Coming Out

by NatteryakToad

Two couples, four coming out stories, one Hogwarts. A companion fic for my Dudley's Daughter series.

3. Part 2 - Oscar & Liam

Oscar Peaks and Liam Coote first met on the Hogwarts Express on their way to school for the first time. Oscar was awkwardly following his sister, Fern, as she tried to find him somewhere to sit.

"Look, here's a bunch of first years," she said, shoving Oscar toward a compartment.

"They all know each other already," Oscar said, shrinking back nervously.

Fern rolled her eyes. "I bet they only just met five minutes ago," she said. "Go on."

Oscar shook his head furiously and Fern sighed.

"Alright, we'll look a bit longer, but you're not sitting with me."

They passed a compartment full of third years and one of them stuck her head out.

"Fern – I saved you a seat!"

"I'll be there in a minute," Fern told her. "I've just got to find the kid somewhere to sit."

Oscar scowled at the way his sister referred to him, but didn't say anything; he knew he should be grateful Fern was bothering with him at all. She'd threatened to completely ignore him until Dad had told her she had to look after him.

Fern peered into the next compartment. "Here you go – there's just one boy in there," she said.

Oscar peered in through the window. The boy was tall and gangly – too tall to be a first year, Oscar thought – with dirty blonde hair which almost touched his shoulders. He was wearing denim dungarees over a bright pink shirt covered with pineapples. He looked like the kind of person who'd never be friends with someone as uncool as Oscar.

Before Oscar could tell Fern this, she'd opened the compartment door. "Are you a first year?" she demanded.

"Yeah..." the boy said.

"So's my brother," Fern said, giving Oscar a shove into the compartment. "See you later, Doot."

Oscar scowled at the nickname, bestowed on him by Mum because he made little squeaking noises as a baby, and he'd loved it when she tapped his nose and said, 'Doot!'

The boy raised his eyebrows as the compartment door banged shut. "Doot?" he queried.

"Only my sister calls me that," Oscar said, immediately thinking about Mum. The only memories he had of her now were flickering shadows.

"Fair enough," the boys shrugged. "What do the rest of us call you, then?"

"Oscar," Oscar told him.

"I'm Liam," the boy offered in return. "Are you gonna sit down, or do you want to stand up for the whole journey?"

Oscar sat down across from Liam and looked out of the window, still thinking about Mum.

"So, what House is your sister in?" Liam asked as the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station.

"Ravenclaw," Oscar told him.

"I'm gonna be in Gryffindor, like my dad," Liam grinned.

"My dad was in Gryffindor too," Oscar said. "I'm not brave enough, I'm sure. My mum was in Hufflepuff – that sounds more like me."

"My mum's a muggle," Liam told him, "but her house colour at her muggle school was red too, so she says I'd better be in Gryffindor."

"My dad'll be disappointed if I'm not in Gryffindor," Oscar said quietly, looking out of the window again.

"Well... it won't be your fault if you're not," Liam shrugged. "What does your mum say?"

"She's dead," Oscar said.

"Hey, I'm sorry..." Liam said.

"It's okay," Oscar shrugged. "I was two – I don't really remember her."

There was silence for a few minutes. Oscar stared out of the window – the London landscape was beginning to give way to fields and trees and the train moved northwards. Eventually, Liam spoke,

"So... what subject are you most looking forward to learning, then?"

Oscar considered. "Maybe Defence Against the Dark Arts," he said. "I'm looking forward to learning lots of spells, and Fern – that's my sister – says the teacher's really nice."

"Oh yeah, your sister's probably told you all about Hogwarts," Liam said. "I'm really looking forward to flying. We live in the middle of Liverpool at home, so there's nowhere near we can fly. My dad's taken me a couple of times, but it's not enough. My dad played on the Gryffindor team when he was at school – he was a Beater."

"Mine too," Oscar said.

"Hey, maybe they played together," Liam said. "I'll write and ask my dad – what's your dad's name?"

"James Peakes," Oscar said. "But he was often called Jimmy at school."

"My dad's called Ritchie Coote," Liam said.

The two boys chatted all the way to Hogwarts. Oscar could tell Liam was far more open than he was, but if Liam noticed, he didn't seem to mind. By the time the train pulled in to Hogsmeade Station, they were firm friends.

"Firs' years! Firs' years, over here!" called a loud voice as everyone spilled out onto the platform.

"That's Hagrid," Oscar said. "He's the gamekeeper and he teaches Care of Magical Creatures."

"My dad told me about getting boats across the lake," Liam nodded. "Let's go."

Oscar and Liam found themselves sharing a boat with two boys who introduced themselves as Bryce and Derek. Before too long, they had crossed the lake wand were following Professor Longbottom into an antechamber off the Great Hall. Oscar started worrying again about what house he was going to be in. He knew his dad would try not to show his disappointment if he didn't make Gryffindor, but he had his heart set on Oscar following in his footsteps. He was so preoccupied he barely registered everyone following Professor Longbottom into the Great Hall and standing before the patched, faded Sorting Hat, and the sorting beginning.

He was woken from his stupor by a nudge from Liam.

"Me next, I think," Liam said quietly. "Wish me luck."

Oscar could only manage to give Liam a thumbs up as the dark-haired girl currently being sorted was place in Ravenclaw and Professor Longbottom called, "Coote, Liam."

Liam walked confidently to the front of the Hall, looking just as at home in his plain black Hogwarts robes as he had done in his more flamboyant outfit earlier. He said down on the stool and placed the Hat on his head. Fifteen seconds passed, and then the Hat shouted,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Liam got up, grinning, and walked over to the applauding Gryffindor table.

The Sorting continued, and Oscar alternated between wishing his name was further up in the alphabet, or else that it started with some unknown letter so that it never got called.

Eventually, however, Professor Longbottom called, "Peakes, Oscar," and Oscar had to walk up and sit on the stool. He briefly saw Fern at the Ravenclaw table, giving him a double thumbs up before the hat dropped down over his eyes and all he saw was black.

"Hmm, where to put you..." said a voice in his ear, making Oscar jump.

"Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor," Oscar began chuntering under his breath.

"You want to be in Gryffindor, eh?" the Hat asked. "Want to prove yourself to your father? That kind of drive and ambition would do well in Slytherin, you know."

"Not Slytherin!" Oscar muttered desperately. He was pretty sure his dad would disown him if he ended up in the house with a reputation for turning out dark wizard after dark wizard.

"Despite your shyness, your mother's warm heart would do well in Hufflepuff," the Hat told him.

"Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor," Oscar repeated insistently. Whilst he wouldn't really mind following in his mum's footsteps, he did want his dad to be proud of him... and also, he wanted to be with Liam.

"Your sister would welcome you in Ravenclaw, and there's no denying you've got brains..."

"Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor."

"Hmm..." the Hat said. "I've decided. I know where you belong. Your house will help you dig deep and find the quiet courage hidden deep within you. GRYFFINDOR!"

The last word came so loudly and suddenly that Oscar didn't move straight away. Then he lifted the Hat from his head and saw Liam waving wildly at him from the Gryffindor table. He got up and walked over, feeling relieved.

"I knew you could do it!" Liam yelled over the applause, slapping Oscar on the back.

As Oscar sat down, Professor Longbottom called, "Potter, Lily," and every head turned to see the famous Harry Potter's only daughter get sorted.

After the Feast, Oscar and Liam met the other three boys in their dormitory – Alexander Abercrombie, Kieran Finnegan and Hugo Weasley. Alexander and Kieran had met on the train and were already firm friends, and Hugo's best friends, as the others soon found out, were his cousins – a Ravenclaw boy and two Gryffindor girls.

Oscar half-expected Liam to drop him for some cooler friends, but he didn't. Whilst the two of them were friendly enough with the other boys in their dormitory and made friends with people from other houses, they remained each other's best friend.

Oscar couldn't help but be jealous of Liam – of the effortless way he made friends, of the way he seemed completely comfortable in his own skin. Oscar was fairly sure that most of their friends were only friends with him because Liam was.

The jealousy only got worse when Liam came out.

---

A group of them were playing truth or dare on a lazy September afternoon at the start of second year, out in the grounds in the shade of an old beech tree. Already Dove had jinxed herself, Brandon had climbed the tree, and Oscar had admitted he liked to dip chips in milk. Now it was Liam's turn.

"Truth or dare?" Brandon asked.

"Truth," Liam shrugged. "I'm too tired to move."

"Lazy object," Brandon laughed. "Alright... which girl do you like?"

"None of 'em," Liam said easily.

"Cop out!" Brandon protested. "You have to answer."

"I did," Liam insisted, flicking his hair out of his eyes in what had become a characteristic gesture of his since he'd decided to grow his fringe out in the summer term. "I don't like any girls."

The way he placed emphasis on the final word made everyone hesitate.

"Wait, if you don't like girls, does that mean you like guys?" Dove asked.

"Yeah," Liam nodded. "I'm gay. So what?"

There was a pause and then Brandon asked, "Which guys do you like, then?"

"Nu-uh," Liam shook his head. "That wasn't the question. Tori, your turn: truth or dare?"

---

"Can I ask you something...?" Oscar asked Liam tentatively as the two of them walked up to dinner together later.

Liam raised his eyebrows. "Of course you can – don't be weird," he said.

"I just... I just wondered... how long have you known you're gay?" Oscar asked.

"Since I was like seven," Liam shrugged. "I remember other kids talking about being adults and getting married and stuff, and I thought that whenever I imagined all that, it was me and another guy. So I asked my parents if that was normal, they said yeah, and that was that... you cool with me being gay?"

"Yeah, I am," Oscar said. He hesitated, unsure of whether to add anything else. "My dad's pretty homophobic," he said quietly. "It's usually nothing major, just little snide comments and stuff... but yeah."

"Maybe you can slowly and gently educate him," Liam grinned. "Relax, mate – we can't help what our parents are like. I won't hold it against you."

---

Oscar was never quite sure when he started developing feelings for Liam. There wasn't a single event he could point to – just a slowly growing feeling that when he felt for Liam was more than just friends. It was a confusing time, too, fighting against the feelings that he couldn't possibly be gay, could he? Going home at Christmas just cemented how homophobic his dad was.

Things all came to a head early on in the Summer term. It was one of the first days of warm summer weather and so Oscar and Liam had decided to take their homework out into the grounds.

Oscar was trying to concentrate on his Charms homework when he felt something hit his face. Then another, and another. Oscar looked up to see Liam levitating blades of grass at him.

"Hey!" he protested. "I'm trying to do my Charms here!"

"I'm doing Charms too," Liam shrugged. "Locomotor!" Another blade of grass flew at Oscar.

Oscar picked up his wand and started retaliating. First grass, then leaves, then quills, parchment and textbooks began flying across the gap between them. Before long, wands were abandoned and the fight turned into a wrestling match, the two boys rolling over and over in the grass. Eventually, Oscar's extra bulk gave him the advantage – Liam was still tall and stringy like a beanpole – and he lay on top of Liam, pinning his wrists to the ground.

"Surrender!" he cried.

"Never!" Liam replied, still struggling.

Oscar looked down into Liam's mesmerising hazel eyes, with swirling patches of green and brown, which always seemed to be smiling at least as much as his mouth did. His eyes moved down to Liam's mouth, and he found himself wondering what it would be like to kiss those soft, pink lips. The wind blew Liam's hair in his eyes and Oscar felt him try to reach to brush it out of the way and then groan in frustration as he found himself unable.

Oscar blew the hair away from Liam's eyes, not willing to risk letting go of his wrist. Liam closed his eyes. Without really making a conscious decision to, Oscar leant down further and kissed him. He felt Liam initially stiffen beneath him in surprise, then relax into the kiss.

When they broke apart, Oscar came back to his senses. What had he done? Why had he kissed Liam? He got up and retreated a short distance away, sitting down under a tree and drawing his knees up to his chest.

Liam sat up and looked over at Oscar. "What was that?" he asked, a bemused smile on his face.

Oscar didn't reply, and Liam got up and came to sit next to him.

"So... did you plan on kissing me?" he asked.

Slowly, Oscar shook his head.

"Do you regret it?" Liam asked tentatively.

Oscar considered for a minute, then shook his head again.

Liam flicked his hair out of his eyes before he spoke again. "Um... what does this mean, then?" he asked eventually. "Do you... ya know... have feelings for me? I thought you were straight – I've never thought about you that way..."

"I feel... something..." Oscar said uncertainly. "I can't... words..."

Liam grinned. "That's alright," he said. "We don't have to put a label on things or make any decisions or anything. We can just... go with the flow... Can I kiss you again?"

Oscar nodded, and Liam's gentle hand on his cheek turned his head. Oscar reached out and brushed Liam's hair out of his eyes – something he'd thought about doing many times over the past few weeks – and they kissed again.

"You're not half bad for someone who's never been kissed before," Liam murmured as they broke apart again.

Oscar laughed, the mood broken. "Dove did kiss me, in Truth or Dare," he reminded him; when Oscar's next turn had revealed he was yet to have his first kiss, Dove had been dared to kiss him to 'put the poor boy out of his misery'.

