Chapter Text
The winter wind howled through the expanse of the Quidditch pitch, whipping through Sana’s hair as she blew past the spectator stands. She could faintly hear the roar of Hufflepuff supporters as they screamed from the sidelines, but her eyes remained locked onto the field, knuckles white around the handle of her broom.
“The score is tied up and Hufflepuff is back in possession, Captain Park leading the pack with the Quaffle,” the commentator’s voice boomed throughout the stadium. “So reliable that one, I wish she could lead me through my O.W.L.’s too…”
Her captain, Jihyo, was streaking to her right, leather Quaffle in hand. Sana’s eyes darted between her teammate and the opposing chasers, her vision a blur of red and yellow racing against each other. Suddenly, Jihyo raised her arm and flashed the signal—a quick flick of her wrist—and in an instant, Sana and the other Hufflepuff chaser had formed a triangle around her.
“Oh Skyfall, here we go. Hufflepuff’s classic play, and they’ve totally perfected it over the years. Look at that movement!”
“Now!” Jihyo yelled and tossed the ball to Sana. The chaser’s body thrummed with adrenaline as she snatched the Quaffle from the air, jerking her broom to the left to avoid a Gryffindor player.
“And the Quaffle is passed to Minatozaki Sana! Always in a league of her own, look at her– she could be flying through a perfume ad!”
Sana soared towards the goalposts before her, the world fading into the background—the chants from the crowd, her own heartbeat pounding in her ears, the thwacking of bludgers in the distance— oh shit.
Sana risked a glance to her side and there it was, barreling through the air like a speeding bullet, crosshairs fixed onto her ribcage. She kicked her broom hard, diving low to avoid the incoming bludger. Too late, too late.
The metal ball was heading right for her, and Sana braced herself for an inevitable visit to the hospital wing later. Then, out of nowhere–
“Move!”
Like a Hungarian Horntail guarding its nest, Momo swooped in with her bat and hit the bludger off course with a deafening crack. It veered sharply, whizzing past Sana’s shoulder with barely an inch to spare.
“Hirai Momo with the save of the century!” the announcer exclaimed. “I suppose that’s what five years of playing together will do for you. Talk about teamwork!”
Sana didn’t have time to thank her. With the bludger now careening harmlessly into the crowd, she tightened her grip on the Quaffle and sped forward towards the goalposts. She could see the Keeper, a tall, gangly Gryffindor boy preparing for her attack. Sana’s fingers curled around her broomstick, the Quaffle feeling like an extension of her own body. The Keeper was directly in her path, eyes wide as he anticipated her next move. This was it.
With a confident grin, she pretended to feint left, tilting her broom to the furthest ring. She watched the Keeper’s gaze follow her, waiting to see if she was bluffing. As she continued her path with no sign of stopping, he lunged desperately, shifting his position to cover that side.
Got you.
Sana didn’t hesitate, flicking her broomstick back to the right and snapping the Quaffle into the opposite goalpost with practiced precision.
The Keeper’s jaw fell open in disbelief, fingers grasping at air where the ball had been just seconds ago. The Quaffle slammed against the wooden backing of the stadium with a satisfying thud.
“A play just as beautiful as the player, Ace Chaser Minatozaki Sana scores, pushing Hufflepuff ahead of Gryffindor by 10! If the Badgers secure the Snitch now, they’re onto the Championship!”
As the whistle signaled a restart, Sana flew back towards her teammates. The Gryffindor Chasers now had the Quaffle and were closing in on their own goalposts. Sana leaned forward, catching up to their formation. She scanned their movement, waiting for an opening. When the player holding the ball raised her arm, Sana readied herself. With a swift lunge, she intercepted the pass mid-air, smoothly avoiding collision with an aggrieved Nayeon.
“Sana, I’m gonna kill you!”
“And Minatozaki steals it from Im, taking it back towards the Gryffindor posts!”
“Over here!” Soobin yelled, perfectly positioned for a shot. Sana gracefully swerved a Bludger sent her way and threw the ball to her teammate.
“And she gives it to Choi—What’s that? Gryffindor’s Boo Seungkwan has caught sight of the Snitch!”
There was a momentary lull in the game as the players on the pitch looked up at the clouded sky. Gryffindor’s Seeker was indeed tailing the Snitch, his hand just inches away. Sana’s heart raced as she spotted her own team’s Seeker tailing closely behind.
“Come on, Jimin,” she muttered under her breath, jaw clenching as she watched the scene unfold. Shit, Gryffindor’s Seeker was right on that. Sana could see her hopes of winning the Quidditch Cup melting away before her eyes. The scarlet-robed boy stretched his hand further, and just when Sana swore she saw him touch the Snitch, Jimin dove sharply. It was a terribly risky move, but it worked—she cut off the other Seeker’s trajectory and reached out, fingers grasping against the Snitch. The tiny golden ball flapped its wings furiously, but it was no use. Jimin held it up triumphantly, a wide grin plastered on her face.
The whistle pierced through roaring cheers. “Yoo Jimin catches the Snitch and Hufflepuff takes the win! After an exciting battle, Hufflepuff defeats Gryffindor 230-70 and secures their spot in the Championships against Slytherin!” The commentator’s voice echoed throughout the stands.
The Hufflepuff section erupted into cheers, yellow and black banners waving wildly in celebration. Sana landed gracefully amidst her teammates, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. Around her, the team was practically swarming Jimin.
“That was amazing!” Momo roughly tackled the younger girl who was a laughing mess. “I seriously thought you were gonna die up there.”
Sana swung her broomstick over her shoulder. “Jimin always pulls through, what are you talking about Momo?”
Sana giggled at Momo’s antics, feeling the stress of the game finally lifting off of her shoulders. Her feet were planted solidly on the ground, but she still felt like she was in the air, flying high off the victory.
“Okay guys, let the girl breathe,” Jihyo ordered, prying Momo off of Jimin and ushering the team into a huddle. Sana prepared herself for one of Jihyo’s signature post-game pep talks. “Great work out there today, but we’re not done yet. Slytherin’s lineup this year is no joke, so I want you all to rest up between now and the game.”
Sana nodded. It was true. Slytherin had equipped their team with two new hulking Beaters this year, and they played each game like it was a fucking war. Their Chasers were also extra weaselly this year, but the brunette thought her team would be able to handle them. After all, they’d been lengthening their practice times, even training in the frigid winter snow. They would just have to start doubling down even harder during their drills.
“But tonight?” their captain grinned mischievously, breaking the tense atmosphere. “We celebrate!”
The players cheered, and Sana threw her arms around Jihyo. “You mean party, Captain?”
“Obviously,” Jihyo smirked. “But let’s keep it mostly responsible, okay?”
