Enough With All Your Games – Chapter 4 – Disbelief
Note: I'm sorry for taking so long to get to uploading the next chapter! I got caught up and distracted with other projects. Also, tbh, I wasn't sure where I was going to go with this story. But I think I know where I want to take it now. Enjoy!
Note: This chapter also borrows a few lines from GOF.
Of all the things that could've happened tonight, Mr. Amos Diggory had never imagined this one: the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament was co-opted by a Death Eater attempting to bring He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named back to power.
When he thought of how close his one and only son Cedric had come to being Cruciatus Cursed into insanity, or even meeting You-Know-Who himself…
"I can scarcely believe it…" he murmured.
His wife Natalie gripped his shaking hand in both of hers. "Me either. But everything's okay now. You-Know-Who isn't back and everyone's all right."
"I thought You-Know-Who was dead, and Dumbledore was off his rocker to think he was still alive. But he was out there, all this time…"
"Shh, it's all over for tonight."
Amos looked into her beautiful gray eyes, the ones she'd passed down to Cedric. Even though she was trying to comfort him, he saw his own fear reflected back at him in her loving gaze.
They both remembered the Wizarding War in excruciating detail. You-Know-Who and his followers had eyes everywhere, and they could attack anywhere at any time. Anyone not on their side lived in constant paranoia.
Amos, who'd worked at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures ever since finishing Hogwarts, remembered the utter havoc the Death Eaters caused. He'd been on many a department assignment to track down rogue giants before they smashed their way through civilization – and even when you caught up in time, the giants couldn't always be stopped. There was also the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, who would use his werewolf transformations as a lethal weapon against the Wizarding Community, and who would eat human flesh even when it wasn't the full moon. And that wasn't even to mention that the Death Eaters also set dragons loose, causing near-uncontrollable fires everywhere. Amos still had burn scars from their attacks.
Natalie, who'd worked at Gringotts, remembered the way the Death Eaters had once flocked to the doors, trying to attack innocent people who just wanted to do honest business. And there were plenty of other times when Death Eaters had threatened bankers into letting them into the deepest vaults of the bank so that they could rob other wizards blind.
And to top it all off, when you got home from work, there was the risk that you'd find the Dark Mark hovering over your home and your loved ones murdered within. Or that the person you thought was your family was actually a Death Eater impostor. There were many days when the newlywed Amos and Natalie came home and had to go through a panicked slew of security questions before they even dared approach one another. Then, they'd embrace, and reassure each other, and remind one another how much they loved each other, and kiss each other's breath away – because you never knew which day was going to be your last.
Those were dark days indeed, when young people were having more funerals than weddings.
When Natalie got pregnant with Cedric a few years after their wedding, they'd wondered if it was a good idea to bring a child into this battle-ravaged world. But they'd desperately wanted to be parents, and, in the end, they hadn't let the seemingly endless war prevent them from starting a family.
On Halloween 1981, a mere month after Cedric's 4th birthday, You-Know-Who vanished and was presumed dead. The whole Wizarding World burst into celebration at the news – people were singing and dancing in the streets.
Was there conclusive proof of You-Know-Who's death after his disappearance? No. Were there stories from Harry Potter's early years at Hogwarts that involved You-Know-Who trying to come back to power? Yes. But Amos and Natalie were too traumatized to even consider that the evilest wizard of all time could still be out there.
"I'm still terrified… you know, now that we know You-Know-Who is out there," said Amos as the couple returned to their room in the Three Broomsticks and got ready for bed.
"Me too, Darling. Me too. Hopefully, the Ministry will move to fight You-Know-Who before he can return to power. There are measures they'll take, right?"
Amos snorted at this. "That's optimistic. More like, Ludo Bagman will have Cedric's hide for putting a stop to the tournament that was supposed to be the event of the century, Rita Skeeter will call him as disturbed as Harry Potter, and Cornelius Fudge will go into denial about the whole thing."
After Amos finished his rant, he seemed to realize exactly what he'd said because he added, "Natalie, I'm so worried for our Ced."
