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It wasn't that Yoongi hated being mistaken for a Slytherin.
And why would he? Pre-war and other war-time prejudices had, for the most part, faded in the twenty or so years since Voldemort's downfall, other than a handful of pureblood families who were still holding out.
It wasn't Yoongi's fault, anyway. He was happy as a clam as a member of Ravenclaw house, content to spend his time reading and studying, allowing his curiosity to grow into what it is today. There were just some people who refused to see past stereotypes, who took the way he carefully curated his thoughts and actions as manipulation, as biding his time like the Slytherins of the past.
In any case, his boyfriend, the actual Slytherin, had quite a few choice words about the constant case of mistaken house.
None of them, though, were quite what one would expect.
———
{1}
It all started back during that first train ride.
The Min family was an old name in Korea, both muggle and magical, with many houses in prominent wizarding communities across the globe. Their branch of the family had immigrated to Britain when Yoongi was only a child; it was an old tradition in their family, where a branch would establish themselves elsewhere for a period of time while the future head of that branch would attend their schooling. It was a way to remind people of their existence, to say that no, they weren’t isolated and cut off from society, thank you very much, enough with the gossip.
Yoongi had many cousins who had attended some of the finest magical institutions. And now it was his turn.
Unfortunately for Yoongi, his older brother hadn’t wanted the title and responsibilities that came with being the head of their branch. Junki got to become a dragon tamer, while Yoongi had to bear the weight of the Min name.
Really, he was happy to attend Hogwarts, but all Yoongi really wanted was to study magical theory, invent spells, and maybe take up a couple of Master titles to accompany his name.
That fucking sense of familial duty was going to get him killed one day.
So there he was, fifteen years old with a trunk full of fresh school supplies (there was no way he was bringing his specialized equipment to a school) and a second bag with an undetectable extension charm filled to the brim with books on many different topics, from ancestral law and family head responsibilities to handwritten accounts of how wands were made, why wizarding portraits in different countries have different impressions left behind, and what kind of familiars were most common in different parts of the world.
He was just curious and wanted to learn. Sue him.
Or don’t, as the Min lawyers would demolish their opponents as they’ve done in the past.
Yoongi had gotten to the train early specifically so he could claim a carriage to himself. He was used to being on his own, as many of the old British wizarding families were wary of the Min family’s extensive influence throughout the globe.
The rampant xenophobia that didn’t seem to have improved after the last Wizarding War also tended to put a damper on things.
So there Yoongi was, unpacking some of his books and allowing his cat Suga to take up his favorite spot on Yoongi’s shoulder. As students began to fill the train, many would glance into his space before quickly hurrying away, whispering amongst themselves as they went. It was fine, though. Yoongi was there to fulfill a duty after all. While it would be nice to have some people whom he could call an acquaintance, or even a friend, Yoongi understood that he was abnormal to them. Korean wizards weren’t common at Hogwarts, after all. Especially not a Min.
Imagine his surprise when the door slid open right as the train whistled and began to leave the station, and a body dropped down on the seat across from him.
“Oh thank Merlin , someone I can trust to have some decent manners around here. And food, definitely food.”
Yoongi stared, hands still in his bag.
Because sitting in front of him was a man he had only ever heard of before from a family he had only ever heard of before.
And Kim Seokjin was a lot prettier in person than his photographs had made him out to be.
Yoongi had only ever seen Seokjin in newspapers before, being lauded as a golden child who had managed to raise his family’s social standing almost single-handedly. The Kims, another old family name with ties to Britain much older than the Mins, they fell out of standing after the war, seen as cowards for fleeing the country back to the ancestral home in Gwacheon.
(No one could really blame them. Not the families like Yoongi’s, who knew how important preserving their line and their culture was, who knew that siding with people like Voldemort and Death Eaters and Dark magic users would only get them killed, both abroad and at home. Who knew that this wasn’t really their war to fight in, that all they could do was just ride out the storm and hope to come out whole on the other side.)
