Chapter Two

The New Girl

"Hurry up, boy," Filch was saying as Harry jumped off the train.

"That's the last of it," said the conductor, and away the train sped off. When they all were inside, the sorting began. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all sat next to each other besides Neville and Ginny. The song began and it was the same as last year…

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within.

I have told you, I have warned you….

Let the Sorting now begin.

Everyone clapped and Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome, to a new year at Hogwarts!" He began. "I assure you that the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden to all of you. Alas, I prefer who does not want to be killed to stay away from the lake. The merpeople are having a fit. Also, a big welcome to Professor Elwin Herring! Good luck, Professor!" Everybody clapped. Professor Herring had long dirty blond hair up to his shoulders, he has an amazing smile as he waved and had glasses that were on his shirt. Some girls were giggling. "Well, let the sorting begin!" Everybody clapped once more and the first years started to come up and put on the sorting hat. Once that was done, the feast began and everybody started to chow down.

"Mm! Dessert!" Ron exclaimed, his mouth full of chicken reaching over for the pie.

"Ron!" Hermione yelled, as Ron accidentally spilt over Hermione's glass of pumpkin juice.

" 'Orry," he replied, as he handed a napkin to Hermione.

"Hagrid," Dumbledore began, "I want you to assist a young girl…" Harry heard. He looked up and saw Dumbledore speaking to Hagrid. Hagrid nodded. "She lives in an orphanage on Burberry Lane." That's not too far from the Dursleys, Harry thought…

"Harry… You okay?" Hermione asked, staring at the back of his head.

"Yeah… I'm fine… Just… Thinking," said Harry. Hermione was about to say something, but thought better of it. She thought he was thinking about Sirius but did not want to bring it up…

Once the feast was over, however, Hermione and Ron had to leave to guide the first years to the common room. Harry was left behind with Neville and Ginny.

"So, what do you think of Professor Herring so far?" Neville asked.

"Eh…" Ginny shrugged. "Nice but doesn't seem like the person for the job."

"Couldn't said it better myself." Harry agreed, laughing.

And yet, this was true. The first day of Defense Against the Dark Arts didn't quite go so well…

"Hello! Hello! And welcome to Defense Against The Dark Arts! I am Professor Elwin B. Herring. And I am your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." He said with a smile, sounding like a professional speaker.

"Reminds me of Lockhart," Ron whispered to Harry from the back of him, rolling his eyes. They all had assigned seats and Harry was sitting next to Wilma Avery, but she was absent and he found out she was ill and would probably never come back to Hogwarts. He nodded.

"Ah. Now, now. You wouldn't like me to give you detention on the first day would you?" Harry and Ron exchanged glances.

"Well, anyway… We are here to learn about the Dark Arts. Well, you know that… And to begun with it, we will start with the defending spell. Expelliarmus."

"Professor, we already learned that one… In our second year," said Seamus. The class laughed.

"Huh? Oh… Right. Well, lets see… Oh, I'm on the wrong page. Sorry, sorry. First time you know." Seamus shook his head slowly…

"Well, today we will learn about the most effective spell… Called the Restorey. It brings a… Hmm… A lightening bolt throughout us… Making us shiver and shake, as we have never done before in our entire lives. But!" he said aloud making the class jump, walking throughout the desks. "It is strictly forbidden in the Hogwarts grounds! We only use it once in our life. That is now." There was a pause. Hermione raised her hand.

"Are we going to do this on…? Someone in the class?" She asked, shocked.

"Well of course not! We're using them on only boggarts. You know what boggarts are, don't you?"

"Yes," replied Hermione, treated as though she was a little kid.

"Now, everybody-" But before Professor Herring could say another word there was a knock on the door.

"Come in…?"

The door opened and it was Professor Dumbledore, with a girl about the age of 15 was right behind him, holding a bunch of books.

"Excuse me, Professor Herring, but I have a girl here who came in a little bit late. Sorry about the interruption."

"Not at all, not at all!" he said smiling. "Always good to have another student! Come, come!" Dumbledore let her pass and went out giving a glance at Harry, closing the door behind him. Harry utterly forgotten about the meeting with Dumbledore and had to make it up after school. Harry saw her and she had glasses, like Harry. Harry's stomach lurched at the site of her and turned his head so that he looked at his piece of parchment.

"Glad to have you here!" Professor Herring welcomed. "By the way, what is your name shall I ask?"

