Chapter 3: Rivals
Kentarre awoke the next morning at the very first light. Her first thought was of the complete silence that pervaded the room. *So, they finally decided to can it for a while,* she thought, relieved. *I'd better take advantage of it while it lasts.* Slowly, with the stealth of a skilled burglar, she rose from her bed and began to dress. She then left the room and crept down the stairs, the bottom of which was quiet. As she emerged into the common room, she realized she had been holding her breath. Now she let it out with an explosive sigh as she saw there was no one in the chamber. A dim light from the window was all there was in the room, save for the still smouldering coals in the grate. Toward this walked she with the pretense of sitting down in the chair nearest it. On a whim, she leaned forward and passed her hand over the coals; a rather large fire now roared in the fireplace. Passing her hand again, the fire calmed to a considerable simmer, just enough to get some
heat circulating in the room. Satisfied, Kentarre leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and her hands out in front of her. Absentmindedly, she stroked the back of her hands in thought. All there was left to do now was wait for the others to get up. *Though, when I think about it, I'd rather remain alone.*
All too soon, she heard thundering footsteps come down the boy's staircase. A few boys that Kentarre didn't know soon emerged from their descent. They looked at her peculiarly and then left the common room through the painting covering the doorway. Presently, a few girls clattered down their stairs. Next came a few of both, but still no sign of Potter or his friends. The girl Hermione came down eventually, and she too sat down to wait.
Harry came down the stairs then with his friend Ron in tow. They went to meet with Hermione before making for the painting. "Morning, Potter," said Kentarre, rather loudly so that he would be sure to hear her. He and his posse turned. "Oh, good morning, Kentarre. We were just going down to breakfast. Want to come?" said Harry politely. Kentarre gave a slight smile. "I think I'll take you up on that one, Potter," she replied.
Soon they were in the Great Hall, surrounded by the same decor as the previous night, save for the floating candles. Breakfast comprised of eggs and kippers, which Kentarre did not touch. "I don't eat much," she said when asked why she wasn't. Harry asked her, "So, since you don't know what year you are, what have you got planned for this morning?" She answered, "I'm going to be tested to see which year I'm suited for." He raised his eyebrows. "A test on the first day? Bummer. If you end up in fifth year, you'll be in classes with us." She simply nodded.
Then she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Professor McGonagall. "I'm to take you to the testing area, Kentarre. You aren't expecting any mail, are you?" Kentarre looked puzzled. "What?" she inquired. "Mail comes about this time of the morning," explained the professor. "You aren't expecting any, hmm?"
"No, Professor."
"Very well, then, let's go."
Kentarre got up from her seat and followed the teacher, not even bothering to look back at Harry, whom she knew was looking after her. They left the Great Hall and took one of the corridors to the immediate right. Kentarre took deep breaths, dreading what was to come. *I don't want to use this,* she thought, thinking of her wand in her right sleeve. *These wizards' ways are going to drive me up a wall.* Professor McGonagall stopped at a door that led off of the main corridor. "This is the testing area. You may use only your wand. If you find yourself slipping into difficult areas, let us know, and we'll stop the test. Any questions?" Kentarre shook her head and went in the open door.
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A few hours later, Kentarre walked into the classroom that she had been given directions to. As she entered, the occupants of the room looked up from their work. The teacher, the one called Professor Snape, gave her a sour look. Kentarre very nearly returned the glare, but resisted the temptation. Instead, she handed him the note from Professor McGonagall saying that she'd been assigned to this class at this time of the day. The professor took it and read it, distaste lining his features. He said, "Great. Another Gryffindor to add to my rollbook. You may have that desk, over in the corner." She made her way over to the designated desk, attracting stares from all over the room. "You all get back to your work," Snape snapped. Some of them did so, but a few others, particularly those whose expressions exactly matched Snape's, continued to stare. These Snape paid no attention.
As Kentarre sat down, she recognized a few faces in the class, particularly those of Potter and both of his friends. She also spotted the Malfoy kid, whose expression was so smug it was nauseating. The latter caught her eye once, and then quickly turned away. Kentarre noticed the instructions on the board that were written in tiny scribble (probably on purpose) and immediately got out the corresponding ingredients for today's potion and her cauldron. She then began to prepare her ingredients, making sure to ignore the persons on either side of her, who were both staring her hard in the face.
Kentarre quickly learned that potion-making was dull work, but, like most things, it was probably because she was not used to it. After all, this wizard business still continued to surprise her, though she had been living in it for several weeks now.
Not soon enough, the bell rang. At once, Potter approached her. "So, you made it into fifth year?" he observed. Kentarre replied, "I qualified for seventh year, but they put me here because of my inexperience with a wand." Harry stared at her. Ron asked, "So how was it?" She answered, "All too easy."
They walked to the next class, Herbology, which took place outside in the greenhouses. Professor Sprout, whom Kentarre recognized to be the person who had opened the front door for her the second time, met them at the door of the second greenhouse. "I've made some rearrangements," she began, "so there are a few more plants in here than there were last year. Come along."
Greenhouse two was clearly bigger than it looked. Plants and trees lined the walls, and potted flowers and greenery littered the floors, tables, and space under the tables. There were climbing vines that laced the high ceiling and walls. The class drizzled slowly in. Professor Sprout shut the door with a snap that made a few of them jump. She then began the lesson. "All right, today we will be working with those big ferns over in the far corner. These are called Carkels. Now, can anyone tell me what a Carkel absolutely can't stand?" Hermione, only a few feet from Kentarre, zipped her hand up. "Yes, Miss Granger?"
"They can't stand being too close to another plant of its own kind."
"Correct. Five points to Gryffindor. And can anyone tell me how the Carkel knows that one of its own is around? Yes, Miss Granger?"