Kim Seokjin was doubly unfortunate in the eyes of British high wizarding societies. After his mother had taken the family and fled to Korea, she had then married a muggleborn. No matter how old his line may be, Kim Seokjin was, for all intents and purposes, only a half-blood in the eyes of British law.
Which was why his rise through society when only an uneducated (magically, at least) teenager was so shocking. His family was still invited to all the balls, the galas, the charity events, and Kim Seokjin was just so fucking charming . He had the Greengrasses eating out of his hands only after his debut event, and they were notoriously neutral and deceptively cold towards everyone, even their allies.
Yoongi didn’t know how much of it was manipulation or just Seokjin’s actual personality, though he refused to believe that anyone was that much of a people-person.
(That could also just be Yoongi’s years of isolation speaking.)
It was only once Seokjin cleared his throat and looked off to the side, smile beginning to strain on his face, that Yoongi realized he had been frozen and staring for several minutes while lost in his thoughts. He swallowed hard before putting his bookbag aside and reached for his trunk, pulling out the dosirak his mother had personally prepared for him.
“I can offer kimbap?”
The polite smile on Seokjin’s face turned into something more genuine, teeth showing and eyes lighting up.
“Min Yoongi, I already know this is going to be the start of a great friendship.” And then Seokjin switched benches to sit next to Yoongi and tore into the dosirak sitting between them, offering pieces of kimbap to Yoongi while simultaneously chatting about his family, eating his own pieces, and insisting Yoongi call him hyung even though they would be entering the same year at school, Yoongi’s insistence of “It’s only three months!” falling on deaf ears.
It wasn’t until Yoongi and Seokjin had left the train and were about to be Sorted that he realized he had never given Seokjin his name.
And after the Sorting, after feasting and sitting with his back to Seokjin, so that they could still carry on their conversations from the train despite Yoongi being at Ravenclaw’s table and Seokjin at Slytherin’s, Yoongi knew there wasn’t a better house for his new hyung.
He was very excited to see what kind of mayhem the so-called Golden Child would bring to their new lives.
———
{2}
They hadn’t been in school for long at all.
As a matter of fact, with the Welcome Feast falling on a Saturday, classes didn’t start until Monday morning. And after seeing schedule, Yoongi didn’t quite know what to make of the fwhoop his heart made when he saw that his year wouldn’t share a class with the Slytherins until Charms theory on Wednesday afternoon.
Already though, the rumors had begun to make their way around. Seokjin and Yoongi had obviously been spotted coming off the train and making their way up to the Great Hall together. Yoongi had even stood as a silent guard on Seokjin’s right during the Sorting as they waited for Seokjin’s name to be called. His surly attitude and Resting Bitch Face did wonders for the noble children sending glares their way. The whispers of Hufflepuff danced around them up until the fateful moment that Seokjin walked up to the stool, placed the Hat on his head, and had to get up as soon as it touched his hair when the ragged thing immediately called out a booming “ SLYTHERIN !”.
Which apparently no one was expecting but Yoongi.
From what he had gathered on his first couple of days exploring (students were absolutely horrible gossips), Seokjin’s friendly demeanor and ease in conversation had made everyone unfamiliar with his family name believe that he was a shoe-in for Hufflepuff. Meanwhile, the purebloods and nobles who made their home in Slytherin believed that a blood-traitor like Kim Seokjin would never make it as a Slytherin; he was too foolhardy in his pursuits of charming every single head witch and wizard that he lacked all of the subtlety of the great house of Slytherin.
An absolute load of shit, if you asked Yoongi. Because that was the very definition of Slytherin house, from everything Yoongi had read and observed. The ambition to save his family’s reputation, the cunning to form the plans to do so, and the effortlessness in accomplishing everything he had so far, were all key traits to succeeding in Slytherin.
Yoongi’s literally known the guy for like two days at this point. There was no reason for him to be the only one who actually realized this.
(When asked about it later, towards the end of their Hogwarts years, Yoongi just chalked it up to his observation skills.
