Disclaimer: I guess I need one of these. Uh...I don't own Harry, or anyone else. I cannot nor do I try to compete with JKR genious, so don't even think about it!
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The sorting had finished and the new first years were safely seated at their house tables. Dumbledore concluded his usual cheerful greeting and reciting of the rules, leaving the rest of the evening for the welcoming feast.
Harry picked at his meal, too amused by his friend Ron's eating habit of shoveling food in as fast as humanly possible. Hermione tried to slow him down, saying, "Ron, it will be there for awhile. Chew, for heaven's sake."
The three friends chatted as they ate, reliving events from the summer and planning their week. Harry intentionally kept the conversation away from any mention of Sirius, deciding not to ruin the happy day with bad memories. He sighed as he thought of starting school with a Potions class, while Ron said through an exceptionally full mouth, "Snape'll be torture this year. He's still mad from all the Order business..."
"Shut up, Ron," hissed Hermione, tossing a roll at him. "Don't talk about that here."
Harry pushed his potatoes around. Hogwarts had always been a place he felt at home at, but this year was different. Sixth year was upon them, and Harry was beginning to wonder where he would go after his wizard training was over. He'd scored well enough on his O.W.L.S. to begin his Auror training, but if that didn't work out, what then? He didn't have a Muggle education to fall back on.
Though, if Voldemort came back he probably wouldn't have to worry past seventh year.
He stirred noticeably at the thought, causing Ron and Hermione to stop their bickering and focus on him. "What's wrong, mate?"
"Nothing," he said, going back to his potatoes. It had only been recently that he had considered that he might not defeat the Dark Lord. That he might fail...
The doors to the great hall suddenly jolted open, pulling Harry from his thoughts. He and the rest of the student body turned to the doorway, where a tall figure clad in a long dark robe stood. Filch stood next to it, holding Mrs. Norris.
Filch led the way, and the figure followed silently. The cloak completely covered the face and body, leaving all to only guess at what was beneath. Harry's hand instantly went to his scar, but no pain came as the figure passed him. Hermione and Ron looked at him expectantly, but he shook his head.
Filch walked up to the main table and whispered to Dumbledore, though the figure remained at the bottom of the steps. Dumbledore stood, smiling. He quickly circled the table, leapt down the few steps, and embraced the figure.
The great hall was silent at the old man held the figure, lifting it into the air as he laughed. In the movement, the hood fell away, revealing blonde hair and ribbon holding it back.
"Uncle Albus, put me down!" came a voice from the cloak. The headmaster released the figure, revealing the face of a young girl, her cheeks slightly reddened and a wide smile crossing her face.
Professor McGonagall stood and circled the table, taking the girl in her arms. "Piper, my dear. How good to see you!"
"Thanks, Miss Minerva," said the girl, smiling. She smiled at each teacher in turn, saluting Professor Snape and receiving a nod in return.
The Headmaster smiled eager, saying, "How was your trip? Did they..." It was then he remembered the hundreds of students who had ceased their meals to stare at the exchange.
"Oh, my goodness," he said, turning to the students. "Pardon our interruption." He took the girl by the shoulder, turning her to face the tables. "Allow me to introduce my niece, Piper. Piper," he motioned to the students, "these are the students."
"Hey," she said, smiling as her eyes scanned the room. They fell momentarily on Harry, though she didn't seem to take any particular interest in him. Harry found himself staring at her cloak, which still covered her body completely. Her shoulders appeared thin in the fabric, and a large bulge emerged from the front and back. He looked over at Hermione, who was rapidly making notes on her palm with what appeared to be a ball point pen she had brought from home. He glance at Ron, but found his friend had not taken his eyes off the new girl.
"Mr. Filch, please take Piper to her room? I trust your trunk is on it's way?"
"Saw Caffy take it when I got off the train." An image of the smallest house elf at Hogwarts flashed across Harry's mind. "He still remembered me, which was nice." She reached up and undid the string of her cloak, pulling the garment away. A gasp was shared by the student body at her appearance, and whispers could be heard. Her eyes grew wide in shock at their response, and she looked down at the basketball in her hands innocently.
"What's that on her back?" asked Ron, craning his neck for a better look.
"It's a backpack," said Harry, simply. "Muggles use them to carry books to school."
"Genius," whispered Dean Thomas a few seats back.
"Is that a ball?"
"A basketball," replied Harry.
Hermione spoke next. "She's American."
"How can you tell?"
