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A thick layer of pristine white snow blankets the grounds at Hogwarts, bitter cold biting into Juyeon’s skin and ice kissing his cheeks. He tucks his cloak tighter around his body as he waits outside one of the Herbology greenhouses for the class to end. His own class had ended just ten minutes prior and he had rushed out of the castle and across the grounds to reach the greenhouses as quickly as he could.
After a few minutes of waiting, the class starts streaming out. A pink-cheeked boy bounces out of the greenhouse, bright yellow scarf trailing behind him. It’s his friend Haknyeon, a fellow Hufflepuff. Haknyeon waves at Juyeon cheerfully, not minding the cold one bit. “Hi, Juyeon. Waiting for Sunwoo?”
A blush threatens to paint Juyeon’s cheeks, but luckily the coldness of the air cools him down. He’s embarrassed at how worked up he gets over just hearing the younger’s name. “Yep.”
“He had to stay behind because the Professor needed to have a word. He’ll probably be out in a minute. Talk to you later, I have to meet- um, someone.” Haknyeon lowers his gaze, hurrying off.
Juyeon doesn’t even have time to be suspicious because Sunwoo emerges a moment later, looking rather cross. Even with his eyebrows knitted together and lower lip stuck out, he’s still pretty. His reddish-gold skin contrasts beautifully with the snow falling around them, dark eyes framed with thick, dark lashes flitting around restlessly. Snowflakes fall into his dark mass of curls and his plush lips part when he looks up at the sky and sighs.
“Hey, Sunwoo.” Juyeon greets him softly. Sunwoo turns, and breaks out into a smile. He rushes towards Juyeon, bag hitting his side as he makes his way over.
“Hyung!”
Sunwoo looks genuinely happy to see him, and the thought warms Juyeon up, a shield from the cold surrounding them. Sunwoo crowds into Juyeon’s space, tilting his face up to look Juyeon in the eyes. From the angle, Juyeon can count the smattering of golden freckles on Sunwoo’s skin, a result of constantly being out on the Quidditch field. He looks a bit drawn, but Juyeon supposes it can’t be helped. His sun boy blooms in the summer and draws in on himself in the winter.
“How was Herbology?” Juyeon asks, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice. Sunwoo is so close, whether he realizes it or not. But his friend has always been like this, always clinging to others.
“Ugh. Terrible.” Sunwoo starts to animatedly tell him about an incident concerning a pair of clippers and a violent plant as they walk back towards the castle. It’s lunch time, so the Great Hall is much more crowded than usual as students enter. Normally, Sunwoo would sit at the Gryffindor table and Juyeon with the Hufflepuffs, but lately they’ve been switching it up a bit. In the warmer months, they sit in the courtyard, but during winter, Sunwoo often joins him at the Hufflepuff table. It’s technically against the rules, but none of the professors have ever reprimanded them, in fact they tend to encourage friendships between the houses.
The table is already half full, but Juyeon’s usual spot is open. They sit down and start filling up their plates. Haknyeon sits across from them, picking listlessly at a piece of bread. Juyeon notices a faint red mark on his neck peeking out from his scarf, and he tries to catch his friend’s eye but Sunwoo is tugging on his sleeve, trying to finish up his story.
Juyeon waits patiently, listening attentively to Sunwoo. When he finishes, Juyeon makes a joke about angry plants that has Sunwoo snorting into his potatoes. When the conversation lulls, he leans over to gently pat Haknyeon’s hand. “Everything okay?”
Haknyeon looks up, his cocoa-colored eyes strangely glossy. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Juyeon doesn’t press it further, at least not yet. Haknyeon isn’t the type to reveal his problems before he’s ready. He ladles some stew into a bowl and begins to eat, letting the warmth of the liquid heat him up inside.
Sunwoo finishes before Juyeon and restlessly moves around, tapping his fingers on the table, bouncing his leg, craning his neck to scan the hall. Juyeon and Sunwoo are a funny mix, both taking life at wildly different paces and yet somehow managing to keep up with each other.
Juyeon was in his second year when Sunwoo arrived, all chubby cheeks and tan skin and coal-black eyes, a mix of curiosity and apprehension crossing his features. Juyeon watched as he came forward when his name was called, K for Kim, Sunwoo Kim. He sat down on the stool, scraped knees peeking out of his too-big school uniform. He had a determined look on his face as the sorting hat was placed on his head. It sat there for about fifteen seconds before determining that Kim Sunwoo was to be placed in Gryffindor. Juyeon had felt a bit disappointed for some reason. He wondered what would have happened if he’d been labeled a Hufflepuff.
They ended up becoming friends anyway, and Juyeon no longer questions the sorting hat’s decisons. Sunwoo is a textbook Gryffindor, brawny and fearless. No wonder the hat took less than half a minute to deliberate. When Juyeon was sorted, the hat couldn’t decide whether he belonged in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, but eventually his purity and selflessness won out.
Juyeon wants to say they are an unlikely duo, but honestly, they aren’t. Despite their different personalities, they’re both very popular. They’re both handsome and smart. Both are quite athletic, though they showcase it through different means. Sunwoo is the Gryffindor Quidditch team’s seeker, and Juyeon prefers sports where both of his feet are planted firmly on the ground. Juyeon is a pureblood while Sunwoo is muggle-born, and Juyeon’s the one who ended up teaching him how to stay afloat in the wizarding world. They’re basically inseperable and all of this would be fine, except one thing.
One very, very big thing.
Juyeon’s been in love with Sunwoo for two years.
He doesn’t know exactly when it starts, but he guesses it’s around the time Sunwoo curls his hair with a perming charm in his fourth year. That little detail leads him to notice so many other things, like how broad his shoulders have gotten, or how his slender form has become more toned. How the light reflects off of his golden skin and the pretty shape of his lips when he smiles.
Jacob calls him whipped. Juyeon has no idea what it means. The muggle-born is always confusing him with modern slang from the Muggle world.
“-yeon. Hello.” Juyeon is brought back to the present by Sunwoo waving a hand in his face.
“Sorry, what?” Juyeon asks.
Sunwoo sighs good-naturedly. “I was wondering if you wanted to go down to the Quidditch pitch with me.”
“The Quidditch pitch? In this weather?” Juyeon asks incredulously. Only Sunwoo would do it.
“Yeah, no one else is going to be there. You can throw snitches for me. Please?” He widens his eyes slightly and damn it he knows what that does to Juyeon. Who could resist the enormous, glistening, liquid brown eyes that shimmer and reflect the golden light surrounding them? Certainly not Lee Juyeon.
“Fine. Just for a little bit.” Juyeon glances over to ask Haknyeon if he wants to come, only to find that his friend has already left. He makes a mental note to bring him some snacks tonight to cheer him up.
