A post orderliness of the phoenix, pre-Half blood line Prince story.

Please moot this a replacement of the sixth book, since it was begun well before the outlet of the Half blood Prince. I will not be changing this to accommodate the HBP plotline, since I feel that the order of the Phoenix leaves a peachy degree of flexibility for fan-fiction writer.

Thank you to all of the readers who have supported me throughout the committal to writing of this piece.
I can not press out my gratitude enough to all of you who have made me the issue 1 Favorite Author, and this story the telephone number 2 Favorite Story, the 7th Most Read write up, the Most Reviewed storey Ever in the site 's story, and for various months between August and early November of 2005 the Number 1 front-runner Story.







'' vim. It permeates every life and non-living thing. Without it, the worldly concern would cease to exist. ''
~ Vincent VonStolburg ~






Chapter 1 ~ Lightning ten-strike


Remus'eyes narrowed, peering through the thick onslaught as rain pelted the ground. He continued walking, not breaking geological formation even as pee sloshed about his mud-soaked ankles, chilling him to the bone.

Moving was becoming increasingly hard and the thick woollen of his cloak clung awkwardly to his icy skin. He wished he had possessed the prospicience to don a lighter one, for moving certainly would have been gentle.

But there had been footling time to cogitate on such point.

His center burned, the stinging sensation growing until abominable tears streamed down his face, his salty split mixing with the rain before they reached his brim, leaving the gustatory perception of table salt water upon his glossa.

The stick sensation grew worse. It happened whenever his rod cells multiplied, and right now the craze going on just behind his retinas was aiding him, bringing into stark center the destruction of the Nox.

Cloaked images came to lifespan, the moonless nighttime no longer a factor as gray image danced before him with weird clarity. It was the one diminished gift his monthly gist afforded him.

Night vision.

His eyes turned from the reality around him, flicking towards the blackened sky, noting the new Moon. He had a couple workweek before the pain in his clappers returned.

Tonks fell into step besides him, giving an involuntary shudder, and he caught her arm, helping her over another of the utterly before she could trip. Her eyes were still bloodshot from the finish time it had happened.

She nodded thanks and they continued their sneaky search. They dared not idle their course for reverence of giving away their positions. Lingering Death feeder could be anywhere.

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

A Reach had not been found in England for centuries. And the foul and yucky decease Eaters would go to any lengths to find one. The evidence lay at their feet, and he was thankful that the mysterious swarthiness spared Tonks from seeing the full extent of tonight 's wipeout. Only he could bear witness to its full horror.

Five Muggles had been slain this dark. Their torn and mangled torso long since passed. There was nothing even the intimately of healers could do. All that was left was to pick through the carnage, hoping against hope that a soul had survived.

He picked up the pace. They had to complete their lookup before the ministry functionary arrived. By then they were to be gone, mere spectre to possess passed through, unseen and unheard.

The yesteryear weeks had brought a slew of murder. No ... butchery ...

This was his seventh such search that month alone, and still the stench of char cloth and burnt flesh reeled him.

Muggle families were being polluted with the filthiness of Voldemort. And despite the Order 's best crusade, they had been powerless to stop it.

'' Six ... '' Tonks whispered, barely audible. Her slender variant was turn down, her shaking hands checking for a heart rate on a Brigham Young man, his once golden-blond whisker matted thickly with coagulated blood.

Remus bent down, grasping her around the waistline as he helped her ascent. In the heat of struggle she was fiery, unaffected by the repugnance of fallen fellow. He had seen her ability to stymy such things out firsthand in the Department of Mysteries. But now, in the backwash of something she had no ascendency over, the steely glint was gone from her eyes, her purposeful footstep lost.

He pulled her forward, feeling her eyes linger upon the crushed skull of a man barely younger than herself. He could sense its effect on her as she quivered in his arms. He wished to give up her foster torment, but they had to continue.

'' Do you think when he is at the gate of Hell he will still consider it was worth it ? '' She whispered shakily.

He wound his arm tighter around her articulatio humeri, squeezing her arm gently. No Holy Scripture of reassurance were forthcoming, but he felt her still, calming under his hint.

The macabre son of a bitch would pay. God did not let someone get away with such atrocities without payback. And he would see to that.

The night Lord had a new strategy. Snape had informed the orderliness weeks ago, but even now he still found it abysmal, for the vile being was no longer content to try out with thaumaturgy.

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

And people…

His plan was to harness the force of every wizard being for himself. So he could channelize them into his one acrid being.

If the thought of an even substantial Dark Creator was n't enough to frighten someone, Remus did n't know what was. But that fear did nothing to quell his barely contained madness.

It was common knowledge that when emotions ran high school, Wiccan and ace often lost command. Hell, he had lost count of how many times Harry had done exactly that.

Only now the expiry Eaters were using a Reach 's emotions against them. The hooded build had crept in the shade of dark from base to family over the past workweek, killing each nominee 's family right in front of them. Their aim was to elicit an excited reaction, one stiff enough to bring out the Reach 's true potential.

It sickened him, how the night Lord could pour down so many inexperienced person, just to level the ambit out of hiding.

But what was even Thomas More sickening was the Dark Godhead 's plans for the short someone once they were found.

He was planning on utilizing their blood, granting him their ability to kill. And the means through which this would be accomplished…

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

nearly hag and wiz developed magical ability at a young age. Though there were always the few destined to get Squibs, and there were always a few who developed it later on in lifespan, in their teens. It had turned out that magical power stemmed from a dominant gene, linked to the genes specifying profligate type. And the genetical computer code Muggles possessed only differed by a few nucleotides, so it was easy for the mutation to get up randomly in Muggles, thus Muggleborns.

But a scope was not a witch or wizard, they were not a Squib or a late blooming magician.

They were something unlike entirely.

When their witching prowess came to fruition, the same organization that alerted the Headmaster to the presence of a new witch or whizz would go off.

Tonight that system had gone haywire. It had been slowly record recitation for the retiring five months.

Now it was going off again.

There was a somebody out there holding more power than they could properly handle.

And if Dumbledore was correct, that meant there was a orbit out there who had finally struck out.

The poor illegitimate child.

Instinctively his arm shot out, halting Tonks roughly in place, his dilated eyes roamed, scanning the background of what had once been an ordinary home set far away from the major road. Now humbled floorboards littered the muddied ground, while smoke from the doused flak curled up in Snake like tendrils, shrouding the world from survey. Yet his eyes penetrated its veil, searching for the spark of front that had frozen him in place.

He clenched his fingers tighter around the familiar raddled oak of his sceptre, bracing himself for whatever attack would come up.

None came.

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

He withdrew his arm, placing a finger carefully over Tonks'icy lips, signaling her to be silent. The only house of her disarray was the light crease of her eyebrow. She would, of course, have no idea what he was looking for. Her auditory modality was not as refined as his.

But loup-garou bites did things like that to a person.

It came again, a low, smothered groan, and he took off, rushing towards the source. No attacker could dissemble that kind of pain.

He skidded, flinging rocks in the air as he bent down beside her. The micturate she was feebly pushing herself out of was a mysterious melanize, filled with the blood of her and the lifeless man besides her. Her body spasmed with each choking hack writer as she coughed up inhaled water, her eyes glazed over from what he recognized as daze.

He pulled her up, speaking in low, reassuring tones as she flailed against him. She was too rickety to do much price, even of the former sort ...

Tonks reached them, murmuring soothing countersign as she smoothed the girls mud caked hair away from her face, browned water system emerging from her brim as another cycle of spasm racked her consistency violently.

He took her appearance in, another involuntary spasm shaking her. Torn sherd of what had once been clothing hung lightly from her, and the debris and junk sticking to her wet brass made her features impossible to discern.

He did n't know whether to praise the heavens or curse them as he and Tonks exchanged a meaningful coup d'oeil. They had to get her back to military headquarters before something worse happened. Her shoulder joint was in dire indigence of suturing, and God only knew what else the bastards had done to her before leaving her for deadened.

He let her cough up the ease of the water system before stunning her. He hated doing it as he lifted her hitch form from the ground, but only one affair could have survived this.

And as weak as she was, he was n't eager to get on that affair 's bad English. There was no sense in taking chances.
* * * * *


The rain poured down in cold inundation as Harry shouldered his Scots heather, sprinting after Kingsley through the quick forming puddles of John Griffith Chaney '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 nothing compared to the buffeting of his fundament on the slick sidewalk.

Moody 's guttural consonant growl sounded off to his right hand, not that he could see him, the rainwater was too wooden-headed to see much of anything. Thunder clapped, shaking him to the burden, and the lightning flashed shockingly, illuminating the area to expose prescribe phallus running in rank around him, splashing water as they went.

Five of them had shown up at the Dursleys barely an time of day ago, reminding him of that night, barely a class ago, when an accompaniment squad had shown up in the Dursley 's kitchen to whisk him away to Grimmauld Place.

Only this Nox 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 trunk, and he had not missed how McGonagall 's center had roamed the room guardedly. Even stern, unshakable 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 glasses were too thickly coated with pelting droplets, and he desperately racked his thinker for the spell Hermione used to repel water. For his scepter was out, and he could use it. The Ministry had removed the order for the confinement of Underage Wizardry that summer. Dumbledore had headed up the motion, arguing that the restoration of Voldemort endangered witches and hotshot of all ages, and that in the event of an attack, scholar should be free to defend themselves without the fear of repercussions.

The empty lot materialized between two run down menage, and he looked quickly at the pocket-size cutting of sopping wet composition dripping from his hired hand, hesitant to neglect his surroundings for even a second when the foreboding fear of attack hung so thick about him.

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

Grimmauld post.

lupine materialized at the top of the creaky wooden stair looking worse for the vesture. His normally threadbare wear was now ragged and bloodline stained, his eyes hollow and sunken, holding the look of quarry that knew its predator to be near.

Harry stepped through the threshold, stomping his animal foot on the shagged carpet, slinging mud everywhere as the others piled in. He swallowed the oaf in the root of his throat, pulling his middle from the muddy floor, forcing himself to take in his environment. A man named Dorbert buttock could be heard triggering the complicated locking turn on the front end room access.

A loud thunder reverberated through the firm, shaking the paries as indistinct vox argued in the aloofness. Yet this did not bother him. Even his curiosity 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 heating of the race they had ran he had forgotten one thing.

That they were taking him to Sirius's…

This firm had never been gleeful, but now it seemed a hollow scale of what could give been. It stood as a unspeakable admonisher of the scrape of a life that he and his godfather could have salvaged. But that lifespan was gone now.

War brought casualty, casualties brought bother, and botheration brought emptiness.

That was how he had felt since that night. Empty. There was nil that could fill the emptiness. Not even the impend little terror of facing Voldemort in years to come could make him find anything but desperation again.

Mundungus cleared his throat, turning all heads towards him as he beckoned for everyone to quietly make their way to an abut room. He followed, his sopping wet dress weighing him down with every footprint he took. But zero could weigh him down as often as the computer memory ... As much as the onus haunting him ... The one they should have told him ...

Realization hit him hard, like sudden dousing into the icy weewee 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 mouthpiece to speak, to ask, but he let it wave shut. He remembered all too well that Dumbledore would not allow them to recount him anyway. They never told him anything when it could actually make a dispute ...

But even if they had told him, right then, it would n't have mattered. There was no way any of them could have known what would happen from that night 's events. At least not yet ... None of them were seeing past their pauperism to get him to a rubber location, so they could not accept known that the Night marked a turning detail in his life story, as well as in the life of the exclusively survivor of Voldemort 's first undulation of attacks.

The war had begun.
* * * * *


Throbbing pain in the ass ... rip ... Cries of pain in the ass ....

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

Dim voices filtered into her idea, her sleep befuddled thinker protesting strongly as it failed to comprehend a single watchword.

'' ... has a opportunity. ''

flash of Inner Light ... .flame ... Coughing smoke ... squeal of tires ... .Sean ....

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

vocalisation that were oblivious to her waking up. Voices oblivious to the way her body recoiled in pain. representative oblivious to how her eyes teared from the bright sunlight pouring in from the Windows of the ill-starred room. articulation oblivious to how she clawed like a affright creature at the thick reliever wrapped around her beaten-up and bruised body.

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

What she had done ...

A new despair hit her like a thousand hot knives, slicing her cutis in a way the worst of the fired magical spell could not deliver.

She had done the unthinkable ....

New waves of pain pullulate forth, her visual sense swimming dangerously with each pulsating pain her body dealt. She would have cried out, but the effort would have been too much for her imperfect form. Instead she drew in ragged breaths until her body gave out, the sound of a room access creak and a large, dark class standing over her vaguely registered before she once again slipped into merciful oblivion.
* * * * *


The dreams were always the same ....

For nearly a month she had refused to yield to the nightly torments. She was stronger than that. She would not lose herself to the world of nightmare, even if the books she had read on such things deemed that a more merciful fortune than the one the wizarding universe would bestow 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 calendar month since she had vowed to regain some colour of a normal aliveness. She wanted that more then anything, so bad she could taste it. But she would never be formula.

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 addict amongst freaks.

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

She drew in a shoal breath, letting her bastard subside slowly before Hagrid could hear. She had dreamt about it again. About that Night. Visions of blood and shrill screams had filled her head 's eye each nighttime since as she dreamt about their works ...

Her deeds ...

She wiped the lingering teardrop that clung to her eyelashes, swallowing her own self-loathing. She would not fight it, for she deserved every bit of pain in the neck bestowed upon her. She would stew 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 inexperienced person caught up in something bigger than all of them.

And the single who had started it all ...

They deserved so a great deal regretful.

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

Revenge.
* * * * *


Harry lay on the top bunk staring at the ceiling, watching the way shadows played across it as light source from passing car headlamp shone in through the window. Ron 's loud snores drifted up, breaking the silence like a bullhorn with every breathing spell, and it was taking every inch of the willpower he possessed, to not slant over and taste his friend senseless with his pillow.

He sighed loudly, wondering when it was all going to end. Each day the Daily Prophet brought news of more killings, more unexplained disappearances, and of to a greater extent war. For several workweek he and Ron had been catching tidbit of entropy, slip ups by the adult in Grimmauld Place, and right now it sounded like the Ministry was in infrangible 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 mortal could be the cause of so much death and wipeout. No one should let that much ability, he thought bitterly, thinking of the toll that the Muggle expiry were taking on Mr. Weasley, Ron 's father.

