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".....and here we have Jeon, fighting off a bludger with his impeccable skills while his seeker is still having trouble finding the snitch." Park Jimin, the commentator of the ongoing quidditch match, Ravenclaw against Gryffindor, roars.
The Gryffindor's chaser, Paul Winson, drops the quaffle into the loop, gaining a point for his team.
"Ten points to Gryffindor!!" Jimin says into his megaphone.
Jeongguk looks around, keeping an eye out for any bludgers and at the same time, trying to find his seeker, his best friend Kim Mina.
"We have Gryffindor's two beaters fighting. My dear mate Henry! Look for the bludger coming at you" the commentator says, which causes the crowd to jeer in laughter.
The Ravenclaw's beater finally finds his seeker, who is flying up and up in the sky, now possibly finding the snitch.
"Did Kim Mina possibly find the snitch, as she is going higher and higher?" Park Jimin prods, having seen Mina too.
And that makes the Gryffindor's seeker, Paul Winson follow Mina, chasing for the snitch, right on her heels. Or may be broom, in this scenario.
Jeongguk immediately glares at Jimin, for throwing the attention on Mina, even if it is his job.
Jeongguk does not understand actually, as to why Jimin of all students is here, acting as a know it all commentator, when Slytherin is not even in the ground, playing.
Rich purebloods and their annoying privileges.
"Seventy to ninety against Ravenclaw" Park Jimin shouts in his annoying voice of his, and the crowd bellows.
Jeongguk swears, and he looks down to the crowd, hoping to find any of his friends.
The crowd consists of all the houses today, even if it is only one of the casual matches held.
Jeongguk spots Kim Taehyung, the best friend of the commentator of today's match, the prefect of the Slytherin house, the school's sweetheart.
Kim Taehyung is one of the best students Hogwarts has ever seen, (according to their head mistress McGonogall.) Also the best in defence against dark arts, being memorised the charms and spells at a ripe age of fourteen. He is also currently the best qudditch player in the school, winning the hearts of students and professors alike.
"...look at the bludger Jeongguk! Jeongguk, you have a bludger coming at you!!" His fellow quidditch mate, Ravenclaw's best keeper John Davidson shouts, bringing Jeongguk back from his head, where he was peacefully bad mouthing Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung.
It takes him a few moments to register that John is talking to him and he only has few seconds to point the bludger coming straight to him.
The next thing he does is purely acted upon instinct, muscle memory from playing quidditch for the past three years, taking over.
Jeongguk swings his bat, the bludger and the bat making a forceful collision, the loud sound resonating in the open grounds.
"Jeon hit the bludger and we have it traveling towards the audience." Jimin says, his voice now containing a hint of concern and fear.
Jeongguk stills at his words. The bludger will never hit the audience, should not, as a matter of fact.
He hurriedly tries to point the bludger and prays that anyone on the ground has tackled the situation by diverting it.
But, as any other day, the heavens must not be in his favour as the next thing he hears makes his blood run cold.
"The bludger hit Kim Taehyung, the Slytherin's prefect, who is now unconscious and is being taken to the hospital wing." Park Jimin's voice cuts out through strong winds flowing around the quidditch grounds, the commentators voice hard and cold.
"Continue the game" head mistress McGonogall yells into jimin's megaphone.
And continue he does, but for the rest of the game, Jeongguk is in daze, fearing for his upcoming doom.
He fears that he will be sentenced to death, or worse, expelled form the school, and Jeongguk can not, for the love of Merlin will be able to live with the mortification.
His parents already hate him for leaving them in the muggle world and deciding to come here, accepting his wizard status.
Kim Taehyung is rich, a Slytherin at that, and he is sure, he will be facing consequences of his stupid dumb mistake.
For the rest of the game, he uselessly hovers in the air, only keeping one eye out for the bludgers, regretting his decision to join qudditch and scolding his fourteen year old for ever trying for this game and accepting the position after.
It is not until his best friend Mina comes beside him, he notices that the game is over, and naturally, Gryffindor won the match.
Hot, fat tears fill his eyes, out of shame of not winning the game and fear of dealing with Kim Taehyung.
"Come, let's go." Mina says softly, nudging his broom with her own.
She keeps a close distance to him, seemingly noticing his distress.
"Hey, Jeongguk-ah, it's going to be alright." She says in Korean, maybe hoping to give him some comfort.
He smiles tiredly at the kind gesture, wiping some traitorous tears which escaped his eyes with his school robes.
He sighs, thinking 'atleast I found some good friends.'
"Mr. Jeon" he hears, as he is coming out from the broom cupboard, after safely and carefully tucking away the quidditch equipment.
"Yes head master?" He says, patting himself on the back as he did not stutter.
"You were very bad on the ground today Mr. Jeon" she starts, and lifts her hand when he opens his mouth to say something, as if to stop him. "I'm very sure you are a good player, but your behaviour on the ground today is disappointing and unacceptable."
Jeongguk nods, hanging his head down.
"And with keeping your disastrous behaviour in mind, I have come to a decision to re-"
"Miss McGonogall" a voice shouts, and Jeongguk is so used to hear that voice today that his body stiffening in annoyance.
"Mr. Park, as you can see, I'm in the middle of speaking to Mr. Jeon. So please find me later." Their Head Mistress says, gesturing between Jeongguk and herself.
"Yes. I'm so sorry to interrupt, but this is very important Miss McGonogall." Jimin says. When she does not bulge, "Please. It only takes a minute." Jimin pleads.
McGonagall stalls for a few moments, seemingly in a process of making a decision.
"Very well then, this better be important." She says finally, leading Jimin away. "I'm not done with you Mr. Jeon, please wait for a few minutes." She says sternly, and turns away.
Jeongguk on one hand, is thankful for the other Slytherin, while on the other, wants to strangle him to death. He wants to be done with this god forsaken conversation, as he can pack his bags and get on the next train, or if he is lucky, and by some miracle is still allowed in the school, go to his dorm and cry his eyes out.
He reluctantly looks at the duo talking at a few steps away from his, their faces hard and whispers hushed.
He leans his weight against the nearest pillar, kicking his leg aimlessly, willing his eyes not to fill with tears.
He hears their head mistress clearing her throat after a few minutes, standing exactly behind him, coming out of nowhere.
He jumps at the sound, lost in his own head and not hearing at first, but quickly gains his composure and stands straight.
"As I was saying earlier Mr. Jeon, we have to talk about your behaviour, it's consequences and your much needed punishment." McGonagall starts, speaking straight to the point.
Jeongguk nods, his voice failing him with all the nerves he is experiencing.
He is already planning on effective methods on quickly packing his trunk and writing a letter to all his friends as a farewell. He cannot face his-
"And I have decided that, you will serve detention every Friday until the year ends, not skipping it. Not even for a single week."
What?
"What?" He asks dumbly.
"Serve detention Mr. Jeon. Every Friday. And think about your behaviour and make sure that, that never happens ever again, and you will be careful while playing quidditch."
And with that, their head mistress turns around, disappearing in the hallway.
Jeongguk states at the empty hallway for a few minutes, and absent mindedly makes his way to the ravenclaw's dorms.
After hitting his bed, he bursts into tears, the exhaustion and tiredness from the day hitting him hard.
He cries and cries, cries from exhaustion, cries from mortification of messing up the game and hitting a student and almost killing him, and cries from relief of not being expelled.
He cries until he succumbs to sleep, his body turning down on it's own.
-
The next day, he visits Kim Taehyung at the hospital wing. He may hate Taehyung all he want, but the Slytherin got his skull almost cracked open because of him, and he is a good boy. So he makes his way there, some homemade cookies his mother sent by parcel three days ago, and some pumpkin juice in his hands.
He keeps his head down, not wanting the world to see his deathly dark circles and exhaustion all over his face. When he finally reaches the hospital wing, he hears hushed noises, very similar to the ones he heard yesterday.
It's none other than Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung, talking lowly. It looks like they are arguing about something, but one peek into the room says otherwise.
The duo are spread on the bed, Jimin's leg thrown on Taehyung's, their hands intertwined. Jeongguk feels as if he is interrupting a private moment. 'it probably is' he thinks bitterly.
So with a sigh he turns around, hoping to catch Taehyung alone. But the mention of his name makes him stop in his tracks, his feet rooted to the ground.
"Are you sure you relayed my message correctly?"
"Merlin, Taehyung, I'm not a dumb witch. And the headmaster was not happy at first, but you know, I'm quite persuasive."
"Neat. I'm glad Jeongguk does not need to serve detention with the wild creatures at night. And that boy loves quidditch too much to not to play for an entire year." Taehyung sighs, moving to turn around, but lets out a groan, clutching his head.
Jeongguk feels a pang of guilt for his actions, and for thinking so lowly of Taehyung just because of his status.
