I do not own Harry Potter.
Before we get on with the story, I want to address one review. A guest reviewer felt that this fic was rushed. It was never meant to be a long, drawn out, telling of Harry and Cedric. It was originally going to be a one shot highlighting certain moments. It ended up being too long, and since my iPad won't allow me to post much over 5000 words on FF without crashing, I decided to break it down into chapters.
I still need to edit, but there will only be one or two more chapters to this.
PLEASE REVIEW
***HP
Harry was sad to see everyone go home for Christmas, especially Cedric and the twins. It was a bit depressing being one of the only students left at the school over Christmas holiday, but at least this year it would be shorter seeing as most of the kids had remained longer to attend the Yule Ball. He could admit that he cried when Cedric left, even if he knew that he would be seeing him in two days at Gringotts to get married. Hopefully this would be his last year spending Christmas alone. After bonding to Cedric, he would finally have a family.
"Potter!"
Gulping, Harry turned from where he was watching the snow fall from the Great Hall's enchanted ceiling. "Merry Christmas, Professor," he said somewhat shyly.
Severus hadn't missed the remarkable change in the boy over the past year. After talking to the rest of the staff, he found that Harry was improving in all his classes. He was even close to out doing Miss. Granger for first in their year. With everything going on with the Tournament and his gift, he would have thought for sure that the boy's grades would have slipped.
"I see you remained for the holidays." Severus also hadn't missed how Harry never went home for the holidays. He had asked Dumbledore about his home life, but he had reassured him that he was perfectly happy with his relatives.
"Yes, sir, my relatives made plans to go away for the holidays and had to leave before the Yule Ball," Harry lied easily. Years of practice had made it to where he could spit out a perfectly good lie in the blink of an eye.
Severus raised an eyebrow, picking up on the boy's lie. "And how are you coping with your special gift this year, Potter?" He had noticed that there were times where the boy looked about ready to crack, and then other times where he looked perfectly normal.
Cringing, Harry looked down at his old, beat up sneakers. "It's been hard, especially with all the extra students. I found a grounder, though, so that has been really helpful. It's amazing, it's like a switch being turned off. All the overwhelming feelings are instantly cut off when we touch"
Severus wracked his brain trying to come up with who Harry's grounder could possibly be. He hadn't noticed the boy hanging out with anyone new and he was always keeping a close eye on him. "And who exactly is this grounder?"
"I would rather not say," Harry said, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. It was weird, he couldn't believe how civil Snape was being to him. It was almost as if the man cared about him. Snape had always been a hard one for him to read, the man was always in control and it was as if there was a wall blocking him from feeling him. Only when Snape had been exceptionally angry had he felt him.
"Well obviously it is someone much smarter than you. I have heard that your grades have improved."
Ouch! Harry should have know that the man couldn't stay nice to him for long. "We do study a lot, sir. I would like to become a healer."
Without saying anything more, Severus turned and made his way to the head table. He wouldn't admit it, but he was impressed with the boy. If he kept his grades up, he would have no problems getting a healer to apprentice him. He was very curious though to who his grounder was. Why would the boy keep it a secret?"
***HP
Frowning, Harry looked down at the clothes he was wearing. While they were his good school dress pants and shirt, they were two years old and Cedric had seem him in them everyday. It was his wedding and, for the first time in his life, he wanted to look good. He didn't want to look like the pitiful little orphan that he was.
Wiping an escaped tear from his cheek, he narrowed his eyes determinedly and decided to leave for Gringotts early. This was his wedding day, dammit, and he wanted to look good. He knew for a fact that Cecric would be wearing his finest. Of course Cedric didn't care what he was wearing, but he wanted to look good for his mate anyway...he wanted to shock him. This would also be their first time sleeping overnight together and he wanted everything to be perfect. He didn't want to be self-conscious because of his ratty clothes.
Grabbing his invisibility cloak, Harry slipped out of the Gryffindor Tower and made his way to the secret passageway beneath the statue of the One-Eyed Witch. From there he was going to have to sneak into the Three Broomsticks then floo to the Leaky Cauldron. If nothing held him up, he would have enough time to shop for an outfit to wear before having to meet the twins in front of Gringotts. He had to be super careful though, he couldn't be spotted in Diagon Alley.