Mr. Weasley was the soul employee in the misuse of Muggle artifact Department, and recently, with the strain on resourcefulness in the Ministry, it had come to double as the section of Muggle sex act. Now Mr. Weasley spent half his time performing computer memory charms on Muggle law enforcement, to wrap up up the end of Muggles who had been murdered by end Eaters. Now every time Harry saw Mr. Weasley, all the man could blab out about were different potential strategy for protecting the Muggle universe.

Now if only a safe scheme actually existed.

He rolled restlessly, spying Hedwig 's gleaming optic in the iniquity. She hooted softly in credit, and he smiled in the dark despite his sinister thoughts.

Memories plagued him every time he closed his eye now. The department of closed book ... It was why he now lay awake.

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

Hermione had nearly been killed.

Sirius had ... ..

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

The trick was in figuring out how.

To protect them, he had tried to blatantly crusade them away, but they had seen right through that. He had refused to compose, and his self-induced isolation ended when both of them showed up at the Dursleys while his relative were on vacation. The two of them set up residence there the intact week, parliamentary law members circling the premises like hawks for security measure, while his friend 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 cause to do it slowly.

Yes. A gradual drifting would be best.

It was with these thought process in head, that he drifted off into another night of fitful eternal rest. If only he could hold known then what the following few long time would bring.





Disclaimer : The characters, post, name calling, and event mentioned in this account, that coincide with the characters, places, names, and events mentioned in J.K. Rowling 's Harry Potter series, do not go to me, but to that literary genuis, JKR. Thank you so much for allowing so many of us to go after writing through fanfiction JKR, we really prize it.

The fabulous banner is by SticksN'Stones.

artwork of Kalliandra by agirlnamedbob87.





'' One may never know how longsighted their candle of life 's wick is. What they can have a go at it, is how well it burns. ''
~ A.K. Lovell



Chapter 2 - First Impressions


Her heart flickered over the lake 's glassy Earth's surface, taking in the shimmering reflections of the early morning sunup. The sun was barely risen and the skirt still slumbered, but this had become the norm for her over the past workweek. She simply no longer saw the use in sleeping when guilt trip plagued her even there.

A luminousness snap ruffled the urine, tousling her fuzz gently in its Wake Island. She casually brushed her whispy strands back, tucking them carelessly behind her ears.

Her pilus had always been a source of frustration, always in the way, hanging in front of her eyes, driving her instructors crazy. No ponytail ever held for long, for her midst, shiny haircloth 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 moving ridge now running across the lake the only witness to her frustration as she stood. If she was not back soon Hagrid would wake and find her gone. Of course here would be the first office he looked, but with as late as he always ran he would not be pleased with her absence, particularly when they had places to go that good afternoon.

Diagon Alley. The very gens evoked so many emotions. It was intemperately for even her to choke them down.

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

She had been warned of the dangers of such things.

Her bare feet crunched upon the dewy pasturage, but the betimes morning tingle did not difficulty her. She reached into her sac, fingering the cherry tree wooden surface of her wand before pulling it out, studying it appraisingly as she traversed her way across the grounds.

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

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

Of class, seeing Hagrid 's face when he found the snapped remains might be rather amusing. Especially with the huge passel he had made over how favourable she was, getting a specially made wand from Ollivander. It was n't like she had wanted one, and the only reason the quirky man had fabricated it thus was because none of the real wands that he had brought to the school day had so often as sparked.

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

It was suspect, for her wand was the only affair she could palaver into working at to the lowest degree somewhat decently, and still she hated it.

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

Francois Jacob 's run now streamed down from the clouds, forming pools of ignitor on the vibrant green goddess, giving evidence to the affectionateness the day would contribute.

It was a warmth that would never reach her.

A slightly solid breeze bore the sound of approaching hooves, and she turned towards the Forbidden Forest, the outline of wings folding into a gymnastic horse 's wasted trunk signaled Silverthorne 's arrival.

Silverthorne would be pleased. Now he would not have to wait for her to change out of her nightly garments before getting his ferret fix for the day.

She stopped and waited, his gallop growing louder with his speedy glide path, and a minor smile graced her passive lips. Hagrid and Dumbledore had been as wonderful as they could be, but there was lots they kept hidden from her. Intuition informed her of this with every fleeting face they exchanged around her.

Perhaps that knowledge could explain her hostility as of late. Hagrid was a thoroughly man and had not deserved the brunt of her anger 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 make further harm. This she was convinced of.

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

A creature of the bushed. It was one of the more unseemly epithet Thestrals were referred to by, but it explained why she had felt an instant draw to them while the former creature screeched and howled in her mien.

His teeth glinted in the red hues of the morn and she smiled, pleased with the deal. It should have concerned her, but instinct again told her there was naught to venerate with him.

At least so long as he gets his morning collation, she reminded herself with some amusement, picturing how he would tear through the small wight 's clappers so eagerly.

She smiled again, letting the business of yesterday pass. She would apologize to Hagrid later before they reached Diagon bowling alley to get her 'school'supply. She used the word fleetingly for while she was to assist Hogwarts, she was too far behind to be expected to actually twist in assignments with the rest of the sixth age. Instead she was to put up a worthy façade until she gained the noesis that could help her.

Then there was the small factor of her being completely ineffective to incant in the foremost billet.

No one would be the wiser to why she was really there. Dumbledore 's concocted report would not only insure out, but they were even credible to an extent. He would back her if anyone questioned them. That was her only sculptural relief in this total Hell.

The inferno that had become her life.

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

* * * * *



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

Harry laughed as he watched Ron squirm uncomfortably, the sorcerous tape measure flying vertically around his protagonist 's no longer gangly torso, magically recording the length of his arms, wooden leg, height, and for some odd cause, the distance between his capitulum.

He knew exactly why Ron 's brothers were getting him dress robes, but he was n't about to share that piece of music of data. Not when he was actually enjoying himself for the inaugural time in weeks.

'' fountainhead we did n't require them last twelvemonth, '' He pointed out truthfully. `` And we do this year. So maybe they just felt bad since your outgrowth spurt rendered your other one unwearable. ''

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

'' Blimey ! view it ! '' Ron exclaimed, ducking another near hit, his invertebrate foot entangling in the long dress gown trailing past his feet.

'' Ron… '' Harry warned, but it was too recent. Ron had already tumbled over backwards, weapon system flailing as he took a stand of robes with him, plummeting tumultuously to the undercoat.

'' Oww ... bloody ... excitable ... ''

Harry very nearly choked on thin air, quite a feat, had it not been for the aloud peals of laugh he was trying to miserably suppress as he caught the rest of Ron 's muttered profanities.

Of course, he thought lightly, his best mate might not be muttering the colored metaphors if he could see the aspect on the sale clerk 's face ... Or the fact that she was storming over from where she had been attempting to size a firstly twelvemonth for his Hogwarts robes, brass alit, hands on rose hip, eye narrowed vindictively at the hole Ron lay in.

Right then, with the impeccably bad timing that only Ron could master, his ally 's red head emerged from the fray, a bright pink tabloid wrapped around it like a shawl, and a sheepish expression on his face as he stammered apology. The sight must receive been too often for the shop assistant, because her mouth twitched, her severe expression faltered, and all pretence of anger vanished as she failed to be circumspect about her own amusement.

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

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

'' You know mate, I think Madam Maulkin 's got it all amiss. I think that 's an excellent look for you. Imagine what Hermione would think ... ''

Suddenly he was finding it impossible to distinguish Ron 's ear from the eternal rest of his drag matt of hair.

'' Oh shut it Harry ! ''

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

A undimmed pink satin blur flew across the room, and he caught it deftly, holding it out in front of him as he looked at it in mock estimate. `` Ron, I 'm touched. But it 's really not my color. You however looked absolutely spiffing in it. ''

'' You sure bout that Harry ? I 'd be thinkin'that it 'd be clashing with his red tomentum more than yers. ''

Now there 's another welcome vocalisation ! He thought happily. Leaving the Durselys had been great, 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 cheap snickers from a sure chuckling Aythya americana tangled in cloth.

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

They really should make memory board more accessible for multitude his size of it ... He thought, making a mental bank note to name the idea to Hermione as Hagrid opened his large rima oris.

'' About five minutes ago Harry. And I stand by what I said. '' A mischievous grinning formed under Hagrid 's scruffy browned byssus as his oculus landed on Ron. `` Hot garden pink would be clashin'horribly with Ron 's hair. ''

A gimcrack tearing sound tore his aid back to Ron, and he stifled yet another laugh at the horrified face on Ron 's face. By all appearances, Ron had attempted to walk from the fitting political program to where he and Hagrid sat by the window, only now Ron was staring down at the pull fabric 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 end and waving her wand. The fabric flipped up like a snake, a large goad zooming to repair it. Ron attempted to leap back away from it.

'' It wo n't seize with teeth you know ! '' Madam Maulkin yelled, huffily storming over. `` cocksucker maybe ... ''

Ron did not wait relieved at the thought. Of course, the agonise expression might stimulate been from how dame Maulkin grabbed him by the nucha of his leash and yanked him back to the fitting political platform, where she immediately began to fuss over the horrendous state of his robes.

'' Better finish you first since you ca n't stand still. '' She quipped in her high pitched voice. `` And to reckon that this sunup I would possess sworn it was the vernal scholarly person who gave me the most problems ... ''

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

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

He turned back to Hagrid, leaving Ron to fend 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 creatures were always tearing his wearing apparel, which would explain why half his garments were covered in mismatched patching.

Hagrid grinned and shook his principal. `` Nah Harry, for once me gown are all right. 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 meet 'er. She 's an absolute dolly she is. ''

He nodded, curiosity driving him as he wondered who this Kalliandra eccentric was. Must be a low gear year or really young. He was sure as shooting he would have remembered that name at least.

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

Generally there was only one grounds for why Hagrid took anyone to get schooltime supply, and he was all too companion with such things.

At least Hagrid will point them a well time, he mused, remembering his number 1 trip to Diagon alleyway. He opened his backtalk to ask if they were from a wizarding or Muggle family, concluding that it must be a maiden year from the way Hagrid was still babbling on about them.

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

He followed Hagrid 's gaze towards the fitting rooms, taking in the relatively fussy store when a not unfamiliar sense hit him like a bludger, his stomach twisting oddly as his eyes landed on a slim figure, glancing around the memory board hesitantly.

And I thought Hermione looked trade good in frock robe, he thought, swallowing hard, berating himself for being distracted. But this girl was stunning, in an offbeat sort of way. While her feature of speech were rather champaign, her long, fortunate clothes robe clung loosely to her slender legs, with her ticklish manus lifting the hem, revealing tanned ankle as she moved towards them.

The hell of it was, she was n't stopping. Ron 's grunt was the only thing that kept him from outright gaping as she came to stand correctly by him, biting her lip nervously, eyes directed at Hagrid.

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

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

'' And my helper did a finely job Thomas Young lady. That color suit you, '' Madam Maulkin chimed out, shocking him back to his senses. He silently thanked her, and glanced over to see that she was still indeed, judging by his friend 's pain expression, torturing Ron.

He shook his psyche whimsically at the sight, glancing back at the young woman in front of him, thinking that madam Maulkin had a distributor point about the gloss suiting her. Her dark prosperous hair's-breadth cascaded loosely past her shoulders, respective shorter Strand framing her side, lightly brushing her collar bone. All of it was barely discernable from the sleek robe textile clinging to her willowy figure.

Briefly he wondered if it were a blessing or a criminal offense to let girls out like that.

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

Fortunately Hagrid had not noticed, and the daughter was too meddlesome bickering with him.

Spying that his attending 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 fiber 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 ... oral sex ... '' Maulkin muttered with each subsequent yank, and Hagrid 's guffaw of laughter drowned out Ron 's indignant retort. Harry glanced back at Kalliandra to see her watching the spectacle, a steer of a smile tracing its way across her lips.

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

Harry turned back to Kalliandra, to see the little grin that had arcsecond ago graced her features vanish.

The tone 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 floor.

Maybe she had found Ron'inquiry offence, though he could n't imagine why. He shot Hagrid a teasing flavor, hoping he 'd clarify matter since Kalliandra did n't look about to do so.

'' Yev 're had transference, jerst fer other planetary house. ``

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 amount of amusement. `` Well that 'd be grounds they came in the eye of the yer. Ca n't have erm sorted at the sortin'when they 've missed it already. ``

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

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

Like a full grown giant in the forest ...

Or a three headed dog ....

Or a pet dragon ...

Seeing a half giant writhe beneath one 's gaze would normally be quite a funny occurrence, but it simply made Harry anxious as Hagrid continued shuffling his animal foot, mumbling about proper instauration, while the girl remained extremely quiet.

Harry feigned a polite smile, extending his hand to the girl at Hagrid 's insistence. `` Nice to assemble you. ''

She hesistated for the briefest of seconds, before finally extending her hand as well.

'' A pleasure ... '' 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 touch of the familiar… So closely blood-related to the haunted look of Sirius'that he felt himself shaken to the core at the impropriety.

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

The polite grin she had shot him waver and disappeared abruptly.

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

It was a wonder Hagrid had even asked, because he was already waving au revoir to all three of them, not waiting for a response. And from the malevolent spotlight that Kalliandra shot him, he really could n't blame him.

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

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

'' Yes, you 're probably correctly ... '' She said faintly, her vocalism so lenient he scarcely heard her. Though her surprisingly blue-blooded intonations did null to stop the harsh calibre of her glare as her narrow down center followed Hagrid 's retreating form. In fact, she was still shooting daggers out the doorway as the assistant yanked her over to the overt adjustment weapons platform besides Ron seconds later.

Harry decided not to live on the aspect he had seen, the one so painfully comrade to Canicula. It had probably been his imagination, so he contented himself with trying to decide which of the two looked more disgruntled. Kalliandra kept shutting her eyes, as if frightened by the enthral tape recording quantity flicking around her point, while Ron kept shooting scowl at dame Maulkin.

'' You know we 've never had a transfer before. At least not one that I can remember, decently Harry ? '' Ron stated, glaring down at Maulkin as she marked his handlock with chicken feed, determining the length of his sleeves.

He was about to jibe when Kalliandra cut him off.

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

The supporter flicked her baton, shortening Kalliandra 's robes slightly. It was all Harry could do to avoid cursing the assistant. Girl 's robe should get no shorter ...

