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Chapter Text

Beautiful. 

That was Steven's first impression when he saw JL—the new transfer student from the renowned French wizarding school Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in the southern Pyrenees. 

Hogwarts rarely accepts transfer students, so the sight of a flying, gigantic, light-blue carriage driven by twelve winged Abraxan horses landing in the Viaduct Courtyard one afternoon caused a flurry of excitement across the entire school.

A remarkably tall woman stepped out of the enchanted vehicle. Anyone could tell from her towering height that she was a half-giant as she strode to meet the school's groundskeeper and introduced herself as the headmistress of Beauxbatons.

Unlike the enthusiastic crowd around him, Steven was only bored and unimpressed. All of their extracurricular activities had been postponed for the day, including Quidditch practice. He just wanted to go back to their dorm and catch some sleep when he noticed the boy standing beside the headmistress.

Clad in a fine light-blue silk uniform and a slightly pointy hat to go with it, he must be the transfer student that everyone was talking about. His white-gold hair fluttered in the cool breeze, despite the absence of the wind. It was strangely charming, as his brown doe eyes gleamed in the sunlight, accompanied by the most beautiful smile Steven had ever seen.

Enthralled, Steven felt his breath hitch when their eyes met, as if the boy was beckoning him to come closer with a flirtatious little smile. Unaware of what was going on, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain just felt compelled to take action in order to gain the boy's favor.

"A Veela."

"No, a half-Veela."

"What's a Veela-blood doing here in Hogwarts?"

"Please, somebody stop the Veela kid before he enchants everyone around here."

The commotion made Steven snap out of his trance, albeit he still felt a bit disoriented and confused by what transpired.

The Gryffindor Quidditch Captain took quiet pride in his ability to withstand most spells and charms. He was not the star player and Chaser of Hogwarts for nothing. So he could not believe that he, out of all people, had just been enchanted and was completely caught off guard by a pretty face.

Said half-Veela just giggled rather innocently, as if he was not aware of the maelstrom he just caused. Even the sound of his laughter was enough to lure anyone to their early death. In other words, he spelled nothing but trouble. 

Nonetheless, the defeated look in the boy's eyes caught Steven's attention.

Before he could dwell on it further, the prefects of each house had already gathered everyone and escorted them to the Great Hall, where the Sorting Ceremony would begin. 

A sumptuous feast was waiting for them inside as Steven sat with his fellow Gryffindors. The floating ghosts hovering about their table hinted that today was particularly special as a welcome to Hogwarts' new transfer student.

"You don't seem to be doing too great, hyung. Is this your first time seeing a pretty boy?" Juwon, who was seated next to Steven, asked with a cheeky smile, which was met with laughter from their fellow Gryffindors.

"Now, Juwon, show some respect to our captain," Shuaibo, one of Gryffindor's prefects, lightly reprimanded. Said captain sent him a grateful look, but Shuaibo went on, "It's his first time falling in love with a real, breathing person—well, not exactly a person, but I prefer a pretty boy over a smelly Quaffle."

Resounding oohs and aahs filled their entire table, and even the students from the other houses joined in the havoc. Steven had a betrayed expression on his face as he covered his beet-red ears with his hands and gave the prefect an accusatory look.

"Hey, Captain! Pretty boy keeps looking at this side," Daisuke, Gryffindor's youngest Quidditch player and Seeker, pointed out in excitement as he rose from his seat.

About half of the student body whipped their heads in the direction of the half-Veela sitting on the opposite side of the Great Hall. The boy waved back, seeming to enjoy the attention, which only annoyed Steven.

"Thank Merlin! Is this what the Muggles call love is in the air?" Juwon hollered.

This caused cheers to erupt from the Gryffindor table as if they had just won this year's Quidditch cup, until the head of the Gryffindor house and Transfiguration professor—Ten—showed up. "All right, everyone, quiet down. 10 points will be deducted from Gryffindor if anyone still persists with this misbehavior."

The threat of losing points immediately silenced everyone as they settled back on their seats. Steven breathed a sigh of relief as his gaze inadvertently returned to the boy across the hall, who was staring at him rather blatantly. He could feel his heart thrumming in his chest as the half-Veela gave him an amused yet sweet little smile.

