Disclaimer: Neither Kandi or I, Addy B own the rights to the Harry Potter series…we wish…

Kandi was sitting in her bedroom at her parents' house in South Dakota writing a letter to her cousin and best friend Addy B.

Dear Addy,

How are you? How are things over in England going? I'm doing ok, dad seems to be doing better but at the same time not really. The doctors say it is just a matter of time. They told mom they don't think he will make it thru the week. I think he will though. He told me that he wants me to become Chief next year after I get out of Salem.

Do you realize this is the first year that we will not be playing against each other on the field? I mean what the bears are going to do if you do not come back. I guess that the wolves will be winning the cup this year.

This is Hershey Kisses she is your birthday gift from Mom, Dad and I. I know you said you always wanted one after seeing Kane all the time. So I sent Kane off on a trip to find you one. She came back with an egg I raised it for the first few months here at home.

Uncle Alex says you better keep up with your DADA studies, Mom and Uncle Mark says the same thing about Charms and Transfiguration and Animagus training. I say you better keep practicing your flying so we can see who the better flier is when I come visit you.

Write back and let us know how everything is? Oh and tell Uncle Remus that when he comes over this spring that we have had some interesting progress with the werewolf cure..not quite there but closer.

Now Keep on Smiling and Remember that we are all here for you.

Yours Truly

Kandi Kane

"Now, Kane I want you to find Addie and give her this letter and take Kiss with you." Kandi told her Phoenix as she tied the letter on her.

So Kane and Kisses left in a flash of fire on their way to England. Kandi went around her room picking up and unpacking the rest of her trunk. She pulled out a photo album and sat on her bed to look thru it. Wondering what this year would be like if she did not go back to Salem to finish her N.E.W.T.S. She wandered outside to where she finely found her mom working in the potions garden.

"Mom can I talk to you what would you say if I said I did not want to go back to school and to stay here and help with dad and do all my studies at home?" Kandi asked as she and her mom sat down on her bed.

"It is up to you sweet heart it is up to you. I think your dad would rather you go to school and not worry about him. But I think you should follow your heart I will say this that means you have to tell Addie and everyone, plus you have to bring home Shadow Star and Moon Rise back here. Have you heard anything from Addie?" her mom says just as Kane arrives back with a letter from Addie.

Kandi,Aug '

I don't even know how to begin…it seems like it has been years since I was pulled aside during owl' graduation. I think even then I knew that one of my worst fears had come true. I am so sorry that I haven't written yet and to tell the truth I haven't done much but study even though I think at this point I've merely been staring at the same page for weeks now. I'm sitting in my quarters at the Leaky Caldron right now as I write, no I'm not staying at the house but there is a reason…you see I got sick of coming downstairs every morning to an empty house…you see…Dad's…well…gone…forever. If you haven't been following the news from over here you would know that Death Eaters broke into the ministry of Magic and well in the ensuing battle much was destroyed including the notion that Voldemort was not back, and Dad was hit with the killing curse. {I'm including a Daily Prophet so you can get the details…I'd rather not go into them} So now I am once more an orphan. Kretcher has been sent to Hogwarts and I will be following soon as it turns out that despite everything Dad appointed Dumbledore as my guardian...and well now for more news…I won't be returning to go to college in Salem. Dumbledore insists that I finish my education in England and being as here in England I technically don't turn of age for another year I must obey. (for now anyway) I am leaving for Hogsmead tomorrow I think…I will be spending the rest of my summer holidays there. The upside to that is he has talked with Madam Pomfery and is working it out so that I can assist her and learn from her in my spare time this year. The thought of not sitting next to my best friend and cousin this semester is almost the straw that broke the camel's back but I'm trying to be thankful for what I do have and focus on the positive. I went shopping for school clothes today and let me tell you…I finally understand what Madam Holmes was talking about when she would tell us we should be thankful about our uniforms when we would complain. Hogwarts uniforms are DREADFUL! Besides all of this the thought of being sorted again but this time where I am placed has so many more far reaching cause and effect scenarios that I feel fairly dizzy just thinking about it. I am so curious to meet the people behind the stories that Dad told me. I saw aunt Narcissa and Draco from a distance today as they passed the bookstore. I disagree with my dad's assessment that she is ugly…I think that she could be beautiful only she looks like…well she's constantly in pain and then there was Draco…um wow…totally…just looks like he'd smelled something foul at birth and couldn't get over it despite being incredibly handsome. I did however do something fun yesterday well…I think you'd approve it over my normal idea of fun…no you would be proud I didn't buy a new book…I bought a new BROOM! I know, I know my nimbulus 2001 was still in great condition but the Flamer 2900 that was in the display was WAY too tempting, besides I didn't even have a real birthday this year. I spent my birthday alone with Kretcher oh and a few of my fathers and Dumbledore's friends dropped in but no one even knew or at least they didn't mention it. I don't know if I will ever play quidditch again but the freedom of flying is worth a broom. {And we know how much of a speed demon I am…do you remember the muggle driving lessons…} but it's weird I know I can't explain it..oh well… I think I've cried myself to sleep every night since I came to England. Give my love to the family, and thanks for Hershey. There is someone knocking on the door so I should probably just send this and go down and eat dinner. (The pea soup is Dangerous…do NOT eat it Ever)

