Daughter of Black

Chapter 33- The Third Task

V woke up with a bang, quite literally as she had rolled off of the side of her bed and hit the floor with a thump. V wasn't exactly a restless sleeper making these kind of things rare but on the odd occasion of a frightful nightmare, she would kick a storm.

She had landed flat on her back, causing the air to knock right out of her and for a second she was lost for where she was. That was until Flora leaned over the side of her bed and peered down at her.

"Merlin V, are you alright?" She asked with a bit too much serenity for V's liking.

"Dainty." She replied, only just managing to croak out her reply.

She got up walking over to her trunk and opening it up. She found a photograph poking out from a pocket and pulled it out. It was the photograph of her when she was a toddler with her parents. V smiled sadly down at the photograph, happy that she had the memory but sad that she knew that her family would never be complete again.

V got dressed, putting her mother's necklace on and grabbed all her books. There was still one more day till the weekend but no one was excited for the weekend as the Triwizard tournament was in the evening. V doubted that anyone would even be paying attention in class and truthfully, V felt quite distracted too.

After V got something to eat in the great hall, she made her way to defense against the dark arts, ready for another full on lesson. She was the first to arrive at class and she was alone as she went with none of her friends, but that was for a reason. She opened up her defense against the dark arts book and began to revise over the things she learnt in her last lesson which she really didn't have the time for at the time as everyone was being chased around in panic by a live flame. As she got reading, the door to the classroom opened and in came Cedric Diggory who sent an awkward smile her way, which V returned. V then turned back to her book but noticed him walk past in the corner of her eye, then he abruptly stopped and she locked her eyes onto her book.

"Uh, V?" Cedric then asked, turning towards her.

"Yes?" V asked smiling up at him.

"I've been thinking well, the last task is tonight and you seem to know what you're doing when it comes to the dark arts,"

"The dark arts?" V said giving Cedric a sharp look.

"I- uh- meant the defense aspect of it." He said stopping so that V's features could soften again. "Sorry, but uh, I was wondering if you could help out you see, you're also good with Herbology and I was wondering if you knew what magical plant the maze is made out of?" He asked.

V then exhaled. "I'm afraid I can't tell you, I haven't been down to the quidditch pitch in a while since well, they destroyed it and even if I did, I'm close friends with Harry. Sorry." V said and Cedric nodded in reply.

"Fair enough, at least your honest." He replied with a small smile and V gave him a nod. He was about to walk away when she spoke up.

"But I do want to let you know this, I have my full faith in Hogwarts taking the cup tonight, whether it is you or Harry. You're both talented wizards." V stated and a gracious smile grew on Cedric's face.

"Thank you." He said and took a seat at the front of the class.

After, a defense against the dark arts lesson filled with more fire and a bit more water, V and a few others went to potions, absolutely soaked or practically charred. V fortunately was soaked. When V entered the class, leading all of those who had just come from defense against the dark arts, everyone laughed. V glared as everyone started to laugh harder at everyone else who seemed worse off than V.