He couldn't believe that this was happening. That he was actually going to marry Cedric Diggory. He should feel a little sad that Ron and Hermione were going to miss it, but he had Fred and George and he was closer to them now than his supposed best mates. He hadn't missed how cold Hermione had been lately because his grades had either matched her's or he scored higher than her. He wasn't doing it to show her up, he just wanted Cedric to be proud of him. He was also worried about impressing Cedric's father. Amos Diggory thought the world of his son, he didn't want him to be embarrassed because he was his son-in-law. He wanted to prove that he was worthy to be Cedric's husband.
Not having a lot of galleons on him and not wanting to go to Gringotts twice, Harry settled for a nice fitting green and silver, button down shirt that the shop keeper said made his eyes pop. He also bought a new pair of dress slacks that actually fit him perfectly and shiny new dress shoes. All and all, he thought he looked pretty damn good. Cedric had never seen him in anything like this before.
"Well lookie here, my ever so handsome brother," George whistled, circling Harry as he stopped in front of them.
"Oh I'm looking," Fred said, his eyes about popping out of his head. "Our little Harriekins is absolutely mouthwatering."
"That explains the drool running down your chin, brother," George joked.
"Stop teasing," Harry said shyly, blushing three different colors of red. Holding out a length of leather string, he turned his back and asked. "Could one of you please tie my hair back?" He had been letting it grow out over the past two years and now it was hanging a bit below his collar bones.
George snatched the strip of leather, smirking triumphantly at his twin. He knew that Fred had the hots for their little Gryffindor Seeker, but luckily he accepted that Harry would never be his. Someone was out there for Freddie, he could feel it. He just had to be patient.
"So how is this gonna to work?" Harry asked nervously.
"Well, lover boy is already in there waiting for you," Fred explained. "He arrived earlier, he didn't want to jinx the whole, it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride, thing."
"Hey, who said that I was the bride?" Harry cried indigently
"For starters, you're smaller," George pointed out.
"And prettier," Fred added. "Way prettier."
"Yeah, Cedric is what you would call handsome. You, Harry, are a pretty little thing," George teased.
"Have you ever topped?" Fred asked with a wink.
"I-I...whatever! Can we please just get going?" Harry asked, feeling flustered at Fred's question. It wasn't that Cedric wouldn't allow him to hop him, he had offered, but he just had no desire to top. He enjoyed being on the receiving end of things. That's what felt right to him. Maybe someday he would take Cedric up on his offer, but for right now, he was happy with the way things were.
"Mr. Potter," Griphook called, greeting the Potter heir as he entered the bank. "If I could please have a moment of your time before your bonding?"
"Uhm, is it important?" Harry asked, anxious to get to the bonding. He also couldn't wait to see Cedric. It may have only been a few days, but it felt like forever to him.
"It will only take a moment and I'm sure you will like what I have to talk to you about," Griphook said with a bow.
"Harry, why don't you take Fred with you and I'll go and check on our anxious groom," George offered.
Harry smiled when Fred took his hand. Goblins were powerful little creatures, but they still had emotions like everyone else. "Thank you," he said to Fred. Turning to the goblin, he nodded his head.
"Now, Mr. Potter," Griphook said as he led Harry to a private room in the back of the bank. "As you were raised in the muggle world, I doubt that you know much about Wizarding traditions?"
"No, I'm sorry," Harry admitted shamefully.
Griphook sneered at that. The Potter Heir never should have been raised by disgusting muggles. As far as he was concerned, no magical child should be raised by muggles. They just didn't understand them or their needs. "It is tradition with the purebloods to pass down wedding dress robes. The males in your family have been wearing the same robe during marriages and bonding ceremonies for over eight hundred years. Would you like to see it?"
"Yes please," Harry immediately answered. He had thought about buying a robe but he didn't have enough money on him. It was exciting to think that he could wear the same robe that his ancestors wore.
"I thought you would," Griphook smiled. He didn't smile at many wizards, but he had always liked the boy. He was very polite and respectful. "I retrieved the robe earlier this morning and had it refreshed."
Harry felt a knot form in his throat when Griphook uncovered the robe. Approaching it, reached out and gently brushed it with the tips of his fingers. "What is it made of? It's so soft and moves like water when I touch it."
"The finest Acromantula Silk that we could find," Griphook said proudly. "If properly taking care of, this robe will last until the end of time."
"It's goblin made?" Harry asked in wonder, still staring at the magnificent off-white robe that was trimmed in gold and had the family crest and motto on the back. At seeing the goblin nod, Harry gave him a blinding smile. "I should have known. It's too beautiful to be anything but goblin made. It's a shame that most humans don't take pride in their work the way goblins do."
