*~* Chapter Fifteen: Expect the Unexpected *~*
KayKay ran through the woods as a wolf, panting as she circled a clearing. Being in her Animagus form was like a release for KayKay . . . even though she still felt sad, she didn't feel heartbroken, per se.
She sat and howled at the moon, pouring her feelings out through a haunted song. It made her quiver from her nose to her tail, and as she slowly let the howl die, her human sense kicked in. The moon was high, and if she stayed out any longer, she'd get detention . . . it was a great possibility anyhow.
Giving one more delicious howl, she stood up and ran back towards the school. She could stay as a wolf until she heard someone coming . . . she'd be able to hear them a few halls away with her ears. Maybe she could get all the way to Gryffindor Tower without being spotted.
KayKay put on another burst of speed, smiling inwardly. To run so fast was like having a personal connection with the Earth and Sky . . . when she was a wolf, she became part of nature's harmonious circle. The feeling was exhilarating, but unexpectedly distracted as she rounded the lake and spotted the ring, in the same place that she'd left it. She skidded to a halt, paws scraping through the dirt as she slowed her breakneck speed and changed back into her normal self.
With the return of her human body came also the return of her emotions. The feeling of ecstasy she's had while being a wolf had dissipated, and she sat down dejectedly, looking at the ring in her hand.
Forever. Her promised that Forever would come, that we'd be together.
She closed her eyes, remembering the evening perfectly.
"Look KayKay," he had said, "look up at the sky. Do you see all those stars?"
Sniffling, KayKay had looked up. "Yeah?"
Harry then cradled her chin gently and brought it down so she'd look him in the eyes. "KayKay? I promise you . . . I swear by every star in the sky . . . that Forever will come. Even if I need to search the whole world after we've gone different ways. I won't lose you. Not now. Not ever" he'd told her affirmatively.
KayKay laughed at the irony. He would never lose her? He already had, and it was his own choice! He had lost her on his own, they hadn't even needed interference from Voldemort or the Ministry!
Tears were running down her face by now, and she didn't know if it was from laughing or crying. She was tired, exhausted really, she was heartbroken, and she was cold. All she wanted now was a warm bed and some sleep.
Well, she got the latter.
* * * * *
"KayKay, get up, you'll be late for Potions. By the way, where were you last night?" Megan asked, flitting around the room as she got ready.
KayKay mumbled something illegible and rolled over. Megan sighed in exasperation and opened the window, pulling the drapes back all the way so sunlight and fresh air could pour into the Dormitory. KayKay's only response was to pull the blankets over her head.
"Come on, KayKay, you seriously are gonna be late. You don't even have time for breakfast!" Megan said. KayKay tried to stay asleep, didn't want to wake up, didn't want to face reality.
"Come on, look, even Casey wants you to get up!" Megan joked, picking up KayKay's puppy and setting her onto KayKay's bed. Casey padded in a circle a few times and curled up next to KayKay.
"No, Casey, you're supposed to be on my side!" Megan whined. She then snapped into her serious-mode. "I'm not kidding KayKay, you have to get up!"
Megan grabbed fistfuls of KayKay's blankets and yanked them off of the bed.
"Why did you sleep in your clothes?" Megan asked. "You never sleep in your clothes!"
Sleep slipped away from her. KayKay tried to catch it, but she knew it was gone. She blinked up at Megan.
"Megan, give me my blankets back." KayKay said groggily, reaching blindly for them.
"No way, you're late enough!" Megan said. "Come on, just put robes on over your clothes, no one will be able to tell that you slept in them."
KayKay looked at her clothes in dazed confusion. When had she come up to the Tower? Last thing she'd remembered was down by the lake, when she'd found the ring again . . .
"Don't zone out on me now, KayKay, you gotta get ready for class!" Megan said, cutting into her thoughts.
"I'm not going to class today, Megan, give me my damn blankets back!"
Megan dropped the blankets quickly. KayKay was sure it was because she was surprised. KayKay never swore . . . except for once last year, and that was in an extreme situation.
"KayKay, where were you last night?" Megan repeated.
"Brokenheartsville" KayKay mumbled, straightening her covers.
"Come again?"
"The stupid jerk broke up with me!" KayKay exclaimed.
"Who? Harry?"
"No, that other guy I'm dating, the President of Deluded Fruitcakes Anonymous. Yes Harry!"
Megan's jaw dropped. "Why?"
"Can we not go into that?" KayKay requested, pulling the blankets over her head again. "I hate Mondays."
"Of course!" Megan said sympathetically. "I just . . . I can't believe . . . that stupid—"
Here Megan added some colorful vocabulary to the dialogue, which shall not be divulged.
"Megan, you'll be late. Go to class." KayKay said simply.
"All right," Megan sighed. "Just don't do anything—"
"Stupid. I know. Have a good day." KayKay rolled onto her side and tried to sleep again. She heard the door click as Megan left.
KayKay tossed and turned for half an hour before finally deciding that it wasn't worth it to try to sleep. Moving carefully so she wouldn't wake Casey, KayKay got up and rummaged through her trunk for an empty journal. She knew she had one somewhere . . . ah, there it was!
