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It’s a calm, autumn morning in the great hall.
Enchanted candlelight lit up the stone room as blue daylight shone in, gray skies with puff clouds moving slowly above the head. Uki’s family owl dropped off the usual parcel of treats along with the Daily Prophet and a copy of Vogue, narrowly avoiding his goblet of iced coffee (it happens every morning).
Uki especially liked these mornings. The weather was cold enough to wear plenty of layers, but not freezing to the point he had to wear a big parka. Not to mention the great feeling of downing ice coffee in the chilly breeze— it always amplified the effect of caffeine and made him extra awake.
Breakfast was always accompanied by the air filled with chatter, the Slytherin table already packed with people. He would have to move soon. Aside from important announcements, nobody sat exclusively at their house tables anymore, sometimes moving along with every member of the friend group.
Uki’s friends rarely sat at Slytherin, though. So when Fulgur placed his tray across him with Vox and Ike, he stared back in question: “We’re not sitting at Hufflepuff today?”
“Mysta has quidditch practice,” Fulgur replied, striking silver hair tied back today. “Shu has to go to an auror internship interview, remember?”
Uki squinted in thought. He does vaguely remember Shu saying something about it some days ago when they were in his dorms late at night.
Vox and Ike were engaging in a sappy romantic display, which was basically Vox trying to feed Ike breakfast while the latter scooted as far as he could down the bench. Typical of them.
Uki took another bite out of his bagel. Blueberry cream cheese was indeed the best flavor.
“Oh, speaking about Shu,” Fulgur started, taking a sip from his mug before continuing. “There’s a Shu Yamino fan club at Hogwarts.”
“— What?”
Uki stared in shock across the table at Fulgur, who was calmly enjoying his breakfast. Doesn’t he realize what he had just said?
Fulgur just nodded. “Yup. Elira told me the other day— they even have a club meeting room.”
“…… What are they going to discuss, what color socks did Shu wear today?”
Vox snorted in laughter. “I suppose they’re more interested in another piece of clothing.”
Uki frowned. He had studied with Shu in the library just yesterday. Did Shu not know— why didn’t he tell him?
“But why does Shu specifically have a fan club? What about— ” Uki gestured around at his friends, deciding to move on with the topic. There’s no way these annoyingly good-looking people don’t have fangirls and fanboys all around.
Fulgur smirked. “Sonny used to have one, but Alban threatened them more than enough times to stop.”
“Ike had one,” Vox piped in helpfully.
Ike rolled his eyes. “Of course you’d know, you started it.”
“You used your prefect powers to make them stop, but I suppose that only made them more down bad for you.”
“Well, Shu’s really nice and friendly,” Fulgur said through a piece of toast. “He’s also smart. Have you seen his Potions test results? His last quiz was the sexiest piece of parchment I’ve ever read.”
“He’s also hot,” Vox added. “It’s common knowledge.”
“I totally agree,” Sonny suddenly joined in the conversation as he sat down next to Uki. His hair was sticking out in several places, the unkemptness combined with platinum blond making him quite a sight.
“Is anyone here not in love with Shu Yamino?” Uki asked exasperatedly, reaching out to try smoothing out the wisps of hair.
“Sorry, I’m a Yaminion before anything else.”
“You’re what?”
Fulgur took a small, metal badge out of his bag. It was shaped like a banana, the words enchanted to flash out “Yaminions UNITE”.
“Wow, that’s really cool,” Sonny said with obvious interest.
“That’s a cute fandom name.”
“Ike, not you too…… ”
“Oh, I suppose Ike knows a lot about fandoms since he once confiscated something very interesting from a group of fourth years.”
“Vox, shut up!”
“I might still have it in my dorm. There’s this line that goes like this," Vox said dramatically. “ ‘He pins me to the wall, and put his lips on my’— Okay I’ll stop.”
Ike released Vox from a headlock, smoothing out his dark blue robes as if nothing had happened.
“Come on, you guys don’t see how wrong this is?” Uki tapped the table to get everyone’s attention.
“Not really,” Vox replied. Fulgur shook his head too, mouth full of sandwich.
Uki turned hopefully to Ike and Sonny. The latter just shrugged as the Ravenclaw prefect launched into a long paragraph about how fan behavior is inevitable.
“…… You see, even if there are no fan clubs officially operating, there’s always going to be people than fan over Shu. You can’t control how someone thinks.”
Fulgur just laughed. “You’re just salty you don’t have a fan club.”
“No I’m not. Wait, what— I have fans! People love me!”
