Chapter 28- We all lost someone

-Marietta-

She'd give anything to see Cho smile again. To not wake up anymore to her crying.

Marietta always comforted her. No matter if the other girls in their dorm had already gotten used to Cho's nightly crying, her nightmares, Marietta always woke up. With endless patience, she'd get up, every night, and walk over to Cho's bed. She'd lie down next to her best friend and hold her. Not saying anything, the two girls would find comfort solely in eachothers presence.

Cedric had been Marietta's friend as well. Sure, they had never been as close as Marietta was with Cho. But they had been more than strangers, and Cho had made sure she and Cedric got along, as she wouldn't date someone if it were to drive a wedge between the friendship between her and Marietta.

Fondly she thought back to the three of them, sitting outside during the summers. And although it had always hurt a little when she saw Cho with Cedric, getting closer to him as the days went by, she couldn't help but feeling grateful to the boy for making her best friend feel so accepted. So loved.

When Harry Potter had suddenly decided he also felt an attraction for Cho, Marietta had immediately felt wary of him. Wariness had turned into annoyance when she saw him creeping around so often, not daring to come closer to their group of girls. None of her friends bit, and Cho needed someone a bit braver. Someone who was not put off by her popularity.

Luckily, she had found that person in Cedric.

Marietta was the only person Cho trusted with her grief. Despite her crying openly in front of the girls in her dorm, and being honest about her feelings when someone asked her, only Marietta knew about the nightmares. Only she knew that Cho felt like she had to reach out to Potter, to make it clear to him that she did not blame him.

It was one of the very few times the two girls had argued. Whilst Marietta agreed that Potter was in no way to blame for Cedric's death, she felt like it was him who should come up to Cho. It was no secret that her friend was suffering. Students from all houses had pointed out her red eyes, and she knew that Potter's friend Hermione had definitely taken note.

But Potter had not even looked at Cho. It left Marietta feeling angry, and Cho feeling guilty.

Now Cho was back from her chat with Potter, and her eyes were leaking tears once again. Swearing mentally, Marietta slowly made her way over to the distraught girl. One of their friends, Lilah Dinali, was already crouching before Cho, worriedly asking her what was going on. When Lilah saw Marietta approaching, her expression changed from being worried to being relieved, and she got up to let Marietta take her place. Smiling reassuringly at Cho, Lilah left the two best friends, knowing that if someone could comfort Cho, it was Marietta.

„What's going on, darling?"

Marietta's voice was a soft whisper. She usually let Cho cry until the tears ran out and then talked to her about whatever was going through her mind, and this time she also waited patiently until Cho was done crying, ready to answer.

„I don't know, Marietta... Harry... It went so well... And then he told me... he told me..."

Cho started sobbing again. Marietta stood up and sat down next to her, putting her head on Cho's. She resisted the urge to take Cho's hands, and instead put an arm around her shoulders.

„What did he tell you, sweetie?"

„Promise to keep a secret?"

„Promise."

And then Cho told her about the Potters. How she had asked Potter to help her find out if the could bring Cedric back, and how Potter had not even tried to help.

Her anger against the Gryffindor ressurfaced. Had she not been busy comforting her best friend, she would have stormed off and given him a piece of her mind.

But as it was, she could only sit there. Rubbing her thumb up and down Cho's arm, she waited for the girl to fall into an exhausted slumber.

-Lily-

They soon would have to return, to continue, or start, looking for the Horcruxes. She didn't want to leave Harry behind. He was going through so much.

It didn't matter that the ministry was now forced to believe him. He still had endured way too much. She wanted to take him and protect him, to shield him from all the dangers still waiting for them.

She tried to focus on the present.

Ron had just told them that Harry was talking to a girl called Cho Chang, and would probably be a bit late. From the boy's face Lily could tell that Cho wasn't just some random stranger.

She had been about to ask her son's friend teasingly about how close Cho and her son were, when James shot her a look that made her stay quickly. Usually she was the more emotional one of the two, but when it came to people's crushes, James was oddly sensitive. He had never teased Sirius, or Remus or Peter. Had never tried to pair them up with people. When he and Lily had started dating, he had often shook his head at her and Marlene's attempts to play matchmaker for about half of the Gryffindor house.

„You can't force love, Lils. Look at us, we forced nothing, and it still happened."

Lily smiled fondly at the memory.

She and James were staying in the room of requirements. James had been as excited as a little child when Dobby, the house elve that was amusingly fond of Harry, had shown them a room that he did not yet know.

Harry came to see them in the evenings, often bringing along Ron and Hermione. Dumbledore had allowed them to have dinner together, as he knew how important it was for Harry to have his parents emotional support. Lily was still angry at the old man, but she was grateful to him for acting quickly on the news about Umbridge.

She heard the door of the room open and wondered whether it was James returning from the kitchens, or Harry returning from his meeting with Cho.

„Hey mum."

Lily immediately heard it in his tone. Something was off. She got up from her arm chair and walked towards her son.

„Hey love. How did it go?"

