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sergeantbuckybarnes · 2 years ago

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something that we’re not // fred weasley

Summary: You and Fred are friends. Best Friends. Who happen to cuddle and sleep in bed together all the time.

Pairing: Fred Weasley x Reader

Word count: 3.9k

Warnings: lots of pda, fluff, jealousy, reader gets slapped by her friend

A/N: As always, remember English is not first language. Also, thanks to @coffee-jelly544 for proofreading this.

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You huffed with relief and exhaustion as you exited the potions classroom and made your way through the dungeons to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Detention with Snape was the most agonizing experience you'd ever had. You've spent the last two and a half hours cleaning cauldrons just because you hadn’t turned in your essay on time, and it didn’t help that the greasy-haired professor had it in for you.

You weren't sure what was the cause of this animosity. You were a straight A student, always acing your exams and were proud to say you’re very good at potions. However, Snape always seems to have something against you. Also, you supposed it didn't help that Fred and George Weasley were your best friends. At every opportunity the twins would try to prank or annoy the teacher, seemingly without remorse and understanding of the consequences of their actions.

‘He must enjoy sucking the life out of his students.’

“Hi there, love,” Fred's cheerful voice greeted you as you entered the common room through the portrait hole. He was sitting on the wide sofa, with George next to him. You spotted Angelina in one of the love-arm seats and Lee on the floor near George's knees, even though there was another vacant love-arm seat in the room.

When he noticed your long face, the older twin reached out his arms and drew you into his lap.

“How was detention?” George asked.

“Awful,” you mumbled against Fred's chest. He caressed your back while his other hand played with your fingers absentmindedly. “I hate Snape.”

Lee guffawed, "I don't think anyone in their right mind likes Snape."

“Greasy prick had me scrubbing his filthy cauldrons for two and a half hours.”

“Oh! How dare he,” Fred mocked dramatically, causing a small smile to break out on your face. “Do you want Georgie and I to prank him?”

You lifted your face to connect your gaze with his, “Would you?”

“Anything for you, snookums.”

At his honest response, you squeezed his waist and buried yourself further into his chest.

“Perhaps you could try not to get into trouble next time,” Angelina, who had been quiet until now, advised.

This made your brow furrow, “I only gave him the essay two days late, and it was because I was bedridden, as you know.”

“Yeah, Angie,” George came to your defense, “Snape only gave her detention 'cause he has a grudge against us.”

Your eyes grew heavy, and the muscles in your face relaxed, releasing the strain of the day. Your limbs became limp, heartbeat growing tranquil. Your breathing slowed as you felt the steady rise and fall of Fred’s chest.

“Are you gonna fall asleep on me?” Fred teased.

You hummed, “I might. You are quite comfortable.”

With a smirk on his face, Fred accepted the remark, “That I’ve been told before.”

George rolled his eyes at the silly—but typical— interaction between you two. Like the rest of your friends, he had grown accustomed to your flirting and displays of public affection, which you swore wasn’t hiding anything romantic.

“Carry me to bed?” You didn’t have to ask him twice. Fred tightened his grip on you, and with you safe in his arms made his way up to the girls’ dorm without complaint.

“Are we sure they’re just friends?” Lee inquired, intrigued.

“That’s what they say,” Angelina said in response.

“Fred!” You whispered-yelled, trying to wake your friend up without disturbing the other three blissfully sleeping on their mattresses. “Fred!” You tried again, this time lightly shaking his arm.

“Y/N/N?” His speech was sluggish, and his eyes were barely open, still half-asleep. The redhead looked down at his nightstand; the clock there marking 2:30 in the morning. “What happened?”

“I had a nightmare.”

Fred detected something peculiar in your small voice, and somehow knew you had been crying. He lifted the covers off his bed, inviting you to get in. He drew you close, your head resting on his chest as he wrapped his arms around your waist. You let out a breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding once you were in the safety of his arms. You gripped him in fear that he would vanish, and you were pleading with him to stay with you.

Fred noticed your distress and asked, “What happened, love?”

“I had a nightmare,” tears filled in your eyes as you recounted the images that had woken you up in the dead of the night. “You– You died, Freddie,” you wept, out of breath. Fred tightened his grip on you. “It was awful.”

“It was just a dream,” he tried to soothe you, running his hand through your hair.

“There was a war, and you were there, and there was this wall… it crumbled, and the rubble—” you couldn’t finish telling him as your words broke into sobs. Hot tears streamed down your face, and you squeezed your eyelids shut in the hope the tears would stop.

“Shhh. I’m here, love. I’m fine.”

“I don’t want to lose you, Freddie.”

“Who said anything about losing me?” He tried to lighten your mood. “You know I’m too stubborn to die.” He could feel you start to relax against him, but he still added, “You’re gonna have to put up with me for the rest of your life. It’s what you signed up for when you befriended me.”

His stupidity managed to make you crack a smile, and your choppy breathing and watery eyes slowly came to a stop. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“Good. Me neither.”

Neither of you spoke again. You didn’t return to your dorm, and Fred didn’t ask you to either. You knew that if you let go of Fred's arm now, the nightmare would most likely strike again, depriving you of a good night's sleep.

Being wrapped in Fred’s arms calms you down and allows you to fall asleep, and slumber hits you after a few minutes.

The sun flowed golden through the window, making a polite announcement for the rising sun. The sunlight created rainbow diamonds that swirled across the wall's canvas.

“Good morning, lovebirds,” George’s chippy voice made you groan and bury further in Fred’s chest.

“They look very cozy, don’t you think, George?” You recognized Lee's voice.

“They certainly do, Lee.”

“Shut up!” Fred opened his eyes and tossed his pillow at his brother and best friend, who were standing at the foot of his bed. “People are trying to sleep over here.”

“Have you seen what time it is? You'll be in trouble if someone sees Y/N leave the room at this hour.”

That caused you to widen your eyes and turn to look at the clock. It was barely half an hour before breakfast.

“Oh shit!” You exclame.

“Why didn’t you wake us up sooner?”

George shrugged as he gazed at his brother. “You seemed very comfortable. I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.”

The older twin rolled his eyes.

“Hey Y/N,” Lee called for your attention. “You are welcome to return tonight and sleep in my bed. I’m a better cuddler than Freddie.”

George laughed at his friend’s suggestion, but it didn't elicit the same emotion in Fred, who rolled out of bed and smacked his friend across his head.

“Ouch,” he grumbled, massaging his head.

“Watch it, Jordan,” Fred warned, pointing his finger at him.

“Yeah, Lee. Don’t you know Freddie boy here is the only one allowed to cuddle little Y/N/N?”

Fred was about to reprimand his brother when he was startled by the sound of the bedroom door clicking shut. When he turned around, he saw that you had already left the room.

You crept down the hallway of the boys’ dorms back to your room trying not to be caught by other students. When you reached the girls' dorms there's a loud noise around the corner and you quickly ducked into an alcove. You peek out and spot a group of girls chatting and laughing as they walk down the hall toward the common room.

Once the coast was clear, you went to your dorm and softly pushed the door open, trying to make as little noise as possible, until you were safely inside.

“G’day, buttercup,” Your friend, Alicia Spinnet, greeted you. “Fun night?”

She and Angelina were already dressed in their uniforms, gazing at you like a deer caught in headlights. Angelina was looking at you, admonishing, while Alicia's eyes were amused. You didn't need to tell them where you'd spent the night because you were confident they already knew.

“You should not be sneaking into the boys’ dorms late at night. I’m sure you have plenty of time to snog your boyfriend during the day.”

“C’mon, Angie. Let the girl have her fun.”

You frowned at her. “Fred’s not my boyfriend.”

Angelina laughed at you humorlessly. “Yeah, sure.”

“What’s your problem?” You approached her, facing her. “You’ve been a bitch to me lately for no reason.”

“I’m the bitch? I’m not the one that sneaks into the boys’ room in the middle of the night.”

“I’m sorry that my friendship with Fred bothers you that much, but blaming me for his rejection will not make him want you.”

Something smacked against your face, and your cheek began to sting. When you realize your friend had slapped you, your heart began to race.

Angelina had always been there for you, through everything. She was, along with the twins, one of the first people you befriended during your first year at Hogwarts. But now, after years of friendship, she had finally let herself go too far. Slapping you in the face hard was something you never expected from her.

“Angie!” Alicia gasped horrified.

“It’s alright,” you interjected, taking a long breath. You weren’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing you altered. “Do you feel better now?” You looked at your friend, but you didn’t wait for her reply nor did you expect her to reply. You picked up your uniform from your trunk and made your way to the bathroom.

It'd been a week since your altercation with Angelina. She couldn't get the rage out of her head since then. Every time she saw you, she would experience an illogical outburst of anger. You haven’t tried to talk with her either. You were stubborn, but you weren't in the wrong this time, and she had no right to tell you the awful things she did, let alone hit you.

As if on cue, Angelina and Alicia entered the room. The smile on Angelina’s face caused by whatever Alicia said evaporated as her gaze was drawn to the table in front of her—you were sitting on one of the Gryffindor common room sofas. Fred's head rested on your lap, his legs sprawled out along the length of the couch while you ran your fingers through his ginger locks, braiding them.

Anger simmered inside her as she glared at you. She stomped her foot and mumbled a string of curses, her hands into fists as she marched towards the stairs that led to the dorms. Alicia smiled apologetically and followed her friend's lead.

“What’s wrong with her?” Fred gazed up at you, perplexed by the Quidditch Captain's actions.

“She’s upset that you don’t wanna go to the Yule Ball with her.”

“Still? Godric, you girls need to let things go.”

“You tell her that,” you grumbled, “She thinks we are dating.”

Fred didn’t seem fazed by your words. “Yeah. Lee and George think so too.”

“You have really soft hair,” you muttered, trying to change the topic of the conversation, as you didn’t like where it was heading.

“It’s the Weasley gene,” he joked, making you laugh.

“See, you can’t do shit like that and not want us to think you’re a couple.”

George and Lee dashed down the stairwell. They strolled over, leaning over the back of the couch, looking with amused eyes at the display of affection between you and Fred.

“I’m just braiding his hair,” you said more defensively than intended.

“You’re just jealous that you don’t have a best friend who braids your hair.”

The younger twin cracked a sly smirk. “Would you braid my hair, Y/N?”

“No, she won’t,” Fred answered almost in an instant, lacking amusement.

“Why not? She’s my friend too.”

“Exactly, you said it yourself— friend. Not best friends. You are just her friend. I’m her best friend and she can only have one best friend.”

“You’re so childish.”

“He’s like a possessive boyfriend who doesn’t like his girl hanging around with other guys,” Lee whispered in George’s ear.

“Watch this,” George mouthed at Lee, who was looking at him expectantly.

“Hey, Y/N,” you shifted your gaze away from Fred’s ginger locks to look at the other ginger. “Do you happen to have a date for the Yule Ball?”

Fred’s body stiffened at his brother’s words.

You squint your eyes at George’s question. You knew him well enough to know he wasn’t asking just for the sake of asking. “I don’t.”

“Wanna go together?” He wriggled his eyebrows, “I’m the family's best dancer.”

“I doubt it,” you replied to him. “I bet Ginny’s got that talent, along with the brains.”

Lee roared a chuckle, and George placed a hand on his chest, a mock offended expression on his face.

“You hurt me, Y/N/N.”

You rolled your eyes at his antics.

“Who are you going to go with, then? I doubt you'll find a more suitable suitor than me.”

“She’s going with me,” Fred replied casually.

You lowered your gaze at your friend. “I am?” You inquired, “When did you ask me?”

“Now,” he said, smiling broadly, “Would you do me the honor to accompany me to the Yule Ball, dear Y/N?

Yule Ball night.

You stood in front of the full-length mirror, your reflection stared back at you. You had never felt so beautiful before. You admired your dress, feeling happy with how it looked on you.

You were wearing a beautiful gown in spring garden hues. It had delicate blossom details and it was made of beautifully draped plisse tulle that pleats over a nude corset bodice. Whispery yet regal, plisse tulle at skirt had underlayers with subtle sparkle that made it truly magical.

You spent hours debating what to do with your hair, and in the end, following Alicia’s suggestion of a low bun with a French braid. You wrapped the bun with a lock of hair already plaited in a French braid and pinned it in place. And as a final touch, you added a cute hair clip for some extra glitz.

“Wow,” your friend gasped behind you. You turned around to meet her already in her gown. “Fred’s gonna lose his mind when he sees you.”

“I can say the same about Lee,” you smiled, “Have you seen yourself? You’re stunning!”

You took one last look at your reflection in the mirror before leaving the dorm. You couldn’t help but smile at yourself; this is going to be a night to remember.

Fred couldn’t take his eyes off you as you descended the stairs. You had always been beautiful to him, but tonight you were especially stunning. Watching you now, he couldn't believe that he was about to have the chance to dance with you. He had a warm feeling inside of him, and he couldn't help but smile at you. As you came closer, he could see the happiness in your eyes, which made him even more excited.

“Hi,” you greeted him when you reached the bottom of the stairs and walked over to him.

“Hey,” Fred smiled at you, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

“Shall we?” Fred inquired, extending his arm to you. You nodded and walked over to the Great Hall, linking your arm with his.

Soon enough, you were in the middle of the crowd, swirling around to the music. As you danced together, Fred felt like nothing could tear you apart. You laughed and smiled as you moved around the ballroom, and it was honestly one of the happiest moments of Fred's life.

As the night progressed and the music got slower and more sentimental, you knew that this would be one of the most memorable nights of your life.

“Are you having a good time?” Fred asked. You had your arms around his neck and his hands were respectfully on your waist as you swayed to the rhythm of the music.

You hummed in response and gazed up at him. “Thank you for taking me. Even if you only did it to piss your brother.”

“What?” he frowned, “I didn’t take you to piss George off. He asked you to piss me off.” Fred grumbled.

“Why would it piss you off me coming with him?”

Fred tensed briefly at your question, but he quickly brushed it off. “I didn’t say it would piss me off; I meant that he believed it would piss me off,” he quickly explained, “Y’know, since he thinks we’re dating.”

You took in his explanation, still not convinced enough. “And then you asked me just to prove to him that it did, in fact, piss you off?”

“I asked because I wanted to spend the night with you.”

“Then why did you wait ‘till the last minute?”

You weren’t truly bothered, but you liked how he squirmed with each question you threw at him. It was hilarious to watch him so uneasy. It wasn’t something you were used to, so you were savoring the moment.

He was going to defend himself again when he saw the smile breaking out on your face. “You’re so mean,” he pouted.

“Sorry. You’re fun to mess with.”

As the songs continued to play and you kept swaying, you slowly –and probably unconsciously– brought each other in close until your bodies were pressed tightly against each other and you could feel each other's pulses racing under their skin.

“A little too close for a friend’s dance,” Angelina's crabby voice resonated among her friends at the table as they watched you and Fred dance a few feet away.

Alicia sighed at her friend’s snarky comment. She was tired of the situation and being in the middle of her two best friends’ feud, trying not to take sides.

“Still upset by Fred’s rejection?” Lee teased, “Or is it the fact that he’s in love with your best friend that bothers you?”

Angelina rolled her eyes. “I don’t bloody care who he likes. They could just say they're together once and for all, and not make us look stupid.”

“I don’t think they are together,” George chimed in, after a lengthy gulp of firewhiskey. “But there’s definitely something there.”

Lee frowned at the younger twin, “What made you change your mind?”

He was perplexed by his friend's quick change of heart. George was the first to suspect you and his twin were secretly dating and denying it to annoy them.

The ginger simply shrugged and sipped his drink again.

“I wish the school did more things like this,” you reflected. You were sitting on the couch in the Gryffindor’s Common Room, the ball had ended hours before, but the night hadn't ended for you and Fred. He was seated next to you, with your head resting on his shoulder. You sat there watching the fireplace flames dance and shimmer. You've always enjoyed the sound of a crackling fire and the warmth it provided during the winter months. However, Fred was completely focused on you. He admired the flickering light from the fireplace as it played off your features, making them shine. He couldn't take his eyes off of you.

He loved everything about you, from your laugh to your dimples.

Fred had never felt this way about someone. 'Should I say something? What if she thinks it's weird?' Maybe it was just because he'd never had that type of connection with anybody else before, but he didn't want to ruin it by intruding on your night.

“You didn’t have enough of my dance moves, did you?” He laughed, attempting to put any other thoughts to the back of his mind.

“You were pretty good. Surprisingly.”

A faux offended expression played on your best friend’s face. “Excuse me?” Fred placed a hand on his chest in mockery. “What do you mean by surprisingly?”

Before you could even get a clue of what was happening, you were pinned down on the couch, Fred's body hovering over you while his large fingers tickled your sides. You laughed hard, doubling over in pain and joy.

“Stop,” you said between giggles, trying to get away from him as he tickled you further.

"Okay, okay," you finally said when you knew you'd never be able to break free from Fred's grip, “I give up.”

When he was done, you lay there, gasping for air and laughing uncontrollably.

Fred reached for your face with his palm, tucking away a few strands of your hair, clearing the way so your gazes could meet.

You've always thought Fred’s eyes were beautiful and bright, always holding something special inside. It was difficult to put into words how much you loved looking into them, but it was definitely something special. Maybe it was just the way they made you feel small and vulnerable in a way that nobody else ever had, but there was just something about them that made you complete.

“You are beautiful,” he whispered ever so softly, and something turned in your stomach.

“You live to flatter.”

“That’s why you love me.”

“I never said I loved you.”

He smirked at your words. “Then, tell me,” he challenged, “Tell me you love me.”

You grew a sneaky grin on your face, moved in closer — if that was possible — and whispered in his ear, “Make me.”

His eyes darkened, and his smile became wider. His fingers sank into your waist again before you could react. “Tell me you love me!” he exclaimed.

“Never!” You shouted, giggling.

His fingers continued to tickle your sides, making you laugh, squirm, and beg him to stop.

“Say you love me, Y/N.”

“What in Merlin’s beard are you doing?” A reprimanding voice from the staircase made its way into the Common Room. “Do you know what time is it? You are gonna wake everyone up.”

George gave you a disapproving look, and he was too exhausted to see that he had wrecked the moment between his brother and you that Fred had been looking forward to for so long.

Fred sighed and got off of you, you followed his actions and went to pick up your heels from the floor.

“Sorry, Georgie,” you apologized to your friend, “You’re right, it’s late. I’m gonna head off to bed. Goodnight, guys.”

You didn’t spare a glance at the twins. You couldn’t look at Fred after what had happened, and all you could think about was what might have happened if George hadn't walked in.

'Would you have confessed?

Would he have told you he loved you?

Would you have kissed?

What would it have felt to kiss his lips?'

You shook your head, trying to clear your mind of any stray thoughts concerning you and Fred.

You were only friends.

Best friends.

And that’s all you’d ever be.

But would let the rest of the world keep thinking that you were something more.

#fred weasley #fred weasley x reader #fred weasley imagine #fred weasley x you #fred weasley fic #fred weasley one shot #harry potter imagine #fred and george weasley

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songbirdseung · 4 months ago

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love potion / lee heeseung - requested

at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lee Heeseung and you have always been rivals, each determined to outshine the other in every class, duel, and academic challenge. their heated competition has been the talk of the school since their first year, with neither willing to back down or admit any weakness. but when a special project forces them to work together, they begin to see each other in a new light. wc 14k genre hogwarts au, academic rivals au, enemies to lovers warnings im not a potterhead, so if my references or knowledge is off, i apologize thank you anon for the request

you were calmly making your way through the crowd toward the bulletin board, where the top students in astronomy would soon be announced. head held high with the confidence that your name would remain at the top, you moved forward as the other students stepped aside. you nodded in silent thanks, then waited for the results.

"well, isn't it my best friend, yn." of course, it was him. you looked to your left, offering the tall male a fake smile.

"heeseung."

"yn."

your enemy, your arch-nemesis, your rival—lee heeseung. a gryffindor with a knack for pushing your buttons and getting under your skin. he never missed a chance to challenge you, always eager to knock you off your pedestal.

