In the dining room, the Granger family gathered around the table, staring in mild horror at the thing resting on it.
"Er… Dobby, is this the cake you made?"
Hermione's expression was somewhere between restrained politeness and deep concern.
On the tray sat what could generously be described as a cake. It was a black, tar-like mass—gooey and irregular, with white cream smeared unevenly on top and a distorted sponge base barely holding it all together.
"This is the cake Dobby made especially for Miss Hermione!" the house-elf declared proudly, puffing out his little chest.
"Mrs. Granger taught Dobby herself!"
All eyes turned toward Mrs. Granger.
She gave a diplomatic smile, trying to keep Dobby's spirits high.
"He was very earnest about learning. It's… honestly impressive he got this far in one morning."
Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Since you personally taught him, Mum, why don't you taste the result of your teaching?"
Mrs. Granger's smile froze.
"Ah—well, I couldn't possibly! This was made for you, dear. It would be wrong to take something so personal."
Hermione sighed.
She glanced at Dobby, who was beaming with anticipation. No matter what the cake looked like, she couldn't bear to hurt him.
But still… was this thing even edible?
Her eyes shifted—and landed on her father, who was conveniently trying to disappear behind his morning newspaper.
"Dad~ want to try it?"
Mr. Granger lowered the paper with a cautious smile.
"Uh… I'm full."
Wrong answer.
Hermione's eyes narrowed again.
"Full from my Black Forest cake, aren't you?"
She folded her arms.
"Tell you what: if you take just one bite of Dobby's cake, I'll stop being angry. We'll call the dessert theft forgiven."
A moral dilemma danced in Mr. Granger's eyes. But in the end, his daughter's forgiveness proved the stronger motivator.
He stood, resolute.
"Alright. I'll eat it!"
With the grim determination of a man going to his death, he picked up a fork and knife and approached the "cake." The mixture on top squelched ominously but separated surprisingly cleanly under the knife.
Everyone held their breath.
"Awoo!"
He took a bite.
Then blinked.
"Surprisingly… it's not bad?"
"Really?!" Hermione leaned forward, wide-eyed.
"Really. Why don't you try it?"
"I don't want to."
"Then Kai should try!"
Before anyone could argue further, Kai and Dobby both suddenly turned toward the window.
A distant flapping grew louder—and then a scruffy, wobbly owl crash-landed through the open window, veering straight toward the table.
Its trajectory pointed directly at the cake.
"Dobby's cake!"
Dobby's eyes went wide in horror. He instinctively raised his hand to magically catch the owl—
"Dobby!"
Kai's sharp voice cut across the room.
Dobby froze.
The owl plummeted and slammed beak-first into the cake, which promptly exploded in a burst of cream and dough.
Kai smoothly pulled Hermione two steps back, dodging the splatter.
Across the table, Mr. Granger stood frozen, covered in whipped cream, a stunned look on his face.
Kai watched him, lips twitching in amusement.
"What a shame. I was just about to try it."
Mr. Granger blinked, then cautiously licked a dollop of cream from his cheek.
"Still… honestly not bad."
"Errol?!"
Hermione rushed forward and carefully extracted the dazed owl from the wreckage.
"That's Ron's owl."
Kai nodded.
"Then he must've sent a letter."
—
A short while later, the table had been cleaned up with a sweep of Kai's wand.
Mrs. Granger was comforting Dobby, who was visibly upset over his ruined culinary masterpiece.
Hermione sat beside the recovering owl, reading the letter aloud.
"The Weasleys won the lottery?"
She looked up at Kai.
"What kind of lottery?"
"Do you remember Ron mentioning his dad bought a ticket from The Daily Prophet a while back and didn't win?" Kai said.
"Looks like this time he actually did. Seven hundred Galleons."
Hermione's eyes widened.
"That's a huge amount—for the Weasleys, it must feel like a fortune."
"He can finally replace that broken wand," Kai added with a chuckle.
"It's more than that," Hermione said, tapping the letter.
"They're using the money to take the whole family on a holiday to Egypt. Bill works there."
She rested her chin on her hand, clearly envious.
"That Ron… he's obviously showing off."
Her eyes drifted toward the window.
"Egypt… I've read about the pyramids. Always wanted to see them in person."
Kai tilted his head slightly, a plan forming.
"Would you like to go?"
"Huh?"
"On a trip. Your family, maybe."
Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Yes! Let's go on a holiday!"
She turned toward her parents eagerly.
Mr. and Mrs. Granger shared a look—one that Kai immediately recognized as 'troubled parental guilt.'
"Sweetheart," Mrs. Granger began gently, "we'd love to. But Mr. Sebastian from the Vandenhyme family arranged for us to handle dental work for several noble clients during the summer."
"It's a rare opportunity, and they've already paid in advance. We can't back out."
Hermione's face fell.
"Oh… okay."
Kai smiled faintly.
"If Uncle and Aunt trust me, I can take Hermione on a trip."
Before her parents could speak, Hermione jumped up, eyes shining.
"Really?!"
Mrs. Granger hesitated.
"Just the two of you? What about safety—"
"Mum! With Kai, there's nothing to worry about!"
She wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders.
"Please? Pleeease?"
The Granger parents exchanged another long look, thinking back to Kai's otherworldly magical prowess—and the crater still left in the yard of their old home.
Finally, Mrs. Granger sighed.
"Alright. But you must be careful."
"Yay!"
Hermione squealed and immediately dashed off to her room.
Kai smiled at her retreating figure—long curls bouncing, joy radiating from her.
"Kai."
He turned. Mr. Granger was looking at him seriously now.
"We're entrusting Hermione to you."
Kai gave a small nod, his tone solemn.
"I understand. I'll protect her with everything I have."
—
At the doorway of her bedroom, Kai watched as Hermione excitedly rummaged through her trunk, already halfway packed.
"Are you really this eager to prove Ron wrong?"
Hermione flipped her hair.
"He started it. Acting like no one else can go on an adventure."
Kai chuckled.
She was brilliant, determined… and still, underneath it all, just a fiercely competitive young girl.
"No need to rush," he said, folding his arms.
"We won't be leaving right away."
Hermione paused.
"Why not?"
Kai's eyes darkened slightly.
"My… condition is about to flare up again."
The smile vanished from Hermione's face. Her light-hearted excitement melted into quiet seriousness as she turned fully toward him.
She knew exactly what he meant.