prospicere futurum

There was no more water left in her body, Corinne was sure of that. Her eyes felt dry, her lips were chapped and broken, in fact, she couldn't remember the last drink of water she'd had, and frankly she didn't care.

She glanced down as the pastor continued his speech, leaning to the side in her seat to escape the feeling of her mother's fingers which had been stroking over the black lace sleeve of her dress.

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die..." The man croaked on, though even Corinne could hear the sadness in his voice, and he hadn't even known Cedric. He was too young. Too full of life. His parents outliving him...

Corinne blinked quickly, the feeling of tears flaring up against her waterline, though nothing spilled over. She smoothed her skirt over her legs, ignoring the goosebumps that had risen to her skin, even as the perfect June breeze wafter over the mourners.

"We are grateful that you lived your life among us, even a short one..." The words filtered through her mind as background noise, her eyes latched to the casket as it fell slowly, lower and lower until she would have to stand to see into the long grave. And she couldn't stand. Surely her legs wouldn't be able to hold her now...

"We therefore commit this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life."

The group was silent for a few minutes, only the sound of sniffles and a few mumbled apologies as people fell into each others arms before people began to leave the cemetery, the remaining group filtering smaller and smaller as Corinne's gaze bore into the stone grave stone, her eyes tracing over the familiar letters spelling out his name.

"Corinne," The unfamiliar voice pulled her from the grave and she glanced up to find Cedric's mother, Mr. Diggory a few feet behind her nodding along, his hand clasped in a slow handshake with another man in long, black robes.

"Hi." Corinne finally forced out, her mother standing at her side and reminding her to stand as well.

"It's nice to see you again, dear." Mrs. Diggory's eyes were welling up again before she pulled Corinne into a hug. "Thank you for being here."

"Course." A layer of guilt was settling into her stomach. She was being a very poor guest, making Cedric's mother seek her out, carry the whole conversation. It was the Diggory's who should be the ones frozen in place, unable to speak or think...

"We're so very sorry for your loss." Mrs. Baker said, softly, resting a hand lightly on the thin woman's arm before stepping to the side to give Corinne a moment alone.

"You let us know if you need anything... even just to talk. I'd love to talk about him, anytime." A small smile crept onto her lips, though tears were still sliding over her cheeks. "He spoke about you so often... Wrote letters every other week."

Corinne nodded, unable to come up with a single response as Mrs. Diggory finally stepped back, giving Corinne space, the warm breeze moving between them.

"We'd love to have your family back to the house for lunch. I'll give your mother the address?" She nodded, starting over to where the Bakers stood a few rows back as Corinne turned back slowly to the gravestone before her.

"Hey..." She recognized the voice, but she didn't turn. She couldn't. She thought she might just stay here for the rest of time. "It's good to see you."

She felt Lucas step closer until they stood side by side, gazes locked onto the words before them, carved into stone.

Neither of them spoke for a few moments, the guilty feeling creeping back into her stomach among the grief. This was Cedric's best friend. He had known him much longer than she had, woken up beside him in their shared dorm for the past six years every day.

"I brought you..." He spoke at last, holding a golden yellow hoodie out between them, finally managing to tear Corinne's eyes from the grave. "It was on his bed. I grabbed it before... Well, so no one would wash it or pack it away, or..."

Corinne's eyes traced over the familiar hoodie. He'd been wearing it, the night before... She reached out, bunching it into her arms and holding it up for only a second, the scent hitting her all at once.

There were the tears. They had spilled over her cheeks now, but she didn't care, turning her head away from the sweatshirt immediately.

"I know how I feel..." Lucas started, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck nervously, eyes flashing to the sky as he felt the sadness grip his throat, cutting off his words. "So, I can't even imagine..." He looked over her face, quickly. She hadn't bothered to do her makeup, or perhaps her tears had washed it all away. "Corinne, he loved you so much. So bloody much... I know you know that, but... well, he'd come back and murder me himself if I didn't tell you one last time."

Corinne set the sweatshirt onto the abandoned seats behind them and leaned forward, wrapping her arms over the tall boy, ignoring the surprised huff it had earned her before his arms circled her easily.