"They give off a kind of heat that no other plant produces," said Hermione, sounding like an auditory encyclopedia, "and it will tell if one of its kind is around by feeling for that heat."
"Very good. Take five more, Gryffindors. What is so special about this heat, anyone?"
Once again, Hermione leaped for the chance. "The heat is very good for sores or aches."
"Correct, as usual. Five more points. Now, as Miss Granger was so kind to explain, this heat is very good for sore muscles and aching bones. Madame Pomfrey has been fighting tooth and nail for some for a few years now, but the Carkels weren't ready yet. Now that they are ripe, we will attempt to collect and solidify this heat into a liquid that will then be taken as a potion. You will collect the heat by attracting it with your wand and then depositing it into these wells." She gestured to several large, round, shallow buckets next to her on a table. "The wells will hold much more than it looks like they can, so fill them up! You will know when it is full when the heated air begins to glow green. You will work quietly in groups of four. Get into your groups and come get a well. You will use your dragonhide gloves."
As the class followed her instructions, Harry came up to Kentarre and asked, "Do you want to work with us?" Kentarre replied, "If you wish it." Harry nodded. "We'll see you over there, then." Kentarre fetched her pair of black gloves from the sleeve of her robe and joined Potter, Weasley and Granger over by one of the larger plants.
When Kentarre walked up to them, they were already collecting some with their wands. Very soon, Kentarre had joined in, gathering great lumps of glowing blue heat. Just as she was putting her first collection into the well, something else started to glow blue: her sign. Though it was not visible from outside of her gloves, Kentarre knew that familiar warmth that had nothing to do with the heat outside her glove. She stopped in surprise. *What's going on?* she asked herself. "What's wrong, Kentarre?" asked the Potter boy from behind her. She looked at him. "Oh, it's nothing," she dismissed, and deposited the heat in the well.
The emblem on the back of her hand did not stop reacting all through the class period. Kentarre's eyes darted this way and that, making sure that no one noticed. Relieved as she was when the bell rang, she made sure to act naturally, walking swiftly as was her custom.
The class then arrived at the next classroom, which was the man named Hagrid's hut. Hagrid himself was just outside the front door, tending to something that was inside a large crate. A group of other students stood outside as well; Kentarre recognized this bunch as the ones with whom Kentarre had had Potions class. When the Malfoy kid saw Potter, who was at the front of the class, he swaggered up and said loudly, "So, Potter, I see you've picked up a new friend." Potter retorted, "Yes, well I see that your crowd hasn't gotten any bigger." Malfoy acted as if he hadn't heard him and then turned to Kentarre. "You picked the losers, you know." Kentarre's eyes narrowed. "Well at least I didn't pick the slimeballs." Ron snickered, and Malfoy broke out in an angry red flush. "I'd watch it if I were you, Hisakata."
"Ooh, yeah, I'd better watch it, I might be talking to one right now."
"Actually, my father could have you expelled just like that," said Malfoy as he snapped his fingers for emphasis.
"Your father doesn't scare me, boy. I've seen him before, and he just doesn't look the part."
"My father's a very powerful man, Hisakata. He's got a lot of influence in the ministry of magic. Where're your parents?"
"You know where they are."
"Oh yes, that's right. You haven't got any. Well, you should talk to Potter here then. He hasn't got any either. Did yours get killed also? I never quite got the rest of that story."
"Well, if you must know, I've never met them. I ofttimes find myself better off without them, like this time, because I don't need to hide behind rich parents. I can look out for myself, unlike some people."
At this Malfoy bristled. He leaned closer menacingly. "I'd watch whose parents you insult, new girl. I wasn't fibbing about my father." He stormed away to rejoin his posse.
Ron could only stare at Kentarre, and when he regained his voice, he said, "You were brilliant. Where did you learn insults like that?" Kentarre replied, "From a place I hope you never have to enter. Hagrid's ready." And indeed he was.
"All righ', gather 'round now. I've got a special star'-o'-term surprise fer yeh. It's righ' here in this crate." Hagrid announced this news with the air of a newspaper man who has just recieved news of a scoop. The class crowded around to peer into the crate. Inside lay several small white balls of fluff that were each about the size of a lamb. Hagrid tapped on the side of the crate, and two of the creatures lifted their heads in curiosity. Their heads were nearly exactly like a lamb's head, but as the class got a closer look, one of them stuck its tongue out of its mouth. Its tongue was forked. Several class members jumped back in surprise.
"These're wraiths," explained Hagrid. "They're nasty, deceivin' little things that change shape jest to lure people near. A lamb is the most common shape, but there're others. Fer instance, I heard o' one in Iceland that changed itself into a baby seal, and 'nother down in Egypt what turned itself into a cat! We'll be studyin' 'em for a few weeks, and I thought we'd git some so we can be doin' more hands-on studyin'. What d'yeh think, eh?"
No one spoke up for a while, until a boy that Kentarre didn't know spoke up. He had an Irish accent. "I don't think they'd make very nice pets, them." This seemed to ease the tension just a bit, for an uneasy laugh escaped a few members of the class. Kentarre herself pushed to the front to get a better look inside the crate. One of the lambs turned its flashing, beady red eyes directly on her and held her gaze. Hagrid was saying something behind her, but Kentarre paid him no heed. The lamb's stare was almost intoxicating. Kentarre's face surely must have shown her angry bewilderment, for Harry nudged her in the shoulder and whispered, "What's wrong?" She looked at him, her previous countenance fading. "Nothing," she said, "it's nothing."
This class also flew by rather swiftly. The lesson comprised mainly of taking notes on the wraiths' behavior while Hagrid shared more stories about the ones he had seen and heard of. One person was unfortunate enough to ask how he had procured these, which resulted in a story that lasted until the bell rang for the next class.
