*~* Chapter Eight: A Way *~*

"Floo Station" she repeated to herself, looking at the arrow indicating that she should turn right to get to the fires.

It took only a second for her to make her decision.

Trying to go somewhere when her headmistress had no idea of it was bad. It was disobedient, dangerous, and it would naturally cause a great worry. Both the Social Worker and the headmistress could get in serious trouble if she disappeared, and it wasn't like she could just pop in at Hogwarts. It didn't work that way, of course, and the uproar it would cause at both ministries was not a very positive thing.

Plus, she had just gotten over Harry (Okay, not exactly, but pretty close . . . well, actually not close at all, she still maybe liked him a little . . . okay, so maybe she still liked him a lot . . .). What would it do to her, to both of them, if she were to simply pop up?

No, it was a bad idea . . .

. . . which was why KayKay did it.

"Oof!" KayKay stood up slowly, dusting herself off and taking in her surroundings. She had never been at the Floo Station in Hogsmeade, so her directions were a bit inside out.

Well, she had to start somewhere, so she simply picked herself up and walked out and into the street. She shivered as a gust of wind rushed by, making her hair fly wild. She had forgotten that it was the next day was Halloween, and that in England that meant bitter cold. She had gotten used to the eternal warmth that greeted her every morning at Escondito.

Shivering inside her robes, KayKay set off towards what she hoped was a path to Hogwarts. She hadn't gotten far though, before someone behind her clapped a hand on her shoulder and asked, "Now, what have we here?"

Not for the first time that morning . . . or day, rather, because in Europe it was six in the evening already . . . KayKay jumped with a yelp, before turning around and hugging the man, sagging with relief.

"Uncle Remmy." she sighed, smiling as he held her protectively.

"My Little Kayleigh, what are you doing here?" Remus exclaimed, drawing back and inspecting her. "Are you here to see Dumbledore?"

"No . . ." KayKay answered, rubbing her arms to try to warm them and conveniently not meeting his eyes.

"Well then? Why are you here?" he asked, putting an arm around her shoulders to keep her a bit warmer as they turned and went back the way they came.

"I'm here because I don't want to be put in an orphanage. Orphanages are for people with no family left, not kids who still have uncles."

"Well why are they trying to place you in an orphanage in the first place? They should know I'd be more than happy to . . ."

"They won't believe me." KayKay said quietly, looking at her feet. "They all think I'm delusional. I explained it all to Harry," she looked up at him again, "he never told you?"

Remus looked bewildered. "No, actually."

KayKay rolled her eyes and sighed. "Typical. He's a guy, why would he think to tell you?"

She shook her head, then looked at Remus again.

"I've told you why I'm here, but what about you? Professors don't normally go on strolls through Hogsmeade all alone in frigid temperatures, do they?"

"No, it's the same as always. I'm just having more trouble than normal recovering from the full moon. It's always worse near Halloween, so Dumbledore gave me permission to go home to recover away from the cold castle."

It was then, as they stepped in front of the Floo fires again, that KayKay noticed the tired way he carried himself and the dark circles beneath his eyes.

"I'm going to Floo home, and you should Floo to Hogwarts and talk to Professor Dumbledore. He can help you with the orphanage problem and, knowing him, it won't take long."

KayKay nodded in agreement, but after Remus had Flooed away and it was her turn, she didn't Floo to Hogwarts . . .

"I still say you should have flooed to see Professor Dumbledore!" Remus admonished as KayKay handed him a cup of steaming tea.

"And leave you alone, sick? Yeah right!" KayKay exclaimed, taking his shabby cloak from him and hanging it on the coat rack. "You go ahead and make yourself comfortable, I'll just . . . explore the house a little."

Remus looked ready to protest, but KayKay didn't give him the opportunity. She bustled out of the room, set to explore, but first she had to be certain to get Remus some parchment and a quill so he could write to Dumbledore.

The first room she came to was the kitchen, a place she'd already explored and dismissed. But perhaps there was a junk drawer . . .

The room was small, but quite nice, with a small stove, icebox, and cupboards made of warm pine. She began rifling through the drawers.

Of course, it would figure. Uncle Remmy is to organized to have a junk drawer.

She decided it had to be a teacher thing.

