Cedric/Harry
Title:: Together or Not At All
Pairing:: Harry/Cedric
Rating:: PG13
Summary:: My take on how Goblet of Fire should have been and ended.
Warning:: Character Death (though not who you might think mwahaha)
Disclaimer:: I don't own anything HP.
A/N:: So this was born of me watching Goblet of Fire like a bajillion times, which is a dangerous thing to do, believe me. It's obviously school-age Harry and Cedric so it's not pr0ny or anything. I'm also not quite sure how well I succeeded at making them sound like teenagers since it's been AGES since I've written a teenage!harry fic. Oh well. :) Enjoy.

"Morning Amos!" Arthur cried. He cast a glance behind him at the lagging teens before taking Amos' hand in a warm greeting. "Sorry old chap, some of us had a bit of a sleepy start."

There were agreeing grunts all around as the teens ambled up to Arthur and his co-worker. A second later, a taller, quite handsome teen dropped from the tree branch he'd been sitting in. "Diggory," the twins muttered.

The teens all recognised the Hufflepuff seeker, Cedric Diggory. He was the only seeker to have bested Harry Potter in a Quidditch match, and that was by accident, as Harry had been attacked by Dementors during that game.

Everyone exchanged grumbling hellos before making their way to a dirty, old boot lying atop a small hill. It was the portkey that would be taking the entire lot to the place where the Quidditch World Cup was being held.

It was a stomach-turning experience for all, including experienced wizards, using a portkey. The inexperienced children tumbled to the ground hard while Amos, Arthur and Cedric floated gracefully, landing on their feet.

Harry suddenly found himself staring into Cedric's smiling face. It took him a second to pull his eyes away from Cedric's mouth and notice that Cedric was extending a hand to help him up. Harry blushed, half flattered and half annoyed that he was being helped up like a woman.

"Thanks," he muttered, still unable to keep from grinning like a fool.

"You landed hard," Cedric said quietly. "You okay, then?"

"Fine. Great," Harry said, blushing harder now.

They followed the two adults until Amos pointed out his own tent. "We're there, Cedric. See you at the match then, Arthur?"

Arthur nodded and led his own lot along, Harry regretfully following. Making his way to the two tents Arthur had set up, he went inside and tried not to think of Cedric at all.

"We'll be needing water," Arthur eventually announced. "Where've Hermione and Ron got to?"

Harry, who had declined a look around the grounds, shrugged. "Off buying souvenirs, I expect, Mr Weasley."

"Drat. And the twins?"

Harry laughed. "Merlin only knows." Harry suddenly realised this might be an opportunity to catch Cedric on his own and he stood from his chair. "Mr Weasley, I wouldn't mind fetching water. If I see Ron and Hermione I can send them back here."

"Excellent! Good boy," Arthur said and handed Harry a bucket and the map.

Harry quickly headed out and looked at the map which didn't seem so complicated until he looked up at all the tents and merchants in his way. He made his way through the crowd and eventually found the well. He filled up with water and headed back, disappointed that he hadn't seen a whisper of Cedric.

He was almost back at the tent, lost in his thoughts, when a heavy hand fell on his shoulders. Harry whipped round and saw Cedric standing there with a smile, his cheeks a bit pink.

"All right, Harry?"

Harry nodded. "You?"

"Great. Bit overwhelming, this," he said, nodding towards the crowd.

Harry shrugged. "I've never been to anything like this before, I think it's pretty neat."

"You were raised by Muggles, weren't you?" Cedric asked.

"My aunt and uncle," Harry clarified. "They'd rather die than see more than one wizard in the world."

Cedric frowned. "Ah," was all he said. There was a short, awkward silence and Cedric shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I er... did want to apologise for my dad earlier."

"Your dad?" Harry asked with a frown.

"Yeah, how he was going on and on about that Quidditch match last year. I've explained to him over and over that I didn't really beat you at all."

"Oh," Harry said and shrugged. "It's fine."

"I just didn't want you to think I go round saying how I beat the 'Great Harry Potter' or anything."

