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Harry groaned, his head throbbing as he lay on the stone floor of Hogwarts castle. At first, he assumed that it was his scar, but it hadn't hurt since he had beaten Voldemort last May. Wondering if he had been hit by bludgers, he tried to remember the last few minutes.
He had been in potions class with the rest of students who had returned after the war. While they were officially year seven students, they jokingly called themselves year eights. The class had quickly become one of Harry's favorites, a large majority of that because of their gorgeous new professor.
"Professor Diggory!" Someone cried. "Harry!"
Harry had had a major crush on Cedric Diggory while he was still attending Hogwarts, though it had taken him a while to figure it out. (Seeing Cho and Cedric at the Yule Ball together and realizing that he was equally jealous of both of them certainly helped) but it had been almost two years since then, and Harry hadn't had much time to focus on old crushes when he was hiding in forests across England and Scotland. So when Cedric Diggory walked into their potions classroom the first day of classes as their professor, Harry almost fell over in shock when his crush came rushing back.
Harry worked as hard as he could to impress Professor Diggory, something that Ron and Hermione teased him mercilessly about. It didn't help that Harry got embarrassingly flustered when Professor Diggory would compliment him in class, occasionally dropping things with a smile or a murmured 'good job.'
The memory of what happened finally came to mind as Harry tried to sit up, his body feeling weird. Professor Diggory had been walking along the rows of desks, checking to see how everyone was doing. He had stopped behind Harry's cauldron, peering at the contents before giving Harry a bright smile. "Wonderful, Mr Potter."
Harry had been so flustered that he had accidentally poured an entire package of jobberknoll feathers into his memory potion, when there was only supposed to be one.
The potion had exploded, dousing Harry and Professor Diggory in the contents of the potion. Which explained his pounding headache.
"Harry, are you alright?" He heard Ron ask from somewhere to the side of him.
"I'm fine," Harry replied, rubbing his head. His hair felt oddly silky, and much straighter, and his voice sounded...different.
"Er..." Ron said eloquently, and Harry opened his eyes to look at him.
Right next to Harry lay his prone body, which was groaning in pain as well. Harry looked up at Ron, who was kneeling next to the other version of himself.
"Professor Diggory?" Ron asked slowly, looking at Harry cautiously.
"Yes, sorry about that," Harry's body said, sitting up as well. "Explosions can happen from time to time, though usually never that strong."
Harry's body opened its eyes at that, peering around at the horrified students before his eyes landed on Harry, green eyes wide in horror.
"Professor Diggory?" Harry asked his body slowly.
"Mr Potter?" Harry's body returned.
"Bloody hell." Ron said in response.
The two were quickly ushered up to the Hospital wing where they sat waiting for Madam Pomfrey.
"Hopefully she can swap us back," Harry sighed, feeling a bit out of place in Professor Diggory's body. "I am so sorry, Professor Diggory. The package slipped out of my hand and-"
"Cedric," Professor Diggory interrupted lightly.
"I...what?" Harry stopped.
"We're not in class, you can call me Cedric," Cedric said. "You're of age, we can ignore formalities right now. Also, you're inside me—oh my god, I didn't—"
Harry choked at that, cursing Cedric's light skin that showed every bit of red.
"You know what I meant," Cedric continued, sounding embarrassed. "I'm you, and you're me. I think formalities are silly."
"Right, sorry Cedric." Harry said. "I didn't mean to cause you all this trouble."
"You don't have to apologize, Harry." Cedric said. "Accidents happen, and I'm sure that Madam Pomphry will sort us out."
"Well, I'll try my best, but I can't guarantee anything," Madam Pomfrey said as she bustled into the room. "Those extra jobberknoll feathers turned a memory sharing potion into a full mind swap potion. I thought you promised me I would see less of you this year, Mr Potter."
"I mean, does seeing me in Cedric's body really count?" Harry tried to joke, earning an unamused stare from Madam Pomfrey.
"I'm going to cast a few prognosis spells to see if I can see what's happening as far as your minds go. Please sit still."
Harry and Cedric obliged, letting the warm of Madam Pomfrey's spells wash over them. After a few minutes, pocketed her wand, looking satisfied.
"The good news is that this potion should wear off on its own," She said. "The bad news is it'll take about a week to wear off."
"A week?" Harry cried. "But that's Christmas!"
"Next time be more careful with jobberknoll feathers, then." Madam Pomfrey scolded. "And be thankful that this isn't permanent."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey. We'll let you know if any other symptoms arise," Cedric said, steering Harry out of the hospital wing.
