14th February 1976- Clint: 12, Barney: 15
"Listen, listen." said Dean. "Valentine's Day is bullshit."
Benny laughed. "Have you always been so romantic?"
Clint leaned his head against Bobbi's knees, grinning. They were on a set of stairs in the Entrance Hall, out of the way enough that they wouldn't be disturbed by people going to and from the Great Hall but they could still see the Entrance Hall itself. And be seen, since they were waiting for Thor and Frank. Thor had a history of just… wandering past despite being shouted and waved at.
"No, listen, none of these couples are still gonna be together in a month. I bet."
Clint tilted his head so he could meet Bobbi's eyes and rolled his own. She grinned, combing her fingers through his hair.
"It's not Dean's fault nobody wants to send him a card."
"Did you send a card?" asked Benny.
"No." lied Bobbi.
Clint was there when she sent it. But in the interests of a) not betraying his best friend and b) not being murdered in his bed, he said nothing. Frank had also sent a card to someone but he had refused to say who.
"Thor!" shouted Dean. "THOR!"
Predictably, Thor walked straight past the staircase and into the Great Hall. Clint sighed. He would volunteer to get up and get him but Bobbi's knee was super comfy. He saw Jason walking down with some of his friends and called over to him.
"Jay! Jay! Can you get Thor for me?"
Jason gave him an unimpressed look. "I'm not an owl."
"I dunno, you've got massive eyes." replied Clint. "Come on, please?"
"Don't insult people who are bigger than you."
"Then I wouldn't insult any of you. Come on."
"I don't even know which one Thor is."
"The big blond Gryffindor one. Please Jason? You'll be my favourite cousin."
"We both know that's Will."
"Second favourite cousin."
"Fine! Fine, I'll go and get your dumb friend."
"Thank you!"
Jason disappeared into the Hall, shaking his head as he said something to his friends. Benny leaned against the wall and popped an Ice Mouse into his mouth.
"Anyone want one?"
"Me please." said Bobbi.
"Me." said Dean.
"Didn't your mum teach you any manners?"
"She died when I was four. No."
Clint scuffled his feet. Dean had never mentioned his mom before so Clint had thought she was probably dead. But still. Four.
"I am here!" boomed Thor, arriving at the bottom of the stairs. "What are those?"
"Ice Mice. They make your teeth squeak. Wanna try one?"
"Yes!"
Thor then swallowed it whole, much to Benny's chagrin. As he was explaining the correct way to eat Ice Mice, Frank arrived. He looked dejected, head hanging down. He collapsed wordlessly onto the bottom stair below Dean. Thor, who had taken a position below Clint, reached out to pat his shoulder.
"She did not take the card well?"
"No. She did not. Apparently she hates Valentine's Day too."
"I'm sorry dude." said Clint.
Frank shrugged. "There's always next year, I guess."
Natasha and her friends, Rogers and Barnes, came out of the Great Hall. Natasha saw him and changed direction. The boys followed her, stopping a few feet away. Natasha deftly climbed around Frank, Dean, and Thor, to kiss Clint on the cheek.
"Thanks for the card."
"Did you like it?"
Clint had convinced Gabriel to buy one on his Hogsmeade visit. Jem had been serving detention for breaking a suit of armour and Barney was currently avoiding walking long distances. Which included Hogsmeade. Most of his bruises had faded, leaving only the stab wound and the damage to his jaw to heal. And he now had a fake tooth.
"Yes. It's lovely. Where did you get the Russian from?"
"Dictionary. Did I get it right?"
"Almost."
Clint grinned as Natasha kissed his cheek again and left. Barnes scowled at him as the three of them headed off to do… something. Clint didn't see much of Natasha at Hogwarts. Bobbi tugged strands of his hair.
"Ow?"
"I'm trying to braid it."
"It's too short." replied Clint. "Ow!"
Bobbi sighed, as if Clint had deliberately cut his hair to deprive her of hair-braiding opportunities.
"Do mine!" said Thor.
Clint reluctantly swapped places with Thor, resting his head on the side of Benny's thigh and his back against the wall. It was still reasonably comfortable.
Clint's arms ached as he made his way back from archery practice. He'd also had some of Hagrid's rock cakes. As long as you gnawed in the right place, they were really tasty. He entered the Entrance Hall, ready to head down to the kitchens and grab some toast when Bobbi appeared.
"Hey- oof!"
She flung her arms round him and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks for the card. It made that idiot Lockhart furious."
"I'm always happy to help piss off Lockhart."
"See you!" said Bobbi as she darted off with another Ravenclaw.
Clint grinned after her before making his way to the kitchen. Barney was already in there, talking to one of the house-elves. He laughed at whatever she said and eagerly accepted a cake.
"Hey. I thought you'd be on a date."
Barney twisted, knife handle appearing in his palm before vanishing up his sleeve. Clint ignored it and came and sat next to him. One of the house-elves arrived with a plate of toast.
"You're the best Frennic." said Clint sincerely.
Frennic's ears wiggled as he bustled off, muttering to himself about students being too kind.
"So, date?"
"I went on a date. I think."
"You think?"
"Me and Ash hung out in the library, just us."
"And Madam Pince."
"You're being a shithead."
"Sorry."
"Anyway. So it was just us at the table. And he sat next to me. Which he didn't have to do. We were at a table for four. And we were studying and his leg kept bumping mine. And then he walked back to my common room. And then I told Akihiro who said I should have kissed him and then we went to eat, I saw him, kissed him, panicked and now I'm here eating my feelings."
Clint's silence was not because he disapproved of Ash Miles with his brother. Clint's silence was because this was a lot of information to take in in thirty seconds. And at twelve, he didn't have a great deal of experience with dating. Barney was tapping the table with his thumb, apparently unaware he was doing it.
"Maybe you should talk to Ash about it. He's a cool guy."
"You want me to talk to him?" said Barney incredulously.
"Fine, stay here and eat cake."
"Eat your toast."
"How's your stab wound?"
"It's fine. It's almost healed. Madam Pomfrey says I can get back on my broom on Monday."
Clint chewed his toast pensively. He'd known, from the minute Barney had charged into the hospital wing, he'd known Chick was going to get attacked.
"Why didn't you get Jem to beat Chick up? Why did you do it?"
"Because he hurt you."
"Black hurt me. You got Jem on it that time."
Barney took a swig of his drink.
"Let it go."
"But-"
"Clint. Let this one go."
Clint, toast finished, got up from the table. He hugged his brother before making his way to the door.
"Good luck with Ash."
As Clint was heading back to the Hufflepuff common room, he spotted Ash waiting outside. Ash pushed himself off the wall when he saw Clint.
"Hi."
"Where's Barney?"
"Kitchens."