Innocent Eyes

Innocent Eyes.

Prologue;

Chosen.

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A figure rolled through the long patch of wet grass before jumping up and setting herself into fighting stance once more. The creature that sought her jumped out and made to meet its bold fist with the skin of her face. Just before the blow hit, she grabbed it's wrist and twisted it, resulting in a sickening crack of bone as the creature growled in agony. It fell to its knees before her and she whipped out the thin wooden stake from her jacket sleeve and met its pointed end with the creatures unbeating heart. Before her very eyes, the thing in front of her exploded into a thousand grains of dust, which blew away in the wind. She stepped back and looked at the sky, wishing, willing for another life yet knowing it will never be done. She has accepted her fate.

"One dies ... another is chosen."

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'In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.'

It was September the 1^st. The air was cold and harsh against her skin, but by now she was used to it. She watched as the other students fell inconspicuously through the brick barrier that led from Kings Cross Station onto the infamous (amongst the Wizarding community) Platform 9 ¾. Tightening her leather jacket around herself, she pushed her belongings in front of her and rushed at the barrier. Ever since she'd found ... well, ever since that day, nothing had ever amazed her, or even caused the slightest bit of emotion to flicker through her. But now, her eyes flickered everywhere, from the bright red train with 'The Hogwarts Express' emblazoned proudly on the front, to the wizards and witches hurrying arund, some cloaked in robes, some still in Muggle clothes. Those trained eyes trailed the line of people, looking, seeing, searching. Disregarding her momentary emotion, she picked up her things and walked onto the train. Finding an empty compartment around the middle she settled herself down after securing her things above her. It was then, and only then that she allowed herself to think. To remember.

Kathryn Mahon was a 17-year-old witch from Australia. She was born in the land of sun but shared her Australian heritage with a Latino one resulting in her smooth olive complexion. Her long dark chocolate hair fell halfway down her back in silky strands. Her eyes, the same colour as her hair were truly the windows to her soul, for they showed every single bit of anguish and horror she had seen in her short life, and they had long lost the sparkle they'd once held. Fairly tall for her age if you compared her to most of her peers back home, she was 5''7, slim but athletic. Her long legs were agile and her arms slight but strong. In fact, she had a figure most girls her age would kill for ... except for one small thing. On her back, in the lower left corner was a deep, jagged scar covered up by a tattoo of a dragon. It was like most ordinary Muggle tattoos except that it's eyes were bewitched to flash silver. She'd originally wanted to get a Chinese character symbolizing the word 'love'. Ha. What good had love ever brought her? No more, she would not give in to the terrors that came with love.

Kathryn, or Kat as some select people were allowed to call her had come to England only two months earlier. It was because of that day that she was here now. There was nothing left for her back home. She had to start anew. She closed her eyes now, struggling to keep from reliving it, but no matter what she did ... she always remembered.

Kathryn Mahon had just left her Wizarding school for the Easter Holidays. 'The Australian Institute of Magic' was based in Sydney and transportable for older students by I.D Apparition. This meant that after they passed their apparition test (the age to get an Apparating license there was 16) they had to register on a charmed list at the school so that the wards protecting would recognize the student or teacher Apparating and would allow them entry. This list was not fooled by anything, even the Polyjuice Potion. The school was otherwise unreachable.

Apparating to a secluded part of central station as she usually did, Kathryn waiting patiently with her luggage as she waited for her mother, Paula Mahon, to pick her up. The Mahon's were one of the most pureblood families that resided in Australia - although this had never been an issue for them. Australia was not a very prejudiced country and the co-existence was accepted by Muggles and wizarding folk alike. Although not ALL Muggle's were aware of the others' existence.

A tall head of dark blonde hair caught her eye and Kathryn waved out to her mum who came rushing over, giving her daughter a huge hug.

"Hello darling, oh I've missed you! We haven't seen you since the winter holidays!" (Winter in Australia is in June/July).

"I know, I've missed you guys too, is dad still overseas?" she asked. Kathryn's father, Joe Mahon was a professional Quidditch player. He was a chaser for the best Quidditch team in New South Wales. The Flying Wallabies - the name was appropriated and changed slightly from the original one that named the countries most famous Muggle rugby team which left out the word 'flying'.

