Harry x Cedric

Chapter| Five

A few days has passed and the two Hogwarts champions had just finished their mock NEWTS and OWLS along with the other students, as expected, both passed with flying colors making a certain bushy haired witch very, very displeased when she found out that she was ranked only second in her year.

The couple had been laying low and keeping to themselves in a secluded part of the library as they couldn't go to the room of requirement. Harry had heard someone following him a few nights ago and he couldn't risk exposing where the room of requirement was, thank Merlin that luck was on his side and Cedric had been on patrol duty that night.

"Love I think we should he out now," Cedric spoke, pulling Harry out his thoughts. "We have to meet the other champions, the goat and the minister at the great hall, they told us to come an hour after lunch, we don't want to be late."

Harry nodded, and wordlessly followed the his boyfriend, hands clasped together as they walked, their footsteps echoing through the empty halls.

"What do you think this is about?" Harry asked as he pushed his unruly hair from his face with his free hand, Cedric insisted that he looked good with long hair so he withheld from cutting it.

"I'm not sure love, but it has something to do about the competition." Harry nodded as they stopped at the end of the hall that led to the great hall.

"You go first Ced, I'll go after a few minutes."

"Okay love, I'll save seat beside me just for you." Cedric winked  then gave the smaller boy a peck on his cheek before walking off leaving Harry a blushing mess.

Even though its been weeks, Harry wasn't still used to Cedric being so sweet and gentle with him, it was something foreign to him, he loved the attentio and constant affection, but it also scared him, negative thoughts was always in the back of his head, but he knew he shouldn't let those thoughts control him, because he trusted Cedric.

Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he ran his hand through his hair attempting, but failing, to fix the black locks. Letting out a deep breath, Harry walked towards and the great hall and pushed the doors open, his eyes immediately landing on the Victor Krum, Fleur, and of course Cedric, who was smiling at him and patting the spot beside him.

As Harry sat beside Cedric, the headmaster and the minister emerged from the side room that they first entered after getting picked for the tournament.

"Ah it is nice to see all of our champions here!" Minister fudge exclaimed, patting Victor on the shoulder, making Harry hide a laugh as the minister quickly retracted his hand after being fixated a glare from the Bulgarian.

"Anyway," the minister said as he coughed in his hand. "We have some news about the last task, Albus if you could please explain." The headmaster nodded.

"You may have heard that the final task of the triwizard tournament was planned to be held at the end of this school year," The headmaster began, clasping his hands behind his back. "I am aorry to say, but due to growing concerns about the followers of you-know-who, we have to make adjustments."

That made Harry nervous, and judging from the frowns of the foreign champions in front of him, they shared the same feelings. His gut was telling him that something bad was gonna happen, he knew something bad was going to happen.

His gut has never failed him before.

"Love calm down," Cedric discreetly whispered, holding the younger's hand under the table. Harry gripped Cedric's hand as he controlled his breathing, not wanting to draw attention to himself and Cedric.

"The final task is moved to the end of january," Minister Fudge revealed. "The ministry has decided to end this school year early. The event of the last task will be the second to the last day before all students are sent home, me and Albus have discussed it, and we have come to an agreement that the tournament will be a good distraction for students from what is happening outside of Hogwarts."

"We also don't want to hold our guests longer, they have long journeys ahead of them, and we want everyone to return to their homes safe and sound." Albus continued. "We don't know how things will play out, although the ministry has everything under control, we all know what the followers of you-know-who is capable off."

Harry knew what he was hearing was complete utter shit, the ministry couldn't stop the attack during the quidditch cup, all they could do was run around like chickens with their heads cut off. They were underestimating Voldemort, they are scared of him, scared even to say his name, they couldn't even say death eaters in fear that Voldemort will draw power from it, that made Harry tsk, they were just cowards showing a tough front.

The minister has too much trust in the headmaster, and the headmaster trusted Harry too much, but he was clueless that Harry didn't trust him. He is unware that Harry knows what he attepempted, and that was a good thing. He was planning something, Harry just had to play dumb to figure it out, he won't let the old goat manipulate him again.

"Harry, love you've spaced out again," Cedric said as Harry held his hand so tight that it actually hurt.

"I'm sorry Ced!" Harry exclaimed as he let go and examined his boyfriend's hand.

"I'm fine love," Cedric chuckled, grabbing Harry's hands and kissing them, making the smaller boy panic for a moment, but immediately calm down at seeing the empty great hall. "Now what are you thinking about that you weren't distracted from your thoughts by a Victor Krum basically growling at the minister and the goat about having a too short time to train."

"Nothing." Harry replied earning a flat stare from the blonde, making him groan. "I was just thinking about what headmaster goat could be possibly planning, he's unaware that we know, and that gives us an advantage. And I was just thinking about what Voldemort is planning, Snape is gone, and I haven't seen Igor eating with the other professors for the past few days too, somethings is definitely going on."

"Wow," Cedric exclaimed. "Why is it whenever I ask you what you're thinking about you always say nothing but you're thinking so much."

"I don't mean to do it Ced," Harry frowned as he lowered his head. "I'm just scared that you will think I'm crazy and that I'm putting you in danger, I don't want you to troubled and in danger because of me, while people don't know, maybe we should bre-."

"Harry. James. Potter." Cedric bellowed making Harry shrink in his seat. "Don't ever say that to me again. I don't care if you put me in danger, we've promised that whatever happens, we stick together, I won't let you face this alone."

Harry was fighting his tears, he felt like a child scolded by a parent, but Cedric was right. They made a promise, but he just didn't want to put Cedric in danger, he wouldn't know what to do if Cedric was hurt or even killed because of him, he wouldn't be able to bear it, but he knew Cedric wouldn't let him face things alone, it made his heart swell, but it also scared him.

"I-I'm sorry." Harry sobbed as he launched himself at his boyfriend, letting himself be cry. Only Cedric has ever seen him cry, and he's been doing it a lot lately, but Cedric makes him feel safe so lets himself be vulnerable.

"Don't be sorry love, I know you're just trying to keep me safe," Cedric cooed as he pet Harry's hair. "Now stop crying love."

Cedric tried to remove his boyfriend from him, but Harry just clung to his robes tighter and shook his head, making Cedric chuckle.