Spawn of Azkaban

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Song for the chapter: All of the Stars— Ed Sheeran

Just days after their meeting with Sirius, Mr. Crouch and Viktor Krum had been attacked in the Forbidden Forest. No one was quite sure what happened, but there were Aurors at Hogwarts investigating and searching the forest.

Despite this, the third task was still happening. Bianca spent the day before the final task with Cedric. It had become a tradition that they would spend the day together and Bianca didn't plan on ending it anytime soon.

"You're wearing the necklace I gave you for your birthday," Cedric notes as they lounge by the fire in the Hufflepuff common room. It was getting pretty late, but they were both too nervous to sleep.

Bianca toys with the 'B' charm that had been around her neck for the majority of the year. A small smile inches its way on her face. "I never take it off."

Cedric smiles at this too and another moment of silence passes. "Do you think I can actually do it?"

Bianca looks up to see Cedric staring at the fire. He was deep in thought, his eyes cloudy, his mouth slightly parted. The most noticeable thing though was the absolute terror he was feeling.

"When they cane to talk to us, they said it'd be a mental game. We'd see things in the maze that would mess with our minds," Cedric says shakily. He turns to Bianca and a single tear slips down his cheek. "I don't know if I'm strong enough for it."

Bianca quickly pulls him into a hug. She held the beautiful broken boy in front of her. She could feel his body shaking with tears. He was clinging onto her, his silence saying everything he couldn't. Although Cedric put up a carefree front, all he wanted to do was impress his parents. He wanted to be the golden boy they dreamed of him being. Now here he was hours away from competing in a task that could mess with his head even more. Even if he did win, at what price?

"I'm so sorry, Cedric," she whispered into his hair.

They ended up falling asleep in the common room. Cedric fell asleep in her arms and she didn't want to wake him. He needed rest for the task and she didn't want to risk him not being able to fall back asleep. Bianca eventually fell asleep, but only for a few hours before she had to wake up again.

She spent half of the day in the common room with Cedric, Juniper, Lee, the twins, and Amy's group. They played exploding snap, wizard chess, and listened to Bianca's records. Bianca was filled with anxiety for Cedric but tried to not let it show. She needed to be strong for him.

At about midday, Cedric and Harry were summoned down to the Great Hall. Apparently, the families were allowed to come today to visit the champions. Harry was confused about who would come for him. Twenty minutes later, he returned with Bill and Mrs. Weasley. Bianca had only met the twins' mom when they were boarding the train or returning back from Hogwarts. Bianca had never met any of the older Weasley siblings, besides Percy.

Everyone exchanged greetings and Bianca stood by nervously. "Oh, Bianca dear so good to see you," Mrs. Weasley grins holding her arms out for a hug. Bianca obliged. Mrs. Weasley gave great hugs, they were tight and she smelled like cookies.

"Nice to see you, Mrs. Weasley," she smiled politely.

"Oh call me Molly dear," she tuts and then turns to greet someone else.

Bill comes over next. His long orange hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. "So you're the infamous Bianca?" he asks with a little smirk similar to Fred and George's. "I've heard a lot about you, mostly from George." Bianca's face burns at this and Bill laughs.

"Stop talking about us," George says jokingly coming up to them. The boys begin playfully arguing with each other and Bill puts George in a neck hold and messes up his hair. Bianca watches the exchange with a smile. The Weasley family had such a wholesome dynamic.