CHAPTER 16 | TWO-PERSON POOL PARTY !

            HERMIONE CALLED A MEETING after dinner. After wrangling Jude into eating his greens and having a mashed potatoes and broccoli art competition with Lola, Daphne, Rachel and Reggie, Kennedy sat in a quiet corner of the library with Harry, Ron and Hermione as they prepared to tell her everything.

"You already know about Remus and Sirius, so that's covered", Ron said as he leaned against a bookshelf. Harry sat on a chair, Kennedy sat on the table just beside his arms and Hermione was sat in a chair on Kennedy's other side.

Hermione was staunchly avoiding eye contact with Ron when he spoke and Kennedy couldn't see that changing within the hour. Seems they weren't entirely back to normal.

"It's just ... Karkaroff that's left", Harry said. "What about him?", Kennedy asked genuinely. He unnerved her — especially after what she heard in her Papa's office — but she didn't have anything concrete about him.

"We have our suspicions about him", Hermione said calmly, "We think he might have something to do with Harry being in the tournament".

"Ah", Kennedy said in understanding. "You don't seem surprised", Hermione noted.

"I'm not. I gathered you guys had some kind of suspicion about Karkaroff and that it was related to Harry", Kennedy shrugged, "You guys stuttered about him a bit too much. I connected the dots a while ago".

"Right", Harry said, "Well—".

"However, I have something new to share. About Karkaroff", Kennedy admitted with a wavering voice. Immediately, they all listened in.

"A few weeks ago, I heard him and my Papa talking about something. I still don't know about what but Karkaroff was saying that whatever my Papa thinks will keep him safe, it won't. I don't know what is coming or who is coming or how they're connected. But I know another person is involved — Snape".

"How do you know?", Ron asked, "Was it—".

"Yes. What Karkaroff and Snape were talking about the night of the ball. Something is coming apparently. Something is getting .... I think he said 'clearer'. He was trying to tell Papa that but Papa shrugged him off. And Snape just told him to flee if he was scared", Kennedy continued, "I don't know what it is. And I feel a little scared to tell you guys in case it turns out it's something bad and then it, like, reflects on me and then confirms the whole 'Slytherins are evil' thing—".

"That's not going to happen, Kenn", Ron said quicker than she expected, "We know you. I won't lie and say I don't generally hate a lot of Slytherins but we know you. You're our friend. Whatever it is that Karkaroff, Snape and your father are up to has nothing to do with you".

"Exactly. You can't control what he does. But you control what you do, and you've chosen to help us and be our friend. I'm happy you've made that choice", Hermione gently smiled.

"Don't even worry about that, Kenn. Just ... be careful. I don't mean to imply your father would, like, hurt you or something but did he catch you eavesdropping?", Harry asked. "He did. Issued me a warning on Christmas Day by giving me a listening device as my present. Don't worry. He won't do anything to me. However, I'm ignoring the warning by never activating it and developing a device of my own to use. I'm thinking of having there be a wearable part, something discreet, like a ring and then a second component that has an enchanted quill and parchment set".

"Kennedy, that's bloody brilliant!", Ron was very impressed, "You can make that?".

"Once I plan it out and get the necessary materials, yes. I'll get to working on it tonight. I feel like we're going to need it soon so I know I'm on a time crunch", Kennedy said.

Hermione nodded before asking, "Harry, how far with the egg?".

"Yeah, what about Cedric's hint?", Kennedy turned to face him. "He's been ignoring it", Ron huffed frustratedly, "Been trying all kinds of crazy things in the dorm. Shouting over the wailing, shaking it, throwing it — he even put it in the fireplace! And nothing. Because he won't take advice purely because it came from Pretty Boy Cedric. Foolishness seems to be a symptom of a broken heart".

Ron let out a loud yelp of pain as Harry kicked him in the shin.

"I'm ... not too keen on taking Cedric's help if I can avoid it", Harry bashfully admitted. "Don't let a broken heart and stupidity be the cause of your death, Harry", Kennedy warned.

"Always a sunny disposition, you", Harry rolled his eyes.

.·:••●••:·.

            NO ONE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO Care of Magical Creatures. Snow was thick upon the grounds and all the windows were fogged heavy enough to be translucent. When they arrived at Hagrid's cabin, however, they found an elderly witch with closely cropped gray hair and a very prominent chin standing before his front door. "Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago", she barked at them as they struggled toward her through the snow.

"Who're you?", said Ron, staring at her. "Where's Hagrid?".

"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank," she said briskly. "I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

"Where's Hagrid?" Harry repeated loudly.

"He is indisposed," said Professor Grubbly-Plank shortly. Kennedy's eyes went wide as her eyes met Ron's and then later Harry's. It was quite clear to them that Hagrid had been fired. The fact that it was just after he revealed himself to be half-giant could not be a coincidence. Was he still living on the grounds? Did he have anywhere to go?

Kennedy didn't know him as well as Harry, Ron and Hermione but he was too good a person to just be ... fired like this. It wasn't right!

Unpleasant sniggers reached Kennedy's ears. She rolled her eyes as she turned to Draco, Crabbe and Goyle standing behind her. They did not look the least bit surprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank like everyone else was.

"This way, please", Kennedy heard Professor Grubbly-Plank begin to lead the rest of the class down the trail.

"You did something", Kennedy accused. "The right thing", Draco replied easily.

"You got an innocent man fired, Draco", Kennedy sneered in disbelief.

"A dangerous half-breed".

She did not move a muscle.

Until she moved a lot of muscles at once.

Her entire leg, in fact; upwards until she had kneed Draco in the crotch. Shrieks of shock and second-hand pain filled the air.

