Harry and Cedric appeared out of nowhere, outside the maze, Harry clutching the Triwizard Cup.
But something was wrong, something was very wrong…
The whole crowd had stood up to see the champions, and when they did, there was a very audible gasp that spread throughout the whole audience.
Being in the back, Ron couldn't see what was going on down below, and he couldn't figure out why people were now screaming…
Next to him, Hermione was just as confused, but she was panicking more by the minute. "Ron, what's happened, what's happened?"
"I…I don't know…"
"Ron, something's happened to Harry, what's going on?"
Ron swallowed and, surprising both of them, took Hermione's hand and led her down the steps to the front.
As they got closer, Ron could see a crowd gathering around something. He fought his way through the mass of people, still with his hand clutching Hermione's, and stopped dead.
It was Cedric. Cedric Diggory was dead.
Ron felt faintish at the sight of his body. He had never seen a dead body in real life before, and it was terrifying. He heard an audible gasp behind him that could only belong to Hermione. He stumbled back, wanting to turn away from the sight, but his eyes would not let him. Then he heard a familiar voice very distantly calling his name…
"Ron, c'mon, I can't take this anymore…we have to find Harry..."
The mention of Harry shook Ron out of his reverie. He felt Hermione tugging on his hand, urging him to take his eyes away from the mangled body…
As if in a dream, he was led by Hermione away from Cedric and up to the castle. He felt so weak and vulnerable; he should be the one being brave for Hermione as she stares at the body in horror.
There were crowds all around them, people screaming, yelling…but none of them were going up to the castle like him and Hermione…
From a distance, he heard Hermione's voice float into his own ear…
"…saw him take Harry up to the castle."
"W-What?" Ron said, dazed.
"Ron, I saw Professor Moody take Harry up to the castle," Hermione said quietly. "We have to find Dumbledore and tell him. Whatever happened, it can't be good."
The crowds around them seemed to be closing in on Ron…he searched the mass of people for Dumbledore before he finally spotted him…
"There! Hermione, he's over by Mr. Diggory!"
He dragged Hermione over to Dumbledore, who was comforting Mr. Diggory, who was sobbing over Cedric's body.
"Professor!" Hermione exclaimed. Dumbledore stood up from where he was examining the body. "Professor – "
"Where's Harry?"
Dumbledore asked her roughly and urgently, and Ron never knew Dumbledore act this way.
"Professor Moody took him up to the castle!"
Dumbledore stared at her as if he had never seen anything like her before. Then he said, "I suggest the two of you return to your common room. This is not a good place for you to be. That is, it is not a good place for anyone to be right now."
Before Hermione or Ron could protest, Dumbledore had rushed up to the castle.
Hermione turned to Ron. "D'you think we should listen to him?"
Ron was thinking the same question, and he gave Hermione his honest answer. "No, course not. But we might as well, no one knows what happened except Harry, so there's really no point staying down here."
Hermione sighed and looked at her feet. When she looked back up, her eyes were brimmed with tears. Ron could see the hurt and disbelief that mirrored his own feelings.
And then Ron did something that surprised the both of them; he took Hermione in his arms, and awkwardly hugged her. However, Hermione wrapped her arms around him also and squeezed him back. As they stood there, Ron felt all the awkward feelings he had towards Hermione for that moment rush out of him.
He didn't remember how long they stood there as Hermione cried into his chest; all he remembered was thinking of where in the castle Harry could have been.
When Hermione seemed to have dried out, Ron asked the predictable question: "Are you alright?"
Hermione nodded, and they both headed to the castle together.
