Chapter Text
"You did not."
The words come out whispered, a reflex after years of getting shushed by the all-seeing librarian, though that doesn't do much to quell the intensity of his voice. Sanha's moved back from where he sat across Minhyuk, ducking his too large body under the book littered table. Good idea, because Minhyuk is just resisting the urge to pull his wand from where it rests inside his robes. Sanha's eyes peek out over the tabletop, looking slightly apologetic behind the fear.
"It was an accident, Hyung. I swear!" Sanha's voice is split between a whisper and a squeak.
Minhyuk stares at him for a moment. Then his head is dropped onto a textbook, with a groan rumbling deep in his chest. He hears an irritated shushing across the floor, but he can't find the will to care.
How could their plan go so wrong?
A muffled sound of wood on cloth means that Sanha's probably gotten back into his chair. Minhyuk can't be sure; he's currently face first in the gold lettering of an astrology textbook.
When he does lift his head, expression hiding none of the displeasure he feels, he can see that Sanha has, in fact, gotten the bravery to sit back in his seat. Though, when their eyes meet, it looks like Sanha's prepared to bolt at the slightest movement. That's probably why Minhyuk has the red-striped scarf and Sanha's beams a bright, daisy yellow.
"You know Bin Hyung," Sanha looks like he's pouting. "He's got stashes of snacks everywhere. I just put it in the nearest bag of sweets. How was I supposed to know they were yours?"
In retrospect, Rocky does remember his toffee being a bit sweeter than he was used to. At the time, he wondered if Honeydukes had changed their recipie; it'd been a while since he'd last gone to buy some sweets. He still finished the bag—as if he'd waste perfectly good food.
Maybe he should've been a little more wary.
Or maybe Sanha should've been a little more observant.
It's not like the three of them had gone to Hogsmeade together or anything, buying all of their snacks at once, with Bin's arms almost overflowing with how much candy he'd bought.
Yet the potion still managed to get into his single bag.
Minhyuk's eyes scan the room. His back is to the wall, and the bookshelves are so high and dense; no random passerby could see them. His leg is shaking anxiously, a brisk sigh leaving his lips.
"Just, let me see the bottle."
Sanha does the same sort of glance over the room. His eyes are wide and his movements are totally suspicious, but they've chosen a spot so secluded, no one would notice anyways. His hand slides into his robes, pulling out a small glass bottle and sliding it over the table.
The container is small enough to fit in Minhyuk's palm. If he closes his hand into a fist, it disappears almost entirely. The glass is stained a dark red; the liquid inside barely visible as it sloshes around. It looks innocent enough, if not fairly ridiculous. The frilly lace that lines the neck of the bottle perfectly complements the glitter in the glass to create a real marketing atrocity.
Who knew such a tiny thing could cause so much trouble.
Minhyuk's eyes scan the label, focusing over the absentminded tapping of Sanha across him. He gets to the fine print, squinting to read the minuscule type on the bottle.
"Harmless and tasteless, this concoction lasts up to one week. Side effects include, but are not limited to: increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, and dry mouth. Guaranteed to get that confession off your chest or-"
"That's great!" Sanha's shout cuts Minhyuk off, hand moving to cover his mouth when another—angrier—shushing comes from the front of the room. He repeats himself in a stage whisper, hands cupping the front of his mouth.
Minhyuk's eyes scrunch up, incredulous. "How is that great?"
"It said harmless, right?" One hand reaches over; Minhyuk hands him the bottle. Sanha's eyes double and triple check the words.
"I don't know, Sanha. It's got a few side effects, and we don't know-"
"Relax, Hyung." Sanha's voice is calm, for once. "I know love potions are supposed to be dangerous and all, but I know you'll be fine."
It's not a love potion.
Technically.
Those are against school rules and could definitely get the two of them in some real trouble.
No, this is supposed to be somewhere between a 'like' potion and a truth serum. Enhancing current feelings and making the need to speak them almost unbearable. Used to give a little push and help you confess to your crush (or get your dumb friend to finally stop pining already).
That was the plan anyways.
"Besides," Sanha continues. "It won't work if you don't like anyone." The younger reaches across the table to shove at Minhyuk's shoulder, his smile taking on a teasing feel. "And you're not interested in anyone, right?"
Minhyuk scoffs on reflex, but the sound dies in his throat at the dull pain in his chest.
A memory is brought up, sudden and vivid in his head.
A cold night, coming back to the castle from Hogsmeade. His friends fueled on butterbeer and one too many chocolate frogs, practically sprinting through the streets. A warm hand takes hold of his wrist, inviting and wonderfully comforting in the dark and cold. Minhyuk is on a bit of a high himself, feeling light and airy after a reckless day with his closest friends. Maybe that's what causes him to slip his wrist from the other's grip and swing an arm around his shoulder, holding him from behind in what may be the world's most comfortable position.
"You're gonna freeze to death you know, and I may be a great wizard, but even I can't bring your stupid body back to life when you die of hypothermia."
His reply is confident, only vocalized thanks to the dizzy feeling in his head. "You'll just have to keep we warm then."
Minhyuk rests his head on top of the other's, hair soft under his chin. His response is a laugh, loud and bright and more than enough to warm Minhyuk to the very core.
That doesn't stop the other from wrapping a scarf around his neck. Minhyuk had forgotten his own back in the dorms, but maybe that was a good thing. His scarf couldn't possibly be as warm as this one. It's fabric didn't have a lingering smell of green tea when he took a breath. It wasn't the same brilliant yellow; just like sunshine, just like the person who gave it to him.
"Hyung?" Sanha's hand is on his shoulder again, shaking lightly. "You spaced out for a second. Are you okay?"
No, not okay whatsoever.
"Yeah," Minhyuk says instead, speaking past the tightening of his chest.
He takes a deep breath, forcing an effortless smile onto his face. It may be the shock of realization or the influence of truth serum, but his tongue lies heavy between gritted teeth when he speaks.
"You're right, Sanha. I've got nothing to worry about."