A Hufflepuff and a Slytherin

Chapter 32- Tell me it was a dream

~Anna's POV~

I don't remember much. I think Lily and Draco brought me backup here and I must've fallen asleep. I woke up not feeling well. I still felt dizzy. Draco was sitting on the end of my bed. Lily was pacing around the room. On my nightstand was a teapot and a cup. There was a graveyard of tissues around the room. All of Evie's stuff was gone. I was dazed and confused.

"You alright?" Lily asked and stopped pacing to come over and sit next to me.

Draco turned around to face me. I slowly started to lean against the headboard sitting up.

"I don't know." I said.

"Tell me it was all a dream. Tell me you're here because I was shaking in my sleep. Tell me that Cedric's still here." They both looked down. I knew that it was real.

"I'm sorry." Draco said. He looked upset and empathetic. Lily looked down.

"Dumbledoor gave us the day off. We don't have to go to any of our classes today. We don't even have to go to lunch if you don't want to." Said Lily.

She kept talking but I zoned out. He was gone for real. How am I going to move on? What happens next? Does mum and dad know? Do I go home? I had too many questions.

"The only thing is Dumbledore wants everyone in the Great Hall at 1 pm." Lily said. I looked over at my clock, it was 12:30. Lily passed me my robes.

"I'll be back." Draco said while standing up to leave.

I nodded with a small smile. He left and I could hear his footsteps all the way down the stone staircase. I got up and started lifting my sweater that I had been wearing since the previous day over my head. Once I was dressed Lily walked me down the stairs to the common room. Draco was waiting, sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace. This must be the only time the other Hufflepuffs will let a slytherin stay in their common room. There were other in the common room, I didn't recognize them well. They all stopped and looked at me when I came down. Their faces all said 'Are you okay?' But no one said anything.

"C'mon." Lily said and Draco joined us as we walked towards the great hall.

It was weird. Everyone else walking there was looking at me in silence. I recognized some people in the corridors as Cedric's friends; they all gave me a respectful smile. We walked through the massive doors into the great hall. Everyone that was already seated turned to look at me as if I was alone on the red carpet. Once Dumbledore saw me he got up out of his seat and came towards me. I stood still waiting. As he came closer Lily and Draco left my side to go sit down.

"My condolences Miss Diggory." He said. I nodded slightly.

"Your brother was a very good man and wizard. You should not be ashamed to have called him your brother. I recognize his bravery going into the Triwizard tournament." He continued.

"Thank you. I really appreciate it." I let out a small smile and went to go join Lily at the front of the Hufflepuff Table. I could see a few witches from Beauxbatons looking right at me with an empathetic look. Dumbledoor got up to the golden podium.

"Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was as you all know, exceptionally hard working, intricately fair minded. And most importantly a fierce fierce friend. I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

I gasped along with many other people. Chatter and whispers started to break out. I felt an angry fire flare inside of me. Voldemort did this? I should have known. Why didn't anyone tell me? I already hated Voldemort but now the hate is even worse.

"The ministry of magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I think would be an insult to his memory. Now the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that, and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true right to the very end."

Everyone started clapping. I couldn't believe any of this. It still felt so surreal. I needed to find Harry. Everyone started to get up and leave the hall. I turned to Lily.

"You seen Harry?" I asked. She pointed over to one of the Gryffindor tables. There he was sitting all alone, resting his chin on one of his hands. I got up and sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry Anna. It's all my fault. I tried everything I cou-" I stopped him right in the middle of his sentence.

"I know you did. It's not your fault." He looked at me with wide eyes like he was surprised.

"It's all because of Voldemort. I should be saying sorry. I can't believe what that must have been like for you. You okay?" I asked.

I felt bad for him. Everything that's happened to him not just this year but the last few. He nodded.

"You should know he did great. He truly was an amazing person." Those few words made me smile. He really was amazing and it was good to know that that's how other people will remember him, not just me.