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Rumor has it that the young, handsome charms professor is married to none other than the nation's pride and joy, star Quidditch player Jeon Jeongguk.
It's an ongoing conspiracy that has been the talk of the town for almost two years now, when a group of first years became convinced that a friend of theirs had seen Professor Kim at the World Cup and swore that Jeon Jeongguk blew him a kiss.
Ever since then, more and more clues have been adding up to the theory, such as Professor Kim's extensive knowledge about Quidditch despite his insistence on prioritizing studies over it, the fact that Jeon Jeongguk has mentioned having a Pomeranian as a pet(Professor Kim does too!) and his amused chuckle upon being confronted with the rumor by an excited first year.
These are the solidified facts no one can deny, and then there are the wild, unreliable stories:
A letter that had accidently made its way to the Gryffindor table, dropped by an owl at breakfast, one of the students picked it up and upon seeing Professor Kim's name of it, hurried to return it to him, that afternoon, a crowd formed around him at lunch as he recited in detail how the envelope had Jeon Jeongguk's signature on it(I have his autograph, I know his handwriting!).
A second year is convinced that she overheard Professor Kim talking about his spouse to the potion's master and there was a "Jeongguk" thrown in there somewhere.
An honorable mention will also be a fifth year telling everyone about how he had seen Jeon Jeongguk at Hogwarts making out with their professor. Unbelievably enough, that is not even the most insane rumor you would hear about the pair at Hogwarts.
Then there are the stories everyone comes up with from when they were on break, we all have heard the tale of Jeon Jeongguk and Professor Kim shopping for coats in the Diagon alley, and the one where Jeon Jeongguk was giving Professor Kim a ride across the skies over the national Seoul museum, the one with Jeon Jeongguk proposing to their Professor at a French muggle restaurant is a classic .
Unarguably, one of the most believable speculation that supports our conspiracy is from when Jeon Jeongguk was famously injured during last year's Nationals, and Professor Kim took a month long break during the time. Some students from his class that year would tell you that he looked "distressed" and "worried" and one of those is Kim Park A-Yeong, yes , the skeptic, which makes the theory all the more believable that Professor Kim was tending to his husband during the time.
Be it the star Quidditch player or not, everyone knows that Professor Kim is quite smitten with his spouse. As implied by the fond, love struck smile he has every morning as his owl drops a fat envelope and occasionally gifts in front of him at breakfast, and the way he is so utterly careful with the beautiful band on his ring finger. He doesn't mention his spouse often, but when he does, it is at the most random times and with the most endeared smile. Sometimes he would comment on how his spouse is bad at a particular spell, or can't brew a specific potion, or how they are obsessed with a certain sweet.
Jeon Jeongguk or not, Professor Kim is certainly very much in love with his sweetheart as his sweetheart is in love with him(apparent by the copious gifts and thick mail) and the students cannot be happier for him, their professor deserves to be loved devoutly, the amazing, kind man that he is, even if it's not by a popular Quidditch sensation.
But did you see the scarf he was wearing today? the red one with golden patterning? it's from an expensive clothing brand that was revealed to be one of Jeon Jeongguk's favorites in last week's issue of Witch Weekly.
Similarly, just the other week, his vest coat was from a brand that Jeongguk had sponsored an year ago, and that watch yesterday morning, the loafers last month. It would seem that they share a love for the same brands, or…
"They share things!" Yeonjun exclaimed after the scarf incident, being one of the most devout "taekook"(the pair between professor Kim and Jeon Jeongguk) shippers, and one of the most enthusiastic ones as well. "They share things, or Jeon Jeongguk gifts them to him. Think about it, their styles are the furthest thing from similar."
This appeased the majority of the students. Their styles were quite different, from what they have seen of them anyway. A few skeptics piped up saying that they had barely seen what the Professor dresses like outside of school, so they can't be too sure, but considering the fact that this group of people has denied evidence that we all consider solid too, their word isn't to be trusted.
But today, instead of Professor Kim's usual feathery brown owl, his mail was delivered by a majestic white one, that according to an article that came out just this week, has been bought by none other than Jeon Jeongguk for the price of hundreds of gallons. But the owl flew away after delivering the mail, so no one was able to check up on it in the owlery to make sure it was the same one.
