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I hope you continue to enjoy reading it. :3
Diggory
George's point of view
The anxiety that builds when you're waiting to see if your friend's life will remain is excruciating. I'm never a negative Neville but, this feeling in my stomach won't leave. Harry is one of the strongest people I know at Hogwarts but, Hermione being worried is making me feel uneasy. Whenever she worries it's always for good reasons. Of course i will never admit to that because she can be a pain like when it comes to testing Weasley products on students. Also, I will never let any of this show to her because I have to be the positive bubble she needs to stay calm. She really needs that right now, I don't won't to bother her with anything else right now until this tournament is over. Harry just needs to come out unharmed and holding that cup.
"What is taking so long?" Ron said, pacing around the stands. He looks just as stressed as Hermione and that's saying something.
"It's been ten minutes thickhead," Fred said, playing Exploding Snap with Lee. I look over at Hermione and notice her eyes haven't left the now grass covered entrance that Harry went though a few minutes earlier.
"You probably should take your mind off it for a bit, huh Hermione?" I whisper, handing her some Wittle Wacky Wirecrackers, which were colorful, sickle sized balls that explode into different animals. They were prototypes for our future joke shop Fred and I hope to open one day.
"Maybe," she sighed taking them, "What are these?" She asked, eyeing them curiously.
"Throw the purple one, it turns into unicorn," I whisper to her. She tosses the purple one and I wave my wand. The wirecracker exploded softly, like a flower blooming, and a purple smoke shot out. A smokey substance in shape of a unicorn pranced around her head and swooshed into her face, slowly disappearing. Her smile could light up the dark sky that had fallen over the school grounds.
"Brilliant," she said smiling, throwing a pink wirecracker.
"The black one is a spider, we'll throw it at Ron in a bit, sound good?" I whisper in her ear, causing her to laugh.
"What are you two whispering about?" Ron snapped, walking over to us, grabbing a few wirecrackers.
"Nothing," Hermione said innocently, smiling at me before sitting down. I sit down next to her and we watch Ron play with my leftover wirecrackers. Hermione and I just sit there listening to other student's chatter about the tournament. We hear a noise from the maze and I see Hermione's head shoot over to it. I think fast and I pull out the black wirecracker, throwing it at Ron. It exploded and a smokey spider flew into Ron's face, causing him to trip and fall down the stands. Everyone around us started laughing and I hear a small laugh from Hermione before she stood up and walked towards Ron, helping him up.
"I'll kill you," Ron snapped at me, dusting the grass off his jeans.
"Try it," I threatened, laughing hysterically. Before he could say anything, red sparks flew in the air above the maze and the professors rushed in a huddle. We couldn't hear what they were saying so we had to just sit there impatiently waiting.
"Who do you think it was?" Fred said to me.
"Fleur," I responded.
"Never, she's to clever to be out this early," Ron defended her.
"Cut the cord Ron, she's the weakest and you know it," Fred laughed.
"It's not her," Ron repeated, "it has to be Diggory."
"I love your over-active imagination, it's so cute!" I smile, pinching his cheek.
"In this dream world, when she wins do you two become king and queen?" Fred laughed.
"Yes, frolicking through the wild flower fields with cup in hand, smiling and snogging," I said laughing with Fred, reaching to tassel his hair.
"Piss off," he snapped, slapping my hand away.
"I wonder what's going on in there," Lee said, gazing at the maze.
"If the walls of the maze could talk, I'm sure noting good," Fred replied. I kick Fred's shin and glare at him before looking back at Hermione. She looks pale, she definitely needs more sleep and maybe a biscuit or five. I reach in my bag to see if I had any pastries left from dinner but then we see the branches of a small part of the maze pull apart. Everyone stands up and watches the dark entry way waiting for someone or something to appear. The chatter had went completely dead and all we could hear was the wind blowing fiercly. We finally see Moody holding onto an injured Fleur. She looked horrorstruck, paler than Hermione, like Fleur had seen death without his hood. She was pulling vines out of her hair and from around her arm. She was muttering gibberish, shaking uncontrollably.
"Well, at least her face is still attached, aye Ron?" Fred said, elbowing Ron.
"Shut it dick," Ron snapped before rushing over to Fleur. I guess Fleur didn't mind him doing that because she hugged him instantly, sobbing into his chest.
"Poor girl, she wasn't in there very long," Hermione whispered grimly.
"Harry will be fine," I said reassuring her, knowing where her mind went to.
"Well, Fleur's out, Go Potter!" Fred yelled, other students cheered along with him.
"Krum will be the winner," Draco snapped, having other students cheer along with him.
