A/n: Another one! I hope this tides you over.

"Don't you find it suspicious that Potter is suddenly good at potions?" Tracey asked their group of friends as they watched the boy who lived running drills on the quidditch pitch, his lifetime ban lifted since the departure of Professor Umbridge.

"You're telling me," Kurt shook his head, "Last year he would have ruined his brew by using a cast iron cauldron instead of his pewter one."

"Professor Slughorn literally used the word perfect," Mandy shook her head, "A word that doesn't come to mind when speaking of Harry Potter."

"Hey," Lisa protested.

"You knew he was past the NOut when you picked him," Mandy shrugged, "and unlike Neville, he just doesn't have it."

"He has it," Lisa snapped, a salacious smile spreading across her pretty face, "he has it in abaundance!"

"Don't be fucking disgusting," Mandy snapped, "Nobody wants to hear that about Harry Potter."

Tracey shook her head, "We all know that Mandy was talking about Longbottom's work ethic, he has worked consistently harder than any other student and has always asked for help when he needed it."

"Despite the fact that Tracey terrifies him," Kurt interjected.

"I scare Longbottom?" she gasped, "but he's always so pleasant."

"Because he's precious," Kurt waved her off, "he overcame that fear to do well, that's why Professor Snape wrote him a reference for his potions concession when Slughorn took over."

Mandy rolled her eyes, "Is this the part where you claim his love or that you raised him?"

"I have played a part in Neville's life," Kurt squared up with his friend, "Nobody can deny that."

"But…" Lisa prompted him.

"He's grown so far beyond what I taught him and everything I imagined he could be," Kurt shrugged, "As much as I would like to take credit for that, he did it on his own."

"Preach," Hermione clapped her hands, breaking her silence, "he worked on himself."

"So, Lisa," Mandy turned to her best friend, "What is your boyfriend's story?"

"Did he spend the summer working on himself?" Tracey tried to keep a straight face as she spoke but they all burst into a guffaw as soon as she was done speaking. She recomposed herself, "I'm hilarious."

"You need your own show," Hermione teased.

"I'm sorry," Tracey shook her head, "I know this is serious, but I couldn't help myself."

"Why do you people struggle so hard with seeing Harry succeed?" Hermione posed the question with a straight face, "he's proficient enough at magic to have taught Dumbledore's Army."

"Kurt carried him through that," Mandy countered.

"Yet he still got the second highest score in our year," Hermione shrugged, "so there must be something to him."

"But a work ethic isn't it," Kurt snapped, "Harry has consistently been apathetic toward his education, we told him how important his OWLs were way back when but he still allowed himself to fail two of them and get a concession for a subject he would need for his aspirational career."

"Preach it," Lisa groaned reluctantly, "he doesn't seem to care."

"It might have something to do with Voldemort's return," Tracey shrugged, "but he still cares about quidditch, he's cared about that consistently; sans Chamber of Secret, escaped mass murderer or evil government official."

"He's academically apathetic," Mandy agreed, "that's why we want to know what the story is."

"Maybe he is flourishing under a teacher that cares," Hermione shrugged.

"Hermione feels like we're attacking her friend, and by extension her," Kurt held up a silencing finger, "So let me change the subject." He took a moment to think about what he was about to say to some of his closest friends, "I think I've started to lose my mind."

"Have you started to become the next great evil?" Mandy teased.

"That isn't funny," Tracey snapped.

"Wow," Mandy chuckled, "calm down."

"If Hummel goes dark now then I'm left alone in Slytherin," her voice was softer than usual.

"Theodore will never fall," Kurt assured her.

"You-"

"I know," Kurt nodded, "because unlike almost every other Slytherin student in our year, Theodore doesn't have any ties to the dark side."

"Neither does Blaise," Tracey snapped, "actually, it seems to be a white thing."

"Don't even," Kurt shook his head, "but Theodore is made of different stuff, he's not a slave to conformity the way Blaise is."

"What is going on?" Hermione quirked a curious brow.

"Tracey, at the end of the day is the only Slytherin student in our year who isn't a pureblood," Kurt shook his head, "there used to be four of us with no link to the Death Eaters. Since Blaise seems to be flirting with darkness and I'm a newly revealed legacy, Tracey is a minority."

"Like I wasn't already enough of a minority," she rolled her eyes. She shrugged, "it could be worse, I could be in Gryffindor." The group shuddered, Hermione and Denis glared at them, "so much worse."

