7. Chapter

Coming To Terms

"No way in hell! You're crazy, Draco. I won't do this!"

Kiara was standing in their living room, hands raised and was frantically waving them around in the air. In front of her sat Draco on one of the couches and looked expectantly at her, as his chin rested on one of his hands. He had just explained his plan to her and she wasn't taking it as good as he had hoped. No, she wasn't taking it well at all.

"Kiara, love, it's the only way to stop people from confunding you with Harriet Potter. There is no other way. Furthermore, it would be a very good way to guarantee a proper punishment for the Headmaster. Come on, it isn't so bad. My father and some of the Governors will assure that there will be nothing going wrong. It would only be half to one hour. Please, do it!"

Kiara sighed and calmed down considerably. She took her hands down and let herself sink down on the couch next to him. Her face was worried and troubled. She sighed again as she answered.

"You know, I was so happy that my live changed the way it did. I thought for once I would be able to life a normal live; without reporters, gossip and conspiracies. But now my new life starts like my old life ended. I don't want this to happen. For once, I just want to be normal."

She was crying now. Silent tears floated down their ways from her eyes over her cheeks. Draco took one arm around her, pulled her nearer to his body and carefully wiped her tears away. He dropped a light kiss on both of her cheeks before he whispered.

"Your life won't be like it was before. It would only be a quick encounter, nothing grave or dangerous. If you want me to, I would acompany you, so you won't have to do it alone."

His fiancée was starting to smile slightly at him. She wrapped one arm around his head, brought it down to her face and locked her lips with his. Draco took over the control, brought her body nearer to his and made her sit on his lap. After some persuading Kiara finally opened her mouth and let his tongue enter. A fierce battle errupted, tongue meeting tongue and soft moans could be heard. Draco's hands started to move, roamed over her gorgeous body and left a hot trail of feelings on her back. Kiara titled her head and closed her eyes. Draco placed his hands at the end of her shirt, slowly started to lift it up when

"Oh my God!"

The sudden loud, shocked scream let them jump apart. Both of them whirled around to face who had intruded their living room. When their gaze fell on the black haired, silver eyed young woman standing in front of them, Draco and Kiara blushed deep red and lowered their gazes. Kiara's face was burning up in embarrassment for being surprised by her big sister while snogging, while Draco's face was red because of badly suppressed lust and confusion. How could this woman enter their private rooms without them noticing it?

"I let me little sister alone for one hour and what do I see when I return? She's snogging with some guy, who's trying to get into her pants? Why do you even look different in the first place? What the hell is going on here?"

By the time she ended Kiara had regained some of her composure. She cleared her throat to attract Anastasia's attention and then motioned for her to sit down on the couch on the opposite side of the couch table. Anastasia just raised an eyebrow but nevertheless followed the unspoken order. When she had sat down, Kiara raised her head to stare directly in her silvery eyes.

"Well, I originally intended to do this later, but now is as good as then. Anastasia meet Draco Malfoy, my fiancé and mate. Draco meet my best friend and big sister Anastasia Petrushka."

While the two shook their hands, Anastasia raised an eyebrow sardonically and smirked.

"So while I go to school in Russia and study to become a lawyer, my dear little sister gets herself a fiancé and a rich and good looking one, too. But what... wait! Mate you said?"

Kiara sighed. She had hoped Anastasia hadn't noticed this little slip of her. Well, now she would have to explain everything. She called for a house elf, let her bring some tea and biscuits and then made herself comfortable on the couch next to Draco.

"Okay, I am going to tell you all you want to know. But you have to stay quiet and let me finish my story, or I will just end it and won't talk about it anymore, understood?"

Seeing her nod, Kiara took a deep breath.

"Well, it all started with..."

Nearly two hours later Kiara had finally finished her tale. Anastasia had not a single time tried to interrupt her, but sometimes Draco had added an aspect from his point of few. Now the three of them were sitting in silence, drank their tea pensively and thought about what all had been said. During Kiara's tale Isphet had approached them and was now purring contentedly in her mistress' lap.

