HP!Verse Qmi
Title: At Least I Still Have You
Authors: cynicalxcharm/fading_sun_sock/shieldkitten
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Kyuhyun/Kibum friendship
A/N: What's this, you ask? PLOT?! Yes. HP!Verse now has plot. \o/
Happy birthday, meitachi!! Kendra said your birthday was today, but it was, in fact, Sunday. You said you wanted Qmi, so this was pretty much written specifically for you.^^ (comment removed due to Jolene's suicide attempt
I.
Zhou Mi turned the page, chewing thoughtfully on the end of his quill. He nodded his head as his mind processed each paragraph, and a smile crossed his features as the information clicked in his mind. He scribbled furiously on his parchment, oblivious to the two boys that took their seats on either side of him. When he finally looked up from his essay, he was startled to see the two Ravenclaws sandwiching him, studying silently. He glanced around the library, noting the excessive amount of empty tables with mild confusion. Cleared his throat quietly, he wondered if he should perhaps say something. One of them looked up, the one with light speckles of acne decorating his cheeks, and gave him a small smile. Kyuhyun, Zhou Mi thought his name was.
"You were making weird faces," he explained before Zhou Mi could even ask why they were sitting so close to him, when the whole library was open.
"We didn't want people to think you were crazy and friendless," the other boy interjected, revealing the whitest teeth he'd ever seen.
"Oh," Zhou Mi blinked, not sure how to take that. Because, to be honest, he really didn't have many friends. No one really bothered him while he was involved in his studies, and so, having been involved in his studies every waking moment for the past 6 years, no one really bothered him at all. Everyone had settled into their own cliques, naturally, and he couldn't break into them if he tried. Deciding they meant to help, rather than harm, he smiled. "Thanks."
"I'm Kyuhyun," the first boy replied, holding out a hand to Zhou Mi, whose cheeks colored as his smile widened.
"Kibum," said the other, adjusting his glasses and going back to his book.
"I'm Zhou Mi," he told Kyuhyun, taking his hand a shaking it. The younger boy chuckled and smiled warmly before pulling his hand away and turning his attention to his notes.
"I know."
---
II.
“I have this hypothesis,” Zhou Mi informed Kyuhyun, nudging a pile of books off the couch and onto the floor before dropping down in their place.
“Is that so?” Kyuhyun asked, leaning over to stack them neatly back up before turning back towards the large volume propped precariously in his lap.
“Yeah,” Zhou Mi said distractedly, staring over Kyuhyun’s shoulder at the decorative script. “What are you reading?”
“Nothing,” Kyuhyun said, closing the book with a snap and shifting to face Zhou Mi with a politely curious look on his face. “What was it you were saying about a hypothesis?”
Zhou Mi straightened up, his face lighting up in a smile. “Right! So. I think there’s something going on between Donghae and Eunhyuk.”
Kyuhyun blinked. “Is that a hypothesis? Or a theory?”
Zhou Mi smiled wisely at him and leaned forward, lowering his voice a little more. “I saw them disappearing into a classroom together after breakfast.”
“Really,” Kyuhyun deadpanned. “That’s thrilling.”
“Kyuhyun!” Zhou Mi whined, throwing himself back on the couch so he was stretched across it, feet nestled comfortably in Kyuhyun’s lap. “This is serious! This is huge! It’s monumental even! It’s-“
“Eeteuk and Kangin all over again?” Kyuhyun filled in for him, flipping his book back open. “Except, you know, without all the angst and drama and-wait, no,” he paused, looking back up. “This really is like them all over again! What happens when Heechul figures out? What happens when Heechul and Eeteuk figure out? Oh, they’re going to castrate Hyuk!”
“Why are you more excited about Eunhyuk getting castrated then you are about Donghae and Eunhyuk sneaking around together?” Zhou Mi asked groaning and burrowing his face in a pillow. “There is something horribly wrong with you, you know that?”
“Eunhyuk and Donghae have History of Magic together after breakfast,” Kyuhyun snorted, jiggling his knee until Zhou Mi’s legs slipped off it. “And what, exactly, do you think is wrong with me?”
“…Um,” Zhou Mi floundered, thinking hard but slightly distracted by the way Kyuhyun bit his lip and watched him with curious teasing eyes.
“The fact that I like you?” Kyuhyun provided helpfully after a moment of silence.
Zhou Mi looked up at the younger boy and froze, eyes going wide.
“It does appear to be the strangest thing about me,” Kyuhyun mused nonchalantly, shrugging to himself but grinning a little towards Zhou Mi. “Considering how incredibly intelligent and witty I am and all?”
“I-um…” Zhou Mi stuttered, jerking his legs over until he was in a sitting position, back straight against the couch cushions. “Well, that is-I mean-thank you?”
“Oh,” Kyuhyun said, looking a little taken aback. “Yeah, um…no problem?”
“I’m just-the homework, you know,” Zhou Mi fluttered his hands about wildly and blushed violently when his sleeve hit a bottle of ink and sent it splattering to the floor. “Oh my-“
“Zhou Mi-“ Kyuhyun started seriously, but the older boy only buried his face in his hands, rushing off out the door, incoherent explanations left in his wake.
~
“So I realize maybe that wasn’t the most tactful way to confess,” Kyuhyun admitted, biting his lip and squinting up at Zhou Mi, who turned towards him in shock.
“Wha-how did you find me up here?” the older boy asked, looking around the Owlery in confusion.
“You stepped in the ink pot you spilled before you left,” Kyuhyun said, shoving his hands into his pockets and staring down at his feet. “I just thought I’d come up and let you know that I’m sorry. I guess I miscalculated and I shouldn’t have just sprung it on you like that-we’re such good friends and-“
“There’s no need to apologize,” Zhou Mi murmured, slipping off the window sill he was perched on and turning towards Kyuhyun. “I-“
“You’re a good person Zhou Mi,” Kyuhyun grinned, scratching the bridge of his nose with one hand. “I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”
“Kyuhyun,” Zhou Mi tried again but paused when the other boy stopped and looked back at him. “I-“
“It’s okay,” Kyuhyun nodded slowly, flashing Zhou Mi a quick smile before turning towards the exit and trudging slowly down the steps. “I understand.”
Zhou Mi waited a moment, staring after Kyuhyun before leaping to his feet and sprinting off after the boy, whipping down the stairwell and screeching to a halt when Kyuhyun’s back came into view.
“Cho Kyuhyun!” he blurted loudly, heart beating rapidly when Kyuhyun turned to look at him. “Ilikeyoutoo.”
“Mi-“ Kyuhyun laughed, eyes darting to behind the other Ravenclaw where a large group of students heading to dinner had frozen at his words. “You-“
“Oh!” Zhou Mi yelped, turning to see them.
“Zhou Mi,” Kyuhyun laughed again, reaching out belatedly when Zhou Mi raced past him heading back towards the Common Room, cheeks heated from embarrassment. Kyuhyun looked over at the stunned students by the door and frowned, taking on a Siwon-like tone. "Don't you all have somewhere to be?"
The students quickly dispersed, and Kyuhyun's smile returned. He headed off in the direction Zhou Mi ran -- only to be bowled over as the older boy came careening around the corner. Zhou Mi's eyes widened.
"Sorry, sorry!" Zhou Mi bent down and helped Kyuhyun up by grabbing the crook of his elbows. "I realized after I ran away that it was time for dinner, and we usually go to dinner together, but I didn't know if you wanted to, or if I should find Kibum, but I decided on coming ba--"
"Zhou Mi," Kyuhyun interjected.
"--ck here because I'd rather walk with you, because we're going out now. I think. Wait. Are we going out?" Confusion overtook his features and he looked to Kyuhyun.
"Not until you get rid of the owl droppings in your hair," Kyuhyun pointed out, then began walking toward the Great Hall with a smile he simply couldn't conceal.
Zhou Mi frowned for a moment and put a hand in his hair, cringing as he felt what Kyuhyun was talking about. He pulled his wand out and cleaned it off, as well as his hands, and then chased after Kyuhyun with a bright smile, calling out. "How about now?"
"I'll think about it," Kyuhyun called back over his shoulder, smile widening impossibly, nearly matching the one on Zhou Mi's own face.
---
III.
"Kyuhyun, I signed us up for the Wizarding Chess Club," Kibum stated as he strolled into the common room and dropped onto the couch next to Kyuhyun. "It meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights, at eight."
Kyuhyun looked up from his book, confused. "What?"
"Chess," Kibum asserted, pulling out notes from his bag. "Tuesday, Thursday, and we're going."
"Oh," Kyuhyun shrugged. "Okay."
"I kind of want to learn how to play chess," Zhou Mi piped in from the chair he was curled up in. "Can you teach me, Kibum?"
"No," was the disinterested reply. "That would take too long."
"Kyuhyun?" Zhou Mi pressed, turning hopeful eyes on the boy.
"He can't," Kibum interjected. "We have a lot of homework, O.W.L.s are coming up, you see. And don't you have Quidditch practice, anyway?"
"Yeah, but--" Zhou Mi was taken aback by Kibum's tone.
"See if Sungmin can teach you. He's not busy," Kibum suggested with a tone of finality, not even looking up as he spoke.
