Starlight// FW

The Champion

**** 

Cedric and I had grown closer as the next few weeks passed. He walked me to class, ate lunch with me on the grounds, and studied with me in the library. He still hadn't kissed me, and when I brought that fact up one day he simply said it was because he wanted the moment to be perfect.

I had gone back to tutoring the twins on Thursday nights. Things were back to normal, except the fact that we just didn't address Cedric and how we were basically dating. Talk of the tournament filled the air, as the champions would be announced at the end of the week. Most everyone that had entered their names were nervous wrecks. 

Roger had begun to regret his decision to enter, I assured him he was nowhere near talented enough to get it. Hazel found this very funny, and when asked if she thought she would get in just shrugged and said, "Whatever will be will be". I couldn't help but let the nervous excitement feed into my subconscious and began to grow more and more excited as the end of the week drew closer.

"Are you nervous at all Ced?", I let out, eating a strawberry. I savored the taste on my lips and the scene around me. Cedric and I sat by the edge of the lake, the sun setting across the icy black surface. We had a picnic set out in front of us and were enjoying the array of food we had gotten from the Great Hall. 

Cedric shook his head, "No I don't think so". I nodded, "I think it's so brave of you to have entered". He looked at me for a moment. "I really like you, Sawyer", he smiled. Taken aback, I cleared my throat, "I really like you, too". We looked at each other for a moment, my blue eyes meeting his brown ones. It seemed like it was just us in the world. His lips parted and he began to speak, "Sawyer, will you...".

"Ceddy!", a tall Hufflepuff boy called. We broke eye contact, me looking at the ground, him at his friend. "Now's not the time, Ted", he called through gritted teeth, sending me an apologetic look. "One of the first years got stuck behind a barrel trying to get into the common room", he said, drawing near, "Oh hello". "Hi", I waved, awkwardly.

Cedric sighed, "I'm sorry, Sawyer. I need to go help. I'm a prefect and everything...". He faded away, knowing this was a touchy subject for me. "It's okay, go save the day", I smiled, hoping it looked convincing. He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow at the feast", he winked, then was off.

I sat for a moment looking at the lake. "Was he about to ask me to be his girlfriend?", I said out loud. There was no way he wasn't going to. I sat up, reminding myself that I needed to have good posture. If he had asked me to be his girlfriend would I have said yes? Of course I would, he was Cedric Diggory.

He was handsome and kind and loyal and just about everything you could want in a boyfriend. And he liked me. He had taken interest in me like no one ever had before. He made me feel pretty and wanted. But then why hadn't we kissed? If I was going to be with someone, shouldn't there be that spark? Shouldn't I want to kiss them every second of every day.

I shook my head, my ponytail swinging. That was nonsense. I had Cedric, and he wanted me. If he tried to ask again, I would say yes. I stood and waved my wand, the picnic beginning to pack itself up. I walked back up to the castle alone, sitting for a while by the fire in the common room until Hazel came in. We sat and chatted about our days for a while, then headed up to bed. I couldn't sleep, as per usual, and sat starting up at the ceiling where stars danced above me.

****

Excited chatter surrounded me on every side. Roger sat, ringing his hands together. "It'll be okay", I laughed, grabbing his hand and stopping the frantic movement. He looked at me and nodded. "I am bursting with excitement!", squealed Celeste from across the table next to Hazel, "However, I hope we do not both get chosen as champions. It would kill me to compete against you". Hazel just nodded vigorously.

I winked at her and she scowled in my direction. Across the Great Hall, I made eye contact with Cedric, who blew me a kiss. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help smiling. George apparently had witnessed our interaction, and did a gagging motion in my direction. Fred seemed very interested in his peas.

Soon, a hush flew over the crowd as Dumbledore raised his arms to signal that soon we would know who the champions for the Triwizard tournament would be. The names for the foreign schools were called first. The first was Victor Krum, to no one's surprise. Next, was Fleur Delacour. I looked over at Celeste, who looked disappointed. A single tear fell from her eyes. I worked in overdrive to try and not roll my eyes. Really? Crying over this? However, Hazel draped an arm around Celeste, stroking her hair in comfort.

Suddenly, it was if all the air was sucked out of the room. I felt my heart rate accelerating. Who would it be? Would I know them? A piece of parchment flew up into the air and Dumbledore caught it. I held my breath. "Cedric Diggory!". I blinked. I looked and saw my almost boyfriend stand, a wide grin on his face.

I tuned out the din around me. The feeling of dread I had when I thought about the tournament had just grown tenfold. I felt as if I was going to throw up. Why did this feel so wrong? What was going on? It felt as if nothing could pull me out of the sort of trance I had fallen into. At least until, "Harry Potter!".