double, double, toil and trouble

Chapter 38

Donghyuck rolls his bottom lip between his teeth as he rubs his hands together. His eyes stay trained on the silver and green flurry of Quidditch robes that introduce themselves to the spectators, flying out for an initial lap before the game begins.

He can't work out if it's the adrenaline or his nerves that have him in such a jittery mood, but he feels like he's having an out of body experience as he watches his teammates from the stands, how they glide through the air effortless with those cocky grins on their faces, energising the crowd.

The Slytherin team do a lap, the crowd roaring enthusiastically as the team pass by. Donghyuck seeks out his friends, monitoring their expressions as they zoom by. Jaemin doesn't bother to gaze at him, already focusing his mind on the game, he's in his zone, and Donghyuck feels some of his nervousness melt away as his friend finds his own rhythm.

When Donghyuck does look away from the team's captain, though, he manages to catch Chenle's wide eyes. From the tenseness of the younger boy's frame, Donghyuck can tell that Chenle is really feeling the nerves. So he cheers louder for him, clapping his hands and whistling to try and offer whatever reassurance he can.

He has faith in Chenle and he knows that the boy can hold his own on that pitch. He just hopes the boy's nerves stay at bay enough for him to show that skill.

The Gryffindor team joins them in the air a moment later. Along with his friends, Donghyuck cheers as Yukhei emerges, shooting confident smiles towards the Gryffindor section of the crowd and then to them.

Their group was currently stood in between the Slytherin and Gryffindor sections of the stands, ready to support both teams. Still, if Donghyuck cheers just that little bit louder for Slytherin, no one comments on it.

As the two teams meet in the middle of the pitch, creating a circle around where the balls lie on the floor, Donghyuck inhales slowly, trying to calm himself, before he's exhaling, evenly and controlled.

"Does it feel weird not being on the pitch with them?" Mark asks by his ear and Donghyuck has to hold himself back from nodding immediately.

Part of him wanted to grab his broom and jump onto the pitch- to allow the adrenaline to spread through his body like wildfire, fuelled by the cheers of the crowd. He wanted that passion to consume him once again, but his feet stay rooted in the stands.

Almost as though he could sense what Donghyuck was thinking, Mark wraps an arm around Donghyuck's waist, pulling him closer as he places a kiss to his boyfriend's temple.

It's then that the first whistle sounds and the starting announcements begin rumbling from the speakers, setting up the game to begin.

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