Star Girl | Cedric Diggory

|*| Forty Five |*|

Aquila was rudely pulled away from Cedric one night when Dumbledore called her to his office. Also in the headmaster's office were Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and some strange French girl Aquila didn't recognize. "This better be worth my time, professor," Aquila said, "I was helping Cedric with some final preparations."

"I'm sure you being here will help him more," Dumbledore told her.

"How so?" Aquila said. "I'm not with him, so I'm not helping him. He'll have to search for me now!"

"That's the point, Aquila," Dumbledore said. "That's why I've gathered you all here. As you know, the second task is in less than twenty-four hours. You are now as much a part of the task as the Champions."

"I'm not old enough to be part of the tournament," Aquila joked. "I'm only sixteen."

"Humorous as always, Aquila," Dumbledore chuckled, "but I assure you, you will be safe. I have made an agreement with the creatures of the Black Lake to insure this."

"B-black lake?" Neville asked.

"Yes, Mr. Longbottom," Dumbledore said.

"Creatures?" Ron asked. "Like the giant squid?"

"Don't judge Squiddy just because he looks big!" Aquila shouted. "He's actually just really lonely!"

"Calm down, Whitman!" Mad-Eye Moody commanded from the other end of the room.

Aquila huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine," she pouted.

"Unfortunately, I am unable to communicate with the giant squid, but I have spoken with the merpeople," Dumbledore said. "They've agreed to assist us with the task."

"What is the task?" Hermione asked.

"I'm sure you've heard the riddle," Dumbledore said.

Aquila's eyes widened, "You're going to toss us into the bottom of the Black Lake!?"

Dumbledore smiled.

|*|*|*|

"I didn't sign up for this," Aquila muttered as Professor Snape, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Moody led the group of students to the lake. Professor Snape carried with him a large bottle of some sort of potion. A sleeping draught, Dumbledore told them, perfectly harmless.

At that point Aquila was raging. "You can't just dump us into the lake unconscious! What if those crafty mermaids decide they want nothing to do with your agreement? What if they kill us? Have fun explaining that to my parents!"

"You Slytherins always use your parents as a threat," Hermione observed.

"Someone's jealous that their parents don't have any magical influence," Aquila jeered. "Muggle parents aren't going to get you very far, Granger."

"I'll advise you to watch your tongue, Miss Whitman," Professor Snape suggested.

"Noted, Professor Snape," she said.

However, five seconds later, she was babbling on again.

"You can't just leave us in this lake asleep all night! What if they don't find us? Who gets us out then?"

"The merpeople," Moody said. "They'll send you out if your Champion doesn't save you."

"This goes against everything I stand for," she said. "I don't want saved by a man! I'm strong enough to save myself."

"Drink this," Snape instructed, handing Aquila a cup.

"I'm not drinking this first," she said, "Granger, care to do the honors?"

Hermione glared at Aquila before dumping the contents of her cup into her mouth. Ron, Neville, and the French girl did the same.

Before Aquila drank hers, she smiled at Professor Snape, "I bet this is tasty." Then, she drank it. "Yep. It tastes like dung. Good try... though... sir. Good... try..."

Aquila fell backwards onto the ground in a deep sleep.

|*|*|*|

When Cedric brought Aquila back up to the land, she began thrashing around in the water, screaming. Cedric tried to calm her down, but the Slytherin wouldn't listen to a word he said. "Quil, people are staring," he yelled at her.

Aquila spit out a mouthful of seawater, "I can still taste it!" she screamed. "I can still taste it! It's still on my tongue!"

"Calm down, Quil," he said, "I'm sure they've got something for you up there."

She swam to the dock as fast as she could. Professor Moody informed her that she was the first to return back to shore, and everyone fussed about getting her a towel. "I'm not cold!" She shouted, "I need something to drink! I need this taste out of my mouth!"

"Stop being ridiculous, Quil," Cedric said, sitting down next to her. "It can't be that bad."

"Oh, yeah?" she challenged. "Wanna find out for yourself?"

Before he could even respond, she pulled him in for a kiss. He pulled away just as quickly, "We need some juice over here!" he declared. "You're right, Aquila. I swear I'll never doubt you again."

"That's what I like to hear," she said, smiling.

|*| crap is gonna go down |*|