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It was chaos in the Ministry of Magic when Cedric arrived first thing that morning. The Christmas decorations were to be expected, as the ministry always decorated first thing on December 1st, but the roving band of mistletoe was something entirely new.
“What’s happening with the mistletoe?” Cedric asked Gladys, the kind witch that worked the welcome desk.
“Haven’t you heard?” Gladys gasped, watching as people jumped out of the way to avoid a wizard with a mistletoe hovering above him. “Someone’s jinxed the mistletoe.”
“To do what, exactly.” Cedric wondered aloud.
“Well, once one catches you, it won’t leave you alone until you’re stuck under it with another person.”
“And when you say stuck…” Cedric trailed off, watching as another wizard wandered under the persistent mistletoe that jingled cheerily above the first wizard. Both wizards froze at that moment, unable to move another step.
“They’re stuck,” Gladys confirmed. “Until they kiss.”
The two wizards grimaced, but after a chaste peck, were released by the mistletoe that vanished in a puff of red and green smoke.
“Curse breakers have been working for hours, but they haven’t been able to crack the spell that’s causing all of this to happen.” Gladys continued. “Anyway, I’d lay low if I were you. I can think of a dozen or so witches and wizards that wouldn’t mind getting stuck under a mistletoe with you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Cedric said faintly.
Cedric’s good luck only lasted until about 9:30. To be fair, he had already avoided at least 3 people with mistletoe hovering above their heads, so he wasn’t doing too back in the scheme of things, but this one managed to attach to him while he popped out of his office for a mid-morning coffee.
“Merlin,” Cedric muttered, glaring up at the plant that dangled above his head. “Could you at least jingle quieter? There are several people I don’t want to be stuck with.”
The mistletoe didn’t listen to his request, and it jingled loudly as Cedric hurried past the Department of Magical Law Enforcement on his way to the breakroom. A low whistle made him freeze, and he turned around to see Ron Weasley standing a few feet away, looking up at the mistletoe with mirth.
“I imagine you’ve got a lot of people waiting to catch you under one of those,” Ron chuckled. “Need a hand?”
“I’m flattered, Ron,” Cedric laughed. “But I think Hermione would kill me.”
“Nah,” Ron said, “The mistletoe knows not to mess with Hermione. Even when I walk under them, I don’t get stuck. But I wasn’t offering my services anyway.”
“Then whose services were you offering?” Cedric asked, raising an eyebrow.
Before Ron had a chance to answer, he could feel the telltale magic lock him in place. Cedric sighed, turning around to get the kiss over with, but his breath caught when he realized who it was.
“Er, hi.” Harry Potter said, grinning at him. “Sorry, I didn’t- “
“Harry, hi.” Cedric breathed, returning Harry’s grin with one of his own. “It’s…fine.”
After the Triwizard tournament in Cedric’s sixth year, Harry and Cedric became close; one rarely goes through near death experiences without becoming friends. Then there was Umbridge and the DA, which ate up so much of Cedric’s final year that he’s still surprised that he got all Outstandings on his NEWTs. But through that year, Harry remained a constant.
So naturally, Cedric fell in love with him.
Not that he told him, of course. Cedric did come close the night of Bill and Fleur’s wedding, but Death Eaters attacked before he could work up the nerve, and Harry vanished alongside of Ron and Hermione. Cedric kept tabs on them through Potterwatch, and through the Order of the Phoenix, but he worried constantly that year, fighting Voldemort and his minions, and hoping every day, that they’d never catch Harry.
When Cedric saw Harry again, it was the night he defeated Voldemort. How could Cedric hope to win Harry’s heart, the heart of the Chosen One. Cedric knew better than to think he was worthy of such a high honor.
“I’ve been so good at avoiding these dumb mistletoe all day,” Harry said, breaking Cedric out of his reverie. “I guess I was bound to get stuck at least once.”
“What a coincidence,” Ron teased from behind Cedric, earning a warning glare from Harry.
“Well, at least you didn’t get stuck under one with someone you hate,” Cedric grinned, leaning closer to Harry. Merlin, his eyes were incredibly green. “Is this alright?”
“Yeah,” Harry said softly as his eyes fluttered closed.
Cedric brushed his lips against Harry’s, marveling at how soft they were. Cedric lingered only for a moment, tasting a hint of coffee on Harry’s lips before pulling back. The mistletoe poofed out of existence above them, pleased that they satisfied the conditions of the jinx.
“There.” Cedric leaned back once more, eyes opening to see a rather flushed looking Harry. “I hope I didn’t make you suffer too much?”
