Champions

Disclaimer: Jo owns it all.

A/N: Thanks to my poppet for help with the boys.

The morning following the Welcoming Feast, Cedric climbed out of bed and dressed nervously. Markus and Jamie had sat with him the night before as he had written his name on a piece of parchment, and his hands had trembled slightly as his head filled with his father's words.

'You'll be set for life, Ced. Anything you want, any job, any position, yours for the taking,' Amos had said excitedly, his eyes shining with the possibilities.

Everlasting glory.

~*~

Those words resounded in Cedric's mind as he walked into the Entrance Hall and approached the Triwizard Cup. He had been too preoccupied to notice that his roommates were not in their beds, and was therefore shocked to see them, along with many members of his house, gathered around the Cup, laughing and wiping their eyes.

'What's happened?' he enquired.

'That idiot, Summers,' managed Ernie Macmillan. 'He tried an aging spell on himself to get around Dumbledore's Age Line. We all told him it was for naught, but he said he HAD to try!'

Cedric grinned. Everyone knew Professor Dumbledore's sense of humour, and he wondered what the outcome of that failed potion would be.

He soon felt himself locked in a powerful grip as Jamie and Markus grabbed him in a joint bear hug.

'C'mon, Cedders, are you ready?' Jamie's eyes twinkled with excitement.

'Yeah, Diggs, c'mon, do us all proud,' Markus echoed, and they caught Cedric in a bear hug playfully.

Cedric took a deep breath before he carefully stepped over the Age Line and looked around to the cheers of the crowd. He took another deep breath as he raised his hand and placed his slip of parchment in the blue-white flames. For a moment there was silence; then a roar of excitement echoed through the Hall as his fellow Hufflepuffs claimed their new prospective champion. He felt a surge of excitement, and the warmth of it swept thought his body as many hands congratulated him and clapped him on the back. The cheering crowd ushered him noisily into the Great Hall and sat him down for breakfast, but he was too excited and nervous to eat much.

The rest of that day seemed to take forever, and everywhere Cedric went he was greeted with good wishes and shouts of good luck from members of his own house and many from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. He knew that Angelina Johnson, the Gryffindor Chaser, had put her name in the cup and her entire house was supporting her at every turn. The waiting was almost intolerable; made worse by the fact that the entire school now knew of his candidacy for Champion. Everywhere Cedric went he seemed to be surrounded by people, throngs of schoolmates, all around him, all the time. Markus laughingly suggested that his popularity rivalled Krum's, and they should sell tickets for an audience with 'The Hogwarts Champion'. Jamie had laughed but viewed him with a concerned eye, and Cedric knew that his friend was both excited and worried for him. He sensed Jamie's disquiet like a beacon - Jamie didn't realize that he broadcast his feelings without ever saying a word.

Finally, evening rolled around, and although a magnificent spread was prepared for everyone, Cedric could barely eat anything. His only concern was the Goblet of Fire and the names it would reveal this very night. The tension in the Great Hall was palpable as Professor Dumbledore began the proceedings. The Goblet shot out pieces of parchment, announcing firstly Viktor Krum, then Fleur Delacour and finally, Cedric heard his own name as the entire hall erupted in cheers and thunderous applause.

His first reaction was one of total shock as a thrill tinged with fear danced through his body, for this was indeed unknown territory. Cedric had willingly placed himself in danger to be a Hogwarts Champion, and there was no turning back. As he walked past the long tables, he could feel all eyes upon him, the cheering and shouting carrying him along like a wave. As he turned with what he hoped was a confident smile towards the crowd, his eyes searched the Gryffindor table and locked briefly with those of Harry, whose green depths followed his every step. Cedric felt his heart pounding in his chest as he approached the heavy wooden door of the chamber behind the teachers' table. He closed the door behind him and took what felt like his first breath ever, as the muffled sounds of the applause continued.

He stood and looked around the room as he noted that Fleur Delacour and Krum stood close to the fire, each apparently consumed with their own thoughts and emotions. He moved over to join them and, after exchanging brief nods, he stood and gazed into the fire as he allowed the mesmerizing flames to soothe his fervid mind. After what seemed like only moments, the door opened once more, and Harry stepped inside, looking very confused and uncertain.

