Everyone gathered at the Great Hall. The emotions there were too tense for Jasper, so he left alongside Alice. Despite Jasper feeling torn for what had happened, he couldn't manage to control the emotions of hundreds of students and staff. The rest of the Cullens were standing by the right hand side of Dumbledore who was sitting at his chair with a podium not too far in front of him. Edward was holding onto Ella because she felt extremely guilty over the fact that she couldn't save him. Edward and the rest of the Cullens tried to persuade her otherwise but it did nothing to help lessen the guilt. It seemed that Dumbledore had to tell everyone something. The Cullens knew that Dumbledore struggled with how to start. His mind, like every staff and every student in Hogwarts were chaotic. "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," Dumbledore said, deciding to start there. He was already standing by the podium. "Now I think, therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered, by Lord Voldemort! 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." Ella scanned the room and saw that everyone was even more emotional by the news. "Miss Cullen has done everything she could have to save him yet her abilities wouldn't allow her to do so. The reason is because her abilities are tied to her emotions. She was overwhelmingly guilty and frustrated as she attempted to revive him. She couldn't. Lord Voldemort succeeded in this battle," he explained. Ella turned and hid her face in Edward's shoulder. She hated, if anything at all how she allowed her emotions to get the best of her. "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 the 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." The students and staff stay seated in their seats, thinking about what Dumbledore had told them. Some had left, in tears or in anger. Others were numb and were hoping that it was just a dream or that it was a joke. Slowly but surely, everyone started to leave and back into their dormitories. There was no happy chattering or laughing. "Ella, please do not feel guilty over Mr. Diggory's death. You did all you could," Dumbledore said.
"It's too late," she responded in a flat voice. She left not knowing what else to say. Edward followed her. He couldn't risk not leaving her alone with her guilt eating her away.
"I'm sure that she appreciates the sentiments, Professor," Carlisle said. "The thing with us, vampires, is that any and all emotions that we feel are quadrupled compared to our human counterparts." Dumbledore gasped. He had not imagined the amount of guilt that she had felt.
"Is there anything that I can do?" he asked.
"Right now, nothing that comes to mind. She needs to get through it on her own," Carlisle said.
"What about having her talk with Harry?" Esme suggested. "Do you think it'll help any especially since they both witnessed it? Plus Harry must feel just as guilty for what had happened."
"It's possible. It's worth seeing what will happen with both facing each other somewhere quiet," Carlisle replied. An hour later, Carlisle managed to talk to her in a calm manner. "Ella, you need to be strong, especially for Harry now that Voldemort has physical form. Harry cannot fight this war on his own."
"I should have done something more to save Cedric," she said, too quiet for a human to hear but loud enough for a vampire. She knew that Carlisle was being rational and thinking of everyone involved but because she cared too much, her guilt overwhelmed her. It was something that Carlisle understood.
"What could you have done anything different? Harry and Cedric both touched it," he commented.
"Wait, what?" Ella asked, looking puzzled. "They both touched the cup?"
"Did you now know?" he asked.
"No, I was too busy fighting Voldemort's magical minions. He somehow made them immune to my vampiric abilities," she replied. "Carlisle, do you think that you can find something about that? I think I need to discuss this with Dumbledore and maybe talk to Harry about what he's been through."
"Go," he commanded. "I need to find what I can about what she suggested. Edward, I'll be needing your help."
"Of course," he said.
"What about us? We want to help as well," Rosalie spoke up.
"Call the Denali coven and the others and see what you can find," Carlisle said. Everyone nodded and left to their house to begin their research.
Ella looked everywhere to find Harry but she couldn't find him until she saw Hermione and Ron, sitting in the Great Hall. "Hermione, Ron, have you seen Harry?"
"He's in our dorm room," Ron commented. "Hermione and I tried to bring him here but he wanted to be left alone."
"Thank you," she said and left to his room. She knocked on his door lightly and then walked in. "Harry?" He looked up at her. She had not expected for Harry to look distraught and guilty and she finally understood how her family felt. She decided to put her own selfish emotions aside and help Harry. "Harry, there's something that I need to ask and I fear that it might actually make you feel more guilty that you should have."
Harry looked up at her, questioningly. "What do you mean?"
"I was wondering what had happened when you were at the maze with Cedric. I had only just found out that both you and Cedric touched the Cup. I never understood why Cedric was the graveyard with us in the first place. Dr. Cullen informed me that both of you touched the cup."
"It's true, we both did," he confirmed.
"What happened to led both of you to touch it?" she asked.