୨♡୧
my everything is all about you
if you feel the same way i do, stay true
everything from the streetlights to the dancing starlight
you
The air seems colder than earlier as they trudge onto the Quidditch pitch. Sunwoo clutches his broom tightly in one hand, a small box in the other. Luckily, they both have free periods after lunch, so no reason to be worried about getting into trouble. Juyeon performs a small insulation charm his mother taught him on both himself and Sunwoo. Sunwoo hands Juyeon the box and kicks off into the air effortlessly. He brushes his hair out of his eyes, watching sharply as Juyeon undoes the clasp holding the box shut and releases the snitch inside.
As soon as the snitch shoots away, Sunwoo’s off like a bullet. It’s something Juyeon greatly admires, the sheer skill Sunwoo possesses. He weaves through the air effortlessly, too fast for Juyeon to keep up. He catches the snitch within two minutes, clutching it triumphantly in his fist as he lowers himself to the ground. He slides off of his broom with ease, waving the snitch in front of Juyeon’s face happily. “Too easy.”
The snitch struggles feebly in Sunwoo’s hand, but he doesn’t let go of it. “Your turn.”
“What? No, no thank you.” Juyeon shakes his head vehemently. “I thought I was just going to help you practice.”
“Come on, Juyeonie hyung. You never play with me.” Sunwoo pouts, sticking his lower lip out.
Juyeon is a weak, weak man for those lips. ‘B-But I’m afraid of flying.”
“You’ll be fine. I’ll catch you if you fall, Hyungie.” Sunwoo’s smile is so genuine, so reassuring, that Juyeon finds himself mindlessly climbing onto Sunwoo’s broomstick. His heart rate speeds up, and he mentally curses himself for being such a pushover as he rises in the air. Sunwoo lets go of the snitch and it darts away. Juyeon looks around halfheartedly, more concerned with keeping his balance.
He doesn’t even realize how high he’s risen until Sunwoo shouts something indiscernible. He automatically looks down and his heart nearly topples out of his chest. He’s around fifteen feet in the air, not too high by Sunwoo’s standards perhaps, but high enough to give Juyeon a bit of a heart attack.
“The snitch, Hyung! Over there!” Sunwoo’s pointing to his left, and Juyeon pulls the broom to the side. He pulls it too harshly and overcorrects as he tries to balance himself. He catches the slightest hint of gold, and he turns in that direction but it’s too late, he’s already freefalling to the ground. Stupidly, he turns the broom in the direction of Sunwoo. You promised to catch me.
Sunwoo indeed catches him, whether he wants to or not. Juyeon crashes into him, toppling off of the broom and onto Sunwoo as the younger falls backward into the snow. His glasses tumble off his nose and land somewhere in the snow.
“Ouch, Hyung.” Sunwoo whines petulantly. Juyeon slowly opens his eyes. He’s sprawled on top of Sunwoo, clinging tightly to his cloak. Sunwoo has one arm wrapped tightly around his waist. Juyeon doesn’t even have time to process what just happened. Sunwoo looks up at him curiously, waiting for him to get his bearings. “You’re really bad at flying.”
“I know.” Juyeon huffs, dropping his forehead onto Sunwoo’s shoulder. He masks it as hanging his head in shame, when in reality, he’s trying to hide the violent blush that paints his cheeks. “I suck.”
Sunwoo doesn’t respond. Instead, he flips them over so he’s straddling Juyeon’s waist. Juyeon stares up at him in shock, but his expression quickly turns sour when Sunwoo shoves a handful of snow in his face.
“Argh, get off!” Juyeon pushes a giggling Sunwoo off, but he secretly thinks that he’d let Sunwoo dump an entire bucket of snow on him if it meant that he could hear his laugh again. “Do you still want to practice? Can we go inside now?”
Sunwoo stands up, wrinkling his nose. “We better not. My poor broom has some trauma to work through.”
Juyeon scowls, watching as Sunwoo slides on his broom and kicks off the ground once more, searching for the snitch that Juyeon had failed to catch. His insides are burning and his cheeks are still heated from being so close to Sunwoo. It’s not like it’s anything new, the boys are practically best friends after all. But seeing Sunwoo’s beauty up close, no matter how blurry without his glasses, knocks the breath out of him every single time. Juyeon pokes through the snow until he finds his glasses, and he wipes them on his cloak before perching them on his nose.
After Sunwoo catches the snitch and wrangles it back into it’s box, the two boys make a quick stop to drop off his broom and the box before heading back to the castle. Juyeon has Potions next and Sunwoo has Charms. They go their separate ways, promising to meet up at the library after dinner.
The rest of the day passes by fairly quickly and without any fuss, minus an incident in Potions where a Slytherin nearly blows up the dungeon by accident. By the time dinner comes around, Juyeon is worn out. He eats with his friends from Hufflepuff, namely Haknyeon, Jacob, and Younghoon. Haknyeon still looks a bit down, and it makes Juyeon’s heart hurt. As soon as he finishes his dinner, Haknyeon quickly leaves the Great Hall, and Jacob gives Juyeon an unsure look. “Is he alright?”
“I don’t know. I’ll figure it out tonight.” Juyeon mumbles. He finishes up his food as quickly as he can and grabs his book bag, slinging it over his shoulder. “See you guys later.”
He makes it halfway to the entrance of the Great Hall before Sunwoo is catching up to him, cheeks bulging with food. Juyeon makes him stop and finish his last bites of dinner so he doesn’t he choke. Once Sunwoo is completely finished, they make their way out of the hall. The trip to the library is a short one. When they enter the large, quiet room, Juyeon feels a bit calmer. It’s a longtime tradion to study and chat with Sunwoo after dinner, one that was started when they were both young. Oddly Juyeon can hear two voices, deep inside the library. Usually the area is completely deserted after dinner. If he listens hard, he can just barely make out what they’re saying,
“Hak, it’s not a good idea. Just think of the consequences.” The first voice is sharp and filled with cold determination.
“B-But I don’t care. I love you and I want to be with you, publicly.” The second voice is unmistakably Haknyeon’s, and Juyeon’s eyes widen slightly. He glances at Sunwoo, who looks equally confused.
“I love you too, but my answer is still no. I can’t- I can’t be seen with you right now.”
Haknyeon lets out a soft, wounded noise and Juyeon feels a sudden surge of anger at the unnamed boy. He bangs his book bag on the table loudly, to alert them of his presence. The voices abruptly stop and Juyeon strides towards the shelves, expecting to find two people, but it seems the other boy has disappeared. Near the third shelf, Haknyeon sits alone with his face buried in his knees. His shoulders shake as he sobs and Juyeon rushes over, kneeling down to wrap his arms around his friend. “Hey, are you okay?”
