Chapter Text
BREAKING NEWS! LOCAL CLAW EMBROILED IN SCANDAL WITH BELOVED LION?
★
To say this was going poorly would be an understatement.
One week. You had been following Seungcheol for one week , and nothing. You had nothing to show for it.
Oh, you had photos, two whole rolls worth.
A snap from the back of Transfiguration. Seungcheol sported a bright smile as he turned a raven into a textbook. His partner, a quirky Hufflepuff by the name of Claire Dobson, sat next to him, clapping enthusiastically.
A click from behind one of the suits of armour lining the hallway. Seungcheol leaned up against the wall, listening to fellow Head Girl, Mythili Mahendran, as she spoke fervently, her arms waving about with each word. He had a reassuring grin as he nodded along, eyes never once leaving her face.
“The only thing this kid is doing is buying a one-way ticket to Burnt-out-Ville,” you say, slipping the last bit of film out of the developer potion and hanging it to dry.
On it, a clear snapshot from behind a shelf in the herbology section of the library. Seungcheol’s draped over Joshua’s shoulders, eyes crinkled into half moons as he bursts out laughing, his pearly whites on full display. Jeonghan sat across from them, a disgruntled sneer on his face.
“Maybe he’s sneaking off somewhere at night?” Soonyoung leans against the wall of the dark room, the deep red light reflecting off his face.
“Where,” You shake your head, “Or even better, when? I’ve been following him day and night like his bloody shadow! Golden Boy couldn't even take a piss without me knowing.” There had been hardly enough time for you to finish most of your assignments this week. Not to mention, the 2 feet on Unbreakable Vows you hadn’t even started.
“I’m telling you Hosh,” you start unclipping the dried photos, sorting them into piles. Seungcheol in class. Seungcheol at the library. Seungcheol in the Great Hall. “Perhaps Raveena’s got it wrong.”
“Impossible,” Soonyoung scoffs. “Pudding’s the best there is.”
You shoot him a look, “No one is perfect. She was bound to pick up a weird rumour eventually.”
“She’s never gotten a tip wrong.” An unspoken yet hung in the air.
Raveena was a capable girl, there was no doubt about that. But, you knew a lost cause when you saw one. Soonyoung, despite being as stubborn as a bull, would eventually come around.
Right?
Soonyoung chews his lip before pushing himself off the wall. “There’s always tomorrow I suppose.” He was halfway out the door before it registered.
“Tomorrow?” You ask.
“Did you forget?” Soonyoung feigns surprise, and you dread his next words. “First Hogsmeade weekend, no better time or place for lovely couples to have a cute little date.”
You resist the urge to drown him in one of your tubs of developer potion.
“I haven’t even begun to research that Defense essay that’s due Monday. Not to mention, the ten million other things we need to study.” You slam the canister you were holding down onto the counter, exasperated. “Or did you forget we’ve got N.E.W.T.s this year?”
Soonyoung pouts, shaking his head. He fiddles at the chipping wood on the doorway. “Come on Y/n, I’ve even got disguises for us!“
You loved your best friend. Truly. With all your heart. Yet, at his core, Soonyoung Kwon was a Grade A schemer . A Slytherin, through and through.
“I promise, I’ll help you with your essay when we get back,” says Soonyoung. He turns on his puppy dog eyes for extra effect. “I’ll even throw in sweets from Honeydukes! Whatever you want, it’s on me.”
You were running low on sugar mice and you did eat your last pumpkin pasty the other night during Seungcheol’s prefect rounds.
“Fine,” you grumble, drying off your hands. Whipping around, you stab a finger in his direction, “But this is the last! If we come out empty-handed, you’re going to drop it. Promise?”
Soonyoung put his hands up, “Swear on my Nan’s grave.” He makes a crossing motion across his chest and points up at the ceiling, sending a wink your way.
He dodges the towel you chuck at him, before bidding you a good night, leaving you alone to ruminate on a certain Gryffindor Captain and Head Boy.
★
Soonyoung waits for you in the entrance hall the next morning.
You curl your lip, looking him up and down. He wore thick brown robes with a gold monogrammed “SK” on the chest, a stark contrast to your plain, faded, and navy ones. On his head, sat a matching brown deerstalker, his blond bangs poking out from underneath.
“What's with the hat?”
Soonyoung grinned, sticking out a small bag. “Disguises!”
Inside, you found some sunglasses, a couple of stick-on fake moustaches, and a cheap-looking wig.
“I wanted you to have the first pick,” Soonyoung says as you decide on a pair of matte black sunglasses and a bushy chevron moustache.
He grabs a handlebar moustache and brown tortoiseshell sunglasses for himself, “How do I look?”
“Like you’re about to solve a murder,” you say dryly. “All you’re missing is a magnifying gl–”
“Do not underestimate your friend so.” He fishes in his robe pockets before pulling out a gold-rimmed magnifying glass.
Holding the glass flat in your direction, he presses down on a hidden button in the handle. A bright light flashes along with a loud clicking noise. You throw your arms up to cover your eyes.
“Merlin,” Soonyoung scratches his head, peering at the glass befuddled. “I thought I’d turned that off.”
