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Group : NCT
Pairing : Griffyndor! Mark Lee x gn! ReaderÂ
Genre : hp au, rivals to lovers, light angst to absolute fluff
Word count : 4.4K words  |  M.list
Warnings : injury, swearing
Summary :Â âHe had nightmares of you slipping right past his fingers and him failing to catch you. He relives that moment.â
a/n: thank you for 1000 followers you absolute cuties!! sending lots of smooches and snuggles your way!!
âArenât you going to ask how the coolest champion is feeling about tomorrowâs match?â
You watched Donghyuck, your fellow housemate and best friend since you first stepped onto the Hogwarts train, expectantly. He spared you a quick glance as he plopped down beside you on the couch in your shared common room, too busy to munch on his chocolate frog to give you any further attention.Â
âIâve already asked Mark.â
You would like to be able to say you were surprised at his answer, but his teasing character has become an usual by now
It still baffled you how you managed to even tolerate each other, much less get to share a bond as deep as the one you developed along the years. You two had next to nothing in common other than your cunning wit. While Donghyuck delved deep into his love for astronomy, which you despised with a burning fervor, you dedicated your time to Quidditch entirely.Â
You loved the sport dearly, it offered you that adrenaline rush you were born to chase, that quickened heartbeat as you rushed to catch the Golden Snitch. You spent every spare moment you could find in your hectic schedule on the pitch with the wind threading through strands of your hair and your hands clenched so tightly onto your broomstick your knuckles turn white. And you adored every second of that. But what you definitely didnât adore was Mark Lee.
âAnd worst best friend award goes to surprise surprise Lee Donghyuck!â
He shrugged unimpressed by your weak attack and focuses back on his damned frog.
Mark Lee. Unfortunately for your sanity, you had to see him almost as often as you decided to practice on your own. If there was one thing you shared with him and you respected him for was his own commitment to Quidditch. More often that not, youâd have to share the pitch with him in your spare time, taunting each other for the entire period of time you spent practicing. He was the beloved Seeker of Gryffindor, their pride and joy and your rival ever since you were both accepted in your respective teams.
âSo whatâs your score against him?â
âItâs a draw.â
Yes, you were that petty. You and Mark kept the score on how many times you defeated each other in matches. It didnât actually matter which team actually won, the only thing that mattered for your childish competition was who managed to catch the Golden Snitch.
âThatâs why youâre so tense?â
âBingo, smartpants.â
âWhat even is the big deal about your little game? Itâs not like either of you actually gets something out of this.â
âI gain the right to stick my win in his face and vice versa.â
Teasing between you and Mark often stretched your patience to its maximum and ended up in one of you snapping like a chord under pressure. Donghyuck shivered as he remembered the final match of your fourth year when your house lost against Gryffindor due to Mark catching the Snitch before you. He could vividly remember the blood rushing through his veins in fear at the sight of you battling Mark shoulder to shoulder at a dangerous speed, arm stretched out so far he believed youâd topple over at any moment.
He doesnât want a repeat of the miserable image of you he saw at the time, a defeated you, slumped on the bench in your changing room, head lowered in ultimate shame and disappointment as bitter tears rolled off your face, splashing against the floor as Donghyuck watched worriedly through the half opened door. Mark had really done a number on you that day.
âYou have to win, Y/N.â
âWhy the sudden change of heart, wasnât our competition meaningless for your highness?â
âI donât give a frogâs toe about your competition, but I want to spend time time with you this summer. And not just to watch you practice until you drop.â
You scoffed. You knew that he was referring to the summer after your horrifying defeat against Mark. Donghyuck could barely get a hold of you since you spent all day on your broom, tiring yourself out to your limit.
âDonât worry, I donât plan on losing.â
~
âAlready wetting your pants, Y/L/N?â
You didnât have to turn around to put a face to the taunting voice behind you.
âI donât know, Lee, should I? You must know since you have more experience than me.â
Markâs face scrunched up at the reminder of his first year when he lost control of his broom and he quite literally saw his life flash before his eyes. Not very Gryffindor from his part.
âWhatever, we both know how this is about to end. Save your cheap defense until after this final. My team will win this yearâs tournament and Iâll beat you individually too.â
The reminder of the stakes of this match werenât soothing your nerves at all, especially mere hours before you were facing Mark on the pitch. You curled your fists and kept a straight face, not daring to show him any weakness from your side.