He let out a pained shriek as he fell to the ground. "Professor!", he screamed, "She's just— Ow — she just— she just—!".

"Kneed you in the balls. Goodness Draco, where are your words today?", Kennedy chuckled, "You're usually so ... talkative. A whole bunch of nonsense, of course, but always talkative".

Professor Grubbly-Plank advanced towards Kennedy swiftly, "That is unacceptable behavior, young lady! What is your name?".

"He called our previous respectable Professor a 'half-breed'. It was the only right course of action", Kennedy ignored the question.

"I do not care for your justifications, Miss. What is your name?".

Kennedy folded her arms and faced her with a dry expression, "Kennedy Odette Bishop".

"Well, Kennedy Odette Bishop, you will be having detention with Mr. Filch every night for the next week. I hope you enjoy yourself".

Swiftly, Rachel kicked Draco twice in the ribs and whispered, "Not letting you spend your first detention alone, Kenn". Kennedy smiled back gratefully as Grubbly-Plank asked, "And now, what is your name?".

"Rachel Genevieve Minks", she grinned.

"You will have detention as well, Ms. Minks, for the next week", then Professor Grubbly-Plank helped Draco up and said to Crabbe and Goyle, "Please, take him to the infirmary. The rest of you, let's go. I will not tolerate any more mischief or violence".

As Draco limped away, he pulled out a newspaper clipping from inside his robe and pushed it into her hands, "Just read it, Bishop. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two about how things should be".

It was an article from the Daily Prophet topped with a picture of Hagrid looking extremely shifty. "DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE", read the headline.

Kennedy rushed over to Harry and Ron. Hermione had gone ahead because she was being a good student and actually following Grubbly-Plank's instructions (which was for the girls to go first and interact with the unicorns she had brought).

"Come and read this, right now", she hissed to them, hiding behind Dean Thomas' lithe and tall frame. She was tall but he was tall. She held the clipping as they leaned over it together.

Rita Skeeter had painted a horrifyingly inaccurate picture of Hagrid: "An alarmingly large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his newfound authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures".

And ugh, that fucking git Malfoy had supplied a quote. "I was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm. We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything".

("Flobberworms haven't even got any teeth!", Ron had quietly exclaimed once he read that line.)

And then, there was the bombshell: "Hagrid is not — as he has always pretended — a pure-blood wizard. He is not, in fact, even purely human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown".

Kennedy looked up to see Harry and Ron's mouths hanging open. "How ... how did she find out?", Ron murmured. Kennedy couldn't do anything but shrug, "There's no way she was there, we would've seen her!".

"She's not supposed to come into school anymore. Remember Hagrid said Dumbledore banned her?", Kennedy said, "If she was somehow there, she's definitely breaking that rule".

"Maybe she's got an Invisibility Cloak?", Harry suggested. "You know what those are?", Kennedy asked. "Yeah, I have one. It was for my Dad", Harry casually revealed.

Kennedy's jaw dropped, "You have an invisibility cloak?".

"Yeah", Harry trailed off, unsure of where she was going. "And you never mentioned it until now?", Kennedy actively tried not to shriek, "I memorized Filch's patrol times for nothing?!".

Ron shrugged, "It's a rite of passage, Kenn. You can't have everything easy". There was a hint of resentment in his tone, even if he was joking. She was aware of the wealth disparity between their families. She didn't blame him. In his position, she would have underlying resentment too.

"Ms. Bishop! Come here this instant!", Professor Grubbly-Plank bellowed. "That's my cue, boys", Kennedy stuffed the clipping in Harry's hand, "Wish me luck".

"I wish her luck", Ron remarked. Kennedy chuckled and flipped him off as she went to join the girls with the unicorn.

Unfortunately, their new cunt of a professor saw, "That's two more days for you, missy!".

.·:••●••:·.

            HARRY WOULD NOT SHUT UP about Cedric. Pretty Boy Cedric this, Did you know Cedric did that, and he was going even as he and Kennedy sat in an alcove during a free period, "And he made it sound like he was telling me to shower! It was so embarrassing! But, he corrected himself soon after ... but the damage had been done. Now I'm scared people don't think I shower!".

"I'm certain everyone thinks you shower, Harry. Do not worry. The Boy Who Lived is also The Boy Who Bathed", Kennedy dryly remarked. That got Harry to stop his Cedric-induced rant to sarcastically comment, "Funny. You're a real comedian, you. We should get you a stage and a court jester's outfit".

Kennedy let out a loud laugh before suddenly going quiet with a realization. "Harry! You've spent allllllll this time whining about Cedric. Have you done what he told you to?".

Harry was quiet for the first time in days. Kennedy huffed and turned to him with a grave expression, "Harry".

"Kennedy".

"I need you to survive. Not only as your friend, but as your ... trainer? Not too sure what word to use but you're my chosen champion. You're my project. You dying is my failure — and I don't fail, you hear me? I. Do. Not. Fail", Kennedy definitively gestured with each word, "Your pissy feelings about your crush going out with your other crush will not get in the way of my goals. At 11 P.M, show up to the Prefect's bathroom with swim trunks or boxers, clothes for after, your invisibility cloak and anything else you might need. Come without the egg, and I will drown you in the bath. This is not a request. It is a directive".

Kennedy paused only to breath before instructing, "Tell me what I said".

"Come to the Prefect's bathroom at 11 with swim trunks, clothes, my invisibility cloak and the egg, or else I die".

"Good", Kennedy said definitively.

Harry startled at a realization and flushed scarlet, "Are we ... going in the bath ... together?"

Kennedy chuckled as she winked, "I'll be wearing a swimsuit, Harry. You can stop blushing now. Think of it as a two-person pool party".

