Wan carefully set his journal down on a desk and slid into the seat behind it like he was getting ready to pay attention in class. It was kind of the same, just... not. It was more intimate. Like a date.
It's not a date. It's a Teacher helping his student learn some new charms and maybe experiment with spells a little.
Alone.
He kept his face tilted down to hide the hate rising in his cheeks, but his eyes stayed locked on Professor Bane as he peeked out from under his lashes. Had he felt like this prior to that picture in the Scribbler showing up this morning? Maybe a little. But the picture wasn't helping his imagination. Not that he imagined much.
A smile just for him. Fingers tentatively brushing over his shoulder in hello. Some laughter and quiet conversation, or just sitting down and reading in the same room. The kind of quiet affection he'd had with Christine. The kind he'd gotten used to and wouldn't get to have anymore because she got transferred out not four days ago. Before he could even get the courage to ask if he could hold her hand the next time they walked the halls to class together.
Wan wasn't so young to believe what he was feeling at the moment was real. He was probably projecting because Professor Bane was so nice. And good looking.
It didn't matter anyway.
Still, Wan kept his head down so that blush wouldn't be visible and he could try to concentrate on the spell work. He was so focused on that, that he almost missed the question.