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gahyeonszn · 9 months

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habits

genere: angst,,, i think,,

warning(s): none i dont think uhhhh

note: forgot to write that everyone in dc + reader live together also this is like poorly written bc i was struggling to keep it somewhat short, this is so bad im so sorry😭 also ignore the non matching moodboard thingy at the top, i give up,,,

you’d do just about anything for handong, it was almost like she was the oxygen that you enjoyed breathing. you loved her and she meant the world to you, but did she think the same towards you? not quite and you didn’t think she’d ever think the same about you.

handong was a wild card. she would act very friendly one second, flirty the next, then want nothing to do with you afterwards. it was a never ending cycle of mixed emotions, misunderstandings, and confusions. it had left you conflicted and stumped on what to do, but did you care enough to distance yourself to get your feelings for her situated? no, of course not. you were well convinced that you were in love with her and that your feelings for her would never change. you were completely infatuated with her.

“hey, wanna go out for dinner?” handong had asked, sticking her head into your room with a smile on her face. you looked up from your laptop, mirroring her smile.

“sure, who’s going with?” you asked, usually she brought her members along to treat them after a tough promotion period, but she shook her head at your words.

“no one, it’ll just be me and you, now pick out something nice to wear for tonight!” she excitedly exclaimed, turning around and running to her room while letting out little giggles. as soon as you heard her door shut, you let out a breath that you didn’t know you were holding. sure, you were excited to spend a nice dinner with handong, but was it actually going to be nice? were you falling into another one of her mixed emotion traps? were you going to embarrass yourself? all these questions filling your head made it hard to breathe, it felt like you were drawing in an ocean filled with doubt, fear, and embarrassment. if this is how you feel after handong asked you if you wanted to have dinner then maybe it was time you reconsidered your feelings for her.

you put on your best clothes, looking at yourself in the mirror, flattening the sides of your outfit down by running your hands down it. you fixed up your hair a bit before turning around to see handong leaning against your door frame. she was wearing the most beautiful, perfectly fitting velvet dress. you stared in awe for a couple moments, a chuckle erupting from handong who started to step closer to you.

“you look beautiful.” you breathlessly said. handong chuckled once more.

“you don’t look too bad yourself, ready?” she asked, receiving a nod from you before grabbing your hand and leading you out of the building.

you two had arrived at a restaurant which looked high end, you were nervous that you weren’t going to be able to afford anything, nervously gulping and feeling your hands start to get sweaty. handong started to walk towards the front doors, looking back to notice you were following her. she softly smiled, walking back to you to grab your hand and lead you inside.

“sorry.” you whispered, looking down at handong’s hand which was slightly intertwined with your sweaty hand.

“for what?’ she whispered back, leading you two to an empty, candlelit table.

“you know…the sweat, i’m just nervous, this place looks so high end.” you said while looking around. handong guided you to your seat, helping you sit down as you continued to observe the place.

“don’t worry about it then, i’ll pay for everything.” she said, opening the menu that was quickly handed out by a waiter.

“no, i can’t let you do that, i’ll look for something cheap.” you stumbled over your words as you opened the menu to see anything but cheap. why had she brought you here of all places? you would have been fine with a simple hangout at a diner, talking over milkshakes and fries.

the waiter came back to take your orders, handong had ordered a drink that sounded all sorts of fancy and a meal that sounded like it came directly from france while you had just gone with a simple glass of water. the waiter stared at you as if you were an alien, as if ordering water there wasn’t normal, but they obliged and took your menus. handong stared at you, a smile creeping up on her face as she thought about your simple order.

“really? just water?” she laughed quietly.

“of course just water, a bowl of soup was almost 20 bucks!” you whisper yelled, putting your face into your hands. “why did i agree to go out with you?” you groan quietly, your hands muffling your complaints. handong found it harder to contain her laughter, you didn’t understand how this was so funny to her.

“maybe if you think of this like a date then it’ll make things better, who knows, maybe i’ll even give you a treat for behaving afterwards.” her tone turned sultry, you knew she was messing with you, she considered you a friend and you were well aware of that. you couldn’t put yourself through this, not again.

