Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

If there was one thing Cody was ecstatic about when it came to summer, it was the amount of time allotted for him to spend preparing for Quidditch tryouts in September. Now that he could freely move about without the impending fear of failing his N.E.W.T.’s, he was able to focus entirely on Quidditch. Some would argue that this was not all that different from before, but Cody couldn’t express enough how much of a relief it was to have this opportunity. As much as he didn’t mind the prospect of being a potential healer one day, it was not where his heart led him.

Having Kenobi around was an added bonus. Because of his friend’s cynical parents, he was never afforded the chance to really spend time off from school with him. Aside from simply getting to hang out with his best mate, it reminded Cody that good change was possible and hopefully more of that was waiting for him in the fall.

He also saw a lot more of Satine than usual. They’d taken to hanging out a couple of times in summer’s past, but never this regularly. 

“Gee, I wonder why I’ve seen so much of you this summer.” He teased as they sat sprawled on a blanket in the backyard, a picnic basket between the three of them. He laid on his back, watching the passing clouds flicker through and around tree branches. Still, he cocked his head to the side to get her reaction. 

She frowned and rested her forearms on her knees, “Apparition has a great deal to do with it, I’d say.”

“Oh, is that all?” He smiled cheekily at the way her face reddened for reasons unrelated to the sun.

“Do you not wish for my company?” She retorted swiftly. 

“On a perfect day like this? In a perfect place like this?”

“Is that because you learned to play Quidditch here?” She countered.

“It’s part of it,” Cody held his hands up, “And do you think Kenobi or myself could have prepared such a satisfactory lunch?”

She tossed a grape at him, which he proudly caught in his mouth- a smile breaking loose on the stern demeanor she tried to keep up, “Flattery will get you nowhere, sir.” 

“Really?” He retorted and nodded to Kenobi, “Is that what you say to him?”

The large oak tree that Satine leaned against cast a pleasant shade to break up the uncharacteristically brutal sun. It was hot enough that Cody wasn’t otherwise inspired to work out longer than his usual morning sets, which spoke volumes to the torrid day. He happily opted for a lazy afternoon spent lounging around. 

Kenobi, who sat close beside Satine, watched her with what could only be described as quiet adoration before threading their fingers together. Today, he seemed even more reticent than usual, but Cody and Satine rarely minded filling the space of conversation.

“It is nice to have more time together… Away from responsibilities and all that.” She said thoughtfully, her tone soft, “I’m unsure we’ll have such an opportunity in the fall.”

Cody shifted in his place on the blanket. He was excited for all things Quidditch and possibility, but there was the ringing truth that his friends would not be there directly beside him through it all. He’d somewhat understood this last year, but it was a growing reality that would be flung upon them in just a month and a half’s time. 

These summer days, while slow-moving and idyllic, were actually racing through and past them at a speed they couldn’t comprehend. Time waited for no one.

“It’ll be different,” He agreed with a nod, “But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be bad.”

“No, of course not.” She scoffed, returning to her typical fervor, “You’ll be a bloody champion and I’ll be up to my nose in ministry business, I assume. The Muggle Relations internship is rumored to be the busiest there is.”

“Ah, so you’ll have the whole Muggle world to annoy with your social justice tendencies.” He chuckled and she lightly kicked his shoulder.

“And you’ll have an entire team to inundate with Quidditch jabber.” 

“Meanwhile, Kenobi is going to be the hall monitor of the real world.” Cody added grandly, but any flamboyance fell flat when he noticed how solemn his friend looked. He was hardly even paying attention to the banter, staring off into the blank horizon where green met blue and appearing as if he was accepting every problem in the world as his own. 

“Ben?” Satine nudged him and he turned back to them suddenly.

“Hm?” He cleared his throat and let go of Satine’s hand to bring his knees to his chest and leaned against the base of the tree.

“You’re looking a bit pale there, mate.” Cody said. “What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing!” He replied with a shrug that neither Satine nor Cody believed as genuine indifference, “Just tired.”

“Really, because you’ve been sleeping a lot lately.” He said and really, he was just realizing how much. Before, he thought it was because of the comment Kenobi had made about his beds at home not being quite as comfortable, but lately, he’d been droopier in general. Satine watched him with silent concern knitting her brow.

“I’m fine, really.” He shifted, not appreciating being under scrutiny, but also likely aware that he wasn’t going to be able to completely escape it. “It’s just… I haven’t heard back from the Academy.”

Satine’s jaw dropped, “What?”

“And today was the final date of acceptance.” He added while rubbing his hands nervously along the blanket.

“And you’re just mentioning this now?” She asked, eyes wide with surprise. 

“That’s impossible!” Cody sat up instantly, “There’s got to be some mistake!”

Though come to think of it, Cody didn’t remember seeing any Auror representatives trailing out their way this summer. Boba had described the entire recruitment process in extensive length, seeing as he’d been accepted once before. In retrospect, Kenobi hadn’t seemed very enthusiastic while listening alongside him.

“Clearly, there isn’t.” Kenobi snapped, but deflated guiltily before shrugging, “I knew this was a possibility from the start-”

“Like hell it was!” Satine practically roared as she turned to face him completely, “Surely, there was a loss of translation or something.”

“Satine, the Aurors specialize in confidential, top secret, elusive information.” He insisted, “They aren’t toying around with this sort of thing. Perhaps, they saw my performance in the TriWizard tournament and thought-”

“-That you are incredibly gifted and were a victim of sabotage?” She returned hotly, “Because anyone with eyes and ears could draw those conclusions.”

“I suppose it’s possible the letter went to my parents.” He grimaced, “Though I distinctly remember putting this address.” 

Cody stilled, “Wait, they don’t do in-person recruitment anymore?”

Kenobi frowned, “They haven’t done that for years. Why?”

Like a bludger to the face, Cody felt as though he was knocked off his broom to a very drastic fall. 

“Oh bollocks , I just remembered.” He bolted straight up, suddenly regaining energy to race inside with one purpose in mind. Satine and Kenobi just stared after him, confused and for Satine’s part, not cooled from her indignation. He returned, sweaty and out of breath and very embarrassed with the latest copy of Quidditch Monthly .

“Cody!” Satine scowled, “This is hardly the time for-”

“-I’ve got it.”

“What?” Kenobi asked. 

Forgotten from where he’d initially found it, he grabbed an envelope from between the pages and waved it in front of them. Kenobi, if at all possible, looked even more frozen while Satine’s eyes went round in shock before shaking her head disapprovingly.

“Sorry, mate.” He tried. “This came weeks ago.”

“You-What?” She dropped her jaw, “You’re joking right.”

“I got distracted! I swear it completely slipped my mind!” Cody winced, but hardly had a moment to explain himself before Kenobi snatched it from his hands with uncharacteristic impatience. His heart seemed to be in his throat as he tore open the envelope and scanned the parchment. 

Then, he stilled.

For a moment, Satine and Cody just watched him as he folded up the paper calmly and nodded, accepting his fate.

“I guess… It’s better than no answer.” He tried.

“They’re fools.” Satine scowled instead, running a hand along her boyfriend’s shoulder in a soothing gesture. 

“What kind of rinky dinky operation do they have over there anyway?” Cody added, feeling his own annoyance pricking at him, “Do they not want the brightest wizards working their cases?”

“I’m sorry, love.” Satine said mournfully, “I know you really wanted this, but maybe it’s for the best. You’ve got so many other talents that could be advantageous in a much less dangerous atmos-”

“-I got in.” Kenobi said, barely audible enough to be heard over the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves above them. One single green leaf floated down and landed on his pristine head of hair and he didn’t even react, just kept staring straight with unblinking and changed eyes.

“What?” Cody beamed and before he could react, Satine dove for the letter to read it for herself. Cody couldn’t wait much longer either and used his forearms to crawl towards them, effectively squishing Satine between the two of them. 

Even while reading over her shoulder, Satine proved herself yet again as the faster reader and repeatedly smacked his shoulder in exclamation. 

“He got in!” She gasped.

“Why the tone of surprise, eh?” Cody still felt relief fill his lungs, “I knew he had it in him!”

Satine snapped out of her own short-lived reverie to roll her eyes at him, “Oh, don’t act like you weren’t right there ready to denounce the entire program alongside me. Not to mention the much needed discussion of your one track mind.”

“Hey, I didn’t know it was important!” Cody tilted his head, “No harm no foul, though right? I mean, what matters is, he got in and is going to be the greatest Auror known to man.”

“He is.” She nodded in agreement, though didn’t look quite ready to drop Cody’s misstep until looking back at the still-silent Kenobi. 

“You’re happy, right?” Cody finally asked, because he knew when he was recruited on a professional Quidditch team, that he sure as hell won’t be quiet about it, that was for damn skippy. 

He furrowed his brow, as if to think about it for a moment. 

“It’s quite possible…” He trailed off before steadying himself and looking between both of them, “I very well could be elated very soon, but I just… I really thought I wasn’t going to amount to anything for a minute there.”

Guilt flushed through Cody, but before it could fester, Kenobi reached out a hand as if to physically stop him, “Don’t get me wrong, I would have appreciated knowing this sooner, but I’ve had this feeling ever since I made the choice to become an Auror. I almost didn’t want the letter, because then there wouldn’t be an answer. It’s the final mark of change in a sense, right? And now…”

Cody finally understood and Satine’s silence from beside him indicated she had too.

“It’s just a lot to take in.” He finished and shifted, feeling too heavy to stay rightside up before moving to lay down and settle his head in Satine’s lap. Some of the tension in his shoulders rolled off, but he still stared up at the sky warily. 

“You never would have been nothing.” Satine said quietly, petting his hair back away from his hairline, “A job doesn’t make you someone.”

“Just someone with more money.” Cody teased and Kenobi snorted.

Satine sighed, “Never one for too much severity, are you?”

“With you two around, somebody has to lighten the mood.” He smirked and ruffled Kenobi’s hair, earning a wrinkled expression from his friend. “But we would have been proud to have you around either way.”

“I’ll be sure to be proud of you too, even if you play for a dreadful team like the Chudley Canons.” He quipped and a slow and knowing smile stretched across his once stoic features.

“Please don’t get him started.” Satine groaned.

Cody leaned back and rested his chin on her shoulder, “Don’t act like you won’t miss me in the fall.”

“I’m going to miss the both of you.” She answered.

“Excuse me?” Kenobi teased, “Have you already gone and pre-ordered yourself a new boyfriend at the ministry?”

“Yes,” She deadpanned, but didn’t stop her ministrations through his hair, “He’s very dreamy and never disagrees with me.”

“So, he’s insane then.” Cody added. 

She elbowed him in the ribs in retaliation and proceeded to smack Kenobi on the chest when he openly laughed. She smiled though, just as pleased as Cody was to see their best friend relax a bit. In fact, he was finally beginning to seem truly happy that afternoon. 

“I love you both.” Kenobi said after a long and comfortable silence. 

“We love you too.” Satine smiled and while he hadn’t heard them proclaim it individually to each other, Cody could only assume by the twinkle in her eyes that it had been said before in private. 

“Likewise, mate.” Cody said, “And hey, who’s to say we won’t get more time like this? We’ve got the rest of our lives ahead of us.”

“That is true,” Kenobi chuckled, “Barring you don’t get yourself thrown off a broom one too many times.”

“Or you don’t anger the wrong psychopath.” Cody retorted.

“Or I, the wrong filthy politician.” Satine added. “I’ve already got a list of who to go after.”

“Okay, I no longer like this joke.” Kenobi muttered and laced their fingers over his chest, placing a delicate kiss on her knuckles, “Talk about Quidditch, Cody.”

Satine groaned, but there wasn’t much heart in it. 

Cody laughed, “Happily!”

Through his traditionalist pureblood childhood, Obi-Wan had no choice but to grow accustomed to wearing tailored suits and dress clothes regardless of the season or event. This meant, even in the dead of summer, he was expected to be in an appropriately coordinated seven piece suit- right down to the pressed pocket square. He’d begun to explore fashion choices outside of this mindset this summer, daring to wear shirts without collars and denim jeans. For the most part, he was enjoying these endeavors, even if being overdressed was instilled in him along with some other lingering side effects of his upbringing.

However, regardless of how often he’d worn suits in the heat, it wasn’t enough to prepare him for nearly sweating through his shirt before formally meeting Satine’s family. 

“Mate, your hair doesn’t look any different than it did the last five times you checked it,” Cody complained as he leaned against the doorframe of the upstairs bathroom. Admittedly, Obi-Wan had been taking up quite some time since he started to get ready a few hours ago.

While he was raised on the prospect of good impressions and the importance of appearances, he never cared quite so much until now. In all fairness, galas and balls came and went, but there was only one chance to impress his girlfriend’s mother and siblings. He knew going in that he likely wasn’t going to win her sister over, so he needed to at least score the favor of the majority.

“That doesn’t exactly lend me any feedback, Cody,” Obi-Wan retorted as he fiddled with his hair yet again, ensuring that no pesky flyaways decided to break loose. Satine didn’t seem to mind if it was a bit more natural, but he didn’t want to seem careless or lackadaisical, not when he was feeling everything but those things. 

“You know Satine likes snogging you no matter what you look like.” He reminded him. 

“Once again, not helping,” He sighed, “And besides, this isn’t about how Satine thinks I look, well not entirely, anyway. This is about not looking like a total bum when meeting her family.”

“There are two things terribly wrong with that statement,” Cody said with crossed arms, “For one thing, correct me if I’m wrong, but no bum I’ve ever seen has waltzed around in dress robes that probably cost more than this house.”

“I don’t know about-”

“-And secondly,” He interjected, “You’ve already met her family a few times! What’s the big deal?”

“That was prior to our being an official pair.” He said and held up a bowtie and a neck tie in front of him, “Which one?”

“Neither, you’re going to suffocate yourself,” His best friend shook his head and tossed them both away, “You saw her mother and brother at graduation just a couple weeks ago!”

“That was basically in passing and not an official gathering in the slightest,” He said defensively, “Apparently, introducing one’s significant other to the family as their official boyfriend or girlfriend is tradition in muggle households, even if both parties have technically met before.”

“Blast, and they think we’re looney.” He said, keeping the ties out of reach much to a very irritated Obi-Wan, “Trust me on the ties, mate, you don’t want to seem like you’re doing too much. That might come off a bit dodgy in and of itself.”

He’d never thought of it that way, so despite what his regimented lifestyle was telling him, he relented and even unbuttoned the first button on his shirt. He didn’t want to seem suspicious or with ulterior motives. 

“And ditch the vest and jacket, you’re going to be way too hot.” Cody said.

“No way,” Obi-Wan wouldn’t be telling Cody that he had already begun to sweat in this shirt and didn’t want to know if he had any pit stains or not. He couldn’t help being nervous. He wanted things to go smoothly, which Obi-Wan did not have a strong track record of accomplishing. 

When Cody fixed him with a hard look, he did compromise and remove the vest. He was keeping the jacket, though. 

