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As soon as Pond boarded the Hogwarts Express for his sixth year he heard the whispers. Paying them no mind he made his way towards the carriage his friend occupied. It was an unspoken rule that Pond and his friend group always had 2 carriages for themselves. They all knew each other since before their time at Hogwarts and the time spent at the school only brought them closer.
“Pond, finally. We nearly thought you missed the train.” Joong said as soon as Pond closed the door behind him.
"Ah, sorry. My mother was fretting more than usual. You know that it's Tawin's first year.” Pond smiled and sat down on the bench.
“Ugh, then I know how my mother is going to be over the next few years…” Joong sighed and leaned back against the backrest. “Anyway, how was the rest of the summer? We haven't heard from you for the last two weeks.”
“Nothing much happened. Just the usual chaos.” Pond said and began to ruffle through his backpack. “Does anybody have the paper we had to do for Snape's class?”
“No… I'll do it later tonight. The class isn't until after the weekend, so we still have time. Maybe ask Phuwin?” Aou said with a questioning look at Perth and Joong.
“No, I don't just want to copy his work. Besides, he hasn't replied to any of my letters in the last week.” Pond said still with his head inside his backpack. With a triumphant sound he pulled parchment and a quill out and began to work on his summer homework. What Pond didn't see were the looks his friends were giving each other.
In the next carriage a whole other conversation was taking place. While Boom, Est, Santa, Fourth and Dunk were busy showing off their courting bracelets, Phuwin sat in the corner and looked outside. Since the start of the journey back towards Hogwarts he hadn't said a word. He just quietly sat there and hummed in response when needed. After another half an hour of no response, Boom finally decided to question his friend.
“Hey Phuwin. Is everything alright? You haven't said a word since we boarded the train?” Boom asked with a concerned look in his eyes.
“No, everything's alright. Why wouldn't it be?” Phuwin laughed bitterly. Now all his friends were concerned. This wasn't like the usual Phuwin.
“Because you don't wear a bracelet…?” Santa whispered into the quietness. His words weren't loud but they felt like it. Automatically every eye turned onto Phuwin's wrists which were empty of any jewelry. “Please don't tell…” Santa didn't need to finish the sentence as they all knew what should've happened during the summer.
“Yeah… You're right. Pond hasn't sent out a courting request.” Phuwin whispered quietly. Tears started to gather in his eyes and with a look at his friends they spilled over. Quickly Phuwin was hugged by Boom and the others all piled around him so that he was sitting more in Boom's lap rather than on the bench.
“Merlin, and here we are going on and on about the requests we received.” Est said while petting Phuwin's hair.
“It's ok, I understand and am very happy for you all.” Phuwin said. He smiled waterily at his friends.
“I just can't believe Pond didn't send a request. I mean, that was the only thing we all were sure about for this summer.” Fourth said.
“Something must have happened, right?” Dunk asked.
“I don't know and I don't want to know.” Phuwin sobbed.
“That is very understandable. But one day this year you have to talk to him, you know that right?”, Boom said.
“I know but until that day comes, I'll just ignore him like I've done the last two weeks. Maybe he'll realize that something is wrong?” Phuwin looked hopeful.
“I don't know… He can be really dense sometimes. Typical Gryffindor, no offense Dunk.” Est said. Dunk just shrugged his shoulders at the comment. They all were more than aware how their personalities fitted their respective houses.
“Should we do something about that?” Santa asked with a spark in his eyes.
“No, at least not right now. Maybe he'll figure it out on his own once we are at Hogwarts and he sees us with our rings.” Est said.
“And if push comes to shove, I'll do something he can't ignore.” Phuwin said with a sudden spark in his eyes that betrayed his usual calm and reserved nature. They all looked at each other with the same spark. There was a reason no one at Hogwarts dared to cross them. The combined strength of all houses was scary for many.
