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After hours of stress and built up excitement, it began to get dark on the stands. The torches lit with a glowing orange fire that cast an ominous glow across the seats. Throughout the hours, Fleur had already sent help with the spark of her wand and was in a disheveled shape, being fussed over by her Headmaster and her parents.

The buzz of dull chatter echoed through the stadium as the tension grew higher. Suddenly the buzz stopped as everyone heard a loud crack from the clearing in front of the stands. Seeing the figures of Cedric and Harry, everyone burst into cheers. The band started again and the crowd went wild. Echoes of 'he did it' and 'well done' were passed through the crowds.

Zinnia leaped out of her chair, bewildered that Harry had actually won. She hugged her friends giddily besides her and averted her gaze towards Harry.

She struggled to see over the sea of students that began to flood the clearing but understood that something was not right, if not for the gut wrenching scream from Fleur but the fact that Harry's face stayed buried to the ground, not daring to look up, not that he would be able to see through the streaming tears falling uncontrollably down his face.

Zinnia pushed past the crowds of students as the band halted to a dooming stop. The screams and sobbs of Harry ever so present in the ears of the girl. Pushing past the crowd once she was on the grass her mind only fixated on Harry, if he was hurt or even worse. When she finally cut through she was met with the heartbreaking sight of the still body of Cedric Diggory. 

The kind and true boy that was strong till the end was dead, his hollow face blank with the emptiness of death like a wasted canvas. Harry leant over the body loyally, not being able to break himself from the boy that had lost his life so quickly, so unfairly.

"He's back, He's back. Voldemort's back" Harry shouted, breaking the thick silence of the stadium. Zinnia's heart dropped to her feet, not being able to comprehend the possibility of darkness slipping through the cracks again.

"Cedric, he asked me to bring his body back. I couldn't leave him, not there." Harry cried out, his voice breaking in grief. Zinnia's heart stung painfully at seeing the state of him. All she wanted to do was hold him unconditionally.

"It's alright Harry. It's alright. He's home. You both are" Dumbeldore comforted, holding Harry's head up as he cried for the lost boy.

"Keep everyone in their seats. A boy has just been killed. The body must be moved, Dumbeldore, too many people" The minister announced to the staff rather carelessly, alerting the crowd of what was happening. Everyone broke out into silent gasps as Amos Diggory pushed his way through the frozen crowd in a panic.

"Let me through!" he pushed desperately with a ghostly look on his face. He broke through the crowd with a grave cry that seeped through the ears of the crowd bitterly and agonizingly.

"That's my son!...That's my boy!" he cried, breaking free from Arthur's grip and staring down at his son's fallen, pale face. He dropped to his knees next to Harry as he cried out once more.

The whole stadium felt the coldness run through them as the cries of students, staff and loved ones filled the air tragically. Zinnia turned to see Harry but found him in the arms of Moody, him desperately whispering in his ears and escorting him out of the arena. She thought she ought to go after him but knew this was much bigger than her. She looked around for a bit, Teachers were telling students to get to bed and instructing them to the exits whilst others mourned.

It seemed that Dumbeldore, in the midst of chaos, had noticed Harry's disappearance, he walked straight up to Zinnia who had been frozen on the spot, unable to process her surroundings.

"Miss Beaumont...Miss Beaumont" he caught her attention by gently touching her arm."where is Harry?" he softly spoke, careful not to agitate her.

"He...he. He went with Moody'' she whispered as tears brimmed her eyes. Dumbeldores eyes looked as if they were suspicious of her then widened as he gasped. He alerted teachers and escorted her towards the exits.

Zinnia looked around once more, trying to process everything and spotted Violet gathering Prim and Aster. She caught her eyes and ran up to her, letting her tears spill in the arms of her big sister, surrounded by her family.

Once she had been taken back to her room in a haze of painful silence. Zinnia didn't know what to do with herself. She was the first to arrive back to her dorm so she stood in the creaking room, processing the small noises emanating from the old floorboards. It was as if the whole world went silent the moment Cedric Diggory died, only the small utters of sound to remind the living they are still there, and the dead are not.