"Fancy you some Krummy Krum do you Malfoy? I've seen you following him through the halls. No worries, those muscles will be attending your needs in no time!" Fred yelled, causing Malfoy's face to go beat red with rage. Time sort of stood still after Fleur, we would occasionally hear random noises thinking it was the maze but I think our minds were messing with us at this point. The waiting was starting to get to Hermione, she was doing her nervous, scratching her arm tic. She always scratches it in the same spot on her wrist, making the scab bleed. I hit her hand and pull out a vile of healing potion, placing it in her hand. She seemed embarrassed but smiled anyway, putting the potion on her wound. We see a storm develop over the top of the maze, like their was a tornado of some sort happening. I look away and grab the Exploding Snap card game from Fred and bring it over to Hermione.
"Want to play a game?" I ask, hoping she said yes so to distract her.
"Sure," she smiled weakly, taking the cards. We play a couple of games, burning my middle finger in the last game. The card had exploded without me noticing and my hand was right by the card.
"Damn, it still hurts," I complained, holding my hand after rubbing some healing ointment on it.
"Im sorry," Hermione tried to say with a straight face.
"Piss off, you won three games," I said, shoving her.
"How many did you win?" She laughs again.
"You just got lucky, I was distracted," I said smiling, admiring her now rosy cheeks. I'm happy she no longer looks like Headless Nick.
"Yeah, I'm sure you were," she laughs again.
"I call rematch!"
"You just were whining about your finger!"
"Yeah Hermione because the middle one is the best one, I'm devastated! I will put pain aside to beat you though," I smile, winking at her before grabbing the cards. I deal the cards again and then hear what sounded like an explosion. I look around to see if a rogue card escaped my deck. I look at Hermione and her face lost all it's color again. I follow her gaze and see Harry on top of Cedric in front of the maze. Everyone is cheering like mad and I couldn't understand why Hermione looks so frightened?
"Hermione what's wrong, Harry has the cup?" I ask her. Before she could answer I hear Fleur scream bloody murder, pointing at Harry. I look at Harry and see him holding tight to Cedric's body.
"Diggory! The boy is dead, Dumbledore!" Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, screamed in shock. The crowd went wild, screaming and crying, running all over. I grab Hermione's hand and pull her down to the field to meet up with Harry. It was hard to push pass everyone though because they all were trying to see the scene. I see Moody wobbling with Harry through the gates of the school.
"Where on earth is he taking him!" Hermione screamed, starting to cry. She started shaking and I grabbed her hand.
"Hermione it's okay, Moody is probably taking him to the hospital wing to see Poppy. We'll go there now if you like?" I said, trying to calm her down.
"Yes, please," she managed to say, pushing madly through everyone. We pass Cedric's limp body, his parents were sobbing uncontrollably on top of his body. The scene made me cringe and I rush pass trying to keep the image from Hermione's head.
"Here, I know a short cut," I said, pulling Hermione through a secret entryway. We rush up to the Hospital Wing and run inside.
"Where is he? Hermione snapped, running down the aisle of beds.
"Maybe we beat him here?" I suggest, looking around again waiting for him to appear out of no where.
"No, something is wrong, I can feel it," she whispered, grabbing her chest. The look in her eyes worried me, if she feels something is wrong, I'm sure that something is.
xxx
The morning after something tragic feels so surreal. You question yourself when you wake up whether the tragedy happened or not. You get lost going back in forth in your mind believing it could have been a dream. Then you end up into the devastating reality, your mind was obviously trying to avoid. The night before ended in chaos, we didn't get the whole story but all I know is Moody was not Moody and that Lord Vordemort is back. Harry was exhausted last night and when Hermione finally got to see him, Poppy shooed everyone off instantly so that Harry could rest. I reassured Hermione that Sirius would be watching over him so no harm will happen. I could tell she was exhausted too because she could barely keep her eyes open. Didn't stop her from waking up at the butt crack of dawn though to rush up and see Harry with Ron.
"Where you off to?" Fred said, in our bedroom, reading our journal of ideas we started, when we were younger.
"I'm going to go find Hermione and Harry," I said, putting my shoes on.
"I love how Dumbledore asks for us to keep away from Harry and give him some peace. Yet all of us go to see him anyway," Fred laughs.
"Too bad most people just want to know what happened with Cedric," I sighed, standing up from my bed.
"I'll meet up with you in a bit, tell Harry hi for me and that I'll be stopping by soon for a visit," Fred said, writing something down in the journal.
"I will," I said, waving before exiting the room. I walk down to the common room and through the portrait hole. I rush to the hospital wing and hear hysteric laughter coming from inside. I walk in and see Harry, Hermione and Ron taking turns eating Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
"I swear one year I got a bogey flavored one," I cringed, walking over next to Harry's hospital bed.
"George!" Hermione said, throwing her arms around me making me blush.
