Mike: Yo, Mike here. Sorry I've been so quiet for so long.
Eve: I'm not.
Mike: Ha, ha, cute, Evee.
Eve: Yah, so anyway.
Sarah: HEY GUYS!!!!
Eve: Dear God.
Mike: Hey!
Sarah: Yep, I decided that because the book characters are having a reunion that we should too.
Eve: Weird...
Sarah: What?
Eve: I never realized how much you remind me of a Furbey.
Sarah: You mean those cute little things that never wanna shut up?'
Mike: Sarah, stop, just stop.
Eve: On with the Fic.
---
Kira was drawn out of her cabin by a strange voice with a familiar tone. The tone matched many she'd heard at the lab. If someone from the lab was on the train, she knew she'd bee in trouble if she didn't go to them. She'd learned from day two that if she hid, she'd be hurt. She followed the voice until she was out side a cabin on the second car of the train.
"The damn news said that the base was attacked by the riders! Thank Merlin! Can you imagine what kind of demons they were making there? Damn things are better off dead!" The angry voice screamed, drunkenly slurring his words.
"First of all -are you drunk on the way to the reunion? Second of all -they were evil, what else can you expect of them other then to create something evil?" A second, calmer voice asked.
Kira smiled. The men weren't from the lab! So she didn't have to go to them. She turned to go back, but the voices continued and eavesdropping had been a hobby of hers at the lab and it proved to be the dominant instinct.
"If I ever see one of there godforsaken creatures, you know what I'd do? I'd beat the hell out of it! Then when it was weak and dyin' I'd drag it out into the public in a net. Then I'd let everyone that had been hurt by that base or had lost someone because of it have a good swift kick. Then I'd take it home, throw it into a box and burry it alive!! That's what they ought to do with 'em!" The angry voice slurred yet seemed to think he was saying words that everyone else was thinking for he gave a cocky smile and posed before dropping back into his seat to get another beer.
(AN. This seems outlandish, but it's the exact words I heard someone say about Bin Ladin about three days after September 11. While I can't blame the speaker, the point is to know their crime first. You can't kill the baby just because it'll grow up to be a monster.)
Kira ran; she was absolutely terrified. The people outside the lab wanted to kill her and the people inside wanted to torture her! She ran all the way to the back of the train and into her and Cota's cabin. She leapt inside and climbed back into her seat to hide behind a pillow. She looked at the arm cover she had on; if it slipped then everyone would know what she was. She shook her head and stared out the window. She wasn't trapped; she wasn't trapped, so why did she feel so scared? Cota came in after a few minutes.
"Here ya are little Kira," Cota greeted as he handed her a grilled cheese sandwich. He sat down and took out his BLT. To drink they had hot chocolate, and for desert Cota pulled out two chocolate chip cookies. Kira was about to eat her cookie when Lilly walked in.
"Uh, uh," She said and took the cookie from Kira. "You already have trouble sleeping," Lilly stated.
Cota doubted that Kira's sugar intake was the reason she was having trouble sleeping, but knew better than to say anything. Kira stared longingly at the cookie, having quickly become a fan of treats after coming to live with Lilly and James.
"We should be arriving soon... yep, there's that ugly old tree," Lilly scowled at the blackened tree, the one she'd first seen after being forced to spend an entire trip to Hogwarts in the same cabin as Severus. She'd looked out the window almost the entire time with her headphone blaring and trying her best too look busy as Severus and his two friends made fun of her.
She awoke from the unpleasant memory to see that both Kira and Cota were staring at her. Correction, Cota was staring at her; Kira was trying to make the cookie move with her mind. Lilly blocked the cookie from view and Kira let out a short whimper.
"There will be plenty of candy at Hogwarts," Lilly promised. "Believe me. You might ask your father where his stash is ... Stash of candy, specify candy." She added. Kira nodded and Lilly retreated to go and talk with her friends.
"Done" Announced Kira as she held up her sketchbook for Cota to see.
"Good!" Cota praised, making the little girl blush. "Now take out your crayon, again."
Kira held out the crayon.
"Now turn it black," Cota told her.
"Black" Kira said and the CrystalWrighter turned black. She was growing excited.
"Now go over the entire page with the black," Cota coached
"Huh?" Kira asked. Her smile disappeared and she stared at him with suspicion.
"Put the black over the colors, completely cover them," Cota told her, his eyes were so loving that Kira knew he wouldn't ruin her picture so she listened and colored over the colors with black.
"Okay," Kira chimed when she was done.
