Just so you know, everything gets explained eventually. I have this story planned out with so much backstory that there's going to be a prequel. Everything gets intertwined so if you wait long enough, it will get explained. Hopefully when it does, everything will start to make sense.
Will be Draco/Harry eventually. Once again, stressing the eventually.
Thank you to my betas. I'm sorry you're sick, Ash. Get better!
Dragonsbane: Updated already. I promise, I'll update as fast as my betas allow.
Blackstar: Of course Harry will have to help him. It will get to Harry/Draco eventually. I feel like I can't stress that enough.
: Whoever didn't leave a name, thank you very much. I appreciate it.
Tine: Hey, you! I'm glad you decided to read this. I hope you like this chapter and I hope I, once again, make your day.
Bunny-kuo: I hope you enjoy this next part. It's time to take the story to Harry's point of view.
Jammie: You don't have to worry about me not updating. I write like a maniac and the third chapter of this story has already been sent to my betas. I will update as fast as I possibly can.
Anyone else who reads and/or reviews: Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I hope you like the second chapter just as much.
I wish I was as wonderful as JK Rowling but, even if I were, I still wouldn't be her. Anything (characters, places, etc.) that you recognize is hers. The plot and Kali are mine. I am currently looking into therapy.
Falling: Chapter Two
King's Cross Station Platform Nine and Three Quarters was bustling with excitement as parents hugged their children and said their goodbyes until Christmas break for most. For some children, the farewells would be for the remainder of the school year and Harry Potter was happy that, for once, his was not the latter. He wheeled his trolley toward the train, his godfather ambling along behind him and saying something that Harry didn't quite catch about dungbombs and the good old days. Harry guessed he didn't really want to know.
"I'll see you at Christmas holiday then," said Sirius.
"I guess so," replied Harry grinning.
"Excited to get back, are we?"
"Yes. And no. Going back to school means people staring at my forehead and asking me what it was like to face Voldemort and defeat him. Again."
"Well it's better than going to dinner at a wizard establishment and having people stare at you because you spent twelve years in Azkaban thanks to a certain balding rat."
"I'm sure the stares will stop, Sirius."
"Mine will stop when yours do."
"So it's forever, then?"
"I believe so."
"Harry!" came a voice interrupting their conversation or lack there of and Harry turned to see his friend Hermione Granger running toward them. Pinned to her school robes, which Harry was appalled to see her already wearing, was a shiny badge. Hermione had written him a few weeks ago detailing how she had been made Head Girl as if it were the best thing in the world. He didn't know what the big deal was.
"Hey, Mione," he said as he hugged her. "Ready for another term?"
"I've been ready since my badge came," she admitted with a slight blush. "Have you seen Ron yet?"
"Not yet," he replied.
To everyone's amazement, Ron had been made this year's Head Boy. For their first five years at Hogwarts, Ron had spent most of his time bending the rules and getting into trouble with Harry. When they took their O.W.L.s however, Ron's score had been surprisingly high. At first, Ron thought it had been a mix up as he was only three short of Hermione's record-breaking score, but when they returned for their sixth year, Harry felt as if he were with two of Hermione instead of one. After the impressive O.W.L. score, apparently showing that when Ron, who had been frightened of coming home with too few and disappointing his mum, really tried to do spells correctly, he was almost as good as Hermione. His marks had been the second best in the year and Professor Dumbledore deemed this major improvement as good merit for the position of Head Boy. Even Ron was still having trouble stringing together a coherent sentence regarding the achievement.
"Can you believe he's Head Boy?" said Hermione.
"I know. Ron wrote me a letter after he heard. It took me awhile to get through the gibberish but I eventually got the gist."
"Yeah. It took me half an hour just to understand what he was telling me. I'm really very proud of him. I always told him that if he'd just try, he could do well. He has a very good mind for thinking. Its part of what makes him so good at wizards chess. He just needed to grow up a bit."
"If you don't need me anymore," interrupted Sirius, "I'll be going. With both you and Remus at Hogwarts this year, I need to mourn about being left with no one to accompany me to Diagon Alley when I'm bored. I may have to make new friends."
