Thirteen:

Cedric's third private encounter with Colin Creevey was met with as much discomfort as the previous two. He had honestly been wondering if the overzealous boy would approach him again, and wasn't quite certain if he wanted him to or not. It was true that he could hardly stand the wretch, but at the same time he...

Well, he quite liked the photos he had received from their last meeting and was slightly hopeful to get a few more. So 'slightly' hopeful in fact, that he'd taken to carrying a few sickles on him everywhere he went just in case he privately happened upon Creevey as he quite vividly recalled the boy saying he would charge for the next batch of photos.

It made him feel rather guilty that he took so much pleasure from photos that Potter would most probably not appreciate being circulated, but he consoled himself with the concept that it was better that Cedric have them then some... some... unsavory pervert or something of the like.

Yes, they were far better with him. They belonged with him, really.

So, as he inevitably encountered Creevey yet again in some empty corridor, he did his best to set his mixed feelings aside. He was doing the right thing.

"Hey there, Diggory!" had been the boy's excitable greeting from behind, nearly scaring Cedric out of his skin. The second year sounded as though they were just coincidentally crossing paths, rather that the likely actuality that Creevey had actively hunted Cedric down. "How've you been there, mate?"

"Don't call me mate, Creevey." he deadpanned, keeping his eyes straight forward.

His request was seemingly ignored if not entirely unheard. "You sure look like you've seen a few sleepless nights!" His voice took on a conspiratorial lilt and a rather distasteful grin crossed his face. "I bet I know what's been occupying your thoughts all alone in the dark."

"I don't know what you're implying, but stop." He still had yet to look at the little eyesore, continuing to walk to his destination as if the brat had never existed.

"Suure~" snickered the boy. "Well, either way I'm not here to discuss your nightly routines. I just wanted to know if you gave that offer of mine any consideration?"

Yes.

"No." Out the corner of his eye he could see Creevey's face fall and he had to fight down the impulse to cackle.

"Really?" His excitable attitude returned far faster that Cedric would have preferred. "Well, I'll just have to remind you of it I s'pose."

Before Cedric could react, a photo was shoved right in front of his face, a hairsbreadth away from the tip of his nose. He opened his mouth to snap something scathing at the boy, but felt his voice die once his gaze focused on the image before him.

Potter sat on a mossy stone bench in one of the courtyards, speaking to someone outside of the frame, a soft smile on his countenance. He tilted his head, lifting a fragile hand to his face, attempting to cover the laughter that subtly pinked his cheeks. His eyes closed, black lashes fluttering as they opened again revealing an almost glowing green gaze filled with mirth. Marigolds and begonias bloomed in the planter behind him, framing the image in red and gold.

Want filled him, starting from the center of his chest and nearly choking him as it climbed his esophagus. So desperately he wanted to be that person just out of frame. To be able to make Potter smile and laugh so genuinely so truly. To have that green gaze affixed to him. It was more than a want. It was a need.

He had to have it.

"How much?"

Upon returning to his dorm, he immediately binned half of the pictures he had bought. After asking to see all of Creevey's work, it was revealed that Creevey was actually interested in photography and not just using it as a means to stalk Potter. To save face Cedric had bought a few of the boy's non-Potter-related pictures. It was a bit pricey buying so many pictures at once, but the look of surprise on Creevey's face when Cedric expressed false interest in his other pictures was worth a couple extra sickles.

Cedric reached under his pillow, pulling out his journal, drawing his four poster's curtains around him. He could feel his breathe begin to escape him in tepid puffs, increasing in frequency as he nearly hyperventilated. His heartbeat drummed a tattoo on the interior of his chest, he shakily began pasting each photo into the book, promising to dedicate a passage to each one.

After sticking the last one down, he stuck a hand through the drapes surrounding him, pulling open his bedside table and reaching blindly around the first drawer until finally grabbing his self inking pen. He turned back to his newest favorite picture.

It was of Potter (of course), standing in his Quidditch robes, broom clutched in his right hand as his eyes were turned skywards. A large grin decorated his face, and Cedric could practically feel the eagerness to fly that was rolling off the picture.

He lifted the quill.

'The Gryffindor/Hufflepuff match is only in three days time! The Slytherins may think they've dodged a bullet by avoiding this ghastly weather, but I personally can't wait to face off against Potter!'

He felt his gaze drag back to the photo as if guided by a magnetic force. He smiled.

