The Nine

Chapter 7: The Past Returns

Chris bolted into the Hospital Wing at the crack of dawn. He rushed over to Nakuru, who was still sound asleep. Madame Pomfrey shot him an evil glare. "Wake her, and I'll put you to sleep."

Chris nodded silently, and took a seat beside the bed. He held her hand in his then shook his head. "Not again, Nak... Not now."

Salinas walked up to Chris, and knelt beside him. "So what be the story wit' her? Something we should know 'bout, Chris?"

Chris shrugged and looked out the window. "It isn't my place to say."

"Well then wha' happened to her last night? It really had us worried..." Salinas took another seat and moved closer to the bed. "C'mon Chris."

Chris sighed and bowed his head. "Nakuru...is a visionary. She has premonitions and visions, and all that other future stuff. The catch is...it only happens when bad stuff is going to happen. At least that's the only time it ever has happened in the past."

Salinas nodded then looked back at Chris. "What happened the last time she had a vision?"

"Her mother died... She had a vision about two weeks ago where she saw her mom dead- she had been murdered. But when her mom died, it was insisted that she died peacefully at home... So Nakuru was a bit confused about it all for a day or so."

Sal looked perplexedly at him for a moment, then to Nakuru. "Do the visions tell what'll happen no matter what? Or can yeh change the future?"

"I don't know- maybe. The only one who could answer that is Nak. And with her luck in the past year, I doubt it." He stood and moved the chair back to its original table. "I suggest you let her sleep...she needs it."

Salinas nodded lightly, and followed Chris out of the room. Spotting Harry, she walked silently over to him. "Is she alright, Salinas?"

Sal nodded. "Yeah...yeah she's alright, Harry. Or she will be."

The day dragged on after that. Classes seemed unusually long, and time seemed to slow down. Every minute seemed like an hour. When at last lunch came, the gang met up outside the great hall. "So, we gonna go see Nak?" Kiera asked the group.

Gwen nodded, hovering next to Salinas. "Chris got out of Divination to go see her, so he's already there."

Nakuru tapped Gwen on the shoulder and smiled. "Here."

Gwen tackle-hugged her, nearly falling into a nearby group of students entering the Hall. "Nak, you're alright! I was so worried about you!"

Nakuru smiled. "You should know me by now, Gwen. I always come out of those things a-ok."

Salinas shifted her weight from one foot to another uncomfortably. "Nak, I been wan'ing to ask yeh about...well, you."

Nakuru looked bemusedly at Salinas, then to Ron, Harry, and Hermione They all nodded, and looked at Nakuru intently. "What exactly do you want to know?"

"Yeah, she's a complex girlie," Cora added with a wink.

Salinas motioned for the gang to follow her towards into library. "Well, for starters, the visions."

Nakuru rolled her eyes. "Can we save that one for last?"

Salinas smirked. "Best fer last? Alright... But yer not wormin' yer way outta talkin'!"

"Alright," Nakuru started, "let's see. Aside from the visionary crap, I'm an animagus."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Really? That's amazing! What do you transform into?" she asked inquisitively.

"A golden fox." Kiera noted dryly as she flipped through a magazine. "Really pretty one at that."

"Thanks, Ki," Nakuru said sarcastically as she continued. "I'm not registered, and don't plan on registering any time soon. Protection purposes, really... I think it's an invasion of privacy."

Salinas shook her head. "You really should- you can be sent to Azkaban for a minimum of three months for that."

Nakuru shrugged. "Oh well."

Gwen floated absently around the room. Ron looked at her pensively, then piped up, "What's with you?"

"Rude much?" Cora interjected.

Gwen laughed. "It's alright Core... As for your question, Ron, I can float, I'm an Air Elemental, I'm telepathic, and I'm the daughter of a Demon and a Witch."

Harry raised an eyebrow curiously. "I see..."

Hermione. "I find this all fascinating- how diverse we are."

Salinas smiled. "So wha' happened teh yer parents, Nakuru, if yeh don' mind me asking?"

Nakuru scratched her ear. "Well, my dad...was murdered when I was little, so I don't remember him. And ever since then I lived with my mom and 'uncle' Rupert in Canada. But my mom died recently, so I was sent to live here with my new guardian, Remus Lupin. But since he can't be found--"

"Lupin?" the Hogwarts group asked instantaneously.

