Archive of Our Own

Semi Eita wasn’t necessarily someone who judges based on the blood purity of any magical person. In fact, he’s been friends with half-bloods and muggle-borns throughout his stay in the castle of Hogwarts. Being sorted in Gryffindor, the sixth year ash-blond student was known for his hot-headedness — oftentimes landing him in detention with Tendou Satori, who is most likely the cause of his temper to go haywire. He appreciates Tendou but most of the time, the red-haired Ravenclaw keeps egging him on until his temper explodes. His other friends, usually an empathetic Gryffindor Ohira Reon and an analytical Slytherin Soekawa Jin — would be there to separate those two before Semi can deck Tendou. On times that they aren’t, it usually lands both of them in detention.

Seeing as how often he hangs out and gets into trouble with Tendou, who is very proud of his Half-blood status and his developing Seer abilities, Semi isn’t at all what people call a Pureblood elitist.

But Semi Eita has this belief. A stereotypical belief for a Pureblood, if he was to be honest. A belief that says: “If you’re not going to be involved with a Muggle, then you don’t have any reason to learn anything relating to Muggles.”

This belief was debunked when he started noticing some muggle objects used by a certain Muggle-born Slytherin whose sole purpose was to aggravate him on a daily basis ever since Tendou Satori has adopted them into their circle of friends.

1.

It started when their group of friends were in the library doing homework and studying for possible tests. Semi didn’t know who or what started this mini tradition, but he somehow has grown to at least visit the library by the end of the week to work on his homeworks, fool around with either Tendou or Hayato (granted they don’t get kicked out) and occasionally helping his juniors with their homework (except for a certain Slytherin).

Ushijima Wakatoshi, a Hufflepuff chaser of the same year Semi is in, was doing an advance reading on the next lecture in Herbology — a subject that was personally boring for Semi but has piqued the interest of the stoic Ushijima for some reason. Sitting adjacently was Kawanishi Taichi, a sleep deprived Ravenclaw fifth year student who was labeling a star map of Saturn from Astronomy class the night before. Semi often wonders if that was the reason why he looks like he needs a cup of the bitterest coffee ever known to man.

Sitting on Ushijima’s right side (and on Semi’s left side) was Goshiki Tsutomou, another Hufflepuff who is a junior as he was younger by two years, was diligently writing an essay on the advantages of Trans-species Transfiguration. Semi pretends he doesn’t see Goshiki stealing glances at the chaser of his own team. He does want to become Ushijima’s successor once he graduates. Sitting in front of him was Soekawa Jin, a Slytherin within the same year, who was currently having a friendly debate with Tendou Satori that sat beside him.

Sitting on the left side of Ushijima was a Gryffindor, Ohira Reon. The said Gryffindor was currently within the endless aisles of books, looking for books on dementors. Next to him was a sleeping Gryffindor, Yamagata Hayato, who was finishing his essay on the Giant Wars — until it became too boring and fell asleep midway. Semi hopes the inks on the essay wouldn’t smudge as Hayato has opted to use it as an impromptu pillow.

In front of Reon’s seat was Shirabu Kenjirou, a fifth year Slytherin who was rewriting his notes — which he does weekly, as he claims it helps him remember the materials they have learned throughout the week. Now he and Semi aren’t exactly friends — actually, Semi likes to think that they’re friends, except Shirabu has this ability to piss him off with just his mere words — which often leads them to bickering back and forth while their group of friends watches on the sideline. Their banter usually ends when someone from the group, usually Reon or Soekawa, pulls them apart before they get detention or worse, expelled.

It was a peaceful study session, with each of their friends studying their own respective lectures and homeworks.

Until Tendou had managed to piss Semi off. Again.

“I’m telling you, Eita-kun, I’m just saying that there should be more rules in Quidditch to avoid any more injuries.” Tendou waved his hand lazily as he leaned back on the chair.

“Just a little reminder that you caused half of my injuries and not all of them are from Quidditch!” Semi hissed while he gripped his quill, glaring at Tendou. “Besides, Madam Pomfrey has potions for all kinds of injuries ready.”

“But Madam Pomfrey has too much work all the time, surely she can’t just make these potions on the spot.”

“Satori, I am very aware that Madam Pomfrey is a human being. Which is why she has Yamaka Mika as a student-assistant nurse and Professor Takeda helping in making potions. Still! Quidditch players get injured all the time, it’s not like you can prevent accidents all the time.”

“Are you saying that players should play less aggressively? Then maybe you should follow your own suggestion, Eita-kun.” Semi knew Tendou was egging him on, and he knew Tendou pushed the right button. He also knew that if he stood up to strangle his lanky friend, he'd be losing the imaginary battle he had with Tendou Satori.

Don’t mind. Don’t mind. Don’t mind. Don’t mi—

His quill snapped into two, before anyone could even comprehend that small detail, Semi stood up to deck the Ravenclaw seer. “Why don’t I just punch you right now so we can see if Madam Pomfrey has a potion for your concussion?”

Luckily for everyone in the library, both Soekawa and Reon managed to separate the two sixth year students before anyone had to visit the Hospital Wing — with Reon manhandling Semi to sit in his chair, telling him both of them will be switching for the sake of not being kicked out of the library.

Semi deflated as soon as Reon took Semi’s bag and parchment to his new seat before looking at the essay he was writing. He silently thanked the stars that his essay wasn’t smudged during his almost altercation with Tendou. As much as he loves his friend, Tendou has a way of pissing him off and he knows it. Remembering how his quill broke in two, Semi grabbed his bag and dug through its contents, searching for a spare one.

Dejected that he doesn’t have a spare quill in his bag, Semi looked around for anyone who might have a spare quill. Both Tendou and Soekawa were now in another friendly debate with each other and Semi was still kind of pissed at Tendou, so those two were out. Reon doesn’t have his bag, as he only went with them to the library to read their Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons in advance, so Semi also skipped asking him. Goshiki was busy balancing doing his Transfiguration homework, stealing glances at both Ushijima and Kawanishi, so Semi also ruled him out. Kawanishi looked like he was one line away from joining Hayato to dreamland, so he ruled both of them out — plus Hayato wouldn’t appreciate Semi borrowing his pen without permission, as he kept misplacing what he calls a ‘cellphone’, not that Semi knew what that was. And Ushijima actually looks serene reading something about self-fertilizing soil in his book, and Semi doesn’t have the heart to disturb the peace.

Which leads to only one person.

Semi took a glance at Shirabu, who was resting while reading his newly written notes as he massaged his hand. His bangs were clipped with some kind of long purple clippers, which exposed his forehead and eyes more. His circular glasses were perched in his button nose, his hand coming to adjust it back into place once in a while.

Semi then reached over and tapped the spot in front of the Slytherin, catching his attention. Shirabu looked at him, eyes narrowing in a silent ‘what?’

“Do you have a quill? I accidentally broke mine and I don’t have a spare.” Semi asked quietly as to not disturb anyone.

“Gripping the quill until it breaks isn’t accidental, Semi-san.” Ah, why did he think asking Shirabu was a good idea again?

“Well, it wouldn’t have broken if Satori knew when to shut up.” Semi replied, hissing at the mention of his goofy friend’s name and lightly glared at the said friend. Tendou, who turned to Semi at the mention of his name, only smiled lazily and waved. Semi rolled his eyes before turning them back to Shirabu, “So, do you have a quill I can borrow for the meantime or no?”

Shirabu rolled his eyes before grabbing his bag to dig around it. Semi smiled triumphantly, happy to see that Shirabu wasn’t that heartless afterall. Shirabu then took out a pen before thrusting it towards Semi’s outstretched hand.

“Thanks.” Semi habitually said, as he was raised by his parents to say thank you when someone helped, and turned to continue on his essay. But then he realized he had no idea what he was holding.

“What in Merlin’s balls is this?!”

“Semisemi, mind your language.” Tendou snickered, turning away when Semi directed another glare in his direction.

Semi then turned his gaze to Shirabu accusingly, the latter was resuming back to his note writing before Semi’s outburst. Shirabu narrowed his eyes as he met Semi’s accusing gaze.

“What do you mean what a pen is? It’s a pen. Something people use to write with.”

”Will you stop being a smartass?”

“Only when you stop being a dumbass, Semi-san.”

“Ignoring that, why exactly did you give it to me?”

“You asked.”

“I asked for a quill, not whatever this is!”

“That thing is a pen.” Shirabu glowered, his eyes narrowing more. “You asked for a quill, I only have a pen, that does the exact same thing a quill does.”

“You could’ve warned me next time!” Semi huffed, before turning to the pen in his hand, eyeing it warily..

“Why would I war—” Shirabu paused before looking at Semi with widened eyes, “Wait, wait a minute. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen a pen in all your years here in Hogwarts.”

“Hogwarts is a wizarding school, why the hell would they have pens here?” Semi asked incredulously.

“Tendou-san uses glitter pens, Semi-san.” Shirabu said, emphasizing on the word ‘glitter’.

“Why Kenjirou, if you were jealous of my glittery notes, you could’ve just asked for one.” Tendou said cheekily, avoiding a crumpled parchment paper Shirabu threw his way.

“Wait, he does?” Semi turned to look at Tendou, who only showed him the back of his quill — which had the exact same pen but in a more metallic looking case.

How are they even connected?

“They’re taped, Semisemi.” Oh.

“I told you to stop calling me that! And why would you even do that?!”

“It ruins the aesthetic!”

Shirabu rolled his eyes and turned back to rewriting his notes. It took a full minute before Semi tapped the spot in front of him again. Biting his tongue, he glanced at Semi and raised his eyebrow. “What now, Semi-san? I am trying to study and ignoring your breathing as your whole existence bothers me.”

“Rude!” Semi scoffed and rolled his eyes before raising the pen Shirabu just gave him. “How do you exactly use this?”

“Like how you use a quill.” Shirabu deadpanned. “Are you sure you’re older than me, Semi-san?”

Semi scoffs and turns back to his homework. “You uncute brat.”

(Semi then found out how the ink doesn’t smudge and how practical the pen is, as it doesn’t require having to dip it into ink. He may have asked Shirabu if he could keep the pen for a while, citing how he has homeworks and he’s not sure if he has a spare quill in his dorms. Shirabu only looked at him before shrugging, saying “Do what you want.” before returning back to his notes.

Semi didn't return the pen, not even three weeks later when he asked Shirabu for another pen because Semi somehow used up all the ink that pen had.

“You’re paying me the next time you ask for a pen, Semi-san.” Shirabu said as he gave Semi two extra pens he has.)

