Disclaimer: JKR is the mastermind behind this story... I'm just trying to live up to her standards!
Kayllin slid Hogwarts, a History into the enchanted wrapping paper and wrote her name on the gift. Smiling she turned to her parents.
"There." she announced, "Do you think he'll like it?"
"Of course," her mom responded in fading English accent. The family had moved from London before Kayllin was a year old. Just then, Anna flooed in.
"Hi," Mrs. Abbot smiled quickly, "How are you doing, Anna?
"Quite fine," Anna responded quickly. "Our plans haven't changed, right?" she added mysteriously.
"Of course not," Mr. Abbot smiled.
"What are you guys talking about?" Kayllin asked confused.
"You'll find out in about... 3 minutes... just give Ryan a chance to get here," Mr. Abbot said as he looked up ver his morning newspaper and gave her a wink
Kayllin didn't have a chance to respond before Ryan flooed in. She quickly ran over to him and gave him a hug. He smiled and hugged her back warmly.
She broke away quickly. "So... what's this big surprise that you have for me... And what are y'all planning?
"Wow... I come to see you before I leave and all I hear is you talking about yourself and your surprise. Shame on you!" he exclaimed laughing.
Kay punched him playfully. "I'm not always like this," she said with a wink, "Please tell me..."
"Okay, okay. Anna decided that it would be fun to spend a day out on the town. Only the three of us, just like old times. Of course you being the only muggle, I thought it would be fun if we explored muggle St. Louis. It's also a great way to start summer vacation before we buckle down on all the homework," he said smiling widely.
"That's a great idea," Kay replied giving him a light kiss on the cheek, "but its a little too late about the homework. I already finished Transfiguration."
Anna laughed loudly at this. "How are we ever gonna keep you away from those books?"
"I don't think you can," she giggled happily.
Harry was still puzzled over Aunt Petunia's actions. He had noticed her peculiar behavior earlier, but ever since their "talk", she had been unusually kind to him. She didn't make him feel special, but did not insult him, nor let Dudley or Uncle Vernon insult him in her presence. Just then, Harry heard a slight tap on his door.
"Come in," he answered.
Aunt Petunia walked quietly to the bed where Harry sat staring again at the wall.
"These were your mother's. They came with you when you were left on our doorstep. I-I'm sorry I never gave them to you sooner," she said slowly as she passed him two medallions.
Surprise written all over his face, Harry took them both and began to look at them closely. They were gold, held on a silver chain. Both had a beautiful woven design on the side. On the front of both, the words Lily & James were engraved on a box. The back of one had his name engraved Harry James Potter and the other one had the name Alexandria Lillian Potter.
"Thanks," he whispered in awe, "but who's Alexandria Lillian Potter?"
"I don't know," Aunt Petunia replied, "I regret it now, but your mother and I were never really close. You were supposed to have this before, but"
As he said those words, an anger seemed to take over him.
How dare that awful woman deprive me something my mother wanted me to have! He thought angrily.
"Why didn't you give this to me earlier?" he said in a tone that scared his aunt.
"I'm sorry," the woman repeated, "I don't really know... I guess I forgot... I..."
Harry turned his back on his aunt and her excuses. He focused his attention from the woman and instead looked back at the medals.
Aunt Petunia exited the room quietly.
That night the three friend enjoyed a beautiful Italian meal on The Hill. Kayllin was starting to get slightly nervous, this was Ryan's last night in the States.
"Excuse me," Anna said as she stood up, "I have t use the restroom. I'm sure you'll be fine without me."
Ryan and Kay looked at each other. This was the first time they would have a chance to be alone all night.
"No problem," Kay laughed, "I'll make sure he cleans his plate while your gone."
They watched as she exited the room before they turned to each other.
"I need to tell you something" they both said at the same time.
"You go first," Ryan offered.
"Okay," Kayllin said slowly, "ummm... now that you are leaving, it makes things a bit different."
"Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing."
"...and long distances relationship is a really hard thing to keep up...
"...maybe it would be best, if we took a break. We would still be friends but..."
"...we wouldn't be committed..." They said together.
"Unnerving how we finish each other's sentences isn't it?" Ryan laughed.
"I think we know each other a little too well!" Kay answered visibly relieved.
"I'm glad that we feel the same way... Otherwise it would have been awkward!"
