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amethystarachnid · 2 months ago

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POTIONS

⤷ BILLY KAPLAN / MAXIMOFF

ᯓ★ Pairing: Billy Kaplan / Maximoff x male!reader

ᯓ★ Genre: romance, fluff

ᯓ★ Request from: MARVEL Multiverse

ᯓ★ Story type: one shot

ᯓ★ Word count: 4.6k

ᯓ★ Summary: Billy Maximoff is probably the most feared Slytherin in all Hogwarts because of his mother, the Scarlet Witch, but no one knows that deep down Billy is just an awkward boy with a big crush on an Hufflepuff boy. Billy isn't sure on how he should act so he keeps teasing y/n, hoping to get his attention that way...But what will happen when they're paired for a project together?

ᯓ★ TW(s): reader understand that he's gay (which isn't really a tw but anyway), kinda mean!Billy but it's really just a few comments

ᯓ★ AU: Harry Potter / Hogwarts

ᯓ★ Request: Harry Potter AU for Billy Kaplan / Maximoff x male!reader? Pretty please :3 ( @blazeymc)

ᯓ★ Comment if you want to be added to the taglist (specify if you want the everything taglist or for a specific character)

ᯓ★ My Masterlist

ᯓ★ MARVEL Multiverse - choose an AU, pair it with your favorite character and make a request!

ᯓ★ Songs & Superheroes tales - The Game (to make a request, follow the rules on the link!)

ᯓ★ MARVEL Bingo

ᯓ★ English isn’t my first language

You’re not sure when it started, Billy Maximoff teasing you during Potions, making snide comments during Charms, or sneering at your House every time your paths crossed in the corridors. But it’s clear that he’s got something against Hufflepuffs, or at least, something against you.

You glance across the classroom at him now, trying to focus on Professor Slughorn’s lecture about the properties of Wiggentree bark, but your attention keeps drifting. Billy sits there in his Slytherin robes, lounging in his seat with that signature air of superiority, dark hair tousled just enough to look effortlessly cool. His eyes flick over to you, and you immediately look away, feeling your face heat up. You’re used to it by now, the way he looks at you. Always with that little smirk like he knows something you don’t. You figure he’s sizing up another opportunity to take a jab at you, like he always does.

“Hufflepuff and Potions… a tragic combination,” you hear him mutter under his breath, just loud enough for you to catch.

You roll your eyes, trying to ignore him. But of course, he doesn’t stop there. He never does.

“I’m surprised you even know which cauldron to stir,” Billy continues, voice dripping with mockery as he leans slightly toward you from across the aisle. “Guess Hufflepuff does teach something useful after all. Like how to follow instructions. Riveting.”

You clench your jaw, willing yourself not to rise to his bait. This is how it always goes—Billy picking at you, trying to get under your skin. The fact that he’s Slytherin, with his mother’s terrifying reputation hanging over him like a dark cloud, makes it worse. No one in their right mind would stand up to Billy Maximoff, son of the Scarlet Witch. Not when rumors swirl around the school about the things Wanda Maximoff is capable of, and by extension, what her son might be able to do.

Still, you’ve never really understood why he singles you out like this. You’re not the only Hufflepuff in this class. But it’s always you.

“What’s the matter?” he says, tone oozing with faux innocence. “Didn’t they teach you how to talk back in Hufflepuff?”

You grit your teeth. “I’m just trying to focus on the lesson, Maximoff. Maybe you should try it sometime.”

Billy's smirk falters for a second, like he wasn’t expecting you to respond. He narrows his eyes at you, and you feel a strange flicker of satisfaction. You’ve never really talked back to him before.

“Touchy, aren’t we?” he mutters, leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. His gaze lingers on you, as though he’s studying you for some reaction, something deeper.

There’s a beat of silence, and you glance over at him again, catching the faintest hint of something in his expression—nervousness? Uncertainty? For a split second, Billy almost looks… awkward? But then he catches you looking and snaps back into his usual cocky posture.

