The Most Precious Snitch

Chapter 3

Harry Potter was officially out of the planet. Hermione and Ron, who was a lot calmer then, saw him fumbling into the common room. He just sat there, facing the fireplace and staring at nothing in particular. He had a weird look on his face; like he was actually radiating happiness. Every once in a while, he'll break into a silly little grin and before the grin could transform into an outright smile he'll stop himself abruptly. Hermione smiled and approach Harry, followed by a confused Ron.

"Hey Harry, how are you feeling?" she started.

"Hmm, I'll tell you when I can tell myself…" came the dazed reply, completed with a content sigh.

"Mate, you look way off it," Ron commented and he was immediately hit on the head by Hermione.

Harry didn't hear the comment though. He was so happy inside. He made out with Cedric Diggory! After that, Cedric had personally escorted Harry back to the Gryffindor Tower. He felt so weird inside. He wasn't nervous anymore, after all, Cedric had long went back to the Hufflepuff's. Yet, he still felt like his heart was about to burst. In a good way though, if there was such thing.

He suddenly felt the need to tell Ron and Hermione about every single excruciating detail of the incident. (Ah, young love)

Harry opened his mouth to speak, "Hermione, Ron… What would you say if I tell you, er, Cedric and I were making out in an empty classroom just half-an-hour ago…?"

Hermione beamed and hugged Harry, actually she SQUEEZED Harry, Ron, after recovering from initial shock, had to pull Hermione away before Harry suffocated to death.

"You do realize what this means, don't you Harry?" Hermione asked, "You like Cedric Diggory!"

"Hermione, I think Harry has worked that part out himself, haven't you, mate?" cut Ron.

Harry look blankly at both of them, before a confused look crept up his face.

"You mean to tell me, you made out of Diggory WITHOUT REALIZING that you ACTUALLY LIKE him?" Ron half-screamed, looking exasperated.

"Uh well, I did used to think I have a crush on him, but maybe you're right, maybe I DO like him… I wouldn't know really, I've never liked anyone before. How does it feel to like someone?" commented Harry thoughtfully.

Ron and Hermione slapped their foreheads.

"What?" Harry asked, genuinely oblivious.

The next day, which happens to be a Saturday, started off rather unusually. Harry, who usually wakes up at 10 in the morning on a weekend, ended up waking up at 7. Neither Ron nor the rest of his roommate were awake yet, so he decided to start off the day early by himself.

After getting through the morning routine, he practically SKIPPED out of the dormitories. Events of the previous day replaying in his mind. Half way out the painting of the Fat Lady though, it occurred to him he didn't want to enter the Great Hall by himself (lest SOMEONE is already there), so he waited 'till 8, when he knows Hermione ALWAYS wakes up during the weekend. Right on time, Hermione came down with a few rolls of parchments and books stacked on her hand.

"Harry?" she sounded shocked, "You're awake! Wow!"

Harry laughed, "Yeah, thanks for the 'compliment'… Do you need help with that?"

She nodded and handed Harry a few rolls of parchments.

The two made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Sure enough when they walked in Cedric and the rest of his crew were there. Harry blushed instantly when their eyes met and he quickly pretended to be talking to Hermione.

"Erm, what are you going to do with all this books anyway, Hermione?" he started shakily, as he felt hundreds (okay maybe not REALLY hundreds) of curious eyes falling on him.

Hermione, who was struggling with the books, walked towards the Gryffindor table, explaining enthusiastically, "I'm glad you asked Harry, this is actually research materials for Buckbeak… you know, his trials and all… This is only half of it though; the other half is with Ron, although I doubt he ACTUALLY reads a page…"

Harry nodded, although none of her words were registered into his mind. He couldn't help noticing something strange with the looks he was getting. They're not mean looks or anything. They were 'knowing' looks. Harry felt utterly exposed for some unknown reasons.

With a thump of Hermione's books, they settled into their table.

"Hermione, do you notice anything strange?" Harry asked.

