Ten Questions (Harry Potter x Slytherin reader)

Chapter 32

I wasn't nervous until the stream of red sparks, coming directly from the center of the maze, shot into the air.

As if all interconnected, the entirety of the crowd gasps and abruptly stands up. My eyes widen as I try to get a better look at the maze.

"Do you think that was...?" my voice trails off as I glance at Adrien, my heart thundering in my chest.

A grim look crosses his features before reluctantly shaking his head. "I have no idea," he says, not taking his eyes off of the maze. He looks distracted, anxious, even. For what reason, I'm not sure.

I study him for a few more seconds before returning my attention to the task at hand. I couldn't help but wonder if it was Harry. Although he was in second place and had done rather well throughout the whole tournament, he was the youngest and most inexperienced of the four champions. If someone or something had attacked one of the contestants in that maze, it wasn't entirely out of the question that it could be him.

I close my eyes and draw in a deep breath, forcing myself to relax. He will be fine, I remind myself. He had done excellent during the first two tasks, and even though nobody knew who or what was in that maze, all I could do was hope that all of Harry's practice would be enough to navigate it.

I don't need him to win the tournament, I realize. I just need him to survive.

About half an hour passes by. Not much has happened. At the start of the task, the crowd was enthusiastic, eager to support their school and the champion of their choice. But as more time passed by, the noise of the crowd dimmed almost entirely, save for the occasional hushed whispers between students.

"How much longer is this going to go on for?"

"What do you think is in there? You don't think they're being attacked right now, do you?"

"Who do you reckon sent the red sparks? I bet it was Potter. He's gotten lucky this entire tournament. Maybe the maze finally got to him."

I tense when I hear the last sentence. I can't help but wonder what Granger and Weasley are thinking right now, and how they are likely just as anxious as I am.

I think about leaving the stands to clear my head, when I feel Adrien suddenly grab my arm. I look up at him, a confused look crossing my face. "What is it?" I ask, surprised by the sudden gesture.

"Y/n," Adrien starts. I study his face. He looks concerned- scared, even. He starts to breathe heavily, sounding anxious. I'm about to ask what's wrong, but he continues, "There's something you need to know. I'll tell you later, but we need to leave right now-"

Before Adrien is able to finish his sentence, a shriek, followed by several more, fill the once dead silent crowd. A wave of fear immediately rushes over me again, and I snap my head back towards the center of the quidditch pitch, and my eyes instantly begin to fill with tears.

It's Harry, and Cedric is with him.

My hand instantly flies over my mouth to stop myself from screaming. The crowd instantly turns into pandemonium as students try to understand the situation. Dumbledore, along with Cedric Diggory's father, rush down to the center of the pitch where Harry is, with Cedric laying in his arms. They both look bloody, clothes tattered, and exhausted. Harry is sobbing and screaming something at Dumbledore as he comes closer. And then, as I look closer, the realization hits me, and I start to feel sick.

Cedric Diggory is dead.

Before I am able to throw up, Adrien grabs my arm and pulls me away from the rest of the crowd.

...

When the two of us finally get back to the school, Adrien finds an empty room and pulls me inside with him, swiftly locking the door behind him. I am too shocked to say anything, still replaying the end of the third task over and over again in my head.