Harry blushed again and laughed. "I'm not so great, and you probably would have beaten me even if the Dementors hadn't been there."

Cedric cuffed Harry on the shoulder. "Don't be so modest, Potter. You've never failed to catch the snitch."

Harry could still feel Cedric's touch on his shoulder and he had to look away. "Not modest, just honest," Harry muttered.

"You know," Cedric said suddenly, "I really like you, Potter. It's a shame we haven't got to know each other better."

Harry's eyes widened slightly. "I er..." he wasn't quite sure what to say. "I mean, yeah, me too. But there's still time, isn't there?"

Cedric's smile widened. "Yeah, I reckon there is." Cedric suddenly seemed to notice the bucket that Harry was carrying. "Am I keeping you from something?"

Harry looked down at the water. "No! I mean well, I was sent to fetch this but I have time to talk-"

Harry was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Ron and Hermione. "Dad sent us to fetch you," Ron said, sounding slightly out of breath. He looked up at Cedric with a small frown. "Diggory," he said with a nod.

"Weasley," Cedric said back, looking slightly annoyed with the interruption.

Hermione seemed to sense that they had just interrupted something. She grabbed the bucket from Harry. "Come on, Ron, let's bring this to your mum. Harry, you catch us up later, okay?"

Harry smiled and nodded, watching them walk off. "Sorry about Ron. He's-."

"It's fine," Cedric said. "Actually I had better get off, my mum and dad will be wondering where I've got to. See you at the match though, eh?"

"Oh... yeah, right," Harry said, trying not to sound disappointed.

Cedric hesitated and then suddenly leant in to whisper in Harry's ear. "Perhaps we can catch up more after the match," and without waiting for an answer, Cedric hurried off.

Harry felt as though his skin was going to burst into flames, it was so hot. He took a few, calming breaths before daring to go back into the tent with the other Weasley men.

With all the excitement, Harry was able to push Cedric to the back of his mind. He, Ron and Hermione went on a search for souvenirs before the match and when they finally got to the Minister's Box, Amos and Cedric were already there.

Harry felt his heart leap as he casually took the seat next to Cedric. They merely nodded in greeting but didn't say a word. Before long, the team mascots were working their magic and the game had begun.

Harry watched, in awe, his first ever professional Quidditch match and didn't notice anything else until he felt Cedric's hand brush up against his. Harry looked out of the corner of his eyes and saw Cedric smiling a small cheeky smile. Emboldened by all the excitement, and by the fact that everyone was looking the game, Harry grabbed Cedric's fingers and gave them a quick squeeze.

Cedric licked his lips but turned his attention back to the match. When it was over, there was no time for chatter. The group split up and went back to their respective tents.

--------------------------- -------------------

"Anything sweet for you, dear?" the trolley witch asked Harry. Harry shook his head and moved away from the old woman as she continued down the corridor. Harry took his seat and listened to the chatter between Ron and Hermione about what had happened during the World Cup.

Harry was irritated, both by Ron and Hermione's worry and by the slight irritation he felt constantly now, in his scar. With a sigh, Harry looked through the glass on the door and suddenly saw Cedric whizzing by.

"I er," Harry said and stood up, "think I might want a sweet after all. I'm going to find the trolley. Anyone want anything?"

Everyone shook their heads and Hermione watched with a frown as Harry hurried out of the compartment and down the corridor in the direction Cedric had gone. He suspected Cedric had gone to the loo, so he lingered about and sure enough, the door swung open and Cedric came out.

The Hufflepuff teen looked quite surprised to see Harry standing there, and offered Harry a smile. "Potter!"

"Hey," Harry said. He felt nervous, terrified that he had misread Cedric's actions during the cup. "How are you?"

"Great," Cedric said. The teen looked over his shoulder and then pulled Harry to an empty compartment. He shut the door and quickly pulled the shade. "I'm sorry we didn't get any time after the match."

Harry, his stomach turning circles, shrugged. "Trouble seems to follow me."

