Chapter 12: Time to Face the Change


Harry had passed out while he was returning to Hogwarts and awoke to sounds of screaming and people running around. He held Cedric close to him.

"Harry!" Dumbledore said as he gently shook him, "Let go of him, he's gone."

"Dumbledore!" Bagman said as he ran towards them, "Diggory's parents are coming, what should we do? They can't see Cedric like this!"

"Take his body to my office, quickly." Dumbledore instructed.

"And Harry should go to the hospital wing!" Bagman added.

"No, he'll stay here." Dumbledore ran over to Diggory's parents to explain to them what happened.

Harry was still lying on the ground, eyes closed.

"Harry," a raspy voice said, "Come with me to my office and tell me everything that happened!" It was Mad-eye.

"Err," Harry said as he struggled to open his eyes, "Ok."

Harry told Professor Moody everything that had happened and then found out that Moody was the one who set the whole thing up!

"What?" exclaimed Harry, "You?"

"Ha ha ha, yes m—"

"Stupefy!" Dumbledore shouted as he walked into the room, stunning Moody. "That's not the real Professor Moody, Harry, that's Barty Crouch!"

"I knew it!" Harry lied. He didn't know why he had said that really.

"Now come with me to my office Harry, Sirius is waiting there and we need to hear everything."

Harry didn't want to tell his story again, but he knew it was important, so he followed Dumbledore.

"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed as Harry walked into Dumbledore's office, "Are you ok?"

"I guess…it's just that, oh Cedric," Harry sobbed as he remembered the death of his boyfriend.

"Harry, Cedric is not dead," Dumbledore said calmly.

"I miss him so much, oh Merlin, why, why, why."

"HARRY, HE IS NOT DEAD!" Dumbledore bellowed.

"What?"

"He is in my closet," the Headmaster continued in a calm voice.

"What?"

"You can come out now Mr. Diggory."

The door behind Dumbledore's desk suddenly swung open and Cedric rushed out and embraced Harry.

"HARRY! I wanted to tell you I wasn't dead, I wanted to but I couldn't, I was stunned, I couldn't move!" Cedric sobbed into his shoulder.

Sirius walked over to the two, and embraced them, patting Harry on the back.

"I—I don't understand," Harry said between sobs.

"Please, have a seat you two," Dumbledore kindly instructed, "I can explain what happened."

Harry and Cedric reluctantly pulled apart and sat down next to Sirius.

"Harry," Dumbledore began, "Did you mean to block the Avada Kedavra curse?"

"No…I was in such pain, I didn't know what I was doing, I couldn't see…"

"Well you did. How you did it, however, is a rather complicated matter. However, I will try to explain it. The Avada kedavra curse is known as an unblockable curse, but there really are two ways it can be blocked: An example of the first way is when your mother died for you—her life, and the love she had for you blocked the curse. You were left with a scar and more importantly, a very important power—the power of concentrated love. The love your mother had for protecting you is infused in your system. You will recall the time you met Voldemort during your first year and you used this power against him, simply by touching him. The second way you can block an Avada Kedavra curse is by having this rare power. The curse simply went through you, losing most of its power, and only killing Mr. Diggory temporarily, if that makes any sense..."

"Huh?"

"I…I remember everything went black and I saw your parents, Harry, and some other wizards…"

"Yes, Mr. Diggory, you traveled to the world of the dead momentarily, but was brought back to life as soon as the weakened curse wore off."

"That's why his body was still warm when we returned…" Harry said.

"Yes."

"But everybody thinks I'm dead, Professor, we have to tell them—"Cedric began.

"We'll do nothing of the sort." Dumbledore said firmly.

"What?" Harry and Cedric exclaimed simultaneously.

"If anyone, besides the four people in this room, finds out you are still alive Cedric; Voldemort will destroy Harry for sure."

"Why?"

"If anyone finds out Cedric is alive, Voldemort will find out he is alive. If that happens, Voldemort will know that Harry possesses the mythical power of great love, and attempt to create a curse that will destroy it, and Harry. I believe he is capable of doing this."

"But doesn't he already know I have this power since I used it against him during my first year?" Harry asked.

"No, I'm sure he doesn't know."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Harry," Sirius began calmly, "Don't question Dumbledore—his powers are beyond us."

"Then why doesn't he get rid of Voldemort?" Harry asked angrily.

"Because," Dumbledore chuckled, "My powers aren't beyond his!"

"So what happens to me, then?" Cedric said in outrage, "How am I supposed to live my life without letting people know I'm alive!"

"Ah, it is simple. You will assume a new identity, and you will not reveal your old one to anyone—except for to the people in this room of course."

"Will…will I still be able to go to school?"

"But of course," Dumbledore said with a smile, "Of course."

"This won't be so bad after all then," Cedric said, cheering up quickly, "I'll never have to see my parents again, or talk to Cho, or be bothered by all those girls…and I'll still be able to see Harry."

"Excellent," Dumbledore said smiling even wider, "Now you must choose what you would like to look like, and what your new name will be."

"Err..can I discuss this with Harry…privately?" Cedric asked.

"Of course, go in my closet."

Harry and Cedric walked into the small closet that was poorly lit.

"Oh Cedric," Harry said, relieved that they were now alone, "I'm so glad you're alive, I love you!"

"Harry you don't know how much I love you," They embraced and Cedric kissed Harry on the forehead.

"So what do you want to look like?" Harry asked, grinning.

"Hmm…well I think black hair would be nice, and glasses!"

"Ced, that sounds like me! Ha ha!"

"Ok, what do you want me to look like…"

"I don't want you to change but…I guess your nose could be smaller…"

Cedric gave Harry a fake look of disbelief, "Are you saying I have a big nose?"

"Ha ha, yes!"

"What else needs to be changed then hmm?"

"Hmm.. well you should have hazel eyes, medium dark brown hair, tan skin, be a little bit shorter, have a deeper voice and a bigger--"

"Are you two done in there?" They heard Dumbledore say.

"Almost!" Cedric replied, "That sounds fine Harry, but I want glasses, ok?"

"Ok." Harry said smiling, "Let's go."

They held hands, pushed open the door together, and came out of the closet into Dumbledore's office, and into the world to start a new life together, forever.

THE END

They came out of the closet, get it? Ha ha, I didn't even mean to do that on purpose! Please review, your feedback is really appreciated!

I would also love to have ideas and/or couples you think I should write about! Thanks everyone!