DISCLAIMER: I own none of these characters. I don't own anything related to Harry Potter.

WARNINGS: Slash between Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory.

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Sorry, I had to take this down quickly, realized I had some errors that needed fixing. Hope you all enjoy!

THE CHAMPION'S: PART TEN

'Do you reckon we should get Hermione back?' Seamus asked, chucking another log into the already blazing fire. It'd had been three days since Cedric had gotten out of the hospital wing, but he and Harry were still facing harsh comments and sometimes a hex was fired their way. The school was in something of a state of shock and disbelief.

Ron frowned, and shielded his eyes as the flames engulfed the log. 'Yeah, I think so,' he said, leaning back against the plush red couch and wriggling his toes. 'How should we do that?'

'Well, I was thinking,' he paused, the fire lighting up his face, 'actually, I have no idea.'

Ron laughed, ruffling his friend's hair. 'I've got no ideas either. Isn't that fact that she has very little friends now enough?'

'She hangs around with Neville now, and my god he's getting sick of her,' Seamus grinned, edging himself backwards as the fire spat out a large ember.

'Did you hear him last night?' Ron asked. 'He was ranting on about how bloody, what word did he use?' he stopped to think, 'oh yeah, he said that she was becoming really rather irksome.'

Seamus chuckled. 'God, I still don't understand why did she that to Harry and Cedric though,' he grinned. 'They're so bloody cute together.'

Raising his eyebrows, Ron looked at his friend questionably, who shrugged with a small smile on his lips. 'I dunno,' Ron said, musing, 'maybe she has a crush on Cho?'

'That's bloody insane, she's all moony over Krum,' Seamus reminded him.

'But I'm just saying, maybe she does,' suddenly his eyes lit up, he turned to Seamus with a proud smile on his face.

'What?'

'Do you think we should spread it all across the school that she does have a crush on Cho?'

Frowning, Seamus shook his head. 'Nah, that's child's play, we need something really big!' he said, waving his arms around to show how big really meant.

'We could get her expelled,' suggested Ron.

'That's just cruel.'

'Oh!' he said in excitement, 'how about we send her a howler?'

'Good one!' Seamus agreed. 'But we need something in addition to that.'

'Need our help, lads?' the twins had plunked themselves down either side of Ron. Seamus nearly giggled, three rows of red heads, it was quite an amusing sight.

'Yeah, we want to get Granger back,' Seamus said.

'We know,' George informed him, 'we were listening.'

'So much for privacy,' Ron muttered.

'Can it little bro, it's our job to eavesdrop on you,' Fred said, slinging an arm around his younger sibling. 'Anyway! The howler idea is quite nice, but you need something else.'

'We know!' Seamus and Ron chorused together. 'I thought you'd been listening in,' Ron added.

'And we have just the thing!' George said, continuing on from his twin's sentence, ignoring the comment before. He dove into his pocket and whipped out a small pink and purple sweet.

'What's that?'

'This,' said Fred 'is genius in the form of confectionary.'

'Yeah, but what does it do?'

'This side,' George pointed at the pink, 'will cause her, or anyone who eats its, to form great big-'

'Everlasting bogies!' Fred said excitedly. 'And she'll continuously babble non-stop for three days, it's something Lady Pomfrey can't cure.'

'That's all?' Seamus asked with an ounce of disappointment in his voice. 'I thought you guys would have thought of something better.'

'Ok,' Fred sneered. 'We have this,' he said holding up another sweet.

'What does that do?'

'She'll dance uncontrollably for five hours, and it also attracts flies and other insects to hover around her for a further three hours,' George said.

'And her hair will be a shocking shade of green and it'll be completely untamable,' Fred added.

'All those things from one nibble of candy?' Seamus asked amazed.

'That's brilliant,' Ron concluded.

'You'd better not tell Harry about this,' Fred told them. 'He's so bloody noble; he wouldn't let you do it.'

Harry lay on his bed after classes, and let his mind wander. He was the only one in the dorm, it was refreshing not having to worry about Neville and Dean, well mostly Dean, badmouthing him whenever he entering the room. He'd finally finished his homework, and was about to go down to the common room and join Seamus and Ron in front of the fire, when the dorm door slide slowly open. Harry pushed open the hangings around his bed (he'd been drawing every night since the school found out and placing silencing charms around the bed, because Ron had warned that he talked in his sleep), he nearly fell of the bed when he saw who had entered the room. It wasn't Ron, Seamus, Neville or Dean, or anyone in Gryffindor. It was Cedric.

