SIXTEEN
THE BEGINNING
It had been a week since Cedric had passed. Valentina refused to speak to anyone. She showed no emotion whatsoever, making her peers question if she did indeed have a heart at all. She hated the pity glances they would give her, the quiet whispers whenever she walked past. She simply wanted to be alone and grieve in peace.
His funeral had been tough for her, even if she didn't show it. She listened as people recounted all the wonderful times they had encountered with Cedric. Valentina had been asked to say something as well but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Her father was the one that gave the order, it felt wrong for her to say anything about him now.
Valentina sat alone in the Great Hall for the final feast. It was decorated in black drapes with respect to Cedric. No one bothered her as they ate. Soon, Dumbledore ended her misery by standing up at the staff table. The Great Hall became very quiet.
"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, "of another year."
He paused, and his eyes fell upon the Hufflepuff table. Theirs had been most subdued table before he had gotten to his feet, and theirs were still the saddest and palest in the Hall. He then drifted to Valentina before continuing.
"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured towards the Hufflepuff, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory."
They did it, all of them; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, and raised their goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low, rumbling voice, "Cedric Diggory."
Valentina met the eyes of Fred Weasley who sat across the table a couple of seats along. He wished to comfort her but he was aware that his actions would be turned away. He looked away.
Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff House," Dumbledore continued. "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."
Valentina stared at Dumbledore.
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."
A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. He looked perfected calm as he watched them mutter themselves into silence.
"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish 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."
Stunned and frightened, every face in the Hall was turned toward Dumbledore now.
"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."
A kind of ripple crossed the Great Hall as a few heads turned in Potter's direction before flicking back to face 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 Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."
Dumbledore turned gravely to Harry and raised his goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit, including Valentina. They murmured his name, as they had murmured Cedric's, and drank to him.
When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further promote magical understanding. In light of what has happened — of Lord Voldemort's return — such ties are more important than ever before."
Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table. Valentina noticed Viktor looked wary, almost frightened, as though he expected Dumbledore to say something harsh.
"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eye 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."
Valentina waited in the crowded entrance hall with the rest of the fourth years for the carriages that would take them back to Hogsmeade station. It was a beautiful summer's day. She supposed however, the Malfoy Manor would be cool, surrounded by darkness. She wasn't looking forward to it.
It did bring her some comfort that she would only need to stay for a couple of days before she would be able to leave. Dumbledore had arranged for her to stay at the Order of the Phoenix's new headquarters for the summer until school begins. They had planned for her to tell her family that she would be visiting a friend in Brazil for the summer. This wouldn't be anything new to them as she had always been quite independent and from the age of 11, she had been used to travelling abroad by herself. She liked it that way.
While offering Valentina safety from her father and removing her from a situation she did not want to be involved in, Dumbledore also had wishes for the young girl to join some of the meetings for the Order. He said that she was too young to be a member and she wouldn't be allowed to sit in of everything, but he still wanted her to tell them what she knew about each of the Death Eaters' and anything information she was willing to spare. Valentina annoyed that she was being treated like a child (even though technically she is), agreed immediately.
"Valentina!" Viktor called through the crowd. Valentina stopped in her tracks and waited for him to approach her.
"Are you really going to leave without saying goodbye?" Viktor teased.
"Of course not," she smiled. "Come here."
She pulled him into a tight embrace. For the first time since in weeks, she had felt comfort.
"I am going to miss you," he squeezed her tighter before pulling away. "Vhy don't you visit me during these holidays?"
"I can't, sorry," she replied. "I'm already visiting another friend back in Brazil."
She hated that she had to lie to him. It was the first time she ever had lied to him. But she knew she couldn't tell anyone where she was truly going these holidays or what she was up to. Even the slightest whisper could have her killed.
Viktor nodded in understanding. "That's ok," he said. "Another time."
"Definitely."
There was a brief pause between the best friends. Viktor broke the silence.
"Cedric vas a good," he told her. "I liked him. He vas alvays kind to me."
"He was kind to everyone," she looked down.
He put a comforting arm on her shoulder.
"It vill get better," he reassured her. "He may not be here now but he vill have a place in your heart, alvays."
Valentina gave a weak smile as she felt a tear slip from her eye.
"Thank you," she whispered to him.
"Now come on," he said cheerfully hoping to change the mood. "This is could be the last time I see you for a long time. Ve don't know vhat vill happen with his return. I vant this to be happy."
Valentina lifted her head.
"I'm going to miss you so much."
"I vill miss you too," Viktor replied. "Hopefully, vhen I do see you next maybe you vill have pink hair. Let everyone one know the real Valentina Lestrange."
"Maybe," she said, not wanting to argue as they had so many times before. "Things are going to be very different now."
"It already is," said Viktor with a mischievous smile. "This is the longest you have ever lasted at a school."
Valentina let out a big laugh. She had not even realised that it was the first full school year she had ever completed. A wave of accomplishment and pride washed over her. Some things were indeed changing for Valentina Lestrange.