Okay, first things first – WELCOME BACK ROSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *sends a cyber-hug to greatly missed Rose* I am soooooooooooo glad that you have finally returned to ff.n!!! (Oh, by the way, how did things turn out with your house?) I'm glad that you've updated (!!!!!!!!! *happy dance* !!!!!!!!!!) but even gladder just to know that you haven't left forever! So again, welcome back!!!
Also, as I near the big landmark (100 reviews!), I would just like to say thank you so very much to each and every person that has reviewed this story. For those of you that are fellow authors, I'm sure you know just how much it means, and how good it feels, to know that people have taken time out of their lives to read and review work of basically a stranger. It really means so much to me. So thank you all, from the bottom of my heart!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling- All canon characters, settings, etc. Me- Nothing, unless you count the Washington Eagles quidditch team, which I just created. Characters like Adele and Kelly (especially Kelly) own themselves and do whatever they please... I've no control over them.
Oh, just a little warning, there's a bit of swearing in this. (Nothing big, just a few "damn its" in one section.)
Okay now here's the next chapter!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry Potter and the Song of Deception
By Hollie
"Excuse me, professor?" Tiny Professor Flitwick turned round atop his pile of books, finding one of the transfers, Kelly Banson, waiting patiently.
"Yes, Ms. Banson?" he asked curiously, wondering what she wished to speak about. He clambered down off his stack, taking with him his notes from the day's lesson. He walked quickly over to his desk, a fine creation he had made himself of dark wood, at the perfect height for his small stature, expecting his student to follow.
"Okay Dante, are you ready?"
"Yes." At the other end of the connection between witch and Halcon, Dante flexed his massive wings, concentrating on an image of the small professor of Charms that Kelly had sent to him. He inhaled once, and power rippled over his body, a shiver of black fire flecked with silver. He concentrated this power on the connection between himself and Kelly, channeling it to her.
As soon as Kelly felt the Halcon's power seep into her veins, intertwining with her own magic, she began to speak.
"Professor, I wanted to talk to you about..."
*~*~*~*
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore looked fondly out at the sea of young witches and wizards as they laughed and ate and talked. He smiled as they went about their normal diner routines, happy and safe within the confines of Hogwarts. His smile changed to a slight frown, as he knew that currently, Hogwarts was probably the only safe place left in the world. And even the powerful Dumbledore was uncertain as to how long he could keep the school secure.
What would happen when Voldermort attacked? which, in Dumbledore's mind, was an inevitable event. Would Hogwarts be prepared? Would the teachers be powerful enough to protect their pupils? And on the track of pupils, there was one that Dumbledore worried particularly about; Harry Potter.
It wasn't that the Headmaster thought The Boy Who Lived couldn't hold his own against the powerful dark lord, for he knew Harry could, but he was more worried of... of what?
He ran his fingers through his mane of long white hair, puzzled. There was something, at the back of his mind, that was bothering him, but he just couldn't place what.
At that moment, Dumbledore was tugged gently back into reality. Professor McGonagall pulled on the sleeve of his brilliantly embroidered robe, leaning in close to whisper in his ear.
"Headmaster, some of the teachers were wondering if perhaps it would be possible to hold a faculty meeting tonight?"
Dumbledore looked down his long nose to meet her eyes. "Is there a problem, Minerva?"
She shook her head. "I don't think so Albus. There was no reason given, but most of them seemed fairly cheery when they requested it."
"Which professors did?"
Minerva thought for a moment. "Well, let's see, there were several... Professor Sprout, Professor Figg... I think also Professor Sinistra and Assistant Professor Black... oh, and Hagrid as well, and Professors Trelawny and Vector..." she paused once again, thinking hard. "I believe that was it. Oh, no, Professor Flitwick too, just a few moments ago."
Dumbledore nodded, his interest piqued. He noticed that Severus Snape and Minerva herself had not been included in the list, but that did not seem to be any sort of important realization, and it was quickly dismissed and forgotten.
