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Defying Gravity
Chapter 5: Night of Anguish
by LupineMoon
Well, it didn't take a month for me to update, huzzah! And now we're done with Year 5. Enjoy!
The past is now another land
Far beyond my reach
Invaded by insidious
Foreign bodies, foreign speech
With the timeless joys of childhood
Lie broken on the beach
“The Past is Another Land,” Aida
The happiness of the fifth- and seventh-years over the completion of their exams and their demonstration of this happiness was a great source of irritation to the rest of the students who still had to finish theirs.
“For the love of Merlin, will you desist or kindly leave the rest of us alone?” Arti snapped, raising her book threateningly.
Lena dove under the table.
“I'll get her out of your hair for a while,” Roger's voice said from above.
Lena crawled cautiously out from under the table. She took the hand he offered and got up, brushing the dust from her robes. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to find you,” he said, steering her toward the door. “Figured you'd come to gloat since they have exams tomorrow.”
Lena grinned. “You know me too well. You don't have to study?”
“I can spare a few hours.”
“Take your time!” Arti called quietly after them.
“Oh, we will,” Lena said, smiling coyly up at Roger.
“Sweet Merlin,” Arti groaned, burying her face in her arms.
They walked around the lake, talking, though Lena spent much of her time gazing around her in wonder.
“You'd think you'd never been outside, they way you're gaping at everything.”
“Well, we've been revising and sitting our O.W.L.s for the last few weeks! I hadn't been outside until last Thursday!”
“I know, I know.”
About halfway around, Roger stopped. He took her hand and led her into the grove of trees, concealing them from prying eyes. Despite the fact that it was broad daylight, the trees obscured made it almost dark. It grew cool as they walked into the shadows. Sunlight filtered through the green canopy of leaves overhead. They walked in silence for a minute, going deeper and deeper. The tree branches stirred and the leaves rustled in the wind
He drew her to him, tilted her head back and kissed her softly.
“You kiss by the book,” she said wryly when they broke apart.
“Do I?”
“Yes, you're entirely unoriginal.”
Roger proceeded to show her that he could be rather creative.
Lena and Roger were slightly late to dinner that night.
“You certainly did take your time. Had fun…celebrating the end of your exams?” Arti asked, looking Lena up and down and noting her tousled hair and slightly disheveled robes.
Lena grinned like a Cheshire kneazle as she sat down. “Oh, yes.”
“Please, don't continue that sentence,” Arti said forestalling Lena with a raised hand. “I'd rather not lose my appetite, thank you.”
“I won't. And just think, after this you've got your O.W.L.s to look forward to.”
“Lena,” Arti snarled.
“I'm just pointing out-”
“Don't.”
“But it's true.”
“Do I need to separate you two?” Adrian asked wearily as he caught Arti's wrist.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I think it's safer if I did,” he said, getting up and moving to sit between them. The girls spent the next few minutes throwing bits of food at each other.
“Honestly, how old are you?”
“Four.”
Lena passed Maya Pritchard several times in the halls or saw her outside with her friends over the next several days. They exchanged pleasantries, which made Lena very happy. She had asked Graham Pritchard, who explained that her parents were much more traditional than his but that Maya had a more liberal view.
“Well, it's no surprise, considering your friendship with a Muggle-born.”
Pritchard nodded. “I'm glad there are more people like me, what with Zabini and you.”
“And my sister and Adrian.”
“Really? They're like us too?”
“Oh, of course. They're just a bit…hesitant to show that publicly.”
“So that's…five people.”
“Pathetic isn't it?”
Graham chuckled. “A little.”
With the end of exams and the third task only hours away, lunch was a noisy affair. Lena was half-way through her lunch when Arti came bounding over.
“Only one more year of History of Magic!” she cried excitedly.
“But history's interesting,” Lena protested.
“Yeah, but not the way Binns teaches it. I wish we had a better professor.”
“Me too.”
The families of the champions had arrived earlier that morning. Delacour's, Krum's and Cedric's parents as well as Potter's family had all joined the rest of the school for lunch. The appearance of Delacour's mother caused quite a stir among the boys who couldn't keep their eyes off of either of them.
“My head spins just listening to them,” Lena said as the three Delacours chatted in rapid-fire French behind them.
“It's so strange,” Arti remarked. “You don't think about famous people's families and yet of course they have to have them.”
