Chapter 2
As now-seventh-graders, yes, the sixth year was that dull, they didn't know what to highlight from it, there was now the Triwizard Tournament. And, with it, came the long-awaited Yule Ball.
Toge had secretly been awaiting this event for a while. He'd never actually done any of this fancy stuff before, so he was excited to see what it would be like— excitement radiating in the air, buzzing above everyone as he traversed the long-winded halls of the prestigious school.
Everywhere he went, it was all "Do you have a date for the Yule Ball?" this, "I can't wait for the Yule Ball!!" that. And one of the openers of the ball just so happens to be a certain Yuuta Okkotsu, who was a fucking celebrity for the damn school. Of course the Goblet of Fire would choose him for the tournament.
Toge was pretty worried about what would happen of his not-so-secret boyfriend. It wasn't every day that there would be a homosexual couple opening the Ball, and to top it off, Toge was pretty unpopular. Many disliked him for the ugly sigils on his face, or because he got flawless marks without paying a single bit of attention in lessons, and especially because it was Yuuta himself who he had bagged. They didn't really appreciate the fact that the guy who had stolen the heart of their prince was literally at the bottom of the popularity pyramid.
Yuuta didn't seem to mind, though. He loved Toge for who he was, and proved that all the way back in Grade One. The attraction they felt was stronger than any other, and they were just so insanely in love with each other.
On top of that, Toge was worried about Yuuta for the Tournament itself. The Triwizard Tournament was dangerous, and he was still young. Toge worried that he'd get injured or even worse, because he'd grown so inexplicably fond of Yuuta even though he'd left for four whole years from second year to the fifth.
Yuuta had reassured him, saying that it would be okay and nothing would happen to him, but Toge still worried.
The date of the ball kept growing closer, and thus the day where the real tournament started would arrive faster as well. This kept Toge up most of the night, even though Yuuta was the one who worried between the two.
"Toge," Yuuta whispered, not wanting to disturb the rest of his roommates. Well, they also had more than one person in their beds, probably, but still. "Love, are you okay?"
"Shake." Toge replies, but it sounds forced and weird and Yuuta just had to know what was bothering his boyfriend.
"C'mon, Toge, what's wrong?" He says, caressing his face gently and Toge lets a tear roll down his face. Yuuta lets him take his own time, soothing his silent crying as he runs a hand up and down his back comfortingly. He looks down at his precious Toge Inumaki and decides, whatever happens, he'd be glad to ever have met such an amazing person, and have him all for himself.
After a bit, Toge sloppily, tiredly signs to him.
What if you get hurt during the Tournament, or even worse? And for the ball.. I don't think I should go with you. Not that I don't want to, but what will the school think if I'm there with you, and—
Yuuta immediately shut down that train of thought.
"Toge, I understand if you're worried for me, okay? But no one in this school would ever say anything bad about you and me. It doesn't matter if you aren't well-liked, and the fact that you're not a girl is not going to change anything about the way the school thinks of you. Me. Us. And even if they did, who are they to judge? At least we have each other, and they can't pull a single goddamn person."
Toge laughs a bit as he says the last part, feeling better but still very unfortunately worried. Yuuta tells him to worry about it tomorrow, or they might wake everyone else up. He agrees, smiling very fondly at the guy of his dreams and closes his eyes as Yuuta presses a kiss to his forehead.
Toge had a dream that night. His dream was about Yuuta dying in the Triwizard Tournament. He did not leave Yuuta's side for one second that day, sulking in his self-made but still functional Invisibility Cloak. Yuuta had noticed some time during the day, and just silently held his hand through the cloth, which Toge very much appreciated and kissed his hand gently through the soft material.
He was definitely not looking forward to the damn Tournament or the Yule Ball any more. He didn't get the hype anymore, and he didn't really want to entertain the thought of his brain telling him that Yuuta's reputation will fall through the roof if Toge was with him.
During lunch, Toge finally took off his cloak, revealing a soft, white tuft of hair and a pouting Slytherin.
"Darling, what is it? You can talk to me." Oh, Yuuta. Pretty, perfect Yuuta. He grumbles about some random thing as he sat next to him, leaning on his shoulder and sulking.
"Okaka, takana."
"It's not nothing, Toge, what's going on?"