"Oh," Zhou Mi's smile faltered. "I'll ask him, then."
"Well, I'm sure I can take a few minutes out of my week to teach you," Kyuhyun finally spoke, casting an irritated look over at Kibum. Kibum's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"You're not copying my homework if you fall behind," Kibum announced, rolling up his parchment briskly and placing it in his bag.
"I never copy your homework, anyway," Kyuhyun countered, looking at Kibum like his ears had sprouted mushrooms.
Kibum stood up. "I'm going to bed."
"Good night!" Zhou Mi called after Kibum's retreating back. Kyuhyun watched him ascend the stairs silently before he stood also.
"I think I'll go, too," Kyuhyun announced after a moment. Zhou Mi pushed out of his chair and stood next to Kyuhyun, putting an arm around his shoulder.
"Go ahead," Zhou Mi said, kissing the younger boy's hair before shoving him lightly in the direction of the stairs. "I'll study a bit more here. Sleep well."
Kyuhyun smiled back at him distractedly, then followed Kibum up the stairs. Zhou Mi sat back down and went back to his book, but couldn't seem to focus again. He sighed heavily and stood, then went up in the direction of the dorms. He paused outside the door of the 5th Year dormitory when he heard hushed voices inside.
"--don't see what your problem is. Did I do something wrong?"
"No."
"Did Zhou Mi offend you in some way?"
"No."
"Then what is it? I know something's wrong. I've known you forever."
"It's nothing."
"Are you jealous of me spending time with Zhou Mi? Is that it?"
"What? Of course I'm not. What a stupid thing to ask."
"That must be it! You've been acting weird since we got together, and--"
"It isn't jealousy, Kyuhyun. Just, look at him. He's awkward and immature and he can't even play chess. I just don't see why he always has to be around us."
"What are you--"
"Heechul agrees with me. He's not even a pure-blood, you know."
"I can't believe you--"
Zhou Mi stepped back from the door, stomach churning. He didn't need to hear anymore. He rushed up the stairs to the 6th Year dorms, and climbed onto his bed. He shut the curtains around him and fell back onto the pillow, reflecting back on what Kibum had said. He hadn't had any idea that Kibum thought of him that way, and while he was insulted, he also understood what Kibum meant. He was awkward, and immature at times. Kibum was probably used to being surrounded by calm, mature, intelligent people like Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun. Zhou Mi suddenly felt a pang of guilt for inadvertently causing an argument between the two. He really liked Kyuhyun. Loved him, even. He closed his eyes and hoped silently that Kyuhyun wouldn't hold his flaws against him if this affected his friendship with Kibum at all.
Zhou Mi didn't sleep at all that night.
---
IV.
The curtain slid back roughly, revealing Zhou Mi lying on his back, hands under his head and eyes fixed on the ceiling. He was still in his school uniform, which was slightly rumpled. His eyes ventured over to the offending force that had interrupted his brooding.
"You've been avoiding me," Kyuhyun stated, crossing his arms and glaring at Zhou Mi.
"No, I haven't," Zhou Mi lied, looking away.
"Yes, you have," Kyuhyun persisted. "You haven't spoken to me for three days, and you haven't been coming to the Great Hall or the Library."
"I know," Zhou Mi replied. "Kibum's probably happy now."
"Kibum's probably happy? Have you been eavesdropping?" Kyuhyun accused him, moving his hands to his hips.
"Yes." Zhou Mi kept his eyes trained on the ceiling. Kyuhyun sighed and climbed onto the bed next to him, pulling the curtains shut behind him.
"Don't worry about what Kibum said," he asserted. "He doesn't determine who I hang out with."
Zhou Mi sat up. "But he's your best friend. If he doesn't like me, then..."
"I said don't worry about it." Kyuhyun pointed at the candles floating near the ceiling. "Nice touch."
"Thanks," Zhou Mi couldn't help smiling. "I couldn't study without light."
"Then why don't you come out into the light?" suggested Kyuhyun, putting a hand over Zhou Mi's. "We miss you out there. I miss you out there."
"Maybe tomorrow," Zhou Mi grasped Kyuhyun's hand and squeezed. "I'd rather mope a bit longer."
Kyuhyun laughed and shoved Zhou Mi. "You've had three days. You aren't done yet?"
"I'm sorry," Zhou Mi said seriously. "Kibum's right, you know. I don't know why you hang out with me at all."
"I don't either," teased Kyuhyun. "But it's too late now. I guess I'm stuck with you, huh?"
"You can still back out," Zhou Mi looked over at Kyuhyun, smile faded completely. "If you want, I mean."
"I don't," Kyuhyun breathed before he leaned in to meet Zhou Mi's lips. Zhou Mi sighed into the kiss, bringing his hand up to Kyuhyun's cheek and running his tongue along Kyuhyun's bottom lip. He deepened the kiss, and Kyuhyun, suddenly overwhelmed with the need to be closer to him, wrapped a hand around Zhou Mi's tie and straddled him, pulling him so their chests were flush against each other. When Zhou Mi felt Kyuhyun's hand loosen the tie, and then reach for the hem of his vest, Zhou Mi pulled back.
"Someone might come in," he whispered, breathing heavily. Kyuhyun took the opportunity to pull the vest completely off Zhou Mi and toss it aside. His hands went to the buttons of Zhou Mi's shirt.
"Don't worry," he assured him, working quickly on the shirt. "I've already taken care of that."
Before Zhou Mi could ask any more, Kyuhyun had resumed kissing him, and his shirt was thrown next to the discarded vest. Zhou Mi fumbled with the zipper of Kyuhyun's jacket, and he was surprised to find that Kyuhyun wasn't wearing a shirt underneath. Realization dawned on Zhou Mi.
"You planned this, didn't you?" Zhou Mi accused, stripping the jacket from the younger boy's shoulders. Kyuhyun laughed against Zhou Mi's neck.
"Maybe," he admitted. "Now, less talk, more action."
Zhou Mi chuckled and began to work on getting Kyuhyun's pants off while Kyuhyun did the same. Once they were divested of their clothing, piled sloppily on the end of the bed, Kyuhyun pushed Zhou Mi back onto the pillows.
Kyuhyun's hand trailed down Zhou Mi's torso slowly, nails lightly tracing a path, earning a pleased shudder from Zhou Mi as his eyes closed. Zhou Mi felt the hand replaced by lips, which continued down to press feathery patterns into his skin, ending with a flourish of his tongue over the head of Zhou Mi's cock before he took it into his mouth. Zhou Mi arched his back and tangled his hands in Kyuhyun's hair.
Kyuhyun winced and pulled back, releasing his hair from the ferocity of Zhou Mi's fingers. He reached behind him while Zhou Mi watched, looking dazed and confused, and turned back to Zhou Mi with a blue-striped tie bunched in his hand. Smirking, he pulled Zhou Mi's hands up above his head and secured his wrists against the headboard. Zhou Mi looked to his hands, and back to Kyuhyun, smiling.
"I didn't know you were into this," he said, voice teasing. Kyuhyun chuckled.
"I'm not," he assured him. "I'm just not into my hair getting torn out. Although," he added, trailing a finger along Zhoumi's wrist, where silken cloth met skin, "I might develop a kink after this."
Zhou Mi answering chuckle turned into a gasp as Kyuhyun's mouth returned to what it was doing. He moaned quietly, tugging against the tie as he bucked his hips upwards. Kyuhyun removed his mouth again, eliciting a whimper from Zhou Mi.
"Do you have any lube?" He asked. Zhou Mi shook his head.
"I thought you had this planned," he panted, canting his hips upwards in a plea for Kyuhyun to resume his ministrations. "Kyuhyun..."
Kyuhyun sighed and dug his wand out from behind him, in the pocket of his pants. "Someone has to have some. Accio lube?"
After a moment of silence, five bottles of lubricant fell into Kyuhyun's hand from over the curtain. He laughed and held them out to Zhou Mi. "Take your pick."
"I don't care," Zhou Mi keened. "Just hurry."
Kyuhyun complied, tossing his wand aside with four of the bottles. He opened the one in his hand and applied it to his fingers, pressing one digit into Zhou Mi's opening. Zhou Mi squirmed, the sensation alien to him, and Kyuhyun paused for a moment to let him grow accustomed to it. When Zhou Mi nodded, Kyuhyun slid another finger inside him, twisting slowly and grinning at the accompanying gasp. He removed his fingers and swallowed Zhou Mi's cry in a kiss, slicking on a condom as he positioned himself against Zhou Mi's entrance.
"Zhou Mi, are you-"
"Kyuhyun, if you hesitate now I'm going to hex you into next August," Zhou Mi gasped, fighting his bonds and wrapping his legs around Kyuhyun's waist, urging him forwards. Kyuhyun pressed his hand into the nest of Zhou Mi's fingers and entered Zhoumi completely, using the tie as leverage as he rocked his hips against the backs of Zhoumi's thighs. For a stretch of time there was silence but for gasps, groans and names sighed between pants. Then Kyuhyun reached his hand between them to stroke Zhoumi with rhythmic movements. They came together, cries of relief and pleasure echoing through the room.
