“Good luck Ced, I know you can win.” I said, waving Cedric off to the third task. He looked back, paused, and ran back to give me one last hug before he entered the maze. I walked over to the stands, where my friends were sitting. They might be all giggly, but I was pretty nervous. I was happy for Cedric, do not get me wrong, but he was taking a huge risk by doing this tournament.  

That was my last time seeing Cedric before it happened. 

I heard the screams before I saw it. Cedric was lying there, motionless. It was like the end of the world. The end of my world. I had been terrified of this happening, but I never really thought that it was possible. Plus, Cedric had dreamed of competing in the Triwizard Tournament since he was little, it was not like I could just keep him from competing.  

I was almost afraid to approach his body at the funeral, like if I came to close it then it would be proven he was really gone, Cedric was not coming back. The day after he died, I felt like every person at Hogwarts was staring at me, waiting for me to burst out crying. Little did they know, I was just waiting for that to happen to myself. The night he died; I did not sleep a single second.  

As time passed the days seemed to be blurred together, creating a whirl of classes, exams, and tears. My friends were gone from my side the instant I tried to confide in them. Gwen, in particular, was the least supportive. She just walked away when I got within three feet of her. It was like I was some sort of disease, no one thought I would be okay around them. As the final day of the school year approached, I felt more alone than ever.  

On the train ride home, about ten people opened my compartment door and then closed it so quick, as if they thought I didn’t even see. I gazed out of the window, dreading the questioning from my parents that I would be getting. The trees slowly turned into bushes, and then altogether disappeared. As we neared the station, the trees began appearing again.  

The train pulled into the station. I slowly stood up, trying to savor the last minutes of freedom before I went home. I made sure I had everything, especially my broom, I had gotten a Cleansweep 7 for my birthday and I did not want to lose it. My mom was standing at the station. Naturally, my muggle father was not there, likely at work. I stepped off the train and my mom immediately wrapped an arm around my shoulder and swept me off the platform.