Chapter Text
Golden hour, the bridest moment in life, quick flashes that never comes back, some people looks forward to what’s ahead, some to what’s in the past. The golden hour of life is somewhere around 15 years old. 15 year old, a beautiful age, a golden age. It’s a moment in life where one can enjoy it without a care in the world. It’s an age when you don’t realise the chance you have of being free but still complains about not being. Not an adult but not a child. The age when someone can start attending Hogwarts, the age Jongho will celebrate in a few months. It was Jongho first year at Hogwarts and even if his cousins went there before and tried to reassure him all summer long he was a bit anxious to start this new chapter of his life. He was still scared to stay alone and go into one of the compartments of the train alone so he stayed near his oldest cousin Seungcheol. Their families left them and they entered the train. Every time they would open one of the door people would stare at them making Jongho uncomfortable, he knew why people looked at him like this but he was taken aback, Seungcheol didn’t seem so surprised by the reaction people had. They quickly found a compartment with no one inside and then quickly went to sit inside. Jongho sat next to the windows so that he could easily watch the landscapes passing by the train.
The steam machine was starting to mumble and with that the train started to shake lightly. The latest students were now rushing into the train and a loud chaos came from it, everyone was talking loudly telling what happened during their holidays and some first years were trying to get to know others. Loud door banging sound were heard across the vehicle as people opened and closed the compartment in hope of finding some sited place. And like before people opened and quickly closed the door of their compartment as soon as they saw the grey eyes of Seungcheol, they didn’t even had time to see the silver one of Jongho as he was hiding them under his hood.
Contrary to before Jongho could now hear a group of 3 person talking in the corridor, when one of them opened the door he quickly started to look at his feet to hide his face, waiting for them to leave so he could maybe start a conversation with his cousin. It surprised him when he saw feet in front of his, he quickly looked at the person that was now sitting in front of him and was surprised at the other appearance. The boy seemed older than him, he had deep blue hair, sort of greenish eyes, he was captivating, his multiple piercings at his ears were sparkling and making his face even more breathtaking. Something else shocked Jongho, the boy didn’t seem to be surprised by his eyes or Seungcheol’s, he didn’t seem interested even a bit by it as he started to take his sketchbook from his bag and draw on it. One of his pinky fingers had nail painting on it, a pretty green color, some other fingers were harboring various designs of rings. Jongho then realized other had joined them, one of the boys had doe eyes that were brown and light brown hair that were waved a bit, he looked as old as Seungcheol and was as bulky as his cousin but contrary to him he had lots of ear piercings too. The 3rd boy was talking with his cousin, he simply looked ethereal like an angel coming to earth but his smile had something of a devil light in it, he had long blonde hair that were tied in a little low ponytail.
Those 3 boys didn’t seem to care a bit about them and Jongho felt a bit re-assured about this new year in this unknown place. He started to look back at the window, the rivers and plains were passing by quickly, some birds were flying next to the train as if trying to match the speed of it unsuccessfully of course, Jongho was bewitched by the sight of the wild scenery in front of him and few hours after they started their journey he was taken aback while hearing his name.
“Jongho, you should maybe change into your uniform now, we are close to Hogwarts.” He looked at his cousin that was giving him a wild smile once again, he already had his red and orange uniform on with the lion embroidered on his chest, he quickly looked over the other boys they all had their uniforms already on and all had green colors on them, and a snake embroidered on their chest, they must have to be Slytherins. Jongho must have looked lost because one of them, the one with brown hair talked to him “just go to the toilet in the back to change into your set”, Jongho quickly stood up and went outside of their compartment that had their window closed so that the blonde could sleep well. He had in his arm his bag full of his clothes and he walked quickly to the end of the wagon to find the toilet. On his way he quickly bumped into other people as they were all heading to the toilet to change or going back to their sits.
One of the people he bumped over had waving blonde hair and a blue tie and was walking arm in arm with someone with a matching haircut but black hair and a red tie. Jongho quickly hided his face behind his hood and said sorry before rushing to the toilets again. He changed into his uniform and put his shirt into his pant and put over his jumper and he left with his bag still in his arms. He didn’t have his hood over his eyes so he stared at the floor, scared to have someone again staring into his silver eyes. When he was close to his compartment he looked over the windows and opened the first door that had the windows closed but the people inside weren’t his cousin or 3 Slytherins. They were a mix of house, 3 Ravenclaws, one with blue hair and sky-blue eyes, another with brown eyes who looked younger than he must be, the last one was tall with dark brown eyes, he looked like a puppy. Jongho blushed when he realized he wasn’t in the good compartment and quickly excused himself and went back into the corridor while shutting the door close.
He stayed his back against the door for a moment, a few seconds after he heard one of the voices inside “There is another Choi?” and another deep voice answered “He must be the one Yunho told me about, a 1st year, the youngest of the family so they all baby him all the time.”
Before he could hear more, he left and went to the next door with closed windows, this time he looked carefully before entering not caring if someone saw his eyes if he could avoid the embarrassment he felt earlier. This made people in the corridor whisper again about him and when he was sure it was the right door he entered and quickly sat next to the door.
“Wow you’re so cute when you’re blushing like that, what happened Jongho ~” He could hear a mocking tone in the way the other was saying his name, he stayed looking outside knowing damn well his cousin would defend him back, and he did.
“Shut the fuck up Jeonghan, leave him alone.” Seungcheol’s tone was dry, it told everyone in this little space everything he needed them to know, anyone that was messing with Jongho would have to deal with him, and by his sentence he also warned people that no one was an exception even the prettiest boy of the 6th year, that everyone knew, Seungcheol had a crush on for years already. The blue hair laughed a bit at the situation and he stopped after being elbowed in the side with the dark hair.