As they walked away, Harry said, "You know, I think Hagrid's getting better at this teaching thing. We haven't had that interesting a class since the unicorns." Hermione agreed, "I know. You may be right, Harry. Maybe it just took him a while to settle into it." Ron wanted to know, "I wonder what those wraiths look like when they're not in disguise. Probably not very pretty, since they insist on wearing a costume every time someone comes around." Kentarre gave a half-smile. "I've seen one when it's not in disguise. They are pretty ugly." Ron brightened. "Really? What do they look like?" Still smiling, Kentarre answered, "Aww, come on now, you didn't really think I would spoil the surprise, did you?" Harry chuckled while Ron looked disappointed.
Malfoy stayed away from them for the remainder of the day, except just before lunch period when he brushed roughly past Kentarre in a dignified huff. Harry and Ron snickered, and Hermione looked justified. "It's about time somebody put him in his place," said she. Kentarre agreed, "I'm almost sorry I had to be the one to do it, but I'm not."
They proceeded into the Great Hall for lunch, which passed without incident. Kentarre looked upon the rest of the day with apprehension and resolve. *Soon my first day at this... school will be over. Time is swiftly slipping through my grasp. The day is almost gone. Will there be time to do what I came here to?*
Harry spoke. "Are you all right, Kentarre?" he asked. She looked at him full in the face. "What makes you think there's something wrong, Potter?" she accused. He looked away. "Well, you were staring out the window."
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"No."
"Well then, don't ask."
Harry looked embarrassed. Ron continued to eat his lunch, but continued to keep his gaze between Kentarre and Harry.
The next class was Double Divination. The Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, was a spidery woman whose dress reminded Kentarre of something she had seen an old gypsy woman wearing. The room she taught in was stuffy and humid, very much like that of an attic on a summer day. The professor greeted them in a spider-like manner, appearing directly in front of the meager, perfumed fire with her arms spread outward from her thin frame. The glasses on her face made her seem even more like and insect, enlarging her eyes to roughly twice or even thrice their proper size. "Welcome, my children," she greeted in an airy voice. "How nice to see you once again in my realm. But there is one of you that I have only seen in my crystal. Kentarre Hisakata?" She looked pointedly at Kentarre. Kentarre took this opportunity to inspect this teacher more closely. She took a step forward to look Professor Trelawney straight in the eye. "The life you lead is one of devotion to your trade,
Professor," Kentarre informed her, "but there may yet be some hope for you as a Seer." The professor eyed her beadily. "You are very perceptive, my dear. However, I must contradict you. I already am a skilled Seer." Kentarre put in, "Yet there is much that you do not See." At this, Kentarre lowered her voice. "You have watched me, but do you know what I posess? Do you know what I hide?" Professor Trelawney faltered for a moment, but then quickly recovered herself. "You are too young to be skilled in such matters. You are only a beginner. However, I have great faith for you, my dear," she said curtly, and then regained her place on her armchair nearest the fire. Kentarre watched her go with a smirk on her face. *If only you knew, Professor.* She then rejoined Harry, Ron, and Hermione at one of the round tables in the cluttered room.
Harry leaned in to ask her, "What was all that about?" Kentarre whispered back, "It's nothing of importance. I merely made a phony prediction, and she bought it." Upon hearing this, Ron began to cough, a cough that sounded much like a disguised guffaw. The professor looked at him sharply, but said nothing. Instead, she slowly stood, making herself as tall and impressive as possible. "My dears," she began, "this semester we will begin the second part of your training with the crystal. Those of you who have not yet Seen anything in your crystals should now be able to see faded shapes, while those of you who have Seen will move on to more distinct shapes. We will also begin to study the patterns and movements of not only the planets, which was in our last lessons, but of the zodiacal cycle as well. You will learn the zodiac and be able to make predictions according to what position the stars are in. Are there any questions?"
Kentarre replied under her breath, "Yes, I have a question. Is there any real magic in this course?" Harry told her, "I can answer that. None at all. It's just guesswork."
"Ah. It's as I suspected. The amateurs learn from the phony expert. I've taken courses like this before."
"What did you take?"
"Music. In the end, I learned how to actually get a note out, but not from the teacher."
"What did you play?"
"Reed pipes. I can now play just about anything on them, but I had to teach myself."
"Did you bring them with you?"
"Well, I couldn't very well leave them where I was staying."
"I'd like to hear you play them."
"I was planning on staying up late tonight to do some thinking. If you want to stay in the common room for a bit later than usual, I'll play for you then."
"All right."
The professor had been chatting with the girl called Parvati, but now she called for silence. "Your crystals are in front of you. You will now attempt to See. I will now expect for you to See something, anything, in the crystal. No excuses, no stories. Get started."
Kentarre leaned forward to peer into her cloudy crystal. Clearing her mind of thought like *Why am I doing this?* and *This is stupid*, she attempted to make some sense from the cloud shapes. Gradually, something dark began forming in the center of the clouds. This dark shape divided into two and slowly shaped itself into two identical shapes. All at once, they were shoved into view, assuming color and depth. Kentarre's face hardened as she stared into a pair of familiar eyes. "Very good," said a wispy voice right in her ear. Kentarre replied, "I didn't think I'd actually See something. But I should've known."
"Who is it, dear?"
"He is one I knew well, one of my former colleagues."
"Was he close to you?"
"No closer than any of the others. In fact, I believe that the farthest one from me was he. He kept many secrets that should've been shared."
"I see. Is there any meaning in Seeing him today?"
"No more than if I were to See him tomorrow."
"Very well. Well have you done. That will be all for today."
The professor walked away to inspect someone else's crystal, saying absentmindedly, "Focus in on that shape, dear, it seems to be the clearest."
Harry and Ron simultaneously leaned over to look at her crystal. The shape disappeared into the swirling clouds of everlasting mist. Harry looked at her. "What was it?" asked he. She told him, "A pair of eyes. Nothing more."
"Whose eyes?"
