Cedric saw Harry stumble with the Sorting Hat on his head.

Cedric saw him tilt to the side as the basilisk's maw went in for an unshielded strike. Cedric was midstep, his wand aloft. Spell on his tongue, spell vibrating up his wand in a hot blaze-

And then Harry was struck.

Or so Cedric thought because instead of falling, Harry Potter stood tall.

Arm outstretched, inside the mouth of the Basilisk. Something red-stained glittered from the top of the Monster of Slytherin's head. Harry pulled back his arm, something long and shimmering emerging from the snake's maw, and the monster head fell.

Still.

Dead.

A sword, rubies shining in its hilt, sort of like the blood on the blade itself was held aloft by Harry Potter.

But so was a basilisk fang in his arm.

"HARRY!"

A chorus of horror, even as Tom Riddle's ghost cackled high and triumphant.

But it was all drowned out by the lament of a phoenix.