Natalie held her husband's face in both her hands and compelled him to stare into her gray eyes, which were ablaze with determination. "Our Ced won't be alone. He has Harry Potter and the other Champions on his side. And Albus Dumbledore and every other professor at Hogwarts. And his friends. And his lovely girlfriend, Cho. And us."
"He'll always have us, for as long as we live."
"Yes, he will." And she pulled him just a little closer and kissed him.
As always, he responded eagerly, embracing her tenderly and pouring all his love into kissing her. Moments like this one had gotten them through the Wizarding War against You-Know-Who. Moments like this one reminded them what they were fighting for and living for.
When they broke apart, Amos breathlessly asked, "What was that for?"
"Just reminding you we're all alive and life is good," she replied with a shrug.
"Thanks, Love," he replied, as he held her close and gave her another kiss.
Wanting to distract her husband, Natalie asked, "Hey, remember what a scandal it was when we first started dating?" She was 10 years older than Amos, and the wizarding world had frowned on their relationship more fervently than stuck-up Purebloods frowned upon Wizard/Muggle marriages. Amos and Natalie thought it was hilarious.
Amos laughed at the memory. "I know! Even when everyone was being threatened by You-Know-Who, people still found time to be snide to us!"
"And it literally took the end of the Wizarding War to convince them to get a life!"
Amos wondered what it would take to distract the Wizarding World from tormenting Cedric and get a life. But Natalie's distraction still worked because a short while later, she and Amos fell asleep snuggled up to one another with soft smiles on their faces.
The dilemmas of the Wizarding World could wait until tomorrow.
In the Hospital Wing, Cedric Diggory woke up peacefully to light percolating through the curtains.
He had Cho still wrapped in his arms, and she was sleeping soundly and using his chest as a pillow. He stayed very still, so as not to disturb her. While she was so energetic and creative and intense while awake, she was so serene while asleep. It was a beautiful thing to behold.
The moment didn't last. "Mon Dieu! Merlin!" shrieked Fleur. Cedric looked up and saw that she was reading a newspaper – until it spontaneously combusted in her hands.
Cho, Krum, Harry, and the big shaggy black dog on Harry's bed all started awake at once.
"What's going on?" asked Harry frantically.
"Eet ees zees Skeeter woman! And 'er slanderous lies! I shall seek 'er out an' subject 'er to ze guillotine! Ah, no – I shall burn 'er at ze stake!"
"WOOF!" the dog agreed.
"What did she write?" asked Cedric.
"Eet eez all lies! Le garbage!"
"Yeah, but like, what are the specific headlines?" asked Cedric.
Fleur was too busy fuming to answer him, but an owl sailed through the upper window delivering his own copy of The Daily Prophet, so he could get the answer for himself.
Whereas yesterday the headline was "HARRY POTTER 'DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS'" today, the headlines read "TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT ENDS IN STALEMATE" and "HARRY POTTER IS MOST DEFINITELY DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS" and "SPOILSPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY RUINS THE EVENT OF THE CENTURY."
Cho pointed at the last headline and cried, "That's outrageous!"
"Well, I'd rather face that headline than You-Know-Who himself," Cedric offered optimistically. "At least the headline won't kill me."
"Well, Skeeter must be stopped," scowled Krum.
At that moment, Hermione burst into the Hospital Wing, a jar clutched in her hand. "Harry, Harry! I have wonderful news!"
"If you 'ave not caught zee slanderous Skeeter, zen what could be so wonderful?" snapped Fleur.
"Oh, but I captured her just this morning. She's right here in this jar, and she shan't be spreading any more lies if I have anything to say about it." Hermione smugly showed off the jar, which had a bright green beetle in it.
"She's an Animagus who can turn into a beetle?!" exclaimed Harry.
"Mm hmm!" replied Hermione. "And she won't be spying on anyone anymore!"
"You… are a genius," said Krum. "Kiss me."
Hermione skipped over to his bed and obliged him with a quick kiss, but then she scampered off to talk to Harry.
"Ced… I want you to know you absolutely have not ruined anything," Cho said resolutely. "It was that evil Barty Crouch Jr. who ruined the Third Task, not you!"
