Chapter 41

It Begins Again - Part 1

KIARA

And so, my fellow readers, we are (almost) at the end of my fourth year now, for this is the last chapter in the fourth book. And there are a few loose ends that need tying up, so let's get on with it, shall we?

You know, when I look back, even now, I find that I have few memories of the days following Georgia's death. It was as though I had been through too much to take in anymore. The recollections I did have, though, were very painful, to say the least. The worst, perhaps, was the meeting with the Diggs that took place the day after Georgia had been killed.

They did not blame me for what happened; on the contrary, both thanked me for returning Georgia's body to them. Mrs Diggs sobbed through most of the interview. Mr Diggs' grief seemed to be beyond tears.

"She suffered very little, then," he said, when I had told him how Georgia had died. "And after all, Alesha ... she died just when she'd won the Tournament. She must have been happy."

When they had got to their feet, he looked down at me and said, "You look after yourself, now."

I seized the sack of gold on the bedside table.

"You take this," I muttered to him. "It should've been Georgia's, she got there first, you take it - "

But he backed away from me. "Oh, no, it's yours, dear, we couldn't ... you keep it."

0000

I returned to Lion-Heart Tower the evening after that day. From what Chris, Sian and Chrissie had told me, Crighton had spoken to the school that morning at breakfast. She merely requested that they left me alone, that nobody ask me questions or badger me to tell the story of what had happened in the maze. Most people, I noticed, skirted me in the corridors, avoiding my eyes. I guessed many of them had believed Peter Meter's article about how disturbed and possibly dangerous I was. I figured that perhaps they were formulating their own theories about how Georgia died. And so, many of them did, until after dinner that night, when the entire school and our guests were called to the Quidditch pitch, where Sian, Chrissie, Beth, Kestrel and Merida were standing in a circle, in their Guardian clothes, in a circle, with Merida in the centre with Georgia's body, Kestrel standing on the right of the circle (east), Beth at the bottom (south), Chrissie on the left (west), and Sian stood at the very top of the circle (north). Crighton was standing next to Sian, holding some stick or other, which I found out later is called a smudge stick (white sage is used on it to ward off evil spirits), thanks to Sian. As I looked around, Grandmother Sarabi came over to me and stood next to me, smiling at me gently. Crighton had agreed that she could stay for a few days, and was there because Crighton had invited her, as were the Diggs, who stood not that far from me, holding onto each other, terrible sadness radiating off of them.

Once we were all gathered, Crighton moved to the centre of the circle and surveyed us all.

"I have called you all here tonight," said Crighton, her voice ringing loud and clear, "so that we can all say farewell to Georgia Diggs. A most terrible loss to my school and my students. But it is not just my students who I want to see this." She turned her gaze to the Uagadou and Beauxbatons students, and smiled at them gently. "You have been welcome at this school, and therefore should view our final farewell to Georgia. And I hope that what you are all about to see will open your eyes to the truth, and stop your foolish assumptions," Crighton finished, with a knowing look in her eyes. Out of the corner of my own, I saw many students look at each other nervously, before I turned my focus fully back on Crighton.

She took out her wand, and tapped the end of the smudge stick, which burned and sent the smells of sage, cedar and lavender into the air. She then waved the smudge stick slowly in front of her gently, back and forth, as she approached Kestrel. When she stopped in front of Kestrel, I noticed that the Guardians all picked up a different coloured candle, which corresponded to the element that each Guardian had: yellow for Air, red for Fire, blue for Water, green for Earth and purple for Spirit. No one spoke. None of us moved. Not even the wind blew - as if it, too, was waiting for something to happen.

"Air, of which we are a part of when our souls leave our bodies, to comfort and solace those we love who we have left behind. Please join our circle." And the tip of her wand touched Kestrel's candle.

What happened next, none of us were prepared for: as soon as Crighton's wand touched the tip of the candle, the candle lit, and a sudden breeze came out of nowhere, circling all of us. A few people screamed at what happened, but quickly got over it as they realised that it had to do with the magic that the elements held. Things became settled quickly once more, as Crighton moved down to Beth, waving the smudge stick as she went.

"Fire, to warm us as we move from this world to the next. Please join our circle." Crighton made to touch Beth's candle, but before she could do so, the candle lighted instantaneously (from Beth's hands, I have no idea), and the feel of a warm fire reached us all. I don't know about anyone else, but I felt as though the fire reached my very heart, and warmed it, washing away some of the cold sadness within me, as Crighton turned to Chrissie.

