Disclaimer: Everything you recognize as from the HP series in this story, is officially JK Rowling's. The rest might be inspired by random books read here and there. And after that, whatever little is left around belongs to petty little me. So don't glare at me for not being original, okay?
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Introductions
Prologue
The soft sunlight light filtered into the oaken and mahogany bedroom. The room was classic. Ancient, well kept, mystic and beautiful. In the middle, on a giant blue and gold four-poster bed lay a young woman. Her features were sharp, regal and carried a tired yet intelligent look.
Beside her, lay a tiny form of a baby girl. Her eyes shut in sleep and chubby face carrying a hint of a smile.
A black robed man sat on the edge of the bed, beside the mother and daughter. His gaze was fixed on the girl. Mind calculating, contemplating and observing.
Finally, he turned to the mother and shook his head in affirmation. "She is the one."
The lady smiled, as a wave of joy like never before swept through her. She gave the man an imperceptible nod, as he handed over a beautifully carved pendant to her.
"When the time comes." he murmured.
The woman looked at her asleep baby," I shall see to that"
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To most around her, Kara Lestrange was imperceptible. No doubt, she was gorgeous and had intellect. However, she was also an enigma. So secretive that none of her housemates could claim to be close friends or confidants of hers. She was in the crowd and yet, perfectly distant when she wanted to be. She controlled everything around her, people and even circumstances.
At 17 years of age, she was the most prolific character of Ravenclaw, and yet, hardly known by most outside her house. It was therefore, not very hard to imagine her being lost in the sea of faces at Hogwarts.Perhaps because she let herself be so. On the other hand, maybe, because did not have the time for anyone.
But this year of her life changed everything. From the low profile life of hers, Kara suddenly rose up to the latest ranks of gossip and topics amongst the handful of students left in the school.
Now, a week after she was back to school, Kara could hear the not too subtle whispers shadowing the hallways as she moved for the next class. The topic was more than obvious. The Lestrange family had been devastated, and every trace of it ruined. A gigantic manor and a floating dark mark was all that was left of the place.
And the only survivor was Kara Lestrange.
The press was focusing on her for weeks. Daily prophet kept trying to bring out the reason to her being the sole survivor after a Death Eater attack, that not even her infamous parents could stand.
They publicized her as the new Harry potter, who just tricked death when everyone else perished. There was excitement. Every witch and wizard wanted to know how this girl survived the face of death after being caught up in that very manor with her whole family and 10 death eaters.
Sadly for them, Kara refused the limelight. She chose to return to Hogwarts like a brave few others, to continue to study magic. For her, the place still had a mask of safety, and protection from the people that hounded the whole of her summer after the incident.
And so, resolutely, she kept a non interested look at all the stares and reached the great hall. It was lunch, and the place looked nothing like before. Extra tables and chairs had been removed, for the lack of students, and to promote school unity. Now, stood in the center of the huge hall a long table, fitting the exact number of students left in the place. There was always a chance nowadays, that you'd end up sitting beside a person you have never known.
As she slowly scanned the place for a seat, Kara realized that the only empty place was one next to a group of Gryffindors, more appropriately titled, the Trio. She always wondered why there had been rumors of them not returning to Hogwarts this year. Wouldn't Granger want to complete her N.E.W.T.S with top marks? Yes, Voldemort was a new problem everyone was facing. But even then, Kara doubted that Granger would leave studies to go face him.
Smirking to herself and a mental image of Granger trying to read a book and hex a Death Eater, the Ravenclaw made her way to the empty place and took the seat. As she began eating the food off her plate, Kara reminisced at her life and current problems. There was just so much to think about. Problems of inheritance of her property, Voldemort, her life. Kara sighed inwardly, wishing she had someone to talk to about all this.
Suddenly, she felt someone push against her back and sneer, "Do you have a habit of getting into people's way?"
Kara turned around to face a pale faced blonde someone. Her eyes immediately brightened up and a twinkle appeared it them. The faintest hint of a smile graced her lips. And yet, the voice that came out of her mouth, was chillingly cold.
"Funny, I would think after your fiasco last year, you would have mellowed down Malfoy. Apparently, some things never change."
