Chapter Text
In the midst of the chaos that ensues whenever she returns to Hogwarts, Kaning finds comfort in the few things in her school life that are constant.
First, Gorya is the best seeker in Hogwarts history and will always catch the snitch. Ever since she joined the Gryffindor team in her third year, she has never missed the snitch once and Kaning genuinely believes that even if she broke both her arms, Gorya would find a way to catch the snitch.
Secondly, transfiguration class is the cause of most of her misery and she will never be good at it no matter how hard she studies (she’s just accepted that she will always be subpar).
Lastly, Kavin is never single for longer than two weeks — he goes through girls like it’s his job. Kaning is pretty sure he’s dated all the (straight) girls in his year and even some in her year. No matter what, Kavin always has a different girl on his arm.
That is of course until his seventh year where for some reason, Kavin only seems to be interested in her .
Sixth year Kaning is in the middle of attempting to lift her trunk into the compartment overhead of the train when she feels someone behind her take hold of it and easily slot it into place without much trouble.
“Careful,” he murmurs and without turning around, she knows it’s Kavin. If not by the way he towers over her, then by his familiar scent (fresh soap and vanilla shampoo).
Of course it’s him.
“Thanks,” she slides out from under him and sits down so she’s right next to the window. She immediately looks out the window and pointedly tries not to think about how broad his chest felt (from years of quidditch training, she supposes) when he was behind her.
“Hey chipmunk,” he greets her with a stupid nickname and his usual cocky grin; he reaches out to tug on her ribbon (like he always does) but she slaps his hand away. “I see you haven’t grown much over the summer.”
Kaning immediately scowls. “I can see that your head’s gotten bigger.” He laughs loudly at her response and slides into the seat across from her.
Typical Kavin to start annoying her before they even arrive at Hogwarts.
Ever since Kaning had accidentally bumped into him outside her class in first year, Kavin has enjoyed pulling at her pigtails (literally). She was walking to one of the greenhouses when he had turned the corner and her yellow ribbon had gotten caught in his slytherin tie pin. They spent nearly ten minutes trying to untangle it and instead of just undoing his pin, Kavin had refused and instead just tugged on her ribbon until it tore. Kaning had been so upset that when she was finally free, she was furious and ripped his tie pin off his chest and threw it into the black lake.
That was the beginning of Kavin’s lifelong mission to antagonise her. He’d randomly seek her out and try to untie her ribbon or he’d jinx her school tie so that it turned silver and emerald green rather than her usual hufflepuff colors. Over the years, she got used to his teasing and she admits that even started to look forward to it and then since his friend Thyme started dating Gorya (or whatever it was they were doing), she saw him even more.
Sure, she might’ve misread the teasing for flirting and she might’ve had gained feelings for him last year but after the … incident (she doesn’t like thinking about it), her one-sided crush evaporated and she has no interest in allowing it to resurface. This year, she’s not going to waste any more time entertaining the idea that he might actually have ever liked her back.
Not wanting to give him any more satisfaction of knowing he was getting under her skin, Kaning pulls out a book to read and settles back into the seat. She’s sure that he’ll eventually get bored and leave her alone although she’s a little surprised he’s not with his friends.
“Who are you reading?” Kaning has barely been reading for five minutes before Kavin interrupts her, watching her intently.
She doesn’t say anything and just taps the author’s name on the front of the book.
“Ocean Vuong,” he reads the author’s name with a confused expression, unable to recognise the name.
“He’s a muggle author,” Kaning explains, not surprised that the pureblood has never heard of him. Kavin nods before he stretches his foot out and nudges her foot but she simply lifts both her feet and tucks them under her so she’s sitting cross legged on the seat.
Kavin laughs.
“Talk to me, I’m bored,” he whines and tries to pluck the book out of her hands but she’s quick to dodge him.
“Kavin, where are your friends?” Kaning rolls her eyes— he and his friends have their own compartment so she’s not sure what he’s doing at hers.
“Where are yours?” He shoots back with a raised eyebrow as he waves to the empty compartment, with neither Gorya nor Juni anywhere to be seen.
