Our dear Ms. Hermione Granger is trading Quidditch for basketball! Emma Watson, deep into her master’s at Oxford, isn’t one to pop up at every star-studded event. But on Feb. 14, she turned heads at the 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Oakland. Celebrities at All-Star weekend? Nothing new. But Emma, looking cozy with someone? Now that’s a rare sight!

Meanwhile, Emma Watson has been flying under the radar since diving into her studies. But last July, she stepped out in Jericho, turning heads with a PDA-packed date. Her company? Kieran Brown, an Oxford PhD student, and reportedly her campus romance.

However, in a viral ESPN TikTok, Emma Watson, effortlessly chic in all black, lit up the arena with waves and blown kisses. But that wasn’t all—Emma also had a quick courtside chat with EDM artist Tucker Halpern as he played alongside Noah Kahan and Pablo Schreiber.

Tucker Halpern of the Sofi Tukker EDM duo was a standout on the court. He had top Division I schools eyeing him before landing at Brown. Three years in, one as captain, he was on a roll—until illness changed the game. So, he swapped hoops for beats, started DJing (even with Nicolas Jaar!), and dove into music full-time.

But, as you know, the audience has an eyesight swifter than the birds of prey. Therefore, without a moment’s hesitation, they took social media by storm. Their only intrigue? Hermoine is all grown up! Supporting her friends in their side quests in the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Fans find Emma Watson’s courtside antics with Tucker Halpern adorable

“Her cuteness and wholesomeness never fade ✨,” someone commented on Reddit. In all honesty, all the Potterheads still see Emma Watson as the little 11-year-old Hermione they grew up watching. Therefore, to say that her cuteness and wholesomeness haven’t faded makes so much sense. Besides, her adorable moment with Tucker Halpern is surely something wholesome for the fans to devour.

Meanwhile, one of the fans had a curious eye for something that might have gone unnoticed (or maybe not!). “As a man, if Emma Watson grabbed my shoulder and there was video evidence, I would show everyone,” the fan commented. Well, The Perks of Being A Wallflower star did grab Tucker’s shoulder after aggressively waving at someone and grinning ear to ear.

Another fan expressed their joy at having Emma back in public. They wrote: “I missed seeing her out and about! So lovely to see her so happy.” Since she began her Master’s at Oxford, the actress has been away from the public eye. She prioritizes her education and most of the fans wish they too had such a drive. But, coming back to Tucker Halpern and Emma Watson, and their sweet little moment at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, the crowd just can’t keep their joy in place.

Therefore, someone wrote: “Oooo sparks!” There is no doubt that the cozy moment felt like something straight out of a rom-com. Sweet and sporty. However, to burst the bubble of hope, Emma Watson is already dating Keiran Brown, who happens to be her campus beau at Oxford. Meanwhile, Tucker Halpern’s dating life remains a mystery.

But another fan, or maybe a Potterhead (for sure!) commented: “If this was 2012 I would be freaking out.” Back in 2012, the world was still wrapping its heads around the fact that the Harry Potter movies were over in 2011. And Hermione Granger chose Ron Weasley. Well, so many hearts were shattered when they realized Harry wasn’t after all ‘The Chosen One’ for Ms. Granger. If this viral clip had been out into the world in 2012, Potterheads wouldn’t have perceived it in the way they’re doing it now.

Thus, amidst the hustle of the NBA All-Star Weekend, the Celebrity Games unfolded the first step of drama. Well, there’s more waiting for the fans amidst Emma Watson’s public appearance and her sweet time with her friend Tucker Halpern.