Okay, I will put a slight warning here. This is very likely the only chapter that will have any country music in it and the song was chosen for a reason. If you don't like the song, that's completely alright ^_^. Just skip over the words of the song and continue reading the fic. Everything will still make sense even if you ignore the song. I'll put the song in bold so it will be easily recognized. If you actually like the song, EVEN BETTER. ^_^ I only used a few choice phrases from the song so, there isn't much to have to ignore.
Thank you for your time and consideration in reading this pre-chapter warning. Enjoy the show.
Unless I find a really inspiring song that I can't help but weave into the fic, it's the only one you should worry about.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and I don't own the song either.
Chapter 1: The Mysterious Girl
Cold rain slashed against the windows of the Hogwarts Express, bound for none other than the great school of witchcraft and wizardry. Students dotted the train cabins huddled in small groups chatting quietly of the coming year while the solemn drizzle reminded all of the sorrow that had visited them just one week ago.
Many were so miserable themselves or distracted cheering others up that none noticed an odd 7th year tread through the train seeking an empty compartment. Checking cabin after cabin after cabin, the single student found the last one dark and empty, and settled down for a quiet ride in solitude.
However, solitude is not easily kept. Within minutes, voices could be heard traveling to the back, talking quietly of plans, expectations, and who the new DADA teacher would be. The 7th year stood up and glared as the trio opened the cabin door but then, startled, stepped back for a second.
The first one, and obviously the leader of the group, began to speak, his green eyes narrowing as his messy mat of black hair swayed just enough to reveal a small lightning shaped scar on his forehead. "Who are you?"
"I don't have to answer that question at all." She replied curtly in a crisp American accent glancing out the window temporarily before continuing, "either come in or get out. You're letting the heat escape."
The two 'chums' of the boy looked almost shocked that anyone would ever snap like that but the 6th year leader walked in and sat on the opposite side of the cabin and quietly stared out of his own window.
Taking the hint the red-head and the brunette followed and sat silently beside him, all deep in thought.
'You know, for the fame he has, he sure is carrying himself humbly right now." Smirking she lifted her wand against the window and pulses of light erupted from it's tip five consecutive times before she placed her arm down again and returned to her thoughts.
'Why would Dumbledore even think that….'
A sudden movement outside of the window caught her attention and lifting her wand she repeated the original sequence, but this time blue. She could feel the group in the corner staring at her but she was beyond caring. The last flash was red and then the 7th year reached down beneath her seat and pushed a small button…….
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[Four cars down………]
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A loud noise was heard as what sounded like a muggle guitar began to vibrate the very walls of the cabins. Bass was added as a voice sung,
//…somebody got away, somebody didn't get too far…..//
The pale, pointed, blonde boy covered his ears with his hands and his anger began to mount. "What is this AWFUL RACKET!?" He screeched at his companions. "It's coming from that POTTER'S car." He drawled, apparently having been looking an excuse to confront Harry. "Time to finish this!"
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The last car had erupted into a blaze of country music distressing most of its occupants.
Harry immediately smashed his hands to his ears and saw his friends do the same before turning to the stranger and yelling, "TURN IT DOWN!!!!!!"
"WHAT?" She shouted back, leaning towards him another inch or two.
"I SAID!!!! TURN-----------IT---------DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The strange girl's eyes lit up and she clasped her hands together joyfully. "YOU LIKE COUNTRY? OK!!!"
She reached for the stereo again raised the volume even further as Hermione Granger yelled out, "HOW CAN SHE DO THAT? LIKE HOGWARTS, ELECTRICAL DEVICES WON'T WORK ON THE EXPRESS!!!"
Smirking smugly to herself, the 7th year relished a single thought, 'only one who thinks all things are absolute would ever come to such a conclusion.'
//…Justice is one thing you should always find….. you've gotta saddle up your boys you've gotta draw a hard line……//
As if answering the song's call of justice, Malfoy strode through the door, angry as ever. Pulling out his wand he immediately yelled, "I KNEW IT, POTTER!!!!!" He spat; his comrades Goyle and Crabbe filing in behind him. "YOU'RE GOING DOWN FOR THIS DISGRACE POTTER!"
Suddenly a magical surge rippled through the cabin and Malfoy yelped in pain grabbing his wrist and dropping his wand to the floor only for it to be crushed and snapped under Crabbe's and Goyle's nervous feet as they attempted to usher their howling leader into a confused retreat back out of the door.
