A hoarse voice spoke up. "Harry Potter, you are under arrest for murder of Fenrir Greyback."
The words did not make any sense to Cedric. To Harry, though, they must have, since he got up and went with the men. He took one last glance at poor Cedric, and mouthed him the word "Mockingjay", before finally closing the door to his house. Cedric was left alone. Again. And Harry is in trouble, because of him!
Harry had been forced to kill Fenrir to save Cedric. Was there anything Cedric could do? No. He could not go and defend Harry since he didn't have actually proof. Even most of the marks left on his body were fading. And what had Harry meant when he muttered Mockingjay? Cedric recalled everything he'd read in the book and did not find anything that could help him in this situation, except taking a cross-bow and training to kill people.
He went towards the library in the house feeling that it was too empty without Harry being here. When he arrived, he grabbed the said book and flipped its pages, looking for clues. And he found them. There was a paper folded thrice with his name scribbled on it. He opened it and read out loud,
"Cedric, if you're reading this, obviously something has went wrong. I knew that I would get in trouble for killing your rapist, and so I am writing you this note.
Here's what I ask of you. First of all, in my "To Kill A Mockingbird" is an envelope with money that should keep you going, and a note, where an address is written."
Cedric searched for the book, still holding the unfinished note in his hand, and when he found it, he took out the envelope and the note. Then he continued reading,
"Go to this address and ask for Albus Dumbledore. Tell him that I sent you here, he knows everything and knows what to do. Sorry for keeping all those secrets, Cedric, but it is necessary, because I can't put too much information inside a note. Hope you succeed."
Cedric closed his eyes, channeling all the information he had just learned. Harry had known something would happen. He had to find a certain 'Albus Dumbledore'. What a name. He pocketed the note and money and went to get changed. He got in his jeans and a shirt he took from the pile of clothes Harry had bought him. He particularly liked this one, which had an intriguing symbol on it. It was a triangle, with a circle in the middle, and a line coming from the top of the triangle towards the bottom of the triangle. He didn't actually know what it meant but liked the shape of the symbol.
Locking all the doors behind him, and grabbing a random key of a car he found laying on the counter of Harry's room, he went down to the parking lot and pressed on a button on the key. A Carrera 4S lit up, its glossy black colors shining swiftly with the lightning of the parking lot. He got in and drove away from the house, applying all his lessons on how to drive he had gotten from Harry himself.
The trip took half an hour and Cedric's heart was pounding like Hell. He was afraid he had missed a turn, but in the same time he was sure he had taken all the right roads towards the address. He got out of the car and went through all the buildings, until he came across a villa that looked mysteriously twisted. It was obviously a modern house as it had twists in very odd places. He rang the doorbell, and, after 5 minutes of waiting and not knowing what to do, an elderly man opened the door. He was wearing sky blue robes and had a beard that went all the way down. He had half-moon spectacles on his hooked nose and a slightly far away look in his eyes.
"Hello, er- I'm looking for a certain Albus Dumbledore," Harry said, stuttering.
"And, it appears you have found him. Come in, young Diggory," the elderly man said. Cedric was surprised how Dumbledore had known his name. He got in and observed the many aspects of his house. It was, just as Harry's, filled with books. At every corner, he could find a bowl or vase full of candy. Dumbledore motioned him to sit on a chair in the living room – or what looked like it – and sat near him, offering him candy. Cedric took one politely and popped it in his mouth, slightly surprised it tasted so good.
"So, apparently, mister Potter is in trouble, am I right?" Dumbledore said slightly dreamily.
"Yes. He left me a note telling me to come here for help," Cedric said pleadingly.
"And he told me that it was only a matter of time until they caught him," Dumbledore said. "He's an old friend of mine, see," Dumbledore corrected, seeing the surprised look on Cedric's face.
"Can you help him?" Cedric whispered. He didn't know why he was in such a weak state, but felt that Harry's freedom, and perhaps life, was depending on him.
"In a matter of fact, I can, my friend," Dumbledore said, "but I will need some help. You must take me to Potter's house."
