Afar

Chapter 8

If Harry had to listen to that infernal egg on more time, he was going to go insane.
Since the Yule Ball, he'd been helping Cedric figure out the clue and prepare for the Second Task. They'd made very little progress so far. The task had seemed so far away in December, but it was February now and the task was approaching fast.  

    Cedric closed the egg with a snap. "I think I'm going to be permanently deaf after this." He groaned.

    Harry nodded and pulled his cloak around him and trying not to shiver. They were on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest so that they didn't disturb anyone in the castle, and it was absolutely frigid out.

    "Should I open it again?" Cedric asked.
    Harry nodded mutely. He didn't trust himself to talk without shivering too hard and accidentally biting his tongue again.

    Cedric looked over at him. Harry looked cold, sitting on a rock beside the small clearing Hagrid had showed them. His lips were tinged blue and he shivered slightly despite the heavy wool cloak he had wrapped around him.

    Cedric walked over and knelt beside him. "I'm sorry, I just need to figure this out."

    "It-It's f-f-fine," Harry stammered, seemingly shaking himself from a daze. "I w-want to help."

"Darling, you're freezing," Cedric argued. "Go inside. I'll be fine."

    Harry shook his head vehemently. "I'm fine. I'm helping. Just open it up again."

Cedric sighed and walked over to the egg. He opened it and the horrible screeching filled the air. Harry flinched but kept his eyes trained on the egg. It was no different than the hundreds of times they'd listened to it before.

Cedric stormed over to it and slammed it shut in frustration. "This is dumb. Why did I enter this stupid tournement?"

Harry walked over and grabbed Cedric's shoulder. "Hey, Ced. It's okay. You'll figure it out. But maybe it's time that we head in."

Cedric turned. There were tears of frustration and fear in his eyes. "If I don't figure this out, I could get really hurt. I could die!"

"McGonagall won't let that happen. You aren't going to figure anything out by freezing yourself," Harry slid his hand into Cedric's. "Let's go inside."

Cedric sighed but let Harry pull him towards the castle. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. You're stressed. I get it." Harry's hand fit comfortably against Cedric's. He looked up at Cedric and smiled.

"You've been incredible, Harry," Cedric stopped and turned to him. "I'm serious. You're amazing."

Harry turned red. "I-I just, I really like you Ced. I'd do anything for you."

Cedric grinned. "Be my boyfriend?"

Harry smiled wide, "Merlin, yes! Is it even a question anymore?"

Cedric leaned forward and brushed his lips against Harry's. "Probably not."

Harry was stunned. This was not at all how he expected his evening to go. "Oh," was all he could say.

Cedric turned and resumed walking. Harry turned and walked with him.  They were still holding hands and Harry clung even tighter to Cedric.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   
   
Harry burst into the Gryffindor Common room. Draco was there as he usually was. McGonagall didn't seem to care when he entered other Houses dormitories. Draco was sitting and talking to Ginny. They were sitting rather close. Harry frowned. That was odd. He didn't think that Draco even knew who Ginny was.

    Harry walked over. "Hey," He said, sitting down. "Guess who has a boyfriend?"

    Ginny gasped. "It's official?"

    Harry nodded, his grin returning. "Yeah, we walked back and he asked me. And then he kissed me."

    Ginny gaped. "Oh my god."

    Draco gave Harry a strange smile. "Congratulations."

    Harry sat back and smiled. "I can't believe it. This is just so incredible. I can't believe he even likes me!"

    Draco started collecting his stuff. "It's getting late, I'd better head down to the Slytherin dormitory."

    Harry nodded. "Bye," he said, waving frantically.

    Draco rolled his eyes and ruffled Harry's hair affectionately. Harry squawked indignantly and attempted to fix it.

    Ginny scrambled up from her seat. "I'll walk you out." The two of them walked towards the portrait hole.

    Harry watched them go with a confused look on his face. Ron walked over and sat in the seat Draco had previously occupied.

    "What's wrong?" Ron asked.

    "Since when are Draco and Ginny friends?"

    "Since the Yule Ball. They danced practically the whole night." Ron shook his head. "It's so weird. I think they might like each other. Which is really weird because-" Ron stopped himself and shook his head. "I didn't think Ginny liked boys."

    Harry shrugs. "I'm glad. Two of my best friends might be dating! Now we just have to get you and Mione to admit your feelings for each other."

    Ron shook his head. "Nope! Not happening! Definitely not a thing."

    "Aw, c'mon Ron. You know you like her," Harry teased while poking Ron's shoulder. "I'm sure she likes you back."

    "She's with Krum now." Ron pointed out. "And I. Don't. Like. Her."

    "Mmhm," Harry said smugly. "I'm sure you don't."

    "Git," Ron muttered, and shoved Harry. "We should work on that Potions essay."

    Harry's smile disappeared. "Ah shit. That's due tomorrow, isn't it?"

    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   
   
Ginny and Draco were walking to the Slytherin Common Room side by side, their hands brushing up against each other with each step. Draco glanced over at her every once and awhile as if trying to determine something.

    "So you like girls?" He asked.

    Ginny stiffened slightly but nodded. "And boys. I'm bisexual."

    "Oh," Draco said. "Me too, I think."

    "Oh, okay."

    The silence was heavy and suffocating, but Draco appreciated it. It gave him time to think. He hadn't known that you could like boys and girls, and it made so much more sense to him than liking just boys or just girls. Ginny was attractive enough. Maybe he didn't like her as much as he liked Harry, but he needed to feel normal, and to forget about Harry and Diggory.

When they reached the Slytherin Common Room, Draco turned to Ginny and said, "Do you want to go out with me?" It was blunt and came from absolutely nowhere. He wasn't even sure that Ginny liked him.

Ginny shrugged and nodded. "Sure, I don't see why not. Next Hogsmeade trip then?"

Draco gave her a strained smile. "Alright, see you later then."

"Yep," Ginny waved and walked off.

Draco turned, his smile crumpling and tears coming to his eyes. He had no idea what he was doing, only that it relieved the pain he'd been living with since Diggory asked Harry to the Yule Ball. 

A/N: What am I even doing anymore? I don't know and I'm the one writing this.
Your OneAndOnlyLesbian.