"Kali," she said quietly.

"Well, please have a seat my dear. You could sit next to young Harry here. I bet you he'll be glad to have you as a help. Anyway, Wilma will not be joining us I am afraid. She has a very sick illness…" Harry blushed at the sound of his name and everybody started to talk.

"Quiet down please, quiet down," he said as Kali sat down next to Harry. Harry straightened up, feeling a little warm…

"Now, Kali. What we are starting today is the Restorey spell. It is a lightening bolt entering throughout our bodies… Making us shiver and shake, as we have never done before in our entire lives. But it is strictly forbidden in the Hogwarts grounds! We only use it once in our life. That is now. Of course we are using it on boggarts." Kali nodded. "Now, let's get started. Everyone stand up and walk over to the cupboard."

"What's a boggart?" Kali asked Harry.

"Ashapeshifter," Harry said rather fast.

"What?" Kali asked. Harry coughed.

"It's a shape shifter. It takes the shape of whatever frightens you."

"Okay. Thanks." She said and started to put her books away in her bag and get up toward the cupboard. Harry followed her.

"Okay, class. Let's get started." Of course the boggarts turned into whatever the other was afraid of. Eventually, Ron saw Darian, and Darian had short hair and was very smart, she had a beautiful smile and was happy. Darian was afraid of rats. When she said Restorey the rat jumped up and down and was jolted till it died. Kali was shocked. Darian was too.

"Was… W-Was that good?" Darian asked. Professor Herring nodded. "That felt wrong…" She said as she walked behind Kali. Darian and Kali started to talk a little and soon the Restorey lesson was over, and went by pretty fast. Everyone sat back at their desks and Harry began to feel uncomfortable once more.

"Well, class. Let's get down our homework." The class groaned. "Now, now. This homework isn't that bad. It's just a 3 inch paragraph." The class groaned again. "Now, now, settle down. It's not due until Wednesday." Professor Herring looked at his watch and noticed what time it was. "Oh! It's late! You better run off to your classes! If you're late tell them it's my fault." And the class started running outside except Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Darian, and Kali, who were all trying to put their things back into their bags.

"See ya," said Ron who was running down the steps.

"Where's Herbology?" asked Kali who took out a piece of parchment.

"Its outside. Do you have it next?" Neville asked picking up his bag and walking over to Kali.

"Yes," she replied getting up, she was a little bit smaller than Neville but the exact same height as Harry.

"So does: Harry, Darian, and me." Hermione said walking over to Neville.

"We better get going then," declared Hermione. "I don't want to be late." Kali agreed and they all strode off down to Herbology where they made it right in time. Ron was there and he was sitting on a stool, red in the face from running. Draco Malfoy was there; he was smirking at Crabbe and Goyle who seemed to be listening intently.

"Alright, everybody! Welcome to Herbology!" Professor Sprout exclaimed. "A new year begins and that means a lot more studying for your N.E.W.T's." Kali sat right in between Harry and Darian and asked Harry what was a N.E.W.T. He explained and wondered about why she didn't know much…

"Pay attention please!" Professor Sprout snapped at the two. The class stayed quiet. At the end of class, Harry rushed over to the gargoyle statue and shouted, "Lemon Drops!" and the gargoyle leapt aside. He walked up the spiral staircase and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Dumbledore. When Harry opened the door he found himself looking straight ahead at Dumbledore's head. Dumbledore was writing on a piece of parchment.

"Hello, Harry. You have forgotten about our little chat together after the sorting." He began, not looking away and still scribbling.

"I'm sorry, sir."

"That is quiet alright Harry," he started, looking up, "but you had me waiting for a good amount of time." Harry nodded.

"I would like to tell you now Harry but I wasn't quite expecting you, maybe another time. I have just eaten a piece of candy." Dumbledore smiled at this. "Very tasty, but can be very hard on the stomach for me… You shall go Harry." Harry nodded and walked out to the door, and down the spiral staircase. He walked back to the common room, and as he entered he shouted, "Magalia Magic." Darian was in a corner rapped around by Ron, seeming that they couldn't get enough of each other. Hermione was reading a book on a couch by the fire and some first year girls were giggling over some bottles. Kali was in a corner doing some homework.

He didn't know what made him do it, but he went over Kali sat…

"Harry," said one of the first year girls, "I have some fresh made muffins for you!" She was smiling.

