We had an assembly at school the next day in honor of Cedric Diggory. Everyone was there as far as I could tell.
No one was making jokes or sleeping like they usually did during assembly. Everyone was wide awake. Everyone was paying attention. Everyone knew Cedric and everyone at some point in time had a good encounter with him. Even I did.
Although Cedric had grabbed the TriWizard cup at the same time as Harry, Cedric was no longer alive to accept his prize so it was all given to Harry.
Harry was trying his best to get rid of the prize money, but everyone felt it was his. He couldn't keep it. It was guilt money.
After the assembly I went to find Cho. She would obviously be taking this harder than anyone else.
I found her crying in the library holding the flower that Cedric had given her on the night of the Yule Ball. A spell had obviously stopped it from wilting.
"Cho," I said softly. She turned and looked up at me.
"What?" she asked coldly.
"I know I usually taunt you and call you names but now I see you're just a normal person. You're not as dense as I thought you were. You have feelings and emotions like a normal person and I'm sorry I had to find that out like this," I said. A tear ran down Cho's face. I went and sat next to her. "Diggory may have been a conceited ass at times but he only ever helped Harry this year and well, what I guess I'm trying to say is. . . I miss him too."
Cho sniffled and then hugged me.
"Thank you Hannah," she said letting me go.
"How did that flower live so long?" I asked. Cho chuckled.
"He put a spell on it. As long as he lived, so would that flower and it would never wilt or anything. I had with me at the tournament and I knew something was wrong because a petal fell from it," Cho said.
"I wish none of this had happened," I said. "We can't have one year where someone doesn't die or someone gets kidnapped or someone breaks into our school in attempt to murder someone else."
"But that's what's so special about our school. Everyone in here should be insane. I mean Sirius Black, the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, that tournament? How have we not gone crazy? I mean how many schools get dementors and dragons and still manage to keep their students perfectly in touch with reality," Cho said.
"And what about our unlucky streak of Defense Against the Dark Arts Teachers? We've already lost four, four years in a row," I said.
"I say it's jinxed. I mean Quirrel died, Lockhart was a fake and lost his memory, Lupin was a werewolf and Moody wasn't even really Moody. He was really a murderer sent here to kill you," Cho said.
"That is some bullshit," I said. Cho and I both laughed.
"Well there is a bright side to this," Cho said.
"Really?" I asked
"Schools out tomorrow instead of next Friday," Cho said.
"I guess that is a bright side," I said.
Cho chuckled.
"I'm glad you've warmed up to me," Cho said.
"Me too. . . You're not as horrible as I thought you were. You actually cared about Cedric. You weren't using him to make yourself look good," I said. "In the meantime, I'd better get going. Dumbledore wanted to see me. I just meant to check up on you first."
"Thank you Hannah," Cho said.
In Dumbledore's Office
"I apologize Hannah," Dumbledore said.
"For what? You haven't done anything wrong," I said.
"I put you and your brother in danger this year and I'm sorry," he said.
"How?" I asked.
"I had the power to say that Harry couldn't compete. Instead I decided to see how things played out. If not for that decision, Cedric may still be here," Dumbledore said.
"Professor. . . Don't blame yourself for what happened to Cedric. It's not your fault. Knowing Voldemort he would've a way to get Harry into that tournament and we would've had the same out come as we do now," I said. "You were only doing what you thought needed to be done."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Strange to see me giving you words of wisdom isn't it?" I asked.
"I supposed it is," Dumbledore said. "But I still have mine for you. We have just witnessed the return of Voldemort. This means that dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we will have to make the choice between what is right, and what is easy."
"Always speaking in riddles aren't you? You try to confuse me but I guess I'll figure it out myself. . . One of these days," I said.
Back in Gryffindor Tower
We were all sitting around eating chocolate frogs and looking at cards. I decided to take it easy.
"Dude look what I found!" Emily said handing me two cards.
They were cards of Harry and me.
"This is me and you," I said to Harry.
