Chapter 3

A Pretty Face

Hi guys, sorry it took so long for me to update. I've been really busy, but now that school is out for the summer I am free to write! Also, I was in an acting class, and I've been pretty depressed ever since my friends left. So this chapter ended up being longer then I thought, when I wrote it on paper. Plus I was away from a computer for a while because: 1. My mom needed it. 2. I was on vacation in Salt Lake, to say bye to my dad before he left for a year and a half. My new character will come into this chapter! By the way, I have another new face coming in too. I hope you guys like this chapter. Please review, and tell your friends about my story. I want lots of people to read it! I think I really have something going on here. This new chapter has a lot more action in it. Well happy readings, Sirius will make an appearance in this story, but not in this chapter. I know now how it is going to end! Thanks for staying with me! Happy readings:

Harry studied on Sunday and left early and quietly on Monday, but someone else left much earlier then Harry did. The sun had not even risen yet when the shadowy form of a seventeen year old girl left a letter, on her bed, for her father. Her bedroom was square, with one window on the east side; it was also on the second story. The girl silently stole to the window and picked up a backpack and wand, and turned to see a beautiful bird watching her.

"Fawkes," she whispered, "come on Fawkes, lets go."

The girl swung the backpack onto her shoulders and opened the window. The phoenix took flight from off his perch and soared through the now open window. The girl climbed through onto the window ledge. Outside the window, a large tree swayed in the light morning breeze. She grabbed a strong branch and swung up into the tree; she then slowly began her descent to the ground.

When she was a foot off the ground she jumped gracefully to the ground, silent as a cat. She ran to the front of the house, opened the gate, and turned left. She ran hard for four blocks when she stopped to catch her breath. Golden rays of sun were starting to lighten the world and the girls appearance began to be seen.

The girl had long, curly, brown hair that came to her waist in thick ringlets. It was tied up in a ponytail and shone as the suns rays hit it. Her facial appearance bore beauty, love, and lore all in one. Her eyes were amber brown containing a fire that burned brightly. Her eyes fell upon the phoenix perched on the brick wall behind her. She smiled and stroked his long, warm, feathers. Heat radiated from him, as his eyes closed lazily with each stroke. A long lovely note of content escaped him. The girl giggled, and silently leaned herself against the wall, grasping her wand tightly.

"Fawkes," she whispered, "hang onto me, for I am going to apperate to Godrics Hollow."

"All right," Fawkes whispered back, for he could understand her as she spoke to him. He starred at her with a beady eye, "all right Kristy."

Kristy smiled up at Fawkes, holding out her arm for him. Fawkes hopped onto her arm, gripping it gently. Kristy looked around, making sure there was no one coming or active in the houses. She closed her eyes, picturing Godrics Hollow, turned on her heel and—

Crack! Kristy apperated to Godrics Hollow. Even though Kristy had been there once before it still creped her out. There was a slight breeze which blew her long hair behind her. She stood for a moment remembering when she had found the place.

It had been Saturday, Kristy and her father had been going to visit a relative when her father had conveniently passed Godrics Hollow. Just as Kristy thought to look around the ruins for a Horcrux, an old friend stopped to talk with her father.

Kristy had snuck off to explore the place a little, before her father noticed she was gone. She poked around for a bit, when she saw it, the thing she had been looking for. There on the ground was a Horcrux, Kristy was excited. But before she could thoroughly figure out how to get it, she had heard her father calling for her. So she left with a smile on her face for her findings.

Kristy looked around trying to find the Horcrux again. She finally spotted it, feeling entirely happy that it was still there. The Horcrux was a cup bearing a Hufflepuff badger. Kirsty stared at it, stretching forth her hand to grab it. As her hand neared the cup a round bubble appeared around it, dark orange in color.

"No," cried Kristy, then smiled comprehension dawning on her face, "wait, that would have been to easy. A spell might do the trick."

Kristy paced back and forth, muttering spells under her breath. She tried a few, yet nothing happened. Spell after spell, Krist sent forth, but to no prevail. Kristy was losing concentration, feeling it was hopeless to keep trying. She said down forlorn, against the bass of a large tree, staring at the bubble.

"Every spell I've tried," Krist muttered to Fawkes, "just doesn't seem to work. What am I doing wrong?"

