0559 Anxiety

"The first train to Hogwarts is scheduled to arrive at precisely 8:10 am next Wednesday morning. I need each and every one of you to gather at the school gate no later than 6:30 am sharp. From there, you will make your way to Hogsmeade Station, ensuring that you arrive before 7:30 am. Time is of the essence, and punctuality is very important."

He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in as he surveyed the sea of eager faces before him.

"The school has prepared twenty carriages to transport this initial batch of guests, it will be your duty to accompany these carriages, ensuring the safety and comfort of our visitors. Upon arrival at the castle grounds, half of you will immediately return to Hogsmeade Station to await the next influx of guests, while the remaining half will guide those who have already arrived, arranging their seating with the utmost care and attention to detail."

He reached into his robes, showing a neatly folded piece of parchment. "I will provide you with a comprehensive guest list in advance."

Thud!

The heavy wooden door to the physical education classroom swung shut with a resounding thud, the sound reverberating through the empty corridor. Hermione and Cedric found themselves abruptly locked outside, their faces etched with a mixture of disappointment and resignation.

However, rather than immediately taking their leave, the pair lingered by the door, their ears pressed against the door as they tried to catch the muffled remnants of Professor Watson's voice drifting out sporadically from inside.

Minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity as Hermione and Cedric stood in silence, their bodies tense with anticipation. Finally, after about ten minutes, the sound of scattered footsteps came from the classroom, signaling the end of the meeting. Only then did the two of them reluctantly remove their ears from the door, stepping back and facing each other with an air of awkward uncertainty.

"Ahem—" Cedric cleared his throat, his gaze falling upon Hermione, who stood a full head shorter than him. His expression was slightly unnatural with a mix of nervousness and hesitation appearing across his facial features.

In fact, when Cedric had first been chosen as a champion, his heart had soared with excitement, the prospect of glory and fame filled him with an intoxicating sense of purpose. However, as the date of the competition drew nearer, that initial ecstasy had gradually faded, replaced by a gnawing panic and an all-consuming anxiety.

To the outside world, being a champion was an honor beyond measure, a title to be coveted and celebrated. But only the champions themselves truly understood the precarious nature of their position, the razor-thin line that separated fame from becoming a laughingstock in the eyes of the wizarding world.

As his mentality shifted, Cedric's slight dissatisfaction with Hermione's unexpected selection as a fellow champion vanished, replaced by a deep sense of empathy. He knew all too well the immense pressure that this young girl faced, a burden that far exceeded even his own.

At least no one questioned his legitimacy as a champion, nor did they secretly harbor ulterior motives and tried to put his life at risk for the sake of some hidden agenda.

"I was planning to head down to the Great Hall for dinner," Cedric said, his voice soft and friendly as he gave Hermione a warm smile. "What about you?"

Hermione could easily see that Cedric wanted to talk to her, which surprised her a little.

She and Cedric had never had any real connection beyond their common participation in the physical education class. If not for that single commonality, she doubted they would have ever exchanged more than a passing greeting in Hogwarts.

Of course, Hermione was well aware of Cedric's popularity among the girls at school Yet, despite his status as one of the most sought-after boys, Cedric's private life was not chaotic. His single-minded pursuit of Ravenclaw's Cho Chang was common knowledge among the girls.

"I was planning to wait here for a bit," Hermione began, her voice trailing off after a sudden change of heart. "Actually, on second thought, I think I'll head down too."

And so, the two champions set off together, their footsteps echoing softly through the deserted corridors as they made their way towards the grand staircase that would lead them to the Great Hall.

Out of some kind of tacit understanding, Hermione and Cedric didn't walk quickly. They were almost strolling through the corridor. 

"How are you feeling?" Cedric asked abruptly, his voice cutting through the stillness as they passed beneath an archway. His footsteps paused, and he turned to face Hermione, "I mean, about next week's task. Do you have any ideas? Any strategies in mind?"

He paused, a sudden realization washing over him as he saw the flicker of surprise in Hermione's eyes.

"Oh, please don't misunderstand me," He hastened to add, his hands raised in a pacifying gesture. "I'm not trying to pry into your plans. I was just...curious. Wondering if you were as nervous as I am."

Hermione stared at Cedric thoughtfully. Just as he had sensed the immense pressure that weighed upon her shoulders, she too could see the toll that the tournament had taken on him. They were few days away from making their appearance on the international stage where their every move would be scrutinized by the entire European wizarding world. The slightest misstep, the smallest error in judgment, could spell disaster not only for themselves but for the reputation of Hogwarts as a whole.

And then, like a bolt of lightning, a sudden realization struck Hermione. She and Cedric were not just competitors but were also bound together in the competition.

The decision to bind their fates together had been made by Barty Crouch as a concession to appease Karkaroff and Durmstrang.

Hermione had not forgotten this fact, but in the whirlwind of activity that had consumed her life since that moment, it had been pushed to the back of her mind.

Lost in thought, Hermione remained silent, her eyes became distant as she pondered. Cedric, misinterpreting her lack of response, let out a heavy sigh, and a hint of bitterness crept into his voice as he spoke.

