Author Notes – And we're back with another chapter. It's almost as if the updates are going to be more frequent from now on (this is not guaranteed). This was great fun to write and I hope you enjoy it. The story is beginning to get going again and there's plenty of excitement to come. As always, please review the chapter as it's a great motivator to continue writing.

Rating – T.

Note – I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, that privilege belongs to JK Rowling.

CHAPTER FIVE

Happier Times

Harry and Cedric walked mostly in silence back to the Burrow. Although he didn't say anything, Harry knew how badly the argument with his father had affected Cedric. He hated seeing his boyfriend like this; Cedric was usually the strong and dependable one, but he always had a weak spot when it came to his family. This was something that Harry had never quite been able to understand, but that was a product of being raised by the Dursleys.

Cedric had admitted to Harry many times that the reason why he drove himself to achieve so much was because he wanted his father's approval. It was clear, however, that when Cedric came out as gay, it was going to be a long time before he would win over his father. Harry suspected very much that the only thing that kept their relationship from completely falling apart was Cedric's mother. Although Harry had only met her for the first time that evening, he could tell easily that she was the one who was supporting her son through this.

'I guess now we'll never know whether that dessert was any good or not,' said Cedric, after a long period of silence, and Harry couldn't help but smile lightly. 'I'm sorry about that.'

'As I've said,' replied Harry insistently. 'You've got nothing to apologise for. I'm sorry to have caused so much trouble between you and your father.'

'Believe me, you're not the cause of this Harry. This would have happened regardless. There's only so much of that man's homophobia that anyone should have to deal with.'

'You shouldn't have to deal with any of it Cedric,' Harry reminded him. 'Why do you keep trying?'

'Because he's my Dad. And I don't want to give up on him.' Harry opened his mouth to reply, but knew that it would be no good. He simply nodded and they returned to walking in silence. But this time Harry reached out his hand and took hold of Cedric's.

When they got back to Burrow they found Hermione sitting alone in the kitchen with her face in a book. She jumped as the door opened and stared at the pair of them as they traipsed into the room. 'I wasn't expecting you back so soon,' she said, and Harry was surprised to see that her cheeks had gone slightly pink, as though they had interrupted something private.

'Long story,' said Cedric, clearly making an effect to sound jovial. 'I'll let Harry explain. I might go and grab a shower if that's all right?'

'Of course,' replied Harry. 'Just go up two flights of stairs, turn left, then turn right, up the smaller flight of stairs and it's the fourth door on the left.'

Cedric nodded. 'Well that's clear then. If you don't see me for three days, just assume that I've got lost somewhere on the fifteenth flight of stairs.' And with that, he waved and left the kitchen, leaving Harry and Hermione alone.

'So what happened at Cedric's then? I've got used to that "Cedric pretending to be happy when he clearly isn't" expression, so I guess it wasn't fantastic then.'

'Well it's hard to say,' said Harry. 'I think the moment when Cedric and his dad had a blazing row into front of me and his mother was the low point. But the food was good.'

'Oh dear,' said Hermione, sighing. 'It's just not getting any better between them, then?'

'Apparently not,' replied Harry, sitting down in the chair opposite her. 'They always say that you just have to give it time, and that people always come around in the end. But what happens if he doesn't come around? I think it would devastate Cedric if he lost his relationship with his dad.'

'Well, I'm only getting this second hand,' replied Hermione. 'But their relationship already looks a little lost to me. What do you think?'

'I don't know. You'd like to think a man that could raise someone as caring and wonderful as Cedric would be able to deal with this sort of shit. But then again, people aren't always like their parents.'

'Tell me about it,' said Hermione, smiling at him. 'Still, at least you've got each other. That's something special, and it's worth holding on to.'

'I'm not planning on letting go anytime soon,' replied Harry. 'And while we're on the subject of relationships...' He paused for a moment, not wanting to upset Hermione. But something needed to be said. 'What the hell is going on between you and Ron at the moment?'

'Oh Harry I wish I knew,' said Hermione sadly. 'One minute he does the sweetest thing imaginable and then the next minute I think he's the most awful person I've ever met. Is that strange?'

'Sounds perfectly normal to me. We're teenagers Hermione. I've been reliably informed that sweet and awful in equal measure is how we roll. I'm just lucky that my boyfriend has a lot more of one than the other. But he's not perfect by any means. And neither am I,' he added hastily.