What time is it in California right now? KayKay wondered. Heck, what time is it period?
She grabbed her watch from the nightstand and, as she did so, she noticed the promise ring from Harry.
How did it get up here? KayKay wondered briefly, before picking it up and tossing it into her trunk. Okay, so it's almost eight-thirty . . . that means it's a bit past midnight over there . . . She mused, looking at her watch.
"Now, if you ever need to talk to me about . . . I don't know, anything . . . don't worry about what time it is, I'll be there for you. Okay?"
It was the last thing Matt had told her before he headed back to his school after they'd all swum to their heart's content in Harry's pool.
Well, now was definitely a time of need . . . hopefully he was still awake.
KayKay opened her journal to the first page. She hadn't yet used it, because it was a charmed book, quite like the charmed messages Harry could write.
Dipping a quill in her inkwell, KayKay began tentatively.
Matt? Are you awake?
It was few moments before the next message appeared.
KayKay, what is it? What's wrong?
I'm sorry, I didn't wake you up, did I?
As if a piece of paper could wake me up? No, I'm still doing Arithmacy homework.
Oh, KayKay wrote slowly. Then I suppose I should let you . . .
No, it isn't due until Tuesday. KayKay, what's wrong? I can tell there's something on your mind, and you're obviously not in class right now which, if I am correct, you should be?
Potions can go to Hell for all I care. KayKay scrawled angrily.
That bad, huh? She could almost picture him wincing.
Worse. But it's a bit hard to talk about . . .
Well then just ease into it, go slow and—
Harry broke up with me.
And . . . where was the easing???
Does it matter? KayKay scrawled.
I . . . I suppose not. So why? What happened? Four months ago he gave you a Promise Ring . . . why did he all of a sudden . . . well . . .
I guess I've expected it for a while it was still just . . . such a shock! He didn't talk to me very much for the past couple months and the worst of it is that he did it because he likes somebody else! I just . . . I can't even start thinking about it, otherwise . . .] KayKay began to cry again, thoroughly disgusted with herself for being such a baby. The tears that fell from her eyes splashed onto the paper and make the ink begin to smear.
KayKay! KayKay, don't cry! KayKay could almost hear the alarm in his voice as she read the words. I can't believe that he would do that to you for someone else. Are you sure he's . . .?
Yes, he's himself.
I was going to say sane, but . . .
KayKay laughed humorlessly. Sane enough, I'm afraid, to blame me for every one of our problems and to check Madison out every chance he got.
You for Jacobs??? Now that isn't sane.
Well, I'm glad to hear that someone thinks so! KayKay thought to herself.
You for ANYONE isn't sane. Matt continued . . . . .
Matt, did you just hit on me? KayKay wrote, actually smiling a bit.
Nope, just gave a truthful statement. But no, I'm sorry, you wrote to me for a reason, and I'm getting distracted . . .
Oh it's just so . . . ugh, and I want to SCREAM and then have someone hug me and tell me it'll be all right, but I do NOT want to lay eyes on that stupid . . . okay, I won't finish that sentence.
I wish they had fireplaces in the Dorms . . . I'd come there right now and help you with this . . . talking through paper doesn't seem to help much. I can imagine you screaming, and then you can imagine me giving you a hug. KayKay, if he acts like this towards you, he's not good enough for you. It's hard, I know, but just wait. Someday he'll either see the light, or else someone worthy of you will show up, your own knight in shining armor.
And I suppose you'll be first in line with your noble steed, lasso, and cowboy hat? KayKay was still crying, but smiling a bit.
Of course I would be, but I fear that no matter how many stars I wished on, I wouldn't make it to the final joust of the tournament. But honestly, when you get out around all those guys training to be Aurors, you'll have a line of men. We're just pretty stupid until the real world kicks us into the dirt.
KayKay looked at her watch and decided she'd kept Matt up long enough.
I think I should let you go to sleep. I can just imagine you yawning. You'll have to imagine me giving you a kiss on the cheek and thanking you profusely for cheering me up.
And you can imagine me blushing. KayKay, talk to me anytime you need to, okay?
Of course. Thank you, Matt.
Glad to help.
KayKay closed the journal gently and placed it in her trunk. She was suddenly overcome with great sleepiness, and she snuggled under her bedcovers next to her puppy and fell asleep.
* * * * *
"Honestly, as soon as we graduate, I'm going to figure out where he lives and trash his house." KayKay muttered, stuffing her Potions book into her bag. Megan laughed.
"Let me know when you do and I'll help you. I swear if I didn't want to be a Healer, I wouldn't endure Snape's class."
"Yeah, passing it should be an automatic admission to Auror training. If can survive NEWT Potions, I can survive anything." KayKay said, shaking her head. "At least this afternoon is just Charms, I can handle Flitwick well enough."
The two sat down at Gryffindor's table to their lunch of grilled cheese and tomato soup.
"Thank God it's Friday" Megan said. KayKay nodded, surprised at how well the week had been considering her horrible Monday.