"Water, which is just as changeable as are the courses of our lives which we flow through. Please join our circle." Crighton touched Chrissie's candle with the tip of her wand, which lit like the others, and I smelt fresh spring water, as well as felt it, as though it ran through a stream deep in my heart, washing some of the grief away. Crighton then moved to Sian, waving the smudge stick as she went.

"Earth, of which we will all return to once our souls have departed from our bodies. Please join our circle." Her wand lit Sian's candle, and I saw many people sniffing the air, as the heavy scent of lavender washed over us. I struggled not to close my eyes, and run my hands through an imaginary lavender field. Crighton then joined Merida in the centre of the circle.

"Spirit, the element that simply connects us all. Please join our circle." As soon as Merida's candle was lit, many people gasped, myself included, for I felt Spirit circle around and connect us all momentarily, as the circle connected in a silver line. Once we were all calm again, Crighton spoke. She had put her wand back inside her robes, and was now circling around Georgia, waving the smudge stick as she spoke.

"I hope that as I am doing this," Crighton said as she circled Georgia, her voice ringing loud and clear once more, "the pain and grief that some of you feel will be lifted from you, and that the elements will give you some comfort, and for those of you wondering why I am doing this, it is because I am washing away the evil that has been washed over Georgia's body, and as I am doing that, the elements are soothing her soul, and are making sure she is ready for her departure ... and I think she is ready now. So ..." Crighton then handed the smudge stick to Merida, who kept waving it over Georgia's body, as her mother turned back to Georgia, and held a hand out to her. "When you are ready, Georgia, take my hand ..."

I was confused by this, and by the looks of those around me, I wasn't the only one. How could Georgia take Crighton's hand when she was dead? But then I heard a gasp or two, and as I looked back at Crighton, I saw why people had gasped, for Georgia's soul had clutched onto Crighton's hand as Crighton pulled her up.

"Are you ready, my dear?" Crighton asked her gently.

"Not just yet," Georgia's voice echoed, as she spoke softly. "I'd like to say a few words to everyone before I go, if I may?"

Crighton nodded, and Georgia looked at us, smiling gently at everyone. "Listen to me, everyone. I know that some of you don't believe Kiara about my death, but I assure you that what she told you is true, so please, for my sake, don't keep judging her, thinking that she's a liar and is begging for attention. And Kiara?" I looked at her, and I felt my eyes start to burn when I saw her smile. "Don't blame yourself for what happened. I didn't know the Cup was a Portkey as much as you did, and that's why I don't blame you. If anything, I'm grateful to you for bringing me back here."

I couldn't speak. My throat had tightened, and all I could do was nod my head as I tried to push the tears back. Georgia then turned her eyes to Khan, as did the rest of us. At that moment, I felt truly sorry for Khan, whose tears were running down his cheeks like raindrops.

"Take care of Kiara for me," was all Georgia said to him. Khan nodded his head, and then turned to face me. He gave me a watery smile, and I gave him a sympathetic one in return. We then turned back to Georgia, who was looking at her parents, who were looking at their girl through tear-strewn eyes.

"Mum, Dad, I love you," Georgia said, as a few glistening tears rolled down her own cheeks.

Mrs Diggs looked steadily at Georgia, and said, "And we love you, our special girl." Then she and her husband broke down completely, and sobbed into each other's arms, as Georgia turned to face Crighton once more.

"I'm ready now," Georgia said, a slight smile on her face as she looked at Crighton, who smiled back.

"May the elements guide and comfort you on your journey, child," Crighton said, and she then let go of Georgia's hand. As she did so, Georgia soared straight upwards, and Sian, Chrissie, Beth, Kestrel and Merida raised their hands to the sky, so that their elements helped Georgia. We all gasped in awe as the clouds parted, and a beacon of the purest, whitest light streamed out to meet Georgia's soul. Then the light faded, the clouds were strewn back together again, and it was over.

Our attentions then turned back to Crighton as she said, "I hope that Georgia reached her safe Heaven safely, and that she will be happy." Crighton then turned to us, and said, "Georgia is finally at peace. We have done all we can for her now." Crighton then thanked the elements in reverse order, and blew out their candles. Once the circle was closed, Crighton stood aside as Mr Diggs came forward, picked up his daughter's body gently, and carried her back towards the castle with his wife by his side with the rest of us following them.

