outside the Great Hall, having arranged prior to the Leaving Feast that a large group of students, whom she was friendly with, would walk in to the feast together. Ones that knew Cedric; platonically, romantically – it didn't matter. His death affected even the coldest of Hogwarts students, because the loss of Cedric Diggory was a constant reminder of the birth of Lord Voldemort.

She smiled upon recognising two blue and bronze robes that were nothing but familiar: Luna Lovegood's long platinum hair, and kind yet whimsical expression, was the first thing she had noticed. Beside her was Deanna, with brunette hair like a tapestry of silk and a confident stride that only a girl like her could possess. Then she recognised another face stepping out from behind the duo: one of timidity and utmost grief. Cho Chang.

Cho was not someone that Bella particularly enjoyed the company of, nor did she agree with the way that the fifth year had acted throughout her time at Hogwarts. But she lost a boy that she loved, and Bella didn't feel any hatred towards her – she couldn't – because all she felt was sympathy. "Hi," the redhead greeted the three girls in front of her. "Cho, I didn't expect to see you here."

"This group is for Cedric, and so is the Leaving Feast. I knew him better than any other Hogwarts student; it was only right to include myself."

Arabella shrugged. "I just assumed that you would be too upset to attend."

Cho smiled in acknowledgment of the support she was receiving. "I am still very upset, I'm crying often, but I wouldn't want to miss a feast that was in honour of Cedric. It's a celebration of his life, in some way, and by ignoring that I would only feel worse about his death."

"I don't know you that well, nor did I know Cedric that well either, but if I was in your situation I wouldn't handle it as good as you have, Cho." Bella meant every word, although she despised the thought of being in the poor girl's situation; losing her lover at the hands of Voldemort? Losing Viktor? Even just thinking about it made her feel sick to the stomach.

As if presenting themselves in a pack of wolves – or rather a pack of lions – a group of Gryffindors approached the Ravenclaw girls knowingly, greeting them as if their company was entirely expected. Among the group was Fred, George (which Bella was delighted to notice, of course), Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Ginny and Neville followed soon after, though Neville was too shy to speak, especially when Ginny encouraged him to stand next to Luna because the youngest Weasley wanted to converse with her blonde friend.

"Fancy seeing you here," Bella teased, approaching Fred and George with a smirk. Upon her approach, she flashed a friendly grin towards Harry and Ron when they caught eye contact. "I didn't think you two would be willing to walk into the Great Hall with such a large group of people. Normally the attention is always on you." She joked to the twins.

"Bella, you already know we'll be the star of the show." Fred replied, his smile as cheeky as it always is.

"Cedric is the star of the show." Ginny interjected after overhearing her brothers' conversation. "Today is about remembering him."

"And that's why we're entering as a group: to support him, and everyone who knew him." Added Hermione.

"Exactly." Arabella nodded in approval.

As Bella expected, an abundance of Hufflepuffs swiftly arrived – Eleanor and her potential lover, Laura Madley, included – and no Slytherins whatsoever. But the presence of Viktor Krum and his friends from Durmstrang was a complete surprise. Not just to Arabella, but to everyone else within the congregation too.

The girl welcomed Viktor with open arms, to which he embraced her lovingly. The warmth of his Bulgarian furs comforted her more than she realised. In fact, she didn't want to stop hugging him, meaning she pulled away with reluctance. "You didn't tell me you were coming. I didn't even think that you knew about this."

Viktor slung his arm around his girlfriend's waist with ease. "Cedric was very helpful to me throughout the Tournament. He was selfless, and gave good advice even when he didn't need to tell me; I was competing against him, after all. Coming here was the least I could do to show my appreciation. Durmstrang were going to be here anyway – it's still a Leaving Feast for us and Beauxbatons."

"Don't remind me," Bella muttered solemnly. "It still hasn't sunk in that you're leaving Hogwarts so soon. I wish you could stay."

"I'll write to you."

"That's what they all say."

Upon entering the Great Hall, the group saw at once that the usual decorations were missing. The hall was normally decorated with the winning House's colours for the Leaving Feast. But there were black drapes instead, scattered around the room and on the wall behind the teachers' table. Arabella knew instantly that they were a mark of respect for Cedric.

Heads turned when the seated students noticed the entrance of the group. All students that were involved immediately dispersed to their individual tables, representative of their House. As Bella sat at the Ravenclaw table, Erin Martell and Anthony Goldstein, whom were sat opposite her and Deanna, leaned over in questioning. "What was that about?" Erin asked, clearly perplexed.

"What was what about?" Deanna retorted defensively.

"Making a grand entrance like that." Anthony replied, his arm finding its way around Erin's shoulders which she received with a flirtatious glance.

"I wouldn't have called it grand, I'm just confused. Why enter as a big group?" Erin added. Her gaze on Bella was soft, reflective of their civilised agreements, which was contradictory to her stare on Deanna because it remained harsh and mean – like it had always been for years of sharing a dormitory.