Harry snorted at the phrasing, "A teacher would see it as a good attempt at fornication".

Kennedy laughed loudly, "Good thing neither of us are teachers".

The day passed by uneventfully apart from spotting Sawyer a record five times just ... slinking around. He would always approach quietly, meow a few times to catch Kennedy's attention, nuzzle against her legs, accept a few pets before putting a stop to the affection to walk away and attend to his business. His business was none of Kennedy's business. She had made peace with it.

As Kennedy came to stand in front of the large ornate door to the Prefect's bathroom, she heard a familiar voice. "Kennedy", Harry said as he removed only the top part of the Invisibility cloak so he would look like a floating head, "Filch must be patrolling by now. How did you not get caught?".

"Last time I was in your Common Room, I spoke to the Weasley twins about Filch's patrol patterns. Also, I paid off the prefect. One Sylvia Peterson. Very malleable morals around here, I must say", Kennedy chuckled. Harry rolled his eyes as he muttered the password ("Pine fresh") then pushed the large door open, "Next time maybe don't bribe a prefect?".

"And do what, sneak around like a heathen?".

Harry grinned, "Precisely". The door opened to reveal a very fancy-looking bathroom. He gestured with faux grandeur, "After you, m'lady". Kennedy giggled, "Wow, what a gentleman".

The bathroom was softly lit by a candle-filled chandelier, and everything was made of white marble, including what looked like an empty, rectangular swimming pool sunk into the middle of the floor. About a hundred golden taps stood all around the pool's edges, each with a differently colored jewel set into its handle. There was also a single golden-framed painting on the wall. It featured a blonde mermaid who was fast asleep on a rock, her long hair over her face. It fluttered every time she snored.

"As beautiful as this place is ... what the hell are we supposed to do here?", Kennedy wondered out loud. "That's what I'm wondering", Harry replied. Kennedy set down her bag of toiletries of clothes for after. She declared, "I'm getting in first", as she lifted her top to reveal the top half of a one- piece swimsuit. She was certain Harry would get all red and stuttery if it was a bikini, so she opted for a one-piece. She had work to do, she would most certainly not get done with a blushing stuttering Harry on her hands.

She shimmied out of her shorts and dipped her toes into the water before dramatically covering her eyes and sing-songing, "You can undress now, Harry". "Don't say it like that", he chided with a whine. Kennedy just giggled and kicked her feet.

Harry walked towards the pool wearing swim trunks and holding the Marauder's map, the egg and his wand. He set them at the side of the large bath before kneeling down and turning on a few of the taps, "I want to see what these do".

The first tap gushed pink and blue bubbles the size of footballs. Kennedy gasped in delight, "That's the biggest bubble I've ever seen in my life!". "The biggest bubble I've seen in my life before this was the size of my fist".

"Muggle bubbles sound dreadful", Kennedy muttered.

"When these exist, every bubble would look dreadful".

The next tap poured ice-white foam so thick that Kennedy thought it could support their body weight. "I think it might be able to hold us up, Harry".

"You think?", Harry turned to her in surprise. "Give me one second, I need to wrap my hair. If I don't, it's gonna get all dry and brittle", Kennedy got her feet out of the water and went back to her bag to put on her bonnet and then a swimming cap.

With her hair protected, she returned, "Let's test it!". She walked over to the edge closest to the foam and sat on it. It supported her weight for a couple of seconds ... before she began to sink through. "Harry! It's so ticklish! Come and try!".

Harry had already climbed out of the water. He got a running start before jumping onto a nearby piece of the foam. Kennedy shrieked with glee as they were both brought under. The pool was so deep that their feet barely brushed the bottom.

Kennedy paddled over to another tap. It sent heavily perfumed purple clouds hovering over the surface of the water. Her favorite was the last tap that sent streams of water bouncing off the pool's surface in large arcs. Once the deep pool was full of hot water, foam and bubbles, they decided they needed to get to work.

"Wait!", Kennedy said a little louder than she had meant to, "Before we start, could I maybe borrow the Invisibility Cloak next Wednesday?". Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "What for?". "I kind of sort of need to steal some enchanted silver from Twilfitt and Tatting's", Kennedy rushed out in one great breath. "You need to steal?", Harry's eyes bulged.

"I'll leave a pouch with money! I just need the material for the listening device. Normally, I would just go normally and ask my father for money but I don't want him to know that I'm up to this", Kenndey justified.

Harry thought about it for a moment, "We can go together. Next Wednesday. We can meet by the Black Lake like we usually do and then use some of the tunnels into Hogsmeade".

Kennedy grinned, "Sounds like a plan".

Harry smiled back before saying, "Alright, let's try this again". He stretched out his arms, lifted the egg in his wet hands, and opened it. The wailing, screeching sound filled the bathroom, echoing and reverberating off the marble walls, but it sounded just as incomprehensible as ever, if not more so with all the echoes.

"Shut it!", Kennedy cried, worried about Filch. Harry snapped it closed. Kennedy could see the gears turning in Harry's head — his deep frown indicated he thought they had been tricked — "Cedric wouldn't trick us, Harry. There's something we have to do here—".

"I'd try putting it in the water, if I were you."

Harry swallowed a few bubbles in shock. As they both stood, Kennedy rubbed his back a little to make sure he was alright. Seated cross-legged atop one of the taps was the ghost of a very glum-looking girl.

"Moaning Myrtle?", Harry said questioningly. Kennedy furrowed her eyebrows before muttering incredulously, "Moaning Myrtle?".

"You're here ... with a girl, Harry?", Moaning Myrtle eyes darted between both of them shocked, "Are you here to...".

"No!", Harry cried, "No, she's helping me out".