“don’t say that, you know you wouldn’t want to consider this a date.” you lifted your head up from your hands, now making eye contact with the woman in front of you who only raised an eyebrow.

“what makes you say that?” she questioned.

“maybe the fact that you always laugh off any flirts, making fun of me for getting flustered then proceeding to mess with me knowing fully well that i love you.” you scoffed, you knew this dinner night with her was a mistake, but you were like a puppy when it came to her, you’d do anything to be around her.

“i do that with everyone, you’re nothing special. we’re friends and we’ll always stay friends, nothing more.” handong said, turning to thank the waiter for the drinks and food, taking a sip of her beverage before looking back at you. “whatever feelings you have for me, i suggest you stop them, you’re my friend and you always will be.”

you grit your teeth, not knowing how much more you could take of this night.

“fine.” was all you said, taking some money out of your pocket, slamming it on the table before getting up out of your chair. “thanks for tonight, i guess.” you spoke through gritted teeth as you left the restaurant, heading back home on foot, not caring about the weather or how late it was. if handong wanted you to lose feelings for her then so be it, that shouldn’t be hard when its always been unrequited love.

it was slightly awkward to wake up the next morning to see handong on the couch after what happened last night, but you’d have to get used to it. you made your way to the kitchen for breakfast, seeing one of your closest friends, sua, making pancakes for everyone.

“good morning.” you said, standing behind sua and wrapping your arms around her, watching as she poured pancake batter into the sizzling pan.

“well good morning to you too, feeling clingy this morning or something?” sua asked, flipping a pancake and pressing down on it.

“maybe a little bit, after you're done with the pancakes then can we go into your room and watch a movie? please?” you pleaded moving around so your face was in her peripheral vision. she smiled and nodded, attempting to finish up the pancakes faster as you started making your way towards her room.

handong overheard everything, it hurt to hear. is this how you felt all along? who knows. she didn’t care, you were still friends in her book and nothing would change that, she could never think of a friend in a romantical way, that would be a complete violation of a friendship. she did have to admit that watching sua happily run towards her bedroom hurt though. sua had always liked clinging on to everyone, but she seemed to enjoy clinging on to you the most.

“does sua like them?” handong asked herself out loud, but she immediately shook her head. that couldn’t be the case, handong was so sure that sua saw you the same way she had seen you all these years. there wasn’t any way that sua could like you or anything of the sorts, it was just platonic cuddling and movie watching. handong had convinced herself that was the case.

she was far from wrong though. a couple weeks had passed since then and sua made it very aware to everyone that you two were dating, the hickies had only solidified everything. handong couldn’t describe what exactly she was feeling in that moment, something about seeing you so happy with sua had made her feel off. she felt a pang in her chest which was something she had never felt before. she didn't know why she was starting to feel this way towards you, she was adamant about you being a friend and nothing but a friend, but friends shouldn’t be jealous over the other being in a happy relationship.

was this how you felt when she had turned you down back then? did you hurt the way she did as she watched you happily kiss sua in front of everyone? why did it hurt to see you so happy? handong wanted to be happy for you, but she just couldn't.

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kingmaker-a · 10 months

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Hogwarts AU Related works: Ecdysis, You're a Keeper

Hufflepuff Reader x Slytherin Handong

Warnings: Violence and Bullying

Word Count: 5.1k

Genre: Angst and fluff

Premise: The logistics of a cat or an otherwise unlucky Hufflepuff finds out why they can't make friends from a cat called Nannan.

A/N: Originally intended to be a piece for Handong's birthday which has been and freaking gone by a huge margin. What can I say except life happens.

Logistics hadn’t always been a big thought in your head, especially so in a world brimming with magic.

Still as the early morning sun crests the rolling hills, the thought peaks through like the warm tender reach of the sun. The morning dew melts and greets you with a frosty freshness.

“So are the cats just allowed anywhere in Hogwarts?” You brush through Kneazle fur, a happy crooned pur is your reward. You're surprised it's taken you until your fifth year to even ask the question. Though your studies had always held more of your attention than idle questions.

Professor Kim's eyebrows tighten together, there's the trace of a focused grumble. "Why the sudden question?"

Your mind dances over morning in recent memories, the dulcet purr, awakening you every morning like the croaking cacaw of a rooster.