"I think that would be possible. Say, right after diner is finished, perhaps?"
"I'll inform the others." Minerva nodded brusquely, then turned away, to pass the message of the meeting down the line of professors.
Dumbledore returned to watching his students with his sparkling blue eyes. He pushed back the darker thoughts of the future, trying to concentrate on the peaceful present. At the moment, life was normal, and his students were safe and happy, and that was enough to make wise Albus Dumbledore content – for now.
*~*~*~*
"Well, are you finally going to stick with us?" Kelley looked with surprise at Ron as she slid into the seat he had saved for her. Eagerly filling her plate, she asked, "now what's that supposed to mean?"
"When the bells rang," he replied as he passed her a plate of sandwiches, "we'd go off to the next class, but you kept on disappearing. Where were you, anyhow?"
"Oh, it wasn't anything," she said nonchalantly, taking a swig of juice. "Bleh!" she exclaimed suddenly, spitting the juice back into the cup. She wiped her mouth on her sleeve, pushing the goblet back from her place. "Pumpkin juice! Honestly, I don't see how you people can drink this stuff! Nasty, nasty! How'd it get in my goblet... I know I didn't---" She trailed off as snickers could be heard further down the table. Peering around Ron, she spotted Fred and George, smiling innocently.
She scowled at them and shook her fist. "Don't you worry, I'll get my payback."
"Why Kelly darling, whatever are you talking about?" Fred asked, faking confusion.
"It wasn't us that switched your very bland glass of water to a much more interesting goblet full of pumpkin juice," George added.
"Come dear, would we do such a thing?"
In unison, the entire Gryffindor table exclaimed, "yes!" Fred and George blinked several times, staring around the table. "Hmph," Fred finally remarked, exchanging a glance with his twin.
"It seems we are outnumbered Fred," the lanky troublemaker stated simply. Another look passed between the two, and then both their faces broke out into identical grins.
"They know us so well!" was their final exclamation before they returned to their suppers.
Kelly shook her head, scowling at the pumpkin juice as she poured herself water into another goblet. "Perhaps I'll give them green hair tonight," she mused aloud.
"Well, if you're looking for payback, that's not how I'd do it," Ron interjected with a pointed look.
"You're right!" Kelly laughed, catching his meaning, "they'd probably like that!"
"Hi Kelly, Ron!" Ginny had noticed her friend and brother, and had come to sit with them. "How're you guys today?" she asked cheerily.
"Fine Gin," Ron replied, buttering a roll. Kelly nodded her agreement.
"Well, I would be anyways," she corrected herself, "if it wasn't for those scheming older brothers of yours. They switched my water for pumpkin juice. Again." Ginny hid a smile, knowing her friend's intense dislike for the interestingly flavored liquid, and the twins' immense enjoyment in tricking her into drinking it.
"Oh, come on," Ginny teased, taking a sip of the juice that had caused so much commotion, "it's not that bad."
"Oh yes it is," Kelly responded vehemently. "It's vile and disgusting, and that's a fact."
Ron took a deep swig from his goblet of pumpkin juice, then smiled broadly at Kelly. "Yum," was the only word he got out before he was promptly smacked upside the head by the repulsed blonde.
*~*~*~*
"Now, my fellow professors, if one of you would be so kind as to explain to me the reason behind this impromptu staff meeting?" Professor Dumbledore smiled, blue eyes twinkling as he scanned the room. It was tiny Professor Flitwick that spoke first.
"Well, you see, the students have been doing so very well this year, and with current... erm, current events as they are..." It went without saying that the professor was referring to the attack on muggles that had been popping up every now and again since late August. In the last two, the Dark Mark had been sent flying like a beacon of terror and evil above the victims' houses. "Well," he continued, "we thought it might be nice to organize a little shindig for the students, a sort of ball, if you will." Around the room, heads nodded, and looked cheerily up at the Headmaster.