“That's true.”
A few minutes later, Arti sighed happily. “No more exams!”
“So I've heard.”
“Hypocrite.”
“More time for us to do what we want.”
“Like snog?”
“Among other things, yes.”
“Speak of the devil,” Arti said, just as Roger came up behind Lena and wrapped his arms around her waist. She turned to him, smiling as he kissed her neck.
“So, that's Fleur's mother?” Roger asked nodding toward the Ravenclaw table.
Lena bristled slightly at Roger's use of her first name. “Looks like it.”
“I'm surprised the male population isn't drooling at their feet,” Arti said, giving Roger a pointed look. Roger blushed and looked away.
Lena swatted her sister. “Be nice. He hasn't ogled her since the second task.” Roger blushed even harder as the girls laughed. “I'm sorry,” Lena said chuckling. She moved over, pulled Roger into a sitting position on the bench next to her before kissing him firmly on the lips.
“What do you think you're doing, snogging that half-blood at our table?” demanded Montague. Several others began grumbling as well.
Lena made a rude gesture at them and continued kissing Roger. Arti giggled.
“Well,” she said when they broke apart, “it seems we aren't wanted here. Shall we go some place more pleasant?”
“Sure.”
“Don't forget to come back,” Arti said.
“I'm tempted not to,” Lena muttered. Roger chuckled.
The front lawn was full of students doing everything from reading to chasing each other and pushing each other into the lake. The pair settled themselves beneath one of the beach trees on the edge of the lake. Their conversation was interrupted when Cedric and his parents walked out of the castle.
“Be right back,” Roger said getting up.
“Tell him we all say hello.”
“I will.”
For some reason Lena felt a twinge of sadness as she watched Roger talking to Cedric.
“You all right?” Arti asked as she and Adrian sat down beside her.
“Yeah.” She shook herself and the feeling went away.
Roger returned a few minutes later.
“How's he doing? He must be nervous for the task tonight.”
Roger nodded. “Yeah, but he's been practicing.”
“I hope he wins.”
“Me too. Though Potter might, given his success with the other tasks.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“Well, I'd like it if Cedric won, but even if Potter does, or if they by chance tie, it'll still be a Hogwarts victory.”
Anne wandered over for a few minutes before going to join her Hufflepuff friends. Blaise and Colleen joined them and the three couples spent an enjoyable afternoon together.
Dinner that night was a noisy affair as everyone speculated what the task could be. Outrageous rumors had been flying around all day, including one that the champions had to battle a giant. Bagman and Fudge were again present, sitting at the staff table. Their dispositions could not have been any more different; Bagman was chatting cheerfully to others at the table while Fudge looked stern and wasn't talking to anyone.
There were more courses than usual but the champions didn't seem to be eating much. Lena couldn't blame them, they must have been extremely nervous. The others however, enjoyed their dinner very much. As the sky grew dark, Dumbledore stood, causing the chatter to die almost instantly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes’ time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now.”
As the champions got up to leave, the students burst into applause, calling out encouragement. Five minutes later, the other students were instructed to follow the professors out to the Quidditch pitch and the excited babble swelled.
A six meter tall hedge surrounded the Quidditch pitch, a gap facing the stands. Everyone stared in amazement and began talking excitedly.
“It's a maze!” Arti cried excitedly. “Like the one we did for Defense last year.”
“A lot more challenging though, I reckon,” Roger said, looking thoughtful. Lena had no doubt he was now going through a list of spells and creatures that could possibly be in the maze.
It was a beautiful summer night. The first stars were beginning to appear in the deep, clear blue sky. Unfortunately the atmosphere was slightly ruined by the maze, which looked dark and forbidding. Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick approached Bagman and the champions. They were wearing large, red, luminous stars on their hats, all except Hagrid, who had his on the back of his moleskin vest. McGonagall had a brief conversation with the champions before the professors dispersed and positioned themselves around the maze. Bagman pointed his wand at his throat and his magically magnified voice echoed into the stands.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School!” The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. “In second place, with eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!” More applause. “And in third place - Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbâtons Academy!” Polite applause followed.
The champions turned and waved to their families and friends. Many of the students also waved back. Roger gave Cedric a thumbs-up and received a grin in response.
