Title: If Only For My Daughter
Author Name: Urania and Melpomene Black
Category: General
Key Words: Mirabel, Germany, Krys, Remus, Sirius
Rating: PG
Spoilers: PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, OotP, HBP
Summary: When worlds collide everything stops for a moment and everything in the world makes perfect sense. You know why people hurt, why they die, what loving someone really means. But before you can take it all in everything crashes and you may never understand anything ever again.
DISCLAIMER: We own Mirabel, Krys, Leah, Catrina, and Michi. All else belongs to J.K. Rowling. Bless her for allowing us to put her wonderful characters through such torture.
Chapter Seven: Dream, Dream, Dream
Hogwarts – Scotland – Wednesday October 15, 1997
That night at dinner the girls sat away from the rest of the Gryffindors and chose to speak in soft whispers so as not to be overheard. As soon as dinner was finished the girls retreated to Mirabel's room to wait for ten o'clock when the diabolical master plan would begin to take shape. Mirabel and Hermione left together, this was witnessed by Ron who immediately ran to tell Harry that something suspicious was going on. Krys then went to corner Draco who was patrolling the corridors in order to let Nott get by. Ginny took up her post by the front doors while Mirabel was busy introducing Hermione to Nott. Mirabel gave Hermione a good luck hug and Hermione whispered in her ear, "He's so nice I can't believe he's in Slytherin."
"Forget nice Hermione he's hot." Mirabel left with a smile and a wave to go for a run around the lake.
- 88888888 -
Meanwhile, back in the seventh year Gryffindor boys' dormitory Harry had pulled out the Marauders map and he was staring at the two dots labeled Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott.
"What in the hell is she doing by herself? Isn't she supposed to be the smart one Ron?" Harry asked grabbing his invisibility cloak from his trunk. Ron didn't have time to answer as Harry had already run out the door. When Harry unknowingly passed Ginny she sent up a single blue spark before reentering the castle. By the time Harry reached greenhouse number four Nott looked as if he was trying to devour Hermione's face and Hermione didn't seem like she minded one bit. Too stunned to say anything Harry took off toward the lake to think rationally about what he had just seen. He spotted Mirabel lounging on a bench she had transfigured from a rock.
"Hello, Harry." She said when she had turned around at hearing his footsteps. "Are you okay?" she asked upon seeing his face. She stood up and Harry continued glaring at the bench separating him and Mirabel.
"Hermione, she was. And with. Its just. He's just not right. I mean they were snogging right there on the side of the greenhouse where anyone could have seen them. His father is a Death Eater. He's evil." A spark of red light shot from Harry's hand and the wooden bench exploded into tiny pieces. Mirabel shielded her face from the shards of wood and then smirked at Harry.
"On the plus side you did kill the bench which was looking a bit shady."
"How could she? I mean we're. Aren't we?" Harry still could not form a coherent thought.
"Did you talk to her?" Mirabel asked calmly.
"Well no, but isn't it just understood that we're together." He stated it although it seemed as if he was expecting an answer.
"That's where the talking comes in. Think about it Harry if you never said you wanted to be with her why would she think she was supposed to be." With that Mirabel left Harry to his thoughts and returned to the castle where Hermione and Nott were waiting for her. Nott escorted the two to Mirabel's room where it was decided Hermione would be spending the night so she did not have to wander the corridors alone.
A half hour later someone was banging on the door behind the tapestry and Hermione was the one to get up to answer. Mirabel looked over her shoulder from where she sat reading at her desk and then ducked her head back down when she saw it was Harry.
"I can't believe you were snogging with Nott. He's a Slytherin. He's probably a lackey for Avery. Remember the guy who's trying to deliver you to Voldemort?" Harry shouted as he entered the room.
"I don't see why it would matter to you Harry. I mean it's not like we're dating or anything. So if I'm not tied down I'm free to see whomever I please." Mirabel kept her head bent over the book in front of her trying her best to ignore the oncoming argument between Harry and Hermione. It had to happen sooner or later, she thought to herself.
"What do you mean we're not dating? We go out to places together," he said stumbling over the words as if he was not quite sure of what he was saying, "we hold hands, we kiss."
