AUTHOR'S NOTES: In this chapter, Harry and Cedric have their first fight. Next chapter, the first Quidditch match of the season and the Halloween costume ball which will have two most unusual couples.

Chapter 4

"So… this isn't just… the two of you fancying each other?" Ron asked as Harry got ready for bed that night.

"What?" Harry asked, a bit confused.

"You and Cedric," Ron clarified, not noticing that Neville, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas were listening. "I mean… you're really…"

Harry rolled his eyes. "The word you're looking for, Ron… is 'gay'."

"So… are you?" Neville asked. "I-I don't care if you are, I'm just…"

Moving onto his bed, Harry said, "With Cedric… I don't care about what's happened to me… he makes me happy…" Seeing the looks from the others, Harry gave an exasperated sigh. "You actually want me to say it? Fine. Yes, I'm gay." With that, he set his glasses on the night stand, moved his legs onto the bed, and settled in for a good night's sleep.

--

"You are late, Potter," Snape snapped when Harry wheeled into the potions class 15 minutes late.

"You ever tried navigating a wheelchair on moving staircases, sir?" Harry retorted, sitting with Hermione.

"Do not let it happen again," Snape replied, turning back to the chalkboard and writing out the day's notes.

"Like I can actually prevent half the things that happen to me," Harry muttered, copying the notes. And opening his textbook to the correct page while Hermione started gathering ingredients.

Halfway through the class, Harry noticed the odd looks Hermione was giving him. "What?" he whispered, checking to make sure Snape wasn't looking in his direction.

"Well…" Hermione started before glancing over at Malfoy. "I was wondering if… if what Malfoy's been saying was true…" Seeing Harry's perplexed look, she clarified, "You're actually gay."

Harry sighed. "After class, alright?"

--

As they left the dungeons, Harry and Hermione trailed behind the others. "Harry… if you're embarrassed about being gay…" Hermione began as they got to the Entrance Hall.

Harry shook his head. "When I was in that coma… I could hear Cedric's voice. He was there when I woke up." Stopping by the stairs, Harry looked at Hermione as he said, "I can't move my legs, Hermione. I'm likely going to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life. My life… as been completely turned upside down. Is it wrong to… to want to be with someone who makes my life make sense… even if it's another guy?"

"Harry… Of course, not," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"So why has Ron been avoiding me?" Harry asked, looking up at his best friend.

Hermione sat on the stairs so she was on level with Harry. "Because the wizarding world—for the most part—frowns on homosexuality. Right now Ron's trying to factor your being gay into his feeling for you as a friend."

Harry nodded. "Okay. I can understand that. It's just… I've already got everyone staring at me because of the wheelchair…"

"Harry… do you love Cedric?" Hermione asked.

Harry sighed. "I… I-I don't know. I'm happy with him and… the times we've kissed it feels… right."

"Harry, you're my best friend," Hermione said, putting a hand on Harry's leg. "If you're happy then who cares what everyone else thinks. Mrs. Weasley's happy for you… I'm happy for you… Don't let others tell you it's wrong if it makes you happy."

"Thanks, Hermione," Harry said, giving her a smile. "So… shall we head up to History of Magic?"

Hermione started to get up, but stopped when she saw the 7th year students come in from Herbology. Smiling, she said, "Actually… I'm going to History of Magic. I'll give you my notes later."

Harry watched Hermione go up the stairs and turning to see what she'd been looking at, Harry saw Cedric walking up to him. "Hi."

"Hey, Harry," Cedric said, casually, as he headed to the dungeons.

Harry watched him go, not really believing what had just happened.

"You're an idiot," Angelina Johnson said as she sat next to Cedric Diggory a week later in Potions.

"What for?" Cedric asked as he pulled out his Potions book.

"I'm Quidditch Captain this year," Angelina said, fighting the urge to smack Diggory. "And last night I had to talk my very depressed Seeker out of quitting the team." Seeing no reaction from Diggory she went on. "I'm not stupid, Diggory. I've talked to Hermione and she told me about you and Harry." Seeing Diggory's body slump her jaw dropped and she smacked him in the arm. "You do like him!"