"Krum was bewitched and magically attacked Fleur. Cedric managed to subdue him which led to the two of us. We were trying to outrun each other and physically tried to push each other out of the way. The weeds were attacking us and somehow grabbed Cedric's leg. He was calling out for me to help him. I saw the cup in a distance and I stopped running as he was trying to fight off the weeds. I kept looking back and forth between him and the cup. I was tempted to just run and get the cup and leave him there but I thought that wouldn't be fair, so I turned back and helped him. We paused for a moment to gather our thoughts before the bushes started to turn against us, we ran towards the cup and stopped when it was within arm's reach. Cedric told me to touch it because I saved him but I thought since we both represent Hogwarts, we could both bring it home together. I suggested the idea of us touching the cup. We didn't realize that it was a Portkey," Harry explained.
"Harry, do you feel guilty for what had happened to Cedric?" she asked.
"A bit. I kept replaying what had happened in my mind but…" he started off but left it there.
"You've come to accept that it was Voldemort's fault, haven't you?"
"Yes, I know that you've done all you can to help him but it just doesn't get any easier. Seeing Voldemort take physical form and seeing Cedric die… it just makes me wonder if it'll get any easier," he confessed. Before Ella could respond there was a knock on the door. They both looked over their shoulders and saw that it was Dumbledore. Harry stood up when he saw Dumbledore as did Ella, "I never liked these curtains. I set them on fire in my fourth year. By accident, of course. I put you in terrible danger this year, Harry. I'm sorry," he said as he leaned against Harry's bed.
"Professor, when I was in the graveyard, there was a moment when Voldemort's wand and mine sort of... connected," he said as he struggled to explain what had happened.
Dumbledore knew what he meant, "Priori Incantatem. You saw your parents that night didn't you? They reappeared. No spell can awaken the dead, Harry. I trust you know that. Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice. Between what is right and what is easy. But remember this: you have friends here. You're not alone," he said as he patted his shoulder.
"Professor, I was wondering if I could talk with you after I finish talking with Harry," Ella asked.
"Of course, I'll be in my office," he said and left to give them some privacy.
"Harry, what's really the matter?" Ella asked as soon as Dumbledore left.
"I wanted to talk to my mum and dad. I wish that I didn't have to see them that way," he replied.
"Me, too, Harry," she said. "There are times when I see you look so lonely and I know it's because you want to see your parents. I wish I could help you out somehow, but Dumbledore is right, there's no spell or enchantments that can awaken the dead."
"But you'll be there for me, right?"
"You know I will, every step of the way," she said. Harry nodded. "I'll let you finish packing." And she left to Dumbledore's office. Once she got there, she knocked softly on the door and went inside once a voice called her in.
"Ah, Miss Cullen. What is important that what you need to discuss privately?" he asked.
"It's about what had happened at the graveyard," she responded grimly.
"What happened?" he asked. He gave her his full attention once she gave him the answer.
"I don't know how he's doing this but it seems that Voldemort is somehow managing to weaken me both as a witch and as a vampire. Right now, my family is researching all possibilities to see what's going on. I haven't spoken to them as of yet and I don't know what they found out so far. I just thought that maybe you would like to know because Voldemort make attack you somehow," she explained.
"What exactly happened at the graveyard tonight?" he asked. She began to tell him in great detail what she went through and how she felt human.
"Do you think there's a possibility that he has some kind of connection to the Volturi?" she asked.
"There's a possibility. Go and talk with your family and see what else you can find out. Let me talk with some magical beings who I know will help," he explained.
"Of course," she said and left. She had gotten home in time to see Harry, Hermione and Ron sitting in the living area, waiting to hear more about the vampire world before they left for the summer.
"I had forgotten a current and a former guard. The current one is called Chelsea, one of the most important members of the Guard. She can manipulate the ties of relationships. This is useful when the Volturi want a specific vampire to join them. She can also loosen the binds of the Volturi's enemies, and turn them against each other," Carlisle explained.
"And the former?" Hermione asked.
"They formerly had the services of Eleazar, who could see abilities or potential abilities in vampires and humans, which proved useful when the Volturi needed to identify gifts that could possibly give them trouble in a fight or when Aro wished to recruit someone with a powerful gift for the Guard. He left, much to the dismay of Aro, after meeting his soulmate, Carmen."
"There seems to be a lot of guards," Hermione commented.
"The reason as to why there are many guards is that there are vampires who want to kill them. Aro, specifically had killed mates just to keep them in the Volturi," he explained. Hermione gasped. She wondered if it was actually done before. She was terrified to find out if it had happened. "Aro had a sister, Didyme who had the power of a raw aura of happiness."