After that, people started to be a bit more kinder to me. True, there were those that chose not to heed Georgia's words, but there were many who gave me a kind word. But I found that I didn't care very much whether anyone had a kind word for me or not. I liked it best when I was with Chris, Sian and Chrissie, and we talked about other things, or else letting me sit in silence while they played chess. I felt as though the four of us had reached an understanding we didn't need to put into words; that each of us were waiting for some sign, some word, of what was going on outside Dragon Mort - and that it was useless to speculate about what might be coming until we knew it for certain. The only time we touched upon the subject was when Chris told me about a meeting that Sian had heard between Grandmother Sarabi and Crighton before she went home. It happened the day after the ritual, which was also the day when the Diggs left with their daughter's body (I should point out here that a few days later, I grabbed my Invisibility Cloak, put it on and snuck down to Grumpy's office to get the Scallywag's Map back, just so you know).

"Sian heard that Sarabi asked Ma if you could come straight to ours this summer," he said. "But she wants you to go back to your grandmothers, at least at first."

"Why?" I said.

"Sian said Ma's got her reasons," said Chris, shaking his head darkly. "I suppose we've got to trust her, haven't we?"

The only person apart from Chris, Sian and Chrissie that I felt able to talk to was Mina. As there was no longer a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, we had those lessons free. We used the one on Thursday afternoon to go down and visit her in her cabin. It was a bright and sunny day; Gnasher bounded out of the open door as we approached, barking and wagging her tail madly.

"Who's that?" called Mina, coming to the door. "Kiara!"

She strode out to meet us, pulled me into a one-armed hug, and said, "Good ter see yeh, mate. Good ter see yeh."

We saw two bucket-sized cups and saucers on the wooden table in front of the fireplace when we entered Mina's cabin.

"Bin havin' a cuppa with Olier," Mina said, "he's jus' left."

"Who?" said Chrissie, curiously.

"Monsieur Legrand, o' course!" said Mina.

"You two made it up, have you?" said Chris.

"Dunno what yeh're talkin' about," said Mina airily, fetching more cups from the dresser. When she had made tea, and offered round a plate of doughy biscuits, she leant back in her chair and surveyed me closely through her beetle-brown eyes.

"You all righ'?" she said gruffly.

"Yeah," I said.

"No, yeh're not," said Mina. "'Course yeh're not. But yeh will be."

I said nothing.

"Knew she was goin' ter come back," said Mina, and Chris, Sian, Chrissie and I looked up at her, shocked. "Known it fer years, Kiara. Knew she was out there, bidin' her time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus' have ter get on with it. We'll fight. Migh' be able ter stop her before she gets a good hold. That's Crighton's plan, anyway. Great woman, Crighton. S'long as we've got her, I'm not too worried."

Mina raised her smooth eyebrows at the disbelieving expressions on our faces.

"No good sittin' worryin' about' it," she said. "What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does. Crighton told me what you did, Kiara."

Mina's chest swelled as she looked at me. "Yeh did as much as yer parents would've done, an' I can' give yeh no higher praise than that."

I smiled back at her. It was the first time I'd smiled since Georgia died, if I remember rightly.

"What's Crighton asked you to do, Mina?" I asked. "She sent Professor Darbus to ask you and Monsieur Legrand to meet her ... that night."

"Got a little job fer me over the summer," said Mina. "Secret, though. I'm not s'posed ter talk about it, not even ter you lot. Olier - Monsieur Legrand ter you - might be comin' with me. I think he will. Think I got him persuaded."

"Is it to do with Zira?"

Mina flinched at the sound of the name.

"Migh' be," she said evasively. "Now ... who'd like ter come an' visit the las' Crab with me? I was jokin' - jokin'!" she added hastily, seeing the looks on our faces.

0000

It was with a heavy heart that I packed my trunk up in my dormitory, on the night before my return to my grandmothers' cottage. I was dreading the Leaving Feast, which was usually a cause for celebration, when the winner of the Inter-House Championship would be announced. I had avoided being in the Great Hall when it was full ever since I had left the hospital wing, preferring to eat when it was nearly empty, to avoid the stares of my fellow students.

When Chris, Sian, Chrissie and I entered the Hall, we saw at once that the usual decorations were missing. The Great Hall was normally decorated with the winning house's colours for the Leaving Feast. That night, however, there were black drapes on the walls behind the teacher's table. I knew instantly that they were there as a mark of respect for Georgia.

