Kiana stood politely outside of Dumbledore's office, but before she even knocked, he called out,
"Come in, Kiana." She knew immediately that Dumbledore was fairy kindred like herself. He smiled warmly when she entered and though she knew Dumbledore wouldn't really mind if she sat down, she waited for him to tell her first anyway.
"I trust you have found Hogwarts to be accommodating?" he asked. She nodded. She had arrived at midnight yesterday, but still woke up early. She hadn't needed much sleep after napping the majority of the trip.
"Thank you so much for inviting me here," she said. It had been Dumbledore's idea for her to transfer from Durmstrang. He knew that like Harry, she was wanted by Voldemort. She had gained special powers after walking the fairy plane (though not intentionally,) over the summer and becoming fairy kindred. Voldemort would find her a useful tool or else force her to make one of the highly dangerous fairy weapons. Unlike Harry, however, Dumbledore was not entirely sure she would be able to withstand Voldemort's persuasions. She did have a good heart and would probably start off with the intention of changing Voldemort instead, but the opposite might happen. She had an uncanny way of looking past a person's deeds and faults to see the person inside, and sympathize with their pain, possibly to the danger of herself or others.
Dumbledore both wanted to keep her safe as well as keep an eye on her. He had merely mentioned the former, of course, when inviting her to transfer. He knew he would have to be careful now. Hogwarts had originally not accepted her because of her volatile, antagonistic character. The invitation had been sent last minute, and she had accepted several days after school started. She did know how to be polite when she wanted, and he had hoped she would try to blend in. Apparently, that was not her plan. She wanted to make a grand entrance, and the fact that she arrived several days after the school year had already started only compounded that fact.
"There is still danger, however," he said. Kiana knew what was coming next and felt her heart sink. Even though she knew it was futile, she couldn't help resisting.
"I will try to avoid dangerous situations, of course," she assured him.
"Be that as it may," Dumbledore said," I still have to ask you to try not to draw so much attention to yourself. Already, Lucius Malfoy has come to speak to me about you. As tempting as it may be, I must ask you to not flaunt your powers." He smiled.
"I do have good news, however. The ministry has approved your pet dragon, seeing that it is tame and of a powerful, though relatively harmless breed. Remember, though, if you use it to hurt any fellow student, it will be confiscated." Kiana nodded quickly. "And it must still be kept secret from the other students." Dumbledore added. Kiana smiled. They both knew she hadn't kept it locked in its cage until the ministry approved it like she was supposed to. Right at this moment, it was curled around her neck in its usual place, though she had charmed it to make it invisible. Her hair was short enough for it to not touch her hair and therefore reveal its prescence.
"I would suggest transforming it," Dumbledore continued, "so students aren't surprised by seemingly impossible occurrences." Kiana nodded again, though reluctantly. She would rather like seeing their surprised faces if it decided to do something. It was very protective of its owner.
"Well, you may go now," Dumbledore said, "You will be sorted tonight and you might want to change into your Hogwarts robes now. Remember, if you have any problems, you can come to me."
Kiana smiled politely and said thank you once more before leaving. But before she had reached the door, Dumbledore added,
"Your powers?" Sighing a little, she turned them off.
Hermione was hurrying back to the Gryffindor common room from the library, her arms laden with books by Archibald Corzicon, when she passed by Kiana. She immediately knew something was wrong. Her head looked like it was hanging, though that did not seem to be the fault of the cat that was curled her neck. (An Egyptian Mau, if Hermione was not mistaken.) The spring and confidence was gone from her step. She somehow looked deflated and vulnerable.
"Are you all right, Kiana?" she asked, coming over to walk beside her.
Kiana looked up. Her face was completely blank and her eyes wide.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine." Hermione couldn't tell whether or not there was a hint of bitterness or sarcasm. She hadn't known Kiana long enough to tell.
"Are you sure?"
Kiana thought quickly, scanning various options. Hermione was smart enough to figure it out soon, so she might as well help her along, she decided. Now she let her face show how upset she was.
"Not really. I just got back from talking to Dumbledore."
Hermione winced in sympathetic pain. She dreaded talking to Dumbledore except for a good thing, and from Kiana's expression, it was not for a good thing.
"What did he say?"
"He won't let me do a lot of things I usually do," was the quiet reply. Kiana suddenly seemed to brighten and become normal again. She ran briefly on a breeze that wafted through the window, her feet flitting just above the ground. "I can't walk on wind," she said. Her feet suddenly looked heavy. As she began to list, the vibrancy, the vivacity that made up her spirit seemed to die down. "I can't use my enhanced hearing." Her head seemed to hang without actually doing so. "My pet isn't allowed to help or protect me." The cat around her neck seemed to shrivel up, lose its elegance and confidence. "But most of all, I want my kaleidoscope!" she said, and ran away looking like she was about to cry.
