MOK: (looks around) yeah she isn't around... good now I can update quietly. Any way as you know I don't own anything in this story except for Amber and her owl that's all. Now on with the story Enjoy!
The morning of the day before break was over Madame Pomfrey checked Hermione and I. She said that we could leave but still needed to take it easy. Things were still sore but nothing we couldn't handle. Later that evening all the Gryffindors that had stayed for Christmas were in the common room. Harry and Ron were playing chess, while Ron's twin brothers were trying to get Seamus to eat something. Dean and Ginny were talking while Hermione was reading a book sitting next to me on the couch, Neville was on the other side of me. I was reading the history book, I had gotten from McGonagall, to Neville.
"Hermione what are you reading?" Harry asked as he leaned on her shoulders. He was taking a break from losing to Ron, Dean had taken Harry's spot in trying to beat Ron.
"Nothing," Hermione said as she started to mutter something under her breath.
"The reunited companions started on their way once more, with the fiery red haired sorceress in the lead." No sooner had I said that then a bright light flashed blinding everyone. Once we were able to see again, a young short woman with long wavy fiery red hair stood in front of Harry, Hermione, Neville and me. She was wearing a long black cape, with shoulder pads on top decorated with gems. She had big round golden earrings and a black head band that her bangs mostly covered. Her pants and most of her top were red except for the part that went across her chest was yellow. A gray trim around the top. Gray gloves came up to her elbows with bracelets and gray boots. Lastly she was wearing a belt with a sword attached to it. We were all speechless. Who was she?
"What?! How?" the woman stuttered out just as the portrait door opened.
"Miss Weasley turn around I need to talk to you all," McGonagall stated as she walked in. The woman in front of us froze like a statue.
"Professor McGonagall I'm over here," Ginny said timidly rising her hand. McGonagall looked at her then back to the red head. McGonagall's eyes went huge. The red head slowly turned.
"AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" they both screamed then the red head ran behind Harry.
"Lina!?!?"
"Protect me please... dang where's Gourry when you need him," she said to Harry as she had an iron grip on the back of his robes.
"Lina Inverse come here now!" McGonagall said sternly.
"Um… I think I'd rather face Hellmaster Phibrizzo again," she whispered. Hermione, Harry and I just looked at each other all asking the same question, "Hellmaster Phibrizzo? Who is that?"
"Lina now!" McGonagall said startling us all.
"But sis…" Lina whined.
"SIS?" we all questioned. McGonagall just glared at Lina, but was really glaring at Harry because she was behind him. McGonagall has a sister? I thought, I also could hear Hermione, Ron and Harry saying 'Don't know'. Slowly Lina moved out from behind Harry. Suddenly there was a pop.
"Ahhh! Xelloss how many times have I told you not to do that?" McGonagall said holding her hand over her heart. This gave Lina time to run, she left a trail of smoke up the stairs, but none of us were paying attention to her. Our attention was now on the new strange guy, who had just popped into the common room and was talking to McGonagall. He had purple hair, it was naturally that color too. He was also wearing a black cape and had a staff in his hand. His back was to us so we really couldn't see him to well.
"But if I stopped then it wouldn't be any fun," Xelloss said.
"Go bug Peeves!" McGonagall said. Xelloss just smiled and shook his head. McGonagall growled and looked around the common room noticing that Lina was no longer there. At this time Xelloss turned to us. He looked at Hermione, Harry, and me before smiling brighter.
"Ah, Luna why didn't you tell me that they were your students?" Xelloss asked. "LUNA??" if we were confused before we were now really lost.
"You never asked," McGonagall growled at him then turned to us and said, "Alright we need to find Lina. Boys go check all the boy dormitories please, while Miss Granger, Miss Weasley and I will check the girls. Miss Lanobi go get Dumbledore," I just nodded and stood while the rest headed off to do what McGonagall told them to do. We were all quiet trying to understand what was going on. Xelloss decided to follow me as I walked through the portrait and headed for Dumbledore's office.
"Why are you following me?" I asked as we neared the dungeons.
"Now that's… a secret," he replied. I just got the feeling that I would be hearing that phrase a lot from him.
"Can you believe it? That blue rock guy just appearing out of nowhere like that in the common room almost taking Snape's head off." A voice filtered up to my ears from the dungeons.
"What happen? Snape glare at him, take points or give him detention?" I asked sarcastically.
"No, he did not you stupid muggle-loving mudblood Gryffindor," I heard this time recognizing the voice. Great it's my stupid cousin.
"Ahh do you mean I have been erased from your wish list like the rest of Gryffindor?" I asked hoping this time.
