CHAPTER 11 | LILOU VERNIER !

            "KENNEDY?", Ron called out in confusion, "What're you doing here?". The singular person in the hallway with a tie of green and silver instead of gold and amber, Kennedy wasn't hard to miss. The Gryffindors had just gotten out of Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall and Kennedy was, "Waiting for Harry". "Waiting for Harry?", Hermione asked, "What for? I don't think we have a shared class after this, do we?".

"Nope, but Harry and I are both free. We were chatting after dinner and he said he would have a go at teaching me the Summoning Charm.", Kennedy pushed up from the wall she had been absently leaning against, "Personally, I think he can't do it but he seems to believe in his teaching capabilities for some reason". "He's a good enough teacher when he wants to be", Ron shrugged, "But that's rare".

"Well, he wants to alright. What was it Rita Skeeter wrote?", Kennedy assumed a dramatic posture, "His eyes were 'blazing with a fire—"

"'... akin to the fiery inferno of the Hungarian Horntail he fought'", Harry finished exasperatedly as he walked up to them, "Yeah yeah, Kenn, you can stop quoting that now". "I don't think I will, Potter", Kennedy said simply. Harry huffed and rolled his eyes.

"Harry, what did McGonagall call you over for?", Hermione asked Harry. "I thought it was to chew us out 'cause of the whole sword-fight-with-fake-wands-while-she-was-teaching thing but then she only called you over", said Ron. "Yeah, I thought it was about that too, but it was about the Yule Ball".

Hermione turned to ask Kennedy, "Do you know about that already?". Kennedy nodded, "Yeah, Papa mentioned. It's a tradition blah blah, it's on Christmas Day and lasts until midnight blah blah". "Right", Harry said before replying to Ron, "Essentially, she pulled me over to inform me that I have to dance".

Ron stared at him blankly, "Mate, we all have to dance. It's a ball. You dance at balls".

Harry rolled his eyes, "I meant not in a sea of people. Because I'm a champion, I need to have a partner to dance with to open up the ball".

"Oh", Ron finally understood. "Yeah", Harry said sulkily.

"Cheer up, mate", Ron said as he patted Harry on the back, "Don't worry about it. You're a champion. You've just beaten a Hungarian Horntail. I bet people'll be queuing up to go with you".

"If a scrawny loser beats a Hungarian Horntail, he's still a scrawny loser", Kennedy murmured. "What was that, Bishop?", Harry turned to her, having heard what she said. "That Hermione and Ron's break is almost over and they have to get to class. Let's go now", she hooked her arm around Harry's to drag him away, "Bye guys!".

Hermione and Ron chuckled as they waved bye and rushed into the sea of students bustling to get to their next class.

"You're a right pain in the arse, you know that?", Harry rolled his eyes.

"And you're a cocky prat but I don't say much of it, Potter", Kennedy bit back.

Their arms remained hooked as they walked out of the Hogwarts castle towards the Black Lake.

"When have I ever been cocky?".

"Last night after dinner", Kennedy said easily. "Belief in my abilities is cockiness now?", Harry retorted.

"When your belief is misplaced, always".

"We'll see if my belief was misplaced in just a second, Kennedy Bishop. You just wait".

His belief was misplaced.

Well, not entirely. Kennedy could do it, but only with light objects like leaves and parchment.

Still, Harry was kind. She appreciated that. "You're doing great, Kenn. Would you like to try this ink well?", he pulled out an ink well from his satchel, "It's only a teensy bit heavier than the parchment".

"Teensy", Kennedy said incredulously. "Just a teensy bit", Harry remained firm, "You can do it".

Kennedy hesitantly nodded. Despite joking around, she was scared shitless he would think she was pathetic for her magical inadequacies. She was actually pleasantly surprised she was able to do it. She had thought nothing would come out of it and was really just seeing it as time to spend with her friend.

Harry set the inkwell down on the rock that had become a perch for them to work with. Kennedy's hand was slightly shaking. "Take your time", Harry said soothingly as he made his way to stand beside her. Kennedy felt a little pathetic but continued on, "Accio inkwell".

It was slower this time. Nothing like the lightning quick zoom of the parchment and leaves. But, it made it. Kennedy held the inkwell in her hand.

"Merlin's fucking beard", she marveled at it. "You did it!", Harry grinned, "I said you could!". "Oh, so you want to brag that you were right?", Kennedy turned to him with a teasing smile.

"Of course. This victory is mine. You're just an aside", Harry waved her off. Kennedy chuckled and Harry grinned. "Would you like to try a book or should we bask in your victory and relax until our next class?", he asked.

