So… it's been a while, hasn't it? This chapter ended up being longer than previous ones (by almost 2k words I think), so hopefully that makes up for the wait.
Anyway here's an itemized list on why this chapter took so goddamn long to post:
1. I took some time off to work on another fic (if you like Young Justice go check it out!)
2. I got a frustrating case of writer's block. This chapter is not how I expected it to go when I first sat down to write it, but I'm very pleased with the result (and I hope you guys are too!)
3. I spent some time re-examining how much I want to be involved with the fandom after JK Rowling's transphobic remarks. For a while HP left a bad taste in my mouth, and I wasn't motivated to work on this much. But HP's been an important part of my life since I was a kid, and I'm guessing it's important to you too since you're here reading this. It's not fair that I have to let go of one of my favorite things because the creator turned out to be a terrible person. So I'm trying to be more conscious of her bigotry, and try to do better in my depiction of the world she created. With that being said- trans women are women. If you disagree with that statement, this fic is not for you. I don't want TERFs enjoying my work.
In hindsight, Harry should have realized he was overly optimistic in thinking Rita's scoop would slip away unnoticed by his peers. Ron lulled him into a false sense of security, assuring him "No one under the age of 30 would be caught dead reading Witch Weekly ". Perhaps under normal circumstances his statement would hold water- but Rita name dropping four Hogwarts students (already notable for their own reasons) and one world famous quidditch player hardly qualifies as "normal".
By midday everyone in the castle had read the article.
Not since The Yule Ball has anyone been so invested in his love life. His classmates huddle in clumps along the streets of Hogsmeade, pointing and whispering as they walk by. Hermione shakes her head and sticks up her nose to the whole thing. She makes indifference look effortless. Harry wishes he could better imitate her attitude, but with every glance his way he wants more and more to retreat under his invisibility cloak.
Maybe if the article was a complete work of fiction, he could put up an indignant front to it. He's no stranger to falling victim to untrue rumors. He wasted no time voicing his annoyance when people accused him of being the Heir of Slytherin or that he bamboozled the Goblet of Fire with dark magic to let him enter the Tournament. This time around- there isn't much for him to deny. He has been spending an awful lot of time with Cho with the hope it might lead to something more. And with Cedric with the hope of… exactly what he isn't sure. And how on Earth did Rita know he's never kissed anyone?
Harry hopes Cedric and Cho are being left alone through all of this. It wasn't his intention to drag them into his and Hermione's feud with a meddling gossip columnist. What is he going to tell them when they go flying tomorrow? There's a lot they need to unpack, and he's hardly prepared to have that conversation with them yet. He spends his evening panicking in the Gryffindor common room, his racing thoughts only interrupted when someone sneaks up behind him and thwunks him softly on the back of the head.
"Oi- what was that for?" Harry turns to find Fred and George standing over him, each holding a decorative pillow.
"We're knocking some sense into you," George says, then hits him again on the shoulder.
"Look mate, we know Cedric's handsome and all, but you can do so much better than him," Fred says.
"Yeah, there's plenty of people here who actually have a brain between their ears."
Harry can tell they're only teasing him. Fred and George can be serious when they want to, and if they had an actual problem with him dating Cedric, they wouldn't bury it in jokes. But he hasn't forgotten about their grudge against him.
"I'm not seeing Cedric," he says, "but he is my friend, and I'd appreciate it if you were a little nicer to him."
Fred nods, "Duly noted."
"So are you single then, or is there any truth to this rumor about you and Cho Chang?" George says, then waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
"Uh… no, I'm not seeing her either, or anyone for that matter."
Fred cups his hands around his mouth and shouts across the common room, "Hear that Ginny, you've still got a shot!"
Ginny, who's at a table with a few other third-years, looks away from her notebook and over at them. The tips of her ears glow the same shade of red Ron's do when he's stressed or embarrassed. She cups her hands around her mouth and shouts back, "Well… it's too bad for Harry that I'm seeing someone else."
"What?!"
With that, Harry's love life loses all its intrigue to Fred and George. The two of them (and Ron) spend the rest of the evening weedling Ginny for more information, though she remains quite tight-lipped. Harry ought to thank her for sparing him from any further prodding. Still, it was sort of nice Fred and George let him clear the air in a way that wasn't too humiliating. Half of Gryffindor house heard their exchange, more than enough people to guarantee word will spread like wildfire around the castle. Come tomorrow morning, they can put this whole mess behind them.