Seated across from one another, Professors Snape and McGonagall exchanged glances. Something odd was definitely going on, but the question was, what? Why were the majority of the teachers so eager for a school dance? At the head of the table, the same thought was going through Dumbledore's mind. Yet, he could see no harm in allowing a small dance at Hogwarts, so he consented.
"Very well, very well. Now, let's see, what do we say, fourth years and up?" Heads shook all around.
"Oh no," Professor Sprout spoke up, "I think the whole school should be invited."
"Yes, I agree," Arabella Figg nodded fervently. "All the kiddies deserve a little fun."
"Oh, that's nonsense! You can't have eleven year olds and seventeen year olds all together in a dance environment."
"For once, I agree with Minerva," Snape cut in smoothly. "It simply wouldn't work to have them all together."
"Well why not?" was Arabella's response. "They eat all their meals together, don't they? They go to quidditch matches together."
"That's different."
"Oh pish, no it's not. Come now, Albus, you agree with me, don't you?"
"Well," Albus looked down the table at his long-time friend, and could see that Arabella was fired up and ready to fight this to the end. But why, the sensible part of him reasoned, is she so heated over something so trivial? But again, he could see no harm in allowing all the students to attend, so again, he agreed.
"Fine, fine. All the pupils may attend. Now, we shall need a date for this---"
He was cut off by Arabella Figg. "I think Friday will be the best time."
"This Friday?" Minerva McGonagall was flabbergasted.
"Yes, why not?" Arabella responded as if stating the painfully obvious.
"Today is Wednesday... these things take time!"
Professor Figg shrugged. "What's the hold up? You get some music playing, and we've got more than enough food in this joint to serve as refreshments... what's left?"
"You have to give people time to plan, and decorations, and then there's---"
"Then there's, then there's, then there's. It's always something." Professor McGonagall stiffened, affronted. Arabella gave no sign of noticing, and continued her little speech. "This is a simple little thing, no need to get fussy. And who needs decorations? No, no, you'd just be overdoing things. All we need is music and food, and the kids will do the rest."
Other professors clapped politely to show their agreement with Hogwarts' newest professor.
Dumbledore pursed his lips, thinking. There was definitely something amiss with his staff, but he couldn't place it, and since he could see no harm, once again, he consented.
"All right... Friday it is."
*~*~*~*
Ron and Kelly ambled into the Gryffindor Common room, completely absorbed in their debate on which team was better; the Chudley Cannons, or the Washington Eagles.
"Come on Ron, the Eagles have won their division the past fourteen years... when was the last time the Cannons even won a match?"
"That's not the point, the..." he trailed off, finally taking in their surroundings. All of the Gryffindors were clustered around the bulletin board, talking excitedly.
"Hey, what's up?" Ron asked Ginny, who was craning to see over the heads of the crowd.
"There's gonna be a dance, little brother," Fred replied, popping up besides them, seemingly from out of nowhere. The answer to his sudden appearance was explained as they watched George emerge from the crowd after his brother, crawling on all fours between the numerous pairs of legs.
"A dance?" Ron asked incredulously. George nodded, smiling broadly. "This Friday, chap," he scaned the common room. "Hey, any of you seen Alicia?"
Kelly grinned impishly, "why, you gonna ask her to go with you?"
George held his head high and replied airily, "I just might."
"Speaking of which," Fred interjected, "where'd Angelina get off to..." The twins scampered off in search of the girls, leaving Kelly and a frowning Ron. When she noticed his expression, she asked, "hey, why so glum?"
"Well, if the dance is this Friday, then that means I've got to ask someone right away... I dunno if I can get up my courage to do that..." he blushed deeply, looking at the floor.
Prying, Kelly asked, "who would you like to ask... if you could get up the courage?"
Ron shuffled back and forth and scratched his forehead. "Oh, I dunno... Um, maybe..." he muttered his answer, his face going even redder.
"What was that?" she asked, knowing full well what his answer was.
"Well, maybe, um... um, Hermione..."
"Ah ha! I knew it!"
