In the Melancholy Moonlight

Chapter LXV: All Will Be Restored in Your Melody

Dive in with your eyes closed
For the life you were born to claim
The water will be paralyzed
By the courage you contain
And the flutter of your earnest heart
It will fill the silent seas
And all will be restored in your melody

"Watermark"
Sleeping At Last

CEDRIC:

The night before the second task, my dreams were haunted by the merpeople's song. Over and over again it repeated, growing closer to me with each loop. When I thought it couldn't possibly get closer, I jolted awake.

It was morning.

I draped my arm over my eyes and took a deep breath to shake off the eeriness of the night.

"Everything alright, Ced?" Henry asked.

I nodded, stifling a yawn. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just nervous, I guess."

"Well, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," he replied with a laugh. "Come off it, you've known for the past two months what you're going to do today."

"I just hope it works for the whole hour. Or longer... if something goes wrong."

"There's always ascendio. Don't be nervous, mate. This is nothing compared to those bloody dragons. You just have to do the charm, go underwater, get your broom, and come back up."

I couldn't help but laugh at his matter-of-fact way of putting it. "Where did you get the idea my broom would be at the bottom?"

"What else would you 'sorely miss?' Your hair gel?"

I threw my pillow at him. "You know I don't wear any."

"My point exactly. Your broom is the only thing I can think of that you'd sorely miss."

"I think I'd sorely miss you, if you were at the bottom of the lake. I think."

He pressed a hand to his chest. "I'm touched. But I'm still here."

"How tragic," I replied jokingly. "Now can I have my pillow back, please?"

"Nope. Time to get up. You've got a broom to save."

I dug through my drawer for something else to throw at him, but he threw my pillow back at me --- hitting me square in the face --- before I got the chance.

"Rude," I said with a muffled voice, making him laugh.

"Someone's got to do it," he replied. "I'll see you at breakfast."

I lowered the pillow from my face. "Yeah, see you there."

With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself out of bed. One thing I had always appreciated about Henry was how normal he made me feel. I could tease him like that without worrying about hurting his feelings. I could confess my deepest insecurities to him without worrying about him turning around and telling the entire school about Cedric Diggory's inner world. Henry had never once put me on a pedestal, and I loved him for it.

The morning passed in a blur of "Good luck!"s and claps on the back. Nearly everyone had something they wanted to say to me, with one notable exception: Lucy was nowhere to be found. She always found me before Quidditch matches to give me a quick hug and wish me luck, even when we were playing Gryffindor. And after she had been so faithfully at my side before the dragon task, it was a bit unsettling not to see her anywhere. Scratch that... very unsettling.

I tried not to think about it. She was okay... she had to be.

Henry and Cho slipped out ahead of the crowd with me so we could head down to the Black Lake undisturbed. The stands that had been used for the dragon task were now erected around the lake --- and there appeared to be a first aid tent as well. I knew from experience it was better to be safe than sorry, but the sight of it still made me uneasy. The dock was a hub of activity, and Professor Dumbledore waved me over when he saw me.