But it does add up to the ongoing conspiracy, and today in the afternoon charms lesson, one of the students, a quidditch player who just got accepted into the Slytherin team and is known to be a massive fan of Jeon Jeongguk, mentioned how Quidditch player must be exceptional in charms as well, referring to a interview with Jeon Jeongguk that came out just this morning in Quidditch Times,
where he casted a Tarantallegra charm on our editor that had him breaking into a lovely tap dance and made us burst into giggles. Upon overhearing this, Professor Kim let out an undignified snort that he masked with a cough. This incident had us all wondering, could it be that professor Kim and Jeon Jeongguk knew each other during their time at Hogwarts?
From what we know of their ages, it is apparent that they both studied at Hogwarts at the same time. Have they been sweethearts since then?
Curious students have been pestering the more lenient teachers into telling them what they know of Jeon Jeongguk and Professor Kim during their time at Hogwarts and have been met with different responses.
The Potion's Master, Professor Min, revealed that Jeon Jeongguk was smitten with Professor Kim in his fifth year, but it would be quite foolish to believe him, seeing as he could very well be just messing with his students as he tends to do sometimes, but the students couldn't help but pester him some more, which ended up with him reminiscing about his own experience at school, and before they knew it, they were raptured into another story all together.
Their Transfiguration Professor, Kim Seokjin told them a whole other story entirely, about how the two despised each other from the day that they met, and even dueled in the dining hall once, and that Jeon Jeongguk is actually a parsal mouth, at this point, they all know he is messing with them, and he even admitted to it, confessing that he doesn't really know much about either of them from the school days.
A few more teachers were questioned like this this week to no avail, until the Gryffindor Quidditch team captain, who's quite friendly with the flying instructor inquired about this yesterday and to her surprise, Jung Hoseok burst into laughter.
He claimed that they did indeed know each other, but were the furthest thing from sweethearts, in fact, the two were at each other's throats for the first three years they knew each other.
"No one knows how exactly," Jung Hoseok had said thoughtfully. "But they became more tolerant of each other after one summer, I have a reason to believe that they might have crossed paths during this time."
Apparently, in the midst of that year, Jeongguk became somewhat infatuated with the elder, always tailing him around and trying to impress him with his incredible Quidditch skills. He even asked him out to the spring ball! but according to the flying instructor, Quidditch had never been Professor Kim's thing and he was mostly unimpressed and a little annoyed with Jeongguk's rigorous attempts at courting him.
Our captain listened, raptured, as instructor Jung recalled a Quidditch accident that left Jeongguk in the infirmary for two weeks. Curiously, during that time, Taehyung could be seen outside of the infirmary, an anxious expression on his face and homework collected under one arm(5th year homework? wasn't he in seventh year by then?). However, by the time Jeongguk fully healed, Taehyung's NEWTS were coming up and both of them were too busy for anything to happen and, then Taehyung graduated and left Hogwarts before anything could really blossom between the two.
The captain slumped at this, so the flying instructor hurried to reassure, "But during Jeongguk's last year, I remember him being very excited whenever he received his mail. It wouldn't be far fetched to think that it was from a love interest." he winked.
And that's about all we know of their school life. Several jumped at instructor Hoseok for more details after this story was revealed, but that seemed to be about all he knows.
But this newfound discovery of the history between the two has certainly given the rumors a new life, and more and more clues about them being a couple emerge everyday.
Take for example, in the much anticipated interview with Jeon Jeongguk in the sports column of Enchanted that came out just today, what Jeon Jeongguk said regarding the topic of love(we all know how Enchanted is, no one really expected there to be anything actually sports related in that column) has only fueled the rumors.
For those of you who didn't receive a copy in the mail, here is what he said:
"I think, when we're young, love is exhilarating and scary, like your first time on the broom," he chuckled at his own analogy. "It's kind of difficult to control or understand, pretty damn scary if you ask me, but time makes it a little easier, not any less strong, no, just- simpler ." said he, "Patience is the key, I think. Once you're sure of what you want, you'll get through the hardships." he huffed a laugh, "Sorry, I am no good at this. Can we talk about Quidditch again?"
"No no, you seem quite knowledgeable." reassured Park Ahnjon, the nosy editor. "You sound like you speak from experience."
