CHAPTER 7 | TEAM LET'S HELP HARRY NOT DIE !

            KENNEDY WAS THRILLED that the champions were announced. It meant she had an objective now — figure out how the hell she was going to make sure Harry Potter won the tournament while using the most underhanded means possible. She herself couldn't enter the tournament, much less win, but this way, she could win simply by association. Perhaps there was no glory in it. Perhaps she would still be nothing more than the new girl when people passed her in the halls, but she herself would know.

She was the one who helped keep Harry Potter alive. She was the one who molded him into the youngest winner of the Triwizard Tournament.

Unfortunately, the scheming couldn't truly begin until the announcement of the first task. That meant that dung bombing Filch's office with Rachel and Daphne took priority.

"Hurry up!" Daphne squealed.

"We're not athletes, Dee!" Rachel panted, "Fucking hell, I'm too old for this—".

"You should at least have better endurance, c'mon," Kennedy teased as she was a couple paces ahead, "And you're fourteen!"

"Almost fifteen!"

"Still fourteen!" Kennedy bit back.

Their heavy footsteps echoed against the ancient stone walls. Kennedy wondered what other mischief these walls had seen. "Make sure not to drop them, Kenn!" Rachel cautioned, "They're stinkers!".

"Really?" Kennedy mockingly crooned as she held the satchel holding the bombs tightly, "I never would've guessed!"

"Shut up!" Rachel shrieked.

Daphne spotted the rolls of parchment sticking beside the bombs, "Wait ... did you finish making the ... parchment things? The things that let you write on a piece of parchment and have it appear on another linked one?"

"Parchment Links! And, yeah, finished it off while you guys were in the bathroom this morning. The mechanics of it all needed some tweaks but I think it's ready.".

"I still can't believe you want to start doing Potions tutoring. That's super nice of you!" Rachel gushed.

"Thanks, Rachel! I'll get a Link to Faye Dunbar by lunch so I can get some classes filled in for tomorrow and check on them as they come in".

"She's such a gossip. The way she runs her mouth you'll have for the next week and then some", Daphne snickered.

"Daphne!", Kennedy reprimanded, "I thought you were all prim and proper!"

Daphne giggled, "Maybe ... but a liar I am not"

"Okay girls, focus. We're approaching enemy territory", Rachel ushered them behind a column.

"This isn't one of those Muggle John Boon films, Rachel," Daphne muttered.

"James Bond, and I know that!" Rachel retorted, "Look. The best way to get in is—".

"The door?" Kennedy chipped in and Daphne's hand flew to her mouth to quiet her giggle.

"By making Peeves go and distract him somewhere else. Peeves! Oi!" Rachel suddenly called out and did a flurry of complex hand signals. Peeves grinned and flew down the corridor.

"You have a code with him?" Kennedy queried.

"For efficiency," Rachel shrugged, "Let's go!"

The three girls hurried into Filch's office. "Gosh, it smells like shit in here," Daphne wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Agreed," Rachel fanned fumes away from her nose, "Alright Kenn, open her up."

Kennedy carefully opened the top of her satchel, showing off the dung bombs and Parchment Links. They reached in for the bombs, careful not to touch the Links.

"We set them up in strategic areas. I need two behind his desk, two by the door and one in every corner of this room. Yes, that means ceiling and floor," Rachel would've clapped if she wasn't holding a very fragile bomb, "Let's get moving, people!"

They quickly scurried off with each of their tasks. Kennedy opted for the easiest ones — behind his desk and by the door. Those wouldn't require a levitation charm. She tended to struggle with them on a blue moon despite it being a First Year level spell. She hadn't quite breached the subject of her magical inadequacies with them yet and now certainly wasn't the time.

After confirming everyone had set their bombs, Rachel ushered everyone to the door, then muttered the charm to activate them, "Fetor Explodo."

Squealing, they scurried out of the classroom to hide behind a nearby pillar as multiple loud explosions of stench filled the hall.

"Ugh, I think that burned off my nose hairs," Kennedy wrinkled her nose.

Filch came running, unsurprisingly. Peeves couldn't distract him for long before he realized it was a ruse. Mrs. Norris trotted behind Filch cheerfully, completely opposing her owner's frantic demeanor.

