prospicere futurum

Corinne's eyes felt as though they would pop out of her skull at any moment, finally relaxing and allowing herself a deep breath as Cedric chuckled from next to her.

"How do you make it look so easy!" She complained, turning the stick on the ground before her, confirming that it was indeed not made of stone as she had been hoping for.

"It's hard for me too. I have to say it at least three times in my mind before anything happens." He assured her, although the smile behind his eyes led her to believe that he was simply being generous.

"I've literally only done it once ever, and it was just lumos, and I'm still not even sure I didn't say it out loud."

Cedric burst into laughter, grateful when she joined in as well, leaning back against the tree behind them and looking out towards the lake.

"I shouldn't have taken so many classes. I knew it would be hard, but I think I might actually flunk out."

"You're not going to flunk out. I won't let you." He tucked a finger under the girl's chin, pulling her gaze to his. "Try it again."

She sighed, dramatically, and looked towards the stick again, gripping her wand before her and focusing on the words in her head.

Duro... Duro!

The stick twitched slightly on the ground, but remained wood all the same.

"Did you do that?" She accused, shooting the Hufflepuff a glare.

"I did nothing!" He held his hands in the air in innocence. "You're getting closer. You've just got to practice, I know it's hard."

"Duro." She said aloud, watching the stone appear before her, picking the now heavy stick up with two hands. "I'm just going to be a verbal spell castor for life."

"Let's take a break." Cedric offered, pulling the stick from her hands and transforming it back silently, Corinne shooting him half a glare this time. The two of them leaned back onto the dry grass, fall colored leaves crunching beneath their arms. Each small wave from the lake lapped at the pebbles on the beach before the water dragged back into itself.

"I wish we could swim." Corinne muttered, eyeing the dark water apprehensively.

"It's too cold." Cedric laughed, cocking his head as he looked to her. "You're in a sweater."

"I wouldn't mind the cold," She started, "It's how black the water is. You can't see anything under there. All we know about is the squid and I'd not care to know anymore."

"I'm sure he's a friendly guy." Cedric assured her with a small grin. "You like swimming?"

She nodded, picking up a deep red leaf from next to Cedric's arm and twisting the stem lightly. "I love swimming. We have a lake back home, but... you know... with no monsters."

"That you know of." He pointed out and she shot him a glare, laughing under her breath as he raised his eyebrows a few times. "Listen... I wanted to talk to you about something."

She looked to him, her head falling to the side as her heart sped up slightly.

"Um... So... Have you heard of that potion everyone was talking about at the start of term?" He finally blurted, watching her face closely. "Prospicere futurum?"

She pulled her bottom lip beneath her teeth, nervously, listening to him speak. "Um... Yeah, I did."

"Right... so..." He trailed off, a rare shy smile spreading over his lips. "I made one."

Corinne's mouth moved before she had planned any words.

"And... I just don't want to freak you out or anything. I shouldn't even have made one, I don't know why-"

"I made it too." She cut him off, excitedly.

He blinked twice, the nervous smile still on his face.

"You... You made it too?" His smile grew, his eyes searching her expression.

"Yeah." She nodded, not wanting to be the first one to admit it.

"So..." He turned his head to level hers, his smile growing into a smirk. "You already know!"

"Know what?" She shrugged, pressing into the earth below them to get to her feet, Cedric already on his own, towering above her again.

"You little cheat!" He laughed through his words, reaching out to her arms as she stepped back, giggling. "How long have you known?"

"How long have you known?" She held her hands out before her, as if that would stop him from coming closer.

"I asked first!" He pounced towards her, his hands wrapping around her back and pulling her towards him. "How long have you known?"

She smiled up, watching his eyes dance in the light reflecting off the lake behind them. "Since before you knew my name." She teased and he groaned, leaning his head back to stare at the leaves above them.

"Merlin, I'm such a piece of shit."

She laughed freely now, burying her face into the soft material of his sweater, the only sound for a few seconds the sound from the lake against the rocky beach.

"When did you find out?" She asked, her voice mumbled into his chest.

"Tuesday night." He spoke softly, his chin resting on her head. "I couldn't resist. I felt so stupid making it, I felt like I was being pranked."

"Me too!" She laughed, looking up to meet his eyes.

"But I had to know." He went on, bringing one hand to the side of her face, tucking a small piece of hair behind her ears. "Because I'm falling so in love with you."

Her mouth fell open slightly before creeping into a smile, a shudder running up her spine at his words.