"Hogsmeade trip tomorrow. It'll be great to get out of the castle . . . fresh air . . . shopping . . . I love Hogwarts, but I'm getting an acute case of Cabin Fever." KayKay said, blowing on her soup to cool it down. "I just—"
"KayKay? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
KayKay stopped and looked up in surprise at the person who'd spoken.
"KayKay? Not Determan? Not Mudblood? Just KayKay?" she asked Madison sarcastically.
"KayKay, this is important. Megan, can you give us a minute?" she asked. Megan looked at her warily, then she turned to KayKay questioningly. KayKay nodded, and Megan raised her eyebrows, giving the silent message, "Good luck. I'm keeping my eye on her, though."
Megan gathered her things and moved down to sit by Hermione and Ron, and KayKay looked up at Madison expectantly. Just then, Madison did the unthinkable for a Slytherin.
She sat down.
A Slytherin; sitting down at Gryffindor table.
Sitting down to talk civilly with a Gryffindor.
A muggle-born Gryffindor.
If anyone besides Slytherin House and a few Gryffindors had been watching, there would have been a collective gasp. As it was, there were some shocked and angry mutterings.
"Well? What is it?" KayKay asked, ignoring the eyes on her and Madison.
"KayKay, I just . . . I needed to tell you . . . Harry asked me to Hogsmeade." Madison whispered.
"Well, hooray for you." KayKay said, looking away. "Why was this so important for you to tell me about? Wanted to have a good gloat? It's not like the two of us are—"
"KayKay, I said no." Madison interrupted. KayKay blinked in shock.
"Y—You what?"
"I told him no."
"Why?!"
Madison raised an eyebrow, and KayKay said quickly, "I mean, I didn't want you to, certainly, but . . ."
"But it's the kind of thing you think I'd do?"
KayKay nodded honestly, and Madison smirked.
"You're half-right. Sure, if Harry had asked me to go to Hogsmeade before you came back, or if he'd asked me a few months down the road, I would have said yes, in all likelihood. I didn't now, though, because I think that guys who break up a perfectly good relationship in pursuit of a different girl are scum. I wouldn't want to go out with one."
"No, neither would I." KayKay agreed. They both looked down the table at Harry, who quickly settled his gaze back to his lunch, looking positively embarrassed.
"Do you really think that our relationship was all that great, if it can't withstand the temptation of another girl?" KayKay asked.
"That can be debated. Still, I think that while the distraction can be due to the feeling of being stuck in a relationship, it's more likely because the guy isn't ready to commit themselves to someone yet. Give them until the real world kicks them into the dirt." Madison said with a smirk. "Oh, I'd love to be around to see Potter bite the dust."
"Me too," KayKay agreed with an evil grin.
"Hey," Madison said, looking around, "has everyone been staring at us this whole time?"
"Yeah, I think so." KayKay sighed. "I'll let you yell 'Shut up, Mudblood' if it'll save your reputation any. I owe you."
"Nah, now we're even for all of those death threats. I'll just make up a story to tell back in the Common Room. See ya' around."
"Yeah." KayKay said. "Thank you."
Madison nodded once and walked away. Megan moved back down.
"What was that all about?" she asked, looking after Madison.
"Oh," KayKay said with a grin, "it just seems that Mr. Big-Shot isn't as desired as he thought he was."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Harry walked through Hogsmeade under the security of his cloak. It had been quite a while since his days of sneaking to Hogsmeade . . . back during his Third Year. Back when he was free of girlfriends and any thoughts of them.
It was pure irony that he celebrated his freedom by hiding underneath a cloak. But this way, he could avoid all the gossip, the gossip that had been tainting his otherwise lovely freedom.
Okay, so maybe KayKay wasn't that bad . . . just suspicious . . . and argumentative . . . and tenacious . . . and just a bit too . . . needy.
Harry stopped, reconsidered, and added to his list.
And she's not friendly to the right people and too friendly with the wrong people . . . especially guys . . . too time-consuming, always jumping to conclusions, too assertive . . . definitely the "women's rights" type of person . . .
Such a relief to be free! Free to look at other girls, free to not feel tied down by silly promises and sentimental mush!
Who made the promises though? Ha ha, that would be YOU—
Harry shook his head, banishing such thoughts.
I was simply trying to make her feel less paranoid about relationships. Nothing wrong with telling a little white lie for that. She's SO paranoid, and bratty, and she has that "I'm always right" attitude . . . she's too into being independent—well, she got that, didn't she?
Harry laughed to himself, pausing thoughtfully as he saw KayKay enter the Three Broomsticks.
Okay, so she's pretty. I'll give her that. If there's any other part of her worth dating, I don't know what it is.
Still under the protection of his cloak, Harry followed her inside and stood against the wall not far from where she sat down. He was close enough to hear any conversation, although at the moment there was none. Something that was soon to change, he realized, as a Ravenclaw walked over.
"Mind if I sit here?" He asked KayKay. She looked up quickly, probably surprised to hear someone talking to her.