"If I could have everyone's attention, please," a low, deep voice reverberated around the hall with the help of the Amplifying Charm. "I repeat, your full attention, please," El Capitxn, head of the Ravenclaw house and DADA professor, stressed. Steven felt Juwon elbow him and realized that the ex-Auror was glaring at him. "I see that some of you may still need to focus on studying and practicing self-control. If your mind is that easily swayed, then you might struggle when it comes to facing the dark arts." 

Soft snickers could be heard, particularly from the Slytherin table, where Steven's self-proclaimed Quidditch rival and the Slytherin team's captain and beater, Han, was seated. "As expected of a half-blood," the other mocked, prompting a knock on the head from the Slytherin prefect, Jeongwoo, who was sitting next to him. The prefect sent Steven an apologetic look, and the Gryffindor captain just waved it off.

Displeased by the small ruckus, El Capitxn cleared his throat. "I will not deduct any points because today is a joyous occasion, but I will see you ALL in detention, you know who you are," he warned, eliciting helpless groans. "In the absence of the headmaster, I warmly welcome our esteemed guests from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Let's all give a round of applause for Madame Olympe Maxime, headmistress of Beauxbatons."

Everyone clapped their hands in greeting as the headmistress got up from her seat, and the woman's enormous height rendered everyone seated next to her speechless. As for Steven, he was still fixated on the half-Veela who was clapping his hands in a circular pattern that was both strange and endearing.

He felt Juwon elbow him again, fearing that El Capitxn might really cast a hex on him if he did not stop ogling at the boy.

"Now, as you are all aware, a transfer student from another wizarding school will be joining us at the start of the new academic year. I have faith that everyone will extend the same hospitality that we have here at Hogwarts and make him feel at home," El Capitxn announced with a stern look and moved to start the Sorting Ceremony. "Monsieur Jay Lawrence, please step forward."

All eyes turned to the pretty boy as he gracefully rose from his seat, and everybody gasped in delight when butterflies suddenly appeared out of thin air, flying daintily around him in circles, matching his nimble steps as he sauntered towards where the Transfiguration professor, Ten, was waiting with the Sorting Hat prepared for him.

"He's so beautiful," a group of Hufflepuff girls dreamily sighed. 

Steven found himself nodding in agreement, albeit reluctantly, as he reasoned to himself that it was just the butterfly-conjuring spell, definitely not the butterflies in his stomach he was feeling.

"Fools! It's just the Veela blood working its magic," one Slytherin boy sneered.

As a half-blood who spent most of his childhood in a Muggle household, Steven had never seen or met a Veela or anyone of Veela heritage. He heard that Veelas can transform into Harpy-like creatures when angered, and Steven wondered if it was the same for the boy.

And something in his heart told him that he didn't care if the boy turned out to be really ugly, and he would still be the prettiest in Steven's eyes.

Excitement filled the air as the half-Veela sat on the stool facing everyone, the Sorting Hat placed on his head. "Ah! A child of a Veela, I see. Very charming people. I remember Godric Gryffindor was seduced by one back in the day. The poor chap almost threw himself off the cliff when he got rejected," the magical hat spoke in a whimsical tone before going eerily silent, as if it was seriously contemplating, which piqued the crowd's interest. "I can see that you're a VERY talented child, and I loathe to admit this… but I will give you the honor of picking which house you see fit."

The decision nearly knocked everyone's socks off, except for the house ghosts, who all mumbled, 'I told you so,' and the shock was quickly replaced by excited chatter and hopeful eyes scanning the half-Veela like he was a gold mine.

"I hope he joins my team; I mean, I hope he will choose our house. I heard he's an excellent Seeker back in Beauxbatons," Chih En, captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and another star Chaser, muttered in interest.

Their 'Care of Magical Creatures' professor, Yangyang, also chimed in, "I will make Hufflepuff your second home, and with all our welcoming hearts, please come to our house. We'll take care of you." The Magizoologist offered with a charming smile. "You're also welcome to visit my house if you want," the professor added with a wink.

