Because I Want It All (OT3 Version)

Summary: Matthew's life sucks, but it's simple. Besides being all but invisible and dealing with his weird biology, all he has to do is study for his O.W.L.s. But after getting caught breaking curfew by a certain Slytherin boy, things get a lot more complicated. (Warning: teenage sexuality)

I don't own these characters or the setting.

This story was written in parts, not chapters. Sorry for the length but not really. For more a/n, see the bottom.

Part I: Would It Really Kill You?

Breathing heavily and with a smile on his face, Matthew Williams landed soundlessly and dismounted his broom. The night air was biting, but he didn't mind the cold. This was the only time of day Matthew felt comfortable enough to indulge his love of flying, free from the risk of interacting with the school's Quidditch teams or anyone having a joy ride of their own. Not being around people meant that he didn't have to face the knowledge that they didn't see him. While he could never fly for long or often, it was enough to get him through his days studying for O.W.L.s and the stress that was navigating the school being all but invisible to his classmates and most of his professors. The ghosts were friendly and even Peeves seemed to have a soft spot for him, but conversing with the dead lost its novelty when people would go out of their way to avoid them and run right into him. The house-elves were great, too, but it didn't change the fact that the humans he interacted with ignored his existence. Being hurt by it would have taken all of his energy, so he just avoided people as much as possible, his roommate and best (only) friend excluded. Lovino Vargas was probably the most off-putting person he knew that also had a heart of gold. He covered for him on nights like these, in case anyone asked where he was. No one ever did.

But that was fine because it meant Matthew got away with this forbidden treat, got to just fly without being wary of anyone else. Would he have liked to play for his team? Of course. But he was too shy to go to try-outs, knowing that the team captain would likely overlook him because that's what happened to Matthew. People saw him, acknowledged him if he was lucky, then forgot about him in an instant. Matthew knew it wasn't their fault; he was just utterly unremarkable. It was probably best he wasn't on the team anyway since he would likely be forgotten mid-game and be flown directly into by an unsuspecting player. Matthew laughed at the thought bitterly to himself as he put the broom away. No, it was safer for all involved if Matthew just watched the games from the stands.

Matthew was satisfied with these few, precious nights and was grateful to have them. His natural invisibility worked wonders when sneaking away and he was a master of silencing charms. If he wanted, he could have gotten away with a lot, but he never bothered. This was all he needed and as long as he wasn't caught—

"That was some awesome flying you did out there."

Matthew made a mortifyingly high cry of surprise as he turned to the low voice that had cut through the dark. Even with only a half moon and the dim glow of lanterns closer to the castle to aid his night vision, Matthew could tell by the way shadows fell across the intruder's sharp features and the way his heart started beating faster that his night had been interrupted by none other than Gilbert Beilschmidt. As in the Gilbert Beilschmidt that was his is advanced charms class. As in the Gilbert Beilschmidt that was part of a notorious clique of Slytherins that were said to run all the major smuggling operations at the school but had never been caught. As in the Gilbert Beilschmidt that Matthew had had a crush on for nearly two years and had become a frequent guest in his more risqué dreams.

As in the Gilbert Beilschmidt who had addressed him first with a compliment and was waiting on a response.

Matthew cleared his throat and tried desperately to make sure his internal freak-out remained his little secret. "Thank you."

Gilbert smirked at him and Matthew died a little inside. "You're cute. What's someone like you doing out here at this hour?"

A cold sweat broke out along his spine as him mind recalled his words from two years before. Someone had knocked his books out of his hands when running past and Gilbert had been passing by. He had stopped to help him and it was the first time anyone other than Lovino had done so. When he handed the books to him, Matthew saw the most unusually handsome boy he had ever seen smirk at him. With a more pronounced German accent than the one he spoke with now, Gilbert had said, "Watch out, cutie. Wouldn't want someone like you to get hurt." Then he had winked and been on his way, not realizing what he had done by being the first person to call Matthew attractive that wasn't his parents. He never had a chance.

Matthew licked his lips, trying to quiet his mental screaming so he could think. "Thanks again. I like flying and this is my favorite time to do so. Why are you out here? I've never run into anyone before."

Gilbert shrugged and walked towards him, dressed in casual clothes with his winter cloak around him. When Matthew said casual, he meant black leather boots, so worn in that they only made softest of sounds as he moved, black jeans washed so many times they had become a dark grey, and a black turtleneck that did nothing to hide his slim but muscled figure. Gilbert cocked an eyebrow at him, his silver hair catching what little moonlight there was and…and Matthew realized that Gilbert had caught him staring. He blushed, but fought the urge to look away because Gilbert was staring back.

Oh, shit. What the hell do I do!? I have no protocol for this!

After a long moment, Gilbert smiled at him, actually smiled, and gestured over towards the castle. "Shall we?"

"Sure." They started walking back to the warmth of the castle, Matthew quietly guiding Gilbert on the safest path he knew to get in and out unseen. He followed easily, like he knew the way already but was happy to let Matthew lead him. Matthew tried to think of what to say or if he should say anything as they continued. He wanted to know why Gilbert didn't answer his question, but it felt rude to ask more than once. Still…"So, why are you here?" Matthew winced at how abrupt that sounded.

Gilbert just cackled that strange laugh that was uniquely his, like he was trying to hold back his mirth but was failing badly. "Kesesese, I wanted some air and decided to take a stroll. I had been walking for about thirty minutes when I heard the sound of laughter and found you. Imagine my surprise, hearing a laugh in the dark like that."

Matthew winced again and looked down, picking up his pace a little. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to scare anyone."

"Hey," Gilbert intentionally knocked against Matthew's side lightly, causing him to look up. Gilbert was frowning at him, but not unkindly. "Don't sweat it. You said yourself that you had never run into anyone else, so why should you have been concerned? Besides, once I found out it was you, I was happy for it. I don't think I've ever heard you laugh before."

Matthew stopped moving abruptly, both of them just barely hidden from anyone who might be watching from the castle. "What? You've heard me before? You've seen me before?"

Gilbert turned around, too, and looked at him like he was the one who had just said something very strange, not the other way around. "Yeah, I've seen you. We do go to the same school."

"Oh, you probably mean my brother. We look a lot alike." It wasn't like anyone took the time to really see that, but that was neither here nor there. Alfred had always drawn people's attention, whether they liked it or not, though it had taken Matthew years to figure out that he was doing it on purpose. Being his twin made Matthew highly acclimated to being invisible to anyone but Alfred and their parents. He could be mistaken for Alfred, but that had stopped happening when they came to Hogwarts. Wearing their house colors meant that a quick glance at the neck would confirm that he was not the rowdy Gryffindor that was his brother. He was a Hufflepuff and proud and damn happy he wasn't attracting Alfred's enemies anymore. Primary school had been a minefield of Alfred's mistakes.

"Er, no. You're in my advanced charms class, right? And I see you in the library sometimes."

What the fuck? "Oh! I, um, well, sorry. I'm used to being mistaken for him."

"No need to apologize. Come on, let's get out of the cold."

Matthew nodded and they continued on, the silence strangely comfortable. He liked this, just being with another person. He loved Lovino, really he did, but it was a little draining to be around him. He could only sit still after eating a large amount of food and tended to avoid silences unless something was bothering him. But Gilbert didn't say anything, though that could have been because they were actually in the castle now, walking very carefully until Gilbert pulled him to a stop in front of a large tapestry. His unusual but arresting crimson eyes regarded him carefully for a moment before he spoke.

"There's a short cut to the Slytherin common room through here. I trust you have a way back?"

Matthew grinned at him and dared to roll his eyes, "No, Gilbert, I habitually sneak out by way of the front door. I'll be fine."

Gilbert smiled back at him. "I wondered if you knew my name. Good night, then." Gilbert moved towards the edge of the tapestry and Matthew turned to find his own way. "Oh, and Matthew?"

Matthew inhaled sharply. No one knew his name but the professors (sometimes), Lovino, and Alfred. Everyone forgot it as soon as they were told. But Gilbert knew. He turned back to him with wide surprised eyes and found Gilbert smirking at him. "Yes?"

"There's no on in this castle that looks like you. I could never mistake you for someone else."

Matthew stared at him with parted lips for a second, shocked to his core. Suddenly nervous, he licked his lips and said, "Good night, Gilbert."

Matthew turned and fled, not staying to see what was behind the tapestry. His heartrate didn't slow as he raced through the castle unseen and unheard by anyone but Peeves who quietly teased him for his persistent flush before flying off to harass a couple of fourth years making out further down the hall. Their shrieks of fright brought a Ravenclaw prefect running to them, clearing Matthew's way to sneak behind a large statue of a centaur to the hidden passage way to the kitchens.

He made it back to the dormitory with little fuss but was very distracted. The minute he entered the very cozy (and empty) common room of the Hufflepuff Basement, Matthew let himself freak out in safety, pacing restlessly.

Gilbert knows my name, knows who I am. What? How? When did he start…why did he never say anything before? Would he say anything about me sneaking out? Probably not since he was out, too. And he was just taking a stroll? When the Slytherin Dungeon is basically on the other side of the grounds from the pitch? Does he do that a lot? Does he have trouble sleeping? We have charms tomorrow. Will he say anything? Should I say anything?

Matthew groaned out loud and flopped onto one of the overstuffed couches, staring blearily at the lightly glowing embers of the badly banked fire, glasses askew. Does this change anything?

After lying there for some minutes, Matthew sighed and pushed himself up to get ready for bed. Personal crisis or not, he still had transfiguration in the morning. Besides, it wasn't like fretting about it would give him any answers. He just had to wait and see.

Charms had always been Matthew's best subject and was the one class he wasn't worried about passing his O.W.L. in. He might have been one of the few people in the class who could say that if the looks of sheer panic at the thought of having to perform any previously taught charm on command for the next week meant what he thought. Professor Flitwick, an exceedingly kind man of short stature with greying hair and the ability to remember who Matthew was, seemed to recognize this as he called the class' attention back to him.

"Now, everyone, please don't be alarmed! This is a graded exercise, but studying for this will be some of your best preparation for the O.W.L.s you'll all be taking in just a few months. We will have this sort of exam once a month until June. Hopefully by then, you'll all not have those looks of distress on your faces. You'll have the rest of class to practice with partners and to ask me questions about specific charms. You aren't first-years, so I expect you to pick your own partners responsibly and actually work without me looking over your shoulders." He chuckled to himself at his own joke; he was by far the shortest person in the room. "Go on."

Matthew settled in to study his textbook and notes alone, knowing full well that he was likely not to be approached. He highly doubted Flitwick would say anything as he was meeting with Matthew once a month to provide him with supplementary materials to study for fun. Charms was the one thing he had a talent for (well, besides being generally unnoticeable); he figured he might as well excel at it. He was just glancing at the theory behind patronus communications when he was addressed.

"You're just full of unexpected rebellion this week, aren't you?"

Matthew looked up to see Gilbert smirking at him. He was standing directly in front of him on the next lowest tier of the class room. Sounding more confused than he probably should have been, he said, "Gilbert?"

"That's the awesome me. So, what's next?" He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "First there's sneaking out for a midnight joyride and now there's blatantly ignoring a professor's instructions. What's next, Matthew? Going to the restricted section of the library without a note? I didn't expect such an attitude from one of your house."

If there was one thing that could make Matthew forget his nervousness, it was someone insinuating that he had been sorted into an inferior house. "And from one of yours, I would be expecting you to think bigger. You're supposed to be cunning, right?"

Instead of being offended, Gilbert gave a surprised bark of laughter, drawing the attention of several people, including Flitwick. "I said working, Beilschmidt. Either start practicing with Williams or stop distracting him."

"Sure thing, Professor." Gilbert called back, eyes never leaving Matthew. "So how about it, Williams? Although…" Gilbert read is notebook upside down and frowned. "…I know for sure we weren't taught these in class. You might be too smart to work with a repeat student like me."

"No, not at all! I would love to practice with you. I just, well, I really like charms, so I study a little more than necessary. And repeating a class to retake an O.W.L. doesn't make you stupid. If anything, it shows how determined and hardworking you are, to want to get it right." Gilbert stared at him for a long moment, like he had done something surprising. "What?"

Gilbert cleared his throat and looked away from him. "Nothing. Thanks, I guess. Should we start?"

Matthew blinked at him, confused about his shift in mood, but smiled at him anyway. He seemed uncomfortable, so Matthew tried to get him back on more familiar territory. "You're welcome, I guess. Sure. Which one first?"

Gilbert looked at him and smiled a little. "Incendio?"

Why am I not surprised? "Okay. Let's see if you can make something other—nope, you know what, forget what I just said. I'll just, um, light that torch on fire? Great." Matthew stood and turned around quickly, sure his face was red. He needed a better filter if they were going to keep talking.

He took out his wand and ignored the obvious smirk on Gilbert's face as he came around the desk to stand beside him. "If I can make something other than what burn?" His voice was low and damn near a purr.

Matthew just barely stopped himself from shivering and locked his gaze on the torch in question. "Incendio." A jet of red light shot out from the tip of his wand and the torch in question roared to life, the fire a bit more intense than necessary. Something other than my blood. "That torch, of course."

Gilbert raised his eyebrows at him then focused on another unlit torch. Matthew sighed. This was going to be a long class.

"You've got to be kidding me." Gilbert stared at Matthew like the boy was crazy, which was a distinct possibility at this point.

"I'm really not." Matthew was smiling wryly at him and Gilbert was once again struck by how beautiful he was. He had noticed him the first day of their shared class back in September and was reminded of it again as his pink bow mouth quirked at him and his so-blue-they're-almost-purple eyes at him sparkled with amusement. His hair was a light gold that shone as it fell in barely-there waves to his shoulders and he had a fair completion of someone who didn't tan well. Matthew had a delicate, quiet beauty that was just beginning to harden as puberty settled into him. In just the few months that Gilbert had known him, Matthew had grown perhaps seven centimeters, though he had never acted like the shift in height bothered him. His voice was soft with a hidden core of steel that continued to draw Gilbert in the more he spoke. Even if what he was saying was completely insane. "You get to practice your stunning spells, I get to practice my defense techniques. If you stun me, Professor Flitwick will revive me and we'll be done for the day. If not, we both get a good exercise. Sounds like a win-win for me."

Gilbert knew that Matthew was skilled with charms but asking him to try and deliberately stun him seemed like a bit much. Still, he couldn't fault the logic and nodded. "Alright. Ready?"

Matthew rolled his eyes at him but smiled at him like Gilbert was the best thing in the world. Fuck. "Yes, Gilbert. I'm ready." His wand was in his hand, pointed towards the ground and relaxed.

"Call me Gil."

That made him tense. "What?"

"Stupify."

Matthew arm made a wide sweeping motion and brought his wand down along the center of his body, eyes wide and mouth parted soundlessly. The red spell from Gilbert's wand hit an invisible barrier and bounced back towards him. Gilbert moved out of the way in time for the spell to harmlessly hit the wall behind him. The reflexive adrenaline that flooded his system had him breathing heavily and grinning sharply at Matthew who was doing the same. Oh, this was going to be—

"Williams! Beilschmidt! There are too many people in here to be bouncing stunning charms all over the place. Flirt on your own time and tone it down!" A smattering of giggles and chuckles filled the room as the pair suddenly had the attention of the entire class.

Matthew blinked and turned red, looking away from Gilbert quickly to stare at the ground. Gilbert watched with great interest as his bit his lip and said, "Apologies, professor. We weren't—"

"Sorry, professor. It won't happen again." Gilbert interrupted, not wanting Matthew to say that they weren't flirting. As before, he kept his eyes on Matthew as he addressed their teacher and watched his eyes flash up to him in surprise before quickly looking away again. The blush was renewed and Gilbert tilted his head to the side as he realized something he would have thought impossible before now.

Matthew, the rare, interesting, smart, and kind beauty that he was, liked him back. Gilbert didn't know how no one had claimed Matthew before now, had dated him and taken his interest before Gilbert arrived on the scene, but he wasn't going to hesitate any longer in pursuing him. Gilbert felt his expression become predatory and Matthew glanced back over to him. Gilbert watched as his eyes widened and he visibly fought the urge to take a step back. Matthew stood his ground and Gilbert's smile widened.

"Oh, for heaven's sake! This is worse than herding cats! Class dismissed." Flitwick shouted before mumbling to himself something about bloody teenagers and their hormones.

Gilbert looked around and saw more than one person look away from him quickly to gather their things. They had had an audience. He looked back over to Matthew and saw him hastily packing away his things. Not wanting to push him since he already seemed a little skittish, Gilbert approached him slowly from the side and said, "That was impressive." Matthew looked up at him and Gilbert tried to smile as disarmingly as possible. "Thanks for practicing with me today, Matthew. See you around."

Gilbert turned to leave when he felt a soft touch on his arm. He looked back and saw that Matthew was looking at him quizzically. "Thank you, Gil. Anytime you want to practice, send me an owl or something."