Living right now felt inconsiderate, like the air she breathed would be much more deserving in the lungs of the sunken boy lying on the barren patch of grass watched over by the empty stands.

Zinnia barely even noticed when the girls came back to the dorm because no one spoke. It felt wrong to. Not that any of them would know what to say. After a gentle squeeze of Zinnia's hand from the gloomy Hermione, Zinnia retreated into the cave of her bed and slowly pushed the curtains closed.  She could barely shut her eyes, even in the pitch black of the night her lids remained open, unable to close without seeing the broken figure of Cedric and hearing the inconsolable cries of Harry.

Zinnia worried all night, not knowing where Harry was and unable to comprehend the words he uttered about Voldemort. She sat up on her bed, only letting her head drop once or twice but then being awoken by her painful nightmares.

The next few nights followed suit. No sleep and no peace. Zinnia developed nasty bags under her eyes along with a perpetual frown. The castle was in an everlasting state of limbo as it seemed all of the joy had been sucked out of the walls, as if all the happiness of the castle resided in that humble boy. The clouds were grey and the birds rarely sang. The universe knew he was dead.

Harry had explained timidly to the group what had happened that fateful night from his hospital bed. How he had returned and the true identity of Moody. Zinnia felt sick to her stomach and thought it was convenient she was in the Hospital wing. To think that such a horrid man was right with them this whole time set Zinnia's heart sinking. Not to mention the horror she felt when Harry explained what Voldemort put him through, she could barely keep the tear out of her eyes.

Harry was let out just in time for the funeral, although he rarely spoke to anyone. Zinnia would have taken offence to things considering their kiss on the stairwell, however thought it best to give him a bit of space. Heaven knows he needed it.

"Today we acknowledge... a really terrible loss" Dumbeldores voice echoed through the thick air of the Great Hall, Zinnia offering as much comfort as she could to Harry by sitting next to him in support.

"Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard-working, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly.. A fierce, fierce friend." Dumbeldore took an uneasy breath as he slowly moved out of his chair. "I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort." Zinnia grimaced at the words, moving her hand to grip Harry's, he accepted it as he looked forward with a painful expression. The fresh wounds on his cheeks staring her in the eyes as if it were mocking her. She wanted to fight the sadness within him, to say 'don't you dare, don't you dare take him'.

"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I think would be an insult to his memory." Dumbeldore fiercely announced. "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." Zinnia scrunched her face as it dropped to her lap, tears stinging her eyes. Although she did not know Cedric very well it was a great loss to everyone, and everyone felt his absence.

"In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever. 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." Dumbelore ended the service. Zinnia sniffled to her lap in sorrow, then felt the comforting grip of Harry's hand squeezing hers kindly. No words were shared in that moment but each knew the unwavering loyalty between each other.

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The end of year approached so quickly the students could barely count the days. Everyone started to heal slowly. No one was quite over Cedric's death and they all still felt his absence bitterly, however they began to feel the small joys of life once more without the pressure of guilt bearing down on them.

On the last day of term, everyone gathered in the courtyard for the final goodbyes to their foreign friends. As Zinnia looked over the sea of heads in the crows and approached a lone girl sitting on the bench in her pale blue silk uniform. With an eager smile she ran up to the girl she knew as Tallon.

In the few weeks after the third task they had become an anchor to each other, Tallon not having many friends at her school found comfort in Zinnia during a hard time and Zinnia herself finding it less suffocating seeing a newer face that didn't look at her with pity every time they saw her.

Zinnia tapped the shoulder of the girl as Tallon put down her copy of 'The Immortalist'.

"Hey, you're reading it in English!" Zinnia commented, noticing that the book she read didn't have its usual french title.

"Yes, I thought I would work on my English. I'm moving to London in the Summer you see" she laughed as she marked her place.

