Chapter 41

"You were about to do something daft, weren't you?"

Hu Yetao turned his head where it was resting on Oscar's shoulder to look up at his mate, the glow of the fire flickering warmly over his bare skin still flushed from their previous exertions as they lay in bed in their private room at Hogwarts.

"What do you mean?" Hu Yetao asked in amusement.

Oscar arched a brow as he slid one arm behind his head and looked down at Hu Yetao. "Don't think it escaped my notice that when it looked as though everything was about to go pear-shaped, you had your wand out and body tensed for a fight."

Hu Yetao hid a grin against Oscar's warm chest, his verdant eyes bright with a guilty sort of enjoyment. "I admit no such thing."

Oscar rolled his eyes but continued to absently slip his fingers through Hu Yetao's hair.

Hu Yetao chuckled and closed his eyes, his body languid and relaxed as he leaned into the soothing touch of his mate. "You know," he said into the stillness, "with everything going on, I'd almost forgotten about the match tomorrow."

The gentle finger-combing paused for a second and Hu Yetao made a noise of protest that caused Oscar's lips to quirk into an affectionate smirk.

"I assume you're speaking of the first Slytherin versus Gryffindor match of the year?" Oscar replied, resuming his hair stroking. "Are you ready for it Taotao?"

Hu Yetao grinned, his eyes still shut. "The question is Oscar, are you ready?"

Oscar grunted lightly. "Care to make a wager?"

Hu Yetao opened his eyes and glanced up with a grin. "Yeah, all right. What do I get if Gryffindor wins?"

"Blow job in the back alley of the Hog's Head."

Hu Yetao barked out a laugh. "And if you win?"

"The same," Oscar replied simply.

"Deal," Hu Yetao agreed with a nod, his eyes still sparkling with laughter. He settled back down into Oscar's side with a sigh. "It feels good to talk about quidditch like it's the most important thing going on in our lives, isn't it? It makes a nice change from all the drama that's been going on since term began."

Oscar clattered agreement and they fell into a comfortable silence, Hu Yetao idly dragging his fingers back and forth over Oscar's bare hip, smiling in contentment. He honestly couldn't believe how happy he was. When he'd come into his Omega inheritance, he'd pictured a tough road ahead with lots of heartache and anxiety, attempting to find 'the one,' and now he had a mate that he could see himself with for the rest of his life. The fact that it was Oscar Wang still made him chuckle at times because he couldn't deny that once they had moved beyond their previous feelings and misconceptions, Oscar was a brilliant mate for him. They still bantered and teased, but now it was decidedly good-natured and not meant to sting, and Oscar was protective and startlingly caring when it mattered most.

Hu Yetao turned and propped his chin on his arm across Oscar's chest, peering up at his mate in thoughtful silence. Oscar had his eyes closed and was breathing deeply, clearly just on the edge of sleep. He was probably exhausted after a week of sleepless nights and the stress of the inquiry. Hu Yetao gazed at him, his heart swelling so much that he thought his chest may burst with the warmth and fulfillment and incredible joy of it all.

He blinked and suddenly realized with astonishing clarity that he loved Oscar.

"Quit staring at me Taotao, it's unnerving," Oscar suddenly said into the stillness without opening his eyes.

Hu Yetao smiled and it was on the tip of his tongue to say it; to just blurt it out because why should he keep it inside? His mate should know that he loved him.

Oscar's gloomy eyes opened and drifted down to meet his gaze and Hu Yetao quickly lost his courage under the sudden scrutiny.

"Sorry," Hu Yetao mumbled instead, smiling sheepishly. "Just plotting ways to knock you off your broom tomorrow."

Oscar snorted softly before his eyelids drifted closed once more.

Hu Yetao smiled and settled back down beside him, closing his eyes and allowing sleep to come; heart content.

••••

Hu Yetao looked up in amusement as Zhang Xinyao slid out of their booth at the Hog's Head and held his brimming pint above his head while calling for their attention. The entire group of eight years was gathered around adjoining tables at the old Hogsmeade pub that had fallen silent upon Zhang Xinyao's somewhat inebriated shout.

"I'd like to make a toast," he began magnanimously, "to Mister Oscar Wang." He made a slight bow to a startled Oscar, beer spilling over onto his hand a little. "And to the seventh year Slytherin Beater - who-I-do-not-know-the-name-of - who smashed that Bludger in Hu Yetao's direction and distracted Oscar long enough for Hu Yetao to catch the Snitch right out from under his nose."

Hu Yetao grinned as Oscar made an indignant scoffing sound beside him and crossed his arms over his chest. Oscar had indeed been so busy glaring daggers at his Beater that Hu Yetao had been given the perfect opportunity to locate the Snitch and grab it out of the sky before his mate even knew what was going on.

A cheer went up around the table, even from the Slytherins were looking at Oscar with unconcealed mirth.

Hu Yetao chuckled at his mate's sour expression and wrapped his hands around his large mug of hot chocolate. His hands still felt stiff and frozen after forgetting to wear his gloves for the game and the October wind had been bitterly cold on his exposed skin.

Zhang Xinyao slid back into place, a satisfied grin on his pink-cheeked face as he took a sip of his drink.

Hu Yetao took in Oscar's sullen expression and leaned in to whisper, "I know Gryffindor won but, I'd be happy to blow you off in the alley instead if it'll wipe that cross look off your face."

Oscar's lips twitched imperceptibly. He took his time taking a long draught of Firewhiskey before cocking his head towards Hu Yetao. "Seeing as you cheated and all that, I should think that that's the least you could do."

Hu Yetao stifled a laugh and nodded in concurrence. He finished off of his hot chocolate, relishing the melted heap of whipped cream in the bottom of the mug with a sigh. He looked around at all of his chatting classmates, a feeling of warm contentment washing over him. The pub's pervading air smelt of stale ale and salted chips, and suddenly reminded Hu Yetao that he was famished after the match.

All of the eight years had decided to celebrate the game - regardless of the outcome - at the Hog's Head, and Hu Yetao was pleased to see the house unity efforts still going strong. The only one missing was Zheng Meng who had been on house arrest with the Nundu clan since the inquiry. Except for Hu Yetao and Oscar, no one else knew the truth of Meng's whereabouts, just that she was ill and remaining at home on doctor's orders.

Hu Yetao's stomach gave a noticeable growl and he decided it was time to do something about it. "I'm going to get some chips, you want anything?"

"I'll just have some of yours," Oscar replied absently before returning to his plant-based potions conversation with Fu Sichao.

Hu Yetao rolled his eyes. "Over my dead body," he muttered under his breath as he climbed awkwardly out of the booth and headed for the slightly congested bar area. He waited with his arms resting on the sticky countertop, absently watching the bartender as he pulled pint after pint with a grim expression. He was a far cry from easy-going.

"Hu Yetao?"