I ran to the castle, wiping my tears, not looking behind. Not caring what anyone thought, not caring if someone was following or not. I ran and ran and ran. The hallways seemed dark without him; it wasn't like it always was. I ran to my dorm and fell to the ground, still crying. How do you make up or move on from the loss of someone so close to you? Of someone that mattered so much to you? I cried and cried. Not worrying about how loud I was sounding.
I was on the ground when someone hugged me from behind.
"Draco, why did he not wanna come back?" I knew it was him.
"What- Darling, you don't know what you're talking-" he said and I cut him off and said, "I can bring back people" I didn't care if he knew, I had no control over my words. He was silent, processing the information he just received.
"Dumbledore said that now I can only bring back people... who want to come back" I said and I turned around, "Why didn't he wanna come back? Was I not good? Was there a problem in me-" I asked looking at him and he cut me off by hugging me and said, "No, never think that, Olivia. I can say that Diggory was lucky to have you in his life, that he would have never regretted a second that he spent with you. A minute that he called you his. Never"
I sighed; I was still crying. My body had drained all the energy that was left in me. My hand hadn't stop paining. I didn't mind showing Draco my weakest self, he knew me better than anyone else did. I was still crying in his chest. He kept on reassuring me and stroking my hair.
We were still sitting on the ground. He pulled away and looked at me.
"Darling, let's sit on your bed, you're shivering and weak" he said cupping my cheek. I didn't look at him, but just nodded.
He made me sit on my bed and he was about to leave because he heard everyone come back in. I grabbed his wrist and said, "No, please, you don't leave me too"
He sighed and sat beside me, my head resting on his chest, his one hand around my waist while the other wiping my tears.
"It's my fault, you know, Draco. I asked him to protect Harry. He did. It was all my fault-" I said crying on his black t-shirt.
"Don't say that" he said comforting me. I didn't know how long he sat there, but I drifted to sleep.
Hermione's POV
We were walking back from the grounds. I was shaken up. He had never hurt a single soul in his life. Why did that happen to him? I was so worried that I didn't even think what my best friend would've been going through. I searched for her in the grounds, in the Great Hall, the Astronomy Tower, I didn't find her, so Ginny and I went back to our dorm.
I opened the door and found her in our dorm, asleep in Malfoy's arm. He was awake, he looked at me and I held my palm in the air, signaling that it was okay, that she needed someone and he smiled slightly and went back to sleep with her.
Ginny and I were careful enough to not make any sound, since even the tiniest of the sound could wake Liv up. And that was the last thing that we wanted. Because if she woke up, she would cry and it would affect her health.
All of us were awake the whole night, whereas Liv, kept moving in her sleep, she was restless. She was fidgeting. Every time I woke up to comfort her, Malfoy was always there, he would rub her back, he would stroke her hair, wipe the stray tears off of her face.
The next morning, I woke up to find Liv alone in her bed and a note on her table.
My dear darling,
I am always there for you. Always. You can visit me, anytime you want, or I can. No matter the bullying, the name calling, you will always be my priority, I will drop everything just to comfort you.
You were restless in your sleep. You cried, kept fidgeting, having nightmares. I couldn't stand seeing you hurt. I quietly sobbed last night, quiet enough to not wake you and the others up. That's why I left.
~ DM
I sighed and smiled. Liv did change him, no matter what she told, no matter what others thought. I looked at her, her breathing was slow, she was still sleeping and turned to my bed, a note lying there for me as well. I picked it up and it read,
Granger,
She will not ask for help, you know how stubborn she can be. She will not come out of the dorm for days, she was still burning up last night, so I put a wet cloth on her forehead, hope you will do that too.
Never leave her alone in the dorm, never. The last time I did, she burned herself. Take care of her, for me.
~ Malfoy
I looked at her, tears filling my eyes, she was reading the letter. She looked at me, with a blank expression and went back to sleep. She was staring at the ceiling, not blinking once.
I sat next to her and touched her forehead; she was still hot. I placed a wet cloth and looked at her. She didn't look at me, just staring blankly at the ceiling. I was about to stand up, when she said.
"You know, I slept last night, only to think that this was some sort of nightmare. That it would be over when I woke up. For a moment I thought it was, until I read the note"
I looked at her and kept a hand on her hand. "Liv, I know when I say that everything will be okay, it won't. They'll just be condolences. Because, yes, everything is changing-" I said but she cut me off, "How am I supposed to move on, Mione? He loved me, whereas I thought it was too soon. You know, it was my fault. I asked him to protect Harry. And he... he did" she said sitting up.
"No, Liv, it- this isn't your fault. He did what was right" I said hugging her. She didn't hug me back, Ginny was standing at the edge of the bed, crying too.
Olivia's POV
A few days went by, I hadn't left my dorm, I wasn't eating or sleeping either. The minute I closed my eyes; I would see Cedric's dead face staring at me. Hermione and Ginny always brought food for me, that would be left untouched.
