Title: Taking Hold

Pairing: Harry/Cedric

Summary: (Inspired by Brokeback Mountain) Harry and Cedric had always thought they only had feelings for girls. But after they meet and a friendship blooms, a new feeling slowly overtakes both of them. Struggling separately to find out what ails them, Harry and Cedric only know that this thing, this thing takes hold of them whenever they're in each other's presence. They can't describe it, and both are initially unwillingly or unable to admit their true feelings, especially when they are confused themselves.

This thing…a thing called love.

Author's Note: Hey, if you haven't seen Brokeback Mountain already, go see it. It's beeaautiful. It just recently won four Golden Globes and I'm so happy because Ang Lee, the cast, the crew…the writers…they all deserve it.

Anyways…I've just recently been introduced to the whole Harry and Cedric pairing, and for some reason I just can't get enough of it. There's something about them two as a pair that's so…what? I can't think of the word. Feel free to fill in the space for me, haha. And anyways…I love the idea that the two main characters in Brokeback didn't know that they were gay. So I wanted to try it on Harry and Cedric. I'm not sure how long this is going to end up being. We'll see how it goes!

Disclaimer: Basically…I don't lay claim to any of it! lol…:heart: J.K.Rowling and Annie Proulx!

Read and Review! Seriously, I appreciate anything. I've been reading stuff for a while, but I'm new to writing my own, so any comments would be great! Thanks! D

Chapter One

Harry was barely able to contain his excitement. The Quidditch World Cup. Who would've thought that instead of suffering through another long summer with the Dursleys, he was going to see two of the best Quidditch teams compete in the most highly anticipated Wizarding event of the year? Harry couldn't believe his twist of fate. Walking with Ron and Hermione, along with the rest of the Weasleys towards their transportation, he couldn't resist the urge to grin shamelessly at his two friends.

"Harry, you quite alright? Looks like you've just snogged the hottest girl in London," commented Ron with joking concern. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I'm just unbelievably excited," laughed Harry good naturedly. "How do you think we're going to get--"

He was cut off by a cheerful greeting that called from behind a clearing of trees. "Morning, Arthur! Over here! We've found the Portkey!" They continued walking over to see a ruddy-faced man holding an old, beaten boot in one hand.

"What's a Portkey?" whispered Harry to Ron, as Mr. Weasley shook hands and exchanged greetings with the other wizard. Ron was about to reply when Mr. Weasley called them over.

"This is Amos Diggory, everyone. He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"Hello, hello!" Amos said enthusiastically, shaking each of their hands in turn. When he got to Harry, his eyes widened. "Merlin's beard. Harry? Harry Potter?"

"Er—yeah," replied Harry, a bit embarrassed.

Suddenly, a tall figure jumped down from a tree and landed softly next to Mr. Diggory. "Oh, yes! I think you know my son, Cedric, Captain and Seeker of the Hufflepuff House Quidditch Team!" Amos introduced proudly.

The boy straightened up and Harry immediately recognized him from their Quidditch match last year, when Harry had lost his first match ever. Cedric was seventeen, a couple years older than Harry, and known to be extremely handsome. Harry recalled the sixth year, with only the tiniest twinge of jealousy, of always having admiring girls following him around in the hallways.

"Hey," said Cedric, a pleasant smile gracing his face easily.

Well, I guess I can see why. He has the whole wholesome, good-looking thing going for him, Harry grudgingly relented.

"Ced, can you believe it? Harry Potter! You played him last year and won, didn't you? That'll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will…You beat Harry Potter!"

Harry didn't know what to say in return, so he kept his mouth shut as Cedric flushed a light pink and muttered, "Harry fell off his broom, dad, it was an accident…"

"Oh! Why look at the time! We better get ready to go, clock almost says it's time!" interjected Mr. Weasley, urging them up a hill. Cedric gave Harry an embarrassed, apologetic grimace, and Harry returned a look that said, "It's okay, really, I get stuff like that all the time." The two boys suddenly grinned at each other and followed the rest up the hill.