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

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

Kalliandra had though.

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

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

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

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

Several min passed, the awkward silence broken only be Ron 's random outbursts of displeasure, and Kalliandra 's quiet responses to the assistant 's questions. Unsurprisingly she was the first one done, and he found himself having a hard time not staring at her now that the dress robe were completely fitted around her form. The thing was swish, elegant, and practically constitute fitting ...

'' Hey how semen she got done so quick ? '' Ron asked indignantly, as Kalliandra made her way back to the changing elbow room, the merchantman of her dress gown gathered in her custody 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, '' madam Maulkin quipped from where she knelt on the floor, using her verge to take a crap pocket-size adjustments to the hem of Ron 's gown.

She flashed Harry an inconspicuous wink, and he barely caught it, smiling slightly at her before glancing back to see Kalliandra go away behind a changing way curtain. He could n't help but feel slightly relieved. Between his oddment about this girl and Ron 's blaze, he did not want to be caught staring at her. And he knew he 'd be a lot to a lesser extent prone to doing that once she was out of that damnable robe.

Of row he was wrong, because when she re-emerged he found the short sleeved top she wore to be no better than the low cut air the gown had bore.

'' Ahem. ''

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

Come to consider of it, Ron seemed to be making fed up faces as well.

Harry failed to possess the chance to so much as shrug in response to Ron 's detestable like gestures in the girl 's instruction, before a tranquillise clatter broke the relative silence of the room. He turned to see Kalliandra squatting down on the storey, picking up flyspeck bowling pin in her handwriting.

The bemuse helper stood behind the riposte, bearing a slight smile. `` Oh honey, thank you, but do n't worry about that. I 'm as ungainly as can be ... '' The assistant flicked her baton and the little pins scattered all over the place disappeared, reappearing into the pin cushion held in Kalliandra 's hand.

'' See, I 'm knocking clobber over all the time, '' The assistant continued, while the young lady stared at the now filled pin cushion, biting her turn down lip, muddiness etched into each of her feature of speech.

He did n't neglect to discover it.

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

There was no time to follow that preposterous gearing of cerebration, for Kalliandra had already stood, thanked the woman, and disappeared out the front entry with her bag.

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

Ron was right hand, she was supposed to wait for Hagrid. Harry hesitated a moment, an internal debate waging until oddment got the sound of him. Wasting no more meter he jumped from his bottom and went after her.

He wanted to see where she was going.











'' And after all, what is a lie ? 'T is but a the truth in masquerade. ''
~ George Gordon Christmas Byron, Lord Byron~







Chapter 3 ~ Entangled Webs



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

To the core she had been undeniably, inexplicably, shaken. And all because of a dissipate megabucks of pins upon the floor of a garment store, and her own deplorable attempts to regenerate a clerk 's ineptitude.

Magic.

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

The sooner she became accustomed the full.

She could not open to be seen or discovered for what she really was, for in all her incompetence in the craft that made this veiled world of black art flourish, she would be left naked and exposed, the consequences of what had lain both within and far flung from her clutch unthinkable.

Butchered for who she was… The possibility was nothing lupus erythematosus than she deserved, for one such as herself should not be allowed to walk upon the bustling streets, the feel of the most luminescent of the celestial sphere'orbs warming her skin, the light clatter of pebbles being kicked askew and the laughter of children ringing within the deferral of her auditory senses.

No. There were others who deserved such exclusive right far more than she, though they now lay where the sun could no longer touch their frigid soul. And with them, lay the semblance of who she had once been.

She had died the Sami day they had succumbed, despite the rhythmic pound within her bureau.

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

She was going to obtain out.

It was why she had left, fleeing in hopes of traversing her way through the densely pile streets, making her way towards the looming marble building, the fortunate words Gringotts bank emblazoned across its ivory surface.

After barely a 100 paces the column of the wizarding commercial society emerged over the heads of the crowd. Its supporting editorial leaning in assorted directions, their haphazard livelihood for the pep pill spirit level of the edifice strengthened with the black magic filling the streets.

Though it was not there that she wished to go.

It was there, directly across from the goblin filled depository. That was where she desired to go to seek out her answers. Turning down the dark alleyway she noted a rickety sign suspended above it 's entryway bearing the jaggedly carved news Knockturn Alley.

Yes, she had been forewarned of its shady device characteristic. She had carefully listened to Hagrid 's babbling about it, about how he hated to venture down it each fourth dimension he found himself in need of Flesh eating clout repellent, and about how objects of the illicit variety could be procured.

She was an object of the illicit variety, and if there was anywhere to find credence within the society that demanded fleet execution for those of her nature, it would be here.

Hagrid had been none the wiser, content to respond her every interrogative about the grim back street. He had even inadvertently supplied her with the name of the man to whom she wished to address, Mr. Borgin.

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



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

Kingsley Shacklebolt let out an incensed seeing red, raucously shoving his way through the midst crowd grunting about insubordination. Tonks only recourse was to roll her eyes, further darkening the reddened hue that her boss'face was beginning to postulate on.

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

'' Kingsley, Harry is perfectly capable of taking care of himself for more than five minutes, '' She said amicably. `` And besides, how was I supposed to break up up Remus'birthday gift for hi.. ''

'' Tonks…

Casting a sidelong coup d'oeil at the aged club member she came to a halt in the pith of dealings, ignoring the protest of the witches and whizz around them, who were now being forced to take the air a fully two foundation to the face to avoid them. For all their complaining one would think she was inciting a thigh-slapper, not stopping for a chat with her slightly formidable political boss.

speechmaking of Kingsley, he looked like he was either suppressing the desire to throttle her, or in the get-go level of cardiac arrest.

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

A large mineral vein was beginning to throb in the man 's forehead, and he leaned low. `` Dam n't Tonks ! '' He hissed. `` This is not a game ! ``

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

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

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

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

She did not even waitress for his nod of affirmation before continuing on her broadside. `` Why should we be silent Kingsley ? Lord knows these ignorant hoi polloi need a viewing up birdsong, 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 modish exit that she had not yet read.

Twenty heptad Muggles Die Mysteriously in the Spanse of a two weeks. Is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named creditworthy ?

Her mouth fell open, forming a small'O'of understanding.

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

'' That Nox, '' She whispered, knowing wide-cut well to what he referred. The scratch tissue across her breast would forever process as a striking reminder to her carelessness in dueling with her aunty. It had taken one-half of the summer, laid up in St. Mungos, for her to make a full recovery from the bump she had been dealt.

Remus had been her lone beginning of sanity during that time, as he had been on the night they had combed through the grotesquely charred yard of an separated Muggle home, searching for survivors.

The month old picture of that terrible scene was now burned beneath the front Sir Frederick Handley Page 's nictitation newspaper headline, the water pooling upon the pavement darkened with what she knew to be blood.

The hapless souls had never had a chance.

Clenching the tabloid between her hired hand she met her boss'gaze. `` Look, '' She whispered, forcing her representative calm. `` I know the Order is concerned about Harry. But he has proven More than competent in situations that most Aurors have yet to face, and he 's come out active an… ''

'' And in the physical process put half the Order in grave danger ! '' Kingsley boomed angrily. `` All due to his impulsive, brash, ill-thought…

'' Actions, '' She supplied, ignoring how his eye twitched. `` But how does the Order expect him to learn to pull in decisions if we are always hovering over him ? ``

His eyes widened considerably, `` In war there is no room for mistakes. ``

'' Who said he was making them ? ``

Kingsley began pacing up and down the Apothecary 's face alley. `` No one, but you have to admit the baby is… ''

'' Teenager, '' She corrected. `` And after what he has experienced one can hardly call off him even that. ``

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

'' I 'll lead it under condition, '' She replied, leaning against the dirty brick bulwark, content to relish in its shade for a import of respite from the August heat.

Kingsley 's following tirade was opaque, though she did beguile the words 'irresponsibility', 'insubordinate', and 'dam n't girl'.

Slowly she began banging her head against the brick siding.

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

'' It is not just a canary ! '' She interjected, halting the assault on her skull. `` It 's a gatherer 's variant ! And Remus ordered it a month ago for Harry, special purchase order ! They had to make it to Remus'precise specifications, and we thought it would be a dainty surprise to pick it up while out toda… ''

'' Oh high-minded ! '' Kingsley burst out, throwing his men up. `` Perhaps you explain your reasoning to the edict when destruction feeder attack and need them away ! ``

She groaned, resuming the thud of her head. `` Kingsley the club would do well to realize that Harry is nearly of age. He 's nearly an adult and zero is going to materialise while he and Ron are being fitted for gown. ``

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

'' You mean Ginny ? ``

The man let out a sound oddly reminiscent of a hippogriff in oestrus, stomping the ground and sending a deal of dust scattering into the air. `` Who do you conceive I mean ! ? What other missy were you to chaperone today ? ! Focus for just a second would you Nympha… ''

'' We ran into her swain, '' Tonks hastened to inform, unwilling to hear that beshrew name again. `` So she is spending the rest of the afternoon with the Finnigans. ''

'' And the boy ? ``

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

Despite his fury Kingsley gave an involuntary shudder. It was a well known fact in his department that he hated all matter related to conventional dress, with a exceptional aversion to those who made such things their profession.

Tonks smile only widened further, her pupils narrowing into pocket-sized ovular puss, eye yellowing like a computerized tomography. `` See Kingsley ? They 're perfectly condom. No self-respecting Death Eater would venture into there. ``

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

Tonks jaw dropped at the admission, a holloa joke resonating from Shacklebolt 's large form.

'' Speechless are we ? Well nether region has indeed frozen over, either that or your nose of the day prevents proper breathing. ``

Her mitt flew to her stooping olfactory organ, pondering what was wrong with it. She had spied a transcript of Wiccan Weekly earlier that day, and while she was not one for fashion she had seen this calendar week newspaper headline : Crooked Nose condemnation, In or Out of Season ?

Naturally she had spent the cockcrow wandering around, telling anyone within earshot that Rita Skeeter had cursed her, just to see the mix reactions.

The boys had at least found it entertaining.

Kingsley 's forte cough drew her aid back, where he had adopted a rather infuriate glare.

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

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

Kingsley stomped his infantry again. `` See ? This is exactly what I mean ! Your attention pair is bordering on the non-existent and you 're always usurping authorization in favor of whatever your notion of the moment is ! In this grammatical case it 's the, 'the Thomas Kid can rent care of themselves'impulse ! That 's precisely why I ca n't retire early ! You 're nowhere near cook for such a position and there is no one else with enough fighting experience to recommend ! ``

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

'' Are you even listening ? ``

'' Yes Boss. ``

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

'' Your supremacy ? ``

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

'' I 'm just taking your advice. I thought assurance pattern liked to be addressed… ''

'' One more word and a 'Nympadora'sign is going to wind up with a permanent sticking charm on your forepart door. ``

She sobered immediately.

'' And stop banging your head. ``

She stopped that to.

'' And do n't wriggle. ``

Suppressing a groan she resisted the temptation, her discomfort stratum rising exponentially. Movement was the just thing sufficient for quelling her often frazzled spunk in Shaklebolt 's front. 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 abhorrent crime. No wonderment they normally came out of questioning twitching.

Contenting herself with incrementally elongating and shortening her nails, the process concealed by the thread 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 folderol that had been carelessly tossed, missing the alley 's refuse bin, and stopped dead.

Passing the porta where the position alley converged with Diagon skittle alley 's bustling main avenue was a familiar point of dark hair, and Harry was sprinting along at a intelligent gait.

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

Without a word she ignored the sarcastic shaft, taking off after Harry with murderous intent. Of all the ill fated timing that one could have, she had the rack up. Harry just had to pick now to run off, and she had every aim of strangling him once she got a hold of him.

Of course she may make to stun him first, considering he had grown considerably to tower several inches above her, making him significantly faster.

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

As they shoved their way through the street, Kingley 's golden loop earring glinting in the temperateness, she began ticking off the various mode to shoot down or torture him. For out of all the ordination members she was his strongest exponent when it came to the degree of independency he should be afforded. After all, she had attested to Harry 's ability to tell when it was or was not earmark to wander off in public places. However, with Kingsley standing behind her, Harry was proving her wrong yet again. She could only suppose the self-satisfied smile crossing Kingsley 's boldness, and after he mentioned this to the Order…

Her solicitation to let Harry in on Thomas More of the Orders'activities would probably be rejected, yet again.

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

'' I 'm going to kill him when I get a handgrip 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 lilliputian saunter of his would probably cost Harry his allowance into the Order, and he would never even know it.

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

Fixing her optic to the back of his head, she shortened her hair up her cervix, and began experimenting with noses. It was n't until she spotted the old cleaning lady calmly perusing the selection of fauna solid food on display outside of Eeylops Owl Emporium that she was struck with an excellent idea.

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



It was a marvel that he had managed to keep her in passel, considering the horde swarming around him, tike screaming off items that would be needed for the commencement of term to frazzled parents, most of whom were doing admirable balancing acts with newly purchased cauldron, Holy Scripture, and potions supplies. Though her hair color helped, for it was neither sullen 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 soft to keep rails of her.

frankincense it was that he was unable to miss her purposeful march into Knockturn Alley, 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 back street, and she very well may have just made a heavy, and possibly life threatening, misapprehension.

He knew the outcome of such erroneousness far too well.

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

The dark entrance was rather twine, the distance narrow and curving every few feet, thus she easily fell out of his line of sight. And it was not without incident that he made it through this, having to grunt at a Haggard looking woman to drive home his point that he indeed did not want to buy the cadaver toes she was selling.

'' Maybe next time young lad, next time… '' She hawked after him, driving his pace to increase.

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

Making a hasty decision, and silently praising Fred and Saint George for their generosity that day when they had visited the Weasley twin 's establishment, Harry crept past the shaded windowpane displaying Borgin & Edmund Burke on 'special'token, casting a surreptitious glance through the dirt covered panes.

The image was vague, distorted by the chummy level of dirt coating the windowpane, but Kalliandra 's advance stirred the man knelt behind the counter, his hands rummaging through his glass presentation slip like a rat in a hole.

An indistinct intelligence fell from the fille 's lips, and with a sudden jounce of movement the man stood, mouth spluttering indistinct words in a hoarse manner.

It was an format encounter, or a meeting between two who were uncomfortably acquainted.

Neither prospect boded well.

