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***
It was at Platform 9 ¾ and summer was just ending. Jimin had tagged along in seeing his older brother hop on the Hogwarts Express for the last time. His brother is on his seventh year and little Jimin couldn't wait for his turn. Sadly he turns eleven a month after the start of term so he wasn't qualified to enter Hogwarts just yet. He hopes he'd get his letter as his birthday present, that's all he ever wants. But for now, he would have to wait as he stood with his parents as his brother bids them goodbye.
For little Jimin who had never been to any of his brother's send-off before because he would cry every time Jihyun would say goodbye to him, the walls looked tall, scary and painful. He doesn't understand yet what they were doing there and where is this Platform 9 ¾. He knows his maths and he could read by now but there is no such platform anywhere. He heard somewhere that it was beyond the wall they were now standing in front of but his parents insisted he would see it himself and that it's going to be exciting.
That's when he saw him.
A young boy with inky black hair, sharp eyes and an upside-down turn of his mouth he looked like a grumpy turtle. He was pushing a trolley filled with trunks and boxes and sitting on top is a gold cage with an eagle owl sitting majestically inside. The boy doesn't look anywhere except ahead of him and he doesn't look happy. Bored maybe.
“Yoongi, dear, your father and I will be sending you your broomstick soon, I promise.” Crooned a woman dressed in pretty dress that looked shiny for Jimin. She was wiping at the boy’s forehead before kissing it and pushing him gently towards the scattered students waiting for their turn at the wall.
The boy mumbled something to the woman but Jimin didn't hear it as his brother enveloped him in a tight hug.
“Be good while I'm away, okay?” His brother smiled as he leaned away to take a look at him. “Don't sneak into the kitchens at night to eat cakes and don't attempt to color Dalia while I'm gone.” Dalia is their pet dog, a samoyed as his parents and brother would say but to Jimin Dalia is just a big white fluffy cloud he could hug.
“Yah, Jihyun-ah. Don't give your brother any ideas. We know it was you who do those mischief.”
His brother laughed at the same time the first signal from the Hogwarts Express came. Jihyun stood to peck their parents’ cheeks and ruffle Jimin's hair before sprinting towards his trolly running fast towards the wall.
A muggle man and his pet dog walked in between Jimin and his view of his brother and by the time the muggle has passed, Jihyun was already gone.
Jimin felt sad. He didn't know where his brother was. He felt tears in the corners of his eyes as he looked everywhere for Jihyun but he was no longer there.
“Where is hyung, omma?” He asked in a small voice wet with tears.
“Aw, baby. He's just behind that wall ready to ride the train. Let's go see him off, shall we?” His mother cooed at him.
He nods and his parents took each of his hands and they walked through the wall between platforms 9 and 10.
Jimin was all too busy looking around the station. It was not the same as the muggle train station but it was almost the same: instead of gold and bronze trains on the many tracks, there's just one big and long red-and black train sitting on a single track, its steam rolling and voices of students saying goodbye to their families everywhere.
“Jimin!” Jimin turned to see his brother waving off through one of the open windows of the train and pointed him to their parents.
Soon, the final signal came and the train started moving and Jimin waved at his brother goodbye until the train was a tiny dot on the horizon.
***
Jimin woke up to a loud banging downstairs. He rubbed his eyes off the sleep that still clings there as he went down the stairs and into the source of the noise, their kitchen.
When he entered, the pots on the sink were cleaning themselves using the enchanted sponge, the kitchen knife was cutting heaps of potatoes and other vegetables. He could hear the sizzling meat and smell kimchi jjigae cooking.
His mother was busy folding clothes and socks and robes and stacking them neatly inside a trunk. His father came in from the back patio, a Hogwarts letter in his hands as he double checks that everything he needs for the school year was packed.
“Jiminie!” He heard a screech before he felt a heavy and warm weight tackle him.
“Hyung!” He didn't expect his brother to be here. “Aren't you somewhere in the Himalayas finding magical objects?”
“I'm here to see my little brother off for the first time.” His brother grinned. “Big day!”
