【 i used to be so tough, never really gave enough
and then you caught my eye, giving me the feeling of a lightning strike 】

— The Vamps, Somebody To You

『𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄: 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘』

𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅𝐅 the Hogwarts Express and immediately reunited with her dragon Kairus and her cat Duchess, Solar made no effort to converse with her fellow Slytherins, let alone those from other houses. She never liked the idea of being a groupie, which is probably why most people are intimidated by her. No one impresses her. She never needed anyone's company but her dragon and cat's, sometimes her sister's. Most students find her absolutely terrifying, despite the fact that half of the students—of all genders and years—tower over her.

The very definition of small but utterly terrible.

Having a dragon with her limited her potential choices for roommates. And by limited, they meant eliminated. No Slytherin wanted to share a room with the scary Dragonne, her face-scratching feline, and her fire-breathing pet. And that was not a problem for Solar. In fact, she preferred it.

Waving her wand around, she quickly settles down to her room by unpacking. Clothes, books, potions, and her other belongings levitated in the air, floating toward their respective places. Another flick of her wand and she opened the dark green curtains of her solo room, rays of sun cascading over her pile of mess that she has yet to sort through.

She walked toward the window that stretched from the floor beneath her feet and over her head. Merlin, even her windows were taller than her. How could someone so small carry so much hatred for the world?

Solar sighed deeply, remembering the task her mother and father had bestowed upon her. The wretched task of her finding a partner. She was only 16, for Merlin's sake! She shouldn't be worrying about a marriage that's only to occur a few years after their graduation. She should be worrying about her future papers for History of Magic, her growing disinterest for Herbology assignments, or how she could be better at Arithmancy. Normal Hogwarts student stuff.

Is that too much to ask? For the eldest Dragonne? Apparently, it is. Ylliard and Fiola only have two daughters, both of which are already expected to take their future spouses' last names. Granted, Solar and Aris have male a cousin, Legend, who can continue spreading the family name. But if Ylliard and Fiola are going to let their daughters take another wizard's name, they might as well be honourable ones.

Solar saw the dragon's reflection through the dusty window, causing her to whip around.

"Kairus, capril!" She called out to him in a hurry, her eyes wide. Kairus stopped at the witch's command. It looked almost comedic, the scene before her. His mouth was wide open with the light of a fire crackling at the top of his throat, about to breathe fire and burn her very much alive Care for Magical Creatures book. He stayed like that for a couple of seconds, his wide mouth ready to barbecue the book while his eyes were fixated on the girl.

Solar could not help but stifle a laugh at the precious creature, shaking her head slightly until she finally spoke again.

"Phersos ynar. Lev gui aroza." She told Kairus. Everything's fine. Leave it alone.

Kairus clamped his mouth shut and took a couple of penguin-like steps backwards, she swore she saw him almost pout like a disappointed child.

.・゜゜・

One of the places she despises in Hogwarts is the Great Hall. It's where all the students from all houses as well as the professors gather for meals, assemblies, and special events. That being said, the place is often unbearingly noisy.

Much to no one's surprise, Solar kept a safe distance from the rest of the Slytherins as they slithered back to their own circles of friends and minions.

The floating candles above them flickered its flames as Solar unshamingly stared up at them, looking rather bored. No, absolutely bored. When the choir of wizards and witches finally sung their last note and dispersed back to their seats, Solar sighed in relief and mustered slow, unimpressed claps until Albus Dumbledore, current Hogwarts Headmaster, emerged toward the front with welcoming open arms.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts." Dumbledore's voice bounced against the grand walls of the Great Hall, reaching even the students at the back. "Now I'd like to say a few words before we become too befuddled by our excellent feast."

"First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, professor!" Dumbledore waved his open palm toward the new professor, the said teacher standing up from his seat, hands clasped, bow modest, and intentions unknown as the students clapped for his arrival.

"Hmm. At least there's no way he'd be worse than Gilderoy." Solar whispered to herself, briefly detaching herself from the assembly.

"—our Care of Magical Creature teacher for many years has decided to retire, in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs." Dumbledore proceeded. Solar, who was drinking from her goblet when that announcement was brought up, nearly choked on the liquid at the sudden laugh that was eager to escape her throat.

She shouldn't laugh at that. But oh she did so without shame.

"Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid." The white-haired headmaster turned to Hagrid as another round of applause echoed in the hall, just as the sound of the teachers' long table screeched against the floor and the cutleries collided on one another when the large man abruptly stood from his seat, startling the professors.

"Finally, on a more disquieting note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the Dementors of Azkaban until such a time as Sirius Black is captured." Dumbledore announced and the crowd erupted into a series of chatters.

