Disclaimer: No, I do not own Harry Potter. I do however own all the Harry Potter books and movies, but I guess that doesn't count…

Chapter 48

As I fully expected, both Harry and I received so many looks from everyone from the moment that we stepped out of the hospital wing. I got word from Fred and George that we had been the talk of the school ever since the third task had ended. Dumbledore had spoken to the school after it had happened, but only in minor detail. He didn't mention the return of Voldemort, probably an order from the Ministry.

The first thing that we both did before we went back to our usual schedule was go around to the Diggorys so that we could talk to them about what had happened. Mostly, we just gave them our condolences about Cedric's death. They didn't seem to be angry with either of us and told us not to blame ourselves for what had happened the day before.

It was terrible being the outcast of the school once again, so for the majority of the time, I tried to keep myself out of sight because I would rather not hear the things that people were saying about Harry or me. I would have loved to believed that everyone's opinions wouldn't bother me, but I wasn't willing to take the chance considering how badly I was taking everything to begin with. Besides, I guess this wasn't the first time that we had been talked about around the school and I could almost guarantee that it wasn't going to be the last.

Classes were duller than usual ever since the ending of the Tournament. Everyone in class sort of just hung around without anything to do and I rarely if ever paid any attention. Due to our lack of a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, funny how that happens every year, we were allowed a free period where that class usually was. Not that I really was in the mood for free time as it gave me entirely too much time to think for my own good. Not that I had even been paying attention in class anyway, but I didn't like it. For the most part, Harry and I stuck around either each other or one of our other friends that didn't think that we were the biggest pair of liars the year had to offer.

The day before our last day at the castle, I found myself walking to potions class with Neville - Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been running slightly late after lunch and told us to go on ahead. While we were on our way to class, there were a pair of Slytherin girls that I recognized from our potions class walking the same way and they were both whispering to one another and throwing looks my way.

"Don't pay attention to them," Neville muttered.

"I'm not…" I lied.

When we got into the classroom, it didn't make it any better. Luckily, no one seemed to want to actually say anything to our faces, so we didn't actually have to hear what they were saying. I could only imagine the terrible things that people were coming up with by the looks that they were giving us. Most of them appeared confused because they weren't even sure what had happened. No doubt that they were coming up with stories of their own.

Snape didn't really have much to say to me, but he seemed to be showing his sympathy for what had happened by not taking any points from Gryffindor for the rest of the term, which is really something of an accomplishment for us considering the amount of mistakes that Neville was making when I became sidetracked during class.

"Longbottom, keep it up and I'll have to take points," Snape sighed as another potion boiled over in class.

"I'm sorry, I'm not doing it on purpose," Neville said honestly.

When the time came around for our last Defense Against the Dark Arts free class, I spent my day with George and Hermione rather than go and visit Hagrid like Harry and Ron decided to do. It wasn't that I didn't want to see Hagrid, I just felt that we would get less looks if Harry and I were away from each other for a little while. Considering that it was the end of the term, I figured that most people wouldn't still be in the library, so we took that opportunity to go in there for a while.

"I'm just shocked that Malfoy hasn't said anything to you yet," Hermione said as another group of Slytherins passed by us throwing looks at me.

"He probably knows that she could potentially hurt him," George said. "Not to mention that I would knock him upside the head if he even considered it."

"Yeah, well, it's only a matter of time before everyone starts to mock us," I said while putting my head down on the table. "This is just the warm up…imagine what it'll be like next year…"

No one spoke for a minute, probably knowing what I was saying was true. This wasn't going to just be one of those things that vanishes overnight and I could only imagine what was going to be said about us during the next school year. Then, of course, there are the summer months when I'm not going to get the paper to know what was going on…wonderful…

"I wonder who the next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is going to be…" Hermione said, trying to change the subject.

"Probably another psycho…" George muttered. "We haven't had a normal one in ages…"

"Maybe it'll be a vampire…" I said.

"They should just put a ghost in the position and be done with it," George said. "There's no way that they could end up dying again."

"Then we'd just have another Professor Binns," I grimaced. "I don't think I could handle that amount of boredom."

"Maybe they'll finally let Snape be the teacher," Hermione suggested.

"He only wishes," George said. "He's been trying to get that spot forever, why change it now?"

When the last day of the year came around again, I was sad to have to pack my bags again. Although I wouldn't miss some of the things that happened this year, it wasn't bad enough that I would want to go back and live with the Dursleys again.

Harry and I walked down to the Great Hall together and we ignored the looks that we got as we took our regular seats. Instead of the usual decorations that we had at the end of the year, everything had become black. There wasn't any question of why they were there, it had to be out of respect for Cedric.

