There was light.

A bright light. Actually, a borderline painful bright light.

He blinked.

Near him, there was a sudden intake of breath and he blinked again, uncomfortably dry eyes trying to focus.

A blurry face gradually sharpened in front of him.

Oikawa smiled. "Hey, Iwa-chan."

And why did his voice felt so scratchy and unused?

He guessed it didn't matter because Iwaizumi's breath caught and he was smiling that same crooked smile that Oikawa had come to know before he had even known his own name.

"Hey," Iwaizumi said softly before leaning back to reveal Kuroo and Bokuto eagerly waiting behind him.

And...wait, a second? Where was he?

Last he remembered, he'd been in the library looking at….wait, no that wasn't right either….the hall, he'd been in the hall and he was running because he'd found…

"The basilisk!" Oikawa shot up from the bed, only to be held back by Iwaizumi. "It's a basilisk! Slytherin put a curse on it to control it but now it's awake and-"

Kuroo's hand flew out to cover his mouth, casting a Silencing Charm on the bed curtains before turning back to Oikawa.

"Yeah, we...uh, figured that one out actually," Kuroo said, carefully uncovering Oikawa's mouth before reaching in his own robes to draw out a piece of folded parchment. He unfolded it to reveal a significantly more crumpled version of the page Oikawa swore he had just copied.

"Thanks for the hint," Kuroo said, handing the parchment over to Oikawa. "Couldn't have done it without this."

Oikawa took the parchment, confused. He blinked again and, for the first time, really processed his surrounding area. The visiting chair. The curtains. The bed. The-

"Oh," Oikawa said flatly. "I see. I got petrified, didn't I?"

"Only for a month or so," Bokuto confirmed with no small amount of forced cheer. "We really thought it was going to be a lot longer but apparently, some anonymous donor gave like a ton of imported mandrake potion to the school. It must have cost a fortune."

Oikawa stared, trying to process that. "A month? I've been petrified for a month?"

Merlin, making up the school work alone was going to be a pain. He wondered if he'd still be eligible for the class ranks.

"We're just glad you're okay." Iwaizumi's voice derailed his thoughts thought so abruptly that Oikawa wouldn't have been surprised if there was an audible screech sound.

Glad he's okay...Right, Oikawa wasn't dead or...well and he supposed a month wasn't even that long all things considered. Especially, since it looked like everyone was okay and…

"Wait, where's Suga," Oikawa asked, looking up as if maybe he'd missed the bright silver hair in the crowd.

Bokuto shifted uncomfortably. "Um, he said he'd be down in a bit. He promised, actually. He just thought it would be better if...well, if we explained some things first."

"Okay," Oikawa said slowly as if that alone wasn't incredibly foreboding.

He turned to address the group as a whole.

"So," Oikawa smirked, "how'd you guys fare without me for an entire month?"

Kuroo laughed, falling back into the visitor's chair with a huff. "It's kind of a long story."

Oikawa raised an eyebrow, leaning back in the bed with an exaggerated motion.

"It's not like I'm going anywhere."

ooooooo

"Did you hear," a fifth year Hufflepuff whispered to her friend. "The petrified students. They're awake!"

The friend's eyes went wide. "I thought they didn't have enough Mandrake potion?"

"An anonymous donor," the girl answered, smiling as they made their way to the Great Hall with a much lighter air then Suga had seen all year.

Suga looked down at the note in his hand, delivered this morning by a common brown delivery owl. In fact, the same kind of owl that had dropped off an entire cart of potions to the Hospital Wing that morning.

My Dear Son,

Your father and I hope this will make things even a little bit better. We love you.

Your Mother,

Ahmya Noroi Sugawara

Suga stared at the words, feeling that same disconcerting confusion he always felt when his family did something that truly surprised him.

But, that was a question for later.

The question for now found Suga in front of the Hospital Wing with the beat of his heart echoing loudly in his ears.

Oikawa was awake.