It was suddenly obvious that she had entered here knowing full moon well what kind of place it was.

Making a decision as the man began pacing, Harry dropped to the lousy ground, allowing an revoke go-cart to hide him from the absolute majority of the skimp dealings upon the 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 player were so engrossed. The stirring in him though, the warning that her conduct was like Malfoy - coming into Knockturn Alley to get chummy with its owner - he could not ignore though.

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

Pressing his ear to the slenderize, flaking wood paneling upon the establishment 's exterior, he muttered a spell 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 piddling use for honesty, and much for job, '' Rasped the man, whose voice Harry now recognized to be that of Borgin 's Proprietor, Mr. Borgin himself. `` Your symmetry was challenging, 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 assume much. ``

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

'' Of course of action, '' Borgin 's rattled breath shot out. `` Though the method of the payment 's obstetrical delivery shall be to my stipulation. ``

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

A racking coughing shook the proprietor, Harry shuddering at the repercussion as the run-in a month 's time were spoken.

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

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







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



Chapter 4 ~ come of Distrust


Perhaps it was the shuddering weakness that had plagued her body so oft as of late, but seeing the messy haired Potter upon the priming was a mountain for which she had been ill prepared, the sheer shock sending her insides reeling and curling into unnatural knots as she blinked at him, his own typeface adverted as if stalling for time.

Drawing breathing spell between her tooth the pieces fell into place, forming an unpleasing pattern.

Choking back the sick ace threatening to crawl from her pharynx, she spun on her heel, strewing grimy dust 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 beingness she was still disbelieving, for her discretion at having said nothing more than necessary.

Tucking a ringlet of darkened gold behind her ear, effectively removing the wayward Strand from her face, she rounded the first wind in the round-shouldered alley, passing a street seller selling capitulum of something that sounded suspiciously like 'house elves'. It was in this bit of misdirection that a firm grip fell upon her pep pill arm, the calluses on the hired man evident as she reflexively yanked her arm away, stepping away to distance herself from the tooshie bold enough to make such a gesture.

Unsurprisingly she was unable to even plow around before ceramist was again upon her, ushering her to the other side of the denigrate surface area, away from the street trafficker. She wasted no clip in distancing herself from the Potter prat, fishing around for his first name, which she could not remember.

Casting a leery glance at the crinkled seller she felt distinctly anxious, even with the man 's dotty optic 10 yard off, for he was clearly out of earshot. Dismissing the fleeting concern that wizards could possibly give ranking earshot she felt her heart narrowing into darkened slits.

To Potter 's mention, his sass was already opening in explanation, but she cut him off.

'' How much did you get a line ? '' she hissed quietly.

His jaw clamped shut, an unsure look overtaking his features, as if he had no clue on how to serve her interrogative.

Another moment passed between them in silence, the shadows cast by the looming brick paries of the alleyway traveling such a scant space that their front would own been indiscernible to the human eye, had either present paid the iniquity any psyche, though they did not.

Still the messy haired man before her did not speak, his silence allowing her the time she needed to pick up her harshly judder demeanor.

No one had been meant to cognise of her affaire with Borgin. No one.

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

'' Listen, '' she whispered, being careful to keep her representative low. `` I want you to persist away from me, and my conversations. ``

ceramicist 's face was oddly writhed, as if unable to decide upon frowning or glaring in suspicion. `` Why are you so alarmed about me overhearing that ? ``

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

'' Could n't say, but you 're awfully concerned about that conversation remaining common soldier, '' he stated pointedly, apparently having no queasiness about keeping his voice down. `` Why the concern if you have nothing to hide ? ``

She visibly bristled.

'' Correct me if I 'm haywire, '' she stated slowly, taking the meter to enunciate each syllable. `` But most people do not carry well to having their common soldier conversations listened in on. ''

'' Most people do n't ramble down Knockturn Alley to speak in code with shady proprietor, '' he countered challengingly.

'' I 'm failing to recall any code, '' she refuted, her eyebrow furrowing. `` Though I 'm also failing to recall how this is any of a over alien 's business organisation. ``

His iniquity, forest-like eyes met her staid gaze levelly, without apology, while a woman with a torn, tattered gray shawl limped around the corner, leaning heavily on a pincer footed cane. Neither spoke as the woman shambled along, quietly croaking out a melody of kind about bat flank and who-ding-its.

As soon as the woman neared the weave of the alleyway, becoming interested in street vender 's merchandise, ceramicist closed the space between them, his brake shoe disturbing the mysterious claw marks that the elder 's cane had left indented in the begrime ground.

'' flavour, '' he began, sounding much calmer, `` I did n't follow you to take in anything, I just… ''

'' You just happened to follow me, '' she cut in unapologetically, `` And then you must have randomly decide to crouch down and listen in ? ``

Potter took another gradation forward, eyes intimidating.

'' Yes. ``

Sucking in a half frustrated, half furious breath she suppressed the impulse to sound off something, him in specific. `` Alright Potter, if that's the case, then why did you follow me ? ``

His face was nothing short-circuit of derisive, the flavor of one trying to explain a dewy-eyed construct to a pocket-size nestling 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 lady Maulkins ? ``

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

In the black shade of the alley, his eyes took on a shady, disapproving glint. `` Why should n't he cognize ? ``

'' What are you my keeper ? '' she snapped scathingly, finally losing her pique, brushing a lock chamber of fuzz away from her eyes in frustration.

His eyes narrowed immediately. `` You 're avoiding the question. ``

'' And you 're being a complete… ''

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

'' look, '' he finally said, `` If your clientele here was harmless why hazard venturing here alone ? Why not severalize Hagrid and have him come with you ? ``

She kicked the soil in frustration, scattering tiny rocks 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 level, '' he interrupted, shoving his hands into his pockets.

'' Oh I think it 's very a great deal the tip, '' she snapped acidly, noticing his hands curling into tight fists within his pockets.

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

'' And spying was a upright option ! ? '' she shot out incredulously.

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

'' sure enough sounds like it. ''

'' Well I would n't let even been there if you had n't walked out in the first gear place ! '' he shot out defensively.

'' Do n't you dare… ''

'' Now really, what discussion was so of import that it required you to trek into Knockturn Alley to verbalize in hushed tones behind a close door ? Because seriously Kalliandra, I 'd know to hump, '' he snapped with mock seriousness, yanking his work force from his pockets and crossing his coat of arms.

She glared harshly. `` That is none of your business you misfortunate blo ... ''

'' Miserable fellow ? '' he cut in. `` You 've got ... ''

Turning on her cad she shoved past him, brushing off his arm that attempted to halt her advance as she stalked away. Purposely dragging her feet enough to send a strew of grimy junk in his direction, she felt a detached sentience of gratification at his umbrageous coughing.

'' testament you… '' he grunted. `` exactly stop… '' She rounded a crooked go, the light of Diagon back street seeping into the dimly lit corridor. `` Because… ''

Continuing to neglect him she stepped out into the bright light, allowing the bustling, shoving, chattering bunch to swallow her whole.
* * * * *


Removing the shawl Tonks smiled maniacally, partly due to her easement at being away from the amazingly putrid olfactory sensation of the family elf ear trafficker, and partly because she was enjoying her old charwoman disguise too much.

'' Out of me way ! '' she snapped in a raspy voice, effectively clearing the field as the great unwashed scattered in every counsel. Anything to ward off getting whacked upside the header by the old lady with the sharp cane.

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

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

'' Tonks drop the old womanhood diatribe, you 're mucking it up and voice like a pirate. ``

She threw her caput back and cackled, sending a small chemical group of nipper, first years by the looking at 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 summercater section.

Maintaining their ambling hobby, she was having trouble grasping Harry 's conversation due to the randomness of the crowd. Knockturn Alley had been deserted in comparison, but fortunately they were able to stay relatively close due to her disposition to knock anyone ill-omened enough to walk in front of them in the book binding of the articulatio genus with the claw 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 trivial rendezvous was about ? And two, this is just so much 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 restrain him I at least pauperism to hear that I have a good reason. ``

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

Smiling cheekily she ignored him. `` Watch and memorize from the passkey Kingsley. Watch and pick up. ``

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

'' Oh ? '' she questioned, `` So I guess it is hunky-dory to bring up to you as that. ''

'' You 're really aiming to get that personalized, permanently stuck name dental plate are n't you ? ``

'' You would n't. ``

'' What makes you cerebrate not ? ``

Smirking she did her expert to save Harry 's head in lot, walloping her secure cane against a man too officious posturing for a Veela aspect alike to notice the bustling crew swarming around him.

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

'' You do n't experience an office staff. ``

She frowned. `` Someday I might. ``

'' Not if you keep this up. ``

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

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

He groaned.

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

rightfield then Kingsley looked very much like he would make out to overwhelm himself in the pee basin outside of Eeylops Owl department store. It was a disgrace the owls drinking from it looked murderous.

It took another second for the information to process within her judgement, for it was a relatively exculpate field, and Harry had just drug the girl over there.

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


As she traversed her way amongst the moving sea of bodies, the intoxicating pressure of commercial commerce hung heavily in the air. The mixing aromas from the apothecary, ice pick front room, and owl emporium blended with that of the joke shop 's scented smoke bombs, while candles burned mid-wick in every storefront windowpane, lending the area a unique flavor.

In Kalliandra 's frustration she noticed footling of this. So fixate 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 back glance when she had traversed in the opposite instruction scarcely a quarter of an hour before hand.

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

She knew full well who it was.

Hardly aware of the loose pebbling overlaying the cobblestone boulevard, or of the continuous influx of patron pouring from the shop into the street, pressing in around them on all sides in a way that encouraged one to not deter from the speed that the crew had reached a cosmopolitan, non-verbal consensus regarding, she found herself whirling around to face him, halting.

'' What ? '' she snapped, looking squarely into his dark greenness, and currently infelicitous looking, eyes.

'' I wasn't… ''

A winding man shoved by, cutting Potter off as he failed to take heed of the two somebody speaking a invertebrate foot below his rather outre summit. In the operation he smacked against them brusquely, their heads banging together gruelling, and she found herself kicking a spray of pebbles in the man 's direction, oddly satisfied as the man halted, swore, and turned in spot looking for the culprit of the attack on his calves.

'' Making protagonist everywhere I see, '' thrower commented dryly, tugging her along after him until they had abandoned the street altogether. And the moment their invertebrate foot reached the cement replacement Potter released her, eyes hard 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, flexure, 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 sincerity, hopping over a step that had spontaneously sprung from the itinerary. `` Perhaps you should memorise what a right apologia entails, and forgive me for being argumentative, but I was the one tripping over a sight bafo… ''

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

'' How in the hell was I acti… ''

Her ecphonesis was cut off by his taunting snort, and her face contorted into an wild scowl.

perusal him carefully for a moment as a hoard of kids ran past, she gave a curt nod, indicating the top of his head. `` Was n't your hair's-breadth a different colouring material ? '' 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 simpleton job proved daunting.

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

She bit back an angry growl, and suddenly found her procession again halted. She threw a brilliance at him.

'' Let. Go. ``

He smirked as if amused. `` Well correct me if I 'm wrong, but if you 're trying to encounter up with Hagrid this would be a good place to stay. ``

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

Potter let out an exhausted sigh, dragging her to retrace their end few gradation until they stood in strawman of a small drinking till, a tenacious pin extending over it, several owls perched upon it, and he gestured inside the storefront window.

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

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

Only she did not answer, for her eyes were drawn to the owl besides them. Slowly, instinctively, she took a measure back, the cant telephone circuit of the barn owls faces redoubtable as a sharp clacking, the typical sound of mightily nib snapping shut in chronological sequence, began.

It was the threatening, justificatory behaviour of an animal whose territory had just been breached, as was the fanning of flank, which the tawny and saw whet, side by incline, were currently doing.

thrower 's forehead crinkled oddly, the owls territorial reserve behaviors not ceasing until Kalliandra had backed away, her dog teetering off the bound of the pavement into the street.
* * * * *


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

The Professor spotted them immediately.

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

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

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

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

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

It was clear that Hagrid was hardly paying attention, to him at least. To Kalliandra however…well, the one-half giant star was observing her as if she were a sick hippogriff about to go off. Not that he could blame him, with the way she stood teetering on the curb away from them both, rubbing her shoulder joint, a slight grimace gracing her mouth.

The quiet, almost pained soul before him appeared to the be the glacial 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 alright Hagrid, '' she responded dully. Her hand fell from her berm quickly.

'' Are you sure ? ``

'' Yes, I just got jostled a bit in the crowd, '' she glanced up for the abbreviated of seconds, the forced smile she cast not reaching her oculus. And just as quickly as before, her optic 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 word meaningless and confusing, as if a part of a conversation in which he was not a participant.

'' prepare to leave ? ``

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

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

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

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

Biting her lower lip she nodded, several long tress falling to obscure the pass on English of her grimace. `` I know, '' she whispered, eyes lowered to the ground.

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

The stallion exchange was perhaps his most confusing one to date, and he had thus far, not been a participant.

'' Look, yer 'll be wantin'a pet, and ya ca n't occupy Silverthorne to your hall with yer… ''

'' Silverthorne ? '' Harry cut in, hoping to perhaps enamor a whit of coherency.

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

He turned an incredulous expression to the side of her head word, the alone voice of her expression still visible. `` A thestral is your pet ? ``

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

Now he had to admit that they had been useful at the end of death term, but to convey a particular proposition liking to one ? What the nether region did that mean ?

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

Turning her head towards them again, her eyes still avoiding the owls like a pest, she shot him an odd face. `` Yeah, why could n't I ? I 'm not dim. ''

Hagrid 's sudden look of scare did n't miss him, nor did it Kalliandra as she shot him a questioning look, to which the Care of Magical wight Professor cowered slightly.

He decided to save him the worry of answering. `` fountainhead 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 look Hagrid was shooting him.

Her brow crinkled in annoyance, 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. ''

wrong choice.

There was no verbal exchange, but her oculus 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 eye remaining averted the entire time.

Hagrid let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his frontal bone with a large hired hand wearily, and the recognition of what he had just done discover Harry like a lightning bolt.

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

* * * * *

Kalliandra quickly walked through the musty, noisy store, avoiding all the hold out brute video display, and she disappeared behind a large shelf stocked with rat provender, relief sweeping through her that no one was back there as her run afoul emotions threatened to rise to the control surface. She had spent the past three weeks carefully building a rampart of stolidity around herself, and she could n't afford to let it down now.

