Chapter 7

A Merperson

As Harry was diving down with one full gulp of air, he saw that Kali was down ahead dragged into a house of some kind and was struggling to get out of the merpeople's hands. Harry swam faster and was soon floating around the small house. He could hear one voice that was scratchy yet dark.

"Put her here," said the voice as Harry was trying to get a look through the house.

"Great," the voice said in happiness. "You may leave and bring the mighty one, as you call it." The merpeople opened the door, without noticing Harry and swam to a palace at the end of the village. Harry was letting low on oxygen and soon had to swim to land. As Harry was swimming one of the merpeople as he saw before was swimming after him. Harry was struggling for air and was soon on land. He pulled himself hastily on the land as the merperson tried to grab at his leg. The merperson finally gave up and dove down back into the lake.

Harry was soaking wet and was panting for air. He lifted his head and saw Dumbledore staring at him.

"Dumbledore," Harry breathed. "Kali… She's down there…"

"Harry, I know. Now just breathe." Harry nodded and soon started to pant again. Ron was by his side looking down into the lake with Darian holding onto his hand.

As Harry was looking down into the lake he saw a little shiny thing bob up from under the lake.

"Professor, what is that over there?" Harry asked.

"I am not sure, Harry," said Dumbledore.

"Accio!" Dumbledore said as he flicked his wand. You could see something shiny fly through and Dumbledore caught it in his hand. He opened his hand and saw that it was Kali's glasses.

"It seems to me that Miss Horita has lost her glasses."

"Harry," said Hermione as she came running with Calvin behind her.

"I just heard from Neville and Ginny who heard from Ron," said Hermione.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley and Darian, I would like all of you to please go up to the school. Mr. Potter and I will stay here and watch for any signs of Miss Horita." Hermione nodded and the three of them left. Harry and Professor Dumbledore stood waiting for any signs of Kali throughout the entire day.

Finally at around eight o'clock there were bubbles coming from the lake and soon saw a head bob up. Harry stared for a minute and saw Kali lift her head.

"Harry," breathed Kali. Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kali. You're alive."

"Harry," said Kali with seriousness. "I've changed."

"Harry, what are you doing here?" Said a voice behind him. Harry turned around. It was Seamus and he walked over to Harry. Seamus did not notice Professor Dumbledore and stared at Kali's head in the water.

"What do you mean you've changed?" Harry asked Kali, ignoring Seamus. Kali looked like she sat down on the sand and waved her fin in the air, out of the water. Seamus gasped. You could see Kali's full body now. She still had her Hogwarts shirt on and her pants seemed to be nowhere.

"You're a… You're a merperson?" Harry asked in shock. Kali nodded.

"I don't know how it happened, Harry," said Kali.

"I was grabbed from behind and was dragged down into the water. I couldn't breathe but somehow the merpeople knew that I needed air. They supported me and had an air bubble covering my mouth. I was knocked out after that and I was found in an underwater house, surrounded by a guy, with an air bubble surrounding his mouth. He had a hood covering his head and he said he came there to help me." Kali was stammering by now.

"H-Harry… He said that I would stay like this for the rest of my life," said Kali looking scared.

"Miss Horita," said Dumbledore walking into the water and feeling her fin.

"We are going to assist you into Hogwarts and into a take full of water." Dumbledore then conjured up a tank and filled water into it with his wand.

"Now if you will please jump into the tank if you have enough strength," said Dumbledore and gently lay the tank down. Kali nodded while Harry and Seamus backed away a few steps.

Kali then dove back into the water and jumped out, while putting her hands on the edge of the lake and flipped into the tank making water splash onto the two boys who were watching.

"Sorry," said Kali underwater making bubbles come out of her mouth. Seamus left while wringing out the water of his robe.

"Kali, I am going to put on a cloak over you, is that alright?" Kali nodded, then Dumbledore lowered a quilt over the tank and lifted the tank all with his wand.

