(...)

at the other’s question, darcy feels his lips purse. there would be talks of this tomorrow, even under the influence darcy is well prepared for that. it was already odd that they were so close and friendly with one another after the breakup, but to be seen cheek to cheek at this party would most likely cause trouble. that rumors would come amongst the halls of hogwarts and this time, hongbin and myself could be targeted

but he doesn’t want to say why he worries, why he’s embarrassed to be caught in this state with hongbin. so he remains silent, unable to answer his ex’s question.

darcy should find offense to hongbin’s words, that he is currently implying that darcy couldn’t express his feelings properly, but instead, the ravenclaw just sighs as he smooths out the wrinkles of hongbin’s top. “ there’s no need for a potion for confidence when there is alcohol in this world."the ravenclaw’s muses, his defensives cracking as they continue the conversation.

with hongbin so close, he is unable to think much about anything else but the boy in front of him. about how he yearns to see this expression up close as much as they used to when they were dating. about how hongbin’s eyes were able to pull him in since the beginning of their relationship.

this was bad, even when drunk darcy could tell. that hongbin’s honey words were breaking down whatever walls he had built since they ended their relationship. that hongbin made his heart sing and nothing else matter. and for once, darcy couldn’t care less about the consequences.

” i wish i had the same amount of courage as you, hongin.“ he whispers, his fingers twisting the hem of hongbin’s shirt as his neves began to take cover.and before he was really able to understand his actions, darcy found himself leaning up and pressing a chaste kiss on hongbin’s lips. “ it’s not fair…you can’t just come to me when i’m in this state and expect me not..not to go back to the way we were.” he mutters, though he knows that it was too late, that he had opened pandora’s box when he decided to lay a kiss on hongbin.

but, if he was being completely honest, darcy couldn’t find himself to be wary of his actions, or what may come. that all he wanted was to kiss hongbin again, to hear those sweet words from hongbin’s lips once more.

darcy’s laugh has hongbin’s heart fluttering (like always, really), his own lips tugging into a wide grin in response. god, it’s such a sweet sound, and hongbin would be content to bask in it for the rest of the night, if only darcy would let him. it would seem his lack of tact has at least gotten him points for being silly, even if it’s not exactly the most flattering otherwise. then again, when has he ever really cared about his pride when it came to darcy? they both knew- know, because even still it’s true- that darcy would always come first. 

“there’s that smile,” that i love so much, he doesn’t add, because even under the influence of alcohol hongbin knows some things need not be said. “i was beginning to wonder if you’d be frowning at me all night. this suits you much more, a pretty smile for a pretty boy.” 

he watches carefully as darcy’s expression changes to something more thoughtful, more vulnerable even through the flush on his cheeks, because he’s never been good at hiding his emotions. hongbin can practically see the wheels in his head turning- it’s endearing, and he has half a mind to say as much. he doesn’t, of course, because he knows darcy would fluster and close himself off. 

“what is that muggle phrase used to describe alcohol?” hongbin muses, eyes twinkling. “liquid courage?” darcy would know better than hongbin. 

as he’s about to comment on how it’s hardly courage that has him coming back to darcy time and time again, about how it’s much more like insanity or an unwillingness to let go of his first love, darcy’s lips silence his train of thought. oh. 

the kiss is so soft, so damn gentle, and hongbin’s head is spinning, breath hitching without permission. it’s what he’s been craving for months- since their last meet up over the summer, since the last time darcy fed into his greed. (because really, since their first kiss  hongbin hasn’t stopped wanting for more.) 

