Parting the Herds and Last Words

Harry's POV

As soon as I landed carrying Cedric's body, I turned to see (Y/N), he had been hurt worse than I had, then I realised what he had done, what he had made me do. I collapsed in front of the crowd, eyes closed and tears streaking down my face.

"Harry! Harry!" I opened my eyes, looking up at the starry sky, Dumbledore was crouched over me. The dark shadows of a crowd of people pressed in around us, pushing nearer; I let go of the cup, clutching Cedric even more tightly. I seized Dumbledore's wrist, while Dumbledore's face swam in and out of focus. "He's back," I whispered.

"He's back. Voldemort." "What's going on? What's happened?" The face of Cornelius Fudge appeared upside down over me; it looked white, appalled. "My God...Diggory!" it whispered. "Dumbledore...he's dead!" 

The words were repeated, the shadowy figures pressing in on them gasped it to those around them . . . and then others shouted it — screeched it — into the night — "He's dead!" "He's dead!" "Cedric Diggory! Dead!"

 "Harry, let go of him," I heard Fudge's voice say, and I felt fingers trying to pry me from Cedric's limp body, but I would never let him go, I promised, I had to.... Then Dumbledore's voice said "Harry, you can't help him now. It's over. Let go" "NO!"

They didn't understand "He wanted me to bring him back," I muttered, it seemed important to explain this. "He wanted me to bring him back to his parents. . . ." "That's right, Harry . . . just let go now. . . ." 

Dumbledore bent down, and with extraordinary strength for a man so old and thin, raised me from the ground and set me to my feet. I swayed, my head was pounding, my injured leg would no longer support his weight. 

"(Y/N), he... he's still...he made me..." I couldn't even process what had happened. The next minute was just a mixture of voices, each asking me questions I didn't have the answers to or promising to take me away. 

As more people realised what had happened the whole atmosphere changed, people were screaming, sobbing hysterically, the only thing to pierce the noise, only one voice cut through the sea of voices.

I barely registered as it happened. The scene flickered oddly before my eyes, I knew it was happening, but it seemed so wrong I couldn't comprehend it. As the shock of everything set in, people were starting to converge on us.

A few people cut through the crowd, pushing everyone aside, Amos Diggory stood over his son's corpse and collapsed to his side, wailing and sobbing, "MY BOY...MY SON" where the only comprehensible words, his wife following suit.

Then, someone else forced their way through the crowd, wand out to push the people who were too slow to react aside. She gripped my shoulders harshly, lifting me off my feet, a frantic look in her eye, pushing past Fudge, Dumbledore, everyone.

"Harry! where is he? You have to tell me, WHERE IS HE!?" (M/N) demanded, her voice already shaking, "I don't know, I don't-" Her face contorted into rage "You tell me NOW!" Fudge made a move to stop her, likely to avoid causing more panic and she ignored him entirely. 

Her grip got tighter, her hands finding my throat. "I...don't...know" I barely got out the words, Dumbledore quickly flourished his wand and she was forced away from me, she went to approach again but was pushed back with force that made her stumble and fall,.

Then the situation seemed to finally hit her, she let out a pained cry, wailing and screaming incoherently, (Y/N)'s father wrapped his arms around her, looking gaunt and vacant. "Tell me so I can- so I can-" 

She stopped, looking into my eyes with a thousand yard stare and only muttering, "Please..." as her voice faltered. I went to explain, "He made me, I didn't want- I didn't mean to-" I stopped because every word I said felt meaningless.

I had left their son to die, there was nothing I could say to comfort them. Both sobbed openly embracing each other, I couldn't imagine their grief. Someone led me away, it took me a while to realise it was Moody.

Hermione's POV

This was horrible, so horrible, I looked to Ron, who was utterly vacant, pale and expressionless. I watched as Dumbledore dragged Harry off Cedric's body, we forced my way through the crowd, this wasn't right, where was (Y/N)? McGonagall said he wasn't in the maze, so he should be with them.

