Stolen Goods ((Promise))

[Kennedy Valak S6]

Kennedy sat at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, feeling like an outcast more now than ever. It'd been only a few weeks into the school term, and they had been the most isolated weeks for Kennedy. With himself avoiding Fiona at all cost, he had to be sure to keep a close eye out at all times. It seemed to only two people that he even talked to from his house were Mary Evans and Mackenzie Holden, both of which didn't seem to care much about his past reputation. Other than than, Kennedy didn't really speak to any of the others in the past. Mainly, he lost his connection with Fiona, Pyro, and Alexandra, only one of which he was even slightly upset over losing. It was time to move on though, and deep down Kennedy knew that. Seeing a huddle of green and black robes coming to the table, Kennedy stuffed the last bite of bread in his mouth before sneaking away so that they didn't see him. He didn't notice Fiona in the group, but he couldn't be too careful.

With his books in one hand, and the apple he had snatched from the table in the other, Kennedy silently strolled down the hallway toward the student lounge. He had half an hour or so until he needed to be in Transfiguration class, and he didn't want to waste time bothering to go to the Slytherin common room. It only meant another possibility of running into someone he didn't want to run in to. It seemed as though the events of the last school year and of that summer still loomed over his head. He hoped that as time went, they would slowly fade away, but he wasn't so sure. Fiona hadn't been happy with him, and he still knew about the Chosen and of Fiona and Pyro's involvement in it. He would just need to be on his guard, that's all.

Kennedy entered the student lounge and did a quick scan to see if he recognized anybody. There weren't many people, but his eye did catch one face that he recognized in the corner. It was a good recognition though- Alexander Promise. Ever since they had both discovered that they shared an interest in magical creatures during one of Hagrid's rather amusing Care of Magical Creatures lessons, Kennedy and Alex had formed a decent friendship. It wasn't after the events that left Kennedy without other friends did he realize that Alex was one of his only true friends. He knew that Alex was pretty easy going, and he trusted him for some reason or another.

"Hey, Promise," he said, taking a seat across from the Ravenclaw. "Don't even tell me that you are wasting your time studying," Kennedy commented, rolling his eyes at the thought. Everyone knew that Promise didn't need to study to do well. He was just one of those naturally brilliant people. Although, Kennedy wondered how someone as random and crazy as Alex inherited such instinctive intelligence. "Study this if you are going to study anything," Kennedy said, tossing a thin book across the gap between them. Kennedy had finished it just that morning while sitting in Charms class. Luckily, Professor Flitwick hadn't noticed his lack of attention. "I lifted it from my dad's collection. He'll never know it's even gone." The book was one on Griffins, a topic that Kennedy knew Promise couldn't get enough of. "I know it deals with their uses for the Dark Arts," he added, "but that's my dad for you. I figured at least you'd enjoy it just as a way to brush up on information from the other end of the spectrum." Somehow Kennedy knew that Alex really wouldn't be interested, at least for his own personal use, on how Griffins are usable in the Dark Arts.

"So how's Mack?" Kennedy asked, not having seen her in a while. "I end up avoiding pretty much my whole house, just to stay away from a few people." Kennedy laughed and wondered if he should even bother trying to talk to Alex. Kennedy knew that once Alex started to read the book, there was a slim chance that his attention would be elsewhere. "Oh yeah," he added, remembering the order of the book. "You can skip the first chapter. I think that I've heard you quote at least half of what it says in that chapter. Go right to chapter two if you want the good stuff."