'Harry, hi,' he said quickly, when he spotted Harry lying on the bed. He jumped up beside him and kissed his head. 'Dumbledore just told me that there is a special feast being held for the champion's tomorrow night.'

'What? Why?' Harry asked in confusion. 'The next task is over two weeks away, why now?'

'Dumbledore said it was because he wanted us to enjoy it now, rather than worry all the way through it.'

'Oh, makes sense,' Harry said. 'I was planning to start worrying on Sunday,' he grinned.

Cedric chuckled. 'The champion's sit up the front of the hall, at a table together,' he smiled, rubbing Harry's knee softly. 'Dumbledore told me that he is going to make a speech about acceptance.'

'What?' Harry asked, softly. 'Because of us?'

Cedric nodded, stroking Harry's scar. 'Yes, I think so.'

'Wait, when's this?'

'Saturday night, tomorrow,' Cedric told him.

'So it is fancy or anything?'

'Like dress robes fancy?' Cedric asked him, and continued when Harry nodded. 'No, I don't think so, just school robes.'

'That's a shame,' Harry said, wrapping his arms around Cedric's waist.

'Yeah, why's that?'

'Because you look amazing in your dress robes,' he smiled, placing a small kiss on Cedric's lips.

Cedric smiled into the kiss, and hugged Harry closer to him. 'So, will you go with me?'

'To the Champion's dinner?' he inquired. 'Is it a couple's thing?'

'No,' the older boy said. 'But I want to go with you.'

'Ok,' Harry said, blushing. 'How'd you get in?' he asked, realizing he didn't let him into the common room.

'Ginny Weasley let me in,' he said.

'Mm, I'm glad; I really wanted to see you.'

Cedric kissed him fiercely, rolling on top of him; Harry kissed him back, pressing up into his body. Cedric's dark hair flopped forward onto Harry's face, tickling him softly. He smiled as they pulled apart and ran his hands along Cedric's back, running his fingers over his spine. Cedric pulled Harry's school tie out were it was tucked down his sweater, and untied it draping it around his own neck. Harry shuddered as his fingers brushed his neck, dipping under his hands under the collar of his shirt. Harry kissed him, their lips locked with such intensity, that Harry heard Cedric moan quietly. Harry's hands moved down to Cedric's waist, and he then ran them up Cedric's chest, and sat up a little to kiss him on the neck. Cedric moaned happily.

Both boys heard the door creak open, Harry quickly disentangled himself from Cedric, but Cedric kept his hands down the younger boy's shirt.

'Oh, sorry,' Harry saw Seamus' head poking around the door, 'I just came up to get something from my trunk,' he said crossing the room quickly and grabbing a box of Chocolate Frogs. He gave Harry the thumbs up as he slipped from the room.

'Harry, I'd better go,' Cedric said, standing up.

'Do you have to go?' he asked softly, grabbing his tie and pulling him back down for a long and deep kiss.

When the kiss ended, Cedric was smiling, showing his perfect white teeth. 'Harry, I do have to go, got some ruddy homework that needs finishing. I love you,' he whispered, walking slowly towards the door and then exciting the room.

Harry smiled to himself, licking his lips that still tasted of Cedric. 'Oh,' Harry said sitting up, 'he still has my tie.'

Seamus and Ron sat in the library on Saturday afternoon just hours before the Champion's feast, holding the sweet that the twin's had given them. There was hardly a soul in the library even though rain was bucketing down outside. Apart from Professor Bins who had floated in, through Seamus, to get to the history of magic section. A startled Seamus had dropped the small green and orange sweet and had had to dive under the table for it, all the while the hawk-eyed librarian, Madam Irma Prince watched.

'You hold it!' Seamus said as he shoved the sweet into Ron's hand. 'I can't keep anything safe!'

Chuckling, Ron stuffed the sweet into a pocket of his robes. 'So, we'll do it tonight then?' he asked.

'Yeah, so everyone can see,' Seamus grinned widely. 'The Champion's feast! Everyone will be there, even her beloved Krum.'

'Thick as a bat he is!' Ron said cheerfully.

Seamus nodded his agreement. 'So what should we put in the howler?'

'I don't know,' Ron admitted. 'Something bloody dreadful.'

'Know any personal secrets of hers?' Seamus asked eagerly.

'No, no I don't,' he sighed. 'Great this is going to be harder then I thought!'

Seamus drummed his fingers on the desk stop, jumping when Madam Prince barked at him to stop.

'Maybe we could get Dobby to send it to her!' said Ron sitting bolt upright.

'Who is Dobby?' Seamus asked.

