"Here." Gavin thanked Nines as he pushed a mug of butterbeer across the table. He sort of felt like a third year again as he cradled the large tankard of cream-topped fizz. It was one of the few student safe beverages the tavern had come up with over the years to profit off them visiting the village. He savoured the sweet, creamy taste as he sipped, wiping thick cream from his lips as he put the glass down. Nines, Connor, and Sixty had gone for pints of Dragon's Breath. It was a strong, hearty ale that warmed you through on a cold winter's day. It was also quite potent. Gavin was surprised they'd ordered it, considering the amount of students about.
"If this weather holds out until Monday, I might take my fourth years out on the assault course." Gavin remembered that. There were huge hoops set up around the castle grounds and across the lake, spaced between natural objects that would block their paths so they could practice weaving. It had been one of the best things about flying practice, besides actually getting to go free flying during the sixth and seventh years. They were allowed to go wherever they wanted, provided they stayed within the area around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. He used to fly right out over the Forbidden Forest and up to the mountaintops. The views were stunning from up there.
"I'll have my students weed the outside plots ready for the seedlings." Gavin held back from making a face at that. Weeding was the worst part of herbology, especially when the weeds moved. Some of them would jump right back in the soil as soon as you pulled them out. You pretty much had to burn them on the spot to get rid of them. Scorching the whole plot and mixing in the remains had been his go-to method. Unfortunately, it also burned off most of the nutrients and made the soil useless. Luckily, you didn't need a good herbology grade to be an auror.
"If it's like this, it would be a good day to look for dugbogs." Sixty snorted at Connor's suggestion, clearly amused.
"Oh no, you can't do that shit without me there. I want to watch you get knocked on your ass!" He cackled loudly as Connor clicked his tongue and insisted he could handle himself. Nines remained quiet, sipping his beer as Sixty gleefully reminded Connor about the first time he'd tried to take on a giant purple toad. That had been way back in their early schooling years, and Gavin had no doubt Connor had come a long way since then. The only pause in their bickering came when Tina arrived, which had Gavin leaving his seat to buy the next round. He'd promised Tina a butterbeer, and Nines had bought his first drink, so it was only fair.
"Oh my God! That's so cute! Can I pet him?" Tina asked as she caught sight of Connor's fluffy pygmy puff. He seemed extremely smug as he opened the cage and handed the small creature to Tina, who gleefully rolled it in her hands. The pygmy puff certainly didn't seem to mind, especially not as Tina set it on its back and stroked its stomach. "He's so cute, I could just eat him right up!" Gavin almost choked on his drink, doing his best not to laugh too hard behind his hand. In her animagus form, he'd seen her do just that, though not to a pygmy puff. Her dark eyes seemed to twinkle with mirth as she slapped his back.
He wasn't used to it, but he had to admit it was pretty nice, being out with his co-workers. Tina was his best friend, so it went without saying that he had a good time with her, but there was also Nines. He was kind and engaging, patient, and adaptable to everyone. Connor was a lot wittier than expected, with a definite undertone of sassiness. Sixty was sharp and quick-witted and often got the upper hand in whatever debate they were having. Gavin gradually relaxed into their company. Connor wasn't as rigid as he seemed. Sixty wasn't as unhinged as he acted. The only brother who didn't surprise him was Nines. Nines was exactly the same as he'd been the first time they'd walked into each other. The first time I walked into him. He wasn't about to blame Nines when he couldn't see.
It was a good day, probably the best he'd had for a while, but mistakes were still made. His first mistake was switching to real beer after the first two drinks. Second was mixing two different beers. Third was accepting the tavern owner, Allen's offer of Bulgarian Flame Ice. It was a clear, almost tasteless shot that burned all the way down and left a cool, fresh feeling in the mouth. It made him twitch and grimace, scrunching his nose as he swallowed. After shaking his head and putting his glass down, he immediately found Nines topping it up.
They were out so long that the students had already gone back to have dinner and be in their dorms by curfew. There was no rule that said they had to be back in the hall for dinner over the weekend, so they were unlikely to be missed. It was normal for everyone to eat at different times. Tina and Connor were the least able to hold their drink. Two beers in and they were swaying and leaning on each other, both gushing over how cute Little Pygmy was. Gavin was two beers and four shots in and his head was pretty much swimming at this point. He didn't know how Nines and Sixty could remain so lucid.
Allen was somewhat stoic, but his pale hazel eyes danced with amusement as he set about drying glasses and watching their group. He was handsome, though a little older. His hair was dark brown with just a hint of silver above the ears, and lines were setting in around his eyes where he laughed. He was, like Nines, quite tall and broad. If he'd met him in the street, he probably would have thought him a farmhand rather than a publican. He looked like he hefted heavy loads all day. He had a rough, authoritative voice, especially as he told Sixty not to start any of his usual antics. Whatever that means…
It didn't take Sixty long to take the conversation back to broomsticks and to instruct Gavin on what he should buy. Nimbus was all well and good, but right now the Flame series was on fire! The Ember Dasher was the best affordable broom on the market if you were looking for speed and agility. It could easily beat the Nimbus Eighteen-Twelve, and of course, if you bought a broom, you'd want the best upgrades. Featherlight had always made the lightest stirrups, but Strut was good if you wanted something with a little more weight. Troll skin was one of the more durable saddle materials, but if you were looking for something a little flashier, you could get dragon hide, too.