"Good, now I'll teach ya how to draw a raccoon" Cota praised.
Cota used his wand to draw the steps Kira should follow to make a cute little raccoon. She did the raccoon on a spare piece of paper and practiced drawing it a couple of times. Cota's ended up looking like Rambo's version of a raccoon, and Kira's –while slightly deformed- ended up getting cuter as she emphasized features she liked, such as a fluffy tail and bigger eyes. When she was able to draw one she really liked, Cota told her to use an unfolded paperclip to draw it on top of the black. She didn't understand so he showed her. When she drew the raccoon it would go through the black and all the colors underneath could be seen.
"Wow," Kira gasped when she was done.
"Wow!" Cota exclaimed, making it obvious that he liked it. "That raccoon looked professionally done," he praised, though he would have said the same thing had she drawn a squiggly line.
"You think so?" Kira asked, glowing on the inside and on the verge of giggling with joy on the outside.
"Of course, you're very talented" Cota acclaimed. He pretended to marvel at the 'art work' for a few minutes until he found himself really meaning what he said. She'd put her heart into the work, and it reflected that. The eyes were almost as big as the head, the nose was tinny the body was smaller than the head and the tail was huge, but it was cute.
(a few minutes later)
Cota picked up the book he had brought and started reading it out loud. The book was called "Island of the Blue Dolphins." Kira liked that book, it was her bedtime story. Cota read for half an hour and saw that Kira had fallen asleep. He peeked out of the cabin and asked a passing stewardess if she could bring a few pillows. When the stewardess returned Cota put the pillow under Kira's head. Cota took off his cloak and draped it over Kira so she would be warm. Then he made his way over to James's cabin and could hear the four marauders talking inside.
"No, I still think if the day we return there is suddenly a massive flood, we will be the number one suspects," James was saying.
"True, alright then we'll go back to the original plan and just target Severus, a random person, a few of the new teachers and of course that Malfoy jerk," Sirius agreed, rubbing his hands together in devotion of his own evilness.
"Yes, he is deeply annoying," Remus admitted.
"Yes, yes," Peter agreed in a very rat-like manner.
Cota laughed to himself as he slid the compartment door open. "Lord James."
James walked over to the door, stepping carefully over a black dot that they all seamed very cautious of, to speak with Cota as there was not much room inside as Sirius had unpacked all the ammunition he'd brought and it was scattered about. "Where is Kira?" James asked.
"Don't worry, she's asleep," Cota stated.
James breathed a sigh of relief and looked at his watch. "We should be arriving in an hour."
"Permission to be informal?" Cota requested.
"Hell no," Sirius answered, lounging on a seat with his feet kicked up on Remus's suitcase. "You gotta be formal in this cabin," he smirked, burping the last word.
"Be my guest, I'm counting this as vacation time," James yawned, ignoring Sirius who was quite literally belching out orders to Peter.
"Thank you, My Lord. So, have you all decided to terrorize the entire school? Should Kira and I be on the look out?" Cota asked.
James laughed, his face brightened and he no longer looked as tired. "As a matter of fact, you two should stay at least ten feet away from Severus," he laughed.
"Ten? Oop's, okay then, we'll just make the explosion smaller," Sirius smiled and seemed to be already plotting a more controlled bomb.
"Okay, but you know you guys might just want to leave him alone," Cota suggested.
"What!" All four men shouted in surprise.
"James, think about it. You have the best revenge ever," Cota stated in a 'mater of fact' tone.
"Huh?" James asked. Last year he'd been quite unarmed and they'd all ended up in the hospital wing covered in boils; all the handy work of Severus and gang.
"Your saying we leave Severus alone, because James has the ultimate revenge? That makes no sense," Remus protested, remembering to boils. They required a pay-back. Sirius, however, was eyeing James suspiciously, waiting for the ultimate revenge to show it's self.
"What would piss him off more? Having a hundred pranks pulled on him, or seeing you and Lilly, both very happy, and with your friends and there holding your hand James, is little Kira. Your daughter," Cota stated.
"You've got a point," James smiled. He had the world's cutest little girl and he knew it.
"That would certainly annoy him," Remus laughed. He wasn't admitting it, but he liked the idea of a non-physical pay-back better. They all silently agreed to Cota's suggestion.
"Just wanted to make sure you weren't so caught up on revenge you forgot her...again," Cota smirked.
"I told her I was sorry!" James protested, giving Cota a look that showed he'd almost crossed the line.
"I apologize. Anyway, that revenge won't work. Remember, Dumbledore doesn't want Kira to draw to much attention. To many questions," Cota reminded James.
