It is official, I suck at self control and patience. I have this ready and see no reason to keep you all from being able to read it. This one doesn't end in a cliffy so I will not take pity on you if I complete the next chapter early. It will be one week before I post the next chapter. I will hold myself to it.
Enjoy the chapter!
Harry moved forward and wrapped his arms around Kelsi's shoulders, "There is a lot more going on in the world than you have ever known or heard of before Kelsi. Let's go to your music room so we can talk." Harry said, pulling her in the direction of the piano room, closing the door gently behind him once they made it in. He sat down in the chair he usually did while Kelsi sat on the piano bench and pulled her knees up to rest her chin on them.
"There is…" Harry chuckled nervously, "Never had to tell anyone who didn't know before, there's no easy way to say this I guess except straight out so… I'm a wizard. My mom's sister, brother-in-law and their son raised me in a non-magical home but both of my parents are able to use magic. I started going to a school of magic when I was eleven where I met Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. They are still going there, but I needed to get a new place to stay because of some things that happened in the magical world that made my relatives refuse to take me back in this past summer. The Evans' do not know and I have had to keep it a secret from everyone else that doesn't already know about magic being real.
"The being you saw last night is called a house elf. He is the version of a servant in the magical world, though some families treat them like dirt and worthless slaves. Dobby, the house elf you saw last night, is one that I was able to free from one such family and he has been very loyal and…fanatical…ever since. I can call him if you would like to meet him?" Harry asked gently. Seeing Kelsi's nod he called for Dobby. A soft pop told Harry of Dobby's arrival but he was invisible, "Thank you for coming Dobby, you can show yourself, she knows I'm a wizard now."
Dobby faded into view a couple feet to the right of Harry and Kelsi stifled a gasp at the unexpected arrival of the 'house elf'. Sure, Harry said he was a wizard, and explained what 'Dobby' was, but there was a difference from hearing it and seeing it. Kelsi tried to speak but only a few stutters fell off her tongue before she gave up on speaking for the time being as an impossible venture. "Kelsi, I need you to breath. Slow deep breaths." Harry told her and she followed his advice, she could feel her heart rate slowing down.
"Much better. Any questions so far?" Harry asked after a moment.
"I'm not going crazy?" Kelsi asked and Harry shook his head no. She took in a deep breath, "I woke up this morning and thought at first the little green thing, you called them house elves?" Harry nodded and let her continue, "Well I thought at first it was just part of a really strange dream from last night but it slowly became clearer and I don't think my imagination is good enough to make something like 'Dobby' up."
Harry chuckled and shook his head; "I would be amazed at your imagining skills if you could come up with something like Dobby." He said lightly.
"So can you show me some magic? Ooh do you have a wand, or a staff?" Kelsi giggled lightly before jokingly asking, "What about a pointed hat?" She gave an exaggerated gasp before speaking in a dead serious whisper, "Is your teacher Merlin?" She kept a straight face for a few moments before Harry's incredulous glare being sent at her made her begin to start giggling again.
Harry playfully pointed a finger at her and mock growled at her, "Don't be making fun of our pointed hats. In all honesty though, that was part of our school supplies requirements. As for Merlin, he taught the four founders of the school I go to, but none of them are alive anymore. We wear robes and yes, we do have wands, however, there are rules that won't let me use magic around non-magical people, or muggles as many magical folk call you guys, but I don't like the sound of it. I prefer non-magical or mundane. Those same laws though also say that I'm not really allowed to tell you about the magical world so hopefully they can't track if mundane are told. If so then we'll be receiving a visit from some American Aurors soon." Seeing Kelsi's confused look he explained, "The magical world's equivalent for police officers."
He pulled his wand out and passed it over to her to look at. Holding it so carefully it was borderline reverently, she looked it over, grasping the handle after a few moments and she let out a soft gasp, "Have you hand this in your hand the whole time?" She asked in wonder and Harry looked at her strangely before replying that he hasn't.
"It just feels so warm, when it was sitting in my hands it just felt like a normal piece of wood, but now it feels...alive." Kelsi explained breathlessly, still looking at the wand with an awestruck look. She handed it back to Harry and he rolled up his sleeves and flicked the wand back itI it's holster so he could let Kelsi watched as the wand was stowed away as the holster and wand disappeared from view.
