Students were ushered back to their respected dormitories. There were a lot of things that Professor Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic needed to understand and discuss. Not only was there Cedric's body that needed to be moved from the public's eye, but there was the undercover Death Eater that had been inside the castle's walls since the start of the year. Professor Moody had really been Barty Crouch Jr.; a Death Eater who was presumed to be dead years ago.
The man had been the one to take Harry away from the scene of the third task and was found half way through saying the killing curse, his wand pointed directly at the terrified boy. The real Professor Moody had been found in a magical trunk in Crouch Jr.'s office. The man had been down there for months and was heavily malnourished and weak. The imposer had been taken by the Ministry and was said to be given the Dementors kiss, a fate worse than death.
Blair sat in the Ravenclaw common room with her other house mates. They were sent to their respected towers to an early night in bed but no one could shut their eyes. Everyone had seen Cedric's void-filled irises and couldn't get the image of his limp body out of their minds. Blair doubted she'd ever be able to sleep again after the event. She admitted that she wanted to stay with George when they were told to leave the stadium and head back into the castle, but had been whisked away by Nancy before she could leave with him.
Sitting on one of the vacant armchairs, Jasper curled up on Blair's lap as she mindlessly stroked down his back. The feline wasn't aware of the tense and dark atmosphere that hung over the entirety of the school and was slipping into a deep sleep on top of his owner's thighs. Blair was staring at the mantel piece above the fireplace, now dressed in a black jumper and some black leggings. She had immediately taken off the revealing clothes she had been wearing and grabbed her most comfortable pieces, wanting nothing more than to sink into the covers of her bed. But the constant image of Cedric's emotionless face made Blair surprisingly want to be around people. This wasn't a desire she ever felt often, but the need to have some sort of a distraction overpowered her instinct to be by herself for the night.
She jumped in her place when she felt a hand on her shoulder and whipped her head around, relaxing in the slightest when she saw Mina's glum face. The girl offered Blair a smile that anyone could see wasn't genuine but she couldn't bring herself to return one.
"Just wanted to let you know that George is outside asking for you," Mina said and Blair was thankful for the small jump that came from inside of her. The relief of having George here made the situation that little bit more bearable.
"Thanks," she replied and picked Jasper up into her arms. She stood up from the armchair and started making her way towards the hallway that leads to the door. Jasper squirmed for a moment in her arms but settled once he found he could sleep snuggled against her shoulder.
Opening the door, she spotted George staring straight at her with the invisibility cloak they had used in past in his hands. He stood with a prominent frown on his face but made sure to crack a lop-sided smile once she met eyes with him, giving her some reassurance regardless of the gloomy situation. He had had a better relationship with Cedric because of their parents being mutual friends and attending the Quidditch World Cup together at the start of the school year. It was surreal to think that the boy had been murdered by the returned Dark Lord.
"We're going down to see Harry in the hospital wing. Thought you'd like to come," George admitted while holding up the cloak that would allow them through the castle without being seen.
"Can I bring Jasper?" she questioned quietly and he nodded with a half amused and half solemn smile.
"Sure."
Blair slipped under the cloak and the two made their way down the spiral staircase. Jasper obediently stayed silent as they maneuvered past ghosts that whispered to each other about the obvious tragedy. Most of the ghosts probably wouldn't care that students were out of their dormitories, but it was better to go unseen with someone like Peeves flying around. If the trouble-maker was alerted, Mr Filch was sure to stay true to his aggressive and unkind nature once he found them.
They made it to the hall that was empty besides the one bed that had several people surrounding it. Madam Pomfrey wasn't anywhere to be seen as she had done all that she had needed to do, leaving Harry to speak with his friends and those who had come to see him. The entire Weasley clan (minus Percy) had come to see if he was alright after nearly being killed by Barty Crouch Jr., along with Hermione and now Blair who shyly took her place next to Ginny.
"The real Mad-Eye's been taken to St. Mungos," Hermione informed her best friend. "They say that he'll be fine after some replenishing potions and some heavy nutrition."
"Right..." Harry muttered but didn't seem to be listening. His eyes were trained at the spot at the end of his bed, deep in thought and longing to sleep for eternity. He didn't want to say all the things that he had seen at the time of Cedric's death, but Professor Dumbledore had appeared earlier with Professor McGonagall and urged him to speak. Living through the moments again had taken every last bit of energy that he had left. He wished to sleep to not only relieve him of the fatigue, but to get away from everyone who was anticipating for an explanation. He knew that the whispers had already started about him being a liar and he was prepared to fight against them, but not until he had had a week's worth of sleep.
"I suppose you're tired, dear," Mrs Weasley spoke up, noticing his distant stare. "We'll leave you to rest for now."
The family of redheads started to move off towards the exit of the hospital wing, leaving Hermione and Ron to stay behind and talk with Harry for a private moment. Molly caught sight of the small girl that stood next to her daughter and slithered herself through her children in order to stand in front of her. Blair stopped abruptly when the woman appeared out of nowhere and felt George lightly bump into her, letting out a small 'oof!' noise.
"Sorry to stop you dear, but I've been dying to meet the girl George's been harping on about," the woman grinned and glanced up at George who resisted the strong urge to face palm. "I'm Molly, George's mother."
