A/N: Geez, I had like the WORST case of writer's block! I had like two paragraphs for ever and last tonight WHOOSH it all came out! TADAA! Thanks to every one who reviewed! You're awesome! Ok here you go: Chapter 5!
New Neighbor
Chapter 5
"Kira, there's a letter for you!" Kira's mother called from downstairs, after walking in the front door with the morning mail.
Kira set her book down on her nightstand and strolled down the steps to the kitchen. She picked up the faded yellow envelope off the counter and neatly opened it. After unfolding the heavy yellowish parchment, she read:
My dearest Kira,
Well how has life gone for you since our visit, sweetie? We know your birthday is coming up next week, and we wondered if you would like to come visit us! We could have an absolutely wonderful party! Of course you need to ask your parents first, dear. Please inform them that we will be able to pick you up in two days, and you'll be able to stay with us through the 10th of August, so we can get your supplies you need for school. We would love to have you! If it's alright with your parents, please owl us back. We love you, dear!
Much Love,
Aunt Ramona
"Hey Mum, look at this," Kira called.
Mrs. Sanden took the letter from her daughter and read it to herself. When she had finished Kira pleaded, "Oh, Mum, can I go?!"
Mrs. Sanden looked thoughtful.
"Well dear, we haven't planned any birthday get-together with Grandpa and Grandma yet, so there's not really any reason why you shouldn't be allowed to go," she concluded with a smile on her face.
"Oh thank you, Mum!" Kira exclaimed before giving her mother a quick hug. However, suddenly her expression turned into a confused frown.
"But what does she mean, Mum, to 'owl' her if I can visit?"
Mrs. Sanden was just about to shrug when there came a small tap from the window. The pair whirled around to see a small barn owl rapping on the kitchen window.
"What the--" Kira started but her mother interrupted her.
"Look, dear! It has a letter strapped to it's leg!" she cried, "let her in, Kira!"
Kira rushed to the window and a few seconds later the barn owl flew in and noisily landed on the kitchen counter.
"Oh, animal!" Mrs. Sanden shrieked, "off the counter! Off! OFF!!"
Kira watched the owl cast Mrs. Sanden an annoyed look-- wait a second, an owl casting a look? The owl quickly took flight and landed once again, this time on the back of a chair. It stuck out its leg and began to hoot at Kira. She slowly untied the piece of rolled up parchment from the animal's leg. When she had completed the task, the owl seemed to stare at her expectantly, as if she were waiting for something.
The letter in hand, Kira gazed at her mother. She appeared utterly confused and was mumbling something along the lines of, "…owls in midday… absurd… imagine if the animal messed on my countertops… absurd…"
Kira apprehensively opened the parchment, while wondering why on earth would an owl, of all creatures, be bringing her a letter. Inside she found a small note:
Kira,
You must be wondering what I meant by saying to 'owl' me if you could visit. Well, simply write the answer to my invitation on a piece of paper, and tie the note to Opa's leg. She'll be sure to bring me the letter. J
- Aunt Ramona
"Opa?" Kira asked no one. The owl hooted in pleasure at the sound of its name.
"Oh you're Opa, are you?" Kira said, understanding. The barn owl hooted at her once more.
"Here Mum, read this. It explains why the owl's here," Kira said, as she handed the letter to her mother. She grabbed a spare piece of paper out of a drawer and quickly wrote to Aunt Ramona that she would be ready to visit in two days. She took the small piece of string that was still hanging from Opa's leg and nervously tied the note to the owl's leg. She was half expecting the owl to bite her, but thankfully Opa didn't. When the note was securely tied to her leg, Opa swiftly took flight and was out the opened window within seconds.
Kira turned to her mother, who looked a bit ruffled.
"Well! This letter explains the owl business alright, but I would hope no more owls come swooping through my house in the middle of the day!" she exclaimed before leaving the room.
Kira giggled to herself when her mother was out of earshot. Yes, having an owl plunge through their kitchen window at 10:00 in the morning was a bit odd, but cool nonetheless.
'Maybe this is how all mail is delivered to wizards and witches. Awesome.'
Kira walked up the stairs towards her bedroom and thought to herself, 'A two week long visit with Aunt Ramona and Uncle Griffin. Oh, I can't wait! I'll have to tell Harry!'
Kira hadn't seen Harry in a few weeks, though they had exchanged a few telephone calls. In fact, she hadn't seen him since their date in which she, er, went for a little swim in the pond. She hadn't brought up the kiss, and neither had he. In a way she wanted to talk about it with Harry, but she also didn't want to seem too forward. She supposed he would bring it up when he was ready.
Kira entered her room and flopped down on her bed. She stared up at the ceiling and smiled at the memory of Harry's lips upon hers. Her first kiss. It was as wonderful as she had imagined, but better.
She rolled over on her stomach and brought her thoughts back down to earth.
'Gah, if Harry knew I was thinking this much about some kiss, he'd think I was crazy!'
She decided to go tell Harry in person. After all, she hadn't seen him in a while and she knew he'd be home. He had told her on the phone the night before. Something about his cousin's birthday. Plus, she was in need of a nice walk.
Kira slipped on her tennis shoes and pulled her long locks up into a ponytail. She happily hummed to herself as she jogged down the stairs. After telling her mother where she was going, she left through the front door.
XXXXXXXXXX
DING DONG!
Kira stood in front of #9 Privet Drive anxiously. She had never actually been to Harry's house before. She nervously looked down at herself and smoothed her shirt of any wrinkles. She heard a noise and abruptly stared at the door. As the door swung open Kira opened her mouth to say, "Hi, Harry!" but her cheerful expression rapidly faded.
