Backfire

"Do you want to talk about it, Holly?" George asked softly, looking at the girl who hadn't spoken in hours. Holland simply shook her head, knowing she couldn't explain how she knew what could happen. To take his mind off the subject, Holland leaned her head on the boy's shoulder, staring off into the hedge where Cedric had entered, thinking about what she could do if he'd miraculously come back alive. If he comes back alive, I'll donate a hundred galleons from my savings to St. Mungo's, or, If he comes back alive, I'll pay for Ron's Honeyduke's and sweet trolley hauls for the rest of our years in Hogwarts. Holland was desperate, pleading to Merlin that she'd do everything right if Cedric could come back alive. Hermione was sitting with Ron, knowing it wouldn't be any help to go on to Holland and try to talk to her about it.

After what felt like forever being in front of the man who'd murdered his parents, Cedric, and a whole lot of other innocent lives, holding onto his hand with both hands as he fought for his life against Voldemort, Harry finally took the cup and had returned with Cedric's body. People immediately begin cheering, applauding the two boys. Seeing that Harry was crying, Holland immediately jumped to her feet as George tried to calm her down. She pulled away from his grasp, running to the two boys in panic. "No!" She yells as Fleur herself lets out a scream. She couldn't bring herself to come closer, stopping by the stairs as she watched Dumbledore try to pry Harry's hands off the boy.

"Harry," The professor grabbed the boy's arms back, knowing that the way he was clinging onto Cedric would cause an enormous stir for the entire audience. Madame Maxime was already consoling Fleur who resembled Holland as she was weeping just as hysterically.

"No!" Harry says, bringing his hands back to Cedric. Holland couldn't believe it, she thought it could have worked somehow. Did stalling just make it worse? She thought that talking hard on him could have at least thrown him off his game somehow, and now there he was, lying still on the ground as Harry cried over his body. Holland sinks to her knees, face blank and expressionless for she had reached a pain that had numbed her enough to not even bring herself to cry anymore.

"He's back," Harry says miserably, his face in the hands of Dumbledore who had been trying to calm him down.

"Keep everyone in their seats!" The Minister of Magic, himself says, not even trying to bring Holland back to her seat. Her house head sees this, the professor not knowing what to do. Snape approaches her slowly, still trying to think of what to say before Minerva McGonagall puts her hand before him, letting him know she'll be the one to handle it.

"Dear, speak to me. What is it?" She asks and Holland looks at the professor.

"He's dead. He's dead, professor." Was all Holland could say, no other words forming in her head. The professor cradles the girl's head in her arms, heart breaking as she realized the two had finally formed a friendship after all the years of hatred and rivalry. George was now by the barricade-like front of the benches, peering over as he eyed Holland in concern.

As more people peered over the two students, Holland lifted up her head and began to speak. "I just wish he knew. I could have told him," She confessed to the Professor, who now had tears forming in her eyes, herself. Professor McGonagall blinked rapidly, not letting any more tears to form in her eyes as she knew she had to make sure the student felt comforted.

"Oh, my dear." She says, rubbing the back of the Slytherin. "I think you should at least say goodbye. I'm sure Mister Diggory would like that," McGonagall smiles sadly.

"Professor, I don't think I can right now," Holland protested weakly, her knees buckling at the thought of facing the now forever unconscious body of Cedric Diggory.

"Well if not now, then when, my child? He won't lay there forever, I fear." She says, holding Holland's hands in her own. Holland gulps, knowing what the professor said was true. She then nods, agreeing to go see the boy. Minerva confidently pushes away peering authorities, making sure her and the student would go a path that would not expose the scene.

"Minerva, she can't." Fudge blocks the two from seeing the boy. "We can't have too many people see the body," The minister whispers in distress.

"Just this one, Cornelius. It's important." Professor McGonagall says before walking past him with her student, not even waiting for his approval.