"What does that mean?" she asked hesitantly. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know this.
"She can make vampires and humans alike happy, herself included," he explained.
"What happened to her?"
"Aro killed his sister to keep Marcus in the Volturi."
"What?" she screeched. Luckily the Cullens didn't need to cover their ears by Hermione's high pitched voice.
"You see, Marcus was married to her. He was ready to leave the Volturi with Didyme but Aro wouldn't have it and ended up killing her to keep Marcus.
"How could he have killed his own sister over something as preposterous over that?" Harry asked.
"No one knows but Aro," Carlisle answered. "But I will say this, Aro represents the most selfish vampire of us all."
"How do you mean?"
"It is in our nature that we are selfish because all we want is blood but once we have experienced love and if that person is human, our selfish needs become overwhelming because we want that human to become a vampire and live life for all time."
"All the same, we claim our territory and we become selfish over it. We do not like to share what we own," Ella added.
"Very true," Carlisle added.
"But you managed to live together so peacefully. How is that possible?" Hermione asked.
"I believe that it is mostly due to what Carlisle has learned in his human years after living with an Anglican pastor," Ella responded.
"That's not entirely true," Carlisle said.
"Yes, it is. We wouldn't have done this without you," Rosalie chipped in.
"If it were up to any one of us, we would be living on human blood but Carlisle taught us that we can survive on the blood of animals," Edward said.
"Plus if we depend on human blood, we would probably live with the Volturi. I strongly believe that all of us would rather be here than there," Ella said. Everyone murmured their agreement.
"Why is that?" Ron asked.
"As irrational as it sounds, it only makes sense to Aro, who will do anything in his power to have complete control over all of us," Jasper commented. "That's why there are laws that we must abide."
"There are laws for vampires?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Jasper answered.
"What are they?" she asked.
"Perhaps it's best that Carlisle explain. He knows them better than any one of us do," Jasper responded.
"There aren't many and they mainly concern the secrecy surrounding the existence of vampires. The first one is the incapability of self-control, and therefore a threat of exposure, immortal children are not to be created. Aro upholds this particular law and has executed many, more times than I can count. The second one is if a vampire deals with "Children of the Moon," and this would refer to the werewolves, except for the purpose of extermination, is prohibited."
"In the eyes of the Volturi, this coven would have been dead if they found out that you didn't kill Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, they would have killed us all, just because we allowed him to live. Had they been here, they would have killed him immediately," Ella answered. Hermione shook her head. She was proud to amongst honorable vampires.
"Bearing false witness, regardless of intent, is forbidden would be the third. Hunting is forbidden in Volterra, the two of residence of the Volturi; their food is brought from the outside. They set that up when they have settled there. They didn't want to look conspicuous," Carlisle continued.
"Then how do they bring blood?" Harry asked. "I mean, wouldn't it be bit obvious, handling bags of blood?"
"They would set up "tours" for humans. They would send out someone from the guards to bring humans to them. It takes time to plan these things," Carlisle answered.
"Unbelievable," Hermione answered.
"Which leads to the fifth law of having the hunting to be inconspicuous, with victims unlikely to be missed; their remains must be disposed of; and territory must be changed often."
"Why?" Ron asked.
"We don't age and humans would suspect that there is something wrong," Edward responded.
"Obviously humans can be turned into vampires or else none of you would be here," Hermione said. She didn't know how to say what she wanted to ask her question.
"I think I know what you're going to ask, Hermione," Carlisle replied. "The next law that I will tell you will answer it. Yes, humans can be vampires and they are like newborns. We call them newborn vampires and they need to be trained before they can be released on their own."
"Why are they called newborns?" Hermione asked.
"They're like infants. They're hungry all the time for blood. They have no self-control over anything," Carlisle answered. "Methods have been identified to do so, and they often require more than one mature vampire to be used."
"Have there been any vampires that rebelled against the Volturi?" Harry asked.
"Yes, this leads to the final law. Rebellion against the Volturi is prohibited as a matter of course; it is nearly impossible to succeed."
"It's time," Esme spoke up. They all looked at the time and it was time for them to catch the train. As they walked towards the main hall, "Do you think we'll ever just have a quiet year at Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
Both Hermione and Harry looked at him and said, "No."
"No, I didn't think so. Oh well, what's life without a few dragons?" Ron agreed.
Ron and Harry took two steps forward and realized that Hermione wasn't following, "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?"
Harry went up to her and said, "Yes."
"Promise you'll write this summer, both of you," she said as she walked alongside them.
"Oh, I won't. You know I won't," he replied.
"Harry will, won't you?" she asked.
"Yeah, every week," he promised.