With a deep groan, Jaemin brings his hand up to his face, shielding his eyes from the morning sun as he trails behind Donghyuck, dragging his feet.
He had a wicked headache, a horrible throbbing that left a constant scowl on the boy's face, to which Donghyuck just stifled a laugh- grateful that his boyfriend took pity on his state last night and helped charm away his symptoms so that they were a little more manageable today.
Their trek to Hogsmeade took a little longer than usual with Jaemin's whining and occasional stops- the only thing that seemed to calm his mind was that a couple of other Slytherin's who had been partying hard with them were in similar or worse states than himself.
When they finally reach Hogsmeade, they make a beeline straight for The Three Broomsticks as they know Renjun will be waiting for them, and just when they walked through the door, they spotted the Ravenclaw, a grin plastered to his face as he watches the two stumble towards him, Jaemin looking like death itself.
"Don't..." Jaemin warns softly, holding up his hand as he nurses his headache, "Don't say anything... Ah, fuck"
"Language" Renjun warns with a smirk, finding joy in his friend's state.
However at the delivery, Donghyuck just grins as he mumbles, "Okay, Captain America", referencing an Avenger movie he watched with Mark in the summer, however at that, the two wizards just look at him with confusion written all over their faces.
"That reference is lost on me" Renjun announces with a shrug, to which Donghyuck explains that it's from a muggle film which has both boys even more confused, "And since when do you watch those?"
However before Donghyuck could fabricate a decent lie, Jaemin just groans as he sinks into the seat in their booth next to Renjun, Donghyuck following to sandwich the Veela between them, "Well then", Jaemin huffs, "Oh, woe is me!".
Such an exclamation is enough for the Ravenclaw to focus back on Jaemin, shaking his head with a smile, "There's no way you're getting any butterbeer today"
"Jun" Jaemin sighs, placing his hands flat on the table as he leans over to the boy, "The only reason I dragged myself out of that castle at this ungodly hour was for some butterbeer-"
"You also owe Chenle some sweets from Honeydukes" Donghyuck pipes up, to which Jaemin just groans loudly, his head finding its way onto the table as his two friends just smile on, Renjun raising his hand to call over someone to collect their orders.
They order two butterbeers and a butter croissant with crispy bacon to force-feed Jaemin to try and get him somewhat back to normal before they hit some of the other stores. Donghyuck promises Jaemin some of his drink if the boy promises not to drink like that again (and not to get Donghyuck just as drunk too). They both know such a promise isn't going to last, especially not if they win their next game as well, but Donghyuck hands over his glass when it comes anyway and Jaemin lets him have a bite of his food.
Renjun watches them both with a fond smile and a roll of the eyes before he brings his own drink up to his lips, wondering how an earth he managed to befriend such people.
~~~
After they finally leave The Three Broomsticks, Jaemin (now feeling a little more alive), herds them all over to Honeydukes Sweetshop, announcing dramatically that he was 'home' as soon as they enter the shop, the little bell above the door, jangling happily.
They're quick to clear the shelves, Jaemin receiving a look from a few other customers as he grabs five packs of Fizzing Whizzbees and three of Exploding Bonbons just for Chenle, however he doesn't pay them much attention as he grabs some Glacial Snow Flakes and a Chocolate Frog for himself too.
Renjun grabs a handful of Peppermint Toads and two packs of Sugar Quills to snack on when he's staying up late to study, before he joins Jaemin at the till, coins already in his hand.
However as Renjun helps Jaemin get all of his goods onto the counter, Donghyuck scans the hundreds of colourful treats on display around the shop- his eyes looking for something in particular. Since he was planning on meeting Mark later, Donghyuck darts over to the backwall, his fingers immediately reaching out for a box of Pink Coconut Ice.
It had been a snack Mark enjoyed whilst in the muggle world, and although Honeydukes does their own spin on such a treat, Mark always found comfort in the pink and white sugary squares. That fact alone was enough for Donghyuck to put a box under his arm as he grabs two chocolate frogs for them before joining his friends to pay.
At his picks, Renjun frowns, "First muggle films and now Coconut Ice?"
However Donghyuck just shrugs, popping his desired purchases onto the counter, "Something new to try"
"And no cauldron cakes?" Jaemin chimes in, to which Donghyuck makes a joke about watching his weight to which Renjun just elbows him in the side, grumbling about how he had to worry about no such thing.
After thanking the shopkeeper and taking their treats, the three leave Honeydukes and swiftly make their way to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. Like in Honeydukes, it was only meant to be a quick victory, a simple in and out as only Renjun needed some new ink and maybe a new decorative ink pot if he saw something that caught his eye- however that plan was immediately out the window as soon as the trio walked through the door, Jaemin clumsily pushing Renjun to the front of their crowd as he ducks down, hiding behind them both.
"What the-?"
"It's him" Jaemin whispers, gripping onto the back of Renjun's jacket as he uses the other boy to shield himself from sight, "What is Jeno doing here?"
Just ahead of the doorway, hiding in the left hand corner of the shop as his eyes stay focused on a range of pretty amber quills, Lee Jeno is stood, very obviously oblivious to the three new customers and also very obviously oblivious to whatever scene may follow.