"You coming back for the luncheon?" He asked finally, letting her pull away and drop into the seat beside the yellow hoodie, nodding along to his question though she had barely heard the words. "Alright... I'll see you there."

She didn't watch as he started down the rows of chairs, offering the rest of his friends a quick nod before searching out their families.

"Honey, you ready?" Her mother's fingers surrounded her hair, fixing it in place along the back of her dress as Corinne nodded. "You want to go to the luncheon? Mrs. Diggory-"

"No." Corinne was already shaking her head. "I just want to go home."

✵

Three Months Later

Fred's eyes were locked on the window as the trees sped past them, the familiar terrain flying by as they neared Hogsmeade. Lee and George had been recapping their summers while Angelina, Katie and Alicia listened in, occasionally breaking into hushed conversations at their own end of the compartment.

Typically, the twins would have spent most of the summer with Lee, either racing through Diagon Alley or Lee attempting to remain on his broom for the daily Quidditch matches in the backyard of the burrow. This summer, however, had been anything but typical. Molly had rarely let any of them out of the house, and once they'd arrived at Grimmauld Place, it had felt more like a prison sentence than summer holiday.

Which is why Fred had been looking forward to September first for weeks now. Anything to get out of the dark and now mostly spotless townhouse, to escape Molly's never ending list of chores and the whispers and anxiety that creeped out from every meeting he and George had been locked out of.

So of course he had been excited to get back to Hogwarts. Even if it meant back to classes and back to homework. And if he'd already done more laps around the train than half the prefects so far, well... Coincidence. He'd been cooped up all summer, he needed to stretch his legs.

"Still haven't found her?" George asked, quietly, though Fred was sure the entire compartment had heard.

"Dunno what you mean." Fred shrugged, leaning his head against the cool glass of the window.

"Maybe... I mean..." George paused, nervously, sure Fred didn't want to hear what he was going to say.

"What."

"I mean, Fred... they pulled her out early last year... A student died... They might not have let her come back this year."

"She has to come back." Fred shook his head, forcefully, and George nodded, dropping the subject.

At last, the train pulled through the familiar stoney entrance to Hogsmeade, and everyone jumped to their feet, grabbing for luggage from the racks above their head before pushing into the bustling corridor.

Fred waited impatiently as the crowds moved step by step to the nearest exit before jumping onto the platform, scanning over the swarm of students, not caring as they pushed passed him, some of them nearly knocking him to the ground before he spotted her.

The familiar blonde hair, tied in a loose ponytail which was partially tangled in the strap of her bag against her shoulder. Taylor had her arm linked with hers, Ella on her other side, her hair falling in messy waves as the girls started through the busy streets towards the carriages waiting at the gates.

"Corinne!" Fred called, only thinking better at the last second, when it was too late. The girls had paused, turning back to face him, Corinne's eyes linking with his for only a second before they fell to her feet and started back towards the school once again.

"Give her some time." George's voice appeared at his left, though Fred didn't bother to look. His gaze was still stuck to the blonde.

"George, she looks so..." He trailed off, unsure where his sentence was meant to go. Sad? Broken? Small?

"Yeah, a bit..." George agreed, nodding mostly to himself before letting out a thick sigh, grabbing his brother's arm and pulling him forward towards the carriages as well.

Fred let himself be dragged along, watching as Ella hopped up into a carriage first, Taylor stalling to let Corinne step up next. It was clear, even from the distance. Her friends were walking on eggshells, and it was obvious why.

Corinne's cheekbones stuck out from her face now, her cheeks practically sunken in. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, despite the tan painting her skin. Her hair looked brighter, like she'd spent the summer in the sun, though Fred couldn't believe that. Not when her eyes were that dark, her bones that prominent. Like she hadn't eaten in weeks.

"I mean... It's not been three months, has it?" George muttered, helping Angelina into the carriage as he spoke.

"No." She answered, though Fred wasn't sure if they'd been talking to her.

