Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

‘He’s perfect.’

Taehyung sighed dreamily, heart-shaped eyes locked on the figure flying wide circles above his head. His body was loose and relaxed, barely even aware of the action happening at the other end of the field. Not even the loudly screaming crowd seemed to pierce the haze of admiration that clouded his mind. 

It was match day. Hufflepuff vs Slytherin. The spring sun was hot on Taehyung’s covered skin, his helmet itching where sweat was starting to build up. 

A sudden burst of magic nearly knocked Taehyung off his broom. He startled hard, grabbing desperately for his broom while the announcer and crowd laughed together in the background. As soon as he’d found his balance, his head was whipping around trying to find the culprit.

“YAH! Taehyung-ah! Are you falling asleep out there??” 

Seventh-year Gryffindor Kim Seokjin was nearly falling off the bench with his gesturing, arms waving through the air and nearly hitting his fellow Gryffindor, Kim Namjoon, in the head. Namjoon seemed mildly amused and exasperated at his friend’s antics, but he was more than used to them. 

Seokjin was not a quidditch player, nor was he a Hufflepuff like Taehyung, but he’d always been competitive, and that was especially true when it came to matches against Slytherin. It didn’t help that Slytherin had yet to lose a match this year, and Gryffindor had yet to win. 

Shaking himself from his reverie, Taehyung swung his gaze back towards the two teams battling it out at the other end of the field. Just in time too, as he could suddenly see a burst of green shooting out from the pack and heading his way.

“Better wake up V! Davies has got the quaffle and he is not slowing down!” the announcer called excitedly.

Taehyung internally rolled his eyes at the nickname, not actually daring to look away from the field. Jacob, the very enthusiastic announcer, had started calling him that on a whim in his second year. Apparently, “Kim” was too much of a girl's name. Taehyung thought that was a load of bull, but he didn’t actually mind the nickname too much. 

Besides, it could be worse. Jungkook, the second-year Gryffindor seeker, was called ‘Seagull’ after all, something Taehyung would never, ever get tired of teasing him for.

Taehyung settled himself more securely, gaze locked on the lean frame of the Slytherin chaser and the red ball clutched tightly against his chest. He narrowed his eyes, the smirking blonde target in his sights, before a rush of shouting and frenzy of movement above him pulled his attention. 

“The seekers are on! Park is a length ahead with J-Hope hot on his heels! They’re going for the snitch!!”

Taehyung’s broom was swaying slightly, his eyes zipping frantically from the diving seekers to the incoming chaser. The sun was shining on the pitch, lighting up the golden strands of the Slytherin seeker’s hair as it streamed behind him, his green cape snapping in the air as it blew past a wide-eyed Taehyung. There was a look of complete concentration on the boy’s face, but Taehyung could swear he saw him wink, just once, as he sped by.

So distracted by the move was he, that Taehyung didn’t even see the blur of red that shot by him on the other side until the sound of Jacob screaming snapped him out of it. Spinning around too late, he watched the quaffle soar past him and through the hoop, Jack throwing his hands up in victory.

Moments later, the Slytherin seeker suddenly flipped straight backward, his broom arching over Hoseok’s back as the other seeker kept flying forward. He then dove hard, coming so close to Taehyung that he could’ve reached out and touched him. 

Taehyung could vaguely hear Seokjin’s affronted screaming behind him, but he was too busy watching the muscles on the seeker’s bicep flex as he reached one arm out in front. His fingers closed around what Taehyung had previously assumed to be empty air, the quivering wings poking out of his fist clearly showing how wrong he was.

“Slytherin has done it again! Park has caught the snitch, and Slytherin has beat Hufflepuff!” Jacob’s voice was nearly incomprehensible, but the meaning was not lost on Taehyung as a surge of cheers and green swept over the pitch. The Slytherin team was busy clapping backs and congratulating their seeker. Taehyung couldn’t help but admit to himself how utterly impressive that move had been.

He had to choke down a lump of embarrassment, though, as his own subdued teammates made their way towards him. He’d lost it, he knows that. But- his gaze flit once more to the wide smile on the Slytherin seeker’s face, his eyes lost in happy crescents as he laughed and grinned.

‘Park Jimin. Perfection.’

Taehyung might’ve lost the game today. Might end up having to deal with his teammates and housemates' anger for the next couple weeks despite the fact that Hufflepuff’s few measly goals never would’ve beat the combined score of Slytherin getting the snitch. But he watched the spring sun glint off warm chocolate eyes and golden hair and couldn’t even find it in himself to be upset at the idea.

