CHAPTER SIX
An exceptioN
"That was wicked, Harry!" Ron cried as Harry and Kana made their way back to the beach blanket.
"Really amazing," Hermione added. "Brilliant."
"It was all right," Ginny said.
"And I got the whole thing on this camera," Sirius added.
Nobody mentioned the closeness between Harry and Kana, and Harry was grateful. But he could still feel her heartbeat and smell her hair as though he'd never let go of her. He still had a natural high from feeling so absolutely comfortable. So wanted.
Ginny had apparently noticed. She was a little red in the face and she wouldn't look Kana in the eyes. "I think we should get back to the hotel now."
"What's your rush?" Harry asked. "It's only across the beach. We've got plenty of time."
"But Ron's sort of silently suffering," Hermione said. "From his sunburn."
"I am not!" Ron protested, but he was looking a little more red than usual. Hermione poked his bare skin on his chest. He shrieked in pain. "Ouch! All right, so maybe it hurts a little. But I know everyone back at Hog… I mean, school, will be envious of the great tan I'll have."
Hermione glared at him for the near blab about where they were from. Ginny walked over and pinched him by the ear. "Mum's going to be so bloody mad when she sees you."
"Ow, ow! Just let go!"
Ginny did. Ron rubbed his ear, giving her a dirty look. Sirius stood and began to clean up from their picnic on the beach. "I do think it's about time we head back. We'll need a good night's sleep if we're going to come back here tomorrow and do this all over again." He winked at Harry.
Harry grinned. "Can't I just stay for a little while longer? The sun is finally setting and the sand isn't so hot it burns your feet."
Sirius checked his watch. "Yes, you can stay. But I want you back at the hotel by 10:30, no exceptions." It was scary how Sirius sometimes sounded like McGonagall.
Harry agreed. Hermione, Ron, and Sirius picked up their belongings and surfboards and headed back through the tangle of trees. After a moment of hesitation, Ginny followed them.
"She likes you, you know," Kana said, not meeting Harry's eyes.
"I do. Her mum has this idea that we should be an item. It seems to have rubbed off on her," he mumbled. He turned to Kana.
"Please, don't," she said.
"Don't what?" he asked. She'd been acting peculiar ever since their ride together.
"Don't stare at me like that." She took a deep breath. Her face was nearly as red as Ron's, and Harry decided she looked much more attractive that way. "I don't usually do that."
"Do what?" Harry questioned innocently. He knew what she was getting at, but it was much more fun to drag it out of her.
Kana finally turned to him, her eyes troubled. "Let tourists… touch me. I'm not some island whore." She shivered, crossing her arms over her chest and rubbing her palms against her dark skin.
"I never thought you were," Harry replied. She was ashamed, he realized. Embarrassed. And when it had been so wonderful for him – on the inside, she was hating herself.
"Yeah, right."
Harry put his hand on hers, brushing his fingers against her shoulder. She backed away. "I don't know what it is about you, but it scares the hell out of me."
"Kana, it wasn't anything. It's not like it was a kiss."
"But it wasn't nothing."
Harry couldn't argue with that. "I don't think any less of you." In fact, all Harry wanted to do was wrap his arms around her again. She was still quivering and still looked so distressed. "I've never felt… quite like that before," he said sheepishly.
He could of swore he heard her mumble something that sounded like, "Me either," but he didn't press it. "So what do you want to do now?" Kana asked. "Do you still want to surf?"
"I'm afraid my legs will crack in half if I have to balance on that board more time." He chuckled, and Kana grinned. It was good to see her smile again. "Let's just relax. If it's not too cold."
"Well, this time of day the water is warmer than the air. Want to go for a swim?"
"Sure."
"Great." Kana removed her tank top again, and Harry didn't bother to try and distract himself from giving her the once-over. She wore a hemp-looking necklace with a dark ring that sparkled brightly in the faint sunset. It contrasted with her tanned skin and led his eyes to curves where they shouldn't be looking.
Kana didn't seemed phased as she removed her shorts and took off full-speed into the ocean. Harry took off after her, splashing her and grabbing her wrists, taking her under the water and down to the sandy floor. Kana came up with a mouth full of salt water and sputtered.
"That's it!" she cried, and jumped on Harry's back, trying to drag him under the calm evening waves. Her weight wasn't enough to make him fall over, and he bent over backwards until she let go of him and fell into the water. Feeling triumphant, Harry turned around, about to gloat, but there was no sign of Kana. The only sound was of the waves softly crashing on the shoreline and call of a distant seagull.