Gilbert was doing a very uncool, happy jig in his head but smoothly said, "Will do."

Matthew nodded and started to leave before pausing to say, "Call me Mattie." He then left the room so fast you would have thought it was on fire.

Gilbert gathered his things and left quickly, feeling Flitwick's glare the entire time. It wasn't his fault the class couldn't concentrate. His mind was busy thinking of how he was going to get Matthew to stay around him long enough to hold an actual conversation.

Gilbert also knew what probably everyone else in that room had figured out: he had started a hunt and Matthew was his prey. It wasn't the first time Gilbert had hunted someone, but it could be the last. This time, he wasn't playing catch and release. No, if Matthew was even half as interesting as their interactions within the past twenty-four hours promised, then Gilbert was playing for keeps.

Matthew wouldn't even know what hit him.

"Something you want to tell me, maple bastard?"

Matthew looked up from where he was working on his transfiguration essay in the Great Hall to see Lovino staring at his with his arms crossed from the other side of the table. The brunet's hair was in its usual lightly tousled state and his hazel eyes were teasingly accusatory. Matthew didn't take offense to the curse; a specified "bastard" moniker was how Lovino greeted people that he liked. Matthew had been one of the first to figure that out and that was the one curse Lovino had broken the professors of trying to stop him over. Otherwise, he had to watch his language in public, a fact that he hated. Matthew had just finished a full day of classes and desperately wanted a nap, but had to finish this assignment first. "Um, not that I can think of. I'm just doing my work."

"That's interesting." Lovino sat down across from him and said, "I've been hearing the most intriguing rumors about a certain potato bastard who declared open season on someone in his charms class, though no one seems to know the kid's name. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Fuck, the rumor mill in the school needs to calm down. "You shouldn't listen to everything you hear, Lovi. You know how stories grow in the telling of them. We were just partners in class today and accidentally drew the class' attention when we started practicing more dangerous stuff. That's all." That wasn't all, but damn if he was going to talk about it in the Great Hall. Ears were all over the place, extendable and otherwise. He glanced around before leveling a meaningful stare at his friend. "I'm happy we had good weather last night. I thought we were going to catch some rain, though. That would have been nice." I went out last night and got caught, but it was okay.

Lovino straightened in surprise and stared at him for a second. Then he said, "It's probably too cold outside to rain. You meant snow, right?" You were caught by that albino bastard?

"You're right."

Lovino made a clear what the fuck gesture before standing. "Come on, bastard. You look like you're going to fall over if you don't sleep soon." We need to talk now and you also need to get some fucking sleep. What the hell is wrong with you, not sleeping and shit? We've had this talk, Mattie.

Matthew laughed lightly but gathered his things. "I sleep enough."

"No, you don't. Don't even try to fucking lie to me about—"

"Language, Mr. Vargas!" Professor Longbottom called out from halfway across the room. The herbology professor wasn't one to dock house points for Lovino's bad mouth, but he did call him out on it.

"Sorry, professor." Matthew was laughing silently to himself at his friend's sour expression before standing.

"They wouldn't hear you if you lowered your voice."

Lovino glared at him but didn't say anything as they left the Great Hall. Once they were passed the doors and headed down the stairs, he said lowly, "Start talking, because for rumors like the one I heard to spread that fast through the school, something had to have caused it and I'm not buying the whole 'we were just partners' thing. I've heard more about that fifth year charms class today than I have for the entire year."

Matthew sighed, wishing not for the first time that Lovino wasn't a year older than him so he would have seen what happened and could help him interpret it because Matthew honestly didn't know what to think. "We really were just practicing."

In his regular voice, he said, "Uh uh, nope, I don't believe this. For two years, I've had to watch you fawn over that Slytherin—"

A group of Slytherin students rounded the corner further and Lovino abruptly cut himself off, turning red as Matthew glared at him. Once the two groups had passed each other with only minimal interested looks from the other house, Matthew hissed, "Speak a little louder, Lovi. I don't think they heard you in the Astronomy Tower."

"Sorry, dammit. But all your silent pining for two years and then the day he works with you for at least an hour, you fucking say, 'we were just partners?' Eeent, wrong, try again."

"He recognized me, Lovi. He even knew my name last night."

It only took Matthew a second to realize that he was traveling sans Italian. He turned around to see Lovino staring at him in shock. Matthew would have been offended if he had not had the exact same reaction. All at once, Lovino became a flurry of movement as he started rushing Matthew to the basement. "Holy shit, now I have to know. You're going to tell me everything!"

This was going to take a while. So much for that nap.

"Something you want to tell us, Gil?"

Gilbert looked up from where he was lounging on his bed, reading a textbook to see Francis and Antonio walk in. He was half surprised that Alistair wasn't with them, but he always liked to approach things differently. He looked between them, sensing they had something in mind, but not bothering to think on it too hard. They would let him know in a minute. "No."

Antonio raised his eyebrows at him as kept moving over to his bed on the other side of the room. He green eyes clearly betrayed his disbelief. "Are you sure about that?"

Gilbert looked at him with an openly confused and increasingly annoyed expression. "Yeah. What, is something wrong?"

Francis sat on his trunk, opposite of Antonio. He gave a characteristically Gallic shrug and said, "We've never not been told when you started hunting someone, yet the school is abuzz with the happy news."

"Shit, already? People need to get fucking lives." Gilbert shook his head and looked back at his textbook, his mind a mile away. Fucking hell, he really didn't want Matthew to be scared away because of the rumors. Gilbert had earned a reputation, but that wasn't all there was to him. He didn't know much about actual romantic commitment, but he knew that if he really wanted to try and date him (which he did), then Gilbert needed to be as honest as possible with him. He wanted Matthew to get to know him, without the information being filtered through any busybodies, including his friends. If things started off well, then he would think about introducing them. If you weren't used to them, Antonio, Francis, and (especially) Alistair could be a little…intimidating.

Meanwhile, Francis and Antonio looked between each other and Gilbert in shock. Francis tried again. "The strange thing is that no one knows who you're after, even the people that saw you declare 'open season' as they call it."

Gilbert sat up and raised his eyebrows at him. "I never said anything, we just looked at each other and people made assumptions."

Antonio said, "So you're not pursuing someone?"

Gilbert ignored the question. "You said that no one knows who he is?" That was weird. It was a class full of fifth years, people that had been in classes with him for years, and no one knew Matthew's name?

Maybe he had to rethink Matthew's surprise when Gilbert recognized him last night.

"You are hunting someone, then?" Francis asked impatiently.

"A fifth-year boy?" Antonio continued.

"Why does no one know who he is?" Gilbert wondered aloud.

"Gilbert!" They both shouted at him.

Gilbert just rolled his eyes. "Yes. Are you happy?"

His friends looked at him like he had lost his mind. "That's all we're getting? 'Yes?' We've never had to play twenty questions with you." Francis said, incredulous.

He had to give them some kind of explanation so they would back off. "Guys, nothing against you, but I really like this guy and I don't want him to be scared off. I'll tell you more if things pan out, but I don't want to jinx it, alright?"

They looked at him like he had said that he had announced his decision to become a recluse in the Carpathian Mountains. Antonio shook his head and walked over to him, planting his hand on his forehead.

"Dude, what the hell?" Gilbert said as he batted him away.

"He doesn't have a fever. We should still take him to Madam—"

Gilbert cut him off with a pillow to the face. Antonio started laughing and tackled Gilbert in retaliation. While he was fighting him off with more pillow attacks, he said, "I'm not sick, you assholes!"

"It was reasonable to check, mon ami. You and commitment?" Francis scoffed as he came to stand beside where the two were wrestling until Gilbert tossed Antonio to the floor. "Aw, and just as I was about to ask to join."

Gilbert just shook his head at his friend, unsurprised. Antonio sat up from his position of the floor and said, "You know I'm with Lovi, Francis!"

Gilbert laughed a little. Antonio had been trying to get Lovino Vargas, a Hufflepuff in their year, to date him since day one. The funny thing was, he seemed to be close to succeeding and everyone knew Lovino had a thing for him, all shouted obscenities to the contrary. "No, you're not."

Antonio smirked at him. "Not yet. Oh, wait! Lovi knows all the gossip in the school. He probably knows who your prey is!"

Gilbert would certainly hope so, considering they were in the same house, though Antonio did have a point. If he and his friends were known to be the smugglers of the school, Lovino was like the boss of gossip. He knew everything about everyone and used that information to his advantage. Honestly, Gilbert was surprised he wore yellow and black rather than his own green and silver, but who understood the sorting hat anyway?

Gilbert still rolled his eyes, not wanting to give anything away. "Just drop it, will you?"

He knew they wouldn't. Finding privacy to talk to Matthew was going to be difficult.

It was during Matthew's free period on that Friday that he saw Gilbert next. It was a cold February afternoon, so the Clock Tower Courtyard was free of other students. Matthew didn't feel the cold like most, so he was lounging on the edge of the old fountain, head resting against a stone eagle as he worked his way through a book he was reading for a research paper. He was still in his winter cloak and gloves, but that was more for appearances. He wasn't expecting any company other than the crows around him, so he jumped when he was addressed.

"Hey, Mattie." Gilbert smiled at the sound of Matthew's high cry of distress. "We've got to stop meeting like this."

"You need to start wearing a bell," Matthew said as he calmed. He took in Gilbert's heavily bundled up appearance and frowned. "Hi, Gil. What are you doing here?"

Gilbert approached him from the courtyard entrance with a shrug. "I like taking walks. It give me time to clear my head and I use them as study breaks, so I usually go for a long one once a day. What are you doing out here? Wait, are you reading? I didn't mean to—"

"No, no, it's okay. I could use a break." Matthew smiled at him, trying his best not to start freaking out again. Gilbert was one of the few people who seemed like they could remember him and actually wanted to talk. Homework or no, Matthew was not going to let the opportunity to get to know the boy he's liked from afar for the longest a bit more slip away. If he was lucky, they could even become friends.

Despite what everyone was saying about what happened between them (and Matthew for the first time was getting great amusement in no one figuring out his identity), he seriously doubted that Gilbert was "hunting" him. He had heard all the gossip about Gilbert's romantic reputation, how he "hunted" people to hook up with then left them after a short time. While Matthew would easily place himself in the "willing prey" category, he just couldn't see anyone (let alone Gilbert) wanting him like that. Professor Flitwick had jumped to the wrong conclusion on Tuesday and anything Matthew (or Lovino) read into that one particular moment was just projected wishful thinking. Besides, while Matthew saw the benefits of casual dating, he mostly thought the whole thing was too much effort to maintain unless you were serious about the relationship. He had too many other things to do and no one ever looked at him twice, anyway.

Gilbert smiled again, trademark smirk nowhere to be seen and he settled on the opposite end of Matthew's perch after wincing at the coolness of the stone. "You really sat still on this stone, reading? How are you not frozen solid by now?"

It was Matthew's turn to shrug and he gave Gilbert the same explanation he gave Lovino when he had asked a few years prior. "The cold doesn't bother me much. I rather like it, actually. But I can't stand hot weather, so there's a tradeoff. Maybe I'm just thick-blooded or something." Yeah, or something.

"So that's why you were flying the other night in basically just your uniform and a light cloak?"

Shit. He had forgotten about his (lack of) attire, but he was more surprised Gilbert had noticed. "Yeah, pretty much. I didn't really think before I went out that night. I just felt the need to get out of the basement, you know?"

"Yeah, I get that. Being by the lake is awesome, but it can get kind of claustrophobic. And, er, I don't think I said it before, but you were flying really well."

Matthew felt himself blush but raised his eyebrows at him anyway. "Thank you. That's high praise from a Slytherin beater." Gilbert wasn't just popular for his looks and arrogant charm; he and his friend, Alistair, were two of the most notorious Quidditch players at Hogwarts. Both beaters moved together in well-choreographed synchronization, but were known to get creative in ways that always had their opponents on edge. Their combined strategy and aim was extremely effective and damn near lethal, but had also earned them an air of danger that had many students lining up to be their companions, if only for the evening. Or, at least, that's what Matthew had gathered from the chatter of the people around him who didn't realize he was there.

It was Gilbert's turn to blush, though he may have just been red from the cold. Maybe they should start moving. Staying still was fine for Matthew, but Gilbert might need to keep walking. "It's true, though. I'm surprised you're not on the Hufflepuff team, to be perfectly honest."

Matthew stood. "I, um, never tried out. Hey, do you want to take a walk with me? The chill's starting to set into even my bones."

Gilbert stood quickly enough that Matthew knew he had made the right call. He put his book in his bag and they started walking. "Why not? You seemed to love it up there and I could have sworn I saw you move in a few patterns used in games."

Matthew stared at him so long in shock that he almost fell when his foot slipped on an ice patch. Gilbert steadied him with hands on his arms and Matthew reflexively reached for his shoulders. Once he was stable, he sighed and looked up to see Gilbert watching him from less than a foot away. His heart gave a painful and worrying thud when Gilbert said, "Watch you step, Mattie. Don't want you to get hurt."

Oh, fuck. Gilbert stiffened and frowned briefly, letting Matthew go. Matthew hastened to release him and cleared his throat. "Thanks, Gilbert. You alright?"

"Yeah. I just a weird feeling of déjà vu." Gilbert shook his head and gestured for them to start walking again. "So, why didn't you try out?"

"I didn't think I would be a good fit for the team. How long were you watching me fly?"

Gilbert winced and briefly covered his mouth with the green and grey scarf. "Only five minutes or so before you landed. I realize that I look a little suspicious, running into you twice in one week, but I honestly surprised to find you every time."

Matthew laughed slightly. "Relax, Gil. I didn't think you were following me or anything. I had just wondered. Why did you stay so long?"

"At first, I was curious about who would dare fly in the Quidditch pitch at night. Once I figured it was you, I thought I would say hello. I knew you were in my class, but realized I knew nothing about you. Figured that if you sneak out just to fly, you probably were worth taking the time to actually talk to you. And I, well…"

Matthew watched as Gilbert unmistakably blushed, the splash of color contrasting prettily with his eyes and skin color. "What is it?"

"I've been wanting to talk to you for a while now, but I didn't really know how to start a casual conversation with you."

Whoa, what? Matthew was once again utterly flabbergasted and really wanted to ask why, but Gilbert was clearly embarrassed. He didn't want to make him more uncomfortable, so he intentionally knocked his shoulder against Gilbert's arm and said, "A simple hi, would have worked, Gil. I would have appreciated it."

"Oh." An uncomfortable silence fell between them, Matthew unsure if he should confess his own anxieties of speaking to Gilbert without revealing too much. Gilbert, thankfully, saved him from overthinking, at least for the moment. "Mattie?"

"Yes?"

"Hi."

Feeling like his heart was in his eyes, Matthew beamed at him for a moment, marveling at the sheepish expression on his face. "Hi."

Their silences weren't uncomfortable after that.

Matthew was too shy to say hi to Gilbert in the hallways when he was with his friends, but the next time they were able to speak more than a few seconds in passing, he was the one to approach the older boy. Gilbert had been glaring down at the parchment before him like it had offered personal offence. He had been seated in one of the less popular study areas throughout the castle and Matthew was surprised to find him otherwise alone. Then again, it was lunch time.

"Hey, Gil," Matthew greeted quietly, as to not startle him. Gilbert looked up, still glaring, though his expression quickly changed to one of happy surprise.

"Hey, Mattie."

"How are you doing?"

"Fine, just…frustrated. You?"

"I'm okay. What are you working on?"

Gilbert's shoulders slumped and he once again glared at the nearly blank page. "Promise not to laugh?"

"Of course. Why would I?"

"Charms. I just don't get it."

Matthew frowned. "Gil, you did wonderfully on the test this week."

"Yeah but this is the charms essay that's due next week. I have no clue what to write because I've always struggled with the theory of it. I don't really have time to be stalled. Between my homework for the N.E.W.T. classes and practice in," Gilbert glanced at his watch, "forty minutes, I really just need to figure it out."

Matthew frowned. "The essay? Which particular theory is giving you trouble?"

"The inherent difference in the summoning and banishing charms and how to apply that same principle to other types of spells to produce effective counters. I know you probably know, but I really want to understand it already. I've looked at the material multiple times, but it just isn't sticking. I don't get how I can remember so many potion recipes and defense spells, but not fucking charms."

Gilbert was cute when he was frustrated. "Have you eaten lunch yet?"

Gilbert looked at him like he didn't understand his thought process. "Er, no."

"Why don't you go eat so you don't pass out on your broom? We can meet sometime this weekend and I can help you through it."

"Mattie, I can't just take your time like that. You have O.W.L.s to study for and—"

"And I'm offering. If it would make you feel better, you could help me with my defense against the dark arts homework. That class is killing me this term."

Gilbert looked like he was considering for a moment before nodding. "Deal. How about Sunday morning, after breakfast in the Great Hall? I have a game tomorrow and will basically be useless after."

The location made Matthew pause, but only for a moment before smiling. Gilbert could not have picked a more public place to meet with him, though most people slept through breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. "Sure, that's fine. Now go grab something fast to eat."

