Darkest Hours (A Cedric Diggory Fanfic)

Chapter 7: Champions

"So if you're chosen, are you ready?" Morgan asked Angelina. She was always the athletic and brave one out of the three of them. Kiara didn't doubt that she'd be a great competitor if she got chosen.

"I'm so ready!" she grinned back at them, "I've actually been putting in some extra training after Quidditch to prepare."

"That's crazy," Morgan shook her head, smiling.

Angelina laughed, "I know. It's been a hard couple of months."

They hung out and enjoyed the beautiful day until it was time for dinner. Then the entire school headed toward the Great Hall. Kiara caught Cedric with his friends and when they fell into step with each other, she reached for his arm to get his attention. He had been really busy lately, and she was sure like Angelina, he too had been trailing in his spare time.

"Hey!" she smiled when he looked at her.

"Hey, you," he grinned back. He looked like his usual optimistic self.

"How are you feeling about tonight?" she asked him as he gave her a quick hug.

"I'm feeling alright. A little anxious," he admitted, "I just want to know if I get selected or not."

"You really want this, don't you?" she asked him, looking at his flawless face. He was dressed in simple blue pants with a matching sweater over a white collared shirt. He had his Prefect badge, which also indicated which House he was from, above his left breast.

"I really do," he nodded before looking down at her, and smirking, "I could use a good luck kiss, you know?"

"Oh really?" Kiara raised her eyebrows, "That's too bad, I only kiss winners."

He let out a laugh and licked his lips before saying to her, "Alright then, I accept your challenge."

"What makes you think I want you to get selected?" she asked him.

He looked surprised, "Why? Who are you hoping gets selected?"

"Johnson, of course," she told him and he relaxed a little.

"Fair enough. But if I get selected tonight, I get a kiss from Kiara Black," Cedric said, pulling her into him as a group of rowdy kids passed them by.

She glanced up at him, "That's a really slim chance. I don't know if I like your odds."

"You're a tough one, aren't you? I don't think I've ever had a girl pass up on wanting to kiss me," he looked a little puzzled and she rolled her eyes.

"Seems like you need me to keep that ego in check," she said, shaking her head and waved to him as she joined her friends at the Gryffindor table. Cedric and his friends took a seat to her left at their House table.