The trio still present stared open-mouthed at the door. The music continued to reverberate through the cabin but even with its raucous tune, an eerie silence in the background had settled itself in place again. They glanced back at the 7th year with a suspicious glance.
//…We've got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds….too much corruption and crime in the streets…//
The 7th year rolled her eyes and turned the volume back down to a bearable level, eyeing the three friends lightly. "How….unfortunate for him…" She muttered almost imperceptibly yet she knew the girl had picked up on it as the girl's eyes darted back to the door. "Listen, ummm, you….people…. I'd like to be left alone, please. I found an empty car to be alone and I'd like to continue to be alone." She stressed each 'alone' and narrowed her eyes at the them and pointed towards the door.
All was silent except for the music rolling about in the cabin before Harry Potter looked up and with both sincerity and distrust in his face murmured, "That's all you had to say in the first place."
The 7th year looked back and gave a glance completely devoid of emotion and replied, "No. If I done that, you would have wanted to know why." She smiled for the second time since boarding the train and then turned back to the window and stared out at the rain pummeling the train.
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Potter and his friends had left and once again the 7th year was alone.
"//…As the gunsmoke settles, we'll sing a victory tune and we'll all meet back at the local saloon. We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces singing, 'Whiskey for my men! Beer for my horses!...//"
The song ended and the car was quiet once again as the 7th year turned off the stereo.
Looking back at the final door, the door to which there was no other car attached, she grinned and strained to control a laugh threatening to fight its way to her lips.
The door opened and a soaking Asian girl the same age stepped forth, dripping from the rain, her pants plastered to her legs and her shirt to her chest, shivering in the cold. "It's raining out there!" she stormed as she slammed the door and curled her arms ups to her chest shivering still. "Why'd I haf-ft-ta wait?"
Softly laughing at her drenched, shivering friend she grabbed her coat and tossed it over to her friend before saying, with just a touch of humor in her voice, "I guess next time we have a deadline you won't waste your money on beer?" Clearly done jesting she folded her own arms and frowned sternly. "I had uninvited company to turn away."
The Asian laughed evilly at her distant acquaintance and sadistically replied, "Aha, Willie Nelson…"
"is enough to drive any teenager away…" the original 7th year finished. The rustling coat sounded through the cabin and the two girls met eye to eye.
"I suppose now, the real work starts." The soggy Asian stated monotonously.
"Yeah." The first girl groaned. "Work."
The Asian let out a cackle and sat on the opposite side of the cabin from the other 7th year. "I'm not complaining."
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A crimson locomotive pulled up at a castle far in the reaches of somewhere, for that somewhere itself was unplottable. As students began to file from the train from each separate car, a towering figure complete with a tangled mop for a beard hoarsely yelled, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Ever'one here? Is there a miss Rin Peters and Arista O'Riley 'ere?"
Departing their final car, both new girls rolled their eyes and kept walking, trying not to appear suspicious. Unfortunately the original plan backfired.
A teen with a mess of black hair, round glasses, and green eyes spoke, "Hey Hagrid! How's it been?"
"Well, er, I'm er supposed t', you see……I have the priv'lage to escort two guests, er, tonight….top secret…."
Nodding, Harry looked over and pointed at the two creeping girls and said, "Them? They're the only people I don't recognize….."
Turning to avoid confrontation their futile attempt was shattered when Hagrid called, "Are you two ther new students?"
Sighing heavily, they each turned to the half giant and brunette said, "Yes. We are. Ummmmm……"
Finishing her sentence the Asian quickly began an obviously rehearsed story, "We can make it to the castle on our own. Thank you for the offer but…."
"Now wait right thar….Dumbledore said…."
The brunette again spoke up, establishing authority with the tone of her voice. "We know what Dumbledore said."
"Then, you'd know tradition…."
Completing the thought of the brunette, the Asian said, "That's your tradition. Not ours. We'll walk…." She turned around and began to saunter off down the path near the lake once more.
Her friend smiled and scratched the back of her head nervously, "Americans, eh?" Her reaction was short-lived and her eyes darted about the train. Crossing her arms, and glaring straight up at the half giant, the brunette had a single question for Hagrid. "Why is our arrival top secret?"
"Uhhh, er… Well, yeh see…… Uhhh…"
The clouds above Hogwarts began to rumble ominously and Hagrid turned around to assess the conditions of the lake. Taking the opportunity, she quickly turned and began to follow her friend at a light jog.