"Uh… Thanks," he said as she handed them to him. He could see that there was a pink bottle of love potion on the couch that the three girls were all circling. He stuffed them into his pocket and started towards Kali.

"Hi." He said. Kali looked up.

"Umm… Hi," she said. Harry thought fast and said,

"Do… Do you need any help?"

"I… I think I'm fine," she said, looking into his eyes. Before they could say anything the portrait door opened and Professor McGonagall came in.

"Miss Horita, would you come with me, please," said Professor McGonagall. Kali got up and Professor McGonagall started to walk back when she remembered…

"Oh, yes. Harry Potter, please come with me also." Harry and Kali exchanged glances and started to follow Professor McGonagall. Once they reached her classroom Professor McGonagall sat down at her desk.

"Are we in trouble?" asked Kali.

"No, Miss Horita. I have brought you two here today because… Kali hasn't been here for quite a while, Mr. Potter. As you have probably noticed. I assume you should acquaintance her in the flying lessons, and hopefully Quidditch. Since you are the Quidditch captain I presume. Kali, I heard, has great talents in flying." Harry looked at Kali at this point. "Hopefully, she will be very great in Quidditch." Harry nodded.

"I want you to help her, Potter, in flying lessons after school for a few days," said Professor McGonagall. Harry was shocked; didn't she know how to fly?

"Yes, I know what you are thinking," she eyed him. "She has come late, to Hogwarts." Kali looked down at the floor. "Professor Dumbledore would like to speak to you more about it sometime this week; same with you, Miss Horita. It has something to do with you, Mr. Potter. Professor Dumbledore will let you know, you two." Harry nodded and they both left.

"Why… Why did you come late exactly?" Harry asked.

"I'm… I'm not exactly supposed to say… Professor Dumbledore told me not to…" She said still looking at the floor. There was silence for a minute and then Harry began…

"Well, if you don't have that much homework to do… Would you like to… I mean if you want… To do flying lessons?" Kali smiled. "Sure." Soon as she said it, they were back in the common room and they got their brooms and went outside.

"Wait… Isn't that the Cloud-Blaster?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," she smiled. Her broom was lying on the grass. The whole entire wood was covered in blue and was noticeable with the sign: Cloud-Blaster.

"Well, let's get started," said Harry. "Put your hand over the broom like this," Harry demonstrated, stretching his arm out. "And say, 'Up!' Loud and clearly." Kali stretched out her arm, so that it was over the broom and yelled, "Up!" The broom came up quickly, and she almost toppled over.

"Great," said Harry, grinning. "Now toss your leg over the broom and on the count of three push off from the ground. Make sure you push off fast and hard." Kali nodded and tossed her leg over. Harry counted down and on three they both pushed off with their feet and were floating high above the ground.

"Brilliant," he said. "Good for someone who hasn't been here for long." Kali smiled.

"Thanks," she replied.

"Now, since you know how to get on, I should probably teach you how to land. Just float gently down and put your weight to the front of the broom and lift up when you get to the bottom," Harry said and then demonstrated, landing safely on the ground. Kali did the same. This went on for an hour, and then soon they went in.

"Thanks," said Kali.

"Umm… No problem." Harry said, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Throughout the week, Harry and Kali spent more and more time together in flying lessons and showing her Quidditch. Kali began to talk a little bit more and Harry did feel that uncomfortable around her much, but still had that feeling every time she smiled. Ron and Darian were huddled up in their corner about everyday, and Hermione finally got irritated and left to the dormitory. Finally, on Friday, Hermione received a note from Dumbledore that was for Harry and Kali.

"Kali," said Harry when they were in the common room.

"Huh?"

"Dumbledore's note." He said. Kali skimmed through it and she nodded. They both headed up to the spiral staircase and Harry shouted, "Lemon Drops!" The gargoyle leapt aside, as before, and the two climbed the stairs, then Kali knocked on the door.

"Come in," you could hear Dumbledore. Kali opened the door and Dumbledore was yet writing on a piece of parchment.

"Hello, Harry, Kali," he said as he stopped writing and looked up.

"You may sit down." Kali and Harry both sat down.

"How life works in mysterious ways," said Dumbledore looking outside. The clouds were getting dark. "It's the same with people…" he looked at Kali, Kali looked down at the floor.

"Harry, you might not understand this… Kali, she is… A relative of Voldemort."