âShove that pointless confidence up your ass until you prove youâre worthy of it, Lee.â
âOh so fourth year isnât enough proof?â
The corner of your lips twitched and your eyes narrowed. zeroing on his tense featured in a chilling glare.
âYou said matches donât count, didnât you? You were the one insisting that you didnât consider anything a victory other than catching the Snitch before me. And in that aspect, last I verified, weâre equals.â
His lips moved soundlessly, trying to come up with a retort, but you didnât spare him enough time to come up with anything, turning on your heels and marching away to meet Donghyuck.
âYouâll see, Y/L/N, youâll never be my equal.â
His voice followed you tauntingly through the busy corridors, your rushed footsteps taking you anywhere but close to the only person who could make your blood boil.
~
It took three pep talks and four âfriendlyâ attacks of your personal space from Donghyuck to make you gather your spirits and stop the tremors shaking up your entire body. He walked you to the changing roomâs door, patting you roughly on the back one last time
âGive your best, Iâll be watching from the stands. I trust that you wonât let me get bored. Also, remember that if you lose youâre sleeping on the mat in front of the entrance in our common room.â
And with that he skipped away, hurried to find a good spot in the stands that were already starting to fill up with students. You sigh, used to his weird way of encouraging you and stepped inside the room, greeting Jungwoo, your captain and your fellow teammates, starting to change into your Quidditch uniform.
As soon as you set foot on the familiar pitch, your eyes met Markâs who stood straight and proud side by side with his own captain sporting his Gryffindor red cape and holding his broom, the newest Nimbus model.
You Keeper was talking your ear off about the âamazingly efficientâ polish he found, but you couldnât seem to rip your gaze away from Mark who in turn seemed to burn through you with his gaze. He threw you a smirk as if provoking you to lose your cool. But you decided you wouldnât allow him the satisfaction.
The stands were already roaring to life. Any match between you and Mark was very sought after by everyone in your school due to the intensity it held each time. Despite the already loudness surrounding the pitch, one high pitched screech couldnât help but catch your attention.
âKICK SOME ASS, Y/N! Or the mat is waiting for you!â
Count on Donghyuck to be the embarrassing mom rooting for you at her childâs every sport event. You shoot him a warning look to which he only responded with an over dramatic wink and an even louder âwhoopâ. You could only sigh, appreciating his support despite your lack of reaction to it.
âIâll kick your ass, Lee Donghyuck.â
You muttered, trying to stop the smile forming on your lips. A snort came from the side, making your head snap in its direction.
âTry your best, Y/LN, too bad youâll still disappoint lover boy over there.â
âJealous, Lee?â
âYou wish.â
Madam Hooch interrupted your banter with a shrill whistle, stepping in between the two teams while holding the Quaffle.
âAlright, boys and girls, mount your brooms.â
Within seconds all players were high in the air, adrenaline pumping through your veins, your heated gaze locked with Markâs. It became kind of a tradition between the two of you, intense stare downs before the official start of the game. Madam Hoochâs voice which carried the same words every time sounded far away as she bent down, ready to throw the Quaffle.
âAlright, I want a clean and fair game, hear me? Good luck and may the best win.â
The long deafening whistle signified the start of the match and Chasers whizzed past you, speeding towards the Quaffle. You and Mark broke eye contact, each of you getting immersed in the game, your sole focus being on catching sight of the Golden Snitch.
The weather worsened as the game progressed, the unpredictable May weather acting up. The clouds darkened, completely shutting out any ray of sunshine trying to sneak past them, a thickening fog suffocating the school grounds. Slowly but surely, what started as a few scattered rain drops soon turned into a full blown storm, a cold shower falling atop of you, the harsh wind whipping your capes back and forth. The stands were barely visible, the cheers from below inaudible over the wind and the playersâ yells.
If it wasnât hard enough already to spot the small, golden ball, now it seemed close to impossible. You could make out Markâs silhouette flying around, but you didnât linger any longer on him, focused on catching sight of the Snitch. Bludgers were flying everywhere, the Beatersâ efficiency decreasing because of the lack of visibility, another worry to add to the list.
Gryffindor was in the lead with 20 points, the score remaining tight as the match dragged on and on. You had already been playing for a while, your uniforms were already soaked and your skin paling from the biting cold of the unforgiving rain, but the conditions only spurred you further. You had to catch the Snitch.
Just as your patience was running thin, you caught sight of a fast-moving golden spot, hovering on the sidelines. Without a second thought, you sped towards it, your surroundings blurring as your eyes focused solely on the already moving Snitch. Mark noticed your forceful actions immediately, whizzing past the others players and nearing you.