"It was to support Cedric. By uniting everyone who knew him, it meant that mourning him in this feast would start off in a positive way." Arabella said, her smile was kind but her eyes were sad.

Dumbledore approached his podium in front of the teachers' table, signalling silence from the students. "Today we acknowledge a terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was –as you all know – exceptionally hard working, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly: a fierce friend." There was a pause and a moment of quiet, save for a handful of students that were secretly sobbing around the room.

"Now therefore, you all have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, it is confirmed that Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this, but I think it would be an insult to his memory not to tell our students the truth."

Bella instantly looked sympathetically towards Cho when she heard gasping sobs from across the table, that could only be distinguished as hers from the raw emotion laced within her voice. The redhead turned to Deanna, "I knew it from the moment Cedric's body came out of the maze. I knew he was back. But now that it's actually confirmed . . . I can't even fathom the level of danger that You-Know-Who will bring to Hogwarts. It's scary."

Among the speeches of Dumbledore and all other Professors, Viktor emerged from his seat unnoticed within the sea of students, and tiptoed over to Bella where she met him with a confused glance as to why he was not at his assigned table. He bent down to her ear, whispering in it softly. "Meet me after the feast. I want to spend as much time with you as I can tonight, since I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Where?" She whispered back.

"The Quidditch Pitch." He breathed, and when Bella shot him a questioning look, he chuckled lightly. "Just trust me."

●

The evening sky was dim, and splattered with clouds of orange and purple like a painted canvas. It was not quite late enough for the sun to be setting, though somehow the atmosphere of the Hogwarts grounds indicated to Arabella that it would not be long before she'd find herself watching the sun disappear into the horizon.

She sauntered over to the Quidditch pitch – an area of Hogwarts that was possibly the least familiar considering her lack of experience in the sport – and was delighted to see that Viktor was already there. With an expensive-looking broom in hand and clad in full Quidditch gear, she scanned her boyfriend's attire with a surprised giggle. "You didn't tell me you were going to play Quidditch."

He shrugged. "Thought I'd teach you a few tricks."

"I've never actually done it, though. I like watching it, but as for playing it . . . it's just not my thing, Vik."

Viktor wasn't phased by his girlfriend's disinterest. "Just have fun laughing at me, then."

"D'you mean just have fun watching you show off?" She punched his arm jokingly, to which he returned with a playful shove to her side and an enthusiastic laugh shared between both of them.

Viktor said nothing, only mounted his broom and flew rapidly into the air. There was a gust of wind that followed which forcefully blew Bella backwards, her fiery red hair finding itself stuck to her eyelashes and within every orifice of her face. She brushed it away from her eyes to allow clear vision again, only to gasp in surprise when her boyfriend's figure emerged from high up in the clouds.

He descended on his broom, stopping abruptly when he got to Arabella's eye level. He was as near to the ground as he could be without dismounting, though his dangling legs didn't quite touch the grass. "I like flying better as the sun is setting. It's so much prettier when you're flying amongst orange and pink and purple clouds, not ones that are dull and grey." He beckoned Bella closer. "Come on, hop on the broom."

She promptly shook her head, "I haven't sat on a Quidditch broom since my first year, when mandatory flying lessons were a thing. Even back then I was terrified; I don't want to fly with a professional like you because Merlin knows what you'll get me to do!"

He chuckled, taking her hand. "Us professionals know when to take it easy on someone. I've taught children to fly before, Bella."

Viktor scooped her up and sat her on the broom behind him, where she firmly placed her arms around his waist, nervously biting her lip. "It's really fucking lucky that I trust you, Vik. If you were anyone else I would've–" her warning was interrupted by her own frightened shrieking as Viktor ascended swiftly into the air. Her grip on his body tightened until her knuckles turned white.

She was screaming, and he was laughing, but the cacophony of the two sounds seemed like something of pure bliss. To any students walking by, they would hear the echoing of nothing but expressions of love.

Viktor halted the broom suddenly, making Bella's face slam into the back of him. She rubbed her sore nose, laughing exactly as her boyfriend had done moments ago. "Why'd you stop?"

"Enjoying yourself? Ha, I thought you said that Quidditch wasn't your thing." The Bulgarian said teasingly.

"I was enjoying being with you. It's our last day together – ever." Arabella replies with a solemn frown.

They both sat stationary on the broom, as Viktor took the redhead's pale hand. "I'll still think about you back at Durmstrang; just because we won't be with each other physically it doesn't mean that I'll just forget about you, Bella." He kissed her blushing cheek. "I'm sure I'll come back here in the future, anyway."

"Or I could visit you in Bulgaria." She smiled.

They kissed passionately – with swollen lips and a sadness about the way that they held each other, because it would be the last time they would be able to feel each other's lips touch, and to gaze into each other's eyes. "I love you."

Another emotional chapter :')))

Hope you enjoyed and pls tell me your thoughts I'm dESPERATE 😂