the girl with all of the choices

e i g h t

3024 words

november twenty-fourth- the first task

The day had finally come for Cedric to compete in the Triwizard tournament. The task didn't start until 1 in the afternoon, so we all decided to spend the morning together. Actually, we didn't decide, Cedric told us that was what we were doing. As the days got closer to the first task Cedric seemed more sentimental and more hesitant regarding his participation in the Tournament. I think it had finally dawned on him that he could get seriously hurt in this thing. 

We all gathered in the common room at 10am after breakfast. Cedric didn't come down with us, he said he was too nervous to eat. Once we got back to the common room, Cedric was sitting on the floor leaning against the couch with a deck of cards in his hand. I sat down next to him and our friends filled in around us. 

"Wanna play cards?" I asked him, trying to take his mind off of the inevitable. "I can shuffle." 

He looked at me and nodded, and I noticed that his eyes were full of tears. His eyes were still locked on mine as I took the cards from his hands. 

"Why don't we just play cards for now?" I gently suggested. "Just cards, nothing else." I smiled at him, trying to reassure him. He nodded and swallowed noticeably, obviously trying to swallow his fear. 

Matt started talking about the stupidities that occurred at breakfast. I guess I missed it, but Ron Weasley tripped walking into the Great Hall and fell into a group of Beauxbatons girls. Matt's retelling of the event made Cedric laugh. 

We played cards and joked for an hour before deciding to abandon the cards. We never actually finished our game because we couldn't focus since Matt kept making stupid jokes. We were all happy, genuinely happy. I loved being with my friends. No matter what happened in life, with the Tournament, with anything, I would always remember this moment. 

We continued to joke until we hit a lull in our laughter. Cedric grabbed my hand and looked at me, tears back in his eyes. I smiled at him and he began to speak.

"Listen, guys," he started. "Whatever happens, I just wanted to say thank you for being my friends. I'm really grateful for all of you." He paused before continuing. "So if I don't make it out of this task, here's what's going to happen. Matt, if you break Ainsley's heart, I have instructions ready to hire a hitman to kill you. Ainsley, if you break Matt's heart, I have a separate set of instructions ready to hire a hitman to kill you." We laughed. "Fawn, I want you to plan my funeral. I already have most of it planned out but I want you to execute it. Don't make it too long, I don't want my dad to have to sit through a long service. Addie, I've asked George Weasley to be your new me. He's in our classes and he's the best Weasley, hands down. Treat him like he was me. Make him your best friend. Also, you have to name your kid after me sometime in the future. And you have to visit my grave and tell me about every guy you date. I have to be kept in the loop. Also, it would be great if you could write and read a eulogy for me. I know my dad would appreciate it. Every year you guys have to eat a liquorice wand on the train for me. And on the anniversary of my death, you have to get butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks. Oh, and you guys have to be nice to Justin and Ernie. They're my roommates and I'm their only friend beside each other. Oh, and I have a letter hidden in my pillowcase for Cho. Adds, could you give it to her? At my funeral preferably, but it's okay if it doesn't happen then." He paused, looking around at all of us. 

I looked down at his hand in mine and rubbed it with my fingers. I hated that we had to have this conversation. I hated that he thought everything out. I loved George Weasley, but I couldn't imagine him being my new Cedric. Before I could cry at the possibilities, Fawn spoke.