"Me too." She whispered, as if anyone was near the two of them.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He asked, his breath tousling her hair back a bit.

"When should I have told you? When you found out my name? Or just spring it on our first date?" She giggled as he rolled his eyes.

"I'm never going to live the name thing down, am I?" His grin spread along half his face as he leaned closer towards where Corinne was shaking her head at him. "I'm sorry I didn't know your name."

"I forgive you." She teased back, their eyes glued together.

"Good." He muttered quickly, tilting his head and pressing his lips to hers, his grip tightening along her back as he pulled her closer.

"Alright, back to studying, before you really do flunk out." He said, decidedly, pulling her back towards their previous spot under the tree. She punched him softly in the arm, picking her wand up along the way and dropping to the ground at the tree trunk.

"Well, maybe we should practice with an easier spell... I think Lumos would be a better one to try."

"Little study date over here?" The voice cut in, Corinne's spine straightening out as she placed it, looking towards the beach where Fred Weasley was watching a stone bounce along the surface of the water before it disappeared below the waves.

"Looks like it," Cedric called back, sounding slightly annoyed. "Why? Need a tutor, Weasley?"

Fred scoffed, turning to look at the couple, his eyes meeting Corinne's for only an instant before she looked to the ground.

"Yeah, if Corinne's offering, why not?" He grinned, reaching down for another stone, apparently not noting the tension that was now heavy in the air.

"Do you have a problem?" Cedric asked, leaning back against the tree, his arm pulling Corinne down to his shoulder.

"Yeah." Fred laughed now, a cold sound that Corinne had never heard before. "Yeah, Diggory, I have a problem."

"Enlighten me." Cedric replied, cooly.

"My problem," Fred stepped closer to the both of them, a fire dancing behind his eyes now that Corinne could see him plainly away from the sun's glare. "Is whatever kind of sick scheme you're working on her."

"Scheme?" Cedric shook his head, his voice level yet his eyes narrowing, his jaw clenched so hard Corinne could practically hear his teeth grinding.

"Yeah. Whatever the hell you're doing to make her think that she's supposed to be with you."

"Alright, Weasley. I let it go before, all the longing glances and the musical numbers." Cedric's voice was mocking now, but Fred didn't flinch. "But it's enough. You're upsetting her." The Hufflepuff jerked his head towards Corinne who was still tucked under his arm, her arms crossed in her lap as she watched the scene unfold before her.

"Yeah, she should be upset." Fred agreed, linking eyes again with the blonde. "She's with the wrong guy."

Cedric dropped his arm from Corinne's, on his feet before she could even blink. Before he had taken a second step, Fred was launching himself towards the boy, Corinne finally on her feet hurrying towards them as they drew their wands.

"Cedric! Fred, stop!" She hissed, worry setting in. Cedric most likely knew more spells, but Fred had a few inches on Cedric, a bit more muscle, and she had never seen him look this... mean.

"Oi! Wha's goin' on over here?" Hagrid's large figure appeared beneath the tree, Cedric looking to the teacher at once and lowering his wand, regret crossing his face instantly.

"Sorry, Hagrid. Nothing." He nodded, stepping away from the ginger who rolled his eyes.

"Alrigh' then? Let's move along." Hagrid said, gruffly, not moving until Fred was already halfway down the beach, heading deeper onto the grounds as Cedric reached down for their things, looking back to Corinne.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." He looped her bag over his shoulder, watching her carefully before she stepped in, wrapping her arms around him for a hug. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Yeah, I was scared I was going to witness a murder." She teased, lightly, not forgetting yet the darkness that she had seen in Fred's eyes moments before.

"Do you know what he's on about?" Cedric asked finally, the two of them approaching the Entrance Hall, stomachs growling for dinner.

"I don't... I don't know what his problem is. He asked me out before, but I already knew... who I was going to end up with." She blushed, slightly, nodding a thank you as he held the door for her. "So I told him I wasn't interested."

"God, is it so hard to believe that not everyone might want to be with him?" Cedric laughed, slinging his free arm around the small girl's waist as they joined the crowd trickling into the Great Hall.

✵

Corinne hurried back down the common room stairs for the second time that morning. It was very unlike her to forget the homework she had been up last night finishing, and even more unlikely that she had gotten nearly halfway to Transfiguration before she realized she had left it.

Now, the crumpled parchment stuffed into her bag and her tie very crooked beneath her sweater, she was flinging herself down the third flight of stairs, praying to make it to McGonagall's classroom on time.