“Yeah, we love you,” Fulgur said nonchalantly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have Transfiguration in a minute.”
Uki was still silently annoyed at lunch.
Of course, he, the Uki Violeta, had fans. He was the trendsetter at Hogwarts; that other day he wore his Slytherin scarf backward and a bunch of third years were doing just that this morning. Hell, his posters were probably on fifty different people’s fashion inspo boards. Fuu-chan is one of his closest friends, but he’s terribly wrong this time.
His pent-up frustration didn’t help with Shu sitting next to him. Their friends were engaging in friendly banter across the table, laughing at jokes and funny stories that happened recently. Uki took another bite out of his pasta as he stared, mind occupied by thoughts and odd feelings.
Sure, Shu was really attractive and he’d be lying if he said otherwise. He was in his usual Hufflepuff robes, but Uki swore it was a tailored version of the uniform because nobody looked that good in that. His cheeks were dusted pink from warmth, gaze bright as he talked on about this new board game sold down at Hogsmeade.
His grades flourish, he’s nice to everyone, and his laugh is cute. Fuck, Fulgur was right. Shu Yamino was offensively perfect.
The conversation soon steered back to Shu’s fan club. Petra said something like “penguin siblings always win” as Shu waved the praise off in embarrassment.
“Fuu-chan, not you too…… ” the Hufflepuff said weakly as Fulgur showed him the badge.
“Yeah, I got passed this flyer in the hallway,” Elira took out a folded piece of paper from her robe pocket. She smoothed it out on the table as all of his friends crowded to get a look.
It was a moving picture of Shu holding a pile of books in the castle courtyard, eyes creasing into a smile as snow fell in the background. The back was information on the fan club.
“Damn, I think I’m falling for you,” Mysta exclaimed.
“Welcome to the club,” Fulgur said. Sonny gave Mysta a sturdy pat on the back with a serious expression.
Uki rolled his eyes, but took the picture anyway and looked at it more clearly. The Shu in the picture kept smiling at him.
Shit, he’s so cute with the snow falling on his hair……
Wait, what?
Shu was still blushing from the attention, fiddling with his spoon. Uki gave the picture to him.
“When was this taken, anyway?”
“Oh, I think it was a few weeks ago? The photography club asked me if they could take pictures and I said yeah.” The initial embarrassment was wearing down and Shu smiled cheekily.
Fulgur winked at Uki. “Admit that he’s hot.”
“It’s a good picture,” Uki retorted. “Who said I was denying anything.”
“Shu, Uki thinks you’re hot,” Elira said cheerfully. Shu choked on his soup. Uki slapped her on the shoulder.
Uki must’ve been blushing because even Petra started cheering as Fulgur whistled. “A win for Shuuki,” Elira said wistfully.
Ugh, he hates his friends.
(Jokingly, of course.)
…… there’s still that irritating feeling nagging under his skin.
Despite the ominous threat of vinegar-on-head for unwelcome intruders, Uki really liked the Hufflepuff common room. In the summer, Slytherin is the go-to for shade and cool waters; but on such cold days, the glowing warmth of yellow stone and couches of patchwork quilts felt much better. On the coldest nights of the castle, snuggling together under a heavy blanket is the most comfortable feeling in the world.
Shu would usually be settled into one of the large loveseats, quilt covering his lap as he leaned towards the coffee table to grab a leatherbound book. Uki would slip into the quilt, stealing body heat as they quietly studied together.
But tonight was not one of the normal study nights they always shared.
“What do you mean you have something to do?”
Shu smiled apologetically. “The kids need help with a few spell problems,” he tried to explain, “I’ll be back really soon, okay?”
“What, can’t they go find a professor?” Uki started, then caught himself and sighed. “Okay, just come back quickly. I have Potions homework due tomorrow and I don’t understand a single word on this page.”
Shu grinned in relief. “It’s only going to be a couple of minutes,” he said as he slipped out the door.
But he was wrong. Uki flipped through a History textbook and tried taking notes as he glanced at the clock periodically until half an hour had passed.
He flopped over the back of the chair at Mysta, who was eating a muffin while reading a comic. “Did Shu say where he was going?”
Mysta squints in thought. “If I remember correctly, it’s……. the second classroom in the west wing?”
“Well, I’m going there,” Uki declared as he pulled his coat a little tighter, walking towards the doorway and into the cold evening air.
It was chilly tonight in the castle, even next to the kitchens. Uki knew Shu was too nice for his own good, but he couldn’t help feeling sour at the idea of Shu choosing to spend time with someone else instead of him.