The three girls held their breath, wondering what his reaction would be.

Filch stood in the doorway, inspecting it and stepped inside quizzically.

He didn't realize anything was wrong or different.

His office smelled just as usual.

His office usually smelled like eight dung bombs had been set off.

The three girls looked at each other and had to rely on various tactics in order to not make a sound. Daphne stuffed her knuckle in her mouth, Rachel bit down in her tongue and Kennedy held her nose. If she couldn't breathe, she couldn't laugh.

The door closed behind him unceremoniously but the girls didn't dare move. He could be watching out for pranksters. They sat there in silence before Rachel deemed the coast clear and they got a move on to breakfast.

Immediately they turned the corridor, they burst out laughing. Their laughter followed them into the Great Hall.

It felt special.

Like a moment that would be played in the montage of her time on Earth before existence would be snuffed out of her being. Kennedy was sure she would never forget the feeling of clutching her side, wheezing and giggling with her first friends.

.·:••●••:·.

            ONE THING KENNEDY didn't quite like about Hogwarts was the separation. Everyone was divided into their houses and then further into their own little cliques and friend groups. Friend groups didn't bother her but the houses ... the stereotypes and assumptions about each other just seemed completely unnecessary.

What was the point of the houses, anyway, if not for Hogwarts' beloved, heavy-handed color coding?

Second period Potions on a Wednesday was shared with the Gryffindors. Draco had his chest puffed out, seemingly anticipating how mediocrely he could answer questions and still be rewarded house points. Pansy was grumbling about all the "damned blood traitors," Crabbe and Goyle were being their idiotic goonish selves and Rachel, Kennedy and Daphne were giggling to themselves about their recent dung bomb adventure.

Each desk was a two-seater so Rachel chose to sit toward the front beside Theodore Nott while Daphne and Kennedy sat a couple rows behind. "We'll meet up after class, yeah?" Rachel said to Daphne, "Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes aren't too far from each other."

Daphne nodded, then turned to Kennedy, "You've a free period, haven't you?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna hang with the Three Musketeers in the Common Room," Kennedy replied.

For some reason or the other, the older girls had taken to referring to Jude, Lola and Reggie as the "Three Musketeers" after Rachel had told them about the Muggle story. Said Three Musketeers had yet to hear of that nickname. Kennedy thought they would love it.

The Gryffindors arrived just after the Slytherins had settled in, most of them exceptionally loud and boisterous for nine in the morning. Immediately, Kennedy's eyes were drawn to those three students — Harry Potter, Ron Weasley then Hermione Granger — in that order. Kennedy couldn't help but allow her eyes to linger on Harry. She wasn't lying when she said he was interesting.

Something was wrong however. Ron quickly shot away from the group and Hermione looked between the two of them, wondering who to sit with. Harry shook his head and motioned for her to go sit with Ron as he forlornly made his way to sit with Dean Thomas.

Weird, but Kennedy didn't dwell on it.

Snape's voice drawled from the other end of the classroom, "Ms. Granger, I'm afraid you will not be working with Mr. Weasley today. Make your way to Ms. Bishop's workstation — and quickly. Switch with Ms. Greengrass."

Hermione had already set down her things on Ron's table and visibly did not want to leave. However, she just looked at him apologetically, bit her lip and made her way to Kennedy's workstation.

Kennedy looked at Daphne in apology, "We keep on getting separated."

"Not your fault," Daphne chirped as she cheekily smiled and packed her things to go sit with Ron. It did bother her, Kennedy realized. She was overcompensating; Daphne's smile never spread that wide.

"Hello, partner!" She greeted with a mock cheery tone which Ron couldn't help but smile a little at, though he looked a little annoyed at himself for doing so. Always the house bias. Daphne continued on as if she hadn't noticed but Kennedy knew she had.

"A little odd this is the second time we've been paired up, right?"

"And it's never 'cause we intend to," Ron mused.

"Maybe we should start making bets on when the next time will be. I'm thinking..."

Daphne's voice was drowned out as Kennedy focused on Hermione approaching her.

"Kennedy," Hermione said cordially in greeting, sitting down on the unoccupied stool.

"Hermione," Kennedy replied.

Silence overcame them for a beat too long before Kennedy broke it.