Finally Anastasia sighed.

"Well, this surely was much to stomach, but now it all makes sense. Unfortunatelly I did not only visit you because of this, I also wanted to tell you and warn of what I have heard in the meeting with your esteemed Headmaster."

Next to her Draco straighted up. This would be interesting. Perhaps the outcome of Anastasia's meeting would convince Kiara to do what he had told her would be the best to do.

"You have to be careful. The Headmaster and two of the Governors, who still support him and probably always will, want to corner you when you are alone. They plan to make you sign a document, which will state that what the Headmaster did to you was neither bad nor dangerous.

It would also state that you are aware of that his reaction was provoked, that he couldn't have reacted any different and that you claim full responsibility for the consequences which have occurred. Be careful, they don't have any problems using force to get you to sign these documents."

Anastasia took her tea set, took another sip, before she continued with what she had heard.

"The Headmaster also intends to let some students by the names of Ronald and Ginnierva Weasley and Hermione Granger testify against you. They are to tell the Governors that you were acting exactly like their missing friend Harriet Potter. That you were walking, talking, eating and acting exactly the same way. In the end they are going to try to demonstrate that you wanted to be confunded with Harriet Potter, so that there would be no consequences for either of them."

Draco was fuming by now. How dare these... these... people - he would not start to swear by now - treat his mate like she was a chess piece, or even something inferior? He raised his gaze and was surprised to see Anastasia smirking lightly.

"The Headmaster doesn't know of our connection, though. He doesn't even know that we both speak perfect Russian. Because of this he was so careless to expose his plans while I was listening."

Her smirk got really evil and started to creep out the hell of Draco.

"You should do something against these three kids. They were speaking about Harriet as if they owned her. You should really give them a good lecture."

"Well, this shouldn't be a problem.", Kiara drawled with a glint in her eyes. "I already have something in mind for them.

You know, as my former best friends I know all their weaknesses. It should be fairly easy. But there is another thing I want to talk to you about, Ana. Draco has a wonderful plan to go against the Headmaster. I want to know what you think about it and if you would be willing to help us?

Well, we plan to..."

The next morning Kiara and Draco prepared for breakfast. Anastasia had stayed until late in the night before she finally left for her quarter to get a handful of sleep for the next day. They had been talking about Draco's plan regarding the Headmaster, things they could do to the new Gryffindor trio and finally ended talking about Kiara's and Anastasia's past, their hobbies and what they would have to do in the future. During this conversation Draco remembered suddenly that soon, in two days to be precisely, would be Saturday and he would have to plan the day's activities.

After the breakfast with their anticipated friends - they yet didn't know who Anastasia was - the day went by without any further problems. Kiara pretended to try to acclimate to Hogwart's timetable, classrooms and students. She would sit in the classes, speak with her still heavily accented Russian English and sometimes ask questions she already knew.

Draco guided her through the castle, while he explained its history or some importance of a painting all the way and gave everybody the impression that he really was showing her around. Kiara would merely follow and never speak out aloud against her mate. They were just on their way to the Great Hall to not be late for dinner when something unpleasant happened.

"Hey, Harriet, stop! We want to talk to you!"

Kiara inwardly stopped dead. She knew this voice so good; it was Hermione's, her former, bossy friend's voice. The tone was firm and demanding, spoken like a command that she wanted not to be disobeyed. Next to her Draco tensed up drastically, but nevertheless continued walking.

He saw Kiara pretend to not having heard the scream as she just walked on further. They had nearly arrived at the corner of the corridor and thought that they had escaped this unpleasant situation, when a hand shot forward from the back, gripped Kiara's shoulder and spun her around harshly.

A surprised and pained yelp escaped Kiara's lips. In front of her stood Ronald Weasley, his unruly, red locks falling into his face, his figure crouched dangerously over her, as he tried to intimidate her. One hand was still gripping her shoulder firmly, the other was lingering over the holster of his wand. There was a fierce and imploring look in his eyes and a scowl screwed his face up completely.

