Chapter Thirty
Confronting the Faceless 💀 CompleteFebruary 17-28, 1998
"Actually, I'm highly logical"
Seven is known as the number of completeness, or wholeness. Seven is a common theme found in cultures and mythologies around the world due to its superstitious relation to this idea. Seven is both a very long time or a very short one depending on what word come after it.
For Hwang Minki, he thinks seven years should be plenty long enough for his roommates at Hogwarts to realize he has very little interest in their dangerous and futile extracurricular activities. And yet.
The pestering had begun on February second. Minki remembers that clearly, as it had occurred just after their Monday afternoon Dark Arts class, officially still considered Defense Against the Dark Arts but not even the Hufflepuffs are stupid enough to think that's the case anymore. They have the class with the Gryffindors, who consistently interrupt and get themselves in trouble which, being Gryffindors, doesn't surprise Minki in the slightest.
Honestly he didn't even want to come back to Hogwarts this year, so he doesn't particularly care if he learns anything or not. Rather, he's been spending this year doing his best to keep to himself and scrape by decently enough that Flitwick won't be on him about his grades.
But then Terrence Boot makes it his mission to get Minki involved in the disruptive nonsense he and their other two roommates have been involved with all year, and one thing Minki has certainly learned about Terry Boot in seven years is that he is dogged in his focus when he's decided on a goal.
Terry had followed him after class that day back to the dorms, instead of heading to the library with the other two boys and Padma Patil, the one Ravenclaw female in their year. Minki had been a bit wary of this, but he figured it was possible Terry had left something in their dorm and needed to fetch it - it wouldn't be the first time: of the five of them Terry is easily the most scatterbrained about such things.
However Terry didn't immediately go to his bunk and root around in his trunk when the two made it up to their Tower room, and instead lingered by the doorway looking like he was thinking hard.
Minki ignored him and grabbed a change of clothes from his own trunk - he figured Terry would be gone soon enough and Minki could do some warmups and dance a bit before dinner.
He always dances after classes end - it's the only way he'll be able to keep up with his actual interest since the stupid Magic government made Hogwarts attendance mandatory this year. Terribly timed, really, considering Minki was going to drop out in order to focus on his dancing fully and hopefully get scouted by a talent agency. But one year won't end his chances, as his mother repeatedly told him on their way to the Platform back in September.
He's still a bit bitter, though.
He'd changed into his dance clothes in their bathroom, and was surprised and irritated to find that Terry hadn't yet left the room when he walked back in.
"So hey, Minki, could we talk?" Terry had blurted abruptly, and it was then that Minki had known he was about to be in for a lot more annoyance.
Sure enough, Terry had asked him to help the DA with their planning. Minki is quite confident that he'd been very clear in his rejection of the idea and utter lack of interest in being asked again, and yet two weeks later they're still asking.
He doesn't think he's spoken this much with his Housemates outside of projects in the entirety of the seven years they've roomed together, and the increased interaction is only confirming to him that it was an excellent decision on his part.
Terry Boot is somehow both stubborn and scatterbrained at the same time, flitting from topic to topic but somehow tying them all together at the end. It's admittedly interesting to hear the conclusions of his rants, but Minki is usually socially exhausted well before Terry gets to the point, rendering any enjoyment that could have been gotten dead on arrival.
Michael Corner is the exact opposite of Terry in that he's about as straight forward as a person can be. He says what he thinks (and Minki is of the opinion that the other boy could use a lesson on thinking before he speaks) and rarely apologizes for it. What you see, and hear, is what you get with Micheal and frankly he's the most irritating of the three when it comes to trying to convince Minki that he wants to get involved in the idiocy that is the DA.
He's less stubborn and more condescending, constantly implying that Minki is somehow lesser for not wanting to get involved in a war. Because clearly, risking your life for something you don't believe in is the far more logical option. Minki never gave it much thought before, but with his latest discoveries about his roommates he's wondering what exactly the Hat uses as criteria when Sorting them all in first year. He personally thinks Michael would do far better in Gryffindor.
