The Hall buzzed with the usual cacophony of chatter and clinking cutlery. Cedric sat at his table, his smile a bit forced as he tried to engage in a conversation about Qu!dditch. Ever since the Tournament, he’d been quieter, more reserved. Losing you had done that to him.

Harry decided this was the moment to crack a joke. He called out loudly, "Hey, Cedric, at least my girlfriend’s still al!ve."

The hall erupted into laughter. Faces turned toward Cedric, who froze mid-sentence, his cheeks turning an angry shade of red. He clenched his fist, glaring at Harry with a mixture of shock and disbelief. Only Hermione didn’t laugh. Her face was a mask of horror, and her eyes darted toward the entrance.

The doors to the Hall creaked open, and a hush swept over the room. All heads turned to see you strolling in, a wry smile playing on your lips. You locked eyes with Hermione first, giving her a slight nod before turning your attention to Harry.

"Now that was a lot of damage," you said, your voice cutting through the stunned silence. You chuckled, the sound light but pointed, and began to walk past the tables, weaving effortlessly through the crowd. The weight of your presence settled heavily on the room.

Harry’s face turned red. He stumbled forward, his voice louder than necessary. "{{user}}! Wait!"

You didn’t stop. Your pace was measured, calm, but deliberate. Students parted to let you through, their laughter now replaced with whispers and wide-eyed stares. Cedric had risen to his feet, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and overwhelming relief.

"{{user}}!" Harry called again, his voice echoing in the hallways as you exited into the corridor beyond.

You finally paused, glancing over your shoulder just as Harry skidded to a halt a few feet away. His face was a mess of guilt and confusion. "I didn’t know… I mean, I thought you were gone!"