"Okay," Kurt waved his hand dismissively, "I was explaining how I am not evil crazy."

"Continue."

"Well," Kurt took a deep breath, "I recently dreamed of Cedric Diggory."

Tracey rolled her eyes, "don't you exclusively dream of dead people?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded, "but till this point it was always the same dead person, Rowena Ravenclaw and her life."

"True," Kurt nodded, "everything I knew from a dream had been her work, knowledge and experience, there was definitely something magical about it."

"So," Lisa seemed to mull over what she had just heard, "maybe you've learnt everything she had to teach you."

"You know basically everything there is to know about Anais Haddad-Schmidt," Hermione shrugged, "maybe that part of your life is over."

"No," Mandy shook her head, "I need to hear why Kurt thinks this is linked to the end of his sanity."

"Why?"

"Maybe Cedric said something important that Kurt is too close to see," Mandy explained, "you both took divination, you should know that dream interpretation is literally about being objective to the dream."

"Mandy is right," Tracey nodded, "we need more information."

"He appeared in my transfiguration classroom," Kurt explained, letting out a steadying breath, "and we danced."

"You danced?" Lisa rolled his eyes.

"We practiced for the Yule ball there," Kurt snapped dismissively, "it started out well enough, it was reminiscent of our happiness." Kurt let out a defeated sigh, "Then…"

"What happened next?" Denis gasped, Kurt had forgotten he was there.

"Be quiet," the group hissed.

"He turned into each of my desire of suitors," Kurt's voice was cold and empty, "he's gone, so I know he didn't want to hurt me… the guilt was a lot." Kurt squared his shoulders, "that is what he blamed too, he told me to move on, but one thing stuck with me."

"What?" Tracey gazed up at him with hope in her eyes.

"He told me that an echo of his essence had traversed life and death to tell me to move on," Kurt shook his head, "and something stupid about love being the most powerful magic."

"Love is the most powerful magic," Lisa spoke first, "that's why the Unspeakables study it… my mother is an Unspeakable."

"That's not where Kurt is coming from with this," Hermione shook her head, "I might not understand Harry Potter, but I am fluent in Kurt Elizabeth Hummel." She preened in the attention for a moment, "there's something he isn't saying."

"He, for some strange reason," Kurt took a deep, steadying breath, "thought I'd moved on to another great love."

"May-"

"Shut up," Kurt snapped back, "I might have moved from one infatuation to another, but I haven't felt anything close to what I felt for Cedric."

"Maybe it's cumulative," Hermione suggested, "you do have more friends."

"Let's not play games," Tracey shook her head.

"What do you mean?" Lisa's eyes grew wide.

"Say more," Mandy leaned forward.

Hermione shook her head, "Don't do this."

"It's the guy from the letter about dusty trains," Tracey explained as if it were the most obvious thing ever, "those lyrics are from Bette Midler's early ninties song, PS I Love You."

Kurt shook his head, "I don't know that one."

"Like everyone else, you didn't watch the movie," Tracey glared at him, "Bette deserved an Oscar." She took a few deep breathes to regain her composure, "in the song, she asks her love who is away from her if it was dusty on the train, then promises 'PS I love you'. That is what he meant, the person who wrote that note wanted you to know that they love you."

Kurt gasped, "that's the first pop culture reference I've missed."

"Someone told you they loved you and you missed it?" Hermione gaped in awe, "can we all agree that only happens when you're Kurt Elizabeth Hummel?"

"I second the motion," Denis nodded, "but Kurt also deserves to be loved right." The group of girls glared at him, "that was not an exclusionary statement."

"Watch your back," Hermione glared at him.

"Who is he?" Mandy gushed.

Kurt's mouth opened and closed without sound, "I…"

"Kurt isn't ready for what he just discovered," Tracey stage whispered to their friends, "let's give him some space."

"I don't know what to say," Kurt shook his head.

"This is the part where I'd ask if all this is related to the moment you had in the potions class," Mandy grinned.

"Hermione's been confounding Cormac McLaggen these entire try-outs," Denis proclaimed, "to make sure Ron makes the team again, fight her!"

"Hermione!" the group chorused.

Denis grabbed Kurt's hand, "are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," Kurt nodded to himself, "I'm just somewhat in shock."

"If you don't love them, then you shouldn't feel any pressure," Denis smiled comfortingly, "if you had any feelings you would have said something."

