bymyside-fic

[bymyside-fic]

220310 amazingsat_official ig update with Kibum

[bymyside-fic]

Epilogue (~2100 words) read on AO3 // AFF

- September 2, 2023 -

“Professor Kim?”

Kibum looked up from his desk, setting aside the roll of parchment he just picked up when he saw Maureen Jones, one of the girls from the class that had just let out. She was hugging her very new copy of Magical Drafts and Potions to her chest, her knuckles white around the book. Kibum clasped his hands together as he leaned forward to ask, “What can I do for you, Ms. Jones?”

“I’m…” Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed as if she were on the verge of tears.

His brow furrowed, and his tone shifted as if he were speaking to either Yeongjin or Hyejin when he asked, “Is there something wrong?”

Her mouth pressed to a firm, thin line, and she blinked rapidly as tears started to fall. “Am I a bad person, Professor?”

“What?” he said before he could stop himself, then he glanced down at her uniform, finally seeing the hints of green peeking out from over her textbook. “Are you worried about having been sorted into Slytherin?” When she nodded, he flicked his wand at the fire, charming the kettle to set itself over the fire so he could make them some tea. “Well, I can’t tell you not to be, because I get it. I felt the exact same way when I first started here at school.”

“Really?” she asked, wiping some of the tears away as she plopped down in one of his armchairs.

He nodded, smiling now. “I heard a lot of bad things about Slytherin, and when I got sorted, I cried, too.” Her eyes went wide. “But you know what? It’s not as bad as you’d first think.” The kettle started to sing, and Kibum held up a finger to her before he slipped out from behind his desk to get some tea made for them. He set her cup down on the desk before her before he sat back down. “Do you want to know a secret?” She nodded, scooting closer when Kibum leaned in conspiratorially. “Slytherins can be just as good, or kind, or loyal, or smart as anyone from Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, or Ravenclaw.” He raised his hand to block his mouth as he whispered loudly. “The Sorting doesn’t really matter all that much. Your House is just a place to call home while you’re here, and your fellow Slytherins are your family.”

“What about the other Houses, then?”

“Just think of them as your close friends and family, and you’ll get along just fine.” He glanced at the picture of Minho smiling back at him on his desk. “And, from one Slytherin to another…” He looked back at her with a small smile. “Do yourself a favor and befriend a Hufflepuff. I promise you won’t regret it.”

* * * * *

- March 14, 2026 -

Steam from the bubbling cauldrons around Minho filled the workroom, fogging up the windows of Healing Touch Apothecary. Rain pittered merrily outside, the joyful melody accompanied by the sounds of the girls playing a game with Dad in the storefront. What they were doing, he wasn’t quite sure, but he was glad they were having fun.

He added the last few dittany leaves to the pile on his cutting board before he started mincing them. There were quite a few orders due today, but luckily, this was the last of the potions he needed to have started before he took a break. Once he was happy with the size of the leaves, he pulled the gold set of scales Kibum had bought for him for his birthday last year toward him, measuring out exactly what he needed before he scooped every last bit up and tossed them into the nearest cauldron and pulled the orders out of their clips to inspect them.

A burst of green flame in the fireplace filled the workroom, startling Comme Des and Garcons to wake and start barking. But Minho didn’t have to look up to know who it was.

“Hey, Bum,” he said absently, shuffling through the order slips, his brow furrowing.

“Hey, love” came his reply, right before he kissed the crown of Minho’s head as he passed by. “Taking a break soon?”

“In a minute.”

He caught a glimpse of him as he stepped up into the store, smiling despite his break in concentration at the girls’ excited greeting when they saw him. Minho sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes before he got up from his bench and started for the archway between the workroom and the store. But by the time he reached it, Kibum was already ushering the girls back toward him, Dad floating behind them. “You hungry?” Kibum asked, his hand resting on Minho’s hip as he stopped beside him.

“What’s for lunch?”

Kibum shrugged, smiling as he went up on his tiptoes to kiss Minho. “I didn’t even look. Come on.”

He grabbed Minho’s hand, and Minho let himself be pulled along, he grabbed his wand out of his apron and flicked it at the /Open/ sign, flipping it over to /Closed/.

* * * * *

- September 1, 2031 -

“Kelly, Karin,” O’Neely called, his voice ringing out across the Great Hall as a girl hurried up to sit on the stool so she could be sorted into her House.

Kibum cast a furtive glance down the dais before he leaned slightly back so he could see the page of his notebook as he wrote, I think Hyejin might be next.

He didn’t have to wait for very long for a reply. Are you still thinking she’ll be in Slytherin? Minho asked, and Kibum nibbled his bottom lip, looking up at the sound of his House being called, then…

“Kim, Hyejin.”

We’re about to find out.

He sat up in his seat, glancing around at the sea of students, finding Yeongjin easily amidst her fellow Gryffindors as she practically stood up on the bench to see her sister better. Before Hyejin sat down on the stool, she peered around O’Neely, and waved at him. Grinning, Kibum waved back, and she plopped down on the stool, to face the others.

His heart started beating a bit faster as O’Neely lowered the Sorting Hat to her head. What must be going on in her head? Was she nervous? Excited?

“Ravenclaw!” the Sorting Hall called out, and Kibum blinked in surprise as he watched her traipse down to join her new school family. She sat by the other first years who had already been sorted, then looked up at Kibum, who gave her a bright grin and a thumbs up before he picked up his quill again to let Minho know.

You know what? That works. Now we have one of each in our family.

Oh, true...And you know what else this means?

What?

We finally have the house...all to ourselves again.

Are you implying what I hope you’re implying?

Kibum coughed to cover his laugh, and glanced around to see if anyone noticed before he looked back down at the notebook. I guess you’ll have to wait and see, hm?

* * * * *

- July 22, 2033 -

“Have fun!” Minho called after Yeongjin, Hyejin, and the Edwards girls, watching them as they ran around the bend in search of the caves hidden in the catacombs of Magiabajo. Reluctantly, he turned away when Kibum’s hand settled on the small of his back.

“They know their way around, honey. They’ll be just fine.”

“I know, I know.”

He cast one last glance over his shoulder before he followed Kibum up to the floating island that Gil and Ana were already lounging on. She looked up from her book and set it aside as they sat in the chair opposite of her. “Where’s Gil?”

“Probably getting beer.”

“He was still talking to Mateo when we left.”

She smiled, leaning back and stretching out in the sun filtering through the river overhead. “Mateo may curse you for inventing the Babbling Concoction by the end of this trip.”

Kibum shrugged. “I mean, if he hasn’t so far, I don’t see why he’d stop now.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“Don’t give him a big head,” Minho murmured as he leaned his head back, closing his eyes. “He already thinks he’s right all the time.”

Ana chuckled when Kibum flicked his knee. “It’s because I am and you know it.”

“You’re right, of course, dear.” But when Kibum turned back around, Minho met Ana’s gaze and rolled his eyes with a smile.

“I saw that,” Kibum said, even though he didn’t turn around.

Minho pushed himself up, wrapping his arms around Kibum and resting his chin on his shoulder as he said, in Korean, “I guess I’ll just have to make it up to you later.”

Kibum reached around, holding the back of Minho’s neck as he glanced his way. “Is that a promise?”

“Oh good,” Ana said with an exasperated sigh. “I’m glad to see that even fifteen years of marriage doesn't stop you two from flirting in Korean.”

“Old habits, and all,” Minho said in English, winking at her as she shook her head.

“Well, don’t let me stop you,” she said, hiding her amusement as she picked up her book and opening it to where she left off.

* * * * *

- June 16, 2034 -

“Appa, do we really need a babysitter?” Yeongjin asked as she flopped down on Kibum and Minho’s bed. “I’m almost seventeen, I can look after us both.”

Kibum hummed absently, pulling some of his clothes out of the closet to pack for his and Minho’s annual after-school honeymoon. “I thought you were excited about Uncle Jjong and Tae coming to visit.”

“I mean, yeah, but…” She sighed heavily. Dramatically. Kibum bit back a smile at how much she was taking after him.

“What? Were you planning on throwing a wild party while we’re gone?” She scoffed dismissively, and Kibum grinned when she started to smile. “Your grandparents and Aunt Ana would let us know if that happened.”

