The two teens correspondence continued over the coming weeks, Harry still struggled to sleep but found his developing friendship with Cedric a great comfort. They had moved on from discussing their shared trauma and developed a friendship based on mutual respect and shared interests.
They were both great Seekers and although they supported opposing teams, they had a lot to discuss when it came to Quidditch. Harry was also surprised to find that Cedric was very interested in muggle studies and knew exactly how to use a telephone. That's how Harry found himself cramped into the small graffitied telephone box about a mile from privet drive, waiting for Cedric to call him for the first time.
He was strangely nervous, it was raining, and he was soaked from the walk. His oversized waterproof, that used to be Dudley's hung from his thin frame and he shivered. Although he had been using the telephone box a lot to call Hermione, he hadn't been there in over a week. Now three weeks into the summer holidays Harry had been surprised to find that his best friends were barely writing to him. Hermione who had been insistent on calling Harry daily at the end of term, was now barely managing a single letter a week. Ron who, although he wasn't the best pen pal, always made an effort, was now writing in short hurried sentences. Harry felt lucky to have this new friendship developing with Cedric and although it had begun from poor circumstances, he was glad they were getting to know each other.
He glanced at his watch, two minutes to seven, Cedric would be calling any moment. He shivered, feeling the cold through his drenched jacket, he wondered what he could possibly say to Cedric over the phone, he worried that it might be awkward, that they wouldn't have enough to say. He leaned against the frame of the old telephone box waiting for the call. It was times like these that he wished he had muggle money, although he knew Gringotts could convert his galleons into sterling, he had never exchanged it because if the Dursley's got a whiff of Harry's small fortune in the Wizarding Bank they would sure want to know about it.
The rain got heavier, falling in great thuds onto the metal roof above him. He closed his eyes briefly as a bolt of pain shot through his lightning scar, he gasped, and his hand subconsciously moved to his forehead. For a brief second, Harry saw a flash of Voldemort's mind and felt pure anger. Then the phone rang, making Harry jump in fright, his free hand inched towards his wand in his pocket, before remembering where he was. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the innocent phone, still ringing. He checked his watch 19:02, it had to be Cedric.
He picked up the receiver and answered, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke. "Hello?"
"Hello," Said the voice at the other end, vaguely familiar. clearly that of Cedric Diggory. "Is that you, Harry? Are you okay? You sound upset."
'So perceptive' Harry thought. "Yes, Cedric it's me… no I'm fine. How are you?" He lied automatically, his hand tracing the scar, that was seemed to echo the pain of moments before.
"You're lying." Cedric stated. "What's up?" He asked casually.
For a moment Harry considered brushing it off again, denying anything, but then he felt overcome with the need to discuss his troubles; before he had realised it he was telling the older boy everything.
"I keep getting pain in my scar, Dumbledore reckons I feel it when Voldemort's feeling particularly strong about something, this is going to sound mad, but I can sometimes see flashes of his mind or thoughts and feelings. It's been happening a lot more recently, and it scares me. I think a war is coming or something big anyway." He paused for breath and could hear Cedric's breathing on the other side. He had been impressed to notice no reaction from the Hufflepuff at the use of the Dark Lord's real name.
"Is it the idea of war that scares you?" Cedric asked, his tone neutral.
"Not exactly." He screwed up his face, pressed his fists into his forehead for a moment then continued "Its hard to explain… I just feel like I'm being kept in the dark, like something is happening that I don't know about. Its really frustrating. I'm not scared of a war, I'm scared of being unprepared and left out." He ranted "After everything that happen to me this summer, I mean, us- I'm sorry." He hurried to correct himself.
"Its okay," Cedric said sincerely, "I knew what you meant, carry on."
"After everything that happened to us, everyone is keeping secrets from me. Ron and Hermione were writing all the time when we first finished school, now they can barely string two sentences together each and I think they're together. In the same place I mean." He clarified. "They haven't said it, but the way they write I think they are. I think something is going on behind my back."
He took a deep breathe as Cedric said "I can see you have a lot on your plate at the moment, the scar stuff sounds unnerving. I can see why you feel closed off from your friends too and I get that you want to be prepared, so do I. I just don't know how… And from what you've been saying in your letters, like me, you're still struggling to sleep after everything."
Harry nodded then remembered that Cedric couldn't see him. "Got it in one."
There was a moments silence then Cedric said suddenly, emotively "I wish I could see you."
"Urm, I" Harry was caught off guard.
"I mean, hang out, talk this stuff through in person." Cedric coughed. The idea of this struck something in Harry who smiled, "You know what? You're right I'd like to meet up too."
"You would?" Cedric sounded relieved and a little flustered. "Is it possible?"
"I'm not sure," Harry frowned, he had promised Professor Dumbledore that he would be vigilant and remain in his local area, but he felt isolated and the idea of meeting with Cedric had rooted in his head and he was keen to do so, for reasons he was not quite sure on yet. "I could get into London via train, where do you live?" Harry asked, realising that he didn't know this vital information about his new friend.
"Outer London, so London works for me. Would you prefer muggle London? It might be easier."
Harry considered this for a moment, before agreeing to a time and place and saying their goodbyes.
Placing the receiver down Harry reflected on the relatively brief but intense conversation he had just shared with Cedric. Their developing friendship was not something he had experienced before, different to his relationships with Ron and Hermione. He felt nervous around Cedric, not in a negative way and not in a way that he could pinpoint, just slightly unsettled. He took stock of the weather outside of his metal shelter, before opening the door and braving the rain as he ran home as fast as he could.
