Breath of Darkness

A/N: Important!

I've gone back and re-written both chapters 1 & 2. I've made changes that are vital to the story, so please go back and read them before continuing with this chapter.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Twilight.

Chapter 3

The second task was approaching quickly.

As Cedric and I were strolling along to bridge to the castle, I noticed Harry and Hermione staring absently abroad.

"Hey Potter!" Cedric calls out. Harry takes one glance at us before turning and hurries off in the opposite direction. "Potter!" Cedric shouted once again, jogging to catch up with Harry's fast pace.

"Please tell me you've figured out your egg unlike your brother." Hermione questions as I plant myself next to her.

"What do you think Cedric is talking to him about." I reply with a laugh.

"So you know what the clue is?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"It won't be easy." I reveal to her. "Promise me you'll help him when he needs it."

"Don't I always?" she chides.

"Yes. Very true." I laugh.

It was quite for a moment as I watched Harry and Cedric talk. "What does this feel like to you Hermione?"

"Pardon?"

"You're intelligent and observant. So tell me, does this feel right to you?"

"Do you mean the tournament in general, or Harry's part in it? Or are we talking about something else, like Harry's dreams or what happened over the summer."

"All of it." I confess with a sigh.

"I think something's off. There's something big happening, something beyond any of our control, and if I going to be honest, I'm not sure I want to find out what." She reveals to me.

"Something's wrong, I know it. I just have this feeling that something bad is going to happen."

"Any bets? Any bets? Come on, place your bets." Fred and George shout as Cedric and I make our way to the docks where boats will take us to the locations for the second task.

"Step up, mates! Don't be shy. Three lads. Two ladies. Five go down but do five come up?"

"I sometimes wonder about you two." I say as Cedric and I push between the pair. Don't actually want anything bad to happen now do you?"

They look at each other and shrug before turning around and continuing to yell, "Any bets? Fleur's 10 – 1." I tune them out as I shuffle down the hill and onto the dock. I look back, seeing Harry take something from Neville as the make their way down.

Cedric squeezes my shoulder and I turn back around to look him. "You ready for this?" he asks as we step into a boat.

"Yes. You?"

"As long as you're with me." I smile at his words as the boat takes off.

"Always."

"Welcome to the second task. Last night, something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure of sorts. These five treasures, one for each champion, now lie at the bottom of the Black Lake. In order to win each champion need only to find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough except for this: They will have but one hour to do so and one hour only. After that they'll be on their own. No magic will save them. You may begin at the sound of the cannon."

Cedric and I look at each other as the cannon sounded, then dived into the water and swam down towards the bottom of the lake. After swimming for a while, I see Harry along with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Cho, and Fleur's little sister Gabrielle.

I gesture for Cedric to grab Ginny whilst I move towards Ron. Looping my arm with his and severing the rope that held him down, I look at Cedric to see him tapping his watch, telling Harry that he needs to use what little time we had left wisely and quickly.

We made our way up, but just before we reached the surface, Cedric grabs my arm. We slowly float to the top, our heads rising out of the surface of the water at the same time and the four of us gasp for air, the charm that kept Ron and Ginny unconscious but alive effectively wearing off as they came up out of the water. Cheers erupt from the stands we dived off of as we swam back to them.

I see Fleur standing there, frantically looking out at the water and I feel for her. When we reached the stand they pulled us up and wrapped us in a robe and towels. "We did it." Cedric exclaims quietly, hugging me tightly. "We did it." I repeat with the same giddy enthusiasm.

I look over at Ron and Ginny. "Have a nice nap you two?" I joke, my voice light and filled with laughter. Ron looks up and glares at me.

"Very funny, Bella." He snaps.

The crowd erupts in cheers again as Viktor and Hermione appear and I walk over to Fleur. "I'm sure your sister will be fine." She nods at my consolation and smiles sadly but doesn't speak. I look at the clock, there's only a few minutes left and I started to worry. Cedric squeezes my shoulders and I lean back against his chest.

"Where is he?" I mutter under my breath, the Cho and Gabrielle rise out of the water.

As they swim over, Fleur kneels down, reaching for her sister, muttering in French and I reach out for Cho as well. Once they were pulled up and wrapped in their robes, I turn to look at Cedric, the worry evident on my face and a sick feeling grew in my stomach. Just as I was about to speak, Harry shoots out of the water, flying onto the stand.

"Harry!" I exclaim in fright and relief. I rush over to him, wrapping my towel around him.