“Yah, Jihyun-ah, don't choke your brother.” His father chided as he handed the letter--or the list included in the letter to Jimin's mother..
After a hearty breakfast, everyone went to prepare for Jimin’s departure. Today, he's finally going to Hogwarts.
He had been almost afraid that he wouldn't get a letter. He knows there are instances where even on a pure-blood line, non-magical kids can be born, how much more with his family riddled with half-bloods? Even with his pure-blooded maternal lineage, his father had been the son of a witch and a muggle. Not that he's not proud of his father, of course he is. He was just scared he would be non-magic.
So when that letter came by the posts on the morning of his 11th birthday he almost cried on his birthday cake while his father and mother hugged him.
“He's gonna be a Ravenclaw just like me.” His father beamed.
“Oh, hush. He's gonna be sorted into my house just like the rest of my family--Gryffindor.”
“But…” Jimin’s voice trailed off with another fear that resurfaced and his parents turned to him with concern. “What if I'm sorted into S-Slytherin?”
His parents sensed his fear and were quick to reassure him.
“Then Slytherin will gain a sweet and kind student.” His mother kissed his forehead as reassurance.
They arrived at King's Cross Station ten minutes before 11 o’ clock, thanks to the portkey dotted across the globe set up for students who live far away.
Jimin and his family pushed through the throng of people flooding the station. When they arrived at the platform between 9 and 10, Jimin was once again faced with the same fear he felt last year when they saw his brother off. The wall looked as menacing as ever; tall, solid and strong.
“Now, sweetie, you just have to walk through that wall ahead just like last time when we saw your brother off. Don't think about it. Just imagine it as a curtain.” His mother cooed seeing his wide eyes.
“I'll push your trolley for you, Jiminie. Don't worry about it.” His brother winked in encouragement.
After a few attempts at stepping near the wall, Jimin was about to breakdown and cry. He can't do it. And if he can't do it, he can't go to Hogwarts.
That's when he felt a hand on his shoulder and when he looked up, he saw the boy from last year, the black-haired pouty kid he saw with an eagle owl pet.
“Are you scared, kid?” The other boy asked. His voice wasn't unkind but he sounded like he's been in line waiting to get through but Jimin was in the way. Jimin nodded. “We can walk through the wall together, if you're scared.”
The other boy's hand slipped from Jimin’s shoulder to his tiny hand curled into a fist. And when the first warning signal sounded announcing the Hogwarts Express is bound to leave soon, Jimin and the other mingled amongst the muggles passing and stepped through the wall to Platform 9 ¾.
***
“Yoonie!” Jimin’s cheerful voice rang through the hallway as Yoongi ascended the stairs towards his arithmancy class. It was Jimin’s first year and Yoongi was on third year.
“What’s up, Jiminie?” The older asked, hiking his book bag higher on his shoulder.
“Will you teach me to fly?”
Yoongi's brow shot up at the request.
“Minie, you have flying lessons.”
“Yes, but I saw you fly on a broomstick the other day while I was studying in the library. You look so much better at it than the teachers.”
Yoongi's friends muffled their laughter at the compliment because Yoongi couldn't help the blush rising on his cheeks.
“Don't let Madam Hooch hear you or she'll deduct points from your house.” A tall boy with blonde hair and dimples giggled, amused. Jimin believes his name is Namjoon.
“But it's true! Yoonie was so good, he even caught the flying gold thing one time in the field!”
“That's a snitch, Jiminie baby.” Another tall man with wide shoulders, he thinks Seokjin is his name, smiled playfully at him. “And Yoongi is playing quidditch that's why he had to catch the ‘flying gold thing’ so your house would win.”
Jimin looked down and scuffed his shoes on the stone floor, embarrassed that he didn't know all those things and in front of Yoongi's friends, too.
“I guess I'll just go.” Jimin tried, he swears he tried not to cry. But he was embarrassed and sad and he turned and walked away to voices calling his name.
“Hey,” Jimin heard Yoongi's voice before he felt a hand catch one of his wrists. “I'm sorry about that. I swear we were not making fun of you.” Yoongi held both his shoulders so that they are in front of each other.