As far as he gathered from the conversation, Taehyung tried to get him out of his very very scary detention. He loves animals, but he draws the line at a thousand legged spider and a half horse. He loves quidditch more than anything. He will give up his food for qudditch, so he is thankful for Taehyung. But he still has mixed feelings about this situation. Not wanting to interrupt the couple, nor get caught for eavesdropping, he hurries out in the hallway, making his way for his first class of the day. He decides he will meet Taehyung tonight. Just before going to bed.
He attends all his classes in daze. Thinking about Taehyung and his intentions. He does not have anything personal with the elder, but the tales he heard of the pureblood Slytherins when he was just a wide eyed eleven year old student made a mark on him. He heard cruel stories about how the Slytherins bully other students, how they create quite a ruckus, and always find a way to get away with it. He always maintained a distance from them, mingling with students of his own group, and his own status. He comes from a lower middle class family, his parents against him for leaving them and accepting the offer the school provided. He did not see them for the last four years, always spending the holidays in school itself. While his father is still the same, blaming him for leaving to attend school away from home, in a whole different continent, his mother did come around after a few months of him leaving home. She apologized for not standing with him, and supporting his decision, sending him a letter secretly, without his father's knowledge. They still exchange letters every now and then, and his mother sends him cookies and different home made food which is hard to get by in this English place. Still, everything is not fine, and he does not want to get bullied. He is already walking on thin ice, his emotions all over the place. The only thing keeping him sane is quidditch and magic, and he does not want to get into stupid politics at school, and be deprived of them. Knowing Taehyung had a hand in keeping him sane by letting him still play quidditch flutters his heart. So he decides to give Taehyung a chance and clear the air for once and all.
That only resolution keeps him going for the rest of the day, and he even skipped showering after quidditch to go and meet Taehyung. If Mina got a word about it, he will never see the light of the day again, but Mina does not need to know about it anyway.
He has a skip in his steps as he treks his way to the hospital wing, eager to give Taehyung his peace offerings as a symbol of fresh start in between them. Cookies and freshly squeezed pumpkin juice.
When he gets into the hospital wing, he is ready to greet Taehyung, full on Korean style, already prepared a speech and all, but there is no sight of the elder. He finds Madam Pomfrey there, fiddling with some potions, so he makes his way to her. "Good evening Madam Pomfrey." He greets, catching himself at the last moment so as not to bow down to her. He knows he lived in this country for almost five years, but his mannerisms are still the same as he was in Korea.
"Good evening Mr. Jeon, are you alright? What can I do for you?" Madam Pomfrey greets back, already taking her wand in her hands.
"Oh nothing. I'm perfectly alright. I was just wondering where Kim Taehyung, a seventh year student, was. He was admitted here yesterday, a bludger struck him down" he mumbles the last part, cheeks flaming in embarrassment.
"Oh. Kim Taehyung. Merlin, he is a tough one, that boy. He came here with a pretty bad concussion. But he is alright now, and he wished to be discharged, so I sent him away. Only a few minutes earlier."
Jeongguk's heart drops at the mention of Taehyung's concussion, the guilt returning back. He says his goodbye to professor Pomfrey, making his way out of the hospital wing with a heavy heart.
He wanted to apologize and make things right with the Slytherin, but it's as if the universe is against him, not making him meet Taehyung. He is disappointed and angry at himself for losing focus on the game.
While he is walking to his dormitory, an idea forms in his head, and he runs in the direction of Slytherin dorms, eager to implement it before he chickens out.
When he reaches his destination, he realises that he does not know anyone. Yes, he is popular. But it only lasts while he is in the air, playing quidditch. People tried to talk to him, to befriend him or to date him, but soon realised he is not worth the effort. And so, they left. He is immensely thankful for his close knit group of friends. He would be completely insane if it was not for them.
All these thoughts swirling his head, he searches for any familiar face to ask for Taehyung, but to no avail, he finds no one. He wants to ask one of the students going or coming in from the common room, but he is painfully shy, and it is very difficult for him to talk to new people. He almost runs to his own dorm, but a Slytherin girl, maybe a third year comes in front of him.
"Do you want to go in Jeongguk?" She asks.
And wow. This girl calls him Jeongguk, and he, to save his life does not even remember her name.
"Um…" he starts, but is cut off again.
"Don't worry. You once helped me in the library. I'm Alice. Alice White." She offers her hand, which he shakes thankfully. Not all Slytherins are bad. I should apologise to Taehyung. He thinks, determined.
"So… you want to come in or what?" Alice asks again, pointing behind her back.
Jeongguk shakes his head. "Oh, no, no, I just came here to meet someone. I'll wait here. Would you pass on the message that I'm here?"
"Yeah. Ofcourse. Who did you want to meet?"
"Taehyung. Kim Taehyung."
Alice looks conflicted for a moment, but eventually relents. "I'll let him know. Nice meeting you." she says, walking away towards the common room, after whispering the entry password.
Jeongguk looks around in the mean time, admiring the heavy architecture of the school. He is in his fifth year now, he spent almost every day of his past four years in this castle, but he never gets sick of it. He always finds something new to admire-
"Jeon?"
He startles out of his thoughts, whirring around to look at the face who called him. He recognises the voice, but he is tad bit disappointed to not find Taehyung there. It is Park Jimin instead, short, but excluding command.
"Heard you wanted to see Taehyungiee?" He asks in Korean.
Jeongguk feels something shift in his chest when Jimin refers the younger Slytherin as 'taehyungie', but he waves that off as nerves. And he is also happy that Jimin is speaking in Hangul.
"Uh- um… i wanted to apologize, to Taehyung. I brought cookies." He shows the box to Jimin as an eager kid who got their favourite candy. He internally scolds himself for acting so immaturely, but what's done is done, he can not change the past.
Jimin looks like he is constipated, lips thin and cheeks puffed, as if he is stopping himself from throwing up then and there. Jeongguk wants to ask if he is alright, but he is sure they are not there yet, so he shuts his mouth, biting his lips.
"You brought cookies?" Jimin asks, scanning him from head to toe.
Jeongguk nods eagerly, but stops himself mid nod when he realises how stupid he would look. "Yes." He croaks out, immensely relieved and proud that he did not stutter.
"Taehyung wanted to rest. If you give your goods to me, i will assure you that they reach him." Jimin says, lifting his hand as if asking for the box of cookies.
Jeongguk face falls at that, and he is sure that, Jimin can see it. He wanted to meet Taehyung, apologise to him personally, but it is as if the universe is against him. Again.
He gives the cookie box to Jimin. He hesitates with the pumpkin juice, thinking of the ways he can persuade Jimin into taking him into Slytherin common room, but he comes up with nothing, his brain, a blank slate.
"You can come in I guess." Jimin mutters. Maybe the elder took a pity on him. He is really pathetic isn't he?
"Well? Are you coming in or…?" Jimin trails off, already a two paces ahead him, while Jeongguk is still standing there, clutching the pumpkin juice bottle like a loser.
"Yeah. Please lead the way. Thank you." Jeongguk croaks out, following Jimin.
Jimin hums. "Fair warning, Taehyungie maybe a little grumpy. His head is all over the place."
Jeongguk nods, but remembers that Jimin can not see him, so he opens his mouth. "Alright. Thank you for bringing me here."
Jimin waves him off, while they reach the common room. But to Jeongguk's utter dismay, Taehyung is nowhere in sight, and Jimin is still walking. His stomach swoops when he realises that they are going towards their dorm rooms.
"If Taehyung- if Taehyung is sleeping, I will stop by later. I don't want to invade." Jeongguk says, still following Jimin.
The elder Slytherin laughs. "Invade? What is this? A country?"
"Um, I don't want to impose?" Jeongguk tries agian.
Jimin mutters something akin to 'idiots…. love… both' but his heart is beating so loud that the sound is pounding in his skull, cancelling the other sounds.
Jimin stops at one of the dorms, and honestly Slytherin dorms are the same as Ravenclaw's. He expected something more, extravagant or dramatic, but it is as heavy and as beautiful as his own dorm room.
Jimin walks into a room, occassionally greeting other Slytherins, and Jeongguk is hunched over, overwhelmed being at a new place, with complete strangers. He should have picked up on the offer when Mina offered to go with him. Dumbass Jeongguk.
"Taehyungie, there is someone who wants to meet you." Jimin announces loudly, flopping on a chair.
Jeongguk looks up from the floor where he was drilling holes into it, Jimin's loud voice booming in the room. No wonder he is the announcer for their quidditch games.
Taehyung is lying down on his bed, his left side of the face bruised. He also has a cast on, on his right hand. Jeongguk feels tears spring in his eyes. He never wanted to hurt someone this bad. His father would be so mad if he were to know, and if they were in talking terms, he would have disowned him now for sure.
