Read my heart, not my mind

22. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin

"Aren't you worried?" I asked as I tried to bite into my food but couldn't convince myself I wanted any of it. Namjoon's mouth was almost so full that he couldn't close his lips as he shook his head and Hoseok just laughed lightly at my concern. "Who do we even cheer for? Will Yoongi curse their hair to turn into spaghetti or Jeongguk paint a mural of Yoongi falling from his broom in Yoongi's blood?" I wondered, trying to make them understand my concern.

Both boys laughed, causing Namjoon to almost choke on his food before he regained control of himself. "That isn't really how friendship works, Aislinn." He answered after he stopped nearly dying. "They are rivals on the pitch but still friends when they leave it. It's only a game."

"That wasn't how Gukie sounded this morning." I countered, remembering the enthusiastic fire in his voice as he declared that Gryffindor would win no matter what. "This is stressful." I added, dropping my piece of toast without taking a bite.

Hoseok laughed and threw his arm over my shoulder, leaning into me. He seemed like he was feeling better after sleeping for most of the afternoon on Thursday and being ordered to bed early on Friday by Yoongi. "It will be fun though, you'll see."

"Well, not literally." I muttered under my breath. Namjoon choked on his drink and Hoseok belly laughed loud enough to get several people's attention, making me blush. I reached over and snatched the cup and plate from Namjoon, certain he wouldn't survive breakfast. "You need to come with a warning." I said seriously, only making the other two giggle at my expense.

It was brisk and clear for the second week of November and excitement ran wildly through the Great Hall. None more so than the Slytherins, who were convinced that with Yoongi's latest strategy they would definitely win. That isn't to say that the other Gryffindor's weren't as adamant as them, calling Jeongguk the best Chaser in the entire school as he'd score so many points that Yoongi would have to catch seven golden snitches just to make up for it.

It was all giving me a headache and I remembered very clearly why I avoided the Great Hall and other students on Quidditch match days. I rested my head on the table, pulling the edges of Hoseok's grey sweater tighter around me. I hadn't given it back but he hadn't asked for it either, at this rate I was going to keep it forever and that was fine with me. Instead he reached over and gently massaged the back of my neck right at my hair line, relaxing me instantly.

I blushed because no matter how confident and independent I thought I was, I was putty in his hands. "Where is Taehyung?" I asked after another tense twenty minutes while I battled the urge to tell my fellow sixth years I wasn't coming. I wouldn't do that, I promised Jeongguk and Jimin that I would come watch them play today.

"He is probably in the stands." Hoseok answered and I could feel him shrug. "He convinced McGonagall to let him commentate the games this year. I'm kinda looking forward to it." He chuckled as he checked the time above the door. "We should probably head down now if we want good seats."

He clearly wasn't the only one with this thought as it felt like we fell into a stream of people exiting the castle in the too cold air. Everyone was talking loudly, proudly sporting either Gryffindor or Slytherin colors, even when they were from different houses. I wished suddenly that I had something to wear to support both Gryffindor and Slytherin, and if that confused any onlookers... Well it confused me too. I smiled as I latched my arm through both Hoseok and Namjoon's arms so we wouldn't get lost.

I never realized how tall the stands that surround the Quidditch pitch were, which in writing made sense because all of the action happened in the sky. The air was thinner here as the three of us found our seats, surrounded by what I could only assume were Jeongguk and Jimin's biggest fans as they screamed like crazy for the two Gryffindors.