"Hey! That hurt, you brute!", Kiara yelped.

Behind Weasley, Hermione Granger and Ginnierva Weasley came nearer. They, too, had the same look in the eyes as Weasley. Ginny had her arms crossed over her chest, while Hermione had her hands on her hips. They clearly were trying to intimidate her, but to no avail.

Draco had spun around, too, and had come nearer to Kiara. He laid one arm around Kiara's shoulder, before he pushed the offending Weasel away from his fiancée forcefully. A low growl escaped his mouth, which warned the rest of them that he wouldn't hesitate to cause damage to any of them should on of them only even try to harm the petite girl.

Grudgingly the redhead retreated his hand and took a step back. Nevertheless he started to speak.

"Why are you associating with this bullshit, Harriet? We are your friends, why don't you come to us and trust us?"

Kiara rolled her eyes, while Draco squinted his.

"How often do I have to tell you this? I am not Harriet Potter! My name is Kiara Balgakow, I come from Russia and I have never once before been in England before. I don't have Harriet Potter's things, I do look different and I don't have that famous scar of hers. How in hell should I be Harriet Potter?"

The look on the three faces was impassive.

"You have green eyes and dark brown hair. You are her age and you are a witch. For me, those two and the Headmaster this is enough evidence to be sure that you are Harriet Potter."

Hermione was in her full lecture mode and looked like everyone around her was just plain stupid and she would have to explain everything to them.

"But why you would associate with Malfoy I don't understand, either."

The dark brown haired girl's eyes grew wide.

"You want to tell me that only because I am a witch, am sixteen years old and have the same hair- and eye-colour as that girl, you think I am Harriet Potter? There must be thousands of witches to fit this description!"

Hermione merely shrugged.

"I don't care what you think. As you probably got to know by now, I am the most intelligent witch in this castle. My intelligence even surpasses that of Professor McGonagall or Headmaster Dumbledore. So I would suggest you let me do the thinking, as it is I am the best in it."

She had a horrible smug look on her face and puffed her chest up in pride while said this.

"The only thing I couldn't decipher is why you would do something like this. The two of you are engaged. But why did you have to do it now? Why not wait until you finished school? Perhaps you had to be engaged, but the only reason would be if the two of you were veelas. But this can't be, as I know all about veelas and the two of you are certainly not ones."

The Weasley girl was looking strangely at her.

"How can you know that the two of them are not veelas or part veelas?", Ginny asked in surprise.

"Well, it is rather simple.", Hermione drawled lazily. "As veelas they would be affected much more by the mere presence of the other. They wouldn't be able to keep their hands of each other and would be snogging and shagging all the while. But as you can see, these two don't do those things. They even can be separated for some hours without being negatively affected by it. So this all leads us to the conclusion that they can't be veelas."

Ginny looked awed.

"Wow, you really are intelligent."

While the two Weasleys still looked awed at her, the two Slytherins rolled their eyes and then stared impassively at the new Gryffindor Trio. They would have to do something about Hermione, her attidute was getting rather unnerving.

"Well, Granger, if you really are as intelligent as you proclaim to be, then why were you not able to solve this little mystery? You didn't know me, not even my family, nor anything about the relation between our families. You claim to know everything, yet your knowledge on this subject is rather unsatisfactory. I think you are just plain stupid, as you don't even know what you're talking about. Perhaps you should spend some more time learning or even better, ask Professor McGonagall to help you and set up a timetable for you, to help you with your private lessons."

Hermione's eyes had gone wide and crazy and her breath came out in ragged gasps.

"You are right! I have to study more. I am just stupid, I don't know everything. I have to go to the library. Leave me alone!"

With that Hermione Granger spun around and raced mindlessly in the direction of the library. Left were her two friends who were now starring accusingly at the Slytherin couple in front of them.