Kyuhyun stretched himself out next to Zhou Mi, pulling him into a languid kiss.
"Tie," Zhou Mi panted, blinking sweat from his eyes. Kyuhyun grinned and pulled the knot out of the tie, freeing Zhou Mi's wrists from the fabric. Zhou Mi massaged his wrists, then wrapped his arms around Kyuhyun, letting the younger boy curl into his embrace before softly kissing his forehead.
"I don't know which bottle belongs to which person," Zhou Mi whispered, nodding toward the bottles of lubricant scattered at the foot of his bed.
"They should change it up every once in a while anyway," Kyuhyun said, smirking. Zhou Mi laughed and nuzzled into his hair, basking in the intense feeling of happiness he had never felt so strongly in his life.
---
V.
The sun glistened in the still water of the lake, its reflection forcing Zhou Mi to avert his eyes from the sight. He looked back down to the worn pages of his book. The air was chilly, promising an even colder evening, but the warmth of his scarf and Kyuhyun's breath on his collarbone was enough to keep a contented smile on his face. The vibrations of Kyuhyun's humming rippled through him, but he forced himself to focus on his History of Magic homework and not on the boy resting his head on his shoulder. Kibum was lying on the grass, head pillowed in Kyuhyun's lap as he dozed off. His even breathing, combined with the lilt of Kyuhyun's song, drove Zhou Mi to close his book with a resigned sigh. He leaned his own head against Kyuhyun's and breathed in the fresh scent of his shampoo. He felt Kyuhyun chuckle.
"It isn't funny," Zhou Mi murmured, smiling despite himself. "I have so much homework to do."
"You have plenty of time," Kyuhyun breathed, pulling his head out from under Zhou Mi's. He turned his face up toward the older boy, squinting against the sunlight. "Just relax today."
"Alright," he agreed, pressing his lips softly against the corner of Kyuhyun's mouth. He tossed his book aside and stretched out his legs, groaning as his muscles adjusted. He settled against Kyuhyun's side, head supported by Kyuhyun's shoulder this time. He closed his eyes as Kyuhyun returned to humming into Zhou Mi's hair, the younger boy grinning when the harmony drifted from behind Zhou Mi's smiling lips.
Neither of them noticed when Kibum disentangled himself from the pair and slipped away toward the school, marching alongside a Slytherin with long black hair and a wicked smirk.
---
VI.
Zhou Mi jumped as a book slammed down on the table next to him, earning several glares and exclamations of "Shh!" He turned to the offending book, and was even more startled when he realized that Heechul was seated on the table, right next to it. Heechul smiled in a way that suggested to Zhou Mi that he was up to something. He was already distrustful of the Slytherin, due to his interference in his friendships with Kyuhyun and Kibum, so he didn't return the smile.
"Zhou Mi," Heechul greeted, patting him on the shoulder. "How are you?"
"I'm fine now," Zhou Mi answered honestly, shrugging off Heechul's hand. "Do you need something?"
"Yes, actually," the older boy leaned in. "We need to chat about your little boyfriend."
Zhou Mi closed his book and stood, throwing his bag over his shoulder. "No, we don't."
He strode out of the library quickly, Heechul hot on his heels. "You're awfully touchy about him, aren't you? Trouble in paradise?"
Zhou Mi halted suddenly and spun around. "Not at the moment, but I'm sure Kibum told you all about it."
"Ah, so you've heard," Heechul smirked, leaning casually against the wall. "Listen, you and I obviously have no hope for friendship here, but Kyuhyun and I are really very close. I'm only looking out for him."
"How are you close?" Zhou Mi asked incredulously. "I never see him with you, and he's two years behind you."
"You're pretty naive," Heechul clicked his tongue. "Do you really think Kyuhyun and Kibum have been going to play Wizarding Chess every week?"
Zhou Mi's stomach dropped. "What... What do you mean?"
"Kibum's been bringing him to a club of our own," Heechul admitted, smirk widening.
"But, he would have told--" Zhou Mi started, but Heechul cut him off.
"Why do you think so? He doesn't have to tell you anything. He's Kibum's best friend, not yours," Heechul's words tore into Zhou Mi, hitting him right where he was most sensitive.
"I know that, but..." Zhou Mi trailed off, not even knowing how to finish that sentence. Because he was right. Kyuhyun was Kibum's best friend, and vice versa, and that was the hardest thing to face. He didn't mind Kyuhyun having a different best friend, but when the one he had hated Zhou Mi, it made things a bit more difficult.
"Think about what you're putting Kyuhyun through, Zhou Mi," Heechul's voice softened, face serious. "If he and Kibum drift apart because of you, he's going to be miserable. He'll always resent you for it, and that'll come back to you in the end. If you really love him, you'll leave him alone, let him be happy like he was before."
"He's not happy?" Zhou Mi's voice sounded thick, even to himself.
"Just think about it," scoffed Heechul. "No one wants to be put in this position. And no one wants to put someone they love in this position, either. That is, if he lovesthem, and not just himself."
Zhou Mi stood there, speechless, mulling over Heechul's words.
Heechul looked at Zhou Mi, then back down to his watch before walking off. He called over his shoulder, "Sorry to cut our conversation short, but it's time for 'Chess Club.'"
After a moment, Zhou Mi turned and marched toward the Ravenclaw common room. He rounded the corner and went up the staircase, but paused when he saw Kibum and Kyuhyun coming down the stairs toward him.
"Zhou Mi!" Kyuhyun smiled at him when he noticed Zhou Mi standing there, cheeks reddening. "Where are you going?"
"Common room," Zhou Mi answered, ignoring Kibum's level glare. "Where are you guys going?"
"Chess club," Kibum replied smoothly, Kyuhyun nodding his agreement. "It's Thursday."
"Don't they meet on the fifth floor?" Zhou Mi asked suspiciously, though he already knew the answer. "Why are you going downstairs?"
Kyuhyun paled a bit, but Kibum remained calm. "They changed the meeting place to the dungeons for today."
"That's awfully convenient," Zhou Mi replied bitterly, looking directly at Kyuhyun. Kibum caught his tone, and put a hand on Kyuhyun's shoulder.
"We should go, or we'll be late," Kibum suggested, taking a few steps down the stairs. Kyuhyun made to follow, but Zhou Mi caught his hand.
"I need to talk to Kyuhyun," Zhou Mi declared, returning Kibum's glower. "Right now."
"It's okay, Kibum," Kyuhyun assured him, when Kibum opened his mouth to protest. "I'll catch up."
Kibum nodded reluctantly and headed down the stairs, casting a suspicious look at Zhou Mi before he went.
"What's wrong?" Kyuhyun asked. "Did you and Kibum fight?"
"I think we should stop seeing each other," Zhou Mi cut straight to the point. Kyuhyun's eyebrows shot up.
"That's.... sudden," Kyuhyun reponded after a moment. "Does this have to do with Kibum?"
"It doesn't matter what it has to do with," Zhou Mi ground out, heart cracking with every word. "We should just stop. I don't want to continue this."
"But, the other night..." Kyuhyun ventured. "Is that what this is about?"
"It didn't mean anything," Zhou Mi lied, turning away and taking a step up the stairs so he didn't have to see Kyuhyun's reaction. "Forget about that."
"Alright then," Kyuhyun murmured after a pregnant pause. He didn't say anything else, just turned and hurried down the staircase after Kibum. Zhou Mi began trekking slowly up the stairs, tears spilling steadily out of his eyes.
---
VII.
Zhou Mi stared down at his plate, willing himself to develop some sort of appetite. The potatoes and veal just didn't look as good as they did last week. He glanced down the table, toward his fellow Ravenclaws, catching the eyes of a couple of third years. He frowned when they turned away quickly, whispering to each other in a painfully indiscreet manner. He eyed his food for a few more moments before deciding he wasn't hungry and pushing his plate away with a burst of ferocity that he didn't really feel.
With one last glance down the table where he was met with more rapidly turning heads, Zhou Mi pushed himself to his feet and left the Great Hall to an unusual hush.
Hesitating momentarily, Zhou Mi finally settled on heading to his next classroom where at least he would be able to get started on some homework without feeling the glares aimed towards his head from students all around him.
"Seriously?" a voice asked in badly veiled disgust when he finally reached the room and slid into the chair by his desk. "You're just going to go around acting like everything's okay? Like you didn't just break Kyuhyun's heart?"
Zhou Mi looked up with a snap and came face to face with a Ravenclaw girl, the other only person in the room, who was leaning against the desk infront of him. Zhou Mi felt a wave of nausea and tried to look confused, but the girl just sneered at him and turned away, her hair swishing as she sat down, eyes trained on the front board.
"Oh well, nobody thought you would last more then a week anyway," she said offhandedly, still not looking at Zhou Mi. "How could you keep someone like Kyuhyun's attention when he has a guy like Kibum for a best friend?"
Rabbit punch. Zhou Mi hadn't seen it coming.
"You don't know what you're talking about," he said softly, determined not to rise to the bait.
"Don't try to act all innocent," she spat back, turning to glare at him, eyes glinting in fury. "I heard what you did to him."
"You don't understand," Zhou Mi whispered, pressing himself back furthur against his chair and wishing he could dissapear.