"You need a broom! We need to get you a broom! We can get you a broom! Don't worry, just leave it to me! I know the guy-the right guy…" Gavin grumbled out a slurred agreement as Sixty squinted around the warmly lit tavern. "Ah-ha! There he is! Stephen!" Sixty stumbled to his feet and across to the bar, where a portly middle-aged man was sitting with a group of other shopkeepers. They seemed about as drunk as Sixty, all of them warmly welcoming him into their circle as he looped his arm around Stephen's shoulders. "My friend! My good friend, Stephen! Come and meet…my other good friend." Stephen allowed Sixty to pull him up and drag him to their table, though it was hard to tell who was carrying who. "This is my friend…uh…who are you?"
"Gavin." Nines chuckled under his breath as he watched the exchange.
"That's right! My good friend, Gavin. Gavin needs a broomstick! A good broomstick! The best broomstick! One he can use…to race me!" Sixty tried to use a conspiratorial tone, but he was really far too loud to be secretive. Gavin was too far gone to follow at this point and just blindly nodded at whatever Sixty said. Allen shook his head fondly as Stephen started loudly listing off the finest brooms and all the upgrades. Gavin winced through the dizziness, letting his head fall on Nines' shoulder as Sixty started bartering. "That's it! Come on!" Gavin groaned as Stephen and Sixty each grabbed an arm and hauled him out of his seat. Phck, where the phck am I?
He stumbled blindly between them, quietly amazed at how the surrounding houses just wouldn't stay still. The whole street seemed to turn this way and that, as if the houses were having their own autumn ball. He thought he heard a couple more voices as they headed down the freezing street. He wasn't sure if the cold made him feel more or less dizzy than before. There was a pause and a clatter as a door opened and a service bell rang. Gavin stumbled into the counter as he was released and quickly found a gentle set of hands lifting him upright. Mm…smells nice…He nuzzled into the warm chest, closing his eyes and fisting a hand in soft cotton. He was vaguely aware of an arm around his waist and a hand gripping his own as he swayed from side to side.
"No-no-no, what you need is the Wild Fire! So hot, even the tail burns!" He was pretty sure it was Stephen talking from somewhere over by the counter. Gavin hummed softly as he blinked his tired green eyes open enough to note the sleek-looking broom he'd grabbed down. Stephen was right about the tail. The moment he released it, burning embers sparked to life in the tail, though they didn't seem to burn the wood at all. Gavin wasn't sure if that was a charm or just a special type of fire. Is there such a thing as a special type of fire?
"Don't be cheap, though…Only the best for my friend!" Sixty insisted as he stumbled along the rows of stirrups. Gavin had no idea how Stephen was competent enough to correctly attach a set of sleek silver stirrups to the broom, or how he added a thick padded saddle, but he did. He also had no idea whether he'd paid for it as the broom was pushed into his hands. "Alright! Test run! Test run!" Gavin whined as he was pulled from the comfortable embrace he'd been enjoying and was summarily dragged out front.
"Gavin, no!" Gentle hands insistently pried the broom from his freezing fingers before the speaker turned to Sixty. "You're going to get yourselves killed, lost, or fired at this rate." Sixty was indignant at the suggestion. Fired? Killed? He was an expert flyer! He was the instructor at Hogwarts! A fourth voice was quick to point out that he was also blind drunk. Gavin shook his head to clear it before realising that was a terrible idea and falling straight into another warm embrace. There was a worn sigh as Sixty cackled loudly and almost fell over.
"What am I going to do with you?" The fourth voice sounded both fond and despairing.
"Take me back to your tavern and I'll show you exactly what you can do with me." The fourth man chuckled and insisted Sixty was drunk again before he was abruptly cut off. Opening his eyes, Gavin watched as Sixty clung to clung to Allen, fisting a hand in his hair and pretty much biting his lip. He then yelped in surprised as Allen suddenly reached down and hefted him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. It seemed he was going to take him up on the offer as he carried him, kicking and giggling, all the way back down the street. Gavin remained clinging to the man who was holding him, since he was quite sure he couldn't stand up by himself if he wanted to. He whined and squinted as he pushed back and looked up at the most handsome man he'd ever seen.
