Chapter 4

She Arrives… or Does She?

Winter break flew cleanly past, and on the day when everybody would return to Hogwarts, Harry was so jumpy that he could barely sleep the previous night. He assumed that she would have to be sorted by the Sorting Hat in the Great Hall during breakfast, so he hurried down there as quick as he could.

As he passed Professor Flitwick's office, he saw the door open and a tall girl with long black hair came out, looking dazed. Professor Snape stood by the door, watching her go, while Flitwick stood near the desk, wringing his hands.

"What's going on?" Harry asked. "Who was that?"

"It's a new student." Snape said briskly. "We were just giving her a tour of the building."

"Serevus…" Flitwick began, but Snape shot him an acid glare, and he shut up.

With question marks in his eyes, Harry went down to the Great Hall. After everybody was seated, Dumbledore clapped his hands for attention.

"Boys and girls, we have a new student with us for the second half of this year!"

Harry felt his stomach do figure-8's. He couldn't wait to meet her.

"Please welcome Jane Argyle!" Dumbledore continued, and the same girl that had exited Flitwick's office stood up.

Harry was more confused than ever. There was only one new student, and that wasn't Laura. Did Laura lie to him? Or was it really just a hallucination?

The Sorting Hat was brought out, and Jane slipped it on.

"Well hello there." The hat whispered. "I'm here to put you where you belong."

"And where is that?" Jane thought, nervously.

"Well, your magical ability, friendly nature, and carefree spirit clearly put you in… yes, it's no doubt you belong in Gryffindor. It will emotionally benefit you as well. So, Jane goes to GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry didn't know how to feel at the moment. While Jane was extremely pretty, he was sorely disappointed at not being able to meet Laura.

Jane was walking slowly towards the Gryffindor table, and took an empty seat next to Harry.

"Can I sit here?" she asked in a soft voice.

"Sure." He replied.

"This is such a magnificent place!" Jane said. "I've got so much to catch up on!"

"Were your parents Muggles?" Hermione asked.

"My mother was, but father was a great wizard. I don't remember him too well, though."

"You don't see him anymore?" Inquired Ron.

Jane just seemed to glaze over.

"I guess it's a touchy subject." Harry said quickly, coming to Jane's rescue.

Jane was eating, and then she looked up and saw Harry's scar.

"Hey, you're that Potter boy, aren't you?" she exclaimed.

Harry blushed. "That's me."

"I've heard so much about you! And you know what?" She leaned over and whispered, "You're as cute as you are popular."

Hermione didn't catch what was said, but Ron broke into a monster grin.

"Got the new girls hittin' on ya already, huh? That's Harry alright, the biggest mac-daddy in Hogwarts, yes sir!"

Harry and Jane had both blushed a shade of scarlet darker than the Hogwarts Express.

After breakfast and a very dull first half of the day, Harry was studying the rules for the new Quidditch season when Jane walked through the portrait hole.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey."

"Where's everyone else?"

"I have no idea."

"Can I sit with you?" she asked.

"Sure."

Jane sat in the large chair next to him. "You play Quidditch?" she asked, pointing to the book Harry was reading.

"Yup. I'm Gryffindor's Seeker." Harry answered with a bit of pride.

"Wow!" Jane breathed, "What's your record?"

"Only lost a game once."

"Wow!" she repeated. "Damn, that's pretty good."

There was an awkward silence, and then Jane spoke again.

"Harry… about what I said to you at breakfast…"

"Don't worry about it." He said with a smile.

"But I meant it."

Harry looked up. "You did?"

"Yeah. I guess I was a bit too impulsive… but anyway, I wanted to ask you if… umm… if you wanted to… you know… me and you…"

"Go out?" Harry finished for her.

She nodded sheepishly.

He felt his heart sink. "I can't."

"Why not? Don't tell me you're going out with that Hermione chick?"

"Not even! It's just that… I'm waiting for someone."

"What do you mean?"

Harry decided he could trust Jane, and told her all about his mental conversations with Laura, and how they already knew they were in love.

"That's so strange…" Jane said. "I've heard voices in my head before also."

"Who was it?"

Jane seemed to be glazing over again. "I don't know. I really don't remember. But I like you, Harry, even though this is my first night here. Something is telling me I belong with you."

Harry shook his head, not in a rejection but to try and clear it. "Can I get back to you?"

"Sure." Jane said quietly. "Well, I'm off to bed."

Harry followed suit, wondering if he'd make contact with Laura again tonight.