We will meet again ~ Fred Weasley

- Fall In Line -

"We were friends when the world was still simple, before sides were chosen and war turned us into strangers. And maybe that's the cruelest part of all—knowing that soon, everything we are to each other will change forever."

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Leaving the hospital wing the next day felt strangely unreal.

The castle looked exactly the same.

Students still wandered the corridors.

Ghosts floated through walls.

Somewhere Peeves could be heard causing chaos as usual.

But everything felt different now.

Like the world had tilted slightly off balance.

Fred kept one arm firmly around Katherine's waist as they slowly made their way toward the Great Hall. She still felt weak, her body protesting every movement, but the healing potions and Fred beside her kept her grounded.

The second they entered the hall, silence spread almost instantly.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward her.

Toward the bruises still visible across her skin.

Toward the bandages wrapped around her wrists.

Toward Harry walking silently beside her.

Katherine hated it immediately.

The looks weren't curious.

They were sympathetic.

Pitying.

As though everyone was waiting for her to fall apart.

Fred's hand tightened gently around hers beneath the table.

It was enough to stop her from walking straight back out again.

Nobody spoke as Dumbledore rose slowly from his seat.

His expression looked older somehow.

Wearier.

"Today," he began quietly, "we acknowledge a terrible loss."

The entire hall remained completely silent.

"Cedric Diggory was exceptionally hardworking, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly... a fierce, fierce friend."

Katherine's throat tightened painfully.

Beside her, Fred silently threaded his fingers through hers again beneath the table.

She squeezed back instantly.

Because if she let go, she thought she might completely fall apart.

Every word about Cedric felt like another knife twisting deeper into her chest.

She could still hear his laugh.

Still picture the smile he'd given her in the graveyard.

I'll be waiting.

Katherine stared down at the table desperately, blinking hard against the tears building in her eyes.

Then Dumbledore spoke again.

"Cedric Diggory was murdered."

A sharp breath caught in Katherine's throat.

"By Lord Voldemort."

The name echoed through the hall like a curse itself.

Several students gasped quietly.

Others looked terrified.