Through All the Pain // N. Longbottom

Fourth Year // Chapter 19

"Lori ... don't!"

"FRED MOVE!" I shouted as I tossed him down to the seats. I sprinted down the stands, jumping over seats and students. Trying to get closer, and hoping this was all a prank. Hoping Fred and George talked Cedric into playing dead.

"Ced? CED!?!" I screamed as I jumped over the last row and down the small stairs to the field. Ron apparently had followed me and tried to hug me. I just pushed everyone away and fell to my knees beside Cedric. 

"He's back, he's back! Voldemort's back." Harry cried through sobs. "Cedric, h-he asked me to bring his body back. I couldn't leave him, not there!" 

That's when I looked at him, his once beautiful grey eyes were now, dull and lifeless. His face was forever locked into a face of pure shock and terror. My body started to shake, as I reached out and grazed his hand. It was cold, and that was when it hit me. 

Cedric Diggory was dead.

I started sobbing uncontrollably as Cedric's father started screaming. I just barely felt the hand on my shoulder as it pulled me into a hug. I sniffed as I buried my head into the shoulder of the person hugging me, and got a smell of potting soil and tulips.

"Shhh. Shhh. Hey, hey. You're fine. It's okay, everything is going to be okay." Neville said as he started rubbing my back. "You're fine, okay? You're fine." He said as he kissed my forehead. After a few moments, I lifted my head and whirled it around.

"Where's Fred? Where's George?" I cried. Having a hug from my best friend was great, but right now ... I needed my older brothers. Neville waved his hand and they came bounding over. 

"Lori!" George cried as he got down and picked me up. Fred was right behind him as they both carried me off towards the castle. The entire way I was sobbing and sobbing into George's jumper. 

When we got there, George took me right up to their dorm room. Where he placed me gently down on his bed and continued to hug me. That's when I felt the parchment in my pocket. I slowly reached in and pulled it out. 

"What's that, Ri Ri?" Fred asked, his voice was raw and choked. 

"Ce-Cedric told me to read this if anything bad happened to him tonight. That ... I should read this." I lifted up my shirt and wiped my nose and eyes, so I could at least attempt to read it. I slowly opened it up to see the entire page was filled with words. I tossed it down and sobbed some more.

"Do you want us to read it for you, Lori?" Fred asked. I just nodded as I cuddled next to George some more. He cleared his throat before beginning the long letter.

Dear Lorrinda,

Sadly, if you're reading this ... that means I'm no longer among the living. I don't know what made me write this letter, maybe all you're pestering and worrying got to me. So, here's everything I wish I could say to you but never will get the chance.

Lori, I thought I'd always end up with one of the girls from Hufflepuff, or Cho Chang ... never did I EVER imagine I would be graced to have you be my girlfriend. Granted, we did have our ups and downs, our highs and lows, but we got through them all and stayed loyal to each other. 

I loved you, more than Quidditch, more than books, more than candy, and maybe even more than life itself! I was an arrogant douchebag before you agreed to date me, so much so in fact, you actually threatened to break up with me if I didn't stop acting better than everyone else.

I'll never forget all those times we spent together. Flying on brooms, ice skating out on the lake in the winter, sneaking down to the kitchens for some bites of food before heading to bed. Most of all, I won't forget the day I actually laid eyes on you. I've never told you this, so ... sorry this will probably break your heart.