Chapter 4
Weeks had passed since Lera's first day. And for Lera, life was just about perfect. Hermione was without a doubt her closest friend. They shared so much in common and understood each other perfectly. Ron was like an innocent flirtatious brother to her, and he was always there to cheer her up when she need it. Harry was perhaps the only flaw in her friendship with Ron and Hermione. Harry and Lera had a quiet understanding with each other: she wouldn't bother him, and he wouldn't bother her. Ron and Hermione had tried to get them to be friendlier, but eventually had given up; hoping that in time they would become friends.
Probably the best part of attending Hogwarts was the chance to start life over with a clean slate, she thought to herself. Everybody thought that she was Lera Arel, the beautiful daughter of a rich man who had her attend a finishing school for the last six years. They saw a girl who had no cares, because she was smart, popular and friendly. She was friends with everybody, teachers, students, and house elves. Guys loved her and girls looked up to her.
But the truth was, things hadn't always been like that for her. Her father was Charles Strender, a man of questionable loyalties after Voldermort's defeat. Her father had always been a part of dark dealings, and most people avoided having anything to do with him or his family. Her mother was a quiet woman, who had once been proud and arrogant. But she had lost most of her fire for life and high society when her only son had been thrown into Azkabam. Lera's older brother Rafael was in every way like his father: cold, cruel, proud and ill tempered. He was his mother's pride and joy, but had been arrested when he was caught at a death eater raid. Since then he had been living at Azkabam, fighting everyday for his life and the will to survive. Lera was like the black sheep in her family, being in no way like them. In physical appearance, they were opposites. Lera had hazel-green eyes, her skin always seemed to glow and she was a brunette. Her family however, was all pale, with ice blue eyes and raven black hair. Her father was always trying to use her to help him gain more power.
But all that didn't matter to her anymore. She was far away from them, and living the life she had always wanted.
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Lera woke up with surge of excitement. Today was the first Hogsmeade trip! She quickly leapt out of bed, and started getting ready. All week, everybody had been telling her about Hogsmeade! She could hardly wait! She started washing her face, when she heard a tapping sound. She walked to the front door, but there was no one there. "Must have been my imagination," she thought. She started changing into her uniform, when she heard it again. This time it sounded like it was coming from outside. She looked out of the window and saw that on the balcony was a bird with a letter. She approached it, and found that it was one of her father's red-tailed hawks. She took the letter, and it flew off. Breaking the seal, and she read.
Dear Lera,
Your mother wants you to write every two weeks from now on. I'm planning on visiting your school sometime soon. I expect you to be there to greet me and show me around. Further details later
- Charles
Shaking, Lera put down the letter. Her father? Coming to Hogwarts to see her? It would ruin everything! He'd find out that she wasn't in Slytherin, and that she was actually a Gryffindor. And what's worse, he'd find out she was close to Harry Potter and friends with mudbloods. If he found out, she'd be gone from Hogwarts in an instant, and her new life would be gone. Calm down, she thought to herself. He's not here yet… the first thing you have to do is write back. She grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill from her desk. She paused thoughtfully; she couldn't send the letter from Hogwarts! Someone might see and get suspicious, especially those nosy Slytherins. No, she'd have to wait and send the letter from Hogsmeade. Hermione stirred in her bed, Lera quickly tucked the letter in her robe pocket.
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Hogsmeade was a whirlwind of moving colours, smells, and sounds. Lera had never been to such an invigorating place. "This place is amazing!" she cried.
Laughing, Ron took her by the arm, and started to point out various shops. "Over there is Zarana's Costume shop, and there's Asvero's Exotic Pets, Casper's bookstore…the list is endless!"
"So what's the plan?" asked Hermione
"Well, I thought we'd show Lera around, do some shopping and finish up with several tankards of butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks."
"Um… I have some stuff to do, but I'll catch up with you guys later", said Harry.
"Are you sure Harry?" asked Hermione
"Yeah, I'm sure, I'll see you later." Said Harry before he walked off.
"Is he all right?" asked Lera
"Yeah…I hope so." Said Ron.
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Harry dejectedly walked down the busy streets. He actually didn't have anything to do, but had just wanted to get away from everybody. It was hard to understand how he felt, he wasn't even sure himself. This girl…Lera… she had suddenly popped into their lives, and suddenly it was like everyone revolved around her. He deeply missed just the three of them spending time with each other. He had tried to get to know her, even understand her, but something was stopping him. He didn't trust her for starters, and he had a feeling that she felt the same cautious approach towards him.
Harry walked into George and Fred's shop Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The twins now had two locations, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
"Hey Harry!" cried the twins.
"Hey Fred, hey George. How's it going?"