Kim Taehyung had a crush. On a Slytherin. 

***

“God, you’re hopeless.”

Hoseok yanked his sweater down over his head and tossed his sweaty uniform into the laundry basket. Someone would remember to wash them…..hopefully.

“Seriously? Earth to Taehyung!” 

A hand waving in front of his face had Taehyung flinching back slightly, blinking wide startled eyes at his friend. He shot the laughing Hufflepuff seeker a glare before throwing one last glance at the other end of the changing room. 

Jimin was over there, rubbing his hair dry and talking cheerfully with his teammates, seemingly unaware what the sight of his glistening bare chest was doing to poor Taehyung’s heart. Taehyung was pretty sure the Slytherin’s were just sticking around to gloat about their victory, but he didn’t really mind so long as he got to appreciate such a view.

Hoseok followed his gaze, snorting under his breath at what he found and then reaching over to punch Taaehyung not-so-lightly in the shoulder. “Give it up, man. He’s a fucking Park.”

“Shut up,” Taehyung mumbled, rubbing his shoulder. “And ow.”

“You deserve it for that mess on the pitch. I mean, were you too busy imagining Jimin fucking you to see the damn chaser?”

“Hey!” Taehyung shot a hand out to slap over his friend’s mouth, shooting a nervous glance down at the other end of the room. It didn’t seem like anyone had noticed, but his body still felt tense and on edge. “Don’t say that,” he admonished.

Hoseok just rolled his eyes, pushing away Taehyung’s hand and watching the Slytherin team move out of sight. “Relax, no one heard. And it’s totally true, anyway.”

“It is not!” Taehyung blushed fiercely, heat rising in his cheeks just thinking about what Hoseok had said. That wasn’t what he was thinking about. Truly!

“I- I thought he was going to hit me, that’s all. He flew so close it, um, scared me,” he mumbled. Hoseok just raised one eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the excuse. It didn’t really help that Taehyung being absolutely unphased by things like that was the number one reason he’d been selected as keeper in the first place.

“Sure,” his friend said sarcastically. “I’m sure you were really scared. Meanwhile, the whole audience could see your hard-on from across the pitch.”

Taehyung chased his amused friend out the door with several smacks to his arms and shoulders, Hoseok’s half-hearted escape attempt abruptly stopped by the exact person they were bickering about.

“Uh. Hi.” Park Jimin blinked blankly as the two Hufflepuffs slammed to a stop mere inches from him, straightening up immediately and trying to pull together even a modicum of composure in front of their quidditch rival.

They weren’t all that successful--Taehyung's scarf nearly hitting him in the face and Hoseok having to shove wet hair off his forehead--but Jimin smiled widely at them a moment later regardless. “Good game!” he chirped brightly. “You almost had me in that last dive, Hoseok-ssi.” 

Jimin’s voice had the slightest hint of a Korean accent still, even though he’d moved to England when he was young. Unlike Taehyung and Hoseok, Jimin actually spoke fluent Korean, and he was one of the few people in the school who could actually pronounce both of their names correctly. Taehyung had always appreciated that about him, even if his inability to drop the Korean honorifics seemed out of place sometimes.

“Ah, you know that’s not true, Jimin. You’re unstoppable this year,” Hoseok answered. It was true, too. Jimin was a big factor in Slytherin’s undefeated season. He’d caught the snitch in every single match this year.

The other boy grinned, rubbing the back of his neck as though embarrassed but clearly happy with the praise. “Thanks! My father had me practicing all summer break. I’m glad it’s paying off.”

Jimin’s father, while Korean, had gone to the Japanese school of magic, Mahoutokoro, since South Korea’s school had still been small and new and unimpressive back when he was a kid. He’d ended up being one of the star quidditch players of his generation, being invited twice to play for the Japanese professional team the Toyohashi Tengu--the current Champion’s League winners. The man was a legend.

Taehyung had spent his summer break having to hide his broom and occasionally convincing his little brother to chuck a football at him. He’d kill to have someone like Park Hyunsoo giving him lessons.

“I’ll see you later then!” Taehyung snapped back into the conversation just in time to see Jimin wave and head off towards his waiting teammates. They were probably all preparing to celebrate with a party in their common room. Taehyung’s teammates would all be sulking instead.

