The next day, both girls were on route to find the other. They needed to tell each other about what happened last night. Erica was tugging on her hair nervously as she spotted Parker.

"Oh my god, you won't believe what happened!" Parker ran up to Erica.

"If it's anything like what happened to me, I think I will." Erica shook her head.

"What happened to you?"

"Well, let's just say I woke up on top of someone." Erica whispered.

"Me too." Parker clapped.

"Why are you so excited about this?" Erica questioned.

"I had sex with Blaise!" Parker whispered,"And you did with Neville."

"I mean, I liked it... But- I've got a lot of feelings. And my head hurts."

"You're hungover." Parker patted her arm,"I can get a tea that helps."

"I'm just really confused."

"Did you guys... Wear... You know." Parker waved her hands about

"Stop- I don't want to think about it anymore."

"Oh my god, you didn't." Parker covered her mouth.

"What?" Erica blinked.

"You guys didn't wear protection?" She whispered.

"Does it look like we did?" Erica crossed her arms,"Now the only person I can tell is you because everyone else will be disappointed."

"They won't be disappointed." Parker assured her.

"They will." Erica sighed.

"We're teenagers, we do things."

"We did a bad thing "

"A bad thing which won't happen again but the fact it happened is awesome." Parker smiled.

"I mean, it felt good but I'm really not ready."

"I'm sure Neville will understand."

"I hope so." Erica nodded.

"Come on, let's find this tea for you."

"Yeah.."

*********************************

"What did it say again?" Ron groaned.

"Something about singing? There's something I need to find." Harry sighed.

"Maybe... Mermaids? The Black Lake?" Parker suggested.

"Here's a better question, how are you supposed to breath under water?" Erica asked, sitting on a shelf.

"We'll figure it out." Hermione sighed.

"We better."

McGonagall then came to the group,"Mr Weasley, Miss Granger. Professor Dumbledore would like to speak to you in his office."

"Great- Good luck, Harry." Ron sighed, shaking his head.

"Thanks." Harry nodded.

"Wonder what Dumbledore wants." Erica hummed.

"No idea." Hermione shook her head as her and Ron left.

"Well, that leaves us three." Erica looked around.

"Actually... Four." Neville walked up.

"Oh- Nev." Erica blinked.

"I thought... I could help." He held up a plant,"Gillyweed."

"What does it do?" Harry asked him.

"It helps you breathe under water, I overheard your struggle so... You know I like plants so I thought- I could help." Neville nodded.

"Thanks Nev, I'd rather not drown today." Harry let out a small sigh.

"Of course not... Hi Erica." Neville waved.

"Hi Nev." Erica waved back but she didn't make eye contact.

Parker nudged Erica under the chair.

"Well, I'm just going to leave this here." Neville handed it to Harry.

Erica sighed before getting up,"Nev, can we talk?"

"Yeah, yeah. Of course." Neville walked a bit away from the table.

Erica walked after him, fiddling with her hands,"About last night.."

"Yeah, it was... Great." Neville smiled.

"It was... But I'm just not ready for a proper relationship. I'm sorry." Erica shook her head,"I really like you, I do- I just.."

"I understand Er. We're young and... We do things. We can still be friends, right?"

"Of course we can." Erica smiled at him.

"Thank you." Neville hummed.

"No problem."

"Tell Harry I'll bring more Gillyweed later." Neville pointed before he left.

"I will." Erica waved after him.

"We better get going soon Harry, you need your swimming trunks." Parker sighed.

"Promise me you won't die." Erica pointed at him.

"I promise." Harry assured her,"Well, I'll try my best at least."

"You better."

"We've come to like you over the past four years." Parker chuckled.

"Just a little bit." Erica teased.

"Yeah, yeah." Harry pushed them both jokingly as he got up.

"Have fun, we'll be there to watch you." Erica smiled.

*********************************

"Where are Ron and Hermione?" Parker looked around.

Erica and Parker were joined by Neville and Seamus at the bottom of the stands at the Black Lake.

"I haven't seen them since McGonagall took them." Erica shrugged.

"Something's wrong." Parker shook her head.

"I mean, Dumbledore's up there so... They should be here." Erica pointed.

"They just might be late." Seamus waved them off.

"But it's about to start." Erica sighed.

"They'll show." Neville put a hand on Erica's shoulder.

"They better, look." Dean pointed as he sat beside the group.

Dumbledore stood up, making a small speech until the horn went. Mad Eye immediately pushed Harry into the Lake.