"I don't know what's going on," Kurt took a deep breath, "I thought that was code for something else when I read it."

~0~

Kurt waltzed into the Headmaster's office, "Hello."

"Mr Hummel," Professor McGonagall gasped; she was surprised but Kurt had planned this that way, "I wasn't aware you'd be joining us."

"Neither was Professor Dumbledore," Kurt flashed a friendly smile, "but we have business to discuss."

"We can reconvene at later date," Professor McGonagall glared at him, "when you are most convenience."

"Please stay," Kurt shot an icy look, lips pursed, at the Headmaster, "maybe you could assist me to get some answers from our beloved Professor Dumbledore."

"Is it answers you seek?" the man quirked a brow, speaking for the first time, "then we may speak freely."

"I'm not sure what part I play in this game of yours," the transfiguration professor shrunk into herself.

"No," Kurt snapped before the headmaster could speak, "Professor McGonagall needs to be here to ensure that you are completely honest." Kurt sashayed into the seat beside his favourite female teacher. He narrowed his gaze and stared Professor Dumbledore down, "after all, you want your chosen successor kept in the loop at a time as volatile as this."

"This is true," the man nodded, "I would have preferred she find out in a dramatic letter when I was dead, or when it was directly relevant to her position here at Hogwarts."

"I'm sure I don't know what is happening," Professor McGonagall shrugged but Kurt shook his head.

"Professor Dumbledore is about to tell us everything," he dismissed her, "and explain as to why exactly he brought Professor Slughorn back for another tenure as potions master."

Professor Dumbledore let out a tired sigh, "do you want the long version or the condensed version?"

"Give me the short version," Kurt spoke before his elder could, "I'm dressed for a dinner."

"You look great," Professor McGonagall complemented him, "I think the cape achieves the right amount of drama."

"Thank you," Kurt smirked, "I try."

"So," she turned to her superior, "what is it you have to tell us Albus?"

"I should say that I rehired Horace Slughorn because he is a brilliant teacher," the headmaster began, "but…"

"but what?" the transfiguration professor glared at him, "tell us your reasoning."

"Harry Potter is on a journey-"

"And while you two work on helping him find himself, I can't be with my family," Kurt crossed his arms and pursed his lips, "people are dying!" Kurt's gaze and the air in the room turned cold, "Maybe we should have everything else keep pace with the brightest instead of lagging to accommodate… Harry."

"Mr Hummel," the Gryffindor head of house reprimanded, "that is not called for."

"I actually believe that it is the right amount of called for," Kurt smirked malevolently, no more words were needed between him and the headmaster.

"I brought Slughorn back because I believe that he has information on what helped Lord Voldemort return after his defeat at Godric's Hollow that Halloween night," the man admitted reluctantly.

"Don't act smart with me," Kurt crossed his arms and quirked reprimanding brow, "I'm not entertained."

"Mr Hummel," Professor McGonagall gasped, her horror evident in her surprised face, "Professor Dumbledore is the headmaster and should be afforded the appropriate respect befitting somebody of his station."

"What happened to 'Have a biscuit Potter'?" he pursed his lips, "or am I to live by a different set of rules because my parents weren't the Gryffindor darlings of Hogwarts?"

"That is not what I mean in the least," the transfiguration professor shook her head, "Simply that your tone was too familiar."

"Professor Dumbledore was acting smart by trying to be vague," Kurt explained, "and it failed to entertain me, I have an appointment." He gestured to his outfit, "Now, please be more specific."

"I think Horace Slughorn was the one to tell Voldemort about the magic used to create the diary and the ring," Professor Dumbledore sighed, "I have a memory belonging to Professor Slughorn about what I believe to be the exchange, it has however been tampered with."

"You think that by knowing what these are and if there are more, you'll be able to figure out why he won't die," Kurt nodded to himself.

"Yes," the elderly man agreed, "would you like to see the memory?"

"No, I'm good," Kurt rose from his seat, "if you'll excuse me, I have a dinner party to be getting to."

The headmaster nodded, "Very well."

Kurt exited the headmaster's office, descended the stairs and exited into the main courtyard. He walked with determination to Professor Slughorn's quarters for the first Slug Club gathering, he would be meeting everyone there; he had intentionally had this meeting with the Headmaster so that he would arrive fashionably late and make a grand entrance, drawing all attention to himself. He made quick work of the stairs, if he timed everything correctly then he would arrive just as they had been seated.

