Cedric's POV
It was a day where time didn't seem real. As if life was a steady stream heading in the right direction, letting any problems or concerns simply float by. I was merely sitting outside finishing transfiguration homework, when Dumbledore came up to me.
His kind wrinkled face gave me a soft smile, and I stood up to greet him.
"Mr. Diggory, please follow me. I have something to show you." Dumbledore began, motioning his hand for me to go with him.
I did as he said and went with him, and he lead me through the castle to the quidditch pitch.
Confused, I turned to him.
"Sir, why are we going to the quidditch pitch?" I inquired.
He gave me a calm glance and let out a slight chuckle.
"Patience,"
This was always my favorite time of day to come out onto the quidditch pitch. The grass was damp from the light rainfall the previous night, and a soft warmth from the sun came down.
We made it to the end of it and stopped.
"Right here is where the next task will be. Trust me, this is the hardest task. A large maze will be placed here, filled with obstacles that you have to pass. Very dangerous obstacles. You don't know who can turn against you." Dumbledore informed me.
"Any type of magic used with cause the maze to switch up, every pathway changing to a different direction. When you do find the Tri-Wizard cup, grab it." he said, using rather extravagant hand movements to get his point across.
My eyes widened at this. A maze? How am I supposed to get through it?
"Thank you...sir. I really appreciate it." I grinned as I shook his hand.
Confused and slightly scared, I walked back to the castle, hoping to tell Allison as soon as I got in there.
I was greeted in the library by Allison, a tremendously large stack of colored books in front of her. She was beaming that smile that made my heart flutter, her warm inviting eyes drawing me over to her.
"Hello, love." I greeted as I planted a kiss at the top of her head.
"Hi," she giggled before turning back to the books towering before her.
She looked stressed, her brow slightly furrowed with and awkward smile on her face, eyes filled with worry.
"Listen, I love you. But you're stressing yourself out too much by constantly studying. I really appreciate it, but you have exams coming up and-"
Allison shushed me by putting her finger on my lips. "I need to keep you safe, and this makes me feel better by figuring out just how to." she began, a small loving smile on her face.
"Fine, but just don't worry too much. I promise I'll be fine. I mean, just look at these guns." I joked, flexing my arms.
Her face scrunched up as loud guffaws came out of her mouth. She took a long shaky sigh and let her head drop onto my shoulder.
"Promise me you'll be ok?" Allison asked while looking up at me with her stunning golden eyes.
Even though I wasn't truly sure, I still managed to let a convincing "Promise." escape from my mouth. She nuzzled her face into my neck, her soft warm breaths hitting my neck.
Allison's POV
We studied continuously for hours and hours, and even though he wasn't showing it, I could tell that Cedric was scared. And honestly, I was too. The thought of Cedric's lifeless body played in my head on repeat. His dull drained eyes opened and his body immobile.
"Alright, I'm going to go to bed. I'm really tired." I yawned as I stretched my arms out behind my head.
In reality, I lied.
I couldn't stand being "ok" any longer, as cheesy as that sounded. I was truly miserable.
I gave Cedric a rushed hug and kiss, and ran out of the library as fast as possible.
My legs seemed to move on their own as I ran, tears starting to collect at the corners of my eyes.
I barged into my room hoping no one would be in there, and thankfully the room was unoccupied.
Both of my roommates had asked if I wanted to join their group date with Viktor and George, but I decided to study instead so they let me do so.
I slumped into my bed and fell onto my pillow, bawling into it. My tears dampened the pillow as I howled, unable to control my volume. I couldn't stop. Hair stuck to my face and my makeup was smudged, black wet lines running down under my eyes.
After an hour of crying, I heard the door open. Soft footsteps came over to the side of the bed, a soothing arm wrapped around me. I lifted my puffy red face off of my tear drenched pillow to see who it was.
"Hey, Ada." I said in a small weak voice. She wrapped her arms around me and brought me closer to her, and I let out loud whimpers.
"Try taking a shower, that might make you feel better." she suggested, brushing wet baby hairs out of my eyes.
"Ok," I sniffled.
I shedded my clothes and turned on the shower, putting it to one of the hottest settings. I stepped into the steamy shower and began to wipe my face off.
By the time my hair had gotten fully wet, I was crying again. My legs shook as I weeped and tears collected in my eyelashes, my vision blurred. I put my arm out on the wall for support, but I slid down the cold white tiles and fell to the floor, bringing my knees close to my chest.
What if he gets injured? What if he dies? What if I loose him?
Intrusive thoughts invaded my head, each one making me cry harder. I put my pounding head in my hands and ran my fingers through my hair.
A distinct knock sounded on the wooden door.
"Are you ok, Alice? You almost done?" Ada asked in a concerned tone.
"Yep, coming out in a few." I replied. I rose to my feet and turned off the shower, wiping away the salty tears that were previously falling down my cheeks.
With a towel wrapped around my hair and body, I exited the bathroom. I slowly sulked over to my dresser and got changed, pulling a pair to my favorite pajamas on. I snuck into bed and flipped over my moistened pillow, laying my head down on the dry side.
I took small shaky breaths in an attempt to calm myself down, but was unsuccessful. I silently cried myself to sleep, an occasional whimper escaping my mouth.
That night, I drifted in an out of sleep, with each dream more terrifying and miserable than the last. Every nightmare was about Cedric, and what could come with the Tri-Wizard tournament.
Cedric's POV
Once Chloe had left the library, I packed my bag with books and began to walk down the corridor to my dorm room.
My footsteps echoed through the cold dark hallway, shadows dancing against the wall. Luckily both of my roommates were eating dinner in the great hall, and considering that I despised them, this was a win win situation.
When I entered my dorm room I threw my bag onto my bed and ran to my bathroom. I walked up to the mirror and looked myself in the eyes before turning on the sink. I continuously splashed water on my face, trying to get out of my own head.
You have to win Cedric, you can't lose. You are going to let everyone down, including Allison
She's going to hate you. Everybody hates you. You're a failure. The last task is tomorrow, what are you going to do?
My breathing began to quicken and my arms that were supporting me were shaking. I looked back up into the mirror and saw tears trickling down my face. I stumbled out of the bathroom and fell onto my bed.
I felt trapped, like someone was keeping me in an enclosing room and tossed away the key. My chest tightened and it became hard to breathe, like I was seconds away from dying.
I looked down at my shaking hands and set them down into my lap. Thoughts raced through my mind as I set my head onto my pillow. I couldn't fall asleep. I took deep strained breaths in, trying to calm myself down as my father had instructed me to before.
As I tossed and turned, I thought about Allison. How easy it was to fall asleep in her arms. The awaited scent of cake and vanilla lured me to my door.
I exited my room and went to the girls dormitories. I anxiously knocked on the large door before me, whispering small words of hope to myself.
I was greeted by a confused Hermione at the door.
"What do you want, Diggory?" she asked.
"Hey, do you mind if I come in? I want to lay with Allison. I can't sleep."
"I don't mind at all." she replied with a devilish smirk, letting me into the warm room.
I saw Allison sleeping peacefully in her bed, taking soft inhales and exhales, her chest rising and falling.
I slowly crept over to Allison's bed and laid under the blanket next to her, my breathing starting to slow down. I drew her closer to me and took in her homey scent when she woke up.
"Ced? Is that you?" she asked.
"Yes, love it's me. You can go back to bed." I whispered back into her ear.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and set a small kiss into the crook of her neck.
So this is love.