Undying Devotion: A Weasley Love Story.

Chapter 20: The end of it all.

The life I had always known seemed to be nonexistent. The only people in the world that existed was Cedric and I. The month that followed our engagement was like no other. I had always believed Cedric and me to be close; I was closer to him than anybody else at that particular point in my life. He was like seeing the sunshine after months of rain. My life was complete bliss, I felt as though nothing had and could never go wrong in my life, that is, until today.

Over the last month Mrs. Diggory and I had been communicating, via owl, making plans for my wedding. Of course I didn’t tell mom and dad, or Fred or George for that matter. I knew they would try and prevent it and my mind was already made up. It had been for a long time. We had planned on getting married that summer before I went on tour with the Weird Sisters. The marriage was going to be a secret until I graduated school, as was our engagement. Needless to say, I had been so preoccupied with my future, I had forgotten about my present. Today was the day of the final task, the one I had not bothered to look into.

I get up early in the morning. I want to spend as much time with Cedric as possible. We meet by the Black Lake at sunrise. It’s a particularly quiet day. There isn’t a cloud in the sky and the weather is alluring.

Cedric is already sitting at the foot of the lake, playing guitar. He smiles up at me as he sits on both knees. He serenades me. It is the most off tune yet most beautiful song I have ever heard. I laugh as I bring myself to his level and  push him into the grass.

“The tournament starts in two hours.” Cedric tells me as I lean against his chest. I breathe in his scent as I press my engagement ring, which hangs on the chain of my locket his mom gave me last year for Christmas, to my chest.

“Don’t remind me. I have no idea what to expect. My visions have been so blurry I can’t see what’s going to happen. Every time I see you, you just fade away.” I sigh as scoot closer to him.

“Everything will be okay. Once I win, everything will be back to normal,” Cedric tells me reassuringly. “You know, ever since we—you know—I have felt so much more connected to you.” He tells me as I begin laughing.

“Do you really mean that or is that your inner guy talking?” I muse rolling my eyes.

“Both.” He teases rolling me over onto the grass as he kisses me.

“Uh hum!” I hear someone from above. I look up and see Moody standing above us. “Diggory, all the champions are meeting up right now. Go!”

Cedric gets off of me and grudgingly stalks off to meet the rest of the contestants. Moody smirks at me as he limps away. My heart aches as I sit alone by the lake, wishing for nothing more than to have Cedric right back beside me.

“Hey, Guin! We thought you might be here!” Erik and Tyler say as they pull me off the ground. “Sit with us today. We are going there now to get seats by Mr. And Mrs. Diggory. They are the closet to the judges.”

I follow them to the stadium sure that this was set up by Dumbledore. I bet he wanted me close in case I saw anything happen, not that I’m complaining. As I walk to my seat I see that not only are Mr. and Mrs. Diggory there, but so are mom, dad, and Bill. I feel happy seeing all of them, not so alone.

Erik and Tyler take their seats and I give my family, including soon to be family, a hug and kiss on the cheek. I listen to mom complain that I’m getting to grown for my own good and can’t help but wonder what she will think when she finds out I’m getting married.

We all sit and chat as the stadium fills and Dumbledore greets the audience. He looks alive with excitement but I can’t help but notice the bags under his eyes. I bet he’s just as worried as I am. After greeting the audience, Dumbledore introduces the contestants. Cedric runs over to give his mom and dad, and of course me, a hug before the task begins. When he jogs back to Dumbledore the cannon is fired and they enter the maze. From where we are sitting we cannot see anything. I keep trying to force visions to see what is happening.

Hours go by and nothing happens aside from Fleur getting scared and the staff pulling her from the task. The stands are getting restless as boredom sinks in. The more time that goes by the more uneasy I become until my eyes grow red. I feel nothing but terror. I push aside mom as I charge towards Dumbledore and immediately grab his hand. Both Harry and Cedric are racing for the trophy, but it is a portkey. The graveyard from my nightmares appears. Harry is yelling for Cedric to get back to the cup but Cedric doesn’t move. His eyes scan the surrounding area as Harry pleads for him to go, but it is too late. A mousy-looking man kills him with a jolt of green light. Cedric stares up at the sky, unseeing.

I feel myself fall to my knees. I vaguely hear Dumbledore begging me to keep attuned to my vision. I force myself to continue. I see Voldemort being reborn through the blood of Harry. I see the torture in Harry’s eyes.

I momentarily lose control and lose the vision, but Dumbledore pushes me to continue so I do. Voldemort and Harry are dueling, but something happens. I see spirits erupt from their wands. I see Cedric. He asks Harry to take his body back.

I hear a loud crack and I am thrown back into my reality. In front of me lies Cedric’s body. Harry is screaming, his body thrown over Cedric’s protectively. Everything seems to be going in slow motion. I feel hands coming off of me. Mom, dad, and Bill all look at Cedric and Harry with mirrored expressions of terror. They had seen everything that I had. I hear panic in the stands. I hear Fudge demand that the body be moved. I hear Mr. Diggory screaming for his son.

I realize I’m still on my knees, still to shocked to move. I expect to wake up any moment now. This all has to be a nightmare. I will myself not to look at Cedric who is a mere foot in front of me. Temptation overcomes me. I look. Even in death he is still handsome. I crawl over to him and place my hand on his cheek. He is stone cold.

I’m not crying like most everybody else. I’m to numb for tears. I place my head on his chest remembering him. I remember the first day we met, our first kiss, and our engagement. I remember the feeling of pure bliss when I decided to give him everything, including myself. I feel my hand tighten around his arm as I feel someone trying to pull me away. I want to lay by him forever but of course they don’t let me. I feel someone throw me over their shoulder as I am whisked away. I can’t fight back. I feel drained and empty.

I’m staring at wall, not really thinking about anything. Just trying to wake up. My heart feels to slow and I have to remind myself to breath. I feel a hand on my shoulder and see Bill behind me. He gives me a small smile but I turn away, shaking off his hand.

“Does anybody know where Harry is?” Snape asks someone, anybody I guess. I feel my iris’s burn and immediately say, “Moody’s office.” I hear him sprint away.

An hour passes and Dumbledore greets the room. I still face away from everybody else, sitting in my corner. I hear everyone swarm him for news. I turn around curiously. Only my family and a large black dog are present.

“Lord Voldemort has returned and we will need forces to defeat him. During the last war I started an opposing group known as the Order of the Phoenix. I wish to restart this group to defeat him once and for all. Can I count on you?” He asks the room. Each person in the room replies ‘yes’ without hesitation. Dumbledore looks at me, eyes twinkling as usual. I nod, unable to speak because I know if I did, I would lose control of my emotions. “Good, now it is time for you all to see one of us in his true form. Now, Sirius, if you please—“ he says motioning to the large black dog that’s laying on Harry’s feet. The dog stands up and becomes Sirius Black. Most of the room is too shocked for words. Suddenly annoyed, I storm from the room.

Once out of the hospital wing, I run. I don’t even realize where I’m running until I find myself at the Black Lake. I look at the spot where Cedric was kissing me just hours before. Emotions overcome me. I’m screaming and crying and cursing the world. I’m having a complete mental breakdown.