ONCE UPON A TIME.

01. début

     AMOS DIGGORY HAS TO SHAKE HIS SON AWAKE when the commotion starts. Cedric had celebrated Ireland's win well in to the night, only managing to sleep an hour before all hell broke loose.

     "Cedric," Amos had hissed, damn near shoving Cedric off his cot just to get him to rouse. "Cedric, get up. It's an emergency. I need you to get up!"

     The urgency finally sinking in, Cedric lets his father drag him out of their tent. The sight that greets him knocks out whatever sleep he had left in him.

     A crowd of masked, hooded wizards march through the gaps of the tents, their dark robes bellowing behind them. Cedric's breath catches in his throat when he spots Mr. Roberts, his kids and his wife levitating above them. All that Cedric can manage is a strangled bloody hell before his father pushes him in the direction of the woods.

     "Run." Amos commands. "You have your wand, don't you? I need you to be safe, for now - don't give me that look, Cedric! When I tell you to run, I want you to RUN!"

     One of the hooded wizards glance in their direction. Amos shoves Cedric once more, and, knowing there's no use in arguing, Cedric makes for the woods. The rest of the camp is waking up; around him, Cedric hears murmurs, then screams - he lurches forward as a family shrieks past him. An arm catches him before he can stumble to the ground.

     "For a Seeker, you sure are slow on your feet!"

     The arm is dragging him now, leading the two of them to - Cedric can only hope - safety. With the foggy dawn and the throng of people surging around them, Cedric can't make out who's pulling him along. When they duck in to the woods, he digs his feet in to the mud and slows the two of them to a screeching halt.

     His companion turns to him, eyebrows raised. "What?" the girl asks with an annoyed tone; she's panting a little, and Cedric wonders if it's because she's at least a head smaller than him. (He almost cracks a smile at the thought of a girl of her stature being able to haul him through the chaos.)

     "We can't stop here," she insists. She's already walking further away, the darkness cast by the trees threatening to engulf her completely. "A little deeper in to the woods - that ought to be safe."

     Cedric knows she's right but he still finds himself a little wary. This is a complete stranger, after all. The girl seems to pick up on this - she sighs impatiently, taking quiet strides back to Cedric.

     "Amata D'Amore. Same year as you." she says, showing him the Bulgaria scarf around her neck. A Slytherin pin flashes up at him. "I wish I could be more offended that you don't know me, but you're Cedric Diggory - so, I forgive you."

     A little heat creeps up Cedric's cheeks, and the smallest of smirks tug at Amata's lips when she catches sight of it. The grin fades as the sound of shouting gets closer; more urgent.

     "Let's get going." she says. It's not so much of a command as it is a plea. This time, Cedric doesn't have to be asked twice.