"my favorite ravenclaw, ready to step down a rank?" he teased, his chuckle following as you rolled your eyes.

"still dreaming?" you nudged him, turning your attention back to the board.

you and heeseung had been the top students in your year since your very first day at hogwarts. your rivalry was as old as your time at the school, with each of you trying to outdo the other in every subject, every exam, and every challenge that came your way. both of you were fiercely competitive, and your battle for the number one spot was legendary among your peers.

yet, despite the constant competition, there was a mutual respect between you—an unspoken acknowledgment of each other's talent and determination. but that didn’t stop either of you from doing whatever it took to come out on top. today was no different, and as the results were about to be revealed, the tension between you was palpable.

"let's see if the results speak for themselves," you muttered, eyes locked on the board as the names started to appear.

"i guess we'll find out," heeseung replied, his tone teasing but with an edge of anticipation.

as you stood there, waiting for the results, your mind drifted back to your first year at hogwarts—back to when this rivalry with heeseung began.

it had all started in your first potions class. you were both twelve, eager to prove yourselves, and it didn’t take long for sparks to fly. professor snape had just finished explaining the day’s assignment, a simple potion to test your skills. you were confident, already preparing your ingredients with precision, when you noticed him glancing your way.

“think you can manage this without blowing up your cauldron?” heeseung had whispered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“worry about your own potion, heeseung,” you shot back, not even bothering to look up. but the challenge in his tone was unmistakable, and you felt a surge of determination to outdo him.

the class had been tense, the air thick with unspoken competition. every movement he made, every precise cut of his ingredients, only fueled your resolve. you’d both finished your potions at nearly the same time, and when professor snape evaluated them, he had given you both identical marks—top scores, of course. neither of you had been satisfied with the tie.

from that day on, it was a constant game of one-upmanship. every assignment, every test, every chance to prove who was the better student was met with the same intensity. your interactions were always tense, filled with sarcastic remarks and thinly veiled insults, but there was something else there too—an undeniable spark that kept you both on your toes.

as the memory faded, you found yourself back in the present, standing next to heeseung once again. the tension between you was still there, just as it had been from the start.

the results began to appear on the board, each name materializing in glowing script. your eyes scanned the list, heart pounding in anticipation. then, you saw it—your name, right at the top where it belonged.

a breath of relief escaped your lips, quickly followed by a triumphant smile. you had done it. again.

right beneath your name, heeseung’s appeared, just a point behind you. so close, yet not close enough.

heeseung’s eyes narrowed as he took in the results, his usual smirk faltering for just a moment. “looks like you’re still holding on,” he said, the edge in his voice impossible to miss.

“just barely,” you replied, unable to resist the dig. “maybe next time, heeseung.”

he let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “we’ll see about that. enjoy it while it lasts.”

you met his gaze, the familiar mix of rivalry and respect sparking between you. there was no need for more words; the scoreboard had spoken. but as you turned to leave, you couldn’t shake the feeling that this battle was far from over. heeseung was nothing if not persistent, and you knew he’d be back, ready to challenge you again.

the following week, the rivalry between you and heeseung only intensified. it was an unspoken rule now—every class, every moment, was a new battleground.

in defense against the dark arts, professor lupin had just paired you with heeseung for a dueling exercise. as you stood across from each other, wands at the ready, the air was thick with tension. the rest of the class watched in anticipation, fully aware of the competitive history between the two of you.

“expelliarmus!” heeseung was quick, but you were quicker, deflecting his spell with ease before countering with a well-aimed “protego!” the duel was fast-paced, each of you pushing the other to the limit, neither willing to back down. the room buzzed with energy as your classmates murmured, eyes glued to the battle unfolding before them.

it wasn’t just in defense against the dark arts where the competition was fierce. in every class, you and heeseung were neck and neck, always vying for the top spot. whether it was transfiguration, potions, or charms, the two of you were constantly being compared—by your peers, by the professors, and even by yourselves.

“excellent work, miss yn,” professor mcgonagall would say, only to follow it with, “and you too, mr. heeseung, as always.” there was no escaping the constant comparisons, the subtle remarks from professors who couldn’t help but pit you against each other.

your classmates had started to place bets on who would come out on top in the next exam or who would win the next duel. it was as if your rivalry had become a sport, a source of entertainment for the entire school.

as the duel between you and heeseung reached its peak, a burst of laughter erupted from the back of the room. jay, jake, and ni-ki, heeseung’s closest friends, had been watching the entire time, their eyes glinting with amusement.

“you two are at it again,” jay called out, his tone teasing. “honestly, yn, you’re going to give heeseung a complex if you keep this up.”

jake smirked, leaning against the wall with a casual air. “or maybe it’s the other way around? heeseung, don’t tell me you’re going easy on her.”

heeseung shot them a look, a mix of irritation and amusement flashing in his eyes. “as if. you know i never back down from a challenge.”

ni-ki, the youngest of the group, couldn’t help but add, “this is getting good. professor lupin should just let you two go at it every class. way more interesting than the usual lessons.”

you rolled your eyes at their comments, but couldn’t help the slight grin that tugged at your lips. their banter was all part of the routine now, just like your rivalry with heeseung. still, you weren’t about to let their remarks distract you.

“you might want to focus, heeseung,” you said, your voice dripping with mock sweetness. “i’d hate for your friends to see you lose.”

heeseung’s gaze snapped back to you, the competitive fire in his eyes reigniting. “oh, i’m focused,” he replied, his tone low and determined. “let’s see if you can keep up.”

with that, the duel resumed, your wands clashing with renewed intensity. jay, jake, and ni-ki continued to make their remarks, laughing and egging heeseung on, but you tuned them out. all that mattered was winning—proving that you were still the best, even with the added pressure of an audience.

the room seemed to hold its breath as you and heeseung traded spells, each trying to outmaneuver the other. you could feel the eyes of your classmates on you, the whispers and murmurs growing louder with each passing second.

finally, professor lupin stepped in, raising his wand to separate the two of you. “enough, that’s enough,” he said, though there was a hint of a smile on his face. “excellent dueling, both of you. i think that’s enough excitement for one class.”

you and heeseung lowered your wands, breathing heavily but refusing to break eye contact. jay, jake, and ni-ki applauded, their laughter filling the room as they moved to join heeseung, slapping him on the back and throwing more teasing comments his way.

“nice try, yn,” jay said with a grin. “but you know heeseung’s just getting warmed up.”

“we’ll see about that,” you replied, your competitive spirit as strong as ever. you knew this wasn’t the end—far from it.

class ended, but the tension between you and heeseung lingered like a storm cloud. as the students filed out of the classroom, you gathered your things, feeling a simmering frustration that you couldn't quite shake. heeseung, flanked by jay, jake, and ni-ki, was the last to leave, and you could feel his gaze on you as you shoved your books into your bag.

"you really think you can keep this up forever?" heeseung's voice cut through the air, stopping you in your tracks. you turned to face him, your eyes flashing with anger.

"what’s that supposed to mean?" you snapped, your patience wearing thin.

heeseung stepped closer, his expression hardening. "you act like you're invincible, yn. like no one can touch you. but newsflash: you’re not unbeatable."

you took a step forward, refusing to back down. "and you act like you're the only one who can challenge me. but you’re always just a step behind, aren’t you?"

jay, jake, and ni-ki exchanged glances, sensing the rising tension but staying silent, their eyes flicking between you and heeseung.

"maybe it’s time you realized that being at the top isn’t just about grades," heeseung shot back, his voice low and edged with frustration. "it’s about how you handle the pressure, how you treat the people around you. and from where I’m standing, you’ve got a lot to learn."

the words stung, and you felt your cheeks flush with anger. "and what about you, heeseung? always so smug, always so sure you’re going to knock me down. newsflash: you haven’t succeeded yet."

heeseung’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, you saw a flicker of something more—something almost vulnerable. but it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the familiar competitive fire.

"we’ll see about that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "this isn’t over, yn. not by a long shot."

you glared at him, your heart pounding in your chest. "bring it on, heeseung."

with that, you turned on your heel and stormed out of the classroom, leaving heeseung and his friends behind. the echoes of your argument lingered in the hallway, a testament to the fierce rivalry that defined your time at hogwarts.

as you stormed down the corridor, trying to push the argument with heeseung out of your mind, you heard hurried footsteps behind you. before you could turn, sunoo, jungwon, and sunghoon appeared at your side, concern written all over their faces.

“yn, wait up!” sunoo called out, his tone softer than usual. when he caught sight of your expression, his eyes widened. “what happened? you look like you’re about to hex someone.”

jungwon shot a worried glance at sunoo before focusing on you. “was it heeseung again? we saw him talking to you after class.”

you let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through your hair as you tried to calm yourself down. “yeah, it was heeseung. who else would it be?”

sunghoon, always the calm and collected one, placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. “you can’t let him get to you like this, yn. he’s just trying to mess with your head.”

“i know,” you muttered, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface. “it’s just—he gets under my skin so easily. he acts like he’s always just one step away from beating me, and it drives me crazy.”

sunoo, ever the empathetic one, frowned. “but you always come out on top, yn. you know that. heeseung’s just trying to throw you off your game.”

jungwon nodded in agreement. “and we’re here to make sure he doesn’t. you’re better than him, and you know it.”

you couldn’t help but feel a bit of the tension ease at their words. they always knew how to pull you back from the edge, reminding you of your strengths and why you were the top student.

“thanks, guys,” you said, managing a small smile. “i just… i don’t know why he gets to me like this.”

sunghoon gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze. “because he’s your rival. it’s natural. but remember, we’re all in this together. we’ve got your back, no matter what.”

sunoo grinned, his usual brightness returning. “and if heeseung gives you any more trouble, we’ll deal with him. right, guys?”

jungwon and sunghoon both nodded, their expressions determined. “absolutely,” jungwon added. “you’re not alone in this, yn.”

their support brought a wave of relief, and you felt the anger start to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of determination. with friends like these by your side, you knew you could handle whatever heeseung—and the rivalry—threw your way.

“thanks,” you said again, this time with more confidence. “i needed that.”

“anytime,” sunghoon replied with a smile. “now, how about we grab something from the kitchens? nothing like a good snack to take your mind off things.”

sunoo’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “great idea! let’s go.”

the next morning, you sat in transfiguration, trying to focus as professor mcgonagall addressed the class. but your mind was still replaying the argument with heeseung from the day before, the tension between the two of you lingering like a dark cloud.

“today, we will begin a special project,” professor mcgonagall announced, her stern gaze sweeping across the room. “this project will require you to work in pairs, combining your knowledge and skills to complete a challenging task over the next few weeks.”

the class buzzed with excitement and nervous whispers as students exchanged glances, already wondering who they’d be paired with. you exchanged a quick look with sunoo, who was sitting beside you, silently hoping you’d get paired with one of your friends.

professor mcgonagall continued, her voice cutting through the chatter. “i’ve taken the liberty of assigning the pairs myself. the purpose of this project is not only to test your abilities but also to challenge you to work effectively with others.”

your heart sank at the mention of assigned pairs. you braced yourself, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

“yn,” professor mcgonagall’s voice rang out, and your stomach tightened with anxiety. “you will be paired with… heeseung.”

a collective gasp and a few stifled giggles spread through the classroom as your worst fear was confirmed. your eyes darted to heeseung, who was sitting a few rows away. his expression mirrored your own—shock, followed by a flash of irritation.

sunoo, sitting next to you, shot you a sympathetic look. “i can’t believe this,” he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.

“there must be some mistake,” you muttered under your breath, but you knew there wasn’t. professor mcgonagall’s decisions were final, and there was no way out of this.

heeseung’s friends, jay, jake, and ni-ki, exchanged amused glances, barely containing their laughter. ni-ki leaned over and whispered something to heeseung, who responded with a roll of his eyes and a barely concealed grimace.

“i expect both of you to put your differences aside and work together,” professor mcgonagall added, her tone leaving no room for argument. “this project is a significant part of your grade, and i trust you’ll take it seriously.”

you swallowed hard, trying to keep your composure as the rest of the pairs were announced. by the time professor mcgonagall finished, your mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, all centered around the fact that you were now stuck working with heeseung.

as class ended, you gathered your things slowly, dreading the inevitable conversation with him. you could already feel the tension building, the animosity between you growing thicker by the second.

heeseung approached you, his expression unreadable. for a moment, the two of you just stared at each other, the weight of the situation hanging heavy in the air.

“well,” he finally said, his tone clipped. “looks like we’re stuck together.”

“it’s not like i’m thrilled about this either,” you shot back, your frustration bubbling to the surface. “but i’m not about to let this project tank my grade, so let’s just get it over with.”

heeseung’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded in agreement. “fine. but don’t think for a second that i’m going to go easy on you.”

“i wouldn’t expect you to,” you replied, your voice firm.

despite your protests and the obvious tension between you and heeseung, there was no escaping the inevitable. the project was set in stone, and you both knew there was no way out of it. after class, professor mcgonagall handed each pair a parchment detailing their assigned project. as you and heeseung opened yours, the complexity of the task became immediately clear.

“ancient magical artifacts?” you muttered, scanning the details. “we’re supposed to research, analyze, and present our findings on three different artifacts from the restricted section?”

heeseung frowned, clearly not thrilled either. “and we have to perform a demonstration of how they were used in their time? this is going to be a nightmare.”

“it’s not like we have a choice,” you replied, trying to keep the frustration out of your voice. “we’ll need to go to the restricted section as soon as possible to get started.”

heeseung glanced at you, a mixture of reluctance and resignation in his eyes. “yeah, I guess so. let’s just get this over with.”

the two of you made your way to the library, the tension between you palpable. as you walked in silence, you couldn’t help but reflect on how strange this situation was. after years of rivalry and animosity, you were now forced to work together on one of the most challenging projects either of you had ever faced.

in the library, you approached madam pince, the stern librarian who guarded the restricted section with an iron fist. after showing her your parchment and explaining the project, she reluctantly allowed you both access, though not without a sharp warning to handle the books with care.

once inside the restricted section, you and heeseung began the painstaking process of searching for information on the artifacts. the atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with the scent of old parchment and dust. as you leafed through ancient tomes and scrolls, the silence between you grew more uncomfortable by the minute.

finally, heeseung broke the silence. “look, we need to split this up if we’re going to get anywhere. how about we each take one artifact to research on our own, and then we’ll work on the third together?”

you looked up from the book you were skimming, considering his proposal. “fine,” you agreed, though you couldn’t help the edge in your voice. “but we need to make sure we’re thorough. this project is going to be tough, and i’m not about to let my grade suffer because of sloppy work.”

heeseung shot you a sharp look. “i’m not sloppy, yn. i know how to handle a project like this. just focus on your part, and i’ll focus on mine.”

you sighed, biting back a retort. the last thing you needed was another argument. “fine,” you repeated, turning back to the book in front of you. “let’s just get this done.”

as the hours passed, you and heeseung worked in near silence, occasionally exchanging a terse comment or asking a quick question, but mostly staying in your own worlds. the artifacts you were researching were fascinating—each one held powerful magic and a rich history—but the tension between you and heeseung made it hard to focus.

by the time you’d gathered enough information to start working on your individual parts, the sun had begun to set outside, casting long shadows across the library. you closed your book with a tired sigh, glancing at heeseung, who was still deep in his research.

“we should call it a day,” you said, breaking the silence. “we can start writing up our findings tomorrow.”

heeseung looked up, his expression unreadable. “yeah, we’ll need to if we want to stay on track.”

you both gathered your things, and as you left the library, the weight of the project—and your partnership—settled heavily on your shoulders. it was clear that this collaboration was going to be anything but easy. the animosity between you and heeseung was still there, simmering just beneath the surface, but now it was mixed with something else—an uneasy alliance, born out of necessity rather than choice.

as you walked back to your common room, you couldn’t help but wonder how you were going to survive the next few weeks. the project was complex, the stakes were high, and you were stuck working with the one person who always seemed to bring out the worst in you.

but despite the tension and the challenges ahead, one thing was certain: you weren’t going to let heeseung beat you. not now, not ever.

the next few days were a blur of bickering, frustration, and barely suppressed anger as you and heeseung tried to navigate the complexities of your project. from the moment you met up in the library each day, the tension between you was almost unbearable, and it didn’t take long for the disagreements to start.

“we need to focus more on the historical context,” you insisted one afternoon, your voice rising in frustration. “the way these artifacts were used is just as important as the magic they contain.”

heeseung rolled his eyes, clearly not in the mood to agree. “we can’t get bogged down in the history, yn. the practical applications of the magic are what really matter. if we don’t demonstrate that, our project is going to fall flat.”

you shot him a glare, feeling your temper flare. “and if we ignore the history, we’ll miss the whole point of why these artifacts are important in the first place. it’s not just about the magic—it’s about the people who used it and how it shaped their lives.”

heeseung crossed his arms, clearly not convinced. “fine, but we can’t spend all our time on that. we need to strike a balance, or we’re going to run out of time.”

“then maybe if you’d actually listen to my ideas instead of dismissing them, we wouldn’t be wasting so much time arguing,” you snapped back, your patience wearing thin.

heeseung’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, you thought he might argue further. but instead, he took a deep breath and seemed to force himself to calm down. “fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “let’s focus on the history for now, but we’re going to need to move on to the practical demonstrations soon. agreed?”

you hesitated, still feeling the sting of his earlier dismissal, but you knew he was right about the time constraints. “agreed,” you muttered, though your frustration was still simmering just beneath the surface.

the rest of the afternoon continued in much the same way, with the two of you struggling to find common ground. every decision—whether it was about the structure of your presentation, the content of your research, or the approach to your demonstrations—seemed to turn into a battle of wills, with neither of you willing to back down easily.

“i think we should use the hand of glory for our demonstration,” heeseung said during one particularly heated discussion. “it’s one of the most powerful artifacts we’re studying, and it’ll make a big impact.”

you frowned, shaking your head. “it’s too dangerous. we don’t know enough about how it works, and if we make a mistake, we could end up causing real harm. the bezoar stone is a safer option, and it still has a lot of practical applications.”

“safe isn’t going to impress professor mcgonagall,” heeseung shot back, his tone sharp. “we need to take risks if we want to stand out.”

“and what if those risks backfire?” you countered, refusing to budge. “we’re not going to get any points if we end up in the hospital wing because of a careless mistake.”

the argument dragged on, neither of you willing to concede, until finally, heeseung threw up his hands in exasperation. “fine, we’ll go with the bezoar stone, but you’d better make sure it’s impressive.”

you bit back a retort, knowing that continuing to argue would only waste more time. “i will,” you said curtly, turning back to your notes.

something began to shift as you and heeseung spent more time together. the initial days of your partnership were filled with nothing but tension and stubbornness, but slowly, almost imperceptibly, you started to notice things about him that you hadn’t before.

one evening, while you were both deep in the restricted section of the library, you watched as heeseung meticulously transcribed information from a particularly ancient text. his brow was furrowed in concentration, and there was an intensity in his eyes that you hadn’t seen before. it was clear that he was deeply invested in the project, despite his earlier dismissive attitude.