"Hmm? Like what?" Hermione replied distractedly, trying to eat her eggs while reading and occasionally scribbling on the various pieces of parchments.

At the same time, the twins, Percy and Oliver who was perched on the Hufflepuffs' table, talking to Cedric, turned to look at Harry and smirked… Harry felt VERY VERY nervous all over again.

"Is it true? Did you really kissed Cedric?" an excited unfamiliar voice suddenly cuts through his conversation with Hermione.

Harry turned around and saw two Ravenclaw girls and a Hufflepuff boy, "Do I KNOW you?"

The boy spoke up, "No, but we sure know you, Harry Potter, so you really did made out with Cedric Diggory huh?"

"Oh my gosh, is that a love bite on your neck?" a new voice cuts in.

Harry instinctively placed his hand on his neck, although he didn't actually know whether there really was a hickey there. Before long, Harry was surrounded by students Harry had never talked to –even SEEN- before. They were all asking questioning Harry and occasionally passing him weird remarks.

'Did you really kiss Cedric?', 'you made out with him?', 'Did you go all the way?', 'Who started the kiss?', 'Well, it's about time the two of you get together actually…' 'Did you really do it in an empty classroom?', 'how did it all start?' 'WHEN did it all start?' 'I mean really, ever since that day at the Quidditch match, everyone already knew it was bound to happen anyway…' And so goes on.

Harry's mind swirled, 'how did EVERYBODY know?" he thought, feeling giddy. Maybe it was the lack of oxygen since everyone was circling him, or maybe because he was so embarrassed, or maybe, just maybe, because he felt a tinge bit happy inside. Harry though, decided it was the lack of oxygen because he felt really faint after a while.

Hermione, who finally noticed that her friend was 'swallowed up' by a swirl of students, finally 'humphed' and closes her books loudly, attracting attention from the assaulting students.

"Excuse me! DO YOU MIND?" she glared.

A majority of the students felt small under Hermione's glare and immediately disperse.

"Harry? Are you-" Hermione started but was immediately hit by a wave of shock as she saw Harry, who was wobbling in his seat, fell into the floor, looking flushed and fevered, eyes partially closed.

Percy came shooing away all those students who remained behind while Oliver, the twins and Cedric ran to the fallen Harry's side. Hermione supported Harry in a seating position. Oliver, who had seemingly handled a faint Harry so many times during Quidditch practices, conjured up a fan -which started moving itself to fan Harry- expertly.

"He needs fresh air," Cedric decided, his voice in a commanding tone. The twins immediately carried Harry out of the Great Hall, out of the castle even, and rested him near the lake. Hermione had ran up to inform Ron while the rest of the five stayed behind with Harry at the lake.

"Harry, you okay, mate?" Fred and George asked at the same time.

Harry weakly nodded and replied, "I think so… I feel weird though…"

Oliver splashed some water at Harry's face and Harry's eyes immediately widen, he looked at his surrounding and blushed, "What happened?"

Dues to Harry's little 'incident' in the morning, Cedric, the twins, Oliver, Percy, Ron, Hermione, Seamus, Dean and Neville decided to spend the rest of the day beside the lake. The twins, who found Neville to be incredibly gullible, decided to tease Neville the whole day through. Oliver and Percy were seating down, 'exchanging rather heated opinions' about the importance of Quidditch and N.E.W.T.s, as apparently, Oliver thinks that Quidditch is more important than the N.E.W.T.s. Ron, who was backed up by Seamus, was arguing with Hermione, who has Dean on her side, about his rat and her cat.

Leaving a blushing Harry alone with Cedric. They walked along the lake, talking about Quidditch occasionally.

"I'm telling you, I'm POSITIVE that BLOODY CAT ate Scabbers!" screamed Ron heatedly.

"Well, you've got to have PROVE before ACCUSING ANYONE, Ronald," replied Hermione, just as raged.

After a couple of more angry retorts, both sides yelled, "HARRY!"

Harry, who was shocked to be called so suddenly, instinctively turned his body 90 degrees around. Unfortunately, in his hurry, one of his leg trip against the other, causing him to fall backwards, towards the water.