"So I've noticed," Cedric said with a laugh. "One of the reasons I always liked you."

Harry licked his lips. He thought it would be a horrible insult to tell Cedric that he had never really noticed him before the World Cup, so he didn't. "I just don't see why someone like you would notice me." Harry meant that in full. Cedric was one of the best looking, and most popular students at Hogwarts.

Cedric rolled his eyes. "There you go with your modesty again."

"Like I said before," Harry retorted playfully, "honesty, not modesty."

Cedric leant against the door with his arms crossed and looked at Harry for a long moment. "Seriously, Potter, I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have your fame."

"You wouldn't want it, believe me," Harry muttered.

Cedric frowned but didn't say anything back. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Harry by the shoulders. "When you grabbed my hand at the Cup," Cedric said and paused a moment, "did you mean..."

Harry let out a shallow breath. "Uhm... yeah..."

Cedric grinned and pulled Harry in for a kiss. Harry was surprised by it at first and didn't respond, but Cedric was patient and gave Harry a moment to collect himself. Then, as Harry relaxed, Cedric coaxed Harry's lips open gently.

The kiss didn't last long, yet it seemed to last an eternity. When Cedric pulled away, Harry was flushed and a little dizzy. "Woah," he said before he could stop himself.

Cedric chuckled a little. "Was that your first?"

Harry, unable to form a coherent sentence, nodded dumbly.

Cedric let his thumb caress Harry's cheek for a second. "It was good. You were good at it, I mean."

Harry licked his lips and found he could still taste Cedric on them. "It was- I mean- so were you."

Cedric chuckled again. "We should probably get back to our friends before they start to wonder where we are."

"Er, right," Harry said, terrified of what he'd do if his friends found out he'd just been snogging, of all people, Cedric Diggory.

"See you later," Cedric said and opened the door. He paused and then said very quietly, "We have all year, don't we?"

Harry, unable to help himself, smiled. "Yeah, we do."

When Harry got back to his compartment, Ron and Hermione looked at him expectantly. "I thought you were getting a sweet," Hermione said.

"Couldn't find the trolley," Harry muttered to his feet as he sat back down.

"Clearly, since you went the wrong way," Hermione retorted. She had that 'I know something's up' tone to her voice and she continued her interrogation. "So what took so long? It's a short walk to the end of the car."

Harry flushed. "What's with the third degree, Hermione? I stopped by the loo."

"Why are you attacking him?" Ron piped up for his friend. "Have you mapped out the train cars or something?"

"You're flushed, Harry," Hermione said, narrowing her eyes.

Harry rolled his eyes. "It's hot in here."

"No it's not-" Hermione began but Ron cut her off by bringing up the Quidditch match and a fierce conversation about the World Cup began.

Off the hook for the moment, Harry participated in the conversation and tried desperately not to think of how Cedric's mouth felt on his.

--------------- --------------- ----------------

It was weeks before Harry got another moment with Cedric. By that time, the talk of the school was the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Harry was wandering the corridors when he was suddenly pulled into the shadows by firm hands.

Before he could protest, Harry was shoved against the wall and snogged silly. Harry didn't have to wonder who it was, and simply kissed back fiercely until they parted.

"I've been wanting to do that for ages now," Cedric breathed against Harry's mouth.

"Me too," Harry said back. Boldly, he carded his hands through Cedric's hair and kissed him on the mouth again.

"Mmm," Cedric said and licked his lips.

Still keeping safely hidden in the dark corner, Cedric and Harry leant against the wall, Cedric holding Harry's waist gently.

"So are you going to do it?" Harry asked. "Enter the tournament?"

Cedric laughed. "What do you think?"

"Silly question, I suppose. I think you're going to be chosen."

"I could only be so lucky," Cedric said wistfully. "Did you see Viktor Krum? Could you imagine competing against him?"

"You could take him," Harry said and honestly meant it.

Cedric laughed. "Just imagine how famous I would be. I mean, people would know me on the street, the way they know you."

"It's not so great," Harry said. "I'd give almost anything not to be recognised sometimes."

