Hermione found Kiana in their shared dormitory the next day. To her surprise, the bookcases, beds, mirrors, dressers, and even the windows were rearranged!
Kiana was sitting crosslegged, floating in the air, as she adjusted the garland that decorated the top of one shelf. Hermione honestly couldn't see much of a difference.
"What are you doing?" she asked. Kiana spun in the air to face her.
"Look."
Kiana's wand flicked and Hermione found herself being lifted up like Kiana was. From her vantage point by the ceiling, she saw. The room looked totally different, like a whole new world. The tops of furniture and the ledges of the windows made pathways or comfy spots. She noticed there was a bed on top of the bookcase where Kiana had been adjusting the garland. She hadn't been able to see any of it down on the floor because of the way it was arranged.
"Wow," Hermione said. She was both awed by the sight and pleasantly surprised Kiana trusted her enough to show her this. It was obviously her secret spot, a place of refuge.
"Why'd you show me this?"
"'Cause you don't like heights and you won't come up here unless you have to," Kiana stated.
It was true. By showing Hermione, Kiana had not undermined the privacy of the place unless Hermione told, which she had no intention of doing.
"And because you asked," Kiana added as an afterthought, flicking her wand almost absentmindedly. Hermione was lowered carefully to the ground. She watched as Kiana dashed silently away to someplace up there. Then her feet touched the ground and she could no longer see. She sat down at the table to do homework. She actually liked this arrangement better. A few moments later, Kiana popped out upside down, hanging from her feet by the bookcase across from Hermione.
"And maybe just because I wanted to show someone," she said, finally completely her answer to Hermione's question. She flipped back up to her little world up there. Smiling, Hermione turned back to her homework.
Kiana was playing some muggle music rather loudly. With its catchy tune and strong beat, Hermione was finding it rather distracting.
"Can you turn that music down a little?" she asked. As a response, the music immediately shut off. The sudden silence was a little unnerving.
"Well, maybe you could play it, just softer," she said.
"How about this?" Kiana asked. Mozart floated softly from the ceiling. "I hear it makes you smarter."
"It's perfect, thank you," Hermione said. Shaking her head with amusement, she dipped her quill into her inkpot. For all Kiana might seem cold and unreachable, she did try to please.
Suddenly Hermione jumped up. What Kiana had just showed her reminded her of something she had read a while ago.
"I've got to go, I'll see you later," she called as she ran out of the room.
"See, look right here," Hermione said excitedly to Ron and Harry, pointing to a spot on the page. They were in the common room, bent over a book, after dinner. Hermione had finally found the one she was looking for.
"Kiana is fairy kindred!"
Hermione read out loud from the book:
"The fairy plane is the alternate universe where fairies reside. It somehow seems to intercept the 'home plane', as the plane where human beings live is called, in all places. Though fairies often come over to the home plane (and are considered outcasts by many tribes of fairies in the fairy plane), very few humans cross over to the fairy plane. No one knows exactly how or why it happens, but occasionally, some extraordinary human beings are allowed to walk the fairy plane. They are called fairy kindred.
For whatever reason, when they return to the home plane, they have special powers, possibly given to them as gifts from the fae, or a mark of their belonging. One of their abilities is the ability to walk on air, specifically wind, though only in the direction it is blowing. Others include exceptional hearing and healing powers. But perhaps the most exceptional of them all is the ability to see into the near future.
It is often described as a kaleidoscope. Like in the center of a kaleidoscope, where you see what is actually there and not a reflection from the mirrors, there is one spot in the center of their vision that shows what will most likely happen, if they do what they are most likely to do. Arranged around this scene, however, are variations of it in the case that they do something different. The ones on the very edges are often cut off because they show what is highly unlikely to happen. This ability allows them to choose the path of action that will get the reaction they desire. All of their abilities can be turned off easily, when they so desire.
A few fairy kindred take home with them a pet from the fairy plane, but few are given this honor. Most of these pets are outlawed in the wizarding world. However, in the fear of upsetting the fairies by refusing their gift, the Ministry of Magic often makes exceptions for them. They are completely tame, having been tamed by the fairies prior to the gift-giving.
Fairy kindred are usually imaginative, carefree, capricious, and have a penchant for heights. They start off this way naturally, but these qualities become more pronounced after walking the fairy plane. Many fairy kindred have been known for making their homes on top of the furniture in their houses. For instance, the top of a wide bookcase might serve as a bed, lined with a blanket and pillow. These "extra homes" are comfy but cannot be seen from below."
"What does this have to do with Kiana?" Ron asked.
"She's fairy kindred!"
"How do you know?" Harry asked.
"I saw her coming back from Dumbledore's office and she told me he told her she's not allowed to walk on wind or-" Hermione looked up to see Kiana. She was standing at the top of the stairs. Her hand was on her hip and her eyes flashed sparks.
"What are you doing?" Her tone was challenging. She walked down the stairs toward them. Hermione blinked uncertainly. What was Kiana mad about?
"I was just telling Harry and Ron about-"
"Why are you telling them? What makes you think you can tell them that? If I want them to know, I'll tell them myself."
Hermione was at a loss for words. She couldn't imagine keeping anything from Harry and Ron. She hadn't even considered not telling them. She tried to explain.
"Harry and Ron are my best friends-" she began. Kiana cut her off.
"Just because they are your best friends and you trust them and doesn't mean that I-" Kiana stopped in the middle of her sentence, her eyes suddenly darting to Harry and Ron. Harry just looked at her. She flashed him a brief and over-bright smile.
"I won't tell anyone," he said quietly.
"Ok," Kiana said, sounding a little sheepish. Then she regained her fire and turned back to Hermione.
"But that's not the point. Everything, everything I say is confidential, whether it's about me or others. I never tell people what other people told me and I expect you to do the same."
"I'm sorry," Hermione said, "I won't do it again."
"Ok, make sure you don't," Kiana said, her anger appeased. Harry and Hermione were both glad to see her normal again. Ron looked a little confused.
"Since we already know," Harry said, "can you tell us what it was like walking the fairy plane?"
"It's kind of hard to describe," Kiana said, but with a smile. "I'll tell you some other time." She gave a little wave and disappeared back upstairs.
A/N: I hope you like this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think!!