Kieren had not been expecting to come to this party, particularly not when he had overheard his father’s conversation with some of his friends a few nights previously. At midnight on the New Year they were going to do... Something in Hogsmeade. He hadn’t quite gotten the details, but it surely would be unpleasant to say the least, for everyone wasting their time at that stupid party. Absolutely he wasn’t going to go.
But the more he thought about it, after he had heard those familiar voices downstairs, it had occurred to him that it wouldn’t just be the people he disliked. Some of those few, very few, that he actually cared about might be attending as well. While he was fairly certain they wouldn’t be intentionally harmed there was no accounting for what kind of crossfire there would be, who might get caught up in it.
But did it really matter? Surely people like Alecto would know to get out of there, apparate away when things started to go south. If they didn’t know already. He didn’t have to tell anyone, no one would care that he knew and it wouldn’t make a real bit of difference in the outcome. Something ate away at him though, a feeling that ignoring it and thinking his people would get out safe wasn’t good enough. There was a chance, small enough, that they could get hurt, and his omission might have caused it.
It had taken a while, and it was nearing 11:30 when he actually arrived at Hogsmeade, and almost immediately he wanted to leave. There was just so much joy everywhere, people carrying prizes from games, all those younger students laughing with their friends, couples holding hands, it all pissed him off to no end. Still, he wasn’t here for them, and there was a small part of him glad that would end soon enough. First he needed to find Alecto, Lucius, maybe Amyucs, Eric if he had the time, tell them that they had to get out of here. He thanked whatever slight sliver of luck that Severus knew better than to come to drivel like this.
Quickly he walked through the crowds, avoiding as best he could any physical contact with anyone, scanning the faces for one he needed. Every few moments he checked his watch, time ticked closer to midnight, and the window shrank.
At times Kieren envied Lucius for his height (not that he would ever admit it), but now was not one of those times as his friend was easier to spot, “Hey!” He called, brushing past a couple of third years trying to figure out how to get drinks for the fireworks show, “Lucius,” He glanced at his watch, then around him, about 10 minutes left, “Hey. We should go, get out of here. Have you seen Alecto?”