“N-No.” Haknyeon sniffles, pulling away. He slowly stands up, using the back of his hand to wipe away his tears. He picks up his bag from the floor and dusts off his pants, keeping his head down as he sidesteps Juyeon on his way out.
Sunwoo is still standing by the entrance, eyebrows furrowed. When Juyeon approaches him, he tilts his head slightly. “Is Haknyeon alright?”
“I don’t think so.”
They wander the library until they reach their usual spot, a cozy corner tucked by a large fireplace, two cozy chairs and a table between them. Juyeon pulls out his Care of Magical Creatures book and Sunwoo starts to work on his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. They work in amicable silence for awhile, the only noises coming from the scratching of their quills and the crackling fireplace.
Eventually, Juyeon sets his quill down. “I’m worried about Haknyeon.”
Sunwoo glances up, his eyes taking on a curious glimmer. “Has he been acting weird lately?”
“No, not exactly. I did notice he was acting a bit odd earlier in the week, but today it was a lot worse. And whoever he was talking to earlier sounded rude, honestly. He made Haknyeon cry.” Juyeon taps his finger against his lower lip absentmindedly, willing his mind to reveal to him the source of Haknyeon’s odd behavior.
“But did you hear? They said they loved each other. Is Haknyeon dating someone?” Sunwoo asks.
“I don’t think so.” Juyeon doesn’t hesitate to respond. He knows his friend. At least, he thinks he does. “Wouldn’t he tell me? I mean, we’re close…”
“Not if he feels like he needs to keep a secret.” Sunwoo says wisely, resting his chin on the palm of his hand. “Maybe he’s involved with someone shady.”
“He wouldn’t.” Juyeon says firmly.
“But still. It’s a bit concerning. Remember what happened to Younghoon when he got caught up with that sketchy Ravenclaw?”
Juyeon does remember. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Choi Chanhee, a criminally beautiful and intelligent Ravenclaw. Ever since the Magical Species Act had been passed, werewolves and vampires cropped up slightly more often among the wizarding population. It had never been confirmed, but most believed Chanhee to be a vampire. And then poor Younghoon had developed a crush on him. At first, it seemed to be harmless, and then out of nowhere he’d started wearing a lot more scarves.
“Well, I hope Haknyeon isn’t in any trouble.” Juyeon says softly, unsure of what to do.
“That’s what I’m saying. We should find out what’s going on.” Sunwoo sounds determined and worried.
Juyeon isn’t so sure. “But…but what if he gets mad at us?”
“He’ll understand. And I didn’t say we had to let him know, I’m just saying we could find out what’s going on to make sure he’s safe.”
“Still…”
“It will be fine, Hyung. Trust me.” Sunwoo reaches over to pat his hand, and the simple touch sends sparks shooting up Juyeon’s arm. He inwardly curses himself for reacting like a lovesick child and gets back to his work.
୨♡୧
our youth is filled with each other's names
i've been hesitating for a long time to say this
but i'll tell you everything today without leaving anything behind
When he returns back to the dorm that night, Haknyeon is already tucked into bed. Juyeon wants to reassure him in case he’s awake, but he doesn’t risk it. Younghoon and Jacob are already sleeping, and he doesn’t want to wake them up. Instead, he gets himself ready for bed and slips under his covers, mulling Sunwoo’s proposition over in his head. He feels like he’s betraying Haknyeon by prying into his business, and he doesn’t think they should do it. On the other hand, if Haknyeon is mixing himself up into shady business, Juyeon thinks it’s his responsibility as a friend to help him out.
Except, when he wakes up in the morning, Haknyeon is fiddling with his robes, tapping his foot absentmindedly. And when he sees Juyeon is awake, he stands up. “Juyeon, listen.”
Juyeon sits up, rubbing at his eyes. Haknyeon sits at the edge of his bed, twisting his fingers nervously. “I just want to say, don’t worry about what you heard yesterday. I’m handling it, and everything is fine. So don’t get any ideas.”
“I won’t.” Juyeon promises. He blindly reaches for his glasses on his night table and slips them on, squinting a bit as the morning light comes into clearer focus. Haknyeon gives him a thin smile and then stands up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. His step has lost its bounce, and his normally pink cheeks look wan. Juyeon frowns, longing to say something to comfort the other, but he’s already gone.
“What was that about?”
Juyeon turns, surprised to see Younghoon still in the dorm. Usually he’s one of the first ones to leave. He’s carefully adjusting his black turtleneck, wrapping his yellow and black scarf around it and peering at his reflection in the mirror.
“Uh, nothing…hey, how much longer are you gonna be Chanhee’s personal juicebox?” Juyeon changes the subject quickly. Younghoon spins around, cheeks immediately taking on a tinge of red.
“I’m not! Witch Weekly said turtlenecks are in this season.” He says defensively.
“Sure.” Juyeon pulls back his covers, slipping out of bed and opening the trunk near the end of it. He pulls out his uniform, yanking his sleep shirt off. Younghoon sweeps out of the room huffily, slamming the door behind him. Juyeon has tried to reason with Younghoon before, but once the elder has set his sights on someone, it’s impossible to pry him away. Juyeon prefers to let him figure it out himself.
He changes into his uniform and fastens his cloak around his neck. He wraps his scarf around his neck, the bright yellow standing out against the black of his cloak. He combs through his hair quickly and then ties his shoes. He doesn’t have much of a morning routine, but he has a sense of security and order that he likes.
He grabs his bag and leaves the Hufflepuff dorm, heading to the Great Hall. Despite oversleeping a bit, students mill around, conversing with their friends and finishing up their breakfast. When Juyeon arrives at the Hufflepuff table he sits down and butters a piece of toast, tuning in to his friends’ conversation.
“Jacob, will you ask that Gryffindor to go to Hogsmeade with you?” Younghoon asks curiously. “I know you liked him ever since that one Quidditch match where he let you score way too many goals.”
A common topic in their friend group. It’s known that Sangyeon, Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, has a giant crush on Jacob. Jacob is a Chaser for the Hufflepuff team, and they’re both the captains of their respective teams.
Jacob looks at his food, trying to hide the smile that tugs at the corner of his lips. “Maybe.”
Younghoon hoots happily, and Juyeon grins. He’s glad to see Jacob getting out of his comfort zone.
“You know, we should all go to Hogsmeade.” Younghoon proposes. “It’ll be so pretty since it’s Christmas. And no one will be there since it’s Christmas break.”
“I don’t know if I can.” Haknyeon mumbles, staring regretfully into his coffee.
“Why? No date?” Younghoon teases. Juyeon gives him a look, but Younghoon pretends he doesn’t see.