“That’ll do,” He nodded in approval, “Anything less wouldn’t be very “you”, I guess.” 

He wasn’t sure if that was meant to be a compliment or an insult, but Obi-Wan didn’t really care what his best friend thought at the moment, not when his idea of dressing up was putting on a t-shirt without Hogwarts or Quidditch regalia all over it. 

“I should be off,” He said, checking his watch, “Being late certainly wouldn’t do.”

“We’re wizards, it’s going to take you three seconds to get over there,” Cody snorted, “Look, you’ve got nothing to be nervous about. Satine’s not the one with crazy parents out to get you , remember?”

He winced, “Yes, thank you for that reminder.”

“I’m just saying, you sit down, make some small talk, have a nice dinner, try to avoid speaking to her mum about anything scandalous like when I caught you two playing tonsil tag under the bleachers.”

Obi-Wan frowned, “I told you, it was just a quick kiss for good luck!”

“And just how lucky were you trying to get in my holy sanctum?”

“Oh, who asked you?” He flushed, “I will not be bringing anything of the sort up, anyway. I’m trying to convince her that I’m suitable to be dating her daughter, after all.”

“Which you are,” He was given a firm pat on the shoulder, which despite their endless training this summer, managed to jostle him more than secure him. “Try to keep some distance between yourself and Bo-Katan if you can, though. If my memory serves me right, she’s a literal ankle biter.”

Obi-Wan swallowed heavily. Yes, if he could manage to survive this evening without actually being bitten by Satine’s sister, he supposed that, alone, was a win.

Satine gave herself a quick once over when she passed her floor-length mirror that hung on the back of her and Bo’s closet door. Her hair was curled to her liking in loose tendrils that drifted just above her bare shoulders. The garnet romper she wore was quite smart in her opinion, pulled together by a brown belt that clasped at the curve of her waist. This belt, to her pleasure, perfectly matched the open-toe sandals she’d opted for.

“He’s seen you a million times, who cares what you look like?” Bo-Katan, who usually made herself scarce while Satine was home for the summer, droned from behind the curtain she’d very pointedly draped in front of her bunk. Satine’s mother explained it as an act of independence that wasn’t atypical for fifteen year old girls, though Satine never remembered going to such lengths three years ago. 

Then again, she supposed it wasn’t that different from pulling the curtains on her four poster bed shut at Hogwarts. Except, well, this curtain had rubber ducks on them, making Bo’s top bunk look a lot more like a fort forged by a small child. 

“I’ll have you know, I dress this way for myself, not for anyone else,” Though she’d be a liar to say she didn’t appreciate the awestruck look that swept over Obi-Wan every time he saw her dressed up.

“Keep telling yourself that,” She rolled her eyes as she shoved the curtain to her not-so-hidden fortress aside and leapt down to the ground, looking significantly dressed down in contrast to Satine.

“Er, is that what you’re going with?” She couldn’t withhold the slight edge to her voice, because, well, Bo-Katan did have the capacity to be pretty. She’d seen it when her mother forced it on her during holidays and family pictures, but she so often chose to be as purposefully drabby as humanly possible. 

“Why? What’s wrong with this? Not good enough for your hoity toity boyfriend?” She snapped.

“Putting effort into one’s appearance does not make you hoity toity,” She glowered.

“Unlike you, I’m not willing to compromise myself for some guy , particularly not your guy,” She crossed her arms defiantly, “I refuse to conform to whatever patriarchal bullshit that school brainwashed into you.”

Satine’s mouth opened and closed in what could only be described as shock. Was she hearing this right? Was Satine Kryze, who had been notorious for her consistent protests and battles for just causes and equality, being accused of aiding and abetting sexism?  

“I… I am not asking you to put on a bloody ball gown, Bo-Katan! Those sweatpants have holes in them, the bar is not high!” She said as she reconfigured her point. No, this was not about societal norms or standards of beauty, this was simpler than that. This was Bo-Katan digging her heels in the ground because she knew this was important to Satine and she wanted to do everything in her power to make it more difficult. 

“This is how I like to dress and it’s none of your business otherwise,” She insisted, “Sorry to disappoint.”

“Are you?” Satine furrowed her brow, “Because it seems to me that you enjoy nothing more than coming out of the woodwork to defy every menial and trivial request I make.”

“Believe it or not, not everything is about you,” Bo said, “Just because you disappear to a magical castle every year doesn’t make you royalty.”

“And just because you feel the need to act like one, doesn’t mean you need to look like the troll under the bridge,” Satine parried back. 

“I knew I never should have come home for this shit!” Bo shoved past her.

“Mum left you and I with very little choice in this arrangement,” She reminded her, because really, while Satine used to waste energy missing her sister when she made the strong point of being absent all summer, she didn’t have it in her at the present moment. “The very least we can do is make the best of it.”

“Easier said than done,” Bo grunted and on her way out of the room, grabbed a pair of jeans, which Satine rightfully took as preemptive compliance to their mother’s arguments, not Satine’s.

“Hey, Satine, your boy toy’s here,” Kory, their older brother, popped his head in the doorway, a smug grin on his face.

“Would you stop calling him that?” Satine sighed, because she wasn’t quite sure she had it in her to deal with two incorrigible siblings this evening. 

Luckily, Kory, despite his strong features and fiery hair and piercing blue eyes, was much more pliant than either of his younger sisters, and shrugged her off easily as they walked down the end of the hallway that led to the stairs. On their way, they passed numerous family portraits and pictures through the years that painted happy and solemn times shared in House Kryze. 

“Don’t worry about little Bo,” Though he was mindful enough to keep his voice low so he wouldn’t be heard by their sister, “You know she’s got to make it her mission to not be like other girls.”

Satine scoffed, “She’s being difficult.”

“Is that not a facet of every little sister’s life’s work?” 

“When have I ever made life more difficult for you?” She asked.

“Well, by leaving me alone with Bo, for starters,” He chuckled, even if they both knew that he got along swimmingly with Bo-Katan. It was she and Satine that couldn’t seem to see eye-to-eye, “And I’m not even including any magical mishaps that nearly took out my head over the years.”

“I can hardly be responsible when you were the one who insisted on being nosy and touching some of my things without asking,” She said. “Though I am sorry that tome screamed at you.”

“I couldn’t hear right all summer,” Kory muttered.

However, when they rounded the corner and trotted down the stairs, her thoughts were diverted completely from memories of the past to hopes of the future. Standing in the corridor, talking pleasantly to her mother, was the ever-handsome Obi-Wan Kenobi. His gaze followed the sound of their footsteps and washed over her with ethereal adoration that made her glow with warmth from her head down to her toes. If they were alone and not surrounded by her family of all people, she’d express this golden feeling by taking his face in her hands and kissing him senseless.

“Satine,” He said her name gently and with a shy smile that only made her heart thump louder in her chest. However, he was nothing if not observant and focused, because he immediately stuck his hand out past her and shook her brother’s hand, “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Kory.”

“And you, mate,” Kory gave his hand a slight squeeze before retreating, “I’ve been looking forward to this!”

“As have I,” He nodded.

“Yeah, I’ve been waiting to hear all about this shark you fought off last fall!” Kory wasn’t that different from their father or sister in the sense that they were intrigued by the heat of battle and physicality. When her interest in Obi-Wan became clear, Kory hadn’t shown his outward support until he’d heard of how Obi-Wan handled Maul. 

That wasn’t to say he’d ever been so vehemently against the idea like Bo-Katan clearly was and she was certain that he would have liked Obi-Wan even without glaring examples of his physical capability.  

“You, what?” Satine’s mother’s eyes widened almost comically while Obi-Wan, clearly panicking a bit at the mention of his ill-fated first task, hastily shook his head, “I didn’t cause any harm to the shark!”

“That’s not exactly what she was worried about,” Satine lightly patted his back, “We can discuss those details over dinner, hm? And perhaps, less gruesome stories?”

“You know, you always were a bit of a killjoy,” Kory winked and clamped a hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder to lead him over to the table. “But I bet you’re used to that!”

“Oh, no, I don’t think so.” Obi-Wan answered dutifully, “If anything, she’s the exciting one.”

“Ha! I’m sure!” Kory rolled his eyes, “Does she have you out on the picket line?”

“More times than once,” Obi-Wan allowed for a wry smile.

“You are brave.” He said.

Obi-Wan had never been to a feast where the host or hostess of the dinner conjured the food themselves- at least not from scratch and certainly not without help. He was trying not to appear rude as his gaze frequented the kitchen area where Mrs. Kryze busied herself with preparing dinner. The entire room was infused with a delectable smell that he couldn’t place, and even as Kory emphatically described his many athletic feats, it was difficult to focus on anything else.

“Hungry?” Satine asked when Kory got up to use the loo. He turned his head to find that she was quite close to him, watching him with a raised brow. She laid a warm hand on top of his, causing him to flush immediately. Not just at being caught distracted either.

“Oh, well, yes, but you see, I’ve never- Well, to my knowledge at least-” He kept his tone soft as he removed his hand from hers to set his napkin on his lap.

“-You’ve never had food prepared without magic,” She mused, leaning back just a bit at this revelation. He wasn’t sure why she was surprised by this, but then again, it hadn’t been something he’d fixated on until now either. “Well, I wouldn’t be getting your hopes up for any eel pies in our house.”

“I said they weren’t that bad, not that they were good,” He scoffed and then glanced back over to the kitchen at the sound of a timer going off, “I’m more fascinated by the methods at which everything is prepared, if I’m honest.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Satine said, “I suppose it’s kind of the reverse of how I discovered wizards prepared food. It kind of boggled my mind along with everything else.”

Mrs. Kryze slipped on a pair of purple oven mitts (of which he learned about in class), bent over and pulled out a large honey-baked ham that smelled as sweet as it looked. He watched with interest as she seamlessly sliced a sharp knife through the core of it, carving thin yet wide slices that were perfectly pink. 

“I’ve got much to learn,” Obi-Wan said wondrously and then turned to Satine, who was looking at him in a much different light, though not unpleased, “I suppose it’s payback for all the ropes I’ve shown you through the years.”

She guffawed, “That’s a funny one, seeing as my grades surpassed yours.”

“By half a point.” He reminded her, though he couldn’t help but grin at her intellectual prowess. Yes, indeed, if the roles had been reversed, Obi-Wan knew for certain he wouldn’t have been able to be placed in the muggle world starting at age eleven and graduate with top marks. 

“It still counts,” She said archly.

“That it does,” He agreed.

“Oi, that toilet sure does run slow,” Kory complained as he sat down again. “It’s like it’s gasping for air every time you poo.”

“Too much information,” Satine frowned.

“Says you, but do wizards even have toilets?” He asked Obi-Wan more than her.

“It’s been a few centuries since we’ve defecated in holes,” Obi-Wan retorted, which earned a sharp laugh from Satine’s eldest sibling- a task that eased Obi-Wan’s lingering anxiety a bit. Such sarcasm would have been frowned at in his childhood home and he was grateful that it was accepted quite openly from Kory. He wanted to impress each of them and while he’d met them all before, something about this all felt fresh and new.

“I know you’ve asked that before, Kory,” Satine muttered, sounding quite unimpressed by this line of conversation. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but smile. 

“Asked what?” Mrs. Kryze interjected as she approached with the hot tray of food.

“Where wizards shit,” Kory replied easily.

“Can I help you with that?” Obi-Wan asked at the same time.

“I appreciate that, Obi-Wan,” She smiled and then cast a soft glare towards her son, “I’m glad someone has manners.”

“I have manners! I’m merely inquiring about the important parts of their culture.”

“Really? Because to me it sounds you were previously boring the poor boy with your rugby statistics.” 

“Boring? Mum, I was top in the league!”

“Oh, they weren’t boring at all!” Obi-Wan said.

“Nonsense, dear, if you don’t stop him now, he’s only going to keep going until we’re all asleep in our potatoes.” She snorted and with that, set down an actual bowl of mashed potatoes. “Where is your sister?”

“Likely trying to escape through the bathroom window.” Satine said. “You’d think I was threatening her with life in prison by asking her to put on a decent pair of pants.”

“Bo-Katan! Dinner is ready!” Mrs. Kryze called. 

“I’m surprised she’s home,” Obi-Wan said, “Isn’t she usually at camp?”

“Oh, she wasn’t getting out of this one.” She smiled, “Satine stressed the importance of having us all here. You clearly mean a lot to her.”

“Mum…” Satine turned a charming shade of red that Obi-Wan tried not to be smug about, particularly when he felt the same way.

“Even still, she usually comes home for a week or two at a time during the summer,” Kory said, “Probably misses us.”

“Yeah, keep dreaming,” Bo-Katan, freshly showered with wet red hair and dressed in jeans and a black sweatshirt, stood next to where Obi-Wan sat, eyeing him with scrutiny. “He’s in my chair.”

“Bo, don’t be rude!” Mrs. Kryze hissed.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” Obi-Wan immediately stood and gestured for her to sit, “I’ll move. I hadn’t meant to offend-”

“-It probably smells like expensive cologne now,” She grimaced. “Is that the same stuff you spray your mail with?”

He and Satine were both quite ruby red at that question, as it had become a bit of a tradition for the two of them to spray cologne or perfume on the letters they exchanged back and forth. He looked to Satine for help, but it seemed she’d transitioned onto anger.

“I told you to stop going through my stuff!” She growled.

“That bloody owl nearly pecks me in the eyes every time it flies through our window. It’s hard to miss!” She complained, “Plus it always brings in dead mice.”

“Bo, sit over here, next to me,” Their mother patted the seat beside her and despite Bo’s clear distaste over the idea, obliged, “Satine says you played Quidditch at school, Ben.”

“Oh, I did!” He said as he reclaimed his seat, “I wasn’t nearly as good as our friend, Cody, but I played all throughout school.”

“You’re being humble,” Satine said, “You surely grew into your own.”

Though she didn’t say as much, he could tell she was referring to the tournament held back in January and felt positively aglow at her support. He cleared his throat and moved to change the subject a bit, not wanting to drift into a suggestive territory. Traditional courting rituals amongst purebloods were far more formal and any insinuation of physical affection was strictly frowned upon. While he knew most did not operate on that strict of a level, he still knew her family would not like to hear about it. 

“What I wouldn’t give to try that sport. It sounds insane!” Kory said happily. “Have you broken bones playing?”

“A time or two, but that’s not really a measure of my talent,” He winced.

“Must have taken a pretty bad fall or two to want to date Satine,” Bo said.

Obi-Wan very nearly explained that yes, he had fallen on his head before from the sport, but didn’t want to justify that remark with an actual response. As it were, Satine, pacifist ideals be damned, nudged her sister sharply with her foot. Or at least, she meant to, but accidentally kicked him in the shin instead.

He grunted instinctually and Satine’s eyes widened in horror while Bo-Katan only smirked.

“I am so sorry!” She said.

“It’s fine, my leg was in the way,” He chuckled, “Nice shoes, by the way.”

“They get the job done,” She shrugged.

