Chapter Text
"What the hell are you wearing?"
To say that Taehyung's face turned red was putting it lightly. The color of his face now resembled the color of his hair, which was toned deep dark red.
"My mom bought it for me," he mumbled quietly, crossing his hands in front of him as if it would block the floral shirt he was wearing from sight.
"Have I ever told you how much I love your mom?" Jungkook said with a smirk. "Always finding a new way to embarrass you."
"And I thought she outdid herself last year," a grainy voice said from behind him, and Jungkook didn't even need to turn around to know who it belonged to. "Remember the yellow pants with the pink snapback?"
"It was glorious," Jungkook agreed with a nod.
"Oh piss off both of you," Taehyung said, still as red as a tomato, "It's not my fault she has a weird fashion sense."
"It's your fault for allowing her to put you into these atrocities," Hoseok said, "She must've realized by now that you're not a toddler anymore. You're supposed to be able to choose your own clothes for yourself without her help."
"I think that you're putting a bit too much faith in him," Jungkook said.
"Prick."
"Idiot."
"Stop it," Hoseok said with a scowl. "We haven't even stepped onto the train yet and you're already calling each other names. Jesus, you're like two overgrown kids."
"Well, he started it!"
"Great, Idiot Taehyung. That would show him that he's wrong."
"Train. Now." Hoseok 's words were accompanied with a glare directed pointedly at them, and with a few huffs and eyerolls from the bickering duo, the three of them had claimed a compartment for themselves.
"Is Wooshik going to join us?" Hoseok asked Taehyung as Jungkook placed his legs on his lap. He pinched his calf but didn't throw him off him.
Taehyung made a face. "I don't know. He hadn't seen Seojoon for a week and he said that he's going to make up for lost time, which is something that I really don't want to think about."
"They can make up for lost time right here. I know I wouldn't mind -"
"I wouldn't mind either," said Jungkook.
Taehyung looked at him with surprise and disgust. "Seriously?"
"Yeah. They can fuck right against this wall for all I care. As long as it makes you uncomfortable, I can deal with anything, even if it means seeing Seojoon's dick pounding repeatedly into your brother's -"
"Holy shit, shut up shut up shut up!" Taehyung's hands shot up to his ears, blocking Jungkook's laugh and Hoseok 's snicker.
"Look at him, he's scarred for life," Hoseok said, affectionately ruffling Taehyung's hair. Taehyung shooed him away with a glare, then put his hands back in his lap.
"Can't believe you got sorted into Gryffindor," he muttered darkly, "Wonder what the Sorting Hat was on that night. You would be a great fit with the Slytherins."
Jungkook made a face. "Ew. Do I look like a conniving snake to you?"
"Yes."
"Fuck off. I'm a lion through and through, don't even try to suggest otherwise."
They bickered like that for the next hour, Hoseok quickly focusing on reading a book so that he won't have to listen to them.
It had been like this for the past four years, ever since their first year in Hogwarts, when the three of them were sorted into the Gryffindor house. It was easy for Hoseok and Jungkook to strike up a friendship, with Hoseok keeping him in line and Jungkook pushing him out of his comfort zone, making him stay outside of the common room past curfew and grabbing food from the kitchen instead of going to the Great Hall to eat. With Taehyung, it took a bit more time and effort; neither of them would ever admit that, but the reason it was hard for them to get along was because they were so similar. Both were headstrong and had a short fuse, and both were stubborn to a fault. It took several detentions and a lot of meddling by Hoseok for them to become decent toward each other, and even more meddling to become friends. They still bickered nonstop, but now it held no malice in it, and it was more friendly banter than anything else. And although Jungkook would rather die than admit that he actually cares about Taehyung, he could still say wholeheartedly that he'd be willing to risk his life for him.
They arrived at the castle when the sky was pitch black, and Hoseok shivered the second they stepped off the train.
"I forgot how freezing it is here," he said through chattering teeth, wrapping his arms around himself for extra warmth. Jungkook put his arm around him to radiate his warmth on him.
"Can't believe you both are prefects now," Jungkook muttered, annoyed. "Now I'll have to walk alone to the dormitories like a sad little fuck."
"You can join us," Taehyung offered kindly. "Help us show the first years around like a good little helper."
Jungkook snorted. "I'd rather be a sad little fuck than a good little helper, thanks."