Holland sucked in a breath, he looked so breathtaking despite the current situation. Holland cursed herself for speaking to him the way she did. She could never get the chance to tell him that she found out the truth, and that she had felt the same about him after all. Holland tried to comfort herself, at least his last idea or memory of her was knowing she'd been there to watch him in the final task. Holland winced, she'd been there to save him and she failed. She drops to her knees, head on the boy's chest as she began to weep.

"I'm so sorry," She sobs, not wanting to let go of the boy. Moments they had together flooded her mind. Their hexes, their kisses and how Holland hated every single one, their food fights, their late night conversations.

"We have to move the body." Fudge says once more, the audience growing more and more curious as nobody had been saying anything.

"Harry," She whimpers, now hugging her also-crying friend. Amos had now arrived, yelling out in pain as the corpse of his beloved son lay before him.

"That's my boy!" He cries, the crowd growing silent, realizing what was going on.

"He's dead," Harry says to Holland once more in agony. Holland let all her limbs fall, her arms and head on Cedric's chest as she sobbed erratically. But what she couldn't notice due to her sobs was that there was indeed a faint heartbeat audible from the boy's chest. Just then she heard a cough, her head bouncing as she did. She immediately jerked her head up, looking at the boy. She looked around at the people watching the entire scene, wondering if they'd heard as well. Amos seemed to have heard it as well, letting go of his son's hands and eyeing him from above to examine.

"No, I'm not." A voice rasps out, Holland snapped her head back towards Cedric, who'd blinked one eye open, and was pulling a pained smile.

"Hi," He says, rubbing his eyes. The audacity of this bloody idiot, Holland seethes to herself. The authorities crowding over them had dispersed, letting the crowd know that all was well.

"You have to be joking," Holland realizing she was too relieved to be angry with the boy. Without waiting, she tackles him in a hug, the boy letting out a pained grunt, Amos smiling in surprise at the sight.

"Okay, now that we're here, I want to talk about the potion—" He immediately explains and Holland smiles at the fact that he was so quick to try and explain after being dead for 5 minutes.

"I love you," Holland cuts him off, not needing to hear it.

"It was— you what?" He smirks in disbelief.

"I love you, I love you, I love you." Holland says it over and over, shaking her head in relief. Cedric smiles even wider, sitting up to have his face at the same level as Holland's and presses his lips to hers, the entire crowd cheering. In the stands, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and even Draco and Pansy (who characteristically did their best to stifle it) were smiling to themselves, some even wolf whistling at their friend. Hermione quickly wiped the tears in her eyes with her sleeves, laughing to herself in relief as her and Holland had been successful in saving the boy's life. But their small reunion was cut short, having Mad-Eye call the three of them to his office. Holland eyed Cedric and Harry before shrugging and obliging, knowing she could practically spend an entire week with Mad-Eye and still feel elated. They were now just outside the castle, passing the lake where the Durmstrang ship was on. Holland would usually shiver in the cold night, but being next to Harry and Cedric warmed her enough to ignore the cold for the first time. It was a long walk to the office, Harry and Cedric's relief were long gone and Holland couldn't bring herself to ask. Both of them looked like they were ready to collapse. She vaguely remembered Harry saying he was back. Who was he?

"Professor, I think they need to see Madame Pomfrey," Holland says, breaking the silence. The professor merely grunted in response.

"What happened, Harry?" He asked, as if Cedric and Holland weren't there. Holland found herself frowning in anxiety, slightly jolting in surprise when she'd felt a hand snake up hers, linking their fingers together. She turned to face Cedric, a smile already on her face. She brought her hand up to his face, brushing the dirt off his forehead and removing the hair that was stuck on his forehead by sweat.

"Are you alright?" Holland asked gently, finding it hard not to smile at the boy before her. Cedric closed his eyes as his head followed the movement of Holland's gentle hands, leaning against it as if he were desperate to feel as much of her skin as he could.

