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𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓫𝔂𝓮, 𝓯𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻

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THE TRI-WIZARD TOURNAMENT had ended. The three tasks had been completed, the cup had been seized - and yet, the celebrations that everyone had expected to come out of the tournament was instead halls filled with students more quieter than usual or the absence of so many of what Sadie could only assume was Cedric Diggory's former friends.

Everyone was affected by Cedric's death, whether they knew him personally, or not. Very few managed to sleep on the night of the third task, including the girls in Sadie's dormitory - all were haunted by the image of Cedric's cold body spread out over the ground, and could not close their eyes without seeing his numb, lifeless face in front of them.

So, Sadie tried to do what she did best - attempted to make everyone feel better, as much as she could.

Of course, nobody was going to be feeling on top of the world, but she tried her hardest to get at least one smile on their face. She snuck down to the kitchens just before nine, also coming face to face with quite a few other students there - they must've had the same idea as her. She grabbed a range of food and put it in a bag, from sandwiches to cocktail sausages and even some biscuits.

Sadie knew she had a case of Butterbeer bottles in her room that she'd gotten in Hogsmeade once, so when she returned to Ravenclaw tower, she'd offered one around to everyone in her dorm - and then, she'd gone into the boys' dormitory (where they had expressed their annoyance at how girls could get into their dormitory but they couldn't get into theirs - this was a common occurrence). Sadie had offered the group of lads some Butterbeers, which they'd grinned, and taken. All the Ravenclaw boys in her year (apart from Chad, maybe) and a couple Gryffindors, had a habit of calling her 'Big Sis' and so they'd all thanked her, referring to her with that nickname (of which made her grin). They all seemed to be restless, too, and were grateful for her appearance.

The girls in Sadie's dormitory also decided to share out their leftover sweets from Hogsmeade, and they'd spent the night having a little feast, keeping each other company and making sure each of them were okay.

Needless to say, Sadie was glad to have these particular girls to share a dormitory with. In her opinion, she'd landed the best Ravenclaw girls in her year.

Mandy was the first to fall asleep, tucking herself beneath the covers and leaving her curtains open to she could still talk to the girls right up until the second she fell unconscious. Lisa was second, and did the same, followed by Padma. Marianne and Sadie were the last awake - playing a game of throwing each other sweets across to the other's bed and trying to catch them in their mouths, only they had to celebrate quietly when they did catch them, so to not wake up the other girls.

But, the time soon came where they both agreed it was time to attempt sleeping. And, even if it had, at first, been a solid half an hour of lying frightened in her bed, unable to get the image of Cedric out of her head, Sadie eventually managed to drift away into a dreamless slumber, the feeling of the other girl's presence and knowing she wasn't alone being the final comforting thing that enabled her a moment's peace.

The end-of-term feast was probably the saddest meal Sadie had ever eaten in. One time she was eating dinner with her parents and a bomb threat close to them on the news came on, and she couldn't help but relate the chilling, frightened atmosphere that filled her house to the Great Hall, at this moment. Because one of their own was just killed - and the threat of a Dark Wizard on the rise was introduced. Sadie was an absolute mess behind her expressionless doll face.

She could spot a gap the Hufflepuffs had made where Cedric was supposed to be sitting. They were probably at their worst, the Hufflepuffs. Sadie had never seen such signs of misery from the students with yellow ties. Their faces were tired and eyes red, their downcast looks towards Cedric's empty seat causing Sadie's stomach to sink.

"The end of another year," Dumbledore said from the teacher's table. There was an eerie silence. "There is much I would like to say to you all tonight, but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here, enjoying our feast with us,"

Said folded her lips and her eyebrows creased, looking down at the table.

"I would like you all please, to stand, and raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory,"

Everyone took their goblets, and did so. Several students were beginning to cry now - they'd held it together, long enough. Sadie so desperately wanted to give them all a hug. Cho Chang was several seats down, tears streaming silently out of her eyes. All this sadness made Sadie want to cry, and she hadn't even known Cedric, personally.

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

Sadie felt her entire body erupt with chills.

"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort,"

This sentence caused many sobs to break out. A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall, and many were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, or horror. He looked perfectly calm as he watched everyone mutter themselves into silence.

"The Ministry of Magic," he continued. "Does not wish for me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so-"

As if Sadie was going to tell her parents - they were stressed enough about their own war in the muggle world, let alone the idea of having another happening at the same time in the Wizarding World.

"-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."

Sadie was baffled with the idea that some might not believe Voldemort had returned. When there were threats in her area, nobody brushed it all off as lies - even though they were already amidst conflict. But surely it's best to prepare for the worst?

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

Sadie picked her head up from resting on her palm and turned to look in his direction - as did many others, before flicking back to face Dumbledore again.

"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort," said Dumbledore. "He risked his own life to return 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 honour him,"

Dumbledore turned to Harry and raised his goblet, once more. Sadie and her friends joined in - as did nearly everyone in the hall apart from a couple Slytherins including Draco Malfoy, refusing to stand.

Those that did raise their goblets murmured his name, as they had murmured Cedric's, and drank to him.

When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Dumbledore continued. "The Tri-Wizard 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,"

He looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at Slytherin table.

"Every guest in this hall," said Dumbledore. "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.

"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,"

The hairs on Sadie's arms were standing up.

"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,"

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There was no denying it - Sadie was frightened. Because, the Wizarding World had always been her safe place. It was her getaway from the conflict she had to face at home, it was the part of her life she found peace in, without having to worry about being blown to pieces by a bomb or killed by any attackers or invasions.

The Wizarding World had been her escape from war - and now, there were chances of its own rivalry on the rising. And the very thought terrified her.

