Comments | annwn_anon: RP: "Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is light shining nearby."

anon_cedric in annwn_anon

RP: "Never fear shadows. They simply mean there is light shining nearby."

May 02, 2008 12:24

Date: May 2, 2003
Character(s): Cedric Diggory and James Potter
Location: Beedle Bar
Status: Private
Summary: It wasn't until morning that James and Cedric talk about what happened.
Completion: Complete

( It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong. )

may 2003, place: beedle bar, cedric diggory, james potter

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anon_cedric May 2 2008, 17:05:10 UTC

Cedric took his butterbeer that was placed in front of him and drank deeply. "We didn't really get a chance to talk after the maze," he said innocently, letting James decided if he wanted to know what Cedric had saw. Cedric wasn't sure he wanted to know what James say. But really it had to be better than Harry attacking him and saying what a horrible father James was, right? Surely.

He noted the Firewhiskey. Wasn't it early for heavy drinking? Cedric wondered, but pushed the criticism aside. The man had more on his mind, surely, than when it was appropriate to drink heavy alcohol or not. He ran his hand through his hair nervously. Now that he was looking at James he wondered how he could never not know that James was Harry's father. They had the same messy hair, the same facial structure. Harry took after his father, but for his green eyes. Cedric for a moment was taken back that he knew that Harry had green eyes. Wasn't that took much to know? But no. He had talked to Harry on several occasions and even remembered hearing gaggles of giggling girls swooning over the Boy Who Lived, his scar, and oddly enough his green eyes in the common room several times in Harry's four years before Cedric died.

anon_james May 2 2008, 17:18:55 UTC

"I guess not," he said, looking back to his drink. Because he'd been nursing the same one since he arrived, he wasn't anywhere near drunk enough to pass out, or even to make a fool of himself. Maybe it was still a little early for heavy drinking; he didn't care much. Sirius would be proud.

"I don't know what that thing thinks it's playing at," he muttered, referring to the creature who ran Annwn and had sent them into the maze. "Who wants to see things like that?" Maybe not everyone had seen bad things. Maybe some people had seen their partner's happiest memory or most cherished hope.

James glanced at Cedric. "I'm not too proud to admit I'm afraid of what you saw."

anon_cedric May 2 2008, 17:26:31 UTC

Cedric looked at him. "Weaver. It's all a game to him. I don't care what she says, it's all a game to Weaver. I wouldn't be surprised if he was as evil as Voldemort." When he said she, he had forgotten that James would have no idea who he was referring to. Wanting to keep James oblivious, he continued hurriedly, "But I wanter what people saw. I know what I saw."

The question came out easily, making because he felt that James couldn't have seen anything worse than he had. "What did you see?" Oddly, his came out in a near whisper. Looking at James' glass, he longed for a heavier drink, but not just was it too early if he would give in, but he had swore off anything heavier than Butterbeer. When he was drink Firewhiskey so frequently, he hadn't been himself. He had been depressed and self-pitying. He had a chance at life again, he sure as hell wasn't going to screw it up by becoming a drunk.

anon_james May 2 2008, 18:24:59 UTC

James knew Cedric wouldn't like to hear this. He knew he didn't want to hear what Cedric had seen, even though he figured he'd have to eventually. He cleared his throat and took another sip of the Firewhiskey, letting it burn as he thought about how to tell Cedric about his time in the maze.

"Harry told me about the Triwizard Tournament," he said as introduction. Cedric should know that James understood what he'd seen. "The third task, and the graveyard. While I was in the maze, I thought I was the Champion, and that I was after the Cup. I must've run through that damn maze for hours, or it felt like it. Also felt like I'd never get out. Like I'd be stuck there for the rest of time."

He didn't mention the end, not yet. He waited to see what Cedric had to say about that.

anon_cedric May 2 2008, 18:36:13 UTC

"That's it?" Cedric asked, feeling like he had the rare end of the deal. He had been attacked by Harry; James had just felt like he'd never get out of the maze.