"Never better," He responded, pressing his lips against the skin of Holland's palm. Though the gesture made Holland blush, looking at the boy still made her worry. He looked horrible despite the wondrous fact that he was alive.

"Cup was a portkey," Harry mumbled as they all walked their way through the entrance hall. Holland wondered how much longer Harry had before he'd faint in front of them as he was white as chalk. "Took me and Cedric to a.." He faltered, never finishing the sentence he grit through his teeth, "and Voldemort was there," Holland gasped at Harry's bold use of his name. She looked at Cedric to ask if it was true. Cedric's lovestruck nature was long gone and replaced by a grimace.

"The Dark Lord was there? What happened then?" Professor Mad-Eye seemed to be really interested in what had happened that night, Holland found herself narrowing her eyes at him, the sinking, gut feeling she'd had coming from him since their first meeting feeling more and more profound.

"Kill Cedric.. They tried to kill Cedric." Holland turned to look at Cedric, searching his eyes for a confirmation. Was this why he'd come back dead the first time?

"It's true. He had a death eater try to kill me," Holland gasped, engulfing him in a hug. She couldn't believe how lucky she'd been, a simple trip with a time-turner and an incendio charm was enough to save this boy.

"You'll never believe who it was, Holly." Harry grunted, Holland's eyebrows immediately raising in disbelief.

"Peter Pettigrew? That spineless scum?" She was seething. "The nerve of that prick. Bad enough he was tactless to sell your parents out, hiding behind the Dark Lord, trying to kill my Cedric," Cedric grinned at this, his eyelids falling heavy and his vision blurring as he could no longer find the energy to keep his eyes open. "Damned death eaters, nothing better to d—" Holland was cut off by the professor.

"OF COURSE YOU'D KNOW ABOUT DEATH EATERS, WOULDN'T YOU, LASSIE?" His outburst brought Cedric back to life, the boy narrowing his eyes and stepping between the professor and Holland.

"I don't think that's how a proper teacher should talk to their students, professor." Cedric said pointedly. Mad-Eye seemed to be unbothered, merely continuing onto Holland.

"THERE ARE THINGS I KNOW ABOUT DEATH EATERS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR KNICKERS TWIST IF I EVER TOLD YOU!" Holland's jaw dropped in appall, disgusted by the way a former family friend and professor was talking to her.

"What exactly are you talking about?" Holland barked back. Mad-Eye shook his head, tongue slipping out his mouth to lick a portion of his lips as he turned back to Harry. They were all in his office now, Holland was now forced to stay behind Cedric, the boy holding onto her wrist and prohibiting her from moving any closer to the professor.

"Go on, Potter. What was it like? What was he like?" He forced Harry down on a chair in front of the fireplace situating himself on a chair adjacent to it, not bothering to tell Holland and Cedric to make themselves comfortable. Holland found herself wondering why he'd even told them to come along in the first place. She could have been happily in the hospital wing with Cedric, on his lap and nursing his wounds as she'd tell him just how much she'd do to make it all up to him for not believing him about the potion.

"Who?" Harry asked, not remembering who they were even talking about.

"The Dark Lord!" Mad-Eye responded as if it was obvious. "What was it like to stand in his presence?"

"Wouldn't you like to know? Should you have asked Harry to have him sign an autograph for you?" Holland scoffed, it was repulsing how obviously demented the professor was, talking about Voldemort, defending Death Eaters as if he was a fan who saw their heinous crimes as a masterpiece. It was demented to even consider one of the best dark wizard catchers actually being a Death Eater, it was too ridiculous to even consider. But now that she was standing in front of Alastor Moody, she was beginning to think that the chances of it was a lot thinner than she thought. Mad-Eye immediately stood and pointing his wand at her, trying to avoid Cedric who was doing his best to shield Holland.

"If you know what's good for you, you'd step aside, boy! Wouldn't want you to face the curse a second time!" Holland and Cedric were gaping.

