Chapter 4

Dear Ron,

          A person by the name of Kyra asked me to help her with directions to the Leaky Cauldron. I figured it would be safe to help her because it seems she has some sort of connection with Dumbledore. Would you and your family mind if we take her to the Leaky Cauldron while we visit Diagon Alley? Write back as soon as possible.

Your friend,

Harry

          While he rolled up the piece of parchment, he noticed Kyra's obvious interest in the process in which these humans contact each other. Her curiosity soon turned into confusion as she patiently observed him as he gave the owl the letter.

          "I know you just got back from a long trip but this needs to reach Ron fast, Hedwig. It's not long 'til we leave for Diagon Alley and I'd like to take you with me so we could get you a new cage since Dudley ruined your other one." There was definitely something wrong with the cage next to the window. It looked as though someone got a little hungry and bent the bars making it look deformed. Hedwig seemed to get the message and hurried out the window for her next journey while inside the room, papers flew everywhere from the gust of her wings.

          Pivoting on his right foot, he turned to notice that his newly acquainted friend had fallen asleep while scanning his school textbooks from his fourth year. With the book, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4, resting upon her bosom, Harry decided it wouldn't be a good idea to take it and replace it underneath his bed where it belonged. So instead he worked on his summer homework.

          They had talked of many different subjects and got to learn more and more about the other before Harry decided to write to Ron while Hedwig rested. As Harry explained some things about the wizarding world, Kyra listened with great patience. He told her of Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Draco, and Snape. Also, he told her of the Marauder's Map and the four who made it.

          Kyranosa, on the other hand, talked of her homeland and her friend/pet falcon, Tessaril. Though it was enough information for Harry to figure out what kind of person she might be, nothing of Dumbledore came up in the conversation. But it was too late now seeing as she doesn't seem to talk of those matters, or of anything, in her sleep. He'll have to find a way for her to explain why it is she needs so desperately to see Dumbledore tomorrow.

          "Kyra, please! We must leave. He is coming and if he finds us here, we will die. Please, hurry! We don't have much time!" Her brother lifted her from the spot she lay with his tan, muscular arms. Blood trickled down to her foot leaving prints for someone to find as a deep gash crossed the back of her ankle to the front of her knee. Pain spread throughout her body as she limped down a narrow passage with her brother slightly ahead. Light could be seen in the distance but slowly diminished as her hope gradually fell. She was in too much pain to go any farther.

          Breathing heavily, she spit as she tried to talk. "I'm sorry, my brother. I can not go any farther."

          "But you must! I won't leave you here for him to destroy your soul!" he gasped.

          "I love you, Yuri." She winced as the pain quickened its growth as he pulled her into a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her face. With a quick snap, she was up in his arms as he carried her away from danger. A blinding light spread across the floor as the end of the passage was near.

          As they reached the outside world, all their hope demolished with a glimpse of what lay ahead. A man with a dark red cloak stood against a large tree that cast a shadow across his face. Gazing at the intruders, he lifted his body off the tree and made his way over to the young man and lady who stumbled out of his keep. "Foolish children. You know it is forbidden to enter my layer, but still you disobey me. Now, you must face the consequences!" He raised his arms menacingly as fire leapt from his hands.

          Yuri tossed (literally) Kyra away to save her life. Fire consumed his body burning his insides and releasing his soul. She looked away as her brother's crumbling body fell to the ground quietly. Ashes floated in the wind catching on leaves and grass. Eyes swelling, she looked to where he brother lay before and glanced back at the heartless monster that stood before her.

          A devilish laugh was realized in the cool air making birds fly and animals to run. But then, something odd happened. That laugh became a cry of hate. She watched as the most hated wizard turned into a man once more. Tears could be seen falling from his now gentle eyes. He fell to the ground with his hands cupping his face. Grief swept him away into another world where he no longer noticed the woman who now stood staring pathetically at the now helpless man.

          "What have I done?" Screeched the man. "I've killed my own son. But, why? No, I haven't. He made me kill Yuri. What else do you want from me!?"

          "Anicetos!" He swung around and held out a hand, ready for battle if the intruder came looking for one. Staring at the shadows he demanded for them to reveal themselves. As they stepped into the light, he realized it was his own daughter.

          "Kyra, you must leave! It is not safe for you here. Please, don't ask questions, just find Albus-" Suddenly, an unseen force threw him against a nearby tree. She ran to him but he held out a hand for her to stop. "Please, go get Albus Dumbledore. Now!" He yelled as he pushed her away from him afraid of what he might do if she stayed any longer.

          Running out of sheer terror, she never stopped to give her pounding leg a rest. The forest was dark and frowned upon her as she past through. Running out of breath, she stopped to see where her fear had taken her. Gazing around, she noticed a small cabin farther up ahead in an isolated clearing. I knew these trees looked familiar! She sprinted to the little brown house, up the front porch and climbed the stairs.

          Searching underneath her brother's bed, she had found what she was looking for. She clasped it firmly between her shaking hands and closed her eyes as she was swept way into darkness...

          She awoke with a start the next morning finding herself in the same position she had fallen asleep in. Cracking her neck felt good as the pain slowly lifted. As she sat there, she remembered her dream. The terrifying memory of her brother dying to save her life still haunted her these days. Glancing up at the clock on top the bedside table, she was amazed at how long she had slept.

          A quiet knocking came from the door to her right. "Kyra?" Harry had gotten some toast and a glass of water out from underneath the Dursley's noses and handed them to her. She thanked him and ate while she gazed out the window trapped in her thoughts of her dream.

          Harry had been quiet while she ate, giving her time to think of past events. Writing a report on how dragon scales could be used for a temporary shielding potion was not as interesting as he thought it would be. First of all, he needed to know where to find dragon scales, what other ingredients he needed, where to find those, how to go about making the potion, how to start the spell, and how to counter the spell. It wasn't going to be easy even though it may seem like an easy process, he could find no information about any sort of spell consisting the two words 'dragon scales' and 'shielding potion' at all. It was impossible. He kept thinking Snape was just out to fail them all.

          His spirit lifted as he heard the pecking of an owl from the other side of the window. Kyra as well noticed the owl fluttering outside the window and soon met up with Harry to accompany him to the far side of the room.

          "Look! It's a letter from Mrs. Weasley. I wonder why Ron didn't write back." Harry feed Hedwig and sat down on the bed with the letter still in his hand. He read it out loud as Kyra huddled over him.

Harry, my dear. I am pleased to say that we would love for your friend to accompany us to Diagon Alley. We will be picking you up at 9 o'clock Saturday morning by muggle transportation so that we do not frighten your relatives as we did before when we came by Floo Powder. Oh, and if the Dursley's will be kind enough to let you stay here for the rest of the summer I'm sure Ron, Fred, and George would be happy to see you, as we all will.

With love.

                   Molly Weasley

          "Great! I guess we'll have to pack up seeing as Saturday's tomorrow. Too bad it isn't today." Harry and Kyra laughed as she finally realized that things seemed to be going pretty well so far. She smiled to herself becoming anxious to met Harry's friends. If he's this good of a person, they've got to be good people, also.