"So… some weather we're having, eh?" Cedric says when they meet in the entryway Sunday afternoon.
Today's gentle but steady downpour is the perfect misty March weather for curling up next to a fire with a blanket and a steaming mug of tea. Harry might even find it relaxing if his only plans for the day were to lounge around Gryffindor tower. Instead, he spent his morning checking the windows every ten minutes for the slightest break in the clouds and hoping Cho and Cedric don't mind a little precipitation.
"I suppose it's an improvement over all the snow we got in January," Cho says.
He nods, "Yeah, but it still doesn't make for good flying."
"Does that mean you guys don't want to go out anymore or..?" Cedric asks.
Cho shrugs, "I'm fine with whatever you want to do."
Harry clicks his tongue, "Indecisive as usual, I see."
"Hey, I'm not being indecisive. I've decided I'm going to follow your guys' lead."
"Well… it looks like the rain might be letting up some," he says, peering into the windows of the Great Hall. "Maybe if we wait a little longer…"
He's interrupted by several high-pitched giggles as a group of Slytherin girls emerge from the dungeons. An uneasy feeling churns in his stomach from the way their leering gaze lingers on them.
"Oooh look, it's the love triangle," one of them says in faux whisper as they pass.
"Didn't you hear? Cedric and Cho are seeing each other now," another says. "Milicent said she saw them snogging yesterday at Three Broomsticks."
"That means Harry's been ditched three times this year. He must be a really lousy boyfriend."
Cold laughter rings out once more as they enter the Great Hall. Harry can feel all the eyes in the entryway boring into them. A group of Ravenclaws, who a moment ago were having a loud debate about the mechanics of wandless magic, have gone silent, as have the Hufflepuffs chatting by the staircase. Even some Gryffindors, who were in the common room last night, bow their heads together and whisper something he can't make out. No matter what he says or does, the three of them continue to be a spectacle for people to gawk at.
Cho picks at a loose straw in her broomstick, Cedric sticks his hands in his pockets, and they both make a point not to look at him.
"On second thought, maybe we shouldn't go out today," he says.
"Are you sure?" Cedric asks, his voice a touch softer than before.
He nods, "I've got a feeling it's going to keep raining all afternoon."
"Okay, then let's make plans for next week," Cho says. "Same time work for you?"
"Of course," Cedric says. Harry just nods. After all the trouble he's caused them, why do they still insist on spending time with him?
"Good," Cho says. Her gaze lingers on him, "and um... just so you know, what those girls said wasn't true."
"Yeah, all Cho and I did was share a butterbeer and a plate of chips. It was completely friendly."
Cedric and Cho are far too good for him. He's the source of their problems, and they're trying to comfort him. It should be the other way around. He should apologize for dropping this spotlight on them, but when he tries, a tightness forms in his throat and he can't find the right words.
"I know," he says, and dashes up the stairs before either of them can say anything else.
Harry would go on to overhear Nearly Headless Nick telling Dean and Seamus that even the ghosts can't recall a March this wet and miserable in the past century. Throughout the month, Filch stalks around the castle with a sopping-wet mop and a sourer attitude than usual. Potions is temporarily moved to a spare classroom when Snape's dungeon floods. If Wood were still his team captain, even he wouldn't make them practice in this weather- probably.
The three of them keep trying though. Like clockwork they meet every Sunday in the entryway. And they each in turn decide that- as much as they'd like to go flying, it's far too stormy outside and they ought to try again next week.
"Maybe we could do something indoors?" Cedric suggests on the third week. He's hard to hear over the Galleon-sized bits of hail pummeling the castle walls.
"I've got some homework I need to work on. Sorry," he says. He's already thought through Cedric's suggestion. There isn't anywhere they can go where they wouldn't be disturbed. Even the bathrooms- Myrtle or one of the other ghosts could barge in on them.
"No worries," Cho says. "I should study too. Professor Flitwick's been getting on our case about O.W.L.s lately."
"Yeah, and I've got a Transfiguration exam tomorrow. Professor McGonagall's been hinting it's going to be difficult," Cedric says.
