3.
Cedric waits, as he always has, at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Light falls through the oculus from the full moon, washing the colour from everything. The air is stale and damp. It is the perfect night to do what needs to be done – poetic, even.
Resting his arms on the ridge of the embrasure, Cedric sticks his head out of the window. He breathes in deeply, attempting to put himself at ease.
It doesn't work.
Cedric has never felt this ache before, deep in the pit of his stomach. It twists on itself, gripping and tugging at his heart and refusing to let go. If he would allow it, he would think it were dark magick. But he knows what it is: selfishness.
He hears the door creak open behind him, but he doesn't move. Harry slowly steps from under his invisibility cloak.
"Cedric?"
At the sound of his voice, Cedric turns to face him. His eyes dance over Harry; his face, his clothes, his emotions. Harry is dressed in his hand-me-down pyjamas. Cedric smiles at the big toe that peeks out from a hole in the dingy, worn socks. Reflexively, Harry's toes curl under, as if trying to hide the exposed digit.
Cedric loves this about Harry.
"You're probably one of the richest boys in school, Harry," he says between kind chuckles, "and yet you can't be arsed to buy new clothes."
Harry walks, albeit slowly, to Cedric.
"I... I just never think about it," he admits, "buying new clothes, that is."
Cedric can see the change in Harry: the newfound confidence in his stride; the straightened back; the chin held higher. Harry looks him in his eyes, now, and Cedric feels warm, knowing that he is in part responsible for the new aplomb.
In a perfect world, he would be by Harry's side as he grew to be the man he is destined to be.
Harry reaches out to touch Cedric, his eyes hopeful, "Cedric--?"
Cedric grabs Harry's hand to stop him. His grip is tight, at first; so tight, that Harry winces, more surprised than hurt. The hold loosens and Cedric brings the hand to his lips, kissing the fingers softly. Cedric opens Harry's palm before bringing it to his cheek, closing his eyes and enjoy the feel and smell of it.
Harry steps closer.
Cedric's eyes jerk open, realizing that he is losing himself, again. Dropping Harry's hand, his expression turns lithic.
Harry's face softens and his resolve crumbles as he desperately tries to gauge Cedric's emotions.
Cedric's eyes flicker in a moment of weakness.
It soon fades.
"I see the way she looks at you..." Harry erupts, "in the corridors – between classes – in the Great Hall! And I see the way you look at her." Harry's tone is hurtful and indicting. "You're... with her again, aren't you?"
Cedric looks Harry in his eyes. Harry deserves that much, at least, Cedric realizes.
"I'm sorry, Harry."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't understand," Cedric says, turning to peer out of the window onto Hogwarts' grounds.
"Bullocks, Cedric!"
Cedric isn't surprised by the venom in Harry's voice, nor is he surprised by the anger and pain etched on his face when he turns to face him.
"Fun is fun, Harry," he says in his best imitation of Draco Malfoy, "but there comes a time in every man's life when it's time to move on and do what real men do."
"That... that's all this has been to you? 'Fun'...?"
"... yes ..."
The volume of Harry's voice rises with his temper, "I can't believe you! I can't believe you would do this – to me, of all people. I thought you loved me, Cedric!"
It was more a question, than a statement. Cedric steps closer to Harry, reaching for him, even if it's for the last time, "Harry, it's not about--"
"Don't fuckin' touch me!" Harry yells, jerking away. "I hate you, Cedric Diggory! I hate that I ever laid eyes on you! I hate that I ever kissed you! I hate that I ever talked to you! I never want to see you again!"
As the invisibility cloak swings to wrap about Harry, obscuring him from vision, Cedric hears one last condemnation escape Harry's lips in a hushed whisper,
"... I hope you die ..."
Harry runs out of the Tower and down the stairway, skipping every other step in a frantic attempt to get as far away from Cedric as he can in the shortest time. He can only hear the sound of the frenetic gait; the gasps for air that never quite fills his lungs; his dizzying, desperate need for solitude.
And, beyond those aural reverberations, Harry cannot hear the other sound...
... the sound of Cedric's heart breaking.