𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍 | 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒇𝒐𝒚 | 𝟏

𝟐𝟐*

The sky was a dull grey colour when everyone woke up the next morning. They half expected it to brighten up, for the sun to come out later in the afternoon prior to the third task starting but it didn't. It remained overcast... a reflection on Olivia's mood as she went through the motions that day.

After breakfast she had started hearing voices whispering to her. They were soft hissing sounds... very much like a snake hissing from every angle but everywhere she looked she couldn't find or see anyone close by. That awful feeling that had been clinging to her back for the past few days only intensified with every hour that passed and she didn't know what to do about it. It was driving her mad.. to the brink of insanity and all she wanted to do was scream.

She knew she was acting strange, that she was being quiet around her friends but she couldn't bring herself to care. She was too busy trying to figure out what the voices were trying to warn her about before it was too late. This was her first experience with it and she had no idea how to use it or how it worked. She didn't know if they'd just continue until whatever they were warning her against happened or if it warning her because there was a chance she could do something to prevent it from happening.

Everyone in the castle was bouncing with excitement—eagerly awaiting the third task and to see who would emerge as champion of the Twi-Wizard Tournament. Olivia didn't share that excitement. She hadn't slept the night before. It had been nightmare after nightmare and she'd had enough a little after four in the morning. She'd sat in the common room and read until people started waking up.

The whole day she only spoke when someone asked her a question. She was quiet, putting all her energy into ignoring the chilling feeling that was looming over her shoulders warning her something bad was about to happen.

Around her, people were cheering... buzzing with excitement as she walked down the stairs into the stands. Faces were painted in support of favourites to win and flags were being waved into the air. There was so much joviality, so much anticipation but Olivia couldn't join in with it no matter how hard she tried. She felt trapped and she didn't know how to escape.

"This way, love." She heard Draco say distantly. Like a switch, his voice pulled her back into reality. She actually saw him standing in front of her, guiding the way down the stands, his warm hand wrapped around her cold one.

Without a word she let him guide her left toward where there were two spare benches. Draco was in front of her, Serena behind her. When they sat down she noticed Graham Montague sitting next to Serena, though her best friend appeared less than thrilled Olivia didn't miss the faint smile that rose to Serena's cheeks when Montague was looking the other way. Alexis, Blaise and Theodore Nott were sat directly in front of them on the tiered seating.

Olivia's knee began to bounce in rapid succession without her even realising it. Her arm was wrapped around her stomach while her other rested over Draco's leg, her hand still in his. She stared blankly ahead at the tall, green, hedges that seemed to have something to do with the final task. She couldn't make out much aside from miles and miles of greenery that looked like some sort of maze.

The voices had never been louder than they had been sitting and waiting for the task to start. Harsh whispers she couldn't quite decipher overwhelmed her. She couldn't hear anything around her for the distraction... the warning that they carried that she couldn't understand.

Everything had been leading up to this task so what was the danger? As far as she could see it was only a maze. She wasn't sure what dangers would be lurking inside but she didn't think they'd be bad. The tasks so far had been questionable though... they'd been designed to hurt and injure but no one had died.

Yet, a little voice said in the back of her mind.

She blew out a breath she didn't even know she was holding and shook her head, "I don't think I can sit and watch this."