ON HOLD before the storm - d.m. & c.d.

Chapter 8

Adelaide

Over the next two days, I refused to speak to Malfoy - or even make eye contact with him. This has made Potions class rather difficult, but I'll manage. Anything is better than having to converse with that self absorbed, privileged, good for nothing idiot. Cedric on the other hand, has been nothing but an angel. He holds doors open for me when we're walking down the halls together, he speaks to me with nothing but respect, he offers to help me study for my classes when I have a test coming up, and he always manages to make time to see me even when he's busy with Quidditch practices and schoolwork. He's absolutely gorgeous, he's polite, and he's genuinely a good person. How can one boy be that perfect? We aren't officially dating or anything - we just spend a lot of time together - but I think in my next letter to my father I'm going to tell him about Cedric. I have a feeling he'll really love him. Plus, Cedric's father also works in the Ministry - maybe they've crossed paths before.

It's Friday night, and everyone is gathered in the Great Hall for dinner. Talk of the Triwizard Tournament and who the champions might be buzzes around the room, filling it with a nervous but excited energy. I'm sitting with Gwen and the boys, chatting casually about our day, and now Dumbledore is rising from his seat.

"I'm sure all of you are very anxious to see who the Goblet of Fire will choose tonight," he began. "So I figured we'd get it done right away. The moment you've all been waiting for-" The Goblet appeared out of thin air in front of the teachers' table, and Dumbledore walked down the steps to stand next to it. Everyone in the room was on the edge of their seats. He stuck his hand out and swept it slowly around the room, dimming all the lights, and then placed his hands onto the Goblet. A blue fire rose from inside of it, spitting and crackling as it grew. All of a sudden, it turned bright pink and a small slip of paper flew from the cup. He plucked it from the air, and unfolded it carefully. We waited. Silence filled the room like a thick cloud of smoke.

"The Durmstrang champion is Viktor Krum!" Dumbledore announced in a booming voice. Everyone from Durmstrang cheered and those sitting near Krum slapped him on the back and shook his hand in congratulations. We all clapped for him.

"Not a big surprise," Cedric leaned down to whisper in my ear. I smiled and nodded in response. Krum rose from his seat, walked toward Dumbledore and gave him a firm handshake before Dumbledore gestured for him to leave the room. We were all watching him leave until the Goblet spat out another slip of paper into Dumbledore's hand.

"The Beauxbatons champion is Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore announced again. All of the Beauxbatons girls cheered with glee and the two girls Fleur was sitting with gave her tight hugs before she proudly strutted over to Dumbledore, and then left the room as well.

"Wow, she is-" Frazier started to say.

"Really pretty." Ricky, Jeremy, and Zachariah finished his sentence for him and we all laughed.

"And last but not least," Dumbledore began. I swore I could hear Cedric's heart beating through his chest. He was leaning with his elbows on the table so he could see Dumbledore clearly past Gwen and I, never taking his eyes off of the Headmaster and the Goblet. "The Hogwarts champion is..."

The Goblet spat one last slip of paper into the air. Dumbledore reached for it carefully and read it with a smile on his face before shouting,

"Cedric Diggory!" Our table exploded with excitement. Cedric smiled in shock and I put a hand on his arm and looked into his eyes.

"Oh my gosh, Cedric!" He laughed and then stood up to shake Dumbledore's hand. Everyone was cheering and shouting for him, especially the Hufflepuffs. Dumbledore slapped him on the back with pride, and then led him out of the room. I watched Cedric leave with a big grin on my face.