CHAPTER THREE

a/n: Hey everyone! Just a chance to say thanks to everyone who sent in for a spot for an OC, all those positions have been filled. This chapter actually introduces 2 of them :-) everyone say hi to Sarah and John!!!

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wiardry

Second Floor Corridor

Christmas break was looming around the corner and Kymberly was almost dreading it. Things with her father had been strained since the train station, and their owls had been few and far between. Not that things at school had been much better. Fights between the houses were becoming more common. In past years, since the fall of Voldemort, the rivarlry between houses only went as far as Quidditch and the house cup. Now it was each house against the others, even the Hufflepuffs were getting vicious. It was now too dangerous to go anywhere by yourself, as their were high chances of getting harrassed by other houses. Not that it stopped Kym, much anyway. She was becoming known for her dueling skills very quickly.

"Weasley." A voice shouted down the crowded hallway. She spun annoyed, knowing she had to hurry to charms or she would have to deal with an irrate aunt. It wasn't on her list of things she would enjoy.

"What do you want" She stopped to see who was there and she saw a very out of breath Nott rushing towards her. "Nott?" Her eyes went wide as she saw everyone practically slow to a stop to trry and figur eout what was going on. Tensions between Slytherin and Gryffindor had gotten to the point that even Professors were refusing to have classes that combined the two classes.

"We need to talk" Kym stopped in her tracks, turning to stare at him incredulously.

"Nott, you just came up to me, in public, and created a major scene, just to tell me we need to talk? Which we don't have to, by the way. We are kind of on opposite side of the fight, in more than one instance." She turned to walk away, but Jason grabbed her arm, pulling her into a small alcove off of the hallway that most people missed because of the tapestry that almost completey covered it.

"I need your help." Nott said, coming so clase to begging that Kym almost had to laugh. This was absolutely ludacris. "It has nothing to do with Dana, which I'm handeling on my own thank you very much."

"I have charms." Kym said, rolling her eyes but not moving from her spot. Nott looked so desperate.

"I can't really ask anyone else." Nott said carefully. "Ineedhelpwithmydueling."

"Seriously?" Kym said, laughing softly.

"You can't tell anyone." Jason said, shuffling his feet awkwardly. It seemed so weird to Kym that she almost thought she was seeing things. Jason Nott, who was normally Mr. Cool and Suave, was stumblingover his own two feet.

"What's really going on?" Kym asked, getting suspicious. He just shrugged and glanced around, trying to find something else to look at.

"It's nothing." He said, somewhat aggrivated. "Can you help me?" Kym regarded him suspiciously, but nodded.

"Sure." She looked down at her watch and nearly freaked. She had one minute to go three floors up. She cursed loudly causing Jason to laugh.

"Don't worry. Just go out." Kym quiclly grabbed her bag and burst through the tapestry, only to find herself inside bursting through her charms classroom door.

"Hi." Kym said, blushing furiously as she walked to her seat behind Tarin, getting there just as her aunt came walking softly into the room. Tarin turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow, looking somewhat amused. Dana however was glaring steadily at her, looking furious. Kym mouthed a confused 'what' at her friends, wondering exactly what they knew.

so heard you had a little rendevous w/ Nott before class

-Tarin

no!-Kym

seriously?- Dana

he came and asked me a question, and i answered- Kym

doesn't that count as a rendevous?- Tarin

no!- Kym

so what did he ask you?- Dana

i can't say...-Kym

if you had a rendevous w/ Nott, just admit it- Tarin

"Ms. Weasley, please refrain from throwing things at your classmates" Ginny said, somewhat amused, but scolding her niece.

"Sorry, Professor Potter." Kym said, smiling, but throwing glares in Tarin's direction. Dana was on the other side of Tarin, but she'd already turned around and was staring steadily at the board in front of her.

Later that day Kym was walking through the hall when someone grabbed her arm. It was Angelina, her cousin that was also in her year, but was in Gryffindor. Kym walked over to the side of the hall with her.

"What's going on?" Kym asked. Her cousin rarely talked to her. She was more into what people that about her, so being seen with a Ravenclaw was like, the highest betrayel besides being seen with a Slytherin, so it surprised Kym.

"I heard you were accosted in the hallway by a Slytherin. Jason Nott at that."

"You heard right. What of it?" Kym said, pretending to be nonchlant about the whole thing, but knowing the story of this conversation would be passed around the entire school by the time she got back to her next class.

And she was right. The news soared across the school faster than gossip normally did. Her potions class was buzzing with it by time she got down to the dungeons. The "Little Weasley" was associating with Slytherin scum and defended herself to her cousin over it. Plus there was the fact that it wasn't just any Slytherin, it was Jason Nott.

