Title: Taking Hold

Pairing: Harry/Cedric

Summary: (Inspired by Brokeback Mountain) Harry and Cedric had always thought they only had feelings for girls. But after they meet and a friendship blooms, a new feeling slowly overtakes both of them. Struggling separately to find out what ails them, Harry and Cedric only know that this thing, this thing takes hold of them whenever they're in each other's presence. They can't describe it, and both are initially unwillingly or unable to admit their true feelings, especially when they are confused themselves.

This thing…a thing called love.

Disclaimer: Basically…I don't lay claim to any of it! lol…:heart: J.K.Rowling and Annie Proulx!

Read and Review! Seriously, I appreciate anything. I've been reading stuff for a while, but I'm new to writing my own, so any comments would be great! Thanks!

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CHAPTER ELEVEN

The night became a safe haven for Harry and Cedric. It was then that they met up one time after another, sometimes in the prefect's bathroom, sometimes in the Astronomy tower, any place where they weren't likely to be bothered. It was also then that Cedric talked freely for the first time in ages, nothing holding him back. For both, gone was the denial, the doubt. It was during the nights where they found a companion and such comfort in their own skin, in each other's company.

Harry brought his map and cloak as extra precautions, which saved them from quite a few close calls. His two treasured possessions he had revealed to Cedric much to the latter's amazement and curiosity, among other facets of his life. Harry had just relayed his relationship to Sirius Black to a fully attentive Cedric, and what really happened when Black escaped Hogwarts during his third year.

"What other surprises do you have hidden up your sleeve?" Cedric said stunned one night, shaking his head in admiration. They had found a window ledge in an abandoned wing over the lake. There they sat facing each other in the moonlight, legs casually slung across the stone. He raised an overly quizzical brow at Harry and leaned forward, plucking at Harry's sleeve playfully to see if there was "anything up there."

Harry laughed and knocked his hand away in mock indignation. "It's your turn anyway. I've talked so much about me, you'll get tired of listening to me go on and on."

"Never," Cedric said without hesitation, with the utmost sincerity.

A warmth suddenly snuck its way up into Harry's chest. On a sudden impulse, he switched positions and moved towards Cedric, head leaning back on the Hufflepuff's chest. Cedric smiled warmly and wrapped his arms across Harry's shoulders.

"Hmm…well…let's see," mused Cedric. "When I was three I ate a handful of Floo Powder…you can imagine how well that went." Harry winced at the thought, but couldn't help but laugh as well. "Hey! I had to spend four days at St. Mungo's!" grinned Cedric. "And…when I was four, I stuck my dad's wand up my nose…at seven I broke my wrist and arm from a broomstick accident…am I boring you yet? It's not quite as exciting as your time travelling or defeating the Dark Lord and all."

"No, keep going," smiled Harry. "I'm enjoying hearing how you were a walking disaster…not that anything's changed," he added, looking very reflective. That earned him a good hair ruffle.

"As I was saying…let's see…in my first year…

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"Hey Ron. Have you noticed how tired Harry looks lately?" Hermione had finally made up with Ron out of concern for the third member of their trio, who was again, sleeping through breakfast.

"Who erks ired?" asked Ron, mouth full of oatmeal.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry, Ron! Harry looks tired all the time, what's he up to all night anyways?"

Ron swallowed. "Oh right. He's been falling asleep in class…more than usual anyways. Maybe he's stressed about the Second Task? I mean, he goes to bed when I do."

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Hmm…I guess. We should check up on him and see how he's doing with that." Mind decided, she picked up her books from the table along with a scone for Harry and stood up. Looking expectedly at Ron, who continued to be immersed in his breakfast, she finally kicked his chair leg impatiently.

"Ok woman! Let a man eat his breakfast once in a while!" grumbled Ron, before shoving as much oatmeal into his mouth as he could and standing up to join her.

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Harry awoke to the blurry image of two people standing over him in bed.

"Huh?" he said groggily. He put on his glasses to reveal his two friends.

"Here, Harry," said Hermione, holding out the scone in a napkin. "You better hurry, classes start soon."

"Oh thanks, Hermione, you're the best." Harry ate it hungrily in three bites. When his friends continued to stand at the edge of his bed, looking expectantly at him, he swallowed the last bit of scone. "Yes?"

"We just wanted to know why you've been so tired lately. It's as if you stay up the whole night doing other stuff. If it's the second task, we can help you, you know. How far have you gotten?" Hermione asked.

Harry's mind raced. "Oh yeah, that. Yeah I've almost gotten it figured out," he managed to stumble out.

"Ooh that's great, Harry! Good for you! These kinds of things you really want to prepare ahead of time."

Harry felt a twinge in his chest for lying to his friend, but he'd work on the egg extra hard to make for it later, he promised himself.

"See Hermione? I told you he had everything under control," Ron said smugly.

