Everyone was staring at him.
The Hall was still silent-no one moving, not even up at the teacher's table.
Oikawa felt frozen on the stool, hands clenching so tightly around the wood that it started to ache.
Eventually, someone coughed, a short, awkward thing.
Everything started moving again.
Oikawa felt Deputy Headmaster Takeda come up behind him, a stumble in his steps.
"Um, Mr. Oikawa, we need to move on to the next student," Takeda said, kind even though the clear hesitation, "you should go find your seat at….at your House table."
Oikawa got up, hands that he pretended weren't shaking gave back the hat that had now gone quiet.
He walked to the table-the Slytherin table because he'd just been sorted into Slytherin, how had he been sorted into Slytherin, muggleborns didn't get sorted into Slytherin, he never asked for Slytherin, how-
He felt stares along his back and tried to find Iwaizumi's eyes among them, it was a little bit more difficult when it felt like the entire Hall was watching him.
It wasn't until he got to the table that the rest suddenly came to realize they needed to make room for him. Students scooted away fast as if Oikawa was carrying the plague rather than a brand new wand and robes that still felt stiff along the collar.
Here's the first thing Oikawa learned about his new House.
To be a Slytherin was to constantly be at war between curiosity and caution.
Because everyone wanted to know-to be informed, to be aware, to know the situation before the situation knew you-but no one wanted to ask first-better to let someone else take the risk, wait to see what happened to those exposed.
What this meant in practicality was that the Slytherin table sat with inordinate quiet throughout the rest of the Sorting Ceremony and halfway through the feast, even while the other Houses whispered and pointed around them.
Eventually, it was a second year that broke first, shoulders bending in and voice lowering as if the entire table wasn't listening closely. "So….are you from one of the French families or….or maybe Italy…."
For a second, Oikawa was tempted to lie. For tonight, it might even be easy. He'd thought he'd learned enough watching the Iwaizumi family and from intently pouring over every book that he could find that he could at least pass for pureblood for a night.
But….then there was tomorrow and the next day and….even at eleven Oikawa knew there was a difference from watching and reading and actually living the experience.
What would his House respect more? A muggleborn who clearly didn't know what he was doing or a liar caught out weeks later?
In the end, it didn't really matter.
Oikawa had never been one to hide.
"I'm a muggleborn," he said clearly.
The other boy went white.
"Merlin," swore one of the older students further down the table.
The rest of the feast passed in silence.
Eventually the meal ended, Headmaster Ukai standing and giving some kind of speech that Oikawa was only half paying attention to, too caught up in the rush of nerves that were still sparking down his skin. He tried not to show them, giving small smiles to whoever met his eyes for half a second.
He could do this.
Oikawa knew how to be well liked. He knew how to smile charmingly in the way that made Iwaizumi gag, but got the older ladies in the neighborhood to pinch his cheeks and fish out candy. He knew how to laugh and joke and talk incessantly until the other kids were playing along with answering smiles.
Hogwarts was a new opportunity and Slytherin a decidedly unexpected one.
But, Oikawa could handle it. He just had to wait for the right moment.
Everything would be fine.
He was still waiting as the Houses were dismissed to return to their dorms and Oikawa was shuffled along with the rest of his fellow House first years down deeper into the castle and the damp, stone wall that marked the dungeon.
An older student with a little green pin embossed with "HB" was speaking in the front, telling them something about the latest password and the importance of absolutely never letting other Houses in their dorms or they'd end up like Hufflepuff or, even worse, the apparent utter chaos that was Gryffindors' common rooms.
Oikawa tuned out half of it, focusing instead on the other first years.
Daishou looked to be trying to fake bored indifference even as he was very obviously hanging onto every word the older student said. The silver haired boy, "S" something that Oikawa remembered vaguely from the Sorting, was keeping his eyes on the ground, standing a bit away as if he was one wrong flinch away from actually bolting. The only other two particularly notable ones were two boys, one with messy black hair and the other light brown, who were bent closely to each other and snickering, practically non-stop since the feast had ended. The light haired one noticed Oikawa's gaze and sent him a wink.
Oikawa quickly focused back on the front.
The older student concluded with minimal fanfare, clearly ready to move on from instructing a group of eager eyed first years. "And that's all for now. Find one of the older students if you need something else or, better yet, use that cunning and find the answer for yourselves. The House takes care of those that first prove initiative." He looked at the wall. "Pure metal shines the brightest."
