Barnaby x Ben: Stormy nights
It was late when the storm hit hogwarts. Swirling black clouds loomed over the castle as a tidal wave of rain came pouring down. Most people were too scared to even leave their bedrooms, but not Barnaby Lee.
He had been halfway up the steps to the owlrey when he had heard the noise: a sniffly sob echoing through the tower. Barnaby followed the sound, expecting to find an injured pet or perhaps a lost Sickleworth. What Barnaby hadn’t need expecting to see was his good friend and long time crush Benjamin Copper sat on the steps, hugging his knees and recoiling at the sounds of the storm.
“You alright, Ben?” Barnaby asked as he sat on the steps beside Ben
“Barnaby!” Ben gasped, almost jumping up out of the owlrey window “sorry, I just wasn’t expecting to anyone up here... why exactly are you up here?”
“Tulip. She’s losing her mind since she can’t find Dennis and she doesn’t want him to get hurt in the storm. She asked me to check up here while she searches Jacob’s room. How come you’re here?”
“I was scared about the storm so I came up here to pet my owl as a way to calm down. But I caught a glimpse of the clouds when I turned to leave and now my legs won’t move. I’m just kind of stuck here.”
“Do you need me to go get someone? I could call Penny, or double check to see if Talbott is in the owlrey since he keeps falling asleep in there, or maybe I could go get-“
“Please don’t go!” Ben suddenly snapped before looking back down at his feet “I just- I don’t think I can be alone again right now”
Barnaby’s voice softened “of course I’ll stay, Ben. Whatever you need”
Barnaby wrapped his arm around the smaller boy and pulled him into a tight side hug in an attempt to comfort him. He felt Ben move his own arm around the brunette’s waist as he shuffled closer on the large stone steps.
“I can try and take you down the stairs if you’d like” The slytherin said after a while
“Let’s just stay here for a bit, I don’t think I’m brave enough to face the outdoors in this weather”
“Oh please, Ben. You’re one of the bravest people I know”
“Really?”
“Absolutely!” Barnaby grinned, his voice thick with sincerity “you’re a muggle born, you abandoned everything you knew to come and learn about the stuff every adult says is a myth. If I had been in you’re shoes, I don’t think I would’ve even tried”
“I never thought about it like that..” Ben muttered, pulling away from Barnaby and sitting up
“You should, you’re incredible Ben. Don’t forget that”
As Barnaby turned his head to face the gryffindor, he felt a hand reach under his chin. He was gently pulled forward until his lips made contact with Ben’s. The kiss was short and sweet, he wished it would have lasted longer but he knew that it was a lot for Ben to do something like that, let alone initiate it.
“Maybe you could be there to remind me, to always be brave” Ben smiled, nervously avoiding eye contact. Barnaby put a finger under his chin and almost closed the distance between them. Only muttering “it would be my pleasure” before he kissed Ben again.
And that was how they spent the night of the storm: kissing, chatting, simply being two boys in love. Somehow, the evening that Ben had been dreading became one of the best he’d ever had.