His mind quickly traced back to the conversation between his friends. That classroom sounded awfully familiar. Was it— oh, obviously it was the base of Shu’s fan club.
Unexplainable annoyance washed over him as he quickened his pace just slightly.
The timing was immaculate because Shu was just around the corner, but not alone; a boy in Hufflepuff robes was tagging along.
Uki stopped abruptly. Being in the shadows, he could see how Shu was lit up by the corridor lights— his cheeks and nose were slightly pink (from the cold, totally).
“Shu senpai,” the boy started, voice cheerful. “I have a question for you.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Is there anyone you like at Hogwarts?”
Uki felt himself stiffen, breathing lightly.
Shu didn’t appear panicked and confused, nor did he immediately retort the implication. Instead, he just smiled softly, barely a twitch of his lips.
It was unlike any smile Uki had ever seen on his face.
“Yeah,” he just said, “There is.”
The boy jumped in excitement. “Do they know?”
“I don’t think so,” Shu replied.
An odd mix of emotions surged from Uki’s chest to his throat. Taking deep breaths, he walked out of the darkness and interrupted the conversation.
“Uki!” Shu immediately said, gaze lighting up. “Sorry, it took a bit longer than I said—”
“Aren’t you cold?” Uki said, already moving to put the books on the floor and take off his coat.
“It wasn’t this cold when I left,” Shu replied, but he did not stop Uki from draping the coat over his shoulders. (Uki definitely did not instantly feel better.)
The boy looked at Uki, then back at Shu. His brows furrowed, then his eyes widened in some sort of realization.
Uki glanced at him. It wasn’t a glare, but the boy made a squealing sound and took a few steps backward.
“Um, thanks for walking me back, bye! I’ll go back by myself.”
“Did something happen?” Uki said as the boy left in a hurry. “You took so long.”
He adjusted the clasp of the coat, clicking it shut and smoothing out the wrinkles. Shu’s face was still pink, eyelashes fluttering as Uki finished putting the coat on.
“It wasn’t a big problem…… Someone messed up the spells for the automatic organizing shelves, so I fixed it,” Shu said, not moving away. “They did ask for a lot of autographs, though. One of them said they wanted to come back to the dorms with me since it’s the same route.”
“Of course, it’s your fan club, isn’t it? They’re your admirers, you must attend to their every need—” Uki started, then quickly stopped as his throat constricted again. “Sorry, I shouldn't have said that.”
Shu turned to look into Uki’s eyes. His expression was serious. “I did break my promise with you. I should be the one saying sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Uki said again. He doesn’t know if he’s reassuring Shu or himself.
…… But what Shu said was still on his mind.
Shu likes someone.
He couldn’t figure out what was swelling in his heart.
“Uki, don’t you think this…… silent anger had gone on for enough?”
It was a few days later and autumn had progressed further, with leaves turning orange and yellow and the wind just slightly colder. There was this empty corridor off the castle that overlooked the moat; the gray sky and the churning waters were very representative of what Scottish weather was like.
Ike was the one who found the secluded place. At first, he used it to avoid people and do homework. Soon, it became what their friend group used as a hideout-plus-meeting place whenever there was a free period.
Uki kept writing, the tip of his quill catching on the parchment and making a tear. Ike sighed, closing the book he had been reading.
“I’m not angry,” Uki mumbled under his breath. He wrote another two words and the quill caught again.
“You’re ruining your essay,” Alban pointed out. “And Shu said you’ve been awkward with him in the past week.”
Uki finally looked up from his work. “Okay, fine, I’m annoyed. But it’s reasonable. You got annoyed when Sonny had a fan club too.”
Alban tilted his head in thought, then grinned. “Well, he’s my boyfriend after all. It’s pretty normal to be a little…… what’s the word, possessive.”
Ike clapped once in realization, looking far too accomplished and proud. “So Uki has a—”
“Don’t. Fucking. Say. It.”
“Come on, you have to at least think about the possibility,” Alban piped up. “You’ve always been really clingy to him. You let everyone know he’s your best bestest friend. You two probably spend almost every night together. Is it really that weird if you actually liked him all this time?”
“We’re friends,” Uki retorted. “I don’t want this to change.”
Ike nodded thoughtfully. “The fan club doesn’t change much, doesn’t it?”
The context was unspoken, but Uki understood all the same. It wasn’t Shu’s fault (it never could be), but it wasn’t necessarily the fan club either.
