The Boy I Love -HEDRIC (2)

60.(C) in love with a criminal

CEDRIC

CXXI

He placed his nightly reading aside for tomorrow's class and, wondering once again what Harry had prepared, he fixed his hair, put on perfume and searched for what to wear… 

Despite his excitement, Cedric waited until ten o'clock to leave. 

The corridor was dark, empty and cold. 

"Hello," Cedric's voice boomed and he shuddered. "Are you there?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes," he answered without pausing to think, even when he was unable to identify where Harry was or what it was about.

The blanket of the cloak covering him startled Cedric, and Harry kissed him. 

Cedric didn't even mind the weight on their heads, taking Harry's waist to press him against his body and suppressing a smile. 

"I'll blindfold you," Harry muttered breathlessly as they pulled away. "With this, so you don't see,” he let out a shaky laugh. "Don't see the way. It's a surprise. Is it alright?"

As if there was something Cedric wouldn't allow him to do. 

CXXII

He would describe the experience as unexpectedly pleasant.

Cedric felt like laughing as he walked in the dark and all he could feel was Harry and his hands holding and guiding him.  

At times they stopped and resumed the march. 

"Are we there yet?" Cedric questioned after a few minutes, trying to figure out where he was being taken. "I don't know if it's a long journey or if because I don't see, I lose track of time. And space."

It wasn't lost on him the way his voice boomed like an echo.

"It is a long way. Maybe I should have covered your eyes later…"

"It doesn't bother me," Cedric admitted, turning his head and lowering it towards where he supposed Harry was.

"Don't you find it uncomfortable?" Harry tried to find out, and when he responded with a sound equivalent to no, he laughed. "So you like it ?"

Although Cedric opened his mouth, no sound came out.

"Interesting," Harry commented, adjusting his touch around his waist. 

CXXIII

They had to go up some stairs.

Then they went through doors.

Cedric listened to the sound of the wind outside.

Finally they reached somewhere warm that smelled of honey when Harry pulled the cloak off. He asked Cedric to wait a minute and, opening his eyes, he found Harry with a teddy bear in his arms. 

He held it out to him. "Surprise. It's for you."

Cedric took it, observing everything around him.

Candles drew his attention like distant dots in the dim light.

The first thing he noticed was the large number of hearts that decorated the walls and shelves full of pastel-hued stuffed animals.

"Where are we?" he asked, almost hoarse from astonishment, but the wooden tables stacked in the background, the counter and the pastry cabinet were enough of an answer. "The tea shop. In Hogsmeade, isn't it?"