"Ones of an acquaintance."
"Oh. What was all that about?"
"With the professor? Oh, she was just telling me that I had done well and that I didn't have to try to See anything else today."
"Are you going to?"
"Do panthers lay eggs? I'm not going to pass up a chance to do nothing in class."
"Good plan."
"I try."
As soon as the bell rang, Kentarre hurriedly got her books and sped out the door at a swift walk. Harry and Ron followed somewhere behind her with the rest of the class.
Kentarre then passed an enormous open window, and a piercing cry echoed throughout the hall. In from the window zoomed a small mass of dark brown feathers that collided with Kentarre's right side, nearly knocking her into a suit of armor nearby. "N-Nemesis!" she cried in surprise and, just a little bit, anger. "I told you you couldn't come and visit me, you big baby!" The bird at her side whimpered a small whimper, and Kentarre's demeanor softened. The class caught up with her then, and, hearing the cries from round Kentarre's middle, stopped to see what was up. "Aww, what kind of bird is he?" asked Parvati. Nemesis glared up at her, and Kentarre replied shortly, "He's a falcon." The class crowded around the small but tenacious bird and its owner. Feeling a bit edgy, Nemesis began to flap his wings in annoyance at all the extra and unnecessary attention. Suddenly, he took off and flew out the same window he came in. Harry came up to Kentarre. "I didn't know you had a
falcon."
"Apparently, neither did any of the spectators," she replied drily. Harry chuckled, as did Ron. Ron asked, "What did you say his name was?"
"His name is Nemesis."
"Peculiar."
"I found it suited him. C'mon, we're being left behind." Kentarre started off silently down the hall with her bag now reslung on her back.
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Later that evening and after dinner, most of Gryffindor house sat in the common room, talking amongst themselves and mulling around before deciding to retire. As for Kentarre, she sat by the window, staring outside and slowly stroking Nemesis, who sat on her lap with his eyes closed in bliss. At her feet sat a small, blue, velvet drawstring bag which contained her reed pipes. She would have had them out by now if they wouldn't have attracted too much attention. Gosh, she hated attention.
Harry was nowhere in sight. Kentarre had not even bothered to go to dinner, so she assumed that he was still there. Nemesis gave a soft coo in pleasure, and Kentarre smiled amicably down at him. He nuzzled against her hand, and she ran her forefinger across the top of his head. "You and I really are a perfect match, aren't we?" she told the falcon. He opened his brown eyes and gazed blissfully up at her. His eyes locked with hers for a long moment, and the two almost seemed to share thoughts.
Finally, after a long wait, Potter showed up, closely followed by Hermione and Ron. They immediately headed in Kentarre's direction. "Do you want to move closer to the fire?" asked a shivering Hermione. "No. There are far too many people around the fire already."
"Harry told us that you would play your pipes for us after everyone else went to bed," input Ron.
"Yes."
"Is that them?" he asked, pointing to the bag at her feet. She nodded, but stopped him when he made to pick up the bag. "I don't want to take them out just yet. There are still people around."
Ron marveled, "You really don't like people, do you?"
"They ask too many questions."
This seemed to provide for a nice, round silence. Hermione stretched her hand out tentatively toward Nemesis, and Kentarre nodded, keeping his beak in check while Hermione smoothed his back feathers.
Presently, the room emptied of the last late-nighters, who bid them goodnight as they left the room. Kentarre's three compadres blinked at her expectantly while she picked up her drawstring bag. The pipes slid smoothly out of the bag and into her awaiting palm, gleaming in the low firelight.
Kentarre lifted the pipes to her lips and began to play, first a slow, eerie melody that rose into a crescendo and filled the room. Gradually, she worked her way into that familiar melody of the song that had been played to her and for her for most of her life, the only song that told the story of what she had been through. Wordless, it meant nothing to the ignorant ears of those who were listening, but to Kentarre, it was truth, the only real truth she had ever been shown. Its melody rose and fell with the line of the story that ran through Kentarre's mind. Gradually, this melody wove itself out of her song, to be replaced by a new one, just as familiar, but not as personal. On and on the melody flowed from the entwining of fingers, breath, and tone. Finally, the last note came, drawn from her very last bit of air before fading into nothingness.
Silence. Then a spoken word. "I think there would be some applause in store for that if it wouldn't wake the entire castle," said Ron. "I think simple verbal praise will suffice," said Hermione matter-of-factly. "It was wonderful, Kentarre."
"Hear, hear," agreed Harry. "You taught yourself to play like that?"
"What choice did I have? My tutor, as I said, was a complete idiot. No brains or musical intuition whatsoever. How else would I learn?"
"Well, it was nice, Kentarre. We really should be off to bed. It's nearing one."
"Very well. Goodnight. Oh, and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention this to anyone else."
"Why?" asked Ron.
"Well, let's just say that I don't want any more attention than I've already drawn. Fair enough?"
"All right. Goodnight, all."
They all filed up to their respective dormitories. Hermione went immediately to her bed, as did Kentarre. But before she went to sleep, Kentarre had a little business to attend to. If one of the girls in the room had been awake at this time, they would have seen Kentarre look about warily, then disappear into her canopy curtains. If they looked on, they would have detected five small sources of light that appeared behind Kentarre's curtain. Inside the curtain, the light took the form of five floating spheres, each one with a different image inside. Upon these images Kentarre gazed, her hands alight with blue markings, until, appearing satisfied at what she had seen, she extinguished the spheres one by one, until her bed was once more thrown into darkness black as pitch. After that, all was still in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory as Kentarre slept, once more covered by her black cloak.
Well, this is the end of the third chapter of my story. Stick around for the fourth chapter, "Differences." I think that sometime soon I'm going to write a chapter from Harry's point of view, like Rowling does in the books. Hope you read that one too! (By the way, I'm open for constructive criticism anytime now!!!)