Though admittingly Nannan was a far better wake up call.

You'd struggle to recollect when he started spending his mornings and some of his nights with you.

"Uh, just wondering," your lips purse, jostling with a potential lie. "Is it rude to become so friendly with someone else's cat without their knowledge?"

"You and I, both know better than anyone that they aren't just pieces of property. They have their own thoughts and feelings, what they get up to is their own business… Unless it's trouble."

She crinkles her nose with an almost knowing scowl, before her eyes peek over to you filling the trough idly.

"How's the friend hunt going?"

Your eyes dance over the familiar beasts, "I've made plenty."

Her eyebrows knit together, a questioning arc laces one stray brow. "We are talking about people right? Magical beasts are all well and good but socialising is something everyone needs, wizard and beast alike."

A tempered sigh leaves your breath, "People? None, nada zilch. I'm starting to think I'm cursed teach."

Rumours twist and circulate with a great swiftness around Hogwarts, rivalling the wing beat of the school’s owlery that’s for sure.

Though there was something to be said on the wizarding world’s reliance on one of the slowest birds in existence.

Perhaps there was something to do with magic?

A thought for another day, as your feet pad across familiar concrete. The courtyard had been a familiar space of refuge for you.

A spot chosen by Nannan.

Still, as clouds crest through the sky, you’re surprised by his lack of appearance, it had been something of a regular occurrence since you started at Hogwarts.

You catch whispered words on the edge of the wind, “Did you see Handong this morning? She’s always gone before sun rise."

The quintessential ice queen, though that was an odd thought. She was far from studious, a remark commonly repeated by professor Kwon. You remember the frustration that boiled at the edge of his lips at her wasted talent.

Though you weren’t much for rumours having been caught in a few unfortunate ones in the past.

“I heard she’s been looking for Nannan, the little rascal disappears every night.”

A nervous gulp lines your throat, rumours already circulated you enough as it was, you didn’t need to add potential catnapper to the list.

You feel a nuzzling warmth burrow into your calf, a warm purr and you suddenly feel at ease.

Though something does feel off, as he hops on to a nearby bench without a notorious rattle.

His collar.

Did he have it this morning?

… Actually, now that you think about it, he seemed to have a bad habit of losing his collar, no doubt an additional stressor on the poor ice queen. Your brain bristles with the early nascent memory of when you first met.

The Hogwarts express, riddled with a deep seated anxiety. The wizarding world was so… foreign, magical and brilliant yet somehow antiquated.

Blood purity was a weird hurdle you had to admit, being shunned like you had the plague was far from ideal.

You remember leaving your carriage door open on the small, off chance that someone would join you. A friend to explore the newfound mysteries your life had been blessed with.

Or cursed.

You can still remember the rapid strum of tiny feet crossing the threshold, bounding into your lap with sudden glee.

As well as a matching human sprint that you could almost mistake for an echo.

The flurry of panic in her eyes remains seared into your mind to this day.

"Nannan!"

There's a kindle of surprise laced in her brow followed by a sigh of relief.

"Sorry about him…" her hands grab at the small mound of fur, his claws dig deep into the fabric of your pants. "...He usually dislikes strangers."

A smile tugs across her lips, offering you a handshake.

"Handong."

Too bad nothing would bloom from that seed of a chance encounter.

The sorting hat made sure of it.

Still, you were thankful her gaze held none of the animosity of her peers, though her popularity made her more than a little unapproachable.

"Did you lose your collar?"

His head cocks to the side, surprised by the sudden question before looking down.

There's a panicked flurry etched into his cute features. He always had a surprisingly human edge to him, though you suppose it was because he was a Wizarding family cat.

You were just glad that this one of the times he understood you, communication had been a bit hit or miss on the best of days.

"Should we get you a new one from Hogsmeade?"

A happy almost excited chirp blooms from his muzzle.

Maybe, just maybe it'd help you start a more than middling conversation with Handong.

Though, it did leave you with the difficult task of figuring out what to say, 'sorry I stole your cat' didn’t seem like a good start.

"We're gonna have to walk since a broom wasn't in the budget this year," or any year really.

