Cedric's funeral was held on Wednesday afternoon. During the funeral, Ginny felt tears spring into her eyes as she remembered the image of Harry landing on the ground with Cedric's dead body beneath him. Initially she thought that they were okay. She had thought Harry was just squishing Ced or something. But when she moved closer, she saw what it was and she heard Cho Chang screaming. She would have screamed herself but she felt bile rise up is in her throat. Something terrible had happened. It was Cedric's body- his dead body. Harry was also injured but for that moment, Ginny's mind had remained solely focused on Cedric.

Now at his funeral, days later, Ginny still couldn't quite process it. Her brain had gone into shock and she had replayed the images of him kissing her on her cheek over and over and over again. There was the kiss on the cheek he had given her at the beginning of the tournament, when he had first been selected; there was the one they had shared in the secret room where he had promised to be with her once the tournament had ended; and the one that had haunted her the most- when he had kissed her right before the third task in the empty hallway and she had told him she didn't want to wait until the tournament was over. Ginny replayed the scenes countless times in her head every day. It hurt so much to even think of Cedric. She hadn't yet cried since she had spoken to Harry- it was like she couldn't remember how. She hadn't been eating, and she'd barely been sleeping. The only other person she knew who was acting like her was Harry. However, she suspected it had a lot to do with the reawakening of Riddle.
Ginny looked over at him now, and saw that he was watching Dumbledore's memorial speech intently. She wasn't listening to Dumbledore at all. She had heard the story from Harry himself about what had happened in the graveyard. There was an aching in her chest that would not subside. It was only slightly alleviated when Harry was around her. He made things bearable because he knew what losing someone felt like and he had been there when it happened. They had spent most of their afternoons doing homework together in the common room. Harry had suggested going to the library, but Ginny had blatantly refused. It reminded her too much of the afternoons she had spent with Cedric in there.

So she knew Riddle was back. Harry hadn't cried and he had avoided most people. One evening in the dormitory, Ginny had walked in on Rebecca and Julia calling Harry a liar and she had her wand out, ready to Bat Bogey Hexed them into space, if Hermione had not walked in and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" at her wand, causing it to fly out of Ginny's wand to fly out of her grasp.

Now the results of people's gossip was causing Harry to push food around his plate at meal times in order to make it seem as if it had been eaten. If this was how she was feeling, how could Harry be feeling? He had suffered through too much and her parents had come to the funeral seeing they had both known

Cedric from long ago. He had been there when Riddle...Ginny clenched her fists and swallowed hard. Riddle. She hated him. He'd used to her to get to Harry He'd taken control of her, possessed her completely and taken away her will, and now he'd taken Cedric away from her, too. Riddle. The very thought of his name made her blood boil.

What pained her most of all is that she regularly wondered if something would have happened between herself and Ced. If they had gotten together, would they have stayed together? Would they have ended up married with a happy family? She remembered his smile and his charm. She remembered how kind he had been to her, even around her brothers, which showed that he treated her with respect. That was the kind of guy she should have been with, and now she would never get the chance.

When the funeral came to an end, there was a memorial tea afterwards. The rows of chairs disappeared to be replaced with the usual tables laden with tea and cakes. But the black draping remained where the house flags used to fly. Ginny made it a point to give her condolences to Mr and Mrs Diggory. She waited until most people had told them they were sorry for Cedric's loss. When there were no longer crowds, She hesitantly made her way towards Cedric's parents feeling nervous. She didn't even know what she would say to them.

Ginny was completely surprised when she murmured softly, "Mr and Mrs Diggory?" Mrs Diggory turned around and wrapped her in her arms tightly, "Oh Ginny! I'm so glad you're here! I was looking for you but I couldn't spot you in the crowd." She released Ginny but kept a firm hand on her shoulder. Mrs Diggory had completely transformed since Ginny had last seen her. She looked worn and thin-her eyes red from crying probably non-stop. Her hair was greying, but she could still see some resemblance of the Mrs Diggory she remembered from her childhood, the happy, carefree woman whom Cedric got is lust for life from.

Ginny swallowed hard and whispered, "I'm so, so sorry about Cedric. You really have no idea how much he meant to me." Mrs Diggory nodded and replied, "I know, dear. In the December holidays he couldn't stop talking about you. I knew that it was more than in just a platonic way. I'm sorry things never worked out between you." At this Mrs Diggory shot a distasteful look beyond Ginny's shoulder. Ginny turned to see the glare pointed at Cho, who was obviously watching their conversation. Cho turned around quickly to talk to Michael Corner and Mrs Diggory sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't resent her, but I know how unhappy she made him when they were together. I think the worst part was that she was keeping him from you."
Ginny felt stunned. She hadn't known that Cedric had told his mother everything about her. She glanced to the side and noticed his father in deep conversation with Dumbledore. She smiled blandly and whispered, "Mrs Diggory, you should know that Cedric and I did end up being together." Her wrinkled face lit up infinitesimally and she gasped, "Really? For how long?" Ginny sighed, "Not long enough. He asked me out the night before the third task because Cho had finally agreed to split."