"You know, I'm sure the only reason Snape put you with me is because he thinks we haven't met. And, most relevantly, that you would find me insufferable," Kennedy explained as she arranged the ingredients, her eyes scanning the instructions in the textbook.

"Oh, I do find you insufferable—" Hermione deadpanned.

"That's unsurprising," Kennedy laughed.

"—Just not nearly as much as he'd think, I reckon," Hermione added quietly.

Kennedy looked up at her in surprise, trying to figure out if she was joking. Hermione knew she was looking at her if the light flush of embarrassment on her face was any indication.

"You're not that bad either, Granger."

Hermione smiled, still too embarrassed to look up from the depths of her satchel. She seemed to snap herself out of it as she focused on reading the instructions of the textbook. "Let's just brew the best possible batch of Doxycide so Professor Snape can have his knickers smooth and untwisted."

"Pretty sure he would still find a way to deduct," Kennedy put on a startlingly accurate drawly Snape voice, "Ten points from Gryffindor regardless of the quality of work."

"It's one of his few talents," Hermione said, voice dry and tone sarcastic.

Kennedy barked out a laugh and Snape swiveled around to look at her. Kennedy just stared back at him, blank-faced and innocent until he looked away.

Hermione snorted then scrambled to comport herself. She didn't succeed.

"Not too jolly a bloke, is he?" Kennedy asked as she began to grind four Streeler shells in accordance with the textbook.

"You have no idea," Hermione huffed as she chopped up a dragon liver.

They worked in silence for quite some time until it was time for Kennedy to add a dash of hemlock essence. "So ... this tournament stuff," Kennedy began.

"Gosh, it's all everyone can bloody talk about," Hermione muttered, "I'm already a little tired of it."

"How's Harry?", Kennedy asked.

Hermione paused as she stirred the hemlock essence. "Well," She peered into the cauldron, inspecting the hue of emerald green before stating firmly, "He's well."

"Reassuring," Kennedy dryly commented. "Well, how do you think he's doing, Kennedy?"

Hermione shook her head in obvious disapproval, "It's a death sentence."

"You think so?" Kennedy asked curiously. She hadn't really considered the actual repercussions of the tournament other than how fun it would be to meddle with.

"I know so," Hermione said firmly, "And they took him to that room and interrogated him! Those fucking..."

Kennedy could tell she wasn't supposed to hear that last part so she ignored it.

"What've you got going on for the rest of the day?" Kennedy changed the topic as she adjusted the heat of the cauldron. It needed to go at a slow simmer before a glug of cowbane essence would be added then stirred anticlockwise.

"Nothing much, really. I've got Ancient Runes. Your friend Daphne Greengrass does that, doesn't she?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. Maybe you'll sit next to each other and become best friends! As Gryffindors and Slytherins are known to do."

"Funny," Hermione rolled her eyes as she double-checked the heat. Kennedy tried her best not to be offended. She could adjust the heat of a cauldron correctly...

"Apart from that, I'm gonna be with Harry in the library after dinner but I'll have to take Crookshanks out on a walk before then," Hermione added.

"Crookshanks?" Kennedy asked, but really she zeroed in on the first thing. Hermione was going to be with Harry in the library after dinner. Sure, they could be studying together. Kennedy wasn't familiar with their routines. But if they weren't... it would be for the tournament.

This was the perfect way for Kennedy to inch her way into a position close enough where she could ensure Harry would win the tournament. The picture-perfect golden boy, and she would be the one to make him win through terribly underhanded means.

She was morbidly excited.

"Yeah, Crookshanks is my cat. He's half-Kneazle," Hermione explained, "He may seem a little grumpy but he means well."

"Ah, that sounds like my cat Sawyer. He's got an attitude, the little bugger. But he's a sweet little baby when you get to know him," Kennedy smiled gently.

"Maybe they could be friends," Hermione stirred the potion anticlockwise and feigned ignorance at how her words were obviously a friendship offering.

"I think they will be friends," Kennedy nodded, her eyes flashing to the girl next to her long enough to catch her smiling. Kennedy was a little surprised that this felt like a genuine friendship forming.

She hadn't intended for this to happen, but she supposed that's how a lot of good things start out.

.·:••●••:·.