The real Crazy-Head Grumpy was at the staff table, her wooden leg and her four magical eyes back in place. She was extremely twitchy, jumping every time someone spoke to her. I couldn't blame her; Grumpy's fear of attack was bound to have been increased by her ten-month imprisonment in her own trunk. Professor Kula's chair was empty. As I sat down with the other Lion-Hearts, I wondered where Kula was now, and whether Zira had caught up with her.

Monsieur Legrand was still there. He was sitting next to Mina. They were talking quietly together. Further along the table, sitting next to Professor Darbus, was Triphorm. Her eyes lingered on me for a moment as I looked at her. Her expression was difficult to read. She looked as sour and unpleasant as ever. I continued to watch her, long after Triphorm had looked away.

I wondered what it was that Triphorm had done on Crighton's orders, the night that Zira had returned? And why ... why ... was Crighton so convinced that Triphorm was truly on our side? She had been our spy, Crighton had said so in the Pensieve. Triphorm had turned spy against Zira, "at great personal risk". Was that the job she had taken up again? Had she made contact with the Love Destroyers, perhaps? Pretended that she had never really gone over to Crighton, that she had been, like Zira herself, biding her time?

My musings were then ended by Professor Crighton, who stood up at the staff table. The Great Hall, which in any case had been less noisy than it usually was at the Leaving Feast, became very quiet.

"The end," said Crighton, looking around at us all, "of another year."

She paused, and her eyes fell upon the Badger-Stripes table. Theirs had been the most subdued table before she had got to her feet, and theirs were still the saddest and palest faces in the Hall.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Crighton, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," - she gestured towards the Badger-Stripes - "enjoying our Feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Georgia Diggs."

We did it, all of us; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, and we all raised our goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low, rumbling voice, "Georgia Diggs."

I caught a glimpse of Khan through the crowd. There were tears pouring silently down his face. I looked down at the table as we all sat down again.

"Georgia was a person who exemplified many of the qualities which distinguish Badger-Stripes house," Crighton continued. "She was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, she valued fair play. Her death has affected you all, whether you knew her well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."

I raised my head, and stared at Crighton.

"Georgia Diggs was murdered by Lady Zira."

A panicked whisper swept through the Great Hall. People were staring at Crighton in disbelief, in horror. She looked perfectly calm as she watched them mutter themselves into silence.

"The Ministry of Magic," Crighton continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lady Zira has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Georgia died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of her own, is an insult to her memory."

Stunned and frightened, all our faces in that Hall were turned towards Crighton now ... well, almost every face, I should say. Over at the Snake-Eyes table, I saw Dani Malty muttering something to Crate and Gabber, as Rea-Bradley looked at them disapprovingly. I was confused about Rea-Bradley's change of heart, as I felt a hot, sick swoop of anger in my stomach. I forced myself to look back at Crighton.

"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Zira's death," Crighton went on. "I am talking, of course, about Kiara Pride-Lander."

A kind of ripple crossed the Hall, as a few heads turned in my direction before flicking back to face Crighton.

"Kiara Pride-Lander managed to escape Lady Zira," said Crighton. "She risked her own life to return Georgia's body to Dragon Mort. She showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lady Zira, and for this, I honour her."

Crighton turned gravely to me, and raised her goblet once more. Nearly everybody in the Great Hall followed suit. They murmured my name, as they had murmured Georgia's, and drank to me. But, through a gap in the standing figures, I saw that Malty, Crate, Gabber and many of the other Snake-Eyes had remained defiantly in their seats, their goblets untouched. Rea-Bradley was one of the only few Snake-Eyes students who did stand and raise her goblet. Crighton, who after all possessed no magical eyes, did not notice this.

When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Crighton continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lady Zira's return - such ties are more important than ever before."

Crighton looked from Monsieur Legrand and Mina, to Ferdinand Desjardin and his fellow Beauxbatons students, to Kovu Outsider and the Uagadou students at the Snake-Eyes table. Outsider, I saw, looked wary, almost frightened, as though he expected Crighton to say something harsh. His brother, I saw, kept looking at him concernedly.

"Every guest in this Hall," said Crighton, and her eyes lingered upon the Uagadou students, "will be welcomed back here, at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lady Zira's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.