[Alexander Promise R7]

Alex wasn’t used to being away from Mack, it just wasn’t done. He was with her all hours of the day. Twenty four/seven. They shared classes, and most of the time even class couldn’t separate them. Which, was kind of party the reason he was apart from her. See, while potions was Mackenzie’s best subject, she couldn’t exactly excel if she wasn’t in class on a regular basis to learn the material. She wasn’t omnipotent, she was just good. Good... at a lot of things...some of which kept her from class. Promise couldn’t say it wasn’t his fault, because it was party his fault. Actually, it was a lot his fault she hadn’t been going to class. Then again...you could also argue it was her fault...but then-then again, you could argue it was both of their fault. Honestly, it was both of their fault. They worked together to keep her from class, that was sure. Anyways, the fact of the matter was that she hadn’t been going to class on a regular basis and when Snape decided to have a gigantic test that would have a huge impact on their grade, he made sure to give her a look that said ‘have fun with this one’. Annnd, suffice to say Mack was a bit stressed. So, as a result, today she had decided she needed to study, but of course she couldn’t just study, she had to lock herself away in the dorms where there was no way Alex could get to her and trying encourage her to stop studying. And Alex, likewise, had holed himself up in the student lounge with a pile of books, a notebook, and a pen.

He had made it through nearly all of the books (they weren’t hard reads) and was now just sitting with his leg crossed and his notebook on his lap, pen in his mouth. One of his favorite past times (when he wasn’t with Mackenzie) was to just sit in a crowded room and watch the people. You got some great ideas for a story when you sat in a crowded room. Promise had written tons of characters based just off of a kid he’d seen once before and never again. Of course, sometimes he’d stumbled upon the kid again, and he would always chuckle, remember the character. Alex was one to observe all the people in a room, and when the scene suddenly changed he was sure to notice. Therefore, when Kennedy walked in the room, Alex noticed. He smiled and waited, wondering if Kennedy had something better to do then have a seat and chat for a while. Alex honestly hadn’t done any socializing all day long and any sort of human contact from a friend would do him some good. He did enjoy Kennedy’s company after all.

“Long time no see.” Was his reply, when Kennedy greeted Alex and took a seat and when he made a mention about studying Alex let out a chuckle and shook his head. No, studying never ever happened. Alex cocked his head and caught the book Kennedy tossed, flipping through the pages. “You should know I don’t ever study Kennedy, even if it’s something interesting. I don’t like to call it studying, I like to call it ‘intelligencia advancmentia’...” Alex laughed and shook his head, obviously just making that up on the spot. Alex was always trying to make jokes about everything; it’s just what he did. Sure, they were often bad jokes, but they were still jokes. “This however, does look quite study worthy.” He smiled brightly and skipped the first few pages as Kennedy discussed what the book was about, and then nodded thoughtfully, closing the book and setting it in his lap. “Mind if I hold onto it for a while? Only a few days at most.” Promise would surely give the book back in a few days, but read it all? That all depended on how busy Mack kept him. And she always kept him rather busy. “She’s good...” Alex nodded as Kennedy asked how Mack was, a smiled on his face still. “Up in her dorm studying for potions, I’ve been banished to the student lounge so she’s not tempted to just be with me.” He chuckled and shrugged. “But how about you? We haven’t talked in a bit, don’t get much time to talk in class anymore. So tell me, how’ve you been?”

((OOC: If you like, I dont mind changing the part involving Snape, it just seemed the most logical explaination.)

[Kennedy Valak S6]

"Perhaps you could study your Latin a bit more," Kennedy said with a laugh as Alex rambled off some random attempt at a Latin phrase. "Keep it as long as you need. Like I said, my dad really isn't going to miss it. You should see the library of books he has. Perhaps someday you could come take a peek and see if there are other books on Griffins." Truth was, Kennedy could have taken at least a couple dozen books and it would have barely left a dent. In fact, over time, Kennedy had slowly started his own collection of books on magical creatures by simply taking those from his father that he found useful or interesting.

Kennedy laughed again at Alex's next statement. It sounded just like Mackenzie to banish her boyfriend to the student lounge just so that she wouldn't be distracted from her studying. "You... you got homework banished?" Kennedy asked, still laughing at the thought. "Hey, I guess that's a good thing though... means she really can't get enough of you.