"The horror," teased Harry.
"Making friends is hard when you're formerly a convicted murderer."
Both Harry and Hermione laughed at this and gave him hugs before bidding Sirius goodbye and watched him apparate with a faint pop before them.
"So I guess I'm on my own this year," said Harry, feigning misery. "You're Head Girl and Ron's Head Boy. Who am I? No one. Just the bloody Boy-Who-Gets-Stared-At."
Hermione snickered before playfully cuffing him over the head. "You are not. Ron and I will be around so much that you won't have time to notice that we have more privileges than you do."
"You may be Head Girl but I have the invisibility cloak and the Marauders map."
"What about the Marauders map?" asked Ron as he came up beside them and pushing his trolley. From behind him, Harry could see Ron's younger sister Ginny abandon her things and leave them momentarily to wrap her arms around Neville Longbottom.
"Nothing. After decoding your message, we realized you were made Head Boy."
"Was it that bad?" Harry and Hermione nodded. "You can't imagine how amazed I was. Honestly. Mum cried. Fred and George are embarrassed of me. I was rather happy about it, though, until Percy told me that he was proud of me. What if this makes me like Percy?"
"It won't," assured Harry. "As long as you're still up to being our Quidditch Keeper and brought a good deal of Fred and George's new prospective items from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, anyway."
"I got away with a whole assortment. Fred didn't want to give any of the new prototypes to me because I'm embarrassing the family by making Head Boy and all, but I finally convinced him that if he didn't give them to me, I may turn into Percy. My fears don't only scare me. They frighten the twins as well."
Hermione scowled as she pointedly told them that they needed to load their things onto the train. Ron groaned but followed suit and they were soon settled in. There had been an option for the Head Boy and Head Girl to share a private compartment on the train, but Ron and Hermione had jointly decided to decline. They would rather be with all their friends on the ride to school and so, as they got on the train, the search for an empty compartment began.
They found one near the back of the train and settled in. Ron continued to babble about his utter surprise as he went into detail of his morning when he had innocently sat down to breakfast and opened up the letter with the news. Percy had beamed, according to Ron, and Mrs. Weasley had bawled at the surprise. Conversation quickly turned to the new items Fred and George were developing for their joke shop and Hermione made a rather curt reply to herself as the boys ignored it about how the Head Boy should not encourage any sort of candy called 'Chipmunk Drop.' She didn't see the amusement in a candy that made one sound like they had sucked a large amount of helium.
The train hadn't even taken off when the door to the compartment slid open and a girl that none of them had ever seen before hung in the doorway. She was short for a girl, and both Harry and Ron were quick to notice she had one of those hourglass figures that was becoming more and more obsolete with the witch and muggle models alike these days. Catching sight of Ron and Harry's faces, Hermione scowled at them and turned back to the girl.
"Hi," she said tentatively, eyeing them with pale blue eyes. "All the other compartments are full. I was wondering-"
"Of course you can sit here," said Hermione before Harry or Ron had the time to close their mouths. "It would be nice to have a girl in here. These two give me testosterone overload."
She laughed before inching into the room and sitting down next to Hermione. "I'm sorry, it's just that I don't really know anyone here."
"It's alright," answered Hermione. "I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new?"
"As new as I can be," she answered, laughing. "I used to go to a witchcraft and wizardry school in America, Chivington, but now I've transferred here."
"Why did you transfer?" asked Harry. Ron was still gaping as the train began to move for Hogwarts, causing Hermione to roll her eyes at him. He really could use a slap to bring him back to reality.
"I was born here in Britain and my father still lives here. I was living with my aunt in America. She moved there because of the war. You know. With Voldemort. I was sent there for the same reason."
Both Harry and Hermione were a little thrown that she had used Voldemort's name but they quickly recovered. Ron apparently hadn't heard and if he had, he didn't show it. He was still gaping.
"Why didn't your father go with you?" asked Hermione.