"Professor Yangyang just wants to study the half-Veela, for all we know. He might dissect the poor boy if he dares to step inside his home," Woongki, one of Ravenclaw's prefects, scoffed next to Chih En.

Juwon, Daisuke, and Shuaibo had already clasped their hands in prayer and began chanting alongside their captain. "In the name of Merlin, please, pleaseee choose Gryffindor!" Together, the three pleaded. Although he won't say it aloud, Steven also wished and hoped that the half-Veela would pick his house.

From the students to the faculty, everyone's focus was on the boy and what his answer would be as he moved his lips to whisper something to the Sorting Hat. "Is that your final decision? Oh well, if that's the case, then... Gryffindor!"

Cheers flooded the entire Great Hall. There would undoubtedly be a party in the Gryffindor Common Room tonight, and no prefect could stop it.

When the boy approached their table, Steven froze in his spot, so Juwon had to give him another jab. "Go and talk to him, Captain!" He heard Daisuke urge, and Steven was about to retort that it should be the head boy or head girl's job to welcome the new student, or even the prefects, but for some reason, none of them were there—not even Shuaibo, who had been sitting next to him—as though they had all just magically disappeared.

Juwon had already shoved Steven towards the boy before he could mentally prepare himself. The half-Veela was already looking at him expectantly, and the Gryffindor captain cleared his throat. "Hi, my name is Steven Kim," he croaked, his first words since meeting the half-Veela. "And you're absolutely gorgeous." 

Their eyes both widened in surprise, and Steven could hear his fellow Gryffindors laughing wildly from the sidelines. He was just going to simply welcome the boy, but it seemed like his mouth had a mind of its own. The captain wanted nothing more than just to disapparate from his spot.

Before the half-Veela could answer, Steven had fled the scene.

It was later that night, while lying in the hospital wing's bed and enduring Madam Pomfrey's judgmental look, that Steven realized how he had acted like a fool. He remembered how he rushed to the hospital wing like a madman and asked for a cure or anything that would help him calm his racing heart. "Or something that will help you calm down your hormones. No, Mr. Kim. Unfortunately, I don't have a cure for that," Madam Pomfrey snorted after hearing about his symptoms.

Steven honestly didn't know how he would face the half-Veela again without losing his sanity, and he even asked Shuaibo for help when the prefect came to see him earlier if he could cast a Memory Charm on him so he could just forget everything that had happened.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm too pretty—well, not as pretty as your boy—to be sent to Azkaban just because you're too... what's that Muggle word again? Ah yes, whipped. If you want to be on the front page of The Daily Prophet, then count me out. Just imagine the headline: "Quidditch boy got his brain damaged after unauthorized use of the Memory Charm. The cause? Unrequited love," Shuaibo scoffed.

"I'm not in love. I just met JL today," Steven said in defense. 

"JL? Oh, so you already have a nickname for your loverboy? Or is it similar to honey, darling, sweetie, or whatever sap Muggles prefer to call their significant other?" the prefect continued to tease, but Steven just ignored him.

He had never been in love, let alone had a crush. There was no such thing as love at first sight, like his friends were insisting. Passing the O.W.L. exams and being a professional Quidditch player like his father were the only things that mattered to Steven.

It was simply the Veela magic at work. 

If Steven could repel the love potion that a Hufflepuff girl slipped into his drink last year, then surely he would be able to resist a half-Veela's charm, right?

Chapter Text

Scary.

That was JL's first impression when he saw Steven, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and son of a famous Chaser from the Australian National Quidditch team. 

JL was a Quidditch player himself and a Seeker back in Beauxbatons. Despite his poor eyesight, he was always able to catch the golden snitch, which helped his team win numerous games. 

He also heard that Steven is a half-blood. Not that JL cared, as he was also technically a half-blood, or a half-Veela to be exact, but half-Muggles or Muggle-borns were usually frowned upon by the Wizarding society, particularly by the purebloods.

As if being a half-Veela made things any better. JL also faced prejudice similar to other half-breeds, though his exceptional beauty could sometimes obscure his Veela heritage.

