Chapter 32

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Down in the corridor, Y/N could be seen trudging along the empty corridor, consumed in her own thoughts.

Harry had went back to the Gryffindor common room, taking a different route from the Ravenclaw, she thought it was for the best, after the entire interaction back at Dumbledore's neither of them showed an interest to really talk about it, or quite knew how to.

It was the sound of voices that snapped her out of her thoughts, lifting her gaze to be met with two silhouettes, glimmering at the end of the corridor.

She continued to walk down the corridor, thinking nothing of it, though as the two figures came into the clearing, her steps unintentionally slowed down.

Snape and Karkaroff was standing in the distance, a few feet away from the Ravenclaw. The interaction between them seemed odd to the Ravenclaw, Karkaroff had his left arm extended, sleeve pushed past his elbow, his face looked as pale as day, as if he had an encounter with a ghost.

Snape on the other hand, looked the total opposite as he stared straight into Karkaroff's hand, he looked in disbelief, with a slight hint of annoyance from Karkaroff's presence.

She watched as Karkaroff's empty hand reached for Snape's, though he quickly retracted as the Ravenclaw's presence seemed to have alarmed them in some sort of way.Instantly, Karkaroff dropped his left arm and without a word, stormed off.

Y/N certainly didn't want to be left with Snape for a million of reasons she could think of so without any hesitation she turn away.

"Y/L/N! What's your hurry!" Snape called out, the Ravenclaw immediately came to a halt, slowly turning around as she watched Snape striding towards her.

"Congratulations. Your performance in the Black Lake was inspiring." Snape congratulated, though his tone was anything but happy for her, "Gillyweed, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir." the Ravenclaw nodded, earning a click of the tongue from Snape, "Ingenious. A rather rare herb. Gillyweed." he told as he stared back at the Y/N suspiciously, "Not something found in your everyday garden. Nor this."

Snape held up a tiny crystal vial right in front of the Ravenclaw's face, she immediately recognized it as she glanced back at Snape, who held a sly smirk, "Know what it is?" he questioned mockingly, earning a nod from the Ravenclaw, "Veritaserum."

"Very well, Y/L/N. I believe you know how powerful it is. Three drops and You-Know-Who himself would spill his darkest secrets." Snape jeered lowly, though the Ravenclaw wasn't intimidated by the Professor, not one bit.

"The use of it on a student is, regrettably, forbidden." he mentioned in disappointment, "However. Should you ever steal from my personal stores again, my hand might just slip over your morning pumpkin juice-"

"I hadn't stolen anything." Y/N retorted sternly, watching as Snape's eyes narrowed towards her, "Don't. Lie. To. Me." he spat, "Gillyweed may be innocuous. But Boomelang skin, lacewing flies. I have an idea what you and your friends are brewing."

And with that, he abruptly turns around,his black cloak fluttering aggressively with his movements as he stormed off, leaving the Ravenclaw alone as she continued to walk down the corridor towards her common room.

Though, puzzlement was what filled her thoughts, yes, she was given Gillyweed by Neville but he couldn't have stolen it from Snape's office, Neville wouldn't even stand close to Snape if he had the choice.

Her conversation with Snape started to repeat in her head, 'Boomelang skin and lacewing flies.'. Those were ingredients for Polyjuice Potions, it was true she did steal them before, but again, that was back in second year, she wasn't brewing another one.

Before she knew it, she was now standing in front of the eagle knocker, it seemed like the four years of being at Hogwarts really built up her muscle memory, it's like whenever she had other thoughts come into mind, her legs would always bring her to the right destination.

Though, right now, what she really needed was rest, she had done an awful lot of thinking today, with Crouch's death, the Pensieve, the conversation with Dumbledore, and now Snape's missing ingredients.

It felt like her brain had been turning continuously without a break, the tiredness began to really hit her as she entered her dorm. All she could think of at that moment, was to shut her eyes and drift off to a land of peacefulness.

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"What'd you suppose it was? On Karkaroff's arm?" Ron questioned curiously to which Y/N shrugged at, "Dunno."

Ron, Caleb ,Aidan and Lizzy were standing on one side of the bridge, admiring the view while Y/N, Hermione and Harry were on the other side, their backs leaning against the edge.

There was a moment of silence, it seemed as though everyone was thinking about the same questions the RAvenclaw had thought to herself right after her conversation with Snape, she had her gaze focused towards the view, the four were staring at oblivious to the frown forming on her girlfriend's face.

"Boomslang skin and lacewing flies? You're sure those were the two ingredients Snape mentioned?" Hermione asked curiously, earning another nod from the Ravenclaw as she turned towards the bushy-haired girl, eyebrows furrowing together slightly as she noticed the frowned expression on her girlfriend, "Positive. Why?"

"Those are ingredients for Polyjuice Potions." Aidan told to which the Ravenclaw sighed at, "It doesn't add up, Neville wouldn't have stolen the Gillyweed from Snape's office and clearly he thinks we're-"

"Brewing Polyjuice Potions." Lizzy interjected as the Ravenclaw nodded, though as a scoff sounded from Caleb, everybody's attention was now shifted towards him as he turned to around and crossed his arms, "Why would we be brewing Polyjuice Potions?"

"Dunno." the Ravenclaw responded with a shrug, "Couldn't care less about what he's thinking, I've got much bigger problems than detention right now."

The group fell silent once more as they watched the students in the distance, Y/N couldn't help but notice Neville walking across the ground, his nose buried into a herbology book. She couldn't help but feel guilty somehow, guilty for what had happened to his parents.

