Title: Can't Let Go 2

Rating: T

Pairing(s)/Characters: Harry, Cedric

Warnings: canonical character death

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.

Word Count: 268

Summary: Harry's thoughts when he first sees Cedric as a ghost.

Notes:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Defense Against The Dark Arts Class – Secondary Assignment Two – A kind of sequel to the initial story, that is no more than 600 words, and using the theme of monologue. Use any of the characters in initial story (other than the one who died) and write a short monologue depicting their feelings about the death, or the sighting of the ghost. Should be in first person.

Harry's POV

When I see Cedric as a ghost the first day of school, I'm completely shocked. I know there are ghosts around of course, but I never thought Cedric would be one of them.

I shift my eyes to Cho, but she doesn't seem surprised. Maybe she has seen him already.

The guilt wells up in me, and I feel like it's going to burst forth. I should have been able to save him. He shouldn't be floating around, unable to touch anything or anyone, unable to hold his girlfriend's hand.

If only I had been just a little bit stronger, just a little bit faster. If only I hadn't told Cedric to take the cup with me. He'd still be alive.

I hear whispers of "Attention-seeking prat," but I don't let them bother me. I know the truth. When Cedric announces very loudly how he ended up dead, what he saw in the graveyard before the deadly flash of green light hit him, there's silence from the other students. He tells them to stop bothering me, that I did nothing wrong except fight for my life and survive.

I should have fought to save him, but I don't say it out loud.

Cedric must know what I'm thinking, though. His eyes are sympathetic.

It'll be okay.

I hear Cedric's words, but I have trouble believing them, knowing that Voldemort won't leave me alone. He won't stop until either I or he is dead, and he has already died once, and then came back. How can I make it permanent this time?

How can anything be okay?