Chapter Text
It’s well past midnight and the wind howls through the corridors of Hogwarts, producing quite the eerie melody. Other than the howling wind it seems to be completely still. No students in their house common rooms or roaming around through the corridors or other places they shouldn’t be. Not a single one.
Except for Hoseok.
He sneaks out of his bed, careful not to wake up his roommates, and slips into his comfy slippers. He throws on his robe and tightens the belt. It’s only been three weeks since the new school year has started, but he has already slipped back into his old habits. One of them is sneaking to the kitchens late at night when sleep doesn’t come easy.
He’s glad to be back at Hogwarts. It feels like he’s back home. Not seeing his friends over the summer was really hard. Even though summer breaks are great, something is always missing. Now that he's back, he found that missing piece again.
It’s his last year at Hogwarts and he’s set on making it his best year yet. He started Quidditch practice early for that reason as well. As the captain, he needs his team to be as fit as possible to win the Quidditch cup this year. It’s his very last chance. Not only that, but his N.E.W.T.s are coming up too, which causes a lot of stress. He needs to do well on this, otherwise he doesn’t have much choice on what he’s going to do after Hogwarts.
It’s not a long walk to the kitchens. Hoseok looks behind him to make sure no one follows him before he opens the door. The kitchen seems empty, save for a couple of cats looking for something to snack on as well. He raises his wand and says, “Homenum Revelio.”
Nothing happens.
Good. That means he’s alone.
He spots Yoongi’s cat, a black one with white socks, a white dot above his nose and the tip of his tail, resting on a comfortable chair by the empty fireplace. He could recognise him out of thousands. Hoseok squats down and pets him under his little chin, “Hi handsome, long time no see! How have you been?”.
The cat answers with an appreciative head-bump and Hoseok pets him one last time before moving to the cabinets to search for some leftover food from dinner.
An eerie feeling creeps over him. As if he’s being watched, but he knows no one is in the kitchen because of the charm earlier. At least, no one was there at that specific moment. He grabs some fruit from the counter and spots some leftover bread and even some cupcakes and brings them over to the long, wooden table that stands in the middle of the kitchen, close to the fireplace.
The wooden floor creaks softly. If Hoseok wasn’t on edge already, he would have missed the sound.
“Who’s there?” Hoseok asks, there’s a slight tremble in his voice. No one answers, of course. Why would they? But Hoseok can’t help it, he can’t rest before he knows there’s really no one there.
He grabs his wand out of the inside pocket and points it into the direction he heard the noise come from, “Lumos.”
“What the hell, are you crazy? You are blinding me!” A boy shrieks loudly and throws his hand up to shield his eyes when he’s confronted with the bright light Hoseok’s wand produces.
“No, are you crazy for sneaking up on me like that? In the dead of night, for that matter!” Hoseok yells, his heart beating rapidly. He lowers his wand slowly while trying to collect his thoughts about what just happened.
The boy’s eyes are big and round and it reminds Hoseok of the eyes of a deer. They’re a deep brown and radiate warmth, his wavy hair comes down to his shoulders and he wears it in a half up ponytail.
The boy doesn’t have time to answer his question, because another voice interrupts them. “Is there someone in the kitchen?” The professor is fairly far away, but still close enough for them to get caught at any moment.
“Shit, it’s one of the professors! Nox.” Hoseok’s wand goes dark and without thinking he grabs the boy by his wrist and runs towards the door to hide them both behind it. The door swings open not even a second later.
Just in time, Hoseok thinks.
He pulls the boy closer to his chest until there’s no space left between them, afraid that if they move the door will squeak.
“Someone here?” The professor asks again, she doesn’t go further than the threshold. Hoseok recognises the voice as the Ancient Studies professor, but he doesn’t remember her name.
Hoseok can feel how he and the boy are both holding their breath. They’re so close that Hoseok can smell the soap he uses, something clean and fresh smelling. He can feel the boy’s heartbeat. And it’s beating just as rapidly as Hoseok’s.