"... Were you playing with our minds or..." Peter was lost.
"I'm just saying if you want to tell him, make sure he's alone. That way he'll mull over it in silence instead of announcing your good news."
"So as I was saying, stay at least twenty feet away from Severus at all times," Remus continued, lightening the mood.
Cota joined them for a while and then left to go check on Kira.
She was awake, but seemed to be lost in thought.
"Kira, what's wrong?" Cota asked and put his hand on her shoulder.
Kira closed her eyes and shook her head. "Nothing," She whimpered.
Cota kneeled and looked right into her eyes. He put his forehead up to hers and smiled as he gazed into her eyes. She looked back into his and then he felt something. Something inside him, he felt scared and alone; He felt all the pain she was feeling. Cota smiled warmly to her.
"Hey, I heard Oweiry was going to come to the party. He said he was going to come so I wouldn't be bored. So that'll be fun. Hey, maybe a fight will start and it'll break out into a Quidditch game!" Cota smiled a smile that few dared to look at as it was bold and seemed to promise excitement.
He knew that was what usually happened. Quidditch games do not break out into fights, fights break out into Quidditch games.
"Then you can see your Dad in action!" he grinned.
"Yeah!" Kira cheered, she was putting on a brave act, but couldn't help but be happy.
Lilly came in, after a few minutes of awkward silence, to help Kira straighten her dress and redo her hair. Cota went to go check on how long it would take until they got there while Lilly did this. He was looking for an excuse to leave as he wasn't sure how to comfort the little girl. When Lilly was done, Kira looked perfect. Lilly smiled and tried to place a mental bet on how long it would be until the dress was destroyed as a result of a food spill or any other form of child activity.
Yet Kira was usually good about what she wore, still not as playful as James would have liked her to be. Lilly wouldn't lecture her if the dress ripped or got dirty as it would be her fault for putting it on a child in the first place. She smiled and re-did the bow. Cota came back and announced that they were arriving at Hogwarts. He looked at Kira and pretended to be seeing the most beautiful little girl in the world.
"Wow, you're to pretty for this reunion," Cota said and shook his head, his expression seemed to say 'well now what do we do?'
Kira blushed, Lilly took a deep breath and got excited, and then she became worried again and went to straighten Kira's bow, yet again.
"Everything is fine, Lilly," Cota stated.
Lilly nodded, ignoring the fact that he hadn't addressed her as Milady, as was customary for a squire, and was doing odd motions with her hand, she was obviously nervous.
"Oh, it's been so long, to long actually..." she was referring to her appearance. Pregnant was not how anybody wanted to go to their reunion, but Dumbledore had started having them every year as Hogwarts was a safe place in the dark times that were around them.
"Well, Kira and I will jump off the train first and make complete fools of our selves. Then you won't have to worry about looking bad," Cota teased and winked at Kira.
Lilly crossed her arms and stared at him with half-lidded eyes.
"So, what do you want to do Kira? Should we light something on fire or just pretend to be at the wrong reunion," Cota ribbed, and looked over at Kira.
Kira blushed and looked away with a wide embarrassed smile.
"I'm all for lighting something on fire, however, pretending to be at the wrong reunion would be fun too," Cota continued, "I'll stare around blankly and you pretend to cry, okay?"
Lilly gave him a 'you do and you die' look and clicked her tongue.
"Hey, you said you were worried. If you don't want our help, then fine," Cota shrugged and nodded his head at Kira.
Kira fell over as the train came to a sudden stop. She was barely caught by Cota.
Cota set her down and smiled. "I wouldn't let you fall."
Lilly held her death grip on the door frame and let out a breath. They'd arrived. "Where's James? I heard Sirius mention a spider and... well... where's James?"
"Third cabin from the front, look for the smoke," Cota instructed.
"Kira your not going to haul that around with you are you?" Lilly asked, watching Kira try to put her stuff back into her backpack which was roughly the same size as she was. Kira was confused; she'd thought she was supposed to bring something to do.
"Don't worry about it, watch," Cota intervened.
He took the Sketchbook and raccoon out of the bag. Then shrunk them, explaining how they would unshrunk when she wanted them to. He made the bag pink and shrunk it as well, then put the CrystalWrighter, the raccoon, and the sketchbook back inside it. He left one strap unshrunk and this he draped over her so it hung on her hip. It looked like part of the outfit.
Lilly nodded, pleased. Then they all left to get off the train. Cota slipped Kira's book into his cloak pocket and followed them out of the cabin. Lilly, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter stepped off the train and stared in awe at the school.