'What's going on, Harry?' Cedric asked the young Gryffindor. He saw the confusion in Harry's eyes mingled with something akin to fear, and his own betraying stomach leapt at their proximity. Try as he might, he couldn't sense anything from the boy; Harry's aura was like a jumbled mass of colours with no pattern. That he was agitated was obvious, but what wasn't obvious was why.

When Ludo Bagman arrived and announced that Harry was chosen as the fourth Triwizard Champion, Cedric's mind whirled with questions while Fleur ridiculed the possibility. He saw the look on Harry's face and felt a twinge of regret that he had to deal with Fleur's contempt as well as the suspicious glares of the others, but Cedric himself was bewildered at the announcement. Surely that was impossible? Harry and Cedric's eyes met, and there was significantly more now than just his usual appraisal of the Gryffindor. He conceded that Harry was now his competition and that changed things. He mused at the potential complications of not only having to compete against the other school Champions, but also against someone from Hogwarts. Compete against the Boy Who Lived. Then there was the knowledge that he also had to compete against someone for whom he had... uncertain feelings. Were he true to himself, Cedric would admit that the final point proved to be the most telling.

The door banged open again, and in strode Professor Dumbledore, closely followed by a very agitated Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Mr Crouch and Professors Snape and McGonagall. Cedric witnessed Harry being grilled repeatedly by Dumbledore and the other Headmasters, as well as Professors McGonagall and Snape, and was surprised at how vehemently Harry defended his position. Cedric didn't want to think of the boy as a liar, but how could this be?

The ominous words of Professor Moody still rang in their ears as the two Hogwarts Champions left the room together. Simply being in close proximity to Harry had elevated Cedric's state of anxiety significantly, and the Gryffindor's hesitant smile spurred Cedric's heart rate even higher. From his brief conversation with Harry, he understood that the younger boy was as confused as everyone else and insisted upon his innocence, but Cedric truly didn't know what to think.

They walked along the corridors in silence, and Cedric could feel Harry's aura as it swirled in chaotic waves around him; the boy was obviously in considerable distress. Cedric wished that he could get past the drama and confusion and just talk with Harry one on one. What would he say? What could he ask the Gryffindor? What did he really want to hear anyway?

'Did you really do it?'

'What do you hope to gain from this?'

No, Cedric mused, his own head spinning with all manner of implications. Tonight was not a good night for questions, and he had to admit to himself that he was still a bit uncomfortable with the situation surrounding Harry's inclusion in the tournament.

They approached the steps, and Harry turned to face him. Cedric looked down at the younger boy and wondered again why someone as famous as Harry Potter would bother to enter such a competition. Harry didn't seem to be the type of person who craved attention, despite what the Slytherins and some members of the faculty thought. Cedric just didn't see it that way. There had to be something more.

'Well, good night,' Harry mumbled before Cedric could say anything, and he started up the staircase towards the Gryffindor common room. Cedric paused, half wanting to follow Harry up the stairs, and although he contemplated Dumbledore's words, 'Courage in the face of the unknown is very important', he was not yet prepared to act.

'Night,' Cedric muttered to Harry's disappearing shadow.

Shaking his head, Cedric continued down the passage to the Hufflepuff common room and, upon entering, was greeted with the yells and shouts of congratulations and encouragement from his entire house; a sea of human faces and bodies all wanting a piece of him. He had forgotten the plans for the party and groaned privately as Jamie and Ernie rushed to him through the crowd and pressed a glass of something into his hand. He smiled at his friends and shook hands all around as the throng moved him this way and that, but his only thought was – 'I need to get away, I need time alone and I need to think.'

~~

Cedric sent an owl to his parents the next morning telling them that he'd been chosen as Hogwarts' Champion. He elected to remain silent about Harry's involvement, although he couldn't exactly say why. There weren't many things he didn't discuss with his parents, even where his feelings were concerned. Many times during his young years and early adolescence, Cedric had longed for a sibling with whom he could share his thoughts. His parents were both wonderful and understanding people who loved him dearly, but somehow, as he got older, Cedric was less inclined to open up to them about his preferences.

