A/N: YIPPEEE!!! Guess what guys!!! I have 100 reviews!!!!!! Oh my GOSH, I am ecstatic! Okay, not totally ecstatic, but that is so awesome! Lol, seriously, I never thought I'd make it to chapter thirteen! Your reviews keep me going, lol!
And by the way, since I was feeling oh-so-generous, I am updating this chapter a week early! I know, I know, I'm the best. Actually, I'm really surprised I finished this so early… It just kind of… poured onto the page.
Anyhoo, thanx SO MUCH for your reviews everyone! You're the greatest!
New Neighbor
Chapter 13
Harry entered the Great Hall, following Ron and Hermione. The hall was exquisitely decorated in various colors. Candles adorned the stone walls, and chandeliers magically floated above them beneath the enchanted ceiling, which appeared identical to the night sky outside.
Despite the enchanting atmosphere, Harry's thoughts wandered elsewhere. Why didn't Kira talk to him at all? After the shock of it all, she could've pretended to introduce herself…
'Wouldn't she be happy to see me? Or at least acknowledge me?'
'Why would she acknowledge you? You blew her off!'
'No I didn't!'
'Yes, you did.'
'That's beside the point. Whatever I did, I did it because I had to!'
"Harry! C'mon, mate! We got to get us a seat!" Ron yelled. Harry rushed to catch up with him. He sat beside Hermione, while Ron sat across from him. They were quickly surrounded by many other Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, all interested in talking with Harry.
"Harry! How was your summer Harry?!"
"What's it like Harry, being a hero?"
"I read in the Quibbler about you and that veela girl! Is it true?"
"Harry, mate! You got He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named good, didn't you?!"
"Harry! Got any battle scars? Can I see 'em?"
"STUDENTS," a deafening voice thundered. All voices became silent, staring at their headmaster in surprise, whose eyes were twinkling dangerously, "please take your seats."
The noisy rustling of people shambling to an empty seat died down, and all heads turned to the headmaster.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" he exclaimed, grinning at the four long tables that were set before him.
"I believe that we have new faces to greet!" he declared and the doors to the Great Hall swung open. A line of nervous-looking first years followed Professor McGonagall single file into the room. McGonagall held in her hand the all-knowing Sorting Hat, which looked more battered then usual. With a wave of her wand, a tall stool appeared in front of the strict professor, as did a long strip of parchment. Then the Sorting Hat began to sing, and when it was done, the older woman began shouting out names, beginning with "Aadonvelt, Conrad," who was immediately sorted into Slytherin.
As each first year nervously shuffled up to the stool and placed the Sorting Hat on their head, the friends around Harry began to converse.
"I heard there's a new girl in our year!" whispered Violet Romero, a friend of Parvati's, "is it true, Neville?"
"Yeah, it is. She moves here from New Zealand… I think," Neville muttered.
"And she's wicked hott with that blonde hair," whispered Seamus, "wouldn't you agree mate? Have you seen her?" he asked, nudging Harry.
"Er, yeah, sure. I've seen her," Harry murmured softly, feeling an odd feeling bubble up inside him. Was it resentment?
Once the last first year, Dania Zen, was sorted into Ravenclaw, Dumbledore stood up.
"I also shall gleefully inform you, that we have one more new student at Hogwarts this year, that is not, in fact, a first year."
Whispers began again, but Dumbledore continued evenly.
"Students and staff, I would like you welcome," the doors to the Great Hall opened, "Miss Kira Sanden."
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"Now wait here, I must introduce the first years. Dumbledore will bring you in afterwards," McGonagall told Kira.
"You mean I have to go in all alone?" asked Kira. But the professor was already gone, leading the first years, who moments before had been staring not so discreetly at Kira's hair and eyes.
Kira nervously wrung her hands. Harry was still a prominent thought inside her head, and she had no idea what to do. Yes, she could pretend she didn't know him for a while, but what about later?
'And what if I get sorted into the same house as him?!' she wondered frantically.