"A whole week like this," Harry groaned as soon as they exited.
"Hey, being me isn't so bad," Cedric laughed, nudging Harry.
"No, I didn't think it was," Harry said quickly. It would be good, too good. Harry knew he would be tempted , and that was just not on. "It's just....why can't I have a normal year?"
"I'm sorry, Harry." Cedric said, "You definitely don't deserve this."
"Neither do you," Harry sighed. "Sorry, you probably have a girlfriend or something you wanted to spend Christmas with, and here I am, ruining it."
"Nah, just my parents." Cedric grinned easily. "And no relationships here. My last boyfriend broke up with me just before the war started."
"Boyfriend?" Harry's head whipped around to stare at Cedric. It was odd to see Cedric's mannerisms on his body.
"Yeah, I'm bisexual," Cedric said. "I know it's not as widely accepted in the muggle community, but in the wizarding world—"
"I'm bisexual too," Harry blurted out excitedly. "Sorry, it's just...I haven't really told a lot of people."
"No, I get it," Cedric laughed. "I could see the headlines at the Daily Prophet now."
"Ugh, you'd think they'd get tired of writing about me," Harry groaned. "I'm not really all that interesting."
"That's not true," Cedric admonished. "You're very interesting."
"You're just being nice because you're stuck in my body for a week," Harry snorted.
"Well, doesn't your girlfriend think you're interesting?" Cedric asked
"Girlfriend?"
"Last I heard, you were dating Ginny Weasley, is that not the case?"
"Oh! No." Harry said. "We broke up right before the war too. I wanted to keep her safe, and when I got back...we had changed too much, really."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Cedric said softly.
"It's fine," Harry said. "I'm not too broken up about it. Though I don't know where I'm going to find another seeker to date."
"A seeker?" Cedric asked, confusion clearing quickly as he made the connection. "Oh! Because of Ginny and Cho!"
"Yeah, it seems to be a running pattern with me," Harry said, before realizing who he was talking to. "Uh...is that dinner I smell. I gotta run!"
"A running pattern?" He heard Cedric ask behind him. "Wait...Harry!"
Harry discovered that things tasted different to Cedric, which was odd. Treacle tart, which was Harry's favorite sweet, was heavy and thick on his tongue. It was an interesting dining experience, as every food he grabbed was a surprise in taste.
That, coupled with the fact that everyone kept giving him weird looks.
"They said it'll last a week," Harry told Ron and Hermione as he sat down, ignoring their baffled looks. "But that the change should wear off on its own."
"That's a good sign," Hermione said encouragingly. "And who knows, maybe you won't get as flustered around Professor Diggory now that you've been him."
"It does help talking to him when he looks like me," Harry said, wrinkling his nose. "I'm not as attractive."
"Don't be self deprecating," Ron said, taking a bite of mashed potato. "You're hot too."
"Thank you Ron, but you're biased." Harry sniffed. "Also, of course I'm hot right now. I'm wearing Cedric's body."
"Oh, it's Cedric now, is it?" Hermione smiled.
"Shush."
"You're hot without Cedric's body," Ron rolled his eyes. "Do you know what it's like having two hot best friends? It's very difficult."
“Yes, you’re both very hot, and everyone knows this.” Hermione said. “But back to my point, since when is it ‘Cedric’?”
“Oh, er…” Harry ruffled his (ridiculously soft) hair. “He said that we’re of age, and I wasn’t in class. Also, we were in each other’s bodies.”
“Hmm…” Hermione responded. “You’re going to be responsible in Cedric’s body, right?”
“What do you mean?” Harry asked with a frown.
“Well, you wouldn’t want Cedric step over any lines, would you?” Hermione said delicately. “And while you might have urges-”
“Oh my god,” Harry groaned. “Hermione!”
“It’s just, consent is very important—”
“I’m not going to…to…to masturbate in his body.” Harry hissed. “What kind of person do you think I am?”
“I just wanted to make sure,” Hermione said.
“Yes, thank you,” Harry buried his face in his hands.
—
Cedric caught Harry after dinner, pulling him to the side as students streamed out of the Great Hall.
“What is this?!” Cedric asked angrily, holding up the back of his hand. Or rather Harry’s hand.
“Oh, er…” Harry ruffled his hair nervously. “That’s nothing.”
“Harry, it says ‘I must not tell lies’, that’s not nothing.” Cedric snapped.
“It happened years ago,” Harry said. “Back in fifth year, Umbridge gave me a lot of detention…”
“This was your detention?!” Cedric looked outraged. “I swear I’m gonna-”
“She’s in prison,” Harry stopped Cedric. “She got what was coming to her.”
