*Quick Note* Okay Wow did not expect to write this chapter in one night (actually it was within 3 hours I was amazed at how the words flowed)! This chapter will bring us to the end of the 4th year! I would like to thank AstoriaGrace and Hollarious969 for the reviews! I am glad that you both enjoyed the story thus far! I want to also announce now that this story will have a squeal and a prequel. This story is kind of like episodes four, five, and six in star wars and I did not plan it this way! I swear! I always knew that i was going to break Rey's story into to two but I was struck with the idea of a prequel as well after I had started writing this story. But I do not plan on starting that until Rey's story is completed. I hope that everyone continues to read and review!
Chapter 9:
"Gaaah!" I scream in frustration. I was currently in the room of requirements trying to figure out how to move an object with my mind while my eyes were open. I found it was easier to do with my eyes shut, but for some reason with them open it was much harder. Then again with my eyes close the objects go flying out of control too. The room was plane, nothing special to it. There was a pedestal in the middle of the room with a shinny red apple on it. I had yet to move it. I sigh and sit down crossing my legs in front of me. I take my grandmothers notebook in my hand and read over the passage again. I nearly had it memorized but I kept reading to see if there were any more hints given by her. Nothing stood out. I sigh stand up and try again. Nothing. I sigh. It was getting late and I still needed to study for my final exams coming up. Between practicing with my gift, and homework, and dating George, and making sure I kept the twins out of detention, well as much as I could, and the growing worry I had in the pit of my stomach for the looming third task I was exhausted. But I needed to do well on the exams and stay focused in school.
I pack up and leave the room of requirements and head down to dinner. Nothing to eventful has happened since the second task. I mean sure Barty Crouch was found dead in the forbidden forest, but he was in the forbidden forest, anything could have killed him. Then there was a rumor that I was secretly pregnant with Cedric's baby and that George was only sticking around for my money. But that died down quickly. Somehow though everyone thought that I was no longer a virgin. I think that rumor was started by Pansy though, not Cho.
Pansy, for some reason or another, had started harping on me. Why I have no clue. Maybe it was because I had accidentally walking into the potions class while she and Draco were making out... and vomited in a cauldron upon seeing it. And it got around the whole school by one of the gossiping girls in Ravenclaw who was behind me at the time. Pansy had became a laughing stock because of some seriously bad timing. In my defense though I had a virus. Snape had given me a detention for it and wanted me to clean all the cauldrons, but upon me vomiting more and making even more of a mess Snape dismissed me and deducted ten points instead. Everyone was shock that he did this, even I was.
"Hello Nethers." I hear Draco from beside me. I jump about a million feet to my right and away from him. I was so focused on my thoughts that I hadn't noticed Draco in the hallway with me. Granted, no one else was on the seventh floor right now everyone was at dinner. My heart was racing and I put my hand over my chest in attempts to slow it down.
"Merlin Draco you scared me." I say. This had in fact been the first exchange with him since the fight at the Yule Ball. I had missed him. Yes I seen him in classes and in the hall, but he usually gave me nasty looks or would go back to his old technique of tormenting me. It use to be an act, but with our fight I was not so sure.
"You really should pay more attention to where you are walking." He says, I roll my eyes.
"What do you really want Draco? You haven't talked to me in months and all of a sudden you are worried about me not paying attention as I walk." I say a bit annoyed.
"I miss you." He says so quietly that I could almost not hear him. But I knew what he said, and knowing Draco it was hard for him to admit. My annoyance quickly faded.
"You hurt my feelings Draco. I like George. Just because he doesn't have your point of view, doesn't mean that he is a bad guy."
"I know and I am sorry." He says.
"You say that an awful lot to me." I comment folding my arms over my chest.
"You don't think I mean it?" He asks.
"I know you mean it Draco. You never tell anyone else it. What makes me different?" I ask. He shrugs. We are silent for a moment watching each other. "Well, have a good night Draco." I say quietly and start to walk away. I feel Draco grab my wrist and spin me around. My wrist, which he still had hold of, felt like it was on fire, but not like it was burning. I feel my arm start to tingle as bumps start to spread over it. I pull my wrist away as Draco lets go.
