REVISED.
"Kirsten, wake up!"
A cold shiver swept through the young witch's body as the bed covers that provided her warmth were no longer on her body.
"Wake me up in a couple more minutes," Kirsten Carlisle groaned, not opening her eyes. She was practically blinded by the bright light she could already see from behind her closed lids. Patting down the area, she thoughtlessly went to grab the sheets that were swiped off of her.
"You're going to miss the train."
"So…make someone whisk me off by magic," she muttered. "I can care less about the train ride."
The voice scoffed, clearly not impressed with her response. "Nobody's going to whisk you away. Just get up so I can tell you something."
"Dammit, Harry," Kirsten said, opening one of her eyes to see the boy sitting on her bed, "why couldn't you let Tom wake me up?"
"I told him that I was going to do it," he replied as he shifted closer to the curly haired witch. His brilliant green eyes were no longer focused on Kirsten but past her. She glanced at the direction he was gazing in and raised an eyebrow at him. "But forget that. Last night, I overheard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley when I went to get Scabbers's tonic."
"And I'm guessing it had something to do with Sirius Black?" she asked, now intrigued by what he wanted to tell her. So sue her. She couldn't help but to be curious when it came to the fugitive.
Harry quickly averted his gaze from the newspaper to her instead.
"How'd you —"
"The way you're staring at him looks as if you two were star-crossed lovers," she stated sarcastically, nodding in the direction of the photograph of Sirius Black located on her bedside table.
Getting off the bed, Kirsten grabbed a pair of jeans and a black shirt. "So what about him?"
"Apparently, he's" — she signaled for him to turn the other way in order for her to change clothes — "after me."
Silence passed between the two as Kirsten pulled on her clothes with wide eyes.
He's after Harry...?
The man looked rough and tired when she met him.
...and killed a dozen people...
But he didn't even try to harm her. He actually started mentioning the opposite right before the bus came.
...but he's after Harry?
Kirsten placed her hand on Harry's shoulder and he turned around. There wasn't a shred of fear in his eyes, instead there was only curiosity. The curly headed witch noted he wasn't worried in the slightest. From what he's told her about the past two years, the boy was fearless and that scared her. She was scared that he wouldn't live long if these life threatening incidents continued.
"You don't seem worried," she mused, observing him. "Have you told Ron or Hermione yet?"
"No," Harry replied, before he hastily added, "I tried telling Ron before I came here, but Percy…"
"Yeah, I thought I heard them shouting earlier," Kirsten muttered darkly as she went inside the bathroom. "What was the conversation about?"
She began to brush her teeth while Harry began, carefully listening to each word he was saying. And more importantly, how he was saying it.
"I heard Mr. Weasley arguing with Mrs. Weasley that I'm old enough to know what's going on and Mrs. Weasley was telling him that the truth would terrify me," Harry said. Kirsten nodded her head for him to continue. "Then Mr. Weasley mentioned that if Sirius Black can break out of Azkaban then he can break into Hogwarts."
"Without a doubt."
"The guards apparently told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep. Saying the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts…he's at Hogwarts.' And I'm 'he'," Harry said.
With his words Kirsten placed her brush down and locked eyes with Harry through the mirror. Not a trace of fear behind his eyes.
How was he not scared? From what she heard so far, people feared Black almost as much as they did Voldemort.
"He said that Black might help bring Voldemort back to power."
And so the devil himself entered the story.
"So Voldemort's right hand man is after you," Kirsten summarized.
"Kirsten? Harry?" a voice called from the room.
"In here!" she yelled, picking up her things around the sink. They both exited the bathroom and saw Ron standing in the door frame.
"Percy's driving me mad!" Ron said fiercely.
"You did mess it up!" Kirsten heard Percy yell from down the hall.
"This must be one hell of a morning for you, eh, Ron?" she said, winking at him.
"It's not funny!" he replied. Then he stuck his head out of the room and yelled, "I didn't do it!"
And with that, Ron left the room.
"We're definitely going to continue this, Harry," Kirsten assured him. However, he shook his head.
"We should get your trunk downstairs. We have to leave in a little bit," Harry said. "We can talk about it on the train."
Nodding her head, Kirsten put the last remaining things into her trunk and slammed it shut. With Harry's help, they got her trunk downstairs and set it aside with everyone else's belongings.
"Kirsten, your breakfast, dear," Mrs. Weasley called out, pointing to a plate next to Mr. Weasley. The plump woman's lips curved up into a gentle smile in her direction, but her brown eyes narrowed into a glare as they landed on her husband. Kirsten turned to Harry, wanting to make sure her friend was okay if she were to go.
"I'll be fine. It looks like Mr. Weasley wants to talk to you," he muttered, smiling at the girl before turning to leave back upstairs.
"Oh, thanks," Kirsten said hesitantly, seating herself next to the male head of the Weasley family. His eyes left the paper in his hands and settled on her.
This was going to be interesting.
"Good morning, Kirsten," he greeted her with a smile.
"Morning," she replied kindly. "Any leads?"
"No," he sighed, while she shoveled a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.
After glimpsing at every person in the bar, Mr. Weasley looked back at Kirsten. She found the expression on his face a bit unsettling when his smile dropped suddenly. "There's something you need to know."
"What is it?" Kirsten asked, narrowing her eyes in confusion.
"There're certain things I'm not allowed to tell you per the Ministry's orders, but I thought it was at least a little fair to tell you several things. For one, I knew your parents," he said quietly.
Finally, someone who's decent enough to tell her something.
Nodding her head for him to continue, he cleared his throat. "And your mother knew Sirius Black."
Kirsten's eyes widened in shock but quickly narrowed as a thought entered her head.
"And what about my father?"
Mr. Weasley's expression went from serious to uncomfortable in seconds.
Just like Hagrid.
