double, double, toil and trouble

Chapter 17

"And yet he couldn't detect Amortentia", Kaito jeers with a grin, "It was pathetic. He described the scents of freshly baked cookies, of freshly cut grass of the Quidditch Pitch, of warm honey... He practically poured his heart out to me about how in love he was, and yet you believed that he'd just kiss someone else, what, has it been in the back of your head for a while now, that you're not good enough for him, that you think he'll move on, that-"

And just when Donghyuck raises his fist to hit Kaito again, there's a firm grip on his wrist as someone pulls him off of the other Slytherin. They wrap an arm around Donghyuck's middle, holding him still against their chest as two other Gryffindor seventh years pour out of the Common Room, standing off in front of him, keeping Kaito from attacking him again.

Looking up, Donghyuck sees that it's Yukhei who is holding him back.

Still, Donghyuck struggles in Yukhei's grip, just wanting to get his hands on Kaito again, to finish the job, but Yukhei's hold on him remains strong.

"Donghyuck, Donghyuck, stop!" He commands, but Donghyuck doesn't listen, still trying to get away.

"That foul, loathsome, evil, little-!"

"Mark wouldn't want this!" Yukhei reasons, and just by hearing his boyfriend's name, Donghyuck stills immediately for a moment, "He wouldn't want you to put yourself in harm's way, he wouldn't want you to get hurt-"

"Mark could've been hospitalised, Yukhei!", Donghyuck spits back, turning to look from Yukhei to Kaito, who is grinning as he slowly backs off down the stairs, a big bruise blooming on his cheek, almost daring Donghyuck to follow him, "That... that-!"

"I know and I'm angry too!" Yukhei responds, and Donghyuck could see the emotion written so clearly over his face before his eyes seem to soften and reason regains its control, "But Hyuck, fighting him isn't right either."

Donghyuck watches as Kaito disappears into the crowd gathered, now invisible to the Seeker.

"We'll have the teachers provide him with a proper punishment", Yukhei promises, but all Donghyuck can do is stare off into the sea of house robes.

He can hear the gossiping begin. He can hear his name and Mark's and Kaito's. Everyone will know of their relationship by tomorrow, and like Kaito had hinted at, it wouldn't take long for such gossip to spread beyond the castle walls and find its way to his parents.

What he had tried so hard to hide for all these years was about to be broadcasted throughout the school, and he only had a set amount of time to prepare.

Everything that he had done to please his parents would all be meaningless.

He would be meaningless to them, just another disappointment... and it stung.

Despite Donghyuck trying to separate himself from them and their ideals, despite him working to create his own identity, his own reputation, despite everything he suffered at their hands... to think of them casting him out... it scared him.

Sensing Donghyuck's inner turmoil, Yukhei places a hand on Donghyuck shoulder, which jolts him back to the present, to all the eyes currently watching him.

He shakes himself free of Yukhei, stumbling backwards as he tears his gaze away from the crowd gathered and focuses on the Gryffindor Common Room door where he knows Mark is just on the other side.

"You should probably just get a check-up at the Hospital Wing. We're about to take Mark there now-"

At the mention of Mark, Donghyuck immediately grows concerned for his state once again, "Is he okay?"

However, Yukhei soothes his mind with a nod and a soft smile, "Embarrassed, like you said he'd be and very disorientated, but otherwise, I think he's okay... I think he wants to talk to you."

Donghyuck grimaces at that.

He can't avoid Mark forever, but he's in no state now to face him.

"Take him there and just make sure everything is okay, don't leave him alone there, even if Nurse Moon is present", Donghyuck warns, his voice frail as he takes a step back, his arms coming up to cradle himself, "Tell him we can talk tomorrow."

Donghyuck sees a flash of pity cross Yukhei's face, and he can sense that the boy wants to say something else, anything for him to stay. But whether he's just unfamiliar with Donghyuck and doesn't want to push him or there's something else, he just enquires softly, "Are you sure?" both of them knowing that Donghyuck had already made up his mind.

"I just... I think I just need some time" He nods, not sure why he's explaining himself to Yukhei but, he does so anyway.

"Okay," The Gryffindor nods, "Okay then..."

Before he could say anymore, the door to the Gryffindor Common Room swings open and Yukhei looks over to see Junkyu stumbling out, a very groggy Mark hanging onto the boy's frame.

However, when Yukhei turns back to where Donghyuck was standing, the Slytherin had vanished.

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Notes-

hello hello so hopefully this was entertaining??

but yeah so this chapter is a little earlier than usual because instead of one chapter ever 6/7 days I'm trying to upload ever 4 days, so we'll see how that'll go ☺️