Griphook's chest puffed out in pride. "It was actually I descendent of mine that made that robe," he proclaimed proudly.
"Then I thank you," Harry smiled. "It's a truly magnificent piece and I would be honored to wear it on my wedding day. Did...did my father wear it when he married my mother?"
"He did," Griphook answered softly. "All Potter men have worn it on their wedding day since it was made."
Harry didn't even try to hide his tears. He couldn't believe that he was going to wear the same robe that his father married his mother in. It wasn't the same as them being here, but it did comfort him a little bit and made him feel closer to his parents.
Fred's heart was breaking for his little brother. He didn't have to be an empath to feel his pain. It was clear to see on his face. "They're proud of you," he said, wrapping his arms around him from behind. "You have been to hell and back and yet you are still a kind and loving soul. They're watching you, smiling down on both you and Cedric."
Crying harder, Harry turned and buried his face in Fred's neck. "I wish they could be here. I wish they could meet Cedric."
Fred started rubbing Harry's back and gently swaying back and forth. "They're here, Harry, in your heart. You're a wizard, you know that death isn't the end. They're watching over you."
Snorting, Harry stepped back from Fred rubbing his tear stained face. "I don't know if that should comfort me, or freak me the hell out. Hopefully they weren't watching last week when Cedric and I..."
Laughing, Fred slapped his hand over Harry's mouth. "Normally I love hearing all the juicy details, but I believe that we have a wedding to attend. Besides, I'm sure that Griphook doesn't want to hear about your sex life."
Gasping, Harry looked to Griphook in horror. For a minute there he had forgotten where he was. "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to be crude."
Griphook surprised even himself when he started laughing loudly. He really, really liked the little wizard. "Heir Potter, I would like to offer you a gift."
"A gift?" Harry asked a little wearily. Goblins weren't known for giving gifts.
"Yes," Griphook said, chuckling some more when the boy looked at him in shock. "Admittedly I was going to offer to sell it to you, but you made me laugh, and that is very, very rare. I do believe that you are the first human who has been able to do so." Opening his desk drawer, he handed over a small red vial.
Harry took the vial and looked at it curiously. "I'm afraid I'm not very good at potions."
"You can say that again," Fred snickered.
"It's an eye correcting potion, Heir Potter." Griphook explained. "That potion will give you perfect eyesight."
"For how long?" Harry asked excitedly.
"Until you die," Griphook snickered.
"Really?" Harry cried, already popping the top off. "I never knew such a potion existed."
"Harry, how many kids in school, more precisely purebloods, do you see wearing glasses?" Fred asked.
"Uhm, I'm not sure. I never really paid attention. Dumbledore wears glasses, as does Professor McGonagall at times. My dad also wore glasses."
"I know for a fact that your father didn't need glasses," Griphook explained. "Your grandparents gave him the potion when he was five. As for Dumbledore and McGonagall, they had perfect vision when younger, but their sight has declined with age. The potion cannot be taken after the age of twenty one."
"Why did my dad wear glasses then in school?"
"If I recall, your father told me that it made him look smarter, sexier and more mysterious," Griphook said with a fond smile.
"That sounds like him," Harry said wistfully. "Does it take long to work? I think I left Cedric waiting long enough."
Griphook shook his head no. "Less than a minute and it only stings for a few seconds."
"Thank you, Griphook," Harry said, tipping the potion down his throat.
***HP
"Is he in there?"
Rolling his eyes, Fred peeked in the room that was set up for the ceremony. "No, but Draco Malfoy is, and he can't wait to make sweet love to you all night long."
"Shut up!" Harry giggled, smacking Fred hard on the shoulder. "Do I look alright?"
"Breathtaking," Fred answered honestly. "The robe and you eyes...Cedric's heart is going to stop beating when he sees you."
Harry had never realized how truly bad his eyesight was before taking the potion. Now, everything was crisp, clear and bright...he couldn't wait to see Cedric with his new eyes. As thrilled as he was with his perfect vision, he couldn't bring himself to trash his old glasses even though they had been the wrong prescription to start out with. In a weird, I'm an orphan who never knew his parents way, his glasses made him feel connected to his dad. His dad wore glasses, he wore glasses, it made him feel closer to the man he had only ever been able to fantasize about. He was relieved when Fred and Griphook understood his desire to keep his glasses even though he didn't need them anymore. Griphook had even been kind enough to make the lenses so he could see perfectly out of them. They were basically just plain, old glass now, but it had meant a lot to him. This way, when he was feeling sad and missing his parents, he could slide his glasses on and feel that connection to his dad again.
