I was not in a writing mood for this one but I pushed through and managed to squeeze this one out XD I hope you'll like it anyway!
CHAPTER 15
No one knew what had happened exactly but everyone had heard the rumours. "You-Know-Who had returned", "You-Know-Who had killed Cedric", "You-Know-Who had rigged the Triwizard Tournament". It wasn't long until the rumours flipped though. "Harry Potter is a liar", "Harry Potter is an attention-seeker", "Cedric lost his life in a freak accident and Harry Potter is taking advantage of it". I didn't know what had happened and I heard so many things that it was hard to make up my mind. What I did know was that life had somehow changed forever.
We had all been ushered back to our common rooms after the terrible events at the quidditch pitch and although professor Flitwick had told us to get some sleep, no one could even pretend that they were sleepy. Even Cho was sent back to the common room but she had disappeared into our dorm immediately, face pale and mascara running down her cheeks. Aside from Marietta, who had followed her up, we all decided to leave her alone and give her some space. The morning after the Third Task Dumbledore had, if anything, enflamed the rumours even more by asking everyone to leave Harry Potter alone about the matter and not to ask him about what had happened.
Still, however uproar the situation evoked, only two days after the task, I had to sit down in professor Flitwick's office to take my W.O.M.B.A.T. exam. I had looked forward to it almost because it gave me a break from the tense atmosphere that the school breathed at the moment.
Professor Marchbanks, who was also governor for the O.W.L.'s committee and had personally overseen both my Charms and my Transfiguration practical exam, was here for my W.O.M.B.A.T. as well. 'Sit right down, Ms Wiggleswade, so we can get started. I understand you are taking a Grade 3 Test so when I tell you to start you can turn to the first page and from that moment you get 35 minutes, do you understand?' She asked and I merely nodded, gripping my quill tightly.
'Now, take a deep breath, you can start now.' Professor Marchbanks said, turning around an hourglass that started to seep purple sand. I immediately turned the page to the exam. It wasn't as difficult as I was anticipating. The questions droned on about Ministry policy and although some questions were obviously designed to trip me up, I don't think they did. When I finished the test, I quickly looked over my answers but then looked up to the professor, just as she said 'Time's up!'.
She collected my exam paper and put it into a big envelope, signing her name and office address at the top and then stuck it in her bag. 'I hope the last few weeks of school will be somewhat bearable.' She said as she let me out of professor Flitwick's office. 'And although I'm not at liberty to discuss anything regarding the O.W.L. results, I do feel like I can tell you that you don't have anything to worry about.' She told me with a smile and I beamed at her. 'Thank you, professor!' I said.
I walked out of the classroom feeling a little lighter than I had felt in the past few days. I hadn't even consciously realized it but the whole ordeal at the quidditch pitch two days ago had been pressing down at my shoulders ever since. Me and the rest of the school. Everyone was weighed down by the unavoidable concerns but right now the future looked a little less darkened by the uncertainties that it represented.
'You're the first smiling face I've seen in days.' I heard a voice say, ahead of me. I looked up to see Fred Weasley leaning against the wall, his hands in his pocket. My heart skipped a beat and I stopped walking. He had his open bag hanging over one shoulder, his robe stuffed into it and the sleeves of his shirt folded up. 'What are you doing here?' I asked promptly.
He laughed, his blue eyes twinkling. 'What do you mean "what are you doing here?" – I also go to this school you know; it's not entirely out of the realm of possibilities for me to just be here for no reason at all.' He said, still chuckling. I tried to think of Mathilda's words. She had said that we were strong and we were clever. If I stayed listening to Fred I wouldn't be able to walk away later anymore. I gritted my teeth and moved to walk past him.
He quickly moved away from the wall, his hands leaving his pockets to catch my shoulders. 'Alright, alright, I wanted to ask what's wrong, that's why I'm here.' He admitted. I decided not to ask how he knew I would be here. 'Nothing is wrong.' I lied, a blush on my cheeks. I cursed myself. I hated how I was with him. I didn't want to turn red at the tiniest glance. I didn't want to become blank-minded or completely unable to refuse him anything and I didn't want to feel the electricity surge through me at something as meaningless as his hands touching my shoulders, for Merlin's sake!
