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Chapter 12- At Home

Willa had forgotten how it felt; the moment you realize you've lost someone you love. The instant shock, the slight drop of the mouth, the inevitable tears that would just start without you having to even try. You forget where you are, and the people around you and you're just lost in the blackness of your own mind, the nothingness; you don't know what to think. Your mind is either not moving, or moving too fast.

In an instant, Willa was in the ring once again, kneeling by Cedric's lifeless body, Amos by her side. His face was covered in smeared dirt and wounds some of which still oozed blood. Willa covered her mouth with a hand. He looked absolutely horrid. The students in the stands were dead silent at first but began to scream and gasp in shock of what they realized they were seeing.

"Cedric!" she screamed frantically. "Cedric!"

"That's my son! My son!" Amos cried.

"I don't think he's dead," Harry said breathlessly and frantically. He seemed to have been crying. "He's either frozen or unconscious."

Professor Moody came out of nowhere and tried to pull Willa from the ground and away from Cedric. She yelped a scram and struggled within his firm grasp.

"Miss Hardcastle, you are not to be here!" he yelled at her.

"Alastor!" Dumbledore shouted. "Let her go. She has every right to be here."

Moody let go of the shaking Willa who dropped to her knees again.

The news that he was not dead had no effect on Amos or Willa. To them, he was not responding to anything and his eyes looked petrified. Upon this news from Harry, the professors called urgently for Madame Pomfrey. In a flash, she was at Cedric's side with several other nurses all ready to assist in any way they could. Cedric was put on a stretcher and wheeled off with Willa and Amos following.

Cedric was placed in a hospital bed and instantly surrounded by the same several nurses. Amos and Willa were torn away from Cedric and told to stay outside of the room and out of the way. By this point Willa's tears flowed continuously and Amos cried silently with tears slowly falling down his cheeks. They stood together outside of the room for an hour or two in silence. Every once and a while Willa would choke out a sob and lean into Amos who would try to do the best he could to comfort her; rubbing her shoulder, hugging her, fatherly things.

Willa felt like her whole world had been shattered. She saw this coming and yet no one had believed her. She couldn't understand why. This whole year and this whole tournament had seemed insane to her and right before it all could have come to an end, it still wasn't over. All the anxiety and stress were still present.

"Mr. Diggory, Miss Willa," Madame Pomfrey said quietly as she stood outside the door to the infirmary. Willa and Amos stood immediately as she walked over to them. Madame Pomfrey instantly noticed the bloodshot and splotchy eyes of Willa's, and Amos's bright pink face and furrowed brow.

"I'm so very sorry you've had to wait some time," she said.

"It's alright," said Amos sullenly.

"Cedric is very unconscious and his heartbeat is rather slow. I wish I was able to tell you what caused all of this but sadly, all I can tell you is that it seems he will be unconscious for a while. You may see him now if you wish."

Willa's stomach churned. She wasn't sure she would be able to handle seeing Cedric this way. Madame Pomfrey saw Willa's nervous look and put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright dearie," she said soothingly. "It just looks like he is sleeping."

Willa nodded and looked at Amos. Amos returned the look and then looked back to the nurse.

"We'd like to see him," he said.

"Right this way," she instructed.

Willa and Amos were led into the infirmary and into the same private room Willa had been placed in just about a week earlier.

"You can take as much time as you'd like," Pomfrey said to the two of them. Amos thanked her and she left the room. It was dark; the sun had seemed to just set and the brightness of the full moon filled Cedric's room.

What surprised Willa was that Cedric looked so peaceful. He had tubes coming out of his arm and tubes providing air in his nose and yet she wasn't frightened. She brushed a finger across his cheek and gasped quietly. He was so pale and cold that Willa didn't understand how he really wasn't dead. She didn't know what to say and neither did Amos. They just sat there, staring at the boy who meant the world to the both of them; who was always so full of life, smiling, laughing and caring. To Willa, the boy who could make her fly, the boy who so many months ago saw her in the owl shop and who since then had cast his own spell all over her. The boy who loved her unconditionally. He looked so peaceful and yet so helpless.

Amos thought of the memories, every moment in his childhood to this day. He was the ever-loyal son, the loving and respectful son who did nothing but bring joy and pride to the Diggory family.

He then looked across to Willa who was stroking Cedric's cheek and hand one at a time, her eyes filling with tears and every so often one gently falling down her face. Here was this sweet young girl he barely knew, who was completely and utterly in love with his son and he with her. There was no doubt in his mind about that. Suddenly, Willa looked up at Amos, her face extremely pained.

"I tried," she whispered. "I tried to save him."

"Willa dear, he's not killed."

"I know but I saw it happen. I knew Cedric and Harry were in trouble. I saw it."

Amos looked at her, confused.

"You saw it?" he asked.

"I'm psychic, Mr. Diggory." Willa watched his jaw slightly drop.

"I told Dumbledore," she continued. "I told every one of those teachers and not one of them believed me."

"Is that true?" Amos asked. Willa nodded.

"That doesn't sound like Albus," he said quietly. Willa shrugged.

"I could have prevented all of this," she said staring at Cedric. Amos walked over to where Willa was sitting and took both of her hands, pulling her up from the chair.

"Listen to me, my dear," he started. "None of this is your fault. You did what you knew was right. That's all you could do."

Willa didn't say anything but tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm going to go talk to Albus," he said letting go of Willa's hands. "I'll leave you two alone. I trust you with his well-being." Amos winked at her, grabbed his jacket and opened the door.

"Goodnight, Willa. I'll see you in the morning."

And with that, he was out of the room and Willa stood in the dead silence and darkness. There was no light except for the moon, and the only light available in the hospital room was a tiny candle that remained unlit.

Willa looked at Cedric and watched his chest rise and fall with each shallow breath. She glided her ivory hand across Cedric's forehead and cheek, hoping that maybe her touch would make him stir, but to no avail. Willa yawned and looked at the clock in the room. It was ten-thirty at night and she was exhausted. Eying the bed, Willa took of her shoes and slowly and carefully slid into the hospital bed next to Cedric and under his blanket. She placed her hand on his chest and snuggled up next to him. She might as well lie down and get some rest while keeping Cedric warm at the same time. In an instant she was asleep and felt at home. Even while in a hospital bed.

A/N- I didn't kill him!! I know this chapter wasn't as long as the others but I didn't want to keep everyone in suspense for too long haha.

Reviews are kindly appreciated!!

~TheatrePirate