Although, Hoseok’s heart might not be beating so fast solely because of the possibility of being caught. Hoseok is very conscious of his hand around the boy’s wrist. His skin is soft and warm and Hoseok almost wants to kiss it.
Stupid. What the hell is he thinking?
Time is passing all too slowly, seconds feel like minutes and please just let them not get caught. He can’t afford to get points deducted already. Just when he thought the professor would never leave, she turns around and closes the door.
Hoseok exhales and whispers, “I thought she would never leave.” He steps away from their hiding spot.
When Hoseok looks back, he notices that the boy doesn’t even look at him, just stares down at his hand where their skin touches, and it takes a second for Hoseok to catch on. Hoseok then realises he never let go of the boy’s wrist and pulls his hand back quickly.
“Oh. Oh! I am so sorry, I didn’t even notice,” Hoseok stammers and a blush colours his cheeks. He turns his back towards him and walks towards the fireplace. “Incendio.” A nice, big and cosy fire ignites and lights up the kitchen.
“That’s okay!” he assures him and gives him a big, toothy smile. “I am Jungkook by the way,” he says before sitting down at the corner of the long, wooden table.
“Hoseok. It’s nice meeting you, even though you scared the shit out of me earlier. Please never do that again.” He walks over to the table and sits down as well.
Jungkook smiles at him, a little cheekily, “I am sorry. I promise it was not my intention to scare you.”
“So, what was your intention? Coming down here to the kitchens, it is quite the walk for you.” His eyes wander to the Ravenclaw crest on Jungkook’s robe.
“Couldn’t sleep. I needed to get out of bed, so I just started walking, but I have to admit that I got a little lost,” Jungkook says as he plays with his tie. Who wears a tie when they’re just going for a midnight walk?, Hoseok thinks.
“You got fully dressed again?” Hoseok admires him for that, he couldn’t even be bothered to put on his casual clothing. He just threw on his bathrobe and slippers and walked out to the kitchens.
“Ah yeah, a habit I guess.”
Hoseok looks at him and raises his eyebrow. “Are you new here? I don’t remember seeing you around before, and I know almost everyone.”
Jungkook doesn’t answer his question immediately. He averts his eyes and closes his eyes for a second.
Then he replies, “I am, yes.”
Hoseok looks at him expectantly, waiting for more. He feels himself wanting to know more about this curious boy. Jungkook gives him a look, one that he can’t quite place yet.
“Go on,” Hoseok encourages him. He offers him a piece of the bread while he takes a bite of an apple.
Jungkook takes the piece of bread and thanks him. “Go… on? You want to know more?”
“Yes, of course!”
“Why?” Jungkook asks, hesitation and suspicion clear in his voice. He pulls a smaller piece apart, but doesn’t eat it.
Hoseok cocks his head. “Because I am interested in you, and making a new friend is always nice. You’d be my first Ravenclaw friend! I think it’s important to mingle with other Houses besides your own as well. Besides, you’re also cute. Sometimes showing interest doesn’t run all that deeply. Life doesn’t have to be that serious all of the time,” he states and keeps eye contact. Even in the dim light, he can see how Jungkook’s ears redden by the second.
It stays silent for a while. The flames crackle softly, emitting a nice warmth.
“You think I am cute?” He asks, shyly.
“That’s the thing you decide to focus on? From all the things I just said, that’s what you’re concentrating on? You’re something else,” Hoseok jokes, his smile growing. Jungkook visibly relaxes at his comment and at that sight, Hoseok does too.
“I just transferred to Hogwarts this year. I attended Mahoutokoro before. It’s a magic school based in Japan. Maybe you have heard of it? Anyway, my parents needed to be relocated for their jobs, so we had to move as well,” Jungkook explains while Hoseok listens attentively.
He tells Hoseok about the beautiful school which is located on the top of a volcanic island, about their customs and uniforms and subjects. It’s all so different from Hogwarts, but in a way it isn’t.
