SABAISM | H. POTTER

ONE. | A PRIDE PARADE AND AN ALLY

It was a chilly morning, the moon still lingering in the twilight sky, casting a silvery glow over the landscape. Only a dull, greenish tinge along the horizon hinted that daybreak was drawing closer, the world still wrapped in a dreamy haze of early dawn.

"Good thing it ain't a full moon, right, Da?" Gemini quipped, playfully elbowing her dad lightly in the side. The scarred man, who carried his husband on his back, raked a hand through his tangled hair, his face etched with both weariness and fondness. "Gem, it's way too early for this," he muttered, a hint of a smile betraying his exhaustion.

Harry, walking in line beside Mr. Weasley, engaged the eldest Weasley in animated conversation, peppering him with questions about the upcoming match. He noticed Gemini drifted back to join her parents and casually fell in step with them. "Right you are, Sir," he chimed, smirking at the scarred man, who wore an expression that seemed to mix amusement with exasperation, recognizing the effort a Potter was making to win favor with the family they hoped to join.

Turning his gaze toward the eagerly bouncing Gemini, who was practically vibrating with excitement, Harry raised an eyebrow. "How are you even walking, let alone talking, Love? You hate mornings with a passion."

"ITS THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP!" Gemini proclaimed as though the answer was as obvious as the sun rising. She rolled her eyes dramatically, conveying disbelief that Harry could question her enthusiasm.

Just then, a familiar voice broke through the excited chatter. "I knew I heard you, Gem." Cedric Diggory, an incredibly handsome boy of seventeen with tousled hair and a confident grin, made his way toward them. He was the Captain and Seeker of the Hufflepuff House Quidditch team at Hogwarts, embodying charm and charisma in equal measure. As Cedric approached, Harry felt a pang of irritation twist in his gut.

"Ceddy!" Gemini squealed, bounding up to the boy and throwing herself at him, expecting him to catch her. The sheer delight in her voice made Harry's stomach sink a little more.

Yes, Harry Potter hated him indeed. The smile on Cedric's face in response to Gemini's exuberance felt like a sharp reminder of all the things Harry couldn't quite seem to articulate—the longing for acceptance and the bittersweet stirrings of jealousy that shadowed his every interaction. As the group continued toward Cedric and a stranger behind the badger that seemed familiar with some, the sun began to rise, igniting the sky in hues of gold and orange, but Harry couldn't shake the feeling that the brightness outside only deepened the shadows within.

"Amos!" Mr. Weasley called out, a warm smile spreading across his face as he strode over to the oddly dressed man standing behind the affable Hufflepuff. The rest of the group trailed behind him, a reluctant Harry lagging slightly, unsure of the social dynamics at play.

Mr. Weasley clasped hands with the ruddy-faced wizard, who sported a scruffy brown beard and a twinkle of mischief in his eyes, all while clutching an old, moldy-looking boot in his other hand. "This is Amos Diggory, everyone," Mr. Weasley introduced, his voice radiating enthusiasm. "He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I'm sure you all know his son, Cedric?"

"Hi," Cedric chimed in, his voice a mix of shy warmth and youthful charm, while Gemini, swung around him and effortlessly made herself comfortable, draping herself over his back like a delighted koala.

The rest of the group responded with varying degrees of enthusiasm: everyone mumbled a friendly greeting, except for Fred and George, who exchanged glances tinged with rivalry, while Harry and Remus offered only curt nods. The twins had never quite forgiven Cedric for besting their beloved Gryffindor team in the previous year's Quidditch match, while the following two glances held deeper motivations—Remus harboring a protective instinct and Harry wrestling with pangs of possessiveness. It was a small mercy that Sirius and Draco were still snoozing soundly nearby; if they had noticed Gemini's relaxed demeanor with the handsome Seeker, it might have sparked chaos.