"Today, we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hardworking, intricately fair minded; and most importantly, a fierce fierce friend."

The Great Hall was bare and grim the morning after the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. No more decorations were hanging from the ceilings or pasted on the walls, no lively music was being played by the bands, and no happy chatters and laughter could be heard from the audience. The students and staff of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang were grieving over the passing of Cedric Diggory, and in shock and disbelief at who was claimed to have murdered him.

Dumbledore stood up from his chair, walking down the steps to come closer to the crowd. He eyed them carefully as he uttered his next words.

"Now, I think, therefore, you have the right
to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

There it was. Jessica glanced at Bethany and Alista who stood next to her, both of them looking just as uneasy as she felt. Rumors about how Cedric died spread like wildfire the night before already, and yet, hearing the truth come right out of Dumbledore's mouth felt real. It was like he had confirmed all their greatest fears, and it only amplified those fears. And although Jessica believed in what Harry witnessed and what Dumbledore was now sharing, she couldn't help but still feel speechless and want to deny everything. How could He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named even be back? Wasn't he supposed to have died the night he tried to kill the Potters? Did he return on his own? If not, who helped him? So many questions raced in Jessica's mind, and undoubtedly, in that of the rest of the student body.

"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this," Dumbledore went on. "But not to do so, I think, would be an insult to his memory. Now, the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us, that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."

Jessica didn't even realize until a tear slid down her cheek that she was crying. While Cedric had not been her family, significant other, or best friend, how could she not mourn his loss? He was still a friendly face she spoke to many times, a schoolmate she bumped into frequently, and a fellow prefect she patrolled with. More than that, he was simply a good person, one who did not deserve such a sudden and mysterious death when he should have won the Triwizard Tournament. He deserved to live a long life where he could use all his talents and abilities in the Wizarding World, which she genuinely believed he could have changed for the better, even if it was by a small bit only.

Everyone around her had become emotional, too. If someone wasn't crying, they were holding back tears. Even those who didn't know Cedric felt tugs at their heartstrings and pangs throughout their entire being as they processed that an innocent student had been murdered during what was supposed to be a friendly competition.

"In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever."

At that, Alista grasped both Jessica's and Bethany's hands for comfort.

"Remember that and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain... you remember that, and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true right to the very end," Dumbledore said with conviction.

The students and staff inside the hall dispersed right after the assembly for Cedric Diggory concluded. The mood was solemn as people spoke in hushed tones about their fallen classmate and the revelation that Voldemort was back.

Aside from wanting to get away from the heavy atmosphere in the Great Hall, it was also Jessica's last day ever at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And so, she and her friends opted to take their final stroll through the castle and the grounds.

"Can you believe this is our last time here?" Alista sighed as they crossed the viaduct.

"We can still visit, though," Bethany pointed out.

"I mean, as students!" said Alista exasperatedly. "Aren't you at least a little sentimental?"

"Well... yeah, I suppose I am," Bethany admitted.

"Me, too," Jessica said, gazing at the view of the lake and all the hills and trees beyond it. "We practically grew up here."

The trio moved onto the grounds, remembering their first flying lessons with Madam Hooch, classes at the greenhouses for Herbology and by the Forbidden Forest for Care of Magical Creatures, and even the times they would have small picnics or simply sunbathe on the weekends.

"I feel like we've walked through the whole of Hogwarts already," Bethany chuckled, although it sounded like she didn't actually want to stop walking. However, she was right: they had spent a good half hour circling the castle and its surroundings, and their legs and feet were starting to ache. "Should we... should we go back to our dorms and finish packing?"

"I guess," Alista said sadly before groaning exaggeratedly. "That's another thing I'm gonna miss: the dorms!"

"The dorms themselves, or the parties you held there?" Jessica raised an eyebrow.

"The parties were in the common room, silly. The dorms were for sleeping and inviting bo —"

"Okay, okay, we don't need to hear all your late-night escapades again," Bethany cut her off. "We've heard it all."

The two girls made a turn to head back into the castle, but Jessica's feet were still planted firmly on the ground.

"We should bid Beauxbatons and Durmstrang goodbye, too! I want to speak with Nikolay once more, maybe even suggest that we write to each other over the summer, and —" Alista stopped talking when she noticed that Jessica wasn't beside them. "Jess? You coming?"

"You guys can go on — I'll catch up later," she replied, eyes focused elsewhere. Bethany and Alista followed her gaze, realizing that she was looking at the Quidditch Pitch. With knowing smiles, they nodded and went on their way.

Sure enough, Jessica's legs carried her across the vast grounds and into the Quidditch Pitch. She climbed up the steps until she reached a floor somewhere around the middle, then slid into the bleachers and took a seat there. She scanned the field: it no longer had the tall hedges from the Third Task as the staff and Ministry of Magic officials had taken them down once the tournament was over. Now, it was all clear again, with no obstacles throughout the field and the three golden hoops on either side of the pitch back up.

That said, it felt a little eerie to be there after the recent events. While Jessica didn't mean to diminish the impact of what happened in the tournament — both the good and bad — she couldn't help but think about all the times she spent there before that school year. From silently watching trainings as a regular student, spending alone time there when it wasn't booked for practice, and to finally playing matches as a member of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, this pitch certainly held a lot of memories. One of the most notable ones, of course, was when Oliver accused her of being a Slytherin spying on the Gryffindors. She also recalled Oliver's last day in school where they pretty much did the same thing she was doing now: just sitting and reminiscing.

She was going to miss all of this. So much. All her classes, patrolling the castle, meals at the Great Hall, relaxing at the courtyard, studying at the library, playing Quidditch — all of it. And although she would love to relive all of those memorable experiences, she was content with everything now. She was satisfied with how she would be leaving Hogwarts, as well as looking forward to what came after that.

