A/N: Who said I was female xXZero CoolXx:boggles: Oh, and I've enabled anonymous reviews, thanks for the tip Viper Redhead! Nothing too canon in this chapter, deviating a bit… but I hope you like it! It's a bit shorter than the others but with good reason! In my opinion it is a bit early for angsty brooding… anyways, read on and I hope you enjoy!
Warnings: Here's a bit more implied slashiness, and more flirting. Yay!
Pairings: Harry/Cedric Diggory
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. (I wish I did!) Don't sue me! I'm only babbling on in sappy smut. I am making no profit from this work; the characters belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers studios, I have only borrowed them for a test drive. I don't even write them very well! I'm sorry!
... ... ... Chapter 3 ... ... ...
Harry spent most of the rest of that weekend working on finishing overdue homework- he had pushed a lot to the side while preparing for the first task. That Sunday evening at dinner, Dumbledore stood as the students finished with their desserts, and announced that as part of the Triwizard Tournament the school would be hosting the Yule Ball in the month of December. Only fourth years and above would be allowed to attend, he declared. Harry didn't remember ever hearing of a dance at Hogwarts, and was rather surprised along with the rest of the student body. At the end of the announcement, the headmaster called for the Triwizard champions to join him for another announcement. Harry made his way up to Dumbledore, where Cedric, Fleur and Krum were waiting.
"A quick word, I won't keep you long. I must inform you all that it is tradition for the three – in this case, four – champions of the tournament to open the ball with the first dance. You will all need to find partners to accompany you," Dumbledore stated with a twinkle in his eye. "I doubt it is an issue, but should the need arise dance lessons will be offered early in the month of December prior to the event, these are open to all students."
Harry paled at the thought, not only would he have to find a date for the dance, but he would need to learn to dance. This in itself wasn't a problem, but he would be terribly embarrassed if he were seen attending the classes – he was a champion, after all. The fact that he would make a fool of himself in front of not only one, but three schools nagged at his mind as he headed back up to Gryffindor tower.
In the common room, Ron and Hermione both asked him what the headmaster had told the champions and Harry repeated the message, blushing as he said the words out loud.
"That's why dress robes were on the school requirement list this year!" concluded Hermione.
"Do you know how to dance?" asked Ron.
"Er – well, not as such – no." replied Harry. He felt awful saying it, but maybe they would be able to help him, he thought.
"Dumbledore said there'd be classes offered?" asked Hermione.
"There is such a thing as pride, Hermione." said Harry, but with no real conviction to it. "I'm a champion, and I'll most likely be the only of the four that would show up. How awkward would that be?"
"He has a point, Hermione." chimed Ron. "Maybe you can get someone else to teach you to dance?"
"You and Cedric are friends, Harry. Maybe he can tutor you, help you learn to dance?" said Hermione, peering at the dark-haired boy vaguely.
"Hermione! How about an idea that's feasible?" said Ron snidely.
"I could, I suppose – he said he'd help me if I needed it… I would be rather self-conscious still, though."
"Don't you know how to dance, Hermione?" asked Ron.
She took a moment to breathe, restraining herself from sighing. "I know how to dance, from the female perspective. It's different."
Harry and Ron looked confused. "It is?" asked Harry.
"There are two parts, and I never learned to lead. The steps are different and everything." she said exasperatedly.
"Oh, blimey. I didn't know that," said Ron.
Harry thought he heard Hermione say "Obviously," under her breath, but he wasn't sure he hadn't imagined it.
"It just sounds like an awkward thing to ask from someone who I don't know very well yet. I mean, we're friends I suppose… It'd be one thing if it was Ron, but I guess it's just odd to think of."
He tried to picture dancing with Cedric, and the image was certainly an unusual one. Harry was slightly shorter than the Hufflepuff, for one thing. He wasn't sure how he knew that to remember, but it was there in his head.
I don't have a lot of choice, do I? he thought to himself.
"You can ask, anyway," suggested Hermione. "Maybe he knows someone else who can teach you."
Harry relented, "Yeah. I'll ask tomorrow after lessons."
--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--
Later that week neither Ron nor Hermione mentioned the upcoming ball, having classes to occupy their attention. Harry decided to write the seventh year a note to invite him for help, but wasn't sure where they would be able to meet. They'd have to find an abandoned classroom, he supposed. He wrote the note, giving it to a second year to deliver just after lunch.
"Cedric-
I was wondering if you could meet me at the Transfiguration classroom after dinner, I need your help with something. I'll talk to you about it when I see you,
Harry"
As the day drew to a close Harry found himself waiting in the Transfiguration classroom yet again, wearing comfortable shoes. He hadn't received an answer from the Hufflepuff, so he wasn't sure whether or not the older boy would be coming. He waited for a few minutes before Cedric opened the door, knocking.
"Cedric, hi. Sorry about this, I know it's kind of odd…" Harry began.
Cedric smiled, and said "Not at all. I told you I'd help if you needed it. What's up?"