Oikawa had half a second to think that was another piece of advice before the wall slid back and Oikawa's breath caught in his chest.
There was something inherently beautiful in the grace of the Slytherin dorm room that even the magnificence of the Great Hall couldn't match. It was held in the dark stain of the wood shining under the light of a not quite natural fire, the fineness of the curtains drawn back to show lake water illuminating the room light green. It was magic, crafted in a way to be both practical and elegant. It was….while the castle felt magnificent in a way that welcomed people in, invited them to be a part of something larger, the Slytherin common room was a bit like being given something small, something well-crafted and almost impossibly fine and being told that it was yours.
Oikawa loved it before he even took another breath.
"Find your rooms at the top of the stairs," the older student said, obviously about to go up to his own.
"Wait," shouted a first year with buzzed brown hair that, honestly, Oikawa hadn't noticed much, "what about our room assignments?"
"Oh," the older student tilted his head, "you're from the Nakashima branch, yeah?"
Buzzed hair, apparently Nakashima, nodded.
"Right, well," the older student's eyes moved along the group and Oikawa didn't think he was imagining it when the gaze paused heavily on him. The older boy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Normally, we just let you pick; but, I can see how that might be a bit of a problem this year." He glared at the group. "I don't suppose we have any volunteers?"
Oikawa wasn't quite sure what the other boy meant; but, he didn't have long to think before one of the snickering boys from earlier clamped a hand on his shoulder and spoke almost too quickly
"Us three," the boy with sandy brown hair said immediately, waving his hand to point at both his messy black haired companion and Oikawa, "We'll be roommates. Me, Matsu, and….um….um?"
"Oikawa," he supplied.
"Awesome.' the boy grinned. "There done! We good to go?"
The older student crossed his arms, a look of annoyance that Oikawa still had no idea on interpreting.
"Thank you for your service," he eyed the first years behind them, "we still try for rooms of four. Any other takers?"
Oikawa looked back to see the other first years looking at each other, some still nervous, some clearly showing that Slytherin trait of not wanting to be the first one to speak.
"I've got an idea." The older student smiled and Oikawa didn't like it on instinct. "First muggleborn in Slytherin's living history, yeah? I've got exactly the roommate for you. The Noroi heir is in this year, right?"
Oikawa felt his new roommate's hand tense on his shoulder.
"Yeah, that's perfect," the older boy continued. "Where'd he go?"
The rest of the first years shuffled away quickly until all that's left was that same nervous looking boy, still staring hard at the floor.
The boy's eyes flickered back up before immediately going down. "Koushi Sugawara."
"Nice to meet you, Sugawara," the older boy clapped his back before pushing him gently to Oikawa's group. The older teen whispered down to the Sugawara boy, not particularly putting any effort into not being heard. "Sorry, kid, know this is rough for you; but, I'm sure there's no one better to show a proper Slytherin welcome than a Noroi."
If anything, the Sugawara boy only frowned harder; but, Oikawa noticed Daishou wince and the Nakashima kid actually suppressed a shudder, looking a step away from saying something, which just...did absolutely nothing except make him feel like he was missing something important.
He restrained a frown of his own. He hated not knowing things.
"Great." The older boy clapped his hands together. "Well, that's my job done. Welcome to Hogwarts! Try not to break anything."
Oikawa still kind of wanted to frown; but, he'd decided on being positive and optimistic and friendly-none of which, he knew from experience, were generally helped by frowning at people while asking for answers.
"Come on," his new roommate "Matsu" gave a friendly slap to his back and started pulling at his shoulder, eyes flickering around to the older students still sitting in the common room; but, when Oikawa blinked next, the boy was back to grinning at him. "Don't you wanna check out the rooms?"
Which was how Oikawa ended up in the nicest room he'd ever seen with four poster beds and possibly silk sheets with elegant curtains drawn back along their edges. The glow of the lake contrasted with the warmth of the fireplace and it was just….just….
"I know, right," Matsu said, throwing himself back on one of the beds with a solid thump, "Slytherin has the best dorm rooms ever."
"And we don't have to climb up a bloody tower or answer a riddle to get to it," the other boy stuck out his hand. "Takahiro Hanamaki, good to meet you, roomie."
"Issei Matsukawa," Matsu called out, not even bothering to get off the bed.
Oikawa shook the hand, offering a smile. "Tooru Oikawa."
"So, are you really a muggleborn, then?" Matsu turned over on his bed to stare at him. "Or did you just make that up to scare some purebloods. Either way, massive respect."
