Note: I'm not normally a Cedric Diggory fan, nor do I usually spend my time writing fan fiction, as opposed to original novel-writing. However, a friend of mine was in dispair after failing to find a decent non/slash Cedric story, (we both dislike slash- none will appear here!) so this was written for her and to fill that gap. Cedric, however, is not the central character of this story- Cassi Young and Neville Longbottom are, imho, the most important characters. Other Hogwarts characters will make lots of appearances (starting at Harry's 4th year) but Harry himself will not be a central character.
I will try to follow the canon as closely as I can, all things considered, but since I don't actually own a copy of the books or the movies, there will probably be mistakes. I think you'll be able to tell which are simply honest mistakes, and which are creative liberties for the sake of my plot.
I have rated this story T for probable violence, but I envision it being a very mild T.
Disclaimer- I, of course, do not own any of J.K. Rowlings characters, settings or plots. I only own Cassi, and any unique plot twists that I may create for this story.
I hope you enjoy the prologue- it was so much fun to write Bellatrix Lestrange! She's such a cool baddie!
Prologue
Bellatrix Lestrange stared over the tattered remains of what had once been an elegant dining room. The chairs were smashed, the velvet curtains tattered, and the mirror shattered. Lying across the rug in front of her was a woman, as blond as Bella was dark, her skin alternating quickly between red and white.
"Tell me, Alice," said Bella, leaning close over her victim. Her words were equally full of malice, laughter, and despair. "You have one last chance before your mind is completely gone." Her face twitched and she lost control. "WHERE IS MY MASTER??"
Alice dug her fingers into the carpet, her lips trembling as she stared at the open door into the living room beyond. "Fr-Fra…"
Laughter rang out from Bella's lips. "Your husband lost his wits quite some time ago, I'm afraid. A lifetime in St. Mungos- if he doesn't die first. A pity he didn't speak earlier. He could have saved you. Or you could have saved him. But now it is too late. If you will not talk now…you will not talk ever!" Her eyes narrowed into reddened slits and she pointed her wand at Alice's bruised forehead. "Crucio!" she shouted, her scream shattering the last remaining window.
Half of a strangled sob escaped Alice before her head rolled back, her eyes suddenly confused and childlike. The tension rushed out of her body and quite abruptly she fell asleep.
Bella laughed again. "So easy to vanquish. I will never believe that you stood against him three times! Him…" The laughter immediately faded and a darkness came into her eyes. She turned away from the sleeping woman and stalked into the other room. "Bartholomew!" She snapped. "Where is my husband?"
A thin, pale wisp of a boy, not more than eighteen, was standing over another body, his eyes wide with horror and, yes, gladness. He looked up quickly as Bella entered. "He's looking for the boy. In case he's the one-"
"He's not the one, fool!" said Bella. "Potter's son was the child prophesied, we know that! It's because of him that our Master is- is-" She stopped for the second time that night.
"But it could have been theirs too, Bella!" he protested. "That could be why it all went wrong!"
"And obviously, that's why we're here! To find out the truth!" she shrieked back. "Now, where did he go?"
"I'm here, Bella."
She spun around and saw her husband standing in the doorway, a bundle wrapped in his arms. "I have the child."
"The child-" she took two swift steps and stared down into the blinking eyes of a baby, not quite a year old. "The child. If there is a way of reversing what happened-"
"Lucius will know," Lestrange reminded her. "Or Snape."
"Snape!" she spat. "Lucius! They're gone, my dear! Gone! We, and we only are left! It is up to us to find him! If we fail then we are doomed!"
"Doomed?"
They both glanced over to see Bartholomew starting at them, his eyes wide and terrified. "Doomed to what?"
"Azkaban," said Lestrange coolly.
"Azkaban! No! My father would never-"
"If your father discovers that you are a death eater he will condemn you in a moment, make no mistake about that! Now, Bella-" he flung the child at her. "Take it."
"Me?"
He laughed. "You're no mother, I know, but still, better you, a woman, to carry it than me. Now take it!"
Bella took the child, her features drawn into a sulk. "And what are we to do with it while we search for our Master? Am I to nurse it? Are you to be its father? Don't delude yourself."
"Excuse me," said Bartholomew, his voice trembling. "But what if we left it somewhere safe?"
"Safe?" Lestrange turned on him. "Where, in these dark times, could it possibly be SAFE? Would you have us take it to Narcissa to raise along with her Draco? They'd find it in a week- if Lucius didn't turn it in."
Bartholomew shook his head. "No- I didn't mean with wizards. But they said that they brought the Potter's son to a Muggle family. What if we did the same?"
"Muggles?" asked Bella in disbelief.
But Lestrange's eyes widened. "Muggles…how utterly perfect…who would ever dream that a Death Eater would leave his last hope in the hands of a Muggle."
"Are you insane?" Bella shrieked. "You know what he thought of Muggles! He would rather die than-"
Lestrange held up his hand for silence. "No, my dear Bellatrix. I believe that for once Bartholomew is right. It is so utterly unexpected. And our Master, as you well know, sought life above all else. And on that note, it is time enough for us to be gone from here. Bartholomew, take the child and leave it with some Muggle family that already has children of its own. The imperious curse, a memory charm, do whatever you need to get them to take it. But make sure that they will keep it ALIVE! And above all…they must NOT know that it is a Wizard. No letter from Hogwarts must ever reach their doors…"
Reviews would be simply lovely, but please keep the criticisim constructive, not hurtful. There's no point to being rude.