Chapter Twenty-Three: The Parting of Ways

"The end," said Dumbledore, "of another year."

The Hall was deathly silent; every eye was on the headmaster. The End-of-Year feast felt more like a funeral -- in truth, that's exactly what they were doing, laying Cedric's memory to rest. The black drapes weren't necessary to darken the atmosphere, when it had been so dark for days.

The spot where Karkaroff had sat was empty; Mad-Eye Moody was there, but looked like he'd been through hell. Beth thought briefly of the many different people who had sat at that table: Quirrell, dead; Lockhart, regrowing a memory at St. Mungo's; Lupin, under the stigma of lycanthropy; Mr. Crouch, murdered by his own son. How many more, Beth thought, trembling; how many more would come and go?

Dumbledore turned to face the Hufflepuffs, calm and sad.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight, but first I must acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory."

Like a single unit, every person in the Great Hall stood and raised their glasses. Beth caught a glance down the table at Bruce -- his face was very drawn. Melissa looked as if she wanted to cry. "Cedric Diggory," they intoned together, and Richard's mouth twisted in an unreadable expression. It was many moments before they all sat down again.

"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house," Dumbledore went on. "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."

Beth looked up in disbelief. He knew about the Transcongus Brew? Down the table, she saw Richard tense.

"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

If Richard was eased by this statement, he didn't show it. The other houses reacted with panic, astonishment -- but many of the Slytherins showed no hint of surprise. Beth met Evan's eyes with a weary kinship. Mixed among them, the Durmstrang students barely blinked at the announcement, but looked down at the table as if personally ashamed. We all know someone who was there, Beth thought, and she felt sick.

Dumbledore waited, calmly, until the Hall was quiet as every student waited for him to say something more -- an explanation, reassurance, directions on what to do now that the unthinkable had occurred. He went on:

"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 has returned, or because they think that 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."

Richard's face tightened again, and suddenly Beth recognized the expression he wore. It was guilt. "We tried," she said softly, but he muttered back:

"Our snake. Our Ledger. Our cauldron."

She couldn't argue against that.

"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death," said Dumbledore, turning his attention from the Hufflepuff table to the Gryffindors. "I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."

More whispers. A flicker crossed Draco's eyes before he returned his gaze to Dumbledore, his face carefully expressionless.

"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 honor him."

He raised his glass in the direction of the Gryffindor table, meeting Potter's eyes. One by one the rest of the Great Hall joined him ... all save the Slytherins. Some stood, but others closed off their faces and refused to follow. Beth looked around at her peers, swallowed hard, and remembered what she had seen: Potter, tied to a gravestone, bleeding ... Potter, writhing in pain ... Potter, daring to turn his wand against the most powerful, dangerous, fearsome wizard in the word. She stood up abruptly. "Harry Potter," she said defiantly, with the rest of the students, and the S.S.A. joined her.

Dumbledore waited until everyone had once more taken their seats. He continued:

"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."

He turned his gaze to the Beauxbatons students, and then to the Durmstrangers at the Slytherin table. Many of them wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Every guest in this Hall will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come," he said firmly. "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 are 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."

Gypsy and Josef glanced at each other. They were both very pale.

"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." His eyes flickered to the Ravenclaw table, where Cho Chang sat silently weeping. "Many of your families have been torn asunder."

He turned his gaze -- that kind but piercing hawk's-gaze -- to the Slytherins, and Beth felt a thrill of cold fear. Did he know? Did he know? And she knew that from now on, no matter whom she passed in the street, she would always wonder: Do they know?

Dumbledore's attention shifted to the Hufflepuffs, and out of the corner of her eye Beth saw Evan very slightly relax.

"A week ago, a student was taken from our midst."

The Hufflepuffs were sad and silent.

"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."

Beth stared at her plate long after Dumbledore had stopped speaking and the meal, subdued, had begun. Her brother had already made the choice between the right and the easy -- and he had chosen wrong. What would she do? What would her friends do? The choice would have been so simple before ... but now that she had seen the frightening power of the Dark Lord ... and they who wore the crest of Voldemort on their fingers, did they even have a choice?

She did not eat. She was not the only one.

***

They met one last time in the Vase Room, on the night before the Hogwarts Express would take them home. No one had much to say. Everything would be explained, proven or destroyed at the Society meeting on the 17th of July.

Beth looked over at Evan. "He's going to be mad at us."

Evan looked back with bleak eyes.

"Buck up, chaps," Richard said finally. His voice was heavy with false cheer. "We'll do all right. We've been through worse -- and now we have the Ledger."

