The rest of the story

Chapter Eleven

"I heard Cedric figured it out," a short, stocky boy with brown hair announces.

"Oh my God. He's totally going to win, don't you think?" A tall girl with auburn hair answers, peering at him through large round glasses.

"Well, I sure hope so," a blond girl with a small round face answers, giggling. "He's my favorite."

"Well, we know that," the girl with auburn hair answers, rolling her eyes. I stride past them through a stream of nearly identical conversations as the same sense of dread that's been lingering about me for most of the year follows. I stop in my tracks when I hear a familiar, whining voice ahead of me. I pause just before the entrance to the bridge near a group of chattering students.

"Harry, you told me you'd figured the egg out weeks ago. The task is two days from now."

"Really? I had no idea. I suppose Viktor's already figured it out."

"I wouldn't know, we didn't actually talk about the tournament. Actually we didn't really talk at all, Viktor's more of a physical being." Hermoine pauses, her face reddening as Potter raises an eyebrow. "I just mean he's not particularly loquacious. Mostly he watches me study. It's a bit annoying actually." Hermoine glances at the ground, her brow knitting furiously in concern. "You are trying to figure this egg out aren't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean these tasks are supposed to test you, in the most brutal way they're almost cruel. And um, I'm scared for you." I can't help but roll my eyes. "You got by the dragon mostly on nerve. I'm not sure it's going to be enough this time." Let's hope so. Maybe we can get this over with sooner than hoped.

"Hey, Potter! Potter!" Cedric pushes past me, nearly running into me as he hurries onto the bridge.

"Cedric," Potter answers tightly, glowering at him.

"How are you?"

"Spectacular."

"Look I realise I never really thanked you properly for tipping me off about those dragons."

"Forget about it. I'm sure you would have done the same for me."

"Exactly. You know the prefect's bathroom on the fifth floor?" Harry nods, and Cedric leans in close to him, whispering something before scurrying back off in the direction he came.

Potter's eyes follow him and land on me. He raises an eyebrow, and I glance away from him. Potter leans and whispers something to Hermoine. She nods before striding purposely down the length of the bridge and disappearing while I lean against the stone wall and fiddle with my potions textbook.

"Do you need something?" Potter's voice pipes up beside me. I glare at him.

"I don't know. Do you need something, Potter?" I ask disdainfully before looking back down at my potions book.

"Just curious why you were staring at me."

"I wasn't," I answer flatly without looking up.

"Good book?"

"I don't know. People keep talking while I'm reading it, so." I shrug, staring at him.

"Wow, that sounds frustrating." He stares blankly back at me.

"Are we done here?"

"I don't know." Potter shrugs before falling back against the wall beside me. He eyes me curiously. "Talk to Pansy yet?" I glare at him.

"I told you to stop asking me questions."

"Oof, so you haven't. Well, that must be really awkward then, huh?"

"Why do you insist on attempting to invade my life all of the time?"

"Why do you look like you want me to?"