●12

“No, and I’d thank you not to start.” Pressure was building at the base of his skull. Another headache. He closed his eyes tight, but that only made him more aware of Jungkook’s closeness. The other boy’s warmth was soaking into his side and his left arm had come to rest on Jimin’s chest. Jimin focused his eyes downward, his vision blurred were it reached under the rim of his glasses, and glared resentfully at Jungkook’s elbow.

[He’s going to be touching me for the next year...we’ll probably have to share a bed...I’ll have to put up with his friends...his family...his prince living life and what about Sirius and--and-- also]

Oh my, what nice dizzy feeling. If only his stomach weren’t so queasy.

Jungkook shifted and turned his head to look down at Jimin . His face twisted unpleasantly. Looked like the news just sunk in for him, too.

“Just you watch park,” he hissed, “I’m going to find a way to break this thing and then I’ll really make you regret it.” Their eyes meet, cold steel clashing with bright jade, fierce and challenging.

Threat was clear, so was helpless panic and biting rage, in eyes that were less like ice than they were distant storm clouds. Storm clouds promising soul saving rain or heart crushing torrents in a single gust of wind.

Jimin forced his eyes away and the world snapped back into alignment. An uneasy frown pulled down Jungkook’s mouth before he jerked his head away. Jimin breathed in deeply and stared fixedly at the ceiling. He could hear Namjoon and Hoseok still arguing the same subject, so his space out hadn’t been that long.

“-- and if you’d only stopped to think --”

“That’s enough.” Madam Pomfrey stopped Hoseok mid sentence. “I think it would be best if you two left for the time being. They need a chance to get used to things. You can visit tomorrow.”

“But we can’t just leave him here with Jungkook!” Namjoon blurted unthinkingly, “Um...I mean--I...” He backtracked, casting his best friend an uncertain look. Jimin wasn’t paying attention anymore; he’d decided that he was better off just lying there and not making contributions to the conversation.

“That is hardly your concern,” Pomfrey said dryly. “Now, off with you both.”

“All right,” Namjoon sighed.

“Yes, Madam Pomfrey,” Hoseok said, “Bye, Jimin.”

“Yeah, bye. But don’t worry! We’ll be back first thing tomorrow!”

“After classes.”

“Uh...right. After class,” Namjoon amended. Jimin forced himself up enough to nod goodbye, ignoring Jungkook's arm slipping down his chest.

“I’ll see you later.” He watched his friends leave a bit mournfully. Now it would be just him and Jungkook. Ugh. The door closed behind hoseok with a dismal click. Jungkook shifted slightly.

“Hey, don’t I get to see my friends today?” he demanded petulantly.

Madam Pomfrey frowned.

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