Almost a Birthday Twin
Quidditch tryouts came and went in a blur of wind, shouting, and very questionable decision-making.
Leo probably shouldn't have been there at all.
But that had never stopped him before.
Disguised as a second-year Hufflepuff named Lenardo Knight—a notoriously reclusive student who almost never left the dorms and whose face Leo had only glimpsed once—he strutted onto the pitch with practiced confidence. The transformation was impeccable: slightly broader shoulders, a perpetually annoyed scowl, and hair that looked like it had personally declared war on combs.
The tryouts themselves were chaos.
Leo flew brilliantly—clean turns, sharp dives, instinctive passes. Cedric, watching from the stands, nearly fell over laughing every time "Lenardo" performed something Leo absolutely would have done on purpose. The Weasley twins also did their tryout, despite passing and was allowed to do tryout with senior, the quidditch caption, their own brother Charlie Weasley didn't pick them, despite their talent since they are still too young.
Hufflepuff went better—almost.
Leo-as-Lenardo was seconds away from being accepted when the real Lenardo Knight appeared at the edge of the pitch, wild-eyed and shrieking.
"THAT'S ME THAT'S MY FACE WHY IS HE BETTER THAN ME"
Turn out Lenardo also went to tryout to become a Hufflepuff chaser.
Spit flew. Pointing ensued. Accusations were screamed.
Tryouts were promptly cancelled.
The silver lining came in the form of Ridley Hawthorne, Hufflepuff's seventh-year keeper and captain who was scouted by The Wigtown Wanderers pulled Leo aside.
"You fly like someone who belongs in the air," Ridley said. ". Try again next year properly."
Cedric laughed so hard afterward he nearly cried, especially when Lenardo attempted to duel Leo verbally while Leo was being pulled aside by the hufflepuff quidditch captain.
"I guess he really wanted Quidditch," Mirabel said dryly.
By October, the six of them were inseparable.
They knew each other's habits, strengths, and weaknesses. They also knew—belatedly—that Cedric's birthday was October 7, and Leo's was October 8.
Which technically made both of them older than the four of them
Leo exploited this fact mercilessly.
He was acting like an obnoxious older brother and keep telling them nonsenses fact to educate them and try to babying them relentlessly that day, "I am your elder. Your protector. Your guide."
"Touch my steak and I'll stab you," Tobias warned.
"Don't worry," Leo said cheerfully, sawing Cedric's steak into tiny pieces since Cedric is the only one who humour his jokes. "Big brother's got this."
Cedric just laughed, watching Leo with fond amusement as everyone else debated strangulation.
That evening, the Diggorys, the Lees and Tonks gathered by the Black Lake.
Leo and Cedric want to celebrate birthday together as it is more fun together.
"Why not celebrate both birthdays days at the same time together?" she said. "From eleven pm (7 of October) to one am (8 of October)." Lyra said with an excited tone.
Everyone was pondering about this not because they want to refuse outright but how to get away with it
"That's past curfew," Vela said instantly.
Silence....
"…Outside curfew," Vela added snd then she instantly reminded of Percy's face
"Not that I'm refusing of course. "she said meekly.
They eventually settled on the siblings' old empty classroom hangout spot, a forgotten space with low foot traffic and an unspoken truce with the ghosts—thanks to Orion's long-standing Favor with the Bloody Baron.
Orion was calm, confident about this idea since his prefect friend during that day also monitor that portion of the castle and could elert Orion if there any issues
At 11:00 p.m., they arrived one by one.
Leo's heart pounded as they slipped through the corridors. The thrill felt exactly like sneaking into the kitchen at home past midnight where he eat the leftover at the fridge even when both parent have a strict rule of not eating past midnight , it feel almost the same but this...this is more fun since it is in cooperation with load of people.
After everyone successfully not get caught coming to the empty classroom, The room bloomed with soft light. Decorations shimmered. Cakes appeared. Laughter spilled freely.
For two hours, there were songs sung off-key, gifts exchanged,
They laughed. They danced. They existed untethered from rules, houses, expectations.
Leo muttered "thankfully the window are covered and we use muflato spell to block the noise.
At 1:00 a.m., they parted quietly, slipping back into the castle as shadows one by one
Leo arrived in his dorm lay on his bed before looking at Cedric, Cedric already look at him smiling , both smile at each other without uttering a single word knowing that their thirteens birthday spend in Hogwarts was a memory that will be kept into their heart forever. After that they fall asleep satisfied.