But he does not want to break down in front of the Slytherins, so he swallows the tears back.
"I'm so sorry for hurting you. Please know that it was not my intention." Jeongguk bows a ninety degrees, and then bows some more, his face almost touching his feet. He plays quidditch. He is plenty flexible.
He remains in the position for a few seconds, and straightens when he gets no response. He is greeted with wide eyes and surprised expressions, so he bows down again for good measure.
Taehyung clears his throat, but it's Jimin who speaks. "You don't need to bow Jeongguk. We are not in Korea."
Humiliation fills his veins, his eyes tearing up yet again. He hangs his head low, and there is one traitorous tear that slides past his cheeks, dropping onto his chin.
The effects of losing the game, serving detention, the guilt of hurting Taehyung and misunderstanding him are now getting to him, his emotions going haywire.
He is brought back from his self hosted pity party when Taehyung clears his throat.
He wipes his eyes with the sleeve of his robes, looking up to meet Taehyung's eyes, which are stoic, still of emotion.
"Come." Taehyung says, motioning to the bed he is layed on.
Jeongguk blinks, confused. He looks at Jimin as if he can solve his problem, but Jimin just juts his chin out in the direction of Taehyung, so he slowly walks towards him.
Taehyung opens his palm, his hand stretched towards him, so he looks around to see anything that Taehyung would want, but there is a scoff heard from behind him, before a voice speaks.
"Merlin, he is asking the pumpkin juice that you are clutching for your dear life."
Taehyung glares behind him, at Jimin, who just spoke.
Jeongguk looks at the bottle now, wet with his sweat. He grimaces, not wanting Taehyung to touch his sweat.
"Umm…" he hesitates, but Taehyung rolls his eyes.
"I'm thirsty. Should I wait for another hour before you give that to me?"
Jeongguk shakes his head, wiping the bottle clean with his robes and handing it to Taehyung.
Taehyung immediately opens the cap and takes a sip out of it, his face contouring something akin to disgust before the expression is gone.
Jeongguk is sure he imagined disgust etched on his face, his mind playing hallucinations on him.
"Here! He brought you cookies too" jimin pipes up, handing the box to Jeongguk, who gives it to Taehyung.
Taehyung tentatively takes a cookie out of the box before sniffing it. He nods, then takes a bite of it. The room is silent, except for Jeongguk's bated breathing and the crunch of the cookies that Taehyung is eating.
The younger Slytherin finishes off the cookie in another bite, before grabbing another one.
Jeongguk releases a sigh, just now realising how anxious he was about Taehyung's approval.
Just then, Jimin leaps of the couch, whispering a 'finally', before he dives in for the cookie box.
Jimin and Taehyung wrestle, but ultimately jimin wins after he whispers something in Taehyung's ear, both of the Slytherins discreetly glancing at him.
"This is really good Jeongguk-ah. Did you make these?" Jimin says, mouth full of cookies, the powder frying everywhere.
Jeongguk scrunches his nose in disgust, the neat freak in him jumping out. Taehyung does not even bat an eye, lazily taking out his wand and flicking it, making the cookie crumbs disappear.
This action alone speaks volumes about the Slytherins relationship, and the pang in his heart from earlier returns. But he tucks it down, and answers Jimin.
"Thank you. My mother sent me those. From Korea."
"Oh wow, your parents still live there?"
"Uh. Yeah."
"Thank her on behalf of us, will you? These are heavenly."
Jeongguk feels proud, chest puffing up at the appraisal.
He nods, thankful for his mother's culinary skills.
"I wanted- I wanted to apologise." He stutters out, not wanting to lose their attention.
Jimin nods as if he understands, pats Taehyung on his shoulder. "I'll leave you two alone." He walks out, patting Jeongguk's shoulder too, on his way out.
Jeongguk panics, finding Jimin's presence oddly calming. He was never with Taehyung in the same room. Atleast alone. They shared some classes together, but never uttered a word to each other. He turns around to stop Jimin, and Jimin does the same, halting with his hand on the door. "You know, you can call me hyung. Your Korean is cute, and we will converse in Korean only, from now on." He says, and slips out of the room.
'from now on' rings in Jeongguk's head, giving him some confidence. He did not fuck up this yet. They still want to talk to him.
".....gguk?"
"Jeongguk?"
"Yeah?" Jeongguk turns around, dreading the conversation with Taehyung even if he gained confidence.
"Would you like to sit down?"
"Oh. Yes. Thank you." He walks towards the chair which Jimin sat earlier, but Taehyung stops him.
"No, come here." He pats the bed he is resting on, and Jeongguk blanches.
Taehyung sighs. "I want to lay down. My back is hurting. I want to see you while you speak, so sit here."
Jeongguk feels bad that Taehyung is still hurting, so he sits beside Taehyung, on the edge of the bed.
As soon as he butt touches the mattress, he opens his mouth, words swarming from his throat.
"I'm so sorry, I was in my head while playing, it's totally my fault. Please forgive me."
"Hm." Taehyung hums.
"I will, I will do anything to earn your forgiveness." He tries.
Taehyung cocks an eyebrow. "Anything?"
"Anything."
"Hm, what about we become friends?"
"What?"
"Be my friend."
"What about Jimin?"
"Who says you should only have one friend? Besides, he is different."
Oh. Ofcourse, Jimin is his partner, his soulmate. Taehyung wants a normal bro. Alright. Jeongguk can do that. It is the least he can do actually. He wanted to clear the air between them anyway.
"So…?" Taehyung prods.
"But, why me?"
"Why not you?"
Okay. That's a good point. Whatever, Taehyung and Jimin are graduating this year anyway.
"Alright. I'll be your friend."
Taehyung nods, satisfied. "Good." He winces, clutching his side as he is shifting. Jeongguk rushes to help him, but retreats, not sure he is allowed to.
"What? Friends help eachother don't they? Help me settle."
Jeongguk nods, tucking in Taehyung and covering him with the duvet.
He sits there, waiting for Taehyung's dismissal.
"Jeongguk, can you scratch my nose?"
What now?
"What?"
"Scratch my nose?"
"What? You are my friend now aren't you? And you are the reason why I'm like this."
Damn Slytherins and their manipulative skills.
Jeongguk rolls his eyes, but complies nonetheless.
"Did you ask me to be your friend only to make me work for you? Don't you have elves for that?" Jeongguk asks, looming on Taehyung, his left hand beside Taehyung's head on the pillow, right hand on his nose, scratching it.
Taehyung pales, opens his mouth to say something, but Jeongguk cuts him off.
"What? We are friends now aren't we? Friends joke around all the time, hyung." He says, laughing.
"Brat." Taehyung murmurs, the same time Jeongguk gets up from the bed.
"I will see you tomorrow. Take care hyung." He waves, slipping out of the room, waving goodbye to Jimin, who is chilling in the common room, on his way out.
-
And it's like the switch flipped, Taehyung and Jeongguk instantly hitting off. They do share their classes, but now they sit beside eachother, always attached at the hip, and only separated when needed. Like when they have quidditch practice, or when Taehyung is pulled into his prefect's duties.
Taehyung and Jeongguk also formed a tradition of sorts, Jeongguk always leaving a cookie or two for Taehyung in his seat, or slipping it sneakily in his bag, along with some pumpkin juice.
Jeongguk is happy, finally having found a good friend, (no offence to Mina, but Taehyung already wormed his way into his heart. Mina is busy with her new girlfriend anyway) who he is comfortable with.
All the things he heard about Slytherins, purebloods, and Slytherin purebloods revolt against Taehyung, who is the complete opposite.
Taehyung is still stern, stoic and cold, but with Jeongguk, it is like he takes off his mask.
Just like Jeongguk, Taehyung also gifts him various things, such as bracelets, bookmarks, and when one day when he found an expensive french perfume sitting on his bed innocently, Jeongguk lost it.
He immediately confronted Taehyung, arguing with him.
"I did not agree to be friends with you for your money."
"I never said that."
"Then why are you gifting all these things? What will Jimin hyung think?"
"What this has to do with Jimin? And I like to hug you. So when you are all sweaty, that's all I smell. So this is for me. Please use it. I will pass out any day from the odour."
Jeongguk shrieks "I smell heavenly, let me tell you!!"
"Yes. You will, once you wear this."
Jeongguk, unable to say no to his hyung, relents.
There was this other day when Taehyung slipped a box in his hand after walking him to his dorm. "Open this when you get to bed." He said, walking away.
Jeongguk was jittery all the while he was showering and getting ready to bed, anxious and curious to see what is there in the box. It looks expensive, and Jeongguk is ready to puch Taehyung this time, but the box opens to a beautiful handmade necklace, delicate and pretty. (Reminded me of you~) the handwritten note says, and Jeongguk did not remove the necklace ever since. And he did not get to look Taehyung in the eye for four days after without turning an alarming shade of red.
