Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Authors Note: Please Read and Review. I would really appreciate it.
Chapter 2: Let the fun begin
It was the beginning of Harry Potters seventh year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In those seven years, he has been faced with more challenges than any other Wizard in the World. The Final Battle with Lord Voldemort was going to soon be upon him, but right now he had to prepare for his newest challenge, Advanced N.E.W.T. Level Potions with Professor Snape. How he had been blessed with this class on his schedule, he couldn't figure out. He could just see the look of sheer pleasure on Snape's face as he had yet another year to make Harry's life miserable. He had just arrived at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry today and was getting ready for the Sorting Dinner. Hermione and Ron, who had made there relationship official over the summer, were sitting on a couch in the common room going over there schedules with Harry. Harry had just finished complaining about his schedule, and Ron was starting in on his, when they realized they only had ten minutes until dinner. They got up and agreed to meet down stairs in five minutes. They quickly hustled to get ready, five minutes later they were dressed in there school uniforms and on there way down to the Great Hall.
When they got there Dumbledore made his usual first year announcements: the Third Floor hall on the right side is strictly forbidden to those who do not wish to die a most unfortunate death..... (at the hands ...err paws ...of Fluffy) Harry thought and mentally laughed. Dumbledore continued. The forbidden forest is strictly off limits to all students...etc., etc. Harry wondered why he even bothered coming to the dinner. It was the same every year. Next the first years would be sorted...He didn't even bother paying attention anymore. He had so much on his mind lately with the final battle so close. He was still bitter about his fate. Having to be the "Boy who Lived" for his whole life. Having a prophecy tell him during his Fifth year that basically, it was a kill or be killed situation that he was destined to be in with one of the most powerful and evil Wizards ever.
He laughed when his friends would say it would be OK and they would always be together. How could they know or even begin to fathom what he was going through. The pain, the heart ache, and the loss he had been through. Watching the people you love and care for fall around you and knowing that until you murder or die it will not stop. He knew it was his burden to carry, and he was grateful for such caring friends, but sometimes he just longed for someone who could say that they understood and for him to know they meant it. He looked up from his thoughts and saw that the last of the first years had been assigned a house.
"Good," he thought "Time to eat."
But the just as he was expecting Dumbledore to clap his hands and make the food appear, Dumbledore asked for Silence.
"I would like to introduce you to two new exchange students. They both come to us from America. One from Aurora school of Witchcraft and Wizardry in California, And the other from Borealis School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in New York." Dumbledore announced as the room went silent.
"First I would like to introduce you to Rayne Solara." Dumbledore pointed toward the right side of the room.
The girl stepped out from behind a red curtain on the right side of the room. She looked tousled as if she had just gotten off a plane. She was wearing a shiny aqua colored robe that seemed to change colors in the light depending on which way you looked at it. Harry figured this was the uniform from the Aurora school, where she had come from. Harry noticed that she was very pretty and tall, with chin length layered brown hair that had heavy blonde streaks throughout it and her eyes were a brilliant shade of Blue-green. Most of the boys in the Hall had given her a second glance and had started whispering about the hot new girl. She stepped in front of Professor Dumbledore and he shook her hand to welcome her. She acknowledged his greeting, but did not smile.
"Miss Solara, please step over to the sorting hat, so you may be appropriately sorted into your new house." Dumbledore requested.
Rayne walked over to where Professor McGonnagal was standing as always with the sorting hat in hand. Harry listened intently for the mumbling of the sorting hat thinking that if he strained enough he could actually hear what it was saying. He didn't know why he even cared, but something about this girl made him pay attention. The hat seemed to sit for a minute.
"The most difficult sort since mister Harry Potter "It said in that voice only the person under the sorting hat could hear. "You are brave beyond anything this school has ever known. Your loyalty is unwavering to those you call friends, but your power is immense and you could rival the Dark Lord himself. So where to sort you. Power and determination are in your blood, but your courage and loyalty set you apart. I choose ... GRYFFINDOR!!
The hat shouted and Harry noticed the look of pure surprise on Dumbledore's face. He wondered why Dumbledore thought she wouldn't have been sorted to Gryffindor. He turned back toward Hermione and Ron, who were clapping for the new girl. She walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down near Seamus and Neville.
"Welcome to Gryffindor." Seamus said to Rayne.
"Thanks." Rayne replied.
Neville smiled at her and said "After the dinner I will introduce you to everyone, since we have already gotten to know each other."
"I would really appreciate that." Rayne told him.
