Chapter 6

A Soundless Moment For Tears

Okay, Please forgive me for not updating sooner all of my many fans…. I know, I promised that I would try and get it up faster, but I just have been so busy, and trying to do my best in school. This summer has been being a long one too, and I'm currently on vacation, and I decided I made you wait Long Enough… So I give you permission, you can totally beat up on me… I didn't update in like forever, so very bad Hermione-Hermyown… Right, but anyways, I hope you like this chapter, cause I'm really tired, and I really need to go to bed, but I'm writing anyways… So here it goes, start listening to music and finish this chapter. Also, if there are spelling mistakes in this chapter, I am sorry, but I am using a different computer, and it's set on a different language and I don't think I should change it cause it's my grandma's… So Please, don't kill me for spelling errors.

The train whistle blarred through the darkness, pulling into the station gently. Swirling mist billowed around the train, making the train station itself almost impossible to see. Jolting to a sudden hault, steam was realeased from the train. The Hogwarts Express gleamed in the ominous night, as mist mixed with the trains released steam.

Kristy and her friends grabbed their belongings, then walked out of the compartment without a backwards glance. Hermione and Ginny soon followed, with Ron and Harry hot on their heels. They slowly made their way to where to coaches were, and Harry saw the black leather, dead looking horses with wings once more. Kristy wasn't too far away, starring at one in breathless wonder. Tears formed in her eyes, and she quickly got into a carriage. Harry had almost a thought to join her and ask her what was wrong, but Hermione suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Harry, you coming?" Hermione asked, her eyes searching his.

"Yeah, sorry, I'm coming," Harry answered, following her into the carriage. As soon as the door was shut it took off with a small lurch. Ginny starred out one of the windows lost in her own thoughts, her hair framing her face lightly. Harry starred at her for a while, then slowly turned his attention away.

I'm going to give myself and A for being a git, a voice in Harry's head told him.

Wait, for what, what have I done?

You totally hurt Kristy's feelings… Don't forget that you had a dream about her that suggested you liked her.

No, that was a dream… having a dream and reality are two very different sumjects. Dreams aren't real, they're what your mind makes up when you're tired.

Sure they are, and you liked it… Admitt it, you liked having a dream about a girl that was pretty and looking hot in that dress.

Harry quickly tuned out of his thoughts, and sat there stubbornly ignoring what he had just been thinking about. Hermione was laughing at something Ginny had said as the carriage came to a stop. They slowly got out, and jumped to the ground, Ron gave Harry a worried look, but he shook his head and got out of the carriage.

They walked together up to the castle, and Harry felt a jolt of happiness and sadness sweep over him. Dumbledore had died here not too long ago, yet this was also his home… He loved Hogwarts more then anything else, it's amazing hall ways, the common room, the Great Hall. The mass crowd of students were slowly entering the Great Hall, a small buzz of chatter ringing through the Hall. Slowly Harry and his friends got inside, and they started to make their way to the Gryffindor table. There were already less students there then before. He spotted Neville sitting alone, Seamus and Dean not to far away, Lavendor Brown, but the Paravati looked to have not shown up… The Collin Creevy and his brother, and…

Harry stopped dead in his tracks. There, sitting comfortably imbetween her two friends was Kristy. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny ran into Harry's rock still form as he stood frozen starring at her. No, I'm not going to accept this one, she's NOT in Gryffindor, Harry thought his mind racing.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, trying to see what Harry had seen that stopped him in his tracks.

Ron sniggered, "Hermione, it looks like Kristy's in Gryffindor."

Hermione looked at Kristy then at Harry and burst out laughing, "of course she has been like forever, she and her friends are in the same room as me and---Harry, where are you going?"

Harry made his way over to Kristy no thoughts in his head, stopping right in front of her and clearing his voice. She stopped mid sentence about something that sounded important to her and her friends, and all three looked at Harry. He looked down at Kristy and asked angrily, "what are you doing here? I mean, at this table, why are you following me around… Is this just some way to get back at me for stopping you getting that Horcrux or someth---"

Kristy made a hissing noise at him and whispered, "keep your voice down about what you just said… Nobody is suppose to know about," she dropped her voice even further, "Horcruxes…"

"I don't care, why are you sitting here, at this table?" Harry asked, trying to not show that he was starting to fee bad for talking to her like this.

"I've always been in Gryffindor, and it's not my fault you've never noticed that before. But that's sort of what you get when you're constantly busy finding an adventure to have… You don't notice the people that have been standing in front of you since the first day that you came to the place."