"True," Liam shrugged. He lay down on his back and put his head in Oscar's lap.

"We're not going to do anymore homework tonight, are we?" Oscar grinned, brushing Liam's hair out of his eyes.

"Probably not," Liam agreed. "Aw well, I only had Muggle Studies left and I can probably cobble something together at breakfast – it's mostly common sense anyway."

"Sez you!" Oscar retorted. "Your mum's a muggle – you don't even have to study for that stuff!"

"It's nice to have one subject that's a doss when everything's getting harder," Liam shrugged.

"Hey, Liam..." Oscar ventured, playing with Liam's hair.

"Yeah?"

"Would it be okay if... if... if we kept whatever this is to ourselves for now? It's not that I'm ashamed or anything; it's just that it's very new and we're still figuring it out, and then my dad-"

Liam reached up and put a finger over Oscar's mouth to stop him talking.

"It's okay," he said. "I get it. We can keep this on the down-low for as long as you want."

---

For the next few weeks, Oscar and Liam snuck in quiet moments together where and when they could. They'd always spent a lot of time together, but not when they were alone it was different. They could hold hands, cuddle and kiss – they did a lot of kissing. Due to the weather, they spent a lot of time outside, but also managed to snatch moments together in deserted corridors and secret passages, and also occasionally in the dormitory when they were sure the others were out of the way.

One evening, they went straight up to the dormitory after dinner, intending to cuddle and study. Predictably, there was rather more cuddling than studying. They lay together on Liam's bed, and whilst Oscar's Herbology textbook did get opened to the right page, he didn't get more than a few sentences read. As for Liam, his bag didn't even make it off the floor. They had been up there for about twenty minutes when the dormitory door suddenly banged open and Alexander came in, closely followed by Kieran and Hugo.

Oscar leapt up immediately, but not before the other three had all seen him lying on Liam's bed with his head on Liam's shoulder.

"Um... we just came to get our bags..." Kieran said awkwardly.

Liam sat up and reached for Oscar's hand. Oscar started to pull away but Liam held on tightly.

"Babe, we can't really keep this a secret from these guys," he said, his full attention on Oscar, despite the others in the room. "We can trust them – they won't tell anyone."

"Okay..." Oscar said tentatively, and Liam felt a stab of anger toward Oscar's dad; he knew by now that his homophobia was the main reason Oscar didn't want to go public with their relationship.

Liam turned back to their dormitory-mates. "Me and Oscar, we're sort of... together," he said. "It's very new and we're still exploring, but... yeah."

"But you mustn't tell anyone," Oscar said urgently, as Liam pulled him down onto the bed beside him and put an arm around his waist. "My dad's really homophobic – I can't risk people talking and it getting back to him somehow. Promise this'll just stay between the five of us?"

"Don't worry – your secret's safe with us," Hugo assured him, and Liam felt Oscar start to relax slightly from the heightened state of anxiety he'd been in ever since the others walked in.

Alexander and Kieran were quick to offer their assurances too. Then Alexander added, "We'll have to find a way to ensure we don't walk in on you again."

"Maybe we could just all knock from now on?" Kieran suggested.

"That works," Liam nodded. "Thanks, guys."

---

"I can't believe there's only two weeks left until the summer holidays," Oscar said as he and Liam lay side by side on the grass in a secluded corner of the grounds. "I'm going to miss you so much."

Liam reached out and took Oscar's hand. "You could always come and stay with me in the summer," he suggested, not for the first time.

"My dad..." Oscar said lamely.

Liam propped himself up on his elbow so he could look at Oscar properly. "Your dad doesn't have to know we're together," he said frankly. "As far as he knows, we're just friends and dormitory-mates. That's the good thing about being gay – or bi, or whatever-" he was aware that Oscar was still loath to put a label on his sexuality "-it's completely normal for guys to have other guys to stay in the holidays." He winked at Oscar and Oscar laughed. Liam leaned down and kissed him on the nose. "Think about it, yeah? We could go out into the Muggle world and be completely Out."

"What about your parents?" Oscar asked.

"They'd be completely supportive and they wouldn't tell anyone," Liam promised. He didn't add that he'd already told his parents about the two of them, weeks ago. The relationship he had with his parents was so open and honest that it had never occurred to him to hide something like this from them.

"Well, maybe..." Oscar said hesitantly.

---

Remember Oscar's dad doesn't know we're together," Liam told his parents as he waited as the living room window for Oscar to arrive. He had taken a lot of persuading but Liam had finally convinced Oscar to come and stay for a week in the middle of the summer. It had seemed like an age until the time came for him to arrive, but now the day was finally here.

"Relax, son," his dad said. "We know the deal. Anyway, I don't think Jimmy'll have time for a chat this morning, anyway."

"I wanna say hi to your boyfriend," Patrick, Liam's little brother said.

"Mum-" Liam began, but his mum was already on it.

"Come on, Paddy," she said, marshalling him out of the room. "You can meet Oscar later."

Liam turned back to the window. His dad put an arm around Liam's shoulders. "He'll be here soon."

As if on cue, two figures appeared around the corner. Liam's first opinion of Oscar's father – at the station at the end of term – hadn't been favourable. Now, he struck him even more as a very prim, proper type. His clothing was impeccable. His hair – dark with more than a few flecks of grey – was neatly combed and parted. Even the way he carried himself was very upright and straight.

Oscar was wearing Muggle clothing – sun bleached jeans and a stripy t-shirt. Liam's heart leapt when he saw him and he had to remind himself that rushing out and hugging him probably wasn't the best course of action. So he forced himself to wait for Oscar's dad's smart rap on the door.

"Hi," he grinned and Oscar, receiving a shy smile in return. "Hi, Mr Peakes. Is that bag Oscar's too? Shall I take it?"

"Hello, Liam," Mr Peakes said, handing the bag over.

"Good to see you again, Jimmy," Liam's dad said, offering him an handshake-turned-hug.

"C'mon, let's take your stuff up to my room," Liam said.

"Bye, Oscar," Mr Peakes said. "Enjoy yourself. Be good."

Oscar hugged his dad, and then turned to follow Liam upstairs.

Liam's parents had considered long and hard weather to let Oscar stay in Liam's room.

"We wouldn't let a girlfriend share your room at this age," his mum had argued. "We could put you in with Paddy and give Oscar your room."

"But we already share a dormitory at school," Liam had reasoned. "We're not gonna... you know. This is still really new, and we know we're too young anyway."

Now, Liam pushed open his bedroom door and rammed in the doorstop – the condition of Oscar staying in his room was that the door was never completely closed. The room was fairly small and the limited floor space was all but completely filled with a mattress for Oscar.

"Paddy got the bigger room when I went to Hogwarts," Liam explained. "Makes sense – he's here all the time and I'm not." He dumped the bag he was carrying down on the mattress, and Oscar did the same. "I've missed you," Liam said, hugging Oscar tightly. Oscar had written him very guarded letters, afraid his dad might accidently read one, and Liam had found himself not saying everything he wished to stay in his replies in consequence.

"I've missed you too," Oscar murmured, nuzzling into Liam's neck. "This summer's been too long and too sucky without you."

Liam laughed. Then he heard footsteps and looked around – Patrick had appeared in the doorway.

"Hi!"he said brightly.

"Hi Paddy," Liam sighed, turning to face the doorway, his arm still around Oscar's waist. "Oscar, this is my brother Patrick, or Paddy. Paddy, this is Oscar."

"Your boyfriend," Patrick grinned.

"Yeah," Liam said defiantly. "Now scram."

Patrick poked his tongue out and then scrammed.

Liam rolled his eyes. "Sorry about him – he's very annoying."

"No more annoying than I am to Fern sometimes," Oscar grinned. "She says she's glad to get rid of me this week so she can have peace and quiet to study whilst Dad's at work."

"What can she have to study?" Liam demanded. "It's the summer holidays."

"She's getting ahead on reading for next year because she's a Ravenclaw and fifth year's really hard, don'tcha know," Oscar said.

Liam laughed. "So, what d'you wanna do now? We could play some videogames – although I guess they might not work if Dad's home."

"What are videogames and why wouldn't they work if your dad's home?" Oscar asked. His mouth stretched into a puzzled frown and Liam just had to kiss him.

"They're a muggle thing," Liam explained. "So they can be temperamental when there's too much magic around. It's usually okay when it's just me and Dad, but with you as well... who knows, we'll see." He paused, torn between telling Oscar about Paddy, or not. In the end, he decided he needed to say something. "We're very much both a magical and muggle household," he began, walking over to the door to close it. "Crap – I'm not allowed to close the door... come out into the garden."

He led Oscar downstairs, through the kitchen and out into the garden. They both sat down in the swing seat at the bottom of the garden before Liam spoke again.

"We think Paddy's a squib," he said. "Well, Mum says that's a stupid word – she says he's a muggle, just like her. He's eight – nearly nine – and magic usually shows by seven. I was doing magic long before I was seven, but Paddy's never shown any signs. But... Dad's muggle born, Mum's a muggle... honestly, me and Dad are the odd ones out in the family, not the other way around."

"Does Paddy know?" Oscar asked. "That he's not magical?"

"Yes and no," Liam replied. "Mum's always talking to him about what secondary school he might go to, and she introduces him to lots of people with different jobs so he can see lots of options. But I don't know that he's fully processed it – I think a part of him is still expecting to get a Hogwarts letter when he's eleven. And he might... we don't really know. But anyway, our house is probably more of a muggle house than a wizard's one. The technology mostly works, but these days it sometimes goes a bit haywire when Dad and I are both here. And adding you to the mix... who knows. But c'mon," he said, leaping to his feet and grabbing Oscar by the hand. "Let me introduce you to Rocket League – or try, anyway."

The next three days were a bit of a whirlwind for Oscar, heading out and about with Liam's family. He felt himself drawn to Liam's mum, wondering if his own mum had been anything like her. Patrick could be annoying, but he was pretty good at leaving Oscar and Liam alone if Liam told him to.

---

On Monday, Liam's parents went to work, Patrick was dropped off at Holiday Club, and Liam and Oscar were left alone.

"I've got spells set up, so I'll know if you two get up to anything you shouldn't," Liam's dad warned them before he left for work.

Liam groaned and said, "Da-ad," and Oscar went bright red. "What would they get up to?" Patrick demanded. "Like raiding the biscuit tin or something?"

Oscar and Liam both laughed.

"C'mon, Paddy, let's get you to Holiday Club," Liam's mum said quickly, ushering him out of the door.

"Why can't I stay with Liam and Oscar?" Patrick asked.

"Because you can't," his mum said firmly.

"I'd keep an eye on the biscuit tin!"

"We'll pick you up at three, Paddy," Liam promised.

Once they'd done, Liam's dad turned back to the boys, made an 'I'm watching you' gesture at them and then disappearated.

"My family are so embarrassing," Liam groaned.

"I'd rather have your dad than mine," Oscar said quietly, thinking, not for the first time this weekend, about how his dad might react if he knew he had a boyfriend.

Liam gave him a gentle punch on the arm. "C'mon, no moping today. We're gonna go out by ourselves, and be Out, and have fun!"

Oscar laughed in spite of himself. "So, where are we going, o great planner of social events?" he asked.

"Well, this morning I thought we could actually play some Rocket League, because the tech should actually work with Dad not here. Then I thought I'd take you on a proper first date – bowling, and we could have lunch there, and there are arcade games, and then we can pick Paddy up on our way home. How does that sound?"

"I don't know what half of that stuff is, but yeah, cool," Oscar grinned. "And you are so going down in Rocket League!"

Liam kissed him, a quick peck on the lips. "No way!" he said firmly. "Race you upstairs!"

---

Oscar picked up bowling quickly, much to Liam's disgust – he'd become so used to winning when he went with his family.

"How are you so good at everything?" Liam demanded as Oscar beat him for a second time.

Oscar shrugged annoyingly.

"I think I need a kiss as a consolation prize," Liam said, putting his arms around Oscar's waist and pulling him close to him. He felt Oscar hesitate, and was quick to reassure him. "Relax – Liverpool's very accepting. You should see it during Pride. And if anyone does have a problem with two boys on a date, you can guarantee there are several other queer people in here ready to set them straight... so to speak."

Oscar chuckled, and Liam felt him relax. Liam kissed him, and, as he'd expected, no one batted an eyelid. "I think you promised me some food," Oscar said when they broke apart.

---

After a week with Liam, Oscar wasn't looking forward to going home. He loved his dad, and Fern, but after a week of being out, it was hard to go back into the closet. Oscar thought about telling Fern about his relationship with Liam – he was pretty sure she'd be supportive – but thought that if more people knew, there was more chance of his dad finding out, and Oscar was sure his dad could never find out.

Oscar's dad was due to pick him up on his way home from work on Friday. He spent the day with Liam and Patrick and their mum, having a picnic at the park. Patrick was relentless in wanting Oscar and Liam to play football with him, and they alternated between indulging him and lying on the picnic blanket together, cuddling and talking.

"You okay?" Liam asked Oscar, when Patrick and his mum had gone for ice cream. "You've been quiet all day."

