To Just Silver :0) hehe Harry will never be y fave im afraid its Malfoys forever !
The boy, Harry, seemed to be doing more than a little magic. It should have shocked her, or at least alarmed her but it didn't. The moment she'd touched him she'd felt something within her click into place. Not romantically, any woman interested in him romantically was going to get a terrible shock, but as if she had finally come home, tingling warmth had rushed through her system like lightning.
She looked up, suddenly as the bus stopped, a lake was spread out the late morning sun and above it, perched on what seemed to be a cliff was a huge castle. The conductor was talking to Harry.
"I know you've got a pass, but what about her?"
Harry sighed, it sounded as if he was being sincerely put upon.
"How much?"
The conductor smiled, it wasn't a particularly friendly smile but it was perhaps more friendly than the last ex juvie thirteen year old they had had at 'The House' she felt her entire body tense but the man just laughed.
"20 Sickles 3 Knuts"
She blinked twice, but the look on Harry's face was appreciative as he dipped into his pocket.
"Do you people have built in radar for how much ready cash someone's got on him?"
The conductor laughed again but raised his arm to point at the sign above the drivers booth. She followed the pointing finger and almost laughed at what was said.
'The fare is never more than you can afford. But always more than you want to pay'
The moment Harry had poured the last of the coins into the drivers hands, the door clicked open, Harry and the man exchanged what sounded like pleasant insults before they climbed off of the bus, when it had vanished Harry seemed to be struck by a thought.
"Was anyone expecting you? Back from the exam?"
She thought of the warders, the constant stream of unfamiliar children, as shifting as the dreams she had, and then of the feeling the vision Harry had given her and shook her head.
"No one important"
For a second real understanding flashed into his eyes, as if he knew exactly what she was going through and then he half laughed before beginning the walk up to the school gates.
"Another one to add to the Hogwarts collection of waifs and strays"
"Hogwarts?"
His face was perturbed for a moment and then it cleared.
"I forgot, Muggle bred, this is Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the most famous school of its kind, ever"
She looked up at the imposing castle and almost smiled, he was so proud of the school, as if he was a part of it. It must feel nice to belong, to somewhere, to someone. The sun flashed suddenly on one of the castle windows and she had a sudden intuitive flash.
"Déjà vu"
Harry's eyes shifted from the road to her, before he reached out as if to steady her, she flinched back, but smiled to counter the affect, he frowned but spoke anyway.
"Déjà vu? Why?"
Her head cocked to one side, he didn't understand, she looked up at the castle again she got the same flash, as if she'd walked this route before and there was someone beside her. She craned her neck, knowing it was useless, she always got the same thing, that same laughing flash of eyes. Harry was beside her now his mouth open as if to ask, she raised her hand to forestall him.
"I feel as if I've walked this road before with someone else, its one of my, my dreams"
To her surprise he smiled.
"You have true visions, I thought so"
That this could be accepted here was somehow beyond her comprehension, but then it was magic, and magic existed. It was so close to the impossible that it skirted along the bounds of possibility. No wonder they'd managed to keep it secret, no one would believe it.
As they walked closer to the lake shore Harry groaned, she looked up, silhouetted on the path were two women, one taller than she and the other shorter, the shorter girls hair caught silver flame in the sun light. Her entire body tensed and she went for the knife but Harry stopped her his hand hovering just over her arm.
"They're friends, but I could be in for a thundering scold"
Thundering scold sounded like something out of a gothic romance, she laughed the first rich pure sound she had produced.
"I'm sure you deserve it"
***
Ama had been fretting all night and well past the dawn, when Hermoine had come into the deserted common room almost boiling over with fury, she had been relived, anything to keep her Drake out of her head. Obsessing was bad for you, she had been told that over and over again, but she couldn't help herself.
Before he had left he had been on the retreat, as if the years of separation had let him forget the intensity of the bond they shared. He didn't want her in his head, and he didn't want her around him when he was in classes, so she'd let him go his own way, perhaps it was a mistake?
Hermoine was going on and on about Harry's disappearance, she read the note and summoned a reassuring smile.
