I was the first to arrive at the meeting point, waiting at the entrance I noticed my sister and Oliver sitting on a nearby bench snogging with no regards for anyone around them. I rolled my eyes before walking outside to wait instead, just as the doors were about to close I saw Natty followed by the others walking out to me.
"Were you just going to leave without us?" Penelope smirked before noticing my annoyed look,
"No, my sister is currently snogging Oliver shamelessly inside," I stated crossing my arms before beginning to walk.
"Kat, we're waiting a few more minutes, Garreth should be here." Natty explained as I stopped turning back around to them,
"Seems I arrived just in time," his voice carried from behind me and caused me to jump, turning to glare at him.
"Weasley!" I shouted, "Must you frighten me every time we see each other!" I crossed my arms,
"Come on Kat! It's quite fun watching you jump," Garreth snickered grinning widely at me,
"Now that we are all here, we can go." Imelda said grabbing my wrist and dragging me behind her towards Hogmeade.
Standing in front of the door to Mr. Week's shop, I frowned, "It says he won't be returning for the next two weeks," I said looking at Imelda,
"Of course," she stated throwing her hands up, "Oh well, guess you'll be out of a broom for a little while."
"Unfortunately." I sighed as we walked into the Three Broomsticks, finding Sebastian, Ominis and Anne already sitting at a table waiting for us.
Everyone sat down leaving the only seat available next to Sebastian, I looked to see Imelda smirking at me as I glared at her. "I forgot to ask you this morning, but how was your summer holiday?" I turned to Anne.
"It was good,"
"Aside from Uncle Solomon lecturing us, his condition's only getting worse, but he'd rather we focus on our studies instead of trying to find a cure." Sebastian glared at the table.
"He probably would rather you worry about your futures, since he's already lived his life." I frowned turning toward Ominis, "What about you Ominis, how was your holiday?"
"Avoided my family while staying with them, I'm sure you understand." I frowned at his answer, Imelda pushing out her chair, Natty and Poppy standing with her.
"We're going to go get some butterbeers," Imelda announced before they walked over to Sirona, Anne followed the three of them to help.
"Heard about you saving Professor Fig from that dragon yesterday," I turned to Sebastian,
"Ah, yeah. I wanted to get some flying practice before the school year, unfortunately I lost my broom during the whole thing." I explained rubbing the back of my neck.
"Glad you two are okay," he smiled as I nodded,
"Getting burnt to a crisp would've been a horrid way to go," Ominis commented,
"I don't even want to think about that," I shook my head, they both laughed.
"Afraid of a little fire Kat?" Garreth teased from across the table looking at me crossing his arms,
"Don't make me cast Confringo on you Garreth." I glared at him, Penelope snickered from beside me.
"Looks like we come at the right time," Natty smiled, carrying three butterbeers sitting two in between Sebastian and I, going to grab mine Sebastian placed his hand over mine to grab his own. My face immediately became hot from the touch as we pulled our hands away, he gestured for me to grab mine first before grabbing his own.
Noticing Imelda and Penelope smirking at me, I glared at them over my mug before taking a big swig and placing it down on the table in front of me.
After we were finished with our butterbeers we sat around chatting before everyone started heading back to the castle, I headed to Gladrags to look for a few new outfits. Walking inside to see Mr. Hill looking up to smile at me, "Ah, Ms. Belouise, how was your first day of classes?"
"I had good day, I meant to come see you yesterday, but do you have anything new I could look at?" I smiled asking him before hearing the door open behind me,
"Mr. Sallow, I'll be with you in a moment," I turned to see Sebastian standing a few feet behind me.
"No worries, I'm actually just waiting for her." he stated as my face instantly gained back the warmth from earlier, Mr. Hill seemed to look at us surprised.
"I had no idea you had a boyfriend, Ms. Belouise." he stated unpacking some of his newer options, the warm in my face had reached a boiling point.
"No, we're not dating," I stated shutting down his idea, I turned to see Sebastian had turned away from me.
After picking out somethings, I paid for my things before walking out of the store as Sebastian followed me out. He turned to me about to say something as we felt a rumbling before watching a couple of people driving a troll out of Hogsmeade.
"Trolls? In Hogsmeade?" Sebastian questioned looking at me, I shrugged, but before either of us could say anything else another troll smashed through a building to our immediate left.
I pulled out my wand quickly, as the troll seemed to be charging at me, I dodged it noticing Sebastian was also standing nearby with his wand out. We fought the troll, I felt a surge of magic pulse through me as I defeated the troll using ancient magic, breathing deeply I turned to see Officer Singer running over to us.