"JUST HOW MAD ARE YOU!" Holland yelled out, completely having lost her patience with the professor. "Family friend, teacher, whatever you are or not, I'm having you sacked! You're an absolutely vile embarrassment of a presence!" Holland shrieked, shaking in fury. Her outburst like all of her previous statements left Mad-Eye unfazed as he turned back to Harry, asking him about Voldemort once more.

"Well?" He asked, and Harry squirmed in his seat before Mad-Eye began to search around, beginning to open various trunks.

"I don't know. It was like I'd fallen into one of my dreams— into one of my nightmares," At this point, the professor seemed to be getting choked up, frantically reaching around his belt and grabbing the flask he'd always been drinking from. He raised it above his mouth, ready to satisfy his thirst but was paling even more when he realized he was out of whatever liquid that was. Holland eyed the flask suspiciously as he let go of it. Mad-Eye continued his search through his shelves and trunks, scavenging through bottles and vials, grunting in panic as he'd come to realization that they were all empty. He let out a wheeze, then continuing on as if nothing had happened.

"Were there others? In the graveyard, were there others?"

"Graveyard?" Holland asked accusingly. That was the last straw, Mad-Eye was no good and she knew it. Harry had not once mentioned a graveyard since he and Cedric had come back from the maze. Mad-Eye walked out of the corner he'd been searching in, eyeing the three students before speaking.

"Marvelous creatures, dragons, aren't they?" He turned to a small table, lifting lids of small metallic jars as he continued his search for the mystery potion. "Do you think that miserable oaf would have led you into the forest if I hadn't suggested it?" Holland was ready to bark at him again, fuming at what he'd called Hagrid, but Cedric sensed her anger and pulled her back. Mad-Eye closed the jars, scurrying off to a cupboard before opening it, reaching in to search it as well. "Do you think Longbottom, the witless wonder, could have provided you with gillyweed if I hadn't given him the book that led him straight through it? HUH?" Harry jumped at the professor's sudden shout.

"If this girl hadn't beaten me to it, I was more than ready to let him on the egg." He pointed at Cedric and Holland.

"It was you from the beginning? You put my name in the cup? It wasn't Karkaroff?" Holland and Cedric eye each other confusedly, no longer being able to follow. Wasn't Karkaroff the Durmstrang headmaster? What would he have wanted to do with putting Harry in the tournament? At Harry's questions, Mad-eye simply laughed.

"Karkaroff fled the moment you gave word that he was back, the coward."

"Death eaters have no loyalty towards anything but to their own intentions of hiding behind whoever seems to be powerful," Holland snarkily remarked.

"Couldn't have said it better myself. Your father's a perfect example." Mad-Eye easily replied. Cedric froze, remembering who Voldemort had spoken to briefly in a resentful manner before torturing him with the Cruciatus curse. Holland Avery was a daughter of a Death Eater. But Holland had no idea what Mad-Eye was talking about, ready to retort once more.

"You know nothing about my father," She spat, seething as she crossed her arms.

"You don't seem to know everything about your father, either. Has he told you where he's been lately? Hiding in random houses? Hiding his left forearm? Has he told you he's gone for a quick trip to a certain graveyard tonight?" Holland could not catch on what the professor was saying. Holland wanted to deny everything, her pulse quickening when she'd realized her father never wore sweaters, not before this year at least, and then was for some reason clad in nothing but when she was home for the holidays. Mad-Eye's scarred mouth twisted into a sinister smile at the girl's silence. "Might want to check his forearm. Word has it he's got a new tattoo. But don't worry, he's not nearly as dedicated as a true Death Eater should be, another coward. No surprise Pettigrew's doing a better job than him. He never lived up to the duties of a Death Eater, obviously cares more about his family," He said in a mocking tone, appalled by the thought of putting family before Voldemort. Holland was surprised to see that she wasn't crying, but that didn't mean she knew what to believe, nor what to think. Harry was frozen in his seat, looking worriedly at Holland, Cedric looked like he didn't know where to look. As Mad-Eye was satisfied with the strife he'd caused, he turned back to Harry, an even more manic expression his face had ever sported before. His flesh was slowly changing before their eyes, and Holland had a sinking feeling she finally knew what he'd been drinking all these months, remembering when Myrtle accused her and Harry for brewing the polyjuice she'd seen run through the drains.