"Yeah so I guess we're more like friends with benefits than anything else right." Hermione said icily. Harry's stomach dropped to his feet and his face lost all color.
"No, Hermione I didn't mean to say that." A few tears began to drip down Hermione's cheeks and Harry wished he knew how to stop it. He had never meant to hurt her.
"It doesn't really matter anymore Harry. At first when I heard you'd said that it hurt, but then I thought about it. And yeah I guess we are friends, but not really. I mean I know pretty much everything there is to know about you. I know your favorite color is green because you have your mother's eyes, you like flying at dawn when there's no one around, your favorite animal is a dog although you really wanted to love stags, but just couldn't find an interest, you want to be an auror and secretly you hope to one day be Minister of Magic because your sick of everyone screwing everything up. And most importantly I know your birthday is July 31st. Do you know when my birthday is Harry? Do you really know anything about me?" she asked the tears streaming down her face. She left the room without another word before Harry could protest and tell her that her birthday was September 13th. He would have been wrong. It was actually September 19th. Instead he turned on Mirabel.
"Why did you tell her?" he screamed at her. She fixed him with a cold stare.
"She's right and that's why you're angry. If you are in love with Hermione as much as you say you are then you'll finally take an interest in her. There's more to Hermione than school and books and S.P.E.W. As her best friend you should know those things. As a man in love with her you should want to know everything there is to know. You think that because you're the Boy Who Lived you deserve everything? Well Harry you don't. In fact with the way you act the last thing you deserve is her. Every time someone starts to say something or do something you don't like you throw a fit. There are going to be people who say things you don't like or do things you don't agree with. Hell I'll be one of them, but that does not give you the right to scream at them all the time. I understand that you hurt, that you miss your parents and you carry this heavy burden of destroying Voldemort, but that doesn't mean you get any special privileges. Yeah an evil man killed your parents do you know how many orphans there are in the world that had someone murder their parents. I know you miss them, but stop focusing on what you should've had and focus on what you do have before it's all gone. There is a war going on Harry and you have to rise above all this pettiness and be a leader. Some of the students here are fighting two wars. There are evil people who aren't wizards killing people because of their religion or their ethnicity or any other ridiculous reason they can think of. Hermione worries not only about Voldemort attacking her parents, but some terrorist who feels like he hasn't gotten enough attention lately. There is a world outside of this one that revolves around you. Try opening your eyes and seeing it." Mirabel stood up and was about to go after Hermione when Harry stepped in front of her.
"You're going to help me win her back."
"If you think I'm going to tell you what she likes you are so dead wrong."
"No, I'll figure that out on my own. You're going to help me organize it all." Mirabel looked up at him with the eyes so much like her father's.
"What makes you think I'll help you?" she asked crossing her arms over her chest. Harry leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
"I know you like Seamus."
Hogwarts – Scotland – Thursday October 16, 1997
How could he know? The thought never left her alone. If she didn't even know herself if she liked him how could Harry, the most oblivious person (next to Ron), know if she did.
"So Sirius and I have decided to run off to Peru to elope." Remus said before taking a bite of his toast.
"That's nice." She said pushing her food around her plate with her fork, "Peru?" she suddenly exclaimed after a moment of realization.
"Ah I see you have finally taken an interest in the conversations around you." Dumbledore commented, "What has your mind so captivated tonight?" he asked.
"Nothing really. Just stupid teenage, hormonal stuff." She replied. Remus choked on his wine.
"Hormonal?" he wheezed. Mirabel's eyes went wide and she quickly thought of a cover story.
"Yeah this whole Harry and Hermione thing. My diabolical plan worked and then it blew up in my face. I never really expected Teddy and Hermione to actually like each other. Now Harry has to work really hard to win her back and of course he's blackmailing me into helping him which goes against almost every Code of Women ever written." Well everything she said was true she just left out the whole Seamus thing.
"And how is Harry blackmailing you?" Remus asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well it wouldn't be blackmail if everyone knew about it now would it?" Mirabel said smoothly, raising her goblet to her lips and taking a sip.
"Right you are, Mirabel." Dumbledore said.
"I have some questions for you your highness." Mirabel said after a few minutes.
"Feel free to come by my office whenever you wish." He informed her.
"Cool."
