The stars (Harry Potter fanfiction)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Today is the day of the assembly for Cedric. All the students are gathered in the great hall, most of the students have a grim look and sadness shown on their faces.

I'm sitting on the left of Hermione, fresh hot tears still rolling down my face. As I silently cry into my hands, Hermione pulls me into her arms like an awkward side hug. Harry is sitting next to Hermione staring straight ahead. And Ron is next to Harry just looking down.

I just continue to cry, trying to make the least noise.

"Athena, Dumbledore is about to start. Get yourself together." Hermione tells me while pushing me off of her, I just nod and start to wipe my snot off my face with my sweater sleeve. While Hermione stares at me in disgust.

"Athena." She says I just hum in response. She grabs my arm and places it back on my lap.

"That is unsanitary, Athena. It is just plain nasty."

I shrug my shoulders, Hermione just sighs and pulls out a napkin from her robe pocket. She then grabs my face and starts to wipe it clean. Like a mother would do with her child.

She soon finishes wiping my face. She doesn't know what to do with the napkin so she just lightly places it on Harry's lap. I giggle at that.

"Thanks, Mione, what would I do without you?"

She just puts a finger to her lips to quiet me. I turn my head to face Dumbledore.

"Today, we acknowledge... A really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know exceptionally hard-working, intricately fair-minded. And, most importantly a fierce friend. I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died."

I lean forward in my seat. I never did ask Harry how Cedric died. I was too busy crying to even think about that.

"You see... Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort!"

When Dumbledore says that most of the students gasp. I just sit there in shock, not fully being able to wrap my head around this.

"The ministry of magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so, I think would be an insult to his memory. Now, the pain... We all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues... Our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that... And we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true, right to the very end."

And with that Dumbledore finishes his speech. While others start to get up, to go pack their things to leave. I just sit there new tears finding their way out my eyes. I start biting my lip to stop myself from releasing a loud sob.

I can taste the blood on my tongue. I was biting so hard my lips got cut up by mistake. I can feel Hermione leave from next to me as I sit frozen. I feel stuck like I can't move.

"Athena!" I snap out of my thoughts and turn towards the voice. It's Harry he's sitting next to me staring at me.

I don't say anything I just stare. Harry sighs and comes closer wrapping his arm around me. And brushing down my hair down. Well trying to brush it down, all my curls are tangled and my hair is a disaster.

"Your hair. It smells like strawberries." Harry tells me, making me let out a loud laugh.

"It has to be the new shampoo mum bought me, it's a toddler brand. Because she still buys me kids shampoo."

Even in the saddest situations, Harry knows how to make me laugh. Neither me nor Harry are talking, we're just sitting there enjoying each other's company.