A/n: A bit of a wind down... after finishing the exciting middle I kind of got ahead of myself and moved on to the next book, I had to do a bit of a backtrack because I remembered I still had to type this. Very chilled vibes.

Kurt's first day since the incidences of the Chamber of Secrets had gotten off to a slow start, he had slept till midday again and even then it had taken him a moment to get his brain into gear. At lunch time, when he returned to the world of the living he was called to Professor Dumbledore's office; they discussed the finer details of his adventure and Lord Voldemort with no one around to be startled by the obscenity of what had actually happened. He'd then elected to spend the afternoon outside with Hermione, Neville, Harry, Ron, Luna and Bomballerina; Finn was getting reacquainted with his friends whom he was on speaking terms with one again.

"I hope we get to do something even cooler next year," Kurt smiled as he lay on the grass staring at the clear blue sky.

"You thought this was cool?" Hermione looked shocked, she hovered over him with a worried look on her face, "Are you alright?"

Ron let out a booming laugh, "Kurt is drinking the cool aide, allow him."

"Think about it," Kurt pulled a leaf out of her hair, "We read hundreds of books, I got to perform some crazy magic, We saw a beast that hadn't been seen in hundreds of years; that sounds like a good time to me, that's like a museum, a library and school amalgamated into one."

"When you put it that way," Luna smiled as scratched behind Bomballerina's ears, "that does sound like fun."

"I learnt how to remember what I'd forgotten," Neville smiled broadly, "my gran's going to be ecstatic."

"The only thing that might make this year any better would be if they cancelled exams," Ron sighed longingly with Scabbers perched on his chest asleep.

"What?" Kurt couldn't believe his ears, "Why would you want that? Then you won't how much you learned this year, you won't be able to gage how much work you have to do over the summer."

"You sound ridiculous, who does work during the summer?" Ron countered; Kurt, Hermione and Luna raised their hands, "you're all mental."

"We're just passionate about learning," Hermione gave a guilty smile, "I am however, worried that we might be deposed as the top of the year in light of how distracted we were this year."

"Don't worry about it," Neville's voice was soothing, "I'm sure nobody can compete with your brilliance."

Hermione smiled broadly and her cheeks burned bright red, "thanks."

"Padma Petil spent the whole year working on her studies," Luna countered, she managed to sound like she was a million miles away even though she was right next to him, "She said she'd never done worse than first academically till last year."

Kurt and Hermione exchanged nervous looks but decided to roll their eyes dismissively; they were being simple today, that was a problem for tomorrow.

"It was weird how Voldemort had convinced himself you were his son," Harry spoke for the first time that day, he'd been lost in thought all day, "It's spooky because he actually looked like you and Cedric had a love child."

Their friends looked shocked by what Harry was saying, they kept looking from one boy to another, "Where would he get such an idea?" Hermione didn't seem the least bit impressed by the idea, "Thinking he can claim you as his own, even if there were a biological relation, he can't swoop in and claim you because you've become one of the most brilliant wizards of your age."

"Wait," Kurt held up a silencing finger, "I get 'of your age' and you get 'of the age', nice."

"You know what I mean," Hermione blushed as he teased her.

"Oh no," Harry went on from where he'd left off, "Kurt was having none of it, told him off."

"Surely not," Neville looked nervously at Kurt, "What happened to respecting authority?"

"He's not an authority figure," Luna countered, "Lord is an aristocratic title, they don't have any official authority."

"Also," Harry was rather chatty at this point, "It's not really his title, it's an anagram for his name."

"Furthermore," Kurt interjected, "I don't recognise tyranny as authority."

"It wasn't 'anger and adrenaline' this time?" Ron questioned playfully.

"I think at some point you called him ugly," Harry chortled.

"He told me he was devilishly handsome," Kurt giggled.

"Was he?" Hermione teased.

Kurt clutched his chest, "So handsome, the best of Cedric Diggory, Colin Firth and me rolled into one; it was so wrong for someone so evil to be that beautiful."

Hermione pursed her lips and furrowed his brow, "He didn't look that good on the back of Quirrel's head, granted he was on the back of somebody's head."

"I almost forgot seeing him that time," Kurt thought it over and concurred, "not even remotely similar."

"But how did he come to the understanding that he was your father?" Hermione's brow didn't relax, "if it was a memory of his sixteen year old self from the nineteen-forties, how did he know you existed and where did he get that idea from?"