“…… I’m just scared Shu might be pressured into something he doesn’t want,” Uki sighed after a long silence. “What if one of them wants Shu to be their boyfriend and he agrees? He’s too nice and will literally do anything if he could help. I’m his friend, I worry about him— I don’t want him to be stuck just out of obligation.”
“But what if what happens is what he wants?” Ike interrupted, gaze softening as Uki flinched. “Uki, I just think you two should talk about this. You can’t assume everything without knowing what Shu actually feels.”
Alban nodded. “You’re not the only one bothered, you know. Mysta told me Shu had been pretty down lately. Sorting stuff out with him might be the best thing to do.”
“I’m not trying to be harsh,” Ike added, placing a hand on Uki’s shoulder. “You’re a really good friend. But rest assured, Shu wants to know what you’re thinking. So go talk to him.”
“Yeah, okay,” Uki said after a moment of pondering. “I’ll bring up the topic.”
Ike smiled. “I hope that goes well.”
“Oh, I hope you get laid.”
“Alban…… ”
Or, at least that was the plan.
In the beginning, dinner was bustling with students as usual. Shu sat next to Uki, both just finishing a grueling History of Magic test, and everyone was starving enough to avoid the unspoken tension. Mountains of food magically appear on the long tables, just out of the kitchen and still steaming with a delicious aroma.
Fulgur plopped into the seat next to Uki with a huff. “Nobody told me Hogwarts would be so stressful,” he said, immediately taking a plate and piling food onto it. “I need food to comfort my soul.”
“True,” Shu said as he stretched. “I’m terrible at History.”
“Well, your version of ‘terrible’ isn’t the same as my ‘terrible’,” Uki replied absentmindedly as he dug into his plate of spaghetti. “Says Mr. has-Os-in-every-single-subject.”
“Nah, it’s really hard. Who needs to remember all the Ministers of Magic?”
It really was nice eating with friends, Uki found himself smiling as he glanced in Shu’s direction. He had his hair tied up in a ponytail. Shu met his gaze and smiled too.
“Shu!” A cheerful voice came from the other side. Uki turned around to see Elira and Petra coming over, holding a large platter of cupcakes. “Look!”
“Where did you get this?” Shu said with a grin, standing up from his seat to help Elira with the cakes. “Wait, don’t tell me you—”
“Yup, it’s from the kitchen,” Elira said smugly, sleeves pulled up.
“Come on, there are like a hundred of them,” Petra added. She was obviously excited and her cheeks were pink. “I just made sure we didn’t get left the raisin ones.”
“Raisins aren’t bad,” Fulgur piped in.
“Chocolate chip is always better, though.”
Uki turned back around as Elira and Petra settled in at the table. Shu wasn’t back in his seat yet; from his point of view, Uki could see a bunch of younger students— maybe third years? sitting at the other end of the table, giggling and whispering as a girl stood up from the bench. She was holding a small box and a pink letter.
Huh, a confession. Uki sat up straighter as he tried to get a better view of the events.
The girl started walking. She got closer and closer, and closer until she stopped just next to Shu.
Uki felt his heart sink uncontrollably.
“Shu senpai,” the girl said, voice barely louder than a murmur. “I— I like you a lot. You’re really nice and helpful to everyone…… Please accept my gift! I made cookies—”
“You know what, I have to go to the restroom,” Uki found himself saying, his body moving faster than he could think. “Excuse me.”
Shu glanced in his direction in worry. Uki forced a grin.
“Do whatever you want to,” he said. It was supposed to sound lighthearted.
He almost tripped over his robes as he ran— escaped— out of the room.
Uki just made the most stupid decision ever in his entire life.
He was sitting in a corner of the corridor, the stone floor cold and rain pouring out the window. Lightning flashed and he hid his head in his arms, warm tears dampening the sleeves.
What just happened was unreasonable, confusing even for Uki himself. Shu must think he’s weird, his friends are going to be so mad at him, and everyone’s going to know he’s a person so selfish and jealous he can’t even see someone confess to his friend.
Unfamiliar emotions seemed to bundle up and get stuck in his throat. Uki doesn’t like it at all. Maybe he should just leave and go back to his bed…… things will get easier in the morning. He’ll just tell Shu he had a stomachache. It’ll all be back to normal.
“Uki, wait—”
The large wooden doors to the dining hall opened. Shu’s wide, panicked eyes met Uki’s tearful ones.
Before Uki could react, Shu was running to him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, tentatively patting Uki’s shoulder as he sat down on the floor too.