"He didn't eat the gillyweed- Oh my god, I've killed Harry Potter!" Neville panicked.

"Wait- No- I'm sure he's fine." Erica tried assuring him.

"I'm gonna-" Neville began to breathe heavier until Harry jumped from the water, doing a flip and diving back under the water.

"See? He's alright." Erica patted his back.

"Nearly accomplished something You-know-who has struggled with for years." Dean chuckled.

"He would recruit anyone." Parker shook her head.

"It was an accident." Neville shook his head.

"It's okay, Neville." Parker assured him.

"Y'know... They've put the stands up but how are we supposed to see anything?" Dean questioned,"It's all underwater."

"Guess we just need to wait." Seamus leaned against him.

"Its really dark." Erica squinted at the water.

After about five minutes, Fleur Delacour came up gasping for air. She hadn't gotten the thing she was searching for.

"She's not done very well, has she?" Erica sighed.

"Not at all." Parker shook her head,"She's disqualified for this challenge."

"Shame, I wonder what she had to find." Dean hummed.

Then not long after Fleur, Krum came up with Hermione, followed by Cedric with Cho.

"People- Oh my god, Ron's down there." Erica covered her mouth.

"They're going after people who they're close too." Parker put her hand on Erica's shoulder,"Harry will get Ron."

"At least we know where they went." Seamus shrugged.

"Fleur's sister is down there." Neville realised.

"And Fleur's up here.." Erica looked over at her.

"Is her sister going to drown?" Neville stood up.

"They wouldn't... Would they?" Dean crossed his arms.

"It's not Dumbledore who runs it. It's the Ministry and even he can't overrule them." Parker explained.

"Well- Well, they won't let a kid die. She's younger than us." Erica shook her head.

"We have half an hour to find out." Seamus pointed to the clock.

"Still haven't seen Harry."

"Hopefully he comes up." Dean tapped the wooden stand.

"I did tell him not to drown." Erica sighed.

"What if I have killed him?" Neville spoke up.

"No, Nev, you haven't."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure." Erica assured him.

Neville nodded and tried to look in the Lake. Soon enough, Fleur's little sister floated to the surface, Ron following after her.

"Okay, okay, they're okay... But where's Harry?" Erica scanned the surface.

He was nowhere to be seen... Until Harry was almost flung out the water and landed on the deck, gasping for air.

"He's alive!" Erica clapped.

"Oh, thank god." Neville put a hand over his heart.

"But he's late." Seamus pointed at the clock.

"Fuck." Parker bit her nails,"He saved Fleur's sister though, surely that gives him an advantage?"

"Extra points?" Dean raised a brow.

"Maybe." Parker nodded.

"Hang on- Percy's up there." Erica nudged Parker, looking at the judges.

"Why is Percy there?"

"Well- Barty Crouch Sr. isn't up there so... He might be filling in?" Erica shrugged, trying to wave at him.

But Percy didn't even bat an eye at Erica, it was like she was invisible. Erica sighed and shook her head, waiting for Dumbledore to announce the winner.

"The winner is... Mr Diggory!" Dumbledore announced.

Erica smiled, she was happy for Cedric.

"And despite failing to surface within the time, for saving a hostage that wasn't his own, I award Mr Harry Potter with second place."

Everyone clapped for the victors of the challenge. People wrapping towels around the Golden Trio as they walked up to their friends.

"Congrats Harry." Dean patted his back.

"Thanks." Harry panted slightly.

"I'm glad you all are okay. We were worried." Parker told them.

"We thought you drowned." Erica pointed.

"Can't get rid of us that easily." Ron ruffled Erica's hair.

"Oh- Did you see Percy?" Erica asked him.

"Percy's here?" Ron raised a brow and turned to the judges stall.

"Mhm, up with the judges." Erica pointed.

"Why?"

"Well, he looks like he's in Mr Crouch's spot... Maybe he's filling in?" Hermione guessed.

"I wonder what's wrong with Mr Crouch." Harry shook his head.

"Probably just ill." Seamus shrugged.

"Things happen." Dean agreed.

"Come on. Let's go get new clothes." Ron patted Harry and Hermione's backs.

"That sounds like a good idea." Hermione sighed,"I'm soaked."

"Better soaked than dead." Parker added.

*********************************

After changing, the Herd were walking through the forest with Hagrid.

"How are you feeling Hagrid?" Parker asked.

"Oh, I'm alright, Parker." Hagrid hummed,"What about you lot?"