Harry watched the last girl run off distrustfully. "It's like this every year." He thought bitterly to himself. "A new face, a new secret, a new horror. The list only grows." Hagrid, upon finding his charges gone within the fog, began sputtering off about rules and regulations. "I just hope this one doesn't end in death like the last two…" Harry jumped slightly feeling a touch on his arm before recognizing the warm touch. Hermione. He looked over to her face, mired in intelligence and compassion, and felt a gentle reassuring squeeze. He nodded to her, and decided to drop the thought for the moment. At least the dismal end of it he concurred.
Harry yawned a stretched his arms out feigning disinterest. "Hagrid. They're not listening. So, what's so special about them anyways?"
"Well, firs', one of is supposed ter'……." Catching himself in a pure moment of thoughtless chatter he clammed up and sent the 17yr old and his tiny group on their way.
---
Hermione Granger stepped into the carriage and awaited her two friends to join her. First a bright red top pushed through and joined her, followed at a lengths time by a darker one. "So, have either of you been studying this summer?"
A dark glance from Ron and some slumped shoulders from Harry was her only answer. An immense sorrow could be felt in the air as she reached over and held Ron's hand. "Ron," she said softly, "they'll be alright. You just have to believe. That's all you can do."
He pulled away and turned to the window. The few times they had been able to break through his silent reveries had been cut short with the appearance of the mysterious girl on the train. "He will come out on his own, in time." She reassured herself.
The young girl let out a weary sigh and leaned back into her seat. Her eyes fluttered open momentarily to fall upon Harry and again her heart felt a deep pain. He suffered as well. As if he hadn't suffered enough in the past 5 years, he was suffering again. Every year, Voldemort had made some attempt on his life. And every year Harry had risen to the occasion. But she could tell, she was close enough, to know by looking into his eyes, the weary resignation that lay behind his cocky, reckless attitude he showed the school and the entire wizarding world. She knew he felt that everything was his fault. Everything from Cedric's death to Sirius' demise to the recent attacks on many of the wizarding families and on muggles in Britain was all beginning to weigh heavily on his shoulders and it was all because he felt powerless to stop Lord Voldemort. But he wasn't powerless at all. He just wasn't ready. If only he could see that.
At times, she even wondered if he was feeling responsible for his parents' death. Some of the more recent attacks on the community from the death eaters were towards parents with younger children and many of the children in question had been kidnapped or abandoned.
Suddenly, a quick movement outside of the moving carriage caught her eye and moving closer to the window, she smiled, easily distinguishing the two figures in the mists. Both seemed highly intelligent. She looked forward to conversations with them both, even during these dark times.
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Mud, rocks, cold mists, slight dampness, soggy grass. What more could one ask for a nice run in? As the two figures dashed through the murky fogbanks, even the mostly impassive Asian seemed to revel in the unannounced race, hidden from view in the fog. A squelching noise to her right alerted her to her foe. Grabbing a small fallen branch from her own path, she tossed it at her enemies suspected position. "OUCH!" An evil smirk spread across her face as she softly laughed to herself. However, laughing and running never did mix well with her and the break in her breathing pattern slowed her considerably.
The brunette was tracing the lake and after being hit by a flying projectile, she had been mostly running the grass and rocky portions. Glancing ahead, she grinned with glee at the challenge that awaited her. Without a word, she jumped onto a rock and made a spinning leap over a deep, treacherous ravine landing in a rather precarious and teetering position. 'Ooh… I need to work on that.' She thought to herself as she flailed her arms about, still attempting to catch her balance. "No warnings for my perfidious friend…."
A slight yelp was heard as she finally managed to stand up straight on both legs. The brunette struggled to restrain her laughter, and at once set off towards Hogwarts again. Peering through the mists, she saw how fast they were approaching Hogwarts and reminded herself of the duty that awaited her. Sliding on a rock she warbled a birdsong not native to the land. She immediately heard a replying sparrow's chirp from just behind her. Not bothering to turn around, she began growling out orders, "We need to check the premises before the carriages begin to unload. You take the west and I'll take the east. Check your half front and back. Any sign…."
Feeling a glare worthy of a patronized fellow, the brunette winced as she heard, "Yeah, yeah. Keep your shirt on. I know the drill."
The two split, one to her thoughts of her mission and the other focused on thoughts of work.
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