'Will you be coming to Hogwarts then?" Zinnia excitedly asked

"No this is my final year, my parents have family here so we will stay with them. They said they wanted to be closer, if...if they need to fight." Tallon morosely spoke, angling her face to her shoes at the touchy subject. Zinnia let out a shaky breath. All of it becoming painfully real. 

"Well, send me owls during the Summer '' she handed the brunette a small piece of parchment with her address. Tallon took it gently and smiled at the sall gesture.

"I will Zinnia" she sighed lightly then embraced the shorter girl in a hug. They both held an embrace and farewelled each other as Tallon gathered her bags to catch the carriage.

Zinnia turned around to spot Harry longingly staring at her, she smiled kindly and walked over to him with gentle strides. 

"You alright?" she softly spoke, leaning her head through the small window archway he was staring through.

"Getting there" he sighed as he looked out at the sea of people hugging each other and saying goodbye. Zinnia looked in the same direction and felt the pang of reminder that a certain Hufflepuff would not get to return home this year. She turned back to Harry to meet his glassy eyes.

"Listen Zinnia about-" he began, thinking he had left her in the dark for way too long now

"Don't worry harry." she interrupted with a beautiful smile. "It's okay if you need time, everything seems a bit out of order at the moment" she spoke softly.

"It doesn't mean I didn't mean it, or I don't-" he started again, relieved but still finding himself rambing.

"I know Harry. Me too. I can wait" she spoke in broken sentences with full confidence. Harry kindly smiled back at her as their eyes met in a peaceful, beautiful understanding.

The students gathered in the entrance hall as they clapped and cheered the departing foreigners. The sea of blue dresses and large coats waving as they proceeded back to the boats and the carriages. Zinnia caught a glimpse at the smiling tallon as she gracefully walked past her, each one of them waving at each other.  Once everyone had departed in order to prepare for the train, Harry, Hermione, Zinnia and Ron stayed around in the once buzzing courtyard that now felt hollow without their guests. 

"Do you think we'll ever have a quiet year at Hogwarts?" Ron laughed as he playfully jumped through the arch.

"No" Harry, Hermione and Zinnia chimed in unison. Laughing at each other

"No, I didn't think so. Oh well, What's life without a few dragons?" Ron stated as he proceeded forwards with Harry.

"Yeah well luckily we have Harry here to fight them off for us" Zinnia laughed as she followed them, then realising Hermione had not moved and approached her timidly.

"Everything is going to change now isn't it?" Hermione spoke realistically as Harry and Ron turned around. Harry approached her and gently placed an arm of her shoulder in comfort.

"Yes." he said rather plainly, Hermione took a deep breath as she let the thought go

"Promise you'll write this summer, all of you" she directed at Ron as they walked towards the balcony.

"I won't, you know I wont" Ron chuffed as Zinnia let out a small chuckle.

"Harry wil, won't you?" Hermione clung to his arm in desperation. Harry shared a nervous glance with Ron and Zinnia.

"Yeah, every week" he replied sarcastically as the group laughed.

"Zinnia?" Hermione looked at the girl.

"You're gonna get sick of my owls Miss Granger" Zinnia said as she wrapped her arms around the worrisome girl. The group continued into the balcony as they waved goodbye to the disappearing carriage and the boat. Zinnia felt a rather sadness flush over her when seeing them leave but relished in the joy her friends created in that moment.

"Come on, we don't want to be late for the train" Hermione hurried as the groups went to gather their stuff to wrap up this year.

.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.✰.•.

The train ride back was like any other. The buzz of last minute magic filled the air as students used their last opportunity to legally use magic. Zinnia felt the warmth of normalcy in her heart as she looked at her friends in the carriage. Ron stuffing his face with snacks, Hermione's nose in her summer homework, wanting to get a head, and Harry staring idly out of the window. Zinnia let out a deep sigh as she put on her headphones and put Basil's mixtape into her walkman and smiled as it began to play 'Married with Children' by Oasis.