-0v0-

The rain fell around them, pelting the top of Cedric's head almost painfully. The wind howled eerily and the field looked to be in greyscale with the little sunlight that had managed to creep through the thick, black clouds. He could hear his teammates moaning and groaning about the terrible weather and felt a bout of annoyance, he wouldn't have them ruining this moment for him. He turned around to address them.

"So perhaps these aren't the ideal conditions for a Quidditch match." He began, watching the way they jumped to attention at the sound of his voice. They had become more deferent of him as time had wore on. Hufflepuffs always respected authority of course, but Cedric had a sneaking suspicion that their obligatory regard for him as Quidditch Captain had morphed into more of an admiration after practicing alongside him for so long.

"But, we can't let that get the best of us." He motioned across the field towards the Gryffindor team. They looked majestic clad in their crimson and gold robes, standing rigidly despite the icy downpour. "We're not the only ones who have to play in this weather and we're not the only ones who've not had the chance to prepare for our opposition's techniques. If anything, we have the advantage. Gryffindor has seen very little change to their team in the past three years. Despite this they still stand tall. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two from them." He watched a few of his teammates bow their heads, looking somewhat cowed. "Now chin up, all of you."

He didn't bother continuing watching them to make sure they followed his orders, as he had complete faith they would. Instead he returned to squinting through the torrent of water, watching Potter with the best of his ability. Despite his impassioned speech, he was a bit disappointed at the weather. He had been fully aware that it was likely that it would be like this, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He'd been secretly hoping that Creevey would perhaps snap a couple of pictures of he and Potter in the air, but alas he would just have to enjoy the moment as it was. He held in a sigh.

The high shriek of Hooch's whistle rang across the field and Cedric could feel a wave of giddiness bubble in the pit of his stomach as he made his way to the center of the pitch. Wood stood before him, all of his usual manic energy absent. It seemed not even Oliver Wood and his infamous Quidditch obsession could keep a pleasant mood in this kind of weather.

Cedric forced a smile as he extended his right hand, if only it were Potter that was the Captain. Wood's grip was crushing, though Cedric was actually fairly certain the guy just didn't know his own strength, all the same he squeezed as hard as he was able feeling brief satisfaction as the Gryffindor winced.

He was fairly certain he saw Hooch mouth "Mount your brooms" and he pulled his right foot out of the mud with a loud squelch swinging it over his Flyabout. Hooch drew the whistle to her lips and gave a blast that sounded far too distant for her to only be less than a meter away and in a blink of an eye they were off.

He rose quickly and for once, was glad for his unusually heavy Seeker physique as he could see Potter swerving slightly in the heavy wind. He couldn't help but grin, it was a little endearing.

After only a few minutes of playing, Cedric was already quite frustrated with the rain. Everyone had been reduced to nothing more than red and yellow blurs as the rain only seemed to fall harder with each passing second. He had no idea how the rest of the game was going, and he had not a chance at hearing the commentary, Lee Jordan's voice sounding like a distant buzz.

Despite his impaired vision, he'd noticed a red blur that had been sticking fairly close to him. Though Cedric wasn't complaining that Potter was so near, he had to wonder why the boy would bother. Potter was notoriously fast at spotting and catching the snitch it made no sense that he was depending on the other seeker to spot it first. Especially considering that the harsh weather conditions could seriously hinder Potter's ability to out fly him.

In his focus he nearly didn't see the bludger barrelling towards him and had to turn upside down just to dodge it. He looked over and saw one of those redheaded menaces cackling at him. How could they still manage to be playful in this weather?

He looked behind and caught the other twin smacking away the bludger he'd just dodged before it could hit their seeker. Potter looped under the other Gryffindor, catching up to Cedric after a jolt of speed.

Cedric frowned thoughtfully at this. Perhaps... it wasn't strategic at all? Perhaps the twins weren't the only ones who could be playful at times like this.

He grinned and sped off, making a sharp dive towards the ground. He could tell Potter was just a few feet behind and rapidly gaining on him. He then pulled up just as sharply as his dive, corkscrewing to keep balance (and perhaps to show off just a little). He glanced behind again and noticed Potter mirroring his actions with an enviable amount of grace and ease.

Cedric continued this banter-like flying, simply enjoying having the entirety of Potter's attention on himself. The poor weather was forgotten in his bliss and he didn't notice that Gryffindor had called a timeout until Wood had exaggeratedly motioned at Potter to return to the ground.