"You're not Alastor Moody, are you?" She asked dully, the polyjuice-intoxicated stranger grabbed his wand, pointing it at Holland for the second time that night. Before he could say anything, he was immediately disarmed.

"Expelliarmus!" A man cried from the door, figures rushing in and grabbing the man by the face. Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall were now all in the room, eyeing everyone wearily as they tried to catch their breaths. "Severus!" Dumbledore cried as he stilled the man's face, Snape quickly walking over to empty a small bottle in his mouth. Veritaserum, Holland thought to herself. "Do you know who I am?" Dumbledore interrogated.

"Albus Dumbledore," The withering man gritted through his teeth as he seemed to be in pain.

"Are you Alastor Moody? Are you?" Dumbledore bellowed.

"No," The man easily said. Things were slowly falling into place for Holland. She had a feeling this man wasn't who he said he was. This didn't make things better for who her father could be, though.

"Is he in this room?" Dumbledore demanded before the man pointed towards a chest with many various keyholes. It was sick, he kept the real Alastor locked in a chest for almost an entire year. "Harry, get away from there!" He says, as Harry was right behind the chest now. Professor McGonagall quickly let him walk on over to her as Professor Snape pointed his wand at the chest, all it's keyholes opening until the last one, all the professors with Harry peering in.

"Are you alright there, Alastor?" Dumbledore said into the chest. Cedric was now cradling Holland in his arms, watching the scene from the corner and giving them the space they clearly needed. As Cedric turned to look at the impostor, he was alarmed to see the man's face morphing.

"If that's Professor Moody, then—" Cedric cut Harry off.

"Professor, quick!" Cedric called, pointing at the man who was slowly turning into who he really was. His face was growing smaller, bits and pieces of his cheeks rippling like water, his hairline growing and his hair color growing dark, the glass eye popping out as a real one was back in its place, and the man was finally the figure of his real self. Holland had no idea who this man was, eyeing him in disgust before realizing who he was.

"Barty Crouch junior! My father took you to your cell!" She said in disbelief, not daring to leave Cedric's arms.

"He was right happy 'bout it too! Thinking he was safe with the Dark Lord gone and his most loyal followers in Azkaban. We're the real ones, the most loyal, most faithful. Your father was a spineless swine!" He spat at Holland. Severus had to grab Cedric's sleeve to stop him from doing something he would regret. Barty seemed to have moved on from his anger with Holland, his eyes resting on Harry. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours," he says, bringing up his sleeve to show everyone blank ink on his arm, a drawing of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth and circling around it. It was the dark mark. Dumbledore stared at the moving ink as he grabbed hold of Harry's wrist and told him to show Harry his arm. Barty reveled in the sight of Harry's bloody forearm, a sinister expression of delight in his sweaty face.

"You know what this means, don't you? He's back. Lord Voldemort has returned," He finished in a triumphant whisper.

"I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't help it." Harry grunted out, trying to remain strong at the thought that it had been his blood that brought the Dark Lord back and stronger than ever.

Dumbledore didn't respond, only saying, "Send him now to Azkaban. Think they'll find that they're missing a prisoner."

Barty didn't even seem to be affected, grinning even wider as he said, "I'll be welcomed back like a hero," He said as he looked at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore took Harry, Holland, and Cedric to the hospital wing, staying silent as he did. Harry looked petrified, Cedric stayed silent as he kept a close watch on Holland, not knowing how well she was taking the news about her father. Once they'd arrived in Madame Pomfrey's room, Dumbledore pulled Harry for a private word as Cedric and Holland walked over to Madame Pomfrey so Cedric could be given Pepper-Up Potion.

