Cedric's P.O.V.
"Good luck Ced!" "You're gonna do great!" "Make us proud Diggory!" I was being greeted by many "good luck"s as I walked towards the Black Lake.
I smiled genuinely but there was one thing I couldn't get off my mind. Where was Hazel? I had hoped to speak to her this morning before the task to run through the million and a half scenarios I had anxiously dreamed of the night before, but the last I'd seen her had been at the library before she was summoned to McGonagall's office.
It was strange for Hazel to miss breakfast, especially on such an important morning. I ran through a list of things I might have said that could have upset her in the last week or two, but my nervous mind kept telling me to focus on the merpeople and the lake. I made it to where the boats were and hopped into one where I was taken to the platform for the champions, some students, and the professors. I shivered slightly as I took my jersey off, leaving me only in my shorts and 'Diggory' top. I jumped up and down slightly in attempt warm up as I looked down at the black lake. As I glanced into the icy water beneath me, a horrifying thought occurred to me.
What if HAZEL was what I needed to rescue?
I knew that Dumbledore would not knowingly put her in danger, but the idea that she was trapped at the bottom of the lake made my gut clench. She was my better half, my motivation, my prize... What if I couldn't rescue her in time? What if I failed? Would she leave me?
"Welcome to the second task." Dumbledore's voice sounded around the area. "Last night something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the black lake. In order to win each champion need only find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this,"
I looked over to Harry on my right who seemed to be shoving something down his throat.
"they will have one hour to do so and one hour only."
I scanned the crowd for Hazel once more and saw a few people with Diggory banners being held up. I waved courteously. My heart was racing. I looked over at Harry who was seriously choking now and received a harsh hit on the back by Moody.
"After that, they'll be on their own. You may begin at the start of the cannon."
The cannon immediately went off and all of us, except Harry, plunged into the icy water. We all swam away in different directions. Once I was far enough away from everyone else, I grabbed my wand from the strap on my leg and performed the bubble head charm. A bubble of air appeared which stuck tightly around my face and mouth supplying me with oxygen to breathe.
"Hazel you're amazing," I muttered as I began to search for the thing that was most valuable to me.
. . .
This was hard. Dumbledore was right. The cold water was making my blood cold and as I swam downwards the water became darker and murkier. It is only after passing several Grindylows that I finally began to make out a soft tune. It sounded like the singing of the merpeople. One swam past me causing me to lurch back. I decided to follow it. Soon I noticed an arch rock with 4 ghostly looking figures tied down to the bottom of the lake, their heads lolling effortlessly as they floated suspended
My eyes widened at the sight of one of the female figures. It was Hazel, eyes closed, tiny bubbles coming out of her mouth and brown hair floating around her face. My chest pounded as I neared her, worry twisting in my stomach as I realized that she was as still as death. Harry was already there at the foot of his ginger-haired friend. When I reached Hazel, pulled out my wand from the strap on my leg. With a swish, a jet of light shot out of my wand and cut Hazel free from her rope. I swam up to her and wrapped my arm around hers before looking at Harry and tapping my wand against my watch to indicate we had little time left. He nodded.
I hooked an arm around hers and began to pull Hazel up to the surface. I kicked with everything I had and I could see the light from above nearing. I'll get you home I thought with a smile as I began to make my way towards the surface, anxious about the time.
Hazel's P.O.V
I took a deep inhale of cool air that gratefully filled my lungs as I broke the surface of the water. I could hear screaming and cheering all around me and there was an arm linked with mine. I opened my eyes and saw Cedric right next me, holding me tightly in his grasp. I smiled broadly with happiness and lunged at him, crashing my lips onto his. I looked around. None of the other champions were there. Cedric got first place!
"You got first!" I exclaimed. Cedric laughed. We swam back to the platform and I am helped by an ecstatic looking Cedric, his arm never leaving my waist. Once he climbed up, I crushed him in a hug. "You're amazing!"
He wrapped his arms around me in a warm embrace. "Well, you were the one who found the bubble head charm." He said. His voice went soft, "I'm so glad you're okay,"
"I'm glad you rescued me," I breathed in his familiar, calming scent. Peppermint.
"Always," Cedric said, kissing my cheek. "You're my most valuable prize."
A team of people swarmed around me as they dragged me away from Cedric, placing blankets and towels over my shoulders to stop my intense shivering. I couldn't help but smile as I looked over in Cedric's direction as he celebrated his victory with his friends. I watched as Krum and Hermione both emerged from the water.
"WHOO HOO!" I yelled clapping as they swam over to the stands. Once they were out and Hermione thanked Krum, I ran up to her and hugged her tightly. She laughed and hugged me back. Once we broke apart we went over to the rail and looked at the lake waiting for Harry and Ron. But instead, Ron and Gabrielle emerged from the water.
They swam over to Fleur and were brought back onto the stands. Hermione grabbed my hands. Suddenly, Harry skyrocketed out of the Lake and landed with a flop onto the stands. Everyone rushed over to see if he was okay. Seamus wrapped Harry in the towel as Dumbledore was giving instruction. Hermione and I pushed our way through.
But Fleur was already crouched down beside him.
"You saved her, even though she wasn't yours to save.
My little sister!
Thank you!" With a grab of his head, Fleur gave Harry kisses on the face.
"And you," Fleur turned to Ron, "You helped!"
"Well... yeah... a bit" Ron replied, receiving a kiss from her as well.
Ron, looking surprised and dazed, touched his cheek and said, "Merci"
Hermione and I resumed our meet to Harry.
"Harry!" We both exclaimed grabbing him.
"Hermione! Hazel! Ow!"
"Are you alright? You must be freezing!" I exclaimed as Hermione and I wrapped our towels around Harry.
"Personally, I think you behaved admirably," Hermione said.
"I finished last Hermione," Harry replied. Hermione grabbed Harry and kissed him on the head.
"Next to last."
I leaned in and kissed Harry as well on the head.
Much cheering was happening and nobody noticed Dumbledore waving his arm for attention.
"Attention!" he yelled. There was still cheering and music. "Atteeeentiooonnn!" he yelled again but this time through his wand. We all covered our ears from the loud sound. "The winner is Mr. Diggory!" The crowd began to cheer. I looked over at Cedric who was smiling broadly with his friends patting his back and cheering.
"Who showed unique command of the bubblehead charm. However, seeing as Mr. Potter would have finished first had it not been or his determination to rescue not only Mr. Weasley but the others as well, We've agreed to award him second place! For outstanding moral fiber."
We all began to cheer. The champions and their "stolen objects" were lead onto the boats to be brought back to land. As the boat began to move. I put my head on Cedric's shoulder, closing my eyes and letting my worries wash away. Cedric kissed the top of my head.
"I love you," he muttered into my head.
I smiled. "You too."
. . .
Later the night I went to Hagrid's hut with the trio. We went for a walk into the forest and Harry seemed a little distant from the rest of us. Hagrid was reminiscing about the fun time we had had with each other.
"Now I remember, I remember when I first met you all. Biggest bunch of misfits I've ever set eyes on. Always reminded me of myself a little. And here we all are, four years later."
"We're still misfits Hagrid," I replied.
"Maybe. But we've all got each other, and Harry of course. Soon to be! The youngest! Triwizard Champion there's ever been! Hooray!"
I laughed. Hagrid could be hilarious.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts," Hagrid began to sing.
Ron, Hermione and I joined in. "Teach us something please! Whether we be old and bald or young with scabby knees!"
I noticed Harry hadn't moved from a spot by a tree.
"Harry?" I called out running to get to him. I followed his gaze to the floor where there, lying dead on the floor, was Barty Crouch.