People were staring at Dumbledore as the three of them passed through Hogsmeade. The students were whispering about what was in the tank and why he was having it with him.

When they got to the Hospital Wing Madam Pomfrey shrieked in horror as soon as Dumbledore lifted the quilt.

"Albus! What is that thing?"

"Poppy, this is a very likely student to get into one of these," said Dumbledore.

"Madam Pomfrey, it's me. Kali." Madam Pomfrey had her mouth opened in shock.

"I don't know if we could actually fix this, but Albus we will surely try," said Madam Pomfrey folding up her robe sleeves.

"Ugh," yelled Kali in pain while she was holding onto her stomach and was slowly falling to the bottom of the tank.

"It's getting worse, Albus. I don't think she can take it."

"Poppy, please do something quick," said Dumbledore. Madam Pomfrey nodded and held out her wand.

"Reviviory!" Madam Pomfrey yelled. Kali screamed! Madam Pomfrey shook her head while Kali was still screaming and said,

"It's not working. They put her on some kind of irremovable spell. We can't get it off of her unless she is in real pain."

"We will have to try anything." Dumbledore paused and walked over to Kali.

"We are going to try anything to get this girl back to her normal self."

Madam Pomfrey hastily turned around mixed up some potions and poured them into the tank. Kali grunted in pain.

"You will feel a lot of pain, Miss Horita," said Madam Pomfrey as she was hurryingly going throughout all her potions.

"She's hurting fast, Dumbledore. We need Professor Snape."

"Harry, please hurry and catch Professor Snape for us. He should be in his office." Harry nodded and ran through the doors while pushing his way through a crowd of third years. When he reached down into the corridor, he opened the professor's door without even knocking.

"Professor!" Harry yelled at the Professor who was sitting down.

"Why are you barging into my classroom, Potter? And on a weekend?" Professor Snape exclaimed, now standing up.

"Professor Dumbledore needs you! He has a student who has just turned into a merperson!"

"Impossible, Potter! Now leave me alone! Or really, tell me the truth why you came barging into my classroom at this late at night?" Snape said as he grabbed Potter by the collar.

"I'm telling the truth! Kali has been turned into a merperson but I don't know how! She's in a tank right now in the Hospital Wing and if you don't give her some potions to be cured she's going to die!" Snape threw Harry onto the floor, quickly grabbed all his potions into a case and ran out of the classroom. Harry got up uneasily and started to run out of the classroom and back to the Hospital Wing.

As Harry entered the Hospital Wing he was gasping for air and saw the water that was now in the tank was spinning around and around.

"She's transforming, Potter!" Madam Pomfrey yelled. "Get over here!" Harry ran over to the other side of the room. Madam Pomfrey now had her body in front of Harry, blocking him if anything was to hurt him.

The water was flying everywhere now, landing on beds, the walls and even Harry. In the split second, you could see a merperson fly out of the tank and landing hard on the floor. Kali was lying on the floor with her hands around her stomach, screaming in pain. Her fin was green and was turning into a skin color. Kali opened her eyes and soon her screaming died down. The fin was soon turning into two light green fins and soon into two normal legs, with pants on.

Kali was breathing very hard by now and soon fainted…

The sun was shinning bright and Kali was asleep on the hospital bed in front of the window, feeling the sunshine in front of three friends. She was asleep for three days now and never awoke.

"I wonder how she is," said Ginny looking down at her. Harry was sitting down in patience, looking down at her stomach that was covered in all kind of scratches and was breathing very slowly.

"I brought her, her homework," said Hermione as she entered the hospital wing with books and pieces of parchment.

"Hermione all you can think about is homework at a time like this?" Ron asked, really annoyed. Hermione gave him a stare as she put the books down next to Harry and left.

"I'm going to go, Harry," said Ron as the clock chimed five.

"Okay," said Harry quietly.

"You'll be alright Harry?" Ginny asked looking up at him. Harry's face was scratched up from the water and had a bandage on his face.

