Birds chirped merrily overhead as the horseless carriages rattled down the lane, carrying the students from the school to the train platform in Hogsmeade. Mottled sunlight streamed through the leaves, casting the forest, the lane, and the students in pale green and golden light. Kibum propped his chin on his fist, staring into the forest as they rode past it. Gilbert, Seb, and Frederick were trying to talk over each other about their overall grades, and Kibum was doing his best to ignore them. 

Minho and Analecia seemed to be listening to their every word, given the interested hums they would try to interject whenever they could. 

In a few hours, they would all be on their separate ways for the summer. In a few hours, he’d be back home with Mom and...and Grandma. In a few hours...he’d have to face her. 

He let out a heavy sigh, unnoticed by all, he thought, until Minho rested his arm over the back of their seats. Kibum’s gaze darted to Minho’s knee when he rubbed his thumb over his shoulder a couple of times. A smile briefly lifted the corners of his mouth as he looked back out at the forest, only to fall again when he remembered. 

In a few hours, Minho would be going home, too. And so very far away. 

Kibum bit his lip, turning a little bit more toward the forest as his vision blurred with tears. Don’t think about it, don’t think about it, not yet. It wouldn’t do to cry right now. 

Luckily for him, he was able to blink them away before they stopped at the station and hopped out of the carriages. He followed closely behind Minho as he led them to one of the cars and opened the door of the first empty cabin, letting Kibum enter first. 

“Wait, wait.” He held his arm across the opening to block the others from joining them. “Just us two, please.” 

Seb and Frederick started to protest, but Analecia looked past Minho and caught Kibum's eye before he turned away. “Come on, guys,” she said, pushing them down the hall. “There’s plenty of room on the train.” 

Seb was still complaining by the time Minho closed the door to their cabin. He plopped down, right beside Kibum, and stretched his legs out, propping his heels up on the seats across from them. Kibum cleared his throat, and Minho shook his head. “You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. Or if you do, that’s cool, too.” 

“I don’t really know what to say, to be honest.”

“That’s fine.” He could hear the smile in Minho’s voice without looking at him. “I understand.” The train pulled forward, pushing them into their seats for a second. Minho sighed as he twirled a frayed thread from his t-shirt around his finger. “Eighty-three days. Eighty-three days until September 1st.” Kibum’s eyes welled up again, and he tried to blink them away. “It seems like a long time…”

“Yeah,” Kibum said, his throat thick with uncried tears. 

Minho hesitated. “And I know I won’t be in the country for a lot of it, but you can still write to me as often as you need to. And...and when I get back, I’ll try to write back to every single one. Even if you write two a day.” 

Kibum chuckled with a sniff. “Two a day is ridiculous. It’ll be three, for sure.” 

“I’ll get stocked up on some parchment, then.”

Rain swept around the train around the midway point of the journey home. The windows fogged, and soon their time was occupied by sketching different creatures on the glass. It was a good distraction, for a while. Once they reached London, Kibum’s attention kept shifting to the buildings beyond the window. It didn’t take Minho long to catch on -- it never did. He soon sat back against their seat, and Kibum relaxed beside him. 

The buildings drew closer together and the rain turned to drizzle. Kibum tapped a rhythm on his bouncing knee, his gaze flicking back and forth from the floor to the window. Minho stretched his hand across the seat, his fingertips touching Kibum’s thigh. When they pulled into Kings Cross, Kibum placed his hand on top of Minho’s, lightly squeezing it.

Once the Hogwarts Express pulled into the platform, they stayed put in their cabin, even as the others were walking past to get their luggage and return to their families. Eventually, Minho stood to peer through the window and onto the platform, only to return to his seat a moment later.

“Are they out there?” 

A long sigh. “Yeah.” 

“We can’t stay here forever…” 

“No.” Kibum tucked himself compactly on the seat, hugging his shins. “But we can sit for a little while.” 

Kibum turned his head, resting his cheek on his knees. Exhaust billowed past the window, puffs of smoke rolling and dissipating against the glass. “I don’t want to go.”

“I’ll be right there with you.” 

The exhaust started to lessen. The wind might have blown it away. “I know.” A couple of people ran past their cabin door. “Just...give me another minute.”

“Of course.” 

Kibum turned his head back to face Minho, who instantly met his eyes. He took a steadying breath as his gaze trailed to the cabin door and the platform beyond. Delaying it would only make it worse, he knew that. He shifted his feet and they hit the floor with a heavy thunk. Slowly, he stood, and Minho shot to his feet, opening the door for Kibum. He trudged down the hall, avoiding looking out the window.  

He paused at the open door and stared at the cement beyond the doorway. “You want me to go out first?”

“Does it really matter?”

“I guess not.” 

Kibum took another deep breath and stepped forward, Minho moving aside to let him walk through the doorway. 

