The atmosphere in the stands surrounding the maze was electric, the entire school buzzing with anticipation for the final task of the Triwizard Tournament. The hedges loomed ominously, their dark leaves shifting in the evening breeze as though alive. Students, professors, and visitors from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons filled the seats, their conversations blending into a cacophony of excitement.

Ariana sat among her siblings and friends, wedged between Miles and Adrian. Miles had his arm casually draped over her shoulders, his thumb absently tracing patterns on her upper arm. She leaned into him, her head resting lightly against his shoulder. The affection between them was easy and natural, drawing a dramatic sigh from Adrian.

"Do you two ever come up for air?" Adrian teased, his tone dripping with mock disdain.

Mattheo, seated on the other side of Adrian, leaned forward, his smirk growing mischievous. "Yeah, Pucey, I'm starting to think your sister and lover boy here are glued together. Should we call Madam Pomfrey for assistance?"

Adrian snorted, grinning. "Good idea. They might need an emergency separation spell."

Ariana turned to them, her glare cutting through their laughter. "Oh, grow up, both of you. What's the matter—jealous that I've got someone who actually likes me?"

"Likes you? Please." Adrian rolled his eyes dramatically. "Miles is clearly in it for the free snacks you bring to every Quidditch match."

Miles grinned, unfazed. "Caught me. It's the snacks. Can't resist a girl who sneaks Chocolate Frogs into the stands."

Mattheo laughed, leaning back in his seat. "Well, Pucey, at least she's got her priorities straight. You're just bitter because no one sneaks snacks for you."

Adrian opened his mouth for a sharp retort, but Adel, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of amusement and exasperation, decided to intervene. Sliding into the seat next to Mattheo, she crossed her arms.

"Enough," Adel said firmly, her voice slicing through the banter like a blade. Her dark eyes moved between her siblings and Mattheo, her expression severe.

Mattheo turned to her with a grin that screamed trouble. "Paloma, come to scold me? Or are you joining the anti-snack movement?"

Adel raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Neither. I'm here to point out what a ridiculous lot you all are. Honestly, Mattheo, teasing Ariana and Miles won't make you look any less like you just crawled out of the dungeons."

Mattheo feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Paloma. I thought you admired my dashing, dungeon-crawling aesthetic."

"Admire isn't the word I'd use," Adel replied coolly, though the faintest smirk tugged at her lips.

She leaned back, pretending to survey the scene before speaking again, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "You know, Mattheo, for someone who can't stop teasing Ariana, you do seem awfully interested in her. I've noticed how your eyes keep drifting her way."

Mattheo stiffened, his smirk faltering for a fraction of a second. "You're imagining things," he muttered, his tone flat.

Adel tilted her head, her expression mocking. "Am I? Look at her. Jet-black wavy hair, those sharp, dark eyes, skin that makes half the school jealous... Honestly, if I weren't her sister, I'd probably hate her."

Mattheo shifted uncomfortably, his usual confidence flickering. "She's alright, I suppose," he mumbled, his voice almost dismissive.

Adel's grin widened as if she'd just won a silent duel. "Just alright? Don't sell yourself short, Mattheo. It's okay to admit she's gorgeous. Not that it'll help you, of course. Ariana has better taste than to fall for someone like you."

Mattheo scoffed, regaining some of his bravado. "You're really laying it on thick, Paloma."

Adel smirked, delivering the final blow. "She's miles out of your league. Literally."

Their banter was interrupted by the booming voice of Ludo Bagman, announcing the start of the task. The champions—Harry, Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur—stood at the edge of the maze, their wands at the ready, faces set with determination. The crowd erupted into cheers, each school roaring for their respective champions. The noise was deafening, a swell of excitement and pride. 

"Who's your money on?" Enzo asked, leaning forward from the row behind them, his grin broad as he caught the infectious energy of the crowd.

"Diggory, obviously," Ariana said confidently, her voice carrying over the buzz of excitement. "He's the best Hogwarts has."

Adrian snorted loudly, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "Not biased at all, are you?"

"Oh, shut up," Ariana shot back with a playful smile, tossing a piece of popcorn at Adrian's head. It hit him square in the forehead, earning a laugh from the group and a few sympathetic looks from the people around them.

Theo smirked from the other side, eyes twinkling with mischief. "I've got five Galleons on Viktor. That guy's a tank."

"I'll take that bet," Enzo chimed in, shaking Theo's hand. "Potter's got the underdog edge. I think he's going to surprise everyone."