"Just don't wanna go home," Liam said. "I'll miss you too much, and... my dad."

"What do you think he'd do if you told him you're gay... or bi, or whatever?" Liam asked. "I'm not saying you should – don't worry. Just... what if?"

"Kick me out," Oscar shrugged. "Or ground me forever, or try and persuade me I'm straight, find me a nice girlfriend, yell at me, ignore me... I don't know. But he wouldn't just say 'cool, whatever' like your parents do."

"Dad says he can talk to your dad if you want him to," Liam said tentatively. "Not about you, necessarily. He could just talk to him about me being gay, gage his reaction, normalise it a bit..."

Oscar shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous. If he knows you're gay, he might think... I'm sorry, Liam." Oscar knew how much Liam wanted to just be Out, and hated that it just couldn't be for them.

"Don't apologise," Liam said firmly. "It's not your fault." He kissed Oscar, as Patrick came running over with two ice creams.

"Quick! Oscar, this one's yours and it's melting!"

---

For the next two years, Oscar and Liam continued to keep their relationship private – Liam's family and their dormitory-mates were the only ones who knew. It was an occasional source of tension between them, but they soon made up.

Once, Oscar offered to break up with Liam so he could find someone he could be in a normal relationship with. Liam grabbed Oscar by the hand and dragged him into the walk-in wardrobe where all the boys stored their clothes.

"I'd rather be in the closet with you than out of it without you," he said firmly. If his words didn't fully convince Oscar, his kiss afterwards did.

---

In fourth year, Oscar and Liam spent the Easter holidays at school. They both decided that they'd rather be together at school than with their families and apart, and Oscar worried his dad would get suspicious if he spent every holiday at Liam's house but never invited him in return.

They did manage to get some studying done, but most of their time was spent enjoying the good weather and the time together.

"D'you think if we wished hard enough, the others wouldn't come back and we could just stay like this forever?" Oscar asked on the last afternoon of the holidays, the day when everyone else was due back. The two of them were in their favourite secluded corner of the grounds, with wards set up to warn them of anyone approaching. Liam lay with his head in Oscar's lap and Oscar played with his hair.

Liam grinned. "Unfortunately not," he said. "Besides, we're got lovely exams to look forward to."

Oscar groaned. "Don't remind me!"

As dusk started to fall, Oscar and Liam decided it was about time to head back up to the castle for dinner. When they reached the front door, they saw the horseless carriages coming up the drive.

"Just in time," Liam said. "I'm starving!"

"You're always starving," Oscar sighed.

"Hey, I'm growing," Liam shrugged.

"I don't know how you can be growing anymore," Oscar retorted – Liam was already over six foot. "If you get much taller, I won't be able to reach to kiss you."

"And that would be a tragedy," Liam said, fighting the urge to kiss him. The Entrance Hall was deserted now, but it certainly wouldn't stay that way.

The two of them proceeded into the Great Hall, which was starting to fill up with other students who'd stayed at school. The staff table was filling up, too, and as Oscar and Liam took their seats at the Gryffindor table, they looked to see which teachers were there. Checking the staff table had been a daily source of interest throughout the holidays, as teachers came and went. Some days, many of them had been present, others very few. There had been one day toward the start of the Easter break where it seemed like none of the teachers had been in the castle.

"Professor Cooke's back, and Professor Reuben," Liam said, glancing up.

"I told you they came to breakfast late this morning, after you'd gone," Oscar replied.

"Oh yeah, I forgot," Liam said. Before either of them could say anything else, students began pouring in from the Entrance Hall. Over the next five minutes, the Great Hall filled up and students called out greetings to friends. Eventually, Professor McGonagall got to her feet and clapped her hands, and the room fell silent.

Liam half listened as the headmistress welcomed them all back, and groaned along with the others as exams were mentioned. Then he suddenly paid full attention when Professor McGonagall spoke on different matters.

"I'm sure you'll all want to join me in congratulating Professor Cooke and Professor Reuben, who got married over the holidays," she said. In the applause which followed, Liam and Oscar exchanged glances. As the noise died down, Oscar's hand tentatively brushed Liam's under the table, and Liam took it.

During dinner, the two of them chatted to each other and those around them, but avoided the topic of Professors Cooke and Reuben until they were alone. After dinner, they meandered slowly up to Gryffindor Tower, taking several secret passages until they'd left the crowd behind. Then they settled themselves in one of their favourite places – a window seat halfway up a hidden staircase – and Liam rested his head on Oscar's shoulder and let him play with his hair.

"So... Cooke and Reuben, eh?" Liam ventured. "I never guessed they were a couple, did you?"

"No," Oscar agreed. "But when you think about it, they do seem close. They're always together, out of class."

"I think my gaydar needs looking at," Liam grinned. "I suppose I'm so used to most people being straight, I just assume everyone is. It's cool, though – them coming out like that."

Oscar sighed. "I'm sorry," he said. "You know I would like to be out..."

"Hey, don't apologise," Liam said firmly. "I'm sorry if you thought that was a hint or a dig – it really wasn't meant to be."

"Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to tell me dad, and to hell with the consequences... that day is not today..."

Liam turned his head and kissed him. "I love you," he said seriously. "In the closet or out of it, or in the middle of the Great Hall, or tucked away here just the two of us."

"I love you too," Oscar said.

---

Oscar and Liam enjoyed their usual week together in the summer. Oscar felt, even if Liam didn't, that the whole idea of coming out was the unspoken elephant in the room between them. Oscar just felt like he was thinking around in circles; he wanted to come out, but he was terrified of his dad's reaction. He avoided talking to Liam about it because he just felt so jealous that Liam was Out and he wasn't, but also guilty because their relationship couldn't be public in the way he knew Liam wanted it to be.

Oscar went home determined to test the waters a little with his dad. When Oscar had first told Liam how homophobic his dad was, before they'd got together, Liam had suggested Oscar could gently education him. Oscar had shied off attempting this for fear his dad would figure out he was gay, but surely if coming out was his end goal, then this was the way to go. He decided talking about Professor Cooke and Professor Reuben would be a good place to start. If he did it when Fern was around maybe she'd back him up.

So, one day, near the end of the holidays, when the three of them were having dinner together, Oscar turned the talk to Hogwarts professors.

"I think Professor Cooke's the nicest teacher," Fern said, inadvertently steering the conversation exactly where Oscar wanted it to go. "She's always really kind, and tries to explain things so you'll understand."

"Yeah, or Professor Reuben," Oscar said tentatively. "I'm thinking about taking Muggle Studies NEWT just so she can still be my teacher."

"When they're both so lovely, it's no wonder really that they're a couple," Fern said innocently. "They're perfect for each other."

"The way they just got married was super cool," Oscar agreed, looking determinedly at his dinner but watching out of the corner of his eye for his dad's reaction.

His dad looked puzzled as he replied, "Wait... aren't they both women?"

"It's 2023, Dad," Fern said. "Two women can get married. They're lesbians – so what?"

"One or both of them might be bi," Oscar pointed out, still not looking up from his dinner, his wanting to be accurate outweighing his fear for once. He'd wondered for a while if he himself might be bi, but had come to the conclusion it was definitely just guys for him. Which in some ways might make things easier with his dad – he knew if he told him he was bi, his dad would just try and find him a girlfriend.

"It's... unnatural," Dad said eventually.

Fern rolled her eyes. "Says who? People have been gay since time immemorial. Only in the last few centuries did society decide there was something wrong with it."

Oscar felt he should chime in. Fern was doing a good job defending his cause without even known it, but he felt he couldn't leave it all to her.

"Surely being happy and being yourself is more important than what other people thing," he said, risking glance at his dad's face. It looked thunderous.

"Hear, hear," Fern muttered.

Dad stood up. "I'm not going to be lectured to by my children," he said. "You two can clear the table and wash up between you." He left the room.

"We weren't lecturing you!" Fern called after him. "We were just having a conversation. Merlin, Dad!"

Oscar turned back to his dinner, not daring to say anything. He heard the front door bang.

"He's so impossible!" Fern said. "So set in his ways. What he'd do if one of us were gay, I don't know."

Oscar still said nothing. Fern turned to look at him.

"Doot? You okay?"

Oscar took a deep breath. He'd thought he couldn't come out to Fern until he came out to his dad, but Fern would clearly be an ally, and he desperately needed one.

"I'm gay," he said in a small voice, not quite meeting his sister's eye. "Liam's my boyfriend. We've been together for two years."

Fern got up and hugged him fiercely. "I love you, Doot," she said into his hair. "I'm so glad you told me. I'm sorry Dad's such a bigot."

"I want to come out," Oscar said. "Liam's been out like his whole life, but yet he still can't fully be himself because I'm not out."

"Who else knows?" Fern asked.

"Liam's family, and the other guys in our dormitory," Oscar told her. "They kind of walked in on us – we were just kissing."

Fern laughed. "You don't have to defend yourself to me," she said. "I'd done a whole lot more than kissing by the time I was your age."

"Eww, TMI!" Oscar said. "I do not want to think about that."

Fern laughed again, ruffling his hair. "Are you not out at school because of Dad?" she asked.

Oscar nodded. "If I'm out, he'll find out about it, and I think he should hear about it from me. Talking about Professor Cooke and Professor Reuben was my first attempt at testing the water. But clearly tonight is not the night to come out."

Fern squeezed his hand. "I know this is difficult," she said. "I'll keep testing the waters and brining the subject up with Dad. And when you decide to come out, I'll be there, if you want."

Oscar squeezed back. "Thanks, Fern."

"Love you, Doot. Now, eat up, and then you can clear the table. I'll wash up."

"You could clear the table by magic a lot faster than I can by hand," Oscar grumbled, but he got up and started collecting plates and glasses.

---

"Can we find a compartment on our own? I want to talk to you."

Thus, Liam was greeted by Oscar on Platform Nine-and-three-quarters on the first of September. Liam so wanted to kiss him, right there on the platform in front of everyone, but he knew he couldn't.

"Let's find somewhere," he said, fighting the urge to take Oscar's hand.

They walked the length of the train, eventually finding an empty compartment right at the front of the train, just behind the staff compartment.

"No one must want to be this close to the teachers," Liam grinned, walking in.

Oscar followed him, pulling down the blinds and setting up their usual ward which warned them of anyone approaching. Liam raised his eyebrows – this must be something serious. He sat down in the corner seat, stretching his arms out on the backs of the seats beside him. Oscar came and sat down, resting his head on Liam's shoulder. Liam put his arm around him.

"You okay?" he asked. "Merlin, I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too," Oscar murmured, snuggling close. There was a long pause, and the train began moving out of the station, before he spoke again. "I came out to Fern."

Liam turned to face Oscar. His little mouth looked so nervous he just had to kiss it. "What happened? Was she alright?"

Oscar nodded. "She was great – a definite ally. I... I decided to test the waters with Dad, so I started talking about Cooke and Reuben, and the way Fern was with Dad he started getting funny about it – she told him it's 2023 and people can love who they want to love – well... I knew from that she'd be supportive. So, after Dad stormed out, I told her I'm gay and about you... she says she'll keep nudging Dad, and when I do come out, she'll be there if I want her to be."

Liam held Oscar close to him. "I'm so glad it went well," he said, his face pressed into Oscar's hair. "How does it feel, her knowing?"

"It's good," Oscar said. "I'm still petrified about coming out to Dad, but I want to now. Before, I was just scared and didn't want to... now I'm scared but I want to anyway."

Liam gently lifted Oscar's head from his shoulder and turned so he could kiss him properly. What started as a tender, gentle kiss soon became hungrier, more passionate. Oscar brushed Liam's hair out of his eyes and then held his face between his hands.

"I love you so much..." Oscar murmured, before going back in for another kiss.

The ward went off, and the two of them sprang apart. The warning meant they had about ten seconds before someone walked in.

"I'm sorry," Oscar said guiltily, retreating to the opposite corner.

Liam knew what he meant – sorry that they couldn't be out, regardless of who was just about to walk in. "It's okay," he said. "One day."

The door banged open, revealing Brandon, Dove, and a few more of their friends.

"Hey, can we join you?" Brandon asked. "We've been looking for somewhere to sit for ages."

"Sure – the more, the merrier," Liam said brightly, despite wishing they'd all go away so he could just spend time with his boyfriend.

"Why have you got the blinds down?" Dove asked, sitting down beside Oscar.

"They were like that when we got here," Oscar lied.

"Who's up for Truth or Dare?" Brandon asked, and everyone groaned.

"You always want to play that!"

"We never do anything else!"

Liam turned and mouthed, 'sorry' at Oscar, over the others' heads. Once no one was looking at him, Oscar mouthed back, 'later'.

---

Fifth year, as the boys soon found out, was hard work. A lot of their time was spent studying, making it harder than usual to find time together. Although they never talked about it explicitly, Oscar knew their biggest obstacle to quality time together was the fact he wasn't out. As they wandered through Hogsmeade together during the first Hogsmeade weekend in October, Oscar made a decision. Not willing to give himself a chance to chicken out, he quickly shared his decision with Liam.