- 88888888 -
Later that day Mirabel found herself in Dumbledore's office just in time for tea.
"Won't you join me?" he invited as Dobby filled his cup with tea, "Now your questions Mirabel." Dumbledore prompted after he had offered her a lemon drop and she had accepted.
"Well actually now I have a new one. Why are lemon drops so sour? I mean they're a candy they should be sweet. But then again they are both sweet and sour? So then I guess my real question is who makes the lemon drops? Is it wizards or Asians? Or maybe all Asians are wizards?" Dumbledore showed no sign in thinking her question strange or stupid.
"They're made by muggles. They are quite fascinating in the way they are able to find ways to make the most extraordinary things without the aid of magic. I think muggle-born witches and wizards are the luckiest of us all." Dumbledore confided.
"My next question has to do with the students. They all seem so divided. Maybe you should throw like some kind of party for each year and they have to bring someone from another house. And everyone should have to go. That way no Slytherins can back out."
"I am sure you had a question somewhere in there and I have failed to hear it." His eyes twinkled and Mirabel couldn't help but smile.
"Well could we have one?" she asked eagerly.
"I think it is a wonderful idea. I also think you should plan it." Mirabel's jaw dropped open.
"What? No, I couldn't. I mean. Well." Dumbledore continued to sip his tea waiting for Mirabel to form a complete sentence. "Oh alright I guess I could. Does that mean we can meet for tea if I have questions regarding the party?" He nodded, "My last question has to do with flying. Can you recommend someone, preferably a girl, to teach me?" Dumbledore seemed to give the question some thought before answering.
"Ginny Weasley." He stated simply. Mirabel thanked him. The two continued to talk until the tea and crumpets were gone. Mirabel excused herself from his office and retired to her room. Harry was waiting when she got there. She groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Leave me alone." She grumbled opening the door to her father's classroom.
"Not until you've helped me. I want to know why Hermione is hanging around Nott all of the time now. I thought it was just some stupid prank of yours when they were kissing."
"Yes, well turns out they happen to be quite fond of each other. Nothing I can do about that."
"Mirabel you don't understand. I need Hermione. I can't think, I can't do magic. Hell even my flying is off. You have to help me get her back." Mirabel took pity on the pleading boy and sighed.
"Harry you screwed up. Maybe you need a little time to think about things. Do what she says Harry, get to know her. Something I've learned from all of my travels is that the couples that make it are friends first and lovers second. Dammit Harry you don't even know when her birthday is." Harry glared at her.
"Her birthday is September 13th." He told her angrily. She shook her head sadly.
"It's September 19th." The glare slipped from his face and was replaced with anguish.
"No," he whispered, "no."
"I'll try and come up with some ideas, but for right now you need to find out some things about your supposed best friend. Ask Ron, ask Ginny, write her parents if you have to, but do something." Harry swallowed hard and nodded his head.
"I'm sorry." He said softly. Mirabel's eyes softened.
"I know and if she loves you half as much as I think she does everything will work out just fine." Harry nodded, but still clearly in distress. Mirabel gave him a quick hug before sending him off to dinner.
- 88888888 -
"Dad," she said as she entered his study, "do you mind if I sleep with you tonight?" she asked timidly. He looked up from the homework he was grading to study his daughter.
"Is everything alright?" She shrugged and took a seat on the edge of his desk, "Have you been having more problems? Is someone harassing you again?" he began to stand, but Mirabel placed a soothing hand on his arm.
"It's nothing like that dad," she reassured him, "I just. I don't know really. If it's a problem forget I asked."
"No, no, you are more than welcome to sleep in my room." There was a moment of silence before Mirabel looked down at the parchment her father had been grading.
"Anything I can help you with?" she asked.
"Actually would you mind terribly setting the classroom up for me? I have sixth years first thing tomorrow and we're working on stunning." Mirabel nodded happily and hopped down from her father's desk.
"No problem dad."
"Good. Then go to bed you look like you could use a good night's sleep." He smiled at her wryly. She rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath.
