Kim Seokjin and Slytherin Secrets
Jin sighed, shuffling his books between his arms. Midterms were almost there, and he felt completely underprepared in every class. Jin wasn’t a bad student by any means, but it seemed like his teachers this year completely loaded him with homework. Maybe it was because his O.W.L.S. at the end of the year, but Jin knew he was in over his head. Between Prefect duties, Toad Choir, and his social life, it just seemed like he couldn’t find the time to study.
That was exactly why he ditched Hoseok today, in favor of a quiet study time. The library was busier today, filled with students just like Jin cramming for upcoming tests, so there were no open tables. Jin recognized multiple people, but he didn’t think sitting with them would be very conducive to his studies. Sneaking around to the back, Jin walked into the restricted section. There was a small table in one of the isles, a little dark, but perfect for uninterrupted work.
Jin sat down and immediately started on his potions homework. Professor Slughorn assigned multiple scrolls explaining the ingredients and stirring methods they were using in class, and Jin had no idea any of the answers. They had been studying venoms lately, and none of it was clicking.
Jin turned to the shelves, looking for books on venoms and potions. He found one, but saw it was by the fraud Wizard Gilderoy Lockheart, and Jin put it back (always check for credibility). As he was walking the isle, he heard quick footsteps, and suddenly a student flew past him, hiding in the dark corner.
“Uh hello-”
“SHHH!”
Jin walked closer, and bit back a disappointed gasp.
“Yoongi? What are you-”
“Don’t you know what shh means? Be quiet!” Yoongi grabbed Jin’s sleeve and pulled him down to the floor with him. Jin started to argue back, but Yoongi pinched him. Angrily sitting down, Jin held his knees to his chest as they sat in silence. Moments went by, and footsteps could be heard on the other side of the shelves.
“-anywhere Hyung! He ran away!”
“Jimin, I’m sure he just went to the bathroom. It’s okay. He hasn’t had any alone time for two days, give him a minute-”
“But what if someone’s out to kill him now?! They could poison him just like Lee and Jameson! I have to-”
The voices faded away, and Yoongi sighed in relief.
“Thank merlin, I thought he’d never leave.”
“Jimin?”
“Yeah. He thinks he needs to watch my every move for the past two days. I can’t do anything alone. No showering, no eating, for fuck’s sake, he even has to escort me to the bathroom so I can sh-”
“Okay, I don’t want to know about that,” Jin grumbled, standing up. “I would like to know why he thinks you need protecting. You’re going to be poisoned?”
“No, I’m fine. He’s just paranoid.”
“. . . sure,” Jin replied, not convinced by Slytherin’s tone. They stood there for a moment, not sure what to say. They’d never gone this long without fighting, and Jin could just hear Hoseok praising him in his head.
“What’s a perfect Prefect doing in the restricted section anyways?” Yoongi said with a shit eating grin.
Sorry Hoseok.
“Whatever I want! And you’re a Prefect too, so don’t use that tone with me!” Jin hissed.
Yoongi rolled his eyes and looked at Jin’s study table.
“Potions? Wasn’t this due last Tuesday?” Yoongi pointed at Jin’s open scroll.
“Uh, yeah, but. . . maybeIgotanextensiononit,” Jin mumbled all in one word, embarrassed by the truth. He knew Yoongi wouldn’t let him live this down, and he prepared for an onslaught of ridicule.
Yoongi raised an eyebrow.
“You. You. Needed an extension on homework.”
“. . .” Jin sheepishly scratched his neck and looked down at his shoes. “I’m. . . I’m not great at potions.”
Yoongi raised his eyebrows and turned to Jin’s work, skimming it. He raised his eyebrows even more, and hummed.
“Your, uh, your answers for seven and nine are wrong. They’re active ingredients meant to be stirred clockwise, not counterclockwise.”
“Oh, really?” Jin moved closer, sitting down in one of the chairs. He started rewriting his answers, and Yoongi nodded.
“Yeah, but you also need to explain why. That’s what Slughorn likes.”
“But I don’t know why?”
“Well, you just have to think about where the ingredients come from and what they could be for in the grand scheme of the potion.”
“But I only know how to make cheesy love potions, not these poisons.”
“Uh-” Yoongi scratched his head and sat in the chair opposite of Jin. “Then think about love potions. You need rose thorns for those, and that makes sense, right? Roses, love, etc.”
