A/N: Written for The Houses Competition. I hope you enjoy reading!
House: Hufflepuff
Year: 3
Category: Short
Prompt: [Pairing] Cedric Diggory/Viktor Krum
Word Count: 1859
"The Hogwarts Champion," said Dumbledore, "is Cedric Diggory!"
Cedric grinned broadly. Yes! He screamed inside his mind as he stood up and pumped a fist in the air. Finally a Hufflepuff. Who's going to be in the spotlight. Who's going to be the hero. They wouldn't be just be "the not special" ones. I'll show them.
Cedric wasn't the only one thinking this. Every single member of Hufflepuff house had jumped up on their feet the moment Cedric's name left Dumbledore's mouth. The entire Great Hall was filled with the sound of cheering, screaming and stamping as the students jumped up and down in excitement. The three other houses, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang students clapped politely. Politely–nothing more.
As the newest champion begun walking down the isle, everyone at the Hufflepuff table wanted to congratulate him, or clap a well-done clap on his back. It took several minutes before Cedric had gotten through everyone. He was still grinning. His white teeth shone.
The cheers were still going on just as strong as Cedric walked out and into the chamber behind the teacher's table. As he went through the doorframe, the cheering sounded more distant, and his ecstasy died down to mere satisfaction. Taking a breath, he stopped a second to compose himself, before stepping into the chamber.
The room was dark, and a burning fire illuminated it with a yellow light A slight smell of woodsmoke filled the air. Cedric breathed in, and let the familiar smell calm him. Krum and Delacour stood in silence around it. Cedric only saw their silhouettes, but he could distinguish them by the fact that one of them had long hair. The Beauxbatons champion were standing with her face towards the flames. As he got near enough, he noticed that her eyes were closed. Taking a glance at the other boy, he saw that Krum was looking directly at him. The Durmstrang champion was standing so that the fire illuminated half of his features. The yellow light combined with the brooding look made him look rather intimidating. His brown eyes stared directly at Cedric. Like deep pools of hot chocolate. The Hufflepuff nodded at him as a greeting.
Krum nodded back and continued to stare at the other boy for a couple seconds, before turning around to stare at the flames.
Cedric looked at the Durmstrang champions turned back. What a guy, he thought, and some pretty eyes that guy has.
It came as a huge surprise to everyone–including Cedric–that Harry Potter had become the fourth Triwizard Champion.
And the whole student population were buzzing with rumours.
Cedric himself didn't know what he thought. The fact that a famous guy would do something crazy just to reawaken the spotlight over his head made sense. But it was hard to imagine that the pale boy who had stood beside him with the mop of black hair and round glasses had somehow managed to trick the age line made by Dumbledore.
The boy shook his head. The Hufflepuff common room was empty. After literally two hours with people wanting to talk to him and congratulate him for a second–and even third time–most people had gone to do other things. The Hufflepuff Champion glanced out the window. The moon was just rising, shining brightly. It was almost full. The clock ticked, and the time was almost 10 p.m. Looking at some other people playing some sort of card game around the Fireplace, he pursed his lips, before summoning a cloak. Cedric Diggory made his way out of the common room.
It was slightly chilling when he exited Hogwarts giant doors. The Hufflepuff packed the cloak tightly around him and walked quickly towards the Quidditch pitch. The walk got faster, and the seventeen-year-old was now jogging at a fast pace.
Viktor Krum was sitting in a tree. He had escaped his admires, Karkaroff and everyone else who wanted to either congratulate him or something else. He sighed, enjoying the peace and quiet. The moon shone beautifully above him. The Bulgarian champion closed his eyes. He listened to the quiet sound of the wind. Suddenly, a new sound entered his ears: footsteps. Victor frowned and opened his eyes. Praying that whoever it was, they weren't looking for him. He squinted around in the dark.
A figure was jogging. Viktor noticed that the person was coming in his direction. Sitting completely still on the branch, he almost held his breath as the person passed under him.
The moonlight gave Victor a look at the person's features. It was a boy. And not just a boy; it was the Hogwarts champion, or, he corrected himself, one of the Hogwarts champions. The oldest. Cedric Diggory.
The Bulgarian thought about what he had received a glimpse of when the other boy passed underneath him. He had a pretty face, with clear and nice skin, full and slightly rosy lips. Victor shook his head. What was he thinking? This is his enemy now, as Headmaster Karkaroff has told him.
He watched as Cedric ran around the Quidditch pitch. The dark enveloped the figure at the other side, so Viktor lost sight of him then.
One lap, became two, two became three, and four...
Impressed, Viktor raised his eyebrows. He certainly didn't want any of the tasks to be something where running long distances would be necessary. That guy had some stamina.
Cedric Diggory yawned. He had just woken up. It was now a week after the first task, and the initial excitement and chatter about the fact that they "fought" dragons had begun falling. After getting clothed, the boy went down to the Great Hall with his friends. They chatted about their history homework and how lucky Cedric was that he didn't need to do it.