Hermione paused, thinking about the girl's cryptic reply. Then with a sigh, she turned around to do some research in the library she had just left.
Kiana wasn't the type to cry. She had mostly exaggerated all of her expressions for Hermione's benefit. Very few of her emotions ever showed on her face, and she had to put them there for people to see. Of course, this was useful when she didn't want people to know what she felt. Once Hermione was gone, she dropped her expression and continued wandering around. There wasn't a particular place for her to go, not having been sorted yet.
She pulled herself up to walk proud and sure when she saw Flint rounding the corner. His eyes held a challenge and she met it defiantly. Dumbledore's words echoed in her head. Don't flaunt your powers.
"So it's the new girl," Flint said. He eyed her up and down. She was now in her Hogwarts robes but she was still wearing all black underneath them. She only had one wristband on her left wrist now, and a chain of tiny, semi-precious stones was wrapped around her waist, one end dangling with a pendant at the end of it. She paused to give him a blank, cold look, then tried to pass by him.
"Uh uh," Flint said, holding out his arm to stop her. She flashed him an irritated but still superior look. With a quick spell, his arm was shoved away and she pushed past. She really wasn't in the mood for this. Flint was shocked she would do such a thing. Usually second years were scared of him! It was time to put her in her place. Grabbing her wand as she passed, he attempted to back her into a corner.
To his surprise, she just barely gave an uninterested glance out of the corners of her eyes at her wand clutched in his hand. Unbeknownst to him, that was actually one of her weak spare wands. Her real, powerful ones were still hidden up her sleeves, ready to be dispatched at an instant's notice. She decided her multiple wands was an advantage she shouldn't disclose to him yet. But she wouldn't let him back her into a corner. She just continued walking along the corridor, though diagonally to avoid Flint's leering face, as if she was merely walking around something. Finally, though, he had pushed her against the wall.
"What do you want?" she asked, throwing him an exasperated look. He wiggled her wand in front of her, then leaned forward in a manner he apparently thought was intimidating.
"You may know all those fancy spells," he said, "But when it comes down to hand-to-hand fighting, you can't hold your own." He tossed the wand over his shoulder and brought his fists up threateningly, expecting her to cower. She had a very slim, pliant build, and looked harmless. But to his surprise, her eyes narrowed. With a flick of her wrist, the wristband that had been glowing with pink studs was suddenly atop her knuckles, flashing sharpened spikes instead of gems. Her other hand twirled the once bejeweled chain that had been around her waist, but now it was thick and black and dangerous.
"You wanna bet?" she asked, wincing inside at her own cliched saying. She felt her "cat" perch upon her shoulder, hissing and preparing to leap. She patted him gently, forcing him to back down as she remembered Dumbledore's warning. Flint would find it mighty odd that a cat managed to scorch him. Kiana had opted for an illusion as opposed to a transformation, so that her dragon would keep its powers. Flint glared, refusing to back down.
"So, you're gonna go armed against an unarmed opponent," he spat, "How...ladylike." The feminine crack had worked on every girl he had ever tried it on. It didn't work on her. It wasn't unfair to play to your advantages, she thought.
"So, you're gonna go against a girl that is 5 years younger than you and also probably 300 pounds lighter." She tossed her head. "How very...manly." Flint sneered, but inwardly realized she was a dangerous opponent. She had dropped deftly into a fighting position that showed off her good training.
"I don't have time to play games, little girl," he said, "But watch your back. I hope you get sorted into Slytherin: you won't last a day there." He whirled and strode away quickly. Kiana glared at his retreating back. He's a real nasty one, she thought.
She hurried away, pleased with herself. So what if she couldn't use her powers? She still had a few tricks up her sleeve.
At dinner that night, Dumbledore stood up.
"We have a new student," he announced. "She is transferring from Durmstrang. She arrived earlier today. I think she may have met some of you already, and I trust you all will make her feel welcome. We will sort her now."
Professor McGonagall pulled out the stool and sorting hat.
"Students, this is Lakela Fiare," she announced. Kiana came out from a side door.
"Call me Kiana Opal, please," she said politely. Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and glanced over to Dumbledore for approval. Had the girl made up a name for herself? But Dumbledore nodded and Professor McGonagall said,
"Very well, Kiana."
