Ghosts

Cho Chang sat curled up in her bed, her knees drawn to her chest. She had spent the last few hours sobbing until her lungs could hold no more tears. It was hard to believe that Cedric Diggory, the boy she loved, was gone from this world forever. Dumbledore had pulled Cho aside earlier that evening and told her the story of his being killed by Voldemort, suggesting that she skip dinner to spend some time alone.

Underneath the comforter wrapped around her body, her hands clenched into fists. "Oh Cedric, why were you chosen to die? Why did Voldemort choose to kill you?" she asked into the pillow, moist with sweat and tears. Her cheeks burned with heat but all she did was pull the covers tighter around her.

"Please come back Cedric, please," she whispered, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes before falling into a nightmarish haze of sleep.

***

Not far away from where Cho lay asleep was the ghost of Cedric Diggory, watching the glowing lamps of Hogwarts dwindle in the windows. For the past few hours after his death he had haunted the graveyard where he was killed, feeling the blood that had been spilled tonight and thinking of Cho.

Lord Voldemort had risen in this very churchyard; he had witnessed it with his own eyes before a blast from Wormtail's wand ended his young life. Cedric had so much to live for: he was deeply in love with his girlfriend Cho Chang, he was captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, and one of the Hogwarts champions. Why was he chosen to die?

Cedric focused back on Hogwarts and his brown eyes drifted lazily up to Ravenclaw Tower, where a single white taper candle was still burning steadily. He knew it was Cho almost immediately, keeping a silent vigil in his memory. All he wanted at that moment was to hold Cho and assure her that he would be fine, to stop her tears and place him only in her memory as the one person who had loved her with all his heart.

Making a risky decision, Cedric glided through the woods and pushed open the door to Hogwarts. He wanted to see Cho once more before he left her forever, living as an exile in the churchyard where he had died.

As he glided up the stairs, he traced his fingers along every hallway, remembering happy times with Cho. Tears began to fall down his silver cheeks as he ascended the stairs to Ravenclaw Tower and slowly opened the door to the girls' dormitory. This was the last time they'd be together before he returned to his churchyard haven.

Lying on her bed was Cho, her long black hair falling in her eyes, which were closed. Cedric gently reached up and ran one of his silver fingers along her cheek. "Cho?" he whispered, praying she would wake up.

Cho's eyes slowly opened and for a moment she thought the dim candlelight was playing tricks on her. A silvery ghost in the form of Cedric Diggory stood by her bedside. Cho had been right; he had come back to her.

"Cedric!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing. The strange thing was, Cedric's ghost was solid, not transparent like the other Hogwarts ghosts. All the same he was here, holding her against his shoulder, quelling her tears as best he could.

"I've come to say goodbye Cho. This will be the last time we'll be together," he said simply when her crying had stopped. She looked at him through bleary red eyes and held him tighter.

"I can't forget you Cedric, we've shared so much together..." Cho started to say, but Cedric put a finger over her lips.

"Shh Cho, it's better that you keep me only in your memories. Remember me only in your memories as a great Quidditch player and friend. Don't think of me and cry into your pillow at night Cho," he whispered, pressing her against his shoulder. "Will you do that for me?"

"I will Cedric, I promise," Cho said as the tears began to fall and her voice cracked. How could she live without Cedric?

"I must leave you now Cho. Remember your promise," he said as he lightly kissed her cheek before moving in the direction of the door.

"Yes Cedric," she said quietly, wanting to hold that picture of his ghost in her mind forever. Cedric suddenly turned around to face her one more time.

"Cho?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"Leave roses at my grave when you can. I love you so much," he whispered faintly as he left Cho Chang alone, the lamp making her skin turn a golden yellow, her tears small pinpricks of light running down her cheeks.

If you find Cedric Diggory's grave in an old churchyard, you'll find red roses scattered at the base of the tombstone, which reads:

CEDRIC DIGGORY

Loyal Friend of many Hufflepuffs,

He died under the hand of Lord Voldemort on April 6, 2004

May he never be forgotten

And thanks to Cho, he never was.