31- The End Of Everything

                                    

                                          

After spending all day with her family, the evening arrived and it was finally time for the final task to start.
Everyone headed to the Quidditch pitch and took their places in the stands, while the champions headed down to the maze with the teachers.
Even though it was breaking the rules, Celia decided to follow the champions to the maze entrance.
It wasn't just her brother she was worried about, since she was friends with all of the champions. So she couldn't just wait in the stands during the task. She wanted to be as close to the action as possible.
"You really shouldn't be here, Miss Diggory" said McGonagall.
"I know Professor" replied Celia.
"I don't suppose you would follow my instructions if I told you to rejoin your family in the stands" sighed McGonagall.
"No, I wouldn't"
"Very well, you may stay down here, provided you don't get in the way".
Celia then wished each of her friends good luck individually, before making her way over to Cedric.
"Stay safe in there" said Celia.
"I will. And I want to apologise in advance, in case I win, and end up bringing eternal glory to our family, since I know the last thing you want is to be thrown even more into the spotlight" admitted Cedric.
"I wish it didn't have to be this way. But you're here now and there is no going back. So, you might as well try to win, instead of holding yourself back for my sake" replied Celia.
"You really want me to try and win?" Asked Cedric.
"Yes, you are my brother afterall. The other champions are all my friends, but you're family, so I care about you the most"
"Well then, I will try to win, for you".
Celia impulsively threw her arms around Cedric and hugged him tight, even though physical affection wasn't something she often gave to her brother.
"Good luck Ced" whispered Celia.
"Thanks. I'll see you once this is all over, Seals" replied Cedric.
"You'd better. No going and getting eaten by any monsters in there" smiled Celia as she pulled herself out of the hug.
"No promises" winked Cedric, before heading over to where the other champions were waiting.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Tied in first place are Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter. In second is Viktor Krum. And in third place is Fleur Delecour. On my whistle they will enter the maze and search for the Triwizard cup, which has been placed in the centre" announced Bagman.
Cedric and Harry stepped forward as they would be the first to enter.
And when Bagman blew his whistle they stepped into the maze.
Viktor entered a few minutes later, and Fleur followed him, entering last as she was in third place.
Much like the 2nd task, the 3rd wasn't really a spectator sport, as all the audience could do was stare at the hedges of the maze, while they waited.
It was an anxious wait for Celia, and she had begun to pace back and forth waiting for someone to reach the cup.
When red sparks were shot into the sky, signaling that someone was in danger, Celia's heart skipped a beat.
McGonagall quickly entered the maze and came back with Fleur's body.
Celia immediately ran to her friend's side.
"Is she O.K?" Questioned Celia.
"She's fine, she has just been Stunned" answered McGonagall.
Once the spell had been removed, Fleur's eyes opened and Celia breathed a sigh of relief, before hugging her tight.
"I thought something bad had happened to you" admitted Celia, as she leaned back and gave Fleur some space.
"Zomeone came up behind me and stunned me" informed Fleur, as she stood to her feet.
"At least you came out in one piece" replied Celia.
"Yes, I am grateful for zat, as zhere are horrible zings inside zat maze".
Celia looked over her shoulder, back to the maze, praying that Cedric was O.K.
It wasn't long before more red sparks were sent up, and Flitwick went inside the maze, returning with Viktor.
Like Fleur, he had been Stunned, but appeared to be otherwise O.K.
With two champions out, Celia thought that either Harry or Cedric would find the cup soon, and get out of the maze.
But no one appeared, and everyone was beginning to wonder what had happened to the Hogwarts champions.
And since Celia cared most about Harry and Cedric, she was incredibly anxious.
Fleur and Viktor had told her what they'd come across in the maze, which did nothing to ease her fears.
She just prayed that the boys could overcome Acromantula, Blast-Ended Skrewts, Boggarts, and whatever other terrifying creatures lurked in the maze.
Eventually after what seemed like an age, Harry and Cedric suddenly materialised outside of the maze, clutching the Triwizard cup.
Celia couldn't believe it, the boys had reached the cup at the same time, making them both Triwizard Tournament winners.
As everyone burst into applause and began cheering, Celia made her way over towards Harry and Cedric, neither of which had risen from the floor.
Dumbledore and the other teachers also began moving in with Celia. And it was then that they all realised something was wrong.
Harry was crying and appeared to be in great distress.
Cedric on the otherhand wasn't moving, and his eyes were staring up into space, frozen in place.
Celia's heart stopped, as she looked at her brothers body and the devastated look on Harry's face.
There was no denying the fact that Cedric was dead.
"Harry. Harry, are you alright?" Questioned Dumbledore, as he bent down beside Harry.
Harry let go of the cup, but held on even tighter to Cedric's body.
"He's back. Voldemort's back! Cedric, he wanted me to bring his body back. I couldn't leave him, not there" Harry sobbed hysterically.
"What's going on? What's happened?" Asked Cornelius Fudge, as he made his way past Celia towards Harry.
"Oh my God. Diggory he's dead. Cedric Diggory is dead" gasped Fudge.
Hearing someone say the words out loud was like a stab in Celia's heart.
She couldn't seem to move or say anything at all, as she was in shock.
"Harry, let go of him" pleaded Fudge, as he tried and failed to get Harry to release Cedric.
"Harry, you can't help him now. It's over" Dumbledore said softly.
"He wanted me to bring him back. He wanted me to bring him back to his family" admitted Harry, as tears streamed down his face.
"That's right, Harry, just let go" encouraged Dumbledore.
The headmaster managed to prise Harry off of Cedric, and pull him to his feet.
Harry swayed as he stood up, and Celia could tell that he was badly injured.
"Dumbledore, what do we do? Diggory's parents are in the stands" admitted Fudge, completely ignoring Celia.
It seemed that once again, she had regained her gift of turning invisible.
No one was looking at her, even though she was only stood a few metres from her brother's dead body.
"Dumbledore, Amos is running towards us. What do we tell him?" Continued Fudge.
People in the stands had figured out what was going on, and had begun to scream and cry.
Celia did neither. She just stood and stared down at Cedric's body.
There was chaos in the stadium.
Amos and Martha ran towards Cedric and began to wail and cry as they dropped down beside him.
"That's my son! That's my boy" cried Amos.
In all the chaos no one seemed to notice as Moody grabbed hold of Harry and carried him away back to the castle.
But Celia noticed everything, it was one of the advantages of everyone acting like you were invisible.
"Where is Harry?" Questioned Dumbledore, when he realised the boy was missing.
"Professor Moody took him back to the castle" Celia said quietly, speaking for the first time since Cedric had died.
Everyone looked up at her, as if only just realising that she was there.
Celia didn't like the look of pity in their eyes, and she couldn't stand being the centre of attention.
So, for the second time that school year, she did the only thing she could think of, and turned and ran.