Chapter Text
You are the sunlight that rose again in my life
A reincarnation of my childhood dreams
I don't know what these emotions are
Am I still dreaming?
Dreams are blue mirages in the desert deep inside me, a priori
I'm so happy, I can't breathe
It's getting more and more clear
I hear the ocean from far away
Across the dream, past the woods
I'm following this clarity
Take my hands now (Hands now)
You are the cause of my euphoria
Euphoria
Take my hands now
You are the cause of my euphoria
Echo Ignotum
"I-I'm sorry."
He bites his lip and clutches his sketchbook, pressing himself against the walls of the busy alley. He glances around. Where are they? How can they disappear so quickly? He tries to locate his parents, lost in the sea of pedestrians. All he sees are passersby, wearing outlandish, glittering clothes. Similar to the clothes in the fantasy books he read when he was seven.
Far from being charming, it frightens him.
He lets out a low groan as more and more people appear. Translucent and with a bluish glow, floating alongside those on this earthly plane. He tilts his head, furrowing his brow and squinting his triangular eyes. He crawls along the wall until he sits on the ground and opens his sketchbook. He flips through several pages, filled with different portraits. He takes a pencil from his pocket and occasionally looks up.
He sees a woman buying something at the shop across the street; Unnoticed, lurking nearby is an equally small, solitary and smiling figure.
"What are you doing?"
The drawing is ruined by the sudden movement. He turns his head, finding himself face to face with a boy with a bright expression and a huge smile. His hair is orange, almost reddish and his eyes are blue. He leans back, avoiding eye contact.
"It's creepy to stare at people."
He takes a moment, but replies:
"I wasn't looking at her."
"It seemed that way."
Noticing that he's making him uncomfortable, he decides to drop the subject.
"I'm Jung Ho-Seok. I'm going to Hogwarts this year, just like you. What's your name?" he asks, sitting down next to her.
"Yoongi... Min Yoon-Gi." He clarifies his last name, stepping back slightly, overwhelmed by the sudden closeness.
"Ah~ So you're Korean. For a moment I thought: he's pale as the sun, maybe he's Chinese! Maybe he's Japanese! And then I thought, a Japanese guy here and not in Japan to go to Mahoutokoro? That doesn't make sense either!" the boy rambles, his expression quick and cheerful.
"Maho-what?" Yoongi squints, wrinkling his face.
"The Japanese magic school," Hoseok says, shrugging, amused.
"Is there more?"
Hoseok makes a circle with his mouth, noticing how confused and surprised Yoongi is. Combined with how small he looks, it's like seeing a beaten cat lying in a street corner, waiting to be adopted.
"Are your parents Muggles?" Yoongi nods shyly. "And why are you alone? You shouldn't be alone without knowing anything! Something could happen to you!" Hoseok exclaims, shocked.
"W-well, they got lost. I don’t know where they are and I-I moved,” Yoongi explains awkwardly. “I’m supposed to stay still when it happens, but I got confused and I-I don’t know anymore.”
Hoseok grabs his wrist and before Yoongi can break free, annoyed by the sudden, unauthorized contact, he feels… something? Strange. Like a needle piercing his arm, an odd warmth spreading from Hoseok’s hand, circulating throughout his body. He blinks in confusion, a sudden smile spreading across his face and a joy he’s never experienced blossoms within him.
“Aww, you look cute smiling,” Hoseok hums.
“What did you do?” Yoongi asks, pulling away, startled, the warmth lingering in his system. It doesn’t allow him to be sad or worried. Hoseok’s hair looks darker now, he thinks vaguely.
“I’m an empathic magician,” Hoseok replies, tilting his head, less happy than he was moments ago. "I can make you feel any emotion I want, as long as it takes away the one you're feeling."
"Oh..."
"Don't worry! My family is from the wizarding world. While we find yours, we'll keep you company."
