The rained thundered down on the library windows, the thin glass seemed like it would shatter with any more force.
Harry sat hunched up in an inconspicuous corner, the tall shelves loomed around him, acting as his personal defensive walls. Usually, Hermione and Ron would be with him, the three of them studying together as always, but they were enjoying some “alone time” in the Gryffindor dorms (although Harry knew that they just wanted to snog).
He had a semi-impressive pile of books around him, topics ranging from ‘Defence against the dark arts’ to ‘Mushroom elves and where you can find them’ (It was a new book for herbology class). He was nose deep in one of the multitudes of books, ignoring the sound of the thud thud thud of the rain, and deep rumble of thunder.
He hardly noticed when someone had sat down next to him, a furry figure popping up in his peripheral.
“Studying hard, Harry?” that same silky voice he had come to love whispered in the air, as if meant only for him.
Harry’s head shot up, the tip of his ears beginning to burn, “Oh! um sort of. I don’t really have much to do right now…”
“Why not? Are the other two busy?” Cedric asked as he studied one of the books on Harry’s pile.
“Uh- in a way…” Harry replied, feeling shy all of a sudden.
“Ah,” Cedric replied, understanding Harry’s meaning, “Well, since they’re too preoccupied, I can keep you company? That is, if my company is enough to satisfy you?”
Harry’s face felt like it would burst into flames at Cedric’s last words, “Your company is fine,” Harry barely stammered out as he shoved his face into the still open book in his hands.
“Haha, I was only joking, dear Harry, no need to get so embarrassed,” Cedric replied, lightly pushing down the book to see Harry’s pink stained face.
Cedric gave a small smirk before looking away and coughing gently into his hand.
Harry put the book back up over his face, seemingly to be extremely interested in the world of astronomy and the stars that shine above us.
A few moments of silence had passed, with Cedric picking up the book on potions to have a glance at. He was a few years ahead of Harry, so this was all things that he had already learnt.
Soon, a loud thunder clap sounded from right outside the library walls, causing Harry to jump. He whipped his head to where the noise had come from, staring mindlessly into the open space. The rain getting harder and harder. The thudding being replicated by his own heart. His breathing came to match the sound of the ever-quickening thunder and-
A pair of hands came to hold his shoulders. One moving to lightly bring his face back to the person in front of him, grey eyes filled with warmth and care and a silky voice that whispered, “Breathe for me.”
Harry closed his eyes, listening to Cedric’s deep breathes and replicating it. Cedric moved closer to him, sitting next to Harry now, their legs touching. He moved his hands to hold Harry’s, repeating the words “Breathe for me.”
Harry breathed in and out, trying to quell this raging storm inside of him, but the loud claps of thunder and the thudding of the rain kept bringing him back to square one.
“I can’t breathe,” strained Harry, moving his hands to clutch at his heart, dragging his knees up to hide his face, tears racing down his cheeks.
“Look at me,” Cedric whispered, gently lifting his face so their eyes can meet, “You’re ok. I’m here. I’ll protect you.”
And Harry knew that to be true, because right along side him in that graveyard was Cedric. He didn’t run scared, or hide. He stood by him – protected him.
Harry followed his breathing once more.
Cedric gently placed his hands over Harry’s ears, trying to block the sound of the rain and keep Harry’s focus on him. He would continue to take deep breaths, gazing into those tear-filled eyes. Harry brought his hands up to grasp at Cedric’s arms, needing something stable to hold. With each deep breath he took, his heart got quieter. The tears stopped flowing and he was able to gain control of senses and his body. And he felt like a complete idiot.
“I’m sorry,” Harry said, removing himself from Cedric’s warm hold, wishing he could crawl into a hole and die.
“For what?” Cedric asked, “You did nothing wrong.”
“I feel like a fool,” Harry whispered, “Having a panic attack over something as trivial as water.”
“You’re not a fool, Harry. Everyone is scared of something – there doesn’t even need to be a reason or cause. Sometimes you’re just afraid,” Cedric tried to soothe.
Harry was reminded of Cedric’s bravery in the graveyard and spoke, “Even you? In the graveyard you looked so cool, it’s hard to imagine you with any sort of fear.”
“You where the coolest then, Harry. You went face to face with Voldemort! And yes, even I’m afraid of something. I’m afraid of the dark. Terrified actually. I also get panic attacks from it,” Cedric replied, placing a gentle hand on Harry’s shoulder.
“You’re afraid of the dark?” Harry asked, surprised.
“Are you going to make fun of me for it?” Cedric teased, raising an eyebrow questioningly, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
“No! Of course not,” Harry defended, pouting at the way Cedric laughed at his answer.
“I’m only teasing Harry,” Cedric sighed, the atmosphere returned to the way it was before. Cedric took his hand off Harry’s shoulder and moved closer to him.
