Chapter Text
Chan was incredibly nervous as the professor called his name. His mom had told him all about Hogwarts and the Sorting Hat and everything, but actually being here was INSANE. He wasn’t sure at all about what he was doing. He didn’t know anyone, and he wasn't sure about how to approach anyone either.
After the hat was placed on his head, Chan was startled when the Hat started to communicate with him. Telepathically. Well, it was exactly what his mom said it would be, but still.
Well, well, the hat said. I see a lot of eagerness. I see some clever brains as well. Loyalty, yes. And ah, passion. You could be in many different houses. But ah, what is this? I see a very strong love of learning. Well. Better be…
”RAVENCLAW!” the hat yelled, and Chan was ushered to a cheering table of people wearing blue and bronze ties.
Chan wasn’t exactly shy, but he wasn’t exactly extroverted either. He hadn’t talked to anyone on the train, and he wasn’t sure who he could approach at this table. He tucked into his meal as everyone around chattered excitedly as the last first years were sorted and placed in their houses. Everyone else was immersed in their conversations, and Chan didn’t want to disturb anyone. So he hummed a little bit of a folk tune to himself.
“You should try the jigae,” a kind voice said at his right. “It’s nothing like the way they make it back in Korea, but it’s pretty good, since the Korean students started teaching the house elves how to make Korean food. Besides, more input would probably help them get better.”
Chan looked to his right. A boy with dark brown hair was smiling at him, gesturing at the stew. Chan looked at the jigae. The rust-colored stew bubbled deliciously. It did smell very good, and it made him think a little less about home and his family.
“Thanks,” Chan replied, reaching for the ladle and spooning himself some. He sipped it. It was nothing like his mom’s but it was comforting to taste.
“I’m Hansol, by the way,” the other boy replied. He grabbed some of the stew himself. “I know what you’re thinking. But I’m half-Korean. My dad insisted I have a Korean name. So my middle name is Vernon. So yeah, I can speak Korean. But anyways, try the rolls. They’re really good.”
“Thanks,” Chan replied again. He reached for the bread.
“Don’t worry. You looked a little lonely. I was in your spot last year.”
Chan’s eyes widened. This boy? He had approached Chan first!
“Really?”
Hansol beamed back. “Yeah. My best friend – Seungkwan – got sorted into Gryffindor. They’re super strict about bonding within your house for the first two weeks, but after that, they don’t care which table you sit at. Actually, no one really sits at their own table. Anyways, you’ll probably see Seungkwan soon enough. And probably Soonyoung and Seokmin. We’re all separated by year right now, but the Great Hall’s going to be really noisy once everyone starts sitting in their usual spots.”
Noisy? It was already pretty loud. Could it seriously get louder?
“Oh,” Chan replied. “I just…Didn’t really make any friends on the train…So…”
Hansol smiled sympathetically. “Are you a muggleborn? I bet this is all pretty overwhelming.”
Chan shook his head. “Um, my mom’s a witch. But she’s not super involved with the wizarding world, so all of my friends are muggles…”
Hansol nodded. “It was probably pretty strange coming here instead of going to high school with all of your friends, huh?”
Chan nodded in return shyly. Hansol grinned.
“Well, you’ll probably get a tour of part of the castle tonight, and then the rest of it tomorrow. Just follow Namjoon over there after dinner. Just…Be careful around him.”
Chan was confused. Hansol laughed.
“Namjoon’s a good guy, but he’s super accident-prone. Last year he managed to break the couch in the common room. Twice Everything in Ravenclaw Tower is charmed to not break. Wait until you start hearing stories from Taehyung. I heard he has years’ worth of blackmail on Namjoon.”
Chan was still a little confused and maybe even a little alarmed, but he decided to just go with it.
“Anyways,” continued, Hansol. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask around the house for help. We’re all pretty friendly, except around exam period. Then we make sure that Soonyoung doesn’t overdose on caffeine, and Taehyung doesn’t try to set up a lab in the common room.”