âAnd Y/L/N seems to have finally spotted the Golden Snitch! Both Seekers are bolting after it, I can barely keep track of them!â
The crowd exploded, cheering louder than ever, but you couldnât hear anything, pushing yourself to the limit as Mark caught up to you and you battled side by side once again. The Snitch seemed to be angrier than ever, jerking furiously at every corner, but you didnât let yourself be caught by surprise, keeping up with it.
Until it started speeding in a straight line, stopping its irregular twists and turns and you knew that was your chance. You flew at top speed, stretching your hand in front of you so much that your muscles almost protested and Mark followed suit. You were shoulder to shoulder with him, subtly knocking into each other in an attempt to make the other lose their balance.
âMove! Itâs mine!â
His hoarse voice yelled right by your year, only making you grit your teeth harder.
âFuck off, Lee!â
Your fingertips were a breath away from the Snitch, Markâs arm pressing into yours, the cold wind biting at your cheeks. Desperately, you shifted your weight from your bottom to the hand clutching your broomstick, leaning forward on your arm and before Mark could react, you lurched forward slightly, encasing the running object in the palm of your hand, clutching it so tightly it left marks into the skin, but you didnât care.Â
You did it. You caught the Golden Snitch.
âY/N!â
Before you could regain your stance, a Bludger knocked into your broom forcefully. With your already unsteady grip on the broomstick, you toppled over in an instant, the broom slipping from under you, but you didnât dare unclench the fingers trapping the Snitch in your hand.
Markâs desperate yell seemed to be the only sound echoing in your ears as you plummeted. The last thing you saw before you knocked loudly into the ground with a sickening crack were Markâs distressed features, a hand stretched to its full extent in front of him as he rushed to get a hold of you, your own outstretched fingers slipping right past his.
~
Surprisingly, as soon as you managed to crack your eyes open you werenât hit with a blinding light. It still seemed to take a great effort to keep them open for longer than a second, your hand twitching in an attempt to bring it to cover your sensitive eyes, but being stopped by a weight forcing it down.Â
âY/N?â
You groaned, scrunching up your face as soreness hit your body full force at your attempt to move.
âMerlin, Y/N, can you open your eyes?â
You could recognize Donghyuckâs voice anywhere, but the almost desperate tone he used was quite foreign to you.
âCome on, babe, open your eyes. Madam Pomfrey! â
You realized the weight on your hand were actually his fingers which now squeezed yours encouragingly as his other hand came up to smooth strands of your hair away from your face. You clenched your teeth, forcing an eye open.
âStop fucking yelling, punk.â
At your annoyed retort, he let out a relieved sigh, wrapping his arms gently around you while trying not to jostle you too much.
âThank Merlin, youâre back.â
After Madam Pomfrey checked on you and updated you on your injuries which were a bit more serious than you expected, she left you with Donghyuck once again. He leaned back in his chair, a lot more relaxed than in the past days heâs had to spend by your bedside. You furrowed your eyebrows.
âThe match. We won the match right?â
Donghyuck snorted as your first question was about Quidditch instead of your own health, but it didnât even surprise him anymore.
âYes, you crazy hag, you won.â
âYes! We did it! We won!â
Youâve never felt more relieved in your entire life. You finally proved to yourself that all the time and work youâve put into Quidditch wasnât for nothing. And if this was the elevation youâd feel after winning cups, you were ready to spend the rest of your youth chasing the Snitch.
âYou should eat some chocolate, gain your energy back.â
Now that he mentioned it, you finally focused on your nightstand that overflowed with sweets. You grabbed the closest one, a chocolate frog, not hesitating to stuff it all in your mouth and collect the card inside. Another Nicolas Flamel, you already had two of those.Â
âThose are a lot.â
âTell me about it. Donât worry, Iâll help you finish them.â
âI donât doubt that.â
âHyuck, tell me, did Jungwoo cry?â
âShouldâve seen him, like a baby. Iâm pretty sure he filled half of that cup with snot-â
âEwww, I didnât need all the gross details. Ah, Iâm sorry for missing that. And Leeâs face, I bet Iâd sleep like a baby for the next 10 years if I had the chance to see that.â
Donghyuckâs lips were suddenly pulled into a smirk, eyes glinting with a dangerous mischief.
âYou should see one of your beaters, damn nice nose Mark delivered.â
Your munching slowed down, gulping down the sweetness loudly.