Hermione and Ron had come up behind Harry, Ginny having spotted a couple of her friends who asked for her to sit with them. Hermione smiled warmly at Kristy, "hey Kristy, do you mind if we sit here with you? Do you mind if we also invite Neville, he looks kinda lonely…"

"Sure, I can't stop where you sit," Kristy answered sweetly back and, ignoring Harry's opened mouth of surprise and anger, went back to talking to Nicole and Chii.

"Neville, come eat over here," Hermione said, sitting down across from the three chattering girls.

Harry sat down next to her as Neville made his way over. "Hermione," he hissed in an under tone, "what do you think you're doing?"

"Simply making a few friends, it's better to be friends then enemies… We have too many enemies to add anymore," Hermione replied curtly.

"Neville, hey there, how has your summer been?" Kristy asked as he joined the group.

"Pretty good, I got to see my parents this summer… It was really nice," Neville answered, taking a seat next to Ron.

"Wait, they know about your parents?" Harry asked Neville shocked.

"Yeah, I went out with Nicole once last year, and me and Kristy have been close friends for a while," Nevile said, looking over at Kristy.

"Yup, proud to have such a great friend on my side, we used to have play dates when we were younger," said Kristy happily.

"Hey, did you get that package from my uncle? Granny was worried that asking him to get that parcel was a bad idea."

Kristy nodded, "yup, got it safe and sound, all though I think a couple more owls would have kept them awake when they landed… The books were brillant by the way, how'd you know I was looking forward to reading Geoffry's Discovery of Ancient Pirate Magic? I mean, it's not a very popular book, but I've been wanting to find it ever since… well since before it happened…"

"Your dad told my Gran, she thought you would like something to do to keep you mind off of things." Nevile stated, shrugging, "and besides, my Uncle said that he'd look for it while he was gone for three weeks to Japan. He says it's not a bad place, but he doesn't like some of the food… He brought me back a Tiffany Fairy's."

"What exactly are Tiffany---" Ron began to ask curiously Hermione cut him off.

"They're a Fairy that come in different colors. Traditionally they grant you one wish if you catch them and then release them. They're more modernly seen in Japan, muggles catch them and put them in their laterns cause they're so small like fire flies… Normally when muggles do it, they just get what they've been wanting. But, I have my own question, what's the book about that you got, Kristy?"

"Well, it's just dicovery's of magic on the open seas, and what mysteries and conclusions you can get from it all… I'm not saying I'm interested in Piracy, it's just an interesting topic that I got told about by a close family member… It's got some interesting spells in there that are pretty powerful, but they're hard to accomplish cause most of the Pirate Captains made them up, so it's hard to use them, but once you learn how they can be handy…" Kristy said going slightly red.

"That's really interesting, so how hard is it to get a copy, cause it sound's very in---"

"Silence please," McGonagal's vocie rang over their heads.

The room slowly silenced and looked at their new headmistress with questioning eyes. Harry hadn't even noticed the new first years coming in, they looked even smaller then before, their eyes looking around. They all seemed scarred out of their wits, yet here they were, looking at the hat. He started to scan the table, they would need to have two more teachers this year for their classes. He saw Slughorn, Flitwick, surprisingly Trelawny, Hagrid, and there was one of the new ones. He looked young, yet very strong at the same time. His eyes showed truely how old he was, his facial features giving away that he had taken on the job of Defense Against the Dark Arts. He must have been, or still is and Auro, just because of some scars on his hands and a long scar running down his neck. He wondered what he was like, but he wanted to know who had taken over Transfiguration. Professor… really Headmistress McGonagal couldn't teach anymore seeing as she would be too busy with other matters now. He looked down to her used to be spot and felt his jaw drop.

Sitting there with short pink hair, sparkling eyes, and a soft smile was Tonks. Hermione also gasped, but before a word could be uttered the hat began it's long awaited song.

Long ago, oh yes it's true

Love could be seen in you

But the fall was yet to come

Just like a man drinking rum

I waited for the time at hand

A hat that read minds like sand

Ravenclaw had a secret love

That had broken free as a dove

She begged him not to go

Her heart sinking so low

Yet Slytherin kissed her neck

And left her to reflect.

Betraying her, he had a child

Breaking her heart that had been mild

So she turned her eyes to Gryffindor

Knowing she must try to endure.

So she bore a him a girl

Her heart was his to unfurl

But Salazar returned for her

Trying to get her baby girl

They married couple ran away

Hufflepuff remained to stay

So now we live in a mess

That started with a simple nest.

So listen intently to what I say

You're sorted into your own bay

A betrayer, a lover, a braver, a listener

If you want to make the story sweeter

Start with making friends with all

To start building a cushion to a fall.

