Querencia

Namjoon gently closes the big heavy door behind him, grimacing as it creaks.

His footsteps reverberate around the empty corridor that probably no one knows about except for himself. The air is freezing cold even with the old windows permanently sealed, so Namjoon sticks his hands into his black coat’s pockets.

He stops when he arrives at the middle of the corridor. Namjoon leans against the wall with the windows and turns to the wall on the other side. His body may be cold, but his heart is warm. He would very much rather be in Seokjin’s arms right now (Namjoon discovered after their Time-Turner incident that Seokjin was an incredibly good hugger and Namjoon was practically addicted to them), and as much as he hates it, it hates to wait. In the moment, there’s a more important thing to do.

(Namjoon won’t admit it to anyone, but he really, really likes Seokjin to the point that he failed his Potions written exam when all he did on the parchment was drawing shiny pink hearts that bounced around.)

In front of him are thousands of portraits, all of them framed with copper and with names under them, hung on the stark, slightly dusty wall, but Namjoon always makes sure to clean those portraits every once in a while.

In a portrait, a man with black long hair and pale face nods at Namjoon and raises a toast at him. The name below writes “Sirius Black III.” In another portrait, a handsome young man with semi-long hair as red as real flames winks at Namjoon. His nametag writes “Fred Weasley I.” A woman with an easy-going grin and hair that randomly switches from purple to pink waves at Namjoon before disappearing from the portrait. Her name is “Nymphadora Tonks.” There’s a young boy wearing a yellow-and-black Triwizard Tournament shirt giving Namjoon a charming smile. The name reads “Cedric Diggory.” Beside Sirius’s portrait, there hangs an empty one with a nametag that reads “James Potter.”

“Hi.” Namjoon says quietly, knowing that none of these portraits will answer him.

Namjoon created and hung those portraits five years ago, a few weeks after the visit back to the Second Wizarding War. He flipped through all the student records and read all the books he could find about the War and created a portrait for every wizard and witch who fought heroically against Lord Voldemort in both Wizarding Wars and the time in between. Namjoon calls it the Hall of Remembrance.

“Um, I’m meeting my friends later, so I won’t stay for long. But I have something for you guys.” Namjoon feels like he’s doing a public speaking here, and though he’s perfectly comfortable with it, it feels a little weird since all of his audience are portraits. He can feel all the eyes on him, and can even see a blond little kid with the name “Colin Creevey” pointing his old-fashioned camera at him.

Namjoon flicks his wand and suddenly the portraits’ background changes. The windows drawn in the portraits show a snowy sky, and in the corners there are Christmas trees with glittering ornament. Plates with gingerbread cookies and candles are placed on tables. Fred Weasley’s shirt turns into the classical Weasley sweater and Dobby has lots of stockings lining up the fireplace behind him in his portrait.

Five years ago today, Namjoon played chess with Seokjin and saved the world. It’s a long time ago, but it feels like it happened just yesterday.

“Happy Christmas.” Namjoon whispers. James and Lily Potter kiss sweetly under the mistletoe and Albus Dumbledore is enjoying his Acid Pops with a small smile grazing his wrinkled face. The people cheer and give him smiles that warm Namjoon in the cold weather.

He almost jumps off of his skin when the corridor door opens, and the people in the portraits either unsheathe their wands threateningly or disappear to hide.

“Joon-ah!” Namjoon blinks, and his tense shoulders immediately relax at Seokjin’s familiar shape. Seokjin is wearing a soft-pink oversized Muggle hoodie and thick black pants that suit together (Namjoon’s heart jumps a little at the sight). He smiles at Namjoon sweetly before his eyes catch on the thousands of portraits. A look of understanding flashes across his face.

“Even after these five years?” Seokjin says quietly and joins Namjoon at leaning against the wall to admire the work. Namjoon resists the urge to reach out and hold Seokjin’s soft hand in his own.

“Yeah.” Namjoon says, casting his eyes down. “I know I’m being selfish. People would want to see them and honor them too. I can’t just hide them away.”

“No,” Seokjin says, turning to look at Namjoon, who avoids his gaze. “They’re not the only ones who need to recover from the War too.” Then Seokjin’s voice goes soft. “I never asked you about this, but I saw you, when we went back in time.”

“What?” Namjoon frowns in confusion, closing his eyes in fear of the answer. “What are you talking about?”

