A post Order of the Phoenix, pre-Half bloodline Prince news report.

Please consider this a transposition of the sixth book, since it was begun well before the outlet of the half line Prince. I will not be changing this to accommodate the HBP plotline, since I feel that the Order of the Phoenix leaves a greater degree of flexibility for fan-fiction writer.

Thank you to all of the readers who have supported me throughout the penning of this piece.
I can not express my gratitude decent to all of you who have made me the phone number 1 favourite source, and this story the act 2 Favorite Story, the 7th nearly Read Story, the Most Reviewed narration Ever in the website 's story, and for several months between August and ahead of time November of 2005 the numeral 1 deary Story.







'' push. It permeates every living and inanimate thing. Without it, the world would cease to exist. ''
~ Vincent VonStolburg ~






Chapter 1 ~ Lightning smasher


Remus'middle narrowed, peering through the loggerheaded bombardment as rainfall pelted the Earth. He continued walking, not breaking formation even as piss sloshed about his mud-soaked ankles, chilling him to the bone.

Moving was becoming increasingly difficult and the heavyset woollen of his cloak clung awkwardly to his icy cutis. He wished he had possessed the farsightedness to don a lighter one, for moving certainly would receive been well-off.

But there had been little time to think on such details.

His heart burned, the stinging sensation growing until painful tears streamed down his face, his salty tears mixing with the rainfall before they reached his rim, leaving the taste of SALT weewee upon his clapper.

The stinging sensation grew worse. It happened whenever his rod cells multiplied, and right now the frenzy going on just behind his retinas was aiding him, bringing into staring focus the destruction of the night.

Cloaked images came to life, the moonless Nox no longer a factor as hoar images danced before him with unearthly clarity. It was the one small gift his monthly burden afforded him.

Nox imaginativeness.

His eyes turned from the world around him, flicking towards the blackened sky, noting the new moon. He had a couple week before the pain in his os returned.

Tonks fell into step besides him, giving an nonvoluntary shudder, and he caught her arm, helping her over another of the absolutely before she could stumble. Her eyes were still bloodshot from the last sentence it had happened.

She nodded thanks and they continued their sneak search. They dared not light their paths for fear of giving away their locating. Lingering Death eater could be anywhere.

She, unlike so many of the others, had volunteered for this. The others had been afraid, but he did not blame them.

A Reach had not been found in England for centuries. And the foul and loathsome Death eater would go to any lengths to find one. The evidence lay at their feet, and he was thankful that the deep shadow spared Tonks from seeing the full extent of tonight 's destruction. Only he could put up witness to its full repulsion.

Five Muggles had been slain this night. Their torn and mangle organic structure long since passed. There was nothing even the better of healers could do. All that was left was to pick through the mass murder, hoping against hope that a soul had survived.

He picked up the tempo. They had to complete their search before the ministry official arrived. By then they were to be gone, mere ghosts to have passed through, spiritual domain and unheard.

The past calendar week had brought a great deal of slaying. No ... butchery ...

This was his 7th such search that month alone, and still the stench of blacken cloth and burnt anatomy reeled him.

Muggle class were being polluted with the filth of Voldemort. And despite the parliamentary law 's best crusade, they had been powerless to barricade it.

'' Six ... '' Tonks whispered, barely audible. Her slender form was bent down, her shaking handwriting checking for a pulse on a young man, his once golden-blond hair matted thickly with coagulated blood.

Remus bent down, grasping her around the waistline as he helped her hike. In the heat of engagement she was fiery, unaffected by the horrors of fallen familiar. He had seen her ability to obturate such affair out firsthand in the department of Mysteries. But now, in the aftermath of something she had no mastery over, the steely glint was gone from her optic, her purposeful pace lost.

He pulled her forward, feeling her eyes linger upon the beat out skull of a man barely young than herself. He could feel its result on her as she quivered in his coat of arms. He wished to spare her further torment, but they had to continue.

'' Do you cerebrate when he is at the logic gate of Hell he will still trust it was deserving it ? '' She whispered shakily.

He wound his arm tighter around her shoulders, squeezing her arm gently. No countersign of reassurance were forthcoming, but he felt her still, calming under his touch.

The sick whoreson would pay. God did not let someone get away with such atrocities without payback. And he would see to that.

The Dark Divine had a new strategy. Snape had informed the order of magnitude workweek ago, but even now he still found it abyssal, for the vile being was no longer subject to experiment with magic.

No ... Now he was experimenting with magical creatures.

And people…

His architectural plan was to harness the powers of every magical being for himself. So he could channel them into his one acrid being.

If the thought of an even inviolable dark Lord was n't enough to frighten somebody, Remus did n't know what was. But that fear did zippo to quell his barely contained fierceness.

It was common knowledge that when emotions ran in high spirits, witches and virtuoso often lost control. Hell, he had lost numeration of how many times Harry had done exactly that.

Only now the last Eaters were using a Reach 's emotions against them. The hooded figures had crept in the refinement of night from home to home over the past hebdomad, killing each candidate 's family right in front of them. Their aim was to elicit an emotional reaction, one firm enough to expose the Reach 's admittedly potential.

It sickened him, how the Dark Godhead could belt down so many innocents, just to flush the range out of concealing.

But what was even more sickening was the Dark Maker 's program for the pathetic soul once they were found.

He was planning on utilizing their pedigree, granting him their power to drink down. And the mean value through which this would be accomplished…

He could only go for that if there were a Reach, that they would come up them first. Because while magical ability was now understood, a Reach was not.

Most witches and wizards developed magical ability at a Cy Young age. Though there were always the few destined to go Squibs, and there were always a few who developed it later on in life, in their stripling. It had turned out that magical power stemmed from a dominant gene, linked to the genes specifying line type. And the genetic codification Muggles possessed only differed by a few nucleotide, so it was sluttish for the mutation to arise randomly in Muggles, thus Muggleborns.

But a Reach was not a witch or mavin, they were not a Squib or a previous blooming necromancer.

They were something different entirely.

When their wizardly prowess came to realization, the same system that alerted the headmaster to the bearing of a new witch or wizard would go off.

Tonight that system had gone haywire. It had been slowly read Reading for the past five months.

Now it was going off again.

There was a person out there holding more than big businessman than they could properly wield.

And if Dumbledore was rectify, that meant there was a scope out there who had finally struck out.

The pathetic bastard.

Instinctively his arm scene out, halting Tonks roughly in piazza, his flesh out eyes roamed, scanning the ground of what had once been an ordinary bicycle home set far away from the major road. Now come apart floorboards littered the muddied ground, while smoke from the drench fires curled up in snake in the grass like tendrils, shrouding the reality from view. Yet his eyes penetrated its veil, searching for the flicker of crusade that had frozen him in place.

He clenched his fingers tighter around the conversant worn oak of his wand, bracing himself for whatever attempt would total.

None came.

It was then that he heard it. A soft choking amidst the storm 's howling steer.

He withdrew his arm, placing a finger carefully over Tonks'icy back talk, signaling her to be unsounded. The alone sign of her mix-up was the light crease of her brow. She would, of form, have no mind what he was looking for. Her hearing was not as refined as his.

But werewolf raciness did things like that to a soul.

It came again, a low, stifle moan, and he took off, rushing towards the generator. No attacker could feign that kind of botheration.

He skidded, flinging careen in the air as he bent down beside her. The piddle she was feebly pushing herself out of was a deep ignominious, filled with the blood of her and the lifeless man besides her. Her body spasmed with each choking hack as she coughed up inhaled water, her oculus glazed over from what he recognized as shock.

He pulled her up, speaking in low, reassuring tones as she flailed against him. She was too feeble to do much equipment casualty, even of the other kind ...

Tonks reached them, murmuring soothing words as she smoothed the daughter mud caked hair away from her face, brown water emerging from her lips as another round of spasms racked her consistency violently.

He took her appearing in, another unvoluntary cramp shaking her. Torn shards of what had once been clothing hung lightly from her, and the debris and detritus sticking to her wet aspect made her feature article impossible to make out.

He did n't know whether to praise the heavens or cuss them as he and Tonks exchanged a meaningful glance. They had to get her backbone to headquarters before something worse happened. Her articulatio humeri was in desperate need of suturing, and God only knew what else the bastards had done to her before leaving her for perfectly.

He let her cough up the balance of the water supply before stunning her. He hated doing it as he lifted her gimp form from the soil, but only one thing could have survived this.

And as weak as she was, he was n't bore to get on that thing 's bad side of meat. There was no sense in taking hazard.
* * * * *


The rain poured down in moth-eaten torrent as Harry shouldered his Scots heather, sprinting after Kingsley through the flying forming puddles of Greater London 's city streets. It was coming down in bucketful now, and if he had thought flying through the torrential waterspout had been bad it was nil compared to the pounding of his feet on the slick paving.

Moody 's pharyngeal growling sounded off to his right hand, not that he could see him, the pelting was too deep to see much of anything. big H clapped, shaking him to the core, and the lightning flashed shockingly, illuminating the area to bring out enjoin members running in social status around him, splashing water as they went.

Little Phoebe of them had shown up at the Dursleys barely an hr ago, reminding him of that night, barely a year ago, when an escort team had shown up in the Dursley 's kitchen to whisk him away to Grimmauld Place.

Only this night was different.

Promises of meeting with Tonks and Lupin in London were hissed quickly as Kingsley and Moody levitated his things, cramming them hastily into his luggage compartment, and he had not missed how McGonagall 's eyes had roamed the elbow room guardedly. Even stern, steadfast McGonagall was frightened.

Tonight truly was different.

He blinked rapidly, trying vainly to extract the water cascading into his eyes, but it was to no avail. His field glass were too densely coated with rain droplets, and he desperately racked his head for the spell Hermione used to repel water. For his wand was out, and he could use it. The Ministry had removed the decree for the restriction of Underage wizardry that summertime. Dumbledore had headed up the motion, arguing that the return of Voldemort endangered witches and wizards of all ages, and that in the upshot of an approach, scholar should be resign to fight down themselves without the fear of repercussions.

The empty lot materialized between two run down houses, and he looked quickly at the small slip of sopping wet report dripping from his hand, hesitant to brush off his milieu for even a second when the foreboding fear of blast hung so densely about him.

He read it silently before looking up. The run down magical rest home, in the midst of Muggle London, now stood revealed to him.

Grimmauld station.

lupine materialized at the top of the creaky wooden step looking worse for the vesture. His normally threadbare clothing was now ragged and rake stained, his middle holler and sunken, holding the look of fair game that knew its predator to be near.

Harry stepped through the doorway, stomping his feet on the shaggy rug, slinging mud everywhere as the others piled in. He swallowed the gawk in the stand of his throat, pulling his eyes from the squashy floor, forcing himself to require in his surroundings. A man named Dorbert impudence could be heard triggering the complicated locking trance on the straw man doorway.

A loud boom reverberated through the theater, shaking the bulwark as indistinct voices argued in the distance. Yet this did not bother him. Even his rarity as to why he had been pulled so untimely from his bed could not best the despair that had hit him like a bludger. In the heat of the subspecies they had ran he had forgotten one thing.

That they were taking him to Sirius's…

This house had never been joyful, but now it seemed a hollow plate of what could have been. It stood as a painful reminder of the scratch of a life that he and his godfather could make salvaged. But that lifespan was gone now.

War brought casualties, casualties brought botheration, and pain in the neck brought emptiness.

That was how he had felt since that night. Empty. There was nothing that could satiate the vacuum. Not even the impending scourge of facing Voldemort in years to do could draw him feel anything but despair again.

Mundungus cleared his throat, turning all heads towards him as he beckoned for everyone to quietly construct their way to an adjoining way. He followed, his sopping wet apparel weighing him down with every footfall he took. But zilch could press him down as much as the memories ... As much as the encumbrance haunting him ... The one they should sustain told him ...

Realization hit him hard, like sudden submerging into the icy waters of the northern artic, as he wondered what they were not telling him tonight.

He glanced towards Lupin who stood protectively next to him, opening his mouth to speak, to ask, but he let it dither shut. He remembered all too well that Dumbledore would not allow them to tell him anyway. They never told him anything when it could actually make a departure ...

But even if they had told him, right then, it would n't consume mattered. There was no way any of them could get known what would happen from that Nox 's effect. At least not yet ... None of them were seeing past their motivation to get him to a safe fix, so they could not bear known that the Nox marked a turning point in his life, as well as in the life of the only subsister of Voldemort 's first wave of blast.

The war had begun.
* * * * *


Throbbing pain ... bloodline ... rallying cry of botheration ....

'' It 's a miracle she survived .... '' `` Ah ... but was 'hat really a dear thing Professor ? ''

Dim representative filtered into her thoughts, her eternal sleep befuddled head protesting strongly as it failed to comprehend a single word.

'' ... has a prospect. ''

heartbeat of spark ... .flame ... Coughing smoke ... squeal of tyre ... .Sean ....

She awoke jarringly, her painful moan drowned out by the voices.

Voices that were forgetful to her waking up. Voices oblivious to the way her body recoiled in pain. Voices oblivious to how her eyes teared from the shining sunlight pouring in from the windows of the unlucky room. Voices oblivious to how she clawed like a frightened fauna at the thick sympathiser wrapped around her battered and bruised body.

Everything she loved was now gone. No explanation would be needed for her to read what they had done.

What she had done ...

A new despair hit her like a thousand hot tongue, slicing her hide in a way the worst of the burn spells could not make.

She had done the unthinkable ....

New undulation of pain pour out Forth River, her imaginativeness swimming dangerously with each pulsating hurting her body dealt. She would have cried out, but the exploit would deliver been too much for her fragile mannikin. Instead she drew in ragged breathing place until her body gave out, the audio of a door creak and a big, dark-skinned descriptor standing over her vaguely registered before she once again slipped into merciful oblivion.
* * * * *


The dreams were always the like ....

For nearly a month she had refused to succumb to the nightly badgering. She was stronger than that. She would not recede herself to the world of nightmares, even if the books she had read on such things deemed that a more merciful fate than the one the wizarding world would add upon her.

But they did not yet know. Dumbledore had assured her of that. It had been nearly a month since she had come there. Nearly a month since Dumbledore had explained everything to her. Nearly a month since she had vowed to regain some color of a formula life. She wanted that more then anything, so bad she could try it. But she would never be normal.

No ... since the day she had regained consciousness she had discovered that she had been, and always would be, a freak. Hagrid had jokingly told her that she was a freak amongst freaks.

Thanks Hagrid ... She thought bitterly, rolling in bed. She was in a hut not unlike Hagrid 's own, just outside of the school day. It was safer this way ... At least for now.

She drew in a shallow breath, letting her sobs subside slowly before Hagrid could get word. She had dreamt about it again. About that night. visual sense of blood and shrill screams had filled her nous 's eye each nighttime since as she dreamt about their deeds ...

Her deeds ...

She wiped the lingering tears that clung to her eyelashes, swallowing her own self-loathing. She would not fight it, for she deserved every bit of pain in the ass bestowed upon her. She would brood in it until it had permeated every fiber of her being. That much was the least of what she deserved.

But the others ... They had not deserved it. They had been innocents caught up in something bighearted than all of them.

And the ones who had started it all ...

They deserved so very much big.

Everything serious and pure in her animation had been gone for calendar week. It was with a cold clarity that she realized this. For now she lived for one purpose, and one design alone.

Revenge.
* * * * *


Harry lay on the top bunk staring at the cap, watching the way shadows played across it as twinkle from passing car headlights shone in through the windowpane. Ron 's loud snores drifted up, breaking the secretiveness like a bullhorn with every hint, and it was taking every inch of the willpower he possessed, to not lean over and taste his friend senseless with his pillow.

He sighed loudly, wondering when it was all going to end. Each day the Daily seer brought news of Thomas More kill, more unexplained disappearances, and of more war. For several weeks he and Ron had been catching tidbit of entropy, slip ups by the grownup in Grimmauld stead, and right now it sounded like the Ministry was in right-down mayhem. Not that he minded that fact. Anything that made Fudge 's job harder amused him immensely. What he did mind was the reason for the mayhem, and that was Voldemort.

Voldemort. It was odd really, how one someone could be the cause of so a great deal death and demolition. No one should have that a great deal power, he thought bitterly, thinking of the toll that the Muggle Death were taking on Mr. Weasley, Ron 's father.

Mr. Weasley was the soul employee in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department, and recently, with the strain on imagination in the Ministry, it had come to reduplicate as the Department of Muggle Relations. Now Mr. Weasley spent half his time performing retention spell on Muggle law enforcement, to enshroud up the deaths of Muggles who had been murdered by Death eater. Now every time Harry saw Mr. Weasley, all the man could talk about were different possible scheme for protecting the Muggle population.

Now if only a commodity strategy actually existed.

He rolled restlessly, spying Hedwig 's gleaming eyes in the wickedness. She hooted softly in citation, and he smiled in the dark despite his morose sentiment.

Memories plagued him every time he closed his center now. The Department of Mysteries ... It was why he now lay awake.

He had willingly, foolishly, led them all into risk. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville ...

Hermione had nearly been killed.

Sirius had ... ..

He shoved the call back aside, re-vowing that it would never happen again.

The trick was in figuring out how.

To protect them, he had tried to blatantly push them away, but they had seen right through that. He had refused to indite, and his self-induced isolation ended when both of them showed up at the Dursleys while his relative were on holiday. The two of them set up residence there the entire week, Order penis circling the premises like hawk for security measures, while his friends had infuriated him to no end. However, he had finally realized that they were n't going to go away. If he was going to distance himself he 'd have to do it slowly.

Yes. A gradual drifting would be best.

It was with these view in mind, that he drifted off into another night of fitful sleep. If only he could have known then what the next few years would convey.





Disclaimer : The part, places, names, and issue mentioned in this tale, that coincide with the characters, place, names, and events mentioned in J.K. Rowling 's Harry Potter series, do not belong to me, but to that literary genuis, JKR. Thank you so much for allowing so many of us to prosecute writing through fanfiction JKR, we really appreciate it.

The mythic banner is by SticksN'Stones.

Artwork of Kalliandra by agirlnamedbob87.





'' One may never know how long their candle of living 's wick is. What they can know, is how well it burns. ''
~ A.K. Lovell



Chapter 2 - First mental picture


Her eyes flickered over the lake 's glazed surface, taking in the shimmering mirror image of the early on aurora dawn. The sun was barely risen and the raspberry still slumbered, but this had become the average for her over the past week. She simply no longer saw the use in sleeping when guilt plagued her even there.

A light breeze ruffled the water, tousling her tomentum gently in its wake. She casually brushed her whispy strands back, tucking them carelessly behind her ear.

Her hair had always been a source of frustration, always in the way, hanging in forepart of her centre, driving her instructors crazy. No ponytail ever held for long, for her thick, sheeny hair had a way of worming its way out. It was as if it preferred to be free and untethered.

sort of like me ...

She swore silently, the rippling waves now running across the lake the only witness to her frustration as she stood. If she was not back soon Hagrid would waken and find her gone. Of course here would be the start blank space he looked, but with as tardy as he always ran he would not be pleased with her absence, particularly when they had places to go that afternoon.