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“Jimin! Jimin! Jimin!” The chants echoed off of the stone walls as the Seeker reluctantly downed her second shot of firewhiskey, her face scrunching up as the fiery liquid burned down her throat.
“I think that’s it for me–” she began, only for Momo to throw an arm around her shoulders and shove a glass of butterbeer into her hand.
“You a lightweight, Jimin-ah?” Momo slurred as she clinked her own glass against Jimin’s, chugging the frothy liquid like it was water. Jimin gulped and brought the mug to her lips.
Across the room, Sana leaned against the snack table. “So much for mostly responsible ,” she mused. She glanced at Jihyo, who wore an amused but resigned expression on her face.
“I’m a captain, not an Auror,” she shrugged before accepting a goblet offered to her by a passing student. “And besides, they did win big today.”
Sana smiled, taking a sip of her own drink. She let her gaze wander, soaking in the scene. Momo was now attempting to stack her empty butterbeer bottles into a precariously balanced tower, and some of the younger boys were wrestling on the ground, presumably reenacting one of the plays from the day. The air was thick with the malty scent of butterbeer and something fruity that Aeri had spiked into the punch bowl earlier.
It was a fun sight. They usually didn’t throw parties in the Hufflepuff Common Room because of all the potted plants lying around, it was an accident just waiting to—
Jihyo winced as a crash resounded throughout the vibrating room. “I’m gonna go check on that. Catch you later, Sana.”
The brunette watched her friend take a swig from her goblet before cutting through the crowd. The place was packed , even with students from outside of Hufflepuff. Sana supposed it was to be expected, what with winter break coming up and all that. People wanted to let loose before finals hit.
“Sana, you were incredible today!” a fourth-year bounded up to her, his face flushed with excitement. “Your feint at the end was genius!”
“Aw, thank you.”
“I swear, watching you play is like watching poetry!” he proclaimed, and another girl nodded vigorously in agreement. Sana bit back a laugh at the statement, but basked in the praise anyways.
“It’s really all in the practice,” Sana flashed him a modest smile.
“Poetry?” another girl scoffed as she sauntered by, balancing a sloshing goblet. “That’s a bit dramatic don’t you think?”
The girl shot a pointed look at the fourth-year boy who’d been gushing over Sana. He froze mid-sentence, eyes darting back to a group of his classmates who’d been watching the exchange from nearby. Sana heard him mumble something under his breath before he grabbed his friend and scurried off. Honestly, the brunette found it slightly ridiculous how all the younger students seemed to cower at the bunny of a girl beside her.
“Hey Nayeonnie.”
Nayeon sighed loudly. “I swear, you’re not even that good, you just have extra time to blowout your hair before games so everyone thirsts over you.”
“Mhm, says the one who lost,” Sana quipped back, flipping her hair with a smirk. “And I can’t help that I’m hot, sorry.”
“Whatever, bitch,” Nayeon laughed, clearly unbothered. “Just make sure Jihyo doesn’t confiscate all the firewhiskey tonight. She’s putting on her best ‘chill captain’ act, but I can tell she’s two butterbeers away from shutting this shit down.”
The pair looked towards the spiral staircase where Jihyo was cleaning up a pile of dirt from a smashed plant. She did not look happy.
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Sana said passively. She nursed her goblet, taking a ginger sip of the bitter liquid. Bleh . A silence lulled and Sana looked up to see Nayeon narrowing her eyes at her. “What?”
“You’re acting weird tonight. What’s wrong with you?”
Sana froze, the sudden change in Nayeon’s tone making her feel like she was under a spotlight being interrogated. “I’m just… running over plays from today.”
Nayeon arched an eyebrow and followed Sana’s eyes to the other side of the room. A group of Ravenclaws were huddled around the cold fireplace, setting up some flickering disco lights that one of the muggle-born students had managed to smuggle in. A stupid smirk began to grow on her face.
“Aw, are you missing someone?” she asked, her voice practically dripping with amusement.
Sana’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly redirected her gaze to her drink. She hoped the heating of her cheeks could be attributed to the firewhiskey (even though it was barely half a goblet but, whatever). “Shut up.”
Nayeon was too quick however, her smile widening as she stepped closer. She lowered her voice. “She’s definitely not gonna be here, if that’s what you’re thinking about.”
There was a wicked glint in the other girl’s eye now, and Sana’s hold tightened around her drink, trying to push down the ache in her chest. She didn’t know why tonight out of all nights she was feeling this way. She should be guzzling butterbeer with Momo and grinding her ass down Nayeon’s front on the dance floor, not ruminating over the absence of someone she barely ever talked to.
Nayeon’s expression softened when she saw the forlorn look on her friend’s face. She placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “That’s only your second drink, I know that’s the reason why you’re acting all emo over here.” She gave Sana a playful shove towards the middle of the room. “Momo’s pouring shots, let’s go celebrate your win, yeah?”
Sana didn’t know what to say, so she didn’t, just let herself be dragged by Nayeon through the heated bodies of her schoolmates. After a painful amount of pushing and shoving, the brunette heaved a sigh of relief when they finally reached their destination. The Ministry of Magic seriously needed to invent a spell for B.O., because what she just experienced was… not right.
A crowd of students were clustered around a center table, where bottles of firewhiskey and pumpkin fizz were being poured into mismatched goblets. Nayeon held out her own cup to be topped off.
“Minatozaki!” someone called from the crowd, and Sana turned to see a boy from her Astronomy class extending his drink towards her.
“To the best Chaser on the team!” he toasted.
“To the best team in the league,” she corrected smoothly, clinking her goblet against his with a playful smile.
He grinned, gaze lingering a little too long on her eyes. “You going home for the holidays?”
“Oh no, I’m actually stay–”
A wave of shouting suddenly broke through the room, cutting her off. Sana turned her head to see the commotion. Someone had conjured a floating dance floor above the room, and people were attempting to fling themselves onto it. The platform bobbed dangerously, and at the center of it all was Jimin, attempting to pull a deeply inebriated Momo up with her.
“Get your grubby hands off of me!” Momo shouted, wrestling herself out of Jimin’s grip at last. The younger girl was laughing hysterically.
“Sorry, what were you saying?” the boy shouted over the racket. Before she could respond, the room devolved into chaos. One moment, Jimin was tripping over herself on the floating platform, the next she was pulling a shocked Minjeong—Ravenclaw’s sharp-eyed Seeker and Jimin’s not-so-secret crush—towards her. There was a brief pause before Jimin kissed her.
The crowd erupted into shrieks and wolf whistles, and Sana heard someone that sounded like Aeri shout “FINALLY!” in the distance.