Straightening myself out I felt a sharp pain in my left side, grabbing my side as I doubled over I felt someone lift me up, "Katherine, are you alright?" Sebastian asked me. Opening my eyes to see he was holding me up with my arm over his shoulder, his other hand firmly holding my waist to him.
"Yes, I'll be fine, I've got some Wiggenweld on me," I said about to reach for it, but realized I couldn't grab it, he pulled out one of his out handing it to me.
"Here's one of mine, I'll take you to the Hospital wing when we get back to the castle." Sebastian said as I drank the potion in one go,
"Goodness, what a caring boyfriend. Since you were injured I don't expect the two of you to help any more than you already have." Officer Singer smiled walking off before I could protest.
"Why does everyone think you're my boyfriend?" I muttered pulling myself away from him, steadying myself before trying to walk.
"I was honestly surprised you didn't correct her like you had with Mr. Hill." I turned to see he'd crossed his arms glaring off to the side.
"If I wanted to be in a relationship, I would. I am trying to focus on my studies, some of us are trying to make up for the stupid decisions made as a first-year." I looked to the ground walking towards the Three Broomsticks.
"I keep being told to say how I feel and forcing me into situations, I want to take things at my own pace and when I want to." I said standing still for a moment, hearing a familiar voice down a nearby alley.
"You told me you could get to the child, that all you needed was a distraction, I gave you a distraction." I pulled Sebastian over to the corner of the building next to the alley to peer around it.
"What are we doing?" Sebastian whispered as I silently hushed him, I saw Ranrok talking with Rookwood.
"I just watched a student take down your 'distraction' - Who is this child? What are you not telling me?" Rookwood argued, questioning him.
"All you need to know is that if you cannot get to the child, then you have no value to me." I felt panic rush over me as I grabbed Sebastian's hand.
"We need to go," I said meeting his eyes, he nodded pulling me behind him to run towards The Three Broomsticks,
"Did they see us?" Sebastian turned to me, I felt my face grow hot realizing we here still holding hands, he looked down and released my hand.
"I don't think so, but we should probably go inside just in case." I said looking behind us before walking toward the entrance, "Ranrok working with Rookwood?" I questioned under my breath,
"The goblin from the Daily Prophet? I knew I'd seen him somewhere!" he said following right behind me.
Sirona protected me when Rookwood and Harlow barged in, I turned to Sebastian who was looking at me confused, "Trolls, Ranrok, and Rookwood? What are you not telling me?"
"I'll tell you everything, promise. Just not here." I pleaded looking from him to others around us,
"Well then, I'll hold you to that promise. I think we should head back, I'll walk you to the Hospital Wing," Sebastian said, I nodded allowing him to escort me all the way back.
Sebastian stayed with me for a little bit, but after Nurse Blainey explained I'd have to stay for the night, he left saying he'd see me in the morning at breakfast.
Leaving the Hospital Wing, I headed to my dorm before making my way to the Great Hall, spotting Poppy, Penelope, Natty and Imelda sitting together at the Hufflepuff table. Sitting down with them I greeted them with a smile, "So, how was your evening clothes shopping?" Penelope smiled at me.
"Interesting," I said smiling at her,
"Heard you and Sebastian took down a troll after we all left," Imelda said looking at me, "Were you both okay? You weren't at the dorm last night."
"My side hurts thinking about it," I groaned, "I spent the night in the Hospital Wing,"
"Are you alright?" Poppy looked to me worried,
"Did I hear you spent the night in the Hospital Wing?" I turned around to see Garreth now looking to me worried as I sighed.
"Yes, I'm fine guys, really I am." I said as they gave me a skeptical look, "I'm just a little sore is all."
"Well, that's good to hear," Natty smiled,
"I'm glad you're okay Kat," Garreth said smiling at me before turning back to Gryffindor table.
I smiled turning back to see the girls all looking to me, "Would you guys stop staring at me?" I whispered at them, Penelope and Imelda smirked at me.
"So, what's going on with Garreth?" Penelope asked as I rolled my eyes,
"Nothing, I've got to go do something before class," I said finishing the last bit of my food before getting up to leave the Great Hall.
I was almost out when I heard someone loudly call my name, I turned to see sapphire eyes and big grin as Theo waved at me, his dirty blonde hair neatly combed back. "I don't want to talk to you Bergeous," I turned away from him as I began walking again.
"Come on, Katherine." he said, I could tell he was following me, "Heard you and Sallow defended Hogsmeade against a troll yesterday."
"What do you want?" I turned around to find him behind me,
"He's the one you should hate, no need to take it out on me too." he said walking past me to continue out of the corridor, I groaned internally realizing that he had a point.