And then there's Anthony Goldstein, who has repeatedly tricked Minki into thinking he might be done with the peer pressuring and then he'll bring it up again casually in conversation, as if it isn't obvious exactly what he's up to. Though Minki supposes that being bad at manipulating others isn't necessarily a negative trait, overall, but in this context it's just frustrating.
The biggest annoyance is how all their arguments are emotionally-based. At the beginning Minki really did try to explain clearly why he was turning down the request, but as time has passed and the three boys have failed to alter their tactics even slightly he's given up. Let them run themselves ragged - he figures they have to get the message eventually.
Of course, it isn't just the boys trying to get him to join up - Padma Patil is in on the pestering as well. Or at least she was - of the four other Ravenclaws she's the only one who seems to fully respect that his 'no' will not be changing.
She does still spend time with him though, so he's wary. But two weeks after the initial encounter with Terry she still has only asked him once and he's starting to think that she really won't be asking again (though he remains suspicious - Anthony has made him cautious). If he's honest he's glad for it - of the four Padma is easily the one he can see himself maybe getting along with. She's book smart and harbors a deep curiosity about most things, which means she can usually keep up with him when they study together, something that's become a habit already despite it only having been two weeks since they started working together.
Of course, since he hasn't really been caring in class this year, Minki is further behind in their schoolwork than usual, but Padma hasn't mocked him at all, simply explaining anything he asks and even asking his thoughts every so often despite the fifty-fifty chance he won't have any idea what she's talking about.
It's nice, he thinks, to have someone he's able to talk with, who can keep up with his thought process. Half the time they don't even finish their studies, instead getting sidetracked when Padma asks one of the questions that Minki can answer and they end up completely derailing into theorizing. He quite enjoys himself whenever that happens - usually he has to stop and explain things to people in layman's terms and that's always frustrating and boring. He likes that Padma is smart enough to not need the hand-holding.
Sometimes the other three study with them. Those sessions are less enjoyable, and Minki always leaves them early to go dance in an empty classroom. February seventeenth is one of these days.
Minki and Padma had been at their usual table after Dark Arts, and Padma had been reading up on the Patronus charm.
"Normally we'd get to learn this this year but with the Carrow running things of course we don't get to." She sighs. "It's a good thing I already have a basic understanding of it, though I've never managed a corporeal one yet."
"You just aren't thinking happy enough thoughts." An unwelcome voice sing-songs, and Michael Corner drops himself into the seat next to Minki.
Padma rolls her eyes but she's smiling. "Happiness is subjective Mike, it can't be quantified. It's why this spell is so difficult for most people."
Minki finds the observation interesting, but wonders if that's actually true. "Logically speaking," He says as Terry and Anthony take the open seats beside Padma, politely leaving him an easy way out, which he's sure he'll be taking soon, "There likely is a particular quatification of happiness, it just hasn't been identified yet. Lacking knowledge doesn't mean it isn't there."
"He's got a point Padma." Terry agrees. "There's always a chance we'll learn something new. Isn't that the entire point of the Department of Mysteries?"
The four distract themselves with talk of the Department, and Minki quietly takes his leave, knowing if he lingers too long the boys will start hounding him about the DA again, and he doesn't have patience for that anymore.
He keeps his dance clothes in his bag these days, knowing he may not have time to go back to the dorms since Padma is a bit random with her study invites. So once he's successfully escaped the library he goes straight to one of the abandoned fourth-floor classrooms and gets changed.
He stretches for about twenty minutes - always better safe than sorry and he plans to dance right up until dinner which is still a few hours off. Once he's feeling sufficiently limber he starts moving through a few familiar routines from his summer dance classes, humming the music as he does. He'd tried back in second year to bring along a music player, but to his dismay then (and continued confusion and curiosity to this day) electronics don't work within the walls of Hogwarts.
He's made a few theories about that, but as the only person in his House with any sort of Muggle experience they aren't ones he's shared with anyone. Not that he'd even thought about sharing them at the time of their development - he hadn't really been speaking to his Housemates back then anyway.
The time blurs together as he starts freestyling across the cleared floor - he always comes to this specific classroom as it's out of the way and no one ever uses it, so no one ever puts the desks back. He's thankful for that - his magic has never been the strongest so clearing the floor entirely had been harder than he cares to admit.
