A/N: EVERYTHING HERE BELONGS TO J.K.ROWLING… I simply twisted it around a little bit, lol

Sorry everybody for the long wait… I had forgotten how much time school takes up. GAH, WHERE DID SUMMER GO?!?!??!?! Ugh, I hate math too. Whoever invented algebra must surely be clinically insane.

Ok I'll stop complaining… READ!

New Neighbor

Chapter 9

'Harry,' Kira looked around her room frantically before realization hit her.

'It's a dream, Kira, just a dream,' she told herself repeatedly, trying to calm herself down.

The dream. Harry was there, and he was in trouble. But she couldn't help him. He'd been just lying there and her feet wouldn't move. Kira shook her head. It was a dream, for goodness sakes!

After what felt like eternity, Kira laid back down. She realized she'd woken the paintings that adorned her walls, most of which were grumbling at her in annoyance. She blushed and stared at the ceilings.

Harry. She hadn't thought of him in a while, what with Neville and all. Would she see him when she went home for the rest of the summer holiday? Part of her hoped so, and part of her dreaded a confrontation. One thing was for sure, she refused to be hurt again.

'Why would I want to see him anyways,' she thought angrily, shoving the longing to see Harry out of her mind, 'besides, with Hogwarts and everything, I'll completely forget about him.'

With that semi-confident thought in her mind, she settled down into the pillows and drifted off to sleep.

XXXXXXXXXX

Harry,

How've you been, mate? Haven't heard from you much. How're you taking it? You know what I mean. Hermione and Mum are worried over you again, nothing new, right? Ginny's got a new boyfriend, a kid from Ravenclaw. And Fred and George got their own apartment where they're developing new merchandise for the business. Mum's glad their out of the house, but before the twins left they transfigured their room into a muggle bowling alley. Mum hasn't figured out how to break the spell yet. Everyone's wondering how your summer is going. Write me back this time, okay mate?

Ron

Harry sighed as he finished reading Ron's untidy scrawl. He folded the letter up and shoved it under the floorboard where it landed on top of a pile of unanswered letters. How was he taking 'it'? Fine, good as could be expected Harry supposed. But in truth, he dreaded his trip back to Hogwarts. Everyone will want to know what Heroic Harry did over the summer and how Perfect Potter was taking life after the War. He dreaded the questions, the stares, everything.

His thoughts drifted back to someone who had never viewed him as different or hero-like. Kira. Harry imagined her blonde hair and bright eyes. He wished she were here. Amongst all of the Dursley's ridiculing and taunting, a friendly face would be welcomed.

'But you pushed her away, idiot.'

'It's not like I could've helped it. I'll never see her again.'

'You never know.'

'Merlin! What are the chances of that!'

Harry frowned and tried to clear his mind. What was done was done. When Kira got back from her aunt and uncle's, he would be friendly and say hello, but he'd have to keep emotions out of it. It wouldn't be fair to her.

He sighed for a second time before heading downstairs, where a scoffing Aunt Ramona shoved a slice of grapefruit and a piece of dry toast into his face before serving Dudley his immense platter of bacon and eggs.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Here Kira," Ramona said as she dropped some odd shaped coins in Kira's purse, "these are for your school things, robes, wand, and lunch."

"What are these?" Kira asked, picking up one of the larger coins and examining it closely.

"Well, that's Galleon, and those are Sickles and Knuts. They're wizard money. Harriet and Neville can help you with your purchases."

Kira nodded and placed the peculiar coin back into her purse. They were leaving for Diagon Alley via Floo in five minutes to buy her school supplies.

The past week had been wonderful. Kira had a small birthday party with her aunt, uncle, and the Longbottoms. Afterwards, her uncle transfigured the coffee table into a television, which Neville was quite fascinated with. They watched movies while her aunt and uncle and Ms. Longbottom chatted in the living room. For her birthday, her aunt and uncle had given her an extra pouch full of coins to buy whatever she wished at Diagon Alley.

Once Neville had whizzed away within the fireplace, Kira waved goodbye to her aunt and uncle and grabbed a bit of the sparkling Floo powder. She stepped into the fireplace and remembering not to inhale this time, shouted, "DIAGON ALLEY!" Her world started spinning and she disappeared in a whirl of green flames.

CLUNK. Kira landed on her duff in a strange fireplace, covered in ashes. She crawled out of the fireplace on her hands and knees and saw Neville brushing off his clothes nearby. He helped her up and she started dusting off her clothes as well. Within moments there was another clunk in the fireplace, signaling that Ms. Longbottom had arrived. A few minutes later the trio looked presentable enough, so Harriet led them down the stairs of the building they had arrived in. On the first floor of the shop, Kira saw what appeared to be a bookstore; each one of the four walls was completely covered with books.