Gilbert chuckled lightly to himself as he gathered his things. "Really living up to your house today, Mattie, badgering me to go eat and all." Gilbert cut his eyes to him and Matthew groaned at the pun.

"Oh, my God. That is the worst." Still, he smiled at it only to have Gilbert grin back at him.

"No it wasn't. You know you loved it. No need to be ashamed."

"Does the school know what a dork you are? Cause pulling puns and being adorable would kill your bad boy image." Matthew blushed instantly at his words, but Gilbert frowned as he started walking towards the door. Matthew followed, not wanting to leave in the middle of a conversation but feeling awkward.

"Adorable. Mattie, that word describes teddy bears and puppies, not people who regularly direct bludgers at unsuspecting flyers with the intention to harm."

"Nope. You're adorable and a dork. Adorkable. Accept it. No need to be ashamed." Gilbert turned an interesting shade of red and looked like his world had been turned upside down. Matthew took pity on him and nudged him a little with his arm. "Hey, I'm teasing. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. That wasn't my intention." He hadn't been intending on ever commenting on Gilbert's appearance. Matthew could explain that he didn't just think Gilbert was cute, but he highly doubted him confessing to him just how far from innocent his thoughts were of him would help anything.

Gilbert cleared his throat and didn't look over to him. "No, it's not that. I guess I'm happy you feel comfortable enough around me to say things like that, however inaccurate." Gilbert glanced over at him tentatively, an adjective Matthew would have never used to describe him a week ago.

Matthew smiled reassuringly and said carefully, "Let's agree to disagree. And of course I feel comfortable with you. You think I go around harassing people to eat who aren't my friends?"

They were close enough to the Great Hall now that Matthew could hear the quiet roar of its occupants.

"I'm honored, then. Do you want to have lunch with me?"

Matthew frowned at him. "Do you have time for that right now?"

Gilbert looked at his watch and paled. "Shit, no. I've gotta run, but I'll see you Sunday?"

"Yeah, see you then and good luck at your game." Gilbert turned away before hesitating a moment.

"Thanks. Are you going to the game tomorrow?"

Matthew went to all the games for specific reasons: Alfred was a Gryffindor beater, he was a Hufflepuff and couldn't not attend those games, and he always went to Slytherin games (for reasons, okay?). Lovino hadn't been joking when he mentioned Matthew's silent pining. But he wasn't going to explain all that, especially the last. "Yes. Why?"

"Just wondered. See ya!" He hurried into the Great Hall and Matthew turned to go study like he had originally planned.

It was only a few minutes later that he stopped abruptly in the hallway, causing someone to run into him from behind. He absently apologized and kept moving, but the thought didn't leave him.

Did he just ask me out? And did I just say no?!

No, no way. In context, he was just asking if Matthew could keep him company while he ate. The fact that he was even considering the possibility was a little crazy. They were friends now, right? Gilbert blushed when he called him adorable, but who wouldn't? Sure, they were meeting on Sunday, but that was because Gilbert needed his help. And yes, he asked if Matthew was going to the game tomorrow, his game. But it was a reasonable question after Matthew wished him luck, right?

Oh, hell. Who was he kidding? Maybe there were something to those rumors after all.

"Hey, Scottie, can I talk to you for a second?"

Alistair looked at him quizzically. Gilbert winced and realized that he probably never asked his friend if he could speak to him before. Gilbert looked around and saw there was no one else in the changing room, so he could probably do this here.

"Wha' is it, Gilly?"

"We really need to win tomorrow. You're my partner, so I wanted to know if you would help me be a little more vicious than usual."

Alistair still looked confused. He tilted his head to the side a little, his intense green eyes narrowed. "We're playin' Gryffindor. We always up tha ante a little with 'em."

That was certainly true. Old stereotypes about the Slytherin house had solidified in the years since the Battle of Hogwarts and Gryffindor was the only house that openly displayed its prejudice. It made the Gryffindor-Slytherin games the most popular and the most brutal. Slytherins always played just within the rules and the anger Gryffindors couldn't help giving into made them more violent in return.

"I wanted to take it up a notch. Still legal, but utterly merciless. You know we can do it."

"Aye, I know tha'. But why?"

"…There may be someone I want to impress."

Alistair hesitated in pulling on his boots for a second before seeming to shake it off. He groaned and ran a hand through his dark red hair. "Is this that fifth-year ye've got tha school talkin' about?"

"Yeah," Gilbert said quietly, realizing that this could be a little weird for him to ask of his best friend. They had never officially dated, but they were each other's first everything and had casually hooked up to relieve some tension. They had always laughed off the questions about them being together, saying they were best friends. If Gilbert were perfectly honest with himself, he could admit that if Alistair had even hinted that he wanted them to go out, he wouldn't have hesitated. But he hadn't, so Gilbert never brought it up.

Alistair crossed his arms and pinned him with a focused look that was difficult to hold, the deep color sharper than Gilbert expected. "Tell me a wee bit about 'em first."

Gilbert sighed but sat down on one of the benches anyway. "His name's Matthew. He's a Hufflepuff in my charms class and I've been wanting to talk to him for months now, but had been avoiding it. He's intimidatingly beautiful and usually quiet. But when he's comfortable, he really opens up. He's incredibly kind but can be stubborn. Mattie's also crazy good at charms; he shielded my stunning spell silently."

Alistair was staring at him, a look that was equal parts like Gilbert had lost his mind and something that he couldn't read. Then shook his head and said, "Fine, but only 'cause ye've never asked before and ye sound utterly gone on him. But, Gilly, there's one thing I don't get."

"What?"

"Why tha hell yer tryin' ta impress a Hufflepuff with violence," Alistair joked, chuckling to himself as he stood.

"…I may not have thought this through. Okay, we'll have a little mercy."

"Oh, my God! Jones is clipped by a well-aimed bludger to the shoulder and rolls out of the way. With him gone, Carriedo zooms past to head for the goal posts, only to be intercepted by Oxenstierna. Like, I don't know what happened to Beilschmidt and the hotter Kirkland, but they are not screwing around today!...I'm told I can't say 'hotter Kirkland,' but really, we all know what's up and they're both A. Kirkland. Oh, fine. Apologies to the red Kirkland for saying the green Kirkland is sexier. Anyways…"

Matthew just shook his head and Feliks kept up his colorful narration of the Quidditch match. He was a little worried for his brother, but Alfred just looked pissed off rather than hurt. He hadn't even dropped his bat when he was hit. But Feliks did have a point. Well, a couple of points.

Matthew agreed that Alistair was more attractive, but he would never say it, especially in front of his brother. Then again, he was probably biased. He had never had an interaction (however brief) with Arthur that had made his heart pound and his body shake. Not to mention he apparently had a thing for slim, dangerously handsome boys in Slytherin, but that was so not the issue right now.

Gilbert and Alistair were being fucking ruthless.

Normally, they waited until the other team had possession of the quaffle or were otherwise blocking their chasers to aim the bludgers at the players rather than just around them to scare them off. The beaters were still doing that, but they were making contact more often than usual. In fact, both Alistair and Gilbert continuously moved with purpose rather than just waiting for a strategic moment to strike. The change in tactics had even the Gryffindor players on edge and it showed in their flying.

"N. Braginski scores! Slytherin now leads 210-160."

"Oi, maple bastard. What's up with your boyfriend?"

Matthew ceased his usual cheering and looked over at Lovino who hadn't taken his eyes off the game. More accurately, hadn't taken his eyes off a certain Slytherin chaser who was currently trying to intercept the quaffle. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm more single than you are."

Lovino huffed and glanced over at him. "I'm talking about how your potato bastard is scaring the ever-loving shit out of everyone with his friend."

Matthew sighed before rolling his eyes and focusing back on the game, his eyes going between his brother and Gilbert. "One, he's not anything other than my friend. Two—"

"Yeah, the friend you've wanted to fuck since forever."

Matthew briefly glared at him. "No, I haven't. I like him for more than what he looks like, Lovi."

"That doesn't have any effect on whether you want to fuck him or not, but okay."

"You want me to bring up Antonio? Right. Anyway, where was I? Two, they're not doing anything wrong. They just changed their tactics and no one knows how to deal with it."

"Wait, are you defending him right now? Is that what's happening? Cause that's what it fucking sounds like. And they? Are we throwing in your oh-so-secret attraction to the scary redhead?"

Matthew blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about." Lovino made a disbelieving sound, which Matthew ignored. "And there's nothing to defend. It's not like they've hurt someone yet, which usually happens—"

"Wang takes a hit from a bludger aimed by Beilschmidt and oooh, that's gotta hurt!" Feliks shouted into the amplifier. "He dropped to quaffle into Adnan's waiting hands and is now holding his arm to his chest and is headed towards the med-station. I don't see any blood but it takes a lot for Wang to go down and the Gryffindors know it. They look pissed."

Fuck.

"You were saying?"

"…That usually happens this late in the game anyway."

"Un-fucking-believable. I don't know why I'm surprised. Something must have caused this. Someone would have fucking said some shit if you two went public but—holy shit."

Matthew looked around frantically to see if someone else was hurt that Feliks didn't announce. When he saw nothing unusual, he said, "What is it?"

Lovino looked at him, a little horrified, and asked, "Does he know you're here?"

"Yes, he asked me if I was attending yesterday. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Holy. Motherfucking. Shit. He's trying to impress you."

"What? No."

"Yes, he is. But he's never done this for any of his other hunts…so, I honestly don't know if I should congratulate you or give you my condolences because he really fucking likes you."

"You're trying to convince me that he and Alistair are terrifying the Gryffindors because he likes me? Do you realize how crazy that—"

Matthew stopped talking as time seemed to go in slow motion for a second. Gilbert had flown lower to avoid a bludger hit towards him by Alfred to take the other almost completely to his side from the other Gryffindor beater. He seemed to roll with the hit and managed to stay on his broom, but that had to have hurt like hell. He held his side for a long moment as he shook his head, presumably at Alistair who looked livid.

"Holy sh-sugar! Beilschmidt takes a bludger to the side from a two pronged attack by Jones and Denson. He's holding his side but seems to be still playing, my people. Green Kirland looks like he's ready to take heads and the rest of Slytherin wouldn't be far behind him. Like, I know I've been sayin' those two had been taking no prisoners, but that was just fudgin' dirty. Meanwhile, Carriedo scores with a vicious throw and Slytherin leads 250-190. Red Kirkland's going to have to be quick with the snitch to help Gryffindor out of the hole with the Slytherin team in this mood."

Matthew was still standing in shock with his hand over his mouth, horrified.

Lovino spoke first, "Okay, that was fucking uncalled for. I wish your boyfriend and his scary friend all the luck in kicking Gryffindor's ass."

Matthew didn't respond as he watched Gilbert straighten and make a hand gesture to Alistair. Alistair nodded and started to circle the pitch close to the ground while Gilbert circled the opposite way above regular play. They looked like they were waiting for something and Matthew took a minute to glare at his brother. They were going to have a talk later.

"Bonnefoy shoots off, presumably after the snitch. Red Kirkland follows but is going to have to be quick to catch up. Bonnefoy pulls up short and flies a completely different direction. It looks like the snitch is going to make them work for it like a stripper when their rent's due, folks."

Not for the first time, Matthew questioned who decided it was a good idea to give Feliks the equivalent of a microphone.

He went back to watching Gilbert, looking to see if he looked unsteady. Then, he stopped circling, flew to one side of the pitch and made a large gesture. Alistair flew to one spot about on the other side of the pitch, and waited.

Matthew wasn't the only one who noted the change and Matthias Denson drew Alfred's attention to it as well. They looked uneasy as far as Matthew could tell, probably expecting retaliation.

Neither Francis nor Arthur had caught the snitch by the time Gilbert suddenly started moving, Alistair carefully adjusting his position to match his by some prepared plan. The chasers in the middle were heading towards the Gryffindor goal posts with rapid speed and that was when Gilbert swung his bat and hit a bludger towards Alistair.

Alfred seemed to figure out what was happening but was across the pitch and couldn't make it over in time as Alistair, prepared the redirect the bludger, hit it towards the Gryffindor keeper, Christian, and knocked him off his broom just in time for Natalia to score another ten points for Slytherin.

"…Fudging heck. Did I just hallucinate that? I feel like I did. Everyone saw Beilschmidt hit a bludger towards green Kirkland, only to have it redirected to knock Smith, one of the steadiest Gryffindor players, off his broom, right? Smith appears to be holding his stomach, but otherwise unharmed thanks to a quick cushioning spell by our very own Madam Hooch. Like, I know I should probably be outraged or something, but I'm mostly impressed. And a little hot. Score's 270-190."

"…If he's trying to impress me, he's succeeded." Impressed was a mild way to express what he was feeling.

"Hell, I'm impressed enough for the both of us. If that French fuck could hurry up and catch the goddamn snitch that would be great."

Alistair and Gilbert seemed to think so, too. Gilbert started mimicking Francis to keep away any stray bludgers as Alistair focused on distracting the other team. "It's still anyone's game."

"But you want Slytherin to win, right? Not your brother?"

"…Yeah." He felt only a little shame at that but quickly dismissed it. Alfred needed to be taken down a peg, anyway. Gryffindor was having problems keeping Slytherin from scoring with their keeper missing and the gap in their scores became wider and wider. The Slytherin team seemed to not have let go of their anger from the stunt pulled on Gilbert and had fallen into an impressive rhythm.

"Hey, Mattie?"

"Yeah?"

"You know there's going to be a bunch of people trying to get into your boyfriend's pants now, right?"

Matthew gave him a tight lipped smile. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Antonio's not mine either. Doesn't mean we won't get jealous."

"…I may have a problem then. And, for the love of God, Lovi, just date him already."

"I'll think about it and only if you just fucking admit once and for all you want to jump Eyebrow's brother. You've only been denying it for a year or so."

"…No comment."

Gilbert was hunched over a cup a coffee the following morning. He was tired and his ribs were still bruised, but he was otherwise okay. At the moment, he was desperately trying to wake-up enough to not be completely out of it when breakfast ended and he met with Matthew.

"What's wrong, Gil? You look tired."

Gilbert slid his eyes over to Antonio who was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. "Gee, thanks. Just what I wanted to hear. And I am tired."

"I don't get why you don't just go back to bed. Hell, Francis and Alistair are still asleep. It's not like you're the only one still recovering from the game."

In the end, the game had lasted four hours and Slytherin had won. Francis caught the snitch, but only just before Arthur did. No one else had any major injuries after the game to deal with except Yao. Turned out that Gilbert's hit had all but shattered a few bones in his hand. Christian was walking around with a bludger sized bruise on his stomach but was otherwise unharmed. Alistair had taken a hit to the leg but was only bruised from it. While no one else got hurt, it wasn't from lack of trying, especially from the Gryffindor side. Gilbert and Alistair had proved their point and taken out the Gryffindor keeper after Gilbert was hit, so they focused on protecting their team members. Ivan insisted that he didn't need it, but Natalia bullied him into accepting help after he narrowly dodged an incoming bludger. He was the one nearly stationary target and the only keeper playing; of course he was going to be attacked.

Despite what he and Alistair had done to injure the Gryffindors, they clearly had the support of at least half the crowd, which was more than they usually got. The Hufflepuffs seemed at least partially on their side and Gilbert had to resist looking for Matthew the entire game. He probably wouldn't have been too difficult to spot, especially if he wasn't wearing a hat, but he didn't want to be too obvious.

"I'm awake because I'm meeting someone to study after breakfast."

Antonio looked at him askance. "Wait, you're up to study? You usually get out of bed before 11 on the weekends. Who are you meeting? Oh, wait." He looked at him excitedly and Gilbert fought the urge to sigh. It was too early to be that excited about anything. "Are you meeting that boy from your charms class?"

He didn't see the point in keeping it from him. If Gilbert didn't tell Antonio now, he would just try and stay to find out anyway. "Yeah."

"Can I stay and meet him? I wanna know who's finally caught you."

"I can introduce you if you don't tell him that I'm trying to date him or act weird."

"Why haven't you told him? It's not like you're known for subtly, Gil. Besides, do you really think he'll say no?"

"I want him to know who I am before I ask him out, though I honestly don't know what he would do. I've gotta say, this uncertainty thing is super unawesome."

"Can you at least tell me his name? Or, hell, his house?"

"He's a Hufflepuff, so he might know Lovino." Mentioning Lovino was a sure-fire way to distract Antonio and it worked.

"Really? That would be the best, if he and Lovi were friends. Just think, Gil, we could go on double dates—"

"We're not going on double dates."

"And if he wants to?"

"…No comment."

Antonio gave that odd laugh of his, though Gilbert guessed he couldn't really talk. "Fusososo, you're already so whipped and you haven't even kissed him! That's okay, though. Being whipped means you get the guy."

Gilbert glared at him balefully. "Tonio, please stop talking, just for a minute. Thanks."