“I know,” he said, drawing out the word as she fell back on the bed again. “Can we have friends over, at least?”

“Depends.”

The sound of the front door gave them both pause, especially when it was followed by Minho’s cheery “Honey, I’m home!”

Kibum glanced back at Yeongjin, correctly interpreting the glint in her eye as she bounded away. He tossed the clothes he had picked out onto the bed as he rushed to follow her downstairs, and before he could greet Minho, she was already badgering him with pleas. Minho met Kibum’s gaze over her head, his eyebrow quirking in silent question. Kibum just sighed, but that was enough of an answer for Minho. “Hon, did you already ask your father?”

“Yes,” she said, her tone sullen.

“So, why are you asking me? You know I’ll side with him.”

She sighed again, and Kibum cleared his throat, garnering both of their attention. “Yeonggie, Hyejin, you too…” He waited for a second, but soon Hyejin poked her head out of her bedroom door, adjusting her glasses. “I’m fine if you both invite friends over while we’re gone, as long as it’s okay with Jjong and their parents, okay?”

Hyejin gave him a small smile before she slipped back into her room, but Yeongjin did a happy little dance before she hugged them both tightly and ran off toward her room, saying something about needing to send a few owls.

Kibum rolled his eyes, shaking his head a little before glancing Minho’s way. Unsurprisingly, he was watching him with a bemused smile. “What?”

“Getting a bit soft, are we?”

“Shut up.” Minho grinned as he closed the distance between them, Kibum happily letting himself get wrapped up in Minho’s arms as he kissed him, at last. “Good day?”

“It is now.”

Kibum sniffed a laugh, smacking his chest lightly before he pulled away. “Come help me pack, love.”

“Okay.”

The stairs creaked beneath their feet as they went up to their bedroom, and Minho sat down on the bed to start folding the clothes Kibum had already picked out. “I guess we should pick a destination, huh?” Kibum asked as he resumed his place before their closet. “Where do you wanna go?”

Kibum looked back at him when he didn’t answer right away, finding Minho giving him his annoyingly, overly fond smile. “Anywhere, as long as you’re...you know, by my side.”

[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (80/80)

new beginning - “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, shaking his head, his hair brushing against Minho’s shoulder. “Tomorrow just…makes it all real.”

“What if we just took this all in steps?”

“What do you mean?”

Minho cleared his throat. “So we’re meeting with McGonagall tomorrow. Figuring out the logistics of you shadowing Slughorn, asking about faculty housing. That’s the first step. If there is no faculty housing, then we’ll have to find a house in Hogsmeade, and that’ll be the next step.”

“And then your apothecary…”

“Right.” Minho turned, kissing the top of Kibum’s head. He smiled into his hair when Kibum slung his arm around him, scooting even closer to him. “But there’s no rush for that. We need to get settled first before I even think about it.” Kibum hummed in protest and Minho chuckled, kissing his head again. “I don’t want us to get ahead of ourselves and get stressed because of it.”

“I suppose that’s smart.”

“Thank you.” 

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[bymyside-fic]

*hug* it's been a journey, hasn't it

[bymyside-fic]

Future Potionmaster/Head of Slytherin house and a healer with his own apothecary in Hogsmeade

[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (79/80)

snapshots - He magicked the ladder to the attic down and climbed up to grab his trunk. Aside from Minho’s backpack that they would be using as the family carry-on, his trunk would be their checked luggage and would hold everything they needed…until they found a house in Hogsmeade.

Mom and Dad had been shopping around for a place for them, but it was hard to visualize the places they described without being there.

Whatever. They’d be there soon. They could sort it out then.

The trunk clunked onto the floor, and Kibum popped it open, relieved to find it empty. He’d been worried that he’d forgotten that he still had stuff stashed in here, which would just delay them even further with what little they had left of packing up.

He sighed heavily as he went over to their dresser, opening the top drawer to start dumping their clothes inside. Well, that was his intention, at least, until he saw the photobook Mom had given him ages ago sitting on top of their folded socks. Kibum pulled it out, not even bothering to close the drawer, and sank onto the bed as he flipped it open to the first page.

So many captured memories…

master list // AO3 // AFF // bonus

[bymyside-fic]

kibum in specs

[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (78/80)

this life - Snow drifted past the window, little specks of white slicing through the gray of the buildings and the overcast sky beyond. Pedestrians breezed past the window for the Wizarding Department of Social Services, more than likely not even noticing that the office was even there. Kibum stared at them, his gaze trailing each one of them until they slipped past the boundary of the window sill.

Minho’s palm was sweaty against his. Or maybe both of their palms were. But neither of them wanted to let go.

“When do you think they’ll call us back?” Minho whispered.

Kibum squeezed his hand. “Soon, hopefully.” He tore his gaze away from the window, looking over at his husband. “We’ll be okay, Min. I’m sure we’ll do just fine.”

master list // AO3 // AFF // bonus

[bymyside-fic]

imagine preparing a meal w your lover in the home y’all made into a sanctuary together and you’re chopping up some vegetables or stirring a pot and you feed them a carrot or gently spoon some soup in their mouth to check if it needs more salt.. ... . ... yea .love is real i promise

[bymyside-fic]

Tethered (~600 words) read on AO3 // AFF

- November 22, 2018 -

The boys were gone in a blink of an eye, and Kimee turned, smiling at Bumji as she drew nearer.

"You did a great job with him, Kimee," Bumji said, his expression fond as he glanced past her to the place Kibum and Minho had disappeared from.

"I did, didn't I?" He smirked, eyes twinkling faintly as he returned his attention to her. "What did he want to talk to you about?" she asked, her hand passing through his. Even through the glove, it felt like her hand had been dipped into icy water.

"Something about regretting having him?" Kimee frowned. "I think he's thinking about having kids?"

Her eyebrows shot up. "Oh?" What a fascinating development. But it wasn't the time to get her hopes up. Not when they already were at their peak.

"Was he not planning on it before?" Bumji asked as she slipped her wand out of her purse.

"We can talk about it later." She tugged at the fingers of her left glove, pulling it off. "Are you ready?"

He nodded hesitantly, watching her slip her wedding ring off. "Are you sure it'll work?"

"Fairly sure." His brow furrowed slightly in concern, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose. She smiled as he pushed them back up. "If it doesn't, I'll come right back and stay until we figure it out. I promise."

He started to smile. Just a little upturn of the corner of his lips. The dimple that Kibum inherited indented his cheek. "What do you need me to do?"

"Hold on." Kimee set her wedding ring in her palm, presenting her hand to him. "Place your hand over mine. No, all the way on. Cover the ring." He obeyed her words, his cold, dark eyes meeting hers when she looked up at him again. She stuck her wand through his hand, pressing the tip of it against the metal. "Can you feel that?"

He shook his head with a laugh. "It doesn't even tickle."

"Huh, okay." She cleared her throat, returning her attention to the ring. She recited the incantation she had found in the books she had brought with her in her mind, making herself sure of the syllables before she whispered, "Petulan spiritus!"

Nothing happened.

She blinked, looking up at him. "Try to move away."

Reluctantly, he did, his hand lifting from hers, eventually taking the ring with him on a thin tendril of ghostly white mist. She gasped, watching it hover in midair before she looked up at Bumji. "If it works," he said, still staring at the ring. "Will you tell them right away?"

She shook her head, and he met her gaze again. "We'll all have to resettle into our lives. I'll give them a few days," she said as she stepped forward, slipping the ring back into its place on her finger. "Are you ready?"

Bumji settled by her side, tethered as he was now to her ring, and nodded. She dug into her purse again, bringing out the coffee mug she had turned into a portkey at home. "Portus!"

It glowed blue, and she was yanked back home to Nottingham.

As soon as her feet were back on solid ground, she opened her eyes, turning immediately to her side.

To Bumji.

It had worked.

She grinned up at him, wishing more than anything that she could hug him, kiss him like she used to. But this, after so long, was more than she could have ever hoped for. She went up on her tiptoes, kissing the air where his transparent cheek was, a chill frosting over her lips.

"Welcome home, my darling."