Exiting the room, she climbed a winding staircase she found on her right. Everything in the house seemed to fit into a tidy description of a log cabin.

The first room upstairs was a bedroom. The second was a bathroom. The third one gave her chills. There was a heavy bolt on the door, bars on the window, and a simple mattress on the floor in the corner. There were no rugs or furniture, and on the wood of the walls were long, deep scratches.

Getting a sudden chill up her spine, KayKay quickly left the room, shutting the door tightly behind her and sighing audibly at the warm glow of the cheery hall. There was no question of what purpose the room served, and she sincerely hoped that its necessity had long since passed at the discovery of the Wolfsbane Potion.

The last room upstairs was a success, yielding a desk, telescope, shelves of books and, naturally, paper and quills. She grabbed some, which was obviously unnecessary as she saw what awaited her downstairs.

"Professor Dumbledore!" she exclaimed in surprise, resisting the urge to give him a hug of relief. "How did you . . . I mean, I just got here . . ."

"There's very little that gets past Professor Dumbledore, Kayleigh." Remus said with a smile.

"Yes, I've been keeping track of you since discovering you possessed the powers." Dumbledore nodded.

"But . . . how?"

"I will explain everything in a moment, but let's sit down first. I shall explain to you what I know, and you can explain what you know. Shall we?"

"Oh, of course. I'll get some more tea." KayKay replied, turning to go to the kitchen.

"No need," Dumbledore said easily, waving his wand to conjure a tray of tea and biscuts. "Please, sit. I will explain.

"When you left for the summer, I knew to some extent the plans Lord Voldemort had, through a well trusted spy—"

"Who?" KayKay hadn't taken her eyes off of Dumbledore and therefore the sugar she'd slowly been spooning into her tea was going over the edge of the cup.

"I don't believe that is of any importance, KayKay." Dumbledore said softly, taking the sugar spoon out of her hand and placing it back in the bowl. KayKay looked very shocked indeed when she looked down at her cup, but she simply set it down and said, "I'm sorry. You were saying?"

"Yes, I was. So I knew some of Voldemort's plans, but I still wanted to have someone looking out for you. Luckily, I wizard family I knew lived close to you and, an even greater stroke of luck, they had a child near your age.

"He was instructed to keep a close watch on you and, if you went anywhere, to try to stay nearby. However, on July fourth you encountered him and—"

"Matt!" KayKay exclaimed in sudden realization. "Matt was deemed my protector? He could have maimed me!"

"I'm certain that your collision with him was incidental." Dumbledore said with a twinkle of amusement in his eye. "Still, he decided his job would be easier served as an ally to you, so he did all he could to help you.

"That same day, my spy returned to me with the information that an attack was being planned against your home. I had to intervene without making it obvious that I was getting information.

"I had Matt slip the paper into your cousin's mailbox, along with some Persuasion Powder. It worked. You were sent to a boot camp where again, you would be under close watch, even if the General himself didn't realize it. I had a plan to protect your family but as you can see, I failed. Voldemort and his Death Eaters attacked earlier than originally planned. I am sorry."

KayKay looked up into Dumbledore's sad eyes. He really did regret the way things turned out and he blamed himself, that much was clear.

"There was nothing you could have done, Professor Dumbledore, I understand that. You don't need to feel bad about it. Thank you for doing so much to help me, I . . . I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been looking out for me . . ."

Remus reached out and put a warm hand on KayKay's shoulder. It brought her a strange sense of comfort just knowing her uncle was beside her, and it renewed her confidence.

"There's just one thing I don't understand . . . how did you know I was here?" KayKay asked Dumbledore.

"I was scrying."

"You were what-ing?"

"Scrying, KayKay, is the practice of watching someone in a mirror, water, or glass. You can keep an eye on them, and I did so every time you had to leave your school for meetings with a Social Worker and such."

"So that means . . . that means that you knew all along that they weren't believing me about Remus!" KayKay gasped angrily.

"Yes, I suppose I am guilty of that charge. I did, however, think it would be more humorous to spring the news on them at a time where they could be publicly embarrassed, such as in the custody trial." Dumbledore said with a somewhat crafty grin. KayKay couldn't help but grin along with.

"Now," Dumbledore leaned forward, "since the itinerary has changed, we have to make a new plan. Let us get started."