“Speaking of jobs, congratulations on being accepted into the Auror’s academy! I hear that is quite the prestigious honor.” Mrs. Kryze beamed at him and when she looked at him with such genuine kindness and excitement, he could truly see Satine in her gaze. While Kory and Bo-Katan definitely looked more alike, which he could assume they fared more like their father, Satine was almost the spitting image of her mum. 

“Thank you, I’m very excited to participate in the fall,” He said, “It’s something I’ve wanted my entire life, so I hope I am up for the task.”

“That’s basically being a wizard cop, isn’t it?” Kory asked.

“That’s over-simplifying a bit,” Satine said, “But essentially more of a detective.”

“It’s unfortunate that a higher need for them has become a necessity,” Obi-Wan said, “A few years ago, it was considered a more cushiony position, since there wasn’t much dark magic lurking about.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Bo-Katan said, “Probably just hiding where you wizards weren’t looking.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Mrs. Kryze admonished and turned back to Obi-Wan, “What sort of classes did you have to take to qualify? Satine particularly loved her Charms class, of which you shared.”

Obi-Wan was taken aback by the question for a moment. She wanted to know what his favorite classes were? These were not the sorts of conversations he was used to having with his own parents. Then again, he didn’t have conversations at all anymore with them, for which he was grateful. 

He’d expected talks about his intentions towards her daughter, job prospects, even physical fortitude. Not… His own interests? It didn’t seem like a test, at least, not when Satine was nodding encouragingly at him while simultaneously trying to stop her sister from shooting spitballs across the table. 

“Oh, I loved Charms too, and not just because I shared it with Satine,” Though he did love that aspect of it quite thoroughly, “I was a big fan of Defense Against the Dark Arts, even with all the struggles we’ve had with maintaining professors.”

“He practically taught the class by the end of it.” Satine smiled.

“I did enjoy teaching,” He said thoughtfully, “If I weren’t becoming an Auror, I’d perhaps like to try that.”

“Well, who’s to say one day you won’t be teaching in some capacity?” Mrs. Kryze proposed, “Maybe some new Auror cadets or maybe a classroom at Hogwarts. You never know where you will be in 10-15 years. What matters, my dear, is that you’re happy.”

He swallowed, moved by that assertion as it was the first time something like that had been laid out so clearly for him by an adult. “Yes, of course. I… I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time.”

He spared a glance at Satine, whose eyes were shining with support and appreciation and if he were to allow himself to get sucked into her warm gaze, he would surely have pulled her in for a tight embrace. 

“And truthfully,” He added quietly, “It’s thanks to the people in my life.”

“I’m gonna barf,” Bo-Katan complained, “I’m trying to eat here!”

“You can’t do that if you keep talking,” Kory said smartly. “What would make me happy is if we play a round of games. After all, you’re not going to make it in this family if you can’t last through some old-fashioned trivia.”

Obi-Wan knew absolutely nothing about muggle trivia, but Satine’s family seemed giddy at his attempts to learn or guess what they could have possibly been talking about. Satine, on the other hand, seemed to be taking notes off to the side for some indiscernible reason that he could only attribute to her love for taking notes. Some habits took a while to die out. 

He swore Bo-Katan was trying to sabotage him at a curious game called charades, but Kory and Satine battled her efforts in kind and were generous with Obi-Wan when it came to be his turn to guess. He thought Satine was going to kill him when he couldn’t tell she was supposed to be acting out an alien. 

“You should have said something!” He said.

“That’s the point of the game,” She shook him a bit as she rejoined him on the couch only to watch Bo and Kory destroy them further, “I swear, I’m going to make a study guide for you next time.”

He thought it was a good enough sign that she was considering him for a next time. 

When they actually did get one right, even with his “horrendous acting”, he couldn’t help the euphoria that overcame him as he hugged her. Then, quickly realizing himself, released her like she was poisonous to the touch. When he glanced back to where her mother sat on the couch, her smile hadn’t faded. 

He promised to show them how to play Snitch Snatcher next time, as he was sure Cody had a copy of the board game and would love to bring it. Kory seemed particularly interested in this promise, as it would be the closest he could come to actual Quidditch. Then again, Obi-Wan didn’t doubt that their friend would show them a trick or two. 

Bo-Katan wasn’t nearly as happy to hear about there being a possible “next time” because she not-so-accidentally “tripped” and fell so her cup of water spilled right on Obi-Wan’s crotch.

“That is quite cold,” He winced, his voice going up an embarrassing octave. 

Her inauthentic “oops” didn’t exactly sell her commitment to the act either. 

“You did that on purpose!” Satine immediately accused.

“You’ve no proof,” Bo-Katan said sternly, “Maybe, he should just stay out of the way.”

“He’s been sitting right there the entire time!”

“I would think a well-trained sorcerer could have stopped any mishaps from happening,” She shrugged.

“If you don’t apologize right now, you are never going back to that camp ever again!” Mrs. Kryze said tightly. “I don’t know what crawled up your bum and decided to make you act like a real shrew today, but you better snap out of it.”

“Today?” Satine emphasized, “She’s been like this ever since I got back.”

“So, you’ve figured out what my problem is then. I guess that school did teach you something,” Bo said.

“Bo-Katan. Now.” Mrs. Kryze’s voice was sharp enough to cut a sheet of metal, similar to Satine’s when she got to that point where her ferocity could not be rivaled. It seemed to startle Kory, who was busying himself with a loose thread on his shirt. 

After a long moment of tension, Bo-Katan seemed to weigh her odds here and sighed heavily.

“Sorry,” The redhead said rather disingenuously. Yes, Obi-Wan was starting to see Satine’s perspective on her sister’s moodiness.

“Do you wanna borrow a pair of my trousers?” Kory asked, “I don’t have anything that nice, but we’re about the same height.”

“It’s alright, thank you,” Obi-Wan removed his wand from his jacket and performed a drying charm, taking out the stain and the wetness from his trousers. 

“Bloody brilliant,” He said, “So, you wizards could theoretically wet yourselves and get away with it.”

“Why do you keep going back to that?” Satine complained.

“I’m just asking!”

“Thank you again for having me,” Obi-Wan said as the night came to a close, a genuine smile on his face that warmed Satine’s heart. He was infinitely less stiff than he had been earlier and even seemed comfortable as he amicably chatted with Kory or her mother. Bo had blessedly retreated up to their bedroom to likely blast edgy music that she related to, which had spared them all from more teenage rebellion. 

“Oh, my dear, you are welcome anytime.” Before anyone could say otherwise, Satine’s mother enveloped Obi-Wan in a hug- one that at first he looked absolutely shocked to be receiving before gently returning. For the barest of seconds, Satine wondered when the last time his own mother had hugged him. She’d filled her mum in enough on the Kenobi’s and it seemed she also deemed the boy to be touch starved. “Do not be a stranger.”

“I most assuredly won’t,” He nodded dutifully, his ears bright red as they parted. His face was unreadable for a moment, though this seemed in part because he didn’t quite know what to do with these warm sentiments. However, it was clear he was grateful for them.

“It’s about time, really,” Kory said as he grasped his hand, “She’s been blathering about you for years now.”

“I have not been blathering!” Satine griped, but her mother didn’t jump to her defense on that one, instead giving Obi-Wan a knowing look.

“Well, he certainly has my blessing,” She chuckled, “If I believed in such sentiments, that is. And if I know my daughter, it wouldn’t stop her anyway.”

“That means a lot,” And it did, as despite his own sacrifices made in order to pursue a relationship with her, she knew the gentleman in him certainly wanted to make a good impression upon her mother. For that and many other reasons, Satine’s heart swelled ten sizes.

“I’ll walk you out, Ben.” She said and pulled the porch door closed behind them, “Before it gets too mushy in here.”

“Don’t listen to her! There’s nothing wrong with mush!” Her mother called.

“And don’t worry about Bo! She’ll come around!” Kory added helpfully.

“I hope,” Obi-Wan muttered once they were alone on her front porch, a sea of stars serving as a beautiful backdrop to the rows of houses that lined the streets. He looked quite decadent under the moonlight, especially as its soft glow highlighted his lovely features and made his eyes look particularly blue. 

“She’s in her own world, that one,” Satine waved him off, “But my mum and brother seem quite fond of you.”

“Thankfully,” He sighed, releasing the remaining bits of tension from his shoulders. He’d loosened his tie earlier, but that’s as far as he’d gone from stripping the extra layers of his suit. He had to be burning up as it was quite uncharacteristically humid this evening. “You know I love the Fett’s, but your mum was so much different than anything I’ve been used to. I was expecting a very stern sit-down that was vetting me for approval.”

“Is that why you dressed as though you were attending an interview?” She teased.

He looked down at his suit, fiddling with the jacket, “Cody thought it was a bit much. I had to sneak the tie on my way out.” 

She laughed, “Well, I must admit, I do enjoy the sight of you in a suit.”

“And you look ravishing as well,” He winked at her, “But I just didn’t want to be perceived as a slouch.”

Obi-Wan had likely never slouched in his entire life, let alone appear as one. 

“As if they would ever not like you,” She said, because clearly by the bundle of nerves he’d worked himself into, he needed to hear it.

“I couldn’t be too sure,” He shrugged, “I didn’t want to mess this up with a wrinkled shirt or unmatching slacks.”

“Did you see my brother?” Satine asked, “That polo hasn’t seen the wash since he got it. I’m certain he scooped it off the floor this afternoon and sprayed it with room Febreze.”

“Pardon?” 

“Air freshener.”

The blank look on his handsome face was obvious and she sighed, “It’s like perfume or cologne for a room. A sprayable candle, almost.”

“Oh, that’s… An interesting tactic.” He said slowly. 

“You can say it’s gross, because it is,” She smirked, “But removing your natural charisma from the equation, they tend to trust my judgment and it just so happens that I like you a great deal. Hell, you could even say I love you a great deal.”

He took her hand in his and looked at her through lowered eyelashes, “Yes, well, that is the opinion that matters to me most.”

“I should hope so,” She said in a low voice. “Lucky for you I think quite highly of you.”

“That goes likewise,” And he raised their joined hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss on her knuckles as he gazed into her eyes. “Goodnight, my dear. This evening has been lovely.”

He started to back away as if to leave when she didn’t release her own grip on his hand, pulling him back much to his confusion and her incredulousness at his befuddlement.

“Excuse me, sir, aren’t you forgetting something?” She asked teasingly, leaning in so he would catch the hint. 

She should have known better, because he took a step back and missed the point by well over a mile. He furrowed his brow and began searching his jacket pockets, “I’ve got my wallet and my wand-”

“-Obi-Wan Kenobi, were you truly not planning on kissing me goodnight?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

He looked at her as though she’d grown a second head, “No, of course not.”

“Excuse me?” Did she have bad breath or transported herself into another dimension where they didn’t do such things regularly? 

He turned his gaze nervously towards the door, “Satine, your mother and brother are just inside.”

“So?” She frowned. 

“So, that’s improper. I’d hate for them to think my intentions were murky and that at the nearest moment alone I’m trying to have a good snog with you.”

“They probably think that’s what we’re doing out here anyway!” She insisted.

“They- what?” He gaped, “But why?”

“Goodbyes are rarely this long, love.” She said. 

He seemed to think about that, “Can a person not merely be long-winded?”

“Apparently, you can. You do realize they’ve both seen the Daily Prophet article where I’m planting one on you in front of the paparazzi, right?” She asked archly. She really should know better that nothing was going to be easy with this boy.

“They have?” He went a bit pale at that, “You’ve shown them?”

“My mum likes to know what’s going on in our world, especially since the Maul ordeal.” She said, “Besides, I’m talking about a kiss, not a shag on the front lawn.”

“I should hope not,” He floundered at any implication at that, which in all fairness hadn’t yet come up in their newfound relationship, but he was quite cute when flustered to this extent. She had to stop herself from going in for the kiss right then and there. 

“This is why you’ve been so weird tonight,” She deduced.

“I’ve been weird?”

“Well, not weird, but a bit distant.”

“I didn’t want to be presumptuous and cross proprietary boundaries,” He said, “Particularly not in front of your mother.”

“You wouldn’t even hold my hand,” She rolled her eyes, “You don’t need to keep a perimeter distance from me around her. She’s not going to smack you with a newspaper.”

“In my defense, my hands were very clammy anyways,” He winced, “Not exactly a pleasure to be held.”

“I don’t mind,” She proved this point by taking his hand again, “Now, where were we?”

“And if they come out…”

“I’ll gladly take the fall,” She rolled her eyes, “Shut up and kiss me, Ben.”

Despite his previous hesitance, he grinned sheepishly and tipped her chin up with his finger, “If you insist.”

And gently yet thoroughly, he kissed her goodnight. 

If there was one thing Anakin was keen on channeling his focus into that summer, it was quidditch. Though Gryffindor had come out on top in the tournament back in January, he could feel how the lack of practice had caused parts of his form to go rusty. Since Cody was no longer captain and that role would be filled by another sixth or seventh year, it dawned on Anakin that in just two year’s time, he could be eligible for such a position. 

Well, the conclusion hadn’t exactly arrived at its own accord. It was Mr. and Mrs. Kenobi who brought it to his attention. They’d done their back-to-school shopping as a unit this year and admittedly quite earlier than previous years. Their reasoning was to avoid any riff-raff that the last week of summer often brought, but Anakin wondered if it had to do with the attack that occurred last year on Diagon Alley. 

An attack that everyone seemed to go out of their way to forget. 

Nonetheless, while shopping for the most high-end, expensive gear to best prepare him for a successful season, Mr. Kenobi was quite fervent in how impressive it would be for Anakin to add quidditch captain to his list of titles and accomplishments. At first, Anakin shirked off the unnecessary pressure, since he really just wanted a year of peace for a change.

Then, he looked back at his time at Hogwarts and truly realized that the last three years were entirely characterized by a variety of mishaps and danger. He’d involved himself in the cheating scandal first year (not entirely by his choice) and that nearly got him killed by Dooku, boasted about his success as the all-knowing “Chosen One” second year and almost met Maul’s blade, then shoved himself in the deadly TriWizard tournament and practically became a weapon used against Obi-Wan this past year. 

Perhaps, there was some basis to Windu’s belief that Anakin tended to find trouble, or at the very least trouble followed him like a shadow. Unlike what Windu believed though, Anakin didn’t necessarily like it that way. He’d learned a lot and had no intentions of putting anymore of his friends or loved ones in danger. 

Another reason he needed a realignment of focus was that he couldn’t quite shake the feeling of standing over Obi-Wan, an overflow of unexpected and unwarranted heat radiating through him, the intent of his positioning clear…

But it didn’t go that way. It was just a dream.

Just as his mother was in that field.

Anakin didn’t know what it meant that he no longer shed tears over his mother when he thought of her, that he began to forget the sound of her voice and the smell of her cooking. He had not given up in figuring out what happened to her, but his hope in that trail leading somewhere good was considerably diminished. He also knew she would be horrified to discover that he was ruining his time at Hogwarts chasing down fantasies of saving her.