“Well, yeah. That makes sense.”
“Okay now connect it to when you use-” Yoongi continued explaining, and Jin sat in awe. Yoongi was really good at potions. He understood the minute details and their purpose, and he had an eye for detail Jin didn’t think was there. Plus, Yoongi was being incredibly patient and understanding. He wasn’t rude in correcting Jin, but he’d politely guide him to the correct answer. He didn’t make a single snide remark, or pointed glare.
By the time Yoongi had helped Jin through all of his potions work, the sun had set outside. They were left with only a single candle in the restricted section, illuminating Yoongi’s face in an orange glow. Jin was silently writing his conclusion, and Yoongi was watching his quill twitch.
“There,” Jin handed Yoongi his final draft, and the Slytherin read it over.
“I. . . I like it. Very concise, but detailed.” Yoongi set the scroll down, and looked up at Jin. There was a moment of comfortable silence, and Jin thinks it was the first time he’s ever really looked at Yoongi.
He was pale, no doubt, but his skin was soft and glasslike. His hair was a little choppy and underkept, but he figured Yoongi liked the look. It was very glossy though, and Jin couldn’t help but be a little jealous. His hair was too fried from all the dyes he’d used in the past, even if he grew it out.
Jin would always tease Hoseok because his best friend once told him he thought the Slytherin in front of him was cute, but Jin could finally see why the Hufflepuff thought so. He had an almost soft and squishy aura to him when he wasn’t angry. He looked almost gentle, if that could ever be said about a Slytherin. He certainly wasn’t Jin’s type, but he definitely was Hoseok’s.
“Are you dating someone?” Jin asked abruptly.
“What?!” Yoongi choked, surprised that was how Jin broke the silence.
“I asked if you were dating anyone.”
“Look, just because I did your homework doesn’t mean-”
“I’m not asking for myself, idiot. I was just wondering. You’re the ice prince. No one knows anything about you. And we haven’t exactly ever been civil to one another, so I figured I’d ask while we got along.”
Jin guessed that on any other day, with any other person, and in any other circumstance, Yoongi would have ignored him. Scoffed. Told him to piss off. But today, Yoongi must have been feeling open, for he quietly answered no.
“Shame, I think you’re rather good looking,” Jin said, putting his scrolls away.
“You think I’m good looking?”
“I said so. And I don’t lie. Lies make you wrinkly.”
“But you’re like, perfect.”
“Thank you!” Jin smiled, fixing his hair a little. Yoongi just stared back at him, confusion littering his face. “What? Don’t you think you’re good looking?”
“No.” Yoongi replied with a deadpan face.
“Well that’s the problem! You have to start with self love, then you can move onto physical perfection. Often overlooked, but it’s true.”
“Uh. . . but what if I’m not there yet? You know, with the whole love yourself thing. Can other people still like me?” Yoongi asked, hunching his shoulders. Jin smiled, realizing Yoongi was being vulnerable with him.
“Of course they can. You just have to find the right one.”
“How can I do that?”
“Well, I like to think your heart will tell you. I haven’t found the right one yet, but I’m looking.” Jin smiled wider, envisioning his perfect future. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t have a dream board back home that maps out his future wedding. Some call it crazy, but Jin likes to think of it as being incredibly organized.
“. . . what if. . .” Yoongi started, and then stopped. He seemed to be trying to find the right words, and Jin waited patiently. “What if I think I’ve found the right one, but I’m not sure? How do I test it? How would I even make them like me back?”
“Well, I’m not 100% certain. Everyone has different tastes. I like the big muscular type, you know, the ones who look like they’ll throw you over their shoulder and then rip a log in half with their bare hands, all while being cute and kind. I’m guessing we’re not looking for the same thing?”
“No, definitely not.”
“Good, because there isn’t enough of those in Hogwarts to go around anyway. But to answer your question, I think confidence is pretty universal. If you’re confident, most people find you attractive.”
“Even if I don’t feel confident?”
“Exactly. Fake it till you make it.”
“That. . . that seems like a major Gryffindor mindset.”
Jin hummed to himself, tapping his chin.
“I suppose it is, but it’s one of our best traits. Hufflepuffs are loyal, Ravenclaws clever, Slytherins are driven, and Gryffindors are brave. It isn’t bad if a Hufflepuff is clever, and it’s not a crime if a Gryffindor is driven. I like to think the best wizards are those who personify all the houses.”
