Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch. 54

Harry and Céline both decided to not mention anything to Hermione, because it all happened the same day she was hit with Malfoy's hex.

They told her what happened and Hermione looked upset.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She huffed.

"Well, you were having your own problem that day..." Harry pointed to his teeth, "we didn't want to add to it."

Hermione's cheeks turned pink at the thought of the embarrassment she experienced that day.

"Has it happened again since?" Hermione asked.

Céline shook her head, "no, since that day, everyone has been adamant I walk with them. At least during mealtimes."

"Promise me that you will tell me if it happens again. I don't like not knowing about these things." Hermione crossed her arms and looked at them like a scolding mother.

"I will. I'm sorry we hid it..." Céline said as she looked down, kicking a small rock with her boot.

"It's fine... I suppose for now let's try to figure out what Sirius meant by a simple spell to subdue a dragon. They nodded in agreement.

They took a few more laps around the Black Lake, trying to come up with ideas and when they had none, they turned to the library looking for every book that had to do with dragons.

They skimmed through books, but nothing helpful came up. After a couple of hours of relentless searching, it was dinner time.

"I have to go meet Cedric in the entrance hall in a little bit." Céline said looking at her watch. "I'll check out a couple of these and look through it and see if can find anything that maybe helpful." She grabbed one book about dragons and another of simple spell books.

"I'll go with you. And then I'll head back up to the common room. Hermione you go first alright?" Harry said.

Hermione nodded as they pack up and take whatever books with them. Harry and Céline walk over to the entrance hall and see Cedric standing there with some friends.

"Maybe now isn't the time..." Harry hesitated.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'll ask to speak with him alone." She said as she pulled him by his arm.

Cedric's friends noticed them approaching first, nudging Cedric for him to turn. When he sees Céline approaching, his smile widens.

"Hey Cél." He said, then looks over to Harry, "hey Harry."

"Ced, do you mind if we talk to you?" Céline went straight to it. Smiling politely to his friends. "Alone if you don't mind."

"Of course." He said and looks to his friends tell them he'll see them inside the Great Hall. They all reluctantly walked away, not before giving Harry a suspicious look.

Céline pulled Cedric to a more private area, away from any wandering students and Harry followed. Harry and Céline then face Cedric.

"What's... going on?" Cedric asked looking at both of them confused.

Harry looked around to make sure no one was around before looking back at him. "Cedric... the first task is dragons."

Cedric blinked at him for a moment. "What?"

"Dragons." Repeated Harry a little quicker, worried someone may come out from nowhere. "They've got four, one for each of us, we've got to get past them.."

Cedric looked at him for a moment and then to Céline who was looking at him worried. Then looked to Harry again, "Are you sure?"

"Dead sure." Said Harry. "I've seen them."

"But.. how did you find out? We're not suppose to—"

"Never mind how." Harry interrupted him, "but Fleur and Krum will know by now.. Madame Maxime and Karkaroff saw them too."

Cedric looked at him a little skeptically and then looked to Céline again. "why are you telling me?"

This time Céline looked at him in disbelief along side Harry.

"It's just fair.. isn't it?" Harry said, "we all know now, we're all on evening footing."

Cedric continued to stare at him as if thinking of about whether or not to believe him.

"Another thing is... your Céline's boyfriend... I wouldn't feel good if she knew and I made her keep it from you.. it's not right."

Just before he could say anything they heard a clunky and uneven footsteps approaching, immediately know who it was.

"You two go." Harry said, gently pushing Céline towards Cedric, who instantly wraps an around her shoulder. "Now."

With that they walked away quickly towards the Great Hall. Céline looked back for a moment to make sure Harry wasn't caught, but they entered the Great Hall before she could see anything.

"Is he telling the truth?" Cedric said quietly, causing Céline to whip her head to him.

Her eyebrows scrunched, "of course he is. He has no reason to lie about it. Like he said the other champions know about it. It wouldn't be fair if you were kept in the dark while everyone had the advantage of preparing for the first task."

With that Cedric decided to believe Harry's words.

A couple of days passed, and it was the day of the first task. Céline hadn't really seen Harry or Cedric in those two days, because they were too busy preparing for the first task. So she spent it with Daphne and Tracey.

Lessons were stopped at midday to give all the students time to go to the enclosure. She was walking with her friends to the entrance hall to look for Cedric during lunch.

Thankfully she found him speaking with Professor McGonagall before she walked into the Great Hall. She told her friends to wait before hurrying over to him.

He noticed her coming over and he smiled at her.

"How are you feeling?" Céline asked, she was trying to act as normal as possible, but there was a worried tone that still escaped.

"Nervous, but I think I'm ready..." he said to her pulling her into a hug.

"Well I wanted to wish you good luck! Take a deep breath, I know you'll do great." Céline smiled at him. Then with as much courage she could muster, she went on her tiptoes  and kissed him on the lips.

When she pulled away, he was looking at her pleasantly surprised. "Was that my good luck kiss?"

"Yes," she giggled, "you did call me your good luck charm, so I'm sending out off with something." She blushed.

"I would like that before every task, every exam, every quidditch game." He laughed and she joined. Someone cleared their throat behind them. Céline quickly turned to see Professor McGonagall standing there looking quite anxious and Harry behind her who also looked nervous.

"Sorry Miss Everhart, but the champions must go to the grounds to prepare for the first task."

"Oh of course professor." Céline said politely, as her cheeks turned red.  She game one more quick hug to Cedric and he walked out the door with Professor McGonagall behind him.

Just before Harry passed her, she pulled him in for a hug, which he happily accepted.

"Good Luck Harry, be careful. You've got this! I know you do."She smiled at him and he smiled back at her. She didn't know it, but that did help Harry with his nerves. It was nice for him to know that there was someone supporting him.

"Thanks, Cél." He said to here before waving and exiting through the front doors to the grounds.