Kurt swung the door open with a flourish of his cape, the bone eye brooch staring everyone down, "sorry I'm late."

"Mr Hummel," Professor Slughorn waved him over from the head of the table, "we were beginning to wonder where you'd gotten off to."

"I told him I didn't know where you'd gotten off to," Tracey smiled patting a seat between her and Hermione.

Kurt waved them off bashfully, "I simply lost my head, I had library book I'd forgotten to return and I did not want to get on Madam Pince's bad side."

"Well, now you've made it," the man grinned broadly, "Ms Davis has saved you a seat."

Kurt slipped into his seat, "You did that on purpose." Tracey hissed in his ear, "I'm not mad you did it, I'm mad I didn't think of it."

"You're telling me," Hermione rolled her eyes, "this is Kurt's night now."

"We should leave and come back dramatically," Tracey teased. He looked around the room to find that of all their friends, they were the only ones not sitting in a couple, "you see it too?"

"Short of Pansy and Blaise, who haven't declared relationship status," Hermione started.

"We're basically the only ones who aren't with anyone," Tracey nodded, completing her thought.

"Jealousy is a killer in this business," Kurt shook his head, "You should be more like me, happily single."

"You can say that," Hermione glared at him, "You have dusty trains guy waiting in the wings to hold you in their Bette Midler aficionado arms."

"Probably biceps," Tracey countered, "Kurt has a type." She shrugged, "but I too am perfectly happy as a single young woman."

"Because Theodore basically asked to finger bang you in front of the entire class," Hermione rolled her eyes, "And I thought you like him."

"I do," Tracey nodded, "but I'm not going to pull down my pants at the slightest glimmer of interest, he has to court me and earn my affection." She smiled broadly, "since Angelina Johnson graduated, I'm the prettiest girl in school now."

"Says who?" Hermione quirked a curious brow.

"No," Kurt nodded "she's right. Tracey has been the Dark Horse both academically and in the looks department, she has blossomed into the prettiest girl in school." Kurt smiled at his friend, "You also blossomed, you're in the top five now."

"Do boys have to deal with these ridiculous standards?" Hermione huffed, "bet nobody is ranking them."

"We totally are," Kurt nodded, "Anthony Goldstein is the cutest boy, followed by Blaise, Theodore and Dean Thomas."

"Dean Thomas is fine," Tracey agreed.

"Dean Thomas can come collect a 'some' at his leisure," Kurt agreed.

"Who is number five?"

"Wayne Hopkins," Tracey and Kurt sighed dreamily.

"Which one is he?" Hermione furrowed her brow.

"Dark hair, kind of dangerous looking. He's in Hufflepuff, in our year…" Kurt let his words trail off, waiting for Hermione to catch on.

Tracey rolled her eyes, "he's the tall, Asian guy."

"He was a beater alongside Anthony last year," Kurt added.

"Not ringing any bells," Hermione shook her head.

"Because you're a snob," Kurt shook his head, "You barely know anyone who isn't in Gryffindor."

"You don't associate with anyone beyond the NOut," Hermione hissed.

"Mr Hummel," Professor Slughorn interrupted their conversation, Hermione hissed that they weren't finished, "What is it that your parents do in the muggle world?"

"My father restores classic cars," Kurt smiled broadly, "Carole is a housewife."

"And you Ms Davis?"

"My parents are both in banking," she explained, "my mother, at Gringotts, and my father in the Muggle world."

"That is quite interesting," he narrowed his gaze, "And they're both…"

"Black," Tracey nodded, "yes."

"I think he was asking if they were both wizards," Kurt nudged her.

"Oh," she feigned ignorance, "my father is a muggle."

"Would I know your mother?" He leaned forward, "did she attend Hogwarts?"

"Yes," Tracey smiled nervously, "Willa Rosier, she was-"

"A Slytherin prefect," he boomed merrily, "of my own picking; excellent student all around and top of her year in Arithmancy."

"She never said," Tracey shrugged.

"You know," He pointed to Kurt, "if memory serves, your Grandmother is Druella Rosier." Kurt nodded, "yes, the five students were cousins; your mothers, Andromeda, Narcissa and Evan Jr. When I was a new teacher, I taught your grandparents- That should tell you how long I've been in the game."

"Our Grandparents?" Tracey quirked a curious brow.

"Yes," he nodded, "Evan Sr was much older, he was a prefect by the time Crawford started, Crawford being only a year or two younger than Druella."