The rest of the ride was spent pampering Phuwin, getting his mind off the topic and just killing the time until they arrived. The other carriage was much quieter as no one knew how to let Pond know about the changes and the missed opportunity he had. With a look between Aou and Joong it was decided that Joong would speak to his roommate that night.
Once they arrived in Hogsmead and made their way towards Hogwarts on the carriages the group mixed a bit. Still the other students noticed that Pond and Phuwin weren't sitting together. This was unusual as they normally were attached at the hip and nothing could separate them. Now Pond was sitting together with his roommates Joong and Dunk, as well as a sulking William and Aou and Boom. The rest of the group were sitting together with Phuwin for the journey.
During the ride, Santa, Fourth and Est explained the situation to the rest of the group so that they knew what was going on. Phuwin was quiet again barely engaging with his friends. His thoughts were circling around the reason why he hadn't received a courting request during the summer. It wasn't like he couldn't have sent one to Pond but it was more traditional for the provider of the relationship to sent the request.
It was their way of telling their partner that they chose them, would provide for them and be their defender. The tradition was old but still ingrained in modern wizarding society. Sure wizards and witches dated and had relationships without a courting but especially in the circles of the old and powerful families courting and the eventual bonding was seen as something holy. Because once a pair bonded, they couldn't separate for life. It was also rumored that bonded souls would always find each other again in the next life.
It was more than a partnership and something that Phuwin and his friend group valued. Even for their friendship they had had a bonding ceremony in the form of bonding as a coven. The old ways were deeply ingrained in their way of practicing magic, that they were regarded as the most gifted students of their year. Thanks to their offerings and worship for Lady Magic, she had granted them strong magical powers.
Once inside Hogwarts the friend group split according to their houses for the welcoming feast. Phuwin was surrounded by Santa and Est but that didn't stop the rumors from being spoken and reaching him. It was like a wildfire spreading throughout the student body no matter the year they were in. With a mask of ice and indifference Phuwin tried to not let his hurt show. Luckily the feast was soon over and he could retreat into his dorm together with Est and Santa.
And while Phuwin ignored the rumors around him, Pond didn't seem to notice them. He was talking animatedly with his yearmates, not noticing how some of them came closer during the feast. His golden retriever personality was attracting many people without him noticing. The only thing he did notice was the lack of attention from Phuwin. Normally the two would exchange glances and shy smiles during the feast, but today nothing happened. But as Pond was pulled into another conversation with a yearmate, any thought about Phuwin's unusual behaviour vanished from Pond's mind.
Later after the feast, Joong and Dunk wanted to corner Pond and ask him about the lack of a courting ring on Phuwin's hand. But before they could utter a word, Pond finally noticed the bracelet on Dunk's wrist and so they spent the evening talking about the request and the coming year. Just before he fell asleep, Joong and Dunk both sent a silent prayer to Lady Magic, praying that they would be spared from their friend's wreath as they hadn't talked to Pond.
The next day began with more whispers, not so hidden sneers directed at Phuwin and a coldness between the presumed golden couple that hadn't been seen before. It wasn't like Phuwin was ignoring Pond completely. When the other asked something he would get an answer. But the answer was always short, clipped and with an icy undertone Pond wasn't used to.
At the same time, Pond was more and more swamped with suitors, who were fighting for his attention. Their friends were actively spreading rumors to fight them off, but thanks to the lack of a ring on Phuwin's finger, it was of little use. And every chance to talk with Pond was disturbed by another suitor. As this carried on over the next week and a half, Aou, Perth and William became so fed up with Pond's ignorance that they summoned him to the room of requirement to finally talk undisturbed with their friend.
“Hi guys, why do you want to see me?” Pond asked after entering the room of requirement which had taken the shape of a sitting room.
“We just wanted to talk with you without disturbance.” Aou said and motioned towards the remaining seat.
“Yeah, it's been a bit crazy the last few days.” Pond laughed and scratched the back of his head.
