Chapter 39: Remembering Diggory
I held on to Fred's hand tightly, my palms white. An array of delectable foods lay in front of me, but I-along with most other students- did not feel like eating. The usually festive Great Hall was now decorated with black drapes, and had the air of a funeral. Actually, it practically was.
Dumbledore stood before the crowd of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang students, looking morbid. He voiced to all the students what a few of us already knew: Cedric Diggory had been murdered by Lord Voldemort, who has returned. Dumbledore spoke of Cedric and his bravery and wonderful qualities. My blood turned cold as Dumbledore talked about Cedric, but it began to boil immediately after. "How could someone take such a wonderful life with no remorse?" I thought.
After Dumbledore finished his speech, we all took a moment of silence for Cedric. The Hall immediately became eerily quiet. I closed my eyes and saw Cedric's face. I opened my eyes again.
"'Ere. I'll write you zis zummer." Fleur said, handing me a piece of paper. All around there was hugging and crying and laughter, as students said goodbye to the foreign guests. It was a very different atmosphere from the night before. Fleur hugged me. "Keep zat 'air pinned back," she said, referring to that piece of hair that fell in front of my eyes.
I rolled my eyes, "I'll do that, thanks. And you'll take swimming lessons, yes?"
It was her turn to roll her eyes. "Yes, I vill, Miss Ami Coy," and she hugged me one last time before dashing off.
I looked through the crowd of people and spotted Viktor Krum talking to Hermione. I pushed past a few students until I was next to them. It seemed Viktor was also telling Hermione to write to him. Viktor nodded at me, "Ami, vright?" he asked.
"Ya. Viktor, right?"
He nodded again, "Good to zee you." He walked off.
Hermione blushed when I raised an eyebrow at her.
I pulled my trunk behind me as the twins and I looked for an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express. My blood boiled as I saw a blond boy with two large boys standing like oafs behind him. Malfoy was standing at the doorway of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's compartment. He seemed to be taunting them, as usual. I heard him say something like, "Now the Dark Lord's back-"
Fred, George, and I all got out our wands at the same time. The three of us hexed Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle just as flashes of light came from inside the compartment. Apparently all six of us had the same idea. The Slytherins lay on the floor, unconsciousness due to the combination of what looked like the Jelly Legs hex, the Furnunculus Curse, and the Stinging Jinx- the latter being from me.
The twins and I made sure to step on Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy as we stepped into the compartment.
We all were in the middle of Exploding Snap, when Harry asked us about who we were blackmailing. I had almost forgotten about our letter to Ludo Bagman. The twins and I exchanged dark looks.
"It's nothing. We've given up." I said.
But Harry, Ron, and Hermione kept pestering. Eventually Fred told them about how Ludo Bagman gave them leprechaun gold after Fred and George had won a bet against him.
Hermione asked if it was simply a mistake. All three of us laughed bitterly. "Ludo Bagman is in all kinds of trouble with the betting thing; even some goblins are after him." I said a bit harshly. I really didn't want to be reminded of how the twins had lost all their savings, and our dream of opening a business had been crushed.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron now noticed we didn't want to talk about it, so we continued with Exploding Snap.
King's Cross Station soon came into view, and Ron and Hermione left the compartment first, leaving the still unconscious Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy.
Before the twins and I left, Harry said, "Fred-George-Ami, wait a moment." I turned around, and a sack of coins was thrust into my arms. It was Harry's winnings from the Tournament. He told us to take it.
"What?" We all said at the same exact time.
"Take it. I don't want it."
"You're mental. There's got to be a thousand Galleons in here," George said, taking the sack and handing it back to Harry.
Harry said again for us to take it.
"He is mental." Fred said.
"Very mental." I said. But there was a part of me that was already dreaming of all we could do for Weasley Wizard Wheezes with those Galleons.
At this point, Harry took out his wand, and told us he would hex us if we didn't take it. None of the three of us was really worried about Harry hexing us, but we still consented.
Fred was now carrying the bag. "A thousand Galleons," he kept whispering in awe.
"And don't forget-you two can use magic outside of Hogwarts now." I said to the twins.
They smirked at each other, and then smiled mischievously back at me.
Oh this would be a fun summer.