For the next two days, Kevin stayed at the Grangers' house, but Hermione's mood was far from cheerful.
She was still upset about Kevin refusing to be adopted into her family. No matter how much Kevin tried to coax her, nothing worked.
Until this morning.
"Mom? Dad? Where's Kevin?"
Hermione rushed downstairs in her slippers. She had gone to wake Kevin up, only to find his room empty and his belongings gone.
Last night, she had dreamed that Kevin turned his back on her and walked away, step by step, no matter how she called out to him. She had been left standing alone, crying in endless darkness.
When she woke, she was relieved it had been just a dream—until she realized Kevin was missing.
Mr. Granger lowered his newspaper, looking serious.
"Hermione… Kevin's gone. He said he won't be living here anymore."
"What? Why?!" Hermione's voice rose instantly, her control slipping.
"I don't know…" Mr. Granger avoided her gaze, turning away.
"Dad, why didn't you stop him? Did he go back to the orphanage? I'll go find him!"
"He said he wasn't going back there either."
"Then where did he go?" Tears were already forming in her eyes.
Her thoughts churned. He had refused to be adopted. Two days ago, he'd suddenly received his late parents' belongings.
Combined with her ominous dream, a terrible possibility formed—had something in his parents' letters driven him to leave without saying goodbye?
"He just left and turned right," her father said.
Hermione didn't pause to consider how unhelpfully vague that was—she bolted out the door.
Mrs. Granger frowned at her husband. "If you tease her like that, don't be surprised if she ignores you when she comes back."
Mr. Granger chuckled. "Then we'll blame Kevin."
Hermione ran down the street of neat two-storey houses. As she turned the corner, a voice called out:
"Oi, where are you rushing off to, little miss? Come up here for a chat."
She froze, looking up to see Kevin leaning casually out of a second-floor window of the house next door.
"Kevin…"
She'd realised instantly she had been the victim of a prank—but the fear she had felt moments ago was still raw. Tears spilled over.
Kevin's grin vanished. He vaulted down from the window, landing lightly, and reached her in a few strides.
"Hermione, don't cry. I'm sorry. I—"
But she buried her face against him and sobbed harder, clutching him as though he might disappear again.
He held her, rubbing her back in small, frantic circles, murmuring apologies.
Eventually, her tears slowed, though she didn't lift her head.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I shouldn't have scared you. I promise—never again."
She sniffled, still pressed against him.
He gently smoothed her hair, then tipped her chin up. Her eyes were red and glistening. He brushed away her tears—at which point Hermione leaned forward and bit his shoulder, hard.
"Ow!"
When she pulled back, a perfect set of teeth marks was visible.
"Stupid Kevin… stupid Kevin…" She kicked at his feet with her slippers.
"I had a dream last night," she mumbled through fresh tears, "that you left me without looking back. Do you know how scared I was just now? That you really didn't want me anymore…"
Kevin understood instantly.
"How could I not want you, Hermione? I promise—I'll never leave you."
He dropped to one knee, holding her hand and looking up at her tear-streaked face.
"I don't believe you… you're awful," she said, still pouting.
Kevin felt something in him stir—feelings that had been quietly growing for over a year. When they first met, he had thought she was simply a clever, pretty girl.
But as they studied, laughed, and shared their worries together, his fondness had deepened into something far stronger.
He slipped off a delicate pink bracelet from his own wrist.
"This was my mother's," he said softly, sliding it onto her hand. "It matches the blue one I wear. They're magical—if you channel magic into one, the other will light up and guide you to the wearer. So you'll never lose me."
To demonstrate, he infused his bracelet with magic. Both lit up with a gentle glow, pulling faintly toward each other.
"But… isn't this a family heirloom?" Hermione asked, torn between delight and worry.
"My parents wanted me to give the other one to someone important," Kevin said. "So I'm giving it to you."
Hermione's cheeks went pink. In truth, the fear of losing him earlier had forced her to admit something she'd been avoiding—she liked Kevin.
Not just as a friend, but in a way that made her heart beat faster when he smiled at her.
They stood in awkward silence, neither quite able to meet the other's eyes—while inside, Mrs. Granger was peeking from behind the curtains, silently urging Kevin to just kiss her already.
Kevin broke the moment with a small smile. "I actually wanted to surprise you today. I've rented the house next door. This'll be my new home—and yours to visit anytime." He handed her a key.
Her eyes widened. "You… moved here?"
He nodded. "I don't have enough to buy it yet, but once I sell more potions, I will."
She threw her arms around him again, beaming. The knot in her heart had finally loosened.
From that day on, most of Hermione's holiday was spent helping Kevin plan and furnish his new home.
They shopped for furniture together, argued cheerfully over styles, and hired decorators—turning the empty little house into something warm and welcoming.
And, when Kevin wasn't busy, he hid away in the basement to brew Professor Snape's assigned potions—sometimes with Hermione watching.
She wanted to try herself, but when she learned the ingredients were limited, she decided not to risk wasting them.
Somewhere far away, Snape sneezed for no apparent reason.