As Christmas drew closer Blaine tried hard to be his usual charming self. Sam's worry had indeed shaken him and Blaine didn't want to be a point of concern for any of his friends. So he was friendly and polite and kept the wallowing for the long, lonely nights when he hugged his pillow close and the poor fantasy of it being Kurt wasn't enough.
His search for a new way to visit Kurt was also not coming along and he had to admit that what had started as burning enthusiasm was slowly turning into resignation. He had researched books about the history of Hogwarts, old maps and other resources to find secret passageways out of the castle. He did find one or two which he filed away for later but that still didn't solve the problem of how he should get to Kurt fast and safely. There were spells to protect him from the cold but there seemed to be nothing to make sure he wouldn't crash in one of the storms that were constantly raging or, once again, get lost in them. Besides that, he would have to fly even further to Kurt's home, landing and starting in what was likely to be a vastly populated area and chances were high he would be seen.
Combining everything he had, might have made taken a broom possible but it was still too dangerous and too precarious to honestly consider it an option.
Then of course there was attempting to apparate. Blaine couldn't do that from within the castle or on school grounds but some of the passageways lead to Hogsmeade from where he could have tried. Tried actually was the accurate word for that, as well. As a 5th year student, Blaine hadn't had any classes in apperaiting so far and even though some students were stupid enough to try it before being taught how, splintering somewhere where no one saw him and in the process dying, decidedly wasn't the way to go.
So, Blaine was essentially back to square one, sitting in the library every moment he could spare and simply trying to come up with something. Anything.
He told Kurt about it, too. Kurt smiled at him and told him that he would come up with something and even if not February wasn't that far away either and the most important thing was that they could be together in any way and hey talking was better than nothing and just having that with Blaine was more than he could have imagined for himself.
"It's just so frustrating!" Blaine called out, hand clasped over his eyes. He heard a small chuckle from the mirror he was holding in his other hand and growled. He was, once again, in the room of requirement. To his liking it had transformed into a comfortable sitting room, with high windows that let him see the snow falling outside, shelves bursting with books stacked along the high walls, with a nice fire place and a comfortable couch situated in front of it. On a small table where cookies and constantly warm coffee, though he hadn't touched either so far. He was too busy lying on the couch being defeated and cranky while talking to Kurt.
"There, there, sweetie." Kurt soothed him. "It will work out eventually."
"You think?" Blaine asked hopefully, peaking at Kurt's face between two fingers. Kurt shrugged. "I have to believe it. Otherwise I would have broken any charm surrounding this castle by now just to find you and press you into the next wall." There was a small silence between them where Blaine just gaped at his boyfriend. Slips like that had become more frequent, it seemed only natural, them being two horny, teenage boys, but each and every on Kurt's side still left Blaine stunned and flushed.
"Would you now?" Blaine smirked, once he had regained his composure and Kurt scoffed. "You bet your sweet little butt I would." Kurt smirked back and Blaine blushed even more.
"Well, well Mr. Hummel. Did you sneak a peak there?" Blaine teased, trying not to appear as self-conscious as he felt in that moment.
"Mhh, I might have when I let you try on all those clothes. I saved it as a dear memory."
"For lonely nights?" Blaine shot back. Instantly, Kurt's whole demeanour changed. Every glint of tease was swept away from his face and all that was left was honesty and something dark. Longing, maybe desire. Either way it made Blaine feel hot.
"All my nights are lonely." Kurt whispered. There was pain in his voice and still it was just so plain sensual it made Blaine's throat go dry. The flash of a second, the blink of an eye and it was gone, Kurt back to smiling coyly at him.
"Is there really no one you could ask for help though?" Blaine closed his eyes and shook his head, resigned.
"Who would I ask, Kurt? Mike has no idea and besides him there is literally no one who might help." Kurt sighed and fell silent again. Truth was, Blaine had been wondering about asking anyone, maybe the librarian or a teacher, for some time now. But any question would seem too suspicious and he had to avoid drawing any attention. Then again, there had to be a way to ask for help.
Ask. Just ask. Ask!
Suddenly, Blaine's face lit up as realisation hit him, his body getting rigid as he sat up straight. He just had to ask to get what he wanted.
"Blaine? Blaine! What's wrong? What's happening?" Kurt yelled, baffled by Blaine's sudden movement.
"I just have to ask!" Blaine said excitedly, jumping up from his seat.
"Yeah, that's what I just suggested." Kurt commented, his eye brows raised in confusion.
"No, Kurt. You don't understand. I literally just have to ask." Kurt still looked bewildered and Blaine was quick to elaborate.
