Waiting for the task to be over was the worst part. The Hogwarts band played some good songs, but as with any large venue with little entertainment, it was up to us to think of things to do or say. My friends and I sat lower in the stadium, in what was typically the Hufflepuff cheering section. We were arranged as such: Kim, Kelly, me, George, Fred, Bill, and Molly. Hermione, Ron, and their friends were sitting a row above us.

"This happened at the second task, too. I have nothing to look at," Kelly lamented, motioning to the empty field. "They should give us games or something. This is no fun."

"You should go play in the maze," Kim suggested.

"It's a brilliant idea," I agreed.

Kelly sighed. "You guys are so useless."

"Isn't she? I tell her once a day," George intervened. When I shot him a menacing glare, he cleared his throat, "I mean… She's lovely. Absolutely lovely."

Kelly gasped. "You are in so much trouble, sir."

"Will I get a spanking?" he asked seriously.

Kelly grinned devilishly. "Most definitely. You'll spank him, won't you, Michelle?"

I buried my face in my hands, and leaned over my knees. "I am not talking to either of you right now."

Both laughed. "But Michelle!" Kelly persisted.

I didn't come up for air. I said, through muffled hands, "No, Kelly. That is inappropriate."

Kelly was about to reply, when the crowd erupted in cheer. The band struck up a victory song and a few people began pouring out into the Quidditch field.

"Who's back? Who won?" Kim asked excitedly. She was standing on her seat to try to get a better view. "I can't see. Looks like… Harry and Cedric! They tied!"

"Why are they laying down?" Kelly wondered aloud. The crowd pushed us down onto the field, when the music cut. Gasps and moans ran through the crowd.

"Oh my-" Kim stopped, and cupped her hand over her mouth. Both she and Kelly turned to look at me, like I was about to shape shift into an awful monster.

But I couldn't see anything. "What happened? What's-"

And then I heard the echoes. "He's dead." "The boy's been killed." "Who is it?" "Cedric." "Cedric Diggory—dead."

I stepped to the side a little, my mind completely numb. I saw Harry crouched over Cedric's lifeless body.

I didn't believe it; not at first. My mouth whispered, "Cedric," and my feet started after him. Kelly and Kim grabbed the back of my robes.

"No, Michelle, don't," they struggled against my grasp. I was getting more and more desperate. My heart was drumming in my eardrums, and nausea balled in my throat. People were screaming behind, wailing awful sounds, but I didn't believe it. It couldn't be possible.

"Let go!" I wailed, but my friends didn't relent. The whispers continued behind me. "Cedric is dead." "He's dead." "Gone."

The crowd in front of me dissipated at Dumbledore's word for students to return to their houses immediately. Kelly and Kim began to walk me away from the field, but my feet remained grounded.

"Cedric!" I called for him, but he wasn't moving. Cedric's dad was laying across his son's chest, bawling. My eyes burned with tears and soon there were trails down my cheeks. My sobs shook my lungs and I couldn't move. "Cedric!" my voice was high and pathetic.

My knees collapsed beneath my weight. I wailed loudly into the grass, my fingers grasping at the earth below me. Cedric was not just my ex-boyfriend. He was a good friend; my confidant for six years; my lover for two. We had been close friends from year one to our break up, and a little bit after that. Despite my pleadings not to, I still loved him—very dearly.

There were more noises above me. Kelly and Kim heaved me up; Kelly cooed about getting me some tea, and a relaxing spell. Kim swiveled her head around, like she was looking for someone.

George stood in front of me, his expression blank. He did not like Cedric, but he did not like death more. Kelly and Kim pushed me into his arms, and I sobbed into his chest.

"It'll be alright," he whispered into my ear, but the affirmation only made me more hysterical. "I love you. It'll be alright."

There was too much noise behind me, and one less movement of life. The air was teeming with energy, but I never felt so alone.

A memorial service was to be held at Hogwarts on the next day, the last day of school. Kelly, Kim and I dressed in black, and arrived early to pay our respects. Fred and George arrived soon after. Instead of migrating to the Gryffindor table, the two sat with the Hufflepuffs—George next to me, and Fred next to Kelly. The Great Hall was decorated in black drapery, and there was a distinct absence of food.

After several painful moment of silence, Dumbledore stood, and delivered his eulogy.

"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about. Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory… Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

The word Voldemort was just as prevalent as death. We raised our glasses in honor of Cedric, and then in honor of Harry. I drank to both boys, my eyes dried of sadness. I was glad I had mended the bridge with Cedric before it was too late.

After the ceremony, it was time to leave. As simple as that. One less body leaving. The thought made me feel hollow.

Kelly, Kim, and George held me together, and for a moment or two, we were a single entity: my soul mates.

Kelly and Kim walked ahead of George and me out of the Great Hall. George held my hand, and it made me feel less lonely.

"Come stay with me this summer," George offered, "at least for a little."

I couldn't say yes or no. My mind was still with Cedric.

"We usually travel to America for a month over the summer," I suddenly thought. And reality collapsed around me: I would have to miss Cedric's funeral, unless I persuaded my parents to leave later.

George squeezed my waist, and I felt a little better. "Alright, love. Let me know."

We stood in the Great Hall, facing each other. I brushed his hair out of his eyes, and his face softened at my touch.

"You need a haircut," I scowled at the length of his hair.

He smirked. "It's the first thing I'll do when I get home, promise."

"Good, or no more tingly bits."

George gasped. "Cruel woman!"

I laughed, and it felt good. George held me one last time, and then let go.

"I'll see you in a few," he waved as he walked away.

I waved back. Students bustled around me, chattering cheerfully around their summer plans. Above me, I heard Peeves shattering a glass. Even when death shook a school, life still resumed: the world still spun, my thoughts still raced, and my heart still beat.

I took a deep breath, and walked back towards the common room.

A/N: This is the final chapter of You Never Know. I was really hesitant about posting this story at first, because I hadn't written for this site in almost 6 years. But I'm glad I did-I received a lot of positive feedback, which I enjoyed reading.

I have a Deathly Hallows story mostly written, but I feel like it will be completely altered once the final movie comes out on the 15th. Look for that story to be published soon. I also toyed with the idea of writing an Order of the Phoenix storyline, but I honestly can't think of a plot for it. So here's where I mooch: If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting!