The Second Task ? The Black Lake

Disclaimer: Jo Rowling owns them. I merely manipulate them for my own amusement.

A/N: I've changed a few things since this chapter was beta'd, so all mistakes are mine. Thank you, Sunshine, for everything!

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Cedric paced back and forth along the shore of the Black Lake and shivered under a grey sky. The cold February air bit through his clothes despite his constant movements and he glanced occasionally at the crowd, searching the compound. His mind was in turmoil, and his unease seemed to be reflected in the rolling grey clouds. His steady footsteps on the pebbled beach echoed the beating of his own heart, and he paused only when Professor Dumbledore began speaking.

After the briefing, Cedric stood on the banks of the Black Lake with Dumbledore's words still echoing in his mind.

'... taken what you'll miss the most'.

His mind raced as he considered the options. '...what you'll miss the most'. He still had his wand, so that couldn't be it. Besides, he'd need his wand for the task. '... taken what you'll miss the most'. Cedric wondered who decided just what that something was. He shuddered at the thought of someone delving into his deepest heart and mind where they would surely see Harry Potter shining like a beacon... but, no, Harry was a Champion also, so it couldn't be him.

Uncomfortably, Cedric realized that Cho was not at breakfast that morning and was still nowhere to be found. Jamie and Markus accompanied him on his walk down to the lake, joking with each other and lending him support. He remembered that Harry also wasn't at breakfast, nor had he shown up for the recently completed briefing. Cedric paused as the green head of jealousy took repeated stabs at his heart. Harry and Cho? Was it possible? Whereas Cedric had surmised that Harry was more than just a little interested in Cho, but, no, Cho wasn't like that. And Harry? Cedric shook his head as he paced back and forth.

Where was he?

Suddenly Cedric noticed a body rapidly running across the opposite side of the lake and heading their way. He didn't need Omnioculars to know that it was Harry; he knew every movement of the young Gryffindor's body. He felt a flicker of relief that he was safe, but there was still no sign of Cho.

Again, Cedric's mind jumped to the possibilities. Harry was late, Cho wasn't anywhere in sight. Usually she was around him constantly. He looked around once more as Harry skidded up to the crowd and stood, breathing heavily and clutching his side. Cedric paused for a moment in his own pacing as he admired Harry's flushed face and careless hair, but was brought back to the present by the announcements and countdown.

The bell rang and Cedric walked into the frigid water. Shivering, he performed the Warming Charm and felt his body temperature rise once more. He sank beneath the grey water and muttered another charm, breathing deeply as the membrane encircled his head. He pushed off from the bottom and swam deeper into the Lake, trying to get his bearings, but the lack of anything familiar in the depths only served to disorient him. He began to feel lost and panic crept into his heart as he realized he was nowhere closer to his target.

Unbidden, an impression of Harry's aura flashed across his mind, although it was not so much an image as a sensation. Cedric cleared his mind and 'felt' for Harry, searched for his aura's unique imprint. Suddenly it was there, swirling, calling to him, and illuminating the way. Without thinking, Cedric pushed off in that direction. He felt Harry's aura like a lifeline and was able to find the source after a fairly lengthy swim. He was truly alarmed that he had been so far away from where the four captives were tied. As he approached, he saw Harry trying to release both Ron and Hermione's ties, but the creatures of the deep refused to let him. Cedric swam down and released Cho, still wanting to help Harry but knowing that he had to get Cho to the surface. He reluctantly turned as he ascended, pulling Cho's body behind him while his thoughts stayed with the young Gryffindor.

His head broke the surface and Cho's did a moment later. The crowd roared and cheered as they made their way to the shore where they were hauled out, blankets draped around them and Pepper Up potion forced down their throats. Cedric was once again thankful that he'd remembered the Warming Charm, or he would have been in significant trouble with hypothermia. He looked around at the others around him and noticed that Fleur was already dried and appeared to be very worried. Cedric remembered that her sister was one of the captives, and he idly wondered what would become of the girl. Surely Dumbledore wouldn't let any actual harm come to any of the captives?