"Oh, I think I understand perfectly well," the girl shot back, rolling her eyes and waving Zhou Mi's explanations away with one palm. "You just use him and throw him away like he's nothing? Kyuhyun deserves more then that anyway."
Zhou Mi tried to keep calm, his fingers clenching helplessly together under his desk, breath quickening in his throat. He wanted to tell the girl that he had done it to protect Kyuhyun. That he had sacraficed his happiness to keep the other boy happy--
"You've just made the biggest mistake of your life," the girl hissed as other students started filing into the classroom. Zhou Mi held his breath until he was sure she wouldn't turn back, and then raised his hand and told the professor that he wasn't feeling well.
He didn't have to fake it.
---
VIII.
"Whoa!" Zhou Mi exclaimed as he dodged yet another bludger. He glanced in the direction it came from, catching sight of his own team member's satisfied smirk. He frowned slightly, then yelped as the quaffle hit him square in the back of the head.
"Pay attention!" Sungmin called, shooting a glare at the chaser who had thrown the quaffle. "Taehan, quit screwing around at practice! We're against Hufflepuff tomorrow, and Siwon doesn't play games when it comes to getting the snitch. You chasers are our only hope."
"This is a game," one of the beaters said to the other, and they snickered.
"Do you want to do push-ups, or would you prefer to shut the hell up?" Sungmin asked, shutting the two third years up. "Alright then. Let's try this again."
Zhou Mi flew to the side of one of the chasers and they ran through the play again. He tried not to frown when his teammates passed the ball around him, while he spiraled out of the paths of the bludgers, which only seemed to be after him.
"Yah, aim your bludgers at the chasers who have the quaffles, you idiots!" Sungmin yelled to the beaters as he easily snatched the quaffle before it went through the goal. He tossed the quaffle to Zhou Mi, who missed it as he swerved to avoid yet another bludger.
"Great job, Zhou Mi," Ingyu jeered, swooping to catch the falling quaffle. "We're definitely going to lose tomorrow if you keep screwing up like that."
"Okay, you guys obviously aren't even trying to practice, so let's just go in," Sungmin shouted, lowering his broom to the ground. "But we're going to be practicing at six tomorrow morning, to make up for lost time. Let's go in."
Zhou Mi watched his teammates file into the locker room, groaning in protest of an early morning practice, leaving him to practice alone as the sun settled behind the Forbidden Forest. He wove in and out of the sun's fading rays, missing the worried look Sungmin cast in his direction before he followed the others out of the stadium.
---
IX.
Zhou Mi flew up into the stands long after the crowd had dispersed. He propped his broom up against the railing and sprawled out along the bench, sighing heavily. They hadn't won, of course. Siwon had gotten the snitch within fifteen minutes of the game starting, earning Hufflepuff a victory of 170-80. Zhou Mi hadn't fumbled the quaffle once, or missed any goals, but the team still glared at him accusingly as they left the field. His only comfort was Sungmin, who had squeezed his hand lightly as they marched into the locker room, assuring him it wasn't his fault.
He closed his eyes, soaking in the cold weather and the smell of rain drifting around him. He winced when light, icy rain began to fall several minutes later, but remained in his position. He thought hard about what he had done, severing ties with Kyuhyun, and his chest tightened.
People always did this, in books and movies, leaving the one they love for their own good. But they never really described the feeling accurately. He had expected to feel relieved, seeing Kyuhyun smile and live without his interference, but he didn't. Each time he saw Kyuhyun in the halls, or in the common room, his throat felt thick and swollen, tears pricked his eyes like needles.
He wanted so much to just grab him, tell him it was all a big mistake, that he loved him. He loved him. He wanted so much to be selfish, but he thought of Kibum's cold stares and the fearsome glint in Heechul's eyes, and knew that he couldn't. He wanted so much for Kyuhyun to be happy, but he wanted to be happy, too. Why couldn't he find that middle ground, where everything just fit into place for the two of them?
He sighed again, enjoying the feeling of being numbed by the frigid rain.
Several minutes passed, minutes that felt like hours, and the rain suddenly stopped. Surprised by the rapid change of weather, Zhou Mi's eyes shot open. He was greeted by a dome of black, obscuring the sky, and the very face he had both longed to see, and worked to avoid.
Kyuhyun wasn't smiling as he stood over Zhou Mi, his umbrella hovering over him, blocking out the rain. They blinked at each other for a moment before Kyuhyun spoke.
"You never left the stadium," Kyuhyun explained, answering Zhou Mi's unspoken question. "You're going to catch pneumonia."
"Maybe," Zhou Mi replied, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Good job today," Kyuhyun said. "Even though we lost."
"Why are you really here, Kyuhyun?" Zhou Mi asked.
"Sungmin told me," Kyuhyun answered after a moment. "He told me about how everyone's been treating you. I didn't know until--"
"It doesn't matter," Zhou Mi interrupted, closing his eyes again. "I probably deserve it."
"You don't," Kyuhyun kneeled next to Zhou Mi, leaving the umbrella floating above them. "It was... I heard Donghae in the library. Saying things about us that never happened, to some people in my year. And I think... I think Heechul's been orchestrating this. All these problems. I'm not sure, but I get this feeling..."
"You get what feeling?" Zhou Mi pressed, turning his eyes to Kyuhyun.
"You didn't want to break up with me, did you, Zhou Mi?" Kyuhyun asked, locking eyes with Zhou Mi, who found he couldn't look away.
"I did," Zhou Mi sighed. "I had to."
"Heechul said something to you, didn't he?" Kyuhyun grasped Zhou Mi's arm. "That's why you did it. Zhou Mi, tell me the truth."
"He..." Zhou Mi started. "It doesn't matter, anyway. He was right. You and Kibum were starting to get--"
"Kibum?" Kyuhyun asked incredulously. "What does he have to do with anything? I told you already, that night, he has no say in who I'm with. He never will."
"I didn't want to affect your friendship with him," Zhou Mi explained. His voice softened, so that Kyuhyun had to strain to hear it. "I just wanted you to be happy."
"Why would you just assume that this would make me happy?"
"It will, in the long run," Zhou Mi defended. Kyuhyun groaned in frustration.
"How could you possibly know that?"
Zhou Mi hesitated. "Aren't you happy?"
"No, I'm not," he asserted. He folded his arms and laid them on Zhou Mi's torso, resting the side of his head against them. "I wasn't."
Zhou Mi placed a hand on Kyuhyun's face, gently stroking his cheek with his thumb. "There really must be something wrong with you."
"I agree," Kyuhyun sighed, leaning into the touch. "Why else would I be sitting in the rain, in a deserted Quidditch stadium, with a social outcast?"
Zhou Mi laughed lightly and made to sit up. Kyuhyun removed himself from Zhou Mi's chest, and tilted his head up to meet the kiss Zhou Mi was bending over for. When they pulled apart, Zhou Mi looked worried again.
"What about Kibum and Heechul? Won't they say something to you?"
"I don't care," Kyuhyun admitted. "Heechul is smart. So smart. He showed me things that I'm sure even some of my professors couldn't pull off. I was enraptured by the idea of all this knowledge that they don't teach us in school, all these spells and secrets that students aren't allowed to learn. Heechul knew everything, it seemed. But when I realized what he was doing, with Donghae, with you and I, it made me question it all. Maybe there's a good reason they don't teach us certain spells and aspects of history in school. To prevent people like Heechul from wrapping their minds around it, using it for the wrong reasons. I don't know, none of it sits well with me. I'm better off avoiding it all completely."
"But, Kibum..." Zhou Mi laced his fingers with Kyuhyun's. "You can't just ignore him."
"Kibum should understand. He always does. But," Kyuhyun confessed. "He's changing, Zhou Mi. They all are. Or maybe they're just showing sides of themselves now that we've never seen."
"They?" Zhou Mi urged.
"Ryeowook's worried about Yesung," he clarified. "He says he's more withdrawn, snaps at him a bit more than usual. Yesung hangs out with us, but he acts normal, always drawing attention to himself. Kangin's even mentioned how little he sees Eeteuk now. If I stay, I might..." He trailed off, leaving the answer hanging in the air before them.
"It'll be fine," Zhou Mi slid off the bench and kneeled down next to him, pulling him into his arms. "You won't change."
"No," Kyuhyun agreed. He buried his face in Zhou Mi's soaked hair. "I won't."
---
X.
Zhou Mi and Kyuhyun sat side by side at the table during breakfast the next morning, backs facing the Slytherin table, pointedly ignoring the open stares of their classmates. Kibum walked along the other side of the table as he entered the great hall, and took a seat directly across from the pair. Kyuhyun and Kibum stared at each other for a minute, faces expressionless, until Kibum sighed.
"Do what you want," he said dully. "But don't come running to me if you two have a row."
Kyuhyun's mouth twitched as he fought a smile. "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction."
Kibum just grunted and picked up his fork.
Zhou Mi turned to give Sungmin a grateful smile, which turned into a knowing grin when he caught sight of Shindong seating himself at the Ravenclaw table and shoving a pumpkin pasty into Sungmin's mouth.
He felt a hand grasp his under the table, and he squeezed back, making a mental note to maybe bake Sungmin a large cake.