2.

The second time was when they were doing their prefect rounds on the halls of the castle. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin were assigned to have their nightly patrols in the ground floor to assure that there are no wandering students in the hallways by the time it is curfew.

So here was Semi, strolling the hallways with his wand lighting the way. He often wondered why he was anointed as the sixth year Gryffindor prefect when Sawamura Daichi was a more perfect example of a prefect. When asked by Semi, Daichi confirmed that he did get a letter but he also refused, as he had already accepted the additional training with Professor Washijo for preparation for their Auror’s training test in their seventh year. If he had accepted the position, he felt like he wouldn’t handle the stress of both opportunities and opts to choose the one that would help him in the near future. Hence the predicament of Semi being entrusted with the prefect badge.

Semi stifled a yawn, turning to another corner while surveying the hallway for anyone when he heard a loud crash of metal echoing the hallways.

Now Semi isn’t necessarily a scaredy cat but he is a bit jumpy. And the sound of the unsuspecting loud crash in a silent hallway did make him jump, accidentally saying ‘Nox’ and losing his wand in the process. As soon as he registered what happened, Semi looked around the moonlit hall to see if anyone had seen him jump in surprise.

Seeing no one near him — which also means no one was near to help him look for his wand — Semi crouched down and patted the ground for his wand, hoping to feel the familiar texture of his red oak wand. As Semi was patting the ground for his wand, lightly cursing how the hall wasn’t well-lit by the moonlight, he didn’t hear the soft footsteps coming his way nor did he see a light moving forward at the end of the hallway.

“Semi-san?”

Semi jolted, looking up to see Shirabu at the end of the hallways, flashing the light on his face — as much as he appreciated the light, he did not appreciate it blinding him. Semi slightly closed his eyes and shielded them from the blinding light.

“MERLIN’S BALLS, WOULD IT KILL YOU NOT TO SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT?!”

See, whereas Semi wasn’t expecting the letter saying he was the designated prefect for the Gryffindors in his fifth year, Shirabu’s prefect status this year wasn’t a surprise for anyone.

Ever since he stepped foot in the halls of Hogwarts, ever since he and Taichi were adopted by Tendou into their group of friends, ever since that hat sat on top of his bowl-cut head and shouted “Slytherin!” — Shirabu has done nothing but prove to everyone that he belongs to stay in Hogwarts, regardless of his blood purity. Never has Semi seen anyone work their bloody behinds off as much as Shirabu had. Every single time they see Shirabu, he’d either be: diligently doing his homeworks and probably finishing them earlier than anyone in his class; practicing spells that are in Semi’s year level and even perfecting some of them after a few weeks (Semi hated to admit it but he may have asked Shirabu’s help on some occasions); or simply rewriting notes from his class because Shirabu claims it helps him study and it refreshes his mind at the materials they had covered the week before.

So the moment when Shirabu entered the train compartment, wearing the prefect’s badge on his uniform, no one was surprised. Proud of him, yes they were. But if anyone deserves the prefect badge, it has to be Shirabu Kenjirou. And all of his friends knew it.

“What are you even doing on the floor? Don’t tell me you caused that atrocious sound before.” Shirabu lightly glared as he walked closer to where Semi was now sitting, surveying the area to see for any fallen metal object that could’ve caused the loud sound.

Semi scoffs, resumes searching for his wand now that Shirabu lit up the hallway with his light. “Looking for my wand. I accidentally dropped it awhile ago, now it’s around here somewhere — Hey, can you shine your wand over there?”

Shirabu furrowed his eyebrows before taking out his wand from his trouser’s pocket and chanting a “Accio Semi-san’s Wand” while drawing a curve with his wand. A second later, a familiar wand is seen flying through air and into Shirabu’s left hand, as Shirabu quickly placed the light on his right to catch Semi’s wand.

Now that Shirabu wasn’t holding the thing that has light directly in his face, Semi could see a faint outline of something cylindrical, it looked like it was a black metal as the light reflected back from the casing. It’s also medium-sized, as the body of the object was slightly thicker and longer than a pen obviously.

While Semi was observing the torch that was held by Shirabu’s right hand, he didn’t notice Shirabu holding out his wand towards him, urging him to take it.

“Semi-san, I can and will snap your wand if you don’t take it in three… two…”

Semi, having much quicker reflexes between the two, reached and snatched his wand in panic before Shirabu could say the final number. “Why the hell would you snap my wand?!”

Shirabu rolled his eyes, “You weren’t taking it back, so I assumed you don’t need it anymore.”

“Can’t you see I’m distracted, you brat.”

“Honestly, disappointed but not surprised.” Shirabu tilted his head to the end of the hall, “We still have two more halls to patrol and seeing as you’re distracted enough to lose your wand and to get it back from me, I made the executive decision to accompany you.”

“Who died and made you in charge?”

“Your brain apparently. Now would you stand up, you look like a homeless git on the floor.”

Semi grumbled as he stood up, dusting his pants as he did. He then walked beside Shirabu, who was now holding the torch on his right hand while they patrolled the hall.

“Don’t you know how to cast Lumos?” Semi asked as he eyed the torch warily.

“I’m one of the best spell casters of my year, what made you think I can’t cast a blasted wand-lighting charm, Semi-san?” Shirabu asked with a tone that clearly states how stupid the question is. Semi scoffed at the gloat Shirabu snuck in that statement.

“You could’ve used Lumos or Lumos Maxima to light up the hallway.” Semi pointed out, leaving the ‘instead of whatever that is.’ unspoken.

“Lumos Maxima can be blinding and unlike you, I would prefer to have my eyesight until I graduate.” Shirabu said as they turned into the last hall they needed to patrol, “Besides, knowing you, it’ll take you a few more minutes — an hour, the most — to find your wand, so I only did us a favor.”

“Brat.” Semi hissed, still eyeing the torch on Shirabu’s hand. Shirabu took a look at him before trailing his eyes to his torch.

“Why are you looking at the torch like you’ve never seen one before?”

Semi snapped his gaze back at Shirabu, who looked at him accusingly. “Because I never saw one?”

“What do you mean you’ve never seen a torch bef—” a sudden realization hit Shirabu, “I keep forgetting you’re a Pureblood.”

“What does that supposed to mean?!”

Ignoring the question, Shirabu made Semi hold the torch. “This is a muggle invention to help us have light wherever we go without the use of magic. You can turn it off and on with this switch—” Shirabu then pointed at a small switch with the words ‘Off’ and ‘On’ printed at the top and bottom of it. “—So if I want to turn it off, I just put my finger on the switch then pull it down.”

As Shirabu took his hand to drag Semi’s thumb over to the switch, Semi’s breath hitched as the sudden jolt from Shirabu’s touch electrified his skin. He felt his cheeks reddened as Shirabu put his thumb on top of his — Our hands are unconsciously intertwined! Semi’s traitorous mind supplied — and pulled Semi’s thumb down. The light that was illuminating from the torch suddenly vanished, leaving them with only the moonlight as their light. Semi was glad Shirabu couldn’t see his inflamed cheeks.

“Now just apply the same pressure then push up to turn it on.” Shirabu said, his hands leaving his own — Semi will not admit he missed the warmth of their intertwined hands. “Now you try it.”

Following the instructions, Semi looked at the torch with awe as the light suddenly reappeared. “How does it do that?”

“I’d explain but you need more brain cells to understand how electricity and batteries work.”

Semi shoved the torch into Shirabu’s hand, grumbling a “Stingy brat.” under his breath.

“And we still have to patrol at my side of the castle, so chop chop.”

“Then why are you on my side of the castle?!”

“Like I said, your brain died and I made the conscious decision to accompany you in your patrol before you, I don't know, fell from the grand staircase or something like that.”

“You’re seriously uncute!”

“The day you find me cute will be the day I gauge my eyes out, Semi-san.”

Shirabu then skillfully dodged Semi’s elbow, which he purposely thrusted where Shirabu’s side would be if he hadn’t moved.

(Semi and Shirabu weren’t able to catch whoever made the loud crashing noise a while ago, unfortunately.

When they returned back to the prefects meeting place together, they pretended that the wolfish grin from Semi’s cousin, Sugawara, and Yukie wasn’t directly at them. They also ignored the knowing looks Kaori and Alisa sent them. And they pretended not to notice the exchange of galleons between Watari, Motoya and Terushima.

They also ignored the teasing looks every prefect gave them when Semi accompanied Shirabu — and his fellow Slytherin prefects — back to his dorms, bickering amicably among each other as they walked through the dungeons.

However, Semi did smack his cousin’s head when he bid everyone goodnight and went back to his own house’s dorm rooms.)

3.

The third time was in the courtyard. It was one of the days where everyone in their group of friends had the afternoons off because the professors were conducting their monthly evaluation — and probably gossiping about their students.

Not that anyone minded, after all this week has been hellish for the Hogwarts students — especially the fifth and seventh years. With the impending O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s scheduled for this June, Semi couldn’t blame them. When the mention of free time was given to them by their professors, his group of friends decided to spend the day outside the courtyard and enjoy the mid-autumn breeze. Looking around their group of friends, Semi dodged Satori — who was playing with the tips of his hair as he claims that the tips were antennas for each one of them in their friend group (how he deduced that, Semi isn’t exactly thrilled to know) — and taking note that the only ones who aren’t here were the two fifth years.

Semi wonders if they were studying when Goshiki spied Taichi’s untamed bed hair while dragging a struggling Shirabu in his hold — Yunohana, another friend of theirs from their classes, was holding Shirabu’s legs while Taichi’s arms were wrapped around his torso.

After wrangling a reluctant Shirabu to join them — Yunohana greeted them all before jogging over to his other friends — Taichi was laying down on the grass, idly playing with the end of the scarf he has on as he watched Shirabu, who was laying on his stomach, grumbling about wasted studying time.

“I could be studying right now, Taichi.” Shirabu growled and pinched Taichi’s stomach.

Taichi only swatted his hand away, “No, you were self-destructing by using studying as an excuse to not eat or sleep properly and you don’t want our friends to know.”

“Taichi, my best friend and the sole person who knows all my deepest darkest secrets, I will murder you in your sleep.”

“Coward, do it now. End my misery.”

“On second thought, I change my mind, Suffer.”

“Bloody hell.”

Watching the two bicker, Semi wondered if that is what he and Tendou looked like when they were the ones arguing — but more violent, he admitted. He looked back at the two, noticing that Shirabu has taken out a weird looking object from his trouser’s pocket and is now ignoring Taichi, who was also watching while poking Shirabu’s cheeks. Semi denies that he thought of how soft Shirabu’s cheeks would feel if he poke it at that moment.