Minjeong blinked in shock, before grinning and pulling Jimin back in by the collar, sending the crowd into an even deeper frenzy. Sana just clutched her goblet, torn between excitement for her teammate and that unwavering ache inside of her. She flinched as Nayeon sidled up beside her, looking highly entertained.
“Damn,” the Gryffindor whistled lowly. “Jimin’s winning on and off the pitch tonight.”
“She’s gonna break her neck up there, Jihyo will kill her,” Sana muttered, taking in the romantic scene with a neutral expression.
Nayeon groaned. “God, can you stop being such a buzzkill?” Without warning, Nayeon grabbed Sana’s bra strap roughly, making the brunette yelp in surprise. She should not have worn an off-the-shoulder top around this girl.
Before Sana could protest, Nayeon had already dragged her out into the middle of a dancing crowd and was swaying her hips provocatively. She eyed Sana in with a devilish grin, and the Hufflepuff reluctantly began moving her body to the music, much to Nayeon’s delight.
“Momo!” Nayeon shouted over the blaring music. “Get your ass over here!”
Like a Poltergeist, Momo appeared out of nowhere, tumbling into Sana’s arms and knocking the wind out of her. “Sanaaaa!” she slurred, blinking up at her friend with heavily lidded eyes. Sana could smell the other girl’s breath, a unique blend of probably every drink in the room. “Where’ve you been hidingg ?”
“She’s been sulking over you-know-who,” Nayeon threw Momo a knowing look. The other girl’s head bobbed in exaggerated sympathy, but with how unsteady she was, it made her whole body wobble.
“Ohhh,” she cooed dramatically. She looked at Sana with a sympathetic pout. “The heart wants what the heart wants.”
“Would you please give her a little something to loosen up?”
Sana groaned at how overt her friends were. Momo just gave a loud, tipsy giggle and staggered, barely able to keep her balance as Nayeon shot her a ridiculous thumbs-up. “Don’t even worry your pretty little head,” she declared with a grin, her words quickly losing sharpness. Geez, what has this girl been consuming? “I’ve got just the thing.”
Momo fumbled through her pant pockets for a moment before pulling out a small vial of bright blue liquid. She held it up to the flashing strobe lights with a flourish, grinning at Sana through the glass like a child.
Sana looked at the bottle with curiosity. “What is it?”
“ Magic juice! ” Momo was practically bursting with excitement. “Just a little something I whipped up the other night, guaranteed to make you relaaaax and feel alll warm and fuzzy inside.” She gave a giddy giggle, totally proud of herself.
Sana eyed the bottle skeptically, but she couldn’t help the smile that was tugging her lips at Momo’s intoxicated state. Wait, maybe that wasn’t the right reaction to her friend losing all fine motor skills. Should she take her to the hospital wing? Eh.
“What’s in it?”
Momo paused, tapping her chin in deep thought. “Uhhh…” she trailed off, squinting at the vial as if trying to remember something important. “My love, obviously,” she finally said, as if that explained everything. She then gave the bottle a little shake. “Totally safe. I’ve had like three already and I’m puhrrfectly fine !”
Sana let out an incredulous laugh. “You’re insane.”
Momo just smiled, holding the bottle up to her cheek like it was the most precious thing in the world. “ Crazy like a fox, baby. ” Sana snorted. Oh, what the hell.
“Fine, gimme your love Momoring,” she said with a small smirk, grabbing the bottle and popping off the cork. Without any fanfare, she knocked back the glowing liquid in one smooth motion.
Momo cheered loudly as if Sana had just done something truly heroic, clapping her hands like a Goblin with a pile of gold. “Yes! That’s the spirit!” she shouted, stumbling backwards but managing to catch herself on a couch. “You’re gonna feel sooo good, I promise! Embrace the magic!”
Sana coughed slightly as the strong, sweet liquid hit the back of her throat. A strange warmth spread throughout her chest, and she felt all her worries wash away along with the rest of the party. The raucous shouts died down, and everything seemed to move in slow motion. Nayeon grabbed her hand and twisted her around, pulling her into a wild dance with some of the other students from her Gryffindor cohort. Momo’s bright laughter rang in her ears like the bells of angels, and the harsh lights glowed with a new softness, as if planting gentle kisses on Sana’s face.
She was in pure heaven.
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“Why does everything in here smell like poison?” Momo grumbled, rubbing at her temples.
“Maybe it was your fucking ‘magic juice’ Momoring,” Sana fired back. That seemed to shut up her friend, who sulked silently beside their shared planter. Sana knew it was a bad idea to party on a weekday; not even Aeri’s hangover remedy could relieve the throbbing in her skull from last night’s “fun.”
Alas, life marched forward in the unforgiving reality of early morning Advanced Herbology classes. The greenhouse felt more like a refrigerator, winter air from outside cutting through the frosted glass and practically gnawing at Sana’s cheeks. How any life form managed to survive in here, she could not tell you. Pulling her yellow-striped scarf tighter around her neck, she braced against the cold.
“I should’ve just taken Muggle Studies… Why the fuck am I here…” Momo groaned.
Sana could at least relate to that sentiment. Despite being a Hufflepuff, she had never been very fond of Herbology. The dirt, the mess, the little shrieking babies (don’t even get her started on those mandrakes, Sana would rather forget about her bleeding forearm after being bitten by one of the freaks)--it was far from her idea of a fun time.
It was , however, one of her only inter-house classes of the year. The brunette’s gaze drifted over to the Ravenclaw side of the room. “I don’t know, it’s kinda nice sometimes.”
Momo snorted. “Oh, I’m sure.”
“Shh! I’m trying to pay attention,” Sana hushed, fixing her gaze to the front of the room. Her friend slumped against the wall in defeat.
“Class, we’re doing important work today,” Professor Hwang announced. “In pairs, we’ll be planting elderflower and mallow, specimens useful in relieving winter sickness—”
“Wish it was my sickness…”
“Sh!”
“—after we plant them, you’ll take notes on the properties and we’ll delve deeper into how exactly they can be fashioned into remedies. Pair off and decide what species you want to work with for the period, and then come to this corner—”
He gestured towards an empty wooden planter in the front of the class.
“—or the back, and get working! Gloves and tools are in the usual drawers, come talk to me if you have any questions!”
“I’ll grab the stuff,” Sana eagerly volunteered before Momo could get a word in otherwise, not like she would anyways. She walked past clusters of frosted lavender, brittle holly bushes, and pale, frozen ferns towards the equipment cabinet, scanning over the students who were gathering their tools. Sana spotted a head of long, sleek black hair and shiftily inserted herself next to her.
The brunette cleared her throat. “Good morning, Dahyun-ah.”
Dahyun glanced up, her dark eyes making Sana’s breath hitch. “Oh. Good morning,” she replied with a polite smile. She then returned to her task, shuffling through the bin of gardening tools.