Authors: cynicalxcharm/fading_sun_sock/shieldkitten
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Kyuhyun/Kibum friendship
A/N: What's this, you ask? PLOT?! Yes. HP!Verse now has plot. \o/
Happy birthday, meitachi!! Kendra said your birthday was today, but it was, in fact, Sunday. You said you wanted Qmi, so this was pretty much written specifically for you.^^ (comment removed due to Jolene's suicide attempt
I.
Zhou Mi turned the page, chewing thoughtfully on the end of his quill. He nodded his head as his mind processed each paragraph, and a smile crossed his features as the information clicked in his mind. He scribbled furiously on his parchment, oblivious to the two boys that took their seats on either side of him. When he finally looked up from his essay, he was startled to see the two Ravenclaws sandwiching him, studying silently. He glanced around the library, noting the excessive amount of empty tables with mild confusion. Cleared his throat quietly, he wondered if he should perhaps say something. One of them looked up, the one with light speckles of acne decorating his cheeks, and gave him a small smile. Kyuhyun, Zhou Mi thought his name was.
"You were making weird faces," he explained before Zhou Mi could even ask why they were sitting so close to him, when the whole library was open.
"We didn't want people to think you were crazy and friendless," the other boy interjected, revealing the whitest teeth he'd ever seen.
"Oh," Zhou Mi blinked, not sure how to take that. Because, to be honest, he really didn't have many friends. No one really bothered him while he was involved in his studies, and so, having been involved in his studies every waking moment for the past 6 years, no one really bothered him at all. Everyone had settled into their own cliques, naturally, and he couldn't break into them if he tried. Deciding they meant to help, rather than harm, he smiled. "Thanks."
"I'm Kyuhyun," the first boy replied, holding out a hand to Zhou Mi, whose cheeks colored as his smile widened.
"Kibum," said the other, adjusting his glasses and going back to his book.
"I'm Zhou Mi," he told Kyuhyun, taking his hand a shaking it. The younger boy chuckled and smiled warmly before pulling his hand away and turning his attention to his notes.
"I know."
---
II.
“I have this hypothesis,” Zhou Mi informed Kyuhyun, nudging a pile of books off the couch and onto the floor before dropping down in their place.
“Is that so?” Kyuhyun asked, leaning over to stack them neatly back up before turning back towards the large volume propped precariously in his lap.
“Yeah,” Zhou Mi said distractedly, staring over Kyuhyun’s shoulder at the decorative script. “What are you reading?”
“Nothing,” Kyuhyun said, closing the book with a snap and shifting to face Zhou Mi with a politely curious look on his face. “What was it you were saying about a hypothesis?”
Zhou Mi straightened up, his face lighting up in a smile. “Right! So. I think there’s something going on between Donghae and Eunhyuk.”
Kyuhyun blinked. “Is that a hypothesis? Or a theory?”
Zhou Mi smiled wisely at him and leaned forward, lowering his voice a little more. “I saw them disappearing into a classroom together after breakfast.”
“Really,” Kyuhyun deadpanned. “That’s thrilling.”
“Kyuhyun!” Zhou Mi whined, throwing himself back on the couch so he was stretched across it, feet nestled comfortably in Kyuhyun’s lap. “This is serious! This is huge! It’s monumental even! It’s-“
“Eeteuk and Kangin all over again?” Kyuhyun filled in for him, flipping his book back open. “Except, you know, without all the angst and drama and-wait, no,” he paused, looking back up. “This really is like them all over again! What happens when Heechul figures out? What happens when Heechul and Eeteuk figure out? Oh, they’re going to castrate Hyuk!”
“Why are you more excited about Eunhyuk getting castrated then you are about Donghae and Eunhyuk sneaking around together?” Zhou Mi asked groaning and burrowing his face in a pillow. “There is something horribly wrong with you, you know that?”
“Eunhyuk and Donghae have History of Magic together after breakfast,” Kyuhyun snorted, jiggling his knee until Zhou Mi’s legs slipped off it. “And what, exactly, do you think is wrong with me?”
“…Um,” Zhou Mi floundered, thinking hard but slightly distracted by the way Kyuhyun bit his lip and watched him with curious teasing eyes.
“The fact that I like you?” Kyuhyun provided helpfully after a moment of silence.
Zhou Mi looked up at the younger boy and froze, eyes going wide.
“It does appear to be the strangest thing about me,” Kyuhyun mused nonchalantly, shrugging to himself but grinning a little towards Zhou Mi. “Considering how incredibly intelligent and witty I am and all?”
“I-um…” Zhou Mi stuttered, jerking his legs over until he was in a sitting position, back straight against the couch cushions. “Well, that is-I mean-thank you?”
“Oh,” Kyuhyun said, looking a little taken aback. “Yeah, um…no problem?”
“I’m just-the homework, you know,” Zhou Mi fluttered his hands about wildly and blushed violently when his sleeve hit a bottle of ink and sent it splattering to the floor. “Oh my-“
“Zhou Mi-“ Kyuhyun started seriously, but the older boy only buried his face in his hands, rushing off out the door, incoherent explanations left in his wake.
~
“So I realize maybe that wasn’t the most tactful way to confess,” Kyuhyun admitted, biting his lip and squinting up at Zhou Mi, who turned towards him in shock.
“Wha-how did you find me up here?” the older boy asked, looking around the Owlery in confusion.
“You stepped in the ink pot you spilled before you left,” Kyuhyun said, shoving his hands into his pockets and staring down at his feet. “I just thought I’d come up and let you know that I’m sorry. I guess I miscalculated and I shouldn’t have just sprung it on you like that-we’re such good friends and-“
“There’s no need to apologize,” Zhou Mi murmured, slipping off the window sill he was perched on and turning towards Kyuhyun. “I-“
“You’re a good person Zhou Mi,” Kyuhyun grinned, scratching the bridge of his nose with one hand. “I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”
“Kyuhyun,” Zhou Mi tried again but paused when the other boy stopped and looked back at him. “I-“
“It’s okay,” Kyuhyun nodded slowly, flashing Zhou Mi a quick smile before turning towards the exit and trudging slowly down the steps. “I understand.”
Zhou Mi waited a moment, staring after Kyuhyun before leaping to his feet and sprinting off after the boy, whipping down the stairwell and screeching to a halt when Kyuhyun’s back came into view.
“Cho Kyuhyun!” he blurted loudly, heart beating rapidly when Kyuhyun turned to look at him. “Ilikeyoutoo.”
“Mi-“ Kyuhyun laughed, eyes darting to behind the other Ravenclaw where a large group of students heading to dinner had frozen at his words. “You-“
“Oh!” Zhou Mi yelped, turning to see them.
“Zhou Mi,” Kyuhyun laughed again, reaching out belatedly when Zhou Mi raced past him heading back towards the Common Room, cheeks heated from embarrassment. Kyuhyun looked over at the stunned students by the door and frowned, taking on a Siwon-like tone. "Don't you all have somewhere to be?"
The students quickly dispersed, and Kyuhyun's smile returned. He headed off in the direction Zhou Mi ran -- only to be bowled over as the older boy came careening around the corner. Zhou Mi's eyes widened.
"Sorry, sorry!" Zhou Mi bent down and helped Kyuhyun up by grabbing the crook of his elbows. "I realized after I ran away that it was time for dinner, and we usually go to dinner together, but I didn't know if you wanted to, or if I should find Kibum, but I decided on coming ba--"
"Zhou Mi," Kyuhyun interjected.
"--ck here because I'd rather walk with you, because we're going out now. I think. Wait. Are we going out?" Confusion overtook his features and he looked to Kyuhyun.
"Not until you get rid of the owl droppings in your hair," Kyuhyun pointed out, then began walking toward the Great Hall with a smile he simply couldn't conceal.
Zhou Mi frowned for a moment and put a hand in his hair, cringing as he felt what Kyuhyun was talking about. He pulled his wand out and cleaned it off, as well as his hands, and then chased after Kyuhyun with a bright smile, calling out. "How about now?"
"I'll think about it," Kyuhyun called back over his shoulder, smile widening impossibly, nearly matching the one on Zhou Mi's own face.
---
III.
"Kyuhyun, I signed us up for the Wizarding Chess Club," Kibum stated as he strolled into the common room and dropped onto the couch next to Kyuhyun. "It meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights, at eight."
Kyuhyun looked up from his book, confused. "What?"
"Chess," Kibum asserted, pulling out notes from his bag. "Tuesday, Thursday, and we're going."
"Oh," Kyuhyun shrugged. "Okay."
"I kind of want to learn how to play chess," Zhou Mi piped in from the chair he was curled up in. "Can you teach me, Kibum?"
"No," was the disinterested reply. "That would take too long."
"Kyuhyun?" Zhou Mi pressed, turning hopeful eyes on the boy.
"He can't," Kibum interjected. "We have a lot of homework, O.W.L.s are coming up, you see. And don't you have Quidditch practice, anyway?"
"Yeah, but--" Zhou Mi was taken aback by Kibum's tone.
"See if Sungmin can teach you. He's not busy," Kibum suggested with a tone of finality, not even looking up as he spoke.