Kurt took the opportunity to clear up the misunderstanding, "Apparently, Ginny mentioned me under the title of 'Spawn of Voldemort' and he thought she was being serious unaware that she was simply being facetious." Kurt let out a hearty laugh, "It was probably after rumours that Harry and I were an item started flying around."

"My sister is not facetious," Ron scolded, "Take it back."

"Now Ronald," Harry spoke in a forced falsetto, "is that anyway to talk to your Kurt?"

Kurt raised a questioning brow, "when did I become Ronald's?"

"Yesterday when Professor Snape told us that you and Ginny had been taken," Harry teased the red haired boy whose ears had turned as red as his hair, if not more so, "he exclaimed a pained, 'oh no, not my Kurt'."

"That's not what I said," Ron corrected in a controlled voice, "I said, 'it's got my Kurt'. I… my words got mixed up, I meant my sister."

"That's called a Freudian Slip," Hermione giggled, tucking a tuft of hair behind her ears, "that's when you unintentionally say what you truly mean."

"you know what Hermione-" Ron's reply was cut short by Bomballerina pouncing over him and grabbing Scabbers between his jaws, "That monster's got Scabbers."

"Bomballerina is not a monster," Kurt scolded back defensively, "She's a kitty cat."

"Kitty cat?" Ron let out a forced laugh, "More like a tiger that thinks it's a dog."

"Tigers have stripes," Neville pointed out, "A puma would be a more accurate description."

Kurt stepped over to where Bomballerina had Scabbers pinned on the ground growling at him viciously, "Bella," Kurt scolded but she didn't desist with her growling, "Bomballerina, you let Scabbers go this instance." The kneazle turned to Kurt with large pleading eyes, "None of that, you don't know what kind of diseases that rat is carrying."

"Hey," Ron raised an objecting hand, "you be nice to my rat."

"I'm just being honest," Kurt countered as he got between Ron and Bomballerina as he tried to lunge at her, "you don't exactly have the best hygiene habits, so who knows when that thing was last washed? Bella I told you to let him go!"

"What do you mean I don't have the best hygiene habits?" Ron's voice squeaked defensively.

"You wore robes you'd spilled your potions brew on for more than a week before having them laundered," Neville pointed out, "And I've seen you sniff test some of your clothes?"

"I sniff test some of the time," Harry shrugged lazily, "it's just something boys do."

"I don't," Neville squeaked, "my gran would lose her mind."

"There is no excuse," Kurt added, "they do laundry twice a week; all you have to do is put it in the hamper."

"I promise to have your monster's blood out of this shirt by Monday," Ron pulled their attention back from their tangent, he dived in low and snatched Scabbers away from a very disgruntled Bomballerina."

They all lay on the grass in silence once more whilst the tension dissipated, Hermione was first to speak, "If we hadn't been wizards, where would we be?"

"Ottery St Catchpole," Luna drew shapes in the air with her wand as she spoke, "Working at the Quibbler of course."

"I'd sleep till midday every day," Ron smiled lazily, "I'd only get out of bed to eat."

"How unimpressive," Hermione grimaced at the idea, "I'd be finishing at The Dragon School this year, I suppose. Then I'd be going to Headington School."

"Headington? That's in Oxford," Kurt raised a quizzical brow, "I thought you lived in London,"

"I do live in London," Hermione countered, "My dad drove me from Camden every morning; he and my mother have their own practice, so he wasn't exactly in a rush to get to work. You also lived in London, where'd you go to school?"

"University College School," Kurt gave a small prideful smile, "I'm surprised two people who love school as much as you and I have never had this conversation."

"You at one of the more progressive schools?" Hermione scoffed, "I always had you pegged as a traditionalist, what with your obsession with Oxford."

Kurt raised a silencing finger, "Bite me."

"I wonder what Stonewall High would be like," Harry let out a breathy laugh.

"I'm guessing it had stone walls," Kurt shrugged.

"Because UCS was a university, a college and a school," Hermione added patronizingly.

Kurt rolled his eyes, "I was trying to be facetious."

"I'd probably be travelling with my Uncle Algie," Neville sounded almost longing, "And he'd still be trying to kill me."

As evening swung around word had spread that there was going to be a grand feast in their honour; and true enough the hall was elaborately decorated with tapestries that showed the event that had transpired in the Chamber of Secrets, one for each of the four of them. The decorations were not the only difference tonight, spread was also different, as though by some divine power it appeared to be more to Kurt's liking; there where cheese platters, garlic bread, an assortment of exotic and rich pies and pastries in both a savoury and sweet variety, there was perfectly medium steak and vegetables by the lot.