“So … on my whistle, Harry and Cedric!” said Bagman. “Three - two - one -”
He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Potter and Diggory hurried forward into the maze. A few minutes later, Bagman blew his whistle again and Krum joined them. Shortly after that, a third whistle sent Delacour inside.
“We can't see much,” Arti said.
“Why do they bother having us come then?”
“Maybe to keep an eye on us to keep us from wreaking havoc in the castle?”
“We do that anyway,” Lena pointed out.
Forty-five minutes into the task, there was a scream. The crowd began whispering frantically but as no sparks went up the commotion subsided. About fifteen minutes later, Cedric's yells filled the air. They were abruptly cut off and red sparks went up, which froze in place above the maze. Roger was biting his lip nervously, looking anxiously toward the entrance to the maze. Chang was pale beside him. Lena wished she could be there with him instead. But Chang was Cedric's girlfriend after all, so she had a right to be nervous.
A few minutes later, Hagrid came out of the maze carrying an unconscious Viktor Krum whom he set down gently on the edge of the field. Roger and Chang both let out sighs of relief and relaxed visibly. Karkaroff and Viktor's parents were at his side almost immediately. Shocked whispers broke out among the students.
“What happened?”
“Is he all right?”
Granger-Lupin darted over from where she sat in the stands with her family and friends. She, Krum and Karkaroff were having an exchange in which Granger-Lupin was apparently disagreeing with something Krum and Karkaroff were telling her. Dumbledore was talking to Krum's parents off to the side.
The audience was distracted from this, however, by a scream which was immediately followed by a commotion in the Gryffindor stands. Granger-Lupin jumped up and stumbled away from Krum and back to where she had been sitting with her parents and friends.
“Now what?” Arti asked, somewhat exasperated.
“I dunno,” Lena said, shrugging.
Suddenly a wolf darted toward the teachers’ stand. Arti nearly fell out of her seat. Adrian put a steadying hand on her shoulder.
“Wow. I didn't think we had wolves in the forest.”
“I don't think it came from the forest,” Arti said as they watched the wolf skid to a halt in front of Dumbledore and Crouch and transform into Professor Granger-Lupin.
Adrian whistled. “I wish I could do that.”
“Me too.”
Everyone looked anxious and the whispering grew louder. As the wolf disappeared into the woods, a lion appeared and went galloping toward Dumbledore. Gasps and screams went through the stands. Lena fell out of her seat. Adrian gave her a hand and she settled back onto the bench gazing dumbly at the lion.
“But-but-” she sputtered.
“What is this, a zoo?”
The lion transformed into Professor Lupin and the students’ confusion cleared. He had a somewhat heated exchange with Dumbledore after which Dumbledore went off in the direction Professor Granger-Lupin had gone minutes earlier. The other professors dispersed as well.
Karkaroff had disappeared within the last few minutes and Krum now with his parents, looking dazed and confused. Madame Maxime and Delacour's parents were down by the maze looking frantic with worry. Lena wasn't quite sure how, but the maze was slowly being taken down. Professor Lupin and several other professors and others were patrolling the maze, capturing creatures as the maze was slowly taken down.
“Merlin, there's a sphinx!” Adrian said, pointing.
Arti's eyes bulged. “Wow…”
“And a skrewt,” Colleen said, looking slightly horrified.
“Ugh,” Lena and Arti said, shuddering.
“And an Acromantula.”
“Am I ever glad I didn't have to do this,” Adrian said, shaking his head. The others murmured their agreement.
“I hope everyone's all right,” Colleen said, looking shaken.
“I'm sure they will be,” Blaise said, putting a reassuring arm around her shoulders. But Lena caught a hint of unease in his tone.
She glanced over toward the stands where Potter's family sat. Ron Weasley was pacing, Lovegood was talking to her father, Professor Freeman-Black and Professor Black. Meghan Black was gazing intently at the field, as were the Weasley twins and people who appeared to be their mother and perhaps an older brother.
Suddenly Ginny Weasley jumped up, looking excited. Everyone turned to her, their fear turning to excitement and hope.
Arti let out a half-stifled giggle. “It looks like they're going to play “Ring a-ring o’ roses.”
“I don't think so.”
Lovegood let out a cry and huddled into a ball. Her father jumped to her side. Many of the adults were going back and forth between the stands and the field. Suddenly Professor Lupin, who was now in the teacher's stands, let out a shout, transformed into his Animagus form and went running toward the woods.
