IT'S MAGIC ❤︎ WHY DONT WE

thirty three

this week, zach was healing. no classes, no moving, just healing. today the seven others came by to see him, and when remus told them everything, they were astonished.

"i'm sorry, you're telling me that you turned into a dragon! and we missed that?!!" corbyn questioned with his eyes wide. "i guess i missed it too, i don't actually remember." zach giggled. "this is the coolest thing ever!" daniel exclaimed.

remus sighed before he spoke, "i would suggest you all not to go talking about this where others can hear." the students all looked at him. "how come sir?" kay wondered. "zach's ability to shapeshift without being a werewolf or an animangus is really quite rare." he began to explain to the eight.

"thousands of years ago, i'm talking back when the school founders were still alive. back then, there were wizards who had the ability to shapeshift into creatures like zach can." daniel spoke up next, "yeah but, what's bad about that? i mean it's awesome isn't it?"

their professor nodded before continuing, "well back then, these wizards were hunted for their ability. they were seen as a threat. dangerous. it was believed that killing them, that you would become more powerful. they killed every wizard who could transform like zach can. since then it's been unheard of for someone to have this ability to shapeshift."

zach gulped loudly, "so what you're saying is that if people knew, they'd kill me?" he asked nervously. "let's hope that's not the case zach. and you know i wouldn't let that happen."

"neither would we, zach." daniel added in, placing a gentle hand on his friends shoulder. "you lot better get going, you've got classes." zach told them after a few silent moments.

the seven gathered their things and headed out, "we'll be back later okay?" christina smiled before leaving.

•••

jack sat in the slytherin common room. he sat reading the book he found last year. the herbology book with writing all over the pages. but he could barely concentrate on reading. the words said to him by both zach and daniel rang continuesly in his head.

why do you only bother me when we're with other people?

jack couldn't even answer that for himself. he didn't know what to say to that. zach had been right. but jack didn't know why. he didn't know why he did that.

you're not that tough avery. you act it, but i know the truth.

daniel was right too. jack wasn't as tough as everyone thought. but he couldn't have others knowing this. he just couldn't. it would ruin him at this school. he had a reputation, one he needed to uphold.

as jack attempted to read, his mind kept swarming with their words. with the truth. eventually it got too much in that moment. he slammed the book closed, breathing heavily.

jack decided just to go for a walk before dinner, hoping to clear his head. normally when he walked through the halls, he would terrorize the younger students. mainly things like stealing something from them, like an apple or candy. sometimes he would just scare them.

but today, he didn't. today he just walked through the halls quietly, by himself. today he said nothing to no student, he stole nothing from anyone. he just walked.

it was a strange sight to several students. those who were nervously expecting him to say something or take what they had.

as jack walked the halls, he couldn't help but notice zach's absence. he knew the hufflepuff didn't spend all his time with the other seven. but he hasn't been in classes or anywhere in the halls. jack told himself he didn't care, but deep down he was beginning to worry for the boy. where was he?

•••

"should we tell the others? i think it's safe to say this works." christina speaks softly as her and corbyn walked around. "if you wish to tell them, i have no objections." the boy smiled to her.

the hufflepuff leaned up and gently kissed his cheek, pulling away shyly. "i like you." they said simultaneously, giggling at each other after.

as they walked around, they saw jack. he was simply just sauntering through the halls, not bugging a single soul. "unusual, wouldn't you say?" he said to christina, keeping his voice quiet. the brunette nodded, narrowing her eyes at him.

"do you wanna go see zach?" the other agreed and they went off to the defense against the dark arts class room. zach sat in remus' office, drawing in his sketchbook he had brought back after the christmas break.

he drew the red fire dragon remus had described. he drew hogwarts. he drew his friends. the astronomy tower. remus. his mother. his baby sister. the old ruined house in godric's hollow. he drew the boys in the photo sitting on remus' desk. who he could only assume were the friends he told zach so much about.

he even found himself drawing jack avery. unsure of why, this was the kid who continuously teased him about his sexuality. even though he hadn't officially told anyone other than his friends and remus.

even then, he hadn't really said the words. he has still yet to say aloud that he is gay. so how did jack know?

zach pushed that thought away, continuing to sketch the slytherin's face and hair.

as much as his friends thought he was a terrible person. zach knew no one was inherently evil. he knew there's at least a glimmer of good inside everyone. that included jack.

yes, jack calling zach a fairy and all the other foul names hurt. it did hurt. but zach could see something in jack's eyes that gave him a sense he didn't mean it. almost as if he was forced to spit the hateful fire.

he was pulled from his thoughts when a knock came at the door, in entering corbyn and christina holding hands. zach's eyes widened, slamming his sketchbook shut and gushing over the two who were clearly together.

"how long did you two wait to tell me?? that is outrageous! you should have told me immediately!" he scolded the two. "well we just wanted to make sure it worked before you all knew."

"speaking of not telling us. when were you going to tell us about cedric diggory mister?" zach's eyes widened again as corbyn spoke. "h-how did you know–"

christina giggled, "well now we do!" zach pursed his lips, realizing he just exposed himself. "okay look i wasn't ready to say anything, it's just a little different for me." he tried to explain.

"zachy don't worry, we're not upset. we're just teasing you." the other hufflepuff giggled again. "whatcha drawing?" corbyn wondered, taking a seat next to the boy.

"well i drew you guys." zach smiled, opening the book up to the sketch of his amazing friends. "merlin's beard! zach this is incredible!"