CH1: End of the TriWizard tournament
A week had passed since the end of the Triwizard tournament and Harry was just getting out of the hospital wing. It had been Madame Pomfrey's idea to keep him there while he recovered from the third task, although Harry had complained that he was perfectly fine Dumbledore had agreed that he needed rest.
He had only been allowed out to attend the memorial feast the previous night, Dumbledore had thought that it may have given Harry some closure. He had been determined to put on a brave face and show his respect to Cedric, being that he was the last person to see him alive, and to hear his last words when he came back through the priori incantatem spell.
Harry also felt he was somewhat to blame for Cedric's death, he may not have been the one to cast the spell, but he had insisted that they both take the cup. How could he have been so stupid? He had asked himself countless times that week. something was clearly going to happen at some point, someone had entered his name into the tournament and it wasn't just to give him a chance to win the prize money, this was that persons last chance to get to him before the tournament ended, he should have seen it coming.
He spent the whole feast in silence, contemplating what had happened in the maze, waving off Hermione's insistence that he eat, he just couldn't stomach anything especially not with so many eyes wandering in his direction.
Many of these eyes came from the staff table, McGonagall was complaining quietly to Dumbledore about how Harry shouldn't have been isolated from his friends, how he was clearly struggling with current events. Dumbledore had to agree, although he thought Harry needed some time alone, he was clearly despondent from even his friends and with only a week until the end of term he couldn't afford for him to fall even further. The decision was made that night for Harry to move back to Gryffindor tower the following morning.
Harry didn't have the best start to the morning, he'd had another nightmare; he was in the graveyard again and he could see Cedric and a figure moving out of the darkness, he tried to shout for Cedric to run but nothing came out, he tried to run towards him maybe this time he could point him towards the danger or push him out the way, but no matter how fast Harry tried to run he didn't get any further. Was everything moving in slow motion? No, he could clearly see Cedric and the shadow moving at normal pace, it must just be him. There was nothing he could do, he was forced to re-live the moment yet again, the figure became visible in the moonlight; 'Kill the spare' the snakelike voice said, a flash of green light and he looked away as he waited for Cedric to drop to the ground.
The noise of a body hitting the ground didn't come, Harry looked back up. Something was different, Cedric was still standing, but he was so still and still engulfed in the green light, slowly Cedric turned to face Harry looking him straight in the eye with a hateful look and spoke; 'Why did you do this to me Harry?'. Cedric finished speaking and Harry's world fell into darkness.
He awoke to someone shaking him, he opened his eyes in panic and jumped back, it was only Madame Pomfrey who was looking at him with a mix of sympathy and worry.
'you were just having a bad dream dear everything is okay, it's time for breakfast then you are to return to Gryffindor tower' Madame Pomfrey gave Harry a sceptical look; 'that is, unless you are still feeling a bit peaky you look rather pale dear, you could stay another night?'.
'n..n..no I'm okay thank you, like you said it was just a dream' Harry replied and summoned the best smile he could. Madame Pomfrey smiled back at him and then returned to her office. Harry looked to his left to find his breakfast, but not feeling particularly hungry after his nightmare, merely nibbled on a piece of toast until he felt like he was going to bring it back up then he stopped.
Knowing Madame Pomfrey would not be pleased with his attempt at eating breakfast, Harry quickly got up and dressed and before he could be trapped in the hospital wing for another night, he left for Gryffindor tower.
As Harry was approaching the portrait, he realised he did not have this week's password, having stayed in the hospital wing all week. Reaching the end of the corridor he was met with; 'Password?', he looked up apprehensively at the fat lady in the portrait.
'Any chance just this once you could let me in?'.
'no I'm sorry, no password, no entry, even the boy who lived must adhere to the new security measures the headmaster has put in place'.
Harry sighed, and turned to walk away but heard the portrait opening. 'Harry, your back, how are you feeling?', it was Neville.
'Better thankyou Neville, errm.. do you mind telling me the new password, I haven't seen anyone yet'?
'of course, the new password is 'courage', I think that's the first time in four years someone has actually asked me for the password, everyone just assumes I will have forgotten' Neville gave a small laugh and smiled at Harry which Harry returned.
'Thanks Neville, see you later'.
'see you later Harry', with that Harry turned to climb through the portrait hole.
Once inside Harry suddenly regretted not taking up Madame Pomfrey's offer of another night in the infirmary, everyone turned to stare at him. Harry stood still for a moment, unable to look anyone in the face as he felt his own getting redder and redder until he summoned the courage to walk through and make his way up to the boy's dormitory.
A minute later and Ron joined him, 'Hi Harry, how are you feeling? why didn't you come say hi to me and Hermione'?
'Sorry Ron I didn't see you both, everyone was just staring, and I couldn't stay in there'. Ron's face softened 'it's okay mate I understand, they'll all go back to their miserable lives soon enough, it's not like you've never had this sort of attention before is it, oh mighty heir of Slytherin' Ron finished with a bow.
Harry froze for a moment and then burst into laughter, 'wow thanks Ron, can always count on you to cheer me up',
'well, that's what friends are for isn't it' replied Ron with a grin 'joking aside mate, me and Hermione are here for you if you want to talk'.
'Thanks, I'm okay though really just glad to be out of the hospital wing finally, and I can't believe we only have another week left of term, I'm dreading returning to the Dursley's'.
'I'll send an owl to mum and see if she can convince Dumbledore to let you come straight to ours this year, your practically part of the family now anyway'.
This really cheered Harry up, 'Thanks, that would be great, the whole summer playing quidditch instead of hiding from Dudley in case he gets hungry and I'm in his line of vision'.
'Ha-ha, he would be disappointed there's not much meat on you mate'.
'Ha-ha, actually I'm starving I didn't eat much for breakfast, want to go the kitchens for a snack'?
'Who do you think you're asking…' Harry raised his eyebrow at Ron 'obviously I want to go get food, let's get Hermione and go, that's if she's not already halfway into reading next year's curriculum, I mean we had our exams a week ago she's had plenty of time'.
Both boys made their way down the staircase and ignoring the stares, strode over to collect Hermione, a few minutes of persuasion to put down the books and they were soon making their way out the portrait hole and down to the kitchens.