“What in the world?”
Potter's friends and family suddenly let out cries of rage and disbelief.
“What's wrong?”
The students, confused and agitated, nervously watched the professors and Potter's family, trying to glean any information about what was happening. Unnoticed from the commotion, Fleur had somehow re-appeared and was sitting with her parents, Madame Maxime and the other Beauxbâtons students. There was still no sign of Diggory. Had he somehow gone wherever Potter had disappeared to?
Roger, Chang and Cedric's parents were looking frantic with worry now. Lena wanted to jump out of the stands and run over and hug him.
Within a few minutes Potter's family and friends were hugging each other crying and laughing. The crisis was seemingly averted though it didn't seem as though Potter and Diggory had returned.
“Is everything all right?” Colleen asked her voice muffled from burying her head into Blaise's robes.
“I think so,” said Blaise a bit hesitantly.
“I hope so,” Arti said.
They and the rest of the students and staff watched as Professors Black and Freeman-Black, Meghan and Draco Black and Granger-Lupin went charging down to the Quidditch pitch and encircled a spot near where the entrance to the maze had been. Professors Lupin and Granger-Lupin came out of the woods together and went to join the group.
Suddenly there was a commotion and exclamations of relief came from the group huddled in front of the maze. Evidently Potter and Diggory had returned. Professors Black and Freeman-Black were crouching over Potter. Dumbledore joined them moments later. The adults were talking quietly as the children were hovering around them, looking relieved.
Cedric's parents were running toward them, looking frenzied. Dumbledore intercepted them before they reached their son and whatever he told them caused both of the Diggorys to turn ashen. Mr. Diggory let out a wordless cry of misery and people were beginning to scream.
“He's dead!”
“He's dead!”
“Cedric Diggory! Dead!”
The news was echoed across the stands. Students began screaming and crying as the news traveled among them. Mr. Diggory's anguished cries echoed across the pitch.
Colleen was pale as she clung to Blaise, shaking. Arti and Adrian both looked ill. Lena felt numb. Roger ran down to where Cedric's parents sat hovering over their son's body, Chang on his heels. Chang clung to Roger, sobbing, as they stood, gazing down at the trio. Lena felt a stab of jealousy that it was Chang and not she who could offer Roger the comfort he so desperately needed.
Professor Sprout came hurrying from the stands, Hagrid behind her. The students were in a state of panic. Some were sobbing, others staring at the crowd on the Quidditch pitch in horror and shock. Professor Black led Potter back up to the castle. Everyone stared at them as they went. The poor boy looked badly shaken and was limping. Lena's heart broke at the sight of him, but it broke even more at seeing Cedric's parents and friends.
Lena wasn't sure how much time had passed but suddenly the professors were ushering the students back inside. They all made their way somberly back to the castle. They huddled together, dazed. By now everyone knew that the basic facts: Potter and Cedric had disappeared after getting the Cup and now Cedric was dead and Potter was badly shaken and injured, though no one knew how. Krum was apparently confused and disoriented and Delacour was all right though shaken. Karkaroff had yet to re-appear.
Slowly students made their way back to their dormitories; Colleen reluctantly letting Blaise go as they separated at the main staircase. As the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins parted ways, Lena and Arti each gave Anne a hug. The girl suddenly looked much younger than her fourteen years. The Slytherins were quiet, and it felt almost like a funeral procession as they walked through the dungeon hallways to their common room.
The Hufflepuffs and the students from the other Houses who had been close to Cedric spent most of their time in their common room the next day, and those who ventured out were in a daze.
Potter and his friends were not at their usual place at the Gryffindor table. It looked rather empty without them. Lena supposed he wanted to be left alone for the time being. Or as alone as one could get with the friends and family he had, especially now that they were all here.
Karkaroff's chair at the High Table was also empty. Lena wondered where he was. The Durmstrang students, sitting father down the table were conversing quietly in agitated whispers and within a minute the entire Slytherin table knew that Karkaroff was dead. First Cedric, now Karkaroff…and no one knew how or why.
The owls bearing the morning post arrived just then. Blaise pursued his copy of the Prophet frowning.
“Not a word about Diggory. Just a short article about Potter winning the tournament.”