“I saw you with your parents,” Seokjin says slowly. “You probably felt like you’d just lost them again.”

“I’m okay,” Namjoon takes a deep breath. He glances at the far end of the corridor, where Hyunjoon Kim and Sena Kim sit and smile warmly at Namjoon, who gives them a timid smile before quickly turning away. “It’s usually manageable. Just a little harder on Christmas Day.”

Seokjin responds by tilting Namjoon’s head with a gentle finger so that Namjoon’s facing him, and leaning in slowly until their noses are inches apart.

Seokjin pauses there, not moving and not breathing. Namjoon knows Seokjin’s waiting for him to push him away or slap his face, but Namjoon can’t move either. He doesn’t even know what to do because ohmygodjinhyungisgoingtokissmewhatamigonnado.

Namjoon closes the distance, and their lips melt into each other’s so easily like they’re born to kiss like this. Namjoon’s awkward hands come to rest at Seokjin’s slim waist and Seokjin’s hands are already threading into Namjoon’s hair, pushing him to deepen the kiss.

Namjoon doesn’t want to stop. The kiss is gentle and loving, not the French kind that involves a lot of tongue, which Namjoon will have no problem doing but doesn’t have the guts to. Seokjin pulls back way too quickly despite Namjoon’s slight disappointment.

“Our little secret,” Seokjin smiles sweetly, his eyes glowing in the semi-dark corridor. He pulls gently at Namjoon’s hand and ignores the silent whoops of Fred Weasley. “Come on, they’re waiting for us.”

“Took you two long enough,” Taehyung says, grinning his wide boxy smile that doesn’t change even after five years as he stands up from the Great Hall’s seat. The smile seems mischievous, so maybe Taehyung has already read their minds and knew about the kiss. He wears a ridiculous giant pink beanie. “Were you two making out in the bathroom?”

Jungkook snickers like the immature brat he is. He scoots over to make space for them.

“Joon-ah got lost in one of the corridors,” Seokjin loudly announces to the group of friends as he pulls Namjoon over to sit with him. Hoseok swats at Jungkook’s head from across the table to stop him from biting Namjoon’s shoulder. “Seriously, you’d think he’d stop getting lost after three years here.”

“Dummy.” Yoongi says in a hoarse voice and sniffs a little. He’s recovering from the bad cold that literally made him pass out in class, so now he’s wrapped in multiple layers of yellow blankets with cute badgers prints (It’s still a mystery how in hell do Hufflepuffs have that many blankets) and sipping a hot mug of chocolate with tiny marshmallows singing Christmas carols. Overall Yoongi looks like a really cute cat in desperate need of cuddles.

“Don’t talk too much,” Hoseok says in a gentle, quiet voice. Namjoon can count with his ten fingers how many times in five years Hoseok spoke in a gentle, quiet voice, and he can’t help but notice that it’s almost always directed to Yoongi. “You’ll hurt your throat again.”

Yoongi just grunts in response.

“It’s Secret Santa time!” Jimin says excitedly, grinning wide and eyes turning into cute crescents. His hair is silver with bold red and green highlights to match the Christmas colors. “I wonder who got my name!”

“I’m gonna start, since I’m the youngest and am always the last,” Jungkook announces, and turns to Hoseok, who is stuffing gingerbread cookies into his mouth. When no one objects, Jungkook nods, satisfied. “Hoseok hyung.”

Hoseok raises an eyebrow and swallows the mouthful of cookies. “Yeah?”

“Come over and turn around, please. And take your clothes off.”

It takes a second for Hoseok to reply. “I’m going to freeze my ass off if I take my clothes off.”

Jungkook smiles, and this time it’s not teasing. It’s genuine. “It’ll be worth it, I promise. And it’s gonna take a while.”

Hoseok raises both eyebrows and climbs over the table (“Watch it!” Seokjin scolds as Hoseok nearly steps on his plate). He takes his shirt off, revealing perfect chocolate abs and lots of lean muscles, and shivers a bit. Everyone’s eyes are on him now, but Hoseok seems to enjoy the attention.

“What are you doing? I can’t feel a thing.” Hoseok says, trying to look over his shoulder only to have Jungkook slap his face lightly.

“It’s supposed to be a secret, hyung!” Jungkook whines as he works secretly on Hoseok’s back. His mouth opens lightly as he concentrates, revealing his bunny teeth.