"You know him?" Gwen asked intriguingly.

"Know him? He was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher to ever teach at Hogwarts!" Ron exclaimed excitedly. "And he was a good friend of Harry's parents and godfather. We know all about Remus!"

Hermione nodded. "He was the best DADA teacher- but he was fired because he's a- because at the time, there were problems within the...faculty."

Nakuru raised am eyebrow. Okay, she thought, problems within the faculty? Please. "Anyways, yeah. He's my godfather, but since he can't be found, I'll be in Dumbledore's care until then."

Salinas smiled. "My granddad is real nice. He'll treat yeh right. But I s'pose Remus'll be back b'fore th'end of the year."

"Probably," Nakuru nodded. "So yeah. That's pretty much my past. Born in Canada, lived in England, moved to Canada, went to Meridian, and then wound up here, heh."

Salinas looked around for a moment, and noticed everyone had fallen silent- it was her opportunity. "So, about the visions, Nak..."

Ron nodded frantically. "Yeah, when was your first one? Are they always right? Can you teach me?"

As they clambered up the ladder in the library one by one and entered the sitting room, Nakuru shook her head sarcastically and sighed. "Man, what have I gotten myself into...?"

Harry shrugged. "Curiosity."

Nakuru took a deep breath. "Okay, so now you're all going to get briefed on, well, everything that these guys know about me," she said as she looked over at the Meridian group. "I had my first vision when I was eight years old. First painful vision, that is. Before that, I just kept getting the déjà vu-like ones. My first real vision was when my 'uncle' Rupert was in a bad car accident. And since then, I've always had the visions when something bad is going to happen."

Ron looked fixedly at Nakuru. "Mhm, mhm. Go on!"

"And last night I had another one," she added.

Salinas looked concerned. "Yer visions are almos' always bad. And they almos' always happen like they do in the dream?"

Nakuru shrugged. "Almost always down to the last detail. Unless enough things happen before the vision comes true to change it."

Salinas nodded. "I see... So, what did yeh see lass' night that was so terrible?"

Chris looked at Nakuru and bit his lip. He knew.

Gwen nudged Nak. "Well, girlie?"

Nakuru breathed deeply. "I saw...just...peoples' faces- and a laugh that I've only ever heard in one other vision. And evil laugh."

Chris looked confusedly at her. "You didn't mention the laughing part to me..."

Nakuru nodded. "That's because I just realized where I've heard it before."

"And where's that?" Harry asked.

"In the vision where I saw my mother die."

The room fell silent. "Maybe it was just a coincidence. Or maybe it just sounded like that for some reason. Maybe there was nothing to it at all?" Gwen insisted, looking around the room nervously.

Chris shook his head. "Why would you hear laughter in your mom's vision though, Nak?"

Salinas's face was serious. "Th'only reason I could think of fer tha' is murder- and they insisted tha' yer mother died peacefully at home, righ' Nak?"

Nakuru nodded silently. "Unless they were lying. But Professor Helyx wouldn't lie to me. She was a close friend of my mom's, so she'd know how much I'd be upset if it was a lie."

Hermione thought for a moment. "There was laughing in your vision last night, and the vision of your mother's death. Was there death of any sort in this dream?" she asked inquisitively.

Gwen nodded. "There was!"

"How did you know that?" Nakuru demanded, all eyes now on Gwen.

"Because," she continued, "last night, all you would say was 'dead...all of them...'. It scared the hell out of me."

"Who died?" Kiera asked, turning to Nak.

Her face went white- she did not want to say. She knew that she was obligated to tell them, because she was their friend, but she could not see the vision coming true. Then again, nor could she imagine the death of her mother... Nakuru's eyes shifted from person to person. "Everyone..." she admitted silently.

Kiera's eyes widened. "Everyone as in Meridian everyone, or everyone as in Hogwarts everyone?"

Cora elbowed Kiera, as if to tell her to shut up and let Nakuru continue.

Nakuru cleared her throat. "Everyone at Hogwarts...and then everyone else. There was fire, and darkness, and death. And through it all, my head was searing with pain. All I could hear was screaming and then that laughter."

Harry looked at Ron worriedly. "Do you think Voldemort could be behind it?"