The Hufflepuff paused, trying to think of something to say. Her gaze lingered on Dahyun, who was intently studying the assortment of trowels and spades before her in a way that made Sana’s heart flutter. Her silky black hair fell neatly behind her ear, perfectly framing her soft, pink-tinged cheeks and delicate nose. The sight was almost too much for the brunette to handle. She felt a warmth blooming in her chest as she observed every little detail of the younger’s serene expression.
“Which one do you recommend?” Sana asked, after a probably way-too-long period of staring.
“Uh, like a trowel?”
Sana nodded. Dahyun gave her a funny look. “Honestly, the size doesn’t really matter since we’re basically just digging holes to put the plants in.”
“Oh.”
A moment passed and Dahyun seemed to sense the growing awkwardness. “But uh, what plant are you gonna do? That might change it a little.”
Sana perked up. “Well, which one are you doing?”
“Elderflower. I like the tea.”
“I’ll do that one too then.”
Sana shot Dahyun the sweetest smile she could muster, but the girl just searched through the pile of tools. After a few moments she reached in and selected a small one, handing it to Sana with a reaffirming nod. “The smaller one works best for elderflower. The roots don’t get that deep, so you don’t need anything big.”
Sana took the trowel from her, purposely angling her fingers to brush lightly against Dahyun’s. Biting back a high pitched squeal that would most definitely give her away, she responded, “Perfect. Thanks, Dahyun.”
“No problem.”
After deciding on her own tools, the Ravenclaw walked away without even another glance. Determination bolstered, Sana grabbed the first pairs of gloves she came into contact with and rushed back to Momo.
“Back so soon?”
“We’re doing elderflower, let’s go,” Sana commanded, pulling Momo up and rushing to the front of the class before anyone else could steal her rightful seat.
“Wait, but I wanted to do mallow! They use that to sweeten butterbeer!”
Sana located Dahyun and her partner kneeling at the end of the elderflower planter. The brunette rushed to the spot across from her, bending down and yanking Momo to sit beside her.
“Hey guys,” Sana greeted cheerily. Momo glanced at the bin of elderflower seedlings, her face scrunched up in displeasure.
"These smell weird."
Sana shot a quick glance at Dahyun, feeling relieved when she didn't react to Momo's comment. "People use it for tea, dumbass," she hissed. "It has medicinal properties."
"Since when do you care about medicinal properties?"
“Since now,” Sana snapped, determined to keep her cover intact. She slipped on her gloves purposefully and glared at Momo. “Well? Start digging.”
Momo begrudgingly picked up the trowel, muttering something about forced labor under her breath. Meanwhile, Sana let her eyes drift to the other side of the planter. Dahyun’s hands worked methodically, her delicate fingers loosening the soil with care. Her partner Mina worked just as quietly, focus completely given to the task at hand. Typical Ravenclaws—always so serious. Sana looked back at Dahyun. The soft sunlight filtering through the frosted glass gave her an ethereal glow, tracing the softness of her pale skin. Strands of her silky black hair had slipped free from behind her ear, brushing against her cheek as she leaned closer to inspect the soil. Sana fought the sudden, ridiculous urge to reach out and tuck them back in place.
Suddenly, Dahyun glanced up, her gaze briefly meeting Sana’s before darting back to the soil. The brunette froze, her trowel hanging uselessly over the dirt. Shit, did she catch her staring? She felt her ears start to warm up and she quickly busied herself, digging at the dirt with way more force than necessary.
“Shit Sana, you’re gonna hit China if you keep moving like that,” Momo commented.
“Shut the fuck up?” Sana gritted, continuing her jabbing at the ground. Momo needed to get off her back, it was not a good look for either of them.
Across the planter, Dahyun spoke up. “You don’t need to dig so deep for elderflower. The roots don’t spread out that much.”
Sana blinked. Dahyun was addressing her. “Oh! Yeah, I knew that,” she stammered, immediately feeling dumb. “Thanks, though.”
Dahyun nodded. “It’s easier if you loosen the top layer first and then go from there.” She demonstrated with her trowel, gently shaking it in the dirt and digging downwards.
“Ohh, I see,” Sana purred. “Wow, you’re so good at this, Dahyun,” she added, fluttering her eyelashes for good measure. Dahyun stared at her for a second before going back to her digging.
“It’s not that hard, I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”
Momo leaned closer to Sana and whispered, “Should I get you a handkerchief? I see some slobber on your mouth…”
“Are you still on your magic juice? I think you’re hallucinating,” Sana elbowed Momo in the ribs, ignoring her friend’s whines. She put her attention back on the elderflower saplings in her bucket, carefully pulling one out.
As she worked on detangling the roots, she subtly glanced at Dahyun, contemplating on whether she should or not. She sighed and wiped her hands on her robes, then turned to Momo, who was watching her like a hawk. The brunette took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Hey, uh, Dahyun?”
“Yes?” the girl replied, not looking up from her spaying. Was a bucket of dirt really that interesting? Momo eyed her friend in anticipation.
“Um…” Sana schooled her voice into a casual tone. “There’s a big Quidditch game coming up. We just beat Gryffindor, so we’re playing Slytherin in the Championships. You should come, it’s gonna be really fun.” She plastered on a bright smile, hoping it looked warm and inviting.
Dahyun finally looked up at her. “Oh, yeah. You’re a chaser?”
“The best.” Sana immediately regretted the words, especially when she heard Momo snort from beside her. She stared at the line of holes Dahyun had dug, wishing for nothing more than to just crawl into one of them and die right now.
The raven haired girl blinked. “Um… I don’t really follow Quidditch,” she said finally, and Sana felt her limbs go numb. Number than they were before at least.
“Totally get it!” she waved her free hand, a little too happily for someone who just got rejected. Seriously, she hadn’t expected the Ravenclaw to jump for joy at the invitation, but she hadn’t expected a flat out refusal either. She stayed strong though, willing her heart to piece itself back together and keep beating in her chest. “I’ll probably be too busy winning anyways.”
She cringed again. Fuck, now Dahyun probably thought she was a cocky bitch . Momo, ever the opportunist, leaned in again. “Smooth,” she whispered.
Before Sana could reintroduce her elbow, Mina suddenly spoke up, her soft voice padding the sharp silence. “I’m going.”
Sana’s head snapped toward her, the unexpected ally sending a spark of hope through her veins. “You are?”
Dahyun was also surprised. “You are?”
Mina shrugged. “Even if I’m not in either of the houses playing, it’s fun to watch.” Her gaze flickered briefly to Sana, and her lips curled up ever so slightly. Nudging Dahyun’s shoulder, “Sana plays well too, apparently.”