The Burrow

The Attic

Fred sat in the back of the Weasley's attic, which was much nicer now that the finally got the ghoul to leave. They had re-painted and moved everything to one side, making the other side of the attic a little lounge area, which was needed since so many people went there to socialize.

Fred was there for a different reason at the moment. Hermione didn't remember. She was dating. She was dating someone who could actually be there for her and not put her danger. The fact that she was dating alone was crushing for him, but on top of that it was someone who was probably good for her. Someone who wouldn't re-introduce her into a world which thought she was dead and were so many were happy to think she was dead.

"Fred?" A voice called from downstairs. It was Ginny. "Fred, where are you?" Fred sighed. Dealing with people lately had been so difficult. He wasn't allowed to go to the store anymore because, last time he went, he almost started shouting at the young which behind the counter who smiled as she gave him his change and told him to "have a nice day". Like that was possible.

"I'm up here, Gin." Fred finally responded once he realized she probably would worry if he didn't respond.

"Why are you up here?" Ginny asked as she jumped up the stairs. She had become very obsessed with fitness after gaining so much weight during her pregnancy, and was now in the best shape of her life.

"Just felt like looking out this window." Fred said, turning himself so that he was facing away from the window and turned towards his baby sister.

"Oh, okay." Ginny said, giving him a look. She knew her brother was depressed, but didn't know what to do about it. She had read some books, but all they told her was to be there for him. "You know, if you want to talk about it..." Ginny let the offer die out, knowing he knew what she was offering by the look he gave her. It was his first genuine smile since they had found Hermione again.

"Thanks, Ginny." Fred said, really happy about the offer, but notwilling to accept. "but I don't even know what I'd say at this point. I'm still working through it all." He turned to face the window again, the one that looked out to the spot where he and Hermione shared many moments when they were younger. "It all seems so unreal to me." He didn't turn to look at his sister but heard her get up and leave when one of the babies started crying. He sighed and leaned back into the old, worn out couch. No one ever said love was easy.

Especially if you don' have the one you love to help you Fred thought. He would go to her, but he knew the consequences of doing that. It had taken both George and Charlie to restrain him and keep him from going back to the house. It's not as if he was giving up, no. He hadn't waited ten years and learned nothing of the value of patience.

The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The Dungeons

"What do you want?" Kym semi-shouted at the people who were staring at her as she walked past them. Potions was a double class with Gryffindor , luckily no Angelina, but she was getting stared at quite harshly and steadily.

"Don't sit here." It was Kym's friend, Abby, who was normally her potions partner, and had been sense first year. She looked regretful to have to do it, but Kym just shrugged and sat in the empty desk in the last row which was empty. it wasn't for two more seconds before she felt someone else tap on her shoulder. This time it was Sarah Wood. Sarah was one of the most popular girls in Gryffindor. She was very naturally pretty and was captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She was a complete tomboy, and most of her friends were the other guys on the Quidditch team.

"This is my desk." She said, glaring at Kym. Kym merely turned and glared at her back.

"And you're sharing it for today." Kym said clamly. For some reason Sarah didn't argue, she just sat down and backed off, which was rare. She was known for her willingness to fight and her stubborn streak a mile long. This time she just sat down and quietly got her things out.

"Page 347, the Draught of Dreamless Sleep, now go." Malfoy shouted as he walked into the classroom. Everone started working immediately without questioning.

"Heat the cauldron, I'll get the ingredients." Sarah said, walking away before Kym could say anything about it. Kym watched as she walked up to the front of the room, whispering something to two of her friends. Something was diffinately up. She came back a few moments later with an armful of ingredients. They went to work silently, chopping different ingredients before starting to mix them all. Kym was watching Sarah's friends suspiciously, and sure enough, they slowly made their way towards them, and once they were close enough they began to roughhouse. It seemed like it was all in slow motion. They started "falling" but then it went wrong. Johanna Eber bumped into one of them, John, and they hit the cauldron at a different angle. The way they hit it sent it straight into Sarah. Without even thinking Kym tossed a mental spell, halting the potion. Sarah looked at her incredulously.

"Move" Kym growled and Sarah jumped away as Kym let the rest of the potion fall to the ground. She took out her wand and cleaned the mess just as Malfoy walked over.

"30 points from Gryffindor for carelessness, each." He threw at the two boys, who looked horrified at whatthey had almost done. "and twenty points from Ravenclaw for reckless use of magic." everyone looked at her but she was busy glaring at Malfoy. "Back to work. Weasley, Wood you're done, leave." Kym rolled her eyes and walked away after grabbing her things. She stormed out of the room, only thinking of hexing Nott for what he'd caused.

"Weasley" a voice called. She turned and saw Sarah Wood running to her. "Wait."

"What do you want, Wood?" Sarah took a moment to catch her breath.

"Why'd you do it?" Kym rolled her eyes.