"You did that on propose! You wanted her to get all mindlessly and stupid over this whole thing. Why did you do this, Harriet?"

The Weasley girl was pointing with a raised finger at her. Fury and anger were clearly written on her face.

Kiara merely turned to look at the fuming girl and shrugged.

"Well, she deserved it and I wanted to teach her a lesson. A lesson like I am going to teach you and your dim witted brother. "

A little pause let the two Griffindors tense up. Their expression changed from angry to wary and fearful.

"Now, Weaslette", Kiara muttered sweetly and smirked devilishly at the red haired girl in front of her.

"Now that Harriet Potter is gone, you are never going to get yourself a boyfriend."

Ginny Weasley started to bristle. Her head turned an interesting shade of red, similar to her hair colour. But before she could even make a sound, Kiara interrupted her, stared coolly at her and said:

"I, like many others, know that you only got to know all these boys and ex-boyfriends of yours, because you were standing next to Harriet Potter, idol and crush of all Hogwarts boys and dream-daughter-in-law of all their mothers. Did you really think any of these boys held any interest in your person? Ha, no way, little girl. No boy will ever like to be near you, heck, even go out with you now that Harriet Potter isn't here any more. You are going to die lonely and as an old maid."

Kiara's voice was icy, cruel and sadistic. She had known all along that Ginny always tried to be on her good terms, so she could accompany her to whatever social activity Harriet had to attend. Joining the Griffindor Quidditch-team was the first step. Ginny would always stay near her and then try to gain the attention of the surrounding males by talking loud and flipping her hair back constantly. The even bigger wonder was that there were some guys who would spend their time with her, before not after a long time dump her.

Then it had changed. Ginny had started to follow her everywhere she went. She would take the same classes, try to get the same research themes as Harriet had, to be able to question her about them and to spent time in the library with her. She even got interested in the same things and started to have the same hobbies as Harriet. With the time it really got creepy, as Harriet not only now had a girl who tried to be exactly like her, but said girl would never leave her side and would develop into some kind of really dangerous stalker until the end of her fifth year.

Now was the perfect moment to get to her and make her suffer for all these horrible years during which she had the feeling she could never be free or just truly be herself.

Ginny was shaking slightly and bad suppressed anger and hate could be seen in her eyes. But there was something else, an emotion just like fear. The red haired girl in front of them was affraid, no dreaded the thought that the Slytherin girl could be right.

"You're lying! I know it. All these boys love me for who I am and give a damn about Potter! They only came to us because of me!"

Kiara just kept on looking coolly at the little Weasley girl. In the corner of her eyes she could see two familiar people coming nearer. Dean and Seamus were talking agitatedly and would pass by them in mere seconds. Her smile deepened and an evil thought ran trough her mind. She straighted up and looked pointedly at the two sixth years Gryffindor boys.

"Well then, prove it."

Ginny looked over her shoulder to see to whom Kiara was referring. When she caught sight of Dean and Seamus, a superior smile appeared on her face and her once stiff form loosed up. Well, that should be easy, she thought.

When the two boys got near enough for them to hear what they were saying, she turned around to them, while Ronald Weasley, Draco and Kiara retreated into the shadows. She smiled in what she thought was a seductive way at the two boys, played with a strand of her hair and clipped her eyelashes in a flirting manner at them. The two boys didn't seem to mind as they just wanted to go past her, but Ginny's body put a stop to their effort.

Questioning eyes met flirting ones.

"Hey guys, just a simple question. Tell me, do you like me?"

During these two sentences Ginny had started to purr.

Dean and Seamus stopped dead in their tracks and slowly turned around to Ginny, who had one hand on her hip, while the other was still playing with her hair. A look of disgust and dread creeped over the boys' faces.

"Ahh, no! What the hell, Ginny?"

"You are so cheap, don't you know?"

And with those words the two boys walked around Ginny and turned around the corner, never once looking back to her or realising the presence of three other people in the shadows.