Her warm smile was meant to encourage him to talk, but he only sighed in frustration and let himself fall down in the arm chair she had occupied only a few seconds prior.

„Not good then, I take it?"

„No."

„Care to tell me a little more?"

„She wanted to meet to tell me she doesn't blame me for... for Cedric. To ask if we could be friends..."

„But that's wonderful."

„Yeah..."

„Sorry, love, continue."

„So I told her about you guys. Figured, you know, that if she made the step to reach out and trust me despite what happened... I don't know, just thought I could trust her. And at first she didn't believe me... But when she did..."

He shook his head in frustration. Lily waited for him to continue.

Suddenly, he got up and started walking through the room, now talking quickly and loudly, the frustration almost too much for him to bare.

„She asked me if we can bring back Cedric, mum! And then she was angry when I said no. Ugh, as if I somehow said a magic spell and brought you back, and just decided that I would leave Cedric with the dead."

He went quiet then, and started shaking. Lily slowly approached him, and hugged him tightly. When she released him, she ran a hand through his hair, trying to flatten it a little.

„She is grieving, love. Of course she wants Cedric back."

„I also don't want him dead, if you think that." Her son hissed, and she stood away a few steps.

„I know you are upset, Harry, but watch your tone with me."

„I am sorry."

„It's okay. I know you don't want him dead. But I mean, it is logical that she would get her hopes up after hearing about us..."

„I still can't bring him back..."

„I know, sweetie. But I don't think she realises that. I think she thinks that you were being selfish."

„But I'd bring him back in heartbeat! I would! I saw the Diggorys, I saw how upset they were! And Cedric was barely older than me. Why would I not want to bring him back if I could?"

She walked up to hug him again. Kissing his unruly hair, she decided she would go and talk to the girl.

„Let me go and talk to her, alright?"

„Alright."

He let her go without any further protest, something that she saw as a big effort. He was actually letting her help, she thought happily. On her way to the Ravenclaw tower she made sure to avoid bigger groups of students. Whilst her and James' return didn't have to be kept secret anymore, she still didn't want to be stopped by a curious student right now, obligated to answer their questions.

She had often visited the Ravenclaw tower in her days back as a student, as she had had friends in all houses, including Ravenclaw.

When the eagle-shaped knocker saw her, she prepared herself mentally to answer his questions.

She was spared however, when the girl she wanted to talk to stepped out of the room, followed by a girl with curls. The curly hair girl looked at Lily in surprise.

„You aren't in Ravenclaw."

Lily smiled at her.

„No, I am not. My name is Lily Potter. I was in Gryffindor, but I know the Ravenclaw common room since I had a few friends here back when I went to school. I am Harry's mum."

She extended a hand to the girls, and Cho took it, shaking it politely. Lily worriedly noticed her red brimmed eyes. She felt a wave of sadness for the girl.

The other girl glared at Lily.

„So it is true what Potter told, you are back."

Her voice was cool, almost angry. Lily decided not to be bothered by it, and only nodded.

„I would like to speak to Cho, if that is alright."

Cho's friend opened her mouth to answer, but Cho quickly replied before she could.

„Yes, sure. It's alright Marietta, you can go already and meet with the others. I'll catch up later."

The girl called Marietta looked at Lily suspiciously, then at Cho, and only when Cho gave her a reassuring nod did she turn and walk down the hall.

„We can go outside.", Cho offered politely.

„Sure, let's do that."

And while they made their way outside in silence, Lily observed Cho more closely. She could see why Harry would be attracted to her. The girl was beautiful. And from the short interaction they had had so far, Lily felt like Cho was a kind person.

When they were outside, Cho walked towards a tree a bit away from the bigger student groups.

„It is always nice here when you want to talk without too many people listening in."

She smiled at Lily, although her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

„What is it you wanted to talk about, Mrs Potter?"

„Call me Lily, darling. Harry told me about earlier today."

„I am sorry if I upset him."

The apology sounded half hearted, and Lily could understand.

„You and Cedric were quiet close, right?"

Her soft and non-reproachful tone made Cho look up.

„He was my boyfriend."

„I am so sorry you lost him."

When Lily said that, Cho's eyes filled with tears, and Lily put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

„I can understand the urge to bring him back. And Harry wants him back as well."

„Then why doesn't he help me get him back?!"

„Because Harry has no idea why we came back. Neither do we. Trust me, if he did, he would not have left Cedric behind. That is not the person he is."

When Cho didn't answer, Lily continued.

„We don't know why we came back. Harry would never have attempted to bring us back, no matter how much he needed us. And that is a good thing. You can't meddle with the afterlife. We still don't know what the consequences of our return might be. I know Cedric's death is hard to accept. I know it feels unfair. And it is. It is deeply unfair. That such a young, talented boy had to die. And I promise you, if we could, we would bring Cedric back. But we can't."

„Because you don't know how you came back?"

„Yes. And because we don't know how dangerous it would be to just bringing everyone back... I am sorry, Cho."

„If you find out how you came back, and that it can be done again without danger, will you help me bring him back?"

Lily nodded.