"Oh, sure." She said with a smile.
He sat down across from her and extended a hand across the table.
"I'm not sure that we've met. I'm Brian."
"Hi," KayKay said, shaking his hand, "I'm—"
"KayKay. I know." He grinned.
"Ah the perks of being popular." KayKay snorted in a tone that proved she was being sarcastic. "You're Head Boy, aren't you?" she studied him curiously.
"Not today," Brian responded. "Today I'm just a guy enjoying himself."
Madame Rosmerta dropped off a tropical drink for KayKay, who said "thanks" as Brian ordered a Coca-Cola. Madame Rosmerta went back to the counter to accommodate his request.
"So, how is life treating you?" he asked.
Harry stepped a bit closer to hear the conversation better.
"Life is . . . looking up." She said slowly, nodding a bit.
"Not a typical response for a girl who's found herself single." Brian said.
"I guess I'm not a typical girl, then" she shrugged. "But how did you know that Harry and I . . ."
"He's Harry Potter, and you're KayKay Determan. If girls aren't admiring him for his worldwide acclaim as The-Boy-Who-Lived and his school-wide acclaim on the Quidditch field, then it's guys, pining about you for your wit, charm and beauty." Brian spoke as calmly as if they were discussing the weather. He was leaning back casually in his chair, and he addressed KayKay as an old friend.
Harry was bored. Okay, so KayKay was fine, she was adjusting, she was happy even . . . blah, blah, blah.
He left KayKay and Brian to their conversation.
Girls admire me on the Quidditch field . . . he thought with a satisfied grin. It's the uniform. Girls love a guy in uniform.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
KayKay choked on her Papaya Colada mid-sip.
"Me? Witty, charming, and beautiful?" she laughed. "Good one. I think you've got the wrong girl."
"Why would you say that?" Brian asked seriously. KayKay was shocked.
"Well . . . because!" she stumbled a bit on the words. "If I was, then . . . then—"
"Then Harry wouldn't have broken up with you?" he finished quietly. KayKay looked down at her drink and didn't answer.
"It's good thing I found you out by the lake instead of a Professor. I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of bringing you to your Dormitory." Brian said, both changing the subject and not changing the subject at the same time.
So that's why I couldn't remember coming up to Gryffindor Tower! I must have fallen asleep down by the lake!
"Thank you. But why didn't you deduct points from Gryffindor?"
"Just call it another time when I was simply Brian, not Head Boy. And ignore any stupid things Harry may have said about you that night. Guys are idiots until the real world has their way with them."
KayKay smirked. "Do you realize that you're the third person who's told me that exact same thing?"
"It must be true then." Brian grinned. KayKay laughed.
"Yeah, Harry is rather stupid, especially if he expects me to fly into his arms if he ever decides he wants to date me again."
"He'd be an idiot to ask, but an even bigger idiot not to." Brian said without hesitation. His comment had barely begun to register in her head when he continued.
"So, it would seem that we can't get you to stay away from Hogwarts, eh?"
KayKay was relived at the change in topic. "Nope. I love it here, more so than at that school in California . . . Even if I do miss some parts of it . . ."
"Here to stay now?"
"Well, I assume so. Last year was an exchange program, but this year it's because of a . . . uh . . . change of address." She said. Not exactly a lie . . .
"You know, your very first day, I—nevermind." He stopped himself, taking a drink of his Coke.
"What?" KayKay asked, naturally curious.
"Nothing, really . . . forget I said anything." He said, which of course made KayKay even more curious.
"Do I need to get the real world in here to 'have its way with you'?" KayKay joked, implying that Brian was acting idiotic
Which he was, of course.
He sighed, running a hand through his sandy-brown hair.
"I was just going to say that—hey, this is a fun song! Want to dance?" he asked, grabbing KayKay's hand and getting up as a disco song by the Bee Gees came on.
"What kind of answer is that?" KayKay laughed as she stumbled after him to the dancing area on the other side of the tavern.
"It isn't one!" he answered, giving KayKay a twirl and making her gasp in surprise.
"I'm sorry, did I startle you?" he asked in concern.
"No, it was fun! Do it again!" KayKay giggled. "You seem to know a lot about disco!"
"Only the best dance style even known!" he answered. "Or at least the most fun."
KayKay couldn't argue with that.
"So, what were you going to say earlier?" she asked.
"Do you really want to know?" he replied, giving her another twirl.
"Yes" she replied when she got back around.
"Curiosity killed the cat, you know"
"But I'm not a cat," she said.
"True." He agreed. "Fine, if you really want to know . . ."
"I do."
The last bit of the song played and Brian pulled KayKay close and dipped her on the last beat. "I've had a crush on you ever since the first day you were at Hogwarts" he said in a rush.
"What?!" KayKay gasped, loosing her precarious balance and falling on the floor.
Ouch . . . my bum . . . she though miserably as Brian gave her a hand up.
"Well, now you know. Are you okay?" he asked as he walked with her back to their table.
"I will be when I am no longer in a shocked coma," KayKay said sarcastically. "Why? I mean, why me?"
