Hogwarts : The Bangtan Episode

Jin glared at the auror who was standing against the wall, making sure he stood tall and walked faster so he wouldn’t have to look at him anymore. He huffed, clutching his bag strap till it dug into his hands.

“Hyung, please-slow down-” Hoseok whined, struggling to keep up as Jin shoved his way through the stream of students heading to their next class. “I know you’re upset, but please, I can’t-”

“You’re heartbroken, not injured. You can keep up,” Jin said harshly, grabbing Hoseok’s hand and dragging him along. “I’m not spending more time surrounded by these worthless Ministry rats-”

“They’re keeping us safe-”

“No, I’m keeping you safe by making you get out of your dorm. It isn’t safe in Hufflepuff. They’re obviously being targeted. First it was Mandy, then a week later, Jack shows up dead. He was a Head boy. If they aren’t even safe, then no one is. Have you checked up on Dawon? Is she safe? I can-”

“Dawon is a Ravenclaw. She’s probably got like, seventeen killer-related escape plans already made.” Hoseok stumbled along, finding his way to walk next to Jin. “And they’ve put aurors in the common room now, so it’s safer. I could’ve just stayed there-”

“And what? Have Namjoon come to tutor you again? No. Hoseok, you’re failing all your classes, you’ve barely shown your face in weeks, people think you died.”

“I feel like I died.”

“Come on Hoseok,” Jin groaned. “We’ve talked about this. You weren’t even a couple, you two-”

“Whatever. I don’t wanna fight about it,” Hoseok grumbles, hanging his head.

Jin frowned. He had hoped that Hoseok was over his little depressive episode. He knew he’d be sad when Yoongi left, and no doubt Yoongi probably felt the same, but honestly, it’s been a few weeks now. Yoongi never came back. He didn’t write, visit, or anything. Jin wished Hoseok would just forget him and move on. Yoongi had abandoned them. Hoseok deserved better.

To say Jin had been angry lately was an understatement. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. 

Yoongi left and ticked him off with his shitty communication and mysterious ways. Stupid Slytherins. Then Mandy had her mind obliterated and since he was a Prefect, his duties patrolling the castle increased ten-fold. Namjoon and Jungkook got into a fist fight over stupid macho man things, forcing Jin to stick his neck out for them so they wouldn’t get in trouble. Not only was Namjoon now more aggressive, confident, hot, and all around buff, he was also being incredibly closed off. He never told anyone what happened three weeks ago when he flew to see his father. Jin was really annoyed by that. They were supposed to be a team, but here Namjoon was, keeping secrets and doing detective work on his own.

How could someone so smart be so stupid?

Jin just couldn’t understand him.

And now, Hogwarts is swarming with aurors as ‘protection’ for the staff and students since someone finally died. Not that Jin wanted that, but he was expecting it. They knew there was someone lurking in the castle, and it certainly wasn’t a harmful prank that left Mandy with an obliterated mind. Jack Decaw was a seventh year Hufflepuff Head boy. He was found dead two days ago in the boys bathroom attached to their dorm. A lethal slow-acting potion that had to have been in his system for at least three days before it killed him.

Most students were in mass hysteria, they were terrified and for good reason. Anyone could drop dead, at any time. The aurors weren’t helping in the slightest. They did nothing but take up hallway space and fresh air. They also relieved Jin of his Prefect duties, which most people would think was a good thing, but Jin had to disagree. He enjoyed his nightly rounds, the management and control he felt with his title. Now, he wasn’t even allowed to take points off for bad behavior because the school was ‘in the process of mourning’ and ‘House points are of no ones’ concern’. 

With all this added stress and anger, Jin’s grade in potions began dropping drastically. He hadn’t been able to make a single tutoring session with Jungkook for his transfiguration he had offered to help with, and Jin felt like shit for it.

And don’t even get started on how Jin’s DADA grade was.