"He'll need rest, you best go to your dormitory now, Avery." Madame Pomfrey quickly dismissed as she ushered Cedric towards a bed.

"Madame, please. She saved my life. I need her with me," Cedric pleaded, Holland's cheeks burning as she suddenly lost all confidence, now averting her eyes towards the floor.

"Well, if you must," Madame Pompfrey sighed and waved Holland over as well. "You two ought to keep quiet, no more talking. Straight to sleep, now." She placed Cedric in front of one bed, Holland in the other before shutting a dividing curtain between their beds and leaving. Holland sighed and lied down, trying to get herself to feel sleepy until she heard a sliding sound. She turned her head to see that Cedric's pulled open the divider. Holland couldn't help but giggle.

"Go to sleep, you idiot." She said, feeling silly for giggling after spending the entire day crying over the boy and his death.

"I just needed to see you one more time," He admits, staring at her before letting his eyes close. Holland turned to lie on her back as she stared at the ceiling, closing her eyes in bliss. She couldn't believe how lucky she was. Just as she was about to fall into a deep slumber, she heard a familiar voice ringing in her ears.

"There you are! I came as soon as I heard," Holland's eyes snapped open at the sound of her voice.

"Mum!" Holland cried as she opened her arms, her mother running to her and wrapping her in an embrace. Holland had no idea how much she was holding in, only finding out just how much when sobs immediately broke through her, her chest heaving erratically. "They told me about dad," She confessed to her mother, Imelda look horrified, but not surprised.

"It's time I tell you, sweetheart." Imelda says calmly, pulling the diving curtain closed as she spoke once more. "The real reason your father and I never told you about the Slytherin house is because though I was sorted in Gryffindor, your father was actually sorted in Slytherin. Your father had always been the loving, hard-working, and ambitious man he is, love. He knew that if there was a chance of you being sorted in that house, the higher chances of you finding people that could use you as a way to get to him. That's why we could never let you leave the house, why we never liked the friends you had, and especially why we could't let you go to the World Cup with your friends. We already knew that would be the night things will begin to turn dark once more for the wizarding world. We want nothing but for you to live your young, carefree life. But we can't risk it, you're our treasure. We couldn't risk having you live every day so too similar to the life that's ruined your fathers. " She wiped her eyes gently, she was now sobbing and losing her voice. "He had made an enormous mistake joining him, the minute he'd confessed to me what he'd done, I could tell he regretted it. We never thought he'd come back. We were finally free from that wretched snake on his arm, and then it began to sting again, and we knew we were wrong. He and I vowed to each other that if he was gone once and for all, that we'd try and make up for his dark past by doing our best and doing some good, even if it meant imprisoning some of his fellow death eaters. Your father was hungry for justice, to clear out all the evil as much as he could. As you can see, he wasn't able to get rid of all of them, some were able to be let loose saying they were under the influence of the imperius curse." Imelda scoffed softly.

"He had to stay away, he couldn't send you any letters, his owls are in danger of being intercepted. We had to be careful, love. But last Christmas, he couldn't take not being able to see you for so long," Imelda was now the in hysterics, Dumbledore walking from the entrance to their bed.

"I'm sure you are doing nothing but your greatest, Imelda. Send Rufus my best." He says, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Albus, we're terrified. I can't imagine going through life again being scared, this time for my daughter's life,"

"I can assure you, Imelda. For as long as Holland here is a student at Hogwarts and remains loyal to the school, she will remain protected and away from harm's way. I guarantee it, wherever she may be." Dumbledore said, Imelda sniffling and holding his hands in hers in gratitude. "We will find a way for you and Rufus. Severus is with me, after all. I trust him." He said before giving the two a small smile before bidding them goodnight and leaving. Imelda and Holland shared a relieved look, hugging each other again.

"Does this mean we're leaving tonight, mum? I'm sorry to say this, but I'm quite knackered." Holland asked and yawned once they'd broken from the hug.