"Harry!" Professor Dumbledore shouts as he makes his way over. He kneels down beside me as Harry coughs out the water in his lungs. "He's alright." Dumbledore decides. "He's alright. Barty! I want all the judges over here now!"

"Go get him another towel." I say to Seamus who, along with a few others, had gathered around. As he took off, dragging Dean with him, Fleur pushed in behind me, Gabrielle in tow. "You saved her, even though she was not yours to save. My little sister. Thank you." She exclaimed in gratitude, kissing both of his cheeks before taking her sister's hand and heading back to where her friends where gathered just as Hermione rushed over.

"Harry!" she said, hugging him tightly.

"Hermione! Ow!" Harry exclaimed.

"Are you alright? You must be freezing." She takes her towel of her shoulder and wraps it around him. "Personally, I think you behaved admirably."

"I finished last, Hermione."

I butt in, kissing the top of his head. "Next to last, actually. Fleur never got past the Grindylows."

I turn around as Dumbledore tries to gather everyone's attention over the cheers of the crowd, with his wand at his throat amplifying his voice. "Attention! The winners are Ms. Potter and Mr. Diggory, having tied for first. They showed innate command of the Bubble-Head Charm." Cheers once again erupted from the crowd as Cedric came over, picked me up and spun me around. "We did it." He whispered in my ear. We turn back to Dumbledore as he continues to speak. "However, seeing as Mr. Potter would've finished first had it not been for his determination to rescue not only Ms. Chang but the others as well, we've agreed to award him second place, for outstanding moral fibre!"

"Second place!" Hermione boasted as she and I, along with Ginny and Ron, wrapped him in a hug, congratulatory messages being shouted by his friends around us.

"Right on."

"All that moral fiber, eh?" I heard Fred and George taunt Harry as we made our way back to the castle.

"It's great." Harry laughs.

"Moral fiber? Blimey, Harry. Even when you go wrong it turns out right." Ron pitches in.

"Yeah, well done; Moral Fiber." Fred congratulates as he pats Harry on the back and jets past us, up the hill, passing Barty Crouch Sr.

"Congratulations, Potter. A fine achievement." He says as Cedric and I pass him.

"Thank you." I hear Harry reply.

"See you at Hagrid's, Harry!" I shout over my shoulder as Cedric guides me off to the side, but just before Harry goes out of my view, I see Moody walk over which results in Crouch storming of seconds later.

At first, I'm torn between my confusion and my need to protect my little brother, but as the pit in my stomach grows, my heart sinks, my worries about the future becoming more prominent and I can't help but feel like everything is about to change.

The morning of the final task had come.

I was walking to the Great Hall for breakfast when Neville approached me. "Don't suppose you've seen this yet?" he said, handing me the paper filled with Rita Skeeter's latest story of rubbish. I read it quickly before shoving it back in Neville's hands sighing in frustration.

"Well, that's a wonderful way to start the morning."

"It could have been worse, I suppose." Neville suggests, his voice saddened even though he was trying to be optimistic. I look at him with a smile on my face, and he starts to look worried and goes tense. "That's – that came out wrong." He stutters out quickly. A small laugh escapes my lips. "You're fine, Neville. I suppose there is always a way for things to be worse."

His body relaxes and he give me a small smile in return. He nods his head in parting then goes to make his way back into the Great Hall. "Say, Neville?" He turns around to face me once again. "I haven't gone with you to visit your parents in a while, perhaps I could join you this summer?"

Neville's face lights up and we both smile brightly. I grab his arm and walk into the Great Hall with him. "I'm cheering for you, you know? You and Harry, of course."

"Why, thank you, Neville. I appreciate it."

We walk up to Hermione and Ron, I let go of Neville's arm so he can sit down and I put my hands on the table and lean down slightly. "No matter what, Harry doesn't see Skeeter's new story, got it? If he hasn't already seen it, which I'm hoping he hasn't. He doesn't need this, not today." As they all nod, I push of the table and make my way towards a certain group of Hufflepuff's.

"Ms. Potter." I turn around to see Professor McGonagall.

"Morning, Professor." I greet with a smile.

"Good morning, Ms. Potter. Thought I should let you know that the champions are congregating in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast." She told me.

"Might I ask why?"

"You very well know that the champions' families are invited to watch the final task."

"You really think anyone is going to be there for me?"

