Harry and Kellen spent the remainder of their school day together. They had lunch and dinner with their Thunderbird friend Chelsea, as they were still wanting to give Ana and Nova some space as they voiced their disdain for the boys' missing the Sorting Ceremony and the Start-of-Term Feast. Harry and Kellen dove into their shepherd's pie while they listened to Chelsea describe her day to them in detail.

"Once again Grimseth, you were right," giggled Chelsea. "Madigan called Lockhart's books rubbish, and gave us each a copy of a Defense book that he wrote himself."

"Yeah, but didn't you say that you enjoyed reading Lockhart's books on the train to Boston?" asked Harry. "You're singing a rather different tune now."

"Oh, they're terrific books for pleasure, Potter," Chelsea clarified. "But Madigan's right... there is little scholastic information to be gleaned from them. I feel for Granger and Greengrass, they're not going to learn a thing with Lockhart teaching Defense this term... but I think they're crafty enough to teach themselves - they certainly made themselves acquainted with our library while they were here!"

"I have no doubt... and from what Daphne says, the library at Hogwarts is even more expansive than our own. I wouldn't mind checking it out for myself... but I'm afraid I may never leave," chuckled Kellen.

Chelsea cocked her head. "So, how are things between you and the girls? Have you tried talking to them yet? Surely they're not as upset with you as they were this morning... Ana and Nova aren't the type to hold grudges."

"No, they're not," agreed Harry. "We're just respecting their space. We'll try talking to them in the morning, but if they want to chat with us tonight in the common room before we head over to our detention with Professor Goode, we'll be more than happy to oblige."

"Well, good luck," Chelsea murmured. "Not that you're likely to need it, of course."

After dinner, the three friends bade each other good evening and returned to their respective common rooms. Harry and Kellen played a few games of checkers, just biding their time until they had to leave for their detention in the Astronomy tower. About an hour into their session, Ana and Nova plopped down on the couch across from them. Ana brushed a strand of her beautiful, slightly-wavy milk-chocolate hair away from her face.

"Hey, you two," Ana said with a big grin. "I'm sorry we haven't said much to each other today, but we really did miss you... and I hope you still want to talk to us. We've got lots to catch up on."

"I haven't heard from you since last summer... you two have owls that work perfectly well, you know... so use them," giggled Nova. "I missed you both so much. I heard you and Ana got together a couple of weeks ago, along with Granger. It sounds like the four of you had a lot of fun together. I wish I was there with you. I'll see if we can coordinate something next summer."

"We missed you too," Harry said. "And we would have loved to have had you spend time with us in the Twin Cities, Nova. Hermione's a nice girl and all... but you just make our crew, well... complete."

"Speaking of Hermione, I spoke with Professor Frye earlier today," Kellen chimed in. "I was thinking about Hermione and Daphne and about their Defense class... they're not going to learn a thing with Lockhart running that class... I mean, who freaking cares that his favorite color is lilac? He can spin a story, sure, but he's also self-absorbed and daft... I mean, if he's the best applicant for the Defense position, then that means that he's simply the best of a bad lot, or he's got some dirt on someone powerful, or..."

"Or he's the only one who applied for it," Nova said with a knowing smirk. "The DADA position is not exactly one that's coveted, rumour has it that there's a curse on the position - those who take the job only last a single term. It's been that way for a while... anyone who's worth a damn isn't going to touch it with a ten foot pole!"

"Let me guess, your father has the inside scoop," Harry said. "He works for the Ministry, after all, so it wouldn't shock me if he was privy to these things."

"Bingo," giggled Nova.

"Anyway," Kellen continued, trying to steer the topic back where he was headed originally. "I think I'm going to try and see if Hermione and Daphne are willing to at least consider transferring to Ilvermorny. For a chance at a quality magical education, but more importantly... their safety. I... got one of those premonitions again last night. I haven't told a soul yet, so please, please, keep this to yourselves. The premonition in particular concerns Hermione... I'm very, very afraid for her safety."