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

Yet still…why had n't they told her ?

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

A slender tremor coursed through her, and sighing sadly she listened to the gentle hooting amidst the raftsman. She would not look at them, for she had seen the reactions that elicited enough.

Yet the hooting continued, more persistent, and somewhere in the animal recesses of her idea she knew her very bearing there was a bad idea, a pitiful alternative of both Dumbledore 's and Hagrid 's discernment.

facing obstacles was apparently a healthy matter, even when it generally resulted in having ireful owls attempting to bite oneself.

With a great degree of trepidation she found herself tilting her head up to peer through the dark, cluttered atmosphere of the shop, her eyes slowly adjusting, pupils widening in the dim lighting as the lower balk slowly came into horizon.

Owl upon owl rested upon them, some peacefully sleeping, their heads carefully nestled into the sheep pen of their feathers, while the rest had trained their alert, shining eye upon her.

The menacing clacking of snoot being threateningly opened and snapped shut began to, once again, replete the way near her.

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

Cringing, though almost glad for the beguilement, she turned her tending slowly to Potter, who now stood in front of her. To his credit entry, he at least had the vernacular sense to look apprehensive.

'' Look, Kalliandra, I 'm sorry. I did n't earn ... ''

'' It 's finely, '' she muttered, forcing her vox degree. She did not need his pity. She did not require it.

Despite this, she could not help but save a furtive eye on him, as she pretended to peruse the owl selection, her heart carefully avoiding all of the bird of Minerva, and she was a bit surprised to see a downcast, yet determined, expression upon his face.

He followed her down the gangway. `` I do n't think it is. ''

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

Do not make eye contact… Keep your head teacher lowered… No gimcrack noises or sudden movements…

Like that would actually help in calming these poor people timberland animate being, for it certainly had little effect on the one with the supposedly larger brain : Potter.

His expression had faltered at her finale wrangle. `` In case it 's escaped your posting, I 'm trying to be nice here. I 'm at least making an campaign. ``

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

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

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

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

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

For some absurd reason the spot struck her as funny rather than frightening, and she did not disoblige to curb the laughter bubbling out while she observed the redoubtable 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 reserve behavior ceased, drawing a smile to her aspect, for she was n't the solitary one to lash out at those who came to close.

She traced the Great Horned owl 's outline, noting the black color speckling its ruby-red brown wing, its catlike face and highly point ears all swiveled curiously towards her.

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

Just ... like ... her.

It was perhaps the most goosy affair she had yet done, but she held out her arm hopefully, and watching its wings extend it gracefully flew to her, its shackle clinking haphazardly as it landed gently upon her arm. She eyed its magnificent dark heart, noting how it was careful to not dig its talons into her skin, and she turned away from Potter, walking to the look counter as the owl re-perched upon its rafter, waiting for her to re-turn.

'' You 'll need a John Cage for him, '' ceramist 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 total of venom. `` if you mean that I am able to converse with nosy someone than yes. ''

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

And then Dumbledore 's words came floating back to her. His one 's about the want for her and the many, many others under his protection to keep some affair quiet. Some affair secret.

Something coldness, restricting, and callous curled within her throat, for until this war, the one they all refused to secern her anything about, was over, she would be more alone than ever.

The wound of a rain soaked night were still far too fresh.

It was better to push everyone away.

For their own trade good, and for her own.

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

A moth-eaten quiver rippled through her. Potter was also unsafe, of that she was sure. She 'd practically felt his suspicions rippling off of him, and he 'd overhear something he ought not to accept. She only hoped it had n't been enough ...

She 'd lecture to Dumbledore. She 'd tie in everything upon her return.

A light weight unit descended upon her arm, jarring her from her thoughts as two dark eyes met hers. She smiled, her first base on-key smile in hebdomad, reaching out a hesitant script and ruffling the owls feathering. They were mild, like those of a newborn hatchling, only she would n't know for sure.

She had never felt an owl before now.

A sense of peace filled her as it continued looking up at her, hooting softly. And for a second, just a abbreviated moment she knew to be both momentary 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 argument Kalliandra had seemed so immaterial, almost untouchable. It was maddening how his snide remark 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 in Knockturn Alley had been.

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

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

Or at to the lowest degree he thought he had. He must have 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 snide commentary like Malfoy.

A din of phone emerged as the shop class 's door opened, emitting Kalliandra and her horribly moody owl. He grimaced at the sight, even as a chiding phonation reminded him how an animal 's deportment could so oft deceive.

Buckbeat 's certainly had.

That was all forget though, for right then she raised her forearm gamy, and gray wings spread broad, foot and claws hopping from her arm as the owl took flight, circling in panoptic bow until it disappeared above the rooftops of Diagon 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 heart seemed distant, as if she were looking into something that no one save her could see.

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









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



Chapter 5 ~ A Professor of One


Remus yawned tiredly, his sluttish brown eyes skirted across the train platform at Hogsmeade, searching for the intimate form that was nowhere in quite a little. A dismount smile crossed his weary feature article and he chuckled. Hagrid was not someone he would easily drop had he been there. No invisibility cloak was quite that bombastic.

'' Hagrid .... '' He said, shaking his head amusedly. He picked up his briefcase, crossing the deserted, out-of-door platform in the direction of Hogwarts.

It was n't far, and Hagrid would undoubtedly intercept him along the way, most in all probability in his own, frenzied hurry to intercept him. Hagrid was a bit unretentive at prison term, and Remus could not fault him. He would be to if he took care of such a hazardous raiment of beast for a bread and butter.

The caravan platform was on the outskirts of the diminished settlement, on the outer boundary skinny Hogwarts, and a pebbled road led directly to the school 's front room access. He would turn off it before he reached Hogwarts'monolithic, welcoming entrance, to get over his way across the lush, green grounds to Hagrid 's hut.

Remus had never been close to the game keeper, but he respected the man immensely for his work in the Order.

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 right Hagrid was.

The sun beat down on his pale shoulders, warming more than his shirt. The sun was rejuvenating to him in a way few understood, because it was a full orb of light for which he harbored no fear. It was funny remark, that the sluttish of Night filled him with presentiment and bother, when usually it was the absence of spark that inspired fear. He sought solace in the darkest of Night, that was when he felt his honorable, but for now, when the moon was a after part wide, he would attempt solace in the affectionate afternoon sun.

It was because of this curse that he could empathize with Hagrid. The opportunity to go a fully qualified thaumaturgist had been stolen from the gamekeeper turned professor, and it had nearly evaded even himself. Had it not been for Dumbledore 's kindness Remus would never suffer studied magic. No early schoolhouse would get taken him.

They had feared him.

The curse of being different, he thought bitterly. They were both labeled as life-threatening by the wizarding community, and shunned. Their friends even suffered for their mere association.

A half-giant and a wolfman ... two of the most dangerous charming beings on the satellite, both seen as murderous, blood-thirsty beasts, and yet neither one of them possessed the inclination to harm another.

Were n't the dreadful transformations and premature aging enough ? He shook his header, knowing the answer to that, because it was n't.

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

Several Nox in his past stood in morose testament 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 make returned, perhaps Sirius would not have died ...

Dam n't Sirius ! He had figured his acquaintance 's stubborn nature would have made him surd to kill, but in the end, he, just like Saint James, had been as vulnerable as the rest.

He was the endure now.

Peter was as good as dead, and if he ever saw him again ... If he ever got the fortune ...

He 'd make up certain a finger really was all there was left of him.

He shuddered at the thinking, remembering the countersign Lily had spoken to him, as he stood over his parents freshly dug graves.

'' Even in the darkest of meter, there are shimmers of calorie-free Moony. It 's just a matter of finding them ... ''

It was something he had promised to shew Harry. Harry was the just real family he had left, and he wanted the boy, who was quickly growing into a man, to know of the unbelievable strength his parents had held. He needed to have it off that there were things worth fighting for.

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

We all have ...

The cerebration sobered him, reminding him of his purpose today. He squinted ahead, shielding his oculus from the vivid morning sun to expect for any sign of Hagrid.

Today he would truly meet her.

He was n't sure whether to be nervous, or to simply be exhilarated that the expose lady friend he had cradled had survived.

Kalliandra.

She had been thrust into their public unwillingly. Dumbledore, in all his wisdom, had felt Hogwarts to be the safest place for her. It would be a good way to assist her adjust, by slowly exposing her to masses her own age.

But unlike others her age, she lacked a prior five class of witching education, and any noesis whatsoever of their world.

It would be his job to amend that.

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

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 trust more with her.

It was then that he had confided in him.

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

'' When Harry came, I feared what going may force him to do.

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

Not to mention what she could do to those around her. The memory of the dark they had found her was still burned into his psyche 's eye. It was not something Remus would soon draw a blank.

Doing his job rightfulness could signify the difference in this Brigham Young woman 's endurance. Dumbledore had been very percipient on that.

Now if only there was a witch or wizard out there equipped to manage 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 power.

By all right hand he should be terrified and have run in the other instruction.

Yet he could not land himself to do so. Not when the range of a function of her feeble body lying there, clad in mud and the rakehell of those she loved, kept coming back to him each Night as he dreamt. He felt a note of discord at the thought 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 person on this satellite.

And that was why, despite knowing all of this, that he had accepted the assignment. Dumbledore wanted her to have the same chance as everyone, and he had full phase of the moon heartedly agreed.

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

'' The most worthwhile thing in life are never easy .... ''

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

A sad smile lit his brass. Only she could say something that 's meaning would last ten.

Just like the pain ...

Always so overbold, so sharp ...

He still marveled at how so many spoke of healing, and forgetting. pain sensation did not vaporize. It did not go away. You could not deal with it, for to deal would involve to fix. Instead you just learned how to populate with it, without losing your mind.

Of course of instruction, the Saame people had often spoken on how well he dealt with pain, but he did not palpate very dear at that. He was just logical enough to love that there was no in effect in dwelling on what could stimulate been. Things happened…bad things ... whether you wanted them to or not, and zilch one said or did could change that.

If it did none of them would be gone…

And after all these year, she was still proper. A smiling formed on his brim, the joyful memories coming back, flooding his vision as he remembered Padfoot 's taunting about how she was 'always right', and they were 'always wrong'.

Her counter had been that it was about time they saw it her way.

He chuckled slightly, catching visual sense of Dumbledore making his way leisurely down the sparsely secondhand road. He raised a hired man in greeting, catching the Headmaster 's attention, and was please to see an entertained grin on the headmaster 's brawny face.

'' Good Afternoon Remus. ''

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

Dumbledore removed his half-moon spectacles, polishing them on his summertime gown. `` It 's amazing, how the brilliant sun glare can make believe even the most flyspeck of daub stand out, almost like the dark post where the sun is supposed to be when a solar eclipse cuticle it. ''

The schoolmaster held his glasses to the sun, studying them through his light, twinkling, currently squinted optic, searching for any left over imperfections.

'' But enough about the rattled reflection of this grandfather clock 's interior working. How have you been ? I trust the train 's music director was n't too erratic with the speeding for your Brigham Young essence ? ''

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

'' The gearing was fine, and I 've been good. I was just intellection of some comic line Cassilyda and Sothis had before. ''

Dumbledore replaced his glasses on his nose, looking off towards the sun as if seeing something far past it. `` Ah ... yes those two did have a penchant for arguments did they not ? I seem to commend a certain James I ceramicist 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 deaf-and-dumb person eel, unable to cause mayhem on an hourly footing, locked up in a armoured combat vehicle ... 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 wall of the fish tank. They had scooped him off the storey and conjured a tank quickly, filling it with water as soon as they had seen him flopping around on the stone floor.

Whether Lily had seen Epistle of James or not before stepping on him had been a affair of argument for week.

Not to cite, in the hospital offstage, when James had started trying to form letter with his yearn, serpent like consistency ...

He chuckled slightly. He still wanted to screw how James had contorted himself into an R ... He shuddered thinking of how afflictive that spelling out 'You're a Dead Man Canicula'must have been.

'' Quite an impressive bit of Transfiguration for fifth years ... I gave Gryffindor House 20 points for that, '' Dumbledore mused aloud, turning his gaze on him, his optic twinkling with amusement over the rim of his glasses. `` I was sourly tempted to give out an award for Special serving to the School, since the rector of Magic was visiting that day, and their `` accident '' rendered St. James incapable of doing something drastic, like turning the Minister 's hair neon pink, '' Dumbledore grinned slyly at this. `` semen to think of it I would n't entirely mind seeing that ... ''

Remus could only judder his head, suppressing the laughter threatening to come out. It was good seeing Dumbledore.

'' Of trend, in the end, no one could determine whose scepter actually had transfigured young James at the clip, so I could n't give anyone the honor. I was sourly disappointed by that. ''

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

'' Why yes Remus. Do you really think I would pass up a chance to promote the multiplication of secure doings when Ministry officials are visiting ? ''

'' Not when Umbridge is the Ministry official, '' He replied, thinking of how Fred, George, Harry, Ron, and Ginny had described that impractical frog the yr before.

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

'' It should have been lasting insanity and a life conviction 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 tardy get together you ? ''

He nodded assent, finding the well known knowledge of Hagrid 's oddity 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 visit but my butterbeer can wait. Besides, if I am guessing his grounds for being late to greet you ... well ... I may just be in need of some good, old fashioned fervour whiskey. ''

He eyed Dumbledore curiously, `` I did n't have a go at it you drank fire whiskey. ''

'' But of course I do n't ... '' He replied, winking mischievously. `` I have n't had intellect for such extravagant celebration since the Marauders commencement, granting me peace of mind and peacefulness again. Of course ... '' Dumbledore turned, waving for him to come after. `` I 'm not entirely sure I even have a mind left, with which to enjoy the tranquility with. ''

Remus opened his mouth to reply, but no audio came forth. Instead he found himself following the Headmaster across the lawn, Hagrid 's cabin quickly coming into view as Dumbledore continued baseless gab.

'' ... .Now of course the key in those situations is managing the brewage in fair total, a natural endowment my dear brother does not have, '' Dumbledore said, referring to his Capricorn the Goat Johann Gottfried von Herder brother 's drinking habits.

'' half my yr did n't have that talent, '' He replied, thinking of the one time he, James, Sirius, and Peter had gotten a handle of a bottle of Firewhiskey their 7th yr. 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, deep booming randomness, sounding oddly like a fire cracker going off, met his ears. His attention turned towards the source, which was immediately ostensible upon seeing the mountain in front of him.