In order to have a real normal year at Hogwarts, he needed to mind his own business and channel his energy into something positive. 

Thus, bringing him back to quidditch, since he really didn’t see his grade in Herbology turning itself around enough to deem him a total scholar. 

The Kenobis had purchased him two bludger cannons, which fired multiple bludgers at the same time at rapid speed, thus provoking him into spreading out across the sky and focusing on all angles. From sun up and until sun down, he was resolute in improving his skill and developing his own style. It definitely produced a workout and with the sun beating down on him, he worked up enough of a sweat to warrant an immediate dive into one of the many pools. 

It would be different playing with the team during the year, of course, but he was excited for the possibilities that came with that too. Rex was a shoe-in to start as seeker in Anakin’s opinion, since he was an absolute asset in their victory for the tournament. He felt bad for Moteé, since she was one of Padmé’s dear friends, but he had clear and understandable bias for Rex.

Even without that in mind, Anakin knew what Rex was capable of, and any captain who didn’t see that was a damn fool. 

He met up with the Fett’s a few times in neutral fields when the Kenobis were busy politicking with fellow socialites. They’d done an extensive series of interviews to change their image thanks to some unfortunate press at the end of last year, and were looking into third party candidates that might want legal aid for the Minister of Magic campaign. They weren’t big fans of whoever was running in Valorum’s place and they certainly didn’t want to advocate for Dooku. 

And really, how would they?

The only satisfying part of the situation was imagining Dooku getting absolutely panned in the polls, since he was pretty sure his pompous pride might explode at the humiliation. It wasn’t as though he could go from nearly murdering two students to a high-ranking politician.

Anakin didn’t have any time or need for politics, though, since it was a topic far out of his scope of influence. In his experience, good people never rose to the position of power anyway and he was disillusioned with the whole process ever since Valorum was so lazy about his mother’s case. They didn’t care about the regular person. None of them did.

So, Anakin wouldn’t bother to care about them.

Instead of worrying about what he couldn’t control, it was much more useful to worry about what he could. He was already approaching his halfway point at Hogwarts and knew there was much to come for him.

As Anakin batted at rogue bludgers with enough pinpoint accuracy to send them back up the barrel of the canons, causing them to explode, he sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“That’s the third one this month.”

He was ready and whoever would be his captain this year, he intended to be their biggest weapon. Nothing would be distracting him from his own goals and his own success. 

This year was about him.  

“So let me get this straight, we are going to view a bunch of fish in a large clear box?” Obi-Wan asked as he turned through the informational pamphlet, “For entertainment?”

“That’s a bit of an oversimplification, but yes, we are,” Satine said, dragging him along by the hand through the entryway, “I used to love coming to these as a kid and I have a feeling you might feel the same.”

“I do like your commitment to theming,” He said, giving her dress with the tiny shark print a nod.

“Always, my dear,” She said, “Some day, you might be able to say you can do the same.”

“Perhaps, I’ll get a full suit littered with fish,” He joked. 

“I wouldn’t put it past you.”

This summer of freedom had encouraged both Obi-Wan and Satine to explore many date ideas otherwise not available to them during their time at school, including but not exclusive to, carnivals, movie theaters, mini golf, arcades, and even a rather failed attempt at roller skating that neither wanted to acknowledge after the fact. 

Much of the novelty beyond getting time alone together was the hilarious introduction to the muggle world for Obi-Wan. Considering he spent most of his life sheltered from the other side, it was reminiscent of Satine’s first year at Hogwarts in the sense that he was amazed by absolutely everything provided to him. 

The first time they went out into the city, they had to take the tube several times back and forth, very nearly missing their dining reservation due to the pure and unadulterated excitement that radiated off of Obi-Wan. If Satine didn’t find it so adorable, she would have been annoyed. As it were, part of her longed to acquire that dropped jaw, doe eyed expression whenever she could manage it.

Since he loved animals, she thought it was a no-brainer to take him to Sea Life. She used to love going to the aquarium, where she frequented as a little kid with her mum and her siblings on the weekends. At the one nearest to her, they had a kids club that she used to enjoy, but at one point it had been about memorizing every fish in the exhibit. She loved it so much that as a young and unknowing little witch, she accidentally grabbed a Yellow Tang through the glass and pocketed it, making for a very confusing and stinky trip home. 

At least she didn’t have to worry about external distractions today, since he was quite keen to hurry past the ferris wheel on their way in. He wasn’t one for heights and had finally learned that lesson during their time at the carnival. 

“It’s not going to smell, is it?” He asked with a slight wrinkle to his nose, “I don’t enjoy the smell of fish, especially not the cannoli paste flavor.”

“No, it- the what ?” Satine stopped in her tracks to study his grave expression, “First the eel pie, now fish cannolis. What’s next? Cockroach candy?”

“To be fair, they do make a chocolate bug variant to the popular frog candy,” Obi-Wan said, “But as with most delicious moving desserts, they don’t taste like the creature they’re emulating.”

“No, Ben, it’s not going to smell like rotting fish,” She sighed, “It might smell a bit more at the touch exhibits, but like saltwater or kelp.”

“We can touch them?” He asked, appearing to get a bit more excited by that prospect before reeling back, “I don’t have to touch a shark, do I?”

“No, but as if I would ever let you,” She said with a warning look, “You’ve already utilized your one and only chance of fate against a shark and I do not intend on setting up a rematch.”

Any hesitance seemed to fade away as they actually entered the exhibit hall, which started them properly on their journey by mimicking as if they were to go deep-diving beneath the sea. When Obi-Wan first read the sign, he shot a look back at Satine in disbelief before she shook her head.

“They’re saying it’ll feel like we’re underwater with the deep diving creatures,” Satine clarified.

“I was going to say, last I checked, muggles couldn’t breathe underwater or conjure bubble charms,” He said with a laugh of relief.

“No, but-” And then she nodded forward, which as time would have it, displayed two divers dressed in black wetsuits as they used flippers to paddle around the large display tank, waving at people as they entered and aiding in cleaning the tank where several hundred different fish swam around them.

“Truly marvelous!” He said brightly, waving emphatically at the woman behind the glass, his eyes seeming to study just how she managed to breathe via the tanks on her back, “Much cooler looking than a shabby bubble charm.”

They continued onwards, following the signs that guided them along, though Obi-Wan had a hard time not standing in front of the wide glass and just staring into blue oblivion. For someone that nearly drowned in a water-related task, she could see now that if the task involved merely studying creatures beneath the surface, he would have enjoyed it a lot more.

“My, this is magnificent,” He breathed, not quite sure where he should be looking, especially as he tried to turn his head in all directions to take everything in, including reading all the signs with the little creature info cards on them.

The first exhibit was dedicated to the coldest regions of the ocean, showing fish that managed to live in temperatures near freezing and how they survived. What was most captivating to both Obi-Wan and Satine were the little domes that allowed them to peek their heads through and get a close up view of Gentoo Penguins.

“Look at all the snow!” He said in amazement, as the penguins slid down small slopes on their bellies and into the water, “How brilliant is it to conjure a way to curate specific temperature and climate settings?”

It was a rhetorical question to him, of course. 

“They’re so cute, aren’t they?” Satine gushed, leaning against Obi-Wan’s front as she craned her neck, “And look, Ben, a baby!”

He grinned, especially as the little furball pecked gently at the glass, its parents hovering closely as a family unit. 

“Penguins are strictly monogamous, you know,” Satine said, not afraid to go full tour guide for Obi-Wan, since she knew from experience that he quite liked it, “They raise their families together and it’s not uncommon that they stick together for life. They bow to one another to solidify their pair-bond.”

“Incredibly sweet,” Obi-Wan mused, raising a finger to meet the point where the small beak tapped, “He looks just like that whimsical little penguin in the movie you showed me.”

“You mean Happy Feet?” She laughed.

“It was quite inspiring,” He said with a shrug.

It was a struggle to get him to move along, though that was mostly fine for Satine, as it allowed her the opportunity to rattle off various marine-related trivia at every turn. Though he was pretty quiet from taking it all in, she knew he was listening and could already see his eyes scanning over the gift shop on the map. 

They were lucky to have come on a day that wasn’t too busy, as Satine knew the potential to get crowded with kids was very high. It allowed for them to mostly wander in peace, hands joined and eyes wide as they were reminded how small they were in this massive world. Though these creatures were not exclusive to muggle environments, there was less of a focus in wizard spaces, since mythical creatures tended to take center stage.

The jellyfish exhibit was washed in pinks and purples, painting them both in such colors as they watched the glowing orbs of jelly bounce around without rhyme or reason. The Coral Kingdom housed the largest coral reef in the entire UK and was far from a disappointment to behold such extensive beauty. The whale exhibit was intimidating, even as they got to walk through a life-sized skeleton for the sake of comparison. 

The rainforest exhibit, which was newer, consisted of a spider section that Satine could have done without seeing, especially as it also had domes you could step in to get a closer look. She was more content looking at various ducks and lizards from the swampy mangroves rather than any bugs or insects. Obi-Wan took interest as he did with anything and waved her over.

“Look at this one!” He said, pointing to a yellow and furry tarantula that was practically right in her face, and far larger than she was comfortable with, “Apparently, these spiders can eat entire birds!”

“I believe it,” She grimaced.

“What’s wrong? You’re not getting squeamish like Cody, are you?” He teased.

“No, but I do prefer bugs to be small as intended and not life threatening,” She said, “It’s probably the most intimidating predator in this entire containment!”

“I think it’s kind of cute, it would make a decent pet,” He said slyly, earning a gentle shove from her.

“I’ll do you one better: make it your girlfriend, because you’ll be down one anyway should you choose to collect something like that,” She said haughtily, and he pulled her in for a kiss far too sweet to be exchanged surrounded by a ton of hungry spiders.

Despite being more popular with children, Obi-Wan was quite taken with the hands-on portion of the facility, comparing textures amongst starfish and bravely running his hands along the backs of the stingray. Each time he came in contact with another, he gave her such an awe-inspiring look of glee that she once again wondered why he wasn’t pursuing a field that handled animals or creatures.

“Ah, seems like you’ve made a friend,” Said one of the conservationists when a starfish intentionally stuck to Obi-Wan, “They only do that when they feel safe.”

“Really?” Obi-Wan gasped, eyes wide like he’d just been given an immense amount of responsibility in caring for the prickly creature. One would have thought he’d been handed a full human baby by the immense weight on his shoulders. Satine did her best not to laugh at him.

“Well, he couldn’t be in safer hands,” Satine commented with a smile. 

They hung around this area for sometime, even though Satine did insist that Obi-Wan didn’t need to feel bad for setting the starfish down. Explaining that they didn’t have emotions was not the right track though, so she didn’t dare to go down it. 

“I am honored, little one,” He said in a low voice exclusive to the starfish, “But I must set you down before my hands completely turn to prunes.”  

“You truly are one of a kind, Obi-Wan Kenobi,” She said as they both washed and toweled off their hands in the designated area, freeing the rest of the section for the influx of children that came barreling towards the small pond.

“I do hope they’re gentle with them,” He commented before taking her hand again and pulling her along.

They went on to get lunch, both strongly deciding against any fishy options out of respect for their setting, but did feel that fish and critter shaped food was more than acceptable. It was difficult to make it through lunch without laughing as Obi-Wan confusingly mistook his octopus shaped chicken nugget for a human hand.

Satine commented that she’d trade him the hand for the phallic fish on her plate.

In a sense, this was always Satine’s favorite part, because she would choose eating barely edible cafeteria food with him at a cramped table shaped like a shark than a fancy candle lit dinner in Paris any day. She wouldn’t be opposed to experiencing that with him too, of course.

However, sometimes it was the simple things that made life feel the fullest. 

“This is bloody fantastic,” He sighed dreamily as they began to head towards the final section of the aquarium.

“And it didn’t smell very bad at all, did it?” She teased.

“Save for that one man that spent far too long gazing at the mythical mermaid mural,” He said, “It is always funny to me how muggles fancy mermaids to be these pretty and majestic beings.”

“You can blame the movies on that,” She laughed, “And sailors who were both drunk and apparently blind.”

“Apparently, because a mermaid is not the sort of creature a human would ever want to romance,” Obi-Wan said, “Ignoring how reproduction would be impossible at worst and unpleasant at best, they would sooner bite your face off than give you a kiss.”

“Sounds like Ventress should have been a mermaid,” Satine said.

“If only she had been,” Obi-Wan said.

“You haven’t heard from her since she left?” She asked, because while she didn’t dedicate her precious time to thinking of that witch of a woman, she did find it odd that she hadn’t resurfaced since walking off the face of the earth in the spring.

“Not even her parents have, according to Anakin,” Obi-Wan said, since that was apparently his only contact to whatever pureblood gossip swirled around the drain these days. Satine preferred it that way, actually. She wouldn’t miss the horrible things they said about Obi-Wan and experiencing them secondhand, “I do hope she’s alright. She was not in the right mindset when I last saw her.”

And by “saw”, he meant they battled it out in the middle of the hallway when Ventress freaked out over Obi-Wan’s refusal to accept their marriage agreement. That day still gave her butterflies, especially envisioning the way he scooped Satine up into his arms and kissed her triumphantly after successfully and finally separating himself from his parents’ wrath.

“Ventress is a survivor,” Satine said, “I’m certain wherever she is, she is not in the business of making herself the victim. I know she was tired of that during seventh year.”

“If anyone’s heard from her, it’s probably Quinlan,” Obi-Wan said, “I don’t think they left off on the best terms either, though.”

“She shattered his heart,” She reminded him, “If she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be, though I do wonder what that means for her. I don’t trust that she’s resigned to live in the shadows for the rest of her days. Revenge is absolutely her way.”

Any talk of Ventress ceased, of course, when they were immersed in the massive and grand shark tunnel, surrounded in all ways by the ominous creatures. There was something gray and soulless about their eyes as they hovered around, teeth bared and focus evident. It was hard to keep track of how many were kept here, but even with optimum distance between them, it still felt as though they were the prey in the tank.

“These can’t be stronger than the one I faced,” Obi-Wan said triumphantly, “I don’t think I would have been as scared to reach in one of their mouths, especially that one with the funny head.”

He was referencing the Sand Tiger Shark, which judging by how much quieter and swifter it was in its approach of prey, would have arguably been worse for Obi-Wan.

“Maybe don’t go around broadcasting that in public?” She suggested when they caught a few strange glances at his declaration. 

“Look, Satine, it’s as though we’re walking on water,” He said brightly when they came to the section where they got to walk on the glass that the sharks swam under, “An innovation so simple, yet so effective in showcasing all angles of wildlife. It is as though we are inside.”

“I’m glad you like it,” She laughed.

“Like it, I love it!” He exclaimed, turning to face her with a large blue tank to their right, reflecting off his face and making his eyes seem even bluer than usual, “You see, most underestimate the effectiveness of an educational date. However, I am never more attracted to you than when you are spewing off intricate knowledge and teaching me something, or we are both learning something together.”