Yoongi nodded slowly, and looked down at his hands.
“That. . . That makes sense and isn’t dumb.”
“Of course not. It’s my life philosophy.” Jin crossed his legs and watched Yoongi take in the information.
“You know,” The Slytherin started. “I always thought you were stupid and in your own head. You were popular because you looked good and followed the rules like a sheep. But. . . but what you just told me was a very. . . well thought out idea. Sheep can’t have an opinion like that.”
“Thank you?” Jin asked, not sure whether he should be offended or delighted.
“I’m trying to say, uh, I don’t think you’re a sheep. Anymore.”
“Are you. . . apologizing?” Jin asked, suddenly realizing where this was going. Years of dislike and tension, all built up and growing, came to this.
Min Yoongi was trying to apologize.
“Maybe. I don’t know. . . I don’t do this very often. I just. . . I just feel weird for being such a dick to you. You’re not. . . not what I thought.”
“I should apologize to you as well. I never made it easy for you to get along with, and I never really tried in the first place. I knew your brother when he was here, and he was always rude to me. I kinda assumed you were the same, and I guess I just didn’t want to be pushed around again.”
“Sorry about him. Junki is an asshole.”
“Yeah,” Jin sighed, smiling at the real apology. “He was pretty terrible.”
“Still terrible, actually,” Yoongi said, leaning back in his seat.
“What do you mean?”
“Idiot is locked up in Azkaban. Guilty of murder. Those two guys who died in the Daily Prophet were his buddies. That’s why Jimin thinks they’re out for me.”
“You don’t get along with Junki?” Jin asked, surprised Yoongi was telling him this.
“No, never did. My parents always liked him more than me, so I kinda blame all my childhood trauma on him. After he killed that guy, I was the one who tipped the aurors off where he was.”
Jin whistled, shaking his head.
“Wow, that’s definitely a reason to hate you and try to poison you.”
“Yeah,” Yoongi hummed, picking at his sweater sleeve. “But it’s fine. They’re dead, and he’s in Azkaban. Can’t do anything to me now.”
“Don’t you worry about whoever killed them coming after you?”
“Not really.”
“I’d be so worried,” Jin replied, picking at his lip in thought.
“I thought Gryffindors weren’t supposed to get worried or scared?” Yoongi said jokingly, and Jin smiled.
“And Slytherins aren’t supposed to apologize.”
Yoongi smirked, and nodded his head.
“Touché.”
They sat there in silence for a minute, and Jin watched Yoongi. He was very different from how Jin thought. Very. This Yoongi was understanding, open, and reflective. He was different. If this was how Yoongi really was, then Jin could understand why his Pureblood Slytherin family would not hail him as the favorite.
Looking out the window, Jin gasped when he realized the time.
“Shit! I completely forgot my Prefect duties, I missed an entire floor so I’d have extra study time!”
“It’s okay. I can do it,” Yoongi said, waving his hand. “You’ve got other classes to catch up on right? Go back to your common room.”
“Don't you have homework too?”
“Nah, I get it all done when I study with those first and second years. Believe it or not, they make me productive.”
“Ha,” Jin laughed. “Maybe I need to start coming to those meetings with Hoseok then.”
“Sure,” Yoongi replied, and Jin paused.
“Really?”
“Why not? You don’t suck anymore. I mean, look at us. This is a new record of us not fighting.”
“How will I know it won’t go back to how it used to be? We fight every two seconds, and someone storms off in anger.”
“Well. . .” Yoongi stood up, and dusted his clothes off. “I don’t really have the time or energy anymore to fight with you. I’d rather just sleep. So if you aren’t a dick, neither will I be. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Besides,” Yoongi said as they walked out the library together. “You know my family’s big secret about Junki, and I’d rather not have that getting out. Plus, I know your taste in men.”
“What has that got to do with us being friends?”
“I can play matchmaker since you gave me dating advice.”
“Pff,” Jin scoffed. “You’re gonna be my matchmaker? Who could you possibly know that I don’t?”
“Slytherin and Ravenclaw houses are far more lucrative in the big hunks than you think.”
“What? Like you?” Jin teased, and Yoongi chuckled. He punched Jin’s arm.
“Shut up, Hyung.”