Well I have a snow day and like to make use of time. Though I must say this is the eleventh consecutive day I have not been in school. I am beginning to think I am not supposed to go back. Interesting thought, huh.

Life's Gifts

Chapter 13: Shadows

Katie walked out from the Quidditch locker rooms the following morning. She was still worried and excited at the same time about Kent and Mara's arrival. The pair had always dazzled, in fact they had out dazzled her and when she was fourteen she hadn't like it a bit. That whole day was supposed to be about her; at least the twins had done it nicely. The twins were still funny and adventurous people all the same.

"Miss Bell, Professor Dumbledore would like you in his office," said the young boy who had brought the message.

"Thank you," Katie said as she fell in step with the young boy as the started up the hill. "Have the Finbar twins arrived yet?"

"Yes, they are waiting in Dumbledore's office." The boy said when they were finally outside the passage.

Katie said the password and descended up the long flight of stairs and into Dumbledore's office. Reaching the top she entered into the circular chamber. "Professor Dumbledore, you wished to see me."

Just then the rusty head that I remembered popped up from behind a chair, "Katie!" Kent said as he came over and picked me up, spinning me in a circle before he released me.

"Hello again." Mara said in her quiet manner, walking over and freeing me from Kent's grasp. "I am sure you were surprised when you heard we were coming."

Removing herself from Kent's arms took some work but finally Katie went over and gave Mara a quick hug. "Well I certainly was surprised I haven't seen you two in years. Your father never hinted at you two moving schools during out last visit. He made it seem as though you were perfectly happy at the American School."

"I was happy but Kent got kicked out, dated and laid to many girls. The Headmaster there was sad to see out money float away from him." Mara answered before Dumbledore coughed in the background.

"Katie, show these two around the ground, I think we will sort them at dinner." Dumbledore said before he apparted.

"Well you two shall we proceed around Hogwarts," Katie asked extended an arm to each twin. Once the arms were taken by the twins they walked down the staircase. "I think you will enjoy it at Hogwarts and you will find nice people in all the houses. Mara, you find this place up to your academic standards I think. Kent, I think you will find plenty of girls here as long as you promise not to break their hearts I might be able to introduce you to some nice ones." In her mind she was thinking of what the possibilities of getting him to date Brooke were.

"Katie, I think I shall take you up on your offer of introducing me to girls." Kent said as he eyed the girl that passed. "Who was she?"

"Kent, she was a first year, trust me leave them alone." Katie said laughing and kicking open the door to the outside.

"May I ask how your boyfriend Roger is it is?" Mara asked as she looked around to the surrounding buildings and their magnificent architecture.

"We broke up; he was let's say having difficulties. I am dating the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain, Cedric Diggory currently." Katie said absent mindedly, and then she saw Marcus Flint coming down the walkway.

"Are these the lovely twin I have heard so much about? And you darling Katie are doing fine I assume." Marcus said grinning, his smile looking more like a sneer.

"Get lost Flint we really don't need you ruining the rest of the day for the world." Katie said, glaring at him with contempt in her eyes.

"Why would I be ruining the day, you are starting mine." He said back as he worked his way in between her and Mara taking Katie's arm and pushing the other girl.

"Let go of me Flint, now!" Katie said her voice rising. Kent stepped forward to help her but someone else reached Flint first and slugged Flint sending him flying backwards.

"Katie, you really shouldn't make yourself so easy to get to," Cedric said gently to her as he walked over and hugged her. Upon releasing her from his embrace he added, "You must be the lovely Finbar twins, Katie has said nothing but good things about you. I think dinner is getting ready to start and you two are to be sorted tonight." Taking Katie's free hand, he offered his arm to Mara.

Mara took it and spoke, "I am guessing you are Cedric. Pleasure to meet you, Katie is a wonderful girl, incredibly bright. Her investments are making people drop dead in awe." Smiling up at him with her eyes growing large she seemed to forget Katie and Kent were there, until Kent coughed. "And on Katie's other arm is Kent, my brother."

"Pleased to meet you. Are you taking good care of our little Katie? You must be special for her to go out with you; she rarely dated anyone when we were fourteen." Kent said looking over Katie's head at him.

"I was fourteen at the time, bozo. We are at the dining hall, go on up front and I will see you after dinner." She said shaking him off her hand and then walking with Cedric over to the Gryffindor table where she released his hand. "I see you after dinner, too Cedric."

Leaning down he kissed her cheek before walking off to his own house's table.

"I am pleased to announce we have to new arrivals who we shall sort before we all eat." Dumbledore said as he motioned for the hat to be placed first on Kent's head. "First we have Kent Finbar."

"Syltherin!" the hat yelled out and the appropriate table clapped and Kent went over to sit with them.

"Next we have Mara Finbar." Dumbledore said motioning to her.

"Ravenclaw!" The hat announced and then McGonagall took it away and all the students started to dine.

"Well I have to say Mara was no surprise, but Kent did surprise me a little." Katie said before she bit into a piece of roast beef.

"They both look like very nice people, though I especially want to meet Kent after dinner." Angelina said grinning and elbowing Katie.

"I want to meet Mara." Lee Jordan said as he shoveled whatever was available into his mouth.

"Katie, something is wrong what is it." Wood asked softly, whispering it in her ear from where he sat at her side.

"Marcus Flint is what, I swear he can't leave me alone I wish someone would just kill him!" Katie whispered back, though her voice started to rise above a whisper.

"Did he harm you?" Was the whispered reply, Oliver gave.

"No, Cedric slugged him before he could shove his hand down my shirt or something like that."

"I'll take care of Marcus, me and the twins later."

"You always say that but nothing ever changes, he still stalks me and hit on me."

"This time I think we will give him a little reminder of our last visit."

In the darkened corridors a body slammed into a wall with a grunt of pain. Then it was thrown again and again. Three voices whispered lowly, while the other was raised.

"That will teach you not to mess with Katie."

"Leave her alone and we will leave you alone."

Then the voices were gone and all that could be heard was the whimpering of the person that had been slammed into a wall.

All that remained in the corridor was shadow and a young man withering in pain. That is all that could be seen.