“Well. He’s certainly the nicest Slytherin I’ve ever met.” Taehyung sighed, nodding in response to Hoseok’s words. Jimin had a mischievous streak known across the school, but he honestly was super friendly and polite. It really didn’t help.

“You’ve got to do something about this crush of yours, TaeTae. It’s getting way too painful to watch.” Hoseok slung an arm across the younger boy’s shoulders and steered him off towards their own rooms. 

“Yeah, well,” Taehyung grumbled moodily. “Stop watching then.”

***

Taehyung had found himself spending a lot more time in the library these days. Not because he was especially fond of the place, or the many many books to be found there, but because it offered him an excuse to stalk see his favorite person. 

Plus he even got some homework done, so a win-win really. 

The library was actually the first place he saw Jimin, way back in first year. He didn’t care so much back then, too busy being in awe of Hogwarts and wizards and magic, but he’d remember the boy with the sparkling eyes and adorable smile. Jimin had been tucked away behind a tower of books, carefully jotting down notes with a quill of all things, which had greatly amused Taehyung at the time. Some things in Hogwarts were just so….old fashioned.

That meeting had slipped from his memory for many months, until the first day of second-year when the Slytherin boy had turned up to the welcome feast with soft pink hair and several earrings glittering underneath. He’d been laughed at by nearly his whole house, but Taehyung had been enraptured. 

Here was a Slytherin, notoriously wicked and proud, looking more like he belonged sitting beside Taehyung with yellow wrapped around his throat than over there with the kids who hexed all the first-year Hufflepuffs last term.

Something about the dual nature of the boy’s personality had pulled at Taehyung. He couldn’t help it-- Jimin was everything Taehyung wished he could be but didn’t have the confidence to try. Taehyung wanted to have soft pastel hair and pretty jewelry and to be able to paint cute little flowers on the edge of his notebooks without other people laughing at him. 

People still laughed at Jimin, but he laughed with them. He let their teasing roll off his back like water and came back with his own jokes and jabs without hesitation. There was no burning blush on his cheeks or any dip of the head in embarrassment. No, Jimin just didn’t give a fuck. And Taehyung wanted that. 

Firelight bounced around the dining hall and lit up Jimin’s bright smile and glittering eyes. He looked good. He looked really good. This wasn’t the first time Taehyung had seen Jimin, but it was the first time he’d noticed. 

After that, he couldn’t stop noticing. 

***

Taehyung saw Jimin everywhere. Literally. 

The Slytherin would be laughing outside the door of the potions classroom, or talking animatedly to his friends in the Great Hall, or bouncing across the grounds to throw an arm around his upperclassman friend-- the one with the sleepy cat eyes and permanently rumpled robes. He was everywhere, all the time, inescapable. And Taehyung couldn’t get enough of it. 

He got used to the eye rolls and arm slaps from an exasperated Hoseok, his fellow Hufflepuff tired of having to drag Taehyung’s attention away from the pink-haired snake. 

“Have you ever even talked to him?” Hoseok had asked once. And, well, no, not really. They’d bumped into each other once, Taehyung a flustered apologetic mess while Jimin just shot him a smile and a quick “you’re good” before running off. Taehyung’s pretty sure that doesn’t count though. 

In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if Jimin didn’t even know he existed. Little Taehyung, an average wizard from an average house. A sub-par Hufflepuff with muggle parents and second-hand robes. Why would Jimin— Park Jimin, oldest son of one of the most influential pure-blood wizard families in both England and much of Asia—want anything to do with him?

That couldn’t stop him from pining though. And he was, pining. Hard. 

Taehyung couldn’t stop himself from peering around corners and peeking into classrooms and pausing in his steps to gaze across the courtyard. He couldn’t help but hold his breath as Jimin brushed past with his group of Slytherin friends. Couldn’t keep from blushing whenever Hoseok teased him about his crush. 

He couldn’t go up and talk to him. He couldn’t gather the courage to say hello or give him a compliment. He couldn’t exchange friendly small talk. Taehyung wouldn’t dare. Because Jimin was perfect, and Taehyung was so, so not. 

***

Taehyung swore it wasn’t his fault. Really.

It’s just- Taehyung was a fourth-year now. Not really an underclassman anymore but certainly not an upperclassman yet. Just one of the awkward middle kids who knew their way around but still had so much to learn. He knew all the halls and classrooms of Hogwarts. The secrets held in its paintings and bathrooms and stones. He knew the best study spots, and how to sneak into the kitchen, and how to best bribe the house elves. 