"Sorry that I couldn't tell you when we first met. I hated having to lie about parts of my past to you and everyone else I have met here, but I couldn't break the secrecy law without good reason, which I hope I have...which leads me to ask you what I was trying to ask you last night edited Dobby popped in. Now that you know the truth about what I am, even if you don't know my full background, would you...I-I'm really attracted to you and I want to get to know you better, I want you to know me better and I was wondering if you would be my girlfriend." Harry said in a rush. Having used all of his Gryffindor courage to get that far he just began rambling without hardly any pause, "I know I just dropped a huge bomb on you about the whole wizard thing but I've loved hanging out with you and singing and writing with you and I-"
Hesitant lips cut off his next words and e breathed a sigh of relief and his eyes slid shut before gently returning the gesture. A few moments later the split apart and Harry opened his eyes to find a surprised look on Kelsi's face and he half laughed, "Your the one who starts the kiss and yet you still end up looking surprised." Both of their faces brighten as a pair of identical blushes spread across them and they laugh at the situation they found themselves in.
Feeling a little bolder, Harry leans forward again, "Can I take that as a yes?" He asks softly and, after receiving a nod, Harry leans forward and gently kisses her again, a little longer, but still with some hesitancy. Harry looks at the clock as they pull back from each other again, "Wow, it's already 10:30," he looked back at Kelsi, "You think you'll be able to sleep a little better knowing that you aren't going crazy and that the "little green thing" as you called them are not out to get you?" Harry asked jokingly.
Kelsi giggled lightly before nodding and resting her head on Harry's shoulder and he responded by wrapping her into a hug. "We need to get together soon so I can tell you more about myself and the magical world. By the way, do you want to go with me to see my friends off at the airport in the morning? I think their flight leaves around 9." Harry said.
He felt a nod before Kelsi's face lifted off his shoulder; "I'd like to tell then goodbye. They seem like great people, which, by the way mister, you are going to explain what you meant by 'first friends' whenever we have that talk. I caught that yesterday. And I think Ryan and Sharpay did also." Kelsi said strongly and, from her tone, Harry understood that he probably wouldn't be able to get out of that explanation.
"You got it, Kelsi. I'll have Phillip swing by on our way out to the airport in the morning. Sleep well tonight, beautiful." He said lovingly before kissing her cheek lightly and slipping out of the room, quietly exiting the house and moving a distance away to apostate back to the Evans driveway. He had made it back into the house, told Phillip about needing to stop to pick Kelsi up in the morning before wishing the man a goodnight and going to his room for the night, wiped out physically and emotionally. Harry had ever expected asking a girl out to be that nerve wracking and tiring though maybe it wa mixed with how exhausted he was from the day before. Shrugging, he quickly got ready for bed and in a matter of minutes was asleep with a large smile on his face. In the Nielsen house, the last member of the house still awake found herself slowly falling asleep with a similar smile on her face, blown away by all the new information and the whole new hidden world she had been told about, but the new relationship status she had with Harry overshadowed it completely. Her dreams were sure to be filled with bright green eyes and messy black hair, and she decided she wouldn't complain at all.
Harry's friends were seen off at the airport with little trouble and while Ron was oblivious, Hermione and Ginny were both able to clearly see the new closeness between Harry and Kelsi. Hermione had a knowing look on her face and pulled Kelsi off to the side for a few moments but Ginny had a crestfallen look on her face. Harry was about as oblivious to that fact as Ron was to the visible change in Harry and Kelsi. After Hermione had come back to the group with Kelsi, the boarding call was made for their flight and they said goodbyes once more before rushing off to get in line.
The rest of the Christmas holiday passed fairly quickly to the great disappointment of Harry and Kelsi as they had taken to spending most days together. Sharpay and Ryan had even come and stolen the pair away for a shopping trip. Harry had been amazed at just how fearful Kelsi was around Sharpay and had used that entire trip with the Evans twins to start breaking her of that fear. Sharpay was also beginning to calm down some after having seen Ryan interacting with Harry's friends alongside the stories that the pair had been told by Ginny and Ron about their twin brothers being pranksters. Teaming up and driving people crazy with the ingenuity of their pranks, none of which were actually described unless mundane terms and items could replace the actually used magical items.