Jin rounded the corridor, stopping abruptly in front of the transfiguration room. He pushed Hoseok into the room, even though he whined and fought against Jin.

“I-No, I don’t wanna, I can just have Joon show me-I can’t-”

“Yes you can! Get over it already! He was just a mopey, brooding, good-looking Slytherin! His leaving should not make you fail your fourth year!”

“But-”

“No buts! I’m your Hyung! Get your work turned in, get caught up, and stay safe in a large group. I’ll come pick you up when your class is done, and if I come back and you aren’t here, I’ll send Jungkook to follow you around all day and make you go to all your classes, even potions.” Hoseok paled at Jin’s last sentence. He was avoiding potions completely, for it was the class he shared with Slytherin. Not to mention, Yoongi was freakishly good at potions. There were too many reminders of the pale boy there, and Hoseok was ready to do just about anything to avoid the dungeons.

“. . . fine.” Hoseok pouted, and clutched his bag. “But you’ll be here as soon as it’s done, right?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll even show up early.”

Hoseok seemed to weigh his options, even though he knew he was out of them. Nodding his head, he gave Jin a small side hug before turning and walking away to find his seat. Jin saw a few of the other Hufflepuffs send hushed whispers around in his presence, the infamous sunshine prefect back from the dead. This would probably be the best news Hufflepuff would have since Mandy’s wipe.

Jin nodded, turning around and marching away. He had around an hour and a half to get some studying done before he had to return for Hoseok. He intended to head to the library and work on his potion’s scroll, but he found himself pausing outside the defense against the dark arts door. 

Jin didn’t really know what came over him. Maybe it was guilt and the desire to reconcile. Maybe it was loneliness. Maybe it was the ultimate, unending call of family connection. Maybe it was just his failing grade in DADA. Either way, he found himself opening the door.

Seok Jung didn’t have a class this hour, which Jin was grateful for. When he opened the door, he was met with a dark room, the windows closed and shutters shut. There were floating candles lit, gently hovering around the room. All the desks and chairs were gone, Seok Jung still preferred to teach more hands-on than in a book. Jin had partially expected him to be in his office, but instead he found his brother meditating inside a Circle of Power made from candles. He was sitting on the ground, his face lit up from the candlelight. Jin took a few steps forward, setting his bag on the ground to announce his presence. Seok Jung made no motion of hearing him, and kept his eyes shut. Jin got closer, kneeling down to be eye level with his brother.

“This is, uh, pretty archaic stuff, a Circle of Power.”

“Circle of Protection, actually.” Seok Jung responded without opening his eyes.

“Protection from what?”

“Whatever is in the school.”

Jin’s eyes widened. He didn’t think any of the teachers realized that. Even if there was a death, Jin assumed the teachers blamed it on a villain who fled the scene.

“You’re protecting yourself from Jack’s killer?”

Seok Jung opened his eyes, staring Jin down with his classic unreadable gaze.

“That among other things.”

Jin sighed. He should’ve expected that response.

“Are you ever going to tell me anything that’s happening in your life? We are brothers after all.”

“In this room I’m your teacher, and you’re failing my class.”

Jin frowned.

“Only because you think teaching is death duels. I’d still be here if I didn’t feel like you wanted us to hurt each other.”

“My methods work in the real world.”

“This isn’t the real world. I need a teacher, not an auror. I have plenty of those roaming the halls.”

“Turn in your homework and show up to class.”

Jin shook his head. He wasn’t getting anywhere with Seok Jung and he didn’t think he would anytime soon. He knew when it was time to quit. Standing up, Jin went to his bag, grabbing his stack of scrolls. As he was gathering his things, he talked aloud to Seok Jung.

“Any ideas who killed the Hufflepuff?”

“. . . the Ministry has theories.”

“Do you believe them?”

“I work for the Ministry.”

“Don’t dodge my questions.”

“Don’t ask me things I cannot answer.”

“I thought you were my teacher? They’re supposed to answer all the questions.”