“It’s only been a couple of weeks, but it’s been-” he swallows thickly, “it’s been quite lonely, you know? It’s hard making friends when you’re the person that hasn’t been there from the start. The fact that I am starting in the sixth year doesn’t make it any easier. The subjects are different, the castle is enormous and I still get lost. Figuratively and literally.”
Hoseok looks at him and he can see it’s difficult for Jungkook.
“I am so sorry to hear that, Jungkook. Thank you for telling me, though. It must have been hard, but you’re brave for talking about it. I know we’re not from the same House, I’m a Hufflepuff by the way, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, like I said. I would be honoured to be your friend, actually.” Hoseok places his hand over Jungkook’s across the table. Warm.
Jungkook grins widely at him, his adorable toothy smile from before. “I would love to have you as my first Hufflepuff friend.”
“Good!” Hoseok squeezes his hand once again before pulling away. He looks at the clock and it tells him it’s well past 2:30 AM. “Oh dear, we better get back to bed.”
Hoseok sees a slight pout on Jungkook’s lips.
“Hey, come find me if you ever need me. Or just to hang out,” Hoseok says as he stands up and cleans up the table. “Like I said, I would love to get to know you more. I meant that.”
“Okay, I will!”
They walk out of the kitchens. Yoongi’s cat sprints out before the heavy doors fall shut tightly again. For a second they’re standing there awkwardly, not knowing what to say or do next.
“Be careful not to get lost again, Jungkook,” Hoseok warns him. “Sleep well.”
“Good night, Hoseok,” he gives Hoseok a small smile. “I had a good time talking with you.”
“Me too,” Hoseok shouts in a whisper through the corridor. He turns around to make his way back to the barrels, which will lead him to the dormitory, but he changes his mind and turns back to Jungkook only to see him almost round the corner.
“Jungkook!”
Jungkook stops just in time and turns around, a hopeful smile on his face. “Yeah?”
“I will see you around, let’s talk soon,” Hoseok says and gives him an awkward little wave, before actually walking back to his House common room.
The next morning, when Hoseok is about to leave the common room, someone calls for him.
“Hoseok, wait for me!”
“Oh hey! Good morning, Taehyung,” Hoseok greets him enthusiastically and puts his arm around his shoulder while they’re on their way to breakfast at the Great Hall.
“Good morning!” Taehyung flashes him his signature boxy smile. “Did you sleep well?”
Hoseok chuckles, “Not really, it got quite late.”
Taehyung looks at him questioningly, but he wants to keep this just to himself for now. Taehyung doesn’t need to know every single thing. At least, for now.
“What about you?”
“I slept perfectly fine, I am feeling refreshed!” Taehyung claims. “Oh hey, Jimin,” he greets the blond Slytherin that walks past them.
“Taehyung,” Jimin nods at him before they’re all sitting down at their own House tables.
Breakfast is served and the morning mail arrives shortly in a flurry by hundreds of different owls. Hoseok looks around the Great Hall, trying to spot Jungkook.
“Oh, Jungkook!” Hoseok waves at him from his table. The second Jungkook sees him, he breaks out in a huge smile. A smile which doesn’t fail to warm Hoseok’s heart. He waves enthusiastically back at Hoseok.
Taehyung grabs Hoseok’s hand, “What the hell are you doing?”
Hoseok sits back down, shocked at his serious face and tone. “What?"
“Don’t you already know? Everyone is talking about it.”
“Taehyung, what are you talking about?” Hoseok argues.
“Jungkook’s parents are Dark Magic users. They have been put under surveillance and Jungkook was kicked out of his previous school. That’s why he’s attending Hogwarts now.”
“How do you know this?” Hoseok asks him.
Taehyung shrugs his shoulders, “It’s been going around for a while now, I thought you heard about it.”
“No, I didn’t,” Hoseok mumbles quietly. His heart is pounding against his ribcage. They’re just rumours, right?
Right?
Hoseok looks back at Jungkook once more, and he must have noticed the change in Hoseok’s mood because he looks at him, his eyes big and questioning.
Oh no.