She splutters for a second. "My dear… Do you really doubt your place with the Weasley's that much?" she ask, her voice airy and full of concern and sympathy.

I look down at my feet. "Thanks for letting me know, Professor." I turn and continue my journey to my original destination. I walk up behind Cedric, stealing one of his pieces of toast and taking a bite.

"Hey!" he exclaims and urns around to see me.

"Mind if I sit here?" I ask.

"You're always welcome to sit with me, you know that." He replies, pulling me close and poking me in the stomach. I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. "I know what that sigh means. What's wrong?"

"Rita Skeeter decided to write another article about Harry." I tell him with a reluctant sigh.

"I saw, and?"

"And I'd rather not be there with him when he finds out."

"It's not that bad."

"'Harry Potter 'Disturbed and Dangerous' ?"

"Okay. I see your point." He concluded, kissing me on the forehead.

Breakfast carried on as usual. The air was filled with excited chatter. Cedric nudged my shoulder and I looked up at him. "What's with the doll?" he asks, nodding towards my book bag. I had almost forgotten I had put that in there.

"Oh, I found it last night and figured I would try and find out who it belongs too."

I greeted Cedric's parents as we walked into the chamber, talking to them for a moment, then walking over Fleur's family as her little sister waved to me.

"Je crois que vous cherchez peut-être pour cela." I say as I kneel down next to her, taking the doll out of my bag and handing it to her. (I believe you might be looking for this.)

"Josie! Oh, merci beaucoup!" Gabrielle cried with joy, grabbing the doll and hugging her tight. (Josie! Oh, thank you so very much!)

"Pas de problème." (No problem)

"Vous avez fait ma fille très heureux. Merci." Mrs. Delacour says to me as I stand back up and I nod in acknowledgement. (You have made my daughter very happy. Thank you)

"Où avez-vous-?" (Where did you-?)

"Retrouvée sur mon chemin de retour à la salle commune de la nuit dernière. Gabrielle pensait ici pourrait vouloir son dos." I cut Fleur off and she smiles at me. "Eh bien, je vous remercie. Et bonne chance pour ce soir." She says. (Found her on my way back to the Common Room last night. Thought Gabrielle here might want her back.) (Well, thank you. And good luck tonight.)

"Ouais, vous aussi." I tell her and I move towards Mrs. Weasley and Bill. (Yeah, you too)

"Bella!" I turn back around, raising an eyebrow in question to Fleur and she looks behind me. "Who is zhat? Ze one with ze earrings?"

"Oh, that's Bill, my adoptive brother."

"Is he…?"

"Single? Yes." I tell her with a smile. "I've got your information for the post, remember? Would you like me to pass it along?"

"You would do zhat for me?" she ask in disbelief.

"Of course. What are friends for?" I tell her, winking, and she laughs. She turns back to her mother and I swear I can see her blushing.

"There's my little dragon slayer!" Bill mocks as I finally make my way over. "Yeah, yeah." I say as I hug him, then Mrs. Weasley. "Where's Mr. Weasley?" "On his way." She tells me. "And Remus? Tonks?" "Not quite sure." I nod, slapping Bill's arm away as he tries to ruffle my hair.

"Your tense, what's wrong?" I ask her and she looks behind me. I turn around to see Narcissa Malfoy, who averted her eyes elsewhere when mine met hers.

"Is she here for me?" I ask Mrs. Weasley.

"I would assume so." She answers bitterly.

"Why?"

"Haven't a clue."

I frown for a moment. "I guess I should find out. I'll be right back." I tell them, before walking over to the woman I once considered to be like a mother to me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, angry.

"I came to see you." Was all she had to say.

"You have no right to be here."

"Did you even consider how dangerous it would be when you entered your name?" she asks me.

"Didn't really think it would be as bad as a Basilisk terrorizing the school." I sneer. "What do you care anyways?

"I care." She whispers. "If I didn't I wouldn't have come here. I needed to speak to you about tonight."

"Why should I listen?"

"Five minutes, that's all I ask for."

I stare at her, contemplating my options and then going against my better judgement. "Make it quick."

"Don't try and win tonight." She says quickly, her voice hushed.

"What?" I gasp, appalled.

"Don't try and win tonight. It won't be worth it. Trust me"

"I once thought I could trust you with anything. But not anymore. You lost my trust years ago, so how dare you come here, claiming to care by telling me not to win a tournament I've worked hard to come this far in and then ask me to trust you."