Ginny just stood there, a surprised and deeply hurt look on her face. When Dean and Seamus had walked around the corner, Ron and the two Slytherins retreated from the shadows. The red haired girl started to tremble, her lips shook and a tear escaped her eyes. Her brother tried to come near her and console her, but before he could reach her, Ginny shakingly whispered.

"You are right. It was all because of Harriet. Only because of her. They don't like me. They don't love me."

With a strangled sob Ginny spun around and raced to the other end of the corridor, which headed for the common room of the Gryffindor Tower. Her brother now stood where she had before, his arm still outstretched as if he wanted to touch her. His eyes scanned her retreating form, then snapped around to stare at the couple in front of him.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you? You wanted to cause her harm and sorrow. Can't you see that she is grieving for her long time, still lost best friend? She only wants her to come back so that she can be by her friends side."

Kiara just turned her head to look at him, her eyes impassive and her face emotionless.

"No, I told her the truth. Weaslette never considered Harriet as a real friend, she thought of her as a tool to get the attention of all the good looking boys at school. Like she said, she alone could never attract their attention, much less even get them in bed with her. No, the little girl got what she deserved."

Ron kept on starring confused at her. After some moments he raised his finger accusingly.

"You're lying! How could you know all these things? You are attending Hogwarts for a few days. You can't tell the truth. All you said has to be made up."

He merely received a slight shaking of her head.

"You know nothing about female psychology. It's no wonder you never were able to get yourself a proper girlfriend."

She rolled her eyes before she locked her gaze with his.

"As every other girl Weaselette had a best female friend. With this friend she would share everything: every thought, wish, dream, fear or plan. And like every other girl, she told her friend about her perfect plan to gain all the cute boys' attention and to get them into her bed. But also like every other girl her best friend likes to talk a lot and what girls talk best about is gossip.

So her best friend shared this plan of hers with some other girls and these would share the plan with others. In the end nearly every single girl of Hogwarts would know about it. To be honest, it was a well known fact between all Slytherin girls what kind of a manipulative and advantage seeking brat your dear little sister is."

Ron Weasley was starting to shake madly.

"How could you do this or even say this? You don't know anything about her or about the ways of Hogwarts! You're just a stupid, lying bitch who shares her bed with the first person to pass your way! I would never have expected that from my friend Harriet. You really changed."

Kiara was fuming. How dare this guy to accuse her of being a bad person?

"Listen, you stupid brat. I AM NOT HARRIET POTTER! Did I make myself clear? No? Then I will have to prove it."

She came a step nearer to Draco, who still looked furiously at the red haired boy opposite of her.

"Now, Weasley, look really, really close and tell me, if your dear friend Harriet would do such things."

With that she walked over to were Draco was standing. Seductively she put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, as tongues, teeth and hands got involved. Draco knew what Kiara wanted him to do, as they had talked about it yesterday afternoon, and started to lift her light form up, so that she could wrapped her long legs around his waist. A moan escaped Kiara's mouth and her eyes fell close. Slowly she raised her wand, so that it pointed directly at Ron Weasley, turned her head to look at him and opened her eyes.

"Pelleo etnarro", Kiara whispered quietly yet clearly.

A yellow lightning errupted from Kiara's wand and hit the boy straight in the chest. Ron Weasley gasped, his eyes were wide because of fear. But when nothing bad happened or hurting started, he straighted up again and glared at the couple in front of him.

"What the hell was ...?", he groused, but Kiara just kept on smirking.

She was standing on the floor again, her left arm wrapped around Draco's neck, and leaned heavily on his strong form. Her wand was still in her hand, but didn't point at his chest anymore. A low chuckle was heard.

"It didn't go wrong, Weasel, if that was the question you wanted to ask. It did go perfectly right. Now, from the look on your face I can clearly tell that you don't know this particular curse. Well then, let me enlighten you."

Her smirk changed from teasing to sadistic.

