A/n: this didn't mesh well with the end of the last chapter nor did it make sense in the context of the next chapter, so it ended up standing alone.

Kurt had made the great trek past the quidditch pitch to the adjacent clearing arm in arm with Hermione and Luna, they weren't exactly thrilled by the prospect of actually playing rugby or any sport that they didn't have prior experience in but for the sake of Finn and the Muggle Activities Club they were making a concession. The pitch was littered with senior students from all houses except Slytherin, as expected Kurt was the only Slytherin present and it didn't bother him in the least; Gryffindor, on the opposite end of the spectrum, had the greatest numbers due to their obnoxiously proactive nature.

"How exactly are we getting away with this?" Hermione raised a brow, she had been feeling unsure about the club since breakfast; it seemed that when it came to breaking the rules for the sake of it she was less than pleased, she obviously reserved that for when they were playing Nancy Drew.

"There's nothing to get away with," Kurt began to explain, "we have permission to share muggle activities with everyone in the club, underage drinking is one of those activities. Besides, the school's by laws don't recognise beer as an alcoholic beverage; only distilled spirits and beverages with an alcohol content of over fifteen percent are against school rules, it's like Russia."

"You've clearly read the unabridged school by laws too many times," Luna shook her head, looking torn between being impressed and worried.

"One can never be too cautious when it comes to knowing where one stand with respect to rules and authority," Kurt felt a certain level of pride, he knew every rule and how to get around the ones he needed to get around, "it makes for quite the useful skill when you border on rebellion as we frequently do."

"You are so full of shit," Hermione gave him a playful swat on the shoulder.

"Oh look," Kurt and Hermione followed Luna's extended finger, "it's Cedric Diggory."

"Your cute boy sensors are impressive," Hermione smiled suggestively, Kurt made a mental note not to teach her anything more from his lexis of facial expressions because she was using them against him too often.

"Ladies," Kurt smiled coyly, "if you'll excuse me."

"Don't be gone too long," Hermione waved him off with a knowing look.

"Good morning," Kurt smiled broadly as he came to stand on the edge of the marked rugby field that the senior students had conjured, he had Carole buy him an outfit for the occasion and she hadn't disappointed him; Kurt's silver and green rugby uniform was a feat in fashionable sportswear and the fit was to die for.

"Kurt," he had to supress a devious smile as Cedric's eyes lit up at the sight of him, the taller boy eyed him for a moment, "How are you? You look-"

"Thank you, I'm well," Kurt smirked, he wasn't playing nice and the time for coy was so done; Cedric had to realise that Kurt was the wolf, he wasn't Little Red Riding Hood, "it's been a while, as I recall the last time we spoke to each other made for quite the amicable split."

Cedric made a noise that sounded like he was choking and he began to blush violently, "how was your date yesterday?"

"It was okay," Kurt gave a small smile, he had been expecting jealousy because it was one of Finn's favourite pass times to incite jealousy in others and watch it drive them to extremes. Kurt had made a decision based on this and was not going to wait for Cedric to make the next move, he didn't want to be waiting for Cedric Diggory to ask him out till he was in thirties.

"If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it," Finn let out a snarky laugh as he, Ernie and Justin walked by.

"Woah-Oh," Ernie exclaimed as he and Finn High-fived.

"Oh," Justin did the same as he and Finn celebrated, they rounded it off with a chorused "Oh, oh-oh."

Kurt giggled then pursed his lips, "That'll never catch on."

"You were telling me about your date," Cedric spoke flatly through hooded lids, a less observant onlooker might not have picked up on the underlying tone of urgency and jealousy.

"If you're so curious about what I'm like on a date, maybe you should consider taking me on one yourself," Cedric tensed up beside him, "Or maybe not."

Kurt turned on the heels of his rugby boots before Cedric could say any more; he was calling the shots but he wasn't going to use every bullet at his disposal all at once, he wasn't going to let Cedric suffer too long but just long enough. When he re-joined his friends on the opposite end of the field, Hermione smiled expectantly but didn't speak.

"I am so not excited about this," Kurt groaned, nodding his head toward the field where the sixth years were doing the last of the transfiguration and conjuration in preparation for the match; Kurt even though he was dressed for the part of a star rugby player, he was secretly hoping that they either had a surplus of numbers or an extreme deficit which left him on the bench, "I still wish we were playing hockey."

"Oh, don't you start deflecting Kurt Elizabeth," Luna scolded but her soft airy voice was like a hug on his ears and quashed whatever emotions she was trying to entice, "You need to tell us what you just did to Cedric Diggory and you better make quick work of it before he gets here."