“It’s not enough.” Cedric frowned.
“It’s fine, it was nothing that I’m not used to.”
“What do you mean by that?” Cedric asked darkly, sending chills through Harry’s body.
“Nothing.” Harry said quickly.
“Harry…”
“Nothing!” Harry repeated. “Please, I don’t…I can’t talk about it, okay?”
Cedric deflated, looking upset. “Right, I’m sorry, I’m not trying to pry, I just…I don’t like the idea of you being hurt.”
“Thank you,” Harry said, reaching out to squeeze (his? Cedric’s?) shoulder. “That means a lot.”
“Just, if someone is hurting you, let me know.” Cedric said, “I may not be as powerful a wizard as you, but you can always use back up.”
“Me?” Laughed Harry. “A powerful wizard?”
“I can feel your magic, you’re very powerful.” Cedric said.
—
The next few days were filled with classes, questions about various scars on Harry’s body from Cedric, and lots and lots of cold showers. Cedric still continued to teach Potions in Harry’s body, and Harry went to classes in Cedric’s.
Thankfully, classes ended, and most of the student body left. Harry was getting tired of people giving him strange looks in the Great Hall when he’d sit at the Gryffindor table, even though the student body had all been informed exactly what had happened in that potions class.
On Christmas morning, Harry was woken by a large owl tapping on his window. He got up, letting the owl into his dorm. It dropped the letter on his bed, taking one circuit of the room before flying out again.
“Good bye, then.” Harry said, watching the owl leave before ripping open the letter. It looked as if it was written by Harry himself, but attempting to be legible.
Happy Christmas, Harry. I was wondering if you would want to take a walk with me? I’ll be down at the black lake if you do.
-Cedric
Harry grinned, changing into warmer robes and hurrying out to the lake. Cedric didn’t see Harry arrive until the last moment, and it was fascinating to watch Cedric’s pleased smile spread on his own face.
“Morning, Cedric.” Harrys said.
“Good morning, Harry,” Cedric replied. “Sorry for waking you so early, I just…I felt that we’re going to change back soon, and I didn’t want to wake up in the middle of your dormitory.”
“You’d rather wake up in the middle of grounds?” Harry asked, amused.
“Ha, I just wanted to wake up near you,” Cedric coughed nervously. “And I had a question. Earlier this week, you mentioned that you were attracted to seekers, and I wondered…”
“Oh, not all seekers,” Harry said. “I didn’t find Terence Higgs all that cute.”
“Harry,” Cedric complained. “You know what I meant.”
“Yeah,” Harry smiled. “I did. Why do you want to know so badly?”
“Because I have a similar problem. I love a seeker that can kick my arse.” Cedric said pointedly
Harry glanced up at Cedric, blinking rather quickly. “I mean, I lost against you in my third year…”
“Yeah, but you would have won if it hadn’t been for those dementors,” Cedric huffed a laugh. “I was so weirdly jealous when you had a crush on Cho, it took me ages to figure out it was because I wanted you to like me.”
“Oh my god,” Harry groaned. “As if you and Cho weren’t my bi awakening.”
“Wait, really?” Cedric asked, looking pleased.
“Don’t act like you don’t know.” Harry pouted, making Cedric laugh.
“I didn’t.”
“And you’re going to pretend that you don’t know what caused this…accident?”
“The bag slipped,” Cedric said, a furrow of confusion appearing in his brow.
“You…you smiled at me, and I panicked.” Harry confessed. “Then it slipped.”
“Oh my god,” Cedric chuckled. “I adore you.”
With that, Cedric promptly collapsed.
“Oh my god, Cedric?” Harry started to say, before his own knees buckled underneath him, and his world went black.
They came to only a minute later, Harry blinking his eyes open only to see little white flakes falling from the sky.
“ Hey, it’s snowing. ” He told Cedric from the ground. Cedric’s face suddenly popped into his line of vision, making him jump.
“Hello there,” Cedric said. “It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you too. And not in the mirror.”
Cedric leaned forward, kissing the tip of Harry’s nose. “Come on, there’s Christmas festivities going on in the Great Hall shortly.”
“That’s all I get for a kiss?” Harry complained, making Cedric smile fondly.
“For now, yes. I’m still a professor, and while you may be an adult, I’m not crossing that boundary.”
“Ugh, you’re so responsible.” Harry complained.
“Come on now, if you don’t hurry, you won’t get the present I got for you,” Cedric pulled Harry into a standing position. “And I think you’ll really love it.”