"Muggleborn," Oikawa said, not sure if he should be sheepish or….He shrugged like it didn't really matter. "Are you...halfbloods, then?"
"Nah, we're both purebloods," Hanamaki waved a hand dismissively, "from some forgotten minor branches, though, so no one really cares about us."
"Which really means," Matsu continued, "that Makki and I can tell you about all the cool wizard stuff and leave out everything boring."
"Thanks." Oikawa turned to their last roommate, who was still awkwardly standing by the entrance as if waiting for the rest to forget he was there. "What about you? Sugawara, right? Guess you're a pureblood, too, then."
Sugawara hesitated longer than Oikawa thought the question really deserved.
"Yes," he finally said, voice almost too quiet to be heard.
Oikawa looked back to see Matsu and Makki exchanging a look.
Matsu rolled off the bed, slinging an arm around Sugawara's shoulder and guiding him further into the room. "You look anxious, Sugawara. No need to be. I think times like this is where us new roommates can learn the most about each other. We're stuck with each other for seven years after all. Might as well try to get along."
"Exactly right, Matsu," Makki agreed, a smile that seemed deceptively easy. "Learn each other's bad habits, you know? The kind we can put up with."
"And the kind we absolutely won't put up with," Matsu finished and there was something else there in his tone. "So, what do you say, Sugawara, happy we're all roomies?"
Sugawara looked up to meet his eyes, held the stare. For the first time all night, the nervousness melted away to reveal something like stone.
"I'm not my family," he said evenly, "and I'm definitely not my grandfather."
Oikawa really didn't at all see how that answered anything but Makki and Matsu were still smiling as if that wasn't the weirdest response ever so….ugh, Oikawa didn't know, maybe he'd ask Iwaizumi tomorrow.
Or maybe his roommates were just strange.
"That so?" Makki tilted his head, still standing by Oikawa. "Because you seem awfully upset about something?"
"It's not...it's not about…," Sugawara sighed, looking at the ground again.
"I was trying to get in Hufflepuff," he finally muttered, "or….or maybe Gryffindor."
Matsu and Makki both stared at him for another long moment. And then, in unison, they both threw back their heads and laughed.
The smile on Matsu's face suddenly looked a lot more friendly and Oikawa marveled at the fact that he hadn't even noticed it was not friendly until it changed. He let go of Sugawara's shoulder, slapping him on the back in much the same way he'd done to Oikawa earlier.
"Well, maybe you really are alright, Sugawara." Makki grinned. "Good, I hate roommate drama."
"Absolutely agree, dear Makki," Matsu flopped back on his bed, "which is why, out of honor for this new bond between us, we'll wait at least a week before playing any pranks on you."
"No warnings for the rest of the castle though," Makki added.
Sugawara and Oikawa frowned as one.
"Pranks," Oikawa asked.
Matsu and Makki looked at each other and their grins took the new edge of absolutely terrifying.
"Pranks," they agreed together.
Oikawa felt a sudden urge of dread, though a far more welcome one than he'd felt sitting at a quiet table.
"You'll get used to them, we promise," Matsu tacked on.
Oikawa rolled his eyes, before looking back at his final roommate. "Great. Well, Sugawara, looks like we're in this together. Too late for room changes."
"...Suga," Sugawara gave him a small smile, slowly expanding, "you can call me 'Suga.'"
Oikawa smiled back.
He'd been right. Everything was going to be just fine.
ooooooo
"Everything's not going to be fine," Lev moaned, falling back on the grass, "everything is absolutely terrible! Nothing's ever going to be fine at all ever again!" He followed the moan with a truly pathetic whimper. "I might as well drop out of Hogwarts and become a wizard vagabond, nothing in life will ever have meaning again."
Sad as it was, of the three, there was no doubt that Lev was handling the news of Quidditch cancellation the best.
Kageyama was over in a corner, leaned up against the castle. His demeanor was shifting rapidly from annoyed grumbling to confused mutters to staring out devoid of hope to shaking his head repeatedly to a renewed highly contemplative expression before cycling back around to do the beginning yet again. It had been like this all day.
Hinata wasn't talking, was barely even moving, just laying back on the courtyard with a numb bleakness behind his eyes.
Yachi looked at Kenma for help.
"It's just a year," Kenma tried.
The reminder was met thus:
Lev let out another horrified whimper-moan, high pitched enough to almost be a shriek and looked slightly faint.