Kentarre awoke the next morning at the very first light. Her first thought was of the complete silence that pervaded the room. *So, they finally decided to can it for a while,* she thought, relieved. *I'd better take advantage of it while it lasts.* Slowly, with the stealth of a skilled burglar, she rose from her bed and began to dress. She then left the room and crept down the stairs, the bottom of which was quiet. As she emerged into the common room, she realized she had been holding her breath. Now she let it out with an explosive sigh as she saw there was no one in the chamber. A dim light from the window was all there was in the room, save for the still smouldering coals in the grate. Toward this walked she with the pretense of sitting down in the chair nearest it. On a whim, she leaned forward and passed her hand over the coals; a rather large fire now roared in the fireplace. Passing her hand again, the fire calmed to a considerable simmer, just enough to get some
heat circulating in the room. Satisfied, Kentarre leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and her hands out in front of her. Absentmindedly, she stroked the back of her hands in thought. All there was left to do now was wait for the others to get up. *Though, when I think about it, I'd rather remain alone.*
All too soon, she heard thundering footsteps come down the boy's staircase. A few boys that Kentarre didn't know soon emerged from their descent. They looked at her peculiarly and then left the common room through the painting covering the doorway. Presently, a few girls clattered down their stairs. Next came a few of both, but still no sign of Potter or his friends. The girl Hermione came down eventually, and she too sat down to wait.
Harry came down the stairs then with his friend Ron in tow. They went to meet with Hermione before making for the painting. "Morning, Potter," said Kentarre, rather loudly so that he would be sure to hear her. He and his posse turned. "Oh, good morning, Kentarre. We were just going down to breakfast. Want to come?" said Harry politely. Kentarre gave a slight smile. "I think I'll take you up on that one, Potter," she replied.
Soon they were in the Great Hall, surrounded by the same decor as the previous night, save for the floating candles. Breakfast comprised of eggs and kippers, which Kentarre did not touch. "I don't eat much," she said when asked why she wasn't. Harry asked her, "So, since you don't know what year you are, what have you got planned for this morning?" She answered, "I'm going to be tested to see which year I'm suited for." He raised his eyebrows. "A test on the first day? Bummer. If you end up in fifth year, you'll be in classes with us." She simply nodded.
Then she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Professor McGonagall. "I'm to take you to the testing area, Kentarre. You aren't expecting any mail, are you?" Kentarre looked puzzled. "What?" she inquired. "Mail comes about this time of the morning," explained the professor. "You aren't expecting any, hmm?"
"No, Professor."
"Very well, then, let's go."
Kentarre got up from her seat and followed the teacher, not even bothering to look back at Harry, whom she knew was looking after her. They left the Great Hall and took one of the corridors to the immediate right. Kentarre took deep breaths, dreading what was to come. *I don't want to use this,* she thought, thinking of her wand in her right sleeve. *These wizards' ways are going to drive me up a wall.* Professor McGonagall stopped at a door that led off of the main corridor. "This is the testing area. You may use only your wand. If you find yourself slipping into difficult areas, let us know, and we'll stop the test. Any questions?" Kentarre shook her head and went in the open door.
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A few hours later, Kentarre walked into the classroom that she had been given directions to. As she entered, the occupants of the room looked up from their work. The teacher, the one called Professor Snape, gave her a sour look. Kentarre very nearly returned the glare, but resisted the temptation. Instead, she handed him the note from Professor McGonagall saying that she'd been assigned to this class at this time of the day. The professor took it and read it, distaste lining his features. He said, "Great. Another Gryffindor to add to my rollbook. You may have that desk, over in the corner." She made her way over to the designated desk, attracting stares from all over the room. "You all get back to your work," Snape snapped. Some of them did so, but a few others, particularly those whose expressions exactly matched Snape's, continued to stare. These Snape paid no attention.
As Kentarre sat down, she recognized a few faces in the class, particularly those of Potter and both of his friends. She also spotted the Malfoy kid, whose expression was so smug it was nauseating. The latter caught her eye once, and then quickly turned away. Kentarre noticed the instructions on the board that were written in tiny scribble (probably on purpose) and immediately got out the corresponding ingredients for today's potion and her cauldron. She then began to prepare her ingredients, making sure to ignore the persons on either side of her, who were both staring her hard in the face.
Kentarre quickly learned that potion-making was dull work, but, like most things, it was probably because she was not used to it. After all, this wizard business still continued to surprise her, though she had been living in it for several weeks now.
Not soon enough, the bell rang. At once, Potter approached her. "So, you made it into fifth year?" he observed. Kentarre replied, "I qualified for seventh year, but they put me here because of my inexperience with a wand." Harry stared at her. Ron asked, "So how was it?" She answered, "All too easy."
They walked to the next class, Herbology, which took place outside in the greenhouses. Professor Sprout, whom Kentarre recognized to be the person who had opened the front door for her the second time, met them at the door of the second greenhouse. "I've made some rearrangements," she began, "so there are a few more plants in here than there were last year. Come along."
Greenhouse two was clearly bigger than it looked. Plants and trees lined the walls, and potted flowers and greenery littered the floors, tables, and space under the tables. There were climbing vines that laced the high ceiling and walls. The class drizzled slowly in. Professor Sprout shut the door with a snap that made a few of them jump. She then began the lesson. "All right, today we will be working with those big ferns over in the far corner. These are called Carkels. Now, can anyone tell me what a Carkel absolutely can't stand?" Hermione, only a few feet from Kentarre, zipped her hand up. "Yes, Miss Granger?"
"They can't stand being too close to another plant of its own kind."
"Correct. Five points to Gryffindor. And can anyone tell me how the Carkel knows that one of its own is around? Yes, Miss Granger?"
"They give off a kind of heat that no other plant produces," said Hermione, sounding like an auditory encyclopedia, "and it will tell if one of its kind is around by feeling for that heat."