"You're worried too, aren't you?" He said, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his own doubts. "Worried that we might not be able to pass the first task, that we'll let everyone down. My parents, they've been writing to me constantly, telling me how proud they are, how they've been boasting to all our relatives that their son is going to represent Hogwarts in the tournament.

It feels amazing, knowing that they have so much faith in me. But at the same time, it's terrifying. What if I'm not good enough? What if I fail? They'll be so disappointed..."

He trailed off, his eyes searching Hermione's face for any sign of understanding, any indication that she shared his fears.

"What about you? …...What do your family think about all of this?"

Hermione knew that Cedric wanted to say more than just his family's opinion. The pressure they faced came from all sides.

"My parents are Muggles," she said quietly, a pang of guilt twisting in her chest. "They don't really understand what the Triwizard Tournament is, or what it means."

Actually, Hermione had no intention of ever informing her parents of her participation in the tournament. That's why she still hadn't written to them about this matter. If they knew their beloved daughter was about to fight a dragon that only appeared in movies, they might rush to Hogwarts overnight to take her back home.

"That must be nice," Cedric murmured with a pensive note in his voice as Cho Chang's figure appeared in his mind.

Embarrassing his parents in front of colleagues and relatives, and losing face in front of the girl he fancied—neither was what he wanted.

But he had no way to back out, right? His identity as a champion was the pride of so many people. Hufflepuff House practically regarded him as their banner.

Hermione looked at Cedric's melancholy face, a hint of doubt and hesitation flashing in her eyes.

"Cedric," she began, her voice soft and hesitant. "Have you given any thought to what the tasks might involve? What we might be facing in the tournament?"

Cedric's eyes widened in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "I...I don't know," he said, a frown creasing his brow. "Professor Sprout suggested that I look through some old materials, try to find any clues or hints about what might be in store for us. But honestly, I don't…Oh."

He paused, a sudden realization washing over him and smiled in embarrassment looking at Hermione. "I guess this doesn't count as cheating, right?"

Hermione shook her head reassuring him. "Of course not, it's just being prepared, that's all. There's nothing wrong with trying to gather as much information as possible before we step into the ground."

She hesitated for a moment, considering her next words carefully. "Have you...have you talked to any of the other champions? Krum or Delacour, I mean? About the tasks, or...or anything else?"

Cedric's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a look of confusion flickering across his face.

"No, I haven't really had the chance and I don't really know them—" He said frankly, shaking his head. "I mean, I know they're both incredibly talented, and they're going to be tough competition. So, no matter which one of us it is, we have to put on an impressive performance, right? Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing for Hogwarts!"

Hermione nodded, processing this information. She could basically confirm that Krum had not been kind enough to reveal the specific content of the competition tasks to both of Hogwarts' champions. He had come specifically for her.

If she was being honest, Hermione was far less perplexed by Krum's motivations than Harry had been.

Girls possessed a keener emotional intuition than boys, and she had not failed to notice the glimmer of eagerness in Krum's eyes whenever he looked at her during the days, they spent together looking for information in the library, but she was too embarrassed to tell anyone.

She had already been criticized a lot for being a champion. If Krum's huge fan club knew that their idol had feelings for her, she probably wouldn't have any peace staying in the dormitory from then on.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little ambiguous, mainly because Hermione was touched that Krum was willing to take the initiative to reveal this valuable information about the competition content only to her.

However, in Cedric's eyes, it was a completely different story. He suddenly discovered that Hermione Granger beside him started to look at him with a wandering gaze, and then her cheeks flushed, just like those girls who gave him love letters!

But wasn't Hermione Granger close with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley?!

"Ahem, alright—"

Cedric's eyes turned fearful. He subconsciously took a step back.

"I think that covers it. I really should be getting to the Great Hall. I'll just... go on ahead."

With that, Cedric was about to sidestep Hermione. He didn't want any unclear rumors to spread about him and Hermione Granger. The girl he liked was not her.

"Wait, Cedric!"

Hermione subconsciously called out.

Hermione wasn't exactly sure why she wanted to tell Cedric all this. If she had to find a reason, it would be—fairness.

Since Fleur, Krum and herself already knew, then letting Cedric also know this crucial piece of information adhered to the principle of fairness—at least that's how Hermione convinced herself.

Hermione didn't want to dwell on why Cedric seemed to want to escape from her at the moment. She looked around to make sure there were no younger students nearby, took a deep breath, lowered her voice and said quickly,

"I'll only say this once—"

"What?"

Cedric's voice began to tremble. He had a sinking feeling he knew where this was going.

"Dragons," Hermione said, her eyes wide and serious. "That's what we're facing in the first task. Dragons. You need to come up with a strategy, and fast."

After a moment's hesitation, Hermione didn't say the second reminder out loud.

Cedric stood motionless, clearly still unable to snap out of the shock brought on by the information Hermione revealed. But Hermione didn't plan to wait for Cedric to come to his senses. She turned directly to leave. Otherwise, it would be too suspicious if someone else saw Hogwarts' two champions talking secretively together—

However,

"Miss Granger—"

Just as Hermione had only taken two steps, the door to a room opposite them suddenly creaked open. Professor Moody's low, hoarse voice made both Hermione and Cedric's hair stand on end.

"A word in my office, if you please."

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