There is also this instance, where he came home to Grey (his owl), adorning a chain of it's own. It was onyx black, the contrasting against it's black feathers, and creating a lovely view. Jeongguk instantly knew that it was Taehyung's doing, and he brewed an extra cup of pumpkin juice with extra cinnamon for Taehyung that night as a thank you.
Taehyung spoils him rotten, but most of the times it is behind the closed doors, or in the sanctuary of their own secret spot.
Jeongguk knows no one will believe that he is friends with the Kim Taehyung, one of the popular students of school, his shy and awkward behaviour, sending people away from him. But whatever, he is happy with Taehyung. And by default, he is also happy with Jimin. Jimin feels like an older brother he never had, so he doesn't complain.
So that is the reason, hell breaks loose, when Jeongguk saves Taehyung by pushing him away from a nearby bookshelf, which was about to fall on Taehyung, Jeongguk who took the blow instead of Taehyung almost broke his back was admitted into the hospital wing. Taehyung went crazy that day, spewing profanities at the first and second year students who were practicing some spells. They were obviously inexperienced, causing the mishap. It's a relief that no lives were taken, but people saw a different side of Taehyung that day.
And Jeongguk was sure, he would have kissed him, if not for Jimin.
-
Taehyung still has nightmares about when he saw Jeongguk in blood, his black robes drenched wet.
It started as a typical day, he enjoyed the cookies after his breakfast, studied for his NEWTS, attended all his classes, had fun with Jimin and Jeongguk while practicing quidditch. He was ready to take a bath and fall face first into his bed, when the unexpected happened.
Taehyung, along with Jeongguk and Taemin, was in library, surfing for some books. Jeongguk ran away somewhere the moment he set the foot here, and Taehyung deep in his thoughts did not notice the book shelf behind him shaking.
And the next thing he knows he is knocked down onto the floor, the books in his hand flying away from his hands.
For a moment, everything was disoriented. There is a ringing in the Slytherin's ears, his ribs screaming at him from the pitiful position he was shoved into.
Then he hears a groan. It sounds closer, as if it was from above him. He feels arms around his own, blood trickling down his face from somewhere above.
He sits up from the ground with a start, identifying the body above his, as Jeongguk.
Jeongguk groans again, jostled by Taehyung. He finds himself in a weird position, almost in Taehyung's lap, Taehyung's own hands inspecting his face.
"Hey bun, you okay?"
"Wha-" Jeongguk starts, but it gets interrupted by a cough punching through his gut, his lungs feeling as if they are being torn from the bronchi.
"H-hyung" he gasps.
Taehyung instantly pales, not liking the tone of the younger. "Yeah, bun? What is it? Are you able to wa-"
"Hyung. Hyung. I want to become a healer." The Ravenclaw says and slumps on to Taehyung's chest, losing his conscious.
Taehyung was not afraid of anything his entire life. He was not this shaken up when he almost lost his head after getting hit by a bludger. Jeongguk bleeding and unconscious in his lap, made his own conscious fly out of the window, instantly carrying Jeongguk to the hospital wing, snarling at anyone who were in the middle of his way.
When Madam Pomfrey kicked him out, unable to concentrate on Jeongguk with all the vigorous pacing he was doing, he immediately went to their head mistress and took care of everyone who were involved with the accident. (read : gave detention in the forbidden forest, took two hundred points from each student, and from their house)
Jeongguk will kill him if he knew he gave such a brutal punishment for those innocent children, but Jeongguk does not need to know, and he made sure of it.
-
When Jeongguk wakes up, he is in the nurse's office. He is no stranger to this room, more of a frequent visitor actually, as he is always clumsy on his broom, even if he has been a student in Hogwarts since he was eleven.
He sees Mina on the chair dozing off, and he knows that his friend sneaked in, the visiting hours being long over.
His bladder is complaining and he needs to free himself, so he makes his way to the washroom, clutching his ribs and hissing in pain with every step he takes.
A few steps takes forever and by the time he crossed two beds, he is panting, harsh breaths leaving his mouth.
"Bun" he hears before there are arms around his torso, marshmallow scent invading his senses.
He can identify that scent anywhere, as he was the one who gifted that to Taehyung as a gift. 'soft smell for the soft hyung' he said, and the blush on his hyung's face was worth all the money he poured for the custom design.
"Bun, why did you wake up? Where are you going?" Taehyung speaks, urging him to sit down on the nearest bed, which brings him back from his thoughts.
"Hyung, wait, I need to pee."
Taehyung's hand on his waist loosens before gripping his side tight again.
"Ouch. What the fuck arsehole." He hisses, slapping his hyung's hand.
"Language Jeongguk-ah" Taehyung gripes, and leads him to the washroom near the nursing room.
"Do you want any help?" The Slytherin asks, his hand on the knob of the bathroom.
"What help?" He snorts. "Gonna hold my dick?"
"Yeah. If you want." Taehyung answers sincerely.
"What?"
"What, what?"
Jeongguk observes Taehyung's face, searching for mirth or amusement. But he is greeted with genuine concern and sincerity. He feels his cheeks heat up, and is very thankful for the night, which is saving his dignity.
Taehyung still comes into the washroom, just standing a few feet away, his back to Jeongguk, humming a song to fill the awkward silence.
"You really don't have to hyung." Jeongguk whispers.
"No, I need to."
"Need to?"
"Yeah. You are here because of me. I'm very sorry."
Oh.
Oh.
Taehyung is doing this out of guilt. Jeongguk thought it was genuine concern. He scoffs at his own stupidity. Taehyung sees him as nothing but a little brother, awkward ad shy, anxious in his own skin. Nothing more, nothing less.
His face now tears up for all the different reasons, embarrassment and sadness filling his gut. His feelings are all over the place, and he is immensely guilty for his own actions. Taehyung is happily dating Jimin. They are married at this point and here he is, thinking all differently about the elder. Taehyung is his safe place, his friend. Jimin, even more so. He does not want to ruin his friendship with the Slytherins just because of an annoying crush. If Taehyung offered him to be his friend out of pity, Jeongguk would not be surprised.
"I'll walk by myself hyung." Jeongguk mumbles, trying to shake off Taehyung's hand.
"What? No. Why? Let me help." Taehyung tightens his grip. Still walking ahead.
And Jeongguk is ashamed to feel like this. Even now, Taehyung's s touch grounds him, a sense of calm washing over him. He quietly walks, not wanting to talk again. He is not sure if he can take this anymore. Stupid herbs, messing up with his brain.
Taehyung tucks him in the bed, waking up Mina in the process, who blinks at the scene in front of her.
"Oh. Taehyung" She mumbles, rubbing her eyes.
"Hey Mina . Go to the dorms. I'll be here." Taehyung says, ruffling Jeongguk's head.
Jeongguk involuntarily shivers, causing Mina to cock an eyebrow. Girls and their powers. He shakes his head.
"Jeongguk-ah, will you be alright?" Mina asks, but he knows what Mina is actually insinuating. Are you alright being with Taehyung alone? Is what she is really asking. And Jeongguk, he wants to be selfish. He wants to ask his best friend to keep him company, but he can see the dark circles under her eyes and her pale, tired skin. So he sucks it up.
"Yes Mina. Go sleep. I'll be alright. Bring me chocolate tomorrow." He adds the last sentence just so that Mina wouldn't feel guilty leaving him here, alone with Taehyung. He dealt with enough guilt for a day.
"Okay. Sleep well." Mina says, kisses his forehead and disappears with a small wave at Taehyung's s direction.
"You guys seem close" Taehyung says, sitting down on the chair which was previously occupied by Mina.
Jeongguk looks at him like he has grown three heads. Like that one dog which once guarded the philosopher's stone. He is good at Hogwarts history. Thank you very much.
"....yeah?" Jeongguk says unsure. When he gets no response, he continues.
"We have basically known each other all our lives" he sighs.
"No. Not like that." Taehyung huffs. "M-more touchy?"
Jeongguk is confused for a few seconds. Honestly, his head is pounding and his body feels like he was thrown from one of the Hogwarts towers. And all this interrogation does not help.
He opens his mouth to tell off Taehyung, when something clicks in his mind.
"Wait. Are you jealous?" He asks, mouth parted open.
Taehyung sputters. "Jealous? What reason I have to be jealous?" He huffs again.
"Who am I even jealous of? You or Mina?" He shakes his head as he is absurd.
"Well, you tell me. Who are you jealous of?"
"No one, Merlin! You are my friend. Mina is a great acquaintance. Shut up and go to sleep."
Right. There it is. The cursed word. Taehyung is doing this because he is his friend. Because he is guilty.
