Part Eleven
The second task was about to start. Cedric had looked all over for you but came up short. After a moments ponder his eyes widened.
"It can't be. People?" He ran towards the docks to board a boat to the trial grounds.
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As the last boat arrived at the dock towers people were filled with excitement for this trial to start. Most people guessed what had been taken by now. Some more worried than others. Cedric anxiously waited for the task to start. As soon as the sound rang out he dove in. From above no one could see much. The murky water gave no idea what swam underneath. Chears could be heard for miles. Though as a couple minutes turned into thirty the students and teachers sat at the edge of their metaphorical seats. Cedric's head breached the water first shortly followed by yours. He was the first to reach the surface with his target. The bystanders quickly wrapped the two of you in towels and blankets. Though it didn't do much to halt the chilly air blowing in. Once the rest of the people came up the winners were announced. Cedric had won first place. Harry second on account of him saving the rest of the people. Krum third and Fleur last as she couldn't save her sister. Everyone was dried off and ushered back to the castle. Harry had to see Pomfry to make sure nothing too serious happened to him. Everyone else went to the Great Hall for food and celebration. The tables were mixed as all three schools sat together. Even houses mixed tables. You sat next to Cedric as people congratulated him on the win. There were a few whispers about why you were taken and not Cho but they chocked it up to him not requiting her feelings and the two of you being best friends. Oh how wrong they were. After the festivities many retired to their dorms for rest. You and Cedric however decided on a spontaneous date. You met in the courtyard in a grove of trees an hour later. He layed out a blanket and some pillows and the two of you stared at the stars.
"I was worried you know." Cedric ran his hand over your shoulder.
"Worried about what?" You leaned to look over at him.
"Worried when I couldn't find you before the task. I thought something had happened. That I wouldn't get my good luck kiss. But I guess luck was on my side, I found you. Those pesky merfolk almost took you from me." He pulled you closer.
"I'm fine. You found me, you beat the timer, and you won first place. You'll do great in the final task and then we can go on another date. Maybe one this summer. I could finally meet your dad." Cedric chuckled and patted your hip.
"He's going to be at the final task you know. You'll meet him there. I'd like for you to sit with him." You scoffed.
"Of course. But I wanted to meet him under more personal circumstances. Like a dinner with him or something. Not waiting to see if you come back in one piece or with any new scars." The two of you laughed together for a moment.
"I'll make sure to let him know you'd like to have dinner. I'm sure once I win we can go have a huge feast." You smacked his chest.
"Don't get too cocky now. It's 'if' you win. I don't doubt you, but the other three are very good wizards. Just be careful ok. Like I've said, I don't wanna lose you. It'd break my heart." He sighed and hugged you into his chest.
"And lord knows if I ever hurt you Lupin would curse me. He did teach D.A.D.A. he knows a thing or two about curses." He kissed your forehead and kept his arms around you.
"I love you." You looked into his eyes.
"I love you too Cedric Diggory. I always will." You kissed him on the lips. It was a short kiss like the many you've shared before.
"Before the last task I want to go on so many dates with you. Even just hanging out in my dorm. I wanna eat together, laugh together, and I most of all want to kiss together. Of course I know we can't to that in the rest of the castle, but we'll always have our special place. After the tournament is over your telling your dad right? That's what we talked about." Cedric smirked.
"I wanna do all those things with you too. And yes, after the final task I'm gonna talk with my dad. Tell him about us, how much I love you. Then I'm positive he'll want to have dinner with you. He keeps asking why we send so many letters to eachother over the summer. I think he probably suspects something is up." You both enjoyed eachothers company for a while longer before sneaking back into the dorms. He walked you to yours.
"I still think you need some more yellow in here. Just having a banner with my jersey number isn't enough. I might have to get you some Hufflepuff stuff. Scarves, gloves, stuff like that. So I'm always with you, even if we aren't together. I can't always sneak into your dorm. Peeves might catch on and tell someone. Then we'll both be in trouble. I'll see you tomorrow. We can go to Hogsmead again during our free time. See you later, love you." He kissed you and started heading back to the Hufflepuff dorms.
"Love you too, Ced."
5.3.2021