"They knew each other as well," he admitted. "Sirius Black was the reason for your mother's death, aside from the fact that You-Know-Who…"
Nodding her head in understanding, Mr. Weasley continued, "We thought you were gone too the night she was murdered. And now we think that if Sirius Black knows you're alive he'll either — well, come after you. The Minister's been keeping your story a secret from the Daily Prophet so Black doesn't catch wind of it."
"So if he finds out I'm alive, he'll kill me?"
"Yes, so I want you to be careful when you go to school," Mr. Weasley added. "You swear to me you'll be as careful as you can?"
Kirsten could only stare at the red headed man sitting next to her as memories flashed through her mind. The night when she nearly got run over by that car, Sirius Black saved her life.
He also reacted so suddenly when seeing her necklace and hearing her first name... he seemed almost desperate after that point, claiming he wouldn't hurt her.
So he had to known who she was at that point and that she was in fact alive.
She had half a mind to tell Mr. Weasley this but shut that idea down quickly.
He would have to let the Ministry know and that would lead to an interrogation, wouldn't it? Ask her why she didn't divulge that information that night. Considering they were wizards, they probably have the means to make her talk whether she would like to or not. The way that Fudge looked at her, with so much suspicion, for most of the night was not one she'd like to see again.
And to make matters worse, there surely was something out there that could detect her lies or force her to tell the truth. If they did cast some spell on her to tell the truth, it'll come out that she promised the wizard to not tell anyone they met.
Of course, she didn't know who he was at that point in time but who's to say that the Ministry wouldn't take it out of context. Even they'd have to understand that any sensible criminal would ask for a witness to not say a thing, or more than likely kill said witness.
Which led Kirsten to ponder on why Sirius Black hadn't killed her from the start. The press was making him out to be some crazed lunatic, but the man had some sense when she talked to him. Even a sadness lingered in him. He had a family.
Sirius Black didn't pose an immediate threat even after he recognized her. And now Mr. Weasley was telling her that Black wants her dead?
This just wasn't adding up.
"I swear I'll try," Kirsten said, but that didn't seem to satisfy him.
"Kirsten, swear to me that you will? Not just try?"
"Yeah, I swear," she replied, another question already on her mind. One that Hagrid and the Minister failed to answer. "Is my father still alive?"
"N — yes, he is," Mr. Weasley sighed.
She inwardly grinned at the honest answer.
Finally.
A silent moment passed between them, the hustle and bustle around the pub filling in the silence between them.
"Can I meet him?"
Mr. Weasley's eyes darted around the room once more before he looked at the young witch beside him.
"Er — Kirsten, your father — well, you're not really able to get in contact — none of us can, actually –"
"I get it, Mr. Weasley," Kirsten said, realizing that he's going to keep his mouth shut on the matter. "I wouldn't want you to say something you're not allowed to say…and I guess his name is off limits as well?"
"I'm sorry," Mr. Weasley said, nodding his head to confirm her question. Kirsten only smiled at the man, genuinely happy that someone was willing to tell her about her parents. He was the first to tell her something valuable about her father.
"So what about my mum?"
"Amara Sereke," Mr. Weasley replied. A grin made its way onto his face as if reminiscing, but it was cut short when he heard his sons arguing. "I guess I should check if the Ministry cars are here. Thank you for understanding, Kirsten."
When the cars arrived at King's Cross Station, the Ministry drivers put everyone's trunks onto trolleys and with the tip of their hats, they left.
Kirsten pushed her own trolley along the platform, following the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione. It wasn't long before the large group stopped before a platform barrier.
"Right," Mr. Weasley said, glancing around at them all. "Let's do this in pairs as there are so many of us. I'll go through first with Harry."
The pair of them went towards the barrier nine and ten. Kirsten watched intently as the pair was making their way towards the barrier, breaking into a fast paced walk for last couple of yards. Her eyes widened as their bodies made contact with the barrier, disappearing as they went.
Holy shit.
Ginny and Percy went next and disappeared when they made contact as well.
"It's our turn, dear," Mrs. Weasley said to Kirsten. "Everyone's nervous their first time through. Just relax, Kirsten," she added, noticing how wide the curly headed teenager's eyes were with shock.
Of course, she believed that she would go through. She saw it with her own walls. But she briefly remembered Harry telling her what had happened to him last year. The house elf, Dobby, had used magic to close the barrier.
What if something like that were to happen?
Pushing her trolley, with Mrs. Weasley by her side, Kirsten walked towards the barrier. She shut her eyes when she got closer, half-expecting to smash into the barrier, however, she didn't feel a thing.
Instead, voices could be heard all around her with a distinct sound similar to that of a steam engine train.
"Whoa," the black haired witch whispered in awe after opening her eyes.
Numerous people crowded around an old-fashioned train, their trolleys carrying the same contents as hers. Her grey eyes strayed from the people to the scarlet steam engine as it puffed smoke over the bustling people.
"Have a great first year, Kirsten," Mr. Weasley said with a smile, striding over to Kirsten. Much to her surprise, he pulled her into a hug and let go of her for Mrs. Weasley to do the same.
"Oh, dear, have a wonderful year!" Mrs. Weasley, letting go and patting her shoulder. "Remember to send a letter telling Arthur and I what House you've been sorted in."
"I will, thanks," Kirsten said, slightly confused that they would even care. She couldn't recall the last time an adult cared for her. Most of the adults that dealt with her, wanted nothing to do with her.
Kirsten boarded the train with the Weasley children and Hermione. She turned around to find Harry still with to Mr. Weasley, both looked rather tense as the older man continued to talk to him. She have to guess Mr. Weasley was practically confirming what Harry overheard the previous night.
That Sirius Black was after him.
It only made sense. He had a conversation with her about it, why wouldn't he bring this up with Harry.
The train whistled and the guards were walking along the train, slamming all the doors shut. The two broke their conversation when the train began to move and Ron opened the door for Harry to hop in.
"I need to talk to you," Harry muttered to Ron, Hermione, and Kirsten.