Diagon alleyway. The very distinguish evoked so many emotions. It was hard for even her to choke them down.

Not that she was allowed to show sorrowfulness. Emotions were no longer a privilege she had.

She had been warned of the dangers of such thing.

Her bare groundwork crunched upon the dewy grass, but the early forenoon frisson did not trouble her. She reached into her pocket, fingering the cherry wooden Earth's surface of her wand before pulling it out, studying it appraisingly as she traversed her way across the ground.

They were odd looking things really. Long and thinly, and from the tone of it, easily breakable. She suppressed the sudden urge to do just that, knowing full well that nothing could be gleaned from such destructive cadence.

It would not deepen anything, except her humor, but even that could not be improved measurably by the snapping of her symbolic perdition.

Of course, seeing Hagrid 's face when he found the snapped remains might be rather amusing. Especially with the huge raft he had made over how lucky she was, getting a specially made wand from Ollivander. It was n't like she had wanted one, and the solitary rationality the quirky man had fabricated it thus was because none of the very wands that he had brought to the school had so much as activate.

So in what the odd man had called a cam stroke of inspiration, he had custom designed the one she now bore, forming the core with a ignition lock of her own hair and a pinprick of her own origin. She could n't even return how many spell had to be woven into it.

It was funny, for her baton was the only affair she could cajole into working at least somewhat decently, and still she hated it.

Probably because it shares the same fortune as you, she thought bitterly, glancing at the ever rising sun.

Jacob 's ladder now streamed down from the cloud, forming kitty of luminousness on the vibrant pot, giving evidence to the warmth the day would bring.

It was a warmness that would never reach her.

A slightly firm breeze bore the sound of approaching hooves, and she turned towards the Forbidden woodland, the outline of wings folding into a horse 's pinched trunk signaled Silverthorne 's reaching.

Silverthorne would be pleased. Now he would not suffer to wait for her to interchange out of her nightly garments before getting his Mustela nigripes fix for the day.

She stopped and waited, his gallop growing louder with his speedy approach, and a small smile graced her passive lips. Hagrid and Dumbledore had been as howling as they could be, but there was often they kept hidden from her. suspicion informed her of this with every fleeting look they exchanged around her.

Perhaps that cognition could explain her ill will as of late. Hagrid was a good man and had not deserved the brunt of her wrath the old day. They had been arguing as of late. But then again, she deserved to be informed of everything regarding herself. Keeping her in the dark could only cause far impairment. This she was convinced of.

Silverthorne let out a low, guttural grunt as he slowed to a canter, stopping to nestle her with his nose.

A creature of the perfectly. It was one of the more untoward names Thestrals were referred to by, but it explained why she had felt an instantaneous hook to them while the other animals screeched and howled in her presence.

His teeth glinted in the red hues of the morn and she smiled, delight with the passel. It should have concerned her, but instinct again told her there was nothing to fear with him.

At least so long as he gets his forenoon snack, she reminded herself with some entertainment, picturing how he would tear through the small creature 's bones so eagerly.

She smiled again, letting the business organization of yesterday bye. She would rationalize to Hagrid later before they reached Diagon Alley to get her 'school'supply. She used the word fleetingly for while she was to attend Hogwarts, she was too far behind to be expected to actually sour in grant with the rest of the sixth years. Instead she was to put up a worthy façade until she gained the knowledge that could help her.

Then there was the small factor of her being completely unable to incant in the first place.

No one would be the wiser to why she was really there. Dumbledore 's trump up stories would not only check out, but they were even believable to an extent. He would gage her if anyone questioned them. That was her solitary sculptural relief in this entire hell.

The perdition that had become her life.

Kalliandra pulled herself onto Silverthorne and squeezed her bare heels around him, his bony ribs protruding into her tegument in the process. He took off quickly, carrying them both towards Hagrid 's hut at a pace abyssal to any man, but not to them.

* * * * *



'' I ca n't believe Fred and George I, I mean they already got me one set of dress robes, they did n't need to do it again. ''

Harry laughed as he watched Ron squirm uncomfortably, the magical tapeline measuring rod flying vertically around his ally 's no longer gangly torso, magically recording the length of his implements of war, legs, height, and for some odd rationality, the distance between his ears.

He knew exactly why Ron 's brothers were getting him wearing apparel robe, but he was n't about to ploughshare that bit of information. Not when he was actually enjoying himself for the first time in week.

'' Well we did n't need them last yr, '' He pointed out truthfully. `` And we do this year. So maybe they just felt bad since your growth spurt rendered your other single unwearable. ''

'' Thank God for that, '' Ron grunted, slouching as the touchstone flew past his nose, only to be smacked atop the head since it no longer seemed to give care about doing it 's job peacefully. In fact, if Harry had n't known better, he would accept thought it was offended.

'' Blimey ! Watch it ! '' Ron exclaimed, ducking another near hit, his animal foot entangling in the longsighted apparel robes trailing past his animal foot.

'' Ron… '' Harry warned, but it was too lately. Ron had already tumbled over backwards, arms flailing as he took a wrack of robes with him, plummeting tumultuously to the priming coat.

'' Oww ... bloody ... tetchy ... ''

Harry very nearly choked on thin air, quite a feat, had it not been for the loud pealing of laughter he was trying to miserably repress as he caught the residual of Ron 's maunder profanities.

Of course, he thought lightly, his best mate might not be muttering the colourful metaphors if he could see the feeling on the sales clerk 's nerve ... Or the fact that she was storming over from where she had been attempting to size a maiden twelvemonth for his Hogwarts robes, face alit, hands on hips, heart narrowed vindictively at the mess Ron lay in.

Right then, with the impeccably bad timing that only Ron could master, his friend 's red top dog emerged from the affray, a bright tap tack wrapped around it like a shawl, and a sheepish face on his face as he stammered excuse. The view must give birth been too a great deal for the clerk, because her back talk twitched, her serious expression faltered, and all pretense of anger vanished as she failed to be discerning about her own amusement.

'' Oh heavens youngster ! '' She exclaimed in aggravation, clutching her side hard. `` I dare say you might require to take that off before anyone else sees you in it ! ''

Ron stood up, disentangling himself from the various framework while Harry laughed.

'' You know mate, I think Madam Maulkin 's got it all ill-timed. I think that 's an first-class flavour for you. Imagine what Hermione would conceive ... ''

Suddenly he was finding it impossible to discern Ron 's auricle from the rest of his tangled matt of hair.

'' Oh shut it Harry ! ''

Harry grinned, enjoying his protagonist fleeting discomfort. `` Speaking of Hermione ... '' He said, calming down slightly. `` She should be here any minute so perhaps you could ask her for her civilize opinion ... ''

A brilliant pink satin fuzz flew across the room, and he caught it deftly, holding it out in front of him as he looked at it in mock appraisal. `` Ron, I 'm affected. But it 's really not my coloring material. You however looked absolutely spiffing in it. ''

'' You sure bout that Harry ? I 'd be thinkin'that it 'd be clashing with his red hairsbreadth to a greater extent than yers. ''

Now there 's another receive voice ! He thought happily. Leaving the Durselys had been not bad, but he had sourly missed Hagrid.

It was possibly due to this, that he whorled around in his seat so fast that he nearly slid off, earning several tatty snort from a certain chuckling redhead tangled in fabric.

'' Hagrid ! When did you get here ? '' He asked, ignoring Ron 's assay reenactment. He took in his large champion standing awkwardly near the chairs.

They really should make depot more approachable for hoi polloi his size ... He thought, making a mental tone to note the mind to Hermione as Hagrid opened his large mouth.

'' About five bit ago Harry. And I stand by what I said. '' A mischievous grin formed under Hagrid 's scruffy brown beard as his eyes landed on Ron. `` Hot pink would be clashin'horribly with Ron 's pilus. ''

A loud tearing sound tore his attention back to Ron, and he stifled yet another gag at the alarm verbal expression on Ron 's face. By all appearances, Ron had attempted to walk from the fitting chopine to where he and Hagrid sat by the windowpane, only now Ron was staring down at the ripped framework hanging raggedly from the hem of his new dress robes.

'' Now that's why you 're supposed to stay put ! '' Madam Maulkin snipped, spying the new destruction and waving her wand. The fabric flipped up like a snake, a with child needle zooming to doctor it. Ron attempted to jump back away from it.

'' It wo n't bite you know ! '' gentlewoman Maulkin yelled, huffily storming over. `` dick maybe ... ''

Ron did not look relieved at the thought. Of course of study, the agonize formula might feature been from how Madam Maulkin grabbed him by the nape of his taking into custody and yanked him back to the fitting chopine, where she immediately began to overprotect over the dire state of his robes.

'' wagerer finish you first since you ca n't place upright still. '' She quipped in her high tilt spokesperson. `` And to call back that this morning I would cause sworn it was the unseasoned students who gave me the most trouble ... ''

Ron shot him a pleading facial expression to which he grinned bemusedly, chuckling at how Ron reacted to being fussed over. The guy could hardly permit his mother 's own tending, let alone that of the seamstress !

Probably why he 's still squirming come to call up of it…

He turned back to Hagrid, leaving Ron to resist for himself. `` So did one of your creatures get a hold of your teaching robes or did Fang do it ? '' He asked, grinning knowingly. Hagrid 's brute were always tearing his wearing apparel, which would excuse why half his garments were covered in mismatched patching.

Hagrid grinned and shook his head. `` Nah Harry, for once me robes are hunky-dory. Right now I 'm 'ere with Kalliandra gettin'her some robes of 'er own. Speakin'of 'er, ca n't wait for yer two to forgather 'er. She 's an absolute doll she is. ''

He nodded, curiosity driving him as he wondered who this Kalliandra character was. Must be a first year or really young. He was sure he would have remembered that public figure at least.

But in the back of his brain he felt a twinge of pity.

Generally there was only one reasonableness for why Hagrid took anyone to get school supplying, and he was all too companion with such things.

At least Hagrid will picture them a thoroughly metre, he mused, remembering his first trip to Diagon Alley. He opened his mouth to ask if they were from a wizarding or Muggle phratry, concluding that it must be a first-class honours degree year from the way Hagrid was still babbling on about them.

'' Ah there ya are, '' Hagrid boomed, cutting him off at the straits.

He followed Hagrid 's gaze towards the trying on rooms, taking in the relatively busy storage when a not unfamiliar sensation hit him like a bludger, his stomach twisting oddly as his optic landed on a slim figure, glancing around the store hesitantly.

And I thought Hermione looked adept in dress robe, he thought, swallowing hard, berating himself for being distracted. But this daughter was stunning, in an offbeat sort of way. While her characteristic were rather plain, her long, golden dress robe clung loosely to her slender legs, with her fragile manus lifting the hem, revealing tan ankles as she moved towards them.

The nether region of it was, she was n't stopping. Ron 's grunt was the exclusively matter that kept him from outright gaping as she came to brook rightfulness by him, biting her lip nervously, eyes directed at Hagrid.

'' So you found some eh ? '' Hagrid asked, shooting Harry a wide grin, failing to notice that he had become a mute.

The girl nodded slowly, her center glancing at him appraisingly for a indorsement before flickering away. `` If you could call it finding ... '' She said, a hint of sarcasm blend into her otherwise pleasant speaking vocalisation. `` It was more like being attacked with this ... '' She lifted the hem of the gown for vehemence.

'' And my supporter did a fine job young peeress. That color suit you, '' brothel keeper Maulkin chimed out, shocking him back to his good sense. He silently thanked her, and glanced over to see that she was still indeed, judging by his admirer 's offended expression, torturing Ron.

He shook his headland whimsically at the sight, glancing back at the little girl in front of him, thinking that Madam Maulkin had a breaker point about the gloss suiting her. Her colored golden hair cascaded loosely past her articulatio humeri, several short filament framing her face, lightly brushing her apprehension pearl. All of it was barely discernable from the silky robe material clinging to her willowy physical body.

Briefly he wondered if it were a blessing or a crime to tolerate miss out like that.

He pulled his gaze back to Hagrid, loath to be caught staring.

Fortunately Hagrid had not noticed, and the girl was too occupy bickering with him.

Spying that his attention was again re-focused, Hagrid shot him a strained grin. `` Ah well ... Harry, Ron, this 'ere be Kalliandra. She 'll be goin'to Hogwarts this fall to. ''

'' Youffa meanuh uh transforra ? '' Ron 's muffled voice called out from under the cotton sheath Maulkin was vigorously forcing over his head. `` Weff neffa haf uh transsfuh befuh. ''

'' What ? '' Hagrid and him immediately shot out, not understanding one word.

'' You have a very ... large ... head ... '' Maulkin muttered with each subsequent Northerner, and Hagrid 's guffaw of laugh drowned out Ron 's indignant retort. Harry glanced back at Kalliandra to see her watching the spectacle, a hint of a grinning tracing its way across her lips.

'' I asked ... '' Ron 's slightly aggravated voice called out clearly, `` If she was a transfer, because we 've never had one before. ''

Harry turned back to Kalliandra, to see the fragile smile that had indorsement ago graced her lineament vanish.

The look she now bore stirred something within him ... But what ? He could not put his finger on it, but he now found himself staring at the top of her head, for she had begun pointedly looking down at the storey.

Maybe she had found Ron'doubt offensive, though he could n't conceive of why. He shot Hagrid a teasing look, hoping he 'd clarify things since Kalliandra did n't look about to do so.

'' Yev 're had transfer, jerst fer former Houses. ``

Harry frowned, `` Then why did we never see them sorted ? ``

'' Yeamph, wuff weff neevah seen 'em ... '' Ron grumbled, his robe once again muffling his words.

Hagrid eyed Ron with no minor sum of money of amusement. `` fountainhead that 'd be reason they came in the heart of the yer. Ca n't let erm sorted at the sortin'when they 've missed it already. ``

'' Oof ! '' Ron grunted, extricating himself from the surplusage fabric. `` So why the transfer ? Did her parents move or something ? ''

'' Yeah, somethin'like that, '' Hagrid said suspiciously, sounding rather similar to the way he had whenever he was keeping something from them.

Like a full grown giant in the woods ...

Or a three headed dog ....

Or a pet flying dragon ...

Seeing a one-half elephantine squirm beneath one 's gaze would normally be quite a funny occurrence, but it simply made Harry nervous as Hagrid continued shuffling his foundation, mumbling about proper first appearance, while the lady friend remained extremely calm down.

Harry feigned a polite smiling, extending his handwriting to the little girl at Hagrid 's insistence. `` Nice to meet you. ''

She hesistated for the briefest of second base, before finally extending her bridge player as well.

'' A joy ... '' She said quietly, her eyes flickering up to come across his.

It was a shock he had been ill prepared for, for her eyes held a trace of the familiar… So closely akin to the haunted look of Sirius'that he felt himself shaken to the core at the liberty.

'' Y-yes, '' He got out, releasing her warm hand quickly, chills shooting through him.

The polite smile she had shot him flicker and disappeared abruptly.

'' Oh blimey ! '' Hagrid gasped hurriedly, startling him from his sentiment. `` Kalliandra do ye mind if I leave ye 'ere with them for a minute ? I wo n't be a tick. Just forgot to do somethin'but wo n't be long. ''

It was a curiosity Hagrid had even asked, because he was already waving so long to all three of them, not waiting for a reception. And from the malevolent glare that Kalliandra shot him, he really could n't blame him.

'' Like he gave me a pick ? '' She muttered, deflating, her eyes no longer holding the obsessed quality of before. Maybe it had never been there. He really ought to have slept longer ... With all his turbulent thought as of lately running game through his mind he simply was n't thinking straight.

'' It may possess been important, '' He pointed out awkwardly.

'' Yes, you 're probably right field ... '' She said faintly, her voice so voiced he scarcely heard her. Though her surprisingly gentle intonation did nothing to quit the rough quality of her glare as her constrict centre followed Hagrid 's retreating form. In fact, she was still shooting daggers out the threshold as the assistant yanked her over to the clear fitting platform besides Ron seconds later.

Harry decided not to dwell on the looking he had seen, the one so painfully familiar to Sothis. It had probably been his resourcefulness, so he contented himself with trying to decide which of the two looked more dissatisfied. Kalliandra kept shutting her center, as if frightened by the witch tape measure flicking around her head, while Ron kept shooting scowl at dame Maulkin.

'' You know we 've never had a transfer before. At to the lowest degree not one that I can recall, right Harry ? '' Ron stated, glaring down at Maulkin as she marked his cuffs with chalk, determining the length of his sleeve.

He was about to agree when Kalliandra cut him off.

'' fountainhead you 've obviously had one now. ''

The assistant flicked her wand, shortening Kalliandra 's robes slightly. It was all Harry could do to fend off cursing the assistant. Girl 's gown should get no shorter ...

'' You know that wo n't bite ? ''

Harry found that oddly amusing, considering that Ron had been ducking the identical thing himself, but at least his friend had not been standing chalk still like a deer in headlight.

Kalliandra had though.

She opened her eyes, arching an inquisitive supercilium at Ron rather than answering him, and Harry noticed her visibly flinch as the flying tape measure zoomed close again.

Ron 's brow furrowed slightly at her lack of responsiveness. `` The tape quantity ... That 's what I meant. '' He stated awkwardly, looking at her as if waiting for substantiation that she had indeed, heard him.

She just nodded, turning her head to await out the doorway. Ron shot him an annoyed, 'Can you believe this ?'look.

He had to admit Ron had a full point, she did not seem very personable, and did not seem too excite about talking, so he was n't about to force her. Yet something about her aroused his curiosity. If only he could put his finger upon it ...

Several arcminute passed, the ill-chosen silence broken only be Ron 's random outbursts of displeasure, and Kalliandra 's quiet reply to the assistant 's questions. Unsurprisingly she was the first one done, and he found himself having a unvoiced prison term not staring at her now that the attire gown were completely fitted around her word form. The thing was classy, refined, and practically form accommodation ...

'' Hey how come she got done so flying ? '' Ron asked indignantly, as Kalliandra made her way back to the changing rooms, the bottom of her dress gown gathered in her hands as she walked carefully. She seemed unused to walking in something of the sort.

'' Because she, unlike some of my client, actually held still while we measured her, '' gentlewoman Maulkin quipped from where she knelt on the base, using her sceptre to micturate minor adjustments to the hem of Ron 's gown.

She flashed Harry an invisible instant, and he barely caught it, smiling slightly at her before glancing back to see Kalliandra disappear behind a changing way curtain. He could n't help but palpate slightly relieved. Between his peculiarity about this girl and Ron 's limelight, he did not require to be caught staring at her. And he knew he 'd be a lot less prone to doing that once she was out of that damnable robe.

Of course he was wrong, because when she re-emerged he found the short sleeved top she wore to be no respectable than the low cut lineage the robe had bore.

'' Ahem. ''

He tore his eyes away from where she stood by the counter, to see a disapproving Ron shaking his caput firmly. He appeared to be mouthing, 'No'at him.

semen to recall of it, Ron seemed to be making disgusted faces as well.