Like how Steven's eyes were boring holes into his face. JL was accustomed to being adored and stared at, but it felt strange coming from those fox-like eyes. There was no denying that the Gryffindor Quidditch captain was bloody attractive, and it almost made JL feel flustered, except Steven would not stop giving him the death stare as though he was offended by the half-Veela's existence.

He could still recall how the other boy told JL he was gorgeous and then ran away in embarrassment. The half-Veela found it really cute that he wanted to refute his first impression about the captain, but when JL tried to smile at him when they passed each other earlier in the hallway, Steven simply grimaced.

It was made clear to JL that the captain was really trying hard to resist his charm. JL could not stop it, even if he wanted to. Veelas were born to be fought over by men. Their beauty could even spark a war between nations. And this was also the very reason why he quit playing Quidditch.

Today was his first Beasts class, commonly known as 'Care of Magical Creatures' at Hogwarts, which was held in an open-air classroom near the Bell Tower Wing. Their professor was none other than the renowned Magizoologist, Liu Yangyang, who attempted to persuade JL to join Hufflepuff.

The professor didn't even bother to hide his fascination about the half-Veela, and his eyes literally lit up as soon as he saw JL. "Ah, Monsieur Lawrence. Thank you for gracing us with your beauty. Do you know how your presence has already made a significant difference in this run-down hut? You even outperform these flowers, which will only last a few days," Yangyang said as he flicked his wand to change the water in the flower vases arranged around their class.

It may sound like a cheesy pick-up line, and Professor Yangyang was as hot as a dragon's breath, but JL knew the difference between admiration and curiosity. The Magizoologist worked in the Ministry of Magic under the 'Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures'. The Veelas were classified as 'magical beings,' so it was understandable that the professor was keeping an eye on him, though JL wished that Yangyang would tone down his 'geek side.'

With a wink, the professor continued, "10 points to Gryffindor," and the half-Veela could only groan in defeat.

"Great. 10 points for sitting pretty. Just wonderful," Steven, who was seated behind him, grumbled. 

JL felt like melting under the captain's eyes, and the half-Veela tried not to squirm in his own seat as he felt the heat from them burning holes in the back of his head, as though Steven was casting an Incendio spell.

"Oh please, just admit that you're jelly," Shuaibo huffed beside Steven.

"Jelly? You know how I hate Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Remember how I almost emptied my stomach when I got that vomit flavor?" The captain shuddered in disgust.

"That's not what I meant, you twat. This is why you don't have a girlfriend or boyfriend," the prefect said, clearly frustrated. "Jelly is the Muggle term for jealous. You're the half-Muggle, haven't you learned that?" Shuaibo eyed the other boy in disbelief.

"J-jealous?! I-I'm not jealous!" With crimson ears and a high-pitched voice, Steven adamantly denied, drawing the attention of everyone, including their professor. 

Yangyang enthusiastically pointed his hand at the unsuspecting captain. "Yes, Mr. Kim? Did I hear you say you wanted to volunteer? Good! Please show Monsieur Lawrence to the Kneazle pen nearby," the professor instructed with a big smile. "Your first assignment as a pair is to look after the Kneazles. I trust that the both of you will handle them with love and care."

JL heard Shuaibo snicker next to Steven. "Trust our captain, Professor. I guarantee that the Kneazles will not be the only ones receiving that love and care," the prefect said with a wiggle of his eyebrows. 

And that was how the two of them ended up here, alone, surrounded by awkward silence and adorable feline-like magical beasts called Kneazles.

Other than asking JL to follow him, introducing each Kneazle by name, and essentially teaching the half-Veela the fundamentals—such as how to properly brush and feed a magical beast—Steven hadn't said much. 

What was even more unnerving was how the captain had never looked him in the eye once.

"I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot broomstick either, you know," the half-Veela finally spoke up.

Steven was busying himself with brushing the fur of the Kneazle lying on his lap when he raised his eyes to look at him. 

JL unconsciously gulped at the fierceness of his gaze, silently bracing himself for what was to come. The half-Veela fluttered his eyes closed when Steven raised a hand towards him. Instead of the punch he had anticipated, he felt a delicate touch.

"There's fur stuck in your hair," the captain whispered in a gentle voice, his fingertips stroking over soft blond locks. The Kneazle on his lap was completely forgotten as his hand brushed against the side of JL's cheek. "You have long eyelashes like a doll. It's lovely."

