

They now stood in a dark hallway, the only light seeming to come from an opening at the other end.

Harry watched as he pulled back the cloth and taped on the stones behind, laughing in surprise as the stones shifted and pulled away, leaving a small archway open.Ĭedric smirked as that, gesturing for him to go through before following suit, pulling the tapestry over the archway as he walked in. About a quarter of the way down the stairwell Cedric slowed down in front of one of the tapestries and pulled out his wand. Harry didn’t recognize the path they were taking, but Cedric seemed confident and he couldn’t find it in him to ask where they were going.Įventually they stopped. The two of them made their way past the entrance to the Great Hall and down to the end of the corridor before Cedric led them down a staircase to the left. Harry considered what he said for a moment, thinking through the worst that could happen before nodding and pushing off the wall.Ĭedric smiled, then turned on his heel, only taking a few steps before looking back to make sure Harry was following. “What?” Snapping out of his own head, Harry realized Cedric was looking right at him. He never thought about it before, but sitting next to him, Harry couldn’t help but notice how exhausted Cedric looked. Sitting as close as he was, Harry could see the bags under his eyes, the way he slumped against the wall.

It was strange seeing him like this, Harry thought himself.

Before Harry could think of a response, Cedric had dropped down next to him, sighing as he sat back against the wall. “Hiya, Harry,” he said, making his way down the hall towards the other boy. Sitting up straighter, Harry watched as Cedric Diggory stepped out of the light of the Great Hall and matched his gaze. Harry was just about to head in for the night, thinking maybe Ron’s complaining might be better than the stupid loud bass beating a migraine steadily into his temple when a figure emerged from the Great Hall, laughing as they waved someone goodbye. Ron and Hermione were fighting again, his date had ditched him (though he didn't put it against Parvati, he was a terrible date), and no matter what he did, there seemed to be people watching him, anticipating what he might do next. Some Weird Sisters song was playing and the party was still going strong, but Harry wanted no part in it. Harry sat up against the wall outside of the Great Hall. Or my take on what happens after the Yule Ball and how Cedric tell Harry about the egg and upcoming task. Harry considered what he said for a moment, thinking through the worst that could happen before nodding and pushing off the wall." You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, you just seem a bit,” he trailed off at this, looking awkward as he searched for the right thing to say “I just figured you’d be back in your room if there wasn’t something keeping you away.” “She wanted to hang out with some of her friends and I already told her I was done for the night. Sensing his apprehension, Cedric backed off, stuffing his hands in his dress robes. Why would he want to hang out with a fourth year when he had a date and plenty of friends to hang out with instead? Cedric was nice, but he was also a competitor. “What about Cho?” Harry asked, getting up as well but still leaning close to the wall, suddenly wary of the invitation. “I said, do you want to get out of here?” he asked, pulling himself off the ground in the process.
