Hu Yetao stood in the center of the quidditch pitch and watched with intense concentration as his team practiced maneuvers high above him in the crisp September air. He clutched his Firebolt in one hand, dried sweat on his brow from moving through his own set of grueling Seeker exercises at the start of practice.
He grinned in triumph as his team managed to complete a particularly complicated passing maneuver - and did it flawlessly. He clapped and whistled his approval before signaling for them to return to the ground.
They landed around him in a semi-circle; exhilarated smiles on all of their flushed faces. The only returning members of the Gryffindor team were Hu Yetao, Zhang Xinyao, and Xue Bayi; the other four were all new faces.
"Great job everyone," Hu Yetao said enthusiastically. "I knew you could do it - please don't forget exactly what we did today. We'll run it again next practice to make sure it's cemented in your brains before our first game against Ravenclaw."
The Gryffindors thanked Hu Yetao before proceeding to the change rooms.
"Ravenclaw hasn't a hope," Zhang Xinyao said with a grin as he and Hu Yetao quickly collected the practice equipment and placed it back into the battered wooden trunk before heading off the pitch together.
Hu Yetao returned the grin, emerald eyes sparkling with energy. "Yeah, we have a decent team this year. I was a little unsure when I saw He Yifan and Rong Yao at the tryouts for Beaters - but they're brilliant!"
Zhang Xinyao laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I know what you mean, they're so little but they pack a punch."
The two pushed through the doors at the back of the stadium tower and jogged up the stairs with their brooms in hand.
"I think their size may help," Hu Yetao commented. "It makes them quick flyers instead of looking ungainly in the air."
Zhang Xinyao nodded his agreement as they pushed through the door into the loud chatter and rushing shower water of the boy's change room. It appeared that the Ravenclaw team were already gearing up for their practice as the room was full of blue robes as well as red.
Hu Yetao smiled to himself as the two teams spouted some good-natured teasing back and forth behind him as he walked to his locker; each team certain of victory for the upcoming match.
He'd missed quidditch over the summer, and now it was the only time he felt even halfway normal.
Hu Yetao had a quick shower and washed his hair before toweling off and slipping into clean clothes. It was Saturday and he was wearing his old worn-in jeans and t-shirt along with his favorite scuffed trainers to complete his typical weekend ensemble.
"Hey Hu Yetao, can I ask you a question?"
Hu Yetao peered around his open locker door at the captain of the Ravenclaw team; Zeng Hanjiang. "Yeah sure," he replied as he hung up his damp towel.
Hanjiang walked over, absently fastening up an armguard. "I happened to pass by the pitch during Slytherin's practice Thursday night and it appeared as though their Beaters were practicing the Dopplebeater Defence."
Hu Yetao raised his brow in surprise. "Really?"
"Hey Hu Yetao, do you want me to wait?" Zhang Xinyao called out as he slammed his locker shut and turned to him, ready to leave.
"Nah, I'll catch up. Jing Long's waiting, remember?" Hu Yetao called back.
"Right." Zhang Xinyao waved and walked out of the locker room, the rest of the Ravenclaw team trickling out with him to start their practice session.
The locker room was finally silent as Hu Yetao turned back to Hanjiang. "Is that legal at Hogwarts?" he asked, knowing that the act of both Beaters hitting the bludger at the same time for maximum power - and maximum impact - was permitted in professional quidditch but he'd never seen it done at Hogwarts before.
Hanjiang finished lacing up his leather armguard and looked up. "I believe it's technically allowed, but no team has attempted it in all of my time here."
Hu Yetao nodded as he chewed his bottom lip in thought. "Well I certainly wouldn't put it past Slytherin to be the first," he finally surmised.
Hanjiang nodded in agreement. "I suppose all we can do is warn Hufflepuff and just be prepared for it."
"Yeah, thanks for letting me know," Hu Yetao replied with a brief smile. "I'll have to keep my team on their toes when it comes to what Slytherin's Beaters are up to next match."