Tracey and Kurt exchanged a surprised look, Kurt smiled malevolently and dropped his voice to a whisper, "that means you're also related to Draco."

"Yes," the man nodded, "I've taught a good few of your parents, and some of your grandparents." He then turned to Hermione, "I wouldn't have taught anyone in your family. What is it they do in the muggle world?"

"My parents are dentists," Hermione answered with a broad smile, Professor Slughorn's face was blank, "It's a medical profession that tends to people's teeth."

"Ah," the man nodded, "and is that a dangerous profession?"

"Not particularly," Hermione shook her head.

"Not at all," Kurt countered, "this is Britain, the only danger they are in is going out of business."

"Not entirely true, a boy once bit my father and he needed ten stitches," Hermione huffed, "And oral hygiene and care have really turned around in the last century."

"I see," he nodded, "I see."

Hermione smiled, "You missed out on me having to explain orthodontics to everyone for the two years I had braces."

"Braces?" the man's eyes grew wide, "What on earth are those?"

"Kurt," Mandy hissed as Hermione explained orthodontics to Professor Slughorn.

"What's up?"

"So," Neville grinned, "You and Tracey are cousins."

"Second cousins," Tracey corrected him.

"But you already knew that," Kurt smirked, a pointed look directed in Tracey's direction.

"Are you asking if I was aware that our mothers are cousins?" Tracey crossed her arms, "because the answer is no, mothers aren't exactly chuffed to announce that their cousins have escaped from Azkaban." She shook her head, "besides, my mother is mostly estranged from her family."

"Because she's black?" Neville's eyes grew wide.

"No," Tracey giggled, "Because she married a muggle… who is black."

~0~

Kurt slung his arm over Tracey's shoulder, eying the first year student she was talking to, "Who do we have here? Is this your brother? Are you Thomas?" The first year nodded, "I'm-"

"I know who you are," the boy's tone was curt, "You're Kurt Hummel."

"My reputation precedes me," Kurt pursed his lips.

The boy nodded, "I've heard quite a bit about you, people talk."

"By people, do you mean Tracey?"

"We all know I have nothing but terrible things to say about you," she rolled her eyes.

"Tracey hasn't so much as mentioned you," the first year spoke boldly.

Kurt gasped, "Tracey, I'm hurt!" he pretended to wipe non-existent tears from his face, "I expected you to tell little Tommy all about the worst of the Slytherin prefects."

"I never got around to it," she shrugged, "sorry babes."

"I am hurt," he hid his face, "don't try to console me."

"I had no intentions of doing anything resembling that," she crossed her arms, "I don't work here."

Kurt let the charade lapse, "wait, then whom did you hear of my excellence from?"

"Excellence?" Tracey giggled, "that sounds like a self-read, if I've ever heard one."

"Don't do this now," Kurt shook his head, "not in front of the children."

Thomas glared at his sister, "everyone in Slytherin has something to say about Kurt Hummel."

"Well," Kurt smiled, "You can form your own opinions over the next two years." Kurt squared his shoulders, "Till then, I expect nothing short of your utmost respect as a Slytherin Prefect! Detention for giving me lip."

"The fuck!" the boy protested.

"Do you want to go for double detention?"

"That's enough Kurt," Tracey intervened, "Thomas, apologise to Kurt."

"I'm sorry I spoke out of turn," the boy looked down at his feet.

"Apology accepted," Kurt nodded, "two copies of the first two chapters of Hogwarts: A History, by Monday and we'll be even." Kurt grabbed Tracey's hand, "Let's go, everyone'll be waiting."

"You are aware that Hogwart: A History is not a set work?" Tracey quirked a curious brow, "my brother isn't broken as a person yet, he doesn't own a copy."

"If he wanted to borrow a copy, he would have asked," Kurt pursed his lips, "we can assume that he'll be heading to the library."

"Somehow I get the feeling that's part of the punishment."

"Best believe," Kurt nodded, "I've been named as the meanest prefect already, I have to live up to that reputation."

"Is it me or are we speeding through this year?" Tracey hugged herself as they walked, "How is it already time for the first Hogsmead visit?"

"We'll never get to the part where we almost die if we don't skip over the mundane stuff," Kurt shrugged.

Tracey stopped in her tracks, "I almost forgot to tell you, my deplorable word research has come to a dead end."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I've gotten to the point where all my questions are returning the same answer

"Why would you think that would be a dead end?" Kurt quirked a curious brow.