“You know,” he says, smirking again, “it’s cute that you’re trying. Really. Keep it up, maybe one day you’ll even make it to competent.”

You don’t know why it stings so much this time. You’ve been dealing with his taunts for weeks, but this one feels sharper. You glare at him, more frustrated with yourself for letting it get to you than anything else. Billy’s always like this—mean, biting, trying to rile you up for whatever reason. But for some reason, today, it hits different.

Billy, meanwhile, glances away quickly, clearing his throat as though regretting the comment. You think you see a flicker of guilt in his eyes, but it’s gone before you can be sure.

“Whatever,” you mutter, turning back to your notes, trying to ignore the strange tension that seems to settle between you two.

Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Billy sneaking another glance at you. His lips part like he wants to say something else, but then he hesitates. Instead, he lets out a low sigh and looks away, sinking into his chair, unusually quiet for the rest of class.

You tell yourself you’re imagining things, that there’s nothing going on behind those sharp words and smug smirks. But there’s a small part of you—one you’ve tried to ignore—that wonders if Billy Maximoff's teasing is less about your House… and more about you.

When Professor Slughorn announces the paired assignment, you don’t think much of it at first. You’re too busy making sure your Potions notes are organized, and trying to shake off the feeling of Billy staring at you from across the aisle like he’s been doing all class. It’s nothing new, really. He’s always watching you out of the corner of his eye, ready to throw another sarcastic remark your way.

“As for partners,” Slughorn says cheerfully, pulling out a long parchment. You’re barely listening, your mind drifting to what this project might be. Something tedious, probably. “I’ll be pairing you up myself, so listen carefully!”

The room buzzes with soft murmurs as everyone starts whispering, wondering who they’ll be stuck with for the next few weeks. You half-heartedly scan the list, hoping to get someone who’ll actually do their share of the work, maybe one of your friends from Hufflepuff—

“Maximoff and…”

You freeze, heart sinking in that split second before Slughorn says it.

“…Y/N.”

You blink, sure you’ve misheard. But no, Professor Slughorn’s eyes are on you, and Maximoff turns his head sharply in your direction, his usual smirk replaced by something that looks more like… disbelief. You hear him mutter something under his breath that you can’t quite make out, and suddenly you’re very aware of the weight of the situation. Maximoff. As your partner.

This can’t be happening.

“Looks like you two will be working together on our Draught of Living Death project,” Slughorn says, sounding pleased with himself. “Should be a fascinating exercise, and I trust you’ll both rise to the occasion!”

You resist the urge to groan out loud. Of all the people in this class, him? It’s not that Maximoff isn’t smart—he’s one of the top students, of course. It’s just… well, you’ve been trying to avoid him for weeks. The idea of being stuck in close proximity to him, having to collaborate, deal with his constant teasing… It makes your stomach churn.

Maximoff leans back in his chair, crossing his arms as if he’s processing this too. For a moment, you wonder if he’s just as horrified by the idea. But then that familiar smirk starts to tug at his lips again.

“Well,” he drawls, not even looking at you, “this should be interesting.”

You glance at him, trying to read his expression, but it’s the same as always—arrogant, amused. Like the thought of working with you is just another opportunity to toy with you. Of course it is. That’s what he does.

You keep your face neutral as you start packing up your things, determined not to show any sign of how much this bothers you. You’ll deal with this. You have to.

Maximoff, of course, doesn’t give you the chance to slip away quietly. As you both stand up at the end of class, he falls into step beside you, just a little too close, his presence impossible to ignore.

“Hufflepuff and Slytherin, working together on a potion,” he muses, his voice low and teasing. “I wonder how that’s going to go. Think you can keep up?”

You grit your teeth, gripping your bag a little tighter as you glance at him. “I’m not the one who’s going to be struggling here, Maximoff.”

His smirk widens, but there’s something off about it today—something you can’t quite place. Like maybe he’s putting on an act.

“Sure, sure,” he says, waving a hand dismissively. “Just don’t spill anything. I hear Hufflepuffs can be a little… clumsy.”

