Enjoyment and Worry

Cedric kicked a small rock as he walked around the edge of the Black Lake, pondering the possibility of actually winning the Cup and what might come afterwards. Fame, certainly, and he felt a shiver of excitement at just what that could mean. He would be able to do whatever he wanted – eternal glory – and he grinned as images of new equipment for the Hufflepuff team and a new broom for himself danced through his mind. Suddenly a cold feeling crashed through his daydream as he realized that with all that attention on him, his life wouldn't be his own any longer. Already he could barely deal with the pressure of Rita Skeeter, and she was only one person – he hardly dared to think of her as a professional – but if there were more eager reporters, all wanting a piece of him, a quote, a picture... Please, Cedric, just one photograph... Tell us, Cedric, what do you think of Harry Potter?

His smile faded and he kicked the rock again, viciously, watching with perverse pleasure as it disappeared beneath the inky depths of the lake. What about Harry? Prior to the start of this year and the competition, Cedric's only worries had been what he would do when he finished school and whether he would work in the Ministry like his father. Now, with the possibility of a Tournament win, his career was virtually assured – whatever he wished; he could do anything, could be anyone. His father had continued to push him towards a high-powered Ministerial job, something high profile and glamorous with a good paycheque, but Cedric was more concerned with being happy in his job. I know that we'll never see eye to eye on that particular point, he mused, and their recent correspondence had only served to confirm Cedric's suspicions. He wondered whether his father knew him at all, belatedly realizing that he'd been the one to keep certain truths about himself from his parents and from others. Realistically, he knew that he couldn't really blame them, and he firmly decided to come clean to everyone once the pressure of the Tournament was over. He just wanted – needed – a little time to himself, time to breathe without the dark cloud of the Triwizard Cup dogging his days and haunting his nights.

Cedric was surprised to realize that he had walked around to the far end of the lake, and from this vantage point, the castle stood proudly upon the cliffs in the distance, her turrets reaching into the sky with imperious grace. Cedric felt a shiver flow through his body. The castle represented most of what was good in his life, what was strong, what was fair. He could just make out the forest, its dark and gloomy shape highlighted by the moon's soft glow, and he looked up at the heavenly body above him, half of it illuminated by the light of the sun, half of it clothed in shadow. Almost duplicitous, the moon, he thought, as though it was comprised of two entirely different parts, two conflicting lives that embraced one entity. Much like the way he thought about himself lately.

He had arranged to meet Harry by the lake that night for a bit of flying. The Quidditch pitch was now almost completely obscured by the tall fences of the maze, and there was nowhere else to fly without being seen. He scanned the sky for any sign of movement, but with only the minimal light from the rising moon, shadows and objects took on a very different quality. Finally, a soft blur in the distance became a dark shape, and Cedric's heart soared as Harry touched down softly on the ground near to where he stood.

'Hello.' Harry's voice was soft and he smiled shyly, and Cedric grinned back at him broadly as he wondered whether the Gryffindor was having second thoughts. After all, they were out on the far side of the lake late at night, and although nothing untoward was planned, Cedric hoped that Harry knew that he had just meant flying. Somehow, their undeniable attraction always seemed to colour the most innocent of exchanges, and even though he tried to prevent himself, Cedric's eyes inspected every inch of Harry's black shirt and dark jeans with interest.

'It's been so long since I've seen the castle from here.' Harry's voice broke through his thoughts, and the light of the moon highlighted the young Gryffindor's face and look of wonder. Cedric swallowed and took a deep breath as he ran his hand through his hair, trying to calm the butterflies in his stomach.

'I used to come out here last year, but with the Tournament and all, I don't often get a chance to anymore. Well worth the trip, wouldn't you say?' Cedric closed his eyes with a mental groan as he realized that his words were filled with innuendo, and he was once more distracted by Harry's shy smile and the slight pucker of his bottom lip where teeth worried at it on the inside.

Libido, Diggory, he admonished himself silently. Try to control it. 'So, Harry, ready for some flying?'

'Absolutely! I can't tell you how much I've missed it.'

The pure excitement on Harry's face was a pleasure to see, and Cedric's grin matched Harry's as they mounted their brooms.

'Okay, but let's keep it on this side of the lake. Even though you're with a prefect, I don't want to get us into any trouble unnecessarily.'

'Trouble? Cedric, have you ever been in trouble a day in your life?'

'Hey! I'm not like you, Harry. You've got enough trouble for the two of us.'