There's always comfort to be had in the company of a friend, wizard and beast alike. The sun bristles with an even warmth, your eyes dancing across what little clouds you could see.

Even as your school shoes dust through familiar trodden dirt paths and you lean back into the brace of your hands at the nape of your neck.

Relaxation was far from your mind.

An eerie shadow floats and clings to your mind in spite of the open air freedom away from the castle grounds.

"Do you think I'm cursed?"

There's a warble tilted chirp of concern that bounces from his mouth. His paws stiffen against the dirt, drawing his small form to a halt, head clocked to the side expectantly.

Almost like a question you can somehow understand, "cursed?"

Your teeth graze against your tongue, a bubble of vulnerability clogs your chest. There's a lingering hesitance that shallows your breath.

To admit was to make real after all.

"... I… I'm not sure if you noticed but I'm not exactly spoiled for company." the words boil past your lips, twisting with a fraction of frustration. Still, your eyes linger on your companion catching what you can only assume is a frown. "Not that you're bad company."

There's an affirming almost knowing purr, the brush of his tail washes away some of the unease that weighs you down.

Yet it always comes back.

It’s hard to ignore the way the other students avoid even being on the same dirt path as you, even with Nannan in your company.

Almost like crossing your path would spell death for them.

Still the sun glitters and dances in the air, a small ray of positive energy. Your feet trail along the dirt path as your mind wonders. A soft welcome silence, a comfort even if the only companion you had was a cat.

Your ears twitch and hitch at the sound of someone rushing your way, in an almost eager fashion.

Two Slytherin students, you can’t help but groan… you’d hate to be bullied in Nannan’s presence. Your fingers grip at your wand hidden in your sleeve.

You were far from a proficient duelist, but at least it offered you a degree of comfort, no matter how small. However, your eyes catch an almost annoyed look in Nannan’s eyes, like a cat coming across a loveable if somewhat misguided dog.

“Nannan!” An almost jovial burst of energy that mocked the very idea of the house of snakes, you catch the glint of a leather jacket hidden under her robes.

A muggle much like yourself.

Kim Yoohyeon, Muggle born Slytherin, Seeker and sweetheart of Slytherin’s duel captain Sly.

Her boots catch in the dirt, a betrayal of her own coordination as she teeters on the edge of tripping up.

A solid, firm hand catches her hood pulling her from the precipice. “I’m glad you’re nowhere near as clumsy on a broom.”

The voice is soft yet biting, a restrained well trained snake. There’s a cold calculation to her eyes and an almost permanently pressed frown on her lips.

Olivia Hye, Beater prodigy and potions expert.

An odd duo for sure.

Yet their focus never even inches in your direction, too focused on your companion. Yoohyeon squats down before the furred joy of your life, a smile beams on her face as she tries to her pat Nannan.

Only to be met with air, as he suddenly darts closer to you, tail brushing at your shins.

Her eyebrows knit and tighten, a flash of surprise sparks across her face finally noticing your presence.

There's the bright flash of a smile, warm and welcoming much like your house should be. Yet her eyes remained focused on your companion like her prolonged stare could reveal answers long unheard.

You clear your throat.

"Oh right, sorry uh-" She quickly stands at full height, whipping out her hand from deep within her robes. "I'm Kim Yoohyeon and you are?-"

You clasp her hand, "I'm-"

Another flash of recognition as her eyes dart from you to Nannan and back to you.

"You're the magical beasts muggle," there's a flare of a smile that burns with solidarity. Her grip tightens against yours like a familiar hug.

"I, uh-yeah I guess that's me," you shrug, it was better than any of the alternatives by a long shot.

"Otherwise known as the sore thumb Hufflepuff or…" Olivia prods, her eyes trailing you over, sizing you up. "The cursed student."

You swear you catch a glint of a knowing look in her eyes, as she turns to Yoohyeon. A brief wordless exchange that you can't quite grasp.

"I wouldn't worry about it though," Despite her dry almost uninterested tone, there's an ember of warmth that you can pluck out and huddle around. Her eyes shift back over Nannan. "Quality over quantity."