"You know hyung, you don't have to do this out of guilt. I know you need your sleep. I will be good on my own." Jeongguk says, willing his tears away.
"Is that what you think?" Taehyung asks silently, barely a whisper.
"What?"
"Do you think I'm doing this out of guilt?"
"A-are you, are you n-not?"
Taehyung tries to say something, but eventually decides against it.
"Leave it Jeongguk. Sleep. Take rest. Goodnight."
And that seems final. So Jeongguk, dejected, succumbs to a much needed sleep, but not before muttering a soft 'good night hyungie'
-
The next morning when jeongguk wakes, Taehyung is still there, dozing off on the clearly uncomfortable chair, his feet propped up on the bed, so they slightly tickle his ribs, whenever either of them move.
“Hyung” he tries, but it comes out as a croak, his throat parched.
The Ravenclaw tries to sit up, but he groans, waking up Taehyung in the process.
‘Bun”, he says groggily, immediately getting off the chair, helping Jeongguk sit up.
“Where is my wand?” Jeongguk croaks.
“Wand?” Taehyung glances confusedly towards the younger’s crotch.
“Wand? Uhh. just give me some water.”
“Oh. oh. Yeah. wand. We will do magic with that. Wand.” Taehyung mutters to himself, taking the glass from the table, placing it near Jeongguk's lips.
“Go on, drink” Taehyung nudges, and Jeongguk, while his heart is fluttering uncomfortably, has no choice but to comply.
“What is with you and wand? Why are you acting weirdly?”
“Oh, um, nothing” Taehyung says, cheeks an unhealthy red.
“A-are, are you blushing?’’. Jeongguk enquires. “Oh wait! Are you coming down with a fever?” he says, trying to reach Taehyung’s forehead.
“I though wand meant your dick.” Taehyung blurts out.
Jeongguk stops in his tracks, his hand awkwardly hanging around in the equally awkward air.
“Wha-”
Taehyung takes Jeongguk's hand in his own, interwining their fingers. Jeongguk mind short circuits at the gesture, blinking adorably.
“you know, muggles jokingly call dicks as their wands.” Taehyung says shy.
There is a few minutes of silence in between them. Both of their hands sweaty where they hold their hands.
“Eww. thats disgusting.” Jeongguk exclaims. “I did not need to know that.”
“Sorry.”
“Every time I say my wan-” Jeongguk stops himself midway, groaning. “Oh my god, you ruined it for me “
Taehyung giggles. He fucking giggles and Jeongguk does not want to sound whipped, but that is the most handsome giggles he ever heard. Whatever that meant. He whispered to his own mind.
Madam Pomfrey, comes in at the exact moment.
“Mr. Kim, I'm sure I have warned you to not be here other than the visiting hours.”
Taehyung retracts his hand, turning to their professor. And Jeongguk is instantly hit with loneliness. Loneliness? The herbs might be acting up.
“Sorry professor. I'll go now.’
“Uh-huh. Fifty points from Slytherin.” professor says and dismisses them.
Jeongguk gasps, opening his mouth to say something, but Taehyung waves him off. “I will be back Jeongguk-ah” he says and disappears.
“Hmm, the ribs look alright. Complete bed rest for today, and three cups of that juice three times a day after meals.” Pomfrey says, inspecting his wounds.
‘Alright professor thank you .”
“That boyfriend of yours is a bit protective of you” she says nonchalantly.
“Uh, um, no. he is-he is not-” Jeongguk struggles to form words, let alone a whole sentence.
“I will send a word fo you friends Mr. Jeon. Have your breakfast and take some rest. “ she pats his shoulder amusedly and walk out of the room.
This time Mina visits again, with Jimin and Taemin in tow, all the three of them panting by the time they are near his cot
"What? Did you guys run here?"
"Yeah. We are getting late for class. Wanted to check up on you."
Jeongguk thought they brought food. He is hungry, very much so. He knows the last time he ate, he puked his guts out, not able to digest anything after drinking that horrendous potion his professor made him drink for healing his bones.
"Oh. Ok. Thank you for coming hyungs. Thank you Mina. Love you." He says.
Jimin and Taemin look at him weirdly, as if he had grown a beard. On a second thought, he might have. He did not shave for 2 days.
"Are you alright bub?" Jimin says, touching his forehead. When he was satisfied, he clutched his face in between his hands, inspecting him.
"Yeah. I'm okay. Why? do I not look good?"
"No. You look wonderful bub. Just that, you said 'love you'."
Oh. Jeongguk blushes. He is not very vocal with his words, but he does show his love with his actions! He makes a mental note to be vocal often. Three of his hyungs are graduating this year. He will be, and should be good with his words.
"Why? I love you all though. Now go. Shoo. Shoo. We don't want you to be late for the class."
"Alright. We will come when it's lunch time."
"Yeah. Cool. Study hard for me"
With that, his two hyungs and his best friend walk out of the room, disappearing in the hallways.
'aah, I'm so hungry.' Jeongguk mumbles to himself, searching for his wand.
'my wand' he mouths to himself, cheeks heating up, remembering the events of last night with Taehyung.
Taehyung comes in at that time, a worried frown on his pretty face.
"Bun?" He questions with barely concealed concern, immediately touching his forehead, the same way Jimin did earlier.
"Why are you all red? Should I call professor Pomfrey?" He tsks. "You know what let me go get her." Taehyung retreats from him, but Jeongguk latches on his wrist, stopping him.
"N-no. Don't go."
"...why?"
"I'm okay. It's just very hot in here." Jeongguk chokes out, unable to tell the actual reason. You make me like this dumbo. He thinks to himself.
"Okay." Taehyung sits down, pulling his chair closed to the cot.
"But why did you come back anyway?"
"Just wanted to see you again."
Jeongguk blushes.
"I miss jin hyung" Jeongguk says with a pout, getting comfortable on the bed.
"Why?"
"I'm hungry"
"And?"
"If jin hyung was here, he would have cooked me something."
"Did you not eat yet?"
"No."
"I thought Jimin and Taemin came here?"
"Yeah?" Jeongguk nods. "Mina too."
"Did they not bring your breakfast?"
"No"
"Those fuckers" Taehyung rolls his eyes.
"May be they forgot. They were in a hurry you know" Jeongguk tries to defend, his best friends, crossing his arms on his chest.
Taehyung sighs. "Stay here. I'll be back."
"Wait hyung, no. it's okay. I'll grab something later." Jeongguk says, not wanting to bother Taehyung. The fact that he stayed here all night does not sit right with him.
"Yeah? How? With your ribs which are split open?"
".....no"
Taehyung sighs.
Jeongguk sighs too. As soon as Taehyung goes out of the hospital wing.
Jeongguk almost dozes off by the time Taehyung comes back.
He brings the spicy aroma of kimchi with him, causing Jeongguk's stomach grumble with anticipation and hunger.
"Here. Have this. Kimchi stew. Best for any sickness." Taehyung says, placing the tray on his lap.
"How did you get kimchi stew?" Jeongguk marvels, already spooning the hot soup.
"Wait….." Taehyung says but Jeongguk is already drinking the stew, which he immediately spits out.
"…. It's hot." He finishes off uselessly.
"Holy shit that was hot."
"Yeah. That's what he said."
"Did you just crack a joke?"
Taehyung sighs, for what seems like a hundredth time this day.
"Scorgify" he says, and with a flick of his wand, cleans the mess that Jeongguk made.
Jeongguk just smiles sheepishly and spoons out some stew and slurping it loudly, this time after blowing on it.
Taehyung watches him with a fond smile on his face. Thank God their friends are not here witnessing his love for this boy. he knows he has that 'whipped look' as Jimin says on his face but he couldn't care. He is happy he is spending time with Jeongguk.
"ung"
"Hyung"
"Yeah ba-, bun?" Taehyung clears his throat.
Jeongguk looks at him confused, tries to say something but Taehyung beats him to it.
"Do you feel better now?"
"Yeah. Thank you so much hyung. You didn't have to" Jeongguk smiles.
"Nonsense. Now get some rest. I'll be back again in the lunch break."
"Okay. I'm done too." He says, holding the tray, looking around the room as if he doesn't know what to do with that.
"Here. Give it to me."
He hands the tray to him, now placing his hands on his lap, twiddling them.
"Alright, bun. Get some rest yeah?"
"Hmm. Study well hyung. Fighting!" He says cutely, but he looks nervous.
Nervous? Taehyung thinks. Why would he be nervous? Is he afraid of being al-
"Hyung?"
Taehyung turns around.
"Hyung. Come here."
Taehyung wordlessly goes back, standing at the edge of the bed.
"Come here hyung." And for some reason, he looks incredibly nervous and flustered, Taehyung can't concentrate on anything else.
