Chapter 3

A/N: Chapter 3! Took awhile, and I apologize for that. It's a bit longer, too, I think. Minor Hermione bashing. Very minor. Angst and fluff. Enjoy!

Harry was pulled out of his confusing memories by Hermione, snapping her fingers in his face irritably. He loved her to death of course, but she could be a pain.

"Helloooooo, Earth to Harry! I asked if you finished your Transfiguration essay! It's due today you know!" Her zeal for schoolwork could be annoying when he had more pressing issues on his mind. Like the voice of a past lover invading his head whenever Cedric touched him. And the fact that he was beginning to think that there was a slight chance that he might, maybe, possibly, kind of like it.

Still, her half worried, half exasperated expression prompted him to think about his homework for a second, in that strange Hermione way of hers.

Shit, Harry thought, he had only written a few inches of parchment the night before, out of the three feet that was due next period.

"I think you and I both know the answer to that question", Harry evaded, laughing good naturedly. Hermione, on the other hand, rolled her eyes, shook her head, and hurried off in the direction of her next class, yelling to him over her shoulder: "Harry James Potter, will you ever learn?"

"Probably not" Harry said quietly to the empty air in front of him as Hermione rounded the corner. Great, now he was talking out loud to no one in particular, and hearing voices in his head, he really was going mad.

"Probably not what, love?" Harry heard Cedric's voice from behind him, and felt Cedric's hands snake around his waist. Snake...oh Merlin. His eyes darted about the hallway instinctively for the presence of any Slytherins, and to his dismay, he found himself searching specifically for the familiar platinum blonde crown of...NO! I refuse to think his name!

He turned to Cedric, and saw his happy expression change when his eyes met Harry's. Before he could say anything, Harry leaned up and kissed him swiftly on the mouth, lingering for only a moment and then pulling away. No voice this time, he thought, mentally sighing in relief, consoling himself. But had it been enough to prove whatever it was he was trying to prove to himself? His stomach stirred with doubt.

Transfiguration was Harry's next class. In an effort for precautionary House unity, Dumbledore had mixed the classes to contain students from all four Houses. And guess who was in Harry's Transfiguration class as of late? He mentally groaned and cursed his schedule for being so inconvenient. But the upside was he had the class with Cedric. They clasped hands and headed at a leisurely pace toward McGonagall's classroom.

As they traveled down a corridor that seemed particularly empty of students for the moment, Cedric suddenly detached himself from Harry's hand and stood languidly against the wall of a small, out of the way alcove. He beckoned to Harry, a mischievous expression dancing across his handsome features.

"Come here" Cedric purred.

"Cedric, we have to get to-", Harry began, he already didn't have his essay done, being late would only lose him House points and maybe win him a detention. And he was afraid of what his subconscious would dredge up if Cedric tried anything remotely intimate with him right now. And he couldn't seem to shake off a nagging feeling that they were being watched. Exhibit C, evidence towards the "Harry's Going Mad" theory. Harry stiffened on the spot and his feet refused to move, as if by survival instinct.

"I said come here Harry" Cedric said, eyes darkening. The demanding tone he used caused something to stir deep within Harry, and suddenly a memory assaulted his mind.

Draco Malfoy, on his knees, mouth open and waiting. And the voice again, his voice, breathy and lustful, moaning "Come here Harry...you know you want it. Show me how much you want it, Harry"...

He was pulled back to reality by Cedric's voice, harsher now "Harry, I said come here, NOW."

His mind fought back against the memory with reason, saying "Bloody hell, he's your lover, not a bloody vampire!" Harry suppressed memories of pale skin, and dark eyes, and being bitten, as his "rational" mind screamed "Damn it, stop that, MOVE!"

Finally, Harry's feet carried him forward until Cedric placed his hands on the small of his back and pulled Harry flush against his toned body, kissing him fiercely until he pulled back, panting for breath.

"Cedric I...I want you..."

Cedric laughed and whispered in Harry's ear "I'm yours already" and proceeded to snog him senseless, hungrily exploring the warm cavern of his mouth.

Harry tore his mouth away again as Cedric tried to deepen the kiss, and attempted to finish his breathless request.

"No, I...I want you to be my dominant."

An expression somewhere between a grin and a smirk, that reminded him so much of a certain blonde that he refused to name, crossed Cedric's face as he answered.

"I thought you'd never ask. Never been much of a submissive type myself, really. Why fight who you really are?" Cedric breathed, leaning down to kiss Harry sweetly this time. His thoughts swam and he struggled for coherency. Finally, Cedric retreated and took Harry's hand again, and whispered "I love you" and smiled, and it reached his eyes. As they continued down the corridor, now thoroughly late for class, Harry regained coherent thought processes. Little did he or his lover know, Harry's intuition had been correct, they were being watched from a discreet place, by the one person Harry most hoped never found out about them.

If Harry was being honest with himself, being dominant wasn't much his cup of Earl Gray either. It made sense, when he thought about it. He was always trying to make everyone else happy, keep everyone else safe. It was in his nature to put himself last. But what he craved was to be protected, to be loved. Lack of parent figures had made him self sufficient, that's why there was so much chemistry last year with...with Draco. His defenses cracked, and he allowed himself to think the name. But that lack also left a void within him, the inner child that just wanted protection and love. And Draco, and Cedric, both filled that void. The reason he tried being dominant was, after Draco left, he felt broken, so he put up walls and refused to submit to anyone, especially a lover. But Cedric was right, this was who he was. He genuinely enjoyed being submissive, he loved Cedric deeply, but when Draco's voice invaded his thoughts, he felt adulterous. He felt as if he were taking pleasure from them both, and that felt undoubtedly wrong. But still, Harry got some kind of rush from it, and his selfish mind refused to fight the onslaught of memories that gave him such pleasure. And it scared him.

His mind chanted Cedric, Cedric, Cedric, Cedric...trying to banish thoughts of any others, and he glanced down at their clasped hands for solace. A glance became a stare, and before he knew it, they were walking into McGonagall's room, holding hands. Harry gasped and dropped Cedric's hand as he looked up, right into the unwavering eyes of Draco Abraxas Malfoy.