Out of the Shadow – Year 4
George (The Final Task)
I tried to catch Holly as she dropped herself to the ground in front of us. Her father was on the other side of her calling out to her as she clutched her head. I couldn't help myself I pulled her into my arms as best I could. Her body was limp in my arms and as she blinked rapidly tears fell from them. "Holly. It's okay, you are okay." Instead of calming down Holly let out an ear-piercing scream. I locked eyes with Mr. Potter and saw my own fear reflected in his.
"What's happening to her?" I asked him but his silence told me everything I need to know. He had never seen this happen to her before. Her body seemed dead in my arms if it wasn't for the tears pouring out of her unseeing eyes, or the fact that her mouth hung open releasing a silent scream. Everyone was watching her but no one moved. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and Moody appeared near us and Mr. Potter chatted with them briefly. Professor Moody attempted to ask a spell to break Holly of this trance but Holly's burst with a bright yellow shield that wrapped itself around her.
When the shield burst from her, it threw me backwards and we could not get though to her again. When I looked up at the teachers in surprise, I could see the wheels turning in Dumbledore's mind. No one had seen anything like this before. Her body was defending itself while she was experiencing agony. I stared down at her feeling helpless. I couldn't even bring her comfort now, her body had made sure of that. Just then the band struck up around us as Harry appeared in the entrance to the maze, but something wasn't right.
The glow from Holly disappeared and she stood up quickly as if nothing happened, tears still running down her face. Before anyone could grab her she rushed over to Harry's body. As more people grew closer, Fleur's scream confirmed what we saw. Harry was bleeding, he was filthy and crying. On the ground under him was Cedric Diggory's dead body. Everything went silent. There wasn't a sound to be hear apart from Dumbledore telling Professors to keep everyone at bay.
Harry was dragged off Cedric by Professor Moody and Holly had been wrapped in her fathers arms. Harry kept saying that he had returned and it left an empty feeling inside me. We all stared at the lifeless body before us, listening to Mr. Diggory's cries of his own agony. I hadn't noticed the other teachers, and Mr. Potter rush off until I caught sight of Holly rushing towards me, our father right behind her.
I opened my arms just in time for her to collapse into them again. She cried into my jumper, but I didn't care. I wrapped my arms tightly around her and kissed the top of her head while I tried to sooth her. No one commented on this intimacy between us. All around us people were crying and holding on to each other. No one had expected someone to actually die in these tournaments. What had happened inside that maze? Holly shook with another sob and I ran my hand threw her hair. "Shh. You are safe." And I kissed her head again. Making a vow then to always remain by her side.