He goes to stand at the head of the bed now, hitting his leg on the chair he previously sat on.
"Are you okay?" Jeongguk asks worried.
Taehyung snorts. "Yeah. Not like my bones are cracked or anything" he rolls his eyes.
Jeongguk rolls his eyes too. "Come here hyung."
"Come where? Do you want me on your bed?"
"I mean, you can" Jeongguk whispers.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Jeongguk says and grips Taehyung's robes, pulling him down to his eye level.
"What?" Taehyung squeaks out, his hand now gripping Jeongguk's thigh, balancing himself.
Jeongguk just turns his head, hands gripping his jaw tenderly.
Then he pecks. Pecks Taehyung's cheek. With his soft, cute little lips.
"Thank you hyung. For taking care of me." He whispers, lips still touching his cheek, woking goosebumps on the Slytherin's skin.
He releases Taehyung's robes, causing him to lose his balance a little, but he steadies himself by gripping the younger's thigh even tighter.
"O-Okay" he croaks, standing straight. "I'll go now"
"Mhmm." Jeongguk looks at him with this adorable look and he may kiss him if he stands there a second more, so he flees from there.
-
Jeongguk is discharged two days after the accident, Taehyung always dropping by whenever he has time, even if he hangs around only for a few minutes.
Jeongguk said not to bother, not wanting his hyung to overwork, but Taehyung waved off his worries.
And Taehyung is here, along with Jimin and Taemin, his another new friend, who is also a Slytherin, courtesy of his friendship with Taehyung and Jimin.
Few Koreans formed a tight knit group, and they accepted him despite being a muggle and a Ravenclaw. Jeongguk, still feels guilty for his he thought about Taehyung and Jimin and other pureblood Slytherins at first, but he is happy to found them.
Taehyung is intensely listening to madam pomfrey's instructions on how to take care of him, and different potions he needs to be given and their dosages.
When Taehyung does things like these, the line between friendship and feelings blurs for Jeongguk, the Ravenclaw unable to stop his feelings from flowing.
"Jeongguk-ah, come let's get you to your room." Taehyung says, bringing him out of waxing poetry about the elder.
Jeongguk nods, grateful for his friends. He may not have Taehyung as his boyfriend. But he is satisfied with whatever part that Taehyung will allow to have for him.
Jeongguk gets back to his classes the next day, unable to sit and laze around all day. He has a lot of pent up energy, adrenaline coursing through his ways. It's one of the reasons he chose quidditch, so he can exercise all he want, release some stress and pass the fuck out later. This also gives him an advantage when he is sleeping, his brain not having energy for dreaming or creating nightmares. He used to have them when he was younger, fresh from the muggle world, parceled off to Hogwarts, waking up abruptly or with cool sweat.
And then he turned to quidditch, and the trajectory of his life changed.
He is still not cleared off to play qudditch, his ribs taken quite a blow, but one more second in his dorm room, and Jeongguk will go insane.
And so he treks down the stairs, making his way to the great hall, where he is sure breakfast is being served.
He is met with Taehyung just outside the hall, the Slytherin having his hands full of pancakes and bacon in different plates.
As soon as he sees Jeongguk, he exclaims. "Bun! What are you doing here? I was just coming for you. With breakfast." He lists the plates up.
"I'm alright now hyung. I can't be in my dorm room for a minute more. I'll go insane and commit a horrible crime, and they will throw me in azkaban." Jeongguk visibly shudders at the memory. "I'm not going into my room for another week." He says, munching on a piece of bacon.
"You can sleep with me." Taehyung says casually, wrapping his arms around his waist to help him walk.
Jeongguk stiffens. "What?"
"Since you don't want to see your dorm room anymore, you can hangout with me and Jimin in our room." Taehyung starts walking slowly, taking Jeongguk with him. "But I would kill for the Ravenclaw's dorm rooms. The nature definitely is to kill for."
Jeongguk snorts. "Please don't. Who will take care of me if you are sent off to azkaban?"
"Not me for sure."
"What's with you?" Jeongguk asks, taking a seat at the Slytherin table. He immediately senses the shift of air in the great hall, students whispering and gossiping after seeing Jeon Jeongguk with the Kim Taehyung. But Jeongguk almost died, and is just recovering, so he does not pay any attention to other students.
"What's with me?" Taehyung asks confused.
"You are in a good mood today." Jeongguk observes.
Taehyung smirks. "I'm happy I can finally get my daily dose of handmade cookies."
That makes Jeongguk scoff. "Sure. You keep me around for my cookies and pumpkin juice."
"Don't know about cookies but definitely not for pumpkin juice." Jimin pipes up.
"What? Why?"
Jimin looks up at his confused tone, looking at him, then at Taehyung. Then him again. He stops his state on Taehyung, and the duo have a intense conversation with their eyes.
Finally, Jimin speaks up again. "I thought you already told him Taehyung-ah." He sighs. "It's about time anyway."
Taehyung looks like he is about to argue, so Jeongguk speaks up. "Can someone tell me what the hell is happening here?"
"Language." His three hyungs, Taemin included, chides at him.
Jeongguk rolls his eyes. "We are not in Korea. I will speak however the hell I want to."
'Brat' Taehyung mutters the same time Jimin and Taemin raises from their seats. "Well, whatever, good luck confessing to him Taehyung-ah. We are out." Jimin says, walking out of the great hall, hand in hand with taemin.
Hm. Weird.
Taehyung sighs, which gains his attention.
"Confess what?"
"Nothing, leave it. Eat up."
Jeongguk shakes his head. "Not going to, unless you tell me."
"It's nothing important bun, let's just eat."
Jeongguk's heart flutters at the pet name, but he is not going to leave this topic.
"Tell me."
"You are not going to forget and leave this alone are you?" Taehyung asks, wiping his hands.
Taehyung knows him the best. Even if they are friends for only a few months.
So Jeongguk nods his head.
Taehyung sighs again. "I'm allergic to pumpkin." He blurts out.
Jeongguk is stunned to silence, unable to comprehend anything.
"What?" He stupidly asks.
"I'm allergic to pumpkin."
"Are you dumb? You are saying you are allergic to pumpkin and for months you have been drinking the stupid pumpkin juice I have been brewing. Oh my god, I could have killed you!!"
Taehyung looks alarmed, desperately trying to hush him. "Merlin! I'm not deathly allergic. Just a few hives here and there."
"Hives? You break out into hives?" Jeongguk shouts.
"God, say that to the whole bloody school, why don't you?" Taehyung grits his teeth.
It is just then Jeongguk notices that they are getting weird looks. So he apologises.
"I'm sorry. Most of them don't even understand Hangul anyway. But you could have told me, you know?"
Taehyung nods his head. "I know, but I didn't want to disappoint you."
"Disappoint me? Why would I be disappointed?"
"It was like a tradition of sorts no? Me giving gifts fo you, spoiling you, and you feeding me cookies and pumpkin juice every day. I didn't want it to break."
Jeongguk looks at Taehyung for a few moments, before blurting out the first thing that comes to his mind. "for a genius, you are quite dumb."
He expected Taehyung to fight back, to argue, but the Slytherin just nods his head, resigned. "I know. Jimin says so too."
Ah Jimin. How can he forget.
"Well, Jimin hyung is right."
"He is."
"I should go to class now."
"Yes, you should."
"Well, will you walk me there?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Taehyung walks Jeongguk to class, and before the younger can even thank him, he is out of the view, running towards the other side of the corridor.
This is one of the few classes which him and Taehyung do not share, so he shrugs and walks into the classroom, already filled with few students here and there.
And when the class is finally done, his professor calls him, asks to wait for him.
Jeongguk, slightly dreading the conversation, hangs back, and diligently waits for his other class mates to hurry out of the classroom.
"Mr. Jeon."
"Yes professor."
"Heard you took quite a fall."
Jeongguk flushes. "Yes professor."
"I assume you are doing well now?"
"Yes professor."
His professor nods. "Good. We brewed amortentia the other day, and you missed the class."
Crap. He totally forgot about his practical classes.
"And it has a major score for your final marks at the year end." His professor continues.
Jeongguk is already thinking of begging Jimin to show him how to brew amortentia. That hyung is a god when it comes to potions.
"I want to you to brew it all by yourself."
Oh. There goes his plans.
"But don't worry, I'm not as cruel as the talk is. And I also know, it is dangerous to let a student brew such a strong potion all by himself. So I will be there beside you. But everything must be done by yourself. Here, take these notes. You can refer them. Is today afternoon a good time?"
Jeongguk quickly reminisces his schedule for today. He only has two classes, one of which is already done. The second one is in next five minutes, and he has the afternoon free. Evening should be quidditch practice day, but he is not allowed in the air yet. So yes, today afternoon sounds awesome.