“Olalala, what game is that, Kenjiboo?” Tendou asked as his eyes zeroed on the weird looking object in Shirabu’s hands.

“Please don’t call me that.” Shirabu said, slightly tilting the object and furrowing his eyebrows while his fingers hit the object repeatedly. “Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII”

Tendou then sat on the other side of Taichi, leaning on Ushijima — who was reading ‘Quidditch through the Ages’ — as he watched the weird object. “Ah, that boss is kinda tricky, try two combos back to back. You gotta be faster before the boss blocks you, it’ll slow down your momentum.”

Shirabu tch-ed, his fingers hitting the object faster. His brows are furrowed in concentration, his eyeglasses were slipping down his nose — He’d probably push it back up if he wasn’t so concentrated on that oblong thing, Semi’s mind mused.

Letting curiosity win, he crawled over to Shirabu’s left side and laid on Taichi’s hips, using his robe and vest as a pillow to cushion the bone poking at the back of his head. He watched as Shirabu hit a few buttons with his right thumb while his other thumb was moving the circle thing around. Both of his pointer fingers were placed on top of the object and was pushing the buttons every now and then.

Semi then turned to the big rectangular screen on the object, amazed at how there was a group of animated people fighting a gigantic metal looking enemy. The spiky blond character had a large sword as a weapon.

"How exactly can you be entertained without magic?" Semi asked as the enemy slashed the blond character. Shirabu huffs, pressing buttons even before Semi could read what was written on the screen.

"Gee, do you need magic to breathe, Semi-san? Shall I wave my wand and sprinkle pixie dust for you to keep living?" Shirabu retorted sarcastically as the loading screen appeared on his gaming console.

"You uncute brat." Semi said, refraining from adding more as Shirabu then focused on the screen of his gaming console, his eyes glaring harshly at the rectangular screen as his fingers viciously pound against the surface of the buttons. Shirabu furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his gaming console slightly, blowing away his uneven-ed bangs from his eyes. This got even Semi to be scared of disturbing the younger Slytherin from his game.

“I’m surprised you aren’t saying anything else about my gaming console, Semi-san.” Shirabu said after a few minutes of intense gaming, a big ‘GAME OVER’ flashed the screen as his character died.

“You look too focused, I wouldn’t want to be the one you’ll throw your fist at when someone breaks that kind of concentration.” Semi shrugged, turning his head to survey what his other friends were doing: Reon and Hayato were playing wizard chess and from the looks of it Hayato was winning, as expected from the wizard chess fanatic; Soekawa was doing some light reading of ‘The Tales of the Beedle and the Bard’; Goshiki was urging Taichi to use his vest as a pillow to rest his head, a splash of red donning his cheeks.

“First of all, if I’m punching someone, that would be Taichi—”

“I’m still waiting for you to end my misery instead.”

“—Shut up, Taichi. Though you are a close second, Semi-san—” Semi scoffs at that remark, “And second of all, I do not punch someone just because they broke my concentration.”

“No, you would violently glare at them, like you were glaring at your gaming console, but with more venom. And you’ll hiss death threats under your breath at them until they stop looking your way.” Taichi said in a matter-of-factly tone, lifting his head as Goshiki slid his folded vest for him to rest his head on.

“Taichi, I will rip your mouth off.”

“No no, he’s telling the truth.”

“Fuck off, Tendou-san.”

“And do tell me why you’d rather play that—” Semi made a general gesture to the gaming console “—whatever that was—”

“Semi-san, it’s a game called Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.”

“—Rather than you usually bickering with Kawanishi when he drags you out, like the angry vibrating small dog that Satori has been showing me, that you are?”

“I AM NOT A CHIHUAHUA!” Shirabu exclaimed as Tendou cackled and Taichi snorted. Goshiki had the decency (and fear) to hide his giggling by covering it with a cough. “And to answer your question, Semi-san, is that I am also human and I wanted to destress from all the pressure of the O.W.L.s”

Taichi huffs, tugging a strand of Shirabu’s hair. “Sure you are.”

“I would be studying for a minimum of two hours before napping in my bed if Taichi hadn’t forcefully dragged me out.” Shirabu swatted Taichi’s hand and glared at the said person, who only held out a peace sign with his deadpan expression still intact on his face. “Besides, I can deck Taichi right now but it can lead to detentions — or worse, suspension — and I’d rather not get suspended in my O.W.Ls year.”

“If you end me right now, you don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

“Suffer.”

“You’re cruel, Kenjirou.”

Semi snorted and looked at the oblong-shaped object again. It was a sleek red color with different buttons on both sides. The screen, where there was a message saying ‘Do you want to restart?’, was like a mini moving portrait — like the ones displayed around the Hogwarts corridors.

Shirabu restarted the game again and started battling the boss for the nth time that day. “The character, the blond one with the big sword, is the one I'm playing as in this game. You can control the movement with this joystick — the circle thing right here. Then when attacking, these buttons here are used for different purposes.”

“Why are you using the x-button?”

“It’s because I needed to—”

“Why are you using the triangle button there?”

“Like I said, each button is diff—”

“Wait, why did you press the one with the Start button but it made that small square thing appear in the scr—”

The gaming console was thrusted in Semi’s hands, an annoyed Shirabu with puffed cheeks was glaring at him as Tendou cackled and said something about Semi acting like a curious three year old. Semi notes to smack Tendou later.

“Why don’t you play so you know why I push those buttons, Semi-san?” Shirabu growled, his cheeks were puffed even more as a pout began to form in his lips. Semi’s mind blanked, as he resisted the urge to just hug Shirabu because it was all too adorable to handle.

“Wha— I don’t even know how to play!” Semi squawks, shoving the gaming console back into Shirabu’s hands.

“That’s why I’ll be coaching you throughout everything.” Before Semi could respond, Shirabu pressed the Start button and the battle from before continued — with his fast reflex, Semi started pressing the buttons rapidly as he watched the character do all kinds of moves on the screen.

“Semisemi, use the joystick to move.”

“Joystick? What joystick?”

“The circle thing on the lower left side of th— There we go. Wait — DON’T RUN INTO THE ENEMY’S LINE OF ATTACK, DUMBASS!”

“I’M LITERALLY PRESSING WHATEVER BUTTON I CAN BECAUSE I DON'T BLOODY KNOW ABOUT THIS THING!”

“It’s called a game and you ju— USE THE SQUARE BUTTON!”

Semi and Shirabu were intent on beating the boss — Semi focused on playing while listening to Shirabu’s instructions — that they missed out on the knowing smiles their friends sent each other as they gazed at the two playing the game. Nor did any of them notice how close they were laying together, their shoulders pressed together as Semi’s head leaned more to where Shirabu’s head was.

“Semi-san, you suck at this game. Even my little brothers play better than you.” Shirabu sneered as the familiar scene of ‘GAME OVER’ was displayed on the screen. Semi tried not to soften at the mention of Shirabu spending time with his brothers — who were far too young to attend Hogwarts just yet, seeing as they haven’t encountered any mini Shirabus’ annoying their older brother in the halls.

Semi pouted, letting Shirabu take his gaming console and exiting the game before turning it off. “They had practice! I didn’t!”

Shirabu rolled his eyes, “You can’t beat me in that game even if you had a lifetime practice, Semi-san.”

“Oh you wanna bet?”

“20 galleons you can’t beat me in Tekken after a week of practice.”

“You’re cheating, you obviously said Tekken because you’re good at it.”

“On the contrary, Tendou-san keeps beating me in Tekken.”

“That is true.” Tendou said, leaning more on Ushijima’s shoulder.

“...You’re on, Shirabu”

(After that day, Semi then relentlessly asked Satori to teach him how to play Tekken. Semi had managed to borrow another gaming console from a Slytherin named Iwaizumi for a week — as long as they didn't damage it, of course. So Tendou first taught Semi the basics and soon enough, both Tendou and Semi were fighting one-on-one with each other with Tendou winning. But let’s be honest, winning against Tendou with his on-point accurate guessing — aided by his seer ability — was only a dream that Kenma-san, a Ravenclaw seer in Shirabu’s year, was able to do.

Let’s just say, a week after the day they made a bet, Semi’s pockets felt 20 galleons lighter.

Not that he minded, as Shirabu flashed him a gloating smile as his character finished Semi’s character with their ultimate move. If anyone asks, Semi will deny his heart skipping a beat at that exact moment.)

4.

The fourth time was the time Semi was hiding from his ‘fangirls’, as Tendou puts it.

It was Valentine’s day, so the castle was filled with red and pink hearts and red and pink food and red and pink everything. Even the portraits were participating in this love fest holiday. Heck, even Tendou managed to turn Semi’s hair pink this morning.

“So we can match today, Semisemi!” Tendou exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air to gesture at the red and pink decorations hanging up on the halls.

Semi then proceeded to chase Tendou in the halls, earning a confused look from the students loitering around the halls that morning. Luckily for Tendou, Reon was passing by and had stopped Semi from his murderous intent on the red-headed seer and undid the coloring of his hair — his then pink hair reverted back to his ash-blond with dark tips color that he likes.

It’s not that Valentine’s was bad. Semi quite liked the holiday — if only it was less pink and red and even less confessions were thrown his way at the most unconventional time.

Afterall, Semi was an attractive man, a Pureblood, a doting friend (though his friends would protest), and overall, boyfriend material. Anybody would be lucky to have him as a boyfriend. Which is why as soon as he sat on the table with Reon, owls were delivering letters to various people in the Great Hall. It wasn’t an enjoyable time when each time he tried to eat tekka maki — his favorite food in the world! — there’s an owl dropping a letter to him and would look at him for compensation (these gremlins know he’s a sucker for any animals and would never refuse to feed one when given the chance). That happened at least 10 times.

Another incident was when they were walking in the halls when a group of girls were stopping them and giving them confession letters and chocolates. Semi doesn’t even like chocolates that much! He prefers cookies, if he were to be very honest. Especially the peanut butter ones that Shirabu and Reon’s moms give them when they return back to Hogwarts after winter break. Semi stops his thoughts before he could drool at the thought of peanut butter cookies.

Classes were done for the day, so Semi took this time to head to the secluded big tree by the Black Lake to have some peace and quiet. People have been scared to approach the area in fear that the giant squid of the Black Lake will emerge and take them to the kingdom of merpeople rumored to be living in the body of water. Thankful for the rumor that surrounds the place, Semi knew that he would be getting some peace and quiet up until dinner time.