She had just whirled around the corner to the last staircase before she would reach the third floor. She might make it. Although, she supposed, the worst McGonagall would have for her would likely be a disappointed glare and possibly a stern comment. As long as she wouldn't lose any points...

Just as she reached for the railing, she felt her shoe slip against the stone, her fingers sliding easily off the surprisingly slick handle as she flew, dropping the last few steps and landing against something large. Something solid and warm, and-

"Careful!" Fred exclaimed, his brown eyes wide as he scanned over the blonde girl in his arms, one hand on her waist, the other near her thigh. "Merlin, Corinne, you put the C in clumsy." He joked, yet his mouth was missing it's usual grin. Still, he didn't pull his hands off her until she took a step backwards, attempting to restart her heart.

"I'm... Thank you. I slipped and the railing is..." She muttered, forgetting all about her rush to Transfiguration as she looked back to the staircase behind them. She could still smell his cologne, the slightly spicy fragrance that nearly masked the smoke and vanilla beneath it.

"Oh, yeah. That." Fred chuckled, "I did that. Snape usually comes this way in about fifteen minutes, unless George gets lucky and he goes his way. He's down a floor outside of the-"

"Fred, I've got to go, I'm going to be late." She cut him off, offering him a small smile as a thank you for catching her and starting past him before his fingers closed around her wrist. Her eyes snapped to their touching skin first, noting the now faded lines crossing over his forearm from their last Herbology encounter.

"Just one second." He spoke softly and she glanced behind her, longing to be just a few more steps down the hallway, sitting beside her friends and handing in her assignment. "Why are you with him?"

She snapped her head back to the red-head, annoyance creeping into her chest.

"Fred, honestly..."

"I'm honestly asking." His brown eyes wouldn't leave hers, no matter how many times she looked away.

"I don't have to give you a reason, Fred." She bit back, pulling her hand from his and reaching for her homework for something to do as she started towards class again. "Thank you for... helping me. With the stairs." She nodded towards him, quickly, before hurrying the final few steps to McGonagall's room.

✵

"I'm so excited, I think I'm going to faint." Taylor said, for the third time that day, the three girls letting the sea of students push them through the doorway of the Great Hall before they could finally breathe again, starting to their familiar spots as the tables began to fill all around them. Corinne had to elbow her way through a few groups of students who were simply standing in place, gazing stupidly at the newcomers from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. It wasn't that she wasn't interested, it was exciting, having new witches and wizards staying at Hogwarts, but she didn't think they would much like the way that everyone was staring at them.

"Yes, Taylor, so you've said." Ella muttered, the three girls dropping onto the benches. "So, either do it, and one of those strapping lads will rush over to your rescue, or shut up." The brunette bit back a grin as Taylor flipped her off, spinning in her seat as the Beauxbatons students found spots among the Ravenclaws, Durmstrang mingling in with the Slytherins.

"One of those strapping lads could be my soulmate." She sighed, straining her neck to scan along the rows of strangers.

"Would you really want that?" Corinne asked, watching her friend and holding back a laugh. "He'll be here for a few months and then you won't get to see him again until we graduate."

"Maybe I'll transfer there." She shrugged, Ella and Corinne both shooting her knowing looks. "Okay, maybe he'll transfer here once he realizes how much better our castle is."

"Do they have a castle? I feel like it's not... common to have your school in a castle." Corinne thought back to History of Magic her first year. They had definitely covered the other schools, but that was long gone from her mind now, buried beneath the Goblin Revolutions and Sentient Creature Codes of Conduct.

"Doesn't matter," Taylor said, "They don't have a Taylor."

Everyone fell quiet as Dumbledore stood to welcome the new guests, the two Headmasters sat behind him in the center of the staff next to Dumbledore's empty chair. A few seats down were two ministry officials who Corinne had never heard of, but who she could hear the Gryffindor Quidditch team discussing a ways down the table.

"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore continued, drawing Corinne's attention back towards the front of the Hall. "One from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Tri-wizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector: the Goblet of Fire."

Dumbledore ceremoniously tapped his wand on top of a large chest which stood before him, the lid sliding open as an oversized cup rose out of it, filled to the brim with white flames. There was a collective gasp from the entire student body as their headmaster set the burning goblet on top of the chest and stepped back.

"Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete. To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation," said Dumbledore, "I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross this line."

Corinne glanced to the Hufflepuff table where Cedric was already turned in his spot, grinning at her, excitement painted across his face.

"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you enter."

