Come Rain

By My Side

Trigger Warning: There is a part towards the end over the chapter (like, final scene) that will be tough to read. It has to do with child abuse and the worst of it will be in italics, so if you need to skip over it for mental health reasons, you'll know where to skim. There is a bonus chapter directly after, so hopefully that helps?

* * * * *

It was the final week of school, and the exams for the sixth years still hadn’t arrived. Everyone was starting to get a bit antsy, increasingly so as the days passed and still, nothing. No extra workload, no practical lessons.

Nothing.

Minho flipped over the simple sheet of parchment that Crowell had just handed to them, checking the front and the back. This...was it? Twenty short questions? A hum of confusion went up around the room, confirmed to be so when Rhesa raised her hand. “Professor, is this our exam?”

“No, sixth years don’t take exams.” In the desk beside him, Travis slumped over in what seemed to be overwhelming relief. Minho chuckled as he looked back up at Crowell. “We professors just need a guideline to see what we need to focus on for next year before your N.E.W.T.s. So, please fill this out to the best of your knowledge.”

Minho picked up his quill as she sat down, and started in on the questions. The sixth years’ relief was palpable for the duration of the rest of the week, even as they watched the fifth years stress over their O.W.L.s with pity and the seventh years lose sleep over their N.E.W.T. with a growing anxiety.

The end of the year feast came and went, decking the Great Hall out in Ravenclaw’s blue and bronze. Minho was just finishing his slice of rum pudding when Kibum came over, sitting down in the space Gil cleared for him, his back to the others. “Do you still have to pack?”

He shook his head. “Finished that just before dinner started. Want me to help you?”

“If you want to.”

He stabbed the last bite of cake with his fork, eating it quickly before he mumbled “See you later” to his dorm mates and followed Kibum out of the Great Hall and downstairs to Slytherin.

“You can just relax,” Kibum said as he popped open his trunk and began sorting through it.

Minho crawled into Kibum’s bed, plopping down on his stomach and propping himself up on his elbows. “Ah, so you just wanted me here for my company, huh?”

Kibum snorted. “Something like that.”

“I get that a lot.” Kibum looked at him over the lid of his trunk, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “When would be a good time for you to come visit? During the summer, I mean.”

“I’m not sure. I’ve been waiting to talk to mom in-person about it. She might prefer it if you come to visit us instead.” He cleared his throat, clearly feeling a bit awkward about that, but it was probably true. If he were Kibum’s mom, he probably wouldn’t have too much faith in his parents either, after last time.

“We’ll figure it out. I’ll talk to them.”

“Besides, it’d be fun to hang out with you and Jjong at the same time.”

“True.” He watched Kibum stand and go over to the chest of drawers, rummaging through his for his clothes. “Is he still really stressed out?”

Kibum shook out his green sweater, nodding as he started to fold it up. “He’s still got another week of exams before he’s done.”

Minho shuddered. “I don’t envy him.”

“We’ll be him this time next year, so...”

He groaned dramatically as he rubbed his hand over his face. “Don’t remind me.”

Kibum smiled, and a comfortable silence settled around them as Minho watched him work.

Something was wrong. Nothing bad, more...something was off with Kibum. At first he'd thought it had been the dementor, because that's when the shift in his mood happened, but he didn't that was it. He was stressed about something, Minho was sure of it. He struggled to meet his eyes sometimes, when they were alone, he tried to keep his distance as well.

Not that he was clingy in the first place, but sometimes Kibum would reach for him, then pull away before Minho could reciprocate.

He wanted to ask him about it, and he was pretty sure Kibum had almost voiced what was bothering him last night. They were upstairs, organizing their textbooks in the study closet when Kibum stopped working and looked up at him.

"What?" Minho had asked, not looking up from the books he was alphabetizing.

"Minho, I…"

"Hm?" He looked up then, meeting Kibum's panicked gaze.

Kibum froze, then blinked, and looked away with a nervous chuckle and a shake of his head. "It's nothing."

But it wasn't nothing. He couldn't have been more sure about that.

Whatever it was, though, he'd have to wait until Kibum found the right words. Hopefully, he'd figure it out soon, because the curiosity was getting the better of him and he wanted nothing more than to ask him what he wanted to talk about.

"Hey," Kibum said, his voice bringing him back to the present. "Make yourself useful and start taking down my polaroids."

"I'm always useful," Minho said, smirking when Kibum snorted.

