Chapter 4:

Rumors

Ginny was surprised to find that Weasley's Wizard Wheezes had taken off in a flourish, too much disappointment of their Mum. They had been having an amazing summer at the Burrow but they had received a letter asking them to join Sirius at the Grimmauld place.

Harry was excited to go spend time with his godfather and everyone packed easily. They all flooed over and Kreacher showed them their rooms that they would be staying in. Ron had pointed out that one of the rooms, the door stood open and in it was decorated in dark blue wall paper, a black soft rug, the bed spread was hot pink and there were clothes and other assorted stuff inside.

It was nearing diner time and the smell of cooking spread through the house making everyone hungry. It had been redecorated, the painting of the screaming lady had been removed and the whole house was cheery and in bright colors of whites, blues, reds, and silvers. The foursome entered the dining room to find their mother sitting at the table. It was set, but no food laid out on it.

"Well then, if you're here who is cooking? Please tell me it's not Sirius," Ron asked jokingly.

"Of course it's not me," Sirius laughed walking out of the kitchen with food in his hands.

Sirius returned to the kitchen trices more and came back with food every time. He was returning from this fourth trip when the twins appeared at the table. Molly gasped in shock and proceeded to scold the boys for appearing, when they could have just used floo.

The kitchen door opened and Hart walked out in a beautiful light blue sun dress. Thin straps and a very gentle v-neck and the dress went to knee length. She had a bright smile and her eyes were dancing in the dim light. In her hands she carried the last plate of food.

"You cooked all this yourself," Molly asked in wonder.

"I love to cook! I thought since I was inviting you over to visit Sirius I would do the honor of cooking to save our guests from having to," Hart laughed as she took her seat beside Fred and Sirius.

"What's going on here," Harry looked confused.

"What's wrong Harry," Sirius asked calmly.

"What he means to ask Sirius is why Hart is here," Hermione asked.

"Quite simple really, I asked her if she would like to stay here this summer," Sirius replied.

"Had I known I would have stayed at the Burrow," Harry whispered harshly under his teeth and the whole room heard.

The smile on Hart's face didn't drop or even lessen. She pulled food onto her plate and began to eat as if she hadn't heard what Harry had said.

"Harry, that was rude," Molly scolded, "You should be happy that they invited us here."

Hermione and Ron looked really uncomfortable sitting here at the table with Hart. Fred and George didn't seem to have a problem as they slipped a candy onto her plate. Her eyebrow rose at the candy and her eyes met Fred's. He smiled his innocent smile and just pretended that he didn't do it.

Placing the piece of candy in her mouth she began to chew and swallowed it. After a few minutes her hair turned a bright hot pink and her laughter filled the room with her glee. Molly who had saw this suddenly started screaming at the twins to stop their jokes.

"It's alright, Mrs. Weasley. I find it quiet funny," Hart laughed at the boys' antics, "they remind me of my older brother."

"You have a brother," Ginny asked surprised.

Hart's smile dimmed a bit, turning into a bittersweet one, "Yeah. He was the best brother I could ever ask for."

"Was," Hermione asked.

"He came here, a while before I moved. Said he was looking for someone and he had found them. He was going to visit them in Azkaban and then come straight home. But, I received a letter in the mail a day later telling me my brother had been murdered by Barty Crouch Jr. in Azkaban."

"He was looking for me. He had found me and was talking to me about Kalya. He turned to walk out of the building and somehow when he passed Barty's cell, Barty had reached out and grabbed his wand, killing him and trying to free himself, which he did," Sirius looked sad as he spoke.

"I had my brother buried in America. He would have wanted to be near mom and dad," Hart smiled sadly.

"You're parents," Ginny realized what she had meant that the others had not.

"My mom passed away when I was young. I was four and my brother was six. She passed away because she was an Auror. My dad followed the next year as he had stopped eating and drinking. Letting myself waste away until my brother and I were taken by child services due to neglect and abuse," Hart turned back to her food, eating as if she hadn't even just given these Gryffindors her deep dark secrets which they could use against her.

"She came here, because things in her American Wizardry school weren't that good," Sirius smiled, "that's when she learned I was supposed to be her godfather. But when her parents heard I had killed all those people, they wouldn't listen to me when I said I didn't do it."

"But, you believe him right," George asked.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't," Hart poked George in the side causing him to jump.

"Do they have houses there in America," Fred asked.

"Yeah, we got housed just like there. Four houses with one of the houses being the 'bad house'. I was actually in the equivalent of Gryffindor there. I loved my house and I made friends with everyone, even in the house that was the equivalent of Slytherin."

"Did you date anyone," George asked, earning a smack on the back of the head from Hermione.

"I did. We were together for almost two years before they transferred to a different school. I couldn't see my friends the same anymore because they all tip toed around me, being careful not to say anything or do anything to make me jealous or upset. I couldn't stand it any longer. I received an owl from both Beauxbaton and Hogwarts and I wanted a Co-ed school so I chose Hogwarts."