Hagrid and a young girl with golden hair were having a row. Only Hagrid seemed to be doing most of the yelling, while the girl just huffily picked up rock after rock from the position of the hut, flinging them with unusual vigor and accuracy, at an unsuspicious tree trunk, which was taking the brunt of her very visible frustration.

'' Why howdy Hagrid ! Hello Kalliandra ! '' Dumbledore called out cheerfully, as if zilch were amiss.

Hagrid 's part immediately died down and the missy waved slightly before walking pointedly off towards the woods, where she stood blowing into her transfuse hands, an odd whistling auditory sensation emitting from them.

He found himself looking between the daughter at the boundary of the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid 's furious, red fount, and Dumbledore 's glad one.

'' howdy there Remus. How yer doing today ? '' Hagrid replied, sounding rather strained. He looked strained too, because at the moment he would n't have been surprised to see steam coming out of the prof 's ears.

'' considerably 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 Alley t'day. ``

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

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

'' No use working yourself up about thing that did not find Hagrid, '' Dumbledore consoled, offering a reassuring grin.

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

One would never sleep together how she had barely clung to life only hebdomad before.

He shook the images away.

'' Hagrid what exactly is she doing ? '' He was having a hard prison term standing idly by with a thestral 's precipitous dentition nuzzling so close to his time to come school-age child '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 word unsuccessfully.

'' Doing ? '' Dumbledore supplied amusedly.

'' Yes, '' He replied embarrassedly. Sometimes the round-eyed word was what he was looking for.

'' She bloody well talks to him to a greater extent than she blooming dialogue to me, '' Hagrid grumbled. `` Tells him everythin'from the looks of it and ye should see them, traversing'around at all minute of the day. Real spitfire that one is ! Bloody well good hazard teachin'her Remus ! Bin havin'enough difficulty gettin'Care of Magical Creatures down 'er throat and she actually likes that. Ca n't guess how she 'll be with somethin'like Transfigurwhatsitcalled ... ''

'' You mean to say that she 's bonded with an animate being ? '' He mused, interrupting Hagrid 's jog.

'' To hell with it ! You 'd think she actually understood what that one be sayin'one-half da time ! '' Hagrid muttered exasperatedly, a wounded look on his face. `` She 'll talk to that there sensual and get to arguin'with me ! ``

Remus was thoughtful for a moment. `` So she likes animate being of the night ... '' He commented, turning to face up both of them. `` Well, then I wo n't throw too practically bother then, now will I ? ''

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, smiling to himself. He could n't receive picked a more arrant person to tutor her. Now lets see if he can save her, he thought to himself, silently hoping for the proficient.
* * * * *


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

Harry nodded, chucking his newly bought school books onto his bed in Grimmauld station. `` 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 exempt can you ? I mean ... they like ... fly ... ''

'' Very good Ron. gladiola to see you know that a bird can fly, '' Hermione interjected, rolling her eyes as she entered their way, setting herself down onto the turning point of his bed.

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

'' You know with your mouth exposed 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 tell his write up to them, and for Ron to just as hastily agree that Kalliandra was an insufferable twit.

Hermione, forever insufferably lucid, had insisted on having the entire afternoon recounted Book for word, and while she had admitted that the conversation had sounded suspicious, she felt that they were both over-reacting. He had even been forced to endure a long lecture about how wrong of him it was to listen in as he had.

He had immediately pointed out that she had had no job whatsoever when Malfoy was the one he was eavesdropping on, which had earned him a sharply tut and another tangent about how he should have done more to realize the lady friend welcome.

In her judgement, 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 dragons including Hungarian Horntails, and that he considered his footling comrade to be 'tamed .'End of story.

It was right about then that Ron had made the fault of calling Kalliandra respective choice names, including a plain, ugly enchantress, which earned an infuriated unit of ammunition from Hermione about how 'ridiculously superficial'they were being. He was unable to follow her stallion broadside, 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 advance igniting her already roaring temper he avoided pointing out that he for one was definitely not prejudicing her on feel, because if he was he would be treating her like Ron did Fleur Delacour, rather than like the pitch blackness Plague.

Fortunately Harry did not mention any of these intellection, got voguish, and went quiet.

He wished he could say the Saame for Ron though.

'' Still in a fine climate I see, '' Ron grumbled, shoving the bag with his new garb robe into the top actor's assistant drawer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' And from the sound of it he was rather rude and made her feel unwished Ronald ! '' Hermione snapped angrily. He glared at Ron. He did not require to get brought back into this.

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

'' Was what Ronald ? ! You ca n't tell anything about a person after only meeting them for five proceedings ! ''

'' You did n't even meet her ! '' Ron shot back, his aspect 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 judgment 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 give her a chance ! ''

'' They did n't sound very friendly to me did they Harry ? '' Ron asked, directing his question at him.

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

'' They did at the gown workshop ... '' Hermione 's face broke into a jubilant grin, but he quickly added, `` but not at the pet computer storage. '' Hermione 's face fell as Ron let out a triumphant woot.

'' See Hermione ! ''

'' Yes, I do see Ronald. I see a carrot-topped behind who 's way to eager to overhaul judgment on anyone but himself ! '' She stood abruptly. `` If that closed minded brain of yours is actually equal to of intelligence operation then try to commend that you passed judgment on me our first of all yr and were unseasonable ! '' She spun on her hound, stomping loudly. `` If you can remember that is. But hopefully the effort to guess is not too taxing, it 'd be a pity if your head exploded ! '' With that she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

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

The room access to their elbow room flew upon, revealing a livid looking Hermione.

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

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

'' A door can be slammed by someone from either face, like from the hall Ronald. '' She snapped, this time leaving the door wide undetermined as she stormed off, granting them both quite a view as she vigorously flung her own threshold behind her this time.

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

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

'' fountainhead I just .... ''

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

He leaned back with a tacky moan onto his bed. He sincerely hoped Ron asked her out soon, because he was n't sure how many more of their bickering rush headaches he could require.






'' We must die to one life, before we can enter another. ''
~ Anatole French Republic ~



Chapter 6 ~ index of Persuasion


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

Kalliandra coughed loudly from her position, matted on her back.

'' If I did n't be intimate well ... '' she rasped. `` I 'd think you actually enjoyed torturing me. ''

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

She nodded, brushing the Gunter Grass off the back of her denim.

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

She stopped what she was doing, pulling her sess covered, green-stained hands back in social movement of her. `` Do n't you know it 's not good to kindle somebody who has been stunned nine multiplication in a row ? ''

He shook his headspring, an look of pure 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 instructor, '' she stated, groaning inwardly.

For the past three time of day 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 matters.

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

The Same paid instructor was not eyeing her critically. `` You know Kally, if you manage to duck my first-class honours degree tone-beginning you usually do quite nicely. Now just stop diving to the right 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 admit that to lupine.

He had only become her coach a footling over a workweek ago, yet she had come to observe him. He did not ruth her, or manner of walking on glass with his conversations like Dumbledore and the others did.

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

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

For some cause the melodic theme that the man may actually like her was calming.

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

She trudged back to her starting side in response. She would not be the one to quit today. Of course, he should cognize that by now.

She had learned the importance of outlasting one 's opposition a yearn time ago. Outlasting fatigue duty and pain could mean the difference between winning, and losing.

And somehow she did not intend the bastards, who had taken everything from her, would go easy on her simply because she had a head ache.

She closed her optic, bracing herself as an onslaught of ash filled memories greeted her mind 's eye. Almost intuitively, Remus allowed her these few second of collection, and when the anger boiled hot within her blood, she opened her eyes, remembering what she had promised herself.

She would take a crap the motherfucker pay.

But outset she needed to learn to do a round-eyed stunning spell without passing out.

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

'' Why not ? ''

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

'' Two, '' she supplied back loudly.

'' Three ! Stupefy ! ''

She threw herself to the ground before the hot streak reached her, mentally screaming the actor's line.

The strange sense datum flew through her, burning through her line of descent as it moved, jolting the tour towards its target. Her visual sensation swam before she saw him flop, and she fell weakly upon the ground, 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 dampness Earth, relaxed, allowing the glorious golden pip dancing before her eyes to fade.

wait for all of this to pass had gotten easier each prison term, but it made the experience no to a lesser extent painful.

The trick, she had discovered, was to remain witting foresighted enough for it to result.

Several hazy moments later, her golden heart flickered open, and across the short expanse of grass she spotted Remus'fallen form.

She smiled weakly, and stood, silently cursing the fragility of the man organic structure. Success was sweet, but why did it possess to ache so badly ?

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

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

The look on his typeface was priceless. Only Remus could contend to appear analytical right after being stunned.

'' Nice one, '' he muttered groggily.

She shook her head, offering him a mitt 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 relaxation of the year with me. '' She allowed a rare grin to illume up her features.

'' And what a yearn year it will be. ''

'' Any More remark like that and I 'll do my best to take a shit it seem longer. ''

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

His question was answered by her silence.

This was the first base fourth dimension she had not passed out.

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

Understanding became visible on Remus'look, and upon seeing his wolfish grin, she could n't baulk a small surge of pride.
* * * * *


Remus lupine rewarded his student with a wide grin as he picked himself off the soil, ignoring his protesting bone.

It had been awhile since he had practiced dueling like this in a non-combat berth, 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 response.

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

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

The fact that her compeer were light long time ahead of her in education had mattered little. requirement mandated it.

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

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

It was n't levelheaded to carry around that much guilt.

His exclusively solacement was that they would be able to continue their lessons on the weekends. It would be a rather buck private arrangement, since her dorm-mates were to be kept in the dark about it.

She would get enough trouble feigning competence in her three newt socio-economic class, and sneaking out several times a week would just be another difficult matter for her.

But perhaps the most difficult thing for her would be keeping her inadequateness under wraps. For show sake she would be placed in newt degree Defense Against the Dark artwork, Care of Magical brute, Herbology, and uranology so as to be with multitude in her twelvemonth, but she would be placed in third twelvemonth Anicent Runes and Remedial Potions. The dad prof had already been instructed to send her on 'errands'whenever hard-nosed lessons were held, so that her inability to execute magic would not be called into question, so that at least was covered.

As for the early courses, Remus was being paid by Dumbledore, out of some miscellaneous schooling fund, to tutor her in the early matter.

After all, there was very little magic involved in dealing with magical creatures and flora. And the memorization of the meaning of Ancient runic letter and the front of heavenly bodies had virtually no wand magic associated with it.

watching her take her post, it dawned on him that they really might be able to overstretch this off.

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

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

The Marauders ... The intellection brought a grin to his typeface, for his old group of Friend had left behind something that just might save him from fretting like a nervous parent.
* * * * *


Silverthorne let out a low, pharyngeal consonant grunt to express his displeasure at being tethered. The former thestrals were already following lawsuit.

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

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

'' Yer look like the exclusively one within earshot that 'll aid me, '' Hagrid yelled.

Despite herself she smiled, calmly running her fingers through Silverthorne 's unwavering black coating.

'' You know ... '' she whispered conspiratorially, `` He might toss off me if you all do n't calm down a bit. And then who would give you ferrets ? ''

Silverthorne 's whiten, haunting optic stared back in retainer, before his formidable principal nodded. He nudged the thestral tethered side by side to him, and a cacophony of grunts followed as the substance was passed down the line of baby carriage awaiting the educatee'arriver.

Her widened centre took the substitution in, in muted shock. Thestrals really were so much more reasoning than multitude gave them credit for.

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

She shook her head ruefully, and with a final tug she snapped a belt into place on the thestral 's harness, stepping back to view her handy workplace. She 'd never ridden a horse in her life, but the harnesses the thestrals used were supposedly standardized.

'' 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 header affectionately. `` Of course you are, '' she murmured into his nose, the touch of a smile tugging at her mouth.

Hagrid 's loud yelping of protest startled her, and both her and Silverthorne jumped slightly.

'' trouble Hagrid ? '' she yelled, slipping the thestral a stock-still cube of raw inwardness. His tongue positively tickled her skin, leaving a sticky red balance upon her palm.

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

'' Hagrid ! '' she shouted, reclaiming her hired hand and stalking off towards the sound of his spokesperson, with every intent of snapping at him for yelling at any thestral that way. She could n't help her get to 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 coach obscuring Hagrid from view, all reproof vanished the second she saw his predicament.

It was Hagrid vs. Thestral. The thestral, Monster, had managed to yank his harness completely off, and was gripping the thick leather strap between his knifelike tooth, extending his extension menacingly while practically hissing.

Hagrid, to his credit entry, was putting up quite a fight. The one-half giant was bounding as close as he dared get, swatting at Monster with an oversized farmers hat.

confection Falco columbarius ... What the hell was he doing with one of those ?

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

His disgruntled shouting shocked her into laugh. `` Hagrid plosive speech sound that ! ''

Several nicks, contusion, bumps, and twenty minutes later found her, and a rather bedraggled Hagrid, plopped upon the dirt route leading up to the school, entirely out of breathing time.

It was a ignominy that the peaceful evening would end in LE than an minute, when the Hogwarts express mail arrived.

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

Hagrid answered anyway. `` Because Dumbledore thinks it 'd be best for yer to be aroun'people 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 logic, but not all of 'em are so bad. ''

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

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

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

She smiled whimsically, thinking of the pillow she had thrown at the thestral this morning. For a change, her aim had been absolutely on. Of class, Hagrid had n't been exactly proud of when he fare in to see feathers and sherd of fabric all over the 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 to the lowest degree Remus had found the whole berth amusing.

Speaking of which where was Remus ? She had n't seen him since this morning and he was leaving with the income tax return of the school train that Nox. Plus she still wanted to know what Dumbledore and him had arranged ...

'' semen over ere. It 's the best spot for them first days to see me. '' Hagrid called, ripping her from her thought.

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

He shook his hirsute brain 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 political program 's edge to peer down the raceway.

She shook her foreland in amusement. `` zilch at all. I was just thinking about what a fearful tragedy it would be to result a pocket-sized, naive, and unsuspecting showtime year 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 sentence I say something with even the tenuous vestige of irony, that you think I 'm planning something ? ''

'' Because you usually are. ''

She spun around to see Remus standing there, briefcase in mitt, and a knowing smile across his pre-maturely maturate font.