"Oh," Zhou Mi's smile faltered. "I'll ask him, then."
"Well, I'm sure I can take a few minutes out of my week to teach you," Kyuhyun finally spoke, casting an irritated look over at Kibum. Kibum's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"You're not copying my homework if you fall behind," Kibum announced, rolling up his parchment briskly and placing it in his bag.
"I never copy your homework, anyway," Kyuhyun countered, looking at Kibum like his ears had sprouted mushrooms.
Kibum stood up. "I'm going to bed."
"Good night!" Zhou Mi called after Kibum's retreating back. Kyuhyun watched him ascend the stairs silently before he stood also.
"I think I'll go, too," Kyuhyun announced after a moment. Zhou Mi pushed out of his chair and stood next to Kyuhyun, putting an arm around his shoulder.
"Go ahead," Zhou Mi said, kissing the younger boy's hair before shoving him lightly in the direction of the stairs. "I'll study a bit more here. Sleep well."
Kyuhyun smiled back at him distractedly, then followed Kibum up the stairs. Zhou Mi sat back down and went back to his book, but couldn't seem to focus again. He sighed heavily and stood, then went up in the direction of the dorms. He paused outside the door of the 5th Year dormitory when he heard hushed voices inside.
"--don't see what your problem is. Did I do something wrong?"
"No."
"Did Zhou Mi offend you in some way?"
"No."
"Then what is it? I know something's wrong. I've known you forever."
"It's nothing."
"Are you jealous of me spending time with Zhou Mi? Is that it?"
"What? Of course I'm not. What a stupid thing to ask."
"That must be it! You've been acting weird since we got together, and--"
"It isn't jealousy, Kyuhyun. Just, look at him. He's awkward and immature and he can't even play chess. I just don't see why he always has to be around us."
"What are you--"
"Heechul agrees with me. He's not even a pure-blood, you know."
"I can't believe you--"
Zhou Mi stepped back from the door, stomach churning. He didn't need to hear anymore. He rushed up the stairs to the 6th Year dorms, and climbed onto his bed. He shut the curtains around him and fell back onto the pillow, reflecting back on what Kibum had said. He hadn't had any idea that Kibum thought of him that way, and while he was insulted, he also understood what Kibum meant. He was awkward, and immature at times. Kibum was probably used to being surrounded by calm, mature, intelligent people like Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun. Zhou Mi suddenly felt a pang of guilt for inadvertently causing an argument between the two. He really liked Kyuhyun. Loved him, even. He closed his eyes and hoped silently that Kyuhyun wouldn't hold his flaws against him if this affected his friendship with Kibum at all.
Zhou Mi didn't sleep at all that night.
---
IV.
The curtain slid back roughly, revealing Zhou Mi lying on his back, hands under his head and eyes fixed on the ceiling. He was still in his school uniform, which was slightly rumpled. His eyes ventured over to the offending force that had interrupted his brooding.
"You've been avoiding me," Kyuhyun stated, crossing his arms and glaring at Zhou Mi.
"No, I haven't," Zhou Mi lied, looking away.
"Yes, you have," Kyuhyun persisted. "You haven't spoken to me for three days, and you haven't been coming to the Great Hall or the Library."
"I know," Zhou Mi replied. "Kibum's probably happy now."
"Kibum's probably happy? Have you been eavesdropping?" Kyuhyun accused him, moving his hands to his hips.
"Yes." Zhou Mi kept his eyes trained on the ceiling. Kyuhyun sighed and climbed onto the bed next to him, pulling the curtains shut behind him.
"Don't worry about what Kibum said," he asserted. "He doesn't determine who I hang out with."
Zhou Mi sat up. "But he's your best friend. If he doesn't like me, then..."
"I said don't worry about it." Kyuhyun pointed at the candles floating near the ceiling. "Nice touch."
"Thanks," Zhou Mi couldn't help smiling. "I couldn't study without light."
"Then why don't you come out into the light?" suggested Kyuhyun, putting a hand over Zhou Mi's. "We miss you out there. I miss you out there."
"Maybe tomorrow," Zhou Mi grasped Kyuhyun's hand and squeezed. "I'd rather mope a bit longer."
Kyuhyun laughed and shoved Zhou Mi. "You've had three days. You aren't done yet?"
"I'm sorry," Zhou Mi said seriously. "Kibum's right, you know. I don't know why you hang out with me at all."
"I don't either," teased Kyuhyun. "But it's too late now. I guess I'm stuck with you, huh?"
"You can still back out," Zhou Mi looked over at Kyuhyun, smile faded completely. "If you want, I mean."
"I don't," Kyuhyun breathed before he leaned in to meet Zhou Mi's lips. Zhou Mi sighed into the kiss, bringing his hand up to Kyuhyun's cheek and running his tongue along Kyuhyun's bottom lip. He deepened the kiss, and Kyuhyun, suddenly overwhelmed with the need to be closer to him, wrapped a hand around Zhou Mi's tie and straddled him, pulling him so their chests were flush against each other. When Zhou Mi felt Kyuhyun's hand loosen the tie, and then reach for the hem of his vest, Zhou Mi pulled back.
"Someone might come in," he whispered, breathing heavily. Kyuhyun took the opportunity to pull the vest completely off Zhou Mi and toss it aside. His hands went to the buttons of Zhou Mi's shirt.
"Don't worry," he assured him, working quickly on the shirt. "I've already taken care of that."
Before Zhou Mi could ask any more, Kyuhyun had resumed kissing him, and his shirt was thrown next to the discarded vest. Zhou Mi fumbled with the zipper of Kyuhyun's jacket, and he was surprised to find that Kyuhyun wasn't wearing a shirt underneath. Realization dawned on Zhou Mi.
"You planned this, didn't you?" Zhou Mi accused, stripping the jacket from the younger boy's shoulders. Kyuhyun laughed against Zhou Mi's neck.
"Maybe," he admitted. "Now, less talk, more action."
Zhou Mi chuckled and began to work on getting Kyuhyun's pants off while Kyuhyun did the same. Once they were divested of their clothing, piled sloppily on the end of the bed, Kyuhyun pushed Zhou Mi back onto the pillows.
Kyuhyun's hand trailed down Zhou Mi's torso slowly, nails lightly tracing a path, earning a pleased shudder from Zhou Mi as his eyes closed. Zhou Mi felt the hand replaced by lips, which continued down to press feathery patterns into his skin, ending with a flourish of his tongue over the head of Zhou Mi's cock before he took it into his mouth. Zhou Mi arched his back and tangled his hands in Kyuhyun's hair.
Kyuhyun winced and pulled back, releasing his hair from the ferocity of Zhou Mi's fingers. He reached behind him while Zhou Mi watched, looking dazed and confused, and turned back to Zhou Mi with a blue-striped tie bunched in his hand. Smirking, he pulled Zhou Mi's hands up above his head and secured his wrists against the headboard. Zhou Mi looked to his hands, and back to Kyuhyun, smiling.
"I didn't know you were into this," he said, voice teasing. Kyuhyun chuckled.
"I'm not," he assured him. "I'm just not into my hair getting torn out. Although," he added, trailing a finger along Zhoumi's wrist, where silken cloth met skin, "I might develop a kink after this."
Zhou Mi answering chuckle turned into a gasp as Kyuhyun's mouth returned to what it was doing. He moaned quietly, tugging against the tie as he bucked his hips upwards. Kyuhyun removed his mouth again, eliciting a whimper from Zhou Mi.
"Do you have any lube?" He asked. Zhou Mi shook his head.
"I thought you had this planned," he panted, canting his hips upwards in a plea for Kyuhyun to resume his ministrations. "Kyuhyun..."
Kyuhyun sighed and dug his wand out from behind him, in the pocket of his pants. "Someone has to have some. Accio lube?"
After a moment of silence, five bottles of lubricant fell into Kyuhyun's hand from over the curtain. He laughed and held them out to Zhou Mi. "Take your pick."
"I don't care," Zhou Mi keened. "Just hurry."
Kyuhyun complied, tossing his wand aside with four of the bottles. He opened the one in his hand and applied it to his fingers, pressing one digit into Zhou Mi's opening. Zhou Mi squirmed, the sensation alien to him, and Kyuhyun paused for a moment to let him grow accustomed to it. When Zhou Mi nodded, Kyuhyun slid another finger inside him, twisting slowly and grinning at the accompanying gasp. He removed his fingers and swallowed Zhou Mi's cry in a kiss, slicking on a condom as he positioned himself against Zhou Mi's entrance.
"Zhou Mi, are you-"
"Kyuhyun, if you hesitate now I'm going to hex you into next August," Zhou Mi gasped, fighting his bonds and wrapping his legs around Kyuhyun's waist, urging him forwards. Kyuhyun pressed his hand into the nest of Zhou Mi's fingers and entered Zhoumi completely, using the tie as leverage as he rocked his hips against the backs of Zhoumi's thighs. For a stretch of time there was silence but for gasps, groans and names sighed between pants. Then Kyuhyun reached his hand between them to stroke Zhoumi with rhythmic movements. They came together, cries of relief and pleasure echoing through the room.
Kyuhyun stretched himself out next to Zhou Mi, pulling him into a languid kiss.