Antonio continued laughing at him and Gilbert slouched to rest his head on his arms. If he could just close his eyes for a minute, that would be—

"Hey, Gil. Are you alright?"

Gilbert jolted upright and blinked his eyes to find Matthew looking at him like he was amused and concerned. He was standing by the empty space to Gilbert's left and looked much more awake than Gilbert felt. "Hey, Mattie. I'm fine, just tired. Here, sit down."

"Thanks. If you're too tired to meet with me that's—"

"No, I'm good." He rubbed at his eyes and Antonio cleared his throat behind him. Dammit. "Mattie, this asshole behind me is my friend, Antonio. Antonio, this is Matthew, my friend from charms."

"It's nice to meet you, Matthew!" Antonio said happily, holding out a hand in front of Gilbert.

Matthew looked mildly uncomfortable as he shook Antonio's hand. "We've actually met before, but it's nice to see you again."

"Wait, really? Where?"

"Um…lots of places? But it's okay that you don't remember. Not many people do." Matthew laughed depreciatively and looked away, his face turning red. What the fuck?

"Dude, what the hell? How do you not remember meeting him? Multiple times apparently."

Antonio frowned, like he was trying to remember something. "I'm sorry, Matthew. My brain probably just isn't working right this morning. How did we meet?"

Matthew shrunk in on himself a little and Gilbert knew he wouldn't like the answer before he even opened his mouth. "Lovino introduced us? I'm, well, kinda his best friend?"

Oh, shit.

Antonio looked shocked. "Then I owe both you and Lovino an apology. I'll find a way to make it up to both of you."

"You really don't have to…"

"Why don't you go think about that, Tonio? Think hard." Gilbert said, glaring at his friend who started nodding and stood.

"That's a good idea, Gil. See you both later."

When Antonio left, Gilbert turned and saw Matthew looking smaller than usual and sad. What was worse, he looked resigned. "I'm sorry, Gil. I shouldn't have said anything about that."

"Mattie, there's absolutely no reason for you to apologize, okay? He has no excuse for not remembering you and that's not your fault."

Matthew glanced at him and smiled slightly, but it was still sad. He looked back at the table to say, "You shouldn't be mad at him, Gil. It's really not his fault. Not many people remember me. Some don't even see me. I'm just not very…noticeable? Maybe forgettable is the word. Hah. Um, maybe I should go?"

"What? Wait, no." Gilbert grabbed Matthew hand where it was braced against the table to help him stand. "Please, don't go."

Matthew looked at him and Gilbert was distressed to see that his eyes were shinny. He watched as Matthew closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he sat down. "Right. Sorry, I forgot I was here to help you with charms homework. What exactly did—"

"Forget about charms for a second, okay? Did you really mean what you said? That you think you're forgettable? Because you're really not."

Matthew's made a fist beneath his hand and kept his eyes closed as he said, "Of course I meant it, Gil. What other way can I explain people looking through me, forgetting my name as soon as they're told, rarely acknowledging if I say something, or acting like I don't exist? I'm basically invisible. I'm sure you've heard the rumors by now, about how people in our charms class claim you're hunting someone but no one knows who. That's because people in my class, that have been with me for almost five years now, can't remember who I am. How else would you explain it?" He sounded very upset, but was so quiet that Gilbert could barely hear him, like he didn't want him to know.

Gilbert wanted to hug him, but wasn't sure how he would react. He settled for closing his hand around Matthew's fist. "I don't know how to explain it, because it makes even less sense to me than charms theory or muggle politics. I don't get how people can't see you because you're the first thing I see when I walk into class. That was true the first day of this school year and its true now. I can't imagine forgetting about you. Even if we had never spoken and someone had asked me years from now who you were, my answer would have been, 'that beautiful boy in my charms class.' I'm so sorry other people can't see you like I do, because if they did, they wouldn't be able to look away."

Matthew was staring at him slack jawed and Gilbert realized that he had shown his hand. It was his turn to close his eyes and look away. He let go of Matthew's hand and pulled out his stuff to work on. "Sorry. Bottom line, you shouldn't have to deal with other people being idiots and I'm sorry you do. Even if you aren't angry about it, I'll be angry enough for both of us. I'll talk to Antonio, too. Now, you were saying something about charms?" He knew his face was beet red and he was freaking out a little because Matthew still hadn't said anything.

The silence stretched for a moment longer when Matthew asked softly, "Gil, are you hunting me?"

Gilbert looked at him to see Matthew staring with a tentative expression on his face. Gilbert swallowed and asked, "Would you want to be caught?"

He heard Matthew inhale sharply and watched his eyes darken. He licked his lips and his eyes flicked for a brief second to Gilbert's mouth. "Yes."

"Then I don't want to hunt you." He watched the hurt flash across Matthew's face before he began shutting down. Gilbert grabbed Matthew's hand again and said, "I'd rather date you."

Matthew looked back at him, surprised and a little disbelieving. He blinked several times at him and Gilbert smirked as he said, "I kinda need an answer, Mattie."

"Yes. Holy shit, yes."

Gilbert grinned at him and laughed. "I think that's the first time I've heard you curse. I think I'm shocked."

Matthew looked away and blushed, but kept on grinning. "Good thing you can't hear my inner monologue, then. You would lose your mind at the sheer amount of profanity that doesn't make it past my filter."

Gilbert quirked an eyebrow. "Profanity, huh? That sounds a little more involved than just cursing."

Matthew flushed so red, Gilbert could practically feel the heat coming off of his face.

"No, no, no! You must be jesting!"

Both Gilbert and Matthew jumped as a disembodied voice exclaimed in disgust. The both looked around and were surprised to see more than one ghost appear behind them. To their horror, it was their house ghosts.

The Fat Friar looked upset. "Baron! We're not supposed to interfere. Besides, it turned out well. Hello, you two! Congratulations!"

"Aye, on pulling your heads out of your arses! You! How are you one of my house? The boy was practically shouting that he wanted to kiss you and you comment on his language?! Where is that accursed hat!?"

Horror turned into mutual mortification. Someone further down the table started laughing at them and the Bloody Baron turned to narrow his eyes at the student. The laughter stopped immediately. "What the hell are you laughing at, boy?"

"N-n-nothing, sir."

"Good. What are all you looking at? Are you hoping for a duel?"

Gilbert looked around as some people said a hasty no, sir while others just shook their heads, eyes terrified, before turning away completely. Gilbert turned back to their ghosts to find the Baron right in his face. "Sir?"

The Baron narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't muck this up."

"I won't, sir."

The Baron straightened and sniffed at him. "Courtship rituals have changed and not for the better." The ghost stalked away and Gilbert felt like he could breathe again.

The Friar sighed. "Don't worry about him, young one. See you around, Matthew, and congratulations again."

"Thank you!" Matthew squeaked out, sounding stressed.

The Friar left and sound seemed to break out from everywhere. Gilbert looked back to see a couple dozen people staring at them and he asked, "Think we should go?"

"We should go."

Gilbert packed up his things and they moved to leave, post-haste. Someone wolf-whistled and the couple all but ran out of the room.

Gilbert picked a direction and just started walking, Matthew not far behind him. "Mattie, are you friends with my house ghost?"

"…We've spoken once or twice after a particularly bad day. The ghosts always took pity on me because they saw what I went through. Even Peeves only lightly teases me. Gil, where are we going?"

"I don't know. I just started walking in all honesty." The fact that Matthew was friends with all the ghosts in the castle was only slightly worrying. "Do you have a destination in mind?"

"One of the group study areas? There's one not far from here?"

"Sounds good." They turned down the next hall and Gilbert was able to relax a bit now that they weren't being stared at by a good portion of the school. "That was weird and horrifying, but you still want to date me, right?"

"Yeah, of course." Matthew's hand brushed his and Gilbert took a deep breath as he held it. Matthew squeezed his hand a little and didn't let go. Gilbert smiled and looked away, feeling silly but too happy to do much about it. "Can I call you adorkable now?"

"I would have to find something equally embarrassing to call you."

"Worth it." They passed the next few moments in comfortable silence until Gilbert started laughing at his thoughts. "What is it?"

"I can't believe I got called out by my house ghost for taking it slow."

"I appreciate you taking the time to get to know me, but he may have had a point…" Matthew glanced at him from under his lashes and Gilbert pulled them to a stop.

"Maybe I should correct my mistake, then." Gilbert stepped into Matthew's personal space and put a hand to his face. He heard Matthew's breath become shaky and-

"Gentlemen." Gilbert and Matthew literally jumped apart at each other at the word and turned to see Headmistress McGonagall walking towards them with raised eyebrows. "If you could please restrain yourselves, that would be much appreciated."

"Yes, Headmistress."

"Mr. Williams, the Friar informed me as to the happy news, though that is not why I sought you out. I need you to come with me. Your brother is meeting us in my office."

Gilbert glanced at Matthew, half in disbelief that the ghost had told their headmistress they had started dating, half in concern for why she wanted to see him. Matthew seemed to share the same worry as he paled at the news. "Yes, ma'am."

"Please breathe, Mr. Williams. You are not in any trouble."

"Yes, ma'am." Matthew glanced towards him and softly said, "See you."

"Yeah, later."

Matthew started walking towards McGonagall when she said, "Mr. Beilschmidt?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I would prefer that you would refrain from injuring my students, but you and Mr. Kirkland played a very good game yesterday."

Holy shit. "Thank you, ma'am."

Matthew shot him a smile at the compliment but quickly turned to follow McGonagall down the hall. This had been a strange morning, but now Matthew was dating him, so it was all worth it. He could have done without the revelation of other people not seeing him, though. Gilbert frowned at the memory and changed his course to head to the library. He didn't think it could be natural that people wouldn't notice Matthew like that. Antonio could be a little lost sometimes, but he had a sharp mind for strategy and would never forget someone if they were important to Lovino willingly. And who would forget a face like his? Gilbert was a little biased, but objectively Matthew fit a lot of conventional standards of beauty. Truthfully, if he was this gone on him now, Gilbert couldn't imagine what he would look like in a few years or so when he had finished growing up. That was something to think about…

Back to the point, Gilbert wanted to do a little research on what could make people invisible and forgettable to others but not a few. That, and he had lost his tutor for his charms essay. The library was bound to have a book with the answer.

"Ma'am, may I ask you a question?" Matthew said as he and McGonagall traveled through the castle.

"What is it, Mr. Williams?"

"Why would the Friar tell you specifically about my relationship status?"

She slightly smiled at him. "I wondered if you would ask. He told me because I first asked him to look out for you once I realized your particular…predicament. He and the other ghosts spoke to you voluntarily, but I wanted to be sure you would have at least one person there for you until you ran into someone who could remember you."

"Thank you for the forethought, Headmistress. Do you…do you know why most people can't remember me? Is it something I'm doing wrong?"

McGonagall looked at him sharply and stopped walking. Matthew looked down and away. Maybe he shouldn't have asked…

"Mr. Williams, have you been thinking for all these years that you were at fault for your situation?"

"…Yes, ma'am."

"Good heavens, no."

Matthew looked up at her again to see her greatly disturbed at the new information. "It's not?"

"No, it's not," She said, her voice remarkably kind. "Come. I will explain further when we are with your brother." McGonagall started to walk faster than before, with more urgency.

Matthew followed her in silence with more than enough to keep his thoughts occupied. He was ecstatic that he and Gilbert had started dating, if a little disturbed at the ghostly interjection. But what particularly earthshattering was that he wasn't at fault for being invisible, no matter what Alfred had said in jest. He couldn't think of anyone who would wish this on him, so he guessed it was something he was born with. Just another unexpected side effect of his lineage. Fucking brilliant.

They approached a stone spiral staircase with a statue of a bird of prey in the center. Matthew's eyes widened as they ascended the stairs, having never been to McGonagall's office before. He looked around the rather large office space, full of neatly organized magical artifacts, a wall of moving portraits, and his very energetic brother.

It was sometimes difficult for Matthew to understand how he and Alfred could look so alike and yet so different. Where Matthew was pale and had a slighter build, Alfred was tanned to a solid tawny and looked more athletic from exercise. Both of them had lightly golden hair, though Alfred's was short and fell straight with a cowlick and Matthew's was a bit wavy and had a stubborn, wayward curl. Their eyes were both unusual shades of blue, though Matthew's were closer to a dark purple than Alfred's ocean. Alfred had hit puberty maybe a month before Matthew, so he was taller. If it weren't for the insistence of their mother, he would think they were fraternal twins rather than identical.

"Good morning, Headmistress. Hi, Mattie!"

Matthew smiled back softly. "Hi, Alfred."

"Good morning, Mr. Jones. Please, both of you, have a seat."

Most people didn't realize they were twins until they were told, despite the fact that their faces had damn near the same features. That was partially because they had different last names. Their mother had refused to change her name when she married their father, who was perfectly fine with that, even willing to change his name to hers. When she found out he was the last of his family line, she insisted that he at least passed it on to one of their children. Neither of them expected to be having twins, but it meant that Matthew had gotten their father's last name and Alfred their mother's.

"Neither of you are in any sort of trouble but I've received a letter from your mother. As you both know, she has been researching what your particular heritage and gender entails and has come across a few possibilities that needed immediate attention and preparation. She had several on the list, but based on my conversation with you, Mr. Williams, the first pertains to the inheritance of her charm.

"As you are identical twins, your DNA should be exact copies of each other. However, we are both of the belief that the fact that you're descended from different species may have confused the human biology. Full blooded, mature Veela have complete control of their charm, though they can never fully turn it off. We think that when you became two separate entities, the nature of your natural charm split as well. Mr. Jones, you've naturally inherited the ability to attract people, though you may never be able to pass unnoticed. Mr. Williams, you've inherited the ability to confuse people's memories of you and hide in plain sight. Very few people will be able to constantly see you until you learn to control that ability. Both of you may be able to moderate these traits once you reach maturity, though that brings up other issues."

Of course it did. Having a Veela for a mother had made life interesting, but not exactly easy. But at this point, Matthew was excited to learn that there was an end to this hell of being invisible. Maybe. But maybe was better than never.

"Your mother is uncertain of exactly when you'll start exhibiting more signs of your heritage or even if you will and what those might be. You may very well pass through life for the most part like your father, though considering the fact you've been living with the effects of natural charm since birth, your parents and I find that possibility highly unlikely. Veela have important landmarks on their birthdays, which makes you very fortunate to have the anniversary of your births fall in July. I am certain that you are aware, but I just want to emphasize that, at the end of the maturation process, you will be fully grown adults, probably looking to be around twenty or twenty-one years of age. But beyond growing pains, you'll also be experiencing other symptoms of your mother's bloodline which may cause you difficulties.

"The most likely problem you may face are your reactions to anger and emotions akin to anger. While we doubt you would fully transform into something similar to harpies, some minor transformations may occur such as a change in eye color, vocal range, claws that would not change the basic structures of your hands, and modifications to your teeth, as well as increased strength. We all highly doubt that you would sprout a beak, wings, feathers, scales, talons, or the sudden ability to throw fireballs. While you're reaching maturity, you may find yourself closer to your emotions, which is why your mother sent this to me as soon as possible.

"If you find yourself feeling like you are out of control, I ask that you seek either myself, Hagrid, or immediately head to the hospital wing. There are very few people would be able to calm you if you flew into a rage or contain you until it had passed. There will be a room set up in the hospital wing for containment and recovery the moment either one of you start experiencing symptoms. Do you have any questions thus far?"

Both Matthew and Alfred were quiet for a moment before Matthew ventured, "What would trigger both the start of our maturation and a rage?"

"Unless something happens in the next few months, we are expecting you to start seriously experiencing symptoms on your sixteenth birthday with the worst of it happening on your seventeenth. As for what would start it early…I will return to in a second. Rages can be sparked by anything that outrages you to your core, though they are usually linked to a direct insult or threat to your person or someone you care about. Mr. Jones, I'm sure you can see where this may become a problem in your Quidditch matches."

Alfred paled, "Yes, ma'am."

"Mr. Williams, you may want to avoid attending any matches where one of your friends are participating." McGonagall leveled a measured look at him and he was grateful that she didn't specifically name Slytherin games as something to avoid. Alfred was thoroughly unaware that he ever had a crush on Gilbert (and lowkey on Alistair), let alone the possibility that they were dating. That probably wouldn't last long, but since living people can't remember who he is…

"Understood, ma'am."

"Anger is the most common cause of the most dangerous transformations but I've been informed that…minor ones can occur when one is experiencing an extreme of any emotion. As such, I would suggest that, if you were going to inform someone of your heritage but keep it a general secret, you would only do so with the people you would trust implicitly and who will see you at your most out of control. A point which brings me to the last major issue your mother wrote of." McGonagall seemed to brace herself before she started speaking again.

"There's the possibility that you may encounter your fated mates while at school. I assume you know the basics of the concept?"

Oh, shit. It was a little-known fact that most Veela had mates that they were drawn to like their race usually drew possible sexual partners in general. The idea that all Veela drew men was a myth. What would a lesbian Veela want with men? What would the rare male Veela want with men if he wasn't attracted to them?