"He said he had to be here. I wish he would have. I've seen him, though. We've been writing letters and he's visited me every summer for as long as I can remember. It's been tough, though. I'm so glad the war is over and now I can be with him again."
"Yeah," muttered Harry as he shifted and flattened his bangs over his forehead.
"What year are you in?" asked Hermione ignoring Harry's attempt to conceal his identity.
"Seventh. You?"
"Same. Wow. . .So you had to leave on your last year?"
"Not really had. My dad gave me an option and I would rather be in the same country as he is than do my last year at a school an ocean away from him."
"I can understand that. You must have missed him terribly."
"I did."
"So what's your name?"
"Oh!" she said, clapping a hand to her mouth. "I'm so rude. I'm sorry. My name's Mikailah Strauser, but my friends call me Kali."
"Should we call you Kali?" asked Ron. It was the first coherent thing he had said since she walked in.
"If you'd like," she answered with a grin. "How about you?"
"I'm Ron Weasley," he said extending his hand, which she shook graciously.
"Hermione Granger."
"Harry Potter," he muttered.
"The Harry Potter?" she asked. He nodded. "Well it's wonderful to meet you. I bet you get loads of attention everywhere you go, don't you?" He nodded again. "That must be dreadful."
"It is."
"So we're all in the same year?"
"It appears that way," answered Hermione. "I'm Head Girl and Ron's Head Boy. It was quite and accomplishment for the both of us."
"Congratulations," she said, grinning. "What house are you in?"
"Gryffindor."
"All three of you?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "I guess you don't know what house you'll be in yet, huh?"
"Nope. I'm feeling rather nervous about it. My mother was a Gryffindor but my father was a Slytherin so I'm not really sure where I'll end up. Dad keeps joking that I'll be a Hufflepuff and surprise everyone. At least I hope he's joking because I wouldn't really want to be a Hufflepuff."
"You don't really want to be a Slytherin, either," said Ron pointedly.
"Your mum was a Gryffindor?" asked Harry.
"Yeah," answered Kali softly.
"You haven't really mentioned your mum yet so I was just saying," Harry quickly explained.
"It's okay. My mum - well, she died."
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "My mum's dead, too, but – er – I guess you already knew that."
"Yeah," she said with a laugh. "It's okay. It happened a long time ago. She died in childbirth so I really didn't get the chance to get to know her but from what I hear, she was a great woman."
"All Gryffindors are," said Hermione, proudly.
"Yeah. I'm hoping for Gryffindor. I think my dad is, too. He says he sees a lot of my mum in me which is funny because everyone says that I look like my dad. I just figure I'm my dad on the outside and my mum inside. I'm just kind of worried. I have to get sorted along with the first years. It's going to be terribly embarrassing."
"Speaking of Slytherins," said Ron, "shouldn't Malfoy be showing up here sometime soon? He usually pays us a visit."
"Malfoy?" asked Kali.
"Yeah," said Ron. "You know him or something?"
"I've heard of the family," she answered. "Why does Malfoy pay you a visit?"
"He typically does every year to torment us," explained Hermione. "I don't think he'll show this year, though. He didn't on the ride home last year. Remember what happened last year? Right before Voldemort fell?"
"Don't say his name," and then, "How can you forget?" answered Ron. "I still can't believe that Malfoy tried to kill himself."
"I know," said Hermione softly. "The gossip is still going around. I caught sight of him right before I found you, Harry, and I overheard a few sixth year girls talking about it."
"Malfoy tried to kill himself?" asked Kali.
"Yeah," explained Harry. "Last year, a few weeks before Voldemort was defeated, Malfoy slit his wrists. This third year, Ruby Cabot, found him unconscious in the Slytherin common room with blood all over the place and a suicide note. She went right to Dumbledore and Malfoy was out for four days until he woke up. Just barely pulled through. He's lucky that Ruby found him when she did."
"He spent most of the rest of the year secluded. He barely even talks to the other Slytherins and he always sits alone at meals," said Hermione. "It's kind of scary."
