Chapter Text
Simon
“I can’t believe he’s done this!” I exclaim, stepping out of my Political Science classroom. I must look like I’m off my nut.
“Is it really that much of a surprise?”
“Penny!” Baz is laughing with Dev and Niall a few paces behind where we’re walking in the corridor. I’ve still got my hand cradled against me, slightly throbbing.
“What? You kind of deserved it, Si. You did look through his personal things.”
“He was up to something! It was a legitimate search!” Penny scoffs, and I feel like a child again, being scolded by Miss Possibelf for trying to justify a spat with Baz.
It was legitimate. For the past week he’s been going everywhere with that notebook of his, tucked up under his arm, scrawling on it in class and in our room when I’m not there. He tucks it away anytime I walk through the door, acting as if he hadn’t just been plotting. I know that’s what he’s been doing; plotting.
He’d was doing it again today in Political Science. Baz sat at the front of class with it on the desk, bent all over it like he had something to hide. Then he got up to use the lavatory and left it out in the open, closed on his desk. It was the perfect opportunity to steal a look at what was inside, reveal all of his dark secrets and plots against me and the Mage. No one noticed when I went up to the front of the class to peek a look inside, they did, however, notice when it snapped open and clamped down on my hand like a rabid dog.
“FUCK!” I snatched my hand away, sending the book flying across the class, landing at the feet of Baz, standing cooley in the doorway of the classroom.
“I thought you knew better than to rifle through things that don’t belong to you, Snow.” Baz commented, the nastiest smirk etched on his face, “What did you think you’d find in my notebook anyway? Plans to bring your downfall?” A hush fell over the room. No classmate has dared get between the catastrophe that is Baz and I fighting, and they weren’t going to start now.
He gracelessly picked up the notebook from the ground, dusting it off as he walked to where I stood by his desk. “Don’t worry, I only plot when I have multicolored chalk and a black board.” He flicked open the book showing me neatly annotated pages of sheet music, probably for his violin. I felt myself blush. “That’ll teach you not to meddle in my personal belongings.” He sneered so lowly only I could hear it.
I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, waiting for me to say something, do something. I looked at Penny, she didn’t even blink, just looked fed up with the whole situation. I guess she should be, I know it drives her a bit nutty when I do stuff like this, (but she knows this is what I do!).
The pain in my hand was building to a slow throbbing. It looked well chomped on and blotchy red. Baz surveyed my hurt hand, smirking even more, (I wonder if he finds it appetizing, all the blood in my hand).
It was quite embarrassing, I was fuming through the rest of class while he continued to mock me. He even admitted to having planned it, (so it was a plot!), knowing I would search his things if he acted like he was hiding something.
“It was all quite easy,” He bragged to Dev and Niall, “he’s always suspecting I’m conspiring against him. After all, why not make a little fun out of a nuisance.” He glanced back at me when he said it. I could tell my magic was building again, I felt hot energy pulse through my body, mostly from embarrassment. It’s a thought I’ve had myself, wondering if I’m more bothersome than I am helpful to the World of Mages. Somehow it hurt more hearing Baz say it.
I didn’t have the patience to stop the slow build of magic as my agitation with him grew. He’s such a prick. I only composed myself when Penny laid a soft hand on my forearm.
“Come on, Simon, It’s no use. Let’s get back to work, yeah?”
Thinking about it again makes my blood boil. Baz is still laughing behind us when we enter the dining hall for lunch. We all separate at the door, following the paths to our regular dining tables across the hall.
I make a beeline for the food as soon as I’ve dropped my books at the table. We’re having roast beef butty’s and I feel like I could eat at least three with the anger simmering inside of me. My appetite always grows the more worked up I am.
Agatha always found it a wonder I didn’t gain 5 kilos just through a day's worth of eating. If I’m being honest, I find it a wonder myself.
I take a seat across from Penny and put a bite of sandwich in my mouth, “We need to get back at Baz for what he did.”
“I’d rather not.” Penny says simply. She watches as I stop mid-chew, and some roast beef falls from my sandwich. I pick it off the table and plop it in my mouth.
“What? Penny, why not?”
“There’s no we. I don’t want to be part of your petty feud with Basilton, not when there’s an exam next class.”
“We have an exam next class?” I shriek, Baz shifts his focus my way from the table over, smirking. I flip him off and Penny rolls her eyes.
“Yes, so I’m not going to get involved.”
“Please Pen? He’s driving me mad.”
“You’re driving me a little bit mad, Simon. This is stupid. Do you even have a plan to get back at him?”