Harry had also shown Kelsi a few memories of his time at Hogwarts, some of the lessons they had been taught and a few things he had seen magic do that he thought she would love to see. She especially enjoyed the magical tent from the Quidditch World Cup.
The first day back at school found Harry sitting in the parking lot with Kelsi, watching the sunrise above the horizon, she was snuggled up under his arm as the pair leaned against the hood of her car. "It's nice having someone here to watch the sunrise with me. I have done this since I first could start driving, but having you with me makes it much nicer." Kelsi said softly, closing her eyes and letting the first few rays of sun splash onto her face.
Harry chuckled, "Are you sure it isn't just because I'm warm?" He asked while squeezing her into his side a little tighter. Kelsi had already wrapped both arms around him while his jacket covered both of them and she giggled in response to his playful question, "Well that definitely helps, but I think I can find enough other reasons after a while to keep you around."
Harry chuckled again and began to hum softly as he continued to watch the sun rise. They sat and enjoyed each other's presence, not talking very much, just enjoying the company and pleasure being around each other brought. By the time the sun has fully broken above the horizon, the parking lot had begun to fill up. The pair turned and walked to the cafeteria to grab some breakfast before their first class. As they made their way through the halls, they found the principle leading a mother and daughter through the halls pointing out several different things.
Harry looked over at Kelsi and she gave a nod and a shrug so Harry led the pair over. "Good morning Mr. Matsui. Is it safe to assume this is a new student?" Harry asked cheerfully. He had gotten the chance to talk with the principle on a number of occasions and found the man to be very amiable.
"Mr. Potter," Principle Matsui began but was interrupted by a poorly stifled gasp. The group turned to look at the mother and daughter and found a look of wonder on both of their faces as their eyes focused on Harry's scar and he tensed up slightly. Deciding to try to get out of this meeting without exposing the magical world Harry stepped forward and offered his hand in greeting, "It is a pleasure to meet both of you. Principle Matsui, Kelsi and I would be willing to show our new peer to the cafeteria and her first class if you have other things to attend to." Harry stated easily, trying to draw attention off of their awestruck faces and back to a normal topic. The principle nodded at Harry with a thankful smile as he bid the mother and daughter a good day before heading back to his office.
"It is a surprise to meet anyone who knows about my true past in the mundane world, especially here. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?" Harry asked, trying to get past this entire celebrity thing. The daughter adjusted very quickly and seemed to shake herself completely out of her amazement, "Sorry, I'm Gabriella Montez and this is my mom, She is a squib and dad was a muggle. We both still get the Minute Magician though, the newspaper here in America. Mom's family had moved over here during the last war and raised her and her siblings. All of her siblings were squibs." Gabriella explained as her mother had apparently not yet gotten over her amazement at seeing 'the boy-who-lived' and hadn't found her voice yet.
"This is my girlfriend Kelsi. I just recently moved here to stay with my relatives." Harry explained and Kelsi moved forward to shake Gabriella's hand. "Umm, Mrs. Montez, we are going to show your daughter around so she doesn't have to worry about getting lost today. Are you needing anything else from her?" Harry asked. Mrs. Montez nodded at Harry before turning around and heading back out the front doors that were a little ways away. Gabriella's face shifted back into one of panic and worry. Kelsi moved over to take her arm, she had slowly started becoming more bold and daring in her actions after getting used to Sharpay and starting to gain self-confidence by being with Harry, "Nervous about your first day?" She asked softly as the two started heading towards the cafeteria arm in arm as Harry followed along a little behind Kelsi. Gabriella nodded.
"This isn't our first move. Mom promised that it would be the last until I graduate though which is a plus. The most time I have spent at a single school since the end of elementary school is a year and a half. Mom's job has her moving around a lot so it is hard to settle in and find where I fit before we move again. It isn't fun, but my mom loves her work and I love my mom so there really is not anything to be done about it. She does her best to make it as livable as possible which helps. Usually though I don't have a famous wiz—oh my gosh, umm," Gabriella looked over at Harry and mouthed 'does she know?' and Harry chuckled lightly in return, "Don't worry Gabriella, I have told her, even if it was only just recently. Just don't slip up around anyone else because nobody else here knows." Harry answered calmly.
"Alright, but yeah, um I usually don't find friends this early into a new school so hopefully this is a good sign." Gabriella said embarrassedly, "By the way, all of my friends have called me Gabby, it is a little shorter than Gabriella." She offered shyly.