"Please can we be friends again?" He asks almost pleading.
"Can you accept my relationship with George?" I ask. Something flashes in his eyes but he is quick to cover it. He is silent for a few moments as he stairs at me.
"I am not happy about it, I will never be happy about it as long as you guys are together. But your friendship means more to me then that." He says. I smile wide and hug him. I feel him tense slightly before wrapping his arms around me. I pulled back, a little quicker then I had planned. I noticed something that I hadn't noticed before. I liked hugging Draco. It felt relaxing and warm and I had never felt like that when I hugged anyone else before. It scared me because I wasn't sure what it was. My thoughts were interrupted with a very loud growl from my stomach.
"I take it you are hungry?" Draco asks with a smirk. I nod my head.
"I missed lunch today, I had some studying to do." I admit. He nods his head. We walk at least until the third floor together, where he allowed me to head down the rest of the way by myself. I sit next to George who gives me a kiss on the cheek as I place food on my plate.
I wake up breathing heavy and covered in sweat. I look around and notice that my curtains are closed around me. I have a sudden feeling of being closed in and rip the curtains to the right open. My feet hit the cool floor of my dorm room. It was still dark out. But, over the mountains it showed signs of the coming morning. It was the day I had been dreading since the second task. The third task. I slip my robe on and my slippers and head down to the common room to try and calm myself down.
I don't remember the dream at all. I just know that I feel very anxious. As I come down the stairs I notice a figure sitting in front of the fire. I walk slowly over to him. His head turns to me, I give him a weak smile.
"You couldn't sleep?" I ask Cedric.
"Neither could you?" was his response.
"I had a bad dream, though I don't remember it." I say. He pats the couch next to him and I come and sit there. He puts his arm around my back and I lay my head on his shoulder. "I'm worried Cedric." I say out loud. I could feel the tears coming as I admitted it and I tried to hold them back. I had no clue what was making me so emotional. I had never been like this. It possibly was due to stress.
"What are you worried about?" He asks me.
"What if you die?" I ask. He sighs though it wasn't in annoyance. It was like he knew how I felt and was trying to relieve the stress.
"I will be fine Rey. Dumbledore would not put us in any real danger." He says. I nod my head. "Even then, next week you will be gone." I say quietly. He moves so that I have to move to face him.
"Is that why you have been so upset lately?" He asks me. I feel a tear fall down my cheek.
"That..." I say and feel more tears start to fall. "And exams, and worried about this task that no one has any idea of what it is so there is no way to prepare for it, and..." I pause for a moment. Should I tell him about my gift. Dumbledore said I shouldn't but this is Cedric. He was my best friend.
"And...?" He encouraged.
"I have a gift." I say quietly. He looks at me confused. "Dumbledore told be about it just after holiday, I have been trying to study how to use my gift." I say without giving any hints as to what it was.
"What is your gift?" He asks.
"Do you promise not to tell anyone. It's imperative that no one else knows. It will put my life in danger." I say. He nods his head. "I can do wandless wordless magic." I say in a whisper. He nods not looking surprised at all.
"I know. I mean I kind of knew before. Sometimes you do it without even realizing it. No one else has noticed though, I know that for a fact." He says. I look at him confused.
"How?"
"Because I love you. I notice everything about you, about what goes on around you. No one knows and your secret is safe with me." He says with a smile. I hug him.
"Thank you Cedric. And I love you too." I reply. He knew my love was platonic, just as I knew his love was not. But it was nice to know that we had come to an understanding, without either of our feelings being hurt.
I had spent the afternoon with George. We had fun and laughed and it was getting close to sunset, close to the start of the third task. George knew that I was worried. But it did not stop us from having a good time. George and my relationship was good he was wonderful to me and we did have a few snog sessions here and there. But the spark was not there. At least not in the romantic way. He was a wonderful friend and kisser, but I never could get passed just liking George.