It takes ten minutes for Jungkook to finish whatever he’s going on Hoseok’s back and Yoongi’s already nodding off, his face half-buried in a Slytherin scarf. Taehyung and Jimin got bored after the first three minutes so they’re chatting loudly beside them.

“Almost done!” Jungkook says victoriously and taps on Yoongi’s shoulder. “Hyung, a little help?”

“Hmm.” Yoongi blinks awake and untangles one of his hands from the bundle of blankets. His big hand suddenly catches on a ball of brilliant orange flames that’s so much warmer than his cold-looking fingers. Hoseok gasps and inches away from the fire, but Yoongi just grabs Hoseok’s shoulder with the ignited hand.

“The fire doesn’t hurt?” Hoseok relaxes and asks confusedly as Jungkook goes back to his work again and Yoongi looking half-asleep with a fiery hand on Hoseok’s shoulder. He narrows his eyes at Yoongi. “And you already know about this gift? You traitor.”

“A Veela thing.” Yoongi says simply and retracts his hand. “Shut up.”

“All done!” Jungkook shouts again, and proudly pats Hoseok’s back. “Happy Christmas, hyung!”

“So what did you do?” Hoseok asks curiously, and just when he’s about to pull his clothes down, he gasps. And when he gasps, everyone else’s gaze moves back to him and everyone gasps too.

An all-white dragon drawing trots from Hoseok’s back to his waistline on the front, and stares up at everyone with curious, kaleidoscopic eyes with no pupils. It raises its front legs, opens up its white-scaled wings, and flies up to Hoseok’s ribs. It playfully spits out some brilliant red flames and makes cute clicking noises at everyone. Every detail of the dragon, from the color difference in its eyes to the spikes along its back to the shimmering white scales that sometimes flash blue, like a shallow creak, is so vivid and realistic, anyone would be convinced that it’s a real dragon.

“A moving dragon tattoo,” Hoseok whispers and hesitantly uses his finger to gently pat the dragon. It happily does a flip and comes to rest at Hoseok’s heart. It folds its tail gracefully around itself and gives everyone a dragon-ish grin.

“Not just any dragon, though,” Jungkook says happily, about just as excited as the dragon tattoo. “It’s an Antipodean Opaleye. The most beautiful and one of the sweetest dragon species, which reminds me of Hobi hyung. And didn’t Hobi hyung have to write a ten-parchment-long essay on that kind of dragon for his Magizoology classes? I thought it’d be perfect. I did my homework.”

“By 'sweet' Jungkook means the Opaleye don’t kill humans. They kill kangaroos.” Namjoon supplies.

“But kangaroos are so cute!” Jimin protests.

“What are kangaroos?” Seokjin asks curiously. Of course a pure-blood wizard like him doesn’t know what kangaroos are.

“Big Muggle mice that jump.” Taehyung says. “I’ll show you some pics later.”

“So like kitchen mice then." Seokjin shrugs.

Jimin chokes on his tongue. "Kitchen mice," He wheezes.

“But the fire . . .” Hoseok is still struck speechless. “How . . .?”

“Ah, the fire,” Jungkook says, pulling his legs up to cross them on the bench. “When I was designing the tattoo, I asked Yoongi hyung if I can borrow his fire.”

Yoongi grunts in his cocoon.

“You’re such an amazing artist,” Hoseok sniffs, turning to hug Jungkook. Jungkook lets out a squawk at the sudden embrace and awkwardly pats Hoseok’s back. “Thank you so much, Kookie. Happy Christmas.”

“Hehe,” Jungkook grins stupidly.

“My turn, my turn!” Jimin says excitedly with a voice of high decibel and cuts off Hoseok’s sentimental moment. “Seokjinnie hyung!”

“Ooh, I’m so lucky this year!” Seokjin squeaks happily. “Presents from Jimin are always the best!”

Jimin suddenly turns shy at the compliment. His hair turns a soft pastel blue, which Namjoon learns is a color code for shyness. “Don’t be dramatic,” He says with a wide smile and a very red face. “Happy Christmas, hyungie.” He shyly gives Seokjin a present with a pretty bow tied on it, and Namjoon inches closer to see what’s inside.