The Gryffindor blushed, shuffling his feet in embarrassment. "Well, actually it's more a matter of pride than necessity… I – er, well, that is to say – I don't know how to dance, and seeing as we have to for the ball I thought maybe you might be able to, I dunno, help me?"
The seventh year laughed. "You don't know how to dance? At all?"
Harry looked down at his feet nervously, and Cedric's grin slackened.
"Well, I'll see what I can do. I understand completely why you wouldn't want to attend the classes; that would be miserable, right?" said Cedric, trying to be consoling.
"Yeah." Harry replied, his blush vanishing as he blanched. "I'm going to make a fool out of myself in front of three schools."
Cedric scowled mildly at the Gryffindor's words. "No, you'll do fine. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. Here, let me show you."
Harry hesitated. "What?"
The Prefect looked amused now. "Come stand in front of me, and I'm going to show you how to dance."
Blushing, the fourth year moved to position himself in front of the other boy and took his offered hand. What had he expected, a diagram? Of course he would have to dance with Cedric to learn. He didn't want to get too close to the other boy, though, that would certainly be crossing some boundary or other, right? He stopped about two feet from the older student, raising his eyes to glance at Diggory before fixing his gaze vaguely over his shoulder.
"I don't bite, or do you plan to stand across the ball from your partner during the dance?" asked Cedric. He put his hand on Harry's waist, maneuvering him closer and chuckled. "Now, your other hand would normally go on your partner's waist, but I'm going to show you the steps first, alright? Just put your hand on my shoulder right now." he directed.
Harry complied, and looked at the older boy expectantly. Cedric's hand on his waist made him squirm a bit; it wasn't uncomfortable, but then again it was. Harry felt caught between the desire to get the lesson over with and the desire for it not to stop anytime soon. He hoped his inner thoughts stayed on the inside, he was trying to keep his face blank and he sincerely wished he wasn't blushing.
"Ready?" Cedric confirmed.
"Yeah," replied Harry, a tad weakly.
"And… one, two, three – one, two, three – one, two, three." started the Hufflepuff as he led Harry slowly in the basic course of the dance. After a moment, he added, "Are you getting the general idea? When you lead, the rotation will be determined by which hand your partner is holding. That hand 'pushes' in the rotation, almost like opening a door. A fancy, overdressed door." explained Cedric, as he continued to move the Gryffindor about on the clear floor space.
"That makes sense, I think I can remember that." said Harry, listening intently.
"Do you think you can try leading now?" suggested Cedric.
"I'll have a go, sure." replied the fourth year, and the two boys readjusted their hands so that Harry's other hand was now on Cedric's waist. He started to lead now, spinning them slowly back the way they had just come.
"Good, good!" said Cedric. "I think you've got the gener- Ow!" exclaimed the Hufflepuff. Wincing slightly, he broke away from Harry in surprise. "Ah, yes. I forgot you need to watch for your partner's feet…"
"I'm sorry, I didn't step too hard, did I?" apologized Harry.
"No, I'll be fine. Just… be careful." admonished Cedric lightly. "Try again."
They moved back into position, and Harry made sure to keep his mind on where he was putting his feet. He wasn't quite as close to Cedric now, and he wasn't sure whether he regretted that or not.
I can smell him… he thought. I'm holding his hand.
At that realization he almost dropped said hand, and Cedric looked at him strangely.
"You alright?" he asked, concernedly.
"I'm fine," replied Harry automatically. He mentally kicked himself. What was the look the Hufflepuff had given him?
"Much better." declared Cedric after a few minutes. "Now at the ball itself, you might want to look at your partner, not anywhere but," he teased.
Harry mumbled an apology. "Sorry, I didn't know if that would make this more awkward…" he started.
"Don't be sorry, that's fine. Is this awkward for you?" asked Cedric pointedly. "We can stop if you like. I think you have it." he said.
"Oh, I didn't mean – I wasn't…" tried the Gryffindor. He blushed. "This is fine." finished Harry lamely, but Cedric had dropped his hand and moved to step away. Harry reached for the Hufflepuff's hand and caught it as the other boy started to step away. "Stay? please?" he said, almost pleading. He looked in Cedric's eyes, not knowing how to explain what he was feeling without scaring his new friend away.
Cedric returned his gaze unyieldingly, his face thoughtful. He moved back into position and replaced his hand in Harry's quietly. This time as they started again, the Hufflepuff wasn't counting; their eyes remained on each other's in silence.
"You're doing well, Harry." Cedric determined after a few more minutes. "You should do fine at the ball if you remember this." There was a moment's pause before the Prefect continued. "Do you know who you are going to ask yet?"
"Not a clue." Harry paled again as he remembered that he'd have to find someone to accompany him to the occasion. He had quite forgotten in his worry about dancing lessons that he'd need someone to dance with.
"You'll find someone before too long, surely. I'm sure that you, being the famous and handsome young man that you are, have girls fawning over you all the time." said Cedric, his face still thoughtful.
Harry blushed now, "Not as such, no."