Snatching the device from his hands, you weave an arm around his. “I’ll fix it on our way. We’ve got to get a move on if we want to get to Hogsmeade while he’s still there.”
“You’ve got your camera?”
You scoff as you pat at your chest, where there is a barely visible small bump under your robes. “Of course, I’m no amateur.”
The path up to the small wizarding village is free of any students. Most tend to head up earlier, wanting to make the most of their rare reprieve from school.
This was fine with the two of you though. It allowed Soonyoung to ramble about a few other stories the team was working on that week, while you fixed his magnifying glass.
It’s easy, nothing a few modified silencing charms and an expungement charm couldn't fix. As for your own camera, all it needs is a well-placed disillusionment charm, and it’ll disappear against your chest.
“So, where shall we begin?” you say, as the two of you enter the village. “You think he'd have taken her to Three Broomsticks or the Hog's Head? I'm leaning towards Three Broomsticks, less creepy, more casual.”
“I think I know exactly where they would’ve gone,” Soonyoung says with a terrifying twinkle in his eye.
★
There was absolutely nothing that could’ve prepared you for Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop.
Bright fuschia painted the walls of the small teahouse, burning into your irises along with the hot pink paper lanterns and tinsel hanging from the ceiling.
The two of you find an empty table in the corner, huddling around a purple lace-covered table.
While you sat with your back to the shop, Soonyoung had a perfect view of the front door, as well as the massive window next to it, allowing a full view of the main street through Hogsmeade.
Despite the overwhelming crowd in the tea shop, Seungcheol was nowhere to be found.
You watch as a couple walks past the window, bundled in warm robes and holding hands, before turning back to Soonyoung. “Shouldn’t we try to go and find our Golden Boy?" It was sweltering inside, as though there were one too many heating charms in place. "Rather than just, waiting around for him to show up?” Your mustache itches and you refrain from ripping it off.
“You wouldn't be aware Wallflower–," A server comes by, setting down two hot pinks mugs filled with a questionable brown liquid. Soonyoung smiles a soft thank you before nudging you under the table with his foot. He tips his head towards the server with an expectant look, but you can’t stop staring at them.
It was Seokmin Lee, a 5th-year Gryffindor, wearing the most atrocious outfit you'd ever seen. He's got on a mauve velour muggle tracksuit and, over it, a hot pink mug costume, much like the mugs he’d just set down.
Soonyoung kicks you under the table again, this time harder. You yelp at the pain shooting through your shin, quickly recovering though, and wince out a meek thanks. An eye-crinkling smile graces Seokmin’s face, coupled with a bright chirpy you’re welcome as he sashays away.
Soonyoung takes a sip of his drink, and you mirror him, only to gag immediately. It tasted like someone had poured developer potion down your throat.
"You wouldn't know, Wallflower," Soonyoung starts again, "but this is the cool and hip place to take your dates.”
A golden cherub flies past, throwing pink confetti in your direction. Some of it falls into your drink. “Hoshi, if anyone took me here for a date, I’d probably drown them in the great lake.” You grimace as the couple next to you starts snogging.
He wasn’t wrong though, you couldn’t even remember the last time you’d gone on a date.
Soonyoung starts to say something else when his eyes widen at something, or someone , behind you. “Over there! Over there!” He shakes a finger at the front window and you turn to see Seungcheol walking past, flanked as usual by Joshua and Jeonghan. This time though, they’re joined by a fourth boy, dark-haired and lanky, with thick-rimmed glasses.
Soonyoung scrambles to get up, digging through his robe pockets for some sickles before throwing them on the table, and dragging you out of your chair.
The two of you hurry out, following them down the mildly crowded village path. Hiding behind other students and in nearby alleyways when necessary.
"It looks like they're heading into the Weasley joke shop." You're crouched behind the postal building with Soonyoung nearly sitting on top of you. The two of you peer around the corner, watching as Seungcheol and his friends file into Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. “Come on then, let’s go get our Golden Boy.”
It’s loud inside the joke shop, and you lose the boys amidst the sea of brightly coloured merchandise and robes.
“Let’s split up?” You suggest. Divide and conquer. Soonyoung nods in agreement, slinking away and disappearing behind the love potions. You take your camera out, giving it a silent tap. It turns invisible against your chest.
Ambling up the stairs to the second floor, you pass the small section of muggle magic tricks and turn the corner into the sweets section. There, you find your Golden Boy past the Canary Creams, perusing the Skiving Snackboxes. He’s got his back turned to you, giving you a full view of his deep russet robes, and not much else.
Quickly, you hide behind a cardboard display filled with edible dark marks. Peeking out from above, You watch as Seungcheol bends down and picks up a snackbox, pushing his wire-rim glasses further up his nose.
He reads the side of one of the boxes before reaching into his pocket and taking out a piece of paper. Slightly leaning over the display, you crane your neck trying to get a glimpse. Before you know it, you lose your balance, tipping the display over and sending yourself flying to the ground.
“sh*t, sh*t, sh*t -”
At the sound of the loud crash, Seungcheol spins around, immediately running over when he sees you on the ground.