He'd managed ten OWLs despite his magical deficiency, but they hadn't been easy, and frankly the realization he'd have to do it all again, but ten times harder, with the NEWTs had been another factor in his want to not return for his seventh year.
So. He's thankful for the perpetually unused room.
He knows it must be getting close to dinner only because his chosen space has two massive windows facing west so he's well aware of when the sun vanishes below the horizon. If it wasn't for that he probably would have danced right through it.
As it is, he reluctantly wraps up and heads to the dorms for a quick shower before he goes to eat. Unfortunately for him, Michael Corner is also in the dorms, apparently dropping off his his books.
"Hey, there you are! Where did you run off to?" He asks far too cheerfully, grinning like they're friends. They are not. Minki is rather sure he's told Michael that.
"None of your business. Excuse me." He says flatly, moving past the other boy towards the showers.
Michael shrugs. "Whatever man, it's your life. But you know, humans are social creatures, that's written into our DNA or something. Isolating yourself isn't healthy, long term."
Minki sighs, pausing since he knows Michael isn't done, and if he doesn't say it now it will come up later. Better to get it over with.
"You don't have to actually do anything with the DA, but it would be a good way to use that big brain of yours and get some people time in."
"I have no interest in joining your group," He says flatly. "As I've said time and time again. I will be taking a shower now, so do not disturb me."
Michael puts up his hands in a placating gesture. "Hey I don't invade personal space dude, go for it." He declares easily, heading for the door. "You can sit with us at dinner if you like." He adds just before stepping out.
Minki just sighs and finally goes to take his shower. He's a bit late for dinner, so the Great Hall is already buzzing with activity when he enters, and he sits at the end of the Ravenclaw table, not bothering to look for his yearmates despite Michael's offer. He doubts the other will be particularly offended or surprised, and Minki doesn't intend to stay any longer than it takes to eat. The Great Hall isn't exactly his favorite place.
He finishes his rather small dinner as quickly as he can before heading back out of the room, and he's already settled in bed with a book when his roommates finally return to the dorm.
This is his daily life now, and he's fallen into the routine rather easily all things considered. And thank goodness for that - if this shift had unbalanced him too intensely this year would have become even less enjoyable than it already is.
Padma does switch things up that Friday when they both have a free period right after breakfast and the other boys are stuck in Herbology.
"Want to go over the Transfiguration essay? Terry and I had a fundamental disagreement over the effects of the magical energy in the basic formula." She asks him. It's due next week, so she's assuming he's finished it - which he of course has. He's more surprised that Terry has as well.
He hadn't really had anything planned anyway, so he agrees. She then surprises him again by leading them to Ravenclaw Tower instead of the library.
It's quiet in the common room, but it isn't exactly empty. There are several students, both individuals and in groups, scattered around the room and occupying the numerous desks and tables lining the room.
Minki has never studied in the Ravenclaw common room before, though it is specifically set up for it, so he lets Padma take the lead. She directs him to one of the few unoccupied tables and promptly pulls out her essay. Minki sits across from her and does the same.
They end up debating for the entire hour that they have before their next class, and Minki is actually feeling pretty good when they do have to pack up and start heading to Charms.
"I'm just saying that the magical power in the formula is inherently linked to a witch or wizard's natural capabilities, and therefore must act more as a limiter than a multiplier when considered in the context of inventing spells." Padma says, waving her one free hand broadly as they make their way down the stairs.
"I'm not contesting that each individual person's magical power isn't limited, but I would still argue that overall, when considered within the confines of the equation, MP increases the impact of a spell in an exponential pattern to its own individual rise." He replies confidently.
"Oh my god you absolute nerds." A third voice chimes in, and Minki frowns when he realizes that they're nearly at the Charms classroom and his three roommates have apparently caught up to them without his noticing.
Michael Corner is grinning in a way that frankly makes Minki uncomfortable while Terry and Anthony laugh behind him.
"You could learn a thing or two from us nerds." Padma replies lightly, also grinning despite the interruption.