Jeon Jeongguk blinked, eyes widening, and for those of you who didn't get a copy, it really is a shame, because he looked quite adorable. "I- that's a bit personal now, isn't it?"
The topic was changed after, but many have been speculating that his views on love could have been driven from his experience with Professor Kim. It makes sense, doesn't it? Him finding love to be exhilarating and scary because he had disliked Professor Kim before and then finding patience along the way as he continued to pursue him. At least that's what Bon-hwa said, but she's quite the hopeless romantic.
During Charms class, one student subtly tried to sneak in the topic of love in the conversation just as the class was dispersing, to see if his side matched what they knew of his history with Jeon Jeongguk.
"Why the sudden interest in love?" he asked, smiling. Upon being reassured that it was just harmless curiosity, he said, "Well I think love is hard to pin down, or explain, but I know first hand that you should let yourself feel it first, leave the figuring out for later, no?" he paused to think a little before speaking again with a small smile, "and maybe try and consider giving second chances, because they might bring about something unexpectedly beautiful." he laughed after this, eyes crinkling up into crescents and leaving us to wonder if even Jeon Jeongguk was worthy enough for this man. "Don't count on my advice too much though, youngsters such as you don't need to listen to an old man like me on love of all things.”
The topic of the conversation changed as the class heatedly reminded him that he was barely in his late twenties and nowhere near old, and Professor Kim continued to giggle.
The rumors become more believable by day, and so do the believers. And the skeptics, apparently. The Slytherin sixth years have started arranging betting pools, and it seems like almost all of the student body is participating. They are secretive about this ever since the betting pool incident three years ago though, so if you want to try your luck, you best head to the Slytherin common room at night after dinner.
Due to exams, further investigation couldn’t be conducted and after that, it was summer all too soon, no time to care for teachers’ dalliances, for most that is. For those of you who were lucky enough to be able to attend the Nationals, only you can confirm the rumors the third years have been spreading about seeing Professor Kim in the stands.
But now that we are back, did you see the lovely checkered coat Professor Kim had on during the train ride? A third year Ravenclaw, whose sister works in the International Confederation Of Wizard’s Quidditch Community(yes, that will be the renowned Min Cho-hee, the devout “taekook” shipper who graduated just over two years ago)claimed that her sister is convinced that she saw Jeon Jeongguk sporting the very same coat at a meeting his summer. Now we all know that Cho-hee, for the lack of a better word, a bit unreliable with her information when it comes to the pair. She has spread many rumors during her time at Hogwarts that have later proven to be false and is known for analyzing every small detail and coming to insane conclusions, but the reason this particular rumor is believable is because the trolley witch(much more reliable than Min Cho-hee) is convinced that she saw Jeon Jeongguk at the station today, as are a bunch of first and second years in what she describes to be a “neat, checkered coat, similar to the one Professor Kim has on, identical, in fact!”
Could it be that the coat was given to Professor Kim by the star Quidditch player himself? What other reason would Jeon Jeongguk have been there at the station? If he even was there.
One bold student, fueled by the rumors commented, “Nice coat, Professor,” to which he says that Professor Kim smiled, he described it as a “private and shy smile” and thanked him.
But no one other than the trolley witch and the second years seems to have seen Jeon Jeongguk, and it is a possibility that the coat was given to Professor Kim by his spouse, but it doesn’t have to be the Quidditch star. So for all we know, the train station rumors are just that, rumors.
First day back, the students have begun to get a little more restless, eager to finally find out the truth. This morning a brave student asked Professor Kim what he thought of Jeon Jeongguk, phrasing the question casually.
Professor Kim hummed, not looking up from his notes. “He’s good, isn’t he?” and then, “a bit cocky, though.”
Some argue that Professor’s dismissiveness should be enough to refute all the rumors, while others insist that his answer implied that he knew Jeongguk more “personally.”
The Ravenclaws came up with the idea to inquire about his spouse to see if they can get any clues, and put it into action in their afternoon lessons, here is what Professor Kim had to say about it, “He is well,” he said, a fond smile breaking across his face, “Been sending me a lot of mail though, asking me how I am doing, my husband is a bit clingy you see.”
Husband !!! they all collectively thought.
“Not that I am not,” he chuckled. “But don’t tell him that, his ego doesn’t need any more inflation.”