'You're lying. We had fun before. Suddenly you started ignoring me.' He said. 'Fun..?' I asked uncertainly and he nodded, leaning in a bit. 'Lots of fun.' He muttered, his breath on my lips.
I stepped away and he was forced to let go of my shoulders. My arms felt cold. 'What am I to you?' I asked him and Fred raised his eyebrows in surprise of my question. 'What are you?' He repeated, moving his hand nervously through his already messy hair. 'You're a good mate I suppose, I don't know, what do you..-' He told me with a frown but I interrupted him before he could finish his sentence and took another step back. 'I can't do this.' I murmured and I turned around. I walked away and he didn't try to stop me.
It was Aurora who had told Fred where I was but I wasn't angry with her. I just felt tired. I went up to the dormitory, escaping her sheepish apologies and threw myself at my bed. I burrowed my face in my pillow, tears leaking from my eyes. I had already known how things were between Fred and I, if I was being perfectly honest with myself, but it still hurt to have it confirmed like this. I couldn't help to have hoped for a different answer on his part.
After a while the tears refused to come anymore and I sniffed, sitting up in my bed. With shock I realized I wasn't alone in the dorm. Cho was lying in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Although she wasn't crying right then, I saw her eyes were red. 'Sorry.' I muttered to her. 'I didn't know you were there.' I added. For a moment she didn't say anything and I wondered if she had heard me at all but then she let out a sigh. 'It's alright. You can cry some more if you like, it's not bothering me.' She said. 'That's okay, I'm done.' I told her. 'Lucky you.' She answered.
For a bit we just both enjoyed the peace and quiet but then I looked at the clock above the door. 'You want me to bring you back some dinner?' I asked, standing up, wiping my eyes. She shook her head. 'No, thank you. I'm not really hungry.' She said gently and I nodded my head at her. 'I'll see you later. Hang in there, Cho.' I said to her. She didn't react other than throwing her duvet over herself. I left the dormitory, hoping to find the other girls so we could have dinner. I didn't know how to help Cho.
The school year was over before I knew it. It had been a bit of a blur, those last weeks, and I was glad it was over. I longed to be home with my family. On the last night we had our usual End of the Year Feast. The visiting schools were invited as well as they would finally return to their home countries as well the following day.
Robin and Aurora were visibly troubled by the vision of having to spend time apart soon. 'We'll owl every day.' Aurora told him and he nodded, holding both her hands. 'I'll visit over the holiday as well. I'm of age, I can do what I like.' He said, a grin on his face. I turned away from them as they commenced in a blinding snog-session. Mathilda was annoyed.
'You'd think one of them is off to war.' She whispered to me and I giggled. 'Wouldn't you be this way if Adrian lived abroad?' I asked her and she shook her head no vehemently. 'Absolutely not!' She answered me resolutely. I was inclined to believe her. Adrian had kept up his "punishment" of only talking to her for about 8 minutes a day for a whole week before he dropped it but she had gone through it with her head held high.
Although food was the primary cause of the Feast, everyone was far more eager for the speech that professor Dumbledore would surely give. Up till that point the student body had been kept in the dark and this was the perfect, if not the last, moment to explain what had been going on. The Great Hall had already been relatively quiet in suspense but when professor Dumbledore got up and asked for the students' attention, I was sure you could hear a needle drop. 'The end-' said the headmaster, his eyes gliding over the hall '-of another year.'
'There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight, but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here –' he gestured toward the Hufflepuff table '-enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory.' Everyone got up, the sound of benches scraping against the stone floor echoed loudly against the walls, raising their goblets. Together, as one voice, the students said; 'Cedric Diggory!'.
