Backfire • Cedric Diggory [✓]

• EIGHT •

"Here. An efficient antidote depends on how the potion was brewed, so we can't be able to answer that question yet. But it says we can determine how long he'd be lovesick for you." Hermione says, reading from the tattered book. Holland tried to collect her thoughts.

"Ashwinder eggs, rose thorns, peppermint, pearl dust, rose petals," Hermione began to read out what the potion contained. "Powdered moonstone, one spoon equivalent to 30 days of efficacy." Hermione looks at Holland as they had found something to help them not look so clueless about the situation they were in. "The spoons of moonstone powder determines whether or not an antidote could still work. More than 3 spoons, he's a goner." Hermione concludes.

"Perfect. All we have to do is find out how many spoons of moonstone is in there! Shouldn't be anything to worry about, right? Not like Diggory's got any intentions of marrying me and having Dane empty the entire jar of moonstone, you don't think?" Holland asks, still trying to calm herself down as the two look for two specific Hufflepuffs.

"Moonstone? Can't recall, but I don't reckon I'd put more than 5," Dane Oliver chuckles in amusement, not knowing Holland's situation. Hermione's eyes widen at what he had just heard, immediately looking at Holland to see how she had taken the news. Holland's eyes were wide, but her expression blank, trying to not panic. The two had looked all over the castle for the Hufflepuffs, knowing that Cedric Diggory was best friends with his year's potions master. Dane had been speaking to them at the end of the bridge, on the slope on the way to Hagrid's hut whilst Cedric was sternly told to simply wait for them from afar in the bridge and only allowed to peer from it, Holland fearing he'd fearlessly kiss her if they were too close, but also would suddenly get the temptation to profess his love to her and tell the entire school about it if he were somewhere unattended.

"Are you joking?" She asks quietly, not trusting her voice. She turned to look at Cedric, who was staring at her with a smile. "Is he joking? Please tell me he's joking." She begs Hermione. "HAVE YOU GONE MAD? What made you think that doing that was okay?" She yells out at the confused Hufflepuff, who had now flinched backwards, afraid to be near the hysteric Slytherin.

"Hey, what's going on over there!" Cedric demands, beginning to jog over to them before Holland lets out, "No, stay right there!" The boy raises both hands in defeat and stops in his tracks, slowly retreating to the bridge.

"Look, he said he was tired of all the goblin slime and the hexes." He explains, rolling his eyes as if he were to say the two could have easily retaliated with complex potions instead of silly wand-waving. "The book said the more spoons of moonstone, the higher the chances of it working. We are talking about the Draught of Peace, right? Cedric was just tired of all the fighting." Dane says. Holland snorts, that was it? She'd expected more from the boy. She had to admit, it was quite amusing how the boy was still nice as he tried to prank her. While Holland found the attempt pathetic due to the lack of vindictiveness, Hermione found the attempt pathetic due to the fact that the Draught of Peace was not to commence the kind of peace that would end wars or feuds, but to commence a deep, easy sleep upon the drinker. She concluded that like Viktor Krum, Dane Oliver was a superb potion brewer, but not the smartest.

"I think the draught has given me and him a little too much peace!" Holland says. "Can't go one day without him tailing me, why don't you go brew your best friend the Draught of Peace off." Holland cries in agony, Hermione trying not to laugh.

"That can't be. How silly of me!" Dane says in disbelief. "I must have gotten the words all confused when I was reading it. Amorentia and Draught of Peace were on the same page, I didn't think it would be difficult to tell the difference!" He was chuckling nervously, the two witches staring at him in distaste.