(A/N MERRY CHRISTMAS!)

Chapter 3:

(Trigger Warning: Contains censored homophobic slurs)

"Ugh, I just don't get it, why is everyone so obsessed with the Yuleball?" Harry complained to Hermione, "Even Malfoy wanted to know who I was asking!"

Harry paced in front of the tree, Hermione was leaning against it with an arithmancy book open on her lap.

"Malfoy? Are you sure?" Hermione's voice was a bit high-pitched, her eyes widened as she closed her arithmancy book.

"Yeah, it was so weird! He asked if I was bringing Ginny!"

Hermione bit her thumb as if in thought. Harry thought not even Hermione could decode why Malfoy had been acting so strangely. The git even admitted to caring about Harry's life.

"How exactly did he ask who you wanted to bring?" Hermione asked slowly, her voice calculating.

"I dunno. Rudely I guess." Harry shrugged it off, "But that's not the point, the point is everyone is getting over-worked up over some stupid dance! I mean, I don't understand why I gave to build up all my courage just to ask out one measly person that is probably going to laugh at me!"

"Yes, but you do realise that the embarrassment of not having a partner during the opening dance is worse than having to ask someone," Hermione pointed out.

"Ugh, I hate it when you're right." Harry groaned.

"So, what you're saying is, essentially, you hate it when I open my mouth to speak?" Hermione asked, in her best know-it-all voice.

"Exactly," Harry pointed out, and received a punch in the arm from his friend.

Harry was soaring in the air, chasing after the snitch. He didn't have a broom, but yet he was in the clouds. He willed himself faster, and he was. He peered down to find, who was mounted on a broom, slowly flying towards the same golden ball. Harry experienced the adrenaline rush of the competition, the rivalry that had never failed to get his blood pumping. The need to win, to see the look of defeat on Malfoy's face was embedded in his mind.

"You scar head, you're going to lose. Just like how you're going to lose the tournament!" Malfoy taunted from 20 feet under him.

Harry sped up, and soon his hand was wrapped around the snitch. Harry grinned as Ron and Hermione appeared out of nowhere and began cheering for him in the Quidditch stands. Euphoria spread through his veins,

Harry looked back down to where Malfoy had been, to find Cho staring back at him. She was wearing a shy smile, a beautiful pink blush painting her cheek. Her black eyes were wide and twinkling. She had her black hair up in a high ponytail. She then flew up to him from the broom Malfoy had been using and he cupped her cheek and brought their lips together in a soft closed-mouth kiss.

After Harry had kissed Cho, she morphed into Cedric. The Hufflepuff shot him that winning smile. The older man then crushed their lips together. Harry was unable to deduce any pleasure from the kiss, because soon they were plummeting towards the ground.

Panic shot through Harry, and he held on to Cedric for a lifeline. The Hufflepuff was still flashing that charming smile, acting as if the two of them weren't about to die from the height.

Right before Harry and Cedric could make impact with the grass, they were in the cupboard underneath the stairs. Cedric pulled Harry into another kiss, and there was a sharp rap on the door. Cedric didn't pull away, even as Mr. Dursley shoved the door open. The man looked like he was about to explode.

"I ALWAYS KNEW YOU'D BE BENT. FIRST, YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE FREAKS AND NOW YOUR SHOVING YOUR TONGUE DOWN A BLOKE'S THROAT! YOU DISGUSTING F*GGOT," Mr. Dursley spat.

"Y-you cursed me!" Cedric accused.

"Wow, who knew that Potter liked it up the arse?" Malfoy's sarcastic voice entered the fray.

"I would've never kissed you if I knew you were qu**r!" Cho taunted, a look of pure disgust on her face.

And with that, they all left Harry alone in the cupboard under the stairs. He stared at the creaky floorboards, a spider gave him a menacing glance. It started to grow before his eyes, and proceeded to bite him.

"Mate, wake up." Ron's loud voice cut through his slumber.

Harry put his glasses on, and spotted Dean waking up Seamus, using a soft kind voice. Neville was already up, and he was petting a bloody plant like it was a pet. Trevor the Toad was glaring at the plant.

