A/N: I'll be honest, I thought I had already uploaded this chapter, an went to upload the next one and realised I hadn't, so for this reason I'm going to upload today, tomorrow and possible the day after. I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting.
Harry Potter and Katherine-Mai Winchester sat next to one another in the back of the school library trying to do some homework. Neither were particularity interested in completing the assignments but in the last few days they were doing anything they could to get away from the constant bickering of Hermione and Ron. Ron was under the impression that Hermiones cat had killed his pet rat Scabbers and Hermione was under the impression Crookshanks was the prettiest, most adorable little creature in the world who was innocent of any crimes. All Harry and Katherine could do was hide away from the arguing pair.
"How have your lessons with Lupin been going?" Katherine wondered, looking up from her work to glance at the boy who sighed in annoyance.
"It's not even a real dementor and it still manages to mess me up" Harry complained, throwing his quill down in frustration.
"That's because a boggart doesn't just take on the shape of your fear, it becomes it. It basically becomes a dementor and in case you've forgotten, they do suck out all your happiness. That will leave you messed" Katherine offered "You're managing to produce something though? Right?"
"Not powerful enough though" Harry argued.
"Still, it might help a little? Punching somebody in the face probably won't take them out but it can give you time to get away" Katherine smiled too sweetly for the statement she had just made but Harry chuckled anyway. "Hey" she spoke softly, putting a hand on Harrys arm "You're going to be okay Harry, we're not going to let anything get to you. Whether it's dementors, or Sirius Black or Professor Snapes obscenely long essay."
Harry cracked another smile, looking over at his friend "I don't know, Snapes essay might be the one to do me in. Four feet long? That's like the same height as a first year"
Eventually the two teenagers left the library and made their way to the common room where neither Hermione nor Ron were in sight. "'Miones probably in the dorm. I'll catch you in the morning" Katherine waved and jogged up the stairs to her dorm room, throwing her bag onto the floor much to the disdain of Lavender Brown who looked up at the bag with books and pens tumbling out of it with a scrunched up nose. Katherines sections of the dorm room, with her things everywhere and and 'organised mess' as Katherine like to call it, was the complete opposite of Lavenders pristine area decorated with fairy lights and posters of various male wizarding singers.
Sitting on her bed crossed legged Katherine stared at her friend until Hermione finally looked up from the book she was reading "Can I help you?" Hermione asked, her tone snooty which Katherine knew meant she was upset.
"Are you okay?" Katherine asked with genuine concerned for her friend.
"I'm perfectly fine Katherine. But if Ronald thinks he can accuse Crookshanks of killing that thing he calls a pet then he has another thing coming." Hermione replied.
"Whilst I agree Scabbers looks like he's going to keel over at any moment. You realise that that's what cats do right? They hunt rats... and mice... and birds... and snakes" Katherine listed.
"Well I know that. But try telling that to Ron" Hermione scowled. Katherine just sighed, she herself was still fairly certain Hermione and Ron would one day end up together and she was expecting a child to be named after her. She had said as much to the girl in question but Hermione just glared every time and Katherine imagined Hermione usually had to restrain herself not to throw something at Kathy. "Are you going to go visit Hagrid tomorrow?"
"Yeah... I can't believe they sentence Buckbeak to death. It's all Malfoy's fault. Cowardly son of a bitch." Katherine glared.
"Kathy!" Hermione exclaimed, even after three years she still hated it when Katherine would cuss. Katherine just waved it off though, not really caring.
"You can't tell me off for swearing Hermione, you're the one that stormed out of Divination and broke a glass ball"
"... It didn't break"
"I'm not judging. I'm proud of you 'Mione. Little bit of anger is good for the soul" Katherine cheered standing up from her bed and going over to Hermione, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Sighing and giving up Hermione rested her head on her friends shoulder "You need to sleep more 'Mione, working yourself silly isn't healthy. I used to watch my dad work for days on end with like, zero sleep. It made him snappier than usual, you have to admit you've been a bit... on edge"
"I know" Hermione sighed. "But we have our exams in a month. I can't afford to just give up now!"
"I'm not asking you to give up, just sleep some more. In fact, go to sleep right now." Katherine ordered bossily, pushing the girl away gently who didn't argue to much when being glared into submission. It didn't take long for Katherine to take her own orders to heart and dive under her own covers, embracing the warmth and scrummaging to the inviting grasps of sleep.