"I want us to be out by February so on Valentine's Day, we can be one of those sickly sweet couples on a date in Madam Puddifoot's," he said.

Liam stopped walking and turned to face Oscar. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Oscar nodded. "I'm done hiding us. I'm not sure how I'm going to come out to my dad, but I will... maybe over Christmas."

---

Liam looked around. They were right up a side street and there weren't many people around. There were still some people, though. Hastily, he cast a disillusionment charm on the pair of them so they would appear indistinct to anyone was looking. Then he took Oscar's face in his hands and kissed him.

"What are you doing?" Oscar asked as they separated slightly, foreheads still touching.

"Loving you," Liam murmured.

---

In the end, Oscar decided to send a letter to his dad a few days before the start of the Christmas holidays.

"Perhaps it'll give him a chance to... process before he sees me," he explained to Liam as they sat together on Oscar's bed one Saturday morning. Rolls of parchment lay around them in preparation for writing The Letter, and Oscar clutched in his hand a biro Liam had given him. Oscar wondered why wizards didn't use biros more often – they were so much more convenient than quills.

The letter took most of the day to write. Liam stayed with Oscar the whole time, helping him rehearse word choices and rehash sentences. Oscar told him several times that he could go and do something else, or even just grab his homework, but he refused.

Eventually, mid-afternoon, the letter was finished. Oscar looked around – the bed and the floor were both liberally strewn with discarded drafts.

"Happy?" Liam asked, gently kissing Oscar on the neck. Oscar had spent the last half hour with his knees drawn up to his chest, leaning back against Liam who was sitting behind him.

"As I'll ever be," Oscar sighed. "It's finished, anyway. Fern said she'd read it if I want, and I do want." Yet the adrenaline which had sustained him through writing the letter was fading now and he wasn't sure he could move.

"I'll send her a MI," Liam said. "Accio MIs." A pad of MIs zoomed out of his bag at the foot of his bed and landed on the bed beside him. "Lean forward," he said, plucking the pen out of Oscar's hand. Oscar lent forward and felt Liam lean on his back to write the MI. After scribbling a quick note, he folded the MI (still leaning on Oscar's back – it tickled) and threw it in the direction of the door. The door clicked open to let the MI through and then shut itself again. Liam vanished all the screwed up scraps of parchment and then lay back, pulling Oscar down with him. Oscar lay with his head on Liam's chest, trying to relax. Liam played with Oscar's hair but neither of them spoke.

About ten minutes later there was a knock on the door and Fern's voice said, "Doot?"

"Come in!" Liam called as the two of them sat up.

The door opened and Fern came in, carrying a wicker basket. She hurried over to Oscar and hugged him.

"You've written it?" she asked.

"Yeah," Oscar nodded. "Can you read it?"

"Of course," Fern said. She lifted up the basket and put it on the bed beside the two boys. "I brought you some food – I saw you missed lunch. Mary Cattermole let me in."

Liam fell on the basket like he hadn't eaten in days. "I think you're an angel, Fern," he said through a mouthful of sandwich. "Come on, Oscar, dig in – turkey and stuffing!"

Oscar handed Fern the letter and picked up a sandwich. "You should've gone to lunch if you were hungry," he told Liam, nibbling tentatively at the sandwich.

"And leave you? Never!" Liam told him.

Oscar studied his sister's face intently as she read his letter, but her expression was inscrutable. When she finished, she gave him another fierce hug.

"Was it... is it okay?" Oscar asked tentatively.

"It's perfect," Fern said. "And if Dad takes issue with it then... he's even more of a bigot than I thought. Are you going to send it now?"

"Yeah – before I chicken out," Oscar said.

"D'you want me to come with you?" Fern asked.

Oscar shook his head. "It's okay – I know you've got stuff to do."

"I do," Fern agreed. She was leaving first thing in the morning to go to Japan for a graduate scheme interview and wouldn't be back until the Christmas holidays had already started.

"He's got me," Liam said. Oscar thought Liam was going to hold his hand but instead he gave him an apple. "Here, eat – I'm not having you pass out on me on the way up to the Owlery."

Oscar bit into the apple, starting to realise how hungry he was. Fern stood up and ruffled Oscar's hair.

"See you, Doot," she said. "I love you."

Once Oscar had eaten his apple, he and Liam walked to the Owlery together to send the letter. As they started up the last flight of stone stairs, Oscar slowed his steps, still not sure if he was really going to do this, really going to send this letter. Liam took his hand – there was no one around now.

"Come on," he said. "I've got you, and you've got this."

Together, they selected one of the school owls. Liam had to tie the letter to its leg as Oscar's hands were trembling too much.

"Ready?" Liam asked.

Oscar considered. Was he ready? Was he ready to spill his heart out to his dad and face the possibility of being rejected? Was he ready to show his true self, to be truly, authentically Oscar, for the first time in years? Was he ready to be out, to be able to hold hands in the corridors, snuggle together in the common room, kiss in the Great Hall?

In the end, all he could manage was a brief nod. Liam took Oscar's hand as he carried the owl over to the glassless window. As they reached it, the owl hooted softly and took off.

Panic seized Oscar. What had he done? His dad would get that letter, probably in the morning... he would read it, he would know. There was no going back now.

Liam seemed to sense Oscar's panic. He hugged him tightly, letting Oscar bury his head into his chest.

"I'm so proud of you," he said. "I love you."

Oscar lifted his head and looked up at Liam. "Thanks for staying with me," he said. "I couldn't've got through today without you."

Liam put his hands on either side of Oscar's face and kissed him. Oscar clutched the front of Liam's robes and pulled him closer.

A small cough sounded from the doorway and the two boys leapt apart. Oscar turned to see Professor Reuben standing in the doorway, a letter in her hand.

"Sorry," she said awkwardly. "Just telling Professor Cooke I will be home for dinner after all."

"Sorry Professor," Liam said. "We didn't think anyone else would be up here."

"And indeed they weren't until I came," Professor Reuben said brightly. She whistled softly and a beautiful snowy owl fluttered down to land on her arm, took the letter in its beak and flew over Oscar's head and out of the window. "And there's no need to apologise, boys," Professor Reuben said. "Honestly, it's a refreshing change from all the rampant heterosexuality around here."

Oscar felt himself going red, but Liam just laughed and slung his arm around Oscar's shoulder.

"Professor, we're not exactly out-" Oscar began, but broke off as he realised that they could be out now – if the reason they hadn't been out was in case his dad found out, that reason was gone now, that bird had flown.

"Don't worry, I won't go around telling people," Professor Reuben said.

Oscar turned to Liam. "Although I suppose we could start telling people now."

"When you're ready," Liam nodded.

"Well, have a good rest of your day, boys," Professor Reuben said, grinning. She turned and left the Owlery.

"I do want to come out now," Oscar said. "But maybe once I've heard from my dad."

"Good plan," Liam nodded. "Then maybe we could talk to our friends after Christmas, and then just let everyone else find out however."

"Alright," Oscar agreed. He was still incredibly nervous of how his dad would react, but somehow Liam's presence made him believe everything would be okay.

---

Oscar and Liam slept late on the last morning of term before Christmas. Liam had half woken in the middle of the night to Oscar crawling into bed beside him.

"It's too bloody cold," Oscar had muttered, snuggling close to him. "I need my hot water bottle."

Friday mornings meant tutoring, which in turn meant there wasn't the usual frantic rush in the dormitory to wake them up. Alexander always slipped out early for his tutoring – arranged first thing to make him use the rest of the morning for studying – but Oscar was the only other member of their dormitory to opt for tutoring.

On this particular morning, neither Liam nor Oscar heard Alexander leave, which was usually Oscar's cue to start waking up. Consequently, when Liam first rolled over to look at the clock, it was to see that Oscar only had twenty-five minutes to get to his tutoring session on time.

He looked over at his boyfriend, sprawled fast asleep with his head on Liam's pillow, taking up about two thirds of the bed. It would be a shame to wake him, really, but it had to be done. Liam propped himself up on his elbow, leaned down and kissed Oscar on the forehead. He didn't stir.

"Oscar, time to wake up," Liam whispered into his ear.

"Hot," Oscar complained, starting to come to. "Your words... too hot." He reached up and rubbed his ear.

Liam grinned. He kissed Oscar again, on the mouth this time. "It's time to wake up," he said. "You've got tutoring in less than half an hour."

Oscar sat bolt upright, banging his head on Liam's chin.

"Ow!" Liam protested, rubbing his chin. "Why've you got such a hard nut?"

"Shut up, you two," groaned Hugo from his bed beside the door. "Some of us are trying to sleep."

Oscar rubbed his head, grinning sheepishly.

"What time is it?" asked Kieran.

"Twenty to ten," Liam told him.

Oscar swore and kicked the bedclothes off dramatically.

"Whoa, calm it down," Liam told him. "This is my bed you're wrecking, remember. You've still got time to grab some toast if you're quick, but if you rush like that you're gonna cause someone an injury – probably me."

"Sorry," Oscar said, rubbing Liam's chin and kissing him.

"Ugh, get a room, you two!" Kieran groaned, getting out of bed. "I'm getting up too – I'm meeting Frankie for breakfast."

A deep sigh sounded from Hugo's bed. "I guess there's no point trying to sleep any more," he said. "I suppose I better get up and study."

Oscar, Liam and Kieran got up and dressed at top speed, Hugo following more slowly, still grumbling. Leaving Hugo in the dormitory, the other three hurried down to breakfast. They were on the fifth floor when Oscar suddenly stopped and swore, patting his robes where the pockets were and then rummaging in his bag.

"What?" Liam asked.

"I've left my wand upstairs," Oscar said. "I'll have to go back and get it – there won't be time before Transfiguration."

"Want me to come with you?" Liam asked.

"No, you go on," Oscar probably replied. "I'll probably just go straight to tutoring now."

"Alright," Liam agreed. "See you in Transfiguration." He glanced around to check no one else was about – apart from Kieran – then gave Oscar a quick peck on the cheek.

Kieran rolled his eyes as Oscar hurried back upstairs and he and Liam continued downwards. "Are you two ever gonna come out?" he asked. "You've been together for years now."

"Soon, I hope," Liam nodded. "Oscar wrote to his dad to tell him on Sunday. Once he's sorted things out with him, we'll come out to our friends. Oscar's getting pretty anxious cuz he hasn't heard back from his dad, actually."

When they reached the Great Hall, Kieran went off to join Frankie. Liam looked around and eventually settled at the Ravenclaw table to have breakfast with Dove and Tori. He kept glancing around looking for Oscar, but he must've gone straight to tutoring because he never showed up. After breakfast, Liam stayed in the Great Hall with the Ravenclaw girls, comparing dream diaries. Liam had resorted to making dreams up, since most of his dreams involved Oscar and weren't of a nature he could share.

When the bell rang for the start of break, the three of them got up and walked up to the fifth floor and Transfiguration. Liam fully expected to find Oscar waiting around the classroom, but he wasn't there. Liam assumed he'd been caught up in tutoring until Oscar's tutor, Reuben Goldstein, walked down the corridor toward him. Goldstein played Chaser for the Gryffindor team and Liam had had a massive crush on him back in second year, before he and Oscar had got together, a fact Oscar had found hilarious.

"Hey, you're friends with Oscar Peekes, right?" Goldstein asked.

"Yeah," Liam affirmed, waiting for the day he could openly describe himself as Oscar's boyfriend rather than just his friend.

"Any idea what's happened to him?" Goldstein asked. "He didn't turn up to tutoring this morning."

Liam was puzzled, and a little worried. "No," he said. "He was running late – went back to the dormitory for his wand – but I haven't seen him since."

"Well, when you see him, tell him he could've at least had the courtesy to send me a MI or something if he couldn't make it," Goldstein said, turning and walking away.

"That's weird," Tori said. "Where do you think he's got to?"

"I don't know," Liam replied. "I might go and find him – check he's alright."

At that moment, the classroom door opened and Professor Duncan ushered the class inside. Liam hesitated for a moment, then turned and started to walk away.

"Coote, where do you think you're going?" Professor Duncan demanded.

Liam turned back. "I need to find Oscar, sir," he said. "He didn't turn up to tutoring, and-"

"What you need to do is attend my lesson," Professor Duncan said firmly.

"But sir-"

"Don't argue with me – ten points from Gryffindor," Professor Duncan said. "Now get inside."

"At least let me send him a MI quickly and check he's okay," Liam said, rummaging in his bag for his pad of MIs."

"Another ten points," Professor Duncan snapped. "And if you talk back to me again you will be in detention tonight, and I don't care that it's the last day of term."

Liam considered just walking way, but he knew he stood to get in a lot of trouble if he did that. Fuming, he marched into the classroom and all but threw his bag down onto his desk.

As Professor Duncan shut the door and started the lesson, Liam tried to tell himself there was a good explanation for Oscar's non-appearance. Perhaps he'd gone back to bed and fallen asleep. Maybe he'd decided to skip tutoring and then been held up by a teacher. Perhaps he was ill, or maybe he'd fallen and hurt himself and couldn't get up.

