Harry Potter Characters X Reader

(1) Cedric X Reader

Like most complicated things in life, this story starts with a boy, a secret and a smile.

Even in retrospect, they seem like they've been scribbled on a scrap piece of paper and blindly plucked from a nice, big bowl of what-else-can-the-universe-thrust-at-me for the sake of twisted arbitrary, but not everything is as it seems, and everything seems ridiculous and inconvenient. But, at the same time, maybe you should have seen this coming. Maybe you should have predicted the shit storm that was going to spin your life into vertigo, like the earth has been tipped off its axis, latitude and longitude slipping and colliding while the corners of the map fade to ash.

It happens, as you would later realize with an impending sense of doom, like this:

In the summer of 1994, you and your friends stumble through the forest, looking for an old boot.

The forest breathes a cool sigh of air against your cheeks as you wander past the trees, eyes glued to the ground for the boot. Every time your mind drifts to the Quidditch World Cup, the excitement begins to bubble up inside your stomach and you can't fight back the smile that spreads across your face whenever you reflect on the past few days. Staying at the Burrow was always like an improved version of home, but this time, it's different somehow.

Perhaps it's the freedom of staying somewhere that isn't your home. Not that your place isn't comfortable; you don't think anyone could deem a Victorian mansion with sprawling, manicured lawns 'uncomfortable'. But it's starting to feel more like a sad skeleton with marble walls for skin instead of a home, especially with your father always working and your brother, Luke, staying with his Slytherin friends for the summer.

There's something about the company, too, that makes this moment so special. Being reunited with the Weasley family and being welcomed into their home is always like visiting relatives. And there's always something to catch up on with Hermione. Then there's Harry...

You glance at Harry, who is sifting through the leaves beside you. He's talking about...something...one hand jammed into the pocket of his jeans, the other swinging by his side, and it's somewhat refreshing to see Harry so relaxed, so undeniably Harry. Warmth thrums through your veins like honey and you can't help but smile as you regard him fondly in the late morning sun.

It's been a while since you've shared a moment alone with your best friend. Usually, you're joined by Ron and Hermione, but they're currently preoccupied with a debate over...whatever they debate over. You can actually hear them bickering; Hermione's voice tight and shrill and Ron's sarcastic remarks muffled by the distance between you and them.

With the sound of their bickering in the background, and the warmth of Harry's presence forming a bubble around you, the urge to chisel 'I love my friends' onto every single rib in your ribcage floods you like a wave of sunlight. It's essentially how you feel when you're not saving Hogwarts from corrupt teachers and giant basilisk or helping innocent fugitives escape the kiss of a Dementor. And moments like these remind you just how fortunate you are to have found your friends.

Harry's gentle chuckle brings your wandering thoughts back into the moment as it fades into a gleeful smile.

"You should have seen the look on his face..." Harry smirks, though the context of the conversation is lost to you.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Now Dudley second guesses himself whenever he tries to bully me. He's constantly looking over his shoulder because he's expecting Sirius to jump out and turn him into – I don't know¬– a dung beetle," he pauses and then barks a laugh like he's just remembered something, "Or a pig! Did I tell you about the time Hagrid gave Dudley a pigs tail?"