Chapter Two

"Harry!"

He turned halfway down the lawn to the lake at the sound of his name. It was Nicole.

"Not now, okay?" he said starting to walk again. "I just want to be alone."

"I know," she said now walking next to him. "But you need company."

"How do you know what I need and don't need?" Harry demanded. He stopped and looked at her. "How do you know anything about me at all? You don't know me and I don't know you."

"But I do know you Harry," she said calmly. "I know everything about you. I've been watching you ever since I found out who you are, what you can do."

"You've been watching me?" Harry cried. "Who are you?"

"I told you my name is Nicole Flem-"

"I know!" Harry interrupted. "I know your name but that doesn't ell me anything! The fact that you're Slytherin tells me more." He shook his head. "No, I'm sorry but this just isn't going to work. I'm going now and you can stay here."

"I know about Sirius," she said to his back. Harry stopped.

"What do you know about him?" he demanded still facing away from her.

"I know he was your godfather," she said. "And I know what happened in the Department of Mysteries."

"How?" he asked. "Are you a Legilimence?"

"No," Nicole said. Then she whispered in his ear, "I know Dumbledore."

Harry was completely shocked. Why would Dumbledore tell her about that? He was about to ask her but when he turned around, she was gone.

For the rest of the weekend, he was and heard nothing of Nicole. She wasn't in the Great Hall at mealtimes or in the library or anywhere on the grounds that Harry could see. It was a very quiet two days for him, especially since he wasn't speaking to Ron or Hermione.

Harry also stayed away from Hagrid's. He had taken the same quiet tones with him that the rest of the order had and Harry just couldn't stand that right now. What he really wanted was to talk to Dumbledore.

In Potions on Monday morning, Harry got his wish. A frightened first year came quivering into Snape's dungeon classroom.

"Why are you disturbing my class?" Snape asked.

"Professor Dumbledore sent me," he said tremblingly. "He wants to see Harry Potter in his office, sir."

"What have you done this time, Potter?" Snape sneered.

"Nothing, sir," Harry said as he packed up his bag.

"Likely story," Snape said with a wave of his hand. "I still expect an essay on Appearance Changing Potions from you next week."

"Yes, sir," Harry replied as he hurried out.

"The Headmaster asked me to give you this," the first year said, handing Harry a sealed piece of parchment.

"Did he say why he wanted to see me?"

"No, sorry," he said and ran up the stairs out of the dungeons.

Harry opened the note with a tap of his wand and read two words:

Sugar Quills

"Sugar Quills?" Harry whispered to himself as he climbed the main staircase. "What do sugar quills have to do with anything?" But by the time Harry had reached the stone gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office, he knew what those two words meant.

"Sugar Quills," he told the stone guardian and it jumped aside to reveal an archway and a winding stone staircase. Harry stepped on the first step and they stared moving up, taking him to Dumbledore's office door.

"Harry," Dumbledore said when Harry appeared in the doorway. "How good of you to come."

"Hello, Professor," Harry replied.

"Please, come sit down." Harry sat in a chair across from Dumbledore's own.

"Why did you want to see me, sir?" Harry asked.

"I was wondering how you and Nicole were getting along," the Headmaster answered.

"Yeah, about her," Harry said. "Who is she? I know her name and that she's American and all that but there is something else about her, something strange."

"Miss Fleming has been through just as traumatic life as you have, Harry," Dumbledore said quietly. And her has a special gift that can help you."

"She said she can see pain," Harry said.

"Yes, she can. She can see what caused it and how to fix it or make it worse. It was the very thing her parents were famous for in the States."

"Was?"

"She's an orphan, Harry. Just like you."

"Ron and Hermione think she's dangerous."

"She is," Dumbledore said with a smile. "She's a very powerful witch, especially for one so young. She's a great deal like you. A great deal. You two can help each other. You both have a great part in the upcoming war. Just let her help you and you, in turn, can help her."

"With what?" Harry asked.

"You will find out. This is not something I can tell you." A bell rang in the corridor. "I believe that is the signal for lunch." Dumbledore stood up and the interview was over. "Go and eat, Harry, you're looking pale. And don't miss any more classes today."

Harry sat between Neville and Ginny at lunch, still not speaking to Ron and Hermione. He kept his head down and ate quickly while Dean and Seamus discussed the new Quidditch season.

He had just gotten to the point of joining in when Hedwig landed in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her as he untied a note tied to her leg. On it was written one sentence in an unfamiliar hand.

Meet me in the North Tower at midnight.

"Whose it from?" Ginny asked, leaning over.

"The Dursley's," Harry said. "They want to know where I plan to stay for the holidays."

"Oh," Ginny said. "I didn't know they knew how to use owl post."