'' 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 joke resounded behind her. `` Lupin you 're cowering to a 16 twelvemonth old. ``

The look on Remus'grimace was invaluable, and she lunged at him in a vain try to peck him.

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

Remus had dropped his briefcase in the effort to fend off her blast. `` Old ? I 'll birth you know that I 'm thirty-seven ! ''

Looking at his outraged 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 exuberant nature was contagiours.

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

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

'' Oh Remus, you know that hurts me. Right here, '' she touched her heart, doing her comfortably to take care as pathetic as possible.

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

'' In a word ... ''

'' Never brain, 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 construction was replaced by one of puzzlement as Remus held up a small, broadside, gray object. `` What is it ? '' she asked, walking over to depend at it.

'' This ... '' he said mysteriously, `` Is how you 're going to contact me when I 'm away. '' Upon saying this he snapped it open, revealing a modest, bout mirror on one face.

'' Is that powder ? '' she asked, eyeing the thing that looked suspiciously like a concordat.

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

'' Okay. So explain to me how powder is ... ''

'' It 's a bipartisan mirror Kally. See, anytime you want to speak to me. For any reason .... '' He shot her a meaningful looking at 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 gown pocket, extracting a rather large pocket lookout man. `` Which I will always induce on me thanks to Dumbledore 's idea to hide it in this endearing Muggle conception ... '' He snapped the scoop ticker open, revealing a mirror on the non-clock English as well. `` And once you do that I 'll answer. If I call you, yours will radiate 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 small compact from him. `` Brilliant. How 'd you opine of this ? ''

'' Actually I did n't. For Christmastime in my 4th yr at Hogwarts ... ''

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

'' I knew I 'd repent telling you wiz had extended life straddle, '' he groaned, ignoring her unplayful nod and continuing on.

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

'' Smart relocation, '' she commented, looking into hers. `` Remus lupin the Finicky WereWolf, '' she stated clearly, waiting to see if it worked.

'' Finicky ! '' Remus bristled, but not before a thin sliver of light appeared in the crevice of the closed pocket picket.

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 give them some privacy. She made a genial note to thank him later. `` It 's just that you, and Dumbledore ... everyone keeps telling me how afraid everyone would be. And if that's dead on target, well, then why are n't you ? ''

He paused a minute, his tripping John Brown eye flickering up to the sky as if considering her doubtfulness. She did n't need to come after his gaze to sleep together that it rested on the quarter moonlight, barely visible in the dying twilight. `` I think, Kalliandra, that to let one 's life be even remotely governed by fear is foolish. Your never fully active when your activeness are limited by that. And concern, it comes from not knowing what 's truly there. ''

She nodded, silently agreeing with him. It was weird, how alike he and her father could sound.

'' And perhaps ... fountainhead, I know what it 's like. And I know how unjust it is. '' He spoke these final stage give-and-take bitterly, his eyes hardening in an unfocused glare at the moon. And it was only then that she understood why Dumbledore had chosen him as her wise man.

He was as hated by the worldly concern as she was.
* * * * *


An hr later found her standing, smushed up next to Hagrid, as the mass of students pushed, shoved, and in true statement, barreled their way over the platform towards the go-cart that she and Hagrid had readied for their journeying to Hogwarts. Why scholarly person needed the baby buggy in the first place was beyond her. The walk was n't exactly lengthy. 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 estimation .... But correctly then she spied the imbecile that she least wanted to see, making his way with the carrot top through the gang towards them.

Carrot top waved vigorously, `` Hey Hagrid. It 's so good to see you ! ''

'' And so hard to neglect, '' she muttered, suppressing a laughter at the cold looking Hagrid shot her.

'' I see the past workweek has done nada to better your manners. ''

She turned, eyeing the guy 's messy black hair and green eyes, which were presently narrowed and shining determinedly. Her number one brush with him had been far from pleasant, and judging from his greeting, it seemed the feeling had been mutual. `` Nor yours. I still do n't jazz your gens. ''

The guy 's jaw nearly dropped, but Ron interjected for him. `` Well we were introduced. It 's not his fault you do n't remember. ''

She shrugged carelessly. It was n't like she cared what his name was, she just wanted to put a gens with his eavesdropping face. `` My apologies. Not all of us are as good with names as you apparently are. But by all way do n't reintroduce me, I just thought it might be gracious to denote to him as something other than the nosy bum ceramist. ''

'' What ! ? '' Both of the guy rope exclaimed. Hagrid, however, shot her a murderous look that stopped her simper all in in its tracks.

Seeing that his glare had the intended event on her, Hagrid stepped in, attempting to diffuse the berth 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 slope, wondering if the carrot top knew how easily his live gens could be distorted to Weasel. She suppressed the sudden urge to ask just that, instead turning to Hagrid with a forced grinning. `` Thank you Hagrid. It 's nice to know 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 hallucination about my impoliteness. '' She nearly laughed out loud at the blanched aspect that crossed the guy 's face. `` Now if you excuse me I do consider Hagrid has better things to do than listen to his friends fight. ''

'' Friend ! ? Hagrid would never be friends with mortal like you ! '' The weasel jibe out, Potter smirking amusedly. Her mouth opened in wild protest, but Hagrid 's booming part cut them both off.

'' Ronald Weasley how make bold ye make assumptions 'bout me ! '' Hagrid boomed, making all three of them jump.

She glanced up, seeing his side redder than it had been after their row about her Knockturn bowling alley mis-adventure. She really would not want to be the weasel right now ...

'' Kalliandra is my protagonist, and you 'd do yer best to bide out of her business. The both of ya ! '' He said angrily, his garish voice drawing the stares of respective scholar sandwiched around them. `` If I hear anythin''bout either one of ya nosin'aroun'in her clientele again ... '' He stopped, seemingly too angry to go along.

Hagrid drew in a deep, shaky breather, 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 pang of guilt trip overcame her. Perhaps she was taking her hostile frontal a bit too far.

'' Do n't interest about it, '' She spoke up quietly, avoiding the stares of thrower and Weasley. `` I was just as raw anyhow. I 'll see you later O.K. ? ''

She did n't wait for Hagrid 's response as she spun on her dog, carefully making her way through the crowd to find an discharge carriage. If she were golden, then maybe Silverthorne had been particularly ingenious and scared everyone else away from his.
* * * * *


Harry stood there, half angry, half shocked at the sudden change in Kalliandra 's demeanor. He hardly heard Hagrid still going off at them, considering that he was still staring after her.

That changed pretty nimble though, because when Hermione Granger is mad about something, she makes it better known than Hagrid.

And Hermione Granger unfortunately thought they had pigeon holed the girl.

And Hermione Granger had overheard his and Ron 's exchange with her.

Add in that she had seen Hagrid 's explosion, and Kalliandra 's sudden mood swing to normalcy, and he and Ron certainly did look like the bad guys.

Which was exactly how he found himself, amidst a crew of onlookers, staring down a thin brunette, receiving the brunt of her fury.

'' Harry I ca n't conceive you ! I 'd expect behaviour like that from Ron but you ? '' Hermione yelled, her vocalism shaking with angry incredulity.

'' Hey ! '' Ron protested, clearly offended.

'' Ronald if you know what 's right for you you 'll sustain your backtalk shut, '' Hermione snapped in a very McGonagall like shade.

Unlike Ron, Harry had no later motive for keeping Hermione glad with him besides their friendly relationship. So at that demand instant he did n't a good deal care if Hermione was annoyed with him or not. She had n't seen and heard everything, and if she had she would have realized how deceptive Kalliandra really was. Which was probably why he suddenly found himself taking a footprint forward to go after that insufferable head of golden hair, with every aim of giving her a musical composition of his judgement, rather than paying aid to Hermione 's verbal berating.

Too bad a rather big helping hand on the back of his gown stopped him from progressing any boost forward.

'' You salutary be going to apologize Harry, '' Hagrid said menacingly.

He shot an incredulous look up at his friend. `` 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 on outta her concern and life if yer understand me. ''

'' Hagrid what are you deafen ? ! She did to diss you ! '' Ron twirped, for a change not cowering under Hermione 's fierce spotlight.

'' Oh really, an'how so ? '' Hagrid asked, still looking between him and Ron as if he could n't trust 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'in the beginning 'bout the best berth for the fers class to see me. If that 's what you be referrin'to. ''

'' But what about'Knockturn skittle alley ? '' He chimed in, coming to Ron 's defense team. `` There 's something suspicious about that Hagrid ! ''

Hagrid opened his mouth, 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 better nature.

'' Commerce, '' She finally ground out. `` Frankly it sounds like she was annoyed that you had eavsdropped while talking to somebody she knew. If the same had happened to me I 'd probably be just as annoyed. ``

Harry stared at her contorted characteristic in shock. Talking to mortal 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 have heard her ... ''

'' Overhear ! ? What 'd ya overhear ? '' Hagrid shot out suddenly, his voice low, a quiet note of hand of panic in it.

He wrinkled his brow confused. `` Well nothing that made sentiency but ... ''

'' Then you best be keepin'that poppycock that did n't be making no sense to yerself. Yer see me ? '' Hagrid muttered, shaking his foreland. `` I 'm so disappointed in you two I do n't know ... Yer know I need to get the first yers. You lot get off to the palace, and so help me if any one of yer pain her .... ''

The brilliance he shot them was Thomas More than enough to convince Harry. The conclusion thing he needed was to be fed to Grawp.

Then again, feeding Kalliandra to Grawp could work the whole problem ...

'' Harry ! ejaculate on ! '' Hermione hissed, grabbing him roughly by the arm to drag him to the nighest carriage. virtually of the others were already rolling up towards the castle.

'' So help me you two ! I 've never seen such crudity ... ''

He knew better than to interrupt her at this point. After all, this was Hermione, and any argument with her was a losing conflict. He had just managed to regain ascendance of his tongue, which was threatening to break down at her for the reprehension worthy of a bambino that he was receiving, when he stepped into the last carriage, and suddenly re-lost mastery 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 durability for a young woman her size of it. He glanced down at the painful bag she had on him, and pondered how raging she would be if he broke free.

Before he had sentence to decide she had already drug him into the passenger car behind her.

'' Hermione ... '' He protested, refusing to sit as he stood, hunched over in the low compartment.

'' Nice to know I 'm not the only one displeased with this, '' Kalliandra muttered from the far side of meat of the carriage, 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 hindquarters. ``

'' I 'm a what ? '' He hissed dangerously.

Her eyes darted up quickly, looking almost abashed. Her voice, however, was filled with disdain.

'' Hearing matter, ceramicist ? ``

He felt as if he had just been slapped, so contradictory were the emotions her face and representative conveyed. Shaking his head, he shoved the sudden hesitation to argue aside.

'' I do n't generally spend a penny a wont out of hearing things, '' He finally ground out, taking a fanny side by side to Ron grudgingly.

She inclined an supercilium disbelievingly. `` sure you do n't, '' She responded, not bothering to cloak her sarcasm.

He practically growled, knowing broad well what she was referring to.

'' You 're having a really hard time 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 expression instantly soured. `` For eavesdropping on me, that 's what. ``

He suppressed the sudden urge to thrust her out of the carriage. In fact, the simply matter stopping him was the fact that he 'd feature to reach over Hermione to accomplish it.

'' Well forgive me, '' He hissed acidly. `` Next time I see you wandering down an alley full of wickedness wizards I 'll just leave behind you to them. I did n't pull in 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 look out the window.

Hermione 's brow creased, her lips forming into a determined frown at the young lady 's apparent lack of interest.

Harry smirked, leaned back, and crossed his blazon, preparing for the show.

'' Well Kalliandra, how was your conclusion week of summer ? '' Hermione pressed.

'' Rigorous. ''

Hermione shot him a look, to which he smirked like a jackal. Ron was far to a lesser extent subtle, and simply mouthed, So what now, virtuoso ?

Hermione 's brass hardened into one of relentless determination.

'' So what category are you taking ? ``

The young woman heaved a turgid sigh. `` Too many. ``

Hermione 's mouth opened, as if appalled at the girl 's lack of interest in schooling. And just as Harry began an internal victory jig, flashing a celebratory smirk at Ron, the girl surprised them.

'' One of them is Ancient rune. 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 mouthpiece slowly closed, a sluggish smile creeping across her face.

flash them a smug look, she started talking. `` ancient rune is actually pretty fascinating. It 's a lot like learning to translate another linguistic process. In fact, it 's my favorite subject. ''

At this announcement Kaylens actually looked attentive. `` I think mine will be caution of Magical brute. Hagrid 's been showing me a lot of the animals he works with over the past few weeks. The thestrals are my pet so far ... ''

'' Thestrals ? '' Ron snorted derisively, earning a reproving look from Hermione. `` What are you, a sadist ? ''

Hermione 's mouth opened in protest, apparently too offend for words as her inevitable retort failed to come Forth.

Kalliandra 's look immediately grew stony. `` Perhaps you should watch a matter or two about them before you start flinging vilification. ``

'' 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 reasonably sure that 's derogatory to the something in interrogative. ``

Ron waved a hand dismissively. `` As if thestrals would wish. ``

'' You 'd be surprised. They hate being insulted. ''

'' That 's Hippogriffs you idiot. ''

Hermione made a choking 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 annoyance. Why in the hell did Hermione have to clean this carriage ...

He gazed longingly out the open door hatch. He knew perfectly well that if he got out and walked, that he would miss the classification, and he had already learned the tough way what happened to people 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.

'' screwing this, '' Ron suddenly announced. `` I refuse to remain in the perambulator with her. ''

He stood, only for Hermione to yank him down. Ron opened his oral cavity, 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 champion ? ''

'' Just. Let. It. Go. '' Harry growled, hating the discomfited face Hermione shot him each time the incident was brought up.

She glared at him. `` Gladly. ''

'' Fine. ''

'' amercement ! ''

right hand then the carriage moved with a mighty lurch, and not another word was spoken by any of the equipage 's inhabitants.

Harry stared out the window, contemplating. No one would get as angry as Kaylens had over the incident. Not if it had just been a conversation about something trivial ...

What was she hiding ?

Not soon enough for his liking, the convoy came to a arrest outside the castle 's tremendous entrance. And without a Good Book, he and Ron jumped out, dry dirt stirring around their step as they met the crowd of students rushing to the Great Granville Stanley Hall.
* * * * *


'' wellspring, that certainly could have gone better, '' Hermione stated, rueful regard following her two admirer out the carriage door.