By now Dumbledore had stood up again.
"Our second transfer student is Mister Phoenix Darklighter" Dumbledore announced.
Phoenix walked in from the left wearing no robe at all along with a black wife beater and black jeans. He had pale skin and black hair which was spiked with gel and he had a wicked grin on his face. Harry swore he positively radiated Slytherin. Harry also noticed that the new girl's face had gone white as a ghost. Neville noticed too. He watched her as the color left her face, and she let out a gasp.
"Rayne are you OK?" Neville asked concerned.
"Oh," she snapped out of her look of shock...."umm yeah it was just a very long flight here today." She smiled, but inside she could barely breathe. "Thank you for asking" She said appreciatively then quickly turned her head back to the Head Table.
Phoenix walked toward Dumbledore with a sneer on his face. He slowly was scanning the room with his eyes. When he reached the front again Dumbledore offered his hand. Phoenix paused and looked at it for a moment with what could easily be called a look of disgust. He slowly took Dumbledores hand and shook it.
"Welcome Mister Darklighter. Please proceed to the sorting hat."
"Right, the hat." Phoenix slowly sneered.
He walked over to the hat and before it even came into contact with his head, the hat screamed "SLYTHERIN!"
Phoenix then got up from the seat and instead of walking over and taking his place at the Slythrerin table, Harry noticed, he walked straight up the Gryffindor aisle. His cold gaze searched the table, and found exactly who he had been looking for. There eyes met and Phoenix came closer and stopped right in front of the person. He could only sit and listen to what happened next.
"So, we meet again, Rayne." Phoenix said stonily.
"Phoenix" Rayne bit out in what was more of a hiss than a greeting.
"Did you honestly think we would never meet again?" He asked with an evil laugh.
"One can only dream about such things, Phoenix. Why don't you go slither over to your new little companions and get the hell away from me." Rayne said through clenched teeth. Her eye still locked with Phoenix's.
"I have better things to do." Phoenix laughed and abruptly walked right out of the Great Hall with the eyes of the entire student body on him before he left.
"I would say that you two don't really get along." Neville said to Rayne. Seamus nodded in agreement.
"I don't want to talk about it." Rayne said shortly. Neville and Seamus didn't push the issue any further.
Harry, Hermione and Ron had heard the exchange and were talking about what they had just heard.
"Do you think it is an old boyfriend?" Ron asked.
"I don't think so. I think it is a Draco/Harry relationship, only an American version." Hermione said.
"I looked like more than that. Did you hear what he said?" Harry asked them. "He ignited something in her, like a fire of burning hate."
"Like I said, it has to be an old Boyfriend." Ron continued. Hermione and Harry rolled their eyes.
"I am sure that is it." Hermione said with a giggle.
"Now you are just patronizing me." Ron started to pout.
Harry had now turned his attention away from his two friends and back to the other end of the table where Rayne was sitting. She had her eyes locked on her bowl of soup. It looked like she was trying to work something out in her head. He had often seen Hermione get that same look when he was studying.
"I wonder what she is thinking about. What is the story with this girl". He thought.
After the dinner, all the students had adjourned to there respective common rooms, many student still talking about the events of the sorting. Harry was one of them. He and Ron and Hermione had been discussing keeping an eye on the new Slytherin.
"Have you ever seen the Hat scream out Slytherin with out even being placed near a person's head?" Ron asked them.
"No, I have to admit that Dumbledore looked very concerned." Hermione said.
"We'll have to watch him...What year do you suppose he is?" Ron asked.
"Seventh....a soft voice spoke from behind them. It was Rayne.
"How do you know, and why were you listening to our conversation?" Ron said getting upset. He did not trust new people until they proved themselves, especially after what he had seen, he wasn't sure if he could trust her.
"Well," she said with a calm anger in her voice. "Let's just say that his reputation precedes him in America, where we are both from. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire house of Slytherin was following him around like a pack of lost puppy dogs by the end of the week. And," she added with a hint of sarcasm, "If you don't want to be overheard, may I suggest a silencing charm be placed around the chairs you are sitting in because this is a common room, and I have every right to happen to be sitting next to you reading Hogwarts, a History trying to innocently learn a little more about the school I will be attending for the rest of the year. You should pay more attention to where you are next time if you do not wish to be overheard; you never know where your enemies may be lurking."
With that she packed up her bag and walked towards the Girls dorms. Harry and Hermione started laughing, Ron turned Red with embarrassment.