Mates to Veela were the ones they often settled down with, the one person they were drawn to more than any other and were made for. If a Veela was lucky, their mate would also be a Veela or in another way immortal. However, most Veela mates were human. Matthew had once asked his mother what Veelas did when their mortal mates died. She explained that they had a couple of choices: they could die voluntarily or wait until their mate was reincarnated in another time and place but were otherwise free to do as they please. They did not have to option to become mortal. Not a few chose to die voluntarily after some time rather than watching generations of their children die as they lived. She also described having lost a mate after living with one as a chronic ache, one you could move past but you would never be free of until you found your mate once more. It was difficult to come across a fated mate, as they were the equivalent to the muggle concept of soulmates.

"Yes, we're familiar. But I didn't think that we would have them since we're only half."

"Good, and it turns out that you will probably have mates, too. Your mother fears that, in a school so full of witches and wizards, that you will find your mates here." It was a reasonable concern; one reason full blooded Veela took so long to find mates is that they had limited contact with the larger wizarding world for centuries if not millennia. "She does not personally know any Veela that found their mate prior to maturation and thinks that it may be something to trigger early symptoms. However, she does think that the main transformation is still restricted to your birthday. She wrote you both individual letters to explain that further. This would all be fine, a happy occasion, but one of the primary causes of Veela rage is a threat or insult to their mate. Hogwarts is a wonderful institution, but it is still the muggle equivalent to high school and sixth form. You see where this could become a problem?"

"Yes." Matthew felt a little dizzy.

Alfred asked, quietly for once, "How would we know if they're our mate?"

"Your mother mentioned something about finding out if you had contact with them for sure on your upcoming birthday, so I assume it is in your letter. However, if you start experiencing symptoms now when you're with someone, especially a romantic partner, and you're not enraged, you probably have your answer. If there's someone you're specifically drawn to, more than you would expect, then you might want to start there. I'm told that the eyes always change first and return to human last. If your eyes become a glowing ice blue with vertical pupils, you need to either extract yourself from the situation or explain what is going on."

"How can we control ourselves, both when we feel ourselves going into a rage and if we run into our mates?"

McGonagall pursed her lips. "I would try traditional anger management techniques. But, to be perfectly honest, Mr. Williams, I simply don't know."

Matthew and Alfred shared a panicked glance. Oh, fuck. We're screwed.

"So, like, on a scale of 1 to 10, how fucked are we?"

"Individually or together?"

"Individually."

"I'm at about a 12. I would put you at 20. You've always had a shorter fuse."

"Together?"

"About 100. If the other breaks and goes into a rage, then the other is implicated by sheer genetics."

"…So, uber-boned?"

"Yep."

They were quiet for a minute or two, contemplating what the next school year or so was going to be like for them. They were sitting on the floor outside McGonagall's office stairs, facing each other on opposite sides of the hall. Matthew looked back down at his letter, wondering what he could have done in a past life to earn this particular brand of fuckery.

My Dearest Matthew,

Hi, my baby. Your father and I were just talking about you and how much you used to love polar bears when you were little, for no particular reason. I know that's a little random, but I just wanted to remind you that we love you very much and you are never truly forgotten.

Minerva's probably explained a lot of what I've learned in my travels. I'm sorry that I couldn't sit you and your brother down to tell you in person. I promise, as soon as you're home, I'm going to buy you a gallon of maple ice cream and answer all your questions as best as I can. Feel free to write at any time, too.

I wrote your letter separate from Alfred's because of what you've told me about your fondness to that one Slytherin boy, Gilbert, and your anxieties over telling your brother. I know you hadn't talked to him again when we last spoke over winter break, but I would encourage you to try and see if he can remember you, dear. If he can, and if he grows to be fond of you, too, then you might have already found your fated mate.

If this turns out to be true, I'm so happy for you! If not, that's okay, you have your whole life to live yet. It would make your life easier since most of what I tell you only applies if you know who your mate is. If you don't know them on your birthday, I'll explain further what will happen. In any case, if you happen to run into your mate before your sixteenth birthday, then symptoms can start to show at any time you two touch that makes your heart race. The degree of intimacy differs between Veela; on one extreme you have a brush a hand against a sensitive spot and on the other you have intercourse.

Please note: you'll only show symptoms if the person you're with is in fact your mate, but you still might not experience them until after your birthday. If you do start showing symptoms with them, it might be good to explain your heritage and that you're not dangerous to them. You are physically incapable of harming your mate. I would hold off on telling them about the whole "fated to be together" thing; mortals seem to find that an alarming concept for some unfathomable reason.

The only way for you to make the visible symptoms disappear is by calming your heartrate. If you fly into a rage because of a threat or insult to your mate, only their continued presence and prolonged safety will calm you before you burn out. Well, that or having sex with them, but, no matter how natural it is, I would prefer to think that that particular stage in any of your relationships is very far off.

If you don't meet or figure out who your mate is, then I am 95% sure that on your sixteenth birthday, you'll have a shared dream with them where you are being intimate. If you have met, then both of your identities will be clear to each other. If not, then you will know the feel of the other person, but not who they are. I'm a little iffy on which birthday, but between human and Veela maturation periods, sixteen is a highly calculated guess.

If you know the identity of your mate and haven't told them you are part Veela by your sixteenth birthday, then you're going to have some explaining to do afterwards. The only time Veelas can consistently do partial transformations is when they're having sex with their mates. The only things that change then are your eyes and teeth. Your eyes will likely become a partially glowing ice blue with vertical pupils and your teeth will grow one set of upper and lower fangs. When your teeth manifest for the first time, it will hurt and bleed for a bit, but will heal relatively quickly. You will have to focus to retract them. While that is enough to explain alone, in the dream, you would be formally claiming your mate. This would include ritual words of exchange between the two of you and you biting your mate deep enough to leave a visible scar, most likely on their shoulder. Sex is the only time you will be able to cause actual physical damage to your mate, but even then the pain won't last long. Your fangs are naturally coated in a substance that is pleasurable and healing to your mate and like acid to anyone else. When I say that you are made for them, I mean it quite literally.

Because you are only half Veela, your fangs may manifest in a rage because you will not have a beak. If this happens, you will need to hide your mouth until you're able to retract your fangs. This will take at least until the bleeding has stopped and then you will have to concentrate to retract them. No, you cannot just push them back up. Yes, this will make all future appointments to the dentist very interesting.

If your mate happens to also be male, then I do not think it matters who tops when you claim them. I would do as the dream will suggest, just in case.

One last thing, my dear one, and this is important. If you know the identity of your mate by your sixteenth, you're supposed to claim them one year after the dream takes place. So, for instance, if Gilbert turns out to be your mate then, whether or not you are dating already, you would have to woo him within a year and claim him on your seventeenth birthday. If not, you can claim him later, but it will make your seventeenth birthday excruciatingly painful for you. The presence of your mate eases the transition into maturity tremendously. However, once you claim them, you are bonded for life.

That's everything I have for you now. Even if you don't have any questions, write to me anyway! Let me know how preparations for your O.W.L.s are going and if you need anything. Also, how's Lovino doing? Is he still holding off on Antonio? And PLEASE let me know if Gilbert turns out to be your mate. I want to know who I need to be welcoming into the family!

Love always,

Mom

Dear Matthew,

I just read what your mother has written. I'm overwhelmed and it's not even for me! I love her dearly, but she sometimes doesn't understand how some things are terrifying to mortals. I just wanted to tell you that, from the mate's perspective, life is great. I mean, it got a little weird after the claiming process and WOW, was that an adjustment period! But seriously, I can't imagine life without her. Good luck with your classes. I know you'll do wonderfully.

Love,

Dad

"Hey, Alfred?"

"Yeah?"

"Did Dad leave a worrying but unhelpful message for you at the end? About how life got weird after the claiming thing?"

"Yep. I have no fuckin' clue what that means."

"Great."

"Do you have an idea of who your mate might be?"

Matthew looked up to see Alfred regarding him carefully. He frowned, looked his brother in the eye, and lied through his teeth. "No, I've got no clue. It's not like many people see me and I know it's not Lovi. You?"

Alfred sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Nah, but I'm worried. I've screwed over so many people, Mattie. If one of them is my mate, what the fuck am I going to do?"

Yikes. That was a fair point, but Matthew looked at him quizzically. "What about Arthur? He's your friend, right? You haven't screwed him over as far as I know."

"Artie's great, but he would never want to be with me. Besides, I'm pretty sure him and the Slytherin seeker are together, at the very least in the Biblical sense."

Matthew cringed. "I did not need to know the last part of that sentence."

"Yeah, me neither." Alfred sighed and stood, placing his letter back in the envelope. "Here's the big question: do we keep us a secret?"

Matthew folded his letter and stood as well, Alfred giving him a hand up. "Yeah, as long as we can. You know people can be dicks to those who are different and we're already going to be putting up with enough shit. We're both going to have to learn to control our emotions. I know I'm going to tell Lovino, though, as soon as I start showing symptoms. You?"

"I'll probably tell Artie when I start showing, too."

"Wait, shit. I might have to tell Lovi now. I'm pretty sure the only reason he's not with the guy he likes is because he can't remember me. Once he knows that he can't, then he'll be out of excuses."

Alfred looked at him for a long moment before shrugging. "Okay. If you trust him, I trust him. I'm still going to wait, though."

"Okay. Where are you headed?"

Alfred looked at his watch then down to his stomach. "I'm going to find food. You?"

"I was meeting with a study partner for help in my defense class when McGonagall pulled me away. I'm going to go track him down."

"Sounds good. Wait! A study partner?" Alfred's eyes grew mischievous and he smiled slowly at him. Matthew groaned.

"Yes, a study partner. He remembers me and was nice enough to agree to help me." That technically wasn't a lie.

"Do you liiiiiike him?"

Matthew couldn't help the blush but looked away. "Yes, but I'm not going to tell you who it is. I swear, Alfred, don't try and interfere. It's really hard for me to find people and—"

"Whoa, chill, Mattie. I know how hard it is for you. I'll make sure to keep my distance but I'm happy for you, really."

Matthew relaxed. "Thanks, Alfred. I really appreciate it."

"Eh, what are big brothers for?" Alfred grinned at him and Matthew gave him a shove.

"You're older by three minutes, you dick."

"Older is older, Mattie. I am also much taller than you."

"Not for long. Enjoy it now. I bet I'll get taller than you."

"Oh, yeah? How much?"

"I don't know. I'll think of something."

"Yeah, you do that." They laughed together and hit the turn where they would need to separate.

"I'm headed to the library. See you, Alfred."

"Later, bro! Love you!"

"Love you, too. Now go feed that beast you call a stomach."

Alfred walked away laughing and Matthew turned with a smile. Hopefully he would find Gilbert in the library (and if not, he would check the group study areas) and then he would find Lovino. It was hard to find any truly private space in the castle, so he would have to put the charms he had been practicing with Flitwick in the off-hours to the test.

"Need some help?"

Gilbert looked up at the whispered inquiry to find Matthew standing across the table from him, smiling but looking a little stressed. He smiled in greeting, still tired but happy. "Sure. This charms essay is killing me slowly. But are you okay? You look like you've gotten some bad news or something."

Matthew winced and moved to sit beside him. "I'm okay, my brother's okay, and no one's hurt or anything. My family's just…complicated."

"Alright, that's good. Who is your brother, if you don't mind me asking?"

Matthew raised his eyebrows at him. "You don't know? We're identical twins."

Gilbert shrugged. "I meant what I said that night. I could never confuse you with anyone else."

Matthew blushed lightly and ducked his head like he was embarrassed. "You might not believe me then, but Alfred's my brother. Alfred Jones. He's a beater for Gryffindor."

Gilbert squinted his eyes at him. He honestly couldn't see it. "I believe you, but I think you look completely different than he does. Also, the last names kinda throw me."

"I figured that second part. Like I said, my family's complicated. Do you have siblings?"

Gilbert couldn't help grinning. "Yeah. I have a little brother named Ludwig, though I call him West. He's a fourth-year in Ravenclaw. No sense of humor, but he's wicked smart and very responsible."

"You sound like you're proud of him."

"I am. He's a great kid, though I think he needs to learn to relax."

"SHH!" Someone shushed them from the next table over. Gilbert rolled his eyes but did lower is voice even more.

"Anyway, I'm glad you found me. I've most worked through the theory but could you help me figure out this last bit? Then I can help you with your homework."

Matthew smiled at him and Gilbert still couldn't believe that he got the boy next to him to agree to a date. "Sounds good to me."

"So, a little birdie told me—and by little birdie I mean every one of my informants—that Gilbert Beilschmidt got himself a date in the Great Hall, only to be called out by the Bloody fucking Baron for not kissing whomever it was then to be blessed by the Fat Friar. Then they ran out of the room when people started catcalling them. The strangest thing is, not a single goddamn person can tell me who it was. I'm guessing you have news for me?"

Matthew looked at Lovino as the energetic Italian walked further into their dorm room. Vash and Nate were still out, so now was as good a time as ever to talk to him about everything. "I've got a date with Gilbert for later this week."

"Hell fuckin' yes you do! What did I tell you? I told you he wanted you. And I was right!" Lovino tackled him into a hug on the bed. "I'm so happy for you, you fuckin' bastard."

Matthew laughed and patted Lovino on the back, knowing not to go anywhere near his hair. "You say the sweetest things, Lovi. Yes, you were right. Gilbert even tried to kiss me later before we were interrupted by the Headmistress."

"Whoa, what?" Lovino sat up, confused. Nothing caught Lovino's attention faster than news from around the school that he hadn't heard. "I didn't hear anything about that. What's going on? Are you okay?"

Matthew licked his lips and knew he sounded nervous when he said, "I'm mostly okay. If I told you something, would you promise not to freak out on me or tell anyone else?"

Lovino blinked his hazel eyes at him, startled and clearly worried. "Of course. You're really starting to fuckin' scare me, Mattie. What's wrong?"

"Hold on. I have to cast a shield charm I've been working on to make sure no one over hears us."

Lovino's eyes widened and his mouth gaped open, but he didn't say another word. Matthew drew his wand and closed his eyes to concentrate. It wasn't the full charm that he was working on, but it should be enough for now. "Nonaudire protego totalum."

Matthew felt as the energy flowed through his wand into the air. He visualized the exact dimensions of the bubble he was creating, leaving just enough room for if Lovino wanted to get up and pace. Maintaining the sound barrier would drain his energy, but he had about thirty minutes before he passed out to explain everything.

He opened his eyes to see Lovino looking around, shocked. The edges of his barrier were visible, something he was still working to erase. He was breathing heavily but said, "We can talk now. No one can hear us."

"Okay, first of all, what the fuck is this?"

"Sound bubble. I've been working on my shield charms and this one will block the sound flowing out from a space of my choosing. It's draining, so we have about thirty minutes."

"What happens in thirty minutes?"

"If I'm still maintaining the spell at this strength? I pass out."

Lovino stared at him. "This is really fucking drastic. Did you kill someone? Do you need me to help hide the body and cover-up the evidence?"

Matthew laughed lightly. "No, Lovi, I haven't killed anyone."

"Are you dying?"

"What? No."

Lovino almost collapsed on himself from relief. "Thank God. What the fuck is wrong with you, scaring me like that? I can handle everything else with ease. Okay, almost everything else. You're not sleeping with my brother are you?"

"What? No! Where did that even come from?"

"Don't worry about it, just checking. Ya never know. What's wrong? We've got to apparently wade through some shit before you pass out."

"I found out why people can't remember me today. It's not anything I can control right now and I was born with it, so you can stop being mad at Antonio for it and just date him already." When Lovino just stared at him again, he shrugged. "You said we were short for time. That was the highlights."

"Mattie, why were you born like this? Why can only a few people like me and Gilbert remember you?" Uh-oh. If Lovino had stopped cursing, that meant he was really worried.

"Promise you won't freak out?"

"I'm gonna start freaking out if you don't just fuckin' tell me!"

"My mother is a Veela and, when Alfred and I were born, a lesser version of Veela charm that we inherited split unevenly. He draws everyone's attention and most people are incapable of seeing or remembering me. I don't know what makes you and Gilbert among the few people who are different."

Lovino went back to staring. Only, this time, he really seemed to see Matthew, his eyes focusing for seconds at a time on his individual features. The white-gold hair, blue eyes, and pale skin weren't exactly flashing lights advertising his genetics, but once it was mentioned, it probably became obvious.

"Okay…Why did you think I would freak out about this? It's not like it changes who you are."

Matthew breathed a massive sigh of relief. "I just wasn't sure how you would react. No, it won't change who I am, but it may make me…act differently over the next year or so."

Lovino laughed a little hysterically. "Then it's no big deal. I mean, it's not like you're going to fucking lose it one day and turn into a goddamn harpy on the quad, right?" When Matthew didn't answer immediately, he blinked and sobered almost immediately. "Wait, could that actually happen?"