Homework turns out to be a bust. No amount of last minute pressure can make Harry care about his stupid History of Magic essay. It's supposed to be 24 inches long. So far he's written three sentences. The longer he stares at his textbook, the less he takes in. He sighs, slams his book shut, and slumps over in his chair by the fireplace.
"Wizarding history is actually really fascinating," Harry recalls Cedric saying to Cho at the Yule Ball, "it's just that Professor Binns has chosen to fixate on the least interesting parts of it."
"I know, right?" Cho says. "Someone ought to tell him there are other historically significant events besides Goblin rebellions in Medieval Europe. My Mum's been lobbying the school Governors for more diverse coursework, but they keep brushing her off."
Even when Harry's not trying to think of them, his brain finds a way of making the connection. It's frustrating how deep they've burrowed themselves into his thoughts. He's trying to let them go, after all.
It's not that Harry's let the rumor mill get to him. He knows better than to believe anything that comes out of a Slytherin's mouth. Cedric and Cho told him they didn't go on a date. They invited him along on said date only a few hours prior. Unless they changed their tune and lied to him about it, which feels unlikely considering how open they've been with him, Harry's reasonably certain there's nothing going on between them right now.
But it's bigger than this one instance. Cedric and Cho have an eventuality about them. Their chemistry is obvious. It's in the way they bounce off each other in conversation or stare when they don't think the other is watching. Harry's watching, and he hasn't forgotten what a vision they were slow dancing together at the Yule Ball. It's only a matter of time before something comes out of their relationship. And when it does… will they still want him around? Will he still even want to be around, watching them go about their lives as a couple, stuck with heartache because he can't have…
Something else that isn't clear: how to end that sentence.
"You alright, Harry?" Hermione asks. She glances up from the mound of papers in front of her and gives him a concerned look.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure? You look a little tense, mate." Ron says. He grins and holds up a set of knitting needles. A few weeks ago he took Hermione up on her offer to teach him how to knit. "You ought to give it a try, it's relaxing."
"Don't worry, it's nothing."
Ron tilts his head and gives him another once-over before returning to the potholders he's making for his Mother. Hermione picks up an envelope and reads the label. She scoffs, then tosses it into the fireplace.
"What was that?" Ron asks.
"Nothing, just another letter from a crazed Witch Weekly reader."
"You're still getting those?" Harry asks.
"Not that often. It's mostly died off now."
"I don't like that you're still messing around with those letters," Ron says. "One of them put you in the hospital wing for a week. I don't want you to get hurt like that again."
"Don't worry, I'm not opening them, just sorting through my mail. I don't want to throw away anything important by mistake," Hermione sighs. "Merlin's beard, who would have thought so many grown wizards would be so interested in the love lives of a couple teenagers?"
"But you're not just a couple teenagers, you're famous ," Ron says.
"Well, I suppose Viktor's a little noteworthy-"
"A little?" Ron's stitching has gone knotted and uneven, though he doesn't seem to have noticed.
Hermione shrugs, "I still want to find out how Rita's been hearing all our conversations. Professor Moody said he didn't see her hiding under an invisibility cloak, so it can't be that."
"She probably just made it all up," Ron says.
"Yes, but… that doesn't explain how she knew about…"
"Knew about what?" Ron asks, his eyes narrowing.
Hermione rubs the side of her neck, "Well... Viktor really did invite me to visit him this summer."
"And what did you say?" Ron huffs.
"I haven't given him an answer yet!"
"Are you going to tell him yes?"
"That's hardly your business, Ronald!"
"Rita knew some stuff about me too." Harry shouts, hoping this will get them to stop bickering. They both turn to him with equally curious expressions.
"What did she know about you?" Hermione asks.
"That I've never kissed anyone before."
Ron shrugs, "Lucky guess?"
"Maybe, but I told Cho and Cedric at the Yule Ball that I'd never kissed anyone. No one else was around though. I don't know how she could have heard us."
"Why did you tell Cho and Cedric you'd never kissed anyone?" Hermione asks.
"I dunno, we were just talking."
"Talking about kissing?"
Harry fights the urge to squirm under Hermione's scrutinizing gaze. It's not like it's weird to talk about kissing. Friends can talk about kissing. Then again, he's never had a conversation about kissing with Ron and Hermione until this very moment.
"Harry," Ron says, with a look of seriousness, "Hermione and I have sort of been wondering about your relationship with Cho and Cedric. You see… you talk about them quite a lot and-"
"Do you fancy them?"
