Her footsteps, following at a fast pace behind me, echoed as we walked down the chilly halls of the dungeons. She had entered my office with a desperate gleam in her eyes, and though I knew this wouldn't be easy on her, I understood her desire to be near Cedric again. After all, I had clutched Lily to me for what could've been hours after finding her in Godric's Hollow. That night had shattered any remanent hope I'd possessed, and Lily's eyes had been blank and cold as I pleaded with her to wake up, no matter how impossible I knew it was for her to do so. Rose had been screaming and crying behind me in her crib, blood dripping into her eyes from the new lightning-shaped cut that seemed to have been carved into her forehead. I'd arisen at the sight of it, laying Lily delicately back onto the rubble-scattered floor, and with shaking hands tried to heal the cut to no avail. Chubby arms reached up to me as she continued to cry, wanting to be held and comforted by me, a stranger and the one responsible for not keeping her mother alive.
I'm brought out of my reverie by Rose's voice behind me, "Is Sirius really going to be okay? Have you seen him?"
"As the headmaster told you, Potter, he will make a full recovery in time. Though why you would be worried about Black when you've managed to land yourself in the hospital wing on two separate occasions over the course of a few days is beyond me."
She nodded her head slowly, clearing her throat as she did so, not responding to my jab at all. Probably distracted by thinking of what was to come.
We continued walking in silence, coming to the room where I knew the house elves had been working to clean Cedric's body. I knocked, and a house elf with large, green eyes pulled the door open.
"Dobby…" Rose breathed out behind me, coming forward to bend down to the elfs height. The elf had obviously been crying and had a somber expression on his face, but seemed to light up spectacularly at the sight of Rose.
"Professor McGonagall said we was to be expecting you today, Rose Potter."
"Yes Dobby. I've come to see Cedric."
Dobby nodded, and took Rose by the hand, leading her into the room. Their procession stopped suddenly, and I knew she had clapped eyes on his body. She turned around quickly, facing towards me and the open door, her free hand rising to cover her mouth in a tight grip and her eyes watering with unshed tears.
"Potter." I moved forward quickly, beginning to lead her back out the door. As I touched her back, I could feel her shaking and rapid breathing beneath my hand.
"Come, Potter, you don't need to be here," I said, trying to be as gentle as I could be. Her body and mind had been under such stress these past few days, I had been so tempted to refuse her when she first came to ask me to show her to Cedric.
"No, no, no…" She shook her head rapidly, red hair swooshing across her face. "Just…give me a minute" she requested unsteadily.
I stepped back from her, as did Dobby, and looked to the wooden table where Cedric's stiff body lay. He looked peaceful, his eyes shut and arms resting at his sides as he lay in simple grey robes. I could smell all the potions traditionally used in the embalming process, and noted that at first glance he would appear to be sleeping to anyone who hadn't been at the tournament that night.
Rose seemed to have gathered herself then, and she turned around to face Cedric once more. She approached slowly, raising her hand to stroke his hair softly once she had reached him. She was crying as she did so, and I clenched my fists at her masochistic tendencies, no matter if I knew she needed to do this if she were ever to feel some closure.
"I'm sorry…" She almost whined out, her voice breaking and her head falling to rest in the space between his shoulder and neck. "I'm so sorry…"
She rested there for awhile, and I felt the need to look away as I always did at such overt displays of emotion. But I didn't, I knew I had to watch her in case she needed help.
She took his hand carefully, flinching at the coldness of his skin before wrapping his hand around hers. She looked down on him for some time, her lungs heaving as she tried to take in air despite her weeping. Finally, she pushed his hair back from his forehead, gently kissing him before pulling away. I heard her whisper "Forgive me…" before turning and nearly running out the door behind me, not turning to look back at all. She shoulder checked me in her hurry to leave the room, and though I rushed out behind her, she had run off.
"Miss Potter!" I yelled after her, though I knew she was long gone.
"She wants to be alone, sir." Dobby had appeared at my side, looking at the hall that Rose had disappeared down moments ago. "But I don't think she should be right now…"
His eyes rose as if to convey the seriousness of his meaning to me, and I wondered how he had developed such a bond with Rose.
I inclined my head towards him, but instead of following Rose, I headed to the headmaster's office. Whatever he might say, I was not the comforting type, and I knew he needed to be the one to speak to her.