"Ooooooh, Ahhhhhhhh," Cota mocked and smiled down at Kira, who giggled and blushed again.
James looked back and smiled sarcastically at Cota, who kept jerking his head and pointing with his eyes toward Kira. James walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. Kira smiled and the party moved on toward the main entrance of the school. When they were climbing the stairs to the main entrance, Kira was overwhelmed by how many people were there. She grabbed James's cloak and he turned around.
"It's all right, Kira," James said and picked her up.
He carried her up the stairs, then set her down and held her hand. Lilly was finally at ease and walked proudly into the school with her head held high. Cota looked around for Oweiry and when he spotted him, he waved and headed over. Dumbledore was standing on the balcony beaming with pride as he saw all the old students coming. This was just one year of students, so crowding wasn't a problem at all. Of course, each student could invite close friends from other years. Kira stayed close behind James, and Lilly was pulled over by one of her friends who wanted to know more about her expected son.
Sirius ventured west in search of something to spike, Remus went to go speak to the defense against the dark arts teacher, Peter went to go meet someone and James went in search of the Quidditch team captain. None of them seemed to even realize that they had split up. Kira was lost in the crown and nearly trampled. She didn't know what to do or where to go, she was confused and she kept being rammed into. Kira fell and some kids who'd parents were Slytherin noticed the Gryphon on her bow. They growled and decided to make her night a living hell, just as they'd been raised to do. Then one of them saw a flash of the electronic device on her arm. Kira quickly pulled down her arm cover so they couldn't see it.
"What was that?" One of the boys hissed.
"It's nothing," Kira answered, looking around for help.
"Let me see. I'll tell you if it's nothing or not," The boy snarled and grabbed her wrist.
"No!" Kira cried out as she tried to pull free.
The boy fought back and tried to pull up the arm covering, and then someone grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up off Kira.
"Leave her alone," Cota growled as he held the boy far off the ground and out of kicking distance; his eyes locking into the boy's and giving the most threatening stare Kira had ever seen.
Oweiry gave his most evil glower to the rest of them, and they backed off, huddling together as if cornered by the very guardian of the deepest level of hell. The boy got free, leaving his coat behind, and they ran off like the two teenagers had stolen their souls and promised a fiery afterlife. Two twins ran up, they'd seen what had happened. One of the twins helped Kira up; he had bright, fiery, red hair. Cota smiled at Kira that it was okay now.
"I'm Fred," The boy that had helped her up introduced himself.
Fred's twin nodded his head and pointed to himself proudly. "M'names George."
Cota leaned close to Kira as Lilly ran up. She had also seen what had happened and was ready to kick some ass. She was steaming and looking around wildly for the parents of the three boys that had attacked Kira.
"Looks like you have two boys that like you already, KiraKira," Cota whispered to Kira "That's because you're beautiful," he added and winked. "You'll be breaking hearts in no time," Cota continued and was smacked by Lilly.
"Behave," Lilly said lightly.
Cota laughed and Lilly went to go ask if anyone knew about the boys that had attacked Kira, and who their parents were. Cota and Oweiry retreated back to their corner of the room.
"See you later little Kirameku," Cota called as he followed Oweiry. (Key- rah- Meh-Koo)
"Oh, what did that guy call you?" George asked.
"Little Kirameku...it's his nickname for me," Kira stated.
Cota called her KiraKira and Kirameku; Kirakira was his singsong thing that he said when Kirameku wouldn't sound as nice. Cota's hobbies included a band in which he was lead singer and guitarist, and Derek was a drummer. Two other guys they'd known in school served as another guitarist and a keyboarder.
"What's it mean?" George asked.
"Um... I don't know," Kira admitted. Names were a total blank to her.
"How old are you anyway?" George asked.
"I am designation two," Kira stated.
"You're two! You look at least six," George exclaimed.
"She'd be too small for a six year old," Fred groaned.
"Well, technically I'm one year five months old..." Kira admitted.
"Wow," They both exclaimed.
"So, why do you look older?" George asked.
"George, stop pounding her with questions, it doesn't matter! We are three and talk like we are older, so she can be one and look older," Fred intervened, crossing his arms as if amazed by his twin.
"Hey! I got an idea! Let's get our older brother to take us to the library. We can look up your name for you, Kira," George stated.
"Your older brother can read?" Kira asked.
"Oh, Percy, yeah, he's annoying that way." Fred nodded.
Kira didn't know what to say and before she knew it, she was being led behind George across the room in search of a Percy.