            KENNEDY NOW HAD a plan for the end of her evening — eat dinner a little faster than usual, then go to the library and sit where she had met Hermione all those weeks ago. Maybe sitting there was a bit of a gamble considering Hermione and Harry could just choose to sit somewhere else and Kennedy suddenly moving to be beside them would be suspicious, but she was betting on Hermione having a love for that particular spot.

Until then, however, she had other matters to attend to. Hours had passed since the end of Potions and Kennedy was sure Rachel was on a picnic date with Eshaal by the Black Lake and Daphne was at Quidditch training. For now, she had her Three Musketeers to hang out with.

"Hang on," Kennedy asked upon setting her things down, "Where's Lola?"

"She's prepping for a tutoring session with you," Jude off-handedly responded, "Reggie, what'd ya reckon the answer to five is?"

"No idea, mate," Reggie had his head on the table, long hair sprawled all over the pages.

"Lola signed up for a class with me?" Kennedy was a little surprised. Lola had often voiced her annoyance with Potions but never really alluded to her struggling at all. "Yeah, she gave her name to Faye Dunbar and everything," Reggie said, words slightly mushed against the pages of his Herbology textbook, "I went with her 'cause she was shy."

"How come she didn't ask you, Ju?" Kennedy wondered and dug into her satchel for her end of the Parchment Link. Jude was more than capable of teaching her.

"Think she just wanted someone older to trust with this." Jude didn't sound disturbed by it at all.

They were right, Kennedy realized. Slotted in for just before dinner in Faye Dunbar's loopy handwriting was Lola Jung and the potion she needed help with.

"Forgetfulness Potion?" Kennedy read out. "It's in our final exam. Lola wants to practice it since she heard the Second years struggled with it," Reggie continued, "And even if it ends up being different this year—"

"She knows it would be of similar difficulty so she wants to learn how to brew this one. Smart girl," Kennedy said in approval then looked down to the piece of parchment in her hands. Merlin, she has a class in—

"Are you gonna sit down?" Jude asked. Kennedy folded the parchment and placed it in her satchel, "Can't. I've got a class in ten minutes and then two more after that."

"Blimey, you're busy," Reggie murmured. Kennedy hummed in agreement, "Not to worry, I'll catch you guys at dinner."

"See ya!" Jude cheerfully said as Reggie smiled, "Bye, Kenn."

Kennedy waved and spun on her heel, making her way to her dorm to gather all she needed. Then, she would head to the library.

Kennedy waited exactly four minutes for Sally-Anne Perks — a Fourth year Hufflepuff. She knew because she had set out all of her materials (that being a couple extra pages of parchment and her textbook. She didn't really think she needed anything more) and stared at the library's clock absent-mindedly with nothing else to do.

"Kennedy Bishop?" asked a melodic voice. Kennedy looked up to see a Filipino girl with a blunt bob and bangs. "That's me," Kennedy smiled and gestured to the seat opposite her, "You're Sally-Anne Perks?"

"That's me," she smiled cordially, "Before we begin, I just want to get this out of the way. Are you taking any payment?"

"No", Kennedy smiled, wide and eye-creasing, "Just for fun. I needed something extra to do, you know?"

The potions lessons were absolutely not Just For Fun. The student populace of Hogwarts, to her, were like huge wads of clay — untouched and firm. They just needed to be a little liquidized, a little loosened, a little buttered up, and they would soon be malleable enough for her to gain the social footing and privilege she so desired.

If she needed to become like an inviting flame, warm and attention grabbing to gloss and glaze them to perfection, then so be it.

"That's so kind of you", Sally-Anne smiled and Kennedy held back a grin. "That's enough about me," she waved her off politely and opened to the textbook chapter on Shrinking Solution, "What about this potion do you not get?"

Sally-Anne began, "Well..."

The hour went by quickly and Kennedy wasn't too concerned with the quality of her teaching beforehand. She knew if she was shit, her knowledge of the subject would mask it, but she thought she had actually done pretty well. "Thanks so much, Kennedy. Snape's all..."

"Fussy? Annoying? Revolting?" Kennedy supplied.

Sally-Anne giggled, "I was going to say scary but I suppose he's a bit fussy. If you don't understand anything, you can never really ask. I mean, this is a third year potion but I wasn't able to ask then so there's no way I'd get it now."

