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

[CHAPTER 22] Against the Rules

"You should've seen it, Hermione! You've missed a half of your life!" Kataleen squealed as they both got ready for the day.

"A Norwegian Ridgeback? Really?" Hermione said, putting on her boots.

She nodded vigorously. "It's adorable!"

"Well, I'm sure Hagrid knows that's illegal. And he's going to release it into the wild now that it's hatched, right?" Hermione said, making Kataleen freeze.

"Er, I don't know. Maybe we should speak to him about that later," said Kataleen, as Hermione slammed her hands on her bed.

"Are you insane?! Out past curfew again tonight with a dragon at that?!"

She huffed, crossing her arms. "If you don't wanna come, no one's forcing you. But we're coming to see Norbert again."

"Right. Naming the thing," said Hermione, tossing her hands in the air. "But did you get anything from Hagrid? You know, about the stone?"

She shook her head. "I'm afraid we got too entertained by Norbert. But just the same we're asking later."

"Ugh, you can never get anything accomplished on your own, can you?" Hermione said frustratedly, clutching her forehead. "Bah, fine! I'm coming with you guys tonight, but it's for the purpose of asking about the philosopher's stone. For all we know, if you go there by yourselves, you wouldn't get anything out of Hagrid at all!"

As Hermione stomped off outside, Kataleen scratched her head, wiping her glasses with her robes and putting it on. "Killjoy."

In their first class for the day, they had a quiz. Transfiguration was easy to ace. Harry, Hermione, Matrix, and Kataleen were in the same class, so they had to suffer through a three-page test and accept the homework of an essay on summarising all their lessons in 3 paragraphs. Groans sounded upon hearing their homework.

After class, Kataleen was walking with Matrix to Herbology. "Typical. Of course transfiguring animals to water goblets is vera verto. If you've been reading, you'd know."

"Exactly. That's what I answered on item 32. And --" Matrix began, and suddenly he clutched her shoulder.

She looked at him with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just a bit woozy, and... my chest's tightening."

Kataleen widened her eyes. "I'm taking you to Madam Pomfrey."

"No, it's normal for an asthmatic person like me."

She shook her head, tugging him by the sleeve towards the infirmary. They luckily met her in front of the door. "Madam Pomfrey, my friend here's dizzy and has chest tightening."

She immediately led Matrix into an empty bed. Kataleen stayed by his side as she did a checkup. After a tensing few seconds she sighed. "He must've been overstressed or overworked himself. I advise he rests in your respective common rooms for the rest of the day so as not to worsen the condition. Or he might catch a real sickness."

Kataleen and Matrix looked at each other.

---

"Guys, I'm perfectly fine. Honest, I am, I can come with you," insisted Matrix.

Albion shook his head. "Sorry, mate, but Kataleen told us Madam Pomfrey said you should rest. We'll just report of any developments."

He sighed. "Oh, come on, mate, I'm all right!" he insisted, sitting up. But then he fell back on his pillow, wheezing as he clutched his chest.

Albion shook his head with a smirk. "Oh, Matrix. You do need rest, badly. We'll be going now."

"Sure," he coughed, as Albion exited.