"Are you okay?" Seungcheol peers over you, concern written all over his face.
You lay surrounded by the edible dark marks, not making a move to get up. All you wish for at this moment is for the ground to split in half and suck you right in.
"Here, let me help you." Seungcheol holds his hand out to you, expectant. For a moment, you are compelled to take it. But then you think of his skin touching yours and you start to feel your heart speeding up, your breath quickening, and the feeling of panic crawling up your throat.
Merlin, not here. Not now .
You lean up on your elbows, staring at his hand, hesitating. He looks so worried though, with his eyebrows furrowed and his forehead wrinkled. So, you push down any feeling of trepidation, and you take his hand, letting yourself be pulled up. You don't think about how warm and calloused his hands feel and you definitely don’t think about how equally warm your cheeks were getting.
This could not be happening to you right now. Did he see your camera? Feeling the weight of it around your neck, it takes everything in you to not peek down and see if the disillusionment charm is still in effect.
Soonyoung's sunglasses sit askew on your nose and the moustache was beginning to slowly peel off as the adhesive charm weakened. You must’ve looked like Hogwart’s resident basket case about now. The next coming of Moaning Myrtle.
"You alright there?" Seungcheol asks. All you can do is nod dumbly in response. You could feel your heart thumping loudly in your chest, the erratic beating pulsing in your ears.
He bends back down to pick up the fallen display and candies while you hastily fix your glasses and moustache, willing the other half to stick back on.
This is just your luck. Three years of following people around and this was the first time you'd ever been caught. You were going to kill Soonyoung. This was, after all, his grand idea.
Actually, no. You were going to do something worse than avada kedvra him. You were going to stick his precious gobstones set into a cauldron of boiling–"Are you sure you're okay?"
You snap out of your premeditated murder planning, "What?"
Seungcheol’s looking at you, his eyebrows still furrowed. "Did you hit your head when you fell?"
"What?" You repeat like an idiot. "Oh, no, yeah, I'm good." You smooth down the top of your hair, "Haha, see! No head injury!"
If you were hoping this would ease Seungcheol's worry, you don't think you were succeeding. New creases appear on his forehead the longer you speak.
“Look, I am as fine . . .” You search for the right words, the ones that would make his worry go away, “ . . . as a flobberworm," you finish lamely.
The fake moustache slowly starts peeling off once more and you fight the urge to rip it off and incendio it into a pile of ashes. Instead, you plaster a smile on your face, putting two thumbs up as a consolation.
However, it did not have the intended effect. Somehow, Seungcheol Choi managed to furrow his eyebrows even more. He stood there staring at you with his arms wrapped around each other as if you were a child and he was wondering what to do with you.
At this point, you were wishing you’d had hit your head. Much better explanation for all this than, you were just like this.
Finally, Seungcheol nods, seemingly satisfied. "Be careful then, and watch where you're going." He reaches out to you, taking your sunglasses, and pushing them up into your hair. If you weren't frozen out of embarrassment, you might've flinched. "Let's keep the sunglasses for the sun, yeah? You could've seriously hurt yourself."
Your mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, no sound coming out.
Seungcheol puts his hands on your shoulders and you swallow hard, tensing up as he pats your shoulders down. "I'll see you 'round then?" You nod back, feeling much like a bobblehead today, and Seungcheol turns around, heading back down to the main floor.
You just stand there, unsure of what to make of what had just happened, and give yourself a moment to get your heart rate back to an acceptable one.
Downstairs, you find Soonyoung by the pygmy puffs, chatting with a short red-headed boy. You grab him by the collar of his robes, dragging him outside. Tossing him into the cold air, you follow behind him.
“Woah, Y/n,” Soonyoung stumbles a little, trying to find his footing. “Is everything okay?”
Ripping off your moustache, you push it forcefully into Soonyoung’s chest. It sticks for a brief moment before falling to the ground. “I’m keeping the glasses as commission,” You snarl, yanking them off your head and stuffing them into your robe pockets.
“What happened?” Soonyoung still looks bewildered. “What's going on?
“My luck. My wonderful luck is what happened.” You curl your fingers into fists before releasing them along with a deep breath.
Soonyoung still looks perplexed. “Did you find-”
“ Oh, I found him all right. ” You mutter, fluffing up your robes. “Whatever, it doesn't matter.” You clear your throat. “You promised me anything from Honeydukes and it’s time for you to cough it up, buttercup.”
You start walking towards the sweet shop as Soonyoung stomps behind you, grumbling something about you eating him out of house and home.
Honeydukes was your second favourite place in the world (your precious dark room being the first). The air smells sickly sweet as you walk in, a mix of baked goods, chocolates, and sugary goodness. You grab a basket by the door and begin perusing the aisles. Soonyoung needed to pop over into another shop, leaving his coin bag with you.
Soon enough, you've filled up your basket. You were currently contemplating whether to stick the Fizzing Whizbees you’d grabbed for Soonyoung on top of the basket, and risk crushing the pumpkin pasties under it, or just hold the box under your other arm. You decide on the latter, but the basket still ends up being heavier than you’d expected.