The half-Veela snapped his eyes open and met Steven's surprised ones. They just stared at one another, mirroring each other's expressions, until a snide remark interrupted their moment.

"Flirting in broad daylight now? Aren't you getting shameless, Steven?" Han said, clutching a Nab-sack, presumably an assignment from Professor Yangyang to capture the Kneazles and return them to the Vivarium. "If you don't mind, I have to finish this quick. You can eyefuck each other all you want back in your dorms."

"Language, Hanni!" Jeongwoo scolded beside the Slytherin Quidditch captain, who was also paired for this assignment. "Professor Yangyang is looking for you, JL. If you're done with..." The prefect then motioned to Steven's hand still on JL's cheek, "whatever you two are doing, come meet him at his office." 

JL felt himself blushing in embarrassment and shyly moved away from the captain, his touch still hot and lingering on his skin.

Steven did the same with a frown back on his face, though his ears were noticeably red. He turned his attention to the Slytherin prefect. "What does the professor want with JL? Did he mention why he wants to see him alone? Isn't he a bit too obsessed?" The captain said warily.

The half-Veela couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Although Professor Yangyang did not appear to be a threat, Steven sounded like he genuinely cared about JL's well-being for someone who seemed to despise his existence.

"You sound like an overprotective boyfriend," Han commented with a shit-eating grin on his face as if he had just struck a gallon of galleons, and JL suddenly felt uneasy at the mischievous glint in his eyes. "Are you worried that your pretty boy may be stolen?"

"Okay, that's enough. We don't want to deduct any points here, do we?" Shuaibo suddenly appeared between them while eyeing the other prefect who was now holding back Han from provoking the Gryffindor captain.

Steven looked like he was about to hex the Slytherin captain but obediently stepped back. The tall boy's constant banter with the captain made the half-Veela realize that Zhang Shuaibo was, in fact, a prefect.

JL just wanted to leave this mess he involuntarily got himself into, but before he could do so, Steven grabbed his hand, and the half-Veela flinched at his touch.

The Gryffindor captain also seemed taken aback by his own actions, but his fox-like eyes quickly softened when he noticed that he had scared JL. "Take this," Steven said as he handed him a Muggle-looking fountain pen. "It's a stun gun, but in pen form, so a stun pen."

Confused, the half-Veela asked, "I'm sorry, a what?" He had little contact and rarely stepped foot in the Non-Magic World, so he was regrettably ignorant and received lower grades when it came to Muggle Studies.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your moment, Captain, but JL could just use Stupefy, you know?" Shuaibo said in a very matter-of-fact way while rolling his eyes. "And aren't we supposed to pet Kneazles here? Or do Veelas count?" The prefect teased, implying that he had seen Steven brushing JL's hair and cheek earlier. "Our captain, Steven Kim, is the best at handling beasts and magical creatures alike with love and care."

"S-shut up! It's not like that, okay?!" Steven smacked the other boy in the shoulder before turning back to JL. "Anyway, I'm giving this to you for your own protection. I know we have wands and spells, but you never know; this Muggle stuff might come in handy, especially when you can't use magic."

The genuine concern in the captain's voice completely changed JL's first impression of Steven, as the other boy showed him how to use this fascinating Muggle device, and the half-Veela couldn't help but note how cute Steven's laughter was when he tested the stun pen on Shuaibo.

"Thank you," JL said to Steven as they arrived in front of Professor Yangyang's office. After much persuasion from the prefect, the captain finally agreed to accompany the half-Veela to the faculty tower, which was situated in the South Wing of Hogwarts Castle. 

Steven remained silent and simply avoided looking into JL's eyes. His handsome face still had that menacing look.

But JL wasn't scared of the Gryffindor captain anymore. 

The half-Veela took a step closer and leaned in to Steven's ear. "For your troubles," he whispered, and lightly kissed the captain on the cheek.

JL hurriedly turned back, missing the other boy's expression, but he heard Daisuke's cry as he closed the door behind him.

"Steven-hyung?! Please don't die! Somebody help!"