“i know it’s unfair,” his voice is little more than a whisper against darcy’s lips now, eyes closed for fear of perhaps waking up from some strange fever dream where darcy is in his arms again. “but won’t you let me be selfish just a little while longer?” 

he tilts his head a bit, tips forward to press their lips together once more. he knows it’s selfish, he shouldn’t continue to ask darcy for more time and time again, but he knows he isn’t really the only one who wants it. and that’s all the incentive he needs to kiss darcy again, more urgently this time. i’ve missed you, hongbin attempts to portray as he catches darcy’s bottom lip between his own, back arching slightly as he subconsciously tries to get even closer. 

there was always a benefit when everyone gathered around the great hall like this, celebrating whatever; the end of the year, the beginning of a new one, anything that was worth celebrating over. jace was able to see anyone from a distance as they gathered in their rightfully places while he sat amongst his fellow slytherins. they stuff their mouths with food and chat amongst themselves whether or not they enjoy each other’ company because it seemed like everyone knew everyone these days (or at least he thought so).

on this particular day, jace had seemed fine, his paranoia had yet to come and haunt him as he sat across the table all the while students attempted to get him to join in on teasing a student, getting him into their mischief like they always have. jace couldn’t help himself to smirk, thinking whether or not he would be the better person and push them off to the side. he didn’t want to be apart of their childish games anyway (but possibly on a different day).

it reminded of how much he had changed in a short few years. not completely changed, more like just gotten used to masking his own pain with bright smiles and playfulness between him and his friends. in the end, everyone had something to hide, always, no wonder trust was so hard to come by or at least for jace. the boy never took many things too seriously, he wasn’t a perfect boy, not at all.

he found himself to be exhausted, mostly bored of hearing all the chit chatter amongst his fellow slytherins as if he could never hear himself think or to comprehend. he just only wanted to talk to someone else, to have someone who understood him just a little bit better which was obviously not around them, anyway.

he gets up, attempting to maneuver himself while getting through the crowd just standing around, his shoulder colliding with another boy whom he seemed to recognize quite well. how much he had gotten along with this boy through kisses and sweet words that had him believe that jace had cared. he did, to his extent. he backs up towards the other boy, grabbing a hold of the other’ wrist tightly. “hongbin~ long time no see.”

jace responds in his usual sweet voice that came out whenever the boy was around, always. although it changed rather quickly, his lips twisting into a pout. “you bump into me and you’re going to start being mean to me? i’m not that short…” he takes his hand off hongbin’ wrist, wrapping it lightly around his arm instead. “we should catch up sometime.” he smiles, more so right now as he implies.

were he someone with a bit less self respect, hongbin most likely would have pried his hand away and booked it down the hall without so much as a second glance at his ex boyfriend. were he someone with a bit more sense, a bit more self preservation, he would have snapped that yes- it’s been a long time on purpose. 

the sweet way jace still says his name has hongbin’s stomach dropping. it isn’t fair that jace can be so unaffected by everything, with their history. he pointedly looks away from jace’s prettily pouted lips, glares at the wall as he wills himself to, perhaps, melt into the floor or even get swallowed up by it. ceasing to exist right now would be preferable to being here with nowhere to run, with jace’s hand burning where it touches. 

“yeah, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” he forces out, voice cheerful yet flat. it takes everything in his power to not tack on a sarcastic i wonder why. 

in spite of himself, he laughs when jace claims hongbin is being mean to him, because out of anything, hongbin is entirely justified in poking fun at the shorter boy for being, well, shorter. 

“i’m not wrong, am i? you’re a good deal shorter than i am, even if you aren’t short compared to certain other students out here, jace. you and i both know i’m just telling it like it is.” hongbin sniffles a bit then, chances a glance back at jace’s face in time to watch it shift into a smile. 

a mistake, but not exactly one he can get out of now. 