"Considering it's a quill shop, he's probably here to buy a quill" Donghyuck quips to which Jaemin looks back at him with a threatening gaze.
Giving Renjun a gentle push, the three boys quickly and quietly waddle awkwardly into the middle of the shop, Jaemin steering Renjun more to the right side, as to put some more distance between them and Jeno.
"Just go and talk to him" Renjun murmurs, the three of them stopping still against the back wall, Jeno a few metres away, his eyes still transfixed on the quills he was eyeing when the others came in.
The three of them busy themselves as their eyes gloss over the shelves displaying a rainbow of quill colours and sizes- Renjun immediately wandering back into the middle of the shop where his gaze meets a beautiful long, silver quill next to a midnight black ink pot with the same shade of silver as the quill decorating the box in stars. He checks the price and winces slightly.
"I can't just go up to him" Jaemin complains, Donghyuck sighing as he shuffles just a step closer to Jeno's side of the room, his best friend's eyes going wide as he whispers for him to come back.
"Who knows..." Donghyuck starts with a sigh, stealing a glance over at his friend's crush, to which Jaemin panics about him being too obvious, "Maybe you'll get lucky and you two will end up in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop sharing a cup of honey, vanilla, chamomile, strawberry and whatever else tea by the end of the day"
At the mention of Puddifoot's Tea Shop and the scarring images of pink bows and ruffles that come to mind, Jaemin steps towards Donghyuck, words of venom ready on his tongue.
However with Jaemin slightly distracted by thinking up insults, Donghyuck shares a quick glance with Renjun who had circled back round the shop, the two of them now either side of Jaemin.
Exchanging a small nod, Donghyuck then gently shoves Jaemin towards Renjun, who jumps backwards out of the way, not before sticking his foot out though to which just manages to catch Jaemin's foot.
As the boy trips, flying towards the shelf of quills and ink, before he can do much damage, he crashes into a body, the boy stumbling himself at the impact.
Just cursing 'Merlin's beard' didn't quite capture how embarrassed Jaemin felt, as even though he didn't cause a lot of monetary damage in the shop, he knows exactly who he had bumped into, and Salazar, he really didn't want to face Jeno after that.
Fortunately for him though, it seems as though Jeno is just as kind and charming as every Hogwarts gossip rumour about him has ever said, as rather than exclaiming something of shock or hurt himself, he immediately asks if Jaemin is okay, his eyes big and full of concern as he waits for an answer.
As they hear their friend stutter through an apology, both boys muffle their laugh as they shuffle away from the couple, pretending to look at the quills out on display. They had to move away so that Jaemin wouldn't resort to physical means of payback, but they still wanted to stay close enough to listen in on the two.
Whist still keeping close in distance, Donghyuck draws his own eyes to the shelf in front of him, still listening intently to his friend attempt not to make a fool out of himself, however as he scans the shelves, a familiar pair of dark eyes lock with his own, the stranger just standing on the other side of the shelf.
Perhaps Donghyuck should've jumped to such a conclusion when he saw Jeno, of course where the Hufflepuff was, Mark would also be present.
Donghyuck gives his boyfriend a small smile before turning his attention back to Jaemin and Jeno's conversation. Their voices were a little more hushed now that they've both checked that neither was in fact hurt, and Donghyuck can practically feel the blush rising on Jaemin's cheeks as Jeno compliments him on the Quidditch game yesterday, to which Jaemin inquires, rather out of shock, 'wait, you saw?'.
Turning to Renjun who looks just as fed-up with the two of them, Donghyuck takes a few steps away from the couple and the Ravenclaw, his eyes looking for Mark's again, who too just diverts his gaze away from his friend and his visitor.
Donghyuck drops his gaze from Mark's face to his hands- one holding a blush pink feather with rosy red tips and the other a sapphire and turquoise one. Donghyuck knew that the pink and red one was for Mark's sister as every year he always bought her a new quill back from Hogsmeade, last years was purple. He loved to indulge her with things from the Wizarding World and even though she seemed happy just to be a muggle and steal glimpses into Mark's world, part of Mark really wished that she too would turn out to be a wizard. It was incredibly rare to have two muggleborns in the same household, but Mark still held out hope.
Donghyuck watches as Mark places down the blue quill, and in his head he can hear Mark saying 'I already have a perfectly good quill back at the castle' as the Slytherin knew that Mark would debate a purchase to the moon and back if it were for him, even if he needed it. But if it were for Leia or Donghyuck, he wouldn't hesitate.
Just before Mark makes his way to the counter to pay, he catches Donghyuck's eyes once again, but this time, alongside a smile, he tilts his head to the side, towards the door, and Donghyuck understands.
Sneakily waltzing over to where Mark had put the quill down, Donghyuck's fingers find it and a triumphant grin makes its way to his face. As he re-joins Renjun who keeps looking from Jaemin and Jeno and to that silver quill and ink set, Donghyuck touches his arm lightly, "I'm going to head off- this is too sickly sweet for me", he jests, looking back towards the two.