"Your phrasing isn't helping, Potter", Kennedy cooly chuckled. "No! Er— with the tournament. With the egg. Speaking of, what were you saying about putting it in the water?".

"Try the egg in the water. That's what Cedric Diggory did", Myrtle shrugged.

"How ... how long have you been here?", Kennedy wondered. "Long enough", Myrtle said. Harry bent his knees slightly so only his neck would be seen, "What, d'you do, sneak up here in the evenings to watch the prefects take baths?".

"Sometimes," said Myrtle, rather slyly, "but I've never come out to speak to anyone before."

"I'm honored," said Harry darkly. "You keep your eyes shut!".

Harry knew he couldn't banish her so he just swam over to retrieve the egg, "Let's do this".

"I can't put my head underwater, Harry", Kennedy said.

"Why not?", Harry asked.

"It would be too long under there. I don't know what the egg will do. The chemicals in the bubbles aren't good for my hair texture, you know? And I hate getting my hair wet unnecessarily".

Harry hummed, "Noted".

"Noted as in you'll keep that in mind and be respectful of it or noted as in you're gonna use it against me?".

"Generally, I'll be respectful of it. But, of course, it depends on my mood and the situation", Harry shrugged.

Kennedy splashed water in his direction, "Prat". Harry stuck his tongue out before going under with the egg.

She could hear a gurgling song but couldn't make out the words. She'd have to rely on Harry's memory to recount to her.

Harry listened for the first time and tried telling her everything but couldn't. It took him three more tries before she had the whole picture. The song went:

Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour — the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back

Harry was now floating backwards as he tried to make sense of the words, "I've got to go and look for people who can't use their voices above the ground ... Er ... who could that be?".

Could it be ... merpeople?

Myrtle's cackle interrupted Kennedy's train of thought as she leaned against the wall, "Slow, aren't you?".

"I suppose if the voices could only be heard underwater, then it made sense for them to belong to underwater creatures", Harry concluded. "Possibly merpeople?", Kennedy wondered.

"Took Diggory much longer than that", Kennedy heard Myrtle remark. But neither of them paid her much mind. Harry swam over with a smile as he spoke excitedly, "That's it, isn't it? The second task's to go and find the merpeople in the lake and ... and ...".

Harry trailed off as Kennedy visibly saw the excitement drain out of him. "What?".

"I'm not that good a swimmer, Kenn. I've never had much practice. My cousin Dudley had lessons but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, probably hoping I'd drown one day if I'm being honest, hadn't bothered with me. Swimming here is fine, but that lake is large and deep ... and the merpeople surely live at the very bottom ...".

Then, Harry's eyes widened, "How am I supposed to breathe, Kenn?".

"I reckon that's where the challenge is, Harry", Kennedy muttered.

"Oh, goodie".

.·:••●••:·.

            HARRY AND KENNEDY WERE being perfect rule-breaking students. They kept their footsteps light as they huddled under the Invisibility cloak, made sure to keep their whispers low and ensure their feet were still hidden by the cloak. Harry had brought out the map to check if the coast was clear. Then, Kennedy pointed out something peculiar, "Why is Bartemius Crouch in Snape's office?".

"What?", Harry asked. "Top-left", Kennedy pointed. Mr. Crouch was supposed to be too ill to go to work or attend the Yule Ball — so what was he doing, sneaking into Hogwarts at one o'clock in the morning? They watched closely as the dot moved around and around the room, pausing here and there ...

Harry was being suspiciously quiet. "Harry, no", Kennedy immediately said. "Harry, yes", he folded the map and steered them in the opposite direction towards the nearest staircase, "We have to see what he's up to!".

"There's that Gryffindor curiosity rearing its ugly head", Kennedy rolled her eyes. She didn't want to admit she wanted to know too. She had always been too nosy for her own good.

They walked down the stairs as quietly as possible, though the faces in some of the portraits still turned curiously at the squeak of a floorboard, the rustle of their pajamas, the sounds of their breaths.

Harry and Kennedy were being perfect rule-breaking students ... until Harry's leg suddenly sank through a trick step, the Invisibility Cloak slipped, the Marauder's Map fluttered out of Harry's hand, the wet egg slipped from under Kennedy's arm, fell down the long staircase with a loud bang for each step and began wailing loudly in the corridor below once it was on the bottom of the stairs.

"Fuck!", Kennedy let out a harsh whisper.

Harry quickly pulled the cloak over them as they listened hard, huddled together as their eyes squeezed shut in fear.

"PEEVES!", came the unmistakable hunting cry of Filch. "Fucking hell", Kennedy murmured. Filch's rapid footsteps shuffled closer and closer, "What's this racket? Wake up the whole castle, will you? I'll have you, Peeves, I'll have you, you'll... and what is this?".

Filch's footsteps halted; there was a clink of metal on metal and the wailing stopped — Filch had picked up the egg and closed it. Harry and Kennedy stood very still, Harry's leg still jammed tightly in the magical step, listening. Any moment now, Filch was going to pull aside the tapestry, expecting to see Peeves ... and there would be no Peeves ... but if he came up the stairs, he would spot the Marauder's Map ... and Invisibility Cloak or not, the map would show "Harry Potter" and "Kennedy Bishop" standing exactly where they were.

"Egg?" Filch said quietly at the foot of the stairs. "My sweet!" — Mrs. Norris was obviously with him — "This is a Triwizard clue! This belongs to a school champion!".

Kennedy and Harry's eyes darted to each other in shared horror. That narrowed down who could possibly be out of bed substantially.

"PEEVES!", Filch roared gleefully. "You've been stealing!", he ripped back the tapestry below, and Kennedy saw him staring up the dark and (to Filch) deserted staircase.