“Something like that.” Haknyeon murmurs and stands up quickly, keeping his head down as he weaves through the hall.
“I was just joking…” Younghoon trails off, staring after Haknyeon worriedly.
“He’s fine. He’s sorting something out.” Juyeon says quickly. An awkward silence begins to settle over them, quickly broken by Younghoon’s next words.
“Are you gonna ask Sunwoo to be your date?”
Juyeon chokes on his toast. It takes a full five minutes off coughing before he looks at Younghoon with watery eyes. “I couldn’t do that!”
“Why not?” Jacob cuts in, his kind brown eyes filled with soft encouragement. “You’ve liked him for what seems like forever.”
“He doesn’t like me like that.” Juyeon says resolutely. “I don’t want to make things awkward between us.”
He really doesn’t. His heart plummets into his stomach at the mere thought of being rejected by Sunwoo. He could never forgive himself if he ruined their friendship over a stupid, silly crush.
“Oh, Juyeon. You have those thick glasses, why are you so blind?” Younghoon sighs dramatically.
“I’m- what?” Juyeon doesn’t get it. Then again, he almost never gets Younghoon’s humor.
“Nothing.”
Juyeon ponders Younghoon’s words for the rest of the day. It seems to pass by at a sluggish pace. Or maybe Juyeon just feels like that because he hasn’t seen Sunwoo. It’s Friday, a pretty busy day for Sunwoo. By the time they finally meet up, it’s in the library. Younghoon’s words play on repeat inside his brain, and he can’t help but wonder what would happen if he just took a chance and asked Sunwoo to be his date on Christmas.
When there’s a lull in their studying, Juyeon sets his quill down, and he’s about to speak, but Sunwoo beats him to it.
“Hyung, can I ask you something?” His voice is softer than usual, and more hesitant.
“Of course. What is it?” Juyeon’s stomach clenches painfully, and he doesn’t even dare to hope that Sunwoo is going to ask him out.
“Do you really think Haknyeon is okay? He looked like a mess today.”
Disappointment crushes Juyeon’s spirit in a matter of seconds. “Oh…I’m not sure. He says he can handle it so we probably shouldn’t pressure him…”
“You’re right. But I can’t stop thinking about how sad he looked. Really, it made me sad.” Sunwoo looks like a kicked puppy.
It’s one of the many things Juyeon loves about Sunwoo, the way he cares so intensely about others. The purely selfless and caring disposition, the way he treats others’ pain as his own. Instinctively, Juyeon reaches across the table to grab his hand, linking their fingers together.
“Don’t fret about it. It just sounds like relationship drama. Our Haknyeon will be back in no time. So try not to worry.”
Sunwoo looks reassured. He squeezes Juyeon’s hand and it makes the elder’s stomach erupt into butterflies. They don’t let go of each others’ hands until it’s time to return to their dorms, and Juyeon feels like he’s floating on cloud nine the entire time. As they’re packing up their things, Sunwoo seems to go extra slowly, as if waiting for something.
Juyeon carefully rolls up his latest essay and tucks it into his bag. They head to the exit, and Sunwoo slows down when they reach the doors.
“Umm…earlier, Younghoon said there was something you wanted to ask me?” Sunwoo sounds uncharecteristically nervous, and he shifts from one foot to the other, playing with the tassels on his scarf.
“No?” The blood rushes out of Juyeon’s face. Oh, he’s going to kill Younghoon. Sunwoo’s face falls and Juyeon immediately knows he’s done something wrong.
“Oh, okay. See you tomorrow.” Sunwoo exits the library and it only dawns on Juyeon a full ten seconds later that’s he’s blowing what might be his only chance.
“Wait! Sunwoo!” Juyeon rushes out of the library, nearly tripping over his own feet as he rushes to catch up to his friend. Sunwoo stops and turns, tilting his head. Juyeon catches up, grabbing Sunwoo’s sleeve quickly. “Will you- will you be my date on Christmas? For Hogsmeade, I mean.”
Sunwoo smiles so brightly, Juyeon is sure the sun dulls in comparison. “I’d love to.”
Juyeon’s knees nearly buckle. He resists the urge to make a fool of himself by jumping around and screaming. He can’t believe that Sunwoo agreed, he can’t believe that this isn’t some sick dream that his brain conjured up.
Sunwoo said yes to him.
୨♡୧
even if you can hear
the sound of my heart beating
i just wanna get closer to you
The week goes by much faster than Juyeon anticipates, and he finds himself scrambling to plan the Hogsmeade date. It’s been the trend in the recent years, to spend Christmas night at Hogsmeade instead of Hogwarts. Hogsmeade is always lit up beautifully and bustling with activity. The perfect setting for young lovers. Sometimes there are even small events, concerts and the like. Juyeon wants the night to be memorable for Sunwoo. He doesn’t really know where they stand. Sunwoo has agreed to go on a date with him, but he acts completely normal and treats Juyeon as a friend. And it’s turning Juyeon into a wreck.
“What if he doesn’t like me like that?” Juyeon whines. He’s sprawled across Jacob’s lap in the Hufflepuff common room as his friend gently strokes through his hair. The calming motion combined with the warmth emnating from the crackling fireplace settles over him like a warm hug.
“He wouldn’t have said yes if he didn’t.” Younghoon pipes up from the armchair in the corner.
“You don’t know that. He could just want to go as friends-“
“Juyeon, please. He’s been following you around like a puppy since his first year. Everyone can see it, so why can’t you?” Younghoon sighs, and the sound of him rifling through his magazine stops.
“I don’t know. I’m just afraid to ruin what we have, I guess.” He snuggles his face deeper into Jacob’s lap, letting his eyes flutter shut. The edge of his glasses digs into his temple and he reaches up to take them off, but Jacob beats him to it. He carefully takes them off and sets them by his side before resuming his petting motions. Juyeon hums like a contented cat.
“Seriously, Juyeon. I mean this in the best way possible, but you need to pull your head out of your ass and see what you have right in front of you. Some people don’t have that luxury. Do you want a future with Sunwoo?” It’s the first time Haknyeon speaks all night, and his tone is laced with faint bitterness.
Juyeon doesn’t even need to think. Of course he does. He imagines moving into a little house with Sunwoo, waking up next to him every day, coming home to him every night. Counting the freckles on his cheeks and letting the warmth of his body bleed into his own. A deep, intense ache builds in his chest, twisting his heart into knots. He wants a future with Sunwoo, wants him as more than just a fling between two lovestruck teenagers.
He sits up, willing the strong wave of emotions that wells up inside of him to recede. “Of course I do. I want him to be my boyfriend.”
