The Lost Heir of Ravenclaw - Ateez x Harry Potter fanfiction

Chapter 11 - Feelings

Wooyoung backed away from the door and drew his wand. "That's Darcy with him, I think. Nosey Slytherin. We can take them. Let's rush it and then they won't have time to see all of us," he said. Seonghwa winced and picked at a spot on his robes. No one else seemed to like the idea either.

"What? C'mon. We've got to do something before he barges in here and sees us all anyways. Any better ideas?" He crossed his arms, tilted his head, and raised his eyebrows. Jongho would have giggled if the situation was any less serious. This was one of Wooyoung's more playful expressions.

But he had seen Hermione's reaction. And if this was serious enough that the blood drained from her face, then the rest of them would be wise to treat this situation with caution, too. The question was: what could they do since she couldn't remove the trace from Mingi? What kind of magic couldn't be undone by one of the most talented witches of the age?

Hongjoong and Yeosang both stepped up to Mingi. They each tried a few different ideas, but it didn't go any different. They theorized back and forth, and Hermione gave suggestions here and there. But each time, the same light went up, pulsed, and then fizzled away. The trace wouldn't go away. 

San watched them try, but his eyes darted around the room a few times, too. He was also searching for another solution. While Hongjoong got another idea and tried that, Yeosang shot San a glare. This was so out of character for his friend that Jongho was stunned for a moment. What else were they hiding that was making Yeosang so annoyed?

"There's an easy way to solve this," Yeosang said and swivelled his gaze back to Mingi. Mingi bowed his head this time, and refused to look at any of them. Was it Mingi's secret, then?

"You already know how he feels about that," Wooyoung said and stepped closer. "It's not our business to tell. So back off until he's ready to tell it." Yeosang glared at his friend, but the look was returned with equal ferocity.

Jongho just marvelled at the turn of events. What the hell had happened this summer? They'd gone on an adventure and found a rare dragon's egg, but...how, and what else had gone on? It seemed like the answers to these questions might also explain whatever caused that reaction just now.

But it looked like Mingi wasn't ready to share anything. He was staring down at his hands, and had defeat written all over his face. Just then, Jongho felt sorry for him, and felt a pang in the pit of his stomach. Whatever it was that Mingi was going through, it must be causing a lot of pressure. Which meant that the details didn't matter anymore. There would be plenty of time later, and Mingi should have the space to tell it when he felt safe to do so.

They had to figure out a different way.

Jongho looked around the room hoping to think of something. His eyes landed on a portrait that looked oddly familiar. Rolling hills, and a cloudless sky. A few horses were grazing, but something spooked one of them and they ran out of frame. A person was working on a fence in the distance.

And then it hit him where he had seen it. This same painting was in the hallway beside the portrait of the fat lady. He had only glanced at it momentarily, but there was no mistaking it. Which meant....

"Hermione," he said, and everyone looked at him. "Didn't everyone use portraits to get into and out of the castle in the battle of Hogwarts?"

Her eyes went wide and sparkled before she scanned the room. Spotting the same painting, she said, "Yes. But we knew where they went, and we had help from the portrait occupant. This one...I'm not sure I've seen it before." She squinted at it as if willing herself to remember every painting she'd ever seen.