Kris, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were in front of the fireplace. Kris and Hermione were reading through the Daily Prophet, Ron was bragging about making the team, and Harry was flipping through his Potions textbook.
"I hope Cormac isn't taking it too hard," Ron sighed sarcastically. "Words been going around that he has a thing for you two, Kris and Hermione."
"He's a strapping young man," Kris said sarcastically.
"He's vile," Hermione rolled her eyes at Kris.
"Have you ever heard of this spell?" Harry asked. "Sectumsempra?"
"No, what does it do?" Kris tilted her head the unfamiliar saying.
Harry ignored Kris, and showed Hermione. Kris rolled her eyes and just sat cris-crossed.
"No, I haven't," Hermione gasped. "And if you had a shred of self-respect, you'd hand that book in-"
"Not bloody likely," Ron interrupted. "He's top of the class, next to Lynn of course. Harry is even better than you, Hermione. Slughorn thinks Harry's a genius, next to Lynn-- of course."
Hermione sighed with annoyance and slammed the Daily Prophet on Kris's lap, hard.
"Bloody hell!" Kris exclaimed as she gave Hermione a sharp nudge.
"Sorry Kris," she apologized right away. "Just let me see it-"
"No!" Harry raised his voice as he pulled the book away, and stood up and walked to the other side of the couch.
"Why not?" Hermione huffed.
"The binding is fragile," he lied.
"The binding is fragile?"
"Yeah."
Kris sighed with frustration, got up, and snatched the book out of his grasp.
"Aye!" Harry shouted as he tried to reach, but Kris pulled away.
He stepped close, and it closed the gap between them. Kris widened her eyes, and gulped.
"S-sorry," he apologized as he stepped away.
"Who's the Half Blood Prince?" Kris asked as she opened the cover.
"Who?" Hermione gasped.
"That's what is says right here: This book is property of the Half Blood Prince."
Kris then tossed the book back at Harry, and waded in the silence in the common room. Harry then closed the book, and walked up to the boy dormitory.
The next day was another trip to Hogsmeade, Kyle and Kris were spending the trip at Three Broomsticks, enjoying pastries and butterbeer.
"You sure you don't want anything else?" Kyle asked Kris as she only nibbled on the crust of the pastry and only a little sip of her drink.
"I'm fine, really."
At the corner of Kris's eye, she spotted Draco. She wanted to go talk to him since they haven't spoken since yesterday, but she didn't wanna leave Kyle by himself. Her and Draco made eye contact and both of them quickly averted their gazes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione settled in a table, not too far from Kyle and Kris's table. Kyle reserved a table for six, and he is still waiting on Jonathan, Angelica, Leo, and Lynn. Lynn got out of the hospital wing yesterday, since Madam Pomfrey came up with a concoction to treat people in shock. Kris heard a bell, and the four walked in, covered in scarves and coats.
"Over here!" Kris waved as the four trudged towards the table.
"Its bloody cold out there," Jonathan shivered as he took a seat next to Kris and took her pastry. "Do you mind?"
