Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone in the Harry Potter universe…except for Faith! So have a little of that and enjoy the story! )
A CHANGING OF FAITH
CHAPTER ONE – THOSE VIOLET EYES
Harry and Ron had just finished an excruciatingly long game of Wizard's Chess, in which Harry had finally beaten his best friend. It was just past one o'clock in the morning. They were the only two left in the Gryffindor common-room. Hermione had long-since gone to bed after watching her two best friends battle it out for five hours straight.
Harry was now in his seventh year and had been chosen Head Boy over Ron Weasley, who did not mind in the least.
"At least you'll get to take points from Malfoy this year, if he ever crosses the line." Ron had said when Harry had gotten the news this summer at the Burrow.
Suddenly, Harry threw up his arms in agitation, "Ah, you let me win!" protested Harry, but Ron's face remained expressionless. The only times Harry had won a game was when Ron fudged a move here and there to make it easier for Harry to beat him. Ron looked Harry in the eye and said, "You won this one fair and square, mate! I left my king out to dry because I thought your knight was going to take my queen instead! It was a fair match, Harry!"
For once, Harry wasn't going to argue with his best friend. All he wanted to do now was sleep, but as soon as he got up to stretch…and in the middle of a loud yawn, no less…the portrait hole opened. Ron and Harry turned and gave each other the same bewildered look. There wasn't supposed to be anyone wandering around the castle at night anymore due to Voldemort's actions.
To their surprise…albeit a pleasant one…in walked an extremely pretty girl Harry had seen around Hogwarts; only she had belonged to another house – Ravenclaw. The girl had to be at least sixteen and had a head of long auburn curls that cascaded down her back and stopped just short of her waist; her skin was sun-kissed to perfection and her complexion, flawless. A pair of startling violet eyes smiled at him, as did her full and perfectly shaped lips. Harry could see that she was carrying a beautiful raven-coloured owl in a large silver cage.
Harry's face was beet red out of embarrassment, but the girl patiently waited for him to finish stretching before speaking.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," said the girl, "My name is Faith. Faith Amara Richardson. Professor McGonagall said I would still find the two of you out of bed…something about finishing a marathon game of wizard's chess," Faith laughed, which was musical and infectious. Harry looked at Ron who was turning red at the tips of his ears. All they could do was nod.
"Well," continued Faith, "Since the Death Eaters' attack on the school and the death of our beloved Headmaster, my mother suggested that I be re-sorted this year. She's always said I've been brave in the face of danger. Of course, I don't imagine you'd remember there being a Death Eater killed that day? Well, it was I who killed him. Not the cleverest thing to do, being a Ravenclaw, but it was something brave and Gryffindor-like," she said, as she cleared her throat, "I've just been re-Sorted and the hat put me in Gryffindor. So I'm here to ask you, Harry, as Head Boy, if you'd forgive my lateness. I was packing up my things and I didn't realize it was so late until I checked my watch a few minutes ago. It won't happen again."
Harry was staring. He couldn't believe he hadn't really noticed this girl before now. She was a striking beauty now that he had a better look at her. Faith had a darling womanly figure, and wore a simple blue cotton t-shirt and a pair of sheep-print pyjama pants. He and Ron still wore their Hogwarts robes, as they hadn't bothered to change since dinner.
"We didn't see you being Sorted today," Harry said, finally, "Was it a private ceremony, then?"
Faith nodded. "Professor McGonagall insisted on it," she said, her lips forming a small grin, "Only after my mother sent her a howler about it."
"A howler?" asked Ron, "Isn't that for parents who want to yell at their children for doing something wrong? What did Professor McGonagall do to get one from your mother?"
"Well," began Faith, "It wasn't a bad howler at all. Mum wanted to get me re-Sorted as soon as possible because I had used the Killing Curse on a human being and that took a lot of courage - something she thought I had lacked. Mum had been in Gryffindor, too, as well as Dad. Our whole family's been up until me, but when I showed more intelligence than bravery exactly six years ago today, I was Sorted into Ravenclaw. Professor McGonagall saw fit to have me try the Hat on again…just in case, you know…and it took a long time before deciding to re-Sort me into Gryffindor. I'd just left Professor McGonagall's office, where she gave me the password…and here I am."
Harry looked at Ron again, but smiled at Faith. So she was in seventh year…he thought, smiling even wider. Harry had never heard of anyone switching houses before. It was exciting to have her in Gryffindor. This was also the first time he learned that a witch his age had successfully attempted and executed a Killing Curse without being expelled or punished. He wondered how on Earth she had managed it! Ron nudged Harry and whispered, "I'm going to bed, mate. I want to be up early to catch Hermione before breakfast," he said, "Good night."
"Good night, Ron," Harry whispered and watched as Ron gathered his chessboard and pieces and saunter upstairs to their dormitory, "I'll be up soon."
