It had been months since the second task and my argument with Harry. This time I was reluctant to forgive him so easily since his reasoning seemed a bit thin. I mean I understood that we needed to keep Sirius' sudden residence near Hogsmeade a secret, but I could have gotten George to cover for me. Who knows, maybe George could have even recruited Fred to help since Sirius was involved. I knew no matter how angry Fred was with me that he would never use Sirius against me or out him to the others.
"Good morning," George said sleepily as he and Fred joined us for breakfast later than usual.
"Did you get to sleep late again last night?" I asked, knowing both him and Fred were regularly staying up into the early hours of the morning.
George was vague with the details whenever I asked about it, but I knew he was holding something back. It was driving me mad and I had half a mind to ream Fred out again. I knew he must be to blame for George keeping secrets from me.
George shrugged without answering as he helped himself to some eggs and sausages.
I sighed, returning to reading the Daily Prophet I had out in front of me. I ignored all the horrible articles written by Rita Skeeter but wanted to keep an eye out for anything suspicious like Sirius had warned in his last letter. I knew Sirius had a theory about why Harry had been dragged into the Triwizard Tournament but was also being quite vague on the matter. And then Harry had his run-in with Mr. Crouch who mentioned Voldemort getting stronger; I had been on edge ever since.
"Erm- Marnie?" I heard my name being said quietly from beside me.
I looked over to see that Ron and Harry had taken the empty seats to my right. They were both wearing concerned looks which piqued my interest.
"Everything alright with you two?" I asked, trying not to sound snappish.
Harry and I had formally made up a few weeks after the Sirius incident but I knew I was still holding a grudge. I could tell Harry also knew since he always looked guilty whenever he was around me.
"Can we ask you something?" Ron started in a lowered voice.
"Sure," I replied, putting down the paper that had no news of anything suspicious.
"Can we walk you to class?" Ron continued.
Obviously this was a little more serious than I initially thought. I nodded and let the two boys lead me out of the Great Hall. I also found it strange that Ron seemed to be the one asking me the questions. I hoped he hadn't done anything else stupid to upset Hermione. When news of him going off on Hermione at the Yule Ball had gotten out I had whacked him over the head.
"Have you noticed anything odd about George lately? I know you're still not talking to Fred yet…" Ron started without any prompting once we were walking through the Entrance Hall.
"How do you mean odd?" I asked, wanting to know more specifically what Ron knew before I showed my hand.
I also knew that the twins were never that open about their problems with Ron or really anyone else, so I didn't want to out them just yet. But of course, with the late nights and odd behaviour I was also suspicious of them.
"Well, we caught them in the owlery the other day and it seemed like they might be trying to blackmail someone for money," Ron admitted, looking overly concerned for his brothers.
I frowned and thought to how the twins were still working towards their dream of opening a joke shop. I wasn't nearly as involved since my falling out with Fred but George at least kept me up-to-date on their product ideas. I still helped George out here and there whenever he had questions on potions or charms for a new product idea. I also knew that money was always tight which is why I had invested some of my own funds during the summer, but that had been months ago.
The bet…
I thought to myself about how they had won that bet against Ludo Bagman, but now come to think of it, I don't think they had ever gotten the money. I assumed George would have told me if they had, he probably wouldn't have helped his boasting. Maybe that's why they had been so secretive lately and maybe why blackmail had come up… they wanted their money and life's savings back.
"I'm sure it was a trick Ron, George and Fred wouldn't do something so idiotic like break the law," I replied, thinking this didn't concern the two boys.
But I sure as hell was going to have a word with them- or at least George who could be my proxy to Fred.
"Are you sure Marnie? You can tell us. Plus, Ron is really concerned," Harry stepped in, knowing I was probably leaving them in the dark.
"Well, like you, I don't share everything that's important," I shot back before turning to walk away.
I didn't want to thwart their prying anymore and found the underhanded opportunity to crack at Harry. I knew I should forgive him and act like older sisters were supposed to, but this time I felt hurt. I also felt like I hadn't really received a good enough apology. At least Harry did apologise but I knew he still felt he had done the right thing and I whole-heartedly disagreed.
I stomped off towards Transfiguration and spent the entire lecture looking between the twins who sat in front of me. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense that this is what they had been so secretive about for the entire year. I felt stupid for not figuring it out sooner and a little guilty that maybe I hadn't been paying enough attention to the twins like I always had. Maybe this whole thing with Harry and Cedric being Triwizard champions really was taking up a lot of my time. Was that what Fred was so mad about? I mean wasn't a best friend supposed to figure all of this out sooner and maybe even swallow her own pride to fight for Fred as a friend?