Brian shrugged openly and honestly. "You weren't timid, for one . . . you seemed friendly, and you're . . . well . . . witty, charming, and beautiful."
KayKay blushed furiously. No one had said anything like this to her so openly, not even Harry. "My gosh, Brian, I haven't blushed this much since . . ." she trailed off, then corrected herself. "I haven't blushed this much." She laughed, stirring her drink. "Still, you're delusional."
"Why?" he asked, looking at her seriously.
"Well . . . because!" she sputtered. "I mean, I may be friendly . . . and perhaps even witty . . . but charming isn't a way I'd describe myself," she snorted, "and definitely not beautiful!"
"Just because one guy may have said mean things to you doesn't mean it's true. I'll bet that half of the guys Fifth Year and up would agree wholeheartedly with me."
"And the other half . . .?"
" . . . Would be Slytherins, Harry, and guys who couldn't risk agreeing because they'd be pummeled by their girlfriends."
"Brian." KayKay sighed.
"KayKay." Brian mimicked, tilting his head to the side like her.
"You do realize I'm not very open to the dating game right now? To date again so soon would be . . . bad form . . ." KayKay struggled under the words.
"Oh, I know." Brian sat back with his hands out in front of him as to push away the notion. "I wasn't suggesting anything . . ." he smiled kindly. "I just wanted to make it known to you that you're a smart, friendly, witty, charming, beautiful young lady that doesn't need a guy to complete her."
KayKay couldn't help but smile back.
* * * * *
"So, according to Harry, you're . . . suspicious, argumentative, stubborn, time-consuming, grudge-holding, needy, and bratty?" Madison asked in disbelief.
"Don't forget judgmental, independent, paranoid, and full of myself." KayKay said.
"He's full of himself." Madison growled, "But how are you handling it?"
"The breakup? Okay, probably because I've had a few weeks to get used to it, and because we hadn't been getting along for a while before it. Quidditch Practice, on the other hand . . ." KayKay made a face, "He thinks he's a real hot shot, and it drives me crazy! Not to mention the fact that we're supposed to still be accompanying each other everywhere we go."
"Yeah, why all that, anyhow?" Madison asked curiously.
She and KayKay had both been at the library for research and had begun talking. When Madame Pince finally had ushered them out and told them to go to their Dormitories, they decided to instead wander and chat, discovering that they didn't hate each other nearly as much as they'd thought.
"It's . . . complicated . . ." KayKay finally answered. Madison nodded in understanding, then suddenly stopped nodding her eyes going wide as they rounded the corner.
"Oh Lord, not again . . ." Madison muttered as KayKay said "Oh no . . ."
The girls burst into a sprint towards the two limp figures they saw in the hallway, but stopped short with a gasp as they got near.
"Oh God . . ." KayKay said with disgust. Madison seemed to share the opinion.
"It's . . ."
"Blood" they both finished at the same time, looking at each other, unsure of what to do. They'd both found victims of the Heir before . . . but never before had it been as it was now, the victims lying in pools of blood.
KayKay swallowed bravely and said, "We . . . we should get this cleaned up." Madison stared at her.
"Are you crazy?" she asked.
"Uh, yes? Come on, we'll just use our wands . . . then we need to go to Dumbledore, right away."
"Fine, fine." Madison muttered. As soon as the blood was cleaned away, they could go close enough to see who had been attacked.
The first person was a girl whom they didn't know but recognized as a Fifth Year Hufflepuff. The second was a boy, lying facedown. KayKay turned him over and gasped, stumbling back with a hand over her mouth.
Madison, who was inspecting the girl, didn't notice.
"Hey, she has a small cut, but not enough to cause all that blood . . . and her temple says 'HAS' . . . KayKay?" she'd just looked over and noticed KayKay, still frozen with wide, sorrowful eyes.
"Is he someone you knew?" she asked softly, coming over to KayKay, who nodded.
"Wait . . ." Madison said slowly as she saw his face. "Isn't he the Head Boy?"
KayKay nodded again. "Brian."
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and Madison said gently, "Come on, we need to see Dumbledore about this right away."
KayKay nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She brushed his hair a bit to the side to see his temple.
" 'ONLY' . . ." she informed Madison, trying to sound businesslike. "Let's go."
She stood up and walked quickly with Madison towards Dumbledore's office, looking over her shoulder at Brian's sad form only once.
They rounded the corner to Dumbledore's office, almost running into someone else in the process.
"KayKay!"
"Megan!"
"Madison?"
"Megan?"
"KayKay . . .?"
"Well, Madison . . ."
"What are you doing here?" they all asked at the same time. "Seeing Dumbledore, why?"
The three girls laughed, or rather, Megan laughed and Madison and KayKay only gave a chuckle or two, still remembering why they were seeing Dumbledore.
"I'm not sure what he wants, he just sent for me. But what about you two?" Megan asked.
"Another attack." Madison muttered darkly.
"Oh . . ." Megan said slowly. "That's . . . bad."
