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Joe usually loved sleeping at night, but this night all Joe could do was think about Nicky and the words he had said earlier that day.
Joe and Nicky grew up together, they played together, and they went to Hogwarts together. They both believed they would end up in the same house, but when Nicky ended up in Hufflepuff and Joe in Gryffindor, they both tried to change the outcome by talking with Headmaster Farley, but were told there was nothing to do, and if they tried, something good would come out of getting to know new people and that they still could be friends. Reluctantly, they agreed with Headmaster Farley, and within a week they both realised that Headmaster Farley was right about that It was good to get to know new people.
Despite getting new friends, Joe and Nicky made sure to meet up every day after school to talk about their day.
As the years went by, Joe became the team captain of Gryffindor's Quidditch Team, while Nicky's love for all kinds of animals only grew, and he helped out in the owlery. But there was still time to talk together every day.
When they reached year 6, Nicky got the opportunity to go to Brazil as an exchange student. During that year, they kept in touch with letters and thanks to the invention of the mobile phone, they could talk together every day. When Nicky returned at the beginning of the summer, they both knew something had changed between them, and during a midsummer party, they kissed for the first time. It was a summer filled with love.
It wasn't easy being boyfriends in year 7 because of all the schoolwork, Quidditch, and the owlery, but they still found an hour every day to talk together and share a kiss or two. Everything was fine between them until a boy named Keane from Slytherin took an interest in Nicky, too. That was the start of December, and even though Joe knew Nicky would never cheat on him, it still made Joe insanely jealous whenever Keane talked or touched Nicky. Nicky kept on saying that Keane wasn't his type at all, but Joe couldn't control his feelings, and during a Quidditch match, Joe, without any reason, knocked Keane off his broom. Keane wasn't hurt at all, but the outcome of Joe's actions led to more trouble for him than he thought possible. Not only was Joe quarantined for the next four Quidditch matches, but Gryffindor was declared the loser of the match. For the first time in his life, Nicky was so angry at Joe that he shouted at him. After shouting at Joe, Nicky said he would never see or talk with Joe again because, as Joe had put it to a friend, Nicky was nothing more than a phase in Joe's life. When Nicky left the room crying, Joe noticed Keane standing around a corner with a triumphant smile.
Joe found it easier to say sorry to his Quidditch mates than to Nicky. Joe's Quidditch mates said that Keane had it coming, given Keane was responsible for putting over half of the Gryffindor's Quidditch Team in the hospital. The Quidditch mates disapproved of the way it happened, but they forgave Joe. But Nicky flat out refused to talk with Joe at all, and what was even worse was that Keane had used the entire situation to worm his way even closer to Nicky.
Then something dawned on Joe.
"It's just a phase?" Joe said as he sat up in his bed and face-palmed himself. "I'm such an idiot."
"We already know that you're an idiot, Joe, and I think the entire Griffindor heard you," Timmy replied from the bed to Joe's right side. "Are you sure you don't want to shout it out from the rooftop so the entire Hogwarts also knows that you're an idiot?"
"Oh, sorry," Joe replied. "Was I speaking to myself again?"
"Yes," Timmy replied. "Go to sleep, Joe. It's past 5 AM, and some of us have to be up in an hour to practice Quidditch, my great captain."
"Still sorry for that," Joe replied. "When will you forgive me for that?"
Timmy didn't answer because he was sleeping again, so Joe lay down again and started thinking about how he could say sorry to Nicky. Then Joe got an idea and got out of bed.
"Joe, it's in the middle of the night," Timmy said when Joe tripped over Timmy's chest, which made a noise on the way out of the room. "Where are you going anyway?"
"I know how to say sorry to Nicky," Joe replied. "And all because you're a genius, Timmy."
"I'm a genius?" Timmy asked. "Can't you tell that to the potion teacher, who is about to flunk me?"
At breakfast, Joe watched the other students passing him, who didn't notice him because he was standing in the shadows behind the door to the Great Hall. Joe looked at his clock. Usually Nicky was never late, but this morning he was. It was only a couple of minutes, but when Nicky entered with Keane, Joe took a deep breath before he followed them, and just before Nicky sat down, Joe grabbed Nicky's hand.
"I'm only telling you this once, Keane," Joe snarled. "Stay away from my boyfriend."
Then Joe started dragging Nicky towards the teachers' table.
"Let me go," Nicky protested. "I broke up with you."