Harry nodded and Ginny left looking worried. Harry stayed there for half more hour looking at her and thinking, that if she were to ever wake up, how he would tell her how he felt. He looked at her hand that was now clutched up like a fist. Harry gently rubbed it and soon her hand began to loosen. Harry's heart leapt and then held her hand. Her hand clutched his hand and he could feel that it was cold as ice.

"Mmm," said Kali as she was finally awakening. Harry looked up with excitement.

When Kali finally opened her eyes, sat up and looked around, she stared at Harry.

"Kali," said Harry smiling, yet Kali didn't smile.

"Umm… Do I know you?" She asked confused and took her hand away from his. Harry was shocked.

"Yes," Harry replied. "I'm Harry. Harry Potter." Kali sat there, staring into his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I still don't know who you are."

"And um… Where am I?" She asked looking around and staring at all the books on her bedside table.

"You're in the Hospital Wing." Harry said slowly.

"Oh… What's a Hospital Wing?" Kali asked, with the same face she had when she asked him what were boggarts during Defense Against The Dark Arts.

"It's a place where you get healed, when you're hurt."

"I'm hurt? I don't feel hurt," she said as she was looking at her hands. "But I look hurt. What happened?"

"You don't remember?" Harry asked. Kali sat there trying to remember, but shook her head.

"Remember what? I don't remember anything. Your face just seems familiar." Kali said looking into his eyes.

"I remember your eyes, though. It makes me have a certain feeling I never had before. Or if I did have it, I don't remember." Madam Pomfrey entered that made Kali stop talking.

"Oh thank god, you're up," said Madam Pomfrey walking up to her. "You've been sleeping for days, Miss Horita, I thought you weren't going to make it."

"Who are you?" There was a pause.

"I'm Madam Pomfrey my dear child. You must be having side effects. Not to worry. You'll be fine soon my dear. It just might take a couple…days."

"Side effects? From what?"

"From turning into a merperson."

"A merperson?"

"Yes, a sea creature of some sort. Now, if you feel better you could leave."

"Leave? You mean to go home?" Kali asked, confused.

"No, my dear to go back to your house."

"I have my own house?"

"No, but Harry will explain it to you more. He will show you." Harry nodded.

"Okay then," said Kali and soon turned around so that her legs were dangling off the bed. As she got up, she almost fell but Harry caught her.

"This is, very difficult," she said as she was holding onto Harry.

"I… I got you. Just hold onto me," said Harry as he had an arm around her waist and her arm was around his neck. Harry grabbed her glasses, handed then to her and soon walked out of the Hospital Wing. Halfway up the stairs Kali was struggling and her knees were giving out. Harry carried her the rest of the way and when they got the Fat Lady she put her down.

"Why, the little merperson herself is back!" The Fat Lady said in delight. "Welcome back, my dear."

"Umm… Thank you." Kali said staring at the picture that was moving, in shock that it could actually move.

"Kali, do you remember the password?" Harry asked. Kali shook her head.

"Foramina Florala," said Harry and the portrait opened. The two of them began to walk slowly inside and soon were inside the common room. The common room was packed with students and soon her friends surrounded Kali.

"Kali! You're back!" Darian yelled hugging her. Harry was about to say something when Hermione said,

"How are you doing?"

"I'm really sorry, but… Do I know you?" Hermione was shocked and stared at Harry.

"She kind of… Lost her memory."

"Oh my gosh, that's horrible," replied Darian.

"She didn't even know who I was," said Harry sitting her down on the couch. Hermione looked around and said,

"Wait, where are your books, Kali?"

"You mean the books by the bedside table?" Hermione nodded. Kali shrugged.

"I'll just go get them," said Hermione and walked out of the portrait hole.

"Maybe she just needs a good sleep. To refresh her memory a bit," suggested Ginny.

"I don't know, Ginny. This could take a while," replied Ron.

