— november 1994 — 

IT WAS the day of the first Triwizard task. Zola didn't really want to go, but she really did want to see a urine-drenched Cedric, so that's why she was making the trek from the castle to the Forbidden Forest stadium where the task would take place. Lorelei stood between Zola and Priscilla, both arms linked with each girl. Jesse and Troy were trailing behind them, talking passionately about how they thought would be the most successful in the task. 

As they travelled, they spotted Fred and George taking bets on the tournament's outcome. "A little insensitive, no?" Priscilla whispered to Lorelei and Zola.

"Very," Lorelei smiled. 

Zola continued. "But it's Fred and George. What are you gonna do?" She shrugged.

"Bets taken! Bets taken here!" The twins yelled in unison. "Step up fold! Who fancies a flutter in today's bloodbath?"

"Keep up the good work, lads!" Zola called out as she walked between them.

The twins grinned. "As you wish, Z!" The stadium was still rather quiet, many students still making the long trek, some slower than others, some waking up later by accident.

The group managed to find seats in the front row. Zola sat and her knee unconsciously bounced up and down. "You alright, Z?" Jesse asked from the opposite side of the group, causing all of the friends to turn and watch Zola's knee.

"Yeah, why?" Jesse nodded down to her knee. "Just nervous for them, is all."

Lorelei looped her arm around her shoulders. "They'll be okay, Z."

Dumbledore began his speech just as Fred and George took their seats next to Zola. She noticed the amount of money they had collected so far from the bets. "You two are so sleazy," Fred and George only nodded. 

After a few minutes, the loud bang of a cannon rang through the air, followed by a roar of cheers, signifying that the task has began. Everyone began chanting 'Diggory! Diggory! Diggory!' which made Zola shift uncomfortably in her seat from nerves. 

Cedric emerged from a small hole in a cave where the champions were preparing in. The cheers died down from suspense. In the middle of the rocky stadium sat a large golden egg, unguarded. Zola noticed his damp hair and tried her hardest not to laugh as she realised he had actually drenched himself in dragon urine like she said. He made a move towards the egg but a long, heavy blue tail swung down at him from above. Cedric dodged out of the way quickly. The dragon he was facing was the infamous Swedish Short-Snout — a large, scary dragon that was covered in dark and light blue scales. Sharp, jagged wings and a short horned snout with blue flames exhaling from its nostrils. Its long, dirty yellow talons dug into the rock it was standing it on. It roared loudly causing everyone to cover their ears and wince.

"Your wand, Ced!" Zola shouted, leaning forward on the barrier. It must've been loud enough for Cedric to look in her direction briefly before whipping out his wand and casting the first spell that came to mind. His hand moved up, left and then right — with Zola's keen eye, she realised he was casting a Transfiguration spell, specifically the rock-to-dog spell.

A large rock transformed into a Labrador and began running around the dragon's feet happily. It distracted the dragon so Cedric could run towards the egg. Everyone cheered as he neared the egg but the dragon caught on and shot a large blast of blue flames towards him. Thankfully, Cedric grabbed the egg before the flames hit him.

But he was still hit nonetheless.

Everyone gasped in shock and terror.

"Cedric!" Zola screamed as she saw the Hufflepuff boy unconscious but still cradling the golden egg in his arms, but with some severe burn marks to his clothes, revealing patches of skin on his back. By now, the dragon had been put back into its confinements, giving Zola the chance to run down to the stadium just as Madam Pomfrey was magically placing him onto a stretcher to follow her back to the castle. "Madam Pomfrey, can I join please?"

The older nurse smiled and nodded. "Of course, Miss Montgomery. I'm sure Mr Diggory would be delighted to see a friendly face when he wakes up."

AFTER A few hours, Cedric had woke up in his hospital bed. He was briefly blinded by the bright lights but he soon felt a tight grip on his hand.

With a wince, he looked down to see a dark-haired girl was sitting in a seat next to his bed, her head was propped on the edge of the bed as a soft snore left her lips. Her smaller hand was clasped to his though. Cedric's smiled, knowing how the girl has based of her Slytherin scarf and dark hair.

He squeezed her hand a few times, eliciting a shocked gasp to leave Zola's mouth as she shot up from her sleeping spot. Her head whipped around to see Cedric, still lounging in the bed but now with a smile and open eyes.

"Oh, thank Merlin that you're okay!" Zola rushed. Cedric chuckled but stopped quickly as pain tingled through his body. Zola sprang from her chair to aid him in anyway possible. "You alright, Captain?"

A grin graced Cedric's face as he looked up at the Slytherin girl above him. "Yeah," his voice was soft and quiet. It was a good thing the room was unoccupied or else Zola wouldn't have heard the single word. "You look really pretty."

Zola's eyes widened before a small, nervous chuckle left her. "I think Madam Pomfrey may have given you a little too much medicine-"

Cedric cut her with a shake of his head. "No, no. I think you look very pretty. I mean it," he placed a hand over his heart, sincerely. Zola narrowed her eyes causing Cedric to chuckle. "You don't believe me?"

"This sort of thing doesn't happen to me a lot," she admitted. 

Cedric nodded. His hand moved down to grab hers. He brought it back up up so her palm was laying flat over his heart, over his burnt yellow and black tournament uniform. "I think you're beautiful, Captain."

There was no fluctuations or flutters in his heartbeat like she was expecting. He was telling the truth.

Zola smiled bashfully, a dark blush flushing over her face — one that matches Cedric's. "Good to know, Cap."