Taehyung shrugged. "Suit yourself."
"You know, I'm glad that I'm a prefect this year," Hoseok said as the three of them made their way to the Gryffindor table. "I like having the added responsibility. And it would look great on my resume."
"Why are we friends again?" Jungkook asked.
"Because you love me."
"That's not it, no."
"Because I let you copy my Potions homework."
"Yeah, that sounds more like it."
Hoseok smiled and looked over at the Ravenclaw table from where they sat. "Oh look, here's Wooshik next to Jackson"
Jungkook hummed thoughtfully. "Looking properly fucked if you ask me."
"Well, it's a good thing that no one's asking you, then," Taehyung said with an annoyed huff.
It wasn’t long before the chatter in the room simmered down into an expectant buzz, the students eager, either for the House Sorting or for the feast to follow.
Taehyung was definitely excited for the food. "Hope they get a move on, I'm starving."
As if they heard him, the doors to the Great Hall slowly opened, revealing Professor McGonagall and a bunch of tiny kids behind her.
"They're so cute," Hoseok cooed from his place next to Jungkook. "Look at those big eyes, they look so awestruck."
"Wonder who's going to be in Gryffindor," Taehyung said. "I bet I can guess before they get Sorted."
Jungkook snorted quietly. "Bet I could guess right more than you."
"You're on."
They were both a bit hopeless with it, honestly, none of them able to guess correctly more than three times, but it was at least entertaining. The best part was when Taehyung got one right, a little girl with pigtails who got sorted into Ravenclaw, and he shot up from his seat screaming, "That's right, I knew it, Ravenclaw for the way!", earning him a few unimpressed looks from his fellow Gryffindors.
"'Ravenclaw for the way'," muttered a seventh year boy sitting opposite Jungkook with a roll of his eyes, "Guess the Gryffindor pride is a thing of the past now."
A few minutes later it was the turn of a little kid with a mop of blond hair on his head.
"This one is easy," Taehyung said. "He's from the Park family. They've been Sorted into Slytherin since forever. Ancient pureblood family."
The boy gingerly sat down at the edge of his seat, his deep brown eyes looking at the Sorting hat nervously before it was placed on his head, obstructing the bright yellow hair from view. The kid seemed to frown, then shook his head at something the Hat said to him. In the end, the Hat opened its mouth and shouted, "-Gryffindor!"
The hall was completely silent.
The boy took the hat off his head, looking close to tears, and turned to look at McGonagall behind him. He asked her something quietly, to which she shook her head in response, a sad look on her face.
"Poor boy," Hoseok said sadly, "No one even cheers for him -"
"WOO! Way to go, Jihyun, good job!!"
All eyes turned to the Slytherin table, where a guy with similar blond hair and fair skin was standing and cheering, clapping his hands loudly and exuberantly as if to compensate for the rest of the students lack of enthusiasm.
"Who is he?" Jungkook asked with a raised eyebrow.
"His brother," Taehyung replied quickly. Too quickly. "He's a fourth year here. Jimin, I think his name is."
The little boy's eyes quickly turned to his brother, giving him a terrified look. Jungkook didn't blame him, to be honest - the ancient pureblooded families were not known for their forward thinking and open mindedness. They would be pissed at him for not being sorted into Slytherin, that much was clear to everyone.
Jungkook turned to look at the older brother again, who was still standing, still smiling brightly at his brother, trying to comfort him. 'It's okay', the older boy mouthed to him, then gestured with a smile at the Gryffindor table. The little boy nodded his head slightly and rose from the stool he was sitting on, taking hesitant steps toward the Gryffindor table. Jimin started clapping again, but now he was joined in by the rest of the Gryffindor table, who seemed to have moved on from their momentary shock and confusion. One boy even clapped the young blond on the shoulder, as if welcoming him to the house.
"That was brave," Hoseok said, still looking at the older brother who was now sitting again at his table, ignoring the looks from the other Slytherins. "Most ancient families wouldn't blatantly support a member of theirs being Sorted into the rival house."
Taehyung nodded his head, his eyes also still trained on the blond Slytherin.
Jungkook just shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever," he said simply, then pointed at the young boy now walking up to the stool, "I bet you this one is a Hufflepuff."
The Sorting ended ten minutes later without any further unusual occurrences, and after the Headmaster said his greetings and laid out the school rules for the purpose of the new first years, the feast began with food magically appearing out of thin air on the tables.