Eve: I'm not.
Mike: Ha, ha, cute, Evee.
Eve: Yah, so anyway.
Sarah: HEY GUYS!!!!
Eve: Dear God.
Mike: Hey!
Sarah: Yep, I decided that because the book characters are having a reunion that we should too.
Eve: Weird...
Sarah: What?
Eve: I never realized how much you remind me of a Furbey.
Sarah: You mean those cute little things that never wanna shut up?'
Mike: Sarah, stop, just stop.
Eve: On with the Fic.
---
Kira was drawn out of her cabin by a strange voice with a familiar tone. The tone matched many she'd heard at the lab. If someone from the lab was on the train, she knew she'd bee in trouble if she didn't go to them. She'd learned from day two that if she hid, she'd be hurt. She followed the voice until she was out side a cabin on the second car of the train.
"The damn news said that the base was attacked by the riders! Thank Merlin! Can you imagine what kind of demons they were making there? Damn things are better off dead!" The angry voice screamed, drunkenly slurring his words.
"First of all -are you drunk on the way to the reunion? Second of all -they were evil, what else can you expect of them other then to create something evil?" A second, calmer voice asked.
Kira smiled. The men weren't from the lab! So she didn't have to go to them. She turned to go back, but the voices continued and eavesdropping had been a hobby of hers at the lab and it proved to be the dominant instinct.
"If I ever see one of there godforsaken creatures, you know what I'd do? I'd beat the hell out of it! Then when it was weak and dyin' I'd drag it out into the public in a net. Then I'd let everyone that had been hurt by that base or had lost someone because of it have a good swift kick. Then I'd take it home, throw it into a box and burry it alive!! That's what they ought to do with 'em!" The angry voice slurred yet seemed to think he was saying words that everyone else was thinking for he gave a cocky smile and posed before dropping back into his seat to get another beer.
(AN. This seems outlandish, but it's the exact words I heard someone say about Bin Ladin about three days after September 11. While I can't blame the speaker, the point is to know their crime first. You can't kill the baby just because it'll grow up to be a monster.)
Kira ran; she was absolutely terrified. The people outside the lab wanted to kill her and the people inside wanted to torture her! She ran all the way to the back of the train and into her and Cota's cabin. She leapt inside and climbed back into her seat to hide behind a pillow. She looked at the arm cover she had on; if it slipped then everyone would know what she was. She shook her head and stared out the window. She wasn't trapped; she wasn't trapped, so why did she feel so scared? Cota came in after a few minutes.
"Here ya are little Kira," Cota greeted as he handed her a grilled cheese sandwich. He sat down and took out his BLT. To drink they had hot chocolate, and for desert Cota pulled out two chocolate chip cookies. Kira was about to eat her cookie when Lilly walked in.
"Uh, uh," She said and took the cookie from Kira. "You already have trouble sleeping," Lilly stated.
Cota doubted that Kira's sugar intake was the reason she was having trouble sleeping, but knew better than to say anything. Kira stared longingly at the cookie, having quickly become a fan of treats after coming to live with Lilly and James.
"We should be arriving soon... yep, there's that ugly old tree," Lilly scowled at the blackened tree, the one she'd first seen after being forced to spend an entire trip to Hogwarts in the same cabin as Severus. She'd looked out the window almost the entire time with her headphone blaring and trying her best too look busy as Severus and his two friends made fun of her.
She awoke from the unpleasant memory to see that both Kira and Cota were staring at her. Correction, Cota was staring at her; Kira was trying to make the cookie move with her mind. Lilly blocked the cookie from view and Kira let out a short whimper.
"There will be plenty of candy at Hogwarts," Lilly promised. "Believe me. You might ask your father where his stash is ... Stash of candy, specify candy." She added. Kira nodded and Lilly retreated to go and talk with her friends.
"Done" Announced Kira as she held up her sketchbook for Cota to see.
"Good!" Cota praised, making the little girl blush. "Now take out your crayon, again."
Kira held out the crayon.
"Now turn it black," Cota told her.
"Black" Kira said and the CrystalWrighter turned black. She was growing excited.
"Now go over the entire page with the black," Cota coached
"Huh?" Kira asked. Her smile disappeared and she stared at him with suspicion.
"Put the black over the colors, completely cover them," Cota told her, his eyes were so loving that Kira knew he wouldn't ruin her picture so she listened and colored over the colors with black.
"Okay," Kira chimed when she was done.
"Good, now I'll teach ya how to draw a raccoon" Cota praised.