He knew Oikawa was awake. Bokuto had even gone so far as to hunt him down and tell him that Oikawa was awake and asking for Suga. And, of course, Bokuto at ended that conversation with a look somewhere between cautious and pressing while reminding Suga that he'd promised he would go see Oikawa today.

So, here he was.

It wasn't exactly that Suga didn't want to see Oikawa. In many ways, Suga wanted to see Oikawa very, very much. Oikawa was his friend, his roommate. Oikawa was probably the person Suga was closest to in the entire school. More than that, Suga missed Oikawa, could feel that hole by his side ever since the other had been petrified.

No, Suga was scared to see Oikawa because he didn't want to lose him.

After all, what could Oikawa possibly think about Suga now? Last year, he'd been cautious enough about trusting Suga and now, intentional or not, Suga had attacked some miracle, the rest seemed to have forgiven him for keeping a secret. But, with Oikawa, Suga had done more than just keep secrets. Oikawa had been petrified by a basilisk for over a month. Suga had done that. Suga's fear had caused that.

How could Suga ever expect that not to change their friendship? How could he expect Oikawa to trust him again?

He couldn't; but, it was better to hear it now than wait and wonder. Suga had waited enough in fear this year. This time he was facing it.

Suga took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The first thing that Suga noticed upon stepping in the Hospital Wing was the light. The curtains were pulled back. The sound of laughter came from beds as students talked to their revived friends.

In one bed, the curtains were pulled back as the Headmaster glared impressively at Okamoto.

"I'm telling you," Okamoto huffed, "Nakashima had just come up and was screaming at me. Then, I just looked down in the paint and then there was a flash of yellow! That's all I saw!"

The Headmaster hummed. "And what exactly were you doing with red paint and an unfinished message painted on the wall?"

Okamoto stuttered. "Um...well…"

And if it was another time, Suga might have smiled but then he made it to the last bed in the row.

Oikawa looked up at him. "You finally made it. Get the curtain, would you?"

Silently, Suga obeyed, placing a Silencing Charm around it as he did.

The sounds of the Hospital Wing became muted, leaving Suga and Oikawa in their own private pocket of space.

Suga didn't know what to say.

Luckily, Oikawa didn't seem to have that problem.

"So," Oikawa said, leaning forward, "the others told me you guys killed a basilisk. I thought it was implied that friends don't go off killing legendary creatures when another can't join in the fun."

"Wasn't much fun," Suga said quietly.

Oikawa tilted his head, wincing slightly. "Yeah, probably not. Probably would've preferred it to being petrified though."

And there it was.

"I'm sorry," Suga breathed out, barely audible and miserable.

"What?"

"It was my fault," Suga said louder. "Everything was all my fault. I'm the Heir. I didn't want you to know. I just...you were so close to finding out and I didn't want you to. I didn't want you to stop being my friend. I never meant for the basilisk to attack you or anybody, I swear."

He trailed off and when Suga finally lifted his gaze to Oikawa, the other was looking at him in confusion.

"Hold on, so let me get this straight" Oikawa said. "The basilisk attacked me because you were scared?"

Suga nodded.

"And you were scared because you thought I was close to figuring out you were the Heir?"

Another nod.

"And you thought if I knew you were the Heir, I wouldn't be your friend?"

Suga struggled not to look down. "Yes."

And then Oikawa abruptly started laughing.

Suga stared at him.

"Sorry," Oikawa said, trying to stop but letting out one more snicker. "It's...pft...Koushi Sugawara, you are the only person I know who would end up sicking a monster snake on me to protect our friendship."

Suga blinked, tried to process that and all he came up with was, "...What?"

Oikawa rolled his eyes. "Suga, I told you last year. I trust you. I already know your family is...um, interesting. I know you're not like them. Why would I decide to hold that against you now?"

"Wait," Suga said, feeling something almost painfully light in his chest. "So...you forgive me?"

Oikawa sighed, quirking up a lip in something close to a smile.