"I know, but I didn't break up with you, so we disagree about that," Joe replied. "And I need you to hear me out."
Nicky had expected that Joe was aiming for the room next to the teachers' table, not stopping in front of it.
"Headmaster Farley?" Joe asked. "Could I ask for something?"
"Yes, Joe," Headmaster Farley replied. "What is your request?"
"You always say that if we want to speak in front of the school, all we have to do is ask," Joe replied. "I want to speak in front of the school right now. I got something important to tell everyone."
"If that's what you want, Joe," Headmaster Farley replied. "Then you should do it."
Headmaster Farley got up from her chair and walked over to the small podium in front of the windows with Joe and Nicky after her.
"Joe," Nicky said. "Are you mad? Speaking in front of the entire school."
"That might be that I've gone mad, yes, but when you're in love, there's a real chance that love will drive you mad," Joe replied as they stopped in front of the podium. "Just please listen to me. That's all I ask for, and if you don't like what I'm about to say, then I'll accept that we've broken up for good."
Nicky just nodded, and Joe placed a kiss on Nicky's knuckles.
"Could I have everyone's attention?" Headmaster Farley asked, and everyone in the Great Hall looked towards the podium. "Joe has something he wants to say. Please all listen to him."
Headmaster Farley stepped down from the podium, and before stepping up on the podium, Joe took a deep breath.
"I actually got three things I want to say, and I promise to make it quick," Joe said. "The three things are: Nicky, me, and us."
Joe looked at Nicky briefly before he looked at the other students.
"I'm getting really tired of everyone who laughs and talks about Nicky behind his back. To them I want to say, you're missing the point of why Nicky is doing what he is doing," Joe said. "Let me ask you all this: Who is it that always has the time to help anyone who needs it? Who is it that always takes his time to make sure that anyone who is feeling homesick feels at home here at Hogwarts? Who has more than once gone with someone they don't know to the hospital wing when they got hurt or were ill, without asking which house they belong to or whether they're wizards or muggles? And who was it that did not move from their side before they could leave the hospital wing again? The answer to all these questions is Nicky. And why is it that he does all of these things? It's because he is being kind. Something we all could learn a thing or two from."
Joe took a deep breath while he looked at Nicky again. Then Joe looked at the students again.
"And then there's me," Joe said. "I need to clarify something that many people misunderstood, and Nicky too, because I got a feeling someone didn't tell everything I said when someone eavesdropped on me when I spoke with a friend."
Joe looked over at Keane briefly, who rolled his eyes before looking at the students again.
"And the thing is what I meant by going through a phase," Joe said. He could tell that Nicky was still standing there. "The phase I was speaking about was Quidditch because Quidditch is a phase of my life right now, because I'm getting tired of everyone expecting me to pursue either a career within Quidditch or as an Auror when I leave Hogwarts. But as I told my parents last time I was home, I'm going to travel with Nicky when we finish our exams this summer. And I'm going to pursue a life as a painter because I want to draw everything Nicky discovers as a Magizoologist. Which brings me to us."
Joe reached out his hand toward Nicky in the hope Nicky would take it, something Nicky did.
"And what I mean by us, I mean Nicky and me," Joe said as he looked at the students. Nicky squeezed Joe's hand. "Just as Nicky was my first best friend, Nicky will always be my first and only love. Something I almost lost sight of because I got insanely jealous, and while being jealous, I forgot us, what we had together, and what we have together. And that's why I'm standing here. So everyone can hear me say out loud to the one I love without measure and reason: I was a fool for not trusting you, Nicky, and I hope with my entire heart that you one day can forgive me because..."
More Joe didn't get to say because Nicky stepped up on the podium and kissed Joe. Joe pulled Nicky closer and deepened the kiss. It wasn't until Headmaster Farley poked Joe on the shoulder that they both noticed that three out of four houses were cheering loudly and that they were still standing in the Great Hall.
"Sorry, Headmaster Farley," Joe said. "I just, I just, I'm..."
Joe looked at Nicky for some help, but Nicky giggled.
"I understand," Headmaster Farley said with a smile. "Do you have anything else you want to say?"
"Just one thing, I promise to make it quick," Joe said. "Also sorry to everyone on my team for being a jerk during the last match."
Joe had to take a deep breath before saying the next thing. Since all the Slytherin students were gone, Joe looked at the head of their house instead of the teachers' table.
"And sorry for going after one of your players," Joe said. "It was wrong of me."
Joe was then dragged out of the Great Hall by Nicky.