“So he did win then.”
“Well, technically they tied, as they took the cup together, but…”
Lena felt nauseous.
The next morning at breakfast, Dumbledore rose to address the students, asking that they leave Potter alone and not pester him about the events of the third task. There was some angry muttering amongst the students when no specifics were given.
“We've got a right to know. I mean, Diggory just turned up dead with Potter and Dumbledore won't tell us anything?”
Roger arrived almost at the end of lunch. And even then he didn't eat much. Lena watched as he crumpled his copy of the Prophet in anger and disgust before stalking out of the Great Hall. After a moment of hesitation, she got up and follow him. He finally stopped at the Quidditch pitch. He stood with his back to her for several silent minutes.
“I'll go if you want.”
He turned around and Lena's heart melted at the look on his face. “No, stay. Please.” He looked like a lost little boy, except that his eyes were blazing. “They didn't even mention him in the paper yesterday,” he spat angrily.
“I know.”
“Just talked with Cedric's parents and Cho. They're going to have the-his funeral next week after we all go home,” he said hollowly.
Lena squeezed his hand. “I'm sorry.”
“It's just…hard, you know? Knowing he won't come back next year and that we won't graduate together. Knowing I'll never get to play Quidditch with him again…” Lena bit back the absurd urge to laugh that even now, Roger's thoughts revolved around Quidditch. But it had been a large part of their childhoods and school lives and was only natural for him to associate Cedric with Quidditch. “They said Cedric was killed because he wouldn't-” His voice hitched slightly and he turned away. Lena put her arms around him. “-wouldn't leave Potter there alone. But Potter took the time to bring Cedric's-Cedric back with him.”
“It wasn't an accident was it?”
“No, it wasn't,” he said almost inaudibly. She was about to ask if he knew the truth, but decided that she wasn't ready to know yet. “At least it was painless.”
“That's good.”
“But I never got to say goodbye.”
“I know.”
“Why did Cedric have to die?”
“Because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“I suppose Potter wasn't meant to survive.”
“I suppose not.”
“But why him? What's he ever done to anyone?”
“I don't know.”
“A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.”
She held him as he cried.
By that night, the entirety of Slytherin House knew that Voldemort had returned, thanks to the gloating of the children of the Death Eaters who had been present on the night of the Third Task. Lena, Arti, Adrian and Blaise sat huddled in a corner of the common room, casting furtive glances at the others in front of the fire.
“He's back then?”
“So it appears.”
“And that's how Cedric died?”
“It would seem so.”
“And Fudge doesn't think it's true?”
“No, or at least he doesn't want to admit it. Otherwise I think the Prophet would have said something and the whole world would be going mad.”
“Why not? I mean, look what happened at the Quidditch Cup last year. Or the fact that the fake Moody was supposedly a Death Eater? And now Cedric's been killed by You-Know-Who and Karkaroff's gone and he used to be a Death Eater.”
“Who wants to admit that You-Know-Who is back? Everyone thought he died on that Halloween. And Fudge wouldn't want do to something that might cost him his office if he's wrong. And what with the Prophet claiming that Potter's mad, it's easy to believe that it's not true.”
“People not believing or not wanting to believe that You-Know-Who's is back will be to his advantage.”
“Yes.”
“But if Fudge is wrong, and won't do anything, then he will lose his job when he's proven wrong!”
“That'll be the least of his worries. People are going to die!”
A subdued silence followed.
“This is bad.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
“Dig a little deeper, Watson.”
Despite everything, they all burst out laughing.
“So he's back then?”
“Yes. My father was there.”
“But I thought he was dead.”
“You honestly think that that the Dark Lord could have been brought down by a half-blood infant?”
“Well, everyone said-“
“They were wrong. He was just biding his time is all.”
“So now we can rid the world of Mudblood and blood-traitor filth?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Will you join him?”
“Yes, now that I'm done with school and of age, I can be useful to him. Not that the Dark Lord would care about O.W.L. and N.E.W.T scores.”
“Pity the Dark Lord didn't manage to kill Potter.”
“Yes, quite a shame it had to be Diggory. He was decent.”
“Karkaroff used to be a Death Eater. No doubt he was trying to recruit some of the Durmstrang students.”
“We need more. I don't suppose Krum will join the Dark Lord?”