KayKay nodded, ignoring that fact that was now blatantly obvious . . . Madison couldn't be the Heir. Not unless she could be in two places at once . . .
Which was, technically, conceivable.
"Pickled Pears" Megan said to the stone gargoyle, which leapt aside for the girls to enter. They rode the staircase up, but before they could knock, Dumbledore spoke.
"Come in ladies."
Megan opened the door cautiously and the three filed in and sat down. Dumbledore chuckled.
"A thing I thought I'd never see . . . a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, friends. Not to mention two that loathed each other at the start of the year."
He sat back in his chair. "Still, I've never enjoyed much the way friends were defined by houses. Now, you're here for a reason then, but let me first speak to Megan. Do you know why I asked you to come here?"
Megan shook her head, and Dumbledore smiled.
"Let me be the one, then, to deliver the good news." He handed her a packet of papers. "These arrived to me from the orphanage you are a member of."
Megan, looking more than a little confused, took the papers and began reading the top one. She couldn't have been more than halfway through it when she let out a cry of surprise and jumped up.
"They want to adopt me, KayKay! They want to adopt me!" She squealed, jumping up and down. KayKay was to her feet just as quickly.
"What? Who?"
"Mary and Tim Johnston!" She said.
"Who are they?" KayKay asked in bewilderment.
"No idea!" Megan exclaimed, a maniac grin on her face as she kept jumping. "But who cares? Someone finally wants me!"
KayKay pulled her friend into a tight hug, knowing how much this meant to her. She'd been longing to be adopted her whole life, and didn't understand why no one had even looked at her folder when they went to the adoption agency. And sure, perhaps Megan was a bit older than most adopted orphans, but . . . a family! Somewhere to go on Christmas besides a friend's house . . .
"Oh Megan, I'm so happy for you!" KayKay said, noticing but not mentioning the tears of joy that were watering up in Megan's eyes.
"Oh, wow." Megan said softly. "This is so . . . wow. I have to tell Hermione! Was that all, Professor?" She asked, looking at Dumbledore. The Headmaster nodded, and Megan squealed again, darting away to share the glad tidings, leaving KayKay and Madison very much alone with Dumbledore.
"Please, sit. I can tell by your faces that what you need to tell me is not good." Dumbledore said softly.
"It isn't," Madison said as KayKay sat back down. "KayKay and I . . . we've discovered another attack."
"Where? Who was it?" Dumbledore asked.
"By Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. It was—"
Dumbledore grabbed a fistful of powder and tossed it into the fireplace.
"Minerva, victims at Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. I want you down there immediately with Poppy!" He turned back to the teenage girls and said "Continue."
"One is a Sixth Year Hufflepuff girl . . . we didn't know her. The other was the Head Boy—"
"Brian" KayKay supplied quietly.
Dumbledore stood up so suddenly that Madison and KayKay actually jumped.
"I want the two of you to return to your Dormitories at once. No, not that way." Dumbledore stopped them when they stood up and headed for the door. "I'd like you to Floo, since you're in different houses. Quickly now! I must attend to this . . . matters are getting increasingly worse." He continued in a softer tone. "Never would have expected . . . Head Boy . . ."
"Gryffindor Common Room!" KayKay called, stepping into the flames. When she closed her eyes to keep from getting dizzy, she kept seeing the image of Brian lying helplessly on the stone floor.
She stumbled out of the fireplace in Gryffindor Tower, startling quite a few people.
"KayKay, what happened? What is it?" Megan asked. KayKay just shook her head, conveying the message that she was in no mood to talk.
She waited until she was secure in her four-poster with the curtains shut before she cried for the loss of Brian.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
May seventh dawned bright and early, heralding Gryffindor's final Quidditch match against Slytherin. Harry looked on with slight concern as Ron went from team member to team member at breakfast, encouraging them to eat while not sitting down and eating anything himself.
KayKay finally stood up and said something to Ron, placing her hands on his shoulders and steering him to an empty spot where she made him sit down. Harry couldn't hear any conversation, he was too far away, but from what he gathered, KayKay was making him eat his scrambled eggs while she continued urging on the team. From the look on her face, Harry doubted that she'd eaten either, but it was her first game, and he remembered well his first game, when it felt like if he ate anything it would simply come back up.
It was all a pretty typical scene, if one disregarded the fact that they were eating in the Common Room, as they had for almost two weeks now. Apparently, the Ministry still hadn't responded to Dumbledore, who couldn't close the school without confirmation from them. He finally arranged a schedule for Professors to teach in the Common Rooms, commuting by way of Floo in order to keep students safer. Either it had worked, or the Heir was keeping silent . . .
"Mr. Weasley? Is your team ready?" Professor McGonagall asked over the noise of the chatter.
Ron looked down the table, receiving six nods in reply.
"Yes, Professor." He said, standing up along with KayKay, Megan, Jesse, Andrew, Ginny, and Harry. It was fortunate that Dumbledore had allowed them to have this last Quidditch Match, and they all knew it.
Harry looked over at KayKay as the team walked through the castle with their Head of House. This being her first Quidditch Match, it was obvious by the look on her face that she was horribly nervous.
