Work Text:
Fabian Prewett was single. Not as though he had been trying to change that fact either. It was his twin brother Gideon who really got all the girls, and the occasional boy too. Although Fabian and Gideon were almost identical in every way, from their curly almost unruly red hair to their laughs which filled any room with electricity, Fabian remained single.
Now that it was his seventh and last year at Hogwarts, Fabian was becoming anxious with this fact. Gideon was already dating a very nice girl Penelope from Ravenclaw, their older sister Molly was engaged to her long time boyfriend Arthur, and Fabian was with Fabian. This called for immediate action.
“Gid, I think its time for a party.” Gideon was laying on his four poster bed tossing above his head his practice Quaffle and catching it inches from his nose, “A party you say?”
Fabian laid out on the floor in the middle of their dorm looking up at a distant cobweb in the high ceiling of their room, “Its the last few months of our last year at Hogwarts, we cannot leave without one more Prewett Party dear brother.”
Gideon swung his legs off the bed and stood leaning against the corner of his four poster bed, “What are we thinking? Rager? Costume? Tea?” Gideons lips turned into a smirk as he tossed the quaffle to Fabian, who catched it with ease.
“Dance. Nothing knocks these nerves out of the body more than a good dance.” Fabian rolled the quaffle across the floor as he leaned up looking up at the mirror image of himself, “Between NEWTs and what's going on outside I think everyone would be clambering to join in.”
Gideon nodded sagely, “But to dance, does one not need…a date?” Gideon kicked at Fabian's feet as Fabian's cheeks began to turn a tinge of red.
“No, no one does not. There are always more than enough willing sacrifices to be subjected to your dancing skills or lack thereof.” Fabian stood up and crossed the room to his nightstand pulling out a roll of parchment and a quill, setting it out to get to writing. “Anyways, usual spot, clearing 50 paces from the edge of the Forest, we can likely get Black and Potter to help smuggle in the provisions through Honeydukes.”
Gideon crossed the room and sat on the bed across from Fabians and kicked his feet again, “Fab, I am serious”
“No you are Gideon.”
Gideon only gave a small chuckle to Fabian’s stealing of the old joke of their fellow younger Gryffindor. “A date Fabian. You do need a date. I am sure I can ask Penny and any of her friends would gladly sacrifice themselves so you don’t leave Hogwarts like a monk.”
Fabian only rolled his eyes in response as he set out to draft the very simple half poster half note that they would duplicate and distribute to advertise the party, the usual anti-professor jinxes applied of course to deter unwarranted eyes.
“Gideon, no date. It’s just a party anyways.” Fabian went on with his wand casting, the advertisement now copied into a solid fifty identical ones stacked on his bed.
Gideon took in a large breath and slowly let it out, “Shacklebolt will certainly come.” Fabian's head snapped over to Gideon, his eyes bulging slightly. “Maybe you could…”
Fabian looked away, his cheeks turning much redder than before, “No, Gideon, no.”
“Fab…” Gideon got up and sat next to his brother, pushing aside the flyers and setting a hand on Fabians shoulder, “Fab we do not have the luxury of living with regrets…what’s the worst that can happen?”
Fabian melted almost immediately at the close comfort of his life long friend, “Worse thing? Gid, Shaklebolt is like…well not in our league thats for sure.” Gideon barked out a laugh and wrapped his arm around his brothers shoulders squeezing him. “Fab, if only you knew…if only you knew…”
Fabian pushed his brother off of him and grabbed the flyers standing up and moving towards the door to their room, “I do know Gid.” When he reached the door he looked back at his brother, “I am gonna go get these out.” Gideon only let out another long sigh and a nod in response as Fabian slipped out the door.
~ Following Friday night, the Party, Forbidden Forest ~
The clearing well used likely by generations of students for Hogwarts parties glowed under colorful orbs of light that floated in the air, tables made by crates and boxes dotted around the edge, packed with drink and kitchen provisions both acquired by the trusty gang of four from the year below Fabian. One of the said gang, Sirius Black, approached him, wearing his recognizable leather jacket, smudged black eyeliner, and a rather noticeable purple mark on his neck, likely inflicted upon him by his nerdy boyfriend Lupin.
“Fab!” Sirius exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around Fabs neck, hugging him tightly, “Great idea man, I have been itching for another Prewett Party since the last one where I woke up with nothing but my Gryffindor tie and an empty Firewhiskey bottle.”
Fabian chuckled at Sirius, at any party the disgraced Heir to the most noble and ancient house of Black always was the wildest. “I am glad we can entertain you Sirius.”
Sirius nodded and kept an arm around Fabians neck as he turned around and faced the already gathered crowd, music poured from multiple record players all set to play the same music sending vibrations through the crowd of writhing bodies.
“I spoke to Gid a minute ago.” Sirius nodded at Fabians brother who stood on the other side of the clearing, his girlfriend almost wrapped around his entire body as he nodded and winked back at Sirius in response. “He tells me you have no date…again.”
Fabian huffed slightly and stiffly but lightly wiggled his way put from Sirius arm, “Why is my dating life suddenly such chief concern.”