Kennedy pursed her lips. Maybe she should just end today on a high note. She's improving and she's proud. "Let's bask in our victory", Kennedy said absent-mindedly as she crouched to sit against the trunk of a tall tree. "Curious how you said 'our', Kenn", Harry pointed out impishly.

"A slip of tongue", Kennedy waved him off as he sat down beside her. Kennedy stretched her feet toward the lake's shore, enjoying the way the soil gave way to sand by her thigh. Harry did the same.

"I was scared before we got here", Kennedy softly admitted. Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "You can get scared?". Kennedy snorted, "I'm not superhuman, Harry". He didn't laugh like she expected him to. She looked over and he seemed to genuinely be processing that. "What, did you think I was superhuman?", Kennedy asked, confused.

"Not quite that, but you seem like you would be unaffected by anything. You're very sure of yourself", Harry said. "I am sure of myself but I still do the things I want to in spite of my fear. I could've canceled this but I decided not to because I still thought it would be fun to hang out with you", Kennedy said easily before continuing, "Anyways, I'm not as good at magic as I'm supposed to be ... at my age, and you know how much of a thing that is".

"A thing?", Harry asked, "I'm still new to this. I don't know about all the social norms yet".

"Right. I suppose it was a bit silly to be afraid of judgement. You haven't learned all the prejudices yet", Kennedy realized, "Anyways, obviously magic is like the bedrock of our society. So to be a fourth year and have issues with your fundamentals ... that's shameful. Have you ever seen me cast a spell before this?".

Harry paused, trying to remember before furrowing his eyebrows before admitting, "No, but I never thought much of it".

"McGonagall's helping me with extra lessons which is the only reason I was able to cast it. I was actually very surprised", Kennedy said. "Even if you couldn't cast the spell, anyone who judges you for it is stupid and a prick because it's a very difficult spell. It's a fifth year spell, even", Harry added on.

Kennedy had forgotten that. She just casted a fifth year spell. Wow. It was weak, sure, but she still casted a fifth year spell.

"It wasn't as difficult because McGonagall taught me a different spell with the same concept, except it's more like a lasso than a summoning".

"Ohhh, same concept but more advanced".

"Exactly that", Kennedy murmured, slumping against the trunk of the tree. She was getting quite lazy.

"Well ... I love magic. I like to think I'm a little good at it. We could do this more often, maybe", Harry tentatively offered.

"What, coming around to the Black Lake to try different spells, attaining one small victory then promptly fucking off to lie down against a tree?".

"Precisely".

"Every Wednesday after the first class?", Kenn asked.

"Every Wednesday after the first class", Harry agreed, "Of course, unless something comes up".

"Obviously, I'm not moving my schedule around for you".

"Rude", Harry huffed.

"Honest", Kennedy corrected.

Harry snorted before murmuring, "Have you got any idea who you're gonna ask to the ball?". He was getting lazy too, barely moving his lips. "Not a clue", Kennedy admitted. Harry paused before asking, "Haven't you got a thing with Daphne?".

Kennedy blinked, "Right".

"That doesn't sound very enthusiastic", Harry said carefully. "I ... suppose not", Kennedy murmured. She wasn't sure why. She'd have to think about it more later.

"Are you gonna ask Cedric?".

"Wha— I do not fancy Cedric!", Harry sputtered. His cheeks were ruddy and he looked scandalized at the notion, but not entirely. Like he'd been taught he should be scandalized but couldn't find it in himself to believe it. "I didn't ask if you fancied him, Harry. I asked if you were going to ask him to the ball", Kennedy stated calmy. "Well, I was thinking of asking Chaerin".

Kennedy turned to face him. His unruly hair tickled her forehead. It was really soft.

She blinked at him. He blinked at her.

Oh, he was serious.

"Damn", Kennedy said and didn't elaborate.

"What?", Harry asked with his eyes narrowed. Kennedy huffed out an amused breath of air, "Nothing. Good luck with Chaerin".

"I'll take it", he slumped against the tree trunk. They were silent for a couple of moments, listening to the rush of the water and their breathing and the faint splashes of the merpeople and the sound of some pixies squabbling over a patch of grass a while away from where they were sitting.

"What was your life like before you got here?", Harry asked.