Jin heard Seok Jung take a deep breath, no doubt irritated. He would never admit it aloud, but Jin loved getting on his brother’s nerves. Seeing perfect Seok Jung unravel and get mad was Jin’s favorite sight, and he’d do anything to see it again.

Jin grabbed his scrolls and walked them over to a desk in the far corner. He left them there, hoping Seok Jung would get around to grading them at some point. As he walked back to grab his things and leave, Seok Jung called out.

“Where is your friend, the Min boy?”

“Family emergency. He won’t be back for a while. Or he’ll be back tomorrow. We don’t know.” Jin felt Seok Jung’s eyes on him, burning holes in his skin.

“You’re worried about him,” Seok Jung stated.

“Thanks for pointing out the obvious.”

“Where do you think he actually went?”

“He. . . he went to see his family. I told you that already, listen for Merlin’s sake.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

Jin pursed his lips.

“He said he went to see his family.”

“You feel he’s lying.”

“Probably. He lies about everything else. Mysterious and cryptic shithead,” Jin grumbled under his breath. Seok Jung added nothing, sitting perfectly still. “I honestly don’t know where he went.”

Seok Jung watched as Jin’s head dropped in defeat. A minute of silence filled the dark classroom, and Jin debated just leaving.

“The Ministry saw him at the funeral for Lee and Jameson.”

Jin’s head shot up.

“What?”

“Your friend and his family attended.”

“I’m gonna need more than one sentence answers from you, my friend has been missing for weeks. He dropped all communication with us, and suddenly I hear he’s not dead. So start talking.”

“There is nothing more to tell.”

“Oh yes there is.”

“The aurors were watching the attendees and recorded the Min family’s attendance.”

“So he is with his family? He didn’t lie?”

“You trust him very little,” Seok Jung stated.

“He’s one of my. . . closest friends.”

“That doesn’t mean you trust him,” Seok Jung said, and Jin felt the urge to punch him. How dare he claim he doesn’t trust Yoongi, even if it was true? He had no right to assume their relationship like that. Jin kicked one of the circle’s candles over, extinguishing it. 

“I bet you think he obliterated Mandy’s mind, don’t you?” Jin hissed with all the venom in his voice he could muster.

“The Ministry has its theories.”

“Quit it with the Ministry shit!” Jin yelled, and Seok Jung gave him a disappointed frown.

“Mum and Dad would be very disappointed if they heard how you’re doing.”

“What do you mean by that?” Jin growled.

Seok Jung stood up in his circle.

“I mean, your grades, Prefect duties being removed, friends and lack thereof.”

“Easy for you to say? Mum and Dad wouldn’t be too pleased to hear about your teaching methods either.”

Seok Jung gave him a glare, and Jin smiled at hitting a nerve.

“What? Can dish out the insults, but can’t take it when I make a threat?” Jin gloated.

“I don’t need to make threats.”

“Why? You’ll just fail me if I speak against you? Wake up Hyung, I already am.”

“Hogwarts is a very dangerous place right now.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Seok Jung’s eye twitched, and he cracked his neck. He stepped out from his circle, and went towards the staircase to his office.

“Quit causing problems and looking for mysteries where there are none,” Was all he said.

“I’m not causing problems and-”

“DON’T LIE!” Seok Jung suddenly yelled, and Jin flinched. “Don’t lie to me.”

Jin swallowed, a little uncomfortable. Seok Jung never yells.

“I know you and your friends are looking into the attacks, and I’m telling you to quit now. You will find nothing, and you only bring negative, dangerous attention to yourself. Quit while you’re ahead.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll stop,” Jin grabbed his bag and backed towards the door. He debated saying something else, but turned instead, rushing from the room. The door slammed behind him and he refused to look back. 

That wasn’t like his brother. Seok Jung doesn’t yell. Seok Jung doesn’t speak in multiple sentences. Seok Jung also has perfect posture and never has a need to crack his neck. That couldn’t have been his brother.