Jeon Jungkook and the Sorting Slays
“This way, first years! This way! Come on now, follow me!” A kind woman called out, ushering the confused children. “Hello! I’m Jung Dawon, your head girl for this year! My job is to make sure you all have the most safe and fun time while you’re here at Hogwarts this year, or throw me to the werewolves in the Forbidden Forest!” A few people giggled at that but Jungkook thought they were laughing just to please the pretty head girl.
Jungkook hadn’t thought he’d see so many Koreans at Hogwarts, where he grew up there were hardly any. It was a pleasant surprise when Dawon showed up, and it almost calmed his nerves. Almost.
“In a few moments you’ll be sorted into your house. Your house could be Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. All are equally wonderful, even if I’m a bit biased-” Dawon’s eyes twinkled as she tapped her robes, the blue Ravenclaw emblem shining in the candlelight. “Whatever house you’re sorted into is incredibly important, seeing as they’ll be like your family while you’re here.”
“Dawon? Are they ready?” The head boy came around the corner, to which Dawon nodded.
“Almost. Now everyone, you’ll be called up alphabetically, the sorting hat will be placed on your head, and then it’ll decide your house. Once it calls the house, you will go sit with your new family. Good luck!” Dawon smiled a massive heart-shaped smile, practically lighting up the corridor. Jungkook wondered how she ended up a Ravenclaw, with such a chipper attitude he would’ve surely put her in Hufflepuff. His father always did say you could never have too many Hufflepuff friends.
The first years shuffled forward, a quiet murmur falling over them as they entered the Great Hall. The floating candles were brighter than Jungkook had imagined, his brother’s tales not doing them justice. The tables were massive, and there were so many eyes watching them, Jungkook couldn’t even guess how many students there were.
Before he knew it, the group had come to a stop, patiently standing in the aisle between the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Headmistress McGonagall stood at the head table, smiling sternly down at this year’s newcomers. She gave a tight lipped smile and motioned for Dawon to read the names.
“Anderson, Maria!”
The girl standing next to Jungkook squeaked, then awkwardly pushed her way to the front. She timidly walked up to the stool which was raised, her shoulders hunched and eyes darting around quickly. When she sat, Headmistress McGonagall lowered a ratty old hat on her head. Jungkook would have guessed they had retired it by now, seeing as it had lived through the Battle for Hogwarts and all those years before, but alas, it still lived. Or. . . sorta lived. There were more gashes in it than his brother had told him of, and Jungkook could only imagine it smelled like dirty socks and mold.
“Ravenclaw!” The hat suddenly screeched, causing a roar of approval from the table to Jungkook’s left. Maria quickly scampered away, hiding amongst the sea of ecstatic blue.
“Bang, Christopher!” Dawon called.
A disgruntled boy pushes forward, grumbling something about how he’d rather be called ‘Chan’ and that no one ever listens to him. By the way he pouted and walked, Jungkook figured no one ever would. God forbid this kid ever has to look after others, they’d eat him alive.
He ended up being sorted into Hufflepuff after a mysteriously long pause from the hat. Then there was Boo Seungkwan, Dailey Lauren, Guerrero Luke, Holt Jessica, and a few others Jungkook couldn’t bother to pay attention to. By the time Dawon got to the J names, Jungkook was a sweating, shaky mess. He just knew his skin was sickly pale, and that his bangs were plastered to his skin with sweat.
“Jeon Jungkook!”
Shoving forward, Jungkook power walked up to his seat. He couldn’t take it anymore, this had to be over now. The Headmistress seemed to smile lightly at him, but if she did, Jungkook didn’t notice. His eyes were squeezed shut, while he frantically practiced his mantra.
“I am brave and daring. I am brave and daring. I am brave and daring.”
Are you, boy?
“I am-wait, what? Who said that?”
Curious. Imaginative. A natural born problem solver. Interesting.
“No, I-wait, no hold on-”
But ambitious as well? Very loyal too, seeking gratification from your loved ones all too often. Some would even say recklessly.
“. . . no. I AM brave and daring. I want to be in Gryffindor.”
You may wish that, but I could see fantastic things from you Mr.Jeon with the Ravenclaws. Your wit and perseverance would serve you well, and with your boundless thirst for knowledge and new experiences, they would keep your cup refilled.
“. . .”
I see your loyalty showing too. It would not be dishonorable to your brother to be a-
“I can’t be a Hufflepuff! I can’t!”
While I cannot agree wholeheartedly, I can say loyalty is not always just a Hufflepuff trait. If you truly wish, then there is still a bright future for you with-
“GRYFFINDOR!” The Sorting Hat screams, and the light and sound rushes back to Jungkook. A massive smile splits his face, he did it. He was a Gryffindor. Just like his brother. His parents will be so proud to hear the good news.
Rushing away from the Head Table, Jungkook sits himself down amongst the cheering red and gold clad students. They shake his hand and pat him on his back, proud of their first new addition of the year. A particularly handsome fifth-year prefect shakes his hand with a warm smile, inviting him to sit nearby the other first years.
The rest of dinner went by in a flash, Jungkook barely heard any of the other first years being sorted, nor did he focus during announcements. He powered his way through his dinner, eating fistfuls of rolls and meat, all while downing numerous glasses of pumpkin juice.
“Great Merlin Jungkook!” The prefect says. “You’ll eat the poor house elves out of their jobs!”
“Sor-” Jungkook swallows his chicken. “-Sorry Seokjin. ‘M just hungry.”
“I see that, but how are you so skinny still? If I ate like, goodness, I’d lose my perfect figure!” A few of the girls nearby giggled, obviously vying for the prefect’s attention. “And also, it’s just Jin. Seokjin is only what my mom calls me.”
“Cool,” Jungkook mutters to himself, slowing himself down to finally take in the moment for the first time all night. He sighed deeply, enjoying the delicious smells from the table, and the lively chatter around them. It didn’t bother him that none of the other first-years didn’t talk to him, he didn’t mind at all. He got into Gryffindor.
Everything was perfect. He was where he belonged.