[bymyside-fic]

Harmony (~7000 words) read on AO3 // AFF

- November 1, 2018 -

The scent of burnt something wafted into Jonghyun's bedroom, rousing him sooner than he would have liked. Frowning, Jonghyun sat up, looking around his disheveled room as his brain slowly -- very slowly -- came around to the idea that it was, in fact, morning.

Then there was a clatter in the kitchen. A muttered curse. And Jonghyun was suddenly much more alert, fumbling for his wand only to double back for his room when he realized he was quite naked.

Though granted, that might be enough of a shock for whoever the intruder was to scare them out without him having to use magic at all.

He pulled on a pair of sweatpants before he snuck back out, tiptoeing his way to the kitchen.

Something sizzled a bit too loudly, a very audible wince or whine just barely louder than it. Utterly confused now, Jonghyun brandished his wand and turned the corner, only to lower it a second later, his mouth agape.

Smoke billowed from a blackened pan on the stovetop. Coffee bubbled out of a cauldron the next burner over, spilling out onto the floor where -- Merlin's fucking beard -- Garcons stood lapping it up. Dishes filled this sink, other attempts at cooking, perhaps, and Taemin stood in the middle of it, spatula in hand, hair askew, and perspiration shining on his face.

"I just wanted you to know that I'm not usually this bad at cooking," Taemin said as Jonghyun hurried in, removing the pan from the stovetop and cooling it with a spout of water from the tip of his wand. "Don't get me wrong, I suck at it, but -- "

"It's okay," Jonghyun said as he pushed Garcons away from the coffee with his foot before siphoning it back into the cauldron, where the boiling brew was reducing by the second. "I'm shit at it too, that's why everything is enchanted to do it for me."

Taemin let out a long, quiet Oh as Jonghyun cleaned everything else up with a flick of his wand before stooping to gather up Garcons.

"Is coffee bad for dogs?"

"No clue."

"Where's Comme Des?" Taemin hummed in question, mopping the sweat off of his face with a kitchen towel. "The red one."

"Oh, uh, he was whining to go out so…"

Nodding, Jonghyun moved past him, opening the back door and finding Comme Des curled up on Kibum and Minho's back porch. He set Garcons down, the little ball of black fluff running over to his brother, bowing playfully before him, enticing him to play. Jonghyun sat on the back porch step, watching the pair of them run around the community garden.

A guest of nippy autumn wind reminded him that he was shirtless, causing him to shiver as a rash of goosebumps bloomed across his exposed skin. The back door opened and Jonghyun looked back, finding Taemin stepping down to join him on the porch, a sweatshirt in hand.

He passed it to Jonghyun, who leaned away to pull it on, then rocked back, his shoulder brushing against Taemin's. "Thanks."

"Yeah, no problem."

He stayed pressed against Taemin, the contact, however small, was pleasant. Peaceful, even. But maybe that was just the morning.

"Wait." Jonghyun swung his head around, looking incredulously at a confused Taemin. "Your flight!"

"Oh. Yeah, no that left hours ago," he said with a chuckle.

"Don't you…" he blinked rapidly, scooting away from Taemin so he could see him better. "Don't you need to go home?"

He grinned, eyes shining. "I've got two weeks of paid vacation time because I never take breaks. I already called my job to let them know I'll be here for a while." Jonghyun's mouth popped open, just barely, and Taemin's smile faltered. "If you don't want me to stay, that's okay, I understand."

What had been intended to be a single kiss, then a single night...turned into two weeks?

Whether it was a good idea or not, he still liked the thought. Because he liked Taemin, despite his being a Muggle -- or a No-Maj, or whatever the fuck. Would two spontaneously started weeks together be good for him? For both of them?

For his part, he was inclined to think so. If it didn't work out, then...what was the harm? A broken heart after only two weeks was nothing...comparatively.

“No, I think that should be okay.” Taemin relaxed beside him, and Jonghyun averted his eyes, turning his head to find the dogs again so he could hide his growing smile. “I guess I should go make us some breakfast, huh?”

“You’ll probably do better than I did.”

Jonghyun smirked, then schooled his expression as he looked back at Taemin. “Just relax out here with the dogs. I’ll call you in when it’s ready.” Taemin nodded, and Jonghyun grabbed his shoulder, hoisting himself up and heading back inside. “Wait, do you like coffee?” He looked over his shoulder at Jonghyun, nodding. “How do you usually take it?”

“Oh, uh…” His face scrunched in thought, and the word adorable crossed his mind. Maybe set up camp. Who’s to say? “I don’t remember. I just get it from a shop on my way into work.”

Jonghyun laughed. “I’ll let you doctor it up how you like, then.” And then he let the door close behind him.

Breakfasts were usually very simple fares for him, especially now that he didn’t live with the band anymore. Phillipe and Pierre were much better cooks than he ever was, which is why he couldn’t do much more than make some toast and scramble some eggs without the assistance of magic. So, once he got the coffee going, he started on the toast before grabbing the last of the eggs from the fridge.

Well, time to go grocery shopping again. He sighed heavily, then glanced at the door. Maybe Taemin would want to come with? He usually tagged along with Minho or Kibum or both of them, just so he wouldn’t have to brave the grocery store alone.

That, and their conversation usually drowned out the occasional Nebulous Stardust songs that would play throughout the store.

The toast popped up, startling the thought of his band out of his mind. He shook his head as he stirred the eggs for a few more seconds and took them off the heat, setting them aside so he could butter the toast and get plates for each of them. Then he poured the coffee and poked his head outside.

“Tae -- “ he started to call out, but then he stopped, grinning when he found him lying on the undoubtedly cold ground, the puppies clambering over him. “Breakfast is ready!”

Once Taemin stood, the puppies ran over to the open door and Jonghyun left it wide open for Taemin, who was a few steps behind, while he dished up their food and got them some water. Taemin was sitting at the counter sipping his coffee by the time Jonghyun returned, his plate before him. Jonghyun turned his back to him as he spooned some sugar in his own coffee.

“So, just out of curiosity,” Jonghyun said, gulping when Taemin hummed in question. “What exactly are you expecting to happen by the time you go home?”

Taemin coughed, and Jonghyun glanced over his shoulder before he twisted to face him, leaning against the counter and watching him expectantly. “I just...I don’t know...want to get to know you better. Is that okay?”

Jonghyun nodded, eyeing him as his attention returned to his meager breakfast. “What happens after, though?”

He smiled without looking up, then shrugged. “Whatever we want, I guess. We’ll just have to wait and see.” He looked up then, searching Jonghyun’s gaze before looking away.

Jonghyun sighed, then took a few more sips of his coffee before setting it aside. “I’ve, um, got to go grocery shopping later...would you like to go with me or would you rather stay here with the dogs?”

“I can come with you!”

“Let me just...oh, shit…” Taemin’s eyebrows shot up in question. “Your luggage. That’s probably still at the hotel, huh?”

“Oh, damn, I didn’t even think of that.”

Jonghyun snorted, cracking a half-smile when Taemin sighed in exasperation at himself. “We should probably go pick that up, too.” When Taemin just offered a sheepish grin, Jonghyun pushed away from the counter. “Let me just go get ready and we can head out.”

It didn’t take long for them to get ready to go. Jonghyun offered to let Taemin borrow some of his casual, No-Maj-passing clothes that Kibum had picked for him instead of donning the suit he had worn to the wedding. They were about the same size, Taemin a little lither than himself, so they fit fairly well. Jonghyun pulled on one of the old sweaters that Kibum’s grandma had knit for him that he kept charming to fit his now-adult body, a pair of jeans, and some boots. And, once the dogs' water was refilled, they were off.

“You don’t have to do the memory thing if we’re just coming right back, right?” Taemin asked as Jonghyun led him out of the wardrobe and into Madge’s shop on Canal Street.

“Nah, it should be fine. That’d probably get redundant,” Jonghyun said, waving to Madge as he led Taemin up the street. He looked curiously over their shoulders, no doubt searching for the ghost he couldn’t see. “Where’s your hotel again?”

“Uh…”

They ended up hailing a cab, since Taemin could only remember the address but not how to get there on foot, and Jonghyun was basically clueless when it came to No-Maj New York. When they arrived, Jonghyun roamed the lobby while Taemin got a new room key --he had misplaced his -- and packed up his stuff so he could check out.