"Amber?" he questioned rushing up to me. "Are you feeling ok?" I hid behind Xelloss.
"I'm fine," I said then all but ran for it. I hadn't run far when I ran right into Dumbledore. "Oh professor I'm sorry. McGonagall…Ran into ummm…." I started but everything was just coming out in a jumble.
"Miss Lanobi, is everything alright?" he asked.
"No, sir," Xelloss said suddenly appearing next to me.
"Xelloss," Dumbledore said almost asking him to continue. I looked at Xelloss a little closer this time. He was wearing a black and tan outfit, with his eyes mostly closed.
"It's a sec…" Xelloss started.
"I don't think it is Xelloss not if little Lanobi is here looking for me," Dumbledore said smiling. Xelloss thought for a moment then looked at me. His eyes were opened and they were purple just like his hair. I was memorized by the shocking purple that they were. His eyes are beautiful. I thought. We stood in silence, Xelloss looking at me for a moment before I finally spoke.
"Um…a strange young woman named Lina…" I started when Dumbledore's smile brightened.
"Ahh…that is a problem."
"That is not all," Xelloss said, Dumbledore looked at him to continue. "The rest of them are here too."
"I'm sure that McGonagall is so thrilled. Come on Miss Lanobi you can tell me what happened on the way." He said as we walked back to the common room. I told him all that happened and as I finished Snape walked up with a blue, rock guy in a tan outfit also with a sword at his waist.
"YOU!" the blue guy yelled as he grabbed Xelloss. In doing so he knocked me out of the way. Pain flooded through me as the blue man yelled at Xelloss and I slumped to my knees. I held back a scream but I couldn't hold the tears in.
"Miss Lanobi are you alright?" Dumbledore asked helping me to my feet again.
"Oh dear Zelgadis I do believe that you have hurt that young lady," Xelloss said as Zelgadis held him against the wall. Zelgadis, the blue guy, growled at Xelloss before doing something I had never seen. He said something and Xelloss was a little burnt. I was in shock but I nodded to Dumbledore as Zelgadis just looked at me.
"Sorry my lady," he said, while Snape just glared at him.
"Snape would you please escort Mr. Zelgadis to my office. I do believe that we need to get Lanobi back and find the others. Xelloss please go find the other two," Dumbledore said as he gently pushed me towards the Gryffindor tower. As we reached the tower my pain hadn't gone away, in fact it was getting worse. Something had to be wrong.
"Let us in!" I hear Harry yell.
"NO! She's going kill me," I heard someone else reply. The argument continued as Dumbledore and I walked up the steps to the girls dormitories. Harry and Ron were pounding on the door, while McGonagall was behind them.
"Oh professor," she said as she spotted Dumbledore.
"WHAT THE!!!!??? WHO PUT THIS SPELL ON HER!?" we heard the girl cry.
"Lina what are you talking about?" McGonagall asked just as the door flew open to reveal the red head girl, Lina. Harry and Ron who had been leaning on the door were now flat on their faces. Hermione was on the floor curled up in pain. Hermione what's wrong? I asked her. All I got in response was Pain! Lina looked pissed.
"Miss Lina!" we heard a little voice call from behind us. McGonagall, Dumbledore and I turned to see Xelloss and a young girl who had purple/black hair and she was also wearing a tan outfit. She had pink bracelets that had a gem on them and around her neck as another pink collar with a blue gem in the middle.
"Amelia! Come here this problem is right up your alley," Lina told her.
"But Miss Lina, don't you…Oh I see," Amelia replied stepping up to Lina. They both looked at Hermione for a moment before Amelia held out her hands said some words. A bright white light surrounded Hermione then disappeared. Hermione was no longer in pain but was still curled up.
"Well done Amelia," Lina said.
"Well done Lina. None of us had even seen that spell, thank you," Dumbledore said kindly as Harry, Ron and I went to Hermione's side. Lina just jumped back a step, looking around her wildly.
"Come off it, I'm not going to kill you," McGonagall said.
"Are you sure of that Luna?" Xelloss taunted in McGonagall's ear.
"Bug off! Why we…even….you stupid…" McGonagall started but Dumbledore looked at her silencing her. Lina looked at this and was just a little shocked.
"Miss Lina what's going on? Where are we?" Amelia asked. Lina just shook her head.
"Not where, when," Dumbledore said.
"Xelloss if you…" Lina said stalking towards him.
"For once Lina it's not his fault" Dumbledore said then added. "If you will come with me everything will be explained. Oh yes Xelloss would you please get Gourry from the kitchens?" Xelloss smiled then disappeared. Dumbledore turned and started back down the stairs.
