Backfire • Cedric Diggory [✓]

• TWENTY-THREE •

Cedric felt his entire body enter a state of  hyperactivity, feeling the sweat forming in all possible crevices of his body, and the blood running through his veins. He was determined to win this. It was finally the end of the Triwizard tournament. He knew he could do this. If not for him, for his dad. And for Holland. He wished he could have given her at least one last goodbye before entering the last task, but that would just have to wait until after. He was glad that she was finally talking to him again, though their previous conversation was beyond confusing. The girl had actually told him to throw the final task, ditch it even. They'd spent months together trying their hardest for him to win, now that Cedric was so close, she somehow wanted him to do a complete hairpin turn and not even letting him try to win.

He wished he would have spent more time with Holland, but knew why that didn't happen anyway. He had to train on his own, missing Holland every minute of his lone trainings. Without the presence of his trusty tutor, he felt even more vulnerable and pathetic to even try with the last task. Cedric had barely slept the night before, not knowing what to expect. He just hoped that nobody would get hurt too bad, but he knew there'd be no point in receiving eternal glory if fighting for it had been so easy. He'd sat up from his bed, praying to whoever could hear, Merlin, Godric, maybe even Helga. He just wished he could do this final task right. He didn't pray for survival, he prayed he could get out there and come back with the cup, putting his own self and his ambitions first for once. Throughout the tournament, Cedric had really proven himself to be more than just the stereotypical, fluffy, too-good Hufflepuff. He had proved himself courageous and determined. The only other thing he'd proven to who it mattered the most to, though, was that he'd been a git. He knew that their last encounter that day didn't help with the situation either, but the fact that Holland seemed to be asking for something from him made him feel like he had a chance of winning her back. So Cedric forced his eyes shut, trying to get into deep focus, for he knew he needed all the stamina and strength he could muster to win this tournament, and the girl back.

He was now here, standing still at his entrance of the maze, Harry standing in front of his own. The sound of the band replaying a tune over and over as his fate awaited him. Cedric turned to scan the crowd one last time, smiling at his dad who'd been next to him, and trying to hide a frown once it's been confirmed once more that Holland wasn't there. He had a hunch that their encounter earlier that afternoon would have angered her. Cedric's stomach lurched in pain at the thought of Holland not bothering to see him off in the final task. Cedric forced himself to pull it together, determined that maybe he could surprise her by giving her the cup when he'd won. He smiled at the thought, then faced the maze before taking two deep breaths with his eyes closed, once they opened, he was shocked to have been faced with a sudden spark flying from behind him, making a popping sound. He looked behind him to see what was going on, immediately beaming at the sight of Holland, relief flowing through his veins. She'd actually come to watch, Cedric immediately smiles. If only he knew what had been on the girl's mind. But then he remembered what she might have been there for. Did she send that spark to slow him down? Cedric frowned at the thought. He needed to focus to prove to Holland that he didn't have to choose between the tournament and her, he could easily get both. He faced the front of the maze one last time before entering with an intensified level of determination coursing through his body.

"Okay," He breathes to himself. "Get in there, get the cup, get out, get the girl," He said to himself after he'd entered the maze. When he did, the entrance he'd gone through immediately closed off, leaves and branches rustling against one another as they shut out the band and the cheers of the audience, leaving Cedric alone with the eerie sounds of the Forbidden forest and the ever so slight footsteps from his fellow champions. Cedric began to walk, trying his best not to lose himself in the maze, as Dumbledore had said, and look for the cup.