"I could ask you the same thing." Kym said, smirking. "You did try to send me to St. Mungo's. You do know that's what would have happened, right?"

"You're Ravenclaw." Sarah said, ignoring the question. "So why?"

"You're a Gryffindor." Kym threw back at her. "I still didn't try anything that horrible." Sarah rolled her eyes.

"You saved me." Sarah asked. "Anyone else would've just let me get a cauldron full of Draught of Dreamless Sleep. I'm a Gryffindor and you saved me. But that doesn't matter to you, does it?"

"Not really." Kym said, laughing, making Sarah laugh and shake her head. "I never saw the point in letting a ratty old hat determine who I could be friends with.

"We were put in differet houes for a reason." Sarah argued.

"But does that mean we can't get along?" Kym asked, a little more serious. "Does it mean that a studious person can't give help give information to a brave person who will take action? That a loyal friend who just happens to be meek should be forgotten? That someone who is smart can't be brave and loyal?" Sarah nodded but smirked.

"You said nothing about the sly and cunning." Sarah said, almost laughing

"Because I konw they're just as rotten as everyone thinks they are." This made Sarah laugh. They both started laughing and soon neither could stop, but they didn't know why. Soon the bell wrang and theywere still recovering from their laughing fit as everyone came through the hallway.

"Why are you both still here?" John, one of the boys who had almost cost Sarah her health.

"Talking." Kym said, striaghtening out her clothes and settling him and his friends with a glare. She felt Sarah's uncomfortableness about the situation. She turned and saw Sarah giving her a pleading look.

"You ready to go, Sarah?" Mark, the other guy involved in the cauldron incident. Kym turned and looked at Sarah, who looked very confused and torn.

"Yeah, she is." Kym said, walking away. She turned and started on her way to DADA where she had to prepare herself to see her uncle. He would notice very quickly if something was wrong. Kym had always been closest with her Uncle than anyone else in her family. She walked in the door and almost stopped as she was so confused. Harry was standing in the front of the room with Mad-Eye Moody who was busy casting spells to create an open area in the front of the room that was obviously a dueling platform.

"Kym." A voice called from the back. She saw Tarin and Dana standing in the back of the room waving for her to come over.

"We heard about Potions." Dana said "What exactly happened?" Before she could respond a bell wrang off in the distance. So Kym had to walk to an empty seat, which was a few rows in front of Dana and Tarin. The seats were arranged so that two desks sat against each other so two people had to sit side by side. The seat next to Kym remained empty and as she watched people rush in, she saw them look at her seat, and then immediately go and find a different seat. She sat for a moment contemplating this before it hit her. She was branded. She was becoming the person that no one, literally no one but teachers, would assoicate with or talk to. All because of Nott, the idiot boy.

That stupid idiot Kym thought angrily. She felt her fingers sizzle with restrained magic and closed her eyes. She sat, trying her best to keep herself in control. She wished class to start so she would have something else to concentrate on, but it seemed thatthe clock sensed her distress and decided to move slower.

"Miss Weasley." She heard her Uncle Harry call from the front of the room. Kym stood slowly, stretching her fingers in an attempt to ward off her anger.

"Yes, Professor Potter?" Kym said softly, telling him with her eyes how she was feeling. He nodded and gave her a mischevious grin.

"We're waiting for you." He said, almost laughing. "I want you to come and demonstrate a proper duel against Mr. Malfoy. I know you've both had proper training and our next session is about proper duels." Kym nodded dumbly. She loved dueling. she was skilled at it. It was an awesome stress reliever, not to mention she' d get to hex the shit out of Malfoy. She took her robe off grabbed her wand out of her pocket, walking swiftly to her side of the dueling platform. Malfoy was standing there taking his robe off as well, then standing in the ready position. Kym readied herself as well, concentrating on her target, which was Malfoy in this situaton. They bowed to each other and signaled the start of the duel. She looked at Malfoy and saw that he was looking at her intently. Something about the way he was staring at her took her off gaurd for a moment. There was something else she couldn't identify in his eyes. She would've ended up on the wrong side of an 'tarantellegra' spell if she hadn't noticed the twitch of his hand.

"Protego" the sheild went up just in time to block the spell.

Crap She thought Two minutes in and I'm on th defensive. She quickly dodged an 'expelliarmus' before firing one of her own back which just barely missed. Then she took the offensive as he dodged the spell, firing two more of her own spells which turned Malfoy's hair pink and gave him boils. He surprised her by getting off two of his own spells, only one of which hit her. Thanks to that, she was the proud owner of poker straight hair. She didn't really understand that one. She assumed he just got spells mixed up. No one had noticed the change she didn't think, as her hair was tied back, but some hair that fell in front of her face had gone straight suddenly. Finally she fired a quick series of decoy spells. Ones that looked dangerous but didn't really do anything. Once she saw where he was going and knew he wasn't watching, she fired an expelliarmus. What she didn't expect was that right as he saw what she'd done, he fired an 'expelliarmus' of his own. The result was somewhat comical. Both lost their wands almost simultaneously. Both stood there for mere moments before both summoned their wands and quickly fired stunning spells, only Kym's hit and Malfoy's went off a moment too late and missed her. Malfoy was sent flying backwards and Kym summoned his wand quickly.