"Kana?" Harry called. He turned around again. "Kana?"
He was just about dive under and look for her when he felt two arms clamp around his waist and drag him underwater. Without warning, he received a mouthful of water as his head was playfully shoved down to the ocean floor.
When he finally pushed himself to the surface, he was out of breath and had a nose full of pain. Kana was standing in waist-high water with an arrogant smile on her face. "Don't underestimate me. I have a green belt in Soo Bahk Do."
Harry held up his hands in defeat. "You win." He struggled to catch his breath. "That's the last time I mess with a native islander."
Kana flashed a smile. "Smart guy." She quickly swam into shore, and Harry did his best to follow her. She quickly grabbed Sirius's surfboard and headed back towards Harry. "C'mon, we can relax on this." She gave Harry a leg up onto the board, then he gave her a hand until they were both sitting on each end, facing each other with their legs dangling in the water.
A serene silence had overwhelmed them and Harry realized he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Did Kana have some sort of island magic over him? At the thought of magic, Harry suddenly snapped back to reality. He had forgotten all about his problems of the wizarding world for a few hours. Those hours had been so peaceful, so happy. Part of him wished he never had to go back to Hogwarts.
"What's the matter?" Kana questioned, disturbing his thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"You're far away from the island," she laughed. "What were you thinking about?"
Harry sighed. He had a sudden urge to tell her everything – everything about his past and his lifestyle. But he knew he couldn't. He'd be breaking a dozen laws and she'd probably think he was clinically insane. "About home. About how I don't want this to end."
"Ah… Many tourists wish to have a permanent vacation here," Kana replied. "How long are you staying for?"
"Two more days," he said sadly. "School is starting soon, and it's a very big year for me this year."
Kana nodded. "I imagine you're close to graduation."
"Next year," Harry replied.
"Then what?"
Harry shrugged. "A permanent vacation?"
"I hope you'll come back to this island before two years goes by," Kana said, tracing her fingertips along the stripes on the board. "Especially if you only have two days left."
"Yeah." An uncomfortable stillness settled between them, and Harry once again caught himself staring at her chest – her necklace. "That's a very beautiful necklace."
Kana looked down at it. "Oh, thanks. My father gave it to me before he died."
"Really?"
She nodded. "What about your parents? What do they do?"
"My parents are dead," Harry said quietly. "They died when I was a baby."
She didn't reply with the courteous, yet fake response of, "I'm sorry." She simply placed her hand over his. "I was only a baby when my father died too. I can't imagine not having my mother around. It must be terribly lonely."
"Not always," Harry said. He smiled at their intertwined hands. When he looked up at her face, his heart skipped a beat. "And I have Sirius. He's been a great father to me."
"He seems like a very nice man."
"Oh!" Harry said suddenly. "We forgot to pay you. I'm so sorry!"
"That's okay."
"No, really. How much is it all going to cost?"
Kana grinned. "It's free of charge. I've had way too much fun today to be giving lessons. It was my pleasure."
"But…" Harry stammered.
"No! I won't accept your money," Kana laughed. "My mother will understand. It's not a big deal."
"But you wasted a whole day that you could have been making money with me – with us."
"Money isn't everything," she replied. "And I certainly didn't waste my time."
It was at that moment that Harry knew there was something incredible about Kana. Even if didn't have a drop of wizard blood in her, she was magical. She was generous, kind, honest. It didn't hurt that she was easy on the eyes as well.
He took her other hand into his, and gently pulled her towards him, leaning closer and closer to her face. He could smell her scent again, and it drove him wild. He had to be close to her. He hand to have his arms around her. He had to…
"Harry," she said, her voice soft and husky. "I – I don't kiss tourists." She started to recoil, but he could tell from the look in her eyes that she wanted him to kiss her, and when he pulled her back to him, she stopped resisting.
Their lips seemed miles away and it took agonizing ages until their lips touched. Kana's were soft and delicate, and she tasted sweet like cocoanut as she fell into him. She grasped his fingers tightly as Harry's mouth searched hers. Harry raised one hand to her cheek and brought her closer to him, her lashes fluttering slightly at the sensations his lips gave hers. She sighed as they pulled away, both gasping for breath.
It was, by far, the best ten seconds of Harry's life.
By & © 2002 spazzoid3@yahoo.com