Closed Fresh Air and Feelings

[Knox Ivers]

Set after the 2052 Yule Ball. ​

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The sun was setting later than usual, truly reminding Knox and surely all of Hogwarts that summer was well and underway in New Zealand. It changed Knox’s sleep patterns and otherwise messed with his mind, but the sense of twilight in the sky as the yule ball ended was something Knox was thankful for, as he arrived to the great lawn with Clifton, his date, to keep him company. There was enough light to see his surroundings and enough light to convince him the night wasn’t truly over, and wouldn’t be over for a little while longer, as Knox paused his steps and shifted to sit comfortably in the grass. They still had time to spend together, to get to know each other more before it was lights out and they returned to their dorms. Knox wanted to make the most of it.​

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Knox smiled, patting the grass near him in an invitation for Clifton to join him and for them to finally have a chance to be alone and talk for the first time that night. For the first time ever really. “This has been fun, thank you for being my date.” Knox admitted, feeling a bit bashful but not wanting to hide it. Despite the commotion with Blake Irons being punched in the face, the date and silly photo shoot with Clifton had gone so well. Contrary to when he spent time with Simon, Knox felt comfortable, and content with Clifton, and as if showing feelings and being genuine was normal and expected. He was thankful for that night and for the felix felicis influencing him to ask Clifton out, as after their time at the dance Knox was sure getting to know Clifton was right, whatever that meant in the grand scheme of things. Knox couldn’t wait to get to spend more time with him.​

 

[Clifton Ward]

Clifton recognised the feeling that had carried him all evening, and that recognition was enough to make him both excited and nervous all at once. He felt like he had been pulled from his regular life and dropped into some kind of fairytale, one where wonderful things happened to a person as plain as him. It was an achingly familiar feeling, one he had felt just the same when he first started dating Lily. It felt like a kind of giddy delirium, and the only thing keeping him grounded this time was that familiarity. It was just enough to remind him of how badly he had hurt Lily, what kind of damage he was capable of doing, and that reminder helped Clifton pull the reins on his feelings. Yes, tonight had been wonderful, but he couldn't forget his own mistakes so easily.

Still, Clifton felt near-giddy as he sat down next to Knox, giving the Gryffindor his warmest smile. Surely tonight was fine. He could let himself enjoy this, let himself forget how badly he had ruined the last good thing in his life. At least he wasn't as bad as whatever Blake had said to get himself punched, frankly yet another highlight of an excellent evening. He smiled warmly when Knox thanked him, shaking his head quickly. "Thank you for asking me. I've really had fun as well, tonight was wonderful."

 

[Knox Ivers]

Watching the horizon and the dim twilight was peaceful, and Knox couldn’t have asked for the night to end more perfectly. The yule ball the previous year was one of the worst in contrast, Knox had been too unsure of himself and unsure of what was normal, and meeting and kissing Simon only added to the uncertainty that defined that year. Although now with a more open-minded perspective and a happier outlook on life Knox was thriving, he had an amazing time at the ball with a boy that he had asked out on a felix felicis induced whim and could not think of anything that would ruin it. Turning to look at Clifton, Knox smiled to himself, finding he was smiling wider as he listened to Clifton’s words. “I’m glad we both had fun, and we have so many photos to remember it.” Knox added as a half joke, knowing that many of the photos they had taken were silly and not yearbook material, but that was also the point of it. To be silly and spontaneous and have fun.

As he looked at Clifton, gazing to his eyes for a moment, a question popped into Knox’s mind. “Hey, Clifton,” He began, thinking of how romantic it would be to end the night with a kiss, but feeling unsure of how to ask. Knox wasn’t smooth or an expert at such things, as much as he would like to be. “Can I kiss you? Do you want me to?” He asked softly, leaving the choice up to Clifton. If he said no, Knox was sure he could handle the rejection. It would be a small dent in what had otherwise been a perfect night and an amazing first date.​

 

[Clifton Ward]

Clifton laughed softly at Knox's comment about the photos, nodding in agreement. There were plenty of pictures from tonight he didn't think would be winding up in Accio, but it would be nice to look back on them. To remember that maybe he wasn't entirely useless when it came to dating. And this had been a date, a proper date, and a fun one at that, even under the unusual circumstances. Somehow it didn't entirely surprise Clifton when Knox asked to kiss him, although he hadn't expected the date to go that direction. He smiled though, face softening at the suggestion. "I'd like that." Clifton said softly, feeling his cheeks flush slightly. After spending so long chasing after Lily, there was something special about someone chasing him.

 

[Knox Ivers]

The date had gone well, but as Knox asked if he could kiss Clifton, he wasn’t sure what the answer would be. He wondered if he was moving too quickly, and wondered if diving in head first into something without thinking about it would scare Clifton away; that his forwardness would be his downfall. That being forward in the same way he had been from the moment he asked Clifton out would eventually fail for him. But fortunately Clifton said yes, and Knox couldn't help but smile widely, not saying another word as he leant in closer. He closed his eyes and softly pressed is lips against Clifton’s, gently moving one of his hands to the side of Clifton’s face. When Knox pulled away he still couldn't keep the smile from his face, it really had been an amazing night. “You’re sweet, I like you.” Knox murmured, more or less saying his thoughts out loud, he was so giddy he wouldn't have been able to think twice about his words before he said them. “Can we like kiss more and be boyfriends and stuff? Is that how boyfriends work?” Knox asked, mostly to Clifton but also partially to himself. As confident as Knox probably seemed, all of this was new to him; everything about dating was uncharted territory and Knox wasn't sure of any unsaid rules. But as new as it was, Knox found it exhilarating. He was lost but finding himself all at the same time, and it was an unusual but welcomed feeling.​

 

[Clifton Ward]

Clifton had known how he felt about boys for a long time, but his first experience of actually being kissed by one felt wonderful in a way he hadn't quite expected. He had enjoyed kissing girls as well, but this felt different and new, and the feeling of being wanted, of being pursued sent his heart soaring. He felt as though he could just melt into the kiss forever, beaming brightly in response when Knox pulled away. It was a relief that the Gryffindor seemed happy too, and his heart skipped a beat when Knox spoke. Knox liked him. He didn't have to think about the question for a second, grinning even broader as he nodded in quick agreement. "Definitely yes. I think that can be how boyfriends work if... we want it to be." He said with an awkward laugh, leaning slightly closer in the hopes that Knox would kiss him again.

 

[Knox Ivers]

Knox chuckled and smiled to himself, entirely overtaken with giddiness and feeling so caught up in the moment with happiness, that Clifton agreed to be his boyfriend. Or at least had agreed that kissing more meant they were boyfriends. Regardless Knox was happy and couldn’t keep himself from smiling if he tried. “Agreed, we’re boyfriends then.” He affirmed, more to himself than anything else; he could hardly believe another boy liked him let alone wanted to date him, he was on cloud nine. “I want it to be that way, do you?” Knox asked, not really waiting for an answer before he leant in again to kiss Clifton gently. That night, and really all of Knox’s interactions with Clifton were so unexpected, but new and exciting. It was an adventure in so many ways and Knox couldn’t wait to see where it would lead. He couldn't have imagined the date to go better, and he couldn't wait to spend more time with Clifton.​