It was jokingly said, but a kernel of truth ran through it, and Harry smiled wryly. Cedric felt a little embarrassed and slightly awkward and quickly tried to make light of his remark. 'Must be all that Potter blood, eh?'

Harry's grin was genuine this time. 'Yeah, must be. Let's go.'

With that, Harry kicked off from the ground, streaking into the sky with effortless grace, and Cedric stood there for a moment, thinking that Harry was almost a stranger to the ground, so natural were his movements in the air. He mounted his own broom and soared into the air, his blood pounding as he revelled in the sheer joy of flight. When he was on a broom, he wasn't a Hogwarts Champion, or a prefect, or Amos Diggory's son, or anything; he was simply a flyer. The indescribable feeling of freedom was something that couldn't be appreciated by anyone who'd never flown a broom, and for those who had, explanations simply weren't necessary. The wind rushed past his ears and tugged at his clothes, the air in his lungs growing cooler as he ascended, his eyes locked on the blur that was Harry many hundreds of feet above him.

Harry slowed and waited for him, flying in lazy circles, and as Cedric caught up to him, he could see the mischievous glint in those green eyes despite the pale moonlight.

'First, let's check your reflexes, Seeker,' Harry shouted, and almost as quickly as thought, he was diving away from Cedric, who followed a moment later, hunched low over the handle of his broom, making himself as small as possible as he strove to accelerate even faster. He virtually plummeted out of the sky, his eyes screwed tight against the relative wind, twisting and turning in Harry's wake.

Damn the boy for wearing black, he growled half-heartedly to himself, knowing only too well that Harry in black was a sight indeed, but now he was at a major disadvantage since he couldn't see his quarry well enough to give proper chase. Hardly wondering whether it was ethical, he cast a hasty Tracking Charm, and suddenly Harry's outline shone before him, down and to the right. Shifting slightly and dipping one shoulder, Cedric veered and gave chase, accelerating and eventually managing to fly close enough to Harry to shout at him before he was detected.

'Your turn now, Seeker,' Cedric yelled back through the rush of wind and dived away to the left, spiralling to get even greater speed before levelling out briefly. He quickly checked behind him, but Harry was nowhere in sight, so he pulled upwards on the handle of his broom and looped up and around, increasing his height while he kept an eagle eye out for his pursuer.

Harry was coming up on him fast, and Cedric banked sharply to the left, then to the right, repeatedly zigzagging at high speed in an attempt to shake his pursuer. He saw that he was approaching the ground with surprising speed, and he hit the brake hard as he hauled the broom to the right, describing a perfect circle around Harry, who had pivoted his broom around to follow Cedric's direction of flight, but he hadn't arrested his momentum or changed his course, which resulted in his flying backwards as Cedric completed his circle, and the two of them ended up facing each other, Harry with a cocky grin on his face.

Smooth, Potter, very smooth, Cedric thought, as he touched down on the lake shore. Face was flushed with exertion, Harry brought his broom to land beside Cedric. 'Was that the Woollongong Shimmy?' he asked, his voice deliciously breathless, and for a moment, Cedric had to force himself to concentrate on what Harry'd said, rather than how he sounded saying it.

'Yeah... or part of it, at least.'

'Not all of it, though. That last bit was bloody brilliant!'

Cedric grinned, both at Harry's face and his words. 'Thanks. Your... uh... backwards flying bit was impressive. Show me sometime?'

'Sure, any time.'

Any time... any time... Harry's words replayed themselves in Cedric's mind, and his heart danced as it suddenly occurred to him that they were talking about the future, their future, based for the moment on Quidditch moves, but open to the possibility of so much more.

Harry's eyes glittered with excitement. 'I can't wait to play Quidditch again next year; it feels like forever since I've caught a Snitch.'

'Well then, let's get back in the air and go find one,' Cedric joked. He wrapped his hand more firmly around the object in his pocket and muttered, 'Candeo,' then tossed the small shiny object into the air, laughing at Harry's gasp as the now-glowing Snitch unfurled its wings and took flight. The young Gryffindor threw Cedric a devilish grin as he mounted his broom and gave chase, with Cedric only a moment or two behind. They both bent low over their brooms in their simultaneous attempts to both out-fly and outmanoeuvre each other for possession of the prize.

Flying felt effortless, as though Cedric's magic surrounded him and enmeshed his thoughts and body with his broom. The exhilaration of flight gripped him once more, and he pushed his broom faster, throwing himself into the turns and flattening himself out so completely on the broom's handle that his chin touched the wood, coaxing every last fragment of speed and virtually willing himself closer to the ever-elusive Snitch. His eyes began to dry out and burn from the rush of wind, but a muttered protective Shielding Charm solved the problem.