The speed of Kageyama's annoyed grumbling increased ten fold, looking like he'd gone through an entire cycle just in the span of a few seconds.
Hinata might have actually just died.
Yachi checked his breathing just to make sure.
At the sight, Kenma pinched the bridge of his nose, showing more emotion than Yachi had seen out of him in actual life or death situations.
"It's just Quidditch," he muttered.
Lev gasped, hand to his chest. "And is a heartbeat just a sound? Is the breath in our lungs a mere distraction? Is the blood pumping in our veins simply a way to pass the time? And joy a mere folly of man; the sun rising in the sky each morning but a slow inevitability with not the most beloved of life's enjoyments to mark the passage?"
Yachi and Kenma both stared at him.
Kageyama had broken off to nod frantically. Hinata still hadn't moved.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or deeply concerned," Yachi whispered.
"Concerned, always concerned," Kenma answered.
Yachi sighed and rallied her efforts. "Guys, I know you're upset; but, I guess...it doesn't mean there's no solutions, right? We can still-"
"Burn the tournament down," Kageyama interrupted with sudden realization.
Kenma frowned. "What?"
"Yes," Hinata agreed, speaking for the first time all morning and eyes lit with a sudden fire. Which was….yes, definitely concerning. Very, very concerning. "That's it. Kageyama, you're a genius.
"No," Yachi said emphatically. She dragged a hand down her face. "I was going to say you can still practice."
Kageyama and Hinata looked at each other. They frowned. Yachi was taking this as improvement.
"...Oh," Hinata rubbed the back of his neck, still looking supremely dissatisfied, "yeah, I guess there's that, too."
"It's not the same," Kageyama grumbled.
"It's not the same," Hinata agreed. "Quidditch is….it's everything, the highest peak you can possibly reach." He slumped. "I just don't see how they could just cancel it and for a tournament!"
He said "tournament" the way other people said "toxic sewage".
Kenma seized on an opportunity. "The practice field is still open."
"Huh?" Hinata tilted his head.
"He's right!" Yachi nodded eagerly. "Just because the official field is closed for the year, doesn't mean the practice field won't still work! And none of the House teams ever use it! Think of how many new moves you two can practice! Think of how much better you'll be next year!"
There was an almost derailment at the phrase "next year" and Yachi held her breath.
Slowly, cautiously, Hinata gave the tiniest smile-maybe at two percent of its usual intensity.
"We will be really good for next year," he admitted.
Kageyama chewed on his lip, thinking. "I found some new strategies over the summer."
"By next year, Slytherin's stupid upperclassmen will have graduated," Lev shouted. "I can try for the team!"
"We should go to the practice field!" Hinata stood up, mind decided.
Yachi and Kenma almost cried.
"Yeah!" Lev turned back to the castle. "I'll go grab my broom! Meet you guys there!"
As one, they were off, leaving Yachi and Kenma alone at the courtyard.
Yachi sighed in relief. "How long do you think that'll distract them?"
"Without a game?" Kenma thought. "Maybe three days at most."
Yachi flopped down on the grass. "It's going to be a really long year, isn't it?"
Kenma considered. "If they're still like this in a week, we petrify them for the year."
Yachi laughed. Kenma didn't.
ooooooo
"Not that I don't enjoy a nice afternoon by the Great Lake," Suga watched from the shore, "but, um…..what are you doing?"
With an expression of utmost solemness, Bokuto set the tiny transfigured wooden boat to sail out onto the waters.
"It's symbolic," he said.
"For what," Iwaizumi asked cautiously.
Bokuto took out his wand and muttered a spell, aiming at the tiny boat.
The tiny boat caught on fire.
"My hopes and dreams," Bokuto said seriously.
"Oh, come on!" Oikawa threw his hands up. "Really?!"
"Accio," Kuroo pulled the boat back, dunking it under the water before handing it back to Bokuto. "There, your hopes and dreams are fine, just charred a bit."
Bokuto held the tiny and significantly singed boat up to his chest and sighed forlornly. "They canceled Quidditch."
"I know, Bo," Kuroo patted his back consolingly, looking deeply pained. "I know. It's terrible. Probably the worst thing that's happened at Hogwarts in the last three years."
Oikawa, Iwaizumi, and Suga all shared a deeply judgmental look.
"I can't tell if he's serious," Suga whispered.
"I….I think he is," Iwaizumi admitted.
"Quidditch does cause head injuries," Oikawa concluded.