"What are you thinking about?" George asks me as we sit next to the lake.
"Us." I answer honestly. He gives me a small smile.
"What about us?" he asks.
"Do you feel anything when you kiss me?" I ask him. He sits there and thinks for a moment. This was one of the things I liked about him. He was a goofball yes, but when it came to serious things he would become serious.
"To be honest with you no." He says. I nod my head. "I mean you are a amazing kisser love. I will give you props for that." He adds trying not to offend me. I laugh.
"To be completely honest I was thinking that too." I say. He smiles.
"So now what?" He asks.
"I think that we shouldn't prolong something we both know will eventually happen." I say. "I am sure we could both make each other happy, but, I like you George. And I am not sure if it will ever grow from that." I say. He nods his head.
"Lets make a deal right here right now." He offers, I nod my head. "If by the time I am thirty and you twenty eight, and neither of us have found the love of our life and are married, we try this again." He suggest, "and until then we stay close friends." He adds. I smile and hug him. I pull back from the hug and shake his hand.
"You have a deal Mr. Weasley." I say and we laugh. This was in fact my first break up. And it was a lot different then I had expected. Then again George and I were good friends and leaving it on good terms.
"You should get over to the pitch and talk with Cedric before it start." George suggests. I smile and nod my head. I walk over by myself and enter the champions tent.
"Miss you cannot be in here. This is for Champions and their family's only." a man, who I was sure was Bulgarian said to me.
"Non-sense she is like a daughter to me and a sister to my boy, she is more then welcome to be in here." Mr. Diggory says. I hug him as the man walks away mumbling something I couldn't quite understand. "How have you been?" He asks me. I smile and tell him that I have been fine. We wait for Cedric to come out of changing. Mr. Diggory goes over and talks with one of the professors about how proud he is of his boy.
"You are going to do great Cedric. You have got this." I say confidently. On my insides though I was a worried mess. He smiles at me.
"Is that you trying to boost my confidence?" He asks me. I nod my head. He smirks. "Even though I know you are even more worried then I am that does help. Thank you Rey." He says. I hug him. I couldn't help it. I was so worried I needed him to be okay. He hugs me back and holds me for a moment longer the what be be a hug between friends. The sound of Dumbledore entering is the only thing that pulls me away.
"Miss. Nethers its time for you too take your seat." Professor Dumbledore says to me. I nod my head. I go to leave but Cedric takes my hand and I turn to him.
"I will be okay and I will see you after the task." He says to me. I nod my head. "I love you." he says to me.
"I love you too Cedric." I say back. I leave and go to head for the seats. In the tunnels leading out to the seats I feel someone grab my hand and pull me to a side cupboard. They cover my mouth before I scream. The illuminate their wand and Draco is standing before me. I instantly relax.
"You really have to stop scaring me Draco." I whisper so that no one can hear us. He smirks which I want to slap right off his face. But I don't need to he suddenly becomes very serious.
"Are you okay?" He asks me.
"Why is everyone concerned for my well being. Yes I am okay." I say annoyed. He looks at me skeptically. I sigh.
"Okay so I am a bit worried and stressed. I mean my best friend is about to go into a dark maze and we have no clue what is in there." I say. "Draco what if..." I pause.
"he doesn't make it?" Draco finishes for me. I nod my head. "I am not sure." He says. A tear rolls down my cheek. Draco was the first person to not try to sugar coat the situation. He had accepted what I was worried about and gave me a strait forward answer. He didn't try and say that Cedric will be fine and to not worry like everyone else. And the response he gave me was one that I expected Draco to give me. He did not know how to cope with loss, just like myself. I feel his hand come up to the side of my cheek and his thumb brush over it to wipe away the tear that had fallen. "We should go." he says I nod my head. He leaves first as I gather my emotions then I walk out into the stands and take as seat next to Henry. I lean my head on his shoulder. Tina reaches across Henry and takes my hand in hers and squeezes it. We were all worried. We stayed like that until it started, each making our own little prayer. When the Champions came out we all cheered for Cedric and Harry. Both were to enter the maze first at different entrances. Before the maze entrance closed Cedric looks back into the crowd and spots me and gives me a smile. I smile back at him and the maze closes.