Zinnia didn't notice the train pulling into the station until she felt the jolt of movement. She lifted her head to see everyone in the carriage standing up and gathering their things, Harry smiled at her as he held out a hand for her to sit up. She smiled and let out a breath of laughter as he took it and stood up rather ungraciously. As the train got louder with the sounds of people gathering lost things and clunkily carrying their trunks Zinnia carefully moved down the corridor and out of the train with a surprising amount of ease.

Once she had strained herself getting her trunk off of the train, she spotted the smiling face of her Mother rushing towards her. Dahlia stretched out her arms as she embraced the girl in a fearful hug. Dahlia, although being a muggle, understood the tensions of the world at the moment. She was always quite smart and could adapt to anything. Zinnia returned her hug as she felt three other arms wrap around her, that of Violet, Prim and Aster. Dahlia let out a gasp as she saw her children, rather relieved they made it out of the school year unscathed.

"My babies!, oh I was so worried" she rambled as she kissed each of their heads desperately, none of the children backing away as usual due to their understanding of her worry.

"We're okay mum, we're fine" Violet assured her as she received another kiss on her head. Dahlia let out a relieved gasp as the sounds of playful children approached the group

"YOU'RE BACK!" Zinnia heard the laughs of Poppy and Daisy as the small figures approached them and tackled them in hugs. Poppy went straight for Zinnia as she took comfort in her. Zinnia laughed as she hugged back her little sisters and once again hugged her father and basil who were closely behind them. Their family was big on hugs.

"I thought I told you not to get in trouble this year" Tristan looked at Zinnia with raised eyebrows.

"It wasn't me! It's always Harry." Zinnia remarked, laughing at the boy.

"What's always me?" Harry spoke from behind her, perfectly timing his entrance

"Always stupid thats what you are" She teased him as he poked out his tongue at her.

"Oh Harry dear, anytime you might need us in the summer please write to us." Dahlia stressed over the boy, knowing he was in adamant danger from now on.

"Thankyou Mrs. Beaumont" Harry smiled as they all walked over to where the Weasley clan had stationed themselves, similar to the Beaumonts all of them desperately hugging one another. Mrs Weasley was sure to give every child an embracing hug as she saw them. Zinnia spotted Harry pulling the twins aside and handing them over a large bag. Zinnia didn't have to ask what it was, knowing Harry was too humble to accept money from a tournament where he lost someone close to him. Once the boys had left, Zinnia came up behind Harry.

"You're a nobleman Mr Potter" she teased as he whipped his head around to see her. Harry simply laughed so beautifully Zinnia thought she would melt on the spot. "Stay safe Harry" she whispered as she embraced him in a hug.

"I'll try... for you" he whispered back before they let go. Zinnia held his gaze for what felt like forever before she was called by her hectic family. Breaking her eyes away from Harry she looked at her leaving family and picked up her bag hastily.

"Goodbye harry, write to me" she shouted as she left the boy standing on the platform as he watched her disappear though the barrier.

Zinnia shouted quick goodbyes at Kian and Fay when she spotted them as she was dragged out by her family, the two laughing at her and promising to write. Zinnia immediately felt Harry's absence and processed that she may not see him at all this summer, considering everything happening with Voldemort and Harry being in danger she sighed at the prospect of him being shut away for his own good.

As she crawled into the taxi on her way home she smiled at being surrounded with her family again, not realising how much she needed this after being shut away from them all year. As the car left the station, Zinnia leaned over the middle seat to hand Poppy some sweets she had left over from the train, Poppy looked at the plastic wrapped toffee and smiled at her sister, both of them knowing she would tell her every detail of what had happened to her that year.

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(A.N- OMG LAST CHAPTER OF THE YEAR!!! cant wait to start writing for fifth year i've planned a lot of drama :) also thank you so much for all of you reading you can't understand how much i appreciate it❤️❤️ let me know what you think about the chapter, would love to see what you think

comments and votes always appreciated 💕

also Married with Children is a rly good song, i suggest you listen to it)