"Hermione!" Ron shouts. "We talked about this! We were going to ease into it, not attack him outright!"
"I'm not attacking him, I'm being direct. There's no point in beating around the bush."
Harry clears his throat. It sounds like they've been planning this chat for a while. It's weird to think they have conversations about him when he's not there. One thing he can't say is he didn't see this coming. It's kind of amazing Hermione waited this long to confront him. All credit to Ron for holding her back. Harry may not be the best at hiding his emotions, but as of yet, he's never admitted to them out loud. There's a power in words. Saying it brings his feelings to life in a way scattered, internal thoughts can't.
But he trusts Ron and Hermione. They're his best friends, after all. He's told them far more dangerous secrets about himself, and here they are, sitting by his side and waiting with looks of encouragement for him to respond.
"Yes, I fancy Cho. That's why I asked her to the Yule Ball, and why I've been spending so much time with her ever since."
"And Cedric?" Ron asks.
He shakes his head, "I don't think so. I mean- I like him, but I wouldn't say I fancy him."
"Are you sure about that?" Hermione asks. "Because it kind of seems like you do."
Whatever Harry feels for Cedric, it's different from his crush on Cho. Though, now that he's forced to reflect on it, they aren't that different. They're in the same neighborhood, like different flavors of the same thing. They both make his heart race and his insides warm and fluttery. The way their laughter sounds and the feeling of their hand in his are ingrained into his memory. When he compares the two sensations, he doesn't have a preference to one over the other.
"Maybe. I dunno. It's... different. I'm not really sure how to explain it."
"Is it because he's a boy? Is that why you're having trouble figuring it out?"
As Hermione asks it, it's immediate to him she's right. When a girl is so pretty it makes him nervous, it's a crush. When a boy is so handsome it makes him nervous, it's a source of confusion. His brain never made the connection because he didn't think he was attracted to boys. But he also thought for 11 years he was an ordinary muggle kid, even though he was doing magic left and right. The signs were right there in front of his face, but he ignored them in favor of an explanation that while logical, never fully satisfied him. It's a reminder he's still growing into himself and should keep his mind open to unexpected possibilities. Sometimes change happens when a gigantic man knocks down his door and gives his cousin a pig tail, other times it's when he's sitting by a fireplace having a heart-to-heart with his best friends.
"Yeah, I think that probably has something to do with it."
"And are you worried that wizards hold the same prejudices about different sexualities and gender identities that some muggles do?"
"To be honest, I hadn't really thought about it. Do they?"
"Nope. Historically, we've been pretty accepting," Hermione taps his History of Magic textbook. "If you ever bother reading this thing, you'll find plenty of examples. For instance, there's evidence suggesting Godric Gryffindor was bisexual. And remember Acacia Abbott, the witch who invented the Aquaspira potion you used in the second task? She was an openly transgender woman."
"My family all supported Charlie when he told us he was asexual," Ron says. "It's really not a big deal to most people. Unless you want us to make it a big deal. Because we want to make sure you know that we support you- if you want to go out with Cedric or Cho or whoever strikes your fancy."
Harry nods. He didn't go into this conversation looking for their approval, but it's nice to know he has it. Whether it's fighting dark wizards or getting a date, Ron and Hermione have his back.
"Thanks, but you guys don't need to make a big deal out of it. Although, there is one thing you can do for me."
"Of course," Hermione says.
"Yeah, what is it?" Ron asks.
Harry holds up his parchment, "You want to finish this essay for me?"
Hermione shakes her head and rolls her eyes, though she can't stop herself from letting out a tiny giggle. Ron grins at him, then picks up his ball of yarn and chucks it at his head.
Harry shrugs, "Well, it was worth a shot."
April begins next Sunday, and it brings with it a much-needed break in the weather. The sky is still overcast, and it's so windy Harry's afraid his glasses might get blown off his face, but the telltale patter of rain is nowhere to be heard.
"You think the weather will hold?" Cho asks.
"Yeah, I think we're good," he says, "and even if it does drizzle a bit, we can handle it."