Looping his arm through Harry's, Fred looked at him expectantly. "Are you, Fred Weasley, giving me away?" Harry asked happily.
"Forcing more like it," Fred said with a fake smile, his heart giving a painful clench. "But if I must give you away...then I must."
Beaming brightly, Harry gave Fred a shy kiss on the cheek. "You must!" he grinned, not realizing that Fred hadn't been joking.
"Then let's do it," Fred sighed heavily.
With a nod, Griphook swung open the door to Grigotts ceremony room the stepped aside for the pair. He, too, was witnessing the marriage, but it was the bank's president that was performing it.
Gulping, Cedric felt his knees go weak when he got his first glimpse of his soon-to-be-husband. He had always thought that Harry was beautiful, but now he look angelic, breathtaking, enthralling, stunning...and a million other things that he couldn't thing of right now because his brain had damn near shut down as soon as he saw his soul mate.
Harry was having a hard time breathing. The look Cedric was giving him was unlike any look he had ever seen from him before. Was it a good sign?
"I believe your beauty has paralyzed your mate," Fred snickered, whispering in Harry's ear.
Looking closer, Harry could see that Cedric was indeed appreciating his appearance. Blushing spectacularly, he gripped Fred tighter and allowed him to lead him to the love of his life.
***HP
"I thought my heart was going to explode when I saw you standing there waiting to walk down the isle."
Harry reached out and slowly started unbuttoning his husband's shirt. "At first I thought that you didn't like my new look, but Fred was quick to reassure me."
"Who?" Cedric asked, caressing his mate's soft face. He loved the fact that he could now stare into Harry's enchanting eyes and not be hindered by his glasses.
"Fred Weasley," Harry said, his face scrunching up in confusion.
"He was there?" Cedric smirked. "I wouldn't know. I only had eyes for you."
Moaning, Harry tilted his head back when Cedric released the tie in his hair. "You always know the right thing to say."
"That's only because I speak the truth," Cedric winked. Licking his lips, he latched onto Harry's exposed neck and started kissing, sucking and biting. It was mind blowing...Harry Potter was now his husband. They just didn't get married, they had a soul bond performed. One of the rarest binding rituals there were. It was incredibly rare because only true soul mates could successfully complete the ritual and very few soul mates existed. Now nothing or noone could separate them...not even his parents, the Minister of Magic or the great Albus Dumbledore. Hell, because of the bond, they would have to come in physical contact with each other everyday. That meant come next fall, even though he would have graduated, he would have to live with Harry at Hogwarts, or Harry would have to leave school property every night to return home to him. Harry was his, and he was Harry's.
Harry allowed his husband to guide him to their bed. It wasn't the most romantic place, but spending their honeymoon night at the Leaky Cauldron was better than nothing. He honestly didn't care where they were, all he cared about was being with Cedric.
***HP
Harry threw his wand down in a fit of anger. Sighing when he felt strong arms wrap around him from behind, he closed his eyes and melted into the loving embrace of his husband. They had been married now for almost six months, and if it hadn't been for the damn tournament and his empathy, these past six months would have been amazing.
"What's the matter, love?" Cedric whispered softly in his ear. "You have been acting strange now for a couple of weeks."
Harry turned and wrapped his arms around Cedric's middle and buried his face in his chest. Sometimes just inhaling his scent was enough to calm him. "I don't know, Ced," he sighed. "My magic has been acting all wonky lately. Some spells I can't get to work, some are too strong, while others I can't even control. The last task is in just two days, not exactly the best time to be having problems with my magic."
Cedric scrunched his forehead up in concern. "Have you been feeling alright?" He asked, placing a kiss to the top of Harry's head. He loved that he was a good head taller than him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Well I have had a few dizzy spells, but nothing major. I haven't been sleeping well, I have been having more nightmares as the last task gets closer. I just have a feeling something terrible is going to happen. I wish we could just run away...away from Hogwarts and away from this stupid tournament."
"I do too love," Cedric agreed sadly. "I also have a bad feeling about the last task. You stay close to me understand? Whatever happens, we stick together."
Harry nodded then got on his tippy toes to kiss his husband. "I don't care if we win or not, I just want us to finish alive and in one piece. These tasks are stupid." Smiling, he kissed his husband again.