“Well, no.” I say scratching the back of my neck, sheepishly, “I thought you would help me with that part.” It’s not a question but it comes off sounding that way, and I know she’s trying to find a way to tell me no.
“No.” She’s never really had a problem telling me no. “You can figure something out on your own. Empty out his shampoo bottles, spell one sock missing, poke fun at him for being a vampire for all I care, I just don’t want to be involved.” The gears are already turning in my head. He would be absolutely furious if I did anything concerning his vampirism, (he already gets stropy about it whenever it’s brought up), (it’s usually me bringing it up), (okay it’s only me who brings it up).
“Penny that's a great idea!” I say, practically leaping from my seat. I feel adrenaline coursing through me at the new plan already forming in my head.
“Splendid, now I’d really like to eat one meal without the topic of Baz coming up, so may we move on, please?”
“Fine, but I need your help with a spell first.”
—————
I make Penny Carbon Copy my cross more than a few times after we finish lunch. Penny thought I was being ridiculous, and that I certainly didn’t need as many as I asked her for;
“Simon, this is too many, you don’t need ten crosses!”
I thought ten was about right, except Carbon Copy can be a tiring spell if it's done more than a few times. She stopped after six, convincing me that it would be more than enough. I would have done it myself, but my track record with the spell hasn’t exactly been clean:
Our professors are required to combine informative lessons on magickal creatures into regular curriculum for the first four years of school. We have creature lessons as a separate class but it isn’t mandatory. I’m almost positive the Mage created the combined lessons for my benefit.
Most of what we were taught was the dangers of the beings, their weaknesses, and how to kill them.
Spent quite a bit of time on Goblins, we did. Probably because they’ve wanted my head roasted on a spit forever. It wasn’t our worst lesson, they’re quite nice to look at if you get past all the green (even then, it isn’t that bad), (they’re fairly fit).
We were doing a combined lesson about Imps. They’re generally harmless beings; small, fragile looking, and bony. They enjoy drawing attention to themselves through pranks and practical jokes. However, my class found they can cause damage in larger numbers, the hard way. Especially if not contained.
I should have known trying any magick in this lesson would have been a disaster, even so, I was excited and the Imp I was studying was making me laugh. I let her out of the cage and tried the spell.
My magick went haywire to no one's surprise, and I accidentally Carbon Copied 30 of them. I thought Miss Possibelf was going to spell me through hells’ seven gates.
They were tearing up the whole classroom; yanking on the hair of classmates, spelling us mute, it was complete chaos. Most escaped before Miss Possibelf did any real damage. She was able to Freeze! them, (not to be mistaken with Freeze, which spells the thing or person into ice), (it’s all about the tone of how it’s said).
I’ve refused to do the spell since. I don't want a repeat of that day no matter the object.
Thinking back on it now, it was probably more than a little unethical to be practicing magick on other magickal creatures...
I quickly drop off the crosses in the room and slide them under the covers of my bedding, I’ll come back and put them up later.
I’m not one hundred percent sure how crosses will affect him, however I know it will annoy him if anything else. After that stunt he’s pulled, I just want to get under his skin.
I race back down the steps of mummers from our room and run off to Greek. I barely make it in time, sliding into my seat, turning to look for Baz. He’s already looking my way, sneering. He’s going to pay soon enough.
—————
The crosses didn’t work out as well as I thought they would.
I hung them on the walls of our room after class and waited for him to come back from his violin practice. When he stepped into the room and saw the crosses on the walls he didn’t even flinch, just raised one perfect eyebrow at me and spelled them upside down.
I think that pretty much confirms he’s a dark creature, or maybe a satanist.
I’m not sure which is worse.
He set down his belongings and left the room again like he always does, most likely to hunt, and didn’t come back till after I was asleep. The crosses were gone when I awoke.
“Why did you get rid of them? Hurt your senses too much?” I was more than a little put out to have them all gone, luckily the one I wore wasn’t. He must have forgotten about it. I grabbed at where it hung on my chest and rubbed it staring at Baz’s back. Baz was grabbing his clothes for the day, I sat up on my own bed, waiting for his response.
“Thank you for your concern, Snow, but your decoration skills are atrocious. I couldn’t stand to leave our room looking like it was put together by a blind, catholic child.” The side of his mouth lifted and he peered over at me, “Although.. I guess I’m not too far off with that description am I?” He chuckled and I growled. I jumped into the en-suite before he could, just to spite him.
I’ll have to do something more drastic next time.
The “more drastic thing” I decided to do was another vampire joke. One I thought would surely leave him irritated, unfortunately that plan also fell through.