They head back to their spot over the lake and start again with the same warm-up exercise as last time. It should be easy, but they keep making stupid mistakes. He keeps throwing the ball too hard, nearly unseating his partners. Cedric has one close fumble after another. Cho needs to be reminded to throw the ball and not stare at it. They're out of sync. He'd love to blame it on being out of practice, but after fifteen minutes of awkwardness with no signs of improvement, they have no excuses. All the joy from their last flight together evaporated along with the rain.
Since his talk with Ron and Hermione last week, Harry's been coming to grips with his feelings for both of them. His confidence has never been higher, and he thought he was ready to have this conversation. Except now that they're right in front of him, he's tongue tied and still woefully unequipped to talk about how much they both mean to him.
"So Cedric… how did your apparition test go?" He asks, hoping this will start some kind of dialogue between them.
Cedric frowns, "It could've gone better."
"Oh… sorry."
"It's fine. I'll get another shot in a few months. Hopefully next time I won't splinch off my hand," Cedric tosses the basketball to Cho. "Um… did either of you catch the Holyhead at Puddlemere match yesterday?"
Harry shakes his head, "No, was it good?"
"Not really. Holyhead caught the snitch in the first five minutes."
"Oh no, Oliver must've been upset."
"That's right- I forgot Wood plays for them now. How's he doing?" Cedric asks.
"I dunno. I haven't heard from him since the World Cup."
Cho tosses the basketball his way. Harry holds his hands in front of his chest, but somehow the ball slips through his fingers. It spirals down faster and faster until it lands in the muddy banks far below, a tiny orange dot against a brown backdrop. They could have easily dived after it, but instead they chose to watch and do nothing. It's as if none of them have the energy or will to do more than hover in place.
"Sorry, I'll go get it."
"Wait," Cho says. It's the first thing she's said since they were in the castle. "I think we should talk."
Harry's hands clench around his broomstick handle. A part of him wishes he pretended not to hear her and went diving after the ball. He's going to feel better once they talk about it, he reminds himself. This is a good step forward in their relationship. He takes comfort in knowing there's no way anyone can overhear them. They're hundreds of feet above the ground. There aren't even any passing birds or insects up here to hear them talk. Anyone watching would only see three indistinguishable pin pricks against a grey sky.
"It's not fair," Cedric says with a scowl. His knuckles turn white from how hard he grips his broomstick, and there's a coldness in his gaze Harry's never seen in him before.
"What's not fair?" He asks.
"It's not fair that we're forced to talk about this because a journalist had a bone to pick with a 15-year-old girl. I wanted us to have this discussion, but not until we were ready. Rita took that opportunity away from us, and that's really, really unfair."
"If it makes you feel any better, my Mum's checking to see if there's any legal recourse we can take," Cho says. "he's on the Wizengamot- though I suppose you already knew that now- so she knows about libel laws and stuff like that. She was absolutely furious about the article."
"So was my Dad. My Mum said he's been writing howlers to Witch Weekly every day for the past month. I suppose I'm glad for it, though. He was so distracted by the lies, he hasn't asked me about the parts that are true."
"What do you mean?" He asks.
Cedric purses his lips, "I hadn't told my parents about our... arrangement at the Yule Ball, and I didn't really envision them finding out through a gossip magazine."
"I know what you mean. I thought my Mum would have a comment about not getting involved with boys when I should be focusing on my O.W.L.s, but she seemed more concerned about the sleight at her reputation."
Harry rubs the back of his neck. He was so worried about the reaction of Cedric and Cho's friends, he hadn't even considered their parents and the people in their lives who live outside the castle walls. It's hard for Harry to picture the only parental figure who matters to him disapproving of his choice in Yule Ball dates. He hasn't talked to Sirius about the article yet, and if he knows about it, he hasn't let on.
"I'm really sorry about the attention you've gotten," he says. "I know you're going to tell me it's not my fault, but if it weren't for me, Rita would have left you two alone. I'm used to this sort of thing. I mean- I don't like it, but I've learned to deal with it. You guys shouldn't have to."
"Well you're right, it's not your fault," Cho says, "and you shouldn't apologize for someone else's actions."
"Yeah, we don't blame you. We've been trying to tell you that for weeks," Cedric says. "If being your friend means occasionally showing up in the tabloids, then we'll get used to it too."
"So is that how you guys see me? As a friend?"