More screams erupted from the crowd, and Cedric turned to see Krum's dark head surface with Hermione immediately afterwards. There was still no sight of Harry, and Cedric was becoming anxious. He had felt the auras of certain creatures in the depths of the lake and wasn't eager to think that Harry had been taken by them, but it was still a competition. He sent his best vibes into the cold dark water and hoped to see the dark headed boy emerge as Madame Pomfrey continued to fuss over them.

Cedric started pacing back and forth, purportedly to keep warm but also to keep occupied. He knew that his own time had been dangerously close to the hour time limit and was therefore sure that Harry had exceeded the allotted time. Wrapped in thick blanket, he nevertheless continued. Pace, pace, pace... and everything will work out. Pace, pace, pace. He saw Cho's look of concern, but he could not think about her now.

Suddenly, there was a roar from the crowd as the heads of Harry, Ron and Fleur's sister appeared at the surface of the lake. Cedric felt as though his heart would explode with relief as the adrenaline coursed through his body and his knees threatened to buckle under his weight. He could see the merpeople in the water as well, and as Harry and Ron helped the girl swim to the bank, he thought he would never get the screeching sound of the merfolk out of his head. Fleur appeared to be almost beside herself as she fought to reach her sister. Cedric tried to catch Harry's eyes as he stumbled towards their group with Ron and Fleur's sister, but Madame Pomfrey intercepted the trio with blankets and the same hot potion she'd given Cedric. Harry and Ron tried to talk, but their teeth were chattering so hard that speech was impossible. Cedric resumed his pacing, but kept close to the soaked pair so that he could hear any news.

Dumbledore's results – Cedric's stomach twisted as he realized that he and Harry were now tied for first place. Oh, the irony of this day couldn't be more pronounced.

Cedric felt eyes boring into his back and turned to see Cho approaching, her face as stormy as the wintry clouds overhead. He knew that she wasn't pleased with his actions, and he didn't have to be an empathic to realize that she was seriously pissed off. He sighed as she drew near and steeled himself for the inevitable.

'Cedric?' Cho's voice was clipped and full of restraint, but Cedric could still feel the tempest of her emotions.

'Cho,' he said mildly as he walked to meet her. They stood for a moment face to face, still shivering slightly despite the warm blankets that surrounded them.

'Cedric, what's going on? What's happening to you?' she asked, looking into his face as though desperately searching for the answer.

He had known that she would eventually ask him, and he knew that his answer could either placate her or set him free. Again, he hated the duplicity of his life but truly didn't know of any way to satisfactorily solve his dilemma. He was never one for avoidance but he knew that this problem could not be rectified today.

He shook his head and met her eyes.

'Look, Cho, I'm sorry, okay? This task, you not being around this morning... I just didn't know what was going on, that's all.' He felt that he was being evasive, but at least it was a reasonable explanation.

Cho narrowed her eyes; she wasn't so easily dissuaded.

'No, Cedric, I don't mean that. I mean you ignoring me once we were out of the lake. You were pacing like a madman, and I've never seen you that agitated, not even at the first task against the dragon!

Again, Cedric had to admit that she was a sharp one, Cho.

'I was concerned about the others okay? You don't know what it was like down there, Cho, really, it was like another world. Very eerie.'

'All the other champions were out of the water already, Cedric. We were only waiting for Harry and the others,' she pointed out petulantly as she folded her arms across her chest.

Cedric recognised her defensive pose and wondered how was it that women could perfect that particular stance from such a young age.

'I know, but I was worried, alright? Damn, Cho, what's WITH all these questions?' Cedric felt his anger boil in his stomach; he didn't like the direction that her questions were taking. She was too close to hitting upon the truth, and he wasn't prepared to handle that just yet.

'Well, I just didn't think that love would be like this, that's all.'

The accusatory tone of her words spoke volumes to Cedric, and he felt a jolt of realization as she turned around quickly and hastened back towards the castle, leaving him speechless and extremely unsettled.