Although he was naturally handsome and had long been the object of desire by females, since becoming Champion his appeal seemed to quadruple and was apparently evident to more than just the female students of Hogwarts. On several occasions, members of the Beauxbatons Academy had cornered him in the halls and tried to engage him in conversation or to sign their schoolbooks and bags. He sighed and wished it wasn't that way and that he could live a more 'normal' life. As if there was anything normal about his particular situation.

Cedric didn't know much about the Muggle world and whether there were hang-ups about that sort of thing. Certainly his parents would have preferred him to have followed a more conventional sexual orientation, and he wondered whether Muggles took a very strict line on the matter. Although Cedric wasn't new to this world of galloping hormones, he couldn't help but wonder whether a feeling so strong and so natural could possibly be wrong, even if that feeling were for a boy, and a much younger boy at that. He had to admit that Harry was beginning to grow into a young man and, as his body developed, he became all the more desirable.

~*~

Almost two weeks had passed before Cedric noticed the badges. He doubted that they'd been around much before then, since the commotion created by their introduction was obvious. He was walking through the courtyard after lunch, trying to catch up with Markus and the others from his year, when he noticed Draco Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins approaching. They all had large badges pinned to the front of their robes which declared in vibrant lettering, "Support CEDRIC DIGGORY – the REAL Hogwarts Champion!" As they approached, Malfoy slowed his pace and pressed his badge, whereupon the message changed to a glowing green, 'POTTER STINKS'.

'Hey, Cedric, do you like it? Everybody's got one.' Malfoy's face was contorted as he gloated.

Cedric groaned inwardly but was careful not to let any of his feelings show on his face. He felt sorry for Harry, as he knew that the boy would not cease to be the brunt of all the unkind jokes by many of the students. He gave Malfoy what he hoped was some form of a smile and continued walking, his long legs taking him away from the Slytherins' fetid aura.

He caught up with his classmates as they approached the door to their Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom and groaned as they all grinned and flashed their badges at him.

'Look, guys, don't wear those, okay?' he began and the smiles disappeared, replaced with quizzical looks.

'Why not, Diggs?' Markus was the first to speak. 'That little punk somehow got his name in the Goblet. He's a rotter.'

Cedric understood that their reactions were out of loyalty to him, and he nodded as he tried to think of a quick and reasonable explanation.

'I know, guys, and I understand. Truly I do. I just don't think that we need to use the Slytherins' idea, that's all. You know I don't want to associate with those people, so please, just take 'em off, okay?'

He searched their eyes as they grudgingly nodded, and he knew that they'd accepted his explanation, much to his relief. He watched as they removed the badges and threw them into a nearby bin. Markus turned to him with a slightly quizzical expression as he adjusted his robes and schoolbooks.

'Satisfied now?' he enquired.

'Quite,' was Cedric's reply, and although he was, he was also disconcerted by his own feelings. He knew that he hadn't given them the real reason, and he didn't want to. He simply felt an unusual need to protect Harry, although he couldn't say why. Not such a good idea to want to protect your competition though, is it?

Perhaps the voice in his head had a point.

~*~

Cedric received a summons from the Headmaster to meet in one of the upstairs classrooms. Upon entering, he noted that Fleur and Krum were already present. Mr Bagman was also in the room and stood next to a bespectacled witch in bright magenta robes, as the other Champions posed for a photograph. Mr Bagman walked over to greet Cedric with an enthusiastic handshake and then returned to his conversation. At a single glance, Cedric could see that Viktor Krum was in no mood for conversation, light or otherwise, as the Bulgarian seeker stood alone facing a window. He walked over to Fleur, who was very happy to have someone to converse with, although Cedric suspected that her main objective was to get away from the leering glances of the photographer.

'And 'ow are you, Cedreec?' Fleur asked throatily as she tossed her silvery hair over one shoulder and fluttered her perfect eyelashes at him. He smiled, knowing that, Veela or not, she would have no effect on him that way.

'I'm doing well, thanks, Fleur. Are you enjoying your visit to Hogwarts?' he enquired politely, all the while mentally checking the door in anticipation of the fourth Champion's arrival.