"Do you remember our little encounter in Diagon Alley, the way you treated me and talked to me? Well, now this little curse will do something similar to you. Every girl you pass will feel the same feelings I felt when you tried to force me to have sex with you.

All this anger, disgust and hate. But that is not all. Every single girl now will punish you for these very thoughts which caused these feelings and will punish you for these. And now starts the fun. Their punishment will not only be visible for all of the castle occupants, the curse will although count how often you got punished, counting visible for all of us. Don't you think that should be fun, Draco?"

Draco smiled at her, as he admired her beauty and intelligence.

"I think so, my love."

He took her by the hand and started to turn around to walk away. Before they reached the next corner he turned around again to look at the still stupored figure of Ronald Weasley who hadn't moved an inch since Kiara's little lecture. A look of shock and fear was plastered on his face.

"You better remember one thing, Weasel. This girl is mine and never ever will I permit that you to talk to her or harm her in any way possible. You better remember this good, Weasel, you wouldn't like the consequences if you didn't."

With that he turned around and led Kiara to their private chambers. They had another appointment to attend to and it wouldn't do them any good to go there unprepared or even arrive there late.

When they reached their quarters Kiara went to change into something clean and elegant. Draco stood in their living room and asked a house elf to bring them something to eat and to drink. Seconds later there appeared different plates with cakes, mouthfuls and other sweets. A tea-set for five persons appeared, next to cans of tea and coffee. Draco nodded in approval, before he placed a warm keeping-charm over the food and drinks and went to look for his fiancée.

Kiara sat on a chair near her cupboard. There was a huge mirror overlooking this side of the room, which stood next to a big wardrobe. She was brushing her hair and prepared it for a lavish hairstyle. Draco stopped in the door, leaned at its frame and watched his fiancée prepare herself for their important meeting.

She wore an elegant lively green dress which fitted her upper body perfectly and then went loose around her hips to her knees. It changed from lively green to dark green with little sparks of black and silver. Around her neck she wore four silver necklaces of differnt length all ending in one emerald green, little stone. Her hair was now in a loosely bun, straps of curls were falling out of it and cascaded down her shoulders to her back. A little bit of make-up completed her look perfectly.

With a swift motion she got up and turned to look at him.

"You really are beautiful, you know?", Draco whispered into her ear when she was coming to stop in front of him.

She came over to him, where he was standing at the doorframe. A delighted look appeared in her eyes and made her beam at him.

"Well, thank you my handsome fiancé. You don't look too bad either."

A wicked smile appeared on Draco's features and a glint shone brightly in his eyes. When she stood in front of him he laid his arms around her shoulders and drew her nearer to his body. Her lean body leaned heavily against his and her hands grabbed his head to pull it down to her level. Their lips touched in a passionate kiss, as Draco nibbled on her lower lip to access entrance to her mouth. Their lips met and hands started to wander, when...

knock, knock, knock

Kiara sighed, while Draco just merely rolled his eyes. Why was it that every time he and his mate were kissing and starting get intimate, that someone or something would interrupt them? It was really becoming unnerving.

"Well, we better open the door, or someone will knock it down."

Draco nodded slightly, before he retreated his arms and went to open the door to their chambers. Kiara went to their living room and sat down on one of the couches to be able to observe the room which led to the entrance of their quarters. She could hear Draco speak with someone, before the door finally fell shut and the two persons went to go to where Kiara was sitting.

Draco was the first to enter. He strode over to where she was sitting and let himself sink down next to her gracefully. Unintentionally his right hand sought her left and he grasp it in a firm grip, as he tried to reassure her that his plan was going to work and that they wouldn't regret this decision in the future.

The second person entered the room just behind Draco.

She stopped shortly to overlook the room, then decided to take a seat on the opposite of the couple. A big bag was placed next to the couch, only briefly opened to retrieve some objects. When the person had finished, she straightened up and looked at the couple in front of her expectantly. A small smile crept over her features.

Draco was the one to break the oppressing silence.

"Take a seat and make yourself comfortable. We should start right away."