Written In The Stars IV -[Harry Potter xF!Oc]

Chapter Nineteen: The First Task.

That morning Mel woke up having a best friend, now she was hoping to wake up the next day still having him.

As the hour for the first task approached, Dumbledore asked for the committee's presence, they were on their way to the edge of the forest, Mel was biting her thumb and trying to remember if there was something, some spell that could help Harry.

"Leave your poor finger alone," Erick pulled her hand away. "Harry won't die."

"How're you so bloody sure? This is wrong, Harry's a child!"

"I reckon he'd hate hearing you say that."

"Doesn't mean is not true," Mel frowned. "He wants to play the hero like he always does, but this isn't about who's the bravest, is about brains and skill– and we've survived our mishaps out of luck, I have a reason to be nervous!"

"But it won't help Harry if he sees you like this," He replied. "He won't like it if you smother him with hugs and warnings..."

"He'll think I don't care about him then," They entered the champion's tent, "I want- I wish I could have a way of knowing he'll be all right."

"Anyone with enough common sense can see you care, he may be blind enough not to notice you fancy him, but I'm sure he knows you worry."

The tent was empty, they put the benches and infirmary beds in place, soon enough Fleur and Victor entered, both remained silently fidgeting with their sleeves.

"Should we offer them something..?" Erick whispered unsurely.

"I don't want anyone claiming that we tampered the champions' magic or something," Mel grumbled.

"Oh good, you're here!" Bagman entered wearing his old wasps uniform, it looked about to explode around his middle. "I need one of you to direct the audience to their seats, and one to stay here with the champions."

"I'll do it," Erick replied, "direct the schools to their seats, that is."

"Go then boy," Bagman gave him a light pat on the back to urge him, Mel followed him all the way to the entrance.

"I'll try not to stress Harry while you're gone," She said sarcastically.

"You seem to be sure he'll die today, so you might want to consider telling him how you feel?" He retorted in the same tone.

"Stop the matchmaking," Mel glared at his teasing smirk. "You haven't told me one thing about Anne this trimester, don't think I forgot."

"There's nothing to tell..."

"Have you talked to her about how you feel?"

"I don't know how I feel, all right?" 

Mel was taken aback with the frustration that came out on his sentence. 

"Okay," Mel was used to Erick running away from conversations, but this felt different. "You don't have to tell me... just please, let me handle Harry on my own?"

"I have better things to do, anyway," Erick turned around and left without adding a word.

"Mel?" Cedric walked up to her. "Are you okay? You look pale..."

"I'm a little worried– but I'm fine. It's okay– isn't it?" She rambled.

Cedric chuckled and guided her back to the tent. 

"I think you need to sit down..."

"I'm supposed to take care of you, not the other way around!" She huffed but allowed him to take her to a chair.