Matthew winced. "Not exactly…"

Matthew explained the meeting in McGonagall's office and what might happen if he got angry enough. "…But since I trust you, you might be one of the few people capable of helping me calm down."

Lovino had started pacing halfway through the explanation. "Shit. Shit. Fucking Christ. We're going to make this work. Just, don't bite me, okay?"

"I wouldn't on purpose. I'm 99.9% sure it would burn you like acid."

Lovino looked him, horrified. "What the fuck, Mattie?"

"That's what I thought, t-too." Matthew suddenly became lightheaded and short of breath. He braced himself on his bed and Lovino was at his side in an instant to help steady him. He felt something on his upper lip and wiped a shaky hand across it. It came away red.

"Mattie, you need to stop this spell. You told me what I need to know, there's no reason to—"

"There's one more thing." He was taking gulping breaths. "I think I need to lay down."

"Just fucking tell me later, okay?"

"No, we have at least five minutes, maybe ten."

"If you think I'm going to stand here and let you push yourself until you pass out, you've got another thing coming."

"Alfred and I were born with predestined mates. If I meet mine before my next birthday, then next year is going to be more difficult. Nearly any insult or threat to my mate that I am aware of will force me to go into a rage that only they will be able to bring me down from before I pass out."

Lovino paled and looked he was the one who was about to lose consciousness. "Oh, shit. That is important."

"It gets worse. If I am in prolonged contact with them, I might start showing symptoms early."

"How does a half-Veela identify their mate? Do you know what to look for, or are you just in limbo with this?"

"My mate would be the one person that I am attracted to who is also attracted to me in the stereotypical Veela sense."

"Wait, but…" Lovino's eyes darted back and forth quickly in front of him, eyes unseeing as his mind worked furiously. Then he focused once more on Matthew with a look of horror. "Matthew, the Quidditch game. Do you think…?"

"Yeah. If I had to take a wild guess, Gilbert's my mate. The problem is, the only way I have to test it before my birthday is touching him."

"Okay, I know the basics enough to talk around the issue. Now, take down the damn spell."

Matthew thought for a moment, making sure that he had hit all the major points for alarm before pointing his wand towards the ceiling and whispering, "Finite."

The spell dissolved and Matthew felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. He also felt very tired.

"Can you avoid touching him?"

Matthew looked at him balefully. "I could, but I won't. One problem with the whole business is that if he turns out to be what I think he is, I have to get him to agree to let me claim him on my seventeenth birthday or face maddening pain."

"Holy fuck, why?"

"I don't know, that was never explained. But, Lovi, I probably wouldn't stay away from him, anyway. I've been drawn to him for two years; do you really think I would resist him now? Also, I honestly don't know how I would react to seeing him with anyone else. Jealousy was never covered explicitly, but I don't doubt that's one of the triggers for a rage."

Lovino plopped down on his bed and stared at him. "Fuck. I need a drink."

"You and me both."

"I'll talk to Antonio, see when the next batch of fire whiskey comes in. He thinks I don't know, but I do."

"What about the other thing? Now that you know it isn't his fault that he can't remember your best friend…" Matthew trailed off.

"Shut up, you asshole. Maybe I'll let the bastard take me out. And, as I've said many-a-time before, only if you admit you're attracted to Alistair. Wait. You're only supposed to be attracted to your person, right? How are you attracted to both of them?"

Matthew rolled his eyes. "It's not like having a mate makes me blind, Lovi."

"Okay, but you've only ever been attracted to them, right?"

Matthew threw his hands up at Lovino's pointed look. "Fine, yes. I'm super attracted to Alistair, so what? We've never spoken and I only ran into him once." It had been a memorable experience. Matthew had snuck out during his fourth year, really just getting the hang of sneaking around the castle at night. He had made a wrong turn and ended up in the same corridor as a rather busy couple whom he didn't see until the last second. It had startled him more than anything, not because couples were a rare occurrence in the shadowed alcoves of the castle at night but the identities of the occupants.

Because his luck was shit, it was Gilbert and Alistair.

By that point, he had been crushing on Gilbert for a year and was able to recognize him from mop of silver hair, in thorough disarray from Alistair's hand, and figure. His mouth had been too interested in Alistair's neck to put his face to the little light available. Alistair, on the other hand, had had his back to the wall and his legs around Gilbert's waist. His mouth, darkened and swollen from Gilbert's kisses, had been parted in silent panting, his eyes were closed in obvious enjoyment and his neck was arched against the stone, giving Gilbert ready access. They were still wearing all of their clothes, but it had been one of the most erotic sights Matthew had seen and he had drawn in a sharp, but quiet, breath.

Matthew had barely heard the rush of air, so he was shocked to his core when Alistair opened his eyes and immediately locked eyes with Matthew's. Matthew placed a hand over his mouth, feet seemingly stuck to the floor, and held his gaze. When it was clear Alistair wasn't going to say anything, Matthew dropped his hand from his mouth and bit his lip. Alistair, after a moment where he seemed utterly fascinated with him, licked his lips and smiled. Matthew had been scarcely breathing, heartbeat racing, when Gilbert did something that made Alistair moan and his eyes flutter close. Shaking himself, Matthew had fled, but had been attracted to Alistair ever since. They never had a reason to interact, so Matthew assumed that Alistair forgot him like everyone else. He had denied the attraction for the longest because Alfred was at least half in love with Arthur and that would be too weird. Besides, it was pathetic enough to have an impossible crush on one person, let alone two.

Matthew continued to Lovino with, "Out of the two of them, though, Gilbert's more likely to be the person and now you're out of excuses. Promise me you'll talk to Antonio."

Lovino looked triumphant. "Sure. I promise."

"About dating him, Lovi. Don't just talk about the weather or something."

Lovino pouted. "Fine, ya bastard. I'll talk to him about dating."

Matthew started to grin at him only to have it freeze on his face. "Oh, shit."

"Fuck, it's never good if you start cursing. What did you think of now? A dragon on a rampage on campus? A sudden rash of stink bombs ready to go off around the school?"

"Gilbert introduced me to Antonio today. He may have been pissed that he didn't remember me when I explained that you had introduced us before."

"Fuck. Mattie, did your mother or McGonagall say anything about how mates would act when you find them?"

"…No. My Dad had only said that things had gotten weird after the claiming, but he didn't say how."

"Do you think he's just as protective of you as you are of him? I mean, if he's attracted to you like most men are to most Veela…"

"Oh, shit."

Gilbert all but stumbled into the Slytherin common room that evening, exhausted but with his homework done for the next day. He blearily cleared the bridge and started to make a beeline straight for his bed when a cacophony of sound hit him. He looked around confusedly as his housemates catcalled and whistled at him.

He abruptly remembered his encounter with the Baron that morning. Ah, shit. Please, God, let me go to sleep.

Gilbert wearily glared at everyone and said, "Harass me about it tomorrow. I'm going to sleep."

"Honhonhon, non, mon ami, we will not wait any longer! It is not every day someone is criticized by our Baron for not taking what is offered!" Francis came up to clap him on the shoulder and Gilbert shrugged him off.

"How about no? Good night." Gilbert turned and strode purposefully towards the boys dormitories.

"Aw, don't be like that! At least tell us who it was?"

Gilbert froze mid-motion then turned around. He could tell that his expression was probably too sharp for what the question called for if the reactions of the younger Slytherins were anything to go by, but he didn't particularly care. "What do you mean, you don't know? I was called out by a murderous ghost and then blessed by a dead friar for asking him out in front of damn near a quarter of the school, and no one knows who I'm dating?"

The room was silent until Francis shrugged. "Basically, yes."

Un-fucking-believable. "No one finds that odd? Even a little?" Silence again. "How many of you are fifth years?"

"…About ten of us here," a boy with curly black hair responded.

"Were any of you there?" A couple of nods. "You didn't recognize who I was sitting with?"

They looked between themselves, and all Gilbert saw were blank stares and frowns of concentration. "No."

Had he stepped into the Twilight Zone without realizing it? "Where's Antonio? I introduced them by name. He didn't tell you?"

"I'm right here, mi amigo, and I know you introduced me to him, but I don't remember his name or what he looks like." Antonio called from the back of the room, looking mildly disturbed.

"He's Lovino's best friend, Tonio. You had met before?"

Now he looked extremely bothered. "Gil, I literally can't recall who that is. I know he exists as an abstract concept, but I don't know anything about him."

Gilbert looked around the room to see a lot of uncomfortable faces. If he had been in doubt that Matthew's condition was not natural or at least magically based, he wasn't now.

"Okay, no one can harass me about what happened until you figure out who the fuck I'm dating. Now, I'm going to sleep. Do not bother me for the next twelve hours."

Gilbert stalked down the hallway and slammed his door shut. Alistair, who was sitting on his bed, reading, looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Ye look like shite."

"Thanks, Scottie. I feel like it."

Gilbert stormed around the room, organizing his stuff and trying to get ready for bed, feeling Alistair carefully watching him the whole time. Finally, he said, "Something you want to share with the class?"

"Congrats on yer date. Happy ta know the work we did at tha game didn't go ta waste."

Gilbert stopped moving and looked over at his friend. Alistair didn't deserve the shit he was slinging at him. "Sorry. Yeah, thanks for the help. I could have done without the otherworldly interference, but when is that ever not true?"

Alistair laughed lightly and looked back at his book, turning the page. "I can't wait ta meet this Matthew of yers. Has ta be interestin' if he's got ye yellin' at the entire feckin' house after twelve hours."

"You heard that? Wait, you remember what I told you about him?"

Alistair shrugged. "Yeah. Gorgeous Hufflepuff with a heart of gold. Why?"

"Don't you think it's weird that no one remembers him after meeting him or even seeing him?"

"Sure, but what can I do about it? I don't know if I'll remember him after seeing him even with tha foreknowledge."

"Do you have any idea what could do that? Make someone all but nonexistent to the majority of people?"

Alistair thought for a second and Gilbert continued to get ready to go to sleep. "Maybe a curse? It's too pervasive ta be a jinx."

"Yeah, that's what I thought, too, but all the curses I looked up made sure that there were no exceptions to people forgetting about the targets. Matthew has at least a few people who can remember him, so he can't have any of the curses I found."

"Ye remember 'em. Why is it botherin' ye so much?"

"He thinks it's his fault, Scottie. That there's nothing unusual about not being able to be seen or remembered because that's all he's ever known."

Alistair cringed. "Point taken. I'll help ye when I can an' I would still like ta meet 'em, but I honestly have no feckin' clue where to start wit it. Maybe ask Professor Patil? She would prob'ly be tha most likely person ta know after McGonagall."

"Good point."

Gilbert left the room to wash up and returned to find Alistair in the same position. "Oi, ye gonna tell me what yer doin' fer yer date?"

"I have no clue. There's no fucking privacy in this damned castle. Any ideas?"

Alistair laughed. "Nope."

"Fuck."

Matthew approached the Quidditch pitch on Thursday afternoon, curious as to what Gilbert had planned. This was one of the few times during the week that their schedules were both free during the day and Gilbert had asked him for a date after charms on Tuesday. Matthew had readily agreed, though he wasn't sure why they were meeting out here. Afternoons later in the week were usually when the teams practiced for upcoming games. There was a Slytherin-Ravenclaw game on Saturday, so he didn't think the pitch would be free. No one was likely to be out here for fun today, the late March air abnormally cold. There was no snow on the ground, so people usually darted between buildings quickly to get out of the elements. Even Matthew felt it, if only slightly. Since Veela were built to be perpetually graceful and appealing, they were able to be comfortable in most temperatures. It looked like their charm wasn't the only thing to split between him and Alfred.

Matthew reached the stands and looked around for Gilbert. "Gil? Are you here?"

"Hey, Mattie. I'm over here!" Matthew ventured further into the structure to find Gilbert taking refuge from the winds under the benches. He was dressed for the temperatures, complete with earmuffs and gloves. He peaked over his scarf to smile at him. "Sorry about the weather. I guess it was too much to expect actual spring weather in March."

"But it's March in Scotland and nothing you could have planned for." Matthew approached him and saw the thermoses and brooms at his feet. "What did you plan for?"

"I wanted to take you flying in the day time, so I reserved the pitch for an hour."

Matthew stared at him, shocked but delighted. "How did you manage that, with so many games happening?"

"Natalia owed me a favor and moved our practice time at the last minute so no other team would take it. I have to get changed for practice after the hour, but I figured it was the best chance I was going to get."

"That's awesome, Gil! I've wanted to try flying when it was light out but, well…"

"I figured that's why you chose to fly at night. But now there's no one to run into; it's just us. I, um, I also brought hot chocolate, though it's probably frozen hot chocolate by now."

"That's what magic's for." Matthew was beaming at him and impulsively hugged him. Gilbert seemed startled but held him closer after a moment. "Thank you for this. No one's ever done something like this for me."

"Anytime."

Matthew pulled away before the tension between them got any thicker. He reached down to pick up a broom and ran away, shouting, "Race you!"

He heard Gilbert laugh and give chase. "Oh, it's on!"

Matthew ventured to rest his head on Gilbert's shoulder and sighed. They were sitting side by side under the stands again, hands wrapped around newly warmed-up hot chocolate and brooms resting to the side. They had flown for a while, circling around each other and basically just goofing around. It was the most fun Matthew had had in a while. Still, he was the one to suggest that they sit down and enjoy the drinks, not wanting their limited time together to pass without them having a chance to talk to each other. Matthew's knees were pulled up nearly to his chest while Gilbert was sitting with his legs crossed. Once Matthew settled against him, Gilbert took one of his hands in his and didn't let go.

"Tell me something."

"Like what, Gil?"

"I don't know. Anything."

"Um, my favorite color's red? I like polar bears; I think they're really cute and they're the only bears that will hunt humans."

Gilbert laughed, the action making Matthew's head shake a little. "I never would have guessed, though I probably should stop being surprised when you tell me things. You've only ever proved my expectations wrong."

"Really? What exactly did you expect of me?"

"Well, whenever I saw you, you kept to yourself and were constantly working. I had only seen you with Lovino once or twice and that was the only time I ever saw you smile. I don't think I had a particular image of who you were, but I never could have guessed that you were fun and interesting as well as smart and kind." Matthew turned his face into Gilbert's shoulder to hide his blush and Gilbert lightly squeezed his hand. "Don't be embarrassed, Mattie."

"It's not like I can help it, Gil."

"I can give you something to be embarrassed about. I've thought of my answer to your insistence that I'm 'adorkable.'"

Matthew smiled, his face still hidden. "It's true."

"Well, I'm gonna call you Birdie."

Matthew frowned and settled once more against him. "Why?"

"Because birds are awesome like you and your hair reminds me of a baby bird I found when I was little. Gilbird was my first friend and kept me company until West was born. He flew away at the constant crying, but that was okay."

"That's more sweet than embarrassing, Gil." Matthew moved a little closer, so Gilbert's arm was resting on his and his arm as against Gilbert's side.

"You think that now. Just wait. You'll probably blush the first time I call you that in front of someone else."

Matthew smiled. "Probably, but I damn near blush at everything." He cleared his throat and took a sip of the warm liquid, wanting to say something to answer Gilbert's openness with him. "I've actually liked you for a while, even before this year."

"What, really?" He felt Gilbert turn his head to look at him and Matthew kept his gaze at their intertwined hands.

"Yeah. In my third year, I was walking to class and someone walked into me, knocking my books out of my hands. I was used to it by then, so I just bent to pick up my things. You stopped to help me. Other people had done that before, but no one acknowledged me like you did when you handed me my books." He felt Gilbert tense against him, but he kept talking. "You said, 'Watch out, cutie. Wouldn't want—'"

"—Someone like you to get hurt," Gilbert finished for him softly. It was Matthew's turn to tense and he moved his head to look at Gilbert. He was frowning in concentration and Matthew's eyes widened.

"You remember that?" Gilbert and Matthew didn't speak to each other since that chance encounter until Gilbert had caught him flying at night. Matthew had just accepted that Gilbert had forgotten he existed like everyone else and that it was only a moment that lasted a few seconds. He shouldn't have been that affected, but he was.

"I…I'm not sure. I think so because of that feeling of déjà vu I had the other day, when you slipped on the ice. It had been bothering me how that could have been familiar, but now it makes sense."

"Oh." Matthew rested his head once more and said, "It was rare for people to see me. That was the first time anyone said that they found me even marginally attractive, let alone someone who looked like you. But you had said it like it was the most natural thing in the world, winked at me, then left. I know it's stupid, but I had a crush on you ever since."

"It's not stupid." Gilbert squeezed his hand a little. "I'd been wanting to talk to you all year but I was too intimidated."

"You were intimidated by me?"

"Matthew, you're beautiful. Of course I was."

Matthew inhaled sharply at the statement. He looked up at him to see him looking back from a short distance. "No one's ever said that. Not about me."