Cedric leaned into the kiss, mapping out the inside of his lover's mouth. With a groan, he reluctantly pulled away. "Stop trying to distract me, you little tease. Have you been to the Hospital Wing? Does Madam Pomfrey know about your wonky magic and dizzy spells?"
"No." Harry cringed. "You know how much I hate going there."
"How do you expect to become a healer if you hate the hospital so damn much?" Cedric joked, smiling lovingly at his adorable husband.
"I dunno," Harry shrugged, "maybe I will set up a practice outside."
"Well, have you tried diagnosing yourself? I know you have been reading up on healing charms and spells." Cedric asked. For the past couple months his young husband had been obsessively reading every medical book in the school library that he could get his hands on.
"I thought about it, but I don't trust my magic right now. With my luck, I would probably end up blowing myself up or giving myself extra ears." Harry joked, remembering all the times that Seamus had burned his eyebrows off.
"If you know the diagnostic spell, you could teach it to me and I will check you out. Please, love, I can't stand the thought of something being wrong with you."
Allowing his mate to lift him up and sit him on a high table in the Room of Requirements, Harry taught Cedric the spell and the proper wand movements. This room had become his most favorite place in Hogwarts. This was where Cedric grounded him, where he fell in love with him and where they both lost their virginity.
Cedric practiced the spell for fifteen minutes before getting up the courage to try it on Harry. Taking a deep breath, he waved his wand and clearly said the proper incantation. Taking a step back, he raised his eyebrows at his mate when his stomach started glowing. "Harry, what does that mean? It's nothing bad is it?
Harry couldn't help but to laugh. "Try it again, Ced, there is no way that could possibly be right. You must have said something wrong or waved your wand wrong."
Cedric went over the spell in his head again before trying it on Harry. Once again the light appeared over Harry's stomach. "Harry, I don't think I am doing anything wrong."
"But that can't be possible." Harry frowned. "Can it?"
"Harry what's wrong?" Cedric begged. "Please, you're starting to freak me out."
" I...well, if I was a girl than that light would mean that I was pregnant. But I'm a guy, so there is no way in hell that can be right. Guys can't get pregnant." Harry said nervously. He had read a lot of medical books and there was nothing mentioned in any of them about wizards being able to get pregnant.
Cedric stumbled to a chair and collapsed. With a shaking hand, he ran his fingers through his hair. After a moment of thought, he looked to his husband with a big goofy grin. "Harry!" he said softly. "Normally wizards can't get pregnant, but we're soul mates. I thought it was just an old tale, but it's said that if the soul mates were powerful enough, then a wizard could conceive."
Harry just sat there staring at his husband as if he had just sprouted a second head. Very slowly, he looked down to his flat stomach and touched it with a trembling hand. Could he truly be pregnant? Could a little life be growing inside of him right now? A life that Cedric and him created out of love?
"Merlin, Ced!" Harry whispered, eyes wide and glowing. "We are going to have a little baby."
Cedric jumped up and scooped his husband up and twirled him in a circle. Very gently he put him back down then laid a hand on his stomach. Stooping down, he brought his face to his husband's belly. "Hello in there, little one. I'm your daddy. I'm so excited that your going to be coming and I can't wait to meet you. Your mummy daddy and I are going to spoil you rotten." Leaning in, he lifted his husband's shirt and kissed the flat belly that was safely housing his baby.
With tears in his eyes, Harry gently started running his fingers through Cedric's soft hair. Could his life get anymore perfect? He was going to have a baby...his own family.
***HP
"Take the cup, Cedric," Harry panted, pressing down hard on his bloody leg. He was terrified that the Acromantula venom was going to poison his baby. He just wanted this stupid tournament to be over, he felt like he was seconds from passing out.
"You take it," Cedric said, looking longingly at the cup. He desperately wanted to make his father proud, but he was more worried about his husband and unborn child. Harry was hurt and needed medical attention. Screw victory and fame, he just wanted his mate and unborn child safe.
Black spots were starting dance before Harry's eyes. "Together," he said weakly, reaching out with a violently trembling hand and taking his husband's hand. "Together. It's still a Hogwarts victory."
Cedric claimed Harry's lips in a brief, but passionate kiss. He didn't know if anyone could see them, but he was done hiding. He wanted the entire world to know that the amazing Harry Potter was his. "Together, Harry. No better victory." he grinned. "On the count of three. One...two...three. I love you," he said as he reached for the cup at the exact same time his husband did.