Believe
Chapter 1
The sunset was beautiful as it settled over the horizon of the Black Lake, where Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry stood. The golden rays of the sun reflected in her amber colored eyes while her long, ravenous black hair flowed down her back in waves. It was a Saturday evening, just warm enough to be outside without a jacket, even though she was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Her legs were encased in a pair of blue Muggle jeans, her feet in combat boots. The soft wind blew through her hair as she stood near the Whomping Willow tree, which wasn't bothering her, though she was a good mile away from it or so. She wasn't that stupid after all.
"Em, it's a ruddy Saturday! Do you mind? I'm trying to forget everything I've learned." Ronald Weasley scowled as they walked down the path toward Hagrid's house.
"I'm sorry, but you heard Professor McGonagall, with N.E.W.T's…"
Luna was half listening as she wandered dreamily behind the Golden Trio, straying off the path and towards the Whomping Willow tree, her attention there for some odd reason. Her radish earrings swung with every step she took, her waist length curly blonde hair twisted up on her head and held in place with her wand. "Hello." She greeted upon seeing her best friend, suddenly reaching up and flapping her hands in the air for no reason. "Wrack spurt again." Was her explanation for that sudden movement.
Turning around upon hearing that familiar voice of her best friend, Kiersten cracked a small smile and just nodded, not really understanding Luna's ways. "Hey Luna, what are you doing out here?" She asked softly, raising an eyebrow, thinking she was the only one in the castle who actually appreciated the sunset and view it possessed.
"Oh…nothing, just walking." Luna replied, watching the Whomping Willow with a mild expression on her face. "I was going to hunt for Fireflooms, but it's too late, I'm sure they've all gone away now." She smiled, staring out into the sunset before turning her head when she heard a rustle of wings in the distance. "Isn't that Hagrid's Hippogriff?" She watched now as Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger tried to coax the Hippogriff back into the pumpkin patch, but it wasn't an easy task.
Raising an eyebrow, Kiersten just shook her head, shoving her hands in the front pockets of her sweatshirt, and looked back at the view before her. "Why aren't you helping them?" She asked, not looking back at Luna, too focused on the sunset as it descended into darkness while stars began peeking out one by one in the colored sky.
Luna looked mildly surprised by that. "Should I?" She mused, watching still. "Oh look, Harry has it under control."
"BUCKBEAK, CALM DOWN!" Harry shouted, trying to restrain the overzealous animal.
Luna just smiled.
"I'm sorry!" Ron was wailing like a five year old. "I didn't mean to insult him!"
"Ronald isn't very bright, is he?" Luna said in more of a statement than an actual question, that dreamy smile still on her lips.
"Obviously not or else he would know NOT to insult that huge beast." Kiersten replied in a monotone voice, not really interested, though she couldn't help, but glance at one Harry Potter. He was cute with glasses that were round, shaping his emerald green eyes to perfection. He'd been through a lot, though Kiersten never showed she was interested in him, especially since he was currently dating Cho Chang.
"That must hurt." Luna commented in a tone of voice that suggested she was watching a television program. Harry had just got his forearm slashed for his efforts though he was still trying to calm down Buckbeak while Hermione was urging Ron out of the enraged animal's sight. "He's really brave." She added, still in her usual airy tone. "But not that smart either."
"Obviously." Kiersten murmured dryly, though she couldn't keep the worry out of her tone, and raked a hand through her long, black locks when Buckbeak began slashing at him again. "Come on, we'd better go help him before he ends up killed." She stated and walked away from the shore, heading down the steep hill with Luna bouncing right behind her. Hagrid had befriended her when she first came to Hogwarts, along with Luna, but other than that, hardly anyone spoke to her, not even the Golden Trio.
"Bloody Hell, Buckbeak!" Harry shouted angrily, angrier with Ron for being a stupid prat then with the Hippogriff. "Calm down!" He grunted, falling backwards, another slash on his arm, blood seeping through his long sleeved shirt and Gryffindor robes.
Luna halted at his head, staring at Buckbeak. "Are you alright?" She asked softly.
Harry didn't answer because he wasn't sure if she was talking to him or the animal.