"I suspect the Seeker will be most at risk," Hanjiang pointed out. "Especially you Hu Yetao, they know how essential you are to a Gryffindor victory."
Hu Yetao shrugged self-consciously. "I have a great team behind me this season," he replied. "So I'm not as essential as Slytherin may think."
Hanjiang smiled and held out his hand. "Well, good luck Yetao, I'll see you on the pitch next Friday."
Hu Yetao shook his hand. "Yeah, same to you."
When Hu Yetao went to remove his hand from Hanjiang's, the other boy's grip suddenly tightened. Hu Yetao's eyes darted up to Hanjiang's face and he paled as he noticed the dilated pupils in Hanjiang's bright eyes.
"Hanjiang?" he said, feeling a strange sense of deja vu wash over him.
Hanjiang held fast as he took a step towards him, nostrils flaring. "You… you smell delicious Hu Yetao."
Hu Yetao groaned inwardly; it was Kazuma all over again. "Hanjiang, let go of my hand," he said firmly, taking a step away from him.
Hanjiang frowned as though confused and then before Hu Yetao could even take a breath to speak, Hanjiang had brought up his other hand and pushed him up against the wall of steel lockers at his back.
Hu Yetao inhaled sharply, surprised by the sudden impact.
Hanjiang pressed the length of his body up against Hu Yetao's, his hands pinning Hu Yetao's arms to his sides to keep him in place. He smirked in satisfaction and then proceeded to lean in and press his lips to the side of Hu Yetao's neck to suckle at the soft skin.
Hu Yetao couldn't stop the moan from escaping his lips, his knees trembling as his arousal shot into overdrive and his dread melted away. He was instantly hard and rolled his hips against Anthony's body.
Anthony growled and immediately inserted his thigh further between Hu Yetao's legs, one hand dropping to his backside to facilitate Hu Yetao's rutting motions.
"Oh fuck..." Hu Yetao gasped, eyes rolling back in his head as he continued to thrust his jean-clad erection against the muscular Alpha.
"Yes," Hanjiang hissed against Hu Yetao's shower-warmed skin, pleased at eliciting such pleasure from his delectable quarry. He moved his lips downwards and scraped his teeth along the soft juncture of Hu Yetao's shoulder.
Hu Yetao instantly shivered with desire and Hanjiang smiled around the skin in his mouth when he felt Hu Yetao's response. He set his teeth more firmly around Hu Yetao's flesh and bit down.
Hu Yetao's eyes flew open and his foggy mind quickly cleared. He wrenched his head to the side, as far from Hanjiang's sharp Alpha teeth as possible. Unfortunately, this had the unwelcome result of him striking his head against the open locker door beside him and being cut by the sharp steel edge.
The pain only seemed to fuel Hu Yetao's anger and he promptly shoved Hanjiang away from him. The Alpha's grip had slackened when Hu Yetao had started to respond to him so he stumbled backward without requiring too much force.
"Stay the fuck over there!" Hu Yetao panted warningly, eyes burning as he held up one hand as though to ward him off.
Hanjiang remained where he was but his eyes were still burning feverishly, not even blinking as he stared back at Hu Yetao, hands twitching at his sides as though wanting to grab ahold of him again.
Hu Yetao quickly withdrew his wand from the waistband of his jeans and pointed it at him. "Stay right there Hanjiang," he said as calmly as he could manage, his heart beating rapidly in his chest and his body tensed in flight or fight mode. "I'm leaving and you will stay here until I'm gone. Then all of this will stop and you will be able to think clearly, and know that you don't want to claim me."
Hu Yetao swallowed, horrified at the thought of what could have happened. He slowly backed away from the other boy, who hadn't moved a muscle during his's sermon. Hu Yetao walked back towards the door, never taking his eyes - or wand - off of the tense Alpha. He cursed the fact that his robe and bag were still in his locker but didn't want to take the chance that Hanjiang might jump him again if he went back for them.