Cedric nodded and stood up. Dumbledore slipped on a pair of shoes that looked like Merlin the Enchanter's, and went with Cedric. After a 30 minutes road trip back, he directly went towards Harry's room, Cedric following close by.
Dumbledore went through the room as if he actually lived there and opened a drawer next to Harry's bed, pulling out official looking papers. He went closer to Harry and showed him the contents. "This is your medical reports. You know, after the abuse, you went to the hospital, right? These are the reports. If we present those, we can win the case easily."
Cedric finally felt some hope. Dumbledore saw the flicker of a smile show on his lips but disappeared almost immediately, "How can we find Harry, now? Which court is he in?"
"Obviously, my boy, it is in the nearest of the police stations. Again, I must ask you to drive me there."
"But, sir, I don't know the location of the police station, I'm not from here," Cedric replied worriedly. Perhaps it was not going to be so easy.
"But, I do," Dumbledore said. The spark of knowledge and malice was brightly showing from his eyes.
They got in the car once again and went towards the city, Dumbledore pointing towards many turns and often muttering nonsense latin words to himself. Cedric ignored that and just drove. When they arrived to the ugly looking building where they were keeping Harry, Cedric's head was hurting from the constant muttering of Dumbledore. But it was worth it.
They got in and asked for Harry. They were told he was already in the court room and that his lawyer hasn't arrived yet, so he will be judged without one. Dumbledore lied swiftly, saying that he is a lawyer, and got in with Cedric inside the court room that was winter-cold and that had black tiles everywhere. It gave off a creepy feeling of danger.
"Yes, Mister Potter, you are saying that it was in self defense of Cedric Diggory, but we neither have proof, and neither is mister Diggory himself here," said a very bored-sounding voice.
"Oh, but he is. And so is his lawyer," Dumbledore said in a voice so strong and confident, Cedric wouldn't have recognized it if he weren't standing just right beside him. "Victim of rape and witness for the defense, Cedric Diggory, and lawyer, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, are standing here."
"Oh, very well, you may speak, Mister Dumbledore," said the earlier voice, this time sarcastically.
"It is, in my knowledge, the right of every citizen to use weaponry in case of every type or form of physical abuse, rape and murder, are two priorities to this law," Dumbledore said brightly.
"Yes, but we do not have a record, here, of Cedric Diggory getting raped," said the voice. Cedric looked up and saw an ugly looking man with two women sitting beside him. He noticed the name patch on his shirt and understood his name was Cornelius Fudge. What is up with the names of this city? Harry was looking tenderly at Cedric, but Cedric was avoiding his gaze, so that he would not break out in tears in the middle of the trial. He didn't know really why, but he felt that if something happened to Harry, he would not have any more purposes in life. As if, Harry was the person keeping him alive. And he was. He was living under Harry's roof eating from his food, after being saved by him. He owed a great deal to Harry.
"Of course, Cedric would not make charges of being raped, if the rapist was dead. What would be the point?" Dumbledore said.
"Agreed, but if there is no proof of Mister Diggory ever getting raped, so there is still no case here!" Fudge almost shouted.
"Actually, there is," Dumbledore said, glee only showing in the depths of his eyes. Harry didn't bother hiding his happiness at Cedric having figured out his message. Dumbledore unfolded the hospital's report almost dramatically and said, "Here is the record of Cedric Diggory's body scan after the rape. It also has a photo of the wounds that were nail marks, hits in the head, and the blood that was shed." Dumbledore went towards Fudge, head held proudly high, and placed the paper in front of the startled figure. Fudge recovered his posture and read the contents. He looked at the pictures of every single wound inflicted on Cedric, and it took him some time. There was at least fifteen pictures there.
Finally, Fudge looked up and said, "How do I know those weren't self inflicted wounds?"
At this, Harry spoke up angrily, "BECAUSE THERE WAS FUCKING BLOOD COMING OUT OF HIS ARSE, THAT'S WHY!"
