𝐎𝐃𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 harry potter.

23: The Beginning

I'd give up anything to
travel inside your mind

I fall in love again
come every summertime

THE AIR LINGERING WITHIN the corners of the castle presented a stark contrast to what it had been at the start. One might have expected the festivities to conclude as they began—but no. The mood was somber. Black banners adorned the ceiling, the Professors looked as though they were on the verge of tears or about to be sick, and the Hufflepuff students had replaced their usual badges with an insignia of a yellow candle, symbolizing their grief.

It was a terrible affair. Life had drained from Amos Diggory's face as if he no longer had the strength to speak. Ally couldn't fathom the agony of a parent losing a child. She thought of her mother, of the cold touch of her hands whenever Molly ran them through her hair and the quiet nods that followed her compliments. Ally felt a deep sense of guilt, like she had been a wicked daughter, and resolved to kiss her mother the first chance she got.

"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, "of another year."

He paused, his gaze resting on the Hufflepuff table. It had been the quietest table before he stood, and it remained so—the saddest, palest faces in the Hall. "There is much I would like to say to you tonight," Dumbledore continued, "but first, I must acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured toward the Hufflepuffs, "enjoying our feast with us. I ask you all, please, to stand and raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory."

Everyone stood, the sound of benches scraping against the stone floor. A lump formed in their throats as they raised their voices in unison, "Cedric Diggory."

Dumbledore continued, vowing to reveal the events that led to the tragedy. "Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

A panicked whisper swept through the Great Hall. Cold blood rushed through Ally's veins, and it felt as though she had fallen into a nightmare. She could hear the students at her table whispering; some were oddly smirking, while Amelia and Lottie looked disturbed, unsure of how to process the information. But Ally knew her family would be at the center of whatever was to come.

Dumbledore went on, but his words didn't reach Ally. She stared blankly at the Headmaster, imagining what the future might hold if his words were true. She could already picture it—Bill, Charlie, maybe even Percy, all fighting like they did during the World Cup. Perhaps even Fred and George would step up. Maybe Ron too. But deep down, Ally knew she didn't have the courage to fight alongside them.

The Slytherin common room at the end of term was usually chaotic, with students running around, tossing each other's toads or cats, returning misplaced clothes, and clearing the notice board for a fresh start. But this time, it was quiet. They were uncharacteristically sensitive, addressing each other formally when returning found items.

Ally hugged her friends before they reached Hogsmeade, as she had chosen to sit with her family for the train ride home. She promised to return their letters more promptly this summer, notorious as she was for procrastinating on both the writing and the thinking.

Fred and George helped her and Ginny with their trunks, and they all shared a compartment with Lee Jordan until Malfoy and his friends walked past. Fred and George exchanged a knowing look, then got up and followed the trio. Ally shrugged and followed them, while Ginny, too empathetic to leave Lee alone, stayed behind. "Too late now, Potter!" they heard, as Fred and George grinned at each other, standing up to confront Malfoy. "They'll be first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first! Well—second—Diggory was the f—"