Kelsi looked over at Harry and beamed at him before turning back to the girl who was now beginning to calm down, "Gabby it is then."
The three continued walking and chatting, getting to know each other better, finding out that Gabby was amazing at science and math though she wasn't too excited about it. Harry and Kelsi assured her that their opinion would not change of her at all, though if she was looking for some smart people to talk to about science or math, Taylor McKessie was a very nice girl who had given both Harry and Kelsi some assistance on a few homework problems. The group went to Mrs. Darbus's classroom for their homeroom time and slipped in a few moments before the bell rang, Troy and Chad were passing a basketball back and forth as they talked about their Christmas breaks. Everyone rushed to get into their seats as Mrs. Darbus stood to address the class but Troy stayed sitting on top of the desk as he looked back towards where Kelsi and Harry had dropped Gabby off at before heading to our own seats. Troy looked extremely shaken up and Chad called him on it. Harry took this in while still paying attention to what Mrs. Darbus was saying. Not a good idea to let your mind wander in her class at all.
A few moments later, a cell phone began ringing and multiple people pulled their out to check if it was theirs. Harry had to bite on his fist to see Ryan and Sharpay as two of the first people bagged and tagged for detention. Troy and Chad ended up with a detention also after some not so smooth talking from Chad. Gabriella as well as Taylor were also grouped in for detention and Harry shook his head and let it drop to the desk, chuckling silently at the events so far for the morning. This was sure to be an interesting semester.
Harry gathered his things alongside Kelsi as the bell rang and began to make their way out of the classroom to wait on Gabriella. Harry and Kelsi started laughing at the roll Mrs. Darbus was on so far for the morning and so got a front row seat to the apparent reunion of Gabriella and Troy. The two bystanders shared a glance at the mention of Troy singing but shrugged and continued to follow the pair, it is not creepy to follow behind a pair of people you don't hardly know and listen in on their conversation, right? Not creepy at all.
The pair decided after a little while to catch up to Troy and Gabriella and talk with them. "Hey Troy. Sorry for the poor welcoming committee, as far as classes go, to East High Gabby. I see that you met Troy though so things must be looking up." Harry said as they pulled up along side the pair.
"Hi Harry, Kelsi. Is she usually like that?" Gabby asked. She was answered by two yeses and one no, one of the yeses was followed by a swat against the back of Harry's head.
"Don't mind these two, they haven't seen her in drama practice." Kelsi argued in favor of her 'no'. Harry held up both hands, "I'm not saying she isn't a great drama teacher or that she isn't passionate, she is and I'm not making fun of the drama department, but don't say I haven't seen her in Drama practice. You and I both know she is much scarier in the 'theatre' than she is in class." Harry shuddered and Kelsi did have to concede that Mrs. Darbus could be quite terrifying at times.
The four carried on as they walked down the hallway. The group passed the sign up sheet for the 'Winter Musicale' where Sharpay was already signing up at. She turned around and saw the group of four watching her, "Hi Troy! Harry, Kelsi, it's nice to see you all showing our new student around." Sharpay gave Troy a questioning look at the statement of that fact, "Are you all thinking about signing up?" She asked with a small level of self-importance.
"Well Harry and I can't, since we are writing the music for it, but I bet these two might be able to give you and Ryan a run for your money." Kelsi replied. She was sad that her and Harry wouldn't be able to audition for the musical, but she figured it would be for the best since the two of them would likely be the extent of this musical. Mrs. Darbus wanted it impressive, but she wanted the music to be the raw and simplistic style that only a piano and acoustic guitar mix offered rather than the big production sound to having a full orchestra. She may bring in a trap set player to add energy to some of the more upbeat songs, but she wanted to have a different feel than usual this year. She had asked Harry and Kelsi to write out what they could as far as the sheet music, well Kelsi to write what she could of it and then work with their extra music helper for the rest. Auditions were only a couple weeks away so Kelsi and Harry needed to work hard to finish the rest of the songs.
Troy and Gabriella both stuttered as they shrank back under Sharpay's glare at even the mention of her and Ryan having competition when it came to singing and musicals but she relaxed some after a bit and took on a slightly sheepish look. Harry was surprised at the two twins; when he had first arrived, they seemed very uncaring about the people around them and how people responded the them, now however, Harry could see where Sharpay would catch herself when she saw people react like Troy and Gabriella just did and she would pull herself back. Ryan was also speaking up a little more around his sister and would often times give her a subtle sign to back off if he noticed her getting a little overbearing.
