Katrina: Whoot! Finally I started writing this damn story. Yah, I'm a stinker, I have two other stories that are in dire need to be updated. Sheepish grin Anyways, yeah I don't own any of the HP characters. I only own Kaine, Kuro, Cheshire Cat, Kotori, Razziel, Marcus, and Mikeal (Cheshire, Kotori, Razziel, Marcus, and Mikeal will appear later in the story)
Summary: The sixth year has begun and already Harry is facing a war that no one is truly willing to fight. However his new teacher, Ms. Kaine Nighttrod, is not the average witch in the magical community, Harry quickly discovers that behind her happily smile and childish behavior lies a woman with a dark and troubled past. What's stranger is when Harry begins to have dreams about Kaine and her past. What is the history behind Kaine's cross tattoo? What is her relationship with Snape, other than her continuous habit of calling him by female names only? And more importantly, what is her connection to the mysterious 'Dark Order' and Harry's past? And will Harry find time to tell Ginny how he truly feels before Kaine can make a mess of the school itself? Please Read and Review.
Chapter One"Stranger"
The storm continued to roar outside like a demoniacal wolf.
The Leaky Cauldron was tightly packed, filled mostly with families who were preparing to send their children to their next or first year of school; their children huddled close to them, especially the young ones.
Harry sat by the Weasley's, like he did the previous year, when he was nearly kicked out of Hogwarts, due to an incident that involved a Dementor and his Patronus.
They were enjoying themselves; Fred and George were talking about potential ideas for gags and products for their store, while Molly and Arthur were telling Ron and Ginny about things they should be prepared for in the coming year.
Harry was merely relaxing as he allowed the sounds of the outside world clear his thoughts.
This, however, did not last as the doors were suddenly kicked open at the same time a lighting bolt struck the ground a good five feet away. This was followed by a few screams from the small children and the few adults who were taken by surprise.
The moment faded away as a figure entered the room, dressed in an old, tan colored traveler's cloak with the hood hiding the stranger's face.
Old Tom, however, didn't seem fazed at all by the enigma's presence as he/she/it placed itself at a table at the far end of the bar. He merely wiped the glass in his hand clean before nearing the cloaked figure.
"Well look what the cat dragged in," he replied with his infamous toothless grin. "The usual aye, Kaine?"
"Dear old Tom," the enigma began to laugh as she removed her hood, only to reveal a young woman in her early twenties, her crimson red hair tumbling out and down to her waist, just dancing at the edge of the seat. It was kept out of her face by a single silver hair clip with unfamiliar symbols on it. "It truly has been much to long."
"Bloody hell, Kaine, you're drunk again?" Tom poured her a cup of herbal tea before leaning towards her as one does a friend. "You are only serious like this when the elephants come dancing for you."
"You know me," Kaine gave a meek smile.
"So where have you been? You disappeared for nearly fifteen years."
"Now that Tom, my dear friend, is a secret that only the dead can keep," she replied as she gently drank the tea with a look of absolute bliss on her angelic face. "Apparently, my friend, your age has not affected your memory. You always seem to remember exactly how much to put in."
"Only for you Kaine," Tom smiled again. Harry found himself curious as to what they were speaking about. "So why are you back? The Ministry hasn't, you know…"
"No," Kaine's voice was suddenly cold and flat, the earlier warmth, gone. "And even if they did, I would not come to their call. They know that I have fulfilled my end of the bargain. No, I'm here do to a job and favor for an old friend."
"You mean..."
"Indeed, dear old Albus requested my presence at his school," Kaine suddenly laughed, causing more eyes to fall on her. "It seems those Ministry fools are not equipped for the job of teaching our youths the proper means of defense or the knowledge of anything of value."
At that moment, the doors opened again, this time with a much softer sound, and a large black dog entered, along with the one person that neither Harry nor Ron wanted to see again.
Dolores Umbridge was a nervous woman, due to last year's trip in the woods, yet she had seemed to have taken on more weight, and was nearing the point of challenging Dudley in size.
The animal, however, was not with her; it shook off the rain-water quickly before placing itself next to Kaine. Umbridge however instantly advanced onto Kaine.
"Ms. Kaine Nighttrod," the woman barked with authority that would have made Snape feeling suppressed. Kaine, however, ignored the woman's presence and scratched the dog behind the ear. "I wasn't finished talking with you yet."
"I am truly sorry, Dolores," Kaine replied in a voice that one used towards a small child.
"But I have neither the time nor patience to deal with the Ministry and it's problems."
"You can't be…"
"I assure you, I am as serious as I was when I worked for the Ministry of Magic, and I do not wish to repeat that process again. I have enough memories of those days to last me eternity."
"But..." Umbridge began, only to have Kaine rise to her full high of five foot five, a good foot and a half higher then Umbridge.
"My answer is no, Dolores, and will remain 'no' until Hell's Gates have frozen over," Kaine growled, the annoyance thick in her tone.
"My word! Kaine?" Arthur's voice broke the tension, as Kaine turned to see who had called her name. "Kaine! It's me, Arthur Weasley. Do you remember?"
Kaine blinked a few times as Arthur neared and embraced her in a hug. She gently returned it, a soft smile on her face.
She then took in Ron, Ginny, Molly, the Twins, and Harry before forcing Arthur to stand before her, as if to look him over.
"By the gods, you have changed since the last time we met Arthur," she embraced him again before turning towards the others. "Are they all yours?"
"Goodness no, only the red haired ones," Arthur smiled and released a hearty laugh. "But my god, Kaine you haven't changed a bit. You still look as young as ever. Where have you been?"
"Oh, you know," Kaine replied kindly. "Here and there. So, how many kids did you and Molly sire?"
'Sire?' Harry thought.
The word seemed odd to be used now-a-days, but the woman did seem highly old fashioned, from her deer skin imitation traveler's boots, down to the cloak that she had yet to remove in the highly warm room.
"Oh not many," Arthur laughed. "Only seven."
"I fear to question what your idea of many is, as of now Arthur," Kaine looked at him oddly. "So what pray tell do I call them, and which ones are still being schooled?"
"Well the twins there are Fred and George, the boy here is Ron, and this little angel is Ginny. And the black haired one here is Harry Potter."
"James' boy?" Kaine's eyes widened with surprise. Arthur nodded before Kaine turned towards Harry. "I was very acquainted with your parents, Harry. I am truly sorry for your loss. They were good people; very accepting of everyone."
"It's okay," Harry began; it was hard for him to miss them, as he had no memories. He looked at her, only to see the expression on her face that told him 'no it isn't but I understand'. It was then he noticed how tired her eyes appeared, how aged they were.
"Come sit with us Kaine," Arthur invited as he made a motion for her to sit. "You may join us as well Ms. Umbridge."
Dolores foamed about the mouth as it became clear to her what Kaine had planned, and that she was ignoring her completely. She quickly shook her head and made to leave.
"Kuro," Kaine called and the dog trotted over to them.
Ginny gasped as she saw the pupil-less red glowing eyes as the dog sat next to Kaine.
Kaine quickly answered to unasked question. "Kuro is a demonic wolf."
They spent the rest of the night talking about random things until they all decided to retire to their rooms.