"Go away, Ginny," Ron said, and Kirsten couldn't help but let out a snort at how rude he was towards the youngest Weasley.
"Oh that's nice," Ginny said huffily, and off went the baby ginger, stalking down the length of the train, probably to go find the other kids in her year.
The four of them set off down the corridor in the opposite direction of Ginny, searching for an empty compartment. With almost every compartment full, they reached the compartment at the very end of the train which was occupied by a lone man fast asleep next to the window.
A shabby set of wizard's robes hung onto the man, his body language displaying his exhaustion. Grey strands peppered his light brown hair even contrasting greatly against his young face.
"Who do you reckon he is?" Ron hissed. Kirsten's eyes flickered up at the luggage rack over the man's head as she lifted hers with Hermione's help.
"Professor R. J. Lupin," Hermione whispered.
"How'd you know that?"
"It's on his case," Kirsten told them, motioning toward the peeling gold letters on the battered trunk. She then got down from her seat to help Hermione with her trunk.
"Wonder what he teaches?" Ron said, frowning at the professor and seating himself closest to the door. Kirsten took the seat next to the sleeping man, noticing the others hesitancy.
"That's obvious," Hermione whispered. "There's only one vacancy isn't there? Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Well I hope he's up to it," Ron said doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway…" Ron turned to Harry. "What were you going to tell us?"
Harry explained to them what he told Kirsten earlier at the Leaky Cauldron. When he finished, Harry quickly glanced in Kirsten's direction before looking at Hermione and Ron.
Hermione's hand clamped over her mouth while Ron looked thunderstruck at the new information.
"Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh Harry… you'll have to be really, really careful. Don't go looking for trouble, Harry —"
"I don't go looking for trouble," Harry interrupted, nettled. "Trouble usually finds me."
Kirsten had to agree with Harry as she recalled what he told her happened during his first two years. Trouble definitely found him. And now it looked like his third year really wanted to outshine the other two; however, a giant killer snake really took the cake in her books.
It could also be that she didn't find Sirius Black all that scary after meeting him for herself.
"How thick would Harry have to be, to go looking for some nutter who wants to kill him?" Ron asked rather shakily. Kirsten glanced back and forth from Ron to Hermione to Harry.
Of course, the only ones who actually seemed worried were the ones who weren't being targeted. The worry in their eyes as they looked at the green eyed boy made Kirsten smile slightly.
Harry really was able to find a good pair of friends who truly cared for him.
"He's not only after me, Mr. Weasley also said something about you, Kirsten, before I got on the train," Harry said. All three pairs of eyes were on Kirsten now.
"Is that what Dad was talking about to you during breakfast?" Ron asked, and she nodded her head. Her eyes were trained on Harry as he stared back at her. She could see the worry in his eyes, the concern he had for her at the circumstance, but she could also see the questions practically formulating his mind.
"My mother knew Sirius Black," she told them.
All three pairs of eyes that were trained on her widened in response at the new fact.
"Well why didn't your mom tell you?" Hermione asked, both her and Ron curious to know why.
"She's dead for starters."
Kirsten didn't mean to make it sound so morbid but it somehow came out that way. It also seemed to stun them as the compartment was filled with a moment of silence.
"I'm sor —"
"You didn't know," Kirsten assured her, a small smile making its way onto her face. There was another stretch of silence as the the redhead and bushy haired witch digested that bit of information, throwing looks of pity in her direction.
"So Sirius Black really is after you too?"
She paused before she answered. It wasn't that she didn't trust them. More so, she just didn't want to explain what happened the night she ran away. And who knew if one of them decided to go to the authorities with the information she had. This wasn't one of the trio's adventures that happened the past couple of years, where an adult would need absolute proof in order to believe the far-fetched nature of their tales. This was a mass murderer who escaped from a high security prison. The Ministry would surely accept a tip from Harry and company if one was given to them.
"Not exactly…" Kirsten said, shrugging her shoulders.
"…I'm an orphan...and I've been living in a children's home all my life. According to the Minister I've been missing for the past twelve years, and the Ministry's been keeping the news of my appearance quiet so Black doesn't catch wind of it since since he was the cause for my mother's death. Voldemort killed her," she finished. Both Ron and Hermione's eyes widened, the witch clapping her hand over her mouth.
There was another silence that passed between the four young wizards and witches.
"My father's alive though. And the Ministry is refusing to tell me who he is. "
Before a word could be said from the other three, the professor next to Kirsten jerked in his sleep, causing her to jump back a little.
It was too conveniently timed for her liking. She eyed the sleeping man, noting the even and deep breathing, before turning back to the trio.
"I'll talk about it later."
Another silenced passed between all four of them until Ron spoke.
"No one knows how he got out of Azkaban," he said uncomfortably, referring to Sirius Black. "No one's ever done it before. And he was a top security prisoner too."
"But they'll catch him, won't they?" Hermione asked earnestly. "I mean, they've got all the Muggles looking out for him too…."
"I doubt it," Kirsten said. She was momentarily distracted when her ears perked up at the sound of a faint whistling noise.
"What's that noise?" Ron asked suddenly, hearing it too. Kirsten glanced around the compartment and noticed the sound coming from Harry's trunk.
"It's coming from your trunk, Harry," the black haired witch told him, and Ron stood up and reached into the luggage rack. A moment later, Kirsten saw a whirling little top spinning very fast and glowing brightly in the palm of Ron's hand.
"Is that a Sneakoscope?" Hermione asked interestedly, standing up to get a better look.
While Kirsten peered closely at the top in his hand, she noticed Scabbers poking his head from Ron's pocket. The uneasy feeling she had felt accustomed to when the rat was out and about came full force, leaning back a bit as it watched her.
"Yeah…mind you, it's a very cheap one," Ron said. "It went haywire just as I was tying it to Errol's leg to send it to Harry."
