Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
the death of a friend 🦋✨📘🪄
ELECTRA KNEW ONE THING ABOUT DEATH. It was permanent. She didn't know what happened afterwards. Who did know? Some of the muggles believed they had it all figured out. The fluffy and peaceful clouds of heaven and the flames and anguish of hell. But even though Electra loved the idea of her mother as an angel in heaven, there were too many rules. Too many debates of morality about stupid things like the matter of which gender you are attracted to. Electra may follow some of the rules but it doesn't mean she follows them all and that she likes them. And she doesn't like them.
There are many other things that could happen after death, many, many, many possibilities. But no one has even figured it out.
One possibility that Electra likes is the idea that once someone dies they become a star. Shining down upon the world and the people they've left behind and always there. Clara was always a star, before death so why couldn't she be one now. The problem was Electra had counted the stars after her mother died and there was no more. So that theory was out.
It was most likely the less fantastical option that was reality. That it just ended. There was no way around it. Everyone dies. That was the condition of existing. Everything dies. One day Electra and everyone she loved and had ever met was going to stop breathing suddenly. The air no longer pumping through their lungs and what was left of their bodies would rot as the world eventually forgot everything about them. Unless they were rooted into legend but even that was a little skewed and only reserved for the highest of the highs.
So everyone dies. There's no way back. So that meant Cedric Diggory was forever gone. She knew that. Even if the dead body crashing onto the field hadn't confirmed that the soft sobs of Aileen late at night had confirmed that. At the slightly tear-soaked shoulder of Electra's t-shirt for those few nights as she climbed into bed with Aileen to help comfort her. Electra had no way to deny Cedric Diggory was dead.
She didn't know how she felt. She barely knew him, he seemed nice, he and Iris were friends, he made Aileen happy and he definitely didn't deserve this. Even in her moments of jealousy she never wished anything bad would happen to him just that people would stop talking about him. She told Aileen several times it was 'going to be okay' but she was pretty sure she was lying.
Electra also lied when she told Aileen that Cedric was in a better place. She said it like she knew, but she hoped for Aileen's sake she wasn't lying. She really did.
Soon Aileen would be crying in her own bed. In her own room. And soon Electra would be in her own bed. By the beach. Then her dad would tell her what happened. He had told her the morning after that he would.
Electra had seen Harry in the halls. But she couldn't think of anything to say to him other than that she was sorry. She'd said that last time. She couldn't help but think back to the first time she talked to him. When her worries of a champion's death was just her worrying. Even though it happened she was still shocked.
The end of a school year is normally a happy and joyous occasion. But a dark fog hung over them all. The way the Triwizard Tournament had ended left a certain heaviness in the air.
There was no feast to celebrate the winner of the House Cup. But black banners in honour of Cedric as Dumbledore spoke to the whole hall. His end of year speech was somber before it had even begun.
"The end of another year," he started.
"There is so much I would like to say to you tonight but first I must acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here enjoying our feast with us," he continued gesturing to the Hufflepuff table where Electra could see Iris's uncharacteristically sad expression, "I would like you all, please, to stand and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory," he said, so they did.
Aileen had tears sprawling down her face as she cried silently. Electra was about to reach out but Marietta got there first this time. Electra caught Harry's eye in the crowd but he looked away quickly and down at the table.
Once they had sat down Dumbledore continued, "Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities which distinguish Hufflepuff house. 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," time seemed to slow down for a second before Dumbledore said.
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort,"
Electra's question was answered. That was what happened. And why Harry was so shaken up. He had fought Voldemort. He was back. Nothing was going to be the same again.
🦋
IT WAS TIME FOR ELECTRA TO GO HOME. She would get to return to the cottage by the sea that she loved dearly. But this time felt different. The presence of Voldemort in the world was looming over her. She was only alive for a year of it last time. But her dad had done it before. Then with a muggle wife. She worried for him. She also worried for Harry.
"Harry," she called his name when she walked over to him as they waited for the carriages. Ron was watching as Hermione spoke to Krum.
"Electra, hey," Harry greeted, "What's this?" he asks as she hands him a piece of parchment.
"My address in case you wanted to talk about anything," Electra says, before quickly rushing to add, "I don't mean what happened, but we can. I mean like anything at all. Like your favourite colour, which I do not know. I'd just to know more about my friend,"
"I'd like that too," Harry agrees, nodding as he puts the piece of paper in his trouser pocket, "To learn more about you. Like your favourite colour," he repeats her request, "Thank you for helping me out this year," he adds.
"It was nothing," Electra waved him off, "Write me," she tells him, beginning to back away back to where Robin and Winnie were talking.
"I will," Harry responds, Electra smiles and nods before she turns around, "It's red by the way," he calls after her.
"What is?" Electra asks, turning back around.
"My favourite colour," Harry answers, "In case you were wondering,"
"I was," Electra nods, "Mines blue,"
"That's kind of obvious," Harry sasses.
Electra is taken aback, "No need for that," she responds, "Yours is obvious too. But I was being a decent person and not saying anything," she insists.
"Sure," Harry says sceptically.
Electra rolls her eyes, "Have a good summer, Harry," she tells backing away again.
"You too Electra," Harry responds, nodding in her direction before she turns around to walk towards Robin. As Hermione returns with Krum by her side he sees Electra and Robin seemingly have an argument entirely with gestures before they get on a carriage. Iris and her two best friends are not far behind.