Jonghyun, while he waited, found his way back to the piano. He sat at the empty bench, staring at the keys for a while before he raised his hands to let his fingertips graze them. He didn’t know much about playing the piano. Sure, he could pick out a tune and some of the chords that accompanied the melody, but the guitar had always been his preferred instrument, other than his voice. Still, he started to play. A simple melody, one that he had started to work the kinks out of in the final days of Nebulous Stardust.

“Sounds good,” someone said, startling Jonghyun enough to stop playing. He whirled around, finding Taemin staring at him in surprise. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to -- “

“It’s okay. Are you ready?”

He nodded, and together they went back outside, heading straight for Canal Street once more. Once they were through the Center and out onto the cobblestone lane of the Boulevard, Jonghyun stopped, grabbing his wand from his back pocket and laughing at Taemin’s wide eyes when he pointed the tip of it at his suitcase.

“What, you don’t want to lug this around the whole time we’re shopping, do you?”

“No…”

His eyes grew wider still when Jonghyun sent it flying away with a thought of /Depulso/ and his bedroom, his mouth popping slightly open as it disappeared around a corner. “Come on,” Jonghyun said, reaching for his hand and tugging him along toward the grocery store. “You can’t let them know you’re not a wizard, alright?” Taemin blinked several times, looking down at their joined hands until Jonghyun released his. “Technically, non-wizards aren’t allowed to be in wizarding communities. Or even know about them.”

“Okay, got it. Do you want me to hold that?” Jonghyun looked back at him as he grabbed the basket to carry his groceries in, then shook his head.

“Wingardium Leviosa,” he whispered as he pointed his wand at the basket, raising it easily to waist height and leaving it there.

Taemin gasped, all excited, then quickly schooled his expression as he looked around to make sure none of the other wizards noticed his reaction at such a simple spell. Jonghyun smirked, eyeing him for a second before he started forward, the basket on one side and Taemin on the other after he jogged to catch up to him.

Was he trying to be impressive? Perhaps. But, it wasn’t his fault that Taemin’s reactions were cute, okay?

“So,” he said once they reached the produce section. “Tell me about yourself.”

The shy, cute smile was back, and he looked around as Jonghyun grabbed a few oranges, then said, “I don’t know. There’s not much to tell.”

“Bullshit.”

Taemin licked his lips, smiling still, and for a second, Jonghyun let his gaze drop to them. The top lip was oddly shaped, he saw that now. Not that it was ugly. Nothing about Taemin was. It just…well, he found himself wanting to kiss him again, just to see if he could—

“Well, I guess, I’ve been into dancing all my life,” he said, the sound of his voice drawing Taemin away from his reveries. “My mom started my brother on it too, but he didn’t stick with it. I think she wanted girls if I’m being honest.”

“Why do you say that?”

Taemin shrugged, then laughed, stepping closer to one of the pots of baby mandrakes. “I think that turnip just glared at me.”

“Probably did,” Jonghyun said, slipping his hand around Taemin’s waist and guiding him away from the mandrakes before they started screaming.

“Anyways,” Taemin said, catching one of the dirigible plums before it floated away from its bin. “I wasn’t particularly interested in school, but I did okay. Mom was happy enough. My first,” he paused, squinting in thought, “sorta-boyfriend was one of my best friends, but I think we just spent too much time together. Broke up without telling our families about our relationship. We’re still friends, though.”

Still friends? Eh, guess he couldn’t fault him for that.

“I like his new boyfriend, though. Kinda quiet. Very funny. They suit each other.”

Jonghyun hummed, unsure of what else to say as he started for the dry goods section of the store.

“And then after I graduated, I went into the military.”

“Marines, like Minho?”

Taemin’s breathy laugh turned into a snort that drew a few of the passersby's attention. “God, no. I love myself too much for that. Military band for me.”

“What’d you play?”

He hummed, his brow furrowing as he read the moving labels on the soup cans Jonghyun was grabbing from the shelves. “Honestly? I can’t remember right now.” Jonghyun chuckled, glancing over at him with a smile. “After I got out, I went back to my old dance studio and they let me start instructing, which has been nice. Been doing that for a few years, now.”

“No other boyfriends since your first?”

Taemin shook his head. “Girlfriend, though.” Jonghyun blinked, doing a double-take as he looked back at him, but Taemin didn’t notice his surprise. “We broke up...what day is it?”

“Uh, first of November.”

“Right. Two months ago, then.”

Ah...so he must be the rebound then. He’d done the same with Pierre. Didn’t end well. “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I was too clingy, I guess. That’s what Danbi said, anyway.” He sniffed a laugh, pointing to one of the bottles of premade potion, a few lizard eyes floating within it. “Are those eyes?”

“Yes. Shh, let’s go.”

It became quite the chore, keeping Taemin from revealing that he was a No-Maj to the rest of the shoppers. Jonghyun grabbed whatever he could think of -- he rarely made a shopping list, but today, especially, he was in a hurry -- and they checked out, laden with bags on the way home. The puppies greeted them excitedly, pestering Jonghyun as he put away his groceries until Taemin drew them away to the living room.

Once Jonghyun finished putting everything away, he found the coiled leashes for Comme Des and Garcons, slipping them off the counter and shaking them to get the puppies' attention. He tossed the red one to Taemin, who fumbled with it, but caught it. “That one is Garcons’.”

The chill autumn wind whistled around him as they walked down the cobblestone lane. Everyone still had their decorations for Halloween out — because, in Salem Boulevard, they usually went up mid-August and didn’t get taken down until the first of December. Taemin was still excited, though he wasn’t talking as much anymore. Just looking around, eyes bright and wide, taking everything in.

He still wasn’t quite sure what to think of him. Did he like him? Yes, he was funny and cute and sweet with a mischievous, playful side. The exact opposite of Pierre. But, well, again, he wasn’t sure. Should he open his heart up to this…No-Maj? Should he open his heart again at all? That had only given him pain before…

Or, maybe it didn’t need to be that serious. A two-week fling with a cute guy with low odds for ever crossing his path again? Sounded ideal. Just what he needed.

His eyes landed on Comme Des, then drifted over to Garcons, the sight of them reminding him of their owners. He sighed heavily, his breath pluming around him. Yeah, okay, maybe he wanted what they had. So what? Not everyone gets what they want…

“Woah, what’s that?” Taemin asked, his fingers grazing Jonghyun’s arm as he reached for him.

Jonghyun looked around him to where he was pointing. “Remember those weird nectarine things that were floating in the store?” He nodded, meeting Jonghyun’s gaze before looking back at the wild bush with floating orange fruit. “Those are that. Dirigible plums.”

“Can we go look at them?”

Jonghyun smiled, he couldn’t stop himself. “Sure.”

Taemin kept pressing down on them, only for them to float back up, higher than they had been. Technically, they weren’t supposed to take any of the wild ones, but no one was around and Jonghyun was just too soft when Taemin turned his pleading eyes to him. They did, however, have a bit of a hard time concealing them in their pockets on the way home.

Dinner was simple, even with the help of the cookbook Kibum had bought for him ages ago, but Taemin didn’t seem to mind. He ate his fill, then a bit more when Jonghyun cut up the dirigible plums they had picked and tossed them over some vanilla ice cream. Maybe he should have cooked them? Kibum probably would have, but Jonghyun wasn’t sure if he had any ingredients for that. Taemin didn’t complain, though, which was nice of him.

When Jonghyun came back from letting the dogs out one last time, Taemin was nowhere to be found. The puppies followed him up to his room when he ran up the stairs, both of them hopping on the bed once he reached the top stair.

The shower was running.

Jonghyun relaxed, his gaze continually trailing back to the door as he stripped out of his jeans and sweater. By the time he had slipped into his sweatpants, the water turned off. He froze, unsure of where to stand or look until the door cracked open and Taemin stepped through.

His damp hair clung to his forehead, and he grinned at Jonghyun as his hand settled on the towel wrapped around his hips. “Sorry, were you planning on showering?”

“Uh, no.” He gulped, his mouth suddenly dry as Taemin breezed past him, a hint of his musky body wash buffeting him. “I shower in the mornings.”