Maybe you’d gone a little overboard with the extra box of sugar mice and maybe the third box of licorice wands was unnecessary, but when Soonyoung was indebted to you like this, you couldn’t help but take advantage
You hold the Fizzing Whizzbees under one arm, groaning as your other arm trembles under the weight of the basket.
“You need some help with that?” said an all too familiar voice from behind you. You nearly drop the basket on your foot.
This couldn’t be happening to you. Not again. Not so soon .
Familiar russet robes flash in the corner of your eye, before Seungcheol’s before you, grabbing the heavy basket out of your arms like it was a cloud. You trail behind him like a lost puppy as he leads the two of you into line.
Seungcheol lifts the basket up and down like a dumbell. “What’s in this anyways? The whole store?”
You hold the Fizzing Whizbees box closer to your chest like an emotional support item before shaking your head. “Just restocking, Hosh– Soonyoung owes me. Some pumpkin pasties, licorice wands–" you start listing off, counting on your fingers, "–chocolate frogs, jelly slugs, exploding bonbons, sugar mice–oh bludgers, I meant to grab sugar quills!” You look behind you, forlorn.
There were quite a few late nights coming up for you this week and you weren’t sure how you were going to get through them without your favourite sugar quills.
“Did you want to go grab some?” Seungcheol asks, eyes following yours to the back of the store. “I’ll hold your spot in line.”
"No, it's alright," You say dejectedly, tightening your hold around the whizbees. “This is probably more sugar than I should be allowed anyways.” Seungcheol nods, nudging his glasses up with his knuckle.
The two of you finally make it up to the front counter where he sets the basket down. As the cashier starts to take items out to bag, you dig your hands in your pockets to fish out Soonyoung's coin pouch.
Seungcheol chats with the cashier while they finish bagging your items into two bags. You don’t follow their conversation as you search through Soonyoung’s coin bag for some galleons, catching only mentions of Quidditch and Gryffindor . As soon as you pay, Seungcheol grabs both bags.
“Oh you don’t have to–” You try taking the bags back from him, but he holds them away from your hands.
Seungcheol clicks his tongue at you, “Now, what kind of Head Boy would I be if I made you carry this all the way back to school?”
You frown, “It wouldn’t be all the way to school. I’m meeting Soonyoung at the Three Broomsticks.”
“Even better, that’s where I’m headed anyways.” Seungcheol starts down the road without waiting for your response, leaving you to jog behind to catch up.
Inside, the inn’s warm and toasty, a fire burning in the corner. Seats were already filling up with students finishing up their day. Seungcheol finds you an empty booth in the corner for you to wait for Soonyoung. He puts the bags on one side, motioning you to slide into the other.
“Thanks again Seungcheol, you really didn’t have to–”
Seungcheol chuckles softly, adjusting his glasses, “It was my pleasure.” He sticks his hands in his robe pockets, lightly rocking back and forth on his feet. For a moment, it seemed as though he looked shy. “I hope you enjoy your sweets, I’ll see you ‘round.” And with that, he left to go join his friends, seated on the other side of the inn.
By the time Soonyoung comes strolling in, you’ve already downed two hot chocolates. Now sipping on a third, you fiddle with your camera to pass the time. Trailing behind him was Raveena, sporting a bright blue beanie and her usual co*ke bottle glasses.
“ Kneazles, what’ve you got in here Wallflower? The entire shop?” Sooyoung takes your sweets haul and sets them under the table so he and Raveena can slide into the booth.
You sip the last of your hot chocolate, before reaching into your pockets and tossing him his coin bag, “You said anything , and I took you for your word.”
Soonyoung catches his coin bag with a gasp, “It’s so light, I’ve been swindled!”
“Hoshi here tells me you two almost caught–” Raveena looks shifty-eyed across the inn before lowering her voice, “–Seungcheol, with his girlfriend this morning.”
You give Soonyoung a pointed look, “He told you wrong. We’re about as close to getting a photo as catching a pixie in a knapsack.”
The three of you glance over across the room to where Seungcheol sits with his friends. He has an arm slung over Jeonghan's shoulders as the two of them were open-mouth laughing at something.
You’re filled to the brim with a fourth warm hot chocolate when you excuse yourself to grab another drink. “You two want anything?” They both shake their heads.
As Madam Rosemerta finishes up with another customer, you feel someone come up next to you at the bar.
"Fancy seeing you here,” drawls a familiar deep voice.
You turn to see Seungcheol sliding up to you at the bar. He’d shed the robes and was wearing a green Holyhead Harpies hoodie, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
You squint up at him, “Do I know you?”
He drops his mouth open in fake aghast, glasses sliding down his nose. “Have the last seven years meant nothing?” he says, holding a hand up to his heart as if you’d shot an arrow at it.
You stifle a giggle behind your hand and a cheery smile spreads on Seungcheol's face.
Madam Rosemerta swishes past, juggling multiple empty goblets, “I’ll be with you two in just a mo’!”
“Not a problem Rosie!” Seungcheol calls out. He leans back against the bar, elbows resting on top and showing off his sturdy forearms.