Nakuru shook her head. "Why would I be having visions about Him? And even so, that wouldn't explain my mother's vision."

"Perhaps," interjected another voice, "it is because you have not been given all of the information, Ms. Summers." Dumbledore entered the sitting room, and stood amongst the group of them. Gwen ceased floating and situated herself on the arm of the chair Ron was sitting on. Dumbledore smiled. "I assume that even if I were only to speak with Ms. Summers here, you all would know subsequently. Therefore, with Nakuru's permission, I will continue."

Nakuru nodded. "You said I wasn't given all the information?"

Dumbledore sat in a vacant armchair, and nodded. "Your visions, my dear, contain glimpses of the future. They are what will come to pass if none stand against them." He paused for a minute, to be sure they understood, then continued. "Your parents were both murdered at the hands of Voldemort. Your father, when you were an infant, and your mother not a week ago. Both were killed for divulging information as to the murders of Lily and James Potter."

The room went absolutely silent. Harry looked at Nakuru in astonishment.

"Harry and you share the same birthday, Nakuru. And Voldemort knew of the prophecy foretelling of the one that would be his undoing. As fate would have it, Voldemort, who believed that no girl could be the demise of a great Wizard, spared you and your parents. But knowing then that Voldemort would then attempt murder on the Potters, your parents were sworn to secrecy- or your life would become forfeit. After their deaths, your parents could not deal with the regret and the torment of knowing that their friends were killed because of them."

Nakuru shook her head in disbelief. I can't believe this...

Dumbledore continued. "Your father came to me, and told me everything. But I was blind, and did not think to protect your father from any harm on the return trip to his family. He was murdered shortly after his departure from the school. Your mother also divulged this information recently to officials in the Ministry of Magic, assuming that she was safe in Canada. Voldemort's spies in the ministry were quick to act, and the ministry's failure to protect your mother led to her death. She was murdered while Mr. Gerrant was out for the evening, Nakuru."

Nakuru stared at the floor. This isn't real...

"Your new guardian, according to your parents' wills is Remus Lupin. You know this. But what you have not been told is that he is a werewolf. He is not dangerous, I assure you. I would not have hired him otherwise. He is a noble and good-hearted gentleman. The Potters and your parents were good friends. Remus and Sirius Black were also good friends of both families. There is much in common between the Potters and the Summers."

Harry and Nakuru looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Both of their parents had died because of Voldemort. And it was to be sure that Voldemort would now be after Nakuru. Too much in common for me, Nakuru thought to herself as she twiddled her thumbs. She did not know what to say.

Fortunately, it was Salinas who broke the silence. "Small world. Too small," she said ironically.

***

Chapter 8: A Visit To Hogsmeade

After leaving the library, the mood of the group had grown to be rather sullen. Suddenly, Dumbledore's came out of nowhere, like an intercom. It echoed loudly through the halls, "Due to recent events, I have decided that afternoon classes shall be cancelled for all sixth and seventh years for a trip to Hogsmeade. Any students unwilling to attend will remain in class."

Cora smiled. "That's the place where...the toys disappeared, right?"

Gwen nodded and smiled. "Class trips can be fun. It's a good cheer-up technique, I guess."

Hermione bit her lip. "Actually, I'd rather stay in class... I hope you all don't mind?"

"Actually," Salinas started, "I has to go teh Potions wit Aubrey an' Eve today. We have our mid-midterms comin' up soon fer extra credit, and we can' miss a session."

Cora snapped her fingers. "Damn, that reminds me. I told Hagrid that I'd help out with the hippogriffs, seeing as we Meridian folk know so much about them," she said with a wink. "So Hogsmeade's out for me."

Nakuru looked depressed again. "Well you're coming, right Chris? Gwen? Kiera? And you, Ron! You can't be doing much?"

Harry shook his head. "I...have Charms homework to do. It was due three days ago, but I got an extension, and I have to hand it in today."

Ron shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you people. It's Hogsmeade! I'm definitely going."

Gwen and Chris nodded in agreement. "Yep."

"So that's," Nakuru counted on her fingers, "Four of us. Are you coming, Ki?"

Kiera shook her head. "Couldn't be bothered. Besides, I told Cho that I'd help her with her Transfiguration homework."

"Alright then, so it's just us!" Gwen exclaimed as she headed for the doors towards Mr. Filch. "You lot all suck!" she yelled back to the others.

