Heartache

Heartache

"Don't worry Cho, everything will be fine," he said. It was the day before the third task.

"But Cedric, you don't know that," I answered. "Dumbledore said that people have died before in the Tournament and..."

"Stop right there, Dumbledore also said that they have a lot more rules this time to protect the champions. I am sure I'll be fine."

"But..." I began.

"Cho," he bent over and hugged me. "I've made it this far and I'm tied with Potter for first place. Trust me; everything is going to be fine."

If he had only known, it's been two months since he died and I still can't believe it. He was so... alive during those last few days. He was so confident and happy. Happy. We both were happy. All year we were happy. Now I can't stop feeling miserable. I cry myself to sleep each night. And I wake up in the middle of the night and cry even more. Every night I dream about him. I see his body laying there, his sightless eyes looking up at me.

"Cedric, what do you think you'll do with the money when you win?" I was in a much better mood, the girls had convinced me that Cedric was going to be fine and that he was going to win the tournament.

"Cho," he chuckled. "I haven't won it yet."

"But, like you said yesterday, you're tied for first with Harry." I answered, smiling up at him. He was a good four inches taller than me.

"Yes, but we shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch. I still have to get through the maze tonight." He was doubting himself. I could see it in his eyes. I always knew what he was feeling. "Cho, you need to help him be confident," that was what Amie had said the night before.

"Well, let us assume you will win tonight. What will you do with the prize money?" I asked cheerfully.

He smiled. "Well for starters I'm going to take you out to eat anywhere you want. Then I'll buy you a...

"Cedric, you can't spend it all on me. What will you buy yourself?"

"Hmm..." he paused thoughtfully. "I'll buy myself a pocket watch and put your picture in it so I can look at you anytime I want to."

I'm sitting here in the kitchen. It's two o'clock in the morning, but I can't sleep, so I came down here to get something to drink. Lately I've been seeing Cedric's face everywhere. When it's raining out I can see it in puddles on the ground. Sometimes I see it in the woodwork on bed. If I look down at my tea right now I am sure I would be able to see his face in it.

"Darling, you should be in bed," I look up, startled. My mother is standing in front of me.

"I know... I couldn't sleep." I try to hold back the tears that are welling up in my eyes. "I just can't stop thinking about... about him," a lone tear rolls down my cheek.

"On my whistle... three, two one," the whistle blew. Cedric ran into the maze with Harry following close behind him. There was nothing I could do now. I looked over at Amie. She was sitting next to me.

"Don't worry Cho. I'm sure Cedric will be fine. He's been great this far, why should something go wrong now?" Amie asked.

"I don't know, Amie. It's just too good to be true. But you're right. I'm worrying over nothing. GO CEDRIC!!!"

"Darling you're awake again?" I look up. It's my mother again. "I'm really starting to get worried. This is the third time this week."

"I'm sorry mummy," tears start to roll down my cheeks. "I miss Cedric. I really miss him."

"I know that honey. But do you think that Cedric would want you to be like this? I don't think you've slept ten hours in the last week. You can't keep doing this." I can tell that she is really worried.

"Cho, I know how you feel. I felt the same way when your father died in the car accident. My sleeping habits where horrible for a couple of months, but once I got over it I felt so much better. I started to remember all of the good times we had together, our first kiss, the high school prom, our wedding day. You have to try to do the same." I try to, I really do, but my mind keeps coming back to that night in the stands by the maze.

"How long have they been in there?" I asked Amie.

"I don't know. I don't wear a watch," she answered.

"Oh! That reminds me look at this." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a shiny new pocket watch with a red ribbon. "I bought it for Cedric." I opened it up. There was a picture of me on the inside.

"Oh! Cho, it's beautiful!" Amie exclaimed. "I'm sure he'll love it." Just then a hush went over the crowd. I looked up. There at the entrance to the maze where two figures. I could just make out Cedric and Harry. Amie whipped out her omnioculars.

"Cho! It's Cedric! Him and Potter! They're both holding the Tri-Wizard Trophy!" Amie stopped. Immediately I knew something was wrong. "Cedric's not moving. I think he must've passed out..." I didn't wait for her to finish. I ran down the steps to where a small crowd had gathered already.

I knew what I would find before I got there but that didn't ease the pain. Cedric was lying on the ground. His eyes where staring straight up at me. "CEDRIC!" I cried. Professor Flitwick hurried over to me.

"Cho," he said taking me by the hand. "Cho, come with me." I let him lead me away. Nothing mattered anymore. Cedric was dead.

Tomorrow I have to go back to school. I don't know how I'll stand it. There will be so many memories lurking around every corner. But before I pack I had to come back here one last time. I am in the cemetery where Cedric is buried. I promised myself that after today I will never come back again, so this is truly my last good bye.

There are a lot of flowers on Cedric's grave, including the single red rose that I just sat there. As I turn away and start down the path back to home I reach into my pocket and pull out a watch. It is gold and has a red ribbon tied on one end. I flip it open and look at the picture inside it. A tearstained picture of Cedric smiles up at me.

"I love you Cedric," I whisper. A lone tear runs down my face.