It was strange to see the real Mad-Eye Moody sitting at the staff table because of what had happened with him, but I didn't even want to know what was going through his mind. Everyone knew that he had been paranoid about everything before, but now he seemed to jump at just the smallest of noises. That was going to take a while to recover from…

When I looked up there a little while longer, I caught the eye of Snape who was looking down at both Harry and me. That's when I remembered what had been said the other day and I couldn't believe that I hadn't thought about it before. What had Dumbledore asked of him the other day when we were in the hospital wing? He had asked if he was prepared to do something that he was asked, but what could it have been? There was literally no hint that was given, so it could be anything.

Finally, at the end of the feast, Dumbledore stood up to give his usual end-of-the-year speech. Without him even saying anything, I already knew that this wasn't going to be his most pleasant speech.

"Another year has ended," Dumbledore said. "However, I am saddened to say that we end the year with one less than we started it with. I ask you all to please, raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory."

Everyone did as he said and several murmurs broke out amongst the crowd.

"Cedric was good and loyal friend to us all," he continued. "And his death has no doubt effected you all. Because of this, I believe that you all have the right to know exactly how he was killed."

Silence filled the room, all of them not sure what was going to be said. Most of them, as I have already guessed, had already made up their minds of what they believed the truth was.

"The Ministry of Magic wishes that I do not tell you this, but I believe that you all have the right to know," Dumbledore said slowly. "Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

A panicked murmur filled the entire crowd as everyone began to talk to their neighbors suddenly. No one had even fathomed that this could have happened.

"It is possible that your parents will be angry that I have told you," Dumbledore said. "But Lord Voldemort has returned and I believe that you all have the right to know the truth and any lie about his death, in my opinion, is an insult to his memory."

Everyone was still in shock, but this time the room was silent, hanging on to every word that Dumbledore was saying.

"I believe that it is important that we all honor two other people in here," Dumbledore said. "At a great personal risk for them both, they managed to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. For the bravery that very few witches and wizards have had to face, I ask you all to honor Harry and Emily Potter."

Everyone's eyes turned on us and I looked to the ground as everyone did. It was very uncomfortable for us both to be looked at by three different schools of students and staff alike all at once.

"Remember Cedric Diggory," Dumbledore continued. "Remember him when you are faced with the decision to choose between what is right and what is easy. Remember what happened to a kind, brave boy like Cedric Diggory that strayed into the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

Everyone raised their glasses in respect and, not long after, the speech was over and we were free to go.

…

Our trunks were all packed and everyone stood in the Entrance Hall with their luggage as we watched the other schools leave our castle. It was then that I noticed just how close the other schools had gotten with some of the students of Hogwarts. I guess that I hadn't noticed it as much because of how busy we had gotten with the Tournament.

"Emily!" someone called over to me.

I turned around and found Vector Krum standing there. It felt like it had been centuries since I had even seen or heard anything from him.

He walked over toward me and gave me a hug, receiving a look of annoyance from George. I wonder if they would ever get along…probably not.

"I know we haven't spoken in a while, but I wished to tell you how lovely it was meeting with you," Vector said. "Even if things didn't work out as I wished."

"It was great meeting you too," I said honestly. "Maybe we'll see each other some time in the future."

"Maybe," Vector said. "I'm sorry to hear about what happened during the Tournament. Diggory seemed like a good person, he will be missed."

I nodded as his brother joined our group and started talking with Hermione. The only thing that I could really pay attention to was the scowl that Ron made when he came over. He was just as bad as George with Vector. It's funny how Hermione always made comment that George needed to make a move in the beginning of the year when Ron still had yet to say anything to Hermione. It was obvious to anyone that he liked her more than just a friend.

Just as Vector and Viktor began to leave, Ron suddenly said something that I could hardly believe.

"Can I have your autograph?" he asked suddenly.

Everyone burst into laughter as he pulled out a piece of parchment and signed it for him. It was amazing how much Ron could hate and idolize someone at the same time.

Once everyone had left, the students of Hogwarts went to retrieve their bags and head out towards the train for Kings Cross station. Just as I was walking out of the castle doors, I found Snape standing at the door. We looked at each other for a moment and then he gave me a small smile. He wasn't much of an emotional person, so a smile from him meant the world to me. I was just about to keep walking when I suddenly set my stuff down and walked back to him.

I threw my arms around him and hugged him for the last time this school year. He seemed to be getting slightly more used to these sudden acts of kindness that he didn't hesitate much when he hugged me back.

"Have a good summer Professor," I said. "And don't forget to write."