Gerr and Frustration

ASB

{Addy's point of view}

I quickly blotted and sealed her letter, giving the finished envelope to Kane. "I know you are tired Kane, but do you feel up to another quick trip across the Atlantic?" Kane gently nibbled my nose to show that she was more than willing to return home. "Thanks Kane I don't know what I would do without you, Careful now…and don't let anyone see that but Kandi, Okay?" In answer Kane swiftly flew out the open window and disappeared from sight. Crossing the room with an impatient "I'm coming" I opened the door to find Tonks at my door.

"What are you doing here tonight? I thought we weren't leaving till tomorrow?" "Dumbledore changed his mind, it seems Aunt Narcissa noticed you in town today and has been asking around about you and about who you were." I could feel the color drain from my face, "Are you sure? But Tonks …They are family" Tonks shook her head "We're catching the Knight bus tonight Addy, can you be packed in 20 minutes?" "20 minutes" I murmured and looked around the immaculate room, looked back at Tonks, winked "um Tonks I can be ready in 10. Oh wait, I'm supposed to be picking up my robes tomorrow from madam Balkins before I leave." "That's easy we can have her send them to the school for you" I scrambled around the room gathering the potions book and her spare parchment and quill from the table and deftly put them away in her school satchel. "I just need to brush my teeth and check under the bed to make sure I didn't leave anything out of my trunk, and we can go."

Tonks pointed to the slim wand on the bedside table "Whotcher don't forget your wand" I looked up in surprise "Oh…right…wand, sorry I'm not used to having to carry it everywhere. I …uh...think living in the states has made me sort' a lacks about security. 'Constant Vigilance'" we looked at each other and grinned as we quoted Moody. Tonks paced the room waiting for me to finish my packing and preparing for our journey. "Will I need a jacket? Or is it actually warm out?" "Take the jacket, even if you're not really cold you can pull the hood over your head." Grimacing I rolled my eyes at this "Surely Dumbledore doesn't think that they have any idea of contacting me…I mean they killed Sirius." "Even so Addy, we need to get you to Hogwarts without anyone noticing you" Tonks opened the door and motioned me out ahead of her. "I'll grab your trunk if you grab the bags" As we walked down the stairs and out the front door into the dark muggle lantern lit street I noticed several pairs of eyes following our movements. "Um, so Tonks, uh how do you call the bus again?" I asked nervously. "Like this" and as Tonks spoke she lifted her wand into the air and stepped up to the curb. Out of seemingly nowhere the bus appeared.

A gangly, pimply youth stared wide eyed at me, seeming to forget that there was another person waiting he scrambled nervously to help me with the bags I was carrying. "Where too Miss?" he stuttered as if he was hoping that it wasn't very far. Tonks pushed her way in between us and replied "Hogsmead, and as I see your not very busy tonight I think you could hurry up a bit if you know what I mean" with a knowing look. "That'll be 11 sickles each" Quickly she handed him the money and as if simply being around us was dangerous the lad hurried away. "Look Addy, let's just pretend to sleep until we get there okay? I don't want anyone to …" Tonks voice was lost over the sound of the bus starting up. I rolled my eyes but nodded and rolled over into the bed. Staring at the back of the bus I blinked back tears as I remembered her father's favorite story about the Knight bus. Shaking my head I wiped the picture from my mind and focused on my favorite poem to calm myself down. As I was looking at my teary reflection in the windows of the bus I noticed a hooded figure that was vaguely familiar. Quickly I focused on my poem again and drowned all else out of memory, I can't risk someone hearing the thoughts that were behind these tears. I was so focused that I acted defensively when Tonks shook me to tell me that we had arrived at Hogsmead. "Ooops, sorry Tonks", I leaned over to help Tonks stand to her feet a moment later. I could feel my face turning crimson; it was a natural thing for me to blush at any little thing lately. "s'kay, I should have been more careful."

As we unloaded my bags and trunk off the bus I felt a pair of eyes following my every move. Focusing on the poem I climbed off the bus with my satchel and stood next to the pile of luggage wondering how in the world we would get all of this up to the school by ourselves. "ah, right on schedule" Tonks said as a carriage pulled into view………..