CHAPTER THREE

"Good evening, Regulus, Severus" Kaia greeted the two, nodding her head in acknowledgement. Severus merely nodded back while Regulus offered a warm smile.

"Evening, Kaia. Going on patrol?" Regulus inquired, his eyes meeting hers curiously.

"Yes, our fellow prefects have already managed to get themselves into trouble, it seems" Kaia replied, her annoyance clear in her tone. "Well, duty calls. Take care, the both of you."

With a small wave, she bid them farewell and turned to leave the Slytherin common room.

After leaving the Slytherin common room, Kaia began her patrol. Along the way, she encountered the other house prefects, except for Lupin, whom Lily had mentioned had prior engagements. While Kaia had a brief moment of doubt, she knew Remus well enough to trust his responsibility and decided not to question the excuse further.

With each hallway and corridor she passed, the castle was eerily quiet. It was a rare moment of peace in the usually chaotic and bustling halls of Hogwarts. Kaia took the chance to relish in the solitude, the only sounds being her steady footsteps and the occasional whisper of a lingering ghost.

As Kaia continued her patrol, she found herself pausing before the Headmaster, who motioned her over. Curiosity piqued on her face, she walked towards him.

"Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore," she greeted, furrowing her brow, puzzled by the unexpected summons.

The Headmaster smiled warmly at her, gesturing for her to take a seat. "Ah, Miss McKinnon, it's a pleasure to see you."

Kaia sat down quietly, her eyes fixed on Dumbledore, wondering what could possibly be so important that he brought her here.

Dumbledore observed Kaia with a warm smile, commenting on her role as a prefect. "It seems you have taken on the duties of your fellow prefects. My apologies for not selecting individuals who embody responsibility more fittingly."

Kaia listened quietly, her expression stoic, but a hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes. She wondered where this conversation was leading.

Kaia nodded in agreement, her expression still neutral. "You're right, Sir. Mistakes do happen. If Regulus Black was in his fifth year already, I'd expect him to be amongst my fellow prefects. It's unfortunate that Emma Vanity turned down the role due to her new position as the Quidditch Captain. I understand that taking on both responsibilities would be too stressful for her."

Dumbledore chuckled lightly at her words as if amused by her analysis. "Ah, you have a keen eye for detail, Kaia. It seems you have a good understanding of the students in your house."

Kaia tilted her head slightly, her eyes studying Dumbledore intently. She wondered what the purpose of this conversation was.

Dumbledore smiled, acknowledging the choice he had made in selecting her as Head Girl. He appreciated her ability to see the nuances in her housemates, such as Regulus, and recognize that not all of them were inherently bad people.

"You have a unique perspective on the students in your house, Kaia," Dumbledore commented, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You are not as biased as some, which bodes well for your role as Head Girl."

"Thank you, Headmaster," Kaia replied softly, her expression remaining as aloof as ever. She took Dumbledore's comment as a compliment, knowing that her ability to see beyond the surface level had helped shape her into the Head Girl she was now. Still, curiosity tugged at her mind, and she silently wondered what the true purpose of this conversation was.

"You not assumed of Severus for the role of Prefect?" Dumbledore asked

Kaia took a moment before responding, her brow furrowing in thought. It was this, this was the feeling the headmaster was leading to. She knew how a lot of people saw the path Severus was taking after having ended his friendship with Lily Evans.

"I have nothing against Severus, Headmaster," she began, choosing her words carefully. "He's intelligent, no doubt. However, I don't believe he possesses the necessary qualities to be a Prefect. His lack of social skills and tendency to keep to himself makes him ill-suited for the role, unfortunately."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, acknowledging Kaia's observation. "Very well, I'll speak with Professor Slughorn about finding more suitable Prefects."

Kaia took a moment to collect her thoughts before posing her question. "Headmaster, there's something that's been concerning me, and I hope you can provide some insight."

Dumbledore smiled warmly, his wise old eyes meeting Kaia's. "Go on, my dear. What's been troubling you?"

Kaia took a deep breath, gathering the courage to ask her question. "I know it's not my place, and I hope you won't find me intrusive or impudent, but I've been wondering about something that's been on my mind. What has happened to Sirius Black since he left home?"

Dumbledore listened patiently, his eyes gazing knowingly at her. When she mentioned Sirius being underage, he chuckled faintly, cutting her off with a reassuring smile. "Fear not, my dear. Sirius is now living with James Potter. and his parents"

"Oh," Kaia murmured, her shoulders relaxing slightly at the news. She nodded her head in agreement. "Thank goodness."

A brief silence filled the room as Dumbledore observed her reaction. Then, the headmaster spoke again, his tone knowing. "You asked to reassure Regulus, didn't you?"

Kaia's eyes widened slightly, caught off-guard by the headmaster's question. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded silently, confirming his presumption.

Kaia let out a soft sigh, her expression revealing her concern for Regulus's well-being. "You caught me, Sir," she admitted, her voice tinged with resignation.

Despite her stoic exterior, Dumbledore swore he caught a glimpse of a small, almost imperceptible smile on her lips as she spoke about Regulus.

"I suppose Regulus must have let it slip accidentally, but it shows how much he cares," Kaia confessed, her words laced with a hint of vulnerability.

Dumbledore nodded, his gaze softening as he observed her. "Ah, the love Regulus has," he mused, his eyes filled with understanding.

"I can see your concern for him, Kaia," he continued, his voice gentle. "It's a testament to your character. You are quite empathetic, my dear."

Kaia fidgeted slightly, unaccustomed to being praised. She remained silent, her usual stoic demeanour in place, as her thoughts flickered between her worry for Regulus and her own guarded nature.

Kaia's voice was quiet as she spoke, her eyes flickering with a mix of compassion and concern. "I don't think it's just about Regulus," she emphasized. "I'm also thinking about Sirius. It's troubling to think about what forced him to leave home at such a young age."

Dumbledore observed her, recognizing the depth of her empathy and concern for the two young boys. He nodded slowly, his eyes filled with knowing and understanding.

Kaia's voice was firm yet gentle as she spoke up in defence of Sirius. "He can indeed cause a lot of trouble, and sometimes his pranks can go overboard," she admitted, her expression revealing her mild disapproval.

However, her tone shifted as she continued, her words barely whispered. "But deep down, he's still human. He deserves to be treated like he has feelings. Despite his reputation, he is a good person."

For a brief moment, Dumbledore's gaze flicked away from Kaia and glanced discreetly at the empty hall behind her. He knowingly chuckled, recognizing the presence of Sirius and James hiding under the Invisibility Cloak.

His eyes returned to Kaia, a subtle hint of amusement dancing in their depths as he realized she was oblivious to the two mischievous boys nearby.

Dumbledore couldn't help but be amused by the irony of the situation. Here was Kaia, openly expressing her concern for Sirius and his well-being, completely unaware that he was just a few feet away, hidden by the Invisibility Cloak.

With a faint smile, he continued listening to her thoughts, enjoying the knowledge that the two boys were likely eavesdropping on their conversation.