Min Yoongi and Pathetic Planning
“So you’re saying the floating voice wants to kill me?” Namjoon repeats, rubbing his temples.
“No, I said it’s willing to kill you. There’s a difference.” Yoongi kicks the snow under his feet, absentmindedly watching Jungkook and Hoseok wrestle in the snow nearby.
“In terms of my life, there is no difference.” Namjoon sighed and pulled his scarf tighter around his neck. “Why? What have I done?”
“Maybe you had a stick too far up your ass and pissed someone off.”
“Merlin’s beard Hyung, this is literal life and death we’re talking about.”
Yoongi shrugged, readjusting his position on the log. They had been sitting for around ten minutes now, Yoongi sharing everything he saw and heard last night. He wanted to tell Namjoon as soon as he saw him at breakfast, but he guessed that being in the most public place in the castle wasn’t a good idea for a secret conversation. Luckily, it took very little convincing to get Hoseok and Jungkook outside. They played in the snow while Yoongi caught Namjoon up on his very eventful night.
“Well, I guess. . . we try to figure out who or what it is first?”
“What? Don’t you want to be killed by an unknown figure for something you don’t know about?”
Namjoon sent Yoongi a disappointed frown.
“I think you should take this more seriously.”
“Now you sound like a Professor.”
“At least that means I have a job and respect in the wizarding world.”
“I respect house elves more than the professors.”
“Okay, uh, that was mild hate speech and disrespect.”
“Now you sound like Taehyung.”
“What’s wrong with Tae? He’s fun, nice, loyal, great at finding things, did you know he found my glasses the other day? On the roof of the astronomy tower! I would’ve never-”
“You know, for a guy who could be killed any minute, you’re sure unfocused.”
Namjoon threw his hands in the air.
“Ugh! Fine!” He crossed his arms. “Who do you think it was, Mr.Untouchable?”
“I dunno.”
“Lotta’ help you are. Was it a human voice? Creature, maybe?”
“Sounded human-ish. Kinda muffled though.”
“Okay, let’s say it was human. Who could it be?”
“You said it yourself, you haven’t ticked anyone off so we have no leads.”
“What about you?”
“What do I have to do with this?” Yoongi groaned.
“You said the voice said “Yoongi is not a threat.” That’s the only real name the voice said. You’re the only actual hint we have here.”
“You’re acting like I have other Ravenclaw friends that could be murdered.”
“Oh, I know you have no other friends,” Namjoon huffed. “You’re too mean. No one wants to be friends with the ice prince.”
“Ice prince?” Hoseok suddenly said, running over. “Why are you saying no one wants to be friends with him? I’m his friend.”
“Me too!” Jungkook squeaked.
“You two make friends with anything that can breathe, so obviously you don’t count,” Namjoon answered. “Back to the point. We’re in danger, and we know nothing. I think we need help. Really, we shouldn’t even be outside. Far too unsafe.”
“I’ll protect you guys!” Jungkook suddenly said, jumping up on the log and twirling his wand around. “Nothing will hurt my hyungs!”
“Someone is trying to hurt you guys?” Hoseok asked, his smile fading.
“Not with me he-” Jungkook began speaking, but Yoongi pushed the back of his knees in, making Jungkook fold and fall into the snow.
“Shut up. No one wants to hear Gryffindor pride at 9 in the morning.”
“Okay, I’m going to tell my father,” Namjoon suddenly said.
“What?” Yoongi sat up, suddenly invested. “You can’t. He won’t understand, nor will you get to him any time soon. He doesn’t even want to see you.”
“I’ll make him understand and give me advice. I’ll fly there.”
“He won’t want to talk to you.”
“Uh,” Namjoon bit his lip. “I’ll convince him to. I’ll say I’ll join extra classes, clubs, tutor people, uh, anything.”
“Wait, what’s going on-” Hoseok started asking but was cut off.
“He’ll listen. We have to ask for help.”
“Joon, literally ask anyone else. One of the teachers, someone, anyone but our parents.”
“The teachers will shut down the school. I’m not going home. My father is our best bet.”
“He works for the Ministry, who’s to say he won’t shut the school down?”
“My father? Please. Stop his precious son’s education? Never. Not to mention he’s the head of Ministry Funds and Spending. He’s a launderer and loan shark, not the Headmaster.”
“Still Joon, is this really-”
“WHAT IS HAPPENING!” Hoseok suddenly shouted. He was breathing heavily and a little red in the face, glaring down at both boys. Jungkook silently watched from the ground. Namjoon blinked a few times, and glanced at Yoongi.
“Don’t you dare leave me here to explain it by myself-” Yoongi started saying, but Namjoon already was transforming. He shrunk and grew feathers, the last look on his human face one of a triumphant smirk. Hoseok screamed and threw himself behind Yoongi when Namjoon finally finished, a beautiful great horned owl sitting in his place.
“W-wait, y-you’re an an an an-”
“ANIMAGI!” Jungkook squealed, launching forward for Namjoon. The owl quickly jumped out of the grabbing hands, making sure his plumage wasn’t messed up.
“Ani-mag what?”
“He’s an animagi. He can turn into this owl at will,” Yoongi said, holding out his arm for Namjoon to fly up to. “Be back as soon as possible, and be safe.”
He gave Namjoon a jumping start and the owl flew into the air, revealing his massive wings and beautiful colors. Jungkook laughed and cheered, clapping while Hoseok hid behind Yoongi in confusion.
“W-wait, I’ve seen that owl before-”
“Yeah, when I ran into you and Jin in the Owlery earlier this year. You were holding Namjoon.”
“Oh, uh. . . that’s awkward.”
“He was fine. He deserved it anyway, he was spying on you two.”
Hoseok’s lips pressed into a thin line, unimpressed.