"My aunt does," Harry said. He picked up his bag. "I have to do an essay for Snape. I'm going to go get started on it."

"Okay, Harry," Ginny replied, surprised that he would actually do homework early. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah, okay, bye." Harry left and Hedwig flew up out one of the windows of the Great Hall.

He hurried to the library and found an empty table in the back where no one else was. He opened the note and read it again, and again. He read it five times before he realized whom it was from. The dark, spidery writing couldn't be anyone else. Nicole.

At eleven-thirty that night, Harry found himself sneaking out of the common room under the protection of his invisibility cloak. He walked quickly and quietly through the castle until he reached the stairs to North Tower. There, he saw Nicole.

"Hello, Harry," she said startling him. He took off the cloak.

"How did you know it was me?" Harry asked her.

"I can see your pain, even through invisibility cloaks."

"Oh," he said. "Er – so why did you want me to meet you here?"

"To talk," she said. "But not here, up there." Nicole started up the stairs.

"Isn't there an astronomy class tonight?"

"Nope," Nicole replied. "I checked the master schedule. Besides, Dumbledore gave me this idea. I doubt we'll be disturbed."

Harry followed her up the stairs, her dark hair catching glimmers of light from the torches hung along the spiral staircase.

She really is pretty, Harry thought. Wait. Did I just think that? He shook his head. No, I'm not doing that again. No more girls.

When they reached the chilly night air at the top of the stairs, Nicole turned to Harry. "The best way to start the healing process is by talking," she told him.

"That's why we're here?" Harry asked. "Just to talk? Nothing else?"

"Yes," Nicole answered. "I said that before. No spells or tricks are going to help you. Now, tell me about Sirius."

Harry turned away from her and leaned on the stone parapet, looking out to the Forbidden Forest. He still had a really hard time talking about his godfather, even to Ron and Hermione. Dumbledore and Lupin he had talked to some, but to Nicole? A total stranger?

"Harry," Nicole said as she put her hand on his shoulder. "I know this is hard, but it has to happen. Talk to me. I'll listen."

He turned his head and looked at her, really looked at her. Her pale face shone with light from the moon and her dark hair was swept off her shoulders. But her eyes captivated him. Within their blue depths resided a pain, a hurt not unlike his own. But there was also sympathy and understanding. Harry swallowed and decided to talk.

"What do you want to know?" he asked.

Two weeks later as Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in Professor Bins' class, Ginny sneaked into the classroom. The ghost-teacher took no notice of her as she crept to Harry's side.

"What're doing here?" Ron hissed. "Why aren't you in class?"

"Harry," Ginny whispered urgently, ignoring Ron's question. "There's something wrong with Nicole."

"What?" Harry half cried. "What's wrong?"

"Are you still talking to her?" Ron demanded. "I thought you said you were done with her!"

"And we agreed not to bother him about it," Hermione chided.

"I don't know what's wrong," Ginny said. "But she's asking for you."

"Where?" Harry asked as he packed his bag.

"She's in the hospital wing."

Harry followed Ginny out of History of Magic and to the corridor outside the hospital wing.

"I have to go back to class," she said. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah, okay, bye," Harry replied distractedly. He hurried to the door just in time to see Dumbledore leaving.

"Ahh, there you are, Harry," the Headmaster said. "Miss Fleming has been asking for you."

"What's wrong with her, Professor?" Harry asked.

"A side affect of her gift, I'm afraid. Sometimes the pain around her overwhelms her, but she will be just fine. Some rest is all she needs."

"Why does she want to see me?"

"Why don't you ask her that?" Dumbledore left.

Harry walked into the wing and down the row of beds to the very end. Madam Pomfrey was standing over it. She moved and Nicole saw him.

"Harry," she said with a weak smile. The nurse turned around.

"You can stay for only a few minutes, Potter," she said. "Miss Fleming needs her rest." Then she bustled off to her office.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked as her sat down on a chair next to the bed. They had become close friends since that night in North Tower and Harry was starting to have some strange feelings for her.

"I'm fine," Nicole said. "Just tired." But Harry didn't believe her. Her face was pale and her hands were trembling slightly.

"You don't look fine," Harry said and scooted his chair closer to her. "Is there anything I can do?"

Nicole smiled and shook her head. "I just needed to see you," she said. "You always make me feel better." Harry reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. She held his hand to her clammy cheek.

Harry's heart was pounding in his chest so hard he was sure Hagrid could hear it out in his cabin. The way he felt about Nicole was nothing like his crush on Cho had been. There was something different, something more to the way he felt with Nicole, but he couldn't describe it.

"Thank you, Harry," Nicole whispered as she closed her eyes. "Thank you." Harry held her hand as she fell asleep.