"Hiding, are you?", he said softly. "I'm coming to get you, Peeves... You've gone and stolen a Triwizard clue, Peeves ... Dumbledore'll have you out of here for this, you filthy, pilfering poltergeist ...".

Filch started to climb the stairs, his scrawny, dust-colored cat at his heels. Mrs. Norris's lamp-like eyes, so very like her master's, were fixed directly upon them.

Kennedy wondered for a quick horrifying moment whether the Invisibility Cloak worked on cats. She supposed they could test it with Sawyer one day. They watched Filch drawing nearer and nearer before a voice interrupted him, "Filch? What's going on?".

Filch stopped a few steps below them and turned. At the foot of the stairs stood the only person who could make their situation worse: Professor Snape. He was wearing a long gray nightshirt and looked livid. "It's Peeves, Professor," Filch whispered malevolently, "He threw this egg down the stairs." Snape climbed up the stairs quickly and stopped beside Filch.

"Peeves?", said Snape softly, staring at the egg in Filch's hands. "But Peeves couldn't get into my office...".

"This egg was in your office. Professor?". "Of course not," Snape snapped. "I heard banging and wailing—".

"Yes, Professor, that was the egg—"

"I was coming to investigate—"

"— Peeves threw it. Professor—"

"— and when I passed my office, I saw that the torches were lit and a cupboard door was ajar! Somebody has been searching for it!"

"But Peeves couldn't—"

"I know he couldn't, Filch!", Snape snapped again. "I seal my office with a spell none but a wizard could break!", Snape looked up the stairs, straight through Harry and Kennedy, and then down into the corridor below. "I want you to come and help me search for the intruder, Filch."

"I — yes, Professor — but —"

Filch looked yearningly up the stairs before beginning to speak plaintively, "The thing is, Professor, the headmaster will have to listen to me this time. Peeves has been stealing from a student, it might be my chance to get him thrown out of the castle once and for all—"

"Filch, I don't give a damn about that wretched poltergeist; it's my office that's—"

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.

The unmistakable footsteps of Professor Moody.

"Pajama party, is it?", he growled up the stairs. Curiously enough, he wore his travelling cloak over his nightshirt. Kennedy wondered why. "Professor Snape and I heard noises, Professor," said Filch at once. "Peeves the Poltergeist, throwing things around as usual — and then Professor Snape discovered that someone had broken into his off—".

"Shut up!", Snape hissed to Filch. Moody took a step closer to the foot of the stairs. Kennedy saw Moody's ghoul eye travel over Snape, and then, unmistakably, onto herself and Harry.

Ugh, that stupid ghoul's eye. It wouldn't leave her alone. Something was wrong with it and she decided to put an end to it. She would write to her Papa and ask about it. Not directly, of course. Just ... generally. She would think of something.

One thing she was certain of though ... it could most certainly see through the cloak. His gaze was too piercing for it not to.

If her hunch wasn't proof enough, Moody's lopsided gash of a mouth opened in surprise. For a few seconds, he, Harry and Kenndy stared straight into each other's eyes. Then Moody closed his mouth and turned his ghoul's eye upon Snape again.

"Did I hear that correctly, Snape?", he asked slowly. "Someone broke into your office?". "It is unimportant," said Snape coldly. "On the contrary," growled Moody, "it is very important. Who'd want to break into your office?".

"A student, I daresay," said Snape. Kennedy could see a vein flickering horribly on Snape's greasy temple. "It has happened before. Potion ingredients have gone missing from my private store cupboard ... students attempting illicit mixtures, no doubt...".

"Reckon they were after potion ingredients, eh?", said Moody. "Not hiding anything else in your office, are you?". "You know I'm hiding nothing, Moody," he said in a soft and dangerous voice, "as you've searched my office pretty thoroughly yourself."

Moody's face twisted into a smile. "Auror's privilege, Snape. Dumbledore told me to keep an eye—".

"Dumbledore happens to trust me," said Snape through clenched teeth, "I refuse to believe that he gave you orders to search my office!". "'Course Dumbledore trusts you," growled Moody. "He's a trusting man, isn't he? Believes in second chances. But me — I say there are spots that don't come off, Snape. Spots that never come off, d'you know what I mean?".

Snape suddenly did something very strange. He seized his left forearm convulsively with his right hand, as though something on it had hurt him. Moody laughed, "Get back to bed, Snape."

"You don't have the authority to send me anywhere!" Snape hissed, letting go of his arm as though angry with himself. "I have as much right to prowl this school after dark as you do!". "Prowl away," said Moody easily, but his voice was full of menace. "I look forward to meeting you in a dark corridor some time... You've dropped something, by the way...".

With a stab of horror, Harry and Kennedy watched Moody point at the Marauders Map, still lying on the staircase six steps below him. As Snape and Filch both turned to look at it, they threw caution to the winds. Frantically they waved and mouthed, "Take it! Take it!".

Snape had reached out for it, a horrible expression of dawning comprehension on his face—

"Accio Parchment!".

The map flew up into the air, slipped through Snape's outstretched fingers, and soared down the stairs into Moody's hand.

The map flew up into the air, slipped through Snape's outstretched fingers, and soared down the stairs into Moody's hand. "My mistake," Moody said calmly. "It's mine — must've dropped it earlier —".

But Snape's black eyes were darting from the egg in Filch's arms to the map in Moody's hand, and Kennedy could tell he was putting two and two together ... "Potter," he said quietly. "What's that?" said Moody calmly, folding up the map and pocketing it.

"Potter!", Snape snarled, and he actually turned his head and stared right at the place where Harry and Kennedy stood, as though he could suddenly see them. "That egg is Potter's egg. That piece of parchment belongs to Potter. I have seen it before, I recognize it! Potter is here! Potter, in his Invisibility Cloak!".

