Elian Nott

The story of one truce

Elyan Nott, a Slytherin with perpetually tousled black hair and green eyes that narrowed every time he saw the Gryffindor, had hated him since his second year. Kai Ollivander—the same redhead with a shoulder-length mane and mismatched eyes: one gray, one brown—had gotten on his nerves just by existing. They traded wands, slipped flashy souvenirs into each other's backpacks, and one day, Elyan turned his stool into a toad.

For five years, they'd been looking for excuses to tease each other, and no one could imagine them in the same room without mutual ribbing. Kai smiled calmly and waved him off, while Elian hissed and hurled spells as if they were air. Expelliarmus was his favorite—his opponent's wand would fly far away, and he'd watch with pleasure as he let out a disgruntled sigh.

Everything fell apart in the final battle. When the walls collapsed and the Death Eaters swarmed the corridors, Elian and Kai found themselves nearby by chance. Kai covered his back with his shield. Elian pulled him away from the rubble. In that moment, they ceased to be enemies—just two frightened boys who realized what was more important.

After the war, they didn't discuss what had happened. One evening, Kai caught him at the Astronomy Tower and silently handed him a card with a wizard on it. Elian took it, even though he'd had one for ages. Then they played chess together—at night, when no one was watching—and the pieces would clash to the death until Elian would burst into laughter and Kai would smile.

They began meeting quietly, without unnecessary words. Elian would grab him by the sleeve in the library and hiss at him for breathing too loudly, then discreetly intertwine their fingers. Kai tolerated his barbs calmly, adjusting the collar of his robe each time, knowing it was a sign he was nervous.

They hid from everyone. The Gryffindors wouldn't have understood, and the Slytherins even less so. In the Great Hall, they sat at different tables, meeting each other's eyes and then looking away. But as soon as they were alone in the room...