A/N: revamped and reedited
-----CHAPTER NINE-----
"Hurry, Brenna! We're going to be late! BRENNA!"
Molly Weasley's warning rang through the house like a frantic siren. Brenna shouted as she skidded down the hallway, bumping into the wall in her haste and nearly knocking down a vase. She put on her remaining shoe, and as she slid down the banister she quickly put her hair up, only to land gracelessly in the foyer where Ron, Harry, Hermione, and some of the Order were waiting.
"Sorry," Brenna said, blushing. She saw her trunk and bag next to Kingsley's feet, and sighed; "Okay, everythin's 'ere, we can go now, righ'?"
Molly laughed in that motherly warm tone; "Of course, dear," she said, smiling; "Come along, all, we're going by Port Key. Gather 'round!"
Lupin produced a very old teddy bear, and Brenna couldn't help but laugh once at it. Soon, they had all joined and the port Key transported them to Platform 9 ¾'s.
"Now, be sure to owl every chance you get," Molly said as she gave each a hug; "And stay out of trouble," she added warningly, eyes staying on Harry for a moment too long.
"The only trouble you'll here from is from the Ministry," Ron said, smiling childishly. His mother replied by cuffing him soundly on the ear.
Brenna looked at the crowded platform, becoming nervous. She wasn't used to crowds and the noise and the entire hubbub was almost unnerving. She clung to Kingsley's arm for protection, easily comforted by the tall, muscular Auror's stature. Kingsley looked at her, and smiled.
"It'll be fine, Brenna," he said comfortingly, "Not a thing will happen to you, just stick with Harry and Hermione and Ron and you'll be alright."
Brenna smiled at him, then looked around; "Ya'll stop by, won't ya?" she asked, looking up at him again.
Kingsley sighed; "I'll see," he said, "Maybe, if something happens. Now, go on," he kissed the top of her head like any godfather would, then gently shoved her to the first rail cart. Ron and Hermione stuck their heads out, and helped Brenna aboard.
"By, Mister Shacklebolt!" the three said, ducking in as the train started off.
"You and Shacklebolt are pretty close, aren't you?" Ron asked as they walked down the hallway.
"Yeah," Brenna said, "Where's 'Arry?" she asked.
"Oh, he's trying to get a compartment for us," Hermione said, rolling her eyes; "Honestly, sometimes he just gets too-"
"Look, Malfoy, I'm not letting you take this compartment!" It was Harry shouting from the end of the hall, and they could see a crowd forming steadily.
Brenna ran ahead, shoving through the crowd to find Harry standing in the doorway of a Compartment, Neville and Ginny being within it. Draco and his two goons, along with Pansy and her little wiry haired friend, were there as well.
"Look, Potter, beat it," Draco said, thumbing behind him; "I want this compartment."
Brenna made her way through the crowd; "Harry?" she asked, looking around; "What's the matter?" she took her place by his said, and turned to Draco to give him a blank stare.
Draco smirked, and crossed his arms; "Brenna, Brenna, Brenna!" he gasped, shaking his head as he did and smirking; "What on earth's got you here? I wasn't expecting to see you for some time!"
"Shove it, Malfoy," Ron said, he and Hermione making their way through the crowd as well; "It's been a hard summer, for all of us."
"Not up to comebacks, Weasel?" Draco said; "What, family in the poor-poor house this time around? I'm not surprised, to be honest, what with-"
He was stopped as Brenna's hand came into sharp contact with the side of his face. The loud smack that followed sent Draco into the crowd, and he was so stunned he couldn't retaliate for a second. Crabbe and Goyle hauled him to his feet.
"An' afta we took ya in," Brenna said, stepping back with a huff. Harry was staring at her, as were Ron and Hermione. Neville and Ginny had poked their heads out as well, and they, too, were stunned.
"Filthy trash," Draco spat, spitting at her feet.
Brenna opened her mouth to retort, but Harry beat her to it; "Bastard Child."
That struck a nerve. Draco blinked, face flushing a vibrant red. He turned on his heel and left.
Ron, Hermione, and Brenna slipped in, and Harry closed the door as he went in. They waited for the crowd to disperse, then allowed themselves to settle in.
"That hit him hard, Harry," Hermione commented.
"Not like it isn't the truth, though," Ron grumbled.
"Why would 'e call me tha'?" Brenna asked quietly; "Ah'm na filthy, nor trash…"
"Just ignore it, Brenna," Harry said, sitting down and staring out the window as he became deep in thought.
"So, Brenna," Neville said; "How long will you be staying at Hogwarts?"
"All year," she replied, smiling at him. Neville blushed.
"Really? Wonderful!" Ginny exclaimed, clapping her hands; "Who will you be rooming with?"
"Actually," Hermione said, "I think Brenna gets her own quarters, in between the head boy and head girls', or in the Tower, depending, of course…" When she received baffled looks, she simply shrugged; "You all should read."