'You're right,' she said. 'But this whole thing with Ron is just exhausting. We've been dancing around each other for years now, and I'm just wondering if anything will ever change.'

'Things always change,' said Harry. 'And on that incredible pearl of wisdom, I'm going to go and check on Cedric. God knows he needs someone who loves him right now.'

He patted her on the shoulder and then left the kitchen in search of his boyfriend. He followed the instructions that he had given to Cedric a few minutes earlier and found himself standing outside one of the Burrow's many bathrooms. Clearly audible through the door was the sound of the shower running. Harry knocked once, loud enough so that Cedric would hear him.

'It's me!' said Harry before Cedric could say anything. 'Just wanted to see if you're all right!'

'Just a moment,' came Cedric's voice through the door. Harry waited patiently as the noise of the shower stopped and there was the sound of movement from inside the bathroom. A moment later, Harry heard footsteps approaching from the other side and the door and a lock being turned. The door opened to reveal Cedric, wearing only a towel.

Harry was always very clear with everyone that asked that he was dating Cedric because of his personality. However, the attraction that he felt to the older boy was not exactly hindered by the quite remarkable shape that he was in. His clearly defined muscles, broad shoulders and beautifully tanned skin was enough to cause the calmest person to lose control a little. Added to this was the fact that water droplets were still clinging to his body and Harry suddenly found himself counting his blessings at just how gorgeous his boyfriend was.

He stepped forward and kissed Cedric deeply. Cedric reciprocated, his arms snaking around Harry's back. After a few seconds, Harry pulled back. 'I was just thinking of a shower myself,' he said. 'And I don't think you've had quite long enough yourself.'

Cedric grinned. 'I suppose you could be right. Care to join me?'

'Don't mind if I do,' replied Harry, stepping over the threshold of the bathroom and pushing the door closed behind them.

Despite everything that had happened with Cedric's parents, the rest of the summer holidays could be counted as a strong competitor for the best time of Harry's life. For three solid weeks, he enjoyed the company of the people he loved the most in the world. When she had discovered what had happened, Mrs Weasley immediately invited Cedric to stay for the rest of the holidays. It was wonderful to have him as a constant presence in Harry's life. Even when they were at Hogwarts, there were classes and House rules that got in the way, but they were free to do what they wanted at the Burrow.

And so they spent their days enjoying the summer weather, whether that was helping Mrs Weasley tend the garden, playing Quidditch down in the paddock that the family owned, or just lying out on the grass, drinking pumpkin juice and enjoying each other's company. Harry tried to treasure these moments as much as he could. Although he was desperately looking forward to returning to Hogwarts, he knew that after last year there would be new challenges ahead. They still hadn't found out exactly what had happened in that graveyard all those weeks ago. Despite Dumbledore's insistence that Harry allow him to find out, he could not help but return to it every now and again.

The best thing apart this time, though, was that he could be completely open with his boyfriend without having to worry about what other people thought. Although the response to him coming out had been generally positive at school, he was still a little nervous at open displays of affection with Cedric and was still the victim of the occasional unpleasant remark. But that was never an issue at the Burrow. He knew that he and Cedric were in this for the long run, and when thought about what he might be doing in five or ten years time, the mental images he conjured always included Cedric.

The only thing that Harry wasn't happy about was that his godfather was unable to visit him. He had received a letter from Sirius a few days after he had arrived at the Burrow, explaining that he was conducting undercover work on Dumbledore's orders and that it was still too dangerous for him to be seen anywhere near any wizarding communities. Harry missed Sirius desperately, and just hoped that someday soon, he would be able to be as open with his godfather as he was with his boyfriend.

In the last week of the holidays, they made their usual trip to Diagon Alley to pick up what they needed for the next school year. As they were now old enough to look after themselves, Mrs Weasley let Harry, Ron, Hermione and Cedric go off on their own, with a promise that they would indeed buy all the things that they needed and not spend the day eating ice creams and looking at expensive broomsticks, before meeting back at the Leaky Cauldron for four in the afternoon.

'Speaking of broomsticks,' said Harry, as they strolled casually along the street. 'Have they released a new model since the Firebolt?'

'I don't think so,' replied Cedric, after doing his customary eye-roll at the mention of the Firebolt. 'Clearly they just thought it was unbeatable. Though, as we all know, it's only as good as the person riding it.'

'Funny, I've heard people say the same thing about you,' teased Harry, while Ron sniggered behind them, earning him a light punch in the arm from Hermione.