“I don't think so.”
“Was Karkaroff there when the Dark Lord returned?”
“Father didn't say.”
“Well, he's dead now.”
“Did the Dark Lord kill him for betraying him?”
“Maybe.”
“That was merciful of him. He deserved worse.”
“Great, so now You-Know-Who is back and we're surrounded by seventy-odd of his next generation of supporters?”
“Apparently.”
“Lovely.”
“Now I'm very glad I kept my mouth shut, Oh, Merlin, I didn't mean it like that.”
“It's all right. It'll be all right.”
But both of them knew that things would never be all right again.
“You know in Joseph where they sing ’Yours were green and second-rate and really rather small”?”
“Yeah…?” Lena replied, slightly apprehensive.
“Are they really talking about corn?” he asked, eyes twinkling.
“What else would they-oh. Adrian,” Lena groaned.
Adrian grinned sheepishly. “Well, what else am I supposed to think?” he asked as Lena laughed hysterically.
“I'm-never-going-to-be-able-to-see-that-any-other-way-now-or-keep-a—straight-face,” she gasped. “Thank you, ever so, it's nice to be able to laugh,” she said once she was able to talk again.
“You're very welcome.”
The Leaving Feast was a somber event. There was no award ceremony to announce the winner of the Triwizard Tournament and No House Cup was awarded. The Great Hall was draped in black and the usual cheer was replaced by a deep melancholy, though the Hufflepuff table was the saddest in the Great Hall. Dumbledore stood and the Great Hall was quiet almost instantly.
“The end,” said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, “of another year.” He paused and gazed upon the Hufflepuff table.
“There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight,” he continued, “but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here,” he gestured toward the Hufflepuffs, “enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory.”
The benches scraped across the floor as everyone stood and raised their glasses and gave a low chorus of “Cedric Diggory.”
Chang was crying silently as were several of the Hufflepuff girls. Roger looked solemn. They sat down again and Dumbledore continued.
“Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about.”
Most of the Great Hall turned to stare up at Dumbledore.
“Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort.”
Gasps and panicked whispers filled the Great Hall. Most of the students were staring open-mouthed at Dumbledore in horror and disbelief. Of course, this was not news to the Slytherins but hearing aloud from Dumbledore jolted Lena a bit as though she were hearing the news for the first time.
“The Ministry of Magic,” Dumbledore continued, “does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory.”
All the students, save for a large portion of the Slytherin table were staring at Dumbledore, looking stunned and frightened. Nott was whispering with Crabbe and Goyle a few seats down and did not look up. Lena almost felt sick.
“There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death,” Dumbledore went on. “I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter.”
Every head turned to Potter then back Dumbledore.
“Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort,” said Dumbledore. “He risked his own life to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him.”
Dumbledore turned to Potter and raised his goblet again. Almost all of the students stood and raised their glasses too, Lena, Blaise, Adrian and Arti among them. However, a group of Slytherins stayed firmly in their seats and glared at those who were standing, muttering angrily.
Everyone again sat down and Dumbledore resumed his speech. “The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemort's return - such ties are more important than ever before.”
He turned and looked at from Madame Maxime to the Beauxbâtons and Durmstrang students in turn. Krum looked wary, almost frightened even, as though he expected Dumbledore to say something harsh.
“Every guest in this Hall,” said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, “will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.
“It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst.
“Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.”
The six of them crowded into a compartment on the Hogwarts Express.
“Finally, no more stupid people making judgmental comments!” Arti said happily.
“Hear, hear,” Blaise said, pretending to lift a glass. The others mimicked him, laughing.
Arti leaned back and sighed with content. “We get to go home.”
“And then we have to start going to those stupid parties,” Lena groused.
Arti glared at her sister. “Must you remind me?”
“At least you're going to be there too,” Lena said to Roger.
“Lovely,” Roger said sarcastically. Everyone laughed.
“So,” Lena said looking at Blaise and Colleen. “How are things with you two? People treating you all right? Well, as all right as people can treat you under the circumstances?”
Blaise nodded. “I don't think they were as bad as they were toward you.”
“Part of the problem when one of us is very popular.”
“Not by choice,” Roger grumbled.
“They got less irritating as each of the tasks approached.”
“I'm not surprised. That was much more exciting than who's going out with who, even for gossip-mongers like them.”