They headed into Hogsmeade right after graduation ended, accompanied by their dorm mates, excluding Gil, who was hanging back with Analecia and her girl friends. Kibum didn't seem to be in the mood to walk around with the others, so he went ahead to save them a compartment on the train. As much as Minho wanted to go with him, he also wanted a drink, so he split off from the rest, slipping into the empty Puddifoot's.

"Good morning," he said, after the bell stopped tinkling.

Madam Puddifoot walked out, her expression shifting from pleasant to warm when she saw him. "Good afternoon, Minho. No Kibum today?"

He shook his head, smiling back at her. "He's already on the train. Can I get two iced coffees, o -- "

"One with a dash of cream and the other slightly sweet?" she finished for him.

"Yeah."

"It'll be ready in a second."

She wasn't wrong. As soon as he started to put in his order, the magical espresso machine whirred to life. The dark shots for their drinks were being poured, froth pooling on the surface. Ice was being scooped into the iridescent to-go cups, and a jug of water was topping off the glasses, leaving enough room for the espresso and cream at the end.

Minho rummaged in his pocket for the Sickles he'd need to pay for this, but Madam Puddifoot waved her hand dismissively. "On the house, as are these," she said before she opened the pastry case and pulled out a pumpkin pastie and a gooey chocolate chip cookie.

"Oh, no, I -- "

"I insist," she said, snapping the lids on their cups, giving her words a certain finality. "I hope you two have a fun summer."

"Thanks, you too!"

Minho beamed at her as he precariously grabbed his things and made his way up to the platform. He found Kibum in the same compartment they had first met in, and he wasn't alone.

He and Danny looked up as Minho pushed the door open with his elbow, and Kibum jumped up to grab the drinks. "Hey, Danny! How was your year?"

Danny stared up at him, his eyes blown wide. "It was amazing! Wanna see what I learned?"

"Of course," Minho said as he settled on the bench beside Kibum, who was handing him his slightly creamy coffee.

"Go ahead and start over," Kibum said after he took a sip of his black coffee. "Show him everything."

Minho watched in amusement as Danny showed them a series of spells, all of which he remembered being just as excited about in his second year. Kibum split his pumpkin pastie in half, handing one piece to Minho as he bit into his. Together, they praised the young Slytherin, giving him pointers on how to hold his wand or how to flourish it just so until the others arrived, laden with bags from Hogsmeade.

Danny started to leave, clearly feeling awkward in front of the other sixth years who were bustling into the compartment. That is, until Minho called out his name as he followed him into the hall. "Good job, buddy," he said, ruffling his hair. Danny looked up at him, his eyes bright with excitement. "Here. A snack for the trip home."

He took the cookie from Minho's hand, staring wide-eyed at it, seemingly in awe that he would give him anything. "Thanks, Minho!"

"Have a good summer!" he said, waving him down the hall and back to wherever his friends were probably waiting for him. He went back inside, closing the door behind him before he sat back next to Kibum, who handed him his coffee. "Sweet kid."

"Isn't he? I told him he should join the Quidditch team to give you a run for your money."

Minho sniffed a laugh and smiled as he took a drink.

The trip back to King's Cross was long, as usual, and quiet, since Analecia fell asleep on Gil's shoulder about an hour in. Kibum soon followed her, though his sleep was more restless. He kept stirring and readjusting where he rested his head. First the wall next to the window, then the one behind his head. When he woke again, Minho patted his shoulder, and Kibum relented, laying his head there.

He stayed asleep, then, while Minho talked quietly to Aaron about their teams and their tentative plans for their upcoming final year at Hogwarts. Not too much information, of course, but just enough to brainstorm what would work best for themselves or each other.

When the Hogwarts Express pulled into Platform 9¾, Minho woke Kibum, and they waited until the others were out the door before they got up themselves.

"Sorry for napping," Kibum said, yawning. "I just know I won't get any sleep on the Knight Bus."

"For sure not."

They stopped at the luggage pile, and Kibum scuffed his toe on the ground. "Tell Minseok I said hi?" Minho nodded. "And like I said, I'll let you know what Mom says about us hanging out this summer."

"Okay. I'll talk to my parents soon and see when would be a good time."

"Sounds good."

Kibum looked up at him then, something clouding the light in his eyes. If only he'd tell him what was bothering him, then he'd be able to help. Maybe he was just worried about seeing his parents again, which was understandable… …

“I’ll let you know when I get home?”