Harry failed to give birth the chance to so much as shrug in response to Ron 's repulsive like gestures in the young lady 's counsel, before a quiet clatter broke the congeneric silence of the way. He turned to see Kalliandra squatting down on the floor, picking up tiny peg in her script.

The confounded assistant stood behind the counter, bearing a slight smile. `` Oh honey, thank you, but do n't worry about that. I 'm as clumsy as can be ... '' The assistant flicked her scepter and the slight pins scattered all over the lieu disappeared, reappearing into the pin cushion held in Kalliandra 's hand.

'' See, I 'm knocking material over all the time, '' The assistant continued, while the girl stared at the now filled pin cushion, biting her lowly lip, confusion etched into each of her characteristic.

He did n't go wrong to note it.

It 's like she 's never seen magic before ...

There was no time to fall out that absurd train of mentation, for Kalliandra had already stood, thanked the woman, and disappeared out the front entrance with her bag.

'' Was n't she supposed to expect for Hagrid ? '' Ron asked after a moment 's interruption, brow wrinkled confusedly.

Ron was proper, she was supposed to waitress for Hagrid. Harry hesitated a moment, an internal public debate waging until curiosity got the better of him. Wasting no to a greater extent time he jumped from his seat and went after her.

He wanted to see where she was going.











'' And after all, what is a lie ? 'T is but a the the true in masquerade. ''
~ George V Gordon Yuletide Sixth Baron Byron of Rochdale, Lord Byron~







Chapter 3 ~ Entangled Webs



Traversing her way through the swarming, cobble streets of Diagon Alley, she let out an unsteady breath.

To the core she had been undeniably, inexplicably, shaken. And all because of a scattered pile of tholepin upon the flooring of a garment shop, and her own piteous attempts to remediate a clerk 's clumsiness.

Magic.

Yet again it had been unceremoniously thrown in her fount, for mavin and beldam had it at their disposal.

The Oklahoman she became accustomed the better.

She could not afford to be seen or discovered for what she really was, for in all her incompetence in the craftiness that made this hide Earth of sorcery flourish, she would be left naked and exposed, the event of what had lain both within and far flung from her appreciation unthinkable.

Butchered for who she was… The possibility was zero less than she deserved, for one such as herself should not be allowed to take the air upon the bustling streets, the feel of the most luminescent of the welkin'ball warming her skin, the light clatter of pebbles being kicked askew and the laugh of children ringing within the respite of her auditory senses.

No. There were others who deserved such perquisite far more than she, though they now lay where the sun could no longer accomplish their wintry somebody. And with them, lay the semblance of who she had once been.

She had died the same day they had succumbed, despite the rhythmic pounding within her chest.

She had not been fooled though, certainly not by Dumbledore 's scarcely concealed half-truths. She knew the pulsating round within her to be pass off, it was simply the reasons for this that she was unaware.

She was going to retrieve out.

It was why she had left, fleeing in hopes of traversing her way through the densely packed streets, making her way towards the looming marble edifice, the golden words Gringotts banking concern emblazoned across its off-white surface.

After barely a hundred paces the pillar of the wizarding commercial message beau monde emerged over the read/write head of the crowd. Its supporting column leaning in various direction, their haphazard backup for the upper levels of the edifice strengthened with the sorcery filling the streets.

Though it was not there that she wished to go.

It was there, directly across from the hobgoblin filled depositary. That was where she desired to go to seek out her answers. Turning down the dark alley she noted a rickety house suspended above it 's entryway bearing the jaggedly cut up words Knockturn Alley.

Yes, she had been forewarned of its shady characteristic. She had carefully listened to Hagrid 's babbling about it, about how he hated to venture down it each clock time he found himself in need of Flesh Eating punch repellant, and about how objective of the illicit variety could be procured.

She was an object of the outlaw miscellany, and if there was anywhere to bump espousal within the beau monde that demanded Gustavus Franklin Swift instruction execution for those of her nature, it would be here.

Hagrid had been none the wiser, content to answer her every head about the grim alley. He had even inadvertently supplied her with the figure of the man to whom she wished to speak, Mr. Borgin.

Kalliandra had a design, and it would soon be set in motion.
* * * * *



'' You know Kinglsey loosening up could do you curiosity. I mean really, when was the last prison term you took an honest vacation ? ``

Kingsley Shacklebolt let out an umbrageous huff, raucously shoving his way through the thick crowd grunting about insubordination. Tonks only recourse was to pluck her eyes, further darkening the reddened hue that her foreman'face was beginning to take on.

'' Nymp-ha-dora, '' Kingsley grunted, sounding strained. `` If you ever… ''

'' Kingsley, Harry is perfectly up to of taking attention of himself for to a greater extent than five minutes, '' She said amicably. `` And besides, how was I supposed to find fault up Remus'birthday gift for hi.. ''

'' Tonks…

Casting a squint coup d'oeil at the aged Order member she came to a hitch in the center of attention of traffic, ignoring the protest of the beldame and whiz around them, who were now being forced to walk a full two ft to the side to deflect them. For all their complaining one would believe she was inciting a riot, not stopping for a confabulation with her slightly formidable boss.

speaking of Kingsley, he looked like he was either suppressing the desire to throttle her, or in the beginning stage of cardiac arrest.

Frowning she regarded him concernedly. `` Are you familiar with hypertension Kingsley ? ``

A turgid nervure was beginning to pulsate in the man 's frontal bone, and he leaned low. `` Dam n't Tonks ! '' He hissed. `` This is not a game ! ``

She nodded, squinting up at the taller figure in the shining sunlight. `` A fact I 'm well cognisant of, '' She said pointedly, her late pretenses of humor vanishing. `` But the Order is constantly hovering over Harry, convinced that he is an incompetent person 16 year old. Yet I have never heard of a 16 class old who has survived as mu… ''

A rather large hand clamped over her back talk, and she found herself being roughly drug away from the cobblestone streets into a back alley, away from the ears of passersby.

'' Tonks you should know better than to… ''

'' Than to what ? '' She shot back in thwarting. `` Than to discuss what Harry has been through in the open ? ''

She did not even await for his nod of avouchment before continuing on her tirade. `` Why should we be silent Kingsley ? Lord knows these ignorant multitude need a aftermath up song, not that the Ministry is giving them one with their censorship of the papers and… ''

With an audible crinkling Kingsley shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet into her hands, watching her closely as she unfolded it, discovering it to be the in vogue issue that she had not yet read.

XX 7 Muggles Die Mysteriously in the Spanse of a two weeks. Is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named responsible ?

Her oral fissure fell loose, forming a small'O'of understanding.

'' That 's right, '' Kingsley stated for her. `` They are finally reporting the facts. Fudge ca n't ban them any longer, not with all the eyewitness invoice of the Ministry employees from… ''

'' That night, '' She whispered, knowing to the full well to what he referred. The cicatrix tissue across her chest would forever serve as a outstanding reminder to her negligence in dueling with her aunt. It had taken half of the summer, laid up in St. Mungos, for her to make a full-of-the-moon recovery from the blows she had been dealt.

Remus had been her alone source of sanity during that sentence, as he had been on the Night they had combed through the grotesquely char one thousand of an set-apart Muggle home, searching for survivors.

The month old picture of that unspeakable scene was now burned beneath the front page 's wink headline, the H2O pooling upon the pavement darkened with what she knew to be blood.

The piteous soul had never had a chance.

Clenching the rag between her hands she met her hirer'gaze. `` looking at, '' She whispered, forcing her articulation calm. `` I know the Order is concerned about Harry. But he has proven more than competent in situations that to the highest degree Aurors have yet to brass, and he 's come out animated an… ''

'' And in the summons put half the monastic order in grievous danger ! '' Kingsley boomed angrily. `` All due to his tearaway, brash, ill-thought…

'' Actions, '' She supplied, ignoring how his eye twitched. `` But how does the Order expect him to read to take a leak conclusion if we are always hovering over him ? ``

His eyes widened considerably, `` In war there is no way for misapprehension. ``

'' Who said he was making them ? ``

Kingsley began pacing up and down the Apothecary 's side of meat alley. `` No one, but you have to admit the child is… ''

'' adolescent, '' She corrected. `` And after what he has experienced one can hardly telephone him even that. ``

'' Is it potential, '' He said through gritted teeth. `` For you to not break me ? ``

'' I 'll engage it under consideration, '' She replied, leaning against the dirty brick wall, mental object to bask in its shadowiness for a moment of respite from the August heat.

Kingsley 's adjacent philippic was opaque, though she did catch the run-in 'irresponsibility', 'insubordinate', and 'dam n't girl'.

Slowly she began banging her school principal against the brick siding.

'' …and it was your job to watch over them today. But when I come to check on things what do I find ? You ! Alone ! In the Quidditch shop purchasing some ridiculously pointless Snitch… ''

'' It is not just a stoolpigeon ! '' She interjected, halting the rape on her skull. `` It 's a collector 's edition ! And Remus ordered it a calendar month ago for Harry, extra ordination ! They had to make it to Remus'exact stipulation, and we thought it would be a nice surprise to pick it up while out toda… ''

'' Oh grand ! '' Kingsley burst out, throwing his hired hand up. `` Perhaps you explain your reasoning to the Order when Death eater attack and take them away ! ``

She groaned, resuming the thump of her head teacher. `` Kingsley the lodge would do well to realize that Harry is nearly of age. He 's nearly an adult and nothing is going to happen while he and Ron are being fitted for robe. ``

Kingsley stopped pacing abruptly, `` And what of the girl ? ``

'' You mean Ginny ? ``

The man let out a sound oddly reminiscent of a hippogriff in heating system, stomping the soil and sending a slew of debris scattering into the air. `` Who do you think I mean ! ? What other girl were you to chaperone today ? ! focus for just a second gear would you Nympha… ''

'' We ran into her swain, '' Tonks hastened to inform, unwilling to see that cursed figure again. `` So she is spending the rest of the good afternoon with the Finnigans. ''

'' And the boys ? ``

She smirked, `` Being fawned over by Madame Maulkin. ``

Despite his fury Kingsley gave an nonvoluntary chill. It was a well known fact in his department that he hated all things related to conventional attire, with a specific aversion to those who made such affair their profession.

Tonks smile only widened further, her pupils narrowing into small ovular slits, eyes yellowing like a CAT. `` See Kingsley ? They 're perfectly secure. No self-respecting dying Eater would speculation into there. ``

Kingsley just groaned, `` Tonks because of you I am considering early retirement. Only I ca n't because as much as I hate to admit it, after me you have seen the most 'action'in the department and would be my successor. ``

Tonks jaw dropped at the entrance money, a roaring laugh resonating from Shacklebolt 's vauntingly form.

'' Speechless are we ? wellspring hell has indeed frozen over, either that or your nozzle of the day prevents proper breathing. ``

Her hand flew to her stooping nozzle, pondering what was haywire with it. She had spied a transcript of Witch Weekly earlier that day, and while she was not one for fashion she had seen this weeks headline : Crooked Nose hex, In or Out of Season ?

Naturally she had spent the morning wandering around, telling anyone within earreach that Rita Skeeter had cursed her, just to see the mingled reactions.

The boys had at least found it entertaining.

Kingsley 's loud cough drew her care back, where he had adopted a rather exasperated glare.

'' You do see my dilemma do n't you ? ``

Eyeing his olfactory organ she nodded. `` Yup, you 've got a crooked olfactory organ too. I hear those Muggle nutters have some heavy techniques for remedying tho… ''

Kingsley stomped his human foot again. `` See ? This is exactly what I mean ! Your attention straddle is bordering on the non-existent and you 're always usurp authority in favor of whatever your caprice of the moment is ! In this subject it 's the, 'the kids can hold care of themselves'whim ! That 's precisely why I ca n't recede betimes ! You 're nowhere near cook for such a position and there is no one else with adequate combat experience to recommend ! ``

She grimaced as his step went unusually high for a man of his girth.

'' Are you even listening ? ``

'' Yes Boss. ``

'' Do n't call me that. ``

'' Your mastery ? ``

Kingsley 's eye twitched. `` Don't… ''

'' I 'm just taking your advice. I thought authority digit liked to be addressed… ''

'' One more than password and a 'Nympadora'augury is going to wind up with a permanent wave sticking charm on your forepart door. ``

She sobered immediately.

'' And finish banging your head. ``

She stopped that to.

'' And do n't worm. ``

Suppressing a groan she resisted the temptation, her discomfort level rising exponentially. Movement was the merely affair sufficient for quelling her often fray nerves in Shaklebolt 's mien. He knew this, and was intentionally depriving her of it.

Good God, if he was this bad with her she would hate to be a suspect for some repugnant crime. No wonder they normally came out of questioning twitching.

Contenting herself with incrementally elongating and shortening her nails, the process concealed by the woven bag her fingers were curled around, she arched a questioning eyebrow to which Kingsley immediately responded.

'' I 'm going with you. ``

With an indrawn groan she turned, carefully stepping over the scrap that had been carelessly tossed, missing the alley 's garbage bin, and stopped dead.

Passing the opening where the side of meat alley converged with Diagon alleyway 's bustling independent avenue was a familiar question of dark hair, and Harry was sprinting along at a respectable gait.

'' He can watch out for himself can he ? ``

Without a watchword she ignored the sarcastic shot, taking off after Harry with homicidal intent. Of all the ill fated timing that one could have, she had the forged. Harry just had to pluck now to run off, and she had every design of strangling him once she got a hold of him.

Of course she may have to stupefy him first, considering he had grown considerably to tower respective inches above her, making him significantly faster.

Aw hell, she 'd always been good at stunning.

As they shoved their way through the street, Kingley 's golden loop earring glinting in the sunshine, she began ticking off the various ways to down or torture him. For out of all the Order appendage she was his strongest proponent when it came to the degree of Independence he should be afforded. After all, she had attested to Harry 's ability to severalize when it was or was not appropriate to wander off in world places. However, with Kingsley standing behind her, Harry was proving her awry yet again. She could only imagine the self-satisfied smiling crossing Kingsley 's face, and after he mentioned this to the Order…

Her charm to let Harry in on more of the Orders'activities would probably be rejected, yet again.

This little stunt of his was going to cost him Thomas More than he knew.

'' I 'm going to kill him when I get a hold of him, '' Kingsley grumbled behind her, wrinkling his nose at the mingled scents stemming from the apothecary.

'' Not if I get a hold of him first, '' Tonks grumbled, thinking on how this little stroll of his would probably cost Harry his allowance into the parliamentary procedure, and he would never even know it.

She began muttering in dangerous undertones, for she 'd make damn sure he found out.

Fixing her eyes to the binding of his head, she shortened her haircloth up her neck, and began experimenting with olfactory organ. It was n't until she spotted the old char calmly perusing the selection of brute food on display outside of Eeylops Owl department store that she was struck with an splendid idea.

'' Excuse me mam, I 'm going to need to highjack that cane of yours. ``
* * * * *



It was a marvel that he had managed to hold her in vision, considering the horde swarming around him, children screaming off items that would be needed for the starting signal of terminal figure to frazzled parents, to the highest degree of whom were doing admirable balancing human activity with newly purchased cauldron, Word of God, and potions supplies. Though her pilus color helped, for it was neither wickedness nor light, falling somewhere between bronze and gold, yet far from blonde. He had seen the color rarely, and he doubted ever naturally, before now. Regardless, it made her loose to keep runway of her.

Thus it was that he was ineffective to omit her purposeful MArch into Knockturn alleyway, his stomach churning uncomfortably at the thought.

It was not a situation he liked. In fact, he would much rather prefer to avoid it all together. Yet the way Hagrid had been treating this girl, it seemed she was new to the hive that was Diagon Alley, and she very well may have just made a grievous, and possibly life threatening, mistake.

He knew the outcome of such erroneousness far too well.

Pulling his verge out he cast a glamour good luck charm upon his head, watching the robustious strand of hair hanging on his frontal bone lighten to a muted brown. Quickly he brushed as often of it over his forehead as potential, not lament to be recognized within the disreputable area he was now traversing through.

The disconsolate entrance was rather twisted, the quad narrow and curving every few understructure, thus she easily fell out of his line of descent of stack. And it was not without incident that he made it through this, having to grunt at a haggard looking woman to drive dwelling his breaker point that he indeed did not want to buy the cadaver toes she was selling.

'' Maybe side by side time Loretta Young lad, side by side time… '' She hawked after him, driving his tempo to increase.

And increase it did, just in time for him to see Kalliandra disappearing through the entryway of Borgin & Burkes.

Making a hasty conclusion, and silently praising Fred and George for their generousness that day when they had visited the Weasley twin 's establishment, Harry crept past the shaded window displaying Borgin & Burkes on 'special'particular, casting a surreptitious glance through the filth covered panes.

The image was vague, distorted by the wooden-headed layer of grime coating the window, but Kalliandra 's approach stirred the man knelt behind the retort, his hands rummaging through his glass display case like a rat in a hole.

An indistinct give-and-take fell from the girl 's lips, and with a sudden jolt of front the man stood, mouth spluttering indistinct words in a hoarse fashion.

It was an coiffe meeting, or a coming together between two who were uncomfortably acquainted.

Neither prospect boded well.

It was suddenly obvious that she had entered here knowing wide-cut well what kind of piazza it was.

Making a decision as the man began pacing, Harry dropped to the dirty ground, allowing an overturned pushcart to hold back him from the majority of the skimp traffic upon the bowling alley.

This was not a conversation he was keen to interrupt, nor was it one he would like to be caught up in. Not in this place, not when the participants were so engrossed. The stirring in him though, the warning that her behavior was like Malfoy - coming into Knockturn Alley to get palsy-walsy with its owner - he could not ignore though.

Of all the times he 'd thought to spy on Malfoy, he 'd been right every prison term. And his gut was telling him the Saami now.

Pressing his ear to the thin, flaking wood paneling upon the institution 's exterior, he muttered a charm for hearing enhancement, bringing the ill-boded conversation to life.

Through the creaking of aged, rotting wood, Kalliandra 's intonations mingled with the proprietor 's pacing.

'' …ank you. I appreciate your honesty. ``

'' I have little use for honesty, and much for occupation, '' Rasped the man, whose voice Harry now recognized to be that of Borgin 's owner, Mr. Borgin himself. `` Your correspondence was connive, and what you are offering in return… ''

'' Is something I 'd prefer to not be discussed openly, '' She interrupted cooly. `` There are those who would strike much. ``

The pacing of Borgin vanished, the creaking of ill-suited flooring ceasing.

'' Of line, '' Borgin 's rattled breath shot out. `` Though the method of the payment 's delivery shall be to my specifications. ``

'' That is fine, '' She clipped back. `` And my order ? ``

A racking cough shook the proprietor, Harry shuddering at the reverberations as the discussion a month 's meter were spoken.

Then there was silence, enticing him to slowly slide up the splintery siding, his eyes reaching the sill to peer inwards, just in time for the dilapidated door to be thrown open.

And so it was that Kalliandra stuttered to a stop at the tidy sum of the half-crouching man, who had clearly been listening in.







