Sunlight spilled softly into the Hufflepuff common room, catching on the golden tapestries and the lazy motes of dust dancing through the warm air. The room was quiet — most of their housemates were still curled under blankets, unwilling to greet the weekend just yet.
Dora sat on one of the cozy couches near the hearth, knees drawn up, a cup of hot cocoa warming her hands. Her hair, currently a soft shade of pink-blonde, shifted subtly with her mood, just a touch more pastel than usual.
She'd woken up earlier than expected, still buzzing from last night's flight. Her body was tired, sure — but her heart felt light, her mind still floating through the stars they'd soared under.
And then she looked across the room.
Hadrian had claimed the armchair by the window, legs stretched out, a book on magical theory open in his lap. He wasn't really reading, though — his gaze had drifted, lost in thought. The morning sun lit up the side of his face, and Dora couldn't help but think how… different he looked compared to a year ago.
Not in appearance. Well, maybe a little — he was taller, carried himself with less awkwardness now. But it was more than that.
She thought back to the very first time she saw him, when he had arrived at their doorstep with careful politeness and haunted eyes that didn't quite match his age. He'd been so guarded back then. Kind, sure. Clever, definitely. But it had taken time before the warmth behind those eyes had begun to peek through.
Now, though… now he moved with this quiet sort of confidence. It wasn't the arrogant swagger she'd seen in a few other boys at school. It was calm. Assured. Like he knew himself — and was just fine with it. Like someone you could lean on without fear they'd ever let you fall.
She noticed the way he always seemed to register her presence. Not in any flashy, showy way. But in small things — when he angled his seat so she was included in the conversation, when he handed her the second slice of toast without asking, when he caught her eye across a classroom and shared a smirk only she understood.
This morning, she found herself stealing glances more often than usual.
Her heart gave a soft flutter — a strange, airy thing that made her blink. She frowned slightly, confused. It wasn't a bad feeling. Just… odd. Different.
She didn't understand it yet, so she didn't dwell on it.
Instead, she tucked it away, wrapped in a warm thought: I'm glad he's here.
Hadrian looked up just then, caught her watching, and gave her a smile — easy, open, sincere.
Dora blinked and returned it, quickly looking back to her cocoa. Her hair shimmered rose-gold for a second before settling again.
Yeah.
She was just happy to sit here and enjoy the morning, and maybe steal a couple more glances before breakfast was over.