don't let me down - harry potter x oc

goodbyes and farewells

˖⁺‧₊ ☾ ₊‧⁺˖

♫ Night Moves - Bob Seger

Annie could feel her heart beating out of her chest the entire walk down to the arena with Tracey and a few other Slytherin girls. The air was buzzing and many bustling students swarmed the trail down towards an ominously dark maze that looked as if it stretched for miles and miles. They finally made it down to the arena where students chattered sparsely and the girls climbed the steps up towards the top. As they passed, looking for a large space for them and their friends, Annie couldn't help but notice almost every Hogwarts student giving her a nasty glare and whispering when she passed.

"Is it just me, or am I more hated than usual?" The Malfoy said to her red-headed friend as they finally sat down behind a group of Harry's supporters who were bearing a large banner with his name painted on in bright red.

In front of them, a girl who looked their age turned around and said, "Someone saw you and Potter up at the Astronomy Tower a few nights ago." The girl gave them a small smile and then turned back to face the maze.

"You've got to be kidding," Annie breathed and put her face in her hands with stress.

"Well, did you guys..?" Tracey asked warily as she and the other Slytherin girls exchanged nervous glances.

"No!" The blonde burst out. "All we did was talk, but of course, Hogwarts cares about the drama over the truth," She sighed and sat back in her seat. Annie watched everyone around her and finally caught sight of Draco, Blaise, and a few others, who also looked extremely confused as they walked up the stairs towards the girls.

"Hey, Malfoy!" A boy shouted from the section next to them as Draco approached their group. The twins whipped around to face the boy, Marcus Belby, who had his hands cupped around his mouth and yelled, "How does it feel to have a slut for a sister, eh?"

At this, Draco instinctively tried to lunge at him, quickly being stopped by Blaise and Crabbe as they grappled his arms and held him back. "That's rich coming from someone who fancies first years!" Draco bellowed as his friends ushered him up the steps and towards the rest of their group. Belby quickly sunk in his seat and Annie snickered at the sight.

The band in the front row suddenly burst into a lively march and everyone ignored the squabble to cheer and applaud as the champions and their escorts walked out from an opening under the stands. Diggory was first, followed by Krum and Proctor, then finally with Dumbledore by his side, Harry stepped out into the light and looked around at the crowd anxiously. Annie took a deep breath and clapped as loud as she could in hopes that he might hear it. Dumbledore took the stand and yelled loudly, silencing the audience immediately.

"Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position," Dumbledore told as he observed the crowd. Annie got a strange feeling in her gut at the mention of Moody, yet she quickly subsided and continued listening. "Now, as Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter..." The Hogwarts students erupted at the sound of their champions' names and the two looked up into the crowd, Harry, coincidentally, picked out the blonde-haired girl easily and sent a small smile up her way. Annie kept herself from grinning widely and smiled back.

"I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter," Dumbledore continued through the bustling applause. "Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from this task, he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands," The old man said, calling the champions to gather as he spoke to them quietly. Annie and Tracey exchanged a glance.

Filch fired the cannon earlier than he was supposed to and the band started up again as Harry and Diggory slowly started to walk into the darkness of the maze. Harry gave one last look over his shoulder and caught Annie's eye, to which she gave a small nod and the hedges closed up and concealed the brunette. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

Everyone around Annie seemed to be bored except for her. She picked at her cuticles and bounced her leg anxiously as she stared out over the top of the maze that seemed to stretch for miles. She wondered if Harry was close to finding the cup, but he could also be going in the opposite direction. What if he'd gotten hurt and couldn't send up the sparks, or if he was going crazy? Next to her, Tracey watched her and finally said, "Annie, are you okay?"

She snapped out of it and turned to face her. "Hm? Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little worried, that's all," Annie shrugged off and looked back towards the maze.

"Who, Potter?" Blaise said from the row in front of her. "Your boyfriend is going to be just fine, Annie," The buzzed boy started before Draco quickly back-handedly slapped Blaise on the shoulder at the mention of "boyfriend." Only a few minutes later, a shrill scream could be heard not far away and red sparks shot out of the maze like fireworks. Annie stood up to get a good look, the trail of red being only about half a mile away. Dumbledore and the two other headmasters looked at each other worriedly before sending Moody off to go find the source of the sparks. Annie got a feeling in her gut again as Moody hobbled into the shrubbery alone. Not half an hour later, a bright light flashed in the middle of the maze.

Annie bolted up again, along with others around them who noticed the flash as well. There was bustling and whispers of whatever the flash could be, and yet, nobody appeared in the field before the crowd.

"People are saying that's supposed to be the portkey, but nobody's returned yet," Aurora said as she looked over the sea of people down at the grassy patch below. Annie did the same and noticed a worried look under Dumbledore's beard. Professor Moody hadn't yet returned either.

"There's something wrong," Annie murmured and stood up abruptly. "I'll be back," She told her friends and descended the stairs toward Weasley and Hermione's group. People stared as she did so and she ignored.

"Hermione, there's something wrong," Annie tapped the bushy-haired girl's shoulder and mumbled to her.

"What? Why?" She asked, catching Weasley's attention too.

"That flash was supposed to be the portkey back here, but no one's back yet," Annie explained in a hushed voice to the both of them as the Gryffindors surrounding all gave her nasty glares. "Dumbledore's got a scared look on his face and Moody isn't back yet."

Before either of Harry's two friends could respond, Seamus Finnigan butted in loudly, "Was it any good, Malfoy?"

Annie turned around to face him. "Excuse me?"

He snickered with his friends. "You know, that night with Harry, did he--"

"I'm going to stop you right there, Finnigan, you, nor anybody else, have no business knowing whoever I'm snogging and whatever I'm doing with them, alright?" The blonde cut him off quickly before he could give any made-up obscene details. She then raised her voice so others around her could hear and said, "And for the record, I didn't fucking hook up with Harry Potter!"