"ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ"
"Shouldn't they be out by now?"
Cedric and Harry had been in the maze for around an hour and were shortly followed by Krum and Fleur afterwards. The sky was darkening and with each passing second they weren't out of this death trap, my mind had flown to conclusions and my feet tapping on the stands got quicker and quicker.
I know I had said I wasn't worried, but in all honesty, I was nervous. Anything could happen in these tasks. I didn't know what to expect. Not only was the maze uncharted to the four champions facing it, but to everyone watching.
"They'll be out soon, Y/N. It's okay." Anthony reassured me.
That's when a second, bright red spark shot from the maze and flew high into the night air, causing a few gasps to echo through the stadium. The crowd's eyes floated up as they all watched the cry for help soar higher and higher and eventually drift down back towards its source. My head was now considering everyone situation whoever sent it was in. Was it Cedric? Why did he send it? Is he okay?
There had been one earlier from this one, which we soon found out Harry sent in order to get help to Fleur, who was carried out from the maze by the professors, after she was almost swallowed up by the branches.
"Who sent that? Do you think it was Cedric? Oh god, is he okay?" I had stood up now, but Ava grabbed my hand to calm me down and gestured for me to return to my seat.
"Y/N, he's okay, I promise. Please sit down."
I looked at her longingly, before nodding and taking my seat. I wasn't sure if I believed her, but it's all I could do for now. It's all I could do from the outside.
It had been about ten minutes since the professors had gone in to locate whoever sent the spark. I had been sitting anxiously since then, biting my nails; something I never do.
"Y/N, stop biting your nails; it's such a bad habit." Spencer said to me.
"I know, but I can't help it."
"Hey, look." she smiled, pointing to the front of the arena, where the entrance was now separating and the fern leaves were opening to reveal Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape, both of their arms wrapped around a boy in the middle. It was Cedric.
He was covered in dirt and his hair was sloppy with sweat. He was panting for breath and was trudging his feat forward, whilst desperately clinging onto the two men for support.
I abruptly stood up. "It's Cedric." I sighed with relief, released of all tension, "he's okay."
"No cup though." Anthony pointed out, he too now standing up.
"I don't care." and with that I ran from my seat, down the steps and threw my arms around him. "You're okay. Thank god you're okay."
He laughed at how worried I was, but soon warmed into the embrace and wrapped his arms around my waist, "of course I am. I told you I would be." I pulled away before showering him with kisses on his lips and cheeks, causing him to chuckle again and blush slightly.
"The spark. Did you send it?"
"Yeah..."
He looked, almost worried and I looked around to see Amos, Dumbledore and Snape. "Harry. Where's Harry?"
"That's the thing. I found the cup first and then Harry did. We both went after it, but I tripped and he saved me. I then let him take the cup, but he disappeared."
I furrowed my eyebrows with confusion, "what are you saying?"
"The cup. It was a portkey. Harry's gone."
The tension had built since then and there was still no sign of Harry.
"That's definitely not meant to happen right?" I asked Cedric, who was sat beside me.
"No, he's meant to be transported here, not anywhere else. But where do you think it would have taken him?"
"I dunno." I then looked over to Professor Moody, the one who put the cup in its place. Surely he would know something. Something we don't.
And then suddenly Harry was flown forward and landed in the arena's centre, cup in hand. Everyone's eyes darted towards the now very bloody boy and the coveted trophy. The orchestra begun again and the cheers sounded once more.
Except Harry didn't look as though a boy that just won 'eternal glory' and a thousand galleons that you would expect; he looked distraught and traumatised...
"Harry! Harry!" Dumbledore ran over to the boy, who was still laying down. "Tell me what happened!"
"He's back, he's back! Voldemort's back." the boy yelled and I could feel the fear grow inside of me as my eyes widened. Everyone was out of their seats now, anxious as ever.
"It's alright Harry. It's alright, you're home." Dumbledore tried to comfort him.
"Keep everybody in their seats." Fudge instructed, "there is some frightening news."
I wanted to comfort Harry, but he had now been dragged away by the too suspicious Moody for anyone to have the chance. I thought for a moment before looking up at Cedric, "Ced, you do know what this means right?"
"Yeah. If I had touched that cup...I'd probably be dead."
•·················•·················•
Despite the chaos that came from that night and the very daunting idea of you-know-who's return, the 'show must go on' as Dumbledore seemed to put it. So, the awarding ceremony still had to happen, seen as the Triwizard tournament had to have a winner.
None of us really quite knew who it was going to be, seen as technically Cedric saw it first, but Harry did save his life and was the one who ended up touching the cup, despite it taking him to his near end. No one knew if they were going to split the money it or not, so here we were, sat in the great hall, all of us still quite taken aback after last night's events, the four champions at the front, anticipating the disclosure of the winner.
"Welcome everyone to the awarding ceremony of this years Triwizard tournament!" there was applaud and cheers from throughout the room, before it fell silent again. "Can I please have your attention. After much consideration between my fellow professors and I, I am pleased to announce the winner of the 1994 Triwizard tournament is..." silence once again. But this time, dead silence.
This whole year had lead up to this moment and most people in this room weren't even competing in it, nor did it affect them whoever won. The tension was loud and clear and I looked over at Cedric, his eyes squeezed shut and fists clenched. I knew how much this meant to him. "...Cedric Diggory!"
I had honestly never seen him so happy. His smile was spread right across his face and he was as delighted as ever. Myself and the rest of the Hufflepuff table had broken into cheers and optimism; I hadn't clapped louder.
As his dad kissed him on the forehead, and he shook hands with the headmaster, Cedric was handed his trophy, much to the 'delight' of Igor Karkaroff of course. Cedric admired the cup for a moment before lifting it up, showing of his victory, like he should. The cheers got louder as he lifted it higher. That was when our eyes locked. My face was beaming with pride and he smiled even happier when he noticed me amongst the crowd.
Cup in hand, he began walking through the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor table. I furrowed my eyebrows slightly, wondering what on earth he was doing, as I'm sure, whatever he had planned, he wasn't meant to do it. He hadn't taken his eyes of me as his walk began quicker and soon to a run. He met me at the table and I looked up at him, baffled almost.
Then he leant down and pressed his lips up against mine. I of course was surprised; he was never one for PDAs, but none the less, eased into the kiss, and kissed back. The boys of the crowds, specifically Cedric's friends had now began whistling, whereas the girls, 'awwed' softly.
"Very bold of you Diggory." I said, pulling away.
"Well, just making sure everyone know's you're mine."
My heart fluttered in my chest. "Congratulations champ." he sat down beside me, placing the cup on the table in front. "I'm really proud of you."
"I couldn't have done it without you."
"That you couldn't." I said confidently.
"Yes, congratulations Mr Diggory. Now, I have one more award I would like to share. To Mr Potter, for bravery and selflessness. I present to you this trophy, as a sign of your remarkable skills throughout the tournament, despite never meaning to compete in the first place."
Harry's face was startled as he took the award from Dumbledore's hands, the rest of the school applauding him.
Cedric took my hand into his, and they folded into one another, naturally. As my last year at school, drew to a close, I looked back on how truly exciting it was. There was some ups and downs, but I was by all means going to miss this place. A lot.
i cried writing this.
this is my last chapter to write cause i've already written chapter fifty
im so sad y'all
also, yeah harry kinda won, but it was either this or cedric = 💀