Cedric survived. He stayed and fought alongside Harry, became incapacitated and had to be revived once they had returned to Hogwarts. So, they had returned to Hogwarts together, tormented and injured but eager to spread the word to the wizarding world that Lord Voldemort had returned.
Abruptly, Harry found himself back at Number four privet drive for the summer, feeling miserable. He and Cedric had come so close to death the night Voldemort had been reborn, and Harry's blood now ran in his enemy's veins. He hated himself for this, he had been caught and forced to give over his blood to rebirth his nemesis.
Four days after returning to his Aunt and Uncle's, he received an unexpected owl. He did not recognise the bird, so knew it was from neither Ron, Hermione, Hagrid or Sirius; his usual. Hedwig gave a chirp as the bird landed on the window sill beside her cage and flew to the top of Harry's wardrobe to allow the other owl to drink from her water bowl. Harry raised an eyebrow at his owl "High praise," He told the unknown owl crossing the room and releasing the roll of parchment from its leg. It took flight to Hedwig's cage and began to drink. Harry watched this for a moment before turning to the parchment in his hand. It was addressed to him, but in unfamiliar handwriting.
"Harry…
I thought I would write to you because well, I wanted to. We only left Hogwarts four days ago but it feels like a lifetime. I don't know why but it felt easier being at Hogwarts, easier to deal with everything that's happened. Do you feel the same? - Maybe not, maybe it's easier away from all those curious faces? I just find that my parents are mollycoddling me, which is exhausting. I just need time to…think. But also, I don't want time to think? Does that make sense?
I felt like you would be the only person that might understand me. I apologise for rambling and I know you probably have a lot more to think about than me, seen as you fought him again. I am struggling to sleep, I just keep reliving it, yet all I want to do is sleep.
Again, sorry for rambling,
Regards,
Cedric Diggory"
Harry read the short letter through twice and smiled to himself. It was brief but said a lot, Cedric was reaching out to him after what they had been through together, he needed support and thought Harry might need it to. Surprisingly he found himself keen to reply, he and Cedric had had very little time alone after the final task to talk so he was happy to hear from him. Although he had Ron and Hermione to talk to this felt different, Cedric had been there with him. He had been in the graveyard. They had fought together and seen Lord Voldemort reborn, he had clung to Cedric's apparently lifeless body as they took the portkey back to Hogwarts.
Disregarding thoughts of breakfast; Harry sat at his desk and found a quill and pot of ink. He flattened out a fresh piece of parchment and mused.
"Cedric,
Thanks for the letter, it's good to hear from you. I can't say I understand how it feels to be 'mollycoddled' as the Dursley's (My aunt and Uncle and cousin I live with) are muggles and don't have a clue what happened at Hogwarts. And if they did they wouldn't care…they'd be sad I'd managed to survive.
I know what you mean about the sleep thing though…I am struggling to sleep too, I keep relieving it but it ends worse- we both die. I wake up in cold sweats.
I miss Hogwarts, but I don't miss the whispering and disbelief. Have you seen the papers? The daily prophet still hasn't published the truth do you think they will? The MoM must be controlling what they write about, do you think?
Have you seen or spoken to anyone from school? I've been writing to Ron and Hermione, as well as my godfather and Hagrid. They are all concerned, Hermione especially has been checking in daily. She is a muggleborn- as you know- and can use her parents telephone (a device to talk on you might have learnt about them in muggle studies?) to ring the local phone box near where I live. She can't ring my aunt and uncles house since they hate everything to do with magic. So she's been calling at the same time every day and I go to answer… I guess she is 'mollycoddling' me a bit, but I know its because she cares."
Harry realised he was waffling and considered restarting the letter, but something told him it was okay. Cedric wouldn't have written to him if he hadn't wanted to talk. He concluded the letter.
"Sorry for waffling too, I don't get out a lot.
Harry Potter".
Without further thought, Harry attached his letter to Cedric's owl's leg and thanked him before taking a deep breathe and heading down to breakfast with his family.
Later that day Harry who was laying the garden enjoying the midmorning sun, was approached by his large cousin, Dudley. "Alright Big D?" Harry asked, genuinely curious of why his cousin had ventured into the garden when he could be out on the estate with his gang.
Dudley frowned, "It's not me you need to be asking."
"Excuse me?" Harry said confused.
"You're not alright." Dudley stated.