I tried to make my way to Harry, he could tell us what happened, where (Y/N) was, but I wasn't the only one. (M/N) pushed past me, making her way to Harry, I couldn't hear what they were saying but after Harry said something that sounded like an apology she fell to her knees and sobbed. "No, that's not right, that couldn't be right, because that would mean... no."

I tried to process all of this, I watched as Harry was dragged away by Moody, slowly, everything got quiet, as people's initial shock was over everyone remained quiet, as if breaking the silence meant that it was real, the only people making noise were the sobbing families.

Suddenly, there was a pause, through the silence a loud noise like the crack of a whip, and then as I looked around for it, I noticed (F/C) sparks streaking through the sky in the distance, everyone stared at it, it could barely be seen from the Quidditch pitch.

(Y/N)'s parents seemed to know something we didn't, they both looked at it in unison and both sprinted towards it. Me and Ron followed them. Hoping to all things holy it meant what we thought it did.

We made our way to the sight of the sparks, just on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, we found a body there in a heap, surrounded by blood, at first, I thought that it may have just been a corpse, a sick joke, but it slowly got up and limped towards us.

As he saw us, a voice let out a pained croak "I could use a hand" (Y/N) said, as I got closer I saw it, his right hand was missing, splinched, "Get it?" he said weakly as his mother and father reached him, he then collapsed into his father's arms.

(Y/N)'s POV

As Harry sprinted to the portkey, Voldemort and his Death Eaters all rushed to stop him, I cursed a few on the back as they tried, using the disarming spell that Harry had practised with me and a few more painful ones. They were more concerned with Harry, I heard Voldemort scream out of frustration, he got away.

Voldemort was cursing his underlings for failing him, I used this chance go get to my knees and scramble behind a tombstone, holding my wand to my chest, trying to make myself as small as I could, I didn't want them to find me. I could feel Voldemort's rage from here, I don't think he would keep me alive for any reason if he found me.

I had always prided myself on being brave, but come to think of it, most of the time I just did stuff out of instinct, or a need to protect my friends, hell most of the time my first instinct was to run, I just ignored it. but now, I was alone, and I wasn't being brave like I thought I would, I was hiding, hoping someone would come and help me.

The cynical side of me was always right, it always reminded me of who I really was. Because deep down I wasn't talented like Viktor Krum or brave like Cedric Diggory, I wasn't smart like Fleur Delacour and I wasn't special like Harry, I wasn't some great weapon for Dumbledore, I was just, me. What hope did I have against the darkest wizard to ever exist? He would kill me stone dead.

I heard a cold voice spit "Find him!" and then the trudging of footsteps all around me, they were getting closer, some of them laughing or cackling, it was all just a game to them, "Come out and play" one sang as he checked beside a gravestone. 

I clapped a shaking hand to my mouth and tried to soften my breathing as I silently cried, I closed my eyes, thinking of something I could do, anything. "FOUND HIM!" I heard from somewhere in front of me. I opened my eyes to see the Death Eater with one eye advance towards me. 

My body was on autopilot at this point so anything I thought of just slipped out of my mouth as I tried to survive, "Come get me cyclops."  I lashed him with a "Confringo" he jumped out of the way as several gravestones darkened with ash.

 "Reducto!" I followed up, he dodged that too, disintegrating part of a crypt in front of me. I coughed as the smoke cleared only to look back to find that I was surrounded by the whole group of Death Eaters, all of them grinning maliciously.

I was instantly reminded of the world cup, being surrounded by aurors pointing their wands at me, and the panic I felt, only this time it was amplified. something told me these guy's weren't going to use stunners.

 "Well, that's just cheating. So, is it my turn to seek now?" a few of them bared their teeth at me, but then the group parted. Voldemort walked towards me with purpose, almost gliding. "Leave him" he commanded. I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"My boy, you don't have to die here" he gestured to those around him "Join us" he said plainly, for a second I considered it, "Maybe if I join they will let me live?" I pondered, but then I saw a glint in Voldemort's blood red eye, it was a trick.

