I Want It All

“I think I like muggles”

Kevin was headed up to the owlery when he heard someone speak out. “I think I like Muggles.” He paused finding the statement quite odd to say out loud. So you like Muggles, so did a lot of people. It wasn’t like they were in Harry Potter’s time anymore. The war was over and people change. At least he thought people changed. Thinking that the person needed time to express more strange sentences, Kevin was about to turn around and head back downstairs when he tripped over something metal. He cursed and heard someone call out in question. Sighing he walked back up and into the room where he saw Serafina. “You seemed to have made a revelation and I didn’t wish to disturb you.”

“It’s called...”

“It’s called a headlamp. Traditionally used by muggle minors when going into coal mines and like you said most recently used by construction workers.”

Since the news of Newt’s Sundim club, Alice had noticed that Kevin had thrown himself into his work, be it for school, potions club, or quidditch. As a result, she hadn’t gotten to see him very much unless it was in one of these settings. As a result she’d ‘suggested’ that they hang out, and surprise, surprise, he wanted to meet in the potions club classroom. She wasn’t shocked in the least. She was making her way to the classroom and was surprised to hear voices coming from it when she arrived. Especially because she knew Kevin didn’t like to be bothered when he was working. She entered to find Kevin and Dennis alone in the room and suddenly it made sense. Over the summer she’d quickly understood that Dennis practically worshiped his older brother. They’d been shadowed by him a number of times. “Hey,” she greeted as she walked into the room. “What are you doing here, Dennis?” she asked, ruffling his hair lightly in greeting. “I didn’t know you were going to join us.”

“I was inquiring if you were staying for Potions Club. You are in the room after all and it starts in ten minutes.”

I Don’t Know Anything.

“Well congratulations are in order then. I remember my parents theorizing before we left for school.”

I guess I changed over the summer.

Everyone has the right to change, but just know I will not let people treat me as their punching bag. I hope your “change” will not effect you as you achieve your dream which you told me about.

She looked at him questioningly as he led her towards an empty corridor. This was highly unusual and she wasn’t quite sure what to think of it. Once she went over though, she was surprised to hear Kevin actually praise her. “Um, thanks. That’s really nice of you to say. I don’t really like to hold back if I have to say something, and I don’t like the way she was glossing over the fact that they invaded us first. I mean, I don’t agree with what happened at Diagon Alley either, but I can’t exactly give those people a piece of my mind from here either.”

“You shouldn’t hold back your opinion. If you have the need to voice it, then do it. And you did just that. This of Headmistress taking this like a game of chess. You want to move your obvious players, however, you can’t move them because that’s what the other player is expecting you to do. For her to state anything that doesn’t show Sundim in a good light isn’t the best move for her to make. And to be honest, it’s probably not even her move to make anyway. Yet at the end of the day, you have the right to voice your opinion. Some might not agree but that’s life.”

“Your little brother?” Bridget inadvertedly tilted her head to the side in wonder. It was strange to picture him with his siblings, but being an only child she had a similar response most of the time. “Didn’t think you’d be any good on a broom, O’Toole,”, her voice wasn’t condescending in any way, before adding “What house is your sister in though, if it’s the right one I’m always willing to help.” After basically admitting to having experienced puberty from the overly dramatized female side of things, Bridget winced, afraid she might have crossed a line. Although in all fairnesss, prefects offered their support to any student, even outside their own house.

“Yes. Dennis O’Toole, first year Ravenclaw. My mother was sure he would end up in Hufflepuff for some odd reason.” he sat up and turned towards her with a questioning look. He wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or not. Those things still confused him. “I am a Chaser so I should be good on one. And my sister is in Ravenclaw as well. I don’t think there has been an O’Toole who wasn’t a Ravenclaw.” it was a strange but true fact. All of them had been Ravenclaws and all of them have worked for the Daily Prophet once out of school. 

When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

She could feel him tense when he first hugged her, and considered letting go for a moment. He’d said he was claustrophobic. Maybe being that close to someone after the whole Diagon Alley thing was too much. Once he started relaxing though and actually hugged her back, she knew to hold on. He was the strong one for his family. He probably didn’t get this kind of support very often and right now she could tell that he needed it. She’d give him what support she could until he didn’t want it any more. Sundim or not, he was still her friend, and one of the only people that really understood her past the strictly surface level. She nodded and rubbed his back soothingly. “I know. You’re doing the right thing. You don’t have to answer to anyone for your choices. It’s none of their fucking business,” she said as she continued to hug him and rub his back. She’d hug him as long as he needed. 

“At least someone thinks so...” he mumbled. “I want to help and I want to give Sundim a better name, I just can’t let myself do it and see my family get hurt as a result of it. Color me selfish but that’s the way I was raised and the way I was taught when it came to family. Slughorn is gone, I almost lost my mind in that room, people died, Sundim’s rep is getting worst by the minute, and so many things can go wrong. But I just can’t lose the ones I care about. There is too much at stake. What if Lamb or the others find out about the club and tries to attack? What if he comes after my family because we are publicly supporting things suddenly? I can’t risk that.” It was all weighing heavy on his mind. He was going to lose people for it. He was sure of it. But at least he had his family and Alice by his side. He pulled away from her and looked out at the lake. He had to pull himself together. This wasn’t like him to worry about all this stuff. He never worried and he never questioned his actions. But the current events were making him rethink a lot of things. A lot of things. And it was going to take him for him to come to terms with all of it.

“Thanks.” Quinn spooned some onto his plate before looking back at Kevin. “Are you alright?”

“I have a headache. Too much on my mind right now...”