"Come, Gavin…I'll take you home." He thought he was going to melt into a puddle on the spot as a large hand cupped his cheek and a thumb gently trailed across the scar on his nose. He closed his eyes and nuzzled into the touch. It felt nice. Familiar. "Come on…Up we go." The whole world turned as he was lifted and cradled in gentle arms. Nines barely jostled him as he started walking, cobbled stone soon giving way to grass and earth. Gavin passed out within a few minutes, so he didn't notice as the air grew colder, nor did he hear the castle halls echoing around them as they returned. He didn't hear the creak as the door to his rooms swung open. He didn't feel it as he was gently laid on his bed, and he especially didn't notice the light brush of lips on his temple as Nines retreated.
The first thing he noticed upon waking was the overwhelming urge to vomit. He silently thanked whoever had designed the staff apartments to have their own private bathrooms as he ran through and dropped to his knees. He shivered violently as he emptied his stomach into the toilet. Not that there was much in it besides beer. He hadn't eaten since breakfast the day before, which explains why I was such a phcking lightweight…What the phck did I even do last night? He vaguely remembered something about Tina eating a pygmy puff, and Sixty kissing a broomstick. At least, he was pretty sure that's what happened. Or did I kiss the broomstick? He winced as his head pounded.
He was still pondering the mystery as he brushed his teeth and returned to the bedroom, where he spotted a small shot glass and a note beside his bed. Drink Me. He frowned suspiciously as he raised the small glass and eyed the thick, green sludge within. As a former auror, he should have known better than to trust strange looking drinks and mysterious notes. The problem was, he was still terribly hungover and suffering the consequences of whatever happened the night before, so he didn't think twice before downing the small shot. He almost thought he was going to throw up again. It tasted horribly bitter. It was thick and grainy, and clung to his throat the whole way down. He shuddered in disgust, grimacing as he shook his head.
The amazing thing was that, once he got over the taste and texture, he actually felt a lot better. He no longer felt like he was going to vomit, and the blinding thud in his head had been reduced to a small twinge behind the eyes. He still felt tired, but the grogginess had dropped by around seventy percent. Looking out the window, he was unsurprised to find it was approaching midday. He'd long since missed breakfast, but perhaps he'd be on time for an early lunch. After bathing, he dressed in some fresh clothes and made the bed. He was beyond grateful he hadn't vomited in his sleep. He hadn't been that drunk in a long time. I'm not sure I've ever been that drunk…He couldn't remember much at all, though he was sure he remembered feeling warm and secure.
The lingering feeling followed him as he headed down to the great hall, where he found Tina wincing over a large black coffee, a plate of pancakes, and a salad. She looked pale as he sat beside her, with dark rings beneath her eyes and a haunted look on her face. She barely glanced at him as he sat with something between a squint and a glare on her face. He didn't need to ask to know she was hungover and felt like shit. She whined softly as she leaned on his shoulder, paying no mind to the students flitting back and forth.
"Fuck, I regret everything!" She sounded distraught, almost like she was about to burst into tears. It didn't take much prompting to find out why. "I woke up with Connor this morning!" Gavin almost dropped the serving fork he'd just picked up to take some sliced ham. This was way more important. His eyes darted around the staff table to find it mostly empty, especially at their end. He lowered his voice as he leaned closer, wary of anyone overhearing.
"When you say woke up with, do you mean…" He shook his head this way and that, widening his eyes meaningfully. "You know…woke up with?" He let out a low whistle as she nodded and took a mournful bite of lettuce. The silence sat between them for a while as he waited for her to say more. He quietly took some sliced ham and eggs before adding some salad to his plate and pouring himself some of the coffee Tina had summoned.
"I mean, I don't know for sure, but …we were both…you know…" Butt-ass naked? "…and there was a pygmy puff on my face." Gavin snorted his coffee at that. The image of Tina and Connor tangled in twisted sheets with a pink ball of fluff sleeping on Tina's face was a damned cute one. Tina groaned and buried her face in her cup, clearly perturbed. Or maybe not…He'd never asked her what she thought of Connor or the others. Maybe she had a thing for him. He was pretty sure nothing would have happened if there wasn't at least a little something there.
"Well, what did he say?"
"I don't know…" He waited patiently for her to continue her confession. "He was still sleeping when I left. He didn't even hear me shriek when I woke up!" He could only guess Connor was a deep sleeper when he was hungover. Tina's shrieks were almost as loud as a banshee. He swore she must have banshee blood in her family line somewhere, muggle or not. "I just saw him and…fuck, what if he remembers? What if he doesn't remember? Should I ignore it? Should I play innocent?" Gavin laid a gentle hand on her head and ruffled her hastily tied hair. He could only guess she'd immediately come to lunch to either find him or suffer in silence while willing away the nausea. "I can't believe you left me last night! What did you even do?" Gavin winced at the accusing tone.
"I don't have a phcking clue! I remember something about Sixty and a broomstick, and then I woke up in bed." How the phck did I get home? Someone must have seen him back. Was it Sixty? He was the only one he remembered with any clarity. Had he made him the drink, too? He didn't know Sixty too well, but he got the feeling that taking care of others wasn't really his thing. If not Sixty, then who? He was still pondering the answer when Tina finished her lunch, saying she was going to head back and shower before hurrying away. Gavin wasn't too far behind. After he finished lunch, he headed out into the grounds to walk off his lingering hangover. It was a fresh day. Colder than the day before. He shivered a little as he shoved his hands in his leather pockets and strolled down the slope.
