"Shut up right now." He says, covering my mouth with his hand.
For a moment we both stare at each other, not quite sure what to do next.
My body is frozen against the wall. All I can focus on is Draco's minty breath that dances across my face.
Hi...
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The days pass by pretty quickly and, before I know it, its time for the final task. I've hardly seen Harry all week. It seems he preferred getting Jules' help and I got to a point where I couldn't even be bothered to show up to our meetings. I couldn't bring myself to stand in the corner in silence for another hour. According to Hermione, Harry claims he's 'readier than ever' for the 3rd task. I just hope Jules has done enough.
As I'm walking through the dungeons towards the Great Hall for breakfast, I hear someone running up behind me. Instinctively I turn around to see who it is only to almost collide with Cedric Diggory.
"Francesca... I'm so glad... I caught you." He says between breaths.
"Why is that, Diggory?" I ask, keeping my eyes fixed in front of me and continuing on my way to breakfast.
"Look, I know you don't like me-"
"Oh good, I'm glad we're on the same page."
"If you'd let me finish..." He walks right in front of me, blocking my path. "I know you don't like me but I just wanted to say sorry one last time."
"Cedric, there's no need for this. Why can't we just never speak again and go about our lives as if we don't know each other?"
"Because we did know each other. I messed up really bad, Francesca. I hurt you which was the last thing I wanted to do."
"It didn't seem that way when you were willingly hooking up with Cho." I retort. I really don't have time to be listening to this right now.
"I know, I know." He pauses for a moment before looking up at me. "I want you to know that I really loved you Fran. If... if anything happens to me today, I want you to remember that." I feel my heartbeat quicken. It hadn't occurred to me that Cedric could get hurt. The challenges have been pretty brutal so far but he's managed to get through them so I supposed I've almost begun to see him as invincible.
"Don't say things like that Cedric. You're an intelligent boy- you'll be fine."
"You think so?"
"I do. Apart from that, Dumbledore wouldn't let anything bad happen to you." I give him a weak smile.
"Maybe after all this is over we can sit down and have a proper conversation. I really want to make things right between us. I know you won't believe me but I don't think one mistake has ever haunted me so much in my life." As he says this, my mind rushes straight to Draco. What would he think of all this? Would he be offended? We're not together or anything but I don't want to make the same mistake as last time. Things have been really good between us and I'd hate to fuck it up again.
"Maybe." I finally reply.
"I'll take what I can get." Cedric replies with a beaming smile.
"Good luck today, Cedric." With that I continue towards the Great Hall.
-
"Has anyone seen my brother?" I ask as I get up from the table. Breakfast is over now and we're heading off to the spectator stands. Everyone shakes their heads. I try to search the crowd for any sign of him but with no luck. I'm still in a pretty foul mood with Jules but I know that Harry will want to see him before he sets off on the final task. I probably should've warned him that Jules isn't exactly known for showing up.
I walk to the stadium with Draco, still keeping an eye out for my brother. Draco seems strangely quiet today. Actually, the past few days he's been slowly getting more reserved. I really hate when he does this. It makes me question every single interaction I've had and what possible effect it could've had on him.
"Is everything alright?" I ask Draco after walking in silence a little longer.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, everything's fine, Francesca." He looks at me but I can tell his mind is elsewhere. Knowing I probably won't get much more conversation out of him, I take Draco's hand in mine. Strangely he doesn't hesitate or pull it away, instead he squeezes my hand tightly, rubbing his thumb against mine. After a couple more minutes of walking, we take our seats. In front of the wooden stands that look like they might collapse any second, is probably the biggest maze I've ever seen. At first, I feel a wave of relief wash over me. Compared to the previous tasks, this seems fairly tame. But that relief is soon replaced with concern when the realisation dawns on me that its too good to be true. There has to be a catch.
"All they have to do is get through that maze?" Daphne whispers to me.
"No... no, there's more to it than that." My brain is working overtime trying to figure out what they could have put inside there. Creatures? Probably not considering the first task was dragons. My thinking is interrupted by Dumbledore announcing the champions' names.
One by one they enter the stadium, each of them looking a little more apprehensive than in the previous tasks. I give both Harry and Cedric a round of applause as they come out and wave to them before Dumbledore ushers them towards him. I take it as an opportunity to have another look for Jules. He has to be here somewhere. But as I scan the crowds, there's no sign of him. Giving up, I turn back to look at Cedric. His face looks a little paler than before but he gives me his usual grin before turning to his father.
Dumbledore begins to speak again but I'm distracted by a sudden uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I want to ignore it but it continues to grow inside of me. My hands clasp around my mouth as if I'm about to be sick.
"Something isn't right." I whisper to myself.
"What?" Draco suddenly snaps. He pauses when he sees my face. "What's going on Francesca? You look like you're going to vomit." Draco places his arms around me but I'm already starting to black out. I can hear the sirens ringing louder and louder in my ears. Fuck, its happening again...
Spinning. Shouting. A green flash. Someone falls to the ground. This time I can see who it is. Cedric lies there, motionless. Then I see him- his face is pale and wrinkled, a corpse of his past self, but I know its him. You-Know-Who. Voldemort. Harry's scar. Harry turns to me with a terrified expression. He's laughing. Voldemorts laughing. He's moving closer to me now, his robes billowing in the wind. My breath quickens as he draws his wand and then-
"NO!" I shout as my eyes begin to open. I'm breathing frantically now. Its here. This is where it happens.
"Francesca what the fuck is going on?!" Draco shouts at me. I don't even bother replying. My eyes are fixed on Harry, who's walking into the maze. I have to get in there. Without thinking, I scramble out of my seat, breaking free of Draco's grip, and jump over the wooden fencing at the front of the stands. I ignore people around me, yelling at me to stop. My eyes focus in on Harry and I'm determined to reach him before its too late. Out of the corner of my eye I see Cedric's already gone in and watch as the maze closes up behind him.
"HARRY!" I shout after him. Either he can't hear me or he's ignoring me on purpose. The hedge is starting to close around him but I know I have to get there. My legs push harder and harder, desperate to propel me forwards. At the last moment I dive forwards, landing right on top of Harry. Then everything goes quiet. I turn around and the maze has closed.
We're trapped in here.
-
A/N:
yes i know this is a shorter chapter but it's necessary i'm sorry.
thank u for reading, don't forget to comment & vote! love u <3
