Author's note:
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or Harry Potter, I am just a humble fan
Warning: Rated M
As soon as Trent and Thad had shut the door to their bedroom, Thad turned silently to Trent who looked back with a vacant, distressed stare. Tracks of both fresh and dried tears criss crossed his cheeks. His usually sassy green eyes had lost their twinkle and Thad's heart ached at the sight.
He knew that they hadn't talked about the obvious growing attraction between them, but in that moment he knew it didn't matter.
He didn't care about any label they hadn't yet stuck on their relationship, he just knew he had to comfort his dearest friend and if that meant crossing the boundaries of platonic friendship, he didn't care.
Without a word, Thad took Trent's hand, entwining their fingers, and tugged him towards the common room which was still deserted. He didn't expect anyone else to come back until after dinner time.
Thad sat in one of the large armchairs by the fire, pulling Trent to sit close by his side, tucked under his arm. He encircled his arms around Trent and pressed a lingering kiss to the top of his head, resting his head on Trent's after, holding him close.
The two friends just stayed there, unmoving, silent tears tracking down their cheeks as they mourned their friend.
Hours later, a couple of fifth year Hufflepuffs found them there, asleep, and brought blankets to cover them up for the night.
In the early hours of the morning, when it was still pitch black outside, Jeff woke up.
For a blissful few moments he forgot everything that had happened the day before. His mind convinced him that he and Nick had fallen asleep in the bed in the Room of Requirement where they had spent a fantastic Friday night.
But no, we wouldn't be wearing pyjamas. Why are we wearing pyjamas? This is my bed. And on Friday I came back after seeing Nick and Cedric caught me sneaking in and...
His mind flashed with a picture of Cedric's body, lying prone on the floor.
Oh no.
No, no, no...
Please no...
His body started to shake with silent sobs as he gripped onto Nick.
Nick, the boy who had been a complete stranger little more than eight months ago but was now the single most important person in his life.
Nick stirred, and after the brunet realised Jeff was awake he shuffled up the bed so they were eye to eye, holding onto him tightly as he cried.
Nick said nothing, but every so often he would kiss Jeff softly, on his nose, his cheek, his forehead. He gently collected tears with the pad of his thumb and smoothed the fine blond hair out of his boyfriend's eyes as he simply laid with him.
Jeff soon grew tired and fell asleep again, holding on tight to Nick.
As dawn softly broke outside, Trent and Thad woke up, still tangled up together in the common room chair.
They shared a long look, each boy deciding that this was not the time to discuss their feelings for the other. Their hearts were too full of sadness for their lost friend to think about anything else right now.
Thad quickly squeezed Trent tight before releasing him and removing the blanket as they stood. "Hey, Trent, do you feel up to going to breakfast? We should bring something back for Jeff and Nick as I don't think Jeff will be up to seeing anyone for a while."
Trent smiled softly at Thad's thoughtfulness. "Yes, just let me have a quick shower and change first though."
Viktor sat solemnly in his chair in the common room on board the Durmstrang ship.
He mulled over everything that had been explained to him about the previous day's tragic happenings and the events leading up to them.
He couldn't believe that it had started long ago, from at least as far back as the day he was stunned in the forest while Harry ran for help for Mr Crouch Senior.
It seemed that his son, Barty Crouch Junior, a Deatheater and follower of Lord Voldemort, had been helped to escape from Azkaban prison by his parents, his dying mother switching places with him.
She had used polyjuice potion to make herself look like him. However, her son had then escaped from his father's "house arrest" in order to meet with Voldemort and do as his master bid him.
The day Harry and Viktor found Mr Crouch Senior in the forest, he was also there, intent on killing his father. Viktor had realised by now just how lucky he was that he had only stunned him.
Barty Crouch Junior had then kidnapped Professor Moody and taken his place as a teacher at Hogwart's School, again using polyjuice potion, enabling him to help Voldemort by bringing Harry to him.
He intended to do this by helping Harry win the Triwizard Tournament, and thereby also trying to make the other Champions lose, so that Harry touched the Triwizard Cup first.