Making sure she was out of harm's way from the uncontrollable Buckbeak, Kiersten made her way over to Harry, seeing both of his arms were heavily slashed. With a few mumbles under her breath, she bent down and pressed her hand over the wounds, one hand on each arm, blood flow coming to a halt, and when she pulled back her amber eyes stared directly into his. "Better?" She asked with a small smile, knowing exactly what she just did. Kiersten had healing powers that were growing stronger with every class she took in Hogwarts.
"Yeah, thanks." Harry flashed a quick grin before getting to his feet, watching incredulously as Luna patted Buckbeak, calming him down. He knew who Kiersten was, they were in the same house together, though he couldn't recall ever really talking to her. She was sort of a loner, as the Muggles loved calling it. He offered another smile, feeling his arms. "Much better…Kiersten is it?"
"Yeah, the one and only." She responded dryly, looking over at Luna, and shook her head with a small smile crossing her lips. "You've always had a keep way with dangerous animals." She murmured, patting Buckbeak's snout after letting him sniff her, and finally pulled back. "Well, now that the excitement has ended, I'll head back to the castle for dinner." She waved at them before turning around and headed up the hill again just as Cho came walking out.
Luna smiled at Harry before simply walking off, wandering toward Hagrid's garden.
Harry groaned when he spotted Cho coming. For some reason, she had taken to following him around almost everywhere lately. He was certain she would try to go into the loo with him if not for the others. "Hi." He greeted her with a weak smile.
"How was Kiersten?" Cho asked innocently enough, though anyone who really knew her could tell she was angry.
Harry was sensing a trap.
Kiersten was shaking with anger, not believing the audacity of Cho to accuse her of trying to steal Harry away from her! Prior to her going down to greet him, she'd told Kiersten to back off, saying Harry was hers, and Kiersten just snorted in her face, telling her she had some serious growing up to do, which was true. She did. Not that he'd ever look her way because that was simply impossible with the fabulous, can do no wrong, famous Cho Chang around. She watched as Cho embraced Harry from atop the hill and shook her head, wishing he could see the villain within that witch he dated.
Hermione and Ron were behind Kiersten though they were immersed in their conversation. "I'm telling you, Ron, she's a witch!"
"Well of course she is! She goes to school here don't she?" Was his clueless reply.
Hermione let out a long suffering sigh. "No, I mean she's acting jealous and-"
"I thought that was normal?"
Hermione made a noise in the back of her throat, sounding both annoyed and disgusted.
Kiersten couldn't help, but smile at Ron and Hermione, not believing how much they argued. 'Like an old married couple.' She thought with a shake of her head and felt her stomach twist violently when Harry and Cho came walking up. She looked directly into the view, the stars beginning to glisten one by one in the sky as the colors of pink, green, orange and blue swirled together in a beautiful aftermath of the sunset.
Harry looked uncomfortable as Cho clung to him, feeling the circulation in his arm going. "Well, I reckon it's about time for curfew." He murmured, turning to look at her. As always, he was pleased by her beauty, but it no longer gave him a warm feeling when he looked at her. Now she was more like something pleasing to look at, like a painting. Feeling shallow, Harry dutifully kissed her before loping by, catching up with Hermione and Ron.
"Stay away from Harry." Cho hissed as she passed by Kiersten after getting her good night kiss from her boyfriend, her voice just low enough for Kiersten to hear, and ran off to catch up with her house, not wanting to lose points for missing curfew.
"Heartless bitch…" Kiersten hissed back in her direction, though Cho couldn't hear her, and reluctantly headed back inside the castle. Instead of going to the Great Hall, she opted for the Gryffindor Common Room, wanting to get her sleepwear on and sit in front of the fire, needing to study for Professor Snape's test that following day.
The Golden Trio was already sitting in the Common Room, in their usual chairs by the fire. Harry was covering his face with one hand, apparently trying not to commit suicide. "She's getting worse by the day." He muttered. "I swear, she seen me talking to Pavarti about homework McGonagall set and blew a bloody gasket!"
"I'd watch it, she's looking to have you after graduation." Hermione said, a pair of knitting needles flashing in the air before her. At the blank look on Harry's face, she sighed exasperatedly. "She's going to try to get you to propose!"
"Like HELL!"