“You…it was passable,” Harry tried to tease, his voice slightly strained.
“I’ll work on my technique then,” Cedric said, rocking on his heels. “I can’t just be passable.”
“Planning on getting stuck again, Diggory?” Ron piped up.
“I-“ Cedric fumbled over his words at that. He needed to work on his flirting skills too, apparently. “Coffee, I’ve got to get some coffee.”
And with that, he fled as gracefully as he could to the break room.
The next time it happened, Cedric was minding his own business in his office in the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Now, wards and shields wouldn’t keep the mistletoe out, of course. They seemed to be able to slip past even the strongest of defenses, but they seemed to stay in the atrium and other common areas, where they would have the potential to trap more people. Cedric decided that hiding out in his office was the safest choice.
His peace ended when he heard someone entering the department, the soft jingle of a mistletoe pulling his mind out of work.
“Oh no,” Cedric grimaced at his door, debating on hiding. After a moment or two, he decided against it. He stood, walking to the door and peeking around, surprised to come face to face with a familiar set of bright green eyes.
“Harry!” Cedric greeted brightly. “What are you doing down here? Here, come in-“
Cedric stopped, realizing he couldn’t move from his spot in the threshold of his office. He glanced up, realizing he had forgotten all about the mistletoe that had entered his department until now.
“Ah, so you were the one who brought the mistletoe in,” Cedric said, looking over at Harry, who gave him an innocent grin.
“It attached to me while I was walking buy, and well…I’m pretty sure Cormac McLaggan walking towards me, and I didn’t want to get stuck with him…”
“You’d rather get stuck with me?” Cedric teased, making Harry splutter. “I’m only joking, I know this was an accident too.”
“Yeah, an accident,” Harry agreed. “Sorry again about all this.”
“Its alright,” Cedric replied. It was more than alright, but Harry didn’t need to know that. “Do you mind if I…”
“Yeah!” Harry said. “Yeah, we have to if we’re going to come unstuck, y’know.”
Cedric huffed a laugh before reaching up to cup Harry’s cheek with his hand. He marveled at the contrast between Harry’s warm, olive skin and the paleness of his own.
Cedric leaned forward, resting his forehead against Harry’s, their lips almost touching. The last kiss was so rushed, but Cedric wanted to enjoy this one.
Harry made an impatient little noise, closing the distance between their lips. Cedric hummed in approval, deepening the kiss slightly when he felt Harry clutch at Cedric’s robes near his waist. It was almost as if Harry was afraid of touching Cedric too much.
Cedric pulled away gently, stroking Harry’s cheekbone with his thumb, tracing along the curve of Harry’s glasses. Harry’s eyes fluttered open, locking eyes with Cedric.
“Uh,” Harry said eloquently, releasing his hold on Cedric’s robes. “Thank you, for…er…rescuing me from the mistletoe.”
And before Cedric could say anything else, Harry rushed out of the Department of Magical Games and Sports faster than if he had apparated.
Cedric was in the dining hall the third time it happened. He had left lunch at home, not knowing the dangers the day would bring. Thankfully, a lot of the mistletoe had been poofed out of existence, not regenerating once they had fulfilled their mission. That meant that you could now (potentially) leave your office without being stuck with Merlin knows who.
Cedric allowed his eyes to wander the hall as he waited in line for food, which is how he found himself watching Harry, who was in the middle of telling a joke to one of his Auror colleagues.
It was fascinating to see Harry when he wasn’t around Cedric, honestly. When Cedric wasn’t nearby, Harry seemed more confident. He held himself in a way that had all the witches and wizards swooning. His easy grin won him Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile award the last six years in a row. But around Cedric, Harry seemed nervous, less sure of himself.
At first, Cedric thought it was because Harry disliked him. He had caught Harry glaring at him and Cho during the Yule Ball, and had figured that Harry was upset because he had asked out his crush. Over time, they became friends, and Cedric realized that Harry never disliked him, but he couldn’t figure out why he acted so different around him.
About two years ago, Cedric broke down and asked Ron what was going on during a night out at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry had sloshed a pint of Firewiskey down his front when the waiter had said something flirty to Cedric. Hermione had gone with Harry to clean him up, leaving Ron and Cedric alone.
“Alright, you need to be straight with me,” Cedric asked, ignoring Ron’s snort at the word ‘straight’. “Have I done something to upset Harry?”
“No,” Ron said, taking a sip of Firewiskey. “Why would you think that?”
