Chapter Thirty-Three: NO!
The library of Hogwarts was particularly empty that afternoon in late June. Students were done with their end of term exams and it was sunny and warm—which encouraged most people to sit by the black lake and watch the giant squid move out of the water slowly. Luna Lovegood, a very blonde and very odd Ravenclaw third year, was sitting closer than anyone to the squid. Students watched on as Looney Lovegood talked cheerily to the squid, laughing at her expense. That was, until Ginevra Weasley shot them a glare that would have made her mother proud and joined the Ravenclaw girl. Neither Ginny or Luna knew that another young witch was watching the exchange from the window of the library.
Jamie Devereaux Bruce sat by the glass, altering her attention between Cedric Diggory—who continued to work on his shield charms—and the Hogwarts students that existed below. The silver-haired witch liked to people-watch. It reminded her of her mother, Loren Bruce who would often watch strangers on the streets outside her store. However, like most things involving Loren, it was always an interesting experience. When Jamie and Loren watched people, the muggle woman would create dialogue. An old couple would be ranting about their grandson with blue hair and a piercing, a young couple would be arguing about who loved the other more, or a business man would be talking on the phone trying to buy illegal dogs from the mafia. Jamie's eyes were drawn to the two Weasley twins who were talking to Lee Jordan under a big tree. Even from this distance, Jamie could tell which one was Fred Weasley. She hadn't forgotten what Jamie Jabs had revealed to her. Fred was in love with her, which meant, technically, all of her original fears about wanting to wait to date him were irrelevant. It meant that she couldn't control him with her emotions and he would be able to lie to her if he wanted to. The six months she had asked him to wait were almost up, and every time Jamie was near him she was tempted to tell him she knew about his feelings for her. But something was holding her back. The witch wasn't sure what it was, but at the moment Jamie's entire life seemed to be holding by a thin string. Moments of happiness would be diluted by the brief seconds she would be left to her own mind and where it would wander to. Like: What war was going to happen? When would it begin? Why did she get a distinct feeling she was being watched all the time? It didn't help that she was never alone. Being around people merely allowed Jamie to quickly pull out of her own fears and focus back on the people around her.
Jamie Devereaux tore her eyes from Fred and shook her head a bit as she looked at Cedric, who was mumbling words that he read aloud from a book. Jamie walked so that she could lean over his hunched shoulders to see what he was reading. The word Patronus jumped out at her. "I kept hoping Moody would teach us about those." The blonde said, startling the Hufflepuff boy.
"Jesus, Jamie, wear a bell or something." Cedric grumbled.
"I was literally right there."
Cedric glared at her, "You practically float instead of walk, at least give a warning cough or something." He cleared his throat and adjusted his book in his hand, "I know they only warn against Dementors, but what if the maze has dementors. I mean, the ministry has been awfully involved in the games. It makes sense that they would bring in some Azkaban guards for this."
Jamie continued to study the page, "They're complex spells though. Do you have a happiest memory that you can bottle up and focus on? I wonder if you could create a corporal Patronus in such a short period of time. I bet yours is something particularly Hufflepuff-y." Jamie giggled, "Like a bunny or a cute, tender mouse."
"Stop emasculating me." He mumbled.
"Stop having such fragile masculinity."
Cedric shoved Jamie over, causing the young witch to laugh loudly and bump into the table. Madam Pince shoved her large, beak-like nose over the corner of the book case and glared at the two of them. Cedric Diggory shot her his winning smile, making the librarian's eyes narrow menacingly before turning back toward her pile of books she was sorting. "No one else is here, why is her wand in such a knot." The Hufflepuff mumbled. Grabbing the books on Patronus, Cedric and Jamie hurried off to an abandoned classroom to begin practicing the defensive spell.
Jamie Devereaux stood across from Cedric with her back straight and her hands folded behind her. She put her sharp nose in the air and said, in a quite horrible imitation of a Scottish accent, a quote from the book. "'A Patronus is a positive force, a projection of the very thing that dementors feed upon: hope, happiness, and the desire to survive.' How utterly morbid."