Cota used his wand to draw the steps Kira should follow to make a cute little raccoon. She did the raccoon on a spare piece of paper and practiced drawing it a couple of times. Cota's ended up looking like Rambo's version of a raccoon, and Kira's –while slightly deformed- ended up getting cuter as she emphasized features she liked, such as a fluffy tail and bigger eyes. When she was able to draw one she really liked, Cota told her to use an unfolded paperclip to draw it on top of the black. She didn't understand so he showed her. When she drew the raccoon it would go through the black and all the colors underneath could be seen.
"Wow," Kira gasped when she was done.
"Wow!" Cota exclaimed, making it obvious that he liked it. "That raccoon looked professionally done," he praised, though he would have said the same thing had she drawn a squiggly line.
"You think so?" Kira asked, glowing on the inside and on the verge of giggling with joy on the outside.
"Of course, you're very talented" Cota acclaimed. He pretended to marvel at the 'art work' for a few minutes until he found himself really meaning what he said. She'd put her heart into the work, and it reflected that. The eyes were almost as big as the head, the nose was tinny the body was smaller than the head and the tail was huge, but it was cute.
(a few minutes later)
Cota picked up the book he had brought and started reading it out loud. The book was called "Island of the Blue Dolphins." Kira liked that book, it was her bedtime story. Cota read for half an hour and saw that Kira had fallen asleep. He peeked out of the cabin and asked a passing stewardess if she could bring a few pillows. When the stewardess returned Cota put the pillow under Kira's head. Cota took off his cloak and draped it over Kira so she would be warm. Then he made his way over to James's cabin and could hear the four marauders talking inside.
"No, I still think if the day we return there is suddenly a massive flood, we will be the number one suspects," James was saying.
"True, alright then we'll go back to the original plan and just target Severus, a random person, a few of the new teachers and of course that Malfoy jerk," Sirius agreed, rubbing his hands together in devotion of his own evilness.
"Yes, he is deeply annoying," Remus admitted.
"Yes, yes," Peter agreed in a very rat-like manner.
Cota laughed to himself as he slid the compartment door open. "Lord James."
James walked over to the door, stepping carefully over a black dot that they all seamed very cautious of, to speak with Cota as there was not much room inside as Sirius had unpacked all the ammunition he'd brought and it was scattered about. "Where is Kira?" James asked.
"Don't worry, she's asleep," Cota stated.
James breathed a sigh of relief and looked at his watch. "We should be arriving in an hour."
"Permission to be informal?" Cota requested.
"Hell no," Sirius answered, lounging on a seat with his feet kicked up on Remus's suitcase. "You gotta be formal in this cabin," he smirked, burping the last word.
"Be my guest, I'm counting this as vacation time," James yawned, ignoring Sirius who was quite literally belching out orders to Peter.
"Thank you, My Lord. So, have you all decided to terrorize the entire school? Should Kira and I be on the look out?" Cota asked.
James laughed, his face brightened and he no longer looked as tired. "As a matter of fact, you two should stay at least ten feet away from Severus," he laughed.
"Ten? Oop's, okay then, we'll just make the explosion smaller," Sirius smiled and seemed to be already plotting a more controlled bomb.
"Okay, but you know you guys might just want to leave him alone," Cota suggested.
"What!" All four men shouted in surprise.
"James, think about it. You have the best revenge ever," Cota stated in a 'mater of fact' tone.
"Huh?" James asked. Last year he'd been quite unarmed and they'd all ended up in the hospital wing covered in boils; all the handy work of Severus and gang.
"Your saying we leave Severus alone, because James has the ultimate revenge? That makes no sense," Remus protested, remembering to boils. They required a pay-back. Sirius, however, was eyeing James suspiciously, waiting for the ultimate revenge to show it's self.
"What would piss him off more? Having a hundred pranks pulled on him, or seeing you and Lilly, both very happy, and with your friends and there holding your hand James, is little Kira. Your daughter," Cota stated.
"You've got a point," James smiled. He had the world's cutest little girl and he knew it.
"That would certainly annoy him," Remus laughed. He wasn't admitting it, but he liked the idea of a non-physical pay-back better. They all silently agreed to Cota's suggestion.
"Just wanted to make sure you weren't so caught up on revenge you forgot her...again," Cota smirked.
"I told her I was sorry!" James protested, giving Cota a look that showed he'd almost crossed the line.
"I apologize. Anyway, that revenge won't work. Remember, Dumbledore doesn't want Kira to draw to much attention. To many questions," Cota reminded James.
