Chapter 14

AN: So, I'm updating a day early because I'll be moving tomorrow and won't have time to. As always, I appreciate everyone taking the time to read this. Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter and co. I created Melissa.

Cedric shook his head as he went down to the common room. How was it Potter managed to get himself into everything? Cedric did not think Potter did it on his own, nor did he think he got an older student to do it. But it was annoying, nonetheless. Mel was probably in hysterics right now.

When he opened the portrait door, the same deafening cheer that he had heard in the hall greeted him. Forgetting his worries, he enjoyed the attention. He looked for his friends and saw them occasionally, but was often quickly assaulted by new well-wishers and congratulators. It was midnight before he was finally left alone. He found his friends sitting in the corner. They smiled as he walked over.

"Well, congrats Hogwarts champion!" Ryan said, thumping him on the back. "I knew you'd do this house proud."

"Too bad Potter had to steal the glory again," Drew said, his frustration evident.

"I don't think Potter did it. He's only a fourth year after all," Cedric said.

"Well, congratulations Cedric. You really deserve this, and I'm sure you'll do great," Angela said supportively.

"Thanks. Where's Mel?" he asked, looking around. His friends all looked at each other, and then away from him. "What is it?" he asked.

"We don't know," Angela said, choosing her words carefully. "We were coming back here, and she looked really pale, and then she just passed out. We got her up to the Hospital Wing, but then she started having a fit or something. Madam Pomfrey shooed us out of the room and refused to say what was wrong."

It was Cedric's turn to feel worried. He knew it had probably been a vision. However, she had never passed out before. He knew they would never let him in tonight, but he would go first thing in the morning.

The night could not have been longer. Cedric could barely sleep. At six o'clock, he gave up trying to sleep and got up. He decided to take a shower, thinking it was still too early to get into the Hospital Wing. It was only six-thirty when he was finally dressed, but he could not wait any longer.

Briskly, he walked through the corridor. He paused outside the Hospital Wing, hoping the door was unlocked. When he found that it was, he quietly opened the door. He surprised to find Professors Dumbledore, Snape, Moody, McGonagall and Sprout in addition to Madam Pomfrey hovering around Mel.

"What's going on?" he asked, making his presence known.

"Mr. Diggory!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, clearly surprised by his appearance. "You shouldn't be here! It's—it's too early for visitors, and Miss Evans is in no condition to receive any."

"I don't care. I want to see her," he said stubbornly. Both McGonagall and Sprout gave him a reapproving look for his attitude, but said nothing.

"It's all right, Poppy," Dumbledore said calmly. "If you all wouldn't mind, I would like a word with Cedric."

They all filed out, Madam Pomfrey did so rather reluctantly, and shot Cedric curious looks as they did. Unexpectedly, Cedric found himself alone with the Headmaster. He suddenly felt extremely foolish.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked, walking toward Mel. She was extremely pale and seemed to muttering something in her sleep. Tried tear trails showed that she had been crying.

"We're not sure exactly," Dumbledore said gently. "I think she had a traumatizing vision and is now stuck replying it in her mind. I believe her subconscious is trying to work out a way to change what she saw."

Cedric pushed some sweaty hair off her forehead, and trailed his thumb along her cheekbone. "When will she wake up?"

"I'm not sure," Dumbledore said. "Perhaps when she is able to handle what she's seen."

"Was she in any pain?"

"Not physically, but emotionally, yes. I do believe she'll be ok, but she might be a bit different for a while. Whatever she's seen has caused some mental scarring," Dumbledore explained gently.

"May I stay with her for a bit?" Cedric asked, sitting on the next to hers.

"Yes, but if Madam Pomfrey or Professor Snape ask you to move or leave, I need you to do so. They're both trying to find ways to bring her back."

"Yes, sir," Cedric nodded.

"Very well, then," Dumbledore said before leaving the Hospital Wing.

XXX

At nine, Drew and Angela came to check in and dropped off some of Cedric's schoolbooks. Mel was still asleep, and Madam Pomfrey quickly shooed them out. Lindsey and Ryan came around lunch under the pretense of bringing Cedric food. They lingered a few a minutes, each remarking how pale she was. After they left, Cedric thought Mel looked cold, so he took off his school robe and tucked it around her. Snape came by an hour later to give her a potion. He had Cedric help Mel sit up, so they could administer it without her choking.

"What will that do?" Cedric asked, as Snape tipped a light blue potion down her throat.

"Hopefully, it will relax her mind. Make her feel as if what she's seeing is more a dream than a reality," Snape explained. "It should help her to wake up."