“I’m sorry,” Uki said. He honestly doesn't know what to say in the moment. Shu’s silhouette was lit up by moonlight, so beautiful he couldn’t move his gaze away. Like if he said something wrong, Shu would leave forever.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” Shu insisted. His hand was now smoothing through Uki’s hair— the emotions are threatening to go haywire again.
“I shouldn’t have reacted so strongly to the whole fan club thing,” he said finally. “It makes total sense they like you so much. You’re smart, you’re nice to everyone, and you’re the best friend anyone could have. I just wanted you to always be my best friend, and maybe you’ll find someone you like more than me—”
“I’ll always be your friend,” Shu said, raising his voice like he was genuinely offended. “Did you seriously think I would just ignore you after I get confessed to?”
Uki looked at Shu. Fuck, his eyes were getting watery. “But I want to be special to you. You’ll choose someone over me someday. I just— I don’t want to see that happen.”
Shu crossed his arms and rested his chin on them. “I won’t, though. I didn’t say yes to that girl’s confession.”
“That’s not the point,” Uki blurted out. “I don’t want you to invite me to your wedding someday, and I have to go and pretend I’m happy for you. I’m sorry, I know it’s stupid, I should stop—”
“Hey,” Shu interrupted, and he was smiling. “Who said I was going to meet someone I truly love?”
He shuffled closer until his face was mere inches away, gaze intent under fluttering eyelashes.
“I already have,” came the whispered reply, almost eaten up by the wind.
Uki swallowed the question that almost slipped out. “You mean— ”
“I don’t want to just be your friend,” Shu said, “And I think you don’t want to just be my friend either.”
Uki could feel warm breath on his face. If Shu just tilted his head……
“Can I kiss you?” Shu asked.
“Is this a confession?”
Shu nodded, the corners of his lips quirked upwards in a soft smile. His cheeks were dusted pink. “I like you a lot,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I made you feel confused.”
The soft part of Uki’s heart wanted to cry from relief, but the Slytherin part of him lifted a hand to hold Shu’s chin as he leaned in to kiss him.
Their lips touched under the candlelight, soft warmth brief before Shu pulled away. His gaze was sparkling in the dim corridor, a stupid grin on his face.
Uki wanted to kiss him again. So he did.
Today’s breakfast hall was as busy as usual. Uki’s old family owl dropped off the bag of treats and the copy of Vogue— dropping the Daily Prophet into his iced coffee.
“Ew, it’s all soggy now,” Uki complained as he cast a vanishing spell on the mess.
Fulgur snorted as he waved his wand on Uki’s wet dress shirt, cleaning up the coffee stains. “An unlucky morning, huh?”
“That owl needs to retire. I genuinely think this is animal abuse.”
“Who’s abusing animals?” Vox said as he sat down at the table, holding a large platter of bacon and eggs. Shu trailed behind him, waving at Uki as he caught his eye.
“Good morning,” Uki said, moving over as Shu slipped into the seat next to him. “The owl ruined my iced coffee.”
Shu laughed. “I can get another one for you.”
“Okay,” Uki replied, then stopped Shu as started getting up from the bench, pressing a kiss into the side of his cheek. “Thanks.”
“Woah, wait,” Fulgur said, that wide-eyed gaze totally saying ‘this is interesting’. “Is that— ?”
“We’re dating,” Uki replied smugly, looking up at a stunned Shu. “We are, right?”
“Huh? Um, yeah.”
Fulgur launched into full-on tea kettle laughter as Vox stood up and slammed the table.
“You owe me five galleons, Voxxy.”
“Fuck me— how did you know?”
“Did you guys bet on me and Shu?” Uki interrupted exasperatedly.
“Whether you two will date before or after Christmas break,” Fulgur managed to say between chuckles. “Vox, we agreed on this.”
“I don’t have five gold with me,” Vox tugged on Shu’s sleeve. “Care to give me a loan?”
“Go ask your boyfriend,” Shu replied with a cheeky smile.
“Ike! Ike Eveland! Babe—” Vox’s voice disappeared out the door as several people turned to look at the commotion.
Fulgur gave Uki a pat on the back. “Congrats, dude. I finally don’t have to listen to you self-denying your feelings every fucking night.”
Shu came back with the iced coffee and sat back down.
“Thank you, honey,” Uki said in a sultry tone, enjoying the way Shu’s ears turn pink.
“Elira’s going to love this,” Fulgur said wistfully.
“What about the— you know, the fan club…… ” Shu said as he leaned into Uki. “Should I just tell them to stop?”
“Oh, I’m joining,” Uki replied with a smirk, “I’m taking the position of 1st Yaminion. Those guys better watch out— that’s my club now.”