Broken

Chapter Ten

"I think maybe... maybe I like- or even love... you, Victoria."

"What? If this is one of your cruel jokes Draco Malfoy... I swear I will-"

"It's not. I promise you." 

-

Suddenly I was gasping for air. I couldn't see or hear anything. I felt someone holding onto me tightly. When I had finally opened my eyes I could see I was in the Great Lake with Cedric, all the students from the three participating schools were cheering from temporary stands made in the water. Cedric and I began to swim to the nearest stand. We were helped up onto the stand by other students and immediately wrapped in dry towels and blankets. Cedric was surrounded by his excited friends and I soon realized that he had finished the challenge first. I managed to grab his attention for a quick moment.

"What the bloody hell was that challenge?" I asked through gritted teeth.

Cedric rubbed his hands up and down my arms, trying to help keep me warm. "I had to 'save' you from the Merpeople. There were four of you, one for each champion."

"Oh... right," I replied, as I thought back to the potion that Dumbledore had given me the night before that had caused me to black out. Must have been how they got us into the water without a fight.

"Are you alright?" He asked me, almost shouting over all the cheering that erupted around us as Viktor Krum emerged from the water with Hermione.

 "Yeah... I just had a really weird dream while I was asleep... or knocked out.. or whatever that potion did to me." I sighed, thinking back to the weird dream I had about Draco.

Cedric laughed and turned back to his friends who were still cheering him on. I smiled at how happy he was. However, my expression quickly changed to confusion as I spotted Draco storming over to us. He pushed through the group of Cedric's friends so he was standing face to face with him. He was slightly taller than Cedric, despite being younger than him. His grey eyes were filled with rage and his mouth was permanently set in a disgusted frown.

"Here to congratulate me, Malfoy?" Cedric teased.

Draco didn't say anything. His eyes kept darting from mine back to Cedric's. "You could have gotten her killed." He finally spoke as he nodded his head, gesturing to me.

Cedric looked back at me, I shrugged my shoulders in confusion. I hadn't spoken to Draco in weeks. Why was he so concerned about me suddenly?

"You think I knew they were going to put her down there?" Cedric replied coldly. 

Draco took a few steps closer. "She clearly isn't safe going out with you." He snapped.

"How would you know if she's safe or not? It's not like you talk to her anymore."

This remark seemed to have pushed Draco over the edge. He shoved Cedric. Hard. He fell back into me, my arms trying their best to hold up his body. I saw Draco trying to make another lunge at Cedric but I quickly stood between them once he was on his feet. 

"Draco. What on earth are you doing?" I asked angrily 

Draco stared me down. Looking deeply into my blue eyes.

"Since when did you start to care about me again?" I snapped as I shivered in my damp clothes.

Draco looked to the ground, breaking the intense eye contact. "I don't care about you, Dixon."

I don't know who he was trying to convince, me or himself.

Everyone stood awkwardly for a few moments. I was taking in what Draco had just said. It didn't make sense.