As usual, I succeed at getting my readers angry :3 . I know I've kept you guys waiting, sorry for that, but I was so busy! What with the writing of Pain of Yesterday, studies, and lots more! So, without further due, this is Chapter 2 of In Another Life! Enjoy, and review if you like! Xoxo

Dark alleys. Wobbly ground. Shaking hands. Dizziness. An excruciating pain, and then, a pang as Cedric Diggory woke up screaming. Less than a minute later, the door of his room shot open and Harry Potter emerged from it, with only boxers on. He ran towards the boy who was now crying and put an arm around him, trying to calm him down. But he didn't know what to do, or say to the boy. He was sure that Cedric didn't quite trust him, and he couldn't blame him. If he had been raped and someone had proposed some miraculously generous help, he would feel very suspicious. And then it hit him. Inspiration.

He was seeking a subject for his new book. He wanted to make the world aware of both the physical and psychological results of being raped. Abused. It was such a cruel word… his mind drifted off as he lightly rocked Harry to calm him down like a little baby. When his sobs had eased, Harry whispered, "Go to bed, you're safe now."

Cedric turned away, covering himself with the sheets, and tried to sleep. Harry sighed and went to his room. Not wanting to sleep anymore, in case the boy would have another nightmare, he lay on his bed and opened his laptop. He closed his eyes for a second, thinking about what he was going to write, and, opening a new document, began slamming his fingers on the keyboard. He kept writing and writing, the night past so fast he didn't even notice dawn. Of course, he had to pause a few times to go and comfort poor Cedric, but just Cedric's pain gave him even more reason to write.

Next day, they both sat facing each other on the kitchen table, meals sitting in front of them untouched. They were both so exhausted; they were more interested with the caffeine full mug of coffee. "You're going to have to eat, you know," Harry said quietly, trying to catch the boy's eyes.

Cedric didn't move and avoided eye contact. He took hold of his mug of coffee again and took a long gulp before finally looking Harry in the eye. He didn't need to say anything out loud; just the look Cedric gave Harry was enough explanation for all what he was feeling. Harry didn't speak anything and then came up with a plan.

"Okay, Cedric. I need to get you to trust me. And I can't just expect you to trust me like that. Ask me any question."

"What makes me sure that you don't lie while answering these questions?" Cedric said quietly.

"I know that you'll be able to know that I'm being honest. If you ask me about my errors in life, I can tell them without changing a single detail. It's a writer's job to be able to tell the most boring story in the most entertaining way, without adding any detail."

Cedric's eyebrows rose up. "You're a writer?"

Harry chuckled. "Yes I am, all of my books are New York Times Bestsellers!"

"Oh, sorry I didn't know. I don't read much, you see. I only read the occasional book they asked us to read at school. And now since my parent's death, I couldn't afford going to school."

"Well, do you like to read?" Harry said hopefully. Cedric nodded, so Harry got up and went towards the door to the living room. Cedric followed, keeping quiet all the while. They crossed the living room and Harry opened another door, he motioned for Cedric to go first. He did, and as soon as Cedric was inside the library, he gasped. Rows and rows of shelves covered the walls with books in every single color you can think of. From hardbacks, to paperbacks, from leather-bound, to ring tied; there were at least a thousand and one books inside this room. "You like it?" Harry said teasingly. Cedric nodded eagerly and made his way to a hardcover book that had odd patterns on its back. Its title was The Hunger Games. Harry smiled at Cedric's choice as it was one of his favorite book series. "You know, this one has a sequel, and there's a third book in the series. How about you start reading this one?"

Cedric nodded again, smiled, and muttered a Thank You before turning and heading towards the sofa that was facing the huge glass window that exposed one of the biggest forests one could ever see. Amazing place to read a good book in. Harry looked at him, and said, "If you need anything, just use the phone I gave you and call me. I'll be in my bedroom, working."

Cedric merely acknowledged Harry's words by giving him a nod and turned his full attention to the book he was now reading.

Days went by like this. At night, Harry would be there next to Cedric to comfort him, and in the day, Cedric was always reading while Harry was writing. Two weeks after starting The Hunger Games, Cedric put down the third and last book of the series, Mockingjay, and went to look for Harry. He was now with better terms with Harry than before, because he found that Harry's intentions were ever so pure and that he could trust him.

Arriving at his bedroom, he knocked on the door and Harry grunted, giving him an okay to enter. Cedric did so and stood behind Harry, trying to read what the adult was writing. "What are you writing about?"

Harry stopped his work and looked at the beautiful teenager. "You. Well, rape victims, actually. But the main character is based on your personality, Cedric. Of course I wanted to ask for permission about it from you before getting it published, but I thought you would've wanted a draft to read at least."

Cedric blushed. He was not annoyed the least bit. In fact, he felt kind of relieved. Harry was a known author, so if he released a book about the victims of rape and their behavior, he would succeed at getting the number of rape victims to decrease. "You have my permission."

"Thanks," Harry said, grinning at the boy who pulled up a chair beside him and read the page Harry was at.

Cedric never told Harry how much he loved the books he had just read. He forgot about them as soon as he was immersed in the world of the desperate main character of Harry's book. The girl, 'Kate', he called her, was known as a girl with a very strong personality and a huge ego. But when she got raped by someone she knew and trusted, her whole world was turned upside down and her ego took a fatal blow. And then the things Cedric could relate to popped up in every page of the book. Nightmares, insecurities, paranoia, constant fear, unfamiliar with social lives… and lots more. There were endless answers to the results of something as dirty and cruel as sexual abuse. He loved it.