"I won't," he said with a small nod. "Now go before you miss your train."

"Yeah, I'd really hate to miss seeing the Dursleys," I muttered.

He rolled his eyes as I walked back towards my brother and friends and before I knew it we were boarded the train back to the train station. We found a compartment in the back of the train where Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, George, and I could all fit into (Fred decided to sit with Lee Jordan after seeing how crowded our compartment was). You would think that it would be uncomfortable, but it wasn't all that bad.

On our way there, I noticed that Hermione had her head buried inside of the Daily Prophet. After only a few minutes of searching, she threw it off to the side without the slightest anger.

"Nothing?" I asked.

"Nothing at all," she smiled.

"Not even from Rita Skeeter?" Harry asked.

"I don't think that we're going to be hearing for her for a while," Hermione said with an evil smile.

We all looked around at each other, trying to mentally figure out what Hermione was trying to say. We were all clueless.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

Without saying a word, Hermione pulled out a class jar from her bag that sat in a tray above us. Inside of it was a large, fat beetle.

"And you have a beetle because…?" George asked.

"This isn't just any beetle," Hermione said. "Take a closer look."

I leaned in towards the jar and noticed that it appeared to be wearing small glasses around its eyes. That's odd…

"Rita Skeeter is an unregistered Animagus," Hermione said with a smile. "That's how she's been getting all of her information this year."

For the remainder of the trip, we talked about how exactly she had figured out that Rita Skeeter was a beetle along with some other random things. Before long, much to my disappointment, the train came to a stop and we were sitting at Kings Cross Station.

Everyone started walking out of the train when a thought crossed my mind and I told George to wait a moment while I talked to Harry. Once everyone had moved ahead, I pulled Harry off to the side and spoke to him.

"I have an idea," I said.

"About?" he asked.

"Well, you said that you didn't want the gold that we won, right?" I asked.

"No, I really don't," he said simply.

"Well, I didn't want it either and I had an idea of what we could do with it," I said.

"What do you have in mind?" he asked curiously.

"I was thinking that we should make it an investment," I said.

Harry didn't seem to be following me judging by the confusion that was filling his face.

"Fred and George have been talking about making a joke shop for years," I said. "And they said that the only thing that's holding them back is that they don't have the money to do it. I was thinking that we could let them have it instead."

"That's brilliant," Harry smiled. "I could really use a laugh right now - let's do it."

Without even hesitation, Harry pulled the winnings out of his bag and walked out of the compartment to where Fred and George were waiting for us. They were both coincidentally talking about some more products that they needed to make when Harry held out the bag of money.

"What is this?" Fred asked as it fell into his brother's hands.

"It's our winnings," I said with a smile.

"We want you to have it," Harry said.

"You're joking," George said and handed it back to Harry.

"I knew that you were mental for dating my brother, but I didn't realize that it was to this extent," Fred said.

George threw him a look as Harry handed it over to Fred.

"We're serious," Harry said. "Both of us agreed that we didn't want it and we would really love to see the money go towards that joke shop that you two have been talking about."

Both of them were speechless.

"Just don't tell your mother that it was from us," Harry added quickly. "I'd rather not have her kill me to be honest."

They still didn't know what to say, so we both just walked through them and out of the train. It wasn't long before they caught up to us.

"Thank you so much," Fred said. "You have no idea-"

"Just make it worthwhile," Harry smiled at him. "We could really go for a bit of fun."

Both of them hugged us tightly and wouldn't let go for a minute. I laughed as I felt them kissing all over my face in gratitude.

"All right, all right," Harry said, trying to get out of their embrace. "Have a good summer!"

He walked off and said goodbye to a few more people as I kissed George and gave Fred a hug goodbye.

"Make sure to write," George told me as he kissed me again.

"I will," I smiled. "Tell me how things are going on with the shop, I'd like to know."

"I love you," George smiled.

"I love you too," I said.

"I LOVE YOU ALL!" Fred said dramatically and threw his arms around us both.

I laughed and then began looking for my brother and the Dursleys. On my way over to them, I said goodbye to the rest of the Weasleys, Hermione, Neville, and some other friends that I passed by before I finally reached them.

As Harry and I stepped into the Dursley's car, we both looked at each other knowing that, even though nothing was going to be the same, there was no sense in worrying about anything just yet. No matter how much worrying we did, whatever fate was coming to us would reach us in the end.

…

Thank you soooooooooo much for reading! I really hope that you liked this chapter and my version of the Goblet of Fire! Up next is The Potter Twins and the Order of the Phoenix! For further information on that, read the following!

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