Colleen and Arti giggled.
“I'm sure that it must have been worse for you two than it was for us,” she said, nodding at Roger. “Having Hermione Granger-Lupin as a friend has helped.”
“Granger-Lupin?”
Blaise nodded. “We met at the Quidditch World Cup last year. She was friendly to me, unlike most others in Gryffindor.”
“What about the rest of her lot?”
“We didn't see much of them, but I suppose they tolerated us.”
“Well, that's an improvement.”
“If that's an improvement, I feel so sorry for you,” Roger said.
“Says Mr. Popular,”
Roger rolled his eyes. “I don't give a damn about my popularity, I've told you that. I didn't ask for it and I don't want it.”
“Good, because I think it's going to disappear shortly.”
“Good. I'm sick of people seeing me as the good-looking athletic Ravenclaw.”
“Well, you are.”
“I've been wondering,” Blaise began. “How did things die down so quickly after you two became official?”
“I took measures,” Lena replied coolly.
“Did you?”
Colleen looked at Lena wide-eyed. “What did you do?”
“I blackmailed a fellow Housemate.”
“Which one?”
“Blishwick. I caught her snogging a Durmstrang boy who was most definitely not her husband-to-be.”
Blaise smiled. “That would do it.”
“How?” Colleen asked.
“Pure-bloods, traditional pure-bloods that is, take purity and all that very seriously If there was even a hint that she wasn't…chaste, that could end the marriage contract and all other potential contracts. Obviously, she'd rather not risk that. So, I made her a deal. I'll keep my mouth shut if she gets everyone to stop badgering us.”
“And it worked?” Colleen asked.
“So far. But with recent events…I mean, I've been claiming I'm not a blood-traitor, because, yes Roger's not a pure-blood, but he's not a Muggle-born either. And I don't have Muggle-born friends.”
“But it's not helping that you're taking Muggle-Studies-”
“Which everyone thinks is because I want to see how inferior Muggles are to us.”
“Yes. And you're going to continue it next year, which is going to be a dead give-away that that's not the reason. Not to mention, we don't call Muggle-borns, the…other word.”
Lena stiffened slightly. “Well, just when we need to.”
Arti nodded. “Therefore, now that everyone knows, or will when you start school in September,” she said, glaring half-heartedly at Lena, “things are going to be much worse next year. Thanks for that, by the way.”
“Damn, not something I want to think about,” Lena said, sliding down in her seat.
“At least in N.E.W.T.-level classes it's a smaller group so you're not going to be surrounded by all of your House,” Roger pointed out.
Lena smiled at him. ’I knew there was a reason we're dating.”
They talked until the lunch trolley arrived and ate lunch mostly in silence. Blaise bought a copy of the Daily Prophet which he perused while he ate.
“No mention of You-Know-Who.”
“I'm not surprised. The last thing Fudge wants is to admit that You-Know-Who could be back.”
“I mean, I know Dumbledore said he was, but it's so hard to believe. But he is, isn't he?”
The Slytherins nodded.
“I've always thought it was bad that ninety-nine percent of the Death Eaters were Slytherins,” Arti said, “because it makes it all the harder for people to believe he's back but most of those idiots have parents in his inner-circle who are, of course, very happy to tell the rest of us that he's back.”
“Most of them are probably eager to join him,” Blaise added.
“I'm surprised there wasn't more recruiting,” Arti said thoughtfully.
“They're probably being cautious,” Roger pointed out. He sighed and gazed out the window. “I'll miss him.” No one needed to ask who Roger was referring to. “It seems wrong that the weather's so nice and he's not here to enjoy it.”
“Yeah,” Lena said quietly, reaching out and squeezing his hand and giving him a hug. He gave her a sad smile.
“Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall—think of it, always.”
“And until then, we will fight.”
“Can I come stay at your house? I don't think I can take a whole summer of her,” Arti said nodding to Lena. “It's nice to have friends,” Arti said happily.
Colleen giggled. “Of course. I'll ask my parents when you can come.”
“Who says I'll be home all summer?” Lena asked, nodding to Roger.
“Mother and Father'd never let you stay at his place over night.”
“Who says they have to know?” Lena countered, giving her sister a mischievous grin.
Roger looked equal parts pleased and apprehensive. “I'll keep that in mind.”