Hogwarts was simultaneously beginning to sound both terrifying and fun. Chan had no idea which one it was just yet.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he replied, not sure what else to say.
Hansol laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll get used to it. Welcome to Hogwarts.”
Chan looked around at the people who were all chatting and smiling. He looked back at Hansol, who was still smiling. Maybe he would like it here.
“Thanks.”
When Hansol said he would meet Seungkwan soon, Chan didn’t think it would be the very next day. He’d heard enough about Hansol’s best friend, however. Seungkwan was a Gryffindor, and he was always belting out tunes on his way to class. Hansol said that in general, you always heard Seungkwan before you saw him.
“Yo, Vernon!” a voice yelled from down the hallway.
Hansol had offered to show Chan around after the main tour of the castle for the first years was done. Wanting to hang onto the first friend that he had made, Chan readily agreed. The castle was gigantic and he already had no idea of just how he would navigate his way around. Hansol had promised that after a few walkarounds, Chan would be fine. Chan wasn’t so convinced, but he wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to get more familiar with the castle.
“Yo, Boo!” Hansol yelled back.
When the boy reached them, he grabbed Hansol into a tight hug and started talking a mile-a-minute.
“Did you hear? Seungcheol is a prefect! A PREFECT! He tried to take points off last night was I was going to sneak out to meet up with Soonyoung and Seokmin. What the heck! Seungcheol knows that I was going to get back by curfew. I NEVER stay out past curfew!”
Hansol laughed, and the two parted. Then, the boy noticed Chan.
Chan had a good feeling that this was Seungkwan. He had definitely heard him before he had seen him. Seungkwan had a cheerful expression, and his face was slightly flushed from talking non-stop. He grinned at Chan, and Chan smiled back awkwardly.
“Oooh! Hi! I’m Boo Seungkwan, aka MC Boo. You should definitely go to the first Quidditch game this season because I’m going to be announcing by myself for the first time! Plus, it’s Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff, so you Ravenclaws should definitely all go. Don’t tell Seokmin, but I’m totally rooting for you guys.”
Chan looked at Hansol helplessly. Hansol laughed.
“Seungkwan, Chan. Chan, Seungkwan,” Hansol explained. “Chan’s a first year and he’s also from Korea, Seungkwan.”
Seungkwan’s face lit up. “We have to introduce you to EVERYONE.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, Seungkwan. Chan just got here. Let him get used to Hogwarts. Remember how you didn’t want to talk to anyone last year because you still couldn’t believe that this school existed.”
Seungkwan huffed. “That was last year. We don’t bite! Besides, he probably misses home and so do we!”
Seungkwan tugged on Chan’s sleeve, and Chan found himself being pulled by Seungkwan. He looked to Hansol for help, but the older boy just sighed, before following them.
“Oh, by the way, are you interested in music? We’re recruiting new members for choir!”
“Uh…I’m not really much of a singer…” Chan replied awkwardly. “I, uh…I like to dance, though. My dad’s a dance teacher.”
Seungkwan’s face broke into a wide grin. “You have got to talk to Soonyoung. He’s been trying to get the headmaster to approve his dance club for AGES.”
Chan perked up at the mention of another dancer. It would be nice to talk to someone about something familiar. Plus, he didn’t want to get rusty while he was here. He still had to help his dad over the summer, and he really needed to keep up his skills.
Seungkwan was still talking about dance and Soonyoung and all of their friends as he continued to lead Chan and Hansol somewhere. Hansol didn’t seem too concerned, so Chan figured that it would be fine. Besides, Seungkwan genuinely seemed like a nice person, and Hansol had been nothing but kind to him since he had arrived.
“Okay! We’re here!”
“Here” was where two other people were standing and chatting. One was also a Ravenclaw, and the other was a Hufflepuff.
Seungkwan grinned.
“Chan, meet Seokmin and Soonyoung. Soonyoung, I’ve found you a dance slave!”