“you’re really into this, aren’t you?” you found yourself saying, unable to keep the surprise out of your voice.

heeseung looked up, momentarily startled by the lack of sarcasm in your tone. “of course i am,” he replied, a bit defensively. “just because we don’t see eye to eye on everything doesn’t mean i don’t care about this project.”

you nodded slowly, feeling a small flicker of respect for his dedication. “i guess i just didn’t expect you to be so… thorough.”

heeseung shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in his expression. “i take my work seriously. especially when it’s something as challenging as this.”

you didn’t say anything more, but as you turned back to your own research, you couldn’t help but think about how different heeseung was when he wasn’t trying to one-up you. beneath the rivalry and the bravado, there was a serious, determined student who was just as passionate about his studies as you were.

over the next few days, you began to notice other things too—small details that hinted at a side of heeseung you hadn’t seen before. the way he’d quietly stay late in the library, long after you were ready to call it a night, making sure every detail of your project was perfect. the way he’d occasionally offer a rare word of praise when you made a breakthrough, even if it was grudgingly given. and the way his expression would soften, just for a moment, when he thought you weren’t looking, revealing a vulnerability that he usually kept hidden behind his confident exterior.

in turn, you sensed that heeseung was starting to see you in a different light as well. you caught him watching you sometimes, a thoughtful look in his eyes, as if he was reevaluating everything he’d thought about you. when you made a particularly strong argument or came up with a clever solution to a problem, there was a flicker of something like admiration in his gaze, though he was careful to hide it most of the time.

one afternoon, while you were both working in a quiet corner of the library, you noticed heeseung struggling with a particularly complicated spell that was central to your project. he was trying to recreate the effects of the spell using a detailed diagram, but no matter how many times he tried, the results weren’t quite right.

“here,” you said, surprising both of you as you reached out to help. “let me see.”

heeseung hesitated for a moment, clearly not used to accepting help from you, but eventually, he handed over the parchment. you studied the diagram for a moment, then adjusted a few key elements, altering the flow of the magical energy.

“try it now,” you suggested, handing the parchment back.

heeseung glanced at you, then at the parchment, before nodding. he carefully followed the adjustments you’d made, and this time, the spell came together perfectly, the magical energy aligning just as it should.

he looked at you, a mix of surprise and gratitude in his eyes. “how did you…?”

“you were overthinking it,” you explained with a small shrug. “sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.”

heeseung stared at you for a moment longer, and you could almost see the gears turning in his mind as he processed what had just happened. then, to your surprise, he offered a small, genuine smile—one that lacked the usual competitive edge.

“thanks,” he said quietly, and for the first time, it felt like he was speaking to you as a person, not just as his rival.

“don’t mention it,” you replied, feeling a strange warmth in your chest at the unexpected moment of connection.

from that point on, the dynamic between you and heeseung began to shift, bit by bit.

it was another late night in the library, the kind that had become all too familiar over the past few weeks. the moonlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the room as you and heeseung worked in relative silence. the only sounds were the soft scratching of quills on parchment and the occasional rustle of pages being turned.

you had been at it for hours, piecing together the final sections of your project. exhaustion was beginning to take its toll, but neither of you was willing to call it quits just yet. there was too much at stake, and the deadline was looming ever closer.

“we’re almost there,” heeseung said, his voice low and slightly hoarse from lack of sleep. “just a few more details to iron out.”

you nodded, stifling a yawn as you scribbled down some final notes. “yeah, but we need to make sure everything’s perfect. professor mcgonagall isn’t going to go easy on us.”

heeseung snorted softly. “she never does.”

for a while, you both worked in comfortable silence, the earlier tension between you having dissipated over the course of your collaboration. it was strange how the rivalry that had once defined your interactions had gradually given way to a kind of mutual understanding. you still didn’t always agree, but there was a new level of respect that hadn’t been there before.

as the clock ticked closer to midnight, you leaned back in your chair, rubbing your tired eyes. “i can’t believe we’re actually going to pull this off.”

heeseung glanced up from his work, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “yeah, who would’ve thought?”

you chuckled softly, the sound a little weary but genuine. “certainly not me.”

for a moment, you both just sat there, the weight of the past few weeks settling over you. it had been an intense and challenging journey, one that had pushed both of you to your limits. and now, as the project neared completion, there was a strange sense of camaraderie between you—something that felt almost foreign after years of animosity.

“why do you push yourself so hard, yn?” heeseung’s voice broke the silence, catching you off guard. “i mean, we’ve been competing for so long, but i never really knew why you’re so driven. what’s your reason?”

you blinked, surprised by the question. it wasn’t something you’d ever expected him to ask, let alone something you’d planned to share. but there was something about the quiet intimacy of the moment, the exhaustion and the late hour, that made you feel like maybe—just maybe—you could let your guard down, if only a little.

“it’s… complicated,” you began, your voice hesitant as you searched for the right words. “i guess it all started with my family. they’ve always had high expectations, you know? being a ravenclaw, there’s this constant pressure to be the best, to excel in everything. my parents—they were both top of their class when they were here, and they expect the same from me. i’ve always felt like i had to prove myself, to show them that i’m just as good, if not better.”

heeseung listened quietly, his expression thoughtful as you spoke. you could see a flicker of understanding in his eyes, like he was beginning to piece together parts of you that he hadn’t seen before.

“it’s exhausting,” you admitted, feeling a little vulnerable. “sometimes it feels like no matter what i do, it’s never enough. so i keep pushing myself, hoping that maybe, one day, i’ll finally be able to meet their expectations.”

there was a long pause, the silence between you filled with unspoken emotions. then, to your surprise, heeseung spoke up, his voice unusually soft. “i get it. i mean, it’s different for me, but… i get it.”

you looked at him, curiosity piqued. “what do you mean?”

heeseung hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether or not to share. but then, he sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “my family’s different. they’re not as focused on academics, but… they’ve always been there for me, supporting me in everything i do. i know how lucky i am to have that, but it also means i don’t want to disappoint them. they’ve sacrificed a lot for me to be here, and i feel like i owe it to them to succeed, to make the most of the opportunities they’ve given me.”

you listened, surprised by the honesty in his words. it was a side of heeseung you hadn’t seen before—one that was driven not just by ambition or competition, but by a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude.

“so that’s why you’re always so determined,” you said quietly, beginning to understand. “it’s not just about beating me or being the best—it’s about making sure your family’s sacrifices weren’t in vain.”

heeseung nodded, his expression serious. “yeah, something like that. and i guess… it’s also about proving to myself that i can do it. that i’m not just coasting on their support, but that i’m actually capable of achieving something on my own.”

you both fell silent again, the weight of your shared stories hanging in the air. it was strange, this newfound understanding between you—like a fragile bridge built over years of rivalry and competition. but as you sat there, side by side in the quiet library, you realized that maybe, just maybe, you weren’t so different after all.

“we’ve both been carrying a lot, haven’t we?” you finally said, your voice soft.

heeseung nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. “yeah, we have. but i guess that’s what makes us who we are.”

“rivals,” you said with a small, rueful laugh.

“and maybe something more,” heeseung added, his tone thoughtful.

you looked at him, a little startled by his words, but there was no teasing or challenge in his expression—just a quiet, genuine honesty that you hadn’t expected.

“maybe,” you agreed, feeling a strange warmth in your chest.

as the days passed, the dynamic between you and heeseung continued to evolve —a subtle undertone of respect that hadn’t been there before.

you found yourselves falling into a rhythm, one that surprised you both. there were moments when you’d catch heeseung watching you as you worked, his expression unreadable, as if he were seeing you in a new light. at times, you’d notice yourself doing the same, observing the way he methodically tackled challenges, his determination unyielding.

it was during one of these moments, late at night when the rest of the castle was asleep, that you first began to acknowledge the shift between you. you were both hunched over the same ancient tome, deciphering the intricate details of a particularly difficult spell. without thinking, you leaned closer to see better, your shoulders brushing against each other.

“here, try adjusting the incantation this way,” heeseung suggested, his voice low and steady as he pointed to a line of text. “it should help stabilize the magical flow.”

you followed his suggestion, altering the incantation slightly before attempting the spell again. to your surprise, it worked perfectly, the magical energy aligning just as it should.

“that actually worked,” you said, looking up at him with a mix of surprise and appreciation. “nice catch, heeseung.”

heeseung gave you a small, almost shy smile—one that lacked the usual competitive edge. “thanks. you know, you’re not half bad at this either, yn.”

the unexpected compliment caught you off guard, and for a moment, you weren’t sure how to respond. eventually, you settled for a simple, “you’re not so bad yourself.”

the exchange was brief, but it marked a turning point in your partnership. there were still disagreements and moments of tension, but they were now balanced by a growing sense of camaraderie. you found yourselves working more smoothly together, each of you beginning to trust the other’s judgment in ways you hadn’t before.

during one particularly challenging task, you even surprised yourself by seeking out heeseung’s advice willingly. you were struggling with a particularly tricky potion that was integral to your project, and after several failed attempts, you finally turned to him.

“i can’t seem to get the consistency right,” you admitted, frustration creeping into your voice. “the potion keeps separating, no matter how carefully i follow the instructions.”

heeseung leaned over to inspect your work, his brow furrowing in concentration. “let me see… i think you might be adding the crushed bezoar too early. try mixing it in after the potion reaches a simmer.”

you followed his suggestion, and sure enough, the potion began to come together perfectly, the ingredients blending smoothly.

“how do you do that?” you asked, a mix of admiration and curiosity in your voice. “you always seem to know exactly what’s going wrong.”

heeseung shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in his expression. “i’ve always been good with potions. i guess i just have a knack for it.”

“well, it’s impressive,” you admitted, feeling a twinge of respect for him. “thanks for the help.”

heeseung nodded, his expression softening slightly. “anytime.”

as the days continued to pass, these moments of mutual respect and understanding became more frequent. you found yourself looking forward to the time spent working together, even if you were still reluctant to fully acknowledge it. there was something comforting about the way you could challenge each other, push each other to be better, without the usual undercurrent of animosity.

but despite the growing bond between you, neither of you was quite ready to admit it out loud. the rivalry that had defined your relationship for so long was still there, lingering in the background, and old habits were hard to break. you were both too stubborn, too proud, to fully let go of the competitive edge that had always driven you.

yet, even as you continued to trade barbs and challenge each other, there was a new undercurrent of something else—something that felt almost like friendship, though neither of you would have dared to call it that. it was still too soon, too uncertain, to fully embrace the change. but the first signs were there, undeniable in the way you worked together, in the way you’d begun to see each other as more than just rivals.

one evening, as you were packing up your things after a long day of work, heeseung hesitated before speaking. “you know, yn… we make a pretty good team.”

you paused, surprised by his words. for a moment, you considered brushing it off with a sarcastic remark, but something in his tone stopped you. instead, you found yourself nodding, a small, reluctant smile tugging at your lips. “yeah, we do.”

heeseung smiled back, and for the first time, it felt like a genuine connection—one that went beyond the rivalry that had defined your relationship for so long.

as you both left the library that night, walking side by side through the quiet halls of hogwarts, you couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for you both. the rivalry was still there, but it was no longer the only thing that defined your relationship.

one evening, as you were both working late in the deserted classroom you’d claimed as your project base, the air was thick with tension. the amulet lay on the table between you, glowing faintly with an eerie, pulsating light. you had just finished deciphering a particularly complicated series of runes when heeseung spoke up.

“we need to be careful with this next part,” he said, his voice low and serious. “the spell to activate the amulet’s power is extremely sensitive. if we get it wrong, it could backfire.”

you nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety form in your stomach. “i know. but we’ve come this far—we can’t stop now.”

heeseung met your gaze, and for a moment, you saw the same determination mirrored in his eyes. “agreed. let’s do this.”

you both took a deep breath and began the incantation, your voices blending together as you carefully followed the instructions you’d painstakingly translated from the ancient text. the air around you seemed to hum with energy, the light from the amulet growing brighter with each word spoken.

but just as you reached the final phrase, something went wrong. the amulet’s glow intensified suddenly, flaring with a blinding brilliance that made you both flinch. a high-pitched whine filled the room, and before you could react, the amulet exploded with a burst of uncontrolled magic.

you were thrown back by the force of the blast, crashing into the wall behind you. the impact knocked the wind out of you, leaving you gasping for breath as the room spun around you. through the haze of pain and disorientation, you heard heeseung shout your name.

“yn! are you okay?”

you forced yourself to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain in your side. “i’m fine,” you managed to say, though your voice was shaky. “what about you?”

heeseung was already on his feet, his wand drawn as he surveyed the chaotic scene. “i’m okay, but the amulet—” he broke off, his expression darkening as he pointed to where the artifact had been moments before.

the amulet was now hovering in midair, surrounded by a crackling aura of unstable magic. the runes etched into its surface were glowing with a malevolent light, and the energy it was emitting was growing stronger by the second.

“we have to stop it,” heeseung said urgently, his voice tight with fear. “if it releases all that magic at once, it could destroy the whole room—and us with it.”

you nodded, your mind racing as you tried to think of a solution. “we need to contain the magic, redirect it somehow before it builds up too much.”

heeseung’s eyes darted around the room, and you could see the wheels turning in his mind. “i think i can create a barrier around it, but i’ll need your help to stabilize it. can you do that?”

you nodded, pushing yourself to your feet despite the pain. “i’ll do my best.”

working quickly, you and heeseung moved into position, your wands raised as you began casting the necessary spells. heeseung’s barrier started to form around the amulet, a shimmering dome of protective magic, but the unstable energy was resisting, threatening to break through.

“it’s not holding,” heeseung gritted out, sweat beading on his forehead as he fought to maintain the barrier. “i need more power—now!”

you didn’t hesitate, channeling your magic into the spell he was casting. the strain was immense, the pressure of the wild magic pushing against your combined efforts, but you held on, focusing all your energy on keeping the barrier intact.

for a few terrifying moments, it felt like the magic would overwhelm you, like the barrier would shatter and unleash the full force of the amulet’s power. but then, slowly, the chaotic energy began to stabilize, the violent pulses of magic subsiding as your spells took hold.

finally, after what felt like an eternity, the glow of the amulet began to fade, the crackling aura dissipating as the magic was safely contained. you and heeseung maintained the barrier for a few moments longer, just to be sure, before finally allowing it to dissolve.

as the room fell into an exhausted silence, you both stood there, breathing heavily, your hands trembling from the effort. the amulet now lay on the floor, inert and harmless, the danger passed.

“we did it,” you said softly, your voice filled with a mix of relief and disbelief.

heeseung nodded, his expression a mix of exhaustion and something else—something that looked almost like admiration. “yeah, we did. you were incredible, yn. i couldn’t have done it without you.”

you met his gaze, feeling a strange warmth in your chest despite the lingering fear and exhaustion. “we make a good team,” you admitted, the words coming easier now after everything you’d just been through.

heeseung smiled, a genuine, unguarded smile that you rarely saw from him. “yeah, we do.”

the days following the incident were marked by an undeniable shift in the way you and heeseung interacted. the rivalry that had once defined your relationship felt less intense, as if the near-disaster had forced you both to re-evaluate what truly mattered. neither of you brought up the magical mishap directly, but it hung in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that had formed during those tense moments.

you noticed it first in the way heeseung spoke to you. gone was the sharp edge to his voice, the ever-present hint of competition. instead, his tone was more measured, even respectful. it was as if the experience had softened something in him, allowing a different side to emerge.

one afternoon, as you both sat in the library reviewing notes, you caught him glancing at you out of the corner of your eye. when you looked up, he didn’t immediately look away, instead holding your gaze for a moment longer than usual.

“about what happened,” heeseung began, his voice unusually quiet. “i’ve been thinking… maybe we’ve been going about this all wrong.”

you raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “what do you mean?”

he sighed, running a hand through his hair as he searched for the right words. “we’ve spent so much time trying to outdo each other that we never really stopped to consider what we could accomplish if we actually worked together. i mean, look at what we did the other night. we barely made it out of that mess, but we did it—because we were working as a team.”

you nodded slowly, his words resonating with the thoughts that had been swirling in your mind since the incident. “yeah, you’re right. it’s strange… after all these years of competing, I never really thought about what it would be like to be on the same side. it’s… easier than I expected.”

heeseung smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “easier? coming from you, that’s saying something.”

you rolled your eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. “don’t get used to it.”

he chuckled, the sound surprisingly warm, and for a brief moment, the usual tension between you dissolved, replaced by something lighter, almost friendly.

as the days went by, this new dynamic began to take root. you still challenged each other, still pushed each other to be better, but there was a noticeable difference in the way you approached it. the sharp edges of your rivalry had softened, making room for something more collaborative.

one evening, while you were both working late in the library, the conversation drifted away from the project and onto more personal topics. it started innocently enough, with a question about favorite books, but soon, you found yourselves sharing more than just academic preferences.

“you know,” you said, leaning back in your chair, “i always thought you were just this arrogant gryffindor who enjoyed making my life difficult.”

heeseung laughed softly, shaking his head. “and i always thought you were a stuck-up ravenclaw who couldn’t stand to lose. guess we both had the wrong idea.”

“yeah,” you agreed, a small smile tugging at your lips. “it’s funny how things turn out.”

heeseung’s expression grew more serious, and he hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “there’s more to it than that, though. i’ve always felt like i had something to prove, like i had to be the best at everything to… i don’t know, be taken seriously, i guess. and competing with you—well, it made me push myself harder.”

you listened quietly, sensing that this was something he didn’t often talk about. “i get that,” you said after a moment. “i’ve always felt the same way. being the best is a way of proving to myself that i’m worth something. but i think… i think i’ve realized that there’s more to it than just winning.”

heeseung nodded, his gaze meeting yours with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat. “yeah. maybe we don’t have to be rivals all the time. maybe we can just… be.”

the simplicity of his words struck a chord with you, and for the first time in a long while, you felt the walls you’d built up around yourself start to crumble. the rivalry, the constant need to prove yourself—it all seemed less important in the face of the connection you were beginning to forge.

“maybe we can,” you agreed softly, a tentative smile crossing your face.

as the conversation continued, you found yourselves sharing stories, laughing at old memories, and even confiding in each other about your hopes and fears. the change was subtle, but undeniable. you were no longer just rivals, no longer defined solely by your competition. you were two people who had been through a lot together, who were starting to see each other in a new light.

you found yourselves meeting up more frequently, not just in the library or classrooms, but in quieter corners of the castle where you could work without interruption. at first, it was strictly about the project, but gradually, your conversations began to drift into more personal territory.

“i’ve never really asked,” you said one evening, as you both sat by the fire in the ravenclaw common room, books and parchment spread out before you. “why do you push yourself so hard in school? i mean, i get the competition, but it seems like there’s more to it.”

heeseung looked up from his notes, surprised by the question. he was silent for a moment, as if weighing how much to reveal. “i guess it’s because i’ve always felt like i had something to prove,” he admitted, his voice quieter than usual. “being the eldest son in my family comes with a lot of expectations. and at hogwarts, it’s like… it’s my chance to show that i’m capable of more than just living up to the family name. but it’s exhausting sometimes.”

you nodded, understanding all too well. “i know what you mean. for me, it’s about feeling like i belong. growing up, i was always the odd one out, the bookworm who didn’t quite fit in. being at the top here—it’s my way of proving that i’m good enough, that i deserve to be here. but yeah, it can be lonely.”

heeseung looked at you then, his gaze softer, more empathetic than you’d ever seen it. “i never thought about it like that,” he said quietly. “i guess we’re more alike than i realized.”

the shared understanding created a new kind of bond between you, one that extended beyond academic rivalry. over the next few weeks, your study sessions became more frequent, and your conversations grew deeper. you found yourself looking forward to these moments, enjoying his company in a way that surprised you.

the shift in your dynamic didn’t go unnoticed by your fellow students. whispers and sideways glances followed you in the hallways, and more than a few knowing smiles were exchanged when you and heeseung walked into the library together.

“well, well, look who’s finally getting along,” one of your ravenclaw classmates teased as you passed by. “i never thought i’d see the day.”

you rolled your eyes, trying to brush off the comment, but you couldn’t ignore the slight warmth that crept into your cheeks.

heeseung, however, seemed unfazed by the attention. “let them talk,” he said with a shrug as you both settled into your usual spot. “they’ve got nothing better to do.”

but the teasing wasn’t limited to just your house. in gryffindor, heeseung’s friends were just as quick to notice the change.

“so, heeseung,” jay drawled one afternoon as they sat in the common room, “you and yn seem to be spending a lot of time together these days. should we be expecting wedding invitations soon?”

heeseung shot him a withering look, though his friends could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “it’s not like that,” he muttered, but the way he avoided their eyes made them exchange amused glances.

