A few heads, Lucifer saw in his peripheral, turned to look in his general direction, most likely at Harry.
"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore said, "He risked his own life to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every aspect, the sort of bravery that few Witches or Wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."
Dumbledore turned gravely to Harry and raised his Goblet once more.
Lucifer and Hermione stood and raised their Goblets and murmured his name as they had Cedric's, and drank to him.
They sat back down a moment later and Dumbledore continued.
"The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemort's return - such ties are more important than ever before." Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table.
Lucifer turned and saw a wary look on Viktor's face, almost frightened you could say, "Every guest in this Hall," Dumbledore said, his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.
"It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst.
"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."
The feast ended at its usual time and everyone in the Hall stood up to return to their living accommodations.
As Lucifer made his way out of the Great Hall and into the Entrance Hall, a voice called out to him.
"Luce" A voice said a little loudly to him.
He turned and saw Eve standing off to the side, between the Castle Doors and the Great Hall's Doors.
He turned to Hermione, "I'll be up in the Tower soon." He then pushed his way over to Eve, who asked him to follow her out of the Castle.
He followed her out into the cool air and she sat down on the stony steps.
He sat down beside her, "You wanted to talk?" He asked, hoping he didn't sound different when speaking to her.
"Yes... listen, Luce..." Eve said, but then trailed off. She looked at him, and a few tears escaped her eyes.
She inched closer and cupped his left cheek with her right hand, and placed her lips on his.
He kissed her back, but there was no love, not even lust, in the kiss.
It was more reactionary than anything.
She stopped kissing him, "I figured... I cannot make you love me...I am sorry if I tried to force myself on you..."
"It's alright, but I am ready to pick you up from the location you gave me...if that's still on?" he said to her encouragingly.
She smiled at him, "I am glad to hear you say that. But, if you want to have something with Hermione, then that's your choice, and I hope it works out for you where we did not."
They both stood up and embraced each other, "I'll tell you goodbye tomorrow, Eve. For now, sleep well," he smiled at her after they parted.
"Same to you. And also," she added, "I did not tell Fleur's parents in exact details about what we had, just a vague remembrance of how I know you and that we were best friends....nothing beyond that..."
"Thank you, Eve. I worried that you would tell them how... w-well..." Lucifer had trouble saying.
"No... I have more respect for you as a person than that," she smiled as she turned and went back to the Beauxbatons Carriage.
He watched her all the way until she got inside, and only then did he turn and head back into the Castle and up the Marble Staircase, through the corridors and up more staircases until he got to Gryffindor Tower.
xxxxxx
In the morning, Lucifer let Rowena fly as she had last year.
She knew the way home, even if she didn't stop at King's Cross.
He watched her fly high into the air before he went down into the Common Room with Harry and Ron where Hermione waited for them.
They all went down into the crowded Entrance Hall, waiting for the Carriages that would take them down to Hogsmeade Station where the Train would then take them to King's Cross.
"Luce!" Eve's voice called.
Lucifer looked towards the stone steps and saw her ascending towards them.
She got to Lucifer and held out her hand to him "We will see each other again, soon," she said to him and he shook her hand in return.
"Of course," Ron blurted out in a strangled sort of voice.
Eve turned to a bushy-haired girl, "Hermione... could I talk to you for just a second?"
Hermione nodded with a confused look but walked off to the side with her.
"What do you think she needed to talk to Hermione for?" Ron asked, staring after them.
"You're asking the wrong guy," Lucifer said, having equally no idea what Eve wanted to talk to Hermione about.
They came back a moment later and Eve waved goodbye to them as she ran back out of the Castle and to the Beauxbatons Carriage.
Hermione's face was tinged with patches of pink.
Whatever they talked about, Hermione seemed embarrassed by it.
xxxxxx
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