She picked up a stone from off the ground, studying the features. Her skinny fingers slid over the smooth surface, feeling carvings and cracks. Then, unexpectedly, she threw the stone at the bubble. The stone hit it, bouncing off it, not even making a crack. Kristy studied the bubble, longing for something to happen, but that's when she noticed something that hadn't been there before. A lighter shad of was around a small patch of the bubble. Kristy stared at the patch, trying to figure out why or what it was there for.

That's when she noticed a small key hole. Kristy got a perplexed look on her face, hardly daring to believe it. Kristy smiled to herself. If there was a keyhole, there had to be a key!

"This is easy!" Kristy told Fawkes. "To easy, why would it be this easy?"

Kristy raised her wand and cried, "specialas revilio!"

Kristy looked around, and upon the ground was a small key. She grabbed it triumphantly, happy for once for her success. She studied the key, finding gold, silver, and bronze mixed into one key. Kristy walked forward, about to unlock the bubble, when voices behind her made her jump.

Startled, she ran to the tree, and with a gracefulness climbed into the tree. Three friends came into view. It was three people she only recognized from school, yet who they were she did not know.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had finally managed to get to Godrics Hollow. They had come to investigate. Ron and Hermione were arguing where to search first.

"I think we should go inside Ronald," Hermione said glaring at Ron for shear ignorance.

"Well I think it will be outside," Ron answered coldly.

"What! Why can't we just look inside, Harry back me up!" Hermione angrily said.

"No, outside, Harry back me up!" Ron put in looking at Harry.

"Well we don't need to worry about inside, because the Horcrux is outside." Harry said, seeing the orange bubble behind his two friends.

"How do you know?" Hermione asked.

"Look behind you and you'll see," Harry answered smiling.

Hermione turned and saw the orange bubble. She looked a bit startled but smiled. Hermione silently said, "oh." Ron in the mean while walked over to Hermione and said, "even the smart ones can be wrong."

Up in the tree, Kristy whispered, "no! They can't find the key hole."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked forward to examine the bubble. Hermione looked at the bubble closely, examining the properties. She stood up looking at the two boys, then she smiled making the two boys taken aback.

"A charm," Hermione said smiling, "a charm will get rid of that bubble!"

"Well," Harry said, "that's what we studied for! Lets get to work."

So they took turns coming up with charms and trying them out. Just like Kristy though, the three of them started to realize that maybe a charm or spell wouldn't work. Kristy watched fearfully from the tree, hoping against hope that they would leave. Little did Kristy know, that Harry wasn't going to give up. Eventually Ron go frustrated with nothing happening.

"Oh," Ron said angrily, "oh this is so stupid!" He picked up a stone and threw it at the bubble.

While Ron went on about how stupid the bubble was, Harry and Hermione starred at the bubble in shocked silence. Hermione starred at the bubble, right where a lighted up orange spot had appeared. Harry also was staring at the light orange spot. Hermione then looked at Ron, seeming quite pleased.

"Ron," Hermione squealed, "you're a GENIUS!" She ran at Ron, throwing herself onto him in a hug.

Ron was rather taken aback by Hermione's hug. He looked over at Harry, who was laughing at Ron's amazement. Harry shook his head, smiling at Ron. Kristy had moved further up the branch she was on, shocked by what was happening. She couldn't believe that a member of their little group had figured out how to find the key hole. Fawkes, in the mean while, had noticed the branch further up wouldn't support her.

"Kristy," Fawkes warned, "Kristy, please be care–"

–The branch snapped under Kristy, right from under her. Kristy screamed, grabbing the key tighter as she fell forward, clean out of the tree. She could see the ground coming closer. She had a brief glimpse of Harry when–

Wham! Harry felt himself hit the ground, with someone on his back. Who ever it was gasped and quickly got off him. He rolled over to look at the person who had fallen on him.

Harry saw her, and at first sight he could tell she was very pretty. She seemed very embarrassed for falling out of the tree like that, right on top of someone as well. She blushed, her eyes cast downward, looking at her feet. Harry quickly go up, raising to her eye level. Harry didn't know what to say, but his mouth blurted out, "who are you?"

The girl looked up at him, "why should I tell you? Who are you, I would certainly like to know that myself."