The next week I was able to sneak into the kitchens and find a couple cloves of garlic. I truly had no idea what to do with it except maybe rub it on his pillow? It failed quite miserably. I more or less left it on his bed because there was no way for me to get close enough to him to spike his food, and he doesn’t touch the food on my side of the room because he thinks I’ve “contaminated it.” He’s told me he doesn’t trust that I properly wash my hands. It’s bollocks, of course I know how to wash my hands.
When he found the garlic cloves he looked thoroughly unimpressed. “Snow?” He asked, picking up the garlic and examining it, “Forget something?” He threw it in the bin and spelled his sheets clean. It was a pretty useless plan in the first place.
I was beyond frustrated now, he kept deflecting all my plans and I was getting sick of it. Is it too much to ask to make your arch nemesis blindingly furious? I almost wish it were fifth year again where he wouldn’t give me the time of day and leave me alone. No, fuck fifth year. He was the worst I’ve seen him, stealing Philippa’s voice when he was clearly trying to take mine (the worst thing that can be done to a mage), and he sent the Chimera on me. I don't want fifth year Baz back, but it’s been painful interacting with him now, more so than normal.
It’s not long before I’m fed up with him again, He kept snapping at me all throughout elocution. I had to leave before I “blew up the school” as Baz so kindly put it. The period was almost over anyway so I returned back to mummers.
I go straight to the loo to take a piss and a shower to wash away the smell of smoke. The smell has never gone away even if I shower but it's worth a try.
By the time I’m done, the bathroom is filled with steam. I wrap a towel around my waist, step out from the tub and stand in front of the mirror looking at my foggy reflection. I draw a smiley face in the fog and stare at it.
I quickly walk out from the en-suite and go searching for a pen. I don't find one on my own desk so I take one of Baz’s and go back to the mirror.
I sketch a vampire that closely resembles Baz (because he looks like the poster model version of a Vampire), (If someone were to ask for a reference of a stereotypical vampire, Baz would be the candidate). Grinning to myself, I put the cap back on the pen and walked back into the room to place it on his desk.
I didn’t think or plan enough (I didn’t plan at all actually), so I hardly notice when Baz comes bounding into the room right as I set it down. I turn quickly, eyes wide, watching him where he’s stopped in the doorway staring at me, more specifically my very naked chest and embarrassingly small towel. His eyes snap up to mine. He clears his throat and walks to his bed looking away from me. “Put on some clothes please, Snow, no one wants to see that before dinner.” My face flushes unpleasantly and I grab my clothes, quickly shuffling into the loo.
I feel foolish looking at the drawing on the mirror. I’m not sure it was worth it for that awkward interaction.
Only a couple of times have we had run-ins and seen more of each other then we wanted. We’ve both made efforts over the years to steer clear from situations like that one, it feels less weird to change in private. It’s not like he hasn’t seen my chest before, but the towel makes it worse. I was still dripping shower water on the floor and really, my towel is much too small for my comfort. Or Baz’s, probably.
I come back into the room appropriately dressed and make a beeline for my desk to start homework. Baz gets up off his bed after I’ve sat down and walks into the loo without a glance my way. I hear a huff from the en-suite and turn around in my chair. Baz’s head pops out a few seconds later looking for me.
“Why is there a drawing of a Vampire on our shared mirror?” Baz asks, narrowing his eyes at me.
“I felt bad you aren’t able to see your reflection, so I thought I’d draw a sketch so you’d know what you look like.” I smile and lean back in my chair. He rolls his eyes and leans against the doorframe.
“Of course I can see my reflection, Snow, that’s idiotic. And I’m afraid it's a little inaccurate. I’m much more fit than that doodle of yours.”
“Pompous git.”
“Ooh I’m surprised you know what that word is, and how to use it, how impressive.” He’s smirking again and I feel ready to knock his perfect teeth out.
I throw my pencil at him as he disappears back into the loo, shutting the door.
This time I think I know how to get on his nerves.
—————
Penny and I are standing in the middle of Baz’s and I’s room, standing on his side specifically (He’d be furious if he found out). Baz is at the pitch for football practice so I know he won’t be back for the next hour. I’ve watched him enough to know his schedule like the back of my hand.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday (sometimes Saturday’s when there’s a match) he has football. Tuesday and Thursday are reserved for violin, and he’ll tend to dick around with Dev and Niall over the weekends.
Pen and Ags think I’m overly obsessive, I think I’m just being cautious. He might slip up and show his fangs, or admit he’s been plotting. He hasn’t yet, but I’m convinced one of these days he will, and I’ll be there to catch him.