It’s an Army Bomb, but not an ordinary one. The globe on top of the Bomb is a color gradient with very dark blue near the top that goes to a lighter blue, then to pastel purple near the end, like the night sky. There are tiny magical color-changing stars and planets twinkling like glitter and a small realistic moon just floating there. Near the bottom of the globe is a stage with a tiny guy jumping around and singing with a microphone.

Jimin smiles shyly. “Those constellations and planets are specifically chosen for their meaning. Look, this one,” Jimin points at a constellation. “Canis major, the hound that always catches whatever it hunts. May you get whatever you want in life.” He points to another one. “Libra, the scales of justice that can resolve all conflicts. May you live a peaceful and rightful life.” Another constellation. “Perseus, the hero who, with a crescent-moon sword, slays the notorious monster Medusa. I can go on if you want.”

“The consequence of having a Cosmology major friend.” Taehyung teases, and Jimin kicks him under the table. Namjoon scoots closer to Seokjin to dodge the careless attack.

“Is that me?” Seokjin laughs at the little guy.

“Yeah.” Jimin says, beaming. “And if you listen carefully, he’s actually singing Moon. Your song.”

Seokjin sticks his ear to the bomb, and frowns. “I can’t hear anything.”

Jimin’s smile immediately turns upside down and he looks like he’s close to crying. His hair turns into a color like maroon, and his eyes turn purple. Color code for fear of disappointment. “What? I’m so sorry hyungie I’ll fix it right now and bring it tomorrow I swear when I tested it yesterday night and the night before that and the night before that and it was all working good I’m really sorry . . .” Namjoon has to pay extra attention to what Jimin says because his French accent, which doesn’t fade throughout the years, becomes more apparent whenever he’s stressed.

“No, I’m sure it’s because we’re being too loud. Maybe the song’s drowned out because of our voices.” Seokjin is quick to try to comfort Jimin, and gives everyone a death glare to make all of them stop talking.

A few moments of silence. Seokjin listens carefully again, but his frown is still there.

Jimin chokes on his unshed tears. “I’ll give you a better one tomorrow hyungie I swear . . .”

Yoongi quietly crushes his last tiny singing marshmallow with his teeth, successfully shutting it up and stopping the Christmas carol that’s getting a little annoying.

Then everyone can hear it now. A clear, beautiful voice of Seokjin singing from the bottom of his heart. It’s a song Namjoon secretly listens to every night. It’s his Moon’s voice.

“Oh my fucking god,” Seokjin screams after five seconds of listening to the singing Army Bomb. “Yoongi Fucking Min, I told you ages ago to stop getting those stupid marshmallows!”

“But they’re cute,” Yoongi chews the marshmallow grumpily.

Jimin’s body relaxes completely like he just finishes ten Quidditch games and leans against Hoseok, who’s moved back to his original seat. His hair turns white like his soul has left his body. “Don’t scare me like that,” Jimin whines quietly and rubs his eyes.

“We’re all good. I love you, Jiminie, great gift.” Seokjin says, his gaze not moving from the miniature Seokjinnie in the Army Bomb. “He looks so handsome from up close.”

All of Bangtan simultaneously make a vomiting sound at that.

“My turn!” Hoseok says, looking overly excited. “Yoongi hyung!”

“Eh?” Yoongi says, slightly turning to look at Hoseok, and is met with a very big envelope in his face. Yoongi swears under his breath and takes it, flipping it open before closing it back up. His expression is completely blank, and Namjoon raises his eyebrow.

Hoseok’s heart-shaped smile turns into a sad triangle. “You don’t like it?” He says, all the enthusiasm gone.

“Yah, don’t be an asshole Yoongi!” Taehyung shouts, not caring about honorifics anymore.

“Too many words,” Yoongi grumbles and sniffs. “I’ll read it when I’m back in my bed.”

“But . . . but . . .” Hoseok’s at a loss of words again. The dragon tattoo pokes its head up on Hoseok’s neck and makes a sad whining sound.

“I mean I’ll read it when I’m back in my bed with you, idiot!” Yoongi snaps loudly, his Bulgarian accent thickening as he loses his cool. He, like Jimin, still keeps his accent. “You think I’m just gonna do a thirty-minute long speech about my platonic love for you in front of these five idiots, whom I also platonically love but are too stupid to understand?”

Hoseok’s speechlessness count: 3

“You’re yelling really nice things at us and Hobi hyung and I don’t know if I should be mad,” Jungkook says quietly.

