I had previously posted this story under another pen-name, an account that I've buried in the burnt ashes of my past... and, now I am re-posting it, because, even though the previous plot (tho' almost "non-existing") had many loop-holes and faults, I wanted to improve my first fic ever... by editing, or should I say - re-writing, all the chapters except the first two... thanks for everyone for reading...

Pairing : Harry/Cedric.

Rating : T (PG-13)

Warning : Slash. If that makes you uncomfortable, I ask you not to read this...

PROLOGUE
Harry rubbed sleep out of his eyes, and wore his round glasses, trying to remember where he was. But as he looked around, the number of times he had been here during the last (and first) three years of his life at Hogwarts, it took him no time to recognize the white curtains that belonged to the Hospital wing.

At first, he couldn't remember why he was here, or why his limbs were aching. It was only when he spotted the broken remnants of his Nimbus 2000 at his bedside, when it all came back to him — the screaming, the dark creatures, the agony… the fifty foot fall…

Just then, the door opened, some light rays entering the dimly lit, forlorn room. Harry's eyes, having become rather accustomed to the dim lighting, managed to make out the outlines of a tall, athletic figure enter the room.

He wanted to call out and ask who it was, but he couldn't seem to find his voice, as the agony that he had felt was filling his chest yet again. But, his question seemed to be answered, as a male voice, sounding rather tensed, said, "Harry?"

As Harry heard soft footsteps approaching him, he heard the male voice mumbling again, "Are you awake?"

Harry had been too numb inside of him to respond earlier, but a certain warmth in the voice seemed to take it away. "Yes, I am…"

"Harry… I'm Cedric. Diggory." Harry felt his bed sinking under his weight, as Cedric seated himself at the foot of his bed. "I hope I didn't wake you up…"

"No… you didn't," he spoke. "I woke up sometime ago, and couldn't go back to sleep."

"I couldn't sleep either. Finally, I gave up and…" he broke off.

"And?"

"And I thought of coming to see you," he said. "Must say, I had a hard time convincing Madam Pomfrey to let me come… it was worth it in the end, I guess," he added with a smile.

"But, why did you come to see me?" Harry asked, flustered. "You guys won… congrats on catching the snitch," Harry added, trying hard to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"I'm sorry about that, Harry… Our winning was a mistake. I didn't see you falling of your broom then. I wanted to call off the match, but… the match had ended already," he said.

Harry could make out Cedric's face in the dark. It seemed to glow with the sincerity with which he had spoken. Harry's inside seemed to melt at the soft expression that he wore on his face.

"It's okay… I'll go now," Cedric said. Harry didn't want him to go, but he saw him slipping onto his face, and turning around to leave.

But, he didn't leave then — he turned around to find Harry sitting up, and holding his hand, to wordlessly tell him that he didn't want him to leave.

"Is there anything you need, Harry?" His grey eyes, with its caring expression, poured into Harry's.

"Why did you decide to come to see me, Cedric?" Harry asked.

He watched as Cedric's sincere, handsome face split into a warm smile, as he looked into Harry's eyes, with those intense grey eyes. "I came because I had to make sure that you were feeling alright…"

Feeling far warmer in his heart than he truly was, Harry watched Cedric leaving, as he mentally added to himself, "and I'm glad you came…"

A/N : Thanks for reading... and I would love to hear what you have to say... because your opinion truly counts, and I treasure and each and everyone of them...

Satanz Myth