"Yes professor. I'll be there."
His professor nods, satisfied. "Good. See you there."
Jeongguk is excited.
He is in the professor's office five minutes ahead of their scheduled time, bouncing in his toes, as he tries (poorly) and conceals his excitement.
This is one of the rare things that Taehyung and Jeongguk does not share the same interest in. While Taehyung despises potions, Jeongguk will despise anyone who despise potions. Taehyung being the only exception.
His professor finds him pacing like a cat, and invites him in amusedly.
They soon start brewing the potion, and in the first attempt, instead of a pearly shine, the potion comes out in a coral pink colour. His professor tsks, and immediately destroys the potion, commanding him to try again.
So Jeongguk tries again, this time with bated breath and shaking hands, carefully measuring the ingredients.
This time around, he succeeds, and barely stops himself from jumping and whooping around.
His professor gives him a nod of approval, and hurries out, giving him specific instructions to clean the station and lock the door on his way out.
He slowly transfers the potion into a bottle, and closes it's lid, securing it tight.
As he is busy cleaning up the mess he created while brewing the potion, he does not realise a person slipping into the office, standing beside him.
"Bun!!" A voice exclaims, and he instantly turns around, happy that Taehyung found him. He is immensely proud of himself, and he is ready to share it with Taehyung.
But what he sees stops in his tracks, the rag which he was using to clean clattering to the floor.
Taehyung is drinking from the bottle, the bottle he filled with amortentia he just brewed.
Jeongguk stands there stunned, watching Taehyung gulping down the liquid from the bottle.
He heaves out a sigh, placing the bottle down. "Bloody hell, I was parched."
When he gets no response, he looks at Jeongguk, and Jeongguk can clearly see the darkening of the Slytherin's eyes.
Taehyung too, might have noticed something, as he tenses.
"Hyung. You just drank amortentia."
Taehyung blinks for a few seconds. And laughs. Laughs and laughs until he is doubled over, tears springing from his eyes.
"Are- you, are you sure this is a love potion and not a laughing one? I'm dying over here." Taehyung wheezes.
"Taehyung." Jeongguk grits out
"I'm serious."
Taehyung, thankfully comes to his senses then, stops laughing altogether. "Oh."
"Yeah."
And with that, Jeongguk runs out of the room, not listening to his hyung, leaving him there.
-
From that day onwards, Jeongguk ignores Taehyung all together, and by extension, Jimin and Taemin too.
It happens to be difficult, to ignore Taehyung, as the elder became a constant thing in his life for the past months, but he tries his best to not cross paths with Taehyung.
Guit remains his constant companion, his heart chewing itself for what he has done, but he cannot fathom the idea of having Taehyung infatuated with him.
Ironically, he dreamt of the same thing many times, but he does not need a mere potion to make Taehyung his. What will happen when the effects wear off? Jeongguk can not have a taste of Taehyung and have him reject him just because he is done with the effect. Jeongguk is not so low to keep on giving Taehyung the potion, his own self conscious still intact.
'it is for the better. Taehyung has Jimin anyway.' He thinks to himself, and it's the only thing that keeps his going.
Until jimin finds him one eventful day, and confronts him.
Maybe Jeongguk failed at maintaining a distance. As he failed his herbology exam too. He casts himself a pitiful smile, following Jimin with his head hung low, into a secluded area.
He did everything in his wits to ignore the three Slytherins, going as far as skipping quidditch practice altogether. He is not free to play for a few days anyway.
He is stopped abruptly when Jimin turns around, and engulfs him in a hug.
Jeongguk, not expecting the hug flinches away, but Jimin just tightens his hold.
Jeongguk instantly breaks, being missed his best friend and hyung all week. He sobs, seeking refuge against Jimin's shoulder, his tears dripping down onto the elder's black robes.
He does not know for how long he cries exactly, but it sure feels like decades after his eyes stops releasing tears.
Jimin holds him through his all, patting his back and rocking them slightly. He feels as if his knees are ready to give out any second, and maybe Jimin does too, so he walks them to a nearby bench, still tightly wrapped in the embrace.
As soon as Jeongguk sits down, he starts to apologise, his throat refusing to open after all the crying, but he croaks out the words.
"Hyung I'm so sorry, i didn't mean to. I would never do that. You, you should believe me. Please believe me. Hyung- hyung, I'm so so sorry. Don't- don't hate me-" he is interrupted by his own hiccups, but he pays them no mind, the words tearing from his vocal chords. "I- i had no idea Taehyung hyung was going to drink- drink that. I was not- not paying attention-"
"Hey, hey bun, take a deep breath. It's alright. I don't hate you. Okay? Now breathe in for me." He illustrates. And Jeongguk scrambles to follow, not wanting to disappoint his hyung any further. "Yeah. Just like that. Good job Jeongguk-ah."
Jeongguk feels relatively better now, but his mind is still clouded with panic, his breath coming in form of short pants.
"Jeongguk-ah, don't get lost in there." Jimin says, tapping his forehead. "Now, tell me what happened will you?"
"Did Taehyung not tell you?"
Jimin shrugs. "He did. But I want to hear your side of story. I don't want to misunderstand you, neither Taehyung."
Tears spring up in Jeongguk's eyes agian, his hyung's sweet words stabbing straight in his heart.
"Hey, tell me Jeongguk-ah. Tell hyung."
Jeongguk nods, relived to let out all his thoughts. "I brewed amortentia. And Taehyung hyung came in. He drank it from the bottle. I didn't know. By the time I warned him, it was already too late."
Jimin nods. "Alright. And then what? I know it's not only that. So tell me."
Jeongguk is furious now. How can this hyung not know the effects of that god forsaken potion? Why is he not blaming Jeongguk for Taehyung's obsession with him? Jeongguk practically severed their relationship. "Then, obviously he will feel the effects of it. And I'm so ashamed of myself."
"Why? Do you not like Taehyung?"
That makes Jeongguk snap "what do you mean? what? Are you listening to yourself right now? Are you seriously asking me if I like your boyfriend?"
"His what?" A voice roars behind him, instinctively making him turn around. That seems to be a grave mistake in his part, as he is face to face with none other than Kim Taehyung. He looks, to put it simply, as death warmed up on him. There are dark circles beneath his eyes, his beautiful bread cheeks, now sunken. He also looks like he lost a lot of weight, even if he last saw Taehyung only a week ago.
Taehyung looks at him with no expression, as the same Taehyung from months earlier, before all this mess took place.
"I asked, his what?" Taehyung grits out, still looking at Jeongguk with the same stern expression. Jeongguk never thought he would be in the receiving end of his hyung's infamous stare, his glare sending chills down his spine.
"Taehyung" Jimin warns, but Taehyung pays him no mind, his stony glare set on Jeongguk.
"I asked a question. And I expect to listen to your answer."
Jeongguk shivers, not liking the tone Taehyung using with him. "Jeongguk. Answer me.
The Ravenclaw flinches, but complies, not wanting to embarrass himself any further. "Boyfriend. Jimin hyung is your boy- boyfriend."
Taehyung laughs, the same time Jimin sighs out. "Are you listening to this Jimin-ah?"
"Taehyung, you are scaring him." Jimin says, immediately coming to stand beside him, his hand wrapping around his waist.
Taehyung scoffs. "Whatever." He spits out, and spins on his heels, getting out from there.
Jeongguk falls to his knees, the way Taehyung acted stinging him. Jimin falls with him, immediately hugging him, but Jeongguk is busy crying, babbling incoherent words.
He knew it. Everyone leaves him. It's not as if he is a great person to hang with. Or even date. He thought he gained few friends other than Mina, but as always everyone leave him. They left him, ag-
Soon, Jeongguk feels a pair of hands wrap around him from back, startling from the internal monologue, and the youngest cries even more, recognising the hands immediately.
Jimin and Taehyung converse something, but Jeongguk is too out of it to pay attention to what they are talking about. He feels Jimin place a delicate kiss on his forehead, and leave, now leaving Jeongguk with only Taehyung.
"Bun, I'm sorry, I lost my cool with you." Taehyung says, pulling him into his lap.
Jeongguk nods, long lost the ability to form words.
"Hyung was very bad, wasn't he? He raised his voice at you."
Jeongguk nods again, his tears still falling.
"Now, I'm going to say something, and I want you to listen very carefully. Alright?" When Jeongguk nods again, Taehyung squeezes his waist. "I want words bun. Do you promise to listen to me? Actually listen to me?"
"Yes."
"Good." Taehyung drops a kiss on his neck, pulling him further into his lap, trapping Jeongguk's legs with his own, his back to Taehyung.
"I really really like you. I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you. I've been ever since you came into my room with cookies and pumpkin juice, which I'm allergic to." Jeongguk lets out a snort involuntarily, making Taehyung snort too. "And I'm not saying this after being influenced by amortentia. I genuinely like you. Understand?"
