The Second Tasks

Harry and Cedric rarely spoke or made eye contact when they saw each other anywhere in the castle, except in the Pit. Harry knew what to expect in the upcoming task, but he didn't know how to pull it off, and February twenty-fourth was getting closer each day. Cedric wanted to assist him, but Harry needed to figure it out on his own. A few days before the second task Harry and Cedric were lying on the marble floor in the Pit holding hands and looking up at the ceiling.

"I'm scared," Harry said. "I have no idea what I'm going to do. Ron and Hermione have helped me, but still… nothing."

"You'll think of something by then." He gripped Harry's hand tighter and looked at him; Harry was crying. "I'm scared too babe. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Hold me." Cedric did what his love requested; he rolled over to lie on his side and put an arm around Harry. "Why did I have to be in this stupid tournament? Everything is so complicated and frustrating!"

"Fate is cruel Harry, but it can also be nice. Why are you so gorgeous… and kind… and wonderful?" Cedric pecked Harry's wet cheek and started caressing his chest. "I'm glad we fell in love."

Harry unexpectedly spun onto Cedric; pressing their bodies and lips together. Then Cedric wrapped his arms around Harry's neck while deepening the kiss. Harry relaxed and allowed Cedric to dominate while running his fingers through Cedric's wavy hair. He moaned as Harry moved on top of him, and he began to grope Harry's waist. After a while Harry pulled away and anxiously gazed in Cedric's big grey eyes.

"Take me away Cedric. I don't want either of us to die without ever having shared our whole selves with each other. Take me away…"

---

When Harry returned to the common room he found Hermione and Ron sitting by the fire talking, alone. He sat down in a chair next to Ron with a dreary look on his face. Hermione began telling him something, but he wasn't listening; his mind was in another place.

"Harry, are you paying attention! I'm telling you that the Bubblehead Charm is the only thing you can do for the second task."

"Huh? Oh, I can't, Cedric's going to do that." Hermione sighed and Ron just continued to stare at the flames. "I have to let you two know something… Cedric and I aren't boyfriends anymore." Harry tilted his head down as both gasped and instantly turned to him.

"I thought you two were happy," Hermione said. "What was wrong with the relationship?"

"Did you break up with him," asked Ron, "or did he break up with you?"

"We're not boyfriends anymore… now we're lovers!" Harry looked up with a grin, but his cronies seemed annoyed. "Fooled you, didn't I?"

"That was a stupid prank," Hermione told him. "That's something I would expect from Fred and George, but not you."

"I guess I've been around them so long that some of them rubbed off on me."

"I thought you weren't ready to do it with him," Ron mentioned.

"I wasn't, but then after thinking about the tournament and everything… I felt that it was time. What if I got killed, or if he died, and we never made love? Plus, deep down, I've always been curious."

"How was it," Hermione asked. Then both boys gaped at her. "I'm curious too!"

"I'm not going into details, but it was magnificent. We were one; we were complete, and it was passionate. To sum it up: it was the greatest pleasure I ever experienced." Ron seemed uneasy while Hermione looked upset.

"That's all you're going to tell us?"

"Don't you think that's enough Hermione," asked Ron. "What more do you want?"

"I want to know how they… you know?"

"I know, but I don't want to know."

-----

The day of the second task finally arrived; everyone was excited, except for the champions. Outside the stands were surrounding the lake and they were filled with spectators. Fleur and Viktor impatiently waited by the judge's table for Harry to show while Cedric stared at the lake with a troubled look on his face.

"What is wrong," asked Fleur. "Did somezing 'appen to your boyfriend?"

"Harry's not my boyfriend," Cedric replied defensively. Then Fleur moved away and started talking to Viktor. 'I hope he's alright. I haven't seen him since that night in the Pit. That wonderful night…' As he thought that Harry came running towards them.

"Sorry I'm late," said Harry while panting. "I'm fine. Yes, I know what I'm going to do." Then Harry smiled at Cedric, and he grinned back.

The champions braced themselves for the whistle, and when it sounded all four ran to the lake. Harry and Cedric stripped down to their trunks; Harry swallowed the gillyweed while Cedric did the Bubblehead Charm. Both were able to breathe and they separated when in the cold water.

'I have to get to Ron,' thought Harry. 'I have less than an hour.' Soon he was swimming past merpeople through a sort of underwater city of sunken ships and statues. Then he saw four people bound to a boulder. 'Why is Cho here? Oh yeah, because Cedric took her to the Ball.' He looked to see if the others were coming, but after a long while no one appeared. 'Where are they?... Where's Cedric?' As he thought that he saw Cedric swimming towards him. Then Harry took his hand and led him to Cho. Cedric nodded, untied the girl and then made his way to the surface. 'You'll get the most points my love. Now where the hell are Viktor and Fleur?'

When Cedric emerged from the water the crowd roared. Then Madam Pomfrey quickly went to them and wrapped towels around him and Cho. As the people continued to cheer Cedric stared at the lake and hugged the towel he had on firmly. 'Why didn't he follow me,' Cedric wondered. 'Did he get attacked by the merpeople?' Soon he saw Fleur surface without her hostage, and later Viktor came out with Hermione. 'What happened to Harry? I want to go in and help him, but I can't!' Then after fretting for so long Harry turned up with Ron and a girl that had to be related to Fleur. 'Yes, they're ok!'

---

Late that evening Harry, Ron, and Hermione were alone in the common room; they were all in their PJs and slippers. Soon Harry got up and opened the portrait revealing Cedric, who was also in his pajamas, on the other side. Harry grabbed his love's hand and pulled him inside. Then Cedric and Harry snuggled on a sofa while Ron and Hermione sat in chairs across from them.

"I'm glad it's over," said Harry. "Now we have nothing to worry about until June."

"I can't believe what you did," Cedric told him. "You scared the hell out of me. Now, I have a couple questions…"

"I got the gillyweed from Dobby and I stayed in the water because I wanted to make sure nothing happened to Fleur's sister. Anything else you want to know?"

"Yes… Why are you so amazing?"

"I feel like an idiot. I should've known that Dumbledore wouldn't have let anything happen to her."

"Don't feel that way babe; what you did was brave. I wouldn't have done it, and that's why I'm not in Gryffindor."

"I'm surprised that you two aren't in the Pit," Ron jumped in.

"We're too tired to do anything," Harry replied.

"Actually, I still have some energy left," said Cedric.

"Well then… I'll just let you have your way with me."

"Not here," Ron shouted.

"Shush! Do you want to wake everyone up?"

"Don't shush me Hermione! They can't do that here! They'll have to go to the Pit."

"I'm too tired to get up."

"That settles it then; they'll have to do it on the couch!"

"That's sick Hermione!"

"You know what," Harry said to Cedric, "now I regret telling them that we're lovers."……