You cast your eyes elsewhere, wondering if Seungcheol was aware of just how attractive he was. No longer was he the bumbling little first year you'd met seven years ago. After all, there's a reason a photo of him with a rumoured beau would be the scoop of the paper.
You glance as he adjusts his glasses and runs a hand through his hair.
“How're the first weeks of classes going for you by the way?” he asks, crossing his arms, ever the Head Boy.
“It’s N.E.W.T.s year, obviously you know how it is.” You sigh dejectedly, “I haven’t even outlined that massive defense essay.”
“Oh yeah . I mean, three feet? On Unforgivable curses?" he says, sounding exasperated. “As if we don’t have eleven other classes to do work for.”
“That’s what I said!” Very few students take all 12 N.E.W.T.s. There are four in your graduating class. At least, used to be four. You’d almost forgotten about Jake Sim dropping out of Arithmancy this week, making it three: Yourself, Seungcheol, and Mythili, the Head Girl.
The conversation settles back into a comfortable silence.
Madam Rosemerta comes up to the bar, “Alright dears, what can get you two?”
“Can I get a round of warm butterbeer for the table? And whatever the lady wants," He tips his head at you.
You already had two hot chocolates, now you wanted something different. And cold . “I want something colder but I’m not really feeling butterbeer?"
“I know just what you need," There’s a glint in Seungcheol’s eyes. "Get 'er one of my usuals, please.”
“Of course! Let me know where you’re sitting dear and Lysander will bring it over to you” She gestures at the silver-haired barback behind her.
Seungcheol throws a couple of sickles down on the bar, “Thanks Rosie, these are for hers too.”
“What? No, Seungcheol–” you stutter, but he just shoots you a cheeky wink.
“Just make sure you enjoy it.”
You got back to your booth and not soon after, Lysander comes by with the reddest drink you’d ever seen. “Cherry soda?” You raise a shy hand and he sets it in front of you “Anything else I can get for you?”
“I think we’re good here. Thank you!”
The drink came in a glass goblet with a small paper umbrella sticking out on top. You take a sip, humming with a shiver. The ice felt good, and it was just the right amount of sweet versus tart.
“No hot chocolate, Wallflower?” Hoshi says, chewing on a fizzing whizbee.
“I just wanted to try something new.” You say, taking another sip. “Seungcheol recommended it.”
Raveena perks up, “Did he now.” She leans forward in her seat. “He’s not onto you, right? He wasn’t asking about why you lot were stalking him?”
“ Following, Raveena!” Soonyoung exclaims. “We were following him, not stalking .”
Raveena scrunches her face, “Mm, yeah, that’s not really any better Hoshi.”
“Fine, we happened to be in Hogsmeade, in the same shop, at the same time as him.” Soonyoung rolls his eyes. “As was like, half the school. So really, we were doing nothing weird.”
It seemed Soonyoung wasn’t done there though, turning to face Raveena. “And you know what, I don’t like what you’re insinuating Pudding. Not very team player of you.”
“Ooh, someone’s a little touchy about this. You’re awfully defensive Hosh. One would even say you’re project–”
“Enough you two. You–,” you point at Hoshi, “it was stalking. We were stalking him. What we do is honestly kind of creepy. We should really be called The Creepy Whistler . And you–,” you point to Raveena, “Don’t egg him on. We both know I’m the one who won’t hear the end of it.”
You pick up the paper umbrella, twirling it in your fingers. “He was just asking me about classes. We’re both taking the same N.E.W.T.s after all.”
“Good, that’s good,” Raveena says. “He’s not onto us. Means he’ll put his guard down eventually. We’ll get our moment.” Soonyoung pops another whizbee in his mouth, nodding along.
★
“I know today was a bust. I have something that might cheer you up though.”
The two of you were back at Hogwarts, sharing a table at the library. Soonyoung had promised you he’d help with your essay for DADA.
He digs into his bag, coming out with a can of something.
Upon closer look, you nearly shriek, "You did not!"
"I did!"
You grab the canister, "You did not !"
"I did !" He says gleefully. Someone two tables over shushes you guys.
You turn the canister over in your hand, eyeing the back excitedly. It’s lime green with black text made to look like it was sprayed on. The text reads glow ho, camera flow and attached to the side, a small cylinder of film.
"This has been sold out everywhere." Not to mention expensive . But if anyone could afford it, it would be Soonyoung. One of the many perks of being the heir to Madame Kwon’s Publishing Company. They publish most of the textbooks used at Hogwarts, not to mention the international best-selling series, Madame Kwon’s Magical Adventures .
"How did you manage to get your hands on one?" You narrow your eyes at him. “Hoshi, why did you get me this?”
"You've been putting a lot of work into the Whistler , on top of having way more N.E.W.T.s to study for than me." He continues when you don't seem convinced. "And I know you've been barely sleeping, following Seungcheol around–"
"But that’s what the Honeydukes was for." You set the canister down on the table, pushing it away from you. "What is it that you really want?"
"Look,” Ah, there it was, “I know we're both super busy, but I wouldn't ask if I wasn’t desperate.”
"Just spit it out. What do you want?"