In his peripheral vision he could see Harry occasionally, his body similarly stretched out flat on his broom and his shoulders and torso leaning into the turns. He really was breathtaking to watch, and he flew with such courageous abandon that it could be termed recklessness were it not for his considerable ability and skill. Cedric could easily recognise raw talent, and Harry seemed to have it in spades, yet he wasn't the slightest bit pompous about it, nor did he affect any bravado. He was simply Harry, or as simple as The Boy Who Lived could ever hope to be.

A flash of luminescent gold directly below him forced Cedric out of his reverie, and he dropped his right shoulder, rolling around underneath his broom and diving straight towards the ground. He revelled at the familiar feeling in his stomach whenever he performed this manoeuvre and reached out his hand towards the Snitch, which dangled just at the tip of his broom, annoyingly just out of reach, just like so many things in his life. As his vision narrowed in concentration, he never saw the dark shadow coming up at him until it was too late, and the glowing orb was suddenly snatched away by the lightning-quick reflexes of the Gryffindor Seeker.

Frustrated, Cedric pulled out of his dive and touched down hurriedly, belatedly noticing that the ground had been rather closer than he'd realized. He was surprised at the worry on Harry's face as the boy landed beside him. 'Wouldn't do to have the Hogwarts champion auger in during a clandestine flying exercise, now would it?' Harry's words were light, but his tone betrayed his concern.

'No, I imagine it wouldn't,' Cedric reluctantly admitted. 'Still, I'm not the only champion, so Hogwarts will still be well represented.'

'Tosser.'

'Usurper.'

'That's "Mister Usurper" to you, Diggory.'

Cedric couldn't contain the laughter that spilled out of him – his entire body seemed to relax and respond to Harry's teasing in a way that was both surprising and entirely welcome. Harry flashed him a grin, and Cedric felt as though his heart would explode, both from the pace of its beating and the sheer force of the contractions. He felt slightly unsteady, and instead of re-mounting his broom, he motioned to Harry, who nodded. Cedric moved closer and slung his arm casually around Harry's shoulders as they started walking back towards the castle. They soon fell into a comfortable pace, and the night area was pleasantly cool against his sweaty skin.

'So, Harry, what do you have planned for the summer?'

Harry frowned, and Cedric was both intrigued by the expression and confused as to its reason.

'Um, I'll probably have to stay with my aunt and uncle.'

'And that's bad, is it?'

Harry stopped abruptly, and he glowered at the ground, his face as serious as Cedric had ever seen him. Cedric removed his arm from Harry's shoulder and turned to face the younger boy, his flesh already lamenting the loss of warmth.

'You have no idea. What I wouldn't give for a normal..."

Without thinking, he replied, 'Normal what, Harry? Nothing about you has ever been or will ever be normal.'

Harry's head snapped up, and he looked directly into Cedric's eyes. For a moment, his whirling aura seemed more disquieting and insane than ever, and Cedric wondered whether he'd gone too far, but then Harry sighed, a deep, cavernous sound, and the chaotic colours of his aura became more harmonious.

'You're right, you know. Time I started accepting that, isn't it?'

Cedric breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't insulted his friend. 'It doesn't have to be a curse, Harry. You can't pretend its easy, but you can try to stop fighting who you are.'

'Hmm. Yeah.'

Harry seemed to consider those words, and Cedric paused for a moment, knowing that if he examined them closely, he'd see that the very same words applied to him. That thought disquieted him, and he once more wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder, eager to change the topic.

'So, how long do you have to be with your family?'

'They're not... really my family. I mean, they are, but it's never felt like a home there. I usually have to stay until my birthday.'

'That's at the end of July, right?'

Harry let out a surprised laugh, and Cedric loved the sound of it. 'How did you...?'

Now it was Cedric's turn to laugh at Harry's incredulous expression. 'Your age was quite a bone of contention when you were chosen as champion.'

Harry ducked his head, and Cedric suspected that he was blushing, something he loved even more. Delighted shivers raced up his spine, and he tried to remember what he had been saying, even as his body and mind catalogued every inch of skin and every point of contact between him and Harry.

'Okay, so what happens after your birthday?'

'Then, hopefully, I'll get to spend the rest of the summer with Ron's family at the Burrow.'