He remembered what that felt like. He remembered the catastrophic, never-ending feeling of wandering though that maze. That night... He never got out of the maze. He remembered the green light in the graveyard. He remembered it all. Over and over, he still dreamed of it. The nightmare he relived every night... It wasn't something he wanted to particularly hear James talk about. But he had to. He had to hear what had happened to James in the maze so he could tell James what he saw and felt in the maze.

"How did you get out then? If you felt you never would... How did you?" I never did. I was just trapped in the nightmare. Still am trapped actually. I'm trapped in the bask of that damned green light and those words, 'Kill the spare.' A shiver went down his spine as his mind forced him to think about that night...

anon_james May 2 2008, 19:14:50 UTC

James sighed and rubbed at his eyes under his glasses. "At the end, I finally reached the Cup, but I wasn't the only one there. Someone else was there, and I heard this godawful voice say 'Kill the spare' and I just knew what was going to happen next. I managed to stupefy whoever it was and when I touched the Cup, the illusion or whatever it was was gone, and I found you not long after."

What was worse for him, that Cedric probably didn't know, was that he'd recognized the voice that had begun to say the Killing Curse. Not the other, but the second. It'd been older, worn, less carefree, but he'd known it. James shuddered.

"What... what did you see?"

anon_cedric May 2 2008, 19:21:49 UTC

Cedric noticed James' shudder. "What?" he asked in a quiet voice, "What aren't you saying?"

Shifting in his seat, he sighed. "I saw Harry. Harry attacked me. He was screaming about what a bad father you are." He cleared his throat uncomfortably. The words were really hard for him to say. But he needed James' reaction and explanation. He needed answers. "He was manic, creepy, crazy. He tried to kill me because he thought I was you."

anon_james May 2 2008, 19:49:05 UTC

All at once James downed the rest of the Firewhiskey, suddenly feeling as though he'd really like to be very, very drunk. "The man who actually killed you. I knew his voice. He... used to be a good friend of mine." A good friend who had been trusted as a Secret Keeper, then betrayed him and Lily to Voldemort.

As he listened to Cedric's description of the Harry of his nightmares, James winced. That was how he'd imagined Harry in his worst fears. They'd been civil to each other lately, more than civil perhaps, or James hoped. He hoped they'd been somewhat friendly, maybe even affectionate. Okay, well maybe not affectionate, but friendly. Still, lurking beneath the surface, he feared that Harry only acted civilly for Lily's sake, or some other reason. What if Harry really did hate him?

anon_cedric May 2 2008, 20:08:39 UTC

"Who was it?" Cedric wanted to know. The question was out of his mouth before he could stop it. He had never known the name of his murderer. He had never known why he had died.

"The Harry in the maze... that wasn't the Harry I knew. Ever. He was crazy. Insane. The hatred in his eyes wasn't Harry. It wasn't Harry," he said again, more forcefully. He felt the need to try to reassure the man that though he might fear Harry hating him, he didn't. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Harry didn't have an ounce of hatred in him for someone who didn't deserve it. "Harry knows you died for him," he said in a soft voice. "He might not really know you, but he doesn't hate you."

anon_james May 2 2008, 20:21:17 UTC

"His name is, was, Peter Pettigrew." He didn't know if Peter was alive or dead, only that he hadn't seen him in Annwn. A war went on inside him every time he thought about Peter, and what he would say to him if he ever saw him. Sirius wanted to kill him, of course, but James just didn't know. Somehow, he just couldn't muster the anger everyone thought he should. Thinking about Peter just made him... sad.

James laughed a little, bitterly. "No offense, Cedric, but I don't think you can really talk for Harry. You're a good guy, you see the good in everyone, and always assume the best. Harry's far from perfect. I love him, he's my son, but he can be a right little prat, too."

anon_cedric May 2 2008, 20:31:35 UTC

Finally. Cedric had the name of his murderer. He knew who had killed him, who the green light belonged to. He wanted to know more, but he refrained. James had grown cold when he had to say Peter Pettigrew's name.

Peter Pettigrew.

He wasn't even killed by Voldemort. Somehow the idea that he didn't even die to the 'Dark Lord', that he was just another casuality of war. Peter Pettigrew was probably some lowlife Death Eater.