Minho picked up his duffle bag and Geum-nan’s cage. “Same. You can write to me on the bus, if you’re able to, too, you know.”

He offered him a small smile before he turned, surveying the pile of luggage for his trunk. “I know.” He looked back up, then nodded to the exit. “Go on, I don’t want you to miss your train.”

Gulping, Minho set down Geum-nan’s cage for a second, wrapping Kibum in a tight, one-armed hug. He put as much please-just-tell-me-what’s-bothering-you energy into it as he could muster before he leaned away, clapping his hand on Kibum’s shoulder. “Bye.”

“See you soon. Hopefully.”

“Yeah, hopefully.”

He had to tear himself away before he said anything else. If he lingered a moment more, he definitely would have missed his train. As he hurried to the exit, however, he couldn’t help but to stop and look back before he stepped through the wall and into the Muggle world once more. As he did, he found Kibum watching him, though he looked away as soon as Minho’s eyes met his.

After Aaron got off at Macclesfield, Minho dug his notebook out of his bag, only for his shoulders to sink.

Kibum hadn't written. At all.

Minho thumbed through the pages, reading over some of the bits that made him smile the most before he moved on. Once he reached where they left off, Minho took his pen out of the back of the notebook, clicking and unclicking the pen until the Muggle across the compartment from him gave him a dirty look.

He offered him a sheepish smile before he clicked the pen one last time and smoothed out the page. Is everything alright? You seem a bit out of it lately.

He snapped the notebook closed immediately after he lifted his pen from the parchment. , what if he were just imagining things… Slowly, cautiously, he opened it after a moment, only to find that Kibum hadn't written back yet. His stomach churned as he let it fall closed, then beat his pen in an erratic rhythm on the deep green leather cover.

Minho checked two more times before Kibum had shakily scrawled something back.

Yeah

I know

I'm sorry

Minho frowned at the few words. They did nothing to quell his brewing anxiety. Do you wanna talk about it?

Immediately, Kibum's response started to appear. I'm not ready yet

I'm not upset with you, don't worry.

Okay. And that's okay. I was just getting a bit worried, sorry

I'm the one who should be sorry, Min. I didn't mean to worry you~

It's okay~ If anything, this conversation was just making things worse in that there was something that was the matter but Kibum couldn't come to him about it? He glanced up when the announcer called out Piccadilly. Hey, we're pulling into the station. I'll talk to you later?

He closed the book, then, stuffing it back in his back as he felt around for Geum-nan's cage that he had disillusioned before getting on the train home. She blended in perfectly with the surroundings now, so it took a few frantic seconds before he located her. He tucked her cage between his legs on the floor, watching the countryside morph into the city as they arrived in Manchester.

He followed the crowd to the main lobby, searching the sea of faces for Mom or Dad, only to find --

"Minseok!"

His older brother looked away from the screen announcing the arrivals, grinning as Minho started running for him. He wrapped him in a tight hug, his body bulkier than he remembered it being -- but then that was to be expected. The military was bound to do that to a person. Minseok pulled out of Minho's embrace, holding his arms as he looked up at him.

"Are you...ing taller than me now?"

"Looks like it," Minho couldn't help but say with what he assumed was a -eating grin.

"This is bull," he said, grabbing Minho's duffle bag in mock anger.

Laughing, Minho found Geum-nan's cage and started following Minseok to wherever he had parked Mom's car.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Mom! I'm home!"

The heavy oak door slammed shut behind Kibum after he had finally been able to drag his trunk inside. "Mom?" Was she not here?

His gaze trailed up the stairs, a sigh slumping his shoulders. Grunting, he picked up his trunk and trudged slowly up them until he reached halfway. Then, he needed to take a break.

Hold on.

He'd been seventeen for months now, the trace was long off of him. Kibum smacked the side of his head and reached around for his wand sticking out of his back pocket before he charmed the trunk and Nutmeg's cage to follow him up the stairs and into his room. After he opened his window, he let Nutmeg out of his cage and watched him fly away to stretch his wings or hunt...whichever he felt like at the moment.

“Mom?” he called out again as he headed back downstairs, opening the door to her office to find it empty. The living room was empty, too. Maybe she was still in the city for work? Opening the fridge, he found a case of butterbeer, and he took one out, popping off the cap as he made his way to the greenhouse. “Oh, there you are,” he said as he stepped inside, finding Mom tending to what seemed to be gillyweed.

