Song: Season of the Witch by Donovan
This chapter is a week early because I was motivated by my first comment on AO3. Only six more chapters after this enjoy.
November had arrived, and the crunch of snow beneath her feet was a constant companion. As she stepped outside, Kellah wrapped her winter cloak tightly around her and adjusted her Gryffindor scarf. Red looked good on her, but she wished she could pick her own coat. The chill in the air didn't stop Hermione from reading, thanks to her fingerless gloves. Kellah could see Hermione's breath misting in the frigid air, and she knew her fingers must be numb. She couldn't help but admire Hermione's incredible commitment to her studies.
Kellah relished the warmth provided by her mittens as she took in the serene winter landscape. They weren't school attire, but they were warmer and much cozier. Hermione's school bag was the topic of many jokes because of its enormous size, but it came in handy when retrieving items like the jar she held. Waving her wand, she uttered the incantation Frigus Flamma, an icy fire started burning inside the jar. The flickering flames of the fire cast a warm glow over the huddled group.
In the courtyard, a jumped rope twirled around on its own. While reading Quidditch Through the Ages, Hermione and Kellah suddenly put the book down and played jump rope. Harry picked up the book and soon became absorbed in its pages. Ron leaned over Harry's shoulder and read the book with him. Ron was only reading to help Harry as he struggled through the text. The boys sat side by side on the bench, their fingers tracing over the book's pages as they discussed it. The rope hitting the pavement echoed through the park as Lavender and Parvati took turns jumping in. Running over with excitement, Kellah couldn't contain her enthusiasm. "Mind if we join?"
The rope came to a sudden halt. "You and Hermione," Lavender asked.
"Yes."
"Sure, go ahead," said Parvati.
Lavender laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. "Does Hermione even know how to jump rope?"
"Don't be daft. Everyone knows how to jump rope. Go on, Hermione," Ron urged her, leaning forward in his seat.
Hermione responded by eagerly joining in the jump rope, the sound of the rope slapping against the ground filling the air, which started moving with her movements. Jumping in tandem, they both smiled as Kellah joined. Harry and Ron remained seated on a bench, observing from a safe distance.
As Parvati and Lavender clapped, their bracelets jingled. Lavender gave Harry a look and then turned to Kellah and Parvati. The two girls exchanged a mischievous glance and burst into giggles.
"Double Dutch, anyone?" Parvati proposed as she pulled out another jump rope.
"Since you're both so good," said Lavender.
Lavender dove right in, and Parvati quickly followed suit, eager to participate. They kept at it for a minute, then sprang out without bothering to halt the rope. "Your turn," Lavender said to them.
As Kellah leaped in, the rope suddenly halted. Hermione did the same, and it stopped as well.
"Can we play something else?" asked Kellah.
"If it's not Double Dutch, we don't want to," Lavender said. Parvati left the rope behind, and her laughter mixed with Lavender's as they walked away.
"I'm going to put itching powder in her bed tonight."
"Don't you dare," said Hermione, but she didn't seem that against it.
Harry and Ron went over to them. "You don't need them. You have us," said Harry.
"Fine, let's see how good you are at Double Dutch," Kellah said.
With a nod from Kellah, Harry leaped into the air and landed perfectly between the swinging rope. With impressive agility, he jumped out without missing a beat. Hermione was no match for him, as he effortlessly maneuvered the rope without breaking a sweat. At least Kellah had more skill than her. The spotlight was on Ron, and he didn't disappoint.
Ron was doing fine until he caught sight of Malfoy, and suddenly the rope went taut. "Playing girl games what can't afford any proper games, Weasley."
Ron's voice was playful as he teased. "Bet I can beat you at wizard chess any day."
As Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles, their menacing grins grew wider. "How about a game of snap cards? I just got it today," said Malfoy, throwing the shiny new cards on a nearby bench.
Harry came up alongside Ron, patting him on the back. "Not going to run again, are you, Malfoy?"
"You should study the book," Hermione said to Harry.
"I think it would be interesting if Ron played Draco and Harry read the book. Switch it up a bit," Kellah suggested.