"We're you doing anything untrustworthy at the time?" Hermione asked shrewdly.
"No! Well…I wasn't supposed to be using Errol. You know he's not really up to long journeys…but how else was I supposed to get Harry's present to him?" Ron said defensively.
"Maybe it's not broken then. Maybe someone in here is untrustworthy?" Kirsten suggested. She didn't miss the reactions from everyone in the compartment, their eyes first landing on her before landing on the man sleeping next to her.
"Stick it back in the trunk," Harry advised, nodding his head in the man's direction, "or it'll wake him up."
Ron stuffed the Sneakoscope into a pair of disgustingly large socks and the sound was muffled. The noise fading completely when he stuffed it into his trunk.
"We could get it checked in Hogsmeade," Ron said, sitting back down. "They sell that sort of stuff in Dervish and Banges, magical instruments and stuff. Fred and George told me."
"Do you know much about Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked keenly. Kirsten couldn't help but grin at her enthusiastic attitude. "I've read it's the only entirely non-Muggle settlement in Britain —"
"Yeah, I think it is," Ron said offhandedly, "but that's not the reason why I want to go. I just want to get inside Honeydukes!"
"What's that?" Hermione asked.
"It's this sweetshop," Ron replied, a dreamy expression overcoming his face, "where they've got everything….Pepper Imps — they make you smoke at the mouth — and great fat Chocoballs full of strawberry mousse and clotted cream, and really excellent sugar quills, which you can suck in class and just look like you're thinking of what to write next—"
"But Hogsmeade's a very interesting place, isn't it?" Hermione pressed on eagerly. "In Sights of Historical Sorcery it says the inn was the headquarters for the 1612 goblin rebellion, and the Shrieking Shack's supposed to be the most severely haunted building in Britain —"
"—and massive sherbet balls that make you levitate a few inches off the ground while you're sucking them," Ron said, completely unaware of anything Hermione's saying.
"Won't it be nice to get out of school for a bit and explore Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked both Kirsten and Harry.
"'Spect it will," Harry said heavily. "Tell us what it's like."
"What d' you mean?" Ron asked, coming out of his daydream abruptly.
"I can't go. The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either." A look of horror crossed Ron's face and then he faced Kirsten, wanting to hear her excuse.
"The only legal guardian I have is a Muggle," Kirsten told them, shrugging her shoulders. "And I kind of ran away before I got my acceptance letter. I'll explain later," she finished quickly at the incredulous look on both Hermione and Ron's faces.
"You're not allowed to come? But—no way —McGonagall or someone will give you two permission—"
Harry let out an emotionless laugh, the telltale sign of two words that didn't need to be uttered to know what he was getting at.
Hell no.
Whoever this McGonagall person was was not going to give them permission.
"—or we can ask Fred and George, they know every secret passage out of the castle—"
"Ron!" Hermione said sharply. "I don't think Harry and Kirsten should be sneaking out of school with Black on the loose—"
"Yeah, I expect that's what McGonagall will say when I ask for permission," Harry said bitterly.
"You know, Ron, that doesn't sound like a bad idea," Kirsten said, intrigued.
"Yeah! And if we're with you," Ron said spiritedly, "Black wouldn't dare—"
"Oh, Ron, don't talk rubbish," Hermione snapped, fumbling with the straps of Crookshanks' basket. "Black's already murdered a whole bunch of people in the middle of a crowded street. Do you really think he's going to worry about attacking Harry just because we're there?"
"Don't let that thing out!" Ron said. However, Crookshanks slipped out of the basket and sprung onto Ron's knees. The lump in Ron's pocket started trembling, and Ron shoved Crookshanks away angrily. "Get out of here!"
"Ron, don't!" Hermione said angrily. A loud grunt erupted from beside Kirsten and she immediately turned to the man next to her.
Kirsten had her eyes on Professor Lupin, his brow furrowing as he seemed to stir from his sleep. His face was looking in her direction. They all watched him apprehensively, but he just simply turned his head the other way, his mouth slightly open, and kept sleeping.
"Damn, the man can sleep through anything," Kirsten said, waving her hand in front of his face.
"Kirsten," Hermione called. She glanced back at Hermione to see her holding her uniform in her arms. "Let's go change into our uniforms."
After Kirsten grabbed her uniform, the two girls headed over to the lavatory to change.
"So, you knew Harry when you were younger?"
"Yeah, met him in primary school," Kirsten replied, slipping on the skirt. "Harry told me that you're the smartest witch in your—our year," she said, correcting herself.
"Don't you think they should've put me in first year?" Kirsten asked.
"Yes, they should have but I'm guessing they will have you do extra assignments outside of your regular courses," the bushy haired witch said as Kirsten buttoned up her blouse. "There shouldn't be any reason to be in a class full of students two years your junior."
"I've been doing some reading," Kirsten told her, exiting the stall while pulling on her robes. "But with those restrictions I haven't been able to try anything."
"Well, that I can help you with," Hermione said, exiting from the other stall. "On the weekends, if you don't mind. My class schedule is going to be more full this year than last term."
Kirsten smiled brightly at the bushy haired girl. It was a nice change of pace for Kirsten. She hadn't had a proper relationship with a girl her age and was hoping this could be the start of one.
"I'll take whatever I can get."
The two girls got back to the compartment with Ron and Harry already changed. The footsteps of kids outside going back and forward could be heard in their compartment. Crookshanks, who was lying down on Kirsten's lap, was staring intently at the lump in Ron's pocket. Not long after Crookshanks sat down on her, did a plump witch open the compartment door with a cart of sweets.
"D' you think we should wake him up?" Ron asked awkwardly, nodding his head at Professor Lupin. "He looks like he could do with some food."
Being the closest one to the professor, Kirsten turned to the man.
"Professor? Uh—Professor Lupin—"
She softly tapped him on the shoulder, but he didn't budge.
"Should I slap him awake?" the curly headed witch thought aloud, earning a snigger from both Ron and Harry.