She could hear muffled cheers from inside the Great Hall. Would they cheer for her? Memories of her old school flashed through her head. Memories of pointing fingers and arrogant smirks.
Kira closed her eyes. No, it wouldn't be like that. This was where she belonged. She was a witch, from Treven, New Zealand. Kira giggled… Treven?
Suddenly the cheering ceased and she heard a loud, yet muffled voice speaking. Suddenly the doors creaked open, and she heard Dumbledore proclaim, "I would like to welcome Miss Kira Sanden."
Every pair of eyes turned to her, and Kira shrank under the stare.
'Oh no… wait, what do I do? Walk, Kira!'
She walked into the hall, her purple eyes darting from person to person. Suddenly she saw a large group, some of whom she recognized, begin to clap. Others followed suit, and soon almost everyone was welcoming Kira with their cheers and whoops. Although she felt people staring at her eyes and shocking blonde hair, it wasn't nearly as bad as she'd predicted.
"Miss Sanden," called Professor McGonagall from the front of the room, "come here please."
She motioned to a stool right next to her, and Kira sat down, facing the large crowd, whose cheer had died down to whispers. She looked up at McGonagall just as the professor place a large, shabby hat on her head. Then, Kira heard a voice.
'Well, Miss… Sanden, is it now?'
'Where is that coming from?'
'Me, my dear. The Sorting Hat.'
'Huh?'
'Now, where shall I put you, Kira…'
'Where?'
The voice, or hat, chuckled, 'I see some interesting things here, Kira. You're timid, yet bold. You're smart, if not artificially, and you're courageous in a way also. But I see the family ties as well… Hmm… That surely is contradicting, isn't it?'
'What?'
'Where to put you… where to put you… Oh, I suppose we can find a median between all this… yes, I'm sure we can.'
'Wait! What do you mean--'
"GRYFFINDOR" the hat shouted, making Kira cringe at the immense volume. The hat was immediately pulled off her head, and Kira saw that one of the four tables in front of her had erupted in cheers. She saw Neville cheering amongst them, and walked over and sat beside him, thankful to see a familiar face.
"Welcome to Gryffindor, Kira!" said Ginny from across the table. Kira smiled.
"Welcome to Gryffindor," said a few others. Kira politely nodded to them and was about to introduce herself personally, but Dumbledore stood up again, commanding their attention. But while he talked about not going in a forest or something like that, Kira couldn't help herself from examining the faces around her. Seamus, who was sitting beside Ginny, winked at her as they made eye contact. Kira blushed and quickly looked away. There was… what was his name? Ron? Yes, Ron, who was sitting next to--
Kira couldn't believe her eyes, it was Harry!
'Oh gosh, he's in Gryffindor too? Just my luck, now isn't it?' Kira thought to herself angrily. Thankfully Harry wasn't looking at her, he was staring pointedly at Dumbledore, as if hanging on his every word. Kira glanced up. Dumbledore was staring at her!
'Blimey, Kira. Your first day and you aren't even listening to the Headmaster!'
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"The staff and I are very excited…" Dumbledore spoke his usual welcome speech, for which Harry was thankful. He hadn't wanted Dumbledore to change the speech on his behalf, because of the war and all those cursed matters
'So, Kira is in Gryffindor too. Just my luck.'
'You'll have to face her sooner or later, you know. After what you did to her.'
'I didn't do anything, for the last time!'
Harry turned his attention to the Headmaster.
"And furthermore, as we all well know, a certain weight has been lifted from the shoulders of the wizarding world. This weight being, Voldemort."
Eyes widened and whispers spread like wildfire throughout the students and many eyes turned to Harry. Harry stared hard at his empty plate. Fortunately, Dumbledore continued quickly.
"And I regret that there are a few faces that we will no longer see due to recent events. However, our world is no doubt a better place as a result of many hardworking individuals."
'Don't mention my name, don't mention my name, please don't mention my name," Harry pleaded inside his head. Lucky for him, Dumbledore didn't.