"It's that damn Harry Potter." He heard her say before she was out of his office. He found her taking up a good portion of his bed a few hours later. Her arms and legs sprawled in all directions and her fingertips gently rubbing the silk lining on her yellow blanket even in her sleep. In that moment he was reminded so strongly of Catrina he could only stare. Merlin how much he had missed in those seventeen years. Her first step, her first word, her first bath. He thought about how little he actually knew his daughter. She seemed so strong, but sometimes he could see how vulnerable she still was. Oh how he had wished to kill Avery, but he had been suspended and in the end his father had withdrawn him from the school. He scooted her legs over and placed her arm across her chest before he himself climbed into the bed.
"Good night Mira." He whispered before kissing her temple.
- 88888888 -
Mirabel slept through most of the next day. When she woke afternoon classes were in full swing. She dressed quickly in her favorite faded blue jeans and her muggle t-shirt, just to amuse Draco. Waving farewell to her dad and the seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins she went off in search of Ginny. A short while later Mirabel found her in the Gryffindor common room talking quietly with Dean and Seamus. Plotting something more than likely, Mirabel thought.
"Gin," she called out, "we need to talk." Ginny looked up smiling and followed Mirabel to a secluded corner. "Want to give me flying lessons?" Mirabel asked.
"Sure, I'll get my broom and meet you at the pitch. Although first I need to finish this Potions homework" Ginny said happily.
"I'll just go get Harry's broom then and wait for you at the pitch." Ginny's eyebrows disappeared into her red hair when she heard this.
"Harry's letting you use his firebolt?" Ginny asked.
"No, but he owes me."
- 88888888 -
"Oof!" Mirabel grunted as she hit the ground. Again. Not one to be easily deterred Mirabel whipped her leg over the shaft, remounted and kicked off once more. This try was more successful and she sailed upward to the lower level of stands along the Quidditch pitch. Carefully, she moved her hands forward along the broom, picking up a bit of speed. Her face was set in grim lines of concentration as she focused on steering along the path of the pitch. Working her way higher, she pulled upward until she was level with the tops of the seats, then the towers representing each house. Getting her air legs, she pushed the broom slightly in all four directions, gauging how much force was needed to change position. She pulled up on the handle and easily rose high into the air above the center pitch. Mirabel felt like jumping up and down once her feet were planted back in the soft grass near her takeoff point. Her glee was cut short when her broom threw her off during her dismount. Tears sprang into her eyes when she landed hard on her elbow from four feet up. She clutched her arm, rolling to her back to rub the burning tingles shooting up her arm.
"Are you okay?" Ginny was standing over her, a look of concern on her face, "I thought you were going to wait for me. You could have seriously injured yourself. Remus would have killed me." Ginny offered Mirabel a hand up and she took it gratefully.
"I was just practicing. Please don't say anything. Krys knows I'm a terrible flyer and she would never let me live it down." Ginny smiled and nodded. Mirabel picked up Harry's firebolt and waited for Ginny's instructions.
"Okay the first thing you have to do is find your balance on the broom. Sit where it feels the most comfortable." Mirabel complied and sat far back near the end of the broom. "You might want to scoot up just a bit. You need a firm enough grip to guide and control the broom. Now, the forward hand will control direction and speed. Your aft hand will control your horizontal position. You were knocked off your broom because you didn't release your aft hand first. That caused the broom to twirl and you to be bucked off."
"So how do you fly using only one or no hands?" she asked, puzzled.
"I guess it's just something you pick up on if you fly enough. The first hand off the broom should always be your aft, then your forward. If this doesn't feel comfortable for you practice on the ground until you know which hand you want where." Ginny demonstrated on her own broom.
"You want to have a firm grip, but holding on too tightly makes the broom less maneuverable. Good Mirabel. Let's just start a few feet off the ground until you get the hang of it." They skimmed the grass; quickly tiring of this Mirabel flew higher. Ginny followed making sure to keep a sharp eye should Mirabel fall.
"Ginny who's that?" Mirabel asked nodding with her head as she was too scared to remove a hand from the broom.
"I don't know. Let's find out." Ginny dismounted gracefully as she always did, while Mirabel was a bit shaky. But at least she had not been thrown off like before.
"Are you flying?" Krys asked Mirabel incredulously, a sly smile playing at her lips.
"Umm, no, no." Mirabel stuttered trying to hide the firebolt behind her back.
"Don't worry," Krys told her, "there's no way you can be as horrible as Hermione."
