Going Unnoticed || Cedric Diggory

Chapter Seven - The First Task

Chapter Seven - The First Task [UNDER EDITING]

Up until the 21st November, two days before the first task, Cedric and I had worked together. It had been hard and rather grueling; among homework and everything else, it was exhausting. Now on the 22nd, I decided we should leave it off for one day—lest he panic the day before and undo all efforts.

Throughout this time, I felt myself grow closer to him. He was more of a friend than just a work-buddy, or classmate. He was kind, caring and everything you would want for a friend. Cho often talked to me, and about how he had looked at me or smiled to me in the corridor in a funny little way, but I didn't think that her assumptions were true. I waved them off, although the naïve side of myself smiled inside, fluttering.

As we sat in the library on the eve of the first task, the sky growing ever slowly darker, Cedric seemed a little more edgy than usual. He was sitting very still, staring off into nowhere while I read my book. I could barely hear him breathe; less so than usual. His silence was beginning to scare me, and so I looked over the top of my book, knitting my brow.

"Cedric...are you feeling okay?" Lowering my book, I took a good look at him. He shook his head. Sympathy washed over me quickly, "You're going to be fine. Just keep in mind the spells we have been rehearsing...you will most likely not have to use the majority of them. Just remember, keep a cool head—don't overthink—and you'll be great." He didn't look convinced, "Trust me!" Cedric smiled weakly at my attempt to make him feel better.

"Caitlyn, I'm still fighting a dragon. I mean, it's hardly a Labrador retriever. There's no knowing what it could be like. We may have rehearsed the wrong spells. What if I get a really vicious dragon which doesn't breathe fire, but has a wingspan of two Quidditch pitches? I know I'm fighting a dragon, but I don't know about the breed and how mad it's going to be when I disturb it."

"Stop thinking so negatively, just keep calm and actually remember to breathe. That's pretty vital for when you're with a dragon. Lack of breath can cause fainting, that wouldn't look very good in front of the school would it, if you faint," I said in a matter of fact voice, not being entirely serious. Cedric was about to speak, but I cut him off, "Not finished. Where was I? Oh yes, because if you did faint from lack of breath, I wouldn't hesitate to tell everyone it was because you didn't breathe and that I had told you to breathe the night before but you obviously didn't listen to me because you know best. Would that be a good enough punishment for not breathing?" I asked. He nodded in agreement, smiling, "And plus, I wouldn't be the one carrying you to the Hospital Wing, I'd just refuse."

That's when Cedric laughed. I could tell that his nerves hadn't completely gone, but at least he was laughing. Laughing always made it better. Well, it did for me. Sometimes, anyway.

"Not even if I had a broken bone, or a dragon's tooth sticking out my side?" He asked, leaning forwards on his hands, an amused smile stretching slowly across his face, cheeks flushed a pale shade of pink at the top.

"Not even then." I said quietly, closing my book completely. Page 263, I thought.

"Not even if I was foaming at the mouth, evidently poisoned?" He questioned. One lock of hair was sticking slightly higher than another, gently catching the light pouring through the dusty windows.

"Cedric, you shouldn't complain. Honestly, it's as if you don't have a cup of poison for breakfast with your cereal! Because I do, every other day."

"Okay, picture this. What if the dragon had stepped on me, and it was a really huge dragon? Would you carry me to the Hospital Wing then?"

"I'd tell you to walk yourself." I replied. Was I smirking? I might have been. I could feel the edges of my lips twitch, my eyes squint slightly with the strain of trying to keep my mouth as straight as possible and my expression as serious as I could.