Tracey rolled her eyes, "I'm getting different names but if you read them in their original Arabic, they're pronounced the same way."

"First question," Kurt eyed her suspiciously, "Why do you know Arabic?"

"I'm Muslim and my parents insisted we study the Quran in Modern Standard Arabic and in the ancient form," she rolled her eyes, "I have known true suffering."

"So, what's the issue of studying the same name in different iterations?"

"It turns to Ancient Greek," Tracey explained, "which I don't know, then into an unknown language."

"Phonecian?" Kurt smiled nervously.

"Nothing I've seen before," Tracey shook her head, "but not old enough to be hieroglyphs."

"This would be the perfect moment for a Rowena Ravenclaw moment!" Kurt screamed to the sky.

Tracey shook her head, "but nooooo… You had to fall in love with Cedric and Dusty Trains guy and ruin a good thing."

"Ruining a good thing," Luna spoke up as they entered the Hog's Head Inn, "Sounds like Kurt."

"Luna," Kurt hugged her tightly, "I feel like I haven't seen you since Yule Ball." Kurt crossed his arms, "and by extension, you do not know my story."

"No," she shook her head, "that's hyperbole, I was definitely in Dumbledore's Army." She smiled impishly, "It's just that I'm not in any of your classes."

Kurt fixed an imaginary stray hair, "what did you get to drink? And where are Harry, Hermione, Lisa and Ron?"

"They elected to go to The Three Broomsticks," Neville explained, "they were hoping to catch up with Slughorn."

"They said you had your own thing going on and they were working on theirs," Luna added.

Kurt nodded, "That's fine too."

"Are you mad?" Neville chewed his lip, "Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad," Kurt smiled sweetly, "I'm playing a different game, but let's not get hung up on the actions of the golden trio."

Tracey smirked, "this bitch sounds mad."

"Let's get some tej and have some fun," Kurt smirked, "drinks are on me, though I will leave early due to a prior commitment."

"What kind of commitment?" Mandy wagged a suggestive brow.

Kurt furrowed his brow, "girl, don't even try me like that."

"I just want to know," Mandy whined, "Tracey planted an idea in my mind and I can't let it go."

"I thought it was public knowledge," Tracey shrugged, "You got a letter from him, it had the coded message and then you dumped all the men who love you."

"Explain," Mandy crossed her arms.

"Remember how I claimed to be great at broken down telephone?"

"You said you were good at it," Luna corrected.

"Well," Kurt let out a tired breath, "I read that letter and I thought it was about the impending decline of Dumbledore's Army, which was why I also had the meeting without the children and had Cho disclose the details of the group."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Neville snapped, "I trust you more than almost anyone else and you made a mistake?"

"My source missed a clue," Kurt smirked, "Luckily, I verify everything I hear and make informed decisions." Kurt smiled softly, "I wouldn't put you guys in danger without knowing I could pull you back out."

"What does that mean?" Tracey furrowed her brow.

"It's why I didn't take you along with us," Kurt pursed his lips, "you had to send the message onto the next person in the chain."

"You…" Tracey shook her head, "that letter?"

"Yes," Kurt nodded, "the parchment inside was enchanted, to send a specific message to a specific person when it was burned."

"You always say that Dumbledore's secrets are dangerous, but you've been keeping just as many," Neville shook his head.

"No," Kurt shook his head, "I'm not keeping secrets, I have backups and contingents that are kept secret because I don't want what happened to Harry's parents to happen to anyone of you."

"How is that?"

"I'm not going to act like I have all the answers," Kurt shrugged, "I don't, but when everyone was talking about taking a stand and making your own choices. When you were all wanting to fight the good fight, I had to know that when the fight came, we would have the necessary support."

"I can't deal with this," Neville shook his head.

"Do you think the Order showed up to save you all during the skirmish at the Ministry out of the blue?" Kurt's face grew cold, "Do you think Dumbledore was there to fight Voldemort because he felt a disturbance in the force?" Kurt crossed his arms, "I'm not lying to you, if you want to be in on every detail of how I'm playing this game, we can have that conversation and we can brief each other at every turn."

"Or?" Mandy asked, receiving glares from the group, "Do you know what happens to people who know too much? We don't all have to be vulnerable."

"The alternative is that we let Kurt do his thing," Neville let out a tired sigh, "but what about when you're gone?"

"I will never be gone," Kurt smirked, "I'm going to out live you all."

Hope you like it! Reviews are love!