The group exchanged playful bets, their laughter cutting through the tension in the air. It was easy to get lost in the excitement, the anticipation of what was to come. But as the champions entered the maze, the conversation began to die down, and all eyes turned toward the labyrinth. The giant hedges, towering and dark, swallowed the competitors whole as they stepped inside, vanishing from sight.

Ariana, still watching the maze, felt a shift beside her. She glanced to the end of the row where Mattheo sat. He was unusually quiet, his usual confidence absent. His face was pale, his brow glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. He sat stiffly, hands clenched tightly in his lap, his gaze distant and unfocused.

"Everything alright, Mattheo?" Theo asked, nudging him lightly with a raised brow. He was concerned but didn't want to pry too much.

Mattheo startled slightly, his eyes snapping to focus. "Yeah. Just feeling a bit off. Probably coming down with something." He forced a half-smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Theo nodded but didn't push further, turning his attention back to the maze. Ariana, however, couldn't shake the odd feeling that had settled in her chest. Mattheo had always been self-assured, rarely rattled by anything. Tonight, though, there was something off about him. She couldn't explain it, but the quiet tension in his body was unsettling.

The champions navigated the maze, facing challenge after challenge. The crowd could only imagine what was happening inside, their only clues the occasional flash of bright light or the distant echoes of spells crackling through the air. Each burst of light drew gasps from the audience, fueling their excitement. Time seemed to stretch, the minutes feeling like hours, as the maze twisted and turned, testing their skill, courage, and wit.

Then, the first scream echoed from within the hedges. It wasn't a cry of pain, but it was chilling nonetheless. The entire crowd went silent for a heartbeat before a ripple of unease spread through the stands. Ariana's stomach dropped, her grip tightening on Miles' hand. Her knuckles were white, the fear creeping up her spine.

Even Adrian, normally the picture of calm, leaned forward in his seat, his jaw tight and his eyes narrowed in concentration. The air was thick with tension, and every eye was glued to the maze, waiting for the next clue.

Minutes passed, and the tension in the air became unbearable. The atmosphere felt thick, like they were all holding their breath in unison. Finally, a burst of golden light erupted from the center of the maze, signaling the end of the task. A collective sigh of relief rippled through the crowd. Moments later, Cedric Diggory emerged from the maze, leaning heavily on Harry Potter for support. The crowd erupted into cheers, but the cheers quickly faltered when they saw the blood staining Cedric's robes and the limp in his step.

Madam Pomfrey was the first to reach them, her wand already in motion, assessing Cedric's injuries with practiced precision. Fleur and Viktor followed soon after, both of them looking worse for wear but alive. The crowd surged with applause, their relief palpable, though there was a certain undercurrent of worry that remained.

Ariana exhaled sharply, her breath shaky as she looked at Cedric. "He's okay," she murmured to herself, her hands trembling slightly. Miles squeezed her hand reassuringly, though his eyes were focused on the scene unfolding before them.

In the chaos that followed, as Madam Pomfrey worked to stabilize Cedric and the crowd buzzed with conversation, Mattheo quietly slipped away from the stands. His departure went unnoticed by most, but Ariana caught a glimpse of him, his posture rigid, slipping into the shadows just beyond the edges of the crowd.

Her gaze lingered on the spot where he had been, a frown pulling at her lips. But with so much happening around her—Cedric's injuries, the sudden hush of the crowd, the endless questions in the air—she didn't follow. For now, she focused on the group, her friends, the celebration of the task's end.

Far away from the cheering crowd and the celebrations, Mattheo stood against a cold stone wall, his mind racing. His father's plan had failed—Harry Potter had survived, against all odds. But the knowledge that Voldemort's return was imminent hung heavily on him. It was a bitter reality he couldn't escape, no matter how hard he tried to push it away.

As he closed his eyes, trying to drown out the sounds of the distant cheering, Mattheo couldn't help but feel a deep, gnawing sense of guilt. The weight of his choices, of his silence, pressed down on him. He had known what was coming. He had known the danger. But now that it was here, he realized there was no turning back. His father's plans, and the darkness that followed, were only just beginning.

For now, Mattheo could keep his secrets, hide in the shadows. But deep down, he knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down around him.

Hey boos how you doing??

I don't know what's up with my writing right know like it's just not flowing together ya know? but yeah I'll fix it later yall I'm starting to like my boy Miles a bit more...But this is not his love story so... OH also did yall see what I did there with Ced? Like I HATE when he dies I cry every time😭. And we love to see Mattheo and Adle bonding not really in a "healthy" way but hey they are bonding and I like how Mattheo call her Paloma which translates to "Dove"

-Love your favourite Latina beaner Victoria C