WHO: Robbie Stebbins, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Zacharias Smith WHEN: Friday, 24th June, afternoon WHERE: Hogwarts WHAT: The Hufflepuffs gather to toast their friend on the tenth anniversary of his death.
The statue of Cedric Diggory stood in the grounds of the school, and there were already a few bouquets of flowers resting against the plinth. Robbie slowly wandered across the grass towards the statue, frowning up at the face of the boy. It was a perfect replica of the seventeen year old he'd known, his calm face staring out towards the Quidditch pitch. He looked wistful, ready for a game perhaps.
Robbie sighed and turned away. He'd never felt comfortable looking at the statue, his best friend immortalised in stone, but this was the best place for drinking to his memory. Cedric had lived here at Hogwarts, loved it, this was where Robbie had known him. It was only right to come back here for this. He leaned against the plinth, gazed down at the flowers, wondering who they were from. Former housemates, yearmates, probably. It was good of them to do this, to remember. Robbie couldn't quite believe that it had been ten years. Was it awful that it seemed to have gone so fast?
He glanced over then at the stream of students making their way back to the castle from the greenhouses, and he raised a hand in greeting to Professor Sprout. The men all had permission to be here, how could they not, really. But Sprout had made sure that it was okay, she understood the importance. She waved back, a small smile on her lips, before ushering the children along, and Robbie allowed himself to wish, for a moment, that he was back in second year, traipsing back from a Herbology lesson with his friends, with Cedric.
Pushing a hand through his hair, he waited for the others to arrive, smoothing his hair down again automatically.