He said I'm handsome, he thought. He's holding my hand and he said I'm handsome.
He was teasing, piped the reasonable (albeit cynical) part of his mind. …I think…
"Well, that's surprising." relented the seventh year, and his expression clearly showed that Harry's statement had come as a shock to him.
"Yeah, well…" said Harry dismissively. He searched for a change of subject, and stalled by swinging Cedric around jokingly and twirling him.
"Well! Getting better all the time, aren't you?" joked Cedric. "Keep this up and I'll have to ask you to the Yule Ball myself!"
Harry laughed, and twirled Cedric again.
What if he does ask? thought Harry. Not that it's a possibility, but if it happens what would I say?
I don't know. he answered himself truthfully.
"Shove off, you. I'm sure you'll end up getting plenty of offers from students who dance loads better than me," kidded Harry.
Cedric laughed this time, but it sounded hollow. "I'm not too popular anymore, remember? I may have no choice but to ask you." Cedric's face had a smile on it, but Harry noticed something wrong with the way his eyes matched his appearance.
Harry sobered. "I'm sorry… how are you doing, you know, about all that?" he asked slightly hesitantly.
He knew that Cedric seemed to be alone more and more since the beginning of the tournament, as opposed to the last few years- whenever he'd noticed Cedric he was always surrounded by a large group of people. Harry still felt a need to recompense the Hufflepuff for the way things happened, especially over just some silly badges.
Cedric's smile faded and he stopped dancing, lowering his arm from Harry's shoulder and dropping the Gryffindor's other hand. His face now seemed to reflect what he had seen in the other's eyes a moment ago, a thoughtful scowl playing across his lips.
"I don't know. It certainly isn't easy to lose friends, and not have many people to be able to turn to… but on the other hand I've made new ones too." he replied, and tried to smile at Harry.
Harry's hand was still on Cedric's hip, but he hadn't made a move to shake it, and Harry moved it up and around the other boy to become a quick one-armed hug.
"I didn't mean to bring it up, I'm sorry. I don't really know what to say, I know there's not much I can do to make you feel better…" said Harry remorsefully.
"You shouldn't need to, Harry. The fault is mine; I'm the one who seems to be the cause of the dispute. At least I have you I can talk to, I really appreciate it Harry. I know you don't need my life dumped in your lap along with all the other things you have to deal with…" said Cedric candidly, and he managed a real smile this time.
The fourth year suddenly realized exactly how kissable Cedric was, and as he looked into the Hufflepuff's eyes he actually found himself fighting to restrain the impulse.
"…You're welcome? And don't be ridiculous, you're far from a burden. I'll be here if you need me," said Harry weakly. Maybe if he just kept talking he wouldn't end up doing something horribly stupid… But there was something, something about Cedric's dialogue and his body language. Something was nagging at Harry's mind.
Cedric stayed silent, leaning against a desk. He nodded thanks, and then turned his head down to look at the floor. Harry moved to stand next to him, watching him nervously. He reached out a hand and placed it on Cedric's back lightly, trying to reassure him. The seventh year was obviously thinking, and Harry didn't want to interrupt him.
"Harry…?" Cedric began, and turned to face him as he spoke. He looked into Harry's face, still thoughtful.
The Gryffindor waited for the other boy to finish, looking into his grey eyes. "Yes?"
But the other boy didn't finish, but his head moved forward the tiniest fraction of an inch, tilting slightly. Harry wasn't sure he had seen anything at all, but it appeared that he was leaning forward to bring their lips together.
What was that? Is he trying to kiss me? wondered Harry, not moving in case he had imagined it. He could hardly just ask, "Excuse me, but are you trying to kiss me?" He tilted his own head just barely, inclining it by the smallest amount after another moment's deliberation; he hoped that it was the appropriate reaction. He hoped Cedric would kiss him. No, he hoped he was hallucinating, that this was all in his head. But what would it feel like, if Cedric kissed him? He'd never been kissed before…
But Cedric looked away, turning his head. Harry leaned back, and then removed his hand from the older boy's back. He heard Cedric sigh softly. Then the other boy glanced back at Harry. Harry felt as though something had changed, as though there was something that hadn't been said. Or done.
"Well, I suppose the tutoring lesson is over then?" asked Cedric calmly.
"I guess so," replied Harry quietly.
"I should go before it gets too late…" explained the seventh year.
"Thanks again."
The Hufflepuff nodded, and then got up to leave, waving as he reached the doorway.
"See you later." and then he was gone.
Harry sat on the desk just vacated, wondering what had just happened.
Did I do the wrong thing? Was he fishing for a reaction? he thought. He wondered about Cedric's abrupt departure, had he wanted to get away that badly? Was he nervous?
Clueless, Harry made his way back to Gryffindor tower. When he got there, he answered Hermione's and Ron's questions; telling them that he did indeed know how to dance now. He left out any mention of how Cedric had left. He excused himself before too long, and made his way up to his dormitory. He changed and got into bed, lying awake until late at night, thinking.
--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--
