The Gryffindor Royal - Year Four

Chapter Fifteen

That evening, all three schools took their seats around Hogwarts' Quidditch Pitch, which looked nothing like it usually did. There were hedges that rose to impossible heights, and crackling noises could be heard from random places in the maze.

Then, from a side door, Amos Diggory, whom (Y/N) recognised from the Quidditch World Cup, ran out into the field, with Cedric right behind him. The Hogwarts students let out whoops of encouragement, as Amos thumped his son on the back and roared with pride.

Right after them was Fleur. She walked gracefully onto the field while her schoolmates did some weird dance. Shelena snorted at it, and continually nudged Hermione until she noticed and started giggling too. "What's up with you two?" (Y/N) asked curiously. "Oh, nothing. Just a Muggle thing." Shelena said between laughs.

Ron had been unusually quiet the whole time. After chasing Harry down in the morning, Harry had confessed to Ron that he'd been crushing on (Y/N) for quite some time now, which made the tips of Ron's ears to red with fury as he yelled something about betrayal. After he calmed down, he apologised to Harry immediately, ear tips red again (this time from embarrassment). I mean, his sister didn't like Harry back anyway, right? What was there to worry about?

Back on the field, Krum had just walked out with Karkaroff beaming proudly next to him, as the Durmstrang students wolf whistled and clapped. Last came Harry, with Dumbledore grasping onto his shoulder. He nodded his encouragement before leaving Harry to stand at a podium and officiate.

Once Harry had taken his place, he looked up to the stands to find his friends. Many Gryffindors had come around to support him, though the other houses weren't nearly as nice, and some booed at him and chanted Cedric's name louder. When Harry caught sight of (Y/N), he flushed a brilliant red, which made her laugh and turn as red as her hair. She was biting her thumb in agitation, wondering what the last task would be, but smiled and waved at Harry all the same. Ron looked at the interaction sourly, before gasping loudly.

"You like him back?!" he hissed, ears turning red again. (Y/N) smiled sheepishly, stammering something weakly. "Took him long enough," Shelena said to Hermione, which Ron heard and pouted at. "Let's just discuss this later. Hermione! Please switch with me?" (Y/N) looked rather uncomfortable, and Hermione got up to switch seats with her.

By this time, Dumbledore had cast the Sonorus charm on himself again, and began his speech. "Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now as Mr Diggory-" He had to stop there as the Hufflepuffs and many other Hogwarts students started a rousing cheer for Cedric, and Amos pumped his son's fist in the air. "and Mr Potter," Dumbledore continued, but was stopped again by the Gryffindors getting up to cheer. "ahem! Since they are tied for first position, they will be the first to enter the maze. Followed by Mr Krum... and Miss Delacour. The first person to touch the cup will be the winner!"

The cheering had reached its peak as students jumped up and down in the stands to egg on their schoolmates. Dumbledore waved his hands for silence once again, and cleared his throat. "Now, I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task, he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Contestants, gather round! Quickly!"

With that, Dumbledore muttered some low words to them. As he finished his short speech, (Y/N) watched Harry's expression change from one of confidence, to confusion, to downright fear. Without waiting for any questions, Dumbledore went back to addressing everyone. "Contestants! Take your places."

Filch set off the canon too early, but Dumbledore simply shrugged it off and sent Cedric and Harry into the maze. "Wait, what's the point of us being here if we can't see anything?" Shelena asked as the maze sealed shut around Harry and Cedric. "The results, probably," Hermione said, pulling a thick book out of her book bag. "Then why not call us down when the task is ending?" (Y/N) asked in frustration, leaning down in her seat and biting her nail.

"Hermy, how are you studying at a time like this? It's nerve-racking!" Fleur had just entered the maze, and the crowd was tense with excitement and fear. "I have no time for breaks. I might as well study while I can. Reckon there'll be an after-party or something else to waste my time after the task." Hermione said, squinting her eyes in the partial darkness.

