A/N:

Hogwarts Auction
Day 23, Auction 3: The Princess and the Frog

Word count: 971

"Saturdays are one of the busiest days," Alec said, grabbing an empty plate from a table as he passed and earning a thankful smile from the patron.

"I know that, but Dad's willing to pay you way more than you'll get in this place." Jace gestured around at the restaurant.

Alec sighed and entered the kitchen, listening to Jace follow him. He wasn't supposed to be in the back, but that rarely stopped him. His dad was one of the most respected men in the city, and as much as Jace was Alec's best friend, he had a habit of just assuming he was allowed anywhere. He sat the dirty plate on the counter and turned back to Jace.

"How much?" It annoyed him to give in, but if he ever had any hope of opening his restaurant, he needed to think about money.

Jace grinned. "You know that mill? Dad will buy it for you. You can open your own restaurant there."

Alec gaped at him. He'd been saving up for the restaurant for years, but he'd expected it to take years more before he'd have enough. He certainly hadn't expected to get a whole building in one night.

"Are you serious?"

"Completely," Jace promised.

And, well, that sealed it.

Alec took a sigh of relief as the cool night air hit his face. It had been so stuffy inside the ball. To think, he'd worked himself to the bone trying to make everything perfect only to learn that he might not get the mill in the end. He kicked at a stray rock in frustration.

"Excuse me."

Alec's brow furrowed. He glanced around looking for the person who'd spoken, but he didn't see anything.

"Down here."

Alec looked down at saw a frog at his feet, a frog that was staring right back up at him with far too much awareness. Alec jumped backward.

"What are you?" he exclaimed.

"Well, right now, I'm a frog," he said, sounding far too easygoing considering the situation. "But usually I'm Prince Magnus. You see, I've been cursed, and you need to kiss me so that I can be human again."

Alec stared at the frog. Had he hit his head without realizing it? That was the only way this could be happening. He thought of The Frog Prince, which his mom had read to him frequently as a kid. He'd hated it, but Jace had loved it. He wondered idly if his best friend was somehow involved, but he pushed it aside. Not even Jace, with all of his money, could make frogs talk.

"Leave me alone," he said, turning away. Talking or not, it was a frog. Surely it would leave him alone. But no. The frog gave a few large leaps and landed back in front of Alec, who stared at it in surprise again.

"Please," the frog pleaded. It even clutched its front hands together. It looked so like a human that Alec was even more scared. "One kiss. One tiny peck. Then I'll become human, and that will be the end of it."

Alec stared. He didn't want to kiss the frog, but he also didn't want a frog following him around.

"Fine," he snapped. "One kiss."

He awkwardly bent to pick up the frog and bring him up to eye level. He squeezed his eyes shut and brushed his lips against the frog's slimy skin. Before he could react, everything shifted. His eyes flew open, and everything looked off. It took a second for him to realize that everything was larger.

His gaze landed on the frog, who stared back at him with wide eyes. They were the same size now.

Alec's heart pounded in his chest, if that was a thing with frogs, while he watched Jace kiss Magnus. It had taken ages to even reach him. The ball had been packed. They'd been chased away when they'd tried to enter and had found themselves in the bayou only to be redirected back to the city and to Jace, the prince of the parade and the only hope they had of becoming human once more.

Except they hadn't made it in time. The clock struck midnight a split second before Jace's lips touched Magnus, and when they did, Magnus remained a frog just as he'd been before.

"I'm so sorry," Jace said as he lowered him back to the ground.

"It's okay," Magnus said, sounding oddly resigned after what Alec had been putting up with from him.

He turned to Alec. "I'm the one who's sorry," he said. "You may never be human again, and it's all because of me."

If frogs could cry, Alec was pretty sure that he would have in that moment. There was no doubt Magnus had infuriated him at first, but Alec had become attached to him scarily fast.

"It's okay," Alec said.

"No, it's not," Magnus continued, hopping a little closer. "Alexander, I… I love you. I know that doesn't make up for our present state, but I wanted you to know."

"I love you too," Alec breathed. He let out a disbelieving laugh as they embraced each other. It wasn't the same, but it was enough.

Alec smiled as they were pronounced married. Maybe it wasn't the same as a human wedding, but it was more than enough. They kissed, and Alec felt so joyful that at first he didn't notice the other changes. When Magnus pulled away, he opened his eyes and gaped in shock. Magnus laughed, and Alec tried to adjust to his human face.

"When we were married, you became a prince," Magnus said, trying to process it all himself.

Alec nodded dumbfoundedly as he took it all in. A second later, he let out a laugh and threw his arms around Magnus, holding him close.