“sure, sure,” jake chimed in, grinning. “it’s just a project, right? nothing more.”

“you guys are impossible,” heeseung sighed, shaking his head, but there was no real irritation in his voice. if anything, the teasing felt oddly comforting, a sign that even his friends could see the positive change in him.

over time, the teasing became a constant background noise, something neither of you could completely escape, but you found that it didn’t bother you as much as you thought it would. if anything, it only highlighted how much things had changed between you and heeseung. you were no longer just rivals locked in a never-ending battle for supremacy. you were… something else, something that neither of you had quite figured out yet.

and as the days went by, you realized that you didn’t mind the change. in fact, you were starting to welcome it.

as the end of the term approached, hogwarts was abuzz with excitement for the upcoming winter ball. the great hall was already being transformed, adorned with shimmering icicles and twinkling fairy lights that gave the castle a magical, ethereal glow. students chattered eagerly about their outfits, their dates, and the promise of a night filled with music, dancing, and festive cheer.

you, however, hadn’t given much thought to the ball. between your classes, the ongoing project with heeseung, and the unexpected shift in your dynamic, your mind was already occupied with enough complications. the idea of finding a date just seemed like another task on an already overflowing list.

that changed one afternoon when you found yourself alone in the courtyard, enjoying a rare moment of quiet. the crisp winter air nipped at your cheeks as you flipped through the pages of your book, trying to ignore the cold as you immersed yourself in your studies.

“yn?” a voice called, pulling you from your thoughts.

you looked up to see felix, a cheerful hufflepuff with a wide, friendly grin and an air of perpetual optimism. you’d always liked him; his bright energy was infectious, and he had a way of making everyone around him feel at ease.

“hey, felix,” you greeted him, closing your book and offering him a smile.

he seemed a little nervous, shifting from foot to foot as he approached. “um, i hope i’m not interrupting,” he began, glancing down at your book.

“no, not at all,” you replied, curious about what had brought him over. “what’s up?”

felix took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. “well, i was wondering… have you decided who you’re going to the winter ball with yet?”

the question caught you off guard. you hadn’t expected anyone to ask, especially not felix, and for a moment, you just stared at him, trying to process what he was saying.

“i… haven’t really thought about it,” you admitted, feeling a bit flustered.

“well, if you’re not going with anyone yet,” felix said, his grin widening as he took the plunge, “i was hoping you might consider going with me.”

before you could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air, laced with an unmistakable note of possessiveness.

“actually, she’s already going with me.”

you turned to see heeseung standing a few steps away, his expression calm but his eyes flashing with something that looked suspiciously like jealousy. his appearance was so sudden and unexpected that you found yourself momentarily speechless.

felix blinked, clearly surprised by the interruption. “oh… really? i didn’t know you two were—”

“we are,” heeseung interjected smoothly, stepping closer to you and giving you a look that was both challenging and expectant, as if daring you to contradict him.

you opened your mouth to protest, to correct him, but the words didn’t come. instead, you found yourself caught between the two of them, your mind racing to make sense of the situation.

felix, ever the good sport, chuckled awkwardly and raised his hands in surrender. “well, that’s settled then. i guess i’ll have to find someone else to go with,” he said, his tone light, though there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

“thanks for asking, though, felix,” you managed to say, still reeling from the sudden turn of events.

he gave you a good-natured smile. “no worries. see you at the ball, then.” with a final nod, felix turned and walked away, leaving you alone with heeseung.

the silence that followed was thick with unspoken words. you turned to heeseung, who was watching felix’s retreating figure with an unreadable expression.

“what was that about?” you asked, your voice tinged with confusion and more than a little annoyance. “i never agreed to go with you.”

heeseung finally looked at you, and you saw a flicker of something vulnerable beneath his usual confident facade. “i know,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck in a rare show of uncertainty. “but i couldn’t just let you go with someone else.”

you frowned, trying to make sense of his words. “why not?”

he hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground before he spoke again. “because… because i wanted to go with you.”

the simplicity of his confession caught you off guard. for a moment, you didn’t know how to respond. you’d always seen heeseung as your rival, your equal in so many ways, but this was different. this was him, standing before you, stripped of the usual bravado and letting you see a side of him that you hadn’t fully acknowledged before.

“heeseung…” you started, unsure of what to say.

“look, i know it’s sudden,” he continued, his tone softer now. “and i know we’ve had our… issues. but things have been different between us lately, and i just thought—well, maybe we could try being something other than rivals, even if it’s just for one night.”

you studied him for a long moment, searching his face for any sign of the arrogance that usually defined your interactions. but all you saw was sincerity, and something that looked an awful lot like hope.

“okay,” you said finally, your voice quiet but firm. “i’ll go with you.”

his expression brightened, the tension in his shoulders easing as he let out a breath he didn’t seem to realize he’d been holding. “really?”

“really,” you confirmed, a small smile tugging at your lips despite the confusion still swirling in your mind.

heeseung’s answering smile was one of pure relief and genuine happiness. “great. i’ll… i’ll meet you at the entrance hall before the ball?”

you nodded, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. “yeah. sounds good.”

with that, heeseung gave you one last look, a mix of excitement and something else that made your heart flutter unexpectedly, before turning and walking away.

the next weekend, you found yourself in diagon alley, flanked by sunoo and yuna as you wandered through a boutique filled with elegant gowns and robes. the winter ball was fast approaching, and the three of you had decided to make a day of it, searching for the perfect outfits to wear.

as sunoo and yuna enthusiastically pulled dresses off racks, debating colors and styles, you found your thoughts drifting to heeseung. ever since he had asked you to the ball—if you could even call it asking—you hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. the way he had looked at you, the way his voice had softened when he spoke… it was all so confusing.

“yn, what do you think of this one?” yuna’s voice broke through your thoughts, and you turned to see her holding up a shimmering navy gown with delicate silver embroidery.

“it’s beautiful,” you replied automatically, though your mind was elsewhere.

“but is it you?” sunoo chimed in, giving you a knowing look. “you’ve been a bit out of it today. something on your mind?”

you hesitated, not sure how to put your jumbled thoughts into words. “it’s nothing,” you said, trying to sound casual as you flipped through a rack of dresses.

“it’s obviously not nothing,” yuna pointed out, setting the dress aside and crossing her arms. “you’ve been spacing out all day. is this about the ball? or maybe… who you’re going with?”

you sighed, realizing there was no point in trying to hide it. sunoo and yuna knew you too well. “it’s heeseung,” you admitted, finally voicing the name that had been circling your mind. “i can’t figure out what’s going on between us. one minute we’re rivals, the next we’re working together, and now… now he’s asked me to the ball. but i don’t even know if he really likes me, or if he’s just messing with me.”

sunoo exchanged a glance with yuna, and they both gave you a sympathetic look. “have you thought about just asking him how he feels?” sunoo suggested gently. “it might clear things up.”

“or maybe you could try to figure out how you feel first,” yuna added, her tone soft. “it sounds like you’re just as confused about your own feelings as you are about his.”

you let out a frustrated breath, running a hand through your hair. “i know, but it’s just… complicated. he’s always been my rival, my competition. i don’t know how to deal with this sudden shift.”

“come on, let’s sit down for a minute,” sunoo said, taking your arm and steering you toward the dressing room area. yuna followed, concern etched on her face.

once inside the small, cozy room, sunoo and yuna guided you to one of the plush benches, sitting on either side of you. the soft lighting and quiet atmosphere provided a much-needed break from the overwhelming swirl of emotions you were feeling.

“yn,” yuna began, her voice soothing, “it’s okay to be confused. you’ve been dealing with a lot lately, and it’s only natural that your feelings might be all over the place. but whatever you’re feeling, it’s valid. you don’t have to have everything figured out right now.”

sunoo nodded in agreement, resting a comforting hand on your shoulder. “and if heeseung really does like you—and it sounds like he might—then he’ll understand that this is new territory for you both. you don’t have to rush into anything. just take it one step at a time.”

you looked between your two friends, their warmth and understanding providing a balm to your frayed nerves. “thanks, guys,” you said quietly, a small smile tugging at your lips. “i guess i just needed to hear that it’s okay to not have all the answers.”

“of course it’s okay,” yuna said, squeezing your hand. “and whatever happens, we’ll be here for you. whether you end up with heeseung or not, we’ve got your back.”

sunoo grinned, his usual playful demeanor shining through. “and hey, if heeseung gives you any trouble, you know we’ll take care of him.”

you couldn’t help but laugh at that, the tension in your chest easing a little. “i’m sure you will.”

the night of the winter ball arrived, and hogwarts was transformed into a winter wonderland. the great hall was adorned with twinkling lights, enchanted snowflakes drifting down from the enchanted ceiling without ever touching the ground. the sound of soft music filled the air, setting the stage for an evening of magic and memories.

you stood in front of the mirror in your dormitory, adjusting the soft, flowing fabric of your dress—the very same navy gown yuna had suggested. its silver embroidery shimmered in the candlelight, complementing the simple yet elegant look you had chosen. despite your earlier doubts, you couldn’t deny that you felt a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in your stomach.

“you look amazing,” yuna said, smiling as she fixed the last few strands of her hair in the mirror beside you. sunoo, dressed in sharp robes, gave you an approving nod.

“heeseung’s not going to know what hit him,” sunoo teased, winking at you.

you rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t help but smile. “let’s just hope he doesn’t trip over his own feet when he sees me.”

with a final deep breath, you made your way to the entrance hall, where students were gathering before entering the great hall. you spotted heeseung almost immediately, standing off to the side, talking with jay, jake, and ni-ki. he looked up as you approached, his gaze locking onto yours, and for a moment, it felt like everything else faded away.

heeseung was dressed in dark, tailored robes that accentuated his tall frame, his hair neatly styled. but what caught your attention most was the way he was looking at you—something warm and appreciative in his eyes that sent a shiver down your spine.

“you look… wow,” heeseung said, his voice almost a whisper as you reached him. he seemed momentarily at a loss for words, a rare sight for someone usually so confident and quick with a remark.

“you don’t look so bad yourself,” you replied, trying to ignore the way your heart was pounding in your chest.

his friends took the opportunity to make themselves scarce, offering you both knowing grins as they wandered off into the crowd. you and heeseung were left standing there, the unspoken tension between you suddenly feeling much more tangible.

“shall we?” heeseung asked, offering you his arm with a slightly awkward but endearing smile.

you hesitated for only a moment before accepting, looping your arm through his. together, you made your way into the great hall, the soft strains of music growing louder as you entered the beautifully decorated room. chandeliers glimmered overhead, casting a warm glow over the assembled students, who were already beginning to pair off and dance.

for a while, the two of you simply walked around the edges of the hall, exchanging polite conversation about anything but the real question hovering between you. you couldn’t help but notice how heeseung’s arm stayed close to yours, how he seemed to be making a conscious effort to stay by your side.

finally, after what felt like an eternity, heeseung stopped and turned to face you, his expression a mix of nervousness and determination. “do you… want to dance?” he asked, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it.

“i’d like that,” you replied, surprising even yourself with how much you meant it.

he led you onto the dance floor, the soft strains of a waltz beginning to play as you found your place among the other couples. heeseung’s hand rested lightly on your waist, his other hand holding yours with a gentleness that contrasted with the fierce competitor you were so used to seeing.

the first few steps were tentative, both of you trying to find your rhythm. it was awkward at first—heeseung’s foot nearly caught on the hem of your dress, and you stumbled slightly as you tried to keep up with the music. but then heeseung let out a quiet laugh, the sound light and warm, and you found yourself laughing too.

“maybe we’re not cut out for ballroom dancing,” you joked, your nerves easing as you looked up at him.

“speak for yourself,” heeseung shot back playfully, his smile widening. “i’m just getting started.”

with that, he spun you gently, and you couldn’t help but smile at the way he seemed to be enjoying himself. the awkwardness began to fade, replaced by a strange but pleasant feeling of comfort. you found your rhythm together, your steps more in sync with each passing moment.

as the music swelled, you felt something shift between you. there was a new understanding, a silent acknowledgment that things were different now. it wasn’t just about competition or rivalry anymore—it was about enjoying each other’s company, about recognizing the connection that had grown between you.

when the song finally ended, you found yourself still in his arms, neither of you making a move to pull away. the applause of the other students was just background noise as you looked up at him, your heart beating a little faster.

“i had fun,” heeseung said softly, his gaze holding yours.

“me too,” you admitted, realizing that you meant it more than you ever thought you would.

for a moment, it seemed like he might say something more, but then the next song started, and you both became aware of the other students around you. with a slightly bashful smile, heeseung stepped back, releasing your hand reluctantly.

“should we get some punch?” he suggested, trying to break the sudden tension.

“yeah, that sounds good,” you agreed, though a part of you missed the closeness already.

as you walked off the dance floor together, you couldn’t help but feel that this night had marked a turning point. the rivalry that had once defined your relationship was beginning to fade, replaced by something new—something that was still unfolding, but felt like the start of something important.

as the night wound down and the last notes of music faded into the background, the students began to filter out of the great hall, their laughter and chatter filling the corridors of hogwarts. you and heeseung lingered near the entrance, neither of you in a rush to return to your respective common rooms. the night had been unexpectedly wonderful, and neither of you seemed ready for it to end.

“want to take the long way back?” heeseung asked, his voice quiet, as if not to disturb the magic of the evening.

you nodded, feeling the same reluctance to let the moment slip away. “sure.”

together, you slipped out of the main entrance and into the cool night air. the grounds were bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, the stars twinkling brightly in the clear sky above. the castle loomed behind you, its silhouette majestic against the night, but your attention was focused on the path ahead and the quiet presence beside you.

for a while, you walked in comfortable silence, the only sounds the gentle rustling of the trees and the distant hooting of an owl. it was peaceful, almost surreal after the bustling energy of the ball.

“tonight was… different,” heeseung finally said, breaking the silence. his voice was thoughtful, as if he were carefully choosing his words.

“yeah, it was,” you agreed, glancing up at him. “but it was nice.”

“it was,” he echoed, a small smile playing on his lips. “i didn’t think we’d end up having fun, to be honest.”

“neither did i,” you admitted with a chuckle. “i guess we’re both full of surprises.”

heeseung laughed softly, the sound carrying in the stillness of the night. “i guess we are. you know, i always thought we’d be stuck as rivals forever, constantly trying to outdo each other.”

“me too,” you said, your tone growing more reflective. “but maybe that’s just how we needed to start. it’s how we pushed each other to be better.”

heeseung nodded, his gaze fixed on the stars above. “and maybe… maybe there’s more to us than just competition.”

you felt your heart skip a beat at his words, the implication hanging in the air between you. “maybe,” you said softly, unsure of what else to say.

you continued walking, the silence between you now filled with unspoken thoughts and questions. there was a new understanding between you, something that felt fragile and new, yet powerful. it was as if the night itself was holding its breath, waiting to see where this newfound connection would lead.

as you approached the point where your paths would diverge—him to gryffindor tower and you to the ravenclaw common room—heeseung slowed his steps, turning to face you.

“i’m glad we did this,” he said, his voice sincere. “i’m glad we… got to know each other a little better.”

“me too,” you replied, meeting his gaze. “it feels like a new beginning.”

heeseung smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes. “yeah, it does.”

there was a moment of hesitation, as if both of you were waiting for something more to be said, something that might tip the balance of whatever was happening between you. but then, with a small, almost shy nod, heeseung stepped back.

“goodnight, yn,” he said, his voice gentle.

“goodnight, heeseung,” you replied, a soft smile on your lips.

The days following the winter ball were a confusing whirlwind of emotions. Your interactions with Heeseung had become charged with an unspoken tension that neither of you dared to address. The rivalry that had once defined your relationship seemed to be fading, replaced by something much more complicated. You found yourself drawn to him in ways you never expected, but the fear of the unknown kept you on edge.

Every time you were together, whether it was working on your project or passing each other in the corridors, there was a lingering sense of anticipation, like something was about to happen. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. The way he looked at you had changed—there was a softness in his gaze that hadn’t been there before, but it was always coupled with an underlying tension that kept you both on guard.

One afternoon, you and Heeseung were in the library, surrounded by stacks of ancient books and parchment. The project was almost complete, and with it, the excuse to spend time together was coming to an end. Heeseung was unusually quiet, his focus seemingly elsewhere as he absently flipped through a dusty tome.

“Are you okay?” you asked, breaking the silence, your voice softer than usual. You’d grown accustomed to his company, and the thought of something being wrong between you gnawed at your insides.

Heeseung didn’t look up. “Just thinking,” he replied, his tone distant.

“About what?” you pressed, sensing that whatever was bothering him, it had to do with more than just the project.

He finally met your eyes, but instead of the warmth you had come to expect, there was a hardness there, something defensive. “About how maybe we’ve been wasting our time on this project. I mean, what’s the point? It’s not like we’re going to change anything.”

His words felt like a slap in the face, cutting through the fragile connection you had been building. You had poured your energy into this project, but more than that, you had opened yourself up to him in ways you hadn’t done with anyone else. And now, it felt like he was dismissing all of it.

“What are you talking about?” you asked, trying to keep the hurt out of your voice. “We’ve been working hard on this—together.”

Heeseung’s expression was unreadable, but his voice was laced with frustration. “Yeah, together,” he repeated. “But maybe we’ve been too focused on this… on us, and not enough on what really matters.”

The implication behind his words stung deeply. It felt like he was saying that everything between you—the late-night study sessions, the shared glances, the subtle shifts in your dynamic—meant nothing to him. Your chest tightened, and you felt a surge of anger rise up, mingling with the hurt.

“So you think this was a mistake? That we were a mistake?” you asked, your voice trembling as you struggled to keep your emotions in check.

“No, that’s not what I—” Heeseung started, but the damage was already done.

You stood up abruptly, your chair scraping loudly against the stone floor, drawing the attention of a few nearby students. “If that’s how you feel, then maybe we should just finish this project and go back to being rivals,” you snapped, the bitterness in your tone making it clear how much his words had affected you. “It’s clearly all we’re good at.”

Heeseung’s face fell, and you could see the regret in his eyes, but your hurt and anger were too strong to let him off the hook that easily. Without another word, you gathered your things and stormed out of the library, leaving him sitting there, looking like he wanted to take back every word he had just said. But it was too late. The fragile connection you had begun to form was shattered.

The days that followed were some of the hardest you’d experienced at Hogwarts. You threw yourself into your studies and Quidditch practice, anything to distract yourself from the gaping hole that had been left by your fight with Heeseung. Sunoo and Yuna noticed the change in you, but they gave you space, sensing that you weren’t ready to talk about what had happened.

But no matter how much you tried to focus on other things, your thoughts kept circling back to him. The hurtful words he had said, the regret in his eyes as you walked away—it all replayed in your mind over and over again. You had never been this affected by someone before, and the realization of just how much Heeseung meant to you was overwhelming.

You missed him. You missed the way he challenged you, the way he made you laugh even when you didn’t want to, the way he looked at you like you were the only person in the room. But more than anything, you missed the way he had started to let you see the real him, the parts of himself that he kept hidden from everyone else.

In Gryffindor Tower, Heeseung was going through his own turmoil. He hadn’t meant to hurt you, but his fear of what he was feeling had driven him to push you away. It had been easier to fall back on the familiar role of rivals than to face the truth: that he cared about you more than he had ever cared about anyone else. But now, with you gone, he was left with nothing but regret.

He replayed your argument in his head, wishing he could take back every word. He missed you, more than he thought possible. The way you challenged him, the way you made him want to be better, the way your presence had become something he looked forward to every day. He couldn’t ignore it any longer. He was in love with you, and the thought of losing you was unbearable.

It took several days of wrestling with his emotions, but eventually, Heeseung knew what he had to do. He couldn’t let things end like this, not when there was still so much left unsaid.

It was late in the evening when you returned to the Ravenclaw common room after a grueling Quidditch practice. Your muscles ached, and all you wanted was to collapse into bed and forget about the day. But as you stepped through the entrance, you were greeted by an unexpected sight.