“Is that so?” She stepped towards him, “Well did you know that sharks are naturally negatively buoyant which means they sink if they stop swimming, but Sand Tiger sharks ingest air to fill their stomachs so they can remain buoyant and to silently stalk their prey?”

“No, I did not,” He grinned, pulling her closer, “Tell me more.”

“Did you also know that while most sharks lay eggs, Black Tip Reef sharks deliver full babies and do so amongst various troves of coral to protect their young from being eaten?”

“I did not know that either,” He said, bringing her even closer, “What else?”

“I know you don’t know this, but it’s interesting all the same. A dogfish is actually a type of shark and though one of the smallest in size, they are quite opportunistic hunters and feed on many types of fish and crustaceans.”

“I never cease to be amazed at how wonderful you are at proving a point,” He said, leaning in the rest of the way and kissing her. 

With the gentle instrumental music playing around them and the vast and ambient flow of fish and sharks around them, it felt a bit like they truly were underwater, but even still, neither were in much of a rush to go up for air. 

“Satine!” Obi-Wan grinned widely at his magnificent girlfriend standing before him on Cody’s front porch.

“Wipe that dopey look off your face,” She teased, though the way her eyes softened immediately did not do much to sell her point, “You have manly sports things to do tonight.”

“Hey now,” He tilted his head, “You could come with us you know. I know how much you love watching one team try and take off the other's heads.”

“Oh how shameful of me to miss it,” She said flatly, moving to push past him before pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth after second thought. Obi-Wan was quite sure the dopey look on his face had returned, but Satine had made her point well known and he let her inside, “Where’s Cody, I thought he’d be screeching up a storm already.”

“Well,” Obi-Wan cringed, “I actually haven’t told him yet?”

“You’re springing this on him last minute?” Satine raised an eyebrow.

“Not by choice!” He defended, “Cody locked himself in his room last night and has refused to come out until the game. I get the feeling he’s doing some ritual that I, quite frankly, was not interested in getting sucked into.”

“You better go tell him,” Satine carefully pulled out a shimmering pink coin, “This baby’s on a timer.”

“You want me to face whatever he’s doing up there alone?” Obi-Wan shot a look up the stairs, but Satine just sat herself down on one of the plush sofas.

“I’ll be here to see you off,” She smiled. Her lovely expression undercut by a deviousness he could sense lurking beneath.

“Why yes of course dear,” He rolled his eyes and made his way up the stairs. Cody’s door was still shut, he could hear radio static on the other side, but not much movement. He knocked, the quidditch team stickers covering his door muffled the action, but not enough to be ignored.

“Cody!” He called and when there was no response he tried the handle, “I know you’re in there!”

The door swung open so fast Obi-Wan was hit with a gust of wind. Cody stood in the doorway decked out in regalia for the Pride of Portree and looked very much like he’d drank several energy potions and decided not to sleep.

“What is it, Kenobi? Can’t you see I’m a little busy here?” Behind his friend was a mess of parchment and at least four radios playing nothing but static.

“Busy doing what? Exactly,” Obi-Wan hesitantly stepped inside and Cody threw up his hands.

“Preparing!” He yanked a piece of paper off his desk, somehow managing to not knock the rest of them to the floor, “Statistics for each team, which plays they should do. My own strategy of course…” He trailed off looking around, “It’s here somewhere.”

“And the radios?” Obi-Wan appraised one that looked quite ancient.

“They’re all tuned to the best station for Quidditch, no nonsense no fluff just game,” Cody ran a hand through his hair which was already standing oddly, “This way if one goes out I won’t miss anything.”

“And you do this every-”

“Every two years yes,” Cody practically vibrated in place for a moment before he flapped his hands at Obi-Wan, “Now shoo! You’ll ruin the fun.”

“Ruin the fun?!” Obi-Wan scoffed, “I’m not so boring.”

There was a particularly strong crackle and Cody raced over to one of the radios to turn it up, “Shh! What if they’re starting?”

“They’re not,” Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, “Actually I was hoping for your company this evening.”

Cody looked at him dumbstruck for a moment before laughing rather hysterically and falling back on his bed, “Oi mate good one! You know better than to need me for anything during the cup.”

“I wasn’t joking Cody,” Obi-Wan reached slowly into the inside pocket of his robe, “But I don’t think you’ll have much issue with this-”

“Mate it’s the cup!” Cody looked torn, eyes flickering between him and the nearest radio, “You surely don’t expect me to miss it… Unless it’s life or death important-”

Cody’s eyes locked onto the tickets before they were even fully on display and he stopped talking, tongue frozen in his mouth.

“I thought you might want to watch with me-”

The shrill screech that followed likely echoed throughout the whole country. Obi-Wan tried not to smile as he heard Satine’s laughter rising from the living room below.

“What?! What?!!” Cody snatched them out of his hands and inspected every last inch of them. Even going as far as to hold them up to a light, “How did you get these, mate? They’re like a million galleons!”

“You’re exaggerating,” Obi-Wan frowned, though it was true that they were not something that the Fetts had been able to come by in the past, “I simply bought them in Diagon Alley.”

“No way!” Cody wasn’t really listening, instead he stared at them with a fervor that he only had for things of the Quidditch variety, “They’re practically pristine too, it’ll hurt to have to get them torn at the stadium.”

“I mean if you’d rather stay here-” Obi-Wan’s lips twitched into an amused smile as Cody looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“No! What are we waiting for anyways?” Cody sped through his room like a tornado, grabbing an assortment of items and tossing them into the bag Satine had got him as a graduation present.

“Only you,” Obi-Wan stopped him from shoving his entire quidditch trunk into the bag, “Cody! I’ve already got the tent and your broom,” He tapped his own tasteful leather messenger bag, “Satine brought us the portkey.” He pulled out the shimmering coin. He felt its magic beat through his fingers quicker as the time for transport approached.

Cody shoved the last few remaining things into his bag and grabbed the coin just as they were pulled, twisting, and stretching until they landed in what used to be a big empty field.

Cody was practically walking on air as they weaved their way past brightly decorated witches and wizards, true sports fans with painted faces and creative insults to their opposing team donning the side of their tents. Kenobi’s tent was much more boring. A simple blue and silver thing that he seemed against sprucing up with colorful words.

Purple and gold streamers fell constantly through the air around the tent across from them representing the Pride of Portree, a team with consistently loyal fans. The tents on the other side were a dark grey with bright white fireworks that silently went off every few minutes. The two teams were an odd match up, the Falcons being so notorious in their offense and the Pride of Portree being so mild in their defense. Cody had several theories as to how this game would ultimately go, but he had decided long ago that he would abstain from betting on quidditch matches. It just didn’t seem fair to anyone else.

“Alright there, Cody?” Obi-Wan pushed his way through the tent. His friend wouldn’t know dressing down if it bit him, but he had been getting better. He had changed into a purple long sleeve shirt with gold buttons and trousers. Cody on the other hand still had purple paint smeared on his face and was wearing a similar jersey, “You’re looking around like you’ve just been whacked with a beaters bat… though to be fair-”

“Ah naw mate, just taking it all in,” And he was. The whole thing was everything he’d always imagined it to be.

“Still surprised you wanted to go with Portree, I hadn’t been sure so I just picked a spot in the middle of the fans.”

“Of course I want to go with Portree,” He scoffed, “They’ll win, I’m sure of it.”

“But the Falcons are pretty ruthless,” Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, “I could see Portree getting knocked into next week.” He shuttered, “I can sympathize.”

“Nah, I know,” Cody shook his head, “Falcons are too cocky, I mean do you remember 5 years ago when they got caught in that scandal-” He was interrupted by an annoyed looking Falcon’s fan who was marching down the rows in a huff.

“Oi, you Portree losers have any idea what’s going on down by the information tent?” He growled, “I just wanted to get my commemorative map, but it looks like there’s some damn harpies up there or something. Whole place is locked down.”

“That… doesn’t sound good,” Obi-Wan shot a worried look to Cody who felt himself tense up. This would be a good place for someone to attack, very populated, lots of magical folks, “We should go check it out right?” Cody nodded immediately.

“Nothing’s going to interrupt the night of my life,” Cody proclaimed cracking his knuckles, “Plus now I think I ought to pick up one of these commemorative maps-”

“Cody, this is serious!” Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, but they both moved forwards regardless, “What if it’s- you know.” Cody looked over at his friend. Obi-Wan’s left hand ran through his hair, the scar from the triwizard tournament was bright white in the sunlight. Cody’s hand found his own wand.

“Don’t worry, we’ll deal with whatever it is, together.” He didn’t want to leave his friend alone to deal with these sorts of things ever again… even if he’d likely be an auror very soon. Seeing what had happened during the final task was not something Cody was looking to relive ever again.

The closer they got to the information tent the more careful their steps became. Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary until they saw a bored looking auror guarding the main path. There were several quidditch fans looking irritated and holding his attention.

“There’s a way around,” Cody pointed towards the tents, “It’s not trespassing if we happen to get lost, right?”

“We can always play dumb,” Obi-Wan, someone who had never played dumb in his whole life, suggested. They both slinked to the side and past a couple tents with purple and gold weaved into them.

“Dooku’s usually more obvious right?” Cody muttered as they got closer and saw… nothing, no fire, no magical explosions.

“You remember him as a professor,” Obi-Wan shrugged, “He’s always sort of had that quiet crafty thing about him… if it’s even him at all.”

“Who else would try something at the cup?” Cody huffed, no small time criminal had ever caused so much as a sneeze at one of these. Besides ticket scalping.

“I dunno, but there could be more of them,” Obi-Wan hummed, “And he had someone with him last time.” Cody’s mouth hardened into a line.

They both stayed quiet as they crept closer. There was some yelling, but it was hard to make out. It didn’t sound particularly dangerous, but neither boy was about to take a risk.

“Okay,” Obi-Wan finally spoke, voice hushed, “We’re as close as we can get.”

“Then we’ll make a run for it,” Cody nodded, “On three?” They both made sure they had a grip on their wands, “One, two, three!”

They jumped up and hurried towards the tent, it was large and they had to skirt around the sides, hoping to evade detection. They both hurried around the final corner and came face to face with-

Protesters?

Cody faltered in his steps, nearly tripping over his feet. Obi-Wan didn’t fare much better, skidding a foot or so as he tried to slow his pace. A look of bafflement on his face.

“Satine?!”

Cody did a double take as, sure enough, a familiar head of golden hair emerged from the crowd and gave them equally surprised looks.

“Ben? Cody? I thought the aurors were stopping anyone from getting through to hear our message-”

“Your message?!” Cody took a step back looking at the signs, boasting the danger of the sport and its statistics, “Is this it? The last great betrayal?”

Satine glanced back at the little group, “Oh, no, Cody we’re not trying to ban Quidditch or anything like that!” She put her hands on her hips, “You know as well as I do how dangerous this sport is! I’d like to establish some safer procedures! Especially now that I know you’re going to be out on the field.”

“Well, I guess it’s nice you care-” Cody started begrudgingly.

“Who knows how many poor saps you’re about to knock off their brooms,” She shrugged, before rolling her eyes, “Don’t give me that look, Cody. I know you can take a hit. But what about the rest of them?”

“They did sign up for this sort of thing,” Obi-Wan shrugged, and Satine shot him a glare.

“Oh and did you? Because I seem to remember a few times where you were nearly launched into the lake.”

“Satine, that was different and you know it.” Obi-Wan sighed, but he really didn’t look as cross as he should be. Instead his eyes just kept roving over her face.

“I still can’t believe you came all the way out here to try and tarnish the game,” Cody crossed his arms, “Need I remind you that danger is a part of why this game is so exciting? I mean, if the chasers don’t get knocked around a bit it’s too easy to score!”

“And a little padding wouldn’t kill you-”

“The aerodynamics Satine!” Cody threw up his hands, “I can’t fly as fast if you have me wrapped up like a big marshmallow.”

“Is this why you didn’t want to come to the game?” Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, “You didn’t mention anything about this.”

“I didn’t think you’d see me, to be fair,” She winced, “We haven’t had much luck reaching the fans or the players in the past.”

“Wh- the past!” Cody spluttered, “All this time you’ve been this close to the game and you didn’t think to invite me?”

It was Satine’s time to look surprised, “Well you never agreed with any of my thoughts on the game-”

“And I don’t, but I bet from here you can still see a play or two!” Cody turned and tried squinting at the stadium.

“Having you out here with your four radio broadcasts probably wouldn’t help with her goals Cody,” Obi-Wan seemed to switch sides easily for someone who had purchased tickets to the game. Cody turned around to call him out on his hypocrisy, but when he saw the way they were looking at each other he knew it was very much a lost cause.

“Well come on then, loverboy, let’s leave Miss Ex Head Girl to her ranting and raving-”

“Cody!”

“We still have a game to watch after all!” He pretended not to notice as his friends leaned in for a quick kiss.

Obi-Wan had been to many Quidditch matches in his life, but none could live up to the same level of happy excitement as seeing them with Cody Fett. Of course, his friend had little competition considering his parents always made terrible company. It was already a very different experience to watch this from the crowd, not the normal minister’s box. He had figured quite correctly that his best mate would prefer to be out amongst the fans to feed off the collective energy. Cody was practically vibrating as the first team burst onto the field. It was a magnificent display of purple and gold. They flew around the arena, the speed whipping the air and nearly knocking them both over.

“Oh yeah, they’ve brought their A game for sure,” Cody punched Obi-Wan in the shoulder. He winced, but was still smiling.

“You really think they’ll win?”

“They will, but it’ll be close,” Cody told him with a nod, “I know it’s not a popular opinion, but the Falcon’s have been playing a bit off lately.”

“I believe you,” Obi-Wan smiled, turning back to the game as the Falcons took flight next.

They were a very intimidating team and it showed. They were clearly here to take no prisoners. It reminded him a little bit of playing against the Slytherin team, the ambition was definitely there.

The match began after the fanfare of the team's arrival. It was always incredible to watch the professionals play. They were more polished than any school team could hope to be. There was only one other person Obi-Wan had seen try to play with the same polish and it was the man standing right next to him. Cody, himself, hadn’t taken his eyes off the game for a second. His eyes wide and shining in the stadium lights as the game went into the night. Obi-Wan was glad he could do something like this for him. After the Fetts had taken him into their home, their family, he felt like he had to do something to show his appreciation, but Cody would never accept a thank you for what he did. So instead, Obi-Wan hoped that this would suffice.

Suddenly there was frantic cheering and confetti was raining down. Obi-Wan looked around and found Portree’s seeker with their hand proudly raised. Cody screamed along with the rest of the crowd and then turned to him with a rasp that proved his growing theory that Cody was about to lose his voice for a few days, “See I told you mate, Portree had it in the bag.”

“I never doubted you,” He grinned, feeling the way the stands thrummed from the fans stomping all around them.

Cody looked back towards the field where the Pride of Portree was lining up for pictures and the Falcons were slinking off the field in defeat, “Someday that might be me.” It was like the pieces had finally clicked. Cody turned slowly towards Obi-Wan, “That could be me next time.”