That's the one major thing Minki doesn't understand about Padma - she can switch between discussing the complex underlying patterns of Transfiguration with him one minute to mindless teasing with Michael the other without seeming to break a sweat. For his part Minki is rather upset that they were interrupted and can no longer keep up their prior conversation due to the other three decreasing their collective intellect rather significantly.
Padma jokes around with the other three as they finally reach the classroom and take their seats, and for some reason Minki doesn't walk away to sit by himself elsewhere in the room, as he usually does. He sees Michael raise an eyebrow but he resolutely ignores the look as he unpacks his parchment and quills in preparation for class.
"Anyway I'm about ready to fail this NEWT." Anthony declares with a sigh.
"You say that about every NEWT Anthony." Michael rolls his eyes at the other three, and frankly Minki is unsure how to respond to being included in the gesture. Especially as he's not exactly in on whatever joke seems to be happening here.
Padma leans over to whisper into his ear. "Anthony's grades have always been up and down so he's in a constant state of being stressed about his marks. He always pulls it together though so we about it now." She breaths, and Minki's breath catches in his throat at how close she is.
Terry gives him a grin, and Minki frowns in response, quickly turning back to the front of the classroom, where thankfully Professor Flitwick is hopping onto his chair and preventing any further conversation for the time being.
He has Ancient Runes after Charms, and he tries to escape the group before he remembers that Terry has the class with him.
Sure enough he's barely five steps from the door when the other boy catches up. "Hey hey, wait up! You don't mind walking together, right?" He asks cheerfully, even as he falls into step beside Minki. Clearly he's walking with him regardless of the Korean boy's opinion.
Minki just shrugs silently and keeps walking, hoping Terry will get the memo that he's not in the mood for chit chat.
Terry does not get the memo. "Sooooo, you and Padma huh?" He grins teasingly, and Minki grimaces. Nope, definitely does not want to deal with this.
"She's the only non-idiot of you all, and as it seems I'm stuck with having to tolerate you yes, she is the one I'm speaking with most often." He replies shortly, hopefully making it clear he's not interested in furthering this conversation.
At least this time Terry picks up on it. "Alright alright, sorry, I'll stop. It's just cute." He says lightly. "Anyway, do you think Professor Babbling will take pity on us and review the end of last class? She sped through all that and I caught, like, half of it maybe."
Minki only shrugs wordlessly, still a bit miffed over the Padma teasing. Personally he'd managed to self-teach the last bit of the lesson during his study time the day before so he doesn't much care what the Professor decides to do.
Terry ends up getting his wish - Professor Babbling does a quick refresher on the final concept they'd worked on before moving into new material. Minki pays attention even though he already understands - always better safe than sorry, especially in this class. Plus, now that he's studying more regularly he figures he should actually put some effort into his classes.
Terry is scribbling notes furiously beside him, and the scratching of the quill is starting to get on Minki's nerves by the time the class is wrapping up. He doesn't say anything, but he resolves not to let Terry sit near him again during next week's classes.
"Food time!" His Housemate declares cheerfully as they pack up after class. "I'm so glad this class lands right before lunch this year, I'm always starving afterwards."
Minki just shrugs again in response. Terry may be the easiest of the guys to talk to, but only when he's discussing theories - when he's attempting small talk Minki really doesn't know how to respond.
He doesn't know if Terry realizes that or if he just times his next observation creepily well with Minki's own thoughts, but the other boy dives into their lesson and trying to connect it back to some things they'd learned the year before.
This topic takes them all the way to the Great Hall, where the other three are already settled and eating.
"Hey guys!" Terry cuts off what was honestly a very interesting tangent on linguistic misinterpretation to greet the others, and Minki frowns in disappointment. Oh well, he can look into Terry's points on his own later he supposes.
Only 'on his own' ends up taking a lot longer than he'd expected it to. He still has his private dance time, but he doesn't study during that, and the rest of his time is consistently occupied by at least one of his roommates at all times. Padma continues increasing their study sessions, and the boys begin joining more often than not. Terry tails him between classes and Michael and Anthony regularly drag him over to eat with them during meals.
