"Soooo... how was Christmas holiday with Grian?" Stress urged, planting herself down next to Mumbo.

"I... I don't know." He mumbled, refusing to remove his eyes from the book laid out in front of him.

She scrunched her nose in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean..." he hesitated. "He-he kissed me, and-"

Stress cut him off with a shrill squeal, momentarily redirecting the attention of every Hufflepuff in the common room towards the pair of forth years.

"Stress!" Mumbo hissed, covering his face as his cheeks burned.

"Sorry." She giggled. "Go on then, he kissed you and...?"

"I-I mean, not like that." Mumbo sighed. "There was mistletoe and-and he kissed me on the cheek..." his eyes grew glassy as the memory of a pair of lips brushed against his jaw. Mumbo stifled a smile as he continued. "And then we went to get dinner."

"And?"

"And... that's it."

"That's it??" Stress gaped. "You could have taken that moment to tell him how you feel! He was basically screaming that he feels the same way!"

"No, it was just the mistletoe." Mumbo reasoned, his heart sinking in realization. "If Grian did  feel the same for me, then he would've told me by now."

"Did it ever occur to you that he's just as nervous as you are?" Stress asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Impossible."

"And why is that?"

"No one can be more nervous than me!" Mumbo exclaimed, blushing even harder as the truth of his own words sunk in.

Stress rolled her eyes.

"You're an idiot."

"Gee, thanks."

"No, seriously." Stress pushed, plucking the book from Mumbo's hands and sitting on it so he was forced to look at her. "I know you're anxious, but Grian really put himself out there with that kiss. Did you never even once consider that he doesn't know what to do either?"

"But... he's always so confident."

"Or maybe it's just a show." She snapped, standing up and striding away, shaking her head in annoyance.

Mumbo bit his lip and he looked down at his hands.

There was no way. Was there? No... probably... maybe? Hopefully?

He sighed and rubbed his temples.

"I'm so screwed."

~~~

"Hey Mumbo!"

The tall Hufflepuff turned and gulped as Grian bounced into view, his hands behind his back as he flashed a dazzling smile.

"H-hey! What's... what's up?"

Grian giggled and Mumbo felt his legs wobble at the adorable sound.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to go down to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?" He asked, silver eyes sparkling with hope.

"I, um, I mean we usually do, don't we?" Mumbo mumbled. "As-as a group?"

"Well, yes..." Grian agreed, rocking back and forth from foot to foot. "But I was hoping that maybe we could go down... alone."

"Alone? Like... just the two of us?"

"Yeah."

"Why would you want that?" Mumbo asked before he had time to stop the forceful self-conscious question from passing through his lips.

"Oh, uh..." Grian scratched the back of his head, his ears dusting with pink. "I mean, I was just hoping that we... but if you don't want to, that's fine, I totally understand." He flashed another smile, this one not quite reaching his eyes.

"N-no I don't-"

"Like I said, I get it." Grian interrupted, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'll, uh, see you later!"

He began to turn away but was stopped as Mumbo reached out, grabbing his shoulder and pulling him back.

"I d-didn't mean th-that I don't want to." Mumbo spluttered, forcing himself to hold Grian's gaze as the smaller boy looked up at him with confusion.

"But you said-"

"I-I know, I'm sorry." Mumbo sighed, dropping his hand from Grian's arm. "I just... I don't... I can't..."

"Mumbo-"

"Please, just... just give me a minute." Mumbo interrupted, leaning a shaking hand against the wall and taking several shallow breaths, his heart racing a million miles and hour as he pressed his forehead against the cold stone surface.

Just tell him. You can tell him. He likes you... maybe. Oh God, what if he doesn't? What if this is just a friendly invitation and on top of being rude I completely screwed it up by admitting that I like him? Then he'll never want to be friends and I'll have ruined everything I have with him forever, and False will come after me, and I'll be alone, and it'll be all my fault!

"Hey, hey, calm down, take a deep breath."

Mumbo opened his eyes and found himself sitting on the ground, his hands on his ears and hyperventilating as though he had had the wind knocked out of him. Grian was crouched next to him, his eyebrows knitted in worry as he rubbed soothing circles on Mumbo's back.

"I-I-"

"It's fine, it's ok." Grian muttered, settling into a proper seat next to Mumbo and gently taking his hand, wrapping his other arm around the taller boy's shoulders. "Just take a deep breath."

Mumbo felt the knots in his stomach begin to uncoil as the arm around him tightened and he squeezed Grian's hand, taking a shaky breath.

"Good." Grian cooed. "Now, I'm going to talk. Is that ok?"

Mumbo nodded.

"Ok. Mumbo, I want to make myself very clear." His cheeks flushed. "I... I am asking you on a date."

A choked sound echoed from the Hufflepuff's throat and Grian resumed drumming his fingers along his shoulder.

"I'm right here, and I'm telling the truth. Now, you don't have to answer right away, take all the time you need. And if the answer is no, I fully understand and I won't be angry with you, I promise. I won't stop being your friend. Nod if you understand."

Mumbo nodded slowly, allowing a fraction of the tension in is body to ebb at Grian's soothing measures and gentle tone.

"Now I'm going to stay here with you. Is that ok?"

He nodded again, fighting the desire to rest his head on Grian's shoulder as they leaned back against the wall.

Grian hummed tonelessly as he brushed his thumb over the back of Mumbo's hand, played with his hair, told him jokes, and offered encouraging words until Mumbo finally felt as though he could speak again.

"Thank-thank you," he stuttered, his chest soaring as Grian gave him a sideways hug. "How did you... know what to do?"

"It's not like I've never had a panic attack." Grian mumbled, looking down at his lap. "Or seen someone else have one. You remember where I grew up."

Mumbo's stomach clenched.

"R-right. I'm sorry."

"It's ok," Grian hummed, meeting his gaze and offering a soft smile. "I'm just glad I could make you feel a bit better."

Mumbo nodded, taking a deep breath as he prepared to speak.

"As for... y-your question..."

Grian shook his head.

"Like I said Mumbo, you don't have to answer-mmhmf!"

Mumbo leaned forwards, his lips colliding with Grian's and cutting off the Slytherin mid-sentence. It was messy and inexperienced, their teeth clashing clumsily as they both fought to get their bearings, but neither cared.

Mumbo's heart felt as though it may explode, his brain unable to settle on any one emotion as he cupped Grian's face to deepen the kiss.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Mumbo's anxious thoughts finally managed to take the forefront of his mind again.

"I-I'm sorry, that was-"

Grian slapped a hand over his mouth and shook his head, beaming at Mumbo's confused expression.

"Perfect." He finished. "It was perfect."

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you did, please consider leaving a like and a comment to let me know what you think!