* * * * * * * * * * 

The platform was mostly deserted, the students and their families eager to be home. Most of them were crowded around the pile of luggage toward the end of the train. Minho shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze darting to Grandma and Mrs. Kim. Grandma looked similar to how she did at Christmas, perhaps a bit frailer, but that was to be expected. 

Minho smiled at them and grabbed the back of Kibum’s t-shirt as he tried to walk over to the luggage pile. When he let go of the fabric, he slung his arm over Kibum’s tense shoulders and started walking toward them. It'd be best to just get the initial meeting over with than to draw it out too long. Kibum would only make himself sick if he did that.

He stopped and bowed to them in greeting, trying his best to maintain his smile. “Hi, Grandma. Mrs. Kim.” 

“I hope your journey home went well,” Kibum’s mom said, glancing between them. 

Kibum scoffed and shrugged Minho’s arm off of his shoulders. “Yeah, it was great.” And, before Minho could grab him, he stalked off toward the luggage. 

Minho started after him but Grandma stopped him with a shake of her head. “Let him go.” 

“I’m sorry,” Minho mumbled as he watched him go. “He’s, well…”

“It’s okay, Minho, we were expecting this.” He looked away from Kibum and up at them. “How are you doing?”

“O...okay.” 

“I’m going to go check on him,” Mrs. Kim said, patting Minho’s shoulder as she passed. “I’ll be right back.” 

Minho shifted his feet, holding his hands together behind his back. He cleared his throat when he felt Grandma’s eyes on him. “You’ve probably had a rough couple of weeks.” Tentatively, Minho met her gaze. “I...regret telling Kimee to send that letter while he was still at school. There were...a few bad days where we weren’t sure what would happen.” 

His only response was to nod, as he couldn’t think of anything even remotely helpful to say. She gave him a tired smile, reaching out to pat his cheek. “Darling, I want to thank you for being there for him during all this. It must have been hard on you, too.” He nodded mutely again, this time because he was trying not to cry. “Please be patient with him.”

“I will be.”

She opened her arms, motioning for him to give her a hug. Minho stepped closer, closing his eyes as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. “I love you so much, Minho.”

“I love you, too.” 

She his hair with a sigh. “I know it’s a lot to ask from you right now, but...will you promise to take care of him for me?”

Minho opened his eyes and he glanced over to where Kibum was. Still over by the luggage. Probably arguing with his mom, by the looks of it. He clenched his jaw, steeling himself with a deep breath. “I will,” he mumbled, then cleared his throat. “I promise.” 

Grandma kissed the crown of his head, smoothing his hair before she let him go. She looked as though she wanted to say more, but her gaze trailed over to Kibum and his mom’s approach and she stood a little bit taller. Minho sniffed, wiping his hands on his jeans as he turned to face Kibum. 

He looked dangerously close to tears as he dragged his and Minho’s luggage over to where he and Grandma were. Mrs. Kim walked behind him, carrying Nutmeg and Geum-nan in their cages. Kibum dropped Minho’s duffle bag by his feet while Mrs. Kim handed him Geum-nan’s cage. “Are you ready to go?” she asked, looking over their heads at Grandma.

“No, but we should. The appointment starts soon.” 

Kibum’s fist tightened around his trunk handle and he let out a shuddering breath. Mrs. Kim walked around him, nodding at Grandma before she looked down at them. “We’ll start heading out front. Join us in five minutes?”

“Yes, ma’am.” 

She reached for the handle in Kibum’s hand and took it when he released it. “Have an enjoyable summer, Minho.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Kim,” his voice cracked as he bowed. He set down Geum-nan’s cage as Grandma and Mrs. Kim walked through the wall and into the Muggle world. Minho almost asked Kibum if he was okay, but he knew even without looking what his answer would be. Kibum tensed when Minho touched his arm, only to relax a second later. 

“I’ll be okay.” Minho rubbed his arm, and Kibum slowly turned to face him, but still didn’t meet his eyes. “I just...I wish,” his voice broke and Minho pulled him into a tight hug, rubbing his back. 

It didn't last long, the hug. Still, Kibum squeezed him tightly as Minho rested his head on top of his. Slowly, reluctantly, Kibum slipped out of Minho's embrace. 

And, without a second glance, Kibum trudged across the platform and slipped through the brick wall.

* * * * * * * * * *

The din of Kings Cross buzzed in Kibum's ears, numbing his mind, as he wove through the Muggles on his way out to the front of the train station. He kept his eyes trained on the tiled floor beneath him, doing his best to ignore everything around him. 

He shouldn't have snapped; he knew that. Mom wouldn't have gotten after him. Not that he didn't deserve it. Kibum looked up when the bustle around him started to lessen, his heart sinking when he saw Mom and Grandma standing outside. 

"I'm here now," he murmured to himself. "I have to..." Be brave. Strong. Make Grandma and Mom's lives as stress-free as he could. He glanced over his shoulder, searching fruitlessly for Minho in the crowd. "Come on, Kibum." He lifted his chin and walked through the automatic doors and walked over to where Mom was handing Stanley his luggage and Grandma was starting up the stairs into the Knight Bus. 