"Coote!" Professor Duncan's angry voice dragged Liam away from his wonderings. "I asked you a question."

"Sorry sir, could you repeat it?" Liam asked, trying to keep his voice polite when what he really wanted to do was should 'Fuck you and your stupid fucking class – don't you know there's something wrong with my boyfriend and I need to find him?'

"Five points from Gryffindor for your inattentiveness," Professor Duncan said, turning to Andy Cattermole for an answer. Liam never did hear the question.

Liam found it impossible to concentrate on the lesson. When Professor Duncan sent the class off to work, Liam made a half-hearted attempt at Transfiguring his racoon, but he just couldn't focus. He considered asking to go to the toilet but was almost certain the answer would be no. Professor Duncan seemed to be targeting Liam – spending large portions of the lesson watching him and taking points off when his Transfiguration was sub-par. By the end of the lesson he'd taken a round fifty points.

Liam was all packed up before the bell rang, ready to leg it and find Oscar. As the bell rang, he leapt up from his seat and made for the door.

"Coote, wait," Professor Duncan snapped.

Liam stopped in the doorway.

"Two hundred lines: 'I will pay attention in Transfiguration.' Handed to me before you go home for Christmas."

Liam bit back and expletive-laden retort. All he needed now was to get away as soon as possible – arguing was just going to delay him. So he managed to refrain from saying anything other than a curt, "Yes, sir."

Once Professor Duncan let him leave, Liam sped off up the corridor. He spotted Hugo and called after him.

"Hey, Hugo! I'm going to go and find Oscar. Cover for me?"

"Of course," Hugo said, stopping and turning to face Liam. "Is he okay?"

"That's what I'm aiming to find out," Liam said grimly. He stopped and scribbled a quick MI to Oscar, asking where he was and if he was okay, and then set off to find him. He wasn't sure where to look first, but decided to try the dormitory, since that's where he'd last been headed.

Liam ran most of the way, a growing feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. He took the stairs two at a time, slowing to walk only when he came across teachers or prefects. When reached the fifth year boys' dormitory he burst in at the door.

Oscar was sitting on his bed. He didn't even react when Liam opened the door. He just stared into space unseeingly. His face was wan and pale.

"Oscar, what's wrong?" Liam asked anxiously, walking over and sitting down opposite him on the bed.

Oscar didn't reply, staring right though Liam. Liam noticed three crumpled pieces of paper on the bed between them – two MIs and the third clearly a letter. Liam recognised his own rainbow striped MI and guessed the other one was from Reuben Goldstein. The letter... Liam laid his hand on it and when Oscar still didn't react, he picked it up. Liam didn't recognise the handwriting but he knew at a glance it was from Oscar's dad. It was just two sentences long but they were two of the coldest, vilest sentences Liam had ever read:

'You are no son of mine. Don't come home.'

"Oh Oscar!" Liam said. He flung his arms around his boyfriend and still Oscar didn't react. "Oscar, talk to me," Liam implored. "Shout, scream, swear, cry, do something."

Oscar's stillness was scaring Liam. He didn't think he could manage this by himself.

"I'm going to get someone," he said. Still Oscar didn't react.

Liam hurried down into the Common Room. It was deserted apart from a couple of seventh years who he didn't think would be any help. He exited through the portrait hole, wondering who to look for. Professor Longbottom? Madam Pomfrey? Had Oscar just been sitting there all morning, not moving, not reacting? Why wouldn't he talk to him?

Liam barely noticed his walk speeding up into a run. All he focussed on was finding someone who could help Oscar.

"Liam?" called a familiar voice as he passed a doorway on the sixth floor.

Liam reluctantly stopped and turned to see Professor Reuben standing in the doorway. Relief flooded through him. Professor Reuben would know what to do, wouldn't she? And if she didn't, she'd be able to find someone who did.

"Why are you running?" Professor Reuben asked. "Are you okay?"

"It's Oscar, Professor," Liam said. "He came out to his dad, and his dad sent him a horrible letter and now he's just sitting on his bed not moving and he won't talk to me – it's like he's just shut down."

Professor Reuben took this all in. "Come and have a cup of tea," she said. "I was just about to make one. I think you're in shock, not just Oscar. Come on."

Liam followed Professor Reuben into her office and accepted a cup of tea. In between sipping the overly-sweet beverage, he told the whole story. "I'm really worried about him, Professor," he wound up. "I've never seen him like this before. If he'd just talk to me, shout, scream, swear, punch something, throw something, I'd get that. This silence... it's scary."

"Let's go and see him," Professor Reuben said. "I'll get Professor Longbottom to meet us there."

Liam waited whilst Professor Reuben sent a MI, and then walked back upstairs with her. They paused at the foot of the boys' staircase.

"I'll wait here for Professor Longbottom," Professor Reuben said, "but if you want to go up we'll be there soon. Or you can stay with me."

"I'll go up," Liam said.

"Alright," Professor Reuben agreed. "We won't be long."

Liam took the stairs two at a time again. When he reached the dormitory, Oscar hadn't moved. He was still sitting on his bed, staring into space. He didn't look up or react as Liam crossed the room and sat down on the bed. He moved to sit behind Oscar, wrapped his arms around his waist and rested his chin on his shoulder.

"I love you," he said. "I'm sorry your dad wrote... what he wrote. I promise it'll be okay. Professor Longbottom and Professor Reuben will be here in a minute."

Still Oscar didn't speak, but a single tear splashed onto Liam's hand. He kissed Oscar on the cheek and tasted salty tears. He felt Oscar move and a cold, clammy hand was placed into his. He took it and squeezed it.

Oscar and Liam sat in silence for several minutes until there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Liam called, giving Oscar's hand another squeeze.

Professor Longbottom opened the door and came in, closely followed by Professor Reuben.

"Professor Reuben's filled me in on what's been going on," Professor Longbottom said. "It was very brave of you, coming out to your dad like you did. I'm sorry you didn't get the response you were hoping for."

Oscar didn't reply.

"Oscar, say something," Liam implored. "Please, babe, I'm scared."

"My dad hates me," Oscar aid in a quiet voice.

Liam kissed him on the cheek.

"He might just need some time," Professor Longbottom said gently. "If you think it would be best to give him some space over Christmas and not go home-"

"I can't go home," Oscar said quickly.

"Then you're very welcome to stay here," Professor Longbottom said. "I'll be here, and Alice and Frankie."

"You can come home with me," Liam said. "I'll ask my parents but I know they'll say it's fine. You can't stay here by yourself."

Oscar shook his head violently. "No. I won't be good company and I don't want to ruin anyone's Christmas."

"You wouldn't," Liam assured him. "Honestly, I couldn't enjoy Christmas at home knowing you were here, miserable and on your own. Come on, come home with me."

But Oscar was adamant. "I'm staying here."

"Then I'm staying with you," Liam said firmly.

"No – I don't want to ruin your Christmas," Oscar protested.

Liam kissed Oscar on the cheek. "I couldn't go home and enjoy my Christmas if I knew you were here alone and miserable. If you won't come home with me, then I'll stay here with you." He looked up and Professor Longbottom. "Sir, can I floo-call my parents to tell them I won't be home for Christmas?"

"Of course," Professor Longbottom said. "What lesson are you two supposed to be in now?"

"Potions," Liam replied.

"I can't go," Oscar said quickly. "Sir, I can't... can't face it."

Professor Longbottom nodded. "I'll let Professor de Oliveira know. And this afternoon?"

"Double Charms and Defence," Liam told him.

"Usually, I'd say you need to go to lessons so as not to set a precedent," Professor Longbottom said, "but as it's the last day of term, you can stay out of lessons for the rest of today. And Liam, you can stay with him. I'll let your teachers know."

"Thank you, sir," Liam said.

"If you come to my office now, you can call your parents."

"Do you want to come with me?" Liam asked Oscar.

Oscar shook his head. Liam got up.

"I love you," he said, kissing Oscar on the forehead. "I'll be back soon." He followed the two teachers from the room.

"Are you okay?" Professor Longbottom asked Liam as the two of them walked toward his office.

"I'm just worried about Oscar," Liam replied.

"That's understandable," Professor Longbottom nodded. "If you're feeling overwhelmed or need support, make sure you talk to someone. I'll be here all over Christmas, as will Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey."

"I will, sir," Liam agreed. He was still feeling pretty overwhelmed. He wished Oscar would agree to come home with him, but knew he couldn't force him.

They reached Professor Longbottom's office. The Herbology teacher gestured to the pot of floo powder on the mantelpiece. "Take your time," he said, sitting down at his desk.

Liam took a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the fire. "36 Willingdon Road, Liverpool," he said as the flames turned green. He knelt down, took a deep breath and stuck his head in the fire.

Everything started spinning and Liam felt like his head was going to fall off. Then as soon as it had started, it stopped, and Liam opened his eyes to find himself looking out at the living room at home. Everything looked much as he'd left it at the end of August, except the boxes of Christmas decorations were out, stacked up in the corner. No one seemed to be around.

"Mum!" he called. "Mum!" He hoped she wasn't out.

A moment later, his mum came hurrying in to the room. "Liam? What are you doing in there? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay," he reassured her. "But Oscar's not."

He quickly filled her in. As he talked, his mum's face grew grave. She sat down on the sofa opposite and listened intently.

"So, he can't go home for Christmas..." he wound up.

"He can come here," Liam's mum said, as he'd known she would.

"I told him that," Liam replied. "I knew you'd say it was okay. He said he doesn't want to, though. He's just been sitting on his bed all morning not doing anything. I'm worried about him, Mum. I can't leave him here by himself, so if he won't come home with me, then I need to stay here. Is that okay?"

His mum barely hesitated before replying. "Of course, love," she said. "We'll really miss you but... you have to do what you have to do. Keep trying to persuade Oscar, though – I'd much rather him here where we can look after him – and you. Is his sister staying at Hogwarts too?"

"She's in Japan for an interview at the moment," Liam said. "She doesn't know about their dad's letter – but she knew Oscar wrote to him. She was supposed to go straight home for Christmas – I don't know what she'll do when she gets home and discovers Oscar's not there."

"Which teachers are staying over Christmas?" Liam's mum asked. "Do they know what's going on? How are you calling me now?"

"I'm in Professor Longbottom's office," Liam told her. "He's staying for Christmas, and so's Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey. I went looking for help when I found Oscar with the letter and he wouldn't talk to me, and I found Professor Reuben – she already knows about us because she saw us kissing in the Owlery last weekend – and she got Professor Longbottom so they both know."

"Well, if you manage to convince Oscar to come home to us and the holidays have already started, I imagine Professor Longbottom will let you come home then anyway," Liam's mum said. "And I want you to write to us every day, and if I don't hear from you, I'll send your dad up there to check on the pair of you. I love you, Liam. I'm proud of you."

"I wish I could just make things better for Oscar," Liam sighed. "But I don't know how."

"Love can't fix everything," his mum told him. "All you can do is keep looking after Oscar and hoping for the best. Maybe his dad will change his views. Maybe he won't and it'll be okay anyway."

"I better go," Liam said. "My knees are killing me."

"Alright," his mum agreed. "Write to us tomorrow. Look after yourself. I love you."

"Love you too," Liam said. Then he pulled his head backwards out of the fire and found himself back in Professor Longbottom's office.

"All good?" his head of house asked.

"Yeah," Liam nodded. "My mum says I can stay. She also said maybe if I can convince Oscar to come home in a few days, we could go then?"

"Of course," Professor Longbottom agreed. "If you can convince Oscar to go home with you at any point, I can send you through my fire – it has a one-way connection to the floo network."

"Thanks, sir," Liam said. "I better get back to Oscar now."

Liam spent the rest of the day in the dormitory with Oscar. His boyfriend was still very quiet and withdrawn, not wanting to do anything or even talk much. They just sat or lay together in silence. Liam went down to the Great Hall to fetch some food when he couldn't ignore his rumbling stomach any longer, but he couldn't persuade Oscar to eat anything.

Before dinner, Hugo, Alexander and Kieran came into the dormitory.

"Where have you two been all day?" Kieran demanded as he flung his bag down on his bed.

Liam looked at Oscar who shrugged as if to say, 'We can't hide anything from these guys.'

"Oscar came out to his dad and it didn't go so well," Liam explained, taking Oscar's hand a squeezing it gently.

The other boys were quick to offer their condolences but Liam could tell Oscar was barely registering their words. They soon left to go down to dinner.

"Are you guys sure you don't want to come with?" Hugo asked, the last one out of the door.

Liam shook his head. "Thanks, guys."

The rest of the evening passed in a similar fashion. Liam made a couple of half-hearted attempts to persuade Oscar to do something – anything – but he soon gave it up as hopeless. He ended up writing those lines for Professor Duncan, unable just to sit there doing nothing.

As the night drew in, Liam suggested they try and get some sleep. Oscar grabbed his arm.

"Don't leave me!" he implored.

Liam hugged him tightly. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised. "I can sleep in your bed tonight if you want."

Oscar nodded.

"We should get ready for bed, though," Liam said.

Fifteen minutes later, the two of them were ready for bed.