The brunette blinked, a little confused. Was Mina… helping her? She was pretty sure she’d never spoken more than two words to the girl, and yet here she was, throwing her a lifeline at her most dire moment. Momo shot Sana a side-eye, silently asking her what was happening. Sana looked back at her with a fuck-if-I-know expression.
Dahyun’s bit her lip, seemingly mulling it over in her head. Sana died a little on the inside. “Are you going with your… friend, though? I don’t wanna interrupt.”
“She’s sitting with her other friends, we’re just gonna hang out after the game.” Mina paused before adding, “And it’s after finals.”
Sana kept her face neutral, not wanting to push Dahyun too hard, but inwardly, she was mentally high-fiving Mina for the assist. Dahyun resumed her digging. “Maybe I will come then.”
“I think Sana will do veryyy well if you’re there.”
Sana wanted to take her trowel and dig Momo’s tongue out her stupid mouth. What the fuck was she doing? They did not plan that beforehand!
“Just let me know!” Sana exclaimed, forcing her tone to stay light in an attempt to cover up the awkwardness of Momo’s words. “I’ll save you all front row seats, it’ll be perf!”
Dahyun nodded politely, then returned her focus to the planter. Sana watched her for a moment longer before smiling and turning back to her own task. Dahyun was (maybe probably) going to watch her play! The thought warmed her up more than any weird juice Momo could brew. She felt her hands moving on their own, her mind wandering from the task at hand to the upcoming game.
Dahyun would be in the stands, Hufflepuff section of course. Maybe she’d be wearing Sana’s yellow scarf to show her support. She’d finally get to see one of Sana’s pre-game blowouts, and after their win (because there’s no way Sana would lose when Dahyun was there) she’d fly to Dahyun’s seat, and Dahyun would gently run her fingers through her hair to fix it. And then after that, she would kiss her, and then maybe the entire stadium would stop, and the announcer would declare it the greatest kiss of all time. Then maybe after that they’d take a stroll by the lake, and Dahyun would confess her secret, undying love for Sana and Sana would laugh, hold her close, and it would be just the beginning, and then they would officially start dating and fall madly in love, and then graduate and probably definitely get married, have puppies, kids too, a whole family, with Sana working hard to support them as a model slash professional Quidditch player slash influencer. And then they could spend their Christmases and holidays alternating between the wizarding world and the muggle world because Dahyun’s family lived… well she would have to figure that out first but it would be great and Dahyun would—
“Um, Sana?” her wife’s voice cut through her daydream, making the brunette freeze mid-motion.
“Yes my lov–Dahyun?”
Flustered, the Hufflepuff scooped a handful of soil into the hole she had dug, placing an elderflower seedling inside haphazardly. As she roughly pushed the soil down, she heard a muffled crunch.
Dahyun glanced over, her brow furrowing. “Did you just... break the roots?”
“No? I mean, I don’t think so…” Sana froze, her hands up in the air as if she committed a crime.
Momo leaned over, examining the damage. “Uh, Sana, I think you just committed plant murder.”
Sana was panicking now, trying to salvage the situation by patting more soil over the poor, crushed seedling. But the damage was done. The stem drooped like a broken puppet, the leaves curling in defeat. Way to go, embarrassing her in front of Dahyun. They deserved it, honestly.
The ravennette’s lips pressed into a thin line as she watched Sana’s clumsy efforts. Then, with an innocent tilt of her head, she spoke. “No offense, but this is Advanced Herbology… an elective. Why are you in it if you don’t know how to properly plant a seedling?”
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The chatter in the Great Hall was as lively as ever, and the sounds of students unwinding after a long school day filled the air. Chandeliers adorned with flickering candles cast a warm glow over the tables, and the smells of freshly baked bread and roast meats spread to every corner of the room. Sana found it difficult to enjoy the atmosphere though, with how loudly Nayeon and Momo were cackling across from her.
“So fucking gross. You’re getting your germs all over the food,” Sana grumbled, glaring at Momo as she slid her lone Pumpkin Pasty to the edge of her plate. “I don’t even know why you’re laughing. This isn’t funny.”
“Oh, it’s funny,” Momo wheezed, slumping against Nayeon for support. Their loud volume was drawing several looks from nearby tables. “The way she said it, like you were some confused little first-year who walked into the wrong class. I was dying!”
Sana’s lips pursed. “I mean, aren’t Ravenclaws supposed to be smart or something? Why couldn’t she just say, ‘Here Sana, let me help you,’ instead of making me feel like a spoiled brat who’s never touched dirt?”
“Oh, is that a wrong assumption?” Nayeon joked, quickly backing off when Sana shot her a sharp glare. “Sorry, but I mean, you’ve been terrible at Herbology since fourth year. Why the fuck did you take an advanced class?”
Sana huffed, stabbing her pasty with her fork. “Because she’s in it! How many times do I have to say this? And it’s not like I’m that bad—I planted the stupid thing, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, after she basically called you a dumbass in front of everyone.”
Sana’s cheeks flushed, and she pointed her fork at Momo threateningly. “Say that again, and I’ll—”
“Stab me with your fork? Ooh, scary.”
“Momo, shut up,” Nayeon cut in, hiding her grin behind her sweater. “Sana, I really think you’re overthinking this. Dahyun doesn’t not like you. She just… doesn’t know what to do with you.”
“And what makes you say that?”
Nayeon just smirked, tapping the side of her nose. “I have my sources.”
Of course. Leave it to Nayeon to know more about the love of Sana’s life than she did. “Sources? What, like the entire school population you’ve befriended?”
“Exactly. And from what I’ve been hearingg,” Nayeon sang the word in a high pitched voice, “is Dahyun’s not as indifferent as she seems. You just have to be more bold.”
Bold? Sana was starting to seriously doubt the validity of Nayeon’s sources. “If I push any harder, she’s gonna to file a complaint to the Headmaster about me stalking her.”
Nayeon leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Look,” she began, lowering her voice, “my network tells me that Dahyun thinks you’re... a lot.”
“A lot?” Sana repeated the words. She’d always known that Dahyun was different, more quiet than her, but... A lot? Was that how she came off to her? The thought made her queasy.
“Not like that,” Nayeon said firmly, pausing for a moment. “It’s more like… Like, you’re this big, shiny Snitch flying right in front of her. Only she’s not a Seeker.”
Momo rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”
The Gryffindor was undeterred, and she leaned in closer, as if about to reveal some kind of cosmic secret. “Just think about it. Dahyun’s more of a Keeper—just kinda guarding her own side, grounded at the goalpost. But it’s not because she doesn’t want to move outside. It’s because that’s not the Keeper’s job .”
Sana nodded slowly, sort of picking up what Nayeon was putting down.
“Meanwhile, you’re out here being all dazzling and impossible to ignore, but she can’t move out of the Keeper Zone to get to you. So you , the Snitch, have to fly into that zone and that’s when she’ll finally be able to grab you.”