Ignoring all of this, Bokuto sighed. "Tell me the truth. Do you think Headmaster Ukai is secretly evil? Maybe he was just really good at hiding it and this is his final move!"
"Considering he was one of the main leaders for the Light in the war, I'm saying it's doubtful," Suga said dryly.
"My Dad's a Light politician, too," Kuroo said far too reasonably. "The Light can absolutely be secretly terrible."
Bokuto's eyes widened. "Headmaster Ukai is definitely evil!"
"Ugh! I am not doing this!" Oikawa slapped a hand over his eyes. "Look, you still have the Quidditch practice field and-Merlin help us all-the stupid tournament! You'll be fine for a year! Hey, maybe this will even give you more time to focus on seeing if Akaashi likes you back."
Bokuto perked up minutely. "Really?"
"Definitely." Suga smiled. "You'd normally have the Quidditch team meetings tonight, right? That means you're both free. Ask him if he wants to have dinner together. Talk to him. See if he has any plans for the Hogsmeade weekend."
Bokuto blinked, twirling the very beat up boat in his hands. "Will that really work?"
"It's a start," Suga assured. "But, the first thing you need to do is talk to him."
Bokuto looked down at his feet.
"I can do that," he decided and his smile slowly tilted back up.
"And I can help," Kuroo slung an arm around his shoulders, "Not like I'm doing anything else except-ew!"
"Huh?" Bokuto frowned.
"Sorry, I think one of the lake's lizard creatures finally made it to shore," he said, pointing where a figure was finally making his way down.
"Hilarious," Daishou deadpanned, before eyeing Iwaizumi, Oikawa, and Kuroo critically where they were all lounging along the lake, "well, I see none of you wasted any time slacking off."
Iwaizumi rolled his eyes. "It's the first day of class."
"I know." Daishou looked peeved or maybe that was just his normal expression, hard to tell. "And, in case you forgot in….whatever it is you're doing, but Dueling club was cancelled for the year, too. And I, like any responsible dueling partner, wanted to make sure you three weren't actually planning on spending the entire year doing nothing."
Kuroo snorted. "Relax, Daishou, I'm sure we can just as easily kick your ass this year as we could last year."
"If that's your bragging point, I really do have to worry," Daishou returned easily, "or did you forget who's shields saved us in the last competition?"
"Truthfully," Oikawa said with a smile, "I try to forget you whenever possible."
Daishou glared. It was sweet, it almost felt like a normal greeting by now.
Iwaizumi got bored first. "Fine, Daishou, how are you planning on working if we don't have dueling?"
"That won't be a problem." Daishou turned his nose off. "In case you didn't hear, we have a tournament this year."
"I take it you're planning on entering, then," Suga asked.
"Of course," Daishou answered without even trying for modesty, "how will I win if I don't even enter. I could never deprive Hogwarts of their champion like that."
Oikawa laughed, shaking his head. "Never change, Daishou, never change."
"Aww, but, that's going to be really, really sad for you when I get chosen," Kuroo said.
"Or me," Bokuto piped in, earlier dismay forgotten in a bright grin.
Daishou sighed. "So, I take it all of you are entering?"
Iwaizumi shrugged. "Was planning on it."
"You couldn't pay me," Oikawa denied vehemently.
Suga just shook his head.
"Way to show Slytherin spirit," Daishou huffed, narrowing his eyes at his two House mates. "Really even if I'm definitely going to be chosen, you two could at least try. You have some talent, I suppose."
Oikawa wiped a fake tear. "Oh, you flatterer you."
Suga laughed.
Oikawa threw an arm around Suga's shoulder, grinning up at Daishou before continuing. "Sorry, Daishou, but hey, just think: if you really do win, you can finally tell everyone that I taught you everything you know."
"Oh, please," Daishou rolled his eyes hard, "as if it's not the other way around."
Oikawa just grinned while Kuroo made a shooing motion.
"Run along now, little snake," Kuroo said, "we here were having important conversations on matters of the heart and, unfortunately, a heart is a basic requirement to join. So, unless you've had a major romantic revelation over the summer, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."
"Ugh," Daishou's face twisted up in disgust, "I think I'd rather willingly ingest acromantula venom."
And with that, he swept back up the hill, cloak billowing behind him in a way that was absolutely more dramatic than necessary.
Oikawa leaned against Suga's shoulder and smiled. "He loves us."
Kuroo plopped down beside them. "Oh, definitely."
ooooooo
The fifth year Gryffindor dorm was a place of mourning.