* * * * *

The Halloween feast was as bright and fun as ever, with piles of sweets and carved pumpkins that leered and grinned wickedly from every corner. The Great Hall buzzed with chatter, and Hermione, Ron, Megan, and Harry were in high spirits.

"Here's a toast to the trampling of Hufflepuff that we so cleanly executed at our last Quidditch game!" Ron said, holding up his goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Ron, that was more than two weeks ago!" Hermione exclaimed, laughing.

"Yeah but our first game, our first victory . . . you've got to celebrate, don't you?"

"Nevermind that the Hufflepuff team has always been easy to beat." Harry said with a sly but meaningful grin.

"I don't care, I'll drink to it." Megan said, clicking her goblet against Ron's and emptying it in one long chug.

"Drink much?" Hermione teased as Megan refilled her goblet.

"Hey, not looking like a guy doesn't mean I can't eat like one!" Megan exclaimed with a giggle.

"Yeah, but you'll never manage to sound like one." Harry added.

"There are some guys that giggle!" Megan insisted.

"Oh yeah? Name one."

Megan looked at her watch and then to the Slytherin table before looking back at Harry.

"Three, two, one . . . zero!"

On "zero" she pointed to Draco who was sitting near the center of the table. Right on cue, he began to shake as if laughing silently, but soon the Great Hall quieted, first by the kids around him, then the next ring of students, and the next, until all that could be heard was Draco Malfoy. He was giggling uncontrollably, growing louder and louder, but he appeared to have no idea why he was laughing so oddly. Madison, who had been sitting next to him, was now scooted as far away as she could as if he was contagious. Clapping a hand over his mouth, Draco stumbled out of his seat and ran out of the Great Hall, causing all those still within it to break out into riotous laughter.

"Megan . . . you . . . you . . ." Harry choked. Ron was practically dying with laughter; he was hitting the table with his fist and he probably would have trouble breathing soon.

Megan blushed modestly and admitted, "Well, KayKay told me to do something to him for her. I just needed a good idea."

"Oh, speaking of which, have you heard from KayKay, Harry?" Hermione asked, taking deep breaths to regain her composure.

"No, actually. It's strange, but she hasn't replied to any letters I've sent . . ."

"Well, when do you send them? You do mean letters by your watch, right?"

"Yeah. I dunno, I've only sent a couple, one a bit after the first one got cut off, then another the next morning."

"Harry you idiot!" Megan exclaimed, hitting him in the head.

"Ow!"

"I bet that after waiting for her to reply a few minutes you close the conversation, right?" Megan continued.

"Well, yeah . . ."

Megan hit him again.

"You idiot!

"Yes, I think we've established that by now." Harry said, rubbing the back of his head. "What did I do wrong this time?"

"Harry, you're a fairly smart kid. Have you ever heard of time zones? Whenever you write to her she's either asleep or in class where she can't reply!"

"Oh . . ." Harry said in sudden realization. "Well, it's eight thirty here, so what time is it there? Is she in class right now? Ow! Stop hitting me!"

"Think now Harry. Use whatever goo it is inside your head that you call a brain. What day of the week is it?"

"Sunday?"

"Very good. Now, what don't we have on Sunday?"

Harry pondered a long time before asking slowly, "Tea?"

"Classes! We don't have classes, you idiot!" Megan almost shouted. She tried to hit him across the back of the head again but he ducked. Hermione and Ron were simply watching in amusement.

Harry looked at his cup, then at Ron and asked, "You didn't by any chance put something in this, did you?"

"No, even though I wanted to, I think your stupidity is brought on by natural means tonight." Ron laughed.

"I was afraid of that. Okay then, I suppose now is as good of a time as any to send her one . . ."

Harry quickly filled out the greeting for his message and waited for KayKay to reply. It didn't take long.

Oh, hi! I was wondering when you'd get around to writing to me again. Having a good Halloween? You're probably at the feast right now, right?

Yeah, we are. At least you have this time-zone thing understood, I tried to send you a letter at one in the morning your time!

Time zones? Oh, right. Time zones. Yeah, well, I'm pretty good with that. Right on the time zone thing. I mean, we might as well be in the same time zone. Yeah . . .

KayKay, are you all right? Megan wrote, grabbing control of the quill.

