Hari regretted saying yes to Cedric in the days that followed. She liked him, that much was obvious to her. He was sweet, tall, and fit. He was attractive, popular, and kind. And Hari was… well, she was just Hari. She was small and skinny. Her hair never did what it was supposed to, she tripped over her own feet at least twice a day. Her body was littered with scars, and someone was always trying to kill her. Hermione had to calm her down on two separate occasions and convince her that this wasn't a cruel prank. That he wasn't going to publicly shame her.
It helped that Hari was seeing Cedric everywhere. They locked eyes at meals and shared secret smiles in the hall. He dropped notes in her pockets when they passed in the hall, always complimenting her in different ways. He sent her a questioning glance the first time he noticed her daily potions, but she was obviously embarrassed so he didn't push. Cedric never pushed, and Hari really enjoyed that. Ron and Hermione, while great, always wanted to know exactly what she was doing and thinking every second of the day. Neville, Fred, George, and Cedric were a breath of fresh air in comparison. A breath she had desperately needed.
The night before Hogsmeade, Hari was freaking out. She didn't have very many clothes, and she'd worried about being underdressed. What if she dresses up and he doesn't? What if this means more to her than it does to him? Hermione wasn't much help, so Parvati stepped up. She and Lavender put together an entirely new outfit from old clothes Padma gave her sister. The cloak a very dark shade of green, "to bring out your eyes," Parvati says, and she wears dark grey slacks with a black button up, despite Lavender's insistence that she wear 'at least a skirt.' Hari declined. She was never allowed to wear girly clothes, and she'd never found them to be particularly comfortable. Plus, she doesn't think Cedric will care. Lavender attempted to tackle the Potter hair on her own, but soon learned that it was a losing battle and gave up.
Hari watched Cedric approach on the map. She'd been up for hours, having already taken a long run and a longer shower. She'd tried to do something with her hair, but settled for a loose bun. Hari opened the door hastily as soon as he approached and was met with an intrigued face.
"Morning, Hari," Cedric said, quickly composing himself.
"Morning," she smiled. She stepped out of the porthole and took his outstretched arm as they made their way down to the entrance hall.
"You look beautiful," he whispered into her ear.
You're filthy, Vernon said in her head. She shook the thought away and turned to face Cedric with a smile, "So do you."
"I'm beautiful?" he teased.
"Don't play dumb, Diggory. You know what you are," she said with a wink.
They were given a wide berth by the other students, especially after Hari glared at a group of young Ravens that declared quite loudly that he was only taking her because he pitied her.
"Don't listen to them," he said as they took their first step outside. "It's all rubbish." Hari nodded, but didn't look convinced.
The walk into the village was a little awkward. Hari was determined to have a good time; because Cedric was gorgeous and he'd asked her to come with him and he'd said all those nice things that made her heart flutter. But Vernon was in her head today. He'd been making a lot of appearances since the article came out.
"Where to first?" Cedric asked. "I'll go out on a limb and assume that Madam Puddifoot's isn't for you."
Hari scrunched up her face in disgust, "Definitely not. Let's hit The Three Broomsticks before the crowd, then maybe Honeydukes before Gladrags?"
"Sounds good to me," Cedric smiled. "Have you thought about what colors you want for the ball?"
"You look rather dashing in darker colors," Hari said before she could stop herself, and they both blushed before continuing on.
The Three Broomsticks was rather empty at ten in the morning, but with two other schools visiting the calm atmosphere didn't last long. Hari and Cedric had gotten a small booth that was mostly out of sight and Hari instinctively put up silent and wandless privacy wards.
"What was that for?" Cedric asked.
"What?" Hari asked, completely oblivious to what he was referring to.
"The wards."
"Oh, just habit now, I guess," Hari said nonchalantly before changing the subject. "So what do you usually do on Hogsmeade weekends?"
"Hang out here, mostly," he replied. "We usually get one of the big booths and settle in for the day. What about you?"
"Ron always drags us to Zonko's, but the twins' stuff is so much better; I don't know why he bothers. Hermione's partial to the quill shop. Honeydukes is my favorite though. Lupin got me hooked on chocolate last year. I get anxious now if I don't have a steady supply," Hari laughed at the thought of Remus. Dobby had been popping back and forth between the castle and wherever Remus and Sirius were staying almost daily.
"He was the best defense teacher I've ever had," Cedric said after taking a sip of butterbeer. "It's a shame that creature laws are so backwards."
"He's brilliant," Hari said with bitterness in her voice. "He deserved better."
"You had private lessons with him, right?"
"Yeah, he taught be the Patronus Charm. He was also one of my dad's best friends," Hari explained. "And he and my mum were prefects together in their fifth year, so he told me stories about them."
"Did you know him before he started?"
"No. I haven't even seen him since he left, but we exchange letters regularly. He helped a lot over the summer while I was self-studying for runes."
"Dropped divination, did you?" Cedric teased.
"Ugh," Hari laughed and rolled her eyes, "She kept predicting my death over and over again. It loses its flavor after a while."
