Hufflepuff boy - Cedric Diggory x male oc x Viktor Krum

62

The wedding party is in full swing. Cayden, in his suit, stands on the periphery with Harry beside him, absently fingering his ring as Bill and Fleur twirl madly within a clapping circle of well-wishers. Cayden's gaze drifts: to Cedric and Viktor, Cedric are laughing at something Viktor had said. Hermione, who is in a stunning black silk dress: to Ron, who is ignoring everyone, his eyes focused entirely on Hermione.

Far across the garden, Hagrid wends through the tables in his horrible hairy suit and presents a slice of cake to a pleased Madame Maxime.

Nearby, Tonks, hand to her belly, leans forward and whispers something to Mrs. Weasley who reacts with happy surprise.

"We want you to be the godfather." Remus said to Harry.

The Potter's twins turn and see Remus behind them, staring at Tonks with affection. As his eyes shift to Harry, Harry sputters making Cayden smile.

"You mean -- But that's brilliant -- I... don't know what to say."

"Say yes." Remus said, grinning and clapping Harry on the shoulder, nodding to Cayden and hikes off into the darkness, joining the wizards standing guard in the garden's deepest shadows.

Cayden looks back to Tonks, then notices a slight, tuffy-haired wizard sitting alone at a table just beyond him.

"Hello, Cayden and Harry!" Luna said, approaching in the company of a cross-eyed wizard with shoulder-length white hair the texture of candy floss. Both wear robes the color of egg yolk. "Oh, I've interrupted a deep thought, haven't I? I can see it growing smaller in your eyes."

"No, 'course not. How are you, Luna?" Harry asked.

"Very well. I was bitten by a garden gnome only moments ago." Luna holds up her finger, which is sheared in blood.

"Gnome saliva is enormously beneficial! Xenophilius Lovegood. We live just over the hill!" Mr. Lovegood said.

"Nice to meet you, sir." Harry said.

Mr. Lovegood suddenly leans close, whispering fiercely. "I trust you know, Mr. Potter, that we at The Quibbler, unlike those toadies at the Daily Prophet, fully supported Dumbledore during his lifetime and in his death support you just as fully."

"Come, Daddy. Cayden and Harry don't want to talk to us right now. They're just too nice to say so." Luna said.

Mr. Lovegood's eyes burn with righteousness, a triangular eye dangling from a chain across his neck. As Luna pulls him away, Harry glances once again across the garden.

Harry bumps his elbow with Cayden, gaining his twin's attention. He nods to the man sitting alone, and they start walking towards the man.

"Sir? May we sit down?" Cayden asked.

"Mr. Potters! By all means!" In a nervous flutter, Mr. Doge pours Cayden and Harry a goblet of champagne.

"I found what you wrote in the Daily Prophet very moving, sir. I take it you knew Professor Dumbledore well?" Harry asked.

"I certainly knew him the longest, if you don't count his brother Aberforth -- and somehow, people never do seem to count Aberforth." Mr. Doge said.

"We-- I never even knew he had a brother, sir." Harry said, changing his words when Cayden shakes his head.

"Yes, well, Dumbledore was always very private. Even as a boy." Mr. Doge said.

"Sir, I was wondering if you'd had much contact with him before he died." Harry asked.

"The occasional owl. Though it was strange..." Mr. Doge said.

"Strange, sir?" Harry questioned.

"It was the owls themselves. They often arrived in distress. It was clear they'd traveled great distances in some cases." Mr. Doge said.

"Could you tell us from where they'd come, sir?" Harry asks while Cayden takes a sip of his champagne.

"I'm afraid not. Albus' messages mostly referenced our days together as schoolboys. They were surprisingly intimate. When he did speak of his current activities his words would turn elliptical. Still, I sensed he was under great stress. Why do you ask?" Mr. Doge asked.

"Just curious. I was..." Harry looks at Cayden for confirmation and continues when the Hufflepuff nods. "Close to Professor Dumbledore."

"Well, he treasured you, Mr. Potter, I can attest to that. I can also tell you that when a person passes, it's only natural to rue the things left unsaid, to regret the question never asked. I knew Albus nigh on hundred years, but in many ways he will always remain a riddle even to me." Mr. Doge said.

"Don't despair, Elphias. I'm told he's been thoroughly unriddled by Rita Skeeter. in eight-hundred pages no less." A woman said.

Cayden, Harry and Mr. Doge turns, studying the profile of an ancient witch sitting at an adjacent table, a glass of champagne cradled in the bony fingers of one hand.

"That woman is a vulture, Muriel, and you well know it." Mr. Doge said.

"Someone has to pick the bones to get at the truth. I read your obituary, Elphias. Lovely. But you did skate over some of the sticky patches in Dumbledore's life." Muriel said.

"I'm sorry you think so, Muriel. I assure you I was writing from the heart." Mr. Doge said.

"Yes, well, Rita Skeeter hasn't made that mistake, I'm sure. Word has it someone talked to her, someone who knew the Dumbledore family well. You and I both know who that is, Elphias." Muriel said.

"A monstrous betrayal. I can only conclude the rumors are true and that she has become untethered." Mr. Doge said.

"Who are you talking about?" Cayden questioned.

"Well, I don't suppose it'll be a secret once the book comes out." Muriel said, relishing the moment. "Bathilda Bagshot."

Cayden nodded slowly, but Harry didn't know who that was.

"Who?" Harry questioned.

"Who? Bathilda Bagshot! My god, boy, she's only the most celebrated magical historian of the last century. Don't they read History of Magic at Hogwarts anymore?" Muriel said.

"Oh, right. Slipped my mind..." Harry said.

"She knew the Dumbledores as well as anyone. She'd have letters, perhaps an interesting photograph or two. I'm sure Rita Skeeter would have thought it well worth a trip to Godric's Hollow to take a peek into that old bird's rattled cage." Muriel said.

"Godric's Hollow? Bathilda Bagshot lives in Godric's Hollow?" Harry asked.

"For years now. That's where she first met Dumbledore." Muriel said.

"Excuse me? You don't mean to say Dumbledore lived there too?" Harry asked.

"Of course. The family moved there after his father killed three Muggles. It was quite the scandal." Muriel said, eyeing Harry. "Honestly, my boy, are you sure you knew him at all?"

Harry sits, speechless, then his eye catches a shooting star-- or what appears to be. As it plummets, it grows, gaining speed until it slices through the canopy, exploding in a burst of light. All goes silent as a silver lynx-- graceful and gleaming-- materializes amid the crowd.

When it speaks, the Patronus has Kingsley's sonorous voice. "The Ministry has fallen. The Minister of Magic is dead. They are coming..."

The lynx vanishes, and a scream shreds the silence. Then, there was chaos.

"Nice meeting you both, Mr. Potter!" Mr. Doge extends his hand towards Harry before he disapparates.

Seconds later, the ancient witch has done the same. Cayden scans the scattering crowd and meets Viktor's eyes who nodded to Hermione. Cayden nods back and makes his way towards Hermione, standing next to her as they call out for Ron.

Suddenly the canopy above turns to ribbons as Death Eaters descend into the crowd.

Cayden reaches out and grabs Harry's hand, clutching Ron's hand on the other. He watches Hermione close her eyes and a great whooshing sound fills his ears. He takes one last look at Cedric and Viktor as he is thrown up and back in a whirlwind and all goes black.