Soon, everybody started to crowd around Kali. Hermione brought over her books but realized she didn't even know anything and just helped her out a bit.

When it chimed ten o'clock almost about everybody started to pile out and go to sleep. Ginny had to help Kali up to the dormitory and in the morning, too.

The teachers agreed that Kali would be allowed help walking in between classes, getting to classes, and having a few minutes after the bell rang to get there.

During Herbology that morning, Harry was helping Kali walk over to her stool and set her down.

"Harry," whispered Kali who was now falling forwards. Harry had his back to her as he was trying to pay attention for the second time.

"Harry… Harry," whispered Kali a little louder. "Harry…" But too late. Kali landed flat on the floor on her face.

"Someone, please pick up Miss Horita," said Professor Sprout. Malfoy was laughing under his breath.

The next class was Potions and luckily Kali didn't have to take the 'Puberty' quiz, but had to now.

"Now, Miss Horita, I would like you to do this quiz in ten minutes," said Snape as he was walking down the row of desks and slamming the parchment on her desk.

"Starting-"

"Excuse me, Professor, but what is the quiz about?" Seamus laughed under his breath.

"Puberty, Miss Horita. Start-"

"What's Puberty, if I may ask?"

"Do you not remember? You were here that very day we were learning about it. Or have you not been paying attention lately?" Half of the class was laughing by now.

"I've lost my memory," said Kali staring into his eyes, not showing any expression. Snape stared into her eyes for a second and said,

"Oh… Yes, well… Once you get your memory back, I assume you could take the quiz then… But, if you have lost your memory why have you come back to class?"

"Well, Madam Pomfrey let me out, so I assume that it was okay."

"Hmm… Well, you should be in bed. You should be healing those weak legs." There was a pause.

"I'll let someone help you back to the common room of yours." Snape glanced around.

"A Gryffindor." Harry straightened up.

"Mr. Longbottom." Neville raised his head.

"Bring Miss Horita up to the Gryffindor common room. I supposed you know the password." Neville found his piece of parchment of passwords in his robe pocket and nodded.

Kali soon started to stand and both of them walked out of the classroom slowly.

"Hey," said Harry once he came back from Transfiguration, the last class of the day.

"Hi."

"How you feeling?" Harry asked, sitting down beside Kali.

"Brilliant when I'm sitting down. Not when I'm walking. I feel like I'm about to collapse. And since I've lost my memory, I have no clue where I am, what is going on, or barely who I am." Harry nodded, not thinking about what to say.

"Well, I brought you your homework," he said as he put the books on her lap.

"…I have to read all this?"

"No, no. You have to do some of the pages in it, read it, do an essay, that type of stuff."

"Oh…"

Soon, the two began to start on their homework that took longer than expected since Kali had lost her memory. Kali was asking many questions now that she knew nothing of the whole magic plot and the homework.

"Hey, how's the homework going out?" Fred asked smiling, seeing the two side by side on the couch.

"Who's he?" Kali whispered to Harry.

"Oh he's-"

"'Who's he?' What rubbish. Trying to fake that you don't know me do you?"

"He's Fred Weasley. Ron's elder brother." Harry said, ignoring Fred.

"Seriously Fred, she doesn't know you. Her memory is lost. She doesn't know a thing."

"A thing?" There was a pause and Fred started laughing.

"Well, then do you know who that guy sitting next to you is?" Fred smirked.

"Harry Potter." Kali said, confused. Harry blushed, knowing what Fred was up to.

"Yes, he is. But do you know who he is… to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Doesn't he… Help you out a lot?" Fred asked, trying to hold his laughter.

"Shut it, Fred." Harry said and Fred walked away laughing.

"What did he mean, exactly?"

"Oh… Nothing. He meant nothing." Kali was confused, but ignored it and later in the night when everybody left, and it was quiet, she finally figured it out.

"Well, I'm done," Harry, announced stretching. Kali stared at him and looked down at her paper.

"I need help."