"Suga, it's not that I forgive you. It's that there's nothing to forgive."

And that was it.

Suga breathed and for the first time that year, the air came easily.

Then, the next thing either of them knew, Suga was launching across the space, wrapping his arms tightly around Oikawa.

"Ow! Hey, recently de-petrified person over here! My muscles are still stiff."

"Sorry," Suga mumbled, loosening his hold and starting to pull away.

Before he could, Oikawa's arms came around him and pulled him back in.

"It's fine. I'll live, I suppose."

Suga nodded, burying his face in Oikawa's shoulder and finding it comfortably warm instead of the hard not quite skin it had been for weeks.

"You okay," Oikawa asked after a moment passed.

Suga laughed, the sound muffled by the cloth. "You're the one who got petrified. Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"Fair enough," Oikawa agreed easily.

There was a pause and then…

"Are you-are you crying," Oikawa asked, voice filled with mock indignation. "On my shoulder?"

"Oikawa."

"Yeah?"

"Shut Up"

"No, I get it. I should wear a sign Tooru Oikawa: Living Tissue."

Suga let out another sniffle-laugh, tightening his hold.

"Really," Oikawa continued. "I'll make business cards. Do you think teal or lavender as a background?"

Suga closed his eyes. "Teal, definitely."

"Yeah, you're right it brings out my eyes."

"Oikawa?"

"Hmm..."

"I'm really glad you're okay."

"...Thanks."

ooooooo

"No, I'm serious, Akaashi," Bokuto said emphatically. "This bag's amazing! You've gotta turn it in for the assignment, instant O. I promise."

Akaashi bit back a smile. "It's fine, Bokuto. You don't have to be nice. I know the bag's hideous."

In his hands, Akaashi felt the "bag" shift almost imperceptibly and he patted it in apology.

Unaware of all of this, Bokuto spluttered. "But Akaashi, you have to. The bag's awesome. Like amazingly, mind-bendingly, should be impossible kind of awesome!"

"Mhm," Akaashi said, tilting his head in apparent curiosity. "Why do you say that? Anything amazing happen with it?"

Akaashi then had the not so rare treat of Bokuto turning bright red, shiftily look in either direction, coughing loudly twice, attempt to lean casually against a wall, realize there was no wall nearby, awkwardly almost fall, and finally stutter out. "W-what. Pft, no, nothing amazing at all happened with that bag. Just, er, normal, totally usual safe stuff. You know?"

Akaashi really did smile this time. "Well, that's a relief. I'd hate for unsafe stuff to happen with it."

"Ah, yep," Bokuto answered, adjusting his collar nervously before something caught his eyes. "Oh, well, that's Kuroo. I gotta go and do, er, more totally safe stuff."

"I'm glad, Bokuto," Akaashi said, watching fondly as Bokuto ran off to catch his spiky haired conversational salvation.

Akaashi shook his head, turning and heading down the hall.

Only to have another person jump out from around the corner.

He barely kept himself from jumping. Really, as a psychic, Akaashi hated being surprised.

He supposed he could make an exception given who it was though. Just this time, of course.

"Hinata," Akaashi greeted, giving the younger boy a small smile. "I saw that you had a busy night. Everything turn out okay?"

Hinata grinned. "Probably as okay as you expected."

Akaashi hummed innocently. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

"Bokuto told me you gave him the bag," Hinata continued. "You know the bag that a huge, massive, basilisk slaying sword came out of?"

Akaashi held up the bag in question. "Want to know another secret?"

"Of course," Hinata said eagerly.

Akaashi tapped his wand on the bag, muttering a reversal spell under his breath.

The bag folded in on itself before, with quite conscious motions, shaking itself out to reveal a hat.

Hinata's eyes widened. "Is that-is that the Sorting Hat?!"

"The Sorting Hat who's been through a rough couple of months, lad," the hat harrumphed before turning to Akaashi. "You're lucky this hat was in need of some adventure, Young Diviner."

