"Good morning, Kevin," Hermione yawned as she stepped into the kitchen, watching Kevin at the stove frying eggs.
"Morning. Breakfast is ready—go wash up, then come and eat," Kevin replied with a smile.
Hermione nodded and went to freshen up.
They were now living in a newly renovated house. After the work was finished, Hermione had insisted on staying there.
At first, Mr. Granger wasn't keen on the idea. While he liked Kevin, he worried that Kevin was still too young and something might happen.
Mrs. Granger had then taken her husband aside for a private talk. No one knew what was said, but when they returned, Mr. Granger looked tired while Mrs. Granger's cheeks were pink.
After that, they agreed to Hermione's request—on the strict condition that she and Kevin not share a bedroom.
So Hermione happily moved into the house next door. Kevin prepared all three meals a day, and Hermione helped when she could.
The Grangers would occasionally visit to enjoy Kevin's cooking, but Mrs. Granger never let the visits last long before whisking her husband back home.
There were still two weeks left before the start of term.
"Kevin, did Harry ever reply to your letter?" Hermione asked between bites of toast.
Kevin shook his head. "No. I haven't written to him."
"What? I thought you two were getting along so well on the train—did you have an argument?" Hermione looked surprised.
"He wouldn't get my letters if I sent them," Kevin explained. "I'll just visit him in a couple of days."
"What do you mean he wouldn't get them?"
"You know a bit about Harry's relatives," Kevin said, lowering his voice. "His uncle and aunt can't stand magic—and they don't treat Harry much better. They'd probably lock him in and stop his owl from delivering mail. Our letters would be intercepted."
Kevin didn't mention that the real culprit was a certain house-elf named Dobby.
"That's awful! That's basically illegal house arrest!" Hermione said indignantly.
"That's why it's simpler to just go see him in person," Kevin replied.
"You could've told me sooner!"
"You didn't ask," Kevin said with a shrug.
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but then realised he was right—she'd been too distracted by their new home.
They agreed that Hermione would invite Ron to join them, and the three would go see Harry together. Ron replied the next day that he'd be there.
The next morning, Ron arrived at the house and immediately complained, "You didn't send me a single letter all summer!"
Kevin looked puzzled. "Didn't Hermione reply to you for me?"
"That was Hermione's letter, not yours!" Ron grumbled.
"We live together—what's the difference?" Kevin said with a grin.
Ron muttered something about "choosing girls over friends," but didn't press the matter.
They caught a taxi to Privet Drive, and Kevin tossed a pebble at Harry's second-floor window. A moment later, Harry appeared, eyes wide.
"Kevin! Ron! Hermione!" he exclaimed.
"Shh," Kevin said, putting a finger to his lips.
Then, in a single bound, Kevin leapt up, gripped the windowsill, and helped Harry out. There were no bars on the window—though, even if there had been, they wouldn't have stopped him.
The four slipped away unnoticed.
As they walked through the streets, they caught up on news. Harry confirmed he'd never received any of their letters.
"Technically, only Ron and I sent letters," Hermione said.
Kevin scratched his head. "Didn't see the point in writing if it wouldn't get to him."
Ron shot him a look, but Kevin ignored it. Harry, seeing them bicker, felt his spirits lift—his friends hadn't abandoned him.
"So, where to now?" Harry asked.
Kevin pulled out a thick wad of pound notes. "Today's on me—pick anything you want."
Harry admitted he'd always wanted to go to an amusement park. The others agreed instantly.
They spent the day riding roller coasters—Ron and Kevin yelling so loudly their voices echoed across the park, while Harry and Hermione grinned and eventually joined in the shouting.
From there, Kevin dragged them to bumper cars, where he floored the accelerator and smashed into everything in sight.
The spinning teacups were next—Kevin spun theirs so fast it became a blur, leaving the others dizzy and green-faced.
They rowed a boat across the park's lake—Kevin paddling so hard it skimmed like an arrow—before trying every ride they could fit in: the pirate ship, bungee drop, and more.
By sunset, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were exhausted but beaming. Kevin still had the energy to keep going.
"That was brilliant," Ron panted as they left.
"Glad you liked it," Kevin said. "We'll come again."
They laughed and chatted all the way back to Privet Drive. But as Harry stepped inside, his smile faded.
Kevin put a hand on his shoulder. "Harry—strong people don't complain about where they come from. Focus, learn, and improve yourself. One day you'll be one of the brightest wizards in the world—don't waste your energy on them."
Harry didn't fully understand, but he smiled anyway. "Thanks, Kevin."
Kevin grinned and tossed him back up to his window before the Dursleys even noticed he'd been gone.
"I'll come for you in a week. Be ready—we'll head straight to Ron's and spend the rest of the holiday there."
As Kevin and the others walked away, a small house-elf watched from the shadows, deep in thought.