“I’ve never doubted you before and I certainly won’t start now,” Obi-Wan repeated, “Next time it will be you.”

He was silent for a beat.

“Well, if I end up with the Falcons I have some notes,” The switch had been flicked and Cody started breaking down their strategy and how he would have done things differently and what they needed to win. Obi-Wan just listened, as they descended the stairs.

While the sky was dark, the lights from the stadium along with the many celebratory parties seemed to make the whole place much more lively. It wasn’t just Portree tents either, the Falcons fans still seemed to be celebrating, just much more subdued. It was nice, Obi-Wan thought, to have something simple to celebrate. There was a lot on his own plate and a lot weighing down on his friends too. The threat of Dooku seemed to loom closer now that his announcement had broken through. But here were people, just being people. Celebrating the chance to be doing something they loved together.

“Hey! Let’s go tell Satine!” Cody grabbed his arm and tugged him past their tent. The guards had long since given up and the protestors stood quietly by the information tent. Satine was still there. At this point he felt like he would know it was her from a single hair. Though in this case it must have been her to see them first.

“You look happy,” She smiled, “Game go well?”

“It was the greatest game of all time,” Cody sounded a little choked up as he turned towards the stadium, it disappeared from his voice easily enough when he started in on a play by play, “The Falcons really tried to rush in, but they weren’t paying enough attention!” He laughed, “I’ve got to write down all the new plays Portree tried before I forget.”

“So Portree won then?” Satine asked.

“Oh yeah! I knew they would too!” Cody dug in his pocket for a scrap of parchment, “Either of you lot have a quill?”

Both Obi-Wan and Satine both pulled out a quill at the same time. Obi-Wan felt a whooshing sense of wonder fill him up as he looked over at her. It was funny really, it was like he kept remembering over and over that she was his just as he was hers. His quill was handed off to Cody as he laced his fingers with hers.

“I’m glad you had fun,” She smiled at him, tucking her quill back into her bag. She was radiant as always, but especially like this, hair pulled back, fighting for a cause she believed in, something that whether she’d admit it or not was to keep their friend safe.

“You could have come,” He offered again, twisting her hand to kiss the back of it, “But I’m glad you had a fulfilling evening.”

“Oh and how do you know it was?” She raised an eyebrow, and he took the moment to brush a stray bit of hair behind her ear.

“Because you wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t,” He squeezed her hand before letting their fingers drift free of one another, “I’ll see you tomorrow? When we get back?”

“Of course, Ben,” Her eyes seemed to glow in the light of the campground, “You boys have a fun night, don’t get too crazy.”

“Yeah or else you’ll come protest a good bit of fun too!” Cody accused, but he was pointedly keeping his nose in his quidditch notes.

“I like fun!” Satine crossed her arms.

Cody did look over then and gave her a long stare, “Boring fun, I suppose.”

“Careful there Fett,” Obi-Wan pushed Cody towards their tent, “Or she’s going to stop taking us places.”

Satine paced back and forth across Cody’s bedroom floor, hands behind her back and a stoic expression on her face. If this progressed much longer, Cody was certain a trench would form below the pattern of her feet. The cause of her unease was evident, especially as Cody continued his dramatic reading of the latest edition of the Daily Prophet, which consisted of a multi-page article dedicated to the publicized “tell all” from Mr. and Mrs. Kenobi.

Unsurprisingly, they had a lot to say regarding their son’s emancipation from their family and none of it was very kind, even if it was obvious that they were trying to muster up sympathy from readers by victimizing themselves.

“The days are empty and the nights are cold, not knowing where our son sleeps or who he sleeps alongside. We tried to instill in him the same values that our predecessors succeeded upon, and to know that we have not only failed, but driven him to moral debauchery despite our greatest efforts, deeply saddens us beyond repair,” Cody read Mrs. Kenobi’s statement, barely getting through it without rolling his eyes, “It is to our hope that he sees reason someday and that this is all just a dreaded blemish on our family’s history.”   

“They have to be the foulest, sneakiest, most deplorable people!” Satine growled, her knuckles white as she tightened her hands into fists at her side, “If Dooku wasn’t still running about, I’d wager that they take the spot for most diabolical as well.”

“I’m surprised Perre Needmo is even giving them the time of day,” Cody mused as he flipped through the rest of the article, which consisted of pictures of the pair, feigning sadness and remorse over their son. Not without dressing their very best, of course. 

“They probably bought the article,” Satine grumbled, “Rich people are always offered the biggest stage for the right cost. It’s not as though Needmo has as much creative license as the papers will have you believe.”

“Then who does?” Cody wondered, not challenging her, but seriously considering who would have the final say in turning the Kenobis on their pompous asses, “Editor in chief?”

“Not even,” Satine said grimly, “Though it is a public forum, the private sector truly funds free press via donation, people with big names like the Tarkin’s.”

Though she hadn’t yet started her internship in the Muggle Relations department, Satine had been frantically corresponding all summer with her boss-to-be, Minister Eustice Almec, regarding the current political minefield that was ongoing. With a vested interest towards muggle acceptance, Satine was reasonably eager to absorb any information offered to her. 

“Doesn't sound very free when you put it like that,” Cody commented. 

“That is why everything should be taken with a grain of salt these days,” Satine sighed, stopping in place finally to take the paper from Cody and to scan it herself, “I’m not sure how anyone can trust a word that comes out of Mr. or Mrs. Kenobis’ mouth anyway. They’re so full of themselves that they didn’t even fully answer a single question that Needmo asked.”

“Not even the one where he asked if they wanted sugar for their tea,” Chuckled Cody, “Funny that he included that bit.”

“A small act of rebellion to show their true colors,” Satine nodded, “Padmé was talking to Onaconda Farr and he said that threats of lawsuit over slander are more prevalent than ever, necessitating a carefulness with words. That’s only going to get worse with the election.”

“But really, who’s actually going to vote for Dooku? Everyone hates that guy,” He scoffed, which seemed like a lay-up for an easy agreement from Satine, since it truly was a ludicrous thought, but she didn’t seem so sure.

“It just depends on who opposes him,” She said, “I’ve looked at the string of candidates who have hinted at running and some would certainly fare better than others.”

“Oh come on, a pixie with a flamethrower would be less horrifying than Dooku,” He cried, “He burned up Diagon Alley and nearly killed Kenobi and Skywalker last May!”

“Yes, I recall,” She gave him a pointed look, “I just have a feeling we’ll find that more people than we’d like to admit agree with the intent behind his actions. They might not like the gruesomeness of it, because it’s not socially acceptable. But if given the chance and the openness to revel in their odiousness, they would.”

“Remind me not to come to you regarding a glass half full/half empty debate,” He said.

“I’m just saying that it’s imperative we don’t let our guard down is all,” She sighed, “Is it likely that Dooku becomes Minister? No, because most people do sympathize with what transpired back in May, but the Kenobis throwing ugliness onto Ben’s name certainly doesn’t help public opinion. I’m sure there are narratives floating around that he got what was coming to him!”

Even contemplating that theory seemed to make her feel ill and for a moment, Cody was transported back onto the field near the Forbidden forest, watching Satine wail as they took Kenobi away to the hospital wing.

Though he always considered himself an optimist, he had to admit that for a moment, he truly believed they might have lost their friend for good.

“Anyone who knows Kenobi knows he’s the best of the best. They’re not going to believe this rubbish,” He tossed the paper onto his bed, hoping to change the subject for the time being. 

“It’s just those who don’t that I worry about,” Satine said gravely, but then leaned into another spike of anger to get it out of her system, “As if they haven’t done enough damage.”

“Who are we talking about?” At long last, Kenobi emerged into Cody’s bedroom from downstairs, toweling off his head from the homemade haircut he’d received by Hevy over the bathroom sink.

“Hevy, apparently!” Cody squawked when the towel was removed and both could take a gander at the standard issue haircut that Kenobi was mandated to sport through his time at the Auror Academy. 

“Why? What’s wrong with it?” Obi-Wan immediately reached up, as though to ensure that his ears were still attached to his head. Considering Echo had the tip of his ear nicked one time during a poorly timed sneeze, this was a completely fair reaction. 

“Aside from the fact that you look like a walking tennis ball, nothing,” Cody snorted. 

Though it was still summer, Kenobi had to report to the academy to take his class picture, which required that he be in full uniform. Not one to miss an ounce of instruction, he was already prompt in ironing his clothes and shining his shoes. The last touch had been pulling the trigger and shaving his head even shorter than Cody’s.

So Kenobi, who usually had voluminous, perfectly quaffed hair that many of the girls at Hogwarts gushed over, resembled a prisoner with the look. 

“It doesn’t look that bad!” He objected, catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, though he winced the longer he looked, “In any case, it’ll grow back. Right, Satine?”

Satine, who had gone uncharacteristically silent during this reveal, looked like she was debating apparating on the spot. Her eyes had grown wide when she saw him and it was clear that she was already mourning the loss of his hair, probably wishing she’d said goodbye.  

“Satine?” At the rapidness of his turn, Satine seemed to catch onto the mistake of her hesitance.

“Right, it’s just hair,” She feigned nonchalance. Though Cody could immediately see that she regretted agreeing with the wrong half of the sentence, especially by the instant sense of betrayal that fell upon Kenobi, “I mean, you are still going to be by far the most handsome cadet there.”

“Nice save,” Cody chuckled. 

“You hate it,” He ignored both of them.

“No, of course I don’t hate it,” Satine assured him, scrambling for the correct thing to say when her boyfriend currently resembled a brush that might be used to clean difficult dishes. Cody would make that joke aloud, but couldn’t for the life of him remember what that was called.

“But you don’t like it,” He said.

“It’s just different,” She said, “I was taken by surprise.”

“But you don’t like it!” He repeated.

“I love you for you, not for your hair!” She reminded him, still searching for something positive to say about her boyfriend’s new look, making this all the funnier to Cody, “Though it does remind me a little of that haircut in fourth year.”

“That was dreadful!” Obi-Wan complained, “And my father made me do that.”

“You looked like a little skinhead back then,” Cody winced, “At least they didn’t make you do the little ponytail.”

“It gave me more time to appreciate your face,” Satine said with a nod. 

“And now?” Obi-Wan pressed, his arms crossed over his chest, “Am I to be mocked by the entire division?”

“Not when everyone looks as silly as you,” Cody said.

“Thanks, Cody,” Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. 

“This is better than that,” She admitted, “And I was still horribly smitten with you then, so what does that tell you?”

“That perhaps you should get your eyes checked,” He said.

“I mean, am I considering writing a letter to the Aurors office surrounding the cruelty of uniformity and the importance of individualism? Yes,” She said.

“You should really watch talking so loud, Kryze, by the way those ears stick out, he can probably hear the flap of butterfly wings,” Cody laughed.

“I like his ears,” She justified, reaching up to frame Obi-Wan’s face, even as he seemed to briefly contemplate the validity of that statement. Then again, she hadn’t yet been able to compose a believable lie about liking his hair, so there was likely truth to this, “It’s only while you’re in school. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”

“The romantics have nothing on you, my dear,” He huffed, but seemed slightly placated when she pressed a kiss to his lips.

“At least it's fuzzy,” She smiled teasingly and proved this point by running a hand over the top of his head repeatedly.

“That is the best part of a fresh cut,” Cody reminisced, “Maybe I’ll show you how a real haircut looks and get a touch-up!”

“I’m not sure why you’re being so boisterous, Captain,” Satine commented, “It’s not as though you have much room to talk.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Cody, you’ve had the same haircut since I’ve known you and I’ve seen your baby pictures prior! If not for your brother, Boba, I’d have no idea what your hair would actually look like,” She said.

“A classic is a classic,” He shrugged, “But mine looks way different from his!”

Judging by the silence they lapsed into, it was apparent that they disagreed. Now, the scrutiny had been turned from Kenobi to him, as though they were doing a comparison. 

“Hevy used the same setting on me that he uses for you,” Obi-Wan said, a mischievous smile inching onto his face.

“Well… You don’t have the head shape to pull it off then!” 

“So, a big head,” Obi-Wan fully smirked now. 

“All I’m saying is, Satine has never looked like she’s seen a ghost when I’ve walked into the room sporting my new haircut.”

“For two very crucial reasons,” She said, “One, I have never once been able to tell when you’ve actually had a haircut. And two, I really don’t have much reason to care what you look like.”

“That- Hey!” He complained, “Just because you’re blind doesn’t mean the rest of the world is! This is a good look!”

“I see it now,” Kenobi mused, running a hand over his head in scrutiny, “Well, I’ve never been one for vanity, but perhaps I will take a hair growth potion at the end of the year.”

“I will be counting down the days to graduation,” Satine sighed, stroking her boyfriend’s cheek lovingly, “I do look forward to seeing the uniform though. It’ll be refreshing to see a uniform not stained in grass or mud.”

“When did this become a roast about me?” Cody asked.

“You should know by now that it’s an ever-turning wheel,” Satine patted him on the shoulder, “Now, unless you two want to start a debate over who looks more like a Q-tip, I say we go get some lunch.”

Obi-Wan wiped the sweat from his palms onto his rough khaki pants, trying to disguise the action as an attempt to remove any lingering dust or grime that may have smeared itself onto his hands in the effort of moving his belongings. As it were, he didn’t have much in the means of personal items, and anything that was ostensibly heavy was loaded into a trunk and charmed to fit without causing too much of a struggle. However, if any of his friends noticed, they didn’t comment upon it.

Not even Anakin, who was far too distracted by the new handheld video game practically glued to his hands, said anything about it. The boy had truly shot up in height this summer, nearing Obi-Wan in a way he felt uncertain about. On one hand, it was nice to see the boy shape up nicely, but on the other, it was just another reminder of how different this year would be.

He was excited for the Auror Academy and the challenges it would present in terms of academia, but there was no doubt that he would miss the system he’d fallen into at Hogwarts and the consistency of seeing his best friends. Logically, he knew a time would come when they were all meant to brave their own paths, but he had never really processed how difficult that may be.

And that was considering that this was a path much more preferable to Obi-Wan, who had a nightmare or two regarding the alternate reality that almost was had he sided with his parents’ wishes and married Ventress. Needless to say, those goodbyes hadn’t been with the promise of seeing one another again.

Especially Satine, who presently scolded Cody for how he nearly took off her head by turning too fast with Obi-Wan’s broomstick. He knew that if he’d gone the other way, she wouldn’t be helping him move in as she was. So he used that imagery of loneliness to console his yearning heart, and reminded himself to cling to each moment as they came.

Both of his best friends were off to great new adventures as well. Satine had an exhilarating internship in the Muggle Relations department at the Ministry of Magic, studying under the tutelage of the revered Eustice Almec, who she and Obi-Wan had thoroughly researched this summer. She was well on her way to make the difference in the wizarding community that she’d always desired. He could not help but be preemptively proud of her and all that she would one day accomplish.

