Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or Harry Potter, I am just a humble fan
It was 9.45 on Saturday 19th November. Nick was nervously pacing the courtyard at the front entrance to Hogwarts School. He was a little early for their meeting time, but he was still panicking in case Jeff didn't turn up.
On his third pace round the courtyard, he was pleased to see a happy looking Jeff bound out of the school entrance and down the steps towards him.
"Hi!" Jeff greeted him. "I think I'm early, but you must be too!" He laughed.
Nick laughed too. "Yes, I didn't want to be late. So, I know I asked you out, but I have no idea where we are going! Luckily I know a very good tour guide who promised to show me around?" He winked at Jeff, who melted.
"Of course! In that case, follow me!" He set off in the direction of Hogsmeade, Nick walking beside him, hands stuffed in his pockets. Nick desperately wanted to hold Jeff's hand, but he thought that would make things a bit awkward and they needed to get to know each other better today, at least that was his plan.
Nick looked sideways at Jeff and smiled. "So, I've, uh, never been on a date before. How about we use the time it takes walking to Hogsmeade to ask questions of each other?"
Jeff returned his smile, looking very relieved. "Oh thank god! Me too, I mean this is my first date. Questions sounds good. Do you want to start? Why don't we make it a rule that we can only ask questions that we are going to answer too?"
Nick nodded. "Okay! Hmmm..." He looked thoughtful as they walked, thinking of a question. "Favourite subject?"
Jeff thought for a minute. "That's difficult actually, it's a toss up between Herbology and Potions. I like both of them the same really, Herbology because I like making things grow and Potions for a similar reason, I like taking all the ingredients and hopefully producing something useful with them. Lame, I know!"
Nick replied. "No, I get what you mean. I like Flying, of course, but also History of Magic. I think it's important to know our heritage. It makes me feel like I have a non-blood related family in the history of Wizards and Witches."
Jeff nodded and decided to steer clear of the subject of family for the moment. "Okay, my turn. Favourite food, and that can include sweets."
Nick answered immediately. "That's easy, lemon sherbets. Ever since I bumped into Dumbledore outside of his office I've been craving them..." Jeff looked puzzled. "...it's the password for his office door to open."
Jeff nodded. "Cool, I like them too. When we get to Hogsmeade there's a certain shop I just have to take you to, then!" He wiggled his eyebrows, making Nick laugh.
"Okay, my favourite food has to be chocolate! But as Cedric and all the Hufflepuffs will tell you, I shouldn't have too much sugar in one day..." He trailed off blushing.
Nick bumped him with his shoulder. "Why is that?" He coaxed.
Jeff rolled his eyes. "Well, apparently, and I'm not admitting to this in any way, I get a leeeetle bit... hyper."
Nick laughed. "I have got to see that!"
He continued. "Okay, let me think... if your dorm room caught fire, what's the first thing you would rescue?"
"My hair products!" Jeff exclaimed, looking panicked. "This kind of awesome doesn't happen naturally, you know!" He flipped his hair as Nick laughed.
"I would grab my hat. This stupid hair cut is freezing in the winter!" Nick laughed too.
"So, what is your hair like when you grow it out? And will you, next year?" Jeff asked.
"Uhm, it's kind of wavy, quite thick and brown, and yes, as soon as I can. I let it grow every summer and then hate it when it gets shorn off at the start of term." Jeff nodded sympathetically. He could never go to a school that made him shave his head.
Jeff carried on with the questioning. "Okay, time for a slightly more serious one. I'm assuming Viktor is your best friend?" Nick nodded. "Okay, well Cedric is mine, so this applies to them. What's the best quality they have, kind of why they are your friend?"
Nick looked thoughtful. "Hmm, that's a good one. Well, Viktor lets me just be myself, it's like he doesn't really even do anything but just being my friend helps me just be me, not the quiet, sullen and moody boy he met when I started at Durmstrang."
Jeff nodded. "He sounds cool. It's similar with Cedric actually. If something's bothering me I can get quite broody and introverted, but he doesn't push me about it, he just spends time with me, doing whatever I need to get through the problem. That usually means intense quidditch practice!" He laughed.
Nick nodded. "He sounds cool too. Okay...quick fire round! Favourite colour!"
"Yellow! Hufflepuff colours."
"Mine is red, Durmstrang, and now Gryffindor colours! Favourite flower? I'm going with rose."