There were more students out flying that day. Quidditch trials hadn't started yet, but those who were interested were clearly keen to get a head start. Gavin ambled his way down towards the pitch, slowing to enjoy the amateur aerobatics as students practiced ducking and weaving around each other. Each house had a first and second team. The first team was the dominant, playing team while the second team was for back-up. The first was usually older students while the second was full of hopeful first and second years. Unless they were skilled, it was unusual for first years to make the first team. The older students were much rougher and did their best to knock each other off their brooms. Gavin was pretty sure Sixty would pitch a fit if he caught them. As the only staff member in sight, I should probably…Gavin sighed as he drew his wand and stepped onto the pitch.
"Alright, all of you on the ground! Now!" His voice boomed around the stadium as he touched the tip of his wand to his throat. "If you're going to practice, keep it clean! I don't want to be scraping anybody off the ground because you were too rough and there was no one around to supervise, got it?" There was a series of subdued nods before he waved them back onto their brooms and watched them take to the air once more. Since Sixty was probably still asleep, Gavin headed up to the stands and took a seat on one of the rickety old chairs. He hadn't been up there since his seventh year. He hadn't watched every match, but he'd made a few during his busier years. Usually the Slytherin versus Gryffindor matches so that he and Tina could playfully bicker.
Now and then, he yelled a warning while kicking back in his chair. He didn't mind a little contact in-game, but this was practice. He didn't want anyone getting injured before the season even started. It was pretty easy for him to pick out the various players. The smallest, fastest flyers were the seekers. They kept to the outer edges, away from everyone else, practicing their speed and dives. The beaters were much stockier and top-heavy. They needed strong upper bodies to swing those heavy bats and hit the metal bludgers. The chasers were good all-rounders. They needed speed, manoeuvrability, and cunning. They were in the thick of it, jostling each other and dodging bludgers while trying to get the quaffle through the hoops. The keepers were often the biggest players because their speed wasn't so important. All they needed to do was flit between the hoops and guard.
"I thought I heard your voice." Gavin almost jumped out of his skin as Nines' voice sounded right beside him. How the phck did he even find me? He couldn't even see! Nines' lips curled as if he knew what he was thinking, but he didn't enlighten him. Gavin knew he must have a way of getting around, but finding him in the empty stands when he'd only heard him yell from the ground once? That seemed impossible. "Since you're here, I thought I should probably deliver this…You got it last night, but were in no condition to fly." Gavin's brain almost short-circuited as he numbly accepted the sleek, flaming broomstick. It looked expensive. Custom made. "I'm afraid Sixty got a little carried away…"
"Wait, you remember last night?" He'd thought they might all be in the same boat, considering the state he'd found Tina in earlier. Nines nodded as if it was no big deal. But he was drinking last night! I remember him drinking!
"My tolerance is rather high…Consider it a perk of regularly working with highly toxic plants. I've gained a certain level of immunity to most drugs. I've also developed medicinal solutions to ease the aftereffects." Gavin blinked in surprise. That drink this morning! It was him? He felt his skin heat at the knowledge. If Nines was the one who'd left him that cure, it only made sense that he was the one who'd seen him home. That explains even more how Tina and Connor had the chance to hook up. Nines was too busy taking care of me to keep an eye on Connor! Though, since Connor was the older brother, it should have been the other way round.
"Thanks for…you know…That drink made me feel a lot better." Nines seemed pleased at the confession and Gavin looked away. Smiling Nines was about ten times more handsome than regular Nines, and that didn't bode well for his no fraternisation rule. He turned his attention to the broom in his hands. Nines said Sixty had something to do with its purchase, but he didn't remember paying for it. I don't remember anything…The handle felt good and smooth, and the broom itself was a nice weight. The heavier stirrups helped to balance it out and improve turns, especially when the embers sparked in the tail and boosted its speed.
"I had a feeling that would be the case. It's a cure I often make for Sixty, but he didn't return to the castle last night." Gavin vaguely remembered something about that, but it wasn't clear enough to hold on to. Nothing about last night was clear. He remembered everything until Allen broke out the Flame Ice. Damn, those Bulgarians can drink! He didn't think he'd ever had a drink so strong before, and he had no idea how many shots he'd drunk. He only remembered the first two. "What are your plans for this afternoon?" Gavin shrugged as he leaned back in his chair and watched a couple of students race towards the distant hoops.
"I have no plans." Nines seemed to brighten a little at the news.
