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Harriet knew this was a bad idea from the moment Ginny came running into the common room, phone in hand, eyes sparkling with excitement. Ginny had been obsessed with a new TikTok trend and wanted all of them to join in. Of course, Harriet should’ve known it was never going to end well, but here she was—standing in front of Ginny’s camera with Hermione, Dean, and Seamus, all of them dressed in Muggle clothing to keep the wizarding world out of sight.
“Do I really have to do this?” Harriet asked, eyeing the phone warily. “I mean, you’ve got enough people already. I can totally sit this one out.”
Harriet wasn’t a killjoy—she liked filming TikToks—but this particular trend, the Hear Me Out trend, was different. And not in a good way.
She'd have gladly done it if it didn’t involve Veritaserum. Hermione had secretly brewed it the day before (of course, secretly, because Professor McGonagall would’ve thrown a fit if she’d found out), but still, it made Harriet uneasy. The idea of using a truth potion to spill the beans on someone you found attractive was just asking for trouble, especially when the last photo in her hand was Cedric Diggory’s. She knew her friends were aware of her massive crush on him, and the last thing she wanted was for the entire school—especially Cedric’s friends, who followed Ginny—to find out.
“No can do, Harri,” Ginny said with a mischievous grin. “Besides, you’re already holding the photos.”
Harriet grimaced. “Great.”
Dean raised an eyebrow at her. “What’s the worst that can happen?”
"Don't worry, Harri,” Hermione added, her voice laced with amusement. “It’s just a silly trend where we share who we find attractive. Nothing to be nervous about.”
“Yeah, just some harmless fun,” Seamus agreed, giving her a wink.
Harriet didn’t see how it could be harmless when her deepest secrets were about to be broadcast for all to see. Still, her friends were already hyped, and she could only sigh.
"Alright, let’s do this!" Ginny pressed the record button, and the camera was rolling.
Harriet was first.
"Ugh, why me?" she groaned, looking at her friends’ expectant faces. "Can’t we go in alphabetical order or something?"
Ginny shot her a look. “Go on, Harri. You're stalling.”
Harriet rolled her eyes and reluctantly stepped forward. “Okay, so my name’s Harri, and my first Hear Me Out is Eugene from Tangled.”
She stuck the photo of Eugene/Flynn Rider on the cake, feeling slightly better for choosing a non-wizard.
"Oh, come on, that’s so common, Potter,” Dean teased, and Harri groaned, going back to her place.
Ginny was next.
"Hi! I’m Ginny, and my first Hear Me Out is..." Ginny didn’t show the photo immediately, teasing them with a pause before placing it on the cake.
“Lily Evans,” Ginny said with a wicked grin.
Harriet’s jaw dropped. “What the actual fuck, Ginny? That’s my mum! Why did you put her?!” she blurted, shocked.
The room burst into laughter, and Ginny shrugged nonchalantly. “Your mum’s hot, Potter.”
“And a total badass,” Dean added, which made Harri flush even more.
Hermione went next.
“Hi, I’m Hermione, and my first Hear Me Out is Professor Black.”
“W-what? Hermione, that’s my godfather!” Harriet spluttered, horrified.
"So? He's a total daddy," Hermione said casually, which only made Harri look more appalled.
"Real talk, he was my gay awakening," Seamus piped up, drawing an exasperated groan from Harriet.
"I did not just hear that," she muttered, burying her face in her hands.
“And with that, Professor Black is also my first Hear Me Out. My name’s Seamus, by the way,” Seamus added, following Hermione’s lead and placing another photo of her godfather on the cake.
Dean was last.
"My name’s Dean, and my first Hear Me Out is Coach McKinnon.”
Harriet’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped again. “Really, Thomas? My godmother?!”
The first clip ended with Harri shouting at Dean, “Really, Thomas? My godmother?!”
Everyone was in stitches, but Harriet wasn’t done. She had to make her mark.
“Alright, for my second Hear Me Out,” she said, sarcasm dripping from her voice, “since we’re all apparently picking family members, Bill Weasley is my next.”
She smirked, expecting Ginny to lose her mind, but Ginny’s reaction wasn’t what Harri anticipated.
“HA! I knew you fancied Bill three years ago!”
“What?!” Harriet was momentarily speechless.
“You were always blushing around him. It was cute,” Ginny said, still laughing.
Harriet groaned. “Whatever.”
Ginny added her next one, not missing a beat.
"My next Hear Me Out is..." Ginny said as she hesitated before placing the next photo.
Harriet raised an eyebrow. "Don’t tell me it’s another one of my family members."
Ginny grinned, adding the photo with a flourish. "Professor Lupin."
"Professor is so hot," Seamus agreed, nodding sagely.
“I know, right?” Dean chimed in. “Especially since he knows his stuff.”
“We love a man who knows his stuff,” Hermione said, grinning.
Harriet just stared in disbelief. “Oh Merlin, am I even surprised anymore?”
Ginny winked at her, still laughing.
