Chapter 29
I do not own Harry Potter in any way.
A/N - I know it's been forever, but I just got the urge to write this, so I did. :) It's quite a long chapter, because I wanted to cover a lot of ground before the beginning of 5th year.
The day of third task came quickly and Rosalie had a horrible feeling in her stomach.
She was sitting with Neville and the twins. She hadn't spoken to Draco since the second task and her heart felt like it was slowly breaking. Her hand came up to play with her necklace Draco had given her for Christmas the previous year.
"Calm down Rosalie", Neville told her, "I'm sure Harry will be fine".
She smiled and nodded.
It's not Harry I'm worried about, she thought. She had dreaded this day ever since she had seen Cedric's death in the vision at the beginning of the year.
Dumbledore stepped up to the podium and the crowd went quiet. "Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now, as Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter are tied for first position they will be the first to enter the maze, followed by Mr. Krum and Miss Delacour. The first person to touch the cup will be the winner! I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Contestants! Gather round. Quickly!" Dumbledore and the champions talked for a few minutes before entering the maze.
And now we wait, Rosalie thought.
After about an hour, only Harry and Cedric were left in the maze. Rosalie became increasingly anxious as the sun began to set.
She suddenly felt a pain in her chest.
It felt like someone had just stabbed her through the heart.
She doubled over in pain grabbing her chest.
"Rose?" Neville asked, "What's wrong? Do I need to get Professor Snape?"
The pain soon passed and she sat up.
"I'm fine. Really", she told him.
The pain had turned into a dull ache that stopped once Harry and Cedric appeared in the stadium.
Rosalie got up and noticed Cedric wasn't moving.
A shrill scream escaped her throat.
Neville tried to console her, but Rosalie ripped away from him.
She ran down the steps of the stands and started running back to the castle. "Rosalie!" she heard Draco call her name, but she kept running.
He caught up to her and grabbed her around the waist.
"Let me go!" she screamed, kicking her legs in the air.
Draco held onto her until she stopped struggling and dissolved into tears. He lowered her to the ground.
"I saw it! I saw it and I couldn't do anything about it!" she cried.
"I know, Rosie", he said kissing and stroking her hair.
"Why do I have these visions if I can't change the events?" she asked him.
"I don't know, Rosalie", he said. He gently rocked her back and forth until she had calmed down.
"Do you still love me?" she asked him.
"What? Of course I do, Rosalie", he told her, "I just…I thought you were going to leave me for him and the Gryffindors".
"I'd never leave you, Draco. I promise", Rosalie said.
Draco just hoped she could keep that promise.
A few days later, Cedric's funeral was held.
Rosalie didn't want to go, but Draco and Blaise had convinced her go any way. She felt a tremendous amount of guilt over what had happened, so she knew exactly what Harry was going through and most of the day she walked around in a haze.
"Today, we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know exceptionally hard working, infinitely fair minded, and most importantly a fierce, fierce friend. Now I think, therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort!" Dumbledore told them.
Rosalie's hand tightened in Draco's, griping it so tight he was afraid she'd dislocated his fingers, but he simply squeezed her hand back, silently letting her know he was there for her.
"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so, I think, would be an insult to his memory. Now, the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me and reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we've made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true, right to the very end".
Rosalie packed while everyone else was saying their goodbyes to their friends. She didn't even jump when Draco came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Excited to be going home?" he asked her, placing a kiss on her neck.
"I can't shake the feeling that something horrible is coming. More people are going to die, Dray", she told her.
He pulled her closer to him and nuzzled her neck with his nose, causing her to giggle.
"What are planning to do with your summer?" she asked him.
"Sleep", he told her, "Spend time with my beautiful girlfriend".
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Malfoy", she teased him. She spun around in his arms and noticed Draco was looking at her with an odd expression. "What?" she asked him.
"Nothing, just noticing how much you look like Potter", he said.
"Spent a lot of time looking at him?" she teased him.
Draco's cheeks and ears turned pink.
"Don't worry Dray. Your secret is safe with me", she said patting his cheek.
"Oh, you're going to pay for that", he threatened.
"Really?" she asked him.
"Yes really", he said tackling her on her bed.
"Can't you shag in Draco's dorm room?" Pansy asked them, entering the room.
The two burst into laughter.
When Rosalie stepped off the train, she immediately looked around for her father. She found him talking to Lucius. Of course, she thought mentally rolling her eyes.
"Rosalie, have a nice year?" Lucius asked.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy", she said politely.
"Draco, come along. We shouldn't keep your mother waiting", he said. Draco pecked Rosalie on the lips and hurried after his father.
Severus took Rosalie's arm and they apparated to a street Rosalie didn't recognize.
She watched as the buildings in front of her split, making room for another.
"Welcome to 12 Grimmauld Place. Home to the most noble House of Black", Severus said.
They entered the building and Rosalie heard shrieking.
"Just ignore that", Severus told her.
They walked down the long corridor and the door opened, two men stepping out into the foyer.
"Professor Lupin?" Rosalie asked, confused.
"Hello McKenzie", he said.
There was something about him calling her by her birth name that brought tears to her eyes.
"Welcome home, Kenzie", the other man said.
The nickname sounded familiar to her ears and she smiled.
"You're going to stay with Lupin and Black while I take care of some things", Severus told her.
"You mean Deatheater things", Sirius said.
"Don't push me Black", Severus growled, "Have a nice stay, Rose". Her father apparated, leaving her with Remus and Sirius.
"So first things first…" Lupin said. He spent the next few hours telling her about her parents and her brief childhood in the Potter house.
It sounded like she was happy with Harry and her parents, but she had a new family now.
She knew things would never be like they were, but maybe she could have the best of both worlds.