When I came back to consciousness, I felt myself being picked up, sending ripples of pain through my entire body, especially my head.

"Shit, Elle! What happened?" Draco. Draco found me. I struggled to stay conscious, not wanting to fall into a coma or something. I tried reciting things, like my name and where I was. I was trying to think about a Potions essay I recently had to write, but I found I couldn't remember what it had even been about. Before long the blackness took over.

I was in a clearing in a forest, a creek beside me. The sun was shining, casting a bright yellow glow on everything. Flowers were sprouting up from the ground all around me, making the place look heavenly. Wait... is this heaven?

I seen a man walk up, distracting me from the scenery. The man had dark brown hair and soft hazel eyes. He was young, at most five years older than me. Honestly, I'd say only about two or three years older. His face was kind, but his eyes held a glint of mischief. "Hello, Elle."

"Who-who are you?"

"I'm your godfather Elle. I'm James Potter."

It makes sense, I suppose. His facial features remind me of Harry, as does his build. He's... dead, though. Does that mean this really is heaven? "You're Harry's dad?" Is all that came out of my mouth despite the questions raging through my mind.

"Yes." He seemed to not want to elaborate, like he didn't want to send my brain into overdrive. A little too late for that though.

"Now I must tell you something, as we don't have much time," he continued after a moment.

"What is it?" I asked, confused.

James took a deep breath before diving in, "Your mother is my twin sister. Your mum is Anne Del Potter. This means that you are not the halfblood that your mother has told you that you are. You are a pureblood, you have both Potter and Black blood running in your veins. Now with that said, you need to watch out for your father, especially next year."

"Why are you telling me this?" He was scaring me a bit. What if something bad is going to happen to him?

"You need to know. Now, my niece, you need to back. Your time on earth is not over. Go back to Sirius, he needs you. I love you."

"I love you too Uncle." My vision blurred, tears starting to fall. I met James Potter and found out he's my uncle... all at once!

Before I knew it, I was awake. I hadn't even been aware I was waking up; one minute I was saying goodbye to James, and the next I was surrounded by white. Ah, the hospital wing.

Looking around, I saw my dad asleep with his head on the bed beside me and Fred on the other side in the same position. I was the only occupant of the Hospital Wing, much to my relief. There was no light streaming in the windows, but I could see stars. Good, it's night.

"Dad?"

Dad shot up, "Elle?!"

I nodded before tackling him in a tight hug, not wanting to let go, especially after what Uncle James just told me. I ignored the pain in my back, not wanting to let go of Dad. It felt nice to be in my father's arms.

"I thought I'd lost you. Don't ever scare me like that again."

"I won't. But Dad why are you here? You could get caught!"

"Dumbledore arranged it so I could be here at night with you, without anyone coming in besides those who know I'm innocent."

I nodded and hugged him tightly yet again, tears forming in my eyes. I quickly swallowed them. I pushed my feelings aside, burying them in a far corner of my mind.

"As soon as Fred heard about what happened he came to your bedside and hasn't left since, well except to go to classes. He's even ate in here," Dad continued, pulling out of our hug.

I smiled and looked at Fred, who was still asleep beside us. "Fred is amazing like that."

Dad sighed, "Oh no, you're starting to like boys!" Mum told me he was always dramatic, so it's good to know Azkaban didn't completely break him. He was clutching his chest and was fake crying.

I laughed before changing the subject, "Dad, James came to me," I paused, noticing the way Dad's eyes widened and I could've sworn they glazed over with tears, "He told me... He told me that Mum is his twin sister. Why wouldn't you guys tell me?"

"Your mother thought it best, and I being a man in love, wanted to please her, so I agreed."

I nodded.

He kissed my head, "You are so much like her."

"Your mum is wanting me to move in with you guys," he continued after a moment, his grey eyes meeting mine.

I furrowed my brow. "Wait, you haven't already?"

