DISCLAIMER: The tallest oak tree on the planet could grow till it reached the sun and I would still not own Harry Potter.
STORY: PRE-HBP! FORGET EVERYTHING YOU READ IN THAT BOOK! EVERYTHING!
Big Thank You's to Ashley who goes back and fixes all these chapters for me because I'm too lazy to check them myself.
Chapter 4:
Harry awoke the next morning still as confused and worried as the night before. In his dreams he had seen the final battle and his ultimate death.
"Come on Harry," Ron called from outside the door in the hallway. "We're going to Diagon Alley today. Lupin and Tonks will be here soon."
Harry grabbed his glassed from the bedside table and jumped out of bed, almost tripping himself over the tangled sheets wrapped around him. He grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and headed for the bathroom.
Then minutes later, Harry entered the kitchen where he found Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all sitting and waiting for him. "Good Morning," they all said as he walked through the doorway.
Harry nodded, "Good morning," and then took a seat beside of Ron and across from Ginny.
"I didn't see you last night," he told the youngest red-head and only girl of the Weasley children.
Ginny smiled, "I was in my room and didn't know that you were here until Hermione came up and told me. It was too late to come see you."
"Oh," was all Harry managed to get out before Mrs. Weasley came around piling food onto the table. "Eat up," she told them.
Twenty minutes later, Tonks and Remus entered the kitchen, holding hands and smiling brightly at the group. "Good morning," they greeted.
"Are you guys about ready to go?" Remus asked.
"Just about," Mrs. Weasley said as she removed the plates from in front of them, taking them over to the sink where she deposited them among the other dirty dishes being washed magically.
"Oh Harry," she said, turning towards him, "I forgot to tell you that Bill got some money for you out of your vault so we don't have to make an unnecessary stoop. It's up on your dresser."
Harry nodded and went to retrieve it followed closely by Ginny.
"Er…Harry," Ginny started as she closed the door to his room, shutting them in and the rest of the world out, "I wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
Ginny took a deep breath. "About us."
Alarms started going off in Harry's head and red flags were shooting up like crazy. "Ginny….."
"No Harry, just listen to me," she pleaded. "I really like you, and I have for a while too. I think we would be really good together."
"Ginny…."
Ginny walked over to him and kissed him. Harry stood motionless, his arms hanging at his sides. He knew that she needed this so he remained still.
She pulled away and wiped the tear from her eye. "You don't fell the same, do you?"
Harry shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry…"
"Don't be," Ginny said, cutting off his apology.
"There's someone out there that will make you happier than I ever could," Harry told her gently, lifting her chin up so she met his gaze.
Ginny chuckled softly. "I guess I'll just have to keep looking."
"He's out there Ginny. Most of the guys in Gryffindor and Ravenclaw would love to date you."
"Just not you, right?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair, a habit he often did when he was nervous or under pressure. "Not me Ginny," he confirmed."
Ginny nodded sadly and turned from him, walking out of the room and closing the door behind her, the click echoing loudly in the pregnant silence of the room.
Harry sighed and sat down on his bed. That went great, he thought sarcastically as he stared into the empty room.
He had suspected Ginny's feelings towards him for a while now though she tried to hide them. Sure, she had dated other guys but with him, she was…different.
Someone knocked and the door slowly opened. "Harry?" Hermione asked as she walked into the room, shutting the door behind her.
"I suppose you saw Ginny," Harry said gently.
Hermione bowed her head. "She told you then."
"I can't make myself feel something that isn't there."
"I know Harry."
"I would if I could, but I know that I wouldn't make her happy."
"I know Harry."
"I just can't be who she wants me to be."
Hermione walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly against herself. "I know Harry, I know," she whispered as she held him.
qpqpqp
"My lord?" Kamaria inquired as she walked into the room he had transformed into a study/ library for himself. The walls were lined with books.
"Kamaria," Voldemort drawled, smiling at her over the top of the book he was currently reading, Hogwarts: A History.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, I'll come back later."
"No, that's alright." Voldemort shut the book and rose form his chair. "What can I do for you, my dear?"
"I was hoping that I would be able to visit Diagon Alley today to buy some new clothing among other necessities. I'm afraid my clothes do not go well with the English weather."
"If you'd write down what you need, I could send someone to retrieve it to save you a trip and the unnecessary hassle…"
"I'd rather pick out my own clothing," Kamaria interrupted, her tone holding no room for argument as she stared at him. "I'm very picky."
"I was merely looking out for your safety, my queen."
"I can protect myself."
"Maybe you can, but you will still take two of my Death Eaters with you," Voldemort said, a hard look in his eyes warning her not to argue.
"Only if I can choose," Kamaria bargained.
"Very well," Voldemort sighed and waved his hand in the air. "Who shall it be to accompany you on your little excursion?"
"Crabbe and Goyle," Kamaria answered.
Voldemort's eyes flashed incredulously. "Them?"
"They may not be the smartest but they have muscles. Plus, they are probably too stupid to try to sweet talk me as Malfoy or McNair would."
Voldemort smirked, "Good point."
"I would also like for Sauda to be allowed to come. I have yet to make any friends and she is good company and reminds me of home."
