Lumièrè || C. Diggory

TWENTY-FOUR

Loud cheers filled the air as Harry and Cedric emerged before the crowd, gripping the handles of the Triwizard Cup. Aurelia and everyone else in the audience rose from their seats in excitement.

Suddenly, the she gasped as a distant feeling illuminated the night in her heart. Aurelia's heart jumped to her throat. She felt a chill run down her spine, her intuition whispering that something was terribly wrong. Her hands trembled as she clutched the bracelet Cedric had given her – a silver band that symbolized their love.

Aurelia immediately knew something was wrong. Harry was sobbing, Cedric cradled in his arm, he wasn't moving. Pushing through the stand she ran over to the boy and it was as if something in the moment died in her, her life, her passion, she was a void.

Tears streamed down her face as the reality of what had happened crashed over her. Her world shattered into a million pieces, her heart torn apart by the loss of the boy she loved. It felt as if the stars themselves had been extinguished.

Aurelia's knees gave way, and she sank to the ground, clutching the pendant Cedric had given her. The bracelet felt cold against her skin, a cruel reminder of the warmth that had been stolen from her life. The crowd around her was a blur of faces, but all she could see was Cedric's smile, his laughter, and the promise of a future that would never come to pass.

"Come back to me, You promised!" Aurelia's voice came out as a yell. Harry sobbed with her as she held him, her tears dropping onto his bloody shirt. "You Promised..."

The world around her faded into a distant haze as Aurelia's grief consumed her. The cheers of the crowd, the triumphant fanfare – all became a discordant symphony to her ears. Her entire being ached with sorrow she had never known, a pain that cut deeper than any blade.

Aurelia's tears fell freely as she reached out to touch his hand. It was cold, so unlike the warmth and strength she had come to know. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his forehead in a gentle, lingering kiss. "Cedric," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please, come back to me."

But Cedric remained motionless, his chest didn't rise, a deadly reminder he was gone. Time seemed to stand still as Aurelia clung to his hand, her tears falling onto his still fingers. She recounted their moments together—their laughter, their shared dreams, the way his eyes lit up when he looked at her.

As the night wore on, the stars dimmed one by one, mirroring the fading hope in Aurelia's heart. The kisses he had given her as tokens of his affection felt like shackles, binding her to a love that could no longer be returned. The grief was a heavy fog that enveloped her, leaving her breathless and lost.

And so, in the quiet hours of the morning, as the sun's first rays began to filter through the grounds, Aurelia clung to Cedric's lifeless hand. Her tears had run dry, leaving trails of salt on her cheeks. With a final, heartbreaking kiss, she whispered her farewell, her voice a fragile whisper amidst the silence.

"I love you, Cedric. Always."

And then, as the world outside the tent stirred to life, Aurelia released Cedric's hand and stepped away, her heart shattered into a million pieces. The light that had once burned so brightly in her life had been extinguished, leaving behind a void that could never be filled.

-

The sky hung heavy with clouds, a somber reflection of the collective grief that had descended upon the wizarding world. Hogwarts Castle stood tall and majestic, its towers and turrets a poignant backdrop to the heart-wrenching scene that was about to unfold. The courtyard had been transformed into a sea of black, a mournful ocean of cloaked figures and tear-streaked faces.

Aurelia stood at the forefront, her expression a mask of pain as she stared at the simple wooden casket that held Cedric's body. Her eyes were red-rimmed and hollow, her heart aching in a way she had never known before. The scarf he had given her was draped around her shoulders, a bittersweet reminder of the love they had shared.

Beside her stood Ron, Hermione, Harry, Amelia, Orion, and Oliver—each one wearing a heavy cloak of sadness. Their presence was a testament to the impact Cedric had made on their lives, a reminder of the camaraderie they had formed during their shared journey. The air was heavy with silence as the mourners gathered to pay their final respects.

Dumbledore's voice cut through the stillness, his words carrying the weight of the loss that had befallen them all. The eulogy spoke of Cedric's kindness, bravery, his selflessness—qualities that had made him a beloved son, friend, and champion.

Aurelia listened to the words, her heart constricting with each passing moment. The reality of Cedric's absence felt like a physical ache, a wound that would never fully heal. Her gaze remained fixed on the casket, unable to tear her eyes away from the one she had loved so deeply.

As the eulogy concluded and the mourners began to disperse, Aurelia stepped forward, her steps unsteady. She looked down at Cedric for a long, agonizing moment, her fingers tracing the outline of his name etched onto the wood. Her voice quivered as she spoke, her words carrying a depth of emotion that could not be contained.

"Cedric," she began, her voice barely more than a whisper. "You were my Lumièrè, my laughter, my heart. We had dream remember?. And now... now you're gone, and I don't know how to live in a world without you."

Tears streamed down her cheeks, her grief pouring out like a torrent. Ron, Hermione, Harry, Amelia, Orion, and Oliver stood nearby, their own eyes glistening with unshed tears. Aurelia's sobs echoed through the courtyard, a raw expression of the pain that had taken root within her. Harry stepped forward, his own voice thick with emotion.

"Aurelia, he loved you. And he still does, in some way. He wouldn't want you to be consumed by this. He would want you to remember the happiness you shared, the moments that made your love special."

Aurelia's shoulders shook as Harry's words reached her ears. She looked around at the faces of her friends, their presence a lifeline in the sea of despair. She took a deep, shuddering breath, her gaze returning to Cedric's casket one last time.

"I love you, Cedric," she whispered, her voice carrying her heart's deepest ache. "Goodbye, my love."

As the first handfuls of earth were cast onto the casket, the finality of it all settled in. Cedric was gone, his light extinguished. But the love he had shared, the memories they had created, would forever remain alive within the hearts of those who had known him.

The mourners began to disperse, their steps heavy with the weight of their grief. And as they walked away, they left behind a world forever changed by the loss of Cedric Diggory—a loss that would be felt in every corner of Hogwarts and beyond.

The world around her faded into a distant haze as Aurelia's grief consumed her. The cheers of the crowd, the triumphant fanfare – all became a discordant symphony to her ears. Her entire being ached with a feeling of sorrow she had never known, a pain that cut deeper than any blade.

Days turned into a blurry procession, her world a monochrome tapestry of grief. She wore Cedric's bracelet like a weight around her neck, a constant reminder of the love she had lost. Nights were the cruelest, the stars above mocking her with their brilliance as if Cedric's light had been extinguished to make them shine even brighter.

Aurelia would visit the spot where Cedric had fallen, her fingers tracing the invisible imprint he had left on the earth. She could almost hear his laughter in the wind, see his smile in the twinkling stars. And as the years went by, she would keep his memory alive, ensuring that his bravery and sacrifice would never be forgotten, even as her heart remained forever eclipsed by the loss of the one who had held it.

If only the Dior Heiress knew that the 23rd of June would be the last day she ever felt complete.