âWhat do you mean? Did that petty git start a fight?â
âWouldnât say it was out of pettiness actually.â
Mark was the first to land beside your crumpled figure, dismounting his broom faster than ever and crouching hurriedly before you. His hand ghosted over your cold cheek, too scared to touch you in case he did more harm than good. His shaking pupils fixated on you, running a hundred miles per hour over your face, hoping, praying that youâd open your eyes and celebrate in his face.
âHey, wake up, donât play games on the pitch, you already won! Y/L/N!â
Mark knew deep inside that you had no games left to play after a fall like that, but it was his first time seeing you so small, so hurt, so defeated despite the shining Golden Snitch still clutched loosely in your limp hand. It scared him.
âBloody hell, wake up! Madam Hooch! Help! Anyone, help!â
His head snapped around trying to catch sight of anyone coming to your aid, eyes scanning through the fog crazily. The rain seemed to fall faster and faster, the chill settling deep into your bones. Exhausted, Mark lowered his head in defeat, his forehead gently leaning on yours, his nose nudging against yours. One of his hands still touched your cheek, lightly caressing it, thumb running over the apple of your cheek as his other hand curled into a fist against the ground.
Jungwoo landed next, almost tripping over his broom as he rushed over to you and knelt next to you, opting to ignore the position Mark was in and focus on your well being. Markâs head didnât even turn as he spoke lowly.
âDo something for Merlinâs sake. Get Madam Hooch, or Pomfrey! Anyone dammit, just to something!â
Mark raised himself at the lack of response from Jungwoo who seemed rotten to his spot, freezing at the sight of you.
âAre you deaf?! Fucking help!â
That seemed to snap Jungwoo out of his frozen state as he jumped to his feet, sprinting towards the stand where teachers usually stayed during matches. One by one, your teams landed and gathered near you as Markâs yells of help guided them to you.
âMerlin, that doesnât look good.â
Markâs burning gaze settled on your beater who stood a few meters away, leaning on his broom.
âIt would have looked better if you did your part right.â
The beater rolled his eyes at Markâs harsh remark.
âRelax, man, I just wasnât playing attention for a moment.â
âAnd you think thatâs a proper excuse?!â
Mark was fired up by now, lifting himself to his feet as one of your Chasers, a year younger than you crouched by your side, gripping your hand. He sauntered over, coming face to face with the beater who didnât seem that interested.
âIâm just saying itâs not my fault their own incompetence landed themselves in the hospital wing, Iâm not pulling anyoneâs wight al-â
He didnât get to finish his mocking words as Markâs fist met his nose with a loud crunch, Markâs powerful swing sending him to the ground as blood started dripping from his nose steadily.
âDonât you ever talk about Y/N like that. Not ever again. If I hear one bad word about them coming out of your worthless mouth, Iâll hex you into next year. Youâll never be half of the player Y/N already is, remember your place, asshole.â
Madam Hooch was already tending to you by the time Mark turned back to you, deeming it safe enough for you to be moved to the hospital wing. Donghyuck, who sprinted out of the stand as soon as he heard your name coming out of Jungwooâs mouth, held your head in his lap, smoothed down your hair, pushing away wet strands that covered your eyes.
Mark strode over to you, taking off his cap and laying it over your body as he slotted an arm under your legs, his other coming around your back. He lifted your body, cradling you against his chest as Donghyuck also stood up to fix your position in Markâs arms into a more comfortable one.
âOff to the hospital wing,now. Quick, quick, quick!â
Mark didnât waste another moment before he hurried inside the castle with you in his hold and Donghyuck quick on his heels.
âMark Lee stood up for me? The same Mark Lee who hates my guts since we first got in our Quidditch teams?â
âDo you know another Mark Lee? Maybe he didnât hate you that much after all, orâŠnot at all. After all, all these chocolate frogs are from him, said something about seeing you exchange some cards with his Griffyndor friend in class or something.â
âHe visited?â
âWe wouldnât be able to get rid of him sometimes. He opened up to me once when we met outside the door trying to sneak in one night.â
âWhy were you even sneaking in?â
âI was bored, okay? I had no one to tire me out during the day.â
âHey!â
âAnyway, he said he had nightmares of you slipping right past his fingers and him failing to catch you. He relives that moment.â
âDid it really affect him that much? Accidents happen all the time.â
âNot to you, Y/N.â
âMaybe, but Iâm just another player from the opposite team., right? âŠDo you think heâŠ?â
Donghyuck brought a hand up to his head, massaging his temples as he sighed with annoyance.