Hu Yetao bumped up against the door and, with one last glance at Hanjiang, spun around and pushed through. He sprinted down the short hallway to the stairs and leaped down, taking two or three steps at a time in his haste.
Hu Yetao burst outside into the cold air and kept running, wand still clutched in one hand. When he felt as though he were far enough away, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. Hanjiang was nowhere to be seen and he exhaled shakily in relief, bending over with his hands on his knees, breathing hard.
Once he'd caught his breath, he straightened up and absently reached up to wipe the sweat from his eye - and his hand came away red. Hu Yetao frowned then remembered that he'd cut himself on the locker door.
He cursed, half wondering if he could heal himself without a mirror.
"Tao?"
Hu Yetao spun around and instinctively raised his wand, body still fraught with adrenaline.
Zhou Keyu held up his hands, eyes wide. "Whoa! Steady there Chosen One."
Hu Yetao slowly lowered his wand again. "Sorry," he said, knowing he must look mental running around with his wand out, no robe, and blood dripping down the side of his face.
Zhou Keyu merely appeared concerned though. "Are you all right?" he asked. "Did Kazuma's attacker get to you too?"
Hu Yetao frowned. "Who?"
Zhou Keyu's gaze shifted over Hu Yetao's shoulder and Hu Yetao instantly turned to see what he was looking at. Hanjiang had exited the tower and was walking towards the quidditch pitch, clutching a broom in one hand and absently rubbing his temple with the other as though bewildered.
"Keyu?" Hu Yetao prompted, satisfied that Hanjiang no longer posed a threat. He knew he would have to look into why this was happening to him when he was alone in confined spaces with a single Alpha, but he needed to know what Zhou Keyu was talking about first.
Keyu turned back to him. "Kazuma was sliced up somewhere near the lake."
"Sliced up?" Hu Yetao repeated, stunned.
"Yeah, some sort of cutting curse or something."
Sectumsempra drifted unbidden through Hu Yetao's mind and he quickly shook his head. "Is he all right?"
Zhou Keyu nodded, not looking too concerned. "Oh yeah, Chen Zihan had him fixed up and out of the infirmary in an hour. Don't know why anyone would target such a straight-laced Gryffindor."
"Hmm…." Hu Yetao hummed thoughtfully but his mind was spinning. Why Kazuma indeed? Did it have something to do with what happened between Kaz and himself? Only Zhang Xinyao and Jing-Long knew about that though. Would Zhang Xinyao in his new protective mode carry out revenge on Kaz or would only his true Alpha mate do something like that…
"Are you sure you're all right?" Zhou Keyu asked, interrupting his musing. "Because you do know your head is bleeding, right?"
Hu Yetao blinked and forced a smile. "Yeah, quidditch practice," he dismissed offhand.
Keyu didn't look entirely convinced. "You seem a little jumpy Tao, are you heading back to the castle? I could walk with you?"
Hu Yetao was about to refuse then thought better of it. Maybe an escort wasn't such a bad idea until he could sit down and figure this out with Jing-Long. He knew Zhou Keyu was an Alpha but the Slytherin appeared unaffected by him. "Yeah, all right."
The two fell into step as they walked back towards the castle together. Hu Yetao shoved his hands into his jeans pockets for warmth, cursing the fact that he hadn't been able to grab his robe from the locker room.
"So do they have any idea who attacked Kazuma?" Hu Yetao asked.
Zhou Keyu shook his head. "Not as far as I know. No magical signature could be traced on the wounds and he doesn't have any known enemies either. Bit of a mystery until it happens again I suppose. Kazuma isn't allowed to go anywhere on his own for a while. His parents are furious that this happened on school grounds, but honestly, a lot worse has happened here over the years."
