Hufflepuff boy - Cedric Diggory x male oc x Viktor Krum

66

Cayden leans against the lift wall, looking up at the ceiling, whistling. The lift stops and the grilles open, and Harry races inside, hits a button and watches the grilles close. He watches with confusion as Harry bares his teeth on the mirrored wall, cringing at the sight.

Just then, the grilles clang open and Ron enters, soaking wet and wild-eyed. "M-morning."

"Ron, it's us." Harry said.

"Harry, Cayden! Blimey, I forgot what you looked like. Where's Hermione?" Ron questioned.

"She went down to the courtrooms with Umbridge--"

The grilles open again and reveal Mr. Weasley, in the company of an elderly witch. "I understand, Wakinda, but I can't be a party to that." He stops, seeing Harry, and regards him with utter disdain, then turns his eyes to Ron and softens. "Hello, Reg. Isn't Mary in for questioning today? Try to have faith. If there's anything Molly and I can do for you--" He pats Ron's shoulder, stops. Pulling his dripping hand away.

"Let me guess. It's raining in Yaxley's office again?" Wakinda asked.

"Tell him to try an umbrella." Mr. Weasley said as he and Wakinda exit the lift. As they go, Ron cranes his neck, watching with a look of longing as the grilles begin to close.

Suddenly, Harry reaches out, blocking the door. "Arthur! You know you're being tracked, don't you?"

Mr. Weasley turns. "Is that a threat, Runcorn?"

"No, Arthur. It's a fact. They're watching you." Harry said.

Mr. Weasley eyes Harry with a mixture of suspicion and confusion and perhaps recognition.

Harry removes his hand, letting the grilles close.

Cayden and Ron stare at him for questions.

"I'll tell you later. Let's find Hermione." Harry said.

≪ °❈° ≫

Cayden, Harry and Ron move down a dark torch-lit stone passageway. As they move further along, their breath becomes visible and Ron, soaked to the bones, begins to tremble.

"Bloody cold down here." Ron said.

Then they see. Swirling outside the courtroom doors like sentinels are fall black-hooded figures. Just then, a man comes stumbling out of the courtroom in the company of a pair of Death Eaters.

"I'm half-blood, I tell you! My father was a wizard! Look him up! William Alderton! He worked here for thirty years..."

As Ron watches the terrified man pass, Harry grabs his arm and pulls him towards the courtroom.

A dark cathedral, possessed of a palpable chill. Dementors float eerily in the gloom. The ceiling stretches high, disappears in the darkness. As the three enter-- unnoticed at first-- they move cautiously, taking in their surroundings.

Hermione comes into view, sitting with a stack of parchment behind a balustrade alongside Umbridge and Yaxley, while a bright-silver cat prowls up and down, providing warmth to them and then only.

Harry's eyes track the cat, then drift to Umbridge herself. Suddenly he falters and Cayden and Ron instantly take notice, eyeing him curiously.

"What is it?" Cayden whispers, wondering what Harry is feeling.

The corners of Harry's eyes contract, his head slightly cocked as if he can sense the presence of something. "It's here..."