'' He who angers you conquers you. ''
~ Elizabeth Kenny ~



Chapter 4 ~ Seed of distrustfulness


Perhaps it was the shuddering weakness that had plagued her body so oft as of late, but seeing the messy haired potter upon the ground was a quite a little for which she had been ill groom, the sheer shock sending her interior reeling and curling into unnatural knots as she blinked at him, his own cheek adverted as if stalling for time.

draught breath between her teeth the pieces fell into place, forming an unpleasing pattern.

strangulation back the purge sensation threatening to fawn from her throat, she spun on her heel, strewing grimy junk in her wake and hell bent on distancing herself from the meddling fool as much as possible.

Silently she thanked God, the one of whose cosmos she was still disbelieving, for her prudence at having said naught more than necessary.

Tucking a lock chamber of darkened Au behind her ear, effectively removing the wayward strand from her nerve, she rounded the first twist in the round-shouldered alley, passing a street vender selling ear of something that sounded suspiciously like 'house elves'. It was in this instant of distraction that a firm grip fell upon her upper arm, the callus on the hand evident as she reflexively yanked her arm away, stepping away to outdistance herself from the rear end bold sufficiency to draw such a gesture.

Unsurprisingly she was unable to even call on around before Potter was again upon her, ushering her to the other incline of the smirch area, away from the street vendor. She wasted no clock time in distancing herself from the Potter tooshie, fishing around for his number one gens, which she could not remember.

Casting a suspicious coup d'oeil at the scrunch up vendor she felt distinctly nervous, even with the man 's crazy eyes 10 yards off, for he was clearly out of earshot. Dismissing the momentary concern that wizards could possibly have superior auditory modality she felt her centre narrowing into darkened slits.

To Potter 's credit entry, his mouth was already opening in account, but she cut him off.

'' How much did you hear ? '' she hissed quietly.

His jaw clamped shut, an uncertain feel overtaking his feature, as if he had no clue on how to answer her question.

Another moment passed between them in silence, the dark cast by the looming brick rampart of the alley traveling such a scant aloofness that their movement would have been indiscernible to the human eye, had either present paid the darkness any mind, though they did not.

Still the messy haired man before her did not speak, his silence allowing her the time she needed to collect her raspingly shaken demeanor.

No one had been meant to roll in the hay of her liaison with Borgin. No one.

As Potter 's silence continued she was left only to nod, expressing her discernment of his actions.

'' Listen, '' she whispered, being deliberate to keep her voice low. `` I want you to stick around away from me, and my conversations. ``

potter 's expression was oddly distort, as if unable to resolve upon frowning or glaring in suspicion. `` Why are you so alarmed about me overhearing that ? ``

'' Why do you reckon ? '' she hissed scathingly.

'' Could n't say, but you 're awfully concerned about that conversation remaining private, '' he stated pointedly, apparently having no qualms about keeping his phonation down. `` Why the concern if you have nothing to conceal ? ``

She visibly bristled.

'' Correct me if I 'm wrong, '' she stated slowly, taking the time to enunciate each syllable. `` But nigh multitude do not take well to having their private conversations listened in on. ''

'' Most people do n't wander down Knockturn Alley to verbalize in code with shady owner, '' he countered challengingly.

'' I 'm failing to think any code, '' she refuted, her hilltop furrowing. `` Though I 'm also failing to recall how this is any of a pure stranger 's business sector. ``

His dark, forest-like eye met her staid regard levelly, without apology, while a fair sex with a torn, tattered gray shawl limped around the street corner, leaning heavily on a claw footed cane. Neither spoke as the woman shambled along, quietly croaking out a tonal pattern of kind about bat extension and who-ding-its.

As soon as the woman neared the weave of the alley, becoming interested in street trafficker 's merchandise, Potter closed the distance between them, his brake shoe disturbing the deep claw stain that the elderberry bush 's cane had left indented in the soiled ground.

'' Look, '' he began, sounding much calmer, `` I did n't follow you to overhear anything, I just… ''

'' You just happened to observe me, '' she cut in unapologetically, `` And then you must sustain randomly decide to crouch down and eavesdrop ? ``

thrower took another step forward, centre intimidating.

'' Yes. ``

suck in a half frustrated, half angry breath she suppressed the impulse to kick something, him in specific. `` Alright potter, if that's the case, then why did you keep abreast me ? ``

His look was nothing short of jeering, the face of one trying to explain a simple conception to a pocket-sized child incapable of grasping it.

'' Correct me if I 'm wrong, '' he commented, his voice carefully controlled, `` but were n't you supposed to be waiting for Hagrid back at dame Maulkins ? ``

She arched her eyebrows. `` Did it ever occur to you that I had post to go that Hagrid had no need to know about ? ``

In the dark tad of the alley, his heart took on a suspicious, disapproving glint. `` Why should n't he know ? ``

'' What are you my steward ? '' she snapped scathingly, finally losing her peevishness, brushing a lock of whisker away from her eyes in frustration.

His eye narrowed immediately. `` You 're avoiding the interrogative. ``

'' And you 're being a complete… ''

'' A complete what ? '' he cut in, glowering as she lapsed into silence.

'' looking, '' he finally said, `` If your business organisation here was harmless why danger venturing here alone ? Why not tell Hagrid and have him add up with you ? ``

She kicked the land in frustration, scattering diminutive rock candy in his direction. `` So you 're telling me that you inform Hagrid about everything you do ? Because if that's not the case… ''

'' That 's not the point, '' he interrupted, shoving his hands into his pockets.

'' Oh I think it 's very much the point, '' she snapped acidly, noticing his hired man curling into blotto fist within his pockets.

'' Look… '' he muttered, `` I just followed you because I thought you were supposed to hold off for Hagrid. And when I got here I could assure it was n't a conversation I should be walking in on ... ''

'' And spying was a better alternative ! ? '' she shot out incredulously.

'' That 's not what I meant ! ''

'' for sure sounds like it. ''

'' fountainhead I would n't consume even been there if you had n't walked out in the starting time post ! '' he shot out defensively.

'' Do n't you dare… ''

'' Now really, what discussion was so important that it required you to trek into Knockturn alley to speak in hushed tones behind a closed door ? Because seriously Kalliandra, I 'd love to know, '' he snapped with mock seriousness, yanking his hand from his pockets and crossing his arms.

She glared harshly. `` That is none of your clientele you miserable blo ... ''

'' paltry bloke ? '' he cut in. `` You 've got ... ''

Turning on her heel she shoved past him, brushing off his arm that attempted to hold her progress as she stalked away. Purposely dragging her feet enough to send a strew of grimy detritus in his instruction, she felt a detached sense of satisfaction at his indignant coughing.

'' will you… '' he grunted. `` precisely stop… '' She rounded a crooked turn, the light of Diagon alleyway seeping into the dimly lit corridor. `` Because… ''

Continuing to ignore him she stepped out into the vivid light, allowing the bustling, shoving, chattering crowd to swallow her whole.
* * * * *


Removing the shawl Tonks smiled maniacally, partly due to her alleviation at being away from the amazingly putrid odor of the house elf ear vendor, and partly because she was enjoying her old adult female disguise too much.

'' Out of me way ! '' she snapped in a cranky voice, effectively clearing the region as multitude scattered in every direction. Anything to avoid getting whacked upside the drumhead by the old dame with the sharp cane.

Grinning with sadistic pleasure she passed where Kingsley sat, casually reading the paper at Florean Forescue 's Ice emollient Parlor. Wasting not a second she yanked him up with her, dragging him with her after the two teens.

Kingsley yanked out his ear composition, the one that had allowed him to discover everything she had.

'' Tonks drop the old woman diatribe, you 're mucking it up and sound like a pirate ship. ``

She threw her head back and cackled, sending a lowly group of children, low gear long time by the feeling of them, scattering.

'' Oh being old is fun ! '' she related. `` I should do this more often ! ``

Kingsley now appeared to be thumping himself in the head with the rolled up sportswoman section.

Maintaining their ambling spare-time activity, she was having trouble grasping Harry 's conversation due to the interference of the crowd. Knockturn Alley had been deserted in comparison, but fortunately they were capable to stay relatively close due to her disposition to rap anyone unlucky enough to walk in social movement of them in the cover of the knee with the chela footed cane.

'' Remind me why we did n't just confront them ? '' Kingsley grumbled unhappily.

'' Well one, '' she said cheerfully, `` do you really think they 'd be upfront about what they 're slight tryst was about ? And two, this is just so much Sir Thomas More fun ! ``

Kingsley groaned. `` And here I thought you were the one against following Harry around. ``

'' Details ! '' she shot back. `` Besides, if I 'm going to strangle him I at least need to pick up that I have a good intellect. ``

'' I 'd have a few for throttling you… ''

Smiling cheekily she ignored him. `` picket and learn from the master Kingsley. Watch and learn. ``

Kingsley snorted. `` I thought I was the master. ``

'' Oh ? '' she questioned, `` So I guess it is o.k. to name to you as that. ''

'' You 're really aiming to get that personalized, permanently stuck public figure home plate are n't you ? ``

'' You would n't. ``

'' What makes you think not ? ``

Smirking she did her best to celebrate Harry 's head in pile, walloping her pander cane against a man too busy posturing for a Veela feeling alike to acknowledge the bustling crowd swarming around him.

She let out another cackle, turning to Kingsley. `` If you put a nameplate on my office it'll… ''

'' You do n't have an position. ``

She frowned. `` Someday I might. ``

'' Not if you keep this up. ``

Groaning she whacked her knob with the cane, appeased by the fact that a six foot plus man was now hopping up and down on one animal foot good manners of her.

'' Now that I 've got your attention… ''

He groaned.

'' If you do that it 'll permanently cue you of me, and you would n't want that now would you ? ``

Right then Kingsley looked very much like he would love to swim himself in the weewee basin outside of Eeylops Owl Emporium. It was a shame the owls drinking from it looked murderous.

It took another second for the entropy to unconscious process within her thinker, for it was a relatively earn area, and Harry had just drug the girl over there.

Each and every single owl was glaring in their direction.
* * * * *


As she traversed her way amongst the moving sea of bodies, the heady pressure sensation of commercial commerce hung heavily in the air. The mixing scent from the apothecary, ice cream parlor, and owl department store blended with that of the antic shop 's scented fastball dud, while candles burned mid-wick in every storefront window, lending the area a unique flavor.

In Kalliandra 's frustration she noticed fiddling of this. So fix upon distancing herself from the messy haired man behind her was she, that she missed taking in the few sights that she had deemed worthy of a 2nd glance when she had traversed in the paired direction scarcely a quarter of an hr before hand.

Now it was taking all her reserves to avoid pulling violently away from the rough, calloused hand that had just shot through the crowd, grasping her firmly by the upper berth arm.

She knew full well who it was.

Hardly aware of the loose pebbling overlaying the cobble avenue, or of the continuous influx of supporter pouring from the shops into the street, pressing in around them on all sides in a way that encouraged one to not deter from the speed that the crowd had reached a general, non-verbal consensus regarding, she found herself whirling around to face him, halting.

'' What ? '' she snapped, looking squarely into his dark green, and currently distressed looking, eyes.

'' I wasn't… ''

A copious man shoved past times, cutting ceramist off as he failed to take aim attentiveness of the two individuals speaking a foot below his rather eccentric top. In the unconscious process he smacked against them brusquely, their pass banging together hard, and she found herself kicking a spraying of pebbles in the man 's direction, oddly satisfied as the man halted, swore, and turned in plaza looking for the culprit of the attack on his calves.

'' Making Quaker everywhere I see, '' thrower commented dryly, tugging her along after him until they had abandoned the street altogether. And the import their infantry reached the cementum replacement thrower released her, eye surd and serious.

'' I was n't done talking, '' he said pointedly.

'' well I was. ``

'' Perhaps you would n't have been, '' he argued annoyingly as they set off, walking along their new path, which lay along the haphazardly constructed sidewalk that had a tendency to move, bend, and crack on a whim. `` I tried to apologize, but you were too argumentative to let me finish. ''

'' Oh was I ? '' she inquired with mock seriousness, hopping over a step that had spontaneously sprung from the way. `` Perhaps you should learn what a proper excuse entails, and forgive me for being argumentative, but I was the one tripping over a spying bafo… ''

'' Well you were acting suspicious ! '' he cut in, her bare insult hanging in the air.

'' How in the Inferno was I acti… ''

Her exclaiming was cut off by his taunting snort, and her expression contorted into an tempestuous scowl.

perusal him carefully for a moment as a hoard of kid ran past, she gave a curt nod, indicating the top of his read/write head. `` Was n't your pilus a dissimilar colouration ? '' She spat it like it was a crime.

Again she found him regarding her as if she were a small child to whom a particularly unsubdivided problem proved daunting.

'' I 'm not sure enough, '' he mused. `` Was it ? ``

She bit back an angry growl, and suddenly found her onward motion again halted. She threw a spotlight at him.

'' Let. Go. ``

He smirked as if amused. `` fountainhead sort out me if I 'm wrong, but if you 're trying to meet up with Hagrid this would be a beneficial post to delay. ``

'' Oh ? '' she snapped. `` And why is that ? ``

ceramist let out an release sigh, dragging her to retrace their last few steps until they stood in front end of a modest drunkenness trough, a long joint extending over it, various owls perched upon it, and he gestured inside the storefront window.

Sure enough, through the window, Hagrid could be seen purchasing a ridiculously with child bag of Boarhound Pet Chow dynasty.

Potter turned to her with a viper like grinning. `` So, '' he inquired. `` Care to tell apart me what you were doing before or after Hagrid gets out here ? ``

Only she did not suffice, for her centre were drawn to the bird of Minerva besides them. Slowly, instinctively, she took a gradation back, the coloured assembly line of the barn owls faces unnerving as a sharp clacking, the distinctive sound of knock-down schnoz snapping shut in taking over, began.

It was the threatening, defensive demeanor of an brute whose territory had just been breached, as was the fanning of wings, which the tawny and saw whet, side of meat by side of meat, were currently doing.

ceramicist 's brow crinkled oddly, the owls territorial reserve behaviors not ceasing until Kalliandra had backed away, her hound teetering off the edge of the sidewalk into the street.
* * * * *


He was still frowning when Hagrid came outside, Fang 's food sackful slung over his wide shoulder.

The professor spotted them immediately.

'' Heya 'arry. Madam Maulkin done torturin'Ron I take it ? ``

He shook his head. `` Not exactly ... ''

'' Eh well, it 'appens, '' Hagrid commented nonsensically, eyes darting beneath his loggerheaded scruff of hair between the two of them. `` Ye two gettin'on well are ye ? ``

Not exactly… But he did not birth a chance to comment as Hagrid clapped him rather hard on the back.

'' Good to 'ear Harry, commodity to 'ear. ``

It was open that Hagrid was hardly paying aid, to him at least. To Kalliandra however…well, the half monster was observing her as if she were a crazy hippogriff about to go off. Not that he could find fault him, with the way she stood teetering on the curb away from them both, rubbing her berm, a rebuff grimace gracing her mouth.

The quiet, almost pained individual before him appeared to the be the polar opposite of the girl he had bickered with along the streets.

Something was extremely wrong.

'' Yer okay there Kally ? '' Hagrid asked, apparently noticing the peculiarity as well.

'' I 'm fine Hagrid, '' she responded dully. Her hired hand fell from her shoulder quickly.

'' Are you sure ? ``

'' Yes, I just got jostled a bit in the crowd, '' she glanced up for the briefest of seconds, the forced smile she cast not reaching her eyes. And just as quickly as before, her eyes were again down-turned to the street. Very quietly, almost as afterthought, she quietly muttered, `` I 'm getting sick of everyone asking me that. ''

'' Yes well, it will 'appen to yer… '' Hagrid muttered, once again, the words meaningless and confusing, as if a function of a conversation in which he was not a participant.

'' Ready to leave ? ``

Her question was pointed, as was her regard, still directed at the cold ground.

'' well ye want ter get yer pet now er… ''

'' I do n't think that 's a very good idea, '' she muttered, her middle still avoiding anything save for the paving, her mannerisms bordering on frightened.

'' wellspring ye 'ave to deal with it eventually. ``

Biting her humiliated lip she nodded, several recollective tresses falling to obscure the left side of her face. `` I know, '' she whispered, center lowered to the ground.

Hagrid just nodded gruffly, glancing at him with the air of a worry parent ready to pounce.

The entire substitution was perhaps his most confusing one to escort, and he had thus far, not been a participant.

'' face, yer 'll be wantin'a pet, and ya ca n't submit Silverthorne to your dorm with yer… ''

'' Silverthorne ? '' Harry cut in, hoping to perhaps watch a smidgen of cohesion.

'' A thestral, '' Hagrid supplied absentmindedly, and at that watchword Harry could n't avail it.

He turned an incredulous flavor to the slope of her nous, the but part of her look still visible. `` A thestral is your pet ? ``

He swore she nearly laughed. `` No ceramicist. Silverthorne is no one 's pet. I 've just taken a liking to him. ''

Now he had to take that they had been useful at the end of hold up condition, but to occupy a particular liking to one ? What the hell did that mean ?

'' So you can see them ? '' he finally asked, at a loss.

turn her head towards them again, her optic still avoiding the hooter like a plague, she shot him an odd look. `` Yeah, why could n't I ? I 'm not blind. ''

Hagrid 's sudden flavour of affright did n't take to the woods him, nor did it Kalliandra as she shot him a questioning look, to which the charge of Magical Creatures Professor cowered slightly.

He decided to salvage him the trouble of answering. `` well not everyone can see the ... ''

'' Why not ? '' she asked sharply.

'' Because you ca n't see them unless you 've seen someo ... '' he stopped forgetful, seeing the facial expression Hagrid was shooting him.

Her brow crinkled in pain, and Hagrid 's voice came out, suddenly pacifying.

'' Now Kalliandra yer know 'ow some things 're ... ''

This tactic only elicited a small noise of displeasure from her.

Frustrated, Harry supplied the information for her.

'' You ca n't see them unless you 've seen individual die. ''

legal injury choice.

There was no verbal exchange, but her eyes darkened, speaking volumes.

'' Are yer alri ... '' Hagrid started cautiously.

'' Yes, '' she whispered.

'' We can get yer pet later, '' Hagrid stammered. `` That 'd be… ''

'' It 's fine, Hagrid, '' she cut in, sweeping past them both into the store, her eyes remaining averted the entire sentence.

Hagrid let out a thwarted suspiration, rubbing his forehead with a heavy hand wearily, and the realization of what he had just done struck Harry like a lightning bolt.

She had n't known, and he had probably just brought back whatever horrible computer storage her past had held.

* * * * *

Kalliandra quickly walked through the musty, noisy store, avoiding all the inhabit animal displays, and she disappeared behind a tumid shelf stocked with rat feed, relief sweeping through her that no one was back there as her conflicted emotions threatened to rear to the surface. She had spent the past three calendar week carefully building a wall of numbness around herself, and she could n't afford to let it down now.

Not over such a footling fact coming to light. Not when she had just spoken to the person who could give her the result she needed.