With Hermione's and Ginny's pleas, I went to the common, to sit, always after curfew. I used to stare into the fireplace, until I fell asleep. Days passed by and the same routine continued. I hadn't eaten in ages, I was looking skinny, dark bags underneath my eyes. Hermione had told me that Draco was asking about me. I ignored her. With what Harry had been telling, his father was a death eater. Also, Crabbe's and Goyle's.
Harry's POV
After Cedric's death, there was no joy around Liv. The once, oh so happy, cheerful and bright Olivia, was now numb. I hadn't seen her after his death. She used to stay in her dorm, never came out, not for meals or classes.
After what were days, but felt like months, I saw Liv in the common room, after curfew. I guess she had just fallen asleep, her breathing wasn't steady. I quietly sat beside her and stared at her in awe. She was looking skinny, dark circles had mounted their tents under her eyes. She hadn't been eating for days.
I scooted closer to her and tucked a few strands of her that were on her face. For once, she looked peaceful. I was about to leave, when she wrapped her hands around me and slept on my shoulders. I let her. The next day, I woke up before she could and told Mione to get her or sleep beside her.
This became a routine of ours. She used to come to the common room after curfew, I used to sleep beside her and left before she would wake up.
One day, when I was coming down to the common room, I saw her awake, she looked at me and smiled faintly. She had already seen me, there was no turning back.
I went down the stairs and sat beside her. She didn't look at me, she was staring at the fireplace. We sat there in silence.
"What happened that day, Harry?" she asked finally breaking the silence.
"Do you re-" I asked but she cut me off and said, "Yes, I want to know, Dumbledore asked me to speak at his memorial that is in a few days. Don't you think his girl - his ex-girlfriend should know about what happened?"
I sighed and told her everything that had happened. How I saved him, how he told me to grab the cup as a thank you, how we both ended up in the graveyard, how he was brave, how he saved me and how he was killed by Peter Pettigrew.
She started crying, loudly. I pulled her closer to my chest and hugged her, let her cry. Everyone from our circle came down, listening to her cry.
Fred came near me, placed a hand on Liv's back and said, "Love, Cedric couldn't want you to cry like that. He wouldn't want to see you hurt like this. He wouldn't want to see you starve yourself. We all know that it is hard and life without him is gonna be hard. But know that we are always here, for you. No matter what happens" she looked up from my chest and saw everyone.
"Come on, love. Smile now, it's been months since we actually saw you smile. We miss our fun old Olivia, who would make puns and shout at Ron and made us laugh" George said coming beside her and she looked at him and said, "Old? I'm not old, you are, Grandpa Georgie. You are soon to graduate, not me" and wiped her tears, smiling. And everyone, for the first time in ages, laughed.
We helped Olivia come out of her sad phase. She had started eating again, talking to us and thank Merlin, she was joking with us. I was happy to see her happy.
Olivia's POV
Everyone helped me move on. I was almost back to normal. I was eating again, singing, laughing with everyone. It was the day of Cedric' s memorial. Professor Dumbledore had waited for me, to heal. So that his memorial would be done in my presence.
I was sitting next to Harry, when Dumbledore started his speech. "Today, we acknowledge, after months, a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory, as you all know, was exceptionally hardworking, brave and kind, and a fierce, fierce friend." He paused and looked at me, "Now, I think that you have the right to know how he died, how he exactly died"
I grabbed Harry's hand and he looked at me. I was already crying. He placed his hand on my hand and the other went around my shoulder.
"He was murdered by Voldemort!" he said and my breath hitched, I kept crying on Harry's shoulder, Dumbledore's words fading away.
"Now, let's hear from someone who was close to Cedric in his last days" he completed and Harry looked at me and kissed my forehead.
"You don't have to do it, Liv" he said and I stood up. "I have to. For him. For his father. For me." I said and walked to the stage.
I looked at everyone, their faces staring at me and then I saw Draco, he nodded and I took a deep breath and started my speech.
"Hi, a lot of you may know me as Cedric's girlfriend. Actually, it's a privilege to be known by his name. Cedric Diggory. He had a passion for writing, no one knew, neither did I, nor his father. I was clearing out his dorm the other day, when I found a letter that he wrote, not addressed to anyone. Beautiful words he wrote that I would like to share" I said opening the letter, my vision blurry, due to tears in my eyes.
The letter read,
To whoever finds this,
This is a letter that I wrote, that I would like to be read at my funeral.
To all the people who have come into my life, I thank you, and I apologize to those whom I have hurt in any manner.
This is a few minutes long, however worth every bit of listening to (or reading). It's a reflection on all the important aspects of my life and probably, if you think about it, most of yours too.
Please enjoy this celebration of my life. Thanks.
Cedric Diggory
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, love who you are.
The rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense it now.
The first thing I've learned is that we should be glad that God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
We do not remember days, we remember MOMENTS!
To realize the value of a friend or family member: LOSE ONE.