You roll your eyes. “I’ll let you know if I need help handling a spoon.”

Maximoff’s laugh catches you off guard. It’s not cruel or mocking, but something softer, almost genuine. For a moment, he seems less like the arrogant Slytherin who’s been making your life miserable and more… human.

But then he glances at you again, and his expression shifts back to that familiar teasing look. “Well, let’s hope this little partnership doesn’t blow up in our faces. Literally.”

You sigh. “I’m sure we’ll survive. As long as you don’t screw it up.”

Maximoff raises an eyebrow at that, his smirk faltering for just a second. Then he recovers, leaning in slightly as if to make his next comment more personal. “Guess we’ll find out, won’t we?”

There’s something in the way he says it that makes your pulse quicken, but you shake it off, refusing to let him get to you. This is just a project. Just a few weeks of working together. You can handle that.

As you walk away, you can still feel his eyes on you, like he’s trying to figure you out.

The first few days of working on the project with Maximoff are exactly as awkward as you expected. He still throws in the occasional sarcastic comment about Hufflepuff, and you still resist the urge to snap back every time. There’s a lot of uncomfortable silence too, where you’re both too busy focusing on the Draught of Living Death to fill the space with words.

But the weird thing is, Billy doesn’t seem quite as relentless as before. In fact, he’s been quieter, more thoughtful. It’s almost like he’s holding himself back.

One afternoon, you’re both sitting in the library, poring over old potions textbooks, when Billy clears his throat. You glance up at him, expecting another jab or snide remark, but his expression is… different. Less smug, more hesitant.

“So,” he says, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his dark hair. “I’ve been thinking…”

“Sounds dangerous,” you mutter, more out of habit than actual malice.

To your surprise, Billy laughs. It’s a low, genuine sound, and it catches you off guard.

“Okay, I walked into that one,” he admits, shaking his head slightly. “But seriously. About this… partnership. I’ve realized something.”

You look at him, curious but cautious. This is the longest he’s gone without teasing you since you started working together.

“I’ve been kind of… a jerk,” he says, his voice quieter than usual. His eyes flick away from yours, like he’s uncomfortable admitting it. “You know, with the comments and the attitude. I thought… I don’t know what I thought. That maybe giving you a hard time would make things easier between us or something.” He shrugs, looking almost embarrassed now.

You blink, not sure how to respond. Is Billy Maximoff — Billy Maximoff — actually apologizing to you? For the first time since you’ve met him, he seems almost vulnerable. Not the cocky, arrogant Slytherin who’s been making your life difficult for weeks, but someone real, someone unsure of himself.

“I get it if you don’t believe me,” he continues when you stay quiet. “But I just… I don’t want things to be like that anymore. I mean, we’re stuck working together, right? We might as well make it less miserable.”

You stare at him for a moment, trying to gauge whether he’s serious. He’s watching you closely, like he’s waiting for your reaction.

And the thing is, despite everything, you don’t actually hate him. Annoyed, sure. But hate? No. And now, with him sitting across from you, admitting he’s been kind of awful, it’s hard to hold onto the frustration you’ve been feeling.

“I… appreciate that,” you finally say, your voice a little softer than before. “I mean, yeah, you’ve been kind of a jerk. But it’s not like I’m perfect either.”

Billy seems surprised by your response, his eyebrows raising slightly. Then he smiles—really smiles, not the usual smirk or sarcastic grin. And for the first time, you see a different side of him. A side that isn’t hiding behind layers of arrogance or teasing.

“Okay, good. So… truce?” he offers, holding out his hand in a gesture that’s more sincere than you ever thought he was capable of.

You glance at his hand, then back at his face, and after a moment’s hesitation, you take it. His grip is firm, warm, and something in that simple contact sends a strange flutter through your chest that you quickly ignore.

“Truce,” you agree, letting go of his hand and trying to focus back on the potion ingredients in front of you.

The next few days are… different. Billy, true to his word, tones down the teasing, and in its place, something else starts to grow between you two. He’s still sarcastic sometimes, still has that sharp edge to him, but it’s more playful now. Less biting, more… friendly.

