Disclaimer: Mostly an outline but it has what I wanted to put out, might pick this up in the future but I doubt it.

A Different Triwizard

"Wands out?" Cedric asked.

"I think we'd better check something first," Harry replied. "Grab the trophy."

"What good do you think that will . . ."

Cedric reappeared back at Hogwarts in front of a surprised crowd. "We've got to go back for Harry," he shouted. "Aurors, were are the bloody Aurors."

"Calm yourself Mr. Diggory and tell us what has happened," Dumbledore advised.

"The cup was a trap," Cedric said breathlessly. "Harry's still there, we've got to go back for him."

"Portkey's used up it's magic," Moody advised.

Hufflepuff Common Room, several months earlier . . .

"Quiet," Cedric growled at one of his house mates. He was sick and tired of hearing people insult Hogwarts' other champion. "Let me ask you something, why do you think Harry would have put his own name in the bloody cup?"

"Well . . . he's a Gryffindor," the other student said lamely.

"And we all know they're glory hounds right?" Cedric asked. "Let's start with his first year, we all know what happened right? Well, who's heard Harry talk about what happened?"

"I asked him once," Susan volunteered. "He just sort of . . . shrank, said he didn't want to talk about it."

"Then let's look at his second year," Cedric continued. "Anyone hear Harry's version of what happened?"

"We were talking about it after Harry got out of the hospital wing," another student said slowly. "Harry heard what we were talking about and turned around, I . . . I don't think he's ever told anyone what happened."

"His third year he had a murder after him and he kept getting attacked by the bloody dementors," Cedric sighed. "And I've never heard two words from him about what he's done. Accept it, Harry's not a normal Gryffindor. He's someone who's actually brave, not the usual dregs the house attracts."

"Bloody loyal to those friends of his too," Hanna said. "You realise what that means? It means he's a Hufflepuff at heart, hat got blinded by his bloody lack of fear."

"So you know what I think this is?" Cedric's voice raised. "Based on what we know of Harry's history, I don't think it's likely that he put his name in for the glory, I don't think it's likely he put his name in at all. We all saw how dangerous the first task was, I think that someone is trying to use this tournament to murder Harry Potter. They failed in first year, they failed in second, and they failed in third. Maybe they think the fourth time's a charm?"

"It's our duty to help him as a fellow Hufflepuff," Susan said with a smile. "Sod the bloody hat, what's it know? We all know what house Harry belongs in."

Cedric gave the girl a grateful nod. "Exactly, who's with me?"

The cheer that greeted his words deafened the room.

IIIIIIIIII

Harry's first indication that something had changed came when he walked into the great Hall to find a large sign above the Hufflepuff table proclaiming that they supported Harry Potter, Hogwarts' youngest champion.

"Wasn't us Harry," Fred said in response to Harry's questioning look.

"No trick Harry," Cedric said with a grin. "Just took a little while for some of us to realise that you're one of us. No matter which one of us takes the cup, it'll still be a victory for Hogwarts right?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed.

"And a victory for Hogwarts is a victory for Hufflepuff House," Cedric finished with a smile. "Besides, you didn't even want to compete did you? It's not fair to blame you for the latest weird thing to happen in your life."

"Thanks Cedric."

"Just remember to duck when the bad guys reveal themselves," Cedric joked. "Wouldn't want that famous luck of yours to disappear at the wrong time would we?"

"Bad guys?"

"Someone's behind this," Cedric said with a shrug. "And they're not after me, be careful Harry."

"I will Cedric," Harry agreed. "I'll be careful." And I'll do my best to keep you out of it, he added in his mind. It was his fight, Harry didn't want anyone else to get caught up in it.

"Thanks Harry," Cedric said with a grin.

"Looks like the Puffs found their common sense," Fred said conversationally.

"Guess we'll have to cancel a few things we had planned," George agreed.

"What a waste," Fred sighed. "A shame we can't just move it to Slytherin table."

"Why can't we?"

"Too predictable."

"There's always the staff table," Harry interjected.

"Harry?"

"Bloody hell, the next time you get an idea for one of our pranks-"

Harry looked down at his feet in shame.

