Author's Note: I'm ba-ack... (evil grin) Heh heh. Anyway, I know you guys have been waiting patiently, but wait a little bit longer. I still need to give thanks to all who reviewed, and add the disclaimer. Oh, and please tell me if you want Haylie and Harry to be paired up or not.
WildWolf15: COOKIES!!!! (gets a glass of milk)
WormmonABC: Hah! My first Danny-reviewer reviews my HP fanfic! YAY! Yah, I agree. There's just too many darn Harry fanfics! LOL
Ed the Peewee: Aw, thanks! I really appreciate that!
Dragonfirechick: I feel so loved . Thank you! And yes, I might get Haylie and Harry paired up at the end. I'm not sure. People might think it would be Mary-Sueish
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Now, ON WITH DA STORY!!!
Secrets in the Shadows
Chapter 5: The Tides Are Turning
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The next month went past without much disturbance. Haylie started to talk with Harry, Ron, and Hermione a little more as time went past. She would come over during their break while they study and ask if she could join them. They happily let her, and it became daily. The four would sit, exchange notes, talk about classes, Slytherins, and Quidditch. However, Haylie was still a bit of a loner, and would sit by herself after dinner, or would wander the grounds on the weekends.
It was the Sunday before Halloween when the tides started turning.
Haylie was at the edge of the lake, her feet dangling in the cool, clear water. A few yards away, some first years were playing wizard chess. Haylie watched in amusement as one of the two accused the other of cheating. The other angrily told the accuser he didn't do anything. The two argued back and forth for a while, but then came to an agreement and started playing again.
Haylie laughed to herself. She thought of Ron and Hermione arguing like that almost everyday. Then, that thought suddenly made her remember what Hermione said the day before.
"Haylie, you've been looking kind of sick lately. Are you okay?" Hermione asked.
"Yah, I'm fine," she told her. "I just look that way because I bought one of Fred and George's Skiving Snack boxes." Seeing Hermione's stern look, she said, "I'm just kidding!" Ron and Harry laughed. Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to work on her essay for Care of Magical Creatures, 'How to Discern a Lethifold from a Dementor'.
Haylie sighed and lay down in the soft grass. It was getting a little colder, now that it was autumn, but she loved the cool weather. She closed her eyes, letting the rays of the sun warm her. She slowly drifted to sleep.
She didn't know how long she lay there, but she woke suddenly. She opened her eyes and sat up. The first years that were playing chess were now gone. The sky was clouded and grey. A few seconds later, it started pouring.
"Oh great," she mumbled. Haylie pulled out her wand. "Paraguas." The rain suddenly, instead of pounding her, fell away from her, hitting the shield she just conjured.
Haylie got up and started walking towards the castle, but saw a figure out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to see who it was. (A/N – Bet you can't guess who...)
Harry was leaning against a base of a tree near the lake. He had his legs to his chest and had wrapped his arms around them. The thick foliage above him shielded him from the rain. He was looking over across the lake. He had this look of pain etched in his face. Haylie felt a pang of pity for him. She walked over to him.
"Harry?" she said softly. As if being jerked out of a reverie, Harry looked up at her in surprise. "If you haven't noticed, it's raining. Hard. You should get inside."
Harry just shrugged.
"I'm fine," he said in a monotone. Haylie nodded, respecting his wish to be alone. She turned to leave.
"Have you ever had someone close to you be killed?"
Haylie stopped when Harry asked that question. She looked at him sharply, clenched her jaw, and said, "Yes. My best friend, actually. She...she was like a sister to me. I don't have any siblings. Why'd you want to know?"
"I...nothing. Never mind," he said. Haylie raised her eyebrow again, and then nodded understandingly.
"Oh...'Kay," she said. "Well...do you want to go back up to the castle, or do you just want to stay here for a while?"
"I'll stay here," he said.
"'Kay." She walked out from under the tree, conjuring the shield once again as she ran to the school to escape the rain. Dinner was in a few minutes.
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Harry wasn't at dinner that evening. Haylie, who was sitting with Ron and Hermione, told them that Harry wanted to be alone right now.
"Did he tell you to say that?" Ron said. "Where was he?"
"Just leave him," Haylie said. "He wasn't in the mood to talk when I saw him." Hermione grimly nodded.
"Harry's been going through a lot lately," Hermione said. "You-Know-Who and the war and all."
"I guessed that was why," Haylie said. "Poor guy. He's been through enough in his life, if you ask me."
"Too true," Ron said forlornly.
After dinner, they quietly walked up to their dorms. Ron went up to the boys' and Haylie and Hermione went up to the girls'.
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The next morning, Harry joined the other three at breakfast. Ron and Hermione, knowing was he was being so secluded lately.
"Hey, we have a Quidditch game in three days. Against Slytherin," Ron said, grinning wickedly. "Knock one out for us, 'k Haylie?"
Haylie grinned back.
"I'll try..."
Suddenly, owls came pouring into the Great Hall. A gray owl swooped down to Haylie, dropping a small purple package. Haylie's stomach dropped.
The front of the package was addressed:
Natasha Haylie Damon
Hogwarts
"Natasha?" Harry said. "I thought your first name was Haylie."
"I like that name better," she said, her teeth gritted, opening the package. Inside was a velvet box. Haylie took it out and opened it. Inside was a beautiful silver chain with a tear-drop amethyst pendant hanging from it. A tiny note that said 'Happy Early Birthday' was taped to the chain.
"Oh, wow," Haylie said.
"Birthday?" Hermione said.
"My birthday is on the same day as the Quidditch match," she explained.
"Well, more the reason to beat Slytherin, eh?" Ron said.
"Yes," she said smiling. "It would be an awesome birthday present."