"She's got a flag sewn to her bag." Hermione leaned forward to get a better look. "Besides, her accent is obvious."
Harry saw the flag, too. He also saw that she wore jeans too long her for, and a t-shirt that looked like it had been washed too many times to still be wearable. A baseball hat hung from one of the straps, and he could just make out the symbol on the front.
"New York Yankees," whispered Hermione. Harry stared at her. "My grandad's a fan."
"Um, guys, you've lost me," said Ron, but before they could answer, Dumbledore had started to speak again.
"Piper will be attending classes with us this semester. I ask that you all be as open minded as possible to help her adjust."
"Uncle!" said Piper, hitting his arm playfully. "I don't need special treatment." She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek lightly. "I'll come see you later." With that, she hoisted her backpack a little higher and walked back through the row to the door. She disappeared without a word.
The teachers took their seat once more, and leaving the trio to discuss the new visitor.
"You think she's Muggle?" asked Ron.
"No. She can't be if she'd related to Dumbledore," said Hermione.
"But how can she be related to Dumbledore if she's American?"asked Harry.
"Extended family, maybe? Remember Dumbledore is very old." Hermione looked at her hand, then placed the pen back in her pocket. "I wonder if they're anything on her in his autobiography."
"She doesn't look that old, she probably isn't mentioned." Harry looked at Dumbledore, who seemed to have a new air about him. He was smiling and laughing with McGonagall, who also looked enthused. Snape, in addition, looked somewhat less annoyed.
"I hope we have a class with her."
But they did not. In fact, the trio did not see Piper for many weeks until one day they decided to go for a walk around the lake. Fall was upon them, and the weather had turned colder. As they strolled, Harry noticed a bundle of something somewhat hidden behind a small bush. He stopped to investigate, discovering that it was a pair of sweat pants and a long sleeved t-shirt. "Bush-Kerry Brawl" ran across the chest in purple and gold.
"What's that?" asked Ron.
"No idea," said Harry, standing up with the shirt still in his hand. "Why would someone just leave clothes by the lake."
"Maybe someone's swimming?" came a voice from behind them. The three turned to see Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom stepping out from behind a nearby bush on the other side of the path.
"What are you two doing?" asked Hermione, though she stopped as the two motioned the newcomers to hide along with them. They did so, and together behind the bush.
"She's in the lake," said Dean, smiling.
"Who's in the lake?" Harry started to stand, but Neville pulled him back down.
"Piper Dumbledore," whispered Neville, excitement in his voice. "She went in about twenty minutes ago. We saw her go in."
Hermione spoke up. "She's IN the lake? Why didn't you stop her? Does she know about the squid and the merpeople?"
"We told her, but she said she could take care of herself." Dean shrugged. We watched her wade out, then she just dove in. She hasn't been up since."
Ron started to speak, but was silenced as the sound of a person breaking the surface came to them. All clamored to get a good look.
Her head emerged first, and she swam the few yards until her feet could touch bottom. Slowly, she walked out of the water. It was then Harry realized why Dean and Neville had stayed to watch. Her bikini covered little, and her body was thin and toned. She rang the water from the single braid that ran down her back, stopping just above her waist. She dried herself with a small towel that Harry hadn't noticed, then pulled the sweatpants and shirt on. She waved back over the water, and Harry looked just in time to see a merperson waving back.
"That's impossible," said Hermione, standing once Piper was out of earshot.
"I'll say it is," said Ron, standing. "Did you see her abs?"
The boys agreed, leaving Hermione alone to get their minds back in task.
"But she went swimming in the lake, under water, for nearly half an hour! She didn't even have a wand with her and..."
"She had a wand," Dean pointed out. "It was in her braid."
Hermione stared at him, then continued, "She didn't jinx herself gills or anything that obvious, so how did she do it?"
Harry shrugged. "Why don't we ask her?"
"Oh, that'll be a great conversation," said Neville, smiling, "'Yes, saw you come out of the lake today. Mind sharing your secrets?' We don't even know her."
"But you don't mind hiding in a bush to watch her in a bathing suit." Hermione waited for a response, and not recieving one, continued, "I think you should talk to Dumbledore, Harry."
"Why me?" he asked, standing with the rest of them.
"I don't know, you just seemed like the best choice." Hermione wrapped her arms around erh and started to walk off. "How did she do it?" she mumbled as she walked.
Harry sighed, still not on good terms with the Headmaster. As curious as Harry was about his American niece, Dumbledore would receive no visits from him.