"Are you sure we can trust them Miss Lina?" Amelia asked.
"You better, if you know what's good for you," McGonagall growled.
"Yes," Lina said truing a little green as she also headed down the stairs with Amelia following.
"Are you alright Hermione?" I asked her as Harry helped her to her feet. She nodded and McGonagall was still in the doorway watching us.
"Out, Mr. Potter Weasley," McGonagall said. They both nodded and as they walked out they both looked one last look at us before McGonagall shut the door.
"Hermione what happened?" I asked as we sat on her bed.
"Ginny, McGonagall and I split up to look when I came in here the door shut and I saw Lina and she was scared. She scared me then I felt pain hit me. At first I though it was you but it just keep getting worse and worse. Lina was hiding behind your bed when Harry and Ron started pounding on the door."
"Then she saw the spell…oh my only really powerful witches can see spells." I said while Hermione just nodded.
"Well you know Luna is powerful herself you know," Xelloss said popping up right next to us.
"Ahh!" we both cried jumping away from him.
"What does that have to do with anything!" Hermione yelled at him.
"Family relations," he said as he disappeared.
"You know he is getting to be annoying," I muttered.
"Why thank you Lanobi," I heard his voice say. I looked around but no one was there. After a moment we just relaxed back on to the bed we were both deep in thought.
"Wonder what he meant by family relations?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"Didn't Lina call McGonagall sister?" I questioned. Hermione looked at me funny for a moment before turning her head.
"Aarrrggg….it's too late to be thinking. I'm going to bed," she said. I just smiled and walked over to my bed still pondering what had just happened.
The next morning as we walked down into the common room Harry and Ron along with Neville were looking at a note hanging on the wall.
"What's this all about?" I asked stifling a yawn.
"It's a notice talking about a contest that the muggle studies class is putting on. Every one in Hogwarts is encouraged to participate," Harry said smiling. It was a lip sync, sing-a-long contest.
"Alright I know what I'm going to do," I heard Ginny say as she ran out the portrait door. Hermione and I just looked at each other before we started heading for breakfast.
Harry and Ron met us there. Harry sat next to Hermione, while Ron sat next to me.
"Think your strong enough for the match against Ravenclaw in a few days?" Ron asked.
"Yes, by the way Harry please kick Cho's little butt," I replied.
"Don't worry, when it comes to Quidditch I'm no nice guy," Harry said smiling.
"Well that's for sure!" Ron replied as he stuffed toast in his mouth. We continued talking about everything until a shadow fell upon our table. We all turned expecting it to be my cousin.
"What do…" I said stopping when I saw it was the blue guy from the night before.
"Are you Amber Lanobi?" he asked roughly. I nodded. Who is this guy? I heard Harry and Hermione question.
"I wanted to apologize for last night. I did not mean to hurt you," he said.
"That is alright, you just hit a sore spot. I take it that you don't get along with Xelloss," I said.
"That is an," he started.
"Ahh come on Zelgadis am I that bad," Xelloss said popping right behind Harry causing Harry to jump along with startling the rest of us.
"Ahhh!!!" Ron and Harry said.
"Grr…Xelloss can't you go away?" Zelgadis said. Xelloss just smiled and shook his head.
"Xelloss remember the rules and what Dumbledore told you," we heard Snape say. Xelloss just looked at him before disappearing again. Zelgadis was about to say something when McGonagall tapped on her glass getting the attention of us all. Dumbledore stood and looked at the few of us that were there, the rest of the kids would be coming back that afternoon.
"I decided this could not wait. The rest of the students will be informed when they arrive. We have a few new teachers, I would like you to meet Zelgadis Graywards, Amelia, Gourry Gavbirea, and Lina Inverse. They will be teaching an hour of Defense Against the Dark Arts, starting tomorrow," Dumbledore said then sat down. Lina and a blond guy were loudly stuffing their faces at a near by table. Dang can they can eat a lot. I heard Hermione say. That and if they don't watch it they are going to eat the bowls and table too. I replied Hermione just smiled.
"You are going to be a teacher?" I asked stupidly. He just nodded before walking off. What an interesting guy. I thought. No kidding Hermione replied.
The rest of the day was normal we didn't do much other then wander around Hogwarts. All the students were back by dinner and Harry, Ron, Hermione and I were walking back to the tower when we walked past McGonagall's office only to hear two people talking.
"I don't care Zel and Amelia can teach I'll supervise."