He chuckled, breaking our eye contact. "No. I just don't know because of the close eye the Ministry is keeping on you two."

"Why couldn't you put a spell on it like what's on Grimmauld Place?" I asked, my brows still furrowed up in thought.

It would be amazing if Dad finally got to live with us! What would I do with both parents at home?

"The Ministry would find it odd if your home suddenly disappeared," Dad argued, sadness creeping up into his eyes.

I physically deflated; he was right. But couldn't we spend a week at one house, then a week at the other? Surely we could work something out!

"I'd better go, sweetheart. It's getting to be daylight. I love you, stay safe. I'll expect an owl a week!" He told me, getting up and kissing my forehead.

"Bye, Dad. I love you," I murmured before I watched him leave.

It wasn't long after he left when Fred woke up, "Merlin! Elle, you scared me, don't ever go to the Owlery again in the middle of winter," he exclaimed, sounding like an overprotective father.

"Um, Fred, how long have I been out?" I asked, realizing I hadn't asked Dad when he was here.

"About a month. You woke up off and on, but I'm guessing you don't remember..." Fred trailed off.

I gasped. "What?!  And I haven't just been in a straight coma?"

He nodded, "No, you haven't just been in one long coma. We talked some, but you were so out of it every time that I could hardly understand you. Pomfrey said that you have the worst luck, since you managed to hit just the right spot on your brain to knock you out for so long. Shedidn't want to wake you up with magic since your brain needed time to heal," he informed me as he squeezed my hand.

A month... there's a lot I've probably missed! "Well... what have I missed?"

He sighed, "For starters... There is a new couple: George and Betty."

My jaw dropped, "Finally! It's about time! We've always known they're endgame!"

Fred laughed, "You need to rest." Wow, Fred, subject change much?

"But I've just been asleep for a month!" I whined.

"Yes, but not the kind of sleep you need. Now at least try to sleep. For me?"

I sighed and slowly drifted off to sleep, more tired than one would expect after being asleep for a month.
——
I woke up to see a crowd of people beside me. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Betty, Sammy, Fred, and George were around my bed.

"Wh-what are you all doing here?" What is with all this attention? I don't like it. I felt tears start to well up at the display of affection my friends were showing me.

"They all came to see you, Elle," Fred answered.

I looked at them, tears glistening in my eyes, "Thank you."

Harry answered, "You don't have to thank us, we came because we wanted to. We wanted to make sure you were okay."

I smiled weakly. "Thank you guys. I really appreciate it."

Everyone slowly started leaving, telling me that I need to get some rest and that they'd be back soon. I wasn't left alone for long, as Draco came. "You scared me," he started as soon as the doors closed behind him.

I nodded, "I'm sorry."

Draco stepped closer, "Don't leave me. Hogwarts would be unbearable without you."

I smirked weakly, "The Slytherin Prince is showing some emotion? This is new."

Draco chuckled, "Yeah, I guess. I'd better go, before anyone catches me in here."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

A few days later, about a week before the second task, I was released from the Hospital Wing. I was quite happy, as I hated missing out on classes and I missed my own bed in my dorm.

However, I was still very weak; I had to be accompanied everywhere I went, even when I went to the bathroom. It's ridiculous.

Finally the day of the second task had arrived.

Fred and I were walking to the site of the second task. Fred had let George and Betty do the bet collecting today so that he could accompany me to the task. We found a seat in the stands beside Sammy. I was leaning back in my seat as Bagman explained, "Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One... two... three!"

The champions waded in. I had noticed Harry shove something in his mouth and now he looks like he wants to throw up. Gillyweed, maybe?

It was quite boring to watch a lake for a long time so to pass the time Fred and I thought of some ideas for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products, while Betty and George had a make out session. I swear, they're annoying. Sammy was talking to a Hufflepuff in fifth year, who's name I didn't know.

I was getting rather worried after awhile, because Harry didn't come back within the hour. Cedric and Krum had been successful, but Fleur hadn't. Granted, Cedric and Krum hadn't come back within the hour.