You died in my dream. In the tournament. Toge signs, not leaving any room for argument. "You'd better not die in the real tournament," goes unsaid, but his point gets across.
"I'm strong, Toge, don't worry! I'll defeat everything that comes my way!" Yuuta affirms, doing a little showing-off motion, but Toge just nuzzles against his arm, mood still sour and full of absolute worry. Yuuta sighs, leaning back against him as well as he kisses his hair.
"Come on, nothing's going to happen to me. But you have to relax, just enjoy yourself! I'll put on the most spectacular performance ever."
Toge sighs, knowing that even if Yuuta wanted to not participate, he couldn't, because his name was specially picked from the Goblet of Fire and stuff. So, he reluctantly nods, and decides to cheer him on from the side.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot to ask you officially. Toge Inumaki, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?" he says, joking as always, because he knew that Toge would definitely accept. Although he was still slightly hesitant, not wanting for Yuuta's reputation to die off, he smiles lovingly at the Yuuta who was feigning a proposal at that point, and nods with a quiet "shake" and Yuuta smiles back at him the same way.
The next week flies by, and it's time for the Yule Ball. Classes were canceled for the duration of the Tournament, so everyone had been happily trying clothes, asking people out, and gossiping and making bets on who would ask who out. It was pretty entertaining, him, Yuuta, Maki and Nobara betting if Megumi would ask Yuuji to go to the ball with him.
Maki and Nobara felt like he was too much of a wuss, and they'd stay pining forever, while Yuuta guessed that it was Yuuji who would ask him out. Toge was oddly sure that Megumi would ask his crush out, but he'd probably ask on the day of the ball itself, so he could run away from Yuuji and hide if he'd rejected him. Learnt from the best, he signs, and looks at everyone smugly. They all flamed him after that.
But the flaming turned out to be worth it, because his guess was absolutely spot on. What the fuck? Toge had almost blew their cover by shouting in victory, and Maki exploding in absolute anger because she was so sure that she and Nobara would win the bet. Yuuta just laughed, glad he didn't bet any real money and Megumi looks at them very suspiciously after they meet up with him because of the intensely varying moods between the lesbians and Toge.
After a while, the lights dimmed and the contestants took their places on the floor.
The gang was helping the couple brainstorm ideas to make Toge feel more at ease that nothing would happen to Yuuta's reputation, despite all of them convincing him that nothing was going to happen, but he was still very worried.
Until Nobara suggested he just, well, dressed as a girl. It was the quickest and easiest way, and Nobara had white hair extensions for god knows what. She's so glad she didn't throw them away, and they dressed Toge up just right for the occasion. No one thought that Toge could look so feminine, and it was a pretty good disguise. Toge did have a sister, so he could just.. pretend he was her. Maybe. Nobara had a wig, too, but Yuuta was insistent on Toge keeping his hair, so he did. Thankfully, all the stupid NPCs in this school didn't notice anything amiss, and just thought that Yuuta didn't ask Toge in the end.
He wore a mask, to cover his marks, and Nobara dressed him up in one of the prettiest dresses she owned. It suited him perfectly, and Yuuta was actually very surprised to see it. Maki made a joke about him drooling over Toge, and he hit her on the back. Hard. Which was a very fatal move, but he was surprisingly far stronger than Maki and was able to escape her rather quickly.
Yuuta smiles, taking Toge's hand and leading him to the floor. There were people muttering about "that pretty lady Yuuta asked out" and Toge was glad that the people at Hogwarts were so dumb.
There were three couples at the middle of the ball. Six people, but all eyes were on Yuuta and Toge. Toge could feel himself turn red, but he kept quiet and stared into Yuuta's pretty blue eyes. Then, the music started. They started dancing, their steps in time and they danced so well together. All eyes are on us, Yuuta's eyes say. Are you nervous? Toge's reply, and they smiled at each other, eyes crinkling into little crescents as the song ended and they could leave the dance floor.
"You're so pretty, Toge. How did I find such an amazing person?"
In the halls while we were supposed to be in the dining hall, Toge replies mischievously, and Yuuta stares blankly for a while before he burst out laughing. He captures Toge's lips in a gentle, loving kiss, and the Ravenclaw smiles against his lips, parting before they ran out of breath.
The Triwizard Tournament was the last thing on both their minds as they left the ballroom to explore the halls once more, like they did back in first grade.