He sighs, "You know how I take photos for the Quidditch teams?" Of course you do. You were the one who taught him how to work a camera specifically for sports shots. Something you did so you wouldn’t be tasked to do so.
"Yeah? What about it?" You don’t like where this was going.
"Could you take over for me for the next few weeks?" You groan as he goes on. "Both the gobstones club and the chess club increased their meetings and between that, N.E.W.T.s, the Whistler , not to mention the ten million apprentice applications I have to do, I just don’t have the time. Oh please, Wallflower? Please, please, pleaseeee," He pleads.
You wince and try to stop him as he starts vibrating in his seat. "Merlin, okay, fine. So what, just take some photos at their games?" Hoshi grimaces. "No, no, no! No more!” you hiss. “What else could I possibly do for you?" He was already asking for so much.
Yet somehow, you end up on the grassy quidditch pitch at dawn the next day.
It is cold, it's wet, and it is foggy as hell. You could not fathom why on earth the Ravenclaws were practicing at this ungodly hour. The morning fog mists on your cheeks like small pinpricks.
"How did they turn out?" asks Olivia Prewett, a tall, broad gal. She’s Ravenclaw’s team captain and sole keeper.
You pop the film out of your camera, sticking it in its temp-controlled tube. "I think they should be good. I'll let you know when I figure out my schedule to do the team photos." You stick the tube into your bag before popping another roll of film into the camera.
"Sounds good, just keep me posted." She gives you a faint smile before turning to look at the hubbub across the field. "Looks like Gryffindor's taking over next, you gonna be good?"
You nod, body shivering as a gust of wind blows through. On the other side of the field, the Gryffindor team was starting to set up for their practice as the Ravenclaws cleared out.
Seokmin Lee runs by, yelling, "Prewett, Prewett, let's do itttt!" He shoots finger guns at Olivia as a boy behind him struggles to carry both their brooms, nearly slipping a few times on the muddy pitch, "Ah Boo, don't get my broom muddy man."
Seungcheol jogs up to the two of you. “Prewett,” he nods.
Olivia nods back, “Choi.” She turns back to face you, "Make them look bad for me, will you?" You smile back, nodding.
"Alright?" Seungcheol's wearing the same green Holyhead Harpies hoodies from yesterday.
"H-hi Seungcheol," You say, teeth chattering. The thin jumper you had on does nothing for the windchill and you rub your arms trying to warm up.
"You seem a little cold there." Seungcheol looks you up and down as you tremble a little.
"I-I'm f-fi–," You clear your throat before trying again, "I'm f-fine."
Seungcheol pulls his hoodie off over his head, mussing up his hair, before holding it out to you, shaking it when you don’t move to grab it.
You tentatively take it from him. The sleeves fall further past your own arms and you have to scrunch them up by your elbows so you can hold your camera.
Practice goes by pretty quickly, and by the time Seungcheol lands in front of you again, hopping off his broom, you almost forget you can no longer feel your fingers.
“Got what you needed?”
“Yup, this should do it,” you say, popping the film into another temp-controlled canister. “I'll let you know when either me or Soonyoung are free to do the team photos.”
You grab the bottom of Seungcheol's hoodie, intending to pull it off, when he stops you, putting his hands on yours.
You flinch, taking a step back and Seungcheol yanks his hand back, like he touched fire. He rubs the back of his head abashedly, “You, uh, you can keep it.” His cheeks were rosy, from the cold, or something else, you weren't sure. “It's not warming up anytime soon, you'll need it if you're photographing the ‘Puffs”
“Oh.” You grip the edges of the hoodie, fingers clenching at the soft fabric. “Um, thank you?”
Seungcheol throws you a sheepish grin, before turning around and running to join the rest of his team.
★
When you wake up the next morning, you feel tired and groggy, shoulders aching a little.
Seungcheol's hoodie sits washed and folded neatly on your bedside table. You eye it apprehensively as you get ready for class, deciding to shove it down to the bottom of your book bag on your way out the door.
You meet Soonyoung down in the dungeons. He’s leaning against the wall, at the end of the queue of students waiting to be let into your double potions class.
“Morning Hosh,” you stifle a yawn behind your hand.
“Morning Wallflower. Didn't think you were going to make it.” He says, pushing off of the wall and handing you a small thermos. A strong scent of Nocturna Brewery coffee wafts through the air. “Missed you at breakfast this morning.”
“Was up all night finishing that defense essay.” You take a sip from the thermos, humming as the bitter taste zings through you, waking you up a little. “You didn’t think I’d leave you stranded in potions without me, did you?” It was your strongest subject, the only N.E.W.T.s Soonyoung was taking where he’d barely scraped by.
As the classroom opens up and students file in, you and Soonyoung try to find an empty table, heading into the back of the room. You ignore Seungcheol and his friends as you two pass them in the front row, the green hoodie weighing heavily in the bottom of your bag.
The two of you squeeze into a table along with Tabitha Heathcote, a Gryffindor girl with a strong aversion to you , and her friend. Mary? Minnie?