“That’s at least the closest thing he’s ever going to say to ‘I love you,’” Jimin says, smiling. “I ain’t gonna complain.”

“That’s kind of nice, though,” Namjoon points out. “except for the part where he calls us idiots. I’m a little sad.”

“No offense,” Yoongi grumbles.

“None taken.” Namjoon grins. Yoongi is perfectly capable of being sweet, but he rarely shows that side of him. Which makes it extra sweet whenever he’s being sweet.

“Ahem, let’s move on,” Seokjin breaks the awkward silence. “Yoongi, your turn.”

Yoongi ignores the intense eye hearts Hoseok is sending him and turns to Taehyung. “Taehyung-ah,” Yoongi says gruffly.

“What do you expect from someone majoring in Curses and Jinxes?” Seokjin whispers to Namjoon.

“Last Christmas, he gave me a cursed quill and when I asked him why the quill only wrote in red, he told me the quill writes with Dolores Umbridge’s blood.” Namjoon whispers back seriously.

“Good thing she’s in Azkaban now,” Hoseok joins the conversation.

Taehyung holds up a finger. “Wait. Just so all of you know, I turned off my mind-reading thing from the beginning so I have absolutely no idea what gift I’m getting for the sake of the game and I’m definitely not cheating and . . . PUPPY!!!!!”

Yoongi digs out something from his bundle of blankets and in his arms are a black-and-light-brown fluffy Muggle puppy with googly eyes and a cute tongue lolling out. It’s not much bigger than Yoongi’s palm. Yoongi gently drops off the doggo in Taehyung’s hands.

“My cute baby~” Taehyung squeals in a pitch higher than Jimin’s and uses his thumb to pet the puppy, who licks the thumb. “You’re sooo cute!”

“Black Pomeranian,” Yoongi says in a lazy tone, but his face is bright with how Taehyung loves the puppy. “Or whatever that means. I asked for a Crup, but apparently Muggle pet stores don’t have one.”

“You’re the best, hyung!” Taehyung continues his squealing, and that makes Namjoon’s heart swell twice its normal size. Taehyung proceeds to kiss the puppy everywhere his mouth can reach, and the puppy shows equal enthusiasm as he licks Taehyung everywhere his mouth can reach. “I’m gonna name you Yeontan! Here, Tannie, Tannie, Tannie . . .”

“Cool. I’m done.” Yoongi says and leans his head against Namjoon’s shoulder. Namjoon smiles down at how childish Taehyung’s behaving.

They actually wait for a few minutes for Taehyung to recover from the extreme euphoria of getting a new puppy. Taehyung clears his throat. “Jungkookie?” He says.

Jungkook sighs. “I don’t even need to be a Legilimens to know what you’re gonna give me.”

“Friendship bracelet!” Taehyung shouts and with a flick of his wand, a silvery bracelet appears out of nowhere and clicks around Jungkook’s wrist. “For our favorite baby brother, Jungkook Jeon!”

“Ugh.” Jungkook pretends to be disappointed, but his mouth betrays him and a wide smile spreads over his face. “Your present sucks.”

“You love it and you know it.” Taehyung smiles as he hugs Jungkook. Yeontan is sitting on Taehyung’s plate and picking at the turkey leg. “And yes, I’ll give you another one if I get your name next Christmas, and then I’ll give you anklets.”

“Stop reading my mind.” Jungkook whines, but there’s an idiotic smile over his face.

“My turn!” Namjoon announces, and smiles a dimpled smile at Jimin, who smiles back with bright and shimmering eyes. Jimin is barely sitting still, because Namjoon, like Jungkook and Jimin, gives the most thoughtful gifts. “My dearest mochi,”

“Yes?” Jimin says with an extra-sweet voice.

“Starlight that shines brighter in the darkest night,” Namjoon mutters as he digs around his pocket. The potion he brewed for years and years long must be somewhere in there. “가장 갚은 밤에 더 빛나는 별빛. I used to think it was weird to sing in Korean since we always talk in English, but now I think it’s nice to reconnect with our mother culture.”

“Okay,” Jimin asks quizzically. “You restated the lyrics in Mikrokosmos. Great song, actually. But what does that mean?”

“I kind of combined this potion to all the other ones I told you about.” Namjoon says, his tongue slightly sticking out as he concentrates. Did he not bring it? He made sure that he’d bring it thrice. It’s got to be somewhere in here. His coat pockets aren’t even that big. “Remember? I really wanted to name the potion after this lyrics, but it’s too long and it’ll be tough for other people to remember the name so I just named it . . . Draught of Starlight.”