Gilbert frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

Matthew bit his lip and looked away. Then he laughed a little to himself. "Gil, I'm pretty sure you're to only person who's ever found me attractive. At the very least, the first person to think that past a handfull of seconds."

He heard the sound of liquid sloshing then felt a gloved hand on his face, lifting his chin gently. Matthew moved as directed and met Gilbert's troubled and disbelieving eyes.

"Let me check my understanding. The most beautiful person I've ever seen has never been kissed?"

Matthew's eyes widened and he licked his lips, absently setting his thermos on the ground. "No one's ever wanted to before."

Gilbert's eyes darkened and he said, "I do. May I?"

Matthew drew in a shaky breath, nervous for more reason than one, well aware that his heart was probably beating too fast. Still, he breathed out, "Yes."

"Thank you," he said seriously, his hand moving to lightly rest against his jaw. His thumb traced Matthew's bottom lip and he automatically parted his mouth. Gilbert leaned in and—

"BEILSCHMIDT!"

Both of them startled at the shriek of outrage. Gilbert sighed and rested his forehead against Matthew's long enough to whisper, "I'm so sorry." Then he lifted his head and Matthew watched his face go from relaxed and kind to angry and annoyed. "What? I had an hour!"

"And I gave you an hour and fifteen minutes. Favor or not, we have a game this week." Matthew lifted his head to look behind him to see Natalia Braginski, a chaser and the captain of the Slytherin team, glaring at them. Her long grey hair was pulled into a tight bun and her dark eyes shifted to focus on Matthew. "I take it you're the reason one of my beaters was yelling at half of our house on Sunday?"

He did what? "Excuse me?"

She huffed out an amused sound and looked at Gilbert again who was not pleased. "Bring your Hufflepuff out to meet everyone, if he's willing. It's the least you could do for making us wait in the cold." She strode away from them, clearly expecting them to follow her orders. Matthew had wondered why they had elected to make the youngest member of their team the captain, but now he understood that she was both a good leader and fucking terrifying.

"…Do you want to go meet everyone?"

"Yeah, sure." They gathered their things and Matthew said, "You were yelling at them over me?"

Gilbert sighed. "Yeah. I was upset that no one seemed to know who you were, even the fifth years. It didn't help that they ambushed me when I was exhausted over what happened with the Baron."

"Okay. But, Gil, it's really not their fault they can't remember me."

Gilbert frowned at him. "Then whose fault is it, because it certainly isn't yours."

Dammit. Matthew had an actual answer to that question now, but he didn't want to explain much of anything until Gilbert knew more about him other than his weirdness and he was absolutely sure he was his mate. It was probably a good thing they were interrupted. "I think I may have been born with it. Or at least, McGonagall thinks so. It's no one's fault, Gil."

Gilbert pursed his lips. "I hope not, Mattie, because that means there's no cure for it. I know how much it hurts you to not be remembered. I wouldn't want to think there's no way to help you."

Wow. I really hope you're my mate. "Thank you, Gil. I really appreciate that." Matthew bumped into him because his hands were full and smiled at him.

He seemed to blush at the look and they stepped out from the stands. Most of the players were already flying, but a few were still grounded. Gilbert started pointing people out to him. "So, these assholes are my teammates. Ivan's the keeper and a little creepy. He's Natalia's older brother but is more afraid of her than anyone I know. But he's mostly alright. The chaser up there with Natalia is Sadik. He and Antonio have quarreled more than once over Lovino, though I don't think he knows it. He's a good guy for the most part, but he and Antonio hate each other off the pitch. You know Antonio."

They were approached by someone he recognized as their seeker. "This is my friend, Francis. He's the worst. Francis, this is Matthew."

Francis pouted at Gilbert, though his blue eyes were too amused for him to even pass as marginally upset. "Love you, too, Gilbert." His eyes shifted to Matthew and he stuck out a hand. When Matthew took it with a smile, Francis said to him in French, "Hello, Matthew. So you're the one that's finally managed to catch Gilbert. Congratulations."

Matthew raised his eyebrows at him and responded in kind. "Thank you, though I wouldn't know if he's mine after one date, now would I?"

Gilbert was torn between being jealous and ridiculously turned on when Matthew answered Francis is soft, lilting French. He had no idea what was said beyond their names and basic greetings, and he found that he really wished he did as Francis started laughing, delighted.

Francis finally dropped Matthew's hand and Gilbert only barely resisted the urge to step closer to Matthew. "Well, played, Matthew. I'm happy to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise."

Francis' eyes flashed over to him and Gilbert gave him a look that said, very clearly, whatever you're thinking of trying, don't. Francis just grinned at him before flying away. Matthew turned to him with a slight frown on his face. "That was strange. Does he always greet people in languages he's not expecting them to know?"

Gilbert shrugged and tried to look unaffected as he stepped just a little closer to him as they head towards where Alistair was stretching. "Sometimes. Francis mostly does whatever he wants in the moment. I didn't know you spoke French."

Matthew blushed lightly and said, "I spent part of my childhood in Quebec and my parents let me keep learning the language after we moved."

"That's cool. I spent my first nine years in Germany before we moved to England." They had reached Alistair and his best friend turned to look at them. His eyes flicked over to Gilbert before they settled on Matthew. To his surprise, there Alistair looked at him with clear recognition and…interest?

"Ye must be Matthew. Nice ta see ye again." Alistair all but purred at him and Gilbert immediately stepped closer to Matthew. What the hell?

Matthew paled so fast Gilbert thought he was going to faint for a second. Shocked and a little horrified, Matthew said, "You remember me?"

"Of course I do. It's nice to put a name ta yer face." He held out his hand and smiled at him slowly. Matthew took the offered handshake and Alistair cut his eyes to Gilbert briefly. "I'm his best friend, since he's not gonna introduce me."

Matthew released Alistair's hand and glanced up at Gilbert expectantly, his eyes more than a little stunned. Gilbert cleared his throat and said, "Sorry. Yeah, Alistair's my best friend." Gilbert was looking at Alistair, sending silent what the fuck signals at him. Alistair just smiled at him as he did whenever he was going to do something particularly reckless.

Matthew, unaware, cleared his throat and said, "I'm not surprised, with how you two play together. You were both pretty impressive at Saturday's game."

Alistair's eyes shifted back to Matthew and alarm bells went off in his head. "Thank ye, Matthew. I'm happy I finally got ta talk to ye, considering all that I've heard about ye. Gilly was right: ye are gorgeous."

TIME TO GO. Matthew's flush renewed but he didn't look away from Alistair, just as he hadn't looked away from Gilbert in class. Sounding like a stiff wind would knock him over, Matthew responded, "I…um, thank you."

Alistair tilted his head slightly as his interest in Matthew clearly increased. "Scottie—"

"See ye later, Matthew. Gilly, are ye practicin' in those? Good; there's yer bat." Alistair shot him a look that meant he would explain later and flew off.

"…You have interesting friends, Gil."

"That's one way to put it. You've met Alistair?" He put an arm around Matthew's shoulders and walked them over to the edge of the pitch. Matthew turned to say goodbye. "Leave the thermos and broom here; I'll take care of them."

"Thanks and yeah, I ran into him one night when I was sneaking out. We didn't talk or anything and I'm floored that he even remembered me." Matthew seemed confused before shaking his head. "I had a great time today. Would you…do you want to see me again?" Matthew asked shyly, looking at the ground.

"Of course I do. Maybe next time we won't be interrupted." He said lowly, stepping to Matthew's personal space again.

Matthew bit his lip and looked up at him, bring a hand up to touch Gilbert's mouth lightly. "I would like that." His gaze shifted to something behind him and he stepped away quickly, turning red once more. "I'll see you in class."

"Yeah." Matthew left and Gilbert turned around to see half of his team blatantly staring at him with shit eating grins on their faces and Alistair giving him a considering look. He glared at them and grabbed his broom and bat. I hate you all.

"Hey, maple bastard. How was your date?"

"We have a problem: Alistair remembers me."

"You mean from…? Fuck. Wait, you talked to him?"

"Gilbert introduced us."

"How did that go? You didn't act like you were attracted to him, did you?"

"…Maybe. I-I didn't mean to but I think I did?"

"Did he look like he wanted you back?"

"…Yeah. He…he said I was gorgeous."

"In front of Gilbert?"

"Yeah."

"Shit."

"Well put."

"Then who's your-?"

"Hell if I know."

Alistair had just started gathering his things to take a shower after practice when Gilbert walked into their shared room and shut the door. With a glare that made his crimson eyes intriguingly frightening, he asked, "What the fuck?"

Alistair shrugged at him, guessing he meant his interaction with Matthew. "One, he is beautiful and I remember exactly what he looks like. Two, don't act like we've never been with tha same person at once. Three, I wanted ta see how ye would react. Ye've never been jealous like tha' before, so I'm guessin' yer serious bout 'em."

"Yeah, I am, but cut the shit, Alistair. I saw the way you looked at him."

Alistair shot Gilbert a glance. Then you saw the way he looked at me, too. Alistair had been shocked when he watched Gilbert emerge from the stands with clearly an older version of the boy who had stumbled upon one of his and Gilbert's outings during their fifth year. When he had opened his eyes that night at the soft sound of a startled inhale, he hadn't expected the intruder to stay and watch. Alistair hadn't even been able to tell the gender of the sudden voyeur, their shoulder-length hair shining what he had thought a color distorted in the faint moonlight and preventing him from seeing the exact details of their face. But he had noted the grace they had moved with when they dropped their hand and what little he could make out of their face hinted at a stunning appearance. What had made smile invitingly at the person was the instinctual interest he felt. The person's chin had tilted to reveal an enticingly parted mouth when Gilbert had bit him where his neck met his shoulder and he had closed his eyes at the feeling. Alistair had opened his eyes to find their visitor gone and didn't have enough information to go on to approach anyone about it.

So how had he known it was Matthew? His hair was still that impossible color and his mouth was the same shape, sure. But what was most revealing was the way he moved and his suspicions were confirmed when Matthew paled at the insinuation. Alistair was always going to be interested in whomever had inserted themselves into that night, but the fact that Matthew was everything Gilbert had described made it impossible not to be drawn to him.

But Gilbert was his best friend, the person he was closest to. Alistair would only admit to himself that he was more than a little in love with him, too. He had been prepared to be jealous and critical (internally, of course) over the boy Gilbert had chosen, but Matthew had taken him by surprise. The point was, Gilbert had Matthew, end of story. Alistair would never betray him like that.

"So? Yer boyfriend's attractive. Sue me."

"No, Alistair, I know that look you had on your face. You want him."

Alistair glared at him, turning bodily towards him. "And ye have him, so he's off limits. Do ye really think I would touch someone who's yers? After everything we've been through?"

Gilbert looked at him and shook his head. "No, I don't. I'm sorry, I know you wouldn't do that. I've never been possessive and I'm not sure I like it. Hell, we haven't even kissed. I just…don't want to share him."

Now that was an idea he could contemplate later, the three of them together. Being with Matthew and Gilbert, not sharing them, because that would something different than a hurried fling in a dark alcove. But that would require something like, oh, Gilbert wanting him back to work. For now…"I didn't ask ye ta." Alistair sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "On to things tha' don't make sense, I agree with ye tha' something's not right about folks nae rememberin' him. I'm not tryin' ta make ye angry, but ye shouldn't forget a guy like tha' easily." Hell, Alistair hadn't even fully seen him and he didn't forget about him.

It was Gilbert's turn to sigh as he flopped down onto his bed. "That's what I thought. Matthew said today that McGonagall thinks he was born with it, but what kind of curse can be inherited like that? He hates it."

Inherited? What the hell? "Wha' do ye know of his family?"

"Not much. His twin brother is Jones in Gryffindor and I know he spent some time in Canada as a kid, but that's it. When I asked about the different last names, he just said his family was complicated."

"Jones? Talk about two opposites...wait, his twin brother? Are they identical?"

"Mattie said so, but I don't really see it. They just look too different to me. Why do you ask?"

"…Jus' a thought. If they were fraternal twins, then it wouldn't matter. But since they're identical…I need ta do more research." If they were originally one, then something that was meant to be whole could have been split between them, especially since this seems magic-based and that can make muggle science go a little wonky. Alistair didn't have much interest in Jones outside of making sure he didn't hurt his brother, but he knew he was relatively popular by the school's standards. He needed more information about how the twins interacted with other people before he could even guess at what was happening.

Gilbert seemed to follow his logic as he sat up and looked at him. "You think it's genetic."

"Maybe, but it's a long shot. Anyway, I'm gonna start talkin' to 'em. Be his friend, I mean."

Alistair said it partially to see how Gilbert would react, but mostly because he wanted to know Matthew more. Gilbert didn't disappoint as his eyes darkened with sudden jealousy and he said, "Matthew? Whoa, no you're not."

Alistair just raised an eyebrow at him before losing his shirt and gathering his things to take a shower. He felt Gilbert's eyes on him and smirked. He wouldn't do anything about his friend's automatic interest because he had been off limits for a while now, but the reaction did wonders for his ego. "I wasn't askin' yer permission. He's yer boyfriend, but he's still interestin'. An' I'm one of the few who can remember him; he could use more people ta talk ta than ye and tha' sour bastard."

Alistair looked over and saw Gilbert trying to reel his jealousy back. "Fine. But keep your hands to yourself."

Alistair shot him a sly look and he turned to walk out of the room. "I won't lay a finger on him; I promise."

"Hey, Matthew. Do ye mind if I talk to ye fer a second?"

Matthew glanced up from his homework, surprised to be addressed when he knew both Lovino and Gilbert were in class. He rarely saw Alfred, since he was usually in the first section of any class while Matthew was in the second (there were too many students in their year to have just one section for core classes). Alistair was standing on the other side of his table in the great hall. He had a thermos in his hand and a bag hanging on his shoulder, looking for all the world like he had just seen Matthew and had stopped to say hello.

It was a rather novel concept for him. He would be delighted if he wasn't so nervous.

"Oh! Hi, Alistair. Sure. Is something wrong?" Are we going to talk about this? And by "this," I mean the fact that we obviously share a mutual attraction, the fact that I'm dating your ex-lover/best friend, and that one very heated moment we shared a year ago.

Alistair chuckled to himself as he sat down across from him. "Ye seem surprised. And nervous."

Matthew winced. "Sorry. I guess people just don't talk to me often. What's going on?"

Alistair considered him carefully before saying, "I wanna talk ta ye about Gilly. He seems worried about ye but didn't want ye ta ken how worried. And since I can remember ye…"

"Wait, you know about that?"

Alistair shrugged. "It wasn't hard ta guess, between Gilly yellin' at tha house fer forgettin' ye and his surprise tha' I didn't."

"Oh." That was concerning. It wasn't like people thought enough about him to notice his…condition, but it was still alarming that, once someone remembered him, they could figure it out pretty quickly. "I'm actually surprised, too. Not many people can remember seeing me."

"He was also pretty pissed bout yesterday but felt bad about it, too. He's worried he upset ye an', before ye ask, he doesn't know I'm talkin' ta ye."

Matthew slouched and sighed. When they had been leaving charms the day before, Matthew had been run into by an older Ravenclaw student, lost in thought, who hadn't seen him. There had been plenty of room in the hallway for him to go around, but that just didn't register to him. Gilbert had noticed and terrified to poor kid before Matthew had gotten him to stop. He had been upset and despondent when he walked away from him to go to class after explaining heatedly that it wasn't the kid's fault and that he had apologized, which was more than most people did. Matthew probably should have stayed a little longer, but had felt on the verge of tears because no one else had this problem and he had known that Gilbert was only angry for him but there was no one to be angry with. Gilbert hadn't responded before Matthew had fled, but he did look upset, almost heartbroken.

"I don't know what to do about that. I know he was just trying to help and is upset for me but he can't get angry every time someone doesn't see me. It hurts me, yes, but I've lived with it for almost sixteen years. If I dwelled on it, that would be all I ever did and I refuse to let it affect my life more than it already does."

Alistair tilted his head to the side and looked at him like he had done something interesting before nodding. "Tha' makes sense, but I wanna explain somethin' ta ye about Gilbert. He doesn't get attached easily and once he cares about ye, he'll just about fight a war for ye. It happened fast, but he cares about ye a lot. He's loyal, protective, and just about terrified he screwed up with ye."

Matthew frowned at him. "What? Why? He was just defending me and I know it. Why would I want to stop seeing him because of that?"

Alistair smiled at him. "That's wha' I said. I just wanted ta say tha'." He started standing to leave. "Also, if ye want ta talk ta someone who will remember ye, feel free ta let me know. Ye shouldn't be isolated because of this."

Matthew blinked at him in surprise before smiling at him. He was perfectly fine with ignoring the problem and Alistair was being kinder to him than he expected. It was nice. "Thank you, Alistair. You have no idea how much I appreciate that."

He tilted his head down slightly in a movement that was almost a bow. "Anytime." He turned to leave and Matthew glanced down at the homework that had been giving him hell for the past hour.

