insistence, to not simply step aside. Finally, after much debate, reluctance and hesitation from judges, headmasters, champions and journalists, they managed to get a few shots. If choosing everyone's disposal in a photo was that difficult, no wonder it had been hard to reorganize the Tournament after almost two centuries of interruption.

As if it wasn't enough, they took individual shots for each champion. Cedric was a little irritated by this time, for this all seemed to drag, but Harry was probably the one who displayed in the most obvious way his frustration through his facial expression. Krum didn't seem to enjoy it anymore, though he showed it less evidently. Only Fleur seemed to relish in this, and she was the first one to take individual photos. The photographer took so many that even Madame Maxime had to stop him after his flash went off more times than Cedric could count. He thought he might have asked Fleur to take a dozen different poses.

Krum came next. Cedric was surprised how sulky he looked. He was a celebrity. Her had to be used to this kind of things. The photographer took lots of shots of him, no surprise there, though less than Fleur. Despite his initial excitement, the photographer seemed to lose interest in getting photos of the famous Seeker when he proved uncooperative and refused without a word to take different poses. Only when Karkaroff insisted did Krum conceded to do as he was asked. When the photographer was finally done, the Headmaster of Durmstrang insisted to make a few more, but the other judges opposed, stating this had lasted long enough, and the photographer himself and Rita Skeeter agreed with them. Cedric saw a shadow of anger go through Karkaroff's face, though he replied kindly the others were probably right and that he got carried away with all the excitement. Still, he discreetly left the room with his champion as Cedric was taking his own shots.

Cedric's own session of photos was probably the shortest. The photograph went much quicker and didn't give as much care to his shots as he had done with Fleur and Krum. When the photographer told him this was enough, anyway, Cedric didn't complain. They would only need one photo, so why take a hundred of them. This made the operation much faster. No one insisted to take more shots. Only Dumbledore raised the voice when it was done.

"Are you sure that you have everything you need, photographer?"

"It's fine, Professor. I don't mind," Cedric replied before everyone else. "I'm sure they have enough photos."

Dumbledore opened his arms, admitting he conceded, and Skeeter immediately rushed Harry to take Cedric's place while he returned to sit next to Fleur.

"I'm sure you will be very handsome in the newspaper," she commented brightly. "Unlike some." She glanced on the side towards Harry as she said so.

Cedric didn't find the comment very nice, but he had to admit that he didn't think Harry's photo would cause people to battle for the newspaper. Harry looked as uncomfortable as Krum was. It was strange how people who were actually famous looked uncomfortable when facing cameras. Cedric guessed that celebrity had its downsides.

The session for Harry lasted so long that Dumbledore finally had to put an end to it. Rita Skeeter protested. She was more involved in these photos than with everyone else's, but Dumbledore was kindly firm and got it to stop.

"I believe that the Daily Prophet has more than enough," he declared. "And I think our champions would like to leave. They must be as hungry as I am."

"Well, I guess we will see each other at the first task," Fleur told Cedric kindly.

"Yes, I think so," he replied, as they stood up and made for the door leading to the outside of the classroom. Rita Skeeter and the photographer were discussing in low voices, and Skeeter almost grabbed away the camera from its owner's hands.

"Can I ask a favor from you, Cedric?" Fleur asked.

"It depends which one," he replied. She threw her hair behind her head once more. Cedric was once again transfixed by the undulations of her blond locks. He tried to recover from their effect and to ignore them, but it was hard.

"Don't do me any favor in the first task. I won't give you any."

And she kissed him on the cheek like that. Cedric felt his face go hot immediately, but Fleur had already left him on this spot, grinning at him as she walked away. Cedric had to shake himself several times to recover his mind. He tried to think about anything but Fleur Delacour. And the first thought that came to his mind was Cho.

Cho. Her long, black, shining hair. After some time, he thought Fleur's effect on him was over. Turning to the opposite side of the corridor Fleur followed, Cedric saw the silhouette of Harry far away. He decided what to do immediately and quickened his pace to catch on him. It wasn't hard. Cedric was way taller and older than Harry. His legs were longer. He caught up with him in no time.

"Hi, Harry. So, the photo sessions was not too hard?" he asked him.

"It was fine," Harry replied shortly.

Cedric got the impression from his answer that Harry had no envy of talking to him. Still, Cedric insisted and asked what he wanted.

"Look, Harry, I only want to ask you a question. Whatever you answer, I'll believe you. But it wasn't you who put your name in the Goblet of Fire, am I wrong?"

Harry stopped, and stared at Cedric, He had something between anger and uncertainty on his face. "No. I didn't put my name in that Goblet. I've been repeating it to everyone for over a week now. It's the truth."

Cedric didn't reply immediately. Harry's face didn't show any doubt or uncertainty now. "I believe you."

In reaction to Cedric's words, he did display uncertainty. "Really?" Harry didn't seem to believe Cedric.

"Yes. I have no reason to doubt your word." Truth be told, he still wasn't entirely sure whether Harry was telling the truth or not. Despite days of thinking about it and various conversations he had with many people on the matter, including with Cho, he still wasn't sure whether or not Harry was telling the truth. But he was ready to choose to believe him. After all, Harry never gave Cedric any reason to believe he was a liar.

"Well… Seeing their badges, most of the other people don't think like you."

Cedric frowned, but he noticed that Harry was looking behind his back. Cedric turned to see two younger students from Hufflepuff coming their way. Each wore one of those large badges Cedric saw for the first time today, with a red message stating Support CEDRIC DIGGORY, the REAL Hogwarts Champion. Cedric realized too late that it was those badges Harry was mentioning. To his regret, the two students noticed Harry ahead and turned the message to a green one: POTTER STINKS.

"I've asked them not to wear them," he muttered, more to himself than to anybody else. Cedric had not much problem with people trying to support him, but he disagreed with the way they mocked and insulted someone else. Even if Harry did put his name in the Goblet of Fire, this was no reason to behave like that. This behaviour was more fitting to Slytherins than to a Hufflepuff.

"Well, they didn't listen to you, it seems," Harry said in his back. He heard Cedric obviously.

When he turned to look at Harry, he was walking away. Cedric didn't chase him. It wouldn't do much good, he thought. The two students turned back their badges to the words encouraging him and waved their hands in his direction when they passed next to him. Cedric smiled at them, but a part of him was quite dissatisfied with what was going on. Ever since the naming of the champions, his personal relationships with Gryffindors had suffered. The Chasers of the Gryffindor team, Angelina, Alicia and Katie, with whom he had gotten along extremely well from last year, did not talk to him anymore. Many other Gryffindors ignored him as well when they crossed path, including fellow Prefects. To Cedric, it was unfair. He put his name in the Goblet of Fire, and it was chosen. He didn't do anything wrong. Though, if he really believed Harry and the fellow Seeker did not put his name into the Goblet of Fire, then what Harry was going through right now was just as unfair.

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