Neither of them say anything. The only sound comes from the wind whistling in his ears. It's hard to read what's going on inside Cho and Cedric's heads. Their expressions betray no emotion. Goosebumps prickle up and down Harry's forearms. He has to know. He's tired of questioning and wondering and replaying every interaction they've ever had in his head looking for hints. It's more frustrating than his Divination classwork. He's ready, he thinks, for them to shoot him down.
"Oh, this is just silly," Cedric says at last. "Cho, Harry, if you two like each other, then you should go out."
"No!" He shouts at the same time as Cho. The three of them look between each other. Neither of their reactions are what he expected, and judging by Cedric and Cho's expressions, they're just as lost as he is.
"But why?" Cedric asks. "I'm not reading this wrong, am I? You two do fancy each other, right?"
"No, you're not completely wrong," he says. His mouth has gone dry, and he's struck with the same jitters he got when he asked Cho to the Yule Ball back in December. But he takes a breath anyway. It's now or never. "Cho, I like you, quite a lot actually. And Cedric, I wasn't expecting it, but I've come to like you quite a bit as well. It doesn't really matter though. You're both way out of my league. So if anyone ought to go out, it's you two."
"What do you mean we're out of your league?" Cho asks.
"Well, you guys are both so…" He pauses. Even with the chilly wind blowing around him, his face feels like it's about to burn up, "so cute . I mean, you're really, ridiculously attractive to the point where it's intimidating. And I'm just… me."
Cho and Cedric furrow their brows and give him a look like he spoke in a language they don't understand.
"Are you fishing for compliments?" Cho asks. "Or have you not looked in a mirror lately?"
"What do you mean?"
Cedric chuckles, "I think what Cho's trying to say is: we think you're really cute too."
Harry looks back and forth between them, feeling more gobsmacked than he ever has in his life. They fancy him too? That's what they're saying, right? He's not overthinking this, or seeing what he wants to see? Cedric keeps grinning at him with his adorable, dimpled smile and Cho nods along beside him. Merlin help him, he's going to have a heart attack if he can't get his pulse under control.
"All this time, did you think I wasn't interested in you?" Cho asks. "Why do you think I went to the Yule Ball with you? Why do you think I spent a whole night reading a bunch of boring old potions books with you?"
"I dunno? I guess I thought you were being friendly."
"Well yes, but I wanted to be a bit more than just your friend," she laughs. "Sorry, I'm not trying to make you feel stupid or anything. I just thought I was being so obvious."
"Yeah, I thought you'd figured me out for sure," Cedric says. "When I told you about the amortentia in the prefect's bathroom, it felt like I was wearing my heart on my sleeve. But I figured you were straight, and that you were working out a way to let me down easy."
"Well, you're wrong on both accounts. I have absolutely no idea what amortentia is, and I'm pretty sure I'm bisexual."
"It's a love potion, known for smelling like the people you're attracted to," Cedric says. "And I'm bisexual too, just in case that wasn't obvious by now."
Harry stifles a laugh. So that's why the prefect's bathroom smelled like them, and why the aroma made it so hard for him to concentrate. Ever since he figured out he's bi, he's been amazed at how many hints he's missed over the years. Like the world planted tiny bisexual flags everywhere he went and he just thought they were nice decorations.
"So all this time, you two both fancied me?"
"Yup," Cedric says, nodding.
"Sounds about right," Cho says.
"You fancied me, and I fancied both of you, and I suppose you two also fancy each other?"
Cedric turns to Cho, "I hope I made my feelings clear in the letter I wrote when I asked you to the Yule Ball. If not, I can gush again about how nice and cute you are."
She nods, and her cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink, "I gathered. I think you're very nice and cute too, by the way, though I'm hoping you were able to pick that up."
"Yeah, I suspected. But I also suspected that you liked Harry, and I didn't want to force you to choose between the two of us."
"Well, this makes things easy," Harry says, grinning. "You don't have to choose between us, Cho, you can choose both of us. All three of us can choose each other."
"What do you mean? Like a couple, but with three people instead of two?" Cho asks.
"A throuple ?" Cedric asks. "Is that even a real word?"
"I dunno, but I'm sure we can figure it out," he says. "We made it work for the Yule Ball, after all."
"Yeah, that was fun, wasn't it?" Cedric says. "Okay then, if this is something you two want to try, then I'm all in."
