"You're right," Cedric admitted, letting out a heavy sigh. "Dad told me all about it. I was a small child then, and I remember my parents holding me every night, hoping that the protections over our house would hold. Harry lost family, and so did many others. It shouldn't have happened again."

No matter what anyone said, he'd always feel a small twinge of guilt that he'd been there when the war was about to start and hadn't reacted, no matter how big a logical leap it would've been. Maybe he'd find a way to stop it, maybe.

Cedric understood now. It was terrible, but it had been their only comfort. And no matter what might've happened, many of them were now dead and the worst was yet to come.

"...thanks," he said finally. "It's good to get my head straightened out. With someone who wasn't directly involved, I mean."