Sana had to admit, it did kind of make sense. A strange wave of clarity rushed over her. She did have to fly down into Dahyun’s zone, if she kept circling above her she’d never be in reach. She frowned though, thinking harder. “Someone actually said all that to you?”
“Well,” Nayeon admitted, waving a hand nonchalantly, “not in those exact words. But that’s the vibe I got.”
Momo snorted and picked up another dinner roll. “What the person actually said was probably something like, ‘Dahyun thinks Sana is loud and annoying,’ and Nayeon turned it into one of her cheesy romance novels.”
The Gryffindor threw her hands up, frustrated. “Okay, since you two apparently need everything spelled out—Sana’s this gorgeous, popular, confident girl, and she’s totally into Dahyun, who’s more reserved. Obviously , Dahyun isn’t gonna know how to deal with her.”
Sana wasn’t sure if she should feel reassured by that. “So what? Do I pretend I’m some quiet bookworm?”
“Fuck no,” Nayeon said. “Just tone it down slightly, meet her on her level.” Then, not able to resist, she added, “Stop playing the Chaser so hard. Be a Keeper. Or no, better yet, be the goalpost.”
Sana squinted. “I thought I was a Snitch.”
“You’re a Snitch with the attitude of a Keeper.”
Momo sighed. This was getting painful to listen to. “Just take it slow. She’s not some crazy puzzle. She’s just a girl.”
Yeah. Just a girl. Sana’s gaze wandered past her friends and to huge, arched windows of the Great Hall. Outside, snowflakes drifted lazily in the soft twilight, blanketing the grounds in shimmery white. The sight made her chest tighten. Another winter, another year slipping past.
She thought back to the last three winters—three years of failed attempts at Dahyun’s heart, wishing that things would change between them. But nothing ever did. Time kept moving, relentless as always, and here she was, stuck in the same place. Was she running out of chances? The thought left her feeling hollow, as if the snow outside had seeped into her bones.
“Hey,” Momo nudged her shoulder and gestured to her plate. “You want my pasty?”
Sana snapped out of her self wallowing, forcing a smile. “Thanks Momoring.”
“Just trust me Sana, I have a good feeling about this. She’ll come around, so long as you remember what I said.”
“You said a lot of things, Nay.”
“You’re a goalpost.”
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Sana pushed open the door to the library, the faint smell of old leather and ink immediately enveloping her as she stepped inside. She had originally been planning on heading back to her dorm after dinner, but right when she had made it to the entrance, she remembered a homework assignment. The brunette studied the little piece of parchment paper in her hand. The neat handwriting on it belonged to Professor Morrow, her Transfiguration teacher, outlining the details of their new project.
“ Transfiguration of Living Creatures: Theoretical Approaches and Practical Challenges ,” she muttered under her breath, squinting at the project rubric. Morrow was really raising the bar with this assignment, moving away from objects to explore the process of transfiguring live animals, focusing on anatomical transformations and magical compatibility.
Sana sighed. The Professor had mentioned earlier that afternoon that for their final exam, they'd have to transfigure a goldfish into a barn animal. While Sana didn’t usually have trouble with objects, the idea of transforming a living creature—especially one as big as a cow or a sheep—made her stomach churn. She’d heard enough horror stories from graduated upperclassmen about animals coming out of transformations looking... wrong. Bears with missing snouts. Crows with no feathers. The images floated in her mind, making her shudder involuntarily.
For now, though, the assignment was a bit more manageable. They’d be practicing on frogs from the forest, but first, they needed to "Find a reference book on anatomy, magical compatibility, and possible challenges in transfiguration involving animals." Sana looked up from the paper, feeling a little out of her depth among the library’s countless shelves.
The Hufflepuff wandered over to the Transfiguration section first, hoping for a quick find. She ran her fingers along the spines of the books, scanning for anything remotely useful. After pulling out a few, she flipped through them, only to be let down. Practical Transfiguration: Mastering Simple Object Changes —not helpful. Wand Techniques: The Movement Behind the Magic —nope. Her eyes skipped over a title, How to Turn Socks into Souvenirs and Other Mysteries , and she rolled her eyes. Who even wrote these? None of them were getting her any closer to what she needed.
With a frustrated sigh, Sana decided to try her luck in the Magical Creatures section. She weaved through the aisles, passing towering shelves and quietly working students. Finally, she reached a neatly organized wall proudly displaying covers of phoenixes mid-flight and nifflers clutching their shiny hordes. Her eyes immediately began scanning titles. Riding with the Hippogriffs —no. Raising the Empowered Dragon —definitely not. She picked up a few more books, each one more disappointing than the last. Then her fingers brushed against one with a garish, bright spine that practically screamed "first-year material."
Transfiguring Your Pets! An Easy Approach . The cover felt like a slap in the face, with cartoon illustrations of toads and cats, the bold letters in an obnoxiously bright shade of orange. Was this really the best the library had to offer?
Sana skimmed the table of contents, landing on a chapter about anatomical transformations in magical creatures. At least it wasn’t completely useless. She flipped through a few more pages and found sections on magical compatibility and transformation challenges—though the book’s overly simplified tone and Comic Sans font still made her cringe.
Sana closed the book with a small sigh, tucking it under her arm. It wasn’t the perfect reference, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. She slowly peeled away from the shelves, making her way up the dark, ebony staircase towards the main exit. The soft rustling of paper and the low hum of student’s made her stifle a yawn.
It had been a long day, and Sana was eager to curl up under her blankets and knock out. As her feet hit the top of the staircase however, all thoughts of candles and bedtime tea dissipated. There, next to the Ancient Runes section, tucked into a cozy nook, was Dahyun. The soft light from a nearby lamp illuminated her figure, and without even thinking, Sana’s steps shifted in her direction.
The Ravenclaw was completely absorbed in her work, the rhythmic scratch of her quill against parchment pulling Sana in like a Siren’s call. Still, she hesitated, unsure if it was a good idea to approach after the day’s Herbology debacle. Dahyun looked totally focused, the last thing she probably wanted was an interruption. Nayeon’s voice pushed her in her head: You’re a Snitch, just get into her zone.
With a steadying breath, she continued onward. As she got closer, the details of Dahyun’s appearance came into sharper focus, and her heart skipped a beat.
The younger girl was wearing glasses that perched delicately on her nose, the thin frames catching the soft light of a nearby candle. They were a little askew, as if she’d been adjusting them absently while writing, and it made her look even more adorable, if that was even possible.
When she was close enough to read the beautiful script flowing out of the girl’s quill, Sana spoke softly. “What are you still doing here on a Friday night?”