"If it's that important, you might need to tell the headmaster, Kellen," Ana urged. "Or even Professor Goode when you see her later this evening. But if you tell us, it will be strictly between the four of us. I promise." She placed a hand on Kellen's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. She looked into Kellen's eyes and gave him a small smile.

"I promise I won't tell as well," agreed Nova. "Sandy, you know you can trust us... we'd never betray you."

"And I'm your best friend and foster brother," chuckled Harry. "Merlin knows how many secrets we've shared with each other. You know I'm true to my word."

"Thanks, guys," sighed Kellen. "Anyway, I had a horrible dream last night... I saw... a ghost of a no-maj born girl in a bathroom. I then saw... a book. It seemed personal... maybe a journal or something. I saw these words written in blood... 'Beware the heir...' I saw this red-haired girl that I didn't recognize, she seemed, I don't know... possessed. Then, I saw a monstrous serpent - maybe fifty feet long... and then I saw Hermione - among other students - laying motionless in the infirmary, like she was frozen... petrified." Kellen's head and shoulders slumped, then he shook his head slowly. "I don't know what this means, but I feel this is more than just a nightmare... it's a premonition. And my premonitions can protect Hermione..."

"You have no idea how blessed you are, Kellen," Nova murmured. "The gift of premonition? Few witches and wizards have that... and I have no reason to doubt that you have that gift. I don't rightly know what it means either, but I'm inclined to agree that it's more than just a bad dream... Especially if it recurs..."

"You absolutely need to tell Professor Goode, Kellen. Tonight," Ana pleaded. "Nova's right, you are phenomenally gifted, and you need to put that gift of yours to good use. Even if it means nothing, you need to err on the side of caution. I know she lives three thousand miles away, but I know Hermione means just as much to you as the three of us do to you... and if your premonition can protect her, she would be eternally grateful."

"It's settled then," Kellen replied. "I don't want to mess around... the sooner we act, the more likely she'll remain safe."

"Oh, it's eight forty five, you two," Nova chirped. "You might want to get going to the Astronomy Tower for your detention... which is probably going to be the easiest detention in Ilvermorny history. You're lucky Professor Goode likes you as much as she does, otherwise you'd probably be writing countless lines..."

"Okay, Ana and Nova. It was really good catching up with you at last," Harry said with a nod. "I hope you two have a terrific rest of your evening, and I can't wait to see you tomorrow morning."

"Enjoy Astronomy, you two," Ana giggled. "See you on the proving grounds at six fifteen!"

A few minutes later, Harry and Kellen arrived in the Astronomy Tower to help Professor Goode get set up for class that evening.

"Hello, you two," Professor Goode said cheerily. "I'm glad you boys made it... I promise your detention will be relatively painless. Kellen, would you mind putting these notes of mine on the blackboard for me please? And Harry, I'll need you to help calibrate the telescope upstairs."

"Sure, Professor," Kellen replied as he took her notebook. "When I'm done, I would like to talk to you about something. It's... important. Well, potentially important, at least."

Professor Goode nodded. "That's fine, Kellen. We'll have some time to talk before class starts. Now, those notes aren't going to write themselves - no magic, thank you... and please try and write legibly. Your handwriting is good when you take your time, Kellen... but it gets a little sloppy when you rush." She turned to Harry. "All right, Harry, if you can follow me please, we need to get this telescope calibrated... we're going to point it at Polaris, the North Star this evening. I'll let you have the first look when we're done, how does that sound?"

"Terrific," replied Harry. "Hopefully I'll learn something from this tonight..."

Professor Goode smiled knowingly at Harry. "I'm sure you will."

Thirty minutes later, Kellen had just finished copying down Professor Goode's lecture notes and diagrams on the blackboard. He went over it again to make sure that everything was perfectly legible, and that he didn't omit anything. He stood back to admire his handiwork when Harry called down to him.

"Hey, Kellen! We just got the telescope calibrated! It's pointing at Polaris! Would you like to have a look?"

Kellen couldn't contain his excitement. "Be right up, Harry!" He rushed up the spiral staircase to the top of the tower, where Harry and Professor Goode were standing.