Well, that is until he spotted a familiar copper-haired bowl cut in the exact same place he was supposed to have his tranquil rest, sitting down by the trunk of the tree.

Semi mentally groaned, not wanting to be disturbed on this day and knowing Shirabu — the junior who lives his life like his sole purpose was to annoy him — would definitely turn into a bickering fest instead of the serene relaxation he was hoping for.

He suddenly paused when he saw what Shirabu was doing.

Now the difference between this moment and the previous moment was that Semi actually knew the muggle contraption that was in Shirabu’s hands.

A camera.

He’d seen camera’s all his life, since his family was invited to fellow Pureblood’s parties and there will always be a handful of cameras waiting. Tendou also brought a camera when they had their off-school break sleepover at one of their houses claiming to ‘immortalize this moment in still pictures!’.

But this specific camera was, albeit, a little different.

It’s the type to pull out a paper a few seconds after Shirabu clicks the capture button. Now, that was something he wanted to know.

“I never knew you were into photography.”

Shirabu flinched — Semi mentaly cheered at catching Shirabu off-guard at this very moment. Now he wishes he had a camera to capture that rare moment — and turned to Semi, who was grinning mischievously.

“I’m surprised you actually know photography. Maybe you aren’t as hopeless as you seem to be in Muggle Studies.”

Semi scowled before retorting back, “I’m not even in that elective, bloody git!.”

“So that explains your cluelessness then, Semi-san.”

“You are seriously uncute.”

Shirabu rolled his eyes and proceeded to turn his attention back to the flower, focusing his camera to the object at hand before capturing it — producing another paper from wherever they came from. Semi sat down beside him, eyeing the camera before turning his attention to the flower.

“Is that an asphodel?”

“Yeah.” Shirabu said as he tucked the paper in his bag, “They grow around Hogwarts and my little brothers wanted to see what they looked like.”

“Is that why you’re taking pictures of anything you see interesting?”

“More like I’m taking pictures of the things that my little brothers might find interesting so I can show them when I go home for summer break.”

Semi softens at the mention of Shirabu taking pictures and maybe even momentos of his time here at Hogwarts for the sake of fulfilling his little brothers’ curiosity. It wasn’t necessarily a secret that Shirabu loves his little brothers. It’s just his cold-hearted and blunt exterior that made Semi believe that Shirabu was an only child.

So imagine the surprise when Semi came to Shirabu’s house for their off-school break sleepover and seeing Shirabu playing with the then-five-year-olds twin little brothers while his mother was cooking dinner for everyone — they all have straight copper hair but while Shirabu has caramel-colored eyes, the twins both have chocolate dark eyes.

Both Keito and Kenta were enthusiastic about the prospect of having so many wizards under their roof, often asking everyone questions that were probably from watching a muggle entertainment called cartoons. While they have Shirabu’s thirst for knowledge, they were far more extroverted than him and far more cute in nature. Semi asked if there was a way to switch his twin brothers with Shirabu, which earned a hard smack on his face with a pillow — which led to a pillow fight between their group of friends that night.

“They’re turning eight this March right?”

“Yeah. I’m torn between being glad they wouldn’t see me during my final years in Hogwarts; and being sad because I wouldn’t see them growing up into their own persons surrounded by the people who will bring out the best of them.”

Semi smiled softly, ever since Shirabu taught him how to play his gaming console, they were hanging out more often: Semi taking the seat next to Shirabu as if it was the natural thing to do, Shirabu putting in tekka maki into his plate when he couldn’t finish his portion, Semi putting Shirasu in his plate because he doesn’t necessarily like the aftertaste of it, borrowing Tendou’s gaming console so they can see who wins in their unofficial battle they have unofficially started (Shirabu was still winning, much to Semi’s dismay) — all in all, they have grown closer to each other as the months passed by. Even if they still bicker with each other on a daily basis.

Turning to look at the camera, Semi stated, “Hey, I have a question about your camera.”

“Ah, there it is.”

“Shut up, do you want to hear it or not?”

“It’s not like I have much of a choice, Semi-san.”

“Uncute brat.” Semi lightly shoved Shirabu before he continued, eyeing Shirabu's camera warily, “Why does a paper roll out of that whenever you click the capture button?”

“I’m guessing you don’t know what a polaroid camera is.”

“A polar-what?”

“Hey Semi-san, look up.”

Semi furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and looked up from staring at the asphodel flower. Once he did, he was blinded by a flash with a resounding sound of ‘click’ in the background. He closed his eyes and rubbed it, waiting for a good five seconds before opening them again.

“What in Merlin’s balls was that?!”

Shirabu was holding out the paper, waving it back and forth before placing it on Semi’s lap for him to see. Semi looked at the black part of the paper, still unamused at the stunt that Shirabu pulled. Then his expression turned to awe as slowly the picture developed until there was a clear image of him looking at the camera in confusion — the light of the setting sun reflected on his hair made it look like it was glowing, he could see the castle from behind him and the way the wind danced in his hair made everything look enchanting. It wasn’t moving but somehow, Shirabu was able to capture the moment in a way that will make anyone who sees this picture, feel a certain feeling. Semi noted the rapid thumping of his heartbeat and the heat from his cheeks as he looked at Shirabu, who was already looking at him.

“That’s a polaroid. The whole process of how the picture developed is a bit too complicated but this camera is the type to print out whatever you capture the second you capture it.” Shirabu said while taking the polaroid of Semi from his lap and slipping it into his bag. “Do you want to try it?”

“But I don’t know how—”

“Just aim the camera at what you want to picture then click this button.” Shirabu held the camera towards Semi, fussing slightly as Semi took it with shaky hands. Once he’s sure Semi wont drop it, Shirabu stopped fussing over his camera. “You can take as many polaroids as you want, I charmed it so it wouldn’t run out of films. Those are the paper things that keep rolling out.”

Semi furrowed his eyebrows before opting to take a picture of the asphodel, angling the camera before pressing the button. The picture came out a few seconds later and it was developed a few more seconds later — the whole picture was a little bit unfocused, but Shirabu reassured that it takes a while to get used to and that it was a good picture.

Despite the reassurance, Semi still sulked as he wasn’t able to capture the asphodel clearly like what Shirabu would’ve done if he had the camera. Unconsciously, his lips formed a pout that made him look like a five-year old throwing a tantrum.

He was only made aware of the said pout when Shirabu burst out laughing beside him. ”Don’t tell me you’re pouting like that because of this picture?”

Semi was about to retort back, turning to Shirabu to give him a piece of his mind, then the sight before him rendered his mind blank. Against the rays of the setting sun, Shirabu looked like something that comes out of the fairytales he has been reading when he was younger, the twinkle if his laughter echoed throughout the field, Semi even wonders if the ones inhabiting the Black Lake can hear it over the depths of the murky waters. It was a sight to see and before Semi knew it, he aimed the camera towards Shirabu and clicked the button, hoping it’ll be able to at least capture the enchanting feeling he felt at this very moment. (But even Semi knew that nothing could ever compare to the actual thing itself.)

“Wha— Did you just take a picture of me?” Shirabu asked as Semi took the film from the camera. He tried to grab the film out of Semi’s hand, “Hey!”

“I was taking pictures of the sunset, your copper bowl cut was just in the way.” Semi denied, hiding the film in his pants pocket. “And you kept my picture, so I’m keeping this one.”

“No fair! I showed it to you first!” Shirabu whined, still trying (and failing) to grab the picture from Semi’s pocket.

“Will you stop?! If I accidentally break your camera, I’m blaming you.” The moment Semi uttered these words, the Polaroid camera was snatched from his hands and held into Shirabu’s chest, protecting it from any damage. “Thought so.”

Semi stood up and stretched, looking over at the towering castle at the distance. He leaned back to grab his bag, resting the strap on his shoulder before looking at Shirabu. “We should be heading back. I still got to visit Madam Pomfrey to ask for an antidote for Amortentia.”

Shirabu looked at him confusedly. “Why would you need that exactly?”

“Planning on giving Satori some of my chocolates, which I’m very sure half of them have amortentia in.”

“Don’t boost your own ego, Semi-san.”

“I’m just saying it’s a possibility! And as much as Tendou can be a pain in the ass sometimes, I don’t want him singing about some bloody love song about whoever.”

“Fair point.” Shirabu stood up and grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He dug through his bag and handed Semi a box of baked goods. “Before I forget, happy Valentine’s, Semi-san.”

Semi blushed, before taking the box. “Thanks Shirabu.”

Shirabu let out a small smile before trudging back to the walkway, “Come on, let’s go back before Tendou-san decides to look for us in the most obnoxious way.”

Semi flinched as he remembered his fifth year — him sneaking away to finish his homeworks and Tendou managed to charm every banner into showing a horrid image of him with marks in his face from the one time fell asleep and everyone was bored, so they decided to draw on his face, along with the ‘MISSING PERSON, PLEASE REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO ANY OF HIS FRIENDS WHEN SEEN!’ written underneath it.

The moment he saw his picture in the banners of the Great Hall, Semi had chased Tendou down the halls, shouting death threats and torture methods that made some of the painting cringe in disgust. Tendou merely laughed as he ran through the halls, avoiding the murderous intent of Semi.

(That night, Semi laid in bed while eating one of the peanut butter cookies Shirabu gave him, staring at the polaroid in his hand. The image came out less blurry than the asphodel picture he took, the rays of the sun creating a halo around Shirabu’s head, the mentioned person was at mid-laugh with his hand covering his mouth partially. His head was a little thrown back, eyes closed and Semi vaguely wonders if the light from the setting sun would’ve made Shirabu’s eyes sparkle like how the stars sparkle in the night sky.

Semi remembers the sound of twinkling laughter so vividly: the sound aching to bells swaying in the wind, of a lonesome harp playing alone in an empty ballroom, of the soft pitter patter of light rain along the pavement during an early morning walk.

I think I like Shirabu.

Semi thought back to the different moments they shared: all the electricity racing his skin every time Shirabu accidentally brushed past him, the heated skin where Shirabu actually touched him, the way his cheeks turning into a rosy hue when Shirabu shows him a smile, the butterflies in his stomach whenever Shirabu sports him along the busy hall of the castle.

Semi groaned, finishing up his cookie before turning over to suffocate himself with his pillow, the polaroid of Shirabu still intact in his hands. Peering over at his best friend, Tendou chuckled while reading something that Semi remembers as ‘manga’.

“You alright, Semisemi?”