"Then perhaps you'd like to test your broom…There's a small island out on the lake where some wild Anjelica grows and I've been meaning to take a few cuttings." Gavin didn't know much about Anjelica besides it being a non-sentient plant, which means it won't try to kill me at least. He was a little reluctant to leave the students unsupervised, but Nines insisted they'd be fine. They'd been warned once, and that seemed to be enough. They left the stands and slipped out of the stadium without notice, and Nines summoned his own broom. The lake looked a little choppy as they approached the shore. Nines closed his eyes a moment, breathing deeply and tilting his head back to enjoy the icy breeze ruffling his hair. Gavin shivered as he swung his leg over and hoped the wind didn't jostle him too much.
As he kicked off, it was like he'd never left the air. His feet came to rest on the stirrups, and he leaned forward to glide out over the water. Nines joined him, flying at his side as they drifted above the glittering surface. They weren't in too much of a hurry, though the sun was dimming as late afternoon loomed on the horizon. Gavin had forgotten how beautiful it was around the grounds. Looking back, he could see the school standing proud in all its spired glory. It really was a mishmash of architectural styles, and it was easy to see where one ended and another began. Despite that, it managed to come together as a singular, grand structure.
The grounds spilled around it in rolling green fields. He could see the Quidditch pitch standing proud in the distance, enclosed in a mountainous backdrop. Hogsmeade was just visible beyond, and the forest hugged the shore and wrapped around the mountainside to the left. Seabirds circled the dancing waves, sometimes dropping to break the glittering surface. He watched three of them come together to fight over a fish, scratching and squawking until one peeled away victorious. The other two gave chase, but soon gave up and returned to catch their own.
"Over there!" Nines pointed further off to the left, where a small island sat alone in the open water. It was one of those places that he'd always known about, but never visited. It was quite small, despite the looming castle ruins that stood there. As they landed, he decided it was more like a small fortress than a castle. It was obviously a lot smaller than Hogwarts, and besides a few barely standing walls, there was nothing left. He couldn't help but shiver as he looked around at the fallen rubble and wondered what had caused it. Weathering had surely done its share of damage, but it looked utterly destroyed. It could easily be as ancient as Hogwarts, which was still in one piece.
"Do you know much about this place?" Gavin asked as he ran his hand along one of the uneven walls. It barely reached his waist at first, but gradually arched up into an old supporting wall that towered above them both. He could see what looked like a window opening for the floor above, though there was no floor left now. He turned his head as Nines carefully toed his way across the uneven ground, using his hands to feel around the fallen debris and find his way.
"Nothing…It's old, I know that. It's made of the same stone as some of the oldest parts of Hogwarts…My guess is that this used to be temporary lodgings for the founders as they waited for the castle to be built…It certainly wasn't made to last." Gavin let out a small scoff of agreement as he looked around. Seeing it now, he couldn't even imagine how it would have looked back then. It was only a small island, so if the founders had lived there together, it would have been a tight squeeze. He followed as Nines picked his way through the rubble towards what had once surely been a garden. There was no sign of rubble on the grassy patch, and it was mostly overgrown with a plant that looked like thin-stalked broccoli. The tips were all bobbled and treelike, but the stalks were thin and spindly.
It seemed these were the plants Nines had come for as he knelt in the long grass and opened his satchel. He'd certainly come prepared. He had pruning shears, a small trowel, and a set of small travelling pots. Gavin watched quietly as he spooned a little earth into one of the small pots and began clipping the small plants. He had no idea how cuttings worked, so he just assumed Nines knew what he was doing and that the cuttings would eventually take root and grow. With Nines busily cutting and potting, Gavin was left to explore, though there really wasn't much to see. He could likely circle the small island within twenty minutes if he cared to leave Nines' side.
He stayed close instead and clambered his way through the collapsed doorway and into the dilapidated house. Any wood had long since rotted away, leaving just the fallen walls and foundations behind. There was no roof, no floors, nothing to give him a clue what the castle had once looked like. Looking at the remaining walls, he guessed it had been at least two storeys tall, and the square edging of some of the taller walls suggested there may have been battlements. The stone of the lower floor was now uneven where grass had grown and pushed its way through. There were even parts where small shrubs and bushes had started making a home.
From the lines of rubble remaining from the collapsed walls, he assumed the building had once been vaguely square. It probably had an outer wall, too. It was hard to tell what was wall and what was just fallen debris at this point. He wasn't even sure if the destruction was down to simple weathering or if someone had actively destroyed the small fortress. He toed a loose stone, nudging it along what had once been the ground floor. It knocked this way and that, bouncing along the crooked slabs until it came to rest in what had perhaps been some kind of hearth. It was now a simple arched hole in the collapsing wall. Gavin frowned as he stepped closer and trailed his hand over a faded crest. Unfortunately, any writing and sculpting had long since weathered away.
"Gavin?" He looked up at the sound of Nines' voice and hurried over as he saw him fumbling his way along the outer wall.
"I'm here-I'm here. Are you good? Did you get what you need?" he asked as he ducked through the dilapidated archway and took Nines' arm. This was the first time he'd ever seemed like he needed help. He was usually pretty good at getting around by himself. He made it look effortless, like he could really see. Nines smiled as he felt the gentle touch on his arm, and Gavin felt his cheeks heat as long fingers found and caressed his own. He wouldn't say he looked relieved exactly, but it would make sense for him to be a little nervous at being left alone. Gavin steered him away from the rubble so he didn't trip over anything and paused at the edge of the small garden.