Before Fudge could say anything, Dumbledore spoke up, "Language, Mister Potter, I think I have raised you better, haven't I? As for you, Fudge, I have presented every single witness or proof I have. The fate of my friend, Potter, here, is between your hands. What say you?"
Fudge sighed, then, looking up, he said, "Those in favor of conviction?"
Perhaps a dozen of the people that were sitting unnoticed by Cedric raised their hands. Fudge smirked. "Those in favor of clearing all charges?"
And every single one of the remaining people raised their hand. So, technically, there was at least three times more people to raise their hands. "Fine," Fudge said, "Cleared of all charges."
Everyone got up and started leaving. Harry did, too, and went over towards Cedric, giving him a strangling hug. "Thank you, so so so much!" He pulled away and looked in his eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, then Cedric spoke up, "I just can't afford to lose anyone else."
Harry turned to speak to Dumbledore, but the old man had somehow vanished. "Where's Dumbledore?"
"No idea," said Cedric. They went over to the car to see Dumbledore with an ice-cream cone in his hands.
"The ice-cream here is perfect," said Dumbledore.
"Thank you, professor. For everything," said Harry. Cedric did not ask why Harry called Dumbledore 'professor', because he thought it to be weird, so he shrugged it off and figured he would ask him about it later.
"No problem, my boy, but I must be going now," said Dumbledore cheerily, back to his odd self, all of the rebel side of him disappearing.
"Of course, you need a ride, sir?" said Harry, making his way towards his car.
"Thank you, dear boy, but I think I will stick to my usual method of transportation," Dumbledore said, winking at Harry. "It was nice meeting you, Mister Diggory," he said, nodding at Cedric.
"Nice meeting you too, sir," Cedric replied.
Dumbledore nodded to them once again and went away from them, disappearing with the crowd. Harry and Cedric got in the car. Harry looked at Cedric before starting the engine. Cedric, something totally new and weird taking over him, grabbed Harry's head and leaned in, kissing him fiercely. After some time, they had to pull away to catch their breath. "I just felt I needed to make sure it was real," Cedric said.
"It is."
"Harry?"
"Yes, Cedric?"
"I think I love you, Harry."
"I know I love you, Cedric. I know I do."
Love, Death, Birth, by Carter Burwell, played in Harry's bedroom. If you'd get in, you would see a little light coming in the room. You'd see a cover on Cedric's bare back, and Harry laying just underneath him. Their bodies danced with the slow beat of the piano ballad that was playing in the backround, the epitome of their love manifesting itself into lust.
When they were done making love, you would see them laying next to each other, Harry caressing Cedric's chest, shoulder, biceps, throat, and every single place of his body with his soft lips, giving him the softest of kisses. It was somewhat a dream come true to both.
...
Next day, they were both laying in bed naked, enjoying the warmth of each other's bodies. Suddenly, a question formed itself inside Cedric's mind. There was something wrong. The only witness of Harry murdering Fenrir was him. How come the police had been warned?
"Hey, Harry," Cedric said slowly, "How did the police know you killed him? You, of all people?"
"No idea, the person who reported me's name is Tom," Harry said, shrugging.
"Tom what?" Cedric said, his voice shaking.
"Umm... I'm not sure, I'll check the charges paper later," Harry said, not noticing Cedric's trembling.
"No, Harry, check now!" Cedric said, voice shaking more than ever. Harry got up and, not bothering to get dressed, went down to the entrance hall of his house to look for the papers he had carelessly dropped in his daze yesterday.
Cedric followed him, getting a pair of boxers on. When he arrived next to Harry, he kneeled down and looked him in the eyes once more. "So, what is his name?" he emphasized.
"Umm... Tom. Tom Riddle," Harry said.
And Cedric fainted.
...
Cedric slowly came to consciousness at Harry's third glass of water he dumped on him. "Cedric! What the Hell happened?"
"I... Harry..."
"What is it,Cedric?" Harry said, panicking. Voice shaking. Hands trembling. They both were white as sheet.
"Tom Riddle... He killed my parents."