Cedric smiled and kissed Harry again. "I've got Transfiguration right now, so I'd better go. McGonagall will wonder if I'm late."

Harry nodded. "See you at dinner."

"I'll be watching, you can be sure of that," Cedric said with a wink and kissed Harry one last time before hurrying off.

Feeling as though he was walking on air, Harry headed to Potions. Not even Snape, this day, could damper Harry's mood.

---------------- -----------------

The happiness didn't last, though, because shortly afterwards, Harry's name had come out of the Goblet and suddenly the entire school hated him. Harry knew the moment Cedric's eyes fell on him, that not even Cedric believed him.

Cedric caught up with him in the corridor and looked at him with a deep frown. "So how did you do it, Potter?"

"I didn't," Harry said fiercely.

Cedric snorted. "Sure." He paused and said, "You can tell me, you know. I'm not going to go spilling your secret."

"There's no secret, Cedric. I didn't put my name in the Goblet."

Cedric paused and looked hard at Harry. "I thought you didn't want to be famous."

"I don't!" Harry all-but shouted.

"So why'd you do it?"

"I swear to God, Cedric, I didn't do it."

"I just wanted to see what a little bit of fame felt like, Potter. I wouldn't have tried to take it from you."

"Cedric!" Harry cried but the Hufflepuff teen disappeared round the corner towards his common room.

--------------------- ---------------------

Soon the badges appeared and with it, the knowledge of the dragons. Harry felt bitter towards everyone, including Cedric, but he also liked him terribly and didn't want Cedric to face the first task totally unknowing.

Plucking up the courage, Harry approached Cedric while he was surrounded by a group of his friends. "Can I have a word?"

Cedric rolled his eyes. "I suppose."

Harry took the sleeve of Cedric's robe and pulled him to a quiet corner. "The first task is Dragons."

Cedric frowned. "Dragons? What do you mean, dragons?"

"Just that," Harry said. "I saw them last night. They have one for each of us."

Cedric eyed Harry suspiciously. "Are you having me on, Potter?"

"No," Harry said firmly. "Last night I saw them with my own eyes. Madame Maxime knows as well, and I'm sure Karkaroff knows as he always seems to be where he oughtn't."

"Why are you telling me, then?" Cedric demanded.

Harry looked a little taken aback. "Why shouldn't I tell you? I mean, it's only fair, isn't it? We're all on even footing now, aren't we?"

Just then, a small group of Hufflepuffs walked by and pressed their badges to reveal Potter Stinks. Harry rolled his eyes and looked away until they passed.

"I've asked them to stop," Cedric said quietly, "but they don't listen."

"I don't care about the badges, Diggory," Harry said dryly. He took a deep breath and then looked Cedric in the eye. "I really like you, Cedric. A lot. I've never really thought about anyone before so..." Harry trailed off and shrugged. "I thought you were different. I'm supposed to be this great, famous hero, this defeater of Dark Lords or some rubbish, and people love that, but they also love to see me as the bad guy. They're so ready to think I've done something rebellious or evil. I expected this from most people, but I thought you were different."

Cedric's cheeks coloured a little. "Potter," he said softly.

Harry shook his head. "It shouldn't matter, really. It does, but it shouldn't. All I know is that whoever put my name into that Goblet wants me dead. And maybe when you see me lying on the field having my innards eaten by a ruddy great dragon, you'll finally realise that. I don't want eternal fame and glory, I just wanted to get by one year at Hogwarts without having to risk my life."

Too frustrated to wait for an answer, Harry stormed off, and Cedric didn't protest.

----------------------- ----------------- -------------------

"A dance?" Harry muttered with disgust when he, Hermione and Ron had finally made it back to the common room.

"I know," Ron said. "That's just a ridiculous idea."

"Idiots," Hermione said as she took a seat on one of the sofas. "Ron, have you finished your essay for Snape?"

"I'm almost done," Ron said.

"Meaning you haven't started," Hermione scolded. "Go and get your things."

"But-" he protested.

"Now!" Hermione said.