"Hey." Hermione protested, "I'm scared of heights. That doesn't mean I can't fly."
"Prove it." Mirabel said thrusting Harry's firebolt into Hermione's hands. Nervously she took it and swung her leg over. She hovered five feet above the ground and did a small circle around the other girls before landing.
"There, I proved it." She said handing the broom back to Mirabel, "Wait a minute. This is Harry's firebolt."
"Yes, I know. I know he won't care." She took the broom back, placed her hands on the top of the broom, her chin on her hands and stared pointedly at Hermione. "Now what is this I hear about you and Teddy?" Hermione blushed and bowed her head.
"He's a really good kisser." She mumbled. Krys, Ginny, and Mirabel all roared with laughter.
"Hermione I hope you know that it is nothing to be embarrassed about." Mirabel told her sincerely.
"Why do you think I was with Michael for so long? It wasn't his winning personality." Ginny told her.
"So," Mirabel plopped down on the ground sitting Indian style and Ginny followed her lead, "is he a better kisser than Harry?" Hermione grinned and sat down as well followed shortly by Krys.
"Well since Harry has yet to kiss me the way Ted does I wouldn't know."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"Harry seems to think I'll break or something. We have yet to have one decent snogging session. It's always just a peck on the lips. On good days it's an open mouthed kiss, but that's it." Hermione looked very disappointed that she could offer up no more information than that.
"That's horrible." Ginny said with a hint of shock in her voice.
"Yes, one would expect hero boy would at least be able to kiss decently." Mirabel complained, "I do hope Art can kiss better than that." She said looking at Krys.
"Who's Art?" Ginny asked.
"It's Draco's middle name," Krys answered breezily, "He and Mirabel have insisted on calling each other by the middle names in order to irritate one another." Hermione began laughing hysterically and once she caught her breath she explained herself.
"You do realize that means Draco's initials are D.A.M. right?" Hermione asked sill laughing slightly.
"Nothing is worse than Sirius Lee Black." Krys retorted. Ginny looked perplexed as well as Mirabel.
"Seriously black? What's that got to do with anything?" Ginny asked.
"No," Krys said trying to explain, "my dad's name is Sirius right?" everyone nodded, "well is middle name is Lee as in l-e-e." she spelled.
"No," Hermione gasped in horror before all of them erupted into a fit of giggles.
"If you think that's bad Remus's middle name is John Thomas." Krys added. The girls continue giggling madly.
"How can parents be so cruel?" Ginny asked, "Do they not realize what they're naming them?"
"I don't know but I am determined to name my son Ross McKay no matter what the last name is." Mirabel stated.
"Oh that's a wonderful name." Hermione said, "I always liked the name Hunter." Ginny made a face.
"Hunter Potter." Ginny said testing the name.
"Then again maybe not." Hermione said at the appalled looks on everyone's faces, "How about Elijah? I love that name too."
"Elijah Potter doesn't sound half bad. I guess you'd name him Elijah James Potter though." Krys said mulling it over.
"I like it." Mirabel declared. The others nodded in agreement
"What about you Krys?" Ginny asked.
"Well I've always wanted a girl and I like the name Cassandra Marie."
"That's a very pretty name." Mirabel told her, "Your turn Ginny." Ginny thought for a moment before answering.
"Well I suppose I'd like a boy and a girl, but I don't want a very large family. I like the name Lileth and I also like Damian." The girls nodded agreeing with the names.
"Look at us sitting here naming our children when we aren't even sure about marriage. Well with the exception of you Krys and you Hermione. Guess that means we're the odd ones out Ginny." Mirabel said throwing her a smile.
"Well if you go back to Harry I'll be happy to take Ted for you." Ginny offered sweetly.
"Now there's an idea." Mirabel began.
"No," Hermione said, "the only way I would ever go back out with that boy is if he made an absolute ass of himself like he's made of me. Friends with benefits what a laugh." Hermione said dejectedly.
"Come now Hermione no need to be glum Harry always eventually makes an ass of himself one way or another." Krys said happily. Hermione's smile returned to her face and before they knew it the girls were laughing again.
"I hope you realize that Harry has blackmailed me into helping him win you back." Mirabel said to Hermione when the laughter subsided.