"Oh, don't be silly, dear. A lot of parents are walking over to Hogsmeade and apparating home. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I got an owl from Albus, you see. He told me about Barty." She explained, Holland gave a sad smile before shaking her head.

"He even said it was obvious dad wasn't a loyal Death Eater, that he'd rather put us first than You-Know-Who. I had a feeling he wasn't lying." Holland smiled, relieved that they were under the care and protection of Dumbledore and Professor Snape.

"Good. Your father is still the man I've fallen in love with, and he's still the man who wouldn't trade you for anything in this world. We love you, honey. Now rest up." Imelda kissed her daughter's cheek before standing. Before she was completely out of Holland's vision, she walked back and to Holland's surprise, pulled the divider back open.

"He's cute. There's always a spare seat at the table for him, you know." She said with a wink, pointing her thumb at Cedric before leaving for good. Holland blushed for the umpteenth time that night, smiling to herself. She sunk back to the sheets, letting out a breath. She then looked from her left to right, making sure nobody would see what she was about to do. She slowly and soundlessly hopped off her bed, joining Cedric in his. The sudden movement of his bed waking him.

"Hm?" He groggily mumbled, head raising to check what was going on.

"It's just me, go back to sleep." Holland smiled as she hugged onto him tightly. Cedric seemed to have come to his senses quick as he abruptly threw his arm around Holland's torso, pulling her close and placing a giant, wet kiss in the bridge of her nose, sighing at the feeling of having the girl of his dreams in his arms as he fell asleep.

-

Holland woke up with a pounding headache, blinking as she adjusted to the brightness that greeted her vision as she'd woken. She jumped up in alarm, the Slytherin dormitories were underwater, there was no way the sun could pierce through the lake enough to shine through the windows this bright. She looked around and saw that she was in the hospital wing, on a bed right next to Cedric Diggory. It was a miracle they'd both fit in one bet and that Madame Pomfrey even allowed it, but I guess facing Voldemort and almost dying had its benefits. Holland let her shoulders slump in relief, lying back down and enjoying the feeling of being with Cedric. She turned to face him and watch him peacefully breathe in and out of his nose. Not being able to help herself, she kissed his nose. As she backed away, she saw his lips curled in a smile. "How long have you been awake?" She asked him, covering her mouth as she knew her breath probably wasn't pretty.

"A bit before you decided to jump up for no reason," He responded, laughing with still-closed eyes. He finally opens them, he stretched and yawned. "I'm hungry." He says, looking around for food.

"Don't worry, I'll get you something." Holland says, sitting up before immediately being pulled back down to the bed.

"Stay," He whined, using one arm to pull her closer to him once more. Holland found herself giggling uncontrollably. It was definitely weird, seeing as only a few weeks ago, she'd dread being a foot near the boy. Now she felt insatiable, wanting to be pressed up against him as much as possible.

"I'm not going anywhere," Holland says as she looked into his eyes, pressing her forehead against his before closing her eyes once more, relishing in the fact that she had saved Cedric Diggoy's life, had been George Weasley's girlfriend, reconciled with Aurora Harrington, and had managed to catch Barty Crouch Jr. who'd escaped from Azkaban. She opened her eyes to see if Cedric was asleep, laughing as she realized he'd been watching her the entire time. For old time's sake, she decided to crack a small joke.

"Are you sure you're completely Amorentia free?"

-

I can't believe it's over! I want to thank Alexa and Aljohn for being my two most favorite people and the motivation that's kept me writing this. I would also like to thank @annoyingvoidzombie and @harrysweasleys from Tumblr as they've been so kind and have actually given me feedback that's kept me motivated as well and of course, to all of you! Thank you for joining me in this wonderful journey. And if you're a newcomer, you're still very much welcome! Sending you all, all my love! Thank you so much I don't know what to say anymore. Thank you. I love you. <3