Heeseung was standing by the entrance, his posture tense and his eyes locked on you the moment you walked in. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days, his usual confident demeanor replaced by something much more vulnerable.

“YN, wait,” he said, his voice almost pleading as he took a step towards you.

You hesitated, your heart pounding in your chest. You weren’t sure if you were ready for this conversation, but something in his expression made you pause.

“What do you want, Heeseung?” you asked, your voice guarded. You couldn’t afford to be hurt by him again.

“To apologize,” he said quickly, his voice filled with urgency. “And to explain.”

You crossed your arms, trying to maintain your composure. “Go on.”

Heeseung took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for what he was about to say. “I didn’t mean what I said the other day,” he began, his voice filled with regret. “I was… scared, confused. This whole thing with us, it’s different, and it caught me off guard. I’ve spent so long thinking of you as my rival, as someone I needed to beat, that I didn’t know how to handle it when I started feeling… something more.”

His words hung in the air, and you felt your heart start to race. You had suspected, hoped even, that he might feel the same way, but hearing it out loud was a different matter entirely.

“So you pushed me away,” you said, your voice softer now, the hurt still evident but mixed with something else—understanding.

Heeseung nodded, his expression pained. “Yeah, and that was wrong. I’ve been an idiot, YN. The truth is, I’ve come to care about you—a lot. More than I ever thought I could. And the thought of messing that up scared me, so I tried to pretend like it didn’t matter, like we didn’t matter. But we do. You do.”

You could see the sincerity in his eyes, the vulnerability that he was laying bare before you. Heeseung, who had always been so confident, so sure of himself, was now standing in front of you, admitting his fears and his feelings. It was a side of him you had never seen before, and it made your heart ache with both sadness and hope.

“You really hurt me, you know,” you said, your voice trembling as you let yourself acknowledge the pain he had caused.

“I know,” Heeseung replied, his voice filled with remorse. “And I’m so sorry. I don’t want to hurt you, YN. I want to be with you. Not as rivals, but as… something more. If you’ll give me another chance.”

There was a long pause as you stood there, processing his words. The anger and hurt you had been holding onto for days were slowly melting away, replaced by a warmth that you couldn’t ignore. Heeseung had hurt you, yes, but he was also the person who had challenged you, who had pushed you to be better, who had made you feel things you had never felt before. And as you looked into his eyes, you realized that you didn’t want to go back to the way things were. You wanted to move forward—with him.

Finally, you nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I think I’d like that,” you said, your voice soft but filled with hope.

Relief washed over Heeseung’s face, and he let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. “Thank you,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude.

Before you could respond, he stepped forward and wrapped you in a tight, warm embrace. It was the first time he had ever hugged you, and it felt like everything had finally fallen into place. All the tension, all the rivalry, all the confusion—it all melted away in that moment, leaving only the two of you, standing together under the soft glow of the common room’s enchanted candles.

As you rested your head against his chest, you couldn’t help but smile, knowing that whatever came next, you were ready to face it together. And as Heeseung held you close, you knew he felt the same.

#enhypen #enhypen imagines #enhypen au #engene #enha #enhypen x reader #heeseung #heeseung x reader #lee heeseung #heeseung enhypen #heeseung imagines #heeseung lee #heeseung fluff #hogwarts #harry potter #lee heesung #lee heesung x reader #lee heeseung x reader

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heesvnqie · 4 months ago

Text

>>Gata Only- Lee Heeseung FF

pairing: fem!reader x heeseung

word count: 1.9k+

synopsis: You and Heeseung's patrolling session at Hogwarts dungeons turns into a makeout session.

genre: smut, hogwarts au

warnings: >> smut,cussing, biting/marking, fingering, begging, choking, slight hair pulling, size kink, dom!heeseung x sub!reader, unprotected sex (a big NO-NO), edging, slight overstimulation, creampie, manhandling. petnames

Song playing: Gata Only by FloyyMenor and Cris MJ

Notes: My two absolute favourite things together!

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As you walked through the cold corridors of Hogwarts, a shiver ran down your spine. You were running late for patrolling.

One male and one female student were chosen from each house in their fifth year to act as prefects. They would continue to be prefects in their sixth and seventh years until they left school.

From Gryffindor, you were chosen as the female prefect. But compared to the male prefect, you were nothing.

The male prefect was none other than, THE Lee Heeseung. He was a ace, a perfectionist, most popular boy of Hogwarts. Starting from juniors to seniors, 99% of them knew him. He was a pureblood, a son from one of the well-known families of the wizarding world.

While on the other hand, you were not from a pure blood family. Though you had great academics and also were a perfectionist but not even close to Lee Heeseung's level.

This evening, just before you left for patrolling, you had been called out by Professor McGonagall. She complimented you on your being the prefect for the hundredth time since you had got the position and presented a long speech on how the position should not change your attitude and how you should not consider yourself above others.

So, now you found yourself walking towards the dungeons. Your area of patrolling was usually near the Great Hall. But Snape had asked you and Heeseung to patrol near the dungeons rather than the Great Hall.

You reached the dungeons as you fixed your skirt and made sure that the shirt was tucked in properly. You fixed the cloak as you held your chin high as you walked down the stairs into the dungeons.

It was dark as the dungeons glowed dark green. The Slytherins Common Room was located in the dungeons afterall.

As you walked a few steps into the dungeon, you felt a presence behind you as you sharply turned back.

There stood Lee Heeseung, face inches away from yours. His eyes glinted in the green glow as he smirked.

Your breath hitched as he walked a few steps closer, his body towering over yours.

You had a damn crush. A crush on the boy that stood now infront of you.

Who didn't have a crush on him afterall?

He was all that a girl would want in a man.

This is was surprisingly your third interaction with him. The first one happened during first year on the Hogwarts Express, when you both shared the same train cabin. The second was during the third year, when Snape had paired you two for making Amortentia.

He chuckled as he felt your breath hitch.

"Remember me?" He asked as it caused you to scoff. You pushed him off you as you walked ahead, shouting back,"Who doesn't. The question should be asked by me if you remember me?"

He laughed at your reply as he ran up to you, walking beside you, matching your speed.

"Cute." He muttered under his breath quietly.

"Well, why wouldn't I remember you? Kim Y/N." Hearing your name from him was like heaven. Your composure was threatening to crumble down.

You stayed quiet. You never expected him to remember the name of a person like you who was just a nobody at school.

"Hey why quiet?" He whined as he suddenely stopped in front of you.

You looked up at him with a sign of vulnerability in your eyes.

"Everyone says that we have a spark." He said as your eyes widened and your mouth opened but no sound came out.

Your mind shoots back to the memory to first year when you and Heeseung had shared the same train cabin. You two had had the best time on the Hogwarts Express as you had chatted for hours and laughed away. The other two students who also shared the train cabin had spoke up and pointed out that you two had a spark among yourselves. You two had looked at each other as you both had coughed awkwardly as the train had come to an halt at Hogwarts and you two had scuttled away from each other.

But why was he bringing it up now?

"W-who said that?' You stuttered out.

"Everyone does. I know that you consider yourself as a nobody but that's not correct. You're very popular among the boys." He said with a smile.

"Really?" You were in utter disbelief.

He nods as he steps close as he whispers into your ear, hot breath flowing down,"And I know everything about you."

You look at him bewildered.

"What do you think? My attention is always on you." He said with a chuckle as he held your shoulders and turned you around. Your back now faced him.

"Let's continue patrolling!" He announced happily as he pushed you a bit to start you walking.

You two walked around the dungeons and realised that the dungeons were a HUGE place.

As you two walked towards a isolated place which glowed more green than the other areas, Heeseung pinned you to the wall.

Your breath stuck in your throat, you stuttered out,"W-what are you doing Hee?"

He looked deep into your eyes.

"You know what?" He asked."I cannot hide it anymore."

"I like you."

Those three words made butterflies erupt into your stomach.

"Really?" You ask.

He nods.

"Through all those fangirls and other playgirls, I waited for you. Only you."

You two stand looking deep into each other's eyes as he breaks the silence.

He speaks up with a bit of hesitance. "What about you? Do you feel anything towards me?"

You chuckle at his straightforward behaviour.

"Yes." You hiss out. He chuckles happy as he jumps around the dungeon.

He opens his arms as you accept the hug happily.

"I am the happiest man on earth." He says then he goes quiet as you see a smirk grow on his face.

"Well, well." He takes small steps towards you as you back away till your back hits the cold dungeon wall.

"We're all alone you see." He points out as he continues,"And it's late so nobody will pass through this part of the dungeon."

"S-so?" You ask as he walks close as you feel his warm breath flow on your face.

"I am no playboy, Kim Y/N. " He says as you feel his hand wraps around your waist.

"And right now I want to fuck you." He presses his body on yours and groans as he whispers in your ear. "And now the thing that is left is your permission to allow me to."

You hesitate but soon feel him whisper,"I have waited too long. I can't control it."

He licks your earlobe as he nibbles on it, making your knees go weak and panties damp.

"Heeseung." You breath out his name. He hums while he places wet kisses down your neck.

"Fuck me."

And that were the only two words that Heeseung ever wanted to hear in his life from your mouth.

Heeseung pulls you into his arms, his lips crashing against yours in a heated and intimate kiss. His hands roam your body with a sense of urgency, leaving a trail of fire everywhere he touches. You respond eagerly, wrapping your hands over his shoulder.

Every touch sparks into flames, as you two forget about your surroundings.

Heeseung groans against your mouth, pressing his body on yours as he rubs his clothed cock on you.

"Oh god. You drive me crazy, you know that? he whispers, his voice thick with desire.

His hands move with confidence and purpose, knowing exactly how to drive you wild. "I can't get enough of this." Heeseung murmurs, his lips trailing down your neck.

Heeseung’s kisses move lower, his lips and tongue exploring every inch of your skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. His hands are everywhere, caressing, teasing, and worshipping your body.

He slips your panties down and slides a hand over your pussy which makes you gasp. You tilt your head back and he makes rounded movements on your clit.

Suddenly he flattens his tongue over you, licking a long line from your entrance to your clit. You cry out again, feeling lightheaded as your hands squeeze into fists. He slides 2 fingers into your slick opening, and you know it won't be long before you're coming.

"Feel good?", he murmurs, his voice a low, seductive growl. His eyes lock onto yours, the intensity in his gaze holding you captive. Your back arches off the wall, and you struggle to find your voice, your breath coming in short, ragged gasps

"S-so good," you manage to whisper out.

Heeseung’s smile widens, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. He moistens his hand, his fingers gliding over your clit with a newfound slickness, amplifying the sensation. The friction combined with the wetness sends a jolt of pleasure through you, making you cry out. His movements become more insistent, his fingers expertly playing your body.

Heeseung’s fingers maintain their relentless rhythm, each movement pushes toward your climax.

His fingers dive lower, exploring your wetness before returning to your clit, now wet with your cunt and his cock. He adds a third finger, sliding them inside you, curling them just right to hit that sensitive spot that makes your knees almost give out. Your body is caught in a whirlwind of pleasure as you hear him say,"Tell me how much you want this."

"I need you so bad, heeseung. please, don’t stop." You moan out unable to keep quiet.

His eyes darken with desire, and increases the pace of his fingers, thrusting them deeper inside you. The sound of your wetness fills the dungeons. But you two are not scared of getting caught.

"Come for me. Show me how much you wanted me all these years."

His words is your signal. With a final, high-pitched moan, you come, your body clenching around his fingers, the pleasure crashing over you in waves.

As you calm down, he takes his fingers out of you, bringing them to his lips and licking them clean, his eyes never leaving yours. The sight is intense.

Heeseung kisses you, lips claiming yours with a new level of neediness. You can taste yourself on his tongue, a reminder of the pleasure he just gave you.

He pulls away from the kiss, his eyes dark with desire as he looks down at you, his breath ragged.

Heeseung’s eyes glow with desire, as he aligns his cock with your entrance, his tip touching your sensitive clit, making you gasp.

Heeseung chuckles darkly as he slams into you, a broken groan leaving his lips. He begins to fuck into you at an ungodly pace and you cling to him, moans and desperate cries leaving your lips. Heeseung's lips find your neck and bite at the skin there as he continues to snap his hips into yours and every time his pelvis connects with yours, you feel going to heaven and back.

"You’re so tight." He groans, his voice rough. "Damn you make me feel so good."

You can only moan in response, your body meeting his thrusts eagerly, the pleasure overwhelming. Heeseung’s movements become more uneven, his control slipping as he nears his own climax. He reaches between your bodies, his fingers finding your clit and rubbing it in time with his thrusts.

The dual sensation is too much, and you feel yourself moving toward another climax.

"Cummming for me again babygirl? yeah?" He says, his forehead still on yours, his breathing ragged.

With a final, powerful thrust, he sends you over the edge, your orgasm crashing over you in a wave of ecstasy.

He follows you moments later, his own release tearing through him, his hips stuttering as he spills inside you. He collapses on top of you, his breath ragged and his body trembling.

You pulls your panties up as you sit down on the dungeon floor tired.

He sits down and pulls you onto his lap."Fuck, you are mine." he bites his lips and places his head in the hollow of your neck.

"Gata Only."

THE END-----

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Hope you enjoyed the story! You can send me your request and ideas! I love reading them. Requests open to be in my perm taglist..

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jeongyunhoed · 1 month ago

Text

As seen on my FF.net Also seen on my Ao3

Following the events of fifth year, a new adventure awaits for Norah Lee. Boys, exams, school events, common room parties, and old foes outside of Hogwarts. Even battling pensieve guardians was easier than this.

Main Pair: OC / Ominis Gaunt Genre: Adventure/Angst/Fluff (it's a little of everything, tbh)

KEEP IN MIND: Characters are aged up (even if the story's got them in sixth year) to make it more appropriate. Time period is leaning towards the modern day so in case you might find anachronisms in the dialogue or references, this is why. This may also be quite a lengthy fic too.

BE WARNED: Social anxiety, mentions of blood and injury, grief, drinking, kissing but nothing more than that, death (this is Hogwarts Legacy, after all)

P.P.S: This is an incredibly long chapter, and only because I wanted to up the burn for this "slow-burn" duo. A confession scene at the very end. I was listening to the Bridgerton string covers for this too. An emotional rollercoaster for our Hogwarts hero. For visual reference, Norah's dress is Linda Friesen's Raven Queen gown. If you read my entry for Garreth Weasley Fest, I will start making references to Fwooper feathers and creamsicles moving forward, HAHA.

Masterlist

Chapter 25

Hogwarts had transformed into an icy palace overnight, marking the long-awaited Yule Ball. All the students, some of whom were hungover, mechanically moved about in their preparations for the upcoming festivities. However, there were others who chose not to attend and boarded the first train to go back to their homes and begin their Christmas holidays.

For Norah, Sebastian, Ominis, Garreth, Leander, Amit, Henry, Natty, and even Samantha, Poppy, and Andrew, they were all still reeling from the events that just took place. They quietly went on their separate ways to get ready, with Henry and Amit opting to get ready in the common rooms alongside Andrew, who still felt a little guilty for not calling Poppy out.

Natty, out of respect for Norah, decided not to get ready in the Room of Requirement anymore, and instead kept to herself in her mother's room where her crystal ball was. Sebastian prepared for the ball in the dormitory, leaving Ominis to go about it in the Undercroft instead. It had gotten incredibly awkward since the revelations came to light, and they weren't sure about how they could get rid of the awkwardness, not when it was still very fresh in their minds.

As much as both Ominis and Norah wanted to feel excited about taking each other to the ball, both of them kept thinking about what happened in the Coastal Caverns. Little did they know, Garreth and Leander were considering joining Norah in this quest after some excitement that came with taking on Nicholas Carrow and his goons on the way. They felt like they had gotten to know Norah so much more after this ordeal, not that both of them wanted to admit it. But it gave them a kind of excitement that they never imagined, of a heroic nature.

Seeing as there was still time, Norah showed up to the Gryffindor portrait, where she agreed to meet with Garreth and Leander. Giving Cressida a knowing nod, she waved at the two boys, who were apparently bickering over their suits. "Merlin, what happened to you?" Cressida noticed the still visible scratches on her face and the bruise on her chin.

"Just a little run-in. Bumped my face into one of Herodiana's depulso rooms," Norah tried to explain with a shrug. "Nothing to worry about."

"Bumped your face? You look like you've been beaten," Cressida was concerned. "Did you...go to where I remember you wanted to go?" She muttered so as not to be overheard.

She shook her head. "I mean...same objective, different place," She said, and Cressida nodded. "You must be excited for the ball later."

"Oh, no, I'm actually not going. I'm taking the second train out to start my Christmas holiday. It would've been nice, but I figured I needed to work on my non-verbal spells some more. I nearly got myself into the same situation you saw me in the library," Cressida flashed a pained smile, which Norah understood. "Are you going home for Christmas?"

"Yeah, first thing tomorrow morning, it seems. It's going to be my first Christmas at home since fifth year," Norah said, unsure if Sebastian, Anne, and Ominis were still going. "It's going to be fun, my parents had the rooms prepared for my arrival."

Cressida looked pleased. "Oi, Garreth! Leander! She's been waiting, you know!" She suddenly yelled at them, making Norah laugh. She bid the Slytherin girl goodbye before climbing back into the portrait hole. Soon after, the two redheads emerged, both ready with some satchels that were full of either potions or, in Leander's case, a supply of chomping cabbages.

"Is Ominis coming?" Garreth asked.

"Yeah, he said he was going to," Norah shrugged as they climbed down the stairs. "But if he's coming with us, he'll be waiting at the North exit outside."

"If my aunt asks, we're trying to get up to speed with our Potions and Herbology homework," Garreth pointed out as they approached the nearest floo flame to go out into the grounds. "It might be inappropriate to say, but I'm excited."

"What are we doing again?" Leander asked once they appeared at the gate, seeing Ominis already standing by, but this time, like the party the day before, his hair was already done.

"We're going back to that Coastal Cavern. I may have failed last night, but that doesn't mean I can't try again," Norah shook her head, pausing for a moment when she saw the blonde. "That's also why I decided to bring you two along because you're the only ones who know what really happened. If Nicholas Carrow even so much tries to spin the situation, at least there are witnesses."

"Are you feeling better now?" Ominis suddenly asked her, sensing the cuts on her face and the bruises on her body.

"Yes, I'm fine. Did Sebastian see you?" Norah asked, for some reason being so careful when she did.

Ominis shook his head, and the four of them took a few steps into the gate, where the floo flame was. Sebastian, having seen them gather from near Madam Kogawa's office, was about to catch up when they disappeared. He sighed, having been curious as to what they've been up to, having not learned anything since they returned to the Ravenclaw party the night before. Spotting Adele's flying form in the quidditch pitch, he wondered if she knew anything about it.

He spotted Natty almost running out of the Bell Tower, stopping to catch her breath. She was followed by Henry and to his surprise, Amit. All of them seemed to have been running. "Where are they? Did they go? I saw the three of them earlier," Natty turned to Sebastian.

He nodded. "Unfortunately, they went to the floo flame and vanished. But she isn't alone."

"Garreth and Leander?" Henry suddenly asked, taking a few deep breaths, and the Slytherin boy nodded again. "Ominis too?" and Sebastian nodded. "Well, at least she isn't alone, but still, I saw what happened to her last night and no one would tell us anything."

Sebastian looked down, looking a little guilty. "It might have something to do with me not being as forthcoming, that I didn't tell them Adele and I have been seeing each other for some time..."

"Oh, you probably should've been the one to tell them first before they heard it from other people," Amit suddenly pointed out. Sebastian gave him a look. "...Well, you said it might be the reason. But Henry's right, at least she's not doing this on her own. Garreth and Leander are with her, and they're helping her find Harlow, wherever he might be."

"I feel just as guilty as Sebastian for not checking in on her as much as I could or should have," Natty looked guilty as well. "I just hope she isn't doing anything that could get her injured again."