He also knew all the bullies. That’s what happens when one is a muggle-born Hufflepuff with ratty, second-hand robes and a finicky wand. For years he had to put up with upperclassman taunting and teasing and sometimes even hexing the shit out of him and his friends. Now that Taehyung is a fourth year, he thought it would get better. But if anything, it’s worse.

Now, all the pesky little underclassmen who think they’re the shit have joined in as well. Following in their housemates footsteps, they are more than happy to gang up on both their fellow first and second years as well as the older kids like Taehyung. 

Every year it seems they grow cockier and bolder and meaner. Plus, of course, they’re all purebloods with egos the size of Antarctica. And Taehyung, Taehyung is tired, okay? 

He’s tired of hearing the gossip, and braving the taunts, and seeing the pristine robes and hoards of snacks. He’s tired of listening to literal children talk about how many galleons their parents gave them, or what grand vacation they went to over break, or how their great-great-grandfather used to be the quidditch captain. 

Taehyung was tired. And it was totally not his fault.

Like usual, Taehyung was in the library. Jimin was three rows over--not that Taehyung was watching him or anything--and was studying potions same as Taehyung. The Hufflepuff had his head buried in a sea of books and notes when the badly-concealed whisperers of a group of boys caught his attention.

“Can you believe that first-year? What a joke, thinking muggles are actually interesting.”

“Can you blame him, though? I mean, he’s practically a muggle himself. Pathetic.”

“Ha! Yeah, I’d heard he was one of those. Dirty rats. They shouldn’t even be allowed at this school. ”

Taehyung’s knuckles were white around the edges of his book. His hold body was rigid with tension, breaths coming in a carefully measured rhythm. He should’ve stayed quiet. Should’ve just grit his teeth and let them pass. Maybe the librarian would come scold them. They were being quite loud, now, after all.

But then- “You know that dumbass Gryffindor seeker is one too, right? That kid with the weird name. ‘Jung-cock’ or whatever the fuck he’s called. No wonder Gryffindor can’t win this year.” The boys all laughed at that, loud and unashamed. 

The book fell to the floor with a loud thud that Taehyung couldn’t even hear over the sound of his heartbeat in his ears. Jungkook was his friend. Before he even realized he’d stood, he was turning to meet the group head on.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than pick on underclassmen?” There’s a moment of silence as the boys turn to acknowledge him. Of course they’re Slytherin. Of fucking course they are.

“What’s it to you?” one of them spits. He’s easily two inches shorter than Taehyung, with pasty skin and badly dyed hair. One of his friends sneers at Taehyung and nudges the boy in the side.

“He’s one of them, Noah. A mudblood. ”

Mudlblood. MudlbloodMudlbloodMudlbloodMudlblood.

Taehyung’s blood turned to ice in his veins. He hated that word. Hated the way it got thrown at him so often in his first couple years here, when he didn’t need any reminders of how horribly, terribly, utterly out of place he was. He much he didn’t belong.

The first boy’s lips had crept up into an ugly smirk. “Oh?” He stepped closer into Taehyung’s personal space, the thick scent of some sort of no doubt expensive cologne clogging the Hufflepuff’s nose. “Is that right, badger boy? You nothing more than a pathetic, digusting, mudblood? ”

Behind him, his friend snorts derisively. “Plus,” the kid spits. “He’s a fucking homo too.”

Taehyung doesn’t remember saying anything. Doesn’t remember when his wand got into his hand, doesn’t remember pointing it at the boy. But he’ll never forget the way the boy had screamed in shock and pain, how he’d been thrown back on his ass and his friends had gasped and cried out. One trembling hand had lifted to brush against the red scorch mark on his cheek, and he’d had tears in his eyes when he’d raised them to meet Taehyung’s wide ones. 

In the next instant, chaos broke out. The group of boys were all yelling and shouting, trying to grab at or rush at Taehyung. Wands were being pulled, books were being knocked over, the librarian had finally come rushing their way. 

Then, breaking through the barrier of fuzzy nothingness and pounding heartbeat that encased Taehyung’s hearing, a single voice. “Hey- Jimin! Did you see that? Did you see what this ugly mudblood did to me?!”

It was the second boy. The one Taehyung had stung. He was on his feet now, wand out, and gesturing angrily between himself and Taehyung. “You should put him in his place. No Hufflepuff is going to disrespect our house like that!”