“I can’t believe you’re making me do this, Simon. He’ll know it’s you who did it.”
“It’s actually you who’s doing the spell casting, I’m innocent.”
“Well it won’t look that way to Baz and you’re hardly innocent, it is your idea.”
“It’s a bloody good idea, isn't it?” I turn to her grinning. A small smile creeps onto her features.
“Okay, but you’re practically guaranteeing a fight to happen, it hasn’t even been a week since your last prank.” She reminds me.
“It failed with no damage to Baz, it hardly counts as a real prank.” I resort back, “Come, let’s get on with it.” I say tugging on her arm and bringing us into the en-suite.
We both stand in front of the mirror, me grinning, Penny looking unimpressed.
“Won’t it bother you that you might not see yourself too? I’m not sure how the spell will manifest itself.”
“I’ll be fine, I never use the mirror anyway.” It’s true, Baz ridicules me for it any chance he gets.
“Ever thought to fix that mess of a rats nest atop your head, Snow? Or do you prefer your hair to look like an appealing home to rabid woodland creatures?”
“You would know wouldn’t you? Raid a nest of rats recently?” I shot back, he just sneered.
“I thought you believed he couldn’t see his own reflection?”
“With the amount of time he spends in the loo each morning there’s no way he doesn’t see his reflection. Plus I’ve caught him fixing his hair in the reflection of the window during class. Window and mirror reflections are similar enough.” Penny gives me a quizziling look but plows on.
“Well let’s get it done now, I need to get back to studying.” I nod my head along with her words. I can’t wait to see Baz’s reaction. I’ll finally have properly gotten him back for the prank he pulled on me. “Ready, Simon?”
“Let’s do it.”
“Mirrors show all, but reflect none!”
Nothing happens, at least I don’t think so. I can still see Penny and I standing in the mirror looking at ourselves. It must have been defective.
“Should we try again?” I ask, “Maybe you didn’t do it right.”
“It’s an old spell, Simon. It certainly wasn’t me. I found it in a thick book covered in dust at the back of the library. Hadn’t been touched in years, I reckon. It’s probably outdated.”
“Do you know any other spells?” I’m trying to hold out hope but I know Pen needs to leave, Baz will be back soon.
“No, I’m sorry, Simon.” I slump back against the sink counter giving Penny a look that probably says ‘well at least we tried’. I know she can tell how dejected I feel. “Look, I’ve really gotta go now before Baz gets back, try something else, yeah?” I nod and thank her for trying anyway.
I don’t bother following Penny out the door to see how she gets into the Mummers, instead, I plop myself down onto my bed trying to think of something else I can do. I guess that sock idea is my best bet, but I don’t feel like going through the hassle of finding a spell for it, or trying to get my magick to work. Plus, if Penny is going to study, so should I.
I move from my bed to my desk and force myself to start working.
—————
I’m still at my desk surrounded by prep papers when Baz comes back from the pitch. I’ve been staring out the window for a good few minutes now, watching the soft light filter through the window, filling the room with an orange glow.
I look over my shoulder as he closes the door of the room behind him. He opens his closet, stuffing his football gear inside. His ponytail is missing a few strands of hair, and the extra stands hang in soft curls around his flushed face. The autumn glow of the sun almost makes him look human.
It must have been a rough practice today, he hardly puts his hair up unless he’s working particularly hard. He generally seems to favor using headbands when he plays, but it’s a sight to see when he pulls his hair up, that’s when you know he’s getting serious, when he needs to win the most.
There was this one day in late August when we were getting our arses handed to us during a match. Three blokes were pulled off for nasty injuries, most of them our best players, except for Baz. Everyone in the stands thought we were done for, but there Baz was, on the pitch looking calmly across the field. In the midst of all our yelling from the stands, he simply stood still, pulled up his hair by the back of his neck and it was like a switch went off.
They started again and he was a new man. I was surprised he didn’t tap into that inhuman strength I know he has, but he hadn’t. He just played more ferociously. He’s always clever when he’s playing but it was like he knew where the ball would be before the other team knew themselves. He was brilliant. The other team lost by a goal.
I turn around now before I get caught looking. The stupid tosser even looks good sweating after a two hour practice.
He pads softly into the toilet and closes the door behind him. I hold my breath. I don’t know if the spell has worked or not but I’m guessing I’ll find out soon.
“Snow.” I hear a muffled voice from behind the en-suite door. Baz opens it and steps out, looking annoyed as ever, “Keep your rubbish with you next time.” He tosses my wand at me, I must have forgotten it when I was in there earlier with Penny. Before I can open my mouth, he disappears behind the door. It must have not worked then.