Yoohyeon's boots shuffle and shift against the dirt, her mouth opens but claws itself shut before she speaks. "We gotta go… But I wouldn't recommend heading to Hogsmeade. There's rumours of unsavoury folks hanging around…"

Still, you can see the trepidation that gnaws at her lips, rolling and tossing with temptation. Like a child with a secret they shouldn’t tell.

Nannan’s buried meow in your calf reminds you of your mission. Still your hand creases against the back of your neck, a look of sheepishness.

“Well, Nannan said we should be fine.”

Even in a world of magic your words manage to earn a look of surprise from both of them.

“...Nannan,” Olivia points at the small cat, a curious jutted finger. “Told you that?”

“Unless there’s some other cat that sneaks into my ro-” your hand clasps over your mouth, as a frazzled meow echoes from Nannan. “-please don’t tell Handong, she’ll have my hide if she knew.”

Yoohyeon only chuckles as she places a hand on your shoulder, “your secret is safe with me muggle buddy.”

Olivia only rolls her eyes, “the ice queen isn’t that scary. She’s more bark than bite… outside of a duel at least.”

“But we should be off, I’d have for Sly to feel like a third wheel with Yoongi and Ryujin.” She muses boots scraping across the dirt.

“Right because it’s fine if I’m the fifth wheel.”

Your laughter hides, Nannan’s low growl.

It’s dark and cloudy when you finally make it to Hogsmeade, charged with a deep foreboding that only echoes with Yoohyeon’s warning. You’d never met a dark wizard before, and all things permitting it’d stay that way.

Yet the air holds its malicious charge, the streets emptier than you remember. Still you search in familiar nooks and alleys, ignoring the tension that boils in your stomach.

Coloured roofs and windows blur together, each store isn’t quite right. You wanted Hnadong to understand that Nannan was safe in your care an-

You almost lose Nannan in your rush, a muffled, worried meow is all you catch as he rushes to your side.

Thinking too much as always.

You quickly crouch down to his height, your hands run through the side of his neck, ticking away at every sweet spot you remember as an apology.

“Sorry, buddy.” A frown tickles at your lips, “I-uh was getting stuck in my head as always.”

He nuzzles against your soft caress before propping himself up against your knees, cute beady eyes peering at your own.

His head tilts to the side.

A question.

“About?” Your lips scrunch together… you’re talking to a cat. Professor Kim would be simultaneously impressed and disappointed. “I… just want Handong, to know you’re safe with me.”

There’s a pause before he tilts his head the other way, almost like he didn’t believe that was all.

Your eyebrows knit together, did he see something you couldn’t? He holds your gaze for a second almost coaxing the thought out of you.

“...You’re right, I was hoping maybe we could become friends. Even if she is… less than approachable.”

The wind blows with a soft aching cold, yet Nannan looks at you for a moment before his gaze shifts side to side, almost patrolling for any passerby. You feel the soft patter of his feet against your knees before he launches himself at you, brushing his head against your cheek.

An affirmation that things would be alright, and a token of his affection.

“Love you too.”

He nuzzles into your palm with the heaviest purr you’ve ever heard from him. There’s a tickle of warmth in your chest.

Yet there’s something that gnaws at you, at the edges of your mind an almost unconscious instinct like something more was going on. Uneasiness settles back into your veins as your eyes linger on figures who weren’t there before.

Heavy black cloaks and hoods.

There’s a twinge in the back of your skull, a gut feeling, a hunch.

Poachers.

Their conversation is mostly muffled and hidden, but your eyes peer past their secrecy, a single word uttered yet unheard.

But your eyes see true.

“Kneazle.”

The hairs on the backs of your neck prickle with tension, stiffen with fear.

You grip your wand tight, gesturing for Nannan to run, your throat dry and parched as your heart races. Each thump burns deep in your ears even as Nannan looks at you with a surprised expression.

Your features flare with anger… you hated this approach, but time was of the essence. You could already imagine Taeyeon’s disappointed expression.

Perhaps she’d understand.

A deep seething breath, blisters past your lips as you raise your wand. Anger etched into every movement to scare him off.

Flickers of your loneliness, anger and pent up rage from years best unthought of.

“Scram,” you scowl, voice dragging low with a growl.