Jeongguk nods, but shakes his head later. "What- what about Jimin hyung?"
Taehyung sighs. "I don't know where you got that idea from, but me and Jimin are not romantically involved." After a few beats, he adds. "Actually eww. I don't want to think about it."
Jeongguk would laugh at the Slytherin's dramatics, but he is too deep in his head to enjoy anything.
"So, you are not his boyfriend?"
"No, I'm not. In fact, he is happily dating Taemin."
Jeongguk gasps. "What?"
"Yeah." Taehyung places his chin in the crook of Jeongguk's neck, interlocking his hands in front of the younger's stomach.
"But-"
"I know you are conflicted, but please can we not talk about it? I really cannot imagine Jimin as my boyfriend. I'm ready to throw up any minute."
Jeongguk finally cracks a smile at the elder's words, but it immediately dims when he remembers about what happened in their professor's office.
"Are you sure, you are not still under the influence and you genuinely like me for me?"
"Yes bun. Absolutely. And I will reassure you for as long as you want. For infinite times."
"But, I'm just me. And you are you. You are rich, a pureblood, you could marry anyone you want-"
"Woah, woah marry? Who said anything about marriage?"
"O-oh."
Taehyung, immediately noticing the change of his tone, squeezes him again. "Sorry. Sorry. I was just joking. But we still have time to think about marriage though. Don't you think?" When he gets the nod of approval from Jeongguk, he continues agian. "And as you said, you are you, and I'm me. I don't care about my status nor the house I was grouped into. Do you? Care about those things?"
"No."
"See, exactly! What makes you think that I worry about such trivial matters, hm?"
Jeongguk shakes his head.
"I know you have your doubts. But I'm very sure of us. And i will be here with you, clarifying all your doubts alright?"
"Thank you."
"Good." Taehyung kisses his hair. "Now, can I kiss you?"
Jeongguk jolts in the elder's hold, whirling around to look at him. "Kiss? Here?"
"Yeah? Don't you want to?"
"No."
Taehyung pouts. Fucking pouts. "What? You don't want to kiss me?"
"No! No, I mean, I want to but not here. And i should also apologize to Jimin hyung."
"You have nothing to apologise for baby. But as you wish. Do you want to go now?"
"Yes."
"Alright then." Taehyung pats his hip as to say 'get up', which Jeongguk begrudgingly accepts to do so. He was quite comfortable in Taehyung's lap.
The couple find Jimin and Jeongguk vehemently apologises him for bringing him into his mess, and congratulates him on dating Taemin. The trio sheds few tears, most of them hidden by the darkness, and Taehyung is thankful for that.
That night, Taehyung and Jeongguk share their first kiss, and end up doing much more, but later are knocked down into a deep peaceful slumber, entangled in eachother embraces.
-
"Hyung!!" Taehyung hears an all too familiar voice, and soon enough, there are strong, sturdy arms wrapping around his middle, a solid body colliding with him.
He huffs, but turns around to face his boyfriend, who is beaming, his whole face lit up.
"I'm all sweaty and gross baby." He says, nuzzling the younger's adorable nose.
"You know, I like you all sweaty and gross." Jeongguk answers, kissing him on his lips.
Taehyung groans, wrapping his own arms around the younger's waist. "Please don't turn me on."
"Aw, why? I was hoping to get fucked."
"Jeongguk." The Slytherin warns.
"What? Can I not congratulate my boyfriend on his win? His last game at that. He totally deserves this ass."
"God, I regret introducing you to Jimin."
Jeongguk snorts. "Jokes on you. Jimin hyung was the first one who became my friend. So if anything, you are the side kick here."
Taehyung narrows his eyes. "You so badly want to have sex huh?"
"Sooo baaaad." Jeongguk whispers, before kissing Taehyung, immediately slipping his tongue into the elder's mouth.
He is hot with a towel the next second, a voice following soon after. "Hey, you horny dogs. Get a room."
"On it Jimin hyung." Jeongguk replies and drags Taehyung with him, quite literally running towards the Slytherin dorms.
As soon as they enter Taehyung's dorm rooms, he is slammed agianst the door, hands all over him, his boyfriend's tongue fighting with his own to gain dominance.
In the end Taehyung admits his defeat, when Jeongguk switches their positions, and attacks the elder's neck.
"Merlin, you were exceptionally hot today hyung. Wanted you to fuck me since the beginning of the game."
Taehyung groans, pulling at Jeongguk's hair strands.
The younger abruptly sinks to his knees, smirking at the way Taehyung's breath hitches.
"Wanted to suck your cock. Can I hyung? Please?" Jeongguk asks nosing the zipper of the elder's pants.
"God, yes, yes, suck me off baby."
Jeongguk hums, tugging the zipper off with his teeth. He helps Taehyung in losing the pants and his boxers, his dick springing up after being constrained for a long time.
Jeongguk dives in, takes Taehyung in his mouth, without any warning and Taehyung hisses in sensitivity, immediately latching on to Jeongguk's long hair.
The Ravenclaw swirls his tongue around the head, making it messy and wet, just as Taehyung likes.
"Am I doing good hyung?"
"So good baby, so so good. You are going to make me come."
Jeongguk winks. "That's the plan. Fuck my face." He orders and wraps his lips around Taehyung immediately.
And who is Taehyung, if not a mere puppet in his boyfriend's hands? So he complies. Grips the younger's hair with one hand, and thrusts his hips, moaning at the way he hits the back of Jeongguk's throat.
The Ravenclaw is going to be sore for days and whine about it, but Taehyung feels a weird emotion swirl in him when he imagines tasting himself on Jeongguk.
The thought brings him to his end, and he comes down Jeongguk's throat, watching in awe as the younger works his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows every single drop.
Jeongguk looks fucked out, his cheeks pink and lips sticky, and Taehyung can't do anything but lean down to help Jeongguk on his feet, and kiss him senseless. One look at the younger's crotch tells him that he came too. And the idea of Jeongguk coming untouched stirs arousal low in his belly.
"Did you just come?"
"Yeah. Just for you."
And Taehyung is immediately on him, walking them backwards until Jeongguk's knees hits his bed.
This has become a routine for them at this point, and Jeongguk quickly climbs into the bed, pulling Taehyung with him.
Taehyung, just as Jeongguk did earlier, helps the younger out of his clothes, the cum in them making it hard to remove from the legs.
"Bloody hell, you are so hot." Taehyung says, kissing up his way from Jeongguk's knee to his chest, leaving few marks on his hips.
"Can I fuck you baby? Let me fuck you."
''Okay." Jeongguk nods.
When Taehyung shifts to grab the lube from the drawer, Jeongguk stops him with a hand on his forearm. "No need" he shakes his head.
Creases from in Taehyung's forehead "But it will hurt."
"No, I already prepared myself." Jeongguk says shyly.
Taehyung groans, falling face first on the Ravenclaw's chest. "Why are you acting so shy now? You will literally be the death of me."
"Please don't die. I love your cock too much."
Taehyung looks up, mock glaring his boyfriend. He pinches his nipple in retaliation but that only pleasures Jeongguk, making him moan obnoxiously.
"You only keep me around for my dick and money."
Jeongguk rolls his eyes. "Obviously."
So Taehyung lines himself up and pushes into him, without so much as a warning, and moans when Jeongguk immediately clenches. He is a little dry, the friction first rough, but soon enough, Jeongguk meets back with his own thrusts, their bodies moving in rhythm, falling back into their dance.
Taehyung thrusts deep, abusing the younger's prostate, enjoying the way the younger whimpers.
Jeongguk lets out a string of 'ah ah ah's' at a particularly rough thrust, and comes without warning when Taehyung gives a tentative stroke to his dick.
Jeongguk stops his thrusts, utterly and deeply exhausted, and looking at Jeongguk all pink and ruined beneath him, just for him, and him only to watch, brings the Slytherin to edge too, and soon, he is filling up Jeongguk, falling on top of him, the sweat and cum sticking their bodies together.
The couple stay like that for a few moments, before Jeongguk pushes his boyfriend off of him. "Eww. Clean us up, asshole."
Taehyung scoffs, but relents, rolling off the bed to take his wand. He is too wound up to run to the bathrooms.
A flick of wand and they are as clean as a mirror in a jewelry shop, their panting only now easing.
Taehyung rolls on Jeongguk to kiss him again, and drapes himself across his back, tucking Jeongguk into his chest.
Taehyung breaks the silence.
"Baby."
"Hm?"
"Are you a horrux?"
"....What?"
"You are one. Because you complete me."
He goes to sleep with a smile on his face, Jeongguk whining about his horrendous joke a lullaby, his world right in his arms.