She jumped up, wiping her dirt-encrusted hands on her apron. “I wasn’t expecting you home for another hour!”

Kibum closed his eyes, sinking into her embrace with a smile. “Ern drives fast.”

“Too fast, but I’m glad.” She the back of his head before she pulled away to look at him. “Are you okay?”

Damn, what sort of vibe was he giving off if Minho and Mom were asking him that? “I’m fine, it’s just…” he let his voice trail off, unsure of where to even begin.

“Is this about the dementor?” He shook his head, and her stance relaxed slightly as she brushed his hair off his forehead. “Minho?” Hesitantly, he nodded. Mom smiled. “Let’s go inside and we can talk.” He took a seat on one of the stools on the counter while Mom washed her hands and put the kettle on. He had finished about half of his butterbeer by the time she the burner. “So, what seems to be the trouble?”

“I wouldn’t call it trouble…I just...feel bad, I guess.”

“Any particular reason?”

Kibum shook his head, twisting the bottle back and forth between his hands while he avoided Mom’s curious gaze. “I want to be honest. With him. About...about how I feel...about him, but, I’m not sure how -- “

“To go about it?”

“Yeah,” Kibum said, the word coming out as more of a sigh.

She opened the tea drawer, pulling out a bag and plopping it into her mug. “It’s a risky thing. Do you think he likes you back?”

“Maybe? But, like, he hasn’t told me that he likes guys too, even though I’ve already told him that about myself, so he probably doesn’t, right? And...and what if I’m just imagining things? I don’t wanna ruin what we already have because I’m being stupid, you know?”

“I don’t think you’re being stupid, hon,” she said, her voice a little louder to speak over the whistling kettle before she took it off the burner. “It’s natural to be terrified, especially when you’re so close already.”

“Were you and dad this close? In school?”

“Yes and no.” Kibum’s eyebrows raised in question. “Yes because we were fast friends and in the same year and House, and no because we were, you know...straight,” she added with a laugh and a furrow of her brow. “There’s a difference when it’s a boy and a girl compared to a boy and a boy or a girl and a girl. People in same- relationships, friendships or otherwise, bond a lot quicker, from what I’ve seen. More shared experiences, you know?”

Kibum nodded. That made sense. “When did you know you liked him?”

“Oh, very early. I’d say around the end of our first year. And he,” Mom said before he could ask. “Said he started liking me in our third year. But even then, we didn’t get together until our fifth year.”

“Right.”

“What about you?”

“M-me?”

She chuckled before she took a sip of her tea. “When did you know you liked Minho?”

“Well,” he drew out the word, tracing lines in the condensation of his butterbeer bottle. “I figured it out in fourth year, but I think I liked him long before that.”

Silence settled around them. Kibum averted his eyes from his mother, watching the residual steam curl from the hole in the kettle before he asked, “What changed your mind?” He hummed in question. “What makes you want to tell him now? Aside from a desire to be honest, I mean.”

“Oh, um…” He blinked, slumping a little in his seat. He took a long drink of his butterbeer before he said, “A bunch of little things, really. I just feel like...even if he doesn’t like me back, I’ll never be able to get past this if I don’t tell him.”

“Like you’ll never get closure.”

“Yeah, exactly.” He watched her take another drink of her tea. “How did Dad do it?”

“How’d he tell me?” Kibum nodded, scooting forward in his seat in interest when Mom leaned on the counter. “Well, he took me to Madam Puddifoot’s, you know, the tea shop?” Kibum’s face colored slightly. He was more than a little aware of it, yes. “It was the day after Valentine’s day, and he ordered us some hot chocolate. He was so nervous, it was really cute.”

“So, you knew he was gonna say something?”

“I had my suspicions, but I knew better than to get my hopes up.” She waved her hand between them before she picked up her tea. Anyway, we stayed inside, because of the rain that afternoon, and he pulled this letter out that he had written beforehand. I remember distinctly the way his hands shook as he read it to me -- in Korean, of course -- but it was so sweet and heartfelt, and he said he’d understand if I didn’t like him back.”

Kibum stopped twisting the bottle in his hands. “What’d you say to him?”