"I believe so. It should be simple enough for my second years to raise these cuttings into fully fledged Anjelica plants." Nines paused as he readjusted the bag across his shoulder and faced up into the fading sunlight. "What do you think of the island? I find it quite pleasant…It's a nice place to come when looking for peace." It surprised Gavin that Nines needed such a place. His greenhouses certainly felt peaceful, though it also made him easy to find. He likely meant when he didn't want to be bothered by his students, or when his brothers were looking for him. Not that I can relate to that last part…He hadn't actually seen Elijah properly since arriving. They passed each other at mealtimes, but hadn't actually met up yet. He didn't feel a genuine need to spy on Elijah, but he should probably be fair and watch a class or two anyway.
"Yeah, I guess…It's cold as hell though." Nines' lips quirked at the admission. It was heading towards winter, and the island was in the open water with little protection. The lack of protection had probably contributed to the weathering of the ruins as well. Gavin almost balked as Nines stepped closer. He swore he could feel his body heat as he blocked the breeze. He licked his lips, almost nervous as he gazed up into Nines' vacant silvery eyes.
"If you're cold, we should probably head back…It isn't safe to fly over the lake at night." That much was true. All sorts of sea life lived in the lake, not all of it friendly. The kraken was a regular visitor to the surface, and though it was usually peaceful, that didn't mean it wouldn't take an easy meal if it could get it. With that agreed, Gavin guided Nines away from the ruins to the shore. With all the rubble on the ground, he could see why Nines would want a little guidance on the island.
As they kicked off, the wind was much stronger. Gavin gripped his broom tightly and hunkered low over the handle, making himself smaller. It was hard to stay on track as he was tossed and jostled. Nines wasn't doing much better. If anything, he seemed to find it harder. Gavin could only assume that he wasn't much of a flyer outside of essential travel. That made sense. It was probably difficult to find his way to new places on his own while flying. Floo powder was much safer and more direct. He cursed under his breath and sped up a little as he noticed Nines' broom lurch to the right, knocked by a strong gust. Gavin swooped in beside him and knocked his shoulder, pushing him back on course.
The lake was often peaceful, but with the evening breeze, the surface had become choppy. The waves rolled and splashed as they flew overhead. With the rising winds and crashing waves, the seabirds had given up for the day and returned to shore. He wasn't sure if a storm was coming, but the sky had certainly clouded over since their arrival. They still seemed pale and fluffy for now, but he wouldn't be surprised if the heavens opened later that night. He could see heavier clouds looming in the distance beyond the grounds.
They were both breathless by the time they landed. Fighting the wind and keeping balance was tougher than expected. Gavin felt like he'd had a full workout. His arms and thighs were tired from gripping, his core ached from clenching, and his chest and shoulders were stiff from shivering. Nines seemed little better as he straightened up and held his broom in one hand. They'd landed on the beach, silently agreeing it would be easier to walk back to the school than fly. The wind roared as they trudged their way up the shore and back to the grassy slopes surrounding the school. Once they hit the footpath, Nines seemed to get his bearings. Gavin could tell. He seemed to walk with more purpose and stood straighter, with more confidence.
"I'm going to stow these cuttings in the greenhouse, but I'll be heading to the staff bathroom afterwards, if you'd care to join me?" Gavin almost groaned at how good that sounded. The apartments had their own small bathrooms, but there was a larger public bath for staff as well. He hadn't been there yet, but if it was anything like the prefect bathroom, it would be like a swimming pool. They could run the water hot and soak beneath the surface with different soaps and bubbles to choose from. It was quite fancy, and would most definitely chase away the current chill in his bones.
"Sounds good. I'll see you there." It took less than fifteen minutes for him to run up to his rooms and stow his broom. He brought a fresh set of clothes to change into, but towels and other products were provided in the bathroom. It was in the basement, not too far from the Hufflepuff common room, hidden behind a mermaid statue in a small alcove that students didn't know about. As he approached, he tapped the tip of his wand against the statue's head and it slid back out of the way.
The humidity hit him as soon as he stepped inside. It was like a sauna. The walls were lined with flaming torches, which both lit the room and added to the sweltering heat. There was a small side room that was a little less humid where clothes could be left. Gavin stripped and left his clothes on one of the long benches before returning to the large pool in all his naked glory. Nines hadn't arrived yet, and no one else was there as he stepped inside. The pool was already full, the water steaming as it ran on a continuous cycle. Gavin hissed as he put one foot in the water. It was boiling, like a hot spring. He gradually wadded in until the water reached his waist before crossing to the large taps. There was a whole tower of them in the middle of the pool, each with different bubble options and heats. He left the water hot, but turned on one of the bubble taps.