“Stop calling me that.” Semi murmured before turning his head to glare at Tendou. The latter only resumed reading the manga while whistling a happy tune. Reon only chuckled as he entered the dorms, already having an intuition of what happened between his two friends. He was then followed by Hayato dashing toward his bed and plopping on top of it, after he bid goodbye to Nishinoya. Tanaka and Yamamoto.

“I really like Shirabu.” Semi decided once Reon sat down on the foot of his bed, drying his hair with a towel. Reon, Hayato and Tendou paused and looked at each other.

“Congrats at being the last one to know, Semisemi!”

Semi glared at the nickname but before he could respond, Reon asked, “Shouldn’t you be in your own dorm now, Satori?”

“How could I when my darling Semisemi has a love crisis?!”

Semi only threw a pillow at the red-head as a response, earning a laugh at his three friends.)

5.

The fifth time was in the Room of Requirements — sort of.

“How in the world would you, out of all people, know how Shirabu feels about me, huh?” Semi seethes, shoving Tendou away as he keeps on pestering Semi to just ‘man up and confess to him!’. Tendou only wagged his eyebrows before returning his attention to the manga that was in his hands.

Hayato claims Tendou has been reading too much shoujo mangas, whatever that means. Though, Hayato does agree on the confessing part.

Even Reon and Soekawa agree — Soekawa even claims that Shirabu is just as smitten as Semi is. Semi only scoffed, blatantly ignoring the knowing looks his friends were giving him now, as their study session continued.

Unsurprisingly, the juniors weren’t in the library with them — Goshiki had asked Taichi if he would like to accompany him, Sagae and Akakura in practicing Quidditch. Taichi, after rounding up Yunohama and Umeda, had dragged Shirabu in practicing with them as well — citing about ‘getting this mushroom some sunlight before he turns paler than the ghosts in this castle’. Once he agreed, Goshiki lit up and bowed in gratitude, before sprinting to find a certain person named Shibata to act as their referee.

So while the juniors were playing a friendly game of quidditch, the seniors were busy finishing up their homeworks that is due tomorrow night. As well as pestering Semi to confess his love towards a certain Muggle-born Slytherin.

How did Ushijima and Soekawa even know? Semi wondered the moment he saw the knowing look sent to him by Soekawa and Ushijima. He suspects that Tendou told them, as he is the loud-mouthed friend in their group.

Tendou denied it though, saying how everyone knew about his obvious crush towards a salty junior of his, long before Semi even knew his own crush. Semi denied it of course, but he had a feeling Tendou wasn’t exactly wrong.

“Semi, as someone who has known you the longest and is a housemate of both Shirabu and Koushi, you are obviously oblivious. You like him, he likes you back, so spare us the pinning mess and confess to each other already.” Soekawa said, dipping his quill in ink and writing another line in his essay. “Your cousin even betted Hayato on how long you were going to confess to him.”

“You what?!” Semi hissed, turning his head to send a pointed look at Hayato, who only cowered behind Ushijima.

“Hey! Why am I the only one getting his death galres?! Literally almost everyone here joined the bet!” Hayato exclaimed, moving his hands around to prove his point.

Soekawa sighed, “I didn’t deny it though. I betted two weeks from now.”

“A month for me.” Reon said, actually looking sheepish at his statement. “You were intent on denying your crush on Shirabu, so you might take even longer than a month. No offense.”

“I bet this week!” Hayato claims proudly, “Your cousin is the same as Jin tho.”

Semi sighs exasperatedly, trying not to grip the pen Shirabu had gifted him during Christmas too tight so it won’t break. He was about to turn to Tendou to ask what he betted on when Ushijima spoke.

“A week and a half.”

“Not you too, Wakatoshi!” Semi screeched, bowing fast and apologizing to Madam Prince who only shushed him and continued her way on putting some books back in their aisles.

“I did say almost everyone.” Hayato snickered at the back of his hand, scribbling notes on a potion that he would be brewing tomorrow morning.

Semi then turned to Tendou and gave him the look, expecting him to have joined the bets that his friends and cousin had started. Tendou didn’t even have to look up from his manga. “Not allowed to bet, Semisemi.”

Semi furrowed his eyebrows.

“Seer advantages.” Tendou grinned slyly as he turned the page and began reading. “By the way, our dear juniors’ Quidditch games will end in about five minutes from now and they want to hang out in the Room of Requirements.”

After a chorus of agreements, they started packing up, careful as to not smudge their essays before bidding each other a ‘See you later!’ and separating to go their own ways — Ushijima and Soekawa going the other way as they live down in the basement of the castle while Semi, Reon, Hayato and Tendou walk to the opening of the grand staircase to their dorms.

As soon as they deposited their bags and changed their uniforms into more comfortable casual clothes, they met up with Tendou by the Gryffindor entrance — the said person was chatting amicably with the Fat Lady, something about her singing being the most divine voice he had ever heard. Once he saw his friends, Tendou bid the Fat Lady goodbye before ushering everyone to the Room of Requirements.

“I’m telling you Semisemi, just confess to Shirabu already! You have nothing to lose!” Tendou said as he skipped the hall that leads them to the Room of Requirements. Semi was by his side, brooding at how his trusted friends all betted on him confessing to Shirabu.

“I could literally give you a list of things that could possibly go wrong, Satori.” Semi huffs, continuing his brooding as Reon and Ushijima opened the walls of the hidden room.

Pushing the door, Semi was expecting out of the ordinary. After all, they have unofficially claimed the Room of Requirements as their hang-out spot ever since Soekawa had discovered the room while he was pondering one day. He showed the group of friends and almost immediately, they have hung out in the room every month — which is another one of their traditions now.

As soon as Semi entered, he did not expect to see Shirabu looking extra cozy in his red hoodie, holding his phone and smiling softly, eyes full of adoration at the display on the screen. Semi’s heart started pounding in his ears, watching as Shirabu laughed at whatever was playing on his phone.

“If you aren’t sure of what he feels about you, why not just ask someone close to him for some sort of confirmation.” Tendou whispered in his ear, sounding uncharacteristically soft. Semi smiled gratefully, letting Tendou know he appreciates him looking out for him.

They entered, greeting everyone as they do, before taking their respective places scattered around the room. Semi was about to sit next to Goshiki and chat about how the friendly match they had a while ago went when he heard a familiar voice calling out to him.

“It’s the roasted marshmallow guy!”

There were only two people who called Semi that nickname.

Turning around, he saw Shirabu’s little brothers on the screen of his phone, waving excitedly as Semi approached. Taking a seat next to Shirabu, Semi leaned and waved hello “Hey you two! It’s been a while.”

“Marshmallow guy!” Keita said excitedly, “Kenji-nii said you suck at taking pictures with his polaroid camera!”

“Keita, you snitch!” Shirabu exclaimed, causing the twins to burst into new waves of laughter. Semi looked at Shirabu with faux-offense before flicking his forehead.

“Marshmallow guy! Is it true that Kenji-nii gave you peanut butter cookies this Valentine’s day?” Kenta asked, peering more as he waited for Semi’s answer.

“Yeah he did, why?” Semi replied, placing an arm on the other side of Shirabu and shifting into a more comfortable position. Semi tried his luck and leaned closer into Shirabu’s personal space, hoping Shirabu wouldn't move away.

He doesn’t.

“We thought he’d eat the cookies himself!” The twins chorused together, earning an offending shout from their older brother.

“Have you no faith in me? When I get home, I’ll squash you two under my weight!” Shirabu threatened, waving a closed fist in front of the screen. It also made Shirabu lean on Semi space more, his breath hitching silently as he smelled a whiff of vanilla and parchment.

“Well he did. Please tell your mom that the cookies were wonderful and don’t forget to thank your mom for me, alright?” Semi said smiling. The twins looked at each other before grinning mischievously at their older brother.

Confused, Semi took a look at Shirabu, who was supporting a reddening blush. Shirabu promptly avoided Semi’s gaze, covering his face with his hand.

Semi was about to ask if Shirabu was alright when a flash caught both of their attention. Looking up, both Shirabu and Semi saw Taichi holding Shirabu’s polaroid camera with one hand while waving the developing film with another. It seemed like he took a picture of them.

Semi felt Shirabu tensing up before lunging at Taichi.

“Taichi, give me that film right now!” Shirabu screeched, thrusting his phone in Semi’s hand before chasing Taichi around the room, “And don’t you dare drop my camera!”

Semi blinked before turning his attention back to the twins. Both were giggling at their brother’s screaming and aggravated voice, “Who will win: Taichi or Kenjirou?”

“Taichi-nii!” They said together, giving each other cheeky grins before high-fiving. Semi laughed, amused at how the sibling dynamic of his junior is. “Marshmallow man!”

“How many times do I have to tell you two to call me Semi?”

“But your hair looks like a roasted marshmallow we sometimes make in the yard, so you’re still ‘marshmallow man’ for us!” Kenta said, not in a way to offend Semi of course, but his red-headed best friend still heard it and let out a cackle.

“Give me a moment.” Semi said before grabbing the nearest pillow and chucking it in Tendou’s direction. Once he heard an indignant shout and a satisfying sound of someone falling off of the sofa and into the hardwood floor, he turned back to the twins again. “So, what is it that you guys want?”

“Can you turn the back camera on and film Kenji-nii losing to Taichi-nii?” Keita pleaded, and showed him the puppy's eyes that the twins knew would make Semi melt. As if they rehearsed it, Kenta copied his brother and now he has two adorable twins looking at him pleadingly.

Semi can’t say no.

“Alright but you have to tell me how to do just that because I have no clue how to work this—” Semi made a gesture to the device “—thing and I would like to have Shirabu not kill me for destroying this.”

“Oh, just tap the screen then there’s these buttons appearing.” Semi tapped the phone, revealing the buttons. “Then tap the one with the camera! It’s near the red button BUT DON'T CLICK THE RED BUTTON.”

Semi carefully clicked the camera button, making sure to not stay clear of the red button. Now the screen changed from his face to the floor. He lifted the phone up and the one on the screen followed. He heard the twins celebrating and went over to the nearest couch so he could film Shirabu and Taichi, who are now playfully wrestling on the floor. Goshiki sat on another couch, clutching the polaroid camera — Semi deduced that Taichi gave it to him before Shirabu could tackle him —and looked extremely worried at the two fifth years.

“Can you see them?”

“Yes! Thank you marshmallow man!” The twins replied together, cheering Taichi on. Shirabu heard the twins cheering and scoffs before focusing on grabbing the film that Taichi clutched in his chest.

Looking over at Tendou, remembering his advice on the entrance of the Room or Requirements, Semi took a deep breath before whispering to the twin on the phone, “Hey. Can I tell you guys something and you promise not to tell your brother?”