“You know what I just realised?” Cedric asked, still looking into Harry’s eyes.
“What’s that?”
“This entire time, you’ve never said my name once.”
Harry stopped, and thought about this for a moment, before realising it was true, “So, would you like me to say your name now?”
“I would love to hear you say my name, dear Harry, but not at this moment. It isn’t the right one, I’m afraid.”
“Not the right-“ Harry’s face burst into flames as he digested the meaning behind Cedric’s words.
“Mr Diggory, what a cruel thing to say,” Harry responded, trying to hide his face behind his hands.
“I prefer Sir, but that works too,” Cedric smirked as he saw his face burn brighter than ever.
Harry was too embarrassed to even speak.
“Ok, Ok. I’ll stop,” Cedric smiled.
“You make all these jokes but you don’t even have the guts to kiss me…” Harry whispered, peeking at Cedric through the gaps in his fingers.
Now it was Cedric’s turn to have his cheeks painted with a bright pink.
“You want me to kiss you?” Cedric asked tentatively.
“Yes.” Harry replied, removing his hands from his face.
Cedric inhaled sharply, trying to resist his primal urges.
“I’ve liked you for a really long time. Those jokes you make just make me yearn… “Harry mumbled, fiddling with his hands in his lap.
Cedric’s face turned a bright red. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Cedric’s crush for longest time liked him back. And he yearns for him. Oh, dear God.
“Harry…” Cedric purred – Harry hesitantly looked up at Cedric’s face, his pupils looked like they where about to blow – Cedric brought a hand to lightly hold Harry’s chin, “You can’t say things like that in public.”
“Then I’ll say this,” Harry swallowed, “Kiss me.”
He hardly had to finish his sentence before Cedric’s soft lips crashed into his, the heat between them unfathomable. Cedric moved his hand to the back of Harry’s head, lightly tugging at his hair. This small action cause Harry to moan – his mouth agape allowed Cedric entrance and the open-mouthed kissing began. The electricity buzzed between them, their bodies like opposite magnets, sticking to each other in whatever way they could. Cedric kept his eyes half open, sneaking glances at Harry’s flushed face, his worn lips and the way he gasped for air. Harry had hardly noticed that he had slipped his hands under Cedric’s shirt, until he felt warm skin and well-worked body. The prominent lines of abs, the V shape of his torso leading to…
Harry had pulled away first, gasping for breath, his head feeling fuzzy and light. He looked up at Cedric and he seemed to be slightly more composed than Harry.
Cedric ran a caring hand through Harry’s hair, resisting the urge to grab on again when he saw those glossy eyes and blown pupils – that flushed face and worn lips tempting Cedric once again.
Cedric lightly traced his thumbs over Harry’s lips, barely stopping himself from inserting it in Harry’s mouth and commanding ‘Suck’.
Cedric shuddered lightly at the thought. He combed through his hair, trying to look presentable and as if nothing had happened. Harry though, was still recovering. He must not have been kissed before, Cedric thought. The realisation that he was Harry’s first brought a warmth all over his body.
Harry had finally recovered, fluffing up his hair and fixing his clothes, “That was- “
Harry was cut off by Hermione’s voice echoing through the empty library, “Harry! Where are you?”
Harry looked between where the noise was coming from and Cedric, not knowing if he should call out or stay quiet. Thankfully, Cedric made that choice for him.
“We’re over here,” Cedric called back, standing up in time to see Hermione and Ron emerge from the corner.
“Oh! Cedric, what a delight to see you again. How have you been?” Hermione immediately engaging in polite conversation with him.
“I’ve been very well, thank you. How about you?”
“I’ve also been well,” Hermione smiled and brought her attention to Harry sitting on the floor, “Harry, why are you sitting in this corner?”
“I was bored,” Harry spoke softly.
“Well, I best be off. Head boy duties won’t do themselves,” Cedric chuckled, turning back to Harry, “See you later, Harry.” Cedric gave a quick wave to other two before walking away, not missing the quiet, ‘see you later’ Harry had spoken under his breath.
Once Cedric was out of ear shot, Ron spoke, “What was Cedric doing here?”
“Um, he just found me, and sat down and we talked. That’s all,” Harry replied, still too embarrassed to divulge the truth of what happened.
Hermione sat down next to him, studied him for a quick moment before giggling into her hand. Women always had a way of finding out the truth.
“Hermione…” Harry whined, “Stop.”
“I’m sorry Harry, I won’t say anything. I promise.” Hermione continued to giggle.
Ron just stared blankly between the two, unable to discover what was so amusing, “What is it?”
“I’m sorry Ron, I promised I wouldn’t say a word.” Hermione smiled, picked up a book and began reading.
The two of them continued to ignore Ron’s persistent questioning.