Kiera glared at her in her usual way. "Pumpkin list. All of you."

"Sorry you guys can't come," Chris said as he followed Gwen and nudged Nakuru.

Salinas quickly slipped Nakuru a note, not letting anyone else see it. "Aubrey told me to give this to you- some guy gave it to her while she was on spare."

"Did you read it?" Nakuru asked curiously.

"No, b'y! Why th'hell would I read it?" With that, Salinas followed Harry as they hurried off towards the Gryffindor Tower.

The carriage taking them to Hogsmeade happened to be that same that brought the Meridian gang to Hogwarts.

"Hey look! This is the stagecoach that I carved my name into," Chris pointed out animatedly.

"Shazi-zang?" Ron asked bemusedly as he read the carving.

Nakuru rolled her eyes. "Yeah..."

"I gave him that nickname back in first year at Meridian!" Gwen announced proudly. "And Nakuru here was appointed the name Nik-Nak. And then you've got Core and Ki!"

"Creative," Ron said amusedly as the coach pulled up into Hogsmeade.

The four disembarked, and headed into The Three Broomsticks. As they found a place to sit, a scrawny boy slightly older than the quartet by appearance followed them and waited until they were seated to speak. "I'm new here, so be easy on me. What can I get you's?" he asked the girls first.

Nakuru shrugged. "Uhm, do you have any Bailey's?"

The boy nodded. "If you're under eighteen, you get the very milk-diluted version."

Gwen grinned. "We'll take two of those!"

The boy scratched down their orders, and turned to Chris and Ron. "You two?"

"Pepsi," the two answered in unison.

Nakuru smiled. "Wimps."

Gwen smiled as their Bailey's floated to the table. "So, Ron..." She took a large gulp of her drink, and grinned. "You and Hermione going out or what?"

Rob turned a bright shade of red that nearly matched his hair. "As much as people like to think that, no. We're not."

"Your bright shade of red insists otherwise. Or at least it insists that you would like to be," Nakuru said pointedly.

"Actually, I just get embarrassed when people ask me about girls. Even when it isn't true," he rebutted.

"So who do you like, then?" Chris nudged him, already knowing the answer.

Ron shook his head. "None of your business, Shazi."

The four laughed, and two Pepsi's arrived at the table. In the background, one could almost make out the music over the loud banter in the pub. The Three Broomsticks was now filled with Hogwarts students, all buying their favourite drinks- butterbeers being the drink of choice.

Gwen stirred her drink with her finger. "This place is almost like Cola Pub back in Canada, eh Nak?"

Nakuru nodded as she took another swig of her Bailey's. "I was just thinking that."

"I know. I'm telepathic," Gwen added matter-of-factly.

"So this is Hogsmeade... I prefer Walmart." Chris finished his Pepsi. In seconds, it disappeared from the table, and was replaced with another. He looked down at the glass in astonishment.

Ron smirked. "Non-stop Pop. Fred n' George came up with that one! Brought this place a lot of new customers."

"Fred and George...they're your brothers. Right. I remember," Gwen commented absently. "They're really funny! I gave them a list of ideas for their joke shop! They were very impressed. So if I were you, I'd watch out for sunflowers in green pots."

Ron looked confusedly at Gwen. "Why?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Chris said as he took another gulp of his Pepsi. "She was at Meridian, what your brothers are at Hogwarts."

"That bad? But Gwen, you always seemed so cool, collected, and together," Ron stated jokingly. "Gwen Tomoe? A prankster?"

"The Original Prankster," she pointed out. "Your brothers' first school 'terrorist act' was executed in their second year- when I was in my second year at Meridian. I committed my first practical joke at Meridian when I was in my first year. Ironically enough, though, we both played the same prank- Exploding Chocolate Balls. They would burst after being swallowed, and then the fizz created by the stomach acid and the basic solution in the chocolate would uncontrollably come back up, and they'd be spewing chocolate fizz for an hour!"

The three sat and stared at Gwen in astonishment. "Mind you, it wasn't one of our better jokes. It was more or less experimental for later tasty terrors."

Ron smirked. "Smart, funny... You're almost perfect!"

"Almost?" Nakuru asked amusedly.

"Well," he continued, "do you like Quidditch?"