One evening, as you’re both huddled over a bubbling cauldron in the Potions classroom, trying to perfect the next step in your Draught of Living Death, you find yourselves actually talking. Not about school, or the project, but other things: Quidditch, your favorite classes, even a little about your families.

“So, Hufflepuff,” Billy says, glancing over at you while stirring the cauldron. “Why’d you end up in that house, anyway? Always thought you’d make a pretty decent Ravenclaw, with the way you obsess over details.”

You raise an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden interest. “Well, not every Hufflepuff is just ‘nice and loyal,’ you know. We’ve got more going on than that.”

Billy chuckles, clearly amused. “Yeah, I’m starting to see that. But still, I didn’t picture you there at first. You’re… different than the other Hufflepuffs I know.”

You can’t help but smirk a little at that. “Is that a compliment?”

“Maybe,” he says with a shrug, his eyes flicking to yours again, and this time there’s no teasing behind it. Just something… softer.

For a while, the two of you fall into an easy rhythm. You notice little things, like the way Maximoff’s confidence seems less about bravado and more about hiding some deeper insecurity. And Billy, for his part, starts asking about you: your hobbies, your thoughts on things, like he’s genuinely curious.

One night, while working late in the library, you’re both sitting closer than usual, poring over some notes about the final step of the potion. Billy is quieter than normal, his focus drifting from the pages to you, though you try not to notice.

“You know,” he says suddenly, breaking the silence. “I never thought I’d actually like working with you.”

You look up, confused. “What do you mean?”

He shrugs, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his hair in that way he always does when he’s nervous. “I dunno. I just… you’re not what I expected. I thought this would suck, but it’s actually been… nice.”

There’s a strange, warm feeling in your chest at his words. It’s the first time he’s been this open with you, and for some reason, it makes you smile.

“Yeah,” you say quietly, meeting his eyes. “It’s been nice.”

For a moment, the two of you just sit there, the air between you thick with something unspoken. Billy's gaze lingers on you a little longer than usual, and you wonder if he’s thinking the same thing you are—that maybe, just maybe, this project was the best thing that could’ve happened to the both of you.

It hits you all at once, like a flash of lightning on a clear day, completely unexpected.

You and Billy are sitting in the Potions classroom again, working on the final steps of the Draught of Living Death. It’s late, well past dinner, but the two of you have fallen into this strange, comfortable routine—staying behind, just the two of you, focused on the bubbling cauldron. You’ve grown used to it now, the sound of his voice, the way he leans over the table to make a point, his dark hair falling into his eyes, that little smirk that’s become softer around the edges.

And that’s when it happens. He laughs—really laughs—at something you say, his whole face lighting up in a way you’ve never seen before. His eyes crinkle at the edges, and the sound of it, the sight of it, warms something deep inside you. It’s not like the usual snark or teasing. It’s real. Genuine.

You freeze, the stirring rod slipping from your fingers and clattering against the table, but you barely register it because your heart suddenly feels like it’s doing somersaults in your chest. Something tightens in your throat, a rush of heat flooding your face.

Oh no.

You stare at him, your mind reeling. This can’t be happening. You can’t feel like this about him. He’s Billy Maximoff. The guy who used to make fun of you. The guy you’ve spent weeks bickering with. The guy you’ve—somehow—grown closer to.

But that’s the problem, isn’t it? You’ve grown close. Too close. And now, as you sit here in the dimly lit classroom, watching the way the light from the cauldron flickers across his face, the truth slams into you so hard you can’t ignore it.

You’re in love with him.

The realization shocks you to your core. Your mind races, scrambling to make sense of it, but you can’t. You never thought… you’ve never even considered that you might feel this way about another guy. About Billy of all people. And yet, here you are, staring at him like he’s the only thing in the room that matters. Your heart pounds in your chest, and suddenly you’re hyperaware of everything—how close he is, the way his hand brushes against yours when he reaches for a quill, the subtle curve of his lips when he smiles.