"Neat," she murmured, examining the book nearest to her titled, "Dwarf Anatomy Made Easy." Kira cringed at the thought of what that book might contain. She moved along the row, tracing her finger across "Unicorns in Arabia: Economic or Catastrophic?" and "Lions and Dragons and Ghouls, Oh My!" Neville finally dragged her away so they could purchase their various schoolbooks. A half hour later, they walked out of the bookshop, hands full with bags. Ms. Longbottom promptly zapped them back to her aunt and uncle's house with her wand.

Kira took a moment to look around Diagon Alley. It was amazing. Everyone strolling by was dressed in robes and a diverse mixture of hats. The shops looked small and quaint, lining both sides of the busy street. Kira followed Harriet down the way, while Neville pointed out different shops and things Kira had never heard of before.

"Whoa, look!" he said, pointing to a lime green triangular shop that stood in the middle of a small courtyard, "I think that's new this year."

The walked around the shop and Kira read the sign:

Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes

"Oh I know them!" Neville exclaimed proudly and peered in the open door. He waved, and two tall, lanky redheads waved back from behind the counter.

"Old friends from school," Neville explained to Kira as they passed by a shop full of broomsticks.

"Wow," Kira breathed as she surveyed the wide assortment of brooms in the front window. The mahogany, birch, and oak handles gleamed in the sunlight. They continued walking and stopped in a few different stores, purchasing cauldrons, quills, parchment, and various other things. Then they approached a clothing shop. Kira presumed here was where she was to buy her robes. When she walked inside, and woman behind the counter asked, "hello darling, here for your robes?"

Kira nodded and the woman motioned for her and Neville to each step onto a small stool that was placed on the floor. The woman, who introduced herself as Madame Malkins, snapped her fingers and instantly two yellow measuring tapes appeared before them and began taking their measurements in every angle possible. A few minutes later the measuring tape disappeared. Madame Malkins glanced at her clipboard.

"Okay you two, I'll be right back with the fabric."

XXXXXXXXXX

New robes in hand, Kira followed the Longbottoms down another alley and approached an old rickety shop. The faded, crooked sign that hung above the door read:

Olivander's Wands

"Wands!!!" Kira exclaimed happily, "I get to buy my wand!!!"

Neville laughed as they entered the dark, musty, front room. The walls were all extremely tall, and covered in shelves. Shelves that were full of small, long, narrow boxes. No one was there. Ms. Longbottom tapped on the front counter with her handbag. A whirring sound came from the back of the store. With a sharp jolt a small, bald man appeared atop the ladder that had just come into view. He bounded off the ladder onto the floor and peered up towards Kira's face through gigantic bifocals. Kira felt as if she shrunk under his mysterious stare even though the man was distinctly shorter than her.

'Must be my eyes,' she figured.

"I'd been wondering when you'd come to my shop, Kira Venatici."

"Mr. Olivander, it's Kira Sanden," Ms. Longbottom informed the old man briskly.

Mr. Olivander's eyes flashed strangely.

"Well, Miss Sanden, we need to find you a wand, no?"

"Yes," Kira mumbled quietly, bewildered.

"I'll return in a moment," he replied and jumped once again onto the ladder. He pushed against the nearest shelf and whizzed away.

"Don't worry, he has that effect on almost everybody. But he makes the best wands in all of England," Neville whispered in her ear. He received a disapproving look from his Gran.

The trio stood in silence for a few minutes before a familiar whirring sound could be from the back aisle. A few seconds later Mr. Olivander piled 20 long, narrow boxes onto the front counter. He opened the first one.

"Billywig heartstring, Mahogany, 8 inches," he said, handing her the wand. Kira took it in her hand.

"What do I do with it?" she asked, feeling awkward.

"Give it a little twist or something," the old man murmured, staring intensely at the wand.

Kira flicked the wand and with a loud POP, aisle three of the tiny shop came crashing down with a rumble. Mr. Olivander snatched the wand out of her hand before Kira could react. With seconds another wand was placed in Kira's hand.

"Chimera hair, Ash, 10 ½ inches," he told her.

Kira whipped the wand up and a streak of light came out of the end. It was gone in a flash, but a screaming voice caused Kira to turn around in surprise. Neville had hit the ceiling with a thump. Mr. Olivander grabbed the second wand from her hand. He opened the third box.

XXXXXXXXXX

An hour later, the tiny shop was in chaos and Mr. Olivander still had not found a wand that had satisfied him. Piles and piles of wand failures littered the floor. But Mr. Olivander appeared as calm as ever. He grabbed another narrow box off the shelf.

"Faery wing, 11 inches, Holly," he murmured as he slid the lid off. He handed her the wand. Kira flicked it a little, her arm tired.

An electric shock ran up her exhausted arm. Gold sparks flew out the end and exploded in the air. Kira stared at the wand in shock, but Mr. Olivander clapped his bony hands almost gleefully.