"I thank you for your aid," Akaashi said smoothly before turning to Hinata. "I might have borrowed him for the Headmaster's office. Just for a bit. With the hat's full permission and discretion, of course."

"Why," Hinata asked amazed.

"Students these days," the hat muttered. "Don't know your history, do you? I was made by Godric Gryffindor himself. I'm the only one trusted to pass his sword to a rightful wielder."

Akaashi ran a soothing finger along the hat's brim.

"I thought you'd need some help fighting the basilisk," Akaashi told Hinata. "The Sword of Gryffindor is made from nearly unbreakable goblin steel."

Hinata leaned back from looking at the hat, still a bit in awe.

He smiled at Akaashi. "We really couldn't have done it without you, could we?"

Akaashi shrugged. "There was a number of futures I'd have rather have avoided."

"Thanks for helping," Hinata said. "I knew you would."

Akaashi fixed the smile on his face and hoped it didn't dim. "Only when I can."

Hinata shrugged, not seeming bothered by the addendum at all. "I mean that's all any of us can do. Right, Akaashi?"

"I suppose," Akaashi allowed.

Hinata just smiled, hoisting his bag up his shoulder. "Hey, Akaashi, have you seen-or like, you know seen-Suga lately? I've been trying to find him all morning."

Akaashi stopped, futures flashing in the back of his mind too fast for him to understand.

"I believe Bokuto said he was visiting Oikawa," Akaashi said finally.

If Hinata had noticed the pause, he didn't show it. Instead, he merely nodded, offering up a cheerful wave as he continued down the hall. "Alright, thanks! Bye, Akaashi!"

Akaashi stood in the hall, watching Hinata walk away as puzzle pieces of various futures tried and fail to sort themselves into something comprehensible.

Akaashi frowned, wondering what had just changed.

ooooooo

"And you'll see if there's any extra credit assignments, too. Right?"

"Right," Suga replied dutifully but with more than a hint of amusement.

"Hey!" Oikawa gave an exaggerated pout. "Suga, this is important! What if they don't let me make up the work and then I have to repeat the year and then you're stuck with just Makki and Matsu as roommates! Really, Suga, if you think about it, I'm doing this for you!"

"As honorable as that is," Suga laughed, "I seriously and highly doubt they'll make you repeat a year for missing a month-"

"But they could!"

"Especially since you've read ahead into next year's lessons already," Suga finished.

Oikawa seemed to consider this. "...Fine, but it never hurts to check."

Suga rolled his eyes and stood up.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"Apparently, I've got professors to cajole." Suga grinned. "Don't worry, Iwaizumi should be back soon."

Oikawa sighed dramatically. "Abandoned in my hour of need."

Pulling the curtain back, Suga turned and was halfway to a retort when-

"Suga?"

Suga froze.

Daichi stared back at him from one bed over.

"What are you doing here," Daichi asked, scanning over Suga quickly for any signs of injuries. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. I...I'm just visiting Oikawa," Suga said.

Behind him, Oikawa hummed. "Finished visiting me, more like. It's okay, Suga, I'll be fine here until Iwaizumi gets back. Besides," Oikawa raised an eyebrow, looking from Daichi to Suga, "I believe there's part of the story I missed."

Suga didn't bother responding, eyes still fixed on Daichi.

Daichi cleared his throat. "Suga...do you mind if we go somewhere to talk?"

"Okay," Suga said, heart beating quickly.

Daichi nodded and began leading Suga out of the Hospital Wing and to a tiny alcove a bit down the hall.

When they finally got there, Daichi just stopped and they were both stuck a charged sort of silence.

Suga broke it first. "Are you feeling better?"

"What? Oh," Daichi ran a hand over the back of his head, "yeah, Professor Nekomata just gave me a final checkup. Concussion all healed."

"I'm glad," Suga said and even he could feel how the phrase hung piteously incomplete.