The two of them watched as Ron slowly disappeared from view. The two stood in silence for a moment. Faith seemed to be rocking in place…looking quite bored, actually.
"Glad you're here, Faith," Harry finally said. Harry felt his words were coming out too quickly for Faith to understand, but he wanted to say them before he forgot something, "I hope you will find Gryffindor to your liking. It's by far the best house, but I'm sure everyone else says that about his or her house. Hermione and the rest of the girls are asleep upstairs. I can take you up to your dormitory if you like."
Faith smiled and said, "Thanks, Harry," she said, "But I think I can find my way. Up the stairs and to the left using the staircase on the right, isn't it?"
Harry slowly nodded, "How did you know?" Harry felt his heart race and his stomach felt like it had a thousand tiny little butterflies beating their wings against the lining.
"It's written in many books about Hogwarts. I read it in Hogwarts…A Revised History." said Faith. Harry started to roll his eyes. She reminded him a bit of Hermione, but different…and a lot easier on the eyes, "But when I spoke with the Fat Lady, she told me where it was just in case anyone was asleep when I came in. I suppose I'll be going to bed now. Good night, Harry."
Faith began ascending the stairs but Harry caught up to and walked beside her. Harry tried to shake the feeling he had in the pit of his stomach, but he couldn't. Faith's eyes met his for a brief moment and she gave him a warm smile as they reached the door to the girls' dormitory. The guys' dormitory was on the other side of the large stone pillar.
"On behalf of the Gryffindors, I welcome you to your dormitory," Harry said majestically. He then recalled seeing Faith at the sorting ceremony six years ago. She was a lot shorter back then, but he recalled that she had the same hair and eyes. Harry wondered if she had ever been a friend to Cho Chang. Last year, Harry had kissed Ginny Weasley and since it was too much to late, Harry decided to call everything off – amid Ginny's protestations, of course, "I hope you sleep well."
"Thanks. You too," she replied, then she leaned in to whisper something into his ear, her hot breath sent shivers down his spine, "You know, Harry, the Ministry has awarded me a position as an Auror because they've never seen a person my age use the Killing Curse before. I'm not sure how much our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is going to teach us this year, but they should teach us things that pertain to the pending war. Duelling, in particular. I believe there is going to be a war and we have to be prepared. Now I've been given a special assignment for the year and I hope that I'll be able to do it. It makes me glad that I passed my Apparition test on the first attempt. Sorry, I must be talking your ear off. I tend to do that when I'm excited about something. We'll chat in the morning. Good night, Harry."
Faith smiled at him before entering the girls' dormitory. Harry returned the smile and walked to his own dormitory. He must've had a slightly odd expression on his face as he entered the dormitory because Ron immediately noticed, "So did you two snog? Is that why you've got that goofy grin on your face?"
Harry shook his head, "No, of course not!" he said, "Faith and I were just chatting about what happened last year."
"Right," said Ron, not believing a word Harry said, "Like I'm going to fall for that one."
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Harry, as he crossed the room to his bed. He changed into his pyjamas as Ron tried to explain.
"Nothing, really," said Ron, "It's just that you ended up snogging my sister last year, then you toss her because you're afraid you'll put her in danger. Aren't you afraid of what Ginny will do if she finds out you're seeing Faith?"
Harry finished pulling on his shirt and said, "What do you mean, what's Ginny going to do? It was only a kiss, Ron! It's not like I was going to shag her senseless!"
Ron's eyes went wide, "You did not just go there, Harry! You didn't!" he protested, his face and ears reddening in anger, "Listen, mate, if you and Ginny had realized how you felt about one another, you'd still be together. Now she's been nothing but depressed since you chucked her and you don't even care how she feels. Some best friend you've turned out to be!" Ron tossed away his shoes so loudly that it made a noise. Thankfully, it didn't wake Seamus, Dean or Neville.
Harry felt annoyed. He hadn't meant to hurt Ginny. It was just something that happened because he just couldn't stand her being with Dean. He had been attracted to her enough to want to kiss her, although it wouldn't have worked out in the end because he would either have to kill or be killed. Of course, Dumbledore had told Harry that it was Voldemort who had created his own enemy and that Harry was the only one that could finish him off. Well, he couldn't very well talk to Dumbledore now, but he could just hear Dumbledore say, "You won't rest until you've killed him. You've got to do it!"
After wiping a stray tear he didn't know had fallen, Harry pulled on his pants and climbed into bed. He needed to practice his Occlumency, but couldn't get Faith's violet eyes out of his mind.
What is she doing to me? Harry asked himself. What's so great about those wonderful violet pools?
Harry eventually managed to rid his mind of Faith and every other thought and emotion that crossed his mind…especially the anger he felt towards Ron…and fell into a dreamless sleep.
