Fires at Midnight (Cedric Diggory)

17 ~ Studies Abroad

A blinding light made Cedric's eyes sting as he lay in an unfamiliar bed. As he tried to sit up the pain of being stabbed by a million needles made him moan and soon realize he was in the hospital wing with bandages wrapped around his upper body. Black and blue colored bruises were splotched all over his arms and legs while pain consumed his whole body. The pain was almost unbearable and Cedric wished he was dead.

"Cedric calm down!" cried a familiar voice.

His eyes finally adjusted and there sat the Ravenclaw beauty, Cho Chang.

"You really gave us a scare! What happened to you Cedric?" she asked sweetly

Cedric looked around noticing many get well presents from students and teachers until his heart sank as he remembered what he seen last and the last scream he let out which was her name.

"Where is Vixen Venator!" he nearly yelled, startling Cho.

"I don't know Cedric. You are the only one in the hospital. All anyone knows is she was sent out to find you. Please Cedric sit back and relax. You need your rest."

"No!" he cried. "Where is Dumbledore? He knows where she is!"

Before another word could be said Dumbledore appeared next to him. "Miss. Chang, please return to your common room. Cedric will be released from the hospital soon."

Cho Chang slowly left the room while looking back at Cedric every five feet until she got to the door.

"Cedric do you remember what happened?" Dumbledore asked

Cedric nodded and told Dumbledore of how he and Vixen were attacked by the harpy and how the whales carried them to the shore. As soon as he was finished saying that he demanded to know where Vixen was.

"Son, she is in London at this time. St. Mungo's hospital to be exact. Her injuries were beyond any of our knowledge but I just received word she is doing well and shall return soon. She is a fighter son and will be back in class before you know it. Now as for you Cedric, you need your rest.

Back in London Vixen woke up in a daze and pain with everything around her again being unfamiliar and at this point her thoughts rampaged on telling her she was in danger. Without a second thought she jumped from the bed and climbed out the window of the hospital.

The streets were dark and no one appeared outside as she roamed still wearing her hospital robes. The closest store was that like the one Cedric had taken her to. There she looked at the door and said a spell, "Effigies!" This spell made Vixen like a ghost but only momentarily as she entered the shop where she got herself a pair of pants a shirt, high heeled boots and a coat before quickly doing magically doing her hair and makeup and then she left knowing no one would ever know she had been there.

Back in the streets things seemed so cold and gloomy unlike how it was in Edinburgh. Vixen knew exactly where she wanted to go at this time. Somewhere she knew she was safe and could prepare herself for this battle she felt was in store. She had to find out what her future could hold and if she would only bring herself more pain by trying to hold Cedric.

A train, a boat, and a horse were how she traveled to the Greek island of Crete. There she silently and cautiously made her way to an old shack in the middle of the island. A normal person would have passed right over the hut thinking it was just mosey trees and logs but Vixen had been here before.

She didn't bother to knock or yell if anyone was home. She silently entered and crept up on a tall woman with long black hair who was brewing a potion and Vixen made a motion for her wand, a gesture very rare for she did not use it often.