Cedric glanced around quickly and noticed Jamie in the distance chatting with Professor Dumbledore. He caught Jamie's eye and his friend smiled and nodded before returning to his conversation. Cedric barely had time to process that image when he noticed that the rest of the champions were approaching. Harry was walking slightly behind the group, and he appeared to be in conversation with Ron and Hermione, but as they grew nearer, he broke away from the group and nodded for them to go on ahead. Cedric was easily as cold and bedraggled as Harry, yet he felt sudden warmth at the younger boy's approach. Harry held out his hand as he took the final steps to Cedric's position, and they shook hands warmly. Cedric cursed his betraying skin that shivered at Harry's touch, and he tried to find some way to turn his mind from the direction it so obviously wanted to go.

'Well, Cedric, that was a challenge!'

Cedric smiled ruefully; challenge was a bit of an understatement.

'Yeah, I couldn't find my way in that water though; everything seemed to be turned upside down. I think Fleur and Krum had much the same problem.' But not you, though, Harry Potter always lands on his feet. He shook his head to clear his mind of the thought while trying to make it look as though he was getting lake water out of his ears. He doubted he pulled it off.

'So, is Cho alright then? After the Task I mean?'

The whirls of colour that were Harry's aura spun with more energy than ever.

Cedric truthfully didn't know how to answer that. Of course Cho wasn't alright, but then again, he doubted that being submerged in the Black Lake for over an hour had done much to lighten her mood anyway.

'Um, not really sure, Harry,' Cedric said evasively and tried not to look as guilty as he felt. Somehow he felt that he failed miserably in that too.

Harry's expression became contemplative and Cedric wished that, just this once, he could read minds. His heartbeat was becoming uncomfortably loud in his own ears, and he wondered how the boy couldn't hear it standing so close to him. Why did his proximity to Harry bloody Potter have to create such a maelstrom within his mind?

Harry was speaking and Cedric hauled himself back.

'...noticed that yeah. Girls can be a bit of an odd lot.' Harry's guarded amusement led Cedric to wonder how many girls Harry had fended off in his lifetime. He breathed deeply as the thought of girls touching Harry, being near him, kissing him brought an uninvited rage that threatened to burst in Cedric's heart. He had to stop thinking like that!

'Look, Harry, it's not what you think, alright?' Cedric cautioned hastily lest the young Gryffindor get the wrong idea. Then again, everybody had the wrong idea, didn't they, even Cho.

'Well, I don't think anything really, Cedric. It's just that... well... she's really nice and... Never mind.' Suddenly, Cedric realized that Harry was embarrassed, and he began speaking without thinking.

'Do you know how I found you, Harry? How I managed to get there at all?' Cedric blurted out, unable to stop the flow of words. It felt like a catharsis, and he was being carried along, helpless against the tide.

Harry cocked his head to the side as he shook his head wordlessly, but the whirling of his colours was almost enough to make Cedric giddy.

'I was lost, completely lost, and I began to panic. Weak, I know, but the lake, the darkness, there were things...' Cedric broke off, shaking his head.

He was surprised to feel Harry's hand on his shoulder as the younger boy spoke gently.

'Hey, listen, I know what you mean. I was there too, remember?'

Cedric sighed ruefully, knowing fully well that Harry had no idea how it really was. He was sure that if Harry had any inkling as to what Cedric really felt, that he wouldn't be standing there alone with his hand on Cedric's shoulder.

He was shaken out of his own thoughts as Harry spoke.

'So, how did you find us then?'

Cedric chanced a look into the green eyes and saw a reflection of his own face in the emerald background. Oddly unsettled by the image, he continued, almost against his own will.

'I ... sensed you, alright? I felt you, in the water, in the middle of the Black Lake, I sensed you, broadcasting to me like a beacon.' Cedric ran his hand through his hair as though trying to slow his thoughts and his bloody words! He had no right to be saying this to Harry!

'... but I thought... well, you and Cho...?' Harry's voice trailed off, but he held Cedric's eyes with his own. Again, the colours whirled.