Hu Yetao snorted in agreement then glanced sideways at him. "So… was the person trying to kill Kazuma, do you think, or just… you know, scare him?"
"Definitely out to scare him, I'd say," Zhou Keyu replied reflectively. "The cuts weren't that deep and he was left out in the open. Kazuma can't remember a thing, just that he was walking near the lake and then something knocked into him and everything went black."
Hu Yetao frowned at the description; it didn't sound like a wand attack, at least not at first. "Perhaps it was a wandering Acromantula?"
"Yeah, I think that's what they're investigating at the moment, with Hagrid's assistance," Zhou Keyu replied as they approached the wide stone entrance steps of the school.
"Zhou Keyu"
Hu Yetao and Keyu both looked up to see Oscar striding towards them, a strangely blank expression on his face.
He stopped in front of them, eyes glancing between the two before finally settling on Zhou Keyu. "Thought you were coming to the library," he said without preamble.
"I was on my way, just helping Hu Yetao here," Keyu replied evenly, and Hu Yetao noticed that Keyu's expression was oddly defiant. "As you can see, he's been injured."
Oscar's eyes flicked to Hu Yetao's forehead a moment before returning to Zhou Keyu. "Yes, I can see that. Why don't you carry on to the library and I'll walk him to the infirmary and then meet you there?"
Hu Yetao frowned as the two seemed to be conducting some sort of stand-off before Keyu finally nodded.
"See you later Hu Yetao," he said with a tight smile before striding past Oscar and disappearing into the school.
Hu Yetao's frown deepened. "I don't need an escort Oscar," he said irritably as Oscar turned to him expectantly.
"I beg to differ Yetao."
Much to Hu Yetao's surprise, Oscar reached out to take him by the elbow and began to walk him into the school. Hu Yetao was so shocked that he went along with it without complaint.
When the shock wore off, halfway up the first set of stairs, Hu Yetao wanted to tear his arm out of the Slytherin's firm grasp but Oscar's touch was warm and tingly on the bare skin of his arm and he just couldn't find it in himself to do it. He cursed how pathetic he was as he walked alongside the Alpha, trying to ignore how Oscar's warmth was seeping into his side as they walked nearly shoulder to shoulder.
"Why are you doing this Oscar?" Hu Yetao asked crossly. If he couldn't physically force himself away from Oscar then perhaps he could do it verbally. "I know how much you hate me."
The grip on his arm tightened for a fraction of a second then loosened.
"Well?" Hu Yetao demanded when he didn't get an answer, glaring at Oscar as the tight-lipped Slytherin stared straight ahead.
"I don't hate you," he finally replied.
Hu Yetao rolled his eyes.
"Much," Oscar added, lips twitching.
Hu Yetao gaped. "You're unbelievable," he stated. He was irritated by Wang's erratic behavior and with himself for feeling so hot and bothered by Oscar's proximity.
They turned up the corridor to the infirmary and approached the double entrance doors.
Hu Yetao let out an undignified yelp when Oscar suddenly dragged him sideways into a small alcove, hidden behind a rusty suit of armor. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Hu Yetao demanded loudly before Oscar placed a hand over his mouth.
His Brown eyes stared intently back into the furious black for a moment before Oscar's gaze slid upwards to the wound just above Hu Yetao's right temple.
Hu Yetao's anger immediately faded when he saw the expression on Oscar's face.
"I just need to… confirm that you're all right," Oscar murmured distractedly as he lifted a hand to brush Hu Yetao's dark hair off of his forehead and away from the small gash.
Hu Yetao shivered as soon as Oscar's hand came into contact with his hair. He had to bite back a moan as Oscar suddenly leaned in and inhaled the skin right below his ear, breath promptly exhaling warmly and causing gooseflesh to rise on his arms. Hu Yetao eyes fell closed as the scent of Oscar's shampoo and something that was probably uniquely his drifted to his nostrils and filled his body with coiled desire; ready to spring at a moment's notice.
