Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters within are the property of JKR, I merely have borrowed them and used them in my own selfish ways

A/N: this is my first Cedric/Oliver fic (and my first fic in quite a while actually). The story just came to me and I wrote it in less than a day. I hope youlike it, but please review with anything you think I could do to improve upon this and future endeavors. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.

Perfect in His Eyes

by firewithin

Cedric Diggory has always admired Oliver Wood. His skills as Keeper of the Gryffindor House Quidditch team, his determination on the field, and even his eccentric nature. Oliver was something of a role model to Cedric and he always felt that he came up short in comparison.

Simply put, he thought Oliver was perfect and his own imperfections had made it impossible for him to so much as strike up a conversation with the bloke.

He sat in a secluded corner of the library musing about how terribly disappointing his life was as he absently gazed out of the window where, had his eyes not been so clouded by his surmounting depression and self loathing, he would have seen students frolicking in the courtyard and Oliver himself heading toward the castle, a bundle of books in tow. Cedric instead lowered his gray eyes to the bit of floor in front of him and ran his hands though his dark hair, lost in his thoughts.

"Sorry, Diggory. I didn't realize anyone else used this corner of the library," a quiet voice said, shaking Cedric from his musings. The young man looked up to see Oliver towering over him, books in hand. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, moving toward the chair across from Cedric.

"Go ahead," Cedric replied nervously, both excited and terrified at the idea of sharing something besides the Quidditch pitch with the person he so admired. A blush crept into his cheeks as he noticed Oliver studying him from the opposing chair.

"Don't look so down, Diggory," Oliver offered. "There's still plenty of time until your first match. I'm sure you'll do fine as Captain."

"Thanks, Wood," Cedric began, looking up into the older boy's honey colored eyes, "but that's not it. Not entirely, anyway. It's just-" He shook his head. How could he possibly explain to someone as perfect as Oliver Wood how it felt to try and live up to expectations you couldn't possible meet?

There was true concern in Oliver's voice when he broke the silence. "Just what, Cedric?"

Cedric sighed. "It's just that everyone has these impossibly high standards for me and I'm afraid to let them down. Then I see you and how perfect you are and I just wish that I could be that perfect too." He returned his gaze to the floor, ashamed at having unloaded so much on the boy he held so highly.

He heard Oliver rise from his chair. "No one is really perfect, Cedric. The thing that makes them seem that way is the love and admiration you have for them." Oliver gently cupped Cedric's chin in one Quidditch calloused hand. Almost inaudibly, he whispered, "I think you're perfect." Oliver bent down and lightly kissed his seated companion atop his mop of chestnut hair. He turned to gather his things.

"Wait," Cedric cried. "Did you really mean that, all of it?" he asked, his voice breaking slightly.

Oliver turned back to regard him. "Every last bit of it," he said solemnly.

Cedric's heart leapt up into his throat. He jumped out of his chair and captured Oliver in a tight embrace. "Is this okay?" he began to ask before Oliver kissed him softly. They stood there for what felt like forever, arms wrapped around one another and lips lingering together as they took in the ecstacy of their first kiss. When at last they pulled away Cedric once again had that far away look in his eyes. This time, however, there was no disappointment or shame in them. Only love and adoration.

Oliver once again turned to gather his things. He looked back at Cedric and smiled. "Don't be a stranger, Diggory. Then again, don't go beating me at Quidditch either." Oliver left Cedric then with his mind, for once, on something different from Quidditch entirely.

And Cedric returned to his seat, reveling in his own piece of perfection.