"... Were you playing with our minds or..." Peter was lost.
"I'm just saying if you want to tell him, make sure he's alone. That way he'll mull over it in silence instead of announcing your good news."
"So as I was saying, stay at least twenty feet away from Severus at all times," Remus continued, lightening the mood.
Cota joined them for a while and then left to go check on Kira.
She was awake, but seemed to be lost in thought.
"Kira, what's wrong?" Cota asked and put his hand on her shoulder.
Kira closed her eyes and shook her head. "Nothing," She whimpered.
Cota kneeled and looked right into her eyes. He put his forehead up to hers and smiled as he gazed into her eyes. She looked back into his and then he felt something. Something inside him, he felt scared and alone; He felt all the pain she was feeling. Cota smiled warmly to her.
"Hey, I heard Oweiry was going to come to the party. He said he was going to come so I wouldn't be bored. So that'll be fun. Hey, maybe a fight will start and it'll break out into a Quidditch game!" Cota smiled a smile that few dared to look at as it was bold and seemed to promise excitement.
He knew that was what usually happened. Quidditch games do not break out into fights, fights break out into Quidditch games.
"Then you can see your Dad in action!" he grinned.
"Yeah!" Kira cheered, she was putting on a brave act, but couldn't help but be happy.
Lilly came in, after a few minutes of awkward silence, to help Kira straighten her dress and redo her hair. Cota went to go check on how long it would take until they got there while Lilly did this. He was looking for an excuse to leave as he wasn't sure how to comfort the little girl. When Lilly was done, Kira looked perfect. Lilly smiled and tried to place a mental bet on how long it would be until the dress was destroyed as a result of a food spill or any other form of child activity.
Yet Kira was usually good about what she wore, still not as playful as James would have liked her to be. Lilly wouldn't lecture her if the dress ripped or got dirty as it would be her fault for putting it on a child in the first place. She smiled and re-did the bow. Cota came back and announced that they were arriving at Hogwarts. He looked at Kira and pretended to be seeing the most beautiful little girl in the world.
"Wow, you're to pretty for this reunion," Cota said and shook his head, his expression seemed to say 'well now what do we do?'
Kira blushed, Lilly took a deep breath and got excited, and then she became worried again and went to straighten Kira's bow, yet again.
"Everything is fine, Lilly," Cota stated.
Lilly nodded, ignoring the fact that he hadn't addressed her as Milady, as was customary for a squire, and was doing odd motions with her hand, she was obviously nervous.
"Oh, it's been so long, to long actually..." she was referring to her appearance. Pregnant was not how anybody wanted to go to their reunion, but Dumbledore had started having them every year as Hogwarts was a safe place in the dark times that were around them.
"Well, Kira and I will jump off the train first and make complete fools of our selves. Then you won't have to worry about looking bad," Cota teased and winked at Kira.
Lilly crossed her arms and stared at him with half-lidded eyes.
"So, what do you want to do Kira? Should we light something on fire or just pretend to be at the wrong reunion," Cota ribbed, and looked over at Kira.
Kira blushed and looked away with a wide embarrassed smile.
"I'm all for lighting something on fire, however, pretending to be at the wrong reunion would be fun too," Cota continued, "I'll stare around blankly and you pretend to cry, okay?"
Lilly gave him a 'you do and you die' look and clicked her tongue.
"Hey, you said you were worried. If you don't want our help, then fine," Cota shrugged and nodded his head at Kira.
Kira fell over as the train came to a sudden stop. She was barely caught by Cota.
Cota set her down and smiled. "I wouldn't let you fall."
Lilly held her death grip on the door frame and let out a breath. They'd arrived. "Where's James? I heard Sirius mention a spider and... well... where's James?"
"Third cabin from the front, look for the smoke," Cota instructed.
"Kira your not going to haul that around with you are you?" Lilly asked, watching Kira try to put her stuff back into her backpack which was roughly the same size as she was. Kira was confused; she'd thought she was supposed to bring something to do.
"Don't worry about it, watch," Cota intervened.
He took the Sketchbook and raccoon out of the bag. Then shrunk them, explaining how they would unshrunk when she wanted them to. He made the bag pink and shrunk it as well, then put the CrystalWrighter, the raccoon, and the sketchbook back inside it. He left one strap unshrunk and this he draped over her so it hung on her hip. It looked like part of the outfit.
Lilly nodded, pleased. Then they all left to get off the train. Cota slipped Kira's book into his cloak pocket and followed them out of the cabin. Lilly, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter stepped off the train and stared in awe at the school.
