Forever and always, until the end (Fred Weasley&Anertha Diggory) WattyAwards2013

The Dream

Written 25/9/2013

The dream.

Anertha had not been sleeping. Everytime she closed her eyes she remembered the events in the pensieve. Cedric's last moments. His eyes open wide, lifeless. It had been 3 weeks. She still went to bed in tears. Her parents were at a loss as to what to do, they didn't know how to help her. Often Anertha would hear them in the hallway. 'This is getting ridiculous. She's going to make herself ill if she carries on this.' Her father would sigh heavily. 'She's not just lost a brother Amos, she's lost a twin. They've been together since...well...you know. My point is, she'll be like this for a while yet.' She would bury herself further under the covers. Her and her father were not on good terms, after Cedric's funeral last week he had not been able to look at her. She was a reminder of what he had lost. She sometimes felt that he wished she wasn't there either. She lay awake for hours, staring into the darkness. She stared blankly at the door, part of her waited for Cedric to walk through. After hours she felt herself drifting into a pained sleep.

'Anertha.' Came a quiet voice. Anertha opened her eyes and sat up sleepily. She looked around the room. Nothing. 'Anertha, look closer.' She rubbed her eyes and her mouth dropped open. 'Cedric?' She gasped. Cedric stood, clear as day, in the centre of her room. She threw herself out of bed and ran towards him, throwing her arms around him. She squeezed him tight, she couldn't believe he was here, she could feel him again. He looked at her deeply, wiping her tears from her face. 'Stop that, you're too beautiful to ruin your features by crying.' He chuckled. She smiled brightly back at him. He always knew how to cheer her up. 'We should go and tell mum and dad your here!' Her smile faded when he shook his head. 'No, we can't....' 'Why?' He took a hand and moved her hair out of her face. 'I want some time with you first. I've missed you.' She grabbed his hands. 'I've missed you too.' Cedric frowned and took a breath. 'Anertha, you know I love you right? I've never made you feel like I don't?' She thought for a second. 'Yeah, I know you love me. I love you too.' He smiled. 'Listen....I need you to do something for me.' She gave him a confused look. 'Anything.' He looked sadly into her eyes. 'Stop crying. Smile. Be brave.' Tears filled his eyes. 'What are you talking about?' She began to shake. 'I need you to be happy. It's killing me watching you cry. You are strong. Live.....for me.' She began to cry, confused and scared. 'Cedric? I-' He put a finger on her mouth. 'Shhh. Just do what I say. Please. Promise me. Now.' She nodded. 'I....I promise.' He smiled and nodded kissing her on her forehead. 'Wake up.......Anertha wake...' His voice went distant and she found herself standing in tears.

She fell to the floor. It was all a dream. It had felt so real. She curled up crying, her head in her hands. Her door flew open and her mother came rushing to her side. She hadn't realised she was screaming. 'Lorelei, leave her. She needs to get it out her system.' 'Have a heart Amos! Can't you see she's torn up?' Her mother fought back, pulling Anertha to her and cradling her. One look at his broken daughter was enough, Amos left the room before his wife could see him cry. 'He was here mum, he was here.....' She sobbed hard, her mother began to rock her. 'Shhhh....' Her mother began crying herself. Had his words been real? Had he really appeared to her in a dream? Was her heartbreak killing him up there? She didn't know the answers but she did know she had to become stronger and face this head on. For him.