What? Yeah, of course I'm fine! All good here! Just swinging in the hammock, talking to . . . ah . . . who is this now?

Megan. And when did we get a hammock in the Dorm?

Oh, uh . . . it belongs to a friend of mine, he doesn't mind if I use it.

"He" doesn't mind? You can't see me, but I'm raising my eyebrows suggestively—

Harry grabbed the paper back and scribbled, "He"?

Is this Harry again? Harry, calm down. Trust me, dating is the last thing that would happen between the two of us. BELIEVE me. If you knew who he was, you'd feel dumb even asking—

Well, who is it then?

It doesn't matter, you don't know anyone at my school.

I don't, but Megan does. She can explain to me what the person is like.

"Ah, Harry? I'd appreciate if I wasn't placed in the middle of your fights with KayKay." Megan said softly.

"Megan, it's not a fight!" Harry insisted.

"Yes it is. I know when these things are coming up."

"She can tell you what the person is like"??? She can tell you what the person is like, oh that's great. You can't even believe me? You know me!

I know what you're like, but I don't know what—

And if you've forgotten Harry, it's not like the two of us are dating, so I highly suggest that you stop acting like the jealous boyfriend. Go out and get yourself a hobby or maybe even a girlfriend! How about a nice, bratty MADISON JACOBS??? All of her suspicious behavior can start training you to be less paranoid! Even if I WAS interested in this guy, which I assure you, I am NOT, I don't need your permission!

Hey, if anyone here is in the wrong, it's you, not—

I have to go Harry. It's already a quarter to noon, and I have to go out and roam the halls, flirting and sleeping with every boy above Fourth Year that I meet. KayKay wrote sarcastically.

Everyone started at the paper for a full minute after KayKay had finished. Megan was the first to move. She grabbed the letter, rolled it up, and whacked Harry across the back of the head with it as hard as she could before tossing it carelessly back onto his plate and walking out. Hermione and Ron made a more subtle exit. And it was Harry who was left sitting at the table, hitting his forehead with the heel of his hand, muttering, "Stupid, stupid, stupid . . ."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" KayKay exclaimed, hitting herself on the forehead. "Why am I so stupid?!"

She flopped back into the hammock and looked around the room. She was on Remus' front porch (which thankfully, was heated and enclosed). On the table at her left were some cookies she'd made earlier and some pumpkin juice. Remus was away with Dumbledore, probably still trying to work out the custody issue. He should have been at home. He still looked ill . . .

She grabbed her pillow and smothered her face with it. Why hadn't she just told Harry that she was at Remus' house?

Maybe because Dumbledore told you not to?

"Shut up." KayKay groaned into her pillow.

Well that's a kind way to greet your visitor, I must say. Any more kind words?

KayKay felt something . . . or more appropriately, someone jump up onto her stomach.

"Oh, Cocoa, it's you! Sorry, I didn't know . . ." KayKay said when she lifted the pillow to see her caranax stretched out lazily on her belly.

"I noticed. But as I said, it's good that you didn't tell Harry. He should feel content with your assurances that your 'friend' is no threat to his boyish dignity."

"You can say that again! He will feel dumb when I explain that it was Remus. I mean, my uncle is also my friend!"

"Of course." Cocoa agreed. "And you couldn't very well say 'It's my uncle' or 'It's my guardian', now could you?"

"No, because then they'd know and Dumbledore would not be very happy with me." KayKay validated.

"Definitely! Now, let's go get some ice cream!"

"Let's!"

Cocoa jumped to the floor and began to trot towards the doorway. KayKay rolled out of the hammock and followed.

"I wonder when Remus will be getting back." KayKay said, looking at the clock that read 9:03 as she passed to the kitchen.

"Soon, I'm certain." Cocoa reassured her. "So I take it that the porch is your new bedroom?"

"That would be correct." KayKay said, digging through the icebox. "Thank goodness it's less of a deck and more of a room! Remus says that if I end up staying with him, we can change it or at least get a real bed, but I like it this way. Ah!"

She spotted some chocolate ice cream and pulled it out. After spooning some out for herself, she looked down at Cocoa.

"You can have chocolate and dairy, right?"

"But of course! I'm not some common—"

"Post owl" KayKay finished with a roll of her eyes. "I got it. Here you go."