“What else don’t I know? How long has he been an animagi? Is he the only one? Are you an animagi? Why? Also, what's this nonsense about someone trying to hurt you two?”
“Wait, Hyung, he doesn’t know?” Jungkook suddenly asked, paying close attention. Yoongi bit his lip, shaking his head.
“What don’t I know?”
“About Yoongi’s animagi! He showed himself to Taehyung, who told me and Jimin.”
“You showed Taehyung, and not me or Jin? How long have I-I mean we've been in the dark?”
“Uh,” Yoongi rubbed his neck. “Since like, Halloween.”
“HALLOWEEN?!” Hoseok threw his hands in the air. “And you think now is the time to tell me?!”
“In all fairness, it looked like Hyung wasn’t gonna show you at all-”
“Jungkook, shut up. You’re not helping.”
Jungkook chuckled nervously.
“Fine, we can talk about this later-” Hoseok pointed a finger at the Slytherin. “But we both deserve to know about who’s trying to hurt you. I thought we were done worrying about it since your brother’s friends died?”
“It’s not them anymore. Uh, Hogwarts led me to a courtyard last night while I was taking a walk. Some floating voice was there and said a lot of cryptic stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“The voice sounded muffled and like a phone call. It said he was looking for some map that a kid’s letters mentioned. He said he was given a task, and got mad when whoever he was talking to tried to give him instructions.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“Well, he went on to say he was waiting for someone to come back, whoever has the ‘map’. He also. . . said that I won’t be a threat.”
Hoseok and Jungkook turned their heads in confusion.
“He said if I tried to cause any problems, he’d. . . kill Namjoon.”
The three were silent, and Yoongi swore he could physically see the wheels turning in their heads. Jungkook even glanced at the sky where Namjoon had flown away, as if asking for proof of this strange story.
“So. . . you mean to tell us you have something to do with a Hogwarts break-in? That there’s an intruder on the grounds, searching for a map, and that if you get in his way, he’ll kill Namjoon?”
“Yep.”
“And you thought to ask for help, not from a teacher or the Headmistress, but from a parent?”
“Yep.”
“And your plan of action was going outside, where anyone could see and get to us, going to the point that one of you left the grounds?”
“. . . yep.”
Hoseok rubbed his forehead.
“Being an animagi is illegal, isn’t it?”
“Only unregistered.”
“You’re unregistered, aren’t you?”
Yoongi chose not to answer that.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
“Hufflepuffs aren’t supposed to swea-”
“Shut up Yoongi,” Hoseok shushed him, and Yoongi raised his eyebrows. “What are we supposed to do?”
“What do you mean we?”
“Well duh,” Jungkook piped up. “He means us. What do we do now that Namjoon is gone? How are we gonna catch the bad guy?”
“First of all, there is no we. This is Namjoon and I’s problem, I don’t want you two getting involved. Second, I’m not doing anything until Joon comes back.”
“Okay Min,” Hoseok started, and for some reason Yoongi couldn't help but pay attention better. “Here’s my two things. One, there is so totally a we. Also, as soon as the others come back from break, I’m telling them right away. You aren’t alone here, we’re your friends and we’re gonna help keep you safe.”
Yoongi started to speak up in defiance, but Hoseok held his hand up and put the other on his hip. The Slytherin had never seen him so stubborn, and he couldn’t help but think this was how Hoseok was on the Quidditch pitch.
“Second, this is exactly what we’re going to do. We aren’t going to go looking for trouble, clues, strangers, intruders, or anything out of sorts.” Jungkook pouted. “We’re going to keep Yoongi, and when he returns, Namjoon safe as well. The first sign of trouble, I’m doing my job as Prefect and telling a teacher, which is what you should have done in the first place.”
“If you hate the idea of it so bad, why don’t you just tell a professor now?” Yoongi says, a little harsher than he meant to.
“I’m keeping this a secret for you! If I told anyone anything, I’d have to say you both are being hunted, and that you’re animagi! You’d not only be expelled, but the entire school would shut down.”
“So what, you think this problem is just gonna go away? That I’m wrong?”
“No, it has to. I’m hoping what you heard was a misunderstanding or a prank.”
“And what if it isn’t?” Yoongi stepped closer, getting in Hoseok’s face. “What if there really is a murderer here and you just gave him free reign?”
“Then I’ll help kill him,” Hoseok said, and Yoongi froze. Their noses were only a foot apart, and he could basically see the puffs of warm air come from Hoseok’s nose. He’d never seen him so angry and worked up before, an entirely new side to the happy-go-lucky Hufflepuff that honestly shocked Yoongi.
“You wouldn’t have the guts. You haven’t seen death.”
“For my friends, I would.”
They held eye contact longer, and a million thoughts flashed through Yoongi’s head.
“You can underestimate my house, my blood, my family, everything about me-” Hoseok said, stepping a tiny bit closer and standing taller. “But you will not question my loyalty to those I love.”
Yoongi’s eyes widened. Love. Love? Hoseok loved them? But they were all just friends, friends who had only just met this year. Who was he to say he loved them?
Hoseok took a step back, still holding eye contact. His jaw was firm and in a frown, holding his ground. Yoongi couldn’t find any words to reply with, so he was left standing there speechless.
“By the sounds of it, you’re safe until someone comes back from what I guess is Christmas break. That leaves you a few days. Get used to seeing our faces, because we aren’t going anywhere, no matter what you say or do. Goodbye Yoongi.” Hoseok turned and grabbed Jungkook by the collar, dragging him to his feet and towards the castle. Their black cloaks contrasted against the white snow, highlighting them in the snowy morning light. Neither looked back, and all that was left was their footprints.
Yoongi could only watch them walk away, too in shock to follow or realize he probably should’ve apologized.