"I miss him mocking my family," Ron admitted. "It actually worries me that he hasn't been. I can't believe I've actually been concerned about Malfoy but it was scary seeing him last year after he finally left the hospital wing. He was like this dead creature walking around school and then when Lucius. . ."
"It's a long story," said Hermione quickly. "Anyone up for a game of Exploding Snap?"
Taking the hint that all three Gryffindors clearly wanted to change the subject, Kali concurred and they played until the witch with the trolley came by and they each bought a lunch. Ron and Kali were discussing their collections of Famous Witch and Wizard cards over a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans when Harry left to change and dragged Ron with him. With the boys gone, Kali decided to just change right there after Hermione said that she didn't mind.
Dressing fast, Kali was brushing out her long, black hair as she dropped next to Hermione. "Are you dating anyone?" she asked.
"Me?" said Hermione and gave a short laugh. "Not currently. It's not that I don't have my eye on anyone but nothing's materialized. I was with Ron for a good part of our fifth year but we work better as friends. Neither one of us was really into it. And Harry's too wild for me."
"Wild?" she asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Harry has this thing where he thinks people expect certain behavior out of him because he's the Boy-Who-Lived. Since Harry hates that identity, he tries to be what everyone expects him not to be. I did have a fancy for him but his rebellion includes dating. He's bisexual and will tell anyone who'll listen about the girls - and guys - he'd like to shag. Sometimes I think he doesn't even realize what he's saying. He just likes to hear himself talk."
Kali laughed. "I guess I can understand that. Is he really that bad?"
"Wait until you get to know him. He decided sometime in the beginning of our sixth year that he was going to be flamboyant. Ron's taken to calling him Horny Potter. There was this one time where Harry was listening to himself speak, at least we hope he was, when he told Ron that he'd like to shag him. Ron paled and ended up putting a charm on his bed so that Harry couldn't get in. It was rather funny."
"I don't blame him. I'd want to shag Ron."
"Really?" Hermione squealed causing Kali to jump. "You fancy Ron?"
"I'm not about to pick out a china pattern with the boy, but he is attractive. Harry wasn't serious, was he?"
"Both Ron and I are hoping not but Ron probably feels a lot better having his own room this year thanks to being Head Boy."
"You know, those boys are taking an awful long time." Kali wiggled her eyebrows at Hermione who, suppressing giggles, playfully shoved her.
"Don't even suggest something like that. If Harry attacked Ron, we may never see either one again."
"And seeing as how Ron's rather attractive, that would be a terrible shame."
"What would be a terrible shame?" asked Harry as he and Ron returned.
"Nothing," said Hermione. "What took you so long?"
"We ran into Ginny and Neville. Ron had to give his usual 'touch my sister in inappropriate places and I'll slaughter you' speech."
"Honestly, Ron. Ginny's a big girl. She can take care of herself."
"I know that," he said. "It doesn't mean that I can't watch out for my sister. If Neville is anything like Harry than I should just skip ahead to the castration."
"Do the words 'cruel and unusual punishment' mean anything to you?" asked Harry. "How do you get laid without the package?"
"Harry, I don't want to hear sex talk just yet. Kali's new. You don't want to scare her."
Harry grinned at them both. "Alright. I'll pen it up. Just know that when the cork pops, my energy and shag talk with abound in mass."
"I can hardly wait."
Harry made references to the promise of talk about shagging but he refrained from fully submerging himself into the conversation. Kali had laughed and retorted with comments even cruder than Harry's causing Ron to suggest that maybe they shouldn't be allowed to be friends. They had ignored what he said but Kali shot Ron a small smirk before returning to her vulgar talk with Harry. Hermione was suddenly feeling that she had fallen into some sort of sex education class and she stared out the window while Ron stared at Kali. Hogwarts couldn't come fast enough.
*~*~*~*~*
Once again, let me know what you think. I'd like to apologize for making Kali sound so Mary-Sue. She does get really cool. I hope. And she is there for a reason. She really is *dun dun dun*. Five points and a cookie to anyone who can guess the big secret behind Kali! *whee!*
Anything negative can be directed to my email account at angeldlsm00@hotmail.com