Voldemort took her hands in his and kissed her cheek. "Whatever you wish, my queen shall be yours. I will give you the world if you wish it."
"I only wish to be allowed to go to Diagon Alley to buy some new things with Sauda."
"Very well," Voldemort smiled, "you can go."
"Thank you my lord," Kamaria said smiling."
She bowed her head slightly as she backed out of the room. After she shut the door, she hurried to her room where she secured the door behind her.
Sauda, her maid/servant, sat upon her bed, wringing her hands anxiously as she awaited Kamaria's return. At the sound of the door clicking shut, Sauda peered at the door.
"Relax Sauda, he has permitted the excursion."
"I do not like this, my lady," Sauda said timidly. "I do not like this one bit. You will only get caught or killed if you are seen."
"I won't be doing anything wrong to get caught," Kamaria protested.
Sauda gave her a disbelieving look but before she could say anything, someone rapped hard on the door.
Sauda crossed the distance to the door and opened it, revealing a sour looking Crabbe and Goyle.
"We're here to take you to Diagon Alley if you are ready to go," the bulkier of the two said.
"Just a moment if you could wait outside," Kamaria instructed, turning to her mirror.
The door clicked shut and Kamaria turned to Sauda. "Look, no one knows about me so how will I be in trouble?"
"Some one might recognize them," Sauda said, pointing at the closed door to where Crabbe and Goyle waited in the hall.
"Relax Sauda," Kamaria laughed, "you will be with me."
"I would not be that great at protecting you, my lady."
Kamaria walked over and picked up Sauda's darkened hands. "You worry too much, do you know that?"
Sauda frowned and lowered her head. "I cannot help it, my lady. Not with some of the stunts you pull and the messes you get yourself into."
"What stunts? What messes?" Kamaria asked innocently.
Sauda gave her a stern look. "You know exactly what I speak of, my lady. You will get yourself into trouble yet."
Kamaria sighed and turned to pick up a large cloak and wrapped it around herself. "My father sent me over here to be a queen," she stated matter-of-factly, her voice hard and impassionate. "A queen I shall be. I have responsibilities now…"
"Your responsibility is to your heart," Sauda said affectionately.
"No. My responsibility is to stand by Lord Voldemort's side."
Sauda snorted but did not say anything else as she watched Kamaria flitter around the room, gathering this and that.
"Slip on one of those large cloaks," Kamaria advised, pointing out the cloaks draped over the back of a chair. "To be safe, it would be best to be discreet."
Sauda did as Kamaria advised and they walked out of the room.
qpqpqp
"Dumbledore wanted us to meet them now."
"Why?"
"He didn't say."
"I wonder what it's about."
The kitchen door swung open and all the voices stopped as every head turned to see who had stumbled upon their meeting.
"Hello Severus," Molly greeted, her lips pursed.
Snape's lip curled as he sneered at the occupants of the room. Tonks glared openly at the hated Potions Master as Remus squeezed her hand underneath the table.
Snape took a seat at the end of the table, away form the others. He busied himself with glowering at the werewolf and metamorphmagus while they chatted, blatantly ignoring his unwanted presence.
None had forgotten Snape's bizarre actions the previous year. He had openly spoken out against half-breeds (mainly Remus) and became more selective in what information he chose to pass on to the Order about Voldemort's current actions.
Dumbledore had even become more leery of him, though he tried to hide it from the other Order members. Often he would be caught casting suspicious looks at Snape but would quickly avert his eyes.
The door opened again and Dumbledore entered wearing a long dark blue robe with gold stars scattered across it. His long beard was tied in a ponytail. His blue eyes fell on Snape and he paused.
"Severus," Dumbledore said, surprised.
Snape nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement of the old man. "Headmaster."
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to give you my latest report."
"The meeting isn't until tonight," Dumbledore told him.
Snape looked around casually at the gathered Order members then back at Dumbledore, his eyebrow raised questionably.
"We were discussing our outing for the day and the precautions we will take," Remus supplied after some quick thinking.
Snape still looked skeptical but did not say anything else on the subject. He rose from his chair and turned towards Dumbledore.
"I will come back tonight Albus."
Dumbledore nodded and watched the Potions Master leave. With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore placed an Imperturbable Charm on the door and said, "It is safe now Alastor, Kingsley."
Suddenly, Mad-Eye Moody and Kinsley Shacklebolt appeared in the room, each holding a silky looking cloak, almost identical to the one resting in Harry's trunk.
"Alastor and Kingsley will accompany you today," Dumbledore explained quickly, keeping his voice low. "We have news that Queen Kamaria will be in Diagon Alley today."
"How?" Tonks spoke up.
Dumbledore smiled at the clumsy witch. "We have spies other than Severus," he said simply, leaving the others to question his choice of words.
"What do you want them to do?" Molly asked finally. "Protect Harry?"
"No," Dumbledore answered. "They are to capture her."
qpqpqp
Word Meanings:
Sauda- "Dark Beauty" in Swahili
A/N: Word to all of you out there, look out for clues. I'm trying to show a more human-like side to Voldemort just in case you're wondering. The Kivuli, is a Swahili name. I never considered whether they'd be African or not, but I don't think so. They are located somewhere near Greece and Africa…just, pick a place and go with it!