The Third Tasks

When Harry and Cedric were informed that the third task was a maze filled with obstacles they planned to spend as much time together as possible to discuss it. Cedric and Harry were to enter the maze at the same time, but they decided to go separately once in there. The two spent more time preparing than having good times with each other.

One night Harry and Cedric were sitting on the floor in the Pit talking about the task when Harry started rubbing his scar for the third time. Before they had ignored it, but that time Harry severely winced in pain. Cedric wanted to comfort him, but the last time he tried Harry had pushed him away. All he could do was watch and worry. After a couple minutes Harry seemed fine, but Cedric continued to fret.

"Maybe you should go to sleep," said Cedric.

"No, I'm alright." Then Cedric held Harry's hand to sooth him.

"Are you sure? That last one looked like it burned."

"I'm sure. I just… I just want it to stop." Harry embraced his lover, and he held Harry tight. "I want to finish the last task and have a carefree life with you."

"I know babe. You'll have to be strong for just a few more weeks."

"I want you to hold me for a few more weeks."

Harry gazed in Cedric's eyes as he grazed a finger along his lips. Cedric took his finger to peck it, and then began trailing kisses up Harry's arm until he reached his mouth. As they shared a passionate kiss Cedric slowly pushed Harry to the floor and straddled him. Then Harry put his arms around Cedric's waist and pulled him closer. When they stopped the two ogled each other and smiled.

"I wanted to ask you something," Cedric started. "What did Viktor want that night we were shown the maze?"

"Oh, he asked me out."

"He did what!" Cedric looked enraged while Harry held an expressionless face. "I thought he liked Hermione!"

"He does!" Harry started laughing, but Cedric still seemed angry. "I was playing Cedric, he didn't ask me out. He just wanted to know stuff about Hermione. Lighten up, it was just a joke!"

"Do you know what I would've done, if it wasn't a joke? I would've gone down to that ship and hexed him. No one makes a pass at my boyfriend and gets away with it!"

"Relax love… I just wanted to see how you would react. You should've seen the look on your face!"

"You're lucky that I love you too much… Since I can't slap your lovely face, I'll have to find another way to punish you."

"I can think of a few ways."

-----

June twenty-fourth dawned on the champions quickly, but Harry and Cedric were just glad that they were excused from the exams. After breakfast that morning they were to rendezvous in the camber by the Great Hall with their folks. Since Harry's relatives were muggles, Mrs. Weasley and Bill had showed to watch him do the final task. They talked for a while, and then the other families made their way back to the Hall, except for Cedric's. Harry told the Weasleys to go ahead of him, and then he was alone with Cedric and his parents. Amos Diggory, who looked stern, sat with his wife by the fire and the boys were across from them.

"I think I know what this is all about," said the woman. "You two are coming out of the closet."

"Yes mother," answered Cedric. "We've been together for about eight months now."

"But why," Amos shouted.

"Because we love each other!" Then Cedric put an arm around Harry. "I wanted to come out earlier, but I was afraid of how you would react, father."

"What do you see in him? What does he offer you that a girl can't?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I've been gay all my life!" Cedric's mother remained still while Amos continued to eye them. "I'm attracted to boys! I see in Harry a strong, brave, and handsome man. He makes me laugh, smile, and feel good inside. I love him, and we're going to stay together whether you like it or not!" With that Cedric got up and stormed out of the chamber, followed by Harry.

"You're making a big mistake Cedric," they heard Amos yell. "He's going to cause your downfall!"

"That didn't go well," Harry said when they were in the Great Hall.

"I knew it wouldn't, but I had to tell them. My father wanted me to be a perfect son, but I turned out to be…"

"Better than perfect!"

"Thanks babe. I only wish that my father was as accepting as Sirius."

"You want your dad to be bi?"

"That would help." They laughed for a minute and then searched for Mrs. Weasley and Bill.

---

That night everyone went to the Quidditch field to find it covered with giant hedges that formed a maze. The stands were filled with people and the champions were on the ground near the opening. Cedric and Harry again braced themselves for the whistle, and when it sounded they charged, lighting their wands as they ran. When they came to a fork in the path Harry went left and Cedric went right.

'Will he get to the cup first,' Harry wondered, 'if he does that'll make his parents real proud.' Soon Harry heard two more whistle blows. 'Ok, everyone is in… Good thing Hermione showed me the Four-Point Spell… Is Cedric ok?... Why haven't I encountered anything yet?' As he thought that Cedric emerged from another trail looking unsteady, and his sleeve was slightly burnt. "What happened?"

"There's enormous Blast-Ended Skrewts over there! Don't worry babe, I'll be fine. I love you!" Then Cedric continued going along another route, more alert than ever. 'I can't let anything like that happen again… I hope Harry is doing alright.' Then he heard a girl scream. 'That sounds like Fleur. Something must've happened to her…' After a while he felt something hit his back. "Ah!"

'What's that,' thought Harry as he listened to the screams. "No, Cedric!" Harry rushed to find a path leading to him, but after a minute he got frustrated and blasted a hedge to force his way through. He found Cedric on the ground having a spasm with Viktor pointing his wand at him. "Stupefy!" As Viktor fell Harry went to Cedric's side. "What did he do? Are you ok?"

"Yes, thanks for saving me." Harry helped his panting boyfriend to stand up, and they looked at Viktor. "I can't believe it! That bastard attacked me!"

"Well, send up the red spark for him then." Without a word Cedric shot the signal in the sky, and then he and Harry continued running through the maze. "I think we should separate again."

"Ok babe." Again they parted and dashed through the maze alone. 'At least that two-timing son of a bitch is out of the picture… I wonder if Harry is having any trouble.' Soon he came to an opening and saw the Triwizard Cup. Then he ran to it as fast as he could.

"Look out Cedric," Harry yelled. 'Good, he mo… No!' Cedric had tripped, and then a huge spider was making his way towards him. Harry tried to hit it with a spell, but it deflected. 'Great, now it's after me!'

Abruptly Cedric got up and looked behind him to see the spider towering over Harry. "Stupefy!" The eight-legged creature was blasted away, and Cedric ran to Harry; who was on the ground struggling to rise. "Are you ok? Can you stand?"

"No, my leg, it hurts badly." Then Cedric grabbed Harry's arms to position him upright, so he could supported his lover. "Why are you doing this?"

"I want you to get the cup babe."

"No, you should get it, to make your parents happy."

"It's not about them, it's about us."

"You're right love… Then, let's get the cup together!" As he said that Cedric beamed at him.

"You're brilliant. That's why I love you."

"We'll hold hands and kiss later, let's go!"

So Cedric helped Harry walk to the Triwizard Cup in the middle of the maze. Some people in the crowd cheered as others just stared at them. They slowly made their way to the cup, and seconds after they grasped it the two had disappeared.

---

Harry and Cedric were transported to another area far from Hogwarts. Harry started to fall because of his injured leg, but Cedric caught him before he hit the ground. Harry couldn't move, so the two firmly stood in the spot where they had landed. They held hands while taking in their new surroundings; it was dark, foggy, and there were tombstones all around them.

"What happened," Cedric asked, perplexed.

"The cup, it's a Portkey. It brought us to a graveyard." Soon they heard footsteps coming towards them, so Cedric raised his wand. Suddenly there was a flash of green, and Harry felt Cedric's hand slip from his grip. "Cedric?… Cedric!" Abruptly tears began to cloud Harry's vision……