"He'll be home by tonight, the whole team needs to start practicing again, the Commonwealth Games are just around the corner!" her mother said, smiling down at her. Paula, unlike Kathryn and her twin brother Damon, had long wavy dark blonde hair and acquired her tan through years of sunbathing. Kathryn and Damon however, had inherited THEIR so-called tans, from good genes. They had always had slightly darker skin from birth. In Paula's younger years she had won many beauty contests including the infamous title of Miss Australia when she was 24. Damon had inherited her startling blue eyes, but like Kathryn, had inherited most of his father's darker features.

"Are you ready to Apparate? You only got here a short while ago, I don't want you doing it when you're too tired, you might get splinched!" her mother said. Kathryn rolled her eyes.

"I'm fine mum, let's go okay!" and as if by magic (haha) the two of them disappeared into thin air.

Kathryn sighed heavily as her thoughts moved to another day.

It was almost time to go back to school, but she still had a few days left. She'd just been to see a movie with some of her friends - Muggles she'd grown up with. They'd dropped her off at the train station near her house and she was just getting ready to Apparate home when she heard a noise from her left. She turned around to stare in the direction it was coming from. There was a big bush there and she could see it shudder slightly every now and then. Bravely, or rather stupidly, she walked up to it.

"Hello?" she said nervously. The bush stopped moving and there was silence. Feeling the enormity of the situation now, she backed away, trying to gather her thoughts together so she could Apparate. Suddenly, the bush was torn apart and two of the most distorted looking yet humanly dressed creatures she'd ever even thought about jumped out, roaring at her. She screamed like a banshee and turned to run. She wasn't fast enough. One of the ... the things grabbed her and held her up around the neck with one of its enormous hands. She struggled to breathe, and just when she thought she was going to die ... it happened.

Kathryn's body went stock-still. She felt as if something had just slammed into her heart and body and was burning to spread. It did, the feeling spread all around her, to the tips of her fingers and the bottom of her feet. It was like a fire that had just ignited her but then ... it was something different altogether. She didn't know what it was but it gave her an extra burst of manic energy, and another mouthful of air. She kicked the demon as hard as she could, and surprisingly it dropped her and staggered back in pain. The other one came charging towards her but as if by instinct, she stopped its oncoming fist with her own hand and threw it five feet away. If she was shocked at her strength she didn't show it, all she needed right now was to stay alive. The first demon had regained it's composure and attempted to back kick her, but she had picked up a rock on the ground and before it could make contact with her, she slammed the rock into its head, and watched as it dropped to the ground, surely to be dead very soon. The other one charged at her again but she caught it swiftly by the throat and snapped its neck, killing it instantly. As she looked down at the creatures in front of her, her eyes were wild and her breathing ragged. She found herself slowly holding her hands in front of her, looking at them in utter confusion. What was going on?

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By the time she reached Hogwarts it was dark outside, but she welcomed it. This was what she lived for now. She was a creature of the night ... just like them. She changed into her uniform and robes quickly and unloaded her belongings as she felt the train come to a halt. She didn't have any pets, not even an owl. There was no one to write to.

When she ventured off the train amongst the other students, everybody seemed so happy but she was immune to it. Tidbits of conversations drifted towards her but she blocked them out and made her way to one of the horseless carriages that was heading up towards the castle. When she got in she closed the door quickly so that no one else would get in - she didn't want company, solitude was her only friend. She watched out of the window as a great big man led some tiny, scared looking students into boats on the shore of the lake. They must be first-years, she thought. After a smooth ride to the castle, she got out gracefully and looked around. She didn't have her belongings with her, she'd been instructed to leave them when she'd gotten off the train - the House Elves would take care of them. She was amazed for the second time that day at the grandeur of the old castle. Her old school had never been anything like this. The Australian Wizarding Community had been all about modernity and the latest of all things. She rather liked this older approach. It seemed more mystical, more like a magical castle should look. She followed the other students towards a pair of huge wooden doors, receiving some curious glances along the way. Being such a small school meant that everyone noticed when a new student arrived - especially one that wasn't a first year. Just as she was about to head in with the others, a stern-looking woman with a black hair in a tight bun approached her.