'A house elf, he's basically in love with Harry,' said Ron. 'Hermione's always been complaining about house elves and how little they get paid.'

'They don't get paid.'

'I know and that's what bothers her.'

'I think we should just send it ourselves, and put in what she did so the whole school knows,' Seamus said. 'That's the best idea.'

'Yeah, I think you're right, mate,' Ron smirked. 'She'll get it on Monday morning, breakfast time.'

'Ron!' Harry asked while he was rummaging through his trunk. 'Do you have a spare tie I could borrow, for tonight?'

'No, sorry I only the one,' Ron said, running a comb through his hair twice, and then flopping back on his bed. 'Why?'

'Because Cedric left with mine yesterday by mistake, and I need it.'

Seamus grinned and looked up from Dean's Football magazine. 'I saw him leaving with it last night,' he put the down the magazine. 'You know, you two are really cute together.'

Harry stared at Seamus, who disappeared behind the publication again. 'Uh, ok, thanks,' he said grinning, looking at Ron for an explanation, all he received was a shrug in response. 'Do you have a spare tie, Seamus?' he asked.

'Nope sorry, my spare got covered in potion mixture last Tuesday,' he stared down at the magazine again. 'You know, Football is bloody weird, Quidditch is so much better than Football, why the hell does Dean like this stupid game?'

'He'd better bring it with him then,' Harry said ignoring Seamus, closing the lid on his trunk and sitting on it. 'How long to go?' he asked nervously.

'Harry! Would you stop worrying,' Ron asked sharply. 'You're making me worried as well.'

'You don't have to sit up the front of the great hall, with everyone watching you!' Harry said, half yelling. 'And Dumbledore's going to make an acceptance speech, but it sounds like a pro-gay one instead.'

'What's the problem with that?' Seamus asked.

'Nothing I guess, it's good and all, but it's all because of me and Cedric being together.'

'So?' Ron mumbled, chewing on his nail. 'Nothing wrong with that, anyway you've done a good thing, you know? Sparked up awareness, people in school aren't afraid to come out anymore now that the Boy Who Lived is gay.'

Seamus laughed and piped up. 'You know that big Slytherin girl, Millicent Bulstrode?'

Harry and Ron flinched in recognition; she was uglier than a troll. 'Yeah, what about her?'

'She announced she was gay yesterday and then tried to feel up Hannah Abbot in the corridor!'

'Feel sorry for the poor girl,' Ron said.

'Bulstrode or Abbot?' Harry asked, cleaning his glasses.

'Abbot.'

'Yeah,' Seamus continued, 'apparently Hannah nearly fainted from shock.'

All three laughed at this and then Harry looked down at his watch and jumped to his feet. 'Come on!' he said, nearly shouting. 'We've got to go, starts in five minutes!'

Seamus and Ron eased themselves up from where they were sitting slowly, as if to tease Harry more. But Harry stormed out of the dorm ahead of them and down to the Great Hall.

The decorations, he noticed, weren't as splendidly down as the other feasts and that of the Yule Ball, but they were still colourful and festive. The dark Durmstrang emblem hung to the right of the hall, and all the Durmstrang students were milling about under it. The bright blue crest of Beaubatons hung to the left, and the students were lounging around under it as well. A large Hogwarts emblem hung proudly in the middle of the hall, and all the students from Hogwarts regardless of their houses were standing under it. Excited chatter filled the hall; everyone was talking, though they sounded more like chickens in a yard to Harry. He saw the table where he and the other champion's were going to sit. He swallowed; he was in plain view of everyone. The table was long and similar to the staff table, but only four chairs where behind it. Harry noticed, somewhat thankful for this that the champion's table wasn't on the raise platform like the staff table was; it was on the same level as the students tables.

'Harry!' he whirled around to see Dumbledore approaching him.

'See you later Harry,' Seamus and Ron muttered, jogging off together into the crowd of students.

'Harry, come and stand with the other champion's,' Dumbledore said, motioning to where they stood beside the special table allocated to them. 'Where's your tie?' he asked as Harry thanked him and began to walk towards them.

Shrugging in reply to the headmaster Harry walked briskly over to Cedric. Cedric pulled him into a hug, and handed him back his tie. 'Err, sorry,' he said, blushing a little. 'I forgot I still had it when I left.'

'It's ok,' Harry said, smiling.