Seokjin, though, would say that it’s because he and Yoongi were always meant to be.)
Meanwhile, apparently Yoongi’s Ravenclaw sorting was also the talk of the school. Something about “old blood” and “scary expressions” and “could definitely kill us in our sleep, why are we okay with this he’s right there —”
The best way to get people to leave him the fuck alone: the Min Family Resting Bitch Face.
If looks could kill, blah blah blah.
Four days into school and apparently the two of them had managed to single-handedly fuel the rumor mill for Merlin knows how many weeks.
But finally it was Wednesday, and Yoongi would be able to get a glimpse of Seokjin other than the few mealtimes he wasn’t charming his way through the students at his table or within the surrounding areas.
His Transfiguration and Herbology classes proceeded just fine that morning, with him being the last to receive a partner to work with (the MFRBF was starting to work against him). No one sat around him for lunch, which was just fine because it meant he could continue to observe the enigma of Kim Seokjin while pretending to read a book he had taken out from the library.
When the bell rang and the hoards of students began to make their ways towards classes and common rooms, Yoongi merely packed his bag before making his way towards the Charms classroom. To be honest, this was all very unlike Yoongi, and if he didn’t know any better he would’ve thought some kind of charm or curse had been placed on him to ensure that his thoughts would only revolve around Seokjin.
But Yoongi was raised around magic, grew up with it in every facet of his life. He knew the signs of false affection and fake love, of how glazed over people’s eyes get when under the effect of a love charm.
(There had also been that incident when Yoongi was a child, when he’d been cursed by a love spell that slowly ate away at his health and his mind just because someone had wanted to spite his family and their power. It had taken three Mediwizards at St. Mungo’s to figure out what the spell had been mixed with to make it have such a negative effect.
Yoongi’s learned his lesson since.)
His musings had taken him all the way to the Charms classroom and to a desk off to the side, surrounded by other Ravenclaws but still with some distance from his classmates. Yoongi had begun to unpack his textbook when a bag plopped down directly next to him.
“I can’t believe we haven’t had a class together yet! It’s like they knew of our power before we could even give them a chance to prove them right. They knew we would be an unstoppable force and had to keep us separated from the start.”
Okay, Yoongi was starting to regret wanting to see Seokjin again.
Man was loud .
“There was literally no way they could know that, hyung,” Yoongi retorted, arms crossed as he stiffly held himself next to Seokjin, still anxious about this new friend he had made.
“Tch, you have no joking spirit in you, Yoongi. You need to lighten up a little, it’s why everyone thinks you’re the Slytherin.”
“Oh yeah, it definitely has nothing to do with the old blood-slash-pureblood nonsense that all these British wizards still believe in.”
“You glaring at them every chance you get isn’t helping either.”
“Respectfully, hyung, shut the fuck up.”
At this point, Flitwick had entered the room and climbed on top of his stack of books to see over his lectern, ready to begin his lessons for the day, and Seokjin and Yoongi had to turn away from each other to face the front and give their attention.
———
{3}
Against all odds, Kim Seokjin and Min Yoongi became a force to be reckoned with.
They dominated in classes, taking the chance to pair up whenever they could. They started a secret club where they tutored muggleborns on the world that they were now an important part of, and tutoring classes in subjects that students may have an interest in but no opportunities to take due to full schedules. Seokjin, of course, was the face of it all as it was his brain child. He was the one who got the professors on board with the tutoring program, who batted his eyes and somehow spoke his way into getting them to give up some of their lesson plans. Seokjin recruited tutors from all houses and years and always had a smile for it.
Yoongi’s best friend was fucking awesome .
Seokjin was, quite possibly, one of the most charming Slytherins to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts, making friends and alliances in a way that members of Slytherin house, insulated to protect themselves from prejudice, hadn’t been able to accomplish in years.
And as their time at Hogwarts progressed, the consensus and rumors had only grown amongst students and professors alike.