"Therefore, I expect this year will be a new beginning for Hogwarts, and I am thoroughly excited to see what this year has in store," he finished. The students and staff began to clap, but the old man silenced them with his hand.
"Pish posh," he declared, "I'd say it's time to eat, not to applaud an old crank such as myself." Dumbledore chuckled to himself and with a wave of his hand, mountains of food appeared before the students.
"Finally," Ron said, grabbing three chicken legs at one time, "I'm starved."
XXXXXXXXXX
As the food appeared in front of her, Kira realized how hungry she actually was.
"Tfwy dah--"
Kira giggled, "Neville, swallow!"
"Try the sandwiches… delicious," he told her, grabbing three more.
Kira took a sandwich.
"What is there to drink, Ginny?" Kira asked the red-headed girl opposite her.
"Butterbeer, of course!" Ginny exclaimed, pouring the new girl a glass.
Kira took a sip and suddenly felt oddly warm throughout her body, right down to her toes. However, the warm feeling didn't last long. Kira unexpectedly felt an odd tingling, as if an icy liquid was being poured all through her insides. She looked up and beyond Ginny's head, she met a blank, yet cold stare. It was a young man, across the hall, with gray eyes and platinum blonde hair.
'Platinum blonde hair? The boy from the street!'
The lad smirked when he saw the recognition in her eyes. She frowned at him, trying to read his eyes. They were expressionless as could be.
'What's his problem?!' Kira wondered angrily.
"Kira?" asked Ginny, turning to see at whom she was glaring, "What are you looking at?"
"Oh! Uh, nothing Ginny. Must've drifted off for a second," she chuckled casually.
Ginny laughed good-naturedly and turned to a blonde boy beside her. Kira looked back at the platinum haired boy. What did Neville say his name was? Malfoy? He was talking nonchalantly with a friend right beside him. Kira furrowed her brow.
"So," said a voice from across the table, "You're Kira?" Kira nodded.
"I'm Colin, Colin Creevey." Kira smiled but studied the boy. He appeared younger than her, and looked very boyish and eager. However, there was a peculiar glint in his eye. He looked a bit… sad?
"Hello, Colin," Kira responded politely.
Colin opened his mouth to say more, but suddenly the Headmaster stood up.
"What a wonderful meal, wouldn't you say?" he asked merrily. There were a few cheers, as well as contented belches from the student body.
"I agree," Dumbledore stated, patting his stomach. As his eyes twinkled, he told the crowd, "but before I dismiss you for some shut-eye, as some might call it. We have one last announcement. A few individuals have informed me that we have yet to name the Head Boy and Girl."
Kira saw, out of the corner of her eye, that Hermione Granger tensed as he spoke the words.
"So, without further ado, I shall tell you who they are." Dumbledore observed the students, as if stalling for effect.
"First of all, the Head Boy!" A few cheers rang out.
"The Head Boy for this year will be… Justin Finch-Fetchley!" The entire Hufflepuff table stood up to cheer for a young man sitting in the middle of the table. Kira presumed he was Head Boy. He sat there proudly, enjoying the appreciation.
"And also, the Head Girl. The Head girl is…" the Headmaster's eyes glittered behind his half-moon glasses, "Hermione Granger!"
This announcement had a similar affect of the Griffindors, though Hermione seemed more shocked than excited. As everyone cheered for her, her cheeks turned pink.
"Furthermore, I say now is a good time to get to our Common Rooms. Prefects! You will lead the first years to their dormitories, as always. Remember, classes start on Monday!" Grumbles were heard amongst the students.
"Goodnight everyone!" he called, as the group stood to the leave.
Kira followed Neville through a network of corridors and to Kira's surprise, moving stairwells. They finally stopped in front of a large portrait of an extremely large woman in a bright red dress.
"Password?" she asked, lips pursed.
Neville bit his lip.
"Uh… I forgot," he told Kira sheepishly.
