Diggory Is More Than A Loser (book 3)

36- Epilogue

Celia did head to the Burrow for Harry's birthday and Bill and Fleur's wedding.
But as the wedding ended in disaster, she quickly returned to Hogwarts, instead of staying with her friends.
Since Voldemort had taken over the world, Celia had no idea where Harry and their friends were, but she prayed that they were safe.
Two death eaters had joined the staff at Hogwarts, making the school a very miserable place to be.
All the hideous laws Umbridge had created, were back in place, making the castle feel more like a prison than a school.

The DA fought back against the totalitarian regime, even without Harry, Ron and Hermione. And Celia did her best to aid them.
She kept an eye out for danger, while the DA met in secret and littered the school with posters that supported Harry.
Celia just wished that she could protect them from the Carrow's evil punishments. But as a ghost she couldn't throw herself in front of her friends, as everything just went through her.

With the school such an awful place to be, Celia ended up comforting lots of students that year.
She became the school's unofficial therapist.
The Carrow's never found out what she was doing, as she was good at staying hidden and out of sight.
And when the DA moved into the Room of Requirement permanently, she joined them to help keep their spirits up.

After a year of terror, Harry finally returned with his friends, to defend his school and defeat Voldemort.
Since the Horcruxes had been destroyed, Voldemort was a mortal man once more.
And when Harry killed Voldemort for good, Celia was cheering along with the rest of the ghosts.
She had desperately wanted to take part in the battle of Hogwarts, but her ghostly formed stopped her from doing so.
This meant that she had been unable to protect the innocent lives that got taken that day.
But luckily Benjamin was not one of the unlucky victims, even though he had returned to Hogwarts to fight.

"Why am I not suprised to find you here" sighed Benjamin, after climbing the stairs up to the owlery.
"Well, this is my favourite place. It took a bit of a beating during the battle though" admitted Celia.
"I'll fix it for you" promised Benjamin, before waving his wand and correcting the room to its former glory.
"Thank you".
"You're welcome... Why are you not down there celebrating with everyone else? We did win afterall"
"Because I find it wrong to celebrate, when so many good people are dead. Some of my best friends are gone forever, and since I'm a ghost, I will never join them in heaven".

"You're talking about Fred, aren't you?" Asked Benjamin softly.
"Yes. But not just him. Poor little Colin Creevy, and Lavender Brown. Not to mention Remus Lupin and his wife Tonks. I know it's too early to say, but McGonagall thinks the death count for our side, is around 50" revealed Celia.
"That is high... I was talking to McGonagall just now actually, before I came to find you" informed Benjamin.
"What about?"
"Well, with everything that's just happened, there's going to be a few job vacancies here in September".

"You're thinking about becoming a teacher here?" Questioned Celia.
"Yes. It's the perfect way for me to be by your side all the time. You don't want to leave Hogwarts, and I don't want to make you. So, if I get a job here, then me and you can spend the rest of our lives together, here at Hogwarts" replied Benjamin.
"That does sound rather nice" admitted Celia.
"I knew you'd approve"
"Which position were you going to apply for?"
"I'm not sure yet. I don't think Muggle Studies is for me, so it will either be Transfiguration or Defense Against the Dark Arts".

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts job is cursed. No one has lasted in that post for more than a year" revealed Celia.
"Really?" Questioned Benjamin.
"Yeah. But maybe now that Voldemort is dead, the curse he placed will die with him" replied Celia.
"Maybe I should go for Transfiguration instead, and not take the risk"
"It would definitely set my mind at ease. Although I have to admit that seeing someone other than McGonagall teach Transfiguration will be strange, as that's always been her subject. But I guess since she will officially be the Headmistress next year, she can't continue teaching lessons".

"So, you would really be O.K with me working here?" Quizzed Benjamin.
"Yes, I'd love to have you here with me each day" answered Celia.
"Good" smiled Benjamin.
"I wonder how the students are going to react when they find out that their Transfiguration teacher is dating one of the Hogwarts ghosts, assuming you get the job of course"
"I've been thinking about that as well...".
Benjamin faltered before bending down on one knee and looking up at Celia.
"And I was wondering whether or not you would like to marry me?" Continued Benjamin.

"Is that allowed?" Questioned Celia.
"I have found no law prohibiting the marriage between a ghost and a living person" answered Benjamin.
"You've been researching this for a while then" replied Celia.
"Yes. The minute I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, I began looking into relationships between ghosts and humans. And I even found couples in the past who were in our situation and did get married... So, Celia Diggory, will you marry me?"
"Yes! A hundred times yes".

Benjamin grinned and stood to his feet, "I really want to kiss you right now".
"Same. But since we can't, I'm just imagining all the amazing things you could be doing to me right now" replied Celia, seductively.
"I'm picturing you kissing me, like you used to do. And I don't think it's a feeling I will never forget" admitted Benjamin.
"Neither will I... Come on, let's go and tell our friends the good news"
"O.K. I would have bought you an engagement ring, but since you wouldn't be able to wear it, I decided not to".

Celia looked down at the butterfly ring on her finger, "You already got me a ring, nearly two years ago. And you have a matching one to mine, minus the butterfly. So, we already have wedding rings, they're just a bit different to everyone elses".
"I guess we do" agreed Benjamin.
"Well then, fiancè, let's go and spread some joy into the world" said Celia, as she began to head towards the stairs, with Benjamin at her side.
"I love you Celia, and nothing in the world will ever change that" insisted Benjamin.
Celia smiled, "And I love you too".
"For as long as we both shall live"
"And for me, that will be a very long time. I will never die, for you can't die twice, so I will continue loving you, until the end of time".

The End.

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Thank you for reading my Diggory is a loser trilogy.
I hope you enjoyed Celia's journey and growth as a character.

If you enjoyed these books, please check out some of my other work.