Cody, on a completely different note, had quidditch tryouts coming up shortly, which could (and would) paint the trail for a dream that the boy held practically since birth. It would take hard work and dedication, as well as acclimating himself to a different coaching style, but Obi-Wan had faith in him.

As they moved around the tiny and very unimpressive dorm room, Obi-Wan could not help but feel a little optimistic about his own endeavors too. Here he was with some of the people he cared about most, watching as they fretted and doted over how his new room would look, about to pursue the career of his dreams, one he felt he could make a true difference in.

“How on earth are you supposed to sleep on that?” Anakin complained as he flopped on the bare mattress, “And tell me you didn’t bring your sheets from your old bedroom.”

“We got him new sheets,” Satine said pointedly, and though it hadn’t been exactly Obi-Wan’s choice, he had approved when she showed him later. They were simple and blue, something that would wash fine with everything else. He didn’t think blue could clash with anything either, but didn’t make that comment to Satine at risk of a lecture about the color blindness that he still denied having. 

She’d been very insistent on his sheets being soft, which though he didn’t exactly debate her on this, he had been a little surprised at how passionate she was regarding the subject. It was not as though it would affect her if they weren’t. 

“These walls are super thin!” Cody commented rather loudly as he stuck his ear to the wall, seemingly disappointed whenever whatever conversation transpiring on the other end of it stopped suddenly. 

“Hopefully, you don’t have noisy neighbors,” She said, “That would make homework a pain.”

“I never thought I’d hear you call homework a pain,” Cody teased.

“It is when you can’t focus!” She returned, “When given the most optimal setting, it’s like a marathon.”

“Please, homework is nowhere near as fun as a marathon,” Cody rolled his eyes.

“Neither of those things sound fun,” Anakin deadpanned, “I thought you were cool, Cody!”

“I am cool!” He complained.

“There is a wonderful library on campus,” Obi-Wan gushed, more to Satine since he knew his audience well enough to know she’d care the most, “Get this, it’s a triple level building with two compendiums. One for nonfiction and one for fiction.”

“Oh my God, why didn’t we go there when you were touring us around? Instead of showing us the structural soundness of the administration building!” She asked while rolling her eyes. 

“Satine, it was built to withstand the force of ten trolls, that’s very impressive,” He said.

“You practically wet your pants when you got to touch the compendium last year, I’d think you’d want to show its comparison,” She said.

“Well, there is no competition, as these only notate what is presently in this library,” He said and then narrowed his eyes, “And you make me sound incredibly unattractive when you describe my reaction like that, by the way.”

“I’m not exactly trying to get people to pounce at you,” She justified with a shrug.

“Speaking of pouncing at opportunity, remind me to splurge for an upgraded suite or something if I ever go here,” Anakin said and then tapped his chin, “Maybe I can talk the Kenobis into making a hefty donation.”

“Please don’t,” Obi-Wan sighed.

“Yeah, they’d make everything dark and green,” Anakin said, “That’s a bottom tier color in my book and not just because of Slytherin. Think about it, all gross things are green: boogers, slime, snakes, and peas!”

“Damn, you really do have a point there,” Cody said, looking around, “Not surprised why I think this room is ugly then. Light green was a weird paint choice.”

“Why do I feel like it just faded to this color over time?” Anakin wondered.

Though Cody called the place a shoebox and Anakin said Obi-Wan might have been better off in the Kenobis’ basement in terms of comfort, it was the first real place of independence to call his own. He loved staying at the Fetts this summer, but it had always been, at least to him, considered as a temporary solution. In a sense, this was too, but it was the beginning of his own start. 

As though reading his mind, Satine slipped her hand in his and gave it a squeeze, “We’ll make it look alright. Some pictures and a poster or two and you’ll be right at home.”

“Brilliant,” He beamed at her, “So long as it’s not right at my home.”

“A house and a home are two very different things,” She reminded him, “Home can be a person or people. It can be a state of mind.”

He was about to say he felt that way about her, but wasn’t afforded the chance when Anakin’s bouncing on the bed after making (and ruining) the bed caused him to jump onto Obi-Wan and wrestle him to the ground, leaving him no other choice but to retaliate.

“You’ll get me in your dreams, Old Man!” Anakin laughed.

“Just because you’ve had a growth spurt doesn’t mean you’re grown!” Obi-Wan chided as he managed to get the squirming boy into a headlock. Spending a summer with the Fetts did have its advantages. 

He did have some nicely framed pictures, mostly from this summer, as well as their pictures from graduation. There was a very pretty one of Satine that made him blush just looking at it. The three of them had gone to the lake and skipped stones after getting lunch. The sun shined through her hair as though illuminating it, making her eyes glow and her smile absolutely dazzling. She’d been dressed quite smart until doused with water by Cody, soaking her sundress thoroughly, which had been the moving image. Forever was it immortalized how Cody had gotten her back for ruining his sandcastle. Still, she looked so carefree and beautiful even with water dripping down her long arms and legs. 

Naturally, he’d chosen this picture to display.

By the time they were finished, which included a poster of the primary wizarding penal code laws (a word that Cody and Anakin could not stop laughing at whenever said), as well as a whiteboard calendar with a color coded schedule and clipboard, it looked a bit more like the sort of place Obi-Wan could see himself sleeping in.

As he looked over at Satine and how she ensured all the posters and pictures were level, less for her own irritation and more because she knew he would later agonize over it, he smiled and reminded himself that this was not yet home.

“Since you didn’t include any pictures of me, I did you the honor of providing one,” Anakin snarked, “Sheesh, you think a guy would at least get put on the wall for helping you move.”

“Is that what you’re doing here?” Obi-Wan snarked, though he accepted the red-framed picture which was an old picture of Obi-Wan and Cody, with Anakin’s inflated face taped over Cody’s, “Thanks, Anakin.”

“Something to remember me by when you’re a big strong Auror without any time for the little people,” He sighed wistfully, though Obi-Wan could sense he was digging for a compliment or validation. 

“You are unforgettable, Anakin,” He clapped him on the shoulder, “Do not even think of being a stranger. You better write. You could use the practice.”

“There it is,” He shook his head, though he smiled and stuck out his hand, “I think you’re going to show all these nerds what a real geek is made of.”

“There’s a compliment in there somewhere, I’m sure,” Obi-Wan laughed and accepted his hand pulling him in for a hug.

“I’m getting too old for this,” Anakin said, even though he returned to hug, “I am a fourth year now, you know.”

“I do know, but you realize that if you’re old, that makes me ancient, right?” Obi-Wan asked.

“What part of that isn’t making sense?” Anakin retorted and Obi-Wan playfully swatted him upside the head.

When he got to Cody, the quidditch star didn’t even hesitate to pull him in for a bear hug that nearly squeezed the guts out of him, though he’d come to get used to it this summer, which consisted of more hugs than Obi-Wan had ever experienced in his entire lifetime. 

When they separated, he was surprised to see that Cody also had a little gift for him, though this was in the form of a pennant with the Appleby Arrows emblem and schedule on it.

“You know, for luck,” He said with a nod.

“Mine or yours?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Let’s call it even and say both, since we’re both gonna need it,” Cody said.

“Luck has nothing to do with it, mate,” Obi-Wan reminded him, giving him another firm hug, “You’re going to do brilliant.”

“Yeah, I know,” Though he could tell in his voice that he had needed to hear it again, “So are you.”

“I certainly hope so, otherwise all that annoying you with facts and tidbits about law are going to be a mighty big waste,” He joked.

“I’ll see you over Christmas break, mate,” Cody said cheerfully, and once again Obi-Wan felt that pang of reality that for the first time since they were eleven, they would endure an entire semester without the other. He supposed he’d experienced summers without Cody, quite a few actually, so it could be like that. Except, he didn’t know when they’d go back to seeing each other as often as they did before.

Satine, next in line and not even bothering to hide the fact that she was teary eyed, practically launched herself into his arms, proving that when tested, Cody was not the strongest in their friend group. Still, it felt secure and it felt right, and he returned the passion of the embrace, pulling back to give her a kiss that stood to be longer than initially planned.

“Er… Should we leave?” Cody suggested awkwardly.

“Why?” Anakin protested.

“Let’s just wait outside,” He gave him a little shove in that direction, “Listen to your Captain. You haven’t got a new one yet.”

“I’ll miss you,” Satine said when they parted, burying her nose in the crook of his neck, “But I’m so proud of you and excited for all that you’re going to do here. I want to hear all about everything and your new roommate and classes and if they’re hard!”

“I’ll miss you too, but I swear to write as much as time allows,” He smiled, though he could feel a tightness in his temples that he fought against for Satine’s sake, “We’ve made it through longer bouts of time apart, right?”

“Right,” She confirmed, though she didn’t look any less sad about it, “And we’ll coordinate a weekend or something, after we’ve settled in and everything. I can come up here and hang if your roommate is home for the weekend.”

For some reason, the concept of spending an entire weekend with Satine brought a flush to his cheeks that he wouldn’t have expected. Still, he was eager for it already. 

“I’d love that,” He said.

“Yeah?” She grinned, her own cheeks flushing slightly.

“I think there’s a fall break,” He nodded, cupping her face in his hands, “I’d imagine that’s an optimum time for such a visit, Mrs Head Girl and Future Minister of Muggle Relations.”

“That’s a pretty long title,” She laughed.

“I’ll work on it in your absence,” He winked, “You’re going to do amazing.”

“As are you,” She confirmed, “But as a good luck charm, I’m giving you this.”

From inside her bag, which was always a bit of a mystery in its own right, she retrieved the very same puppy plush that he won her at the fair that summer.

“But I won him for you?” He questioned.

“Yes, but this way, he can rest on your bed during the day and keep you company at night, should you get a little lonely,” After she said it, she frowned, “Was that lame?”

“No, not at all,” He laughed, utterly touched by the sentiment, “I especially like the little Ravenclaw sweater you knitted for him.”

“Mum did that actually,” She blushed, “I know you keep your rooms cold.”

“Not often by choice,” He reminded her.

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” She narrowed her eyes, though she seemed pleased when he hugged the plush to one side. She stood on her toes and gave him another lingering kiss, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” He said, and though he knew within his heart that this wasn’t an end for them by any means, it still hurt to pull back when the clock chimed, indicating that the move in period had ended and orientation would be starting soon. 

“That’s a bit weird that your roommate isn’t here yet,” She commented.

“He could be a foreign exchange student,” Obi-Wan said, “I heard they get later move-in times.”

“Fair enough,” She shrugged and gave his hand a squeeze and swiped an arm across her eyes as she sniffled, “Have a splendid first day of school.”

Having it without her felt wrong, but he still smiled, “And you, a tremendous first day of work, my dear.”

She offered him one more wave and he used the puppy to do the same before shutting the door behind her. Obi-Wan stood and stared for just a moment as he sighed, trying to find the sudden quiet and stillness liberating. This would be a dose of growing pains that he would come to get used to. Either way, he would be okay. 

After all, he never thought that Hogwarts would be what it turned out to be. Who knew what would await him here? 

He’d make new friends, which would then meld with the old eventually, and have new experiences and stories to give to those old friends while he listened to theirs. 

He couldn’t wait.

As the doorknob turned and he tried to act natural so his new roommate didn’t consider him a loon for awaiting him with such baited breath, Obi-Wan felt all of it stolen from him the moment when none other than Hondo Ohnaka appeared through the entrypoint.

“No,” he said quietly, entirely to himself, his eyes unblinking as he felt he might fall flat. 

Dropping his bags, which were literally just trashbags of various contraband, he extended his arms widely.

“KENOBI! WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THIS?” He said before throwing his arms around him.

“I’d say next to impossible,” He gritted.

Obi-Wan had to imagine that if his friends knew, they would have come barreling back into the room to rescue him, but he couldn’t have any luck in that department either.

Hondo set out a candle that smelled like a dirty sock doused in too much of Anakin’s cheap cologne and balled his clothes into a pile that he dropped on the floor in front of his bed.

His sheets, which somehow already looked dirty, were haphazardly sprawled across his bed with a pillow that was so flat it could have been a piece of stone. He wondered if the sheets had actually come in yellow or if they were supposed to be white. 

He wasn’t sure how long the sandwich at the bottom of Hondo’s bag had been in there, but it looked like it could get up and crawl away, making his placing it in the icebox seemingly very useless.

That wasn’t even mentioning the fact that Hondo had a caged parrot squawking and placed it on his desk, with absolutely no explanation whatsoever, despite the incredulous look on Obi-Wan’s face.

“How… How did this happen?” Obi-Wan asked, shell-shocked.

“It’s like waking up from a dream, isn’t it?” Hondo laughed and began to spread (very crookedly) pictures of scantily clad women posing on broomsticks all over his side of the wall. Obi-Wan was especially concerned about the way Hondo placed a bikini beach poster on his ceiling.

“We… We took personality tests to match up,” Obi-Wan’s voice cracked. He’d done it with Satine to make sure that he’d really personified himself without sounding too much like a geek. He didn’t think that being paired with someone exactly like him was necessary, but someone that held the same values and complementing personalities would always work.

“And we matched up, baby!” He laughed, “Who would have thought?”

“Not me!”

“Hondo sees that you already chose a side of the room. That is okay, as Hondo is a believer of sharing space anyway!” 

“I would really rather if we created some rules to follow, Hondo,” Obi-Wan said, blinking and trying to come up with full sentences to string together, “Perhaps, a cleaning schedule-”

“What do you think this is? Some kind of law school?” Hondo laughed.

“Well, in a sense-”

He waved him off, “But as it is, Hondo does have one big rule. Sock on the door, no entry. Unless of course you want to party with Hondo.”

And though Obi-Wan was too shocked to ask what the hell he was talking about, as Hondo began thrusting the air rather aggressively, he was able to draw the necessary conclusions and scowl to himself as they were paged to go downstairs for orientation.

“This is wonderful! Usually, when you go to a new school, you don’t know anyone! But this time, we know each other! And everyone can know Kenobi and Hondo as two best friends.”

“This is going to be a long year,” Obi-Wan muttered, wondering if he could still go to the administration building and plead for a new roommate.

Another early morning. The sun was rising as Anakin ran a polishing cloth over his broom ready for another day of practicing. Maybe it was his body craving the adrenaline of a good workout or the fact that he still had quite vivid nightmares, but he didn’t much mind rising before the sun. In fact, the early morning pinks and yellows of the sky were truly a sight to behold, especially from the fourth story balcony. He was already looking forward to how nice the pool would feel later this afternoon when the door opened behind him.

“Master Skywalker?” One of the Kenobi butlers approached, a pumpkin juice already poured and iced was offered and taken with eager hands, “Mistress Kenobi would like to see you.”

“Oh yeah?” Anakin paused his sipping on the sweet drink, “What about? She’s not still mad about the whoopee cushion I accidentally left in the foyer.”

“Er,” The butler seemed pained as he thought back to the ‘incident’, “No, it’s about the upcoming end of summer gala.”