Snape stretched out his hands like a blind man and began to move up the stairs; Kennedy could have sworn his over-large nostrils were dilating, trying to sniff them out — trapped. They leaned backward, trying to avoid Snapes fingertips, but any moment now—.

"There's nothing there, Snape!", barked Moody, "but I'll be happy to tell the headmaster how quickly your mind jumped to Harry Potter!".

"Meaning what?", Snape turned again to look at Moody, his hands still outstretched, inches from Harry's chest. "Meaning that Dumbledore's very interested to know who's got it in for that boy!", said Moody, limping nearer still to the foot of the stairs. "And so am I, Snape... very interested...", the torchlight flickered across his mangled face, so that the scars, and the chunk missing from his nose, looked deeper and darker than ever.

Snape was looking down at Moody, and Kennedy couldn't see the expression on his face. For a moment, nobody moved or said anything. Then Snape slowly lowered his hands.

"I merely thought," said Snape, in a voice of forced calm, "that if Potter was wandering around after hours again ... it's an unfortunate habit of his ... he should be stopped. For — for his own safety".

"Ah, I see," said Moody softly, "Got Potter's best interests at heart, have you?". There was a pause. Snape and Moody were still staring at each other, Mrs. Norris gave a loud meow, still peering around Filch's legs, looking for the source of Harry and Kennedy's bubble-bath smell. "I think I will go back to bed," Snape said curtly.

"Best idea you've had all night," said Moody. "Now, Filch, if you'll just give me that egg—". Filch resisted but eventually handed it over and left muttering to Mrs. Norris as he went.

A door slammed. They were left staring down at Moody, who placed his staff on the bottommost stair and started to climb laboriously toward them, a dull clunk on every other step. "I hope you two weren't doing what I think you were doing", Moody accused.

"No! No — she was helping me with the egg!", Harry justified. Moody pursed his half-lip before deciding not to push the matter further, "... Alright then. Close shave, both of you".

"Yeah, er — thanks", Harry murmured, still very embarrassed. "Thanks, Professor", Kennedy agreed, slightly mortified. Only slightly.

Kennedy knew she had to leave, Moody looked like he was about to say something important. "Well, Harry, Professor Moody, I will take my leave", she announced. She good-naturedly patted Harry on the shoulder before mouthing "Link", turning on her heel and leaving. She would be expecting Links from both Harry and her Papa tonight, it seemed. But first, she had to write to her Papa about Moody's goddamn ghoul's eye.

.·:••●••:·.

            KENNEDY GOT TO WRITING immediately she successfully sneaked back into her dorm.

Papa, I'm sorry to write so late at night but I know you're awake. I suddenly just remembered something and it's bugging me so I thought I'd write. You used a sphinx's eye in that pain relief potion for that son of the Algerian diplomat, right? Could you tell me why you used a sphinx's eye instead of a ghoul's? If I recall correctly, they look very very similar and have almost identical properties, so I thought I would ask. Write when you can! It's just a random thought, not entirely urgent. Love you very much, and please sleep after you reply!

— Kennedy

It took only ten minutes of rhythmically petting Sawyer in between twisting her hair for bed before she received a response. However, it wasn't her Papa as she expected; it was Harry telling her what Moody had told him.

Moody doesn't think Crouch being in Snape's office is any good. He's going to keep an eye out. He also borrowed the Marauder's Map, which means our little trip tomorrow will be slightly less safe, but don't worry. Ron and I have used those passages in and out of Hogsmeade millions of times. We won't get caught. Moody encouraged me to become an auror, which is something I suppose. You don't have to write back. It's late and we'll talk tomorrow. Night Kenn. Sleep well ☺

— Harry

Nothing crazy or new, she supposed. But, Kennedy wasn't disappointed. Seems they weren't in trouble and that was all she hoped for. Not having the map could potentially be an issue tomorrow, but Kennedy trusted Harry. They would be alright. Good that Moody was keeping an eye out now. Even if they were quite capable, Crouch could possibly be dangerous and Moody was the best of the best.

Finally, her Papa's reply arrived.

I used a ghoul's eye instead of a sphinx's because ghoul eyeballs are reactive to metals. Remember he had piercings along with a prosthetic leg? If he didn't have piercings and a prosthetic, I would've used a sphinx's eye as usual. The reaction would have rendered the potion ineffective. It's a modification I have to make to accommodate a wider range of people. I won't ask why you asked me this because I know you won't tell me. Sleep well, Odette. And no promises about sleeping! I just have one last thing to do. Then, that will be all.

— Your Papa

Kennedy blinked. Then blinked again. That was what had been bothering her all these months.

Ghoul eyeballs are incredibly reactive to metals.

And Professor Moody had his "ghoul's eye" in a ... bronze case?

Why would he lie about what kind of eye he had?

Maybe it wasn't a good thing Moody was keeping an eye out. Maybe he couldn't be trusted either. But, Kennedy wasn't sure so she wouldn't mention it to the others.

She would remain cautious. If she noticed anything else, then she would bring it up.

.·:••●••:·.

            IT WAS NOW WEDNESDAY, and Harry and Kennedy had work to do. Armed with the Invisibility Cloak and Harry's (hopefully) perfect recollection, they were hard at work. "We're about to commit a crime, I hope you're aware", Harry said as he led her into a corridor behind a random portrait that apparently led to a cave just outside Hogsmeade.

"I mean, is it really stealing if I'm leaving a pouch with the money?", Kennedy chuckled as they chucked the cloak off their heads once they were inside the dark corridor, "Think of it as ... borrowing from their inventory".