"I don't think I'll be able to sleep, though," Oscar said.

Liam hugged him. "You can just lie and get comfy with me."

They got into bed together and Oscar rested his head on Liam's arm.

"Do you think my dad'll come round?" Oscar said in a quiet voice which was barely more than a whisper.

"I don't know," Liam replied. "I hope so. But if he doesn't... I know it's no consolation, but you've got me... my family... Fern... the other guys in our dormitory... you're not alone."

"I guess we can tell the rest of our friends after Christmas," Oscar said. "No need to keep it a secret anymore."

"Only if you want to," Liam said. "There's no pressure."

"No, I want to," Oscar said. "There's no point hiding it now my dad knows, and things will be so much easier if we're Out."

"I love you, Oscar," Liam said seriously. "I guess we should probably try and get some sleep now – goodnight."

"Goodnight," Oscar echoed.

Liam was still awake over an hour later when the others came up to bed, and he was pretty sure Oscar was too.

---

Fern had thought her dad might meet her off the plane when she got back from Japan. It had been a long flight and Fern had given up trying to study when she discovered the man in the seat next to her not only spoke English but was rather nosy. It wouldn't do to have him reading Advanced Potion Making over her shoulder, so she'd had to leave it in her bag and engage in polite small talk instead.

As she stepped out into Arrivals and saw the sea of people waiting to greet loved ones, she looked around for Dad but couldn't see him anywhere. Probably he was working.

Fern tried to remember where the disapperation room was. Most big airports had them these days – discreet rooms where witches and wizards could arrange their onward travel. They all had different, innocuous names of former Ministers for Magic so as not to arouse suspicion from muggles. Fern remembered this one was called The Crickerly Room.

It took a few minutes but she eventually located it and slipped inside. It was a small room, containing only a fireplace with a pot of floo powder on the mantelpiece and an open space before it for apparition.

Fern closed her eyes, turned on the spot and focussed hard on the garden at home. When she opened her eyes she was there, although the heavy rain hadn't been in her image of the garden. Quickly, she left herself in through the back door.

"Oscar? Dad?" she called. "Are you home?"

Silence greeted her. Fern dragged her trunk up to her room and changed out of her damp travelling clothes. Dad was presumably at work but she was surprised Oscar wasn't here. Or maybe he was and just hadn't heard her.

Fern went and knocked on his door. "Oscar? Doot? Are you in there?"

When there was no reply, Fern opened the door. Oscar's room was deserted and, what's more, everything was neat and tidy. Fern knew her brother was a messy creature by nature, but his room was as neat and tidy was he'd left it in August. His bed was neatly made with fresh bedding (Oscar never made his bed) and there was no sign of any bags or trunk.

Had Oscar not come home, then? Fern wondered to herself. He should've come home four days ago, but his room didn't look lived in at all. What could have happened to him? Had he gone home with Liam, maybe? Why? That hadn't been in the plans.

Fern checked her watch. Dad was due home in about an hour, so presumably she'd got some answers then. She wondered how Dad had responded to Oscar's coming out letter. Could Oscar's absence here be related to that?

Deciding here was no point thinking around in circles, Fern decided to try and get that Potions essay down – it had been milling around in her head for most of the flight.

She was about six inches in when she heard her dad's key in the lock. She met him halfway down the stairs.

"Dad, where's Oscar?" she asked.

"Not here," Dad said shortly.

With a sense of foreboding, Fern pressed for more information. "Why not?"

"I told him not to come home," Dad replied, his voice emotionless. He walked off into the kitchen.

"Why?" Fern persisted, following him. "Because he's gay?"

Dad turned to face her. His mouth was set in a grim line, his eyes narrow. "You knew?" he asked quietly.

"Since the summer," Fern nodded, "and he showed me the letter he was going to send you."
"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Oscar didn't want me to," Fern replied. "He was worried how you'd react. I guess he was right to be, then? What did you say to him?"

Dad turned away and got a mug out of the cupboard.

"Dad," Fern persisted.

"I'm tired, Fern," Dad said irritably. "Let me get a cup of tea."

"Oscar's been worrying for months – years, even – about how he was going to come out to you, and when he finally got the courage to do it, you've just gone and rejected him. Well done, Dad."

"Don't talk to me like that!" Dad said angrily, throwing the mug down on the floor where it shattered.

"I wish Mum was here," Fern said, equally angry. "She'd be appalled by your behaviour. She was always so tolerant – she'd hate that you've become such a bigot. So you don't get homosexuality? Big deal – you don't have to get it. You just have to accept it – accept Oscar."

"Or maybe he could just be normal," Dad said.

Fern couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I hope you're prepared to lose both your children over this because that's what's going to happen – I stand with Oscar." She turned and made for the door.

"Fern, wait," Dad said, but Fern ignored him. She stormed upstairs into her room, grabbed her trunk and disapperated. The next moment, she was standing at the gates for Hogwarts. It was fully dark now and the gates were shut. She tried a couple of unlocking spells but they wouldn't budge.

"Come on!" she shouted. "I'm a student here and I need to see my brother!"

At once, the gates creaked open. Fern marched up the drive and up the front steps. Inside the Entrance Hall, the castle was eerily quiet. A few voices were heard from the Great Hall, but it was nothing like Hogwarts usually was. Leaving her trunk by the front door, Fern went into the Great Hall.

Half a dozen students and a handful of teachers sat around a large round table which had replaced the four house tables. Professor Longbottom got to his feet when he saw Fern.

"Fern!" he said. "We weren't expecting you. Are you okay?"

"Is Oscar here?" Fern asked quickly.

"Yes," Professor Longbottom nodded. "Come with me."

Fern followed her Herbology teacher out into the Entrance Hall.

"Oscar received a letter from your father on Friday," he began.

"Telling him not to come home because he came out to him," Fern nodded. "How is he?"

"Not good," Professor Longbottom replied. "He's probably up in his dormitory – he's barely left it since term ended. Liam's with him. He tried to persuade Oscar to go home with him for Christmas and then decided to stay too when he wouldn't. The Gryffindor password's bouncing baubles at the moment if you want to check on him."

"Thanks, sir," Fern said. "And... is it okay if I stay here for Christmas too?"

"Of course," Professor Longbottom said. "Have you eaten yet? You're welcome to come and join us."

"Maybe once I've seen Oscar," Fern replied. "Thanks, sir."

She started on the stairs, taking them two at a time. It felt like an incredibly long way up to Gryffindor Tower, despite all the shortcuts. Eventually, however, she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Bouncing baubles," she said.

"You're not in Gryffindor," the Fat Lady protested.

"I've got the password," Fern argued. "Professor Longbottom gave it to me. Let me in."

Muttering angrily, the Fat Lady swung forward to let Fern in. The circular common room was deserted and Fern made straight for the boys' staircase. The fifth year dormitory was right at the top, and Fern felt dizzy as she ran up the seemingly never-ending spiral staircase. When she reached the top, she knocked on the door.

"Oscar? It's me."

Thirty seconds later, the door opened. Liam was standing here, looking worried and rather more unkempt than usual.

"Oscar?" Fern asked.

"Yeah, in here," Liam nodded, stepping aside to let Fern in.

Oscar was sitting on his bed, looking rough. He was wearing a scruffy pair of pyjamas and his hair looked like it hadn't been washed for days. He was very pale too, Fern noticed.

"Doot?" Fern said, walking toward him.

Oscar looked up. "Fern..." he said croakily.

Fern sat down beside him and hugged him tightly.

"Have you been home?" he asked her quietly.

"Yeah," Fern nodded. "Dad and I... had words."

"I just wanted him to accept me," Oscar said, his voice trembling. "How stupid am I, thinking that he might?"

Fern felt her little brother's body start to shake as he began to cry. She just held him while he sobbed, shhing him and stroking his hair. She had a sudden, visceral memory of her mum holding her like that when she was little, and fought hard not to cry herself.

Oscar cried for several minutes. At one point, Fern glanced up at Liam, wondering if they should be worried, but Liam nodded encouragingly. Fern just kept comforting her brother until he stopped crying and pulled back slightly.

"I need a piss," he said abruptly, and disappeared off into the bathroom.

"Delightful!" Liam said. He sat down on the next bed. "I'm glad he's had that cry," he told Fern. "He's been so quiet and withdrawn since he got the letter – hopefully letting it all out will help."

"What did the letter say?" Fern asked.

" 'You are no son of mine. Don't come home.' " Liam quoted flatly.

Fern swore. "That's awful."
"Yeah," Liam agreed.

"Well, I don't want anything to do with dad until he changes his attitude," Fern said. "I'm gonna stay here for Christmas, so... if you wanted to go home now, Oscar would still have me."

Liam shook his head. "Thanks, Fern, but I'm not going anywhere. You can help me bully Oscar into going to see Madam Pomfrey for something to help him sleep, though. He's hardly slept at all since that letter came."

"You don't look like you've had much sleep either," Fern said – like Oscar, Liam had dark circles under his eyes.

"I've been sleeping in Oscar's bed, and he tosses and turns a lot," Liam explained. "I keep suggesting he gets a sleeping draught, but he won't. He hasn't left Gryffindor Tower since Friday."

That was four days ago, Fern thought. "Right," she said aloud. "Time to be a bullying big sister." She walked over and knocked on the bathroom door. "Have a shower while you're in there, Doot," she ordered. "We're going down for dinner."

Liam raised his eyebrows. "He's not gonna like that."

"Tough," Fern shrugged. "If Dad doesn't come round, Oscar's got to find a way to go on living. He can't live in limbo forever."

Fern heard the water start in the shower, and a few minutes later, Oscar emerged from the bathroom, with dripping wet hair and a towel wrapped around his waist.

"You're such a bully, Fern," he complained.

"It's my job," Fern shrugged, trying to look unbothered when she was very glad it had been so easy to talk her brother into some self-care. "You can sit between us two and not talk to anyone if you want, but we all need some food."

"I need to get dressed, so get out," Oscar said grumpily.

"Alright," Fern agreed. "I'll wait down in the common room but don't be long – I'm starving."

Fern walked back down the spiral staircase, mulling over the cruel letter her dad had written. She just didn't understand how his belief that being gay was abnormal could outweigh his love for his son.

As she reached the foot of the stairs, Fern spotted movement over by the fire. With a little gasp, the house elf turned and looked at Fern with tennis-ball sized eyes.

"Sorry, Miss!" she squeaked. "Tallie is not supposed to be seen!"

"It's okay," Fern said quickly. "Please, don't go. Do you change beds?"

Tallie looked sad. "Yes, miss. Tallie has been trying to get into the fifth year boys' dormitory for days, but there's always someone in there."

"They're just getting dressed and then I'm taking them down to dinner," Fern began.

"Say no more, miss!" Tallie said, her face brightening up considerably. "Tallie will go and fetch clean sheets!" With a loud crack, the house elf disappearated.

Fern perused the Gryffindor House notice board whilst she waited for the boys. It was a lot messier than the Ravenclaw notice board which the head girl, Charlotte, kept a tight rein on.

Fern heard a noise behind her and turned to see Oscar and Liam coming down the stairs. Her little brother looked rather more human now, dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a bright orange hoody Fern was pretty sure was Liam's.

"I'm not sure I like you two ganging up on me," Oscar complained as the three of them made for the portrait hole.

"We're only doing it because we love you," Fern told him.

Halfway along the first corridor, Oscar reached for Liam's hand. "I guess we can just be ourselves over Christmas – not telling anyone, but just not worrying if they find out," he said.

"Sounds like a plan," Liam agreed, squeezing his hand.

When the three of them reached the Great Hall, it was almost empty. Only Professor Longbottom and his twin daughters, Alice and Frankie, were there.

"Come to join us?" Professor Longbottom asked genially.

"They're bullying me into having some dinner," Oscar said. Fern thought he seemed brighter, albeit grumpier, than he had been when she arrived.

"I don't normally condone bullying, but in this case..." Professor Longbottom grinned. "Come and join us."

As she sat down, Fern realised she was very hungry. She helped herself to shepherd's pie, keeping half an eye on Oscar, who picked at his food but did end up eating about half of it.

After dinner, Fern followed Oscar and Liam back to Gryffindor Tower were she sat opposite them in the Common Room and told them all about Japan.

"They said I'd hear if I've got it by the middle of January," Fern wound up. Even as she said it, she thought that even if she got on to the graduate scheme, she'd only accept if things were sorted between Dad and Oscar. Otherwise she'd probably have to get a job in England and have a flat where Oscar could come and stay in the holidays.

---

Ritchie Coote walked into the kitchen two days after Christmas, still towelling his hair dry. His wife, Aoife, was sitting at the kitchen table, eating toast and reading a letter.

"That from Liam?" Ritchie asked.

"Yeah," Aoife nodded, handing it over.

Ritchie scanned the single sheet of parchment. All of Liam's daily letters had said much the same thing: Oscar hadn't heard anything from his dad; he was still very down but Liam and Fern were doing their best to keep his spirits up; they were also just about managing to make him take care of himself; Liam himself was fine, just worried about his boyfriend. Today's letter followed the same pattern.