"Hermione!" I said, returning the enthusiasm, confused but not complaining. She let go, her smile shining from the sun's beams that were coming through the window, above Harry's bed.
"Bogey is nothing compared to what Ron just got," Harry laughed uncontrollably. I look over at Ron and even tough he had a smile on his face, he looked ill.
"Sardines," Ron muttered, holding a cup of what look like pumpkin juice, trying to get the taste of fish out of his mouth.
"Hermione has to be cheating, so far she has ate caramel, strawberry tart and mint toothpaste," Harry smiled slyly over at Hermione before sticking another bean in his mouth.
"I would never cheat," Hermione smiled at me, "besides each of us were choosing one for each other!"
"How are you feeling this morning Harry," I asked, but I regretted asking right after the words left my mouth. The smile on Harry's face went away instantly.
"I have to talk to Cedric's parents soon," he sighed, putting the box of beans on the end table.
"I'm sorry mate, I didn't mean to ruin your mood," I said, feeling like a git.
"No worries. I need to prepare myself anyway," Harry said glumly, getting out of the hospital bed, putting his shoes on.
"It will be okay Harry, would you like us to go with you?" Hermione asked, handing him his wand.
"Thanks Hermione, but I probably should do it alone," he smiled weakly, hugging her.
"Well, we'll all meet back here later yes?" I asked.
"Yes," Ron agreed, "I'm glad you're all right Harry, I don't know what I would do without my best friend," Ron smiled, patting Harry's back.
"Come on you sap," I said gesturing Ron over to me. I always admired their relationship though, they always remind me of Fred and I. I'm relieved Ron has a friends like Hermione and Harry to watch over him. Merlin knows he needs that and Fred and I get in enough mischief of our own. Hermione gave Harry one last hug and we left the hospital. We headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The chatter of the students was loud and endless. The echo's off the walls was irritating. We walk up to the Gryffindor table and see Fred and Lee looking angry.
"What's with you?" I ask, sitting next to Fred.
"Draco," Fred said through his teeth.
"What now?" Hermione asked annoyed, looking at the Slytherin table.
"Just saying Harry is the reason Cedric is dead," Lee whispered. Ron shot up from the table, looking full of rage, but Hermione grabbed him right away before he could leave for Draco.
"Ron, no! He's not worth it," she whispered, making him sit down next to her.
"She's right, he's not," I agree, taking a drink of water.
"I'm going to give this Skeeter a piece of my mind," Fred said handing me the paper. I quickly read the article on the front page.
"Harry is dangerous and troubled?" I snap, seeing Hermione reach for my paper. I crumble it up and throw it before she could. "You don't need to read this rubbish."
"Voldemort is back, that is why Cedric is dead," Hermione snapped, causing eyes from the nearby tables to look at us.
"Yeah! You heard her, he's back! Get back to your biscuits, they're far more important to you I'm sure," Ron yelled harshly, pushing his plate of food away.
"I'm going to get her for this," Hermione said sounding malicious, looking at a paper she stole from Lee.
"What are you going to do?" I laugh, pouring her some juice.
"Well, I've been doing some research on her, trying to figure out how she's getting her information. It's odd how much she knows about things when she's not allowed on school grounds. She's mentioned Viktor, asking me to visit him in Bulgaria and I have no idea how she would have heard that. It was a private conversation between the two of us."
"Wait, he asked you to visit Bulgaria? What did you say?" I said, feeling my gut shrink.
"I told him I don't know, but, I doubt I'll take him up on it," she said quickly.
"Are you mad Hermione!" Ron yelled sitting down next to her.
"She barely knows him," I said annoyed.
"INTERNATIONAL SEEKER HERMIONE! When a International Seeker asks you to visit Bulgaria, you visit Bulgaria," he snapped, "also, you bring your best friends along with you."
"Is that right?" Hermione laughed.
"Yes and when Viktor," I said in a girly tone, " asks you to jump off a ship, into the black lake, in mid winter, you jump," I said sarcastically.
"Exactly," Ron nodded, not sensing the sarcasm.
"Yes, and also get free Quidditch tickets," Fred chimed in.
"So, you have friends from foreign countries to use them for Quidditch and trips to Bulgaria?" She snorts.
"Precisely, I'm glad I didn't have to spell it out for you," Fred smiled.
"I would never use Viktor like that," she snapped.
"Yes, Bulgaria is full of gorillas anyway Hermione, ignore them," I said, glaring over at Fred who rolled his eyes before going back to his food.
xxx
A month of eye glares and gossip filled whispers went by before it finally started to calm down. It still was a mad house but a sedated one. I swear if nothing went wrong at this school the students would go mad, not having rubbish to gossip about.
"Like what you see?" I snap at a Hufflepuff who was staring at Harry.
"Yes, would you like his Muggle telephone number to give him a ring in the summer?" Fred snapped right after.