"Goody," said Mervin morosely.

His comment gave way to nervous, then genuine laughter.

"It's important --" said Richard, now sounding nothing but annoyed. He broke off. The door to the Vase Room slid open and Albus Dumbledore came inside. Gradually the membership fell silent.

Dumbledore stopped in the middle of the floor and took a moment to look around. "Miss Arendt --?"

"She decided that she should spend this time with her classmates," Richard explained, looking a little embarrassed. "What can we do for you?"

"Mr. Shaw," said Dumbledore. "Once again I ask for the allegiance of the Society."

Richard looked back at him, and Beth realized with a start that he was nearly as tall as the headmaster. He's grown up, she thought. I never noticed, but he's an adult. Richard's eyes flickered to the ground beside Blaise, where one of Ebenezer Nott's summons lay half-crumpled.

"I'm sorry, sir," said Richard, with some effort, "but I can't promise that."

That didn't sound like Richard. Beth looked from him to Dumbledore, trying to figure out what was going on. Why would Richard remove himself from Dumbledore now, when they needed each other the most?

The walls of the crypt.

Beth sat there, stunned, as the implications washed over her. Any member could view another member just by touching their name on the wall of the crypt. Lord Voldemort had access to them all, they were connected by the rings ... he could be spying on them at that moment ...

Richard had realized it too. The Society would have to distance itself from the Dark Lord's enemies.

Dumbledore was quiet for a moment. "Yes," he said at last, "I see that your loyalty is a great request. I only hope that you will do, as you have always done, what you think is best."

The air in the Vase Room felt thicker somehow. Beth wished she were somewhere else.

"Headmaster," Richard said, meeting his eyes with difficulty, "we have always tried to ... to do what you ask of us. Let me ask you something now."

Dumbledore nodded kindly. "Go on."

"Please don't meddle in our affairs from now on." Richard swallowed hard. "It will only be worse for us ... if you ..." he trailed off, voice rising miserably.

Dumbledore raised his chin slightly, keeping his piercing blue eyes firmly on Richard's. "Mr. Shaw," he said softly, "so long as I am Headmaster at this school, I will never ignore any one of its students." He paused. "If you would go on without me, so be it ... but I will never be far behind."

"So long as you're out of sight," Richard whispered.

The Vase Room was deathly still. Now no one met Dumbledore's eyes; only Evan, hollow and fearless behind his dark bangs, dared look the Headmaster in the face. Finally Dumbledore nodded slowly. His face seemed tireder. "I will accept, for now, that you are unwilling to dedicate yourselves so deeply to a cause you may not understand," he said. "I only ask that you consider what I have said. I may call on your help in the future. I hope that you will give it." He paused. "I have already received such an assurance from the Ravenclaws."

Richard looked up at him. "The Ravenclaws, sir?"

"Why, Mr. Shaw," said Dumbledore, blue eyes large and wise, "surely you didn't think that yours is the only secret society in the history of Hogwarts school?"

Richard flushed a brilliant scarlet. "Of -- of course not, sir," he stammered.

Dumbledore made a slight bow and left the Vase Room.

Richard watched the door through which he had exited for a long time. His mouth worked wordlessly for a while. Then he threw his hands into the air and sank into the armchair, complete disbelief on his face.

"The Ravenclaws!"

***

The Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students departed from the grounds early the next morning. The Slytherins spent their last breakfast with the Durmstrang students, talking normally, pretending that they weren't really saying goodbye, that none of them had to face this strange darkness that had fallen on the earth. Only as the foreign students gathered around their ship did the Slytherins begin to say their goodbyes.

Viktor and Bruce shook hands warmly. "You play Kvidditch very vell," said Viktor. "I am sure I vill play against you some day in t'e national leagues."

Bruce flushed pink. "I hope so," he said, suddenly bashful. "Hope the Vultures have a good season. Write me if you're playing over here."

Viktor smiled. "I vill." He climbed up the gangplank and disappeared into the ship.

Andrei was telling Melissa how he wasn't excited to return to school. "Ve sent an owl to Professor Denisovich, about vot happened to Karkaroff," he explained, "but ve vill all haff to explain it in person."

Gypsy's reaction was more venomous. "At least that horrible man won't be around for graduation," she said.

"I'll miss him," Josef declared. "Who vill scowl at me vhile I receive my diploma?"

His classmates laughed. "I'll do it," Andrei volunteered. He twirled an imaginary goatee. "Poliakoff! Vot haff I told you about t'at cocky grin?"