"He'll be fine, he's all grown up now"
Unlike a certain Malfoy I could mention, the problem with the spell bond they shared was that she couldn't be angry with him, she could feel the fact that he was confused, hurting inside in some way. So all she could do was wrap her end of the bond in steel and try to ignore it all. Hermoine was staring at her, she had been for a little while now, it just hadn't registered.
"Stop it Ama"
She felt both of her eyebrows go up in surprise, but Hermoine beat her to the punchline.
"And don't say, 'stop what?' I want you to stop moping about Malfoy. Its going to start showing soon and we don't want you to humiliate yourself that way"
So it had become obvious, it was a shame, she used to be able to hide anything, and then these annoying people had walked into her life.
"You can't hide it when your dying inside"
The quote seemed appropriate, although perhaps a little melodramatic, Hermoines eyes flashed and then a look that seemed to compound pity and understanding appeared in them.
"Lets go for a walk, fresh air will do you, and me, good. Stop us thinking about the useless men in our lives"
She had to smile, Hermoines sarcastic humour was a source of delight when you could get her out of study mode to use it. With a nod she stood up and motioned Hermoine to proceed out of the Gryffindor common room.
They left the room in silence and hadn't spoken again until half way around the lake Hermoine spoke.
"Well look what the cat dragged in"
Harry was coming up the path with a girl beside him, they were about the same height but there the similarities ended, the girl was curvaceous in the extreme and her eyes were a deep crystal green, she was dressed as Harry was in black, except for the bright denim blue of her jacket.
He looked up and a brief look of dismay registered on his face before he murmured something which caused the girl to laugh, a sound as rich and curved as the rest of her, then they both came up the path together.
Hermoine was the first one to find her tongue,
"Harry James Potter, where have you been?!"
She choked back a laugh and placed her hand on Hermoines arm.
"I think that's obvious 'Moine"
Turning she faced the girl, seeing instantly the abstraction in her eyes, she'd seen it somewhere else, Cassiopeia, the heir was a seer, which was most probably a good thing. She let a smile slip onto her face softening her face.
"I'm Amaris, please, just ignore these two, they're old friends and sometimes forget that the rest of us have manners"
The girl didn't smile, but her eyes lightened to amusement, she had the idea that this girl didn't smile often.
"I'm Miriam Salezer, who has been dragged here for no fixed reason, I don't suppose you know the man who's going to explain"
She looked at Hermoine who was thoroughly berating Harry and sighed.
"Your probably going to end up with Dumbledore, the headmaster and infernal busy body"
It sounded biased so she thought explanations could be in order.
"He and I don't get on, I think its familial prejudice"
To her surprise despite her lame attempt at a joke Miriam looked slightly saddened.
"Its good that you have a family"
That started her into a laugh.
"Hasn't he told you anything at all?"
For a moment confusion stared back at her, only the sound of the pair squabbling and the cry of the mythical beasts at Hagrids cottage disturbing the stillness, then comprehension dawned.
"The Hogwarts waifs and strays?"
Trust Harry to manage to put it into succinct terms.
"Exactly, Harry has no family, my father killed them in a fit of pique when we were about two years old"
Shock showed just for a moment in Miriam's green eyes, she wondered if the girl knew how expressive those eyes were when the rest of her was so purposely blank, the she seemed to recover herself.
"And you two are friends?"
There were myriad questions within that question, how can he be your friend after what your father did, why does he like you ?is he really that forgiving? It was Harry that answered, not surprising considering his talent for being in the right place at the right time.
"Of course, Ama is one of the gang, although she insists on bringing that obnoxious…."
She put up her hand then, feeling the defensive heat starting, beyond her control, it was too close, she needed to stay calm. It was Miriam who made the observation.
"Is it me, or did it just get warmer around here?"
Her eyes flicked closed and she counted against the darkness, but it was Harry who spoke.
"He's not back yet, is he?"
No he's not back she wanted to be nasty, cruel in the extreme, but with Harry it was impossible he'd just take it in and understand, which was damning when you wanted to say something unforgivable. She opened her eyes and looked at Miriam's uncomprehending face, and realised there was a way to take out her pique, she reached out and touched her face.