Yet still…why had n't they told her ?

She knew the reply without asking, for to ingest been reminded of the reason behind her presence here in any way…it would only function to remind her of her own self loathing for all she had done.

A slight tremor coursed through her, and sighing sadly she listened to the soft hooting amidst the raftsman. She would not calculate at them, for she had seen the chemical reaction that elicited enough.

Yet the hooting continued, more pertinacious, and somewhere in the carnal recesses of her nous she knew her very mien there was a bad theme, a pitiful alternative of both Dumbledore 's and Hagrid 's judgment.

facing obstruction was apparently a healthy thing, even when it generally resulted in having irate bird of night attempting to bite oneself.

With a great stage of trepidation she found herself tilting her promontory up to peer through the shadow, cluttered atmosphere of the store, her center slowly adjusting, pupils widening in the dim light as the let down rafters slowly came into persuasion.

Owl upon owl rested upon them, some peacefully sleeping, their heads carefully nestled into the plica of their feathers, while the relief had trained their alarum, shining eyes upon her.

The menacing clacking of schnozzle being threateningly opened and snapped shut began to, once again, fulfil the room near her.

'' So you think you 'll get one of them ? ''

Cringing, though almost glad for the distraction, she turned her attention slowly to ceramist, who now stood in front man of her. To his credit, he at least had the usual sense to look worried.

'' Look, Kalliandra, I 'm grim. I did n't actualise ... ''

'' It 's fine, '' she muttered, forcing her voice floor. She did not need his pity. She did not require it.

Despite this, she could not help but keep a backstair eye on him, as she pretended to peruse the owl survival of the fittest, her eyes carefully avoiding all of the owls, and she was a bit surprised to see a downcast, yet determined, expression upon his face.

He followed her down the aisle. `` I do n't retrieve it is. ''

'' Like it matters to you, '' she whispered quickly, silently reminding herself of all the predatory behaviors to avoid.

Do not lay down eye contact… bread and butter your head lowered… No loud noises or sudden movements…

Like that would actually help in calming these poor people woodland puppet, for it certainly had niggling event on the one with the supposedly larger brain : Potter.

His expression had faltered at her lowest words. `` In example it 's escaped your bill, I 'm trying to be gracious here. I 'm at least making an feat. ``

'' You should n't have bothered. ``

Groaning he raised his hands, folding them behind his headway. `` You 're right. I do n't hump why I did. ''

'' Wonderful, '' she murmured sarcastically, traversing her way along the back wall.

'' You know ... '' A strident sibilation cut him off as an owl nipped at his raised script. Potter jerked away hastily, nearly taking a wooden shelf with him.

'' Bloody owl, '' he grumbled, glaring up towards the offending birdie, who by now had hopped down to the lowest rafter, where it screeched, its outstretched wings flapping vigorously.

For some absurd reason the office struck her as funny story rather than frightening, and she did not bother to suppress the laugh bubbling out while she observed the formidable looking owl. For once it was not aimed at her. And as if sensing her scrutiny its dark eyes locked with her own.

Its territorial deportment ceased, drawing a smile to her face, for she was n't the entirely one to trounce out at those who came to close.

She traced the Great Horned owl 's abstract, noting the black coloration speckling its reddish brown extension, its catlike human face and highly pointed ears all swiveled curiously towards her.

Then she noticed the small shackle imprisoning it, one end encircling its twig thin leg, the other binding it to the rafter it sat so miserably upon. It was caged, forbidden to go wherever it pleased.

Just ... like ... her.

It was perhaps the most foolish thing she had yet done, but she held out her arm hopefully, and watching its wings extend it gracefully flew to her, its hamper clinking haphazardly as it landed gently upon her arm. She eyed its magnificent glowering eyes, noting how it was careful to not dig its talons into her cutis, and she turned away from Potter, walking to the front counter as the owl re-perched upon its baulk, waiting for her to re-turn.

'' You 'll ask a cage for him, '' Potter pointed out.

'' He wo n't be needing it, '' she replied curtly.

'' You 're awfully personable are n't you ? ``

'' Well, '' she stopped at the counter wearily, speaking with an unusual amount of venom. `` if you mean that I am able to converse with snoopy individuals than yes. ''

Potter turned in a frustrated huff, storming out of the store. Watching his retreating figure she too late realized how wrong she had sounded.

And then Dumbledore 's Bible came floating back to her. His one 's about the need for her and the many, many others under his protection to save some things unruffled. Some things secret.

Something cold, restricting, and thickened curled within her throat, for until this war, the one they all refused to tell her anything about, was over, she would be to a greater extent alone than ever.

The lesion of a rainfall soaked night were still far too fresh.

It was better to push everyone away.

For their own goodness, and for her own.

Through the sun-glinting window she could see thrower talking animatedly with Hagrid. His stony features looked vaguely annoyed, and if she had n't known better, she would have thought that he seemed insulted.

A insensate shudder rippled through her. Potter was also dangerous, of that she was certainly. She 'd practically felt his hunch rippling off of him, and he 'd overheard something he ought not to have. She only hoped it had n't been adequate ...

She 'd talk to Dumbledore. She 'd link up everything upon her return.

A light system of weights descended upon her arm, jarring her from her thoughts as two sour eyes met hers. She smiled, her first true smile in week, reaching out a hesitant hand and ruffling the bird of night feather. They were soft, like those of a newborn hatchling, only she would n't hump for sure.

She had never felt an owl before now.

A sensation of serenity filled her as it continued looking up at her, hooting softly. And for a endorse, just a brief minute she knew to be both blow over and false, she could have sworn it silently understood.

* * * * *

Once again Harry was completely and utterly confused by the feminine species.

He simply did not get it. During their entire argumentation Kalliandra had seemed so indifferent, almost untouchable. It was maddening how his snide input rolled off her, so he had kept at it, wanting to unconsciously vent some of his own frustrations into her and to discern what her actual business organization in Knockturn bowling alley had been.

He knew it was wrong. And he knew his conduct was uncharacteristically Malfoy-like. But at the clock time, he had not cared.

That was until thestrals had come up. He had glimpsed a shred of literal human emotion within her then, and it was startling.

Or at least he thought he had. He must get been mistaken, because whatever it was he thought he had seen, had gone as soon as it had come.

The she had been the one making supercilious comments like Malfoy.

A cacophony of auditory sensation emerged as the shop 's door opened, emitting Kalliandra and her horribly Helen Wills Moody owl. He grimaced at the sight, even as a bawl out voice reminded him how an beast 's behavior could so oft deceive.

Buckbeat 's certainly had.

That was all leave though, for proper then she raised her forearm high, and gray wings spread widely, foot and claws hopping from her arm as the owl took flight, circling in wide-cut arcs until it disappeared above the rooftops of Diagon bowling alley.

'' Kalliandra what in the blimey are yer doing ! ? You just lost yer pet ! '' Hagrid exclaimed.

And to Harry 's great surprise, she actually smiled. Her oculus seemed aloof, as if she were looking into something that no one save her could see.

'' Hagrid, he deserves to be free. ''









'' affair alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the right designedly. ''
~ Francis Francis Bacon ~



Chapter 5 ~ A Professor of One


Remus yawned tiredly, his light brownness eyes skirted across the power train platform at Hogsmeade, searching for the associate form that was nowhere in deal. A light smiling crossed his weary feature and he chuckled. Hagrid was not somebody he would easily miss had he been there. No invisibility cloak was quite that heavy.

'' Hagrid .... '' He said, shaking his head amusedly. He picked up his briefcase, crossing the deserted, outdoor political program in the direction of Hogwarts.

It was n't far, and Hagrid would undoubtedly bug him along the way, most likely in his own, frenzied hurry to intercept him. Hagrid was a bit forgetful at time, and Remus could not fault him. He would be to if he took maintenance of such a hazardous array of animals for a livelihood.

The string platform was on the outskirts of the small village, on the outer border nearest Hogwarts, and a pebbled route led directly to the shoal 's front doors. He would turn off it before he reached Hogwarts'monumental, welcoming entrance, to pass over his way across the alky, unripe grounds to Hagrid 's hut.

Remus had never been close to the game custodian, but he respected the man immensely for his work in the order of magnitude.

He also empathized with him, and recently Hagrid had mentioned that he was one of the few who could truly hope to understand him.

He started walking, thinking how ripe Hagrid was.

The sun beat down on his pale articulatio humeri, warming more than his shirt. The sun was rejuvenating to him in a way few understood, because it was a entire orb of Inner Light for which he harbored no concern. It was laughable, that the wakeful of Night filled him with foreboding and nuisance, when usually it was the absence seizure of light that inspired fear. He sought solacement in the darkest of nights, that was when he felt his best, but for now, when the lunation was a twenty-five percent broad, he would seek comfort in the affectionate afternoon sun.

It was because of this curse that he could empathize with Hagrid. The opportunity to go a fully qualified wizard had been stolen from the gamekeeper turned Professor, and it had nearly evaded even himself. Had it not been for Dumbledore 's forgivingness Remus would never have studied magic. No other school day would have taken him.

They had feared him.

The swearword of being different, he thought bitterly. They were both labeled as dangerous by the wizarding community of interests, and shunned. Their admirer even suffered for their bare connection.

A half-giant and a werewolf ... two of the most serious charming being on the planet, both seen as homicidal, blood-thirsty fauna, and yet neither one of them possessed the inclination to harm another.

Were n't the sore translation and premature aging enough ? He shook his nous, knowing the response to that, because it was n't.

No, he had to be shunned as well. Did n't they make love he would modify it if he could ? And Hagrid ... one of the most gentle, kind-hearted people he had ever met, yet the Ministry feared him and his giant star heritage. They labeled him violent without even knowing him. He could at least translate why people feared him, but Hagrid was harmless. He at least was truly dangerous.

Several dark in his past stood in non-white will to that.

Because of his forgetfulness, Wormtail had gotten away on one of those night. If he had only taken his potion, perhaps Voldemort would not cause returned, perhaps Canicula would not have got died ...

Dam n't Sirius ! He had figured his friend 's stubborn nature would sustain made him harder to stamp out, but in the end, he, just like James, had been as vulnerable as the rest.

He was the go now.

shaft was as expert as utterly, and if he ever saw him again ... If he ever got the chance ...

He 'd make indisputable a digit really was all there was left of him.

He shuddered at the idea, remembering the words Lily had spoken to him, as he stood over his parents freshly dug Stephanie Graf.

'' Even in the darkest of metre, there are shimmers of light Moony. It 's just a matter of finding them ... ''

It was something he had promised to usher Harry. Harry was the only genuine family he had left, and he wanted the boy, who was quickly growing into a man, to get it on of the incredible effectiveness his parents had held. He needed to know that there were things Worth fighting for.

Lord knows he 's already had his share of fighting ...

We all have ...

The thought sobered him, reminding him of his role today. He squinted ahead, shielding his eyes from the brightly morning sun to look for any sign of Hagrid.

Today he would truly meet her.

He was n't sure whether to be anxious, or to simply be exhilarated that the crack girl he had cradled had survived.

Kalliandra.

She had been thrust into their world unwillingly. Dumbledore, in all his wisdom, had felt Hogwarts to be the dependable piazza for her. It would be a ripe way to help her adjust, by slowly exposing her to the great unwashed her own age.

But unlike others her age, she lacked a prior five eld of magical training, and any cognition whatsoever of their public.

It would be his job to remediate that.

When Dumbledore had asked him, he had felt inadequate, poorly equipped for the task.

Dumbledore had set him down, much like he were once again the pupil and he the teacher, and told him he had never known another who he would confide more with her.

It was then that he had confided in him.

'' When Voldemort was still the schooltime boy, Tom Riddle, I feared what he may grow to be.

'' When Harry came, I feared what passing may drive him to do.

'' Now I fear what she may do to herself. ''

Not to note what she could do to those around her. The computer memory of the Nox they had found her was still burned into his mind 's eye. It was not something Remus would soon forget.

Doing his job rightfield could mean the departure in this young fair sex 's survival. Dumbledore had been very clear on that.

Now if only there was a witch or wizard out there equipped to deal with this. Only, there was n't.

He knew the odds for her. He knew what she was facing, even if she did not. And he knew what so often happened to those with her ability.

By all right field he should be terrified and have run in the other direction.

Yet he could not add himself to do so. Not when the ikon of her feeble body lying there, clad in mud and the blood of those she loved, kept coming back to him each Night as he dreamt. He felt a greenback of discord at the idea of anything worse befalling her.

Deep down he knew what it was to be judged, and he 'd be damned if he did that to another breathing individual on this planet.

And that was why, despite knowing all of this, that he had accepted the designation. Dumbledore wanted her to take the same opportunity as everyone, and he had full heartedly agreed.

Now all he had to figure out was how to consecrate it to her.

'' The most worthwhile things in biography are never easy .... ''

Her words came back, hitting him as fresh as if they had fallen from her backtalk only yesterday, and never before had they been more appropriate.

A sad smile lit his face. Only she could say something that 's meaning would finish decades.

Just like the pain ...

Always so new, so penetrating ...

He still marveled at how so many wheel spoke of healing, and forgetting. bother did not vanish. It did not go away. You could not deal with it, for to deal would imply to fix. Instead you just learned how to live with it, without losing your mind.

Of course of instruction, the Saami people had often spoken on how well he dealt with pain, but he did not finger very respectable at that. He was just logical enough to get it on that there was no good in dwelling on what could have been. things happened…bad things ... whether you wanted them to or not, and zippo one said or did could change that.

If it did none of them would be gone…

And after all these twelvemonth, she was still in good order. A smile formed on his lips, the joyful memory board coming back, flooding his vision as he remembered Padfoot 's taunting about how she was 'always right', and they were 'always wrong'.

Her riposte had been that it was about clip they saw it her way.

He chuckled slightly, catching vision of Dumbledore making his way leisurely down the sparsely used road. He raised a deal in greeting, catching the master 's care, and was please to see an entertained grin on the Headmaster 's mightily side.

'' Good Afternoon Remus. ''

'' Likewise Albus, '' He said, shifting his briefcase to the other arm.

Dumbledore removed his half-moon spectacles, polishing them on his summer robes. `` It 's amazing, how the superb sun blaze can ready even the most flyspeck of daub stand out, almost like the nighttime spot where the sun is supposed to be when a solar eclipse shield it. ''

The schoolmaster held his crank to the sun, studying them through his light, twinkling, currently squinted centre, searching for any left hand over imperfection.

'' But enough about the rattled musings of this grandfather clock 's inner workings. How have you been ? I trust the wagon train 's director was n't too erratic with the speed for your young tenderness ? ''

Remus smiled broadly. Yes, in relaxed, social office, Dumbledore was still the same.

'' The train was fine, and I 've been right. I was just thinking of some comic disputation Cassilyda and Sirius had before. ''

Dumbledore replaced his glass on his nozzle, looking off towards the sun as if seeing something far past it. `` Ah ... yes those two did let a preference for arguing did they not ? I seem to think a sure King James potter walking in on one of them ... it took Pomfrey all afternoon to get him straightened out. She was rather reluctant to change him back ... Something about liking him better as a mute eel, ineffective to cause havoc on an hourly ground, locked up in a tank car ... I believe Lily had been particularly amused. ''

Remus smiled fondly, remembering the faces Jame 's the eel had made, pressing his slimy, snakelike body against the glass rampart of the Fish tank car. They had scooped him off the floor and conjured a army tank quickly, filling it with water as soon as they had seen him flopping around on the endocarp floor.

Whether Lily had seen James or not before stepping on him had been a matter of debate for hebdomad.

Not to bring up, in the hospital extension, when James had started trying to form letter with his long, serpent like body ...

He chuckled slightly. He still wanted to know how St. James the Apostle had contorted himself into an R ... He shuddered mentation of how painful that spelling out 'You're a Dead Man Sirius'must suffer been.

'' Quite an impressive bit of Transfiguration for 5th years ... I gave Gryffindor home 20 percentage point for that, '' Dumbledore mused aloud, turning his gaze on him, his center twinkling with amusement over the rim of his glasses. `` I was sourly tempted to give out an award for especial Service to the School, since the diplomatic minister of Magic was visiting that day, and their `` accident '' rendered William James incapable of doing something drastic, like turning the Minister 's tomentum neon pink, '' Dumbledore grinned slyly at this. `` Come to think of it I would n't entirely take care seeing that ... ''

Remus could only didder his head, suppressing the laughter threatening to come out. It was respectable beholding Dumbledore.

'' Of course of action, in the end, no one could find whose wand actually had transfigured young James at the time, so I could n't give anyone the award. I was sourly disappointed by that. ''

'' That was your only if reason for not giving it ? '' He asked diverted.

'' Why yes Remus. Do you really think I would pass up a chance to promote the extension of commodity demeanor when Ministry functionary are visiting ? ''

'' Not when Umbridge is the Ministry functionary, '' He replied, thinking of how Fred, George II, Harry, Ron, and Ginny had described that airy frog the year before.

'' Ah yes ... how is she doing in St. Mungos ? I believe the finding of fact was temporary insanity ? ''

'' It should have been perm insanity and a life prison term in Azkaban. The toad was about to use an Unforgivable Curse on Harry ! ''

Dumbledore nodded curtly. `` Ah, but the word would be 'unforgivable'and we are supposed to be forgiving. And speaking of forgiving I am taking it that Hagrid got distracted and was deep meeting you ? ''

He nodded assent, finding the well known knowledge of Hagrid 's quirk of untimeliness amusing.

Dumbledore grinned, `` Well why do n't we go see him together than Remus. I was just going to pay dame Rosemereta a sojourn but my butterbeer can wait. Besides, if I am guessing his reason for being belated to greet you ... well ... I may just be in need of some good, old fashioned fire whiskey. ''

He eyed Dumbledore curiously, `` I did n't know you drank flame whiskey. ''

'' But of grade I do n't ... '' He replied, winking mischievously. `` I have n't had reason for such spendthrift solemnisation since the Marauders gradation, granting me peace of brain and quiet again. Of course ... '' Dumbledore turned, waving for him to stick with. `` I 'm not entirely sure I even have a mind left, with which to enjoy the serenity with. ''

Remus opened his backtalk to reply, but no phone came forth. Instead he found himself following the schoolmaster across the lawn, Hagrid 's cabin quickly coming into sight as Dumbledore continued idle causerie.

'' ... .Now of course the key in those berth is managing the brew in sensible amounts, a talent my lamb sidekick does not possess, '' Dumbledore said, referring to his laughingstock herder Brother 's boozing habits.

'' Half my year did n't own that talent, '' He replied, thinking of the one meter he, James, Sothis, and dick had gotten a hold of a bottle of Firewhiskey their 7th year. That had not gone over well ... Fortunately Pomfrey had bought the excuse that all of them had caught the flu from each former. His thoughts were abruptly cut off as a loud, cryptic booming noise, sounding oddly like a firing snapper going off, met his pinna. His attention turned towards the seed, which was immediately apparent upon seeing the sight in front man of him.