"Ooooooh, Ahhhhhhhh," Cota mocked and smiled down at Kira, who giggled and blushed again.
James looked back and smiled sarcastically at Cota, who kept jerking his head and pointing with his eyes toward Kira. James walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. Kira smiled and the party moved on toward the main entrance of the school. When they were climbing the stairs to the main entrance, Kira was overwhelmed by how many people were there. She grabbed James's cloak and he turned around.
"It's all right, Kira," James said and picked her up.
He carried her up the stairs, then set her down and held her hand. Lilly was finally at ease and walked proudly into the school with her head held high. Cota looked around for Oweiry and when he spotted him, he waved and headed over. Dumbledore was standing on the balcony beaming with pride as he saw all the old students coming. This was just one year of students, so crowding wasn't a problem at all. Of course, each student could invite close friends from other years. Kira stayed close behind James, and Lilly was pulled over by one of her friends who wanted to know more about her expected son.
Sirius ventured west in search of something to spike, Remus went to go speak to the defense against the dark arts teacher, Peter went to go meet someone and James went in search of the Quidditch team captain. None of them seemed to even realize that they had split up. Kira was lost in the crown and nearly trampled. She didn't know what to do or where to go, she was confused and she kept being rammed into. Kira fell and some kids who'd parents were Slytherin noticed the Gryphon on her bow. They growled and decided to make her night a living hell, just as they'd been raised to do. Then one of them saw a flash of the electronic device on her arm. Kira quickly pulled down her arm cover so they couldn't see it.
"What was that?" One of the boys hissed.
"It's nothing," Kira answered, looking around for help.
"Let me see. I'll tell you if it's nothing or not," The boy snarled and grabbed her wrist.
"No!" Kira cried out as she tried to pull free.
The boy fought back and tried to pull up the arm covering, and then someone grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up off Kira.
"Leave her alone," Cota growled as he held the boy far off the ground and out of kicking distance; his eyes locking into the boy's and giving the most threatening stare Kira had ever seen.
Oweiry gave his most evil glower to the rest of them, and they backed off, huddling together as if cornered by the very guardian of the deepest level of hell. The boy got free, leaving his coat behind, and they ran off like the two teenagers had stolen their souls and promised a fiery afterlife. Two twins ran up, they'd seen what had happened. One of the twins helped Kira up; he had bright, fiery, red hair. Cota smiled at Kira that it was okay now.
"I'm Fred," The boy that had helped her up introduced himself.
Fred's twin nodded his head and pointed to himself proudly. "M'names George."
Cota leaned close to Kira as Lilly ran up. She had also seen what had happened and was ready to kick some ass. She was steaming and looking around wildly for the parents of the three boys that had attacked Kira.
"Looks like you have two boys that like you already, KiraKira," Cota whispered to Kira "That's because you're beautiful," he added and winked. "You'll be breaking hearts in no time," Cota continued and was smacked by Lilly.
"Behave," Lilly said lightly.
Cota laughed and Lilly went to go ask if anyone knew about the boys that had attacked Kira, and who their parents were. Cota and Oweiry retreated back to their corner of the room.
"See you later little Kirameku," Cota called as he followed Oweiry. (Key- rah- Meh-Koo)
"Oh, what did that guy call you?" George asked.
"Little Kirameku...it's his nickname for me," Kira stated.
Cota called her KiraKira and Kirameku; Kirakira was his singsong thing that he said when Kirameku wouldn't sound as nice. Cota's hobbies included a band in which he was lead singer and guitarist, and Derek was a drummer. Two other guys they'd known in school served as another guitarist and a keyboarder.
"What's it mean?" George asked.
"Um... I don't know," Kira admitted. Names were a total blank to her.
"How old are you anyway?" George asked.
"I am designation two," Kira stated.
"You're two! You look at least six," George exclaimed.
"She'd be too small for a six year old," Fred groaned.
"Well, technically I'm one year five months old..." Kira admitted.
"Wow," They both exclaimed.
"So, why do you look older?" George asked.
"George, stop pounding her with questions, it doesn't matter! We are three and talk like we are older, so she can be one and look older," Fred intervened, crossing his arms as if amazed by his twin.
"Hey! I got an idea! Let's get our older brother to take us to the library. We can look up your name for you, Kira," George stated.
"Your older brother can read?" Kira asked.
"Oh, Percy, yeah, he's annoying that way." Fred nodded.
Kira didn't know what to say and before she knew it, she was being led behind George across the room in search of a Percy.
