Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 22 - The Maze

                                                                                 24th June 1995

As you ran towards Hufflepuff's common room, Draco's words were repeating themselves over and over in your mind. You did not want to believe it, it was far too horrible. How could your true father be a Death Eater when your mother was a Veela? You were filth for people like them, a half-bred freak. You still remembered how you heard the members of the Wizengamot talk about you, as if you were some sort of forbidden beast. After everything you had learned at Hogwarts, you were no longer deemed a danger but the prejudice was still there. You had heard it from several students from Slytherin, sometimes students from other houses made comments too. But your father being a Death Eater, could that really be true?

As you rounded the last corner you finally found Cedric, running into his arms. He had been standing there leaning onto the stone wall, with a content smile on his beautiful face which was bathed in the golden afternoon light. You had to hold your breath to prevent yourself from breaking down then and there, and a shiver went through your body.

"What's going on Y/n?" he asked worriedly, looking at you he could clearly tell something was wrong. "Did something go wrong at your last exam?"

You avoided looking into his eyes,

"No.. it's nothing, I'm just so glad it's over" you put up a rather unconvincing smile, but he knew not to push you. You loved that about him, how sensible he was.

"What about you Ced, you're still not nervous at all about your last task tonight?" you quickly asked, avoiding yourself as the subject.

He laughed, "I'm not going to lie..." his eyes glittered, "I am feeling some nerves, this is my chance to impress your guardian, Snape, so I do feel a great responsibility"

You frowned, "Oh Cedric, please, it's fine even if you don't win.. I will find some other way to convince him to let me spend the summer at your place"

He tickled you, "What's that Y/n?.. doubting my abilities, are you? I told you I will win"

"Oh shut it, I do believe in you"

You did not have too much time, it was already afternoon and soon everyone was heading towards the arena. The atmosphere among the students were extraordinarily high and festive, all their exams had finished at last and what better way to celebrate than to watch the finale of the Triwizard Tournament? It made you feel warm how all the houses had gotten together in this, in supporting Cedric, and lastly even if it did take a while, to support Harry too. The arena was placed far outside the school grounds in the valley in between the mountains of the highland, where as Fred's tip finally proved itself to be true, a large hedge maze had been grown seemingly out of nowhere. It looked ominous sticking several metres up into the air, up from the mist caused by the gloomy weather that pressed itself down from the mountain tops. The warm sunshine you had all morning was long gone after the sun set, but the spirit was still there as all the students gathered in the grandstand that was built in front of the entrance of the maze.

You followed Cedric and the rest of the champions into the grand tent instead however, where they were met by Professor Dumbledore, Professor Moody, Ludo Bagman and even the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. You were hardly concentrating enough on whatever was said, as the rules of the final trial was presented. You were just standing there behind Cedric, your hand tightly curled in his. All you could think about was what Draco had told you earlier in the day, it made you feel like you were no longer even awake. Like everything was just a bad dream that you would wake from at any moment.