"Maybe we could petition the Ministry," Ennoshita suggested halfheartedly, unmoving on his bed, "like we did last year with the boggarts?"
"Won't work." Tsukishima was turning through his book listlessly in an effort to pretend that he wasn't just as bored as the rest of them. "Hogwarts is a private institution; they're exempt from almost all Ministry proclamations. Merlin, Hogwarts predates the Ministry-it would break centuries of tradition."
Noya sighed glumly, turning back to where he'd begun badly braiding Asahi's hair as a source of distraction. "So, we keep bothering the Headmaster."
"Won't work either," Daichi said, watching two dust motes possibly multiply into three. "When have you ever known Headmaster Ukai to change his mind on anything. All that would do is get us detention….or expelled if we're really aggravating about it."
"Some things are worth the risk," Tanaka insisted, Beater bat twisting in his hands.
"I'd….rather not risk getting expelled if it's all the same," admitted Yamaguchi. "Just for one year, you know?"
"We could visit the boggarts," Ennoshita said and it was really a statement to the room's level of boredom that nobody even thought of countering the idea to visit actual nightmare beings-albeit very helpful and very loyal ones.
Noya stood up and stretched. Asahi's hair stuck up in a half-pigtails half-braided mess.
"That's a good idea," Noya agreed before brightening. "Hey, we can take Flumpy out to meet them. Here, boy!"
Noya patted his legs the way one would to call a dog.
Surprisingly enough, the flobberlump actually did respond to it. Unsurprising, Flumpy's slow, interminal crawl to Noya was a thing of utter mind-numbing agony.
"Oh, for the love of-" Tsukishima picked up Flumpy, carried him across the room, and handed him to Noya. "Here, before we all die waiting around for him!"
Yamaguchi elbowed him in the leg hard.
"And because he's such a….a dangerous creature," Tsukishima added, only a little bit woodenly. "Wouldn't want him 'running' around the room unchecked."
Tanaka gave him a look of profound pity, with just a hint of judgement, before Noya elbowed him.
"Right, Flumpy's super interesting and wild," Tanaka said, "and very dangerous. Good thinking, Tsukishima!"
Both sides were immediately relieved that the others seemed to believe this blatant lie.
"Aww, but, then again, the boggarts might scare him." Noya frowned. "And that would be really, really bad! Might activate his defenses."
Ennoshita tensed, suddenly wary. "What defenses?"
"Well, he is part horklump," Noya answered as if that made sense to anyone except for Tanaka.
"Um, which means," Asahi asked.
"An adult horklump can release a gas that knocks people out in minutes," Noya said.
Yamaguchi's eyes widened. "Flumpy can do that?!"
"Nah," Noya smiled fondly, scratching under Flumpy's chin. "Most he can do is make people yawn."
"Of course, he does," Tsukishima muttered before Daichi stepped on his foot. "I mean, wow, what a fascinating creature!"
"Still, though, better get him more used to Hogwarts before we take him to the boggarts," Noya said. "Hey, what's happening on the map? Anything interesting?"
Tanaka pulled it out and checked. "Nah, just a few people heading to the practice field."
Most of the room sighed, either obviously or trying to hide it.
"I guess….I guess we can still go practice," Ennoshita offered. "I can grab Nao. He's practically been in a coma ever since last night."
"Beats doing nothing." Tanaka shrugged.
ooooooo
"Hey, Akaashi?"
Akaashi looked up from his book and smiled.
And when he smiled, his eyes did that thing-where the blue seemed to get lighter-and, then, Bokuto's heart did that thing-where it seemed like the ribs around his chest clenched tighter and thumped. And….
Bokuto scrambled to sit down across from him.
"Hey," Akaashi greeted.
"H-hey," Bokuto stumbled.
Oh, wait, he said that already. Crap, what did Suga and Oikawa say? Talk to him. Feel it out. Hogsmeade. Dinner. Right. He could do this. It was Akaashi! And Akaashi was amazing and awesome and wonderful and….He could do this!
Akaashi's smile had taken on a worried edge. "Are you alright?"
"ABSOLUTELY" Bokuto shouted and Akaashi winced at the volume.
"...That's good," Akaashi said. "I thought that-"
Bokuto spoke fast. "So, Akaashi, I, dinner and you?"
"-you might still be upset over Quidditch," Akaashi finished at the same time before frowning in apparent confusion. "Sorry, what did you say?"
"Oh….nevermind." Bokuto knew this was going to be harder.