"Lady Zira's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

"It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you, in this Hall, have already suffered directly at the hands of Lady Zira. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst.

"Remember Georgia. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to a girl who was good, and kind, and brave, because she strayed across the path of Lady Zira. Remember Georgia Diggs."

0000

SIAN

It was late at night. The stars were twinkling across the black sky, and Sian Dawson was standing in the grounds, getting some air. She had just been in her mother's office, talking with her about what was going to happen over the holidays. Her mother had apologised to her the day after Georgia had died for not believing in her, and Sian had accepted it straightaway. Why shouldn't she? She loved her mother very much and was glad that they had made up. Her mother had given her a note in case any of the teachers caught her and asked why she was out of bed, but at that moment, Sian didn't care if someone caught her. She was too absorbed in her own little world to care at that moment, thinking about the next day: Sian and the rest of the Dragon Mort students would be leaving for the summer holidays, as well as the students from Beauxbatons and Uagadou - and Kopa would be going with them. Her heart squeezed painfully at the thought of Kopa leaving, for she didn't want him to leave her. She couldn't think about never seeing her Kopa again; never seeing his beautiful eyes, or hearing his warm, rich voice again, for every time she did, she had to force the tears back. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts, that she didn't notice someone coming towards her, until she felt someone right beside her. Startled, she looked around, wondering who had come upon her in the dark. But she soon relaxed, for even though it was dark, she recognised the eyes, surrounded by two pieces of cloth. She breathed a sigh of relief. It was Kopa.

"Kopa," she said, as soon as her breathing returned to normal. "What are you doing our here this late at night? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I was, but I couldn't sleep," he said sharply. "I was going to ask you the same thing, actually. Won't you get in trouble if you get caught?"

Sian sighed, and said, "Normally I would be, but I've got a note from my mother, just in case. I've just been in her office, and I didn't feel like going to bed just yet, and I fancied some fresh air, so ..." She hesitated, but Kopa understood.

"It sounds like you two have made up, then?"

"Yes, we have," Sian smiled, looking at Kopa. He looked happy, but Sian could see an inkling of concern in his eyes. She guessed it had been bugging him for days, judging from the way the stress and worry was radiating off of him. "What's wrong, Kopa?"

Kopa looked into Sian's gently staring eyes, as a variety of emotions crossed them. Eventually, though, he sighed and said, "Sian, I am genuinely sorry my brother tried to attack Kiara in the - "

"Kopa, it's OK," Sian said, breathing in sighs of relief that she finally knew what was bothering him. "I know that Kovu wouldn't intentionally hurt anyone from what you've been saying about him. So there's no need to apologise for what he did. Oh, and in case he asks, tell him I forgive him for me, will you?"

"Sure," Kopa said, his eyes sparkling with relief. They wre silent for a moment, before Kopa spoke again. "So, how's Kiara doing?"

"She's ... coping, you know. It's hard for her, but in time, I'm sure she'll get better," was all Sian said. Kopa nodded, as he and Sian walked over to Sian's secret spot. A silence spread once more between them, and Sian's heart filled with grief once more, but she didn't know how to put it into words without her coming off as too soppy. So, she started off by saying, "So ... you're ... leaving tomorrow, huh?"

"Yeah, I am," he sighed. "And I'm glad I caught you before I left, because I wanted to thank you in private."

Sian looked up at Kopa in surprise. "Thank me? For what?"

Kopa then looked at her steadily, and said, "I didn't like coming here this year - before I met you, of course," he added hastily.

"Why?" Sian asked, surprised.

"Because, apart from my brother, I didn't think I would have anyone else to talk to. Don't get me wrong," he added at the look on Sian's face, "my brother's great. It's just that I wanted to have someone I could talk to about - well, anything really. But I don't want to talk to my brother all the time. That's why I didn't like the idea of coming here this year, because I was worried that I would be alone, with no one but my brother to talk to, because of my face, and I kept thinking that - until I met you."

"Well, I've dealt with a lot of weird," Sian joked. Kopa chuckled.

"Yeah, well you saw past it and accepted me for who I am. I've loved my time here with you, and I thank you for that." Sian saw a smile in his eyes, and she nodded her head as she bowed it, for Kopa's words made her heart ache painfully as she tried to push the tears back again. Once she had regained her composure, she raised her eyes back to Kopa's. He was looking at her in concern.

