Seeing the confused look on the blond’s face as he made to leave his bed, the boy grinned and winked “Maybe she’s going to ask you out to the Ball since you’re too much of a wuss to do it.”

Slaine sighed but said nothing, having long given up trying to make them understand he didn’t like Asseylum like that.

Thank goodness, he thought as he made his way down to the Hufflepuff common room, dodging people still congratulating him on the last quidditch game, that I never told anyone I asked the Hat to sort me here so I could stay by her side.

As soon as she saw him, Asseylum beamed and dragged him to an empty corner of the room.

“Slaine, you won’t believe what I heard!” she whispered excitedly “Guess who apparently plans on asking you out to the Ball?”

Slaine tried not to flinch. There was only one person he wanted to go with and that was never happening…

“I…who is it?” he asked tiredly, wondering who was left he hadn’t rejected yet. Asseylum opened her mouth, but before she could reply someone came over and interrupted them.

“Guys, there’s a Ravenclaw outside asking to talk to Troyard” the person said. Slaine glanced at Asseylum and, judging by how her grin widened, realized this was probably the next girl who was going to ask him out.

Stiffling a groan he decided to get this over with already and went to meet her.

Still, it’s strange that a Ravenclaw would ask me out. I guess either she’s in the one class our Houses take together or she saw me hanging out with Inaho…

Leaving his House, the blond couldn’t help but jump in surprise when the only Ravenclaw lounging around was Inaho himself.

Oh no, did he come on behalf of the girl? No, that doesn’t sound like him…maybe the timing is just a coincidence then.

Despite the worry, Slaine couldn’t help feeling glad to see his friend, he had missed him the past week, and speaking of that…

“Bat” Inaho said as a greeting. Slaine huffed.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop calling me that, orange?”

“You don’t seem to mind when your teammates do it.” Inaho retorted. His tone, to Slaine’s confusion, sounding slightly annoyed.

“Well…it’s because they heard you say it.”

“And because you deserved it after that last quidditch game.” the brunette said with a touch of reluctance.

“About that…listen, I’m sorry I haven’t been around much this last week, I-”

“It’s fine. I’ve learned-” Slaine’s lips twitched upwards as he imagined Inaho going around and asking questions while writing everything down as usual “that it’s only expected for a team to celebrate when they win in such a manner. And since you were the reason they did-”

“That’s not true! It was teamwork and-”

“Teamwork didn’t catch the Snitch in record time, thus avoiding a loss since your goalkeeper was hurt. You did. It was all very impressive flying, congratulations”

Being complimented by Inaho was a rarity, and Slaine could feel himself getting redder “T-thank you. But I know you; you didn’t come here to say just that, right?”

The brunette nodded and cleared his throat “Do you have a date to the Ball?”

Slaine’s heart plummeted. He is going to ask to try and set me up with someone, damn.

“No, but-”

“Then would you like to go with me?”

“-I have no intention of-what?!”

“I’m inviting you to the Ball”

“I…why? You don’t even like these things!”

Inaho was suddenly unable to maintain eye contact with him “Because…I don’t like the thought of you going with someone other than me.”

Oh. Slaine stared at Inaho, still looking anywhere but him, and then couldn’t help chuckling.

“I’ve been confessed to a few times, but that has to be the strangest one yet…but it’s also my favorite, since it’s from you.” When Inaho looked him in the eye he gave him his brightest smile “Yes I would love to go to the Ball with you.” And then, because things were now feeling awkward between them, he decided to add “I’m glad you asked me. I never thought to try that.”

“Because you assumed I wouldn’t want to?”

“That’s mainly it, though I also didn’t think same sex couples were allowed?”

“They are, though after-” Inaho glanced at one of his many notebooks “the ‘Misunderstanding of 1966’ most think it isn’t. But if you feel more comfortable, I can read up on a sex changing potion and-”