double, double, toil and trouble

Chapter 21

Yes, he knew that he had to make an effort with Jaemin because he is Donghyuck's best friend... but he hasn't had any time to mentally prepare for such an interaction.

He's walking towards me!!, Mark's brain screams at him, Okay, okay, act natural, this is fine, act natural!!

"Hi..." Jaemin greets curtly, immediately sliding into the seat next to Mark, and it's only when Jaemin sits that Mark notices Jeno was also trailing behind him, now slowly sitting down next to Jaemin, across from Yukhei.

"Uh, hi", Mark acknowledges with a nod, Jaemin placing his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his hands as he surveys the table silently for a moment.

"So, I am here to invite you all to the Slytherin Common Room later", He speaks, both Mark and Yukhei looking confused, wondering if they had heard him correctly.

"Us?" Yukhei questions, to which Jaemin just nods.

"Yep", He pops the 'p' before a small smile makes its way onto his face, Mark feeling a little more at ease, "You-" Jaemin says, pointing at him before turning to the other two boys at the table, "Yukhei, and Jeno... oh!" And then he turns his back on Mark, looking at the Hufflepuff instead, "And don't you hang around that quiet plant boy as well?"

"Jisung?" Jeno guesses, to which Jaemin snaps his fingers.

"Yes, invite him too," He commands somewhat shyly, Mark swearing his eyes are playing tricks on him at how natural the two beside him converse, "He's cute... anyway, it'll be at eleven o'clock and pyjamas are optional but they're probably comfier than your robes so..."

At the instructions, Yukhei and Mark look at each other before turning to the Slytherin, who is now picking the chocolate buttons off Mark's plate that he had taken off his cake and left in a pile.

"Slytherin Common Room?" Yukhei parrots, just as Mark repeats, "Eleven o'clock?"

"It's time to meet the bestie's boyfriend", Jaemin explains with a shrug, "Get the gang together and all that."

Jaemin has wanted to get to know Mark a little better ever since it was discovered he was dating Donghyuck, and Jaemin thinks that it'll probably be a bit more comfortable if there's a group of them, some of Mark's friends there too, to make him feel more relaxed. Plus, Mark is friends with Jeno, so it's a perfect opportunity to invite the Hufflepuff as well.

"So you want us to come and what, hang out, in your Common Room?" Yukhei clarifies, looking to Jeno, who doesn't seem to be going through the same stages of confusion as the two Gryffindors.

"Won't that be breaking the rules as it is after curfew?" Mark points out, to which Jaemin stops what he's doing, another chocolate button in hand as he then looks to Mark, almost speechless.

"Literally, how are you and Hyuck dating?" He asks, and when a moment of silence passes, Jaemin just takes a deep breath as he shakes his head, "Look, us Slytherin's won't tell... so, you in?"

~~~

Donghyuck cracks his knuckles as he drags his feet from the potions classroom, rolling his shoulders back as he lets out a sigh.

Today's potions tutorial had been a little different than usual. He was meant to do a Blood-Replenishing potion that he had read up on beforehand, but when he had walked into the classroom, Professor Suh had taken one look at him and his eyes softened.

He inquired about how Donghyuck was and obviously how he was feeling with recent developments, namely the whole Mark and the Howler situation, and Donghyuck found himself talking honestly with Professor Suh- or Johnny, as he'd insist. Johnny had always been his favourite professor, someone to talk to as he was always so approachable and understanding.