✵

"Are you sure though?" Corinne asked for the fourth time, the two of them dragging behind the rest of Cedric's roommates and even some younger students who had come to watch the sixth years put their names in the cup.

"Corinne, I'm sure!" Cedric smiled, squeezing her hand in his absentmindedly as they stepped through the doors of the Great Hall, which was much busier than it usually would be outside of meal times. Students had taken to doing homework and hanging out along the tables all day, watching closely for every possible champion who had entered their name so far.

"That's not going to work." A small voice carried through the aisles as a large group of Gryffindor's all turned towards her. The small, curly haired girl sitting with Harry Potter and the youngest Weasley brother. She had some long name that Corinne could never remember, and she was smiling up to Fred and George who were towering over her, feet at the edge of the age line.

"Why's that, Granger?" Fred leaned down until his face was level with the fourth year's, awaiting her answer, yet looking as though he knew much more than she did.

"Dumbledore will have thought of this." She started, shutting her book in her lap, her finger trapped between the pages. "A genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by something as pathetically dim witted as an aging potion."

"Ah, but that's why it's so brilliant." Fred grinned.

"Because it's so pathetically dim witted!" George chimed in, the boys locking eyes and jumping into the circle at once, apparently ignoring Hermione's warning altogether.

The twins paused for only a second, linking eyes before bursting into a cheer, the Gryffindor's surrounding them joining in as George clapped Fred on the shoulder twice, shaking his whole body forward. Fred's chin jerked slightly towards the group of Hufflepuffs, watching along with the rest of the Hall before his eyes latched onto her blue ones, the grin spreading up to his cheeks for only a second before there was a sputtering sound and both Weasleys were hurled from the circle, landing with loud matching groans a few feet away on the stone floor.

The room erupted in laughter, even the Gryffindor students joining in, as Fred and George climbed to their feet, both sporting identical white beards that reached to their stomachs. They eyed each other for a second before their shoulders sagged and they each let out a few choice cuss words, heading at once out to the hallway, likely to find Madam Pomfrey, or else, a very talented barber.

"Dumbledore warned them." Cedric said, still chuckling along with his friends as they all neared the line as well, Lucas hanging back next to Corinne, his own birthday not until March, and his eyes still lingering on where the Weasley's had just landed a few feet away from us.

The Hufflepuffs stepped over the age line together, a low rumble circulating the hall, the younger Hufflepuffs cheering excitedly as everyone waited, watching as they all tossed their folded parchment into the flames.

✵

Cedric had been buzzing all afternoon, zoning out from all of his friend's conversations every few moments, only to be smacked back to focus when they realized they had lost him again. Corinne wondered how he had managed to get through any of his classes at all that day, although he wasn't alone. The entire student body was focused on the same thing, a collective distraction unlike anything they had experienced, even leading up to Quidditch finals.

"Starving." Cedric muttered after Lucas had finished up his story of McGonagall snapping at him and Mark earlier.

"That's because you didn't eat anything at lunch." John laughed, "Just stared at the bloody cup."

"Corinne and I are going to have a nice relaxing term while the rest of you idiots are stuck with extra studying, extra work, possible death." Lucas tossed an arm over Corinne's shoulder as his friends rolled their eyes.

"Yeah, you should be grateful they didn't let anyone underage enter. That cup would have spit your name out the second you'd let go of the slip." Mark grinned, leaning out of Lucas's reach as he tried for a smack.

Cedric glanced at his watch for the dozenth time, finally standing up and looking back towards the group. "Dinner!" He said, excitedly, reaching for Corinne's hand and dragging her up from her spot in the courtyard.

"You're going to yank her arm off, Diggory!" John sniggered, the boys standing too and following the couple towards the Great Hall. The tables were already crowded, everyone having been let out of lessons early once again and anxious to start the Halloween feast, although Corinne felt that this early turn out had more to do with finding out the champions than the typical Halloween celebrations.

"Sitting with us?" Cedric asked, quietly, pausing a few feet inside the door and apparently ignoring the students rushing past on every side.

"I should probably..." She snuck a peek to the Gryffindor table where her friends were already watching, both of them seeming to share in the excitement of the hall.

"Alright." He nodded, sliding his hand from hers, his fingers lingering for a second as he smiled at her. "Wish me luck?"

Corinne grinned, "You don't need it. The magical cup will pick you." She teased and he shoved her lightly towards the rest of her house.

"How's Diggory?" Ella smiled as Dumbledore stood before the staff table, the hall falling quiet.

"Excited." Corinne answered, turning to face their headmaster and ignoring the feeling of Fred's eyes on her.