"And how pray tell did he manage to do that?" she asked.
"Someone told him there was a slight possibility that I might be finding myself attracted to a seventh year Gryffindor by the name of Seamus." She said looking pointedly at Krys.
"All part of my own diabolical plan sister dear. You can't go around having all the fun."
"Seamus, huh." Ginny said after a moment's silence.
"Oh admit it Mirabel you know you like him." Krys blurted when Mirabel refused to answer.
"Well he is cute," She said softly, "and he's always falling all over himself to talk to me. It's all very sweet really."
"Then what's the matter?" Ginny asked.
"I hate making the first move. While it is a wonderful feeling when a boy gets tongue tied around you he should be man enough to make the first move. And none of you better be running back to Gryffindor tower and telling him either. I want him to figure it out for himself." The girls hastily agreed.
"It's almost time for dinner." Hermione said a little while later, "we should head in before someone starts to worry." The others nodded and they all stood.
"Give me your broom Gin and I'll take them back. You go on to the Great Hall without me." As they made there way from the pitch and back to the castle they fell into a comfortable silence each very glad to of had a little girl's time.
- 88888888 -
The common room was deserted with everyone either still in class or on their way to dinner. It was easy enough getting to Harry's dorm room and replacing his broom in his trunk. Mirabel was not the snooping kind but when something poking out from underneath Ron's bed caught her eye she couldn't help but take a look. Carefully she pulled a red acoustic guitar with a bunch of parchment and a magical quill on top. Intrigued Mirabel began sifting through the pieces of parchment seeing scribbles of lyrics and music on each.
"Bless you Ron," she said aloud, "you've given me an idea."
- 88888888 -
Mirabel entered the Great Hall to find Krys and Hermione sitting at the Slytherin table with Draco and Nott and Ginny sitting at the Ravenclaw with a girl Mirabel didn't know. She waved to each of them before heading for they Gryffindor table instead of the head table to sit with her father. In the time it had taken Mirabel to put back the brooms she had formed another brilliant plan and needed to tell Harry all about it. Ron as well seeing as what she had found under his bed would help Harry immensely.
"Hey hero boy how's it going?" Mirabel asked sitting down between Harry and Seamus. Ron and Dean sat across the table and Neville was on the other side of Seamus. The boys scooted apart to make room for her.
"Must you call me hero boy?" Harry asked rolling his eyes.
"I guess you're old enough to be called hero man, but it just doesn't have the same ring. Or how about I be unoriginal and call you the Boy Who Lived. Or I could just be evil and call you Harold." Harry choked on his pumpkin juice as most of the Gryffindor seventh years looked at him in shock.
"Your real name is Harold?" Seamus asked.
"No, it's Harry, but I had this teacher that loved to call me Harold. Creepy really that you picked that name Mirabel." She shrugged, grabbed an orange, and stood up.
"No what's creepy is that man your teacher was married to." She walked off knowing that Harry and Seamus were watching.
"How does she know this stuff?" Harry asked.
"Maybe she's psychic." Ron suggested. Seamus paled at that remark.
"You don't think she can read minds do you?" Ron and Harry smirked.
"No I think she would have kicked your arse a long time ago if she could." Harry laughed. After a few minutes Mirabel wandered back into the Great Hall and returned to her seat between Harry and Seamus.
"You know I actually had a point the last time I was in here." Harry raised an eyebrow at her announcement waiting for her to continue. Instead of saying anything she picked up the bowl of mashed potatoes and gave herself a big helping. She then grabbed the bowl of cheese and sprinkled on a liberal amount. Satisfied with her work she picked up a spoon. Before she could take the first bite Harry spoke up.
"Why were you here before?" he asked. Finishing her bite Mirabel looked up at the staring faces of Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville.
"Because I figured out how you can win Hermione back." She took a few more bites of mashed potatoes and then took a sip of pumpkin juice from Harry's goblet.
"How?" he finally asked.
"Come to my room tonight bring Ron as well. You'll need all the help you can get." She took another bite before standing, "And when you get her back you had better kiss her good and well because from what I've heard Nott is the best so far." Mirabel patted his head affectionately before leaving once again.
"What does she mean from what she heard? Has he been snogging with Hermione?" Harry asked.
