"Jes," Kari took a deep breath," you and I were the only ones taken, Harry wasn't. I have reason to believe that He-who-must-not-be-named has something to do with our disappearance. When we were about four, we to live with that older couple in Nevada remember? I also have reason to believe that they worked for He-who-must-not-be-named, because our names were put down on the list to go to Hogwarts. Somebody must have been trying to keep us apart, so that we couldn't come to our full power. We were somehow linked, because when you received your scar Harry, Jes and I developed identical scars, even though we were thousands of miles apart. By then we were still living with the couple in Nevada, but then they died and we were adopted by the Marshals."
"Do you think?" Jes began.
"No Jes, I know that they are not working for You-know-who, because when we were adopted by them, You-know-who had already lost his power, and most of his servants went back to their normal lives," Kari said matter-of-factly.
"But why would Voldemort want us killed?" Harry asked. Ron flinched at the use of his name.
"Because Harry, he knew that together, we would be invincible, but separated, we would be easy to manipulate. He has tried dozens of times to try to get me to go over to the dark side, but each time I refuse." Judging by the startled look on Harry's face, Kari could tell that he was concerned. She hastily changed the subject. "Ron, are you up for a game of wizard's chess?"
"No Kari, I want to know more about this. Why is Voldemort trying to capture you?" Harry said. She could tell he was serious, so she answered truthfully.
"You see Harry, he found out about my powers just recently. During this last summer, he captured me. He tried to get me to become another one of his servants, but when I refused, he ordered me killed. His servants used an unknown number of spells and curses on me, but I was too strong. That was when one of my newest power appeared. Somehow, I was able to transport myself from one place to another. I escaped just in time. When I appeared in my back yard, I saw Jes running towards me, in his Animagus form."
"Excuse Me?" Hermione cut in. "Did you say Animagus?" Kari continued, pretending that she hadn't heard her.
"Knowing they would come looking for me, I ran inside and started looking for a spell in one of my spell books. When I found one, I used if without thinking. The spell was an ancient one. It made it so that dark magic couldn't come within one hundred feet from the house. I had to have Jes's help for the spell, but it kept us safe, until we moved. But then I got a letter from the ministry saying that I was forbidden to do magic outside of school."
"Are you finished?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Kari answered.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were an Animagus?" Harry asked. He had a very sad and forgotten look on his face.
"Because, " Kari explained," I didn't know how you'd react." Harry looked at her and watched as her eyes turned to a dark maroon. Her necklace did the same.
"Let's see," Ron said. "What animals do you transform into?"
"Timber wolf," Jes said at once.
"I'm a shifter," Kari said quietly. "It means that I don't have a certain animal." Judging by the look on their faces, they were just about to ask what a shifter was.
"Would you transform so that we can see?" Hermione asked.
"Sure," Jes and Kari said together. They stepped backwards and swiftly transformed into animals. This time, Kari was a swan. She stretched out her wings and looked over at Harry, who to her great surprise, was looking over their heads. They turned back into humans just in time to see Neville Longbottom running out of the portrait hole. Jes and Kari ran after them, leaving Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the common room.
They followed him to Professor McGonagall's office before stopping dead in their tracks, realizing that soon, she would know exactly Neville had seen. McGonagall noticed them standing in the doorway, and asked them to sit down in the chairs that stood in front of her desk. They sat her office while Neville explained what had happened.
"Professor," Kari stuttered, "I can explain."
"This is a very imaginative story, Mr. Longbottom, but unless you can prove it, I'm afraid there will be no reason to inform the headmaster." McGonagall explained. Neville looked at her quizzically, wondering how he was supposed to prove what had really happened.