The Yule Ball
Harry and Cedric met in the prefects' bathroom every other night since the first task. The two kissed and laughed with each other, but they mostly talked about Christmas and the Yule Ball as they approached. One night both were holding hands and sitting on the edge of the pool, as usual, with Harry's head resting Cedric's shoulder.
"I want to take you to the Yule Ball," said Cedric, "but I'm sure they're expecting us to take girl partners."
"I want to go with you too, but you're right. I'll ask Hermione."
"I heard she's going with Viktor Krum."
"Really? I'll just have to go with someone else then. The only problem I have with the Ball, besides not being able to take you, is that I can't dance."
"You can't dance? I'll just have to give you lessons then."
Cedric nudged Harry aside and jumped inside the empty pool. Harry followed and walked with him to the middle. Then Cedric placed a hand on Harry's waist as he hesitatingly put his on Cedric's shoulder. Their other fingers found each other and they moved in closer.
"Follow me ok." Harry nodded and then Cedric guided him. He stepped back, to the right, then forward and left. Harry adjusted to Cedric's pace and looked in his eyes as they glided. Cedric smiled and held Harry tight, but then after awhile he stopped. "Do you think you can lead now?"
"I guess," Harry replied. Then they shifted positions to where Harry's hand was on his love's waist. Harry drifted like Cedric had, so the pretty-boy grinned at him. "I'm doing it!"
"You are babe!"
For a half-hour they danced, until Cedric felt tired. Before they parted Harry crept a hand behind Cedric's head and pulled him down for one last kiss. Cedric let Harry take control, and he enjoyed it intensely.
-----
Christmas morning Harry awoke with a surprise: Cedric was sitting on his bed. The overjoyed Harry abruptly hugged him and pecked his lips. Meanwhile, Ron stood in the doorway to make sure their roommates wouldn't disturb the two.
"How'd you get in," asked Harry.
"Ron took your invisibility cloak and snuck me in. He's a great guy, but not as great as you." Cedric locked their lips again and kissed Harry passionately. When they ceased Cedric surveyed him up and down. "I like your PJs." Harry had on a loose scarlet shirt and pants while Cedric was dressed in black pajamas.
"Thanks, I like yours too. Ugh, I must look horrible. I always look bad in the mornings."
"No, you look gorgeous." They kissed again and then Cedric pulled a small green box out of his pocket. "The rings came in this morning."
"Ooh, let's see them!"
Cedric opened the case, exposing two gold rings. He grabbed one and looked inside it to see the inscription Cedric + Harry. He took Harry's left hand and slipped it onto his ring finger. Harry brought it to eyelevel and gazed at it. Then he took the other ring and put it on Cedric's finger.
"They're lovely," uttered Harry with tears in his eyes. "I love you!" Harry embraced him again so Cedric held him snugly.
"I love you too. Come on babe, let's celebrate Christmas together."
They sat on the floor and Harry began opening his presents as Cedric watched. Later Ron joined them and Dobby dropped in. Harry asked him to bring them something to eat and soon Dobby returned with a mountain of food. Then Harry gave Dobby a pair of socks, and Harry received a Sneakoscope. Occasionally Harry and Cedric would feed each other, and Ron looked away when they did. The couple held hands and gaped at one another, and their rings, for a long time.
"Who are you taking to the Ball," Harry asked Cedric.
"The Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho Chang. I saw her at the World Cup."
"Oh yeah, I did too. Anyway, I'm going with Parvati Patil and Ron's going with her sister Padma."
"I don't think I'm going to have a nice time," said Ron.
"I'm sure you will," Harry replied. "Hey Cedric, want to go for a walk outside under the cloak?"
"Harry, how can you read my mind?"
Harry put on a jacket and gave Cedric a sweater so he would be warm. Then they huddled together under the cloak and snuck pass people in the common room. The two went through the portrait unnoticed and descended the stairs towards the front door. Outside the sun was shining and snow covered the ground. They slowly walked around the castle hand in hand, enjoying the time together. Later they decided to return to their common rooms so they could change for the Ball, and they shared a deep kiss under the mistletoe before parting.
---
At the Yule Ball the champions, and their partners, were to sit at the top table. Harry and Cedric sat next to each other, and Cho and Parvati sat with them. From the table they could see the entire Great Hall and everyone there who was eating and laughing. Neither made any affectionate gestures under the table or flirted; and they talked, but nothing lovey-dovey was said incase the girls overheard them.
"I think these dress robes make us look like penguins," said Harry.
"Penguins," questioned Cedric.
"Yeah, especially stout people like Crabbe. Don't you think so?"
"I don't like penguins."
"Really? Well, there's something you never told me before."
"You don't like penguins," Parvati cried. "But they're so cute and penguiny. How can you not love them?"
"I just don't. They're short, ugly, and… penguiny!" Harry and Cho began to chuckle as Cedric and Parvati continued to argue about penguins.
Later the champions were called to dance with their dates. The anxious Parvati dragged Harry onto the dance floor, but then she was surprised when Harry began to lead. Cedric smiled at him and started dancing with Cho. Soon other students got up and danced along with the champions as the Weird Sisters played. Once Harry accidentally bumped into Viktor, and from a distance he could hear Cedric giggling.
"Why are you laughing," a frowning Cho asked Cedric.
"I saw Harry and Parvati bump into Viktor and Hermione."
"Why are you looking at them? Why aren't you concentrating on me?"
"Alright, I'm sorry!" Then Cho smirked and kept dancing as if nothing happened. 'Merlin, what a bitch!'
After three songs Harry wanted to rest. He saw Ron and Padma sitting at a table so he decided to join them. The girls looked upset and Ron seemed melancholy, but Harry was busy watching Cedric and Cho dance. After a while he saw Cedric walking towards him, which made him grin. Cedric sat by Harry and leaned over to whisper in his ear.
"We can still dance if you get your invisibility cloak."
"Way ahead of you," Harry whispered back, "but we have to do it when Mad-Eye Moody isn't around. He can see through it." They scanned the hall and thankfully didn't find him. "Ok, come with me." They told Ron that they were going to bathroom and left. There was no one in the Entrance Hall, so Harry quickly pulled the cloak out of his pocket and covered them. "We have to be quiet and careful. We can't trip over the cloak or run into anyone. Stop laughing, I'm being serious!"
"I know babe," said Cedric. "Do you think we'll be missed?"
"I hope not."
Again they entered the Great Hall and crept onto the dance floor. Only a few couples were dancing so there was less risk of being discovered. They also noticed that Parvati and Padma had different partners, so poor Ron was alone. Harry allowed Cedric to take control and they moved gracefully, swaying with the music. Harry gazed in those grey eyes and felt something tingle inside him that could only be love. He laid his head on Cedric's shoulder and could sense him bringing them closer.
"I love you so much," Harry whispered. "I want to stay here and dance with you for eternity."
"Me too… But, I would like to do more than just dance."
"What else would you like to do?"
"This." Then Cedric leaned forward and pecked his lips. "And, maybe more than that someday…" As Cedric said that the music stopped and people started to clap. "We better go babe. Ron needs company, and he probably thinks we're up to no good."……