Cedric's heart leapt. The Weasleys lived close enough to him that he might be able to see Harry during the summer. His cousins Joan and Anne-Marie would be visiting, and since they both enjoyed a fair amount of mischief, he was sure that they'd leap at the chance to meet boys, and he suspected that the twins would more than keep them occupied, perhaps leaving more time for him and Harry...

He was jolted out of his daydream as Harry stumbled on the uneven ground, but his arm tightened around the younger boy's shoulders to steady him. 'It's okay, I've got you.'

'I can take care of myself,' Harry said, and although he didn't pull away, his tone was almost defiant. Cedric hadn't meant to negate the Gryffindor's abilities, but he felt that somehow he had. He stopped walking, and his arm fell from Harry's shoulders as the Gryffindor turned to face him, his features set and his aura once again distracting and tumultuous.

'I know,' Cedric said softly, and he did know. 'I'm sorry.'

Harry was suddenly very close to Cedric, who hadn't even seen the movement, and then there were warm arms wrapped around his torso and thick, dark hair pressed against his chest. Unable to help himself, and not really wanting to, he allowed himself the luxury of running his hands through Harry's hair, feeling the silky texture of the strands as they slipped through his fingers, and the body pressed against him sighed. He closed his eyes, knowing that the moment would be fleeting, yet not expecting the emptiness inside him as they parted.

'You okay?' he murmured, watching Harry's face carefully, and the green eyes flickered as he nodded briefly. The whirling colours of his aura subsided somewhat, and Cedric took a deep, relieved breath. They both turned and resumed their walk, not touching but talking companionably as they approached the front gates, and as they started up the path, Cedric felt more at peace with himself than he'd been in a long time.

'You go on up, Harry, I'll put our brooms back. Do you have your Cloak with you?'

Harry nodded, and Cedric was amused to realize that the Gryffindor really didn't think twice about breaking school rules.

'Okay. Well, be careful, and I'll see you around, yeah?'

Harry's mouth quirked a little as he nodded and smiled. 'Thanks, Cedric. Goodnight.'

'Night.'

Cedric smiled to himself as he realized that tonight he had been surrounded by the things he loved, Hogwarts, the freedom of flying and... his stomach fluttered as his heart constricted just a little more... and Harry.

~~~

Monday evening found Cedric, Markus and Jamie gathered in a tight group around the table in the library where, thanks to Markus' powerful Silencing Charm, they had successfully evaded Madame Pince's eagle-eyes for the past hour. They had been through their list of dangerous creatures, and had discussed both avoidance techniques and possible spells and counter-spells for any defensive manoeuvres that might be required.

'We should do a final run-through of these charms and spells, Diggs, just to be on the safe side.'

Cedric didn't have time to reply before Jamie burst in incredulously. 'Come ON, Markers. How many times to we have to cast and re-cast those spells and be disarmed by him? He knows his stuff. He's ready. In fact, he's more than ready, and I don't know about you, but I'm still sore from the last volley of hexes he threw at us.'

Cedric grinned apologetically, and Markus nodded. 'Yes, I suppose you're right. Now we just have to talk about psychological strategy.'

'Are you sure the Hat didn't mean to put you in Slytherin, 'Kus?'

They all laughed cautiously at that, checking for any evidence that the librarian had heard them, but Markus' charm held strong.

'Okay then, Markus, what's the psychological warfare about?' Cedric was interested in his friend's analysis of the situation and they all huddled closer.

'The way I see it, you've got one final hurdle, not counting all the possible creatures you might meet in the maze.'

'What else is there?' Jamie was puzzled and glanced through their notes once more, while Cedric eyed his dark-haired friend with interest.

'Go on.'

'Well, actually, it's Harry.'

'What?' Cedric was genuinely surprised.

'Harry?' Jamie furrowed his eyebrows as he looked up from his list.

Markus nodded carefully. 'Yeah. Consider this: not only do you have to deal with the physical and mental demands of this last task, but now you're emotionally involved with another champion.' He held up his hand to forestall the argument that formed on Cedric's lips. 'No, Diggs, just hear me out, all right? You can either work with Harry, or against him. I suggest that you keep your emotions out of it. This final task is a job, so just do your job, get the Cup, claim your victory, and deal with the emotional aspect after.'

Cedric was stunned. He had privately wondered whether Harry's presence might be a bit unsettling, but to have Markus actually say it... He looked at Jamie who seemed to understand his conflict.

'That's all well and good to say, Markers, and it's great in theory, but you must understand that Cedric's emotions are both strong and very close to home. It's not that easy to distance himself that way.'

Cedric felt thankful that Jamie was able to verbalize what he was feeling, and he smiled as he met his friend's gentle brown eyes, but the smile faded as he realized that Jamie was serious.

'Just be careful, Cedders. You may well be in for the fight of your life.'