Finally Harry came back up, with both Ron and Fleur's sister! That's why he took forever!

Bagman finally started announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our decision. Merchieftainess Murcus has told us exactly what happened at the bottom of the lake, and we have therefore decided to award marks out of fifty for each of the champions, as follows...

"Fleur Delacour, though she demonstrated excellent use of the Bubble-Head Charm, was attacked by grindylows as she approached her goal, and failed to retrieve her hostage. We award her twenty-five points.

"Cedric Diggory, who also used the Bubble-Head Charm, was first to return with his hostage, though he returned one minute outside the time limit of an hour. We therefore award him forty-seven points.

"Viktor Krum used an incomplete form of Transfiguration, which was nevertheless effective, and was second to return with his hostage. We award him forty points.

"Harry Potter used gillyweed to great effect. He returned last, and well outside the time limit of an hour. However, the Merchieftainess informs us that Mr. Potter was first to reach the hostages, and that the delay in his return was due to his determination to return all hostages to safety, not merely his own. Most of the judges feel that this shows moral fiber and merits full marks. However... Mr. Potter's score is forty-five points.

"The third and final task will take place at dusk on the twenty-fourth of June. The champions will be notified of what is coming precisely one month beforehand. Thank you all for your support of the champions."

Everyone wanted to know what happened at the bottom of the lake, and since we (Fred, George, Lee, Sammy, Betty, and I) were often around the Golden Trio, we heard it a lot. I think I could probably recite it in my sleep now.

Not much happened in the few months until the third task. I kept up with my schoolwork while also catching up on what I missed, so I didn't have as much time to pull pranks with the twins or to work on Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Dad did come closer to Hogwarts to be closer to me and Harry, so I got to see him every once in awhile. Not as much as I would like, because Dad didn't want me to sneak out of school much. It did get to the point where Dad was sending me owls every day, which I didn't mind. He was telling me about what Harry was going through so that I could better watch out for him.

I could tell Fred was missing having me as his other partner in crime, because he was constantly bugging me to get out of the library and to pull a prank on Snape or Filch.

Crouch also went missing, which caused a sort of... unease. I didn't really pay much attention to that, given that I was busy with schoolwork.

Finally, it was time for the third task. Bill and Mrs. Weasley came to watch Harry, and so we got to see them. It was nice, especially since I had been missing Molly and her cooking. She had brought some sweets she made for me, making me grin from ear to ear as I hugged her.

We all sat together in the stands. Fred, George, and I were really talking about Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes while Sammy and Betty were talking to Lee. Molly, Bill, Ron, and Hermione were sitting with us as well. Harry had waved up to us, so we waved back.

We were startled out of our conversation by Bagman, who started, "Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each- Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School! In second place, with eighty points- Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute! And in third place - Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy! So... on my whistle, Harry and Cedric! Three- two- one-" he then gave a blast on his whistle and we watched as Harry and Cedric hurried into the maze. The next time he whistled Krum went in, followed by Fleur after another whistle.

We seen red sparks sent up into the air, then a few minutes later more sparks.

The professors went into the maze to retrieve the champions. We found out that only Cedric and Harry were still in the maze, as the professors brought Fleur and Krum out. That meant that Hogwarts would win!

We waited awhile longer when Harry and Cedric appeared in the middle of the field. Only...

Fleur screamed. Cedric was dead.

Harry was clinging to Cedric's body. He was sobbing, but I couldn't make out what he was saying.

I slowly started crying. Fred noticed and pulled me close, hugging me. How can this be happening? This has to be a nightmare. I knew Amos rushed down, as I heard him scream.

It was excruciating to hear him scream and sob. It was like no one else was talking. His screams were all that filled my ears. I was grateful my face was pressed into Fred's chest so that I didn't have to see it.

I barely paid attention when everyone was rushed out of the stands and into the Great Hall. A student is dead. I knew this would happen! I knew it!