Promise quickly turned the tables and asked how Kennedy had been doing. Letting out a quick huff, Kennedy didn't know where to start. "Welllll... I guess I'm doing ok. I mean, how good can you be when you have to worry at any second you might run into someone who you really don't want to see. Not to mention, I've constantly got to watch my back for Pyro." Kennedy hadn't told anybody why this was so, but nobody seemed to ask. Apparently Pyro had reputation enough for people to just assume this was a natural thing.

"You did hear about the whole deal with Fiona, Cassandra, and I... didn't you?" Kennedy wanted to clarify. He had talked to Alex since then, but only briefly. Kennedy was assuming that Alex would have heard through the grapevine, or even through Mack, concerning the recent events. Of course, Kennedy had never thought that maybe Alex was still only on talking terms with him because he hadn't heard. For most though, they were either like the Slytherins who thought he was a jerk for ignoring Fiona, or like the friends of Cass who thought he was a jerk for 'ruining her reputation' once it got out that there was some sort of twisted love triangle going on with he and the two girls. Of course, nobody really knew the true story, or at least not Kennedy's version of the true story. Likely, Fiona and Cass had had their own interpretations that were being passed on in even more of a twisted way as they moved from one gossiper to the next.

[Alexander Promise R7]

Alex was still laughing when Kennedy suggested that he brush up on his Latin. Ugh, Latin, that was definitely not one of his favorite things he had ever learned. Alex wasn’t one for languages and so therefore he had never really put forth an effort. Of course, he knew enough Latin to get him by, but not enough to do much else. Alex had a habit of pushing languages from his mind right after he had learned them. His father was constantly trying to teach him Greek, seeing as he would need to know it when he started conducting trades with Greek wizards, but Alex just couldn’t get it. He decided that if need be he would learn it, I mean, he’d have no problems picking it up if he tried, but right now? He just didn’t want to try. Language, bah, English did him just fine. Alex finally calmed himself down from his laughter enough to nod happily when Kennedy said he could keep the book as long as he needed. If that was the case he’d keep it till he finished it. Alex always loved a good book on griffins, and Kennedy was probably the only person he trusted to know a good book on magical creatures. Of course, Mack was learning bit by bit about the subject, seeing as it was one of Alex’s passions and he enjoyed talking about it.

Alex nodded again, a sad look on his face and a pathetic laugh escaping him. “Yes, homework banished...isn’t that a concept?” It was a strange concept if you were an outsider, seeing as Alex was probably the best person to go to when you needed help in a subject, but there were two reasons that it was logical that Mack had banished him. A) He hated potions and hadn’t taken anymore of it then he needed to. It was Mack’s subject. And B) Mack wouldn’t get any work done period if she was with Alex. All she could get done would be...well...you know. Anyways, yeah he had been homework banished, but Kennedy was right. Alex wasn’t upset about being banished, because he knew it only meant that Mack knew she couldn’t work if she was with him because she’d be spending all her time on him. And so he nodded, a smile reappearing on his face at Kennedy’s statement, showing that he was totally and completely in agreement. “You bet, buddy. That’s one way to say it.”

Alex changed the subject, seeing as he was trying to keep his mind from wandering too far off down the Mackenzie trail. If he did that he’d have to leave the student lounge. Anyways, he changed the subject and asked Kennedy what he was up to. See, Alex wasn’t big on gossip. At all. It was another thing he and Mack had in common. Neither of them were big on Gossip but seeing as Mack shared a house with Kennedy, she had known about what was going on. And through their many evening talks Alex had pieced up most of the story. But all in all, it was just gossip to him and to be honest, it wasn’t too big an issue in his life. He wasn’t directly involved and so he could pretty much remain on the outside. “Yeah, I’ve heard pretty much what happened, I mean, you can clarify if you’d like, but you don’t have to. I have a pretty good idea.” He nodded, knowing that that issue was mostly where Kennedy’s mind was at these days. Of course, Alex could understand, it had obviously been a big issue for him and so it was logical it would occupy his mind. “You know actually, you might wanna tell me your story first-hand just to make sure I’ve got things right. I’d hate to be a carrier of the evil disease known as ‘gossip’.” Alex finished with a smirk, knowing Kennedy would probably get a kick out of that.

