.⊹⁀➷ CHAPTER TWENTY !
↳ ❛until next year❜

A WEEK HAD passend by since the last task and the tragic events of Cedric Diggory's death. Annabeth had remained in her chambers for most of her days since then.

The brunnet was scared that she would break down as soon as she would hear Cedric's name being mentioned by anyone.

And that was an understandable fear, because the only topic of the last days had been Cedric's death. Everyone was speculating what had happened and Annabeth couldn't bear to hear the wild theories.

The teachers had obviously took notice of the theories, which had the consequence that Dumbeldore announced a gathering before the Holdiays began.

Silence filled the Great Hall this morning. The whole school and the students of Bauxbatong and Durmstrang had gathered.

Everyone was looking up to Dumbeldore, who stood infront of his chair. After a moment he spoke, his gaze wandering over his student.

"Today, we acknowledge a really terrible loss. - Cedric Diggory was, as you all know exeptionally hard-working, infinitley fair-minded and, most importantly a fierce, fierce friend."

Annabeth felt the tears whelming up in her eyes and she bit onto her lower lip to stop them from rolling down her cheeks.

Dumbeldore walked further towards the crowd of students. "Now, I think, therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died-", he made a small pause before his next sentence. "You see - Cedric Diggory was murdered- by Lord Voldemort!"

Annabeth saw how a many of the students shifted uncomfortably in their seats when he said those words.

But Dumbeldore continued, His voice strong and loud, "The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this! But not to do, I think, would be an insult to his memory! Now, the pain- we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me - and reminds us - that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues our hearts beat as one!"

Annabeth's gaze wandered over to the Bauxbatong and Durmstrang students before she focused her attention back on Dumbeldore.

"In light of recent events the bonds of friendship we've made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that - and Cedric Diggory will Not have died in vain. - You remember that-"

Annabeth couldn't help herself and felt how the tears were now slowly streaming down her face, "-and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true, right to the very end."

There was silence before Dumbeldore flicked his wand. The heavy wooden doors at the end of the Hall opened and the Head's of the different houses made sure that the students we're reaching their Common rooms.

The crowd of students poured out into the corridors and a lot of chatting could be heard. Obviously, Dumbeldore's speech had brought up many questiones.

Annabeth felt eyes on her when she walked through the crowd. She could hear a few whispers, some questioned if she was telling the truth.

The brunnet tried to shut the voices out and made her way through the crowd, when she suddenly made eye contact with Draco, who was standing by the stairs, a couple of Slytherins'.

Annabeth felt a wave of confusion hit her when she saw the compassion in Malfoy's eyes.

She frowned slightly, but before she could think anything of it, Hermione toll aholf of her hand and motioned for her to follow the rest of the Gryffindors'.

It was a silent walk up to the tower and Annabeth apreciated that. She wasn't in the mood for casual conversation, but she didn't want to talk about Cedric eather.

Lavender and Parvati just packed a few last things into their trunks' and then quickly said their Goodbyes' to Annabeth and Hermione.

As soon as the door had closed behind the two girls' Hermione cleared her throat, "I'll be downstairs waiting."

She grabbed her trunk and with that she was gone as well.

Annabeth was sitting on her bed, staring out of the window while she watched the edge of the forbidden forrest. But her mind was still at the graveyard.

The door of her dormitory slowly opened and when Annabeth glanced over her shoulder, she saw that no other than Dumbeldore had just entered her room.

Annabeth slowly stood up from her bed and faced the white haired man, while he slowly made his way over to her.

Sitting down on the edge of her bed, he gave her an apologizing look, "I put you and your brother in terrible danger this year, Annabeth. I'm sorry."

Annabeth didn't know what she should answer to that, it was true, he had exposed them to great danger in the last couple of months.

The brunnet looked at him before the memory of her parents suddenly falshed before her eyes. "Professor- when we were in the graveyard, there was this moment - when Voldemort's wand and mine sort of connected."

Dumbeldore gazed passed her, seeming deep in thoughts, "Priori Incantatem." He suddenly stood up and walked around the bed.

When he was standing infront of Annabeth, he stared firmly into her eyes, "You saw your parents that night, didn't you? They reappeared."

Annabeth nodded slightly and Dumbeldore immediatly shook his head, "No spell can reawake the dead, Annabeth. I trust you know that."

Annabeth slowly nodded once more, even if this truth broke her heart into pieces.

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy. But remember this -"

The Headmaster placed his hands in her shoulders, which made Annabeth gaze up at him, "- you have friends here. You're not alone."

He nodded his head and Annabeth did as well before Dumbeldore turned and left her dormitory, leaving her with her own thoughts.

In the early noon, the farewell of the Durmstrang and Bauxbatong students took place.

Everyone of the Hogwarts students was standing in two rows, building a path and clapping, while the students of the other schools rushed by, smiling and waving at the new friends they had made this year.

Annabeth felt this heavy feeling in her chest, he was supposed to be here. Laughing and waving with his friends.

She felt this surge of saddnes rush through her, which made her disapear onto her own thoughts.

The girl didn't even realized that the crowd of students dissolved and that only Harry and her were left.

"Do you think we'll ever just have a quiet year at Hogwarts?", Ron suddenly questioned while he sat in the window behind them, catching the siblings attention.

"No." Harry, Hermione and Annabeth answered him in union, which made him chuckle in amusment.

Ron raised his eyebrows before he jumped onto his feet, "No, I didn't think so. Oh, well! What is life without a few dragons?"

The group started walking before they realized that Hermione was still standing by the window.

The girl had a sad smile on her face, "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?"

Harry approached her and softly placed his hand on her shoulder, "Yes."

Hermione nodded before she joined the other's, "Promise you'll write this Summer! Everyone of you!"

Annabeth gave her a small smile, But Ron shook his head, "I won't. You know I won't."

"Harry will, won't you?", Hermione stated with a smile and Harry nodded his head which seemed untruthfull. "Yeah, every week!"

Annabeth and Ron chuckled and when they finally reached the end of the passage, the Bauxbatong carriage flew by before disapearing into the clouds.