Death Parts Us

Part 15~Cup

Looking around his room, Sly scowled.

"If you're looking for a hiding spot, you should know. There is nowhere that Kevin cannot find." Wayne grinned, watching Sly walk back and forth.

'I can't find the ruby.'

"What ruby?"

'The ruby.' Huffing in annoyance, Sly finally gave up, putting down the pillow. 'I can't find it.' Collapsing, Sly grumbled in annoyance.

"Well, whatever you're looking for will have to wait until after the third challenge. Unless you don't want to say goodbye to Roger before you go." Wayne waited for a second as Sly hopped up.

'Alright, I'm coming!' Speeding past Wayne, Sly jogged the distance to the hospital wing, grinning as he walked in. 'Evening!'

Roger looked even worse than the last time they had seen him. He was even paler with an oxygen mask covering his face. His hair had grown thin and he stayed curled in many heavy blankets in an attempt to keep his body temperature up.

'Hey,' Roger signed back, barely keeping his eyes open.

Sly bit his lip, pulling up a chair to sit next to him. 'I have to go soon. The third challenge is starting in a bit.'

Roger nodded, having already been told by Kevin. 'Stay safe.'

'As safe as I can be, which as an immortal zombie, is pretty safe.' Sly laughed as Roger smiled softly. 'Hopefully, it won't take too long for the others to win so I can get back here.'

'Let's hope.'

Sly grinned, hugging Roger before standing up. 'I got another note.'

'From the weird pen pal you don't write back to?'

'Yep. They wished me good luck and hope you get better soon. Said something about talking to an Abbott person and not being near today.'

'Strange.'

'I need to go,' Sly sighed, slowly standing up. 'I'll be back soon.'

'I know you will. Good luck.'

Sly grinned, waving goodbye as he left. The others were waiting for him. The loud music was making it hard to hear.

Dumbledore raised his hand, making the band fall silent. "Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now as Mr Diggory and Mr Weasley-Potter tied for first place-" the crowds cheered- "they will be the first to enter the maze. Followed by Mr Krum and finally, Miss Delacour."

Pausing, Dumbledore let the crowds die down. "The first person to touch the cup will be the winner. I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter, if at any point should a contestant wish to withdraw from the task he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Contestants gather round."

Dumbledore waved for the champions to circle around him before lowering his voice. "In the maze, you'll find no dragon or creatures of the deep. Instead, you'll face something more challenging. You see, people change in the maze. Oh, find the cup if you can but be very wary you could just lose yourselves along the way."

"Champions! Prepare yourselves," Mad-Eye ordered.

Dumbledore turned to the crowd. "On the count of three. One-" he couldn't finish as Mr Filch blasted the cannon early. Dumbledore groaned, he wasn't sure why he still tried.

Sly glanced at Cedric before walking past the tall hedge walls. Stopping, Sly glanced behind him, seeing Mad-Eye pointing to the side. That didn't seem very fair.

A heavy fog began to fill the area as the hedges moved and cut off the exit. Trying to ignore the noises inside, Sly moved quickly, constantly keeping his left hand on the hedge wall. His logic was there but he forgot this was a magical maze.

The scream echoed around the maze, making Sly gulp. He spun, giving up on his method as he charged for the other champion, finding her on the ground, being swallowed by the hedges.

'Fleur? Fleur?' The bright words did nothing to raise a response from the girl. It was at these times Sly really wished he had his vocal cords still. He grabbed her, trying to stop her from disappearing into the hedge.

He failed. Fleur was gone. Standing up, Sly blasted the sky with red sparks. Closing his eyes, Sly tried to shield himself from the harsh wind that tumbled down the path. Spinning around, Sly ran from the closing hedge.

Ducking to the side, Sly barely avoided the bright spell that zapped past him.

"Get down!" Cedric rushed out, pointing his wand at Viktor. A single spell blasted him back as Cedric kicked the wand out of Viktor's hand. He pointed his wand once more, ready to finish the job.

Sly gulped, running forward and pulling Cedric back. 'Don't! He's bewitched, Cedric!'

Cedric didn't care. "Get off me!"

'He's bewitched!' Sly gulped, seeing the look in Cedric's eyes. Cedric had spotted the cup. Pushing Sly aside, he made a run for it as Sly made chase.

"Sly! Sly!"

Sly froze, turning back. The hedges wrapped around Cedric's legs, stopping him from moving. He couldn't escape.

"Help me! Please!"

Sly charged forward, blasting away the plants and letting Cedric wriggle free. Sly helped him up, holding him.

Panting, Cedric leaned against Sly's side. "You know, for a moment there I thought you were going to let it get me."

'Really? I thought you knew, Hufflepuffs never turn on one another.' Sly jabbed Cedric's side with a grin.

The wind was blowing again. Together, they ran to the cup, avoiding the hedges. "Go, take it," Cedric ordered. "You saved me, take it!"

Sly shook his head, grabbing Cedric's arm. 'Together, on three. One, two, three!" Grabbing the cup, they jolted out of existence.

"Harry..."

~~~

Landing harshly on the ground, Sly groaned. This didn't feel right. Glancing around himself, Sly looked across the graveyard.

"You okay?"

Nodding, Sly let the soft coloured words appear in the sky. 'Yeah. You?'

"Still in one piece. Where are we?"

Sly pushed himself up, stepping closer to the grave. 'This place feels... familiar.'

"It's a portkey. Sly, the cup is a portkey." Cedric grinned, acting as if he had solved the hardest question in the world.

'Cedric, we should leave.' Sly spun around a panicked expression on his face.

"What are you talking about?"

Before Sly could finish, he let out a strangled scream, falling to the ground. His head hurt! His head hurt!

"Sly! What is it?!" Cedric rushed over, leaning over Sly worriedly.

'Get back to the cup!'

"Harry..."

Walking out of the darkness, the shadowed figure cradled the bundle to their chest.

Cedric stood up, staring at the dou. "Who are you? What do you want?!" He stepped in front of Sly protectively, glaring at them sharply.

"Harry..."

The bundle moved, looking at Cedric.

"Kill the spare."

Sly screamed as the green light hit Cedric's chest. Cedric lay on the ground dead.