“It's okay, Yoonie. I'll just go.” Jimin doesn't look Yoongi in the eyes because he feels like he would cry for real.
“No, no. I want to teach you how to fly. I will teach you how to fly.”
Jimin knows Yoongi was just saying those to be nice and spare his feelings. After all, he was just a new overexcited kid at school while Yoongi seemed to be liked by everyone.
“Joonie and Jin are sorry if they made you feel bad. They promised they would bake you some cookies while we practice.”
And with the promise of chocolate chip cookies and a flying tutorial from his favorite person in Hogwarts, Jimin finally wiped the stray tears that fell on his cheeks and smiled at Yoongi.
***
Jimin woke up to a nice little stash of gifts and trinkets at the foot of his bed that morning. It was Jimin's first Christmas at Hogwarts and away from his family. His parents wanted to visit Jihyun who was currently in Egypt for an assignment and asked Jimin if he would like to come.
Jimin loves his brother, he really does, but he doesn't like desert sand--it gets everywhere. So he asked if he could stay behind and his parents agreed. Now, Jimin was happily tearing through his small mount of presents and squealing at what each has inside: his mom gave him a new jumper--a soft knit baby blue one he loved so much, his father gave him a pair of gloves and socks to go along with the jumper and Jihyun got him Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean and lots of chocolate frogs.
But there were still a few packages left and he's not sure who it belongs to. When he went to take a closer look, it has his name on them: they were from some of the friends he made in his short stay at Hogwarts. Tae, Jungkook and Hoseok-hyung brought him joke stuff at Zunko's and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, his Namjoon-hyung got him a book he had mentioned in passing and Jin-hyung made him a large batch of brownies.
But the biggest of them all were from his Yoongi-hyungie. A large parcel as wide as his little short arms could carry to his bed. He tore the paper wrapper and found the biggest, fluffiest cat plushie he has ever seen. He knows his other friends have already left Hogwarts for their home this Christmas but he knew Yoongi would be staying behind as well.
"Parents going up to the Alps to visit relatives," Yoongi had vaguely said when he asked why Yoongi hasn't packed his bags for the holidays yet.
And so twelve-year old Jimin, still in his pajamas, barrelled through the hallway connecting the Slytherin dorm rooms and into the room where he knew Yoongi was staying with the other third year boys when classes are on.
"Yoonie!" he squealed as he jumped on the elder's bed and pulled the blanket off of the boy.
Yoongi was obviously still very sleepy and did not appreciate the noise and disturbance that early in the morning.
"What is it Jimin-ah?" Yoongi asked, sleepy, groggy and a little grumpy.
"Thank you!" Jimin raised the plushie high for Yoongi to see and then proceeded to plop down on Yoongi star-fished.
Yoongi, on any given day or occasion would smack the person who did this to him upside the head, but since it's Christmas today, he's willing to let this one slide… just this once.
"I'm glad you liked it, Jimin-ah."
"I do! Happy Christmas, hyungie!"
"Happy Christmas, too."
***
It was Jimin's last year at Hogwarts and his Jin-hyung, Namjoon-hyung, Hobi-hyung and Yoongi-hyung have already left the school. This year, he only gets to celebrate all his lasts with Taehyung and Jungkook. He can't believe how seven years went by so fast, and now, he's seeing snow fall for the last time in Hogwarts.
Jimin woke up to a small pile of gifts at the foot of his bed from his parents, his brother, and his friends, the usual. Jin had even sent some of his homemade dishes and baked cookies. But there was nothing from Yoongi. Could it be that the elder had forgotten now that he was no longer in school? Jimin was probably expecting too much and tried shrugging it off that Yoongi forgot this year but he couldn't deny the twinge of disappointment as he made his way to breakfast.
Taehyung and Jungkook were already waiting for him on their usual spot. The seven of them used to sit there even if they were from different houses and when the four graduated, the three of them still sat there out of habit.
“Happy Christmas, my favorite soulmate!” Tae jumped and squealed making the other students turn and greet Jimin while the latter blushed deeply.