"I'd like it if you shut up," Malfoy said, winking at Kellah.
Harry stepped in. "I like that you try to compete with me - at least you have a goal. Unrealistic and unobtainable, but a goal."
With a sneer, Malfoy held out his hand, daring Harry to refuse. "Are we doing this or not?"
Ron's hand made a loud clap as he slapped Malfoy's hand away, and they played snap on a bench in the bustling courtyard. Harry, feigning interest in a book, sat nearby. Every few seconds, Harry couldn't resist sneaking a glance to see which player was winning. Ron was the clear winner by a wide margin. Malfoy winced in pain as the card singed his hand, while Ron grinned with excitement as he held up his two new bowtruckle cards. With a sneer, Malfoy flung a card at Ron, which exploded on impact. The sound of Malfoy and his goons laughing grated on their nerves.
With a burst of rage, Harry chucked the book he was reading in Malfoy's face. Ron was rubbing his eyes. Hermione and Kellah left the bench behind and moved toward him to ensure he was okay. Seamus and Ron looked like they could be brothers, with their matching singed eyebrows. Kellah watched Hermione frown at the book she picked up from the ground and wondered if her disappointment was really about Ron.
Malfoy and Harry stood nose to nose, their breaths mingling in the chilly air. "Why so close you want to kiss me that bad?" said Harry.
With Crabbe and Goyle moving forward, Kellah glimpsed Snape's black robes out of the corner of her eye. Retrieving his cards, Malfoy stepped back and began shuffling them with a malicious grin. He eagerly awaited the emotional fallout.
Kellah's body tensed up as Snape made a beeline to the center of the crowd of children, his black robes billowing behind him. "No card games in the courtyard. Put it away, Malfoy." He snatched the books from Hermione."And no books outside the school, five points from Gryffindor."
"Malfoy didn't get any points taken. He blew off my eyebrows," said Ron, pointing at his face.
"Or his card game confiscated. I thought they weren't allowed outside as well," said Kellah.
"I see no difference Weasley and follow me, Malfoy," Snape said as he limped away. Grabbe and Goyle, with their usual grunts, joined them.
"What's wrong with his leg?" asked Harry.
"Dunno, but I hope it hurts like bi-" Ron's sentence was abruptly stopped by Hermione's sharp interruption.
"Fine, he's a minger," said Ron with a snarl.
Kellah was confused. "Do you mean butt ugly or," she pointed down to her nether regions?
"I meant ugly. But he can be a fishy cunt, too," said Ron.With a loud thwack, Hermione smacked his arm. He rubbed the spot where she landed a blow.
Kellah folded her arms. "Well, that's what you said."
Hermione's voice was firm as she declared, "I don't want you to use those words ever again."
"I was already tempted to use them, but now I definitely will," Ron said eagerly.
"Do whatever you like. Leave me out of it. I'm going to get that book back," said Harry.
The sound of Ron and Hermione's bickering grew louder and louder as they approached the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room. They settled on the balcony, scanning the area for any sign of Harry. Kellah stood perilously on the balcony's unguarded side, taking in the breathtaking view. The Weasley twins spotted her and immediately began chanting playfully. "Jump, jump!"
Dean looked up at her with fear contorting his face, and Neville's complexion turned pale, suggesting that he might pass out soon. Seamus expressed his approval with a thumbs up, while Lavender and Parvati's gossip spread like wildfire, drawing in a growing crowd. Just as she was about to leap, Hermione's hand shot out and grabbed Kellah's robes, yanking her back. The crowd below let out a deep, audible sigh. "You're lucky it was me and not Percy."
Ron shook his head, indicating he disagreed with what was being said. "You're such a killjoy, Hermione."
"What's the worse that could have happened? I break something and go to Madam Pomfrey."