Kiana sat down on the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head. It didn't bother to sing a song. The students had heard it just a couple days ago, and it hadn't had enough time to come up with a new one anyway.
Interesting, said the voice in her ear. I haven't had one this hard since the famous Harry Potter. Ah, you wonder what he was like? I cannot tell you, but seeing as your curiosity is quite balanced, that shouldn't be too hard for you to deal with. Hmmm.
Kiana waited calmly. She really didn't care what house she got in, as long as it was not Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuffs were nice and friendly, but also trusting and gullible. She didn't think of herself that way. You would fit best into Slytherin, the hat mused, But you share many qualities with the Gryffindors. I'll let you choose. After all, I let Harry influence my decision with him. So what will it be, Gryffindor or Slytherin?
Kiana certainly hadn't expected to be given a choice. How would she ever decide? She thought for a moment. Why will I fit better into Slytherin? she asked. You're good at lying, was the reply. You're very private and like to hide your feelings and thoughts. You're also very good at getting what you want, very good at manipulation, though you don't use it for malicious intentions. In that way you're like a Gryffindor. In Slytherin you'll have to play a tricky game to get what you want. Gryffindors will be a lot easier to manipualte.
The thought appealed to her. But did she want to go in Gryffindor, where she could easily get what she wanted, or Slytherin, where she would fit in? And it certainly wouldn't be a very good motive to choose Gryffindor just to get her way. She knew she'd feel guilty later.
The Gryffindors will find you rather overwhelming, the hat continued. I'm not quite sure I want to unleash you on them. But they will do you more good than the Slytherins.
Kiana wasn't quite sure what the hat meant. Gryffindors were generally more welcoming and friendly, but she knew the friends she made in Slytherin would be tighter, even if she would make more in Gryffindor. Or would she? Kiana knew she had a very unusual way of dealing with people that the Gryffindors might not like.
The hat remained silent. Inwardly she scowled and felt the hat chuckle a little at her annoyance. She pulled her mind away to consider the feel she had gotten for the different houses. Gryffindor had a noble reputation. Slytherins had a darker, more sinister reputation. The darker edge of things appealed to her. She had always skirted the edges of badness, even in the muggle world. She wasn't some bad-girl wannabe, a goody goody who liked to fancy herself a bad girl. She actually knew some stuff, had been part of some things that most Gryffindors would never even consider. And that darker reputation, that arrogant, conniving mind-set was calling to her. She didn't know why. The image of being pure and lovely and kind also appealed to her, though sometimes being too happy-go-lucky made her feel annoyed and condescending. She was totally confused.
While Kiana thought, the whole school watched her in silence. Snape's eyes were slightly narrowed. McGonagall's face was stern. Dumbledore was worried. The students were curious about this transfer student the sorting hat was taking so long to decide on. Hermione and Harry were watching the barely there play of emotions across her face. They changed so rapidly, neither could tell what she was thinking.
The idea that she would get her way in Gryffindor popped up again. Don't even think about that! she told herself. That's not a good reason. There are plenty of other things to consider. Immediately Flint's threat popped into her head, and she had to tell herself not to use that as a motive either. She desperately wanted to prove him wrong, but that was really not a good reason to choose Slytherin.
Think about the people, she finally decided. Hermione, who she had taken a liking to, was in Gryffindor. So was Harry, the famous one. He had a quiet strength that Kiana liked. And what about Slytherin? There was Draco, who she had also taken a liking too. He had a defiant, aristocratic air that was similar to her own. Well, two versus one, Kiana told herself. I choose Gryffindor.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted. In her ear, it whispered just a few last words. Not exactly the best of reasons, it said, But better than the others. If you had chosen to go by them, I would have had to put you in the house I felt was best. Which was? Kiana asked. But the hat was silent again. Reluctantly, she pulled it off.
Harry noted her slight reluctance with interest, and Hermione with disappointment, as Kiana began to walk to the Gryffindor table. The hall applauded politely as she took a seat beside Hermione. She had a very careful expression on, and returned every glance with the same expression she had been given: a rather superficial but polite one from Parvati, a shy but sweet one from Lavender, a warm one from Hermione... She frowned at Draco's frown. Harry made sure his smile was friendly and welcoming, and she returned it with warmth.
The rest of dinner was filled with small talk. Kiana kept to rather evasive answers. By the end of dinner, neither Harry, Hermione, nor Ron felt like they knew Kiana much better at all.
A/N:The next few chapters will clear up any questions you have about Kiana. As you have probably noticed by now, she is not a normal girl. Please review! thanks.