"Promise me that we'll stay friends, despite the distance between us!" Kay suddenly said.
"Of course, we're to close to let a little thing such as the Atlantic Ocean or even a relationship keep us a part," Ryan said with a grin.
Anna walked back to the table. She sat down and asked, "Was there something I missed?"
"Nothing important," he said smiling. The meal continued with a lighter
mood.
"I'm gonna miss you a lot Rye!" Anna announced back at the Abbot's house as he got ready to leave by floo.
"So am I," Kay exclaimed giving him a big hug.
"Well, I'll come visit every summer, okay?" Ryan said.
They all smiled at that comment, but inwardly they knew things would never be the same again. The three of them had always been extremely close since the beginning. When he left, it would change everything.
"Well, my parents are going to kill me if I'm not back..." Ryan said giving his final hugs to the Abbots who had been his surrogate parents.
The boy turned sadly giving all the people he loved a last look before walking into the green flames and into his future.
"If only You-Know-Who hadn't come back..." Anna said sorrowfully after he left, "Anyways... I really got to get back home myself. My little brother, Zach, is probably destroying my room right now."
Anna threw in the floo powder and steeped into the fireplace. She called out her home loudly and was off.
Ms. Abbot turned to Kayllin's father and nodded. "Who is this You-Know-Who fellow, she continued as she sat down at the kitchen table, "and what does this have to do with Ryan's move? I thought you said that it had to do with his parents job transfer."
"Ummm... I'll tell you later," Kay said quietly shuffling slowly up to her rooom.
"Now would be a good time," her father responded sternly
"Ummm... well... there's really not much to say, basically this guy's trying to take over the world and he nearly succeeded last time and now he's back. Ryan's parents are helping out to make sure he doesn't win this time," she answered quickly.
"Take over the world?" her father said slowly.
"Yeah..." Kay responded her voice fading.
"Tell us everything," Mr. Abbot said sternly, "and I don't want to hear that you left anything out."
She explained it all, from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's return to England to the Deatheaters to the Unforgivables to the job of an auror. Kay stood still staring at the floor as she ended her speech. She could hear her mother breathing heavily.
"You can't go back to that school..." her mother said slowly.
"What?" she exclaimed, "The headmaster said we don't have anything to worry about... and the man is in England... he won't hurt us here! Besides we're at risk wether I go to school or not, he's not only targeting wizards!" Kayllin knew she was rambling, but she was focused on being able to return to Salem the next year.
"Slow down..." Mr. Abbot said suddenly, "You'll be able to go back to school, we'll just have to be careful..."
"Mark," Mrs. Abbot hissed, "how can you tell her she can return to school, this man is evil... we'll have less of a chance of being caught up in this if we are separated entirely..."
"But how will we be kept informed...? "
Her mother started to protest.
We will talk about this later," her father answered quietly.
Kayllin's heart sank slowly. This wasn't over yet. Her fate was still being decided. She couldn't even imagine not going to Salem the next year. She knew she would never again be able to fit in at a muggle school. She was just too different to ever go back to the way she lived. Kay sighed...
A/N I didn't get as many reviews as I did last chapter :( but I thank all of you who did review! BTW I'm sorry it took me forever to update but I was out-of town this weekend and didn't have access to a computer. I'm also sorry to add that I can't updatee as regularly as I have been because :sniff, sniff: spring break ends today... :breaks into tears: but I'll try my best, scout's honour... (so what... I'm not a girl scout... Sue me!)
Cassiopeia Black- (Harry is receiving visions as is Kayllin.. But these don't necessarily have to do with Voldemort... they have these because of a certain connection they share... I can't really say anything else without giving everything away)
LaLuneNoire- (There are quite a few reasons Aunt Petunia is being nice... first she feels guilty because of the way she has treated him, second he did save Dudley from the dementors, third she is realizing that Harry is growing up and he is a human being... he's not just a child they can push around, last, as you see in this chapter, she realizes all the things he's gone through. As for Kayllin's boyfriend... you see a different side of him... also remember that his parents are aurors, it will come in handy later! )
mor10senluv- Thanx for the encouragement!
A/N... OK, OK I know its like June and I STILL haven't updated... I'm sorry! I promise I will do it some time either this week or next... It'll definately be easier since school is out for the summer!