"You broke it down in such a simple way, though. Thank you so much," Sally-Anne smiled gratefully as she packed her stuff.

"You're welcome, Sally-Anne. Maybe next class I could figure out how you could practice brewing it? I'll have to work it out with Snape somehow," Kennedy suggested.

"That would be amazing. Thanks again, Kennedy!" Sally-Anne called out as she left the library.

Kennedy sat down, trying her best not to be too happy that someone had actually understood. Focus, Odette. The goal was to be inviting and kind and visible in order to craft her throne in the collective consciousness of the school.

Pause.

Kennedy mulled it over.

Inviting, kind and visible... she supposed expressing her happiness wouldn't conflict with that.

"Are you Kennedy Bishop?" A blonde Ravenclaw boy asked. Her next student.

"Yes", Kennedy smiled wolfishly, "I am."

.·:••●••:·.

            THE BLONDE RAVENCLAW boy turned out to be Terry Boot, then there was Alice Runcorn — Gryffindor —, then Kevin Entwhistle — Ravenclaw — then finally ...

"Lola!" Kennedy cheered upon seeing her. Madam Pince shushed her and Kennedy bashfully apologized. "Lola," she said quieter, "Why didn't you just come and ask me directly for lessons?"

"I was embarrassed," Lola mumbled and dumped her things unceremoniously on the table as she slid into the seat right beside Kennedy. "Merlin, Lola, have you been prepping for this since three o'clock?! Lola, it's five o'clock. An hour to dinner. You didn't need to prepare that much! I'm tutoring you for a reason," Kennedy reprimanded, "You didn't even need to prepare at all! Lola, you know I would've explained everything to the best of my ability—"

"You gonna tutor me or are you gonna scold me until curfew?" Lola tapped her fingers against the table impatiently. Kennedy rolled her eyes as Lola opened her textbook, "Alright, alright. Not one drop of respect in your little body, I reckon."

"None," Lola grinned, showing off her braces. The stickers on her cheeks contorted slightly as her cheeks appled upon the bone. Kennedy just poked her in her side and looked into the textbook, "Forgetfulness Potion. It's intermediate level — perfect for an exam — but not impossible to brew. The trick when brewing it—"

Kennedy paused. Lola didn't seem to be registering anything she was saying. Her eyes were drooping and her posture was lax. "Lola, you're tired—"

"I'm not," Lola retorted hotly, snapping her posture right and opening her eyes wide. Kennedy ignored her and gathered Lola's things into her satchel, "You've got an hour to dinner. You can take a nap."

"Kennedy", she whined.

"Don't 'Kennedy' me. You're too tired to register anything!" Kennedy unbundled her house scarf from her neck and gathered it into a pillow for Lola. "There. Rest. I'll keep an eye on the clock," Kennedy said firmly.

Lola protested, as always, "But—"

"If I refuse to teach and you're too tired to learn, what else will you do?"

Lola pursed her lips then made the decision to blow a raspberry at Kennedy in defiance.

"Classy," Kennedy deadpanned. "No matter," she shrugged, "You just rest until dinner."

She looked down to see Lola drooling on her scarf. She let out a little amused huff of air and slumped into her seat to rest for a bit.

.·:••●••:·.

            IT SEEMED NO ONE at Hogwarts was looking at Harry in a favorable light. The other schools felt slighted that he had been chosen because Hogwarts now had double the chance of winning. Hufflepuff felt slighted because they rarely got any recognition and now if Harry won, he would steal Cedric's shine. Most of the Gryffindors were annoyed that Harry had somehow found a way in. Most Slytherins were just glad to hate Harry and it seemed Ravenclaw was along for the ride.

Draco and his goons had made some badges and passed them around the Slytherin table. Kennedy had for a wild moment thought they were S.P.E.W badges but cocked her head in confusion when she remembered that none of them have red lettering. No, these caught the light of the overhead candles and read in luminous crimson: SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY — THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION!

"Do you think Draco would ever have been caught supporting a Hufflepuff before this?" Rachel asked as she stole a bit of mashed potatoes from Kennedy's plate.

"Fat chance," Daphne snorted.