“i’m not too sure we have much to catch up on,” hongbin pulls his arm away, gently, if only to remind jace that he doesn’t get to manhandle him just because he wants something. “but who knows, maybe you’ve been up to more than i have- so yeah, sure, let’s catch up.” 

it’s embarrassing how easily hongbin could weasels his way back into his heart. how he could find himself leaning into the other’s ravenclaw’s touch. how he could see himself kissing hongbin without a second thought, how it could easily turn back to the days of their fifth year.  and while they haven’t been together for almost two years, the almost constant stream of affection that came from hongbin in the last few months was confusing. and at this point, darcy was unsure if the feelings that came forth when he was around hongbin was from nostalgia for simpler times or if they were true feelings.

it’s confusing, and the ravenclaw didn’t like feeling confused. darcy hated feeling unsure and whenever he was around hongbin he always felt apprehensive as of late. and when he was sober it was easier to hide his confusion. it was easier to push hongbin away with roundabout questions and teasing words. but when he was in a haze like this, darcy knew it was not going to easy and instead he worries he will do something he regrets.

darcy finds himself mirroring his former lover’s pout, they were friends long before they dated, and they are friends till this date. but he wonders how blurred the lines between them are, how easily hongbin could slip back into the less platonic mindset.  “ no, it’s not bad.” he mutters, his eyes shifting as the other’s gaze is too much for darcy right now, it’s like he knows what’s going through his mind.

the ravenclaw doesn’t really mind this, that hongbin is admitting to missing him. the boy lives off of attention, be it for his grades or good looks, darcy enjoys it. and the fact that hongbin is showering him with honey words and soft touches was making him weak. his walls falling further with every moment that that passes.

“ you know i enjoy being showered with affection, and being told you’re being missed is ego boosting.” he says matter of factly, his own fingers gingerly clutching the hem of hongbin’s shirt, still unable to maintain eye contact with his ex-boyfriend.

he knows he’s being childish- to make hongbin admit he was missing him. but darcy wouldn’t be darcy if he wasn’t a bit childish. this whole conversation is embarrassing - that they’re obviously flirting with one another, and that there are people here who are well aware of their past, and darcy’s hazed mind can’t really handle these thoughts.

“ it’s embarrassing hongbin. you can’t expect me to answer those questions..you’ve always been better at this than me.” darcy admits, a pout forming on his lips once more. “ what do you want me to do hongbin ? what did you come over here for?”

hongbin smiles, a little too sweetly for how much alcohol is in his system, at how darcy grasps at his shirt. it makes his heart skip (the traitor) and he wants nothing more than to reach down and twine one of his hands with darcy’s own. but he won’t, not yet, because it would probably scare darcy away faster than any bold advance would. it’s too tender, too affectionate. 

“oh but of course i know,” hongbin nods along, amusement apparent in his tone. “just as you know i’ve always adored stroking your ego... among other things, but i digress.” he wiggles his eyebrows to see if maybe, just maybe, he can coax a smile or a laugh from darcy tonight. 

hongbin always has enjoyed how lovely darcy looks with a smile on his face. 

he drags his nails gently through the bit of short hair he can reach on darcy’s nape as he regards his ex once again, takes in the nervous slope in his normally perfect posture. hongbin hates himself a bit for being able to read darcy so well even when he’s so tipsy- a tell tale sign of how long they’ve known each other if nothing else. 

“since when have you ever had to be embarrassed with me, darcy?” it’s surprising but not entirely so, because behind all of darcy’s pomp and pride, he’s not as sly as he appears to be. it makes sense that he’d become shy again, with so many eyes and ears around and so much history behind them. he doesn’t like it though, and sets out to change it. 

“this is just one of the many things i’ve been better at than you.” hongbin continues, straight faced for little more than a heartbeat before there’s a wink and a hint of a smile on his lips once more. “we can’t both be scared of our feelings now, can we?”

hongbin is actually fairly terrified of his feelings, but he’ll be brave if it’ll keep them close to each other. 

he leans in further at darcy’s questioning, ignoring the furious tempo his heart has picked up in it’s attempt to beat out of his chest. they’re so close now, hongbin could count his eyelashes if he’d cared to. when they were dating, hongbin probably could have, just for an excuse to stare at darcy that much longer. but now it might be a little strange, and he isn’t certain he has the capacity to count that high right now, no matter how much having to be so serious is sobering him up. 

Another year, another opening school feast.