"The longer you've known her, the worse your McGonagall impression has become." Cedric commented. The Hufflepuff boy relaxed his posture and tried to think of a happy memory. He thought of his Valentine's day with Cho and how amazing it had been to be with the Ravenclaw girl. Making the movements with his wand, Cedric said "Expecto Patronum." One of his eyes peeked open to see if anything had happened. Not even a hint of the spell came from his wand.
Jamie narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, "Maybe it wasn't deep enough? Maybe it means a content happy not so much a excited happy?"
"There's a difference?" Cedric asked.
The blonde shrugged, "I mean anyone can be excited happy for a moment without actually being happy. Content happy is deeper than that."
"Didn't know you were so emotional, Devereaux." He teased.
Her eyes narrowed, "I can't control my emotions, dumbass, that's like the whole problem."
Cedric rolled his eyes, "You would think that would mean you'd be eager to tell Fred you know he's in love with you—Ow! James Devereaux Bruce! You can't just throw text books at people."
"Yes. Yes I can." Jamie glared, her nose sharp and her eyes narrowed. "Now think contently, Hufflepuff, or I'll aim better next time."
The tall seventeen year old mumbled something about how Loren would not approve of her daughter's actions before he focused back on the task at hand. Cedric Diggory racked his brain for a memory with Jamie, his best friend. He thought of the day Jamie spent hours in the library with Cedric simply so he wouldn't be alone, even though she had already gotten the hang of the summoning charm the Hufflepuff boy was struggling so much with. Light came off of Cedric's wand, but nothing more than a shimmer of silver. His broad shoulders sagged, "I mean, I know it is a difficult spell but part of me was expecting to get it instantly."
"That's just your ego controlling you." Jamie said in a falsely sweet voice.
"The sass you have brought to this classroom today is alarming."
"The fact that you haven't gotten use to my sass in the past six years is alarming." Jamie retorted. "Maybe it works better if you're in distress? Or if you could practice on an actual Dementor?"
"The task is in two days, Jamie. Unless part of your special skills includes befriending Dementors, I think our best bet is either me moving on or trying until I get it." Cedric ran a hand through his hair and began to slowly pace the room. Jamie studied him and recognized that Cedric's panic was less from the idea of not being able to do a Patronus charm in time, and instead the fact that he was continuing to compete in a tournament where she, his best friend, had almost been killed.
Jamie sighed, "Okay think of your happiest memory. A time when you were really just glad to be alive and would have changed nothing in that moment."
Cedric Diggory kept his eyes open and concentrated once again. This time, he thought of his father, Amos. He remembered a time when after getting back to Hogwarts he was down about being a Hufflepuff. There were certain stereotypes about his house that he felt was impossible to overcome and no matter how hard he tried, people would never see him as great. Amos Diggory had sat him down and delivered him a long lecture. It wasn't about the usual obnoxious boasting that the older wizard typically performed. It was, instead, an uplifting speech about being the best wizard that Cedric could be. It was a memory that made the young Diggory boy feel loved beyond all reason. Saying the spell aloud, he watched as a silver and blue badger burst from the tip of his wand. This sent Jamie Devereaux Bruce into a burst of laughter that could not be controlled for quite some time.
A large crowd of Hogwarts students walked toward the old Quidditch pitch now-turned maze. Everyone had a small jump in their step and spoke loudly. Banners and sparks were seen from a birds-eye view above the heads of young witches and wizards alike. The evening air was warm and seemed to vibrate with excitement of what was to come. An exciting end to an entire school year filled with twists and turns of the tournament. A group of Hufflepuff girls smiled and waved to a passing by sixth-year Gryffindor with silver hair. Jamie Devereaux Bruce had several eyes on her, as if waiting for the little witch to drown a second time. In that moment, Jamie wanted to say that she would never pull the same trick twice and almost dying underwater again would be rather repetitive—but no one seemed to find her humor about death as amusing as she found it. In fact, whenever Jamie Devereaux tried to joke that she was going to go 'drown herself in the Prefects bathroom' people became extremely concerned.