"Wait!" He turned back towards him with a look of surprise. "Do you have a minute?"

"Aye, what's wrong?" His eyes had a guarded, wary look to them. Looks like Matthew wasn't the only one not wanting to address the elephant in the room.

Still, he blushed and felt silly for asking but…"I could really use some help on this transfigurations homework. I understand if you can't but—"

"Let me come around and I'll help ye."

Ten minutes later, Matthew slumped in relief, laughing at himself. "Wow, I feel stupid. I'm pretty sure I've got it now. Thanks for explaining."

Alistair frowned at him, sitting to his right side just far enough away that they wouldn't touch on accident. "Yer not stupid. Everyone needs somethin' explained again at some point and that's a difficult concept. Yer doin' well."

Matthew shot a self-depreciating smile at him before looking down. "Thanks for that. Transfigurations and defense against the dark arts always give me trouble for some reason."

"And there's nothing wrong with tha', Matthew. It doesn't make ye dense, only shows yer brilliant in other ways."

Matthew looked up slowly to meet Alistair's eyes. "I've never—"

"Mattie?"

Matthew froze and thought, very clearly, oh, shit. He closed his eyes for a brief second before opening them and turning to face forward with a smile to greet his brother across the table. "Hey, Alfred. What's up?"

His brother looked between him and Alistair very pointedly and narrowed his eyes at him. "What's up? You tell me. I didn't realize you were friends with Slytherins."

He heard Alistair start laughing under his breath, probably because he knew Matthew was more than just friends with them, and Matthew's smile became strained. "I didn't realize you monitored my social activity."

"We share DNA; of course I do."

"I'll be sure to tell Great Aunt Agnes that the next time you avoid her when she asks if you've found a nice girlfriend yet."

Alistair started coughing beside him.

Alfred flushed. "See, he's already corrupting you! You're never mean."

Matthew rolled his eyes at him. "You've got to let those stupid stereotypes go. And I'm always like this when you're being an idiot. Anyway, Alfred, I'm sure you and Alistair know each other?"

Alfred glared at him while Alistair just grinned back at him, knowing that being nice would piss him off. "Hey, Alfred. How's me brother doin'? Not still sulking from tha' game, I hope."

Matthew bit his lip to stop himself from laughing audibly and shot Alistair an amused glance. Alfred had complained to him more than once about Arthur sulking and generally being moody, especially after a loss against Slytherin.

"He's fine." Alfred looked between the two of them and then his eyes widened in horror as they flashed to the homework Alistair had been helping him with. "Wait, is he your study partner, Mattie?"

Matthew heard Alistair mumble so that only he could hear, "Is tha' what they're callin' it these days?"

Matthew's smile faded and he glared at his brother. "One, Alistair kindly agreed to help me out, so please pull that stick out of your ass. Two, that's none of your business."

"The hell it isn't, especially if I'm right. Have you told mom?"

Matthew was pissed because this was neither the time nor place to bring that up. Through his teeth, he hissed, "There's nothing to tell and you need to back the hell off."

They glared at each other and Alistair cleared his throat. "This…seems like a family thing, so I'll see ye 'round, Matthew."

Matthew pointedly looked away from his brother to a skeptical but curious Alistair. "Okay. Thanks again for your help. And call me Mattie."

Alistair raised his eyebrows at him but tilted his head in acknowledgement, eyes flashing with some private thought. "Alright. See ye, Mattie."

Matthew watched Alistair leave until he was sure he was out of earshot before turning to hiss at his brother, "What the hell is wrong with you? We don't bring that up in public, especially in front of other people."

Alfred looked only mildly chastised. "Fine, but, seriously, are you dating Arthur's brother? Do you think he's…ya know?"

Packing his stuff up pointedly, he said, "No, Alistair's not my study partner, as you put it, but he is one of the few people who can remember me. He's an acquaintance who may be on his way to becoming my friend, so if you could get off your high Gryffindor horse, that would be great."

Alfred sighed in relief. "Whew, that's a relief. I mean, of all the Slytherins to choose from, either him or that other Slytherin beater would definitely be the worst."

Matthew stared at him, his jaw hanging open. He had just been given all the justification needed behind not ever telling Alfred about his interest in Gilbert (or Alistair) and it hurt to feel like he couldn't trust his brother to support him in this. "Did you not hear 90% of what I just said?"

Alfred waved his hand like he was fanning the topic away. "Yeah, I heard you. Look, I'm happy that someone else can see you, but I'm not going to pretend like I'm not ecstatic that the person you're interested in isn't him. I mean, we can't just be hooking up randomly anymore, Mattie, when someone might trigger this whole mess."

"I was never the one who messed around, Alfred, because no one ever looked at me long enough to be interested!"

Alfred froze, realizing too late how hurtful his words were. "Mattie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"You never mean to. Now, if you excuse me, I'll be heading to the library to regain the productivity I lost when you interrupted us."

Matthew ignored Alfred calling out to him as he stalked away. He had too many other concerns to deal with his brother's prejudice and carelessness at the moment, like how he was going to finish his homework and what he was going to do with Gilbert on their date on Saturday.

"Hey, Gilly?"

"Yeah?"

"Yer boyfriend's hot when he's angry."

"What the fuck?"

"Lovi?"

"What, bastard?"

"My brother's an ass."

"The sun is hot. Any other obvious thing you want to add to the conversion?"

"…Alistair's nice."

"…I certainly wasn't expecting that. We need to talk about your understanding of the word 'obvious.'"

Gilbert had received a message from Matthew asking to attend that weekend's Gryffindor—Hufflepuff game with him. It didn't exactly afford the privacy he was hoping for, but he would take what he could get. Matthew smiled him when they met at the stairs that fed into the closest Hufflepuff-Slytherin stands, bag strapped across his body, soothing Gilbert's nerves as to him still being upset over the other day. As expected, the Hufflepuff section was overflowing, this being the first weekend of the year with somewhat pleasant temperatures. Gilbert led him up to the Slytherin side and moved to head up to the top stand. He was surprised when Matthew pulled him into the nearest bench.

"We're not staying here the whole time, Gil, unless you want to." Gilbert had shaken his head and settled in to cheer on the honey badgers.

To his surprise, Matthew really got into the game, cheering when Hufflepuff scored and yelling colorful obscenities at Gryffindor beaters when they directed a bludger towards his house mates. They had gotten more than a few shocked looks from the other Slytherins in attendance, but they had quickly joined in, jeering at their rivals and rooting for Matthew's team. Gilbert had always been one that preferred participation to spectating, but Matthew made being in the stands fun, his enthusiasm infectious.

He also seemed particularly pissed at his brother. As much as he hated to think it, Alistair was right; Matthew was hot when angry

"Booo. What the fuck, Al? Listen to me, ya goddamn oaf, if you hit that bludger towards Lilli one more fuckin' time, I'm gonna turn all your baseball jerseys green and silver when we get home just to spite yo' ass. Did you tell mom, eh? The fuck are you, five? Like hell we're identical. I don't want your genes!"

Almost as if he heard him, Alfred looked towards their section. He was too far away to tell individual people apart in the stands, but there were only a few people in yellow mixed in with the green most people around them were wearing. Matthew saw that, raised his hand, and gave him a one finger salute.

Gilbert was too busy laughing to see what Alfred did in response.

It was a close game, but Matthew still gestured that he wanted to leave about an hour in, his cheeks red and his eyes still fiery. He calmed considerably the moment they were out of the stands. "Sorry about that. I was angrier than I thought at my brother."

Gilbert just laughed. "It's alright. I found it very amusing and you're quite a sight when riled up like that."

Matthew blushed and lightly bumped into Gilbert. "You say the most embarrassing things."

"I just call it as I see it." Gilbert took Matthew's hand and they continued walking back towards the castle. "You mind telling me what he did to make you so angry? I wanna know so I don't do it; I wouldn't want that wrath directed at me."

"Not at all. Alistair stopped to talk to me the other day and was helping me with my homework when Alfred dropped in to protest my choice of company. He has this thing against Slytherins for some reason. I didn't appreciate his disapproval and he tried to tell me what to do. Do you remember when I had to go to McGonagall's office?"

"Thinking back on what we were doing before she interrupted, I would say I do."

Matthew lightly squeezed his hand but pushed on in his rant. "Well, I went to find you afterwards, telling him that I was going to study with someone. Some things were implied before I shooed him away, and then he had the nerve to ask if our mother knew I had a quote unquote 'study partner.' In front of Alistair, no less. He really did help with my transfiguration homework and luckily found my brother amusing. Bottom line, Alfred had no right to say that and about a dozen other things, so I'm a little miffed at him right now."

Clearly. He had mixed feelings about Alfred thinking Matthew and Alistair were dating from seeing them together, but he trusted his friend to keep his word and Matthew didn't seem like the type to do something. "Okay, so never tell you what to do. Got it."

Matthew laughed. "Yeah, that'll do."

They walked together quietly for a bit when Gilbert said, "Where are we going?"

"Nowhere in particular. You said you liked taking walks, so that's what we're doing. I brought some snacks for if we wanted to sit down somewhere."

Gilbert was touched that Matthew remembered that, though he guessed it did only happen a couple weeks ago. "Thanks, Birdie. That sounds awesome."

"It would be nice to know what else you liked for, ya know, future dates and stuff."

"Future dates, huh? You sound pretty confident about that."

"Should I not be?" Matthew looked at him, and the teasing smile he had worn started to fade with anxiety.

"Well, considering I want to ask you to be my boyfriend, I think you're good."

"Really?" Matthew beamed at him, a little astonished and so happy that Gilbert was kind of embarrassed and was struck once more with how beautiful Matthew was.

He mumbled, looking away, "Yeah, you know, make us official and exclusive and all—umf."

Matthew threw himself into a hug, knocking the air out of Gilbert a little with a laugh. Gilbert couldn't remember the last time he made someone that recklessly joyful and he couldn't help smiling at him as he returned the hug.

Matthew then quickly looked further down the path each way and frowned. He broke away from Gilbert and said, "Follow me."

Then he took off.

Gilbert stood there in shock for a moment as Matthew started jogging down the path towards the castle. He never turned around to see if Gilbert was following him, so Gilbert was force to sprint to catch up. "Birdie, wait."

"No." He laughed again, still jogging and holding his bag away from his body.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

They had reached the other side of the castle when Matthew slowed to a walk to catch his breath. They kept walking. Gilbert said, "To answer your earlier question, I like pretty much every kind of music, German food, and fighting. I study martial arts when I'm home and my favorite artist changes at least once a day whenever I have access to the internet. I find it difficult to study without some background noise and wished like hell tech worked here. Hell, I would be satisfied if they school was cassette compatible so I could go around with an outdated Walkman. What do you like?"

"Reading, cooking, and hockey. The fact that I can't watch games during most of the season kills me every year. My specialty is pancakes and my favorite genre is urban fantasy, though I'll read anything that holds my interest long enough. I like watching T.V., too, and watched so much as a kid that, if the television's on, I can't focus on much else. My favorite Disney movie is 'The Lion King.'"

"That's a good choice, but 'Mulan' is the way to go. I like reading, too, though I mostly stick to fiction. I don't mind an occasional military history book."

"Why am I not surprised?" Matthew grinned at him before taking his hand once more and hurrying along the edge of the lake. "Biggest pet peeve?"

"Ugh, that's a hard one. Maybe break-downs in communication? It seems like a lot of life's problems come from people just not saying something, you know?"

"Wow, you're making me feel bad. Mine is when Alfred forgets to shut the fridge door in the middle of the night and we wake up to sour milk."

They laughed, a little breathless with the pace they were going at. "Don't be. I'm not exactly a good person. I mostly look out for my own and will place them above anything or anyone else."

Matthew frowned at him. "That doesn't make you a bad person, Gil. Everyone has a line where they divide the people they care about from everyone else. If someone ever said that they would always place the greater good over their loved ones, they're either lying, love no one but themselves, or is an honest-to-God saint."

Gilbert stared at him, causing him to stumble as the made their way past the Forbidden Forest and around the curve of the lake. "Wow. No one's ever put it like that to me. You're pretty wise for one so young."

Matthew rolled his eyes at him. "I'm eighteen months younger than you, so I'm not that young. And thanks. I guess I've seen a lot. You'd be surprised what people will do when they think no one's there."

"No, I wouldn't."

Matthew was still looking at him and Gilbert had to wonder how he was able to walk without staring at the ground. He was probably using his peripheral vision, but he was still steady, graceful even. Matthew turned from the lake shore into the woods. He began to watch his steps, but he never tripped and he never reached out to steady himself. After walking less than a minute, shoreline still in view, he stopped by the base of a large tree.

"This should be fine, but just in case…" Matthew pulled out his wand and pointed it towards the sky, hand not higher than his head. "Nonaudire protego totalum."

A small bubble started forming around them, outline just visible to the eye a translucent silver.

"Matthew, what…?"

"It's a sound bubble I've been working on. It only allows sound in, but not out. I know this is all a bit much and the spell can't last long, but if we were interrupted again, I would probably do something I would regret." He put his bag down and walked over to him

Understanding dawned and Gilbert pinned Matthew with a stare he knew was far from innocent. "All this because-?"

"Is it too much for me to want my boyfriend to kiss me in peace?"

Gilbert smirked and saw Matthew's eyes darken, blue-violet swallowed by black. "No, it's not."

Gilbert leaned down and kissed him.

Matthew knew the mechanics of kissing someone in theory. He had read descriptions of them in countless stories and understood what he was supposed to be doing.

But none of those books had prepared him for the thrill that shot down his spine or through his gut the moment Gilbert's lips gently met his. Matthew met the slight pressure with some of his own, tilting his head up to meet him. His lips tingled and, overwhelmed at the unexpected feeling, Matthew broke away from Gilbert a little to breathe unsteadily.

He opened his eyes, which had drifted shut when Gilbert leaned in towards him, to stare at his boyfriend's mouth before rolling his eyes up to meet Gilbert's. Matthew bit his lip and watched his eyes darken before taking a deep breath and kissing him once more. Prepared for the sensation, Matthew relaxed into the kiss even as his heart raced and his hand moved to rest shakily on Gilbert's chest.

His lips parted automatically and he gasped when he felt Gilbert lightly suck on his lower lip. He pressed himself against Gilbert in his excitement and felt a hand on his lower back keeping him close. A hand threaded through his hair and he ventured to nip lightly at his boyfriend's mouth, earning a surprised sound in response that made him smile a little.

Gilbert huffed out a laugh before kissing him harder, mouth moving with more purpose than before. Matthew made an eager sound and found his other hand on Gilbert's shoulder, steadying him as did his best to reduce the height difference between them. When Gilbert tentatively opened his mouth to tease the part in his lips with his tongue, Matthew reciprocated by widening the part and returning the more intimate touch. It was slow and careful, but Matthew moaned softly at the feeling.

It wasn't long before Gilbert broke the kiss and Matthew immediately turned to rest his forehead on Gilbert's shoulder to catch his breath. His heart was racing, yes, but he didn't feel any different and, as far as he could tell, his eyes weren't glowing. Relived that at the very least this activity was safe for him to pursue, Matthew melted into Gilbert's hold and moved his arms to hug him around the waist.

"You okay?" Gilbert asked, petting his hair and lightly kissing his temple.

Matthew lifted his head and looked up at him. Gilbert's eyes were serious, but his cheeks were lightly flushed and his mouth seemed slightly swollen, lips a dark pink. He didn't react to any sudden change to Matthew's appearance, so he smiled at him brightly and gave him a quick peck on that pretty mouth. "I'm brilliant."

A/N:I made the executive decision to not post the OTP version of this story, because this one grew to be my baby and also I didn't want to rewrite parts of the story to make them different enough.

I did not re-read the books for this but spent many hours on the wikia. For general Hogwarts stuff, feel free to let me know if something is monstrously wrong. The Veela mythology on is pretty thin, so I'm mostly making it work for the plot. This trope might be played out, but I haven't seen it for this pairing. This is not meant to be a crossover, so no HP characters (meaning the second generation) will appear as students.

If you have read my other stuff, then you know what to expect with my language uses. If not, well, I cuss a lot. Also, you would know how much I like connecting my stories with music, so each title is taken from a different song.

Any point of views that are not from Matthew, Gilbert, or Alistair will be written in italics.

The story title is from The Killers' "Mr. Brightside." God, I've got to be damned because I want it all. Okay, no. The actual lyric is Gotta gotta be down because I want it all, but this is how I've heard it for years and it fits better. This is one of those situations when my explanation is "I do what I want."

Also: about Alistair. So, I looked up for the first time his wikia page to find out his birthday and it lists his name as being spelled Allistor (but it is pronounced al-lis-ter). I'm going to ignore that, because I've been spelling his name this way for years. If his accent seems off to you, it's explained in the next part where he talks about his childhood. The alternate explanation is, you guessed it, I do what I want.

The title for the first part is from Halsey's "Drive." It's so simple, but we can't stay. Over-analyze again. Would it really kill you if we kissed?