"Well, we're all alive." Harry joked.

"So far." Erica added.

"We're invincible." Ron chuckled.

"Well, even if nobody's on our side, we have each other." Hermione smiled.

"Always." Parker returned the smile.

Erica smiled as well before she tripped, catching herself on a tree,"Stupid hole in the ground."

"You're always falling in those holes." Parker chuckled.

"I didn't see it." She crossed her arms.

"You never do." Ron pointed.

"Shut up." Erica sighed, leaning against the tree.

"Can we take a break? My legs are sore." Parker sat on the grass.

"We haven't been walking that long... But okay." Hermione chuckled.

Parker waved her off and looked around only to jump up, pulling Erica away from the tree.

"What- What is it?" Erica turned around quickly.

"Someone- Oh my god." Parker pointed.

What Parker pointed at was... Barty Crouch Sr. Dead.

"Oh no.." Hermione covered her mouth.

"Guess we found out why he wasn't judging.." Ron trailed off.

"Why is it always you five?" Hagrid held his head.

"I don't like this anymore.." Erica shook her head.

Harry then flinched and held his scar.

"Harry, you alright?" Ron put a hand on his shoulder.

"My scar... It's stinging." He winced.

"Let's head back to the castle, yeah? It's not safe here." Ron suggested.

"I'll alert the staff." Hagrid agreed.

*********************************

"Ced!' Erica ran up to him.

"Hey Erica." Cedric smiled.

"I've got a bad feeling about this challenge."

"How come?" Cedric looked at her.

"I-I don't know... It's just my intuition, I guess." Erica sighed.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be okay." Cedric put a hand on her shoulder.

"You have to be careful, okay?" Erica hugged him.

"Of course I will." He hugged her back,"My dad's here too, I'm gonna make him proud... And if I win, I'll dedicate it to you."

"That means a lot to me, Ced." Erica smiled softly,"But shouldn't you be dedicating it to someone else? Like Cho?"

"I saved Cho weeks ago. So, tonight's about you."

"Here, take this." Erica handed him a rock with a star painted on it,"It's for luck."

"Lucky rock." Cedric smiled and put it in his pocket,"I'll cherish it."

"Now you go with that tournament!"

"I'll win it." Cedric kissed her head,"See you later, Er."

"Bye Ced." Erica waved after him.

"Erica, come on! We're gonna be late!" Parker shouted from behind her.

"Oh- Coming!" Erica hurried over.

"Cedric okay?" Parker asked.

"He's good, he's got a lucky rock now." Erica hummed.

"I still have my lucky rocks, I'm sure he'll keep it safe."

"He said he'd dedicate it to me if he won."

"That's great." Parker smiled.

"Are you excited?" Erica asked her.

"I'm excited because this will be over soon."

"And everything can go back to normal."

Parker nodded and took Erica's hand as they ran to meet up with the others. Erica smiled as they reached the stands but she still felt... Worried about the challenge.

"We all have hats." Hermione gave them out.

"Ooh, I love hats." Erica smiled.

"May the best champion win." Ron nodded.

"It's going to be Cedric." Erica hummed as she out her hat on.

"I love Harry but I don't disagree with Erica." Parker hummed.

"I'm excited... But how are we supposed to see? It's a maze." Hermione pointed.

"That's the thrill of it." Ron shrugged.

"So... We're just supposed to stare at a hedge for however long it takes?" Erica asked.

"Yep."

"I see."

That's when a cannon fired, it had started. Everyone cheered, clapping hands. The band started up playing their tune. Only after about ten minutes, a Red spark went up in the air.

"Looks like someone's in trouble." Hermione sighed.

"Bet it's Fleur." Ron nudged her.

"Saying that because she's a girl?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"No, it's because she's done terrible in the last two challenges." Ron crossed his arms.

"I hope she's okay."

"She'll be fine." Erica assured them

Fleur then came out the maze with the nurses at her side.

"What the hell is in there?"

"Clearly nothing good." Hermione sighed.

"I don't have a good feeling about this." Parker crossed her arms.

"I was worried before but now.. No- It's fine. Everything will be fine." Erica shook her head.

"Hopefully." Parker held Erica's hand.

"Hopefully.." Erica nodded slowly.

Soon enough, they saw Krum being brought out, healers immediately going over to him as he was bleeding.

"That just leaves Cedric and Harry then." Ron sighed.

"May the best man win." Seamus shrugged.

"Come on, Cedric." Erica whispered.

After another short while, Parker shot up.