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. Harry sulked and hardly talked. Hermione asked questions every now and again and Ron just kept to himself. Hart seemed to get along great with Fred and George. Ginny had wanted to talk to her, but chose to keep to herself.

They had only stayed in the Grimmauld place for a week before Molly drug them back home saying that since only Fred, George and Ginny could be nice, she wasn't going to stay there and insult Hart with their ridiculous behavior.

They were leaving for the train already and Harry was still sulking. Ginny had heard it was something along the lines of him having to share Sirius with that stupid slimy no good Slytherin. She thought he was just being childish because he couldn't have Sirius all to himself anymore.

Ginny and the others sat in their normal compartment commenting on how weird it was to not have the twins on the train anymore. There weren't any loud noises or screams because of the twins slipping people their jokes. There were only two Weasleys going to Hogwarts now.

The compartment door opened to reveal Malfoy and Zabini smirking, "Well, look what we found the 'Golden Trio' and their little followers."

"Isn't it so sad that these four follow them around like puppies," Zabini snickered.

"Shut up Zabini," Neville snapped.

"Oh, did Longbottom get a back bone," Malfoy asked pretending to sound scared.

"We haven't done anything to you," Colin stood up and glared, his wand now raised.

"Want to fight, do you," Zabini and Malfoy pulled out their wands.

Everyone in the compartment jumped up their wands raised. Everyone stood at a standstill, their bodies' tense waiting for the hexes that were going to come.

"That's enough," Hart's voice sounded from behind the boys, "put your wands away."

Malfoy and Zabini cursed before pocketing their wands. The others however did not. They moved away so she could stand in the door way. She had a small smile on her face.

"Sorry about them, you know how they get when they haven't taunted someone in a while," her laugh echoed, "we will be leaving now."

"Kalya you ruin all the fun," Malfoy groaned.

"And you create all the pain, Draco. Am I supposed to be your mom and look after you? I didn't think so," Hart huffed.

"You could have let us duel them," Zabini shrugged.

"And be alone all year because you hot heads got into a duel and were expelled I think not."

"When did you become so stuck up," Malfoy asked.

"Excuse me mister, I'm holier than thou attitude," Hart mocked.

"That's Potter, not me."

"I don't see Potter making fun of people because they are half-blood or muggle born!"

"She has you there mate," Zabini pointed out.

"Oh buzz off," Malfoy stormed down the train.

"I think you hit a nerve," Zabini laughed.

"I think I did too. He'll get over it."

Their footsteps headed off, leading them towards the back of the train echoing with Zabini's voice saying, "So, how was your summer?"

The train pulled into the station and they all made their way into the Great Hall. Dumbledore introduced Snape as their DADA teacher and Slughorn who was to be their potion teacher for the year after the first year sorting. While he said his normal speech telling people not to go into the forest, Ginny couldn't help noticing that the older students were whispering wildly.

As the food appeared even the Golden Trio had noticed the abnormal whispers. Hart shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes drifting over the students in her house. The Gryffindors watched in fascination as the Slytherins all slid to the sides of the table leaving wide gaps between Malfoy, Zabini and Hart. The frowns on their face told of pure displeasure.

Hart stood quickly and moved toward the Gryffindor table. Everyone tensed expecting a loud yelling or a fight. Dennise Creevey sat nervously staring at Hart. Colin glanced at the younger boy and moved slightly to place himself in between the Slytherin and his younger brother.

"When secrets are told, it would be expected to be kept, not spread like a rumor," Hart spoke softly.

"I.." Dennise started, shaking.

"Wanted to feel important, because your brother associates with Potter and you don't? Don't worry Creevey, I won't harm your younger brother. Sometimes we all do things we know we shouldn't hoping to gain positive attention from friends and family," Hart turned, her shoes clicking on the stone.

The Great Hall doors opened and she moved into the Main Hall allowing the doors to shut behind her. Silence was in the hall, all the teachers watching with sad eyes at the students who were whispering the new found rumor.

"What did you say and who did you tell," Colin asked his brother in a hard tone.

"I told a friend of mine in Ravenclaw," Dennise stopped suddenly.

"What did you tell them," Harry asked.

"I told them what she told me. When she was on the train I saw her sitting alone and she smiled at me. I was scared so I stood still. She told me she would never hurt me that isn't what she is about. She said her parents used to be Gryffindors and she would never dishonor their memory. She also said she couldn't understand the whole conflict between the Gryffindors and Slytherins as she loved muggles," Dennise looked at his hands feeling ashamed of himself.

"How a muggle lover could ever make it into this house is beyond my comprehension, she will have to be moved houses," Parkinson scowled.

"Shut your face you cow," Malfoy snapped.

"Excuse me," Parkinson gasped.

"You will leave her alone. ALL OF YOU," Zabini yelled, "Or we will do what we have to, to shut you all up."