16 Chapter 16: Conflict and Reconciliation or is it manipulation...?

"You don't have to be the one protect him, you know," Kent said quietly to a reluctant Hermione "Dumbledore and Snape are there for that."

But Hermione looked unconvinced and worried.

"I know you are worried that they would get hurt in the third floor corridor, but without you how would they even enter the room where the Cerberus is?" Kent reminded Hermione.

It was frustrating to convince Hermione. He didn't know what happened but after coming to Hogwarts, she was like obsessed with Harry's safety despite knowing that he wouldn't be harmed in the presence of Dumbledore.

They were discussing about what happened on the dinner table after their first flying lesson. Malfoy had suddenly challenged Harry to a duel at midnight and foolishly enough, Ron and Harry agreed.

"Okay. That's enough! " Kent suddenly yelled, "If you want to follow, then follow."

Kent directly went to the boy's dormitory under the watchful eyes of the Gryffindor students who were attracted by the sudden shout.

...

Kent couldn't sleep knowing that Hermione would follow Harry and Ron to make sure that they weren't hurt, especially Harry.

He was worried and wanted to follow, but remembering that Hermione didn't seem to mind his advice he stopped.

After 11:30 at night Kent heard whispers coming from Ron's bed and then two pairs of scurring footsteps.

He was in a dilemma whether to follow them or not. When he finally decided, it was already late. There was no one in the common room.

'I am late,' he thought as he pushed opened the portrait of the fat lady and climbed through the hole.

He didn't need to go further as he saw four figures running toward his direction. He was sure they were Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville.

"What were you doing outside Gryffindor dormitory so late in the night?" asked Kent.

"Shh, Filch and Mrs. Norris is following us," Ron said anxiously, "we will talk in the common room."

Kent looked toward Hermione who nodded back.

"Okay, lets go,"

...

After sending Ron, Neville and Harry off to their bed.

Kent stopped Hermione at the last moment and asked "Hermione, how did you get the scratch on your wrist?"

"Nothing," answered Hermione.

"Okay, if you really don't want to say, then don't. But hear me out first," sighed Kent with resignation. Hermione was really stubborn when she wants to be.

He sat down in front of the fireplace on an armchair with Hermione at front.

"I had a loving mother, a grumpy but sweet father and a cute little brother. Despite the occasional arguments or disagreement, we... we were a happy family. I was even going to marry this girl. She was my first friend, you know," Kent choked, "but... but one day, I woke up and found that I've lost everything. I was more dead than alive when I realised that I couldn't even say goodbye to them."

He paused and took a deep breath. Looking at simmering crimson fire, he continued, "It was Mr. and Mrs. Granger and their bushy haired daughter helped me overcome my grief. I realised that I've lost many things but also gained a wonderful family."

"I don't want to go through the same thing again," he broke into tears. "Please, Hermione. Don't do anything dangerous. I don't know what I will do if I lose any of you."

Hermione was very shocked looking at the current Kent. He was always so cheery as if nothing in the world could make him hurt. But now he looked so fragile. She felt guilty. She was always focusing on the future that she forgot her present. She had her parents and a brother.

"I am so sorry," she apologised, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

...

The next day, Kent was both angry and disappointed at Harry.

Harry and Ron looked happy as if they had accomplished something. They probably didn't know that Hermione got the injury because of them.

'They are too immature,' Kent sighed and went to the library as usual.

He came to the Defence Against the Dark Arts section. It was really huge. The DADA subject is actually the amalgamation of various subjects with offensive and defensive spell as its basis, that's what he found when he looked around the section for the first time.

There were already a lot of students present, but this time he directly selected a batch of books without avoiding their curious eyes.

It happened two days ago when Kent was going through the usual process of recording the contents of a book, that is, taking a glance at each page.

He was too absorbed in his work to notice that Madam Pince was standing beside him, staring daggers at him.

"What are you doing?" asked Madam Pince. She looked annoyed and angry, "This is not a place to play."

The commotion attracted a bit of curious eyes from the nearby students.

"I am reading," Kent said. "Its hard to believe but I have a photographic memory."

He was prepared for something similar to happen.

"Do you think I will believe you?" Madam Pince said. "Out you go."

"Madam Pince, how about you ask me anything from these books and if I can't answer then I will go out of the library never to come back," Kent said pointing toward the pile of books on the table that he had already recorded.

She was skeptical. Well, anyone was ought to be doubtful when someone claims to have photographic memory. But Kent's confident tone and self-assured manner prompted her otherwise.

'He may really have a photographic memory,' she mused.

Meanwhile Kent mentally selected the books he just recorded from the library of the system and downloaded them. He grimaced in pain as huge amount of informations entered into his mind.

"Excuses will not save you from questions, boy." Madam Pince said looking at Kent's pained expression.

"No problem ma'am," Kent replied confidently as the headache slowly subsided. "You can ask me anything from the book in your hand."

After few minutes of continuous barrage of questions from Madam Pince and Kent's immediate answer to her questions which matched the content of the books word by word, She was finally convinced.

The incident also earned him a monikor of 'walking library' among the students.