Angelina, Jamie, and the two Weasley twins were carrying rolled up banners that were surprisingly heavy. The half-Veela was wearing her 'TEAM DIGGORY' baseball cap and an oversized sweatshirt that Loren Bruce had sent her which had Cedric, Harry, and Fleur's name on it. Cedric was her best friend, Fleur was partially blood related, and Harry had saved her life. It was a good night to be Jamie because, regardless of who won, she would be genuinely happy. Besides Krum. Her once celebrity crush had transformed into someone she wasn't particularly fond of. The Bulgarian was preventing Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger from being together. Jamie Devereaux wasn't sure if it was her abilities with emotions that revealed the two friends feelings for one another, or if Ron was just absolute shit at pretending to not like Hermione. Either way, Jamie was biding her time until the two finally realized they were meant to be.
Fred Weasley was in a fantastic mood. The six months he had been asked to wait were through by tomorrow. This meant he would be free to bother Jamie all he wanted for as long as she would let him. Fred balanced his banner in one hand and reached his other hand out to tug on the pony tail that was hanging out of Jamie's muggle hat. She stumbled back a little and turned her head to glare at him, her eyes sharp, "Do it again, Fredward, I dare you."
Fred tugged her hair again. Jamie reached for her wand to jinx the red-head, but was immediately deterred by Angelina who grabbed her elbow, "James, we can't miss the tournament because of you and Fred jinxing each other into the hospital wing."
Jamie lowered her wand but sent a warning glare to the Weasley boy, "Count yourself lucky, Weasley."
"Oh trust me, I do." Fred responded, cheekily, sending her a wide, lop-sided smile that only proceeded to make Jamie's heart do a weird clench in her chest. She wanted to grab onto his hand. She wanted to so badly, her hand actually twitched in movement until she recognized what she was doing. Her smile widened a bit at the thought that this tall, strange, and extremely annoying boy had been in love with her for so long and was shit at showing it. It must have been a Weasley family trait. The only problem was, Jamie was also shit at showing it and scared to death of admitting this.
There was cheering from people a few feet in front of the four Gryffindors. They were almost to the maze. Jamie found herself walking closer to Fred, their arms grazing one another's as they were pushed forward by the people behind them. Jamie's right side tingled from the contact and she looked forward, trying to pretend Fred wasn't impacting her. But still the smile on her face grew and she felt lighter than she had in a while in anticipation for tomorrow when the task would be over, her friends would be safe, and she could date a boy that would be able to lie to her all he wanted. It was pretty counter-intuitive for a teenage girl to want a lying boyfriend, but Jamie had her reasons.
The Weasley twins lead the way into the stands of the third task. They were directly in the middle, giving them a perfect view of the entrance of the maze when something occurred to George Weasley, "Is this going to be like the second task when we see nothing and just patiently wait as all the action goes on inside?"
"This is rubbish. Bring back the dragons!" Fred Weasley called out, earning a startled look from some third years close by.
"Bring back the black lake!" Jamie chorused, causing the same third years to gasp and look quickly away in shock. The blonde witch giggled and Angelina shot her a disapproving glare, which transformed her small giggle into an out-right laugh.
Fred Weasley flicked her shoulder, "What did I say about those jokes?"
"Oh, cool off I'm fine." She lied easily, her hand shooing away where the red-head had flicked her in a careless wave. "Isn't that your mum?" Jamie asked, pointing across the stadium at a plump red-headed woman who was standing next to a tall, rather attractive, young man.
Fred and George nodded together, "She came to support Harry because his muggle aunt and uncle are the bloody worst." George said. Just then, Harry Potter followed by Cedric Diggory, Victor Krum, and Fleur Delacour paraded toward the entrance of the maze. They would all start the maze at different times depending on their current place. This meant Cedric wouldn't enter the maze until a few minutes after Harry.
Jamie unraveled her banner and stood on the bleachers, "Ced!" She called, getting Cedric's attention. The Hufflepuff boy turned and smiled widely at the banner that declared, 'I Dig Diggory' In large, yellow lettering. Jamie watched her best friend run into the maze when the second whistle blew and, while everyone cheered and screamed around her, she stood beaming with pride and holding her banner high above her silver head.
