Is it fair to say that Cedric was my first love? Yes, I think it is. I also think that it is fair to say that we were robbed of so many wonderful moments together. I went to Hogwarts that year on the train. I was so excited. I got to sit with Cedric, and yet I slept most of the way there. In now way was it romantic. When we arrived, we went to eat in the Great Hall and afterwards Professor Snape ushered us both reminding us that we both had nine months and we were not to forget it.

Cedric actually asked me if I thought he could enter the Triwizard Tournament. I was nervous of course but I told him that if anyone could win it then he could. He was the brightest and bravest person I knew. If he got through then I would do everything in my power to help him. He knew it, I knew it. I can’t say I wasn’t a little disappointed that he did get through. Really excited but terrified all at the same time and I think it showed. I wanted him to be the best but I also wanted him to survive because we were making plans for the summer and for next year. Time rolled on, the first trial, dragons. I was so proud to see him handle them in the way he did. I couldn’t believe he managed them so effortlessly.

For the Yule Ball I was planning not to go, as we were not allowed to go together but then one of the Durmstrang boys asked if I would go with him. The girls all wanted me to go too. I couldn’t exactly say no. We made a plan that Cedric would ask one of the Ravenclaws and it seemed like the best bet. It was not exactly fool proof but good enough. The girls in my dorm couldn’t believe that I could transfigure my own dress I designed it and then one of them put a charm on it that made it sparkle. It was good enough, although I was really embarrassed. I managed to dance with Cedric for a little while and we had loads of fun.

The next task was underwater, I had to be so careful not to give him extra help when it came to transfiguring or anything. People would have known. Instead it was my duty to charm the mermaids. By then I had completed quite a lot of work for my midterms, and was getting on fairly well. Cedric’s parents kept sending me owls to make sure that he was ok and that I was happy. I got a fair number of gifts too.

By this time, we had basically reverted. Most things had gone back to normal and we were back to sneaking around. I just couldn’t handle it. Maybe you can say that I was weak that I didn’t have room in my life but I needed him so much. We had to be together and there was nobody that was going to stop us. I could be very determined when I wanted to be and this, I had decided was going to be one of those times. Fred and George had seen it in my face and they had literally said “Oh no, Lou.”

Was I a Hufflepuff or a Gryffindor? Who could tell? I spent so much time in the common room that it really was hard to tell. I was in his bed, in his pocket. It was fun. I’m not sorry, not to anyone. By the time of the final test, I sat in the stadium with my uncle, his father. I was so upset as he went off he said to me, “I’ll see you in a bit, don’t worry”. That was the last time I saw him alive. I gave him a big hug and told him I loved him. The next thing I knew my uncle was pulling at my arm and guiding me through the crowd of people, away from the hedge and away from Harry Potter, a glistening cup and Cedric’s body.

The look on his face was the same as my mother’s had been all those years ago. Many many years ago. He was dead, there was no denying it. I was taken to a room in the dungeons, I was in shock. Shock means that you have no control over your body. The sayings are things like “stiff as a board” or “having a melt-down”. What people don’t realise is when a transfigurist goes into shock it isn’t quite the same as a regular witch or wizard. I melted quite literally. I collapsed into a pool of my own tears for 3 days. The only thing that prevented me from changing more was Cedric himself. I was given the choice as to whether I wanted to postpone my exams for a year or take them now. Apparently, these were “exceptional circumstances” and the Ministry would “understand”. I was furious.

Cedric had helped me with the preparation for my exams and all I could think was, “do it for Cedric” I had to do it for him. I had to do the best I had ever done in an exam for him, because of him. There was no way I was letting go for anything. I passed my OWLs with Outstanding and Exceeds Expectations. Because there was no way I was getting anything else. I was just as determined to do well but it was all because of him. All because of a talk that I had with Mr Diggory.