"Okay, here’s mine," Hermione said, after a few moments.
“You know what? I’m not going to be surprised if it’s another one of my family members,” Harriet said, rubbing her temples.
“James Potter.”
“MY DAD?! First my mum and now my dad?! Why are you all simping for my family?!” Harriet exclaimed. "Don't tell me you’ll be adding my grandparents next."
The room fell silent for a moment.
“Actually... my next Hear Me Out was going to be Fleamont Potter,” Seamus said sheepishly.
“And mine is Euphemia Potter...” Dean said, following suit, adding the photos of Harriet’s grandparents to the cake.
“Are you serious right now?” Harriet asked, blinking in disbelief.
The video cut as they all hastily added their third Hear Me Out picks.
“My third Hear Me Out is Charlie Weasley,” Harri said, placing a photo of Charlie on the cake with a dramatic sigh.
Seamus let out a loud wolf-whistle. “Damn, Potter, didn’t know you had a thing for Weasleys.”
Harri rolled her eyes. “No! I have a thing for Seekers and Chasers,” she clarified, but that only made Hermione and Ginny tease her relentlessly about her crush on Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain. This part, however, was definitely not going to make it into the video. Harri would rather die than have that little crush aired for the entire school to see.
“Okay, my next Hear Me Out is Mary Macdonald,” Ginny said, adding the photo of the beautiful Gryffindor.
Harri blinked, a bit confused. “Okay, my mum’s fiancée, nice going,” she said, laughing lightly. “Don’t tell me the next one is my stepdad,” Harri added, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. “Are you secretly a seer?”
Harri gave her an exasperated look. “What kind of absurd question is that? Of course, I’m not—” She froze. Her eyes widened as Hermione placed a photo of her stepdad, Regulus Black-Potter, on the cake.
“No,” Harri groaned, facepalming. “No, no, no. I’m not going to say anything about your choices anymore.” She put both hands up in surrender, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Seamus wasn’t done. “Okay, my next one is Dorcas Meadows,” he said, adding the photo with a grin.
Harri let out a heavy sigh. “Great, another person I have to pretend I don’t care about.”
Dean added his, looking pleased with himself. “Mine is Barty Crouch Jr.”
Harri was too drained to respond. “Sure, Seamus. Sure, Dean. Let’s just finish this, shall we?”
The video was paused for a moment. It was time for the last Hear Me Out.
Harri hesitated. “Okay, so my, uh, last Hear Me Out is…” She trailed off, glancing at Ginny. “Should I really do this? I don’t know…”
Ginny grinned slyly, reading Harri’s uncertainty. “I’ll cut it out,” she promised, though Harri had learned by now not to trust Ginny’s sly promises.
With a deep breath, Harri added Cedric Diggory’s photo to the cake. “Cedric Diggory,” she muttered, her cheeks instantly turning pink.
Dean raised an eyebrow. “You really have a thing for athletes, don’t you, Potter?”
Ginny snickered. “Yes, she does, especially Diggory.”
Dean and Seamus both gasped. “Ginny!”
“You like Diggory?!” Seamus added, incredulously.
Harri immediately shushed them. “Shut up! We’re trying to film here!”
“But seriously, do you?” Dean asked, his voice dropping into a teasing tone.
“Yes,” Harri mumbled, too embarrassed to make eye contact with anyone. But of course, her friends heard it loud and clear.
“Since when?” Seamus asked, leaning in with curiosity.
“Third year,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, enough questions. Let’s just get on with the video.”
Ginny laughed and then added her final pick. “Okay, my last Hear Me Out is Luna Lovegood.”
Harri raised an eyebrow. “That’s your girlfriend.”
Ginny shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, so?”
“Nothing,” Harri muttered, deciding not to comment further.
Now, it was Hermione’s turn.
“My last Hear Me Out is Ron Weasley,” Hermione said with a smile.
Harri raised both eyebrows, looking over at Ginny. “Really, Hermione? Out of all the people, my brother?”
Ginny scowled playfully. “There are better people than my brother.”
Hermione laughed. “Well, I like Ron just fine, and it’s a Hear Me Out for a reason.”
Ginny threw her hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, chill. I was joking. I can’t wait for you to be my sister-in-law!”
The next one came from Seamus, and Harri almost couldn’t believe it. “My last one is Professor Snape.”
Everyone stared at him in silence for a moment.
“Uh, what?” Harri finally asked, blinking.
Seamus just shrugged and muttered, “Snaddy,” as if that was supposed to explain everything.
Harri could only stare, unblinking. “You’re hopeless, Seamus.”
Dean added his pick with a grin. “Okay, my last one is Professor McGonagall.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Harri let out a small laugh. “Oh yes, I agree.”
“Minnie is a 100/10,” Dean said, looking smug.
“Good choice, Dean,” Hermione added with a wink.
Harri groaned. “Honestly, what is up with you lot? Simping for everyone in my family.”
Ginny grinned at her. “Well, everyone in your family is hot. Including you.” She winked at Harri.