Lying in bed that evening Harry felt excited, giddy even at the thought of meeting Cedric in two day's time. He wondered what they would do and how the day would go, he was keen to find out more about his new friend.
The morning he was due to meet Cedric, Harry woke early, again he had barely slept due to nightmares, but he was excited yet apprehensive to meet up with the Hufflepuff. He dressed in semi darkness, not wanting to turn the light on and alert his relatives that he was awake. As he crept into the hallway, he heard his uncle snore and checked his watched it was still early and Vernon Dursley did not usually wake up till at least seven am and it was only 06:15.
Once downstairs, Harry quickly scanned through his uncle's barely used desk draws to find a map. He had seen them in here many years before and knew his uncle wasn't very organised. After a few minutes of searching he found a map of London and quickly stowed it in his back pocket. He then helped himself to breakfast and was just finishing his cereal when his aunt came downstairs for her morning coffee.
"You're awake early." Petunia snapped, as she entered the kitchen.
Harry stood, and went to the sink to wash the used bowl. "Good Morning," Harry emphasised "And Yes I am."
"Why?" Petunia snapped again, as she began preparing her coffee. Petunia refused to look at him, busying herself at the opposite counter.
"I couldn't sleep." Harry answered honestly.
"Well Vernon won't want you under his feet when he gets up," She glanced anxiously to the clock on the wall, it was 06:45.
"I know," Harry shrugged, as he finished washing his bowl. He grabbed a tea towel and began to dry his dishes. "I'm going out."
"You are?" Petunia said surprised, she filled the kettle. She still refused to look at him.
"Yes, Mrs Figg across the road has asked me to come over and do some housework for her." Harry lied, knowing that his aunt would not check with their neighbour, for fear of being seen socialising with the 'batty' old lady, by their other neighbours. This was not a complete lie as Harry had spent the day with Mrs Figg earlier that week, cleaning and gardening, in exchange for a small amount of money.
"Oh, well," Petunia seemed lost for words. "is she paying you?"
Harry hesitated then decided on the truth "Yes,"
"And what do you need money for?"
"Erm, well at Hog- my school, we get to go out into the village sometimes and I like to be able to buy sweeties and stuff." Harry tried to explain in the least offensive, unmagical way possible.
Petunia seemed to contemplate this, her gaze fixed on the kettle which was beginning to boil. "Hogsmeade isn't it?"
"I what? Yeah the village." Harry was surprised to hear his Aunt talk about his world.
Petunia nodded, "Very well, I don't think we should mention this to Vernon." She poured herself coffee and moved to sit at the table. Harry put is now clean dishes away and said quietly "Thank you, I should be going, like you said Uncle Vernon won't want to see me when he gets up."
With that he left, feeling slightly unsettled by the unusually friendly conversation with his aunt.
The money from Mrs Figg would be useful but not enough for a train ticket, therefore Harry ducked under the barrier at the local train station and caught the train leaving for London. He took a seat at the back and managed to look inconspicuous, luckily the journey was short, and the ticket master did not come into his carriage.
At St pancreas station he followed a muggle family, with several children and a pram through the disabled exit, easily blending into their noisy crowd. It was a nice change, being in the muggle world. He was able to go almost completely unnoticed, so unlike his day to day life at Hogwarts in the wizarding world.
Early to meet Cedric Harry ordered a tea and croissant at a busy café and sat in the corner allowing the time to tick by. He enjoyed watching passers-by, mainly muggles commuting to work, popping in for a takeaway coffee or to grab a savoury treat. He was surprised to notice several members of the wizarding community using this establishment on their way to work. The wizards and witches were easy to pick out if you knew what you were looking for; mismatched muggle clothing, difficulty with the currency despite practice.
By five to nine, there was a mad rush in the small café and the barista asked bluntly if Harry wasn't going to order anything more, could he leave. Bemused Harry left and waited for Cedric at the exit to the train station. He knew he was breaking the promises he had made to Dumbledore by being here, but he didn't care. He had his wand, he was being vigilant. He didn't want to spend his summer, his life, in fear.
As the clock on the train station wall ticked closer to nine, Harry's anxieties about meeting Cedric resurfaced and increased. 'What will we talk about? What will we do? Will he be bored of me after five minutes? What if he doesn't like me outside of Hogwarts? What if he's planned something that costs a lot of money? What if he doesn't like what I am wearing? What if I'm not what he was expecting?' Harry's insecurities were becoming more particular, more detailed to how Cedric might perceive him and Harry couldn't quite understanding why he was thinking and feeling that way.
"Harry," A voice said making him jump. Harry looked up, pulled from his worries, to see Cedric Diggory standing perform him. Just a glance at the tall Hufflepuff took Harry's breath. In the time apart, he had forgotten just how tall and muscular Cedric was; how curly and perfectly placed his golden locks were and as he met them he realised just how chocolatey brown his eyes were.
"Cedric," He stammered.
"You okay?" The Hufflepuff grinned. "You looked lost in thought. Have you been waiting long?"
"Not- that long, well I got here early cos of the train, but I was sat in a café until about five minutes ago," He stammered, hoping he didn't sound as nervous as he felt.
Cedric smiled, "So you've already had breakfast? Can I interest you in tea?" He held out one of the two takeaway mugs he was carrying. Harry had only just noticed. He stared, wondering why he suddenly lacked observation skills. "Erm... I mean that is if you like tea?" The brunette asked, suddenly nervous. "I don't even know if you do… I bought sugar and extra milk in case you like it a certain way." He rambled.
"No," Harry recovered himself. "As long as its got milk, its fine." He grinned taking the takeaway mug offered to him.
Cedric beamed at Harry for a moment, "Shall we take off then?" He grinned.