They laid her back down, and Snape left, giving Cedric a curious look as he did. Cedric ignored it. He did not care what any thought or said. Mel did not have anyone else. He felt he had to be there when she woke up.

He tried to study, but could not concentrate. Over the next hour, her mumbling grew louder. It was when he heard his name that he looked up. He thought she was awake, but saw that she was not. However, he still moved to sit on her bed.

"What is it, Mel? I'm right here," he whispered, not wanting Madam Pomfrey to know.

"Cedric," she mumbled. "Not Cedric."

"Mel, what are you talking about?" he asked, more to himself than to her. "If you'd just wake up, I could help you."

No sooner had he said those words, than she shot up and stared wildly around. She did not seem to know where she, nor did she really seem to care. Cedric was starting to doubt that she was really awake.

"I need to see Dumbledore," she said urgently. "We have to stop it. They can't die, they can't."

Crying, she struggled to get up. Cedric helped her, but kept her from going anywhere by holding onto her shoulders.

"Mel, just calm down. Tell me what you saw," Cedric said firmly.

She shook her head. "I need to see Dumbledore. It's not safe. Both their lives are in danger," her voice was higher and louder now. Madam Pomfrey had come out of her office and was walking toward them with a syringe. "Please just take me to Dumbledore."

"Hold her still," Madam Pomfrey ordered, walking up behind Mel. Cedric did as instructed as Madam Pomfrey injected a clear liquid into Mel's neck. Mel fought them for a minute, but soon asleep again.

"What was that?" Cedric asked as he lowered Mel back onto the bed.

"A tranquilizer, it will allow her to have a smoother wake up," Madam Pomfrey said, waving her wand. Something white that looked like a small bird flew out of her wand tip.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, Mr. Diggory," she said gently. "I'll let you know when you can come back. Most likely, it'll be after dinner."

Unhappy, Cedric picked up his book bag. Before he left, he kissed her forehead and tucked his robe around her again.

"How is she?" Angela asked as Cedric slumped in an armchair in the common room.

"She woke up, wasn't really herself, and they put her back to sleep," Cedric said as he absently flipped through his Transfiguration book. "They said I could come back after dinner."

"You don't think that you should wait? Maybe give her some time?" Angela said.

"No. I know my behavior is odd, maybe even a little unhealthy, but it's important that I talk to her today," Cedric said. He had a pretty good idea of who the "they" she had been shouting about were.

The rest of the day passed painfully slowly. Cedric was able to get most of his schoolwork done and eat a decent amount of dinner. However, as soon as dinner was done, he ran up to the Hospital Wing. The room looked empty when he opened the door. He stepped inside and looked around, Mel's bed was empty. He scanned the other beds, but found her sitting on the window at the far end of the room. Letting a sigh of relief escape he walked toward her. He noticed her pull his robe closer to her as he neared. He kissed the top of her head before he sat next to her.

"Hey," he said gently. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't know…terrified," she said. Her eyes were puffy and red. In his gut, he knew what she had seen. There was no reason to make her say it, but he needed her to.

"You saw me die, didn't you?" he asked. She looked away and pulled her knees closer to her chest. "Me and Harry?" he prompted.

"Dumbledore won't cancel the tournament," she said, her voice breaking. She broke down into tears, and Cedric shifted them so that she had her back leaning against him. He wrapped both arms around her and gently rocked her back and forth.

"Shh, it's ok. It's ok," he said, doing his best to calm her down. "Mel, listen, listen to me," he said more firmly this time. He heard her take a deep, trembling breath. "It's going to be ok. I will be careful. If you see anything, I will do whatever you say if you think it'll keep me safe. We will keep an eye out for Harry. Will get through this, ok?"

"I didn't just see you die. I saw V-Voldemort come back, and Harry fight him," she said, her breathing still ragged as she turned to face him. "This tournament isn't safe. It's been rigged. It should be cancelled."

"They can't, their hands are tied," he said gently. However, he too was wishing it would be cancelled. He knew the tournament was going to be challenging and dangerous, but he had honestly believed that it would not be life threatening. "Plus, you really can't offer them any proof of what you've seen. Do you…do you when…?"

She shook her head. "I know I can't prove anything, but…but what if none of it matters?" she asked, looking helpless. "What if everything I saw happens?"

Cedric hesitated, "Then…then you mourn me and get on with your life. You have to help him; you can't fall to pieces like this again. Promise me, you won't ever get like this again. Promise me, you'll stay strong no matter what."

"Promise," she said weakly. "But you really can't die on me."

"I won't," he mumbled into her hair as he squeezed her tightly. "We'll change this one."