The Triwizard Tragedy

Stone steps are not exactly ideal for sitting on, especially for an extended amount of time, but Lilyana didn't care. The torch, which lit the spiraling staircase, cast dancing shadows against the opposite wall. It was all Lilyana had to keep her company. It seemed like an eternity that she sat there waiting, but finally from the top of the stair she heard the distinct sound of footsteps hitting hard stone. The sound grew nearer until quite suddenly a tall figure hustled around the bend where Lilyana sat. A loud shout echoed through the stair as she was discovered.

"Lilyana, what are you doing down here?" asked Cedric in an exasperated voice, but smiling all the same.

"To congratulate you of course!" exclaimed Lilyana as she threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "I had to be the first to do so," she said with a smirk.

"Thanks, Lil," replied Cedric.

Lilyana watched him for a moment as he took in a few deep breaths. "I can't believe this, you are school Champion. I bet your mum and dad will be delighted to hear about this. Will you write to them?"

Cedric shook his head, to which Lilyana must have made a face because he explained a little further. "Professor Dumbledore mentioned something about letting me use his office fireplace, so I can tell them in person. He thinks it would be better than in a letter."

Lilyana nodded in agreement. "Oh, yes. I would say that's loads better. Alright well, I'd better get back to the common room," she added with a grin. "Have a good night, Ced."

After a quick peck on the cheek, Cedric hurried down the stairs toward the Hufflepuff common room. Lilyana turned and headed back up the stairs to the Entrance Hall. The castle was completely deserted, except for an occasional appearance of one of the school ghosts. Lilyana enjoyed the silent walk back to the Ravenclaw common room, knowing that once she got back to Ravenclaw Tower it would no longer be this peaceful. She didn't speak to anyone one she arrived, but instead went straight up to the sixth year girl's dormitory. Of course she didn't expect to find it empty there either. The other four girls were gathered around two of the four-post beds that furnished the small circular room.

Immediately, when Lilyana walked into the room the girls went quiet, watching her rummage about her bed. Aaralyn rolled off one of the beds and over to where Lilyana stood.

"Well, Lily?" she asked with an increasing amount of curiosity. "What did Cedric say?"

Lilyana shrugged. "He is really excited about being the Champion. I think he'll be brilliant," she said as she laid her pajamas on the bed.

"Of course he'll be brilliant," called Holly. "He's Cedric Diggory, brilliant at Quidditch, excellent student, and all around nice guy."

"You forgot, absolutely the best looking boy in the school," squealed Lara, clutching her pillow and blushing furiously.

"Girls," Lilyana said, rolling her eyes as she flopped onto her bed. "You don't know him like I do-"

"Wish I did," mutter the red faced Lara, still clutching her pillow and giggling.

Lilyana ignored that comment and slid in under her sheets. "There is a lot more to him than just his looks. I am not surprised he was chosen for the Tournament. He'll be able to battle anything they throw at him."

"He does have some pretty stiff competition though," added Aaralyn. "I mean Viktor Krum's not the world's best Quidditch player for nothing and that Fleur girl, she might look weak, but the Goblet chose her so she must up to par. And I think we're all a little skeptical about Harry since he's so young, but who knows, he may surprise us."

Lara gave a shriek and nearly fell off the bed. All the other girls sat up and looked at her curiously.

"That Viktor Krum, he is really good looking too," she said sheepishly, burying her face in her pillow.

Lilyana chucked a pillow over at Lara since she was the closest. "Is that all you ever think about Lara?"

"Well, I didn't go out with Oliver Wood last year for nothing!" Lara said with a devilish grin.

Lilyana rolled over in her bed. "Good night ladies!" she said loudly and shut the curtains around her bed.

~~*~~
"Morning Lil," Cedric said with a sleepy smile taking a seat next to her. It looked as though he hadn't gotten much sleep the previous night.

"Hi, Ced," Lilyana replied as she leaned back on the window sill. "Rough night?" she asked with a smirk.

Cedric laughed. "I don't think the Hufflepuff common room was ever that loud before, at least in the last six years, not even last year when we beat Gryffindor in Quidditch."

"At least you had fun! When are you going to talk to your parents?" Lilyana asked as she nibbled on the corner of a slice of toast.

Cedric shrugged. "I think Professor Dumbledore said to see him after lunch."

"Will you tell your mum thanks for the cookies and sweets for me?"

"When did she send those to you?"

Lilyana chuckled. "Like a week ago, I think."

"She never sent me anything!" Cedric complained, looking slightly crestfallen at the news.

"That's because she likes me better!" Lilyana teased, nudging him gently in the ribs.

Cedric stuck his tongue out at her and finished up the last slice of toast from the pile he had. He brushed the crumbs from his hands before standing up. Just then two girls trotted around the corner, giggling. Their eyes lit up when they spotted Cedric standing there. The one nudged her friend rather roughly in the arm as they hurried toward him. Cedric greeted them with a nod of his head and a pleasant smile. Lilyana recognized them as two Gryffindor sixth years, which she didn't particularly get along with.

