𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒚

chapter eleven - potter stinks

ONE WEEK HAD passed since the announcement regarding the Tri-Wizard champions.

With the date of the first task soon approaching, the trio had spent each and every night occupying a small corner of the library in the hopes of aiding Cedric in any way possible.

Marnie hadn't had the opportunity to catch up with Harry since their conversation on Halloween, however, according to Salem, Ron had still been keeping his distance from the boy.

Cedric had also resorted to steering clear of the fourth year which Marnie wasn't too pleased with.

This was due to the Hufflepuffs, who were usually on excellent terms with the Gryffindors, turning remarkably cold toward the whole lot of them.

Cedric in many ways felt torn between his loyalty to his house and doing the right thing.

It was plain that the Hufflepuffs felt that Harry had stolen their champion's glory; a feeling exacerbated, perhaps, by the fact that Hufflepuff House very rarely got any glory, and that Cedric was one of the few who had ever given them any, having beaten Gryffindor once at Quidditch.

"It wouldn't hurt to simply talk to the boy." Marnie suggested for what seemed to be the hundredth time that week.

"And have my entire house turn against me?" Cedric replied as the trio turned down the third-floor corridor heading towards Defence against The Dark Arts.

Marnie huffed, "Maybe if your house realised you had befriended him then they would follow suit."

Cedric pondered on the thought, deliberating.

"And I'm sure he'll let you in on a few secrets..." Salem chimed in nonchalantly "Like how he managed to put his name into the goblet?"

Swatting him with the pile of books in her arms, Marnie sighed, "Will you stop."

"I'm just curious!" Salem grumbled, "The people in your house are worse...you should've heard the things they were saying to him yesterday."

Turning another corner, the trio found a group of fourth-year Slytherins hanging around the corridor.

"Speak of the devils." Marnie muttered.

Each and every one of them were wearing a large badge on the front of his or her robes. For one wild moment, Marnie thought they were S.P.E.W. badges, which Hermione had finally convinced her to wear, however, the trio then saw that they all bore the same message, in luminous red letters that burnt brightly:

SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY-
THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION!

"Like them, Potter?" said Malfoy loudly as Harry and Hermione approached behind the three sixth-years. "And this isn't all they do - look!"

He pressed his badge into his chest, and the message upon it vanished, to be replaced by another one, which glowed green:

POTTER STINKS!

The Slytherins howled with laughter. Each of them pressed their badges too, until the message POTTER STINKS was shining brightly all around Harry. Marnie could see the heat rise in his face and neck.