The Unsolved Riddle.

Professor Um--

With a heavy sigh, Eliana stood at the compartment window and waved off her parents, who, as always, were crying to see her leave. Eliana felt, as always, a pull of emotions in her chest and at one point, she was sure that she may have cried. All of her sadness was stopped though when she caught sight of Bear, her golden retriever, as he ran with the train as it chugged down the station. A few of the parents were forced out of the way as he tried to catch up with her but after a few seconds, the dog faded and Eliana ended up sat in the compartment with all of her friends.

"It's weird, I know that none of us were very close to Cedric but he was a nice boy and he used to head the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. It feels wrong." Eliana didn't dare to say anything. Rumours of what happened in the maze had spread and if they were true, her parents could never find out. She knew that they would never let her touch an inch of magic again if they even caught wind of the things that happened at Hogwarts.

"He was the first friend I made. He and his friends joined my empty compartment and he spoke to me about the houses. I thought I was going to be a Hufflepuff and he was so excited. For the past few years, he and I have been friends. He showed me how to get into the kitchens and where they were." Eliana couldn't even imagine how Cho was coping and the sight of Harry still stuck to her mind, an ache had pulled at her chest from the moment Harry had left the maze. With every red spark that shot in the air, relief and panic filled her as she watched her professors, wearing official-looking outfits to symbolise that they were there to help, circling the maze and entering when required.

"Anything from the trolley dears?" Eliana took the offer as she handed over some of the money in her pocket, buying some cauldron cakes and more chocolate frogs.

"Have you been in contact with any of your admirers?" Eliana almost laughed at the absurd comment as Parvati joined them, she only sat with them because Padma had left to join in with the other prefects on the train.

"Yes, but nothing is serious. I'm 15 years old. Marcus is sweet but I doubt we will see much of each other this year. It's OWLs and I am determined to do well. Maybe then Hermione will stop offering to tutor me every chance she gets." The cake in Eliana's mouth had been replaced as she finished talking but Parvati was far from done.

"Dean said last year that you two were keeping in contact." Eliana nodded slowly as she tried to finish the food in her mouth.

"We did keep in contact and are still in contact but I'm not sure about him. Why do you know that?" Eliana's glistening eyes didn't miss a beat as she watched Parvati's expression change.

"You're the prettiest girl in our year. Everyone talks about who you'll be dating, even Harry listens in and talks about you, Hermione reckons he likes Ginny Weasley, last year I wasn't good enough for him. But, the papers say he's insane so who knows what's going on up there. When we get back I am going to try and find out anything I can. If you and Harry start dating, you would know everything. But, you did end up going to the Yule Ball with a handsome Durmstrang boy, maybe the two of you are compatible, I know from Padma that you're still in contact." Eliana shook her head quickly, shocked at the idea.

"No, if I date someone it won't be for their name or for their fame. It will be for their massive--k--ind-spirited attitude, and nothing else." The small pause had hitched a few chins and caused a few smiles to erupt before her final words were spoken and with them, the door opened.

"Oh, you'll never guess who got prefect for Gryffindor." Eliana's eyes, which had shot out of the window, flew back to the door and met Padma who was smiling like a madwoman.

"Hermione and Harry, the power couple who are literally just friends but occasionally do things that make everyone think they're more than just friends." Padma shook her head and sat beside her sister who was waiting for an answer.