“Will you keep it down?” But Jimin couldn't help the big smile scrunching his cheeks as he sat down and pulled his plate of toast, egg and bacon near. "And happy Christmas to you two." Before he handed them small parcels with their names on it.
Taehyung squealed like the chaotic boy he is while Jungkook had a more subdued thank you and a wide, toothy grin.
He was half-way through his toast when the posts arrived and Jimin’s barn owl landed gracefully in front of his pumpkin juice, in its beak hung a bundle of letters tied in twine. Jimin plucked them off and his owl snatched the remainder of his toast before flying away.
It was just a few greeting cards from his parents and a few cousins living in London but what he didn't expect was to find a pretty sheet of parchment gilded in gold addressed to him.
The following day Jimin was practically buzzing with excitement as students above third year were allowed a trip to Hogsmead. Taehyung and Jungkook decided to stay and use up their stack of prank toys from last summer from Zunko's, leaving Jimin walking towards the village alone.
The snow had stopped falling last night but it covered everything in a pretty layer of white and the air stings something fierce when it blows and it had Jimin practically sprinting towards the Three Broomsticks where he was supposed to meet Yoongi.
“Yoonie!” He smiled as soon as he saw the elder, waving his sweater paws when the man looked up and gave him a gummy smile.
“What are you doing here? Weren't you somewhere in the US for a mission for the ministry?” He asked the elder as he sat down in one of the seats of the corner tables of the pub, unfolding his scarf from around his neck.
“Well, should I have let this holiday go without seeing you, then? I even got you a present." The elder joked.
Jimin froze from removing his coat and stared at the older.
“Y-you came home for that?"
“I wouldn't be anywhere else than here.” Yoongi pushed a mug of butter beer towards Jimin who was still looking at him funny.
“Did you think I'd forget just because I've already left school?”
“Well,” Jimin could feel his cheeks flush and creeping to his neck and hairline. He didn't want to admit that he felt disappointed when he didn't find any gift or letter from Yoongi when he woke up yesterday morning. What if the elder see it as neediness and he didn't like it? Jimin chewed his lower lip as he tried to avoid raising his head and looking into Yoongi's eyes.
There was rustling from the other side of the table and felt hands squeeze his own resting on top of the table. When he looked up, he was even more surprised to find Yoongi's face nearer than he expected.
“Happy Christmas, my Jiminie, even if I was a day late.” Yoongi smiled not his gummy smile but one of those smiles that are fond and doting. And then there was a gentle press of lips against Jimin’s.
***
It's been a long day and Jimin feels tired to the bones.
It had been two years since Jimin left school and as the end of summer begins, more and more witches and wizards are getting bold trying to do different stuff, probably out of boredom or because they want to look different before school begins or as a last hoorah for summer. Nevertheless, Jimin had probably seen in the past week his fair share of hairs turning a funny color every half hour, people puking slugs or coughing furballs or just plain puking, of toes growing vines instead of nails, broken bones or cracked skulls due to trying to play DIY quidditch in their backyards, and all sorts of other weird things magical folks get themselves into. Jimin just wanted to go home, have a nice bath and crawl to bed.
Jimin looked at the clock and saw that it was only an hour before he could finally go home. He had the following two days off and he could already feel his warm, soft bed.
“Calling the attention of Park Jimin, please proceed to reception area.” A voice from their magical PA system rang through the chaos outside the cafeteria door. “Once again, calling the attention of--”
“Alright, alright. I'm coming.” Jimin muttered as he dragged himself outside the cafeteria and to the reception area at the other end of the hall.
“Hi,” he called as he stepped up to the desk where Amber, the pretty witch with shocking green hair was manning the reception area.
“Oh, hi there, pumpkin. You have a mail by the owl post.” She then handed him a pretty pink envelope and gave him a teasing smile which confused Jimin.
When he opened the letter, he was quite surprised to find a familiar messy handwriting.