My stomach started to knot so that by the end of class I wasn't very hungry. Instead of going to lunch with the rest of my friends I headed back up to the common room since I didn't have anymore classes for the day. I pulled out my notes and laid them out in front of me on one of the desks set up in the common room. Hardly anyone else was here since lunch was being served. I tried to block out my doubts from this almost year long feud while looking over my revision notes for the upcoming exams.
"Why aren't you downstairs eating?" George asked, taking the seat beside me and looking exhausted.
"I could ask the same of you," I replied, seeing that he looked pretty terrible.
"Fred and I decided our exhaustion won out against our hunger. He's already upstairs but I figured I would come over and check on you first," George said kindly.
I smiled but felt the knots in my stomach tighten.
"Is everything alright?" George asked more concerned now, probably seeing my expression change.
"Did you ever get the money from Bagman?" I asked, changing the subject away from me.
"Hmph, no," George replied sourly.
"Are you blackmailing him?" I asked, figuring there as no other way but to ask him directly.
"I guess my dear younger brother said something to you," George replied, obviously frustrated that Ron had said anything at all.
"Nevermind him. And don't worry I didn't say anything back. But George, come on, I'm your best friend. Why didn't you say anything sooner?" I asked, trying not to show how hurt I was.
George sighed, running his hand over his face in an exhausted manner.
"Merlin how did this year get so screwed up?" he asked more to himself. "You're right Marnie, I should have told you sooner. It just always seems like I'm relaying messages instead of actually talking with you. I miss it being the three of us. I figured if I took the high road and waited long enough that you two would just forgive each other already. Plus, it's the one thing Fred asked me not to say," George admitted.
"He doesn't trust me?" I asked, feeling even more hurt and guilty.
"No, I don't think that's the reason. He just didn't want you to get involved to protect you in case we resorted to anything shady," George said softly, trying to stifle his yawn.
"I'm sorry George. You're right, I should have made up with Fred before this. And I should have realised sooner what was troubling both of you. I've been thinking actually, that maybe I should take some responsibility in all of this. I've been so focused on Cedric and Harry that I haven't really been acting like your best friend," I admitted.
"Maybe you're right, but I think it's naïve of us to think that the three of us won't grow up, start dating and changing along the way. It's not fair of any of us to assume that things will always be like they were when we were eleven," George replied honestly.
"I just want to make up with him," I whispered, bowing my head to hide the surprise tears that were forming.
"I know," George said, standing up to pull me into an embrace.
We stayed like that for several more minutes before I heard George expel another yawn.
"You should go get some sleep," I said, breaking the silence and pulling back from our hug.
"You sure?" George asked looking concerned, but I knew he was also fighting off his will to sleep.
"Yea, I'm alright," I replied, forcing a smile.
George nodded and turned around to walk up towards his dormitory. He ascended the stairs and made his way up towards the top of the tower where the sixth-year dorm was located. It was only on the sixth or seventh step, which was immediately out of sight from the common room where he found Fred sitting with his head in his hands.
"You heard her; she feels guilty about the whole thing. Maybe now you should get over yourself and go apologise," George said quietly so Marnie wouldn't hear that Fred had been eavesdropping.
"I already knew I was an idiot," Fred replied, before standing and heading up towards their dormitory instead of down towards the common room.
George shook his head in frustration but found he was too tired to have this particular argument again.
Xx
"Lily let me be the secret keeper! Sirius is the obvious choice but the wards of our cottage are strong and have kept Joss safe this far," I was begging the red-haired woman in front of me.
I was seated in the now familiar house that I knew was Harry's childhood home. By the look of it, it was nighttime meaning Harry and I were probably tucked in upstairs. James and Lily were sitting in a loveseat opposite of my mother and Sirius. Remus and Peter were also standing in the doorway with concerned expressions. Well, Remus was obviously concerned, Peter looked more twitchy and scared.
"Harry's been chosen by He Who Must Not Be Named to die ever since he learned about that prophecy!" my mother sounded frantic.
"Lena, you're his godmother, you're the next logical choice after Sirius. And we would never risk putting Marnie in harms way," Lily replied seriously while the others nodded.
"We swore to protect him!" she cried and I knew she was talking about Harry.
This must just be days before James and Lily were murdered if they were talking about who was going to be the secret keeper. I knew enough about all of this and felt myself seethe in anger from inside my mother's memory while I waited for Peter to be chosen.
Why in Merlin's name was I watching this memory if I already knew Peter was a traitor? He was the reason two of these people would die, one would be tortured and one would be wrongfully convicted.
"Might I suggest Peter?" I heard Sirius say from beside me.