The hat grew silent again, and at first no one dared move. Finally a scattered clapping was taken up by some students, but most were too shocked by the hats song. Harry sat staring at the hat, his mind racing. What had all that meant, and why had the hat chosen to sing about that. Ron obviously didn't understand it either, because he turned around to look at Hermione for a clear answer. Harry looked over at her too, but she merely shrugged in confusion, trying to still fit the pieces together in silence. She pulled out a parchment paper and quil and ink from her bag, and started writting quickly sorting things out.

"Abackers, Emmilien." Said the high pitched voice of Professor Flitwick.

Harry turned to watch the girl walk forward. Her robes were a little too long for her, and she looked completely terrified. Her soft blonde hair fell to her shoulders, as she sat on the stool, and the hat placed on her head. At first the hat paused in making his decision, then suddenly it opened it's mouth and shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table burst into applause, watching as little Emmilien walked over to the table and sat down by herself. Kristy smiled, "I'll tell you one thing about that girl… she'll go all her life being discluded, but in the end she'll be the better witch. Yes, she'll fall behind in areas, but someone will help her catch up… someone will or is there ready to help her suceed… weather it's a family member or someone that thinks of her as family… Do you want to know how I know?" She asked, her eyes sparkling with that fire that seemed so familar, "she's just like me… I was terrified, and I wasn't very good because I was scarred… and then someone helped me and it all became as easy as if you were to say "happy"."

She became silent again, and started watching the sorting again. There were less then last year, and most of them were so frightened at being there. Harry watched the last one stumble forward, there had only been around twenty-five at the most, and get placed in Ravenclaw. Headmistress McGonagal stood up and smiled at the students.

"Well, I'm sure you've all enjoyed the prelonged summer. Welcome to all the new first years, might I add, hopefully you'll contribute to your house. Now I have a few announcments… for starters, we have two new teachers here with us. I would like to introduce Professor Nymphadora Tonks, who will be taking the place as Transfiguration teacher---" "Figures," muttered Ron to Harry. "---and Professor Vlaxinborg as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Hopefully you can help make their first year here a good one. Now, let us eat, and enjoy ourselves."

The food appeared, and there were a few in takes of breathes from the younger students. Hermione had not said a word, she was slowly crossing things out on her piece of paper as if she needed to find the solution to a poison. She dished herself up some mashed patatoes, a piece of chicken breast, and some corn, still circling, crossing out, and rewriting things. She ate slowly, with one hand, while the other worked on her paper. Ron starred at her in disbelief.

"What ever are you doing?" Ron asked in utter disbelief.

"Trying to figure out that song… I think I've almost got it, but it was a bit fast so I might have a few things wrong… I'm guessig that Ravenclaw loved Slytherin, and Slytherin loved Ravenclaw in return… but he got kicked out, and the love fell apart, so she went to the other person she loved which was Gryffindor. She had a baby with him, but Slytherin returned trying to get her and the baby. By then Ravenclaw loved Gryffindor, so they ran off, and Slytherin probably persuited them or left to start a new life. This left Hufflepuff alone to get the school running with out them…"

"That's the most depressing story," Ron said through a bit of food, "that I've ever heard."

"Well, like the hat said, it all started with a love broken… I mean wasn't… wasn't Voldemort a direct line of Slytherin? Doesn't that mean that some where along the lines of he didn't want Ravenclaw, and then he turned for her again? Or something along that idea… I mean, I don't know what happened, but obiviously something stopped Ravenclaw from loving him anymore… I don't know, I just don't know…" Hermione said, putting away her things, and starting to eat properly.

"I feel almost sorry for Slytherin when you put it like that," Harry said, finishing off his last piece of roast.

Ron coughed, "I can't believe those words just came out of your mouth!"

Hermione's jaw dropped, she then straightened herself up, "just because you're unable to feel sorry for the opposing side doesn't mean that the rest of us here don't."

"Might I say something here," Kristy asked through the fight, "I feel sorry for someone… I feel sorry for Voldemort."

Silence fell over the whole group as she finished her sentence, she continued eating like nothing was wrong, but the rest starred at her. Harry gulped down his bite of food he had been chewing up and continued to stare at her. Everytime he looked at her she was amazing him with so many surprises. She was different then most girls, fearless of fear itself. Sure she must have horrors in her life, but she must certainly not be afraid of them if she could feel sorry for the most evil man alive. Then there was her talent as a witch, and… what in the world was he saying? She just said she felt sorry for his life long enemy!

"You feel sorry for someone so evil, someone so cruel and hateful?" Harry asked dumb founded and angry at the same time.

