I don’t know why but leaving my mother there on platform nine and three quarters felt an awful lot like goodbye. It used to be different. A few months ago I’d be rushing into the Hogwarts express, searching for my friends and almost choking them the very moment I reached their compartment. But things have changed now. Maybe that isn’t the word, no. Things have fallen apart. As a mirror that reflects everything you hold dear, things have shattered. Not because of someone who broke it, but because that one thing that held it together is lost. For me it was my closest friend who kept everything in place.
Even though it was all over the papers and conversations, it seems as if the world hasn’t stopped spinning ever since he returned to Hogwarts with Harry. For the outsiders it only matters how he ended and not that he has.
“Was Cedric Diggory killed by Voldemort, or was he the victim of an unfortunate accident?”
I’ve known him since I could barely speak and, mark my words, Cedric Diggory was never meant to die without a fight or without honor. Every inch of him used to scream remarkable. People would talk about him, that I knew for sure. I just never imagined they would because of this.
Cedric and I first met when I could barely pronounce my own name. But he was proud he could remember the whole Lara Rose Sophie Kennington. We spent so much time together that the other neighbors started thinking we were siblings. He always has been like a brother to me. His parents always knew he was ‘special’. But when the news came that I would also attend Hogwarts for my first year it came as quite a surprise for my parents. Magic only used to be a rabbit out of a hat. As long as Cedric would look after me, things would work out. He was the framework of my mirror. And now I’m left trying to gather the pieces.
The door of my compartement opened.
“Hello,Lara.”
“Hi, Cho. How are you?”
“I’m holding it together, and you?”
“The same.”
“It’s quite annoying though, don’t you think? I mean, it’s nice that everyone is concerned, but…”
“But you don’t need to be reminded that he’s gone all the time?”
“Yeah, I bet you know the feeling.”
“Kind of.”
I pulled my knees up and rapped my arms around them. It was some kind of reflex. Every time someone pointed out that something was missing, my body tried its hardest to keep those things close that hadn’t left. As if the moment I wasn’t paying attention another piece would slip away. I looked at Cho and couldn’t help noticing her eyes were watery again, just like the past few times I’d met her.
“I’m sorry for you, Cho. You know, he really liked you. He talked about you the whole time, and I caught him staring in your direction at least twenty times a day.”
She smiled a little and looked up. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but after a second or two she closed it again. I got used to the silence, staring out of the window, and felt a little sorry when she broke it. Silences were daily routine with Cedric and me. I guess that’s the benefit of knowing each other that well: you barely needed words.
“I still miss him.”
“Of course, I do too.”
“It’s almost three months now, you know.”
I only nodded, but it felt like that wasn’t enough response. I really didn’t want to talk about it right now, so I changed subject.
“We’d better get dressed, We’ll be arriving in half an hour or so.”