Jeff smiled. "Nice. I like daisies, or gerberas, both similar but they are just so bright and...happy!" He giggled. "Okay, something you would never do, willingly any way? Mine is easy - shave my head!"
Nick laughed. "Er, snog a girl!" Jeff giggled. "Okay. A thing you're embarrassed of?"
Jeff thought for a moment, then admitted, "If I laugh too much I get hiccups." At Nick's look he explained. "Yeah, that's not the embarrassing thing though, they don't sound like anyone else's hiccups - it sounds like I'm burping!" He went red as Nick laughed loudly.
"Okay, that's another thing I have to see!" He quietened down, before saying, "Okay, promise you won't laugh? Forget that, you will laugh. I, uh, can't swim."
Jeff stopped walking to stare at Nick incredulously. "You. Can't. Swim. And you travel by ship?!" He lost the battle with laughter and broke out into a fit of giggles, tears streaming from his eyes. "Oh my god, that's priceless!"
Nick rolled his eyes but smiled too. "Yeah, kinda ironic, right? I really should learn, but it's not something I wanted to admit at Durmstrang."
Jeff calmed down before the boys set off walking again. "Tell you what, you help me with shooting practice for quidditch and I'll teach you."
Nick looked at Jeff, amazed. "You will? Thanks! But, I didn't know Hogwarts had a swimming pool."
Jeff smiled mysteriously. "It doesn't. But there is a room on the seventh floor corridor that only appears when you need it and happens to hold exactly what you need. If you are desperate enough to learn how to swim, then the Room of Requirement may help us by providing the pool."
Nick noticed that they had come to the outskirts of a village.
Jeff spoke. "We're here! Welcome to Hogsmeade Village! First stop, Zonko's Joke Shop!"
The two boys went in to the joke shop to see what was on offer today. They came out thirty minutes later with a large bag full of inflating tongues, icky eyeballs, joke eggs, screaming yo-yos, whoopee cushions and other similar items to annoy unsuspecting room-mates.
Jeff giggled. "I'm not sure Viktor is going to like me any more after I've introduced you to Zonko's!" Nick laughed. "Yeah, you might be right there!"
Jeff looked at his watch. "Okay, it's a bit too early for lunch, so let's go to the place I most wanted to take you to next... drum roll please... Honeyduke's!"
Nick ran after the excited blond, and he realised once they got to the destination shop that it was a sweet shop. The window was packed full of packets labelled "Chocolate Frogs" and he could see wonderfully coloured jars of sweets within the shop. His eyes bugged out of his head. "Yum! Lead the way!"
Another twenty or so minutes later, the two boys emerged again. Nick was carrying a large bag of both of their purchases, but Jeff had one small bag that he wouldn't let Nick see in.
Jeff suddenly said in an excited voice, "I know, I was going to show you the Shrieking Shack! We can have a sweet tasting session while we're there!"
Nick was about to reply, but his words got caught in his mouth as Jeff grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him at a fast pace, presumably in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. Truth be told, the Durmstrang boy couldn't have cared less where he was being dragged, so long as Jeff didn't let go of his arm.
I'm having so much fun. Nick thought. I don't think I've stopped smiling since Jeff entered Hogwart's courtyard. My face is actually starting to hurt!
They turned right and carried on running down a road which now had only one building at the end of it. It looked really old and worn down. "Here we are!" Announced Jeff. Nick was disappointed when Jeff let go of his arm to gesture to the building. "It's not much to look at, but it's not a proper trip to Hogsmeade without visiting it."
While Jeff was chatting, he didn't notice Nick fiddling with one of their bags. "Why don't we sit down here and look at what we've bought?" Nick suggested, desperately trying not to smirk.
"Okay." Nick gestured politely for Jeff to sit first, before doubling over in laughter as a loud, ear-splitting noise of air leaving a whoopee cushion was heard as soon as Jeff sat. Jeff's look of shock quickly morphed into hysterics as he tried to get up to go after Nick, but his laughter was making standing near impossible.
"Oh, you are soooo dead, Duval! I will pay you back for that!"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist!" Nick was still laughing, but dared to sit next to Jeff, who was mock-glaring at him now.
"Just for that, I should withhold the lemon sherbets!" He said, dangling a bag in front of Nick's nose.
Nick's eyes widened. "Oooh, that's a low blow!" He answered dramatically.
Jeff pretended to give in good-naturedly and passed him a single sweet, which Nick popped in his mouth straight away.