"I am in the room of requirement." Blaine looked at Kurt who cocked his head to the side, his eyes getting glassy as he thought before his lips formed a silent oh. Blaine nodded eagerly, as Kurt's gaze focused back on him.
"Just just have to ask." Kurt squealed and Blaine beamed. His cheeks were hurting from all the grinning, but he couldn't stop. If this worked, it would change everything.
"What are you waiting for? Do it!" Kurt practically yelled at him. Seemingly he was jumping up and down in excitement, if the blurry picture Blaine got was anything to go by.
"Yes. Yes! Give me a second. I have to word it right." Blaine took a deep breath and closed his eyes, carefully considering what to say. As he had decided he opened them again and started to move slowly. Back and forth. He was nearly 100% sure that you didn't need to walk to make a wish within the room, but he wasn't taking chances.
I need a passageway out of this room to get to my boyfriend Kurt Hummel, he repeated over and over in his head. Blaine laid all the urgency he could muster into the thought and as he had finished the thought for the third time, he stopped and looked around.
"So?" Kurt asked agitated.
Blaine twirled on his axis, searching the room with his eyes and there, in the corner of the room close to one of the large windows was something new. A mirror, oval and larger than Blaine himself, at least 6 feet high and framed with thick silver. The socket was also made of silver and it was decorated with little symbols, runes he couldn't read but also small roses.
"There is a mirror, Kurt. I think... I think it's a portal?" Blaine whispered and Kurt took in a sharp breath. Blaine's heart was pounding when he approached the mirror. He wanted to stretch out his hand, touch the glass and see if he could walk right through it but he didn't dare. His hand fell down lifelessly from where it had been hovering in midair.
"What now?" Kurt asked hesitantly. Blaine swallowed turning around and slowly went back to sit on the couch.
"There is nothing I would rather do than just see how it works and if I can walk right through it but there is too much we don't know. Will this mirror disappear along with the room as soon as I leave in your direction? Where does it end in your house? Is it a temporary or constant connection and does it go either way or just one way?"
Kurt nodded. He was biting his lip, as if he was trying to stop himself from saying something.
"I will tell Mike about this. I'm sure he'll be willing to come with me tomorrow and keep an eye on the connection when I try to... come to you." For a long moment Blaine just looked at Kurt, the significance of what he had just said wrapping itself around them, as if the mere prospect of being physically close again, was enough to stop the world around them from existing.
"Tomorrow then?" Kurt breathed and Blaine nodded. "I can't wait." They grinned at each other for a moment then Kurt said. "Maybe you should try to let something drop through the mirror? A book maybe? See what happens and where it ends up?"
Once again Blaine was baffled by Kurt's canny understanding of magic. Immediately, Blaine got up and went to one of the shelves, picking up a random book and moving to stand in front of the mirror. He raised his hand, the book only millimetres from the glass.
Blaine glanced at the mirror in his hand.
"Ready?" He questioned warily. Kurt nodded and Blaine pushed the book forward and then let if fall. It went through the mirror like through water. A second later he heard a silent bang. Kurt gasped and looked away. As he turned back he was grinning, his eyes wide in wonder.
"There is a book lying in front of my mirror, Blaine."
A relieved sigh left Blaine's lungs and be grinned at Kurt who beamed back. "Well, that's quite something." Blaine mused and Kurt agreed.
"I'll have to get back to the dorms now. I also can't wait to talk to Mike." Blaine informed Kurt and the boy giggled. "You just want to brag about what you found." Blaine shrugged.
"A little maybe." Kurt laughed again before he focused back on Blaine, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "In less than twenty-four hours I will get to kiss you, Blaine Wizard."
Something warm blossomed in Blaine at those words. He ducked his head and smiled at Kurt.
"I can't wait for that." Kurt winked at him and said good night. Blaine disconnected their call and immediately hurried out of the room and ran back to the dorms. He knew that running wouldn't bring tomorrow faster but he could at least try.
"Can't we go now?" Blaine whined as he walked down the corridor with Mike. Next to him, his friend just chuckled. "For the 100th time, Blaine. We are not skipping class. You have to be..."
"Unsuspicious," Blaine groaned, "Yeah, you're right." Mike nodded and they continued their way to their next class.
"But can't we go directly after class? Before instead of after dinner?"Blaine pleaded. Mike rolled his eyes. "You still need to send Kurt an owl to tell him to be home and alone so, no, that wouldn't be a good idea." Blaine sighed. This day was just moving too slowly.