'Mind out of the gutter if you don't mind,' said Hermione. 'And as you clearly can't manage that, I'm going to look for new parchment and quills. Anyone want to join me?'

Harry looked meaningfully at Ron. 'Why don't the two of you go and do that while Cedric and I go and get our books for next year?' said Cedric, clearly picking up on what Harry had in mind.

'Good idea,' said Harry. 'See you later then.' And before either Ron or Hermione could react, he had taken Cedric's arm and marched off in the opposite direction. 'If forcing them together is the only way to actually get them to talk to each other then it's for the best.'

'I quite agree,' said Cedric. 'Now where shall we go first?'

'What? You mean we're not actually going to Flourish and Blots?' asked Harry, doing his best impression of looking scandalised. 'But we were given strict instructions...'

'Well, we could always take a detour and get some ice cream,' suggested Cedric, in his most casual voice. 'But only if we agree not to tell anyone.'

'I suppose I could just about manage that,' said Harry. 'Come on then!'

Fifteen minutes later, Harry and Cedric were sat in two of the chairs outside Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlour, both devouring large chocolate treats. 'Well this was an excellent idea,' said Harry through a mouthful of ice cream. It was then that he noticed that Cedric wasn't really listening but was instead looking passed him. 'What is it?'

Swallowing his mouthful of ice cream, Cedric pointed across the street. 'That shop there. I've never seen it before.' Harry turned in his chair and looked. Opposite the ice cream parlour was a run-down looking shop that Harry didn't recognise. He was fairly sure at this point that he could remember every building in Diagon Alley, having spent a considerable time in the street just after he had turned thirteen. And yet Cedric was definitely right, that shop had not been there the last time he had visited. It had no obvious name above the entrance and, as they watched, the door opened and an elderly witch emerged, looked around nervously, before wrapping her cloak tightly around herself, and disappearing off down the street.

'Fancy taking a look?' asked Cedric. 'Who knows? It might have that elusive new broomstick model that you've been looking for.'

'Yes,' said Harry sarcastically. 'That witch that just came out looks like a seasoned Quidditch player.'

'Fair point. Come on then, let's have a nose.' They both stood up from their chairs and made their way across the street and into the run down looking building. A bell chimed as they entered the shop. There was very little inside except for a single circular wooden table in the middle of the room, with three chairs arranged equidistant around it. A witch sat in one of the chairs, wearing a long block cloak. She had black hair that came down to her waist and was very thin.

'Welcome my dears,' she said in a misty voice that reminded Harry so much of Professor Trelawney that he nearly threw up on the spot. 'I've been expecting you.'

Cedric looked at Harry and raised his eyebrows. 'Oh yes?' he said after a moment's pause. 'So you know who we are then?'

'But of course,' she said. 'You are Cedric Diggory. I would recognise you anywhere. Tell me Cedric, how does it feel?'

'How does what feel?' asked Cedric, looking perplexed.

She paused for a second for dramatic effect and then said, 'To be a dead man walking.' Whatever Harry had been expecting her to say, it certainly wasn't that. Cedric himself looked totally shocked.

'What did you say?' he whispered and then hurried forward to sit in one of the chairs around the table. Harry didn't consider this to be a particularly wise move given the circumstances, and so he edged a little closer to the table, his wand hovering resolutely above his wand.

'I know what I see,' she said, leaning forward so that her face was not far from Cedric's. 'When I saw you in the Leaky Cauldron only this morning, I recognised you for what you are.'

'What does that mean?' said Harry, his temper flaring a little. He had had enough of mysteries. 'I'm sick to death of people being cryptic!'

'You are touched by destiny my dear Cedric,' she whispered lightly, as though she hadn't heard that Harry had spoken at all. 'He has chosen you.'

'Who has?' asked Cedric, looking both intrigued and slightly frightened. 'What happened to me in the graveyard? Do you know?'

She smiled slightly and then reached forward and pressed something into Cedric's hand. 'Take this my dear,' she said. 'For the road ahead.' And then, with a sudden crack, she disappeared, leaving Cedric sat alone at the wooden table, holding something in his clenched fist.

Harry moved forward. 'What the hell was that about?' he said, putting his hand on Cedric's shoulder. 'What's that in your hand?'

Cedric slowly opened his fist to reveal the object that had been pressed into it. They both stared at it in shock. 'Well I certainly wasn't expecting that,' said Cedric.