Sure enough, Jimin was watching from just one row over, one hand loosely clutching a book while he stared wide-eyed at Taehyung. His brow creased slightly in confusion, gaze flitting between the Hufflepuff and his fellow Slytherins. His mouth opened--to say something or not, Taehyung will never know--before his image was blocked by a tiny angry librarian pointing a finger in Taehyung’s face. 

Before Taehyung could hear a word, before he could hear how many points he’d cost his house or how terrible detention would be or whether or not Jimin was going to come to the boys’ defense-- of course he would you idiot, he’s pureblood too-- Taehyung spun on his heel and left the library.

He ran, letting muscle memory guide him down the halls and shifting staircases. Something was burning in his chest, a painful sort of ache that Taehyung didn’t even want to contemplate. He didn’t stop until he heard the greenhouse door slam shut behind him.

The greenhouses were one of Taehyung’s favorite places in all of Hogwarts. They were always warm and bright and smelled like rich soil and healthy plants. Taehyung might not know all the names of them, but he did know they reminded him of home.

His whole body was shaking, and he let himself collapse against the wooden leg of a plant-covered table, several vines brushing against his back and sides as he slid to the floor. He tried to control his breathing, fingernails digging into the softness of his palms in an effort to ground himself. He had almost gotten back to normal when he heard footsteps approaching.

“Taehyung-ssi?” 

The soft, accented voice could really only belong to one person. Jimin was standing just a few feet from him, gazing at him with worried eyes. Taehyung made a hasty movement to wipe at his eyes, but he could tell the other boy had already seen the tears.

“Ah, Jimin, it’s uh- it’s just Taehyung. I mean, um, I’m fine. You, you didn’t have to follow me.” For a second, Taehyung is worried that Jimin came out here to get his revenge or something. To follow up on what the Slytherin boy had wanted him to do. But-

“Taehyung-ah.” The fondness to the word made the Hufflepuff look up. “You’re not fine. And I’m not going anywhere.” Jimin stepped over to lower himself to a sitting position across from Taehyung. His pristine robes were instantly covered in dirt and soil from the unswept floor. Taehyung found the dark folds of fabric easier to look at than their owner.

“I’m sorry for Elijah,” Jimin said. “He was way out of line, and he deserved that hex. I would’ve stopped them both if I’d gotten there sooner.”

Taehyung snorted involuntarily, still looking away. Jimin frowned in response, ducking his head in an effort to make eye contact. “I’m serious,” he continued. “He shouldn’t have done that, and I’m very sorry that he did.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Taehyung whispered. “It wasn’t you who said it.”

“And I never would,” Jimin said firmly. “Never. But they were from my house, and I know that they won’t do it themselves, so. You deserve an apology.”

Taehyung finally looked up to grace Jimin with a tiny smile. “Thank you.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, Taehyung picking at a friendly vine that was laying across his shoulder. He broke it, finally, with a heavy sigh. 

“It’s true, though, what they said about me” he muttered softly. “Both things.” He could feel Jimin shift across from him but didn’t bother to look up from the leaf he was rubbing between his fingertips. He was ashamed. Not just because of what those boys had said, but because Jimin was there to hear it.

“So?” Jimin asks. “Who cares? There’s nothing wrong with being muggle-born, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with being gay.” 

“Easy for you to say.” Taehyung snorted, eyes flicking up to briefly take in the frown on Jimin’s face. Everyone kind of knew where Jimin stood on that spectrum. But- “The whole school loves you. You’re about as pureblood as it gets, and I’ve seen you cast spells that not even a sixth year would attempt. You’re the perfect wizard; everyone knows it.” 

Taehyung let his hands still with a sigh, shrugging his shoulders so his ratty robes moved with him as if to make a point. “Noone even notices me. And when they do, it’s usually because I messed something up.”

Taehyung let Jimin sit on that a moment, clearly not knowing what to say. He imagined he should’ve felt awkward and vulnerable, but it honestly felt so good to finally get it all off his chest. Taehyung had spent the last four years of his life knowing that he’d never be as good as most of his classmates. Never good enough for Jimin.

“I notice you.”

Taehyung blinked, looking up with a crease of confusion on his brow. “What?”

Jimin stared back with soft yet determined eyes. “I notice you, Kim Taehyung.” He sends the Hufflepuff a small smile, and if Taehyung isn’t mistaken, a tiny blush has crept its way across his cheeks. “You study in the library a lot when I’m there. Plus, we have Potions and Herbology together. Not to mention quidditch.”

