Disclaimer: Don't own or profit from it. If HP was mine, Emma would have appeared in book one, Cedric would be alive! And Pippin would be curled up on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room :-)

Author's Notes: WIth the announcement of book 7's title, I feel like finishing year 4 and starting year 5 quickly. :-) Late holiday gifts, then.

Chapter 21: Aftermath

Draco saw Harry and Cedric appear out of nowhere and he had no idea how they did that. Emma caught his attention when she jumped over the side. What on earth is she doing? She could have . . . , he chided but then realized something was wrong with the whole situation. Harry was crying, and they certainly weren't tears of joy, and Cedric wasn't celebrating at all over winning the cup.

Then Snape stopped Emma from approaching them and Draco had to force himself not to show his shock when she collapsed on the ground crying. Another look and Draco realized what it was that seemed to have made Emma lose her composure.

Cedric was dead.

Mumbling something to Crabbe and Goyle, he left the stands. He made his way to the exit and a moment later, he saw Emma attempting to run out of the field, but looked about to collapse at any minute. Draco saw she didn't even seem to notice him. He grabbed out and held her as she began to sway and, to his surprise, she threw up.

"It's okay, I got you Emma," Draco whispered. He was frightened, but for her sake pushed back the emotion figuring it was the last thing she needed. He led her to the room of requirement. By the time they reached the fifth floor, Emma was practically unresponsive and Draco was practically dragging her, so he just picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. When the door opened, he found a large bed and laid Emma down. "Emma?" he whispered.

Emma just shook her head. "How could this happen?" She cried. "How? Why Cedric? What did Cedric ever do to anyone? Why?" Emma sobbed. Draco didn't have an answer.

Emma was glad they were here, because she knew that anyplace else, and anyone else for that matter, their heart would have exploded because there was no way she could suppress this emotion. She felt Draco sitting on the bed next to her.

For the first time in her life, Emma cried herself to sleep.

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Emma woke up slowly the next morning, and the first thing she realized was that she was sleeping in Draco's arms.

Then she remembered why.

"It really happened," he whispered. Emma just nodded. It took her a moment before she could form enough control to speak without crying.

"I know . . .I was hoping I had a bad nightmare, one of those where you wake up and you're unsure of what's real or not. But . . .this was real," Emma whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Pippin nudged her hand. "He came here right after you fell asleep," Draco said.

I need stuff to write a note, Emma thought, and a quill, ink, and parchment appeared. Emma scribbled a quick note and gave it to Pippin, who seemed to know where to go.

Draco happened to read over her shoulder and saw: Need something, Please. Give me something

"What are you doing?" he asked when Pippin arrived about ten minutes later. He carried a vial of something in his mouth and Emma downed it without even looking to see what it was.

"There is so much to do," Emma said. "There will be the memorial, of course, and then we will say our own goodbye," Emma started. "Then, of course, everyone will be looking to me since I was close to Cedric, and because everyone turns to me in general, and everyone will be needing comfort in a time like this, so they will look to me. They will look to me for a lot right now, they always do," Emma said.

"Emma, you are the one who needs the comfort. What was that you took?" Draco asked.

"It was a potion, something for empaths," she explained. Draco already saw a change in her. She seemed detached from the world and way too calm.

"What does it do?" he asked.

"It makes us numb, makes us not feel anything, turns off our souls," Emma explained in an eerily calm voice, more eery than normal.

"And people actually take this?" He was outraged.

"Of course! Feeling nothing is preferable to feeling everything," Emma said.

"Emma," Draco said, grabbing her by the shoulders. He looked straight into her dim eyes. "Promise me that you won't take this potion after today, that when you get back home, away from the others, you will stop taking it," he was distraught at seeming Emma like this.

"If it means that much to you," Emma said. "When I leave Hogwarts I won't take anymore." Emma left the room and headed to Dumbledore's office. Pippin had a note when he brought the vial saying to go there when she was ready.

The gargoyle sprung to life, and Emma walked in Dumbledore's office. "Emma!" Riley called out and jumped to his feet. "Where have you been? Are you alright? Of course your not," he said as he embraced Emma. Emma looked over his shoulder and saw Lupin and McGonagall.

"Emma, we thought you should know how Cedric died," Dumbledore said, and explained what happened.

"Are you alright?" Lupin asked. He was worried that Emma was even more emotionally distant than she normally was.

"How is Harry?" Emma finally asked after a long pause.

"Harry still needs to accept what happened. I think it will be a difficult process, but in time, he will come to be alright." Dumbledore said. "I also think you should know that the Moody you know is not the real Moody," he added as an after thought.

Emma nodded. "What happens now?"

"We are reforming the Order of the Phoenix," Lupin said, knowing that Emma would know what that was. After all, Emily was part of it.

"It is my hope to fight Voldemort while he is still weakened. He will not have his full gathering of followers. Time is crucial to get people on our side," Dumbledore said.

Emma turned to her father. "You will fight again, right?"

Riley sighed. "Dumbledore has asked me to, but I am unsure about you."

"Please, da, fight!" Emma said.

"Emma, I have already promised to fight for the order, and my task would be traveling a lot. Now, I have to think of you," Riley said.

Riley looked at Lupin. "I suppose now would be a good time to tell you of the plan Lupin and I have come up with, since you are so determined. After last year, I appointed Lupin as your guardian since he was already your godfather, in case something should ever happen to me. I leave a few days after your summer vacation starts, and right now, where I'm going, it wouldn't be a good idea for you to travel with me. Lupin has agreed to take care of you while I am gone."