The one he chose was a muscle relaxant, to relax the body and soothe the soul. It smelled nice, sort of like soap and cotton. The scent hit the water and evaporated into the air. Gavin closed his eyes as he made his way to the edge of the pool and sank onto one of the stone benches beneath the surface. He leaned back and rested his tired head against the edge, letting water cover him to his neck. It was bliss. He didn't really need to bathe properly. He regularly used his own bathroom for that. This was more for relaxing than washing. He almost whined as he felt his back and shoulders loosen. The chill had definitely been chased away.
The rush of running water thrummed in the background, slightly dampened by the thick steam hanging in the air. He could barely hear the contented sigh that left his own lips. Water ebbed and flowed across his pecs as he floated just above the stone bench. The large room was peaceful. The flickering torches offered just the right amount of glow to keep things intimate. Opening his eyes, he was surprised to see the large sea of foam that had appeared on the surface. Maybe I went a little overboard…The foam had already covered the lower taps, hiding them from view.
"I didn't mean to startle you." The creak of the door had Gavin balking. He almost slipped as he sat up and came to rest on the stone step again. He'd almost forgotten that Nines was joining him. Nines was still fully dressed in the neat trousers and shirt from earlier as he headed through to the changing room. Phck! He hadn't thought this part through when he'd been invited. They were bathing, which meant they'd both be naked! In the bath! Together! He did his best not to seem flustered as he heard the changing room door creak. He remained as he was, suddenly rigid as he kept his green eyes fixed squarely on the tower of taps. "You chose a nice lotion," Nines praised as he entered the water.
"I'll be honest, I completely forgot bathrooms like this existed," Gavin huffed as he turned his head to look at Nines. The bubbles and water covered him from the waist down, but his rounded pecs and toned abs were still shamelessly on display. He sat a little straighter as his cock twitched with interest. No way was he perving over Nines while he was in the bath! Nines remained oblivious as he felt along the side of the large tub and waded around to sit beside him. Right beside him. There was an almost giddy feeling in the pit of his stomach as Nines' knee brushed his.
"I come here regularly after class. As you can likely imagine, the life of a herbologist is a dirty one." There was something almost sinful in his tone as he said that last part, and Gavin couldn't help the way his cock twitched to life. He meant that literally; jeez! When did I become such a pervert? He'd always been too busy for such things at school, and many people had simply assumed he was dating Tina. That had worked for both of them. They'd been busy with exams, so the fewer distractions, the better. After that, he'd been a full-time auror, so romance had been the last thing on his mind. It was a dangerous life, so the last thing he'd wanted was to drag someone else into it. Now though? Now I'm naked in a tub with a colleague, and I'm not going there! His cock disagreed. His cock was absolutely going there.
"Yeah-I-uh, I can imagine that." He almost cringed at the stammer in his voice. He was almost certain that Nines had picked up on something. His lips curled into what almost looked like a smoulder. "What classes do you have tomorrow?" That seemed to gain his interest. He was happy to talk about his third years who would plant fluxweed seeds, and the sixth years who would prune their potted mallowsweet. The most dangerous class would be the seventh years. They were exercising the Chinese chomping cabbages.
"I've gone over the safety procedures with them multiple times, but every year there's at least one student who almost loses a finger." Gavin could relate to that. He swore some of the older kids duelled like first years, forgetting how dangerous some of their advanced spells could be. He wasn't looking forward to unleashing Bombarda on his fifth years next week. Internal bets had already been placed on which students were going to singe their eyebrows or blow up the furniture. He was glad Hogwarts had a limiter spell in place to reduce the strength of magic within its walls. If you hit someone with a full strength explosive spell, you could easily kill them.
"Phck, I can relate to that! I have this one sixth year called Gerald, a Gryffindor kid, likes to think he's the cat's pyjamas. Every time I tell him to tone down his spells, what does he do? He breaks out Glacius and almost freezes the whole classroom!" Nines chuckled his appreciation. Students were often overzealous when it came to duelling practice. He'd been the same himself, though he'd had it easy. With his blindness, most students had been reluctant to strike. Nines had no such hesitation, so he'd won far more than he'd lost. The only people who hadn't coddled him were Sixty and the professors. Thanks to Sixty's willingness, he'd learned many advanced spells early, much to Connor's chagrin.
It was nice talking to Nines. Besides Tina, he didn't think he'd ever meshed with anyone so well. He didn't worry about Nines turning on him. He didn't feel uneasy. How long they sat there became a mystery. It felt like they'd been talking for hours by the time Nines finally stood. Gavin felt his voice stick in his throat as he watched. Nines took a few steps forward, raising his arms above his head as he stretched. Rivulets trickled down his toned shoulders and foam clung to his waist. Gavin couldn't help the way his eyes followed a drip as it rolled down his spine and disappeared into the bubbles.
