delicate [hedric fanfiction]

the triwizard tournament (chapter 1)

Three years later

Dumbledore had announced the Triwizard Tournament, and that Hogwarts would be the grounds to this year's. No one younger than seventeen was allowed to enter — it was to assure the safety of every single person. The Triwizard Tournament was a dangerous event, but noble at that — the winner would leave with the Triwizard Cup in their hands, triumph on their face. But they'd have to go through hard work and pain to see that light.

So, when Cedric told Harry he'd put his name in the Goblet of Fire, Harry heavily protested. "No, Cedric! You're going to get yourself killed!"

Cedric chuckled. "It's fine, Harry. I'm able to take care of myself. Besides, they wouldn't let a student get killed, right?" He winked as if it the tournament wasn't deadly and Harry didn't buy it. "I still think it's not a good idea. As much as I admire you for doing this, for being brave, for standing up to represent your House, this is still too dangerous."

"Harry—"

"Cedric!" Harry's voice cracked a little, him being desperate for Cedric not to register. Harry held his boyfriend's hand as he frowned. Cedric opened his fist to reveal a little piece of paper with his name on it. "Harry... I still want to do this," Cedric whispered, planting a kiss on the now fourth-year's forehead. He slowly loosened himself from Harry's grip and walked towards the Goblet of Fire, which was in the Great Hall. Harry shuddered. He did not have a good feeling about any of this.

The announcements were made in the evening, all students of the three wizarding schools gathered in the Great Hall. Harry's heart sank when he heard Hogwarts' champion — none other than his own Cedric Diggory.

But, as the Goblet spat out another name, everyone gasped. Dumbledore caught the piece of paper from the air, before opening it. His eyes widened before scanning through the hall.

"Harry Potter," he said at first, calm and collected. But the second shout of his name was threatening, nothing like Dumbledore had ever expressed. Hermione pushed Harry forward, telling him to go there, before he'd get mad at him.

"Harry, did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?!" Dumbledore asked, shaking the poor boy. "I-I haven't, Professor, I swear!"

He was sent to the room with the other three champions. Cedric's face was only filled with confusion when he saw Harry at the entrance. "What are you doing here? This place is only for the ones to enter the tournament."

Harry ran to him and Cedric quickly pulled him into a hug — he sensed he needed it. "You're not saying that..." But he hugged Harry tighter when he saw the piece of paper with his name written on it. "D-Did you—"

"I didn't, I swear," Harry answered, his voice muffled as his face was burrowed in Cedric's chest. "I already thought it was a bad idea, this entire tournament — why would I ever want to join in myself?"

Cedric planted another kiss on Harry's forehead. "How are you going to do it? Do you even know all the spells? God, I would do anything to keep you safe, Harry. Anything."

Their moment was broken by Fleur approaching them. "Excuse me for interrupting, gentlemen," she said politely. "But does this mean we compete... all four of us?"

"He has to," the other champion, Viktor, said. "He was chosen. So he must enter."

Cedric shook his head. "No, no, no, there must be another way."

"There is not."

Frustration was the only thing both could feel at the moment. Cedric was scared of losing Harry, Harry was scared of losing Cedric. Things weren't working, and Harry had to do it.

✨✨✨✨✨

"Potter stinks!" Shouts from everywhere were heard as they wore a pin that said the same thing, shifting from the latter to "Support Diggory!"

Harry didn't mind. All he cared about was to keep Cedric safe. He had heard about the first task and was going to inform Cedric about it. As he approached the boy, his friends immediately shouted at him.

"Potter! Ha, Potter stinks!" they exclaimed. Cedric rolled his eyes in response and walked over to Harry. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Ced, the first task is going to be dragons." Harry didn't want to linger for too long, because he didn't like the eyes he was getting from every direction.

"Dragons?" Cedric repeated. "Alright..."

"Just— be careful, Ced." When Harry wanted to walk away, Cedric grabbed his shoulder. "Harry, I've— about the badges, I've told them not to wear them."

Harry smiled. "It's okay. I support Diggory as well." He brushed his hand over Cedric's and walked off.

✨✨✨✨✨

The Yule Ball was merely a week away and Harry hadn't found a date yet. He desperately wanted to ask Cedric, but he was too awkward to. Hermione sat down beside him in the common room. "Earth to Harry. Harry. Harry!"

She snapped her fingers and Harry finally got his head back to reality. "Sorry, I was just thinking..."

"About Cedric, I bet!" Ron exclaimed as he walked in. He sat down as well, grinning. "You're not going to ask him out?"

"I'm too awkward to. And, is it even allowed for fellow champions to ask each other out?" Harry asked. Hermione shrugged. "Well, it was against the rules to join the tournament if you're under seventeen, but I don't see anyone trying to drag you out the race." Harry smiled. "You're right. But how do I ask him, anyway?"

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, Harry, you're boyfriends. Stop acting like he's not — even if you're awkward, he'd still accept your offer." Ron punched him lightly in the shoulder and the trio laughed at his comment. "I think I will," Harry said, standing up to get to the Hufflepuff common room.

Well, he was stuck there, because he didn't know how to get inside and there was no one in front of the stack of barrels as well. He was surprised when two arms reached for him from behind. Harry could immediately tell who it was.

He didn't hesitate a second. "Cedric, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?" Harry just blurted it out like that — his attempt to make it at least a little romantic totally failed. Cedric snorted and kissed his forehead. "Sure, Harry. I can't dance, though."

"And I can't ask people out to the ball, but I just did," Harry grinned. A few of Cedric's friends whistled and cheered for them, as if they hadn't been wearing Potter stinks pins a few weeks ago.

On the day of the Yule Ball, Harry's dance moves were sloppy, but he tried his utter best to impress Cedric. However, Cedric wasn't too impressed with his dance moves (and neither was Harry with his) — instead, they were both mesmerized by each other's charm, and kept each other warm by holding the other in his arms. It felt comfortable. It felt like home.

Cedric rested his chin on Harry's shoulder. "You know, I like being like this with you," he muttered, making Harry smile. "Just with you, dancing, in public, letting everyone know that I am most comfortable with you. That you're the person I turn to."

He brought his lips to Harry's cheeks. Harry could feel Cedric smile before he brought his lips close to his ear. "I love you."

It sent a shiver up Harry's spine and also gave Harry's face the shade of a chili pepper. "I— Cedric, I— uhm... I love you too." His words came out as a whisper and Cedric pulled him closer to swing him back and forth to the rhythm of the calm, relaxing and romantic music that was playing through the ballroom.