Kim Taehyung and the Broom Boy
Tuesday was Taehyung’s favorite day of the week. It was no longer the dreaded Monday, but it still was early enough that you had your whole week of possibilities laid out in front of you. His favorite thing was planning out what fun activities he and Jimin were going to do that week, and he always made those plans on Tuesday.
He scribbled in the margins of his potion’s parchment; Professor Slughorn wouldn’t mind. (Professor Slughorn wouldn’t be getting this assignment anyway, Taehyung rarely turned in potions homework.) He brainstormed new places in the castle to explore, paintings they needed to visit, and times when it’d be best to go to the kitchens to talk to the house elves. The elves loved Taehyung, which he blamed on the rest of the school for pretending the poor elves didn’t exist. Jimin didn’t always like to come with Tae on his trips to the kitchens, something about how it was unbecoming and that wizards shouldn’t mix with them. Taehyung thought that was a rather outdated ideology, but he never pushed it.
Jimin was from a long line of Pureblood wizards, some Slytherin, some Hufflepuff. His family was rare for mixing houses, but when Jimin’s grandfather married a veela, the entire family dynamic shifted. Jimin’s grandfather and all his descendants were cut off from the family, leaving them to start fresh. They were certainly more progressive than many Pureblood families, Jimin never said slurs about muggle-born wizards, nor did he refrain from mingling with them. (Taehyung was glad for that, seeing as his parent’s didn’t possess an ounce of magical blood.)
But they still shared some views that Taehyung could only frown at, the house elf idea being one. Jimin was mainly a good sport, he’d go along, smile, help a bit, but at the end of the day he was wary of the elves making them wary of him.
Scribbling out a few ideas, Taehyung made sure he’d visit the elves on his own this week, maybe tonight even. For now, he had potions, then he was to meet up with Jimin to spy on the first year flying class before lunch. Supposedly Jimin figured out Jungkook had flying this morning and was adamant about seeing if the boy was any good or not.
Taehyung didn’t understand why Jimin had become so infatuated with Jungkook. Sure, he was cute and all, but he was just another first year. When Jin beautified Jungkook, he definitely was handsome, but Taehyung didn’t think that warranted sneaking around after him all day. Jimin made Taehyung help him spy on Jungkook for the entire night, from following him in the halls, to watching him while he studied and found his way around the library. Jimin never bothered explaining why, but he simply couldn’t leave Jungkook alone.
Taehyung didn’t think Jungkook noticed, but that was because he and Jimin knew the school like the back of their wands. He made sure they stayed in hidden passageways, and they only took quiet routes most students didn’t use. The paintings were kind enough to whisper where Jungkook was headed as well, making tracking him easier.
Hopefully, tonight Jimin wouldn’t want to spy on Jungkook again, and Taehyung would have some time for his kitchen visit. Hopefully.
“That’s all the time we have for today! Make sure you brush up on the review chapter in your books, and I need six inches of notes on basic year two potion bases by next class,” Professor Slughorn called, effectively pulling Taehyung from his daydreams. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws in class were already packing up and leaving, the infectious feeling of a free period looming over them.
Taehyung hastily threw his things together, running out the dungeon and towards the transfiguration room. He met Jimin halfway, and the two immediately ducked behind a statue and started to the grassy field where flying lessons were. Madame Hooch preferred not to have them on the actual Quidditch pitch just so no students got nervous, but it didn’t matter. Either way there was plenty of hiding spots to watch from, and they were determined to have the perfect view.
“Here-” Jimin exited the passageway, leaning against a wall with a small window. “We can watch through here.”
Taehyung peeked over, and sure enough, the first year class was starting to mount their brooms already. He squinted and managed to pick out Jungkook. It was easy enough, for he was still a few inches over everyone from Jin’s spell. It hadn’t fully worn off yet, Jungkook’s cheeks and shoulders were too chiseled to be natural, and his hair still had the imaginary wind blowing through it.
Now, he stood next to his broom, looking bored and completely over the class. Everyone else was uncomfortably trying to summon their brooms, but few actually got them to raise into their hands. Madame Hooch was yelling instructions and tips, red in the face at the lack of success and effort this group of Gryffindor first years had. Taehyung sighed and leaned against the window, hunkering down for another long morning of weird spying.
“Jimin, why are we here again?”
“Stupid question. We’re watching our new. . . friend.”
“We talked like once.”
“Yeah, and it was fun. Plus we chatted yesterday morning.”
“Right, before he got all pretty and you were stalking him.”
“I am not stalking him. I’m only curious about him.”
“You just like his pretty face and muscles, admit it.”
Jimin huffed, growing impatient.
“I do not like him. You know I like that fifth year, Min Yoongi. Jungkook is nothing like him. I have no interest in wimpy first years who cry by themselves on balconies.”