"I was just looking around at all of the sign up sheets here, trying to get a feel for the new school. There is so much going on here compared to my last school." Gabbi said before starting to walk past the small impromptu grouping, "Nice penmanship." She said as she passed the sign up sheet. Gabbi looked over her shoulder and gave a smile and wave to Harry, Troy and Kelsi.
Troy watched her walk off before being interrupted by Sharpay half humping in front of his face, "So Troy, what did you do for Winter Break?" She asked him in a flirty voice.
"Ah, you know, basketball, snowboarding, more basketball." Troy answered swiftly with a little bit of discomfort showing through his voice. Harry scooted a little closer and bumped Troy with his shoulder, "Go to any Karaoke parties?" Harry asked with a slight grin and Troy turns to him with a terrified face, Sharpay doesn't notice the by play and fires another question off, "When is the big game?" She asked, drawing Troys attention back to her.
"Wha- oh, um, game… its in two weeks." Troy stuttered back, trying to straighten his mind at the possibility that Harry and Kelsi might know what he did during the break. Sharpay gets a strange look in her eyes as she looks Troy over and says, "You are so dedicated… Just like me! I hope you'll come watch me in the musical, promise?" She gives him a strange version of the puppy dog eyes and Harry has to turn his face to hide his humor filled grimace and coughs a couple times to cover his laughs. He had heard Sharpay talk about wanting to date Troy, but having seen how Troy and Gabbi were getting along, he didn't think it was a possibility.
"It's getting close to the beginning of next class, we need to get moving so we aren't late." Kelsi said to Harry and he nodded, Troy heard the statement and nodded, Sharpay's face lit up and Harry realized she thought Troy was agreeing to come watch her. Harry turns to start walking off with Kelsi and Troy moves to follow the couple before Sharpay called out, "Toodles!" Harry and Kelsi kept walking, trying to contain their laughter while Troy turned around and replied in the same manner which caused Harry and Kelsi to lose the battle of holding in their laughter. A few seconds later, Troy catches up to them with embarrassment shining out from his blushing cheeks.
Harry can't resist the chance to give one of the more popular students at the school a little ribbing for what they had overheard, "Don't worry Troy, we won't tell a soul about you starting to sing and saying 'Toodles' when you leave people's company." Troy gave a gasp of dread as the tone Harry used and wasn't sure to take it as a joke, or a promise that he would be hearing about this from his teammates. Harry gave Troy a soft pat on the shoulder, "But honestly, no one will hear it from us. Not in a joking manner for sure. This beautiful young lady here just recently introduced me to the realm of singing and it was nerve-racking to say the least. Talk to your friends about it if it is really something you are interested in, but make sure you can juggle the two before you fully commit to something." Harry stated wisely as he and Kelsi waved goodbye and went down separate hallways to their classrooms, leaving Troy to walk down the hall to his next class alone and in deep contemplation.
Could his friends accept him getting into singing and trying out for the musical? Maybe he would subtly brush it past Chad during free period workout today to see what his reaction would be. He had talked to Harry a few times before since the new student had made friends with Zeke and a few of the other basketball players, but during the small amount of time Troy had talked with him, Kelsi, and Gabriella today, he felt like there was acceptance just oozing off of his peer, something he hoped to find when he brought up the topic with his best friend, Chad. During warm-ups would probably be the easiest time to ask without giving too much time for Chad to ask questions, or maybe after so that Chad isn't trying to full focus in on practice.
Troy reached the door to his classroom as the warning bell rang and he stopped just outside the door, remembering that he wouldn't be at free period workout today because of his detention with Mrs. Darbus. He chuckled as he walked in since Chad had detention with him as well. Troy sat down and reclined as well as he could in the desk chair, it was slightly scary to think about what detention with Darbus was going to be like. Troy's mind wandered during that class as he though over his break, Harry and Kelsi knowing about him singing during said break, and then for the rest of the time, Gabriella.
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A/N: I would love to have a few more reviews, just so I can get an idea of anything people like or dislike. Any and all kinds of feedback is desired and welcome. As always, thank you for reading.