“You could say that. But isn't there another thing that was unusual?” Perth asked.
“Not that I noticed. I mean Phuwin seems a bit cold but maybe he is just stressed about classes. I mean it's our penultimate year, so it's understandable.” Pond said earnestly. Aou, William and Perth just sighed in resignation.
“Isn't there anything that you noticed about Est or Santa for example?” William asked again, hoping he could lead his friend in the right direction.
“Uhh…” Pond just looked lost.
“Think about their wrists. Anything that comes to mind?” William said.
“Ohh, you are talking about the courting bracelets. Yeah I noticed them. Congratulations to you guys again.” Pond smiled like a puppy while his friends let out a deep sigh.
“And there comes nothing to mind while thinking about courting and maybe Phuwin's unusual behaviour?” Aou gave another hint. Really, nobody could be that dense.
“No… should it?” Pond asked and looked questioningly at his friends.
“Merlin, give us the patience to deal with this idiot.” Perth whispered before looking Pond directly into the eyes. “Don't you think that you should have sent a courting request to Phuwin over the summer? And that he had been waiting for that? And that he is now hurt because you did nothing?” Perth's voice and eyes had lost all their warmth while he attacked Pond with those questions.
“You think… no that can't be it. Phuwin and I aren't on that level. We are not like you guys.” Pond said but a seed of doubt was planted in his brain. He nervously shifted his focus from Perth to Aou to William and back. His friends were surely joking.
“Really? You guys were more oblivious than any of us. I mean we never saw you without him or him without you. Pond, you guys have been screaming old married couple since first year.” Aou said.
“What, but that can't be. Phuwin surely doesn't see our relationship like that.” Pond said, but his conviction was getting smaller by the minute.
"Oh, really? Then why has he been ignoring you? Do you have any other explanation for his behaviour?” William asked. His question was met with silence from Pond. It seemed like they really got their friend thinking.
“Look, we know you two love each other, but I think you really need to step up, before someone else comes around and snatches Phuwin right from under your nose. Or Phuwin does something rash. At least talk to him, when you feel unsure. Everything is better than the silence between you two.” Perth said. Pond took in his friend's words and was subdued for the rest of the day.
Over the evening and night, Pond thought about every interaction and letter he had exchanged with Phuwin. Had they really been that obvious? The more he thought about it, the more he could see it. And the more his desire grew to talk to the other. With that resolve Pond closed his eyes, hoping it wasn't too late and vowing to talk to Phuwin the next day. Pond had known for a long time that his feelings for the other were more romantic than platonic and still he had believed that all the little gifts Phuwin made were just tokens of their friendship. But the more he thought about it, the more he realised that Phuwin had shown him all along that he was ready for the next step.
The next morning Pond made his way down to the great hall with an extra swing in his step. Finally he could resolve this misunderstanding. He was just through the doors of the great hall when he saw Phuwin sitting with their friends at the Ravenclaw table. Quickly he made his way over, when he noticed something was missing around Phuwin's neck. Usually there would sit a leather band with a charm on it around Phuwin’s neck. The necklace had been a gift from Pond after he had mastered this kind of transfiguration. Phuwin had never taken it off. Until today it seemed.
Pond's steps slowed down until he came to a stop just before the table. As if feeling Pond's stare Phuwin looked in his direction and arched an eyebrow in a silent challenge. Now Pond knew that he really had misunderstood their relationship. But instead of giving up, his resolve only hardened. He would talk to Phuwin and clear the misunderstanding. And he knew just what to do.
Luckily it was a Hogsmead weekend and the students were allowed to leave the school not only for the village but also to visit their families at home. And that was exactly what Pond was about to do. He knew he could apologize as much as he wanted but that would do nothing for Phuwin. He needed to take action to earn forgiveness. So instead of sitting down for breakfast, Pond turned around and walked straight towards the nearest floo station.
Once he arrived at Gringotts he quickly made his way towards the nearest Goblin and requested entrance to the family vault. He would inform his parents later, but he had a feeling that they knew already. After a short trip and too much time spent deciding on the right bracelet for Phuwin he made his way back to Hogwarts. Once he was back he spent the next few hours crafting the perfect courting request. He conjured flowers, wrote the courting letter and enlisted the help of Phuwin's most trusted friends.
Finally evening came and Pond was finalising the last steps in his plan. While Pond had spent the day planning the perfect courting request, Phuwin had spent the day spiraling. After he had seen Pond vanish before breakfast his mind hadn't shut up. It didn't matter what he had done. Every self-doubt came crashing in, fueled by the rumors. His friends had done their best and tried to get his mind off. They had played wizarding chess, studied for the coming tests or just read by the lake.
Then Pond's patronus, a fitting golden retriever arrived shortly before dinner and issued an invitation.
“Phuwin, please meet me in the room of requirement in half an hour.” Came Pond's voice from the patronus. Phuwin was surprised and a small flame of hope lit inside his chest. Maybe not everything was lost.
The next half an hour was spent getting ready with the help of Boom and Est while keeping the hope at bay. Phuwin didn't know what he would do, when Pond broke his heart again tonight. After he stalled an extra five minutes, Phuwin made his way through the castle towards the room of requirement.
Just as he stepped through the door of the room, he was met by the amazing smell of fresh jasmine flowers. Next he took in the room itself. Inside there was only one table with two chairs opposite each other. In one corner a fire was burning while every free space on the walls was full of jasmine flowers. Pond stood just by the table and made his way over towards Phuwin once the doors closed behind him.
“Phu, I'm glad you came.” Pond said with a big smile on his lips.
“Well you asked me here.” Phuwin answered. His answer was short, but his heart made a flip while he took in the room. It looked just the right kind between homey and romantic.
“I wasn't sure you would come.” Pond said, his smile faltering a bit.
“Why am I here?” Phuwin asked. He didn't want to spend his time, when this was just going to be an apology by Pond. He wasn't ready to forgive the other if he didn't know how Phuwin felt.
“Normally, I would have sent this letter to your parents, but seeing as I am in a time crunch, I'll just give it to you right now.” was all Pond said while giving Phuwin a letter.
Phuwin eyed the letter suspiciously but still sat down on the offered chair and opened it. Just after the first line, his breath stopped.
Formal request for courting one Phuwin Tangsakyuen with the intention of bonding…
Tears gathered in his eyes. Pond wanted to court him? Wanted to be bonded to him?
“Why now…?” was all Phuwin could ask. While he couldn't be happier about the request he was still suspicious about the timing. Was this only a joke or was Pond serious.
"Because I am an idiot.” Pond answered honestly. “Yesterday, Aou, Perth and William gave me a reality check I didn't know I needed. Please believe me, when I say I never wanted to hurt you. I regret not asking you during the summer like you deserve. I should have never thought that we weren't ready for this. Because when I think about the future, I see myself bonded to you. Building a life with you. There is no one else for me.”
“There is also no one else for me. It has always been you. But when I heard nothing about courting from you during the summer, I thought you didn't see me in the same way I do see you. Merlin the last weeks were pure torture. Seeing you surrounded by your fans and not being able to do a thing about it.” Phuwin confessed.
“I love you Phuwin. And you have every right to me. There could never be anyone else.” Pond kneeled in front of Phuwin and took his right hand in his.
“Pond… I love you too” Phuwin was now nearly sobbing thanks to Pond's confession.
“So what do you say? Do you accept my courting request?” Pond asked.
“Yes! Yes I accept.” Phuwin nearly shouted. Pond didn't wait another second and fastened the bracelet on Phuwin's right wrist and pulled him into a hug. Both felt the magic of the contract settling and the bond forming itself. The feeling was so overwhelming that both had tears in their eyes. With one look, their mouths met in a long awaited kiss to finalize their courting.