Emma looked at her father. "So I would be staying with Lupin during the summer?" Riley nodded. "I can handle that," Emma said. "Um, Professor, may I speak to you in private?"

Dumbledore nodded to the others who left (her father and Lupin more reluctantly than the rest). Emma paused as she studied the headmaster.

"I know you know what it is I am about to ask, and I also know the answer, but I want to hear it from you," Emma started. "Can I go back? Can I save him? If it so important for everyone to think he died I can make everyone think he really did," Emma said quietly. She didn't care what it would cost herself to influence so many people if she could bring him back.

Dumbledore sighed. "I do not doubt you could. But you can not save everyone in a war, Emma. Deaths, the actual deaths and not a hoax, can have important repercussions. Lily's death and sacrifice saved Harry. Your own mother's death left her mark on you and that will continue to be influential in this war, and in your life."

"I could make you," Emma said calmly. "I could make you beg me to go back, redo this whole affair, save Cedric. You would think it one of your own brilliant plans," Emma threatened calmly. "I could make you think that going back to save Cedric would be the best opportunity to prevent Voldemort from returning to power."

Dumbledore sighed. "I have not forgotten, and I do not doubt it. Just like I know there is nothing I can do to stop you from making such a choice except to say that it is not the way fate was meant to be. I do not have the power to force a decision on you, Emma. I just hope you can accept this for yourself."

"What if Fate decrees Voldemort's victory? You won't be so accepting of fate then," Emma pointed out. After a pause that constituted a long, internal battle, Emma nodded.

"Do you know what Karkaroff is planning on doing?" Dumbledore asked gently after a pause.

Emma pulled that memory of the third task. She forced herself not to dwell on Cedric's death, but to pay attention to Karkaroff.

"He is fleeing. He is going to head into hiding in the Nordic countries. I hope this helps Snape," Emma said. Dumbledore nodded and Emma left.

Emma walked to the classroom that held the Irish society meetings and everyone else was already there. "Emma! Where were you? We couldn't find you last night," Ginny said as she walked in.

Everyone was in numb disbelief and crying. "How could this happen Emma?" Sean asked. Emma felt his loneliness at losing his best friend. Emma listened to everyone else's exclamations of disbelief and horror.

"What do we do now?" someone asked.

"We will honor Cedric's memory, and say goodbye," Emma said and started making plans.

Emma was walking out of the meeting and down the corridor when she found Mr. And Mrs. Diggory.

"Emma, we were looking for you," Mrs. Diggory said.

"I am so sorry for . . .for everything," Emma said. "I . . .if there is anything I can do for you please let me know," Emma said.

"We . . .we were going through Cedric's school things, and we wanted to give you these," Mrs. Diggory said. She took out Cedric's best pair of dance shoes. "I think he would want you to have them."

Emma numbly took the shoes and fingered them lovingly. "I don't know what to say. Thank you," Emma clutched them to her chest.

"Cedric always did talk about you. He was so excited when he invited you to the society. He was never worried it took him so long to invite someone. He always told people he would know who to invite when the time was right," Mrs. Diggory said. "That is why I was so eager to meet you. You really became like a sister to him."

Emma just nodded, too overcome to say anything. Mrs. Diggory pulled her aside and they walked a little bit from Mr. Diggory.

"I have something else, too. I brought these with me, this morning, to give them to you. I . . .I think he would want you to have them," she said, and handed Emma a bundle of parchment. Emma recognized they were letters.

"I can't take these, they are his personal letters to you," Emma said.

"These, dear, are all letters he has written to me that talk about you. Don't worry about me, dear. I made myself a copy of them. And, forgive me if I am wrong, but I think you will get more out of them than I will," She explained.

Emma knew what Mrs. Diggory was thinking. "How did you know I am an empath?" Emma asked.

"My grandmother was an empath. Not a very powerful one, but I remember what it was like being around her. Cedric did not get to know her, and he never suspected you, but from things he said in his letters, I became suspicious," She explained.

Emma gave Mrs. Diggory a hug. "Thank you," Emma whispered. Mrs. Diggory returned the hug, and then she and Mr. Diggory left.

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Author's Notes: Alright, there is only 1 chapter left that wraps up the year. I'll post it really soon as soon as I decide upon a title for year 5! I want year 7 posted before the book comes out (I'd hate to all of a sudden be AU. Especially after all of my creative juices!)

Childofthekng-- I definitly dreaded this chapter, but once I decided on how to approach it it was actually fun to write. It challenged me :-)

KRP-- thanks! Her and umbridge . . . it will be fun :-) (at least, I find it fun). as for year 6, it is a killer.

IceBall-- glad to see you back! I understand about being busy (I vented in my profile). Glad you like it!

Anime Crazy-- Hope this was fast enough! (dodges frying pan).

Amarthiel-- I'm glad you liked the sad chapter! I have an idea of how to bring him back, but it will have to wait . . .

Potter Fan Bo-- I am honored! Thank you!! that was the highest compliment. No, no one finds them. Their secret remains quite safe for sometime, BUT it will come out eventually :-)

SweetCho-- Thank you! I'm glad you like it. Don't expect Emma to be as gloomy as Harry is in book 5. Emma is better able to deal with emotional trauma than Harry.

Elenwyn-- Ellie! Glad you are all caught up. :-) I haven't been on lately, so I hope you had a good Holiday!