"Hufflepuff kissed Gryffindor!!!" Peeves shouted very loudly when he flew by them. "Hufflepuff kissed Gryffindor!!!"
Joe and Nicky turned a corner.
"For once, Peeves isn't wrong," Nicky said as he stopped walking. "I have to say it was very brave what you did, Joe."
"Thanks," Joe replied. "But I'm not planning on making any more big speeches like that anytime soon."
Nicky moved closer to Joe.
"I loved it," Nicky said as he placed a hand on Joe's chest. "But let me make it very clear. If you ever knock anyone off the broom without a very good reason, I won't forgive you, and we're done for good."
"I promise you that," Joe replied. "I learned my lesson the hard way."
Nicky kissed Joe.
"I have to leave because of the owlery," Nicky said. "See you tonight at our usual spot at 7 PM?"
"I'll be there at 6.59 PM," Joe replied. "But first another kiss."
Ten minutes later, Joe sat down next to Timmy in the potion class.
"Was that why you called me a genius?" Timmy asked. "You telling the entire school you're in love."
"Instead of a rooftop, I chose a podium," Joe replied. "But thanks for the idea."
"You aren't getting off that easy," Timmy replied. "I expect at least four big fruit pies with whipped cream from the kitchen, plus a big Christmas gift from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."
"If that's the prize for fixing my love life, then I'm more than happy to pay," Joe replied as he raised his hand in the air. "Professor Dawson?"
"Yes, Joe," Professor Dawson said. "What is it?"
"Professor Dawson, I think you should know there is no reason to flunk Timmy," Joe said. "Because Timmy is a genius."
Timmy hit Joe with the potion book before telling Joe that he owed Timmy six big fruit pies with whipped cream.
"You're such an idiot, Joe," Timmy said. "A good friend, but such an idiot."
"Thanks," Joe replied. "And I'll get you what you asked for."
That evening, Joe and Nicky met in one of the empty classrooms with a fireplace.
"Did you get the fruit pie from the kitchen by asking nicely?" Nicky asked when Joe offered Nicky a piece. "Or did you steal them?"
"I paid for them," Joe replied as he showed Nicky the receipt. "Look."
"And the other six fruit pies?" Nicky asked. "Did you eat them?"
"No, I owed a friend six fruit pies. I'll tell you why another day," Joe replied. "So, are we good?"
"Yes," Nicky replied as he leaned his head against Joe's shoulder. "But remember what I said."
"I promise you, Nicky," Joe replied. "I learned my lesson."
Joe placed a finger under Nicky's chin and kissed him.
"I got you a Christmas gift," Joe said. "I wanted to give it to you before you leave for Italy."
Joe nervously handed Nicky a small Christmas gift.
"You don't have to wear it if you don't want to," Joe said. "I don't even know if you like jewellery."
Nicky looked at the silver ring. There were owls on it.
"I love it," Nicky said. "Do you want to put it on my finger?"
"Is that even a question?" Joe asked with a big smile. "Of course."
Nicky reached out his hand, and Joe took it before he put the ring on the finger.
"Thanks, Joe," Nicky said before kissing Joe. "I also got you something."
Nicky handed Joe a Christmas gift.
"Oh, this is beautiful," Joe said when he took the silver necklace with the pendant that had their names written on it. "Do you want to put it on for me?"
"Is that even a question?" Nicky asked with a big smile. "Of course."
Joe bent his head so Nicky could put the necklace on.
"Have I told you that I love you?" Nicky asked. "Even though you're an idiot."
"I admit that I'm an idiot," Joe replied. "And I never get tired of hearing you say that you love me."
"I can only say the same thing," Nicky replied. "Please kiss me."
Joe cupped Nicky's cheek, and they kissed. They kissed and talked way past midnight when a professor reminded them that it was time for bed. Before parting for the night, they kissed again, and once again, they were reminded it was time for bed.
"Sorry," Joe said when he tripped over Timmy's chest again. "So sorry."
"Just go to bed, Joe," Timmy replied as he pulled his duvet over his head. "And you owe me now two Christmas gifts from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."
"No problem, my friend," Joe replied as he lay down in his bed. "That's only a fair price to pay."
Joe looked at the pendant with their names on it, feeling so happy that he knew he would never find the words.
"Seriously, Joe?" Timmy asked just as Joe got hit by a flying pillow. "Stop talking and go to sleep, or I might end up using Silencio on you."