“Oh man,” Anakin groaned, leaning back against the railing, “Nothing like ruining a good summer day like reminding a guy that school’s coming back.”

“I apologize for any unpleasantness, Master Skywalker,” The butler stood rigid like always and Anakin rolled his eyes.

“It's fine I’m joking!” Anakin huffed, these stuffy types never did seem to get his humor, “Alright, let her know I’m on the way.”

There was a nod and then perfect clicking steps of shiny polished shoes as he drifted away back into the halls of the manor. Anakin chugged the last of his juice before sighing as he propped his broom up against the wall. He’d be back at least.

The halls were empty as they usually were. Perfectly polished floors that no matter how many times he accidentally tracked in dirt, seemed almost supernaturally cleaned. If he didn’t know about the realities of magic, he might still call it witchcraft. Mrs. Kenobi was waiting in a sitting room as she often did. Close enough to the entrance to entertain when needed, but far enough away from Mr. Kenobi’s study that they never really saw each other outside of dinner. Anakin thought that was a little odd. He always figured whoever he would marry he’d want to be with all the time, but he supposed everyone liked quiet every now and then.

“You wanted to see me?” He called out as he entered the room. Mrs. Kenobi was sitting on a large sofa fanning herself. Sitting just at her feet was a woman with a quill and parchment, feverishly writing. The chairs across from her remained empty for now, but Anakin knew that they would likely be filled in an hour or so. Mrs. Kenobi sure had a lot of friends.

“I did indeed, Anakin,” She smiled, gesturing towards one of the chairs across from her. He sat, nearly sinking into the plush cushions.

“Soooo…” Anakin looked around, there was a mirror he’d never noticed over the fireplace behind him. Perhaps it was new as things were always appearing in the manor. It was angled a little oddly so he could see Mrs. Kenobi in it and she met his eyes.

“It’s always important to see all angles,” She answered his unspoken question, “It’s a shame what happened with the Jorgan lineage,” She was frowning, almost looking worried.

“Did they go broke or something?” Anakin considered the mirror: there was a rather ornate J inscribed in the bottom, he supposed the Kenobis would have it altered.

“Hmm, no, a far worse fate,” She ran her fan tightly through a closed hand, “They’ve been forgotten.”

“Forgotten?” If Mrs. Kenobi still remembered them; they were hardly forgotten. He ran a hand along the soft velvet on the armrest.

“They couldn’t marry off their heir,” She shook her head, “And so the line ended with him.”

“Oh.” He supposed in that case there wasn’t much to be done.

“Well what's done is done,” she gripped her fan tightly in her hands, the thing nearly snapping at the force, “What’s important is that we keep moving forward .”

Anakin had a feeling they weren’t talking about the Jorgans anymore.

“Keeping up with those in your social class is immensely helpful ,” She continued before looking back at him like she’d just remembered why he was here in the first place, “You’ve been very well behaved this summer,” He barely stopped himself from opening his big mouth to remind her about the whoopee cushion incident, “We decided you may invite one guest to our big end of summer Gala if you so chose-”

“Rex!” Anakin sat up excitedly. He’d been trying to invite his best friend over all summer, but every time was ultimately shot down. He instead had spent a bit of time at the Fetts in compensation, but he’d still like to show Rex around the manor. They could definitely get up to some fun around here.

Unfortunately at his immediate suggestion, Mrs. Kenobi looked more constipated than anything. Anakin felt his face fall, “I’m sorry Anakin,” She grimaced, “But the Fett family is still quite banned from their reckless behavior.”

While Anakin couldn’t dispute the Fetts being a bit rowdy (okay a lot rowdy), Rex was pretty mild on his own. But when he tried to explain as much she simply shook her head.

“Perhaps there’s someone else?” She seemed a little desperate, as if just the mention of the Fetts had put her in a bit of a tizzy, “Someone a little quieter, someone you’ve known for a long time maybe?”

Anakin still had half a mind to fight for Rex’s inclusion, but he had a feeling based on the way the woman on the floor was looking at him with critical eyes that it wasn't going to happen.

“Okay then how about Padmé?”

Mrs. Kenobi looked surprised for a second, looking down at the woman with the quill then back to him, “Padmé?”

“Yeah! Padmé Amidala,” He smiled, “You know her right?”

“Princess Amidala?” Mrs. Kenobi furrowed her eyebrows, “You know her?”

“Yeah, she’s a good friend of mine!” Anakin grinned thinking about the time that Padmé threw a book at his head. That was right after he’d called her a nerd for knowing about different kinds of rocks. Good times.

“You’re… good friends with the Princess,” She looked deep in thought.

“I met her, first year, on the train,” He raised an eyebrow, “I’ve told you about her lots, she helped me in the tournament.”

“I see,” Mrs. Kenobi tapped her fan against her knee, thinking, “Well it is very important to foster such a valuable connection…” She sighed, giving a nod to the woman at her feet who started scratching quickly onto the parchment, “Alright Anakin, we’ll invite Padmé-”

“Oh! Let me do it!” Anakin leapt to his feet, “She’ll be more likely to agree if I ask!” He did have a lovely little photo of her asleep on top of her final potions essay, ink smeared on her cheek. He didn’t want to use such blackmail so early on, but he didn’t want to spend another boring Gala alone.

“If you’re quite sure,” Mrs. Kenobi looked baffled, “That’s… all I had to ask you. You’re dismissed.”

“Awesome!” Anakin smirked, throwing a wave over his shoulder as he hurried out of the room. He had a letter to write.

Anakin had been surprised at how readily Padmé had accepted the invitation, even as damp as it was when he’d sent it. Turns out, writing a letter in a pool wasn’t a good idea. It also turned out that Padmé was escaping one of her family's own Gala’s to go to the Kenobis.

“It’s not that I don’t understand them,” She told him when they went into the coat room, “But I need a little room to breathe every now and again.”

He’d shown her around, talking a mile a minute about everything he’d discovered, everything, but the basement really. That had been Obi-Wan’s room before he left, and it did feel weird that his friend wasn’t still down there sometimes. These halls did get quiet.

“That’s great Anakin,” Padmé repeated for the seventh time as he showed her his extra room down by the pool, “You know I actually wanted to tell you-”

“Oh!” He slapped a hand on his head, “I forgot to have you bring a swimsuit! And I can’t just let you borrow one of mine of course,” Anakin hummed, “Maybe Mrs. Kenobi-”

“Anakin! We can’t go swimming! This isn’t a pool party!” Padmé crossed her arms, she was using her ‘I mean business’ voice and Anakin groaned.

“But that would be way more fun!” He sighed, “Rex would do it.”

“Rex wouldn’t have to go digging through Mrs. Kenobis’ drawers,” Padmé did make a good point there, “Plus, I think jumping in the host’s pool is a surefire way to get banned from ever visiting here again and I certainly didn’t come here to make any powerful enemies. Especially since I-”

“I wonder if that’s how Rex got banned.” Anakin hummed, but Padmé looked surprised.

“When did this happen? I thought you said he hadn’t been allowed to visit so far.”

“Oh he wasn’t!” Anakin shrugged, “The whole Fett family is banned, something that happened a long time ago.”

“What did they do?” Padmé looked like she was worried about the possibility of her being next on the chopping block. Anakin did suppose that someone of her status had to worry about these things.

“I don’t know, I just know that they’re like super banned, Mrs. Kenobi wouldn’t even budge at the idea.” He frowned.

“That’s a little odd…” Padmé gave him a look.

“What? That I invited him first? It’s nothing personal,” Anakin assured her, “You know what they say, ‘Bros-’”

“No not that, I’d be more surprised if you didn’t invite him first,” She waved a hand, clearly not listening, “But that they wouldn’t forgive your best friend when they clearly trust your judgment…” It felt like she had more to say on the matter, but let it stay inside her mind where he couldn’t quite reach.

“Hmm I guess so.” He shrugged, “No one probably has the answer besides the Kenobis and the Fetts though.”

“I suppose the Kenobis probably aren't interested in talking about it tonight,” Padmé’s eyes drifted towards a quill left out on a desk, “The Fetts however-”

“Oh hey!” Anakin’s eyes were drawn another direction, a brown paper bag he’d been saving for a proper end of summer send off. He gave her a wicked grin that she didn’t seem too impressed by, “I’ve got an idea of something we can do!”

Grabbing the bag and Padmé by the wrist, he rushed them down the hall.

“Anakin!” The clack of her heels stuttered as she pulled back, trying to remain upright, “Slow down I’m in heels!”

“Sorry sorry!” He laughed letting her regain her footing. She smoothed down her dress with a huff. It was a long, fancy, red thing. It looked much more elaborate and stuffy than the one she’d worn to the yule ball, “I just can’t believe I forgot about this! It’s going to be epic!”

“I’m sure it won’t get us into any trouble,” She sounded sarcastic, but Anakin laughed with the shake of his head.

“Nah it’s not too bad, I think they’ll like it!” He waved a hand for her to follow him as he headed towards a staircase hidden just out of sight. It wasn’t nearly as pretty as the other parts of the house and he’d come to learn it was specifically put in for the butlers and maids. He thought that was a little wasteful, why pay for an extra staircase? Couldn’t they just use the main one? But in his exploring he’d found out that this one led somewhere a little more interesting.

At the top of the staircase was an angled door. He rammed it with his shoulder and it fell open. A warm breeze met him as he stepped up.

“Okay, be careful,” He warned, “And don’t trip.”

Her eyes lit up as she looked around, “The roof?”

He hadn’t been up here at night yet. In the day it almost looked like there were no other people nearby, but at night, you could see the glimmer of other people’s houses off in the distance.

“Pretty cool right?!” He stepped carefully around a skylight that led to the third floor hall.

“You’ve certainly done a lot this summer,” She laughed, shaking her head as she leaned against the edge of the door.

“It’s been pretty cool,” He admitted, “Now that I can go to Diagon Alley and visit my friends. But I’m sure you’ve been doing the same.”

“Oh my summer was pretty boring,” Padmé considered, “Lots of responsibilities, though I did make time for friends. I did get this pretty awesome letter though-”

“That’s nice!” Anakin nodded absentmindedly as he reached into the brown bag.

“ Anakin ,” Padmé said, looking rather tired all of a sudden, “Tell me that’s not what it looks like.”

In his hands was a stem of Zonko’s fireworks, but not just any fireworks. This was set to do a 20 minute show with just one light. It would do rainbow colors and make a dragon dance across the sky. How could he ever say no to such a purchase?

“Oh come on, they have fireworks at these parties all the time, I’m just elevating the experience.”

“Oh I’m never getting invited back,” Padmé ran a hand down her face while Anakin cackled, wand already out, “I just hope this doesn’t get back to Headmaster Yoda-”

“Three. Two. One!”

And the fireworks were impressive. The best Anakin’s ever seen. The guests must have thought so too because they all ended up in the back gardens. Mrs. Kenobi even grinned so hard it looked like her teeth might crack!

“You know what Anakin?” Padmé gave him a sidelong look, “I’ll bring my swimsuit next time.”

Dooku had been intentional in broadcasting his first official campaign commercial the evening before parents took their children to Hogwarts. He’d chosen a children’s radio broadcast as well, one that was popular amongst families known as “The Comedy Hour with DJ Rex”, which meant he would have as many ears at his mercy as possible. There was something quite purposeful in fear, particularly when it came to the wellbeing of children. As he thought back to his sister and what used to motivate him long ago, he was reminded of how potent that could be. It was not fear that took him down this path though, but righteousness.

Righteousness to see a better tomorrow. To never fear again.

“When you envision the keeper of our democracy, it is fair to assume that you do not picture the monster in your childrens’ closet,” Dooku’s voice, much less intimidating or commanding as it usually was, spoke after DJ Rex called for a break, “Or a terrorist or a Sith warlord or whatever other baseless monikers have been attached to my name without my consent by Valorum and his malleable media.”

To establish a basis of trust was important, even if that meant sliding a mask he used to wear so well back in place. It would not fit all the way, as there would be those unconvinced, which was part of the fun in it all. Eventually, could he make them appear completely delusional?

Those who could not be turned would have switched the channel by now, ushering their children to bed in a flurry of terror that was just as satisfying as those who turned their volume dials up to listen to the rest. 

“But I am just a man,” He said, “A man who has sat back long enough and watched what a mockery this government has become.”

Yes, the rampant anti-muggle enthusiasts would have their ears perked up, the entire household stunned to silence as they awaited his next statement.

“It started with the softening of core values in our children’s educations, making them entirely unfit to defend themselves or those they love should trouble strike as it did when the infamous killer Maul struck the school. They’re enforcing job quotas with an extremist implementation of muggle-born workers, putting generational wizards out of work. But you would not hear of that due to the censorship of those that have tried time and time again to speak up in regards to the box we have found ourselves in.”

Even if they could not see that this was the case, they would this year. The added pressure of external forces always did unite people. 

“And we expect who will save us from increasingly small and cramped spaces? Under Valorum and his constituents, they expect a child to save them. To do all the work. That is ludicrous, regardless of blood or prophecy.” He said, remembering how he knew he had them from here on.

Many doubted Skywalker and what he could accomplish, which would be their undoing in a sense. However, that was an underestimation that he fully intended on taking advantage of.

“I would never propose that a child should be the security and safety of us all, as that is our job as adults. To protect and to serve the growing generation. And to ensure they are raised with values that will allow our people to survive,” He continued strongly, “Every child of purity is to be chosen under my regime, those that walk with magic trailing back centuries, to see a better tomorrow.”

This year would likely look very different than the previous few, working more in the light and painting yet another appearance of who the public wanted him to be. However, his Master was clear in reaching towards their allies quite clearly, as it was the only way to build the army they would need one day.

Well, amongst other less savory methods. When it came down to it, Dooku was always more apt to go the more dignified route if possible, not that he was afraid of getting his hands dirty. No, but becoming a dark wizard did not mean that one had to behave like a barbarian all the time. 

But he was also willing to drive a stake through the hearts of anyone who got in the wingspan of his success. That was what it took to be a Sith, to stop at nothing short of death in the pursuit of brilliance. He took no enjoyment in bloodshed, as his Master or the apprentice before him so flagrantly do, but he had no issue administering it either. It was a means to an end and he wanted nothing more than to see the end of these pitiful times.

“To see not only our survival, but our accession to where we belong. Not at the bottom or hidden, but on top.”

Dooku never wanted to be a monster. He wanted to be a phantom.

“And that is why a vote for me, is a vote for us ,” He heard his voice proudly proclaim, nodding to himself as a beat of silence followed, allowing the audience to ruminate that information. 

Yes, right about now, his secured followers were cheering, clamoring for the day to see their views represented yet again in a court of law. This is not what caused the uninhibited glee that cut right through him like a dagger down the middle. No, it was the fact that in spite of themselves, thousands upon thousands of those that once considered themselves better were thinking, “He’s making sense”. 

And that little seed was the start to a magnificently sinister flower that would flourish in the terrain of pure and unadulterated chaos that would follow.

That made Dooku smile.