At Donghyuck plan Renjun just nods, "I might head off too, I need to go to the post office for some more wax- see you back at the castle at dinner?"
With a nod, Donghyuck holds the quill out to Renjun before dropping more coins than needed for it into his friends hand, "Could you please buy this and drop it off after dinner?" He requests before turning to look at what Renjun had been staring at since they entered, "And it's a pretty set, you should treat yourself with it, we hardly ever have the time to come here"
~~~
"Took your time" Donghyuck jokes, just as a kiss is planted to the top of his head and a small bag is dropped into his lap.
"Yukhei ran into me when I was leaving the Quill shop" Mark explains, sitting down on the grass next to Donghyuck, just on the edge of the forest that looked out over the isolated and supposedly haunted Shrieking Shack (which of course Donghyuck would choose to be their date spot), "I thought he was spending the day with the Gryffindor Quidditch team in The Three Broomsticks, but I managed to lose him in Zonko's"
At the mention of the joke shop, a brief thought crosses Donghyuck's mind about visiting and looking at potential prank items, but his train of thought gets cut off by Mark's chuckle, the Gryffindor already knowing exactly what his boyfriend was thinking.
"I'd rather not end up in the Hospital Wing the next time you decide that you're bored" Mark jests back, Donghyuck smiling widely as he fits himself into Mark's side, snuggling in close, "Just eat your cauldron cake and stop plotting against me"
At the mention of his beloved cake, Donghyuck turns to face Mark, who just gestures to the bag he dropped on his boyfriend's lap.
It takes the Slytherin 0.1 seconds to open the bag, tearing off the Honeydukes packaging so that he can cradle the cake in the palm of his hand, a little squeal making its way from his mouth as his body seizes up in excitement.
"Mark..." He whispers, turning his gaze from the treat in his hands to look up at the Gryffindor, "Have I ever told you that you're the best boyfriend ever?"
"You may have mentioned it once or twice..." Mark confesses with a shrug, "Coincidently enough, a cauldron cake is always involved though"
Leaning forward to press a sweet kiss to Mark's lips, Donghyuck then reaches over to his free side, grabbing the box of Pink Coconut Ice he had bought in Honeydukes, "I guess we had the same idea"
And although Mark didn't have quite the same emotional attachment to Coconut Ice compared to Donghyuck's love for the chocolatey cake (Mark's not sure what kind of love would rival that though), he thanks the boy genuinely, his hands coming up to cup Donghyuck's cheeks as he returns the kiss that Donghyuck had just given him.
As they pull away, slowly, still lingering as if they were going to initiate another kiss, Donghyuck smiles warmly, pulling back so that he could watch Mark's eyes flutter open.
"Hey, Lee" He calls softly, "Wanna share a cauldron cake?"
'Hey Lee, wanna share a cauldron cake?' Donghyuck asks, his voice oddly quiet as he looks shyly over at the Gryffindor whose face flushes just as red as his house robes as he stutters out a few more words necessary than just a simple 'yes'.
That was their first trip to Hogsmeade together- their first date outside of the Hogwarts castle. Both so nervous and shy and unsure- the date went off to a wonderful start as in the first place they visited, (The Three Broomsticks), Mark had accidently spilt his butterbeer all over Donghyuck as the younger had shuffled a little closer, startling Mark whose nervous hands fumbled the cup.
Mark was mortified. He was sure that he had blown it, that Donghyuck would stand up and walk out and Mark would've lost his chance... But Donghyuck stayed. He stayed and laughed and joked about it being payback for one of his many pranks that Mark had been the victim of.
Donghyuck had stayed, and it had been the best decision that he had ever made.
Shaking his head as the memory came back to him as vividly as it had happened yesterday, Mark let out a groan of embarrassment as Donghyuck just threw his head back with a laugh.
He lived to make Mark suffer.
Taking a bite of the cake, just as he manages to swallow, Donghyuck extends his hand out to Mark, gesturing for him to take a bite.
However, as Mark takes the cake gently, he then reaches for the box that it came in, placing it on the floor and packaging it up safely.
Slightly confused, Donghyuck goes to question his boyfriend, however before he could, two hands come up to cup his face and he just barely registers how soft and warm they are before Mark is leaning in, pressing his lips against Donghyuck's.
The Slytherin finds it impossible not to smile into the kiss, but before they could deepen it, Mark pulls away slowly, leaving just enough space between them to whisper softly, "Hm, sweet".
With the tips of his ears burning bright red, Donghyuck pulls back from his boyfriend, startled and shy as he playfully whacks Mark on the arm, hiding the deep blush on his cheeks behind his hands.
"Mark Lee, sometimes I want to strangle you" He complains, however even without seeing his expression, Mark can hear the smile in Donghyuck's voice.
He lets out a laugh, loud and carefree as Donghyuck grumbles about his cheesy boyfriend, but in the next moment both boys find themselves wrapped back up in each other's arms, Donghyuck's hand on the back of Mark's neck, guiding their lips together once again.
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Notes-
sorry I was meant to post this yesterday but I forgot whoops but I hope you enjoyed! ☺️