by my side¹ - d. malfoy

Twenty-Seven

"FEELING ALRIGHT, Laura? Confident?"

Laura was walking down the stone steps onto the grounds, Bagman tailing her.

"No," Laura replied bluntly. She was confident that she wasn't going to die, but that was about it.

"Laura, if you need any assistance, just tell me," Bagman said in a low voice.

They walked out to the Quidditch Pitch, which was unrecognizable. The hedges were about twenty feet high, with a gap for the entrance.

"I'm just fine, but thank you," Laura said politely. "I'm not sure why you keep asking me that, despite the fact I say no every single time-" Laura's politeness was gone "-it's like you want something out of this?"

"I just want to assure you'll win," Bagman said.

"Well, if you insist, there's one thing you can do," Laura said, cracking her knuckles. "If you could just stand there."

"What is it?" he asked curiously.

"I just want to be assured I'm warming up properly," Laura shrugged.

She punched him in the face. Her eyes widened.

"Oh my Merlin- I'm so sorry, my hand slipped," Laura said, not meaning any of her words. Bagman pinched his nose, and Laura could see blood dripping from it. "But students are starting to come. You might want to head out– oh, and maybe talk to Madam Pomfrey."

Bagman finally left with that, leaving Laura to her own devices and nerves.

"Hey, Laura."

Laura turned to see it was Cedric, who looked just as nervous.

"Hi, Cedric," Laura smiled.

"Hey, I just wanted to apologize about my dad earlier," Cedric said. "It's just that that Skeeter woman is really horrible, and he got jealous."

"It's all good, I've had my fair share of troubles with her," Laura said. A competitive smile formed on her face as she put her hand out. "But, are you ready to be defeated?"

"You're on," Cedric grinned, shaking her hand.

The sky was a deep blue color, and the stars started to appear. Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick walked into the stadium and approached Bagman and the champions. They were all wearing luminous stars on their hats, except for Hagrid, who wore his on his back.

"We will be patrolling the outside of the maze," Professor McGonagall told them. "If you get into difficulty and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you. Do you understand?"

They all nodded.

The four of them then left, leaving Bagman to announce the start.

"Sonorous," he said, magically magnifying his voice into the stands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in the first place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Miss Laura Pickering, both of Hogwarts School!" The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. "In second place, with eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum of Durmstrang Institute!" More applause. "And in third place - Miss Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons Academy!"

Laura could barely make out Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Nick, and her parents applauding Fleur politely. She sent them an I love you, to which they returned it, beaming at her.