Spellbound ~ clemmings (hogwarts au) {semi hiatus}

~ chapter six ~

Luke is quiet at breakfast but Ashton doesn't question it, just lets him be and makes small talk with Rian about the quidditch game coming up in a few weeks.

Taking nervous glances around the Great Hall as he munches on a piece of toast, Luke tries desperately to find Michael, and he keeps an eye on the door waiting for his arrival.

However that arrival never comes and Luke can see over the Hufflepuff table to the Ravenclaw one, where Calum Hood sits with a distant look on his face, Jack Barakat beside him looking much the same.

Luke follows Ashton to potions, where they listen to Professor Snape drawl on about something or other that Luke really should've been listening to but couldn't be bothered.

Next was runes, and Luke just took his notes like usual, his thoughts drifting off to a missing white-blonde haired boy who hadn't shown up for potions.

Morning break is quick and Luke manages out a laugh or two after Alex joins Ashton, Rian and himself. The three boys argue over the stupidest things, an ongoing one being about Travis Barker but Luke never puts in his opinion on the topic because the last person that did that got shut down instantly.... Alex had honestly tried to resurrect his opinion but Luke thinks he's slowly giving up.

Luke's assumption is correct when Alex shrugs his shoulders and leaves to go to defence against the dark arts.

Luke follows the brunette boy, dreading a double period with the Slytherins. The blonde increases his pace however when the thought of Michael being there crosses his mind.

Despite the dread of what Michael's reaction - now that he's had time to think about Luke wearing panties - could possibly be, the blonde is more than concerned about the whereabouts of the older boy.

Luke is standing with Alex when it happens, the brunette boy is babbling on about the homework he hasn't done and how he's most certainly going to get in trouble when Jack walks up to them.

"Hemmings, I don't suppose you've seen Clifford?" The question is innocent and unassuming but the spark in Jacks eyes suggests otherwise and Luke instantly shrinks in on himself and gulps nervously.

The look on Jacks face tells Luke that he knows something, what that is Luke doesn't know.

"Barakat" Alex speaks up, "why the fuck would he know, just leave us alone". Alex has this look on his face, Luke notices upon inspection, and he's not sure what it means but Jacks face immediately drops, any hint of a smirk gone.

Before anyone has time to say anything else the classroom doors open and the lesson continues like nothing had happened, like Alex and Jack hadn't been eye-fucking (Luke really thinks that might've been happening now that he's thought about it).

At lunch, Ashton lets Luke copy his transfiguration homework, and the blonde corrects a few of his friends mistakes in the process.

Michael didn't show up at any of his classes that Luke shares with him and it's making him anxious.

Luke is almost positive that he's planning some horrendous prank, in which Luke's secret gets exposed to the whole school and he becomes humiliated and the laughing stock of the school.

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The Gryffindors have quidditch practice and Ashton, after much convincing, gets Luke to leave the confines of the Hufflepuff common room and join him.

It's a very quiet trip from the Hufflepuff common room to the changing rooms but Luke likes that Ashton smiles big when he hears the chatter of his team mates and goes to join them.