Which is why, when arriving back home on the last day of term, she did not tell her parents of Cedric Diggory's murder, or the apparent return of possibly the darkest wizard of all time. Instead, she put on a smile and expressed to them all the positives of the school year. The Yule Ball, helping her 'new friend' Harry Potter out with the second task, what they did for her birthday back in December - and what they were planning for Marianne's birthday, in a few weeks.

The red-head wasn't entirely sure whether she should go on with her party, what with Cedric's death, and everything. She didn't want to be disrespectful. But, Sadie had brought up the idea that perhaps a party might be even more needed than what it was before - just one night to let loose from the horror of the previous events. It was something to look forward to, and she was sure people would be grateful for it. She certainly would be.

Marianne had rented her local village hall from six until twelve at night, the party being set to start at eight - and she, as well as Sadie and Chad, had decided that they'd need a good half an hour to clean up afterwards, meaning that the best time for the party to end was half eleven. Marianne's parents would be around out back, although they were only around since there had to be a legal adult at the venue - however, they were not planning on joining in the party, of course, they were just around the back of the building, if needed. Truth be told, they didn't want to join in on the teenagers fun.

And so, it was up to Marianne, Sadie and Chad to decorate, and the two girls had arrived at exactly five to begin, all dressed and ready - awaiting Chad's arrival.

Marianne was stunning in her black puffed sleeve button mini dress, and had her red locks beautifully curled, what with the help of Sadie's hairdressing skills thanks to many years of practicing hair on dolls and mannequins. She'd also put on some makeup, too, with a brand new palette she'd gotten for her birthday, which she also let Sadie borrow. The blonde girl was wearing an iridescent light blue velvet dress, her blonde hair curled and left to hang over her shoulders with some glittery plum eyeshadow brushed over her eyelids.

Sadie was currently hanging silver tinsel foil curtains around the room that reflected off the several disco balls that illuminated the area. Marianne had been blowing up what looked like hundreds of balloons - and Chad finally turned up, after stating that his annoying little brothers were why he was late - before he turned to his job of putting up a huge banner that printed 'Happy Birthday Marianne!'

There was a long line of tables pushed together on the right, with piles of food and sweets stuck on one end - and a range of many different drinks on the other, both muggle and wizard.

"Marianne's shitting herself," Chad muttered to Sadie, as they both watched the red-head rush around, prepping and fixing any little detail she thought was off. Sadie knew her best friend well - and she would not relax until at least the guests started arriving - if not, it would be after a few hours in.

"Chad! Chad! Don't lean on that, it'll fall down!" she called over to the boy, who'd been leaning against the wall which was covered with tinsel curtains. He stepped forward.

"How's things for music? Can I do it?" he asked.

"No," Marianne said. "I've got a mix - it's got wizard and muggle songs on it, so everyone'll have something they'll like,"

"Oh, what?!" Chad said. "Why can't I do the music?"

"Because, I don't want to spend the entire night listening to the same three Spellbound songs over, and over,"

"Oh, you're shit at this," Chad told her, causing Sadie to snort. "I'd be much better if you let me take control - I've organised hundreds of parties!"

"This is an actual social gathering," said Marianne. "Not a doll's tea party,"

"Ach, Chad, when have you ever organised a party?" Sadie pulled a face.

"All the time!" The boy said. "What about that party we had at mine, last Christmas?"

"Your mum organised that,"

"Yeah... under my supervision! And that was a wicked party!"

Marianne picked up a pink balloon and puffed.

"I don't wanna hear it, Chadders," she said, taking a breath. "I'm already contemplating whether people are gonna turn up or not. I'm not being disrespectful still throwing a party after what happened to Cedric, am I?"

"No!" Sadie said. "It's your birthday, you've still got a right to celebrate it. Especially since you couldn't last year, when you were ill. And, like I said, a party'll be a good thing for most people - lightens everything up, a bit. Just one night of forgetting about all the shit that's happened will do everyone good!"

"She's right," Chad nodded. Marianne tied the balloon in her hand and let it drop to the floor.

"Look, people are gonna judge tonight, and therefore me, as either a huge success or a massive failure,"

"You've got balloons, you're already one up against the one Zacharias threw last summer. Just relax!" Sadie said.

Sadie's been to quite a few parties, considering she was only fifteen. There were loads last summer - it seemed to be the year where everyone was growing into the 'party' phase, although they weren't the best, considering everyone was new to it all. Although, Sadie had always tried and looked at the positives of them - like the new friends she'd made on a particular night, or the fab mix of songs that had been playing.

In fact, the reason she was such good friends with people like Dean and Seamus, of whom she shared around one or two lessons with, was because of the amount of parties they'd all attended. They enjoyed dancing around carelessly, as much as she did, even if they were all... well, shit.

Talking of shit dancers - Sadie was still hung up on whether Harry was going to turn up, or not.

There was the idea that perhaps he would come to enjoy himself a bit, after all the stuff he'd had to deal with over the last couple months, or maybe Hermione and Ron might be able to drag him along. But, then again, he might not be up for a party, especially considering the fact that You-Know-Who was back and he'd witnessed his return as well as Cedric's death. Not to mention, he'd never gone to any, before, and - to be fair - he didn't really seem the type.

Who knows if he'd make an appearance, or not.

"Yeah..." Marianne said slowly, nodding. She swallowed, still clearly trying to reassure herself. "I'm gonna make sure the food and drinks are all set up and everything - Chad, you brought more Butterbeers, didn't you?"

"Yeah, they're by the door,"

And so, the red-head vanished, yet again.

"...I don't think she's relaxing," said Chad.

"You can say that again,"

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A/N: Sadie having to deal with the Troubles and the Second Wizarding War poor bby :(

But, on a brighter note, I'm excited for Marianne's birthday! I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you thought! <33