"Is he coming over?" Kurt couldn't help buzzing in anticipation.

"He seems to be attempting to do so," Hermione giggled, she grabbed his shoulder when he tried to turn around, "don't turn around, we have time."

"All I'm going to say is that I'm the wolf in grandma's clothing, he has to come closer to get bitten," Kurt wasn't sure how much time they had exactly but chose to trust his instincts, "A story is so much sweeter when it has an ending, especially when it's a happy ending."

"Don't be a tease," Hermione shook her finger in his face.

"Being mysterious is kind of my thing," Kurt drawled with a goofy smile on his face as sinisterly rubbed his hands together, "One second I'm Voldemort's son, the next I'm the Heir of Slytherin and then I'm the son of a mass murderer; who knows what I'm going to be next?"

"My guess is Cedric Diggory's main squeeze," Hermione flung her arm over his shoulder and shook him till his spectacles were hanging on for dear life.

"Never do that again," Kurt shuddered, clutching his stomach.

Kurt, Hermione and Luna were suddenly squashed together by Fred and George who appeared seemingly from nowhere and pulled them together into a suspended sandwich.

"Hello hug!" they chorused jovially as they squeezed tightly.

Kurt's voice was strained as he had the life squeezed out of him, "Why is this life?"

"What have we done to deserve this?" Hermione groaned.

"You two are really strong," Luna's voice was normal, as if she weren't in the middle of a death grip from the Weasley twins, Kurt could feel her behind him and knew that it couldn't be so, "bicep."

"Could you put us down please," Hermione's voice was strained.

"Isn't this the part where Kurt goes all 'scary dark wizard' on their behinds?" Luna asked nonchalantly.

"My wand is in my clutch," Kurt strained, "I can't get it open, if I try to burn them I might ruin this outfit."

"We're kind of getting over this," Fred shrugged, shaking the trio slightly.

"We should let them go," George agreed.

"I hope you're both eaten by rhyquistal beasts," Luna scolded, her words harder than steel but her voice soft like a cloud; Kurt was growing to like hearing her this way, she was bold and unafraid of her quirks.

"I'm so going to kill you when I catch my breath," Kurt wheezed.

"Are we not doing this rugby thing correctly?" George teased, he moved to tousle Kurt's hair but got a glare that stopped him midway.

"Tell me we didn't miss the mark," Fred pleaded.

"Wouldn't Mr Weasley be so disappointed," Hermione teased as she straightened her clothes.

"I know I would," Kurt sighed and shook his head, "but what can we say? You try and raise them as best as you can and teach them what you know."

"But the rest is up to them," Hermione shook her head.

"Somebody's clearly overreacting," Fred spoke loudly but covered his mouth as if he were whispering but the evident gestures toward Hermione made his statement more than necessarily conspicuous.

"I most certainly am not!" Hermione looked affronted by his insinuation as she scolded, "I'm pretty sure you turned my boobs into back fat."

"I'm pretty sure Luna's boobs are on my chest now," Kurt added with equal distaste.

Luna seemed to inspect her chest for a moment, "I still have them." Her satisfied nod made Kurt unsure whether she was aware that he and Hermione were being facetious, "but only just."

George eyed them and shook his head, "Merlin's Beard, you three are strange."

"And don't you love it," Hermione flashed a small smile as she teased the older boys.

"Ten points to Gryffindor," Luna announced and the three of them raised their hands and punctuated the statement with a three-way high-five.

"Everybody listen up, gather round. Hear ye, hear ye," Finn spoke with held his wand to his neck to amplify the sound, the buzzing throngs of teens hung around chatting in spite of the call to order, "Shut the fuck up and listen to me or there won't be any beer!" there was complete silence in the moment, "Now, based on the sign-up sheet we have split the group into two teams; something we managed by the skin on our nuts and the hair on our teeth, so don't get on my nerves by asking to switch sides or to sit out."

"Listen up because if you don't hear your name you can take it as a clear indication that we don't want you here!" Justin held his own wand to his neck as his voice boomed through the space, he held a clipboard in the other, "On the first team we have: Rudolph Burrow, Ravenclaw; Cho Chang, Ravenclaw; Roger Davis, Ravenclaw; Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff; Herbert Flee, Hufflepuff; Hermione Granger, Gryffindor." Kurt's heart stopped, if they didn't call his name next the he and Hermione would have to be on opposite teams because the only person who came between them alphabetically was Finn and he wouldn't put himself on a different team from Justin whose name hadn't been called, "Kurt Hummel, Slytherin; Angelina Johnson, Gryffindor; Luna Lovegood, Ravenclaw; Anthony Rickett, Hufflepuff; Jeremy Stretton, Ravenclaw; Fred Weasley, Gryffindor; George Weasley, Gryffindor; Oliver Wood, Gryffindor."