"Quiet", Kennedy responded easily, "Until I realized I didn't like it and found ways to make noise. I wasn't around other kids much. The only times I would see other kids was at banquets Papa would take me to". Harry furrowed his eyebrows at that but didn't say anything. "I was homeschooled and in this huge house mostly alone. My Papa worked from home sometimes but most of the time, he traveled for business. It was too quiet. So I found ways to entertain myself".

"And how was that?".

"Being a terror, really. I would give new employees wrong directions or scare people as they turned the corner, or hide while the staff searched for me for hours, pretend to burn or actually burn important documents ... the works", Kennedy shrugged, "I would invent things as well. Very crude inventions but inventions nonetheless. Just mechanical contraptions to help me out a bit".

"You can invent?", Harry turned to her surprised, "That is so cool". Kennedy shrugged it off, "Picked it up from my Papa".

"What would you invent?", Harry inquired. "Well, I had this spring kind of thing I would hide behind corners. I could activate it remotely to release a gust of wind or, this I required magic for, to show a shadowy figure when someone passed by to startle them. This was one of my firsts so it was quite basic. Always a delight when someone new joined the staff".

"Ooh, and there was also this one time I decided to include Papa. Basically, I swapped out some of his regular potion vials with ones I attached a very tiny lever system to. I had to make a regular one and make it miniature. I offered to help him that day and as I handed the vial to him, I would flick the switch at the last second which would tip the bottle just enough to make it spill slightly while making it seem like he did it. He was going mad, wondering what was wrong with his hands. Oh Harry, it was glorious!".

Harry chuckled, "Did he ever figure it out?".

"He didn't", Kennedy grinned proudly, "I waited a few days before coming clean about it. He was upset he had been fooled but impressed with the invention itself".

"Well, obviously. Kenn, they're brilliant!", Harry declared. "They must be. I made them", Kennedy easily said, shrugging.

"Who's a cocky prat now?", Harry grumbled.

Kennedy ignored his grumbling, "What was your life like before you got here, Harry?".

"Well, I lived with my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon and my cousin Dudley in Surrey. They were alright. I had a roof over my head, food to eat and Dudley's old clothes to wear".

Kennedy blinked, "Dudley's old clothes?".

Harry replied, "Yeah. My stuff was his first".

Kennedy furrowed her eyebrows, "That ... doesn't sound quite right, Harry. Unless they weren't in the position to buy new things, in which case, that's different".

"They ... were", Harry reluctantly admitted, "Dudley got whatever he wanted whenever he wanted".

Something's not right. And her realization must've shown on her face because Harry began to ramble, "I was just dropped on their doorstep the day my parents died. They probably weren't prepared for another child. I'm grateful they even let me stay with them".

Even if they weren't prepared for another child, they had eleven years to make arrangements. Kennedy didn't say that. Harry would've just defended more. It would be a waste, so she switched gears.

"Tell me about your interests as a kid. What did you get up to for fun? What silly embarrassing stuff is on your bedroom walls?".

Harry pursed his lips, once and twice before reluctantly saying, "I didn't ... have a ... bedroom, in the traditional sense?".

That's ... certainly not right. "Then, where did you stay?", Kennedy asked, trying to keep any and all judgment out of her voice.

"In a cupboard under the stairs", Harry said before quickly scrambling to move on from it, "And I had a lot of fun in there, to answer your original question. I played make believe most of the time because I didn't have toys. When Dudley's toys broke or he got sick of them, they would become mine. I would make believe that I was an explorer exploring a forgotten cave or a spy hiding in the vent above a bank. There were a lot of little critters in there too, mostly spiders. I would name some of them and make up lives for them. Last I was there, Sally got cheated on by her husband Archibald. Hopefully she's coping well since I left".

His ... his fun was making up lives for spiders. Spiders that shouldn't be within the cramped living space he was relegated to. What the actual living fuck. She didn't voice her horror, however. It would be useless.

"Sally and Archibald", Kennedy repeated incredulously, "Little Harry was a very creative little boy".

"And he grew up to be a very creative young man", Harry grinned.

"How can you be a man when your voice still cracks?".

"That's natural! I can't help it!", Harry squawked in defense.

"Did you use magic to help your little adventures?", Kennedy asked, "I imagine it would make your exploring all the more exciting".

Harry's grin dropped slightly before he cleared his throat and continued, "I actually didn't know magic existed until Hagrid came to fetch me on my eleventh birthday. My mother was muggleborn and Aunt Petunia isn't magical".

"They ... hid your heritage from you?", Kennedy gaped, "Harry! That's so ... so ... fucked!".