Rolling his eyes, Ron headed up to the dormitory to get his supplies.

While he was gone, Hermione quickly took the opportunity to grill Harry on something. "I've seen you staring at Cedric Diggory," she said.

"No I haven't been!" Harry hissed.

"I'm not going to tell anyone," Hermione said. "I know you two were snogging on the train. I also know he was angry about your name coming out of the Cup."

"Yeah well, I guess I always pick the idiots," Harry muttered.

"He's not angry anymore," Hermione said. "I overheard him talking to his friends and he was defending you fiercely. Have you talked to him lately?"

"No," Harry said, lightened by this news. "D'you think he's taking someone to the ball?"

Hermione reddened. "I don't think that someone will be you," she confessed. "I mean, I think it's a boy-girl thing."

"Oh," Harry muttered.

"You could bring it up though, Harry," Hermione suggested. "It couldn't hurt."

Harry opened his mouth to say more but Ron appeared with his rucksack, grumbling about what he would do to Snape if he ever had the professor alone and wandless.

------------------- ---------------------- ------------------

As pleased as he was that he had made up with Ron and convinced the whole of Gryffindor he hadn't put his name in the cup, he still felt empty. Cedric still hadn't spoken to him; hadn't even looked at him, and Harry wondered if he had failed to convince the one person he wanted to believe him most. It had been almost a week since the first task had ended and Harry still couldn't sleep.

He was wandering the corridors. It was late, well past curfew and he knew Snape was on patrol so he was keeping to the shadows. Wandering aimlessly, Harry started up the steps to the Divination tower.

He was half-way up when he saw Cedric sitting on the sill of the stained glass window. Cedric had seen Harry coming so he wasn't surprised.

"Bit late to be wandering, isn't it?" Cedric said.

"Could say the same for you," Harry replied.

Cedric pointed to his prefect badge and shrugged. "What are you doing up so late?"

"Can't sleep," Harry said.

"Neither can I," Cedric said. He moved over, making room for Harry to sit.

Harry hesitated but eventually accepted the invitation and let his body gently rest against the older teen's. "So you heard about the Yule Ball?"

"Yes," Cedric said.

"Do you know who you're taking?"

Instead of answering, Cedric leant over and kissed Harry. He pushed the younger teen against the glass and held his face while their tongues tangled. Surprised yet completely pleased, Harry grabbed onto the front of Cedric's robes and lost himself in the kiss.

It went on for so long, Harry had completely lost track of time. His body ached for more but Cedric let Harry go and attempted to compose himself. "Sorry," Cedric said. "Every time I look at you I want to throw you to the ground and snog you stupid."

"Every time I look at you, I hope you will," Harry said with a grin.

Cedric laughed a little and stood up. "What did you ask me before? Oh, about the Ball. I suppose I'll be taking my girlfriend."

Harry felt his heart drop into his stomach. "Girlfriend?"

Cedric nodded. "Why, who're you taking?"

"I hadn't... hadn't thought," Harry managed.

"Good luck, then, though you are a hero who battled a dragon. I'm sure it won't be hard for you to find a date." Cedric winked at Harry and bid him a goodnight.

Shocked and hurt, Harry remained on the window sill until it was nearly dawn.

------------------- --------------------- -----------------

The Yule Ball was agony for Harry. Agony at seeing Cedric Diggory dancing and cuddling with Cho Chang. His mind was spinning and he could barely concentrate on Ron and his ridiculous jealousy over Hermione and Viktor Krum.

Eventually, when Harry had lost sight of Cedric and Cho, he decided to go for a walk. He found himself a surprise eavesdropper on a conversation between Snape and Karkaroff. Frightened by that, Harry hurried inside but stopped when he saw a heartbreaking sight. Cedric and Cho were leaning against the wall snogging. He was holding Cho the very same way he had held Harry, with the same gentle want.

Harry shook his head in disbelief and hurried to Gryffindor Tower.

For the next few days, Harry completely avoided Cedric at all costs. He couldn’t get the vision of Cedric and Cho snogging out of his head, and he couldn’t forget how it felt to be held and kissed by Cedric, either.