At first she’d loved the school feasts and welcoming the newly sorted to their respective houses as she could still remember the thrill of her own sorting. But as the years passed somehow the initial spark of, well, magic, had faded and now she wanted nothing more than to be up in the dorm crawling into her nice warm bed with a nice book before falling into a dreamless sleep. But no, tradition was tradition and there was no way the Headmistress would let anyone slip away early, lest of all a Prefect.

Her eyes wander over the Entrance Hall taking in the returning faces all clad in matching Hogwarts robes save for their colour differentiating scarves and the lining of their cloaks. She saw fellow Ravenclaws who often spared her a nod before hurrying along—apparently she had a resting bitch face that intimidated most—and gaggles of Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. Slytherin students swept by, haughty looking, rarely sparing the other students a glance. Sophie’s mouth curled upwards in a small sneer as she felt her blood begin to seethe. Being prejudiced against the green clad house was almost second nature to her now, which was a pity for she was sure there were many brilliant minds who weren’t on the ‘dark side’, but it only took one or two spoil the whole barrel.

Speaking of brilliant minds Sophie saw a familiar figure swaggering along. Lee Hongbin. She bit back a sneer opting instead to roll her eyes and fixate on something that wasn’t him. But that wasn’t before she noticed how his robes clung to him in a way they hadn’t before, and how his shoulders had grown wider—if that even were possible. Even if she couldn’t see his face clearly she knew he’d be wearing his trademark cheeky dimpled smile that made her hand itch to slap off his face. Fellow Ravenclaw he may be, but their relationship was rocky to say the least.

Ever since they first met they’d been at each other’s throats so to speak. Always bickering, mocking, and insinuating everything one could think of under the damn sun. Sophie had to admit that he was smart, perhaps even brilliant, which often spurred her on to study even harder just to get that one mark higher than him. Whenever he ‘won’ he was insufferable for weeks, almost driving her to shoving him out the Ravenclaw tower.

The moment he spoke she knew that nothing about him had changed over the summer. His voice carried a teasing note, challenging her to take a stand against him. He was such a bastard but inexplicably she couldn’t just cut him out of her life: he made it interesting. So armed with her sweetest smile Sophie turned to face her noble adversary.

“Oh? You’re back too?” she replied, her voice positively dripping with honey—if that honey were laced with deadly nightshade, “I’m surprised you didn’t drop out over the summer. But then again, I suppose a life without me was too much to bear.” Sophie stepped closer to him and was suddenly aware of just how much taller he was than her. Slowly she trailed a slender finger up his torso before giving his cheek a gentle pat.

“The feast’s about to start; are you coming or what? If you’re a good boy I’m sure I could find something sweet for you to sink your teeth into…”

hongbin can’t help but laugh at how easy her words come out, sickly sweet and biting all at once. it’s addicting, really, the way she cuts him down while drawing him in- something few dare to do. (hongbin would be lying if he said he didn’t love the way she does it though, god knows he’s always been something of a masochist.)

masochist or not... sophie has always tended to bring out something meaner in him as well, and today is just another example of it. he watches intently as she moves closer to him, draws his tongue along his lower lip at the steady pace of her finger up his chest. it would be too unlike her to not play games like these, hongbin supposes. just as it would be too unlike himself to not rise to the bait and play along. 

being so near to sophie sets an edge of lust to his normal competitiveness, and it’s so typical of them that he hardly notices the shift anymore. whether that’s a good or a bad thing, well... that all depends on how far he can get before the tension snaps. 

“oh but of course it was,” he lets his gaze flicker from her lips to her eyes, catches her hand as it pats his cheek. “i’d gotten far too used to how sore of a loser you are, i’d lose my edge without you to remind me why i love winning so much.” 

hongbin’s smile slips into a smirk, lopsided and antagonizing as he uses the hold on her wrist to pull her even closer. he’s looking down at her in earnest now, tonguing his cheek as he pretends to ponder over what to do now that she’s nearly tucked to his chest with their proximity. 