[Kennedy Valak S6]

As Alex offered him the chance to give his own version of the story, Kennedy rolled his eyes at the thought. He knew it really didn't matter if Alex knew the true story or not. As Alex had already explained, Kennedy knew he wasn't the type for gossip as it was. "You probably already know the most of it," Kennedy said, shrugging, not really sure he wanted to get into it. It wasn't a topic that he really enjoyed dwelling on, despite the fact that he found it hard to get out of his mind. The night after Fiona and he had officially ended was constantly replayed in his mind, despite him wanting to forget that terrible moment forever.

"Speaking of gossip," Kennedy continued, going off of the first thing that came to his mind that didn't involve Fiona, Cass, or his past predicaments. "It's been common prefect gossip that a few prefects... not to mention any names... have been slacking in their duties. Something about disappearing at the same time without knowledge of where they are or what they are doing." Kennedy gave a sly smirk, not really knowing the details himself. He really didn't care to know, but he figured it was right of him to at least let Alex know that his and Mack's frequent disappearances weren't going completely unnoticed.

Kennedy's eye caught the book and his mind again was off on another tangent. "Hey," he said, a bit of excitement, "we should start some type of magical creatures club!" Kennedy didn't know why he hadn't thought of it earlier. Perhaps it was somewhat out there, considering Hagrid would likely need to head up the club. Kennedy could just imagine the chaos that they would be involved in then. "You know... the two of us are really into magical creatures. We should get a group together and have some sort of project." The idea seemed logical to Kennedy. Plus, it would give him something more to keep his mind occupied.

((If you like this suggestion, we can always propose an actual club like this in staff. Or we can just ignore the idea if you think it's lame. Sorry it wasn't very long. I started and then got distracted and then had to rush off.))

[Alexander Promise R7]

Alex nodded thoughtfully when Kennedy finished the conversation about himself by saying that Alex probably knew it all. It was true; Alex did know most of it. Whether from Mackenzie or from the things he heard people talk about over dinner, or during class. He had a pretty good idea, and he’d been able to sort through all of the gossip that was total bullocks. Like the bit he’d heard from a first year about how Kennedy had hired assassins to kill Fiona and that’s where it all had started. Alex had to hold back a laugh thinking about it, Kennedy didn’t seem like the assassin hiring type. Sometimes people could just take things way too far; anyone in their right mind would know that the whole hiring assassins thing only happened in books and movies. Ok, so, once in a blue moon it really did happen, but Kennedy doing it to knock off his girlfriend? Not so logical. Almost as illogical as the bit that said that Cass was really a vampire that had been dressed up, and that she was one of the assassins Kennedy had hired. See that was just silly too. Silly, silly gossip. Though, Alex blamed most of it on first years.

“Oh dear...” Alex laughed and rolled his eyes as he listened to Kennedy comment on what was most definitely a hint about Alex and Mack’s recent behavior. Alex shook his head and shrugged slightly, a guilty smile on his face. “I’m sure that said prefects are still doing their duties...they’re just...going above and beyond the set duties that most prefects go on.” It was a lame argument, but in all honesty Alex didn’t feel any need to defend himself to anyone. He and Mack did as they pleased, and they did what was right for them. There was no way Alex would suggest to anyone that they should be like he and Mack were, because he and Mack were different. There was something more between them then just normal boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. Alex figured though, that he would spare Kennedy the details of the relationship, not wanting to make his poor friend uncomfortable at all. And Alex figured he might have the ability to do that. Plus, as much as Alex wasn’t a gossip person, he wasn’t one for disclosing personal information either. What happened between him and Mack, stayed between him and Mack.

