Kemp Hurley

The gossip about the Potter twins and Ron had died down and now everyone's focus was on the first day of classes. Kemp sat at the Gryffindor table with Neville, Dune, and James during breakfast. Massie, Alicia, Parvati, and Lavender were sitting nearby, but weren't socializing with them as much. Massie still was annoyed with James and went out of her way to avoid him. James was respecting this for now, but Kemp knew that it wouldn't last. Kemp also saw Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus, Dylan, and Hermione sitting on the other side of Kemp. Dylan seemed a lot more relaxed than she did on their first day back. Kemp was happy about that and hoped that there would be no more trouble for her this year. Last year was a roller coaster for Dylan and Kemp wishes that he would have been there more for her. Growing up Dylan was always Kemp's best female friend, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Kemp is not a fan of Harry and he doesn't know how to protect Dylan from him without insulting her.

"Earth to Kemp," Kemp heard as a hand was waved in front of his face. Kemp blinked and turned back to his friends. Dune was the one trying to get his attention.

"Are you okay mate?" James asked.

"Yeah I'm just...thinking about Quidditch tryouts coming up," Kemp lied.

"You're sure to get on the team. You are a great flyer and practiced with a professional Quidditch team this summer," Neville said to Kemp.

"Excuse me, but I'm not so bad myself," James said. He was also trying out for the Gryffindor team.

"Well Wood said that he was only looking to replace Sammi and I am one of the younger ones trying out," Kemp said trying to sound modest, but he couldn't hide that cocky smirk that he was famous for.

"Dude I don't think age matters. Dylan was a first year when she got on the team," Dune said.

"This is true and everyone from Aliquam Velit knows that Dylan and I work well together," Kemp said.

"But what if Harry tries out? I mean they are twins," James shrugged.

Kemp rolled his eyes.

"Whatever man I am going to kick butt at that tryout," Kemp said.

"And I'm sure you'll be a great back-up for me," James smirked.

"Keeping dreaming," Kemp said shaking his head as he put a spoonful of waffle into his mouth.

"Personally I hope neither of you get the spot. I don't think Neville, nor me can deal with either of you being a Quidditch star," Dune joked.

The group of boys chuckled and continued eating their breakfast.

"Post is here," James said looking up as owls flew into the Great Hall holding letters and packages.

Kemp saw his family's owl, Oleg, fly into view and drop off a package.

His parents had sent Kemp a care package full of chocolate frogs, sugar quills, real quills, and extra parchment as a way to celebrate the first day of school.

"I knew I forgot something," said Neville as he looked into the package his gran sent him. All of a sudden Kemp felt himself get splashed. He looked over to where the Potters, Ron, and Hermione were sitting. Ron was picking up a ragged looking owl from a milk jug.

"Oh no," he groaned as he took a red envelope from the owl's beak.

"Its ok I think he is still alive," James said. He had gotten up quickly to check on the owl. James was a huge animal lover and didn't like to see any creature harmed. Kemp also noticed that Massie had rushed up too. Kemp knew that Massie was just as passionate about animals as James. Massie and James actually had a lot in common. Kemp thinks that might be why the two of them can't stand each other.

"Not that...this!" Ron said motioning towards the red envelope. Kemp looked closer and saw that Ron was holding a Howler. Kemp has never received a Howler, but he knew that it would explode soon if Ron didn't open it so Kemp slowly inched away from that group.

"What's that?" Harry asked.

Ron was white and didn't speak.

"Harry that is a Howler," Dylan explained, but based on the look on Harry's face he didn't seem to know what a Howler was.

"You should open it Ron. It will only be worse if you don't. I ignored one from my gran once and...it was horrible," Neville said shivering at the thought.

"Why? What happens?" Harry asked, but nobody answered him. Everyone was looking at the Howler that was beginning to smoke at the corners.

"Just open it Ron. Get it over with," Seamus said.

Ron slowly began to open the envelope as Kemp prepared himself for the roar that filled the room.

"- STEALING THE CAR? YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPELLED! JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL I GET AHOLD OF YOU, DID YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE?" yelled a very angry, female voice. Kemp assumed that it must be his mother's voice.

Kemp looked around and saw that everyone in the hall was now looking over at the scene taking place.

"WHEN WE RECEIVED THAT LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT. THIS IS NOT HOW WE RAISED YOU. THE THREE OF YOU COULD HAVE DIED! YOU WERE SEEN! YOUR FATHER IS FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! IF YOU PUT AS MUCH AS A TOE OUT OF LINE WE WILL BRING YOU BACK HOME!" the letter screamed. Ron dropped the letter which then burst into flames and all that was left was a small pile of ashes.

Ron looked like he was about to pee his pants in fear. A few people began to laugh while some people looked embarrassed for him. Kemp noticed that Hermione was giving Ron a look that said "You deserved this". Kemp had to agree. Kemp knew that Mr. Weasley could be in a lot of trouble for this. Kemp's father was Minister Block's Head Advisor and he knew that if an employee at the American Ministry of Magic would probably lose their job over something like this or at least be put on probation.

Everyone's attention had shifted when the Head of Houses began to pass out schedules. Professor McGonagall passed Kemp his schedule and Kemp quickly looked over it.

"Starting the year off with Double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs," Kemp said.

Kemp could tell that Neville seemed happy about this. Herbology was the only class that Neville seemed to do really well in. Kemp didn't mind Herbology, but it wasn't his favorite class. Last year Kemp enjoyed his flying class the most, but this year Kemp thinks he is going to enjoy Defense Against the Dark Arts the most. Professor Lockhart was a legend and has done so much with his career. Kemp knew that he had to be a better professor than Quirrell who stuttered so much that it was hard to understand him and kept his classroom smelling like garlic. Plus Quirrell turned out to be some evil psychopath who was working for You-Know-Who and ended up trying to kill Dylan and Harry.

"Well lets head out," James said standing up. Kemp, Dune, and Neville all got up and began to head to their Herbology class.

The year has officially begun.

Kemp is definitely not a member of the Harry Potter fan club. Will he ever warm up to him? In the next chapter Dylan and Harry are stopped on their way to Herbology by a pretty face and then after that we check in with Claire who is trying to expand her social circle.