Undying Devotion: A Weasley Love Story.

Chapter 16: Champions.

I groan as I drag myself up to my dormitory. I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow. My sleep is uneasy. I dream about a graveyard and for some reason, Harry. I can’t make out anybody else. It’s too fuzzy. All I can feel is panic.

“Guinevere, wake up.” Ginny urges me. My eyes flutter open as I bolt straight up. I still feel the panic from my dream. “People are going to start entering their names!” She says excitedly.

I jump up and dress hastily. Ginny and I run to the Great Hall where the Goblet of Fire awaits the entry of eager contestants. I see Cedric surrounded by Erik, Tyler, and a few girls I don’t know. I run up and give Cedric a kiss. He whirls around in shock.

“Where have you been?” He nearly yells.

“I’ll explain later.” I reply taking mental note to make up a believable lie.

“I’m entering.” Cedric says grinning. I gasp in horror.

“No.” I whisper, I can feel myself begin to sweat.

“Why not?” He asks a bit offended.

“I just don’t have a good feeling about this.” I say sadly. He ignores me and walks up to the cup and puts his name in. The crowd cheers as he walks back up to me. The entire surrounding Hufflepuff house pushes me out of the way to congratulate Cedric.

I walk away annoyed and hurt. I see Hermione a few feet away and take a seat beside her as Fred and George walk up. The Gryffindor’s all cheer as they each hold up a tiny vial of potion.

“Cooked it up just this morning!” Fred yells out to the crowd. They all erupt in applause.

“It’s not going to work.” Hermione says annoyed, not looking up from her book.

“And why is that, Granger?” Fred asks brimming with confidence. Hermione stands up and slams her book closed. “See that circle surrounding the cup? That’s an age line. Dumbledore drew it himself.” Hermione retorts glaring at the twins. I giggle.

“So,” George asks putting his face right next to Hermione’s.

“So, somebody like Dumbledore couldn’t possibly be fooled by something as dim witted as an aging potion.”

“And that’s why it is so brilliant!” Fred exclaims. “Because it’s so dim witted.” George finishes. “Bottoms up,” the twins say in unison.  The drink the potion and jump through the age line. Everybody applauds when they throw their name in the goblet. For a minute it seems as though they succeeded. Hermione’s face is priceless, but very short lived because Fred and George are thrown out of the age line, both sporting long, gray beards. Hermione and I look at one another and lose it. We laugh so hard we cry. Fred and George look livid and soon begin to fight.

**

It’s time to head to the feast where they will announce the Triwizard contestants. I walk over to Gryffindor table and sit beside Fred and George. I’m still pretty upset with Cedric for ignoring me.

“Oh my god, Guinevere is sitting with her two long lost friends,” Fred exclaims to George nudging him. I roll my eyes and they both laugh. I can see Cedric at the table in front of me. He is looking at me with a confused, hurt expression. I glare back at him.

“Hi, Guinevere,” Anton says as he sits beside me. I look up to Cedric whose eyebrows are creased looking at us. Erik and Tyler are looking at Anton with expressions of dislike. I sit down, smirking with satisfaction.

“Hi, Anton.” I reply not looking at him, still soaking up my pettiness,

“In my country women respect they men they are talking too,” Anton says somewhat rudely. I don’t really think anything of it. Fred and George are shoveling food onto their plates and so I doubt they hear. I let it pass as a cultural difference and apologize for my distracted greeting.

He smiles at me and begins to eat. I pick at my food until it disappears and Dumbledore begins to speak. I feel the uneasiness from earlier creep up. My stomach is in knots and I wonder who will be chosen. I continue to pray that Cedric will not be chose; although I’m sure he would resent me if he ever found out.

“Champion from Durmstrang is Victor Krum!” Dumbledore yells to the crowd. Loud applause erupts.

“Champion from Beauxbatons Academy is Fleur Delacour!” Once again applause rings through the crowd, just not as loud.

“Finally, champion from Hogwarts is Cedric Diggory!” The loudest applause yet rings through the room. I look up at Cedric who makes brief eye contact with me. He mouths, “I love you.” Before joining the other contestants. I feel tears burning in my eyes as he disappears from the room. I pretend to be happy for Cedric, to be a supportive girlfriend. It’s too late now. He will need my support through these tasks; there is no going back now.

“Harry Potter!” Dumbledore yells bringing me back to reality. I see Harry stumble up to Dumbledore looking completely scared and bewildered.

I look at Fred and George who are too shocked for words. Ron looks livid and Hermione looks sick to her stomach. I sigh in exasperation. The feeling of unease was well warranted. I am sure that something terrible is going to happen. But I grit my teeth and make a silent promise to protect them. I will call forth my visions to do whatever is possible, granted I’m not just paranoid, which could very well be true. Better safe than sorry, I think to myself.

“I’m an international Quidditch player, you know. I play beater on the same team Krum does,” Anton tells me. I see him flex his arm muscles, which are pretty pronounced, but I’m not annoyed to care so I shut out his advances and attempts at flirting. He scowls down at the table.

“Sorry,” I tell Anton getting up. “I’m just a little sick right now.” I run out of the room and up to my dormitory and get ready for bed. I just want one night to shut it all away.

Once again my dreams are uneasy. I dream of dragons and graveyards that force me into such a state of panic that I wake up in the middle of the night trying not to scream. When sunshine floods through the windows I feel myself becoming more alive. The dreams are thrown to the back of my mind so my actions are calm and less impulsive.

I get out of bed and quickly dress. I want to have time to play my guitar, in private, at the lake before class begins. It’s not a very far walk to the secluded area I usually play at, but when I get there, I see Cedric staring out at the Durmstrang ship. I think about turning around and hoping I am unseen but I fight the impulse and decide to deal it now than later.

I take a seat on the grass beside Cedric. He looks up at me with a small smile. “I was hoping you would be here,” he says distractedly. I nod. I don’t know what to say and I’m afraid if I do, I’ll sound a bit crazier than usual.

Finally I say, “I’m scared for you, Cedric.” He looks at me, but it’s not his usual loving look. He looks worried as well.

“It’s too late. I can’t back out now.” He tells me. Tears are streaming down my face as he lifts my chin and wipes away my tears and kisses me softly on the lips. I quickly gather my composure.

“I know, and I’ll support you every step of the way.” I whisper. Cedric half smiles before he pulls me into a tight embrace.