You catch the flash of surprised fear as he scampers off out of sight.

Perhaps you really were cursed?

Footsteps bounce and echo off cobblestone paths, yet you can barely hear them over the dangerously loud thump of your own racing heart.

What was your plan? You’d spent so much time worrying about a cat, that you forgot about yourself.

Your feet dart despite your heavy thoughts, moving on instinct alone as you tuck through alleyways and side streets.

Their footfalls become rapid and heavy like a crashing wave, how long before it crashes into you?

A Slytherin would’ve had a plan to misdirect them and mock them, a Gryffindor would’ve been brave enough, strong enough to stand their ground like a valiant hero.

Your movements are desperate as you hear them claw closer.

“We just want to talk Puffy~”

A Ravenclaw-

Your feet stop dead in their tracks.

A Ravenclaw wouldn’t have ended up in a dead end, nothing but cobblestone walls. Your eyes search desperately for even a window to jump through.

Though would you even have the courage if there was one?

Your throat twists as you nervously gulp, dry with fear and exertion.

A slow clap echoes through the abandoned and isolated back alley. “That was quite some detour Puffy.”

Voice like hoarse, dry gravel. Like someone who smoked too much in hopes of being cool one day.

An old weathered middle aged hand, peels back his hood.

The leader no doubt.

Scars line his lips, a misshapen moustache that looked proudly groomed despite the gaps of scarred flesh.

Yet the glint in his eyes was animalistic, primal even.

Slowly you back away, you were nothing but prey in his eyes. A chuckle lines his lips, twisting with a malicious grin.

“Cat got your tongue?”

There’s a roar of laughter behind him, though you feel like it was more fear than genuine laughter.

Your hand tries to grip tight against your wand, as your heart thumps louder and deeper. You can’t make out the words he says, they’re muffled by your fear.

Yet, one thing peaks through the deafening anxiety of your heart. The clatter of your own wand against cobblestone.

If you were a real Hufflepuff perhaps, you would have someone to help you, save you from your grim predicament.

“So where’s the kneazle Puffy?” he lingers close, closer than you’d like. His breath reeked of stenches you had never encountered even with your care of magical creatures. A unique blend of sour and rotten, much like his soul you predict.

You have to fight against your own throat to speak, a lump held heavy in your throat boiling with the anxiety in your heart.

“H-he’s a half kneazle,” you point out, voice quivering despite your best intentions.

His voice echoes yours, heavy with a mocking tone, a performance for his pack, “H-he’s a h-half k-kneazle.”

A flick of his wand, bludgeons the cobblestone underneath your feet, spraying dirt and pebbles everywhere as you slip.

“I could barely understand you with how much you were shaking,” he growls a twisted malicious smile etched into his teeth. He paces slowly as his eyes hover over you.

You were nothing but prey.

But at least Nannan had gotten away.

Yet his eyebrows knit together, a sound on the wind.

A low growl.

“Perhaps your efforts were for not Puff-” His voice catches in his throat like he 'd been struck by an arrow.

A flash of fear burns deep into his visage, as his eyes twist over the rooftops. His voice catches in his throat, stuttering like a stuck record.

Yet there’s a part of you that roils with joy at the way fear gripped his face suddenly almost like a demento-that would be worse news for you.

“Miss H-Han,” his voice croaks as he slowly stumbles back.

You hear the shuffle of rooftop tiles as a shadow flutters over you. There’s an almost feline grace as she lands, the air around her dances at her command. Her robes flutter with a familiar green and black.

You hear it, the dry scratch of his throat as he begs for his brain to work as it stumbles in her presence.

You slowly pull yourself up, your body almost commanding you to pull yourself together in her presence.

It’s hard to believe she was the same girl you met on the train in your first year. The deep thud of your heart is absent in her company.

You feel it, before you see it, the flare of anger in the flick of her wand. The familiar flare of scarlet energy as concussive force leaves her wand, it screeches through the air with a howling scream before hitting the man square in the chest.

Even from here, you could hear the wind leave his body.

His earlier display of power, mere child’s play compared to Handong.

“I believe I told you and father that I would find Nannan,” You catch the flare of white across her knuckles, her voice dripping with an icy calm.