"Thank you all for such a timely arrival." The white-haired man grinned, knowingly. "I know we are all excited to learn who this year's TriWizard champions will be, but first: Dinner!" He clapped twice and food at once lined the tables before them, everyone digging into their dinners as if they hadn't eaten all day. Corinne snuck a glance towards the Hufflepuff table to make sure that Cedric was in fact eating, and not staring at the Goblet of Fire like John had said earlier.

"Hope it's Angelina." Fred said loudly, shooting his quidditch team mate a grin and a familiar wink as her cheeks flushed.

"It's bound to be." George agreed, nudging the girl beside him on the shoulder. "The cup's bound to pick the most talented witch at Hogwarts, not to mention the prettiest." He shrugged, as if this was obvious, shoving another bite of food into his mouth.

"S'long as it's not a Slytherin." Lee pointed out, the sixth years around us all nodding.

"Or a Hufflepuff." Fred spat, a smirk pulling at one side of his lips as he turned towards Corinne, eyebrows raised.

She pressed her lips together, taking a breath as Taylor looked nervously between the two. Corinne raised her goblet to her lips, taking a long sip of her pumpkin juice until she could no longer feel Fred's eyes on her.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore at last, the plates clearing before everyone's eyes as their Headmaster stood from his spot. "Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber where they will be receiving their first instructions."

Corinne looked back towards Cedric, his eyes moving quickly between her own and Dumbledore, as if nervous he might miss a second of the instructions. She had never seen him look this nervous, normally so laid back and confident. She squeezed her hands together beneath the table, hoping he would be chosen. She didn't want him to be disappointed.

With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore plunged the room into darkness, the candles from inside of the floating pumpkins all went out at once, the only light coming from the bright white flames inside the goblet at the center of the room. Suddenly, the flames went dark red, everyone's gasps nearly drowning out the roar of the fire as a small blackened paper flew into the air, landing easily in Dumbledore's outstretched hand before he carefully unwrapped it.

"The champion for Durmstrang..." He started, glancing down at the parchment. "Will be Viktor Krum!"

Applause overtook the hall, from not just Durmstrang students but every school, cheers and shouts being tossed across the aisles as Krum stood from the Slytherin's table and headed straight towards the chamber at the side of the staff table.

The cheers had not died down when the Goblet's fire turned red again, the room silencing at once as another parchment flew to Dumbledore's hand.

"The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!" Dumbledore called, a polite applause rising up again, although no one was shouting this time. A beautiful, silver-haired girl stood from the Ravenclaw table and floated gracefully down the same path that Krum had just taken, disappearing into the chamber after exchanging a large smile with her own Headmistress.

"It's Hogwarts left!" It was obvious that Taylor thought that she was whispering, but her voice was carrying down the entire table. Corinne nodded, her eyes stuck to Cedric once again. Even from here, she could see his hands clenched together on the table, his eyes sliding at last from the goblet to meet hers, shooting her a nervous smile which she returned.

"The Hogwarts Champion..." Dumbledore started out, catching the final flaming parchment and glancing over the writing quickly. "Is Cedric Diggory!"

The Hufflepuff's eyes lit up, the familiar grin returning to his face in less than a second as he spun towards Corinne who laughed and nodded, watching his friends jump up with him, their hands surrounding their mouths to amplify their cheers.

"Oh, come on!" Fred grumbled, yet he could hardly be heard over the cheers from the table beside them. Every single student was on their feet, screaming and clapping and calling Cedric's name as he grinned, nodding at the few of his house-mates who reached out to pat his shoulder or arm as he headed towards the chamber at the side of the hall as well.

"He did it!" Taylor screeched, grabbing a hold of Corinne's arm and shaking it violently back and forth. "You're dating the Hogwarts Champion!"

"Taylor!" Corinne and Ella's voices mixed together, although Corinne was biting back laughter as her friend jumped up to cheer along with the Hufflepuffs. Just as Taylor stepped out from the bench, Corinne's eyes were drawn to the red-head a few seats over. His eyes met hers for less than a second before he pushed out from the table as well, starting down the aisle towards the exit, a scowl etched into his face.

"Oi, Fred wait!" George called out, his voice only reaching his brother because of the silence that now filled the room. The Goblet's Fire had once again burned red, Dumbledore's eyebrows furrowing as he reached out hesitantly for the final scrap of paper that shot from the cup.

Dumbledore looked towards the Gryffindor table, his expression unreadable. "Harry Potter..."