“He always acts so…uncomfortable around me.” Cedric said.
“Well, that’s just cause you’re so fit,” Ron said, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.
Cedric knew he wasn’t a bad looking guy, but next to Harry there wasn’t any competition. “He does realize that he’s more attractive than me, right? All he’d need to do to catch the waiter's attention would be to flirt with him a little.”
“Oh my god,” Ron responded, rubbing his face with his hand. He looked like he wanted to say more, but Harry and Hermione had returned, and that had been that.
Cedric turned away from the Aurors, grabbing his food and making his way to a free table. He was in the middle of the hall when he heard the dreaded jingle above him.
Merlin, out of everyone here, why did it get attached to me? Cedric wondered, looking up at it and feeling slightly horrified.
“Ooo, Diggory’s got himself a mistletoe!” Someone called out. While it wasn’t particularly loud, it managed to catch nearly everyone’s attention, making Cedric flush as every eye swiveled toward him. “Who’s the lucky witch or wizard that gets stuck with him?”
“I volunteer,” A wizard called out, making everyone around him giggle.
“Me too,” a witch agreed with him.
Cedric saw a few people stand, moving towards him with the intent to get stuck under the mistletoe with him, and while he debated on how offended they would be if he just ran out of the dining hall, he felt a familiar magic lock him in place.
“Oops,” Cedric heard Harry say, relief sweeping through him as he turned to look at Harry.
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” Cedric joked, grinning at Harry.
“Sorry to disappoint you, everyone,” Harry said, not sounding very sorry at all. “I know you all have been hoping to get stuck with him today.”
“Not as much as you have,” Someone called out from the table where the Aurors were sat. A table, Cedric realized, that was quite far away. But before he had time to wonder how fast Harry had to move to reach him, Harry had grabbed him by the lapels of his robe and pulled him into a searing kiss.
Cedric’s mind went totally blank, his hands hanging limply for only a second before wrapping around Harry’s waist to draw him closer. He was so engrossed; he didn’t hear the dining hall cat calling and cheering.
Harry pulled back just as quickly as he had kiss him, leaving a flushed Cedric in his wake. “Er…sorry about that. I forgot to ask.”
“Quite alright,” Cedric said after a moment, his voice a bit strained. “I…didn’t mind.”
“Oh, good.” Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck. “See you later, then?”
“Yeah, later.” Cedric agreed, turning around and fleeing the dining hall. It was only when he had arrived back in his office that he realized he had dropped his lunch on the floor when Harry kissed him.
There would be no forth time, Cedric told himself. Not that he didn’t want a fourth time, of course, but he had gotten lucky so far. If this kept up, Harry would surely realize that Cedric was head-over-heels in love with him.
His plans of staying in his office and hiding from Harry were dashed when a paper airplane soared in, landing neatly on his desk.
‘Cedric-‘ the interoffice note read. ‘Come up to the DMLE office right away. It’s urgent. -Ron Weasley’
Cedric sighed, placing the note carefully on his desk before heading up to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. When he arrived, he was surprised to find it quiet instead of chaotic like he expected.
Cedric strolled over to Ron’s desk, frowning when he found Ron missing. “Er…Ron?”
“Oh…he left.” Harry said, poking his head around the corner, his hair messier than normal, as if he had been raking his hands through it. He looked gorgeous. “He said he would be back in a few-oh Godric.”
A cheery jingle stopped Cedric in his tracks, and he sighed, realizing that he had become victim to another mistletoe. “I don’t suppose you can help me out again?”
“Well, if I must,” Harry said, leaving his desk and moving to stand in front of Cedric, locking them in place. “I have a feeling Ron is behind the empty office…”
Cedric glanced around, realizing that the Department wasn’t just quiet, but it was totally empty, save for Harry and himself.
“Huh,” Cedric said, glancing back at Harry. “At least this time will be quieter.”
Harry looped his arms around Cedric’s neck, pulling him close. “Good”
This kiss was less rushed than the last one, but it still sent heat coursing through his whole body. Cedric groaned softly, lifting Harry and placing him on Ron’s desk, situating himself between Harry’s legs as he licked into his mouth.
Harry responded enthusiastically, wrapping his legs around Cedric’s waist to keep him close, a hand roaming through Cedric’s hair. They were so wrapped up in each other that Ron had to clear his throat three times before either man took notice of him.
“Sorry mates, I need to get to my desk.” Ron looked amused, his grin only widening when he saw Cedric and Harry’s twin looks of embarrassment.