Harry was caught off guard, surprised by his cousins' sudden concern for his welfare, so much so that he didn't know what to say. Then Dudley smirked "I heard you last night, woke up crying, crying for a boy named Cedric!" He sneered at Harry. "Begging Mummy and Daddy to save him!"
Harry felt his chest tighten at the mention of his parents, this wasn't one of Dudley's stupid games. Harry must have been having night terrors, otherwise he had no way of knowing Cedric's name. "Who's Cedric anyway?" Dudley was saying, interrupting Harry's thoughts. "Your boyfriend?" He mocked.
Harry stood up, towering over his short squat cousin. "I don't know what the hell you are talking about, Dudley. But if you ever repeat it, you will pay." Harry's hand inched towards the 11-inch wand wedged in his back pocket.
"You wouldn't," Dudley said, his voice beginning to shake. "You're not allowed. Dad says you'll be expelled if you do." He tried to act confident but the uncertainty in his eyes betrayed him.
Harry shrugged angry and emotional already, provoked further by his cousins mocking. "If you ever speak about my parents again, I will do whatever's necessary. I don't care about school." And in that moment, Harry meant it. He was emotionally rung out, exhausted for lack of sleep and his cousins bullying was his breaking point.
Dudley seemed to be calculating his next move, Harry bored with this now, pulled his wand from his back pocket and pointed it at the other's chest. The latter quivered with fear and shifted his large weight. "Fuck you. I'll tell Dad." He said and with that he stomped back into the house.
Harry glared after his cousin before stowing his wand and leaving the garden through the back gate that lead to the street. He walked and walked, miles around Surrey, his feet kept moving, while thoughts raced through his head. Unable to stop them he become evoked in the recent events from the graveyard, he saw it all again, every detail. He felt the fear, his heart racing, sweat forming on his brow and balled fists, as though he were still there.
He remembered the way Cedric had fallen, like a rag doll. Harry's chest had tightened seeing the older boy's apparently lifeless face. They had grown closer over the past year, they had helped each other during the tournament, swapped clues, socialised at the Yule Ball, despite Harry's slight jealously at Cedric taking Cho as his date and they had even practiced spells and jinxes together ready for the third task.
In the graveyard; he had felt utterly helpless, he thought Cedric was dead and that he would soon be joining him. There had been a flash of green light from Wormtail's wand and the Hufflepuff had fallen but later when Harry returned to Hogwarts with his body, Professor Dumbledore had been able to revive Cedric. The great professor explained that Cedric had survived because of the necklace he wore. The necklace had been a gift from his parents when he had turned 11, a family air loom that unbeknownst to the Diggory's had been enchanted to protect the wearer.
Necklaces of this type had never been known to protect an individual from the killing curse, but Dumbledore speculated that as the spell was performed by a weak wizard, whom had not truly meant the curse, it had only had the affect of knocking Cedric unconscious. Obviously relieved and happy to be alive Cedric and his family had asked for Dumbledore and Harry not divulge this information to anyone, not wanting the media attention that would follow the survival of a killing curse.
Harry had agreed but later when he was alone with Cedric, the Hufflepuff had expressed his gratitude to Harry for saving his life and suggested that Harry could share this information with Ron and Hermione, knowing that the trio told each other everything.
Thinking of everything that had happened caused Harry a lot of distress, more than any previous incidents he had endured and he couldn't figure out why. He had become friendly with Cedric yes, but what he couldn't understand was why he had felt absolute fear and dread, seeing him in danger, why he felt as if his heart was breaking. Why he still couldn't shake that feeling? He rationalised it was all fear and apprehension, related to the realisation that Lord Voldemort had returned and the impending war.
The miles of walking, eventually calmed Harry's racing mind enough to head back to the Dursley's. He entered the house as quietly as possible, slipping through the garden gate and the backdoor without a sound. He could hear his aunt in the front room watching Telly, no doubt. Harry crept upstairs and was surprised to see Cedric's owl still in Hedwig's cage.
"Haven't you left yet little one?" Harry asked approaching the owl and stroking the back of his head. Hedwig watched from her spot-on top of the wardrobe. As he stroked the tawny owl he noticed that the letter attached to his leg was not the one he had placed there but one addressed to him. Cedric had already replied. Surprised, Harry unfastened the letter from the owl's leg and told him. "You can go home if you want to. I can send Hedwig with a reply." The owl understood, he chirped and affectionately nibbled Harrys hand before flying out the open window.
Hedwig flew to her master's shoulder and allowed him to pet her for a moment, then she too soared out of the open window for an opportunity to stretch her wings.
