He wouldn’t have admitted to being scared about leaning out – he was, a little, because the Gryffindor tower was high up and he was no quidditch player – but he hadn’t had to ask; Esteban had spared him the struggle. “Thanks, Esteban,” he said gratefully, settling his summoned possessions back onto the nearest armchair in a heap.

He couldn’t quite meet Esteban’s eye now, though; and the gratitude had become embarrassment, a rueful twist at the corner of his mouth at his own helplessness, at needing pity at all. “But y-you don’t need to w-worry about me.”

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loveliness by Lady!

"You are most welcome," Esteban said as Bram settled his things back onto the nearest armchair. It annoyed him that people did these sorts of things to such a sweet boy. Perhaps his fists would need to do a little bit of talking once he found out who had done it.

"You're one of my best friends, Bram. It's my job to worry about you," he said, hooking the other by draping his arm over the back of the others neck.

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Set by MJ

The embarrassment got warmer – maybe not visibly, but he could feel the heat of it rushing up on his cheeks and neck and filling up his chest with fondness – at that answer. Or maybe it was at the way Esteban had slung an arm around him, like it was careless and natural and expected, this being friends; as though it didn’t make Bram’s brain freeze up on the spot.

He didn’t know what to do back – didn’t know what to do with it. “If you say so,” he said hastily, lowering his gaze even further and ducking out from Esteban’s arm. Avoiding Esteban’s gaze until he was safely perched on the arm of the chair, his arms around himself, he worked up enough courage to shoot him another smile – which said more in apology and affection than he could’ve managed out loud, anyway.

“You should go back to bed, though,” he added softly. (Bram ought to go to bed too: but maybe would make a start on his Astronomy homework after all, just for an excuse to stay here. To sit in the feeling for a few minutes more – to commit this exchange with Esteban to memory.)

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loveliness by Lady!

Esteban pouted not-seriously as Bram escaped from his arm. But it dissolved soon enough into a smile to answer Brams. He was more or less used to the others quirks by now.

"Perhaps," Esteban agreed, stretching with a yawn. "What about you, though?"

  

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Set by MJ

“I’ll go up in a minute,” Bram offered gently, feeling suddenly content. The peace and tranquillity of the night and the darkened common room and the starry sky and Esteban’s affection had made him feel that way, and he didn’t want to lose it yet. Esteban was yawning, so he shrugged to assure him he was fine now. “I’m okay.”

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loveliness by Lady!