This was completely different from the other two times that an Alpha had crowded his space and he'd submitted. This wasn't submission; this was pure want. This wasn't foggy, unconsciousness forcing his reactions and movements; this was something he wanted - with clear-headed certainty. He felt it right down to his very bones; this wasn't just some random Alpha, this was a potential mate.
"Please…" Hu Yetao whispered, not knowing what he was asking for but needing something - anything - from the Alpha. He didn't care that he sounded needy because he fucking was, and Oscar was feeling something as well or he wouldn't be sliding warm hands up his sides and curling his arms around Hu Yetao's back to pull him in.
Oscar held him close as he moved his head back to stare into Hu Yetao's eyes as though trying to find something there.
Hu Yetao held his breath, praying that Oscar would relinquish to whatever internal struggle he was currently waging within himself. Those brown eyes were so close that Hu Yetao could see every little speck of black and variation of color as they stared intently back at him, deciphering.
The Slytherin eventually frowned and, as though having to force himself, took a step back. "Come on," he said quietly, taking Hu Yetao by the elbow once more and leading him out of the alcove as though nothing had happened.
Hu Yetao felt his stomach drop with crushing disappointment - but he had hope, he knew that whatever he had been feeling, Oscar felt it too, or at least felt something.
Oscar silently led him up the corridor, straight into the empty infirmary, and over to the nearest hospital bed. "I'll fetch Chen Zihan," he said unemotionally, about to turn away.
"Wait!" Hu Yetao reached up and grabbed him by the arm. "We need to talk."
Oscar frowned as though confused but Hu Yetao could see panic hidden in those guarded brown eyes. "About what?"
Hu Yetao glared. "About what the bloody hell just happened in that alcove Oscar," he replied, trying to keep his voice down. "And why you felt the need to personally escort me to the infirmary in the first place."
Oscar swallowed as he glanced down at Hu Yetao's hand wrapped around his wrist. Hu Yetao saw the moment the mask came down and the Slytherin's expression fell in obvious defeat. "Yes, I suppose we do," he finally relented, forcing his gaze back up to meet Hu Yetao's. "What do you propose?"
Hu Yetao exhaled in relief. "Meet me in the seventh-floor corridor-"
"Opposite Huinua the Barmy?" Oscar guessed with a knowing look.
Hu Yetao nodded. "Yeah."
"At ten?"
"Ten," Hu Yetao agreed, excited and relieved and scared all at once.
Oscar turned his wrist in Hu Yetao's grip and fleetingly rubbed his thumb over the top of Hu Yetao's hand before turning and walking off.
Hu Yetao visibly sagged and had to place his hands on the starched bedsheet beside him to hold him up, shaky with everything that had happened.
He glanced up and saw Oscar speaking to Madam Chen Zihan just outside her office.
He needed to speak to Zhang Xinyao and Jing-Long as soon as he was released, there was so much he needed to talk to them about. He needed to find out how certain Alphas were able to respond to him as though they knew he was an Omega - even though he was still taking daily scent masking potions. He needed to find out more information on what happened to Kazuma, and most of all, he needed to know whether they thought his meeting with Oscar alone was a good idea or not. Oscar had reacted to him in a way that was similar to the other Alphas, but he was the only one who had been able to stop himself and walk away, despite Hu Yetao doing everything in his power to stimulate him on.
Hu Yetao's eyes fell closed for a moment. Damn, he wanted to be alone with Oscar again; the Alpha's scent and the feel of his arms around him and his warm breath on his neck… He wanted it so much that he positively ached with the strength of his desire.
Hu Yetao swallowed and opened his eyes to see Madam Chen Zihan striding towards him, wand in hand. Oscar was nowhere to be seen.
Hu Yetao answered the nurse's questions mechanically as she went through her routine and efficiently healed his injury, which had scabbed over long ago, his mind all the while on Oscar and their possibly disastrous upcoming meeting.