Draco, proud of his merchandise and showing it off to Blaise Zabini, pressed it into his chest and the message was replaced by another, glowing green: POTTER STINKS!

"Real classy.", Rachel rolled her eyes.

"I just wonder how he put his name in," Reggie mused.

"Honestly, Reg, I don't think he did," Kennedy said with a small shrug.

"What?" Daphne's eyes widened. Kennedy hadn't shared her theory with any of them.

"I don't think he did. He looked so bewildered when they called his name that night. There's no way", Kennedy explained.

"But then ... how did it get in?" Lola asked.

"No idea. But he didn't do it," Kennedy said definitively.

"I hope you're wrong, Kenn. Because if he didn't do it, he must be quite unprepared," Jude grimaced, "The tournament sounds super scary."

Unprepared.

He was unprepared ... meaning he needed preparation.

Of course! That's what he and Hermione were going to do at the library tonight. Research, or at least lay out a vague game plan since they didn't know what the first task would entail yet.

Another epiphany. She knows so much about the tournament because of her father. She wouldn't even have to bullshit her way into appearing as a reliable source of intel then go gather it later— she had it already!

Oh, she was so excited. She bit into her potatoes quicker. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Jude trying to discreetly push his broccolis away from his food.

"I hope you know you're eating that, Ju."

Jude just sighed, "Can't a man live?"

"I don't see any men here," Kennedy quipped with a cheeky smirk.

"Shut it, Kenn!"

.·:••●••:·.

            JUST AS PLANNED, Kennedy sat near where Hermione had sat that night all those weeks ago, charming those S.P.E.W badges. And, just as expected, Harry and Hermione walked in.

"And that article, Hermione. She's got me painted as some tortured soul!" Harry whisper-shouted.

"Right. It's a load of nonsense", Hermione said then added, "Like everything else Rita Skeeter writes".

Thankfully, they made their way to a few seats beside Kennedy. "Uh, hullo Kennedy," Harry awkwardly greeted, "Night reading?".

"Yeah, I've got some revision to do for Arithmancy. We might have a test so..." Kennedy trailed off and gestured to her Arithmancy textbook that she was most certainly not reading.

"What're you guys doing here?" A faux innocent smile lit up her face.

"We're just here to..." Hermione trailed off and turned to Harry slightly. Seemed she wasn't a good liar. Harry looked like he wanted to face palm.

"Prepare for the tournament?" Kennedy interjected.

Harry looked bewildered, "How did you—"

"She just does. Don't think about it too hard and you won't drive yourself insane like I did," Hermione huffed.

Kennedy grinned brightly at the girl.

"Have you been ... listening to us?" Harry asked, obviously not following Hermione's advice. Hermione sat down a few seats away from Kennedy and Harry plopped into a seat to her right.

"Not at all! Just had some..." Kennedy trailed off and allowed her eyes to drag over the two of them slowly, drawing attention to their position and giving the impression that they were being obvious, "Context clues."

"Context clues?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Context clues," Kennedy confirmed.

"Right. Cheers. Well, I have to focus on not dying so if you'll excuse us—"

"Wait," Hermione suddenly said.

Kennedy knew she would catch on.

"Hm?" Kennedy hummed innocently.

"Your father..." Hermione was still piecing bits together. Kennedy gave her time, "What about him?"

"He's on the Regulations Committee, isn't he?"

"That he is," Kennedy smiled proudly, "Potions and Herbals Aids Officer."

"Right," Hermione was firm now. She had come to a conclusion. Atta girl. "Is there anything you know that could help us?"

"Hermione!" Harry turned to the girl and gave her a pointed look. Madam Pince shushed him and he apologized before continuing in a quieter tone, "Are you suggesting we cheat?"

"No," Hermione drew the word out, not sure how to continue. "It's just..." Kennedy trailed off, knowing Hermione could fill in the blanks. Harry would take it better coming from Hermione than her.

"Making use of the resources available," Hermione said and Kennedy nodded in agreement. There was a spark thrumming beneath her skin.

"Right. So cheating," Harry hummed in mock understanding.

"Merlin, Harry, do you want to survive or not?" Hermione retorted hotly.

Harry sighed. "What do you have for us, Bishop?"

Kennedy sidled over into a nearer seat and grinned. "Well, I do know your first task involves imported cargo."