Kristy looked up at him from her food, "and you can't? You don't know what horrors were in his past, so how could you possibly know if he was always evil, if he didn't love, or care about anything? He's a person deep down inside there, it's just finding that person and bringing it back out that you've got to discover. It's not what a person does that makes a person become evil, it's what happened to them in the past that can change things. So yes, I feel sorry for him."

Kristy returned to her food, as the others slowly started eating again after her small speech. Harry starred at her again, then began eating again. He was so unsure what to take of this, wondering if this was just something that he would have to deal with about Kristy. Not that he was surprised, she was such a mystery to him. Did she have to a mystery, could he just get to know--- No, no you're not about to get to know her as a friend or anything else! Remember, you told Ginny you loved her. Ginny is the one for you, you love Ginny more then life it's self…

Soon the food was disappearing, the conversation becoming less load, as the desert appeared before them. Ron nudged Harry, and said, "hey, you know I'm just wondering if this occured to you, but the knew teachers are both Aurors…"

"You mean that strange one is an Auror as well?" Harry asked, looking at the male teacher with interest.

"Yeah, he used to be one of the top ones, but he was fired for a while because someone claimed he was a death eater. Turned out to be a hoax, but he was put in Azkaban for a while, and one of the few to keep his cool. People still wonder if he's good, but there's most certainly no mark on his arm, so, it was probably just a rumor… Dad told us about him once while he was having several raids in one difficult week. He's a pretty good fighter, so I'm not really too terrfied that he'll be a bad teacher… But you never know…"

"Right, we'll just have to wait to see in one of his classes," Hary answered, finishing off his desert.

Professor McGonagal stood as the desert disappeared, "off to bed then, so each one of us can be rested enough for the first day of school. Also, to all those of you who are still mourning the loss of Dumbledore, there will be a support group on Wednesday and Friday evenings in Professor Tonk's room"

Slowly they studnets got up, moving to get to the common rooms. The prefects started to get the first years to follow them, Hermione and Ron said they had to go and talk to Professor McGonagal about their new duties, so they moved off towards the head table. Kristy and her friends made their way towards the exit. Harry walked alone, being one of the last ones out. He walked up the stair, his feet knowing the way more then his body. He felt tired, everything that had happened that day now were a blur of events. He hardly noticed he was almost to the right floor when an familiar voice coming from an open door floated into his ears.

"No! I can't, I just can't…" a voice cried, almost misserably.

Harry frowned, and moved closer to the door, confused at the voice.

"Please, you just don't understand… I can't go to the support group, I just can't be taunted by his memory… why can't you just understand," the voice said tearfully.

Harry's eyes grew wide, it was Kristy's voice.

"I know, I know, but… You just don't understand, I'm haunted by his memory every day. How could you possibly understand? This will just make things worse, until I can look back with out regret. Please, don't push me into going to the support group."

Harry reached towards the door, wondering what could be troubling her so much.

Kristy gasped, "Go! Someone's listening… Go, now!"

Harry barely caught a flash of fire, and then the door was open, and Kristy was kneeling on the ground. Her head turned and her face tear stained, "oh, it's you… I thought I was the only one here on this floor…"

"Why are, or why were, you crying? And who were you talking to?" Harry asked, confused by everything that he had over heard.

"Oh, just mourning the loss of a great man, Dumbledore… But, it doesn't matter… I'll be okay until I get to the common room… and I was talking to myself… who did you think I was talking to, a ghost?" Kristy asked, her eyes slightly sparkling.

"I guess… Well then, I'll just be going now… See you around," Harry said, turning and leaving Kristy in the room alone. She wiped at her tears just as a voice rang through her head from Fawxes:

It's not that I think you can't handle this on your own, but it's that I'm worried you will kill yourself out of missery. I can't live with out you, you're my best friend next to Dumbledore that is.

I'm not pushing it Fawxes, I'm fine now… just a moment of tears… a soundless moment for tears.

So… what did you think? Any good, and yes I"m sorry about not updating sooner… I hate being busy, but it's true, life can be really busy… But anyways, thanks for sticking wtih me so far, and please remember to add a review. The many reviews are what keeps me going… Well, I'll start working on chapter… 7 already is it? I didn't exect to even get this far… But here it goes… Also, for all my fans that are still interesting in the Salazar Slytherin's Last Argument… I'm concidering of writng a sequel to the one shot… So I might put that up before the next chapter of this… Another thing is that I'm looking for a Beta for this story… and for a Pirates story that I thought up for starting… So if anyone would like to be my Beta, I would really appreciate it. Thanks again.

Hermione-Hermyown