"Very good. Take five more, Gryffindors. What is so special about this heat, anyone?"
Once again, Hermione leaped for the chance. "The heat is very good for sores or aches."
"Correct, as usual. Five more points. Now, as Miss Granger was so kind to explain, this heat is very good for sore muscles and aching bones. Madame Pomfrey has been fighting tooth and nail for some for a few years now, but the Carkels weren't ready yet. Now that they are ripe, we will attempt to collect and solidify this heat into a liquid that will then be taken as a potion. You will collect the heat by attracting it with your wand and then depositing it into these wells." She gestured to several large, round, shallow buckets next to her on a table. "The wells will hold much more than it looks like they can, so fill them up! You will know when it is full when the heated air begins to glow green. You will work quietly in groups of four. Get into your groups and come get a well. You will use your dragonhide gloves."
As the class followed her instructions, Harry came up to Kentarre and asked, "Do you want to work with us?" Kentarre replied, "If you wish it." Harry nodded. "We'll see you over there, then." Kentarre fetched her pair of black gloves from the sleeve of her robe and joined Potter, Weasley and Granger over by one of the larger plants.
When Kentarre walked up to them, they were already collecting some with their wands. Very soon, Kentarre had joined in, gathering great lumps of glowing blue heat. Just as she was putting her first collection into the well, something else started to glow blue: her sign. Though it was not visible from outside of her gloves, Kentarre knew that familiar warmth that had nothing to do with the heat outside her glove. She stopped in surprise. *What's going on?* she asked herself. "What's wrong, Kentarre?" asked the Potter boy from behind her. She looked at him. "Oh, it's nothing," she dismissed, and deposited the heat in the well.
The emblem on the back of her hand did not stop reacting all through the class period. Kentarre's eyes darted this way and that, making sure that no one noticed. Relieved as she was when the bell rang, she made sure to act naturally, walking swiftly as was her custom.
The class then arrived at the next classroom, which was the man named Hagrid's hut. Hagrid himself was just outside the front door, tending to something that was inside a large crate. A group of other students stood outside as well; Kentarre recognized this bunch as the ones with whom Kentarre had had Potions class. When the Malfoy kid saw Potter, who was at the front of the class, he swaggered up and said loudly, "So, Potter, I see you've picked up a new friend." Potter retorted, "Yes, well I see that your crowd hasn't gotten any bigger." Malfoy acted as if he hadn't heard him and then turned to Kentarre. "You picked the losers, you know." Kentarre's eyes narrowed. "Well at least I didn't pick the slimeballs." Ron snickered, and Malfoy broke out in an angry red flush. "I'd watch it if I were you, Hisakata."
"Ooh, yeah, I'd better watch it, I might be talking to one right now."
"Actually, my father could have you expelled just like that," said Malfoy as he snapped his fingers for emphasis.
"Your father doesn't scare me, boy. I've seen him before, and he just doesn't look the part."
"My father's a very powerful man, Hisakata. He's got a lot of influence in the ministry of magic. Where're your parents?"
"You know where they are."
"Oh yes, that's right. You haven't got any. Well, you should talk to Potter here then. He hasn't got any either. Did yours get killed also? I never quite got the rest of that story."
"Well, if you must know, I've never met them. I ofttimes find myself better off without them, like this time, because I don't need to hide behind rich parents. I can look out for myself, unlike some people."
At this Malfoy bristled. He leaned closer menacingly. "I'd watch whose parents you insult, new girl. I wasn't fibbing about my father." He stormed away to rejoin his posse.
Ron could only stare at Kentarre, and when he regained his voice, he said, "You were brilliant. Where did you learn insults like that?" Kentarre replied, "From a place I hope you never have to enter. Hagrid's ready." And indeed he was.
"All righ', gather 'round now. I've got a special star'-o'-term surprise fer yeh. It's righ' here in this crate." Hagrid announced this news with the air of a newspaper man who has just recieved news of a scoop. The class crowded around to peer into the crate. Inside lay several small white balls of fluff that were each about the size of a lamb. Hagrid tapped on the side of the crate, and two of the creatures lifted their heads in curiosity. Their heads were nearly exactly like a lamb's head, but as the class got a closer look, one of them stuck its tongue out of its mouth. Its tongue was forked. Several class members jumped back in surprise.
"These're wraiths," explained Hagrid. "They're nasty, deceivin' little things that change shape jest to lure people near. A lamb is the most common shape, but there're others. Fer instance, I heard o' one in Iceland that changed itself into a baby seal, and 'nother down in Egypt what turned itself into a cat! We'll be studyin' 'em for a few weeks, and I thought we'd git some so we can be doin' more hands-on studyin'. What d'yeh think, eh?"
No one spoke up for a while, until a boy that Kentarre didn't know spoke up. He had an Irish accent. "I don't think they'd make very nice pets, them." This seemed to ease the tension just a bit, for an uneasy laugh escaped a few members of the class. Kentarre herself pushed to the front to get a better look inside the crate. One of the lambs turned its flashing, beady red eyes directly on her and held her gaze. Hagrid was saying something behind her, but Kentarre paid him no heed. The lamb's stare was almost intoxicating. Kentarre's face surely must have shown her angry bewilderment, for Harry nudged her in the shoulder and whispered, "What's wrong?" She looked at him, her previous countenance fading. "Nothing," she said, "it's nothing."
This class also flew by rather swiftly. The lesson comprised mainly of taking notes on the wraiths' behavior while Hagrid shared more stories about the ones he had seen and heard of. One person was unfortunate enough to ask how he had procured these, which resulted in a story that lasted until the bell rang for the next class.
