Undying Devotion: A Weasley Love Story.

Chapter 21: The Funeral.

I wake up the next morning, not by the lake, but in bed. The sheets are like silk and the smell is so familiar I don’t want to get up, but I do. As I crawl out of bed I begin to wonder if everything had been some sort of cruel nightmare, but I know better. As I look around I see that I am in Cedric’s room. The picture of him and me sits on his nightstand beside his bed. I pick it up and hold it to my chest. The wound from my loss is still searing with pain. I close my eyes tightly as I put the picture back where it belongs.

I walk down the stairs and look around the living room. Nobody is up, or at least seemingly. I start to walk upstairs but notice that the ‘spare’ bedroom is slightly ajar so I push it open more and walk in. Mrs. Diggory is sitting in a rocking chair to the left of a crib. The story of Cedric’s baby sister comes to mind.

I start to turn away and leave, but I can’t feel my legs and when I do, they carry me over to Mrs. Diggory. I sit in front of her. She looks down at me and gives me a shaky smile. Her eyes are red rimmed and lined with dark circles.

“I always wanted another baby,” she tells me in a trancelike state. “But I couldn’t have another one. Well, I did but she died during birth. I didn’t have the heart to try again. So, I always envisioned having grandchildren. You will still give them to me right?” She asks with piercing eyes.

“I—I don’t know.” I choke out between strangle sobs. Mrs. Diggory gives me a small chuckle and says, “You are practically my daughter. I feel like you are anyways. And I know Cedric would want you to move on and be happy. Amos and I want that too.”

“I don’t think I can move on.” I say nearly inaudible, the pit in my stomach worsening. I remind myself to keep breathing. I feel like my insides are on fire.

“You will eventually. Before I met Amos, I had a fiancée. He was killed as the first war was starting. I met Amos a few months after, and a year and a half later, Cedric was born.” She tells me confidently, reflecting on what seemed to be good memories. I give her a half smile and she continues, “You promise to give me grandchildren?” I nod and she gives me the most sincere smile. “Please don’t forget about us once you have moved on.”

“That could never happen. I’m sure you will be one of the first people to meet my children.” I tell her soothingly, wondering if it was possible for me to really move on, much less have children. Hell, I don’t even know if I will be alive at the end of this.

I start to walk away but a certain curious question strikes me, “Do you believe Harry?” I ask Mrs. Diggory turning to face her.

“Yes,” she replies worriedly yet brimming with confidence in Harry.

“Good, because every word he told you was true.” I say pointing to my eye. She, of course, knew immediately what I meant by that. I could see the pity in her eyes.

“People will begin arriving in an hour for the funeral, you better get ready.” She tells me diffusing all of the tension. I nod and walk back to Cedric’s room.

I look at myself in the mirror that hangs on Cedric’s closet door. I feel like it is the first time I have seen myself in ages. My thick, dark brown hair dances around my waist in layers. My eyes are still the same almond shaped green ones that looked back at me seven years ago, before I knew I was a witch. My skin is just as pale, all the tan from my dearly missed summer with Kay has disappeared. I look like the Guinevere Phoenix Mundt that walked into the compartment on the Hogwarts express six years ago. I feel the same too. I feel just as lost and scared and far from home as I did then too, but at the same time, I feel different because I know I’m different. I have seen death, felt love, and learned to accept who I am and what my life had become.

I slip into my outfit as I reflect on these last six years. Mostly, I think of mom and dad. It seems like just yesterday mom was laughing at me for slipping on a banana peel as she took me trick or treating for the last time. I remember how both mom and dad would cuddle on the couch while we watched a scary movie. From the time I got my letter until now, my life has done a complete three-sixty.

When I am dressed I take another look in the mirror. I had thought I put on a long, black dress with black stockings, but instead, the girl in the mirror is wearing a fun, white silky dress that accents all her curves. I smile to myself; I feel uplifted, like once again, I have changed. My heart feels lighter and I feel this great need to do something great. I know exactly what it is. I feel like this is Cedric’s way of telling me not to be so sad anymore and to fight. I need to fight, fight for him, fight for me, but most of all, fight for family and everything it stands for.

I hear a knock on the door, and then it is opened just slightly. “Can I come in?” I hear the familiar voice of Fred Weasley ask.

“Sure,” I reply turning to face him. He is wearing his nicest black robes and looks unbelievably surprised but then grins.

“Looks like you’re crashing the funeral.” He tells me lightly. I chuckle and roll my eyes. “I feel like it.”

“Well if Cedric was here—“He stops and clears his throat, obviously afraid that I am going to lose control of my emotions.

“You can say it; I’m okay.” I tell him sitting in the edge of Cedric’s bed. I open his nightstand drawer and find a folder up piece of parchment the reads ‘for Guinevere.’ I look at it, wanting nothing more but to read it and be alone, but I’m not, Fred is here and he deserves my attention.

“It’s just that I know he would agree with me in saying that you look truly beautiful.” He tells me blushing from his ears to his nose. I grin at Fred as I see George come in the room out of the corner of my eye.

“Funeral is about to start.” George says walking right back out. He looks extremely pissed off about I have no clue what. I look at Fred curiously but he just shrugs. Someone had definitely got George’s wand in a knot.

Fred and I walk downstairs out to the Diggory’s garden where the funeral is to be held, and where Cedric will lay for all eternity. When I see the casket, I freeze up, becoming nervous for what I might see. I ignore the ache in my heart as I walk towards the shiny, black casket. Fred lingers behind with everyone else. Inside, Cedric is lying peacefully. He looks so handsome, even in death. His pale skin gives him an eerie glow that is heightened by the coldness of his skin. I lean in and give him one last soft peck on the lips. I linger for only a moment and tell him, ‘My undying devotion, I will fight for you always. You will have your revenge through me.’

I breathe in deeply trying not to let emotions overcome me as I steadily walk back to my family. Fred wraps his arms around me as dad pats me on the back and mom gives me a quick, reassuring peck on the cheek. I knew they were all here for me and it meant a lot.

Mr. and Mrs. Diggory go and say their goodbyes next. Both are overcome with grief. It breaks my heart seeing them like this but only makes my vow to fight even stronger. Erik and Tyler are after that. Both seem to still be in shock. Their expressions go to angry to confused, to shocked, to sad all in a matter of minutes. When they all say their goodbyes, the rest of the crowd walks by to pay their respects; the minster is saying a few last words about Cedric. Soon it is all over and they lower the casket into the ground and cover it with dirt.

After the funeral, almost everybody leaves, except Fred who sits in the grass with me staring at Cedric’s grave. “It’s beautiful isn’t it? I mean, being surrounded by all these beautiful, bright flowers. It just seems to fit, something so dark made more—“I sigh not finishing my sentence. “Go home, I will meet you there.” I say getting up and wiping the dust off of me. Fred looks skeptical but nods and disapparates.

I walk inside to say my goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Diggory. They are both sitting on the couch, a foot away from one another, staring off into space. Both of them look so grief stricken that it makes me pray that I will never have to bury my child. I can’t imagine what that would feel like.

I walk in front of the two saddest people I have ever seen and drop to my knees and take each one of their hands in mine. They both look at me, puffy-eyed and devastated. I inhale deeply, ignoring my nerves and say, “I promise I will fight for him. I will fight for us. I will fight for every family who has lost someone at the hands of Voldemort. He will be destroyed.”