"Imported cargo?" Hermione's brows furrowed.

"Huge crates. Papa and I took a trip down south to Marseille in late July to receive them. One crate was from China and I think one of them from Siberia. Huge, huge crates. They weren't wooden though, curiously," Kennedy continued, "Huge holes in them too. Breathing holes. Which means..."

"I'm going to have to fight some kind of creature," Harry had a realization as his cheeks whitened out.

"Right. And not just any creature. A creature that required sedation to be placed into the crates, which is how I know about it. Papa had to brew hundreds of cauldrons in the weeks leading up to school," Kennedy added.

"Fucking hell," Harry tugged at his hair, "You saw the crates?".

"Yeah, I begged Papa to let me come along."

"For ... this?" Hermione gestured to the three of them.

"Not necessarily for this. But it's useful to know things, you know?" Kennedy answered. Judging by their expressions, it seemed they didn't know. No matter. No one else quite did apart from her Papa.

"Well, the first task is November 24th. We've got about..." Hermione trailed off as she tried to calculate.

"Three weeks until then," Harry said, "But they'll be announcing the task in the next few days, I reckon."

Silence lulled over them, the gravity of the situation finally settling in their young minds. "Er— at least you're exempt from exams?" Kennedy tried weakly.

"Right," Harry sounded miffed before turning curious, "And how do you know that?"

Kennedy stared at him blankly.

"Right. Your father."

"Well... I guess this is really all we can do without knowing what the first task is," Hermione said with an air of finality. Kennedy began nodding before saying, "Hang on, what were you guys going to do if I didn't pipe up?"

"Make a wild guess."

"Panic."

Kennedy snorted, "Not a good plan then."

"The worst we've come up with actually," Harry snorted, "Usually we have..." He abruptly cut himself short and pursed his lips. "Anyways, we must be going," he finished curtly.

"Right. Nice seeing you both tonight."

"Likewise," Hermione said, "Er— I guess you're now part of Team Let's Help Harry Not Die?"

"I guess I am," Kennedy let out an amused puff of air. "Well, since I'm part of the team, I suppose I should give you this." She pulled out a Parchment Link.

"A piece of parchment?" Harry deadpanned, "I think we have those."

Kennedy rolled her eyes, "It's a Parchment Link. I made it. Essentially, two people can have linked pieces of parchment and have whatever they write appear on the others. And, if you tear a piece and give it a recipient and destination, it can find whoever it's addressed to."

"You made that?" Hermione looked amazed.

"Yeah, but it's just a prototype right now so it's not perfect. Here," Kennedy tore the parchment into three equal pieces, "We can use these to communicate."

Harry slowly whistled as he took his, "Wicked."

They bid each other goodbye once again but then Hermione turned around. "Kennedy," Hermione began.

"Yeah?" Kennedy looked up from packing her things into her satchel.

"I know you weren't reading that Arithmancy textbook."

"How'd you know this time?" Kennedy was shocked. She had even taken the time to flip the pages in a varied but still slow manner!

"No bookmarking or dog earring when you closed it," Hermione pointed out.

"Damn," Kennedy huffed, "I need to work on my fake reading skills."

Harry snorted, "Clearly".

"Hush, Potter. I'm still the one helping you survive. It would be terrible if I gave you a wrong hint, now, wouldn't it?"

Harry kept quiet.

.·:••●••:·.

            KENNEDY SAT against the headboard of her bed, not thinking much about anything. Sawyer was perched on her lap and purring gently as she stroked his head gently. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. The steady affection was a comforting pendulum. Speaking of pendulums, the grandfather clock in their Common Room had just struck midnight....

A piece of parchment slipped under their dorm door. Kennedy stood quietly and tiptoed over to it, not wanting to awake her roommates. She scurried back to bed and opened it giddily, knowing it must be something good. Even Sawyer came, curious to see what it was Kennedy was so excited to read. Scrawled on the paper was surprisingly neat handwriting given the obvious haste. It read:

Just found out what the first task is. Saw the crates myself. It's dragons.

— Harry

Huh. Maybe Kennedy's bitten off more than she can chew. 

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AUTHOR'S NOTE!

woahhh someone disappeared for three months??? nope nope definitely wasn't me that's for sure