The boy, Harry, seemed to be doing more than a little magic. It should have shocked her, or at least alarmed her but it didn't. The moment she'd touched him she'd felt something within her click into place. Not romantically, any woman interested in him romantically was going to get a terrible shock, but as if she had finally come home, tingling warmth had rushed through her system like lightning.
She looked up, suddenly as the bus stopped, a lake was spread out the late morning sun and above it, perched on what seemed to be a cliff was a huge castle. The conductor was talking to Harry.
"I know you've got a pass, but what about her?"
Harry sighed, it sounded as if he was being sincerely put upon.
"How much?"
The conductor smiled, it wasn't a particularly friendly smile but it was perhaps more friendly than the last ex juvie thirteen year old they had had at 'The House' she felt her entire body tense but the man just laughed.
"20 Sickles 3 Knuts"
She blinked twice, but the look on Harry's face was appreciative as he dipped into his pocket.
"Do you people have built in radar for how much ready cash someone's got on him?"
The conductor laughed again but raised his arm to point at the sign above the drivers booth. She followed the pointing finger and almost laughed at what was said.
'The fare is never more than you can afford. But always more than you want to pay'
The moment Harry had poured the last of the coins into the drivers hands, the door clicked open, Harry and the man exchanged what sounded like pleasant insults before they climbed off of the bus, when it had vanished Harry seemed to be struck by a thought.
"Was anyone expecting you? Back from the exam?"
She thought of the warders, the constant stream of unfamiliar children, as shifting as the dreams she had, and then of the feeling the vision Harry had given her and shook her head.
"No one important"
For a second real understanding flashed into his eyes, as if he knew exactly what she was going through and then he half laughed before beginning the walk up to the school gates.
"Another one to add to the Hogwarts collection of waifs and strays"
"Hogwarts?"
His face was perturbed for a moment and then it cleared.
"I forgot, Muggle bred, this is Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the most famous school of its kind, ever"
She looked up at the imposing castle and almost smiled, he was so proud of the school, as if he was a part of it. It must feel nice to belong, to somewhere, to someone. The sun flashed suddenly on one of the castle windows and she had a sudden intuitive flash.
"Déjà vu"
Harry's eyes shifted from the road to her, before he reached out as if to steady her, she flinched back, but smiled to counter the affect, he frowned but spoke anyway.
"Déjà vu? Why?"
Her head cocked to one side, he didn't understand, she looked up at the castle again she got the same flash, as if she'd walked this route before and there was someone beside her. She craned her neck, knowing it was useless, she always got the same thing, that same laughing flash of eyes. Harry was beside her now his mouth open as if to ask, she raised her hand to forestall him.
"I feel as if I've walked this road before with someone else, its one of my, my dreams"
To her surprise he smiled.
"You have true visions, I thought so"
That this could be accepted here was somehow beyond her comprehension, but then it was magic, and magic existed. It was so close to the impossible that it skirted along the bounds of possibility. No wonder they'd managed to keep it secret, no one would believe it.
As they walked closer to the lake shore Harry groaned, she looked up, silhouetted on the path were two women, one taller than she and the other shorter, the shorter girls hair caught silver flame in the sun light. Her entire body tensed and she went for the knife but Harry stopped her his hand hovering just over her arm.
"They're friends, but I could be in for a thundering scold"
Thundering scold sounded like something out of a gothic romance, she laughed the first rich pure sound she had produced.
"I'm sure you deserve it"
***
Ama had been fretting all night and well past the dawn, when Hermoine had come into the deserted common room almost boiling over with fury, she had been relived, anything to keep her Drake out of her head. Obsessing was bad for you, she had been told that over and over again, but she couldn't help herself.
Before he had left he had been on the retreat, as if the years of separation had let him forget the intensity of the bond they shared. He didn't want her in his head, and he didn't want her around him when he was in classes, so she'd let him go his own way, perhaps it was a mistake?
Hermoine was going on and on about Harry's disappearance, she read the note and summoned a reassuring smile.