“What a load of rubbish.” I scrub my free hand across my face and lean back in my chair. I don’t particularly feel like finishing my assignment so I leave it all there and let myself leave the desk behind and lay on the bed.
I can hear the first spurts of water hit the bath floor from our hackneyed shower. Baz must be washing up then. He always showers in the mornings while I shower at night, but he looked like he needed it after that practice so I let it go.
I sigh and climb under the covers, dropping my wand on the small bedside table at the head of my bed. I feel knackered and disappointed. I really did think the spell would work. I guess I can always try again tomorrow morning if worse comes to worse.
I listen to the steady pound of water from the en-suite and fall asleep to the smell of Baz’s cedar and bergamot shampoo wafting through the room.
—————
It’s pitch black in the room except for the faint glow of the moon through the closed window. Baz must have closed it after I fell asleep. For some reason it’s this fact that makes my insides simmer and wide awake. He couldn’t let me get my way once?
I’m sitting up in an instant staring at the back of Baz’s head. I want to throttle him, throw him a couple of punches just because I can and because for some reason the closed window was the last straw.
None of my plans in the last two weeks have worked. I’ve failed getting a rise out of him and he’s as smug as ever. I’ve been aching to get my hands on him and put him in his place, but apparently that will never happen.
“You’re a prick.” I whisper at his sleeping figure. I’m glad he isn’t awake and seeing this, me sitting on the edge of my bed, feet placed on the cool hardwood floor while I stare daggers at his back. It’s the dead of night and here I am talking to my sleeping enemy. Yes, I’m quite glad he isn’t seeing this right now.
“You’re a prick,” I repeat, “and an arsehole, and I don’t understand why that damned spell wouldn’t work.” I go and open the window, it feels too stuffy inside the room and it only seems to be growing in temperature. I realize later than I should that it’s my magick heating the room. I feel it ripping at my insides and settling deep in my stomach. “That spell should have worked and your reflection shouldn’t be there. Your reflection should be gone.”
I go still, the heat in my stomach calms to a low rumble and my magick bubbles under my skin. I breathe out, this happens more often than I’d like to admit. Where I lose just enough control that my magick pushes through to my words. It doesn't necessarily go anywhere but it’s a nuisance, gives me a good scare each time it happens.
I’m sitting back in my bed again, still looking at Baz. He hasn’t stirred yet so I don’t think my ramblings woke him. I take a couple of extra breaths and lay on the covers, It’s still too hot in the room.
The moon's light filters through the window and falls like a white shadow on Baz. He never sleeps with his shirt off but I’m sure the light would add to his silky complexion. He currently looks like porcelain in those posh pajamas of his, all plush and soft. It’s not a look I’m generally accustomed to when looking at him. It puts me at unease starting in my gut.
Apparently that’s where everything is harbored tonight. In the depths of my stomach. I’ve started to notice most of my feelings for Baz; agitation, anger, all tend to build and settle there. I don’t want to think about why.
—————
Baz
There’s rustling around the room behind me. Snow takes no precautions against my remaining threats when it comes to waking me while he stumbles off to breakfast like he’s half starved each morning. It’s no use really, he’ll never change.
I force myself to sit up in bed, taking my hands to my head to scrub the sleep from my eyes. I risk a glance to my left and watch Snow enter the lavatory. The sink turns on and I hear the scrubbing of his toothbrush though his mouth. He’s always obnoxiously noisy about it, probably to prove that he actually does it. He used to not.
It took my first two years at Watford in order to convince him, less convincing as much as consistent nagging, but at least it got him to brush his teeth before breakfast instead of after like he swore he did (he never did). Thank Merlin he’s outgrown that disgusting habit.
Refusing to brush your teeth is simply barbaric. (He’s not actually a messy person, he stays fairly clean, smells delicious more than half the time, but gods I refuse to be so desperately attracted to someone who doesn’t properly wash themselves).
We swap places now, Snow takes a seat on his own bed, grabbing his shoes for the day and readying himself to leave. I make my way into the loo. I turn to the mirror, hand on the door handle and about shit myself.
I’m not there.
I grab the sink to steady myself. I am not there. Did I disappear? No, no, Simon saw me on my bed and—I look to the side of me now—I have a shadow, I’m still here but— oh, oh.
I stare at the empty space where my figure should be then walk as calmly as I can back through the door. I’m just barely standing a step outside of the doorway, already turned towards Snow, “I’m going to fucking kill you.” He’s just finished tying his left shoe and now looks up to me, eyes wide, mouth open, then he bolts.