"How are you doing with Quidditch," Akaashi asked and his voice was kind and soft and Bokuto's heart did the clench-thump thing again.
Bokuto paused, breathing out and focusing on the question while he re-strategized.
"It….it sucks, Akaashi," he said honestly. "Why did they have to cancel it?"
"Apparently it's tradition," Akaashi said sympathetically. "So, the school can focus more on the tournament….and I suppose the teachers needed a break."
"Ugh, but the teachers love Quidditch, too," Bokuto propped his head in his hands, working on putting his thoughts into words which always took a second longer when it was really, really important. Akaashi waited. "It just doesn't seem fair, you know? I mean yeah, I hate it for me and for the team and everything. Because we're awesome and we were totally going to win this year."
"Definitely," Akaashi agreed and Bokuto felt warm.
"But, also, it's just….it's Quidditch and, um," Bokuto fumbled and tried to restart. "It's Quidditch and it's fun. And even if Slytherin's team is a bunch of assholes more years than not, everyone really loves it. Even if they're not playing, they love it-the whole school. And-," he sighed, "I'm happy about the tournament and everything; but, still only one person from Hogwarts gets to compete and that's only three tasks anyway. I just don't get why they had to cancel the thing everyone already loves, too." He laid his head on the table. "It's not even about needing a House competition or anything really, it's just giving people a chance to play."
He looked up and Akaashi was watching him, the small smile shining brighter.
Hogsmeade, Bokuto reminded himself quickly, Dinner. Ask-
"You're right." Akaashi's words cut through his thoughts. "I think you're absolutely right."
Bokuto smiled tentatively. "Really?"
Akaashi nodded. "You know, I think Hinata and some of the others were heading to the practice field."
"Yeah?" His smile spread out into a grin. "Heh, of course, they are. Can't even handle a day without it. Actually, I think Kuroo's heading down there, too."
"You should go with him," Akaashi said firmly.
"Eh, but….dinner and...," Bokuto trailed off.
Akaashi tilted his head, looking confused again. "You still have a few hours before dinner. Besides, if you're missing Quidditch already, going to the practice field with everyone else might help."
"...yeah," Bokuto said and, for once, entirely unenthused to talk about Quidditch.
"Trust me," Akaashi said, standing with his book. "I need to grab some stuff from my room; but, I'll try to stop by later. You can go on without me."
But, Bokuto didn't want to go on without him.
Akaashi was already heading down the hall. He threw one last smile over his shoulder before he disappeared. "I really do think you're right, you know. We could use more Quidditch this year, a chance for everyone to play."
And, then, he was gone.
Bokuto sighed, running a hand through his hair.
He gave a small smile. "Thanks, Keiji."
He'd try again next time.
ooooooo
Hinata looked at Daichi.
Daichi looked at Bokuto.
Bokuto looked at Lev.
Lev looked at Futakuchi.
Futakuchi looked at Yamaguchi, who looked at Kuroo.
"Oh," Kuroo said lamely, "so….I guess we all decided to go to the practice field, huh."
In fact, the entire remaining Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw teams were out on the field-even if Kenma had been dragged by Hinata. Which would have been enough already if not for the additional and sizable crowd of students that weren't associated with any of the House teams; but, had nonetheless decided to gather on Hogwarts' only spare practice field, with brooms held in their hands.
Michimiya shrugged. "What else were we going to do? Main field's closed for the tournament."
"Yeah, but this field is….," Noya winced, "kind of, um…."
"Pathetic," Tsukishima said succinctly.
And it was true. The practice field was a mess of overgrown grass and faded goal posts, one of the posts missing on the left side. The practice field was a relic of the past- largely forgotten and heavily neglected after it had been all but abandoned half a century ago for the larger stands of the main pitch.
"Yeah, it is." Atsumu Miya, a fifth year Slytherin, looked highly annoyed. "So, wouldja mind going back to your own field and leavin' ours alone!"
Beside him, his twin, wearing the bright red of Gryffindor, sighed heavily and very obviously indicated that he was staying out of it.
"What do you mean your field," Futakuchi demanded. "Practice fields are open to everyone."
"Atsumu's got a point." Kanoka Amani from Gryffindor shrugged. She blushed slightly when all eyes turned to her. "Well, I just mean that the House teams normally use the main field. We've all been using this one for years-even if it's just to practice flying."
"Seriously? Here?" Tanaka waved to the general disarray of the field.