His smile turned to confusion as he sucked it, saying, "These don't taste like lemon... What the hell?"
It was Jeff's turn to laugh at his misfortune, as Nick began levitating about five feet in the air. By the time he had slowly come back down, Jeff was crying with laughter.
"I'm sorry, I seem to have accidentally given you a Fizzing Whizzbee. My bad!"
Nick laughed. "Okay, you got me! Next time, I'm reading the label!"
Jeff produced a bag of brightly coloured jelly beans out of the bag. As he opened them, he explained to Nick, "Now, these are Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and I mean every flavour, good or disgusting. Dumbledore once got an earwax flavoured one once!"
Nick grimaced. "Okay, lets have one each at the same time." They both took similar green ones and popped them in their mouths, starting to chew.
Nick began to smile as he said, "Mmm, sour apple."
Jeff choked and spat his out, "Ugh, bogey! I think I'm gonna be sick!"
Nick searched in his bag for something to take the taste out of Jeff's mouth. He found a chocolate frog packet and opened it, knowing Jeff liked chocolate. What he didn't know is that it would jump off. Boing! It sprung out of the packet and landed a metre away.
Nick scrambled to his feet and dived for it, too late. Boing! Another miss. Boing! He could hear Jeff laughing at him from behind as he finally grabbed the slippery chocolate as the charm finally wore off.
He gave it to a grateful Jeff, who split it with him, shutting his eyes and moaning as the delicious taste hit his tongue. Nick couldn't take his eyes off of Jeff as he did this, blush hitting his cheeks as Jeff caught him staring.
He cleared his throat. "Okay, what about these?" He pulled another bag of sweets from the bag, looking like fruit drops. Within two minutes, Jeff had a bright green tongue and Nick had a blue one.
The last two sweets they tried were Nick's favourites. One made you roar like a lion, the other made you breathe flames. "I'm getting another bag each of these for Viktor!" He exclaimed, impressed.
Jeff jumped up, brushing down his skinny jeans as he said, "Why don't we see what's on the lunch menu at the Three Broomsticks? You can't beat a good Cumberland Pie, of course washed down with Butterbeer."
Just over an hour later, the boys had finished their lunch and were relaxing in the booth at the Three Broomsticks, leisurely sipping Butterbeer.
Jeff asked, "So, the first task is on Thursday. I wonder what it will be? Cedric said that the judges won't let them know anything because it tests their daring, so they can't know anything in advance."
Nick nodded. "Yes, Viktor said the same. We'll find out soon enough. By the way, when I was talking to Viktor I promised that we wouldn't talk about anything Tournament related, just so we can't be accused of cheating by Beauxbatons. I hope that's okay with you?"
Jeff nodded. "Yes, that sounds sensible and I'm sure Cedric would agree, unless it's something that puts either of them in danger." Nick nodded his agreement.
"If we don't have to sit by school, I'd like to watch it with you." Nick said, looking over at Jeff. The blond boy smiled softly, "I'd like that." He replied.
On their way back from Hogsmeade, the boys carried on with questions. By the time they had reached the entrance to Hufflepuff at the end of the afternoon, the boys knew a lot more about each other's likes and dislikes, and that they were both the only child of parents they didn't get along with.
Jeff had had an amazing time on his date and he told Nick this as he stood nervously beside the Hufflepuff barrels. Their bags were on the floor beside them. "Me too." Nick said as he stepped closer to Jeff.
Both boys breathed in nervously as Nick gazed into Jeff's eyes, then down to his lips, then back up again. He leant in slowly to chastely kiss Jeff softly, full on the mouth. Warm tingles spread through his lips as he pulled back, smiling.
"I guess I'll see you at dinner?" He whispered huskily. Jeff nodded, wide eyed and smiling.
"Yes, from across the room as usual." He rolled his eyes. "Thank you for today, I had a lovely time."
Nick smiled back. "I did too."
At dinner that night, Nick was surprised to see Jeff's white owl, Squirt, fly into the hall just after Jeff had entered with Cedric. Instead of heading for the Hufflepuff table though, it flew towards the Durmstrang one, landing in front of Nick.
Nick caught Jeff's eye and the other boy smiled. He turned to see the owl had a small parcel and a piece of parchment attached to it. He read the note which said;
Thanks for today, I had fun :) J x
Nick smiled as he then opened the parcel. A small bag of real lemon sherbets was inside, making Nick's smile even wider at Jeff's thoughtful gesture.
Reviews? :)