"But which has more auma, fire or light?" -Chris D'Lacey, The Fire Ascending.
After sitting through Professor Jinn's Magical Theory lecture, Rey slipped out of the classroom with her friends, Poe and Finn.
"I didn't understand a word of that last part about pink magic," Finn admitted nervously. He and Poe then immediately stared at Rey. She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you asking me because pink is a 'girl color'?" She demanded.
"No, it's that you're the best at the class," Poe said quickly. While he was the Quidditch star under Mr. Antilles, academics weren't so much of his thing. Unfortunately, if he wanted to get into the Aurors, like his parents before him, he would have to take advanced magical classes like Magical Theory. In fact, the only reason that Rey and Finn were in there in the first place was because he begged them to suffer with him.
"I've only got the grades I do because I apparently remind him of his prodigy, Ben Kenobi," Rey reminded them. Why, though, she didn't understand, since she wasn't related to him. She was a muggle-born, for God's sake!
"Still, you are pretty good," Finn said. He and Poe were in big trouble. If they couldn't wheedle her into this one after she'd sworn off of helping them "since they were big boys now," they were in big trouble.
"Not helping you!" She trilled. "Copy the notes off of someone else."
"But we're used to reading your handwriting," Poe protested as the walked into Professor Solo's classroom.
"Find someone else," she deadpanned as she slipped into her seat, wand on her desk as Professor Solo liked it. He believed in knowing how to use both muggle and magical weaponry and often expressed the importance of both.
"Please, I'll give you all of the cakes I get from Mum the next few months," Poe pleaded. Rey considered. This meant that he really was serious. Unfortunately, that's when Professor Solo entered the room, and everyone shut up before they could get into too big of trouble.
"Alright, today, we're going to be going over the lightsaber spell on your wand," Solo said. "This is a very dangerous spell. I want all of you to be extremely careful. Understand?"
A murmur of assent echoed across the room.
"The incantation will create a blade of pure light. This can very easily cut off your hand. DO NOT TOUCH THE GLOWING END!" Everyone jumped and nodded.
"Good," Solo continued. "The incantation is Gladius Luminus. Stand up, at least arm's length away from each other."
The sixth-years obeyed and got to their feet.
"Alright, cast now," Solo ordered, and everyone casted their spells.
Poe had a yellow blade spring out of his oak wand, a blue out of Finn's cedar, and another blue out of Rey's rowan wand. The trio grinned at each other as Kyp Durron waved around a really long purple lightsaber and Professor Solo had to go calm him down. They were all laughing, when the room went silent.
On instinct, they turned around to see in the back of the room, Ben Solo's wand emitting a red blade. But something was wrong with it. The energy crackled like a fire instead of being a smooth beam of light, and there were two mini-blades coming off of the sides.
"Ben, deactivate that now before anyone gets hurt," Solo said softly to his son.
"Why? I just changed the spell around a little," Ben whined. "It's not hurting anybody!"
"Son, lightsabers aren't supposed to look like that-"
"WELL IT DOES NOW!" Ben yelled.
"Nox maxima," Solo said, and all the lightsabers in the room went out. He turned and scanned the room. "Jade, could you escort Mr. Solo to Headmaster Skywalker's office?"
Rey sighed and got to her feet. She stomped over to where the Slytherin was standing. She'd heard a fair bit of gossiping about Ben Solo from her dorm mates. Apparently, he was the family disappointment. Most would say it was because he was in Slytherin, despite the famous Auror, Leia Organa-Solo (his mother) being one. No, it was because he was a huge worshipper of Anakin Skywalker, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's attack dog. He and his father fought often, and despite all the girls giggling about him, Rey Jade knew he was trouble.
"Come with me," she said coldly, and she marched out of the room, not caring whether or not he was following. They were about halfway to the headmaster's office when he stopped in front her.
"You're that charity case from that muggle orphanage, right?" He asked, dark eyes intent on hers.
"Yes," she said stiffly. "Come on, we've got to get to Professor Skywalker's office."
He started walking beside her at a lazy pace, making Rey envy his height. She had to run practically everywhere to keep up with anyone. Some girls probably liked that though. She dully wondered what Poe and Finn were doing. Probably having an awesome time. Professor Solo was the best, no questioning it.
"I thought you were," he said, breaking her reverie.
"Why do you care?" She demanded as she looked up at the Slytherin.
"I like to know about the most talented student to come into Hogwarts since Skywalker himself. They're saying that you're the next Anakin Skywalker," he said.
Rey rolled her eyes. "Of course you'd say that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" He demanded.
She closed her eyes in frustration. "Everyone knows you're a Skywalker fanboy," she pointed out.
"Doesn't mean that I didn't mean it as a compliment," he said. "You're really talented, Jade. Really powerful."
"Are you trying to butter me up for something?" Rey demanded.
He laughed, a deep sound like thunder.
"No, I was just trying to make conversation," he admitted. "I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time."
"Well I haven't," she snapped. "I don't want to talk to you. You're probably still in shock that a muggle-born could be any good compared to you."
"I-"
"And you must be still trying to figure out how on Earth a muggle-born nobody could be as powerful as your damn Anakin Skywalker," she continued, building up steam.
"Rey, I-"
"Don't you dare use my name, you filthy little cockroach!" She yelled. He stared at her for a moment with an expression of seething anger. A little fear rose within her. She'd also heard of Ben Solo's infamous temper. One time, according to urban legend, he'd completely and utterly destroyed the Slytherin common room.
"Well, Miss Jade," he said in a cool voice. "I was just going to say that I thought you were really pretty, like that former Prime Minister, Padmé Amidala."
Oh, she thought.
"And that I've been working up the courage for the entire semester to try and talk to you. But since you want nothing to do with me," he said. He stopped right in front of the gargoyles.
"Millennium Falcon," he muttered, and the staircase opened. He gave her a withering stare. "Go back to class. I'll leave you alone, since that's what you wanted."
With that, he stormed up the stairs.
"Hey Rey," Finn said.
"What?" Rey snapped, a little on edge from Ben.
"Hey, don't take it out on us!" Poe said.
"Sorry, what did you want, Finn?" Rey asked as she massaged her temples.
"I was just wondering why Ben Solo looks really pissed," Finn said.
"He tried to flirt with me and I turned him down," she said.
"That's awesome!" Poe cried, and they passed around high-fives. What they didn't see was Ben staring at Rey like Rey stared at brownies during PMS.
AN: Credit for the last phrase goes to Hobbitbabe, and I'd like to give a shoutout to PandaofManyFandoms for the inspiration!