"Pretty good, business is going well, and we've just put a new product up: Scatter bombs! Guaranteed to aid a young rebel a quick escape! How many can we put you down for?" asked George.
"None, right now." Said Harry.
"Nonsense! They're really handy! Take a couple, they're on the house." Declared Fred.
"Oh no, really, I don't need to…" Harry protested.
"Forget it Harry. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't even be here. Take them. Test them out and tell us how they work." Said George, grabbing a handful and putting them in Harry's jacket pocket.
"Thanks guys."
"No problem. Hey, you just missed the others. They came by about ten minutes ago. They asked if we'd seen you."
"And we met Lera, she's really nice isn't she?"
"Yeah. Real nice. I should probably go, I have to meet up with them at the Three Broomsticks."
"Alright Harry, we'll see you later."
Harry opened the door, and found it was pouring with rain. "Of all the rotten luck." He thought.
"Seems a bit wet out there, huh Harry?" said Fred.
"Here, take an umbrella, do a bit of advertising for us." Said George, taking an umbrella out from under the counter. Harry opened it. In bright winking lights, the words "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes" flashed on the umbrella.
"Its very…colourful…" said Harry, not quite sure what to make of it.
"Better hurry," said Fred.
"That's right, you don't want to be late," said George, trying not to laugh as he and Fred pushed Harry out the door. Watching Harry walk down the busy streets with the flashing umbrella, Fred and George burst into helpless laughter.
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"I'll meet you guys at the Three Broomsticks, I have an errand I forgot to run." Said Lera.
"Why don't we just come along?" asked Hermione.
"No sense in all of us going, it looks like it's going to rain soon. You two go ahead and save us a table."
"Alright Lera, we'll see ya soon." Said Ron, "C'mon Hermione."
Lera watched them until they were out of sight. Now she could mail that letter. She walked to the Post Office, stopping occasionally to make sure she wasn't being followed. Entering the post office, the air was thick with the smell of Owls.
"What can I do for you miss?" a wizard from behind the counter asked.
"Can you give me some parchment and a quill, I need to write a quick letter." Said Lera. The man nodded and gave her what she needed. Walking over to an empty counter. Lera penned a quick letter.
Dear Father,
Hope you and mother are well. My studies are going well, though some of my teachers are quite incompetent. Most of them favour the other students, especially the Gryffindors. But I know you think this is the best way for me to build character. Look forward to showing you around my school. Please give me a week's notice when you do come, so that I might be able to properly prepare for your coming.
-Lera
Lera studied her letter. It looked good enough. She had tried to base it on letters she had heard Pansy Parkinson write to her parents. Hopefully telling her father to give her notice before he came would give her a chance to find a way to show him around the school without anybody suspecting anything. She sealed the letter, and walked up to the counter. "I need a real first class bird to deliver this letter."
"First class, eh? I have a couple in the back. Wait here, I'll bring 'em and you can choose." He soon returned, with several different birds. She finally decided on a osprey.
"Thank you very much."
"No problem miss." She opened the door and found that it was pouring outside. "Rats, it's raining. I'm going to get soaked."
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Harry walked along the wet streets. Checking his watch, he quickened his pace. If he didn't hurry, he was going to be late meeting his friends. "A butterbeer sure would be nice right about now." He thought. He rounded a corner, and was surprised to see Lera coming out of the Post Office alone. "Who was she writing to?" He wondered. He saw she didn't have an umbrella. "So what," he thought, it doesn't matter. She could get wet for all he cared. He watched her. She did look really cold… "Oh curses," he muttered under his breath.
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"This is silly," thought Lera. "I should really try and move to a more sheltered area, I'm getting soaked. That's funny…I'm not getting wet." She turned around quickly. There was Harry, holding an umbrella over her. "Huh?"
"It looked like you needed some help." He said.
"Oh, yeah…. thanks."
"We'd better hurry, we're already late." They walked in an uncomfortable silence. "Nice umbrella." Lera commented, trying to fill the silence.
"The Weasley twins gave it to me. Their idea of a good joke." He replied. Damn. Why did he even help her? She was the last person he wanted to be stuck sharing an umbrella with. "This way," he said, pointing to a small, deserted road. "It's a shortcut." Lera looked at the small road, it looked really muddy and dingy. "Alright." She said, taking the umbrella.
"Well, well, well…what have we here?" said a voice behind them.
They both whirled around. There was Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. "Going for a little stroll in the rain? How sweet of you to treat your fans Potter."
"Shut up Malfoy!" said Harry.
"What are you going to do about it Potter? You don't have anyone to back you up this time. Just you and your little fan." Draco smiled tauntingly.
"Little fan?" thought Lera. That does it. She grabbed Harry, and hissed "Distract him for me." She passed the umbrella to him; she was going to need both hands to do this.
"What's that Arel? Whispering words of encouragement to your big hero?"
Lera ignored him, and stepped behind Harry. "Wingardium Leviosa." She whispered, pointing her want at a puddle of mud. "Potterus stratus," she said after, and started to shape the mud into several fairly sized balls. Meanwhile, Draco was still teasing Harry.
"Looks like your fan has chickened out Potter. Good god, what do you call that thing over you head? That isn't an umbrella is it? Looks more like a walking advertisement."
"That's it Malfoy, you're asking for it." Cried Harry, reaching for his wand.
"Accio-" began Draco… "Hey Malfoy!" shouted Lera. He looked at her. "Eat mud!" and with that she shot all the balls at him and his two companions. Upon impact, they broke, and mud splattered across them.
"Ugh…that…you'll pay for that!" Draco cried. He was totally covered in mud, his expensive coat ruined. Crabbe and Goyle stared blankly at their clothes. They all pulled out their wands. "I'm gonna make you wish you were never born!"
"Just try it!" she said, pointing her wand at him.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?" shouted Professor McGonagall, who came running up. Draco replied eagerly.
"Potter and Arel attacked us Professor."
"That's not true Professor," said Lera. "Malfoy accidentally got splashed by a huge mud puddle, and then seemed to think it was our fault. He went ballistic and drew his wand. We only drew ours in defense!"
"Bull!" cried Draco.
"Language Mr. Malfoy! I'm going to have to take Miss. Arel's side for this. Just because you still think you're old enough to play in mud puddles, doesn't mean you're to young to blame other people for your wrongdoings. Now come with me, and let's get you cleaned up."
"But, but…" protested Draco.
"Come along Mr. Malfoy, you too Crabbe and Goyle." Ordered Professor McGonagall. Lera and Harry waited until they were both out of hearing range before bursting into laughter.
"Where did you learn that spell?" asked Harry.
"I learned it at my old school. They had really high standards back there. I used mud as my object, because I knew that it would give us the perfect cover in this weather."
"I'm impressed. I hope I never get on your bad side."
"Hey, I couldn't have done it without you, you distracted him perfectly."
"Shall we go? The others are probably going to start getting worried."
"Yeah, we probably should…."
They walked for a minute in a reflective silence. Harry couldn't believe what had just happened. Despite all their former animosity, she had defended him and had taken Malfoy on with the perfect trick. Suddenly, she just didn't seem that bad. They reached the Three Broomsticks.
"Wait! Before we go in…I owe you an apology," said Harry. "I had been really looking forward to spending my final year with just Ron and Hermione, and when you came, I was really angry at you because I thought you'd spoil my year. Because of that, I've treated you badly and… I hope we can be friends."
Lera studied him thoughtfully. She had been surprised by Harry's offer of friendship. Without even thinking, she found herself talking.
"No, you're not the only one to blame. Up until now, I haven't exactly been making an effort to be friends with you either. I really just didn't know how to treat you, what with you being the "boy-who-lived" and all that. I found it easier to ignore you and pretend you were someone else. I'd like to be friends…if you would forgive me too." With that she held out her hand.
Ron spotted them outside. He nudged Hermione with his elbow. "Hermione! Look at that!"
"Is that Harry and Lera talking…to each other!?"
"I don't believe it!"
"Do you think this means they're friends now?" asked Ron.
Watching Lera and Harry shake hands and smile, Hermione said, "I think so."
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And that's a wrap! Horray! They're FRIENDS! It's about time. Jeex, it's so hard to have so much animosity between the two, and then have to later change it into a very close friendship. Well I'm happy, I've sweated over this story, writing this chapter, and editing all the previous ones. Horray! I'm done! On the the next chapter…oh boy…you guys are going to have to wait a very…very…long time… REVIEW ME!!!!– Starrynight/ Bubbleglow!
PS. Special credit must go to Akira Hasegawa, the creator of the online web comic "Tsunami Channel" one his comics, a rain scene between two of the main characters, helped me create an idea to help bring Lera and Harry together. If any of you have any spare time I highly suggest you go read his comic -updated almost everyday- (the man is a miracle worker) the address is http: // tsunamichan. Keenspace. Com. (no spaces, I had to put spaces in so that I could post it) and if you can't reach it there, just go to google and type in Tsunami Channel. Toodles.
PPS! Alright, if any of you have been keeping track the FanFiction's updates/changes to the web site, you'll know that they now have a new policy where nobody can have the same name. No offense, but I don't really want to be known as the 7th starrynight out there. So now, I'm going as bubbleglow. Don't ask where I got that from. I'm going to miss my old name, but this way, I have a name all to myself. Sorry for anyconfusion. – BUBBLEGLOW!