"I should have known…" he said, telling her the price. Neville helped her pay with some of the coins called Galleons, and the trio left the shop. Kira was glad to be rid of the frail, old man but excited at the prospect of her very own wand. She smiled.

Ms. Longbottom pulled out her wand. In moments the robes and wand had disappeared, back to her aunt and uncle's house with the rest of her purchases.

"Kira, I have to set up the appointment for your knowledge spell. Why don't you two get lunch?" she offered, dropping a few coins into Neville's hand. Kira nodded and the older woman bustled away.

Neville led Kira through the crowd, to a small café across from the broom store. Starving, Kira and Neville both ordered cheeseburgers and ice cream. Their food materialized in front of them the second she told the waiter her order. She thought of the slow service at the restaurants by her parents house. This spell sure could come in handy.

Neville looked out the window as he chomped down on his dripping burger.

"Viff pwace haffen--"

"Neville!" Kira laughed, "you've got to remember to swallow first!"

Neville abruptly swallowed, an odd gulping noise coming from his throat. Neville winced.

"And maybe you should chew it all the way too," Kira giggled.

Neville flushed and continued, "this place sure hasn't changed much since the war, I'm glad."

"What about a war?" Kira asked absentmindedly, picking the onions off her lunch.

Neville stared at his food.

"The war," he said quietly, "haven't your aunt and uncle talked to you about it?"

Kira furrowed her brow, trying to remember.

"No," she said slowly, "I don't think so."

"Er… it was something that happened last year… I suppose it had been going on for some time though…"

Kira looked at him questioningly. But Neville hadn't taken his eyes off his burger.

"Well, it sounds awfully big to be called a 'war' don't you think?" she asked, trying to coax him into telling her more.

"Uh…" Neville started slowly, clearing his throat, "there was this guy… Vol-- Um, we just call him You-Know-Who… uh, he killed people."

He gulped softly, his hamburger abandoned.

"He killed a lot of people," he finished gazing out the window. Kira saw his eyes had glazed over.

"Neville?" she asked timidly, "what happened?"

The bell on the door of the café rung, signaling the entrance of a potential customer.

"Longbottom!" the first boy exclaimed in a Scottish accent. Following him was another boy and girl. They headed towards their table.

"Oh hey, Seamus," Neville said, instantly cheerful. Kira furrowed her brow at him. He'd just been all weird. Now he was fine?

Seamus' eyes traveled to Kira.

"And who might the pretty lady with ye be, mate?" Seamus asked, staring at Kira's purple eyes. Kira quietly snorted to herself in annoyance.

"This is my neighbor, Kira Sanden. She's going to Hogwarts this year."

Seamus grinned and slid down next to Kira. She blushed. The other boy and the girl pulled up chairs. While Seamus was tall, probably six feet tall, the second boy was a bit shorter, maybe five foot six, Kira guessed. Seamus had longish sandy brown hair, with hazel eyes. The second boy had black hair, with dark gray eyes. The girl had too much make-up on, though she was pretty no doubt. She had long dark hair and olive skin.

"This is Dean Thomas. And that's Parvati Patil," Seamus told her, motioning to the other strangers, "so where're you from?"

"Lit-- I mean, New Zealand," stuttered Kira.

"New Zealand! Wicked!" exclaimed Dean, breaking his silence.

"Why are you coming to Hogwarts then?" inquired Parvati, sucking some of her chocolate milkshake through a straw.

"Parent's job," Kira replied quickly. Seamus, Dean, and Parvati nodded casually and Kira relaxed. Good, so the story works.

The bell above the door jingled once again and Ms. Longbottom bustled into the room.

"We have to go, Kira," Neville said, motioning towards his Gran.

"Already, mate?" Seamus asked, disappointed.

Neville nodded and Kira grabbed her purse.

"Nice meeting you three," she said, waving as she followed Neville out of the café. The group waved back and the door of the café swung closed. They walked out into the crowd.

"Have a nice lunch, dear?" Gran asked Neville. He nodded but didn't say anything.

"Good," the older woman said absentmindedly before addressing Kira, "I've met with the Professor who will perform the knowledge spell, we're going to go meet them now, okay?"

Kira nodded.

"Alright then," murmured Ms. Longbottom, before leading them along the busy sidewalk.

As Harriet and Neville dodged a small cart selling sugared peanuts, Kira lost sight of them. She hurried forward, trying to see Neville's bobbing head within the crowd. She caught her shoe on the curb, and tripped. She fell straight into a person dressed in billowing black robes. She was immediately pushed away by the person whom she had tripped into, causing her to fall on her behind in the street.

"Watch it! These are new robes," a malicious, drawling voice snapped.

A/N: Thanx to all who reviewed, I have like 49 reviews now! YAY! It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside… Lol… Thanx to my editor, Digladior0124 who FINALLY edited this chapter for me… after a little coaxing…

Hoped you liked this chappy, now PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!