Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Third Chapter

Ch. 24 - The Maze (Part 2)

This chapter is going to be longer than all of the others. Be prepared my umbras!

Jenny's POV

"We must be close, now, Harry." I told my brother, watching his wand. We were on course and as we turned a corner, I spotted the plinth on which the gleaming Tri-Wizard Cup stood. Cedric suddenly hurtled out and raced forwards. He was going to win and we were going to lose Slytherin's glory that people never thought we deserved.

Out of the blue smog that hung above us eerily, an immensely sized spider dropped from the hedge and since Cedric had not seen it from his left, he was running straight at it - he was going to die! "CEDRIC!" I screamed, but he somehow managed to skirt right round it, but I'd distracted him and he'd tripped to the ground. I clapped my hand over my mouth and breathed heavily as the spider jerked slightly when Harry shot a spell at it. Our magical bond bracelet glowed brightly in the dim area of thick to our sides.

"Stay back, Jenny." He pushed me behind him like an older brother and in a sort of daze, I realized he really did care for me- oh, shit, spider!

Harry's leg connected with the spider's pincers and he cried out, but then he shot another spell at it and the spider dropped him in shock. I was yanked this way and that, and I dropped to my knees, helping Harry up.

"Stupefy!" All three of us cried that same thing and the spider keeled over sideways, flattening a hedge on the way down. Harry breathed quickly as he leaned on me and I kept him upright, "You okay?" I asked, and he groaned softly but nodded. The next thing I knew, Cedric and Harry were arguing over who was going to take the cup.

"Both of us." I said loudly. Cedric frowned at me, as did Harry. "We can all take it together." I told them. Cedric glanced at me with a warm smile, "Are you sure?" He asked. I nodded and looked at Harry who nodded too, "Sounds like a good idea." We all made our way towards the small plinth with the glittering blue-tinted Cup.

"One - two -three -"

There was a jerk behind my navel and I swore quietly.

Portkey!

*

"Harry, where are we?" I clung to my brother, once more helping him up off the ground for support on his bad leg. Cedric stood beside us, making sure we were all okay, "A portkey. Did you know?" He questioned. We both shook our heads, "No..." I swallowed hard, "I don't feel normal... this doesn't feel right." I whispered.

We all pulled out our wands until Harry shoved me behind him again, "Someone's coming." He uttered.

A few meters off, a hooded cloaked person carried a bundle of clothes ever closer to us. I bit my lip until I felt a small blood trickle down my chin. The figure stopped in front of a marble headstone, not even six feet from them and for a second, we all looked at it with suspicious eyes. Harry smashed his hands over his face suddenly, "Harry!" I gasped, watching him writhe in agony when I heard a high, cold voice that chilled me to the bone.

"Kill the spare."

"Avada Kedavra!"

A single flash of green light passed by my eyes and blazed through the graveyard, right into Cedric.

He slumped to the ground. Dead.

My mouth hung open slightly, and I saw Harry vomit in his pain, then gradually open his eyes. Cedric's expression was blank and his mouth was half open, along with his grey eyes. Before Harry could accept what he was seeing, I screamed at the hooded cloak man, "YOU KILLED HIM!! HE WAS MY FRIEND!!" Tears slipped from my eyes like icy cracks of my soul. "CEDRIC!!" I wailed, sobbing violently. I had a connection to him - a friendly, lovable connection - that I cherished between us. He was always so nice to me, and there he was, dead as can be with no last words. No last battle.