Any trace of entertainment or disinterest vanished on the eldest Dragonne sister's face upon the mention of the Dementors. Her mind brought her back to the broken down, iced up train just a few hours ago. She remembered how the lights were flickering until it went out. How the sound of ice freezing up the droplets of rain on the window made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. How the shadowy figure with a black robe over them and skeleton for hands passed by their compartment.

She didn't get to see its face, but she was guessing it would be just as horrific as its mere aura.

Solar cleared her throat, an attempt to pull her back to reality when she had wandered off too much, losing track of their headmaster's announcements.

"—a word of caution: Dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way." Dumbledore's welcoming personality disappeared upon the increasing darkness of the topic. "Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you."

"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving." He warned the students, his gaze zeroing down on the famous Gryffindor third year. Then suddenly, his aura changed, shifting from dark to light quickly. "But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times..." the headmaster waved his hand behind a candle, putting out the flames as smoke emerged from it. "...if only one remembers to turn on the light." With that, he waved his hand back and the flame reappeared on the candle.

.・゜゜・

Solar was on her way back to her room, unenthusiastically blending in with the crowd of students exiting the Great Hall, when amidst the ocean of chatters, she heard the yell of her name.

"Solar!"

Her sandy waves whirled around her as she turned toward the direction of the voice, her eyes landing on Cedric pushing past the students to get to her. With her eyebrows pushed in the middle, she stared at the Hufflepuff boy in confusion as he reached her.

"I didn't get the chance to ask you." He asked, the volume of his voice decreasing now that they were already near each other. He looked down at her with his bluish grey eyes, like the smooth, light stones that can be seen on the floor of a clear waterfall. It felt like that as well, being splashed with water when he takes one look at her—as if begging for her to wake up. The boy was tall, about 6 feet tall. Solar only got to reach his shoulders.

"Ask me what?" Solar brought his eyes up and down his figure, he looked tense. Nervous.

He narrowed his eyes on her. "Are you all right? You know, after all of that?"

Is she all right? Of course, she is. Seeing a Dementor up close was not as terrifying as living with her family's secrets...living with her secrets.

"I've seen worse." I've done worse.

The visibly irritated Slytherin was about to turn around and walk away when Cedric once again spoke.

"At the risk of being too pushy," Cedric said, then he looked around, scanning the faces of the students that were walking past them before averting his gaze back on Solar. "If you ever need anything—"

"The last thing I'll do is let you help me." Solar cut him off. Hurt flashed across Cedric's eyes and if Solar stuck around a second longer, she would've witnessed it. But instead, before she could even utter the last word, she already turned around to walk away.

.・゜゜・

"How kind of you to finally bless us with your presence, Ms. Dragonne." Professor McGonagall greeted.

Every fifth year student in the room turned their heads to meet the blonde Dragonne standing startled and panting at the doorway. It looked like she ran all the way over there. Not that it helped in her case, she was still twenty-minutes late in McGonagall's Transfiguration class.

"I overslept." Solar merely said, barely an excuse for being late in her first day back at Hogwarts.

"Clearly." the professor replied. "It's still the start of the term, so I'm letting you off this one, Ms. Dragonne."

Solar sighed in relief. She didn't know what to tell her parents when word finds them that she got detention on the first day of class. But her relief was short-lived when McGonagall proceeded to speak.

"We've already assigned pairings this term. You're partners with Mr. Diggory." Professor McGonagall turned to look at the Cedric Diggory comfortably situated in his seat on the second row, fighting a smile from curling on his lips–even attempting to hide it behind his hand, only to fail miserably, which he figured out when Solar looked at him with an annoyed glare.

"I trust that you two are already acquainted?" Professor McGonagall said.

"Very much so, Professor." Cedric chirped, a wide, tight-lipped smile stretching on his lips after.

Her sarcastic smile was accompanied by a bitter scoff, her blue eyes brewing a storm, staring right at the amused caramel-haired Hufflepuff, grinning ear to ear. He caught her glare while he shifted in his seat and he merely responded with the arch of both his eyebrows, as if provoking her further.

"Very well, then. Take your seat, Ms. Dragonne." McGonagall told the sandy-blonde Slytherin.

With heavy shoulders and forced steps, Solar made her way over to Cedric's table, slumped down on the seat next to the Hufflepuff boy, clearly in the mood for infuriating the girl. Cedric ripped his gaze away from the girl, but the teasing smile lingered on his lips. Even if he tried to hide it, the mere twinkle of his eyes was enough to expose him.

Solar rolled her eyes before locking it onto the pages of her Transfiguration book.

"What page are we?" Solar asked.

Cedric remained silent, a slight smirk tugging on his lips as he ignored the girl, staring straight ahead. His silence confused her, causing her to unlock her gaze from the flipping pages of her book and shift it towards her supposed partner.