They were huddled in a large group that was predominantly Gryffindor students as they waited to be ordered to return to their seats; Finn and company charged into the great hall and dispersed, it was his brother who came toward their group.

"Sup sluts," Finn slapped a flyer onto the counter in front of them.

"What is this?" Kurt raised questioning brow as he read the upside down flyer, "Muggle Activities Club?"

"It's an idea we were working on before I stopped talking to my friends," Finn was bouncing on the balls of his feet as he spoke, "It's a sports club, we play some rugby or something and then we drink some beer."

"Alcohol?" Hermione's eyes looked on the brink of falling out her skull.

"I'm an adult," Finn said with a prideful disposition.

"You're thirteen," she countered.

"I'll be fourteen before the year is through," Finn countered.

"We got the talk last summer and according to Carole this is when we're going to start experimenting with alcohol," Kurt soothed both beasts in an effort to prevent anyone from hearing, "she told us not to binge drink, to be safe and gave us rape whistles."

"No lowerclassmen allowed," Finn added with a smile, "Fourth year and up."

"I hate to kill your vibe," Ron pointed out with a defeated sigh, "But we're second years."

"It starts next year and," Finn pointed his thumbs at himself and did a little jig, "I got a small group of lowerclassmen special permission to join, and that includes you." Ron and Neville looked on the verge of exploding, Finn pointed at luna with a little wink, "You too pretty girl."

"Oh wow," Luna's words didn't match her less than interested tone, "but alcohol increases the wratspurts in your head."

"Senior boys?" Kurt raised a satisfied brow.

Hermione let out a little giggle, "You can count Kurt in, and me by association."

Neville looked at Hermione and she met his gaze, "me too."

"Coolsness," Finn pointed at them with finger pistols, "bang bang, Cedric will be happy to hear that."

"Did your brother just finger-bang us?" Hermione adjusted her aliceband with a small giggle.

"I…" Kurt's words were stifled by his laughter, "We are not far enough south for this."

Their conversation was halted by Harry's return from his meeting with Professor Dumbledore, he had rather cheery smile on his face as he plonked himself into the seat beside Luna.

"You're looking rather pleased with yourself," Luna smiled as she spoke, "Good for you Harry Potter."

"I want to know why!" Hermione demanded.

"I just set Dobby free," Harry whispered to their group.

"The house elf?" Ron looked affronted by Harry's words, "They don't want to be free, they like the work they do."

"If they liked it, it wouldn't be called enslavement," Hermione countered angrily.

Kurt took the mark to continue, "That is something oppressors tell themselves to ease their guilt; 'we're trying to save your soul for damnation so we're depriving you of equal rights', it is front for bigotry and backwards thinking."

"Besides," Harry shrugged, "Dobby hated working for the Malfoys."

"Oh," Ron's shoulders loosened, "if I worked for the Malfoys I'd also want to be freed."

"That's lovely," Luna smiled brightly, ignoring the group debate, "I hope he really enjoys it."

"How did you manage that?" a satisfied Hermione hissed in reply, "my research has led me to believe only the elf's master can set him free."

"Your research?" Ron raised a brow.

"I was curious, so I went to the library," Hermione shrugged.

"I gave Lucius Malfoy, his master, Tom Riddle's diary which I'd slipped a sock into because he'd put it in Ginny's things that day in Diagon Alley," Harry was speaking loud enough for just them to hear, "he gave it to Dobby and the rest is history."

"He couldn't have been happy about it," Kurt offered, "Have you not put yourself in any danger?"

"I'll be fine," Harry waved his hands dismissively.

"Might I have your attention," Professor Dumbledore was standing at the owl podium in simple dark robes that shimmered with star like the night sky and a pointy brimless witches hat, "I'm sure by now you are all aware of what transpired here yesterday, so I shan't go into that; however, special awards will be given in light of those activities. Firstly, to the brightest which of the age; I award Hermione Granger fifty points and the eternal gratitude of this school for her quick and intelligent thinking, solving a mystery I couldn't solve in fifty years. Secondly, to Ronald Weasley I award fifty points; for bravery in the face of your fears. To Harry Potter, for ending the reign of terror brought upon by the Serpent of Slytherin and showing great loyalty to the school, I award a hundred points." There was wild applause from the Gryffindors around the room, "Finally, to Kurt Elizabeth Hummel; who looked evil in the eye and saw so much of himself but still chose the path of righteousness, risking his own life in doing so, and saved not just everybody in this school yesterday, in spite of the fact that many of you had turned your backs on him, but kept evil at bay from the whole world; a hundred and fifty points."