"You're going to her room tonight?" Seamus whispered mostly to himself, "Harry," he began, "I would be more than happy to assist you-"
"No, Seamus, you're not going to Mirabel's room with us." Ron answered firmly while Harry continued to be flabbergasted by Mirabel's last statement.
Hogsmeade, Scotland – Saturday December 6, 1997
"I love Christmas." Hermione announced happily as she wrapped her scarf around her more securely.
"I suppose I enjoy it as well." Mirabel said sighing.
"What's wrong?" Krys asked sensing Mirabel's discomfort immediately.
"It's just that this will be my first ever Christmas with my dad, but it will also be my first Christmas with a boyfriend. A serious boyfriend. I think I might be in love with Seamus." She finished lamely.
"Really?" Hermione asked excitedly.
"That's wonderful." Krys said at the same time.
"I guess. It's just that it's only been a month, one week, and four days. How can I be falling in love with him so soon?" she whined, "And better yet what in the hell am I supposed to get him for Christmas?" Krys laughed at her last remark while Hermione looked thoughtful.
"Well love is very tricky isn't it? I mean you don't get to choose who or when or where. All one really knows about love is that you can't stop it no matter how hard you try. I used to try and pretend I didn't love Harry just because he had enough complications to deal with and I didn't want to add to them. But it kept getting harder and harder to ignore my feelings so I tried to just stop being around him, which didn't work either because he's so stubborn. He cornered me in the library finally last February and demanded to know what he had done to make me not want to be his friend." She smiled as the memory returned to her, "I told him he went and made me fall in love with him and if you believe it the arse went and said oh well is that all. Like he had known the whole time I was in love with him."
"That is the most adorable story." Mirabel said then she shook her head, "Adorable? Did I really just use the word adorable? Something is wrong with me." She said miserably.
"Hermione's right you can't change who you love. Don't you think I tried not to love Draco just for my father's sake not to mention Harry's and Ron's? They despised him. For awhile they even thought he worked for the enemy. Even though it seemed kind of romantic to have a secret love affair I hated lying to my dad. When I told him about Draco he just kind of looked at me and then said are you sure he's not just manipulating you. I told him no and he just accepted it. To this day I have no idea why." Krys said sharing her own story.
"That's understandable. I mean Sirius probably saw a lot of himself in Draco. If you think about they both come from wizarding families that supported Voldemort. If James hadn't of given him a chance who knows where he might be now." Hermione reasoned. Krys nodded in understanding and they waited for Mirabel to comment.
"So then I should tell Seamus that I love him. Is that what you're saying?" Mirabel asked wringing her hands nervously.
"Have you ever noticed how the right thing is usually the hardest thing to do?" Hermione asked lightly. Mirabel understood immediately what Hermione meant.
"Alright then it's settled. The next time I see Seamus I tell him I love him. And I refuse to give so stupid fancy speech by the way." She added as an afterthought.
"Love doesn't need a fancy speech." Krys assured her. Grinning the girls continued on with their shopping. A low rumble could be heard just outside of Hogsmeade and Hermione looked to the sky in search of clouds.
"That's strange there's not a dark cloud in the sky." Hermione commented before an ear piercing scream echoed through the streets. The girls looked to one another as chaos erupted around them.
"Death Eaters." They said at once. Before they could move a stunner hit Hermione in the back and she fell to the ground. Quickly Krys drew her wand and along with Mirabel began throwing spells at the approaching Death Eaters. Another stunner missed Krys by inches but hit Mirabel in the shoulder and she fell to the ground next to Hermione. Shocked Krys paused and looked to Mirabel's and Hermione's limp forms and it was the only chance needed for a stunner to hit her.
Hogwarts – Scotland – Thursday October 16, 1997
Krys awoke with a start and bit back the scream that threatened to spill from her lips. She took a deep, steadying breath to calm herself. She was safe, she was at Hogwarts. It was just a dream. But then again when had anything ever been just a dream. Sighing she rolled over onto her stomach in order to return to sleep. Try as she might the dream would not leave her alone. There was no need to worry anyone, she told herself, and we'll just have to be extra careful when we go to Hogsmeade. With those last thoughts Krys drifted off doing her best to forget the warning.