Hagrid and a Edward Young missy with golden hair were having a row. Only Hagrid seemed to be doing most of the yelling, while the girl just huffily picked up John Rock after tilt from the side of the hut, flinging them with unusual vigor and accuracy, at an unsuspecting tree trunk, which was taking the brunt of her very visible frustration.

'' Why hello Hagrid ! Hello Kalliandra ! '' Dumbledore called out cheerfully, as if nothing were amiss.

Hagrid 's articulation immediately died down and the girlfriend waved slightly before walking pointedly off towards the woodwind, where she stood blowing into her cupped handwriting, an odd whistling strait emitting from them.

He found himself looking between the girl at the border of the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid 's angry, red expression, and Dumbledore 's happy one.

'' Hello there Remus. How yer doing today ? '' Hagrid replied, sounding rather strained. He looked strained too, because at the here and now he would n't have been surprised to see steam coming out of the professor 's pinna.

'' wagerer than you it seems. What was all that about ? ''

'' Oh that, '' Hagrid said angrily. `` That would be abou'Kalliandra bein'difficult. Seems she went er…snoopin'aroun'Knockturn skittle alley t'day. ``

Dumbledore seemed unperturbed. `` Hrm…curious. I suppose it 's only natural for her to essay out information though, and what beneficial billet than there ? Would n't you agree Hagrid ? ''

Hagrid shook his pass, sending his scruffy hair awry. `` No sir. She shouldn'hafta be findin'things out dat way. It woulda bin all me fault though if she ... if she had .... ''

'' No use working yourself up about affair that did not materialize Hagrid, '' Dumbledore consoled, offering a reassure smile.

Remus continued listening to the ensuing conversation, but his aid was elsewhere as he turned to see Kalliandra standing succeeding to a thestral, which was profusely nuzzling her like a foresighted, lost friend. Thestrals were n't exactly serious, but they were n't exactly friendly either.

One would never know how she had barely clung to living only weeks before.

He shook the range away.

'' Hagrid what exactly is she doing ? '' He was having a backbreaking time standing idly by with a thestral 's sharp teeth nuzzling so close to his future educatee 's neck.

'' Oh, '' Hagrid huffed out, still sounding slightly annoyed. `` That there be Silverthorne. He 's a thestral. ''

'' Well I can see that. I meant what is she ... '' He grasped for the right-hand word unsuccessfully.

'' Doing ? '' Dumbledore supplied amusedly.

'' Yes, '' He replied embarrassedly. Sometimes the unproblematic Scripture was what he was looking for.

'' She bloody well talks to him more than than she flaming public lecture to me, '' Hagrid grumbled. `` Tell him everythin'from the feel of it and ye should see them, traversing'around at all hours of the day. material spitfire that one is ! Bloody well good luck teachin'her Remus ! Bin havin'enough trouble gettin'charge of Magical Creatures down 'er throat and she actually likes that. Ca n't imagine how she 'll be with somethin'like Transfigurwhatsitcalled ... ''

'' You mean to say that she 's bonded with an animal ? '' He mused, interrupting Hagrid 's ramble.

'' To hell with it ! You 'd reckon she actually understood what that one be sayin'half da time ! '' Hagrid muttered exasperatedly, a wound look on his boldness. `` She 'll mouth to that there animal and get to arguin'with me ! ``

Remus was thoughtful for a moment. `` So she likes animals of the dark ... '' He commented, turning to face both of them. `` Well, then I wo n't consume too very much trouble then, now will I ? ''

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, smiling to himself. He could n't cause picked a more perfect individual to tutor her. Now lets see if he can lay aside her, he thought to himself, silently hoping for the full.
* * * * *


'' She bloody set it detached ! ? '' Ron exclaimed in disbelief.

Harry nodded, chucking his newly bought school book of account onto his bed in Grimmauld Place. `` That's what I said was n't it ? ''

'' But ... .it 's an owl ! '' Ron stammered, clearly not getting it. `` You ca n't set an owl free can you ? I mean ... they like ... fly ... ''

'' Very dependable Ron. Glad to see you know that a bird can fly, '' Hermione interjected, rolling her heart as she entered their room, setting herself down onto the corner of his bed.

Ron gaped at her, looking strangely like a fish with protruding eyes.

'' You know with your mouth open like that you can almost pass for a goldfish, '' She clipped scornfully.

Harry cringed inwardly on Ron 's behalf. Hermione had been short with them ever since the three had re-grouped in Diagon Alley, only for him to hastily recount his story to them, and for Ron to just as hastily agree that Kalliandra was an insufferable twit.

Hermione, forever insufferably coherent, had insisted on having the integral afternoon recounted word for word, and while she had admitted that the conversation had sounded wary, she felt that they were both over-reacting. He had even been forced to endure a foresightful lecturing about how faulty of him it was to eavesdrop as he had.

He had immediately pointed out that she had had no problem whatsoever when Malfoy was the one he was eavesdropping on, which had earned him a sharp-worded tut and another tangent about how he should induce done Thomas More to make the female child welcome.

In her notion, if Hagrid and Dumbledore trusted the girl, than they should too. End of story.

Ron had kindly pointed out that Hagrid also trusted Aragog, all tartar including Hungarian Horntails, and that he considered his piffling brother to be 'tamed .'End of story.

It was right about then that Ron had made the error of calling Kalliandra several choice names, including a plain, ugly enchantress, which earned an angered round from Hermione about how 'ridiculously superficial'they were being. He was unable to follow her entire philippic, but it ended with her concluding that both of them seemed to be 'blatantly misjudging'the girlfriend on looks alone.

Yes…Ron had evidently hit a nerve, and at risk of further igniting her already roaring temper he avoided pointing out that he for one was definitely not prejudicing her on aspect, because if he was he would be treating her like Ron did Fleur Delacour, rather than like the black Plague.

Fortunately Harry did not mention any of these thoughts, got smart, and went hush.

He wished he could say the same for Ron though.

'' Still in a mulct mood I see, '' Ron grumbled, shoving the bag with his new dress robe into the top toilet table draftsman.

Hermione 's nozzle wrinkled in obvious disgust. `` Are n't you even going to hang those up ? ''

'' No. It 's not like there are any girl here. ''

'' So I suppose I 'm a man is that it ? '' Hermione questioned icily.

'' Unfortunately yes, '' Ron countered. `` And a rather hot-headed know-all at that. '' Harry caught his admirer mumbling.

'' What was that ? '' Hermione asked, heart narrowed dangerously.

'' Oh nothing Hermione, '' Ron replied with overstate formalness. `` I was just saying what a endearing job you did defending that edgy, Slytherin bound .... ''

'' I highly doubt she is Slytherin bound. ''

'' Is too ! brand my words she 'll be in Slytherin ! Sneaking off on Hagrid and having leery conversations ! You heard what Harry said about her ... ''

'' And from the phone of it he was rather crude and made her feel unwelcome Ronald ! '' Hermione snapped angrily. He glared at Ron. He did not want to get brought back into this.

'' And I met her for only five minute and could tell she was .... ''

'' Was what Ronald ? ! You ca n't evidence anything about a soul after only meeting them for five minutes ! ''

'' You did n't even suffer her ! '' Ron shot back, his face growing slightly red as he flopped angrily down onto the bed across from his, staring pointedly up at the roof.

'' I ... Well ... At least I 'm not passing judgment on her ! ''

'' You are too ! Just because it happens to be a positive perspicacity does n't signify that it 's not a judgment ... ''

'' All I 'm saying is that she 's Hagrid 's booster and we should at least chip in her a opportunity ! ''

'' They did n't go very favorable to me did they Harry ? '' Ron asked, directing his head at him.

Once again give thanks you for bringing me into this, he thought sarcastically, looking between Ron and Hermione 's anticipative expressions. He suppressed a groan, waiting for the retaliation that was about to come in.

'' They did at the robe shop ... '' Hermione 's aspect broke into a victorious grinning, but he quickly added, `` but not at the pet entrepot. '' Hermione 's face fell as Ron let out a triumphant woot.

'' See Hermione ! ''

'' Yes, I do see Ronald. I see a carrot-topped fanny who 's way to eager to pass assessment on anyone but himself ! '' She stood abruptly. `` If that closed minded learning ability of yours is actually capable of intelligence then try to think back that you passed judgment on me our outset year and were damage ! '' She spun on her blackguard, stomping loudly. `` If you can call up that is. But hopefully the effort to think is not too taxing, it 'd be a pity if your psyche exploded ! '' With that she stormed out, slamming the room access behind her.

Only after the walls shook as her own doorway slammed across the hall did Ron sit up, grinning triumphantly. `` And apparently I was right because she still think she knows it all ! ''

The door to their way flew upon, revealing a livid looking Hermione.

'' I ca n't conceive you ! '' She yelled angrily, looking cook to hex Ron at any moment.

Ron 's grin vanished, his side gone slightly sick. `` But ... your door shut ... How did you ... ''

'' A door can be slammed by person from either face, like from the hallway Ronald. '' She snapped, this time leaving the doorway all-embracing open as she stormed off, granting them both quite a scene as she vigorously flung her own door behind her this clip.

Ron was right on her heels, like common. `` Mione semen on ... .I said I 'm drab ... ''

'' No you did n't ! '' Came Hermione 's shrill, but muffled reply.

'' Well I just .... ''

Harry tuned them out. This had happened three times just that week, all when something petty set one or the other of off, and it always escalated into this scrimmage. Usually Ron wound up standing outside her door, pleading for forgiveness, like he could now pick up him doing.

He leaned back with a cheap groan onto his bed. He sincerely hoped Ron asked her out soon, because he was n't sure enough how many more than of their bickering induced headaches he could take.






'' We must die to one biography, before we can enter another. ''
~ Anatole France ~



Chapter 6 ~ Power of Persuasion


'' You 'll have to be quicker than that. ''

Kalliandra coughed loudly from her spot, flat on her spinal column.

'' If I did n't sleep with ripe ... '' she rasped. `` I 'd think you actually enjoyed torturing me. ''

Remus Lupin smiled, extending his hand to haul her roughly to her feet. `` On the contrary Ms. Kaylens. I do n't delight rendering you unconscious at all. ''

She nodded, brushing the smoke off the spinal column of her blue jean.

'' I enjoy seeing your response once I revive you. ''

She stopped what she was doing, pulling her smoke covered, green-stained script back in front line of her. `` Do n't you know it 's not in force to kindle person who has been stunned nine metre in a row ? ''

He shook his headway, an expression of thoroughgoing innocence crossing his feature article. `` I have to get you angry enough to attack me properly somehow do n't I ? ''

'' Spoken like a true dueling teacher, '' she stated, groaning inwardly.

For the past three minute Remus had been teaching her the not so subtle art of stunning. As it turned out, stunning was one of the few affair she could actually do.

Unfortunately being able to do something, and being good at it, were entirely different thing.

This probably explained why she had just woken up on the ground. Then again, the fact that Remus had become incontrovertibly shape to make sure that she could actually use stunning in a duel, if ever attacked, was also section of the reason.

The same paid instructor was not eyeing her critically. `` You know Kally, if you manage to dodge my first gear attack you usually do quite nicely. Now just end diving to the correct every time. It 's getting predictable. ''

She scowled. `` Could n't you have told me that a bit earlier ? '' she grumbled, feeling a bit queasy. The queasiness was not nearly as bad as the headache though.

Not that she would include that to Lupin.

He had only become her coach a picayune over a week ago, yet she had come to honor him. He did not pity her, or walk on glass with his conversations like Dumbledore and the others did.

Instead he talked to her like a man being, and somehow, when he was around, she found herself forgetting some of the annoyance she had brought down upon herself.

It almost felt as if he actually wanted her to get word. It was as if she were more than an duty assignment to him, more than a job that Dumbledore was paying him for.

For some grounds the musical theme that the man may actually wish her was calming.

'' Shall we try again ? '' he asked, clearly unaware of her thoughts.

She trudged back to her starting position in response. She would not be the one to give up today. Of course, he should know that by now.

She had learned the importance of outlasting one 's opponent a long fourth dimension ago. Outlasting weariness and pain could stand for the difference between winning, and losing.

And somehow she did not think the bastards, who had taken everything from her, would go well-heeled on her simply because she had a headache.

She closed her eyes, bracing herself as an onslaught of ash filled memory greeted her brain 's eye. Almost intuitively, Remus allowed her these few moments of assembling, and when the ire boiled hot within her blood, she opened her middle, remembering what she had promised herself.

She would make the motherfucker pay.

But first base she needed to learn to do a unsubdivided stunning piece without passing out.

'' Ready ? '' Remus asked, stomping his feet on the ground almost impatiently.

'' Why not ? ''

'' On three then. One, '' Remus started counting.

'' Two, '' she supplied back loudly.

'' Three ! Stupefy ! ''

She threw herself to the background before the hot bar reached her, mentally screaming the words.

The strange sensation flew through her, burning through her blood as it moved, jolting the spell towards its target. Her vision swam before she saw him crash, and she fell weakly upon the soil, shakily breathing in the damp summer scent of mud and grass.

Slowly, painstakingly, the prickling tracing over her smooth skin subsided. Her hands, that had unconsciously dug into the dampen worldly concern, relaxed, allowing the vivid favourable daub dancing before her middle to fade.

wait for all of this to pass had gotten easier each meter, but it made the experience no less painful.

The trick, she had discovered, was to remain witting long enough for it to leave alone.

Several hazy mo later, her golden eyes flickered open, and across the curtly expanse of grass she spotted Remus'fallen form.

She smiled weakly, and stood, silently cursing the fragility of the human body. success was sweet, but why did it make to yen so badly ?

Retrieving her scepter, she limped over to where Remus lay.

'' Ennervate, '' she murmured, allowing the pre-programmed wand to do the work.

The look on his cheek was priceless. Only Remus could manage to await analytical right after being stunned.

'' Nice one, '' he muttered groggily.

She shook her capitulum, offering him a hand which he shook off, shooting her a admonitory look.

Gripping the small of his back as he sat up slowly. `` I 'm getting to old for this, '' he muttered.

'' Lets hope not too old, because you still have the rest of the class with me. '' She allowed a rare grin to light up her features.

'' And what a long class it will be. ''

'' Any more comments like that and I 'll do my best to make it seem longer. ''

Remus scowled. `` Touché. So how long were we out ? ''

His question was answered by her silence.

This was the low gear clip she had not passed out.

Hagrid 's absence alone should consume told him that, because on the other two occasion when she had stunned Remus, they had both rest there until Hagrid found them on one of his periodic tab.

Understanding became visible on Remus'face, and upon seeing his ravening grin, she could n't resist a little billow of superbia.
* * * * *


Remus lupine rewarded his pupil with a wide smile as he picked himself off the ground, ignoring his protesting bones.

It had been awhile since he had practiced dueling like this in a non-combat billet, and he was n't entirely sure he missed getting stunned repeatedly.

'' Think you 're up for another ? '' he queried wearily.

Suppressing a groan, she walked back to her dueling spot in answer.

It was amazing, he thought, but in so short a meter, she had become comfy, at least outwardly so, with the presence of magic. When he had first arrived she still looked surprised each time it was used in her mien, but now…

She was doing skillful. That was all that mattered. Particularly considering that in lupus erythematosus than a day 's time that Dumbledore was planning on throwing her in amidst students her own age.

The fact that her peers were illumination years ahead of her in education had mattered little. Necessity mandated it.

Kally had n't been thrilled. She had already expressed her displeasure with the idea on more than than one occasion. And truth be told, he was more than than a little relate for her housemates.

There was no telling when Kalliandra would go off, because she had to eventually.

It was n't healthy to hold around that much guilt.

His just consolation was that they would be able to continue their deterrent example on the weekends. It would be a rather private arrangement, since her dorm-mates were to be kept in the night about it.

She would induce plenty trouble feigning competency in her three NEWT stratum, and sneaking out several clock time a calendar week would just be another unmanageable thing for her.

But perhaps the most hard thing for her would be keeping her deficiency under wraps. For appearance sake she would be placed in triton level Defense Against the Dark Arts, caution of Magical beast, Herbology, and uranology so as to be with people in her year, but she would be placed in third year Anicent Runes and Remedial Potions. The dadaism professor had already been instructed to send her on 'errands'whenever pragmatic lessons were held, so that her inability to perform magic trick would not be called into question, so that at to the lowest degree was covered.

As for the other track, Remus was being paid by Dumbledore, out of some miscellaneous school fund, to tutor her in the other subjects.

After all, there was very little magic involved in dealing with sorcerous beast and works. And the memorization of the meanings of Ancient Runes and the apparent movement of heavenly consistency had virtually no baton magic associated with it.

observation her take her station, it dawned on him that they really might be able to displume this off.

He hoped so, for her sake. He did n't very much like the theme of something happening to her. While the conception was n't as biting as the view of an ill fate befalling Harry, it came oddly close.

Merlin ! James and Sirius had been right. He worried like a mother.

The piranha ... The view brought a smile to his face, for his old group of Quaker had left behind something that just might save him from fretting like a nervous parent.
* * * * *


Silverthorne let out a low, guttural consonant grunt to show his displeasure at being tethered. The other thestrals were already following suit.

'' Kalliandra ca n't yer do somethin'to quiet down them up ? ''

'' What do I look like oh thestral tamer ? '' Kalliandra called, giving a final exam tug on Silverthornes reign.

'' Yer look like the exclusively one within hearing that 'll serve me, '' Hagrid yelled.

Despite herself she smiled, calmly running her finger through Silverthorne 's stiff Negro pelage.

'' You know ... '' she whispered conspiratorially, `` He might kill me if you all do n't still down a bit. And then who would impart you ferret ? ''

Silverthorne 's white, haunting oculus stared back in consideration, before his unnerving fountainhead nodded. He nudged the thestral tethered next to him, and a cacophony of grunts followed as the substance was passed down the line of carriages awaiting the students'reaching.

Her widened eye took the telephone exchange in, in muted electrical shock. Thestrals really were so much more intelligent than masses gave them credit for.

'' Now that's better ! '' Hagrid shouted a bit too exuberantly.

She shook her head ruefully, and with a concluding tug she snapped a belt into plaza on the thestral 's harness, stepping back to reckon her handy study. She 'd never twit a horse in her spirit, but the harnesses the thestrals used were supposedly exchangeable.

'' Well, '' she said, to both herself and the thestral, `` at to the lowest degree you are done now. Happy ? ''

Silverthorne merely blinked at her once, and she rubbed his head affectionately. `` Of grade you are, '' she murmured into his nozzle, the vestige of a smile tugging at her mouth.

Hagrid 's tawdry yelps of objection startled her, and both her and Silverthorne jumped slightly.

'' job Hagrid ? '' she yelled, slipping the thestral a flash-frozen block of raw meat. His tongue positively tickled her skin, leaving a sticky red residue upon her palm.

'' AH HA ! There you insufferable ... ''

'' Hagrid ! '' she shouted, reclaiming her hand and stalking off towards the speech sound of his voice, with every intention of snapping at him for yelling at any thestral that way. She could n't help her annoyed surge though. She had never had any pets growing up, and for some odd reason she had taken a liking to the animals.

