Chapter Twenty-three: Waiting

Whatever may have happened in the maze, it didn't make it any less stressful for those waiting outside. Tension mounted almost unbearably as Rachel and her friends listened to the muffled sounds echoing out of the maze. They jumped as a sudden creaking announced the shifting of the hedges, burying Cedric and the others in even deeper in the labrynthine passages. Quite suddenly, a shower of red sparks shot into the air and Rachel's hand closed like a vise around Carly's.

"Rae, it's okay," Carly murmured soothingly, removing her other hand from Eric's and enfolding Rachel's in both of her own. In the tense minutes it took for the patrolling teachers to reach the location of the red sparks, Rachel felt the world around her go still. Her heart pounded loudly in the silence as the entire crowd collectively held its breath.

At last: "Miss Delacour has been forced to retire from the competition," Ludo Bagman's voice echoed over the silent stands. A collection of groans escaped the cluster of Beauxbatons students below Rachel and her friends and she thought she could distinguish Pierre's face among them, looking distinctly put out. He cast a resentful glance in her direction and she suddenly realized that he had been very keen to have Fleur beat Cedric out.

Time dragged still longer. The patrollers returned with a groggy and very disoriented Fleur, who protested weakly that she was fine before Madame Maxime hushed her and hurried her off to the healers' tent to be checked for any lasting damage. Meanwhile, the maze continued to omit odious creaks and groans, accompanied by other, more terrifying noises – shrieks, hisses, explosions. Rachel wished with all her heart that she could see into the maze and watch what was happening.

After an indeterminable amount of time, another shower of red sparks shot into the air. This time it was Mrs. Diggory who gasped in fear and gripped Rachel's arm while Rachel did her best to soothe her. Mrs. Diggory's hand on her arm was so painfully tight that she could feel her pulse pounding in protest to the pressure. No announcement came this time, but after several minutes more, Hagrid emerged from the shadows carrying an unconscious Viktor Krum. Cedric's parents and friends all allowed themselves to breathe again.

"Well, it's just our boy and Potter now," Mr. Diggory said in a low, satisfied voice to his companions, "an easy match if there ever was one."

The stillness yawned bleakly around them as the only sounds came from the hedges shifting and the slight groaning of the stands under the shifting weight of hundreds of students and staff. Viktor and Fleur both emerged from the Madam Pomfrey's care, nursing whatever minor wounds they had received. As the two retired Champions made their way to join their peers, Rachel noticed that Fleur seemed to keep a more-than-normal distance between herself and Krum, her stunning eyes regarding him with a mixture of apprehension and resentment. The look in her eyes sent a thrill of foreboding through Rachel and she shivered involuntarily, feeling Carly lean comfortingly into her. All of her reservations and concerns from the night Cedric had first told her he was entering the tournament pushed forcibly to the front of her thoughts and she struggled to find where her courage and excitement had disappeared to.

The sun had long since set and plunged the world around them into inky blackness and the night chill was creeping in on the waiting student body. Spells on the part of Dumbledore and several other teachers helped hold most of the cold at bay, but as time ticked on, the chill of fear and apprehension began to permeate the crowd. Carly had long since released Rachel's hands in order to tuck her own deep in her coat and snuggle into Eric's arms. In a stroke of chivalry, Eric had given her his scarf and was now rubbing her upper arms in a soothing, warming gesture, seemingly oblivious to the cold himself.

Suddenly, another shower of red sparks shot out of the maze and hovered in the air, their red glow blinking ominously before Rachel's eyes. She traced their origin to a spot almost exactly above the center of the maze… where the Triwizard Cup was. The crowd jumped to its feet, invigorated at last. Now was the deciding moment when the winner of the Cup and the Tournament would be decided.

"Yes!" Mr. Diggory cried, punching his fist in the air. "Ced's beaten Potter out!"