author_by_night | Spectators: The Maze

Crucio

Fleur didn't even have time to turn.

"CRUCIO!"

Her legs were contracting... she felt as though someone was trying to pull her limbs apart... she thought she saw Viktor running away, but no, it couldn't be...

And then it ended.

What had just happened? Who'd hexed her? Was it Viktor? But Viktor wouldn't do that to her. They were friends.

When Fleur realized she could still move, McGonagall was already rushing towards her.

Very Wrong

"Where are they?" Hermione asked, checking her watch.

"They'll be backsoon," Ron said, but he didn't sound so sure.

Bill could see that even the judges were whispering in confusion. Something was wrong. Very wrong, he realized.

"I'm going to see if there's anything I can do," Bill told his mother.

He was halfway down the stairs when Harry and Cedric appeared on the ground.

Dreams

Cho was starting to get worried about Harry and Cedric; they all were. Bronson even suggested they go into the maze after them, but of course no one would have permitted it.

Then they appeared on the grounds; but it wasn't right. Cedric wasn't moving...

"What is he doing? Get up!" Cho hissed.

"My God - Diggory!" Fudge shouted. He said something else that Cho couldn't hear. She stood up with Bronson just in time to hear "Cedric Diggory - dead!"

What?

Bronson and Cho both froze; all of the Hufflepuffs were standing now. Cho wished they would sit back down...

Cedric's parents were running to their son. They would put it right; Cho was sure of it. They'd see that he was fine...

The stands emptied, people were screaming and crying and asking frantic questions. She could see Harry being whisked away by Mad Eye-Moody.

"Cho? We - we should go down," Bronson said. "See what's happened."

Cho shook her head. Doing so would make it true.

"Cho..."

Bronson held her hand, and after swallowing, Cho made her way down the stands with him onto the grass, passing person after person.

The Hufflepuffs were in a circle now... Professor Sprout was sobbing... in the middle were Cedric's parents with his b-

"CEDRIC, NO, NO, NO!" Cho screamed.

She flung herself at Cedric, shaking him until Mrs. Diggory pulled her into the hug she'd been sharing with her husband, and they stayed close, the only ones who shared each other's pain exactly.