Ritchie turned back to Aoife. "What's Jimmy playing at?" he asked. "I just can't get my head around being so homophobic that you'd straight up cut your own son off. He doesn't have to understand it – doesn't have to like it, even. He just has to accept it, accept Oscar. I think I'll go and see him this evening."

Ritchie had talked about going to see him old Quidditch teammate ever since Liam had explained why he wasn't coming home for Christmas. He didn't want to interfere, but it seemed that Jimmy wasn't going to come round by himself and Oscar clearly couldn't cope with this state of affairs for much longer.

"Do you think he'll listen to you?" Aoife asked.

"I don't think I can make things any worse," Ritchie shrugged. "I'll drop in this evening, straight from work, if that works for you?"

"That's fine," Aoife nodded. "I think Paddy's after a movie night, but you can join us whenever."

"Alright," Ritchie said. "I'd better get going."

"Not on an empty stomach you don't," Aoife said firmly. "Take something with you. There's bacon – want a sandwich?"

"Please," Ritchie nodded.

"I'll make it for you whilst you put that wet towel upstairs where it belongs," Aoife said - Ritchie had flung it down on the back of a chair whilst he read Liam's letter.

"Deal," he said, picking up the towel. "Can you wrap it in tin foil again – most of the players are fascinated by it."

All day at work – as he checked up on the Wimbourne Wasps players' fitness after they'd had time off for Christmas – he kept running through possible conversations in his head. How could he break through his former teammate's homophobia and convince him his son was the most important thing? When the workday ended, he found himself finding reasons to delay leaving – people to talk to, little jobs to do. However, when he found himself cleaning the physio room by hand rather than by magic, he forced himself to leave.

Ritchie had only been to Jimmy's house once before, to drop Oscar home, and he concentrated hard on that black front door as he disappearated. He hesitated in front of it, casting around for how he would start the conversation. He quickly realised, however, there was no perfect conversational opener and so knocked on the door and waited.

A minute later, Jimmy opened the door. He looked somewhat dishevelled, a stark contrast to his usual impeccable appearance. He wore a loose blood red robe over what appeared to be pinstriped pyjamas and he looked like he hadn't shaved for several days.

"Ritchie..." he said uncertainly. "I wasn't expecting you."

"Sorry to drop in unannounced," Ritchie said cheerily, "but I wanted to talk about our boys. Can I come in?"

Jimmy hesitated, and for a minute Ritchie thought he was going to slam the door in his face. Then he stepped aside and opened the door wide. "Come in," he said gruffly. "You might as well stay for dinner – I've got far too much food in. Do you fancy a steak?" he asked, walking off down the hallway, leaving Ritchie to shut the door and follow. "I got them because they're Fern's favourite, but..."

"I'd love a steak," Ritchie replied. "Let me just text Aoife and tell her I won't need feeding when I get home."

He pulled his phone out and sent the text, watching to see it was delivered – if he was around too much magic when he used his phone it was liable to be temperamental.

"What's that?" Jimmy asked, interested.

"Mobile phone," Ritchie said, showing him. "Mine's a really simple one because magic can muck it up, and I only really use it to message or call Aoife, but hers can do all sorts. When it's working, it's actually really useful to communicate instantly."

"Sometimes it amazes me that Muggles can do things without magic that we can't even do with it," Jimmy said, starting to prepare dinner. "Why haven't we got a way to communicate instantly with someone from miles away?"

"You can do it with a Patronus, I guess," Ritchie shrugged, "but not everyone can manage it. And there's two way mirrors."

"Zara and I had a set of those when we were dating," Jimmy said quietly.

Ritchie had never heard Jimmy talk about his late wife before. "You must really miss her," he said gently.

Jimmy turned away from the potato peeler he was supervising to face Ritchie.

"Thirteen years tomorrow and it still feels like a gaping hole in my chest," he said. "Time has numbed the edges somewhat, but it's always there... Things would be so much better, so much easier, if she was still here. And now I'm all alone – did you know Fern's not talking to me?"

"I did," Ritchie nodded, sensing his opening as Jimmy turned back to the dinner. "Liam writes to us every day. He told us Fern's there too."

"Liam's stayed at Hogwarts?" Jimmy asked.

"He didn't want to leave Oscar, and couldn't persuade him to come to us for Christmas," Ritchie explained.

"How... how long have you known Liam's gay?" Jimmy asked. The way he said 'gay' with so much hatred made Ritchie realise just how difficult this was going to be.

"He told us he definitely was when he was ten, and we told him that was great, but also totally fine if he changed his mind as he got older," he said. "But we had some inkling for several years before that. When he was seven, he said he pictured being married to a man in his future and was that okay."

"And you said it was?"

"We did. Because it is," Ritchie replied. "Help me understand, Jim. What have you got against your son being gay?"

Jimmy supervised the potatoes cutting themselves into chips before he spoke again. "It's just... not normal."

"It's not abnormal," Ritchie countered. "Sure, gay people aren't the majority, but they're a not insignificant minority. People loving whoever they want to love doesn't hurt anyone."

Jimmy sighed. "When Zara was dying, I promised her I'd look after Fern and Oscar and raise them up right," he said. "I can't help thinking I've failed her."

"You haven't failed her," Ritchie said earnestly. "Oscar being gay doesn't mean you've failed as a father. Being gay – it's just something that is, something innate. You can't make him not gay by wanting it, by loving him enough, or by punishing him enough. Your son is gay – like it or not, that's not going to change. All that can change is how you respond to it. Oscar's not expecting you to understand or to like it – not right now, anyway. All he needs is for you to accept it, to accept him. He's miserable right now."

Jimmy sat down at the table, head in hands. Ritchie sat down beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"How is he?" Jimmy asked, his voice cracking. "What's Liam been saying in his letters? How's Oscar?"

"Liam says, left to himself, he'd just sit on his bed and stare into space all day," Ritchie told him, deciding not to sugar coat it. "Liam and Fern are just about persuading him to shower and eat and sleep and get some fresh air every couple of days, but he won't take an interest in anything."

"I did that," Jimmy said, turning to Ritchie with tears in his eyes. "Did Liam tell you what I said in my letter to Oscar?"

"Yeah," Ritchie nodded. "And yeah, you did do this, but you can fix it too. Go to him, Jimmy. Tell him you love him and you can work the rest out in time. You do love him, right?"

"Of course I do," Jimmy said. "He's my son! I held him straight after he was born when Zara was losing loads of blood had to be given blood replenishing potions. I held him all night the day Zara died when he was crying and screaming for his mummy and was too little to understand why she wouldn't come."

Jimmy broke down and started crying in earnest then. Ritchie got up and tapped him on the shoulder. "Here – come here."

Jimmy got to his feet, still crying. Ritchie hugged him, wishing Aoife as here – his wife was much better at this sort of thing than he was. He didn't know what to say and so decided not to say anything. Jimmy continued to cry, his shoulders heaving with sobs. He didn't look like a man who cried often; Ritchie wondered how many years of pent up emotion this was.

Eventually, Jimmy pulled away and Ritchie let him go.

"I love my children," Jimmy said, his voice still wobbly and his shoulders shaking with an occasional sob. "And I guess you're right – my reasons for not being happy about Oscar being gay shouldn't be bigger than my love for him. I need to get my head around things being different than I'd expected, but me doing that shouldn't affect Oscar. But... I don't know where to start fixing things with him."

"Tell him you love him and you accept him," Ritchie advised. "The rest will follow."

Jimmy turned back to the dinner for a few minutes before he spoke again. "I need to sleep on this, I think," he said. "Not that I expect I'll get much sleep. And then... I'll go and visit Zara's grave in the morning, and then... and then maybe I'll've worked out how I'm going to talk to Oscar."

"I could come with you if you want," Ritchie offered. "I wouldn't mind checking in on my boy too."

"Thanks, but I think this is something I need to do on my own," Jimmy replied.

"Alright, but if you need me, I'm only a letter or a floo call away."

A few minutes later, dinner was ready and the two of them sat down to steak and chips.

"This is great, Jimmy," Ritchie said after a mouthful or two. "You're a great cook."

"I had to be," Jimmy shrugged. "I had to be good at everything, had to be mother and father both..."

"It must've been really hard, raising them on your own," Ritchie said gently.

"Yeah," Jimmy nodded. "Straight away I had to find someone to look after them so I could work. If it weren't for Aunt Bessie, I don't know what we would have done."

Ritchie laughed, then laughed again at Jimmy's puzzled face. "Sorry," he said. "It's just that in the Muggle world, Aunt Bessie is a brand that makes frozen food like roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings."

Jimmy smiled weakly. "Well, my Aunt Bessie's no relation, just a very brave – or crazy – witch who does childcare for nearly a dozen children out of her home. She teaches the older ones to read and write too, when the little ones are napping. She had my two every day until they went to Hogwarts and I'm sure she didn't charge me her usual full rate. I don't think we would've survived without her."

Ritchie decided to turn the talk to lighter matters and was soon telling Jimmy about the treasure hunt Paddy had spent the whole of Boxing Day devising for his parents. By the time he left, Ritchie thought Jimmy seemed a little brighter. He hoped he'd go and make things right with Oscar soon.

---

Jimmy passed a largely sleepless night, possible conversations with Oscar playing out over and over in his head. In the end, he got up around 5am and had a coffee. Then he wrapped up warmly and went to visit Zara's grave.

His wife was buried in the cemetery on the edge of the next village, about two and a half miles away. Jimmy always walked when he went to visit her, rather than apperating, as he liked the time the walk gave him to decompress. It was cold outside this morning, with a bitter north wind, but the walk soon warmed Jimmy up. The sound of the steady tramp of his boots on the frozen path calmed him, and by the time he reached the graveyard, Jimmy felt calmer and more at peace than he had in several weeks.

His feet knew the path to Zara's grave and he let them carry him there. The simple headstone bore the words: 'Zara Peakes. 1985-2010. Beloved daughter, wife and mother.' Jimmy vanished the dying flowers from the graveside and conjured up a Christmas wreath to replace them. Then he cast a warming charm on himself and sat down in front of his wife's grave.

"I miss you, Zara," he whispered. "Turns out navigating the teenage years is much harder than the toddler ones, and I can't do either of them without you. I know you'd be disappointed in how I've handled things with Oscar. You'd've talked me down before I sent that letter. You'd know how to fix things. I wish... I wish I'd died instead of you – you'd be so much better at all this."

Unbidden, Jimmy found tears coming into his eyes again. He swiped at them with the back of his hand. He'd done his crying yesterday – today he needed to be strong for Oscar. He had soon blinked and scrubbed the tears into submission and sat staring at Zara's name, trying to empty his mind so he could go and see his son with a clear head.

"What do I say to him, Zar?" he asked aloud eventually.

He heard the answer in his head, as if in Zara's voice: 'Go to him. Hug him. Tell him you're sorry. Tell him you love him. Tell him you accept him.'

Jimmy sat a while longer, repeating those words in his head, imprinting them on his heart. He knew there was no point rehearsing what he'd say to Oscar – everything he'd practised would just go out of his head as soon as he saw his son. The warming charm kept him at a comfortable temperature, so not even the cold could distract him from his mantra. He lost track of time as he sat there, thinking.

Gradually, the sky began to lighten, and then, all at once, the sun peeked out from behind the church and the graveyard was bathed in light. Jimmy sat and watched the sun rise until it was fully visible above the church, then got to his feet. It was time to see his son.

He turned on the spot and disappearated, concentrating hard on the boar flanked iron gates of Hogwarts. When he arrived, he saw the gates were smaller than he remembered, or maybe he was taller. The gates were shut and responded neither to his hand nor several simple unlocking charms.

"Come on, come on, I need to see my son," Jimmy muttered.

At once, the gates sprung open, leaving Jimmy to walk up the long drive. When he reached the oak front doors, he found them ajar. The Entrance Hall was deserted by Jimmy could hear voices coming from the Great Hall. As he turned toward it, he heard a familiar voice form behind him.

"Dad?"

Jimmy turned. Fern, Oscar and Liam were coming down the stairs. Oscar looked rough, Jimmy noticed, his eyes sunken and his face sallow. It was Fern who had spoken to Jimmy and she continued down the stairs toward him, whilst Oscar hesitated, clinging to Liam's hand.

"W... what are you doing here?" Fern asked uncertainly.

"I've come to see Oscar," Jimmy said quietly – his voice didn't seem to be working properly. "To fix things. To apologise."

Fern flung her arms around Jimmy's neck. "I knew you'd come round," she said as Jimmy hugged her back. "Why don't you two go for a walk?" She stepped back and drew her wand. "Accio Oscar's cloak."

A minute later, a thick black cloak flew down the stairs and landed on Oscar's head, nearly knocking him over.

"How about it, son?" Jimmy asked anxiously, when Oscar had freed himself from his outdoor garments.

"Alright..." Oscar said cautiously. He turned to Liam. "Will you come with me?"

Liam shook his head. "I think this is something you need to do on your own," he said. "Fern and I'll wait for you in the Great Hall, and if you need me, you can send me and MI and I'll come straight away."