"Kathryn Mahon?" she asked. Kathryn started slightly, but nodded at the woman.

"I am Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher as well as Head of Gryffindor House. Headmaster Dumbledore has asked me to welcome you, I trust your trip was satisfactory?" she said, looking at the younger woman with what could have been motherly concern, but came out rather severely.

"Yes, thank you Professor," was all that she replied. Professor McGonagall nodded briskly.

"Well, you are to wait out here with me for the first-years so that you may all be sorted together before the feast. I won't explain to you about the houses now, we'll wait for the rest of them so that I won't be repeating myself," she said just as a harried group of drenched students trudged up the stairs to the Entrance Hall.

"First years!" the Professor started, but Kathryn tuned her speech out, still marveling at the castles inner walls. The students had stopped bustling into what she caught glimpses of was a huge hall. It didn't seem to be as loud as it was before. She was just tuning back into Professor McGonagall when she realized that the speech was over and the Transfiguration teacher was ushering them to enter first. When they entered, Kathryn walked in at the front along with the Professor. The curious looks she'd been receiving before seemed to have become contagious and now practically the whole hall had fixed their eyes on her. When they reached the end of the hall where the teacher's table was located, what she assumed to be the headmaster stood up. She smirked inwardly. He was the EXACT interpretation of what Muggles believed that a wizard would look like. The long white beard and crooked nose were down to an exact T.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," he began. She focused her alert ears on him, but allowed her eyes to trail briefly along the stool with the old torn hat on top of it, to the dark professor seated at the very left end of the table, giving her a scrutinizing stare. She narrowed her eyes and stared straight back. He didn't seem intimidated but gave way after a few moments only to turn to Dumbledore.

"This year, we are joined by a transfer student from Australia. Kathryn Mahon will enter her seventh year here and graduate with the rest of the current seventh years at the end of the year. Now, before we start sorting the new first years, Kathryn must be sorted first." Professor McGonagall gestured for her to walk up to the stool. She did so, but looked at the hat in confusion. Turning back to the Professor, her eyes were questioning.

"Uh ... what am I meant to do with this?" she asked. This earned a few titters from the four long tables situated vertically down the rest of the hall. Her eyes flickered to the instigators sharply, and they were quiet. Professor McGonagall's face turned into what she assumed must be her form of a smile.

"Just put the hat on dear, and it will do the rest for you," she said kindly. Kathryn nodded and picked up the hat. It wasn't like anything she'd ever seen before! She sat down on the stool nervously and hesitantly put the old hat on her head.

"My my my, and just WHAT do we have here?" Kathryn nearly jumped out of her skin when the hat started speaking to her. She forced herself to remain calm though and narrowed her eyes for the second time that night.

"Never, I don't think it's ever happened before ... at Hogwarts at least ... my my my, Miss Mahon, it's going to be difficult to place YOU I can tell from the start ... what have we here? You are smart yes, though not academically driven enough to fit in Ravenclaw ... Hufflepuff ... hmm, yes there is loyalty there but your courage overtakes you, which leads me to think ... hmm ... Gryffindor perhaps? ... perhaps not though ... ah yes, I can see it now, that cunning, that drive to prove that you are worthy of being who you are ... yes ... I believe you will find your own kin, in none other than SLYTHERIN!" it yelled the last word out for the entire hall to hear and applause, especially from the table to her right, adorned in silver and green, met her ears loudly. She took the hat off her head and placed it back onto the stool. Professor McGonagall told her to go and sit at the green and silver table. She walked over, and the students there immediately cleared a space for her in the middle of the table. She sat down gingerly, dreading the fact that she was going to have to be at least slightly sociable; something she hadn't done in a long time. She sighed inwardly and turned to the girl next to her who'd just introduced herself, her eyes slightly narrowed as if she were studying Kathryn to see if she would be any competition.

"Blaise Zabini," she said confidently. In return, Kathryn gave the other girl a long look. She was very pretty. Long wavy, deep auburn hair and dark aqua eyes that showed that there was more to her then what was found on the surface.