“Nothing. I just kissed him.” Kibum laughed, leaning back as his amusement filled him. “And we were together ever since.” He met her gaze, his smile waning a little. “I understand being anxious, hon. Take a little advice from your dad. Write down what you’re feeling. You don’t have to ever show him the letter, or even read it, but it’ll help you collect your thoughts.”

“Okay.”

“And, I know I don’t know Minho as well as you do, but I see him shining in your eyes whenever you talk about him.” She clasped her hand over his, her palm warm from holding the mug of tea. “Even if he doesn’t like you back, he’s still your friend, and I don’t think you’ll lose him. He’s stuck by you through some very tough times, hasn’t he?” Kibum nodded mutely, and she squeezed her hand around his. “Besides, you deserve to give your heart to someone who loves you as much as you love them. And, even if that’s not Minho, I’m sure you’ll find someone. As long as you don’t settle, because you deserve the absolute best. You’re strong, you’re kind, and you’re so full of love, guys will be lining up to be with you.”

Kibum averted his gaze, his smile turning shy. “Mom, please…”

She chuckled, removing her hand. “Fine, I’ll stop. For now.”

As she turned to open the icebox, Kibum cleared his throat. “Speaking of Minho -- “ She glanced back at him, interested. “His parents came around and said I could come over sometime this summer. If that’s okay with you,” he added quickly when she frowned.

“I’m not sure about that...Would they be okay with him coming here?”

“I thought you might say that and I told him as much. I’ll ask him again to see what they said.”

“Keep me updated?” He nodded and she looked back inside the icebox. “What do you feel like? Bibimbap or samgaetang?”

His eyes lit up. “Samgaetang! That sounds so good right now!”

He downed the rest of his butterbeer before he got up to help her make the soup, asking after the assignments she’d gotten at the /Prophet/ since he’d been away. In turn, during dinner and while they were cleaning up, he told her all the details of the potions competition he hadn’t been able to fit into his letter.

After he showered, he crawled into bed, about to nod off when he heard the all too familiar fluttering pages. He grabbed one of his self-inking quills and opened the notebook.

I’m assuming you made it back and that you’re just catching up with your mom. Please tell her hi for me!~ I hope she’s doing well!

Kibum smiled at the page, reading over what Minho wrote again before he asked, Are you still awake?

Almost immediately, Minho replied with Omg good you survived the Knight Bus

I didn’t actually. I’m just a ghost who learned how to write

Well, see, that’s just really cool of you. Kibum snorted. Not to nag but did you ask your mom yet?

I did, but she said what I said basically.

Ah, that she’d want me to come there instead?

Kibum nodded, then remembering that Minho couldn’t see him, wrote, Yeah, sorry.

Oh, it’s fine, don’t worry. I totally get it. I’m not sure what my parents will say to that but we’ll see.

I mean, if we don’t see each other, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, right?

That’s one opinion, but I don’t know how accurate it is.

We can never be too careful

Exactly. Kibum worried his bottom lip, trying to think of what to say next. Are you feeling better? Than before?

I am, yeah

Talked to my mom about it.

I’m glad she could help. Kibum’s brow furrowed incredulously before he laughed. How strange. If only he knew… Minseok is doing well

Yeah?

Yeah. And I got the lifeguard job again this summer, which will be fun, of course.

Same pool?

Yeah. Hm, he could always apparate there. That might work. Dad wants me to come with him to practice tomorrow.

So, what you're saying is that you want me to leave you alone so you can sleep

ㅋㅋ No, I want to keep talking to you~ Kibum grinned, his hand going to the pendant Minho had made a few years ago. Did he realize how flirty that came across? Maybe it was just him getting his hopes up, but… But you're probably right. I should try to sleep

Why do you always doubt me?

Of course I'm right

Yeah, it's weird, I don't know why I keep forgetting such an obvious fact

Goodnight, Min~

Goodnight~~~

Kibum closed his notebook and tucked it under his pillow. He got up with a sigh, flicking off the light before he got back into bed. Not under the covers, since it was too warm for that right now. He flipped the stone pendant, back and forth, sighing again. "Merlin's beard," he whispered to himself. It had only been a few hours since they parted ways at King's Cross and he already missed him.

Like crazy.

He pressed a kiss to the pendant before he let it slip from his fingers and rolled over onto his back, hoping to fall asleep soon.