“Who’s dating life are we debating?” The low timber accented voice of Head Boy, the popular yet kind Slytherin Kingsley Shacklebolt rumbled through Fabians body. Fabian turned and blinked a few times as he tried to make sure his own vision was not an Elven wine induced hallucination. Before him stood the broad Shacklebolt, a royal purple button shirt stretched across his chest, the first two buttons either missing or outright torn away from the way the fabric stretched across his muscles. Tight muggle jeans held his very toned Quidditch thighs which caused Fabians throat to go dry.
“Fabians!” Sirius said in an almost way too happy tone. Fabian shot a death glare at the black haired young man. “Fabian here is at yet another party of his own making dateless and lonely.”
Fabian turned back to Kingsley, and prayed to Merlin that any blush on his cheeks was coming from the heavy pours from their bartenders. “Well, that is such a shame.” Kingsley stepped a few feet closer, “Can’t let the King of the party go alone.”
Sirius let out an almost girly giggle to the flirtatious tone of Kingsleys voice. “Come Siri.” The voice of Remus Lupin met Fabians ear just as Sirius was being pulled away. “Have fun you two!” Sirius called back as his boyfriend appeared to drag away the giggling boy back into the crowd.
Fabian turned to Kingsley and his mouth opened but no words came out. Kingsley raised an eyebrow as if to wait for the statement, but chuckled himself when none came. “Prewett, I never took you for one to be short on words.”
“I uh…enjoying yourself?”
“Much more now, yes.” Kingsley lifted the cup he held in his hand to his lip, tipping his head back to empty its contents. Fabian couldn’t help but watch the Adams apple on Kingsleys throat as the likely burning liquid slipped down his throat. Kingsley lowered his head and met Fabians eyes, “Dance with me Fabian.”
Fabian felt like his stomach fell into his feet. He has certainly been drugged, or jinxed, or both. Kingsley Shacklebolt is not asking him to dance. “I fear I am no good.” Fabian let out and coughed as his dry throat nearly choked him.
“I can be the judge of that I feel.” Kingsley reached out grasping Fabians hand and tugging him along to the writhing crowd of bodies, “And I promise,” Kingsley pulled Fabian close his other hand landing at the small of Fabians back, “I don’t bite.”
Fabian felt both frozen and hypnotized by the Slytherin boy. Fabian let his body move as Kingsley directed, close and nearly pressed against each other. The momentum of the music had picked up and so did the crowd, more jumping, more screaming. But it all sounded like a low rumble as Kingsley leaned in close, “You aren’t half bad Prewett.”
Fabians face now certainly matched the color of his hair as he gulped and let out in response, “You also don’t bite.”
Kingsley pulled his face away slightly, his eyes locking with Fabians, “I can if you want.”
Fabian looked from Kingsleys eyes down to his plump lips and back up again, “Yes.”
“Yes?” Kingsley cracked a smile, Fabian could feel the rumble of a chuckle under his own hands that were holding to the other man's shoulders.
Fabian nodded in response, he feared any further words would simply embarrass him further.
Kingsley leaned closer, “I won’t bite…yet.” Kingsley slowed them both down and let his hands settle onto Fabian's waist, “But I can do this.”
Now despite being single Fabian had kissed plenty of people. Chaste kisses in broom closets and even on similar dance floors such as this. But this, this was actual magic.
Kingsley kissed Fabian lightly at first, not pressing too hard, not too forceful or leading. Fabian could not tell if it had been one second or one hour before either of them moved again, but when they did, Fabian led. Fabian's arms slithered up around Kingsleys neck and pulled him closer as he slotted his mouth with Kingsleys.
Their kiss lasted for multiple songs easily. Hands moved across bodies. But the entire time they did not dare separate. Only when the chill of the night began to prickle at Fabian did he pause and pull away. Fabian looked around, the crowd was much thinner now, much slower music hummed, and only a couple remained, wrapped up in each other's arms.
“Thanks…for not biting me.” Fabian croaked out but began to laugh when Kingsley did too.
“Thanks for dancing with me, finally.” Kingsley said running fingers through the curls of Fabians hair letting the tangles slowly come undone between his fingers.
“Finally?!” Fabian exclaimed, pressing his hands to Kingsleys chest. “What do you mean finally?!”
“Fabian…I asked you to dance with me, sit with me, hell even study with me so many times. But you always had an excuse.”
Yes, Fabian did always avoid Kingsley in one on one situations because the only crush he ever had simply stole his breath away whenever they were within five feet of each other.
“Well…well I was just waiting.” Fabian said in an attempt to defend.
“Waiting for…?” Kingsley asked that too attractive brow turning up.
“Hush, I am thinking of an excuse!”
Kingsley simply laughed and held Fabian close.
Along the edge of the clearing Gideon took another deep breath and nodded, watching his brother laugh and smile brighter than he has in much too long for the first time, hand in hand with Kingsley Shacklebolt.
~ Four Years Later, Prewett Estate Graveyard ~
Kingsley Shacklebolt stood in front of a gravestone with a name he always loved seeing, but in this moment only pain and fury flow through his veins as he read it. “Here lies Fabian Prewett - Brave, Loyal, Loving.”
Kingsley kneeled, dug into the cold dirt a small hole, and dropped two gold rings, burying them.
Then, Kingsley stood. Kingsley Shacklebolt was single.