"Don't worry, dear," the witch said, handing Harry a large stack of food. "If he's hungry when he wakes, I'll be up front with the driver."
And with that the woman left, closing the compartment door behind her.
"I suppose he is asleep?" Ron said quietly. "I mean—he hasn't died, has he?"
"No, he's breathing," Hermione whispered, taking a sweet Harry offered her. Harry handed one to Kirsten, and she stared at it warily.
"Um… is there a particular reason why they're called Chocolate Frogs?" she asked, thinking over about the name. Ron's jaw dropped as if she uttered a string of swear words. The last time she had wizard sweets was when she tasted earwax back at her bedroom in the Leaky Cauldron. Damn Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "I'm guessing it doesn't taste bad, does it?" she added, eyeing the package with curiosity.
"It's actually really good. I thought the food on the trolley was a bit peculiar as well on my first train ride. I wouldn't suggest having the chocolate frog just yet, they tend to jump out at you. Try the cauldron cake," Hermione said, handing the grey eyed witch a small package before glancing at Ron, "and Ron, close your mouth."
Kirsten unwrapped the Cauldron Cake and took a bite.
"Okay these taste really good," she said, Ron nodding his head fervently in agreement.
"And wait till we get to school, the feast is the best," Ron told her. Kirsten's eyes lit up at his words.
"A feast?"
"Yeah, the roasted potatoes, the fudge, the succulent turkey breast…." Ron described, stuffing his mouth with more Cauldron Cake.
Kirsten was going to comment with excitement when the compartment door slid open. There stood the platinum blond haired boy that she ran into at Diagon Alley with two bulky boys flanking both his sides.
"Well, look who it is," Malfoy drawled out lazily. "Potty and the Weasel." The two large boulder boys chuckled and Kirsten joined in with them. The two boys stopped laughing and everyone stared at her.
"That was pretty funny," Kirsten said sardonically. "Harry, you never said he was a comedian. Only a scrawny little git that needs to get his priorities straight."
Malfoy's grey eyes narrowed in her direction, and Kirsten heard Ron snickering along with Harry.
"My father told me about you," he said. "Said that you were a good for nothing orphan. It's no wonder why your parents left you."
"Yes, they left me in the cold of winter. Not even bundled in a blanket. Oh woe is me," Kirsten said sarcastically. "Keep the insults coming. They're very refreshing to hear it from an ass like yourself."
"Why don't you do what all orphans do best and get stuffed," Malfoy retorted.
"Funny thing, I tried that the other day…didn't work," Kirsten told him, grinning. "What would you say if I tried to do that to you? You're obviously asking for it."
All eyes were on Kirsten as she kept Malfoy at bay with his insults.
"You should know your place, you filthy little Mudblood," Malfoy said.
"That's it," Kirsten heard Ron say. She saw both Harry and Ron stand up to get to Malfoy. The black haired witch grasped Ron's arm before he could do anything stupid.
"What exactly does that mean?" she whispered to Ron. He looked a bit uncomfortable but complied nonetheless.
"It - it's a derogatory term for Muggleborns. It means filthy blood. Someone who's not pure," Hermione told her and Kirsten nodded her head in understanding. She glanced back at Malfoy with a grin.
"Well, I'm proud to be a Mudblood, Malfoy," Kirsten told him, her eyes locking with Malfoy's. Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she stared at the blond boy, causing his eyes to widen. "Anything else?"
Malfoy's grey eyes locked onto Ron, ignoring Kirsten since he found his insults did not phase her.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer, Weasley," Malfoy said. "Did your mother die of shock?"
Kirsten stared at Malfoy in disbelief, narrowing her eyes at him once again. This boy was seriously asking for a bruising. Ron made to move forward, his knee hitting Crookshanks basket. The basket dropped to the floor and a noise erupted behind Kirsten.
"Who's that?" Malfoy asked, taking an automatic step backward after spotting Lupin. Kirsten's lips curved up into a grin at his sudden apprehensiveness.
He's an absolute coward. He can't even throw insults with a teacher around?
"He's a new teacher," Harry said, standing up beside Ron. "What were you saying, Malfoy?"
Malfoy's eyes narrowed. Kirsten saw his eyes flicker to Lupin, then gaze down at her.
"C'mon," he muttered rather resentfully to the two boulder boys, and they disappeared. Harry sat in his seat beside Kirsten while Ron, massaging his knuckles, sat next to Hermione.
"I'm not going to take any crap from Malfoy this year," Ron said angrily. "I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get hold of his head and—"
"Damn right," Kirsten agreed, watching the violent gesture Ron was demonstrating.
"Kirsten! Ron!" Hermione hissed, pointing at Professor Lupin. "Be careful…"
However, Professor Lupin was still fast asleep.
"Hermione, I don't think he'll wake up unless you dump ice cold water on him," Kirsten muttered, looking at the Professor sitting next to her.
"Also, Kirsten…you're proud to be – you're not even Muggleborn!" Ron exclaimed, recalling their interaction with Malfoy and how she had mentioned the other day her parents were a witch and wizard.
Kirsten smiled at him. "Well, it was in the heat of the moment. I'm proud of Muggleborns anyway, if they have to deal with absolute asses like Malfoy."
Hours have already passed and the rain outside continued as the train headed further up north. The lanterns in their compartment and around their train flickered to life some time ago when the thick clouds covered what was left of the fading sun. Kirsten glanced beside her to see that Professor Lupin was still sleeping. Crookshanks jumped from Kirsten's lap to Hermione's.
"We must be nearly there," Ron said, looking past the window. The train had slowed down considerably in a matter of seconds only moments ago.
"Great," Ron said, getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin to try and see out the window. "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast…."
"We can't be there yet," Hermione said, checking her watch.
"So why're we stopping?"