They waited for Harry as Hermione's temper flared. Hermione diligently checked their Charms' homework. Ron's needed to be looked over, but Kellah's was fine with no examination. With the rainbow feather from a Nicobar Pigeon, Kellah added a few more colorful scribbles to her notebook. Hermione patiently read through the homework with Kellah, and Kellah couldn't help but think she was being spoon-fed the answers. Hermione's words seemed oddly targeted at Ron and not at Kellah. She agreed to it, but it was really for Ron's sake more than her own.
As Harry appeared in the common room, he sprinted up the stairs and wedged himself between Ron and Hermione.
"You got it?" Ron asked. "What's wrong?" In a low whisper, Harry told them what he'd seen.
"You know what this means?" he finished breathlessly after rushing there. "I bet He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! And he's the one that let the inferius out as a diversion,"Hermione's eyes bulged.
"No — he wouldn't," she said. "I know he's not very pleasant, but he wouldn't steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe. He's probably helping protect it."
"Hermione, you think all the teachers are saints? They're not, and Snape sure as bloody hell isn't," snapped Ron.
"I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"
"Well, I'm with Hermione. Something is going on, but it's not Snape," Kellah replied. They debated about it until bedtime.
Today was the day of the highly anticipated Quidditch match. As Kellah rummaged through her wardrobe, she realized she had nothing that matched her current mood. The first school event where everyone would be was causing quite a stir among students and staff alike. She knew that for the first game of the season, she had to look cute, so she spent extra time doing her hair and makeup. As she looked in the mirror, she waved her wand. Instaura and her eyeliner and glitter eye shadow appeared perfectly.
Hermione scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You struggle to conjure even a small flame, but you can easily create the perfect winged eyeliner."
"That's because I want to learn this, and I have you to do those things for me," Kellah said, checking the last drawer.
Upon entering, Layla's eyes were immediately drawn to the disorderly state of the room, prompting her to leave without hesitation. Her music blasting so loud that Kellah and Hermione could hear it through Layla's headphones as she went.
As Kellah sifted through the clothes, she realized she had no choice but to wear another Chitenji, a traditional dress in Uganda. She couldn't do it. Kellah had to find something. She couldn't wear it anymore, not here. She had exhausted all rearrangements of her four fancy pairs of pajamas, selected by her mom's snobbery, and needed something new.
"I'm in a bit of a fashion crisis," Kellah said. "Can you let me borrow an outfit, Hermione?"
"What for?" she asked, her tone curious.
"For Quidditch, everyone in school will be there. I have to look pretty."
Hermione pointed her wand at the dresser, and the drawers responded with a soft creaking sound as they opened. Everywhere she looked, there was an overwhelming amount of pink and florals during the search. Cable-knit and lightweight sweaters, along with a handful of henleys in shades of blue and red, were stocked by Hermione in her wardrobe. The outfits on display mainly were earth tones, with a few pops of color here and there. The closet was overflowing with pants, but there was only a lone pair of shorts in sight. She was about to try on a skirt but noticed the hemline was longer than usual, revealing the truth - it was a skort. The pile of items before her was completely undesirable.
"You don't own any skirts except the school one, do you?"
"You asked for help, and I provided it. Don't complain if it is not to your liking."
Kellah looked at the mess she made. "I leave it for later."
Hermione's face turned red. "Oh no, you don't clean this mess."
With a sense of urgency, Kellah crammed everything into the dressers, using her body weight to force them shut. "There, let's go."
As they made their way out of the Gryffindor tower, they were hit with a blast of cold air from the drafty staircase. When they reached the hospital wing, Hermione saw Kellah doing the potty dance. Kellah realized she needed to use the restroom urgently. "Detour for the perfect bathroom. I have to go now."
"Hold it until we get back, and we were supposed to meet the boys for breakfast fifteen mins ago," Hermione yelled.
They walked down the seventh floor, arguing by a painting of two trolls dancing. "I just wanted nice clothes," Kellah shouted.
A door unexpectedly opened on the wall, revealing a walk-in closet filled with clothes. It overjoyed Kellah to see that everything looked like they had made it just for her. The vintage clothes may have been old, but the quality of the fabric was undeniable. Kellah dived right into a pile of clothes, feeling the fabric brush against her skin. Indecisive, she grabbed everything in sight. The feeling of happiness was so overwhelming that she forgot about the urge to pee.
