BET [Jikook]

04

The Slytherin common room is Jimin's favorite place in the entirety of the castle.

Totally secluded in the deepest part of the dungeons, the chilly room is cast in shades of emerald and silver, chilled by the ceiling-to-floor window that reveal the murky depths of the lake.

A glass- and- filigree dome arches through the grey ceiling, showcasing more of the lake, shot through with sunlight in the places that the thick dark of the water hasn't muffled it out. It's cold and dark and a little gloomy, but Jimin adores it all the same.

There's something magical about all of it, more so than the rest of the castle. The eerie light cast by the windows makes the common room feel like an entirely different world, one shrouded in mystery and a sinister kind of wonder.

It thrills his little Slytherin soul.

As Jimin enters the room through the bare stretch of wall that serves as a door, a blurry shadow drifts by the windows. It looks into the common room with eyes that shine like moonbeams through the dark water, then darts off into the cloudy distance.

"Take me with you," Jimin mumbles, reaching out a longing hand to the gradually disappearing figure.

Gods, is he tired.

Lately, the days seem to zap all his strength into nothing, leaving him with all weariness and exhaustion to deal with. Even now, as he slinks into the haven of his single room that has a tiny window showing more of the algae-speckled water of the lake, his shoulders slump at the sight of a torn piece of parchment thrown haphazardly on his bed.

Library, 8:00.
~your favorite hyung

Frick.

He forgot.

Jimin turns on his heel, jogging back out of his room and headed out of the common room. How could he forget? This study session is the most important time of his week.

The library is its usual drafty self when he enters, dimly lit by wall sconces and littered with a steady stream of floating books. Jimin dodges one and ducks under another, quickly and quietly moving toward the secluded table where he usually meets Jin and Namjoon.

He's late, and it's showing on Jin's face.

Kim Seokjin, AKA Jimin's 'favorite hyung' has his handsome features twisted into a scowl. His wand is abandoned on the table in front of him, as if he'd been practicing some spell but has since then given up due to boredom and Jimin's tardiness.

His robes are immaculate across his broad shoulders, tidy rows of red and gold lining up perfectly. Jin is one of the few people in this school that looks past house stereotypes; a Gryffindor, friends with Slytherin and Ravenclaw alike.

Jimin thinks he's very admirable for that.

Beside him is Kim Namjoon, bespectacled and gentle, his nose buried in a book thicker than Jimin. As always, Namjoon's scarf is wrapped tightly around his neck, a poor attempt to protect the man from the castle's tendency toward chilliness.

Jimin's heard from Taehyung that Namjoon sleeps fully clothed at night, wrapped in three blankets, with his head covered by a blue and white striped hat with a tasseled puff on top.

Even now, the very tip of Namjoon's nose is a soft red, like the frostiness has already begun to nip at him.

"Hyungs," says Jimin, a little breathless as he slides into a chair across from them. "I'm sorry for being late. I forgot."

Jin tsks and grabs his wand, a twelve inch one crafted from pear wood and a core of veela hair, and half-heartedly directs the tip at Jimin. "Not forgiven. We're busy people, Park Jimin, taking time out of our busy day to teach you how to not blow the school up in Potions class. You don't get to be late."

Namjoon looks up from his book for the first time, calmly placing a palm over the top of Jin's wand and pushing it down toward the table. "It's okay, Jimin. We had nothing else to do."

"We did too!" Jin protests, but Namjoon is already pulling another book out of his bag, one about basic potion making, and spreading it in front of Jimin.

"How did it go?" Namjoon asks gently, pushing his glasses up his nose.

Jimin bunches his fingers up, then explodes them outward in a sad mimicking of his unfortunate cauldron explosion.

Namjoon sighs. "How did you cut the dandelion root?"

"Just like the directions said to!" Maybe Jimin shouldn't have come. The last few times, it's felt so repetitive.

Jimin understands that the cockroach has to be ground course instead of fine, and precisely one-point-two-three percent of the lionfish spine should be boiled.

He understands all the little nuances and specifications.

Regardless, his potion goes poof and he's failing the class.

"I don't know what to do anymore," moans Jimin in agony. "I've done everything. What am I missing? What's going wrong?"

Namjoon and Jin glance at each other, then at Jimin.

"I was only ever decent at Potions," Jin admits.

"Me too," says Namjoon. "I'm just good at studying. I though that would help, but it isn't appearing to."

"You need hands-on experience," Jin huffs, setting his chin on his hands. "But who's good at Potions? Taehyung?"

"He's in my Potions class," says Jimin, "-and he barely gets higher marks than me."

"You need someone who's really good at Potions. Not us." Namjoon pats Jimin's hand, which is splayed in limp despair across the table. "Don't worry, Jiminie. We'll find someone to tutor you, okay? You'll be fine. You'll get great final marks in Potions. Lets just take a break today."

"You look tuckered out," Jin tuts. "Go get some rest, hmm? We'll see you tomorrow."

Jimin lets his head fall in defeat, gathering his thing together even though he's just arrived.

They're right.

He's too tired to even think right now. All he wants to do is collapse in bed and sleep for days.

"Goodnight, hyungs," Jimin mumbles thickly, giving himself to his feet.

He trudges out of the library on feet heavier than breeze blocks, somehow even more exhausted than when he arrived.