"I was so afraid we were going to be on different teams," Kurt let out a relieved breath, "Pity we have to share with Cho Chang."

"She's actually quite lovely once you get to know her," Luna shrugged as if were the most obvious thing ever, this earned her a death stare from Hermione and Kurt but she made quick work of correcting her obvious mistake, "you know, for a man stealer."

"I'm impressed by the save," Hermione smiled broadly, patting her on the back, "we'll corrupt you yet."

"And you'll be going to the library after hours as well," Ernie spoke quick as a whip, "I'm trying to read out names here but by all means continue at the same leisurely pace."

"Sorry," the three of them chorused without a shred of guilt in their tone.

Ernie rolled his eyes, "As I was saying, Team two consists of: Tamsin Applebee, Hufflepuff; Katie Bell, Gryffindor; Marietta Edgecombe, Ravenclaw; Justin Finn-Fletchley, Hufflepuff; Finn Hudson, Hufflepuff; Duncan Iglebee, Ravenclaw; Neville Longbottom, Gryffindor; Heidi McAvoy, Hufflepuff; Ernie McMillan, Hufflepuff; Grant Paige, Ravenclaw; Harry Potter, Gryffindor; Malcolm Preece, Hufflepuff; Jason Samuals, Ravenclaw; Alicia Spinette, Hufflepuff; Ron Weasley, Gryffindor."

There were a few disgruntled groans and sighs of relief, Kurt had never figured that this club was exclusive but based on the marginal drop in numbers after the names were read out he have might admit to being wrong; it was clear that word had gotten around that there was a rebellious undertone to the club and some might have heard that the club was an 'in plain sight' cover for the use of contraband. In the lieu of that discovery it was quite empowering to know that he was in the inner sanctum and part of a minority that technically didn't qualify for the club but had concession made in their honour; which was one of the main reason he'd accepted the opportunity to study to become a Master of the Order of the White Lotus, it wasn't the allure of something exclusive but the idea that something exclusive would seek him out and break it's protocol in an effort to procure him.

Hermione hooked arms with Kurt and Luna, "let's go play nice."

"And if we have time, we can fit in some rugby as well," Luna giggled, her voice high like a flute.

They had wondered over to the southern end of the field where Roger Davis and Oliver Woods were having a stand-off for leadership, Kurt thought this was ironic as neither had any prior experience with Rugby, but both boys felt their status as their house's quidditch captain qualified them to do so.

"My teams gotten closer to the quidditch cup," Oliver proclaimed; Kurt, Hermione and Luna exchanged a look and a giggle when he punctuated the statement with a small flex of his deltoids that the more unassuming eye might have confused for a shrug.

"Yes," Roger gave him a condescending smile and patted him on the shoulder like he was a well-trained Labrador, "through the same series of plot conveniences that got you the house cup year before last, you simply come upon it with minimal planning by sheer luck."

"Who needs planning when you've got talent?" Fred and George chorused their jeer.

Oliver shot them a disappointed look, "Come on guys, not exactly the message we're trying to convey here."

"It was your men who said it," Roger had his hands raised to the heavens in dramatic gesture as if finally being heard, "we have some strong members and we need to utilise that, we're on uncharted territory and we need a plan."

Roger and Oliver were squared off at this point, they were standing chest to chest, "wouldn't it be totally hot if they kissed?"

Kurt was surprised by Hermione's question but he couldn't disagree, "totally."

"I second the motion," Luna one hand over her heart and the other raised as if taking a pledge.

"Okay," Angelina Johnson pulled the boys apart and killed their new fantasy, "neither of you even know how rugby works and we're losing daylight, I on the hand am seasoned veteran."

"Brilliant this girl, but she still won't date me," Lee Jordan shook his head and hung it in defeat.

"I'm still hung up on playing rugby," Kurt's eyes were wide and his jaw hung open in disbelief, "with that bone structure?"

"Do you think she'd do my hair like that?" Luna asked with equal awe, "I could pull off cornrows, couldn't I?"

"Okay, listen and listen well," Angeline spoke in a tone that silenced everyone and had all eyes on her, Kurt saw Cedric smirk and felt a small pang of jealousy, "I'm playing Fly-half. Which one of you fancies themselves as a decent kicker as well as reasonable catcher?"