She took her wand out with lightning speed, poised to cast a spell. "Windgardium Leviosa."
As she led the pile of clothes back to the dormitory, she couldn't help but notice the array of colors and textures that made up the pile.
The moment she entered the dormitory, she felt a tickle on her back, and when she turned around, Dean was standing there with a mischievous grin. Amidst fits of laughter, Kellah's clothing fell in a heap at her feet.
"I knew you'd get that spell. You're a natural," Dean said, his hand still on her waist, as she felt the heat of his body against hers. Keeping his hands on her waist, he became flustered, dimples appearing as he blushed.
"Her desire for the clothes motivated her," Hermione explained.
Kellah leaned over to gather the clothes, her fingers brushing against the soft fabric of a favorite shirt. As she accepted Dean's assistance, she couldn't help but notice the warmth of his hands against her back. Hermione scooped some clothes up as well. "It is okay, Hermione. Kellah and I got it. I need to tell her something, any things."
Hermione's gaze flicked to Dean, and he could see the curiosity in her eyes. Then Hermione climbed out of the porthole. Kellah could hear the Fat Lady saying, "In or out, pick one."
As they walked towards the girls' dorm, Dean and Kellah struggled with the weight of the clothes. "I just wanted to ask you," a slide came out, and Dean went down it as Kellah stood on the edge right before it started.
Dean shook his head laying on the floor. "I wanted to ask if you would sit by me at the Quidditch match."
"Sure, we're good friends." The smile on Dean's face deflated.
With a flick of her wand, Kellah cast Wingardium Leviosa, causing her clothes to rise from her hands as she entered the dorm. She got the clothes upstairs onto her bed. Kellah rifled through them with lightning speed. She wore a long slip dress that brushed against her ankles and a white tee shirt. It was a perfect fit, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
The great hall was bustling with activity, but as soon as she entered, all eyes were on her. "Late again." Harry's voice was laced with irritation as he pointed out her tardiness.
"I got pretty overzealous trying to do my hair. I didn't want to look shabby like you," Kellah said. Harry looked too tired to care.
"What? No pj's today," said Ron, defending Harry.
If Kellah could blush, she would have. "You know, I only told you that because we were friends."
"For Harry's big Quidditch debut, she wanted to look nice today," said Hermione while enjoying a book at the table.
"Thanks for the support," he said, playing with his food.
"You need to eat your breakfast." Hermione scowled.
"Not hungry," Harry said, putting his fork down.
Seamus leaned over to Harry, his hand on his shoulder, and spoke urgently. "You need your strength, Seekers. Always get it in the neck." Seamus devoured a heaping plate of sizzling sausages. As Harry sat at the table, he nibbled on the crust of the toast and sipped the sweet pumpkin juice, but he had no appetite for more.
Leaving Harry with his team, Kellah, Ron, and Hermione joined Dean, Neville, and Seamus. Dean was holding a poster that said, "Harry for President." Hermione had added a color-changing lion to the poster. A spell Kellah learned so she could change the color of her nails from red to gold.
The chilly air cut through Kellah's clothes, and she shivered while everyone else seemed unbothered. She wore a bucket hat with a lion pin on it, and she tugged it down over her forehead to shield herself from the cold. She had spent all morning searching for the perfect outfit, and now that she had found it, she refused to cover it up with a school cloak.
"Are you cold?" Dean asked.
Kellah's head shook no, but her lips said yes. He put a part of his cloak around her, and her breathing slowed as she relaxed into his embrace. The first thing she noticed about Dean was his shaggy hair that desperately needed a trim. He had a fresh fade for school to start, but it was looking like a badly misshapen afro now.
"Thanks, Dean. Also, you really need a haircut."
He nervously twirled a strand of hair between his fingers, causing his cheeks to turn a deep red. "I know, and you're the only one that's told me everyone else thinks it's fine."
"That's because you're surrounded by people with straight hair. I can twist your hair if you like, but you'll have to learn to cut it yourself."
