When It Rains
Disclaimer: The brilliant, genius mind of one Jo Rowling owns the Harry Potter universe and all rights go to her. Oh, if only I could do so good.
Author's Notes: Oh no, it's my first fic! Be afraid, be very afraid. But, I'll give you this, I've been writing much longer than I can recall. I hope you like it, there'll be more to come.
Prologue
A woman sat alone in her rather empty flat. She looked contrast to the gloomy aura that surrounded her home. She had light brown hair, twisted up into a messy bun. Her forest green eyes were flecked with a deep gold, standing out on her pale complexion. She scanned over a piece of parchment she had just recently received, somewhat confused at it's contents.
Dear Kiora,
How has your life after Hogwarts been so far? I'm sure you have heard tell of the War by now and of the Dark Lord's return. Oh the things we wizards get ourselves in to. But that is beside the point. Back in your school days, you were one of the most intelligent students I had ever seen and I knew you were bound to go somewhere, what with your undying determination. We could really use someone like you in the Order. Please think about this my dear. We truly need you here. 12 Grimmauld Place is the location. You're probably aware of where that is. When in between places 11 and 13, recite "The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London." I trust you with the very brink of my being, Kiora, and I always will.
Just an old coot,
Albus Dumbledore
While extremely surprised at the letter and it's proposition, Kiora could not help but let out the smallest of laughs at Dumbledore's closing, "Just an old coot." She knew him to be much more than that. When Kiora had attended Hogwarts, Dumbledore was one of the closest people to her there, helping her through her many trials and tribulations. She couldn't let him down now, it was the least she could do.
She tucked the parchment neatly in her pants pocket, so as not to forget the password to Grimmauld Place. Standing up, she grabbed her cloak off the hook near the front door. It was a deep, royal blue color that she loved. She put it on and then apparated, it was a long way to that community.
Her face was blank as she walked down the small street, yet inside she was raving with anxiety and excitement at seeing Dumbledore and who knows who else again. She had taught herself long ago not to show feelings on her outside, so long ago it came naturally to her now. She didn't need to be weakened by emotions as she had been in her past.
She found herself standing in between houses numbered 11 and 13. She shrugged, having no need of the parchment after all. Her memory never failed her. "The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London," she whispered, not wanting anyone that may be eavesdropping to hear. Before her eyes, another house began to push 11 and 13 aside, taking its own rightful place between them. She hadn't been in touch with anyone from Hogwarts for over fifteen years now. Inhaling a deep breath, she walked up to the door and knocked slowly.
She could hear screaming and some aggravated voices inside, then the door opened. Dumbledore stood there, that same old twinkle in his eyes. Kiora glanced at the background, a red-haired motherly looking woman was struggling with a portrait of an old, withered lady screeching, "Mudbloods, filthy dirty traitors!".
"Kiora, I'm so glad you decided to join us here," Dumbledore was waving a hand for her to come in. She stepped inside the creaky house. It was dusted with age but it looked like it had been well-kept by the current inhabitants.
"It's nice," she commented, bringing her eyes from the ceiling down to the wise old wizard in front of her. She pulled down the hood of her cloak. "It's so good to see you again, old friend." She still showed no emotion on her face, not even a smile, though she thought maybe she should. She just couldn't bring herself to move up the sides of her lips as she wrapped her previous mentor in a tight hug.
"I've missed you these long years. Oh, you've grown so much," Dumbledore looked down at her in admiration, patting her head and smiling. "But you still can not compete with me." Kiora rolled her eyes playfully, she knew he was just teasing about her short stature. While she wasn't as short as one Flitwick, she was short for her age.
The two had caught the attention of the red-haired lady.
"Kiora?" the lady said, smiling with her hands on her hips. "Is that Kiora Harris?" Kiora blinked, looking at the lady for a minute and then it hit her.
"Well if it isn't Molly Prewett!" Kiora said as she was pulled into a hug by the kindly woman. The woman held out her hand, showing off a rather nice looking ring.
"It's Molly Weasley now!" Molly's face was lit up with delight at seeing her old friend again.
"Oh, congratulations! I must meet him as soon as possible," Kiora let out what wouldn't really be called a smile, but was if you had known her for a long time.
"You mean all eight of them! I've got a husband and seven kids!" Molly exclaimed.
"Oh my! I'm sure they're all just as lovely as their mother!" Kiora was really surprised. 'Seven children? Man, things have changed.'
"Lily and James Potter, you know of how...yes. Well, their son is here too, along with a little friend of theirs. And you also know about Sirius I presume," Molly huffed in sadness and shook her head. Kiora merely blinked, but inside she was immensely depressed. She had heard about all of this, of course. She sent letters back and forth with Dumbledore. Poor Sirius. Poor Lily and James. She had known them all at her time at Hogwarts, although she knew more about James and Sirius than she did about Lily. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs. How could she possibly forget that quartet?
Feet were heard on the stairs as a rush of children came down, mostly with red hair but two were different. Raven and Brown.
"Dumbledore told us we had a visitor," Hermione said, eyeing Kiora. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Hermione." She held out her hand and Kiora shook it.
"Kiora," she offered her own name.
"This is Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Charlie," Fred pointed to each as he spoke. "And that's George, not to be--"
"Confused, with him, Fred," George finished. Kiora looked at Molly and gave her another of those barely there smiles.
"Twins, Molly. That's wonderful," she looked at all of the children, counting. "That only makes five, where are the other two?"
"Bill is in Africa, at his job at Gringotts," Ron offered. "And Percy..." Molly's smile flickered most unnoticeably but Kiora picked it up.
"That's okay, I understand. It's nice to meet you all," her eyes landed on Harry. He looked so much like James. Except he had Lily's eyes. Lily's bright green eyes. But there was something different in his eyes. Lily's were always filled with cheerfulness and joy. His seemed depressed and masked, as her own were so often. She averted her eyes to the rest of them. "I went to school with your mother."
"Really?" asked Ginny. "Oh! That means she has all the dirt on mum's school days!" Molly smiled and blushed.
"Now, now Ginny dear," Molly said, patting her daughter's shoulder.
"Hey, Molly, who's here?" a voice said, coming up from behind Molly. Kiora turned her head away from Ginny and stared at the man. Her mouth hung slightly open as she drew in a sharp breath. The man had also stopped moving and talking, he was staring straight back at her. Molly looked between the two nervously, while the kids just looked confused.
"Let me take your cloak," Molly said. Kiora nodded, still unblinking and frozen in her spot. Molly slipped off the girl's cloak and went to hang it on a hook by the door. Kiora could feel a burning sensation in her throat and her eyesight became blurred as she stared at the person standing so close to her.
"I'm guessing you know Remus?" Charlie said, laughing slightly. He stopped at the look he got from his mother. He shrugged, heading back upstairs.
"Go into the dining room kids, dinner's almost ready," Molly said, heading into the dining area herself. Kiora felt the cold tears slide down her cheeks as she finally closed her mouth and looked away. She shut her eyes tightly as if thinking when she opened them, he wouldn't be there. They stood in silence for a moment before he spoke up.
"Kiora, it's been a long time," he said. She opened her eyes. She had stopped crying but liquid still stained her face, while fresh tears were still pouring from his golden brown eyes.
"A long time indeed," she whispered. She brushed away the wetness on her cheek, inwardly scolding herself. That was the first emotion she had shown in almost nineteen years...