This caught the attention of the twins, who both nodded seriously. “You can tell us anything marshmallow man! We pinky promise with cherry on top!” Keita reassured Semi.

Semi bit his lip as he stole one glance at Shirabu, and smiled softly. “I really like your brother. Do you think he likes me back?”

“Of course Kenji-nii like-likes you marshmallow man!” Kenta whispered excitedly, “He keeps staring at your picture all the time! One time, Keita and I stole his phone and you were on his home screen!”

Semi blushed at what Kenta said. The thought of Shirabu staring at his polaroid film made the butterflies in his stomach go haywire. “Home screen?”

“Can you put your finger on the bottom of the screen?” Keita said mischievously. Semi was reluctant to follow but did it anyway. “Now, drag it up.”

Once Semi did, it minimized the facetime app and he saw made him blush even more rosy than before. On the screen was a picture of Semi hunched over his homeworks in the library. It must’ve been a weekend as he was wearing a green hoodie that Hayato bought for him last Christmas. His hair was pinned with something that Tendou put in his hair to keep it from falling into his eyes — a metallic thin headband if Semi remembered correctly. Semi could see his furrowed brow, his lips turned into an unconscious pout that Reon tells him he does when he’s getting frustrated.

His heart pounded at the thought of Shirabu looking at this candid photo each time he opened his phone, a photo Semi wasn’t even aware he had taken before. It made him feel a sense of adoration and affection as he gazed back into the caramel haired Slytherin, who aggravated him on a daily basis yet still managed to capture his heart.

“Marshmallow man! Click the floating window if you’ve already seen Kenji-nii’s home screen.” The urgent call of Kenta snapped him back, his hands doing exactly what they told before he could process their words. The app took up the whole screen again. Just as soon as he did, Shirabu gave up, shoving Taichi away from him and walked towards Semi for his phone.

“I give up, go suffer there Taichi.” Shirabu hmph-ed, taking his phone from Semi’s outstretched hand, “Sorry about tha— How did you turn the back camera on?”

Semi shrugged, willing his blush to go down and hoping Shirabu didn’t notice it. “The twins wanted to see you lose to Taichi and asked me to film it for them. They taught me how to do it.”

“Kenji-nii, you suck!”

“Wait until I come back to crush you two, you little gremlins.”

Hearing the sound of laughter from Shirabu’s phone and seeing the look of adoration swimming in Shirabu’s eyes as he resumed chatting with his little brothers, Semi smiled fondly at the Slytherin draped with an oversized red hoodie. Having the twin’s little exposing party has made Semi confident in Shirabu’s feelings for him.

For now, he’ll just sit back and enjoy this time with his friends. After all, his friends did bet on him confessing, so he was gonna make them wait for a little while longer.

(As they were walking back to their dorms after grabbing dinner in the Great Hall, Taichi had tugged his sweater sleeves as they lagged behind their group. They had separated by the grand staircase as Slytherins and Hufflepuffs’ dorms were located in the basement.

“Hm? What is it, Kawanishi?” Semi hummed, a small smile gracing his lips as he turned to look at Taichi. The stoic Ravenclaw only gave him a polaroid film and waited until Semi took a look.

Curious, Semi took the film and looked at the image before his cheeks flushed a deep shade of red at the image. It was the moment where both of them were leaning on each other, even if Shirabu was looking away from Semi’s gaze. Shirabu’s eyes were pointedly looking anywhere, avoiding the general direction where Semi is at, his cheeks flushed at whatever the twins had meant when they grinned at him, hidden behind his hand. But what made Semi truly blush is how fond he looked while stealing a glance at Shirabu’s profile. In the picture alone, it conveys the hidden message of love and adoration he felt towards the younger student. If Semi wasn’t in the picture and he never had met Shirabu, he’d definitely say that they were a couple.

“Just thought you might need it more than I do.” Taichi quietly stated before rushing to Tendou’s side, avoiding the seer’s hugs as they walked towards their dorms. Semi grazed his thumb over the still-image of Shirabu before tucking it in his lounge pants’ pocket and jogging over to Reon and Hayato.

That night, Semi slept with a smile on his face as the newly acquired polaroid stayed clutched in his hand.)

+1

This time, it wasn’t Shirabu (or any of his brothers for that matter) teaching him about a new muggle device. In fact, it wasn’t even anything relating to muggles.

Semi was trudging up the stairs to the Astronomy tower, after chasing Professor Lovegood to ask for her permission to stay past the scheduled curfew to finish his star map homework. Of course, his Care-for-Magical-Creatures-slash-Astronomy professor was hard to find as she often wanders the castle grounds in her free time, he searched every floor in the bloody castle and yet he couldn’t find a single strand of her platinum blonde hair in sight.

Good thing she had been walking to her actual Astronomy class when he bumped into her during their patrols, quiet literally. After apologizing profusely, Professor Lovegood granted his request before literally skipping towards her class with an extra bounce in her step. Sometimes, Semi wonders if Tendou is somehow related to Professor Lovegood.

So here he was, trudging the stairs towards the Astronomy tower after getting his star map from the Gryffindor tower. He was supposed to head towards the Astronomy towers as soon as he can but he may have left his star map in his dorms. In his defense, he wasn’t anticipating literally bumping into his professor during his patrols.

He may have been distracted as Shirabu was absent from the nightly patrols, something that bothered Semi as Shirabu is known for not skipping anything academic-related activities even if he was already bed-ridden with the nastiest cold in history. Semi shivered at the memory of Tendou, Kawanishi and him manhandling Shirabu in his bed as the light brunet struggled, scratched and even bit him. That was not one of his best days in Hogwarts.

Opening the doors to the Astronomy towers, he let out a loud squeak as soon as he spotted the sight of a familiar copper-haired bowl cut that has been plaguing his thoughts for weeks. Shirabu jolted, nearly messing up the line that he had been drawing before Semi disturbed him.

Shirabu turned to glare at the cause of his surprise, softening slightly as he saw Semi standing awkwardly by the door of the Astronomy tower clutching what seems to be a star map.

“Well? Is there a particular reason why you made me almost mess up my chart, Semi-san?”

“Oh shut it, how in Merlin’s ass am I supposed to know you’ll be here tonight?”

“Semi-san, I have Astronomy classes today.” Shirabu deadpanned.

Oh. Okay, so maybe Semi never claimed to be the brightest wizard of his age. If anything, that was Shirabu.

“I forgot?” Semi said after a few minutes of awkward silence, looking confusedly at Shirabu.

“How can you forget tha— Nevermind, don’t answer, I might actually lose brain cells pondering about it.” Semi squawks, offended at what Shirabu had said, “You also didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here, Semi-san?”

Semi lifted his head and rubbed his nape, clearly embarrassed at what he was about to say. “I kind of procrastinated on my Astronomy homework. So now, I’m doing it at the last minute?”

Shirabu looked at him for a solid minute before deadpanning, “Disappointed but not surprised.”

“You are seriously uncute!” Semi said as he placed his star map beside Shirabu, taking out a pen that he clipped on his robes. Shirabu glanced at the pen, letting out a tiny smile before turning back to what he was doing before Semi interrupted.

Awkward silence filled the air between the two students as they continued to do their homeworks, eager to finish as soon as possible and sleep. However, as much as both of them wanted to finish, the deafening silence was too much to bear. Soon enough, Semi became antsy and decided to break the awkward silence.

“So...” Semi started, unsure of what he should say next. “How are you?”

Shirabu stopped writing, turning to look at the ash-blond in disbelief at what he asked. Semi then awkwardly looked anywhere else, avoiding Shirabu’s gaze.

“Out of all the questions you could’ve asked, you asked that?” Shirabu stated, still looking at Semi in disbelief.

“Stop looking at me like that! It makes me feel stupid.” Semi said, regretting that he even asked the bloody question.

“I will stop if you stop asking stupid questions, Semi-san.” Shirabu stated, a glint of amusement seen in his eyes.

“You uncute brat.” Semi stubbornly hissed before turning to his star map, willing himself to work faster so he can go back to his dorm and sleep. Shirabu may be the guy he likes but he’s still one of the people who damn well knows how to push Semi’s button. That bratty git.

Semi pretended that the sound of Shirabu’s suppressed laughter didn’t spike his heart beat, nor made butterflies erupted in his stomach. Merlin, Semi really like Shirabu, a lot. He’s turning into a sappy idiot.

“Well, if you must know,” Shirabu teased, “I’m very sleep-deprived, I want to go back to bed and pretend I don’t have classes for one day.”

“You wouldn’t be sleep-deprived if you actually sleep, you git.” Semi scolded, a hint of concern etching its way in his voice. Shirabu rolled his eyes at his senior’s mothering nature, although there was a hint of smile in his lips. But before Semi could take another look, his lips pulled down in an indifferent line, all traces of the small smile vanished before Semi could fully appreciate the beauty.

“I am sleeping, Semi-san.”

“That’s a load of bollocks and you know it.”

“Why must you mother me at times like this, I just want to get this over with and sleep.” Shirabu whined, adding in the final detail to his star map. Semi rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to his own star map.

“If you took better care of yourself, I wouldn’t have to ‘mother’ you.” Semi said, air-quoting the ‘mother’ part. Semi heard Shirabu huffing as he took his time to fix his things. Semi looked back at his homework to assess how far he had done. His star map was already drawn and mostly labeled, thanks to Reon and Soekawa for helping him. All he needs now is to write the missing labels of the stars before he can consider himself done with the homework. An easy work to do if it weren’t for how many star names he remembers at three am. Merlin, what was Semi thinking when he accepted the prefect role? He could’ve refused and given it to Reon, maybe by then he would be sleeping right now. Now that he thinks about it, why wasn’t Reon given the prefect role in the first place after Daichi?

Then again, I wouldn’t be able to spend some time alone with someone. Semi mused as he stole another glance at Shirabu, who was busy rolling his star map carefully. He turned back to the parchment before him, trying to remember the star cluster that loiters around Venus.

“The Beehive Cluster.” Shirabu’s voice cut through Semi’s concentration, the latter jumping at how close Shirabu had gotten while he was busy pondering. Semi looked at Shirabu, who was already hovering by his shoulder. His book bag was slung on his shoulder, his hand clasping the strap unconsciously.

“Pardon?” Semi asked absentmindedly.

“The one you’ve been tapping on—” Was Semi tapping on the parchment with his pen? He didn’t even realize. “—is called the Beehive Cluster. ‘Praesepe’, if you prefer the latin term.” Shirabu said, looking over the unnamed stars in Semi’s homework. Not that it was that many, thanks to Reon and Soekawa helping him.