KayKay sat down on the wooden floor to eat her ice cream with Cocoa, but she'd barely begin when she heard the whoosh of someone arriving by Floo Powder.

"Oh, he's home!" KayKay exclaimed happily, putting the bowl and spoon up on a counter and pushing herself up quickly.

"I'm glad you're back Uncle Remmy," KayKay said, hurrying to the door between the kitchen and living room. "I was getting—"

She froze when she saw who had stumbled out of the fireplace. It wasn't her uncle.

Cocoa, who'd trotted in behind her, began to growl, snapping KayKay out of her trance. She grabbed a heavy book from the coffee table beside her and held it up, ready for swinging. Why did she leave her wand on the porch?

"Whoa, down Kitty. I come in peace. It's not like you don't know me or something."

"Oh, that's right, you're supposed to be my fierce protector-slash-stalker." KayKay said, not taking her eyes off of Matt as he walked closer. "So then why do you feel the need to prowl instead of announcing that you're around?"

"Ah, because little Kayleigh," he said slowly, adopting a Russian accent, "maybe alerting you to my presence was not my intent. Perhaps, little one . . ." he began to circle her, "perhaps you trust that Remus was Remus and Dumbledore was Dumbledore too readily. Something you must learn in the real world is to always look at a situation from both sides. To always question what you think you know."

In a flash he grabbed the wrist of her raised arm and pulled the book out of it easily, letting it fall to the floor. His gaze penetrated right through KayKay's eyes and straight down into her soul. A soft, almost dreamy smile crossed his face. She relaxed.

"Very funny, Cassa Nova. So why are you really here?" she asked, equally soft and gentle.

"I can't remember at the moment . . ." Matt answered slowly, his eyes not leaving hers. "I'm too busy using all of my willpower to not kiss you right now . . ."

KayKay blushed deeply. This wasn't just a line—it was easy to tell when guys were just giving you a line—Matt's expression was too amazed and his answer too sincere. It scared KayKay a bit, to be truly honest.

Luckily—or maybe unluckily—they were interrupted by another pop-up message.

KayKay? Listen, I thought about what you said . . .

Matt looked at the paper in absolute shock before taking the quill and quickly writing, Who is this?

Harry . . . who is this?

Oh, I'm Matt. Now if you'll excuse me, Kayleigh and I are in a romantically passionate embrace at the moment. If you care to call back later—

KayKay elbowed him away. Matt, stop teasing him! Hi Harry.

KayKay, what's going on over there?

Aurgh, Harry! Matt and I were just talking. You know, casual conversation between two people? I mean, you talk to Hermione and Megan, and it's not like they're dating you. So I'm perfectly capable of talking to someone of an opposite gender without is being some . . . scandal. Okay?

Okay, okay, I'll be a good doggie. Woof.

Thank you. I'll talk to you tomorrow then, okay?

All right then. Goodbye.

Bye, Harry.

Matt looked at KayKay as she folded up the paper and slipped it into the back pocket of her jeans.

"Your boyfriend?" Matt asked casually.

"Ah . . ." KayKay faltered a moment before answering assertively, "No, he's my friend, actually."

"Oh. So he won't kill me for wanting to kiss you?"

"I didn't say that. He'll still kill you." KayKay said, carefully not meeting his eyes lest he become lost again . . . or, worse, lest she become lost in his eyes. "You really freaked him out with that comment, you know."

"Oh, I'm sorry—"

"Don't be. He deserved it." KayKay grinned wickedly, causing Matt to laugh.

"Now, why don't we get some ice cream while you explain to me why you're really here?" She said, motioning for him to follow her to the kitchen.

"Well, first of all, Professor O'Connor believed that you wouldn't very much enjoy wearing the same outfit for five days until your trial. So she wanted me to bring your trunk," Matt pulled her shrunken trunk out of his pocket and set it on the table as KayKay began spooning ice cream into another dish. "Second, I wanted to come to have the chance to see you again, since it could be my last chance."

"Your last chance?" KayKay asked, handing him his bowl of ice cream and sitting down across from him at the small table. "So, does that mean that my chances of staying here are good?"

"Actually—"

There was a sudden zigzag of lightning and loud clap of thunder, throwing the room into darkness.

"Whoa. That was abrupt."

"Yeah. Do you have any candles?" Matt agreed.