Cedric seemed to notice Harry’s odd mood, as well, because every time he got anywhere near Harry, the messy-haired teen would rush off with something important to do. Eventually, seemingly fed up, Cedric cornered Harry outside of the castle one wintery afternoon.

"Hey, Potter!" Cedric said, catching Harry up.

"Cedric," Harry said and tried to keep walking, but Cedric kept up.

"How are you?" Cedric asked, stopping Harry with a hand on Harry’s arm.

Harry rolled his eyes towards Cedric. "Bloody fantastic. You?"

Cedric frowned. "I’m late for class. Have you worked out your egg yet?"

"Why?" Harry asked, crossing his arms tightly.

"I never got the chance to properly thank you for helping me with the dragon."

"Forget it, you would’ve done the same for me," Harry said dryly and started to walk away again.

Cedric caught Harry’s arm once more. "Wait. Are you angry with me for something?"

"Not at all," Harry said. "Don’t you have somewhere to be right now? Have some girl to snog or something?"

Realisation dawned on Cedric, showing in his expression. "You know the prefect’s bathroom on the third floor? The password is Pine Fresh. It’s got a great bath. And er... take your egg with you."

Harry frowned but didn’t say anything. He watched Cedric walk away and wished he could stop wanting him.

----------------- ------------------- ---------------

It was late when Harry ventured to the prefects bathroom, thinking he’d gone mad that he was trying it at all. He whispered the password and locked the door behind him. Once the tub was full, it wasn’t long before he had the egg worked out, with the help of Moaning Myrtle, of course.

Harry was about to get out of the tub when he heard a strange sound like chains. "Bloody Baron?" Harry wondered aloud.

Myrtle gave a small "meep" and disappeared down the nearest toilet. Harry reached for his towel but found it snatched away from his grasp. Startled, Harry turned and saw a naked Cedric Diggory standing over him. Cedric didn’t waste any time and slipped into the warm, bubbly water.

"I knew the Bloody Baron thing would work. Did you work the egg out?" he asked.

"Yes," Harry said. He pushed himself slightly away from Cedric.

"Potter, care to tell me why Cho and I bothers you so much?"

"I thought you liked me," Harry blurted. "I thought you were interested in me."

"I am!" Cedric declared loudly. "I thought I’d made that quite clear."

"You had until I saw you two snogging at the Ball."

Cedric reddened a little. "You saw us?"

"Yes," Harry grumbled.

Cedric reached out and grabbed Harry’s hand. "Cho and I have been dating for a year now."

"So why’d you snog me? Why all of that rubbish on the train and in the corridors?"

"It wasn’t rubbish," Cedric said. "I do like you, more than I’ve liked anyone."

"Yet you and Cho-"

"Do you want me to end it?"

Harry shook his head. "I’m not going to demand anything from you. But you should probably make up your mind, Diggory, because you can’t have both."

Cedric licked his lips and pulled Harry to his chest. "I know exactly what I want." He lowered his mouth onto Harry’s and sealed his decision.

------------------ --------------- ------------------

After that night, though all he wanted to do was be with Cedric, Harry had to think about the up and coming second task. Even when he was in the water, searching for his treasure, Harry was thinking of Cedric, who was also somewhere in the Black Lake.

Harry was concentrating so hard until he finally reached the places where the students were tied and he almost lost sight of everything when he saw Cho floating there. "Most precious thing" floated in Harry’s mind. Cedric’s most precious thing. Cho.

He locked eyes with Cedric who was trying to untie Cho’s bonds. Cedric mouthed "I’m sorry" before heading to the surface. When all was said and done, and Harry was back at the surface with Gabrielle and Ron, he felt his heart sink. He could see Cedric and Cho warming up while the judges were talking things over.

Cedric was whispering fiercely to Cho and Harry could only imagine the sweet things he was saying to her. And then, to Harry’s utter surprise, Cho let out a loud sob, turned her eyes on Harry and then rushed off.