They laughed and sipped on their drinks as more and more student clamored into the pub.
"What do you want to do after you graduate?" Hari asked.
"I'm not really sure," Cedric admitted. "My folks don't really care, though eventually I'll have to take dad's seats in the Wizengamot. I'd like to do something with charms, it's my best subject."
"I like charms. Well, the practical bit at least. I'm rubbish at theory," Hari finished off her butterbeer just after Cedric did. "Would you want to get a mastery?"
"Definitely. What about you?"
"Hm," Hari mused. She hadn't really given it much though. "Professional Quidditch would be cool."
"You could definitely go pro," Cedric said right away, leaning forward on the table with a serious look on his face. "I don't think I've ever seen someone as good on a broom as you. And you've never lost a match."
Hari's eyes furrowed in confusion, "Yes I have."
"The game you almost died in doesn't count," he teased.
"You caught the snitch fair and square," Hari countered.
You don't deserve his praise. You don't deserve his attention, Vernon mocked her.
Cedric was about to argue when a fight broke out closer to the door and Madam Rosemertta had to kick out a gaggle of Durmstrang boys.
"Honeydukes?" Hari asked hoping to change the subject, and Cedric nodded in agreement.
After picking up an outrageous amount of chocolate, Hari and Cedric went to Gladrags Wizardwear to get their dress robes altered for the ball. They'd decided on dark green for Hari's eyes with pale lavender accents. Standing alone in a room covered in mirrors, Hari couldn't help but tear up at the sight of herself. She felt so… beautiful. And she looked more grown up than she ever had before.
You don't deserve this, Vernon said. You're disgusting.
She let the seamstress box up the gown but couldn't take her eyes off of it until it was out of sight. Part of her was afraid it would spontaneously combust and she'd never see it again.
"Happy with your purchase?" Cedric asked.
"Yes," she whispered and smiled sadly.
With their purchases shrunk and pocketed, Hari and Cedric left the shop and walked around lazily.
"Are you alright?" he asked, pulling them to a stop in a secluded area.
"Yeah," she said, trying to smile, "I'm fine."
Cedric wasn't convinced, so he dragged her closer to the forest and sat them both down on a low boulder. "No you're not," he whispered. "Talk to me. What's going on?"
Hari looked up at him with guilt in her eyes. She wanted so desperately to tell him but she couldn't find the words. She bent down and unlaced her boots quickly. After removing them and her socks she thrust her feet into the snow, earning a small protest from Cedric. The snow melted away quickly, thanks to the heat that constantly radiated off of her now. The soil softened under the heat and she wriggled her feet and toes into the earth while Cedric put up wards.
Finally feeling more relaxed, Hari took a deep breath and looked into Cedric's dazzling grey eyes. "Vernon is in my head today," she whispered.
Cedric's face betrayed no emotion as he spoke, "What does he say?"
"That I'm worthless. That I don't deserve…" she gestured to the space between them, "this," Hari could hardly believe the words actually came out of her mouth. She'd tried to talk to Ron and Hermione about it when the article came out. She knew talking about it would help, but she'd never been able to before.
"You know that's not true, though, right?" Cedric asked, looking like he was in physical pain and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
"I… it's hard," she sighed. "Logically, I know that nothing they said to me was right, or accurate. They just hated me. But I spent thirteen years hearing the same shit over and over. My head knows it's all rubbish but my heart doesn't."
"I know we haven't spent a lot of time together yet, but I've watched you since you got here. I know that sounds…"
"Stalker-y?" Hari asked.
"Yes," he laughed, "Stalker-y. Moving on… You aren't like anyone I've ever met; an idea that was reinforced by getting to know you – the real you. I can't imagine what your life is like, but the way you handle it astounds me. I've been semi-famous for a couple of months now, and I have no idea how you put up with it. It's honestly driving me crazy!" Cedric could be quiet expressive on occasion, and his movements shook Hari from side to side, making her chest flutter with excitement at the contact.
"It drives me crazy too," Hari chuckled and nudged his shoulder with her head.
"It's horrible," he laughed. "All these people that I've never spoken to come up and try to act like my best friend. The whispering is worse."
"Totally," Hari agreed. Whispers always followed her; they probably always would.
"It's a miracle you don't go around hexing people in the halls. I would've gone dark a long time ago, if I were in your shoes.
"I do occasionally hex people in the halls," Hari admitted.
"It'd be hard not to," Cedric chuckled. "Seriously though, you're the strongest person I've ever known." Cedric took a breath and lowered his voice, "He won't always be in your head, you know. You're brilliant, and kind, and beautiful. You'll see it one day, I promise. I'll tell you over and over until it sinks into your thick skull."
They sat together for a moment while Hari took some more deep breaths, feeling her heart rate slow and her mind settle. "I feel better," she said.
"Good," he said softly. "Now get your feet out of the ground before they fall off."
Hari laughed, knowing that wouldn't happen. She couldn't even feel the cold, but she complied nonetheless.