Unreal

Chp 100.5 Through the Pages

I slipped through, the eagle knocker watching me as I pushed open the door, the stone spiral steps unfolding downward.

The corridors were hushed, just the faint echo of my footsteps bouncing off the stone walls. My fingers brushed the cool stone as I walked, grounding myself in the quiet.

Right. Library first, then look for a good spells book. Right. Yeah.

At least I wasn't sitting in class right now. That alone felt like a small victory.

I slowed my pace, letting the air fill my lungs—faint parchment, candle wax, and a hint of something floral drifting in from an open window. The kind of scent that made you pause without realizing why.

And despite the whole almost dying thing—despite the nightmares, the what-ifs—I couldn't help it. I loved my life here. The magic, the chaos, the way Hogwarts felt like it was mine in these rare quiet moments.

••••

As I neared the library corridor, I spotted a small group of Hufflepuffs huddled against the wall, heads bent close together. My curiosity sparked for a second—What are they up to?—but I brushed it off and kept walking.

The moment I passed them, someone called my name.

I turned, and there he was—Cedric—stepping out from the circle. His friends gave him a round of nudges and teasing smirks, while a few just eyed me curiously.

"What are you doing here?" Cedric asked, his tone warm but with that hint of knowing amusement. "And why didn't you go to Charms?"

I shifted awkwardly under the weight of his friends' stares. "Just... looking for a few books."

"For the Third Task?" he guessed easily, his smile tipping into something more knowing.

I nodded, already pushing the heavy library door open.

"I'll join you," he said, like it was the simplest decision in the world, moving to hold the door for me.

I glanced at him, then at his friends still loitering behind. "What about your friends?"

He just waved them off with a quick motion, and without missing a beat, fell into step behind me.

•••

The library air was cool and hushed, the smell of old parchment clinging to the stillness. My footsteps softened against the rug as I trailed a hand along the spines of books, scanning for the right section. Cedric followed at an easy pace, his presence steady but never overbearing—like he belonged here with me, somehow.

"Do you already know the task?" he asked after a moment, his voice low enough not to disturb Madam Pince, but still threaded with curiosity.

"Yes," I murmured, my gaze darting along a row of dusty titles.

He hummed, stepping around to check the opposite shelf. "And? Any guesses on the dangers they'll throw at us?"

A smirk tugged at my mouth. "Oh, you know... the usual. Fire-breathing something, soul-sucking something else, maybe a small chance of death."

"Small chance?" he echoed, glancing over with that faint grin. "That's... optimistic."

I plucked a heavy, leather-bound book from the shelf, brushing dust from its cover. The moment I had it, Cedric reached over without asking and took it from me, tucking it under his arm as we headed toward an empty table.

If I don't get to the Cup first... Cedric might di—
No. I wasn't even sure if this was still following the movie script. Things kept shifting—some scenes lined up, others didn't. But... I still needed to make sure.