She'd better not ruin this for us! he thought. She's a good player, but everyone is worse at their first game, and this is the one game we can't lose!
* * * * *
"And Gryffindor scores again, leading 70 to 60! I have to say, the Gryffindor Chasers are doing a fabulous job, despite any shortcomings from their team's Beaters!"
Harry looked down where KayKay and Ginny were flying after the Chasers and hitting the Bludgers towards the Slytherins. KayKay was under obvious stress, the pressure and inexperience of a real game (and one as important as this, the final) making it hard for her to do much but keep Megan, Jesse, and Andrew from being de-broomed by Slytherin's Beaters.
"Determan!" Harry yelled swooping a bit lower, "In case you've failed to notice, this is an actual game! Stop messing around and start treating it like one!"
He flew away, going lower and scanning the field for the Snitch. He didn't see it.
He also didn't see the glare KayKay threw at him or the next Bludger she hit which, had she not wanted to beat the Slytherins, would have been aimed at him.
He did hear the Bludger hit Malfoy, who was following close behind him. During the momentary distraction during which the Slytherin Seeker was attempting to get back onto his broom, Harry spotted the Snitch just a bit above him. It was an easy catch, not even a steep dive to provide a slight challenge. Harry caught it easily, rising into the air triumphantly as the Gryffindors cheered loudly at their quick victory.
"And a quick end to the game, Gryffindor winning 220 to 60, great thanks to . . ."
Harry didn't listen to the rest of the commentary as he and the rest of the Gryffindors touched down. Something suddenly whistled over Harry's head, making his hair ruffle. He ducked instinctively and looked behind him as a Bludger flew away.
KayKay landed and watched as the rest of the team began walking towards her and Harry. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Potter." KayKay said sarcastically. "Guess I'd better start treating this like a real game?"
"You're lucky I was able to catch the Snitch early on, otherwise we would've lost, thanks to your bad performance out there!" Harry snapped.
"I'm lucky? Who saw Malfoy heading for the Snitch and whacked a Bludger at him?" KayKay exclaimed.
"Not you, I'm guessing by your mediocre skills out there today! The Slytherin Beaters were more likely to hit Malfoy than you!"
KayKay was about to reply when Ginny ran up to KayKay and gave her a high-five.
"Nice job on Malfoy out there! Boy you sure got that prat when it really counted! Did you hear Dean's comment at the end of the game?" she asked, chattering happily.
"Yeah, he said that if it weren't for you, we probably wouldn't have won!" Ron said. "Cheers, mate!" he grinned. "Come on . . . let's get that trophy we won! And I'm sure there's a party waiting up in the Common Room!"
"Hi there, Madison," Harry said to the girl a while later when all the students were going back to their Common Rooms. "What's up?"
What happened next was a complete surprise.
She turned around and right there, in the middle of a crowd of people, she slapped him. A hush fell over the people nearby who'd witnessed the event, and then people began to whisper to each other, the news spreading fast through the crowd with a buzz as people strained to see and hear what was happening.
" 'What's up?' Your ego, obviously," Madison sneered, before turning away and jogging a bit to catch up with KayKay, whispering something in her ear and making both of them laugh as KayKay looked back at Harry in amusement. Harry rubbed his cheek, although his pride was injured more than he was.
Okay, so obviously she and KayKay were now on friendly terms. Obviously, she and KayKay had talked about the kind of things Harry had said to KayKay.
Obviously, Madison didn't feel the same towards him as she had in the fall.
Women!
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
KayKay laughed as she took another swig of Butterbeer. Megan was doing an impression of Malfoy trying to get back onto his broom after KayKay had hit him with the Bludger, and she was, of course, doing the impression complete with an expression of idiocy.
"That's it, that's how he looked!" KayKay exclaimed, doubling over with laughter as Megan grabbed wildly for an invisible broomstick. As KayKay took another sip of her drink, Megan pretended that her fingers slipped off of the broomstick and she fell, making KayKay snort as she clapped a hand to her face.
"Megan you brat, I was in the middle of drinking!" she admonished, swatting her friend.
"What, Butterbeer up the nose?" she asked innocently.
"Yes, and it isn't very nice, I'll have you know!" she said, to the laughter of some other members of the team.
"Please accept my humble apologies, Oh Wondrous One" Megan said, standing and sweeping into a deep bow. KayKay laughed in response, and they flopped into comfy chairs.
"So, have you yet informed our American friends of our victory?" Megan asked, taking a bottle of Butterbeer off of the table and opening it.
KayKay, with the large amount of time they now spent sitting idle in the Common Room, had kept a regular correspondence with Chad and Matt. She had told them how they could enchant papers and journals as she did, so sometimes they wrote to her and Megan . . . not always at convenient times.
"Here, I'll tell Chad, you can tell Matt." Megan said, passing KayKay's journal over and then pulling out her own.
"Prepared, are we?" KayKay laughed. She pulled out a pen, dismissing the use of a quill and ink, as it was a bother. However, when she opened the journal, Matt had already beaten her to it.