His head bobbed up and down in a nod of approval. "I know we'll be here for months, except for Christmas and maybe Easter. Let's teach each other how to do our hair with our wands," she suggested.
"That would be cool, but as soon as the Christmas holiday is on, I'm getting a haircut," he said.
Kellah looked at his head. "If you learned to braid your hair, it wouldn't be so bad. Then you would only have to learn how to line up your hairline."
"I want to try that once my hair grows out one day," he said.
The room erupted in cheers and applause, creating a wave of excitement that swept over everyone. The crowd's roar echoed through the stadium as the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams took their positions on the Quidditch pitch. Madam Hooch officiated the match.
"Let's keep it clean, shall we?" Madam Hooch said, her gaze lingering on the Slytherin team.
Madam Hooch's whistle signaled the start of the game, and the players took off on their brooms with a burst of speed. She strained to keep up with Jordan Lee's rapid-fire commentating. Reading the book didn't prove to be very beneficial in improving her understanding of the topic. Kellah's eyes were wide as she absorbed the surrounding sights. She was lost in concentration, trying to figure out what was happening, when Hagrid appeared and squeezed by, blocking her view.
Hagrid's binoculars swung back and forth as he walked, clanking against his chest. "Bin watchin' from me hut wanted to join ya n da crowd," he said, sitting on a bench, causing it to sag under his weight.
"The snitch hasn't been seen yet. Harry hasn't done much," said Ron.
Hagrid's binoculars were old and scratched, but he still relied on them to watch the game. Kellah struggled to keep up, squinting her eyes, trying to make out the details of what was ahead, wishing she had Hagrid's binoculars. They were flying so fast. Jordan Lee's words were coming so quickly that it was hard for anyone to keep up with him.
The Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint, whose teeth were the worst she had ever seen, almost knocked Harry off his broom while he was fixated on the snitch.
A chorus of "foul" erupted from the Gryffindors, their voices rising above the din of the crowd.
Flint was on the receiving end of Madam Hooch's ire, but Gryffindor ultimately benefited as she granted them a free shot. Dean didn't think that was enough. "Send him off! Red card!"
"What are you on about?" said Ron.
"In soccer, you get a red card, and you're out of the game." Some half-bloods and purebloods in the crowd that could hear them were laughing at Dean.
"This isn't soccer," Kellah and Ron said in unison, their words punctuated by the sound of the flying Quidditch players on the field.
"They ought to change dem rules," Hagrid remarked.
Her voice carried a wistful note as Kellah spoke. "I hope Dean changes them."
Jordan passionately accused the Slytherin team of cheating, fouling, and even attempting to injure Harry. Professor McGonagall's lips were pressed into a thin line, indicating her lack of amusement.
It was clear that Harry was being singled out by the Slytherin team, who relentlessly sent Bludgers his way. He was doing a good job of avoiding them, but the broom was wobbling out of control. Kellah's stomach churned with anxiety when she realized someone was pulling Harry back and forth.
Harry's presence was a distraction for Gryffindor's team, causing them to lose their momentum even though they were ahead. One goal after another, the Slytherin team was slowly dominating the match.
Hagrid squinted through his binoculars, his breath fogging up the lenses as he tried to make out what he saw. "Somethin tampered wit his broom."
People in the stands were starting to point out at Harry and shouting. He was rolling over and being thrashed like a rag doll. He was now dangling from his broom with one hand. Kellah rose from her seat, gasping in shock.
"Broomsticks are invulnerable except to dark magic," explained Hermione.
"What are you doing?" Ron asked, intrigued by their activity.
Hermione snatched Hagrid's binoculars. "I knew it."
Ron eagerly grabbed the binoculars, and Kellah peered through them after him. Snape was muttering an incantation under his breath.
"Snape's jinxing the broom," Hermione said.
"What are we to do?" Ron asked.
"Trust me to handle this," Hermione said with conviction.
Relief flooded Kellah's body, and she let out a deep sigh.
"Good, because I'm not the best at magic."