"Finally," muttered Taehyung while grabbing the nearest plate filled with chicken wings and emptying almost half of its contents into his own plate.
"You guys are animals, did you know that?" Hoseok told both Taehyung and Jungkook, scrunching up his nose in distaste at the sight of them practically inhaling their food. Jungkook didn't even dignify the statement with a response, simply choosing to give him the finger while swallowing a chunk of meat.
Jungkook stretched back in his seat a while later, feeling satiated at last, and let out a loud burp.
Hoseok slapped his arm. "You're disgusting."
"You're disgusting," he replied, too full to think of a better comeback.
Hoseok rolled his eyes and got up. "C'mon, Taehyung. We need to take the first years back to the dormitories."
Taehyung blinked back at him sluggishly, his head resting on the table. "I think I ate more than I weigh."
Hoseok kicked him. "Tough." He then walked off to the group of first years, gesturing for the girls to follow his lead.
Taehyung grumbled annoyedly as he rose from his seat, making Jungkook snort contently.
"Thank fuck I'm not a prefect. I almost feel sorry for you."
"As if anyone in their right mind would appoint you as a prefect."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"There are some standards -"
"Excuse me, are you the Gryffindor prefect?"
The two of them turned their heads at the same time to look at the person disturbing their argument, Jungkook immediately recognizing the blond hair and the blinding smile.
It took Taehyung a few moments to reply, "Yeah, I'm - yeah."
The guy - Jimin - smiled even brighter, if that was possible. "Great. Do you think I can maybe borrow him for a while?" He gestured at someone next to him. Jungkook didn't even have to look to know it was his brother.
Taehyung frowned. "I'm not sure -"
"I'll bring him to the Gryffindor common room myself," Jimin promised quickly, "I know my way around the castle, don't worry. He won't get lost."
"I'm not... I'm not worried." God, Jungkook thought to himself, it seemed like all the food had gone right to Taehyung's head, making him even stupider than usual. He could barely form a sentence.
Jimin didn't seem to think the same thing as Jungkook, and just put his hand around his brother's shoulder. "Great, so we'll go."
"Wait!" Taehyung said before they even had a chance to turn around. He flushed under the questioning look on Jimin's face, then mumbled, "He - err I need to tell him the en-entrance password."
Jimin blinked. "Oh. Right. I forgot, sorry." He chuckled then. "You probably don't want to say it around my Slytherin ears, eh? Don't worry, I won't listen."
He then proceeded by placing both his palms on his ears, blocking the sound.
Jungkook raised an eyebrow at that, looking back at Taehyung to convey to him how ridiculous he thinks this guy is, but Taehyung just smiled slightly at the sight as if endeared, his cheeks still a bit pink, and told the little boy the password in a quiet voice.
Jimin removed his hands from his ears when his brother turned to look at him again, grabbing his robe tightly in his hands. "Thanks," he said to Taehyung, smiling at him once again, before leaving the Hall with his brother in tow.
Taehyung exhaled quietly and turned his head, finally noticing the unimpressed look on Jungkook's face.
"What?" He said stiffly.
"Nothing," Jungkook replied with a shrug, getting up from his seat. "But just so you know, I won't be attending your wedding if you're going to marry a Slytherin."
Taehyung flushed deeply. "Shut up!"
"Although, I hope for your sake that your kids will get his eyebrows, because if they'll get stuck with yours -"
"Seriously, Jungkook, shut up," he said hurriedly, looking around him. He then turned to Jungkook again and said with a quieter tone, "Was I that obvious?"
Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "I don't know. I mean, I don't think he noticed, but I don't know him."
Taehyung rubbed a hand over his face. "I was just caught off-guard, you know? He's... fuck, he's so pretty."
Jungkook smirked. "Are you enamored? Is this what you look like when you're enamored?"
"Fuck off."
Jungkook laughed loudly, then put a hand on Taehyung's shoulder. "I don't think you were that obvious, alright? I just noticed it because I know you too well. Unfortunately."
Taehyung seemed slightly relieved by that, nodding his head. Jungkook removed his hand from Taehyung's shoulder, but not before pinching him lightly. "I think two of your first years fell asleep waiting for you. Go do your goddamn job, you unprofessional prefect."
~oOo~