Dahyun blinked up, startled by the sudden intrusion. “Oh, hey Sana. I’m just revising my notes for History of Magic,” she said, gesturing to the scattered parchment and the thick textbook open in front of her.
Sana leaned in a little, glancing over the pages. “Oof, looks hard.”
“It’s fine, just time consuming,” Dahyun replied with a small shrug, her quill scratching at the paper again as she resumed writing. “Are you here to study too?”
“Oh no, I just had to find a book for my Transfiguration class. We just started the live animal unit.”
Dahyun hummed in acknowledgement. “That’s tough, my class isn’t on that one yet.”
“Yeah, it took me a while to find any book that covered it.”
“You didn’t just use a summoning charm?”
“Damn. Wish you told me that half an hour ago,” Sana joked, but Dahyun didn’t laugh. Silence blanketed the two. The Hufflepuff stared at the younger girl again, losing herself in the soft lines of her jaw and nose. She drank in the way her brow furrowed ever so slightly when she had to scratch out a sentence, and the slight tug of her glossy lip as she pondered an edit.
Did she not hear her? Sana coughed before speaking again. “I actually do have to read some chapters right now. Mind if I sit here?” she asked, already placing herself into the chair across from the raven haired girl.
“Go ahead.”
As she settled in, her eyes caught something on the table: two small cartons neatly arranged beside Dahyun's notes.
“Chocolate milk?” Sana asked, pointing. One had a straw poked through, the other was still sealed.
Dahyun paused for a moment and glanced to her side. “Yeah, it’s my study snack,” she picked up the unfinished drink. “I love chocolate. Usually, I’ll have chocolate frogs, but I ran out at my dorm.”
Dahyun took a sip, her cheeks puffing out adorably. The girl’s face softened as she sighed into the drink, a satisfied smile settling over her angelic features. Fuck. Sana would conjure up a whole ocean of chocolate milk if it meant she’d get to see that again.
"Chocolate frogs are way too sweet for me," Sana said. “Too dense as well.”
"I like sweet things," Dahyun shrugged, taking another sip.
The brunette leaned forward and rested her head in her hands. "Hm… I’ll have to remember that then."
Dahyun glanced up at her with a puzzled expression before quickly returning her attention to her textbook, flipping through the pages with a quiet rustle. Well, that was a miss. Sana cleared her throat, trying to recover. Come on Snitch, get in there. Keeper energy, Keeper energy!
"So…” Sana began, drumming her fingers lightly on the edge of the table. "Have you started on the Herbology essay yet?"
Dahyun shook her head. "I finished my outline. I’ll probably work on it more this weekend."
"Well, would you maybe wanna work on it together? We’re both doing elderflower, it might be easier if we can exchange notes and stuff.”
Dahyun hesitated, avoiding Sana’s eyes. "Um... I usually work alone."
"Oh." The brunette’s smile faltered. "Totally fine, I get it."
She tried to shake off the familiar sting of rejection, but a nagging feeling crept up her throat. Her eyes lingered on Dahyun’s glasses for just a second too long, and then she blurted out, "You look really pretty in your glasses, by the way."
The words hung stale in the air, and Sana held her breath. There was no way she just fumbled that hard. Dahyun blinked slowly before carefully setting down her quill and looking at Sana, her expression undecipherable. This couldn’t be good.
“I’m really sorry, Sana,” Dahyun started, her voice soft but firm. “I don’t wanna hurt your feelings, but I just don’t think I’m interested.”
Sana froze. The sentence hit her like a bludger to the chest, completely knocking the breath out of her. She stared at Dahyun, not sure if she’d heard her right. "I—what? Who—did someone say something to you because I swear it’s not—"
Dahyun gently shook her head, cutting her off. “It’s not about what people say, it’s just… the way you look at me sometimes, and you’re always trying to talk to me—”
Sana’s chest tightened, a defensive heat rising in her stomach before she could temper it. “I don’t mean anything by it! I promise you, I do not like you like that, my friends just like to joke about that kind of stuff, so fucking stupid, really…” she trailed off, losing her emphaticism.
Dahyun blushed, visibly flustered by the outburst. She quickly adjusted her glasses, her fingers fumbling nervously. “Okay, sorry, I didn’t mean to make any assumptions,” she muttered, clearly embarrassed by the misunderstanding.
The silence that followed was as thick as Dahyun's history volume, and Sana felt her cheeks burn with humiliation. Swallowing hard, she yanked open her stupid Transfiguration book and held it up in front of her face, a flimsy shield against the flood about to spill over.
She could hear Dahyun shuffle from across the table, but it barely registered. Her focus was fixed instead on the stupid Comic Sans text glaring back at her, and the poorly drawn sequence of a puppy transforming into a pony that accompanied it. Hot, silent tears slipped down her cheeks, smudging against the page as willed herself to pull it together.
“Sana?” Dahyun’s voice was soft, laced with concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Sana croaked but her voice betrayed her, cracking.
The sound of Dahyun’s quill had stopped entirely, and the absence of its rhythmic scratching only stoked the flames of the brunette’s broken heart.
“Sana, I’m really sorry—” Dahyun began, but Sana stood abruptly, her chair screeching loudly against the stone floor.
“I’m gonna go to bed,” she choked out, keeping her gaze locked firmly on her book. Without even a look at Dahyun, she turned around and walked briskly down the aisle, tears blurring her vision. The warmth of the library felt suffocating, and by the time she finally pushed through the heavy wooden doors and into the cool dark corridor, she was practically sprinting, desperate to escape that grisly scene and retreat to the comfort of her bed.
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The warmth of the basement kitchens provided Sana with absolutely no comfort. She tapped her wand against the wooden barrels in the usual sequence, the soft clunk of the lid opening automatic at this point. Slipping through, she made her way past a group of students lounging on plush armchairs, laughing over a game of Exploding Snap. A few of them greeted Sana but she trudged up the stairs to her bedroom, doing her best to rub away her smudged mascara. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her like this.
When she deemed herself presentable, she opened the door to her dorm. The room was cozy as always, lit with the golden lanterns that Jihyo had bought from Hogsmeade and filled with the scent of vanilla from Seulgi’s candle. Momo was already in her pajamas and sprawled across her bed, nose buried in the latest issue of Nimbus Nation.
“Oh hey, you’re back,” Momo looked up from her magazine. “Find what you were looking for?”
“Yeah,” Sana said, holding up the demeaning book before quickly dropping it down, hoping her roommates wouldn’t get too curious.
“Looks like the zines we made for Charms class our second year,” Momo snorted.
Jihyo glanced at the cover from their shared study desk. “What kind of academic book is that ?”
The words hurt more than they should have, but Sana did her best to laugh along. “The only one I could find,” she shrugged, trying to keep her tone light. “Hey, I’m kinda tired. I’m gonna turn in early.”