Hermione shot him a glare before reminding Harry again that class was starting soon, walking out to let him get ready.

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Harry unsuccessfully tried to shield another yawn from Cedric's view. It was one in the morning, and they had returned to the prefects bathroom to see each other again. The miniature pool was filled with a mixture of bubbles, and they had rolled up their pants to dangle feet in the water, shoulders leaning on the other's.

"I saw that Harry," Cedric said, an eyebrow raised.

Harry looked up, all innocence. "Saw what?" When Cedric continued to look at him in the same off way, he sighed in resignation and kicked his feet lightly in the water. "I hate lying to Hermione and Ron. They're my best mates, and they're concerned about…"

When Cedric looked nothing but attentive, Harry continued. "They're concerned about why I'm so tired during the day…"

The Hufflepuff looked sheepish. "Yeah, my school work hasn't been the best lately. McGonagall talked to me after class one time, telling me not to let the Second Task keep me from remembering that N.E.W.T.S. are coming up and everything."

Harry gave Cedric a concerned look. "Oh wow, I forgot you had all that to worry about too."

"Oh, don't worry about me," Cedric laughed. "There are some things that are more important to me now," he added absentmindedly. The words came out, followed by an embarrassed smile at what he had just said. "I mean…school's still important of course…but..uh…what I meant is…that—"

His stuttering was short-lived as Harry leaned in, cutting Cedric off with his lips. The Hufflepuff closed his eyes, a warmth seeping into his veins that the hot water could never do. When they finally broke apart reluctantly, their kiss tender, they looked at each other, smiling softly in the moonlight.

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They decided to hold off on their nightly meetings for a bit to catch up on school, especially after the inquiries of friends and teachers alike. They both agreed it was for the best; they needed to avoid all suspicion possible, after all, especially since there was plenty of attention on both of them from the Tournament already.

Easier said than done though.

Seeing each other only at mealtimes and occasionally on the way to classes, it was the hardest thing for Cedric not to give anything away. Harry, likewise, though getting more sleep from the lack of their after hours meetings, found himself struggling not to always look around anxiously for any sign of the Hufflepuff in the hallways. But the thought of Cedric, the knowledge of him, continued to fuel his inner happiness even when they weren't together for long stretches of time.

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Cedric grinned as he pulled Harry into the refuge of a dark corner. "It's been killing me not being near you for so long," he whispered. The rest of the students had left on a Hogsmeade trip and the two of them had made their excuses and stayed behind, Harry urging his two friends to go while he caught up on sleep.

Harry smiled, glancing around quickly at the deserted hallway before leaning in as if to caress Cedric's lips with his own, stopping right before they touched and letting the heat between them collect. The Hufflepuff closed his eyes, trying to control the shiver that ran through his body before waiting no longer and pushing Harry against the wall, a mischievous light in his eye.

"So this is the game you want to play?" Cedric asked mock menacingly, arms on either side of Harry's head.

Harry responded by guiding Cedric's face to his own, lips melding in a sweet and fiery embrace. "Yes," he said, voice catching its breath when they stopped to breathe, both of their hearts pounding in their chests. It was Cedric's turn to be pushed against the wall as Harry took a few strides, taking the Hufflepuff with him, their bodies pressing towards each other in unconscious yearnings.

Suddenly, Harry pulled away, eyes darting to what looked like the edge of a robe disappearing behind a corner. He instantly became alert, fear running through his veins as Cedric too, from Harry's reaction, stopped moving and listened carefully for any sounds.

Nothing. "Harry, what'd you see?" Cedric whispered.

"I thought I might have seen someone."

They looked at each other, both knowing the disaster that might entail if someone had seen them. Waiting…all they heard was silence.

"Oh, I'm so stupid!" Harry quickly pulled out the Marauder's Map from his back pocket and unfolded it quickly. They leaned in and looked…holding their breaths, fear catching in their throats.

A dot labeled Harry Potter and a dot labeled Cedric Diggory were the only ones on the floor. Relief washed over both of them.

"We better get out of here," suggested Cedric.

"Yeah, take my Invisibility Cloak and go first, just to be safe. I'll wait a while with the map and then go too."

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The student couldn't believe it. Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory? It was too incredible to be true. Who knew the Hogwarts champions were getting it on together? And Potter! Queer! Diggory too. He knew enough to know that Mr. Diggory was in strong disapproval of homosexuality, based on his push at the Ministry for laws limiting their rights. This was too tasty a treat.

Draco Malfoy stepped out from hiding in the Room of Requirement, face a delighted leer.

To be continued…

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Author's Note: Wow I got bogged down with work these past few months but I read all these wonderful reviews that made me feel tingly inside, so I decided to put up another chapter! And the little twist at the end might add some excitement to later chapters ;)

Hopefully you can try to bear with me (I know stories that take forever to be updated are really annoying) and see it to the end:heart:

Thank you again to all those who reviewed! You're the ones who keep me going!