There’s a small tussle as Soonyoung tries to set his bag on the table where Tabtiha’s got her elbows spread wide out, one that Soonyoung eventually wins. Tabitha scoots over with a grunt, disgust never once leaving her face.
Tabitha has never liked you, especially not since the incident in your fourth year. While being in different houses helped you avoid her a good amount of the time, being the same year meant you were forced to see her in class on the daily. There wasn’t a moment she was around that she wouldn’t make clear how much she absolutely abhorred you.
The two of you get settled, pulling out your books and setting up your cauldron and scales. Already on the board is today’s potion assignment and it doesn’t take long before you two get started making it.
"I know you said not to bring it up anymore–," Soonyoung starts.
"Soonyoung, if you don't want me to stick your head in this cauldron, I suggest you don't finish that sentence." The cauldron in front of you bubbles in agreement as you pour crushed red beetles in.
Soonyoung throws his hands up in defence, "No need to get violent, Wallflower." He leans sideways against the table, "I just think we should review what we have, to make sure we've followed every thread and haven't missed anything."
You sigh, cracking your neck. "Hoshi, unless his secret partner is Jeonghan, Joshua, or that sixth year that's always with them, then I haven't missed anything. I was on his ass for days. If he was meeting someone in secret, there's no way I wouldn't have caught it."
He paused to think before asking, "What about Mythili?"
"Mahendran?"
"You had a lot of photos of him talking to her."
"Of course I did,” you say, irritated. “She's Head Girl, you dolt. I'd be worried if he wasn't talking to her."
"See!” Hoshi points accusingly, “It’s the perfect cover for secret dating."
"Yeah, it would be," You crush a sopophorous bean dangerously close to Soonyoung's fingers and he yelps, pulling his hand away, "If only she didn't have that on again, off again thing with that sixth year, Seokmin."
"Oh."
"Yeah, oh ."
Soonyoung leaves for a moment to go grab more crushed beetles as you stir your potion absent-mindedly. Your eyes wander to Seungcheol, sitting two rows ahead, in his own bubble of a world with his friends.
Joshua is lounging in the chair next to him, as Jeonghan dangles dead flobberworms out of his nose, pretending they were bogies. Seungcheol’s the only one diligently stirring his potion.
Soonyoung appears back in front of you with a small vial of crushed beetles, shaking it in front of your face.
You pour it in, stirring counterclockwise as the potion turns a pretty lavender hue.
“Did you get anything of him when we were in Hogsmeade?”
Your mind flashes back to the accident inside Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. You shake your head, huffing, “No, nothing.”
Soonyoung purses his lips, “Was there no one who he seemed to spend more time with?”
You sigh, exasperated now, “Hoshi, unless Seungcheol is dating me , there was no one else.”
There’s a loud scoff from the other side of Hoshi. Tabitha’s stirring her potion, a look of disgust still on her face. "As if anyone would think you were dating Seungcheol,” she sneers.
Soonyoung and you share a look, electing to ignore her and continue on your potion. But Tabitha seemed to have other plans today.
"After all, why would Seungcheol want to date someone like you?" Your fingers clench around the ladle as you continue stirring. Two stirs clockwise, five stirs counter-clockwise.
"You're not much to look at–" You don’t want anyone to look at you. And certainly not Seungcheol for that matter.
Tabitha continues, “–you have no friends except for that half-wit," gesturing at Soonyoung. He puffs up a bit at that, ready to send a fiery retort back. You shake your head with a small don’t , and he deflates a little.
"–not to mention, I don't think he'd want damaged goods." You freeze, ladle paused on your fourth and a half counterclockwise stir.
Soonyoung sucks in a breath, and Tabitha’s friend gasps. There’s a buzzing in your ears as your mind goes blank.
They say hindsight's 20-20. You’ll look back on this not being your brightest moment, nor your proudest.
"And what if I was?"
"What?" asks Tabitha, confusion on her face now.
" And what if I was? " you grit out again. Your ladle’s been abandoned in its cauldron. Hands on your hips and you fully face Tabitha.
Tabitha lets out a laugh as if she can’t believe you, “Was what?”
"Dating Seungcheol" You sound petulant, like a child, but you don’t care. A myriad of hexes danced on the tip of your tongue. You don’t even remember picking up your wand. Soonyoung watches, mouth agape and head turning quickly between you two like he’s spectating a quidditch match.
"Fat chance." Tabitha spits out, voice laced with venom.
"Well, I am," you snap. At this point you have some of the forethought to whisper, hissing quietly, " I’m Seungcheol's girlfriend."
Soonyoung, however, did not receive the memo, losing all sense of decorum. He shrieks, louder than Moaning Myrtle, his voice echoing through the classroom, "You're dating Seungcheol?"
Time stops for a moment as a blanket of silence falls over the classroom. All the students had stopped talking, and all you could hear was the quiet bubbling of the cauldrons.
Then there’s an uproar as chattering breaks out amongst the students.
Your eyes widen at the realisation of what you'd just said, whipping past Soonyoungs to connect with two equally wide dark brown ones at the front of the classroom.
Soonyoungs hands fly to cover his mouth, surprising even himself for reaching such a high decibel.