As they walked away, Harry said, "You know, I think Hagrid's getting better at this teaching thing. We haven't had that interesting a class since the unicorns." Hermione agreed, "I know. You may be right, Harry. Maybe it just took him a while to settle into it." Ron wanted to know, "I wonder what those wraiths look like when they're not in disguise. Probably not very pretty, since they insist on wearing a costume every time someone comes around." Kentarre gave a half-smile. "I've seen one when it's not in disguise. They are pretty ugly." Ron brightened. "Really? What do they look like?" Still smiling, Kentarre answered, "Aww, come on now, you didn't really think I would spoil the surprise, did you?" Harry chuckled while Ron looked disappointed.
Malfoy stayed away from them for the remainder of the day, except just before lunch period when he brushed roughly past Kentarre in a dignified huff. Harry and Ron snickered, and Hermione looked justified. "It's about time somebody put him in his place," said she. Kentarre agreed, "I'm almost sorry I had to be the one to do it, but I'm not."
They proceeded into the Great Hall for lunch, which passed without incident. Kentarre looked upon the rest of the day with apprehension and resolve. *Soon my first day at this... school will be over. Time is swiftly slipping through my grasp. The day is almost gone. Will there be time to do what I came here to?*
Harry spoke. "Are you all right, Kentarre?" he asked. She looked at him full in the face. "What makes you think there's something wrong, Potter?" she accused. He looked away. "Well, you were staring out the window."
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"No."
"Well then, don't ask."
Harry looked embarrassed. Ron continued to eat his lunch, but continued to keep his gaze between Kentarre and Harry.
The next class was Double Divination. The Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, was a spidery woman whose dress reminded Kentarre of something she had seen an old gypsy woman wearing. The room she taught in was stuffy and humid, very much like that of an attic on a summer day. The professor greeted them in a spider-like manner, appearing directly in front of the meager, perfumed fire with her arms spread outward from her thin frame. The glasses on her face made her seem even more like and insect, enlarging her eyes to roughly twice or even thrice their proper size. "Welcome, my children," she greeted in an airy voice. "How nice to see you once again in my realm. But there is one of you that I have only seen in my crystal. Kentarre Hisakata?" She looked pointedly at Kentarre. Kentarre took this opportunity to inspect this teacher more closely. She took a step forward to look Professor Trelawney straight in the eye. "The life you lead is one of devotion to your trade,
Professor," Kentarre informed her, "but there may yet be some hope for you as a Seer." The professor eyed her beadily. "You are very perceptive, my dear. However, I must contradict you. I already am a skilled Seer." Kentarre put in, "Yet there is much that you do not See." At this, Kentarre lowered her voice. "You have watched me, but do you know what I posess? Do you know what I hide?" Professor Trelawney faltered for a moment, but then quickly recovered herself. "You are too young to be skilled in such matters. You are only a beginner. However, I have great faith for you, my dear," she said curtly, and then regained her place on her armchair nearest the fire. Kentarre watched her go with a smirk on her face. *If only you knew, Professor.* She then rejoined Harry, Ron, and Hermione at one of the round tables in the cluttered room.
Harry leaned in to ask her, "What was all that about?" Kentarre whispered back, "It's nothing of importance. I merely made a phony prediction, and she bought it." Upon hearing this, Ron began to cough, a cough that sounded much like a disguised guffaw. The professor looked at him sharply, but said nothing. Instead, she slowly stood, making herself as tall and impressive as possible. "My dears," she began, "this semester we will begin the second part of your training with the crystal. Those of you who have not yet Seen anything in your crystals should now be able to see faded shapes, while those of you who have Seen will move on to more distinct shapes. We will also begin to study the patterns and movements of not only the planets, which was in our last lessons, but of the zodiacal cycle as well. You will learn the zodiac and be able to make predictions according to what position the stars are in. Are there any questions?"
Kentarre replied under her breath, "Yes, I have a question. Is there any real magic in this course?" Harry told her, "I can answer that. None at all. It's just guesswork."
"Ah. It's as I suspected. The amateurs learn from the phony expert. I've taken courses like this before."
"What did you take?"
"Music. In the end, I learned how to actually get a note out, but not from the teacher."
"What did you play?"
"Reed pipes. I can now play just about anything on them, but I had to teach myself."
"Did you bring them with you?"
"Well, I couldn't very well leave them where I was staying."
"I'd like to hear you play them."
"I was planning on staying up late tonight to do some thinking. If you want to stay in the common room for a bit later than usual, I'll play for you then."
"All right."
The professor had been chatting with the girl called Parvati, but now she called for silence. "Your crystals are in front of you. You will now attempt to See. I will now expect for you to See something, anything, in the crystal. No excuses, no stories. Get started."
Kentarre leaned forward to peer into her cloudy crystal. Clearing her mind of thought like *Why am I doing this?* and *This is stupid*, she attempted to make some sense from the cloud shapes. Gradually, something dark began forming in the center of the clouds. This dark shape divided into two and slowly shaped itself into two identical shapes. All at once, they were shoved into view, assuming color and depth. Kentarre's face hardened as she stared into a pair of familiar eyes. "Very good," said a wispy voice right in her ear. Kentarre replied, "I didn't think I'd actually See something. But I should've known."
"Who is it, dear?"
"He is one I knew well, one of my former colleagues."
"Was he close to you?"
"No closer than any of the others. In fact, I believe that the farthest one from me was he. He kept many secrets that should've been shared."
"I see. Is there any meaning in Seeing him today?"
"No more than if I were to See him tomorrow."
"Very well. Well have you done. That will be all for today."
The professor walked away to inspect someone else's crystal, saying absentmindedly, "Focus in on that shape, dear, it seems to be the clearest."
Harry and Ron simultaneously leaned over to look at her crystal. The shape disappeared into the swirling clouds of everlasting mist. Harry looked at her. "What was it?" asked he. She told him, "A pair of eyes. Nothing more."
"Whose eyes?"
