Disclaimer: I don't own anything, JKR does.
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! Reviews are very much appreciated! And I know the first chapter was short (this one is too, in a way), but I'm very busy right now—even though it's summer. Lol. Anyways, I will try to make all my chapters longer! D (I'll also try to update sooner, too!)
Ron's thoughts began to drift back towards that horrible June night. Although it had been months since, the memory was still etched in his mind as if it was yesterday.
A flash of gold pierced the dark night; a loud thud followed. Footsteps pounded on the soft, grassy ground, and screams erupted into the pitch-black air. Chaos erupted in the stands as hundreds of people began to push to leave the area as quickly as possible. An uneasy feeling had settled in the air, and everyone was anxious to depart.
A tall figure with long, silver hair ran forward from the crowd, his deep plum robes billowing out behind him. His hands seized the limp body that lay on the ground and turned it over. For a moment, all Dumbledore could do was stare at the dead body of Cedric Diggory, with his right had still clutched around the golden Triwizard Cup.
Cornelius Fudge quickly appeared at Dumbledore's side, with concern carved into his face.
"Dumbledore," Fudge whispered, "he's not-"
"Dead, yes," Dumbledore finished.
"My God," Fudge replied, stunned.
These words echoed over and over throughout the crowd, causing even more pandemonium.
"Dead?"
"Cedric, dead?"
The crowd pushed farther and farther in; everyone trying to see what was going on. Fudge hopelessly tried to hold the crowd back by shouting ("Please, stay back!"), but was failing miserably.
"Dumbledore, the Diggory's are here, in the stands—Amos is running," Fudge told Dumbledore in a worried voice. "You have to tell him…before-"
"Cornelius, please remain calm," Dumbledore replied, his bright blue eyes blazing, with an edge of uneasiness in his voice. The old man's usually endless patience was wearing thin.
"Ron!" Hermione cried, trying to keep hold of him in the jerking crowd. "What's going on? Is Harry all right?"
Ron grabbed Hermione's forearm and pulled her towards him. She stood on the tips of her toes, desperately trying to see what was happening in front of the crowd.
"I don't know," Ron cried, standing on his toes as well; his height was helping him very little. "I can't see anything!" he shouted, as he became more and more worried every second.
"Ron, what if something bad has happened to Harry?" Hermione questioned, tears forming in her eyes. The two of them were near the back of the crowd, and news of Cedric Diggory's death had not reached them yet.
"Hermione, I don't even want to think about that," Ron yelled over the noise of the crowd. "I don't think I could handle that right now."
Professor McGonagall hurried over the center of the crowd, brushing away the loose strands of her hair which was usually pulled into a tight bun. Dumbledore immediately turned and faced her. "Minerva, I need to you to please get the crowd away from here. Send everyone back to their dormitories, and make sure they stay there," Dumbledore told McGonagall quickly and seriously.
McGonagall was unable to say anything, and simply nodded. She turned on her heel, pulled out her wand, and muttered, "Sonorus."
Meanwhile, Dumbledore lifted the body of Cedric onto a stretcher with his wand, and lead the sobbing Diggory's and Cornelius Fudge towards the castle.
"Will everyone please remain calm!" McGonagall shouted, her voice magically made many times louder. "Please return to your dormitories and wait there for any further information. Prefects and Head Boy and Girl, please make sure that all students go back into the castle and into the dorms. Cooperation from everyone is necessary!"
Ron dragged a tear-streaked Hermione through the crowd. It was all he could do to keep himself from breaking down, but he knew he had to be strong for Hermione.
"Come on, Hermione." Ron said gently. "We're going to find out what's happening."
Although the swarm of people had begun moving towards the castle, Ron still pushed his way through all the people, pulling Hermione behind him. Ron ignored the protests from the people beside him, and made his way to the front of the crowd where a strict, but frantic looking Professor McGonagall stood.
"Professor-" Ron began.
"Weasley," McGonagall replied, "you and Ms. Granger need to return to the Gryffindor common room and stay there until you are given further instructions."
"But-"
"Well, what are you waiting for?" the older women cried, as streams of students continued to walk past them, staring curiously. "Many things need to be accomplished, Mr. Weasley, and full cooperation from all students is essential. The events off tonight almost certainly mean that the wizarding community will be moving in a darker direction. Now, please head back to the castle immediately."
Ron opened his mouth to say something back to McGonagall, but thought better of it after seeing the look on McGonagall's face.
Once Hermione and Ron were out of earshot of McGonagall, Ron began a loud, lengthy rant. "I can't believe McGonagall! I mean, we have a right to know what's going on, especially since this is about Harry! We're Harry's best friends, and he is nowhere to be found! I can't believer Dumbledore won't even talk to us! I-"
"R-ron!" Hermione shouted, choking on tears that were rolling down her face. "Shut up, okay? I'm worried enough about Harry! You are not helping matters. If Dumbledore or McGonagall or someone wants to talk to us, which I'm sure they will eventually, they will come and get us! So please, just SHUT UP for a little bit!" At this point, the pair of them had reached the Gryffindor common room; Hermione flung herself into an armchair and burst into tears.
Ron, who was extremely shocked that Hermione had yelled at him like that, stood frozen in front of Hermione; his mouth hung open.
After staring at Hermione for a minute, Ron half-leaped onto the arm of the chair Hermione sitting on, and threw his arms around her; he comforted her in the best way he could.
Hermione, grateful to have a pair of comforting arms around her, and buried her head into Ron's robes.
Over an hour passed before a harassed-looking Professor McGonagall entered the somber Gryffindor common room. All eyes in the room followed McGonagall as she walked towards the middle of the common room, and stood in front of the fire; she solemnly gazed at the sad and confused faces before speaking.
Hermione, who had fallen asleep on Ron's shoulder, awoke when Ron shifted his weight a little bit.
"W-what's h-happening?" she asked Ron quietly. Not a word had been spoken in the last 45 minutes in the Gryffindor common room, and a few curious faces turned to see who had broken the silence.
"I don't know, Hermione," Ron whispered back, staring at McGonagall.
"The Triwizard Tournament was meant to be exciting and fun, for all three schools that participated in it this year. However, tonight made this goal impossible," Professor McGonagall began, in a slightly shaky voice. "Many of the events that have occurred tonight are still unknown, and countless wizards have begun working tirelessly to figure out what has happened. However, the body of Cedric Diggory was returned to Hogwarts earlier this evening-"
Several people gasped at the mention of Cedric Diggory; although everyone knew of his death, just the slightest mention of his name sent many into uncontrollable tears.
"-Harry Potter has not returned, and I urge all of you to continue to search for him."
At Professor McGonagall's words about Harry, silent tears started to fall down Hermione's already tear-streaked face.
After a slight pause, when no one said a word and the only thing that could be heard in the common room was the sobbing of a handful of students.
"Professor Dumbledore will address the school tomorrow at breakfast," Professor McGonagall continued, her voice becoming more and more unstable. "Until then, all students are required to stay in their assigned common rooms unless advised otherwise by a teacher." McGonagall turned away from the students before wiping a tear away from her eye. Quietly and quickly, she walked out of the common room without another word.
The fire had begun to die down, seeing as it was in the early hours of the morning; however, every Gryffindor continued to sit in semi-darkness. Hermione continued to cling to Ron for comfort. Ginny, who had been sitting a corner by herself, holding her knees to her chest, dragged herself over to where Ron and Hermione sat. Both Ron and Hermione moved so that Ginny could sit on the other side of the chair; Ron wrapped his arm around his terrified, crying sister.