Confident | Fred Weasley

Chapter 30 | Cedric

The truth had settled upon Sarah quickly. Sat in the hospital wing beside Harry's bed, she listened to the discussion at hand.

"With this news, we must act quickly," Dumbledore began, staring at Harry with a frown upon his face.

"Yes. I suggest we get the Order of the Phoenix back together. They're the ones we can trust," McGonagall agreed.

Sarah knew that name, for the reason that her parents were part of the organisation.

"Molly, Arthur - do we have your support?" Dumbledore turned to Mr and Mrs Weasley, who were sat closest to Harry.

"Wholeheartedly," Molly replied, sincerely.

"As you have mine. I'll get Charlie and Hallie in it too. They can get wizards from abroad," Bill echoed, leaning against the pristine, white walls.

McGonagall's eyes locked with Sarah, "Miss Copper. I think I owe you an apology. I can't imagine how daunting it must be to go back home to that house. However, this is a private matter - "

Sarah was going to reply, but Fred interrupted her first, "She's staying with us this summer."

Sarah shrugged her shoulders, "I'll go if you want me to, but I already know what the Order of the Phoenix is anyway."

Dumbledore raised a brow, "Oh, yes?"

"Yeah. It's your organisation against You-know-who and the death eaters. My parents were part of it," Sarah replied. Dumbledore didn't look too surprised by this.

"Fine. You may stay," McGonagall sighed, before turning to Dumbledore, "I'll go send some owls."

Sarah was sat in the Great Hall for the end of year feast. The rays of sun shone through the open window, lighting up the room, but no one was happy.

Dumbledore stood at the podium, glancing at his students with sad eyes.

"The end of another year," He began, his voice soft.

Sarah glanced at the Hufflepuff table, who were the palest faces of them all.

"There is much I would like to say tonight, but first, acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here and sharing our feast tonight. I would like you all to stand and raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory," Dumbledore continued, holding his own glass to the sky.

With the scraping of benches, everyone was stood, whispering the name and holding their glasses to the enchanted ceiling.

"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house," Dumbledore continued. "He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."

Sarah listened carefully as Dumbledore delivered the news that would change their lives.

"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

Like wildfire, a panicked whisper went from one side of the hall to the other. Under the table, she felt Patricia fumbled for her hand. Sarah took hold of it, giving her hand a comforting squeeze.

"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory."