The assault of pain as soon as he woke was unbearable. Again loathsome nightmares plagued him, meaning he woke, AGAIN, with dried tears and slicked in sweat. If this is living, is it worth it, again with this thought?

Looking down he noticed the two small bundles on the floor. With a loud huff and ignoring the stabbing pain in his stomach, Merlin he was starving, Harry picked up the next litter.

12th November 1994

Dear Harry,

I am honoured by the offer to use your Firebolt. I will 100% take you up on that my friend, so thank you.

I am sorry we haven't had a chance to catch up in person. My classes have been ridiculous! I thought O.W.L.s were bad enough but studying for N.E. is unbearable.

So onto your questions…..

I guess my favourite subject is Transfiguration but I implore you not to tell my head of house….

Well I am not really sure what I want to do post Hogwarts. I think I want to travel before going into an apprenticeship. I would love a career with some adventure. I am sure you know the feeling? I don't think I have the talent for Professional Quidditch if I am honest.

As for the tournament! My dad was keen for me to enter and he thinks I could win. I mean I am sort of excited but I don't really seek glory. One day I need to stop making choices based on my dad's wishes.

I did grow up in the Magical World. My mother left my father when I was young but he insisted I stay with him. I don't see her often anymore and she has a new family with a muggle farmer.

I did enjoy my week but it would have been nice to see you. I hope you are not hiding away because of our idiot school mates? I would like to meet for lunch. Are you free tomorrow?

What would be your ideal job post Hogwarts?

Don't be a stranger and I hope to see you tomorrow?

Your good friend,

Cedric

X

As he finished the flap on his door opened and a bowl of some nasty looking beige slop appeared. Resigned to the protest from his stomach he walked over on tired and weak legs.

Great cold porridge! Well at least it will ease off this hunger for a few hours.

He swallowed down the flavourless paste and decided to read the next letter from the red and gold pile.

12th November 1994

To my good friend Cedric,

Thank you for your letter. Please do not worry if you don't get time to write often.

Yes, I would very much like to have lunch with you tomorrow. I'll meet you by the Great Hall entrance at 11 o'clock if that is okay?

Well after I send this I will be running straight to Professor Sprout. She needs to know that one of her Hufflepuff's is being tempted by the dark side….

I would love to travel. I haven't really been to many places and my relatives are not big on holidays, well with me at least. Yes, an adventurous career does sound appealing. In my opinion you are great at Quidditch. I guess if you are not too passionate about it then probably a career in the sport is out.

It is nice you want to make your father proud and I am sure he is very proud. It was sweet he teased me about you winning our match last year. I worry for us in this tournament but I know you are a talented Wizard so I am sure you will do well.

I am sorry to read about your relationship with your mother. I guess when you are older you could explore rebuilding the relationship?

Umm, well not so much hiding as stealthy avoiding people. I don't want to take attention away from the real school champion.

I don't really know what options there are after Hogwarts. Maybe we could discuss it more over lunch?

With warm wishes

Harry

X

Harry had recalled these letters and the time between. Whilst it was true he didn't want to take attention away from Cedric, the main reason was he started to feel fluttering in his stomach whenever he saw the Hufflepuff. He hadn't really thought about others in a romantic way but he recalled it felt appealing when he looked at Cedric.

Looking at the ceiling he felt so numb. I guess this was better than the relentless ache in my heart? Right?

**KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK**

"Boy if you finished your breakfast get a move on with your chores, you lazy brat. This is not a hotel" came the shrill voice of his horse faced aunt.

I guess hard work will take my mind off this? It is not like he has heard from his "friends", not that he wanted to!

Returning to his room, aching all over, after a lukewarm shower the young man flopped onto his thin mattress. Hedwig had her head tucked under her wing and didn't seem to notice Harry's return.

His eyes were burning with fatigue after a day's hard graft. As he was starting to drift off he heard a little flutter of wings. An Owl appeared at his window. Oh now I get a letter do I? You can all just fuck off. The Owl started hooting so Harry jumped up to take the stupid letter before he got an earful from the muggles.

