Yuta gasped as his friend retold his story, “so you mean to tell me that you have another brother?”

“half-brother” Taeyong rolled his eyes at Yuta’s excitement, “besides I’ve never met him, my mother kicked him out before I was even born” said Taeyong but it did nothing but fuel Yuta who was almost jumping around the corridor. “that’s why it’s so amazing! You’ve gone your whole life without even knowing he existed!” Yuta shook Taeyong’s shoulders, but he simply brushed him off.

“I could go the rest of my life without knowing him either, my family is ed up already, I don’t need this right now” said Taeyong. After the death of his father he believed his mother was the only family he had left, and he was at peace with that. The idea of having of having another brother made him feel sick; all the lies made him feel uneasy. Yuta sighed and slapped his hand on Taeyong’s back “oh yeah, I’m sorry about your dad”, everyone at Hogwarts knew of his death, such a high-profile man made the front page of the Daily Prophet. “don’t be” Taeyong shrugged. His father was a terrible man and the more he dissociated himself from him the better Taeyong would feel. He felt liberated from his family but now with the discovery of Taemin he was anxious all over again.

“but still” Yuta whined “you have to tell me everything you know”

“I don’t know much, His name is Lee Taemin, he was disowned the minute he turned 18 and a year later they had me to try and redo having an heir, I know what he looks like”

“oooh, is he handsome?” Yuta teased. Taeyong only laughed and shook his head, not in disagreement but amusement at his best friend. “that’s all you care about? You know he must be like really old now” said Taeyong but Yuta paid him no mind. “oh please! He must be in his thirties, that’s hardly old and besides I kinda like older guys, they’re more mature”

“yeah well enjoy dust out of my half-brother’s , I might go have a little chat with Winwin”

“you wouldn’t dare!” Yuta shouted and scared a group of first year Hufflepuffs. Taeyong laughed as Yuta quickly apologised and caught up to him with a red face. “come on Tae, I’m making so much progress, I swear he’ll be into me by the time school starts”, it was no secret that Yuta was infatuated with the most adorable second-year Hufflepuff called Winwin. Ever since he saw Winwin in the great hall during the sorting ceremony, he was smitten.

“I was only kidding, no need to get your wand in a knot”

“I see what you’re trying to do, you’re trying to distract me from the more important things right now, you have a long-lost brother and you didn’t tell me sooner! It’s the last day of term and we’ve wasted so many opportunities to be like Sherlock Holmes!” said Yuta. Taeyong only dropped the bomb on him at the very last minute in their potions class. Yuta practically jumped out of his chair and five points were taken from Slytherin house. Taeyong was amused; Yuta was not. He huffed and gave Taeyong the silent treatment for a whole two minutes before his curiosity got the better of him.

“Sher-who?” Taeyong’s face scrunched up in confusion, “it’s a muggle thing don’t worry about it” Yuta explained.

“anyway, we really should have some research while we still can, I mean it’s not like your mother is going to talk about this Taemin guy, he must have been disowned for a reason and I have no doubt it’s a soft spot for her” Yuta scratched his chin as he went through all the possibilities in his head. Taeyong on the other hand rolled his eyes. “she doesn’t have a soft spot for anyone, not even Jinki” said Taeyong. He would always be bitter about how he parents treated him as well as disrespecting the memory of diseased older brother. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but be just as curious about the mysterious Lee Taemin.

“and I have done a little research by myself” Taeyong whispered, mostly to soften the explosion he knew was coming. “you did what! Without me?” Yuta pouted and Taeyong decided to finally let his best friend know everything.

Lee Taeyong and Nakamoto Yuta had been best friends since they stumbled into each other on the train in first year. Taeyong knew children his age from pureblood families but Yuta was his first real friend, he was completely alone and entirely amazed by all the magic. Even at a young age Taeyong strayed from his parents and befriended someone he knew they wouldn’t approve of, but Taeyong was a kind child and shared his sugar quills with the muggleborn. Thankfully the two were sorted into Slytherin and had spent the past three (going on four) years glued together. They never kept secrets or hid anything from each other, so Yuta’s sour mood was understandable. Taeyong was going to throw him a bone.

Taeyong grabbed his friend and pulled him in the opposite direction and towards a staircase just about to move. Yuta didn’t question Taeyong and loyally followed him. They came towards a glass, trophy case where the past house and quidditch cups from over the years. Taeyong scanned the rows of gold, silver and bronze before he found a shield from years ago, before either of them were born, they were unfamiliar names such as Kim Jongin, Oh Sehun and others neither of them recognized. Among them was the unmistakable “Lee Taemin: Captain, seeker”, that was it, that was all the information they knew; he was captain of the quidditch team and was the reason their house won the quidditch season. Taeyong thought that was impressive at least.