"Tie," Zhou Mi panted, blinking sweat from his eyes. Kyuhyun grinned and pulled the knot out of the tie, freeing Zhou Mi's wrists from the fabric. Zhou Mi massaged his wrists, then wrapped his arms around Kyuhyun, letting the younger boy curl into his embrace before softly kissing his forehead.
"I don't know which bottle belongs to which person," Zhou Mi whispered, nodding toward the bottles of lubricant scattered at the foot of his bed.
"They should change it up every once in a while anyway," Kyuhyun said, smirking. Zhou Mi laughed and nuzzled into his hair, basking in the intense feeling of happiness he had never felt so strongly in his life.
---
V.
The sun glistened in the still water of the lake, its reflection forcing Zhou Mi to avert his eyes from the sight. He looked back down to the worn pages of his book. The air was chilly, promising an even colder evening, but the warmth of his scarf and Kyuhyun's breath on his collarbone was enough to keep a contented smile on his face. The vibrations of Kyuhyun's humming rippled through him, but he forced himself to focus on his History of Magic homework and not on the boy resting his head on his shoulder. Kibum was lying on the grass, head pillowed in Kyuhyun's lap as he dozed off. His even breathing, combined with the lilt of Kyuhyun's song, drove Zhou Mi to close his book with a resigned sigh. He leaned his own head against Kyuhyun's and breathed in the fresh scent of his shampoo. He felt Kyuhyun chuckle.
"It isn't funny," Zhou Mi murmured, smiling despite himself. "I have so much homework to do."
"You have plenty of time," Kyuhyun breathed, pulling his head out from under Zhou Mi's. He turned his face up toward the older boy, squinting against the sunlight. "Just relax today."
"Alright," he agreed, pressing his lips softly against the corner of Kyuhyun's mouth. He tossed his book aside and stretched out his legs, groaning as his muscles adjusted. He settled against Kyuhyun's side, head supported by Kyuhyun's shoulder this time. He closed his eyes as Kyuhyun returned to humming into Zhou Mi's hair, the younger boy grinning when the harmony drifted from behind Zhou Mi's smiling lips.
Neither of them noticed when Kibum disentangled himself from the pair and slipped away toward the school, marching alongside a Slytherin with long black hair and a wicked smirk.
---
VI.
Zhou Mi jumped as a book slammed down on the table next to him, earning several glares and exclamations of "Shh!" He turned to the offending book, and was even more startled when he realized that Heechul was seated on the table, right next to it. Heechul smiled in a way that suggested to Zhou Mi that he was up to something. He was already distrustful of the Slytherin, due to his interference in his friendships with Kyuhyun and Kibum, so he didn't return the smile.
"Zhou Mi," Heechul greeted, patting him on the shoulder. "How are you?"
"I'm fine now," Zhou Mi answered honestly, shrugging off Heechul's hand. "Do you need something?"
"Yes, actually," the older boy leaned in. "We need to chat about your little boyfriend."
Zhou Mi closed his book and stood, throwing his bag over his shoulder. "No, we don't."
He strode out of the library quickly, Heechul hot on his heels. "You're awfully touchy about him, aren't you? Trouble in paradise?"
Zhou Mi halted suddenly and spun around. "Not at the moment, but I'm sure Kibum told you all about it."
"Ah, so you've heard," Heechul smirked, leaning casually against the wall. "Listen, you and I obviously have no hope for friendship here, but Kyuhyun and I are really very close. I'm only looking out for him."
"How are you close?" Zhou Mi asked incredulously. "I never see him with you, and he's two years behind you."
"You're pretty naive," Heechul clicked his tongue. "Do you really think Kyuhyun and Kibum have been going to play Wizarding Chess every week?"
Zhou Mi's stomach dropped. "What... What do you mean?"
"Kibum's been bringing him to a club of our own," Heechul admitted, smirk widening.
"But, he would have told--" Zhou Mi started, but Heechul cut him off.
"Why do you think so? He doesn't have to tell you anything. He's Kibum's best friend, not yours," Heechul's words tore into Zhou Mi, hitting him right where he was most sensitive.
"I know that, but..." Zhou Mi trailed off, not even knowing how to finish that sentence. Because he was right. Kyuhyun was Kibum's best friend, and vice versa, and that was the hardest thing to face. He didn't mind Kyuhyun having a different best friend, but when the one he had hated Zhou Mi, it made things a bit more difficult.
"Think about what you're putting Kyuhyun through, Zhou Mi," Heechul's voice softened, face serious. "If he and Kibum drift apart because of you, he's going to be miserable. He'll always resent you for it, and that'll come back to you in the end. If you really love him, you'll leave him alone, let him be happy like he was before."
"He's not happy?" Zhou Mi's voice sounded thick, even to himself.
"Just think about it," scoffed Heechul. "No one wants to be put in this position. And no one wants to put someone they love in this position, either. That is, if he lovesthem, and not just himself."
Zhou Mi stood there, speechless, mulling over Heechul's words.
Heechul looked at Zhou Mi, then back down to his watch before walking off. He called over his shoulder, "Sorry to cut our conversation short, but it's time for 'Chess Club.'"
After a moment, Zhou Mi turned and marched toward the Ravenclaw common room. He rounded the corner and went up the staircase, but paused when he saw Kibum and Kyuhyun coming down the stairs toward him.
"Zhou Mi!" Kyuhyun smiled at him when he noticed Zhou Mi standing there, cheeks reddening. "Where are you going?"
"Common room," Zhou Mi answered, ignoring Kibum's level glare. "Where are you guys going?"
"Chess club," Kibum replied smoothly, Kyuhyun nodding his agreement. "It's Thursday."
"Don't they meet on the fifth floor?" Zhou Mi asked suspiciously, though he already knew the answer. "Why are you going downstairs?"
Kyuhyun paled a bit, but Kibum remained calm. "They changed the meeting place to the dungeons for today."
"That's awfully convenient," Zhou Mi replied bitterly, looking directly at Kyuhyun. Kibum caught his tone, and put a hand on Kyuhyun's shoulder.
"We should go, or we'll be late," Kibum suggested, taking a few steps down the stairs. Kyuhyun made to follow, but Zhou Mi caught his hand.
"I need to talk to Kyuhyun," Zhou Mi declared, returning Kibum's glower. "Right now."
"It's okay, Kibum," Kyuhyun assured him, when Kibum opened his mouth to protest. "I'll catch up."
Kibum nodded reluctantly and headed down the stairs, casting a suspicious look at Zhou Mi before he went.
"What's wrong?" Kyuhyun asked. "Did you and Kibum fight?"
"I think we should stop seeing each other," Zhou Mi cut straight to the point. Kyuhyun's eyebrows shot up.
"That's.... sudden," Kyuhyun reponded after a moment. "Does this have to do with Kibum?"
"It doesn't matter what it has to do with," Zhou Mi ground out, heart cracking with every word. "We should just stop. I don't want to continue this."
"But, the other night..." Kyuhyun ventured. "Is that what this is about?"
"It didn't mean anything," Zhou Mi lied, turning away and taking a step up the stairs so he didn't have to see Kyuhyun's reaction. "Forget about that."
"Alright then," Kyuhyun murmured after a pregnant pause. He didn't say anything else, just turned and hurried down the staircase after Kibum. Zhou Mi began trekking slowly up the stairs, tears spilling steadily out of his eyes.
---
VII.
Zhou Mi stared down at his plate, willing himself to develop some sort of appetite. The potatoes and veal just didn't look as good as they did last week. He glanced down the table, toward his fellow Ravenclaws, catching the eyes of a couple of third years. He frowned when they turned away quickly, whispering to each other in a painfully indiscreet manner. He eyed his food for a few more moments before deciding he wasn't hungry and pushing his plate away with a burst of ferocity that he didn't really feel.
With one last glance down the table where he was met with more rapidly turning heads, Zhou Mi pushed himself to his feet and left the Great Hall to an unusual hush.
Hesitating momentarily, Zhou Mi finally settled on heading to his next classroom where at least he would be able to get started on some homework without feeling the glares aimed towards his head from students all around him.
"Seriously?" a voice asked in badly veiled disgust when he finally reached the room and slid into the chair by his desk. "You're just going to go around acting like everything's okay? Like you didn't just break Kyuhyun's heart?"
Zhou Mi looked up with a snap and came face to face with a Ravenclaw girl, the other only person in the room, who was leaning against the desk infront of him. Zhou Mi felt a wave of nausea and tried to look confused, but the girl just sneered at him and turned away, her hair swishing as she sat down, eyes trained on the front board.
"Oh well, nobody thought you would last more then a week anyway," she said offhandedly, still not looking at Zhou Mi. "How could you keep someone like Kyuhyun's attention when he has a guy like Kibum for a best friend?"
Rabbit punch. Zhou Mi hadn't seen it coming.
"You don't know what you're talking about," he said softly, determined not to rise to the bait.
"Don't try to act all innocent," she spat back, turning to glare at him, eyes glinting in fury. "I heard what you did to him."
"You don't understand," Zhou Mi whispered, pressing himself back furthur against his chair and wishing he could dissapear.