"Hah, I dinna want t' be alone!" Brenna said, waving her hands; "No, no no no no no!"
"I'm sure we could work something out," Harry said; "Perhaps McGonagall can grant you a 'pass' or something."
Ron rolled his eyes as the girls giggled, and Neville buried himself in a book; "So," Ron said; "Wonder who'll take Fred and George's places as beaters on the team, eh?"
Harry shrugged as he turned to his friend; "Who knows," he said; "Just hope they're strong and can swing."
Ron chuckled; "Here, here, mate," he said.
There was a knock at the compartment door then, and it slid open to reveal the trolley; "Ooh, snack stuffs!" Ron said happily; "Okay, we'll take the chocolate frogs, the Bertie Bott's, hmm, and then we'll take..."
The list went on and on.
Along the train ride, after talking and eating, Ginny, Neville, Ron and Hermione dozed off. Hermione had coincidentally fallen across Ron's lap, while the redhead was slumped against the window. Neville was leaning against the wall, while Ginny had slumped down to the floor with her head against the seat. Harry had pulled out the Daily Prophet out of boredom, while Brenna remained gazing out the window with a glazed look to her eyes.
"Miss home already?" Harry asked quietly, looking up at her.
Brenna stared out the window in silence; "Yeah," she admitted, not looking away; "Ah… Ah nevah stayed 'way from 'ome…"
"I'm sorry," Harry said; "If I could think of anything, I'd do it."
Brenna smiled; "Tha's okay, 'Arry," she said, looking at him. Then she looked out the window, sighing and saying something Harry couldn't understand.
"What was that?" He quipped.
Brenna blinked at him; "Wha' was wha'?" she asked.
"That, what you just said!" Harry said, then he sighed; "Sounded like Yiddish or something…"
Brenna turned to him, and pulled the paper away to sit in his lap, Harry emitting a slight "oof!" as she did; "Wha's tha'?" she asked innocently.
"It's a language," Harry replied; "Anyway, that sounds like the stuff you and your granddad talk in all the time."
Brenna laughed, a quiet, tinkling sound; "Tha's Ancestress…" she explained; "Lest, tha's wha et's called in English."
"Ooh, forgive me then," Harry said, rolling his eyes; "I can hardly speak Latin, let alone comprehend that."
"Latin?"
Harry sighed, wondering what Anestrothea had and hadn't taught Brenna; "You know, the base of practically every language?"
Brenna shook her head slowly, then waved the subject off; "Well cross tha' bridge when we get t' et."
Harry chuckled at that, but it was not a convincing one; "Harry?" Brenna asked; "What's tha mattah?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing, really, nothing," Harry said, shaking his head.
Brenna eyed him, but decided against prodding further. That tone was reserved for when Harry was engrossed with a sudden bomb rush of thoughts, an occurrence quickly becoming a habit.
-------
The annual beginning of the year feast went on without a hitch. The new students were sorted, and then everyone sat down to eat. Brenna sat between Harry and Hermione, Ron sitting across from them with Seamus, Dean, and Neville. Ginny was on down the table with her friends.
"So, Brenna," Seamus said; "Where're ye from, again?"
Harry and Ron were about to retort, but Brenna simply smiled and brushed her hair back; " Scotland," she replied; "Bit towards the sea."
"Really? Why show up so late then?" Dean asked.
Brenna shrugged; "M' grandda chose to teach me ah 'ome 'til now," she said simply.
Dean seemed satisfied, but not Seamus. He asked Brenna a barrage of questions, Harry and Ron helping when Brenna's English failed her. All and all, nothing of secrecy had been pressured into the light of things.
"Harry," a slender girl with Hufflepuff robes he remembered vaguely from the year before, sat down next to him. "A few of are wondering about, you know, the DA," she said quietly, looking around.
"Spread the word," Harry replied; "DA meetings are going back on schedule two weeks from Tuesday at seven thirty."
The girl nodded, smiled, and got up. She returned to her table, and Harry turned to the group; "Well, best make fliers," he said sarcastically, drawing a laugh from the group.
Dean nodded; "I'll get right on it, might have seventy by Thursday."
"Wonderful!" Hermione said; "Harry, why two weeks from tomorrow?"
"Well, we just got back to school, 'Mione!" Neville said with a laugh. "Give us all time to settle in!"
The group laughed again, at the expense of Hermione, of course.
"Plus," Seamus said, swallowing his food; "I'm sure Harry would-"
Before he got the chance to finish, they all heard a caw.
A jet black raven with opal eyes descended from the owl post ledges, cawing again as its unnatural eyes scanned the Great Hall. Many head s turned upward to watch it, and almost all of the noise ceased. Finding its destination, the raven prepared to land.
And it did, between Harry and Brenna.