“if i’m a good boy, hm?” there’s a ghost of a chuckle on his words, something dark and a little threatening, tinged with want. “and what if i don’t feel like waiting for you to find something? what if i’d rather just take it...?”

he lost his friends.

that was the stark realization as darcy found himself alone, clutching the cup of cheap booze and a soft frown on his lips. he must have lost them in his drunken haze. which is something he should have learned not to do, after all, more often than not, darcy lost most of his guard upon drinking, he in simple terms, turned into a carefree and reckless drunk.gone was the guarded and pretentious behavior. that personality was left behind as soon as darcy got his hands on whatever cheap alcohol his classmates decided to bring at that time.

maybe, darcy realizes - that he could slide by any trouble by staying put until someone ( probably ten or mickey ) saving him from his own antics and take him back to the dorm before he goes off his rocket. but maybe he was too harsh to other people, maybe this was punishment for never doing his homework in the proper time frame. either way, someone was out to get him because he feels a familiar touch - and even in his drunken haze darcy is well acquainted with that gesture. plus, there was only one person dumb ( was that the right word to describe hongbin ? maybe, but it applied to himself as well ). enough to linger so near his back.

he may be drunk, but darcy does not lose all of his spunk. no not with the way his lips turn into an unamused frown. hongbin’s boyish good looks and coy smile weren’t going to break down his barrier so easily ! this wasn’t going to end up like the years prior.  even if the sweet tone hongbin’s voice took made his ears warm, something he knew hongbin could tell was not frm the buzz of the alcohol. “ and why is it i have to approach you ? you’re a big boy hongbin, if you wish to speak to me, there is nothing in your way. “ his own tone turning coquettish even if his words were a bit prickly.

even with all the tough talk, darcy finds himself faltering under hongbin’s gaze, that if he were to lean in just a bit closer that their lips would touch..but no! he wasn’t going to fall into the pressure - at least not this early in the term.

“ we spoke only a few days ago..i don’t understand how you could miss me already. “darcy himself knows it’s childish to pretend not to know, but his pride outweighs his intelligence most of the time, and this was no different.  “ is it that you find me intoxicating all ways or is it just the alcohol you drank moments ago ?”

it should probably be embarrassing to have darcy evade his advances so quickly, but hongbin knows better. he’s not inebriated enough to miss the pink flush on darcy’s skin, and he’s all too familiar with the game of cat and mouse that is getting darcy to admit he has feelings- let alone the struggle of getting him to act on them. he knew it wouldn’t be that easy, but... it’s not as though he’s said anything untrue. 

he does want darcy to approach him, he does miss him, he does want to kiss him. while normally hongbin would have more tact in going about admitting to these things- he also normally wouldn’t be drinking, so it’s probably useless to berate himself about it now. he has the rest of his life to beat himself up over making a fool of himself (yet again) in front of darcy. 

“i mean... you don’t have to, i just wanted you to be thinking of me, is that so bad?" his lips are threatening to slip into a pout, and really it isn’t the most charming he’s ever been, but he can’t bring himself to care right now. 

hongbin trades his hold on darcy’s chin for a softer touch to the side of his neck, lets his thumb trace over the skin there absently as he regards the other ravenclaw. 

“i guess that’s a fair enough question,” he admits, smiling in spite of himself. “but i think you know why i miss you already, don’t you? or is this just you wanting to hear me admit to it, because you know the alcohol has loosened my tongue?” 

hongbin has to admit, were he in darcy’s position, he’d probably be playing hard to get as well. even though they hadn’t ended on bad terms, there’s a bittersweet feeling that lingers every time he sees the other. a reminder of what could have been, if they’d managed to stick together. but they hadn’t, and while hongbin doesn’t fault either of them for it- he can’t help but wish sometimes. 

