Harry, Kat, and Spellbound ➩ Book 1 [Harry Potter] | #Wattys2016

[CHAPTER 20] Settling Issues

A day after the incident with Malfoy, Kataleen ate breakfast with Arlin, Matrix, and Albion. "See you're not with your best friends."

"Hmm? Oh," said Kataleen, looking from her plate to Arlin. "If you little deaf boys didn't hear yesterday I said I wanted to spend more time with other friends. But they'll remain my best friends."

"Ouchy," said Matrix with a pretend wince, making Kataleen laugh and slap his shoulder.

"Just kidding! Everybody's my best friend," she said with a laugh, putting an arm around Albion and Matrix's neck, who laughed. Then she looked at Arlin, who was seated beside Matrix.

"Well?" Kataleen said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

He laughed. "C'mere, you little brat," laughed Arlin, standing and giving her a light noogie on the head.

"Hey! Stop that!" Kataleen growled jokingly. She took out a compact from her robe pockets and faked a whimper. "Now my hair's a mess."

They all laughed as she used a comb to put it back in place, placing her headband on the table. "Have you any plans today between classes?"

"I've got Quidditch practice. Wood's gotten us all in tiptop shape for the next game," said Arlin with a slight groan.

"I haven't much to do than spy on Snape," said a voice suddenly from behind them.

They turned around with a smile. "Irwin, didn't Kat update you? We're staying out of the stone business for a while until Snape doesn't give everyone the eagle eye anymore."

He frowned, crossing his arms and looking frustrated on being left out, something Kataleen found amusing. "I'm not updated. What's up with the secrecy?"

"Hey, hey, we'll discuss this after breakfast," she laughed. "Go back to your table before somebody sees you."

He nodded, doing so. Then she turned to Matrix. "You?"

"I don't have much to do, other than do homework and stuff. And maybe do advanced studying for the upcoming exams."

"Me too. Study, study, study. Wow. Hermione's persuasiveness got rubbed off on us. Thanks a bunch, Hermione," said Albion, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes as his companions laughed.

Kataleen checked her wristwatch, then her timetable. "I've got Potions first class. I saw Irwin's timetable, and he does also."

"Snape's a creep," hissed Matrix. "That's probably why I have DADA next. Albion's got Herbology with Arlin."

"Oh. Well, tell Professor Quirrel we've got his back, but don't let on we know about the stone," said Kataleen with a satisfied smile, happily returning to her breakfast.

---

Potions classroom. In the darkened dungeons Kataleen was reading her textbook while waiting for Snape to arrive. Well, she was reading until she felt a tug on her untied hair.

"Hey!" Kataleen said, looking at her back to see a grim-faced Marcel Parsley.

"Ha. I don't know what you did it for, but please. Getting that Slytherin to join you?"

"Well I should've known all along you were on Malfoy's side," Kataleen retorted, as the usually kind Ravenclaw rolled her eyes meanly.

"Oh, you should've known all along," said Parsley, when someone called her by her nickname at her back. They both turned around and saw Lightstretch at her seat, waving her over.

Parsley looked at Kataleen with a smirk. "I'm best friends with Agnatha since before we got to school, Wilton. Obviously you don't know, since you're a filthy Muggle-raised half-blood," she said, crossing her arms and walking to Lightstretch with her nose in the air.