Once the task had started there was not much that we could to but wait. People chatted among themselves. Talking about different things. Some even talking about their holiday to come. How they could think about other things was beyond me. About an hour into the task a red flair went into the air. There was a loud wind that filled the stadium and my stomach dropped. What if that was Cedric. What if he was hurt.
It was not Cedric. It was Flure. She was unconscious and there were healers from St Mungo's here who took care of her. A half hour later more flairs were shot in the sky. This time it was Victor who returned. I sigh. That left Harry and Cedric in the maze. The crowd was abuzz with excitement. It was clearly Hogwarts that would win. But would be crowned the champion. It went quite again, except the conversations. Time seemed to pass so slowly. And I was becoming more anxious as the time passed.
There was a sudden flash of light and the crowd stood up and started to cheer and the band started to play. I stood up too but couldn't see anything. That was when I heard a scream of terror. My heart stopped at the sound. The slow motion of Mr. Diggory running out to a motionless Cedric suddenly became fast as the crowd around us went silent. All that could be heard was Mr. Diggory's wails and several students throughout the stadium crying. I fall back into my seat, suddenly unable to hold myself up. Tina and Henry had pushed their way though to the front of the crowd to run to Cedirc's body. I was starring at the back of whoever was standing in front of me. This could not be happening. He said he would be okay. The professors started to hurry the students back into the castle. Most were cleared out when I feel someone shake me. I hear their voice but couldn't make out anything they were saying.
"Nethers!" They scream at me. I look to my left to see Draco. He held his demeanor as though he did not care about me sitting here, or the fact that Cedric was laying on the ground, but his eyes shown concern, worry, and sorrow. "Professor Sprout!" I hear him shout. Not leaving my side. My head of house comes over. "I think she is in shock." He says to her.
"yes thank you Mr. Malfoy I will take care of her." She says to him. Take care of me? But what about Cedric?
"No..." I say. I feel my heart start to beat rapidly and my body starts to break out in a sweat. "No I have to help him... I have to help Cedric... I have to heal him" I say and start to get up but arms wrap around me and hold be back, I thrash against the person. "Please I have to help him." I say starting to break my voice cracking. "Cedric!" I scream, tears rolling down my face. The arms around me stayed their secured. "No please... Merlin no.." I whisper starting to shake as I cry uncontrollably.
"Mr. Malfoy I need to get Professor McGonagall, will you sit with Miss Nethers?" She asked. I don't see his reaction. I feel his hand running over my back. As she walks away his grip on me loosens a little.
"Rey..."
"Please Draco I need to heal him." I plea with him. He turns me to look at him.
"Rey, its to late, he is gone. You cannot heal the dead." He says.
"Can I at least try?" I beg him. He shakes his head no. I break down yet again and he pulls me into a hug. He holds me there until the Professors return where they tell him to head to bed.
I did not attend the school funeral for Cedric. I didn't even leave my dorm. Somehow Draco had managed to get one of the house elves in the kitchen to bring food and drinks up to me when it was meal time. I wouldn't always eat. Draco started sending letters to me via the elves too, making sure that I was okay and when I did eat scolding ones. But he was concerned for me I knew he was.
The others schools left the day before we were suppose to leave back. I did not attend that as well. I mostly spent my time crying, or angry, or depressed. I didn't think I could ever be happy again. The train ride was silent. Tina and Henry both promised to come visit this summer and to write me. They were still grieving just as much as I was. But I found that, when I was with them, the pain was not so bad. I wasn't as depressed. Maybe locking myself in my room for the summer to wallow was not the way to handle this. I didn't know what to do. But I did know that big changes were about to take place.