Poison | Cedric Diggory

5: ignorance

{ 5: ignorance }

dedicated to pinkpanda319 for putting up with all of my fangirling

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Prefects, Head Boys, and Head Girls led their houses to the Great Hall. Students walked in somewhat straight single-file lines, murmuring to each other and betting on who would be chosen by the Goblet. The Beauxbatons students walked politely with their heads down and mouths closed, and Durmstrang marched to the front of the crowd. Everyone was eager to see who the three Champions would be.

Well, everyone except Oleander. She tugged on her sleeves, her skirt, her hair, anything to try and keep herself distracted. Biting her lip, she looked around for Cedric. She wanted to at least be able to wish him good luck. But he was nowhere in sight. The fourth year girl behind her stepped on Oleander's heels. "Move along," she snapped. Oleander obliged.

Inside the Great Hall, everyone took a seat at their house table. Cedric was too far across the room to see.

Professor Albus Dumbledore stepped up toward the Goblet, holding up his hands for silence. All of the students stopped talking, facing the front of the room obediently. Everyone was on the edge of their seats.

"Welcome, welcome," Dumbledore began, "to the start of the Triwizard Tournament." Applause. "The Goblet of Fire will choose our three champions. One from Hogwarts-" A cheer went up among the Hogwarts students. "Another from Durmstrang-" The Durmstrang students roared. "And a final champion from Beauxbatons." Quiet clapping.

"But be warned. If your name is drawn, there is no going back. You chose this." With that, Dumbledore turned to face the Goblet. The light yellow flames shot up, turning blue, and spat out a slip of singed paper. "And the Hogwarts champion is..."

Oleander held her breath, crossing all of her fingers.

"...Cedric Diggory!"

Everyone in the room cheered, and as Cedric stood up to receive his applause, Oleander could see the bright smile on his face. But she was anything but happy.

Cedric was in the Triwizard Tournament.

And there was no going back.

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After the final name was called - Harry Potter, a real surprise - the students were lead back to their common rooms. Oleander was in shock the rest of the night. Cedric was a Triwizard Champion. He could die in this tournament. And she had never gotten to kiss him.

She rolled over in her bed, trying to drift away to the peaceful land of sleep. But sleep just wouldn't come. She couldn't get the thought of Cedric out of her head.

His brown curls, his soft eyes...

His perfect lips...

When she did sleep, it was fitfully.