"Thanks, love," said Cedric as he kissed her.
"You'll be all right," Cho reassured him, "Now that Skeeter can't write anything else, you're safe there – and your friends and family and I will all believe you!"
Cedric believed her when she said that his friends and family would believe him, but he didn't believe that he could get through this ordeal unscathed.
Hours later, Cedric had been released from the Hospital Wing, and had made his way to the brightly lit Hogwarts grounds by himself. He felt fortified by his morning with Cho and by the support of the other Champions, but he was nervous from the knowledge that You-Know-Who was out on the loose, and that the Ministry was in total denial about it.
People were out and about, but no one paid attention to Cedric as he sat down by the base of a tree and pulled out the copy of The Daily Prophet that he hadn't yet had the chance to read. His eyes flicked apprehensively to the article on him.
SPOILSPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY RUINS THE EVENT OF THE CENTURY
By: Rita Skeeter
The much-anticipated Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament ended in disappointment last night, when Cedric Diggory led the Champions out of the enchanted maze before they could finish the task or decide a victor.
Diggory's reason for bringing all the excitement to a disappointing stalemate? A flimsy suspicion that renowned Auror and Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Alastor Moody was a danger to the tournament.
While it was revealed later that night that Alastor Moody had, in fact, been an impostor, evidence of any actual plans he had to sabotage the Tournament ranges from flimsy to non-existent.
"If he thought Moody was a danger, that's fine, but once you've stunned him, you can at least finish the bloody maze!" growled a frustrated Ludo Bagman, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, after the Champions abandoned the Task. "And if Diggory really wanted out of the Tournament, he should've shot up red sparks to have himself rescued, rather than stopping the entire task for everyone else!"
"The event of the century ends in a stalemate – it's an outrage!" proclaimed Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge.
"The egregious snubbing of this noble and ancient tournament – by one of its own Champions, no less – shows the ultimate disrespect to Magical traditions and history," commented Lucius Malfoy.
Indeed, Cedric Diggory's actions provoked outrage not just in the Ministry of Magic, but within the Hogwarts student body itself.
Hogwarts student Zacharias Smith comments, "Harry Potter's always been paranoid and insane, and now he's dragged Cedric Diggory down with him!"
"I used to support Cedric Diggory as the true Champion of Hogwarts," comments Slytherin 4th year Draco Malfoy, "But now, I see that Harry Potter's made him go soft in the head. It's a pity, really."
As for Cedric Diggory's family? When asked about his son's actions, Amos Diggory placed Bat-Bogey Hexes upon multiple reporters, instead of making a proper comment like a civilized person.
It appears that through all the chaos and rumors, one question prevails: WHY DIDN'T CEDRIC DIGGORY JUST FINISH THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT?!
Reader, I am as stumped by that question as you.
Cedric folded up the newspaper and heaved a sigh. He hadn't conversed with anyone since he left the Hospital Wing, but he'd heard hints of derogatory whispers around him in the castle halls and he'd seen lots of scathing and pitying looks.
It appeared that he'd ceased to be popular – not that his popularity was much of a concern when You-Know-Who was on the loose and was attacking the Wizarding World in an attempt to come back to power.
He flipped to the article TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT ENDS IN STALEMATE, which summed up last night's events while directing scathing commentary at everyone (rather than just at Cedric). And then he flipped to HARRY POTTER IS MOST DEFINITELY DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS.
The article read:
Further evidence has emerged that the boy who defeated He Who Must Not Be Named is most definitely unstable and dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent.
This Author has already revealed that Potter suffers from pain in his scar (possibly a result of brain damage due to the attack inflicted on him by You-Know-Who). This Author has also revealed that Potter speaks Parseltongue and befriends werewolves and giants – all indicators that he may be violent and dangerous.
BUT, in what may be both a further plea for attention and a desperate attempt to shove the Magical World into chaos, Potter claims to be experiencing visions involving the actions of You-Know-Who.
