Written for the Back to School Challenge at The Golden Snitch Forum (Beauxbatons, Guinefort) - one pair of protective gloves (dragonhide or similar): write from a Hufflepuff's POV.

Warning: use of a homophobic slur.


Fight for You

"Kiss me," Viktor murmured.

"What, here? Aren't you afraid someone might see us?" Cedric asked, biting his lip. The clocktower courtyard was rather crowded around lunchtime.

Viktor shook his head. "Let them see," he said in his thick accent. "I do not care."

Cedric didn't care either. Well, maybe a small part of him did. He was just so used to the adoration and worship of his peers—female ones, in particular. How would they react to the knowledge that he was in a relationship with a male, and the Durmstrang champion at that?

Cedric's panicked thoughts were interrupted by Viktor's lips on his. He sighed and melted into the other boy, winding his fingers through Viktor's long, dark hair. How could he have any doubts when this felt so...so right?

A high-pitched shriek interrupted their passionate kiss. It was Pansy Parkinson, gossip queen extraordinaire, and her loud reaction had drawn even more attention to them. As if he could sense that Cedric was planning to make a run for it, Viktor grabbed his hand and looked sternly at him.

"Just ignore them," he said. "You owe them nothing."

Cedric swallowed hard. Viktor was right, but he still felt as though some sort of explanation was in order. Just as he opened his mouth to say...something, ANYTHING, Adrien Pucey decided to speak.

"Oi, Diggory!" he yelled. "Never took you for a poof!"

Cedric flinched. This was what he had worried about—the name-calling felt even worse than he had imagined. Sure, he had been on the receiving end of snarky digs like "prettyboy" or "thicker than a troll," but this felt more personal, somehow. This cut to the root of who he was.

Viktor put his arm around Cedric in a protective gesture and shouted something in Bulgarian back at Pucey. Cedric didn't know Bulgarian, but he had a feeling it was a threat of some kind based on the rude hand gestures Viktor was making.

"Come on, let's just go," Cedric mumbled, as Pucey's friends hurried him away. "He's not worth it. None of them are."

"I vill not let them treat you like this," Viktor said angrily. "You are good person, Cedric Diggory. You deserve respect."

Cedric shook his head. "I don't think any of them are going to see it that way. At least, not right now." He started to walk away, but Viktor pulled him back.

"Vhere are you going?"

"I don't know." His voice broke. "I just...need some time to think."

Viktor grew still. "About us?"

Cedric nodded, his throat tight. Around them, a few students continued to stare. He wished they wouldn't. It would make everything so much easier.

"Vot is there to think about?" Viktor asked, frowning. "Ve are good together, no?"

"We are," Cedric said softly, "but I'm...not ready for this. For everything to change so thoroughly."

"I see." Viktor's expression was unreadable now. "Vell, I am sorry."

"What for?" Cedric asked, puzzled.

"For wasting my time on someone who isn't willing to fight for what he wants," the Bulgarian replied. He looked into Cedric's eyes for a long moment, then turned and walked away.

Cedric watched him go, his heart pounding. This was it. He could move on with his life now. Forget about this whole thing with Viktor.

But watching Viktor slump away didn't feel good. In fact, it felt awful.

Cedric stood there, rooted to the spot, as memories flooded through him. Snatches of awkward chitchat with Viktor made way for deeper conversation, then the lingering touches and electric eye contact that followed, and finally, the kisses and embraces that had made him feel more alive than ever. Could he let all of that go?

He hurried out of the courtyard and into the Great Hall, spotting Viktor almost immediately at the Slytherin table. Viktor glanced over at him, then went back to talking to Theodore Nott.

Cedric strode over and cleared his throat. "Viktor."

Viktor stood and faced him, arms crossed over his burly chest. "Yes?"

Cedric hesitated. He had never been good with words, but would Viktor respond to physical contact? "I'm sorry for wasting your time, too," he said at last. He grabbed Viktor's sleeve and pulled him closer. "But most of all, I'm sorry for letting you think I wouldn't fight for you."

Viktor's eyes widened. "Vot does this mean?"

Cedric leaned forward and kissed him, oblivious to the stunned silence from those around him. A moment later, he stepped back, blushing faintly. "It means I want you, regardless of the scrutiny and the jeers and the disapproval."

Viktor smiled and took his hand. "Vonderful."


Word count: 772