Saying the words out loud cements his feelings deep in his chest. He fumbles to put his glasses on again, and three smug faces come into focus. He groans, leaning his head back on the cushy couch he’s sitting on. “Don’t say anything.”
“We told you so.”
୨♡୧
when i see you, i still feel the same way
i'm still in the same place
no matter how many times you ask me
On Christmas Eve, Juyeon finally has a plan in place. He watches as the number of students slowly dwindles, until it’s just those who stay behind during winter break. Juyeon hasn’t gone home for Christmas since his fourth year. He started staying behind to keep Sunwoo company, since the younger refused to go back to his home except during summer break. Younghoon, Haknyeon, and Jacob usually leave, but the past two years they’ve stayed behind to visit Hogsmeade.
Apparently Sangyeon has stayed behind too, judging by the way Jacob nearly glows with excitement. Juyeon is happy for his friend. Jacob is Head Boy, and he’s often buried in coursework, Quidditch, and Hogwarts duties. He’s glad that Jacob has found someone.
There’s about twenty students who stay behind. Juyeon knows most of them by name, but there’s a few that he’s not familiar with. The Great Hall is decorated beautifully, enormous trees, twinkling lights, and shining tinsel. The sight never fails to amaze him.
Since most of the students have gone home, the ones who stayed behind are allowed to sit wherever they want. Haknyeon, Younghoon, Jacob, Juyeon, and Sunwoo sit together, conversing happily. They’re joined by Sangyeon, who’s glued to Jacob’s side with a distinctly lovesick expression.
Younghoon is talking animatedly about his plans for tomorrow when Sunwoo turns to him, nudging his side. “What are your plans?”
“A surprise.” Juyeon says teasingly. It’s remarkably easy to talk with Sunwoo, despite their upcoming date hanging over their heads. Juyeon finds that Sunwoo’s unbothered energy is somewhat rubbing off on him.
“Hm, okay. Just don’t take me to Madam Puddifoot’s, her tea upsets my stomach.” Sunwoo pouts, patting his stomach regretfully. “It’s too bad, I love her scones.”
Juyeon gently ruffles his hair, giving him a soft smile. Perhaps one that’s too soft for their current situationship. Sunwoo’s pout falters, his eyes widening. He leans closer, and the air between them is tense. Sunwoo leans so close, Juyeon can see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes.
“Tell me.”
The moment is broken, and Juyeon leans back, a slightly awkward laugh leaving his lips. “Nope. You have to wait for tomorrow.”
“Ugh.”
Sunwoo’s always been an impatient person. But Juyeon won’t budge. He wants everything to be a suprise.
୨♡୧
our youth is piling up like snow
the words i'm about to tell you
will never melt away
Juyeon wakes up on Christmas morning to Younghoon gently shaking his shoulder. “Presents!”
Juyeon sits up, sliding his glasses on and reaching for the packages at the foot of his bed. He tears the first one open. It’s from his parents, a sleek new set of dress robes, a pack of Eagle feather quills, and a tin of chocolates. The next is from Jacob, a glasses case decorated with tiny moving cats. The third package is heavier, labeled with Sunwoo’s name. He opens it with deft fingers. It’s a large book on rare Herbology plants, completely illustrated. It’s accompanied by a glass case of plant samples wrapped up in several layers of thick paper.
“Wow…” Juyeon murmurs, bringing the case up to inspect it further. It’s incredible. Juyeon feels his cheeks flush with happiness, he’s never gotten such a gift before. Even Sunwoo’s previous gifts tended to be either jokes or candy. He’s touched that Sunwoo incorporated his love of Herbology into a gift. But a small part of him worries about how much the gift has cost Sunwoo, the fine quality is undoubtedly expensive.
He recalls his own gift, a pair of Quidditch gloves made out of fine, buttery, dragon leather. The gift was somewhat expensive, sure, but Juyeon comes from an incredibly wealthy family, whereas Sunwoo does not. He pushes the thought to the back of his mind, but he can barely focus as he opens the rest of his presents. He sets them in a neat pile on the corner of his bed and thanks his friends for their thoughtfulness. They make noises of assent, more focused on their own gifts.
Juyeon slips out of bed, digging through his trunk for his warmest sweater. He doesn’t bother to get completely ready just yet. He’ll save it for tonight. He bundles up in his scarf and cloak, heading down the dorm stairs as fast as he can.
When he reaches the Great Hall, he rushes into the dining hall, a bit too eager to see his friend. But today is the big day, and Juyeon can’t contain his excitement. Sunwoo is sitting at the Gryffindor table, laughing racously with another sixth-year.
“Sunwoo, hey.” Juyeon taps his shoulder, feeling suddenly shy. He’s nervous about today, and he hopes it doesn’t show.
“Juyeon! Thank you so much for the Quidditch gloves, they’re just beautiful, really, I love them so much. They’re perfect.” Sunwoo gushes, standing up quickly. “Did you like my gift?”
“I-I loved it. It’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten.” Juyeon says sincerely.
Sunwoo practically glows with happiness. “I saved up all year!”
“Thank you.” Juyeon pats Sunwoo’s head, giving him a soft smile. It means a lot to him that Sunwoo went to such lengths. He decides that he’s going to make tonight the best night of Sunwoo’s life.
Sunwoo’s already moved on to the next topic. He’s telling Juyeon about the snowball fight that will take place in twenty minutes.
“Are you gonna join?” Sunwoo gives him puppy eyes, sticking out his lower lip.
Honestly, Juyeon doesn’t really want to. Snowball fights are never very fun to him, mainly because he sucks at them, but if Sunwoo wants him to join, he will. “Sure.”
“Great!” Sunwoo claps his hands excitedly. “Lets go out right now to find the best spots.”
Juyeon dutifully follows him, slightly disappointed that he didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast. Sunwoo leads him out to the front of the castle, and he starts to canvass the area, searching for hidden corners to gain the advantage over their opponents. They eventually find a hidden spot with mounds of snow to use as a cover and a weapon.
“We’re gonna win this thing.” Sunwoo grins wickedly.
୨♡୧
you
tell me more about you, all about you
my heart has never changed, stay true
“I’m sorry about your glasses.” Sunwoo mumbles sheepishly.
Juyeon huffs, examing the cracked lens. “It’s fine.”
He pulls his wand out and gently taps the thick, black frames. “Reparo.”
The glasses mend and he puts them back on. “At least we won.”
They’re sitting next to a large fireplace in one of the many rooms in Hogwarts, warming up after the game. It had been a close match, Jacob and Sangyeon nearly gaining the upper hand. But Sunwoo and Juyeon pulled through and had won, at the expense of Juyeon’s eyesight.
