"Good luck to you," Kasenhis said with a cheerful smile as he sent Harry off.
Cedric rubbed his chin. "Professor, you're not going to help Harry?"
"Didn't Harry say he could handle it himself? Then let him figure it out on his own," Kasenhis said, shaking his head.
The next day, in Alchemy class, Kasenhis filled the blackboard with dense rows of runic symbols.
"When combined with enchantment books and an enchanting table, these runes can let you accomplish things that would normally be impossible for us. For example, if you enchant these runes onto a hat, you'll be able to breathe underwater. Pretty interesting, right?"
Harry's hand paused mid-copy as he was transcribing the runes into his notebook. He thought about it for half a second, then decided that one day he should probably bring a gift to the Alchemy office and apologize to Professor Kasenhis for his stubbornness.
Then he continued copying.
After the lesson ended, Kasenhis headed straight back to his office up the stairs, only to see Dumbledore arriving in a small boat that was currently pulling up in front of him.
"What's going on?" Kasenhis asked in surprise.
"The Yule Ball. You remember, don't you?" Dumbledore said.
"Huh?" Kasenhis said, completely baffled.
"We talked about getting that outsider hiding in Hogwarts while drunk," Dumbledore corrected himself.
"Oh, the Christmas party!" Kasenhis finally got it.
"So your memory trigger is just alcohol?" Dumbledore said, rolling his eyes.
"It's not that bad. Are we going to work with Severus to prepare a large batch of Polyjuice Potion antidotes? Actually, milk could achieve a similar effect," Kasenhis said.
"Let's go with the Polyjuice antidote. We can mix a mild version directly into the drinks, then identify whoever shows bodily anomalies," Dumbledore said.
"Alright then. I'd just remembered the milk option, too," Kasenhis said, sounding a bit disappointed.
"Oh, by the way—have you found a dance partner yet?" Dumbledore asked.
"Uh, I don't plan on dancing."
"Well… that's fair. Hogwarts doesn't exactly have any female professors of an appropriate age waiting for your invitation."
"Mhm." Kasenhis sat down on the sofa and took a tactical sip of tea, planning to think about whether he should sneak out later for a private meal.
Then Harry and Ron showed up at his door together.
"What happened this time?" Kasenhis asked.
"Professor? Do you know about the Yule Ball?" Harry asked, swallowing nervously.
"I do… uh… when the time comes, Harry, as a champion you'll have to take the lead and dance," Kasenhis said.
"That's exactly the problem. We still haven't found partners," Ron said miserably.
"I can understand Harry not finding a partner, but Ron, how are you still without one? You could invite Hermione," Kasenhis said with a frown.
"Hermione? She's a girl?" Ron said blankly.
"Huh?" Kasenhis exclaimed.
"Uh, to put it more bluntly, Professor.. Hermione and I are way too familiar with each other. It'd be awkward. You know how we are. Knowing everything about each other and then holding each other and dancing… it just feels weird," Ron said, shuddering.
"…Right. Then do you want to invite Hermione?" Kasenhis asked again.
"What I mean is, Professor, Hermione feels like a ...brother to me. I can't exactly lay my magical hands on my brother, can I?" Ron shook his head.
"Lay your hands on a brother…" Kasenhis looked at Harry, then at Ron…
That line of thought was too dangerous. Far too dangerous…
"If you really can't find partners, would the two of you be willing to be each other's dance partners?" Kasenhis asked, pointing at Harry and Ron.
"Uh… it'd be a bit awkward, I guess. If people wouldn't focus their strange looks on us being the same gender, then maybe," Ron thought for a moment before answering.
"Then what's the problem? You're a boy, Hermione's a girl. If you invite her to be your partner, no one's going to say anything," Kasenhis said, clapping his hands.
Ron swallowed, his brows still tightly furrowed.
"Then I should…"
"Of course you should go find Hermione. Are you waiting for her to come to you?" Kasenhis said.
Ron hesitated for a second, then promptly sold Harry out. "Good brother, I'm going to invite Hermione. You're on your own!"
With that, Ron bolted out of the office. Harry pointed at himself with one finger. "Then what about me?"
"You? Do you have anyone you like?" Kasenhis asked.
"Professor, you know me. I'm a sigma male," Harry said, shaking his head.
"…How about asking Neville?" Kasenhis suggested.
"Neville already invited Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff," Harry said miserably.
"......…"
"......"
Just as the two of them were staring at each other in silence, Ron came back looking equally miserable.
"What happened? Didn't you find Hermione?" Harry asked.
Ron shook his head. "I did find her, but I was too late. Someone else asked her first."
Kasenhis raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Viktor… Krum!" Ron spat the name out through clenched teeth, for once without even a trace of admiration.
"Seems like you've got a lot of resentment there," Harry said with half-lidded eyes.
"So now one problem has turned into two?" Kasenhis asked in return.
The two turned to look at Kasenhis at the same time. "Obviously."
Kasenhis looked up at the ceiling and thought for a moment. This was a simple math problem.
1 + 1 = 0
Perfect!
Kasenhis revealed an indescribable smile. "So, here's the thing. Not too long ago, I ran into Severus, and he invented a special potion...…"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances. In each other's eyes, they both saw deep, heartfelt terror.
"Uh, Professor, I suddenly feel like we don't want to find dance partners anymore," Ron said as he started to leave—only to be grabbed and hauled back by Kasenhis's mechanical arm.
On the other side, Harry had a sudden realization. He couldn't wait for a partner to come to him—he had to take the initiative. He'd decided that the very first girl he met after walking out that door would be the one he invited.
He was hauled back as well.
"Professor, we suddenly feel that dance partners are still better invited in person."
Kasenhis looked at the two of them with a bright, cheerful smile.
_________
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