Mad Dog grunted in agreement
Shigeru Yahaba crossed his arms and glared. "Yeah, well some Houses didn't exactly hold tryouts for the rest of us to join their teams." He huffed. "We take what we can get."
"Not our fault Slytherin's team is a bunch of assholes," Kuroo said.
"Not our fault the tournament closed down your field," Yukie Shirofuku replied, lazily loosening her Hufflepuff tie and throwing it with the rest of her Quidditch gear.
Yachi pushed her way through the crowd. "Why don't we all just share the field? Just for this year?"
Yudai Hyakuzawa, a fourth year Ravenclaw, frowned, looking awkwardly between the groups. "That might work."
"It won't work." Yaku was already shaking his head. "This many people trying to play on one field at once would be absolute chaos. Merlin, we can't even have two House teams practicing at once without almost running into each other."
"Eh?" Yuiji Terushima rubbed his hands together in a way that was distinctly Slytherin. "I don't know, sounds like fun!"
"It sounds like multiple head injuries." Misaki, a sixth year Ravenclaw Chaser, rolled her eyes.
Hinata groaned. "So, what? We gotta go a year with no Quidditch games."
"Tough break, Shorty," Atsumu said in a way that was not at all sympathetic. "Now, ya know how the rest of us feel."
"Wait," Bokuto looked up, stepping in between the groups. He was frowning. "Wait, hold on, this is dumb. We all love Quidditch. We shouldn't be fighting over it." His eyes brightened. "We should be playing it!"
Yahaba rolled his eyes, not breaking off from his glaring match with Mad Dog. "Yeah, that's kind of the problem. There's only one field, even if it's a trash one like this."
"No, no, we all should be playing it," Bokuto repeated, grinning. "Everyone should get a chance to play! It's Quidditch!"
Amani frowned, leaning over to whisper to Shirofuku. "Is this some kind of Hufflepuff thing I'm not getting?"
Shirofuku shrugged.
"Um, Bo….," Kuroo spoke up, "what are you talking about?"
"Listen, I got it!" Bokuto pointed to the students not on a House team. "How often do you actually get enough people out here to field a game?"
"Practically never," Osamu spoke up, sounding bored.
"Right! And we all need a field because of the tournament!" Bokuto was practically hopping on his feet by now. "So…..we all play here!"
"Yeah!" Terushima fist pumped. "Running into people's half the fun! This is gonna be awesome"
Misaki sighed.
"No," Bokuto shook his head. "I'm saying, we have the field and we have enough people so…..," his smile grew, "why not have our own Quidditch League. For everyone."
"Huh?" Lev cocked his head.
Bokuto was already nodding alone. "It'll be perfect! Everyone wants to play so we pick teams for the week, practice, and play on the weekends!" He brightened even further. "New teams every time so everyone gets a chance!"
Michimiya frowned. "What about next year? Sharing techniques with other House teams could ruin a strategy."
"Meh," Ennoshita shrugged, looking contemplative. "Strategies change every year anyway. Best chance is to learn something better."
"And we'd get to play games," Hinata shouted, practically vibrating where he stood with Nao and Kageyama right along with him.
"Exactly!" Bokuto beamed, turning to the group at large. "So, what do you say?"
Amani looked at Shirofuku.
Shirofuku looked at Yahaba.
Yahaba looked at Hyakuzawa.
Hyakuzawa looked at Terushima.
Terushima looked at Osamu, who looked at his brother.
Atsumu smiled. "A league of our own, huh?"
ooooooo
A/N:
Hey, guys, it was a crazy week and I'm so excited to end it with one of my favorite things. Got a few notes this time:
First, this isn't the most relevant in this chapter, but it will be soon as this one definitely focuses on more arcs from the manga/ anime than the previous ones. While I'm very big on trying hard to keep with characterizations, some characters were influenced by different things which minorly shift a bit of their reactions/ fears-like Kageyama not having his middle school team rebel against him and Hinata not having his three middle school years of pretty much never finding a team. With that, they're the same people (or at least as close as I can make them) but they're also still younger than in Haikyuu canon and going through slightly different things which will show some of their changes in this story.
Second, check out more of this amazing art! It's wonderful. Here's a cute asanoya: post/622470277263196160/they-be-smoochin-x-greycappedjester
And here's an absolutely awesome gif from the World Cup: post/622115151092596736/the-fic-x-said-that-bokuto-has-a-tiny-leprechaun
As always, thank you so much, everyone, for all your support and hope ya'll have an amazing week!
Next Chapter: On Their Own
Post Date: July 11-12