"You-Know-Who is dead," clarifies Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. "If Harry Potter claims to be having visions of You-Know-Who, then they are clearly hallucinations. The Magical World does not need to – as k
Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore insists that Potter's hallucinations and delusions are a warning sign pertaining to You-Know-Who, rather than a definitive indicator of mental illness.
The article went on, presumably to further besmirch Harry's sanity, but Cedric had read enough. He crumpled the paper into a ball, chucked it over the lake, and set it on fire for good measure, so that it totally disintegrated before it hit the water. Much better.
How could they say such horrible things about Harry?! Sure, Cedric once thought that Harry had snuck his own name into the Goblet of Fire – and had even resented Harry a little bit for it! But he mostly resented Harry's presence in the Tournament because it made his father mad. And he'd immediately come to believe Harry's side of the story when Harry told him that the First Task of the Tournament would be dragons.
And now this. It was too much! How DARE they attack the boy who prevented You-Know-Who from obtaining the Sorcerer's Stone in his first year, the boy who defeated a Basilisk in his second year, the boy who looked out for Cedric all throughout the Triwizard Tournament this year? How dare they?!
He looked around at the students enjoying the summer day. How could the world still be so peaceful when the evilest wizard who ever lived was threatening the Wizarding World so imminently?
Lots of them were casting scathing glances his way, but Cedric no longer had it in his heart to care. He was definitely accepting that offer to join the Auror Office early. If the Ministry were going to ignore the actions of You-Know-Who, so be it. But Cedric was going to fight, even if he had to do it all by himself.
A few moments later, an owl found Cedric and dropped a piece of parchment with the Ministry of Magic seal on it into his lap. He tore it open.
It read:
Dear Mr. Diggory,
It has come to our understanding that you received an offer from the Auror Office, inviting you to start training immediately after arriving home from your term at Hogwarts this year. We would like to inform you that the Ministry of Magic is rescinding this offer.
Since its origins under the late Minister Eldritch Diggory in 1733, the Auror Office has recruited witches and wizards of the utmost talent and the finest character to defend the Magical World against dark wizards. To serve as an Auror is a great honor.
After your actions to end the Triwizard Tournament last night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge and I firmly agree that you do not meet the character requirements to serve in the Auror Office. Aurors are brave, honorable, and trustworthy: qualities you showed yourself to sorely lack when you ended the Triwizard Tournament based on an unfounded suspicion and a great deal of cowardice.
We at the Ministry wish you luck in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Dolores Jane Umbridge
Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic
Cedric thought of shredding the letter but decided to keep it as evidence of the Ministry's idiocy. Was there NOTHING he could do?!
Knowing that he should probably discuss last night's events with the other Hufflepuffs, Cedric made his way to the common room. Nervously, he knocked on the barrels outside the common room with the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff" and entered.
The common room had previously been filled with chatter, but it all went silent as every head turned toward Cedric.
"Hey, Ced," said 4th year Ernie MacMillan, standing up. "Dumbledore told us all at breakfast about the Death Eater pretending to be Mad Eye Moody all year. I just want to say, I believe you – you know, about the impostor trying to sabotage the tournament and all. I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks, Ernie," sighed Cedric.
"I believe you too!" chimed in Hannah Abbott.
"Me too!" added his dorm-mates in a supportive chorus.
"And me!" added Justin Finch-Fletchley.
"Also me!" added Eloise Midgen.
Around them, a chorus of "Also me!" and "I believe you!" rung out in support of Cedric.
Even before the Sorting Hat placed him in Hufflepuff, Cedric had somehow known that he'd friends among the Hufflepuffs when he eyed the Hufflepuff table at the Welcome Feast in his first year. But never before had he felt so certain about being sorted into this incredible house of people who always stood up for their own. Hang his dad's silly Gryffindor pride – Cedric knew he'd been sorted into the best house of them all.
Overcome, he hugged his dormmates and Ernie MacMillan (they were closest) and suddenly, the whole of Hufflepuff was joining him in one giant group hug.
"Thanks, guys," said Cedric when their massive hug finally pulled apart.
"How did it happen?" asked Ernie.
"Dumbledore didn't give us much detail about what happened in the maze," explained Justin.