Sebastian shook his head. "You really believe she won't? This is Norah we're talking about, she'd risk her life if it meant doing something good."

"No, but I can hope, can I?"

The four of them arrived near the bog again. While hardly anyone stopped by the bog, especially at this time, it was still home to dugbogs that seem to be active all year round. Each of them had one hand covered in a dragonhide glove just in case they needed to hurl a chomping cabbage or a venomous tentacula or two.

"So, Norah, you're the most experienced out of all of us when it comes to things like this, what can we do?" Garreth suddenly asked as they tried to cross the bog, being careful not to disturb any dugbogs that seemed to stay still or sleep. He tried to keep up with her as fast as he could, seeing Ominis and Leander struggle a little bit in finding their footing.

"Stick close to her, she'll do her magic," Ominis chimed in, as the four of them climbed up to the path, dusting themselves off as they crept toward the gates, still wary that someone may be watching them.

"If all else fails, just hurl a tentacula or a chomping cabbage at anyone," Norah assured them. Her eyes immediately scanned the place for any sign of an Ashwinder, possibly hiding behind the rundown goblin loyalist tents or boilers. "But Ominis is right, stick close to me, and we'll be fine. We just need to find a way down there," She added.

"We can finish Harlow once and for all, show them what we're made of," Leander felt a renewed confidence the further they went inside. As soon as they were inside, Norah suddenly pushed Leander to the side.

"Petrificus totalus!"

An outline of an Ashwinder ranger emerged from one corner, the same corner Norah remembered the day before. Norah summoned them forward, and Garreth tied them up.

"Incarcerous!" He yelled, making the poacher fall to the ground, ropes immediately coiling all around their body.

Leander smirked as he got to his feet and non-verbally summoned another Ashwinder scout lurking in the shadow, Norah following with a depulso, pushing them through what they discovered was another passage, a passage that she remembered was closed off when she first set foot there in fifth year.

"Harlow, where is he?" Norah approached the one who was bound on the ground.

"You'll be going home in a wooden box," The ashwinder spat.

She rolled her eyes. "Tell me something I haven't heard before. Where is he? Unless I push you off that cliff," She tilted her head toward the open space.

"You're going to push me off anyway," They said.

"That's true, I really could," Norah nodded. "The ground below this is already littered with some loyalists the previous year. If you value your life and don't want to join those, you will tell me where Harlow is."

Garreth and Leander stared at her. Ominis kept his wand pointing at the poacher. "M-Mayfair," They muttered. "They're in Mayfair."

Norah could suddenly feel a tug in her chest, the suspicion started creeping in, yet she stayed calm. "Are they where I think they are? Where Carrow told you?" She asked, feeling that sudden coldness that came with the surge of ancient magic within her, the whispers that almost acted like a command for her to use it seeping in.

"Yes," The poacher replied meekly, only to start cackling. "By now they would've done what they did. And they're as defenseless as ever when Harlow gets to them."

Garreth kicked their leg a little. "What did they do?"

"The only useful squib is a dead squib," The poacher growled. "That's for destroyin' Horntail Hall."

The surge of ancient magic grew stronger in Norah, and it was taking everything in her not to do something to the ashwinders they captured. "They killed someone?"

"Depulso!" Ominis suddenly yelled, sending the Ashwinder down the cliff. Norah, Garreth, and Leander stared at him. "...What?"

"Bloody hell, what was that?!" Leander yelled.

Ominis turned to them. "What? The three of you were thinking it, and they were never going to tell us anyway."

"That's because we're already here."

The four of them were surrounded by several duellists and an executioner poised to envelope them in electricity and fire. "So, we're surrounded, this isn't good" Leander started to inch toward Norah, who stayed calm. Garreth was doing the same, one hand reaching into his satchel with a determined look on his face.

"We've got ourselves some children," They taunted. "Naughty naughty children."

"Might be good to do what you probably do, Norah," Garreth muttered to the girl.

Norah's eyes scanned the dark wizards surrounding them. "If you want us, come get us," She said, a flicker of ancient magic in her eyes.

"What?!" Garreth hurriedly threw a dungbomb toward one duellist while Leander hurled a chomping cabbage toward another. Ominis was quick to levitate a few before banishing them down the cliff.

"Didn't your parents teach you not to go looking at places you shouldn't?" One duellist tried to strike at them with depulso, only for Norah to block it off just as quickly, shielding the four of them. They rolled out of the way when a tower of flames rose up from the ground by the doing of one of the executioners.

"Oh right, you don't got any parents, not anymore," Another Ashwinder taunted at Norah.

"What the fuck are you playing at?!" Leander cast the knee-reversal hex on them, making them stumble and fall in time for Norah to catch their wand and point it at them.

"Tit for tat, innit?" They could tell the executioner was grinning. "You took some of ours, it's time we took some of yours."

"Harlow's reveling in the loot from your house, as we speak," Another one said. "Went to a muggle school, and that green dress in your wardrobe? A lady friend of mine would love to have something as...bejeweled as that."

It was here that Norah felt her heart pounding, not just out of concern and fear, but also from the growing surge of ancient magic within her. She could hear those faint whispers, the same whispers she'd hear whenever she was about to invoke it, the chilling whispers that seemed to tell her that it was time.

"There's also something like this too," An Ashwinder duellist suddenly took a familiar monogrammed handkerchief from their pocket. From where Norah stood, there were specks of red. "Pretty soft, probably expensive, this is."

What happened next stunned the three boys that were with her. A few ashwinders were thrown to the ground several times, torrents of lightning struck a few others, some were turned into either chickens or sheep, and the executioners were obliterated. Norah stood over some of the bodies on the ground, the whispers fading and the surge subsiding. Ominis could sense that she was trembling, on the verge of collapsing.

Despite her hands trembling, Norah was gripping her wand tightly, as if she was trying to hold on to something tangible. Garreth broke the silence as he cleared his throat. "We were ambushed."

Leander tried to reach out to her. "They must be lying, Norah. They were trying to rile you up," He was also partly trying to convince himself that what he heard about his friend's family wasn't true. "Frankly, if they knew what you could do, they were just trying to get themselves killed."

"Lee's right," Garreth added. "They must be lying, trying to get into your head. It backfired on them, though."

Ominis approached her, trying to sense what else she was feeling. "Norah, we've found out what we needed to, it might be time to go back to the castle now, we can write to your parents and check on them from there."

"Yeah, it might be best for us to go back now. We can find Harlow another day, preferably after the holiday when we get back," Garreth said, now being as careful as possible. "Norah, let's go back now, we've done what we needed to today, we still have a ball to attend...if you're still up for it."

"Yeah," Leander agreed. "At least we know there are more passages and tunnels around here. We found out enough for today."

Norah slowly turned around to face them, seeing their concerned expressions, all of them looking just as frazzled as she was from the duel. She knew they were right, she needed to send an owl to check on them before reacting to anything else. She started to nod, and Ominis took another step forward, Garreth gently linking her arm to his. Even he wasn't sure if he could spend Christmas at her home.

They apparated into the castle grounds, hearing the engines of the last train start from the distance in Hogsmeade Station. The four of them parted ways from there, to give the three boys time to get ready for the ball and Norah to head to the Owlery to send an owl to her parents. Hopefully she could hear from them soon.

As she was about to climb up the hill, she spotted a tall male pacing back and forth on the Summoner's Court platform. He didn't look like he was from around here, despite being around the same age as her, perhaps a year older. He was dressed in a suit under a black coat. The male spotted her and immediately jumped down, running up to approach her.

"You're Norah Lee?" He said.

She stared at him and slowly nodded. "Who are you?"

"I'm Naru, Naru Hiiragi. I'm your cousin!" He said, unsure of whether to be excited or to be alarmed. "I was told by uncle Makoto that you'd be here and I'm relieved!"

"...Cousin?" Norah didn't want to waste any time and kept going, climbing up the steep hill to the Owlery. She'd have time to take everything in later.

Naru eagerly followed her, trying to catch up. "Yes, has he not told you about me?" He asked.

She shook her head. "I can't imagine being told anything about anyone I'm possibly related to," She took bigger strides even as Naru's long legs made him quick to catch up to her. "Did you come from London?"

"Yes, that's why I'm here. I was going to pay uncle Makoto a visit since I'm on holiday now from Mahoutokoro."

"Oh," Norah opened the door, climbing up the stairs to where the owls were perched. "He told you that I was here."

"Yes," Naru stood by as she hastily scribbled something from a piece of parchment she took from her bag. "He managed to tell me after those people came and attacked him and aunt Judy."

She paused, glancing over her shoulder at him. She still wasn't sure if she could trust him just yet so she wanted to be certain. "You were there?"

"Yeah, I had just arrived when they broke into your home so I dropped my things at the door to help them."

Norah went back to her letter. She sealed the envelope and summoned Starlight, who swooped in. As soon as the owl flew out, she turned around to face him. She felt compelled to trust him, but she still needed to know for herself. "Are they alright? Like alive?"

Naru smiled. "They're alright. But I understand if you don't believe me for being your cousin or having seen them. You'll find out for yourself."

That didn't sound particularly reassuring. "Did you see a particularly ghastly looking man among them?"

"I heard about that Harlow having broken out of Azkaban when I arrived, and I managed to take down some of them but I'm afraid Harlow disapparated when I had the chance," He shook his head. "But that's also what uncle Makoto told me when he asked me to come see you. He said to tell you that your prediction was right, and that your fellow Slytherin is to blame. Wow, it's a good thing mum made me learn English as a child," He sighed in relief, almost chuckling in pride.

"Okay, so now that you've told me what you had to, maybe it would be best for you to go back and check on them, see if they're alright?"

Naru shook his head. "I would, but I was also told to come back to London with you, so you don't get surprised. I heard from your fellow students that today's the Yule Ball and I'm under the impression that you're attending."

"It would be a waste of a dress not to wear," Norah said as the two of them climbed down the stairs to leave the Owlery. "I'd go home, but the last train back to London left not long after we returned. I'll be going home tomorrow morning."

"I understand. The bullet trains in Japan are much faster than that train you took coming here, I wonder why the wizarding community here hasn't caught up with such technologies," Naru mused as they walked. "Are they too insistent on differentiating themselves from the non-magics?"

"Is that how you travel to Mahoutokoro every year?" Norah glanced at him, in which he replied with a hum. "You can settle yourself in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Ask for Sirona Ryan, she might set you up with the private room for you to stay for the night. I don't know how our professors would feel about you suddenly showing up just to accompany me back home."

Naru was pleased. "Actually, I did meet your Flying Lesson teacher. Kogawa-san told me she'd put in a word with the deputy headmistress about my presence, and we talked a lot about Japan. She said she was homesick."

A million thoughts were running through Norah's mind as they entered the castle, not paying much attention to the students that were passing them by. She listened to Naru as he talked about other relatives she had no idea of, realizing that her father hadn't talked much about them if at all. As she stopped in front of the staircase leading to the wall, where the door to the Room of Requirement was, she turned to the taller.

"Naru, I know this must be a great time for you, with the two of us finally meeting and all, but we can talk about all of this tomorrow, okay? I got the message, I'll wait to hear from my parents. You can go now, please?" Norah said, followed by an exasperated sigh. "Besides, I don't want anyone coming up with more things to hate me for than they already do now."

Naru smiled, in the hopes of providing some comfort. "I know. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here. You've got family. I'll see you tomorrow morning in Hogsmeade Station."

He stepped away before walking back the way they came, stopping just before the floo flame to wave at her before disappearing in a puff of green smoke. Another sigh escaped Norah as she pressed on, reaching the Room of Requirement and entering it, finding Deek already at work in tidying up the entrances of the vivariums.

"Your friends were so worried about you, Deek was also worried about you," the house-elf was quick to say upon seeing her emerge from the doors. "Professor Weasley has told me some grave news about your parents. But she luckily never told anyone anything, perhaps except the teachers."

As if it couldn't get any worse. Norah exhaled sharply as she closed her eyes for a moment. "That means everyone in the school now knows, Deek. If anyone tries to go inside, tell them I'll see them at the Great Hall," She said glumly, not wanting to snap as she proceeded to the adjoining room, where it suddenly shifted to turn into a space similar to the prefects' bathroom. A marble bathtub the size of a children's swimming pool came up, the sparkling taps filling it to the brim with water and nicely scented bubble bath.

Some soft music filled the room, further providing the space with some ambience - something Deek probably sensed if he ever saw the latest transformation. Certain that no one was looking other than herself, Norah undressed and got in the tub. The warmth of the water and soap around her acted like a weighted blanket, bringing her mind at a kind of ease that was unnerving, especially for someone who was on the verge of becoming an orphan. From the way Naru acted when she asked if they were fine, however, made the possibility very likely.

This wasn't exactly how she had hoped she'd be spending her sixth year. Norah was tired from all the fighting, frustrated with how things were socially and perhaps with Ominis, and unsure about Naru and whether he was telling the truth. Not that she'd have any truth to base that on as it seemed like a part of her that she hadn't gotten to know.

There was still time before the ball started, and Norah didn't plan on making a grand entrance, especially as she remembered she would be attending with Ominis as her date.

Date. Ominis was going to be her date.

If she didn't have the rest of her problems to think about, Norah would've been giddy, over the moon at the fact that Ominis had asked her to the ball. Sure, it was out of thinking that since Sebastian was going with someone, it left them to settle with each other, but nevertheless, she was going to attend with Ominis. She thought about what Grace and Nerida had told her back when she was still thinking about what to wear. Ominis might not see what she was wearing but everyone else will, and she was going to be expected to make a grand entrance whether she liked it or not simply because of who she was.

She also thought about what she told Naru before he left for Hogsmeade. She was certain people still hated her for what happened between Samantha and Amit, including Poppy. There was a friendship she didn't expect to end so suddenly, but Norah just let it be. In the grand scheme of things, it was a sign that she needed a stronger group of friends around her. For now, it did seem like Garreth, Leander, and Ominis were it. It was just how life was, whether witch, wizard, or muggle.

Norah closed her eyes and stayed there for a while, or at least until she saw the time and needed to get ready. Most of her belongings were already packed and she told Deek to tend to the beasts while she was going to be away. Highwing, his Lordship, and Ruby would be coming with her in the nab sack.

She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to feel. It was as if everything was changing all around her, and she couldn't hold onto something. Norah felt like she was losing control, some sense of reality that could point her to where she needed to go, tell her what she needed to do next.

Not even the Room of Requirement could give her the kind of solace she was looking for because of its ever-changing dynamic.

She didn't realize how long she had been soaking in the tub until she heard Deek calling to her from behind the curtains that covered the steps. Apparently, there was someone who wanted to speak with her, someone she hadn't spoken to in a while.

Making sure to at least have her underwear on, Norah slipped on the bathrobe hanging near the rest of her clothes. The room slowly shifted, the tub disappearing and leaving a few puddles behind. "I'm decent!" She called out, the curtain suddenly opening.

"Norah?" It was Amit, already dressed in his tuxedo.

"Oh," Norah held on the opening of her robe. "Hi Amit, what brings you here? Did anyone see you?"

The Ravenclaw boy shook his head. "I don't really care anymore. Samantha and I have kind of sorted out this matter of miscommunication. She's been hoping to apologize to you for suddenly dragging you into this," He explained. "I mean, we've already sorted it out during the Ravenclaw party when we did 7 Minutes in Heaven..."

"What brought that on?" She was curious.

Guilt played across Amit's features. "She overheard that whole argument we had with Poppy before the party began. Samantha was hoping to set everything straight if she saw you, but you kept leaving all of a sudden. And to be honest, I was also wondering how the plan's been doing until I heard that..." He wasn't sure whether to bring it up. "Harlow and the Ashwinders broke into your home and...I was suddenly worried. A lot of us were, to be honest."

"That's very kind of you to say, thank you Amit," Norah nodded in acknowledgment.

Amit wanted to say more, and his mind was racing as to how he could properly say what he wanted to say. "It wasn't fair to you, what I said before, that we shouldn't hang out for a while because of what people might think," He admitted. "I should've said my peace to Samantha better, this was really all my fault. I'm sorry."

The apology seemed to cut through like a knife and Norah looked down for a moment. She could only nod, not knowing what to say.

"I truly understand if you don't want to hang out or talk to me anymore, I just thought you should know what I think. That's all I wanted to say," Amit glanced down at his shoes. "I should be going now. The ball's starting soon."

Amit offered a small smile before leaving the room. Norah turned to the mannequin that was wearing the dress she was about to attend the ball in. It was time to get ready.

The Great Hall was transformed into an icy palatial court for the year's Yule Ball, with snowflakes enchanted to fall from the ceiling instead of the usual candles. The ghosts from the deathday parties provided the music in the corner, the string renditions of popular songs they heard from the muggle world. The teachers that stayed to attend, Professor Black included, were all dressed for the occasion.

The students that were already dressed, stood in line outside the hall with their dates or friends. Henry looked especially dapper in his tuxedo, with Natty, who was dressed in an elegant crimson ball gown, with flecks of gold catching the light. Sebastian had Adele, who wore an elegant red and gold gown inspired by the hanbok, with her hair in a now slick bun and decorated with what she revealed were her mother's headpieces.

Amit, who had long opted to go alone, decided to group with Leander and Garreth, who managed to get ready in time after their cavern adventure near the coast. Unsurprisingly, both Leander and Garreth wore hand-me-down suits from their siblings.

The doors opened,signaling that they could all enter the hall, almost all of them looking at the setup in awe.

"Welcome to this year's Yule Ball!" Professor Weasley declared, in her blush pink Victorian ensemble.

Meanwhile, Ominis was pacing back and forth outside the doors of the hall, not quite ready to enter just yet. He was waiting for Norah to arrive, after she told him that she would meet him at the doors instead. Sebastian's attempts to press him for information on what they had done in the caverns continued to fail, with Ominis knowing that this fight between Norah and Harlow had become much more personal. It did seem like an unspoken agreement between the four of them back there, that they wouldn't say a word to anyone, not even the people they were often around, about what they had been up to. Although it wouldn't be surprising if Professor Weasley already knew.

But the blonde was determined not to focus on that for a moment, even just for a night, and instead direct his attention to the fact that Norah was his date.

"Looks like she finally settled for Gaunt," He heard someone say.

"Finally! She couldn't keep dragging those boys on for long, did you hear she went out with him, Prewett, and Weasley earlier today?"

"Poor Garreth and Leander"

He was reminded of the things people now said about Norah after that mess between Amit and Samantha and he couldn't help but be annoyed again. Yet as much as he wanted to tell them off, he could only freeze and stay quiet.

"Where's Norah?" Sebastian suddenly appeared.

"She's getting ready. She told me she was going to meet me here," Ominis replied blankly.

Sebastian sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I wasn't there for either of you, alright? I'm sorry I wasn't hanging out with you two as much. Nothing I've done can excuse that, even a relationship. I promise I'd do better, please, Ominis-"

Ominis tilted his head, a brow raised. "Cat got your tongue, Sebastian?"

The brunette shook his head, his expression of that in awe of what he was looking at. "No, Norah's here."

It was as if everyone that was around stopped at the sight of Norah climbing down the steps in her gown. A blue-gray number with bell sleeves and sparkling floral appliques in tulle. Norah's hair was in a chignon and had a sparkly starry headband on top. Ominis stood straight, sensing everyone's reactions only to realize what they were seeing when he pointed his wand.

Norah approached the blonde, her heart pounding as she wondered what they thought. "If I wasn't hallucinating, you look like..." Sebastian grinned.

"Like a what?" Norah asked.

"A bride."

Norah shook her head. "Very funny. If you'll excuse us," She turned to Ominis. "Shall we?"

Ominis chuckled, especially as he sensed his friend's flustered expression. He put his arm out and linked hers with his own. "We shall. You ought to get back to Adele, she must be looking for you by now."

The two of them entered the Great Hall, where the dancing had already begun. Norah could feel the stares of several people as they made their entrance, Ominis already scanning the place for a table they could settle in. From her peripheral vision, Norah could see Garreth and Leander looking both in awe and proud.