Hermione rolled her eyes and, with a flick of her cloak, vanished from sight, leaving Kellah to clutch Hagrid's binoculars. The crowd was frightened as they watched the Weasley Twins try to pull Harry onto their brooms, but he only flew higher and higher, out of their reach. They dropped lower, their arms extended, waiting to break his fall if he slipped.
The Quaffle was thrown around by the Slytherin team, who was determined to score as many points as possible during this time. Harry's captivating presence made everyone forget about their existence, rendering them completely unnoticed.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron said, his impatience evident.
Using her binoculars, Kellah could see Hermione's path to Snape just before she accidentally knocked over Professor Quirrell. A burst of laughter escaped Kellah as Hermione set Snape's robe ablaze with blue flames. It was the Frigus Flamma charm. Kellah had been struggling to learn that spell on her own. She had to remember to ask Hermione for help with it.
It took a moment for Snape to register the crackling sound of the flames that had ignited on his robes. He let out a loud yelp as Quirrell rose to his feet, only to be swiftly knocked back down by Snape. It was a serious matter, but Kellah couldn't help but see the humor in two grown adults being bested by a child.
Harry could now fly freely. Neville sat close to Ron, his hands shaking as he covered his eyes.
"You can open your eyes now, Neville," Ron said, breaking the silence.
The entire ordeal visibly shook Neville. He wept into Hagrid's jacket, the fabric becoming soaked with tears. His anxious demeanor resulted from the trauma from the flight earlier that year that still lingered in his mind. The sight of Harry in a similar situation made him feel uneasy. "Take a look," Kellah said, patting his back and handing him the binoculars.
Neville wiped his nose on his robe, then peered through the binoculars, adjusting them until the image was clear. He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in his body release, and then a small smile formed on his lips.
Running up to the railing, Kellah leaned over and squinted to get a better look at Harry. He hurtled towards the ground, the wind whipping past his face as he clamped his hand over his mouth. He stumbled to the ground, his legs wobbling beneath him, and he hurled. Harry spat out a small, shiny object which turned out to be gold.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Harry Potter caught the snitch, the sound echoing around the stadium. "GRYFDINDOR WINS," shouted Jordan Lee.
Excitement coursed through Kellah's veins, making her feel alive and electric. Her excitement was so great that she hugged Hermione tightly and started bouncing up and down with joy as soon as she returned.
The foursome weaved their way through the crowd, their ears ringing from the cheers and music until they arrived at Hagrid's hut. The steam rising from Hagrid's cauldron indicated he was brewing a strong batch of herbal tea.
"It was Snape. He was jinxing the broomstick." Ron's voice rang out. "The git, we all saw it."
"Don't use dat language. Snape wouldn't uh done it,"
Hagrid said, his words echoing in the tense silence.
As they nodded, Harry gave them a stern look, making sure they understood the gravity of the situation. "He was trying to get past that three-headed dog to get past whatever it was guarding."
Hagrid's teapot slipped from his grasp and shattered on the ground, spilling hot tea everywhere. "How ya kno bout Fluffy."
"Fluffy," the four kids chorused, their voices blending together.
"He's me pet bought em off uh stranger at uh pub. Lent 'em ta Dumbledore to guard da,"
"Yes," Harry's lips curved upwards into a smile.
"Nun o' ya business dats top secret dat is."
"Snape's trying to steal it," said Harry.
"Rubbish," Hagrid snorted, clearly not convinced.
"Snape's one o' the teachers guarding it."
"Then why did he try to kill Harry?" Hermione cried out; her voice strained with emotion.
Today's incident caused Hermione to shift her perspective on Snape completely."I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid. I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking!"
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" said Hagrid, furious. "Now, listen to me, all three of yeh — yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel —"
"Aha!" said Harry, "so there's a Nicholas Flamel involved, is there?"
Hagrid's face became red, and he gave off a vibe that he would rather be anywhere else other than his own home.
"Hagrid, I love you, but you have a big mouth," said Kellah.
The sound of Hagrid's body hitting the chair echoed through the room, and he sank down, looking defeated.