Daichi took a breath. "Listen, Suga, about that night-"

"I'm sorry," Suga interrupted. "I was trying to keep you from being petrified and I got you kidnapped. I just wanted you to be safe, I swear. I didn't know about the basilisk."

Daichi breathed in sharply. "So...when you told be you couldn't return my feelings, that was...that was just you trying to keep me safe?"

"Yes," Suga insisted. "I didn't know what was happening. I thought just being around me was putting you in danger. I swear I didn't know what would happen-"

"I believe you," Daichi said, eyes wide. "But...does that. Suga, do you care about me?"

"Of course," Suga said, words tumbling out as his heart beat faster and faster. "That's why the basilisk attacked you because it knew I wanted you safe and-"

"But like you care about me more than friends," Daichi cut him off. "You like me?"

"Yes," Suga said quietly. "Daichi, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I never meant-"

Daichi kissed him.

Daichi Sawamura kissed Koushi Sugawara for the first time, hands framing his face carefully and neither able to catch their breath.

A second, maybe two, and then Daichi was pulling back before Suga even had a chance to process.

Daichi blushed. "Um, sorry, I...I probably should've asked first."

Suga just stared at him.

"You...you still like me," Suga asked. "Even after I nearly got you killed?"

Daichi laughed self-consciously. "Well, I have to admit the basilisk was a bit of a surprise. Not to mention the Heir stuff but...well, Noya and Tanaka nearly get me killed at least once a year so…" Daichi took a breath and looked back at Suga with that same heartbreaking smile. "What I'm trying to say Suga is...I meant what I said back then. I think you're amazing, terrifying basilisk or not. And I really, really like you."

Suga's breath caught and he remained perfectly still as if a single movement could break the moment.

"I'm, ah, I'm going to try this again, okay?" Daichi's smile turned nervous. "Suga...Koushi, will you go out with me?"

"Yes," Suga said, the words leaving before he could even think about them. "Yes, Daichi. I'd love to. Yes."

"Yeah," Daichi said and slowly the smile started to grow bigger and bigger and. "Yes, you mean it? Really?"

"Yes," Suga repeated, laughing and reaching for Daichi at the same time.

Daichi caught his hand, pulling him closer. "I really want to kiss you now...is that...okay?"

Suga kissed him before he could even finish.

It didn't quite work. Daichi was still talking and Suga was smiling too wide to really make it.

It was perfect.

Suga pulled back, leaning against Daichi. "Yes."

ooooooo

"Suga?" Hinata called, turning toward the last bed in the Hospital Wing.

"You just missed him." Oikawa said, raising an eyebrow. "Honestly, Hinata, I just wake up after a month and you come here asking for Suga?! You really are the worst mentee."

Hinata grinned. "I told you, you're not my mentor."

"Well, not now definitely." Oikawa sniffed.

Hinata ignored him, falling into the visitor's chair beside him. "How are you?"

"Oh, fine," Oikawa waved a hand dismissively. "Just waiting for Professor Nekomata to clear me. I'm pretty sure he's just keeping me now for my sparkling personality."

"Nah, can't be that," Hinata teased.

Oikawa aimed a kick at him. "Kids these days. You fight one basilisk and then there's no respect for your wise elders."

Hinata laughed. "I'm glad you're awake, Oikawa."

"Not as glad as you'd be if I was Suga apparently," Oikawa drawled.

"I thought you'd be busy," Hinata protested, still smiling. "I was going to visit you later, promise."

"Fine, I suppose I'll believe you," Oikawa said magnanimously. "What are you looking for Suga for anyway?"

The amusement slowly fell away from Hinata's face like rain rolling down a window.

"I need to give something back to him," Hinata said quietly.

Oikawa waited, wondering if the younger was going to say any more but Hinata stayed silent, frowning down as his hands fiddled idly in his lap.

"...Hey, Oikawa," Hinata finally spoke.

"Yes?".