Blaine was still deep in thought as he noticed that Mike had disappeared from his side.
"He? What? Where are you going?" Blaine asked confused. Mike huffed out a laugh. "Get it together, mate. I have runes now and you should hurry to get to divination. Sure, Sam is already waiting for you."
Blaine nodded distractedly, heading into the direction of the divination tower, his mind already back to Kurt. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice the lean boy moving towards him until he walked right into him.
"Whoa, Blaine, where are your eyes?" Blaine froze. Why now? He looked up and was met by a seductive smirk and green eyes.
"Sorry, Sebastian. I was thinking," Blaine said, stepping out of the other boy's personal space. "Aww, where you thinking of me?" Sebastian asked, moving forward so that he and Blaine were once again chest to chest.
"For a matter of fact, I wasn't." Blaine rolled his eyes, skipping away and around Sebastian. He had only managed to walk a couple of feet when the pressure of a hand around his wrist brought him to a sudden halt. Blaine's head spun around, sending an annoyed glare towards the Slytherine.
"Come on, Blaine. We both know that you and I is a thing that is eventually going to happen." Sebastian was practically purring at him. Something stirred in Blaine and he had to admit that it was only partly annoyance. He opened his mouth but no words came out, the witty comeback somewhere dead at the back of his tongue.
"That's what I thought." The mischief in Sebastian's eyes was evident. Something primal and inciting. He tugged Blaine closer and Blaine went along until he was close to Sebastian again. "See, that's more like it," Sebastian whispered. He leaned down a little and as Blaine realised what was about to happen, he was shaken out of his daze and stumbled back. He clutched his hand over his mouth, eyes wide.
"Whoa, Blainers. Keep calm. It's just a little kiss. Not like you have a boyfriend." Sebastian shrugged dismissively but as Blaine's eyes went wider and his frame began to shake slightly Sebastian let out a light whistle. "Or do you now? Why don't I know about that prince charming of yours yet? Is he older, Blainers? Got youself a 7th year or maybe a little sugardaddy from the village? Yeah, that's something I can see. You spreading your legs for some extra tubes of gel."
Blaine only shook his head, not even sure what he was denying. "Or is he a teacher?" Sebastian came closer again, crowding into Blaine's personal space. "I always had a feeling Longbottom had a thing for bright eyed little boys. Shows again that being married means nothing."
Blaine had started moving backwards. As soon as he was at arm's length from Sebastian, he turned around and started running.
"I will find out anyway, Blaine. Don't think you could keep your dirty little secrets from me!" Blaine's pace got faster, while Sebastian just laughed behind him.
How could he have let Sebastian come so close? He had been centimetres away from cheating on Kurt! The knowledge felt like a thorn in his heart. And now Sebastian was onto him. Blaine could only hope that Sebastian wasn't as serious as he had sounded, becoming bored by Blaine's love life rather sooner than later. Bored enough not to peruse it and endanger Blaine or Kurt.
When Mike and Blaine arrived at the room of requirement around eight that evening, most thoughts of Sebastian were shoved to the back of Blaine's mind. What he really was worried about was the portal and if it would work smoothly. Blaine was nervous. If something went wrong Mike would have to get a teacher and if they could help the two boys would still have stepped in it big time. But despite all of that, he couldn't not try it.
Meanwhile, Mike was seizing up the mirror. He was letting his fingers hover over millimetres from the glass before he turned back to Blaine.
"Call him," Mike said and Blaine got out his pocket mirror. He spokes Kurt's name into it, and a second later Kurt's face appeared.
"Hey," Blaine smiled. "Hi," Kurt echoed. He was smiling but Blaine instantly realised that something was troubling his boyfriend by the way he bit his lip.
"Hey, Kurt. Everything okay?" Kurt bit his lip for another second then he sighed before he admitted. "I guess I'm just worried? I mean I know that magic can be a dangerous tool and I just don't want you to get hurt just so you can spend time with me." Blaine was touched by Kurt's worry and he couldn't deny that he shared Kurt's thoughts and still.
"Hey, I'll be fine. This will work. I mean I asked it to work so it basically has to." He winked at Kurt and Kurt let out a short laugh. "I'm going now, okay? I'll give Mike the mirror, so we stay in contact." Kurt nodded and Blaine looked at Mike.
His friend was staring at him with a serious expression. It was like he tried to figure something out about him. As he caught Blaine's eye, he smiled and nodded, taking the mirror from him.
"Hey there, Kurt." Mike spoke to the mirror and Kurt greeted back. "Good to see you again, Mike. Thank you for everything you are doing for us. I know it's hard. I appreciate it." Mike smiled and nodded, accepting Kurt's gratitude.