Jonghyun didn't arrive back in Nottingham for another week, as was the plan. So, in the meantime, Kibum either spent his time helping Mom around the house when she was off to work or going with her to Diagon Alley. At first, he tried to stay in the offices of the Daily Prophet, but it was beyond boring, so he mostly ended up wandering around the Alley and resisting the temptation to go peek inside Knockturn Alley on his own.

Of course, he brought his notebook along, taunting Minho -- in a playful way -- with all the fun wizarding things he was getting to do while Minho was stuck in the Muggle world. All in good fun, and luckily, Minho took it that way.

The day Jonghyun was set to arrive, a summer storm had swept in. Kibum, who had already been planning on staying home so he could see Jonghyun, holed himself up in his room after Mom left for work with a steaming cup of hot cocoa and a clean roll of parchment.

So far, all he had written for his eventual letter to Minho was: To my Minho. And, even then, he wasn't sure about that. Was it too much? Was it not enough? Would he ever be able to write another sentence?

The rain, however, and the cocoa acted as a sort of muse, after a while. The rhythmic tapping of the water on the window and the roof and the way the cocoa brought him back to quiet moments with Minho that he so cherished really seemed to help.

His progress came to an abrupt halt when the front door swung open and a very damp Jonghyun burst into his bedroom. "Did you miss me?" he asked, grinning cheekily at Kibum who hurried to hide his letter. "Oh? What's th -- " Kibum slapped his hand away and reached for his wand. "Woah, okay. I get it, Ki. I'll l -- "

"Calorvintus," Kibum said, a blast of warm air shooting from his wand and drying the summer rain off of Jonghyun.

"Thanks." Jonghyun went over to Kibum's bed, flopping onto it as Kibum settled protectively around the roll of parchment. "What's that?"

"A letter."

"To?"

Kibum huffed, and Jonghyun's eyebrows shot up. "Minho."

Blinking rapidly, Jonghyun propped himself up on his elbows. "Why not use the notebook?"

“It’s not that kind of letter.” Jonghyun’s gaze dropped to the letter Kibum was failing to conceal and darted back up to meet Kibum’s eyes again. “I’ve decided to tell him how I feel about him.” Before Kibum could say anything further, Jonghyun got up to peer through the window. “What...are you doing?”

“Checking for flying pigs.”

“ off,” Kibum said, laughing now. “I’m serious. It’s time.”

“No ing .” He went back to Kibum’s bed, sitting instead of laying down. “Can I read it?”

“I -- It’s, uh, it’s really rough.”

“I won’t make fun of you, I swear.”

It would be nice to have some feedback on it. He was nervous enough as it was… Kibum sat up, slowly handing the rolled-up parchment over to him. Queasiness settled into the pit of his stomach as Jonghyun read it over, his smile waxing and waning as he progressed. “Forever yours is a cute way to sign it off.”

“You think?”

Jonghyun nodded. “The rest is pretty good, but if you want, I could help you sound less nervous.”

Kibum slumped in his chair, fighting the urge to sigh in relief. “I’d appreciate it, thanks.”

“‘Honestly? Anything to help you two get together.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kibum said, rolling his eyes before pouring over the letter again.

As if that were a sure thing...

* * * * * * * * * *

The sweltering heat of the cloudless summer sky was beating down on Minho as he trudged home from work. His keys jingled as he swung them around his finger, catching them in his palm.

No one was supposed to be home when he got back: Minseok was off visiting some friends from school while Mom and Dad were at work.

He checked the mail as he passed the box, sorting through the letters and smiling when he came across his Hogwarts letter. The last one he would ever receive…

Once he let himself inside, he set the other mail down so he could open his letter. Most everything looked about like he expected; it was the typical textbook and equipment list. Everything, that is, except for the line about being sure to get formal dress robes. Was that for the graduation ceremony? Try as he might, he couldn't remember what the seventh years wore at the end of the year.

Regardless of what they were for, they were on the list, so he must need them. He stuck the open letter on the fridge with a magnet for Mom to see later before he hurried upstairs to wash the sunscreen and chlorine off of him.

Did you get your letter? Kibum asked when Minho returned to his room and checked his notebook. I wonder what the robes are for.

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. When are you guys heading into town?

I’ve already got some dress robes, so I’m not worried. Probably this weekend. Jjong says hi, btw.

Hi, Jjong~~ I'll try to convince my mom to go then, too

Who knows, maybe she'd agree to that. They hadn't been willing to let Minho go over to Kibum's, unfortunately. Their excuse was that since Minseok was home, Minho should want to spend as much time with his brother as possible. Which, Minho felt, was understandable, if not a bit of a letdown.