There was silence and nobody spoke, Kurt took this as an opportunity to shine, "I have great hand-eye coordination so I should be able to catch well enough. As for kicking, if I can perfect an arabesque en pointe then this is going walk in the park."

"Kurt will be our full-back," Angelina looked to be simultaneously making a mental note and announcing this to the rest of the team, "do I have any runners?"

Angelina made quick work of appointing all the positions, she followed this with a quick rundown of the rules, for some of the muggle born students this served as a refresher course and it served to bring those with next to no experience up to speed. The other team was still in discussion when Angelina positioned everyone in their starting posts, she went around to each player, explained their job and shared how she felt they could best achieve said job; Kurt thought this made for quite the effective style of leadership under the current circumstances. Upon the completion of that test they had reformed their huddle and she had shared a simple to understand strategy, once they understood their game plan they had ran a couple of practice drills; Kurt had taken this as an opportunity to practice his punting and field kicking skills, Angelina had helped him with his formation and he had managed rather well in his opinion if one considered that it was his first time.

~0~

On the other side of school…

"We are not friends," Kurt announced as he stormed into the circular room, "but I want you to know that I'm a very forgiving person, with time and repeated apologies I most probably will move on from this."

"Excuse me?" Professor Dumbledore gave him a bewildered look over moon crescent spectacles, "Mr Hummel, I'm not sure I know what you mean but I'm trying to do some Sudoku."

"I don't know why you don't want me knowing about that diary but like I told you before Professor," Kurt smiled and sat down opposite the man, "there isn't anything in my head that I don't know."

"You have to understand the sensitivity of the situation," Professor Dumbledore began to explain but Kurt raised a hand that commanded silence.

"Maybe if you'd discussed that with me and we'd come to some sort of concession on the matter," Kurt was masking his genuine pain and betrayal, "I shared my fashion secrets with you and you tried to silence me."

"I wasn't trying to silence you, I was trying to protect you," Professor Dumbledore countered, his tone wasn't repentant but self-righteous and it only served to anger Kurt.

"If I'm the most powerful wizard of my age then why would I need to be protected?" Kurt shook his head in disbelief, "You'd think taking on Tom Riddle would have proved that I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."

"The questions you were asking were troubling," Professor leaned forward and spoke to Kurt as if he were disciplining a child, "I wasn't trying to protect you from Lord Voldemort or even Sirius Black; I was trying to prevent you from being seduced, as I once was, by dark magic."

"If you think this isn't about Lord Voldemort then you are a fool," Kurt got to his feet and leaned over the desk, "I don't know anything about that diary, I don't know anything about how it's made nor do I care, my worry is its sentience."

"Sit down," Professor Dumbledore was short with him.

Kurt shook his head, "I'm not sure I still take orders from you."

"If you don't sit then you'll never know," Professor Dumbledore shrugged.

Kurt gave hollow laugh, "In this game of cat and mouse you will be surprised to see who is the pray and who is the hunter, I don't need you to know about the diary," Kurt pulled out his time-turner and waved it before the man's face, "I have all the time in the world and I specialise in making friends with all the right people."

"You will do wise not to overestimate your reach," Professor Dumbledore's voice seemed to be level and more in the moment, "I will not have you thinking that you have the weight of the board behind you, remember that the Board of Trustees has no real power."

"I'm not threatening you," Kurt's gaze narrowed, "All I'm saying is that if you're trying to hide something then I'll find out but if you're trying to serve a noble cause then you should tell me before I jeopardise everything you've worked to protect." There was a silence that stretched from here to the moon, between the two of them neither was willing to compromise, "I want you to know that I'm sorry I have to do this but-"

"I'm leaving you with no choice, I have diary and that makes you suspicious of me and my actions. You believe that I too might have fallen into the clutches of Voldemort as Ginny Weasley once did and you feel that is the only way you can justify such a grave betrayal on my part," Professor Dumbledore was solemn for a moment, "But it is simply a lapse of judgement on my part, please sit down."

"I'm afraid," Kurt fell back into the seat, "if there was a chance I'd been tricked and the diary hadn't been destroyed then I knew it was only a matter of time before Tom Riddle made you give it to me because he really wanted to have me as his own."

"My actions too were driven by fear," Professor Dumbledore let out a defeated sigh, "over the summer I procure information that has led me to understand that Tom Riddle asked questions similar to the ones you asked and received similar vague answers; in light of Harry's status as a parselmouth as a result of his encounter with Lord Voldemort, I feared that this parallel was a result of your encounter with Tom Riddle."