"Even if, I had food to eat and a place to rest my head. That's good enough", Harry justified. "Harry, still—"

"It all worked out in the end, didn't it? I got my Hogwarts letter and now I'm here. That's all in the past. I have other things to worry about like that stupid egg".

"How long have you got left?"

"Deadline's February 24th", Harry replied before continuing on, "Besides, when I go back for holidays, I don't even have to sleep under there anymore. I got to move into Dudley's second bedroom when I got my Hogwarts letter".

Dudley's second bedroom. They made him sleep in a cupboard while his cousin had two bedrooms.

"Harry—", Kennedy began to say, horrified.

"I know what you're going to say. Leave the two bedrooms alone", Harry shushed her. Kennedy reluctantly kept quiet before asking, "Do you spend your entire holidays with them?".

"I spent most of my holidays with the Weasleys then I head back to Surrey for a week or two before school starts. The Weasleys' home is so ... warm. It's called the Burrow.".

"Sounds very cozy", Kennedy remarked with a lilt of longing. None of her homes could ever be described as cozy. There were pockets of coziness, she supposed — her bedroom, her Papa's bedroom and her Papa's office. But she could never call the whole house cozy. It was stately. It was grand. It could never be cozy.

"It is very cozy", Harry breathed out, content. They were both getting so lazy. Kennedy couldn't even remember what class they were supposed to have after this. Was it after lunch? She didn't feel like lifting her arm to open her satchel.

"What class do you have after this?", Harry asked. "You know, I was just thinking about how I'm feeling too lazy to open my satchel and check".

He chuckled lightly, "I have Charms with the Hufflepuffs after lunch". Kennedy groaned before reaching into her satchel and searching for her schedule. "I have ... Potions. Lovely. At least I get to eat before I have to see Snape's annoying arse".

"Next thing you know, he'll move the class forward".

"Unfortunately for you Harry, that would be my sign to jump off the Astronomy Tower", Kennedy sighed and Harry let out a loud bark of laughter.

.·:••●••:·.

            AS IT TURNS OUT, Harry didn't have to worry much about finding a date for the dance. The following day, a third-year Hufflepuff girl named Trinity Hoffmann (who Harry had apparently never spoken to before) asked him to go to the ball with her just after breakfast. Harry was taken aback and said no before he'd even stopped to consider the matter. Two hours later, it was Ernie MacMillan who took the rejection very well and smiled politely before going on with his day. The following day, it was Romilda Vane. And Felicity Marquez the day after.

"Harry's a hot commodity, it seems", Rachel chuckled as she poured herself a glass of lemonade. "And it's all because he's champion", Kennedy added before taking another bite of her toast , "They all want to be part of the dance that opens the ball".

"Makes sense. It's a prestigious thing, to open up the ball", Daphne shrugged.

"Jude, how's your potions thing going?", Rachel asked, "I know Kenn's dad said he wants to see something of what you're making".

"I'm trying to come up with new ideas so I can make more original things. Recently, I was focusing on replicating potions ... y'know, figuring out what makes them work. But now, I want to present original work. I want to show him my best! He's a real potions master! That's so cool!".

"Whatever you come up with will be great, Ju. You can send over some of the prototypes and I'll have a look at them for you", Kennedy pinched his cheek teasingly. Jude shrugged her off before saying, "Thanks, Kenn".

Suddenly, there was a great rush of owls through the large windows left open for them. "Mail's here", Jude grinned. "Why are you so excited?", Kennedy asked, covering her mouth as she chuckled lightly. "You'll see".

A tawny owl dropped low just above their table and dropped a homey-looking carton and a letter neatly rolled and tied with a green ribbon. It nearly knocked over their jug of lemonade.

"That's mine!", Jude cheered before reaching over for the carton and the letter, "Well, not mine. But it's from my Maman".

"For Kennedy, My Son's Friend", was written on a piece of parchment pasted carefully onto the lid of the carton in neat, loopy handwriting.

"You ... you actually asked your Maman to make the Pumpkin Pasties?", Kennedy felt robbed of her breath.

"Of course! They're legendary! You obviously must try them", Jude excitedly pushed the carton over to Kenedy before commenting impishly, "And the letter's yours, of course, but you don't have to eat that too".

The carton was so ... precious to her. It wasn't anything special and it was special because of that. It was homey and traditional and had little cherubs on it.

She had never held anything like it. It was ... cozy. Cozy like how Harry finds the Burrow during the holidays. Cozy like late nights spent giggling with Rachel and Daphne. Cozy like when Sawyer curls against her and purrs steadily.