@ephongbin

darcy was not someone who spent much time pursuing romantic relationships. for most his schooling he kept his eyes towards good grades and being a stereotypical art snob. but of course, darcy had to admit he was a young attractive male, who happened to find some other students cute, and during his fifth year, he took the chance to date a fellow ravenclaw, hongbin. and for the most part, their relationship was filled with ginger hand holding and sweet trips to hogsmeade on the weekend, but as most things during your youth, it didn’t last long.

but that was in the past. and since they didn’t end on bad terms per say, darcy didn’t really seem the harm in remaining friends. ( which was a lie, keeping your past strung along you was always a bad thing, he read enough legends and stories to know that ).  then again, there was no harm for now. so darcy did not falter upon seeing that hongbin was the only student in the common room - and soon  a rather mischevious grin appearing on the ravenclaw's face as he began to sneak up on his fellow ravenclaw. his hands finding them on hongbin's shoulder as he tried to scare the other male. 

“ boo, it’s ghost of boyfriend’s past, did you miss me ?" 

he hates how quickly his body shifts from tense to relaxed, melting under darcy’s touch just as he has for years now- because really, they’ve never managed to give each other up, even though they’ve long since given up their romantic endeavor. at least, on the surface they have. hongbin’s traitorous heart still skips far too many beats to be healthy when he turns his head to look said ghost of boyfriend’s past in the face, eyes skimming over that perfect grin. darcy’s always been ridiculously pretty and today is no different.

“i nearly punched you before i realized it was you, jerk.” hongbin scolds, though there’s no malice to his voice- and even if there had been, his lips are stretching into a grin of his own before they can stop him, effectively cutting short any attempts at offense or anger. 

“did i miss you, pfft–” he lets out a short laugh, shows a little too much teeth to compensate, because a yes is on the tip of his tongue, how could he not have missed darcy? “ –what do you think? why would i have missed you?” 

then again, darcy knows him all too well. his joking tone is an admission in and of itself. 

“of course i missed you, i got too used to your dumb face to not miss you every now and then.” hongbin punctuates his words with a pinch to darcy’s cheek- not hard enough to hurt, but enough to be teasing. 

( @ephongbin ) 

the both of them aren’t exactly an unlikely pair, if anything –– they get along pretty well; and minkyung was thankful for that. there weren’t exactly many people on campus that understood her interest in muggle activities. it also helped that hongbin’s got a personality that minkyung could find herself comfortable with. 

despite being in different houses, she finds herself spending time with hongbin a little more than some other slytherins –– which quite honestly, was fine with her. “so what do you want me to do with this flower?” she asks, crouching down and twirling it against her fingers. “should i sniff it like this ––” at that she makes a show to put her nose really close to the flower only to break out into sneezes. “oh shoot –– i forgot about the pollen,” she says in between sneezes.

he found himself absolutely intrigued. 

today they’ve managed to slip out into the gardens, to take a break from the indoors (because really, it gets stuffy in there, no matter how large a castle it may be) and hongbin has managed to turn his friend into his model for the evening. it’s an absolutely charming arrangement, if he does say so himself. her personality matches the flowers she’s perched amongst, and the juxtaposition between their natural, flowing beauty and minkyung’s effortless, bubbling prettiness makes for the perfect subject matter. he’s absolutely thrilled. 

“just act natural,” hongbin instructs her, casual and a bit offhanded as he fiddles with his camera’s settings. he’s dropped into a crouch, one leg stuck out for balance while the other is bent at the knee, supporting his weight. “yeah- sniffing the flowers is fi-”

he cuts off, a grin splitting his face as she sticks her nose a bit too close, inhales what must be an absurd amount of pollen due to proximity. hongbin’s finger is rapidly clicking now, taking as many photos as he can in such a short timespan. he manages to capture her initial shock, the procession of surprise to sneeze, and even her nervous outcry at the end. 

of course, that’s where he loses a bit of his focus, a loud laugh bursting past his lips. 

“you look great!” he snarks, amusement more than apparent as he shifts his body to continue and snap a few more photos of her bewildered expression. “really, you’re such a natural, kyungie.”

hongbin pauses then, peeking around the side of his camera with a devious quirk of his brow.