“Yoonie?” Jimin asked as he approached a man sitting on a bench at the park near St. Mungo’s. It was a humid August evening, rubble crunching beneath his feet as he approached. The man turned and that familiar warm and gummy smile greeted him. “What are you doing here? And why did we have to meet urgently today? It's almost dark.” Jimin could feel his own cheeks bunch up as he smiles up at the elder.
Yoongi had been away for an assignment to Paris the past month and the last time they saw each other was two months ago at Taehyung’s pet puppy Yeontan’s birthday but they kept in touch through owl posts.
“Hey, Sunshine.”
Jimin approached the man, excited as he had ever been since that first day at Platform 9 ¾ and the smile he gave probably was a dead giveaway of how happy he is to see the man again. Of course he is happy to see his boyfriend again after months of being away.
“Couldn't wait ‘till tomorrow to see you.” The elder had shrugged but his smile was soft and oh so fond.
Jimin folded himself against the man's chest as Yoongi's arms enveloped him in a warm embrace.
“I missed you so much, Yoonie.”
“Missed you, too, baby. Those were two really long months without seeing you or hearing your voice.” Yoongi pressed kisses to his temple and hair.
Jimin sighed in contentment as he tightened his arms around his boyfriend's waist and nuzzled his nose on the latter's neck. He would have been content to stay in that moment but then he remembered the elder had something to tell him. Reluctantly, he loosened his grip and looked up at Yoongi.
“In the letter you sent to the hospital you said you have something to tell me?”
Yoongi huffed out a laugh and avoided Jimin’s curious gaze, an obvious sign that he is nervous but Jimin didn't push and waited patiently until the elder was comfortable enough to say whatever it is he had wanted to say.
“I, uhm, I wanted to give you something first.”
The elder stepped back and fumbled with something in his pocket before looking back up at Jimin, his shyness gone but his eyes were still fond.
Jimin was busy looking at Yoongi's face that he didn't notice what the latter have in his hand. He looked down and saw a piece of paper, a little crumbled and a lot messily scribbled on. Jimin was confused as he looked back and forth between Yoongi and the piece of paper.
“What is it, Yoonie?”
Yoongi took a deep breath and his answering smile is both blinding and hopeful and also a lot unsure.
“This is an a-address.”
Okay… And?
Jimin knew the question was obvious on his face as Yoongi huffed out another laugh. Jimin looked down at the paper again and this time took it to look at it properly.
Jimin doesn't recognize the address, he doesn't get it. Are they going to a party, house-warming maybe?
“Whose is this?”
“Mine, my new address. At least after my last assignment this month.”
“Oh, okay. Want me to help you pack and move?”
Yoongi shook his head.
“Of course you would be telling me your new address so I can send my owl to the right house.”
When Yoongi shook his head the second time, Jimin was once again confused. What is really happening?
“I… Will you…” Yoongi took a deep breath, “Will you move in with me?”
Jimin’s eyes grew wide as he took in what his boyfriend had just asked.
“I know it's sudden and maybe asking for too much, but I would really like it if… If you would be the first person I see in the morning and the last one before I close my eyes at night. It would be nice to reach out and know that I could kiss your silly little nose just because I want to or feel you breathing beside me. I would be the happiest if I could make you meals and bring you your favorite tea or smell you or see your things around with mine.” The elder had stepped closer once again as he explained, wrapping his arms around Jimin and pulling him close by the hips.
“I would really like it if I could tell you I love you and kiss your forehead before you leave for work or when you get back or before we go to sleep or while we clean the house. It would make me the happiest if I could share my everything with you.”
Jimin who had been silent all through Yoongi's little confession now have tears welling his eyes as he stared at his boyfriend.
“You love me?”
“I have been for a little while now.”
“When?”
“I dunno when it began, all I know is I'm already in too deep when I realized it.” Yoongi's smile was so soft and fond and bleeding with so much affection. “And I don't regret ever feeling that way.”
They stood there under the growing darkness, arms wrapped around each other stealing kisses and whispering words of affection, their smiles never leaving their faces.
***
Yoongi had requested for Jimin to close his eyes as the elder opened the door and stepped through the threshold.