"You should have been nicer to her, it is only her first day and I am sure she is tired from flying thousands of miles to get here, not to mention the confrontation she had at dinner." Hermione said.
"If you had just asked what she knew she may have told us more about that new kid, but nooooo, Ron had to go and try to prove his superiority again." Harry said still laughing.
"I should apologize; she probably has had a rough first day." Ron said now with a look of regret in his eyes.
"Tomorrow Ron, go get some sleep. I am going to bed" Harry said and got up and went to his room.
He got ready for bed, still thinking about Rayne.
He thought to himself. "Maybe she knows more than she lets on. She seems quiet. I will have to keep an eye on her too."
He got into bed and turned out the lights. He lay in the dark thinking about what took the sorting hat so long to sort her and only one second to sort Phoenix. And how on earth would he be able to make Slytherins, especially Malfoy, his arch enemy, follow him around like a pack of lost puppies like Rayne had said. He drifted off to sleep with these thoughts in his head.
He suddenly found himself in a dream...light clouds of mist surrounding his feet. It was cold and dark and looked almost as if he was in the forbidden forest, a place he never cared to visit. He saw a shadow appear in the distance and realized that a ghostly figure was walking toward him. He reached his hand down to his pants pocket for his wand, and realized that it wasn't there. He started to feel panic rising in his chest and the closer the figure came, the worse the feeling got. Finally the ghostly figure became clear through the mist and he recognized it as Sirius Black, his murdered godfather. The panic suddenly left him and was replaced with a new feeling of calm and disbelief.
"Sirius!, he whispered in shock "is it really you." 'The ghostly figure nodded "I thought I would never see you again" tears formed in his eyes.
"Shhh Harry, I don't have much time, but I have an important message to deliver to you. Harry nodded. "Listen closely Harry, this is very important. There is someone who needs you Harry, she was brought to Hogwarts in order to guide you and train you for the final battle." Sirius said
"Who is it?" He questioned Sirius.
"Remember the story of the girl who defeated the Dark Wizard Merrick?" Sirius asked him.
"I think so, wasn't she the one whose brother killed her mother and the rest of her family?" Harry asked him trying to recall the legend in his mind
"Yes. Her brother was very evil. He even gave Voldemort a run for his money. "Sirius told him.
"So what does this gave to do with the girl who needs me?" Harry asked his Godfather.
"She is at Hogwarts. She is the one who needs you." Sirius revealed.
"What is her name; I don't remember the books mentioning one." Harry said.
"They didn't mention one, because no one knows her name. Therefore, I can't tell you who you should be looking out for, because no one knows. But you must start looking for her soon. They have already found out she is at Hogwarts. She knows things that will destroy them all including Voldemort." Siruis informed him.
"Who is 'them'?" Harry asked him frustrated "If I have to find this girl you have to tell me who is after her."
In that moment Sirius vanished into thin air. Harry woke with a start. He sat up in his bed. He noticed that he was sweating. He got out of bed thinking about who Sirius could possibly be talking about, he wouldn't give a name. He got dressed and walked down to the common room to get a drink of water. That is when he saw a girl sitting on the floor next to the fireplace, with her pet cat. She was looking down lovingly at it talking to it. The cat was a thundercloud gray with lighter gray markings and golden eyes. It looked to be no more than a year old. He tried to overhear what she was saying
"How did he know where I was, how did he find us? I am not ready to deal with him yet. I can't fight yet. I don't stand a chance alone, I don't have any allies. But did I ever really," She seemed to stop talking and be pondering this statement, and then she spoke again "Once I did, but they are all gone. I am only human; my heart can't take much more before it breaks."
Harry saw a tear slide down her cheek. Harry slowly was putting together his dream in his head.
"No one knows her name..." echoed in his mind.
He thought he had heard her say he found her. Then he thought about his dream.
"They know she is at Hogwarts".
Harry couldn't believe that there was another person in this world as powerful and evil as Voldemort. He was jolted from his thoughts when she spoke again to her cat.
"He is still out for revenge I could see it in his eyes, He has not forgotten. What do I do?" More tears followed.
Harry realized that she had seen this person in the school; she had said she saw it in his eyes. He had to find out who this girl was.
Harry finished coming down the stairs.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping? Harry asked the girl.
She turned to face him he noticed it was Rayne who was staring back at him. Suddenly it had made sense why she had said what she did to Ron earlier. He recalled.
"You never know where your enemies may be lurking."
She just stared at him looking distraught and a bit taken aback.