He honestly thought he'd be more annoyed by what essentially boils down to constant supervision, and to a degree he is. But he also ends up having more interesting conversations with Terry and Padma, and though the boys do keep nudging him over the DA they ease up slightly in favor of asking him for assistance with school work.
Then the others figure out where he's been vanishing to whenever he's not with them. It's the next Wednesday, just over three weeks after Terry had first approached him, when they all show up in his private dance room just as he's finishing his stretches.
"So this is where you get to!" Anthony says as he invites himself into Minki's personal area, hoping up onto one of the desks and looking around curiously. Michael goes a step further and actually starts poking around, examining the room.
Terry and Padma are standing in the doorway, watching Minki. "We can leave if you like." Padma offers, "We just saw you turning in here and were curious. You do vanish quite a bit."
Minki of course immediately thinks to tell them to get lost. This is his personal space, where he can dance without interruptions. Logically, however, he knows that at least Michael and Anthony will keep investigating if he doesn't give them clear answers now. He can just tell them afterwards to never interrupt his practice again - Padma ought to keep them away after that.
"It's fine, you're already here." He grumbles.
"What are you even wearing?" Michael asks as he finally finishes exploring the small room, focus now to Minki, "That's definitely not what you had on under your school robes today."
Minki sighs. "They're better to dance in." He says flatly, though some of his annoyance evaporates when Padma's eyes light up.
"You dance?" She asks, tilting her head and starting to move to where Anthony is perched, her pace still hesitant, clearly ready to leave the moment Minki says.
It's that clear indication that gets him to relax the rest of the way. "Yeah, I've been dancing since I was a kid. I actually was considering not finishing seventh year here and going to a dance academy instead."
"Can we watch? Is that alright?" Terry is still in the doorway, looking for all the world like a very awkward doorstop.
"We can provide the music!" Michael declares. "To earn our keep."
The promise of actual sound for once breaks the final barrier of uncertainty Minki had been feeling. "Deal." He agrees. "But the only interruptions should be technique critiques."
"Well I know nothing about dancing so I'll just shut up now." Michael jokes, pulling a radio out of seemingly nowhere, though Minki recognizes the wand movement.
"Did you just conjure an entire radio?" Padma asks, clearly impressed. Minki pretends that her awe doesn't make him feel a little jealous.
Michael shrugs. "I like music." He says, as if that's an explanation. "Let's see if they're playing any Weird Sisters on the WWN."
Minki hasn't listened to much of the most popular wizarding band, and apparently the networks haven't been playing as much of them due to their bassist and lead composer-slash-manager both being muggleborns, but Michael manages to find a station blaring one of their older songs, and Minki listens to a few bars to get the rythm before he begins dancing along.
He'd thought dancing freestyle in front of people who aren't his fellow dancers or his mother would be embarrassing and awkward, but he slips into his dancing headspace quite easily despite thier presence. In fact, he barely remembers they're there at all as he moves across the floor to the unfamiliar rock music. When the song ends he's brought back into the present by a round of applause.
"That was amazing Minki!" Padma exclaims with a bright smile. Anthony and Michael are nodding eagerly in agreement. Only Terry seems slightly more reserved from where he's still leaning against the doorframe.
"Is there enough room in here?" He asks uncertainly. "It sort of felt like you were cutting off some of the moves." He holds up his hands placatingly when the others turn to look at him. "I mean, obviously I don't know much about dance, it's just how it looked kind of?"
Minki just shrugs, not insulted in the least - Terry isn't wrong. "I work with what I've got." He says. "Sometimes that means making the most of less space than I'd like."
"Hey, you could have more though!" Anthony says suddenly, excitedly. "The Room of Requirement can turn into anything!"
Michael perks up. "Hey yeah! Something else to think about Minki, our HQ could be a very useful thing to have access to!"
Minki just sighs and presses his eyes shut in frustration. Of course this came back around to the DA. He should have kicked them out back when they first came in.
Padma is frowning at the two boys when Minki opens his eyes again. "No bribing you two, we aren't Slytherins." She says irritably. "We're not going to withhold the Room just because Minki isn't part of the group." She looks over to him as she speaks. "Did you want to check it out? Just to see if you'd like to start using it regularly?"
