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Author's Note: Short & sweet High School AU.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts 2.0 (T04); RAVEN (2024); MC4A (Fa-Yr7)
Individual Challenges: Delilah; Bucket Listing (Y); Sandbox (Y); Cinematic; Reader; Rainbow Connection; In a Flash; Flashers; Majors (Y); Fuzzy Socks
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
Assignment: Term 04 - Assignment 06
Subject [Task (Prompt): Extinct Languages [Task#1 (someone learning a new language)]
Other Hogwarts Challenges: Library [Heartstopper](Boyfriends); Frenzy [TW#2](High School); Center [102 - Po](unexpected); Pokemon [688 - Binacle](mustard yellow); Nov Stardew [Abigail] (Cedric/Seamus); InMem [17](first love); Bargain [Air Fryer](innocence)
RAVEN Challenges: A [79](Studying); Traits [60](Outgoing); Colors [61](Mustard); Items [55](Messenger Bag); Settings [99](Yard)
Other MC4A Challenges: Ship (n/a)[n/a]; Chim [Missy]("Shadow" - Livingston; Outside); Hunt [Fa WD (Deaf/HoH)]; Fire [Olympic League]; Garden [Tahlapi (Seamus Finnegan)]; Hang [Phrase#01](n/a);
Representation(s): Deaf/HoH Seamus Finnegan/Cedric Diggory; High School AU; No Magic AU;
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Under the Bridge; Second Verse (Spinning Plates; Unwanted Advice; Brooms Only; Corvid Brain; Hot Apple); Chorus (Wabi Sabi; Machismo; Peddling Pots; Mouth of Babes; Tomorrow's Shade; Larger than Life; Unicorn; Turtle-Duck; Some Beach)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Terse; Terrarium); FR (Satisfaction; Evolution); O3 (Olivine); SHoE (Terse); TY (Enfant); Mea (n/a)
Space Address (Prompt): Ship 2A (Not Actually Unrequited);
Word Count: 784 words

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Signs of Affection
(Ø)

The bright afternoon sun shone down on the bustling courtyard of Hogwarts Secondary, casting shadows and creating pools of warmth on the pavement. The sounds of students chatting and laughing echoed through the air, blending together with the occasional ring of a bell signaling the end of a class. It was a typical day, with students rushing around the grassy yard, but for one particular pair of students, it was anything but ordinary.

Cedric Diggory, the captain of the school's soccer team, stood near the entrance of the school building, his brown eyes scanning the sea of students for his target. He adjusted his yellow and black striped tie and straightened his uniform before taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He had been planning this moment for weeks. Yet now that it was actually happening, he couldn't help but feel a growing wave of anxiety.

Across the courtyard, at the far end near entrance led directly up to the library, Seamus Finnegan leaned against the wall. Seamus was the head of the school's mathalete team. Seamus had his nose buried in a textbook. His brow furrowed in concentration as he read. Seamus was best known for how many times he had blown up the school's various labs and workshops. Allegedly, this was always by accident. No one could definitively prove or disprove the claim. What anyone did know for certain was that Seamus was more comfortable with numbers and formulas than he was with people who weren't his best friend Dean Thomas.

Seamus had caught Cedric's eye with his quick wit and sharp mind. And with confirmation that Seamus was not dating his best friend (because Dean was openly dating Ginny Weasley who was the captain of the volleyball team), Cedric was determined to ask Seamus out.

Cedric had been learning sign language for months just for this moment. He had practiced the signs repeatedly in a mirror to make sure that he had each one down and could be graceful while using them. Even if Seamus usually had his implants in, Cedric wanted to show that he was interested in adapting to whatever kind of support that Seamus wanted or needed.

That Cedric could be a much better boyfriend than Zacharias Smith could ever have been.

As Cedric made his way towards Seamus, he couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with nerves. He had never asked anyone out before, let alone someone as smart and beautiful as Seamus. Cho had been the one to ask him out, not the other way around. But Cedric was determined to take a chance and see where it could lead.

"Hey, Seamus," Cedric called out as he approached, his voice surprisingly steady despite the butterflies in his stomach. When Seamus had looked up from his book, Cedric gave a little wave that bled into the name-sign that he had noticed Seamus' friends using when they signed to him. Seamus' eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Cedric actually knowing that sign.

"Hi, Cedric," Seamus replied, a hint of curiosity in his muffled voice. He shoved his book into his mustard yellow messenger bag into order to free his hands for signing.

"I was wondering if you'd like to grab lunch with me sometime," Cedric blurted out, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. Despite all of his practice and planning, he couldn't match the signs exactly.

Seamus' eyes widened even more in shock, his mouth slightly agape. He had never been asked out before, let alone by someone as popular and athletic as Cedric. All of his past dates had been set ups by mutual friends. But he was also intrigued by the proposition and couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the thought.

"Sure," he finally managed to say, a small smile forming on his face. Cedric's heart skipped a beat at Seamus' response.

"Really?" he asked, unable to contain his enthusiasm. Seamus nodded, a blush spreading across his freckled cheeks.

"Yeah, I'd like that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper as his hands moved through the matching sign in tiny motions. Cedric couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face as he took in Seamus' shy but genuine smile.

"Great, how about this weekend?" he suggested. Seamus nodded eagerly, his smile growing wider.

"Sounds perfect," she signed a bit twitchy from his excitement.

As the two boys made plans for their lunch date, Cedric couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and contentment wash over him. He had mustered up the courage to ask out the boy of his dreams, and he couldn't wait to see where this unexpected pairing would lead.