Disclaimer: I don't own stuff. JKR does.

Note: Here's number 3.

Warning: Canon character death.

#3 Ends

The end of the year always accompanied a feeling of sadness in Hufflepuff. The seventh years would be graduating and everyone else's schedule would be changing. It took most of the students an entire year to happily settle into their new systems and become organised. And that would all be changing.

After NEWTS, OWLS and normal exams ended there was parties galore. Each year held a party, the house held a party and Professor Sprout organised another. It was fun, and very Hufflepuff. Everyone hugging and relaxing after exams. Letting all the stress just wash away.

Parties had already been scheduled, the seventh years first. But this year things were different. Cedric Diggory had died, the Dark Lord had , supposedly, returned. The sombre mood definitely put a damper on the festivities.

The four girls and three boys in Cedric's year were quiet and upset. Cho Chang had cried for ages, coming to Hufflepuff for a remembrance celebration. Yet it wasn't as depressing as a funeral.

"He always had something nice to say. And he never really got into fights." Theresa said, to start them off. "He helped me study in Potions and was my partner in second year. Even though it was pretty clear I was going to fail."

Simon laughed as he remembered the incident. "You studied a lot. At least, you claimed you did. And even with all the extra practice your practical skills weren't very good. But Cedric said he'd help."

"I dropped the ingredients in at the wrong times. And we got in a fight about what came first." Theresa told them. "He was a good sport, still talked to me. Even though I wrecked his chances at getting a decent mark in Potions."

Cho gave a sad little chuckle. "Cedric never cared too much about marks. He wouldn't have fit into Ravenclaw. But all the Ravenclaws got along with him, they accepted him!" Theresa rubbed the girl's back as she began to cry again. Cedric's touch would have been more comforting, but it wasn't available.

Cedric's girlfriend and peers continued to talk late into the night. Sharing funny stories of the time that he accidently turned his clothing invisible in charms, and tales of his Quidditch matches and the only game that Hufflepuff had ever won. And even though they'd won, Cedric had demanded a rematch. Said the dementors made things unfair.

"Oh my goodness, you're still up?" Professor Sprout asked when she came in to secure the house for the night. It was the wee hours of the morning and even though exams were over school rules were still in effect.

Cho got up quickly and picked up the photos she'd brought of Cedric. "Sorry professor. I'll be leaving now." She headed to the door, stopping and turning back before leaving, "thank you. I really needed that."

"We'll got to bed too now professor." Theresa told her head of house. "I didn't mean to stay up so late. We just started talking and the hours slipped by."

Professor Sprout smiled in understanding. Soon her students would be leaving her, she wouldn't see them everyday and they'd move to their own lives. And she knew what it was like to lose a friend. Cedric had been popular, kind, friendly. The kind of person who attracted lots of friends. And now it was a bad thing. Too many people upset, too many goodbyes that had to be made.

"Don't worry," Pomona reassured them, "there's no reason why you can't speak about your friends. Remember him in life, his love and energy. And remember him forever." She smiled as they slowly gathered up their supplies and proceeded up to their dormitories.