Cedric tipped Harry a nod but the moment was broken when Cedric was announced the winner of the second task. The crowd exploded again when Harry was announced that he was being awarded second place. He was surrounded by friends, clapping him on the back and cheering and before long, Cedric disappeared.

It was hours before Harry found a second alone, away from Hermione and her SPEW rampage, away from Ron and his stories of how he had defeated sixteen spear-wielding mermen, away from the twins and their plotting.

He managed to sneak down the corridor and headed near the Hufflepuff common room. He was desperately hoping for a meeting with Cedric, and it finally seemed that luck was on his side. Cedric was headed for his common room when he spotted Harry.

Wearing a huge grin, Cedric rushed up to Harry and pulled him along the corridor until they found themselves in a darkened hallway. "I thought I wouldn’t see you tonight," Cedric whispered in between kisses.

"Me too," Harry said, kissing back just as furiously. "Was Cho horribly upset?"

"Yes, but she’s rather emotional. She’ll get over it."

"I don’t like it that I’ve made you hurt someone," Harry confessed.

"She’ll get over it," Cedric insisted.

Harry decided he would rather think about what Cedric was doing to him rather than a hormonal teenaged girl crying over her latest break up.

----------------- ---------------- -----------------

"For a moment I thought you were going to let it get me," Cedric gasped as Harry helped him brush off the Devil’s Snare.

"Never," Harry said.

Cedric laughed and looked over at the cup in the distance. "Some game, eh?"

"Yeah," Harry said breathlessly.

"You’ve won it fair and square, Potter. Go, take it."

"Together?" Harry asked.

Cedric looked unsure. "But you-"

"Together or not at all," Harry insisted.

Cedric smiled.

What neither teen could see was a desperate teenage girl blasting her way through the hedges from the outside. She had heard Dumbledore whisper that Harry and Cedric had made it to the cup together and she couldn’t let them win it together. Not like that.

The hedge blasted apart and Cho appeared. Harry was already reaching for the cup when Cho grabbed on to Cedric, blocking his arm from the handle of the cup. Cedric threw her off and Cho crashed into Harry just as Harry grabbed the cup.

Cedric appeared out of the maze and stared at the crowd and the judges, unsure what to say, unsure about what had just happened. "She just... how did she..."

Dumbledore walked up to Cedric and put a hand on his shoulder. "Did Harry take the cup?"

"Yes, and he disappeared. It was a Portkey, the Cup."

Dumbledore looked round, his eyes narrow and suspicious. "We have a problem," he announced, but there was nothing to do except wait.

It seemed like an eternity before Harry appeared again, clutching the fallen body of Cho Chang. Harry was sobbing, bleeding and shaking. It seemed the world had grown silent as everyone stared down at the gruesome scene.

Harry looked up at Dumbledore and sobbed, "He’s back. I’m sorry sir! I couldn’t stop it. He’s back."

------------------ ------------------- ------------------

The year was over. The students were making their way down to the gates and Harry was by his friends, but felt very alone. He had only spoken to Cedric for moments at a time and he wasn’t sure what to make of it all.

As the trio approached the gates, Hermione nudged Harry and whispered, "Cedric’s trying to get your attention. Go on, catch us up later."

Harry nodded and excused himself from his friends. Cedric was leaning against the wall. He had been unable to smile for some time, but he managed a weak upturn of the lips when Harry approached.

"All right, Potter?" he asked.

Harry shook his head. "You?"

"Having trouble sleeping, I feel a bit out of sorts."

"I think we all do."

"I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through," Cedric said, eyeing Harry’s arm where the blood to resurrect Voldemort had been drawn.

"Cedric, I won’t blame you if you want to hate me for everything," Harry said softly, "but I can’t regret for a moment that it was her instead of you."

Cedric looked down for a moment and then took Harry’s hand tightly. "Together, or not at all, right Potter?" He looked up at Harry with a straight face.

"Do you mean that?" Harry asked.

For the first time in a long time, Cedric smiled. "Yeah Potter, I really do."