"No," Cedric said, "I can't speak for Harry. But I do know Harry. Harry isn't that type of guy. I'm sure he's not. I may not love you - he may hardly know you, but I don't think I could see Harry hating the man who had died for him. It's just not who Harry is." He paused. "When we were Triwizard Champions together... We both were from Hogwarts. There was his big controversy about it, but what was done was done. We both had to compete. Harry didn't hate me. Harry helped me. He saved my life..." His voice trailed off, realizing that Harry's act was all for naught. He had died anyway. Krum hadn't killed him; Krum had only tortured him. But he had died anyway. That night. Shortly after. Harry's chivalrous act had been in vain.

Thinking of that night, Cedric couldn't muster up any anger toward Harry. Sure, if Harry hadn't intervene, he might have not gotten to the Cup. He might not have died in that graveyard. But still, Harry wasn't to blame. This damned Peter Pettigrew was to blame.

"Harry doesn't hate you. He made not like you, but Harry doesn't hate someone without reason. If you need to know for sure, ask him. Ask your son if he hates you. If you must, tell him what I saw. But if you fear his hatred so much the only thing you can do is ask him."

anon_james May 2 2008, 21:47:25 UTC

James shrugged and shook his head. Cedric was a true Hufflepuff, loyalty and true until the end, and even beyond. Nothing James could say would make Cedric see that Harry was just as capable of hatred as anyone else, even hatred towards his father. So instead, he changed the subject.

"Why do you think this 'Weaver' put us through this? Do you really think it's nothing more than a game? I mean, it's a fucking intense game to play."

anon_cedric May 2 2008, 21:52:11 UTC

Cedric grabbed at the change of topic. The conversation was getting intense, and James wasn't listening to him about Harry anyway.

"Weaver is a character..." he said slowly, carefully. "Someone I know says he's doing anything with the townspeople in mind, but I doubt it. I think that's manipulated her, made her fall in love with him. Like the old saying goes, love is blind. I don't think she sees what a evil person he really is. I don't think she wants to see what an evil being he is. But this... this was a game. It was an insane game in the guise of a fund raiser. He probably got some sick amusement out of it."

Cedric paused. He didn't want to say he worked at the Mansion. Not yet. "What do you think?"

anon_james May 2 2008, 22:15:41 UTC

James picked up immediately on Cedric's words, though, and frowned, sitting a bit straighter. Unless Weaver had a blinded harem, there was only one woman who fit the description of Cedric's friend.

"You know Tonks." It wasn't a question, as James was one hundred percent certain the woman's identity. "I met her, and she gave that spiel about how this thing just doesn't understand us, and she's teaching it how to behave itself. I think she's delusional. She sees what she wants to see because she and her... her husband have been having problems."

Her husband Remus. Whom James hadn't seen in forever. Who knew what was going on with the big git, though James could feel for him if his wife were spending all her time falling in love with some creature that wasn't even human.

anon_cedric May 2 2008, 22:24:36 UTC

"Ah, you know Tonks. I work for her. I was hired by 'Anne' but it was Tonks. She's a metamorphus." Cedric sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I like Tonks. I really do. She's a good friend. But this whole mess... Well, I think she's being deceived by Weaver. I think she's just another one of his victims."

"I know about Lupin. He was my professor in school one year, but..." He shook his head. "My opinion of him has changed. I can't help it. Tonks... She was in a desperate situation. Was it wrong what she did? Perhaps. But was it right to try to do anything for her family, to sacrifice herself for their safety? I can't say it was wrong."

He pointed to his empty glass, letting the bartender know that he wanted another glass. "Weaver's evil. I can feel it. He's evil and she will only be another victim."

anon_james May 2 2008, 22:47:10 UTC

James listened to Cedric's words, but hardly any of them made any sense. He had no idea what Cedric was talking about; he'd known Remus and Tonks were having trouble. He'd known she was living with the creature for two weeks a month as its "Persephone," and it wanted a baby, but that was all. From the way Cedric spoke, much more had happened that he didn't know about.

"What do you mean, a desperate situation? I don't really talk to her much, and the last time we did things didn't go well. I sort of told her how delusional I think she is."

If "sort of" meant "completely."

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