Chapter 14: I Just Gotta Let You Walk Away
A/N: There's a poll up for this story and I need your input! So go vote! Also so sorry it took so long there was a virus that was in my computer so it wouldn't save like anything!! I tried writing this like 10 different times and it never stayed!! Grr…well anyways it's fixed for now so I'm back! I promise I'll update as soon as I can!! Remember reviews and votes get quicker updates! Now on with the story!
CEDRICPOV:
It had seemed like forever, but in all actuality it was only a matter of minutes. I had Hermione in my arms and Sirius was watching. I felt like I was dying as she moaned in agony. I loved her. I knew it and I understood it. I wanted to think that this wasn't the last chance we would have to be together, but from the way she looked it wasn't likely. Sirius seemed to have realized this too, due to the fact that he was as pale as ever and shook a little.
"This is the end isn't it?" I asked, the strength in my voice startling me.
"I want to hope against all odds that it isn't but, I'm afraid, it is" Sirius answered regretfully.
"No" Hermione moaned, voice thick with pain. "I won't let this be the end" she whispered.
"Hermione, baby" Sirius cried, launching himself up the second her voice was heard.
"Daddy?" Hermione asked, her eyes cracking open the slightest bit.
"Yes baby girl, I'm here" Sirius whispered his voice shaking as he embraced her. Just then the door creaked open and in ran James.
"We found something! It's not dark enough fro her to be cured but it will make her immensely better!" James cried holding up a rigid knife, embedded with a massive amount of Emeralds.
"What do you have to do with it?" Sirius asked worried by the fact that it was a knife.
"We have to transfer the essence of the knife into the part of her body that the actual cure was cast upon. It won't have any chance of hurting her more if it doesn't work. I promise" James explained quickly, studying Sirius's face for any trace of an emotion.
"Okay how do we do it?" Sirius asked after about a total amount of 3 seconds.
"We need Hermione to remain silent and still. If she moves a fraction of a millimeter the whole thing will be thrown off. We only have one chance at this, do you understand Hermione?" James asked the now conscious Hermione.
"Yes" Hermione whispered. She felt horrible for doing this to everyone, she knew what they were risking to halt their progress in getting out the Deatheaters. I could tell she felt unease about something. I had a feeling that it wasn't about the ritual.
"Hermione it's okay, it'll only be a few minutes at most" I soothed. She smiled at me the best she could and nodded weakly.
"Well let's get started" James muttered and the ritual began.
All I could say as it came to an end was that it was the scariest thing in my life. I can't even imagine trying and describing the feelings rushing through me as she sho0ok from the emotions running through her. I was so confused by the whole exchange. I can't describe it and it hurts to even think about it. Soon Hermione fell asleep, fitfully jumping in and around on my chest. Sirius and James left as soon as they figured out it worked. Sirius smiled at me and closed the door behind him. He quickly peaked his head back in and whispered a muffled suggestion.
"Why young Cedric, I believe that you should hold off on telling Hermione how you feel. It may be a little overwhelming as of late. Goodnight!" He chirped and walked out, re-closing the door.
"Okay hold off on telling her…I can do that" I sighed and let my head loll back and hit the pillow, my hair clinging to the coolness and slowly I drifted off to sleep, content with my angel in my arms.
HERMIONEPOV:
I still hurt like hell. I move my arm a fraction of an inch and my head pounds in my ears. I'm dying, I know I am. I'll live and suffer through this long enough to see my Cedric smile, laugh, kiss me, jump around like the goof that he is. I'll hang on to everything I have, for as long as I can. I know I'm dying but you know what, death will just have to wait. I'm not ready to let go yet. I see Cedric drift into a sleep with a content smile on his face as his dreams overtake him. I can't help but smile through the pain as his arms tighten over me, like towers protecting me from the big bad outside world, that's never nice and harsh and cold to everyone. I know for as long as I stay on this earth he'll be right there beside me. I think I love him…That was as far as my thought process got as I drifted further into his arms as I fell into the deepest sleep I'd ever had. The last thing that ran through my head was: Cedric.
I awoke the next morning bright and early to the sun shining brightly in my face. It hurt. It felt like the sunlight was slowly roasting me and burning me to the bone, and yet…The icy arms of my Cedric seemed to keep me cool enough to survive. I will stay strong and clutch onto my life and fight for it till the very end. Cedric moves, I moved with him. Well frankly I didn't have a choice, he was holding me to his chest so that my left leg was entwined with his and my head laid on his chest. He suddenly groaned and clutched me tighter. It hurt too much but I didn't want him to wake by me moving. He shook and cried out with a strangled yelp. I jumped by the loudness that attacked my ears. I was beyond worried now.
