Chapter Text
Jonathan almost always had his head in a book, maybe that’s why it took so long for him to notice Sherwin. In fact he might not have noticed Sherwin if not for a jinx put on the redhead by his best friend. It was a fairly simple charm, a manipulation of the tracing charm in which the jinxed individual’s wand was drawn to the person they most desired. Sean had made it for Valentine’s Day and caused chaos in Hogwarts as people used the curse on crushes, friends, and family. Sherwin had been the first unfortunate guinea pig and that had sent him flying into Jonathan’s lap when no one knew why the pale Hufflepuff seemingly jumped right into the seeker of Ravenclaw’s lap. That was the first time Jonathan got a good look at the redhead, from his ginger curls, pale skin and numerous freckles dotting his cheeks over a bright pink blush. Leaves were sticking out in disarray from his hair and even the back of his robes, dirt was smeared on his nose. Jonathan had stared in shock as Sherwin stuttered out something unintelligible and tried sprinting off so quick it was like his shoes were enchanted. Unfortunately the curse was still very much in tact sending Sherwin flying back into Jonathan with a sharp gasp. Jonathan still remembered it clearly, his book was crushed in between them and Sherwin was so small, slight and skinny, he had never even thought about being with another boy before but something about Sherwin’s bright brown eyes and pink cheeks made him feel flustered, warm and a little uncomfortable as other third years stared at the pair as they tried to untangle themselves.
“I-i’m so sorry! My dumb friend d-did this o-oh Merlin!” Sherwin stuttered in distress before yanking his wand back with a sharp, “Finite Incantatem!”.
Jonathan blinked at him with his mouth parted in surprise, finally Sherwin was able to get off of Jonathan and caught sight of everyone who was taking the bizarre scene in. The redhead went rigid like a deer caught in headlights before taking off running, this time successfully as Sean’s little jinx was broken. For a few moments he sat there dumbstruck before his friend Jean sauntered over having witnessed the whole thing. “So are you going to go after him?”
“Huh?” Jonathan said dumbly, looking from Jean back to where Sherwin had run off to.
Jean sighed and sat down next to his friend with a small smile, “You like him right?”
Jonathan blushed and frowned as he looked down at his hands, “I’ve never…. I’ve never liked a boy before. I'm not… gay- Not that it's a bad thing of course!” He held up his hands to reassure Jean who made no move to comment yet, “I just… I felt the same way about Katie in first year that I feel about him… but he’s a boy…”
Jean looked up at his friend, “Does it matter though? You don’t have to label anything yet, just do what your heart wants, you can figure it all out later. Now go on loverboy go find him!”
Jonathan smiled and nodded, “Thanks Jean.” He stood up and dusted off his robe, “Wait… I don’t even know his name.”
“Sherwin. His name is Sherwin! Go get him!” Jean smiled and shooed him away, ignoring Jonathan’s confused look as he went away. Sean grinned and settled down where Jonathan had just left, cuddling up with his boyfriend; “I can’t wait for them to get together!”
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Jonathan had found Sherwin huddled in the abandoned Astronomy tower, nibbling on a bit of chocolate and still a distressed shade of red. “Hey, Sherwin right?” Sherwin’s hazel eyes widened and he brought his hands closer to his chest, curling up and protecting himself. Jonathan smiled and sat next to the anxious Hufflepuff, “I’m Jonathan.”
“I-i know” Sherwin murmured before looking at Jonathan from the corner of his eyes with a hesitant smile.
Now Jonathan was smiling over the edge of his book, reminiscing as he watched Sherwin biting the end of his quill, running it over his lips and squinting at his parchment. Herbology was always one of those subjects the redhead didn’t quite understand. Slowly, carefully, Sherwin lifted his gaze off the paper, almost as though he was scared to be caught looking at his boyfriend. Hazel met cerulean and dropped down to his textbook in an guilty rush. Jonathan smiled gently and chuckled slightly at Sherwin’s bright red cheeks as he pretended to be engrossed in his Herbology essay.
“You’re cute.” Jonathan murmured under his breath as he turned the page of his book, smiling at the sharp intake of breath from the boy across from him. To Jonathan everything Sherwin did was adorable, kind of like a cat, a cat with soft ginger curls and big brown eyes.
“Jonathan…” Sherwin muttered in embarrassment, tugging at his sleeves. With a tiny hum of acknowledgement the blue eyed boy closed his book, keeping his place with his index finger as he gave his favorite redhead his full attention. Seeing he had his full attention, Sherwin smiled sheepishly, “T-tomorrow is our first Hogsmeade weekend…”
Jonathan smiled and nodded, encouraging him, he wanted the other boy to become comfortable asking for things from him, hoping that one day Sherwin would feel comfortable in their relationship and his place in Jonathan’s heart.
Sherwin rubbed and picked at the skin around his nails absently, “W-would you like to go with me?”
“Of course, what else would I do?” Jonathan reached out and intertwined Sherwin’s busy fingers with his own.
“I-uh I thought you might have wanted to read or study…” Sherwin stared down at their entwined fingers noticing the differences between them, Jonathan’s hands were soft and tan and perfect, his own were freckled and pale, the skin picked at and torn.
“I could study and read any day, but going on our first official Hogsmeade date is much more important.” Jonathan stood up and let his fingers pass over the top of Sherwin’s head, tangling the ginger curls he loved. “I have to go to Potions with the Slytherins. I’ll meet you here tomorrow to go to Hogsmeade together alright is 12 ok?” Sherwin nodded and turned a dark red as Jonathan dropped a kiss to the top of his head in goodbye before walking away, reopening his book.