“Gorya’s probably being harassed by Thyme as we speak,” Kaning looks over the top of her book with a pointed look. “Juni’s a prefect so she’ll be here later.”
Kavin snorts at the reminder of Juni being a slytherin prefect and Kaning can’t even blame him; while Juni’s grades are perfect, her ethics are certainly not. Kaning has seen her use her prefect badge to her advantage on many occasions (including agreeing not to rat out students that sneak out past curfew in exchange for 2 galleons).
Just as Kavin’s about to say something, the compartment door slides open to reveal an extremely pretty Gryffindor. Kaning doesn’t know her name but she vaguely remembers that she’s part veela and that she had briefly dated Kavin last year.
The gryffindor doesn’t say anything to Kaning and just turns to the slytherin with a dimpled smile. “Kavin, there you are! Why don’t you come to my compartment?”
Finally.
Pleased that Kavin’s finally going to leave, Kaning smiles to herself and returns her attention to her book.
“No, I’m sitting with Kaning.” Kavin’s response is abrupt and borderline rude and it causes Kaning’s eyes to snap up in surprise. The girl at the door is equally surprised by his tone and stands there awkwardly for a few moments before she mutters a goodbye and leaves. Perhaps if Kaning wasn’t in such a state of shock, she might’ve felt sympathetic towards her.
“What do you want?” Kaning finally puts her book down and asks him straightforwardly. How is it that when she finally gets her shit together and decides to get over him, he starts acting like this?
“I just want to spend time with you,” he shrugs and sends her a dazzling smile. “I guess I missed it.”
Kaning blinks.
What the hell?
Missed what exactly? Annoying the crap out of her? Pulling at her ribbon? Stealing her quills out of her bag whenever he gets the chance? Using her head as an armrest when he stands next to her? Giving her attention one day then ignoring her the next? Flaunting different girls every day?
“What are you even saying right now?” Kaning folds her arms across her chest. She’s used to Kavin’s teasing but this is bordering on something else and it’s beginning to make her chest tight again.
She’s not going down that road again.
“Well, I haven’t seen you all summer and you didn’t answer any of my letters that I sent,” Kavin accuses and mirrors her folded arms.
She didn’t even open them; she knew if she did, he would somehow manage to worm his way back into her heart and she was so very tired of keeping an empty spot for him. He sent her letters every week even when she didn’t return any to him. Foolishly, she kept them in her drawer until Juni and Gorya had visited her and convinced her to burn them (“it’ll really mean you’re over him”).
Unsure of what to say (how can she even begin to explain to him how he hurt her when he didn’t even know ), Kaning stammers and stutters. “I— it —”
“What are you doing here?” They’re interrupted once more and relief floods Kaning’s veins at the sight of Juni at the door with an arm full of various snacks. Behind her stands, Gorya, who somehow already looks tired (no doubt from refusing to sit with Thyme in his compartment — she always tells him that it doesn’t matter if they’re dating, she’ll always sit with Kaning and Juni.)
“Juni, Gorya,” Kavin greets them with a nod. Juni doesn’t return his greeting but Gorya is nice enough to wave back. “I was just keeping Kaning company.”
Both the girls move past him and take turns hugging Kaning.
“What’s with all the food?” Kaning asks as she hugs them back.
“My winnings from a few games of gobstones against the other prefects,” Juni smirks and dumps them next to Kaning. “They all suck.”
“No they don’t— you cheated ,” Gorya says with a roll of her eyes as she slumps down in the seat next to Kavin.
“Details,” Juni waves her off before she turns to Kavin and gives him a look, “Well, we’re here now so you can go.”
“Charming as always,” Kavin mutters under his breath but stands up anyways. Just as he goes to leave he turns to Kaning and smiles at her softly. “I’ll see you at the feast?”
Before Kaning can even come up with a reply, Juni shoves Kavin out of the compartment and slams the door shut on his face. Once they’re sure he’s out of earshot, both Gorya and Juni give their friend a pointed look.
It’s Gorya who speaks up first. “What the hell was that?”
Kaning doesn’t even know and she just looks back at them, equally confused. “I honestly have no idea.”