The raven squawked at Harry, and he saw that it had a rather thick scroll tied to its leg. The bird looked shabby, but the feathers were elegantly so it seemed regal and lethal, in a way. Its legs seemed longer, the talons shining and digging into the wooden table. It looked at Harry again, then to Brenna. Brenna was staring at it in shock, and reached out to touch it. Silently, the table watched on.
The bird hopped over to her, squawking again. Brenna reached out, and took the parchment. She stared at it, then to the raven, who in turn cocked its head to the side and stared back. Sighing, Brenna looked around, and unrolled the parchment.
As she did, the Raven turned, and hopped over to Ron. Ron stared at it in shock and a little out of fear. The bird squawked, then took his roll.
"Hey!" Ron said, trying to snatch it back. But the bird only hopped out of reach, causing Ron to fall forward into stew. The table laughed, and complete order was restored in Great Hall, the noise resuming to its regular level of loudness.
With a flick of her wand Ron was clean, then Hermione turned to Brenna, "Who's it from, Brenna?" she asked, her gaze drifting to the raven who sat pecking at the bread and eating the crumbs.
"It's from Kingsley," Brenna muttered, her brow furrowing as she rose with the parchment in her grasp; "I... where's a quiet place to read this?"
"The library," Hermione said, "But-" she never got a chance to finish. Brenna was out the door in a flash.
Hermione sighed, and watched the raven. It stared at her, beak full of bread. It squawked indignantly at her, sending bread crumbs everywhere.
"Pudgy little blighter, wouldn't y' say?" Seamus mused.
"Tell me about it," Harry said, watching the bird; "What's its name?"
"We'll just call it Squawk," Ron said smugly, getting another roll; "Or Feather Butt, your choice."
Dean chuckled, "Eh," he said; "Why was a crow sent instead of an owl, anyway? Thought she lived in Scotland?"
"Er, she does!" Harry said; "Her Grandfather's an eccentric, so I've heard."
Dean nodded, eyeing Harry suspiciously; "Whatever," he said finally, returning to his food.
------
Curiosity and worry finally forced Harry up from the table almost ten minutes later. He went in the direction of the library, but didn't need to get far before he heard the sobs. Brenna was leaning against the wall between a statue and a vase. She was sitting on her knees, leaning against the wall, eyes tightly closed tightly as tears came like waterfalls, her sobs muffled by her hand covering her mouth. Harry stood and watched her, then slowly walked over to her. Brenna crumbled the parchment as her hand balled into a fist so tight her knuckles paled.
"Brenna," Harry said, bending down in front of her.
Brenna's hand fell as she opened her eyes, looking upwards; "Ah hate 'im," she rasped, coughing with a hitched breath; "Ah hate tha' bloody damn ministah," she closed her eyes again.
"What? What did Fudge do?" Harry asked worriedly.
Brenna shook her head, and threw the parchment. Harry noticed that it lit up, and lit up in flames and fell onto the floor in a pile of ashes before it hit the wall. He looked back at Brenna.
"Nah, Fudge dinna do nothin'," Brenna said quietly; "And tha's... tha whole... problem!" she said, sobbing again.
"Brenna, what happened?" Harry said as gently as he could without over-expressing his point.
"Theh were attacked!" Brenna moaned quietly; "Righ' at the Ministreh's fron' door! All of 'em, Pa-pa, Tonks, Remus-"
"What?" Harry nearly shouted.
Brenna bit her bottom lip and nodded; "Yea," she said, "All of 'em, an' Fudge didn' do anythin'! Nothin', 'e was right there, and dinna nothin'!" she shouted, slamming her fists down on the floor; "damn Death Eaters," she hissed, standing and wiping her eyes. She glared at the pile of ashes, and they disappeared. Brenna then looked to a mirror, composed herself, and turned to Harry.
"Call a meetin' earlier, 'Arry," she said once she had calmed; "Please, dinna need more time t' pass. We canna afford et, noon o' us."
Brenna then stormed back to Great Hall, Harry following her in his own anger. The thought of Remus being hurt for no reason other than spite made him feel as if he were the one who had been attacked. He reached out and motioned for her to hold back, then strode into the Great Hall.
Great Hall quieted again as Harry made his way down the tables, walking up to the teacher's table. He jumped up in front of it, turned, straightened her robes, and was silent. All eyes were on him. Suddenly, he was aware of what he'd just done. Every eye was on him, every. But, he could not turn back now.
Clearing his voice, Harry confidently shouted; "Change of plans! Meeting tonight! Those of you that understand, you know where to go!"
Harry the jumped down, turned, nodded to the stunned teachers, made her way back down the rows of tables, and promptly left. Brenna, who had taken to leaning against the door and crossing her arms, watched him go, and then turned to look at Dumbledore. The old wizard still had the twinkle to his eye, but it was dulled with worried knowing. Brenna nodded to him, turned and followed after Harry. At the moment he was prone to self-injury.