The brunette scuttled across the room and climbed into her bed, not giving her roommates a chance to press her further. Pulling the heavy yellow curtains shut, she let out a shaky breath, willing herself to relax.
Okay. She’d been rejected. By Dahyun. The girl she had loved since she was fourteen. The words repeated in her mind like an endless loop, still not feeling like reality. The younger girl’s voice haunted her: “—the way you look at me sometimes, and you’re always trying to talk to me… ” The girl she had loved since she was fourteen thought she was annoying the entire time.
How could she have been so stupid? The memories crashed over her like waves. She’d sworn that there was something there. She had let herself believe it too, let herself feel that flutter whenever Dahyun smiled at her, when she wouldn’t be able to hold eye contact, when she’d lend the older her notes. Every moment felt impossibly magical to Sana and yet for Dahyun, it must have been suffocating—this pathetic, shit-for-brains girl always throwing herself at her.
Sana buried her face in her pillow, sobbing quietly so her roommates wouldn’t hear. It was stupid. She was stupid. She never even stood a chance.
From beyond her drapes, she could hear the soft hum of voices, carrying on as if Sana’s entire world hadn’t just collapsed on top of her. Momo had joined Jihyo at the desk, and the two of them were gossipping as they did their homework. Sana inhaled shakily. Nayeon must’ve arrived at some point too, because her familiar voice chimed in, complaining about her Potions class. Sana stayed hidden, listening without really meaning to.
"Ugh, this essay is the fucking worst," Nayeon groaned. "How am I supposed to write six feet on the 'morals and ethics of Amortentia'? It’s a love potion. It smells like things you like. End of story."
"Maybe if you actually listened during class, it wouldn’t seem so hard,” came Momo’s lazy drawl.
"I was listening," Nayeon shot back. "Belby said it’s the most powerful love potion in existence, and it’s illegal because it doesn’t create real love—just obsession. But how am I supposed to stretch that into six fucking feet of parchment?!"
"By putting in some effort," suggested Jihyo. "And maybe not simplifying centuries of magical ethics into ‘blah blah blah.’"
Nayeon ignored her. "Anyway, the smell thing is interesting. Imagine what yours would smell like. Mine would probably be jasmine, citrus tea, and… elegance."
"Elegance doesn’t have a smell," Jihyo deadpanned.
Sana wiped her tears against the fluffy, pink comforter, her curiosity piqued despite herself. She sat up and drew her curtains back just slightly, peeking out at the three girls. Nayeon was waving her quill around dramatically, her Potions textbook spread open on the table.
"It does if you believe hard enough," Nayeon countered. "Anyways, I’ve gotta finish this or else I’ll be in detention during Christmas, and I’m planning on building a snow fort in the courtyard. Amortentia, blah blah, causes infatuation, blah blah, super illegal, moral gray area—"
"Wait," Sana interrupted, pulling her curtain open abruptly. The others turned to her in surprise. "What did you say about infatuation?"
Nayeon blinked as Sana walked over, joining them at the desk. "Oh yeah. Well it’s not real love, obviously. It just makes the drinker obsessed with the person who gave it to them.”
Sana peered down at the textbook pages, the illustration of a swirling, pearly liquid catching her eye. “Are you brewing this stuff in class, Nayeonnie?”
Nayeon scoffed. “You know how many people would try to poison me with it? I wouldn’t be able to eat or drink anything, the school would have to bury me after three days!” Then, as if realizing something, she arched an eyebrow at Sana. The brunette was reading the text a little too curiously. “Hey. You’re not getting any weird ideas are you?”
Sana looked up from the brewing instructions, innocent doe eyes meeting the Gryffindor’s dubious ones. “I was just wondering if I could borrow the book. What are you talking about, Nay?”
“Borrow it for what?” Nayeon prodded.
Sana frowned and scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. “I’ve been thinking about making a batch of Sleeping Draught before the Slytherin match,” she said. “I’ve been so stressed over school work lately, I figured it would help me get rest before we have to play.”
Well that made Jihyo perk up. “Wait, that’s a great idea. That would be so much better than relying on those weak teas Madam Puffett gives out. You should brew some for the team!”
Sana feigned a thoughtful pause. “I guess I could. It’s not like it’s a hard recipe.”
Nayeon was still looking at her friend warily, quill hovering dry over her empty parchment.
“You should make me some eggnog too while you’re at it,” Momo said, as if Sana was a chef in a restaurant.
Sana ignored her friend’s request, flipping the Potions textbook open to the page on Sleeping Draughts, making sure it was well in Nayeon’s view. When she caught the girl staring, she ran her finger down the list of ingredients and muttered a checklist to herself for good measure.
“Okay, well, stick to the Keeper thing I talked about,” Nayeon leaned back in her chair, relieved. “You wouldn’t be able to brew Amortentia anyway.”
Sana clenched her jaw at the blasé tone, fighting the urge to snap back. Why did everyone think she was so incompetent lately? She’d been getting E’s in Potions since fifth year—she could handle this. Sure, the recipe was marked as ‘advanced,’ and she had only ever gotten as far as ‘intermediate,’ but that wasn’t going to stop her. She could do it.
"Goodnight!" Sana called, cutting off the conversation before either of her roommates could say more. She hastily shut the curtains, grabbed her wand, and tucked herself back into bed, pressing her stuffed owl to her chest for comfort. Lying flat on her stomach, she whispered, “Lumos.”
The soft glow of her wand illuminated the pages of the Potions book, and Sana’s mind began to churn. Amortentia is a deeply complex concoction that causes intense infatuation or obsession with the person who administers it.
Obsession. True, it wasn’t love, but it was leaps and bounds better than the frigid attitude Dahyun always harbored around Sana. Would it be so horrible to give herself a chance? What if this was the only way to make Dahyun see her? If the Ravenclaw couldn’t feel it on her own… Sana didn’t see any harm nudging her in the right direction.
The thought lingered as she read on. The effects of Amortentia are temporary, but potent enough to create an overwhelming attachment. While it does not create real affection or emotional connection, it can manipulate a person’s desires and perceptions.
Just a drop—one tiny drop. It wouldn’t do anything drastic. After all, she wasn’t brewing a potion to bind someone forever. It would just be the spark—helping to ignite a pile of strong, super flammable timber that had always been there, just waiting to catch fire. That’s all. And once it burned, once Dahyun felt it, there’d be no going back. She would never be able to unsee the real her, and things would finally change.
Sana closed the book slowly, her hands lingering on the leather binding as a wave of hope washed over her. She could do this, she needed to do this. Tucking the book under her pillow, the brunette turned onto her side under the covers. A new attack strategy was forming in her mind, and this was a play she was not going to lose.