"We should dress for dinner." Nines turned and Gavin felt his skin heat as he took in his toned chest and abs. He wasn't chiselled, but he certainly liked what he saw. He was slim without looking anaemic. Strong and healthy. He couldn't see any lower than his navel, but considering the fact he was already half-hard from a few innocent brushes of skin, he was relieved. If he got a look at Nines' lower body, he was pretty sure he was going to have a problem. It's not like he can see it, but I'd feel kind of weird sitting here with a full on boner…
"Sure, I'll let you go ahead and…" He almost cringed at how bashful he sounded. Nines' lips curled as he ran a hand through his damp locks. That little curl was back, barely brushing his left eyebrow.
"There's no need to be shy, Gavin. We're both men, and it's not like I can see you." Guess this isn't the best time to bring up the fact I'm gay…He wasn't sure how Nines would react to that. It wasn't quite as frowned upon as it was in the muggle world, but it was still quite rare to say such things publicly. Would he feel violated if he knew? He was sitting next to me for over an hour. Would he think it's weird? Would he think I'm a pervert? "Come." Gavin almost balked at the purred tone. He relented, trying to ignore the fluttering in the pit of his stomach as he got to his feet. His cock bobbed in the water, knocking his thigh as he moved. He wasn't fully erect, but seeing Nines standing there on display like a buffet wasn't helping. It should be illegal for colleagues to look so hot. He sighed as he took a step forward, eyes widening as something coiled around his ankle. A yelp and curse escaped as he tripped, stumbling forward and pulling free. He didn't have the time or focus to figure out what the hell was in the water. Instead, his focus was on regaining his balance as he stumbled.
"Phck!" His heart sped up as he came to rest against Nines' chest. It was much wider than he'd expected, and warm. Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer and helping him find his footing. He tensed as he felt something prod his pelvis, much as he knew Nines must be able to feel the same on his thigh, which had come to rest between his own. "U-uhm…I-I-I am so sorry!"
"Gavin!" He pushed back and hurriedly climbed out in a fluster, not even bothering to use the steps. He bolted over the ledge and pattered through to the changing room. Grabbing a towel, he dried off quickly, dreading the moment Nines would make his way inside. He was hard! Nines was fucking hard! His stomach felt like rolling lead as he pulled on his underwear and tucked his flagging erection away. Nines was hard, and he'd felt that he was hard, too. What the phck am I supposed to say to that? He was more worried about what Nines would say. The only comforting thought was that he couldn't hold the boner against him. Not when he was just as hard.
A shiver ran down his spine at the memory. Nines' thigh had slotted so perfectly between his own, resting snug against his crotch. Being in his arms had felt good. Tingles still ran across his skin as he recalled the way Nines' fingers had stroked the small of his back, encouraging him closer. Their bodies had pressed flush together, Nines' abs and pecs against his own. He'd been hesitant to touch anything lest he upset him, but he'd had no choice but to grab his shoulders to stop himself from falling. As he fumbled with his trousers, he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he hadn't pushed back. Would Nines have taken it further? Let his hands wander? Lifted his thigh? Pressed him back against the tiles? Stroked along his scars and caressed his skin? Work colleague! It was an unfortunate, but necessary, reminder.
"Gavin…" Nines seemed hesitant as he entered, taking the time to wrap his waist before announcing himself. Gavin looked over his shoulder with a start, trying his best not to eye the towel and search for the telling bulge. "I'll see you at dinner?" His silvery eyes looked soft and hopeful, his voice almost worried about rejection or reproach. Gavin couldn't help the conflict swirling in his chest. He liked Nines. Really liked him. The last thing he wanted was for them to catch feelings and ruin that, especially when they worked together. That's not a conversation that needs to happen yet…We only met a week ago! He ignored the part of his brain that reminded him he'd already spent a night sleeping in his lap.
"Sure, I'll-uh-I'll save you a seat." Nines' lips curled at the fumbling acknowledgement. I'll save you a seat? What kind of corny-ass shit is that? We have designated seats! It wasn't like anyone else was going to take the spot next to him. He already had Tina on his right, and Nines had sat on his left every mealtime. That was his chair. He knew his way to it with no assistance, so it must have been that way for a long time. Even more reason not to phck things up. We're seating buddies! Sure, he could probably swing it to switch with Tina in a pinch, but that would likely draw attention.
"And some steak pie…The others will scoff the lot otherwise." Gavin huffed as he finished buttoning his shirt. He was pretty sure that was an exaggeration, but if Nines wanted pie, he'd make sure he saved him a slice. A big slice. He was probably hungry after all that flying and potting. Nines had already pulled on his shirt, likely reluctant to drop the towel considering his earlier reaction. Since he was done, Gavin tossed the used towel into the basket, where it promptly disappeared with a crack. He could only imagine the basket had been charmed to deliver dirty items directly to the laundry room.
"Will-do…See you there." He tried not to mince his words as he circled around him to get to the door. Nines bit his lip as he passed, giving him a look that almost seemed like a smoulder. He felt more billywigs fill his stomach at the look and swore Nines did it on purpose. The warmth in his chest lingered long after he'd left the bathroom.