"It's going to be a success. Trust me on this one," Cedric said.

"Well, let's hope so. If I get it published." Harry answered bleakly.

"Why wouldn't you get it published?"

"This book is different in many ways than the others I've written. So I'm guessing my editor or publisher won't be a huge fan of the switch I've made and would be too afraid of taking risks."

"YOU'RE the author, Harry! You ought to choose what you want to write, not them!" Cedric said. Harry just stared at him. Perhaps this was the first conversation they had had since the questioning in the hospital. And Cedric had a point. HE was the author. He didn't need anyone controlling him and telling him what to write about. So he took a decision as soon as Cedric spoke up again. "Were they the one to tell you what to write about in your other books? NO!"

"Yes, Cedric, you're right. I will call them as soon as I can and, if they don't agree with the plot, I will have to find other editors and publishers. But I do hope they agree, because they are the best." Harry said calmly. Cedric grinned at him and continued reading the draft Harry was at. But Harry was too happy that they had had a decent conversation and kept thinking about something to talk about. "So, did you like The Hunger Games?"

Cedric looked at him for a few seconds before shaking himself inwardly and saying, "Yes. Loved it. That lead character is so strong…" And tears streamed down his eyes, tears that Harry now was used to seeing, since they contained the memories of the dreadful night they had met. And Harry did not blame him. He had almost gotten raped and that must have left a huge impact on the teenager. But it was time to stop these memories from affecting him. Harry took hold of Cedric's face, and looked deep in his eyes. There was pain and hatred and fear and loss and whatever feeling Harry could come up with. But when their eyes met, there was one spark in Cedric's eyes that Harry never suspected would show up there. Longing. Lust. Pure, white lust. Harry was paralyzed, and was sure his eyes reflected the same thing. He had took the boy in out of pure helpfulness but the fact that they now lived together made Harry fantasize in the dirtiest way.

But Harry wouldn't make Cedric go through such a drama. Cedric is still in shock from the almost-rape and it would be quite some time before he was the same again, and probably never. As he got ready to pull away from the boy, the other pulled him closer and gave him a huge hug. Their bodies combined and for every curve in the boy's body, was a lump in the other man's body to fill it. They were like to pieces of a puzzle. Cedric laid his head on the man's shoulder and kept weeping. Harry patted him on the back, not awkwardly, but in an almost lover-like gesture. He even stroked his back for a while, until Cedric adjusted himself and said, "Thank you. For everything. I appreciate it, and I owe you big time." He turned around, heading towards the room Harry had given him, but Harry took hold of his hand and looked once again into his eyes. "You owe me nothing."

Cedric looked down, and made a show out of not hearing what Harry said by looking away and continuing towards his room. Arriving there, he jumped up on the bed and relived what had happened. What was that spark that shot through his body when they touched? That flicker of intense longing and lust that showed in Harry's eyes when their eyes met? What was up with everything? Well, Harry thought, he is kinda good looking and all. No? And he remembered Harry bursting into his room in only his underwear. Warmth shot from Cedric's head to his now-hardening member as he recalled the fine curves that spread through Harry's body. As he recalled the muscles that bulged from his arms and pretty much everywhere. He cursed himself for not having focused on Harry's penis, but then cursed himself for actually having such thoughts about men. It was WRONG. Cedric was not gay, and he knew it.

Not that he was homophobic or anything, but Cedric had lots of girlfriends before. He had also had sex with a couple of them, his first being Cho Chang, an exchange student at his old school. He was young when he lost his virtue and was considered a God when his friends figured out what ruffled hair and swelling lips meant. He admitted to himself that his first time wasn't really the best, and even the ones following, he didn't have this huge pleasure everyone talked about.

Then again, he could be gay. He felt like he trusted Harry with his life now, since Harry practically was the one who saved it. He had also avenged him by shooting Fenrir. Cedric winced as the picture of the beast displayed in his mind and wrinkled his nose. Fuck, he hated him. He fell asleep thinking about Harry, about just the way their gazes held each other. About his warm and strong arms. About his shoulder where Cedric had wept. About his beautiful body. And that night was the only night in which he didn't have any nightmares. He was finally healing.

Next morning, Cedric and Harry sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee and making small talk. Then, Harry smiled at Cedric and looked at him. "So, you didn't have any nightmares yesterday?" He was grinning now.

Cedric was shocked – how had Harry figured it out? "How did you know?"

"Oh come on, I always wake up at your screams. Or was it a silent nightmare, this time?" His grin fell and concern flooded his eyes as he got up and went over to Cedric. Cedric looked up at him with a serious face, trying his best to look sad. But his lips trembled and then adjusted to a half smile half grin.

"I slept like a baby."

"Oh… Great!" Harry said, now his grin pretty much reaching his cheeks. They looked at each other, and there was this connection again. This link that connected their souls together. Cedric reached up and adjusted himself, not breaking eye contact. Harry slowly and carefully approached his lips to Cedric's. When their lips were only a hair apart, they felt a link even stronger between them. And, as if there was a magnet, their lips connected and fire burned through both of their bodies, reaching places they hadn't ever felt, and spreading warmth and happiness in their bodies. They smiled into the kiss, and suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door. The kiss broke, the fire retreated, and Harry stood up and went towards the front door. He sighed once before opening it, with Cedric hovering just behind him.

A hoarse voice spoke up. "Harry Potter, you are under arrest for murder of Fenrir Greyback."