"I asked you first, you realize that?" Harry asked. "You should answer me first."

"I think you should answer me," the girl protested, "I was here first. Please enlighten me with your name!"

Harry starred at her, "why should I trust you? How do I know you're no a death eater?"

"Me?" Kristy blurted out, "me, a death eater? No, I'm trying to destroy that Horcrux!"

"Wait," Harry stammered, "are your initials, R.M.B.?"

"R.M.B.," Kristy said, "no my initials are K.E.H."

"Well," Harry said, "I know your initials, but your name?"

"My name for your name."

"Sure."

"Deal?"

"Deal."

"Okay," Kristy said, "my name is Kristy Elizabeth Hallens. Happy?"

"Yes, very because now I don't have to tell you mine."

Of course an argument broke out from the moment these words were spoken. Mean while Ron and Hermione were busy talking about a point brought up, by Hermione. They were arguing as well over this point because Ron didn't believe it at all. Hermione was very annoyed.

"I don't believe you," Ron said, "why would Harry like this girl?"

"Because," Hermione said, "look how they're fighting! Ron, you fought with me that way! It's so obvious, look you can see it in Harry's eyes. He likes her Ron, just admit it!"

"But– I never– All right I admit it, it's a bit obvious,"Ron finally gave in.

"See! So how much do you want to bet, that this might take a while?" Hermione asked smiling.

Kristy finally took a deep breath, "look, I think that you should just let me have that Horcrux."

Harry's and Kristy's argument had changed from names to the Horcrux. Harry would not let Kristy near it. Kristy on the other had was trying to get past Harry. Unfortunately, this of course was not working out, especially since Harry was blocking her every move. Finally, Kristy stopped glaring at him.

"Look," Kristy explained, "we can do this the hard way or the easy way."

"What's the easy way?" Harry asked, a bit nervous.

"Well you move out of my way by will."

"And the hard–"

"This," Kristy said walking away from him, "is the hard way."

She ran towards him, and did a front flip over him. She landed gracefully, her hair falling around her in sheets. Harry turned to see her standing up, brushing off dirt. Harry's jaw dropped as Kristy drew from her pocket the key. She unlocked the bubble, and gently picked up the Horcrux. Kristy then put it gently in a bag, and turned, smiling to face Harry.

Harry starred at her for a second. Then, finding his voice, he said, "give me that Horcrux!"

Ron looked over at Hermione who had covered her eyes. Kristy looked at Harry, "why? I got it fair and squar. Now I'm leaving," she walked around Harry. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, then whispered, "on three, we apparate to Ron's house. One– two–

"THREE!" Harry shouted. He ran towards Kristy, and grabbed her shoulders. Harry pictured the Burrow quickly, and apparated.

Kristy screamed as soon as her feet touched the ground. She struggled against Harry's grip, but it tightened with her movements. She tried to turn to face Harry but found she couldn't. "Let go of me!" Kristy said, trying to break free.

"No," Harry said, "not until you give me the Horcrux."

Harry released her, and she fell to the ground. She turned to face him, still lying on the ground. She glared at Harry for dropping her. "Who are you?" Kristy asked, standing up to level off with Harry.

"Wait," Harry said, "you really don't know who I am?"

"No, I don't know who you are, but," Kristy said, "maybe I should bow to you, if you think you are so mighty!"

"Harry, Ron, Hermione! What's going on–"

Harry looked for the source of the sound. He saw Lupin, Moody, Molly, Arthur, and Tonks come out of the house. Kristy turned around, her hair whipping against Harry's face. Frightened, she backed up against Harry, and looked into his face.

"You're–"

"Yup, Harry Potter," Harry finished for her.

"Harry," Lupin said, walking toward the two, "who is this young lady?"

Harry tore his eyes from Kristy's to Lupin.

"Kristy– whatever her name is," Harry answered.

There was an immediate reaction to this phrase. Ron and Hermione hit their foreheads lightly. The shook their heads bewildered at how dumb Harry was being. Kristy's reaction was worse. She let an exasperated gasp of disgust, standing firm to face him.

"I told you," Kristy said shocked, "I told you my name! I have a name you know!"

"Kristy?" Lupin asked, "Kristy? Wait, Kristy Hallens?"

"You know her," Harry asked, as Kristy turned to face Lupin.