~~~

Still slightly breathless, Cedric stood in the Headmaster's office mulling over the goings-on of the past ten minutes. He had been on his way to Herbology with Markus when he was almost blinded by a brilliant flash of fire and was surprised to find a scroll of parchment in his hand. After reading it quickly, and with a hurried word to Markus and Professor Sprout, he had hastened back to the castle with the Headmaster's words running through his mind. Must speak with you urgently... please do not delay. What could he want? Cedric mulled over the happenings in his house during the past week, but he hadn't heard of any major infraction of school rules. Hufflepuff hadn't lost too many points lately, although Professor Snape had reportedly tried to cleave at least one hundred from the fourth-years, and whereas the late-night rendezvous with Harry was possibly the reason, the urgency of it all seemed rather excessive.

The door behind him swung open and Professor Dumbledore breezed in, his robes flowing behind him in a manner oddly reminiscent of Professor Snape. Cedric bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at that thought and waited politely. Kind blue eyes regarded him for a moment before he was waved into a chair.

'Exciting times, my boy. Do you find yourself quite prepared for the third task?'

The Tournament? That's what the message was about? Cedric nodded his assent while attempting to understand. Dumbledore cleared his throat and suddenly he looked a little less relaxed.

'I thought I might have a word with you, Mister Diggory, regarding you and young Harry.'

Cedric swallowed hard as his pulse increased and his stress level ratcheted up several notches, but he fought to maintain a calm outward appearance as he nodded politely, waiting for the Headmaster to continue, not trusting himself to speak.

'I find myself slightly concerned that your friendship might jeopardise your chances in this Tournament. You are both young, and I do not wish to insult your intelligence by suggesting that either of you are going down a path which is unwise, but I must stress that you and he are still Hogwarts champions, and as such, I seek your assurances that you will continue to operate as two individuals.'

Cedric was surprised that Dumbledore, of all people, should think otherwise. 'Headmaster, I mean no disrespect, but why would you think that anything would change in that regard?'

Blue eyes twinkled slightly. 'Because, Mister Diggory, things have certainly changed in other regards.'

Cedric felt chilled as a rush of adrenaline coursed through his body, and his understanding of the situation was suddenly crystal clear. 'Professor, neither Harry nor I would compromise our positions in the Tournament.'

'Mister Diggory, allow me to explain. When two powerful forces of magic are swayed by something significantly more than mere friendship, the combined powers are often unstable and irrational unless properly controlled. You are an extremely gifted wizard and, magically speaking, I doubt that there is anyone alive today who can compare with Harry's capabilities. It is very rare to come across someone with such power, and a great deal can be gained... or lost...' he raised his eyebrows in emphasis, 'under the right circumstances.'

Cedric cleared his throat nervously and shivered as the full impact of Dumbledore's meaning hit home. Harry was – could be used as – a weapon! Of course he had been once, as it turned out, and he'd proved it the day he defeated He Who Shall Not Be Named, but why would Professor Dumbledore think that Harry...

Cedric blinked as a flash of green light and darkness ran through his mind, and he was once more back at the Quidditch World Cup, remembering the Death Eaters marching through the camp and the Dark Mark glowing eerily in the night sky. With a shudder of certainty, he knew. The darkness his parents spoke about was on the rise once more, and Harry was the shining new hope for the future. Why, then, would he willingly enter himself in a competition that could be his undoing, unless he was forced into it as some sort of training exercise? Cedric's mind whirled with possibilities. Harry had always claimed to be innocent, and Cedric wanted to believe him, but the circumstances and the evidence seemed to be pointing in one of two directions. Either Harry was being used as a weapon, and this was part of his training, or he was believed to be dangerous and the Tournament would finish him off. Either way, Harry was being offered up as a sacrificial lamb, and Cedric would have none of it. He stood, drawing himself up to his full height and looked at the Headmaster who had also risen from his chair.

'Professor, I assure you that Harry is in no danger from me,' he said pointedly.

The blue eyes no longer twinkled. 'Quite so, Mister Diggory. Well, best of luck in the third task, and I look forward to a strong showing from Hogwarts.' His tone was politely dismissive, and Cedric resisted the urge to press the matter further. He would tell Harry, warn him, protect him, something!

~~~

TBC

A/N: candeo: to shine, glow, grow brilliant, Source: http://www.sunsite.ubc.ca/LatinDictionary/