Billy glances up at you, oblivious to the storm that’s raging inside your head. “You good? You’ve been staring at the cauldron like it’s about to explode.”

You snap back to reality, blinking quickly, trying to act normal even though your thoughts are anything but. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

He raises an eyebrow, looking amused. “About what? Whether Hufflepuffs can handle a potion this complex?”

You force a laugh, but it’s shaky, and you hope he doesn’t notice. “Something like that.”

He rolls his eyes playfully and turns his attention back to the potion, stirring it carefully. You watch him, heart still racing, trying to process what just happened.

You never thought you’d feel this way—about a guy, about Billy. But there’s no denying it anymore. It’s not just the fact that he’s good-looking, though he is in that infuriating, effortless way. It’s more than that. It’s the way he’s started letting down his guard around you, the way he teases you now with a smile instead of a smirk. The way he talks to you, like he’s actually interested in what you have to say. The way he makes you feel seen in a way no one else ever has.

And that’s terrifying.

You can’t be in love with him. You don’t even like boys—or at least, you didn’t think you did. This wasn’t supposed to happen. But now that it has, you can’t unfeel it. You can’t undo the way your chest tightens when he looks at you, or the way his laugh sends butterflies into a frenzy in your stomach. You can’t stop your heart from racing every time he’s near, or the way your thoughts keep circling back to him, even when you try to push them away.

You swallow hard, trying to steady your breathing, but the truth is, you’re completely overwhelmed. You glance over at Billy again, your gaze lingering on him a little too long, and you catch yourself wondering—what would he think? If he knew. If he could see into your head right now, could he feel the same way?

But that’s impossible. Billy’s never shown any sign that he’s interested in anyone, much less you. And besides, you’ve been nothing but rivals for so long. He’s only just started being nice to you, and here you are, falling for him like some lovesick fool.

You pull yourself together, forcing your focus back to the potion in front of you. This isn’t the time to think about it. You’ll deal with it later, figure out what to do with these feelings—if you can. For now, you just need to survive this project without giving anything away.

But as Billy leans closer, his arm brushing against yours again, you can’t help but wonder if you’ll be able to.

A few days pass, but your mind is still tangled in the realization you’ve been fighting against—you’re in love with Billy Maximoff. And it’s more than just a passing crush, more than something you can shove into the back of your mind and pretend doesn’t exist. It’s real, undeniable, and every time you see him, every time you talk to him, it gets harder to ignore.

At first, you keep trying to convince yourself that it’s not possible. You’ve never been interested in guys before, right? So how could this happen? But the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. The way you felt around other boys, the awkwardness that you brushed off as nothing—maybe it wasn’t nothing. Maybe you were just afraid to look at it too closely. And now, sitting here with the reality of your feelings for Billy, you know you can’t hide from it anymore.

You’re gay.

The thought should scare you, and maybe it does, a little. But it also feels like a weight lifting off your chest. You’ve spent so much time trying to be someone you thought you were supposed to be, and now, for the first time, you feel like you’re starting to understand who you actually are. You don’t have all the answers yet, and you’re not even sure what comes next, but this truth—this part of you—isn’t something to be afraid of.

But then there’s Billy. And the idea of telling him—of confessing to him—is something else entirely. You’ve been working with him every day, getting closer, sharing inside jokes and moments that make your heart race, but does he feel the same way? Or is this all just in your head?

It’s not until the day the potion is finally complete that you make up your mind. The two of you are standing side by side, admiring the shimmering, perfect Draught of Living Death. Professor Slughorn had praised your work, saying it was one of the best potions he’d ever seen from students, and now it’s just the two of you in the empty classroom, a sense of accomplishment hanging in the air.

Billy grins, leaning on the table, looking ridiculously pleased with himself. “Well, we didn’t blow anything up. I’d call that a success.”

You laugh, but your mind is already elsewhere, racing with what you’ve been meaning to say for days now. If you don’t say it now, you might never have the courage to do it. And as much as the thought terrifies you, the idea of keeping this secret locked away forever scares you even more.