Oh well.

Also, what dress robes?

Remember? We were bored and decided to explore the 6th floor. I found them while you were staring into that mirror literally the entire time

Oh right, that mirror. The one that showed him just, you know, casually holding Kibum’s hand and kissing his cheek. Like it was no big deal.

I’ve gotta pick out a shirt and tie for it, though, so hopefully we can do that together!

We’ll have to see what my mom says~

When Mom got home, Minho tucked his notebook under his mattress and grabbed one of his books, thumbing through it without reading it until she came up to check on him, Hogwarts letter in hand.

"Are you off on Sunday?" Minho nodded. "Let's go then."

"Okay."

"Do you remember how to get there?"

Chuckling, Minho nodded again. "Of course."

"I don't know why I always forget," she said with a laugh as she moved away from his bedroom doorway.

Minho perked up. "Oh! I actually know why!" She came back into view, her expression curious. "Muggles -- people without magic, I mean -- can't know where the wizarding world, like, congregates. So, if you, as a Muggle, ever go into a wizarding area -- like when you came to visit me at school -- someone performs a Memory Charm that takes away the knowledge of how to get to wherever you just were."

Her brow furrowed as her curiosity dissipated into something else entirely. Something harder. Angrier. Should he not have said that?

"So, that's why?"

He shrank back on his bed. "Y-yes?"

She nodded once, a sharp motion, and left the doorway, heading back downstairs and leaving Minho alone in his room. He stared at the space she vacated for a little too long before he moved, sitting against the wall and hugging his knees to his chest.

.

Had he just ruined everything?

It would have been so easy to not explain. To keep his mouth shut for once. But no, he just had to tell her. Couldn't even explain that it was for protective measures, he just had to say: "Yup! The evil wizards alter your memories for fun!"

He rested his chin on his knees, staring at Geum-nan's vacated perch. That's how Minseok found him who knows how many minutes -- or even hours -- later.

"Dinner's re -- Are you okay?"

Minho blinked, his eyes dry from an apparent lack of blinking, and he got up. "I'm fine."

He followed Minseok downstairs to where Mom and Dad were already sitting. Minho sat slowly, avoiding looking at either of them. Judging by the stony silence, Mom had already told Dad. With a shaky hand, he picked up his spoon and stirred his kimchi-jjigae.

He was barely able to eat a few mouthfuls of soup during dinner. Dad ignored him completely, both he and Mom focusing their attention on Minseok. Which, really, was nothing out of the ordinary. Minho just wished someone would say something about his mistake so that they could go back to normal and he could relax.

After the conversation seemed thoroughly exhausted with Minseok, Dad turned his attention to Minho. He had never felt so small in his entire life, despite being the tallest in the family now. "Your mother told me something interesting today, but I'd like to hear it from you."

everything.

"Um, well, I didn't get to say it before, but...but the reason they use a Memory Charm on Muggles is because it's for protection. For...for...for everyone involved. It's safer, I guess for Muggles not to know about us and where we are."

"Yes, I guess I can understand that." Minho relaxed marginally. "I'd much rather not know about any of this, but thanks to you, we've been dragged into this ."

"Dad," Minseok said sharply. Almost a warning.

**Minho couldn't look away from Dad long enough to send Minseok an appreciative glance. His stomach dropped as he cleared his throat. "Why'd you send me to Hogwarts?" Mom's spoon stopped scraping against porcelain and he could feel the weight of Minseok's gaze. "You didn't have to. You didn't know anything about the school." His bottom lip started to tremble, but he couldn't stop. Not now. "Why'd you send me away?"

"You act like I had a choice? It was either that or keep you here, and I couldn't, after I knew. I wasn't sure what you would have done to us if I had let you stay. I thought that, I don't know, if I sent you away, you wouldn't ruin things for us."

"How...how would I have ruined things? I was just a kid, Dad."

Dad glared at him, then pointed accusingly at Minho. "Don't you dare talk back to me. You have no idea how hard it was to deal with this. Living with the knowledge that you're a...a -- "

"A wizard," Minho answered for him, his voice quiet.

Dad's eyes smoldered with rage before he drew his hand back to deliver a loud, back-handed smack against Minho's mouth. Minho sat frozen. Stunned. He tasted blood...maybe Dad's ring split his lip…

Tears welled up in his eyes, but they didn't spill.