When Cedric had returned to his team their expressions were worryingly lost. He knew his inability to communicate with and direct them was most probably taking it's toll. Hopefully they weren't down too many points that his catching the snitch would be rendered obsolete.

It wasn't until his feet had landed on (somewhat) solid ground, that he noticed his fingers were cold to the point of aching. He noticed Jona jog up to them, holding a large umbrella and sent him a grateful smile.

"How are things?" he asked, turning towards his Keeper, who looked to be the most morose of the lot.

"Not great, Ced'. They're up by fifty points an' at this rate we're gonna end up playing into the night. I'm keeping out as many quaffles as I can, but Bell's and Spinnett's feints are a lot more effective with visibility bein' as poor as it is."

Cadwallader, his newest and most observant chaser stepped forward. "Their beaters seem mostly unaffected by the rain, they seem to be almost following dangerously close to the bludgers rather than tracking the other player's movements, so they've been nearly successful in knocking the majority of us off our brooms. We can barely keep up between them and their chasers."

Cedric sighed, but nodded all the same. He'd been having quite a bit of fun with Potter had been hoping to drag this game on as long as possible, but at this rate they were going to lose if he didn't do something.

"Alright, I'll turn all my efforts to catching the snitch, just focus on defense for now, we can't allow them to get up in anymore points or we'll be screwing our chances in future games."

"Yessir!" they chorused, turning back to the field.

Before he could follow he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked back to see Jona grinning up at him.

"That was a darling speech there, Ced'. But, I gotta say you looked to be having the time of your life out there earlier. Who're you showing off for, eh?"

He felt a surge of whimsy at the very thought of flying with Potter and could nary stop himself from exclaiming."I can't help but fly like that when Potter's around!"

He jogged back to his team before Jona could reply and motioned them into the air.

Cedric noticed immediately upon heading back to the middle of the field that Potter was no longer following behind him and had to resist sighing at this; no doubt Potter too was redoubling his efforts in looking for the snitch. He searched high and low for the elusive golden ball, squinting through the rain and ducking as a bludger whizzed past his ear, spinning to avoid one of Gryffindor's chasers as they bobbed under him at the very last moment.

There was another clap of thunder followed by a blinding fork of lightning. He was fairly certain he heard a girl shriek behind him, whether or not if was one of his or Wood's remained to be seen. He had to hurry up and catch the snitch, this was getting increasingly dangerous.

Before that thought could even fade from his mind, he saw from the corner of his eyes, a tell tale glint of gold and immediately dove for it. After barely even beginning his descent he could feel a presence behind him that he knew without even looking back to be Potter.

He flattened himself even further to his Flyabout knowing that the boy was rapidly gaining on him and extended his arm towards the ball that was just out of reach. He felt something lightly bump against him and time felt like it had frozen just like everything else in this icy rain.

Potter was there, wind whipping his crimson robes around, black hair plastered to his cheeks that were almost red with exertion. His green eyes were trained forwards, so bright against the grey and black background. Cedric followed his gaze and-

With a jolt of panic remembered that he had a game to end. The snitch was centimeters away from the boy's hand and Cedric nearly flung himself forward in an effort to snatch it out of the air. He felt his fingers wrap around the slippery metal and grinned, pulling it to his chest. He felt his heart soar, elation making his entire body tingle. Now was the time. No better moment could possibly appear for him to speak to Potter. He turned his head and opened his mouth to finally address the person who had been plaguing his thoughts day and night.

And froze midair.

Potter was falling backwards, eyes dull and body limp. His tiny hand was loosely outstretched still reaching for the snitch that Cedric had already caught. Dementors swarmed around him like flies swarmed the dead. His eyes drew to a close, looking as if he were falling asleep rather than falling to his death. Cedric was certain he'd never seen anything so tragic before.

And with a startling shock he realized he was allowing it all to unfold. He surged forwards, reaching with all his might towards the scarlet figure that was streaking rapidly towards the ground. With a smack, he collided with one of the Gryffindor team members who had also been trying to catch the boy.

All he could do was watch Potter's continued descent.

A/N: Actions scenes and the like have never really been my forte, so I'm sorry if the Quidditch scene was a little hard to follow but, hey! It's finally finished guys, the Hufflepuff/Gryffindor match has come and pass. I'd like to warn you that things will be deviating even more from cannon now than they were before, so don't say I didn't warn you.
Fun fact: I had considered naming this story The Language of the Flowers, silly I know, but still relevant.

Feedback is always welcome.