“It all adds up!” Yeonjun exclaimed, waving his hands around animatedly, “He thinks Jeon Jeongguk is cocky and his husband has an ego, they’re both obviously the same person!”
Many of the students nodded, agreeing with Yeonjun and trying to remember other things Professor Kim had revealed about his spouse and relating them to Jeon Jeongguk. The skeptical ones rolled their eyes and called this all a “reach.” but the majority are considering today a success.
Yesterday, the two year long conspiracy came to an end, an end so climatic that it is said to have left the jaws of the witnesses hanging and the school practically buzzing since it occured. There are discussions of a party being arranged in the Gryffindor common rooms for a celebration, and the Slytherins have been happily distributing the bet money, mocking the losers thoroughly. A howler came in from Min Cho-hee this morning that consisted of her screaming for ten whole minutes, her sister hurriedly tore the thing to shreds when Cho-hee started sobbing, face flaring from embarrassment.
There are multiple accounts of what happened, each one crazier than the next. Some accounts describe a passionate confession of love, others a request for divorce, Hufflepuff fifth year Sang-woo's story...actually, you're advised to visit him at the Hufflepuff table this evening where he will no doubt be reciting it again if you want to know the details, it's quite unbelievable, not to mention inappropriate.
Only a few truthful Ravenclaws who were present at the time of the incident are to be trusted.
"Don't listen to him," Bon-hwa scoffed, cutting off her classmate's tale. "I will tell you what happened.” she declared.
“Tell us!” Yeonjun exclaimed, agonized. He’d fallen ill yesterday and had come back to the school in mayhem, not a single idea of what had transpired other than the wild stories going around.
“So,” Bon straightened, gesturing everyone to move closer with a pleased smile, obviously enjoying the attention. “Yesterday, during charms class, Professor Kim was- Julia can you stop breathing on me?- yeah, he was teaching us about forbidden charms. He was on the part where he was reading out the date con- how was it pronounced?- confi-”
“You’re dragging it,” Soobin said from beside her, and Yeonjun looked like he could kiss him. “I’ll summarize. Mid class, someone showed up at the door and the front row erupted in whispers, trying to get a closer look-”
“You’ll never guess who it was!” Bon said excitedly.
“Jeon Jeongguk?” they all said in unison. Bon huffed.
Soobin grinned. “Professor Kim made him say hi to us.”
“More like he pestered him into introducing him-”
“You all have it wrong, he actually-”
“Jeon Jeongguk said hi to you?” Yeonjun almost yelled.
“ Yeah,” Julia sighed dreamily. “He’s so handsome up close, did you know he actually has three piercings? One on his-
“Then,” Soobin said tightly. “He introduced himself as Professor Kim’s husband .”
“Oh my god,” the boy across him whispered. “He introduced himself as Professor Kim’s husband.”
“They both look so good together,” Bon piped up, sighing. “All smiley and endeared. It was adorable.”
“Oh! And after that, when the Professor tried to get him to leave, Jeongguk said he said something to say to him and then he just kissed his cheek and laughed.” Soobin recounted excitedly. “That’s all. Don’t believe the crazy things others are telling you.”
Across from him, Yeonjun slumped into the table.
“Is he crying?”
“I think so.”
The school has been alight with curiosity since Jeon Jeongguk’s visit, wondering his reasoning for being at Hogwarts and speculating if he would be here again. Even our skeptics and the ones n>who didn’t spare much attention for “taekook” have been swept away in the excitement. This morning, after relentless pestering from some gryffindors, Professor Kim confessed that the reason his husband was here was because he was in the area and happened to “miss him” and wanted to give him a “surprise”. Front row students swear that Professor Kim’s face was adorably red while relaying this.
Gryffindor and Slytherin have been fighting about who contributed most to the “uncovering of the truth”, Ravenclaw argues that it was Jeon Jeongguk showing up that uncovered anything, Hufflepuff agrees. Professor Kim is being pestered into revealing more information about his relationship with the Quidditch star, but by next week, everyone will have probably moved on to the next rumor, as they always do.
Regardless, Professor Kim and his husband will remain Hogwarts favorite pair for a long time, but enough about this, did you hear about the flying instructor leaving the potion master’s office late at night yesterday?