The train slowed its pace by the second, and Harry got up looking out the compartment door to see if anyone else noticed anything odd. The train suddenly jolted to a stop, and thuds and bangs reached Kirsten's ears. The lit compartment disappeared from sight only for darkness to take its place.
Kirsten grabbed Harry from what she could see of his outline and pulled him down next to her.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"D' you think we've broken down?"
"Dunno…"
The black haired witch heard a squeaking sound, and she saw Ron's hand wiping a patch clean on the window. The redhead peered out the window.
"There's something moving out there," Ron said. "I think people are coming aboard…."
Kirsten's eyes adjusting to the darkened compartment, saw the door sliding open and made out another person stumbling in over Harry's legs.
"Sorry—d' you know what's going on?—Ouch—sorry—"
"Hullo, Neville," she heard Harry say to the newcomer.
"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?"
"No idea—sit down—"
A sudden weight pressed down on Kirsten's legs.
"I'm sitting here, hold on, let me move," she told the boy named Neville and scooted closer to the professor.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
"Again?" Kirsten hissed out in the darkness, still hearing the noise now hearing multiple beats of the sound at the same time.
Dammit!
"Again?" she heard Harry's voice ask aloud.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
"It's—"
"Hold on, I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," she could hear Hermione's voice. Kirsten was trying hard to concentrate on what was going on but the sound of multiple heartbeats continued to pound within her head.
More and more were beating within her head almost anxiously, gaining momentum by the second. It was as if these heartbeats belonged to every single person on the train and she could hear them clearly like speakers pounding in her ears.
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron—"
"Come and sit down—"
"Ah, dammit! Go away," Kirsten hissed out loud, and suddenly it stopped, causing the growing pain in her head to cease.
"Go away?" she heard Ron ask incredulously. "Kirsten, is that you?"
"Never mind," she mumbled, biting back a painful groan.
"Not here!" Kirsten heard Harry say hurriedly. "I'm here!"
"Ouch!" Neville said. Kirsten could hear Ginny coming in as well.
"Quiet!" A hoarse voice commanded that seemed too close. Kirsten jumped noticing how close she was to the professor. Thanks to Neville, she was practically on top of the man. A soft, crackling noise erupted beside her, and her eyes widened as she saw a handful of flames in the man's hand.
"Stay where you are," he said to the others, his voice still hoarse. Getting up, Kirsten moved closer to the compartment door. "Sit back —"
However, his words were lost on her ears as the door slid open, revealing a cloaked figure. Kirsten's entire body suddenly felt rigid and cold. The chill that hit her body went deeper than her skin as if the coldness was piercing its way into her heart. The figure's height reached the ceiling with its face completely hidden, a slimy scabbed hand reached out to her face. A rattling sound reverberated from underneath its cloak as its hood leaned in closer to Kirsten's face and as much as she felt that she was in danger, Kirsten couldn't move. The breath of the hooded figure was chilling, hitting her face as it leaned forward.
The black haired witch shuddered from the cold feeling inside of her.
Several memories stirred within her. One particular memory brought to the forefront of her mind that she had thought she locked away in the deep recesses of her mind. The image of a teenage boy with strawberry blond hair towered over her. His hazel eyes shining maliciously as he grabbed a hold of her neck, choking her in the process. She could feel her feet were no longer on the ground, the sound of the howling wind in her ear.
"Your kind should die."
The sensation of falling...blinding pain...screams.
A brilliant flash of white blinded her eyes shut, the deep cold that had a hold on her vanishing as well as the memory. Opening her eyes, Kirsten was met with soft brown eyes that were gazing down at her. She blinked several times, fighting the fatigue and emptiness that now filled her.
"I'm - I'm so sorry," she apologized, out of breath, as the memory came rushing back to her again. She could feel warm liquid spilling down her cheeks and shakily wiped the tears away. She had just witnessed a memory as clear as day that she had locked away for years. A memory that had forced her to mature at a much faster rate that most kids her age.
Kirsten was downright shaken.
"Don't apologize. It's alright," the voice was warm and kind. And Kirsten froze, realizing that someone was holding her.
The man's brown eyes overlooked the curly headed witch as if he could not believe what he was seeing, but Kirsten didn't really notice. She was partially embarrassed by being held up by a man who she was sitting on only moments ago and the tear streaks on her face. Standing up rather shakily, Kirsten's eyes scanned the rest of the compartment and they immediately landed on the figure sprawled on the floor.
Her heart raced quickly at the sight in worry for him, her mind pushing away the memory that was playing on repeat in her mind.
Her knees touched the ground next to the boy's head, and she placed a hand on his cheek.
"Harry!"
Nothing.
Clamping his skin between her thumb and index finger in a pinch, Harry's green eyes fluttered open, face looking pale and sickly, "W—what?"
Hermione met Kirsten on the floor to help heave the boy up to his seat.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked nervously.
"Yeah," Harry said, and Kirsten saw him glancing quickly at the door. "What happened? Where's that—that thing? Who screamed?"
"No one screamed," Ron said, looking nervously at him.
"But I heard screaming—"
SNAP!
Kirsten jumped, the sudden sound jolting, and turned around to see Professor Lupin break an enormous slab of chocolate, into pieces. He handed Harry a piece before handing one to Kirsten.
The young witch stared at the man's odd actions, but lifted it to her mouth on instinct.
It was free chocolate.
As her tongue dissolved the rich and smooth chocolate, Kirsten's eyes widened in surprise as what was left of the hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach was consumed by a light and warm feeling. The mental image of the strawberry blond boy pushed slowly from her mind, hopefully locked back in the vault of memories she'd rather not recall.
"What was that thing?" Harry asked Lupin.
"A dementor," Kirsten spoke up, "one of the guards of the wizard prison, Azkaban."
Everyone in the compartment stared at Kirsten, and Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Kirsten is exactly correct," he said, looking at them all. "Eat. It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me…"
He strolled out of the compartment and disappeared into the corridor.