Chris rolled his eyes. "Gwen Tomoe, the youngest Quidditch team captain and Chaser Meridian has ever seen." Chris took a deep breath, and then continued. "Appointed to the team in her first year, Gwen set a world record for being the youngest Quidditch captain, part-time coach, and Chaser in a professional Quidditch League- all prestigious schools are one level below Quidditch Cup rankings."

Ron looked astoundedly at Gwen, who was hamming it up like a superstar. "Well, Harry was the youngest seeker at Hogwarts, too. So they're tied for youngest."

Chris shook his head. "No, no. When you were in your first year at Hogwarts, we were in our second. We're a year ahead of you."

"Oh." Ron bowed his head. "Well, in any event, you're amazing!"

"Naw," Gwen replied, as she finished her drink. "I just do my best. Do you play Quidditch?"

Ron nodded. "Keeper. Last year was my first year at it, and I was terrible to start- but I'm much better now. Harry's seeker, and Fred n' George are the Beaters."

Nakuru smiled. "Ah, the days of being a seeker...I remember that."

"You do?" Ron asked as he finished his first Pepsi.

Chris, finishing his second, interrupted. "Yep. Nak was the best seeker in our school. I was Keeper, and then the other three girls were our Chasers."

"And the beaters?"

"Just a couple of slackers back at Meridian," Nakuru added. Remembering the note she'd been given, Nakuru decided to go to the washroom. "I'll be right back," she said as she left the table.

Once in there, Nakuru locked the door and leaned against one of the walls of the small washroom. She unfolded the crinkled paper, and attempted to read the hand-scratches, or writing:

Dear Nakuru,

You don't know who I am, but I think we need to talk. It's important. I suggest we meet in The Webb. If you don't know where that is, just go to the third floor, and follow the purple torches.

From,

Shiru (Seventh Year Slytherin)

As she finished reading, there was a knock on the door. "Nak?" It was Gwen.

"Just a minute!" Nakuru flushed the toilet to remain inconspicuous. Shiru, I've heard that name before, she thought to herself.

She opened the door and walked back to the table, where Gwen and the boys were waiting. "Get lost?" Chris asked sarcastically.

"No, I just wanted to get away from you," Nakuru retorted as she stuck her tongue out. "Quidditch star."

As they left the Three Broomsticks, an idea struck Ron, which was rare. "Can I see you transform? Into a fox?"

Nakuru looked stunned. "What? Here? Now?"

Ron nodded. Chris agreed. "Come on, show him," he said, egging her on.

Nakuru sighed. "Fine." Just as Sirius would transform into 'Snuffles', Nakuru transfigured herself into a sleek, golden fox. She looked up at Ron and tilted her head, as if waiting for a response.

Ron clapped and cheered sarcastically. "That's awesome. I wish I could do that. I know too many animagi."

Salinas popped out of nowhere. "Hey, cool!"

"What are you doing here?" Gwen asked as Nakuru began to re-transform.

"Snape told me to get lost. So I came just in time for the show."

"Actually," Ron said regretfully, "we were just leaving to go back. I'm surprised they let you come."

"Damnit. No butterbeer for me, then," Salinas said sadly.

The day was growing darker, and the buggies going back to Hogwarts were starting to leave. The five scrambled into the last coach, and made their way sleepily back to the castle. Another long day was done with, and they couldn't wait to eat supper.

As they entered the school, Gwen, Ron, and Chris stopped suddenly. "What?" Nakuru asked curiously.

Ron smacked his forehead. "We have to go find Fred n' George- it's about their Fizzing Gob-Ups!"

Gwen and Chris nodded in agreement.

Ron continued. "They told us to test some when we had a chance, and wanted us to tell them if the fizzing effect lasted for longer than a minute. Before supper! Otherwise they'd be all over the school by nightfall."

"Okay..." Nak looked confusedly at Ron. "And the problem is?"

"They don't fizz!" Gwen shouted. "They made your nose run uncontrollably for an hour!"

Salinas rolled their eyes. "I'll go with you, then. Supper's in an hour."

Nakuru shook her head. "I have places to go, people to see... I'll catch up with you all later."

The four nodded and headed off towards the Gryffindor Tower. Nakuru set her destination to The Webb- apparently, the highest tower in the school, next to the Astronomy Tower.