D: Long wait again sorry! This was my chapter to write but I've been really busy re-reading Harry Potter books :)
I LOVE THEM!
Next chapter won't be mine so I don't know how long it will take but probably less time than mine. She's a good fanficer. Me? Not so much xD
I shall beat her for a new chapter :)
DISCLAIMER: HP isn't mine! :(
The grounds were very empty when Harry took his first steps into the blistering sun. The warm, toasty feeling spread to his toes and dispite his anxiety ball in his stomach he felt content enough to enjoy the suns caress on his cheek.
He had left the castle by the Entrance Hall and turned off to go down the stairs towards the boathouse, he knew that if he followed this path it would lead him right back here again; leaving him enough time to think but not enough so that he would be late coming back inside. He wouldn't want to be locked out of the castle all night!
Setting off he let himself be absorbed by his thoughts. He was worried about this new mysterious figure that appeared to have links to Voldemort and had a plan that involved him; these plans usually involved near death experiances which he wasn't too fond of. They also meant that the people around his got hurt which he could not allow to happen.
He was unsure of how to approach this new problem, should he run straight to Dumbledore like a little school kid or should he act the tough guy, find the person and confront them? The second option didn't seem like a good idea, even the sound of her voice had crept him out enough to know she wasn't someone to mess with. Besides any dark matters should be told to the head, he would have to inform Dumbledore or McGonnagal at the next chance he got. They would probably want proof but Harry was sure Ron wouldn't mind giving his account of the event.
One problem half sorted, but this girl...
She was odd, beautiful, powerful and more importantly mesmerising. Harry wanted to know about her, not to date her or anything (she seemed a little stuck up to him) but curiosity was getting the better of him. He didn't even know her full name. All he knew was that her last name was the same as his which only deepened his want to know more about the mysterious girl.
Ron had said she talked to Slytherins more than Gryiffindors which was very odd as the two houses were the largest rivals in the school, students only looked at the others to insult them and never were friends with them. It just wasn't done! Harry was confused as to why she would do this when it was common knowledge... however she had been sorted now rather than at eleven like everyone else. She was in the same classes as him so must be the same age; he doubted he would ever reach the bottom of this mystery.
With a sigh Harry looked out at the Black Lake and watched as the Giant Squid bobbed on the top of the water like a sponge in a bath, soaking up the sun rays contently. He stood and watched it for a few minutes before realising he could hear a voice coming from inside the boathouse. It sounded like a conversation, Harry froze feeling awkward. He knew that some of the seventh years sometimes brought their girlfriends down here, he didn't to walk in on anything like that!
He was turning to go back the way he came when he realised that there was only one person actually talking, a familiar girls voice was floating out into the air as though she was having a conversation with an invisible person- or was talking on a phone. But phones didnt work in Hogwarts, there was too much magic.
Curiosity pricked he creeped to the wall and slid along it to the door where he poked his head around to see what was going on.
It was that girl Natalie, she had he back to him with one hand on her hip and the other pressing something into her ear, what exactly he couldn't tell at the angle he was at.
"...Please, just look for him" she was saying her voice tense "... I know you're busy but this is really important and I need you both to- well of course both of you! We're a team and... No! Stop making this more awkward that it already is, you know I can't leave now. There's no telling what they'll do to each other..."
Harry had no idea what she was talking about, who to or how. Perhaps she'd gone mad or something? What other explanation was there?
"... Theodore please just look for him," she hissed shaking her head, her long blond hair twisting in the air behind her. "I know its been a long time for us all but a new set could bring us back together again. We could stop all these petty arguements and act our age for once..."
The person she was talking to this Theodore, appeared to think about his answer as the pause was huge. Harry was confused by the conversations meaning; who were they talking about? And what 'set' did she mean? His heart beat in his chest loudly, he was unsure why but he felt this conversation was one he shouldn't be hearing.
"Thank you Theo" he must have relented in the arguement and agreed to find the person in question. "... Don't worry, I think by now I can tell if someone is Bound or not. Trust me all the signs have been showing up it's just a matter of time now. I just hope they hurry up then the hard part will be over and the real thing will begin."
"Anyway," she said turning around. Harry dodged just in time behind the wall so he wouldn't be seen, he had although caught a vague impression of a muggle COM system hooked onto her ear. "I'm going to have to go back up to the castle now, I have work to do and I promised Dumbledore I would see him about The Room before the end of the day. Goodbye!"
The conversation was cut short with a simple click of a button, Harry stayed in the position he had been stood in; frozen against the wall. He prayed she would not walk this way back up to the castle but it appeared she didn't want to leave yet. Poking his head secretly around the side of the boat house he found her back was once again facing him as she stared out onto the lake.
He wanted very much to turn back, he didn't want to risk being spotted evesdropping but he was more curious than ever now; he had another mystery on his hands! He'd only been back at Hogwarts for a few months but already he had an unknown girl who seemed to hate him, a agent of Voldemort trying to kill him and this other girl, Natalie seemed to be harbouring secrets.
Perhaps they were all linked?
He must have moved or something because suddenly Natalie's attention turned to him, she looked a little shocked to see him standing there obviously spying on her but she took it quite well.