So, how was the game?
Talk about timing, Matt! I was just about to—
I know, I'm hanging out with Chad at the moment, and Megan just wrote to him. So . . .?
It was fabulous, thank you very much. She wrote airily. I succeeded in pelting Malfoy with a Bludger at a particularly crucial moment . . . I missed Potter though. Too bad my aim was off . . .
I see you're still hating him? Doesn't that make playing on a team rather . . . difficult?
DUH! Did you miss my previous comment about hitting a Bludger at him? KayKay actually laughed out loud. Well, I guess it really isn't too bad. I'm actually happier now . . . I mean, I can just have fun with my friends and enjoy the last bit of the term—
School? ENJOYABLE? Okay, I want a bit of whatever you've been drinking or smoking . . .
Oh, shut up! You know what I mean . . . I don't have to worry about "Oh, now we're mad at each other for this," and "Great, what did I do wrong NOW?" . . . now to make Voldemort and Snape disappear, and my life shall be perfect!
Which just goes to show that I'm not insane for enjoying the single life.
Oh, so you got Mellie Dorin off of your back, then?
Oh sure, just a few well placed questions of, "Do you think this color is okay on me?" and "Do you think these khakis make my hips look big?" and she was gone in a flash.
KayKay was laughing hysterically now, causing some raised eyebrows from her fellow Gryffindors.
Yeah, and the scary thing is that I can totally picture you saying that . . . she wrote, her handwriting shaking as she tried to suppress her laughter. She gave up, flopping back in her chair amid giggles.
Nobody knew quite what to make of it.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Meanwhile, across the room, Harry was thinking as he drank, and the object of his concentration was most certainly not the pesky First Year babbling to him.
"So, you just decided to break up with KayKay?"
"Yeah, sure," he said, not paying the slightest attention.
"Just like that?" she pressed.
"Yeah, sure." What was it about women? He couldn't seem to figure it out.
"So, what did she do? Did she yell and cry?"
"Yeah, sure." He looked at his empty bottle and decided to go get another. The girl followed him.
"That's what my mum does whenever she and my dad fight." She chattered, obviously not deterred.
As if it wasn't obvious already, the girl was Sabrina Dawson, and she still had plenty of questions to occupy Harry's time.
"You know, when I first saw you guys at the beginning of the year, you seemed like you really liked each other. I mean really, really liked each other."
"Yeah, sure."
"So, it was you who decided to break up with her? Not the other way around? It was you?"
"Yeah, sure."
Now, what was odd was the fact that Sabrina always received the same answer to her questions, but didn't find it at all strange. She simply pressed on, as Harry simply didn't listen.
"Well, just goes to prove that you men are idiots, doesn't it? I mean, no offense, but what jerks! You know, I read a book once. It said that it's a man's nature to use a person to their advantage, because they're more secure being feared than being loved. I actually think it's probably true. Guys are absolutely stupid, aren't they?"
Harry, who had just been wondering, Maybe I should try with Madison later, in the fall, when KayKay and I have been apart for a good four or five months . . . responded with the customary, "Yeah, sure."
Just then, KayKay could be heard across the Common Room, laughing loudly. Both Harry and Sabrina looked over at the sudden distraction. Harry, after seeing the cause and dismissing it without interest, walked over to his chair and sat back down. Sabrina watched KayKay a while longer, her head tilted to the side as if she was rapidly analyzing this new occurrence. Harry thought that maybe she'd leave him alone now but, on the contrary, she skipped over to Harry.
"She seems happy though, doesn't she?" Sabrina asked thoughtfully. This time, Harry actually listened to the question.
"Yeah, looks like it."
Sabrina nodded thoughtfully, looking at KayKay.
"I suppose she feels better, now that you're not always fighting. She seemed sadder back then. She also looked tired. Maybe stressed." She was quiet a bit longer, and then she looked at Harry.
"You're happier now, too."
It wasn't a question, but it seemed to prompt a response.
"Yeah, I am." Harry said.
"You can tell." Sabrina nodded. She looked again at KayKay and gave a small sigh. "The two of you made a cute couple, back in the fall when you got along. But when you started having arguments, you both were quieter. Sad, I guess."
There was a long silence after she said this, and Harry slowly realized she was right. Ever since January or February, KayKay had stopped being her normal, smiling self. He'd also stopped enjoying things he'd normally had fun doing. But now, since the breakup . . . Quidditch had become more enjoyable, playing Chess with Ron had become more fun . . . even classes were more tolerable.
"So, I guess that it's actually a good thing you and KayKay stopped seeing each other, huh?" Sabrina asked. Harry looked at her for a long moment, and then actually smiled.
"Yeah. I really think it is."
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First off, sorry that this chapter took forever to get out. Fifteen and Sixteen were originally going to be one, but when I saw how long it was becoming, I decided to split it.
But thanks bunches to spunx182 and Bacardibob for reviewing . . . Spunx, Flame's story is still in the works and still on the boards!
So, until next time . . . don't die or eat Play Dough! *winks*