It’s only around lunch time, but Juyeon is already itching to get ready for Hogsmeade. Anticipation ties his stomach up in knots, and excitement tingles up his spine. He’s still a bit chilled from being outside for so long so he leans closer to the fire, resting his chin on his palm.
He freezes when he feels a warm, comfortable weight lean against him. It’s Sunwoo, curling up into his side. They don’t speak, just enjoy each other’s presence. It’s nothing new between them, but Juyeon still feels shy.
Juyeon stares into the dancing orange flames but his mind is completely elsewhere. All he can focus on is the heat coming off of Sunwoo, and the comforting feeling of his body pressed against Juyeon’s.
“I’ve never had a friend like you. I’m so glad you’re in my life, Juyeonie.” Sunwoo speaks softly, hesitantly. He’s not used to expressing his feelings like this.
Juyeon turns to look at him. Sunwoo is looking up at him with wide eyes. Juyeon smiles, leaning a bit closer. “I’m glad you’re in my life, too.”
Sunwoo’s lips part slightly, and he blinks slowly, as if surprised.
Juyeon laughs quietly and nudges his side. “Don’t look at me like that.”
They stay like that, making inane conversation until one of Sunwoo’s Gryffindor friends comes looking for them.
“Sorry to interrupt, but Sunwoo, your rat got loose in the dorm again.” The blonde haired boy looks sheepish.
Sunwoo groans and stands up, frowning. “Ugh, not again. Guess I need to go.”
“See you. Make sure to be ready at five, okay?” Juyeon stands up as well,
“I will.”
Juyeon can hear Sunwoo and the boy bickering as they walk to the Gryffindor tower.
“Eric, we were having a moment…”
“I don’t like rats!”
୨♡୧
our hands touching and our steps overlapping
they remind me of our first encountеr and the fluttering of my heart
how i shyly confеssed my love to you on this familiar road
Juyeon never takes much care into his appearance. He doesn’t really need it to be honest. Perks of being born gorgeous.
But tonight, he goes all out. He scrubs his face until it’s raw and pink, and styles his hair so it’s swept off of his forehead with a single tendril hanging down. He even gets into Jacob’s bag filled with Muggle products and tries to do some makeup. He’s not very experienced, so he sticks with an eyebrow brush and some pink lip balm.
He picks his outfit carefully, a thick, black sweater with lightwash jeans. He pairs it with a winter coat and his Hufflepuff sweater. As he laces up his shoes, he can’t help but wonder if it’s not enough.
“Is this enough?”
“Juyeon, you look fine.” Jacob reassures him. “Great. Stunning. Gorgeous.”
Jacob looks radiant. He’s dressed similarly to Juyeon, but he’s pinned his long, honey-blonde hair back with sparkly pins.
“If you say so…”
“Juyeon, don’t stress it. Sunwoo will still love you even if you show up in a trash bag.” Younghoon says dryly.
“Love?” Juyeon squeaks.
Younghoon doesn’t bother to answer, too busy with patting his hair into place. Haknyeon is nowhere to be found, and sadness stabs at Juyeon’s heart. His sweet friend should be enjoying Christmas, not heartbroken over some jerk.
Younghoon is the first to leave, followed by Jacob. Juyeon paces around nervously, cleaning his glasses on his scarf. He needs to stop being such a wimp. As soon as five o’clock hits, Juyeon is making his way to the entrance of the castle.
When he sees Sunwoo, his heart skips a beat. He looks gorgeous. Usually, when they leave the castle, Sunwoo wears an oversized hoodie and some ragged jeans. Now, he’s dressed in a vibrant red sweater and tight black pants. Instead of sneakers, he wears some type of laced up, knee high boots. The sweater looks like cashmere, and it’s oversized, falling loosely around Sunwoo’s wrists.
There are bigger changes, though. Sunwoo’s hair is straight as a pin. Instead of turning him back into the skinny fourth year boy with a terrible haircut, it suits him perfectly, framing his face in a way that makes him look softer and rounder. Something about his freckles is different as well. Normally they’re faint, but now they stand out from his sunsparked skin. His plush lips have a red, bitten tint to them. Juyeon thinks he might melt into a puddle.
“Stop staring, you’re embarrassing me.” Sunwoo giggles sweetly, sliding his arm through Juyeon’s. “Ready for our date?”
“Oh- um, yes- yes, I-I’m ready…” Juyeon can barely force the words out.
“Come on, dummy. You look handsome by the way. Very dashing.” Sunwoo wiggles his eyebrows, making Juyeon duck his head shyly.
“No one compares to you.”
“Ohh, my heart. When did you get so good with words?”
They make easy small talk as they head down the path to Hogsmeade. The walk takes about ten minutes, and when they reach where they’re supposed to be, Sunwoo’s nose and cheeks are red with cold. He stays close Juyeon’s side, eyes widening as he takes in the beautiful sight of Hogsmeade. Thick snow blankets everything, and bright fairy lights are strung everywhere. All of the storefronts are lit up, and people mill about, laughing, talking, drinking.
“Come on, I have a lot of plans.” Juyeon motions for Sunwoo to follow him, but Sunwoo reaches out to grab his hand, lacing their fingers together.
“Don’t wanna lose you.” Sunwoo jokes, and Juyeon squeezes his hand in response. He tugs him down the walkways until they reach Madam Puddifoot’s. Sunwoo’s face falls slightly, but he hides his disappointment well. Juyeon pulls him inside, making his way to the register.
“I have an order waiting? Last name Lee.”
The attendant goes to the back and returns a few minutes later with a small bag. Juyeon pays for it and leads Sunwoo out.
“I saw your face, did you think I was going to take you there?” Juyeon snickers. “After you expressly told me not to?”
Sunwoo just pouts. “Maybe.”
Juyeon holds out the bag and Sunwoo takes it, peeking inside. “Scones!”
Sunwoo doesn’t hesitate to reach into the bag and pull out a scone, taking a large bite. “M’favorite.”
His cheeks are stuffed full, and Juyeon wants to coo at how cute he looks. Instead, he takes Sunwoo to the Quidditch gear shop. They look at the new broom models, and Juyeon ends up purchasing some glove cleaner and polish for Sunwoo, despite his protests that he can pay for it himself.
After the Quidditch shop, they wander around aimlessly, Sunwoo munching scones and clinging to Juyeon’s hand tightly. Juyeon can’t help the butterflies in his stomach, Sunwoo has never held his hand this much. They go to the new shop that opened recently. It’s filled with various knick knacks, mostly books and toys and magical instruments. Near the front is a large, glass case filled with jewelry. Sunwoo peeks into it curiously. There’s nothing really of interest to either of them, Juyeon looks from behind him, and his eyes fall onto a delicate gold chain. A sun charm hangs from it, tiny and fragile. Next to it is its counterpart, the same gold chain with a moon charm.
