You Know I Love You, Right? (Cedric Diggory x Reader)

Chapter 44

Year 7 (Part 2)

Dobby was buried outside of Shell Cottage.  We did it without magic to honor the brave elf.  In that moment I realized just how much I took house-elves for granted.  I always thought they were stupid or annyoing, but they were hard and loyal workers- and Dobby was the best of them all.  We stayed in Shell Cottage for the rest of Easter break, Harry, Ron, and Hermione left a bit early to continue their search for the Horcruxes.

Fleur and Bill dropped Luna, Dean, and I at King's Cross Station.

"Now please, make sure zat you stay safe.  I don't want to see you hurt again like ze last time." She hugged the three of us and planted a kiss on each of our foreheads.  We waved goodbye as we entered the train.

"So what now?"  Dean asked as we shoved ourselves into a compartment.

"We continue up with our D.A meetings, keep a close listen to Potterwatch, and just try to stay alive.  What more is there to do?"

Dean shrugged, "You don't think You-Know-Who is really going to come to Hogwarts, do you?"

My lips pursed, "At this point, I'm positive he will."

"I should owl my mum, she's probably worried sick.  Hasn't heard from me since I was taken."

Luna fiddled with her new wand, Ollivander had made the three of us replacements since our old ones were taken.

"Do you believe anyone at Hogwarts is going to die?"  She asked quietly.

I sighed, "I can't be sure."

It was a gloomy train ride back to Hogwarts.  When we arrived we were crowded by other students, asking what happened to the three of us, what we saw, how we escaped.

I pushed past them, "I know you all have a lot of questions, but right now is really not the time.  Does anyone know where the radio is?"

Hannah ran over to me with a small speaker in her hands.  She put it on the station, Potterwatch, and to our disappointment- yet relief, there was no sighting of Harry anywhere.

"Let's all get some rest."  Hannah said to the D.A members, "These three have had a hard few months.  They can answer our questions tomorrow."

I gave her a warm smile so she'd know how grateful I was.  Hannah and I have had a rocky relationship, but she was still one of my oldest friends.  We'd always care for each other no matter what.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of a panicked Neville Longbottom trying to get my attention.

"She's up!"  He announced.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up, "What's wrong?  Did someone get injured?"

He looked at me nervously, "You've got mail-"

"I can check that later, you didn't need to wake me up for that-"

"It's from You-Know-Who."

I raised an eyebrow and took the parchment from Neville's hands, reading it out loud to the curious students around me:

Heiress of Hufflepuff,

I believe that you would like to be informed of the fact that your parents and younger sister are all in my custody as of yesterday.  I was notified by your friend, Draco, that you had been in our captivity earlier this year, and it just gets so lonely in the Malfoy Manor that I thought I'd take in a few new guests.  They're great practice dummies for our newer Death Eaters.  Although, I'd be willing to make a trade.  You can trade your life for theirs.  If I receive your dead body by sunset on the first of May, I'll release them.  If not- well I'm sure Greyback won't mind a little extra something to snack on.