Arti buried her face in her hands and groaned. Blaise, Colleen and Adrian laughed.
Adrian patted Arti's knee. “Well, if you're feeling left out, you and I could-” He didn't finish his sentence as Lena had her wand at his throat. “Hey, hey, relax. I was kidding,” Adrian said raising his hand in surrender as the other three howled with laughter. Arti started choking on her food and Roger thumped her on the back.
“Good,” Lena said, putting her wand back in her pocket.
“Hypocrite,” Arti said when she had swallowed.
The rest of the ride passed quickly as they played several rousing games of Wizarding Scrabble.
“It's not fair! You know more spells than we do!” Arti pouted at Adrian and Roger who were winning spectacularly.
Lena shrugged. “You'd know more if you'd actually study.”
“I do so, you hypocrite.”
“Who me? Speaking of which…” She turned to Roger and kissed him. Arti pretended to gag. Lena sat up and leaned over toward Arti. “At least this is all we're doing,” Lena whispered wickedly.
Arti grabbed the Scrabble board, scattering the tiles and other pieces onto the floor and hit Lena over the head with it. The others exchanged confused looks.
Within minutes, everyone was picking up Scrabble pieces off the floor and throwing the tiles at each other. Their fun ended as when the train began to slow. The usual scramble to disembark was made a bit worse by the fact that there were six people in the compartment.
Blaise and Colleen separated from the group after the girls promised to owl each other.
Lena, Arti and Adrian began walking toward their parents, who were talking together as usual. They were half-way across the platform before Lena realised that Roger was not with them. She turned to find him plodding along slowly behind him, looking stricken. She walked back to join him and he gave her a crooked smile.
“Come on,” Lena said taking his hand and leading him through the swarm of people. Roger licked his lips nervously. “You'll be fine,” she assured him. “I mean, honestly, you've probably done this a million times by now.”
“Well, no, I haven't. My relationships really haven't lasted long enough to get to this part.”
“Really? Well, I feel special.”
“You are special.”
“Yeah, like “Don't eat the paste” special,” Arti muttered, though loud enough for the others to hear. Lena was tempted to drag her back onto the train and let it take her back to Hogwarts. “Can I come live with your family for the summer? I don't think I could stand living with her until we go back to school.”
“You'll be fine. We'll all see each other a lot so you won't be alone all the time.”
“Thank Merlin.”
“Mother! Father!” Arti called abandoning her cart - which Adrian nearly crashed into - and running to meet them. They hugged her tightly and did the same to Lena in turn.
Adrian looked a bit embarrassed as his mother followed suit.
“So, this is the famous Roger Davies,” Father said, turning to Roger. “Leo Moon and this is my wife, Kay,” he said shaking Roger's hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Roger said smiling nervously at them.
“Lena's told us so much about you.”
“Good things, I hope.”
“Don't worry, nothing but,” Mother assured him. “I'm glad we're finally able to meet you.”
They chatted for a few minutes before Roger said, “I should let my parents know I'm back.”
“Of course,” Father said.
Roger hurried off. Lena tried not to giggle as noticeably relaxed. She watched as other Hogwarts students met their parents and left. She saw Maya Pritchard and Graham greeting their respective parents, who couldn't have been more different. Maya's parents were very uptight whereas Graham's parents were much more relaxed. Graham's sister, who looked to be about five, was jumping up and down excitedly. Lena smiled at the girl's happiness. We'll need more of that now.
Roger returned with his parents and Anne a few minutes later. Introductions were made all around. The adults were soon chatting up a storm leaving the children to their own devices. It wasn't until the adults realised that they were practically the only people left on the platform that they stopped. The three families parted ways after promising to get together over the holidays.
Thanks to Apparation, they were home within seconds.
Lena levitated her luggage up to her room and flopped onto her bed sighing in content. “Finally! I don't have to share a room with four inbred hags for another two months!”
Arti laughed as she came in through the door separating their bedrooms. Horus came in behind her. “I second that heartily.”
The girls spent the rest of the afternoon filling their parents in on the events of the last few weeks.
“What are we going to do?”
“To refuse them would be fatal for all of us, and joining them would be unthinkable.”
GoF Ch. 31: The Third Task DwD 52 GoF Ch 37: The Beginning Two quotes by Gandhi One line from "The Sound of Music"