AN: Written for The Wand Wood Challenge/Competition Prompt: Ash - Write about Cedric Diggory, whose wand was Ash.

Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff, he was hardworking and loyal; he wasn't a complete and utter duffer like the Slytherins thought. He worked hard, got good grades and was generally an all-round good guy. That was why he was happy that he had been chosen as the Hogwarts champion, he wanted to win for Hogwarts to prove the worth of Hufflepuff house. He had the support of the entire school to begin with, even the Slytherins. The Gryffindor's support waned a bit, but the Slytherin's increased, as against all odds Harry Potter had somehow been chosen as the fourth champion in the Triwizard Tournament.

He wasn't sure about the whole situation, Potter seemed to be protesting his innocence in putting his name in the cup, but even Weasley didn't seem to believe him. Granger had stuck by him in a very Hufflepuff show of loyalty, but the majority of the school seemed to think that he had put his own name in the cup. Cedric really didn't know, the younger teen seemed rather nervous and maybe even a bit scared about what was to come. He watched as the other Hogwarts champion paced the tent staring at the miniature dragon that he had to face. As he was called to take on his own dragon he put all thoughts of Harry Potter out of his mind.

It wasn't until they were all back in the champions tent with their friends that he allowed the younger man to enter his thoughts. His skill on a broom was undeniable and his performance had been amazing to watch. Cedric watched as Harry made up with the younger Gryffindor, the redhead apologising for not believing him. After watching Harry's reaction before and after the task Cedric realised that he agreed with Weasley, it seemed mental that Potter would put his name in for the tournament. After all, it wasn't as if Potter needed the fame or the glory, he had both already. The prize money wouldn't be much of an incentive either as he had the Potter fortune and it wasn't as if he had an allowance or restrictions on the money, it was all his.

There was also the fact that Harry had told him about the dragons. If the other champion had entered the tournament himself he would be in it to win, but he had helped his fellow competitor. Cedric continued to watch the other teen whilst talking away with his friends, waiting for Madame Pomphrey to allow him to leave her care.

Cedric nodded to the other champions before leaving the tent with his friends, hoping to get back to his common room without running into Cho Chang. The Ravenclaw had been following him about since he had been made champion trying to get him to date her. Cedric snorted at the idea, that wasn't going to happen, she really wasn't his type. Cedric wanted someone who could balance him out, someone who would protect him, but allow him to be protective in return. Cho, from what he knew of her, was too selfish and concerned with her image to be a good fit for him. That and she was female, Cedric had long ago realised that a relationship with the gentler sex was not what he wanted from life.

Leaving the tent, Cedric and his friends were quickly surrounded by a group of Hufflepuffs who began to move as a group through the crowd towards the castle. Each Hufflepuff had a grin on their face as they made their way to the common room where they would begin the celebration. They managed to get there without bumping into anyone that Cedric didn't want to, congratulations being passed to him as they made their way through the halls.

Once they were back in their common room the butterbeer was passed out and some of the seventh years had set up a wizarding wireless. The party had only just begun when Professor Sprout arrived to give her congratulations and give out the warnings and notices to them, the times she wanted each year to have gone to bed by and when the party needed to stop and the clean-up begin. Hufflepuff house as a whole nodded and bid her good night before getting back to the party. As soon as she left one of the seventh years opened a bottle of fire whiskey and started passing it around to all those of age, Cedric first. Once they all had a glass or bottle in hand one of the other Hufflepuffs stood on a chair to make a toast. "To Cedric Diggory, Hogwarts Champion."

Cedric smiled, bowing at the toast, before throwing back his drink and standing on his own chair. He had something to say, and the rest of the house might not like it, but it was what he now believed. "To Harry Potter, Hogwarts Champion, Hufflepuff in nature."

The others toasted with him but he could tell that there was some confusion about why he would toast his competitor and what he meant by the Hufflepuff comment. Cedric explained to the house as a whole about what Harry had done, telling him about the dragon and how Cedric believed the younger man and his claims that he hadn't put his name in the cup. He also told them that he didn't want to see any of them wearing 'Potter Stinks' badges as that wasn't Hufflepuff of them.

As he lay in bed that night Cedric realised that he wanted to protect the younger Gryffindor, from those within his own house and from the rest of the school. There was something about the younger boy that just seemed to be calling to him, it had been since he had warned him about the danger to come in the first task. Drifting off to sleep his last thoughts were a realisation, he Cedric Diggory, the Hero of Hufflepuff, was falling for Harry Potter, the Gryffindor Golden Boy.