But you could feel the anger that boiled and simmered underneath, she paced slowly much like he had. Each footstep held with gritted teeth, the flare of a scowl.

“Please, take your leave. I do not wish for my companion to see an unsavoury side of me,” her eyes flick over to you with the flash of an apologetic smile. They quickly move with a shuffled panic before her gaze can even return to them.

You can’t help but feel the incessant need to tidy up your uniform, to straighten up, to stand talle-She hesitates in those quiet moments, eyes darting between you and the exit.

“I-uh,” she frowns against her own thoughts, fingers massaging her temples.

You’re just glad you’re able to breathe by comparison.

“Thanks.”

There’s the briefest flash of surprise across her features, replaced with a charming well practised smile.

She’d make a good head girl.

“You’re welcome…” still there’s that familiar frown that tugs with thoughts. Her features tighten ever so slightly, a war between herself.

It’s weird the way words just bubble naturally past your lips, “A friend of mine would tell you, you’d feel better if you just let it out.”

At least that’s what you think he’d say.

Her mouth opens, ajar for a second longer than you’d expected… Maybe you weren’t the only one who wasn’t good at the whole social thing?

Maybe, despite what had occurred, it was your lucky day?

“That’s not fair,” she whines, her nose scrunching with the quirk of a smile. A playful smack of her hand against your shoulder.

Your heart races at the contact, your panics at the thought.

Don’t think too much of it, don’t think too much of it, don’t think too much of-

A cackle of electricity ripples in your veins, as she dusts you off. Her smile does nothing to hide the worry that lingers in her eyes.

Her grip tightens against your sleeves, holding you there in place.

“I… I should apologise, this was all my fault-” it’s hard to behold her so close, the way worry dances through her eyes melts the image of an ice queen with a searing flame. Sure, she had a certain regalness to her, but there was nothing close to ice.

Only a soft warmth.

“It’s alright, really-” you add, yet there’s a weird almost anxious edge to her as she babbles, eyes failing to meet yours.

At least Nannan would be proud of you?

This was going far better than you’d expected… Wait, where was he?

You purse your lips to whistle out to your companion. You owed him an apology.

You hear a deep sigh from Handong, the echoes of desperate courage.

“Promise me, these events won’t make you judge me too harshly,” her eyes peer into yours with reinforced vigour.

You hear the slight jingle of a bell. “Why would I?”

Her eyes clamp shut with a grimace, “because… I may be the source of your other… this is all-”

You feel the brush of familiar warmth against your calf, a soft grizzly purr.

“I didn’t realise they were talking about my father’s men,” she groans, her foot stomping softly against the footpath.

“Wait who were talking about your father’s men?” your eyebrows knitting together, were you having two separate conversations?

You feel her hands grip your shoulders, her head tilting to the side.

“Yoohyeon and Olivia?” she points out, eyebrows twisted and tangled much like yours.

“When did-” her head tilts to the other side, her mouth twists into a scoff like it’s the most obvious thing.

“On our way to Hogsm-” her voice catches in her throat, as she goes pale. A flash of panicked realisation. Her voice reduced to a quiet whisper. “...fuck.”

Of course.

It all clicks together with the greatest ease, Nannan had been more… affectionate after your third year. The clues had been there the whole time, the shifts in his personality, not being able to communicate with him sometimes.

Losing his collar.

She shrinks under your gaze, eventually settling into an embarrassed crouch. You swear you can catch her whispers in the wind.

“This wasn’t supposed to go like this.”

It’s automatic the way you crouch down in front of her. Your hand pats her head before you can even question if it’s weird or not.

Did she think you saw her change when she leapt off the roof?

She hums with your touch, before another flash of embarrassment catches in her throat.

You probably weren’t helping.

“I-... you probably think I’m weird?” Her voice curled into a soft whisper, a weak smile is all she can manage.

There’s a desperate edge in the way her hand latches onto yours before you can pull it away.

“Why would I think that?” Your voice bubbles and simmers with more warmth than you expected. Odd, maybe? But weird? No. “loneliness brings out the oddities in people.”

A weird mixture between a chuckle and a grumble dots her lips, her eyes lift to meet yours with a soft tentativeness.