„Thank you."

And with that, Cho left her behind.

-Harry-

He didn't know what his mum had said to Cho, but the next day, at breakfast, she got up from the Ravenclaw table and walked over to him.

„Listen, I am sorry about asking you to help bring back Cedric. It was selfish to ask it of you. I know you care about Cedric too."

„It's alright."

And without further discussing the matter, he moved to offer her to sit next to him. Ron was still in the Gryffindor common room, and Hermione was studying a book sitting adverse to him.

Cho sat down, helping herself to a serving of scrambled eggs.

„Weird sitting at another house's table."

„Yeah, I've never really done it before."

They spent the rest of breakfast talking about this and that, carefully avoiding yesterday's topic, and when Cho left to join the Ravenclaws again, Harry felt a lot happier than he had before.

Another chapter done. I hope you like it. Thank you for for reviewing, favouriting, following! I am sorry for the long waits, once again...

Joanm8128: I also dislike Umbridge a lot! Let's hope she stays away :) And thanks so much :)

Millie072: Hey, I know you reacted to quite a bit, and I will try my best to reply.

I get that you think Lily's first instinct is to want and see Harry. I think it took both her and James a lot of effort not to run off immediately to see him.

I don't know if the order really did nothing. After all, in canon, all we have is Harry's pov. Since he is not told a lot, the readers also kind of don't know?

Thanks for your correction on grief vs grieve. Once this story is done I will get into editing. Right now I am glad when I even manage to post another chapter, but I will follow your advice for chapters to come for sure, and then in the end change it throughout the whole story!

I totally get your Molly rant! I personally think Molly is a kind person, but she does fail sometimes at being empathetic. She doesn't understand Harry would be more scared by not knowing than knowing. I don't think she meant any harm, however. I think she wanted what is best for everyone she cares about, and is one of those people that have difficulty admitting when they don't know. I hope Lily can help her accept that sometimes, other people's ways can be right too. And yes, the way she treated Sirius was despicable. I really was mad at her when reading it in the book!

I never thought about the cleaning.. Maybe because the house was so full of undeterred dark magic that casting too much magic could cause harm? Kind of like pairing chemicals, you have to be cautious? I don't know if what I say makes sense, but that is the only explanation I could come up with. Or it may be simply because wizards like making things as complicated as it gets...I mean, they use quills instead of simple pens, for crying out loud! And to the kids being left to clean without anyone observating... Yes, that indeed is very odd... Something to ponder about indeed :D

I have read a few opinions now on Ron being not the best choice of prefect. I don't think Harry argued the way you did in his head, as for him to see that Ron was bigoted for example, Harry would have to be not bigoted himself. And I think Harry, just as most students we see in canon, is very bigoted as well. I think he simply was frustrated for a bit that Dumbledore, after already ignoring him, did not reward him with the prefect badge. I never really understood why that badge was so important to him or Ron, to be honest. They never cared much about rules, did they? Honestly doesn't make sense to me, and I agree that Neville or Dean would have been a better choice.

Thanks, this is a great idea for the Marauders' and Lily's further research regarding horcruxes! I don't really get the injection part though.. Didn't Rowling once say in an interview that someone or something had to die in order for the horcrux to be destroyed? Wasn't that the reason the horcrux in Harry didn't die in COS?

I want to add in some pairings, but not Harry and Cho. For those, I simply want a good friendship. I agree that she needs help. About the epilogue.. I don't know, I guess I have to disagree here. It is 19 years later, after all. In those 19 years, Ron and Hermione and Ginny and Harry had lots of time to find more similarities, didn't they? They probably didn't get married right after the battle... Although I do think it is a bit weird that they all only dated like one or two people before meeting the love of their lives. Weird, or very idealistic.

Reading your comments was very interesting! Thanks a lot, and I hope you keep reading and liking my story :)

geekymom: Thank you so much :)

randomly talented: Hmm, I kind of can't blame Cho. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Harry should feel guilty. I just think that Cho is young, she lost someone she loved because he was murdered, and she, just like Harry, is pretty much alone to deal with it. Sure, she has her friends to help, but a lot of the adults in the HP universe are seriously lacking when it comes to the grief the teenagers have to endure. Her reaction was emotional, and I don't think she generally is a toxic or mean person. I hope you agree with how I tried to resolve it in this chapter. Cho is a character that definitely needs a lot of help to get past her experiences, and I am really looking forward to working with her more in future chapters :)

firebird-fenix: I am glad you liked the chapter :) I am not sure if scanning and extracting would work... But interesting idea :)

anonymousvoice: Yeah, there was. I don't think they get very far without taking risks... Thanks for the review :)

setokayba2n: I probably won't focus a lot of my attention on Fudge anymore, as I don't really like writing his character. But the ministry of course will continue playing a role, and they will have to do quite a bit of work to clean up the mess you they've made!

BellaK26: Aww, that is nice to hear, thanks! :)

D.J. Scales: Thanks! :)

Blackwing13: Thanks, hope you like this chapter! :)

guest: Thank you :)