“Hm, should I have waited, then?”

He asked it so quietly that Jonghyun couldn’t be sure if he imagined it. Eyebrows raised, he followed Taemin’s progress into the room to where his suitcase lay by the bed. Ah, his cheeks and ears were a bit pink. Jonghyun smiled, looking away. Adorable.

“You don’t mind sharing a bed, do you?” Jonghyun asked as he turned and went inside the bathroom, raising his voice as he wet his toothbrush. “I wanna make sure you’re comfortable.”

He started brushing his teeth, jumping when Taemin appeared in the doorway. Their eyes met in the mirror. “I,” he cleared his throat. “I don’t mind at all.”

Jonghyun stopped brushing his teeth, pulling out his toothbrush just long enough to say, “Give me a minute,” before he continued.

Taemin was snuggled under the covers, hair and eyes and nose peeking out, by the time Jonghyun left the bathroom. Both of the dogs were curled up on the bed between his side and Taemin’s, making themselves quite at home. Sighing, Jonghyun crawled into the left side, flopping over on his back. He blinked a few times before he turned his head, amused to find Taemin watching him.

“Ready for the light?” Taemin nodded, and Jonghyun reached for his wand. “Nox!”

The lights winked out, blanketing them in velvety darkness.

“Can you do that again?” Taemin whispered into the night.

Since he had yet to find a counter jinx to the effect that Taemin’s excited interest had on him, Jonghyun relented, lighting and darkening the room a few more times until Garcons got up, barking at him.

Jonghyun set the wand aside, the darkness warm against his skin. He could barely make out Taemin’s silhouette in the pale moonlight streaming through the window. As he turned and dislodged Comme Des from his makeshift bed on his legs. He seemed to be hesitating. But why?

He sniffed in surprise when something damp and cold rested against his arm. Taemin stiffened beside him. “Sorry, I forgot…”

Did he want to cuddle? Or, something like that?

Jonghyun blinked rapidly, shifting closer to him. “It’s okay, I’m expecting it now.”

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the sheets and covers rasped together, and Taemin’s damp head rested on his shoulder, his arm draping across his middle.

He’d never really been held in bed before. Not even by Pierre. Sure, they slept beside each other for many years, and occasionally Pierre would indulge him, but it never lasted that long. When he was sure that Taemin had no intention of releasing him, Jonghyun slipped his arm around him, holding him closer still. And for the first time in living memory, he was asleep in moments.

When he woke, Taemin was still holding him. Still asleep. Maybe he was a little too warm, but right now, he couldn’t care less. Jonghyun looked down at Taemin’s sleeping profile, his thumb stroking lazily back and forth on his back. The urge to kiss the top of his head grew the longer he watched him, and before he could stop himself, he indulged the urge. Taemin’s face scrunched up a little, and he held Jonghyun a little tighter, but he didn’t wake.

He needed to get up, to get ready to head into work, to let the dogs out, but he couldn’t bring himself to detach Taemin from his side. Jonghyun shifted slightly, grabbing his phone. He had an hour and a half before he had to be at work, so hopefully, Taemin would wake himself up naturally before then.

Minutes ticked by, and nothing. Should he just get up? Leave Taemin to sleep peacefully while he got ready? He checked his phone again. One hour until work. He closed his eyes, sighing as he set his phone aside. Then he carefully extracted himself from Taemin.

“Where are you going?” Taemin mumbled once he reached the closet. He was sitting half up now, leaning on his elbow and rubbing his eye as he looked at Jonghyun.

“I have to get ready for work,” Jonghyun said, crossing the room to return to him. To kiss him good morning. As soon as he pulled away, Taemin blinked sleepily, his gaze searching his. “I can come back to check in on my lunch break,” he said as Taemin’s attention dipped to his lips. Jonghyun smiled. “Does that sound okay?” Taemin nodded, and Jonghyun kissed him again, lingering longer than he intended when Taemin’s hand slipped around his neck, holding him there.

In the back of his mind, he knew he had to get ready to leave, but there was something so addicting about him. He barely registered crawling back into bed, his only thought was of Taemin. And his lips and the way his kisses grew ever hungrier. His hands and the way they roamed his skin, holding him closer. Only when the alarm on his phone went off did Jonghyun pull away, and he stared blankly at it before he realized what it meant.

“Shit,” he muttered, and Taemin stopped kissing his neck, meeting his gaze when he looked back at him. “I really gotta get ready.”

With a great effort, he slipped out of Taemin’s arms and hurried to his closet, picking clothes at random. “I wish I could come with you.”

Jonghyun snorted, glancing over at him as he changed out of his sweatpants and into a pair of jeans. “Please, I need to be at least a little focused on work today.”

“Are you saying I’m distracting?”

He huffed a quiet laugh as he pulled on his boots and Taemin grinned. “You don’t mind looking after the dogs for me, do you?” Taemin shook his head and Jonghyun stood, walking over to kiss him one last time. “I’ll see you at lunch, then.”

While he did go home for lunch, he forgot all about the actual meal.

They fell into a rhythm, then, as the days passed. Each moment they spent together felt more natural and relaxed than the last. He’d gotten used to Taemin’s shyness, his clinginess. In fact, he couldn’t imagine why his ex had broken up with him because of it. Well, in any case, he was grateful to her. He hadn’t realized how much he had been craving someone like this. How had he stayed with someone as aloof as Pierre for so long? Obligation, perhaps?

Taemin was warm and friendly and funny and adorable when Pierre...well, actually, now that he was thinking about it, he couldn’t remember much about him. Especially when Taemin was around. Even the good points. True, he’d never be truly free of him. Pierre was a stain on his life that would linger in the back of his mind forever, but Taemin...Taemin filled his mind with such light that even thoughts of Pierre were fleeting when before they would linger long past their welcome.

When Monday rolled back around and it was time for him to go to work after the weekend off, Jonghyun could feel Taemin’s scrutiny as he got ready for work. He finally looked back at him after he pulled his head through the neck hole of his sweater, smiling at Taemin’s slightly forlorn expression. “Don’t look at me like that, you know I have to go to work.”

“It’s dumb.”

“I mean, you’re not wrong.” Taemin sighed, then smiled up at him as he returned to the bed to kiss him goodbye. “I’d rather not leave you either.”

“Then can I come with? Just until lunch?” he added quickly when Jonghyun’s brow furrowed. “You won’t even know I’m there, I promise.”

Doubtful, to be honest. But his track record for refusing Taemin anything in the few days that he had known him was not great. At all.

“Get ready quick, then, if you -- “ He didn’t even get a chance to finish. Taemin bounded out of bed and over to where his clothes hung in the closet.

After the dogs were cared for and they had a quick breakfast, they were on their way to the Center, Taemin’s hand slipping into his as soon as the door was closed behind them. Jonghyun swung their hands back and forth as they walked along, feeling warm despite the chilly autumn morning.

As with his experience with everything having to do with magic thus far, Taemin was extremely interested in whatever Jonghyun was doing up until lunch. Even when he was simply handwriting the labels and receipts for the different potions Crow made. He kept having to keep him from getting too near the spouts for the venomous tentacula. Sure, they were small, but somehow that made them even more vicious.

Still, it was cute to watch him interact with it all. Growing up around all of this, he never really thought too much about how amazing it must seem to an outsider. True, he reacted similarly whenever Minho -- or now, Taemin, as well -- showed him or explained a part of the No-Maj world that he’d never heard of before. He was just so amazed by what Jonghyun considered to be the simplest things. He kinda hoped that would never wear off.

“You ready for lunch?” Jonghyun asked as he wrote his clocking-out time down.

Taemin, who was absorbed in the copy of the Oracle that Jonghyun had translated into Korean for him, didn’t hear him until he asked again. “Yeah! Sorry…”

“It’s okay.” Jonghyun slipped out of his apron and came around the counter, holding his hand out for Taemin to take so he could lead him up to the food court.

He let Taemin choose where they went for lunch, which was -- yet again -- the sushi bar. They ate their fill, but still had a bit of time before Jonghyun had to be back to work, so they roamed the shops, Jonghyun explaining some of the magical tools and instruments that Taemin pointed out. That was until Taemin pulled him toward the music shop, which usually sat out of sight from the apothecary behind the Grated Tree.

