Hufflepuff boy - Cedric Diggory x male oc x Viktor Krum

83

As the four pelts through the madness, Hermione gasps, catching sight of Lavender as she falls to the ground. Her eyes shift, spy Fenrir Greyback, lips still glistening with Lavender's blood, staring at her. He smiles, starting to move towards her.

"NO!" Hermione's wand flashes. A defeating blast. Greyback takes it straight to the chest, pitches up into the air and drops. Unmoving.

The four races away from the burning castle. In the distance part of the Dark Forest burns, trees shedding sparks into the sky like scarlet feathers. Shadows do battle in the distance dark, and screams shatter the night.

A thunderous shock wave as a monstrous giant lurches into view, swinging one of the Quidditch goals, the golden ring dripping blood. Seeing the four, it whips the ring down, strafing them with threads of blood, but missing them, narrowly, scooping out a massive chunk of earth instead. It groans in anger, lumbering stupidly off. The four races on.

A moment later, the four race down the steps towards the Boat House. Harry, Ron and Hermione pick their way forward, moving quietly through the eerie light, then stopping within the safety of the shadows. Cayden didn't.

Cayden entered the Boat House, catching the attention of Severus, Nagini and Voldemort. He sees Voldemort about to open his mouth but the words he said stopped him from talking. "Don't kill him." He begged, moving forward to stand in front of Voldemort.

"Cayden Potter..." Voldemort said, studying the Hufflepuff with interest in his red eyes. He catches the glint of redness in Cayden's eyes and almost laughs gleefully.

"Don't kill him, please." Cayden begged again, trying to distract the Dark Lord from his Godfather who is staring at him with fear in his onyx eyes.

"And what will you do for him, Potter?" Voldemort said, moving closer to Cayden, expecting him to back off but was surprised when he didn't. But then he remembers what a Death Eater had said to him a long time ago. "Tell me, Cayden Potter." He said, placing his finger under the boy's chin to make him look up at him. "Who owns this wand?" He asked, watching Cayden's eyes widened slightly.

Voldemort was nice enough to give Cayden some time to think about it, knowing that the boy is only here to save his Godfather and didn't think of the consequences.

"It was Draco before..." Cayden muttered, thinking back to when Draco had used a disarming spell on Dumbledore, and then... "Harry. It's with Harry." He said, looking up at Voldemort who seems to sour at his words.

"I will put my trust in you, Cayden Potter." Voldemort said, turning back to look at Severus who can't look away from Cayden. He looks back at Cayden, who is nervously fiddling with his sleeve. "I will let him go." He said, watching Cayden's shoulders slumped down slightly, though still a bit tense. Smart. "But you will come with me." He said, and he sees Severus' eyes widened at the corner of his eyes.

"Alright." Cayden said without hesitation. "Tell her to go first." He said, nodding to Nagini who hisses at him.

"Wait for me in the forest, Nagini." Voldemort said in Parseltongue.

Nagini seems to nod and slither away from the Boat House.

"Now, let us go." Voldemort said, holding out his hand and grins when Cayden takes it.

Cayden trails after Voldemort, looking behind him at Severus who is still looking at him. "I love you." He mouthed to his Godfather, turning back to Voldemort and following him.

They walked in silence for about five minutes before Voldemort started talking. "You have fought valiantly... but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste." He said, glancing at Cayden who is looking at him with the corner of his eyes. "I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured." He said. "Harry Potter, I speak now directly to you. On this night you have allowed your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate. Should you do so I give my word that no other life will be lost in this night. You have one hour. If, at the end of that time, you have not given yourself up, then I shall punish every last man, woman and child who tried to conceal you from me."