Nothing in this situation surprised Jongho, he was used to it, everyone in his family took care of him and used to defend him in all situation, he even took a break at school during the last year because he had no cousin to protect him if needed as the youngest, San, had started Hogwarts a year prior to him. As they all shared the curse of being a Choi they were all really close to one another. They all had been bullied in the past because of their white locks or greys eyes but Jongho had lived even worse than all of them because of his silver eyes and that is why they all took it personally to protect him from this world and Jongho became a bit shy, a bit self-conscious, and a bit too used at hiding himself and his eyes.
They arrived one or two hours later then separated as first year would come to school in boats by the big lake. Seungcheol went back to his brother as he was also Gryffindors and Jongho went on a boat with Beomgyu. Beomgyu was a bit taller than Jongho but they were still growing teenagers, he had hair shoulder length, they were black like the night sky and were very straight, he was a friend of the family. In the train they weren’t all together, Beomgyu stayed with Jongho's cousins Yeonjun, San, and Hansol and his boyfriend, the compartment didn’t have any place left so Seungcheol as the oldest stayed with the youngest.
The castle was close to them now and they were both shaking from excitement, the boat stopped by itself near the shore of the lake and they safely got off the embarcation, Jongho being extra careful with his cape to not wet it with the water and then they both started walking, surrounded by other 1st year into the castle.
The teacher Miss Kwon introduces them to the school system of Hogwarts into the hall, but as they both knew everything from their cousins or brothers they chuckled in their corner looking at the flying candles surrounding them or the ghost moving into the crowd of young boys and girls. All she could tell them anyway was the house system and how they were going to get sorted when they will enter the Great Hall. Which they did eventually, the massive wooden door opened and they were welcomed by the students inside all standing up and singing the school song, then the first year stopped after a sign from Miss Kwon and she went to the other teachers, the director McGonagall replaced her and started another speech about how the school worked and then the sorting hat ceremony started. Jongho started to became really anxious but was relieved when he saw a child of death-eaters, Sanha getting sorted to Gryffindor, it gave him hope for later.
Then Beomgyu was called a bit after, the hat stayed a bit on his head and he was shaking slightly in fear but was immensely relieved when he was sorted in Gryffindor, he ran to his friends’ side that gently patted his head and gave him a glass of juice to drink now. Jongho was even more relieved now, he hoped to be in the same house as his family so if he got lucky he could maybe be a Hufflepuff or a Gryffindor who knows, maybe even a Ravenclaw, everything was good if he wasn’t a Slytherin, he wouldn’t get as bullied if he wasn’t a Slytherin.
His name came and he decided to start walking proudly looking ahead of him, people gasped at the sight of his eyes, ghost moved around to see his silver eyes better and also gasped at the sight, he sat on the chair and Miss McGonagall started to move the hat close to his face, it wasn’t even put on his head when it yelled “SLYTHERIN !!!!”
His face became white, some people started to throw insults at him, his cousins asked the professor to change him of house, to let him be with one of them but they didn’t let it be, the sorting hat decision was finale. Jongho was still sat in the chair and then someone came get him, a 6th year, with blonde hair, the one that talked all the time in the train with Seungcheol.
Jeonghan took him under his arm and helped him toward the Slytherin house, Seungcheol yelled “Thank You” across the table and Jongho sat in between the people he met in the train earlier. They served him some food on his plate and decided to ask him his name so they could present themselves and make him feel safer as he was surrounded by people that didn't judge him.
“Hmm, my name is Choi Jongho” it was almost a whisper and it was hard for them to hear him across the Hall, “I’m the cousin of Seungcheol you saw earlier.” They all knew that, it was obvious from Seungcheol grey eyes and white locks but they still acted as if it was new for them, they didn’t press Jongho further and the blonde quickly started talking, “I’m Yoon Jeonghan a 6th year, you’re lucky I’m taking you under my wing, normally no one would dare to come at you but if they do just tell me or your hyung we’ll take care of it.” He smiled widely trying to calm Jongho that was still white as a sheet.
The brown haired across the table then introduced himself, “I’m Hong Jisoo, or Joshua, I guess I’m Hannie best friend? But you can call me Josh, everyone calls me Josh. Anyways come at me too I’ll protect you. And don’t listen to Jeonghan too much or he’ll get you into trouble.”
“Don’t listen to them both” the blue haired stopped him, Jongho looked at him curiously and Jeonghan gave him a sign, telling him to talk too. “I’m Kim Hongjoong nice to meet you, try to make friends on your own or you’ll end up like me having to stay with them all the time…” Their eyes met for a few seconds and Hongjoong went back to draw on his sketchbook.
After the ceremony was ended a Gryffindor came to the Slytherin table and it didn’t seem to surprise anyone else than the 1st year who were just told that you shouldn’t come to the other houses table.
“Thanks for taking him before, Jongho if you need anything or someone says anything to you just tell me and I’ll beat them up, and if you ever want to run away from Jeonghan or Shua you can come to Gryffindor’s common room” he bent over and murmured into the younger ear “It’s the password to our house” Jongho looked at him perplexed, he knew giving someone who wasn’t from his house the password to their common room was unauthorized and Seungcheol could get in trouble for that “Don’t worry I’m one of the prefect so it’s okay.” He smiled and went back to his table after making sure Jongho ate a bit.
After the ceremony the little group of 4 stayed glued to one another and walked toward their dorm, after giving the password they went inside and Jeonghan gave him a little tour of the place, where the bathroom was, the best sit in the common room, where his room with Joshua was, where Hongjoong bed was and where Jongho room would be.
He had a bad image of Slytherin in his head prior to coming to Hogwarts but the 3 boys were giving him hope of maybe making friends and he was a bit more reassured for this school year that was coming now.