How the fuck had happy, bubbly, personable Kim Seokjin managed to make his way to Slytherin? And better yet, how had surly, antisocial Min Yoongi end up in Ravenclaw?
One of these things was not like the other.
Regardless for how people wanted to stereotype them, though, Yoongi couldn’t have been prouder of everything Seokjin had done. While anti-Slytherin sentiment had calmed down in recent years (the immediate post-war years were atrocious, though), Seokjin had, just like with his family, managed to turn Slytherin’s reputation for the better. In the years since starting at Hogwarts, Slytherin sortings had increased almost dramatically, as noble families saw that Hogwarts could be safe for their children, that being a Slytherin was no longer a social curse.
Seokjin had confided in Yoongi about this, during their second year, when two young Korean first years had attached themselves to Seokjin and Yoongi in attempt at some familiarity and and protection. They had been up in the astronomy tower after hours, had stolen some butterbeer and started confessing their fears about the future, their worries for each other, and their aspirations for themselves.
(“ So that’s the secret?”
“Yep.”
“The Sorting Hat just immediately knew that you wanted to singlehandedly save Slytherin?”
“Yep.”
“You’re not gonna offer me anything other than that?”
“Well, what do you want me to say?”
…
“Look, no one is going to give Slytherin a chance if everyone keeps acting like Slytherins. If the House continues to remain so isolated, if they continue to do nothing and just cower in fear, then they’ll just fade out of existence and Hogwarts houses will only be three. It’ll be unbalanced, and it’s not fair. Where is the Slytherin self-preservation we’re supposed to be known for? If no one else is going to take on the job, then clearly it falls onto my shoulders.”
“…you know, that’s really noble of you.”
“I guess, yeah.”
…
…
“I’m always willing to help, hyung. If that’s your goal in life, then I can certainly figure things out from the legal and research side of it.”
“You’re too kind, Yoongi.”
…
…
“Is this too sappy for you now hyung?”
“You know you could never be too sappy for me, Yoongi-chi.” )
And now, in the midst of OWL year, people flocked to Seokjin’s side, asking for help with study schedules and basking in the air of ease and calm that he seemed to emanate. Yoongi’s spot was guaranteed, of course, and five years later everyone still feared the consequences of taking away Yoongi’s prized position as Seokjin’s right hand man and best friend (even though it was something Seokjin would never consider in the first place).
Yoongi, ever observant, just simply enjoyed watching as everything ignored the emerald green robe linings and silver snake crest more and more as he and Seokjin got older. He loved watching him spin stories and explain subject matters they weren’t even studying themselves. He couldn’t get enough of how the first years would gather around Seokjin to listen and learn and think for themselves.
Seokjin wasn’t just saving Slytherin house at this point. He was saving all of the wizarding young adults, the people who would one day be deciding their laws and culture and society.
And Yoongi couldn’t help but love him a little bit more every single time.
———
{4}
“I cannot believe you somehow convinced me to come with you to this stupid party.”
“Oh shut up Yoongi, and just put on the thrice-damned dress robes already.”
“I do not want to be at Slughorn’s party, I am being forced , held against my will — “
“I literally cannot believe no one has realized how dramatic you are, you never shut up — “
“An utter travesty —”
“I’m literally just taking you away from your research for three hours, please just shut up, I’ll get you that book about Transfiguration spells you’ve been eyeing for ages —”
And that was how Yoongi got invited (read: coerced and dragged) into attending Professor Slughorn’s annual Christmas party their seventh year.
Seokjin was one of Slughorn’s favorite students. He may not have had the highest Potions aptitude (god only knows how many times Yoongi had to save them, or Seokjin’s grade when their classes were separate), but the two of them got along as thick as thieves, with they way they would carry on about this new spell that was submitted to the board or that herbologist who came up with a new way to cultivate Venomous Tentacula.