Mrs. Malfoy opens her mouth to speak but she was interrupted. "Bella, ako moga da vzema na zaem za edna minuta?" Viktor asked from a few feet away. I turn to him, smile tightly and say, "Razbira se." (Bella, might I borrow you for a minute?) (Sure.)

"Maĭka. Otets. Tova e Izabela Potŭr." he introduces as we walk over to his parents. (Mother. Father. This is Isabella Potter.)

"Miss Potŭr, udovolstvie. Nadyavam se, che se spravyash dobre?" his father asks as I shake his hand. (Miss Potter, a pleasure. I trust you are doing well?)

"Da, az sŭm. Blagodarya. I vie dvamata?" I return the sentiment as I shake his wife's hand. (Yes, I am. Thank you. And the two of you?)

"Nie sme dobre, blagodarya." (We are well, thank you.)

"Izabela e, che mi pomogna s moya angliĭski." Viktor told them. His mother smiled brightly at me and I couldn't help but return it. (Isabella has been helping me with my English.)

"Blagodarim vi, che pomagate na sina ni." she says appreciatively. (Thank you for helping our son.)

"Za men e udovolstvie. Osven, che tryabva da resha na moya bŭlgarski vŭv vseki sluchaĭ. Viktor e izklyuchitelno polezno." I tell her then hear Bill and Mrs. Weasley shout 'surprise' as someone comes in. (I am pleased to do so. Besides, I needed to brush up on my Bulgarian anyways. Viktor has been extremely helpful.)

"Tova tryabva da e brat ti. Vŭrvi. Nie nyama da vi dŭrzhat po-dŭlgo." Mrs. Krum says. (That must be your brother. Go. We won't keep you any longer.)

"Blagodarya. Beshe mi priyatno da se zapoznaem." I shake their hands once more before hugging Viktor. "Uspekh tazi vecher, priyatelyu." I tell him. (Thank you. It was nice to meet you.) (Good luck tonight, my friend.)

"I vie, kakto i, priyatelyu." he replies. (And you, as well, my friend.)

I start to make my way back towards my family but a hand on my shoulder causes me to pause and turn around. Mr. Krum stands there, looking around the room carefully before leaning closer and speaking in a low voice, "Izabela. Bashta mi vednŭzh mi razkaza istoriyata na edno momiche na ime Anabel. Iskreno se nadyavam, che i vie shte ste v bezopasnost. I vinagi znam, che moeto semeĭstvo li oznachava nishto losho." (Isabella. My father once told me a story about a girl named Annabelle. I sincerely hope that you are staying safe. And always know that my family means you no harm.)

"Tova oznachava mnogo za men. Znam, che ste pochten chovek. Nadyavam se, che vi dŭrzhat na dumata si da doĭde vremeto." I say to him and he nods, with that I turn around and head back to my family just in time to hear Bill say, "It's great being back here." As he looked around the chamber. "Haven't seen this place in five years." (That means a lot to me. I know you are an honorable man. I hope that you keep your word should the time come.)

"He's just that old." I taut Bill as I hug Harry.

"Very funny, Bella." Bill says sarcastically. "Is that picture of the mad knight still around? Sir Cadogan?"

"Oh, yeah." Said Harry.

"And the Fat Lady?"

"She was here in my time," said Mrs. Weasley. "She gave me such a telling off one night when I got back to the dormitory at four in the morning –"

"What were you doing out of your dormitory at four in the morning?" asked Bill, surveying Mrs. Weasley with amazement. Mrs. Weasley grinned, her eyes twinkling.

"Your father and I had been out for a midnight stroll," she said. "He got caught by Apollyon Pringle – he was the caretaker in those days – your father's still got the marks."

"Fancy giving us a tour, Harry? Bella?" Bill said quickly.

"Yeah, okay." Said Harry.

"Sure." I agreed and we made our way back towards the door into the Great Hall.

This was it.

The day had past and now it was evening. The third and final task had officially arrived. Music and cheers filled the air as the five of us walked into the pit. Harry and I stood together, Cedric was with his father and Fleur and Viktor were with their friends.

"How are you feeling?" I ask him.

"As well as I can be." He replies simply and I nod in agreement. I kiss his forehead before whispering, be safe, in his ear.

I spot Remus and Tonks in the crowd and I wave as Dumbledore begins to speak, silencing the crowd.

"Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows it's exact position. Now, as Ms. Potter, Mr. Diggory, and Mr. Potter are tied for first position they will be the first to enter the maze, followed by Mr. Krum and Ms. Delacour. The first person to touch the cup will be the winner! I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task, he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Contestants! Gather around quickly." He concluded, stepping of the podium and walking towards us. I grabbed Harry's and Cedric's hand as Dumbledore addressed us somberly.

"In the maze. You'll find no dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead, you'll face something even more challenging. You see, people change in the maze. Oh, find the cup if you can. But be very wary, you could just lose yourselves along the way."

Harry, Cedric and I get into position quickly as Dumbledore takes the podium again. I look at Cedric, nodding slightly with a small smile on my face and he returns the gesture.

"Champions, prepare yourselves! On the count of three! One! Tw–" Dumbledore was cut off by canon once again. I look at Harry and Cedric once more before walking forward, then looking back at the cheering crowd as the entrance closes.

And so it begins.

I've been running around this dark and foggy maze for a while. What felt like hours was probably only minutes. Just running in general isn't good for the uncoordinated, let alone running around in a maze that has walls that like to cave in and vines that try to kill you. I quickly raise my wand as I hear footsteps approaching.

"Bella!" I hear Cedric shout.

"Cedric!" I run around a few corners and jump into his arms. "Finally. I was beginning to think I wasn't going to find you in here."

"Tell me about it." He mutters. "Now, come on, we have to go."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Krum."

"Is he after you or something?" I ask in disbelief.

"Or something." Cedric says. "He's not himself, trust me." We start to run, choosing our path randomly. "Down here!" I shout as I see a glow ahead of us, going right, only to find myself face to face with Viktor. He raised his wand as I skidded to a halt in front of him, then diving left, narrowly missing the spell he casted.

"Viktor! Spri!" I shout at him as I stand back up. (Viktor! Stop!)

This was not the boy I had come to be friends with. "Kakvo pravish? Spri!" Cedric charged at him but I pushed him back. "This isn't him." I plead. I turn back around to face Viktor, my hands raised, only for him to shout, "Stupefey!" as soon as I look him in the eye and I'm flown a few feet back into the maze wall. (What are you doing? Stop!)

I hear Cedric shout my name as my world goes black.

Harry's POV

It became windy after I sent up red sparks for Fleur. The walls of the maze began to close and I ran as fast of as I could. My thoughts were now focused on finding Bella, who was probably with Cedric. I saw a glow up ahead and I ran towards it.

"Get down!" I hear Cedric shout and I duck before Krum's curse can do any damage.

"Explelliarmus!" Cedric counters and Krum is sent flying back, landing unconscious. Cedric rushes over and kicks his wand away just in case, but I rush over and push him away when he raises his wand again.

"No, don't! Stop! He's bewitched, Cedric!" I shout, trying to reason with him.

"Get off of me!" he shouts as he pushes me back. "He's bewitched!" "He hurt your sister and you're trying to protect him?" he pushes me away, picks her up and darts forward. I sprint past him, bumping into his shoulder. He tumbles down, losing his hold on Bella. Vines wrap themselves around him, trying to pull him under the wall like they did Fleur. "Harry!" he shouts. I couldn't just leave them there.

"Reducto!"

I run back, help him get rid of the vines and hand him his wand and take Bella's. "Thanks." He gasps out, the picks Bella up. "You know, for a moment there, I thought you were going to let it get me." "For a minute there, so did I." I tell him.

"Some game, huh?"

"Some game."

The wind begins to pick up again and the walls start closing in. "Go!" Cedric shouts and we race towards the cup. "Go on, take it. You saved me, take it!"

"The three of us. Together. One, two, three." He count with me and we both jumped and grabbed the cup, but when we landed, we were somewhere else; we were in a graveyard, just like the one from my dream. Cedric position Bella to sit behind a big tombstone and I place her wand beside her then walked forward along with Cedric, wondering why we were here.

Bella's POV

When I regained consciousness and opened my eyes, I realized three things. I was not in the maze, I wasn't in the pit, nor was I at Hogwarts. I looked to my left to see that it was still dark and foggy, but there were graves all around. My hand bumped into something as I sat myself up and I looked down to see my wand. I shook my head to try and clear it then I looked to my right and had to put my hand over my mouth to keep me from screaming as tears sprung into my eyes.

There, a good distance away, lay Cedric. And with one look, I knew that he was dead.

A/N: I owe all my translations to google translate. I hope you liked chapter 3. Tell me what you think of the revised chapters. Do you like the new version?