Disguised as Professor Moody, he had turned the Triwizard Cup into a portkey, before placing it in the heart of the maze. The cup had apparently magically transported Harry, and unfortunately poor Cedric, to Little Hangleton graveyard where Voldemort and his followers were waiting.
Voldemort intended to use Harry's blood in a ritual to return himself to corporeal form. For this reason, he had ordered the immediate slaying of "the spare", namely Cedric, within seconds of the boys' arrival at the graveyard. Viktor felt sick at the callous disregard of this boy's life.
Harry had bravely fought Voldemort, their wands locking so the spirits of those killed by said wands came to help Harry. Cedric's spirit was one of them and his only wish was for Harry to take his body back for his parents, which Harry had honoured.
His mind ached with all these thoughts flying around it. He resolved that as soon as he was able to, he would find Nick and explain it all in detail so Jeff would know what had happened to his dear friend.
His biggest regret, though, was that he never had the chance to apologise to Cedric in person for torturing him, even though it was while Barty Crouch Junior, disguised as Professor Moody, had him under the Imperious Curse.
Each school year usually ended with a splendid End of Term Feast in the Great Hall.
This year, however, no one felt like celebrating. Black drapes hung behind the teacher's table and the mood was sombre. This last meal of the school term was a memorial to the late Cedric Diggory.
Jeff sat flanked by Thad and Trent who had shown the true meaning of friendship over the past few days, helping smuggle Nick in to Hufflepuff whenever Jeff needed him, or staying with him themselves if Nick was unable to get away from Durmstrang unnoticed. Each of Jeff's hands was clasped tightly under the table by his two Hufflepuff friends as Dumbledore rose from his seat at the teacher's table.
Professor Dumbledore addressed those present with a moving and painfully honest speech.
He said that the Ministry of Magic did not want it to be known that Cedric had been murdered in cold blood by Lord Voldemort, because the Ministry did not believe Harry that the Dark Lord had returned. Instead they wanted it to look like he had died as a result of some other blunder to do with the Triwizard Tournament.
But Dumbledore disagreed and he said that keeping it quiet would be an insult to his memory. He explained the details of Cedric's death and Harry's bravery.
After the address and meal, Jeff sat feeling numb inside.
There were two reasons for this, one being Cedric's death of course, but the other because of Nick's imminent departure with the rest of the Durmstrang Institute students and teachers alike.
Jeff had tried hard to ignore the fact that his boyfriend had to leave, but the time had seemed to come so quickly.
Soon everyone got up and started to file out of the Great Hall ready to head to their separate destinations. People were saying their goodbyes all around them as Nick and Jeff locked eyes from across the room. Jeff let go of Trent and Thad's hands with a nod as Nick walked towards him, unsmiling.
They met in the middle silently, each boy willing the tears away.
Jeff managed to speak first. "I won't say goodbye to you." He took both of Nick's hands in his and stepped close.
Nick smiled softly at the emotional blond.
"That's okay, it's not goodbye. Once I have it, I will send you details of my address in London. I'll be at Durmstrang for a week sorting out my transfer and sending my stuff home and then with Viktor for three weeks in Bulgaria. So, I'll see you in about a month, okay?" He slid his arms round Jeff's waist to hold him even closer, gazing up into Jeff's eyes.
Jeff nodded, biting his lip. "I love you, Nick."
"I love you too, Jeff."
Nick leant in to kiss his boyfriend softly, lingering as long as he could before he had to go. He turned, nodding to Viktor, before he kissed Jeff one more time and started to back away, fingertips parting at the last possible moment.
As Nick disappeared from the Great Hall, Trent and Thad returned to Jeff's side, and the three friends silently walked to the bridge to watch Durmstrang and Beauxbatons depart, before they had to leave on the Hogwart's Express themselves.
Jeff stood on the bridge between his friends, his bright blond hair blowing in the wind. They stood watching as the huge ship disappeared beneath the glistening waters of the lake with Nick on board.
Jeff knew in his heart that Nick had come into his life at exactly the right moment. He would never replace Cedric's friendship, but he had no doubt that in this kind, loving, Durmstrang boy he had found his new best friend as well as his soul mate.
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