---

After the task, we all went to the Hospital Wing to find Harry. He wasn't there, so we all grouped around Madam Pomfrey. We demanded to know where he was and what happened to him. We whipped around when we heard the doors open and I couldn't help but smile when I seen Harry and Dad, who was in his Animagus form.

"Harry! Oh Harry!" Molly screamed. She went to rush to him, but Dumbledore stopped her.

"Molly, please listen to me for a moment. Harry has been through a terrible ordeal tonight. He has just had to relive it for me. What he needs now is sleep, and peace, and quiet. If he would like you all to stay with him, you may do so. But I do not want you questioning him until he is ready to answer, and certainly not this evening." We all nodded. Molly rounded on us and hissed, "Did you hear? He needs quiet!"

"Headmaster, may I ask what-?" Madam Pomfrey asked Dumbledore, staring at Dad.

"This dog will be remaining with Harry for a while. I assure you, he is extremely well trained. Harry- I will wait while you get into bed." Hmmm, I guess Dad had to sneak past Madam Pomfrey to get in when I was unconscious.

"I will be back to see you as soon as I have met with Fudge, Harry. I would like you to remain here tomorrow until I have spoken to the school," said Dumbledore before he left.

Madam Pomfrey led Harry to a nearby bed, telling him Moody was going to be fine after Harry asked. She gave him some pajamas and pulled some screens around him. We came around the screen and settled ourselves in chairs and on the surrounding beds. We looked at him cautiously. "I'm all right. Just tired," he told us.

"You'll need to drink all of this, Harry. It's a potion for dreamless sleep," Madam Pomfrey told Harry as she returned with a small bottle of some potion and a goblet. Harry drank it and fell asleep soon after.

Later on, we all woke up since we heard an argument between McGonagall and Fudge. It wasn't long until Dumbledore arrived. Apparently, Fudge ordered a dementor to come and take Barty Crouch Jr. to Azkaban, but the dementor gave Crouch Jr. a fatal Kiss. He's worse than dead now. Apparently Voldemort had used him to capture Harry after learning of his continued existence from Bertha Jorkins. Voldemort is back. Fudge doesn't believe Harry about that, or about the names of Death Eaters he seen. Well I got to see Snape's Dark Mark. Still don't like him, even if he is a double agent. Dad and Snape still hate each other, and now Molly knows Dad is innocent. Dad had to leave much sooner than me and Harry would have liked. Molly was quite surprised when I called Sirius 'Dad' and when I rushed into his arms before he left.

---

Everyone was sitting in the Great Hall. It wasn't the same though. Everything was different. The table was cold underneath my arms. It was like everything was different, even the air. Black drapes were hung instead of House colors.

"The end of another year," Dumbledore started. His eyes wandered and found the Hufflepuff table.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight, but I first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured to the Hufflepuff table, "Enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory."

Everyone did. Everyone stood and raised their glasses. Everyone, in one low voice, said, "Cedric Diggory."

"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish the Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know how it all came about."

I saw Harry raise his head.

"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

A panicked whisper made its way around the hall. People looked at Dumbledore with horror etched on their faces. He, however, looked perfectly calm.

Dumbledore continued, "The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so- either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory."

Nearly everyone in the hall was watching Dumbledore, some in fear, others in horror.

Dumbledore still went on, "There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection to Cedric's death. I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."

Heads turned in Harry's direction.

"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort. He risked his own life to bring Cedric's body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."

Dumbledore turned solemnly to Harry and raised his goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the hall followed his lead.

They murmured Harry's name as they had Cedric's.

I looked over to the Slytherin table to see Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle, among other Slytherins, had not stood up, leaving their goblets untouched.

Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemort's return - such ties are more important than ever before."

Dumbledore looked over everyone, including Hagrid and Madame Maxine, and Krum at the Slytherin table.

"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."

Dumbledore still continued, "It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst.

"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."