• Thanatophobia ~ {HP} • Discontinued

1.32: The First Task

——————>Cassiopeia was hanging out with Cedric at the top of the staircase when Cedric's bag split. Parchment, quills, and books spilled out of it onto the floor. Several bottles of ink smashed.

"Don't bother," said Cedric in an exasperated voice as his friends bent down to help him. "Tell Flitwick I'm coming, go on. . . ."

"Here I'll help, I'm skipping potions anyway," said Cassiopeia

This was exactly what the Potters had been hoping for. Harry slipped his wand back into his robes, waited until Cedric's friends had disappeared into their classroom, and hurried up the corridor, which was now empty of everyone but Cassiopeia and the Hogwarts Champions.

"Hi," said Cedric, picking up a copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration that was now splattered with ink. "My bag just split . . . brand-new and all . . ."

"Cedric," said Harry, "the first task is dragons."

"What?" said Cedric, looking up.

"Excuse me?" said Cassiopeia

"Dragons," said Nico, speaking quickly, in case Professor Flitwick came out to see where Cedric had got to. "They've got four, one for each of the champions, and we've got to get past them."

Cedric stared at him.

"Are you sure?" Cedric said in a hushed voice.

"Dead sure," said Nico. "I've seen them."

"But how did you find out? We're not supposed to know. . . ."

"Never mind," said Harry quickly — he knew Hagrid would be in trouble if he told the truth. "But I'm not the only one who knows. Fleur and Krum will know by now — Maxime and Karkaroff both saw the dragons too."

Cedric straightened up, his arms full of inky quills, parchment, and books, his ripped bag dangling off one shoulder. He stared at them, and there was a puzzled, almost suspicious look in his eyes.

"Why are you telling me?" he asked.

They looked at him in disbelief. They were sure Cedric wouldn't have asked that if he had seen the dragons himself. Harry wouldn't have let his worst enemy face those monsters unprepared — well, perhaps Malfoy or Snape . . .

"It's just . . . fair, isn't it?" he said to Cedric. "We all know now . . . we're on an even footing, aren't we?"

"Cedric, stop being superstitious. If it is dragons, let's make sure you won't die," Cassiopeia said worriedly.

Cedric was still looking at the Potters in a slightly suspicious way when they heard a familiar clunking noise behind him. They turned around and saw Mad-Eye Moody emerging from a nearby classroom.

"Come with me, Potter's" he growled. "Diggory, Black,  off you go."

After their lessons, Cedric came up to Cassiopeia for help.

"Well it's a dragon, so distract it," said Cassiopeia.

"How?" Cedric asked, confused.

"Turn rocks into an animal for it to chase,"

"Ok, what animal. It needs to be one that can run, move, and is loud," said Cedric. They thought of the types of animals that could be used. Cassiopeia then remembered that her dad will be watching, a perfect time to mess with him.

"I've got it," Cassiopeia said suddenly and headed for a free classroom.

"Got what? Cassie?" Cedric yelled, following after her.