"What does Kovu think about me?" Sian asked quickly, changing the subject. She thought she saw a flicker of disappointment flash over his eyes, but she couldn't be sure.

"He's happy that I'm happy," was all he said, but as Sian gave him a pointed look, he sighed and said, "OK, if you must know, he likes you and he thinks you're good for me."

Sian smiled, glad to know that Kovu approved. Then sadness took over her heart again, as she said, "I hope you understand why I can't come to South Africa for the summer this year, and that there are no hard feelings between us?"

"No, of course not. It's natural that you should stay close to your family during these times. It's what I would do." Sian gave him a gratified smile. He was so full of understanding.

"I want to thank you, actually," Sian then said.

A look of surprise crossed his eyes. "What do you want to thank me for?"

"Because since I fell out with my mother, you've been the only one I can talk to easily, without taking the mickey out of everything I say. I thought I was going to be alone this year, and that I was going to break from loneliness, but you've been my rock. I thank you for that."

A gracious smile shone through the eyes she adored. "No problem," he said. They walked on in silence all the way to the bench, which continued as they sat down next to each other, and listened to the wind breathing through the trees.

After a while, Kopa turned to Sian, and said nervously, "So, Sian ... seeing as it's my last night here ... I was wondering whether you'd keep your promise to me that you made earlier this year ... about me seeing your hands? I don't have to know the whole story!" he added quickly, at the look on Sian's face. "I'd just like to see, if you'll let me, that is ..."

Sian was worried, for she had been dreading this moment ever since she had first warmed to Kopa. It wasn't because she didn't want him to know; it was because she was scared of how he'd react, and what he'd do once he knew. She really hoped that he wouldn't hate her and walk away, for he would break her heart if he did. So, taking a shaky breath, Sian nodded, but before she took off her gloves, she said to Kopa, "If I do this, will you let me see your face, like you promised me a few months back?"

As she looked into Kopa's eyes, she saw that he was as anxious as she felt. She waited patiently, as a variety of emotions flashed across his eyes once more. Eventually, though, he nodded. Sian gave him a curt nod and, with trembling fingers, she took off one of her gloves slowly, and revealed to Kopa her hands that were laced with icicles. She heard Kopa gasp as she kept her head down, so that he could study her hand.

"I've had ice powers for several years now," Sian said, speaking to her lap. "I don't remember when they stated, but I do know that when I was little, I had a cold edginess over my heart, which eventually manifested itself into ice powers. I wear the gloves so that I can't hurt anybody when I touch them until I can learn to control it, but also to make sure that no one knows about this, for I know that people will think me a freak if they see me like this. The teachers know that I wear the gloves, but they think it's because I have a rare skin condition or other, and that I wear the gloves to protect my hands, but they only believe that because that's what Ma told them. Apart from my siblings, none of the students know the truth, and I prefer to keep it that way." Sian then waited for Kopa to speak.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Kopa asked suddenly and gently. Sian looked up at him then, surprised. Kopa's gaze was fixed intently on her hand, and Sian could see him tracing the lines of her icicles with his eyes.

Sian gulped. "I was scared, OK?"

Kopa's eyes flashed up to hers, and confusion was in them. "Scared? Of what?"

"Of what you'd say to me," Sian gasped. "Of being afraid of me and walking away from me, because you'd think I was a freak."

"I don't think that way about you, Sian. I've never thought that way about you, from the day we first met. This is who you are," he said, pointing at her hands, "and I accept you for that." Kopa then took her hand slowly. Sian tried to pull her hand back, but Kopa held on to her ungloved hand more tightly, both of them ignoring the hot, electrifying heat passing through them, as Kopa delicately traced the icicles on her hand with his free one. Sian's heart skipped a beat as she watched him, wondering at the incredible fact that she didn't hurt him. And then, as the icicles started to crack, and the ice rushed back inside her, but didn't freeze around her heart, she knew why she couldn't: it was because Kopa had melted her heart - not enough to free her of her ice powers, but enough to not hurt him.

"All right," she said after a while, for there was still his part of the bargain to be dealt with. "I've done my part. Now it's your turn."

She saw Kopa looked nervous, as he released her hand and raised both of his to his face, and undid the cloths. Once they were removed from his face, Sian finally got a good look at him, and she gasped at how beautiful his face was. As Sian touched his face, and familiarized herself with not only how he looked, but also how he felt under her fingers, she realised that there were many similarities on his face that he shared with someone, but she couldn't put her finger on it. It was only when she stroked his fringe, and looked at his face, that Sian realised who Kopa really was. She gasped and stood up quickly at the realisation of who Kopa really was. Kopa looked at Sian in surprise, shocked that she had jumped away.