“this is it?” Yuta asked, he was very unimpressed. Taeyong was offended. “what else was I supposed to do? Its like he disappeared, my mother got rid of any evidence that he even existed apart from the portraits, but even then, she hid them from me for fourteen years of my life” said Taeyong.

The two bickered back and forth that they didn’t even notice the disgruntled first year Ravenclaw impatiently tapping their foot.

“why are you looking for Lee Taemin?” he asked impatiently and made the Slytherin pair jump and turn quickly. The first year was adorable with chubby cheeks and round eyes but the way he spoke was a complete contrast to his appearance, you would never expect such an innocent looking child to have such a sharp tongue.

“who are you?” Taeyong asked and the Ravenclaw narrowed his eyes.

“answer my question first” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn’t trust whatever Taeyong’s intentions were with Taemin, it was almost like they were trying to hunt him down.

“he’s my half-brother, now answer my question” Taeyong shot back, “my name is Choi Yooguen” Yoogeun said very proudly “first year Ravenclaw, happy now?”, this sassy little kid was starting to get on Yuta’s nerves and he decided to be snarky right back “hey, watch the attitude and didn’t your mom ever tell you it was rude to eavesdrop” said Yuta but Yoogeun didn’t deter at all.

“first of all, I don’t have a mom, and secondly, I wasn’t eavesdropping, your loud mouth has been screaming all over the castle”

“loud mouth?! I’ll show you- ““Yuta, find your chill! And you! Yoogeun, how do you know who we’re talking about?” Taeyong cut him off before his best friend started fighting with some twelve-year-old. That would definitely earn them a detention with Mrs Kwon even if it was the end of the school year.

“I don’t” Yoogeun shrugged and thought about it for a moment before speaking again “unless the Taemin you’re talking about is in his early thirties, really pretty, he was born into this really rich pureblood family they disowned him for being gay, he was a Slytherin when he was at Hogwarts but that was a long time ago, also he’s about this tall” Yoogeun raised his hand high above his head to try and downplay the other personal details he revealed about Taemin. However, Taeyong wasn’t fooled and he was shocked at what he had just learnt.

“that’s why they kicked him out?” he asked, and Yuta let out a low whistle. “Tae that’s pretty ed up” said Yuta. “I know” Taeyong nodded along and shifted his balance from foot to foot.

All of this was making Taeyong very uncomfortable, he knew his parents were cruel, but he didn’t expect them to be so bigoted towards their son, especially after the loss of Jinki, it didn’t matter that they didn’t have the same biological father. His parents were obviously not meant to be parents.

“so, I guess we’re talking about the same person” Yoogeun seemed to suddenly take pity on Taeyong or perhaps he was just sad for Taemin, the man that he clearly knew. Finally, Taeyong had a solid lead as to who Taemin was, maybe Yoogeun would help him because his mother definitely would not. “then I’ll ask again, do you know Taemin?” Taeyong was getting antsy. “oh, he’s my uncle” Yoogeun said dismissively like it was the most obvious answer in the world. Taeyong searched his face for any sign that he was joking or any kind family resemblance, Yoogeun didn’t look anything like him, Taemin or the rest of the Lees.

“wow your family tree is a lot more complicated than I thought” Yuta chimed in.

Yoogeun caught to what Taeyong was looking for “we’re not blood related, he married my other uncle, my dad’s twin, I’ve known Taemin my whole life”

“help me” Taeyong blurted out and surprised both Yoogeun and Yuta.

“I know nothing about Taemin apart from the fact that he was a good quidditch player, I didn’t even know he existed until two weeks ago”

Yoogeun then got over his surprise and smirked “sure he’s good but he’s not better than my dad” he pointed to the case and next to the shield was another, this one saying “Choi Minho: Captain, Chaser” for one year after Slytherin won the quidditch season, this one was for Gryffindor.

Taeyong didn’t pay it much mind but Yuta’s eyes almost popped out of his head. “wait Choi Minho?! The Choi Minho? He was one of the best players of his generation” Yuta said. Although Yuta was a muggleborn he had fully integrated into wizarding society and followed professional quidditch teams quite closely; Choi Minho being one of his idols. Yoogeun was smug but Yuta grew sceptical. “Choi Minho doesn’t have a twin though, and you said that your dad’s twin married this Taemin guy” Yuta stated, and he felt proud of himself. Although Taeyong would never understand the reference he did feel like Sherlock Holmes for a second.