Jimin waves a hand to gesture around the greenhouse, before looking pointedly at the way the vine still sits draped across Taehyung’s shoulder. “You always get so excited for Herbology class. You clearly love working with the plants, and I think they love you too. You’re way better at it than I am.”

“What? I- no, I just, I grew up on a farm. You’re the top of the class.”

“Ha! Not a chance.” Jimin shakes his head and leans back to sit more casually with his hands resting in the dirt. This time, both the boys are actually looking at each other. “I’m not perfect, Taehyung-ah. Truly. You’re right, I have an advantage. My father prepped me for pretty much every class, and I’m expected to do amazing in all of them. But you have a natural talent for magical plants that I will never possess.”

“It’s just plants,” Taehyung mumbled. Even so, his cheeks were burning with how hard he was blushing, overwhelmed by getting praise from Jimin of all people.

The Slytherin shakes his head again. “It’s not just plants. You’re incredible at potions, you picked up transfiguration faster than almost everyone else, you’re amazing with magical creatures, and- and you’re great with people too. I’ve seen you helping out the underclassmen and guiding the freshmen around on their first day.

“You’re not invisible, Taehyung. I’ve seen you this whole time. And, um.” Jimin breaks off to look away, his cheeks a delightful pink as he fiddles with the edge of his robes. “I think you’re pretty great, actually. Um. I’ve been thinking about approaching you all term because- because I wanted to ask you out.”

“I-” Taehyung has no idea what to say. He just stares, gobsmacked, at his fellow fourth year. All this time, Taehyung thought Jimin didn’t even know his name. Now he was saying he’d been watching Taehyung just as much as Taehyung had been watching him?? “You can’t be serious.”

Jimin frowns. “Of course, I’m serious.”

“This isn’t just another Slytherin prank?” Taehyung looks around as though the other boys are about to jump out and yell “got you!”

“What? No, of course not! I wouldn’t do that to you!”

“But, but then.” Taehyung sputters, shaking his head as though that will settle the raging storm of thoughts swirling around inside. “I don’t get it,” he settles on. “I’m just me. Why would you want to go out with me? ”

“Did you not hear a word I just said?” Jimin rearranges himself, scooching closer to Taehyung as he does so. “You’re not just anything. You’re kind and sweet and smart and pretty freaking adorable to boot. Why wouldn’t I want to date you?”

“Because, well.” Taehyung shrugs. “I’m muggle-born. I’m a gay dude. Wouldn’t that make your father mad?”

There’s a brief pause, Jimin frowning slightly. Pureblood families tended to be highly homophobic; Taehyung doubted Jimin’s father would be an exception. “Yeah, probably,” Jimin finally says. “But I don’t care. I’ve lived my whole life by my father’s rules. This is one thing he doesn’t get to control.”

Jimin scooted closer again until his knees bumped against Taehyung’s. “I like you, Kim Taehyung. And I can prove it, too,” he muttered, gaze siding from Taehyung’s eyes down to his lips. The Hufflepuff’s breath caught in his chest, his eyes widening as he realized the other boy’s intent. 

“Really?” he whispered, unable to keep his doubtfulness out of his voice. Jimin just smiled, tilted his head, and closed the space between them in response.

It was short and sweet, a simple press of the lips before Jimin drew back. Taehyung’s eyes had closed without him noticing, and he found himself leaning forward, chasing Jimin’s lips until he’d caught them in a second kiss. And a third. And a fourth.

When they finally broke apart with a gasp, Jimin’s face was so close to Taehyung’s the boy could see each individual speck of golden brown in his eyes. “I think I’m dreaming,” he whispered, and watched the way a giant smile crept across Jimin’s face, those golden flecks disappearing into beautiful crescents.

“Best dream I’ve ever had,” the Slytherin giggled. He pressed one more quick peck to Taehyung’s mouth before he suddenly shoved himself to his feet, grabbing Taehyung’s arm and yanking him up with him. “Now, come on. That librarian seemed pretty intent on tracking you down, and I know Elijah and friends won’t be far behind.”

Taehyung groaned at the mention of the stupid Slytherin boys, but even remembering his impending detention and punishment wasn’t enough to throw off his good mood. He was practically vibrating in happiness, bouncing along beside Jimin with their hands still connected.

Taehyung had always thought he was ordinary, the most boring wizard in Hogwarts, and that nothing fun ever happened to him. But this moment, right here, with his hand in Jimin’s and his lips still stinging and the smell of plants in the air, was about as perfect as it got.