He grabbed Minho's chin with enough force to bruise, garnering his full attention. He couldn't have even guessed what Mom or Minseok were doing right now. Hopefully coming to his aid, but what if they agreed with Dad? What then? "You're a freak, Minho. A disappointment. Why couldn't you be normal like your brother?"**

It was clear he had more to say, but whatever he was about to say was cut off by Minseok pulling Dad off of him, holding him fast as Minho fell back into his seat.

"Go upstairs, Min," Minseok said, his voice colder than he had ever heard it. "I'll be up in a minute."

He hurried to obey his command, giving his father a wide berth as he scrambled up the stairs to his room. His lip was throbbing, face stinging where Dad had hit him. He closed the door behind himself, and slid down it until he was crouched, hands tightly fisted in his hair.

What was he gonna do? Who could he tell?

The tears in his eyes welled up, spilling over this time, as he crawled across the room to where his notebook was beneath his mattress. "Please be there, please be there."

Bummie?

His hands shook as he set his pen in the notebook and he wiped at his eyes, attempting to dry his cheeks. But the tears kept coming, so it was rather pointless.

What's up, Min? Kibum wrote back a moment later.

My dad hit me. I don't know what to do. He could barely read what he wrote, on account of his crying. Hopefully Kibum would be able to decipher --

A loud crack filled his bedroom, and Minho flinched as Kibum and Jonghyun appeared before him, pajama-clad and both wielding their wands. As Kibum's eyes fell on Minho, a fury like he'd never seen burning in his eyes. He turned for the door, his wand clenched tightly in his fist, but Jonghyun grabbed him by the back of the shirt.

"We're not here to kill his dad -- "

"Maybe you're not."

Still holding onto Kibum's shirt, Jonghyun hunkered down in front of Minho, his voice quiet. "Minho, grab what you need. We're getting you out of here." He couldn't think of anything he needed. Not right now. Not when heavy footsteps were coming up the stairs. Clutching his notebook, he reached behind for his wand on his nightstand, then nodded at Jonghyun. "Kibum, let's go."

A shadow stopped under the door as Kibum's arm slipped around his waist and Jonghyun grabbed his shoulder. The knob turned, but before Minho could see if it was Minseok or his dad, Kibum had already turned, carrying them far, far away from Manchester.

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bummbleMin1004
#1
Chapter 80: NOOOOOOOOOOO I LOVE THIS STORY VERY MUCCH WHY IT END BUT I LOVE THE ENDING TT THANK OU SO MUCH I SO HAPPY THEY TOGETHER THANK YOU WRITE THE STORY THANK YOUUU!!!!
Fan4manga #2
Chapter 80: Love the end ! I'm still a bit sad it's over but thank you so much for the story :)
Onew-1989 #3
Chapter 80: The End. 😭. For some reason I didn’t expect it to end. Great story!!
TOPkat
#4
Chapter 80: Thank you for this amazing beautiful wonderful story! This is one of my favorite stories to read thank you again sooo much.
bummbleMin1004
#5
Chapter 79: OMG THAT ENDING!!! WHAT WILL HAPPEN??!!!!! PLS ALL BE OK TT I WANT THEM BE TOGETHER AGAIN!!! WIHOUT PROBLEM THIS TIME!!!!!
THANK YOU WRITE THIS STORY YOUR MAZING!!!!
bummbleMin1004
#6
Chapter 78: BEST CHAPTER!!! THE PLOT, WRITING, PLOT, EMOTIONS!!!! I ING LOVE IT PLEASE DONT END THE STORY I LOVE IT SO MUCH DX
bummbleMin1004
#7
Chapter 77: I DO NOT EXPECT THIS OMG I LOVE THIS STORY SO MUCH HOPE IT WONT END YET T.T
bummbleMin1004
#8
Chapter 76: OMG THEY MARRY!!!! WOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW ING FINALLYYYY!!!!!!!!! T.T IM SO HAPPY I LOVE IT SM!!!!!!!!!!! <3333333333
bummbleMin1004
#9
Chapter 75: PLEASE TELL ME THEY NOT GONN BREAK UP OMG I WILL CRY BLOOD IF THEY DO DONOT WANT THEM TO BREAK UP PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! DX LOVE THISS TORY YOU ARE AMAZING LIKE ALWAYS!!! <33333333333333333333