06

Cedric huddled around the group of boys as they went in one by one, putting their names in the goblet of fire.

"Alright Ced, you're up!" Shouted Ian as he returned from the goblet. Ian gave him a pat on the back, and Cedric ran past the age line and dropped his name into the bright blue flames. The students around him started to cheer and he watched as Ron Weasley tried to give him a wave, but before he could wave back, he was pulled out of the Great Hall and into the Courtyard, where the cheering continued. The noise grew even louder as a group of Bulgarian teens marched from the Great Hall, surrounding Viktor Krum, who had also seemingly put his name in the goblet. As he walked by Cedric, he nodded his head viciously with a grunt. Cedric gulped and returned to the celebration around him.

For the rest of the week, students both successfully and unsuccessful tried putting their names into the goblet of fire. Cedric watched as several students from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang grew long white beards and ran to the hospital wing, as the rest of the students laughed so hard they cried.

"Cedric, were supposed to be in defence against the dark arts in five minutes! Let's go!" Shouted Ian as he ran down the hall. Cedric was confused as to why Ian was running, but soon remembered that Professor Moody's class was all the way across the castle, in the east wing. Cedric grabbed his bag and sped after the boy hurriedly.

"If you must know, Hemsworth, Professor Dumbledore chose me to be your teacher because I know what's out there. I've fought real evil, and he wants me to prepare you for when you have to. Do you understand?" Said the voice of Mad-Eye Moody as Cedric and Ian rushed into class.

"Diggory, Somerset, I see you decided to join us. Take a seat. Ten points from Hufflepuff for disorganization and tardiness. If you're even one second too late in battle, you're a dead man. So, I suggest you get here on time next time. Next person to be late to my class will lose a lot more than 5 points for their house, they'll lose all their Hogsmede weekends, and will be spending them in Owlry, cleaning up after the birds!"

The students paled and Professor Moody continued his lesson as Cedric and Ian took their seats in the back of the class.

"That was bloody amazing! Best defence teacher so far!" Ian jumped as the two boys exited the classroom.

"Alright Ian, if you say so. He's a little creepy if yo-" Cedric stopped mid sentence when he saw his girlfriend. "'Mione!" He shouted as she ran towards him. Students around them stared as they smiled at each other and hugged. "How was Potions?"

"Dreadful, as always," she sighed. "How was Defence, I heard Mad-Eye Moody is well, mad!" She laughed at her own joke and Cedric gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh he's mad alright! But honestly Hermione, it wasn't that bad, he just taught us about blocking curses today, I'm sure he'll get way more into detail later."

"Come on, Cedric, the ceremony to pick the champions is about to begin, and I have a feeling that today's your lucky day," Hermione grabbed Cedric's hand and they walked to the great hall together.

"The champion from Beauxbatons is... FLEUR DELACOEUR! Congratulations!" Shouted Dumbledore as he read the piece of parchment that flew out of the goblet of fire. The students clapped and boys whistled for the champion as she rose from the sea of girls in matching periwinkle dresses and hats. The girl shook hands with Professor Dumbledore, Karkaroff and Maxime, then was guided to a back room by Professor McGonagle.

Another piece of parchment flew from the goblet and Professor Dumbledore caught it. "The champion from Durmstrang is... VIKTOR KRUM!" A wave of cheers and shouts arose from all around the Great Hall, mainly coming from the Slytherin table, where the students from Durmstrang sat.

"And the champion representing Hogwarts is..." Professor Dumbledore reached for the parchment that flew from the goblet and Cedric felt his anxiety rise within him. "CEDRIC DIGGORY!" This was the loudest cheer of all. Cedric sat still, frozen in shock. Ian grabbed Cedric by the robes and pushed him through the crowd until he was face to face with professor Dumbledore. He shook the old mans hand and the other headmasters, and followed Professor McGonagle to the back room where she had lead the other two champions.

Cedric heard a loud murmur come from the crowd as he walked through the doorway to the back room. He tried to turn back and see what was happening, but the door slammed in his face. Cedric walked further into the room and sat in a chair next to the other two champions. Before he could greet them, the doors opened and Harry Potter shuffled in, with a look of confusion and fear on his face.

"Why ees thees leetle boy eere? Ees eet time for us to go?" Asked Fleur as she stood up from her chair. Harry stared back in shock and several teachers ran into the back room, bringing with them a flurry of shouts and questions.

"Silence!" Shouted Professor Dumbledore as he approached Harry. "Harry, how did you put your name in the goblet of fire?" Asked the headmaster calmly.

"Quoi! Je ne le crois pas! Ce petit garçon a mit son nom dans la coupe de feu?! C'est fou!" Shouted Fleur.

Cedric looked over at Viktor Krum, who had a look of shock and confusion on his face that mirrored the one on Cedric's.

"Do you know what she said?" Asked Cedric in a whisper.

"I 'ave no clue," Viktor whispered back and they grinned at each other.

Cedric walked out to see Ian waiting for him across the hall.

"Ceddie boy! The man of the hour, how are you man?! How did Harry get his name in the goblet?" Cedric could tell that Ian was full of questions but was restraining himself. Cedric appreciated that.

"He kept saying that he didn't know," replied Cedric.

"Do you believe him?" Asked Ian.

"Honestly, yes. I mean with everything that's happened in his life, why would Harry Potter go looking for more danger?" Asked Cedric.

"True, but have you ever heard of Adrenaline Junkies? I believe that's the term they use in America. My pen pal Jeff told me about them. Apparently there's a lot at Ilvermorny. They do a bunch of mad stuff to keep their adrenaline up. It's like they're addicted!" Exclaimed Ian as he waved his hands in explanation. Cedric laughed and the boys kept walking.

"By the way, you might not want to talk to Calvin for a while, he's pretty upset that you were chosen instead of him. Had to shove a sock in his mouth to shut him up. That's how I got this," Ian pointed to a bruise on his cheek that wasn't there earlier in the day. Cedric nodded and the two boys entered the Hufflepuff common room.

The students all cheered and Cedric waved and grinned as him and Ian entered the common room to the Hufflepuff dormitories. Several girls from his house hugged him and boys patted him on the back, congratulating him. Cedric made his way to his dorm which he shared with Ian, Calvin, and two other Hufflepuff boys named Nathaniel Macintyre and Marcus Silverstone.

He entered the dorm and his face was immediately met with a stiff pillow. Cedric was knocked to the ground and the pillow was slammed into his face several times. Ian ran through the door and tackled his attacker.

"Calvin! Stop! Calm down! Stop!" He shouted as Calvin tried to push him off.

"He shouldn't have won! I should have! He's a coward, he's a shameful Hufflepuff! I should have won!" He shouted as he continued to flail underneath Ian's grip.

"Pertificus Totalus!" Shouted Cedric as he stood up. The boy stopped thrashing and went perfectly still. Cedric and Ian carried him to his bed and dropped him on the mattress.

"Thank goodness that is over," sighed Ian as he sat down on his own bed and Cedric nodded. Cedric could feel his face starting to bruise, but he put on his pyjamas anyways and tried to fall asleep.