"Wicked!" Harry said.
"Not wicked. Have you seen any royalties from these cards?" I asked.
"I'm sure they transfer the royalties to our Gringotts accounts," Harry said.
"Alright but if not I've got some words for these people," I said.
"Well we'll be leaving Hogwarts tomorrow," Parvati said. "We'll miss you on the train ride."
"I'll miss you guys on the walk back up to the school, and the boat ride across the Black Lake, and the walk across the Draw bride and up the 12 flights of stairs to the kitchen and while I'm eating pastries with Dobby and Winky the house elves," I said.
"That's so touching," Harry said.
"But I'll see some of you this summer. Like, Ron, I always see Ron so no worries there. Harry, that depends on if Ron kidnaps you again. Hermione, as long as she doesn't go skiing in the Alps with her parents, and Parvati, I should see you when I go shopping in Diagon Alley because I always see you there," I said.
"Same thing this summer as the last I suppose?" Harry asked.
"Well I know if Bulgaria makes it back to the world cup this year we're going because Hermione's friendly with Viktor. And as for Harry, you'll find someway out of the Dursley's house. You always do. Ron you'll end up with Harry some how. Hermione. . . Going skiing with your parentals," I said.
"We never went skiing in the Alps," Hermione said. I shrugged. "And what pray tell, are you doing this summer Hannah?"
"Well I'll be at Hogwarts, then the last 2 weeks of July I'm going over Draco's house after that I'll probably end up at the Burrow with my best friend Ron and somehow Harry and by mere coincidence you," I said.
"You're spending two weeks with Draco at his house?" Ron asked.
"Yes I am. How else do you think I got him to cheer for Harry at the tournament," I said.
"And who's idea was this?" Harry asked.
"His, and I agreed," I said.
". . . You are not to share the same bed as him, nor are you allowed to do anything of that nature with him," Harry said.
"Honestly, I can't believe you'd think I'd do something like that," I said.
"It's nothing to do with you. It's all about Malfoy. He got you to like him. Got you to go out with him, got you to come over his house, lord only knows what else he could convince you to do," Harry said.
"Color me offended," I said.
The Next Day Before Everyone Left to Go Home
There were hugs going around from the British, the French and the Bulgarians. We were saying goodbye to our new found friends.
Ron got a kiss of the cheek from both the Delacour sisters, Hermione got Viktor's address and promised to write. Harry and I got a hug from everyone for no apparent reason.
After hugs were exchanged it was just the four of us.
"I guess everything's going to change now isn't it?" Hermione asked. Harry sighed deeply and placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"Yes," he said. I laughed.
"You thought he was gonna say no. But he said yeah... He totally tricked you," I laughed.
"Hannah may never change however," Ron said.
"Do you think we'll ever have a quiet year at Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"No," Hermione and I replied.
"But what's Hogwarts without a few dragons?" Ron said.
"Promise you'll write this summer. All three of you," Hermione said.
"I won't," Ron said.
"You know he won't," I said.
"What about you Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah. Everyday," he said sarcastically.
"I love you guys," I said. "Know that... Even if I don't write."
"And know that I love you and trust you but if you and Malfoy-."
"Shut up, Harry," I said shoving him. "Have you talked to Kristen at all?"
"Oh, yeah. She spoke to me once or twice these past few days. Didn't even know she knew I existed," Harry said. "Said she'd write me this summer."
"Ooh, looking forward to that?" Hermione asked.
"We'll see," Harry said glancing over to Ron.
"I think it's ridiculous that you two keep secrets from us in your own little guy world," I said.
"Well become guys and there won't be any secrets," Ron said.
Hermione shoved him. "Prat."
We watched at the Durmstrang ship sailed away and sank into the water. Now that Voldemort was back things would indeed be different but I wasn't going to let that get to me. I was tired of letting Voldemort get to me. I was going to take this summer and be with Draco, my friends, and for once find a way to not worry so much about someone trying to kill me.