At the end of October, Ladon finally came back from Romania after being away for over a month.
Kael put it back in the dormitory, filled its food bowl with dragon liver and tonic, and only then untied the pouch tied to its claw.
Inside were a bunch of dragon scale badges and a letter from Charlie.
The letter said that because the shop's stock was low, they had to rush out a new batch at the last minute, which was why it took a bit longer.
Kael sighed, grumbling to himself about how unprofessional John Senior was.
If he'd known, he would've just bought fewer.
So much time had passed that everyone had realized Dementors weren't coming into the castle, so these days hardly anyone asked him about badges anymore.
Now everyone was far more concerned with something else.
With the first Quidditch match looming, the atmosphere in the castle was more electric than ever. Everyone was itching for the game to start—in that kind of anticipation, not even Dementors or Black sneaking into the castle seemed to matter anymore.
...
The day before the match, the wind was howling and the rain was coming down harder than ever. The hallways and classrooms were so dark that they'd had to light even more torches and lanterns.
Nobody wanted to play in weather like that.
"Thank goodness, the first match is Gryffindor versus Slytherin."
In the common room, Mikel glanced at the windows shaking under the force of the wind and said in relief, "This kind of horrible weather really messes with your game."
This was his first match, and Mikel took it pretty seriously.
The other team members all nodded in agreement.
But when they got to the auditorium, Cedric had some less-than-great news for them.
"Our match got moved forward," he said, looking grim. "Flint just came to me and said tomorrow we'll be playing against Gryffindor."
"Why?" the team blurted out almost in unison.
Cedric said, "Flint's reason is that their Seeker got hurt in training yesterday, broke their arm, so they want us to take their spot."
"That's nonsense!" Mikel said angrily, "Even if his arm's broken, Madam Pomfrey would only need one night to have it grown back!"
"It's obvious what they're doing—they don't want to play in this weather because they think it'll ruin their score."
"Wait..." Mikel thought of something and nervously asked, "Captain, don't tell me you already agreed?"
Cedric shook his head, "Not yet. I said I'd think about it."
"You don't need to think about it, just say no," another teammate said.
"But Flint brought Professor Snape with him," Cedric said, looking troubled. "When I said I'd think about it, Snape already looked pretty unhappy."
"What, Professor Snape?" Mikel couldn't help raising his voice.
He honestly couldn't get it—for a Quidditch match, would Slytherin's head of house really get involved?
"And…" Cedric paused, then went on, "If we say no, he's definitely going to go ask Ravenclaw next..."
"Are you kidding? At a time like this, you're still..." Mikel cut himself off halfway, turning to ask:
"Kael, our first period Charms today, which house is with us?"
"Ravenclaw, I think," Kael said, "Why?"
"Just wait a moment, everyone..."
Mikel sat there, head down, lost in thought.
The other team members didn't interrupt him either.
After a few minutes, Mikel finally looked up again.
"I have an idea..."
He grinned wide, "If both we and Ravenclaw have players in the hospital with injuries, then Professor Snape would have no excuse to make us take Slytherin's place, right?"
"Technically, you're right," Cedric said, face a little odd. "But going to the hospital just to dodge a match… isn't that a bit much?"
"Don't worry, I've got it all worked out…" Mikel said confidently. "But first, I need to see their Seeker, Cho Chang, before class… Can anyone go get her for me?"
Cedric shot him a skeptical look, but, after a moment, got up and walked over to the Ravenclaw table.
He'd been thinking he'd just talk it over with the team and agree.
After all, Kael's waterproof badges were really useful, and even in weather like this, it wouldn't be a big issue for them—but it still felt unfair.
If you don't want to play, you just make up some excuse and shove us in? Why should we?
Now that Mikel's suggesting something else, they might as well hear him out…maybe it'll really work.
Soon, Cho arrived.
She looked a little upset—she must've heard what was going on from Cedric on the way.
"What's your plan?" she asked, sitting down beside Mikel.
"Just an idea, but I think it could work..."
The two of them started whispering together.
Cho's expression shifted from worried to surprised, and then her eyes grew brighter and brighter…
"That could actually work," she said.
"Right?" Mikel grinned. "Now we just need the most important prop. Wait for me, I'll go buy some…"
"Hold on," Kael stopped Mikel and handed over some candies. "No need to buy—I've got some right here."
"Are you sure these will work?"
"They're better than the originals," Kael said with a raised eyebrow. "And they won't mess with your health at all."
...
Soon it was time for class.
At the foot of the stairs, everyone went their separate ways.
Cedric headed to the dungeons for Potions, while Kael and the others went to Charms class.
Today, they were learning the Revealing Spell.
Professor Flitwick, as usual, thoroughly explained the proper gestures and incantation, then handed each student a blank piece of parchment to reveal the hidden contents on it.
"Aparecium!"
The classroom filled with the sound of students casting the spell.
When Professor Flitwick had walked to the other side of the room, Mikel suddenly stuffed a bean into his mouth, then shot Cho a look.
Seeing it, Cho popped something into her mouth as well.
The next second, completely unannounced, a flash of intense white light shot through the classroom.
Then Mikel let out a dramatically loud scream and collapsed onto his desk, unmoving.
Professor Flitwick was startled. When he turned around, he saw Mikel lying motionless on the floor and Cho's face, pale and swollen huge compared to before.
"Merlin's beard, what happened?" Professor Flitwick was totally confused, no idea what was going on.
But after seeing Mikel's condition, plus the familiar-yet-unfamiliar burst of intense light from moments ago, some unpleasant memories from a few years back suddenly rushed in.
No way—not again?
Professor Flitwick's heart pounded, and he hurriedly shouted, "Quick, get them to the Hospital Wing!"
Kael reacted the fastest and shot out the door first.
...
...