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“Do you ever wonder,” Poppy asked Seungyeon, “what your life would be like if you never had your powers?” She hopped down to a ledge and cast a glance around the trees and boulders.
The two young Hufflepuffs were making their way to their secret garden and animal sanctuary, which they had hidden in the Gilded Perch. After finding the Snidgets, their relationship with the centaurs had improved. Together, they created a garden for magical plants and food crops, built to be self-sustaining. But Poppy visited often anyway to check on the tiny golden puffballs, which were growing happy and healthy. She named each of them and kept track of their height and weight.
Seungyeon was joining the older girl this time to bring Chaewon the Phoenix over. She was getting lonely and bored in the vivariums, despite the gaggle of Fwoopers and Jobberknolls. He understood some of how the majestic bird felt; it was difficult being the only one of a kind.
Seungyeon stayed quiet as he considered Poppy’s question. “I’d like to think I’d have less stress, but I probably would be stressing out about something else entirely. If I hadn’t lost my parents, I probably would have spent my life in that railroad building camp until I was old enough to enter the mines. If I had lost my parents, I probably would have ended up in the mines regardless. Having to depend on myself in America probably would have been my biggest concern.” Seungyeon flexed his right hand in his black dueling glove. It still protested from Quidditch practice yesterday.
Although Professor Black had forbidden Quidditch at the beginning of the year, the sheer volume of students and Professors who argued for teams to continue their practice made him walk back his declaration a bit. A letter from the Department of Magical Games and Sports might have also been a factor. Whatever the reason, the student body and Madam Kogawa were overjoyed.
At the start of the spring semester, Madam Kogawa had made the excited announcement. Before supper was over, the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain, a sixth-year named Alexis McGrath, approached her. Somehow, word had gotten to her that Seungyeon was quick on the broom. She wanted him to be the new Seeker. A couple beaters from the Gryffindor team attempted to recruit him as well, funnily enough. Could a Hufflepuff even play on their team? They didn't seem to care.
Poppy found that amusing, given his utter lack of Quidditch knowledge before being courted by Alexis. The irony didn’t escape them. Neither of the girls knew or cared much about Quidditch, but they spent many early mornings poring over game records and technique guides. Imelda upped her Quidditch chatter during their shared classes and supper. And of course, the Slytherin forced him to practice with her in the evenings.
Tryouts after Easter Break had gone well enough to land him a spot as Seeker on the Hufflepuff team. With his quick J-turns he refined avoiding spiders and sudden dives he made swerving out of Ashwinder spell range, he was the perfect candidate for tracking the Golden Snitch. Seungyeon assumed it would be smooth sailing for the rest of the semester, but oh how wrong he'd been. Even though there were no games this season, Alexis had her team practicing consistently so they kept their minds, bodies, and skills sharp. Not all the practice sessions involved being on a broom; some sessions involved a chalkboard and handbooks. Seungyeon actually enjoyed the theoretical classes, as it helped him understand the sport.
Yesterday’s practice, however, was anything but theoretical. His legs were sore from sitting on the broom so aggressively, and he had made contact with a Bludger hurtling toward him when he threw his right hand out reflexively. Poppy made a habit of attending as many practices as she could to support the team, but Seungyeon was glad she hadn’t attended yesterday’s session. Otherwise, she may have swung at the Beater who sent the large red ball his way. Thankfully it wasn’t his dominant hand, and he knew it was an accident, so he just picked herself off the turf and carried on. He'd managed to hide it from his best friend so far, and hopefully would be able to for the rest of the day.
Seungyeon waved his wand as they entered the Gilded Perch, closing the entrance behind them. “If I still possessed magical abilities, I would have gone to Ilvermorny. The only reason I came to Hogwarts was because Professor Fig insisted, and he spoke to the headmaster.”
“So, we never would have met?” Poppy tucked her arm into Seungyeon’s elbow, their gait syncing up as they walked up the stone stairs. Her hand was warm and steady, and that feeling anchored him as she thought about the question.
“Yes, I suppose not.” Seungyeon shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think about what-ifs. There’s no point in thinking about the possibilities of a different life when I have this life to worry about. That kind of nonsense is above my wage level.”
Poppy’s left lip curled up as he said his tagline. Seungyeon often said things were “above my wage level” when he didn’t want to be involved in something complicated, and it amused the British witch every time. “I can agree with that. I’ve got too many things to juggle in my brain already."
Both girls fell silent as they neared the Snidgets. Poppy crouched down and extended her hands to the chirping Snidgets, who immediately ran up to her. How she could tell them apart, Seungyeon had no idea. Meanwhile, he opened her Nab-sack and released Chaewon, who immediately flew into the high-vaulted ceiling.
Seungyeon felt a weight off his chest as he watched the grand bird settle into her new home. Chaewon seemed much more comfortable with the extra space and the golden companions. She wasn’t picking at her tail feathers or squawking at the rocks. He turned his attention to the other Hufflepuff, who murmured comforting words to each bird.
“Do you have any regrets, Seung?” Poppy looked over as Seungyeon took a seat against the gnarled bark of the tree. Her tone was careful, searching.
“I have a few. I mean, who doesn’t?” With another casual wave of his wand, he conjured a brush and began to run it over the back of one Snidget who bopped over to him. “I wish I had hugged my mother one last time. I hate the fact that I didn’t tell Yunseo I loved him like I usually do every morning, because I was mad at him that day. I regret letting Natty get hurt.” He pushed a strip of hair out of his face with his right hand reflexively, and winced quietly. He quickly changed the topic. Hopefully Poppy hadn't noticed. “What about you?”
Poppy seemed surprised to get the question returned. She remained across the room, still pampering the fluffy chirping balls that surrounded her. “I regret staying at my parents’ camp for so long. I thought I could talk them out of it, but they were entrenched in the lifestyle. I could have saved a lot of heartache if I had left for my grandmother’s place the first time she brought it up.”
“You were trying to do the right thing, Pops. Don’t beat yourself up for things out of your control.” Seungyeon raised a hand. “I know, I know! It’s truly a pot calling a kettle black, but that’s how I know you don’t need to blame yourself for the past. Learning to live in the now is the best thing I’ve done.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Seungyeon Lee?” Poppy stood and crossed her arms. She tried to look stern, but her wide smile ruined that.
He snorted and rolled his eyes as he adjusted the bridge of his spectacles. “You should be asking yourself that.”
The older girl smiled, then moved to sit beside him. “For what it’s worth… I’m glad our lives turned out the way they did. I don’t regret meeting you.”
“That makes two of us.” Seungyeon threw his good arm around the shorter girl and pulled her into a hug.
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