It was after he had taken the first bite of his toast with jam that Cedric's eyes wandered around the hall. There were loads of people here, and he noticed that many of the Bulgarian students were here too. His gaze locked onto one of them. His very own competitor: Viktor Krum.
Victor Krum, international Quidditch star. Excellent Seeker. Probably the Headmaster Durmstrangs' favourite. And: a guy with extremely pretty eyes.
Cedric found himself staring unconsciously.
"What are you looking at?" Alice—one of his friends—looked at him with raised eyebrows as she followed his eyes. The girl leaned towards him, "Staring at the Bulgarian champion, are we? He is rather handsome,," she teased with a devilish smirk.
"No, I'm..." denied Cedric and trailed off, not wanting to admit that yes, he was staring at the Bulgarian champion. Starting again, he spoke. "I'm simply analysing my opponent."
Alice snorted. "Sure, whatever you say." But after a second, she wiggled her eyebrows at him suggestively.
Cedric laughed.
Viktor Krum was swimming in the Black lake.
Cedric Diggory didn't find anything wrong with that. More like the opposite because Viktor Krum was swimming in the Black lake shirtless. And he had now just gotten out of the water.
The Hufflepuff had never stared that much at other people's bodies before, he had found it slightly weird and embarrassing. Especially being caught doing it. But damn, he thought, that chest has some muscles.
Around twenty feet away stood a group of girls, or more specifically: Viktor Krum-fangirls. They were talking excitedly to each other while occasionally glancing at Viktor.
A stab of annoyance hit Cedric as he watched them.
After a minute, the girls seemed to realise that they probably had class or something and left.
Cedric looked at Krum, who was shrugging on a fur-lined cloak.. Deciding to grab the chance, he approached the Bulgarian.
"Hello," Cedric said with a pleasant tone, smiling slightly, "aren't you freezing?"
Despite his racing heart, Cedric tried to make himself appear confident. Keeping his hands in his pockets, he stopped beside Viktor.
The Bulgarian looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Well, somewhat. I have swum in colder water before," he said in his thick Bulgarian accent and glanced out towards the lake, "but it is not fun to swim in this, either." The corner of his lips turned up. Viktor turned around to Cedric.
His gaze is intense, thought the Hufflepuff, as he found himself face to face with the Bulgarian, and God. He looks good. Cedric squirmed slightly under the heated gaze and fought the sudden warmness in his cheeks. He was blushing. Mentally sighing, he let the truth slide over his mind. I, Cedric Diggory, am attracted to a fellow champion and opponent, Viktor Krum, international Quidditch star.
Viktor looked into the light grey eyes of the boy in front of him. Cedric Diggory. The first Hogwarts champion. The person he'd been watching running laps around the Quidditch pitch. The brunet, with muscled arms and legs, handsome face and nice smile.
As Viktor was trying to figure out Diggory's exact eye colour–he had considered lead-grey, but he found the sound of it dissatisfying; not good enough to give the beautiful pools of grey justice. He noticed a stain of red creep onto the other boy's cheeks. He was blushing? Thought Viktor with a smile. How flattering. Viktor watched as Diggory cough and turn his head way.
"Well..." the brunet trailed off, as if he forgot what he was about to say. "Well, you're good. The swimming, I mean." Cedric mentally scolded himself. What am I doing? I can't even talk right... "Ugh," he laughed nervously and scratched his neck. "I probably sound like an idiot."
Viktor smiled at the other boy. "No, you don't," he reassured him, "I find it rather... cute." The Bulgarian watched Diggory, waiting for his reaction.
Cedric smiled. Cute? Huh, I can live with that. He took a breath and tried to gather up some courage. Raising his eyebrows, he spoke. "Well, Krum–"
"Viktor, please."
"–Ok, Viktor..." he tasted the name on his lips. It sounded nice. "...I must unfortunately go now, but would you mind joining me for a walk tomorrow?" Trying to keep up his confidence appearance, Cedric straightened his back.
"Hm... well," the Bulgarian stretched his answer to watch Cedric trying not to squirm in front of him. "I can probably set aside some time. And, regarding time: when do you have in mind?"
Cedric stuck his hands down in his pockets, trying to not sigh of relief as Kru–Viktor didn't immediately reject him. "Well, what about after dinner? 8 p.m.?"
"Yes. That sounds fine," said Viktor and nodded. "Where shall we meet?"
Cedric thought for a moment before answering. "Outside the Great Hall, maybe?" he gestured towards the castle, even though they couldn't see the where he was gesturing at.
"That is ok." Viktor nodded in understanding.
"Well, Viktor," Cedric smiled apologetically at the Bulgarian, "I must go now. I'll see you tomorrow!" He turned around and walked towards the castle. Maybe a bit faster than normal. He hoped that Viktor didn't notice. I'm probably grinning like an idiot, he thought as he walked. And yes. He was.
"Goodbye," said Viktor to the retreating back of Cedric Diggory. Putting his hands in his pockets, the Quidditch star smiled.