"People are still saying those things about me, aren't they?" She suddenly muttered.

"Yes unfortunately," Ominis frowned a little at the thought.

Norah sighed. "They've made up their minds, it seems."

"The life of a Slytherin," Ominis tried to lighten the mood, his fingers brushing against the fabric of her sleeves. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks," She smiled. "I almost decided not to go, but then it would be a wasted opportunity not to wear the dress my parents bought for me."

Norah looked over to where Nerida and Grace were sitting. The two girls gave her approving looks. Grace even mouthed to tell her where she got her dress from, making Norah chuckle. Ominis led them to a barely occupied table, joining Caleb, who had Constance as his date. "Look at both of you," Constance grinned. "I didn't expect any less."

Norah and Ominis just smiled. "Thank you, Constance. You and Caleb look just as good," She replied. The pair beamed with pride, and the Slytherin girl noticed the jacket Caleb was wearing. "That's a Sezane jacket, isn't it?"

The Hufflepuff boy gaped, while Constance and Ominis looked surprised. "Yes, my parents bought it from a muggle boutique in Paris. How did you know?"

She shrugged. "I remember seeing that on display not too long ago. Before I realized I could do magic, my parents would sometimes take me on random vacations in Paris. That's how I remembered it. My dad wanted one but my mum wouldn't let him just yet."

Constance looked curious. "Is that where you got your dress?"

Norah chuckled. "No, my parents bought these from another boutique that does made to order. Not even Gladrags or Madam Malkins have these. And I also tried looking secondhand."

"Astonishing," The blonde Ravenclaw looked impressed.

Their discussion was seemingly cut short when plates and tureens of food were immediately summoned onto each table, signaling the start of dinner. Some of the pairs of students dancing had even stopped to tuck in and eat. Ominis and Norah casually glanced at each other every now and then, chuckling to themselves. This didn't go unnoticed by Caleb and Constance, who exchanged knowing looks, immediately figuring out what seemed to go on between them, joining the several others who noticed this about the two.

After the last course was summoned, the dancing resumed but this time, led by the professors. Professor Black and his wife, in her very rare appearance, had the honor of doing the first dance. Caleb and Constance were among those who immediately joined in, including Sebastian and Adele, who was already pulling the Slytherin boy to the dance floor before he could take his final spoonful of pudding.

Henry and Natty casually made their way to the dance floor as well, followed by Andrew and Poppy. Leander had even approached Grace to dance, which she accepted. Norah turned to Ominis. "I'm guessing your family taught you to dance what they dance at balls," She grinned.

"Of course they did, I'm not as uncultured as you think," He teased, and she nudged him, the two of them laughing. He would want nothing more than to show Norah how to dance. All he needed to do was ask. "Norah, if-if it's alright, would you like to dance?"

Norah felt her heart flutter, her already pink cheeks turning a darker shade. Ominis was asking her to dance. She glanced at the crowd. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," The blonde nodded, slowly getting up. "You're going to have to hold my wand with me, though, so I don't step on your feet."

She got up. "I would like nothing more," She said, placing her hand over his wand-bearing one, letting him lead her to the dance floor.

The sight of them seemed to make those nearby dance to the side to make room for them. Norah put her other hand on his shoulder, and he put his other hand on her waist. The two of them began to sway, and to her surprise and amazement, Ominis proved to be good at this kind of dance, suddenly twirling her, catching her off-guard before his hand found its way back to her waist.

The closer they were, their cheeks were turning pink. Norah felt her heart flutter whenever the dance brought her almost flush against him. "I'm impressed, Gaunt," She grinned.

"Glad to hear it," He replied, the adrenaline coursing through him. He was still thinking about how Sebastian described the way she looked. Like a bride. It was making him picture a possible future, maybe with her, the two of them dressed the way they were at this moment. Yet at the back of his mind, there was a nagging thought, one he didn't want to entertain for the night but had been present since he realized his feelings for Norah.

Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No.

Nothing can happen. Something should happen. Nothing can happen. Something should happen.

A future with Norah. Ending the Gaunt legacy. A future with Norah. Ending the Gaunt legacy.

"I'm glad I decided to attend the ball after all," Norah's voice suddenly cut through the thoughts he had as he pulled her in for another twirl.

Ominis hummed, the two of them walking back to their table once the song had finished. "Didn't the last train back to London leave just as when we returned from the cavens?" He asked.

"Yeah," She nodded. "But even then, I almost decided to just spend the rest of the day in the Room of Requirement, feeding and brushing the beasts. I never got a response."

A future with Norah. Ending the Gaunt legacy. A future with Norah. Ending the Gaunt legacy.

It was a growing battle between his mind and his heart and Ominis was getting overwhelmed, yet he still wanted to pay attention. Norah seemed to take this better than he thought. "I'm sorry, Norah."

She shook her head profusely. "You know, I don't want to think about that right now. If you still want to spend the Christmas holiday at my home, I might need help in making the funeral arrangements. You'll meet my cousin too, but that's a different story."

The mention of her cousin made Ominis tilt his head. "Your cousin?"

"Yeah, I met him earlier. Can you believe it? Now I know my father wasn't an only child," She said quietly.

The music suddenly changed into a more upbeat one, and almost everyone was getting up to dance. Even some of the teachers like Professors Hecat and Ronen were joining along in the dancing.

Norah glanced at him. "It was your button that was on my desk the other day," She said, chuckling when she saw him tense up a little. "Was that the first button or the second one?"

"...How did you know it was me?" Ominis swallowed. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No.

"I saw you wearing your waistcoat the other day. Sebastian even pointed it out that time. You either forgot to sew on a new one or you..." She paused, her heart pounding the more she explained it. "You gave it to me...you gave it to me? Or was that meant for someone else?"

Before Ominis could answer, Samantha suddenly approached their table. "Hi," She said.

"Hello Samantha, what brings you to this table? Shouldn't you be dancing?" Norah looked over the Ravenclaw girl's shoulder, seeing some groups of people whisper amongst themselves.

Samantha shook her head. "I just finished, but I'd like to have a word with you, outside the hall, maybe?" She suggested.

Norah glanced at Ominis, who nodded, and she followed Samantha outside the Great Hall. "Whoa, the music was that loud," She exhaled with a laugh. "So, what's up?"

Samantha fidgeted with her bracelet. "I just wanted to apologize for how things had been. People overheard Amit breaking it off with me and it got blown out of proportion and," She sighed. "I never meant to call you a backstabber or tart, I was just so hurt and sad and- I-I envy you, you know?"

Norah raised a brow. "What's there to envy me for?"

"You just seem to get along with people. You arrived in Hogwarts late, you bested me in Summoner's Court, you saved the school from a goblin warlord, and you have the attention of many good-looking boys here. You even saved my brother from living with beets for feet when I couldn't," She sighed.

She shook her head. "Samantha, you wouldn't want to live my life if you knew what it would entail. My story is not something to envy. If you heard the recent news, this is nothing to aspire to want."

Samantha nodded, her expression changing from apologetic to concerned. "But for the most part, I am so sorry for what I said. I don't know if Amit told you, that we sorted it out during the house party. It got to that after I heard Poppy get into an argument with him, with Natty, with Henry before the party began. I felt responsible for your friendship ending just like that."

Norah smiled. "We'll have to leave that to Poppy, won't we? It's alright, Samantha. I understand completely. I'm sure you knew that during that time, Amit and I never spoke or hung out because he didn't want you getting even more upset."

The Ravenclaw girl groaned. "Yes, he told me and that's why I feel even more responsible. I'm sorry, Norah. If I could undo all of that, I would've but, it's too late, isn't it?"

"Kind of, yeah, I'm sorry," Norah chuckled. "But it's fine. If I was really mad about it, I would've gone back into your family tomb and got the crest again."

Samantha stared at her. "You wouldn't."

"Right, I wouldn't," She shook her head. "But really, Samantha, it's alright. You have my forgiveness if that's what you want to hear."

Samantha leaned in to hug her, wiping a tear or two from her eyes as she pulled away. "By the way, I saw the boy that told the professors that he's your cousin at the grounds earlier. He's kind of cute."

Norah laughed. "I only just met him today since I've never met him before. He's from Japan, attending Mahoutokoro as a seventh year. I think we should go back to the ball now, people might be looking for us."

"Ooh, by the way, Henry lost Summoner's Court against Charlotte," Samantha grinned as they went back inside. "I knew Charlotte was a good opponent, but I didn't think she'd be even more unbeatable today."

"I think she took to heart what I said when I beat her," Norah laughed. "Practice. A lot of practice."

The two girls parted ways, with Norah returning to Ominis, Caleb, and Constance. Ominis was frowning at how Caleb and Constance seem to be flirting each other, with Constance's chair being a lot closer to Caleb's than before. "Hey, both of you look cute" Norah pointed out, making the pair lean back, evidently flustered.

"What did Samantha want to say?" Ominis asked.

"She apologized for the whole mess, that's all. And that Henry apparently lost Summoner's Court against Charlotte," Norah replied, sitting back, amused at how Caleb and Constance went back into conversing a little close to each other. "So, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. Want to get out of here?"

Ominis nodded. "Sure. Undercroft?" He whispered.

Norah and Ominis quietly slipped away from the ball, making their way into the Undercroft. Both their hearts were pounding in anticipation, not that they knew how the other felt. It was a time when they felt that they could talk about something while everyone was especially distracted. They entered the Undercroft and Norah let out an exhale, standing in front of what was the triptych of Isidora Morganach.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Ominis asked.

Norah couldn't help but blurt out what she had long been thinking. "The button on my desk was yours. You summoned me in Ronen's assignment, those notes you kept writing as 'Nick' and those riddles and poems. What you said about me in the Daily Prophet," She tried to recall everything, not noticing how Ominis was becoming increasingly flustered, almost tongue-tied. "What do those things mean? What's going on?"

Ominis froze. His mind and his heart were in battle. "Wh-what?"

"You know what I'm talking about," Norah pressed. "Ominis, not long after I told you guys about the whole meaning in Japan about the second button of the blazer. Are you-I'm not sure whether to suspect that you like me or if you did all of those things out of pity or as a joke."

"A joke?" Ominis's brows furrowed.

"Yes, were those things a joke? You were making fun of the meaning behind the buttons?" Norah asked.

"I wanted you to guess who I was in Ronen's assignment, I can't just say that I was the one who summoned your name-"

"Ominis," She sighed. "Do you like me?"

The blonde Gaunt froze again. He wanted to say something, but the words didn't seem to want to come out. He was getting overwhelmed. It was reminding him of the dream he had. Was it happening now?

"Ominis Gaunt, do you like me?" Norah sounded like she was welling up. "Because-because I like you. I do. I might be too transparent and that probably made you think of playing along- And I can't help but think about the things you've done for me, even what happened in the Coastal Cavern earlier today, you were watching me sleep when I was in the hospital wing - But if you don't like me in that way, just tell me so I can stop daydreaming about you and I can go on with my life and dealing with everything I'm dealing with. Ominis, do you like me?"

Ominis swallowed. His heart was pounding and he was feeling overwhelmed. "Norah, it's complicated-"

"No it isn't complicated, you're not answering my question," Norah argued. "Do you like me?"

"You will find it impossible to be with me-"

"Do you like me?"

"You don't want to be in a relationship with me. I-I tend to scare people away because of my last name-"

"That is for me to decide, not you," Norah was getting even more worked up. "Do you like me?"

"I love you!"

The entire Undercroft went silent. Norah stared at him, trying to process what she just heard. As for Ominis, it felt like the floodgates were opening, and there was no way for him to stop.

"From the moment we went into the Scriptorium together," He said shakily, on the verge of tears. "I fell in love with you. I find myself looking for you, looking for your voice all the time. Since then I have tried so hard not to say it, because I know what that would mean and it's frightening, but I do. It's never been a joke when it comes to you, Norah. I wanted to give you that button, I meant what I said in the Daily Prophet about you, I meant it all."

Ominis was also tearing up, Norah standing there in front of him. "I mean it, Norah," He whispered. "I love you-" He took another step forward as Norah cut him off to kiss him, her hands cradling his face, and his hands on her lower back.

She slowly pulled away, his forehead resting on hers as they took in what just happened. "Ominis-" She whispered, only to be cut off when he leaned in again for another kiss.

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy angst #hogwarts legacy fluff #hogwarts legacy mc #sebastian sallow #ominis gaunt #garreth weasley #leander prewett #amit thakkar #natsai onai #poppy sweeting #norah henry adele caleb

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someonexsomeone · 1 year ago

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Laufeyfest Masterlist

This was made in celebration in Laufey's new album "Bewitched" coming September 8th, 2023! Each story is inspired by the name of the fic, though keep in mind they aren't explicitly song fics. Thank you, and enjoy!

Street by Street // Miguel O'Hara (3.5k)

he’s hot but at what cost, alluded cheating, happyish ending, np!reader

James // Remus Lupin (3.5k)

friends to lovers, misplaced love, intentional miscommunication between friends, np!reader

Love to Keep Me Warm // Harry Potter (1.5k)

young romance, winter is the best time for young love tbh, slytherin/gryffindor pair, np!reader

Valentine // Draco Malfoy (2.5k)

traumatic pasts make loving hard, post Hogwarts, acquaintances to lovers, nb!reader

Everything I Know About Love // Bella Swan (3k)

strangers to lovers, drinking/drunk acitivites, edward slader, nb!reader

Fragile // George Weasley (3.5k)

strangers to lovers, dickhead man creates yummy tension, love interest isn't from Hogwarts, np!reader

Dear Soulmate // Edward Cullen (2.3k)

hes a sap, no Bella, fated mates, np!reader

Falling Behind // Lee Taeyong (3.2k)

coffee shop au, strangers to lovers?, painfully awkward, np!reader

Just like Chet // John Price (3.9k)

stranger to lovers, love is hard when your man is government propaganda, np!reader

From the Start // Mark Lee (2.7k)

school AU, friends to lovers, unrequited love or is it?, nb!reader

Promise // Hobie Brown

long distance, exes can be friends, cross dimensional relationships are hard

Spin Offs

Bus Boy (Beautiful Stranger) // Megumi Fushiguro (2.5k)

nonsorcerer au, strangers to something more?, unrequited love or is it?, minimal dialogue, nb!reader

tip! - m! = he/him, f! = she/her, nb! = they/them, np! = no gendered pronouns used (only “I” or “you”)

#someonexsomeone #laufeyfest

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agust-june · 1 year ago

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I know I should be writing other things, but who would like my explanation as to why I BELIEVE Mark Lee is a Slytherin and not a Gryffindor?

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loevhyuck · 2 years ago

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#guys i want to as you a question #YEAH THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT #nct #nct mark #mark lee #lee minhyung

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moveme4nt · 2 years ago

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FRESH CUT GRASS AND ROASTED MARSHMALLOWS

falling in love with the quidditch player from the house you despise oh so much

˚✧ ♡˚✧♡ ˚✧♡ ˚✧♡ ˚✧♡ ˚✧ ♡˚✧♡ ˚✧♡ ˚✧♡ ˚✧

“HAECHAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” i rush over and pull him off of mark.

“teaching him not to call my girl a bitch! and what are you even doing here?” he struggles to get out of my grasp. i use all my strength to pull him down to sit on the ground.

“dude stop!” i turn to look at mark, with a bloody nose and jeno in front of him defensively in case haechan tries going for him again. he looks at me confused.

“am i missing something?” i look at him puzzled for a second before realizing what he meant.

“oh he just says that sometimes! we’re just-“

“yeah you got a lot more competition than you think lee!” i turn to glare at him.

“will you shut up!! no jeno you don’t he’s just-“

“oh he doesn’t? please you despise gryffindors!and what about-“

“LEE DONGHYUCK THATS ENOUGH OUT OF YOU!” it gets quiet and a sudden hot wind blows by. he immediately cowers.

“sorry lena i- sorry.” he apologizes and i give evalynn a look telling her to take him elsewhere. to which her and renjun help him off the ground and walk off. i turn back to mark and jeno to see some other quidditch boys came to help. jeno walks up to me.

“are we still on for that date or did you want to go see what’s up with your friend?” he questions with an adorable concerned look on his face.

“oh no he’ll be fine he just needs time to cool off uhm,,, is mark ok?” i look over jenos shoulder to see the other players cleaning the blood from his nose.

“yeah the guys got him hes cool.” he sighs. “that haechan guy was right though he kinda did deserve it for how he spoke to you yesterday.” i scoff.

“yeah that,,, oh well lets get this show on the road i guess.” he immediately smiles.

“ok shall we start with honeydukes then?”

“ugh please i am in desperate need of a chocolate frog right now.” i groan and he laughs.

“alright then you first m’lady!” he opens the door dramatically.

“why thank you kind sir!” i curtsy and walk in to the smell of fresh sweets. we both bust out laughing.

quatre / six

#harry potter #harry potter au #nct dream #nct dream au #lee jeno #mark lee #haechan #jaemin #renjun #chenle #park jisung

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nctinhogwarts · 4 years ago

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☆ﾟ. * ･｡ﾟ NCT x Hogwarts ☆ﾟ. * ･｡ﾟ

In picture: Mark Lee (captain / chaser) & Jeno Lee (beater)

The aftermath of winning a match against Ravenclaw

Hogwarts; November 3rd, 2018.

#nct #nct dream #nct 127 #mark lee #lee jeno #nct scenarios #nct dream scenarios #markno #nct hogwarts au #nct harry potter au #gryffindor #nct 2018 #nct 2020 #nct mark #nct jeno #nct x hogwarts #NCTDream #NCT127 #NCTxHogwarts

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neotan-astrology · 4 years ago

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thank you to Jaehyun for fulfilling my Jaehyun Gryffindor agenda 🤧

#like wbk jaehyun gryffindor 🤧#going to go on ao3 and read hp nct fics now #someone write grffindor jaehyun x ravenclaw jungwoo 🤧#nct #nct 127 #jaehyun #jung jaehyun #jungwoo #taeyong #doyoung #mark lee #haechan #taeil #yuta #johnny

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planetjisungie · 4 years ago

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oblivion- l.mh

characters; gryffindor! mark x gryffindor! reader

summary; just two gryffindors pining over eachother and being way too obvious

an; now THIS is the final instalment of the hogwarts series. mark realllllly deserved a chapter for being featured in the others smh

so guys mark finally got his own chapter

so since the first day of hogwarts you and mark were best friends

ever since he opened the carriage door and yodelled thinking it was his other friends in there when it was actually you

and you very quickly found that you shared common interests so when the sorting hat (which nearly fucking put you in ravenclaw) put you both in gryffindor, you were overjoyed

you were marks gryffindor friend, all the others had been sorted into different houses

hufflepuff: jeno and jaemin, slytherin: chenle and jisung, ravenclaw: hyuck and renjun (now okay i put hyuck in rc bc hes witty, id say hes a quick, smart thinker but he uses those attributes for less than useful things)

the word i was looking for was innovative

but obviously you made your own female friends and became the group of friends that everyone wanted to be

and mark got his little group of boys

but you both still spoke to eachother when you shared classes and stuff but after you found your own friends you kinda stopped talking as much

over the years you started talking less and less, yet thought about eachother more and more

puberty sucks bro

the first time you realised you actually liked mark was when you saw him in 4th year laying on the grass in the summer with his friends

it was hot so he had the robe and jumper off, white shirt untucked and red tie slanted with his eyes closed

the sun hit his face perfectly and your heart went NYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

150mph because,, mark looked so perfect and ethereal in that moment

contrary to you,

mark realised he liked you in third year during the winter

you were huddled with your friends in the common room, mug of hot chocolate and marshallows in hand as he walked in from playing in the snow with hyuck and jeno

your hair was slightly damp from melted snow and your eyes were glossy with the bite of cold

and you had a little frothy moustache above your wide smile which mark found cute until you wiped it off with the back of your sleeve

and this was before you discovered your crush on him, so when you noticed him you gave him a small wave and grin to show he hadn’t been ignored

he burned bright red and waved back before sPRINTING to his dorm because his heart also said beep beep skrt skrt

both of your friends noticed your odd behaviour immediately

the boys incessantly teased mark for two years, making him want to lock himself in the chamber below the school forever

things like when you would walk past, they would whip their heads to just stare at mark

when you answered a question correctly they would praise mark instead of you

whenever someone mentioned your name they would go "y/n l/n? mark’s girlfriend?"

that one in particular made him want to just disappear and i dont blame him

to be fair it wasnt any different for you

your friends realised in 5th year

from then on your life was hell

"y/n do you think mark will like this? you should get it for him"

"y/n look! its mark!"