âYouâre too dense.â
âHow could I have known? â
âLook, just talk to him as soon as you can. That boy needs to finally sleep properly, even my grandmaâs bag has a lighter color than his eye bags.â
You just nodded, a bit skeptic.
You were discharged on that same day. Jungwoo almost cried again when you met in the common room, hugging you tightly, praising and scolding you at the same time with a brotherly smile.
You first saw Mark Lee in the halfway, after your Potions class. He was sitting on the ledge of a large window, staring seemingly into space. Donghyuckâs words echo in your mind as you decide to approach him and hop onto the space beside him, settling comfortable against the window behind you.
âWoah, Lee, Donghyuck was right, you could really use some concealer.â
Mark jostled as if he only noticed you now. His wide doe eyes racked over your smiling face and he seemed to panic internally.
âWhe-When did you get here? Why are you out of bed?â
âBecause I was discharged?â
âWhat? Since when?â
âEarlier today.â
âOhâŠâ
He cleared his throat awkwardly, eyes running wild everywhere but in your direction. You chuckled.
âItâs okay, I already know how much the almighty Mark Lee worried over poor little me.â
Mark scoffed, his embarrassed behavior vanishing.Â
âDonât get ahead of yourself. I see that hit to your head didnât help with your sharp tongue, disappointingly.â
He swiftly moved away, starting to walk away from you until your hand clasped around his wrist, stopping him mid step.
âWait, I just⊠I wanted to thank you.â
Mark seemed confused now, turning back to you with furrowed eyebrows.
âThank me? What for?â
âStanding up for me and uh, you know, taking care of me.â
Markâs face darkened at the memory of your beater.
âThat git was just asking for it and I barely did anything.â
âThen at least let me repay you for the chocolate frogs you brought me.â
Now he seemed to choke on a confused âhuh?â with a bewildered expression that just melted your otherwise cocky demeanor.
âW-what? How-â
Markâs words died in his throat as you slotted your lips against his in a teasing kiss, your hand holding the nape of his next affectionately and pulling him closer you. Mark took a few moments to realize it was actually happening in reality, not just an illusion from the lack of sleep. His hands came up to your waist, wrapping you in his embrace and pulling you against him impossibly closer. Years of pushed down passion and longing were exchanged in that moment, dizzying both of you.
As you pulled away from each other for air, Mark could taste the faint sweetness of chocolate on his lips. He smiled and his whole rival image turned into a lovesick teenage boy with a smile brighter than the sun. He laughed quietly, thumbs caressing your sides gently.
âI see you enjoyed your chocolate.â
You leaned more into him, pulling his face so close to yours that your noses brushed against each otherâs, your ravished breath fanning across his lips as you whispered.
âI did. Iâm glad Iâm so interesting to you that you observe me in class enough to know that I collect chocolate frogs cards.â
You expected a blush to paint his cheeks red, an elbow in your side or at least an annoyed huff but you got none of that. Instead, one of Markâs hands came up to cradle your cheek as he stared deep into your eyes with an unreadable look.
âExcuse me but itâs hard not to look when I have the prettiest person Iâve ever seen who also happens to be my crush since 3rd year.â
Your eyes widened, searching his for any hint that he may be just lying or teasing you. But all you could find was pure, unadulterated fondness, a withheld fire burning low in his eyes. He leaned down, lips brushing against the shell of your ear and sending goosebumps across the expanse of your skin.
âItâs been so hard not to just pull you aside and snog you senseless, especially in your Quidditch uniform.â
You decided to play along. You brought your fingers to his heated neck, running them faintly over his skin and you smirked seeing him shiver at your touch.
âHaving a kink for uniforms, Lee?â
Mark screeched lowly, pulling away from you as if burned. He smoothed down his robes, fixating you with a glare that made you laugh.
âY/N, Iâm serious, though. I like you, I really really lo-âŠ.like you.â
You noticed his stutter, but it only made your smile widen as you stretched out a hand to intertwine his fingers with yours and pull him along down the corridor.
âHm, Iâll need some more proof of that.â
Mark squeezed your hand in response, chuckling at you sweetly. He leaned over, pressing a feather like kiss to your temple.
âDonât worry, youâre nowhere done with your payment back to me. And I only accept it in the form of kisses and cuddles.â
You smiled at each other, your hearts finally settling satisfied in your chests after years of internal turmoil that finally burned out.
âThat can be arranged easily.â
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