Rain

Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine. This is a not for profit work. Rain belongs to Madonna.

Warning: Yes, this is slash. The only warning you'll get is now.

Summary: AU Harry/Cedric. The end of the world is happening...and in a little flat in London two boys try and keep it together.

Chapter 1: The New Normal

Cedric Diggory looked at the potions grimoire with determination. Some of the ingredients were currently simmering on the stove top range cauldron in the tiny kitchen. Let's see, ginger, burdock and rosemary. I need to get the bugbear claw out of the freezer and get the porcupine quills separated. Suddenly the microwave timer beeped and Cedric placed the cauldron off the burner. He soon prepared the other ingredients painstakingly and mixed them carefully into cauldron. There was no explosions or even a snap, crackle, pop, but there was a foul stench coming from the mixture and Cedric had to cast a cleansing charm so not to disturb the other residents of the building. Mix until a smooth consistency is formed, potion is done when it becomes a blue-grey color. After some heavy duty stirring the potion was up to specifications and Cedric poured some of it into a beaker. The warm liquid looked slimy and unappetizing but it was exactly what was needed now. He walked from the kitchenette area into his bedroom that he shared with Harry. The crowded room appeared to be a blending of two personas. There were clothes strewn all over the floor, a calender of the Bulgarian Quidditch team, a Firebolt attached to the wall. The predominate color scheme for the blankets and curtains is yellow and black however, and when Cedric asked why Harry simply said it was because he felt compelled to do that since Cedric was paying rent. He kept it to himself that it was because the colors reminded him of Cedric.

"Harry, it's time to take your medicine." Cedric said gently to the mound underneath the covers. Tense muttering could be heard but Harry emerged from the blankets anyway. Harry looked like death warmed over. His skin had bluish grey tint to it and some patches of his skin looked liked they were petrified in stone. This was the result of a plague unleashed by Voldemort at the end of the Tri-Wizard tournament two years ago and it affected muggle and wizard alike. Harry drank the bitter concoction with the prompting from Cedric to NOT look at the contents lest he vomit at the sight of it. After chugging it down to the last drop Harry put the pillows up on his back and sat upright. Cedric sat on the bed beside Harry. "How are you feeling today?"

"Good. Not really sore or in pain."

"Excellent."

"A little hungry." Harry said as he yawned. "What time is it?"

"A little past noon."

"Good lord."

"Well, it's to be expected since..."

"I know." Since I'm sick...possibly terminal.

"I got a casserole ready for takeoff in the oven so whenever your ready."

"I really hope that smell is the medicinal potion and not your cooking."

"I hope so too." Cedric joked lightly. Harry and Cedric looked at each other for a moment. Harry got his glasses from the nightstand and a took a deep breath. "Ready?"

"Yeah." Harry said quietly. Cedric pulled Harry up and the two slowly walked arm and arm into the kitchen with each step forward for Harry feeling like each bone in his feet was breaking. Left, right, left, right...each step the proud seeker felt like an old man. Cedric guided him into the kitchen and then heard the egg timer ring. He gently sat Harry down, put his oven mitts on and got their lunch (or in Harry's case breakfast) out of the oven. "Any news?" Harry asked as Cedric fanned off the steaming hot dish.

"Let's see. Ghouls are taking over gravesites around Cornwall, there had been Dragon sightings at Southhampton...the authorites have reason to believe said dragon may be undead."

"Lovely." Harry muttered. Since the plague was unleashed on all humanity, dark creatures had come out of hiding and openly attacked anyone they came in contact with and the Ministry couldn't hide magic from muggles anymore, at least not since the incident involving a swarm of horned devils devastating the Greater London area. The attacks had the unfortunate side effect of having wizardfolk being "kill on sight" to most nations in the world. Everyone was too busy dealing with the plague and monsters roaming free that no organized resistance against muggles was formed as of yet. Cedric didn't even know if his parents were alive or dead. When he tried to hide at his old house it looked abandoned. Cedric prayed that his mom and dad hadn't been Afflicted yet.

"Hey, wanna play some poker this afternoon?" Harry asked as he plated up his lunch.