The girl who did the nudging cleared her throat and spoke first. "Erm...Cedric, we were just wondering if you might sign our handbags?"

Her friend nodded silently, her mouth hanging slightly open as she stared up at Cedric. Lilyana had to keep herself from sniggering while Cedric obliged the two and scribbled his name onto their bags. Once the girls had retreated around the corner, Cedric turned back to Lilyana. His cheeks had turned a visible shade of pink.

"Don't say anything," he demanded stiffly as he gathered his books that rested on the windowsill.

Lilyana pretended to look shocked. Her eyes widened in sarcasm. "I wouldn't dream of it!"

Cedric could tell she was itching to take the mickey out of him. He turned and set off down the hall. Lilyana quickly gathered up her own things and jumped off the sill. "Cedric, wait up! I wanted you to sign my handbag too!" she said snickering as she hurried to catch up with him.

~~*~~
If anything, the first two girls were the least of Cedric's problems. It wasn't long after that particular morning that more girls began asking for his autograph. From what Lilyana could tell, he was giving out more autographs then Viktor Krum. In the beginning, it didn't bother her that girls were falling all over Cedric. This wasn't anything new. As long as she had known him, he had always had a good number of admirers. So of course, Lilyana knew what to expect, but as the days moved on things were getting a little out of hand.

"Unbelievable," said Lilyana, during one of there free periods as she sat outside at a table with Aaralyn. From where they sat she had a good view of Cedric, who had been sitting with a few of his friends from Hufflepuff. Quicker than you can say Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, five girls flocked toward them. "Those same girls have been following him around all week," exclaimed Lilyana. Out of no where, she smacked her forehead with her open palm. "Oh, no way, you've got to be joking!"

Aaralyn glanced over her shoulder. "What?" she asked, but it was only a matter of seconds before she spotted the problem.

"I can't believe Lara is so pathetic." Lilyana groaned, not taking her eyes off the twittering group of girls which was increasing in number. "I really didn't expect her to join in with them," she added jerking her head toward the mass.

"Lily, are you serious?" Aaralyn asked with a smirk.

"Right, so I knew she was!" Lilyana restated with a grin and looked back down at the parchment she was writing on.

Aaralyn laughed. "Besides flipping their hair and giggling like a bunch of mad drunken house elves isn't going to get them very far. You know Cedric can see right through every single one of them," Aaralyn reassured her.

"You're right, but still, it's ridiculous because they only began like him because he is school Champion."

"Harry Potter is school Champion too. He doesn't have a flock of girls following him around," Aaralyn noted.

Lilyana nodded. "Yes, but that's because most of the school still thinks he cheated somehow. I mean haven't you seen those badges everyone is wearing?"

"You mean the one's supporting Cedric but then say 'Potter Stinks' if you give them a squeeze."

"Those are the ones," Lilyana replied rolling her eyes. "A rather clever product made by those dazzling gentleman of the Slytherin house."

Aaralyn nodded. "Yeah, Adrian Pucey gave me one earlier. I chucked it in the dustbin when he wasn't looking," she smirked. "Don't worry, Lily, you're right, they are just enamored by the status of Champion. I mean even Krum has girls following him everywhere, mind you he is an international superstar."

"Please tell me you not one of them!" Lilyana teased.

Aaralyn just grinned, but her blushing gave away her secret.

"Aara!" Lilyana said loudly, laughing.

"It was only once, alright. I just wanted an autograph," she admitted, her face reddening.

"Well? Did you get it?" Lilyana asked curiously.

"Well, of course! None of the other girls would go talk to him, so finally I just gave in. He was really nice about it too. So, now my infatuation is over, but I was thinking I might join up with Cedric's groupies next," Aaralyn joked with a laugh.

Lilyana rolled her eyes as she glanced back at the group.

~~*~~
The whole thing had gotten completely out of hand, at least from Lilyana's point of view. There was no time during the day that Cedric wasn't surrounded by a group of people and this was getting on Lilyana's last nerve. They gave up trying to meet for breakfast, because no matter where they tried to sit someone was always interrupting. If it was hard to have a private conversation with Cedric, it was even harder to get him away from his admirers once they engulfed him. After a few days of making attempts to talk to him, Lilyana just gave up. Even in classes it was difficult to talk with him, since they were so busy with their work.

"Lilyana!" shouted Cedric's voice from down the hallway.

She turned slowly expecting to see a massive crowd heading toward her. To her surprise, this wasn't the case. It was only Cedric striding down the corridor.

"Hi, Lil," he said when he finally caught up to her. "Can I ask you something?"

Lilyana nodded.

"Is there a reason you've been avoiding me for the past week or so?" he asked quietly.

"I'm not avoiding you!" Lilyana protested. "I just can't get-"

"There you are Cedric!" yelled a voice. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Lilyana whirled around just in time to see three girls advancing toward them. Lilyana's eyes narrowed. "Oh bloody hell!" she shouted and stormed back to the common room.