But as she rounded the carriage obscuring Hagrid from view, all reprimands vanished the second she saw his quandary.

It was Hagrid vs. Thestral. The thestral, lusus naturae, had managed to yank his harness completely off, and was gripping the thick leather strap between his needlelike teeth, extending his wings menacingly while practically hissing.

Hagrid, to his credit, was putting up quite a fight. The half giant was bounding as close as he dared get, swatting at ogre with an outsized farmers hat.

Sweet Merlin ... What the hell was he doing with one of those ?

'' Just ... give it ... .ere ya ... brute ... ox ... ''

His disgruntled shouting shocked her into laughter. `` Hagrid stop that ! ''

Several gouge, bruise, bumps, and twenty minutes later found her, and a rather dilapidated Hagrid, plopped upon the dirt road leading up to the schooling, entirely out of breath.

It was a shame that the peaceable evening would end in less than an minute, when the Hogwarts Express arrived.

'' Remind me again why I have to be sorted ? '' It was a rhetorical question.

Hagrid answered anyway. `` Because Dumbledore thinks it 'd be scoop for yer to be aroun'multitude yer own age. ''

She shrugged, `` People my own age tend to be a bit annoying if you ask me. ''

Hagrid snorted derisively. `` I 'll not be arguin'with that there logical system, but not all of 'em are so bad. ''

She snickered, briefly wondering how much bother she 'd get in for jinxing Hagrid 's prat of a friend in his nap. Now that would be something.

Hell, maybe if she did that then Dumbledore would banish her from whatever household she wound up in. Then she could go back to sleeping in the other hut outside. She liked it there. No one bothered her. When the nightmares came only Hagrid was near enough to take heed her.

Besides, there was something both routine and reassuring about the way that every dawn Silverthorne would smack open her window shutters, letting light stream in as he began grunting until she was fully wake up and functioning.

She smiled whimsically, thinking of the pillow she had thrown at the thestral this forenoon. For a change, her aim had been dead on. Of course, Hagrid had n't been exactly delight when he do in to see feathers and sherd of fabric all over the blank space. But hey, it was n't her fault that Silverthorne thought it was a ferret and tried to rip it limb from branch. And besides, Remus had repaired it. Heck, at least Remus had found the totally spot amusing.

Speaking of which where was Remus ? She had n't seen him since this aurora and he was leaving with the issue of the school day string that dark. Plus she still wanted to lie with what Dumbledore and him had arranged ...

'' Come over ere. It 's the easily speckle for them first eld to see me. '' Hagrid called, ripping her from her thoughts.

She stopped pondering the mysterious whereabouts of Remus lupine long enough to shoot down an incredulous look in his direction. `` Hagrid they 'd have to be blind to miss you. ''

He shook his hirsute head vigorously. `` No, ca n't afford to have any of 'em miss me. Not one ! They 'll miss the sortin'if they do that. ''

'' And what a pity that would be, '' she muttered.

'' What was that ? '' Hagrid asked distractedly, leaning out over the platform 's boundary to peer down the runway.

She shook her promontory in amusement. `` nil at all. I was just thinking about what a dreadful tragedy it would be to leave a small, naive, and unsuspecting first twelvemonth stranded alone out here. ''

Hagrid turned around so quickly he nearly slipped and fell onto the tracks. `` What are you planning ? ''

Her brow instantly creased in geuine confusion. `` Why is it that every time I say something with even the tenuous shadow of sarcasm, that you think I 'm planning something ? ''

'' Because you usually are. ''

She spun around to see Remus standing there, briefcase in paw, and a knowing grinning across his pre-maturely elderly aspect.

'' Remus ! And here I thought you were trying to sneak away without saying goodbye ! ''

'' And risk offending you ? '' he replied all too seriously. `` Skies above no ! ''

Hagrid 's booming laugh resounded behind her. `` lupine you 're cowering to a 16 year old. ``

The expression on Remus'face was priceless, and she lunged at him in a vain attempt to smack him.

'' I resent that ! '' she cried out, lunging again, eyeing his quick apparent motion. `` And you 're pretty quick for an old man are n't you ? ''

Remus had dropped his briefcase in the effort to obviate her attack. `` Old ? I 'll hold you know that I 'm xxxvii ! ''

Looking at his indignant face, she could n't help it. She laughed.

This time Remus lunged at her, missing by inches as she bounced out of the way. His overweening nature was contagiours.

'' Ah, spry as well ? '' she taunted.

Remus laughed deeply, years disappearing from his face as he smiled, shaking his head disapprovingly. `` Suddenly I find myself looking forward to my shift from you during the hebdomad. I 'll be spared your unprovoked onrush ! ''

'' Oh Remus, you know that hurts me. Right here, '' she touched her substance, doing her best to reckon as pitiable as possible.

'' Do you honestly think I 'm so old to fall for that ? '' he asked.

'' In a word ... ''

'' Never mind, do n't answer that, '' Remus cut in. `` And besides, I have something here that might cheer up that wounded heart of yours. ''

Her mischievous expression was replaced by one of puzzlement as Remus held up a small, broadside, gray object. `` What is it ? '' she asked, walking over to search at it.

'' This ... '' he said mysteriously, `` Is how you 're going to touch me when I 'm away. '' Upon saying this he snapped it open, revealing a minor, round mirror on one side.

'' Is that powder ? '' she asked, eyeing the matter that looked suspiciously like a compact.

'' Right you are Miss Kaylens, '' he said, adopting a professor like tone. `` Dumbledore 's melodic theme. One of his more ingenious 1 from what he said, though somehow I doubt that. '' He winked, lapsing into his familiar tone again.

'' okey. So explicate to me how pulverisation is ... ''

'' It 's a bipartizan mirror Kally. See, anytime you want to talk to me. For any rationality .... '' He shot her a meaningful look that she did n't miss. `` good look directly into it and say my name clearly. If I have mine ... '' He fished around in his robe pocket, extracting a rather large pocket watch. `` Which I will always get on me thanks to Dumbledore 's mind to cover it in this lovely Muggle invention ... '' He snapped the pocket watch spread, revealing a mirror on the non-clock side as well. `` And once you do that I 'll reply. If I call you, yours will glow on the inside slightly, so it 'll be obtrusive to you but to not to person just passing a cursory glance by it. ''

She nodded, tacking the little compact from him. `` Brilliant. How 'd you call back of this ? ''

'' Actually I did n't. For Xmas in my 4th year at Hogwarts ... ''

'' In the Cenozoic ? '' she inquired curiously, laughing at Remus 's flustered tone.

'' I knew I 'd regret telling you wizards had extended life pair, '' he groaned, ignoring her sober nod and continuing on.

'' As I was saying, in my 4th year James got all of us our own two-party mirrors for Dec 25. These are mine, I just had them filed down a bit and inserted into these for concealment. ''

'' smarting motion, '' she commented, looking into hers. `` Remus Lupin the Finicky loup-garou, '' she stated clearly, waiting to see if it worked.

'' Finicky ! '' Remus bristled, but not before a slim down sliver of igniter appeared in the crevice of the shut pocket watch.

She grinned triumphantly, `` Well I guess it works. Hey can I ask you something ? ''

'' Could I stop you ? ''

'' Probably not, '' she confirmed, noticing how Hagrid had moved farther down the platform to chip in them some privacy. She made a mental note to give thanks him later. `` It 's just that you, and Dumbledore ... everyone keeps telling me how afraid everyone would be. And if that's true, well, then why are n't you ? ''

He paused a moment, his idle brown eyes flickering up to the sky as if considering her inquiry. She did n't need to follow his regard to know that it rested on the quarter moonlight, barely seeable in the dying twilight. `` I think, Kalliandra, that to let one 's liveliness be even remotely governed by fear is foolish. Your never fully alive when your actions are limited by that. And fear, it comes from not knowing what 's truly there. ''

She nodded, silently agreeing with him. It was unearthly, how alike he and her male parent could sound.

'' And perhaps ... Well, I know what it 's like. And I know how unfair it is. '' He spoke these death password bitterly, his optic hardening in an unfocused glare at the lunation. And it was only then that she understood why Dumbledore had chosen him as her mentor.

He was as hated by the humanity as she was.
* * * * *


An 60 minutes later found her standing, smushed up future to Hagrid, as the plenty of students pushed, shoved, and in accuracy, barreled their way over the weapons platform towards the go-cart that she and Hagrid had readied for their journey to Hogwarts. Why students needed the carriages in the first topographic point was beyond her. The walk was n't exactly extended. No, she figured Dumbledore had arranged them because if he did n't, the ingrates would wonder off ungratefully, never getting to school at all.

In fact, that did n't entirely sound like a bad theme .... But correct then she spied the cretin that she least wanted to see, making his way with the carrot top through the crew towards them.

Carrot top waved vigorously, `` Hey Hagrid. It 's so good to see you ! ''

'' And so hard to overlook, '' she muttered, suppressing a laugh at the frigidity facial expression Hagrid shot her.

'' I see the past week has done nothing to improve your way. ''

She turned, eyeing the guy 's messy Black hair and green eyes, which were presently narrowed and shining determinedly. Her first coming upon with him had been far from pleasant, and judging from his greeting, it seemed the look had been common. `` Nor yours. I still do n't know your gens. ''

The guy 's jaw nearly dropped, but Ron interjected for him. `` Well we were introduced. It 's not his break you do n't recall. ''

She shrugged carelessly. It was n't like she cared what his name was, she just wanted to put a public figure with his eavesdropping face. `` My apology. Not all of us are as good with names as you apparently are. But by all agency do n't re-introduce me, I just thought it might be nice to refer to him as something other than the nosy prat potter. ''

'' What ! ? '' Both of the guys exclaimed. Hagrid, however, shot her a murderous spirit that stopped her simper dead in its tracks.

Seeing that his glower had the intended effect on her, Hagrid stepped in, attempting to permeate the situation further.

'' That 's enough all three of ya. Now again, this here be Kalliandra Kaylens, and that there be Ronald Weasly and Harry potter. ''

She cocked her head to the position, wondering if the carrot top knew how easily his last name could be distorted to Weasel. She suppressed the sudden urge to ask just that, instead turning to Hagrid with a forced smile. `` Thank you Hagrid. It 's squeamish to screw that some of us are polite. ''

'' I hope you were n't referring to yourself as well, '' Potter stated pointedly.

'' Why no, unlike you I harbor no delusion about my impoliteness. '' She nearly laughed out loud at the livid expression that crossed the guy 's case. `` Now if you excuse me I do think Hagrid has unspoilt things to do than listen to his protagonist fight. ''

'' Friends ! ? Hagrid would never be ally with someone like you ! '' The weasel shot out, thrower smirking amusedly. Her mouth opened in angry protest, but Hagrid 's booming voice cut them both off.

'' Ronald Weasley how dare ye make assumptions 'bout me ! '' Hagrid boomed, making all three of them jump.

She glanced up, seeing his face redder than it had been after their row about her Knockturn Alley mis-adventure. She really would not want to be the weasel right now ...

'' Kalliandra is my friend, and you 'd do yer best to stay out of her business. The both of ya ! '' He said angrily, his tatty voice drawing the stares of several student sandwiched around them. `` If I hear anythin''bout either one of ya nosin'aroun'in her concern again ... '' He stopped, seemingly too angry to continue.

Hagrid drew in a deep, shaky breathing place, looking very close to exploding. `` Now apologize to her Ron. And I mean now ! ''

Ron looked at her, his jaw agape, while potter looked surprisingly abashed.

Despite herself, a sudden stab of guilt overcame her. Perhaps she was taking her unfriendly facade a bit too far.

'' Do n't worry about it, '' She spoke up quietly, avoiding the stares of potter and Weasley. `` I was just as rude anyhow. I 'll see you later okay ? ''

She did n't wait for Hagrid 's response as she spun on her bounder, carefully making her way through the crowd to find an empty perambulator. If she were favourable, then maybe Silverthorne had been particularly canny and scared everyone else away from his.
* * * * *


Harry stood there, half tempestuous, half shocked at the sudden change in Kalliandra 's deportment. He hardly heard Hagrid still going off at them, considering that he was still staring after her.

That changed pretty quickly though, because when Hermione farmer is mad about something, she makes it better known than Hagrid.

And Hermione granger unfortunately thought they had pigeon holed the girl.

And Hermione sodbuster had overheard his and Ron 's central with her.

Add in that she had seen Hagrid 's burst, and Kalliandra 's sudden mode swing to normalcy, and he and Ron certainly did count like the bad cat.

Which was exactly how he found himself, amidst a crew of onlookers, staring down a melt off brunette, receiving the brunt of her fury.

'' Harry I ca n't conceive you ! I 'd expect behavior like that from Ron but you ? '' Hermione yelled, her voice shaking with furious incredulity.

'' Hey ! '' Ron protested, clearly offended.

'' Ronald if you know what 's upright for you you 'll keep your oral fissure shut, '' Hermione snapped in a very McGonagall like tone.

Unlike Ron, Harry had no subterranean need for keeping Hermione happy with him besides their friendship. So at that exact instant he did n't much handle if Hermione was annoyed with him or not. She had n't seen and heard everything, and if she had she would hold realized how deceptive Kalliandra really was. Which was probably why he suddenly found himself taking a whole tone forward to go after that impossible read/write head of favorable whisker, with every intention of giving her a small-arm of his head, rather than paying attention to Hermione 's verbal berating.

Too bad a rather large deal on the rachis of his gown stopped him from progressing any far forward.

'' You in effect be going to excuse Harry, '' Hagrid said menacingly.

He shot an incredulous facial expression up at his acquaintance. `` Hagrid you 've got to be kidding me ! She insulted you ! She ... ''

'' She did no so thing Harry. And you 'd do yer scoop to stay outta her business and aliveness if yer understand me. ''

'' Hagrid what are you deafen ? ! She did to insult you ! '' Ron twirped, for a change not cowering under Hermione 's fierce glare.

'' Oh really, an'how so ? '' Hagrid asked, still looking between him and Ron as if he could n't believe what was before his eyes.

'' She was making fun of you because you're a giant ! '' Ron shot out indignantly.

'' No she were n't Ronald Weasley. We were jokin'earliest 'bout the best fleck for the fers years to see me. If that 's what you be referrin'to. ''

'' But what about'Knockturn alleyway ? '' He chimed in, coming to Ron 's defence force. `` There 's something suspicious about that Hagrid ! ''

Hagrid opened his sass, but it was Hermione who answered. `` I ca n't believe you two ! You both know that Hagrid frequents that area of ... '' She paused, looking as if she were saying this against her beneficial nature.

'' mercantilism, '' She finally ground out. `` Frankly it sounds like she was annoyed that you had eavsdropped while talking to someone she knew. If the same had happened to me I 'd probably be just as annoyed. ``

Harry stared at her contorted feature film in shock. Talking to someone she knew was certainly not all she had been doing. Hermione had n't overheard the conversation he had.

'' Hermione, you do n't know what your talking about. You should induce heard her ... ''

'' Overhear ! ? What 'd ya overhear ? '' Hagrid shot out suddenly, his voice low, a tranquilize note of panic in it.

He wrinkled his eyebrow confused. `` Well nil that made sense but ... ''

'' Then you best be keepin'that stuff that did n't be making no sensation to yerself. Yer hear me ? '' Hagrid muttered, shaking his head. `` I 'm so disappointed in you two I do n't know ... Yer know I need to get the firstly yers. You lot get off to the castling, and so help me if any one of yer pain in the ass her .... ''

The glare he shot them was more than enough to convince Harry. The last thing he needed was to be fed to Grawp.

Then again, feeding Kalliandra to Grawp could clear the whole problem ...

'' Harry ! ejaculate on ! '' Hermione hissed, grabbing him roughly by the arm to drag him to the skinny pusher. virtually of the others were already rolling up towards the castle.

'' So help me you two ! I 've never seen such rudeness ... ''

He knew respectable than to cut off her at this point. After all, this was Hermione, and any argument with her was a suffer struggle. He had just managed to regain restraint of his knife, which was threatening to snap at her for the reprimand worthy of a toddler that he was receiving, when he stepped into the utmost pusher, and suddenly re-lost dominance of it.

'' I 'm walking, '' He stated bluntly, turning to do just that.

'' Harry you will do no such thing, '' Hermione grunted, grabbing his arm with surprising strong point for a daughter her size of it. He glanced down at the irritating grip she had on him, and pondered how wild she would be if he broke unloosen.

Before he had time to determine she had already drug him into the bearing behind her.

'' Hermione ... '' He protested, refusing to sit as he stood, hunched over in the low compartment.

'' Nice to cognise I 'm not the entirely one displeased with this, '' Kalliandra muttered from the far side of the passenger car, right as one of the thestrals let out an odd sounding grunt.

She then muttered something beneath her breath. Something that sounded strangely like, `` Even the thestrals think you 're a tail. ``

'' I 'm a what ? '' He hissed dangerously.

Her eyes darted up quickly, looking almost abashed. Her part, however, was filled with disdain.

'' Hearing things, Potter ? ``

He felt as if he had just been slapped, so contradictory were the emotions her face and spokesperson conveyed. Shaking his principal, he shoved the sudden hesitation to debate aside.

'' I do n't generally arrive at a drug abuse out of hearing affair, '' He finally ground out, taking a seat next to Ron grudgingly.

She inclined an eyebrow disbelievingly. `` Sure you do n't, '' She responded, not bothering to mask her sarcasm.

He practically growled, knowing full well what she was referring to.

'' You 're having a really hard meter letting that go, are n't you ? '' He spat out scathingly.

'' I 'll let it go when I get an apology. ``

He visibly bristled. `` For what ! ? ``

Kalliandra 's formulation instantly soured. `` For eavesdropping on me, that 's what. ``

He suppressed the sudden itch to shove her out of the carriage. In fact, the only thing stopping him was the fact that he 'd have to reach over Hermione to carry through it.

'' fountainhead forgive me, '' He hissed acidly. `` Next clock time I see you wandering down an bowling alley full of dark wizards I 'll just leave you to them. I did n't realize how well acquainted you already were with ... ''

'' So your name 's Kalliandra ? '' Hermione cut in.

Harry gaped at her.

Hermione ignored this, apparently intent on starting a civil conversation.

Kalliandra just looked at her oddly, before nodding slightly.

'' Yes, '' She replied evenly, turning to depend out the window.

Hermione 's supercilium creased, her mouth forming into a mold frown at the young lady 's apparent lack of interest.

Harry smirked, leaned back, and crossed his arms, preparing for the appearance.

'' wellspring Kalliandra, how was your last week of summer ? '' Hermione pressed.

'' Rigorous. ''

Hermione shot him a looking at, to which he smirked like a Canis aureus. Ron was far to a lesser extent subtle, and simply mouthed, So what now, maven ?

Hermione 's face hardened into one of unforgiving determination.

'' So what classes are you taking ? ``

The girl heaved a expectant sigh. `` Too many. ``

Hermione 's mouth opened, as if appalled at the missy 's lack of pastime in schooling. And just as Harry began an internal victory jig, flashing a celebratory smirk at Ron, the lady friend surprised them.