"Here, you could copy my paper," he said handing her his piece of parchment. Kali copied it as Harry watched her hand move across her parchment.

"Thanks," she said handing the parchment onto his lap.

"Umm… Kali," said Harry as Kali was getting up and putting her books into her bag.

"Hmm?"

"What Fred meant earlier," he said as Kali was sitting down, "he meant to say that… We're kind of…"

"Harry, I get it," Kali said staring into his eyes as she smiled for the first time in days.

Harry smiled and leaned in to kiss her. He didn't know what made him do it, but he did it even though Kali didn't know much about him, since her memory was gone.

Kali's hands were moving up and around his neck, while his arms were rapping around her waist.

Kali's mind fully clicked now. She remembered everything; how she was turned into a merperson, magic, everything. Kali broke the kiss and blushed.

"Harry," said Kali. Harry knew something was strange… How she broke the kiss so suddenly.

"I remember. I remember what happened. I remember everything. Harry, my memory isn't lost anymore."

"What? That's brilliant!" Kali laughed and kissed him again…

"So, you still got to take the Puberty test," Ron was saying as he and Kali were walking to Potions.

"Great," she said pretending to smile.

"Sit down," commanded Snape once everybody piled in.

"Now, since Miss Horita has finally gotten her memory back. I assume you would like to take the Puberty quiz now?"

"Hmm… Yes, well then. Here is your test and start while we are beginning on our lesson that you will miss if you do not finish this in exactly ten minutes." Kali nodded and began to start on her test. Luckily, she finished in that amount of time and soon took out her Potions book to begin on the lesson.

"So, how do you think you did on the quiz?" Ron asked once they got out of Potions.

"Oh… Well, I guess okay."

"Okay? Okay? Just okay?" Ron barely exclaimed. Kali laughed and looked up.

"Yeah. Why? I mean it's just… Learning… About-"

"It's different! Not just plain learning about potions, spells, or… Or… Or even plants! It's learning how we… We… Well…"

"Develop?" Darian said as she came up behind Ron. Ron shuttered at the word.

"Don't you dare remind me of that word," said Ron smiling and leaned in to kiss Darian.

"I'm gonna just… Leave… Umm… Okay, bye." Kali turned around rather fast and almost slammed into Harry right behind them.

"Umm… Hi." Kali said as she was blushing.

"Hi," said Harry, also blushing.

"Well, lookie here." Came the irritating voice of none other than…

"Malfoy shut it. We hear about enough crap from you." Kali said staring up into his eyes.

"Ooo… Little grumpy today are we?" Malfoy said putting his hands into his pockets.

"Having trouble in the hallway?" Kali turned her head and saw Professor Severus Snape walking towards the group.

"No, Professor. We were actually leaving," said Kali giving one stare at Malfoy, turned around and walked away with Harry behind her.

The weekend came pretty fast for the five: Hermione, Darian, Ron, Harry, and Kali. Harry was always nervous around Kali even more than usually, because every time he would go up to her, for the past day, he would get all nervous. Finally, he got up all his courage and asked to go to Hogsmeade with her. Of course, Kali accepted and they both entered Hogsmeade nervously at first, but soon start to talk about something…

"Umm… So… Did you notice that Dumbledore hasn't asked for us to go along on the journey yet?" Kali asked, with an unevenness feeling rambling inside her.

"Yeah," said Harry, but that was all he could say, he wanted to say more but couldn't move his lips to do so.

"Well… What did you want to do?" Kali asked. Harry was thinking about that question, when she would ask it, and what to say…

"I…" He didn't want to say I'm not sure, and make Kali think that he brought her out here for nothing.

"I wanted to… I…" He stopped walking and looked down at the floor for a second.

"Kali." Kali was staring at him.

"I … I wanted to tell you," he stammered. "Something… Important…" Kali's heart stopped.

"What is it, Harry?" Harry looked into her eyes and thought: I can't do this. Just stop here and say… Say… What?