"I figured you wouldn't want to pass up an opportunity to look at Polaris, Kellen," chuckled Professor Goode. "Do you know which constellation Polaris anchors?"

"Ursa Minor, or more commonly known as the Little Dipper," Kellen said without skipping a beat. "And technically, Polaris is part of a triple star system, though Polaris A is easily the largest and the brightest and the only one visible by the naked eye."

"Five points to the Horned Serpents, Mister Grimseth," Professor Goode said with a smirk. "Once again, our resident smarty-pants shines brightly." Harry gave Kellen a high-five.

Professor Goode then crossed her arms and looked Kellen in the eye. "Now Kellen, you had something you wanted to discuss with me? Something of particular importance? Do we need to find a more private place to converse?"

"That won't be necessary, Professor. Harry already knows," Kellen replied. "But before I tell you, I beg you to take this seriously and not to think of me as a madman..."

"Kellen, I would never think of you as mad," Professor Goode said gently. "If anything, I'm glad that you trust me with something that you feel is important enough to share... and I have never laughed at or turned away a student for wanting to get something off their chest, and I don't plan on starting tonight." She smiled broadly. "What's on your mind? I promise I'll help if I can."

"Thank you, Professor," Kellen said with a bit of a sigh of relief. "It's about my friend Hermione... I fear for her safety at Hogwarts. You may already know this, but from time to time... I get premonitions. And this nightmare I had last night might actually be one of those premonitions..."

Professor Goode clung on to Kellen's every word, nodding silently. "Kellen, what specific details do you remember from this nightmare? This possible premonition? I need you to tell me all that you are able."

Kellen nodded. Professor Goode knew the boy was telling the truth, as she could see the fear in his eyes. "Well, Professor... it all started with this ghost in a girls' lavatory in what I assume to be Hogwarts. I don't know her name or her story, but all she does is mope around in the bathroom and wail... she seemed to be wallowing in her misery. She seemed to haunt a toilet of all places... and I saw a red-headed girl... hair like yours, but straight and not in ringlets. I don't know who she is either, but whoever she is, she's clearly not acting like herself... she seems to be doing the bidding of something powerful and dark, not even realizing she's under a spell... and I saw this black book... it had writing in it, like it was someone's journal or something... then I saw what appeared to be a very large and deadly serpent. It's at least fifty feet long, I'd wager... I don't really know the name of the beast or what its significance is yet, but it sure seems to be a formidable foe... I also saw some writing on a wall, there are some words, but I don't remember all of them, but they were written in red paint - possibly blood - and the only phrase I clearly recall is "beware the heir." And finally, most unsettling of all, I saw several students... petrified... in the infirmary. And... Hermione's among them." A tear leaked out of the corner of Kellen's eye. "I want to protect her at all costs. I want her to transfer to Ilvermorny. Her friend Daphne too... I am very, very afraid for them."

Again, Professor Goode simply stood there silently, taking in Kellen's description of his nightmare. Her eyebrows furrowing with concern, she addressed Kellen in a serious but gentle tone. "Kellen, I have it on good authority that you are indeed gifted with premonitions. I can count the number of witches and wizards I've met that have such gifts one one hand, and still have fingers remaining... you're a very, very special wizard. I will report this to Professor Fontaine first thing in the morning, and we may need to have you report to his office for next steps. That very well may include contacting Professor Dumbledore at Hogwarts. I pray that this does not come to fruition, but you also have my word that we will do everything in our power to ensure Miss Granger is protected. We may end up recommending that Miss Granger is spirited to Ilvermorny to continue her magical education if Hogwarts is deemed unsafe for her.. In the meantime, please report any further such premonitions to myself or your head of house... it's very possible you may get more such visions, and possibly additional details as well. Any extra information you can provide us will be most invaluable."

"Thank you for hearing me out, Professor," Kellen replied sincerely. "I hope none of this comes to pass... Hermione is every bit of my friend as Harry, Anastasia, and November are."

Professor Goode smiled knowingly. "I know she is, Kellen. And that little witch adores you. The expression on her face said it all at the dance. I assure you, she will come to no harm."