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Seungmin was enjoying the last few days of fall.

The leaves, that had once been flying crisp and full of colors, were showing their last signs of life and were starting to lay motionless on the school's grounds, washed away by the many November rains.

Winter was slowly but inexorably coming; everyone could feel it. The days were starting to get more and more short as time went by, everything you touched felt helplessly colder, and the warm autumn scents were leaving their spotlight to winter's, fresh and sharp.

But to Kim Seungmin and his Cold Fire, it all made no matter.

The Slytherin was sitting comfortably on one of the small stone walls that stood between the Greenhouses and the actual castle, a book – Fantastic Beasts and where to find them – at hand and his little blue-flamed fire standing beside him, inside a small pot his mother had once used to store her freshly-made jam in.

His slender fingers were sliding gracefully through the pages, and the boy couldn't have been more immersed in its topics: animals had always intrigued him, and seeing them all being listed carefully joined two of the things he liked most – nature, and order.

The Demiguise was undoubtedly interesting, and so were the Manticore, the Winged Horses and the Hippocampuses... he might've even liked Basilisks, had there not been an appearance in somewhat recent years.

His father at the time had only been a secretary at the Ministry, and his mother at her last year at Hogwarts: the terror with which they spoke about it had made the boy become somehow terrified about the creature as well, though he had never even seen a picture of one. Its big yellow eyes, and slender body, and sharp fawns... it would be enough for anyone to not want to know any further.

Either way, Seungmin also felt helplessly attracted to snakes, serpents, or anything that had to do with them: he was a Slytherin, after all.

Since he had found he could not really sympathize with Basilisks, he had done his research and discovered other beasts that were apart of the branch: among the many, the Horned Serpent had been the one to catch his attention the most. The boy could not say exactly if it had been its peculiar black color, or its deep blue eyes, but he had immediately felt attracted to the animal.

The way they were described as owners of incredible magical properties, with high intelligence and eyes so fierce they could look right through you... he found it extremely fascinating.

He'd often wondered if things had been differet for him: if he had instead been born in Nothern America, and been sent to Ilvermorny, would he have been put in the School's House that was named after the creature? Or would he have been put in some other House?

Though interesting, in any case, the thoughts had little importance: he had been born in England, had been sent at Hogwarts and had been made a Slytherin; and he was more than pleased with how things had worked out for him.

Seungmin was just about to move on to the next chapter, when someone leaned on the other side of the stonewall and stole the book from him.

"Hey!" protested the Slytherin before turning around to see who it had been.

"Hi Minnie" answered cheerfully Jeongin, bringing himself up to be sat on the same wall.

"Oh – it's you" said Seungmin flatly, reaching to grab hold of his book.

"I'm sorry to be such a disappointment" replied the Ravenclaw, faking being hurt even when he truthfully couldn't have cared less.

Seungmin rolled his eyes. "Why'd you come anyway? Like do you have something important to tell me?"

Jeongin shook his shoulders mysteriously. "May be I have. May be I don't. Who knows".

Seungmin looked at him carefully: Jeongin was a good friend, and amazing at keeping secrets. Sadly, the older boy could not really be so positive when it came to judge that ability with secrets concerning his own person.

The Slytherin had in fact noticed the not-so-smooth answer Jeongin had given Professor Longbottom that morning at breakfast, when the ladder had suspiciously asked for the homework to be delivered today and the former had amiably replied that "you'd said they wouldn't be due until next week!"

Wondering if that was the reason why he had decided to come join him, – Jeongin had a long history of often feeling guilty when telling lies, and the Slytherin was usually the one he confided his problems with – Seungmin came to the conclusion that Jeongin was indeed trying to tell him that: and what better way to do it than give him a little help?

Seungmin smirked, and sat straighter. "I know your secret, Yang Jeongin", he said confidently.

The reaction the friend had was all he could've hoped for and more: a sudden scarn color creeping up on the ladder's face, the slightest hint of panick flashing before his eyes and an awkward laugh to follow.

"I have no secrets" he stated.

Oh, please. "You sure? 'Cause you sure look like you have".

The boy shifted uncomfortably. "The secrets I have in no way concern you".

"Oh, they surely don't. But do not worry, I say – I know everything about yours".

Jeongin tensed up. "Like what?", he said trying to sound nonchalant.

Seungmin almost smiled: his plan was working, sooner or later the Ravenclaw would give in and confirm his speculations. "Well, for a start, that it concerns something happening at School".

"You can't know" murmured Jeongin, as white as ever.

Seungmin would've wanted to go on with the joke, but something about the younger's expression made him stop: he was expecting him to blush, surely, and to reply in a more petty-like pattern. Surely not to suddenly seem sick.

"Innie, look, there's nothing wrong with it", he said, trying to reassure him. "I mean, you know this! it happens to everybody, stop feeling so guilty about it!"

Jeongin looked at him with wide eyes. "Are you telling me you know?..."

"About your secret? Coz, surely! I have known for a while" well, if this morning can count as for 'a while'.

Jeongin seemed to get more and more relaxed as the talk was going on: Seungmin assumed it was because he had realized he wouldn't have to say it himself.

The Ravenclaw allowed himself to smile. "So you're telling me you actually know that–"

"You just lied to a Professor" completed Seungmin.

"Jisung likes Minho" finished the other.

"Wait, what?"

~🤍~
can you hear it? cuz yes, it's the tea sizzling🤭

y'all knew someone was going to find out sooner or later, and i think i found a pretty great way to that hilariously.

what do you think is going to happen now? is seungmin gonna rush to tell minho? is jeongin going to be able to stop him?

stay tuned to find out ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )👉🏻👉🏻

Vic🌙.