"I can't believe that they're just carrying on with it!" I stared down at the table in front of me. "Someone's just been-" I couldn't even finish the sentence. It was too terrible. Cedric's gentle hand rubbed my shoulder.
"I know." I looked up at him.
"Promise me you'll be careful," I insisted.
"I have been so far! There's nothing to worry about, (y/n)."
"Yes, there is! We don't have any idea what you could run into in this last task. Especially now! I just want you to be safe."
"I will be." He pressed a reassuring kiss to my temple. "I'm planning on doing some laps around the lake later. Would you want to join me?"
I smiled. "I don't think I'll be doing any running myself but I'll gladly watch you if you would like." He laughed.
"I figured that would be the case."
~
"I can't wait for this to be over," I said.
"Why's that?" He was stretching after his run.
"Don't get me wrong! I have really loved helping you prepare. It did finally get us together." He laughed. "But I just want us to spend real time together without having to worry about these challenges."
"Well, it's almost done." He walked closer to me and grabbed his water bottle. He took a long swig before looking back at me. "And then you've got me all to yourself." He gave me a wink.
"I can't wait," I said, smiling and blushing. He put the water back on the ground.
"I have something for you," Cedric said. He reached into his robes that were sitting next to me on the bench. "This is a sort of thank you, I guess."
He held out to me the most precious gift I had ever received. It was a bracelet. It had a thin gold chain and a sun pendant. I reached out and as my finger brushed the sun it began to glow.
"Ced-"
"I know this is sort of out of nowhere but I really wanted to get you something nice. You've been so supportive and helpful throughout all of this 'tri-wizard tournament' stuff. I really don't know what I've done to deserve you in my life. You have been the most amazing friend and now you're the most amazing girlfriend."
He took my wrist in his hands and put the bracelet on for me. "Cedric, it's beautiful. I don't know what to say." He gently kissed the back of my hand before intertwining our hands. "Thank you."
~
"Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss." I tried my best to hold off my tears. I'd already cried enough. I felt so pathetic. Our friend group was all sat together. My best friend had her arm around my shoulders. I was playing with the bracelet that hung on my wrist. The sun gave off a gentle glow. Nothing felt like enough. "Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard working, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly a fierce, fierce friend. I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died."
This wasn't a speech we ever should have had to hear. Cedric was supposed to live a long life after his days at Hogwarts. I wanted to be there with him for every step along the way. I did get to for a while, but it wasn't enough. I would never get enough time with Cedric. Not now.
I looked around the room at my fellow students; at my teachers. No one could believe what was happening and what this meant. I couldn't begin to think of what next year was going to be like. It all felt pointless.
"Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that! And we will celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true, right to the very end."
A thick silence fell over everyone then. We were dismissed to our dormitories. My friends stayed close to me. A few passing students would give me looks. It wasn't a secret that Cedric and I had started dating and most everyone knew how close we were long before that. They had seen us inseparable since even our first year. They pitied me.
"(Y/n)?" I turned over my shoulder. Harry Potter was standing there. He looked dreadful. I didn't blame him. I knew that I probably looked worse.
"Hello, Harry." I gave my friends a look to tell them that I would be okay. They continued on walking without me to leave the two of us alone. They understood.
"I'm sorry. I know that you and Cedric were...close." I smiled weakly and nodded. "I just felt like I needed to talk to you. I don't know why."
"Thank you. I appreciate the thought. It's been hard." My throat felt incredibly tight. He nodded understandingly. "So it's all true? He's back?"
"Yeah, he is."
"What does that mean? What are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know."
Being with Harry made everything from that night run back through my mind. Every moment was replaying. "Thank you for bringing him back." I couldn't believe I had gotten the words out. I felt on the verge of tears again.
"It's what he wanted."
I nodded and wiped away a tear. Harry took my free hand and gave it gentle squeeze.