I screamed inside my mother's head but of course that did nothing to sway her from agreeing.
My anger must have woken me since I sat bolt upright in my bed with sweat dripping down my forehead.
Aster, who now typically slept on me like a cat, was flittering around my face with concern.
I petted their wings with the tip of my finger to show them I was alright before getting up for a glass of water. I could see the sun already peaking over the horizon to show it was early morning. Today as the day of the third task which unsettled me even more about the dream I had had. I wasn't naïve enough to think that these dreams didn't happen without a purpose based on the one's I had had in the past. Plus, I knew Harry was also having dreams about Voldemort and Wormtail which caused the knots in my stomach to tighten further.
I decidedly got into the shower and rinsed the sweat from my body before getting dressed and heading down to the common room. The girls were still sleeping so I left to avoid disturbing them. They would all wake up excited for today's events and I wanted to work up enough nerve to be happy before then. I propped open my copy of Quidditch Throughout the Ages since it was always something I did whenever I was upset as a child. I would always open one of mum's magic books and let myself feel closer to her.
"Hare?" I heard my nickname and nearly dropped my book out of surprise.
I was already through the first section of the book so I knew I had been down in the common room for awhile before the rest of the house woke up.
"Fred?" I gaped, seeing him standing in front of me looking awkward.
He was rubbing his hand over the back of his head and had his gaze downcast towards the ground.
"Tell Cedric good luck for me won't you?" he asked, giving me a shy grin.
I stared at him with a million questions but nothing immediately came to mind on how to answer him. I had gone eight months without hearing the name he only used for me. I wanted to cry in relief and yell at him in frustration all at the same time. But I only continued to gape at him before he turned at the sounds of several footsteps approaching.
"Fred, wait up!" I heard Lee call out before he noticed Fred standing in front of me.
Lee and George stopped and looked over at us in confusion.
"I'm just waiting for you slowpoke," Fred responded to Lee before going over to join the two boys.
"Is everything alright?" George asked more skeptically.
"Yea, let's go I'm starving," Fred answered before leading the way out of the common room.
Lee and George both cast a look at me but I was still too startled to say anything.
"Come on Marnie, we should join them," Alicia said.
I hadn't noticed the girls enter but the three of them were now standing in front of me all ready for breakfast.
I only nodded and let them drag me away from my quiet corner and wild thoughts. Why was Fred talking to me now and over something so trivial? But was it really trivial? I mean, wasn't Cedric the reason we hadn't talked in so long?
I was so confused but now didn't seem like the right time to voice my questions since everyone else was buzzing in excitement over today's event.
"Isn't your dad coming to watch Harry?" Angelina asked once we were all seated for breakfast in the Great Hall.
"Yup, our mum is bringing him along with our brother Bill," George added with a smile.
He looked much better than he had the other day which made me happy. I also noticed Fred looked better rested but was avoiding eye contact with me.
My attention was diverted once the owls arrived to deliver the morning's post. I smiled when I saw a muddy looking letter and unraveled it from one of the school's owl's legs I had been sending to communicate with Sirius.
Keep watching out for him Marnie. You two were always meant to be siblings and I love you each like my own. Stay safe and tomorrow this will all be over.
Snuffles
I smiled before folding the parchment into my pocket to keep it safe and as a comfort for tonight. The champions weren't due to compete until later tonight and I had to get through my exam between now and then.
"Erm- Marnie," Harry asked as he moved up the bench to sit beside me.
Ron was sitting on his other side but Hermione was no where in sight.
"I just wanted to apologise. I know it was stupid, but I was just worried about you and Snuffles. And well, I don't want to compete in the third task with you still mad at me," Harry said honestly.
I looked at him and smiled.
"Don't sound so morbid. Siblings fight right? And I guess I'm overly protective of you when you don't want me to be too right?" I asked, causing Harry to nod more seriously.
I hugged him and felt as he relaxed in my embrace.
"Potter, you're to go into the chamber off the Great Hall once you're done eating your breakfast," McGonagall announced as she walked towards us.
"But, the task isn't until tonight," Harry said a little frantically.
"Your family is here, it's just for you to greet them," McGonagall explained before walking past us towards the staff table.
I smiled. "Dad must be here then!"
"I can't believe he actually came," Harry said quietly.
"Of course he came! You're like a son to him. He's been worried sick about you all year but I also think he's quite proud, especially since you're tied for first place!" I said more enthusiastically to show my support.
"Are you going to come say hi?" Harry asked.
I shook my head. "I have my exam soon, but I'll see him later on."
Before getting up I hugged him one last time and then joined my friends on our way to our Potions exam. I looked back to see Ron having a last word with Harry before Harry headed towards the chamber door at the other end of the room. I looked around but couldn't see Cedric so figured he must already be greeting his father.