"Kathryn Mahon," she replied, taking the other girls offered hand and shaking it.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, or in particular, welcome to Slytherin. You look around you and see the other houses getting along with no qualms ... we don't do that. It just doesn't happen here. Did Professor McGonagall explain to you about everything when you arrived?" she asked, getting straight down to the point. Kathryn, though without a lot of human contact for at least a couple of weeks, started to warm slightly to the girl. She didn't like people that kept their feelings hidden or beat around the bush, she liked those that laid everything out on the table, and if you didn't like it, then tough.

"Probably, but I wasn't listening. The whole house thing in Australia wasn't really that important," she replied. Blaise nodded.

"Here, it is. Your house is your family, especially if you're in Slytherin. We're the 'evil' house or so have been labeled. The other houses don't talk to us and that's just fine, we don't want to talk to them either, they're all filled with some kind of Muggle-born filth ... you are a pureblood aren't you?" she asked, raising one perfectly plucked eyebrow.

"Yes I am a pureblood but that fact has never been significant to me, so I suggest that you don't bring it up too often," she said, looking Blaise hard in the eye. If Blaise was shocked at her sudden firmness she didn't even bat an eyelash.

"We're missing a house member at the moment, he's away in Italy with his parents. You'll meet him soon enough though. Draco Malfoy, he's the first head boy Slytherins had in a long time," Blaise said airily, turning to her food. Kathryn shrugged.

"What's so good about him?" she said, taking Blaise's lead and starting on her dinner. Blaise eyed her.

"When you see him ... you'll know."

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That night Kathryn slept horribly. It wasn't the beds in the castle, or the fellow occupants in the room. Not really - just two other girls, one called Pansy Parkinson. She was blonde haired and blue eyed, and didn't seem to get on very well with Blaise, but both kept their distances. The other girl was Millicent Bulstrode. She was a rather large girl with very short thin muddy brown hair and a permanent scowl set on her face. She and Pansy seemed to team up a lot. But that wasn't what was bothering Kathryn. It was her dreams ... so many of them. She had them every night; it was either something prophetical or something from her past. She'd found it hard enough getting to sleep in the first place, but as soon as the realms of slumber overtook her, she was brought back to her memories. Her bad memories.

She'd been on her way home from the mall, deciding to use the Muggle system of transport as she did often. It was a nice change. She was about two blocks from her house when her instincts told her that she was being followed. She kept on walking for a bit, slowing down gradually, and suddenly whirled around and used her new-found power to jump a clean ten feet and grab the man by the collar.

"Who are you and what do you want?" she said angrily. She'd never been a violent or even harsh person. She'd always had a very normal, sheltered life, but ever since she'd developed this ... this, she didn't even know what it was, she'd been more and more confused resulting in her rapidly changing moods.

"Please, please, I'm not here to hurt you, please you have to believe me ... are you Kathryn Mahon?" the man squeaked out. Kathryn was distracted momentarily by his odd accent. It sounded very English. Very out of place here. She herself had a bit of English influence in her accent but that was only because her dad travelled to so many places, she'd picked up all kinds of different accents off his and now was all muddled around.

Kathryn set him on the ground but continued to hang onto him.

"Who are you," she said. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm glad to see how immediate your instincts are," he said nervously, wiping his forehead slightly under the heat. It was then that Kathryn noticed that he wore gray trousers, a tweed jacket, shirt and a very mismatched tie. She let go of his collar and stared him down. The sun was setting but it hadn't gone down yet - what kind of idiot wouldn't wait until dark before following you home? He couldn't be that much harm.

"I repeat ... who are you," she said.

"I'm James Mathison ... I'm a watcher," he said matter-of-factly. Kathryn looked at him, confused.

"A what?" she asked. He looked at her intently, as if he were about to drop a huge bomb, which inevitably in the non-literal sense ... he was.

"I'm a watcher ... I am put in charge of a Slayer, to guide and teach them to the best of their physical and mental capabilities," he said, but put up his hand when she started to speak.

"In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer." Kathryn was still looking at him in confusion.

"And what does that have to do with me?" she asked. She had heard a myth about Slayers, and she already knew about vampires and demons, hell she was a witch wasn't she? But she'd never known if this myth was actually true or not.

"When one dies ... another is chosen ... Kathryn ... you have been chosen. You are the Slayer."

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