Hoseok pulls Yoongi along. The Muggleborn remains shy and self-conscious despite the Jung family's warm welcome. They even bought him a good portion of what he'd need and with Muggle parents, they were sure to understand what he needed and what was expensive or cheap. About two hours passed before Yoongi's family appeared, Mrs. Min on the verge of tears of relief.
"We're so sorry, we got lost too and— Oh no." Yoongi clung to his mother, embarrassed and wanting to hide.
"It's alright~ He's lovely. We can help him on the first day of classes. As far as I know, they don't explain how to access the platform," Mrs. Jung offered gently. Hoseok quickly pulls Yoongi along, jumping up and down as he hugs him.
"AH! WE'LL BE SHARING THE SAME CABIN!"
"L-let go of me, you're scaring me."
┈ ⋞ 〈 ✷ 〉 ⋟ ┈
"Don't go too far, Tae."
He pouts before leaving the store, carrying the puppy his parents are paying for. They're going to buy it, there's no need to worry. Unless he accidentally lets the puppy go and now he has no choice but to run and catch it. A small ball of fur that fits in both his hands.
"AH! THANK YOU! YOU SAVED MY LIFE!" Taehyung says, stopping in front of the short boy with big cheeks and full lips.
"He's a really cute puppy. Are there any more? They still haven't bought me a pet," he asks, handing it over. In contrast, his voice is very soft and delicate; Taehyung speaks in a deep, resonant tone.
"I didn't see any other one in the store, though maybe they have it stored away."
The other pouts, shoving his hands in his pockets, his straight hair turning light blue. Taehyung squeezes the dog in his hands, his eyes shining with excitement at seeing him.
"You're a Morph," Taehyung points out.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm sor-"
"I've never met one! Are you going to Hogwarts too?" He nods shyly. "WE'LL BE CLASSMATES!" Taehyung exclaims excitedly, his hair turning purple and curly. "I'm Kim Tae-hyung. What's your name?" he asks excitedly. The other looks just as excited, his light blue hair turning pink and curly.
"Park Ji-min."
They huddle together, whispering about the changes they've made to their appearances, perhaps a twist of fate, having achieved this moment just a week before September 1st and their arrival at Hogwarts. It's best to go knowing at least one person to pass the time on the train.
Unfortunately, Jimin's parents appear and he has to leave, but not before giving them Taehyung cell phone number to talk later. Taehyung tilts his head, thinking he sees a dark mark on the back of Jimin's neck. Maybe it's my imagination, he dismisses it. Taehyung whistles, walking back to the magical pet shop where his parents are waiting for him.
"Can't I have an alpaca? They have alpacas in America. I want an alpaca. It'll be white and I'll put a red bandana on it. It'll be called RJ!"
"No, Jin, you can't take an alpaca to Hogwarts."
"A Sugar Glidder?"
"Nope."
"I don't want anything." The teenager pouts. Taehyung peeks in, curious about the conversation. While the adults walk away to decide which animal to take, the broad-shouldered teenager notices the onlooker. "Yes, I know my face is beautiful and dazzles you to the point of staring, but it's creepy that you do that," he informs Taehyung, whose hair turns fuchsia with embarrassment.
"Sorry."
"It's a cute dog. They grow fast so nothing eats them and they can carry mail." The dog barks, sticking out its tongue. "Although they're a rare breed."
"I took him because he seems to hate the world and needs a hug." The other laughs through his nose and Taehyung is forced to laugh too.
Because that window washer laugh is the funniest thing anyone will ever hear.
"I'm Kim Seok-Jin. I'll probably be a Hufflepuff someday. What about you?" He introduces himself, tilting his head, a small, cute smile playing on his full, pink lips. Not as full as Jimin's, which are more round.
"Kim Tae-hyung… Ah! I'll be a Hufflepuff too! We'll be housemates!" Taehyung shrugs with a square grin and Jin puts his hand to his chin, raising his eyebrows playfully.
"You'll have my beautiful presence enhancing yours. Together, we'll rule Hufflepuff." Jin winks at him and Taehyung sways, laughing. What a cute kid.
┈ ⋞ 〈 ✷ 〉 ⋟ ┈
"Do you need help?"