"There you are!" I turned around to see that Cedric was actually blocking my path from exiting the Great Hall instead.
My friends all smirked before continuing on down the hall. I even saw Fred give me a small smile before walking out of sight.
"Aren't you going to go see your father?" I asked, causing Cedric to shake his head and smile.
"I wanted to see my beautiful girlfriend before she disappears off to the dungeons," he replied which caused me to blush.
"I guess I should say good luck, and that part of me definitely wants you to come in first place," I admitted with a smirk.
"I'll take what I can get," he replied before bringing me into an embrace.
I could smell his usual scent which always reminded me of being outdoors. His warm embrace enveloped me and like always it was almost like it was only the two of us instead of being in a crowded room full of excited students.
"I've got a surprise for you," he whispered in my ear before pulling back.
"What is it?" I asked eagerly.
"That's a secret. I'll tell you after the event tonight," he replied cheekily.
"That's not fair," I whined.
This caused him to laugh and kiss the tip of my nose.
"It'll be worth the wait. I do have to go see my father now, but I want to see you one last time before tonight. Make sure you come see me before dinner so I can collect my good luck kiss," he said with a wide grin.
"Any excuse for a kiss?" I asked, shaking my head.
He smirked again, kissed my cheek and then walked off to go join Harry and greet his father. I watched as he disappeared through the door before turning around and jogging off towards the dungeons to avoid losing any points for Gryffindor from Snape.
"Dad!" I yelled out once I saw him sitting beside Harry in the Great Hall for lunch.
The exam had taken the entire morning so I was excited to be done another year of Potions with Snape. I figured I did alright enough, probably even better than last year. I had recently decided that I might want to start working at St. Mungo's when I finished school to work on healing research, but I hadn't told anybody about it yet.
"Marnie how are you darling?" my father asked as I ran up to him and folded myself into his embrace.
It felt good to see him, especially since Harry and I had stayed at the school for Christmas.
"Harry showed me around the school with Mrs. Weasley and Bill this morning. It's really something, even better than you and your mother described," he replied a little awestruck.
"Wait until you try the food!" I exclaimed, taking a seat beside him with Harry seated on his other side.
The food soon appeared and I watched as my dad looked around in amazement. I wondered how it must feel to know that this is where his brother had gone while he instead was educated in a muggle school.
"We saw Amos and Cedric on our tour," my dad said casually.
I tried to gauge his tone but couldn't tell his reaction.
"Yes, well Amos should know better than to blame Harry for anything written in the paper!" Mrs. Weasley added from the other side of the table.
I just laughed, knowing all too well how Mr. Diggory typically acted when it came to Cedric. And I also knew Cedric wasn't mentioned nearly as often as Harry in the paper. But my personal opinion was that it was the safer option than being picked apart by that awful reporter.
It was almost special to see my father actually at Hogwarts and to be surrounded my most of my family and friends. When I noticed it was almost time for dinner, I looked around the Great Hall to try and find Cedric but couldn't see him. I felt bad for not being able to give him that good luck kiss, but then again he was the one who said he would be in the Great Hall. I'm sure his father had him held up somewhere so I would just have to collect later, when he told me his surprise.
Dinner was served with more courses than usual but I noticed Harry hardly touched his plate. I could tell by my father's worried expression that he noticed as well. Once the dishes disappeared Dumbledore announced for the victor's to follow him out to the grounds and that the rest of us would be assembled five minutes later. I hugged Harry one last time before he went to where Professor Moody was waiting for him. I managed to catch Cedric's gaze as he followed Harry. He smiled and winked at me, causing me to blush furiously when I noticed both Mrs. Weasley and my father had also noticed.
I also hadn't gotten the chance to talk to Fred in all of the commotion but felt this wasn't the right time. Our group was all headed out for the stands.
Ludo Bagman took his usual post as announcer and introduced all of the champions again. My friends and I shouted excitedly for both Cedric and Harry as they were announced for being in first place. I was standing in between Angelina and Alicia with Katie beside us as well. My dad was off to the side with Mrs. Weasley and Bill while the boys were somewhere behind us not too far off. I waved enthusiastically at both Cedric and Harry and smiled at how proud I was for both of them. Despite my fears about Harry being in this tournament and the foreboding dream I had had; I couldn't cast off my excitement that I shared with all my friends.
"Alright on my count- three, two, one!" a shot fired and Harry and Cedric were allowed into the maze.
The maze entrances closed up behind them and I watched as Krum and then Fleur followed shortly after.
"And now we wait," Angelina said as we took our seats.