She saw him smirk. He leaned down towards her placing one hand on the seat beside her, and whispered back," You wish, Lestrange." And with a long look, he moved away, and continued on his way, earning glares from Potter and his friends who he thankfully ignored.
Kara turned back to her meal, her hand slipping to the exact place where Draco kept his earlier. A small parchment grazed her palm and she quickly and coolly pocketed it.
Minutes later, she was out of the hall and in a corridor, opening the parchment and performing a spell that revealed all its contents.
An elegant scrawl appeared on the yellowish paper. Kara smiled. It was as usual.
Lake. At 8. Bring Cloak. No excuses.
DDNT
Sometimes, she marveled at the simplicity of the notes. But the complexity of the situation was what caught her attention the rest of the times. After all, it was hard to be close friends with Draco Malfoy.
Contrary to what the people thought about her, Kara was a completely open book to some people around her. One, had been Julian. And the other, Draco. She never really considered him a friend at first. But situations brought them closer. Close enough to be known inside out by him.
It was difficult, and yet, equally easy at the same time. While she found it tough to be really frank with him, he knew her so well that he wouldn't rest until she told him about her thoughts. And it was the same with her. And through this trust on each other, Kara got to know about the whole incident in Draco's sixth year. The way he was to kill Dumbledore and couldn't.
He had come to stay over at her Manor in the summers. Voldemort was beyond rage when he found out that Draco wasn't able to kill Dumbledore and that Snape had to do it for him. He ordered Draco to be killed. Fortunately, Snape saved him and brought him to the Lestrange Manor. It was there that she met him for the first time. A boy with a hollow look in his eyes and hopelessness surrounding him. Julian extended a hand of welcome to him, and she followed. More out of trust on Julian that anything else.
And in a sweep, all her misconceptions about the famous snotty boy Draco, were gone. He repented his actions deeply, and wanted to rectify them. Draco had decided to join the Order. To oppose the Dark Lord who took away his family and was ready to kill Draco for his services.
Over time, Draco confided into Kara and Julian the truth about Voldemort, and his Horcruxes. He refused to tell them how he knew about this, but he assured them it was true. And that he was convinced, one of the Horcruxes was in Hogwarts. Draco wanted to find that Horcrux and give it to the Order. It was his way of telling them he was ready to join their ranks.
At first, Kara refused to believe all this. But slowly, as she mulled over whatever he told her, she found herself convinced and willing to help Draco. Just like Julian.
And then, tragedy struck. Death eaters found out Draco's location and attacked the manor. Draco managed to escape with Kara. While Julian perished. It was a huge shock to her. Her brother and the only person she had ever been so close too, was dead. And suddenly, Kara felt like doing nothing about the Horcrux.
It was Draco that forced her to return to Hogwarts with him. He fueled in her the hate for Voldemort that had been present, but dormant. That, along with the fact that the animalistic press was getting hard to bear, made her return to Hogwarts again. Of course, their friendship was to remain a secret, as Draco didn't want anyone to hurt Kara because of him. Kara found this chivalry rather irritating, but Draco was obstinate, and in the end Kara had to give in.
Till now, their search for the Horcrux had yielded nothing. Their only information about the thing was that it was stuck in something of Rowena Ravenclaw's. It was just like holding on to straws, but the search continued. The last time Kara had met Draco was when Draco found out this first piece of information.
And now this was the next note. Kara breathed in slowly, as she wondered what Draco had found next. But the momentary feeling of anxiousness melted away as she saw the parchment again.
DDNT.
Kara smiled and shook her head. It was after she had told him about how it irked her to have such an ordinary name that Draco started to sign his messages this way. To remind her that he, had a special name. It was childish, but made the point.
Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.
Kara burned the parchment, as always. But her mind was somewhere else. Someday, she would find something with her name in it too.
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A/N: So, what dyou think? Good or shabby start? Worth continuing? It should be worth reviewing hopefully…
Anyway, next chapter will have a lot more action and things should clear up or get confusing (depending on how well you can decipher hints and such meaningful wink). We'll also meet the wonderful trio pretty soon (though perhaps not in the next chapter…
Also, please do tell me what you think of the fictional character Kara. Opinions really count!
-Tanu