Shelena and (Y/N) played a Muggle card game called Stress while waiting, which (Y/N) felt was a very accurate representation of her feelings at the moment. As the two girls finished their first round, which Shelena won, Neville got up from his seat, shouting and pointing at a spot in the maze. "Look! Someone's backed down! Red sparks!"

Sure enough, a feeble mass of red sparks had appeared somewhere near the right of the maze. Professor McGonagall picked up her robes and hurried into the maze, as everyone debated on who it'd be. There was a shout of laughter from the Slytherin lot who were sure it'd be Harry who was leaving, while Hermione was sure it'd be Fleur.

"Let's face the facts," she said, while scribbling something on parchment next to her book. "she's only been able to complete the dragon task, she backed out halfway through the last task, who's to say she won't back out of this one too?" "I hope it's not Fleur..." Ron said, finally talking again. His eyes were trained on the Beauxbatons students, a dreamy look on her face.

Hermione scoffed and slapped Ron with her parchment. "And you'd rather your best friend lose the Tournament?" Ron puffed up his chest at that. "I never said that, Hermione! I just mean.. maybe it's Cedric who's out!"

But nobody thought it'd be Cedric who had called for help. Their bets were on Harry, the youngest, or Fleur, the one who'd been proved as the weakest so far. And they were right, Fleur was escorted out of the maze, shaking and close to tears. Her parents, who had made their way down to spectate the tournament, dashed forward with Gabrielle, Fleur's sister, and embraced their daughter.

Every so often, (Y/N) swore she could hear shouts and blasts of magic from inside the maze, and her magic flared in panic. Fire being her strongest element, it danced across her forearms as she bit her lips. More red sparks flew up, and surprisingly, it was Krum who emerged. As much as the Gryffindors wanted Harry to win, even they had to admit they were shocked that Harry had lasted so long.

As the night went on, Hermione's note-taking became more frantic as she muttered spells and equations under her breath. Shelena fell asleep on (Y/N)'s shoulder, and the redhead girl watched the maze with bated breath. Why was this taking so long? Where were Cedric and Harry? Leaves that had fallen from their trees onto the stands were fluttering lightly in midair, thanks to (Y/N) unknowingly controlling it. "Your powers aren't very strong, are they?" Ron asked suddenly. "I did some reading when you first told me about it. Merlin could carry entire trees with a gust of wind."

"Well, I'm not Merlin, am I? But I suppose i only really fancy fire. It's a useful element. Maybe I'll just train that, and leave the rest dormant." Their conversation died down as they watched the maze, trying their best to not fall asleep. Much as they were eager to see Harry again, they were tired. It had been a long day, and their butts were sore from sitting on the hard stands for so long.

Down on the Pitch, the teachers looked worried too. "Perhaps we should send the students to their dormitories, tell them the results tomorrow during breakfast?" McGonagall suggested, looking toward the maze. "I'm sure many would appreciate the rest." But Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm sure it'll only take a while more, Minerva. Besides, if we sent them up to their dorms, very few would actually go to bed. It makes no difference if they stay here."

Sighing, Professor McGonagall stood up straighter and waited alongside her colleagues. No point arguing with Dumbledore; he always got his way.

Back up on the stands, swarms of students had been questioning what Fleur and Krum had seen in the maze. Krum let out a few intelligible grunts, but Fleur sobbed about being engulfed by roots and Krum attacking her.

And then, a flash of light. Everyone looked up, whether they'd been sleeping or playing games or studying. Harry, holding tightly onto Cedric and the Triwizard Cup, fell to the ground right by the entrance of the maze. "HARRY!" (Y/N) yelled, disentangling herself from Shelena and running off, Hermione and Ron hot on her trail. "He won! He won!" Ron yelled, looking like be could cry from the pride. "He's done it!"

The Hogwarts students were cheering and the band started up a lively cheer as Dumbledore hurried over to Harry and Cedric. Out of the corner of her eye, (Y/N) saw Fleur inching closer to the Hogwarts pair, and she let out a shrill scream. The tears streamed down her face as the band stopped playing and the news spread fast: Cedric was dead. He hadn't made it back.