Mrs Diggory nodded, as if soaking it all in before replying, "I'm sorry, my dear. You must really miss him." Ginny nodded sadly and swallowed, "All the time." Cedric's mother sighed and whispered with tears in her eyes, "I understand. He should have lived a lot longer." Ginny nodded sombrely and Mrs Diggory pulled her into an empty area of the hall before whispering, "Do you believe what Mr Potter claims about...You-Know-Who being back?" Ginny nodded and reassured her, "One hundred percent Mrs Diggory. Harry would never lie about something like this and I can promise you that because he's my best friend."
Mrs Diggory nodded grimly, "I'm sorry, I had to ask. The idea of it being true is hard to come to terms with." Ginny nodded in sympathy and whispered, "I promise you, he didn't go down without a fight. In fact he actually stood up to..." Ginny had been about to say, 'Riddle,' but she realised that Mrs Diggory wouldn't know who that was so she finished, "You-Know-Who's henchmen." His mother nodded and whispered, "Thank you, Ginny. Is that what Mr Potter said?" Ginny nodded seriously.

Suddenly she heard someone calling her name from behind and she turned to see her mother rushing up to them. Since they had been family friends for many year, her mother and father had insisted that they attend Cedric's funeral. However, Ginny also had a sneaky suspicion that it was also to check up on herself and Harry. Ron must have reported that they weren't coping so well.

Her mother apologised sincerely to Mrs Diggory and they ended up talking about memories from the past. Ginny spotted Harry several feet away, talking to her father. She excused herself, walked to Harry and asked quietly when their conversation had paused, "How are you doing?" Harry shrugged and whispered, "I'd like to leave soon if that's okay with you?" Ginny nodded and her father sighed, "It's so tragic. I really can't believe this happened to poor Cedric. I can't believe that You-Know-Who is back. I don't want to believe it." Ginny raised her eyebrow sceptically and replied, "That's probably why everyone else is saying that Harry's a liar." Her father nodded sadly and shook his head, "They don't want to accept it either. It's a horrifying truth. I hear at the ministry that Cornelius is in disbelief, too." Ginny glanced at Harry worriedly, but he didn't seem surprised by this piece of news. Maybe he knew already.

At that point, her mother came rushing up to them and she whispered, "Ginny, Mrs Diggory wants to chat to you again quickly please and Harry, too." Ginny's eyes widened in surprise, but she pulled Harry's elbow and they headed their way towards Mrs Diggory.

Once they reached her, Cedric's mum looked at Harry and murmured, "Thank you for coming, Mr Potter. I would like to tell you that I believe your story about…You-Know-Who being back. I don't believe you had any part in Cedric's death." Harry seemed astounded as he blinked furiously and replied, "Uh…thank you Mrs Diggory. I really appreciate it." She nodded and replied, "Cedric said you helped him out in the first task, so I see no reason as to why you would want to do something like this. Also, you have this fine young lady next to you to thank. Keep her close, Mr Potter. She's a fierce friend." Harry nodded dumbfounded and whispered, "I will, and thank you. And I'm so sorry for your loss."

Mrs Diggory smiled grimly and then turned to Ginny before saying, "Ginny, I'd really rather appreciate it if you could come and visit me in the holidays? There are some things I want to show you." Ginny felt a mixture of feelings swell up inside. She wasn't sure how she felt about being in Cedric's family home without him being there. The holidays were fast approaching and she wasn't sure if she could handle it. She knew Cedric would want her to though, so she nodded and swallowed, "Of course, Mrs Diggory. Just let me know when suits you."
Mrs Diggory said, "Thank you, my dear. I appreciate it. I'm really rather exhausted. I haven't been sleeping much lately. I think I'll ask Amos if we can leave shortly. Have a good holiday, the both you." She nodded at them before turning to her husband and saying, "Amos, I think we better get going." He nodded as they both thanked Dumbledore.

Ginny started towards her parents before Harry caught her arm and said, "I think I'm going to hit the sack. Say goodbye to them for me will you?" Ginny nodded and smiled bleakly, "I hope you get some sleep. You look as tired as I feel." Harry nodded and whispered, "I probably am." Ginny watched him walk away from her and she watched some faces turn in his direction, many with scowls plastered across them. She felt so bad for Harry in that one moment that she said goodbye to her parents too, and hurried on after him.