Oscar hesitated. Liam slapped him on the back.

"You've got this," he said firmly. "I love you and you've got this."

Oscar walked down the stairs toward Jimmy, still clinging on to Liam's hand. When he reached the bottom, he let go and turned to face Jimmy. "Alright. Let's talk."

---

Oscar followed his dad out of the oak front doors into the grounds. His dad had said he'd come to apologise but Oscar was still incredibly anxious about how this conversation was going to go. The last week and a half had been miserable, and he was still unconvinced one conversation was going to fix all that. They had to try, though.

The two of them walked in silence for several minutes before Oscar's dad spoke.

"Oscar... I'm so sorry..." he said. "That letter I wrote... it was awful... I was awful... I've been a horrible father. I'm so sorry. Do you... do you think you could ever forgive me?"

"You really hurt me, Dad," Oscar said quietly, turning to face his dad. "It took me two and a half years to find the courage to come out to you, and then when I did..."

"I'm so sorry-" his dad began again but Oscar cut him off.

"Please, Dad, let me finish," he said. "I've been a broken mess since I got your letter. If it weren't for Liam and Fern, I don't think I would've even got out of bed... Do you really hate me for being gay?"

"No," his dad said quickly. "I hate myself for how I reacted. But I don't hate you. You're my son – I could never hate you. I love you. I need to get my head around you being gay but that's a me problem. I'm sorry. I love you. I accept you. I need to sort my shit out but I shouldn't've let it affect you."

Oscar didn't think he'd ever heard his dad swear before. He raised his eyebrows. "Language, Dad."

His dad grinned. "You're a big boy – I'm sure you say a lot worse when I'm not around."

Oscar grinned back.

"Are... are we okay?" Oscar's dad asked tentatively.

Oscar considered. Were they okay? He was glad his dad had apologised and said he accepted him, but also it was just words. "...We will be," he said eventually.

"Can I give you a hug?" his dad asked.

Oscar nodded, and was immediately swallowed up in a tight hug.

"I love you, Oscar," his dad said. "I'm sorry. I love you. I accept you. I'll keep on telling and showing you that until things are really okay between us."

"It's bloody freezing out here!" Oscar said as his dad let go of him. "Let's walk some more or go back up to the Castle – it's too cold to be standing around."

"Language, son," his dad grinned and Oscar laughed.

"I think you lost all moral high ground about swearing when you said shit in front of me," he said as they started to walk again.

"You might be right," his dad said. "Oscar, I'd love you meet Liam properly as your... boyfriend."

Oscar decided to ignore the pause – he could tell his dad was trying. "We could have breakfast together," he suggested.

"I'd like that – I'm starving," his dad said. They turned back in the direction of the Castle. "Then maybe Liam could come and stay for a few days in the Easter Holidays."

"Summer, perhaps," Oscar countered. "We'll probably want to stay at school over Easter cuz... exams."

"Of course," his dad agreed.

They reached the castle and Oscar led the way into the Great Hall. Fern and Liam were both pacing near the door. As his dad went to talk to Fern, Oscar walked over to Liam.

"Okay?" Liam asked.

Oscar nodded. "Or we will be, anyway. Hug me?" he asked.

Liam obliged and Oscar let out a deep sigh of breath he'd been unaware he was holding in.

"You're shaking, babe," Liam said.

"Adrenaline," Oscar shrugged. "I'm okay, really."

Liam kissed the top of his head. "I'm glad you two have sorted things out," he said. "Now – breakfast? Fern and your dad have started already."

Oscar allowed himself to be led over to where his dad and Fern were sitting at one end of the large table. Oscar wondered how things would be between Liam and his dad. He knew his boyfriend had been very angry at the letter his dad had written.

"Come and join us," Oscar's dad said brightly. Oscar sat down next to Fern with Liam on his other side. "Liam, did you dad tell you we used to play Quidditch together?" he asked as Oscar and Liam started eating. Oscar could tell he was making a big effort and hoped Liam would respond in kind.

"Yeah, he said you nearly knocked Harry Potter out in tryouts," Liam grinned, helping himself to toast. "I can't say either me or Oscar have inherited your Quidditch skills."

"Hey, speak for yourself," Oscar retorted. "I'm not the one who fell off my broom every single flying lesson in first year."

"So, um... do you two want to come home for the rest of the holidays?" Oscar's dad said tentatively.

Oscar considered. He wondered if things would still be tense between him and his dad. Maybe they could do with a bit more space. He also didn't really want to be away from Liam right now. But he also didn't want to upset his dad when they'd just reconnected.

"I think I'd rather stay here," he said eventually. "It's not long now until the start of term and I've got loads of homework to do." He turned to Liam. "Unless you want to go home and see your family."

"I'm happy to stay here," Liam replied, taking Oscar's hand a squeezing it. "But would it be so bad to go home for a few days? Maybe the last weekend?"

"That's a good idea," Fern agreed. "I'll stay here too and then I can apperate us home on Friday, maybe. I don't know how you'll get home, though," she said, turning to Liam.

"My dad said he'd come and get me anytime," Liam shrugged. "Or maybe Professor Longbottom will let me use his fire – I'll ask him."

After that the conversation opened up, with Fern telling their dad all about her trip to Japan. Oscar and Liam had heard most of it already but they listened anyway. Oscar was only half listening, really. He was more focussed on eating – his appetite, which had been missing ever since his dad's letter, had just returned with a vengeance. He ate three slices of toast with egg and bacon, mushrooms and grilled tomatoes, then followed that up with a few more slices of toast and jam. At one point, it looked like Fern was going to comment on how much he was eating but she seemed to think better of it and contented herself with grinning at him.

Breakfast over, they all got up.

"Well, I'd better go," Dad said, "but I'll see you both on Friday, yeah?"

"Absolutely," Fern said, hugging him. "I'm glad you've sorted things out with Oscar."

Then it was Oscar's turn for a hug.

"I love you, son," his dad said.

"Love you too."

"Nice to meet you properly, Liam," Oscar's dad said as the two of them had a handshake-turned-hug.

Fern went to walk him down to the gate, and Oscar rested his head on Liam's chest. Liam wrapped his arms around Oscar in a tight hug.

"Happy?" he asked.

"Yeah," Oscar said. "I'd started to think he'd never come round, but now... it feels like a massive weight's been lifted...Are you sure you're happy staying here for the rest of the holidays?"

"Absolutely," Liam agreed. "I do want to see my family, but I also want to be where you are. A weekend at the end of the holidays sounds perfect."

"I think I need a nap," Oscar sighed. Now the adrenaline had worn off, he felt exhausted.

Liam laughed. "On a sofa by the fire in the common room, perhaps?" he suggested. "I should probably do some homework."

Oscar groaned. "So should I, really... but that's a job for later, probably... carry me?" he suggested with a grin.

"Up seven flights of stairs, after all that breakfast you've just eaten?" Liam asked. "No chance! Come on!" he said brightly, slinging an arm around Oscar's shoulders and propelling him out of the Great Hall.

---

Liam waited for Oscar on Platform Nine and Three Quarters on the first morning of the Spring term. He hadn't seen his boyfriend for three whole days, although he'd received three short letters from him in that time. It sounded like his weekend at home with his dad and Fern had gone well.

"Hey." Liam felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see Oscar standing there grinning at him.

"Hey yourself," Liam grinned back. He wanted to kiss him but wondered if he should wait until they'd come out to their friends. So he contented himself with a hug.

"How was your weekend?" Oscar asked.

"It was good," Liam replied. "We did Christmas all over again – Christmas dinner on Saturday and we did a Secret Santa and went out and bought presents."

"What's a Secret Santa?" Oscar asked.

"You pull names out of a hat and everyone buys a present for one other person," Liam explained. "Paddy got me and he bought me loads of different chocolate. I've brought most of it back with me. How was your weekend?"

"Yeah, it was good too," Oscar said. "Dad and I didn't have any deep conversations, but that's okay. I know he needs time to process. It was chilled, but nice."

"Shall we go find somewhere on the train?" Liam suggested.

"Sure."

"Do you want to try and find somewhere by ourselves or with some of our friends?" Liam asked.

"Friends," Oscar said decisively. "And I want to come out to them, some point on the journey. I'll do it... I just need to find the right moment."

"Well, I'll back you up and support you," Liam told him. "And if you haven't come out by the time we pull in to Hogsmeade Station, I'll snog you. Deal?"

"Deal," Oscar agreed, laughing.

The two of them boarded the Hogwarts Express and walked along the corridor, searching for somewhere to sit. About two thirds of the way along, they found a compartment full of their friends.

"I thought you two stayed at school?" Brandon demanded. "Move your bags, Dove – they don't need a whole seat to themselves."

Grumbling, Dove moved her bags to the overhead storage rack and Oscar and Liam sat down as Liam replied to Brandon's question,

"We both went home part-way through the holidays," he explained.

"Why?" Brandon asked, but Dove was now holding court, talking about all the new beauty spells she'd got for Christmas and what she thought her dream diary meant and his question was soon forgotten.

Liam glanced over at his boyfriend as the talk turned to various subjects. Oscar was very quiet and a little pale – Liam guessed he must be nervous about coming out. Surreptitiously, Liam reached his hand out toward Oscar. Liam's rucksack was on the seat between them so no one could see his hand behind it. Without turning his head or making any other indication that he'd seen, Oscar took Liam's hand.

A few minutes later, whilst Tori was telling a particularly riotous story about her Christmas break, Liam leaned over.

"You don't have to come out yet if you're not ready," he told Oscar in an undertone.

"I know," Oscar replied. "I want to, though. Just... waiting for the right time."

A little while later, Brandon proposed a game of Truth or Dare. There were a few sighs, eye-rolls and complaints of, 'You always want to play that!' but eventually everyone agreed.

"You have to go first, then, Brandon," Liam said firmly. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," Brandon said.

Liam tried to think of a suitable dare. It couldn't be too out there – the dares always got progressively wilder as the game went on.

"I dare you to crawl around the compartment mooing like a cow," he said.

Everyone laughed.

"Alright," Brandon agreed, unperturbed. He got down on his hands and knees and crawled around, letting out several fairly realistic moos.

When everyone had recovered from his performance, Brandon turned to Tori.

"Truth or dare?"

Tori chose truth, as did Dove, who came next. Then it was Liam's turn.

"Truth or dare?" Brandon asked.

"Dare," Liam decided. He was worried if he chose truth, Brandon might ask why he and Oscar had stayed at school over Christmas.

"I dare you to crawl down the corridor to the end of the train and back, mooing like a cow!" Brandon said triumphantly.

Liam rolled his eyes. "Not very original, but whatever."

He got to his feet and walked out into the empty corridor. The others crowded round the door to watch. Liam began to crawl along the corridor, glad he hadn't changed into his school robes yet – jeans were much easier to crawl in.

"Don't forget to moo!" Brandon called cheerily after him.

Liam decided if he was going to do this dare he might as well go all in. He let out a loud bellow of a moo as he crawled along. The door of the next compartment crashed open and a group of first years stood in the doorway.

"What are you doing?" one of them asked boldly.

In response, Liam turned his head toward them and mooed again. They all laughed and fled back into their compartment.

The first years were by no means the only people Liam saw as he crawled to the end of the train and back. Several people came out of their compartments to investigate, but Liam only mooed at them, including the head girl, who merely shook her head and sighed before she went back into her compartment.

Liam clambered back into his seat and mooed at Oscar, who only managed a weak smile.

"Your turn, Oscar," Dove said. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Oscar said. His face was still pale, but his voice sounded surprisingly strong. "But no one ask me a question – I want to say something."

"I doesn't work like-" Brandon began, but Liam cut him off.

"Yeah it does," he said. "Let him talk."

Oscar took a deep breath and just came out with it. "I'm gay. And Liam's my boyfriend."

Liam took Oscar's hand – openly this time – and squeezed it.

"Since when?" Brandon demanded.

"Near the end of second year," Oscar said quietly.

"You two have been dating for like two-and-a-half years and you've never told us?" Brandon said incredulously.

"We would've been supportive," Dove said, sounding hurt. "We are supportive."

"We know that," Liam said quickly.

"It's just... my dad's been pretty homophobic," Oscar explained. "We didn't tell anyone because I was terrified he would find out somehow. But he knows now... things were really bad – that's why I stayed at school over Christmas – but it's good now."

"Ugh!" Tori said suddenly. "We've got a couple in our group now," she sighed. "Please tell me you're not going to be all lovey-dovey and gross?"

"We've been a couple for over two years," Oscar reminded her.

"Yeah, although I can't say I'm not going to enjoy being able to be affectionate in public," Liam grinned. He leant over and whispered, "I'm so proud of you, babe," before kissing Oscar, much to the disgust of their friends.

---

A/N ~ Oscar and Liam are in the same year as Mia/Lily etc, but they haven't featured very much. I always knew they were a couple, but this was the first time I dug into their story. There's a scene in Year 5 that features the start of term feast immediately after this chapter, but I wouldn't exactly consider Coming Out spoilers for that because this is where the main story is.