"How'd you know that?" Harry asked her.
"I happened to read a bit on magical creatures," Kirsten told him, and he raised eyebrow arches even more.
"Seriously, Kirsten. When did you become a bookworm?"
Her mouth dropped open in mock anger, remembering when Sophia asked the same question at the start of the summer holiday.
She was mischievous, not illiterate.
"I enjoy learning," the witch said with fake pride, before her expression turned serious. "Anyways, what happened?"
Taking another bite, Harry looked just as lost as Kirsten was about the whole ordeal. The two looked at everyone else.
"Well—that thing—the dementor—stood there and put its hand on Kirsten's face, and you sort of froze on the spot, Kirsten, and fell on top of Professor Lupin—and Harry, you—you—"
"I thought you were having a fit or something," Ron said, looking as nervous as he was. "You went sort of rigid and fell out of your seat and started twitching—"
Kirsten's mouth dropped open at that piece of information.
Twitching?
"And Professor Lupin, still holding Kirsten, went up toward the dementor, and pulled out his wand," Hermione continued, "and he said, 'None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.' But the dementor didn't move, so Lupin muttered something, and a silvery thing shot out of his wand at it, and it turned around and sort of glided away…"
"It was horrible," a boy said with a high pitched. He had brown hair and a round face. She recognized his voice as the one who sat on her. "Did you feel how cold it got when it came in?"
"I felt weird," Ron agreed, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "Like I'd never be cheerful again…"
It was then that Kirsten noticed a familiar little redhead huddled in a corner, looking almost as shaken up as Harry.
Ginny Weasley.
The poor girl couldn't meet Kirsten's eyes.
"But didn't any of you—fall out of your seats?" Harry asked awkwardly.
"No," Ron replied looking anxiously at Harry again.
"If it makes you feel any better, I fell on top of the new professor, Harry," Kirsten said, biting into a piece of chocolate. "I think that's a bit more shameful." She saw his mouth twitch up into a smile along with everybody else.
"Very shameful it is," Kirsten heard an amused voice near the door. "At least there's one person who hasn't thought I poisoned the chocolate."
Her eyes darted to the door only to see Professor Lupin looking at right at her. The humor in his voice from the comment didn't match the emotions surfacing behind his eyes as he stared at her.
Sadness, anger, and happiness swirled behind his brown eyes, confusing the dark haired witch.
"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," Professor Lupin said, breaking eye contact with her. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"I'm fine," Harry muttered, looking embarrassed and Kirsten smiled at her friend in comfort before taking her seat between Professor Lupin and the boy named Neville. She turned to face the newcomer and saw the look of apprehension on his face as he looked at her.
"Hi, I'm Kirsten. You must be Neville," she said, smiling slightly. The grey eyed witch was surprised when the boy when he looked further unnerved by her.
"Uh… how—how did—you know—my name?" he stuttered.
"When you sat on me and Harry earlier," she told him, laughing slightly and his entire face turned red with embarrassment and fear.
"I'm—I'm sorry!" he squeaked.
"You don't have to be scared of me. I don't bite... much," she said added jokingly, winking at him only for his face to further redden.
Kirsten wished she followed the others up to the castle instead of following the first years.
It took a while to get to the castle and Kirsten wondered why they couldn't have just take a short cut. Her robes were practically a second skin thanks to the cold rain that poured over them the entire way there.
Kirsten was convinced this was a hazing of sorts.
Hagrid who had been their guide the entire time had left with them with a short man who led them towards a small chamber. She could hear the dampened voices from beyond the large set of doors to her left. The tiny man introduced himself as Professor Flitwick before quickly leaving them after mentioning they were to be sorted into their houses shortly. It wasn't anything new to Kirsten, considering Harry had told her about the sorting ceremony.
"Aren't you a little too old to be a first year?"
The question directed at her came from the little cocky boy that shared a boat with her. It seemed like all the children wanted to know her answer since they all turned to look at her.
"No, I'm the same age as you all," Kirsten lied, smiling down at all of them.
"You're lying!" the defiant looking boy shouted.
"Really? You think I'm lying about my age?" Kirsten asked him and the little boy snorted in response.
"My mum lies about her age all the time," he told her, confidently puffing out his chest.
"But the difference between me and your mum is that she's obviously an older woman who's ashamed of her age. I don't have wrinkles yet so there's no need for me to lie," Kirsten said, and a smile tugged at her lips as the young boy contemplated on what she told him.
"You can't be eleven! I saw you talking with Harry Potter!" one of the kids in the crowd exclaimed.
All of the first years looked at the girl who just gave them that piece of information and then looked at Kirsten with excited expressions on their face.
Personally, Kirsten didn't see that as a valid reason for her to not be eleven, but apparently all of the other first years did.
She was slightly worried at how off their logic was.
"Yeah! I saw her with him, too!"
"You know Harry Potter?"
"How come you're here now?"
"Why didn't you start earlier?"
Dozens of questions were thrown at Kirsten from the crazed children until they all finally stopped in order for her to answer their questions.
"So…you guys scared 'bout the sorting?" she asked, trying to get away from the topic about Harry and the sounds of murmuring children filled the chamber once again.
Harry had mentioned to her that he was famous, but she didn't realize exactly how famous he was.
"I heard you have to face a dragon."
"No! My brother told me you have to face a troll!"
"No! It's none of those, but my sister said it hurts a lot!"
"Actually, I heard it's a hat," Kirsten said, remembering what Harry told her about the sorting. All the kids looked at her disbelievingly and before a single one of them could utter a word Professor Flitwick arrived.
"Okay! We are all ready for you!"
All the first years passed Kirsten, and she took to lagging behind the last one as they entered the hall.
The hall looked to be lit by thousands of candles floating in midair over four long tables, piled with golden plates and goblets and with the students of the different houses. Her head tilted upward to gaze at the magical and cloudy ceiling with rain drops that never reached the floor.