"Ok, now boys and girls, crowd around and put a finger on the Portkey. Hurry now, don't have much time!" Everyone complied and gathered around, Fred, George and Ron elbowing each other to get a hold. Harry, placing his finger on the heel, felt an arm reach over his shoulder to get in contact with the boot, and looked up to see Cedric leaning over him. Harry inched a bit to the right to give him some more room and Cedric flashed him a quick, silent thanks as he placed his own finger on the boot laces.

"Ready now! Fifteen seconds!" Everyone crowded closer in anticipation, bodies pressing in on each other… "Ten…nine…eight…seven…" Harry detected the curious, refreshing smell of fresh laundry and newly cut grass…"six…five…four…" Harry closed his eyes, not knowing what to expect, feeling Hermione's shoulder up against his own and a toned chest pressed behind him…"three…two…one!"

Harry felt himself being pulled by the navel and was immediately lost in a dizzying swirl of motion. The world spun away and he found himself falling through the air, landing roughly in a tangle of arms and legs. "Ermphh…Ron…you're elbow is in my windpipe," Harry gasped, half-laughing as he saw Ginny, Hermione, Fred, and George in a similar pile-up a few feet away.

"Here, let me give you a hand," said a voice, and Harry looked up to see Cedric standing above them, his grey eyes sparkling with friendly laughter. He took Cedric's outstretched hand who pulled him up easily.

"Thanks," laughed Harry, straightening his glasses as Cedric helped Ron off the ground. Mr. Diggory and Mr. Weasley floated down gracefully from the sky and landed feet first.

"Alright kids, let's go find our campsite!" Mr. Weasley shouted over his shoulder as he headed towards the edge of a forest.

"Harry, you coming?" asked Ron.

"Yeah, I'm coming," said Harry distractedly, looking back only to see Cedric and his father trudging towards the other direction. "Where are they going?"

"Oh, they're probably located in another campsite," Fred piped in.

"Good riddance, mate," added George. "Did you hear the way that pretty boy's dad went

on, Harry?"

"We better cream Hufflepuff this year.."

"…not blaming anything on you, of course, Harry," ended the twins together brightly.

Harry laughed. "Oh I dunno guys, they really did deserve to win that one. And the Hufflepuffs have a huge advantage over us Gryffindors, I mean, come on. We must have the worst Beaters in the whole of London on our team."

That earned him a few good-natured punches and a head ruffle. "That Potter!" Fred cried in mock indignation.

"Outrageous, I say!"

"Thinks he's all that 'cause he defeated the Dark Lord and all."

"He's a hairy git for all I care," added George

"Hairy Harry! Ha! Perfect!" The group chortled and walked on in high spirits. After they received directions from a Muggle camp manager, they headed deeper into the trees, spotting hundreds of wizards and witches in varying degrees of Muggle-wear, setting up tents and campfires.

Harry and Ron turned, hearing Hermione and Ginny giggling to each other. "What are you two up to?" asked Ron suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing you need to concern yourself about, Ronald Weasley," replied Ginny. "We were just remarking upon that Cedric Diggory's charm and good manners…something you entirely lack, I might add."

Harry saw Ron's ears flush pink. "You just fancy him 'cause he's good looking. He probably has an eggcup for a brain. Pretty-Boy-Diggory, right Harry?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You don't have to agree with him, Harry. Ron's just jealous."

"Ex-excuse me? I'm w-what?" sputtered Ron.

As Hermione and Ginny continued to tease Ron, Harry sighed in relief, glad that Hermione had unknowingly saved him from answering. The only thing he knew was at that precise moment in time, thinking back on the easy grins that they shared, Harry didn't know to who's defense he would have jumped to.

To be continued…

Note: I know it's a bit unoriginal, but I'm trying to imagine their relationship as something that I could see actually happening in the real big picture of the Harry Potter plot. So it makes sense to follow the interactions that Cedric and Harry have in reality…at least…that's what my logic was…haha…

Anyways…I know the Harry/Cedric-ness wasn't very much…but I'm trying to stay with the idea of them not knowing that they're initially attracted to each other. So I'm trying to be really subtle with it in the beginning.

Well yay! First chapter up! Please help me, and give me any feedback! THANKSS! D