"I'm not sure," KayKay replied, standing slowly and sliding her chair in so she wouldn't trip on it. "We probably do, but I still need to get oriented with the pla-ACE!"

She tripped on the rug and went flying forward, plowing straight into Matt and almost making the both of them fall.

"Whoa, all right there KayKay?" Matt asked softly, holding her forearms gently as he helped her steady herself. "You could have gotten seriously hurt there . . ."

"Ah . . . yes, I'm fine." KayKay said, turning and walking slowly towards where she thought the drawers were, feeling her way along the counter. She, quite thankfully, found candles in the first drawer she opened.

She grabbed a handful of them and stumbled back to the table placing them all in the center.

"Please tell me you have your wand on you?" KayKay pleaded.

"Yeah, one second. Oh, maybe you should stand away from the table."

"What a brilliant deduction, Sherlock." KayKay said, taking quite a few steps away from the aforementioned candles.

"Incendia!"

Fire flew from Matt's wand and lit all of the candles, leaving a nice, flickering light. As the storm raged on outside, KayKay and Matt sat down to their ice cream again.

"Now, where were we? Oh yeah." KayKay dug her spoon into her bowl, "How are my chances looking at staying out of an orphanage?"

"Ah . . ."

KayKay looked up at Matt's expression and winced.

"That bad, huh?"

"Well . . . do you want it straight?" Matt asked slowly, pushing his bowl aside.

"Ummm . . . I somewhat afraid to hear, but yes."

"Okay, this is how it is. The ministry, for some crazy reason, doesn't want you to be relocated to a different ministry. They've pulled top experts of law and ordinance to work on the case. Your Social Worker and O'Connor are going nuts about it. They don't want to loose the case, especially not to a Werewolf and a schoolteacher. I don't see why they have such stubborn prides. I mean, being with your Uncle is what you want . . ."

"My Social Worker . . . your brother." Matt confirmed this with a nod. "So your brother would do near anything to trap me in Iowa with cows and cornfields." Another nod.

"You know Steven Spielberg?" This time KayKay nodded. "The attorney they've gotten is like the Steven Spielberg of Lawyers."

"Great." KayKay said, leaning back in her chair. "Just great."

There were a few moments of silence, filled with nothing but the sound of pouring rain outside. Then, tentatively, KayKay asked,

"So . . . what about you? Do feel the same as your brother?"

"Well . . ." Matt said slowly, tracing the wood grain of the table with his finger and not looking at KayKay, "I don't want you to go to an orphanage . . ."

KayKay prompted, "But . . . ?"

"But." He sighed, putting his hand down flat and looking up at KayKay "I don't want to not see you again. I'd miss you, KayKay."

A small smile crossed KayKay's face. "Really?"

"Really, really." he answered, leaning back in his chair and looking up at the ceiling sadly, hands folded behind his head. They remained like that a bit, simply enjoying the quiet in their normally hectic lives.

Both from different backgrounds, both with different ideas, both having met by the fate of an amazing power that could save or destroy their very world. What would it have been like, had KayKay not lived that Christmas Day that the rest of her family died? What would have happened to the world she knew now?

Pondering made KayKay's head spin, so she shifted her gaze away from the window and her thoughts away from the past. Grabbing a lit taper, she stood up so abruptly that Matt, who was balancing his weight on the back legs of the chair, toppled backwards with a crash.

"Ouch . . . that's going to leave a mark . . ." Matt groaned, sitting up slowly and looking at KayKay, who had a hand over her mouth to refrain from giggling.

Matt must have seen the twinkle in her eye. "Oh, go ahead, laugh it up," he grumbled, rubbing the back of his head with one hand and using the other to pull himself up. "Let's get your trunk into your room, eh?"

"Yeah, this . . . this way" KayKay said, breathing deeply so as to not laugh at Matt's misfortune. She led him to the porch, and practically the first thing he said was:

"You play the guitar?" He picked up KayKay's acoustic (which she'd been able to repair as soon as school had begun, thank GOODNESS), and studied it.

"Well, yes . . . do you?"

"Actually, I do. D'you . . . do you mind if I play something?" he requested, sitting down on the edge of the hammock.

"Of course not! Please, do!" KayKay agreed eagerly, sitting down beside him. Matt nodded and strummed the guitar once, tuned a string slightly, then began his song.

"Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared beneath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right.
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye?"

KayKay was taken breathless by the beauty of the music and Matt's rich voice. He carried not only the words, but also the every emotion behind them. The rain pattering on the rooftop only blended the music more beautifully. She found herself leaning forward, hanging on the melody.


"And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go.
Our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain,
But I'd have had to miss the dance.

Holding you I held everything.
For a moment wasn't I the king?
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say? You know I might have changed it all.

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go.
Our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain,
But I'd have had to miss the dance.

And my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd have had to miss the dance."

He finished slowly, looking up from the guitar to KayKay, his eyes locking with hers. It was happening again, just like in the summer. But this time, KayKay was not afraid. Who was to say why not? Everything in the world works strangely, love being one of the most mysterious of all.

Whatever the reason the Fates had for making her do it, KayKay found herself leaning closer to Matt as he placed a hand gently on one side of her face and he laid a gentle kiss on her cheek. His wistful smile touched KayKay, and she scooted closer and embraced him warmly, melting into his frame as he held her strongly, kissing the top of her head and smiling down upon her.

And as Fate would also have it, it was right then that another someone Flooed into the living room, causing KayKay and Matt to spring away from each other, suddenly bashful, and in the process, tipping the hammock. The two teenagers tumbled to the floor of the porch along with the candle, which immediately burned out, and the platter of cookies and Pumpkin Juice KayKay had made earlier.

"That didn't sound good" KayKay heard Dumbledore's amused voice say upon hearing the pitcher shatter.

"Lumos."

KayKay blinked up at her uncle from where she was strewn, one leg tangled up in the hammock, the other one folded beneath her, and her hair soaked with Pumpkin Juice and sprinkled with shards of glass.

"Ah . . . hi Uncle Remmy. I was wondering when you'd get home." She said with a nervous smile.

"Indeed . . ." he commented dryly. If not for the smallest glint in his eye, one would think they were in trouble. "Well then, lets get you cleaned up and get some lights around here? Repairo!"

All the fragments of glass that were scattered about jumped back together and assembled themselves on the table.

"So . . . KayKay said, sitting up and dusting herself off, "When is the trial set for?"

"Tomorrow."

KayKay's hands froze mid-swipe. "Tomorrow? As in . . . tomorrow tomorrow?! But we're not ready! There's no way—"

"On the contrary, KayKay" Dumbledore said, walking into the room as small bubbles of light blossomed from his wand and hovered near the ceiling. "Where there is a will, there is a way, and I have a way."

"What . . .?"

"You shall see tomorrow KayKay . . . bright and early. We nearly had to set the trial for three in the morning our time, seeing how they wanted it and six in the evening. However, this old man was able to swindle it, and we'll be in our own time zone. That being the case, we all have a good night's sleep to catch, and a limited time in which to do so. Matthew, thank you for delivering KayKay's things and keeping her some company."

"I would ask you to stay longer of you wished, but a party can wait until we amazingly win this case." Remus added, leading Matt to the fireplace and holding out the jar of Floo Powder for him.

"Thank you, Mr. Lupin. Goodnight KayKay." He added, before tossing the powder in and shouting "Escondito!" as he disappeared in a whoosh.

Few words were said afterwards . . . a thank you to Dumbledore, a goodnight to her uncle, and soon KayKay was swinging gently in her hammock, looking lazily up at the ceiling. The bubble-lights were still there, but much dimmer. It was really quite beautiful.

She turned on her side and reflected on the night and of what Matt meant to her. He was friendly for certain, and interesting as well. And cute, one couldn't forget cute. And his voice . . . a small grin came to KayKay just remembering it . . . he sang so . . . enchantingly. Sincere . . . humorous . . . honest . . . one could call him perfect.

KayKay smiled dreamily as she slipped away and let her subconscious mind run amok.

One could call him perfect. But he wasn't.

Someone was better.

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Hello, hello, hello! Yes, it is me, the weird one who spends all of her time writing.

People are right. I have, like, NO social life.

But that's all right! So long as I have my readers (and hopefully, reviewers, *cough, cough*) I be fine. And so, I send a thank you to IcyPrncss and Snivellus! Thank you so much for reviewing!!! *giant smiles*