Blaine had come to stand in front of the mirror. He stretched his hand out, fingertips nearly touching the glass. He closed his eyes and thought of Kurt. Kurt, who he would get to hold in the matter of a second. Kurt who he had longed to touch for weeks now. With the image of his boyfriend in his head he leaned forward and fell down hard on the floor. He shivered. It was like he had fallen through water but the pain in his knees let the thought of any other feeling disappear quickly.
His feet still felt like they were partly in water and he moved them until the unpleasant sensation was gone.
"Oh my god," a well-known voice thrilled and Blaine opened his eyes. It took a second before he was able to focus his gaze. Immediately his eyes landed on the face hovering above him. Blue eyes, wide in worry, a pointed nose that Blaine wanted to nudge, high, wonderful cheekbones, fair skin that had lost his freckles since Blaine had last seen it so closely and beautiful soft lips.
It took all power Blaine had in his dizzy body to raise his hand and cup Kurt's neck, pulling the other boy down and sealing his lips in a kiss. It was like their first kiss all over again and still Blaine could have sworn he had done nothing in his life but kissing Kurt. He felt safe, warm, home and then again his body was shaken by such an intense sensation that he felt like electricity was shooting through him.
It only took Kurt a second to answer, then his hands were grabbing Blaine's shirt pulling him closer. Kurt's lips were soft but pressing down hard before they parted lightly and Blaine felt teeth lightly nibbling at his bottom lip. He moaned in the back of his throat, his other hand coming up to bury itself in Kurt's soft hair. God, how he had missed that feeling. The feeling of Kurt's smooth hair between his fingers, the feeling of Kurt's body pressed against his, straddling his, the feeling of Kurt's lips on his. Feeling Kurt.
Blaine let his mouth fall open and instantly, Kurt's tongue swiped in, exploring his mouth, caressing behind his teeth and making Blaine whimper with the longed for sensation. When their tongues brushed both moaned and Kurt deepened the kiss even further before he pulled back.
His grin was dopy, a sharp contrast to his blown pupils and heavy breathing. "I missed you so much," Kurt breathed before diving back in, kissing down Blaine's face and latching onto the sensitive skin of his throat. Blaine moaned.
"Missed you, too," he gasped then mewled when Kurt bit down at his neck, surely leaving a bruise. As always the mere thought of the hicky, imagining himself staring at it in the mirror, pressing down on it when he was alone, parted from Kurt by miles over miles, and the mixture of pleasure-plain he was feeling, made Blaine hot all over. He stretched his neck, giving Kurt better access, using the hold he had on Kurt's hair to urge him even closer.
He was so caught up in the sensation that was sending tingling arousal through his body that it took a couple of seconds before he noticed someone calling out to them.
"Guys? GUYS!" Unwillingly he opened his eyes, which were too glassed over to focus on anything. In that moment Kurt pulled back and straightened up, a move that was commented by a displeased whimper from Blaine.
Over him Kurt was moving until he was holding something.
"Finally," Blaine heard the voice say. "I couldn't see you but I could hear you perfectly clear and I thought we should talk before you guys get carried away."
"Yeah, sorry." Kurt sounded embarrassed, while Blaine was still too busy floating happily on the floor. Kurt got up from where he was sitting on Blaine and offered the boy a hand. Blaine took it disgruntledly and let himself be pulled up and lead to the bed. It was only now that he got to take in the room.
Ahead of him was the door. The wall on his left was occupied by a shelf unit in white, filled with books, pictures and other items that seemed to have sentimental or decorative value. On the right was a double bed, in the same colour as the shelf. Next to it, towards the window, was a vanity and next to that the mirror Blaine had come through. On the side of the shelves was also a door that Blaine suspected lead to a walk in closet.
Kurt manoeuvred him to sit on the bed, not letting go of his hand as he focused back on the mirror.
"So, Blaine got here safely. That's good," Kurt told Mike and Blaine grinned in agreement. "It is," Mike said. "The real question now is, if he can just walk right back through it."
Kurt turned to Blaine, holding his gaze for a moment before he briefly squeezed his hand and let Blaine get up. "I guess now is as good of a time as later," Blaine raised their tangled hands to his mouth, pressing a brief kiss on Kurt's hand before letting go of it.
He stepped in front of the mirror and stretched out his hand. It came in contact with cold, solid glass. His brows furrowed and he pressed against the mirror harder. Nothing happened. The glass didn't budge.