"Shhhh!!!" Ron clamped his hand over her mouth, looking around frantically.
"All right, all right!" Kelly whispered, smiling. "I'll keep your secret, don't you worry. Now, why can't you ask her?" If it was possible, Ron went even redder than before.
"I--- I just can't, that's all." He refused to meet her eye as he talked, and fixated on the ground.
"Oh Ron, that's just plain silly. Come now, I'm sure you could just---"
"No, I can't okay? That's it, end of discussion." Kelly blinked, startled at the harshness in his tone.
"Okay," she answered slowly, tentatively.
"Oh Kel, I'm sorry..." a pained look crossed Ron's face, knowing that he'd hurt his friend. "It's just that I'd rather not talk about it, especially not here, okay?" He smiled at her uncertainly, and she replied with a very small, somewhat subdued grin.
"Okay, I understand, really, I do." Ron sighed his relief; he hated yelling at people, well, other than Slytherins, that is.
"Hey, would you go with me?" Kelly started, surprised at the sudden twist in the conversation.
"Well, I... uh..." she frantically racked her brain for an excuse to get out of it.
"Not as a date or anything, not really. I don't think of you in that way. Just two friends, accompanying each other to a small social gathering. Please?" Kelly bit her lip, but she could think of no way to refuse her fellow Gryffindor.
"Well, all right. Two friends... I s'pose that'd be fine."
"Great," Ron said, a bright grin flashing against skin that had returned to its natural hue. "It's easy to talk to you, Kelly, I know I can trust you. And I can ask you things, without worrying if you'll think I'm stupid. I'm really glad you're here, you know?" He clapped her on the shoulder, and then walked off, probably to find Harry. Kelly stood, rooted to the spot. She chided herself on the inside; her plans were now completely ruined.
"Damn it, why do these people trust me?! God, if only I could tell them the truth... damn it, damn it, damn it! Oh Ron, Ginny, Harry, Fred and George... If only you could figure out that I'm not someone you should be consorting with... You can't trust me guys, you can't!" She wanted to scream out loud, to release all her pain and frustration and fear of what she was doing and what she still had to do. It hadn't bothered her to use Dante's mind control on her professors, but she hated even lying to these kids, she felt so rotten.
"It has to be done," she whispered the line she had needed to repeat to herself so many times in the past. Taking a deep breath, she strode towards the girl's dormitories staircase; there was still work to be done, if the Song was to be performed on Friday.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Okay, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, even though it's rather short. This was one of those chapters that was not totally interesting, but very necessary. It probably won't appear that way now, but later on, the events in this chapter will be très important!
The next chapter will be.... *drum roll*.... the dance! Yup yup yup, I won't make you darling reviewers wait a million chapters for it, it'll only take however long it is for me to write it! I also wanted to warn you people--- there will be BLATANT self-insertion in the next chapter!!! (Yes, I'm finally gonna live up to, oh, who was it... I think it was shuntbumps's rather unfair opinion of the first chapter.) Hehehehehehe.... so yes, I will be in the next chapter, as a character... *does a little happy dance* It's going to be funfunfun!!!
And now we come to my favorite part of the program--- er, chapter... The thank yous!!!
Liz- *smacks self on head* No Star or Remus, and only mentioning of Filly... I'm sorry! Definitely coming up though, in the next chapter, I think. Filly can be... oh my, I just got an idea! A really good idea for something Filly can do... yes! Okay, so now she and Star and Sid and Scarlett will definitely be in the next chapter! Thanks so very much for all the help you've given me in this story, and for all the positive comments!
T.H- Man, I'm still very sour at whatever it was that lost my review for your latest chapter... the chapter was so beyond greatness, I wanted to write a review to do it justice, and I think I was doing pretty well.... and then poof! gone. *heavy sigh* Anyways, thanks, as always, for the enormous support you give me all the time! I always worry, "is this good enough?" "will people like this?" and things like that, but when you say you like my work, then all the anxiety just flies out the window! Ah yes, things are getting more complicated... and don't worry, I will be getting into some real explanations soon! I promise! Here, I'll let ya in on a little 'secret'... *whispering* If not in the next chapter, than the one after, I will finally be explaining Kelly/Rachel's background! Hehehehehe... I've been looking forward to doing so for such a long time!!!!! Anyhow, thank you so very, very much!!!!! You rock!!