"Ugh, why'd you have to be so loud. Can't you be more like Dean?" Harry groaned, and he stretched.

"Nah," Ron mumbled with a shrug, "Now hurry up, we'll be late for breakfast."

"Yeah, yeah." Harry said and closed his curtains so he could change.

Harry began to think of the dream he just had. Was it wrong that he liked boys as well? The Dursley's definitely thought so. He wouldn't be surprised if Malfoy did too. Every time anyone in Hogwarts talked about dating, they always assumed it was the opposite gender. Maybe Harry was a freak.

Well, this was just one more thing added to the list of "Harry Potters flaws".

"So, Harry, Mate, who are you planning on asking to the Yuleball?" Seamus asked when Harry left the privacy of his curtains.

"Well, who are you asking?" Harry snapped, fed up with all the questions.

Seamus flushed, his eyes darting nervously towards Dean. Dean was glaring and Seamus.

"Don't waste your time. If He refuses to tell me, his best mate, there isn't a chance he'll tell you." Dean grumbled bitterly.

"This got awkward fast," Neville pointed out helpfully, "You know what, I'm going to join Ron for breakfast."

"Yeah, me too," Harry agreed.

"Oi, Ron, can you pass the toast?" Harry asked, and Ron nodded as he passed him said breakfast item.

Harry still couldn't seem to get that dream out of his head. Harry had been feeling a turmoil of guilt and self-hatred for fancying Cedric. He could only imagine how disgusted Cedric would be if he were to discover it. And what if Cho believed Harry's feelings for her weren't true if by some silver of a chance they ever got together?

"Harry, you do know that you can tell me anything, right?" Hermione's soft almost unsure voice broke through his reverie.

"Wha-?" Did Hermione know? "Of course I know that. Why are you asking?"

"It's just, the tournament seems like it's been stressful for you. I could help you with anything, even something like getting a date," Hermione said conversationally.

Yup. She definitely knew. Of bloody course she fucking knew! Was Harry really being that obvious? Harry put his head in his hands, ignoring Ron, who was spitting out his Pumpkin juice. Likely shocked at the story Neville was telling him.

"I can get my own date," Harry pointed out, lamely.

Hermione nodded, then returned to her book. Harry was totally screwed.

Harry was taking a shower when he came to the realisation that he hated the Dursley's. Well, he knew he hated the Dursley's, but because he hated them, didn't that mean that their opinions of his love life didn't mean shit? The Dursley's were wrong about wizards being freaks, why couldn't they be wrong about the homosexuality thing?

But the most confusing part of this whole thing was, Harry's feelings for Cho didn't diminish when he realised he liked Cedric. Was Harry gay? Or was he straight? He had never heard of someone liking both genders before.

But He bet Hermione would have, if it was a thing. But what if Hermione only confirmed his fears by telling him he was a freak. Alone. The only one who felt what he did. Should he ask her? What would she say to it? What if Hermione thought it was gross? Harry really couldn't risk losing his only friends for something like this.

Harry got out of the shower, and got dressed. He walked into his dorm to find Seamus and Dean speaking in hushed voices. They were facing each other, both sitting cross-legged and on opposite sides of Dean's bed. The minute Harry opened the door, their heads snapped in his direction.

"Harry- Hi!" Dean greeted him, his lips quirked up in an awkward smile, "Um- wanna play exploding snap?"

Seamus slapped Deans arm and gave him a pointed look. Dean glared at Seamus in return. Dean then turned his attention to Harry, and gave him another awkward smile.

"Um- I'm good, I was just grabbing something." Harry said, and grabbed his bag, not wanting to get in the middle of whatever the two were arguing about.

"Actually... We were kind of hoping for your advice?" Seamus asked, and Harry groaned internally.

Harry had enough issues as it is, he didn't need Seamus and Dean's arguments to add to the pile.

"Sure, but I think Hermione could give better advice," Harry hoped desperately they'd get the hint he didn't want to be involved.

"Nah, you don't need to go to all the trouble just to get her here." Dean said.

"So," Harry sighed, "What's going on?"