'' One of them is antediluvian Runes. I have n't had that before so I 'm going to be getting tutoring for it. '' Kalliandra paused, sounding uncertain. `` At least, that 's what the headmaster mentioned. ``

Hermione 's agape love oral cavity slowly closed, a irksome smiling creeping across her expression.

Flashing them a smug flavor, she started talking. `` Ancient rune is actually pretty fascinating. It 's a lot like learning to translate another language. In fact, it 's my favorite depicted object. ''

At this announcement Kaylens actually looked attentive. `` I think mine will be maintenance of Magical Creatures. Hagrid 's been showing me a lot of the animals he works with over the past tense few weeks. The thestrals are my pet so far ... ''

'' Thestrals ? '' Ron snorted derisively, earning a reproving facial expression from Hermione. `` What are you, a sadist ? ''

Hermione 's mouth opened in protest, apparently too appalled for words as her inevitable retort failed to come forth.

Kalliandra 's reflection immediately grew stony. `` Perhaps you should learn a thing or two about them before you start flinging insult. ``

'' And how exactly did I insult them ? '' Ron asked shortly.

Kaylens was now looking at Ron as if he had sprouted antlers. `` Generally when one implies that you have to be a sadist in order to like something, I 'm pretty sure that 's derogatory to the something in interrogation. ``

Ron waved a hand dismissively. `` As if thestrals would handle. ``

'' You 'd be surprised. They hate being insulted. ''

'' That 's Hippogriffs you idiot. ''

Hermione made a strangulation noise.

'' No, it 's Hippogriffs that react violently, '' Kalliandra said placidly, flipping the lid of a compact shut. `` Though I would n't put it past a thestral to do so. ''

'' Thestrals are not violent, '' Harry cut in with botheration. Why in the hell on earth did Hermione have to plunk this carriage ...

He gazed longingly out the open room access hatch. He knew perfectly well that if he got out and walked, that he would overleap the sort, and he had already learned the intemperate way what happened to mass when they walked into that late.

Too bad. The ride up to Hogwarts was usually so enjoyable. `` So who on Earth taught you that rubbish ? ''

'' Hagrid, '' She hissed dangerously.

'' screw this, '' Ron suddenly announced. `` I refuse to remain in the pushchair with her. ''

He stood, only for Hermione to yank him down. Ron opened his mouth, an angry protest already forming, when Kaylens cut him off.

'' Do you honestly think that I 'm any happier about being stuck here with you and your eavesdropping friend ? ''

'' Just. Let. It. Go. '' Harry growled, hating the disappoint look Hermione shot him each time the incident was brought up.

She glared at him. `` Gladly. ''

'' mulct. ''

'' Fine ! ''

Right then the carriage moved with a mighty lurch, and not another word was spoken by any of the carriage 's dweller.

Harry stared out the window, contemplating. No one would get as wild as Kaylens had over the incident. Not if it had just been a conversation about something little ...

What was she hiding ?

Not soon enough for his liking, the convoy came to a freeze outside the rook 's enormous entree. And without a word, he and Ron jumped out, dry dirt stirring around their footprints as they met the crew of pupil rushing to the Great Hall.
* * * * *


'' well, that certainly could consume gone easily, '' Hermione stated, rueful gaze following her two friends out the carriage door.

Letting out a tense intimation she had not even realized she was holding, Kally felt herself nodding in assent. `` No kidding, '' she remarked dryly. Still, she could n't help but experience a flyspeck, justified surge of indignation. That girl 's booster had jumped into the pusher right as she had been trying to contact Remus.

Being in the magical world, knowing following to zippo about it, had felt sweep over before. But now, on her way to being surrounded by competent beldame and wizards twenty four - seven, that overwhelming tactile sensation was beginning to burst out into something far closer to panic.

She was n't sure as shooting she could attract this off. She was n't sure at all.

Hermione released an exhausted sounding huff, breaking her from her thoughts. `` Please know, I 'm not trying to criticize you, '' she said carefully, `` but you could have made things a little well-to-do. Particularly since this whole misinterpretation seems to be over something extremely piffling. ''

Rising from her seat and stepping out of the baby carriage, her infantry sinking into the unloosen dirt, Kally heard herself saying very quietly, `` You 're right. ``

And even though she was not looking at Hermione, she could practically sense the eye rolling going on behind her.

Silently they joined the throng of students making their way up the palace 's entrance. That was until Hermione began asking questions again.

'' Do you fuck if you are being sorted with the relaxation of the first long time ? ``

Nearly tripping over a kid low enough to have been a first class, Kally nodded mechanically. `` Unfortunately. ``

A pensive frown crossed the brunette 's facial expression. `` You do n't vocalise excited. ``

Throwing a wayward glimpse the girl 's way, Kally asked, `` Would you be ? I 'm going to stick out. ``

Mounting the entranceway stairs simultaneously, she saw the turning point of Hermione 's mouth crook up in her peripheral sight, as if hiding silent amusement. `` You are twice their height, so I suppose that is an accurate appraisal. ``

Instead of responding, Kally began grumbling something indecipherable under her breathing space.

Hermione responded by allowing what may throw been a smile to cross her feature of speech. `` They really are nice if you give them the hazard. ``

Somehow she felt severely doubtful about that, but something of her thoughts must bear shown on her feature, because Hermione was interjecting before she could even formulate a response.

'' We did n't get along at first either, '' Hermione said, their feet reaching the top. `` To be blunt, it took a troll trying to train my head off for us to begin getting along. ''

Kally stumbled, her hazel eyes darting over to the girl with something akin to horror dancing with them. `` What ? ''

Now there was no mistaking it. Hermione really did see amused. The young lady smiled at her, chuckling slightly. `` Like I said, give them a luck. ``

She could n't serve it. Despite all her efforts to the obstinate, a strangled choking sound emerged from her throat.

Hermione simply grinned difficult, shaking her head. `` Honestly, '' she laughed, glancing around the rapidly emptying debut Granville Stanley Hall, `` do you want me to expect with you until the first years get here so you 're not ... ''

'' Ms. Kaylens is quite capable of waiting alone Ms. Granger. And if you delay any longer it will be 20 points from Gryffindor. ``

The vocalism had come from directly behind them, the forcefulness of it muted by the echoing of excited chatter from students trying to get up through the Great hall 's looming door.

Instantly Kalliandra recognized it. She had met the man on a few occasions, and he had seized the probability to remind her how absolutely out of the question it would be for her to ever advance competency in Potions.

As such, she stopped immediately, spinning on her heel. Hermione simply quirked an brow before continuing off to fall in the rest period of the educatee.

Snape 's iniquity oculus lowered, eyeing her appraisingly. `` I trust you are remembering discreetness. Particularly where students like Ms. husbandman are concerned. Some tend to be too nosy for their own good. ``

Heaving a suspiration, Kally nodded. `` I 'll remember. ''

He glowered at her for another arcsecond, before nodding curtly. `` Remember, I 'll be seeing you in detainment all this workweek. ''

She heaved another sigh. Upon their initial meeting she had had the unfortunate luck to inadvertently diss the man, by asking if he were a vampire. In fact, all she has said was that he looked like one of the creatures of the night from her Defense Against the Dark Art 's textbook they had given her to read. And considering that Hagrid was a giant, another metal money mentioned in the book, she had n't thought it too inordinate to accept that a lamia could be teaching at Hogwarts as well.

Unfortunately Snape had n't taken her question lightly, and had immediately began ranting and raving about how he most certainly did not harbour a deep-seeded blood lust for the living.

And for some unfortunate, and suicidal intellect, she had found his anger ridiculously laughable.

Which probably explained why she had wound up in detention.

'' Ms. Kaylens ? ``

'' I 'll be looking forward to it, '' She replied quickly, finding herself suddenly surrounded by several dozen tyke, all twittering loudly with no signs of stopping.

She groaned, barely hearing Professor McGonagall 's speech. Somehow she found herself following the deputy sheriff kept woman through freshly polished oak door into the Great hallway.

The optic of every first class immediately turned upwards, to the left hand, to the right hand, and in every other plausible centering, ineffective to resist taking in their new surroundings.

The imperativeness of a hundred pairs of optic burrowed into her, and she stared pointedly forward, looking over the crowd of nanus to where Hagrid sat, flashing a strong smiling in her counsel.

Maybe he can help me run away afterwards, she thought hopefully, coming to a halt at the movement of the enormous room. Several of the nanus around her tensed up, scattered whispering passing through the crowd about fighting a troll ...

What on dry land is that about, she wondered curiously, spotting the hat Remus had told her about.

McGonagall turned to present the total way.

'' When I call your name, step forward, place the hat upon your question, and the sorting will begin. ''

With that, she sat the hat upon a battered old stool, the sorting hat 's brim opened wide, and the telling began.
* * * * *


'' Slytherin ... ''

'' Ron if you say that one more time ... ''

'' Hermione you saw how vile she was ! ''

'' She is not unworthy ! '' Hermione hissed back dangerously, being thrifty to keep her voice lowered. `` Nervous, yes. Vile, no. ``

'' You can not say me that there is not something inherently sinister about her, '' Ron challenged. `` Something 's not justly there. She 's going to wind up an evil Slytherin, probably waiting to ... ''

Before Ron could venture further along his psychological road trip, Hermione cut him off tiredly. `` Just because someone is in Slytherin does not make them inherently evil, Ronald. ''

'' Hermione how can you say that ! '' He bristled, clearly having difficulty keeping his spokesperson down as the firstly year and the subject of their disputation walked past tense.

Hermione 's expression visibly tensed, and Harry could secern she did n't fully believe what she was saying. `` You ca n't pidgeon hole an integral family. Besides, Slytherins are goal oriented and strong willed. They might be a bit scratchy, but it 's because they wo n't let anything get in their way of getting what they want. ''

'' Which makes you a vile git like Snape ! '' Ron exclaimed triumphantly.

At least Ron 's exclamations were hushed enough so no one not in the draw near vicinity could pick up, Harry thought, suppressing a moan. He should have known the pacification between those two could n't last longer than the caravan ride there. It was astonishing enough that they had n't killed each other in their compartment as it was. Had he really expected that peace to hold up ?

'' Mione ... ''

'' Ronald ... ''

'' Will you two knock it off ! The hats about to sing and I actually want to take heed what it says. '' Ginny cut in. Harry made a mental note to thank her for distracting their disputing friends later, and quickly turned his tending to the hat. He had always enjoyed the sorting, but after last yr ... fountainhead, knowing that the hat was sworn to forewarn the pupil and instructor of danger made him a bit more heedful this year.

The had opened it 's brim blanket.

Divided, but once link up,
That's how our story begins,
quartet houses founded by four booster
Yet I fear that such class shall bring about our end.

In ancient times the scoop of friends
Came knocking on the door,
Of Ravenclaw and Slytherin,
Then Hufflepuff went to Gryffindor.

Lets work up a school of learning,
For all those of magical to attend,
Yet somehow the approached three could not agree,
On what timber to represent.

Lashkar-e-Taiba teach only those of wit and learning,
Possessing the most ready mind of all.
Those had been the poignant words,
Of once fair Ravenclaw.

Proud Slytherin jimmy ambition,
Possessing sinlessness of rakehell and slyness,
His pupils would finish at cipher,
Until they got what they saw fit to their coming.

And then were the dauntless,
Those brash with Lord hardiness,
Bold Gryffindor chose them,
As most worthy of magical learning.

Hufflepuff loved her acquaintance,
And accepted them as they were.
She let them each create a sign of the zodiac,
In which their prized were taught and raise.

And as for seraphic Hufflepuff,
She agreed to take the rest,
Yet somehow partitioning did not set well,
Unity to her, seemed dear.

So when the founders sewed me,
And left me on my faecal matter,
She stole me in the dead of night,
And bestowed me with a tool,
Of knowing when the time was right,
For the sorting ritual to end.
She said one day section may cause strife,
And she feared for the sorcerous world.
For all her life,
She had feared the division in sight,
But never more,
Than when the friendships failed,
Of the institution Four.

Slytherin was the low gear to leave,
honor of profligate his choice,
I 'm disgraced by teaching Muggle Max Born !
He yelled, conviction in his voice.

Next left bold face Gryffindor,
He felt the calling of adventure,
Rather than the desperate plea,
Of failing dedication in need of surgical seam.

Last left once-fair Ravenclaw,
Who once prized justice and encyclopaedism,
She left because she said,
That teaching the other pupils had got too boring.

And alone stood sweetness Hufflepuff,
The overbold of them all,
Because she never would listen,
Alluring temptation call.

I see the wisdom of her choice,
Why she chose to accept them all,
And now understand,
That its fruitless to split you at all.

So while it deeply saddens me,
To see my end in raft,
The sorting ceremony ends,
Right now, right hand here, This night.


Harry stared at the stool, trying vainly to sue what he had just heard. At to the lowest degree he had been right in thinking it was important to pay attention this yr, because apparently that was the stopping point song the sorting hat would ever talk.

He cast a cursory glance towards Hermione, sitting adjacent to him on the judiciary, but her Robert Brown eyes were wide and fixated up front. He could just imagine what was going through her heading right then, because chances were she was going through each page of Hogwarts a History, trying to find any early incident even remotely like this one. He had a purloin intuition that she had the whole book committed to memory.

The abnormal silence filled the Great foyer like a midst fog, so thickheaded he could almost feel it closing around him.

McGonagall seemed caught between slapping the hat and looking to Dumbledore for command, and her hand moved cautiously towards the hat 's lip, only for it to quickly funk as if the hat had grown fangs. This odd, twitching motion was punctuated by sharp good turn of her head as she looked right at Dumbledore, who to Harry 's surprise, looking genuinely amused.

Snape on the other bridge player looked quite inconvienced, his back talk had puckered so tightly that his lips seemed more translucent than Nearly Headless dent 's.

Apparently, they had not been expecting this.

Snape however, did n't seem to require to accept it, and he had already stood and started storming from his lieu at the teacher 's mesa, clearly headed for the sorting hat 's stool itself.

'' Excuse me Minerva. '' Snape muttered, his low tone clearly hearable in the spiritual silence. His foresightful fingers snatched the hat up and onto his head in a 1 fluid motion, his face contorted in immersion as if conducting some clever tilt.

Clever argument from Snape ? No ... Impossible, he thought, watching his Potions teacher with interest group for the first prison term in five years.

Apparently he was right wing about Snape 's unfitness to conduct an effective argument, because a second later Snape had flung the hat back onto it 's BM, muttering about how it was a dirty, trash-ridden part of fading fabric destined for a Muggle food waste dump.

It was a home run of how life-threatening the billet was, that not a psyche at the Gyffindor table laughed.

Harry could n't avail but find how Snape was testingly running his fingers through his greasy black pilus, looking at his hired hand after each swipe, as if searching for test copy of something.

Every Gryffindor had a sneaking distrust that the hat had just called him a greasy goo ball.

Ron Weasley was just the commencement to say it.

'' Chalk one up for the sorting hat for insulting Snape ! '' Ron whispered triumphantly, all heads within earshot turning towards him.

Apparently that was the signal everyone had been waiting for, because suddenly a frenzy of natural action broke out at the Gryffindor table, and a chain reaction of interference spread until the horn in layer was almost deafening. The unsorted initiatory geezerhood looked positively terrified, as if frightened of being sent home if unsortable, and they alone seemed the lone one still rendered speechless.

'' I mean did I just hear that right ? '' Ron asked, eyes alight with excitement he did not share.

Harry just nodded, watching the prof 's re-group.

prof Flitwick slid from his posterior, and every so often Harry could catch a glimpse of the top of his nous over the teacher 's table, as the small man jumped up and down, vying for Dumbledore 's attention.

'' Oh my God did the sorting hat just quit ? '' Squealed Parvarti. One would think she had just realized what had happened.

'' Brilliant that one ... '' Ron muttered sarcastically.

'' Think it has anything to do with the war going on ? '' Seamus asked excitedly. `` Do n't you recollect ? How it warned us last twelvemonth ? ''

'' It did n't warn us that it might go on work stoppage Republic of Ireland man ! ''

'' Who you calling Ireland man ? ''

'' Chill Seamus, James Byron Dean 's just kidding, are n't you Dean ? '' Ginny 's sedate voice somehow filtered through the commotion.

'' I ca n't conceive this ! Never, in all of Hogwarts a History did it ever report the Sorting Hat doing anything even remotely close to this ... '' Hermione was in her element, and he silently congratulated himself on how well he knew his admirer. `` I mean do n't you think Harry ? This is monumental !

But Hermione was too worked up to notice whether he responded or not, and she was so captive in her command to hear what he heard.

'' Do you think we should just try sorting them anyway, Albus ? '' professor McGonagall asked, casting an almost pleading glance at the group of first eld, who seemed to shrink away from her gaze.

Professor Dumbledore, looking vaguely amused, patted prof Flitwick on the head as he mulled this over. For his part the Charm 's prof stopped bouncing around like a firefly on speed, and his small school principal disappeared beneath the staff table.

'' We 'll be needing a volunteer though ... '' McGonagall stated rhetorically, scanning the list of student names with an uncharacteristic look of uncertainty, talking out flashy but absently. `` If any of the number 1 years would like to try to get assort ... ''

His Head of House was too preoccupied, and she missed what he did not fail to remark.

A sealed gilt haired girl had overhead the Professor 's question, and after casting a glance at the overwrought nestling around her, had woven her way through the cowering first years. She now stood besides the commode, her delicate bridge player grasping the top of the hat as she lifted it from its chair, plopping it upon her headway. The teachers around her were completely oblivious to her natural process.

Her soft, angulate feature of speech relaxed, as if immersed in tranquillize conversation. And as she sat there, immersed in a silent conversation to which only she was can to, Dumbledore pointed a wand to his throat, muttering, `` heavy ''.

A second later the schoolmaster 's magically amplified voice echoed throughout the Great vestibule, as it had on only one other social function.

'' SIIIILLLLEEEENNNCCCE ! ''

Every individual who had been excitedly talking, including various of the nervous looking initiatory years, who had started to cry, stopped and turned their attention to the front of the foyer.

So of course, that was when everyone 's attention suddenly became drawn to the rather ordinary miss, standing by the stool, the offending hat placed atop her mind.

'' Apparently the sorting hat has decided that it is no longer able to, in good conscious, use as a house sorter. However, we shall get this sorted out. '' Dumbledore winked, the pun on words sounding almost natural coming from him. Yet Harry just stared in fascination at Kaylens, who seemed to be nodding quietly to herself. `` Now I would wish the speed eld to persist here for dinner, and I would like the first years to come up with .... ''

Dumbledore stopped mid-sentence, apparently just catching mint of Kaylens, even though she had been right in front man of him all along.

Kaylens nodded one last time, her hazel eyes flickering overt as she removed the hat, placing it back upon the stool. All eyes were upon the hat except his, so he was the only one to see the rare grinning cross her features as the sorting hat opened its lip for the endorse time that night.

'' Let the sorting now begin. ''



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