And now ... cozy like the carton holding the Pumpkin Pasties Jude's Maman made for her.

She supposes she has cozy things in her life now, too.

Kennedy wouldn't cry. She wouldn't.

"Kennedy, are you crying?", Jude asked, concerned.

"Not at all, Ju", she brushed him off. She wasn't. She was just ... almost there.

Bratty and innocent, Jude yanked the carton back. "Maman's Pumpkin Pasties would probably taste a little worse with tears on them. I'll give them to you when I'm sure you're not crying".

"You little brat", Kennedy scolded him fondly. Too fondly to have any impact. Jude just giggled and opened the carton as she blinked rapidly to vanish the tears before they fell.

"Here you go", Jude simply picked one up and held it to her mouth. She bit into it and held onto the part she hadn't got from the first bite. "Thank you, Ju", Kennedy smiled around the bite.

And oh, it was marvelous.

It was stupendous, it was amazing, it was magnificent, it was mind-numbingly excellent.

"Merlin, how are these even real?", she marveled at the taste, "All of you need to try one now". Lola and Reggie had been deep in their own conversation but glanced over curiously.

"They're that good?", Lola asked. "They're the best thing that has ever graced the cavern of my mouth", Kennedy honestly replied.

"Wow, she's getting poetic", Reggie commented and Jude laughed like he had told the funniest joke of all time. Curious.

Everyone started reaching for one but Kenn suddenly remembered the others, "Wait, wait, I'll need to save some for the Gryffindors. And Eshaal, of course".

She divided the pasties into two. "Half for us and half for the others. Anyone who eats what they're not supposed to will have to defend their greed to whoever you deprived of this excellence", she brought a hand to her ear for emphasis, "Vous comprenez?".

Dejected confirmations in French, Hindi and Portuguese rang out around the table before everyone reached for a pastie on their side of the carton.

Evidently, Kennedy wasn't exaggerating. The pasties were heaven and several people on their table turned to look at them in disgust and confused. Whatever. None of them cared. Those who cannot hear the music will forever think dancers are mad.

Rachel reached over for one more ... past the invisible threshold that denoted which side was for who. "Rachel", Kennedy said warningly, "The others deserve some too".

Rachel froze before reluctantly putting her hand down. "You can't blame me when they're this good".

"Yes, I can. And I will", Jude simply replied. "Brat", Rachel muttered.

The rest of breakfast went on without much fanfare. They were all just glad it was Friday. Still, they had work to do. Rachel has to head down to the greenhouse to take care of her plans after dinner, Daphne might have cardio training with the team tomorrow morning, Lola has Potions homework to complete that she'll hand to Kennedy to check over for her, Reggie has an overdue History of Magic essay he doesn't want to complete and Kennedy has a lesson scheduled with Neville before dinner.

After dinner, though, she has a letter to read.

.·:••●••:·.

            SEATED ON HER BED with her roommates fast asleep and Sawyer curled up to her side, Kennedy opened the letter.

Dear Kennedy,

My name is Lilou Vernier, and as you know, I am Jude's mother. He writes to me and his father (Matis, who I'm sure will send a letter of his own soon enough) nearly every other day. I wouldn't be surprised if the owls are sick of him by now! We do our best to be kind to them on our end in return. We were thrilled when he wrote back on that first night, saying he'd made three friends on the boat. Jude is a very loving boy, but he can be a bit hyper. We worried people might be put off by him, but thankfully, this hasn't been the case.

He's mentioned you — and the little ways you've been kind to him — in every letter he's sent since arriving at school. He writes about you as he would a sister. He's always wanted an older sibling and it sounds like he's found one in you. Thank you for standing up for him against those bullies the night you two arrived. Thank you for cornrowing his hair when I couldn't. Thank you for caring for my boy when he is too far for me to do so.

I hope you're also doing well. I know you transferred to the school this year; this must be a very big adjustment. How have you been settling in? Jude says you're very busy with your potions lessons, inventing and, of course, your school work. Rest well, dear. We can only work when we are healthy. How are your roommates? Have you made any other friends? Are you having fun?

I would love to know more about you, or simply to know that you're doing well. You sound like a remarkable young woman, and I hope to meet you someday. I hope you enjoy the Pumpkin Pasties! I tried my best to make them extra special for you. Perhaps you could come over for dinner during the holidays? You're welcome in our home anytime.

With lots of love,

Lilou Vernier

Kennedy couldn't do much else but cry.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

AUTHOR'S NOTE!

back after three months guys :3333

also there's a new jude fc so go check that out !!