Alex had gone back to looking through the book Kennedy had handed him when Kennedy jumped subjects again. See, this was why the two were friends. Alex had always enjoyed Kennedy’s company because there was always something to talk about. No matter how bored they were they could find something to interest them, Kennedy was good for that. He had the ability to jump subject so easily that your conversation was pretty fast paced, but full of interesting bits. “A club?” Alex hadn’t thought about that, probably because he hadn’t really found many people other than Kennedy that shared his passion. “We’d have to have a teacher head it though eh? And it’d end up being Hagrid...ugh.” Alex wasn’t too fond of the man, he was far too clumsy. “Do you think there are enough people who’d be willing to do it? I mean sure there’s you and me, but anyone else?” Alex laughed. “I’m sure I could drag Mack to go.” Alex sat back in his chair, looking down at the book in his hands for a few minutes. “You know if we did get a group together we could actually get some real studies going? Instead of just the basic stuff you learn in class, we could actually discuss things with other people who are passionate about it too. That would be cool, I’m so sick of being around people who just don’t care.”

[Kennedy Valak S6]

Kennedy laughed to himself when he saw Alex's guilty smile. Apparently, at least some of the rumors were true, but since Alex didn't divulge much more than a clever excuse, Kennedy left it at that. He wasn't one to pry, and he simply found it amusing that Alex and Mack indeed were off sneaking around at night. Something in Kennedy wouldn't have had him peg the two of them as the type to risk breaking rules and losing their prefect status, but Kennedy knew he wasn't going to say anything to anyone. For all he cared, the rumors could just be rumors, and he'd be fine regardless. Plus, it would be totally foolish to risk losing two of the only people he considered friends at that point. If he even tried to rat Alex and Mack to a professor, they'd surely hate him. He would hate them if it were the other way around. Too bad he didn't have anybody to be sneaking off with now anymore. Again, he pushed the thought of Fiona from his mind, getting back to his conversation with Alex.

"I like how Mack has no choice in the matter," he laughed. "But if she can put you on homework banishment, then I don't see why you can't recruit her for our club." Alex seemed to be thinking the same thing about Hagrid being the obvious choice as the person in charge of the club. He also made some good points about whether or not they'd be able to get people to join (aside from Mack of course). "Well, even if Hagrid did lead the club, he does have a knack for finding some pretty rare creatures," Kennedy added. "Plus, like you said, we can actually have some serious studies. I mean, between the two of us and the resources we have, we could easily be the people who organise the meetings." The more he talked about it, the more Kennedy realized it sounded like just another responsibility. "Then again... maybe it's not worth it," he said with a laugh. "Perhaps it'd work though."

Kennedy began to ponder some ideas of creatures that they could study. He remembered when he was in his early years at the school and Hagrid had been rumored to have had a dragon on the grounds. Kennedy never did hear whether or not that was confirmed though. The thought of dragons then took him back to his first year when the Tri-Wizard Tournament took place at the castle. Then, there really were real dragons at Hogwarts. That was quite an experience; one that he would surely never forget. "Hey!" he said suddenly, another possible stroke of genius coming to him. "What if we organised a summer trip to go work with dragons? I'm sure we could find a hand full of students that would want to come. We'd likely even be able to figure out some way that it would count for credit for our N.E.W.T. level Care of Magical Creatures class. Plus, my dad can hook us up with a connection, I'm sure."

[Alexander Promise R7]

Alex was quite content to change subjects and move on to talking about the club idea. As I said, he wasn’t big on delving into his own personal life. Those matters were strictly between Mack and himself. “She’ll fight me on it I’m sure, magical creatures isn’t really her thing, but if I whine enough I think I can get her to tag along.” Alex laughed thinking about the first time Mack had gone to his house, the time he had introduced her to guy, his oldest griffin. Mack had been one step short of terrified and from then on they had stayed a good ten feet from the pen whenever they walked down to see the creatures. Alex didn’t understand how Mack was so scared of them, especially the ones in the pen he had shown her, they were all old, retired, and friendly. The younger crowd however, they could be frightening at times. A bit rambunctious. They weren’t exactly mean, they were just energetic. But if you got in the way of an energetic griffin and you couldn’t handle it, then you were in trouble.