“They’re opposites, but they match.” Juyeon murmurs. Just like him and Sunwoo.
Sunny, happy, lovely Sunwoo. Sunwoo, with the golden freckles and the sweet smile. Sunwoo, the one who holds his heart.
And quiet, calm, caring Juyeon. The one his friends go to whenever they need advice. The one who prefers to spend his weekends in the Herbology greenhouses. Juyeon, who loves Sunwoo with everything he has.
“I want them.” Juyeon says firmly. The owner of the shop moves from behind the checking counter and taps the case with her wand. It unlocks and she gently pulls the necklaces out. She rings them up with practiced ease and wraps them in thick brown paper. Juyeon sets down a thick stack of Galleons while Sunwoo watches with wide eyes.
When they walk out of the shop, Sunwoo tugs on Juyeon’s sleep. “You didn’t have to get those.”
“I wanted to.” Juyeon murmurs back sweetly. He pulls open the packages and takes out the sun necklace, motioning for Sunwoo to turn around. Sunwoo complies easily and Juyeon carefully clasps the necklace around his neck, fingers brushing against the warm skin. Sunwoo shivers almost imperceptibly.
Juyeon pulls away and fastens his own around his neck, fingering the thin chain gently. “It’s like we have a piece of each other.”
Sunwoo opens his mouth to say something, but closes it soon after. He steps forward and slides his arms around Juyeon’s waist, clinging to him tightly. Juyeon buries his nose in Sunwoo’s hair, inhaling the sweet vanilla scent. They’re both silent and still.
Eventually, the moment ends, and Sunwoo steps back, rubbing the back of his neck. “So, um, where are we going next?”
“Dinner, and then the Three Broomsticks for a drink?” Juyeon phrases it like a question, even though he’d planned it from the start.
“Okay.” Sunwoo links his arm through Juyeon’s and they head off. Juyeon tries not to focus on the fact that this is the most that Sunwoo’s ever touched him. He probably shouldn’t read into it.
He takes him to one of the eateries in Hogsmeade, one of the nicer ones. Once they’re seated at one of the small tables, Juyeon shrugs off his jacket and scarf. Sunwoo has already picked up one of the menus, and is scanning it with his tongue between his teeth. Juyeon picks up the other. There’s a variety of different foods, ranging from simple soups to blood-infused meals for vampires.
Not long after, a waiter comes around, a notepad and quill hovering in midair next to him. “What can I get for you guys tonight?”
Sunwoo orders first, some type of cheese and pasta dish that would clog up even the healthiest person’s arteries. Juyeon opts for the healthier option of a garden salad and hearty potato soup.
While they wait for their food, they make aimless small talk. Juyeon loves how easy it is to talk to Sunwoo, about so many different topics. He notices Sunwoo fidgeting with his necklace. He can’t seem to keep his hands off of it, and it pleases a tiny part of Juyeon. The tiny, selfish part of him that wants to be on Sunwoo’s mind.
Their food arrives quickly, something Juyeon doesn’t expect but appreciates greatly. Sunwoo digs in immediately, apparently still starving after the…eight scones he’d chowed down.
“Thanks for the dinner, Juyeonie hyung. It’s so good, I’ve never been here before.” Sunwoo reaches over the table to rest his fingers over Juyeon’s. Juyeon freezes, heart tumbling in his chest. Sunwoo’s fingers are thin and pretty compared to his longer, thicker ones.
Eventually, he collects himself enough to smile at Sunwoo. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
“More than enjoying myself, Hyung, really. This is the best night I’ve had in so long, and it’s even better because I’m spending it with you.”
“I-“ Juyeon looks down at his food shyly. He can’t formulate the words to tell Sunwoo how he feels right now. He shoves a forkful of salad in his mouth so he doesn’t have to talk.
They finish quicker than Juyeon had originally anticipated. He pays and wraps himself up in his jacket again. He notices Sunwoo shivering a bit so he carefully wraps his scarf around him, sliding an arm over his shoulders and pulling him closer to his own body. “You should have brought your cloak.” He chastises gently.
“I know, but I wanted to show off my new sweater. “ Sunwoo says sheepishly.
“It looks amazing on you.” Juyeon says quickly. It really does. The deep, vibrant scarlet brings out the reddish undertones of his skin, giving him the illusion of a rosy flush.
The Three Broomsticks is only a few stores down. They enter the pub, the bell above the door ringing loudly. The place is very full, and the sounds of people bustling about and chatting makes Juyeon feel at home. He goes up to the bar and orders himself a firewhisky, and Sunwoo a hot cocoa with extra marshmallows and whipped cream.
When he receives their drinks, he leads Sunwoo to a table near the back, by the large Christmas tree. Instead of chairs, the table is surrounded by a tall booth. They crowd in closely together. Sunwoo presses against him, as if he can’t get close enough.
Juyeon pops the top off of his firewhisky, and Sunwoo takes a gulp of his hot cocoa.
“No fair, you get alcohol and I have cocoa.” Sunwoo pouts good-naturedly.
“But cocoa is your favorite drink.” Juyeon reminds him. “And you aren’t legal age yet.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Sunwoo takes a thoughtful sip. A bit of cream gets on his upper lip, but he doesn’t notice. He’s scanning the bar, not looking for anything in particular.
“Hey, Sunwoo.” Sunwoo looks over curiously, and Juyeon reaches up to wipe away the cream with his thumb.
“Oh, thanks.” Sunwoo says. There’s a pink tinge to his cheeks. He leans a bit closer, lowering his gaze. They drink their beverages in friendly silence, taking in the busy hustle that is the Three Broomsticks on Christmas. While Juyeon is looking around the bar, his eyes catch on a bright flash of yellow.
It’s Haknyeon, swaddled in his scarf. He’s giggling, one hand wrapped around a mug of butterbeer and one hand stretched across the table he’s sitting at, fingers intertwined with a green-haired boy’s. Juyeon recognizes him instantly. It’s Kevin Moon, a Slytherin with a penchant for snakes. Rumor has it that he knows how to speak Parseltongue, and that he communicates with the snakes throughout the castle. Juyeon doesn’t know how truthful it is, but Kevin certainly is a mysterious one.
They look so happy.
“Sunwoo, look.” Juyeon nudges Sunwoo. Sunwoo looks where Juyeon discreetly points, and his jaw drops.
“So he does have a boyfriend!” Sunwoo whispers.
“I guess our mystery is solved.” Juyeon hums.
“Well, not quite. We still don’t know why Kevin said those things to him.”