Josef bowed in mock obeisance. "T'at I should vipe it off my face, Headmaster." He stood up straight and a look of satisfaction came over his face. "Durmstrang is going to change, I t'ink."

"And only for the better," said Gypsy firmly. She turned to look at Richard. "Well, Rich ..." She started forward.

Richard reached out and shook her hand. "I'll be in touch," he said.

"Yes ..." Gypsy looked down at their joined hands and sadly let go. "Have a safe summer, Rich. Beth."

"You too," said Beth. Now there were many things to stay safe from.

Gypsy started up the gangplank. Josef came over to Beth, nervously rubbing his neck.

"May I haff a vord, Beth?"

Beth gave him half a smile. "All right."

They strolled a few paces away from the thinning group. Josef stopped. He turned to look at her, and his face was as serious as it had ever been.

"You and Richard ... I saw you holding hands." He blushed pink but pressed on. "Are you happy?"

Beth looked over at Richard. There was very much wrong with the world, but this one thing was entirely right. "Yes. I am."

Josef let out a short sigh and forced himself to smile. "Then I vill be happy for you," he said. He took a deep breath. "If you ever ..."

Beth reached out and took his hands. "Thank you." She reached up unexpectedly and gave him a hug.

She pulled away to find Josef smiling. "It vos a pleasure to spend t'e year vith you," he said grandly. He bent down and kissed her hand, just as showily as he had when they first met more than a year ago on the grounds of Durmstrang. "Haff a vonderful summer."

"Thanks," said Beth. She glanced over at Richard again. "I think I might."

Josef bowed once last time and jogged back to the ship. He boarded and the gangplank came up after him; the students dispersed to the various parts of the ship; a fantastic whirlpool built up around them and the noble ship sank majestically into the water until even its highest mast had been swallowed.

The lake showed no ripple.

The school year was at last over.

***

The Hogwarts Express shone a brilliant red under the shimmering June sun. Students swarmed about the station excitedly. They were young and alive, the sun was bright in a blue sky, they would all see their families again soon, vacation had finally come -- even the past few days couldn't blot the joy of these simple truths.

Beth and her friends packed their things into one compartment. The crowd was starting to thin down as student crammed onto the train for their final trip of the year. Melissa climbed inside to save a seat as Bruce packed the last of his trunks.

"Hey, Bletchley. Come to say goodbye."

It was Kiesha. Bruce caught sight of her and ran a high flush. "Oh. Hi." He sounded at once delighted and terrified to see her. "Goodbye -- right. Um."

She looked at him with tender eyes, an amused smile on her brown and freckled face.

"I ... er, I'm going to miss you ... I mean, have a good summer ..." Bruce shuffled his feet and looked down at the ground. "I'll, um, see you next year ..."

"You silly thing," she said kindly. "Just kiss me."

Beth smiled and turned away as Bruce hesitantly obliged.

The last few stragglers were packing their final suitcases and trunks. Several cars down, Richard was loading the last of his parcels into a storage car. He finished and caught sight of Beth. They moved toward one another and met in the center of the platform.

"I'm working on a plan," he said immediately. He reached out and took both her hands in his own.

"Richard, be careful."

"I'll be fine. We'll all be fine." He gripped her hands fervently. "I'm going to make it all right."

Beth smiled at him, a little sadly. "You can't make it all right on your own."

"I know." He sighed and met her eyes. "That's why I'm going to need you."

Beth flung her arms around his neck and kissed him.

She kissed him fervently and passionately -- as if she might never see him again -- as if they might never have a moment together that was free of fear -- long and lingering, uncertain of everything except the fact that she wanted to stay here, on the platform in Hogsmeade, in Richard's arms, forever. Richard's embrace was firm and desperate. She released him gently and let her hands rest on his shoulders as she looked into his face ... the handsome straight nose and the careworn forehead. If she lost him she would be losing part of herself.

He didn't open his eyes right away; instead he leaned his forehead on hers and took her hands again. "It's going to be so hard," he whispered. Finally he heaved a sigh as deep as the sea and straightened up. He opened his eyes to see Beth gazing back at him. "Don't worry," he said, and gave her hands a final squeeze. He cleared his throat. "I'm riding back with my classmates. Last time, eh?" He laughed, a little shakily. "I'll miss all this."

The long whistle of the train rang mournfully over their heads.

"We have to go," said Richard, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"I'll see you soon," Beth whispered back.

They parted without looking back. It would be all too soon when they met again -- on the seventeenth of July, when the Society would learn its own fate from the man who had founded it.

And the whistle of the Hogwarts Express was as shrill and cold as the cry of a banshee ...

Finis