Through All the Pain // N. Longbottom

Fourth Year // Chapter 11

I met up with Harry early that morning in the Common Room and we both decided to tell Cedric about the dragons. Since Madame Maxime would probably tell Fleur, and Harry says he saw Karkaroff so Krum would know, that it would only be fair to inform Cedric of what he will be facing. 

Along the way, we passed a bunch of students wearing some badges the Slytherin students made. Ones that read "Cedric Rules!" for a few seconds before changing to "Potter Stinks!!" Which we didn't find funny at all. 

Once we got to the outside courtyard, we scanned the area and saw Cedric laying on a bench with his buddies, tossing a small ball into the air and catching it. Harry took a second before we began to walk over there. 

As we approached the boys in the group nudged Cedric and began to joke about Harry and the tournament. While the two girls in the group smiled and waved as I approached. Cedric sat up and smiled at me before seeing Harry.

"C-Can I have a word?" Harry stuttered out. 

"Sure," Cedric said as he reached out and grabbed my hand. We led him away from his friends, and away from any other nosy people before telling him the news. Once we were, I nodded to Harry.

"Dragons. That's the first task, Cedric. Dragons." Harry said. I glanced over and saw the color in Cedric's face drain just a little bit at the mention of them. He quickly cleared his throat and spoke to Harry.

"You're serious?"

"He is, Ced. They have a dragon for each of you ..." I said looking down at the ground. I slowly walked closer to Cedric.

"And Fleur and Krum? Do they --"

"Maxime and Karkaroff saw them, so we are assuming so," Harry said. 

"Why are you telling me?" Cedric said as he reached out and grabbed my hand and pulled me closer for a hug. Just as Harry was about to respond, we could see Ron coming down the corridor about to come to the courtyard. 

"Wouldn't be right if I didn't warn you, would it?" Harry said through semi-gritted teeth. "How would it be fair if three of us knew what we were about to face, and not you?" Cedric nodded.

"Yeah. By the way ... about the badges. I've asked people not to wear them but-"

"Forget it," Harry muttered before going over to where we see Ron coming.

"I'll talk to you later, Ced. I've got to go make sure Harry doesn't kill Ron and then give my twin a piece of my mind." I kissed his cheek and rushed over behind Harry. As I got behind him, he spat at Ron.

"You're a right foul, git, you know that?!"

"You think that, do you?" Ron responded. I came up behind Harry and eyed Ron with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

"We know so, Ronald!" I spoke coldly at him. Ron gulped as he read my body language. 

"A-anything else?" 

"Yeah, stay away from me!" Harry spat shoving Ron lightly.

"Fine," Ron responded before trying to walk away. That's when I get in front of him and place a finger in his chest. 

"I get you don't really want to talk to me, right now, but how dare you keep the news of Charlie being here from me! You may wish I wasn't your twin, but I am! So grow up!" I growled at him. He whined a little bit before he rushed away. Seamus stood there watching me as I watched Ron run away.

"You're scary, sometimes. you know that right?" Seamus spoke, his voice hallow.

"Yeah. I know." I flashed a small smile over at him before I started to walk in the same direction Harry went. That's when I saw Harry starting to have a confrontation with Malfoy. I rolled my eyes and started to walk over, just as I did Harry began to walk away and I thought the situation was over.

"OH NO, YOU DON'T LADDIE!" shouted a voice. I was shocked to see Malfoy get twirled around and transfigured into a small white ferret. I scanned to see who cast the spell and saw Moody begin to toss Malfoy around. 

"I'll teach you to curse someone when their back is turned!" Moody spoke in his gruff voice. He kept tossing him around and even shoved him down Goyle's pants! Now the entire courtyard was gathering around and laughing at Malfoy.

"Professor Moody ... is that ... IS THAT A STUDENT?!" McGonagall cried as she rushed over. Moody chuckled.

"Technically it's a ferret!" I tried to hold back some laughter as Moody continued to toss Draco about, and even slip him into Crabbe's pants! I will admit, it was hard not to laugh as Goyle reached in and tried to grab him, but I was quite angry at Moody. After a few moments, Draco crawled out of Crabbe's leg. McGonagall flicked her wand in his direction and Draco turned back into his normal self.

"My Father will hear about this!" I snorted as Moody chased Draco around the tree.

"Is that a threat?"

"Professor Moody!" McGonagall cried.

"IS THAT A THREAT?!" Draco kept running until Crabbe and Goyle helped him get out of the courtyard by shoving him towards the entrance into the castle. Sadly, Moody didn't get a chance to chase after him.

"PROFESSOR!"

"I CAN TELL YOU STORIES ABOUT YOUR FATHER THAT WOULD CURL EVEN YOUR GREASY HAIR BOY!" 

"Alastor," McGonagall warned.

"IT DOESN'T END HERE!"

"ALASTOR! We never use transfiguration as a punishment, surely Dumbledore told you that." She said waving her wand in his face. I gagged as he poked out his bottom lip just a little bit.

"He might have mentioned it."

"Well, you will do well to remember it." McGonagall sent him a nasty glare and waved all of us, students, away. I looked around and saw Cedric sitting down on the bench near the tree where Malfoy had been. I walked over and sat down beside him.

"Dragons ..." Cedric muttered as he placed a hand on my thigh. "I'm gonna have to face a freaking dragon!" I sighed and leaned over on his shoulder. 

"You'll be fine, Ced. You're probably the best fit of the champions, to get past the dragon." I said squeezing his hand. "Just don't tell Harry I said that." We both laughed and talked some more before heading off for lunch. Once we were done we went our separate ways, counting down the days until the first task would happen.