From friends to this -Year six (re-uploaded) Book 1/4

Chapter 36

The day of the second task rolled around and Tara was striding down to the black lake with Cedric. Cedric was a lot more confident this time around compared to the last task.

It was the morning and the grounds were quiet enough, Cedric wanted to get down early so he can just relax a little before possibly risking his neck.

"So, are you going to tell me what this task is yet?" Tara chirped, shoving him to the side, "It's only fair, I told you about the last task."

"I guess you're right...." Cedric sighed, "We have to retrieve something from the lake," he told her simply, smiling, "happy?"

"Far from it," Tara frowned. She furrowed her brows, confused, "You got that from the banshee living in that egg of yours?" She asked him, highly doubtful.

"It wasn't a banshee," Cedric laughed, shaking his head, "It was the voice of a merperson."

Tara looked at her best friend blankly for a few seconds before pulling a pace, "Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure," he insisted, with a light chuckle, "when I put it underwater in the bath it sounded a lot better, trust me."

"And why were you bathing with it?" She scoffed, raising a brow, "Is it because Cho couldn't go in with you?"

"Oh be quiet."

The two Hufflepuffs now stood at the bank, grand stands now hovering over the water. They looked out across the softly lapping lake.

"How is Cho anyways," Tara teased, "Bet she was doting over you last night."

Cedric coughed awkwardly.

Tara froze, "Don't tell me you broke up."

"No!" He exclaimed, suddenly before pausing. He shuffled his feet anxiously. "it's just, I didn't see her at all last night: in fact I haven't seen her since yesterday evening...." He trialed off.

Tara looked to him alarmed, "Did any of her friends see her?"

Cedric didn't say anything and instead shook his head once before shrugging. Tara took his arm and squeezed it. "It's probably nothing," she reassured him, "She's mad about you, I've seen it. She's probably just gone to bed early or something."

"Maybe," Cedric mumbled, not very convinced.

"There is no maybe," Tara said, patting him on the back firmly, "You're fine."

"Well, we'll see, if Cho hates me I think I wouldn't mind going into that lake and never coming out," he told her, eyes full or anxiety.

"That was dark," Tara commented to herself. She hit his arm quickly, "Come on, let's get you down there."

Once Tara had dropped Cedric down to where the champions were set to meet later, he told her he needed some time alone. So, naturally, she gave him his space. He was overthinking. She had tried her best on the walk over and before she left him, all she could do was let him be.

So Tara stood up in the stands by herself, and let her own thoughts wander. She had a lesson two hours after the task; she had had one about a month ago and another two days ago. She hadn't written that one in her journey yet; that could wait for later, she thought.

Fred and George had asked for some help on product development, she could arrange that for the next day. She had a couple essays due but they were on track, she just had a Runes project assigned and she was a little behind schedule with that. Potions class was potions class-there was always something to do and rarely enough time.

As she looked out across the water, her eyes fixing on the dull sky she sighed, tired and overwhelmed a little.

"Bonjour," a small, reluctant voice greeted. Tara's thoughts were abruptly erased.