“That’s a shitty name.” Yoongi grumbles from beside him.

“You’re ruining the moment.” Taehyung says absent-mindedly as he gives Yeontan another turkey leg. Yeontan yaps happily before digging in.

Jimin’s expression is unreadable. “The potion of a million galaxies? Of all the musical notes? Of all the Victorian flowers?”

“Yeah.” Namjoon says and finally finds the potion. It’s an ordinary, delicate vial with a dark purple cap. He drops it carefully to Jimin’s slightly trembling hand. “May you smell the most beautiful scents and see most beautiful dreams. May you hear music that will move your soul and fill your heart with all the love in the world. May you fall in love with yourself.”

“You actually did it,” Jimin sniffs, and the alarm in Namjoon’s head sounds CODE RED. Namjoon actually scrambles to his feet and pulls Jimin to a big hug, remembering to ruffle Jimin’s hair and massage his scalp just the way Jimin loves it. He uses another hand to hug around Jimin’s waist, knowing that Jimin likes close snuggles that make him feel tiny and protected. He’s known for being the most emotional one in this family, so Namjoon has already mastered the art of cuddling.

“I have around six cauldrons of it back in my dorm,” Namjoon says into Jimin’s hair, which has turned a brilliant gold at the euphoria. “Come by anytime and I’ll give you free refills.”

“I can smell the potion already,” Jimin croaks wetly and sniffs again. “Four-leaved clover.”

“Be mine.” Namjoon remembers from their first encounter five years ago. “Jimin, I think you have a talent of making everyday moments feel extremely and unnecessarily emotional.”

“But I love this so much.” Jimin whispers against Namjoon’s chest.

“Um, care to explain what the fuck is going on?” Hoseok interrupts.

“When they first met, they had a little Victorian Flower Language competition and the four-leaved clover means ‘be mine’ in that language.” Taehyung says smugly. “When they first met, Namjoon hyung promised that he’d make a potion made of a million galaxies, a potion with flower scents, and a potion with music notes. Namjoon hyung fulfilled his promise.”

“Stop reading our minds,” Jimin sniffs again, but from how his hair color stays gold—the color of euphoria—he’s not mad, like, at all. “It’s a private memory.”

“Now I’m curious,” Hoseok leans forward.

“Merci merci merci, ” Jimin says it like a mantra and holds the vial like it’s the greatest treasure in the world. “Je t’aime tellement. ”

“I love you too, Jiminie.” Namjoon says. He’s spent enough time with Jimin to pick up some French phrases. “Happy Christmas.”

“Namjoonie, make me a beautification potion,” Seokjin pokes Namjoon’s shoulder, which sends mixed brain signals into Namjoon’s head. “Though I’m not sure if it’ll even work, since I’m already beautiful.”

“Gimme a deadly poison,” Yoongi speaks up lazily. “so I can shut Jin hyung up.”

“Be honest, hyung,” Taehyung suddenly sounds serious, but given the context he’s not serious at all. “And I’ll know if you’re lying. How many cauldrons did you destroy making these?”

“I didn’t keep count,” Namjoon sighs. “About a thousand, tops?”

“I have no idea since Namjoon hyung has no idea either,” Taehyung says, shrugging.

“And to our last Not-So-Secret Santa,” Jungkook says with an intentionally deep voice. Hoseok makes some dramatic theater sound effects, which makes Jimin laugh and wiggle out of Namjoon’s embrace. “Seokjin hyung!”

“Namjoonie, our phoenix, our unofficial leader, our snake-speaking best friend,” Seokjin says, equally dramatic. “Ma chère Monsieur . . .”

“You’re saying it wrong,” Jimin says in a small, cute voice. “Monsieur can only pair with mon cher. Ma chère is feminine.”

“. . . it is with greatest pride and deepest pleasure that we welcome you tonight, and now we invite you to relax . . .” Seokjin completely ignores Jimin’s comment.

“You’re getting it all wrong,” Taehyung complains. “It’s with deepest pride and greatest pleasure. You pure-bloods should get yourselves proper Disney education.”

“. . . let us pull up a chair, as the Worldwide Cutie Guy proudly presents, your Christmas present.” Seokjin stands up and takes the deepest bow possible.