"Something's coming." Harry spoke, earning everyone's attention at the suddenness as puzzled looks spreaded across everyone's face, "I have this weird feeling that something's drawing closer."

Everybody seemed to be more confused than ever, everybody except for Y/N and Harry. She didn't know why but she had the same gut feeling as Harry, "Same, i've been having this gut feeling since yesterday."

"It's like you know somehow that something's going to happen, but I can't make out what." she sighed irritatedly at the thought, though she felt a slight calmness take over her as the bushy-haired girl had motioned to intertwine their hands, her thumb comfortingly caressing her hand.

The Ravenclaw couldn't help but break out a small smile as she turned towards her side, being met with the bushy-haired girl's comforting look as another sigh escaped her lips, "But again, it's just a feeling." Y/N stated as she turned back to the front, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

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In a flash it was now May, the feeling of nervousness began to creep up on the Ravenclaw, though it seemed her friends were more worried for her than her for herself.

After McGonagall had told the four champions about the third task being a maze with all sorts of enchantments, beasts and all that, her friends(especially Hermione) had been taking every free time they had to revise and learn all sorts of useful hexes, jinxes and spells.

Obviously they had to make some sacrifices, Caleb, Aidan and Ron had to take turns as the dummy for the Ravenclaw to practice her charms on, she felt bad of course, but they seemed really willing to do it.

Hermione and Lizzy on the other hand had been either buried in the library, searching for more useful charms to add on the list. Y/N thought that Harry should learn with the Ravenclaw as well, even though he doesn't have to face the third task, she thought it might still come useful in the future, considering past events.

Right now, was the only time she really had a 'day off', she hadn't had time to take a break from training with her friends for a few weeks straight, she had to admit she was extremely grateful for her friend's sacrifices but damn is it exhausting.

She was quite relieved they let her cancel today's training, it took quite a lot of convincing but in the end they all came to the conclusion that, they too needed a day off. So Y/N now found herself taking a stroll with Cedric by her side.

"So. How's the third task going for you?" Y/N asked curiously, earning a shrug from the Hufflepuff, "Not bad, been studying a lot lately but I think I can handle it." he stated nonchalantly, earning a nod along with a pat on the shoulder from the Ravenclaw.

"That's good to hear, at least I have some sort of competition." she retaliated jokingly to which Cedric scoffed at, "We'll see about that Y/L/N." he countered back, earning a chuckle from both sides.

"Anyways, how have you been doing?" Cedric questioned curiously, earning a shrug from the Ravenclaw as they turned down to a different corridor, "Honestly, exhausted but for a good cause."

"My friends have been tremendous help, we've been training in empty classrooms for weeks straight, finally I managed to persuade Mione into letting me take a break today." she sighed, though her eyebrows soon furrowed together when she heard a snicker that sounded from the latter.

Her eyes squinted at the brunette boy as a sly smirk curled up his lips, "What's so funny?" she asked curiously, earning a dismissive wave from the Hufflepuff along with a chuckle, "I don't think you should be complaining, Y/N. If it weren't for your girlfriend, you'd won't have a chance to get past the devil's snare on your first year."

The Ravenclaw sent the tall boy a playful nudge on the side along with a roll of her eyes, "I'm not complaining, Diggory." she scoffed knowingly to which Cedric hummed at, "Right, right. But in all seriousness, she's good for you."

"Trust me, I know." the Ravenclaw beamed before a sigh escaped her lips, she wasn't going to lie, with the third task nearing, she was really beginning to feel the pressure, it seemed like Cedric had noticed the girl's demeanor as a frown flashed across his face, "Hey, you know, we're going to be alright, okay?"

Cedric was now staring at the Ravenclaw with assurance with a hint of guilt, though the Ravenclaw didn't respond, she had a feeling that things might not be 'alright' anymore, especially after seeing Barty Crouch's body lifeless with her own eyes, it was like a sign, that things wouldn't be going pleasantly.

A sigh escaped Cedric's lips as he placed a his arm on the Ravenclaw's shoulder, both of them coming to a halt as Cedric motioned towards the side with the Ravenclaw, not wanting to block off the corridor from the other students.

He bent down slightly, so that he and Y/N were now on the same eye level, the look in his eyes was a look of determination and comfort, something the Ravenclaw never seen from Cedric so clearly.

"Y/N. We made a promise, remember? Both of us, we're going to finish the last task strongly, even if we're going against each other, I'll make sure that you and I come back safely." he reassured strongly, "One more task and all of this is over. I would prefer you to keep your promise, Y/N, you've come this far, you can't give up, not now, okay?"

Y/N couldn't believe who was saying those words, it was Cedric, the Cedric who once was so unsure and doubtful of himself about joining the Triwizard Tournament was now, assuring her with full determination, she was. impressed.

A breathless chuckle escaped the Ravenclaw lips accompanied with a nod, "Okay." she responded, earning a grin from the latter along with a pat on the shoulder, "There you go." he beamed as he swung his arm over the Ravenclaw's shoulder.

They continued to walk down the corridor chatting about other topics about school, she took a short glance out onto the window on her side, taking in the beautiful sky, the clouds flowing effortlessly and gracefully, the weeds flowing along with the wind, the view helped knock some calmness into the Ravenclaw.

Cedric was right, she thought to herself, just one more task and it's all over, one more task and she'll get to admire beautiful mother nature with the love of her life, she couldn't wait to get the Tournament she'd never sign up for overwith.

Just one more task. She thought.

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I just want to mention, I'm sorry if I've portrayed any of the characters wrong, it's just how I think the characters are, it might not fit their actual personality, but I guess you could say it's my version of the characters in a way.

And also thank you all for actually reading this series, means a lot. Genuinely.