"No, it's just that—"
He wrinkles his face and the bookshelf ends up falling to the floor along with the books. The sneezes of everyone reveal that there's a third person here. He exhales, clutching the pair of enormous books he wanted to grab, which were at the back of the stack.
"I'll pick it up."
"I'll help you, it was my fault."
"No, no, I'm clumsy, I drop or break everything."
Jimin joins them out of politeness, managing to take in a few details about both of them. The one who knocked everything over is tall, with black hair and tan skin, unlike Jimin. He has a round face and full lips. The other one is... peculiar? He gives the impression that he just came out of a forest.
His hair is tied up precariously and strangely, there are some dirt stains on his face and a small scar on his cheekbone. He has a prominent nose and thin lips; he smells of earth, his nails are dirty and there are leaves in his hair. When he finishes picking everything up, he dusts off his hands.
"Uh... What do I do now?" asks the boy from the forest, holding the book.
"What do you mean, 'what do I do now?'" asks the tall one. Jimin tilts his head.
"Do I just take it? Mom and Dad told me to come get it while they looked for other things, but— I've never… been here… like this…" he stammers, embarrassed, shrinking back.
"You have to pay at the counter," Jimin replies, pointing to the exit where the saleswoman is keeping an eye out to make sure nothing gets broken. "You give money and then it's yours." The kid makes a circle with his mouth and nods, approaching and sniffing him indiscreetly.
"You smell like a good wizard… and candy," he says, wrinkling his nose with a smile. "How much does this cost? They gave me this, but—"
"I'd better go with you to pay," the tall one says quickly, panicking at the sight of the boy carrying so much money and exposing it so… easily?
He'll go with him from now on. While he pays, Jimin watches, finding his attitude and the color of his golden eyes curious. Enormous, doe-like eyes. Noticing his gaze, he turns away and lowers his head.
"My name is Jungkook. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Jimin." He smiles, tilting his head, his hair turning pink and leaving the brown behind. Jungkook's mouth hangs slightly open and he claps with a smile. "Haven't you ever come shopping here before?"
"No. There aren't any of these at my house."
"No? How do you live?"
"Well, we're in the middle of the forest," Jungkook says.
Several strands of his hair turn purple, a mixture of insecurity and doubt.
"Huh?" Jimin stammers.
"Okay," he hands over the bag. "What else do you need to buy? You can't go alone if you don't understand how money works. I'll help you; my parents will pick me up later," the taller one announces. "I'm Namjoon, by the way." They both wave, craning their necks to look up.
Judging by what he's carrying, he's also a first-year. How is he so tall? And in Namjoon's case he ask, why are they so short?
"Where are your parents?" Namjoon asks Jimin. Jimin looks around and then back at him.
"I don't know!" He smiles broadly and radiantly, balancing on his heels.
"Well..." Namjoon exhales, worried. "I guess we can go outside and walk around a bit until they show up."
Jungkook takes his hand, much to Namjoon's surprise and Jimin, imitating him, does the same. Jimin doesn't stop talking, keeping Jungkook thoroughly entertained. Namjoon only joins the conversation when he hears about Hogwarts.
"I don't know where to catch the train," Namjoon admits, embarrassed. "My mother's a Muggle and so are my aunt, grandmother, uncle and cousin; I'm a wizard because of my dad, so..." He exhales nervously after explaining. "Do you guys know?" Jungkook shakes his head. He doesn't even know what all the shopping is and Namjoon scolds himself for having any hope.
Two Muggle-borns and a Forest Boy—how are they going to know where to go?
"No, but I have a friend who does! We can all go together!" Jimin suggests."
"Oh, okay? I guess."
Namjoon had to help a boy with triangular eyes keep his dog from getting lost; he returned the pet to a boy with a bright smile; he bumped into a boy with broad shoulders. He wondered why everyone was so short. Luckily, he found Jimin's parents and Jungkook's parents came to pick him up.
All of them unaware of the mess that had formed and how indirectly they had met each other.