Cedric flopped onto the seat next to Harry and let his eyes close, hoping he'd be safer in the back corner of the common room. He tossed his head to the side to get the hair out of his eyes, and Harry suppressed a smile at the familiar movement. 'Dork.'

"There you are." A familiar voice sounded out, trampling all over Harry's warm and fuzzy feelings. Cho. How did he always manage to forget about Cho? "I should've known you'd be with him." She sniffed, tilting her head in Harry's direction. A mild sense of irritation washed through it, but as always, it was drowned out by his roaring jealousy. 'Stupid Cho. Stupid couple. Stupid.'

"Not now, Cho." Cedric hung his head wearily, out of energy to fight with his girlfriend anymore.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'll just leave you and your boyfriend alone then! I am so done with having to compete with him for your attention!" It amazed both boys how quickly she flounced off, her long hair breezing behind her.

"Jeez." Harry quirked an eyebrow, but it was lost beneath his birds nest hair. He pulled his headphone out, and tapped nervously on his thigh, jittery at the closeness of the other boy.

"Yeah." Cedric sighed, turning to lean on Harry's shoulder, sending thrills shooting through the paler boy's body.

And there was something. Something about how small Cedric looked, curled against Harry's chest, and the way that he decided to stay instead of going after Cho, and something about Cedric that made Harry think … Maybe.

"I like you." He blurted, his ears turning bright red beneath his hair.

"I like you too." Cedric murmured, and Harry's pulse roared. But as his friend kept talking, he was left with a hollow, sick feeling. "You're my friend now, Harry, you know that. You saved my life, for God's sake, warning me about that damn dragon."

Harry swallowed. It had to come out. Now. While he had the balls to say it. "I mean I really like you."

"I really like you t-"

"No, Cedric! I mean romantically! I am romantically interested in you, I fancy you, okay? Cho ... when she calls me your boyfriend, I…"

Cedric sat up and blinked. "Harry…"

"Yeah?" Harry knew it. Knew Cedric had felt the same way. His whole body tingled, waiting for the words to leave Cedric's mouth, to confirm everything. Say it, say it, say it.

"I don't have those feelings for you. We're friends. Just friends."

"Oh."

Cedric's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "I should go … Find Cho or something …"

"Yeah. Sure."

"Um … Harry, look …"

Harry smiled bitterly. "Don't bother. I get it."

"Uh … bye, then."

"Yeah. Bye."

And Harry was just numb. Numb and alone.

I've learned to live half a life….