Semi then wrote the latin name in the space provided, before his mind stray anywhere else. Shirabu then pointed to another star in the map, slightly higher on the left side of Praesepe.

“Cancer.” Shirabu then pointed to another star beneath cancer, “Regulus.”

Semi hurriedly wrote each of the stars’ names on the space provided, thankful that Shirabu had the decency to wait for him to finish writing before he named another one. Soon enough, Semi was rolling his finished homework.

“How in bloody hell did you even remember all those names at three am?” Semi asked as they walked out of the Astronomy tower with Shirabu. It was half-past three am, almost four. Hopefully, their common room guardians wouldn’t be too suspicious of them being late tonight — more for Semi’s sanity than Shirabu, cursing the Fat Lady for being a gossip.

Shirabu shrugged as they descended down the staircase, “We just covered that in our Astronomy lesson today.”

“Oh.” Semi scrunched his nose, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “Merlin, I’m ready to pass out.”

“You know you could always go ahead, right?” Shirabu said as he observed the taller Gryffindor, covering his mouth as he yawned. “I’m not keeping you from doing that.”

Semi only grinned, “I’d rather sleep peacefully knowing you’re back in your dorm room, if I were to be honest.”

If Semi had looked at Shirabu at that exact moment, he would’ve seen him faltering in his steps, red turning into a rosy hue. Shirabu bit his lip before hurrying to walk by Semi’s side, his strap encased in the vice grip of his hand as the familiar feeling of butterflies erupted in his stomach.

It was quiet for a few minutes, a comfortable one rather than an awkward one, with Semi humming under his breath and Shirabu silently walking beside him.

“What are your plans after graduation?” Shirabu asked quietly, biting his bottom lip even more as they passed by the halls. Semi paused, turning to look at Shirabu, flabbergasted that he asked the question — if anything, he was expecting it from Goshiki. What’s even more shocking was that Shirabu asked him now when they were alone, and not in the presence of their friends.

“Did you just ask me what I’ll do after graduation?” Semi had to make sure that Shirabu was asking him, despite the fact that they’re in an empty hallway of Hogwarts. Besides, Semi wasn’t exactly sure if Shirabu had actually asked a question in the first place — for all he knows, it's a messed up illusion that his sleep-induced mind came up with because of his feelings towards the shorter Slytherin.

Shirabu nodded, his lips tightened in a straight line as he profusely looked straight ahead rather than Semi. However, Semi noted how Shirabu’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, letting his lip turn into a lazy yet teasing smirk.

“But that’s a year away, don’t tell me you’re getting sentimental on me now Kenjiboo.”

Shirabu gritted his teeth at the nickname, turning his viscous gaze towards Semi as he snarled, “First, stop calling me that. You sound exactly like Tendou-san. And second, just answer the damn question, you daft asshole.”

Semi scoffed at the remark but smiled nonetheless, reaching forward to flick Shirabu’s forehead gently. “Rude. But since you asked oh so nicely, I honestly have no clue. When I was little, I wanted to become an Auror. Now, I’m just here, still wondering what in bloody hell am I supposed to do after graduation.”

Shirabu peered at Semi, who looked so lost in thought. It’s as if Shirabu had asked a question that unraveled the troubles his hot headed senior had kept hidden.

“You’re the best in your Defense Against the Dark Arts class.” Shirabu stated, fiddling with the strap of his bag as Semi turned to look at him, gobsmacked. “I’ve always assumed you’ll be a Dueller when you graduate Hogwarts. Maybe even a Hit Wizard, you did pass all of your O.W.L.s and HIt Wizards only needed five O.W.L.s. It’s an added bonus that you got an Outstanding in DADA, which is what Hit Wizards are all about.”

Semi looked even more gobsmacked as Shirabu rambled on about the different professions that he thinks Semi would enjoy, the feeling of fondness came rushing in as he looked at Shirabu. He watched as Shirabu fiddled with the strap of his bag, twisting a thread between his fingers while his eyes were shining as he rambled more about the requirements and duties of being a Hit Wizard to Semi. Dare he say it, it looks absolutely adorable at how Shirabu looked both nervous and excited for Semi.

“And well, I’ve also heard that one of the de—” Shirabu turned to Semi, halting as he saw a look of fondness and something he can’t place, clouding Semi’s eyes as he looked at him. Shirabu’s breath hitched, his whole body pinned in place with a single gaze from the older boy.

“I-I’m sorry, I must’ve been rambling, I-I’ll shut up now.” Shirabu breathlessly said, turning away and resumed walking the hall to his common room, cheeks colored in blazing crimson and his heart beating loudly from his chest.

Semi snapped out of his gaze, reaching a hand to grasp Shirabu’s elbow, a silent plea for him to stop walking so he could listen to Semi. “Hey, I didn’t say anything yet you assumed I wanted you to stop talking?”

Shirabu stayed rooted in place, Semi’s touch burned with electric tingles. He could only nod, still facing away from the older boy. Semi sighed affectionately, grabbing his shoulders with both hands and turning him so he could see him face to face.

“I’ll look into those suggestions. Thank you, Shirabu.” Shirabu’s head snapped towards him as soon as Semi thanked him. Semi smiled softly before tapping his nose, chuckling softly as Shirabu scrunched it. “But it’s still a year away. So you have to endure your most hated senior annoying you one last time before he leaves.”

Shirabu furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, “I don’t hate you Semi-san, what do you mean?”

Semi could only shrug, “You act like it, so I assumed.”

Shirabu looked even more confused and distraught, his eyebrows furrowed deeper as he began recalling all the times they spent together. Semi clicked his tongue, pressing one finger between Shirabu’s brows.

“Stop thinking about it, I’m just glad to know that you think of me as a friend too. Now come on, it’s almost four am and we still have to get you to your common room.” Semi nodded his head to the hall, a signal for Shirabu to start walking. Despite the gesture, Shirabu stayed in the same spot, looking conflicted at his thoughts.

“Semi-san.” Shirabu started hesitantly, “I don’t hate you. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, ever since my third year here at Hogwarts.”

Semi’s brain suddenly went blank, looking at Shirabu flabbergasted. While Shirabu looked anywhere but in Semi’s direction, biting his lips in nervousness as his hands started fiddling with his strap more. His cheeks were an alarming shade of red, and Semi was betting that his were the exact same shade —if not, more.

“Wait, what?” Semi asked dubiously, “T-this isn’t some cruel prank right? Or a hallucination my mind conjured up just because I’m sleepy like bloody hell right now, right?”

Shirabu then looked at Semi with an offended look, “I know I push your buttons all the time but I’m not that heartless, Semi-san!”

“Wait, that came out wrong.” Semi hurriedly said, gripping Shirabu’s shoulders before he could walk away. “I just— how did— when did it even start exactly?”

Shirabu’s face turned even more red, turning his head in what Semi could deduce as embarrassment. “Remember when we got detention because we started a food fight in my third year?”

Despite the situation, Semi snorted as he loosened his grip on Shirabu’s shoulders. “How could I not? It took a whole night trying to get the mashed potato off my hair that night.”

“Your temper is to blame, Semi-san.”

“At least I had the decency to throw my mashed potato at your clothes instead of your horrendous hair, slimy buffoon.”

Shirabu rolled his eyes, “I was having a bad day, sue me.”

“Wait, was that your awkward way to flirt with me?!” Semi asked amusedly.

Shirabu scrunched his nose in disgust, “What? No! I didn’t exactly like you back then yet!”

“Then why bring it up?”

“I was getting there before you got me sidetracked, you blimbering dumbass.” Shirabu flicked Semi’s forehead for added retaliation. “As I was saying, we got detention after Tendou, Yamagata, Nishinoya, Tanaka and Yamamoto created a food fight between all the houses — which we admittedly started. We were assigned with Hagrid to the Forbidden Forest to collect some moonflower since Professor Takeda was running low on their supply.”

Semi nodded, one hand reaching down to hold Shirabu’s shaking hand. “You don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.”

Shirabu exhaled loudly, gripping Semi’s hand tightly. “It’s just that boggart we encountered while Hagrid separated from us, seeing my brothers and my parents being targeted by Death Eaters just because I’m muggleborn.”

“I knew the spell but my whole body just froze as I watched them. I keep telling myself to say ‘Riddikulus’ over and over again, just to stop that scene. And you— you took one look at my quivering form and you stood in front of me, shielding me from that horrific view. And when the boggart shifted into your fear, you simply waved your wand like it was nothing.”

Semi hesitantly reached out, gauging Shirabu’s face for any sign of resistance. Once he saw none, he pulled him towards his chest, tightening his hold around the shaking young Slytherin, playing with his hair until he stopped shivering in fear.

“You held me and led me to where Hagrid was and explained to him what happened without going into details, you never let go even as we were on the way to the hospital wing, or even by my common room. You even asked me if I wanted you to stay, even if it means you’ll lose house points. Above all that, you never told anyone about my biggest fear, even after all these years. And I was horrid to you on that day.”

Semi hummed before replying, “You were having a bad day, I won’t use that excuse to hurt you on a far deeper level than what you did to me. You threw mashed potatoes in my hair, I don’t think it’s a fair trade if I told everyone your darkest fear.”

“You never looked at me differently after that. You’re still the annoying senior that lives to tempt me to push your buttons.” Shirabu whispered, chuckling at Semi’s indignant scoff.

“Just because I saw your deepest fear doesn’t make you less of a brat.” Semi patted Shirabu’s hair gently.

“That’s how it started, Semi-san.” Shirabu said, pulling away. Semi looked at him with concern flooding in his eyes. Shirabu only smiled weakly before nodding towards the hall.

Semi held his hand before he could move, “What? Not even staying to listen to what I had to say? Merlin, why did I start liking a brat?”

“Oh shut up, you overgro—” Shirabu paused as Semi’s words processed in his mind. “Wait— you like me?”

“And here I thought you have more brains than I do.”

“Oh, so you admit that I’m smarter than you.”

“Sod off, Shirabu!” Semi hissed before smiling at Shirabu, “I like you, you daft gremlin.”

Semi then looked at Shirabu’s eyes, the love and adoration that the younger had for him written in them. His gaze then shifted to his cute, little, button nose until they reached Shirabu’s smooth lips. He heard Shirabu’s hitched breath as he leaned forward, inching closer and closer towards his lips.