Taemin looked up at the display window, watching the instruments play a symphony all on their own. Their music bled out from the closed door, the harmonies drawing them closer to it. Without asking, Taemin opened the door, peering in before he opened the door wider and slipped inside. After a second’s hesitation, Jonghyun followed him.

He shoved his hands in his pockets as he wandered around, following Taemin over to where the pianos were. After getting permission from one of the employees, Taemin started to play, his music drowning out the symphony from the display window. Eventually, Jonghyun meandered away, finding the guitars. His breath caught in his throat as his gaze landed on one in particular.

It was nothing special. Just your standard acoustic guitar. But, it looked almost exactly like the one Mom had bought him ages ago.

The one that he had left behind when he moved here.

His hand shook a little as he reached for it, gently taking it off its hook. He slipped the shoulder strap around him, getting comfortable, one hand holding the neck, the other poised to pluck the strings.

Had it been too long? He hadn’t touched a guitar in years. Would he remember how to play?

Tentatively, he pressed a chord into the fingerboard, his thumb strumming the strings. It was in tune, at least. He closed his eyes as he played another chord, then another, and soon, he was playing one of his old songs. The band hadn’t agreed on it, so it had gotten scrapped. He hadn’t even come up with a title for it, but somehow, he remembered it. He hummed along until the end, most of the lyrics forgotten.

When he opened his eyes, he found Taemin leaning against the shelves across from him, watching him. Jonghyun gulped, pulling the strap over his head. “No, don’t stop because of me, please. That was beautiful.”

“I have to get back to work.”

His fingers ached, the familiar calluses long gone, as he put the guitar back on its hook. They left without purchasing anything, and Jonghyun walked him to the Center’s exit, kissing him goodbye before he trudged back to the apothecary.

It was almost as if the music shop were staring at him, daring him to come back inside.

He was only able to ignore it for a few days, but then his resolve broke when Crow handed him his paycheck. As soon as he cashed it in, he withdrew enough to purchase the guitar. He practically ran home, the case swinging back and forth beside him.

“Look what I bought!” he said as soon as he toed his wet boots off and shook the rain out of his hair. “Where are you?”

“Upstairs!”

Taemin was almost as excited as he was when he showed him the guitar, and as soon as he was able to start dinner cooking itself, he camped out on the couch, his legs thrown over Taemin’s, and started working on tuning /his/ guitar.

“What was that song you played before?”

“One of mine. The band didn’t like the lyrics so we never used it.”

Taemin started tickling one of his feet until Jonghyun twitched it out of his reach, glaring at him before looking back at his guitar with a small smile. “Why didn’t they like them?”

“They have bad taste.”

“Clearly.” Jonghyun sniffed a laugh, digging his heel into Taemin’s thigh when he tried to start tickling his foot again. He stopped, grinning impishly at him as he shook his head. “Do you remember the lyrics?”

“Some of them. It’s been a while.” He could feel Taemin’s expectant gaze, so he found the chord that started the chorus on the fingerboard. “Such a beautiful view...and then someone is supposed to adlib, but I don’t remember what...Show me more...” Feeling slightly self-conscious, he stopped playing, his palm pressing against the strings to quiet them.

When he looked up, Taemin immediately dropped his gaze, helping Garcons up onto the couch. Jonghyun leaned forward to scratch him behind the ears as he curled up between them. “I know you said it’s hard to get back into music because of your ex, and,” he cleared his throat, “I get that. But…” He looked up then, meeting Jonghyun’s curious gaze. “I really hope you’ll be able to soon.”

“I think you’re just being nice. Because you like me so much.”

Taemin grinned sheepishly, fiddling with a string on the hem of Jonghyun’s jeans. “It’s possible, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

After dinner, Jonghyun returned to the couch with his guitar and Taemin kept Comme Des and Garcons occupied on the floor. He had grabbed one of his self-inking quills and a new sheet of parchment so he could jot down whatever lyrics came to mind as he messed around with the old tune. He was underlining a line he especially liked when he thought he heard one of the puppies yelping. He jumped up, his guitar set aside, when he realized that it was Taemin who had made that noise.

He was backing away into the kitchen, his eyes on a spot on the carpet, his face contorted in a fearful grimace until he looked up to find Jonghyun watching him. His face colored and he looked back at the carpet. “I know it’s dumb, but...but I’m terrified of bugs.”

“Bugs?” He nodded earnestly, still not looking up. Jonghyun stepped over Comme Des on his way to the kitchen where he had left his wand. To be honest, he was no fan of bugs either, but at least he didn’t have to touch them to get rid of them. “What kind was it?”

“Spider,” Taemin said, shuddering.

Jonghyun grabbed his wand and looked back to where Taemin had been. Garcons was sniffing the carpet, so Jonghyun made his way over, and sure enough, a large disgustingly hairy black spider was making its way across the thick shag carpet. Jonghyun winced as he wordlessly flicked his wand at it, levitating it. “Get out of the way, babe,” he said to Taemin, who darted back across the room and as far away from the floating spider as he could. Jonghyun took it to the back door, flinging it out into the night.

He closed the door, looking back at Taemin. He was sitting in the spot that Jonghyun had vacated, watching him with wide eyes. Jonghyun smiled reassuringly, then tapped the door with the tip of his wand and said “Reverbaro!”

A ring of light bloomed from the spot his wand tip touched, growing and growing until it consumed the kitchen, the living room, then disappeared up the stairs.

“What did you do?” Taemin asked, his voice a little hoarse.

“That’s a repelling charm,” Jonghyun said, setting his wand back down on the counter before he started for the couch. “It’ll keep any bugs away for a very long time.” Taemin’s mouth was slightly agape as he watched Jonghyun settle back on the couch and take up his guitar again. He was about to start playing again when he still felt his gaze, so he met his eyes. “What?”

“Can you come and do that at my place?”

“Sure. Just name the time.”

He strummed a few chords, glancing over at him and doing a double-take when he saw his incredulous expression. “Where have you been all of my life?”

“Oh, around. I’m here now, at least.” He set his guitar aside with a chuckle, then glanced up at Taemin, half-grinning. “You know, I might have to come over pretty often, to check on the charm once it's in place, you know. Make sure it’s still working for you.”

For a second, Taemin looked as if he were about to say something, but he changed his mind, deciding instead to kiss him. Much later, when all was dark and tranquil and they were still tangled together in Jonghyun’s bed, Taemin’s voice, soft and tentative, broke the silence.

“Would you really want to come over?” he asked, his fingertips grazing Jonghyun’s arm as he held him close. “To Korea, I mean. After I go home.”

“Of course I do.” The silence seemed to smile, and Jonghyun pressed a kiss to Taemin’s head. “I wish you didn’t have to go if I’m being honest. I kinda like having you around.”

“I kinda like being around you, too.”

“You just like me because I’ll take care of the bugs for you.” Taemin let out a breathy chuckle, then brought their joined hands up to kiss the back of Jonghyun's hand. “When does your flight leave?”

“At seven. Which means I should get there at five.”

Jonghyun stretched out, grabbing his phone. “It’s two-fifteen now. We should probably try to sleep.”

“Or…” Or? Jonghyun’s eyebrows rose as he set his phone back down. “I mean, who knows how long it will be until we see each other again…”

He sniffed a laugh as he rolled over, bracing himself around Taemin. Even in the faint moonlight, he could see the eagerness, the playfulness in Taemin’s eyes. “So, what you’re saying is that you can sleep on the plane.”

“That and we’re wasting our precious time, don’t you think?”

They did not, in fact, sleep at all. But then, Jonghyun would never complain about that.

Getting Taemin ready for the airport was peppered with yawns and lingering kisses. They only had to go back to the house twice for things that Taemin forgot, but then they were off, not holding each other’s hand only when Taemin loaded and unloaded his luggage from the taxi and when he went up to the front desk to check his bag. He plodded sleepily back over to Jonghyun once he was free of his luggage, melting into his open arms.

“I don’t wanna go,” he murmured as they swayed a little together.

“I’ll be there before you know it.” He nodded, then sighed before he tore himself away from Jonghyun. “Let me know when you get home, alright?” Jonghyun said just before Taemin leaned in to kiss him.

