Next to you

Chapter 7

Hanging out with Oscar's friends was quite... interesting. The boys were lively, noisy and funny. He was starting to get the dynamics between them and it was entertaining being carried in their conversations. Yetao often remained aside, content with just listening to them, but Oscar and the others tried their best to include him, asking for his opinion or changing the topic of the conversation so that Yetao could fit in.

He spent a lot of time together with them now. Dinner was always eaten together and Yetao was often invited to watch their Quidditch training. The boys were fully welcoming Yetao into their group, interacting with him like he has always been part of it. Yetao was thankful to the boys, because they really helped him change his daily routine and make him enjoy school life to the fullest for the first time.

Also he was happy to have a Slytherin mate in his group of friends. The other Slytherins looked at him in different ways: most of them just ignored him, but he noticed some boys who laughed at him whenever he answered Professors' questions in class or looked at him in irritation whenever they were in the same room. Yetao tried his best to pretend they didn't exist, and thankfully Zhang Jiayuan was with him during those times, so it wasn't that hard. Jiayuan was a sassy boy with a warm heart. It was easy spending time with him: he was a great companion and roommate. He was the only Slytherin mate he had interacted with. Well, apart from AK.

Yetao couldn't figure AK out. There was something off about him. The boy was always wearing that smile that was starting to send chills down Yetao's spine. Sometimes AK had approached him to have a conversation, but Yetao had always tried to cut it off right away. Other times he had caught the boy looking at him in the hallways or secretly following him after class. Yetao was aware of it: he had always found ways to shrug him off, but this was becoming nerve-wracking. Once he went to seek advice from Professor Zhennan, but the only answer he got was "Just ignore him." Yetao thought it was better to face him directly and ask him what he wanted from him, but he ended up following Zhennan's advice.

Speaking of Oscar instead, Yetao was getting used to his presence in his life. They set up some kind of pattern during the week: neighbors during potion class, flying training on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, potions tutoring on Saturday morning. They also saw each other at dinner together with the boys. Yetao enjoyed his time with Oscar so much. Not only was he getting better at flying, but he was also learning to know him.

Oscar talked to him about his life: how he discovered his powers, how his parents were so proud of him, how he went to Hogwarts for the first time and met everyone, how the passion for Quidditch deeply linked them, how he loved being the captain of the Gryffindor's team. For most of the time, Yetao listened to him. He couldn't still bring himself to open up about his life to someone, that's why he was thankful that Oscar didn't press him by asking him personal questions.

To Yetao, Oscar was extremely kind. And clingy. He would always throw his arm around Yetao's shoulders, but this didn't seem to bother Yetao at all. Still, he was reticent. This closeness to Oscar terrified him. He was getting close to the other boys too, but things were different with Oscar. He could feel it. But at the same time he didn't know what to do about it. He was so confused.

"That's how Patrick caught the Golden snitch ensuring our team's victory!" Oscar said grinning.

It was a Thursday afternoon in mid-October and Oscar and Yetao were taking a break after the flying training. Yetao could fly without problems now, so the training was no longer needed, but none of them mentioned it. They were sitting on the benches enjoying the pale autumn sun and each other's company. Yetao noticed that Oscar was lost in his thoughts after he finished his story about how they won the tournament last year. Yetao was going to ask him what was on his mind, but Oscar talked first.

"You know, we have known each other for more than a month, but I don't know anything about you. Well, except that you are smart and you hate eating legumes." Yetao didn't answer, but he knew that Oscar was right. Oscar saw Yetao's expression and immediately panicked. "Sorry, I don't want to force you! You'll tell me when you will feel comfortable enough."

"You're right." Yetao said, looking guilty at Oscar. "I'm not being fair with you. I'm sorry, Oscar."

Oscar's panic increased. "Don't apologize! It's your own decision!" He took a deep breath to calm down. "Whenever you are ready to open up, I'll be here for you. I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes." He said, looking intensely at Yetao.

Now it was Yetao's turn to panic, but while Oscar's panic was evident on his face during their conversation, Yetao's was internal. His heart skipped a beat, his stomach twisted and he felt his neck growing warmer. He was burning under Oscar's intense gaze. Oh no! Of course the intense emotions Yetao was feeling at that moment made him lose the control of his powers and incinerate the bench they were sitting on.

Oscar fell on the ground with a loud scream, while Yetao, who stood up immediately before the phenomenon, was looking at Oscar and the ashes with wide eyes.

"What the hell was that?" Oscar said standing up and rubbing his lower back.

Yetao was terrified. He knew that strong emotions could involuntarily activate his powers, but until now the only things he experienced in those cases were flying objects. Before he went under Zhennan's tutelage, he couldn't control what his magical powers could generate when triggered, but Professor trained him in order for him to avoid any kind of powerful blast. Incinerating things could be considered powerful but also dangerous, for him but most importantly for others. What if he hurted Oscar? The mere thought was enough to make him go crazy.

"Taotao, are you okay? You're not hurt, right?" Oscar said with a worried expression.

Yetao needed to go away from there before he lost control again. "Sorry, I have to go." He ran towards the main building of the school as fast as he could. In the distance, he could still hear Oscar's voice calling for him.

Yetao bursted in Zhennan's studio without knocking.

"Good afternoon to you too, Yetao. It's a nice day, isn't it?" Professor said sarcastically, but his mood changed as soon as he saw his student's expression. "What's wrong?"

"I have just incinerated a bench." Yetao said panting.

"You did what? How?" Zhennan stood up from his chair and went in front of Yetao who just collapsed on his knees on the floor.

Yetao tried to calm himself down. "I was talking to Oscar. He said that he would patiently wait for me to open up to him and then he looked at me with those eyes. I panicked and it just happened." Yetao covered his face with his hands.

Zhennan's eyes softened. "Listen, Yetao. You have been studying Wizardry for six months. It's true that you are a genius, but even experienced wizards have troubles with their powers. Also, you know that your emotions can be a trigger. Don't worry too much. " He said, trying to encourage his student.

"Then what am I supposed to do? I don't want to hurt anyone." Especially him. Yetao was about to cry.

"You didn't hurt anybody. And this has happened just once. Stop beating yourself up." Zhennan patted his hair.

Yetao lifted his hands from his face, looking at Professor Zhennan with glossy eyes. "What if it happens again? What if something worse happens?"

"Calm down, Yetao. Everything will be okay. You will be okay."

"But I can't control my own emotions. How can I interact with my friends, with him, and be sure that nothing bad will happen to them because of me?"

"Are you going to let this ruin your social life just because you're scared? Do you want to be alone again?" Zhennan understood what Yetao was thinking right now, but he had always wanted the best for him. He didn't want Yetao to become a lonely wolf again, not when he had already found some friends to rely on.

Yetao recalled Oscar's confused face from before and closed his eyes. "Maybe I should if it means that they are safe." He stood up to leave.

"Yetao, please, this is not the right answer." But Yetao couldn't hear Zhennan's words as he had already closed the door behind him.