Rose Between Two Thorns.

Chapter 17

The next few months passed by without much word from any of the teachers as to what the third task was. The schools mourned Barty Crouch's death after Harry, Ron and Hermione found him in the Forest while walking with Hagrid, but because I didn't like the man much, I stopped mourning after about three minutes. Classes went on as normal, Fred, George and I fooling around; occasionally getting detention for stuffing dungbombs into toilets and every other students bag but general having a good time. I guess it makes up for not being able to play Quidditch this year.

It wasn't until near the end of August when I received any news about the third task. Nigel came running up to us coming out from behind a tapestry to tell me breathlessly that Dumbledore wanted to see me down at the Quidditch pitch along with the other Champions. I say a quick goodbye to Fred and run with Nigel down to the pitch, which as I get closer, looks nothing like the familiar pitch but more like they planted a huge bunch of bushes.

"Ah Miss Granger, glad you could join us" Dumbledore says cheerfully as I walk over to the little group.

"Thanks sir, erm whats.....all this?" I ask while waving my hand at the bushes. He smiles.

"Im so glad you asked. What you see before you ladies and gentlemen is a maze" he says. I drew in a sharp breath. This soo cant be good.

"A maze?" asks Diggory, an are-you-kidding-me look on his face. I roll my eyes.

"Yes Mr Diggory, but this is no ordinary maze you see; it is full of spells, hexes, magical creatures and enchantments of the like. Reach the middle and you win." Dumbledore explains.

"Sounds complicated" Krum says, his voice deep. I then realise that I've never heard him speak before.

"Of course the prize in the middle of the maze is the Triwizard Cup so that makes it a little more of a competition." Dumbledore adds. I smirk and look over at Fleur, who looks a little terrified.

"Well I do like a challenge sir" I say placing my hands on my hips.

"Very well, I shall see you four on the 12th of June. Details will be given out soon for the whole school to read" he says.

I and the other three, start walking back to the castle. I was thinking about what books I'd have to look at in the library, when I felt a presence next to me.

"You know one of these days, you will say something sarcastic or snarky and it will get you killed" Cedric mutters to me. I roll my eyes.

"Whats to say it wont happen to you Diggory" I reply, before stuffing my hands into my pocket and walking faster up to the castle.

***

Dream

I was standing in a small room, the only light coming from a small window in front of me. The light from the window was trained on me like a spotlight. I hear murmurs and whispers from behind me, but when I try to turn to see who it is, I am forced to face the light again.

"Stay still Melody" someone hissed at me. i furrow my eyebrows, surely I was Tabitha?

"This is for your own safety Melody, I hope one day you will forgive me" the person—a woman—says as she moves around.

"Mummy" I whisper. Mummy? "Where am I going?"

"The future my sweet" the woman finally comes into the light and I can see her face. She has a fair face, with chocolate brown eyes and a kind smile. She grabs my face and leans down to kiss my forehead. "The future."

A bright light starts to emanate from the window behind her and she steps away quickly. But before she leaves, she takes something off of her neck and places it into my hand. I get a glimpse of a small locket in what looks to be gold, before she wraps my small fingers around it. I know I've seen it before.

"Take care beautiful, and don't forget" she calls out as the light becomes brighter and brighter, engulfing me as I turn to look at her one last time. The last thing I see is a door bursting open and two people coming into the room. And a streak of green light.

I wake up with sweat covering my face and wide eyes, panting slightly. The room is silent, as the other three girls are asleep, the only sound is my heavy breathing. I wipe my arm across my forehead and try to steady my breathing.

"What the hell was that?" I ask myself. Heaving myself over the side of the bed I place my head in my hands, thinking. That was such a weird dream.

I look at the time on Katie's watch, it reads 6:32am. I groan, there is no way I am going back to sleep after that dream. Besides I need to hit the library and get some books out.

Dressing quickly in the semi dark, I head into the bathroom to sort my hair out. As I run a brush through it, I open my jewellery box to pick some earrings out and that's when I see it. The locket; hanging on a small hook. It looks exactly like the one in my dream. I pick it up and run the thin chain through my fingers. The locket has an intricate design carved into the gold, and I turn it over to see three letters carved into the back M.C.B. Curious, I open the locket, and find two photos inside. A black and white photo of man and a woman smiling at the camera on one side and four girls trying to pose for the camera. The two older of the girls had jet black hair while the younger two look to have a lighter coloured hair—possibly brown.

I close the locket feeling an overwhelming urge to throw up. Tossing the locket back inside my jewellery box I continue tying my hair up, adding a little purple bow on the side.

Leaving the bathroom, and switching the light off, I sneak across the room to grab my school bag, emptying it of its contents. Throwing in some ink, a quill and a pile of spare parchment, I close the zip and pull the bag on.

"Tabitha, what are you doing?" a croaky voice breaks the silence of the room. Turning, I see Marie looking up at me.

"Just going to the library" I whisper. She nods, and falls back onto her pillow, falling asleep quickly. I smile to myself, and leave the room as quietly as possible, heading down the stairs and through the empty Common Room. I open the portrait and walk through, ignoring the Fat Lady's half-asleep protests, scurrying along the corridors until I reach the library.