Juyeon can guess. Kevin is part of a very influential Pureblood family. Apparently his roots go all the way back to the original Death Eaters. It probably wouldn’t look good for him to get tangled up with little Hufflepuff Haknyeon, the sweet half-blood from a family that’s not-so-well off. Juyeon’s known long enough that all rich families care about is their image. But it seems that he’s loosened up, if the sappy look in his eyes is anything to go by. Juyeon is happy that his friend has found someone that makes him smile and laugh so genuinely.
Juyeon’s thoughts are interrupted by Sunwoo’s loud slurping noises. He’s already finished his drink, and he’s trying to get the dregs at the bottom of the cup. “Yummy.”
Juyeon can’t help but smile at how cute he is. He finishes up his own drink, wincing at the heat that hits his tongue.
They stay huddled together, enjoying the bar’s warmth for a bit longer. When they both get a bit antsy, they stand up and carefully shuffle out of the pub, sidestepping tables and chairs filled with people. When they reach outside, Sunwoo pulls his sweater sleeves over his wrists, looking around.
“The night’s not over yet.” Juyeon murmurs. It’s time for the most important part of the night. It also happens to be the most nervewracking.
“Where are we going?” Sunwoo asks curiously.
“You’ll see.” Juyeon smiles, trying to hide his nerves. He links their arms and pulls him away from the pub and towards the Hogsmeade square. The village isn’t very big, and it’s only a short, three minute walk. The square is beautiful It’s completely lit up, long strings of lights lighting the way. Attached to a few of the strings are bundles of green. Mistletoe. In the middle of the square is a a gigantic Christmas tree, strung with lights and large ornaments. People mill about, sitting on benches and chatting. The entire area is blanketed with snow. Christmas music comes from somewhere, and the lights coming from the shops gives the scene a lovely, cozy feel.
Juyeon notices Sunwoo’s teeth chattering so he pulls off his jacket and wraps it snugly around him, tucking the edges of the scarf in. He leads him to an area that’s pretty isolated, but still close to the tree. Sunwoo’s eyes are blown wide as he takes in the pretty sight around them.
“It’s so pretty!” Sunwoo says breathlessly.
“It is. Listen, Sunwoo, I took you here for a reason.” Juyeon starts. Sunwoo tilts his head, listening attentively.
“I just want to say, every moment I’ve known you has been so amazing. You’re the brightest light in my life, the main reason I smile. I’m so happy to be your friend. You’re the sweetest, brightest, loveliest person I know, and I just hope that this date has met your expectations. Sunwoo, to me, you’re warmth. I feel blessed every time you shine your light on me, and I hope you’ll always be by my side. Because- because I’ve loved you for so long. And I would be so honored if you would be my boyfriend.”
The silence is heavy. Sunwoo stares at him with wide eyes and parted lips. And then, to Juyeon’s utter surprise, he bursts into tears.
“Oh God. Oh God Sunwoo, I’m sorry, just forget everything I said, I’m sorry-“
“No! Gosh, Juyeon, of course I want to be your boyfriend!” Sunwoo blubbers, hiding his face in Juyeon’s scarf. “I’ve liked you for so long, I was starting to give up hope that you’d ever notice me, and I was scared because you’re graduating this year and you’re gonna f-forget about me…”
“Of course not!” Juyeon says quickly. He pulls Sunwoo into his arms, hugging him tightly. Slowly, Sunwoo wraps his arms around Juyeon’s waist, clinging tightly to his sweater. His tears wet the fabric, and Juyeon’s completely shellshocked. Sunwoo hardly ever cries. The last time he can recall Sunwoo crying was during his first year, when two Slytherin sixth years shoved him in a trash can.
Sunwoo pulls back slightly, looking up at Juyeon with glistening eyes. He sniffles, and Juyeon reaches up the pet his hair gently. Sunwoo averts his gaze, a pink flush present on his cheeks. He looks up at the sky, and gasps wetly. “Look, mistletoe! Did you plan that?”
Juyeon looks up, and indeed there is a bundle of green hanging from the string of lights. “I-I didn’t.”
Sunwoo looks at him expectantly, inching forward. He looks so pretty up close, Juyeon’s heart starts beating at a deadly pace.
“Erm- it’s not actually mistletoe, people have a common misconception about it but it’s actually Holly, Mistletoe looks nothing like it, but Holly looks more festive so-“ Juyeon can’t shut up, the nerves finally overtaking him.
“Herbology nerd.”
And then Sunwoo’s peachy lips are on his, sweet-tasting and soft. He tastes like chocolate and cream, and he kisses him back enthusiastically. Juyeon can feel the tears on his cheeks. He slides his hands around Sunwoo’s waist, pulling him even closer. Sunwoo presses against him, arms wound tightly around his neck. He plays with the fine, black hairs at the nape of his neck, icy fingers stroking his skin.
Juyeon hasn’t kissed that many people, but he can confidently say that Sunwoo takes the cake. Everything about him is lovely, the sugary taste of his lips, the slight vanilla scent that wafts off of him, mixed with peaches and freesia.
Sunwoo pulls away first, taking a deep breath. “You taste spicy.”
“The- the um, the firewhisky.” Juyeon stutters awkwardly.
Sunwoo smiles, reaching down to grab his hand. He doesn’t say anything else, just runs his thumb over Juyeon’s palm.
It’s dark out. The sky is black and filled with stars, and the moon hangs heavy, silvery and bright.
“Thanks so much for tonight. I can’t put into words how lovely it was. I…I couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend.” Sunwoo’s voice is soft and happy.
“Boyfriend.” Juyeon repeats happily. He leans down to kiss Sunwoo’s cheek, smiling against the rosy skin. “Are you ready to go back to the castle, boyfriend?”
“I think I am, boyfriend.” Sunwoo giggles. It’s so cheesy, and probably gag-inducing for the people around them, but Juyeon doesn’t care. Tonight was perfect, and he wouldn’t trade the memories for the world.
They wander hand-in-hand back to the castle, trading soft glances and shy giggles. Juyeon walks Sunwoo all the way to Gryffindor tower, and lightly presses him against the wall next to the painting of the Fat Lady. He kisses him tenderly, stroking his thumb along his cheekbone.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Sunwoo repeats saccharinely, reaching up to pat his cheek. “See you tomorrow.”
When Juyeon arrives at his own dorm room, Haknyeon is already there, looking dreamily out the window.
“Hey, Juyeon. I think I saw you in the Three Broomsticks, I was with my boyfriend.” Haknyeon practically squeals the last word, and he looks so, so happy.
Juyeon can barely contain his own smile. “So was I.”
୨♡୧
you know what? the cold winter we spent together
it was actually the warmest moment of my life
i made you smile, and you made me smile