★ ★ ★

The landscapes of Scotland were always such a sight to behold. Lush green plains, hills and mountains with different peaks and breadths, and the sky painted with a splash of colors as the sun went down. Technically, Jessica could see this any time she would choose to travel in the future. But this particular trip felt different as she would be seeing these sights on the Hogwarts Express for the last time.

"Argh, I'm still so sentimental!" Alista whined. She was seated on the seat across Jessica in their compartment, also staring out the window wistfully. By then, the landscapes were slowly turning into residential areas, an indicator that they would be in the hustle and bustle of the city soon enough.

"Me, too. I sort of still want to be a student because I do not want to work yet," said Bethany.

"You can't even complain about work because you haven't even found a job."

"Right, I'm unemployed. You're lucky you're settled, Jess."

"Yeah, you got your job secured even before we graduated!" Alista said. "And you'll be working right away and get to earn for yourself already."

"Actually, I've got roughly a month before I begin, and it's still only the training program," said Jessica. "But honestly, I wish the break before I start was longer. You two should cherish your freedom before we all sell our souls to Merlin."

"You make me dread the adult life even more," Bethany grumbled.

In what felt like a blink of an eye, the red-and-black colored steam train slowed down, rolling into the station. As always, Platform 9 3/4 was full of family members waiting for their children or siblings, ecstatic to reunite with them after a year apart. This time, though, it was mixed with concern for them after news of the Triwizard Tournament spread to the whole of Britain and internationally within days.

Jessica, Bethany, and Alista continued to chat with one another about how emotional and nostalgic they were feeling as they walked past the many carriages and finally stepped out of the train.

"I'm gonna miss you two," Alista pulled them into a group hug, her hands clutching them like a death grip.

"Aren't we seeing each other next week?" Bethany asked. "You said we should have lunch at that cute Muggle rest —"

"Stop ruining the mood!"

"Fine. I'll miss you girls, too."

Jessica laughed and hugged her best friends back, also telling them how much she'd miss them now that she wouldn't be seeing their faces every single day. There was another round of goodbyes, and then, it was time to part ways. Jessica watched as Alista found her family, and Bethany with hers. She then searched the platform for her own parents, but after a few minutes, she concluded that only Godric knew where in the world they were because they were certainly not at Platform 9 3/4. In reality, Jessica could easily make it back home on her own the Muggle way by taking a cab, but it was a bit strange that her parents didn't inform her beforehand that they wouldn't be there.

And then, she saw him. Standing off to the side with his former buzzcut hairstyle now outgrown, a bouquet of her favorite flowers in his arms, and a sheepish smile on his face was Oliver Wood. Despite all the troubles she had faced with the boy that year, her heart still pounded as she made eye contact with him and weaved her way through the crowd to meet him halfway.

At long last, they slowed their steps and came to a stop right in front of each other. Up close, Jessica noticed that he looked like the same Oliver she'd grown so attached to over the years, but a little older even if they'd only been apart for a couple of months. He had the same curve to his lips and same warm brown eyes, but there was stubble growing across his face and he had an overall heavier build. She supposed that's what really growing up and professional Quidditch trainings would do to a person.

"What's the occasion?" was the first thing she said, glancing at the chrysanthemums.

"I had a feeling you were still upset with me after what I did — er, when I didn't show up, so..."

"You were right."

"Oh," Oliver chuckled awkwardly, making Jessica have to resist the urge to smile.

"It seems like you always rely on some flowers and a smile after we fight," she then said teasingly.

"Well, I — you know, it's not that it's the only thing — anyway, I just want to make up for — because after what happened, I..." he rambled before pausing to take a deep breath. "Charles suggested it."

"For once, he made a good suggestion."

"He did?"

Jessica nodded, taking the flowers from his hands and finally smiling up at him. That was enough for relief and comfort to flow through Oliver's veins.

"Is that also why my parents aren't here?"

"Yeah, I may have written to them a few days ago asking if I could pick you up so I could beg for your forgiveness."

"You're lucky I'm merciful," Jessica said with a hint of humor.

Oliver grinned, leaning forward to place a kiss on her lips. Jessica returned the favor, their kiss chaste and even cautious, almost as if they were testing the waters again. When they parted, Oliver wasted no time in pulling her into a hug.

He smelled the same. A sort of musky scent, some broomstick wax from all the time he spent playing Quidditch, and a hint of cinnamon that always felt so random but familiar to her. He also felt the same. He was warm and soft, which relaxed her, but also sturdy and broad, which made her feel secure.

Seeing Oliver again, kissing him, hugging him, just being with him truly felt like old times — like how they were before all those bumps in the road. But in spite of this long-awaited reunion with him that filled Jessica up with an indescribable amount of warmth, a tinge of guilt started to creep up on her. Perhaps it was because she felt bad that she wasn't very responsive to him after their unspoken argument and yet now, he was here for her. It could also be because she believed she could have been more understanding of his side of the situation, too. But it most definitely was because she hadn't told him yet about leaving for Egypt and what it meant for her.

Now, she couldn't shake the feeling that simply resorting to going back to how things once were wouldn't be enough anymore. She had to talk to him about her plans, and she promised herself that she would — eventually. But for now, as Oliver nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, Jessica embraced him tighter and basked in the moment of being with him right then and there.

A/N: Aaand Jessica's finally graduated and Oliver's back! Apologies for the late update (as always), but I hope you enjoyed reading. I can't wait to write more about Jess and Oliver outside of Hogwarts and have a bit more creative freedom since I'll be following the books and movies a little more loosely from now on :>