Yoongi couldn’t stand the man, honestly. He just seemed incredibly fake, and when Yoongi refused to be catered to his first year, to be used as a pawn for the aging potions master, Slughorn had left Yoongi to his own devices, remaining cordial but nothing more than superficial platitudes. As a result, despite Yoongi’s long family line and connections, he had missed out on the invitation to the Slug Club in their fifth year when Seokjin had received one.
But much to Slughorn’s (and Yoongi’s) dismay, Yoongi still attended every event with guests just by nature of being Seokjin’s best friend. He never brought another plus one along, because in his mind, and everyone else’s honestly, there is no one else. No matter how much Yoongi has tried to get Seokjin to bring someone else, maybe one of their wards they’ve seemed to have adopted (Jimin in particular has a certain air about him that makes him an ideal candidate), Yoongi is the one who gets brought along.
So there he was, sixth year now, in the black and gold formal hanbok his family used for formal occasions, while Seokjin wore a mixed color palette containing Slytherin green and silver and Kim gold. The whole ensemble was garish and loud, which Mr. So-called “Worldwide Handsome” still managed to pull off, much to Yoongi’s chagrin.
(Who was he kidding? Seokjin could wear a house-elf’s pillow case and Yoongi would still think he was beautiful.
Yoongi would take that to the grave though.)
Seokjin was always the most gracious host at these things. No matter how much he may tease and cajole, he knew that Yoongi didn’t actually want to be there, that he was just supporting Seokjin in his journey to carve out a powerful place in the world they would be entering within the next few years, after apprenticeships and Masteries were completed and they could begin work. As a thank you, Seokjin would help Yoongi test out his recently developed spells, buy him books he had been eyeing for months, and (when Yoongi wasn’t paying attention, he would later learn), talk him up to whomever Seokjin was speaking to at the moment.
(After all, how could Seokjin continue to pull the strings and change the mindset of the Wizarding World without Yoongi by his side?)
Yoongi had zoned out slightly, the wine in his goblet holding his attention as Seokjin continued the conversation next to him. At a slight prodding in his side, he realized the woman was now directing questions his way.
“My apologies, ma’am.” Yoongi amiably soothed any offense he might have caused while summoning a house-elf to bring another goblet for her. “You must understand, school and deciding career paths has been at the forefront of my mind recently. Would you be so kind as to repeat your statement?”
Just because Yoongi acted like a gremlin asshole didn’t actually mean he didn’t know how to behave in public. He just chose not to.
“Of course,” she simpered, batting her eyelashes Seokjin’s way and only half paying attention to Yoongi. “I was merely saying that Filius must be so happy to have two brilliant minds in his house, just from hearing what Mr. Kim here was saying about all of your accomplishments.”
Yoongi blinked before remembering that this woman was a guest and had no idea who they were. Off-handedly, filling her glass for her, he replied “Oh, Seokjin isn’t a Ravenclaw, he’s in Professor Slughorn’s house. Slytherin.”
The woman breathed in a little gasp, enough to keep her composure in public but one that still showed her shock. “But that can’t be,” she exclaimed, attracting the attention of those around her. “He’s so…”
“Slytherin. He’s so Slytherin. I cannot imagine how no one—”
“I’m afraid my dear friend here is correct, madam,” Seokjin cut in effortlessly, fending off an argument Yoongi is tired of having to make. “I’m a very proud member of Slytherin house.”
And as she looked at his hyung with a new and slightly wary glint in her eye, Yoongi could only physically restrain himself from rolling his eyes in disgust at how everyone keeps looking at Seokjin, but no one really sees him.
———
{+1}
Seven years at Hogwarts was truly something.
Looking back at everything he had accomplished, Seokjin couldn’t help but take immense pride at the new and improved Slytherin house, at how muggleborns viewed their world, at how much learning really took place at Hogwarts now. Before Hogwarts was a school, yes, but one that seemed to pigeonhole people into their houses and encourage no interhouse unity or cooperation. Each house had a career path they would most likely join, and one would be defined for the rest of their lives, essentially.
But no more.
Seokjin had personally seen to that.