"Ones of an acquaintance."
"Oh. What was all that about?"
"With the professor? Oh, she was just telling me that I had done well and that I didn't have to try to See anything else today."
"Are you going to?"
"Do panthers lay eggs? I'm not going to pass up a chance to do nothing in class."
"Good plan."
"I try."
As soon as the bell rang, Kentarre hurriedly got her books and sped out the door at a swift walk. Harry and Ron followed somewhere behind her with the rest of the class.
Kentarre then passed an enormous open window, and a piercing cry echoed throughout the hall. In from the window zoomed a small mass of dark brown feathers that collided with Kentarre's right side, nearly knocking her into a suit of armor nearby. "N-Nemesis!" she cried in surprise and, just a little bit, anger. "I told you you couldn't come and visit me, you big baby!" The bird at her side whimpered a small whimper, and Kentarre's demeanor softened. The class caught up with her then, and, hearing the cries from round Kentarre's middle, stopped to see what was up. "Aww, what kind of bird is he?" asked Parvati. Nemesis glared up at her, and Kentarre replied shortly, "He's a falcon." The class crowded around the small but tenacious bird and its owner. Feeling a bit edgy, Nemesis began to flap his wings in annoyance at all the extra and unnecessary attention. Suddenly, he took off and flew out the same window he came in. Harry came up to Kentarre. "I didn't know you had a
falcon."
"Apparently, neither did any of the spectators," she replied drily. Harry chuckled, as did Ron. Ron asked, "What did you say his name was?"
"His name is Nemesis."
"Peculiar."
"I found it suited him. C'mon, we're being left behind." Kentarre started off silently down the hall with her bag now reslung on her back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening and after dinner, most of Gryffindor house sat in the common room, talking amongst themselves and mulling around before deciding to retire. As for Kentarre, she sat by the window, staring outside and slowly stroking Nemesis, who sat on her lap with his eyes closed in bliss. At her feet sat a small, blue, velvet drawstring bag which contained her reed pipes. She would have had them out by now if they wouldn't have attracted too much attention. Gosh, she hated attention.
Harry was nowhere in sight. Kentarre had not even bothered to go to dinner, so she assumed that he was still there. Nemesis gave a soft coo in pleasure, and Kentarre smiled amicably down at him. He nuzzled against her hand, and she ran her forefinger across the top of his head. "You and I really are a perfect match, aren't we?" she told the falcon. He opened his brown eyes and gazed blissfully up at her. His eyes locked with hers for a long moment, and the two almost seemed to share thoughts.
Finally, after a long wait, Potter showed up, closely followed by Hermione and Ron. They immediately headed in Kentarre's direction. "Do you want to move closer to the fire?" asked a shivering Hermione. "No. There are far too many people around the fire already."
"Harry told us that you would play your pipes for us after everyone else went to bed," input Ron.
"Yes."
"Is that them?" he asked, pointing to the bag at her feet. She nodded, but stopped him when he made to pick up the bag. "I don't want to take them out just yet. There are still people around."
Ron marveled, "You really don't like people, do you?"
"They ask too many questions."
This seemed to provide for a nice, round silence. Hermione stretched her hand out tentatively toward Nemesis, and Kentarre nodded, keeping his beak in check while Hermione smoothed his back feathers.
Presently, the room emptied of the last late-nighters, who bid them goodnight as they left the room. Kentarre's three compadres blinked at her expectantly while she picked up her drawstring bag. The pipes slid smoothly out of the bag and into her awaiting palm, gleaming in the low firelight.
Kentarre lifted the pipes to her lips and began to play, first a slow, eerie melody that rose into a crescendo and filled the room. Gradually, she worked her way into that familiar melody of the song that had been played to her and for her for most of her life, the only song that told the story of what she had been through. Wordless, it meant nothing to the ignorant ears of those who were listening, but to Kentarre, it was truth, the only real truth she had ever been shown. Its melody rose and fell with the line of the story that ran through Kentarre's mind. Gradually, this melody wove itself out of her song, to be replaced by a new one, just as familiar, but not as personal. On and on the melody flowed from the entwining of fingers, breath, and tone. Finally, the last note came, drawn from her very last bit of air before fading into nothingness.
Silence. Then a spoken word. "I think there would be some applause in store for that if it wouldn't wake the entire castle," said Ron. "I think simple verbal praise will suffice," said Hermione matter-of-factly. "It was wonderful, Kentarre."
"Hear, hear," agreed Harry. "You taught yourself to play like that?"
"What choice did I have? My tutor, as I said, was a complete idiot. No brains or musical intuition whatsoever. How else would I learn?"
"Well, it was nice, Kentarre. We really should be off to bed. It's nearing one."
"Very well. Goodnight. Oh, and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention this to anyone else."
"Why?" asked Ron.
"Well, let's just say that I don't want any more attention than I've already drawn. Fair enough?"
"All right. Goodnight, all."
They all filed up to their respective dormitories. Hermione went immediately to her bed, as did Kentarre. But before she went to sleep, Kentarre had a little business to attend to. If one of the girls in the room had been awake at this time, they would have seen Kentarre look about warily, then disappear into her canopy curtains. If they looked on, they would have detected five small sources of light that appeared behind Kentarre's curtain. Inside the curtain, the light took the form of five floating spheres, each one with a different image inside. Upon these images Kentarre gazed, her hands alight with blue markings, until, appearing satisfied at what she had seen, she extinguished the spheres one by one, until her bed was once more thrown into darkness black as pitch. After that, all was still in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory as Kentarre slept, once more covered by her black cloak.
Well, this is the end of the third chapter of my story. Stick around for the fourth chapter, "Differences." I think that sometime soon I'm going to write a chapter from Harry's point of view, like Rowling does in the books. Hope you read that one too! (By the way, I'm open for constructive criticism anytime now!!!)