I walked all the way to my first class of the day just as everyone was beginning to arrive, "Ms. Belouise, you're early, I take it your going to make that a habit this year?" Professor Sharp asked from his desk without looking up at me.
"Planning to Professor." I smiled before selecting a station to start pulling out my materials, he didn't say anything more as students began walking into class.
Natty took the station to my right, Garreth in front of me and Penelope to my left, I noticed Sebastian at another table with Ominis, Anne and Imelda, everyone fell silent once Sharp began his lecture.
'Did you hear she saved Hogsmeade from a troll?' I heard a girl behind me whisper,
'Talk about it, she even got hurt,' Another girl groaned, 'Heard the prefects talking about how Sebastian walked her to the Hosptial Wing last night.'
I saw Natty turn to me and give me a look, 'Ignore them,' she whispered so only I could hear.
"Ladies, I do hope my lecture isn't bothering your conversation, I'm sure detention would be a better place for you to continue?" Sharp said sternly as I tried to hold back my laughter.
"Ms. Belouise. Could you tell us why the Wiggenweld potion might come in handy?" He asked looking at me,
"Yes, Professor, the Wiggenweld potion can be used to sterilise and even heal some injuries," I said as he smiled.
"Precisely right, points to Slytherin." He said turning back to his table, "Before today's class is completed, each of you will have brewed a Wiggenweld potion of your own. You never know when you might need it. Please begin."
He sat down in his chair, I looked over my ingredients and began my brew, finishing fairly quickly looking up to see Sebastian giving his to Sharp. Walking up as he was walking back to his station, he looked at me giving a confident smirk and I wished I could wipe that smug look off his face as I turned back to Professor Sharp.
"Excellent work," he stated looking over, "You may begin working on your Endurus potion,"
"Thank you, Professor." I smiled walking back to my station, I double checked my ingredients to make sure I wasn't missing anything. "Garreth, did you take any of my ingredients?" I looked to him as he turned away,
"I haven't the foggiest idea of what your talking about," he stated as I sighed angrily,
"I swear, you better not be making your experimental brew during class." I said looking at him.
"He is," Penelope ratted him out, I glared at him,
"Hey!" Garreth glared at her, "I thought you didn't need your Ashwinder eggs." he turned to me apologetically,
"Maybe next time ask before taking other people's things, I bought those with my own galleons." I stated crossing my arms.
Walking up to Professor Sharp's table, "Sorry, Professor, but do you have any Ashwinder eggs I could use? I thought I had everything, but it appears I didn't."
"Ah, yes, they are in my office." He informed me, digging a key out of his pocket to hand me, "Please bring this back once you are done."
I took his key walking to his office, Penelope smirked at me, "Kat, always the teacher's pet."
"Am not." I glared at her, "They trust me is all."
Garreth walked over to me, as I was unlocking the door, "Katherine, could you get me a Fwooper feather, please?"
"I'm not getting detention for you Garreth, no." I stated before entering the room, getting the eggs I needed and walking back out locking the door behind me.
Garreth sighed frowning as he walked back to his station, I shook my head walking to Sharp, "Here you are Professor," I smiled holding the key out to him,
"I'm glad Mr. Weasley wasn't able to persuade you into helping him as he had previous years," Sharp smiled, I looked down embarrassed. "You'll need to brew-"
He stopped looking behind me as I turned to see Garreth's cauldron shooting out fireworks as a few other students yelled at him, "Dragon dung, what happened?" he said looking to his pot.
"Well done, Garreth!" I heard Imelda scold him,
"What now Mr. Weasley?" Professor Sharp asked from in front of me,
"Sorry, Professor." Garreth said looking to him apologetically,
"That'll be points from Gryffindor - again." Sharp announced as I gave him a knowing frown, his eyes met mine before turning back to his cauldron.
"I'll go brew my Endurus potion now, thank you again, Professor." I smiled, he nodded returning to his papers and examine other students potions.
I walked back to my cauldron and began working on my potion, once I was finished I turned it over to Sharp before coming back to clean up my station. Garreth's potion made the whole room smell horrid, he was still cleaning his own station when I walked around to him.
"That didn't go precisely as I had planned in my mind, but it was still brilliant." Garreth grinned, "You used to help me with these experiments of mine."
"Well Garreth, after losing so many house points and a few other mishaps with your experiments, I'd rather not get in trouble for you." I said giving him an annoyed look while crossing my arms.
"Fair enough, next time I'll keep you out of it," he grinned at me before continuing to clean as I sighed,
"I think each of us has had enough excitement for one day. Class dismissed." I heard Sharp announce,
"I'll see you around Garreth," I smiled at him, turning to leave the classroom.
