☤ Pseudonym ☤

~Chapter Nineteen~

The third task was drawing close. As a result of Harry's determined avoidance of me, I had been spending an exorbitant amount of time with Cedric. Despite the air of mystery that surrounded the third task, Cedric had been surprisingly calm about the whole thing. 

The final task was tomorrow at dusk and I was lying in the Hufflepuff common room with the latest edition of Seeker's Weekly in my hand. Cedric was casually flipping through the pages of of Confronting the Faceless, a N.E.W.T. level D.A.D.A. textbook that I had yet to study. I wondered how Harry could possibly be expected to compete against students who had years more experience and knowledge than him. 

The slam of a heavy book shutting forced me to turn my head in Cedric's direction. "I'm done with this."

"With what?"

"With all this frantic cramming. It may work for exams, but not so much for the practical elements of life." I stood up and came to sit next to Cedric.

"You're gonna be fine." I held his hand tightly, "Great even. Who knows, maybe you'll even win." 

"Maybe!?" Cedric said with faux annoyance, "What do you mean 'maybe'?" he grabbed me and started to tickle my waist. 

I screamed, "Stop!" between intense laughter, "Mercy, please!" I tried desperately to scramble away from his malicious fingers. He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me towards him. I fell backwards onto him. With one smooth movement he flipped us over and hovered above me. His warm breath tickled my face and he leaned in slowly. Our lips met with gentle ease. My fingers slid up his neck and nestled in his long hair.

"Ahem." we broke apart at the obnoxious clearing of someone's throat. My eyes met with a pair of angry blue ones. God this boy is really getting on my nerves.

"Do you not have a room to go to?" Wayne spoke with a snobbish tone. I rolled my eyes in frustration. Wayne Hopkins was a Hufflepuff in my year, but I had never liked him, despite the stereotypes commonly associated with those belonging to Hufflepuff. He was always by himself with his nose stuck in a book. On occasion he would retract his rather long nose from amongst the pages and utter a rather rude comment about what was going on around him. 

"Do you not have any friends to be with?" I said with a sneer. It was a mean thing to say, but it was the night before Cedric was to enter a dangerous maze, and I was worried.

"Come on, Renn. Let's go." Cedric rolled off me and put his arm around my shoulder, leading me in the direction of his dorm.

"It's getting kind of late." I said and we stopped, "I should head back before someone notices I'm gone." I knew that it was likely no one would notice my absence, but I was slightly uncomfortable sleeping with Cedric. I had done it once before however, we had not actually 'slept together' yet. Of course Cedric being the kind and understanding person he is, had never put any pressure on me to do so. 

"Sure. Do you need me to walk you back?" my heart squeezed a little at his thoughtfulness.

"No I think I'll be fine."

He took his arm off my shoulder, "At least take my jumper, so you're cold." he shrugged off his Tutshill Tornados blue hoodie. Another comfy jumper to add to my growing collection, all provided by Cedric, and had no intention of returning any of them.

I pulled it on over my head and embraced its plushness. I gave him a quick peck on lips, "Goodnight, Ced."

As I walked out, I lifted the blue hood over my head, just in case Filch happened to catch a glimpse of me out so late. 

-----

I could faintly make out the lively march being performed by the school band above us, as Cedric and I stood beneath the stands. I was wearing his yellow jumper with Diggory on the back to show my support. Cedric clicked his knuckles nervously as he waited for his Father to retrieve him. "Do you think it'll be alright?" he asked me.

"Yes, you'll be absolutely fine, Ced." I assured him

"No, not me. The quidditch pitch." he pulled back the curtain to reveal the tall hedges, "Look what they've done to it!" he said in dismay. 

I chuckled and pulled him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. I was quite tall for my age however, Cedric just was taller at 6,1. 

I pulled away from his chest and leaned up to kiss his lips. 

"Come Ced, there'll be time for that when you've got the cup!" his father, Amos bellowed as he entered the room and we quickly pulled apart. "Ready, son?" he looked him up and down and smiled widely, looking very proud. Amos was a kind man, but for some reason he had never liked me. Always giving disapproving looks when we were together. 

"Yes, Dad." he said, reluctantly letting go of my hand. 

I gave him an encouraging smile and waved after him, as he left to take his place at the start of the maze. I could hear the loud cheers for his arrival, which then switched to French chanting as Fleur emerged as well. 

The sound dissolved as Dumbledore began to speak. I turned away from the maze walked out the back of the stands. I had to get myself into the maze but I couldn't go in the front or I would be seen by everyone. Barty had said to follow him, but I hadn't seen him since yesterday. 

"You're late, darlin'." I heard a familiar voice call out to me. I walked towards the fake Alastor Moody. "This way." he grabbed my arm and forcefully tugged me around the side of the arena. 

We paused outside the wooden structure and he tapped his wand three times on the wall. Slowly the boards of wood began to slide to the side, revealing a dark passageway. "Now, you are find Harry and make sure that he is the first person to touch the cup." he hissed at me, "But he can't see you or he will know something's up."

I nodded, my throat was dry and I couldn't seem to think of anything to say. With a final frantic lick of his lips Barty shoved me into the passageway. I didn't look back at him as I heard the boards sliding back into place. 

I could see the dark leaves of the maze ahead of me. I walked up to the hedge and whispered "Aperio." the hedge split open and I stepped through.