"So stealing?", Harry snorted. "No ... borrowing from their inventory". "I'll tell that to the goblins at Gringotts that next time I stage a heist", Harry murmured in thought, "Thanks, Kenn. You've saved me from a lifetime in Azkaban".

"Always ready to help out my fellow non-criminals", Kennedy punched his shoulder lightly as they laughed with each other. Once they made it out of the cave, they put the Invisibility Cloak back on to walk back into Hogsmeade. Shopkeepers were always on the lookout for misbehaving kids. Unfortunately, they couldn't do much to help the shape their boots left in the snow.

Getting into the store itself was hilariously easy. They just waited by the back door for someone to go out and slipped in while the door was open. Since they were in the back already, they silently split up to search for the enchanted silver. The shopkeepers had been so kind to have their merchandise arranged in alphabetical order. Immediately, Kennedy grabbed as many slabs as she thought she would need and left the pouch in their place.

Harry had left his shoe to prop the door slightly ajar. He wiggled his shoe on and they left quietly without much fanfare. They were in and out in five minutes.

"We're way too good at this", Harry had chuckled once they strolled leisurely back to the castle. "What, committing crimes and breaking rules?", Kennedy asked.

"Precisely", Harry hummed. "Well, good that we are because we'll have many more rules to break during this whole thing".

Kennedy suddenly realized that the tournament would end. She wondered what would become of their friendship. One day, there would be no planning and no riddles and no two-person pool parties and no debrief Links and no library sessions and no more Wednesdays.

No, Kennedy realized. Wednesday was just time for them to hang out. Their meetings on Wednesdays was something that had began in relation to the tournament, yes, but wasn't related to it entirely. They would have Wednesday, regardless of the tournament. For as long as they were friends, they would always have Wednesday.

"Can't wait", Harry smiled gently.

They kept the Invisibility Cloak over their heads as they climbed staircase after staircase to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom on the second floor. That's where they would work. Kennedy had already left a bag there with her wand and everything else she would need. The bathroom was abandoned anyways; there was no one to disturb it. Myrtle was spending more time in the Prefect's bathroom these days.

Kennedy sat down on the blanket she brought and Harry sat to her right. She set down two slabs of enchanted silver and brought out her wand before beginning to explain, "I could've used an alternative, but then I realized enchanted silver would be best. The wearable component is going to be a ring; I decided last night. Small and conspicuous. The enchanted silver will enhance auditory and mental clarity. But I've been thinking of giving it functionality via runes. Ansuz, for knowledge and communication and Perthro, for secrets and hidden elements. I tend to work with runes for more complicated things that my spellwork can't handle. This is one of them".

"Do you take Ancient Runes?", Harry asked. "I do", Kennedy admitted, "I've studied them since I was a child for ... you know, all this. But, the class is fun".

"I'll get to spellwork in a bit, but I've been thinking of functionality", Kennedy said as she began to inscribe the first rune, "The audio will be recorded and the parchment will essentially ... play it for you. But it's being transcribed as the ring picks up the audio. I have to figure out how it will detect different voices. It could write Speaker 1 and Speaker 2, I think".

Harry sat quietly and watched her as she worked. He had never seen her at work before. It was ... fascinating.

"I'll inscribe the runes and then shrink the slab when I melt it into the ring", Kennedy explained while holding the slab to her face as she worked carefully, "This is going to be a complicated project. Spellwork and wards and bonding the parchment".

"What spells have you been thinking of?", Harry asked quietly, not wanting to break her focus too much. "Murmuration charm. Would force the ring to capture wounds within a certain radius so it doesn't capture sounds all the way in Bolivia or something. Also, an echo relay charm. Would help send the captured audio to the linked piece of parchment, encode the sounds into words, etc etc".

Kennedy said "et cetera" not in the Anglicized manner that placed emphasis on the "t" but in the French way that sounded an awful lot like coughing to Harry. He had never heard someone do that before. It made sense that she would, of course; she was raised in France. Still, it was ... cool that she could make the switch from one accent to the other so quick.

"And parchment bonding?", Harry asked. "I'll have to enchant a quill to recognize the magical frequency of the ring and to start transcribing automatically once the ring is activated. Then, a privacy enchantment to make the text visible to intended readers".

"Like the Marauder's Map?", Harry asked. "Something more advanced than that. Instead of closing, it would just appear to be completely blank even if the person can see the quill writing".

Kennedy was quiet for a second as she began inscribing a new rune before suddenly remembering, "Right, there's the wards also! I'll have to place a self-silencing ward over the ring so it doesn't emit any sounds or vibrations. And an obfuscation charm to conceal its magical nature. Something keen eyes like Moody's won't be able to see".

The last part was quietly murmured to herself. She didn't want Harry to begin to act cautious around Moody. Moody trusted Harry, or at least thought him useful. He wouldn't hurt Harry; if he wanted to, he would've by now. Harry suspecting Moody would only hurt the whole operation.

"Do y'know what you're going to call it?", Harry asked. "I was hoping you could name it for me, Harry".

Harry thought for a a couple of moments, "Ringscribe. Because it's a ring and ... y'know, it's transcripting things. Like a scribe. The quill and parchment is the ring's scribe, if that makes sense".

"Sounds cheesy", Kennedy grinned, "It's perfect".

She worked in silence for a couple more moments before suddenly remembering, "Ah, right. You have a new name, Harry". Harry blinked slowly, eyelashes fluttering in a way that made her remember why the nickname was so apt, "What would that be?". "Bambi", Kennedy said simply, "I watched it the night of the Yule Ball with Daphne. My first movie ever; it was beautiful. Bambi reminded me of you. And so, your name is Bambi, when I wish to call you that".