"Parker- What is it?" Erica blinked.

"Why is he here?" Parker shook her head, pointing to the corner of the maze as Lucius made his way in.

"Lucius- Not gonna lie, that's pretty sketchy." Ron crossed his arms.

"I feel worse now." Parker admitted.

"Cedric promised. Everything is going to be okay." Erica shook her head.

"I hope so Er."

"It will."

Parker bit her nails and looked around. She didn't know why her father was here but it wasn't for good.

"Hang on, I think I see something." Dean squinted.

"Where?" Ron leaned over.

"There." Dean pointed, as a light appeared outside of the maze.

There came Harry and Cedric with the Trophy, although Harry was... Hovering over Cedric, crying. Erica squinted at the pair as the band continued playing before her body seemed to... Lock up.

"No- No, it's not real.. It's not real!" Erica covered her ears.

Parker's eyes widened as she turned Erica to look at her chest, hugging her. Cedric was dead. Dumbledore attempted to pull Harry off of Cedric but there was no use.

Amos, who had come to see his son win ran over, screaming as he cried,"That's my boy! That's my son!"

"Parker- Parker, I can't- Let go!" Erica shook her head, trying to reach out as if that would bring him back although she knew it wouldn't.

Cedric was gone. He was gone and she'd never see him again. Nobody was safe anymore..

"It's okay." Parker stroked her hair.

"Er... You can't go down." Ron shook his head.

"He was- He had so much to live for.." Erica looked down,"He can't be.."

"Oh hun." Hermione covered her mouth.

Erica turned and hugged Ron. If she just closed her eyes, she'd be safe. She wouldn't be here.

"He's back! Voldemorts back!" Harry shouted.

Before anyone could do much more, Harry was lead off by Professor Moody leaving everyone in shock and panic.

*********************************

"Erica?" Parker gently knocked on her bedroom door.

"Hm?"

"Dumbledore wants everyone in the Great Hall." Parker sighed.

"I'll be there."

"How are you feeling?"

"I'll be okay." Erica shook her head.

"I made you cookies."

"Thanks."

"Want me to wait for you or go ahead?"

"You can go ahead, I'll be there soon." Erica told her.

"Love you, Er." Parker sighed and walked off.

"Love you too." Erica stood up, picking up a rock.

It was the rock she'd given Cedric... It was still in his hand when they recovered him. He was going to dedicate his win to Erica... Just like he said.

Erica quickly wiped her eyes, she didn't want to start crying again. She hadn't slept, all she could think about was what happened... But she needed to be strong. For Cedric.

"That's what he'd want." Erica held the rock tightly as she left her room.

When she left the room, she saw the Herd, plus Neville at the end of the hall waiting for her. They didn't want to leave her.

"Hey guys." Erica smiled softly as she walked up to them.

"Hey." They all waved,"You coming?"

"I'm not missing the end of year speech." Erica assured them.

"It's the best speech of all." Ron joked.

"Always is."

Once they got to the hall and sat down, Dumbledore stood.

"I'm sure you all are aware of the great loss we faced last night. Cedric Diggory was as you all know, exceptionally hard working, fair minded, and most importantly a fierce friend. He was murdered by the one who goes by, Lord Voldemort."

Erica squeezed the rock in ger hand tightly.

"The Ministry of Magic does not wish for me to tell you this. But it would be an insult to his memory. Although we all come from different places and speak different languages... Our hearts beat as one. A minute of silence for our fallen friend." Dumbledore lowered his head.

The hall was silent. Erica leaned against Ron as she looked down at the table.

"There shall be no end of the year feast in the hall. Classes are cancelled for the day. Enjoy the time with your friends, I shall see you all next term." Dumbledore nodded.

And with that, he stepped down from the podium and again, the hall was filled with chatter.

"So that's this year done." Parker sighed.

"Summer is calling." Ron nodded.

"Promise you all will write?" Hermione turned to them.

"I won't." Ron shook his head.

"Ronald." Hermione turned.

"Dont worry, 'Mione. I'll make sure he writes." Erica assured her,"We both will."

"Thanks Erica." Hermione smiled

"We're all going to keep in touch." Harry patted her back.

"Please none of you get in trouble." Parker pointed.

"I make no promises but I'll try." Harry chuckled.

"You better." Erica sighed.

"Everything's going to change now." Parker sighed

"It's all different but we'll all still be the same." Ron nodded,"I hope."

"We'll handle it." Harry smiled

"Together." Erica added.

"Always." Hermione hummed.