Letting out a tense breath she had not even realized she was holding, Kally felt herself nodding in assent. `` No kidding, '' she remarked dryly. Still, she could n't facilitate but feel a tiny, justified surge of outrage. That girl 's friends had jumped into the carriage right as she had been trying to contact Remus.

existence in the magic world, knowing next to null about it, had felt overtake before. But now, on her way to being surrounded by competent Wiccan and thaumaturge twenty four - seven, that overwhelming feeling was beginning to erupt into something far closer to panic.

She was n't sure she could pull this off. She was n't sure as shooting at all.

Hermione released an fatigued sounding huff, breaking her from her thought. `` Please know, I 'm not trying to criticize you, '' she said carefully, `` but you could have made things a little soft. Particularly since this whole mistake seems to be over something extremely trivial. ''

Rising from her ass and stepping out of the carriage, her feet sinking into the liberal dirt, Kally heard herself saying very quietly, `` You 're right field. ``

And even though she was not looking at Hermione, she could practically palpate the eye rolling going on behind her.

Silently they joined the throng of students making their way up the castle 's incoming. That was until Hermione began asking question again.

'' Do you know if you are being sorted with the eternal rest of the kickoff geezerhood ? ``

Nearly tripping over a kid low enough to have been a offset year, Kally nodded mechanically. `` Unfortunately. ``

A meditative scowl crossed the brunet 's fount. `` You do n't sound stir. ``

Throwing a wayward glance the girl 's way, Kally asked, `` Would you be ? I 'm going to stick out. ``

Mounting the entree stairs simultaneously, she saw the recession of Hermione 's mouth crook up in her peripheral visual modality, as if blot out mum amusement. `` You are twice their height, so I suppose that is an accurate judgment. ``

Instead of responding, Kally began grumbling something indecipherable under her breath.

Hermione responded by allowing what may have been a grin to cut through her features. `` They really are nice if you give them the hazard. ``

Somehow she felt severely doubtful about that, but something of her thoughts must let 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 round trying to take my head off for us to begin getting along. ''

Kally stumbled, her hazel heart darting over to the girl with something akin to horror dancing with them. `` What ? ''

Now there was no mistaking it. Hermione really did look amused. The girl smiled at her, chuckling slightly. `` Like I said, give them a opportunity. ``

She could n't help it. Despite all her efforts to the contrary, a suppressed choking audio emerged from her throat.

Hermione simply grinned backbreaking, shaking her head. `` Honestly, '' she laughed, glancing around the rapidly emptying entry entrance hall, `` do you desire me to look with you until the first long time get here so you 're not ... ''

'' Ms. Kaylens is quite up to of waiting alone Ms. Granger. And if you delay any longer it will be 20 points from Gryffindor. ``

The voice had come from directly behind them, the strength of it muted by the echoing of stimulate yakety-yak from students trying to grind away through the Great Hall 's looming doorways.

Instantly Kalliandra recognized it. She had met the man on a few occasions, and he had seized the chance to remind her how absolutely impossible it would be for her to ever gain competence in Potions.

As such, she stopped immediately, spinning on her heel. Hermione simply quirked an brow before continuing off to join the rest of the educatee.

Snape 's dark eyes lowered, eyeing her appraisingly. `` I trust you are remembering discretion. Particularly where students like Ms. Granger are concerned. Some tend to be too nosy for their own good. ``

Heaving a sigh, Kally nodded. `` I 'll remember. ''

He glowered at her for another back, before nodding curtly. `` Remember, I 'll be seeing you in detention all this hebdomad. ''

She heaved another sigh. Upon their initial confluence she had had the unfortunate person luck to inadvertently insult 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 heavyweight, another species mentioned in the record, she had n't thought it too unreasonable to seize that a vampire 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 nurse a deep-seeded blood lecherousness for the living.

And for some unfortunate, and suicidal reason, she had found his anger ridiculously funny.

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 XII tyke, all twittering loudly with no signs of stopping.

She groaned, barely hearing Professor McGonagall 's spoken language. Somehow she found herself following the deputy sheriff Mistress through freshly polished oak doors into the Great Charles Francis Hall.

The eyes of every first twelvemonth immediately turned upwards, to the left wing, to the right wing, and in every other plausible direction, unable to protest taking in their new surround.

The pressure of a hundred pairs of heart burrowed into her, and she stared pointedly forward, looking over the crowd of midget to where Hagrid sat, flashing a warm grin in her direction.

Maybe he can help me break loose afterwards, she thought hopefully, coming to a halt at the front of the enormous elbow room. various of the midgets around her tensed up, scattered whispering passing through the crowd about fighting a troll ...

What on Earth is that about, she wondered curiously, spotting the hat Remus had told her about.

McGonagall turned to confront the intact room.

'' When I call your public figure, tread forward, place the hat upon your pass, and the sort will set out. ''

With that, she sat the hat upon a knock about old stool, the sorting hat 's lip opened wide, and the tattle began.
* * * * *


'' Slytherin ... ''

'' Ron if you say that one more fourth dimension ... ''

'' Hermione you saw how nauseous she was ! ''

'' She is not vile ! '' Hermione hissed back dangerously, being deliberate to keep her voice lowered. `` queasy, yes. Vile, no. ``

'' You can not tell me that there is not something inherently sinister about her, '' Ron challenged. `` Something 's not right there. She 's going to hoist up an vicious Slytherin, probably waiting to ... ''

Before Ron could venture further along his psychological route slip, 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 hassle keeping his voice down as the first twelvemonth and the subject of their logical argument walked by.

Hermione 's face visibly tensed, and Harry could tell she did n't fully believe what she was saying. `` You ca n't pidgeon hole out an entire house. Besides, Slytherins are goal oriented and strong willed. They might be a bit abrasive material, but it 's because they wo n't let anything get in their way of getting what they want. ''

'' Which makes you a slimed git like Snape ! '' Ron exclaimed triumphantly.

At least Ron 's exclamations were hushed enough so no one not in the dear vicinity could hear, Harry thought, suppressing a groan. He should deliver known the peace between those two could n't shoemaker's last longer than the gear 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 treaty to final stage ?

'' Mione ... ''

'' Ronald ... ''

'' testament you two pick apart it off ! The hats about to sing and I actually want to hear what it says. '' Ginny cut in. Harry made a mental note to give thanks her for distracting their disputing friends later, and quickly turned his attention to the hat. He had always enjoyed the classification, but after net twelvemonth ... wellspring, knowing that the hat was sworn to forewarn the student and teachers of danger made him a bit more attentive this yr.

The had opened it 's lip wide.

Divided, but once united,
That's how our story begins,
IV houses founded by four admirer
Yet I fear that such division shall bring about our end.

In ancient metre the best of friends
Came knocking on the threshold,
Of Ravenclaw and Slytherin,
Then Hufflepuff went to Gryffindor.

Lets make a school of learning,
For all those of magic to look,
Yet somehow the draw near three could not harmonize,
On what tone to defend.

Lashkar-e-Tayyiba teach only those of wit and learnedness,
Possessing the most ready psyche of all.
Those had been the poignant words,
Of once fair Ravenclaw.

Proud Slytherin prized aspiration,
Possessing purity of blood and cunning,
His pupils would end at nothing,
Until they got what they saw fit to their coming.

And then were the bravest,
Those cheeky with stately hardiness,
boldface Gryffindor chose them,
As most worthy of witching learning.

Hufflepuff loved her friends,
And accepted them as they were.
She let them each create a theater,
In which their prized were taught and bring up.

And as for sweet Hufflepuff,
She agreed to make the rest,
Yet somehow sectionalisation did not set well,
single to her, seemed best.

So when the founders sewed me,
And left me on my commode,
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 air division may cause strife,
And she feared for the magical world.
For all her living,
She had feared the division in vision,
But never more,
Than when the friendships failed,
Of the Founding Four.

Slytherin was the first to leave,
Purity of rip his pick,
I 'm disgraced by teaching Muggle borns !
He yelled, conviction in his voice.

Next left bold Gryffindor,
He felt the calling of risky venture,
Rather than the desperate plea,
Of failing loyalties in need of surgical seam.

Last left once-fair Ravenclaw,
Who once prized DoJ and learning,
She left because she said,
That teaching the other pupils had got too boring.

And alone stood Henry Sweet Hufflepuff,
The heady of them all,
Because she never would heed,
Alluring temptations call.

I see the sapience of her pick,
Why she chose to accept them all,
And now understand,
That its fruitless to divide you at all.

So while it deeply saddens me,
To see my end in hatful,
The sorting ceremony ends,
right hand now, right hand here, This night.


Harry stared at the throne, trying vainly to treat what he had just heard. At least he had been right in thinking it was important to pay attention this year, because apparently that was the last song the sorting hat would ever sing.

He cast a cursory glimpse towards Hermione, sitting next to him on the bench, but her brown eyes were wide and fixated up front. He could just imagine what was going through her head rightfield then, because fortune were she was going through each Page of Hogwarts a History, trying to chance any other incident even remotely like this one. He had a sneaking suspicion that she had the whole record book committed to memory.

The unnatural silence filled the Great residence hall like a thick fog, so thick he could almost find it closing around him.

McGonagall seemed caught between slapping the hat and looking to Dumbledore for instructions, and her mitt moved cautiously towards the hat 's rim, only for it to quickly recoil as if the hat had grown fangs. This odd, twitching motion was punctuated by keen turns of her head as she looked right at Dumbledore, who to Harry 's surprise, looking genuinely amused.

Snape on the former handwriting looked quite inconvienced, his mouthpiece had puckered so tightly that his rim seemed more translucent than Nearly Headless notch 's.

Apparently, they had not been expecting this.

Snape however, did n't seem to desire to accept it, and he had already stood and started storming from his plaza at the instructor 's table, clearly headed for the sorting hat 's stool itself.

'' Excuse me Minerva. '' Snape muttered, his low tone clearly audible in the uncanny silence. His long fingers snatched the hat up and onto his nous in a individual fluid movement, his nerve contorted in concentration as if conducting some clever contestation.

Clever line from Snape ? No ... inconceivable, he thought, watching his Potions teacher with interest for the first time in five geezerhood.

Apparently he was right about Snape 's inability to conduct an effective line of reasoning, because a moment later Snape had flung the hat back onto it 's stool, muttering about how it was a dirty, trash-ridden opus of fading fabric destined for a Muggle garbage dump.

It was a mark of how severe the situation was, that not a someone at the Gyffindor table laughed.

Harry could n't help but notice how Snape was testingly running his fingers through his greasy ignominious fuzz, looking at his deal after each swipe, as if searching for proof of something.

Every Gryffindor had a sneaking suspicion that the hat had just called him a greasy slime ball.

Ron Weasley was just the first to say it.

'' Methedrine 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 bodily function broke out at the Gryffindor mesa, and a range reaction of noise banquet until the olfactory organ stratum was almost deafening. The unsorted first days looked positively terrified, as if frightened of being sent home if unsortable, and they alone seemed the entirely I still rendered speechless.

'' I mean did I just hear that right ? '' Ron asked, center alight with excitement he did not portion.

Harry just nodded, watching the professor 's re-group.

prof Flitwick slid from his can, and every so often Harry could bewitch a glimpse of the top of his head over the teacher 's tabular array, as the pocket-size man jumped up and down, vying for Dumbledore 's aid.

'' Oh my God did the sort hat just resign ? '' Squealed Parvarti. One would cogitate 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 call up ? How it warned us last year ? ''

'' It did n't warn us that it might go on strike Ireland man ! ''

'' Who you calling Irish Republic man ? ''

'' Chill Seamus, Dean 's just kidding, are n't you Dean ? '' Ginny 's equanimity voice somehow filtered through the ruckus.

'' I ca n't believe this ! Never, in all of Hogwarts a History did it ever report the categorisation Hat doing anything even remotely close to this ... '' Hermione was in her element, and he silently congratulated himself on how well he knew his friend. `` 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 steep in her command to learn what he heard.

'' Do you cogitate we should just try sorting them anyway, Albus ? '' Professor McGonagall asked, casting an almost pleading glance at the group of first years, who seemed to quail away from her regard.

prof Dumbledore, looking vaguely amused, patted prof Flitwick on the head as he mulled this over. For his part the charm 's Professor stopped bouncing around like a firefly on pep pill, and his small head disappeared beneath the staff table.

'' We 'll be needing a volunteer though ... '' McGonagall stated rhetorically, scanning the list of student name with an uncharacteristic look of doubtfulness, talking out garish but absently. `` If any of the get-go age would like to try to get sorted ... ''

His Head of House was too preoccupied, and she missed what he did not fail to notice.

A sure golden haired girl had overhead the professor 's question, and after casting a coup d'oeil at the overwrought children around her, had woven her way through the cowering first yr. She now stood besides the fecal matter, her soft hand grasping the top of the hat as she lifted it from its chairman, plopping it upon her head. The teachers around her were completely oblivious to her legal action.

Her soft, angulate lineament relaxed, as if immersed in repose conversation. And as she sat there, immersed in a still conversation to which only she was privy to, Dumbledore pointed a wand to his throat, murmuring, `` heavy ''.

A second later the headmaster 's magically hyperbolise voice echoed throughout the Great Hall, as it had on only one other occasion.

'' SIIIILLLLEEEENNNCCCE ! ''

Every individual who had been excitedly talking, including respective of the unquiet looking first years, who had started to cry, stopped and turned their attention to the front of the hall.

So of track, that was when everyone 's care suddenly became drawn to the rather ordinary young woman, standing by the pot, the offending hat placed atop her drumhead.

'' Apparently the sorting hat has decided that it is no longer able to, in expert conscious, function as a planetary house sorter. However, we shall hold this sorted out. '' Dumbledore winked, the pun on language sounding almost innate coming from him. Yet Harry just stared in captivation at Kaylens, who seemed to be nodding quietly to herself. `` Now I would wish the upper long time to remain here for dinner party, and I would like the world-class years to issue forth with .... ''

Dumbledore stopped mid-sentence, apparently just catching sight of Kaylens, even though she had been right in front line of him all along.

Kaylens nodded one last metre, her hazel oculus flickering unfastened as she removed the hat, placing it back upon the commode. All oculus 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 brim for the mo metre that Night.

'' Let the classification now begin. ''



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