“Can I kiss you, Kenjirou?” Semi asked breathlessly, looking at Shirabu’s eyes pleadingly. Shirabu only looked at him with the same amount of desperation, wrapping his arms around Semi’s neck to pull him closer. Semi’s arms then wrapped themselves around Shirabu’s waist, tightening their grip as they held him closer.

“Merlin, please kiss me before I go bonkers, Eita.” Shirabu said before Semi closed the gap between their lips, both sighing as if they had breathed the air after being deprived of it. Nobody told him that kissing Shirabu is like kissing a thousand stars dancing around in an endless melody — so familiar and so right. He took one hand to cup Shirabu’s cheek, tilting his head to kiss him deeply, his teeth grazing his bottom lip as Shirabu softly whined at his ministrations.

Merlin, if Semi Eita knew this was how it would feel to kiss Shirabu Kenjirou, he wouldn’t mind kissing him every single second of his life.

Pulling away slightly, Semi rested his forehead against Shirabu as they both caught their breaths, smiling widely as he looked at Shirabu’s dazed expression.

“Will you be mine, Shirabu Kenjirou?” Semi asked in silent breaths, opening his eyes to gaze into the caramel brown eyes that he has grown to love.

Shirabu could only smile widely, a hidden dimple caught Semi’s attention as he did so. “There is nothing in this world I would rather be than being yours, Semi Eita.”

It’s as if the moonlight had casted an enchanting aura around Shirabu, Semi could only bask as the one that stood before him unraveled himself with a honest smile void of the usual teasing and banters but was full of unconditional love and never ending affection — a feat that was only meant for his eyes only. In that moment, Semi Eita was even more enamored by Shirabu Kenjirou.

Leaning to kiss his forehead, Semi whispered as he guided him through the halls by their intertwined hands. “Come on, you still need to sleep.”

“This isn’t a dream, right? I won’t wake up and you aren't my boyfriend?”

“It’s not a dream, love.” Shirabu’s face reddened at the pet name, “I’ll still be your annoying senior, but I now have unlocked the boyfriend privilege.”

“I guess Professor Lovegood was right.”

“What?”

“She said that Venus was shining brightly tonight, so there is a possibility of one of her students having a successful declaration of love. She then looked at me like she knew something I didn’t.”

Semi let out a quiet groan. “I can’t believe even the professors are in this.”

Shirabu laughed softly, “I will not hesitate to hex you if you plan on kissing me in front of the whole student population, I swear to Merlin Semi. I can and I will do that.”

Semi snorted, “No can do love, I just have to let the whole world know you’re finally mine.”

Shirabu only sighed, a smile betraying him danced its way on my lips as he squeezed Semi’s hand.

Semi could only smile at him before squeezing his hands back as the familiar door of the Slytherin common room came to sight.

(Semi did, in fact, kiss Shirabu in the Great Hall that morning. The Gryffindor perked up at the sight of his boyfriend — Boyfriend! Semi still has yet to believe he finally got Shirabu to be his — before darting behind him and hugging him by the waist, nuzzling his head on Shirabu’s shoulder. This caused his group of friends to halt whatever they were doing to observe the two.

Shirabu's cheeks grew red at the affection Semi was giving him, pointedly ignoring Taichi and Tendou questioning gazes as Semi plopped down beside him. Semi then turned to him, grinned mischievously, before leaning and kissing his cheeks. This action caused an uproar among their surrounding friends, which also caused Shirabu’s inflamed cheeks to darken even more.

“Will you stop that?” Shirabu said, though he scooted more as Semi wrapped one arm on his waist. Semi only grinned before kissing his forehead.

“As long as we’re together? Never!”

“You are such an annoying git.”

“Why thank you, it’s my charm.”

“I am breaking up with you.”

“Nope, not until you go to hogsmeade with me.” Shirabu nearly choked on the pumpkin juice he was drinking, blushing furiously and stammering as soon as Semi said that. Semi only looked at him teasingly and began poking his side with his elbow.

"I— you— did you just— Oh Merlin’s beard, alright! This better be the best bloody date or so help me Merlin, I can and will not hesitate on hexing you to swim with the merpeople residing in the Black Lake.” Shirabu said, lifting a hand to stop Semi from poking him with his elbow in the stomach. ”Will you stop poking me with your bloody elbow?!"

Semi chuckled as he stopped elbowing Shirabu, letting the younger student curl on his neck to hide his adorable tomato cheeks. Semi is definitely whipped for his boyfriend and he’s proud of it.

“Wait, so Wakatoshi won the bet?” Semi groaned as he remembered the bet his so-called friends made on his lovelife.

“Bet?” Shirabu then turned his head to Hayato, who was pointing between him and Semi.

“Yeah, we had this bet going on when will Semi confess his dying love for you!” Tendou said, as he did a little dance while making heart fingers at both Semi and Shirabu. The couple only gave him disgusted looks, which caused everyone to tease them about looking too alike, now that they’re together.

“As for the bet,” Shirabu said loudly, hoping to divert the attention from his reddened cheeks to the bet. “I believe everyone betted that Semi will confess to me sometime in the future, correct?”

Everyone nodded, except Kawanishi of course.

“Well, looks like none of you guys won then.” Shirabu smirked proudly, leaning in on Semi’s embrace while the latter played with his hair.

“WHAT?!” Soekawa and Hayato exclaimed. “BUT AREN’T YOU TWO TOGETHER NOW?!”

“Yeah, but Semi-san didn’t confess.” Shirabu shrugged before picking up a pudding and eating it. “I did.”

Silence. A rare occurrence in this group of friends, who were now staring at Shirabu in utter disbelief.

Until Taichi broke it.

“Pay up.” Taichi said as he held out his hand to Goshiki. The latter only pouted before digging up 20 galleons from his pocket and into Taichi’s awaiting hand.

“I can’t believe you betted on me!” Shirabu screeched as Taichi only held out a peace sign and pocketed 20 galleons.

“If it helps, we only betted on who will confess first. Goshiki, Shibata and Yunohana betted for Semi while I betted for you.”

“You even got Shibata and Yunohana to bet on us?!”

“I mean, it was a no brainer you would confess first. May I remind you of the many times you vented about how you almost told Semi-san how deeply enamored you are with him for the past three years?” That piqued Semi’s interest as he looked at Shirabu, who was now supporting an even darker blush on his cheeks.

“That’s it, I am revoking your best friend privileges.”

“Thanks, I never wanted them in the first place.” Taichi deadpanned as he stole a scoop from Shirabu’s pudding and ate it, ignoring Shirabu’s offended gaze at him.

“The lion, the witch and the audacity of this bitch.”

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?!”

Semi snorted as he looked around his still-stunned friends, laughing at how Shirabu had single-handedly been able to shut both Tendou and Hayato up, while simultaneously stunning Ushijima, Soekawa and Reon.

Semi leaned and kissed Shirabu’s forehead once more before taking a fork and digging into the pasta that appeared right before him.)

Bonus.

“Hey Semi?”

A week after the Great Hall incident, it was now the weekend. It also means it’s Semi and Shirabu’s first date in Hogsmeade. The young couple fortunately had broken free from their teasing group of friends so they could enjoy their date without them meddling, Semi had almost hexed Tendou when he vehemently pushed the couple towards Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop — a place known as a popular date spot among the couples of Hogwarts, though the reason why didn’t seem to come to mind as the couple looked at the shop’s nasty pink walls.

So here they are now, walking towards The Three Broomsticks after exiting Tomes and Scrolls, as Shirabu wanted to see if they had a copy of ‘Healing at Home with Herbs’, which is now tucked safely in Shirabu’s bag.

“Hm?” Semi hummed, his thumb grazing the back of Shirabu’s hand as Shirabu tightened their grip with his.

Shirabu hesitated, pondering on his words before asking. “When did you start liking me?”

Semi, although surprised at the sudden question, answered a second later. “I realized when we were by the Black Lake, the time you showed me the camera that rolls out the mini papers—”

“You mean my polaroid camera.”

“Shush. As I was saying, I liked you even before that. I just, well—” Semi paused to find the words to continue his sentence.

Shirabu looked at Semi’s pondering face, before deciding to help him. “You were just in denial because I was being a brat.”

“Wha— I didn’t say that!” Semi squawk.

“You didn’t but Tendou did.” Shirabu shrugged before resuming his walk towards the inn. Semi tugged his hand, stopping him yet again.

“Wait, what did Tendou exactly say?” Semi asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion. If anything, Tendou cannot be trusted with his words, and it’s always a safe option to listen to Tendou with caution.

“That you’ve been ‘in love’ with me since your fourth year but you kept denying it?” Shirabu stated, although it sounded more like a question than a statement. “Now come on, I want some butterbeer.”

Semi wanted to protest, as he didn’t even know he liked Shirabu until this year. However, one look at Shirabu pouting, Semi’s protests faded away and internally coo-ed at how adorable his boyfriend is. Merlin, he definitely wasn’t going to get tired of calling Shirabu his boyfriend anytime soon. They resumed walking, idle chatter and banters filling up the air between them while they exchanged fond looks at each other.

Though, Semi was plotting on how to get back at Tendou for blabbering nonsense about him behind his back.

A few steps behind them, Professor Lovegood was watching them as she accompanied Draco Malfoy to Dogweed and Deathcap to acquire some herbs for another potion he had to give to Madam Pomfrey.

Draco only looked at the young bickering couple in front of him before turning to Luna. “Those were the two students you were telling me about in the mail the other day, were they?”

Luna only smiled mischievously, “You have to be specific, Draco. I told you lots of stories about my students.”

Luna then diverted the topic as they continued walking towards the Herbology shop, “So, Professor Washijo wanted you and Harry to come visit for his Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. He wants you two to duel! Oh, how exciting! It’ll be like old times!”

(A week later, the Great Hall was surrounded by a peaceful chatter of its occupants. Students and professors were having their idle chat while eating breakfast. Shirabu was sitting by the Slytherin table with his friends when he noticed two missing people from the group.

Before he could ask Reon where his hot-headed boyfriend and annoying red-headed friend are when an angry yell from a certain ash-blond Gryffindor disrupted the peaceful chatter, cutting Shirabu off in the process.

"SATORI, YOU PIECE OF SHIT! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU TELL HIM?!?!? GET BACK HERE, I WILL BURN THAT RED HAIR OF YOURS— INCENDIO!"

This then was followed by a sound similar to a banshee laughing.

If their group of friends — and boyfriend, in Shirabu’s case — saw their irregularly bleached 6th year Gryffindor friend chasing their other 6th year Ravenclaw friend with a (literal) flaming red head down the hallway, they only looked the other way.

It was too bloody early to deal with them either way.)