As the headmaster stood at the podium waiting, there was silence in the great hall as nobody spoke or made a sound; it was Collin who got to his feet and clapped enthusiastically, followed in close second by Justin, then Hermione and Finn, and then the whole school. Kurt felt a violent blush creeping up his neck, for somebody who preened in praise he made up in his head, he was surprisingly bad at taking real praise, "I further decree that in light of these events, exams should be cancelled." There was even louder cheering from the student body but Professor Dumbledore held up a hand, "but this is a school, so that isn't happening. I would like to inform the second and fifth years that they will be having classes tomorrow in an effort to help them select their electives and NEWT level classes respectively. Because of Professor Lockhart's absence, I will be taking his classed till such a time that a replacement can be found. Enjoy your dinner."

~0~

"What electives are you thinking of taking?" Cedric's voice was smooth as velvet as he slipped into the space next to Kurt on the bench where Kurt sat watching the wimping willow.

"Hello to you too Cedric," Kurt shot a disapproving look at the boy.

"Oh," He smiled devilishly, "Excuse my lack of manners; Hello Kurt, how are you?"

"I'm well," Kurt looked down at his form as he spoke, "And yourself?"

"Couldn't be better," He shot Kurt a queer look, "Why are you struggling so much with this?"

"Well," Kurt pursed his lips nervously, "I'm usually much more descisive, heck I already knew what subjects I was going to take at O-level and A-level, as well as what I was going to study at Oxford but this is different. What did you take?"

"Care For Magical Creatures and Arithmancy," Cedric shrugged casually, "What did you enjoy most on Sunday?"

"That's the complicated part," Kurt let out a laugh, "Everything was so good; I loved math in school, so I'm all for Arithmancy; I could possibly pass up the opportunity to learn semiotics, so Ancient Runes is a given; I love knowing about nature which makes Care for Magical Creatures tempting, I've read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them at least a hundred times; Muggle studies is a must because the wizarding worlds views of muggles would be an interesting subject to broach as somebody who knows both sides; Divination just seems like fun."

"That was quite the mouth full," Cedric breathed heavily, "just pick them all, I've heard of people getting twelve OWLs; I don't know how they do it but if anyone can make it work, you can."

"You've been listening to Finn," Kurt felt a blush creeping up his neck as he stared at the handsome boy.

"I will admit," Cedric looked almost as embarrassed as he did, "I have been drinking the cool aid."

"Then you should know better to believe everything you hear," Kurt averted his gaze.

"What about the things I see?" Kurt stole a look at the boy as he was talking.

"When was the last time you consulted an optometrist," Kurt pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, Cedric was so close to him that his breath was fogging them up. The taller boy leaned in and planted a short chaste kiss on his lips, Cedric's lips were soft and full on his own for a moment or maybe a year.

"Berry?"

"Yes," Kurt's voice didn't rise above a whisper even though there wasn't a soul around to hear them speak, "what about Chodric?"

"What about it?" Cedric smirked, he was so handsome it made Kurt light headed. He was smiling goofily and couldn't think straight, he couldn't think straight; his smile fell.

"I have to go." Kurt took off before the boy could persuad him to stay, he had to find Hermione; thinking apart had been a bad idea. As he reached the castle door he was pleasantly surprised to see Hermione on her way out, "Where are you off to?"

"To find you," Hermione smiled, "You'll never guess what I just heard in the library."

"What'd you here?" Kurt nudged her playfully, "out with it."

"Marietta Edgecomb, the third year Ravenclaw and best friend to Cho Chang," Hermione paused to grow his anticipation, "told Angelina Johnson that Cho and Cedric broke up."

"I know," Kurt smiled devilishly.

"You know?" Hermione's smile fell, "Somebody's already told you? I wanted to be the bearer of good news just this once."

Cedric walked by them as he came back into the castle, he smiled at Hermione nervously and greeted them with a small wave, "Some might say I heard it from the horse's mouth."

"The horse's mouth indeed," Hermione squealed excitedly, "Details, how'd he tell you?"

"All I'm saying is," Kurt adjusted his hair, "he used his lips."