Cedric's heart pounded against his chest and a wave of shame rushed over him, colder than the waters of the Black Lake. He knew what Harry was asking, and what answering him truthfully would mean, but he was no longer willing or able to lie. He dropped his eyes to the ground as he felt something inside him break, something that he'd been keeping inside far too long, and it flowed out of him in a rush.

Cedric simply shook his head.

'No, Harry.'

Not taking his eyes from the ground, Cedric turned and walked swiftly away. He was certain that the jagged pieces of his shattered heart fell like breadcrumbs in his wake. He could only hope that Harry would be happier with Cho than he had been and that he could love her the way she deserved. As for him, he thought darkly, love wouldn't come at all.

~*~

A week after the Second Task, Cedric entered the Hufflepuff common room to find Jamie sitting close to the fire. They smiled at each other, and Cedric joined his friend near the blazing warmth.

'Hey there, mate, how've you been?' Although he, Jamie and Markus were virtually inseparable, Cedric felt as though he hadn't connected with his friends since the second task.

'All is well, my friend, all is well.'

Jamie smirked in a way that led Cedric to believe that the boy was up to something. Always keeping me guessing, these lads, he mused. He recalled that Jamie had expressed more than a passing interest in a certain member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team since the Yule Ball, and he wondered whether any further progress had been made on that front.

'Really? Well, it's such a shame that there's no Quidditch this year. I hear that the Gryffindor side might have been unstoppable, especially that Katie Bell...' Cedric let his words hang in the air and waited for Jamie's reaction.

As predicted, Jamie grinned sheepishly.

'Ah, yes, the lovely Miss Bell. After my moderate success last term and then at the Yule Ball, I was going to ask her to the next Hogsmeade weekend.'

'Going to?' Cedric's question dripped with amusement.

'Well, yes, but I haven't actually been able to get her alone to ask.'

'Oh, come now, Bryers, surely that won't stop a man like you. Look, if you want it to happen, you have to make it happen, mate.' Cedric was surprised at the forcefulness of his own words.

'Don't you think you should be taking that advice yourself, instead of doling it out?' Jamie asked gently, and the air in Cedric's lungs stubbornly refused to move.

Cedric's stomach lurched. Had Cho said anything to his friends? He tried desperately to remain nonchalant as he tried to answer his friend.

'What do you mean, Jamie?' was the best that he could manage.

'Well, you know, you and Boy Wonder.' Jamie's eyes twinkled as he teased his friend.

'Uh,' was Cedric's unintelligible reply.

'What?' Jamie was clearly confused, and Cedric could only stumble around as he tried to find the right words to explain. He inhaled deeply and began.

'Look, Jamie, about that. There's... I don't know... there's something about him.' Cedric faltered and shook his head in frustration as the words stubbornly refused to coalesce in his mind.

'Well, there's clearly more than just 'something', mate, so out with it.' Jamie's eyes twinkled as he spoke and Cedric had the unnerving impression that Jamie knew more about this subject than he was letting on.

'Yes, um, true. Okay, I think that there might be... something... between Harry and...'

Cedric paused, more to steady himself than for the effect.

'Between Harry and you?' Jamie finished gently.

Cedric again felt the familiar sensation of the ground falling away from him, as the truth of the spoken words hit him fully. He looked at the ground, at the fire, at anything else to avoid having to look into Jamie's eyes and see his feelings of horror and disgust, or to realize that he was taking the mickey out of him. Cedric's own mind was in such turmoil that even Jamie's normal aura wasn't clear to him. He didn't know what to expect, but when he finally did meet Jamie's eyes, he wasn't prepared for what he saw.

Jamie's brown eyes crinkled as a smile broke across his face, and Cedric tried in vain to return his heart rate to normal. He felt at once relieved and embarrassed, first that he had not trusted his friend enough to tell him earlier and also that Jamie cared enough about him to not say anything until he was ready. He felt a lump in his throat and once again gave silent thanks to Merlin for his friends.

TBC