Harry prepared himself for a splash, only, it never came. Instead, he felt two hands propped under his arms, preventing him from falling. After what seemed like forever, his back hits a chest. CEDRIC'S CHEST. If that weren't enough, Harry's head hit something too; namely, Cedric's front neck. Harry squeaked a little and timidly raised his head. He saw a pair of eyes looking down at him and a smirk to go along.

Harry heard someone whistled and quickly tried to stand properly. He was blushing furiously and was afraid to meet anyone's eyes. Thanks to Godric Gryffindor, Harry lifted up his head and saw that the others had stopped whatever it was they were doing to look at Harry and Cedric.

"We weren't doing anything!" Harry exclaimed defensively, still blushing.

"Relax mate, nobody minds your private display, really… Except maybe Ron…" Fred said.

True enough, Ron was looking rather green. He waved a feeble hand at Harry, indicating that he intends to take his leave. Seamus, Dean, Neville and Hermione followed him after smiling apologetically at Harry. The twins were laughing and winked at Cedric before they headed up to the castle, right behind Neville. Percy muttered something about meeting Penelope before dragging a giggling Oliver back to the castle with him.

When everyone else were out of sight Harry felt so out-of-place. He felt really awkward. But he turned to face Cedric anyway.

"I'm so so sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me; I mean I'm never this clumsy. Okay, maybe sometimes, but most of the time I'm pretty poised, well, not that I'm praising myself… But-" he started rambling in a desperate attempt to explain.

"Harry, it's okay, you can be as clumsy as you want to be when you're with me," Cedric cuts in, chuckling.

Harry looks up at him and their eyes locked, "But, I, I don't want to be clumsy in front of you, I want to be… I… I want you to see me as, well, not clumsy. I don't know why but I want to be poised for you. I want to be smart for you. I want to…"

Harry blushed again (not that he ever stops blushing in the first place). He's embarrassed saying all that he said. He doesn't actually know what he's saying. All he knows is that those words that came out of him was what he had been feeling for quite a while.

"… Be perfect for you…" he finished, in what he considers, lamely.

Cedric smiled and pulled Harry towards him. He descended his lips onto Harry's. The kiss stayed chaste for a while before Cedric confidently invade Harry's mouth. He could feel Harry weakening in his arms. In fact, Harry might have fallen right there and then if he weren't supported by Cedric.

To Harry's displeasure, Cedric broke off the kiss earlier than necessary.

"Harry Potter, you ARE perfect for me," He kissed Harry briefly.

"In this way," again, the kiss came and goes.

"In that way," Cedric whispered, this time pulling Harry into a deeper kiss before pulling apart.

"In every way possible."

Harry smiled and melted into Cedric's arms. His heart was soaring high and he was positive had never felt as delighted as that.

The two spent the rest of the day cuddling against each other by the lake side. They rarely talk, but this time, the silence was welcomed and comforting. When they do talk, they talk about nothing in particular. Every conversation was usually sealed with a kiss. When the sun started to set, the two reluctantly prepare to go back to the castle.

Halfway to the castle, Harry remembered something, "Cedric, how did the rest of the school know…?"

The question wasn't answered and it left Harry wondering. If only he had seen the unmistakable smirk on Cedric's face.

TBC

Yaviel's Notes: Well, I think from this chapter onwards it's safe to assume Harry and Cedric are officially a couple. I mean, that was some revelation on Harry's part. So hopefully he won't be as shy anymore. I love how Cedric is so confident though. Well, what do you think? Review please!

OooO thanks twentyonenine (thank you, I try ), Black For President (glad you enjoy this pairing , I love harry/ginny too), True Roswellian (I love it too, wish I could get my paws on one though, lol), imakeeper (thank you, much appreciated! ), twisteddagger (yes, Cedric definitely has no shame XD), NYDreamer (I love making characters flirt, lol thanks!), Titanicgirl (thank you, I'll try to update often!) for the reviews!