"You gotta give her some time." George dropped his voice so only Fred could hear as the brothers climbed into the carriage as well, Corinne's lost now far ahead in the distance.

✵

Corinne tucked her arms over her chest, pulling the knit sweater closer around herself. The Great Hall had never been this chilly, though truthfully she knew the goosebumps lining her skin might have been in her head and not as a result of the castle's temperature.

She'd been home only a few days before it was time to head back to school, and she had spent those days locked in her room, lamps off, packing in the dim light from the window shades, pretending she couldn't hear her parents whispered conversation. If she was ready to be back. If the summer away had helped at all.

The crowded tables around them burst into murmured chatter and wary gazes as the sorting hat had finished it's annual sorting speech. The speech had rarely differed year to year before now, and Corinne couldn't help but run it's final words over in her mind.

For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes

"So, how was Spain?" Taylor asked as they watched the new first years being sorted one by one.

"Hm?" She asked, turning back to her friends, ignoring their worried eyes. "It was nice. Very... warm." She nodded, turning back to the front of the hall, as if the sorting ceremony was far too interesting to miss out on.

At last, with Dumbledore's short welcome, the tables were once again filled with food and there seemed to be a collective sigh of appreciation as everyone began to fill their plates. Corinne pulled some potatoes and vegetables onto her plate for something to do.

"I bet, you look like you got some sun." Taylor pressed on enthusiastically, obviously keen not to let the conversation die out. "I'd love to go. We should all go! Maybe after graduation!"

"Taylor..." Ella warned, quietly, though Corinne was already nodding along, though she felt sure she would never return to the beautiful country again. She had spent her entire summer moping, her heart skipping beats every so often when her mind would drift back to the school, or the funeral. If it hadn't been for her parents dragging her through the village for food or down to the beach for some sun, she was sure she would have spent the entire trip in bed.

The three of them fell into silence again as they ate, Corinne thankful that neither of them had chosen to comment on the fact that she was simply pushing her dinner around the plate rather than eating.

"Baker..." Corinne jolted at the voice, watching as Ella and Taylor's eyes went wide, looking up at the Gryffindor standing behind her before Corinne finally turned to face him. "Sorry... Hi..."

"Hi." She answered, though her voice was more of a whisper.

"How..." Fred paused, seeming to think over his words for a moment. "How was your summer?"

She nodded, though as Fred didn't drop his gaze, she figured she'd better give him a real answer.

"It was alright." She lied.

"Good!" He was nodding before he'd even spoken, and Corinne tucked one leg over the other, turning back to her friends, though Fred dropped into the seat beside her, never one for picking up any of her hints. "I wrote you..." He spoke, quieter now, as if Ella and Taylor weren't hanging onto every word through small bites of their dinner. "Over the summer-"

"I wasn't home." Corinne answered, cutting him off before he could finish his sentence. She hadn't thought about anyone from school writing her while they were away. She had written Ella and Taylor a few times from Spain, though she hadn't felt very chatty. "We were in Spain for most of break."

"Oh..." Fred leaned his weight against the table, watching as her gaze flickered around the tabletop before her.

"My parents thought it would be good to get away... for a bit..." She trailed off, her words sounding stupid even to her own ears.

"Right, yeah... Did that... Did it help?"

Corinne finally looked to Fred, his honey brown eyes wide as they scanned over her, waiting for her response.

"Oh, yeah. Everything's great now." She bit out, more forcefully than she had intended, Fred's jaw dropping at once, as if realizing his mistake.

"No, Corinne, obviously-" He sighed as she stood from the bench and hurried from the Great Hall, vanishing through the doorway and up the stairs in the blink of an eye.

None of them spoke for a few moments as Ella dropped her face into her hands, running two fingers along each side of her temple.

"That was stupid, fuck..." Fred grumbled, mostly to himself, though Taylor shot him a sorry look.

"Wasn't your fault." She mumbled, "She'll just... need some more time."

"Course." Fred nodded. "Has she... I mean, what has she said about it?"