“Billy…” you begin, your voice a little shaky. He glances at you, eyebrows raised in curiosity. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He straightens up, his playful smirk fading as he notices the seriousness in your tone. “What is it?” he asks, his voice softer, more cautious.

You take a deep breath, your heart pounding so loudly you can barely hear yourself think. This is it. No turning back. “I… I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about, well… everything. And I realized something.” Your stomach twists into knots, but you force yourself to keep going. “I think… I think I’m gay.”

The words hang in the air between you, heavy and terrifying, but also freeing. For the first time, you’ve said it out loud. And for the first time, you don’t feel like you’re suffocating under the weight of pretending to be someone else.

Billy doesn’t say anything right away, and your heart sinks, fear creeping in. Maybe you misread everything. Maybe he’s about to make some sarcastic joke or brush it off.

But he doesn’t.

Instead, he just looks at you, his expression softening, his usual bravado nowhere to be found. “Y/N,” he says quietly, stepping a little closer, “thank you for telling me.”

There’s something about the way he says it, the gentleness in his voice, that makes the tightness in your chest loosen. But you’re not done yet. You swallow hard, feeling the words rise in your throat, the confession you’ve been holding onto for what feels like forever.

“And… it’s not just that I’m gay,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper now. “I… I think I’m in love with you.”

You finally meet his gaze, your heart hammering as you wait for his reaction. The silence stretches out between you, and every second feels like an eternity. You half expect him to laugh it off, to make some snarky comment about how you’re just imagining things. But instead, something shifts in his eyes—surprise, yes, but something else too. Something warmer.

Billy takes a step closer, so close now that you can feel the warmth of him, smell the faint scent of whatever cologne he wears. His expression is unreadable for a moment, but then—finally—he speaks.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear that,” he murmurs, his voice low, his gaze locked onto yours.

You blink, stunned, the meaning of his words hitting you like a tidal wave. “Wait, what?”

Billy laughs softly, shaking his head. “You’re not the only one who’s been keeping secrets, Y/N.” He reaches up, brushing a strand of hair out of your face, and his touch sends sparks skittering across your skin. “I’ve liked you for… well, way longer than I want to admit. But I didn’t know how to act around you, so I did the only thing I knew, I teased you. A lot. Which, in hindsight, was probably not the best move.”

You stare at him, completely floored. “So… you like me too?”

Billy’s lips curve into a smile, the kind that’s more genuine than any smirk you’ve ever seen from him. “Yeah, I do. A lot.”

Relief and disbelief crash over you in equal measure, and you feel like you can finally breathe again. You laugh, a little breathless, shaking your head. “I can’t believe it. I thought—”

“Thought what?” Billy interrupts, stepping even closer now, his voice soft. “That I’d push you away?”

You nod, your pulse racing.

“Well,” Billy says, his voice dropping to a near whisper, “I’m not pushing you away.” He hesitates for a second, like he’s making sure this is what you want, and when you don’t pull back, he closes the distance between you completely.

His lips meet yours in a gentle, tentative kiss, and it’s like the world falls away. Everything you’ve been worrying about, all the fear and confusion—it fades into the background, replaced by the warmth of his touch, the softness of his kiss. It feels right, like this was always supposed to happen, like the two of you were meant to find your way to this moment.

When you finally pull back, both of you are smiling—really smiling—and the weight that’s been pressing down on you for weeks, maybe longer, is completely gone.

Billy grins, his eyes sparkling with that familiar mischief. “So, what do you say we celebrate making the best potion in class and you finally coming clean about your feelings?”

You laugh, feeling lighter than you have in ages. “Yeah. I think that sounds like a great idea.”

And as you leave the classroom together, you realize that this is just the beginning. You’ve finally accepted who you are, and somehow, against all odds, the person you’ve fallen for feels the same way. Everything feels possible now.

First time writing male!character x male!reader so I hope I did good but I'm open to criticism as long as it's kind lol.

If you like the story like reblog and drop a follow if you want to read more. <3

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