He goes to shove your shoulder lightly, as if to ask mate, what the f*ck? , and you lose your balance a bit, knocking into the table. It happens faster than either of you two could react. The cauldron wobbles before tipping over and spilling itself all over the table and onto your arm.
You yelp as the lavender potion bubbles over your robe sleeves, seeping through the fabric and onto your skin. Squeezing your eyes, you cry out. The pain’s searing as the unfinished potion burns through the top layer of your skin.
Soonyoung starts panicking. "Augmenti! Augmenti!" he wails, but the water spurts out of his wand in all directions but onto you. Tears gather in your eyes as you start to see white, and you can feel your head beginning to pound as the pain takes over.
Suddenly, someone is guiding you. Two firm hands lead you around the table and out of the classroom, one on your back, and the other helping to hold your arm up. You let yourself be blindly led down the corridor as tears stream down your face, letting out sobs as the pain in your arm increases.
Your unknown saviour gently pushes you along, all the way to the infirmary.
They sit you down on what you assume is one of the hospital beds as Madam Pomfrey rushes over, immediately fussing over your injury. She conjures up a salve for the burn and forces a tonic down your throat for the pain, or your nerves, you weren’t sure.
Soon after, the pain starts to dull and the tears begin to slow. You hiccup from the crying, slowly rocking in your seat.
Feeling better, you turn to thank your classmate, who you were clearly traumatising and would probably never be able to face ever again, only to be met with the worried doe eyes of Seungcheol Choi. You don’t know why, but it makes you crumble and your eyes start to well with tears again, lower lip trembling intensely and threatening to let out a low pitched wail.
Seungcheol falters. "Hey, hey, it's okay, you're okay," he reassures you with the softest voice you'd ever heard him use. "Does it still hurt? I can go get more salve from Madam Promferey." He made to get up, but you shook your head vigorously, not wanting an audience for what was seemingly going to be your downfall.
He seems to hesitate for a moment before asking, carefully, "Is it maybe what Soonyoung was yelling about? Before the accident?" This only sets off your waterworks once more, and you start blubbering.
"I don't know why, o-or how. It just came out. I swear, I didn't mean–oh merlin, if I could take it back–don't know what I was thinking–" You start to hyperventilate, your chest heaving up and down, breathing becoming ragged.
"Hey! Hey, it's alright," He was rubbing your back now, in a soothingly slow up-and-down motion. You'd almost forgotten his hand was even there. "I'm not mad. I promise I'm not mad."
Seungcheol was too nice. Much too kind. It only made you cry harder though. What were you thinking?! Telling Tabitha you were dating Seungcheol. Merlin, where did that even come from? If you weren't absolutely positive Seungcheol was not currently dating anyone, you'd feel doubly dreadful about what you'd done.
Rumours spread like wildfire in this godforsaken school.
You hear the class bell go off and your stomach drops. There was no stopping it now. Your classmates would move on to their next class, and a few minutes of passing time would be all it takes for everyone else to find out what had happened. You know Seungcheol knows this, yet here he was, still being so sweet to you.
Maybe it’s because he knew. Knew that when you'd eventually have to reveal the truth, you wouldn’t be able to even lift your head at this school for the rest of the year.
Your lower lip still trembles, but you’d reduced your blubbering to just quiet sniffles now. You take this moment to glance at Seungcheol, who’s still rubbing softly at your back. It was surprisingly soothing. Any other time, it would've made you flinch, moving as far away from him as possible. Worry fills Seungcheol's big brown eyes, his eyebrows intensely furrowed.
"I'm sorry," you whisper. Seungcheol begins to pat softly at your back, like he’s calming a baby, and he pauses for a moment.
"Hmm, what’s that?"
You cast your eyes away before saying with a hiccup, "I-I'm sorry." You use your good arm to wipe away at your runny nose and your tear-streaked face.
He hums, thumb softly stroking you.
"What if–," Seungcheol takes a deep breath, as if what he was about to say was the most important thing you'd ever hear.
“What if,” He starts again, ”I had a mutually beneficial proposition?"
You whip your head to face him, furrowing your brows in confusion.
Seungcheol takes another deep breath, as if bracing himself. "Look, you're a reasonable girl, I'm a reasonable guy. You look like maybe you need some downtime from the Whistler, and I would love it if my, ah . . . admirers, would get off my back for two seconds so I could focus on what really matters."
"What really matters?" You shook your head in disbelief, eyes widening, "And how do you know about–"
"Quidditch," Seungcheol cuts you off, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. "Also, you and Soonyoung are not nearly as subtle or discreet as you guys think you are," he says with a small knowing smile. A faint dimple creased his cheek.
He runs his free hand through his hair, "Look, I need to focus on school this year, you understand that better than anyone." You did. After all, the two of you were of the few in your year who were taking all 12 N.E.W.T.s.
The only problem is, Seungcheol is starting to sound a lot like Soonyoung before one of his schemey schemes.
You narrow your eyes at Seunghceol, the same way you would if you were with Soonyoung, "What exactly is this proposition of yours?"
Seungcheol clears his throat before revealing his earth-shattering proposition.
"Let's date."