Be Thankful and do not regret growing old. It's a privilege denied to many!
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.
Enjoy life on earth. It does have an expiration date!
Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve a muggle algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, and don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
In a relationship, I've learned no one stays the same for a lifetime. So, the person you've become, has to keep falling in love with the person they've become.
A problem is a chance for you to do your best.
Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the Fact!
When you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few, you should hold on to.
Never have too much pride. Pride can work with you or against you.
Believe in yourself, you control your own destination in life.
You know, sometimes we are so caught up in who's right and who's wrong that we forget what's right and wrong.
Sometimes we just don't realize what real friendship means until it is too late. Think before you speak.
Believe this; there is a soul mate for each of us, don't let yourself settle for less. Soulmate need not mean, a life partner. Your soulmate can be your friend, your best friend, your sibling or your life partner. You need to find the one person in this world who will make you say this: I love my life because it gave me you. I love you because you are my Life! And I'm glad to say that my Olivia made me feel like that. That I found my friend, my best friend, my mentor, my soulmate in one person.
What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others!
Love,
Cedric Diggory!
I sighed and kept the letter back in my robes and continued with my speech.
"We are all blessed to have been a part of his life. He was loved and treasured by those who were fortunate enough to have him touch their lives in many ways – a son, a brother, a boyfriend, a seeker, a captain, a prefect and most importantly a friend.
He impressed us all with his charm, his patience, his kindness, his intelligence and of course, his good looks. Many admired him because of his gentle manners and the way he delicately spoke about others. Cedric was never one to raise his voice or speak negatively about anybody. You never heard him gossip or belittle anyone. I can go hours talking about the kind of person he was, but I think many of you already knew Cedric.
He is- was more than what Professor Dumbledore just mentioned. Very much more than that. He always put the welfare of others before him. I remember him promising me to protect Harry and he did. He died protecting him. He died doing the right thing. He was murdered by Voldemort and I believe it. I believe what Harry told and I believe that my Cedric would never die doing anything wrong.
I know the Ministry doesn't want us knowing all this, I don't know how many of you believe Harry or don't believe him. But there is something that you should believe, there is a war coming. No matter your age, your gender, your nationality, your language, once the war is near, you have to decide, what is right and what is wrong, and you have to take a stand. When you fight, all that will matter is whether you're doing it for the right side. Don't let Cedric's death go in vain" I completed the speech and went back to my dorm.
I sighed and sat down beside Hermione. "That was very beautiful, Liv"
"Beautiful words by a beautiful boy" I said as I started packing for the break.
"Liv, you know, you can stay with me. You don't have to stay alone" she said coming closer to me. I smiled at her and said, "No, Mione. Thank you. I know you worry, but I'm fine. And if not, I will be, over time"
"I'm gonna go to the courtyard" she said, "Coming?" she completed.
"Will be down in a few. You go on" I replied as I completed my packing.
I went to the common room, where I bumped into Professor Dumbledore.
"Ah, Olivia. Very nice speech. I think you'll be a great headmaster" he said and I chuckled a little, "Only if you want to be" he completed.
"Thank you, Sir. And I don't know, sounds too much of a responsibility" I said as we walked out of the common room.
"Yes, yes. Olivia, I wanted to say that be safe, now that Voldemort is back, he won't rest until he wins and we need you. A lot of people know about what you can do, I would suggest to take training from some of the Aurors about your powers. You should know how to use them, control them, you already do. But practice makes perfect" he said as he placed a hand on my shoulder and we reached the courtyard.
I saw Malfoy approaching us. Professor Dumbledore looked at him and smiled at me and said, "Right, I'll leave you to it" and left us at the entrance of the courtyard.
"Olivia" Draco said with a smile.
I smiled back and said, "Draco"
He sighed and hugged me, "You were really brave. Really very brave. And great speech. Diggory would be proud of you and probably jealous that I'm hugging you" and I hugged him back.
"Thank you, Draco. You know, I never actually thanked you properly, after the night he died. Well, I never did leave the dorm, but still. Thank you for being there for me. And yes, Ced would be jealous" I said and he pulled away and saw the trio approaching us.
"Alright Middleton, see you soon" he said and I replied, "Write me? Over the summer?" he nodded and left towards a group of Beauxbatons' girls waving at him. Right, Malfoy's a flirt, I forgot. I smiled and went back to the trio.
We were watching everyone say goodbye to each other, some smiling, some crying, some hugging, some kissing.
"Do you think that we'll ever have a quiet year at Hogwarts?" Ron asked and Hermione and Harry said, "No" I was still watching everyone.
They walked and I was still watching, "Everything is going to change now, isn't it?" Hermione asked almost crying. I looked at her and said, "Yes"
We walked towards the balcony and she said, "Promise me, that you'll write, all of you and we'll visit you like last time, Liv. We'll have a little party, if you'd like" she said looking at me.
"Sure, I'll sent out the date and the invitations" I said as we reached the balcony and watched the schools leave.