Blizzards and A Letter

Dear...

Well, everyone. First, I want to say that I know you all might hate me, but please at least read this.

Not many people knew this, but just before the Third Task, I broke up with Cedric. I admit it, I was a jerk. It was looking like he wasn't going to win the tournament, so I didn't want to be with him anymore.

I couldn't believe it when he died. I felt so...numb. I had played childish, flirting games with sweet, sweet Cedric Diggory, and he had died.

The truth is I can't say I loved him. I was barely infatuated with him. He was good looking, and a celebrity at our school, and now I was the Champion's girlfriend. I didn't deserve him.

Then I saw through my own soap-opera world. I was using Cedric. I used Cedric to make Harry jealous. And once I realized that, I did nothing to stop it. I used him even more shrewdly than before. Every time we passed Harry in the halls, I made sure we were holding hands.

The day before the Third Task, I planned to make my move. Just as Harry came out holding that Cup, I'd give him what he'd wanted.

But he didn't come out with the Cup. Everything was confused, and I heard someone say that the 'Diggory boy' was dead. I saw Harry and Prof. Moody walk to the school, and I let them alone.

I was a wraith all that week. All that month. All through the next year. I had killed him, I was sure of it.

I never did 'make my move' on Harry. I didn't feel anything for a year, and by that time he had moved on. He and the Weasly girl were a happy couple, and when I graduated, I left Harry's life for good.

It's been a year since that. Sorry to dampen your graduation with this letter, Harry. Not that you'll probably care. After how I hurt you, and I know I hurt you because I did it intentionally to make you jealous, how could you care at all about me? I hope you are happy with Ginny, though I wish she were me. I love you Harry, but you deserve much better than me. This is the last you'll hear from me. But, on a winter day when it's blizzarding, think of me. I am by no means as white as that snow, but my life is so much like the blown-about flakes, falling by the whim of the wind.

And to my Cedric. I hurt you. I hurt you, and you died. If I hadn't used you, would you be alive? If I hadn't been so superficial and shallow, would you have still died? I am so sorry, and in a way, I do love you and always will.

To all my former classmates and students at Hogwarts who knew me, farewell. Learn your lessons well, and make more of your lives than I made of mine. I am going to joing Cedric now, in his death. I am going to Voldemort, to be killed the way my love did. I am leaving this on my desk, so by the time this is read in the full silence of the Great Hall on a wintery blizzard's day, I will be dead. I am sorry for any pain I caused any of you, and apologize for how I was. I was a flouncy, ditzy, shallow prat who only wanted boys for their fame and looks. I hope you all learn my lesson and never use someone who cares about you, or anyone at all. I... I don't really have anything else to say. I'm going now.

Cho

Chang

Dumbledore finished reading the letter, and then sat down. The hall was quiet, stunned. Pretty, athletic Cho Chang, dead. Harry stared at his plate, Ginny at his side, no longer wanting to eat anything. The roof displayed the weather outside, and it was blizzarding.