And he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish any of it without Yoongi. His boyfriend .
(He still can’t stop squealing whenever he remembers, even though Yoongi had forcefully grabbed his shirt while under some mistletoe this past Christmas, blushing furiously while slamming their lips together in a clearly unpracticed and amateurish kiss. But Seokjin was only endeared at this man who had sacrificed so much for him, who had dedicated so much of himself to Seokjin’s cause.
He didn’t even have to think twice before furiously kissing Yoongi back.
Jungkook kept calling him gross, but he had seen the way his little baby snake looked at Taehyung and Jimin and pointedly raised an eyebrow. Jungkook had nothing to say about Seokjin and Yoongi after that)
So much had brought them to this point. Seokjin was ready to start an internship with the Wizengamot as a clerk, before finally taking his exams and sitting on the body himself. Yoongi, however, was ready to begin his apprenticeship for his Charms Mastery.
It was okay, though. Yoongi would join him on the Wizengamot soon enough. There was no Seokjin without Yoongi trailing along as well, always the shadow accompanying Seokjin’s bright light.
Their graduation had come and gone, and families were still milling about the grounds, feasting and celebrating all of their children’s accomplishments. The Kim and Min parents had met, and Yoongi had only had two breakdowns about the whole ordeal (a truly remarkable feat, considering how stressed the man had been for his NEWTs).
His boyfriend ( boyfriend!! ) was currently off somewhere, entertaining their parents and making the rounds, showing off the circle of close friends they had made and mentored during their time at Hogwarts. Seokjin was all ready to join them, in fact was making his way over across the grounds, when he heard a sneering woman mention Yoongi's name.
"I heard he begged the Hat not to put him in Slytherin. Who does he think he is, Harry Potter?"
"Truly, the house of snakes would have suit him just fine, considering his family history."
"Oh, I know , my son has been telling me all about him. Nasty thing, can't offer even a smile, who knows what he gets up to in his time—"
Oh now that just wouldn't do.
Yoongi, his poor sweet Yoongi, really had no idea the kind of fear that Seokjin had had to instill in all the older years when they first entered the school. They day that Seokjin had joined his compartment on the train, he knew that the boy in front of him was shy, not aloof, and had a hard time making genuine connections with people out of fear and self-preservation. Seokjin had made it his business to know all of the details of all the major families in play when he began making the rounds to save his family name. He knew of the Min heir, and had seen right through the harsh words people had to share about the family. So when he found him on the train, Seokjin saw through the wall right away.
Therefore, Seokjin would tolerate no Yoongi slander in his ears.
There was something to be said about the smile he would plaster to his face and the joyful tone he used when he would corner the originators of the nasty rumors he made sure would never reach Yoongi's ears. How he would describe every curse and hex and potion he would use to silence them, the muggle contraptions he would employ and the mysteries from his homeland that could... ensure their cooperation.
(No one believed him at first, until a student showed up in the hospital wing in hysterics because her voice had been taken away and fingers unable to grasp her wand to perform any sort of counter-jinx without mind-numbing pain shooting throughout her arms. By the time Madame Pomfrey had located the source jinxes, Headmistress McGonagall had already tracked down the culprit, who merely cocked an eyebrow and took his weeks of detention in stride.)
And over time, the threats became unnecessary as the older students graduated out and the new ones, some still early over Yoongi's reputation, were able to be taught. If there were a few reminders Seokjin would have to send...well, no one would snitch on him anymore, at least.
(If you asked a certain joke store owner in Diagon Alley, Kim Seokjin was a fantastic customer who always sent a fruit basket around Christmas time.)
Murmuring a quick charm to smooth out his formal dress robes, Seokjin made his way over to the gossips, ready to unleash his wrath and the no-names awaiting him.
And as Yoongi watched from afar at the fake effortless look of serenity on his boyfriend's face, he knew exactly the kind of lashing this unfortunate couple was about to receive. There were only a few times Seokjin showed his true colors, after all.
He was just grateful not to be on the end of it.