Harry blinked before admitting, "I've never been given a nickname before". "Well, consider this the first — and best — one", Kennedy shrugged before adding, "I'd also never had a nickname until Rachel started calling me Kenn my first night here". "Why Bambi?", Harry asked after a beat of silence. "Easy. Similar mannerisms and the whole your Dad has a deer patronus thing. It's almost comically accurate".

"Ah", Harry made a noise of understanding before grinning, "I suppose I'm Bambi now". "You are", Kennedy declared, finishing inscribing another rune before Harry spoke again, "This is all very complicated". Kennedy pursed her lip in concentration, "Hm, sounds like it. But it's not. Y'know, the more you do it, the easier it gets. And I've been doing it for as long as I can remember. I also have my trusty notebook; it's in my satchel right now. I have all of this written down ... along with all the earlier plans I drafted and scrapped. You can look at it if you'd like".

Harry reached into her satchel and found the leather-bound notebook. He flipped through to see calculations, measurements, frustrated scribbles in horrifyingly bad handwriting and doodles of flowers, cats and chess pieces. When he reached the last page, it was a mess of deep, deep pools of ink on the page. "You had a jolly time, I see", Harry dryly chuckled. "I didn't get much sleep", Kennedy admitted, "It's alright, though. I can sleep when this is done".

"And when will that be?"

"Possibly by the end of the week"

"Kenn, you can't have minimal sleep for a week", Harry chided. "I'll take naps", Kennedy conceded. "Kennedy", he warned. "Harry", she said right back.

He rolled his eyes, "I'll hold you to the nap thing, Kenn. I'll do check-ins". Kennedy fought back a smile (and failed) as she hummed agreeably, "I'm sure you will, Bambi".

.·:••●••:·.

            SEATED IN A QUIET NOOK in the library after dinner, Hermione was borderline furious. "You said you'd already worked out that egg clue! In the Common Room last night! You lied!", said Hermione indignantly. "Keep your voice down!", Harry shushed her, "We tried, alright? Kenn and I got it open. I just need to — sort of finetune it, all right?".

"Wait ... you and Kennedy were in the bathroom ... together?", Ron suddenly realized before grinning and patting Harry on the back, "Harry, you sly dog".

"No!", Harry cried. Kennedy left him to flounder through it. It was very entertaining. "It wasn't like that! Think of it as a two-person pool party", Harry tried to explain. Neither of them looked convinced. Harry sighed, "Kennedy, please explain".

"We both wore swimsuits. I even wore a one-piece", Kennedy said, "The 'bath' in the bathroom is also the size of a standard pool. It was very much a two-person pool party". Upon hearing Kennedy's clear and succinct explanation, they understood clearly.

"Oh", they both said in understanding.

"Just forget the egg for a minute, all right?", Harry wanted to move on from it, "I'm trying to tell you about Snape and Moody ...".

"Snape said Moodys searched his office as well?" Ron whispered, his eyes alight with interest, "What... d'you reckon Moody's here to keep an eye on Snape as well as Karkaroff?".

"Well, I dunno if that's what Dumbledore asked him to do, but he's definitely doing it," said Harry, "Moody said Dumbledore only lets Snape stay here because he's giving him a second chance or something ...". "What?", said Ron, his eyes widening, "Harry ... maybe Moody thinks Snape put your name in the Goblet of Fire!".

"Oh Ron," said Hermione, shaking her head skeptically, "we thought Snape was trying to kill Harry before, and it turned out he was saving Harry's life, remember?".

"That time in First year during the Quidditch match?", Kennedy wanted to clarify. "Right", Harry confirmed.

"I don't care what Moody says," Hermione went on. "Dumbledore's not stupid. He was right to trust Hagrid and Professor Lupin, even though loads of people wouldn't have given them jobs, so why shouldn't he be right about Snape, even if Snape is a bit—".

"—evil," said Ron promptly. "Come on, Hermione, why are all these Dark wizard catchers searching his office, then?".

"Why has Mr. Crouch been pretending to be ill?", posed Hermione, ignoring Ron. "It's a bit funny, isn't it, that he can't manage to come to the Yule Ball, but he can get up here in the middle of the night when he wants to?".

"You just don't like Crouch because of that elf, Winky", Ron quipped. "You just want to think Snapes up to something", Hermione retorted.

It seemed Hermione and Ron were back to normal.

"I just want to know what Snape did with his first chance, if he's on his second one," said Harry grimly. No one really knew what to say before Harry suddenly remembered, "Ah right! Last Hogsmeade weekend — the one just after the ball — Bagman tried to offer me help with the tournament".

"What?", Hermione gasped. "Did you take it?", Ron asked. "No", Harry said. "Good. You shouldn't have. He could've used it later to say you were breaking rules", Ron said matter-of-factly. It was moments like these Kennedy was reminded how Ron and her were almost equal in skill in chess — he was just as tactical as she was.

"Any help to supply us, Kennedy?", Hermione asked. "The Ringscribe is coming along nicely. I'm figuring out the wards right now. Just ... general protective stuff to ensure that it remains confidential. In terms of ideas for Harry breathing underwater ... I suppose we could transfigure him into some kind of underwater boat".

"A submarine?", Hermione asked.

"What's that?", Kennedy furrowed her eyebrows, "Some Muggle thing?". "Yeah, some muggle thing. Also, I don't fancy walking around with a periscope sticking out of my head ... I s'pose I could always attack someone in front of Moody; he might do it for me ...".

"I don't think he'd let you choose what you wanted to be turned into, though," said Hermione seriously, "No, I think your best chance is some sort of charm".

"Looks like we might need to go back into the Restricted Section", Ron folded his arms, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Kennedy could have sworn she saw Hermione glance at his exposed forearms.

"I'll ask McGonagall for a permission slip", Harry said decisively.