"I'm Sorry, she said softly "I didn't think anyone would be up, I guess I should pay more attention huh?"
He smiled at this "I apologize for earlier, Ron is just a hothead sometimes."
"I got that impression. Unfortunately I am not a very patient person; I do not tolerate being berated very well."
"I don't believe that we have been formally introduced. I mean I saw you at dinner, but I haven't really met you yet. I am Harry." He said deliberately leaving out his last name.
"Well Harry it is nice to meet you. I am Rayne." Rayne replied.
"What year are you in Rayne?" Harry asked.
"I am in Seventh Year." Rayne replied.
"Me too." Was all that Harry could think to say to her.
"Why are you up so late?" She asked him.
"I had a dream that disturbed me, so I came down to get a drink. You ?" He asked her back.
"I do not sleep, I can't" she said simply.
Harry knew now that his dream had meant for him to go downstairs and find her.
"Rayne, can I ask you something?" Harry said
"Why not, besides Neville and Luna, you are the first person to actually want to talk to me." She said sadly. "Neville is a wonderful person; he seems to genuinely be a true friend. He said nothing but wonderful things about you. That is if you are the same Harry he has been fighting with for the past few years." She continued. "Any way, what did you want to ask me?"
"I would actually like to get to know you." Harry told her.
"At 2:30 in the morning you suddenly want to get to know me? Very interesting." she laughed a little.
"Well since you don't sleep, why not." He said.
"Fine," she smiled "Let's get to it then" Harry noticed that when she smiled, her whole face lit up. He decided to try to make her smile more often. "Well tell me then, what is your Cat's name?" Harry was trying to start off slow because he didn't know how to just come out and ask her if she was the one Sirius had spoken about.
"Stormy" Rayne replied with a smile looking down lovingly at the kitten sleeping in her lap.
"How appropriate ...Rayne and Stormy." Harry smiled. "I have an owl named Hedwig." She smiled at this.
"I have to admit; he said to her, I have a lot more hard hitting questions for you." He said trying to cut to the chase.
"I would expect no less from you Harry, I like to get straight to the point, but I do like the way you started out." She said her face turning serious.
Harry stared into her brilliant blue-green eyes and noticed the sadness had returned to them. He hated to do this to her.
"Can you tell me why you are here, what is your purpose, and who is after you, is it Voldemort?" She took a deep breath, and Harry looked stunned that she didn't flinch when he said Voldemort's name, instead she looked ready to tell him something.
"First, you need to know, that Voldemort will not come after me until you are out of the way. The reason he is after me is something you will have to discover for yourself for it is too painful and shocking to speak about. I am here to help you. My sole purpose is to help you vanquish Voldemort. But I am here to ask for your help with my own current problem. There is one person who is currently after me, that, if he is not destroyed, will take over when Voldemort is vanquished. He is the only one powerful enough to do it. He is the Second Heir to Slytherin. I must destroy him, but I need help in order to do so. I need someone to train with, and I believe that I can teach you a few things along the way."
"What kinds of things can you teach me? I have been trained to fight since first year." Harry's curiosity was now peaked.
"Well, Harry you need to understand that every witch and wizard is different. I am different from almost every one of them." Rayne stated.
Harry still was searching for the answer in hers. She was evading his questions. Suddenly Harry felt a presence in his mind then he heard a voice say
"You have been slacking on your Occlumency studies I see, this is my specialty, and I can help you. I can also teach you to Fight, both magically and physically." She said silently.
"How did you do that without a spell or a wand?" he asked
"Like I said, Everyone is different, I am just a little more different than everyone else." Rayne told him.
Suddenly Harry realized she was gifted with controlled wand less magic. Harry now understood what Sirius had meant when he said that she would be his greatest ally in the battle. Voldemort was not gifted with controlled wand less magic. He probably didn't even know it existed. He would not know what hit him. By now it was 4am and Harry stifled a yawn.
"Can we continue this tomorrow night? He asked "Same time same place?"
"Of course" she replied smiling slightly.
"And maybe you could begin teaching me tomorrow too? He turned and asked her.
"I will be happy to. See you in class tomorrow." she replied.
"Goodnight, Rayne." He said
"Goodnight" she replied and turned her attention back to Stormy who was now asleep in her lap.
Harry went back to bed thinking about the things she had said to him, and his dream. If she knew deadly secrets like Sirius said she did, He was going to have to learn Legilimency to find them out. He knew it and he knew that was what she and Sirius had meant when they said he had to find out for himself. He knew it was going to be a long year.