"y/n marks looking at you"

obviously you didnt believe them

just scoff and carry on with life

until 6th year when honestly your friends cannot take it anymore

so your friends meet up with the dreamies and they scheme (they dont let hyuck near the plans dont worry)

unbeknownst to the both of you, though thats more you both being dumb as you sit at the table alone

like huh where the fuck are those prats

and mark sees this opportunity

he can talk to you and not get teased??

hole in one, try, homerun, three pointer, whatever score system you wanna go by

shit two birds with one stone is the saying

ANYWAY

so mark scoots over to you with his plate, sending you a slightly nervous smile

but you smile back

and you start talking again, just like you did on your way to first year

how cute

and mark literally asks you out right there on the spot

and when you freeze up he stutters and tries to apologise

but youre like NO I MEAN YES

and would you look at that, youre dating

so the next day you two are a lot more comfortable with eachother, still kinda flustered but no longer trying to hide it

but your friends 😭 you didn’t tell them

so they carry on with their plan

and so youre all sat at the gryffindor table while jeno went to go get the big sheet of paper which said ‘y/n will you go out with me’ on it

and then your friends are like "y/n your boyfriend looks nice today"

and youre just like "yeah i know he does"

and theyre like wait a minute-

then it hits you that you didnt tell them you were dating mark

"by the way we’re actually going out now"

rip jeno who was stood behind you with the paper and flowers in hand

he legit drops them with his mouth gaping

"and you didnt think to tELL US?!"

lowkey pissed they spent so much time planning lmaoooooo

#mark lee #hogwarts au #mark #nct #nct u #nct dream #nct 127 #jeno #gryffindor mark #gryffindor reader

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bus-stop-to-kpop · 6 years ago

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Charms (Mark Lee x Reader Hogwarts!AU)

Pairing: Gryffindor!Mark Lee (NCT) x Slytherin!Reader

Genre: Fluff, Hogwarts!AU

Summary: To pass Charms class you have to ask a handsome Gryffindor for help.

Word Count: 3,705

A/N: Guess who’s back even though she writes two exams next week? Right, it’s me. I have to admit that I only read Harry Potter in my mother language German and not in English (shame on me) but I hope everything will be correct. I miss Mark in NCT DREAM, so this is the Hogwarts!AU with Mark and the Dreamies. Enjoy!

~ Admin A

The hate between Gryffindors and Slytherins is nothing new in Hogwarts. Although, some of the students try to befriend people from the other house because they think that this rivalry is stupid (which is certainly true).

One of this people is Mark Lee. The Gryffindor doesn’t really understand, why Gryffindors and Slytherins can’t be friends. So he tries to befriend some Slytherins.

~*~

“The homework for transfiguration is so hard! How am I supposed to learn how to transform a dinner plate into a mushroom in two days?” your best friend Renjun complains as he lets himself drop down at the couch next to you.

“Don’t complain, you’re still better than me” you reply and smack him lightly. You have been best friends since you two met in the first year. You have a third person in your group of close friends, Jaemin, who is currently in the library to learn, as he said. But Renjun and you both know that he is spending time with Jeno, the handsome Ravenclaw who is Jaemin’s best friend for life, ever since they were in kindergarten.

“Should we start practicing first or write the essay for History of Magic?” you ask. Both options don’t seem to be ideal, but you can’t risk losing some points for your house.

“Practicing. I mean, Mrs. McGonagall doesn’t really like us Slytherins so we should at least try to earn some respect from her.” Renjun sighs as he stands up and grabs the rat your teacher gave you for practicing.

“You’re right” you mumble and join him “but don’t forget your Quidditch training at 6!”

~*~

Jaemin enters the Slytherin Common room soon after Renjun left for Quidditch training. At least you don’t have to be alone for too long, you think.

“Nana, how are you?” you ask him, not looking up from your mushroom. It looks like a mushroom but with the design of the plate, at least this means you’re making progress.

“Nice, Jeno helped me with my homework again. Oh and a Gryffindor student joined us. His name is Mark, he is a prefect I think.” Jaemin replies as he sits down next to you.

“Why was a Gryffindor prefect joining you and Jeno in the library?” A slight frown settles on your face.

“Oh, he knows Jeno from classes and he helped me with the transfiguration homework. I can use the spell now perfectly!” Jaemin explains excitedly.

“And he helped you without any ulterior motives? Are you sure that you don’t have to do something for him now?” you aren’t exactly convinced. You know Mark from your Charms class. One more subject you aren’t that good at. But you are excellent at Potions and at Herbology, surprisingly.

“Yes, he did! He even offered me more help with other subjects, but Jeno is already tutoring me in Charms and History of Magic, so I don’t really need more help with that. Should I ask him if he can tutor you in one of these subjects? No offense, but you seem to really struggle with some of your classes.” Jaemin suggests and pats your head comfortingly as your mushroom transforms back into a slightly deformed plate.

“Thanks, but no thanks.” You say and stand up to leave to the bedroom. It’s getting late and you can’t afford to sleep tomorrow during your classes if you don’t want to fail.

“Good night Nana, sweet dreams”

“Good night, Y/N”

As if you would ever ask a Gryffindor to tutor you. You have some self-esteem left.

~*~

“Shit” you curse under your breath as you see your mark on your essay.

Poor

You really tried hard this time in Charms, but you only seem to have a talent for plants and cooking, also known as Herbology and Potions.

Charms are mostly practical and you don’t have to write much, but the homework was to explain how a charm worked and this is totally not your strength.

“Y/N, I know that you are actually very smart but it doesn’t really show until yet. I can give you a second chance though, if you learn and present the silencing charm until next week and it will be better than your essay, you can still pass this class. You understand?” Professor Flitwick suggests to you.

“Yes, thank you very much, Professor” you answer with you head lowered. It’s very nice of him to offer you a second chance but you know exactly that you will fail again.

~*~

“Renjunnie, I don’t know how to do this!” you whine as you try to silence a frog. Nothing happens, luckily. Because you read that when you perform this charm incorrectly, the frog would swell to an immense size and begin making deafening sounds. And that’s something you definitely don’t want to happen.

“I can still ask Mark if he can tutor you!” Jaemin shouts across the room from his place on the sofa.

“I’m not that desperate!” you shout back.

“But seriously Y/N, if he is as good as Jaemin says, he can really help you with passing this class.” Renjun starts.

“I don’t know him and I don’t trust him” you answer with a glare.

“But I know him and I trust him. And you know me and trust me. I will take you with me to the library tomorrow and introduce Mark to you.” Jaemin’s voice doesn’t accept a ‘no’.

“Fine” you groan annoyed as you give up on trying and decide to finally write your essay for History of Magic.

~*~

“Mark Hyung, is it okay if I bring a friend with me tomorrow? She really needs help with her Charms assignment or she will fail this class.” Jaemin greets Mark as he enters the library and sits down next to him and Jeno.

The three of them always meet there to learn, do homework or simply talk. Talk very quietly of course, because it’s still the library.

“Of course she can come. I’m always glad if I can help someone” Mark responds with a smile. “Do I know her?”

“We have Charms together with her, her name is Y/N. Maybe you noticed her during class?” Jaemin says.

“I think I know who you mean, thanks. Now, let’s get started with this Astronomy assignment or we will never finish it” Mark tries to change the subject. He knows exactly who you are. He’s been crushing on you since he noticed you in Charms class this fifth year. But Jaemin and Jeno don’t need to know this.

~*~

“Let’s get going, Y/N, I don’t want to be late because of you!” Jaemin calls you, annoyed.

“I’m coming, don’t worry, just let me find my things first” you reply equally annoyed. You don’t really want to deal with your Charms assignment now, but you promised it to Jaemin so there is nothing you can do.

You quickly find everything you need and follow Jaemin outside the common room, not without waving Renjun goodbye.

“Please slow down, I don’t want to run a marathon. You will see Jeno soon enough” you say as you try to catch up with Jaemin. He sighs and slows down a bit, your legs aren’t as long as his so he can’t be too fast, he thinks.

“Thank you” you say with fake politeness as you continue to walk next to Jaemin. He chuckles and your bickering continues until you reach the library.

Jaemin and you enter, wave the librarian a hello and go to Jaemin’s and Jeno’s usual spot. Mark is already waiting for you and you almost freeze. You never really paid attention to him during class but he is breathtakingly handsome.

“Mark, this is Y/N. Y/N, this is Mark” Jaemin introduces happily and sits down next to Jeno.

“Hey” Mark is the first one to speak.

“Hey” you reply, hoping that you don’t blush at his voice. It’s a really nice voice, you could listen to him for hours.

“I guess we look for a spot in the library and get started?” Mark sounds a bit unsure.

“Yeah, let’s do this” you reassure him with a smile and follow him as he walks towards an empty table.

“So, Jaemin told me you are having problems with Charms?”

“Yes, not only in Charms, but this is the most urgent now. I need to present the silencing spell to the class next week.” You explain, trying to look into Marks eyes and not his lips.

“Okay, I would say we start with the theory first. Do you have to hand in an essay about the spell, too?” Mark asks and you nod.

“Did you inform yourself on this spell? I searched some books from the library that could be useful for Charms before you came.” Mark states with a shy smile. God, is he cute, you think.

“Yes, I read a bit about it. But I still don’t understand everything.” Now it’s your turn to be shy.

“No problem, that’s why I’m here, Y/N”

~*~

“How was tutoring, Y/N?” Renjun asks as soon as you enter the Slytherin common room again. You and Mark worked on the essay for almost three hours and decided to meet again to practice the real spell tomorrow.

You would lie if you said that you aren’t excited.

“It was good, we finished the essay and tomorrow we meet again to practice.” You try really hard to not think about how Mark’s eyes always lit up when you finally understood something.

“Sit down and tell me more” Renjun demands and pats the free space next to him on the couch.

“There isn’t much to tell….” You try to say as you sit down next to your best friend

“The blush tinting your cheeks says otherwise.” Renjun says amused. “I’ve known you for five years now and we are best friends, Y/N. I know exactly when you try to hide something from me.”

“He’s really nice, I don’t know why. Nobody can be this selfless and help someone he barely knows for three hours without wanting something in return.” You say quietly. For you, it really seems strange.

“He’s really nice? Do you like him, Y/N?” Renjun teases, but stops when he sees you blushing again.

“No….”

“You do! Don’t deny it, I know you better than you know yourself. You’re definitely whipped for Mark Lee!”

You decide to stay silent. Maybe you really like him. He is nice and cute and handsome, everyone would like someone like him.

“But Y/N, listen. I would be very happy for you if you finally find yourself someone other than me or Jaemin. You deserve to be happy, too, don’t forget this. And I will support you, no matter what happens. Understood?” Renjun continues, more serious than before.

“Thanks Renjun, this means a lot to me” you say and crack a smile. You really love your best friend for this, he never judges you and he always knows so well, what you need to hear right now.

“I’m happy when you’re happy. But as much as I love talking to my best friend, it’s getting late and we should sleep. Good night Y/N, sleep well” Renjun and you stand up to leave to your bedrooms. But not before you engulf him in a long and well-needed hug.

What would you do without your best friend in the world?

~*~

You and Mark are set to meet in the Charms classroom, Professor Flitwick was very happy to give his classroom to one of his best students (Mark) to help a weaker student (you) studying.

“Renjun, I don’t think I can do this. What if I mess up really bad? Will he think that I’m stupid and stop talking to me? Help!” you start to panic. Renjun, who decided to walk you to the classroom, because it is on his way to the Quidditch field, tries to calm you down with drawing circles on your back. It always helped when you two were younger and it helps now. You start to relax.

When you arrive at the classroom, you hug Renjun goodbye and thank him for his support.

You don’t see how a slightly jealous Mark is already waiting inside the classroom, a small pout starting to form.

The nervousness is back when you see Mark sitting in the classroom, waiting with a raised eyebrow. “Was this your boyfriend?”

“No, this was my best friend, Renjun” you respond, blushing again. Mark thinks you are having something with Renjun, who is like a brother to you?!

“Okay, that’s not important right now. We need to practice the silencing charm” Mark says after clearing his throat.

“Right, the silencing charm” you mumble and try to listen to his instructions without getting distracted.

Mark demonstrates the charm on one of the ravens he got from the Professor, for practicing purposes.

It works perfectly, the raven opens and closes his mouth but no sound can be heard from him.

“Now, would you like to try, Y/N?” Mark smiles at you encouragingly.

You try to remember how Mark did it, but your mind seems to be blank.

When you try to swing your wand, Mark suddenly steps behind you and grabs your arm.

“I’ll show you” he whispers, lips only centimeters away from your ear. You can feel his heart beating in his chest, that’s how close he stands behind you.

“Silencio” you say quietly and let Mark guide your hand. You can’t believe it when a second raven stops to make sounds. You release a breath you didn’t knew you were holding and a smile graces your lips.

“It’s like this: you start from right to left and draw a bowl. When you are finished with the bowl, you draw a line to the left bottom. Understood?” Mark asks.

You nod and try it again, this time without help. A bowl with a line. This can’t be too difficult, can it?

The third raven stays silent and you feel tears of joy forming in your eyes. You did it. You aren’t useless or talentless. You did it right and you won’t fail Charms class.

You can’t stop yourself from hugging Mark.

He needs a few seconds for realizing what is happening right now, but he wraps his arms around you, too.

“Thank you, thank you so much for helping me” you mumble in his chest but he seems to still understand it.

“That wasn’t only because of me, give yourself some credit, too” he chuckles and starts to run a hand through your hair.

Suddenly aware of your position, you start to blush a deep red.

“Wait what if I forget it until Thursday? It’s three more days, I probably won’t be able to remember it!” Panic starts to rise in your chest.

Mark, still hugging you, starts to draw small circles on your back and you start to relax immediately. How can he know that this is how to calm you down?

“It’s okay, we can practice the next days, too. I won’t let you go to that class unprepared.”

A sigh leaves your lips as you lean more into Mark’s touch. You can get used to this, you think.

~*~

Renjun notices your dream-like face the moment you enter the Slytherin common room again.

“Had a good time with lover boy?” he teases with a smirk.

“Yes. Renjun, I did it! The charm worked! And then I hugged Mark and we stayed like this for so long and I loved every second of it and it was so great and-“

“I see, you really are whipped for him. But congrats, I’m really happy for you. Remember: You aren’t dumb and you deserve everything that makes you happy!” Renjun interrupts with a fond smile. But he seems to be elsewhere, too, you think.

“That was everything about me, but what about you? I can see that you are a little off, too.” Now it’s your turn to tease him.

Renjun blushes a deep red. “Well, there is this girl from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team…”

“Really? Renjun, I’m so happy for you! Now we both don’t have to die as old virgins!” you squeak excitedly and wrap your arms around your best friend in a hug.

“We can have a double date then, what do you think?” your best friend jokes, earning a slap from you.

~*~

Thursday. The day where it will be decided, whether you pass Charms or not.

You enter the classroom with Jaemin and Renjun, shooting a glance towards Mark sitting next to his friends from Gryffindor.

Professor Flitwick is already sitting at his desk, reading some papers from other classes. With trembling legs you approach him and hand in your essay about the silence charm.

When you sit down again, the lesson starts. You go up to the front when Professor Flitwick calls you. Mark smiles reassuringly in your direction, Jaemin and Renjun are giving you thumbs up.

A bowl and a line. You can do this. You did it when practicing and you will do it now again.

The raven which you have to silence is looking at you with his dark eyes, cawing.

“Silencio” you say, drawing a bowl and a line with your wand.

The raven stops cawing, his mouth opening and closing without any sound coming out of it. You feel like bursting with joy and pride as you go back to your seat, receiving a hug from Renjun and a high five from Jaemin. But the best part is when Mark shoots you the prettiest and proudest smile.

After the class, the professor asks you to stay a few minutes to discuss your presentation.

“I have to say that I’m really glad to see your great improvement. You did really great today and you will pass Charms class. This presentation gets an Expectations Exceeded. Keep on working hard, Y/N, you can do it.” Professor Flitwick tells you with a smile.

The only thing you can do now is to thank him for giving you a second chance, trying to suppress the tears of joy forming in your eyes.

You will pass the class. You won’t fail. You aren’t dumb or useless.

When you exit the class, you can see Mark waiting for you. A wide smile appears on your face as you approach him.

“I got an Expectations Exceeded, Mark. I won’t fail this class!” you tell him happily.

“I’m so proud of you, but I guess, now you won’t need me anymore” Mark sounds a bit sad.

“Do you really think I won’t need tutoring anymore? I suck at transfiguration, too, and I will certainly need some more time to learn all the new charms and spells.” You say with a laugh. And you don’t want to let Mark go just like this.

“So we will keep on meeting in the library?” Mark’s eyes begin to sparkle with joy.

“Of course we will, I would be lost without you”

~*~

“How am I supposed to transform an owl into an opera glass?” you sigh, pouting. Mark and you sit in the library again, doing your homework.

“I’ll show you” Mark offers with a small smile.

“That’s so kind of you, thanks. But I have a question: Doesn’t it bother you to always teach me without getting anything out of it?” you tilt your head, curiosity taking over.

Mark and you got very close over the last few weeks, but nothing like the hug in the Charms room happened again.

“I’m getting something out of it: Your happy smile when finally everything works.” Mark teases, with a hint of seriousness.

“Stop it you’re making me blush Mister Lee.” You whine and hide your face behind your hands.

Mark reaches out and takes your hands in his, a serious expression painting his face.

“You are beautiful when you blush, Y/N. No need to hide”

You look at him with wide eyes, heart beating fast in your chest.

“Looking for friends in other houses and befriending Jaemin was the best idea I ever had. Because I met you. You are so cute and smart and pretty, but you don’t even know it. I really like you a lot, Y/N.” Mark finishes, shifting nervously in his seat.

“I like you a lot, too, Mark” you whisper and lean forward to meet his lips.

A soft whimper escapes Mark’s mouth when his lips finally meet yours in a soft and sweet kiss. Your hands let go of his and settle in his hair as you try to pull him closer to you. Mark pulls away for a moment, only to kiss you again, this time hungrier. You let out a small moan when he starts to nibble on your bottom lip. Suddenly, he pulls away again.

A small pout forms on your lips. You want to kiss him again, as soon as possible.

“Does this mean we are dating now? Or am I over interpreting something now?” Mark asks, a little breathless from the kiss.

“No you jerk, we are dating now, ok? So please come back and kiss me again” you whine, wanting to feel his lips on yours again.

“Ok” Mark smiles and leans in again to meet your lips.

The kiss is as heated as the last one, you open your mouth as soon as Mark starts to seek entrance again. His tongue against yours feels so good, you can’t get enough of him.

His velvety tongue and his slightly chapped lips from always nibbling on them when he is nervous. His fluffy hair and strong grip on your hip. You simply can’t get enough of Mark Lee. But unfortunately, Mark pulls away again way too soon.

“Mark Lee, what are you doing!” you start to whine again.

“I really love kissing you, but I am supposed to teach you how to transform an owl into an opera glass and this won’t work when we are kissing.” Mark says with a cocky grin.

“Fine” you mumble, pouting again. Why does Mark have to be such a tease?

“But you can get kisses as soon as you can manage the spell.”

This is all the motivation you need for now to work again.

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