"Nothing, really..." Ella muttered, looking back to the red head before her. "We didn't want to bring it up, and she never did... She wrote us a few letters from Spain, but honestly it felt more like her mom had told her to reach out... Which is fine, I mean, I was just grateful to hear from her-"

"She's going to be okay." Taylor promised, nodding optimistically, though her eyes flickered towards the staircase through the double doors.

"Does she even know? What happened?" Fred pressed on.

"Do any of us?" Ella shrugged.

"Well... yes..." Fred answered. "I mean, Dumbledore's speech last year."

"But the Ministry's said that's not what happened." Taylor said, softly, watching as Fred's lips pulled into a scowl.

"You're going to trust Fudge? Over Dumbledore?"

"Dumbledore wasn't there." Taylor pointed out, glancing down the table to where Harry Potter had been eating his dinner rather silently.

"Alright." Fred moved to stand from the table, shaking his head before Ella grabbed for his arm, holding him in place.

"I'm just saying, none of us... really know exactly what happened."

"Sure." Fred agreed, forcing himself not to glance at Harry with the girls.

"Has he said anything... I mean, you're friends, right?"

"Yeah, but he hasn't. I'm sure he's not excited to re-hash the night's events just yet."

"Yeah, of course." Ella nodded, hastily. "Just... She might want to know, eventually."

"I don't think so." Taylor shook her head, "I don't think I'd want to know. How his last moments looked, especially if it really was... You-Know-Who."

"Alright." Fred muttered, abruptly, standing up once again. "I'll see you both around..."

"Night." They murmured as he walked off in the direction Corinne had left a few minutes before, slowing as George caught up to him on the stairs.

"You're lucky I'm a good brother, leaving before dessert." George shook his head, waiting for Fred to explain what had happened. "Well?"

"I pissed her off." Fred answered.

"Well, what else is new." George shrugged, turning the corner onto the next staircase.

"Do you think..." Fred glanced back to the Great Hall, the eerie silence of the empty halls enveloping them. "Has Harry said anything to Ron? About that night?"

"I dunno," George mumbled, "I'm not looking forward to asking him."

"Right, me neither..." Fred grimaced. He had no wishes to force Harry to re-live that night again, especially not with what Dumbledore had said last term, though a small part of his mind had drifted further up the stairs, to where Corinne had surely arrived in her dormitory by now. He wasn't sure who he believed, Ella or Taylor. Would she want to know? Did she already know? Maybe Dumbledore had spoken at Cedric's funeral. Maybe he'd reached out to all of his friends.

Or maybe she'd just read the papers over the summer. He shook his head. He hoped she hadn't read the bloody papers.

"I don't think you should rush her into anything." George started, pulling Fred from his thoughts.

"What? Rush her into what?"

"I dunno! Anything-"

"What? You think I'm going to ask her out?"

"No," George sighed, "But, I mean, with everything. She'll talk when she's ready to, she'll ask about that night when she's ready."

"Right." Fred nodded now, "I know."

"And I know you don't want to, but I would try to give her some space."

"I'm not trying to hound her-"

"You didn't even make it through dinner."

"Just wanted to say hi."

"Right, because you two left on such good terms." George huffed out a laugh as Fred's lips dipped into a scowl.

"I'm just worried about her."

"I know."

"She looks-"

"I know." George said again, earning himself a frustrated sigh.

"George, don't you get it?" Fred stopped halfway up the staircase as it began to shift with the familiar crumbling sound of stone. "It makes sense now. It all makes sense. This is why-"

"Yes, Fred, I'm not dense." George practically smacked a hand to his forehead, rather than face his brother. "Of course I bloody get it. But I'm telling you right now, if you try to go to her and tell her that Cedric's supposed to be dead, that everything's going all to plan, she's going to punch you in the face and never speak to you again." He hissed.

"Obviously, you git." Fred grumbled back, waiting rather impatiently as the staircase finally switched back into motion. "I'm not that bloody stupid."

"I'll hold my judgement on that. Make it through the week."

"Go back down and get dessert, you're irritating tonight."

"I'm always irritating." George grinned, flopping his arm lazily over Fred's shoulders as they stepped off the final staircase and let themselves through the portrait hole.