“Can I see it now?”
Yoongi didn't answer but instead kissed his cheek before removing the blindfold covering Jimin’s eyes.
Whatever it is Jimin was expecting, this was surely not it.
When Yoongi had asked him all those months ago and after deciding when Jimin will finally move in, the elder had slowly began building a home for the two of them, filled it with things that he thinks Jimin would like from the colors of the wallpaper to the couch and cushions. Even the simple Christmas tree sitting in the corner of the room was decorated with the baubles Jimin had gotten him last Christmas after forcing him to put one up just so he could 'get more into the holiday spirit'.
But what drew Jimin’s attention was the frame above the mantle, gilded in gold and the paper inside was full of little scribbles. They were dates with short notes beside them.
“They are from my journal,” Yoongi had said when he noticed Jimin staring at it.
“What are these dates?”
Yoongi took the frame and led Jimin to the couch, and once seated took Jimin’s hand to kiss it.
“These are all our firsts together: from the first time I met you and held your hand to the first time we flew on a broomstick together, first Christmas, our first date, first dance, first kiss, the first time we called each other boyfriends and now our first home together.”
Jimin looked at the dates once again, tears welling in his eyes again. “Yoonie…”
“I want to remember everything I ever did with you; the good, the bad, even the downright silly.”
Yoongi then reached for the side table beside the couch and pulled something from it's drawers; a small piece of paper the same as the ones already inside the frame. The elder then opened the little latch on the side of the frame and stuck the piece of paper inside together with the others.
Jimin watched as Yoongi closed the clasp of the frame and held it out for Jimin to see. The additional piece of paper was dated today and beside it was a simple note: 'mine forever'.
When Jimin looked up, it was to find Yoongi no longer sitting beside him in the couch and instead the elder was kneeling in front of him, handing him a present he snatched from underneath the tree.
"It's not Christmas yet," Jimin giggled.
"What's the difference if you open your presents now or tomorrow? They're yours anyway." Yoongi may have shrugged and passed it off as nonchalance but Jimin could tell, Jimin could see his boyfriend was worried.
"Relax, Yoonie. I'm gonna like your gift, whatever it is."
Jimin carefully tore off the wrappers and oh… Another box?
"Yoonie?" He asked, looking suspicious. "Is this a trick?"
"Just open them."
Jimin continued to tear through wrappings and boxes one after another, each time the present inside getting smaller and smaller.
Jimin had a sneaking suspicion that this was just a prank because Christmas eve is tomorrow and there were still presents safely tucked underneath their small and simple tree. Nevertheless, he played along and then he got to the last box, small and sits nicely in the middle of his small palm. It was simply wrapped in tissue paper and Yoongi took it from him. Slowly, the elder peeled the last wrapper away to reveal a small black velvet box. Yoongi opened and held the box in his hand, a beautiful white gold ring sitting inside it.
"Be mine forever?" Yoongi simply asked, his eyes shining with unshed tears, a shadow of doubt lurking somewhere beneath the surface as if afraid Jimin would say no.
But Jimin could not think of his forever without Yoongi in it, could not see himself loving someone as much he does Yoongi. For Jimin, it had always been him since the time he could understand what those butterflies in his tummy were whenever Yoongi smiled at him.
"Only if you're willing to share that same forever with me." Jimin didn't know he was crying freely until the elder wiped those tears away, pressing soft kisses on his cheeks, nose, forehead and finally his lips.
"I wouldn't want it any other way." Yoongi was also crying by the time he slipped the ring unto Jimin's finger.
They were bought crying and laughing, wrapped around each other and savoring the moment, the best present they have both received yet.
Of the many stories of great love Jimin was told, he would never have believed he would find his own version of it: it may not be as intense or as memorable, may not be perfect and may have taken the longer route, but it was able to find its way to Jimin, just as beautiful as what he dreamt it to be.
And who would have guessed that that one fateful day, when he thought the beginning of his best days have come when he was accepted at Hogwarts, something far greater, something that would last longer and something so much sweeter was waiting to happen.
***
End.