Kira recognized the man at the door to be the angry fat guy she and Harry had run from the day they met. What did Harry say his name was? Buddy? Dudley? Yeah, that was it. Dudley. What a horrid name.
Kira opened her mouth for a second time to ask for Harry, but noticed Dudley staring at her eyes. His gaze didn't linger there long, however, for his gawking traveled south. Kira cringed under his stare and mentally cursed herself for wearing a shirt that was so low cut in the front.
"Whoa! What do we have here?" Dudley's beady eyes continued to look her up and down, "my, what a nice birthday present," he said in a voice that could've been mistaken as seductive, though Kira found his voice rather high-pitched for such a huge guy. He persisted to watch her hungrily but Kira regained her composure.
"Is Harry here?"
Dudley's thirsty stare quickly turned to one of confusion.
"Err, Harry?! You're looking for Harry?!" Dudley stuttered incredulously.
"Uh, yes, wasn't that was I just said?" Kira asked sarcastically.
Dudley pulled himself together and raised his eyebrows at her.
"Why, babe? When you could have a much better time with say, me?" Dudley said in that same high seductive-but-not-really voice.
"Please," Kira said cautiously, losing a bit of her courage over his refusal to go get Harry, "I need to talk to Harry."
"Aw, c'mon girl," Dudley smirked, reaching a fat hand out towards her slim waist.
"Dudley!" a familiar voice bellowed from behind the obese teen.
Harry's face appeared above Dudley's enormous shoulder and Kira's facial features visibly relaxed.
"Don't you dare touch her," Harry said venomously, "or you know what I can do."
Dudley's face immediately appeared frightened. He retracted his hand and glared at Harry before turning and waddling back into the house. He muttered, "…damn stick of his…" right before he disappeared from view up the stairs.
Harry looked at Kira uncomfortably. "Sorry about Dudley… I swear, if that load of crap ever comes near you again--"
"Harry!" Kira exclaimed, "really, it's fine. He didn't do anything too bad."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked suspiciously.
Kira chuckled at him. "Yes, I'm sure!"
Harry sighed and ran his hand through his unruly hair. He smiled a crooked grin at Kira and asked, "so what brings you down here today?"
Kira blushed a bit.
"Well, I haven't seen you in a while, just wanted to say hi," she said shyly.
"Well you have no idea how thankful I am that you did. I can only take so much of Dudley's 'birthday' day. Want to go for a quick walk?"
"Yeah!" Kira exclaimed merrily.
Harry grinned.
"Okay well hold on a second, ok?" he asked.
Kira nodded and Harry ran back inside. She heard him yell to someone that he was leaving for a bit and he came back outside with proper walking shoes on and a ready smile.
"Okay, whew! I'm ready."
Kira laughed as they made their way off the doorstep and began walking down Privet Drive.
The walked in silence for a few moments before Kira said, "guess what!"
Harry chuckled, "what?"
"You know my aunt and uncle? The ones who visited last month? Well, they've invited me to visit them for my birthday!" Kira cried excitedly.
"Cool, wait a sec, you never told me when your birthday was," Harry commented, eyebrows raised.
Kira smirked, "well you never asked, did you?"
Harry sighed playfully, "I suppose I didn't."
"Oh but I can't wait to go! I did tell you my aunt and uncle are absolutely fabulous, didn't I? They're so…" Kira thought a second to find the right word, "eccentric! But in a good way."
"Wish I had relatives like that," Harry said almost pessimistically.
Kira didn't comment, and the pair didn't speak for a few minutes. They reached the neighborhood park and turned back around towards their homes. Harry seemed to be thinking about something, and Kira didn't want to interrupt him.
"Kira, listen," Harry started finally, "I've been thinking a little about… us."
Kira shifted nervously. Harry took breath and continued.
"And you know that we've been having loads of fun, and I really think you're totally amazing… I just don't think… it should go too far," he said a bit uncomfortably.
"What do you mean?" Kira asked awkwardly.
"I mean like… when, I uh… kissed you… last time we went out…" he said, plainly uncomfortable now.
Kira avoided his gaze.
"Not that I didn't like it or anything… I just think we shouldn't get too-- involved. I mean, after all, summer is half over now, and uh, we won't even be able to see each other once summer ends," he paused, "er, do you get what I'm saying Kira?"
Kira reluctantly looked up and met his gaze. She quickly faked a smile and said, "yeah! I totally get it. Don't want to get too um, complicated-- when we won't even see each other later on, right?"
"Uh, yeah," Harry said, searching her purple eyes. Kira tore her eyes away from his entrancing emerald ones. She looked around and realized they were standing in front of her house.
"Well, um, we're here!" she said, disguising her voice to sound cheerful.
Harry nodded and took in a deep breath.
"So when do you leave for your aunt and uncles house?" he asked.
"Two days."
"Oh, okay, then I probably won't see you before then, huh?"
"Uh, no… But I come back on the 10th of August, so I'll see you then?"
"Yeah! We can hang out at that time, okay?"
"Um, yeah," Kira said, still managing to keep the smile pasted to her face.
Harry seemed to search her eyes one more time then looked as if he were about to say something. He didn't, so Kira whispered a goodbye and walked up the steps to her house without a backwards glance. She stepped inside just in time to wipe away a tear that was threatening to tumble down her cheek.
A/N: Ok whew, its over… Yeah, yeah, I know I switched Dudley and Harry's birthdays around maybe but oh well… Okay review! Please!