"O-Oh nice to meet you, Mrs Weasley," Blair stuttered and had barely anytime to prepare for the hug that the small woman threw at her. Jasper yelped at the sudden contact and jumped out of Blair's arms, glaring at Molly who took no notice of the feline. Molly squeezed herself against the girl and she awkwardly wrapped her arms around the Weasley's middle, looking to George for some help. The boy only sent her a sympathetic smile but stayed back with her as his siblings continued walking out of the room.
"I just wanted to say thank you for being with my son," Molly declared as she pulled away with a large smile and her hands still locked on Blair's shoulders. "Even his class work has been improving because of you! I've heard all about how brilliant you are at Potions and your interest in Quidditch. He could do with someone like you to pull him into line!"
"Gee thanks Mum," he muttered from next to Blair but shrunk back when his mother turned to him with a fierce glare.
"You better take care of this girl, George Weasley! I'm sure she won't tolerate any of those magical sweets and joke products you still haven't gotten rid of!" Molly swatted at his arm and he winced, clutching the spot where she had hit.
"A-Actually I think their ideas are pretty cool, Mrs Weasley," Blair voiced shyly and Molly's face fell with her lips pulling into a frown. George could be seen grinning from over his mother's head and nodded encouragingly at Blair.
"W-Well I suppose it is a matter of opinion," the woman attempted to appear unfazed but looked awkward at trying not to appear too disappointed. But she soon brightened with her motherly smile as if she hadn't changed demeanours at all. "And you can call me Molly, dear."
Mrs Weasley then left after her husband who was waiting for her in the corridor. Mr Weasley shot Blair a small smile in acknowledgement before moving off with his wife down the corridor and turning the corner where they were now out of sight. Blair stood with George and watched them leave, before turning to each other at the same time.
"She's nice," Blair stated and George scoffed.
"Yeah and a hazard to breathing. She nearly squashed poor Jasper," he cooed as he scooped Jasper up from the floor and smothered him against his cheek. Jasper could be heard mewling and started to squirm against George, wanting be set free from the 'love' George was giving him. Blair held back a laugh as she saw Jasper's pleading eyes and slipped her fingers under George's arm, taking the cat from him and relieving him of his binds.
"Yeah and she definitely passed on that trait," she joked, walking out of the hospital wing with Jasper safe in her arms. George pouted but followed after her, reaching out to pet Jasper's head only to receive a swipe from his claws.
---
The assembly that was held for Cedric was depressing yet respectful. The tapestries that usually hung from the ceiling that displayed the winning houses' colours had been replaced with black drapes. Even the enchanted ceiling had been taken away just for the ceremony, leaving the Great Hall to feel emptier than ever. Students from all schools sat along the benches that had been moved to face the front where Professor Dumbledore sat in his chair, looking grave and weathered. The other Professors lined the walls of the room and stood to attention as the Headmaster spoke about the generosity and humbleness that Cedric Diggory was known for.
The gasps that came from everyone when Dumbledore mentioned that Cedric was murdered by Lord Voldemort were loud and collective. But the Professor barely flinch when his other Professors' looked to him with pursed lips and warning gazes. They had all been informed by the Ministry of Magic to not assume the claims that had come from the disorientated and shell-shocked Harry Potter to be true. But Dumbledore seemed to believe every word of it and took no notice of the immediate backlash he was going to receive for saying such things.
On the morning of the last day at Hogwarts, Blair glumly descended the stairs that lead into the Entrance Hall. Everyone had gathered to say their goodbyes before heading their separate ways on the Hogwarts Express, the Durmstrang ship on the Black Lake or in the silver chariot of the Beauxbatons. Besides all the doom and gloom that had come with ending of the Triwizard tournament, everyone had come to realise how close they had become regardless of their classic school rivalry. Hogwarts students hugged Durmstrangs and Beauxbatons hugged Hogwarts students, even shedding some dramatic tears.
Blair pushed down her heavy heart and started to weave through the large group, searching for the tall redhead that she dreaded to say goodbye to. Even though she knew it was only for two months, it would feel like an eternity in the old, lonely orphanage that was dragging her back inside it's walls. She had already packed away her wand deep inside her trunk so that it couldn't be found by those who despised magic and those who wouldn't hesitate to snap it. She was prepared for nine weeks of no magic, but she wasn't prepared for the dull silence that she knew she had to endure.
"You know, it's so easy to find you in crowds because of your gloomy attire," a voice flowed from behind her and she whipped around, smiling at the sight of the boy she had been searching for. George beamed down at her and leaned down to press his lips against her forehead, making her insides warm and bubble in content. He leaned back and took hold of her hand, lacing her fingers tightly with hers.
"I really don't want to go," Blair's voice cracked and George's heart physically ached. He had been thinking nonstop about the horrors that could be waiting for Blair and had been thinking over the ways of asking her to stay with him over the summer.
"Come stay with me," he blurted without thinking. "No one would mind at all. Ginny loves you and Mum's wants you round for breakfast, lunch and dinner!"
"I can't George... I'm not eighteen yet," she sulked. "I appreciate it. Really, I do. But..."
"I understand. I just want to know that you're okay," he admitted, bringing her hand up to his lips and pressing them against her knuckles. He really didn't want her to go and wanted the two months to fly by quicker than a golden snitch. He had never wanted for the holidays to pass by so that they could return to Hogwarts, but Blair had changed that entirely.
"I will be," she reassured him and herself, offering him the tiniest of smiles. "I'll wait for you."