"Okay, okay. Thanks. Do you want some food or water?"

In reply the Owl took off indicating that she would rather not stay in the depressing cell one second longer. He couldn't blame her, he didn't want to be here either.

Harry looked at the envelope and noticed the neat handwriting of Hermione. He didn't know why but he emptied the trash can, took out some matches and set the letter aflame, placing the can on next to the window. The burning embers brought the first smile to his face in weeks. Just fuck off all of you.

Feeling the need for some small comfort he took the next letter from Cedric's pile.

13th November 1994

Dear Harry,

I had a blast with you at lunch today. I had no idea you had such a wicked sense of humour and my ribs are still aching from all the laughing.

I am so pleased we landed on a career idea for you. I personally think you will make a great Auror. I am happy to tutor you in potions as I agree Snape is a greasy git. I am baffled why the man is a teacher, even though he is talented at potions!

I hope your family and I guess Dumbledore will allow you to come with me and my dad to Spain next summer. I think you will love it there and I know you tan easily! I personally tend to burn in the sun!

It is agreed now Harry. On alternate days we will meet for lunch. I am not having you hide away and I don't want the attention of being a champion from the stupid idiots we call school mates in any case.

Oh I forgot to say that Viktor Krum asked if we both wanted to fly with him? I mean that would be something to tell the grandkids one day so I hope you're up for it? If you're keen then I said we would meet him this coming Saturday after breakfast? He was worried about slipping the notice of others who follow him around so I will need to think of something, unless you have an idea?

Thank you for your kind words about my mother. I am sorry to moan about my folks as this is probably not what you want to talk about. I am truly sorry for your parents' deaths. I couldn't even imagine how you would handle this. If you ever want to talk about it I am there for you. Maybe I'll take your advice when I graduate and try to rebuild a relationship with my mum.

I hope you have a good Monday morning and I will see you at lunch. We can then meet on the 5th floor on Tuesday night to do some potion studies.

Thanks again for the laughs and I hope you are not too down about Ron?

With warm affection

Cedric

X

Harry recalled the joy it brought him to see Cedric doubled over laughing with tears streaming down his face. He could have done without the dirty looks from Ron. Why was he always such a dick head?

He wondered if Viktor would write to him this summer as he had promised. He assumed a letter coming from Bulgaria would take some time? He did miss the stoic muscular seeker. It was a stolen kiss with Viktor that pushed Cedric to have 'that' conversation with Harry.

With a deep sigh Harry picked up the letter he sent in reply to his now dead boyfriend.

13th November 1994

To my easily entertained Hufflepuff,

I am glad I made you laugh. You have such an infectious laugh it spurred me on to make you continue.

Thank you again for your offer of help with potions. I look forward to the greasy gits gormless expression when I finally brew a passable potion….. A lot riding on your teaching ability here Ced.

I really hope Dumbledore doesn't make any protests about going to Spain with you. I know I will need to return to my relatives for a few weeks at least, so again don't change your plans if the timing doesn't work out. Ha-ha I do tan easily, that is true!

I am looking forward to our lunches together, not least to see the looks as we sit at each other's house tables! Why do people feel the need to glare at me so much? As for you being Hogwarts Champion from tomorrow I will be wearing your badge with pride! Just to piss you off….

Yeah I would love to fly with you and Viktor. The man is like a falcon on a broom. We can kiss goodbye to catching the snitch though…

I do have an idea. I have a cloak he can borrow that will allow him to move around unseen. I will need it back after we fly but if I give it to you at lunch tomorrow can you pass it along to him? It was my dad's so please tell him to be careful with it?

As for Ron he is still acting like a dingbat. He can piss off frankly. He knows full well I do not want any attention. He is so frustrating and Hermione is sticking with him. Such good friends!

Well I will send this to arrive during breakfast so I do hope you slept well?

See you at lunch and I expect more laughing!

With equally warm affection

Harry

X

Would it have been better if Ron and Hermione had stuck with me? Well I guess we will never know and I will never forgive either of you.

With sleep pulling his eyelids down he resigned to sleep. He hoped for a nice dream but knew not to expect much.