Kirsten looked around to see that people were staring at the group of midgets, but felt slightly aware that they were possibly staring at her since she stood out like a sore thumb. Setting a stool on the ground with the flick of his wand, Professor Flitwick placed a hat on top of the high chair. Her eyes focused back on the rainy night sky as a scratchy voice sang about the four houses of Hogwarts.
By the end of the song, Kirsten couldn't help but let out in a sing song voice, "Told you so."
The defiant kid didn't look so confident as he glanced back at her.
"Adams, Stephen," Professor Flitwick called out. Kirsten's eyes flickered at the stool with the hat, but her focus remained on the enchanted ceiling. It felt more like a coping mechanism to her, to evade the eyes that were watching her. The clouds above her were swirling and mixing with water droplets that never reached her face. She had closed her eyes for an extra second every now and then. As if she were outside, feeling the rain drops against her face.
It was beautiful.
"Carlisle, Kirsten," Professor Flitwick mentioned her name.
Breaking her gaze from the ceiling, Kirsten looked all around the hall and noticed that she was the last one standing with every single person in the hall staring in her direction. It was a bit unnerving to her with so many people watching, but Kirsten shrugged it off.
She swore the man was going in alphabetical order.
Making her way up to the stool, Kirsten settled herself down and plopped the hat down on her head.
"Ahh… difficult… like your mother and father…" a small voice said in her ear. "Yes, deary, I'm aware of who you really are and I'm afraid I can't tell you. A lot of wit, a lot of potential indeed, but - ah, Gryffindor, yes? Very courageous... but… Slytherin, eh? Like your father's family… though he was in Gryffindor himself," the hat mused.
"How about not," Kirsten muttered to the hat.
She briefly remembered her run in with the Malfoys and would rather not be associated with prickly asses like them.
"You sure?" the small voice questioned. "The power that you possess can lead you to greatness!"
"Greatness?" she whispered to herself. She was reminded of her time in Ollivander's, when she first touched her wand. The power that flowed through her body as she held onto the ancient piece of wood. Ollivander's words as he briefly told her of its origins and the supposed prophecy. When she had taken out her necklace, revealing the pendant.
"SLY—"
"No!" she whispered firmly, before the hat could complete the house name it was going to call.
She couldn't believe she almost considered Slytherin house. She was thinking of the wand shop and the legend, not bumping elbows with snakes like Malfoy...wasn't she?
"Are you sure, Kirsten? The power you possess could rival that of the great—"
"I'm pretty damn sure," Kirsten muttered angrily at the hat for suggesting it. But she was more angry with herself, because deep down it was tempting to think about. Was she really that capable of being so powerful? Was Ollivander's prophecy more than just a mere legend?
"Hmm….Well, it better be…GRYFFINDOR!"
A thunderous roar of clapping and cheering met her ears as she pulled the hat from her head and handed it to the small man. As Kirsten reached the table, she nestled herself next to Hermione and another female Gryffindor while Ron and Harry sat across the two of them.
Curious green eyes watched her but she decided to ignore the look for now. She had a feeling Harry wanted to know why the hat was about to shout out Slytherin.
Instead, she thanked everyone around her who were continuously congratulating her on making it to Gryffindor. Several of third year boys like Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan managed to introduce themselves as well as the girls who she will be rooming with, Parvati Patel and Lavender Brown.
But the hall suddenly became quiet and Kirsten followed looking towards head table. An elderly man stood before them all, his long silver beard trailing down the front of his robes and twinkling blue eyes looking at them all.
"That's Professor Dumbledore," she heard Hermione mumble into her ear. She nodded in thanks at her bushy haired companion.
"Welcome!" he said, a smile gracing his lips. His eyes seemed to look right at Kirsten in that moment and she felt her entire body shiver when his blue orbs connected with hers. Instead of smiling at the elderly man, she tilted her head and stared at him. There was something odd about the way the man looked at her. The look in his eyes...
It was oddly invasive.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it is best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…" Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." The resentment in Dumbledore's voice was clear as her eyes caught his angered expression.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added and from the corner of Kirsten's eye, she spotted Harry and Ron share a glance.
"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he warned, blue eyes examining the crowd of students.
"On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.
"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Scattered, unenthusiastic applause follows the announcement. Only Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Kirsten were clapping hard.
Kirsten spotted the new professor staring right at Harry and Kirsten, as if, reminiscing a memory, but her eyes no longer focused on him. Instead they fell on the man who was throwing Remus Lupin a look of loathing she had never seen on someone's face before. Strands of greasy, black hair fell onto the face of the contempt-filled man. His hooked nose and greasy black hair immediately gave him away as Professor Snape to Kirsten, remembering Harry's description of the potions master.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore said as the applauding died down. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his game-keeping duties."
Cheering and clapping as hard as she did for Lupin, Kirsten glanced at a ruby red but grinning Hagrid staring down at his enormous hands.
"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?"
"Well I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore continued when the applause died down. "Let the feast begin!"
The empty plates before her were no longer empty as mountains of food suddenly covered the table. Looking around the Great Hall, Kirsten's eyes roamed the spacious room. Her thoughts roamed back to what Dumbledore had mentioned about the dementors. Her fellow schoolmates were all oblivious to the obvious danger held just outside these walls while they chatted animatedly and filled their stomachs with food.
Just outside these walls were soulless creatures who could give an unfortunate soul a kiss. A kiss that can bring a fate worse than death.
Soul sucking creatures that were somehow able to bring forth someone's worst memories.
Like the strawberry blond haired boy.
Kirsten involuntarily shuddered at the thought.
"You okay, Kirsten?"
The voice jerked Kirsten from her thoughts and she looked towards the source of the voice.
"Just thinking…of how great it is to be here," Kirsten told Hermione with a smile. Even though Hermione and Kirsten haven't known each other for long, she could tell that the bushy haired witch didn't quite believe what she was saying.