Forever Home | Draco Malfoy

Chapter 4-14: The Second Task

Desiree awoke gasping for air as the cold wind hit her face. She looked around her to see basically all of Hogwarts along with the Beauxbatons girls and the Durmstrang boys were cheering as she was sitting in the middle of the black lake.

"Cedric? What are we doing in the Black Lake?" she looked to her boyfriend as he held her up in the water.

"I think you already know," he laughed.

"Oh but why did I have to be part of the task," she laughed as they began swimming back to the stands.

"It's nice to see you're feeling alright," he chuckled as he wrapped a warm towel around her.

"More than alright," she smiled before Cedric quickly connected their lips. Just as they pulled back, Victor Krum emerged from the water with Hermione Granger.

"Well seems like I'm not the only one of my friends to be put under," she chuckled.

"Actually two of your friends were down there with you," Cedric turned his head to her.

"Who?"

"Well there was you, Hermione, Fleur's little sister, and Ron," Cedric counted on each finger for a different person.

"All I'm saying is a warning would have been nice," she giggled as her teeth began to chatter.

"You must be freezing. Here I can help warm you," Cedric pulled Desiree into him as they both began to watch the remainder of the task. Desiree would throw occasional glances up to Cedric and smile.

It wasn't until Desiree saw Pansy with Blaise and Draco in one of the other towers, that all of the memories from the previous night came flooding back. Everything Draco said seemed to come pounding into Desiree's head.

"Are you alright? You look a bit pale?" Cedric looked down to Desiree.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just cold is all," she grinned.

"We'll be able to go inside where it's warm soon," Cedric held her tighter.

"Right, where it's warm," Desiree mumbled to herself as she looked back to her friends. This time Pansy had actually seen her and waved. Desiree smiled as she waved to Pansy and Blaise. When Pansy got Draco's attention Desiree just have a simple nod to him before looking back at the water; waiting for Harry to return.

Just as the clock hit the hour Ron and Fleur's little sister emerged from the water. By the time they had swam back to the platform there was still no sign of Harry.

"Where is he?" Desiree began peering over to the water.

"I'm sure he'll come up soon," Cedric had a slightly worried expression on his face. It was then that Harry came soaring out of the water on straight onto the platform in which all of the champions stood.

"Harry. You're alright," said Dumbledore. "I want all the judges over here now!"

"Harry!" Desiree and Hermione walked over to him.

"Hermione, Desiree, ow," Harry wrapped a towel over himself.

" Are you alright? You must be freezing," Hermione wrapped her towel around him as well as Desiree. "Personally, I think you behaved admirably."

"I finished last Hermione," said Harry.

"Next to last. Fleur never got past the Grindylows," Desiree giggled.

"Attention!"Dumbledore tried to shout over the crowd. Desiree quickly walked back to Cedric.

"Attention!" Dumbledore's voice now echoed among the stands. "The winner is Mr. Diggory!"

Cheers came from behind Cedric. Desiree quickly kissed him to congratulate him.

"Who showed innate command of the Bubble-Head charm," Dumbledore began again. "However, seeing as Mr. Potter would have finished first, had it not been for his determination to rescue not only Mr. Weasley, but the others as well, we've agreed to award him second place!"

Cheers began to come from the Hogwarts students as words of disgust came from the Durmstrang boys.

"For outstanding moral fiber," said Dumbledore.

After the completion of the task Desiree rode back on the boats with Cedric. They stayed sitting close to each other as if to warm the other up.

"So, what do you want to do to celebrate?" Desiree smiled to him.

"Well some of my friends wanted to have a celebration in the common room but if you want to do something I'll tell them I can't make it," said Cedric.

"No it's alright. You can celebrate with your friends," she looked up to him.

"Are you sure? I'd be happy to tell them to do it another time," he looked down to her.

"I'm sure. Now go, have fun with your friends. I need a warm shower anyway," she giggled.

"Okay, I'll see you later," he kissed her goodbye before walking away.

Desiree quickly made her way to the showers, feeling better than she had before. After a long warm shower Desiree went back to her room to grab a book to read. She then went down to the common room to begin reading. It was actually the book Draco had given her last Christmas.

"Are you seriously reading after your boyfriend just finished first in the task?" Pansy sat on the edge of the couch next to Desiree.

"He's celebrating with his friends," said Desiree.

"Wait a minute. Haven't you already read this one?" Pansy looked at the cover.

"I wanted to re-read it. What's wrong with that?" Desiree looked to her.

"Nothing, I've just never seen you re-read a book. It's always new ones," said Pansy.

"I re-read the ones that I really like. And I really liked this one," she looked to the book.

"Whatever you say," Pansy giggled.

Just as Desiree was getting back to reading she saw a familiar figure walk into the common room. There Draco stood, his eyes were full of pain, he clearly tried to not look at Desiree.

"I think I'm going to go read in my bed," Desiree stood up.

"Why?" asked Pansy.

"Just less distractions," Desiree began walking toward the stairs. She gave one last look to Draco before climbing the stairs to her room. As soon as she closed the door it felt as though a pit grew in her stomach. She felt tears building in her eyes. She hated herself for what she did to Draco but she didn't want to give him false hope when she couldn't understand what she was feeling.