"Sian, what is it? Why did you - ?" Kopa then caught the look on Sian's face, and nodded slowly. "You know who I am, don't you?"

Too shocked for words, Sian nodded. Kopa sighed.

"Sian, please, come and sit by my side and I'll explain everything." Kopa held out his hand, his eyes pleading. Sian hesitated, but took it. Kopa pulled her back down to the bench, sat her down and then he told Sian everything. Sian listened attentively to his story, shocked beyond belief at what had happened to him.

" ... and now you know," Kopa finished slowly, looking at Sian gently. Sian remained silent for a few moments, taking it all in, when a thought hit her.

"So that's why you've been asking me questions about Kiara? Because you want to know her!"

"Exactly! And from what you've said about her, I can see why she means so much to you. I am proud of her. But Sian," - a sudden seriousness had come across his face - "this must be kept between us. If Zira or any of her followers ever knew that I was alive, they - "

"Of course I won't," Sian said quickly. "You can trust me, Kopa. This'll remain between us." She stroked his hand gently, as gratitude shone in Kopa's eyes. "You won't tell anyone about my secret, will you?"

"No." There was a look of trust in his eyes, and Sian could almost see her secret being locked into his heart. They smiled at each other as, without realising, their heads started to move closer together.

"I'm - erm - I'm glad you came this year," Sian said breathlessly, as Kopa ran his fingers through her hair, which made Sian's heart skip a beat or two. She moved her hand to cup the back of his head as he did that, but she didn't know why.

"As am I," Kopa whispered huskily, as his penetrating gaze made her heart jump rapidly.

"And ... I - " But Kopa brushed her lips with his thumb to silence her. Her eyes started to flicker as their noses brushed. Her breathing heightened. Their heads tilted slightly. Then -

"Sian, dear? Are you out here somewhere, my darling?"

Sian heaved an irritated sigh, as she and Kopa jerked apart when they heard her mother's voice. She was irritated at her mother, for normally she had very good timing. If she could have waited just a minute longer, Sian thought desperately, as her mother's footsteps drew nearer. Sian and Kopa quickly made themselves presentable again (Sian put her gloves back on, and Kopa covered his face up), as Sian's mother found them.

"There you are, Sian! What on Earth are you doing out here this late at night? I've been wondering where you'd got - oh!" Sian's mother then saw who she was with, and seemed to quickly grasp what was going on. Flushing with embarrassment, she said quickly to Sian, "I'm sorry, my darling - I didn't realise - "

This time, Sian sighed with sadness, and said, "It's all right, Ma." She smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile. She then turned away from Kopa and said, looking at her lap again, "I'll see you tomorrow, Kopa." Sian sensed that Kopa wanted to say something to her, but when she didn't look up, she heard him move. As he walked away from her, she felt the sadness within her heart grow, as her eyes began to burn. She kept her head down, trying to keep the tears back. It wasn't until she felt a hand under her chin, lifting up her head to face the owner of that hand, that she felt her eyes go blurry. She looked at her mother - for it was indeed her mother's hand that had lifted her head - who was sitting next to her, staring at her gently.

"Oh, my darling," her mother said gently, "you really are growing up."

Sian couldn't keep it in any longer; as soon as her mother said those words, she flung her arms around her mother's neck. buried her head in her mother's chest, and let the tears out. She was glad when she felt her mother's arms around her, stroking her hair and whispering words of love and comfort in her ear.

"I know, my darling, I know," was all her mother said.

For a while, mother and daughter sat there like that, hugging each other under the starry sky, neither saying a word, as Sian cried out her pain, her sadness and her annoyance at her mother for running the moment. But she was happy her mother was with her all the same, holding her, comforting her, just how it should be.

AN: Sorry about splitting this chapter up, but I had to, because it's too long to be packed into one. Oh, and forget about me finishing this thing on Sunday, for I am finishing this tomorrow instead. I hope you liked the House of night reference for the ritual, and also this piece of Sian and Kopa. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until I get to book seven to find out more about Kopa. Oh, and just so you know, Sian did keep her ice powers. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I will post the last chapter of this book tomorrow, along with my plans for the future.