Kurt head fell into his hands in sudden realisation, "And you were trying to protect me." Kurt took a deep steadying breath, "what did you find, do you know anymore about the diary than that it's dark magic unlike any you've seen before?"

"Not a thing other than that whiff of an alleged conversation," Professor Dumbledore slumped in his chair as if for the moment, he were defeated, "it is unclear to me with whom such a conversation was had. I was still rattled by this conversation when we first spoke this year and in retrospect I reacted in an unthinkable manner."

"Well, you can eliminate Tom Riddle Snr because he was a muggle," Kurt shrugged, he didn't know why he would bring that up.

"How do you know that his father was name Tom Riddle as well?"

"In the Chamber of Secrets he and Harry had a conversation about it," Kurt pointed out, "I assumed that because the memory is of a sixteen year old Tom Riddle then the conversation must have been with somebody he knew during or before his tenure at Hogwarts, I was eliminating one suspect."

"Merlin's beard," Professor Dumbledore's eyes widened, "I've been speaking to his followers when it might have just been an innocent but informed bystander."

"You're welcome," Kurt smiled, "I'm more of an asset at full capacity; don't worry about whether I'll talk, I like to tell the whole story."

~0~

The rugby match hadn't run very long but it had been long enough for him to get grass stains on his short as well as grass in his hair; Kurt understood that it was part of the authenticity of the club but he couldn't help but be upset by the necessity. The seniors had taken a few moments whilst everyone caught their breath to convert the rugby field into a marquee with ottomans, tall-boy tables and soft lighting.

"You play a lot of rugby?" Harry asked playfully as they found a spot for their group to sit, "You were something else out there, I hadn't been expecting that."

"My dad is an avid fan and it makes for great family friendly viewing," Kurt explained with a giggle as he began work picking the grass out of Hermione's hair, "I've seen enough to have a vague idea of what I was doing."

"You're telling me that you've never played?" Harry raised a doubtful brow, "why am I not convinced?"

"I haven't played in a formal sense," Kurt admitted, "but Finn played and we used to throw the ball around, nothing nearly as well organised as today."

Hermione looked up at him, "you're not bad."

"I don't think I'm bad at anything," Kurt smiled as he thought it over, "I like being good at everything so I put a concerted effort into everything I do."

"Being a genius just makes it easier," Ron teased.

"Rowena Ravenclaw once said that wanting to do something is the first step, doing all in your power to do it was the key to excelling," Luna didn't look up from where she was braiding flowers into her hair, "Kurt simply took a page from the book of one of the wisest wizards in British history."

"I always knew I liked her," Kurt laughed as Ernie handed them all cans of beer, "And it's not just because I hear her jewellery collection amazing."

Kurt was startled by a large hand that came to rest on his shoulder, "you've got grass in your hair, may I help you out?"

"Of course," Kurt let a satisfied smile fill his face for a second, "thank you."

"Hold still and I might be able to do this without ruining your hair," Kurt did as instructed, he hadn't waited very long as Cedric worked quickly yet precisely, "there, I have restored it to its usual perfection."

Kurt turned and smiled shyly, "I'm forever indebted to you kind sir."

Kurt watched Cedric blush, "well, maybe you might allow me to take you out on our next Hogsmead visit."

"It would be my pleasure," it was Kurt's turn to blush now, "accept this kiss as a place holder."

Kurt elevated himself onto his toes and planted soft kiss on the taller boy's lips, it lasted only a moment but it was as electric as their last kiss if not more so; Kurt suspected that he now knew exactly what Luna had meant when she'd called it 'exchanging Goisinthinian bugs' as Kurt had definitely felt two directional flow of whatever it was that was lingering on his lips. Cedric smiled and kissed him again, it lasted longer this time but the effect didn't fade.

"Is it me or does that get better every time we do it?" Cedric whispered just for him to hear.

"How's about you drink a beer instead of my brother," Finn put a can of beer between them and they backed away from each other to see that they had commanded a small audience that was primarily made up of Kurt's friends, "You have to buy Kurt dinner first."

"Yeah," Ron added as he gently pulled Kurt farther from Cedric but he couldn't bring himself to protest, "Something, something, something, put a ring on it."

"Maybe in another time," Cedric gave him a small dimpled smile.

Kurt giggled, "maybe in another country."

"Oh my gosh, I love that Colin Firth movie," Hermione squeaked before bringing her hand up to cover her mouth.

"Me too sweetheart," Kurt grabbed her beer and taking a large sip of it, he held his ground and didn't flinch at the less than pleasurable taste, "but this time there's a happy ending."

Hope you like it!