"-you bring it to us without delay. A crime to have a mind like that without telling us."

IIIIIIIIII

"May I Speek with tu?"

"What is it Fleur?" Cedric asked nervously.

"Do ou really theenk dis eez a plot to keel Arrie?" The French champion's eyes flashed.

"I do," Cedric agreed.

"I see," the French girl muttered as she walked off.

IIIIIIIIII

The months passed and the four contestants gathered to complete their final task.

"Come ere Arrie," Fleur said with a playful smile.

"What is it Fleur?" Harry asked nervously.

"A kees," the part Veela said as he lips brushed against his cheek. "For luck, tu will need it to beat me Arrie."

"T . . . thanks," Harry stammered.

"Tu are welcome 'Arrie," she replied. Fleur noted the lip marks on the boy's cheek with a satisfied smile.

Things proceeded as they had a hundred times in a hundred universes leaving Harry and Cedric looking nervously around a cemetery.

A calm smile appeared on Harry's face as he took stock of the situation. It had been impossible not to hear the rumors, impossible to come to the same conclusion as so many others had. The contest was another murder attempt, Harry had decided months before that no one else was going to be caught up in his fight.

"Wands out?" Cedric asked.

"I think we'd better check something first," Harry replied. "Grab the trophy."

"What good do you think that will . . ."

Harry allowed himself a brief moment of pleasure at the shocked look on Cedric's face as the portkey activated. "I was hoping so," he muttered to himself. "You were right Ced, but it's between me and them. You've got no place here."

IIIIIIIIII

"Did you find Harry?" Cedric demanded. After the rescue party returned.

"We found a war zone," one of the Aurors replied. "Boy put of one hell of a fight."

"We haven't . . . identified Harry yet," Dumbledore said sadly. "I haven't given up hope that he might have escaped."

The tight looks on the Auror's faces was enough to tell Cedric the truth, his friend was dead.

The next morning, dozens of owls flew into the Great Hall delivering Daily Prophets to grieving students. Several choked back sobs as they read what details could be had of what was being called Harry's last stand. One owl separated itself from the pack and landed on Cedric's untouched breakfast.

"You're Harry's owl Hedwig aren't you?" Cedric asked. "What have you got for me girl?" He undid the note and closed his eyes. "It's from Harry, he wrote it before the third task." Hufflepuff House gathered around to listen as Cedric began reading. "Cedric, if you're reading this then you lived and I did not. I gave this letter to Hedwig before coming down to the third task and told her to deliver it if I didn't come back. Looks like you were right and the tournament was another murder attempt and it looks like my luck gave out. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry but it was my fight, I couldn't have lived with myself if you got dragged into it. Have a good life Cedric, and thank you for being a friend. It's signed Harry Potter," Cedric finished sadly. "He didn't have to do that."

"Yes he did," Susan said proudly. "He's a Hufflepuff, he gave up his life for a friend."

IIIIIIIIII

"Madame Bones, I've got a report on the breakdown for the newest recruits."

"Well?"

"Half the Gryffindor graduating class, four Ravenclaws, three Slytherins, and the entire Hufflepuff class."

"Not surprising," Amelia said with a nod.

"Why not Chief?"

"They're Hufflepuffs, one of their own was taken." A cold smile appeared on Amelia's face. "We want a bit of payback."

AN: What can I say, I get an idea and I write it.

You want him alive? Well, I suppose . . .

"Wha . . . where am I?" Harry groaned.

"Ou are safe Arry."

"Fleur?"

"Oui Arry," the girl agreed. "You saved Gabrielle, we could doo no less for you."

Omake by meteoricshipyards:

"Tu 'ave been unconscious for a month, 'Arry."

"A month?"

"Yes. We 'ave taken care of you."

"I helped!" came the voice of a little girl.

"Oui, Gabrielle 'elped."

"Thank you, Gabrielle."

The girl beamed. "I fed you soup while you slept and washed you. Do you know you have an enormous..."

"Yes, Gabrielle, I'm sure 'Arry knows."

There is a line there stolen from "A Boy and His Wand" by fbline
Patton