tainted transparency || a harry potter story

Chapter Thirty: Temporary Serenity

-Hazel's pov-

White. It's all white. And blinding.

I stood after realizing my legs and muscles were working properly. Nothing hurt either.

I must be stuck in a dream or something.

"Hazel?"

I'm definitely dreaming. That's Cedric's voice.

"Hazel, what are you doing here?" He jogged up to me. "You're supposed to be down there. What- oh...."

"I'm dreaming, right?" I asked him. "I'm definitely dreaming. This feels like a dream."

"Hazel... you- you're not dreaming," Cedric frowned. "If you're here... with me... then that means you... passed away on earth."

"What?" I laughed. "Ced, you've always been a joker. There's no way. This isn't funny. I don't find this funny."

"Do you not remember what happened?" He looked confused. "Voldemort cursed you... it must have killed you."

"Wha- no..." I crossed my arms tightly over my chest. "No, no, this... no... it doesn't make sense I... I was still alive, I don't understand."

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Cedric pulled me into his arms. It felt so real. His warmth. His embrace. His touch. All just like it had when he was alive.

I'm definitely not dreaming.

"We all get confused when we first arrive too. It's okay," Cedric rubbed my back. "It's okay. You're with me now."

"She needs to go back," A feminine voice spoke. I opened my eyes in Cedric's arms and saw Narcissa Malfoy. That means... that means Draco lost both of us.

Both of the only people who'd ever shown him love. And cared about him.

"She has to go back, she can't stay," She managed a small smile. "My dear, you're supposed to win that war. To save all wizards and witches from the darkness they've lived in for too long."

"I can't. I can't, I'm stuck here," I sniffled. "I can't."

Suddenly I felt a pull on my chest. A tug that was pulling me backwards. I pulled away from Cedric and placed a hand on my chest. Both of them smiled softly.

"What is this?"

"You're waking up," A voice said from behind Cedric and Narcissa. They both looked back and moved aside. "You're being called back."

"Mum?" I gasped, my legs going weak. I watched in shock as my father pulled my mom to his side and smiled at her, then they smiled back at me. I scoffed, sobbed, and took off running towards them.

"My girl," My father hugged me tightly whilst my mother rubbed my back and laughed tearfully. "You're so beautiful. We're so proud of you."

"You've become so strong," My mom tucked my dark hair behind my ear. It's identical to hers. "We love you so much. But you have to go back now, okay? You're not supposed to see us yet."

"But... but I don't wanna leave now," I sniffled, beginning to hate the ever present and increasing pull on my chest. "I can't leave now."

"You have to, darling," My father took my hand into his. "Tell our Neville that we're proud of him. And his bravery. We love you both so much."

A soft thump resounded through the atmosphere and my mom laughed through her tears.

"You're back," She sniffled. "Go make us proud, my love. Go save the world."

"We'll all be rooting for you," Cedric lifted my chin and kissed my forehead. "You've got this, Hazel."

"Hazel," Narcissa took my hand once I pulled away from Cedric. "Tell my son that I love him. And that he has to keep going. Because I've seen him. He wants to give up, but you have to tell him to keep going. That I need him to keep being brave."

"I will," I told her. "Though, what you did for him says I love you enough."

The white surrounding me faded to black, and the black faded slowly into warm yellow light. I heard faded voices around me. Multiple faded voices and crying.

Who's crying? Why?

Oh. Right.

An intense scratchy sensation caused me to start coughing, hard. I shot up into a sitting position and felt a warm hand on my upper back.

"Hazel?!"

"Bloody hell, woman."

"Move back, you lot. Let her breathe," Molly's voice was the first one I registered. I opened my eyes as I had finally stopped coughing. Molly propped up a pillow behind me and made sure I was comfortable.

"Hey, there, Hazelnut," A raspy voice said next to me. I turned my head gently to see Fred. now bandaged in multiple places, bruised in various spots, but he wore a smile nonetheless. "Tried to leave me, did you?"

I lightly laughed, which led to more coughing. I sat up again.

"Blimey, get the girl some water," Ron approached me with a glass of water. "Think you can hold it okay?"

I shook my head, but thankfully... someone came through the crowd of people surrounding me and held the glass for me so I could get a drink.

"You scared me," Neville sniffled. "I thought I'd lost you too."

I finished drinking the water and pulled away from it a bit. Then reached a weak arm up to my brother and wrapped it around his neck. He laughed softly and sat next to me so I could more properly hug him.

We both just started crying from there.

"M-mum and dad..." I sobbed, my voice broken by tears and emotion. "I saw them."

"Did you?" He pulled back and smiled. "What did they say?"

"Proud," I sniffled and patted his chest, then mine. "Of both of us."

"Really?" Neville scoffed. "They're proud of me...?"

I nodded and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "Proud."

"I've never cried so much in my life," Draco whispered to himself, but I heard it. So I looked up at him. And saw his mother's eyes in his.

"Your mum, too," I told him. "I saw your mum."

"Is she okay?" He asked hopefully. "Tell me she's okay."

"She's okay," I nodded. "Says she loves you."

"I know," He swallowed hard and looked down. "I know she does."

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Molly asked me, distracting me from everyone else. "Do you need anything?"

"I'm sore," I told her. "But- but I need... where's Harry?"

"Remus went after him," Hermione frowned. "He was here for a while... but... when you kinda... passed- he left."

"Told no one to follow him," Ron said. "But we all know him, and knew he'd run off to do something stupid."

"The shop," I turned back to Fred. "The shop was destroyed. It's my fault. I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault," George sat on the couch next to me. "It's not like you summoned the Death Eaters to ruin the shop. We knew what we were getting ourselves into when we offered to help you."