"Do you ever think about how the war started?" Hinata stopped, frowned. "The...the Giant's war."

"I've read through the newspapers," Oikawa said, carefully. "The first spread out attacks, the Ministry notices, opinion pages, that kind of thing. It's terrifying, isn't it? How people don't notice the small things until they escalate into all out war. Is that what you mean?"

Hinata shook his head, still looking down. "Not….not really."

"What do you mean, then," Oikawa asked.

Hinata hesitated again and Oikawa forced himself to be patient.

"I just," Hinata began slowly. "I just never really thought about how much people can change, you know. And they don't even see it. No one sees it. Not until it's too late and...and you're something you don't want to be. You know?"

Oikawa didn't but before he could ask, Hinata continued.

"I guess it's just," Hinata looked up and something like electricity went down Oikawa's spine, "I think I know what you were talking about last year….with all the stupid pureblood supremacy stuff. I get why you hate them. It's because they're the kind of people...that's the kind of mindset that can hate someone so much, hate something just because it's different, that...that the person starts to believe it to." Hinata curled in on himself slightly. "Oikawa, I don't think there's anything worse than believing you should hate something you are. Or...or seeing that happen to a friend."

Oikawa watched as Hinata seemed to run out of words, looking back down and seeming so much smaller than Oikawa could ever remember him being.

Oikawa cleared his throat, trying to inject levity into his voice. "Well, you know what I always say. Don't just get mad, get even. Piss them off first."

Hinata gave a small smile. "I don't know…"

"Come on," Oikawa said, "you can't tell me all the blood supremacy stuff doesn't piss you off? You gotta be angry about it. If not, it eats you alive."

"It's not that," Hinata answered "It does make me angry. I am angry. But...living my life to piss off someone else doesn't sound very fun either." Hinata sighed, shaking his head. "I think, more than anything, it just makes me sad, though."

"Sad, really," Oikawa asked. "For them? They don't deserve it."

Hinata shrugged. "I don't think that's really what sadness is about."

Oikawa stopped, staring at the younger boy in the chair as if he was a particularly difficult puzzle.

"I don't get you," Oikawa admitted.

Hinata looked up, opened his mouth to answer, and then there was the sound of footsteps coming closer.

Iwaizumi came around the corner, pulling the curtain a bit further back before his eyes landed on the visitor's chair.

"Hinata?" Iwaizumi looked between Oikawa's perplexed expression and Hinata still poised to respond. "Am I interrupting something?"

And then Hinata smiled-a bright smile as if the earlier contemplation was never there.

"Nah," Hinata answered, getting up off the visitor's chair and swinging his bag over his shoulder. "I was just checking on Oikawa."

Oikawa caught up not a second later, scoffing. "Don't listen to him, Iwa-chan. Apparently, I'm just playing second fiddle to Suga."

Iwaizumi gave him a deadpan expression. "I thought you knew that already."

"Mean, Iwa-chan!"

Iwaizumi ignored him, turning to look at Hinata. "You know you don't have to leave just on my account, right?"

"Yeah," Hinata said, shuffling on his feet. "But, I really do need to find Suga….plus, Kageyama's going to kill me if I don't go look after our Herbology project."

Oikawa shuddered in a way that was only partially faked. "Herbology. Go, go, save your dying plant or whatever."

Hinata laughed, heading out with one last wave over his shoulder.

After he left, Iwaizumi dropped into the visitor's chair with an amused quirk of his lip.

"Kid's more like you than I thought," Iwaizumi remarked.

And Oikawa paused, leaning back on the bed with a small smile and serious eyes.

"No," Oikawa corrected. "He's really, really not."

Iwaizumi raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for the explanation.

Oikawa just shook his head. "It's okay. I think I like him better this way."

ooooo

A/N: The story only has one more chapter left so almost done (with this year at least)! Thank you for all of your support!

The-Not-At-All-Ominously-Titled Next Chapter: The Real Enemy