They separated quickly, Cedric smoothing down his hair and Harry straightening his glasses while jumping off the desk. “Sorry Ron.”
“Er, Ron, before I go.” Cedric said, pleased that he looked presentable. “What was it that you needed?”
“Needed?” Ron asked, looking innocent.
“The interdepartmental memo?” Cedric asked. “You said it was urgent.”
“I did, didn’t I.” Ron asked, a twinkle in his eye. “Sorry about that, Ced. I totally forgot what I need you for.”
Now, Cedric wasn’t an idiot by any stretch of the imagination. He had graduated Hogwarts at the top of his class, had received straight O’s on all his N.E.W.T.s, and was currently the youngest head of the Ludicrous Patents Office.
So no, Cedric wasn’t an idiot. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t be dumb sometimes. Especially when it came to a certain Harry Potter.
Sure, the first incident could be written off as an accident. Even the second and third, if Cedric tried hard enough, but the last accident seemed far too coincidental to be merely an accident. Cedric didn’t want to get his hopes too high, but it seemed as though Ron Weasley was trying to set Cedric up with Harry.
Cedric entered the lift at the end of the day, pleased to find it empty. He sighed in relief, pressing the button that would take him to the atrium so he could floo home. The lift rose, stopping on the floor for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Cedric wasn’t surprised to see Harry and Ron waiting as the lift doors opened, thought the same couldn’t be said about Harry, whose eyes widened upon seeing him.
“Cedric!” Harry smiled, and Cedric couldn’t be helped but to smile back.
“What a total surprise,” Ron said, a smug grin on his face. “It’s a total shame I can’t join the two of you, though.”
“Why not?” Harry asked, turning to look at Ron quizzically.
At that moment, one of the last remaining mistletoes latched itself to Harry, jingling brightly. Ron grinned up at it, pushing Harry into the lift and into Cedric’s arms, where they became stuck once more. “I have paperwork to finish. I’ll catch up later.”
“I knew he was doing this on purpose,” Cedric chuckled as the lift doors closed.
“He’s an absolute menace,” Harry said darkly.
“I’m curious as to why he’s so dead set on getting us to kiss, though,” Cedric said, really focusing on Harry’s reactions. “Unless he knows something I don’t.”
“I-” Harry spluttered as the lift began to move. “I mean, I can’t imagine you want to kiss me, so I don’t know.”
“Everyone at the Ministry knows that I’m hopelessly in love with you,” Cedric said, pleased that he managed to sound so casual about it. Harry’s eyes widened at that, his lips parting in surprised. “But I want to know, do you want to kiss me too?”
“You’re in love with me?” Harry’s voice was soft, unbelieving.
“Obviously,” Cedric grinned weakly, self-doubt creeping in. “Have been for ages, of course.”
“But-”
“No buts, Harry.” Cedric said firmly, the lift stopping and the doors swishing open. Cedric paid the doors no mind, still watching Harry. “If Ron misread your signals, if you don’t want to kiss me, just let me know. We’ll have to kiss one final time to get out of this situation.” He glanced up at the mistletoe dancing above them. “But we don’t have to talk again about how I feel.”
“I do!” Harry said at once, sounding almost angry with his intensity. “I do want to kiss you. I’ve always wanted to kiss you. I-I love you, too!”
Cedric’s heart burst at that, and he leaned forward to press a soft, chaste kiss on Harry’s lips. The mistletoe vanished, releasing them from the jinx.
“I’m so glad to hear it, let me take you out on a date.” Cedric said, lacing his hand in Harrys as they exited the lift and walked through the atrium.
“When are you thinking?” Harry asked, giving Cedric’s hand a small squeeze.
“Tonight?” Cedric asked, pausing in the middle of the atrium to look at Harry.
“Impatient, are we?” Harry asked, a huge smile on his handsome face.
“Desperately,” Cedric said with a wink.
“Look,” Harry said, glancing up. “We’re standing under mistletoe.”
“Another one?” Cedric asked, looking up to see that there was no mistletoe around. He glanced back down at Harry, who was laughing softly. “There’s no mistletoe, you menace.”
“I suppose not,” Harry agreed, “But I just realized that I don’t need mistletoe to kiss you now.”
Cedric grinned, pulling Harry into another kiss. The first one on their own terms.
(They never did figure out who placed the mistletoe jinx on the Ministry of Magic that day, but when Cedric pressed Fred and George Weasley on it, they did mention that the jinx was only available to premium customers. When Cedric asked how to become a premium customer, they said that it was only available to meddling younger brothers.)