"That'd be okay. I'm still going through all these old texts trying to find a reversal to this thing you've got. It seems to be an unholy disease/curse combination as far as I can tell. I can take a break and spend some time with my lad. You got sauce over you." Cedric said as he wiped Harry's mouth with a napkin.

"I got it!" Harry said tensely. Cedric snapped back. He didn't really say anything but could tell Harry loathed being sick with all of his heart. If the disease didn't kill Harry the loss of independence surely would. "Sorry, it's okay."

"I know. Don't take on so." Cedric said. After the dishes were cleared away (including the potions work) Harry got a deck of muggle playing cards and the two played amicably for a span of an hour. Just then a sound like a crash occurred outside. Cedric immediately had his wand out. "Stay down." Cedric ordered and Harry immediately dove under the table. Cedric went to window and saw the source of the commotion which was a harpy flying by chasing a bird. The naked bird maiden beast snatched the bird in midair and flew off.

"False alarm." Harry said as he was right beside Cedric now, in slight pain from the exertion.

"Damn it, Harry I said stay down."

"It's just a harpy."

"It could smash right into this room right now." Cedric said tightly without raising his voice. Harry had a frustrated look on his face.

"Not like hiding is going to help..."

"We had this conversation before." Cedric said with his voice still not booking any argument like a classically trained leader. Harry's fists balled but he hobbled to the couch and plopped down upon it making the piece of furniture groan more from the force of Harry falling upon it than his weight since Harry had none. Cedric ran his hand through his hair and sat quietly beside Harry on the couch. Harry wouldn't look at Cedric for a few minutes then before Cedric knew it Harry had laid himself across his lap with Harry's head being a perfect fit looking up on him.

Even after all we've been through...what we have to go through still...you're still exceptionally lovely just to sit and watch. Harry thought. Cedric combed his hands through Harry's hair. You still touch me. You still honor me and my pathetic existence, when my blood family wouldn't. Harry lapped the affection like a whorish cat, leaning in to Cedric touch. Reveling in the calloused hands.Harry got exhausted fairly easy though and with a featherweight charm assist Cedric lifted Harry up and carried him into the bedroom. Harry felt loved even if he hated the betrayal his body gave by attacking him.

Chivalry and goodness incarnate...as a card carrying member of the bloke tribe I'm not supposed to want this. To long for such a man. Harry felt himself being tucked in bed with Cedric right beside him. He heard the little television in the room click on. Felt Cedric's mouth on his forehead, too briefly for Harry's liking but too weak to say anything.

If women and men are supposed to know each other better and have the approved parts for such things...why does being with Cedric feel like...like...I found that thing I was missing all my life except I didn't know it was missing 'til I found it. Now it's a price beyond anything material. Harry thought in a feverish philosophical burst before falling asleep.

Cedric and Harry were entangled together on the bed as Cedric flipped through the channels on the t.v careful not to wake Harry.

"Today, all Afflicted people in Avonlea were directed, some by force to approved health facilites..."

Click.

"A Cyclops was roaming around Canada today, the U.N deployed tanks against the hostile creature..."

Click.

"Today we have a speech by Vernon Dursley, president of the Humanity Prime Committee. Let's listen in." Cedric saw a portly man dressed in his Sunday clothes outside the House of Commons on a podium. He saw a skinny white woman dressed in pink and small whale dressed in brown which Cedric believed was Dursley's wife and son.

"Friends, we must stand together and cleanse our homes and families of unnatural phenomenon. Wizards are attracted to such things like a magnet and iron nails. We must fight against charms, illusions, homosexuality, abortion and other such things wizards indulge in. The Magus Plague has been sent to us by God as a wake up call. I know, it's scary. The Wizards breed men like Sirius Black and Aleister Crowley upon us like blights but fear not! We have a strong religious history on our side and it's time to being the Light of Reformation back to our fair shores again!" Cedric then heard a roar among the crowd as they cheered looking at the signs they held up. "MERLIN BURNS IN HELL!" and "A DEAD WITCH IS A GOOD WITCH" which were some of the tamer messages. Cedric turned off the set and held his head in his hands.

Never alone. Not as long as I have Harry. Never alone. Even if I'm dead and the world burned in flames, if Harry were to live, I would go in peace.