"Honestly Lina," McGonagall sighing then said. "Find do what you want but for tonight you will be staying in the Gryffindor tower for the time being."
"Where the heck is that Luna?" Lina replied.
"Where you were last night." That is all we heard before we continued on to the common room.
"Wonder why Lina doesn't want to teach? Phoenix feather," Harry asked as we reached the portrait. We all shook our heads as we walked into the common room. Inside several of the students were talking and chatting while there were a few girls surrounding two guys. Neville and Dean were talking to the black/purple hair girl on the couch.
"I don't know how we got here. I was walking with Miss Lina when a bright light surrounded us. After the light faded I was facing a few students in a room. I just stayed there until Xelloss showed up," she told the boys.
"Um… are you Amelia?" Hermione asked her as we walked up to them.
"Yes I am," Amelia replied as we sat on and around the couch.
"Well I just wanted to thank you," Hermione said.
"Not a problem," she said as Zelgadis and another guy that had blond hair walked up to us.
"May I ask why you were sore?" Zelgadis asked as he sat next to us.
"Oh that," I said.
"She saved Hermione's life," Harry said smiling.
"How?" the blond asked.
"This guy was beating the crud out of her, I tried to stop him," I said.
"HUH????" the whole tower turned to us.
"Who, what, when, where?" came form all directions.
We spent the next few moment telling what happened over Christmas break, with Viktor.
"I don't believe he would do that," Lavender said stubbornly.
"Believe it," Harry, Ron, Hermione and I said.
"What a jerk," Zelgadis said with a deadly glint in his eyes.
"Even I'm not that stupid," the blond said.
"No kidding Gurroy. This is unjust. If I ever get my hands on him…" Amelia started as the rest of the kids just started going off to do their own things or to bed. Hermione was sitting in front of Harry and leaning against him as we listened to Amelia go off on the injustice of Viktor attacking Hermione.
"Oooo…looks like someone is getting a little cuddly," Parvait said to Hermione.
"Were just friends," Harry and Hermione said.
She stopped but Ginny just started in on them. "Yeah just what will your girlfriend Cho will say about this."
"What girlfriend?" Harry, Hermione, and I asked.
"HUH?" all of the Gryffindors yelled, including Ron. They didn't get an answer from us because McGonagall and Lina walked in.
"Lina!" Gourry said running up to her.
"There you are," Zelgadis said.
"Miss Lina," Amelia said also greeting her.
"Hey guys," she replied.
"Now, Mr. Potter, Weasley would you please show Zelgadis and Gourry to your room and Mrs. Granger, Lanobi take Lina and Amelia to your rooms." We nodded saying that we would. "Now Lina remember what we talked about," McGonagall said.
"Yes sis," Lina replied.
"Huh?" this time I finally figured it out. "Wait a minute that is what Xelloss meant! Your sisters. But how can that be??" I asked more then slightly confused.
"Long story. To make things simple I am Lina's older sister," McGonagall said before turning and leaving, not explaining a thing.
"I don't believe I missed that!" Hermione said. Hehe…maybe because you were thinking of someone else? I asked her. Hermione glared at me, I just gave her 'I'm innocent look'.
"That's your sister Lina?" her other three companies questioned. Lina just nodded.
"She doesn't seem that bad," Amelia said. Lina just gave the young girl a look. By this time the common room was mostly empty. We talked for a moment before heading up to our rooms. Lina and Amelia took my bed while I shared a bed with Hermione.
"Humm…maybe Hagrid was right in naming you 'cuddles'. Cuddling up to Harry like that,"' I mentally teased Hermione. It was useful have a connection at least once we had figured it out. We were playing a quick couple of games of speed before we went to bed.
"We are just friends. Just best friends that's all," Hermione told me back.
"Well you know what they say, that you marry your best friend," I told her smiling as I dealt.
"Amber!" she said and I could see the blush creep into her checks.
"So you do like…" I started but Hermione glared at me I just smiled and had my answer. Hey why don't we enter that contest.
"No way!" she replied.
"What afraid of what Harry might say?"
"Amber…" she paused for a second before continuing. "Alright if you win this next hand I will but only if you lay off on the teasing."
"Deal" I said as we started in on the last game of speed.
I won by one card. Hermione just looked at me then sighed as I put the cards away.
"Do you have a song in mind?" She asked me.
"Tell you tomorrow," I told her as I rolled over to go to sleep.
"Fine, but remember the deal."
"Don't worry I'll lay off the teasing," I said falling asleep.
MOK: I apologize for errors as I did not have time to check it over. Any way I hope you enjoyed it.