"Of course I do," lupin replied, "She's not in the Order yet, but as soon as she's of age, Dumbledore agreed to let her in."

He never agreed to let me in when I was of age! Harry stubbornly thought.

"I've know Kristy since she was a baby," Lupin continued.

"But," Harry asked, "why would Dumbledore have let Kristy into the Order?"

At this Kristy shook her head wildly, but stopped abruptly feeling Harry's gaze on her. Harry looked at her perplexed. She obviously didn't want Lupin to tell him something. Lupin also starred at her for a second and said, "I believe Kristy should tell you that in her own due time."

"But–" Harry began.

"Harry, it is her information, which means she may choose to tell you or not to tell you. I will refuse to tell you," Lupin answered tersely.

"I– oh– all right," Harry finally gave in, "so now all I want is the Horcrux. Kristy give it to me!"

Kristy wheeled around on her heel, "no, I got it fair and square!"

The argument broke out again, this time with the two telling why they should each get the Horcrux. Mean while behind Kristy, Lupin sent a secret patronous. At the sound Kristy turned to look at Lupin, who shifted his right hand, so she could not see his wand.

"What did you do?" Kristy asked starring him down with a piercing stare.

"Noting," Lupin lied looking honest.

Kristy gave him one last look before turning away to face Harry. As she did so, the door to the Burrow opened, and a read haired girl stepped outside. Ginny starred at the scene for a moment. Her eyes landed on Harry, then they brimmed with tears. She ran into the house, her hands covering her face. Harry looked after her helplessly, but turned his eyes back on Kristy. Their eyes met angrily, like a pair of lions preparing to fight for a scrap of meat. Kristy opened her mouth, preparing to talk–

"Kristy," said a stern angry voice to their right.

Kristy and Harry turned to look into the face of an angry man. His clothes were baggy, and he looked skinny, but not as skinny as Lupin. His eyes flashed dangerously, glaring at Kristy. His dark blue cloak blew out behind him. The mans dusty colored hair blew back, waving gently in the wind. Kristy lowered her gaze slightly, turning pink she muttered, "hello father."

"Hello? Is that all you can say," Kristy's father asked harshly, "you can't even say you're sorry for worrying me half to death? For leaving without a clear explanation, for not asking before running off? You could have been murdered on the post if you had been found by death eaters!"

"But daddy, I didn't run into death eaters or Voldemort!" Protested Kristy.

"I don't care," her father said harshly, "you still could have died."

Kristy hung her head in shame. Her father looked up at Harry and smiled. "Sorry about my daughter here," he said, "it's an honor to meet you. The names Christopher, Chris for short, Hallens. My daughter obviously has no manners at all."

Harry was a little surprised but replied, "it's nice to meet you Christopher."

"Well now, you seem no better then Kristy here. You did the same, but put your friends in danger as well. Anyways, Kristy," Christopher addressed her, "hand me that Horcrux. Now!"

She quickly gave it to him without question. He pulled out his wand, tapped the Horcrux lightly, and it vanished. Kristy and Harry let out a noise of discomfort. They looked at each other, Kristy felt her heart pound wildly as their eyes met. She looked away quickly, while Harry asked weakly, "what did you do with it?"

"I sent it back to it's original content, or in easier words," Chris continues, "back to where you got it with the same protection. I trust you need not worry about it any longer, that is if you are going back to school."

"No, I plan not to back there," Harry said.

Kristy's eyes widened, turning her head to stare up at Harry. She seemed rather shocked by what he had said. Her eyes closed slowly, breathing hard, as if she was going to faint. Suddenly, her eyes flashed open, she then backed away from him.

"You have to," Kristy said voice shaking, "no, you really have to go back to school."

"What–"

"Believe me," Kristy cut him off, "Dumbledore wants you to, I know because I talked to him the night he died. Please–"

"Kristy, it's time to go," Christopher grabbed his daughters shoulder, wheeling her around. "Nice talking with you all," Chris said walking away with his daughter. Crack! They were gone, leaving Harry with thoughts rushing in his head. Which road to take seemed harder to choose now.

Please review, I hope you really liked this chapter! Thanks for staying with me, and thanks to all those who have reviewed!

Yours truly,

HermioneHermyownauthor or this story.