"Harry?" she said confused "How long have you been stood there?"
He noticed her hand dart up to her ear feigning a casual brush through her long locks but infact she was removing the COM. It was unlike any he had seen before, it seemed to glow with a light that only dimmed as it was placed in her pocket.
He pretended he hadn't seen as smiled although it felt awkward on his lips.
"Not long" he assured her "I thought I saw someone and I didn't want to walk in on them and find out they were a Slytherin. I would have ended up in the lake."
She seemed relieved.
"Oh right" she said breathlessly, gazing at him with a smile that looked about as forced as Harrys. He guessed she didn't fully believed him, but she quickly changed the subject "What are you doing down here anyway? Taking a walk?"
He nodded.
"Yeah I needed to clear my head" there was no point in telling a lie here, Natalie was trustworthy whatever her secret may be. She didn't like the unnamed girl very much if what he recalled was true, perhaps they were on the same side?
"Fancy walking with me for a bit? I could do with someone to talk to"
Harry surprised himself by agreeing straight away. He had wanted to take the walk alone but the promise of company wasn't unwelcome, besides he could try to ween information out of her if he needed. She grinned and led the way towards the path that people rarely used behind the boat houses, it was long and rocky but lead back to the entrance hall eventually.
They fell into step next to each other and were silent for a long time until Harry spoke up.
"So you're related to Dumbledore?"
"Yes I am" she replied "You remembered! I'm his great niece, but its a distant relation so I really shouldn't brag."
"And what are you doing at Hogwarts?"
"Funny you should ask actually" she said, was he imagining it but was there a slightly off sound to her voice? "I'm waiting for a job opening, I was told that there would be one available soon but it doesn't seem to be the case."
She sighed.
"I guess these things take a while to sort out."
"Wait a second" Harry said stopping in his tracks to look her up and down "A job? But aren't you the same age as me?"
Natalie laughed at his dumbstruck expression.
"No but don't feel bad I get that assumption a lot" she said continuing walking so he had to follow, their pace was slower than before as they got into conversation "It's because I'm petie. I'm eighteen years old actually, I've wanted to work in a school for some time so I pulled a few strings and wounded up here."
"Oh right," Harry said unsure how he should answer, he had thought she was a student but now her appearance at the top table made sense. She was training to be a teacher; he made a mental note to tell Hermione, she had been ranting about rules ever since she'd seen her sat next to Proffessor Dumbledore at the feast.
"Anyway enough about me," she said turning to smile at him. "What about you?"
"Everyone knows all about me," he scoffed before he could stop himself. It was true, he doubted there wasn't a wizard somewhere in this world who hadn't heard about him. Even those from Muggle families found out soon enough. He was surprised to find a small scowl appear on Natalie's face.
"I know about you, but I don't know you," she said crossly "I don't want to hear some tales about a person to understand them, I want to hear it from their own mouth. Don't live along a guideline others have set out for you Harry, you're too nice of a person for that."
He was stunned, what was he meant to say to that? He had never been asked to talk about himself, mostly people looked at him and made assumptions. Shakily he began to tell her about life as a Gryffindor, about Ron and Hermione and holidays at the Burrow. He mentioned breifly his life with the Dursleys and talked about the teachers. Natalie listened patiently and made comments in all the right places, her kindness encouraged him to tell her more; about the adventures he had had being here and before he knew it he was on the subject of the Unnamed girl that appeared to hate his very exsistance.
"I'm not quite sure what I've done to offend her" he grumbled after telling her about the other day in the common room. The two of them were walking through the courtyard where the Slytherins usually hung around but at the moment it was blissfully empty, probably because it was quite late in the day and most people were returning to their common rooms before the school doors closed.
"Don't take it personally Harry," Natalie said with a sigh, she patted him on the arm "That girls not a very nice sort. Likes to have everyone do what she wants all the time, used to special treatment. But she'll get hers one day trust me."
She said it with such certainty and conviction he couldn't help but believe her, but a nagging thought still pestered to be voiced in the back of his head.
"Her last name is Potter," Harry muttered "and- well she looks really similar to my mum. Do you think it's possible we're related? That I have relatives other than the Dursleys."
She stopped in her tracks so fast that he had walked on and had to turn to look at her. She seemed to be thinking about it.
"Potter is quite a common name" she said slowly, again there was a slight off sound to her voice, "and your mum was muggle born right? So she would have had no other magical relatives?"
Harry hadn't considered that, some part of him had forgotten that Lily Evans had been born from two Muggle parents.
"So you think it's just a coincidence?" he asked. Natalie nodded.
"Definately," she said quickly "what other explanation could there be?"
He had to admit he didn't know. They had arrived back at the entrance hall now and they entered together in silence, only broken by Natalie who excused herself to go and see Dumbledore.
"Night Harry" she said cheerfully running off up the stairs her hair waving madly behind her with each step, she seemed pleased to leave. He watched her go recalling the conversation he had overheard, why hadn't he asked about it? Now she had gone it was all he could think of.
Somehow he couldn't shake the feeling that all these strange goings on at Hogwarts were interlinked and that he, Harry was once again at the centre of it all.
ARGH even I don't know what happens next :(
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Thank you for reading :) x
