Disclaimer: Not mine.
"Please, Madam Pomfrey. I really – I need to see her, please?"
It was to this that I woke up, opening my eyes slowly and blinking against the blinding white light of what I assumed was the hospital wing.
What happened?
I turn my head to the side, still trying to gain focus but I recognized Ron's red hair and Hermione's frizzy hair.
Was Tonks still alive?
Was Harry okay?
What happened?
"I'm afraid that's impossible –"
"Please. . . . I won't wake her up. I won't even touch her if that's what you want. . . . I just want to see her. Please."
". . . . Very well. But be quiet. There are other patients here."
I heard Madam Pomfrey move swiftly to her office and then a chair was pulled up, swiftly, by my bed. I felt his fingertips brush against my hand before he wrapped them around it, pulling it up to his lips and kissing it.
"Evie," Cedric whispered, just wanting to say my name, just wanting to be there.
And I think that's when I realized that I had been stupid. He was here just because he wanted to be. Why did I not think he loved me?
"I'm sorry," I said, my voice hoarse. I turned my head to him, happy to see him again, with his bright brown eyes and that soft, wavy, brown hair. Oh, gosh, I had missed him. "I should have – said something. I was hurting you . . . but I love you Ced –"
He pressed his lips against mine before I could even finish his name. 'It's okay' he kept murmuring, kissing me over and over again.
Oh, gosh. I really, really had missed this.
"I really am sorry," I whispered as he leaned back.
"It's fine, Evie," he told me. "I'm sorry too. I don't ever want to lose you."
And if I had anything to say about it, he wouldn't.
"Miss Evelyn, you have a visitor," Madam Pomfrey said.
I froze from where I was putting on my socks, ready to get out of this place after nearly a week. The feast was tonight and I was going to meet Cedric, the boys, and my friends outside. Surely they would be out there.
But when I looked up, I was surprised to see Dumbledore standing at the door. He smiled at me, his eyes twinkling. "Hello Miss Josephs," he said moving forward.
"Headmaster," I said, nodding.
He sat in the chair next to my bed and seemed to be contemplating something. He smiled again. "You did very well at the Ministry of Magic. For someone so young, you seem to have a great sense of responsibility and loyalty. I'm surprised you weren't placed in Gryffindor."
I gave a slight smile, deciding not to say that the hat had contemplated Gryffindor but had felt Ravenclaw might be a better choice.
"You saw, at the Ministry, a group of wizards and witches," Dumbledore continued. "I believe you had a moment to meet Miss Nymphadora Tonks, who sends her greetings by the way. This group is known as the Order of the Phoenix. We are a few select witches and wizards chosen to protect the wizarding world in times of trouble such as these . . . and I would like you to join."
"Me?" I asked surprised.
"Yes. You have proven yourself very skilled and you are of age now. Of course, we are hoping to end this war soon, but an addition of your caliber to the Order might do us some good. Will you accept the position?"
I didn't even really have to think about it. I wanted to do something, always have. "Yes."
"Excellent," Dumbledore smiled, standing. "You will receive further instructions this summer. Now, I believe Mr. Potter is waiting in anticipation to see what we are talking about."
At those words, the door creaked open more and Harry peaked in, looking a little guilty for eavesdropping. Dumbledore nodded. "I'll leave you to it then."
He left and Harry walked in, giving me a small smile. "Hey."
"Hey," I said, grinning. "How are you?"
"Better, I suppose," he said pulling himself up onto my bed, though it was easy to see that wasn't true.
"I know how it is," I told him softly. "To lose someone. So I'm not going to give any of that stuff about how you'll always have them in your heart because I know how much that doesn't mean anything after it first happens."
Harry laughed slightly. "Thanks."
"But . . . you have to believe that it'll be alright, eventually." I looked up at the ceiling, smiling slightly. "You have to keep telling yourself that it'll be okay. You have to tell yourself that you have to get up the next morning because that person would have wanted you too. You have to tell yourself that you have to keep living for them."
I looked down at Harry, who was smiling at me. "Thanks," he said, again, this time softer, more sincere.
Smiling, I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, giving him a squeeze. "Any time. We'll probably be seeing a lot of each other for a while."
"Miss new recruit for the Order of the Phoenix," he said, smiling.
There was a knock at the door and Cedric peeked in, grinning. "Hey."
Both Harry and I grinned at him. "Hey."
Cedric and I had a long, long talk. I was pretty sure he still didn't like how close Harry and I were but he tolerated it because he knew now that I really did love him. And I think it was getting easier for him to see that Harry and I had a family relationship.
"Thought I'd come check on you," Cedric said, smiling. "The others are about to have a cow and I think Adam's gone a little loopy from lack of food."
I laughed. "Alright, I'm coming. You should go too," I added to Harry, who was watching the two of us. "I'm sure your friends are worried about you."
"Yeah," Harry said, hopping off the bed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Er, if I don't see you –"
"You will," I told him and he grinned.
"Have a nice summer then, Cedric," he said and then he left.
"You," Cedric said, wrapping his arms around me, "are going to be a good mother someday."
I snorted. Mother? "I doubt it. He's two years younger than me. I really doubt I'm going to be able to get through to a two-year-old."
"Yes well, I think differently." Cedric kissed me softly. "So . . . Order of the Phoenix?"
"Hmm, top secret stuff," I told him, grinning.
"Oh I'm so sure."
"Well . . . I can't tell you now, anyway. We've got people waiting on us."
Cedric ginned and took my hand in his. And, for the first time in a really long time, I was happy.
I was really happy.
A/N: So it's not over yet. Two more chapters. Stay tuned.