 I could tell by his voice he had no intention of leaving me alive, he just wanted to humiliate me before I died. Just like with Harry, he was trying to revel in my hopelessness, trying to make me bow. He wasn't getting that chance.

"I'm fine thanks, my mum would go mental if I got a tattoo at my age" I weakly chuckled. He snarled again, "You will do the bidding of Lord Voldemort!" he said haughtily. He gestured his wand to me, "Imperio."

This wasn't like with Moody, it felt like a drill was pressed against my temple, like if I didn't grit my teeth and focus on anything but listening there wouldn't be anything else of my mind to struggle with.

Eventually I shook it off, I raised my wand to defend myself but he simply gestured again and my wand dropped out of my hands and I was forced to my knees. Only for a second though before I fought it and I scrambled and clutched my wand again.

"Any last words?" he smiled down at me, but I grinned back at him, with the widest smile I could manage and said "Only a few" He paused for a second, so I did what I always did, a panicked spell.

I used the fact that I was close to the ground to my advantage, I bellowed "Bombarda Maxima!" Pieces of dirt and grass were sent cascading upward, the impact forced the Death Eaters to scatter, giving me some breathing room. 

Unfortunately, Voldemort wasn't someone who would fall for such a silly trick. As soon as any of the debris even came close to him his body seemed to dissipate, like smoke, his robes flapped suddenly and as if he were mist, they passed through him.

It took me a panicked moment, but I realised I had seen something similar in the maze, the mystery of how I was able to keep up with Harry and Cedric slowly fell into place, he played us all the whole time. I watched him stalk towards me.

Knowing I had no hope left I fell back on what I normally did to cope, I laughed, I just laughed, it was shallow and broken but a laugh all the same. I said my real last words, coming up with something appropriately eloquent, the perfect last phrase. 

"Bite me, snakeface." There was something just funny about it to me, I looked up and saw him raise his wand. I squeezed my eyes shut and laughed harder as I heard his cold voice start to say "Avada-"

I continued laughing, tears leaking out of my eyes, you would think that this would be a last act of defiance, to close your eyes and laugh at your demise, but truth was I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes, I wasn't like Harry, I couldn't stare my death in the face.

But that was why I was so scared; I didn't want to die here. I'm fourteen, its not fair, there is so much I still wanted to do, so much I still needed to do. I needed to hug dad again, I needed to hear mum laugh again. I needed to show Bones her new toy. Damn it I didn't even tell Hermione I loved her.

I wanted to see that half smile again, I wanted to laugh every time I saw Harry try to flatten his hair, or tell Ron he had dirt on his nose when it was really on his cheek, I wanted Luna to tell me all about her new jewellery, hell I even wanted to see Neville jump at loud noises and scan the room for anything dangerous while he helped me with Herbology, I wanted to live.

I tried to imagine my happy place, where all the best moments of my life had happened, I remembered the taste of warm butterbeer, the cosy feeling of sitting near a fire, all things I only ever found in one place. 

I didn't want to be here anymore, I thought to where I really wanted to be, with all my friends, my family. Where everything is comfortable, where I felt safe. Hogwarts. In my next intake of breath everything felt different and I knew what had happened.

 Dying felt weird, it was like, I was trying to go down a slide that I couldn't fit through properly, I suppose it was my soul leaving my body. Something surprised me though. It was dark, even when I think I opened my eyes, why was it so dark?

I had to make some light, it was so cold here, something hot and warm, I still had my wand, strange, I suppose they let you have anything you want here, I grabbed my wand and cast the first spell I thought of.

I shot sparks in front of me, they flew forward, then I realised I could see birds in the sky, no, those weren't birds idiot, they were stars, so it wasn't forward, it was up, I was lying down. Why would I sleep here? That didn't make sense. I don't know how long it took me, but I managed to get to my feet.