I looked towards the Hufflepuff table myself and my eyes caught Felix' eyes at the exact moment he looked at me. He was pale, as were most of his housemates, and his eyes were sad. A shock went through me. I had seen Felix as an almost unchangeably cheery force of nature but there he was; sad. His eyes went back to the headmaster and I followed his example. I tried to ignore the sniffs of Cho, who had tears running down her cheeks, an occasional sniff escaping from her but otherwise soundless. I'm sure she wouldn't want to be fuzzed over.
'Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house.' Dumbledore continued. 'He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about.' Everyone's hearing sharpened at those words. Were we finally going to be enlightened? 'Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort.'
Aurora accidentally spilled pumpkin juice from her goblet, Mathilda gave a little jump and I felt a cold shiver run over my spine at the name. Whispers swept the Great Hall. Everywhere around me people were staring at the professor in both disbelief and terror. Professor Dumbledore simply waited till everyone was silent again, calmly looking us all over.
'The Ministry of Magic 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-' once again everyone flinched '-has returned, 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 died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory.'
Frightened and shocked, that seemed to be the consensus of everyone right now. Many rumours had been going around but hearing them partially confirmed like this was another thing entirely.
'There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death..' Dumbledore added. 'I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter.' Many heads, including mine, turned to Harry Potter. He looked determined, albeit a bit uncomfortable. 'Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort. He risked his own life to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honour him.' Professor Dumbledore turned towards Potter and raised his goblet once more. We all mirrored him and murmured "Harry Potter" as we had done for Cedric. After a couple of seconds Dumbledore went on.
'The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemort's return - such ties are more important than ever before.' Dumbledore eyed both the Beauxbatons students at the Ravenclaw table (Aurora grabbed onto Robin's hand a bit tighter) and the Durmstrang students at the Slytherin table.
'Every guest in this Hall will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, 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 have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst. Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.'
The next morning the greater part of the Hogwarts student body stood next to the Hogsmeade Express, organizing the luggage that was brought down by the house elves. 'I've found yours, Cecil!' Mathilda called out and she tugged at my trunk, trying to free it off the huge pile. I helped her and together we managed to get my trunk out of the mountain of luggage. Soon after we found Mathilda's as well and together we looked for Aurora's. We had gone down with the carriages early to get ourselves a seat on the train but Aurora had stayed behind so she could say goodbye to Robin. He and the other Beauxbatons students would leave with their flying carriage that same morning.
When we had gathered our stuff, we took it aboard and stored it into a compartment. Mathilda settled herself next to the window, a novel in her hands. She was wearing some comfortable purple robes. 'I'm just going to go to the bathroom quickly.' I told her but she gave me no notice.
When I got back I found Felix hanging around outside our compartment. He looked up when he heard me coming. 'Cecilia!' He called out. I smiled at him. 'Felix, what are you doing here?' I asked him and he nodded at the door. 'Your friend was rude to me. I allegedly disturbed her reading, so I decided to wait for you outside.' He said and I laughed. 'Don't pay her any mind.' I told him.
Now I stood right in front of him, I noticed he seemed a bit nervous. His eyes flitted across the narrow corridor and he didn't look me in the eye for more than a few seconds at a time. 'I really just wanted to ask if you would want to meet up over the summer holidays at some point. I know you're busy with your internship and all, but I figured you still have the weekends off and..-' he rambled and I put both my hands on his shoulders. 'Calm down!' I said with a laugh. 'I'd love to hang out.' I told him. He brightened up considerably. 'Good! I'll send an owl soon then.' He said and once I agreed he smiled and said goodbye, nearly skipping off. I suddenly felt a weight press down on me but I couldn't quite pinpoint the feeling.
When I went into the compartment I saw that Aurora was already here. 'Was saying bye very hard?' I asked her and she nodded. 'It's a weird feeling to realize that you didn't even know someone existed a year ago but that you now can't even imagine your life without him.' She said thoughtfully. 'How often do you think a person can be aware of a life-changing moment?' Asked Aurora. Mathilda, who I thought was buried in her book up till now, piped up. 'What do you mean? Every moment is life-changing.' She argued. 'I mean, a life-changing moment as in a moment that makes you believe you're suddenly headed in a drastically different direction than before.' Aurora answered.
'Who says you weren't always headed in that direction – you just didn't know it before.' Mathilda said. 'I think Rory is not debating the existence or non-existence of faith or destiny or something.' I told my best friend. 'Thank you!' Aurora said to me. 'I'm merely saying that we believe, at a certain point, that we understand all and everything, and suddenly everything is different. Our viewpoint changes, that's what I mean.' Said Aurora.
I thought back to my own year. My viewpoint had changed a lot over the year. Not too forget did I receive my first kiss (and quite a few after that). I had talked to Fred Weasley, the boy I had been dreaming about for so long already. And at the same time I had realized how much power that gave him and had decided I didn't want to be that vulnerable. But still, all that felt strangely unimportant in comparison to the events of the Third Task. I still didn't quite understand what had happened or what it would mean for the future, but I knew life wouldn't be the same anymore.
The train ride was uneventful by any measure. We were joined by Eddie Carmichael and Marcus Belby and later on even Cho and Marietta came to sit with us, to which even Mathilda had no objection. She even opted to share her Chocolate Frogs with Cho and although Cho declined, a small smile danced around her lips.
Before long we arrived at King's Cross Station and we all dragged our trunks out of the train and onto the platform. I pulled up the sleeves of my striped summer robes, carrying the heavy trunk a bit further away so I wouldn't be in the way of other students and parents reuniting with their children. 'I'll see you soon, surely.' Aurora had said a minute before. 'Good luck with your internship. Make sure to let me know how's it going, yeah? We'll meet up soon.' she told me and I promised her I would indeed keep her posted. She sped off to meet her family.
'Cecil!' I heard called behind me. I turned around to see Mathilda. She dragged her father with her and he was carrying her trunk. 'Hello Mr Goodfellow!' I greeted him and he enveloped me into a hug. 'Good to see you darling.' He said and he pulled back to look me over. 'How grown up you are, all of a sudden.' He said with a big grin on his face. 'You're just saying that.' I said, grinning back at him. 'Thank you for the gift card I got from you for Christmas.' I said and he waved my thanks away. 'Everything for you, Cecilia sweetheart!' He said boisterously. 'So where are your parents?' He asked right after and I shrugged. 'Haven't seen them yet.'
Mr Goodfellow was a magnificent sort of man. He was large but not fat; just very tall with broad square shoulders, almost bursting out of his suit. I don't think it came from working out. His bright white smile and his baby blue eyes sat peacefully in a round face, framed by short dark hair. He looked strangely boyish, a cheery smile on his face.
'I have to get back to the office quickly but make sure to say hi to your parents for me and we'll all have dinner together soon.' Mr Goodfellow said. 'You have to get to work?' Mathilda groaned and her dad chuckled. 'Only have to finish up a few things. We'll go right home after and we'll cook your favourite meal.' He said and she pouted but I could tell she wasn't really angry.
I quickly hugged Mathilda as we said goodbye to each other. 'I'll see you soon, obviously, but in the meantime you got to take care of yourself, alright?' Mathilda told me and I rolled my eyes. 'I'm not a child, Tilda.' I reminded her and she shook her head. 'No, of course not.' She agreed. 'Have fun with your internship. I'll drop by, by floo soon, cool?' She opted and I smiled. 'Cool.' I replied.
She followed after her father who also waved at me, me waving back, and I turned around to find my own parents. I tugged my luggage through the crowds. Students were hugging their families, loudly recounting their times apart, making plans for the summer. I didn't see my parents yet but I knew they were undoubtedly there. I took a deep breath and realized I felt strangely relaxed. The air felt cool in my lungs and it smelt of the smoke of the Hogwarts Express. I was going home and I couldn't even admit to myself how much I looked forward to that. All worries could be left at school for now.
School was now over. Summer had started.
I'm really hoping for some reviews and I'd like to thank the reviewers of last chapter!
Next chapter will be a bit more exciting, I promise, haha!