"Yes, I do," Cedric admitted. "He saved my life and… I'm sorry I hurt Harry."

"Look," Angelina said, quietly. "I don't care what you have to say or do… but if Harry isn't in prime form first game of the season… I'm coming after you. Got it?"

Cedric nodded. "Yeah… I got it."

--

When Cedric got to the Great Hall for lunch he was greeted by Hermione Granger who looked—there was really no other word for it—pissed off. "Hi, Herm—"

"Don't 'hi, Hermione' me!" Hermione snapped quietly. Glancing at the Gryffindor table she said, "Harry's my best friend. I would do anything for him." Glaring at Cedric she added, "Including jinxing your ass off. Am I being clear?"

"Crystal," Cedric replied, eying Hermione warily. He remembered hearing about her punching Draco Malfoy and knew that she didn't need a wand to take him on.

"You are going to explain to me why you were distant with Harry," Hermione said, matter of factly. "If I like the explanation then you will talk to Harry. If I don't like the answer…"

Cedric nodded and pulled Hermione into the Entrance Hall and said, "I've… been thinking and…" Shrugging, he grinned as he said, "I love Harry. I-I-I don't really get why, but… He's all I can think about… he's kind and… he's cute…" Cedric sighed and said, "And… I don't know how to tell him that."

Hermione felt the anger drain out of her as she saw the look on Cedric's face. "Talk to Harry…"

"I can't," Cedric said. "Harry hates me now."

Hermione took a long, slow, calming breath. "Harry loves you. And yes, he might hate you for a while. But you were there for him when he was in the hospital. You saved his life and this summer you were someone he could lean on. Right now, Harry's really depressed. He's not caring about Quidditch and he hasn't spoken to anyone the past three days at meals. Please… talk to him."

Cedric sighed. "Okay."

"I'll send Harry out," Hermione said, turning to go back into the Great Hall. She didn't think about how she'd talk Harry into talking to Cedric; she figured she'd just talk and see what happened. Sitting opposite Harry, Hermione decided to start simply. "Cedric wants to talk to you."

"Tell him to piss off," Harry muttered, poking his potatoes with his fork.

Hermione sighed. "Dear God, no wonder the two of you are attracted to each other," she whispered. "Harry, you are my friend. And you know that I'm a very direct person so I'll be straight with you." Pulling out her wand and holding the tip, she whacked Harry on the top of the head. "You're being an idiot."

Harry rubbed his head, frowning at Hermione. "What was that for?"

"I was trying to knock some sense into you. Look, whatever animosity you're feeling towards Cedric… put that aside or you could end up losing something wonderful," Hermione said, putting her wand away. Leaning forward, she added, "Cedric is just as lonely, depressed, and miserable as you are. Talk to him."

Harry sighed and wheeled back from the table. "I'm only doing this to make you happy," He said to Hermione as he left the table.

Out in the Hallway, Harry went up to Cedric. "You want to talk? Then talk."

"You are…. Stubborn… driven… You're always putting others before yourself… And I love that," Cedric said, simply. "I love you. I don't care about the wheelchair or the fact that you can't move your legs. And I'm sorry I was distant before. It's just… I've had crushes on girls before… I've never… been in love with a bloke before. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Harry had been listening and when Cedric finished, he said, "I've been through more… than any other student in this school. I can't walk… and the one person who made me forget all that pushed me away."

Cedric looked away, not wanting to meet Harry's green eyes.

"You can't just… apologize to someone and then expect things to go back to the way they were," Harry went on. "You… You have to test things… see if you haven't… lost what was special between you." Looking up at Cedric, his eyes shining, Harry said, "But I don't want to do all that. Can we just… go back to being together? To being happy?"

Cedric laughed, making Harry smile as well. "Of course."

--