Chapter 17: The Death Toll Rises One Notch

My head hurt like hell when I woke up. Viktor was beside me. Can I just faint again?

"Good morning."

Ianthé suddenly rose, but Viktor held her shoulders, "What happened inside the maze?"

"The professor with the eyeball put me under the Imperius curse. He told me he will kill you if I don't follow his orders. I was forced to curse Fleur and Cedric, but Harry cursed me and I lost consciousness…"

"Viktor, I'm sorry…" Ianthé sobbed and cried on his shoulder.

"I should be the one apologizing…"

"No, I ruined our friendship…"

"You didn't… We still are friends… aren't we?"

Ianthé looked up to him, "We are."

"There… You still going to Bulgaria this summer?"

Ianthé nodded.

"I heard from my mother that your parents will leave you with us."

A huge bubble of hope burst in my heart. The wounds that were usually there suddenly disappeared as if nothing ever happened.

"Théa! (This was the nickname Edmond called me when we were still young.) Viktor! Are you both okay? I heard from the professors that Ianthé fainted while bringing you here."

"Eddie (just to spite him), we're fine!"

"Bad news guys. When Potter reappeared, he was clutching the Triwizard cup and also Diggory's dead body. He even refused to let go of it."

"What happened?"

Nikki answered, "Nobody knows exactly. Dumbledore's gonna announce it at today's lunch before going home. He cancelled the exams. The Hufflepuff lot, including Diggory's girlfriend Cho Chang, were hysterical."

Dumbledore clarified Cedric Diggory's death. According to him, You-Know-Who is back. I'm terribly afraid of what will happen. I have always believed what Harry Potter and Dumbledore said, but the question is, will the rest of the wizarding community believe them? I also fear which side will my family side on. I know my father and he has the whole purity of blood mania, but he also worked hard to build a good life for the whole family and he might refuse to let go of it. He knows the Dark Lord is just some megalomaniac half-blood. Yes, I too was shocked when I heard it directly from my father, You-Know-Who, the one with the pureblood propaganda, is a half blood. Meanwhile, the rest of the school weren't sure of the Headmaster's announcement.

"Remember to write!" Ianthé overheard Viktor say to Hermione Granger.

I felt my insides twist, but I try to fake a smile at the rest of my classmates. I saw Hermione talk to Viktor in one corner. I also saw Ron Weasley scowl at them. It seemed like I wasn't the only one victimized by the green-eyed monster. I then saw Viktor sadly nod at her. I secretly smiled and climbed inside a carriage with Nikki.

Viktor ran to the already-moving carriage, "Remember, meet my mother at the train station. Your things are already there!"

Ianthé smiled at him, "Do vizhdana, Viktor!"

Viktor waved at the carriage until it disappeared into the horizon.

Author's notes: "Do vizhdana" means "Till I see you again." in Bulgarian. Gosh I'm going barmy!