Each second, each interaction with her makes you question what others see in order to label her an ice queen.

Though perhaps it was her father’s company?

She tugs at you to sit down next to her, a soft plea for company in her vulnerability.

You acquiesce, even with rough cobblestone to rest against. There comfort to be had in her company.

Yet, her lips weigh heavy with troubles. You’d almost forgotten that she knew so much about you and yet… you knew next to nothing about her.

Her eyes avoid yours.

“It’s my fault everyone avoids you.” her words are blunt despite her soft cadence. There’s the soft release of a sigh that aches against your heart as she leans back.

Your chest sputters with the mud of complexity that tugs at your heart. You feel the boil of anger underneath it all, yet something calls out to you, begs you to give her a chance.

The brush of a tail caresses your shoulder.

You hand slowly tugs and pulls at hers, squeezing into any gap, as she barely resists. Which earns you a soft, yet surprised look as she finally turns to you.

All you offer is a soft nod for her to continue.

You swear you can hear her heart rate jump, as her grip tightens against your own.

“...I didn’t mean to.” a frown tightens against her lips, which only worses when your hand leaves hers. “But-”

There’s a quiver to her voice that you almost wouldn’t expect from anyone in Slytherin, especially her.

You tug her closer to you, letting her rest nestled against your shoulder. You catch the slightest hitch of surprise in her breath, before nuzzling against your warmth.

“Everyone found out who my dad was and that I thought you were cute-”

You laugh, always with the surprises. She turns to you with a scowl that borders on seriousness and playfulness.

Right, vulnerable moment and everything. “Dunno, what they’re on about. But he must be a scary guy.”

If he’s anything like her when she’s mad.

“So they star-”

“Spreading rumours, I get it. But was the animagus thing because you had a crush on me or because you felt sorry for me?”

She huffs, slightly before resigning herself. “A bit of both initially, it was Yoohyeon’s idea. She said it’d be cute like a fanfic… whatever those are.”

A chuckle bounces in your chest, that you barely fight back. “And you thought it’d be weird to approach me because of your reputation, let alone if you revealed that you were a stalker.”

A slight pang of pain is your just deserts, as she scowls slightly. “I am not a stalker.”

“Sure, sure.” A flicker of a smile licks at your lips. “Just because you’re pretty doesn’t stop you from being a stalker.”

Her palm caresses your cheek, there’s a tender softness to it. As if the moment would shatter like glass between her fingers.

“I’m glad you’re okay even if it’s made things… weird.” The words sink and drag against you like an anchor, perhaps your heart mourns the loss of ignorance you once had. A frown lingers on her lips, tight and solemn. “But I’d prefer any of the possibilities were you hate me or think I’m weird, if it meant you were safe.”

Yet you can’t help but feel more lingering on her mind, a familiar feeling that hung in your chest whenever she trudged around solemnly as a cat.

Your palm massages her shoulder as your eyes drift skyward, the last embers of sunlight die with a whimper.

“And what would be the best possibility?”

She stiffens at the suggestions, pondering with a tense breath, “that you’d at least consider giving me a chance to be your friend.”

“Well,” you say, fingers tugging, pulling the two of you to your feet. “Friend, we might not make it back in time for dinner but the Three Broomsticks is close by.”

There’s the familiar flash of surprise, quickly swallowed by that ephemeral regal confidence you’d grown fond of.

“I’ll pay, it’s the least I can do.”

“Sweet, it’s a date,” you tease, a smirk creasing your lips as she rolls her eyes.

You walk in silence, there’s warming comfort even with the gap in conversation. She’s always a couple steps ahead of, no doubt lost in her thoughts.

You feel the swipe of a tail against your calf, the jingle of a bell and a simple soft meow.

A suggestion.

“Hey, one more thing,” you call out, jogging towards her.

“Wha-?”

It’s simple and quick, a teasingly brief swipe of your lips against hers. While not exactly magical like being able to transform into an animal.

The gasp of surprise tickles your veins as you feel the briefest smile against your lips.

It’s intoxicating in those brief moments before it’s gone, a couple of your fingers linked with hers as you drag her away.

Perhaps the logistics of a cat weren't your top priority anymore.