"Did anyone pick up any of that?" Professor Potter asked as Kym and Malfoy worked on catching their breath. Malfoy because his stunning had thrown him back and Kym because she realized that half the calss was staring in awe, making her think something was wrong. Kym wasn't very good with crowds and being in front of people. She blushed furiously, walking quickly to her seat to grab her robe while her Uncle was still talking.

"So both of you can do wandless magic?" A voice called out. Kym looked up quickly and noticed people ere staring at her even in her seat. She nodded wordlessly and bluche even worse. She heard a few sniggers but not many, most were still in awe. Kym looked around and couldn't determine why the perfermance was so amazing. Even her Uncle Harry looked shocked. She sat in her seat and motioned for one of her friends to come sit next to her. Tarin jumped into the seat and Kym grabbed her arm, whispering into her ear.

"Why is everyone staring?" Kym asked.

"You didn't notice?" Tarin said softly. "There was something going on with the two of you up there. Your spells were vicious." Tarin said, incredulous.

"But we were only using simple stunning spells." Kym said

"I know that, but there was something more. Even Professor Potter noticed it. He looked scared." Tarin said, looking shocked. "Like you were saying one spell, but there was a different spell behind it."

"Is that even possible?" Kym asked. Tarin just shrugged and Kym's Uncle dismissed the class so they got up and left.

Later that day Kym was walking down the hall when she felt someone grab her arm. She turned to see Angelina there, looking worried.

"You need to come with me." Angelina said, looking scared and worried. Kym followed her quickly into an empty classroom. "Uncle Fred was out of town on business this week, am I right?" Kym nodded.

"Yeah he had to go to Sydney." Kym said quickly,waving her off. "What's up?" Angelina just looked regretful and nervously held a newspaper out to Kym.

Muggle London Attacked, 12 Ministry Officials Killed

Last afternoon, right before three in the afternoon, witnesses claim that at least twenty cloaked men attacked a muggle London governmet building, killing 9 muggles and 12 ministry officials working in the building...

Kym sat staring at the newspaper in disbelief. Attacks? Where her father worked? Was this really happening again? Things like this hadn't happened in ages, since years before she was born. She looked at her cousin, who looked terrfied.

"How did this happen?" Kym asked, incredulous "Security is so tight."

"Security failed." Angleina said, obviously annoyed and upset. "and we weren't prepared. They weren't ready to fight anyone. Muggles couldn't do anything against the magic, and the ministry officials weren't aurors, they had no idea how to fight back."

"That's horrible, people should know these things."

"You know." Angelina said, obviously glad she brought it up. Kym had a feeling this was why her cousin was so eager to talk to her. "You know how to fight and duel better than anyone. Teach. You remember Uncle Harry's stories about Dumbledore's Army. Maybe it's time to bring it back."

"We don't know that we need to lea..."

"You know better than anyone that we need to learn this." Angelina shouted. "You lost your mother, probably to the same people, and your father could have been in this one. We need to know how to defend ourselves, Kym. You can teach us."

"You mean Ravenclaws." Kym said, smirking. Her cousin was a major player in the battles between the houses, so this would be a wake up call for her.

"What?" Angelina looked shocked.

Bet she didn't think of that Kym laughed How great does she think house separation is now.

"You know that houses don't mesh well." Kym said, using the phrasing that Angelina used a lot. "It wouldn't work."

"Coming from the girl who talks with Slytherins and saves Gryffindors." Angelina shot back, knowing what her cousing was trying to do. "Wo both knw it doesn't matter to you. You trying to prove a point to me isn't important right now. You know that too, don't you? Are you really not going to help prepare us for a war, which you know is coming, just to prove that I was wrong? If so, I'll stop that now. I know I was wrong."

"You know you were wrong, but what about the rest of the school?" Kym said. It was true. How many people would come to an event that would force them to work with people from other houses. It wasn't something that was done very willingly anymore.

"They might not know it yet, but are you going to just forget about them because they don't know?" Angelina asked, getting louder and more upset. "This is where we always make our mistakes. No one is willing to try and fix things because they think no one wants to change. Maybe all people are waiting for is the chance."

"Fine." Kym conceded, smiling a little at her cousin. "You get people to come and I'll be there. Next Tuesday, Room of Requirement, 9 o'clock sharp."