Other than that Alex had been trying to get Mack to take a liking to magical creatures. Over all his efforts were slightly fruitless and he had finally settled on the fact that Mack only tolerated them for him. Well tolerated seems kind of harsh, but you get what I mean. She went along with it and listened to Alex’s rants. It was because she loved him, and Alex appreciated it. No one other than Kennedy had ever listened to Alex rant before. Having Mack in his life was one of the biggest blessings Alex had obtained in the last year, more over, in all his life. She was the greatest thing to ever happen to him. Alex smiled at the thought of how much his life had changed now that Mack was in it. His schedule had sure become busier. But it wasn’t something he didn’t enjoy. Every moment with Mack was a blissful one.

Promise again tore his thoughts from his wonderful girlfriend to hear Kennedy out on his ideas for the club. Alex nodded. “Sure, Hagrid does have a knack for finding rare creatures...or...well...creating them...” It was common knowledge that Hagrid had bred his own creatures for the class more than once. Alex laughed when Kennedy mentioned that maybe it wasn’t a good idea seeing as it would be so much work on them. He nodded and then sat thoughtful for a few minutes. “It sounds like a cool idea, the only thing I’m worried about it people who would join...how about this? How about the two of us start scouting, and if it looks like there’s a decent number, we can set it up eh?” Alex smiled at his thought and then looked down at the book again, opening it up and reading the last page. Alex was only two words in when Kennedy brought up a second...better...idea. Alex sat up straighter in his chair and leaned forward slightly, leaning on an arm of his chair. “Is that possible do you think? My father deals primarily in griffins so setting anything up with dragons would have to be on you. I’d be up for it though.”

[Kennedy Valak S6]

"Of course it's possible!" Kennedy replied excitedly. Anything that involved getting to spend some time in the summer away from his dreadful sister while getting the chance to spend time with something as magnificent as dragons was possible since Kennedy was determined. "I mean, even if we can't get it approved as a class thing, who says we can't just pack up and go to Romania anyways. Seriously, what else do you have to do in the summer?" Perhaps Alex did have more of a life than Kennedy when it came holiday time. Still, if he had a sister like Kailyn though, he would see why Kennedy was so set on the idea, even if it had just came to him moments ago.

"Heck, just look at it as a way to get to go on vacation... with Mack there too!" This did cause Kennedy to wonder if that would turn him into nothing more than a third wheel, but he was willing to take that risk. Plus, it was likely that they could get a few others interested in the trip, so long as it wasn't someone like Pyro or Cass. Kennedy could just imagine spending a whole trip with one of them whilst Mack and Alex were off doing who knows what. Kennedy would rather spend the time being awkward around Fiona that with Pyro or Cass, both of which he knew only caused his life so much trouble.

"So, I will talk to my dad and see what connections he has. Then, I'll see what I can do about turning it into something we can use for class. Perhaps Dumbledore will be able to do something about that. Meanwhile, you should talk to Mack and convince her of how fun a vacation to Romania will be." Kennedy wasn't sure how enthusiastic Mack would be if she knew they'd be spending a lot of the time studying dragons, but he was sure Alex could convince her to join them.

Kennedy hadn't been so happy for something in quite a while. Perhaps this conversation with Alex was just the thing he needed to pull him out of the sour state of mind that had been pressing on him since the whole string of incidents. "I'm going to go owl my father now," Kennedy said, not even really seeming to give Alex a choice. He smiled and turned to say one more thing before leaving. "Oh, like I said, don't worry about when you get the book back to me. Just take your time and enjoy it. For all I care, you can keep it." Kennedy laughed and then hurried out of the student lounge, on his way to the owlery with the thoughts of dragons spinning in his mind.