“Harsh Chim, harsh.”
“What? It’s true. You saw the tear tracks on his cheeks when we were up there. You had to be stupid not to.”
“Have some compassion. He was probably just lonely, or I don’t know, taking it hard? It can’t be easy, his brother graduated from here last year, and just died. He has barely had the summer to mourn.”
Jimin rolled his eyes, his Slytherin pride sweeping empathy right out the door.
“Whatever. I don’t like him. That’s that. I just want to see if he’s as good as he said he was.”
“Seeker?”
“Seeker or beater. Place bets now.”
Taehyung silently watched Jungkook hold his hand out, the broom under him immediately flying into his palm. Jimin narrowed his eyes, not liking the promising start.
“Seeker,” Taehyung said smugly. “I think you underestimate him.”
“You’re on. He’ll join the team to spite me, and I bet he’ll open for Gryffindor either on the bench, or as a beater to replace Sam Evans, the seventh year who quit.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.”
Everyone always said don’t bet against a Slytherin, not because they’ll cheat, but because if they lose it means all hell breaks loose. Taehyung knew this; he’d made bets with Jimin before. And he was fully prepared to suffer the consequences when he won. Jungkook was going to be a seeker, he just had to be. Now, Taehyung wasn’t any good at divination, that was a more advanced class, but he just felt it in his gut. The same way he just knew where people were in the school, or when it was going to rain. He just knew.
Jungkook mounted the broomstick, expertly placing his hands and kicking off the ground. Madame Hooch watched with shocked eyes as he calmly flew around everyone in lazy circles, mocking them with his natural skill. Jimin glowered next to Taehyung, muttering under his breath that it was ‘just flying’ and that ‘wannabe Potter’ was going to have to do more than that to become a seeker.
Footsteps clicked behind them, Taehyung turned to see who else was coming to watch the first years. Jung Hoseok, a fifth year Hufflepuff prefect, rounded the corner, carrying a clipboard and a serious expression. As soon as he saw Taehyung, he smiled, making a beeline to their window.
“Hey Tae! And Jimin, of course. Are you two checking out the fresh meat too?”
“Something like that,” Jimin muttered, eyes never leaving Jungkook’s elaborate circles.
“Awesome!” Hoseok immediately started writing on his clipboard, taking note of names and other things he deemed important.
“Hyung, why are you spying on Gryffindor first years? You can’t exactly recruit any of them for Hufflepuff?” Taehyung wondered aloud.
“Yes, of course, but it never hurts to have an idea what’s coming! Last year Jason ran a really loose Hufflepuff team and practice, but now that he’s graduated I’m ready to turn everything around!”
“Even your bootcamp?” Jimin giggled, teasing Hoseok. Last year Jason O’Neil, the former Hufflepuff Quidditch captain, had gotten sick while tryouts were supposed to happen for the entire school. Instead of pushing dates around and making a mess of the season, Hoseok had stepped in, offering to run the try outs. Word got around that Hoseok had made the tryouts a living hell, working them like bootcamp soldiers for five hours straight. From then on, he was marked as a tight ass when it came to Quidditch, securing his spot as the next team captain.
“My tryouts are fine. In fact, the other captains liked my plan so much that this year we’re doing a joint workout, followed by the tryouts as a whole. All four houses together, just getting a solid vibe for the new season!”
“Well, you’ll certainly have something to watch for then-” Taehyung pointed out the window where Jungkook was making bored loops around a tree. “He’s miles ahead of the other first years.”
“Is that Jeon Jungkook?” Hoseok asked incredulously. “The one who Jin Hyung hit with a beauty spell yesterday?”
“The one and only,” Jimin growled.
“Damn, he’s pretty good. Look at his form, real tight turns, low to the handle, great control. He’ll be small too when he gets his normal body back, no doubt in line for the vacant seeker spot on Gryffindor’s team.”
Jimin groaned and pushed away from the window.
“I’m going to try and find Mr.Mittens. Find me when the broom boy out there is done, and only tell me if he falls off. I only wanna hear bad news.” Jimin stormed away, leaving the two Hufflepuffs behind.
“What’s got his robes in a knot?” Hoseok asked while taking notes.
“Not totally sure. I think he’s just a little butt hurt that Jungkook is actually good at stuff. They got off on the wrong foot, and Jungkook may have said something about his height, and you know how he gets about that.”
“Yeah, you’re the only one who can say anything.”
“Exactly. Anyway, they have an ongoing argument about what position Jungkook will play this season. Jimin says beater, Jungkook says seeker. You and I also say seeker, and it’s putting him in a rather foul mood.”
“Hmm, oh well. Those Slytherins and their pride.”
“I know right? Why can’t Jimin just admit he got a boner when Jungkook got pretty?! Like come on, stop making your sexual confusion everyone else's problem.”