Cedric Diggory and the Second Chance

That Night

Cedric ran with all his might, around the corner, passing Harry Potter on his way. Ahead was a blue-white light. The Triwizard Cup. Cedric and Harry both set off sprinting, both so eagerly trying to grip the handle before the other. Wind howled against them, loud and hard.

The vines tangled around Cedric's legs, making him fall flat on his chest. Harry continued running. The wind was knocked from Cedric's lungs as quickly as the roots crawled up his body. His wand was two feet away- two feet out of reach. He had been so close to the Triwizard Cup. Harry's footsteps were echoing in his mind as he focused on the situation. He could have won, but now he was in immediate danger.

"Harry!" Cedric cried out to Harry, who was a fair distance away from Cedric and the cup. "HARRY!" He yelled again, louder as the vines dug into his body. He sounded 7, rather than 17. Desperate for any help, he hoped Harry would come back and save him. Cedric fought hard against the hedge vines and roots, kicking, thrashing, nothing was working, he was going to be pulled under. He suddenly regret having so much pride in himself and frankly, in this dilemma, he was embarrassed by it.  He regret trying to push Harry aside to win the tournament. He regret every decision that lead him to this moment.

Moments ago he was on his way to glory. He had disarmed Krum and was a few feet ahead of Harry. He was going to win. But now he was in the dirt. The vines were pulling at his clothes, at his skin, they were trying to drag him away. He needed Harry. Harry was all he had.

Cedric wanted to plead; he was scared for his life now. Harry turned on his heel and to Cedric's surprise, he attempted to save him from the hedge. "Reducto!" A flash of blue light shot from Harry's wand and the vines relaxed. Cedric fought to clear himself of them in a hazed frenzy. He felt the other boy's hands untangle him, then help him to his feet. Cedric's hands shook with resonating fear. He bent and grabbed his wand off the ground. His ribs ached.

"Thanks," Cedric nodded, his voice sounding very very small and quite shaky

"No problem,"

Cedric almost laughed at the banality of the exchange. He smiled weakly, to cover the fact he was still trembling.  "You know, for a moment there, I thought you were going to let it get me."

"For a moment, so did I." Harry's eyes widened at his honesty. Cedric didn't care, he was grateful for Harry's aid. He was grateful to be alive. It was an honest answer too, acknowledging but not commenting on the fact Cedric had been tripped by the root in the first place while trying to push Harry out of his way. Cedric was a bit surprised at Harry's sudden turn away from glory. Harry must have had the same lust for winning as Cedric did while running down the alley of the maze. Dumbledore was right by warning them that the maze changed people. It had changed everyone for the worse.

The vines had pulled down the right boy- he didn't deserve the cup. The wind blew harder, whipping them violently. Now ashamed of himself,  he avoided Harry's eyes. "Some game, huh?"

"Some game," Harry replied, a tone of anger in his voice. Cedric couldn't figure out if it was directed towards him, or the maze, or the tournament. Maybe all three. There was movement in Cedric's peripheral vision- he turned and watched as their narrow pathway was narrowing, closing, intertwining fast.

Gripping Harry by the arm, Cedric shoved him forward. "GO!" He shouted. Harry took off running with Cedric. They ran together this time. Each in equal danger running at an equal pace. They burst out of the leafy hallway together into a little clearing where the glowing blue cup shone bright. Cedric skidded to a stop. The wind gusted now; any kite would be ripped away to the Heavens.

In that moment, Cedric knew what he had to do. He knew he didn't deserve the cup. When push had come to shove, he literally shoved a kid three years younger than him, only to fall and have the same kid come back to save him.