"How much did he tell you?"
"Just that a Death Eater was impersonating Mad-Eye Moody all year and he was attacking the Champions."
Cedric heaved a sigh. He wasn't looking forward to talking about this, but seeing all the supportive, questioning faces around him, he knew he had to tell them everything that happened. He had to tell the world about everything that happened. Starting now.
So, he told the other Hufflepuffs about how he'd run into the Imperius-cursed Krum, how Krum had subjected him to the Cruciatus curse, how Harry Potter had saved him, how he'd had to know what was going on with Krum, and how he'd promised Cho that he'd get help if something went badly wrong. Then, he told them how they were attacked by "Mad-Eye Moody" (who was really Barty Crouch Jr.) and about Barty Crouch's confessions. Because, as it turned out, all the Champions had been used to try and complete a devious plan to bring Lord Voldemort back to power.
It sounded ludicrous when he recounted it all aloud. He hoped they'd believe him.
"That's awful!" shrieked Eloise Midgen when Cedric finished his tale.
"Shh, it's okay, El," he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You-Know-Who isn't actually back to power, but now that we know he's out there, I'm sure lots of people will step up to fight him until he's gone for good!"
"Let's hope," murmured a familiar young woman with bright pink hair who stood at the periphery of the Hufflepuff cluster.
From there, the Hufflepuffs devolved into hushed and worried conversations.
Cedric, exhausted, made his way up to his dorm. Much as he'd slept the previous night, right now, he needed to lay down and think by himself.
On the stairs to his dorm, he practically barreled into a scowling Zacharias Smith.
"Fancy story, Diggory," Zacharias said with a scowl.
"Are you okay?" asked Cedric.
"Am I okay?!" scoffed Smith. "It's you who nearly had a Triwizard Tournament victory in the bag, and then you what? Threw it away because of some conspiracy theory?"
"Please, Zak," Cedric implored to his friend, "It's not a conspiracy theory. Someone was literally using Unforgivable Curses against the Triwizard Tournament champions! Even if they were just doing it to cheat, you know I still couldn't have let the Tournament go on that way!"
"Do you even know how long it's been since Hufflepuff had a victory of any kind?"
"Yeah, I do," replied Cedric. "But I couldn't just let the other Champions suffer because of someone else's actions! The fact is, preventing the impostor from attacking the Triwizard Champions any further was a victory in and of itself. And helping Harry Potter was a victory, too."
Zak scowled. "Harry Potter, this, Harry Potter that! It's been nothing but hubbub about Harry Potter ever since he arrived! How is helping the stupid Gryffindor Harry Potter a victory for us! For Merlin's sake, you could've won the Triwizard Tournament!"
"Well, it's at least enough of a victory for me," sighed Cedric. He didn't mention that the Triwizard Cup was a Portkey to see Lord Voldemort, because he'd already mentioned it in his story and if Smith didn't believe him the first time he said it, he wouldn't believe him the second time he said it, either.
"You're pathetic, Diggory," said Smith with a scowl before he descended to the Hufflepuff common room.
Sighing, Cedric left Zacharias Smith behind again and made his way to his dormitory. Amazing how one day, Zacharias could consider Cedric his hero and the next day, he could be calling Cedric pathetic.
Deep down, Cedric felt sorry for Zacharias. How terrible it must be to be so hungry for recognition that you couldn't trust your own friends. He didn't blame Zak for what was happening, but he knew Zac's behavior – and the behavior of those like him – was going to be a right pain in the arse.
Lots of people were going to disbelieve him, call him a coward, and insult him. When he'd put a stop to the Third Task last night, Cedric had been willing to accept that people would think less of him for doing so. But being willing to accept that reality and actually facing that reality were two very different things.
A few days later, it was the Leaving Feast. In the time between the Third Task and now, Cedric had been equally belittled by haters and cheered on by admirers for his actions in the Third Task. Draco Malfoy and Zacharias Smith had called him a coward for ending the Task prematurely. Eloise Midgen, Hannah Abbott, Ernie McMillan, and Justin Finch-Fletchley had all told him that they supported his decision to cut the Tournament short if it'd been interfered with. Cormac McLaggen and Cassius Warrington told him he'd just been hiding his own cowardice by ending the tournament instead of sending up red sparks for only himself.
