Six of One

The following week, Draco and Oliver were just minding their own business at home. Oliver had holed himself in his room, finishing a story for the Daily Prophet, while Draco was writing out his Christmas shopping list in the living room. There was a loud knock at the door. Draco set down his quill and went to open it. It was Pierre.

"Oh, hi. Cedric's at work...you can find him at the hairdressing salon down the street," Draco said and smiled politely before shutting the door.

Pierre held out his hand to stop the door from closing.

"I know where Cedric is. I'm here to see you," he replied smoothly before stepping into the apartment.

"Why?" Draco asked, confused.

"Because...I want to ask you on a date," Pierre said, while slipping his arm around Draco's waist.

"Whoa!" Draco said, before turning away to avoid Pierre's arm. "Um, mate, I don't think you realise that I'm straight!"

Pierre didn't seem to have heard him, and tried to kiss Draco, who let out a high pitched scream.

Oliver threw open the door to his room.

"What is going on here?" he demanded.

Draco ran over and hid behind him.

"He's sexually assaulting me!" Draco said, pointing to Pierre.

"Who is he?" Oliver asked.

"The guy Cedric went out with," whispered Draco urgently into Oliver's ear.

"Who is this man?" Pierre asked, looking at Oliver.

"This is....my boyfriend!" Draco said. "That's why you can't go out with me."

"I am not your boyfriend! Why won't you just leave me alone? SOME PEOPLE HAVE A JOB TO DO AND DEADLINES TO MEET!" Oliver screamed in Draco's face.

Pierre took one look at the screaming, red-faced Oliver, who had now proceeded to stab Draco in the chest with his quill, and exited out the door.

"I swear he tried to kiss me! And ask me on a date!" Draco told the girls that night at the Three Broomsticks.

"It's true. I was there," Oliver, who had calmed down considerably after sending off his story to his editor, said.

"You were no help," said Draco.

"I already said sorry for stabbing you! You know how I get around deadline time!" Oliver exclaimed.

"Okay, guys, stop it! How are we going to tell Cedric his sexy French boyfriend is a cheat?" Pansy asked.

"I don't know, but you better think fast, because here he comes now," Luna said.

Cedric entered the Three Broomsticks, brushing snow off his hair.

"Ugh, these Christmas crowds. Don't they have anywhere else to go?" he grumbled, flopping down in a chair.

Ginny tried to steer the conversation away from Pierre.

"So, what are we doing this year for Christmas?" she asked the rest of the gang.

"Dunno. Maybe Pierre wants to do something together. Speaking of which, he hasn't flooed or owled recently. Maybe I should floo him..." Cedric said thoughtfully.

"NO!" Draco and Oliver shouted together.

"What?" Cedric asked them, raising his eyebrows.

"Um...I mean, no. He...um, came by the apartment today and left you a message," Draco said cautiously.

"What message?" Cedric asked.

"He had to um...leave the country," Oliver continued.

"Yeah! His company transferred him," Pansy said.

"How did you know? You were at work today," Cedric asked her, narrowing his eyes.

"These guys told me!" Pansy replied, pointing at Oliver and Draco.

"So, where did he go?" Cedric asked.

"Err...Ethiopia," Draco said, trying to look innocent while he took a sip of coffee.

"He went to Ethiopia because his company transferred him?" Cedric asked.

"Yes!"

"But he's a fashion designer," Cedric replied.

"What can I say? Ethiopia needed him," Oliver said, shrugging.

Cedric seemed to be buying the story so far.

"Well, why didn't he come tell me himself? I was just in the salon down the street."

"I told him that! But he had to leave, like, immediately. Must be some huge...um fashion emergency down there," Draco said.

"Huh....okay then," Cedric said with a sad smile.

"Oh, cheer up, Ced! Tell you what; we'll go get pedicures tomorrow!" Ginny said, reaching over to pat Cedric on the knee.

"Okay!" he exclaimed, smiling broadly.

Everyone sighed in relief.