Barnaby x Ben: Stormy nights
It was late when the storm hit hogwarts. Swirling black clouds loomed over the castle as a tidal wave of rain came pouring down. Most people were too scared to even leave their bedrooms, but not Barnaby Lee.
He had been halfway up the steps to the owlrey when he had heard the noise: a sniffly sob echoing through the tower. Barnaby followed the sound, expecting to find an injured pet or perhaps a lost Sickleworth. What Barnaby hadnât need expecting to see was his good friend and long time crush Benjamin Copper sat on the steps, hugging his knees and recoiling at the sounds of the storm.
âYou alright, Ben?â Barnaby asked as he sat on the steps beside Ben
âBarnaby!â Ben gasped, almost jumping up out of the owlrey window âsorry, I just wasnât expecting to anyone up here... why exactly are you up here?â
âTulip. Sheâs losing her mind since she canât find Dennis and she doesnât want him to get hurt in the storm. She asked me to check up here while she searches Jacobâs room. How come youâre here?â
âI was scared about the storm so I came up here to pet my owl as a way to calm down. But I caught a glimpse of the clouds when I turned to leave and now my legs wonât move. Iâm just kind of stuck here.â
âDo you need me to go get someone? I could call Penny, or double check to see if Talbott is in the owlrey since he keeps falling asleep in there, or maybe I could go get-â
âPlease donât go!â Ben suddenly snapped before looking back down at his feet âI just- I donât think I can be alone again right nowâ
Barnabyâs voice softened âof course Iâll stay, Ben. Whatever you needâ
Barnaby wrapped his arm around the smaller boy and pulled him into a tight side hug in an attempt to comfort him. He felt Ben move his own arm around the brunetteâs waist as he shuffled closer on the large stone steps.
âI can try and take you down the stairs if youâd likeâ The slytherin said after a while
âLetâs just stay here for a bit, I donât think Iâm brave enough to face the outdoors in this weatherâ
âOh please, Ben. Youâre one of the bravest people I knowâ
âReally?â
âAbsolutely!â Barnaby grinned, his voice thick with sincerity âyouâre a muggle born, you abandoned everything you knew to come and learn about the stuff every adult says is a myth. If I had been in youâre shoes, I donât think I wouldâve even triedâ
âI never thought about it like that..â Ben muttered, pulling away from Barnaby and sitting up
âYou should, youâre incredible Ben. Donât forget thatâ
As Barnaby turned his head to face the gryffindor, he felt a hand reach under his chin. He was gently pulled forward until his lips made contact with Benâs. The kiss was short and sweet, he wished it would have lasted longer but he knew that it was a lot for Ben to do something like that, let alone initiate it.
âMaybe you could be there to remind me, to always be braveâ Ben smiled, nervously avoiding eye contact. Barnaby put a finger under his chin and almost closed the distance between them. Only muttering âit would be my pleasureâ before he kissed Ben again.
And that was how they spent the night of the storm: kissing, chatting, simply being two boys in love. Somehow, the evening that Ben had been dreading became one of the best heâd ever had.












