my heart was enough to remind me of a ticking clock.

A timer heading straight for an untimely ending, but I couldn't figure out how long it was set for. How much time I had left. How many seconds before I stumbled through the Maze and met something dangerous enough to kill me.

"Lumos Solem," I muttered, the tip of my wand pressed against my lips.

As the stolen magic of sunlight began to illuminate the space I stood, I glanced around the dark hedges, swimming in an endless pool of fear and exhilaration. I chose to do this. I chose to take that leap, to put myself out there, and now I had to choose to continue.

But all I could think about was Draco waiting for me.

Somewhere behind the wall, staring, hoping, and praying for a miracle that somehow I'd be fine. I had to be fine. But less for my own sake and more for his.

Picking up my speed, I felt the fallen leaves crunch against the soles of my shoes as I ran, a thundering noise that almost drowned out the feeling of my aching breath. I'd be a fool to say I was brave.

I didn't know what to expect. I willingly put myself into a tournament that only those with skill could partake in, and now I was lost and unsure of what I would encounter.

Until I turned a corner and saw myself.

A girl, standing frozen a few paces away, her hair ragged and untamed, her clothes ripped and dirty, and the heartbroken look in her eyes enough to break my own. I stopped myself, feeling a chill run down my spine like cold water.

She was me.

"Ridikulous!" I yelled, whipping out my wand and watching as the shadowy figure slunk back into the darkness.

And finally, she was gone.

Shaken, but not deferred, I resumed my running, slipping through the trees and warding off any spirit that dared to cross my path. It was a newfound fire inside of me. A feeling of strength that I recognized for years before, standing alongside my friends as we fought for the future.

"Serpensortia!" I yelled, hitting another shadow.

I'd fought so many already; werewolves, dementors, boggarts, and whatever dark creatures that lived in hiding could foster, and it was putting me on edge. I had to keep my eyes open. To keep my wand at the ready, to keep my ears on point, and my heart set on—

"[y/n]?" a voice said, "what the hell are you doing here?"

I spun around to see Harry, his red uniformed shirt already ripped and stained with sweat, his glasses askew, and his hair tangled, but I took a step back.

"Ipsum revelare!" I said quickly, glancing at my wand. When a soft white light spilled out the end, I let out a breath of relief, "I found you."

He furrowed his brow, but I saw the anxiety behind his eyes, "answer my question."

"Your question?"

"What are you doing here?"

I frowned, tucking my wand into my pocket with the slightest bit of hesitation, "Saving you, Potter, why else?

Even in the maze of probable death, the tension that settled between us was deadlier than half of the things I encountered before hand. We were angry with each other; the silent kind, where we'd rather put off conversation until the other gathered up an apology, but I....it wasn't a good time to hash it out.

"Saving me?" He scoffed, "aren't you mad at me?"

"Yes, I am, but that's irrelevant at the present moment," I hissed, "I'd still save a stranger if they were in danger, so don't think I've forgiven you."

"Save me from what?"

"I don't know! I haven't figured out what's on the other end, but..." I stopped myself, taking a step forward, "just trust me, Harry."

"You know I can't trust you anymore."

"And why not?"

"Not after what you did," he frowned, "not after what you said, and what you hid from all of us."

"Harry..."

"Not after him."

"Well, this was never about him, it was always about the fact that you're a jealous maniac that hates the idea of rejection," I spat out, "so why don't you shut up, before I hex you, and stop you from getting to that cup!"

I didn't mean for it to come out that way, but I was pressed that I risked my life to find him, and he was still making it all about his hatred for Draco.

"Stop me from...what?" Harry stammered, "why are you trying to stop me from winning?"

"Because the cup is a portkey!"

"A what?"

"A portkey," I repeated hastily, "I couldn't let you touch it without knowing where it led, so I'd appreciate it if you'd trust me let me take you to safety."

He scoffed in disbelief, pulling out his wand and aiming it straight for me. He wasn't listening. He never did. And it made me swell with more anger than I already had.

"Get out of my way," he said, "I'm winning this tournament, and I don't need you trying to sabotage it with your lies."

"I'm not lying!"

"Just leave, [y/n], before I make you."

I looked at him, hoping there was a slightest bit of hesitation written on his face, but then I realized the sad truth. He really didn't trust me. He wasn't even trying to.

"Damn you, Potter," I frowned, clenching my wand, "Stupefy!"

Before he had a chance to react, a sharp red light sent him flying backwards, crashing into the hedge. I didn't want it to come to this, but it had to be done.

Harry winced, grabbing his ribs from where I had hit him.

"Trust me now, hm?" I spat out spitefully, "you know I wouldn't hurt you unless it was for good reason."

Now he finally understood.

"Now get up, and let's go," I hissed, pulling him up by the back of his shirt, "the longer you stall, the more danger we're in."

I expected him to finally comply, or maybe even say a snarky retort in response, but instead, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer to him to murmur something as best he could.

"You can't leave..." he mumbled, his breath shaky from the hit, "Cedric."

I felt my stomach drop in realization, "what?"

"Cedric...tch, he doesn't know."

Bloody Hell, I forgot about him. I'd assumed Krum and Fleur were already out, considering I counted two red sparks sent into the sky beforehand, but I forgot about Diggory. This was a pain.

"I'll find him," I cursed under my breath, letting go of the boy,"get Dumbledore."

And before he could say another word, I spun on my heels, heading through the maze with more urgency than ever. When I heard another set of red sparks fly into the air, I knew that Harry had listened for once, and had alerted Dumbledore to his whereabouts.

That was a least some reassurance.

But as I swerved in and out through the hedges, I recognized a faint glow of light coming from the end of one of the pathways. The cup! Skidding to a stop, I changed my direction and ran towards it with haste.

Yet he was already there.

"Cedric!" I yelled, as soon as my eyes landed on the glimpse of a yellow shirt, "Stop!"

But I was a second too late.

He hadn't seen me in time, and he probably hadn't heard me, because he kept running towards the cup with a smile on his face. An unaware, exhilarate, and innocent smile that he thought would bring him triumph.

He didn't know.

And in slow motion, I watched it all play out like some sick story tale. His arm outstretched towards the gleaming token of victory, his hair brushing in the wind, and his wand hanging loosely in the palm of his left hand.

Something inside of me pulled me to stop it, and even though I knew there was no time, I felt compelled to try. I always had to try. When someone's life was at risk, I knew I had to put my own on the line in order to have a chance at saving them.

That's why I reached out my hand in an attempt to pull the cup away from him.

That's why I let out the most painful scream I never thought I'd ever have.

I didn't want anyone to get hurt.

But just as my hand clasped around the handle of the cup, I watched as Cedric's did too, his fingers slowly wrapping around the metal edges with unexpected surprise. And then he finally saw me.

Staring at him with fear in my eyes.

"Cedric..."

That was the last word I said, before a flash of white light surrounded us completely.