He really should say no. This is a rabbit hole and if he steps into it he's going to fall into Army land and he knows it.
Still... an entire, proper dance studio does sound wonderful. Against his better judgement he decides to check it out.
The room is on the seventh floor, though Minki is initially unimpressed by the blank wall his Housemates bring him to.
"Is this a joke?" He asks flatly, and Terry quickly shakes his head.
"No no, I promise! You have to walk in front of the wall three times and focus on what you want. The door will appear after that."
Minki eyes the group warily. He doesn't think they're making fun of him, but how well does he actually know them? Is this some cruel prank?
He shakes off the thought - at the very least, if it was something mean Padma wouldn't be involved with it. That much he's sure of.
So, feeling incredibly awkward as he does, he paces in front of the wall three times, picturing the dance studio back in Bradford.
Despite being told what would happen he still jerks back in surprise when the door appears, looking almost exactly like the one in his dance school back home. Hesitantly he reaches forward and swings it open, and then immediately rushes forward with more confidence. The room is perfect.
He finishes his dancing there that afternoon, but Padma does mention that she'll need to ask Neville for further permission for him to use it all the time.
"This is our main meeting area, so you can't be in here when we need to work." She says apologetically as they pack up for dinner. "But I'm sure Neville will be fine with it, we just have to work something out so our meetings and your practice don't overlap."
It makes sense, of course, but it doesn't change the fact that the next few days his previous practice room feels confining in a way it hadn't before.
The others don't intrude on his dance practices again that week, but they do ask him about them during their study meetings. Padma repeatedly mentions she hasn't had a chance to talk to Neville yet, which doesn't surprise Minki since everyone knows he and a few other seventh years have detention this week and are probably busy with that.
By Sunday though he's a little twitchy, and Michael Corner picks up on it.
"We've got a meeting tonight, Padma will ask then." He says lightly, taking Minki entirely off guard if he's honest. The two of them are studying in their room - Minki isn't sure where the others are - and they had been doing so in silence for most of the afternoon until Michael's comment.
"Or," His roommate continues slyly, and Minki knows exactly what's coming next, "You could just come yourself. It's not just a free dance space you know, we practice our spellwork as well. Haven't you wondered why Padma and Terry can both cast patronuses despite us not learning anything about them in class?"
Minki hadn't actually known that they could, but he admits he's impressed. And considering he's behind after the first half of the year...
"You're terrible at manipulation, just so you know." He says, flicking the textbook he'd been reading closed. "But assuming I go. I don't want to take part in the raids or the other stupid things that keeps landing you all in detention."
Michael beams. "All we ask is that you help us look over the plans we've got to minimize the risks, that's all. And you can have your dance studio and practice time whenever you want."
Minki sighs. He can't believe he's doing this but- "What time is the meeting?"
Author's Note: It's Minki! Only Yurina is left of the POVs~ And with this we are officially done with February! There are two things I'd like to address before wrapping this up:
So obviously this chapter went up a day early due to Interent shennanigannery on my end - that is, I'm not sure I'll have consistent Internettomorrow today or Sunday. The board is doing something to "fix" it due to complaints from some of the other tenants and apparently that means connection is going to be spotty this weekend. And as I didn't want to update late, I decided to update a day early ^^ We'll be back to the usual update schedule after this~
So obviously this chapter went up a day early due to Interent shennanigannery on my end - that is, I'm not sure I'll have consistent Internet
Which actually brings me to my surprise announcement! From this point forward CtF will be updating twice a week, once on Sunday as usual and once on Wednesday! With quarantine leaving me with literally nothing else to do I've developed a buffer for this story large enough that even if I go back to only writing one chapter a week I can maintain double updates right up to the end of the story~ So CtF will be done on August 30th (not counting the epilogues)!
Next Time: Opportunity can come from anywhere
So I'm thinking I might do a final 'afterwords' chapter to share my thoughts and feelings on writing this story, if that's something people would be interested in? I'm also open to answering any lingering questions people might have there as well!
Comments