“Cut the crap and just give him the damn present,” Yoongi sighs.

“I already gave him the present,” Seokjin suddenly stands up straight and says. He gives Namjoon a wink. “When I found him in a corridor earlier. It totally took him by surprise.”

Namjoon immediately feels his face redden as he remembers the sweet kiss. That, seriously, is the best Christmas gift ever. His heartbeat increases suddenly and he’s sure everyone can hear him by now. And everyone’s gaze is on him already. Even Yoongi has looked up from his bundle of blankets.

Taehyung definitely hears him. “Oooh,” He whoops and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively at Namjoon. “That is the best Christmas gift anyone can ever have? How awesome it is to have Seokjin hyung-”

“If you want to live to see tomorrow’s sun, I suggest you shut the hell up.” Seokjin raises a finger and glares threateningly at Taehyung.

“Tell meeee,” Hoseok whines. “I’m your best friend!”

“No, I am!” Jimin hugs Taehyung protectively, and glares at Hoseok with a playful look. “Stay in your lane!”

“Taehyung, what happens to our privacy policy?” Namjoon sighs, not surprised at all at Taehyung’s loose lips.

“I never accepted any cookies,” Taehyung winks, and Namjoon, being the educated pure-blood wizard who familiarizes himself with the Muggle Internet culture, lets out the biggest groan.

“What?” Jungkook’s head perks up. “Kookie? You called me?”

“It’s a Muggle pun.” Jimin says, and shares an amused glance with Taehyung and Namjoon. “Shame that you didn’t pay attention during Muggle Studies.”

“Did you two make out?” Yoongi asks bluntly.

“What? No,” Namjoon squawks, holding up two hands.

“They didn’t,” Taehyung confirms.

“You’re going to have to tell us one of these days,” Hoseok huffs. “Things like that never stay secret.”

“Especially with Taehyung’s loose lips,” Namjoon grumbles.

“Love you too, hyung,” Taehyung gives him a finger heart.

“Happy Christmas, everyone!” Seokjin stands up again and opens his arms wide. The Great Hall starts raining something, and Namjoon sticks his tongue out. Apparently, Seokjin is using magic to make it rain Butterbeer.

Namjoon stands up too and slightly outstretches his hands to feel the Butterbeer dripping from his fingers. Hoseok and Jimin are dancing in the rain, laughing and giggling as Hoseok lets out a wolf howl. Taehyung sings the Circle of Life song, raising Yeontan, who’s frantically trying to eat the Butterbeer rain, into the air like the puppy is Simba. Jungkook steals Yeontan’s turkey leg, letting out random whoops. Yoongi minimalizes his movements; all he does is flicking his wand lazily, creating a transparent umbrella with the silent spell, and summoning a new cup of hot cocoa with those obnoxious marshmallows singing the Holiday Remix of Dynamite.

“Eww, it’s all in my hair! It’s so sticky!” Someone shouts from the other side of the Great Hall. Somewhere behind them, a kid slips in a puddle of Butterbeer.

“Happy Christmas!” Taehyung yells back, successfully earning lots of weird looks.

“Okay,” Namjoon, the so-called “unofficial leader” of the group, says and draws everyone’s attention. Even Yoongi stands up, already knowing what comes after this. “Last thing to do on Christmas . . .”

“Second to last,” Jimin corrects. “Don’t forget the late-night group cuddles.”

“Right,” Namjoon can’t help but coo at Jimin’s cuteness. “Second-to-last thing to do on Christmas: we have a toast.” Namjoon raises his hand slightly, and a fancy-looking glass appears right into his hand. Everyone else does the same, and seconds later, they all have empty glasses that are quickly filled with the Butterbeer rain.

“To our friends, comrades, soulmates, brothers,” Namjoon says, thinking about the past five years of all seven of them being together. “May us never forget what is worth remembering . . .”

Namjoon’s gaze finds Seokjin’s, and he almost thinks he’s seeing his parents instead of his best friend. Seokjin smiles at him, encouraging him to continue, fueling his courage to live to the Christmas toast.

“. . . nor ever remember what is best forgotten.”

Their glasses clink, and Namjoon gulps down the Butterbeer with his eyes closed. The warm, fuzzy feeling spreading through his body isn’t alcohol, but the love that’ll continue to burn until his last day.