"He'll be fine, he's all grown up now"
Unlike a certain Malfoy I could mention, the problem with the spell bond they shared was that she couldn't be angry with him, she could feel the fact that he was confused, hurting inside in some way. So all she could do was wrap her end of the bond in steel and try to ignore it all. Hermoine was staring at her, she had been for a little while now, it just hadn't registered.
"Stop it Ama"
She felt both of her eyebrows go up in surprise, but Hermoine beat her to the punchline.
"And don't say, 'stop what?' I want you to stop moping about Malfoy. Its going to start showing soon and we don't want you to humiliate yourself that way"
So it had become obvious, it was a shame, she used to be able to hide anything, and then these annoying people had walked into her life.
"You can't hide it when your dying inside"
The quote seemed appropriate, although perhaps a little melodramatic, Hermoines eyes flashed and then a look that seemed to compound pity and understanding appeared in them.
"Lets go for a walk, fresh air will do you, and me, good. Stop us thinking about the useless men in our lives"
She had to smile, Hermoines sarcastic humour was a source of delight when you could get her out of study mode to use it. With a nod she stood up and motioned Hermoine to proceed out of the Gryffindor common room.
They left the room in silence and hadn't spoken again until half way around the lake Hermoine spoke.
"Well look what the cat dragged in"
Harry was coming up the path with a girl beside him, they were about the same height but there the similarities ended, the girl was curvaceous in the extreme and her eyes were a deep crystal green, she was dressed as Harry was in black, except for the bright denim blue of her jacket.
He looked up and a brief look of dismay registered on his face before he murmured something which caused the girl to laugh, a sound as rich and curved as the rest of her, then they both came up the path together.
Hermoine was the first one to find her tongue,
"Harry James Potter, where have you been?!"
She choked back a laugh and placed her hand on Hermoines arm.
"I think that's obvious 'Moine"
Turning she faced the girl, seeing instantly the abstraction in her eyes, she'd seen it somewhere else, Cassiopeia, the heir was a seer, which was most probably a good thing. She let a smile slip onto her face softening her face.
"I'm Amaris, please, just ignore these two, they're old friends and sometimes forget that the rest of us have manners"
The girl didn't smile, but her eyes lightened to amusement, she had the idea that this girl didn't smile often.
"I'm Miriam Salezer, who has been dragged here for no fixed reason, I don't suppose you know the man who's going to explain"
She looked at Hermoine who was thoroughly berating Harry and sighed.
"Your probably going to end up with Dumbledore, the headmaster and infernal busy body"
It sounded biased so she thought explanations could be in order.
"He and I don't get on, I think its familial prejudice"
To her surprise despite her lame attempt at a joke Miriam looked slightly saddened.
"Its good that you have a family"
That started her into a laugh.
"Hasn't he told you anything at all?"
For a moment confusion stared back at her, only the sound of the pair squabbling and the cry of the mythical beasts at Hagrids cottage disturbing the stillness, then comprehension dawned.
"The Hogwarts waifs and strays?"
Trust Harry to manage to put it into succinct terms.
"Exactly, Harry has no family, my father killed them in a fit of pique when we were about two years old"
Shock showed just for a moment in Miriam's green eyes, she wondered if the girl knew how expressive those eyes were when the rest of her was so purposely blank, the she seemed to recover herself.
"And you two are friends?"
There were myriad questions within that question, how can he be your friend after what your father did, why does he like you ?is he really that forgiving? It was Harry that answered, not surprising considering his talent for being in the right place at the right time.
"Of course, Ama is one of the gang, although she insists on bringing that obnoxious…."
She put up her hand then, feeling the defensive heat starting, beyond her control, it was too close, she needed to stay calm. It was Miriam who made the observation.
"Is it me, or did it just get warmer around here?"
Her eyes flicked closed and she counted against the darkness, but it was Harry who spoke.
"He's not back yet, is he?"
No he's not back she wanted to be nasty, cruel in the extreme, but with Harry it was impossible he'd just take it in and understand, which was damning when you wanted to say something unforgivable. She opened her eyes and looked at Miriam's uncomprehending face, and realised there was a way to take out her pique, she reached out and touched her face.