'Eet eez very deeferent to where eye come from, Cedreec, but eye hev my sister and ozzer schoolmates, so eet eez not too terrible.' Cedric could understand most of what she said with difficulty, and smiled encouragingly when he did not. Although he still held her in his gaze, his every nerve was focused on the door as he mentally reached out and felt for a certain aura.

After roughly five minutes, the door opened and revealed the owner of said aura, an anxious Harry Potter. Mr Bagman announced his arrival with a flourish and explained that there would be the weighing of the wands and a photo shoot. Cedric groaned. He instinctively disliked the purple-clad witch, who looked devious just standing still. He noticed how she looked at Harry, almost as though he was a meal to be devoured, and not in a good way. She steered the youngest Champion away and out of the room as Cedric watched with a carefully hidden eye.

Moments later, Professor Dumbledore entered with Mr Ollivander, from whom Cedric had purchased his own wand so many years ago. He remembered the day in that dusty shop as he had looked around at the thousands of boxes, containing wands of all shapes and descriptions. He had tried a number of wands before Mr Ollivander had finally handed him a finely crafted one. He could still remember the rush of magic he'd felt as his fingers curled somewhat protectively around the wand's handle, and he had known, as surely as he knew his own name, that this was his wand. He couldn't remember having felt so... connected... to any one thing before.

'Now, where is our fourth Champion?' Dumbledore enquired as he glanced around the room.

'I believe Rita Skeeter took him off for a bit of a private interview, Dumbledore,' managed Mr Bagman, who looked as though he ought to have known better.

'Blast!' Dumbledore hastened from the room, and Cedric sighed and felt the twisting of his stomach as he joined the other Champions and sat in one of the five chairs to await the Headmaster's return. He felt the pressure of the impending Triwizard Tournament a little stronger today, as the weighing of the wands signified yet another step towards their First Task.

Professor Dumbledore soon returned, sweeping Harry into the room before him as Rita Skeeter followed and closed the door. Cedric could see a look of shaken relief on Harry's face and wondered what the reporter had spoken to him about. Harry looked in Cedric's direction and walked towards him, his eyes never leaving Cedric's as he ran his hand through his hair. Oh, do that again! Cedric could feel the distinct increase of his own heartbeat as he strove to maintain a pleasant yet neutral expression. Harry sat in the chair next to Cedric, who was acutely aware of Harry's every breath as Professor Dumbledore introduced Mr Ollivander and announced the start of the proceedings.

Fleur's wand was checked first, but Cedric barely noticed much more than the human form to his right. Harry's legs bounced nervously under the table, and Cedric empathized with him; Cedric's own propensity to pace the room was also being severely hampered.

Cedric heard his own name called and stood, allowing Fleur to pass before he walked up to Mr Ollivander. The old man beamed as Cedric handed over his wand, whereupon the Wand merchant proceeded to recite the properties of Cedric's particular piece. Cedric smiled as Mr Ollivander complimented him on the condition of his wand, as he took special pride in keeping it at peak performance. He grinned as Mr Ollivander enchanted silver rings of smoke from the tip of his wand that floated through the air in a line, after which he proclaimed the wand to be in satisfactory condition. Cedric received his wand and bowed slightly, then turned and walked back to his seat next to Harry.

He glanced at the younger boy who appeared excessively nervous.

'Relax, Harry, just breathe. It's only the weighing of the wands,' he whispered.

'It's not just that, Cedric. That Rita Skeeter woman, she's up to no good, writing things about me that I never even said...' Harry's agitated voice trailed off as his legs started bouncing again.

Cedric's mind raced. What could that... witch ... have said or done that would have upset Harry this way. He felt a protective wave of empathy for the boy, and he placed his hand on Harry's thigh to quieten his leg's activity.

'Stop the bouncing, Harry. You'll be fine,' he said, but then gasped as he felt an enormous surge of energy flow from Harry's body to his. One glance at the expression on Harry's face revealed that the boy had felt it too and was as surprised as he.

'... Mr Potter, your wand please.'

Obviously puzzled, Harry broke Cedric's gaze as he rose from his seat and approached Mr Ollivander. Cedric watched him as he walked away and wondered just what in the hell was going on between him and Harry Potter.

~*~

TBC

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A/N: All recognisable quotes are taken from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire