stars • d.m

4.1

The waiting was the worst part for the students. It was the only thing they could do as no one had a way of knowing what was happening in the maze. The band stood ready as the judges talked amongst themselves with their eyes glued to the field in front of them. That is until a good story was shared. Estella could hear the belly laughs over the chatter of the crowd.

"I must say, I'm glad this is the last time we'll be doing this. I don't know how much more waiting I have left in me," Padma sighed.

"You and me both," Draco said in agreement. Estella sat between the two and for the past half-hour, there was nothing but small talk between them. Estella knew Padma was holding up a guard and it was funny to see it break little by little as she came to realize that she had more in common with the Slytherin than she previously thought. On the other hand, it was deeply frustrating Padma.

The topic of conversation had just switched to everyone's summer plans when Estella asked Draco what his consisted of.

"I'm not too sure, however, Mother usually takes me to the sea for about a week. A time to reset, she describes it," the boy explained.

"That sounds lovely," Estella smiled.

"Maybe you and your mother could join us this year, I'm sure my mother would enjoy the company," suggested Draco, "unless of course, that doesn't interest you."

The boy turned shy for a moment.

"I would love to and I'm sure my mother would as well" Estella confirmed, smiling ear-to-ear. She was already beginning to imagine the trip in her head. A beach seemed like an unlikely setting Draco Malfoy. Then again, he has done nothing but surprise her with new impressions to replace the previous ones.

Suddenly, a red flare was shot into the sky with a loud boom. Everyone's heads quickly turned to the source. Teachers rushed to the rescue as everyone watched in silence. Estella felt her stomach drop, and she had not realized that she was gripping Draco's hand.

Not much time had passed before the teachers reappeared with Fleur Delacour in their arms. The crowd gasped and watched as medics came to her care. After a minute or two of observing her state, one teacher looked into the crowd to say, "She's okay!"

Everyone let out a sigh of relief and gave her a round of applause for support. Estella relaxed her body and dropped Draco's hand. He would never admit it, but he was disappointed every time she did that.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Estella sighed.

"It'll be over before you know it," Draco reassured her.

"Then it'll be time to party!" Padma added.

There wasn't much planned. More so, the school staff were allowing the students to host a monitored celebration in the Great Hall after the tournament was officially over. They could come and go as they pleased a little past quiet hours.

More time passed and the chatter of the crowd was back again.

"I know you said we shouldn't do this Estella but we have to be honest with ourselves. The time has come," Padma started. Draco and Estella waited for her to continue.

"Who do you think is going to win?"

"Merlin, Padma-"

"No I'm serious like this stakes of this-"

The two bickered over each other while Draco chuckled at the banter. Suddenly another loud boom stole the attention of the crowd. However this time, there was not a flash of red in the sky. In the middle of the field sat a glowing Triwizard champion cup and Harry Potter hunched over.

The crowd roared while the band immediately began their celebratory tune. The three students joined in. Relief washed over Estella in knowing that this was over. She looked at the entrances to watch for Cedric's return. Victor Krum had come out of his, a bit bewildered.

She noticed the cheering becoming louder as a few screams started to break out. They blended in too well with the cheers and the music that she could not place the source.

All at once, as teachers were rushing to shush the band and the crowd, Estella searched the field in front of her and spotted Harry Potter in the same position he arrived in.

Laying on the ground in front of him was her best friend, Cedric Diggory.

He must be injured she immediately thought. Medics were rushing to him as teachers attempted to conceal the crowd. Whispers and gasps spread like wildfire up the stands until they reached Estella's ears.

"Cedric is dead"

To this day, Estella does not exactly remember what her thoughts were or what she did after hearing those words.

It was like she had been thrown into space where there was no sound. No way of moving properly. Just floating in the middle of nothingness. She would have given anything to be there instead.

Draco broke her out of her trance by lightly shaking her after calling her name repeatedly. He saw Padma sobbing as she tried to sit back down. He felt helpless as he could not help both girls at once. In the moment he was more worried about his girl standing in shock.

When Estella came back to earth, Amos Diggory had silenced the crowd completely with his cries into the air. She watched as he ran down to the body of the boy.

"No," she said calmly. She began to push past Draco to get down the stands. The boy followed her, attempting to keep her back.

"No, no, no!" She started to shout repeatedly, beginning to sob as she did so.

She followed Amos as if getting to Cedric would change the fate. If she just got to him he would wake up. If they helped him, they would still go to the party that night. He would graduate and begin his career. He would get married and have children. They would be best friends with Estella's children and they would watch them grow up just as they had. They would all grow old and reminisce on the long happy life they had lived.

Except when Estella reached the boy, that did not happen. It would not happen.

What felt like years, lasted about two minutes before Draco completely pulled her away. He did not want her to engrave the image of Cedric's dead body into her mind. He did not want her to be scarred by the cold touch of an arm that used to be warm. But it was too late.

Regardless, he held her as she wailed. Estella kept trying to go back. He would not let her. She kept trying to look back. He would not let her.

"Just look up," Draco tried to repeatedly tell her.

She did look up eventually. How could they let this happen? The stars were supposed to be watching over him and they let this happen. She let out a scream.

A/N: I hate to say it but we finally made it boys.

Do you know how long it's taken me to get to this chapter?

I'm so sorry