Yoogeun huffed at his disbelief “I have two dads, genius” all pity was gone now, and he returned to his snarky nature as he spoke “look do you want me to help you or not?”

Taeyong didn’t want to beg but that’s exactly what he did “please, you’re the only lead I have and besides I think this makes us family” he awkwardly said and Yoogeun seemed just as awkward, “yeah I guess” he muttered.

Then Yoogeun took off and expected the two to follow him, Yuta whined about how they would miss dinner, but he still wanted to be a part of this. Family has never been important to Taeyong, but he seemed so invested in this, and Yuta would support him through and through.

They stumbled their way to the Ravenclaw common room when Yoogeun suddenly stopped, causing the Slytherin duo to almost slam into in him. He spun around and held his hand up to their faces, silently telling them to wait outside. They patiently complied and waited for him until Yoogeun came stumbling back in front of them, he held a photo in his hand and pushed it into Taeyong’s chest for him to take. “I wrote his address on the back, if anyone asks I didn’t say anything, okay?” he asked and Taeyong nodded furiously “okay!”, Yoogeun shuffled back into his common room after dismissively answering the statue’s riddle.

Taeyong looked down at the picture in his hands. He was shocked to the same teenager he saw in the portrait, only older and with raven hair. He looked much happier in the photo, his laugh was captured in the moving photograph as he held a smaller man in his arms. It was the complete opposite of how he looked as a teenager, his smile was so pure and there was no doubt that the other man was the cause of that. As the figures continued to move, the small, blonde man pressed a kiss to Taemin’s cheek as flowers bloomed behind them. He turned the photo over saw an address for somewhere in London.

“Tae, I know this is really hard you and I don’t want you to rush into anything, but I think maybe you should find him” Yuta wrapped his arm over Taeyong for comfort. “why?” Taeyong couldn’t take his eyes off the photo, just watching the loop of Taemin laughing over and over.

“he might know what happened to Jinki” said Yuta, and everything fell into place. Taeyong never knew what happened to his older brother, and as much as he liked the idea of Jinki that he created in his head, but he needed to know the truth.

*

“so, you’ll stay with me while we find him, are you sure your mother will be okay with this?” Yuta asked as they sat down at the Slytherin dining table in the great hall. When they finally got to dinner Yuta ignored his hunger and devised a plan for Taeyong to stay over the summer, he knew his parents wouldn’t mind at all; in fact, they would be overjoyed for Taeyong to come over. The Nakamotos amazed by magic and they knew no other wizards apart from their children.

“she really wouldn’t care” said Taeyong.

“Taeeyooong!” a soft voice called out and before he knew it a Hufflepuff girl glued themselves to his side, wrapping their arms around his torso. Taeyong wasn’t surprised to see Sana, Yuta’s younger sister. Just like her brother, her affections were anything but subtle. “I heard you’re staying with us over the holidays, I’m so looking forward to it” she said as she fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“leave him alone, Sana, you better not annoy him all summer” Yuta poked his sister’s cheek playfully and she stuck her tongue out at him.

“go sit at Puffy table where you belong” Yuta hissed at his sister like he was a snake, Sana huffed and stood up, “why are you so mean?” she wined as she stalked off. At times like these Taeyong couldn’t help but be jealous of their relationship. He grew up without a sibling. Taeyong would rather have something to argue with, it would beat speaking to a grave all throughout his childhood.

While Taeyong was swimming in jealousy Yuta’s eyes followed his sister to the Hufflepuff table and his eyes landed on Winwin, he was perfect in every way; at least to him. He didn’t want to stare but he couldn’t help himself, Winwin’s eyes met his and the younger boy blushed, Yuta sent him a small wave and the Hufflepuff was even more flustered. Yuta pulled his wand from his pocket along with a piece of parchment, he scribbled something quickly before waving his wand, before their eyes the parchment folded itself into a bird resting into the palm of Yuta’s hand. He blew the bird towards the Hufflepuff table and the parchment took flight, flapping its delicate wings before falling into Winwin’s lap.

Winwin looked around before carefully unfolding the note, “write to me over the holiday?” Winwin read quietly to himself, his heart fluttered, and his head shot up, so he could mouth a “yes” to him across the great hall. They held eye contact before a moment before they shyly broke away.

“Tae did you see that” Yuta eagerly shook his best friend. Taeyong was glad Yuta was there to distract him from his thoughts.

Even if their plans fell through a summer with Yuta didn’t sound so bad.