"Well then how do we get in--" Kira felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I know it," Seamus said proudly and murmured, "Adamo Leo." The portrait swung open.
"Thanks Seamus," said Neville.
"Any time, mate," Seamus said, still looking at Kira. She avoided his eyes.
They entered the common room, and Kira stared in delight. The walls were ornamented in red and gold tapestries. Armchairs, couches, and tables were found throughout the large room. A glowing fireplace was at the center of the room, with a stairwell on each side.
"The boys dormitories and up that way," Neville said, pointing to the staircase on the left, "the girls' is on the right."
"Alright," Kira replied. She was just about to ask whom exactly she'd be rooming with but then she spotted Hermione, Ron, and Harry enter the common room. Ron and Harry were talking animatedly to Hermione, who appeared very happy indeed.
"Kira," Hermione called, "do you know who you'll be rooming with?"
Kira shook her head.
"Great! Then you can room with me! There's an empty bed in my dormitory, from last year."
Kira smiled at Hermione gratefully and followed her up the stairwell. Hermione bid goodbye to Harry and Ron over her shoulder. Kira glanced back as well, and saw Ron say goodbye back to his bushy haired friend, but Harry said nothing. He turned to Ron, just as a flock of young girls and boys ran up to him. Then Kira could see him no more, and trailed Hermione up the stairs.
"Right here," Hermione said, opening the first door on the left. Inside were two sets of bunk beds, each with crimson and gold coverlets. There were two windows at the end of the room, out which Kira could see and large stadium in the distance.
"Oh this is absolutely wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed. Kira spun around and saw that Hermione was ecstatic over a large velvet emblem embroidered into her comforter. It red "Head Girl." On top of her pillow lay a glistening badge which also read "Head Girl."
"Isn't it astonishing?" she asked in disbelief, "I'd never dreamt that I would be named Head Girl!"
Kira doubted that statement but smiled encouragingly. She saw her bag and a meowing cage on the top bunk of the bed across from Hermione.
"Moxie!" she called. She received an annoyed meow in return.
"I had better let her out," Kira mumbled, reaching up and unlatching the cage door.
"Oh yes, Crookshanks will want out as well," said Hermione. She stretched to unlatch the box that appeared to be shaking. Kira quirked her brow.
As soon as the door was open, a reddish blur zipped out of the box at lightening speed. The blur ran under Hermione bed, hissing and spitting.
"He gets a bit nervous around new people, that's all," Hermione explained casually.
"Uh, I'm sure," said Kira nervously, scooping up Moxie protectively. At that moment the door opened and two girls entered, chatting energetically. They stopped talking when they saw Hermione however, who narrowed her eyes. Kira recognized one of the girls as Parvati, the friend of Dean Thomas.
"Kira, you're rooming with us?" she asked cheerily. Kira nodded and Parvati squealed.
"Great! This will be so much fun! This is Lavender, by the way" she said, motioning towards her friend, who was squinting at Kira's eyes.
Kira murmured a hello. Hermione spoke up again.
"So Kira, you want to go downstairs?"
"Uh, sure," replied the blonde girl, "nice meeting you," she told Lavender.
"Honestly!" Hermione exclaimed once they had exited the room, "those two are both gossip queens! I can't understand how they spread rumors so fast!"
Kira remained silent, but Hermione didn't seem to notice.
When they reached the common room, Hermione said more to herself than Kira, "there's Ron and Neville, I wonder where Harry is?"
Kira nervously searched the room, hoping Harry wouldn't show, in which case she might have to chat with him.
A/N: Well, I don't really like the ending but oh well. There's more to come!
And about the reviewer responses… I haven't got much feedback on the offer, but I can see what some people have said. Personally, I know that it's really annoying to see that there's a big nice long chapter then see that half of it at the end are review responses. Soooo, I haven't really made a decision, so if you still have an opinion on whether or not I should respond to your review questions, tell me k? Thanx!
Kudos to my editor, Digladior124!
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