I saw figures waiting for me in the distance, Mum and Dad, I guess I must have done something good in my life to have such a happy last dream, I walked towards them, remembering my promise, I tried to make Mum laugh, then tried to hug Dad as hard as I could.

I vaguely remember some other stuff, voices mostly, but everything was dark, I could feel something on my back, it was warm, comfortable, a bed? Is this what dying felt like? Waking up from a bad dream? That wouldn't be too bad, but I would miss everyone.

I sat there for a while until I decided I'd had enough of the darkness, as they opened everything was very bright, I went to cover my eyes with my hand, but it didn't work. Was I a ghost? No. I looked at my arm, my right hand was missing, cut off at the wrist, covered in bandages.

So, I guess it wasn't a dream "Why is it always the hand?" I tried to sit up and pain shot through me, "And why does it hurt this much?" I moaned, holding up my arm as pain shot through it like lightning. 

"Dramatic tension" said a teary voice, It startled me a bit, I thought I was alone. "Oh no, I actually did die" I groaned, recognising it, and she half smiled just like I hoped she would "No, you're in the hospital wing."

"Are you sure? I'm pretty sure this is what an angel would look like" she chuckled, "Prat" I nodded, yeah, definitely Hermione. Pain raced up my body again, "So, did Pomfrey run out of paracetamol or something?" 

But Hermione was all business, "Why didn't you come back with Harry? We were all so worried, we thought you had..." she trailed off. "He did make it back then?" she nodded, "Good." I just shrugged "Sorry I took the long way I suppose, how'd I even get here?" 

"They found you near Hogsmeade, your parents brought you here" "Where are they?" "With Dumbledore, tearing him a new one probably, they told me to tell them if you woke up, you have been asleep for three days" 

"Hermione, I'm no doctor, but I think that's called a coma" I said, my brain running through what she told me. "If the cup was a portkey, how did I get to Hogsmeade?" "Your mum said you must have apparated! How did you do it?" she asked 

"Dunno, but I didn't click my heels if that's what you're asking." She let out a smile, "And I missed; I think I was aiming for Hogwarts" I said quietly. "How many times do I have to tell you, you can't apparate to Hogwarts!" she said with a teary smile. 

I pulled her into a desperate hug, "Well, if anyone could do it" I smiled, she just kept crying on my shoulder. "Do you reckon I can claim this as my first apparition test? I didn't do too badly." "Can you go five minutes without making a joke?" she said through muffled sobs.

"Maybe, on a slow day, plus, I was out for three, I need to make up for it." After a minute of cuddling she broke off. Madam Pomfrey came in, after checking me over she said she'd "give us some space" and rushed off to get my parents.

Hermione filled me in, explaining everything I had missed, how Moody was the one who set me and Harry up in the tournament and manipulated everything so we would end up at the graveyard, except it wasn't really Moody, It was Barty Crouch Jr, who had escaped Azkaban with the help of his father and Winky.

He had now been captured and subjected to the Dementors Kiss, by the order of Fudge, who was still wholeheartedly denying Voldemort had returned. I shivered at the thought of the Dementors Kiss, but if anyone deserved it, it was him.

As I wrapped my head around it all, everything made sense, why he helped Harry, to make sure he made it to the third task, why he wanted to enter my mind in class, to see if Voldemort could. I sighed, "What annoys me most is, he was actually a pretty good teacher." I joked.

A thought occurred "oh no" I said quietly, she asked what, looking panicked, "I'm the Wormtail!" she looked at me confused "What?" I held up my now missing hand, "we match, that means I'm the Wormtail of our group" I said, acting all upset, she smirked.

"I'd always imagined I'd be our Sirius, y'know, the cool one" she giggled, "Who am I?" she asked, I looked at her, "Professor Lupin, duh" she finally burst into laughter, her face settling into that trademark Hermione half smile. It reminded me of another promise I had made to myself.

I couldn't help it, I leaned forward a little and placed a kiss on her lips, there was a single second where I was afraid I had made a horrible mistake, but then she kissed back, It was different this time, just as enjoyable, but the emotion behind it was different.