"Hermione" He whispered, heartbreak evident in his voice. Oh no! He must be having a nightmare.
"Cedric. Cedric, honey, baby, Cedric. Wake up I'm right here" I whispered and shook him slightly. His hazel/gray eyes popped open and immediate he flipped so I was now lying painfully beside him. He had tears shining in his eyes, but shook his head as if to clear it. He must've not known that I was here with him.
"Cedric? It's all okay" I said soothingly and he jumped and his watery eyes flashed to me.
"Hermione" He croaked and his voice snapped and broke.
"It's all gonna be okay. I'm here, I'm fine" I soothed and pulled him into me. I rocked him gently back and fourth ignoring my pain to soothe his. I'd die to protect him. He'll always go before me in my book. I love him.
CEDRICPOV:
Listen to me. Blubbering like an idiot on my girlfriend's shoulder. I'm not good enough for her. I'm no where near enough. I can't even be strong for her in her time of need. I try to tell her, but all that comes out is whimpers and cries. I know that everyone else is downstairs and can probably hear everything but I can't control it.
"I'm sorry" I stutter through this massive mess people call me. Immediately she stiffens and breathes heavily.
"For what?" She breathed out. Her body was yet to relax.
"For everything" I answer, completely expecting when she dropped me and jumped away off the tiny bed, leaving me face down on the mattress.
"You haven't done anything" She answered, her voice sweet and not accusing me.
"Yes I have and I'm sorry" I answered.
"Why?" her one small question asked so many things. Like: Why did I break up with her? Why am I crying? What's wrong with me? Well I decided to go with my most recent mess-up.
"I'm not good enough. I never have been and never will be. You deserve so much more than me and anything I could every give you! I'll never deserve you or anything remotely close" I answered, studying the golden sheets underneath me.
"You everything for me and more! You deserve so much more than me and I love you for it!" She exclaimed and then turned bright red. She loves me! She loves me!!
HERMIONEPOV:
I understand everything he thinks because that's what I thought everyday when I wake up and think about him. And crap! I totally told him I loved him! CRAP!!
"Thank you Hermione. I feel like that too. You're everything I live for. You're everything I dream about. You're my everything" he whispers and he turns a bright red color.
"Cedric. Come on. Let's not deal with all this now. I'm rather tired still" I say and climb back into his welcoming arms.
"Thank you" He whispers and my eyes slide shut. I love you too. My mind says and shuts itself off.
When I woke up it was sunset and the sky was a soft orange color. In a matter of minutes it would be my favorite time of day. Twilight. It was when the sky filled it self with soft undertones of blue and purple, clashing beautifully with the sunset minutes previous.
"Baby? Are you up?" My Cedric asks, his voice mingling with the whispers of the trees outside.
"Yes" I answered softly, getting out of his bed and wandering to his window. It was slightly cold and immediately I missed his arms. I didn't have to worry for long as he wrapped me in his embrace.
"Are you hungry?" He asked as Twilight set out over the sky.
"Yes" I answered marveling at the simple beauty before me.
"Isn't it beautiful? It's my favorite time of day" He whispered.
"Mine too" I whispered back and tear my eyes away from the window and takes his hand leading him back to the bed. Almost silently, I called on Hogwarts' newest house elf who, I had become great friends with. He appeared within seconds.
"Yes Miss Black?" He asks, his bright eyes shining with excitement.
"Can you bring me and Cedric some food, please?" I ask and he nodded and disappeared. Man I loved that little guy!
CEDRICPOV:
I loved standing in front of the sunset with her. She seemed to glow as the bright watercolors lit her ivory features. She looked stunning and I can't help but wish to spend every night for the rest of my life like this. Just lying with her, watching her sleep, watching her dream. Her beauty never fails to amaze me. She's just perfectly perfect. I can't help but think that I'm imagining all this. Then when her bright golden eyes look into mine, I know that this all real, she's really with me and everything's just wonderful. My musings are cut off as Dobby arrives with our mounds of food that I know we'll never be able to eat.
"Here you are Missus Black, Mr. Diggory" He answered and left leaving the food behind.
"Well shall we?" Hermione asked, looking into my eyes. I can't fight off the goofy smile that made it's way to my face and nodded. Everything's just wonderful. As we sat down to eat, the door burst open and in strode Sirius in a panic. He breathed two simple words, but they held so much emotion and pain I knew immediately.
"They're here" was all that had to be said about the situation.