Tessa Brennan and the Cursed Light

Chapter 1

Fliffidy floof fluff.
•••

Tessa turned in the bed, cocooning herself about the sheets. Snuggling her head into the pillow, she groaned.

"Well good morning to you, too."

Tessa answered with another groan.

"Oh you don't say? I never would have guessed. That's very interesting."

"Shmt frmp rp Kdmrn."

"Mhm. Yes, how fascinating."

Tessa moved her head to the right and blew hair out of her eyes. "Cap the sarcasm, Gray. You're gonna need it later."

Kaden leaned forward in his chair. Tessa looked up at him, trying very hard to glare- but she knew it was futile. She just couldn't find it in her heart to be upset with her best friend.

"Oh?" He ruffled her hair and raised an eyebrow. "What am I saving my precious sass for?"

"Why, only the most pretentious, stuck-up, infuriating professor in the entire world."

"I assume you mean Ms. 'Queasy.'"

Tessa snorted and rolled onto her back, eyes to the ceiling.

"Why are you even here anyway?"

"Am I not welcome?"

"Hah," Tessa propped her head on her arms. "You randomly come into a girl's room at 6:00 in the morning and expect her not to question it? Maybe you're more stupid than I thought."

"I thought you said we should save the sarcasm."

"Kaden Gray, you are in the goddamn girl's dorm. Do you know what Dale will do to you if she finds out? Not to mention the professors. You could be expelled-"

Kaden chuckled and held up his palms in surrender. "Okay, okay. I just wanted to check up on you. Besides, you always sleep in. I'm just reminding you that we have a super important quidditch game today and if you're late for class, you can't play. Also, I would not be expelled. I'm a Prefect for Merlin's sake."

"Oh, so you're gonna use the Prefect card on me."

"Yep."

Tessa buried her face into her pillow and sighed.

"Tess. We need you. You're the bloody Seeker."

"Mhmph."

Tessa heard the pad of feet against wood, and then strong arms wrapped under her armpits and pulled her up.

She cocked her head back onto Kaden's shoulder and blinked up at him with sleepy eyes. "I hate you."

Kaden smirked. "Love you, too."

•••

"Bloody hell. You look like you had a passionate make-out session with a dementor."

Tessa glared daggers at the boy sitting across from her. "Some friend you are."

Mark shrugged and stuffed a creme-puff in his mouth. "Friems tell da twuth."

"But they definitely don't place Dungbombs in the Hufflepuff common room, right?"

Mark stopped mid-chew and shot a grin behind him. "Dwale!"

Dale leaned over and booped his nose, shaking her head in exasperation. She shifted her robes and moved to address Tessa, smiling. "Hey, Tess- whoaaaa. You look like shit."

Tessa threw her hands up in the air. "Why the hell does everyone say that?" She turned incredulous eyes to Kaden, silent next to her. "Do I really look that bad?"

Kaden looked uncomfortable. He cleared his throat. "Well. You do look like you could use more sleep."

"Oh for fu-"

Dale narrowed her eyes. If looks could kill, Tessa would be dead. She stopped mid-sentence and clamped her mouth shut.

Dale seemed satisfied. "Good save, Tessa Brennan. Alright, I've got to get back to my table."

"Bwye Dwale!"

"Goodness gracious- don't speak with your mouth full, Mark."

Mark grinned. "Whatvr yer shay."

Dale raised an eyebrow. "And shouldn't you be with us at the Hufflepuff table?"

"Heh. Prolly."

Dale sighed. She turned her attention back to Kaden and Tessa. "I'm rooting for you guys at the game." She winked and held a thumbs-up as she walked away. "See ya at Charms class!"

Tessa grumbled under her breath and stuck a forkful of French toast in her mouth. "Fwickin' fwends. Whart frwends? Bwoody-"

"Tess."

She swallowed. "-hell. I should just go back to sleep. I don't-"

"Tessa."

"-want to go to class with frickin' Queasy. She'll probably-"

"Tessa-"

Tessa swiveled her head. "WHAT."

"You're talking to yourself again."

"Oh."

Kaden smirked and looked down at his wrist, where an old watch resided. "C'mon, crazy. We're gonna be late for Queasy."

Tessa huffed. "Calm down, Gray. We have like ten minutes."

Kaden raised an eyebrow and stood. "Yeah, but the class is on the other side of the castle."

Tessa's eyes widened. "Oh shit."

Stuffing a lemon tart in her mouth, she hastily gathered her bag and all but leapt off the benches.

Sprinting from the dining hall, she called back over her shoulder, still chewing the pastry. "Bepcha cwant beat meh, Gway!"

"Oh, it is so on." Kaden smirked and sprinted off in pursuit.

Mark raised his eyebrows as he watched them run off. "Am I invisible?"

•••
So. Much. Fluff.