WhetherRose- Did I mention how completely GLAD I am to have you back? Oh, so you know, I did start reading the next chapter of A Life Passed By... got part way through before I was forced to begin my homework (yuck!). But now it's the weekend, so I should be able to finish it and review!!! Oh, I'm glad that you liked the Ancient Ones, I do too! And I'll be explaining more about them in chapters to come, hopefully. Thank you so much for all your input in this story, and I'm so glad that you enjoy this fic, it means a lot coming from a talented writer like yourself!!! (And I /still/ want to know who Elizabeth's dad is, and more importantly I think, why it isn't Sirius. ;o)
MionePotter14- Thanks so much! (and I totally, 100% agree with the whole Draco *drool* thing... hehehe! ;o) Yea, lots of MCs are goodie goodies, I wanted to spice things up a bit! I think it's more interesting, if you don't know where she stands- is she good? Is she evil? Hehehe, the world may never know! (okay, that's not true, I will be explaining it eventually...) Any-hoo, thanx soooo much for reviewing, I hope you liked this chapter too!
Sarai- wow. Man, I can't believe that my sorry little fic would make you want to read the books! I'm just like, honored! Such flattery, it's just... wow! Thanks so much, you made me blush! On a side note, when will the next chappie of Rose Raven be up? Soon, perhaps? *puppy dog eyes* hehe, no pressure, just curious... it's sooo good!
Nepal- Hello again, um, nice to hear from you. I'm glad that enjoyed (at least, I think you did) the last chapter, I hope this one meets your approval as well. And yes, Spam Warrioir's Insanity Trilogy is truly a comedic gem, and easily some of the best HP fics I've read in my life! I love Lorna's curious obsession with bathtubs... so random it's hilarious! Did you ever read the fic that she started with Eliza Diawna Snape? I don't know if that was ever finished, but I do remember liking it! And yes, I did pick those names out specifically... I'm surprised you knew what they meant though! Well, thank you again, for being open-minded about my story, I'm glad that you've come to like it!
Ice-Otter- Wow, thank you! Man, between you and Sarai, I just could not stop blushing!!! Thank you! Oh, don't worry about not reviewing every chapter, I'm just glad you read & enjoyed this! Sorry that I haven't reviewed chapter 3 of Immortal Forever yet, but know that it's definitely on my list of things to do! Thanks again, you really made my day!
And last, but certainly never least...
Quiet One- Ah, my dear friend! How can I possibly thank you for all the help/support/ideas/positive comments you've given me over the course of writing this fic? How could I even begin to list all the inspiration, etc. you've given? I'm so very glad that you're reading this and that you like it, but even gladder that you've become my friend! Hey guess what! I'm working on even more stories now! I just started to sketch an outline for a new story (that takes place in the same world as my other originals I've told you about) and it's about this guy Eryk, who is the son of the king, and his friend, a former slave named Cleta. I'll tell you more about it later, but I'm very excited! And I've got an idea for another one, about a palace maid named Letty, but that story doesn't have a plot yet... still working on that! Anyways, how're things going on WotR? I hope you update it soon, I'm itching to find out more! (and I also wanna see Tuyet and Rayden! ~tee hee hee~) Anyways, I'll ttyl, I'm sure, and thanks again, for absolutely everything!!!!!
Okay, I think that's everyone, terribly sorry if someone was missed, I swear it wasn't on purpose!!! I hope you guys liked this, and hopefully, I'll be able to start writing the next chapter soon... don't hold your breath though. I'm in a play, and performances start week after next, so I'll be concentrating completely on that till it's over!
Always,
~Hollie