'Please everyone take your seats please!' Professor Flitwick was moving through the crowds telling everyone to sit. 'Oh bother this,' he said as he passed the champion's. 'Sonorous,' he muttered, pointing his wand at his throat. 'CAN EVERYONE PLEASE SIT, PLEASE, YOU MAY SIT ANYWHERE YOU WISH, YOU MAY SIT WITH THE OTHER HOUSES AND WITH THE OTHER SCHOOLS, SIT PLEASE,' he repeated, and moved his wand from his throat. Harry had nearly laughed; the professor's voice was still squeaky even when magnified. He took his seat next to Cedric at the far end of the table, Fleur sat in the middle and Krum at the opposite end.

When the babbling had died down, Dumbledore stood up, Harry noticed that every staff member was present behind him; he turned around to face the headmaster as did everyone else in the hall. Dumbledore cast no charm to amplify his voice, he didn't need it.

'Welcome to the Champion's feast!' he said, even Dumbledore sounded excited. 'This is to honor the bravery and courage of our champion's! Many of you have been wondering why we are having this now and not after the third task or before hand, I'll tell you know. We are holding it now, because the nerves about the third task with probably start to set in soon enough, and we'd like for our champion's to enjoy themselves while they can. And we are holding this now, not after because it's a brilliant excuse for a good feeding,' he paused while the laughter died down. 'These four exceptionally talented young people sitting before me are brave, kind, courageous, forgiving, daring and most importantly persistent. Many of the challenges they have faced over the past few months have repetitively slapped them in the faces,' Harry nearly chocked at this and looked up and Dumbledore to find him smiling down at him and Cedric. 'But!' he continued, 'they continued on, and those seven traits are what make them champion's. Now! ENJOY THE FOOD!' he bellowed happily as he sat down, and began pilling roast potatoes into his plate.

Everyone stared down in wonder at the food that appeared before them. Harry heard Fleur and Krum talking to each other, and praising the variety of foods. Everyone was munching contently for some time before talking broke out again, Cedric slung his arm over the back of Harry's chair and kissed his cheek, smiling.

'You're in a good mood,' Harry said, grinning back, he'd never seen Cedric looking so dopey before.

'I'm always in a good mood when you're around, Harry,' he smiled. He picked up a plate of something Harry had never seen before, and couldn't even begin to describe what it looked like. 'Here, have some of this, it's really good!'

'What is it?' Harry asked, accepting the plate and spooning some beside his lamb chops.

'I don't know,' Cedric said. 'But it tastes nice!'

Harry cautiously tasted some, and he nodded as Cedric raised an eyebrow in question. The food tasted vaguely meaty but with a hint of some kind of vegetable. 'Yeah, that is good!'

Cedric smiled at him and slowly leaned down, planting a soft kiss on his mouth. Harry kissed him back, wrapping his arms around his neck. Suddenly half of the Great Hall erupted into cheers. Harry pulled away from Cedric looking shocked, they were cheering for them. Harry hid his face in Cedric's chest, blushing madly; he could hear Cedric laughing and knew he was blushing too. When Harry looked up only a second later he saw Fleur clapping approvingly beside them, and many Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and some Slytherin students were on their feet clapping and cheering, as where Beaubatons and some people from Durmstrang. Harry noticed that all of Ravenclaw stayed seated and so did Hermione and Draco Malfoy and his gang.

Dumbledore stood up. 'Shhh,' he warned, holding a finger to his lips. 'Can't you see you're embarrassing them?' he laughed and continued when the cheers and clapping died down. 'That brings me to my next point about acceptance, I understand some of you haven't been all that fair to two of our champion's, rude words, hexes and curses and snide comments have been fired, I warn you now this must stop,' he was about to continue when an ear splitting scream broke through the Great Hall.

Harry looked around for the source and saw Hermione standing up dancing some kind of jig, her legs splaying out around her, her hair had turned a bright shade of green and was standing up on end like she had been electrified. She ran, or rather danced from the hall was fast as she could, giggle and bursts of laughter followed her escape. Harry didn't spot Seamus and Ron giving each other a high five.

Dumbledore stared after Hermione for a second, and then asked Madam Pomfrey to find her and take her to the hospital wing. 'She must be allergic to something,' he said smiling out at the crowd. 'Never mind, I'm sure she'll be fine, where was I?'

He hadn't seemed to realize at all that what had just happened was caused by a student, none of the other teachers seemed aware of it either and they all continued eating and listening to the headmaster.

'Think we got away with it?' Seamus muttered to Ron.

'Yeah,' came his reply. 'Teachers hardly even realized that people don't have allergic reactions like that!' Ron didn't feel sorry for the humiliation he had caused Hermione at all. And neither did Seamus.

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