Harri’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she couldn’t hide her smile. “Oh, stop it.”
“Hear, hear,” the other three Gryffindors chimed in, and Harri’s blush deepened.
The video finally ended, and Harri sighed in exasperation. “In my next life, I want to have an ugly family.”
Meanwhile, back in the Hufflepuff common room…
“CED! LOOK AT THIS!” One of Cedric's friends shouted, his voice full of excitement.
"You won’t believe it!" another chimed in, practically bouncing with energy.
Cedric, who had been talking to a couple of other Hufflepuffs, turned to them, his eyebrows furrowed. “Okay, guys, chill, what is it?”
His friend handed him his phone, and Cedric saw exactly what they were referring to: a clip of the Hear Me Out video, where Harri had—unwittingly—admitted her crush on him.
Cedric’s jaw dropped as he watched, his face slowly turning red. “She… She likes me?” he whispered, disbelief clear in his voice.
“Yes!” one of his friends practically shouted. “Now go get her, loverboy!”
Cedric didn’t need to be told twice. His heart was racing, and he barely waited for his friends to finish teasing him before he bolted out of the common room.
Meanwhile, Harri was walking down the hallway, lost in thought. She was heading to visit her Uncle Moony, but before she could make it to the door, she heard someone calling her name.
“Harri! Wait!”
She turned to see Cedric running towards her, a mix of urgency and excitement in his eyes.
“Cedric? What is it?” Harri asked, confused.
“Do you like me?” Cedric blurted out, stopping just a few feet away from her. His gaze was intense, but his voice held an underlying nervousness.
Harri’s eyes went wide. "What?"
“I— I need to know. Please, is it true?” Cedric asked, almost pleading, his voice soft but full of emotion.
Harri blinked, trying to process what he was asking. “What does it matter to you?”
“Because…” Cedric paused, took a deep breath, and then stepped closer. “Because I like you, Harriet Potter. Ever since I first saw you.”
Harri’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at him, stunned. “Y-you like me?”
Her mind raced, and before she could process it, she slapped herself hard across the face. The sting of her own hand brought her back to reality. Cedric’s eyes widened in surprise as he watched her.
“A-are you okay, Harri?” Cedric asked, a deep frown crossing his face as he reached out to her.
“OW!” Harri mumbled, rubbing her cheek. “Okay, it’s not a dream…” she said in disbelief. “I mean—yeah, I’m okay, I guess.” She tried to steady herself, still reeling from the shock.
Cedric watched her, a mixture of concern and amusement in his eyes. “So… you’re really not dreaming, then?”
Harri shook her head, still in a daze, then glanced up at him. “How do I know you're not lying?”
Cedric smiled gently, his expression sincere. “Harriet, I’m a lot of things, but a liar’s not one of them.”
Before Cedric could say anything more, Harri’s self-control snapped. Without thinking, she grabbed him by the tie and pulled him in for a kiss. For a split second, Cedric was frozen in shock, but then he quickly recovered, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her back, his heart racing in sync with hers.
When they finally broke the kiss, both of them were breathless, their faces flushed. Harri smiled up at him. “I like you too, Ced.”
Cedric grinned widely, caressing her cheek tenderly before kissing her again.
At that moment, they heard a loud, triumphant shout from behind them.
“FINALLY!”
Both Harri and Cedric turned to see Ginny and Hermione standing a few feet away, their arms crossed and grinning like Cheshire cats. They looked at each other, then back at the couple, their faces glowing with mischief.
Harri groaned, rolling her eyes. “You two really couldn’t resist, huh?”
“I can’t believe you two finally got together!” Ginny said, her grin practically splitting her face.
Cedric chuckled, glancing back at Harri. "You knew, huh?"
"How did you know I like you?" Harri asked, her voice soft but still filled with curiosity.
“The video Ginny posted,” Cedric admitted, laughing lightly. “Honestly, you were so cute freaking out about your friends crushing on your family. It was adorable. And... well, you looked so nervous, I thought I’d have a shot.”
Harri chuckled, shaking her head. “That sneaky little witch,” she muttered, though her tone was affectionate. She glanced at Ginny, who was grinning back at her, completely unapologetic. “But you know what? I’m glad she didn’t cut that part out.”
“You are?” Cedric asked, surprised.
Harri smiled, glancing up at him. “Yeah, because otherwise… we wouldn’t have this moment.”
Cedric gave her a warm smile before leaning in to kiss her again. Harri kissed him back, savoring the feeling.
“What was that?” Cedric asked when they finally pulled apart.
“Nothing,” Harri replied quickly, pulling him in for another kiss.
Meanwhile, Sirius was storming down the hallways toward his husband, his face twisted in annoyance. He had just witnessed Harri and Cedric kissing in the hallway, and to say he wasn’t happy about it would be an understatement.
When he reached his destination, he paused for a moment, trying to control his irritation. He might be overreacting, but the sight of his niece and Cedric Diggory kissing still made his blood boil. “Remus,” he called, knocking on the door. “We need to talk.”