AUTHOR'S NOTES: I know this chapter is tiny but there's a lot of emotion here and we get Cedric's take on the flashback in the previous chapter.
Chapter 9
December arrived with a blizzard. The cold winds whipped snow around the castle and inside, the students were forced to wear their heavier cloaks and gloves to class.
Up in his office, Dumbledore enjoyed the heat from the fire in the fireplace as he sipped a cup of hot chocolate and reflected on what Snape had told him the previous week. Despite their differences, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger seemed to be more comfortable with each other. Smiling, Dumbledore considered the idea of the two as a match. It would be interesting to say the least…
A knock on the door pulled the headmaster from his thoughts and he said, "Come in."
Cedric Diggory entered the room, looking both nervous and confused. "Sir, I…"
"Have a seat, Mr. Diggory," Dumbledore said, withdrawing his wand and conjuring a second cup of hot chocolate.
Cedric sat and took the offered cup, sipping before speaking. "A few days ago… I was thinking about… that night… I've been replaying it in my mind…"
"Quite understandable," Dumbledore said, with a nod.
"I can't… help feeling guilty," Cedric said, sipping his hot chocolate again. "I… I should be dead. If Harry hadn't saved me… It's my fault he's in the wheelchair."
"Mr. Diggory, you are a courageous and loyal young man," Dumbledore replied, leaning back in his chair. "Your feelings are understandable. But you did not send Harry crashing into that headstone."
"If we hadn't taken the Cup together…" Cedric went on. "Or… If I had just run when he told me to… Harry doesn't deserve this. It should be me. I put Harry in danger. I should be the one unable to walk…"
"Mr. Diggory, guilt is a powerful emotion… But let me ask you a question," Dumbledore said as he leaned forward. "Do you love Harry… out of guilt?"
"No! I love Harry for who he is!" Cedric exclaimed. "But… Lately… it seems like he's been trying to get rid of me… And… To be honest… I'm scared to be without him. I almost lost Harry once… Losing him again…"
"If it is any comfort, Harry is also afraid," Dumbledore said, smiling. "You know of Harry's homelife before this?"
Cedric nodded. "Hermione told me that Harry's aunt practically worked him to death… and his uncle and cousin liked to hit him…"
"Even now, Harry maintains a distance from his friends," Dumbledore went on. "Not letting them be as close as he could. He believes Molly Weasley only cares about him because he is friends with her sons and daughter. He does not truly understand that she regards him as a son. Harry does not believe he is worthy of such love and friendship and loyalty."
Cedric considered this for a while. "When I saw that Harry was willing to risk his life to save all of the hostages in the lake… At first I though he was being stupid. But he felt that saving others was more important than saving himself. That's… when I started falling in love with him." Standing and wandering about the room, Cedric kept talking, not noticing the door opening again. "I look at Harry… and I understand that there's nothing wrong with the world that can't be fixed by what is right in the world. I love his heart… his spirit… I can't imagine life without him."
"You really mean that?"
Cedric turned to see Harry wheeling into the room. "Harry…"
"You really do love me?" Harry asked, feeling tears well up in his eyes. "I'm nothing special…"
"Harry, you saved my life," Cedric said, looking his boyfriend in the eye. "When I'm with you I'm happier than I've ever been in my whole life."
"I don't deserve—" Harry started to say.
"You don't deserve what?" Cedric asked. "To be happy? To have friends who would do anything for you? To have a good and happy life?" Sitting down so he was facing Harry, Cedric took Harry's hands. "Harry, you deserve all that and more. Never tell yourself otherwise."
"B-but I'm just Harry."
"You will never… ever… be 'Just Harry' to me," Cedric said, leaning forward and kissing him.
Harry felt something different in Cedric's kiss this time. There was love, certainly… tenderness… But there was a promise when Cedric's lips touched his. A promise that no matter what the future held, nothing would keep them from each other.