"Maybe it was a good thing I was unconscious for the last task if it meant I didn't have to wait like this," I replied.
"Yea, except that none of us knew where you were and were worried Flint had stuffed you in another closet or something," Katie replied more severely.
I nodded, understanding that I had made my friends worry quite a few times over the last six years.
It was almost fifteen minutes later when we all saw a red flash shoot up into the air. Fleur was brought out several minutes later by some professors. I watched Madam Pomfrey attend to her wounds but shook my head.
"Please tell me I would have been a better female candidate than her," I remarked a bit offensively.
Fleur didn't seem to have done very well in any of the tasks and it made me annoyed that she would do so poorly after being the only female champion.
My friends nodded but our attention soon jolted back to the maze at the sounds of someone screaming. I shot out of my seat but stood rooted in place. There was nothing I could do, but I knew those were Cedric's screams.
Angelina and Alicia both grabbed onto my hands and squeezed before gently pulling me down into my seat. None of us said anything as we continued staring at the hedge in front of us and prayed for the whole thing to be over. I took back my previous wish, it was much better coming up soaking wet from the Black Lake if it meant I didn't have to sit here and worry.
Another red spark shot up into the air minutes later and again the professors went in and came back with Viktor Krum looking stunned.
"That means Hogwarts wins!" Lee shouted, causing the crowd to become more rowdy and excited.
But Harry and Cedric didn't come back as the minutes rolled on.
"Merlin, what is taking them so long!" I said, feeling uneasy that so much time had passed.
Suddenly, there was a snap in the air and I looked up to see someone laying on the ground.
"Harry? Harry's back!" I heard excited murmurs around but no one was first to shout out in celebration.
Something was off. I stood up to see if it was in fact Harry but instead felt a pair of hands on my shoulders as someone hopped over my seat and came to stand in front of me.
"Fred?" I asked, surprised for the second time that day to see him so close.
"What's going on Fred?" I asked, feeling the knots in my stomach tighten worse than before.
"You don't need to see this," Fred whispered, pulling my head into his chest.
"Fred, knock it off, what's happening!" I shouted, trying to pry myself from his embrace.
That's when I heard the whispers.
"He's dead. Cedric Diggory's dead."
"Fred, let me go! They're lying. What's going on Fred! LET ME GO!" I screamed as more people around me started to whisper and sounded more frantic.
But then I heard someone crying in pain. It was the sound of a man who kept calling out to his son. My tears were pouring down my face but Fred kept me tight to his chest.
"Fred, take her out of here!" I heard someone call out through my screams.
I was pretty sure it was my father. It was difficult to make anything else out and even more difficult to move as Fred kept me tight to him. He turned me around so he had his body blocking my view of the maze and wouldn't let me turn. I hit myself against him but someone else was at my other side, keeping me from turning my body. I figured it was most likely George but I was too disoriented. I screamed and sobbed all the way back to the castle until I was gently put down onto one of the couches in the Gryffindor common room. Fred and George sat on either side of me while I cried. Angelina and the others came to sit around us while we waited for someone to come and tell us what was going on. Most of the Gryffindors returned shortly after, probably having been ordered by Professor Dumbledore.
"Marnie, dear," I looked up to see Mrs. Weasley standing in front of me after an indefinite amount of time.
"Where's Harry? Where's my dad? Where's Cedric?!" I shouted, feeling the panic rise up even more.
George moved so that Mrs. Weasley could sit beside of me but Fred kept his hand in mine.
"Your father is with Harry. I don't know all the details but Harry was attacked tonight. He's safe now and is being protected by the staff," Mrs. Weasley explained with deep concern etched across her face.
"Where's Cedric?" I asked more timidly, knowing she had left something important out.
Mrs. Weasley looked at me worriedly.
"Please mum, just tell her," Fred implored his mother quietly.
He tightened his grip on my hand, already knowing the news him mother was about to confess.
"He's dead Marnie," Mrs. Weasley admitted sadly with her own tears falling down her face.
"He can't be dead! He didn't tell me his secret! He wasn't supposed to die! IT'S NOT TRUE!" I sobbed and fell into Mrs. Weasley's lap.
I had been too young when my mother was tortured to remember how miserable I must have felt. But admittedly, I was too cowardly to wish she had died. It was for this very reason that I never wished my mother had died, so that I wouldn't be so utterly heart broken.
XX
So, I knew this was coming from the very beginning. It was the entire reason I chose to include Cedric in my story and a big reason why I even started writing it. I am both excited to have finally written it and heartbroken for Marnie. Thanks as always for everyone who reads this story, it's become a huge project that still gives me a lot of joy to write.