19

Two weeks had passed since the incident in the Great Hall occurred, and the four champions were to go to the Quidditch pitch after dinner, as requested by Professor Dumbledore at breakfast.

Cedric and Ian sat down at the Hufflepuff table for lunch. He had Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts this afternoon with the Slytherins and then the Ravenclaws.

"What's up mate? You look dreadful," Ian stated as they piled food onto their plates.

"Thanks, Ian. I didn't realize," replied Cedric sarcastically. "I've been so stressed about the third task. It's supposed to be the hardest one yet, which also means the most dangerous."

"Oh, so the nerves are finally catching up to him, I see," laughed Calvin as he sat down next to Cedric. "Don't worry mate, you'll do fine. Merlin's beard, you're tied for first place with Potter, so that means you'll probably win or get second place." He consoled.

"Thanks Cal, but I don't think I'll win. Maybe Krum will though."

"No way! Krum's got third place for both first and second tasks, if he gets first place he still won't beat you and Potter, his points won't add up."

"Yeah, but I've got a feeling that him and Karkaroff have a plan to derail me and Harry," accused Cedric before he gulfed down half of a tomato sandwich.

"Well, if they do, they won't be able to, you've got Harry Potter and Hermione Granger on your side. Krum and Karkaroff may be able to outsmart that Veela girl from Beauxbatons, but you've got the best of the best with you. You're guaranteed to win this tournament."

Cedric walked into the Charms classroom and waited with the other N.E.W.T. level students from Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

"Yo Diggory! Where's your badge?" Asked Cassius Warrington, a chaser on the Slytherin Quidditch team, who was one of Cedric's mates from before school.

"Cass, you know I don't support those, Harry's also a friend of mine, and I don't want him to be upset!" Complained Cedric.

"You might not wear them, but we will! Potter stinks!" He shouted as he turned to face the rest of the class, receiving a large cheer from the Hufflepuff and Slytherin students. Many of the students tapped their badge with their wand to transfigure it to say "Potter Stinks!"

"Alright, alright, settle down students!" Professor Flitwick ordered as he marched through the aisle-way to his podium. "Take your seats everyone!"

The students stopped shouting and sat down in their seats, waiting for the professor's instructions.

"Since you will all be taking your Charms N.E.W.T.S. next year, I will be teaching you non- verbal spells. Normally you would learn this in Defence Against the Dark Arts class, but I have talked with Professor Moody and he approved that I could cover some of the topic today, as he was planning to do it later in the next year. We'll start with a simple water conjuration charm. Nonverbal spells can be used with any enchantment, depending on the strength of a wizard. For example, you children may only be able to produce water nonverbally, but stronger wizards like Professor Dumbledore or myself can produce full patronuses or shield charms non- verbally," explained the Professor. "Let's begin," he said.

"To produce a charm non- verbally, you must speak the incantation in your mind, instead of aloud. So, you will just think auguamenti instead of saying it. The water should pour out of your wand, like so." Professor Flitwick allowed his wand to hover over a fairly large bowl that sat on his podium and water started to pour out of the tip of his wand. He pulled his wand away and put it in his robes. "Now I would like you all to try. Everyone pour water into the bowl in front of you without using your voice."

Many students tried to copy the professors movements exactly. They had contorted facial expressions as they attempted the non-verbal spell, and failed to successfully complete the task. Cedric followed suit and tried to conjure water out of his wand. He imagined the effect of the spell as if he had spoken it, and he thought the incantation.

AUGUAMENTI!

A large stream of water poured out from the tip of Cedric's wand and he grinned successfully.

"Well done Mr. Diggory! Congratulations, you have been the first sixth year to get a non-verbal spell on his first try! You're a strong wizard, Mr. Diggory, I hope you choose to use charms in your future profession."

"Alright kids, the teachers all say I should teach you how to defend yourselves from dementors, but you won't need to learn how to produce a patronus unless you go to Azkaban prison! And if you're in Azkaban you don't have a wand, and if you did, you wouldn't have enough power to produce a patronus, even if you were the happiest person alive! Now, since I doubt any of you students will be in Azkaban any time soon, I'm going to teach you how to really defend yourself. Who knows what the Imperius curse is?"

After a very painful and tiring Defence Against the Dark Arts class, which was spent trying to resist the Imperius Curse, Cedric made his way down to the Great Hall with Ian and Nathaniel, who were both complaining.

"My head hurts! I can't believe Moody made my slap myself! Several times!" Cried Ian.

"Well at least you didn't have to tap dance on the desk! My legs feel like jelly!" Complained Nathaniel.

"Oh, would you stop complaining? You're giving me a headache!" Cried Cedric as he glared at the boys.

"Be quiet Cedric! Not all of us could resist the Imperius curse on our second try," joked Ian with a hint of jealousy.

"Yeah, how'd you do it, mate?" Asked Nathaniel.

"I don't know, I just focused really hard and I just broke free."

"Alright mate, stop bragging."

Dinner was finally finished, and Cedric walked with Hermione over to the Quidditch Pitch. Hermione, who had not seen Cedric for the past three days, was asking him several questions about his classes and the final task.

"What do you think it'll be?" She asked.

"Well, it's on the quidditch pitch, so I'm hoping it's quidditch, that way I'll have some sort of advantage. But after the last two tasks, I know it'll be something harder than that."

"But Harry's good too, and Krum plays professionally," Hermione stated glumly. "Do you think it'll be dangerous? I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'd be surprised if it wasn't... Everything about this tournament is dangerous."

They approached the quidditch pitch and Hermione waited outside of the stadium while Cedric strolled in. The moment he walked in, he noticed that the ground was covered in large bushes and plants, some deadly, like Devils Snare, some harmless, like simple shrubs and ferns.

"Ah, good, Mr. Diggory, you made it. Now that everyone is here, let's begin!" Said Ludo Bagman in a rather chipper tone.

"As you can see, there are several plants and shrubbery here, all thanks to Professor Sprout, but we would like to inform you that the final task is... a maze."

"A maze?" the champions asked surprised. They thought that the final task would be much more dangerous than a simple maze.

"Yes! But don't get too excited, this maze will be filled with obstacles and tests that you will have to complete to advance into each part of the maze. In the centre of the maze, is the Triwizard cup. The wizard to touch the cup first wins!" Exclaimed Bagman.

"Ees it dangerous?" Asked Fleur.

"Oh, yes. Extremely dangerous. But not to worry, a simple spark from the end of your wand and Professor Moody and Professor Dumbledore will come to get you. Is there any more questions?"

His question was answered by the silent shaking of heads and the champions were excused to leave.

"It's a maze! Can you believe it?" Asked Cedric as he approached Hermione.

"Good! Then it shouldn't be too hard. Mazes have always come naturally to me, so I'll help you train."

"It's a maze with obstacles, Mia. It's not as simple as you think."

"I know," she sighed. "I just wish they weren't constantly putting you in danger."

"Trust me, neither do I, but I have to complete this task. I'm almost finished, I just need to get this done."

"You sound like me when I write an essay!" Laughed Hermione. Cedric laughed along and they made their way back up to the castle, to try and mentally prepare themselves for the events that would take place the next day.

OKAY OMG I JUST HAVE TO SHOW THE NEW BOOK COVER!!!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!