“I will.” He kissed him again, then again when Taemin was back in his arms. “I guess I should go.”

“If you must.”

Sighing again, Taemin slipped away, waving goodbye before turning his back on him and starting for security. Then he stopped in his tracks, turning on his heel. Jonghyun’s eyebrows rose in curiosity when he came back to him. “What’d you forget?”

“Not me. You.” He hummed in question. “The memory charm thing. You forgot to do that when we left the Boulevard.”

Oh right. Huh.

“Well, maybe I wanted you to remember everything.” Taemin’s concern melted away to fondness, and he smiled as Jonghyun pulled him into one last kiss. “See you later, babe.”

“Yeah, see you.”

He grinned, his eyes glimmering in the airport lights, and he turned, hurrying now for the line leading to security. Jonghyun watched him until he slipped past the security barrier and was gone. He could feel himself start to deflate a little as he turned away, trodding back toward the exit.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and Jonghyun dug it out, finding that Taemin texted him. He stopped walking, opening the message.

[5:06 am]

I can’t wait for you to come over We’re gonna have so much fun

Jonghyun smiled, glancing back over his shoulder to the security barrier. But before he could respond, Taemin sent a picture. A very unflattering picture, with his eyes wide with a weird expression, his chin pulled back to give him several double chins.

Look at how attractive your boyfriend is

Boyfriend...Jonghyun smiled at his phone screen, his heart fluttering. Yeah, he had to agree with him there.

You’re such a nerd

When Taemin didn’t respond right away, Jonghyun started walking again, saving the picture as he did. He’d set it to Taemin’s contact picture when he got home. After Kibum and Minho got back, he’d be heading straight to the Portkey Approval Office at the Center so he could head over to Korea on his next weekend off.

Actually, he was pretty sure that he and the clerks at the PAO were about to become very familiar with each other.

[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (77/80)

let’s run away - “Did you double-check that we have everything?” Minho nodded, ducking into the bathroom of their suite to make sure, yet again, that there was no trace of them. “Triple-check?”

“Babe,” Minho said, chuckling as he slipped out into the main part of the room, finding Kibum sitting on the bed and rummaging through the bag with all their stuff. “We have everything. Just relax.”

“Look, I just don’t want to have to summon things across Europe.”

“I feel like that makes sense.”

Kibum huffed, glaring up at Minho when he stopped before him. “You’re making fun of me.”

“What?” he asked in mock surprise, grinning when Kibum rolled his eyes. “Never.”

“When we get home, I’m divorcing you.”

“I’ll just marry you again. It’s no big deal.”

master list // AO3 // AFF // bonus

[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (76/80)

marry you - Minho pulled him into a hug, holding him as close as he could. He buried his face in his neck and sweater, breathing in his faintly spicy cologne. “I can’t wait to marry you,” Kibum whispered, and Minho gripped him tighter still. “Maybe we should just elope and not tell Jjong.”

Chuckling, Minho pulled away enough to kiss him. Once, twice, smiling now. “I’m okay with that, but would Mom be?”

Kibum groaned again. “I guess we can’t disappoint her, huh?”

master list // AO3 // AFF // bonus

[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (75/80)

world on fire - “Oh,” Kibum said, the sound escaping him seemingly involuntarily. “I thought you had already headed out." 

“It starts at twelve-thirty. We’ve still got time.” Minho slowly turned to face Kibum, his heart – somehow – sinking even further than it already had. "You’re really not coming?" 

Kibum’s brow furrowed, his expression twitching into something like pained amusement for a split second before he schooled his expression. "You know I have some extra work to do.” For whatever reason, Minho doubted that. “Besides, it’s just another Quidditch game. I’ve been to loads of them." 

"All of them,” Minho knew better than to say aloud.

master list // AO3 // AFF // bonus

[bymyside-fic]

Compromise (~2280 words) read on AO3 // AFF

- December 8, 2017 -

“Are you sure you want to head to the shelter today?”

Minho nodded, his eyes tightly shut as he waited for the Wiggenweld Kibum made as soon as they returned from the hospital to take effect. Kibum resettled into bed, combing his fingers lightly through his hair.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to, babe.” Gradually, the throbbing ache of his thigh started to dissipate. Enough, at least, for Minho to open his eyes. Kibum smiled as he met his gaze, his expression softening ever so slightly. “We can wait until you’re feeling better.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Kibum let out an exasperated sigh, which made Minho chuckle. "I don't need to even say it, do I?"

Did Kibum need to say that Minho was a bit reckless when it came to injuries? No. That's why he was in this predicament in the first place. But, for Minho's part, he didn't really see going to an animal shelter as reckless.

"No, but really, I'll be just fine. We can apparate there and back again without making me be on my feet too much."

"As long as you use your walker -- " Minho sucked his teeth in disdain, frowning up at Kibum. "It's that or I'm confining you to the house. You can use your crutches in a few weeks, but Healer Talpin said that it'd be best to -- "

"I know, babe, I was there," he grumbled as he tried to sit up, only for Kibum to lean across him, holding him in place. "I just look so dumb when I use it."

"Well if you see anyone making fun of you, just let me know so I can hex them." Minho sniffed a laugh, searching Kibum's blazing eyes. "Look, we're not taking any chances with your recovery, got it?" When Minho started to avert his eyes, Kibum moved his head, staying in his eye line. "What would you do if it were me?"

Well, they both knew the answer to that.

He sighed. "Okay. Walker it is."

The seriousness in Kibum's expression melted away as he smiled, his eyes becoming crescents as he leaned in for a quick kiss. "Good. What do you want to wear today?" he asked as he backed away from Minho, rolling off the bed and heading for their closet.

"Go ahead and choose for me. I trust you."

Even though most of the pain was obliterated now that the Wiggenweld had taken effect, Minho still didn't trust putting too much weight on his leg. Neither did Kibum, so he helped Minho into his jeans and gingerly put his thigh woolen socks and winter boots on while Minho fumbled with and slipped into his sweater.

"Here, can you lift your leg?"

"Mhm."

Kibum reached around, grabbing the strappy brace that Talpin had given Minho to use for a bit of extra support and held it open as he worked it up to and around Minho's thigh. "Is that too tight?" Kibum asked after he had tapped it with the tip of his wand, the straps fastening themselves.

"No, it's just fine. Thanks, sweetheart," he added as Kibum stood.

Kibum smiled down at him, his hand going up to gently cup his cheek as he kissed his forehead. Minho's heart stuttered at the tenderness. It may have been usual before their fight, but in the aftermath...in the absence of anything, the smallest gestures of affection since their reconciliation filled him with such a lingering warmth that carried him throughout the day.

He'd never take it for granted ever again.

At Minho's insistence, they stopped at Sanderson's first before they went out into the No-Maj world. He conjured up some cupholders on his walker while Kibum paid for their drinks, and as soon as they were back outside, Kibum slipped his hand around his arm, twisting on his spot.

It took nearly all of his concentration to keep a hold on his walker as the city swirled around him. When they arrived, Kibum seemed to have taken special care to appear in the alley behind Animal Haven on Centre St.

Kibum tucked his wand into his coat, then grabbed their coffees before they started for the animal shelter.

A wave of warmth greeted them, soon followed by a chorus of distant barking and meowing. "Hello!" the woman wearing a Santa hat behind the counter said, her cheeks just as rosy and her smile just as bright as Santa's himself. The cat curled up on the counter beside her looked up lazily. It deemed them not worth the trouble of getting up any further and tucked its head back into its side. "Just here to look around?" she asked as Kibum helped Minho hobble inside.

The door jingled as it fell shut behind them. The cat's tail twitched at the sound.

"Yes, I think so."

"We might adopt today."

Her eyebrows shot up in interest. "Dogs are back there." She gestured to the hallway behind her, then pointed past the ginger tabby on the counter. "And cats are that way."

"Thank you," Minho said, and Kibum started towards the dogs. He didn't have to turn back around to know that she was watching him curiously.

Kibum held the door open for him, the excited barking echoing around them. German shepherds, pit bulls, and mixes Minho never could have placed watched them as they inspected them. Some hid in the back of their cages, others jumped up on the chain-link gate, tails wagging as they whined for either Minho or Kibum to oblige them or to pass by. Minho stopped to put his hand out for one of the labrador-looking dogs to sniff, but it ended up excitedly licking his hand.