The tumult of praise, insults, support, and repudiation had Cedric's head spinning.
But between all the hubbub, Cedric found some time to talk to his parents about what the Wizarding War had been like. He now had a vivid and terrifying picture in his head that was backed up by testimony from Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, Mrs. Weasley, Professor Flitwick, and even Professor Snape.
Not long after, Cedric found himself at the Leaving Feast.
"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all," of another year."
He paused, and his eyes fell briefly upon the Gryffindor table, before coming to rest on the Hufflepuff table. But no matter where Dumbledore's eyes roamed, controversy lurked.
"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first congratulate a very brave soul, without whose wise actions we would be in grave danger tonight. I ask you all, please, to stand and raise your glasses to the brave, wise, cautious, and benevolent – Cedric Diggory."
Many at the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables stood and raised their goblets to Cedric. Cedric himself wondered if standing at this juncture was appropriate; he ultimately stood and clasped his glass close to the table, looking down modestly. He could see Harry Potter giving him a knowing look through the crowds. It was after looking at Harry that Cedric finally cast a glance toward the Slytherin table; many were standing in deference to Dumbledore, but few seemed as if their hearts were supporting Cedric.
Once everyone had sat down again, Dumbledore continued, "In light of Cedric Diggory's valiant actions on the night of the Third Task, you all ought to know what exactly it was that he thwarted." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Cedric Diggory single-handedly thwarted a plot to return the evil Lord Voldemort to power."
A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. But a number were also scoffing incredulously at his claims. Dumbledore himself looked perfectly calm as he watched the students of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang murmur to themselves until they fell into silence.
"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so – either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort is at large and remains a threat, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric Diggory – along with Harry Potter and Viktor Krum – panicked over nothing, is an insult to their courage, wisdom, and tenacity."
A ripple crossed the Great Hall (glances were stolen in the direction of Harry Potter and Viktor Krum), before everyone's attention turned back to Dumbledore.
"When his fellow Triwizard Champion Fleur Delacour was stunned, Cedric Diggory sought help for her. When his fellow Triwizard Champion Viktor Krum was subjected to the Imperius Curse – even to the point of using the Cruciatus curse on him – Cedric still saw fit to come to his aid. When Harry Potter came to save Cedric from the Cruciatus Curse, Cedric Diggory took every possible measure to ensure his safety, too.
"It is because of his bravery, his humility, and his kindness that Cedric Diggory prevented a Death Easter from turning the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament into Lord Voldemort's bloodbath. He valued the safety of the other Triwizard Champions over his own glory, over his own reputation. And such service to others, to me, is the greatest glory of them all."
Dumbledore paused, and the Great Hall took a breath along with him. Some people were using the pause to shoot scathing glances at Cedric (Zacharias Smith was among them) while others used the silence to ponder the strange twist of fate, or to nod approvingly in Cedric's direction. All the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were gazing at him with admiration. Most of the Gryffindors, most of the Ravenclaws, and most of the Hufflepuffs were, too.
It was really a mixed bag, so Cedric fixed on the one pair of eyes he knew he could count on: Cho's. They were full of admiration and reassurance and love – so much love. As long as he knew he had that love, Cedric knew he would be all right.
Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In light of what has happened – in light of Voldemort's rising power and near-return – such ties are more important than ever before."
Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime to Hagrid, to fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table.
"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered among the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all once again – in light of Lord Voldemort's renewed threats, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.
"It is my belief – and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken – that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall will have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder.
"But it is my hope that before the threat of Lord Voldemort mounts to its greatest strength, we may bond together and nip it in the bud. Because, as Cedric Diggory was brave enough to show us quite recently, our love and allegiance to one another is so much greater than his hate. And together, our quest for justice shall prevail over his malice."
With that, Dumbledore let a dubious peace hang in the air as he sat down and allowed the students to enjoy the leaving feast.