Diggory Is A Loser

34- Ghost Like

Although Celia wanted to stay hidden in the owlery forever, she knew that wasn't possible.
But since she had finished her OWLs, lessons were now compulsory.
Most students were continuing with the lessons they would be doing at NEWT level. And Celia had originally intended on being one of them, but she couldn't stand to be around people, so she refused to attend any classes.
Instead she used this extra time to wander through the empty corridors, like a ghost, while everyone else was in lessons.

The only people she would be around was Harry, Ron and Hermione, since they didn't stare at her, or try and get her to talk about Cedric.
Fleur, Viktor and Benjamin all tried to find Celia, but she didn't want to talk to them, so she avoided them, with the help of Harry's invisibility cloak.
Meal times were the only points in the day, where Celia would have to be around a lot of people.
But most of the time she just picked up her food from the Ravenclaw table, and ran off to eat it somewhere more secluded.

Night Times were the worst for Celia, as she had to sleep in a dormitory with the other girls in her year, including Cho.
In order to get away from them, Celia had started sleeping in the hospital wing, since she couldn't bare to be around Cho, who was crying non stop over Cedric's death. And Cho's constant crying was making Celia feel even worse.
Even though she had been caught by Madam Pomfrey, the matron didn't stop her from coming back each night, as she knew how much pain Celia was in, and how much she wanted to be alone.
Celia was even struggling to read, as her eyes wouldn't focus on the letters and words. So instead she just sat alone with her own thoughts, all day, every day.

Celia's strange behaviour had not gone unnoticed by the students or the staff.
And on the last day of term, Flitwick found her and told her that she had to attend the Leaving Feast that evening.
So rather reluctantly, Celia headed into the Great Hall that night for dinner.
As she entered the room, she saw black drapes hanging behind the staff table, instead of the colours of the house cup winnners.
She knew that this had been done in Cedric's honour.

Once everyone had eaten, Dumbledore stood to his feet and addressed the room.
"The end, of another year. There is much that I would like to say to you tonight. But I must first acknowledge the loss of a fine boy, who should be sitting here tonight, enjoying the feast with us. So, I want you to all raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory" said Dumbledore.
Everyone in the room stood up and raised their goblets as they mumbled Cedric's name.
Celia however, remained sat down, as she couldn't bring herself to copy everyone else, for fear that she would burst out crying.

After everyone had sat back down, Dumbledore continued with his speech.
"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, and a loving brother. He was also a hard worker who valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. Therefore, I think you all deserve to know how he died... Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort" revealed Dumbledore.

Many people gasped at the mention of Voldemort's name.
And Celia was very suprised that Dumbledore was about to tell everyone the truth, as she thought he had avoided doing so, so that he didn't create a mass panic.
"The Minister for Magic does not wish for me to tell you this. However, I believe that it is an insult to Cedric's memory, to pretend that he died as the result of some kind of accident or blunder on his own part" admitted Dumbledore.
Celia agreed with Dumbledore, as she didn't want anyone thinking any less of Cedric, because they believed that he had been killed by a creature in the maze, when she knew that he had really been murdered.

"There is someone else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death. I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter. Harry managed to escape Lord Voldemort, and he risked his own life to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. He showed incredible bravery, and for that I honour him" continued Dumbledore, before raising his goblet, encouraging everyone else to do the same, and drink to Harry.
Celia looked over at the Gryffindor table and noticed how uncomfortable Harry looked at this gesture, so she decided not to raise her glass to him.

"The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of Lord Voldemort's return, such ties are more important than ever. Every guest in this hall will be welcomed back any time. For we are only as strong as we are united and weak as we are divided.
Many of those in this room have already suffered at Voldemort's hand, in the past. And this year, 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".

When Dumbledore had finished speaking a single tear rolled down Celia's face, as she felt like she was losing him all over again.
And she knew she would have to grieve again at Cedric's funeral, which was to take place the day after she returned home. It was one event that she was dreading above all others.