The graveyard was dark and fogged, the perfect setting for what would occur later that night. Wormtail, with his poor posture and twitching features, hunched over the bundle of fabrics that surrounded the dark lord. Voldemort was plotting for when Potter would arrive, prepared to kill the boy and regain strength he hadn't felt for fourteen years. Despite his weakened state, his mind was just as sharp as it had been when he went by his pathetic muggle father's name. Barty Crouch Junior had been reporting back about the male-Veela that resided within Hogwarts and had concluded that Jamie Devereaux Bruce was truly a half-breed. Voldemort's barely-formed lips sneered at the thought of such an abomination, but he had remembered reading about the extinct beasts. The book Secrets of The Darkest Arts which he had poured over the pages to uncover secrets about Horcruxes had contained an entire chapter dedicated to male Veelas. Their dark powers were practically legendary within the Dark Arts. If this girl had the same natural instincts that male-Veelas had in the past, and Dumbledore knew about it, then Voldemort needed to be certain that Jamie was eliminated so that he could come into power. The dark lord didn't need a disgusting half-breed Mudblood to ruin his chances at seizing the ministry and destroying Dumbledore once and for all.
His servant whimpered at his side and Voldemort hissed at him, "Has the tournament began?"
"Yes, Master." Wormtail whimpered. There was a flash of light from a distance and Wormtail rushed in its direction, bringing the dark lord with him.
Harry Potter's voice rang out as he spoke to another. "Someone's coming." The boy said. Voldemort fumed, a second person had not been in his plans.
"Kill the spare." He hissed at Wormtail.
Music and Cheering was deafening. Despite the fact that no one could see what was happening within the maze, people continued to celebrate and talk loudly in excitement. Drinks were being passed around and snacks were overflowing in cups. Fred and George had created a small proto-type of fireworks that were bouncing around as if with a mind of its own. Jamie was singing the Hogwarts school song along with a lot of other students when there was a flash of light and a portkey spit out two people. Jamie recognized Cedric Diggory's tall body immediately but stopped moving. Something was wrong. Harry Potter was hunched over Cedric's body and Jamie could feel his sobs from across the stands.
The noise around her felt deafening and her ears began to pound and throb. Jamie's heart raced and she started down the stands, pushing her way through people. Cho Chang screamed. People started gasping. The music stopped. Harry's sobs were louder. Everyone around the blonde witch were filled with so much emotion. Jamie felt like she was downing again, but this time because of everyone else. People were pushing her out of their way, as if she didn't deserve to be next to Cedric immediately. As if this wasn't urgent. He was injured. Cedric was injured. Jamie's heart raced even harder. Then she heard it. Someone in front of her said it. "Cedric's dead."
"NO!" She screamed. It was loud. It seemed to shake over every person around her. The word held so much weight, and was ripped out of her without her consent. Jamie's hands shook, her body felt warm in panic. She felt like she was going to explode. Her eyes were vibrating and she realized that no one was moving. Everyone around her squeezed their ears and fell into themselves. It was as if a spell had been set on every single teacher, student, and ministry official. Jamie knew this was a problem, that this was wrong, but all she could think was that she was thankful no one could move in that moment because of the pain that they were temporarily in. The blonde used this advantage to push toward Cedric. Harry Potter was next to his side, clutching his ears and turning tightly into himself as Jamie stared down at the open eyes of her handsome best friend. Harry had never felt such a sensation before. It wasn't painful per-say, but it was deafening and all he could think about was making the noises stop.
Jamie Devereaux Bruce looked at Cedric Diggory, and was unable to process what her eyes were showing her. Slowly the people around began to re-mobilize as the noises subsided, but Jamie continued to study the face of the only brother she had ever known. The thoughts that went through her mind were jumbled, it was as if someone had put on shuffle every single memory the little witch had had with her best friend. She would never get to meet his children. She would never be the aunt that snuck them fire whiskey. Jamie would never get to make fun of him for being such a Hufflepuff again. No more study sessions or watching him shove Loren's brownies into his face behind Madam Pince's back. Her greatest confidant couldn't be dead. Who would Jamie go to when she was sad? When she was happy? When she needed advice? How would the whole world know how incredible Cedric Diggory was if he wasn't around to prove it?
Around her people whispered about what they saw. Jamie Devereaux had somehow controlled everyone in the crowd. The mourning girl didn't realize that it was in this moment she had exposed herself as more than a witch. People backed away from her as she stood, now the immobile watching Cedric. Amos Diggory's cries were echoing around, but Jamie's silence was louder.