"Wait-" Cho says. She scrunches her nose and she appears to be in deep thought, "how would we kiss each other though? We can go on dates in threes, and hold hands in threes, but kissing- that's not really..."
Harry's eyes widen, and another bout of jitters runs from his head down to the tips of his toes. Not in a bad way, in the absolute, best possible way. Cho and Cedric kissing him is an actual possibility. The more he thinks about it, the more he wants to stop thinking about it and get to doing it.
He shrugs, "I guess we'll take turns?"
"How do we decide who goes first?" Cho asks.
"We could make a game of it?" Cedric suggests. "Like, a game of tag where the person you catch is the person you kiss."
Cho grins, "I like games."
"I know," Cedric says. He winks and taps her on the shoulder. "You're it."
Cedric flies off towards the forbidden forest while Harry aims his broom straight up and soars higher and higher into the sky. He can't see where Cho's zipped off to, but he doesn't hear anyone behind him. This is the first time his Firebolt has been a hindrance. He keeps willing himself to slow down a little, then a little more.
There's a tug on the back of his broom. He spins around and there she is, leaning forward on her broomstick with a grin.
Harry's breath hitches. Cho's lips are shiny and pink. Make-up is a form of sorcery he doesn't understand, but damn if the results don't make his heart skip a beat. He has an urge to run his thumb along the scar on her chin, though he's not sure if that's romantic or weird. He's never done anything like this before, and he's second-guessing everything he knows. He reminds himself Cho is as experienced as he is with this stuff, which is to say, not at all. She's not expecting him to be a debonair who sweeps her off her feet. All three of them are clumsily figuring this out together, and that's okay.
"Hey, are you two going to kiss or what?" Cedric shouts from a few feet away.
Cho caresses his cheek with a soft, gloved hand. He closes his eyes, leans forward, and hopes their noses don't bump when their lips meet.
They don't.
The kiss doesn't last long, but Harry knows immediately this is going to be his happy memory next time he needs to conjure a patronus. It's soft and sweet and electrifying all at once. Like a crate of Filibuster Fireworks exploding inside him. He keeps his hands clamped around his broomstick for fear of falling off like the clumsy, love-struck fool he is.
They pull away at the same time and share a breathless laugh.
"Catch me if you can," Cho whispers before speeding away.
Cedric puts on a good show of racing at the speed of sound, but in actuality he's barely moving. It takes very little effort on Harry's part to grab him by the shoulder and gently spin him around. His heart is fluttering all over again. There's a moment's hesitation that wasn't there with Cho. Cedric is a boy… a very handsome boy, who he would very much like to put his lips on. Feeling slightly bolder this time, Harry places his hand on the back of Cedric's neck and pulls him closer.
He's expecting it to be different from kissing Cho. Girls are supposed to be delicate and dainty while boys are rough and rugged. But aside from a few physical differences, Cedric's face is longer and he has a bit of peach fuzz on his upper lip, it's very much the same sensation. The same shiver goes down his spine, and the same warmth radiates in his chest.
"You taste like strawberries," Cedric says as they break apart.
"I think that's Cho's lip gloss."
"I suppose I'll have to find out."
Harry doesn't mind that after their kiss, Cedric makes no attempt to catch him. He doesn't mind again when he grabs Cho by the waist and her cheeks go red from laughter and delight. And he definitely doesn't mind when their lips lock and they relax into each other. They look so good together. A tiny bubble of pleasure forms in his stomach at the sight of them. He's surprised by how much he likes that they're letting him in on such an intimate moment.
They continue going around in circles, catching and kissing and releasing, until the newness and giddiness of it all wears off (or maybe because their lips have grown dry and chapped). Cho eventually retrieves the long-forgotten basketball, and when they try again at playing catch, they're an unstoppable trio once more. They keep up their game until the sun hangs low and the sky turns vivid peach and gold. Then Harry takes Cho by her left hand, Cedric by her right, and the three of them make their way back to the castle.
So I am a big fan of the slow burn, and I actually wasn't planning on having the trio get together for a couple more chapters. But I realized I was dragging it out just for the sake of dragging it out, and doing it this way felt right.
Comments and kudos are always appreciated. Seriously you guys, when I first started this fic I thought maybe three people would read this, considering it's a bit of a rarepair, so I'm always overjoyed when people say they like it.
Also! say hi to me on tumblr! (I'm perichat)