"Need some help, Grandma?" He asked, his voice quiet compared to Stanley's as he talked to Mom about who knows what. She looked up at him as he stepped onto the first stair and offered her his arm. 

The chill of her fingers surprised him, and he almost recoiled at her touch. He didn't. Instead, he helped her to her usual, bolted-down seat and grabbed the nearby overhead strap. 

"How was your school year?"

"Well...okay."

Kibum wondered how he should elaborate, mentally editing his stories to exclude Slytherin. He glanced over at Mom as she asked Dre to take them to The Royal Marsden Hospital. Squinting, Kibum looked out the window. His stomach churned as Mom made her way over to them. Luckily, she made it to her seat before Ernie started at his breakneck speed. 

"You can tell us all about it when we get home, all right?" Kibum nodded mutely and averted his gaze when they started talking about this upcoming appointment. During the last one, apparently, the doctor had been discussing treatment options. At the moment, Mom and Grandma were debating which method of chemotherapy would be best. 

Was it even worth telling them about his actual sorting? Would it make any difference? As if in answer, he could almost hear Minho's voice nagging him about it. That he would feel better once the truth was out. That he should have told her all the way back in first year. That he was an idiot for waiting this long. No, wait, that was his voice. Either way, it was true; he should have. 

Maybe the stereotypes were true. 

The Knight Bus screeched to a stop, and Kibum braced himself so he didn't lurch too far forward. 

"The Marsden!" Dre called out, and Mom helped Grandma out of her seat. 

"Don't worry about your luggage, hon, we'll take the bus home." 

"Okay." 

Kibum shoved his hands in his pockets as he trailed after them. The smell of the hospital, the cleanliness and the many different chemicals, stung his nose. He hated hospitals. The chill in the air, the feeling of sickness creeping over his skin with every step inside...The memories of visiting his dad toward the end of his life washed over Kibum, his eyes slipping closed as he became lightheaded. 

"Kibum?" Mom's voice swam toward him, and he languidly opened his eyes. "Do you need to sit down?" He could only nod. "Go ahead and rest in the waiting room. We should only be about an hour."

Another nod and he turned, heading over to one of the empty chairs. The television was on -- it looked like something he watched at Minho’s last summer, but he couldn't focus on exactly what was playing. Instead, he stared blankly at it, his hands wringing together in his lap. 

All he could think about was the last time he was in a waiting room like this. Waiting for his parents to come to get him. Waiting for word about Dad’s condition. All the afternoons he spent just...waiting. If he never had to step inside another hospital, it would be way too soon. 

Nurses and doctors and patients and visitors walked this way and that, their shoes squeaking or clacking on the tiled floor. It was the only sound he could hear now, muted as it was, as he stared at the wall on the opposite side of the room. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, unmoving and uncaring, but it didn’t seem like it was too long before Mom and Grandma returned. They whisked him away and back to the Knight Bus where they finally started their journey home. 

It wasn’t until he was brushing his teeth before bed that it truly hit him. This was his life now...again… He’d have to get used to it, and quick. He spat out his toothpaste and gargled some water to rinse his mouth before he slipped into his darkened bedroom and started at the shadow stretching across the room. 

An owl was perched on his window sill, draped in velvet darkness and gleaming moonlight. Golden eyes bored into him as he crossed the floor, opening the window enough to take the rolled up parchment from its talons. Nutmeg hooted at it as its wings opened and carried it away from the window, returning to the night. 

With his hand outstretched, Kibum felt his way to his bed and found his Lunessence where he left it on his nightstand, shaking the moondust inside the glass ball to create a soft white light. He flopped down on his bed and rolled the parchment out on his bed.

Hey Bummie, 

I just wanted to let you know I made it home alright. I hope you did as well! Ember took a minute to warm up to me by now she seems like she’s just fine. The biggest hint I have supporting this thought is the fact that she’s in my lap making it nearly impossible for me to write this letter.

Kibum chuckled at that, and he tried to picture what Ember looked like but he couldn’t remember. 

I have to send this soon so it gets to you in time, so this can’t be too long, but...I’m really sorry I can’t come hang out at all this summer. If I were gonna stay in the country, I absolutely would have. I know it’s gonna be hard but try to make the most of it? And don’t forget to write as often as you need to! Spend as much time with Jjong as you can, and I’ll tell you all about my summer when I get back! 

Love, Min 

P.S. only 82 days to go!

Kibum reread the letter twice before he tucked it under his pillow. He set the Lunessence back on his nightstand before he made himself comfortable in bed. The glow from the Lunessence faded slowly, allowing the darkness to creep in around him. Slowly, he closed his eyes and placed his hand over his chest, feeling the faint heartbeat beneath his palm. 

He sighed as his hand fisted in his t-shirt, relaxing only when he succumbed to sleep.