It was more desperate, and much more sudden, but after almost dying again, I decided I would just jump in the deep end. I suddenly felt very hot and bothered, but figured I would have to tell her eventually "Hermione, I lov-"

I was interrupted by the door swinging open, if it was anyone else, I would have been furious, but it was the people I wanted to see the most in the world, It was my parents, both gasping for breath, Bones skittering behind them along the floor, trying to keep up.

Bones got to me first, scurrying between their feet, leaping onto my bed and clawing up to my face. Licking me, bunting my head, nuzzling me, fussing over me, "Sorry I worried you princess" I stroked her as she purred.

Mum ran to me, her eyes already filling with tears "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up, I should always be there when you wake up. But Dumbledore-" I pulled her into a hug, then dad joined it, all of us sobbing.

"I'm sorry I-" I started, they shushed me, "You're safe now... its ok" said Dad quietly. As we stopped crying, I noticed Hermione had slipped out of the room, giving us some privacy. I suppose I would tell her later.

We joked about for a bit, "You stole my joke!" Mum said, "Did I?" she nodded and explained what happened when they found me. "Get your own jokes" she said, "I will, yours are rubbish" we all laughed.

I then explained what happened to me in the Graveyard, by the end Mum was in tears and Dad looked very upset, "We are so proud of you, and we always will be" then adding, "But NEVER do something that stupid again" I shrugged, "No promises" sticking my tongue out.

A few hours later Dumbledore arrived, he asked me all about the graveyard, verifying what Harry had already told him, "You are an exceptionally lucky young man" he commented, I frowned, holding up my injured hand, or lack thereof, "Really?" I commented.

He paused "ah" "What I was referring to was the fact that the Anti-Dissaparation spell around Hogwarts had been, altered, to accommodate our incoming guests and their families." I nodded. "Otherwise, the outcome may have been very different" he lamented.

I shrugged, "I'd have thought of something" I laughed weakly. "And here I thought I was just that good." After a while I decided to ask him something, "Voldemort called me your greatest defence, what did he mean?" Dumbledore sighed.

"That, is a conversation for another day, you need rest" I protested, "I've just had three days of rest" he smiled, "Please, not now" he said, I frowned but nodded. Then I remembered something.

"Oh, before I forget,-" we made a deal about one of his staff, he assured me he'd make the arrangements. He paused too, "That reminds me, this may lift your spirits," He presented me with a bag, containing 500 Galleons, my share of the prize money, but it might as well have been Leprachaun Gold, to me, it was worthless.

After a while of begging and annoying Madam Pomfrey I was out of the hospital by the end of the day. I stumbled into the common room after Mum and Dad went to book time off work. Everyone was still in class, I strolled over to the armchair by the fire and sat down.

Both the cats quickly jumping on my lap. I pet Bones, then looked over at Crookshanks and pet him too, it was weird not having two hands, but for some reason, this chair had never felt more comfortable.

I must have fallen asleep, because I got woken up by Ron, he nudged my shoulder, as I opened my eyes he smiled. "Glad your back, I thought you had kicked the b-" then he paused, realising that might have been in poor taste considering what had happened.

 I wanted to make a funny comment back, but I couldn't, I stood up and hugged him, he was incredibly awkward and shuffled about a bit, but hugged back. "Nah, no rest for the wicked." I was called by Dumbledore to a meeting with Cedric's parents, so that Harry and I could give them the truth. 

This was the first time I had seen the Diggory's since my return, part of me wished I wouldn't ever have to see them, but I knew I owed Cedric that much. They didn't blame me for what had happened, Nor Harry; on the contrary, both thanked him for returning Cedric's body to them.

But honestly, I think that was worse, they were so nice, so polite, so... ordinary. If we hadn't got involved with their son, he would still be here, and they wouldn't be going through this. Maybe they shouldn't hate Harry, but they should hate me. 

I didn't protect their son, I didn't risk my life to return him to them. But still they thanked me. It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense anymore.

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