"Have you gone deaf?" Solar spat out with an arch of her eyebrow.

"No." Cedric answered flawlessly, not bothering to spare the girl a glance.

"Then?" Solar questioned.

It was only then that Cedric finally turned his head to witness the flames of blue in her eyes. She easily gets worked up at things. Cedric sometimes hated it, but sometimes, he also enjoyed it. After all, it's the only way for her to notice him.

"'The last thing I'll do is let you help me.'" Cedric repeated the girl's words from last night.

Solar closed her eyes and sighed deeply, reasoning with herself about why she shouldn't strangle the boy right there. "Are you serious?"

"Your words. Not mine." Cedric defended himself. He went back to listening to Professor McGonagall, still with a smirk on his lips because he could see the girl staring at him at the corner of his eye.

It was the first day of school. She doesn't want to make any more scenes. She's already humiliated herself in front of this class.

"Cedric." Solar called.

"Solar?" He responded, looking at her with false innocent eyes, to which the blonde Dragonne nearly screamed at. The girl exhaled deeply through her nose, then reduced the hostility that was clearly evident in her voice and eyes.

"Can you help me?" Solar asked, her pride now drowning in embarrassment. The Hufflepuff boy merely raised an eyebrow, as if waiting for an addition to her sentence, which Solar immediately caught. "Please?"

The boy's smile widened at the magic word. "Page 52."

Sweet Salazar, at long last. Solar thought she would have to argue with the boy the whole class. Thankfully, after Cedric gave her the page number, the two of them proceeded with a silent session for today. That is, until Professor McGonagall announced a project.

"Seeing as we've already established the pairings this term, I've decided to give you the task as early as now to better prepare for it." Professor McGonagall told the class. "I want you to get to know your partner. Learn about their likes and dislikes. Then through Conjuration, create a gift for your partner to be given before winter break."

Great. More time with Diggory. Just what I needed. Solar closed her eyes and dropped her head on top of her book, sandy waves falling on the sides of her head, hiding her face.

"And before you even think of cheating, I'll have you know that this project also requires you to do a report on your progress of conjuring. It is some of the most complex magic taught here in Hogwarts therefore I assume it will take some time. Hence, the early announcement. The report shall include photographs of the procedure, interview questions and answers, and, optionally, relationship development."

Cedric choked a cough at McGonagall's last requirement for the report, earning her and his classmates' glances. Solar even raised her head from the desk and turned to the boy tapping his chest aggressively as if to relieve himself from coughing. The toffee-haired Hufflepuff glanced at the girl and his ears reddened at the look on her face—the curiosity and suspicion lurking in her subtle, perfect blemishes.

"Is everything all right, Mr. Diggory?" the professor asked, genuinely concerned.

Before the professor even finished her sentence, Cedric was already eagerly nodding. "Yes! Yes, everything's all right."

Solar narrowed her eyes on Cedric before Professor McGonagall finally dismissed them from the class. The blonde Slytherin hugged her books against her chest as she made her way out of the Transfiguration classroom, immediately heading the corridors filled with students of all years.

"Solar!" Cedric called out for her.

The girl nearly groaned out loud before halting her steps and turning around, seeing the boy catching up to her, his cinnamon waves bouncing on his head until he finally reached her.

"Shouldn't we schedule a meeting for the project?" He asked, adjusting his robe after running past a couple of students.

"Then go ahead and schedule. I've plenty of free time." She responded as she looked up at him. Just looking up at him felt insulting to Solar. She hated that even some students with years below hers were taller than her. The urge to do a Growing Charm on herself was astounding. But she knew better than to cast spells on herself. Perhaps she just might cast a Shrinking Spell on the rest of them.

"Shall we do it tomorrow after class then?" Cedric suggested.

"No, I'm busy." Solar quickly answered, not even bothering to spare a few seconds to think about it.

"You just said—"

"I say a lot of things."

Cedric sighed deeply as he looked away, hands landing on hips—his left hand still holding his Transfiguration book. He shifted his gaze back on her, still as patient as ever, despite it being challenged every time they spoke to one another.

"Tomorrow. Free period. The Library." Cedric said.

"I'm busy." Solar once again denied.

"No, you're not." He told her, then a smile stretched on his lips. "I'll see you tomorrow."

The Hufflepuff boy began walking backwards with the smile still lingering on his lips before he turned around and walked away.

.・゜゜・

I always enjoy writing sunshine x grumpy dynamics <3 btw, you can listen to the songs mentioned at the start while reading that particular chapter. i actually recommend it! the songs enhance the vibes of the chapters for better reading experience.

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter!