CHAPTER THIRTEEN

By the time their seventh year rolled around, the dynamic between Seo and Louis remained as steadfast and unique as it had been during their fifth and sixth years. Their relationship had become something of a school-wide spectacle, a favourite topic of speculation.

"When will they finally get together?" seemed to be the endless question on everyone's lips—students, professors, and especially Louis's family. Bets were placed, gossip swirled, and countless moments were dissected for clues.

What made it all the more intriguing was that Seo and Louis were perfectly aware of the buzz surrounding them. And rather than being annoyed by it, they leaned into the attention. In fact, they occasionally toyed with their audience—throwing out casual, flirtatious comments or feigned romantic gestures, only to watch the reactions unfold. It was a game that amused them to no end.

Despite the ongoing suspense, there was no uncertainty between the pair about their feelings for each other. They had both openly confessed their emotions, although Seo's confession was particularly memorable. She had approached the matter with her trademark boldness, blurting out statements like, "I like the way your voice sounds" and "I want to hug you all the time," which left Louis a stammering, flustered mess.

Still, Louis had insisted on taking things slow. For him, their friendship was the foundation of something far greater, and he didn't want to rush into a romantic relationship before they had fully savoured and solidified their bond as friends. Seo, ever patient and understanding, agreed. Neither felt the need to force their relationship into any predefined timeline—it would happen when the time felt right.

As their final year progressed, much to the disappointment of Hogwarts' curious onlookers, nothing outwardly changed. They continued their playful banter, supported each other, and remained the same Seo and Louis everyone had grown to know (and, in some cases, envy). However, the Ravenclaw and the Weasleys weren't entirely innocent in their behaviour. They enjoyed teasing their peers and Louis's family with fake moments of romantic tension, leaving many to wonder if the two were just trolling the entire school.

By spring, the anticipation hit an all-time high. But it was during a quiet walk on the castle grounds, away from the prying eyes of their audience, that everything finally changed.

"How long do you think it'll take for them to give up on us?" Seo mused as she strolled beside Louis.

Louis smirked, raising a hand to his chin in mock contemplation. "Hmm, well, it depends—are we talking about my family or our fans?"

Seo chuckled, but then she came to a stop, causing Louis to pause as well. He turned to her, confusion flickering across his face, but before he could speak, she stepped closer, standing on her toes so that her face was just inches from his.

"They don't need to give up, Louis" she said softly, and before Louis could respond, she closed the gap, pressing her lips to his in a kiss that was as gentle as it was certain.

For a moment, Louis was too stunned to react. But then, as if all the tension from years of waiting finally melted away, he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. When they finally broke apart, he cupped her cheeks, his grin so wide it made his face ache.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for that," he murmured.

Seo arched a playful brow, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Should I be worried you're just after my body?"

Louis tilted his head dramatically, closing his eyes in mock guilt. "Well, Merlin forbid, I've been caught," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Seo laughed, stepping forward to wrap her arms around his torso. Resting her chin on his shoulder, she glanced past him, her smile growing. "Looks like Hugo and Lily won," she whispered.

Louis blinked in confusion and turned around. Sure enough, a group of his cousins stood a few yards away, sporting a mix of reactions. Some groaned in defeat, others looked frustrated, and at the centre of it all, Hugo and Lily were gleefully collecting their winnings.

"Merlin's beard, that is my family," Louis muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair.

Seo burst into laughter as Louis stomped over to the group, shaking his fist and yelling at them for betting on his love life. She followed, unable to keep the grin off her face as the cousins offered a combination of congratulations, sarcastic "Finally!" remarks, and disgruntled complaints about lost galleons.

"Took you long enough!" someone yelled, and Seo simply shook her head, leaning into Louis's side as the chaos unfolded.

For once, they didn't mind being the centre of attention. After all, the waiting was over.

But it was their pace—steady, deliberate, and uniquely theirs. Neither Seo nor Louis had ever felt pressured to follow anyone else's timeline, and that made everything feel more genuine.

Seo chuckled softly, the sound light and unguarded, as she glanced up at him. Her eyes sparkled with warmth, and Louis couldn't help but smile in return. It was one of those moments that felt unspoken but deeply understood between them.

Without a word, he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in another kiss—this one slower, filled with the quiet assurance that they had all the time in the world.

When they pulled back, Louis rested his forehead against hers, his grin soft but undeniably mischievous. "You know, Weasel's nice and all, but I could get used to hearing you say 'Louis' like that," he teased gently.

Seo rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the faint blush that crept up her cheeks. "Don't push your luck," she said, her tone playful.

Louis just laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they turned back toward the castle. Whatever lay ahead, they were confident in one thing—their story was unfolding exactly as it was meant to.

One thing was for sure—they both knew this was something that would last.

It wasn't just the fleeting thrill of young love or the fiery spark of a new romance. What they had was steady and deep, built on years of shared moments, inside jokes, and the unique understanding that only they could share. It was the kind of connection that didn't falter with time or pressure.

As they walked back to the castle, Louis gave Seo's shoulder a gentle squeeze, and she leaned into him with a quiet sigh. Neither of them felt the need to say it aloud, but they both knew—they had found something rare, something worth holding onto.

Whatever challenges awaited them, they were confident that they could face them together. And as they disappeared into the warm glow of the castle, their future stretched before them like a story just waiting to be written.