"Oh, I think I understand perfectly well," the girl shot back, rolling her eyes and waving Zhou Mi's explanations away with one palm. "You just use him and throw him away like he's nothing? Kyuhyun deserves more then that anyway."
Zhou Mi tried to keep calm, his fingers clenching helplessly together under his desk, breath quickening in his throat. He wanted to tell the girl that he had done it to protect Kyuhyun. That he had sacraficed his happiness to keep the other boy happy--
"You've just made the biggest mistake of your life," the girl hissed as other students started filing into the classroom. Zhou Mi held his breath until he was sure she wouldn't turn back, and then raised his hand and told the professor that he wasn't feeling well.
He didn't have to fake it.
---
VIII.
"Whoa!" Zhou Mi exclaimed as he dodged yet another bludger. He glanced in the direction it came from, catching sight of his own team member's satisfied smirk. He frowned slightly, then yelped as the quaffle hit him square in the back of the head.
"Pay attention!" Sungmin called, shooting a glare at the chaser who had thrown the quaffle. "Taehan, quit screwing around at practice! We're against Hufflepuff tomorrow, and Siwon doesn't play games when it comes to getting the snitch. You chasers are our only hope."
"This is a game," one of the beaters said to the other, and they snickered.
"Do you want to do push-ups, or would you prefer to shut the hell up?" Sungmin asked, shutting the two third years up. "Alright then. Let's try this again."
Zhou Mi flew to the side of one of the chasers and they ran through the play again. He tried not to frown when his teammates passed the ball around him, while he spiraled out of the paths of the bludgers, which only seemed to be after him.
"Yah, aim your bludgers at the chasers who have the quaffles, you idiots!" Sungmin yelled to the beaters as he easily snatched the quaffle before it went through the goal. He tossed the quaffle to Zhou Mi, who missed it as he swerved to avoid yet another bludger.
"Great job, Zhou Mi," Ingyu jeered, swooping to catch the falling quaffle. "We're definitely going to lose tomorrow if you keep screwing up like that."
"Okay, you guys obviously aren't even trying to practice, so let's just go in," Sungmin shouted, lowering his broom to the ground. "But we're going to be practicing at six tomorrow morning, to make up for lost time. Let's go in."
Zhou Mi watched his teammates file into the locker room, groaning in protest of an early morning practice, leaving him to practice alone as the sun settled behind the Forbidden Forest. He wove in and out of the sun's fading rays, missing the worried look Sungmin cast in his direction before he followed the others out of the stadium.
---
IX.
Zhou Mi flew up into the stands long after the crowd had dispersed. He propped his broom up against the railing and sprawled out along the bench, sighing heavily. They hadn't won, of course. Siwon had gotten the snitch within fifteen minutes of the game starting, earning Hufflepuff a victory of 170-80. Zhou Mi hadn't fumbled the quaffle once, or missed any goals, but the team still glared at him accusingly as they left the field. His only comfort was Sungmin, who had squeezed his hand lightly as they marched into the locker room, assuring him it wasn't his fault.
He closed his eyes, soaking in the cold weather and the smell of rain drifting around him. He winced when light, icy rain began to fall several minutes later, but remained in his position. He thought hard about what he had done, severing ties with Kyuhyun, and his chest tightened.
People always did this, in books and movies, leaving the one they love for their own good. But they never really described the feeling accurately. He had expected to feel relieved, seeing Kyuhyun smile and live without his interference, but he didn't. Each time he saw Kyuhyun in the halls, or in the common room, his throat felt thick and swollen, tears pricked his eyes like needles.
He wanted so much to just grab him, tell him it was all a big mistake, that he loved him. He loved him. He wanted so much to be selfish, but he thought of Kibum's cold stares and the fearsome glint in Heechul's eyes, and knew that he couldn't. He wanted so much for Kyuhyun to be happy, but he wanted to be happy, too. Why couldn't he find that middle ground, where everything just fit into place for the two of them?
He sighed again, enjoying the feeling of being numbed by the frigid rain.
Several minutes passed, minutes that felt like hours, and the rain suddenly stopped. Surprised by the rapid change of weather, Zhou Mi's eyes shot open. He was greeted by a dome of black, obscuring the sky, and the very face he had both longed to see, and worked to avoid.
Kyuhyun wasn't smiling as he stood over Zhou Mi, his umbrella hovering over him, blocking out the rain. They blinked at each other for a moment before Kyuhyun spoke.
"You never left the stadium," Kyuhyun explained, answering Zhou Mi's unspoken question. "You're going to catch pneumonia."
"Maybe," Zhou Mi replied, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Good job today," Kyuhyun said. "Even though we lost."
"Why are you really here, Kyuhyun?" Zhou Mi asked.
"Sungmin told me," Kyuhyun answered after a moment. "He told me about how everyone's been treating you. I didn't know until--"
"It doesn't matter," Zhou Mi interrupted, closing his eyes again. "I probably deserve it."
"You don't," Kyuhyun kneeled next to Zhou Mi, leaving the umbrella floating above them. "It was... I heard Donghae in the library. Saying things about us that never happened, to some people in my year. And I think... I think Heechul's been orchestrating this. All these problems. I'm not sure, but I get this feeling..."
"You get what feeling?" Zhou Mi pressed, turning his eyes to Kyuhyun.
"You didn't want to break up with me, did you, Zhou Mi?" Kyuhyun asked, locking eyes with Zhou Mi, who found he couldn't look away.
"I did," Zhou Mi sighed. "I had to."
"Heechul said something to you, didn't he?" Kyuhyun grasped Zhou Mi's arm. "That's why you did it. Zhou Mi, tell me the truth."
"He..." Zhou Mi started. "It doesn't matter, anyway. He was right. You and Kibum were starting to get--"
"Kibum?" Kyuhyun asked incredulously. "What does he have to do with anything? I told you already, that night, he has no say in who I'm with. He never will."
"I didn't want to affect your friendship with him," Zhou Mi explained. His voice softened, so that Kyuhyun had to strain to hear it. "I just wanted you to be happy."
"Why would you just assume that this would make me happy?"
"It will, in the long run," Zhou Mi defended. Kyuhyun groaned in frustration.
"How could you possibly know that?"
Zhou Mi hesitated. "Aren't you happy?"
"No, I'm not," he asserted. He folded his arms and laid them on Zhou Mi's torso, resting the side of his head against them. "I wasn't."
Zhou Mi placed a hand on Kyuhyun's face, gently stroking his cheek with his thumb. "There really must be something wrong with you."
"I agree," Kyuhyun sighed, leaning into the touch. "Why else would I be sitting in the rain, in a deserted Quidditch stadium, with a social outcast?"
Zhou Mi laughed lightly and made to sit up. Kyuhyun removed himself from Zhou Mi's chest, and tilted his head up to meet the kiss Zhou Mi was bending over for. When they pulled apart, Zhou Mi looked worried again.
"What about Kibum and Heechul? Won't they say something to you?"
"I don't care," Kyuhyun admitted. "Heechul is smart. So smart. He showed me things that I'm sure even some of my professors couldn't pull off. I was enraptured by the idea of all this knowledge that they don't teach us in school, all these spells and secrets that students aren't allowed to learn. Heechul knew everything, it seemed. But when I realized what he was doing, with Donghae, with you and I, it made me question it all. Maybe there's a good reason they don't teach us certain spells and aspects of history in school. To prevent people like Heechul from wrapping their minds around it, using it for the wrong reasons. I don't know, none of it sits well with me. I'm better off avoiding it all completely."
"But, Kibum..." Zhou Mi laced his fingers with Kyuhyun's. "You can't just ignore him."
"Kibum should understand. He always does. But," Kyuhyun confessed. "He's changing, Zhou Mi. They all are. Or maybe they're just showing sides of themselves now that we've never seen."
"They?" Zhou Mi urged.
"Ryeowook's worried about Yesung," he clarified. "He says he's more withdrawn, snaps at him a bit more than usual. Yesung hangs out with us, but he acts normal, always drawing attention to himself. Kangin's even mentioned how little he sees Eeteuk now. If I stay, I might..." He trailed off, leaving the answer hanging in the air before them.
"It'll be fine," Zhou Mi slid off the bench and kneeled down next to him, pulling him into his arms. "You won't change."
"No," Kyuhyun agreed. He buried his face in Zhou Mi's soaked hair. "I won't."
---
X.
Zhou Mi and Kyuhyun sat side by side at the table during breakfast the next morning, backs facing the Slytherin table, pointedly ignoring the open stares of their classmates. Kibum walked along the other side of the table as he entered the great hall, and took a seat directly across from the pair. Kyuhyun and Kibum stared at each other for a minute, faces expressionless, until Kibum sighed.
"Do what you want," he said dully. "But don't come running to me if you two have a row."
Kyuhyun's mouth twitched as he fought a smile. "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction."
Kibum just grunted and picked up his fork.
Zhou Mi turned to give Sungmin a grateful smile, which turned into a knowing grin when he caught sight of Shindong seating himself at the Ravenclaw table and shoving a pumpkin pasty into Sungmin's mouth.
He felt a hand grasp his under the table, and he squeezed back, making a mental note to maybe bake Sungmin a large cake.