"It's all right guys, I'm use to it," Harry said, pushing pass the crowd of Puffers.
"It's been a month, I think it's about time to find something new to talk about," Ron muttered.
"I'm really disappointed Dumbledore wants you to go back to the Dursley's for the summer but, I understand," Hermione sighed, making her way up to the Owlery with the rest of us.
"I don't," Harry snapped angrily, "I want to be with Sirius, I'm tired of dealing with everything. I just want to runaway with him somewhere and never hear "Cedric" or "Voldemort" or "Potter" again," he yelled frustrated.
"I'm coming with you," Ron agreed.
"It's not safe for you or Sirius to be traveling anywhere, especially somewhere far from Dumbledore," Hermione snapped.
"Hermione, I realize, I'm just venting," Harry glared at her before walking over to Hedwig.
"I'm sorry Harry, I know," Hermione said sympathetically, "I mean, I don't know, but, I'm sorry," she sighed. She seemed lost for words which was odd.
"When did life get this complicated and serious Freddie? Do you remember when all we had to worry about is sleeping through Potions, with Snape, without him noticing? Oh, the days," I sighed, daydreaming.
"What have you two dealt with that's so complicated?" Hermione scoffed.
"Test subjects for our products," Fred smiled slyly.
"That's considered complicated? You do realize I battled a dragon right?" Harry said at me, smirking.
"Don't brag Potter," I joked, throwing a red Drubble at Harry.
All of us hang out in the Owlery for a bit, sending fake love letters to Draco from Crabbe. The sun was starting to fall asleep and the stars were starting to light up the sky. Fred, Ron and Harry leave to try to sneak some snacks from Dobby in the kitchen. He was always willing to give us loads of delicious pastries, thanks to Potter. I see Hermione stroking her fat, hair ball of evil, Crookshanks, who hated me. I walk over and he jumps off her lap, glaring at me and then hissing.
"You heard him? He just hissed, "George," you heard it right?" I yelled, pointing at the cat demon.
"Stop being dramatic, he likes you," she said unconvincingly.
"One must not tell lies Granger!" I said, walking over sitting down next to her on the window archway. I look at her eyes and they looked lost in thought. She catches me looking and smiles.
"What?"
"Nothing, you have cat demon hair on your nose," I smiled, reaching over to pull the hair off.
"Thanks," she blushed. I scoot closer to her.
"So," I said.
"So," she smiles.
"Are you coming to visit us in the summer?" I asked eagerly.
"What kind of question is that?" She smiled.
"Idiotic one?"
"Yes," she laughs.
"So, I have something to look forward to this summer then?" I laughed, hitting her shoulder.
"I suppose so," she blushed, scooting closer to me. The moonlight was now shining through the open archway Hedwig and Pig were resting on.
"How's Harry doing?" I said after seeing Hedwig cover her face with her wing.
"He's doing the best one can in his situation I guess."
"And you?"
"The same," she sighed, fiddling her thumbs.
"You should smile more, you are someone who deserves to laugh and smile, always. I love your smile," I said honestly, looking over at her. She then looks over at me with the goofiest face I've ever seen, pushing her nose with her finger to make it look like a pig. She crosses her eyes and makes a grunt sound.
"I take that back," I laugh, holding my gut. She starts laughing too and falls off the window edge.
"Are you all right goofball," I laugh, jumping off the window to help her up.
"Yes," she laughed with tears in her eyes as go to pick up her.
"You sure?" I laugh again, pulling her off the floor. Her foot gets caught in a hole in the stone floor and she falls into me. Her nose is touching my nose and I smile.
"George," she whispers so faintly it made me question how her whisper made the fireflies in my stomach wake up.
"Yes?" I whisper back, going to put my arms around her.
"PIG!" Ron screams, running in the Owlery causing Hermione and I to knock each other's heads. Hermione steps away from me and smiles before putting her hands against her side.
"He's sleeping you idiot!" I yell irritated, rubbing my forehead.
"You're the idiot," he yelled back, "is it a crime to want to get my owl? Kill me!"
"If stupidity was a punishment you would have died ages ago," I snap.
"Well, your face is…your brain is…shut up," he snapped, walking over to grab Pig, "Come on Hermione, Harry needs your help with something," he snapped, glaring at me.
"Sure," she whispered, walking next to Ron. He rushes off back out of the Owlery and I look over a Hermione. She smiles and I smile back weakly, running my hands through my hair. Hating Ron the most I ever had at this moment.
"See you in the morning?" I said.
"Of course," she smiles, waving before leaving the Owlery. I soon leave too and think to myself how many Puking Pastilles I would be able to stuff in a strawberry tart, to give to Ron for breakfast tomorrow morning.
A whole box.