Kiersten descended the stairs at that moment, holding her books against her chest, ready for some peace and quiet. A shimmering, silver gown clung to her every curve and went down past her knees. It was short sleeved and nobody could see through it. Her hair was down and wet, fresh from a shower she'd taken. Ignoring everyone else, she walked over to the couch and sat down, opening her book, and curled her legs beneath her butt as she started studying.
"Look mate, there's only two things you can do about it." Ron said sympathetically, though he was hiding his amusement by scratching the end of his long nose. "You can either pop the question and be done with it," He held up his hands when Harry scowled, pausing slightly. "Here me out! Or you can just end it."
"Easier said than done." Harry grumbled. "I hinted at it last week and she didn't react all that well."
"Well, she's not going too." Hermione said reasonably. "You'll just have to summon that courage you're so famous for and do it."
"Can't I just face Voldemort again?"
"Come on, Harry. You can't tell me the famous Potter is afraid of such a small girl such as Cho Chang?' Neville piped in, holding Ginny Weasley in his lap, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Neville, be nice! Harry is scared just like YOU were when you were scared to ask me out." Ginny shot back, defending Harry, smacking Neville's arm and giggled when he turned beat red.
Kiersten couldn't stop the smile from forming on her lips as she secretly listened into this conversation. So Harry wasn't happy with Princess Cho eh? 'He still won't look my way.' She thought sadly, though she hid it exceptionally well, and resumed with her studies. Snape was a hard Professor, but she was bound and determined to get a perfect score on her test.
Harry looked at his friends, trying not to frown or look angry, instead opting for a grim smile. "Breaking up with Cho is like facing that dragon, Voldemort and a hundred Dementors all at once. If she's not breathing fire or trying to kill you, she's sucking all the happiness out of you."
Ron snorted, burying his face in his knee, and grumbled when Hermione whacked him upside the head with her book.
"I'll do it tomorrow…" Harry said, looking like he'd rather chew Doxy eggs.
"Smart man, maybe you'll finally pick a REAL winner like I did." Neville commented, smiling when Ginny juts blushed and held her close, nuzzling her neck softly while Ron and Hermione started arguing about how it was best for Harry to break up with Cho.
If Kiersten was shocked by Harry's statement, she didn't show it. She simply turned the page and started writing notes down, trying to memorize important things and facts that would help her get through this agonizing test. She wished Luna was in the Gryffindor house, but that would never happen. Once a person was chosen, they stayed with their house no matter the circumstances.
"Ron, you're a coward! Cho might be a…witch…but she doesn't deserve a bloody note! That's a lousy way to break up with someone!" Hermione scolded, her lips pursed tightly together as she glared back at Ron.
"Yeah, but she might try to hex his bits off if he does it face to face!" Ron protested, not noticing when Harry clenched his legs together, looking a bit green at the thought.
"She will not." Hermione said, though she sounded doubtful.
"When you lot are finished talking about my bits, let me know." Harry grumbled, standing up with an annoyed expression on his face.
"Would you two PLEASE just run away and get married already?" Ginny grumbled under her breath, staring at the two, and shook her head as she snuggled against Neville more. They were planning on getting married right after their seventh year was finished at Hogwarts, wanting to start a family.
"That's not a bad idea. Are you sure you want a big wedding?" Neville murmured in her ear, causing Ginny to giggle, and smacked him lightly.
Kiersten groaned inwardly, wishing they would get a room already. The last thing she wanted to do was watch two housemates clash right in the Common Room, where she was currently TRYING To study! Not saying a word, Kiersten simply waved her wand, spicing the flames up more since they began dying.
Harry's green eyes landed on Kiersten, then her book, cocking an eyebrow. "That any good?" He asked quietly, trying to keep Ron and Hermione's attention of f him, moving away from the still arguing pair. He dropped down on the other end of the couch, waiting patiently for her answer, never taking his eyes off her.
Kiersten slowly raised her eyes from the book, staring back at him, and shrugged absentmindedly. "It's studying so it's not exactly great." She stated her voice low, yet no malice or anger was found in her tone. "It's for Professor Snape's test tomorrow." She said, as if needing to remind him since he was in the same class as her, and proceeded to pull her gaze from his intense green eyes and back at the black lettering of the book.