"Oh my word," Hermione's eyes lit up, "you kissed Cedric Diggory."

"Well," Kurt straightened his glasses, "He kissed me."

Hermione held out her hand for a high five, "Ten points to Slytherin."

"I don't think that's how the point system works," Kurt giggled nervously.

"So are you guys a thing?" Hermione asked the million dollar question.

"No," Kurt smiled broadly, "I'm playing hard to get, but speaking of people being things… are you and Neville still in limbo?"

"I forget that you know," Hermione fiddled with her aliceband nervously.

Kurt gave her a look over his glasses, "Honey, everybody with eyes can see."

"Just like everybody can see the tension between you and Ron," Hermione teased.

Kurt shrugged dismissively, "Don't deflect."

"Well not quite," Hermione fiddled with the hem of her skirt, "We're still in limbo."

"Hmmm."

Hermione went on the defensive, "I'm sorry but do you have something to say?"

"Do you want my opinion?" Hermione gave a small nod, "Carole always tells me that when dealing with boys there are two approaches; slow and steady wins the race, where you take step back to assess where you are at every interval, and then there's diving in head first which is pretty self-explanatory."

"I don't know which of those is better," Hermione shook her head.

"I think Carole is old as sand and has no idea what she's talking about," Kurt went on, "You could do what I do, don't question it and go with the flow till you have enough data to draw a conclusion."

"That goes against my very nature," Hermione shook her head, "I'll figure something out, thanks for being absolutely no help."

"Always a pleasure," Kurt smiled sweetly at his friend as they skipped merrily into the castle.

"What subjects did you pick?" Hermione asked him.

"All of them."

"Good," Hermione let out a sigh, "me too."

~0~

By the time term closed Kurt was walking on sunshine, he hadn't actually discussed the kiss with Cedric but he knew that now wasn't a good time because they were about to separate for eleven weeks; of which he'd be spending eight in Greenland. Kurt was squeezed into a compartment of the Hogwarts express with all his closest friends and some on top of that; to call the compartment full would be the understatement of the year, overcrowded barely covered it.

"Remember that time we could all breath?" George winced as he squeezed onto the bench between Kurt and Finn, the bench seemed to grow to allow him but just barely.

"Stop reminiscing about the good old days and move up," Fred demanded. Once more the bench stretched and the last person squeezed in, "Why is it you get to sit on the Kurt side of Hermione?"

"Then we're sitting alphabetically," George countered, "Fred, Hermione, George, Kurt, Luna."

"I thought I was George," Fred pointed at himself with confusion all over his face."

"Forget that," Kurt pointed at George, "since when does 'G' come after 'H' in the alphabet."

George turned to him with a look of bewilderment, "You beat Voldemort one time and suddenly you know everything."

"What's his beef?" Harry looked confused.

"He's a little upset we lost the house cup," Ron whispered.

"We'd bet our win on Harry's big adventure," Fred moaned.

"Slytherin proved to you that Slow and Steady wins the race," Kurt countered with a jovial smile.

"And Ravenclaw won the Academic Shield which pushed us ahead of you," Luna gave a small clap.

Hermione let out a small huff that was echoed by the Hufflepuffs standing along the walls, "Hermione's till a little sensitive about that."

"And why wouldn't she be?" Ernie MacMillan countered, "We were distracted by our fear."

"Ravenclaw placed top in every year," Luna argued, "whilst claiming a good few of the top ten spots as well, a feat to be commended."

"Padma blindsided us all," Hermione argued, "I was third, do you know how embarrassing that is for me?"

"If it makes you feel any better," Justin spoke, "None of the other second years here made the top ten."

"I was second," Kurt smiled with pride, "I beat Hermione Granger, I'm going to tell my grandchildren about this."

"I was petrified," Hermione countered.

"For like a day," Kurt argued back at her playfully.

"I did warn you that Padma was working hard," Luna silenced both of them.

"Who is excited about my club next year?" Finn tried to divert their attention.

"Who is excited about Hogsmead visits?" Kurt shimmied as he spoke.

"I can't wait to be a senior," Ron spoke wishfully.

"Well, you've got quite the wait ahead of you," Fred laughed at him.

"You won't be a senior for more than a year," George added.

"I can't wait to leave this year behind me," Ginny's voice was small and shaky but it cut through the noise.

"Amen to that," Kurt let out a heavy sigh and everybody concurred.

Hope you like it. Please know that I love hearing from you, I do take your reviews into account when I write.