“I wish Jonghyun could have come with us,” Minho said, smiling down at the dog.

“Yeah, it sucks that he had to work.” When Minho looked up, he found Kibum crouching down in front of one of the cages, sticking his fingers through the fence. It took him an annoyingly long time to reach him, but when he did, he smiled.

There were two poodles inside, a red one and a black one, both watching them curiously from the back of their cage. Since he couldn’t crouch beside Kibum, he read the little paper attached to the chain link.

Meet Comme Des (5 y/o, male, red Toy Poodle) and Garcons (2 y/o, male, black Toy Poodle), two adorable, inseparable brothers! Their owner passed away and her remaining family refused to take the boys in, so they are ready to be adopted into a loving home!

He shifted his weight off of his bad leg as he looked back at the puppies.

“The red one looks like the one Grandma used to have.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm.”

Minho hummed in thought, glancing up at the sheet of paper again. “Well, I’m good with adopting two puppies if you are.”

“Both?” Kibum asked, a hint of incredulity in his voice. Minho nodded and pointed at the paper, and Kibum stood quickly to read it for himself. “Oh, poor things...Love the names, though.”

“I thought you might.” Kibum sniffed a laugh, patting Minho’s shoulder as he shook his head. “Do we want to head back to the front desk to see if we can adopt them?” Kibum looked up at him, his eyes alight with excitement, and he nodded.

They didn’t leave the shelter with the puppies in tow for another hour, and even then, they debated whether they should disapparate or not, in the end, Minho opted on disapparating alone so he wouldn’t have to be on his feet that much longer and Kibum would take a Magi-Cab home instead of the subway.

He appeared in their room, first, so he could sit while he took off his shoes and coat. Then he fell back, knocking a sigh out of him as he looked up at the starry ceiling. Was this just gonna be his life now? Playing Quidditch and getting injured? Not that it happened often since he started playing professionally, but it happened quite a bit during school. He just...put his all into the game and sometimes that came back to bite him.

Hm…

Maybe Kibum had a point.

Minho pushed himself up, his gaze falling on the drawer of his nightstand. He pulled it open, revealing the Snitches within -- the one with Kibum’s ring, and the one from the last game.

He leaned forward, touching it, setting it aflutter around the room. It zoomed around lazily, Minho's gaze following it.

How many more years did he have, anyway? He just shaved a few off with this injury, but really, how long did he have left? Kibum was right, of course. He did get too passionate sometimes. Too into the game. Minho glanced down at his ankle, the one which -- just like his leg -- had been broken by a Bludger. It still twinged when the weather changed.

Come to think of it, it was aching right now.

What would his next Quidditch injury be? There was bound to be more, with how he went about it. Could he put Kibum through another scare like that?

He had told him the night before they left the hospital after the last of Minho's visitors had left him, that in his worry, he panicked and thought that Minho could have died.

Kibum had brushed off Minho's concern with a laugh, then changed the subject once again to the puppies they were going to adopt.

Speaking of, where was he? He glanced at the empty stairwell as if the thought of Kibum would make him appear.

Wincing, he gingerly swung his leg up onto the bed, sitting back against his pillows. The Snitch came over to inspect him before it flitted away again. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he watched it.

"No," he whispered aloud to the empty room. "I can't."

If they were going be married -- which, of course, they were. As soon as he could kneel again, he was going to propose -- would it be fair or kind to Kibum to put him through that stress every time he played a game? It wouldn't. Especially not with his history of lost loved ones.

No.

He couldn't do that to him.

He reached for his phone and pulled up his and Mercy's texts.

Actually, he should wait a bit, think it through a bit longer. He was almost sure that he was going to go with this decision, but it was better to be absolutely positive. Nodding to himself, he set aside his phone.

As soon as he drew his hand back, the front door cracked open. "Babe?"

"I'm upstairs!" Kibum was accompanied by some high-pitched, probably nervous whining and the rustle of plastic bags. The Snitch drifted over to the stairwell, hovering over it. Possibly to see what the commotion was. Minho pushed himself up. "Do you want my help?"

"No, no, I'm fine." Their little cages were unhinged, and soon the sound of their scurrying on the hardwood floor floated up to him. “Come on, boys,” Kibum said, his voice very high-pitched. “Let’s go outside, yeah?”

Minho sighed, smiling as he listened to Kibum continue to talk to them until the back door swung closed. He resettled on the bed, not feeling all that inclined to get up. He hadn’t realized he had started to drift off until Kibum slid into bed beside him, rousing him.

“Was I asleep?” he asked.

“You were well on your way.” Kibum leaned in, Minho tipping his chin up so Kibum could kiss him. “I’m sorry for waking you.”

“You’re a nice thing to wake up to, so it’s okay.”

Kibum’s smile grew. “You’re so sappy.”

“What? You love it.”

“So what if I do?”

Minho had been about to answer, but he held his tongue when Kibum turned around. “Where’s your brother?” he asked, and Minho peered around to see Garcons watching them from the top step. At Kibum’s question, Garcons turned around and hurried back downstairs. “Why do I feel like he understood me?”

And, sure enough, a moment later Garcons returned with Comme Des, who immediately ran in and hopped on their bed, bounding up to Kibum. Garcons was soon to follow, except he directed his attention to Minho, half-standing on his chest, his head cocking to the side as he looked down at Minho.

“Do you think they’ll nap with us?”

“Is that what we were doing?”

“It’s what you were doing and I felt inclined to join you.”

Minho sniffed a laugh. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

Kibum hummed in thought, then slipped down, resting his head on Minho’s shoulder like usual. It only took a few minutes for Garcons to curl up between them and for Comme Des to flop down in the curve of Kibum’s knees. “I think if we’re really still, they’ll fall asleep.”

“That’s usually how it works, yeah.”

Kibum sucked his teeth, and Minho started to laugh quietly. “Don’t make me get some of that extra strength Wiggenweld.”

Minho grinned, meeting Kibum’s eye when he lifted his head. “Oh, sweetheart, I don’t need that shit to wax eloquent about how amazing you are.”

His dimples appeared as he pursed his lips together in an attempt not to smile, and he rested his head back down on Minho’s shoulder, snuggling a bit closer to him. Minho lifted his head from his pillow to kiss the crown of his head, then let it fall back against his pillow again, his eyes drooping closed once more.

[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (74/80)

days and years - Minho smiled at him as Kibum leaned against the window, looking back at him. The sunny, cloudless day was reflected in his dark eyes, which widened as he took a tentative sip of his coffee. Sighing, Kibum lifted their joined hands and kissed Minho’s knuckles. 

“So,” he said, pulling Minho a little closer to him, “We’ve got a bit of a problem.” 

“Oh?” 

Kibum nodded. “You can’t stay here at the dorms. I was…I was too excited about you coming that I didn’t think to arrange a place for you to stay when you got here.” 

“Oh.” 

“Yeah.” 

His face scrunched up in thought. It took a few more careful sips of his coffee before he met Kibum’s gaze again. “Well, what options do we have?”

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[bymyside-fic]

By My Side, A Hogwarts AU (73/80)

i’m home - He had fallen asleep before he realized it, but thankfully after he had finished his cocoa and set it on the floor beside him before he dozed off. It was still snowing when he woke, the gray light of the snowy day setting him on edge as soon as he opened his eyes. Until, he heard the fluttering pages of his notebook, that is.

Good morning, sweetheart~

He rubbed his eyes as he sat up further, looking around for his pen. Good morning, my love~ He watched the blank space below, grimacing at the taste of last night’s cocoa coating his tongue. Any updates?

Well, I’m getting my first cup of coffee for the morning

Very helpful. Thank you.

ㅋㅋ I’m sure everything will get sorted out soon. I’ll be there before you know it

You’d better be.

Minho’s subsequent updates were similarly unhelpful. That he was getting lunch…That it was strange that a place called Applebee’s sold neither apples nor bees….That he was getting a snack… Was the weather really that bad on the West Coast? Would he be stuck alone in the airport over Christmas?

master list // AO3 // AFF // bonus