☤ Pseudonym ☤

~Chapter Twenty~

It was much colder inside the maze, as if I had just stepped into a completely different part of the world. The sun had been shining before I entered however, darkness had quickly descended. A thick mist hung heavy in the air. The only noise around me was the gentle rustling of the thick shrubbery as it sealed my only exit. 

I encountered my first turning after less than a minute of walking. I knew that I had to get to Harry so I mumured, "Homenum Revelio." a human-presence-revealing spell that Barty had once used to find my hiding place. I shivered in recollection. 

The wind whistled as the incantation sought out any human presence. I followed its wisps through various twists and turns. Until finally a red cloud of dust exploded silently in the shadow of a lone figure. The figure whipped around and shouted with a slight waver, "Who's there?" 

I recognised the voice of my boyfriend instantly and ducked behind the hedge. A held my breath as footsteps approached, only releasing it once they had passed my location.

Threads of my enchantment were still suspended in the air. I followed them in the direction from which Cedric had come from. Suddenly a loud crunching echoed throughout the silence and I saw part of the hedge closing a path. I heard panting as Cedric tried to outrun it. At last the masticating stopped and the only thing I could hear were the slow breaths of Cedric. I was glad he had made it, but at the same time I wanted him to get disqualified so he would be safe from whatever was in store for Harry. 

 A loud scream tore apart the briefly settled silence. I ran towards it in a full on sprint, the cool air whipping my cheeks. Not thinking about which way I was turning. I caught a glimpse of another person down one path. Quickly I cast a disillusionment charm over myself, feeling as if something cold was trickling over my body. I approached the person cautiously, being very careful where I put my feet, so as not to alert them of my presence. 

As I got closer I could make out the strong features of Viktor Krum. I examined him as he moved like a predator forwards. My foot came into contact with a falling branch and snapped under my weight. He turned his head in my direction and I saw his eyes misted over. I recognised the effects on the Imperius curse and suspected that Barty was to blame. I supposed that he doubted my abilities.

"Crucio." he shouted and I jumped out of the way into the hedge. But the curse was not intended for me, which I realised as Cedric gave a cry and fell to the ground behind me. 

I extended my wand and shouted, "Stupefy." which knocked Krum unconscious. 

"Harry?" Cedric questioned as he stepped towards me, but continued past my hidden form. I saw Harry and him approach Krum's limp body and kick his wand away. 

"He's bewitched." stated Harry grimly. 

"Will he be okay?" 

"He's just knocked out." 

"He still needs help." Cedric reluctantly raised his wand into the air and shouted, "Periculum." red sparks shot out the end of his wand and created a small firework in the sky, signalling that they needed help. "He'll be fine, let's go." 

Harry started to jog away from Cedric as they began their search once more. However, in the distance he could make out a soft blue glow. Harry began to sprint and Cedric noticed this and started chasing him. I was closer to the cup and ran towards it ahead of them. It was dark and I hoped they could not make out my disillusioned form. 

The cup was very ornate and emitted a strange blue radiance. I looked behind me to see Harry and Cedric running as fast as they could towards it. Roots and branches snatched at their bodies, trying to impede their progress. One root clasped Cedric's ankle and he fell to the ground. Harry stopped and vacillated between the cup and saving Cedric. As he made his choice he raised his wand and shouted, "Reducto." in a flash of light the plant halted its movements and Cedric threw the roots off of him.