Destiny

Losing and Gaining

Chapter 6

As the weeks passed, Harry found himself spending more and more time with Destiny. Unfortunately, he also found himself spending less time with Ron and Hermione. Ron of course didn't mind much. He saw it as the perfect opportunity to get Hermione to notice him as a guy. Hermione though was a different story. While she was still nice to Ron and Harry, she made it very clear that she couldn't stand Destiny. Destiny, of course, didn't seem to mind at all. She had made dozens of friends outside of the Gryffindor house. Surprisingly enough, she had made most of her friends out of older students. It was rare, if ever, she was seen with anyone her own age.

The only bizarre thing was that, although it was impossible not to like her, she preferred to be alone. The only time she ever really opened up, was around Harry.

Harry, of course, wanted to owl Sirius and let him know about his daughter. Destiny quickly protested to this saying that she wanted to meet him before she committed to anything. After all, if she didn't like him, there was no point in putting them both through the hell that it would take for them to get to know each other. Harry agreed, not wanting to see either of them suffer unnecessarily. He didn't however let the matter rest. He decided that, as soon as possible, he was going to take Destiny to meet her father.

"Hey, Des!" Harry called as he ran to catch up with her. "I've got it!"

"Oh, Harry, you poor thing!" she exclaimed in mock horror. "I've heard the rash is really bad and when it starts oozing-"

"Ew! What are you talking about?"

"I dunno! I'm just randomly letting words flow!"

"I don't even want to know... Anyway-"

"It's anyhoo!"

"I'm trying to tell you something important!" Satisfied that she was through interrupting, he continued. "There's going to be a meeting of the Or- well anyways, Sirius is going to be here and I always visit with him when he comes. I can bring you to meet him!"

"We'd have to make sure Lupin isn't going to say anything."

"I'll take care of it."

"Okay, then. When's this meeting?"

"You're not supposed to know about that!"

"Get over it. So I know, big deal! Well?"

"The day after Halloween."

"Alrighty then! Looking forward to it... What should I wear!"

Goaning, Harry turned and walked away, shaking his head in amusement.

"I'm serious!" she shouted after him.

*****

The day of Halloween dawned rainy and dark. In the seventh year girls dorm though, it couldn't have gotten darker.

Since Hermione had begun to give Destiny the silent treatment on the second day of school, things had become increasingly difficult for the Necromancer in her dorm room. While Hermione usually just flat out ignored her, Parvati and Lavender didn't seem inclined to do so. Destiny had started to make sure that there was always a spirit friend around to fight for her, or- if things ever got out of hand- to go get Professor Lupin, who was the only teacher that wouldn't ask questions when the messenger randomly vanished.

Even worse was the fact that she constantly had to use advanced protection spells to protect her things. Every night when she went to bed, James or Lily- two of her most trusted ghosts- would stand guard over her so they could wake her if anybody tried to do anything to her.

The first time she had started posting her friends as guards was after Parvati had dumped pink hair dying potion on her head as they were getting ready for bed. After that, it had become a full-blown prank war. She had started using muggle tricks- stepping on the back of the girls skirts, causing them to be ripped off, saran rapping the toilets so that the pee would have no where to escape but down their legs- to get revenge. The best part was, no matter how hard they tried, they could never seem to get her- of course it helped to have invisible lookouts. The problem was, it was becoming difficult to keep her mind on anything but Harry, and everyone knows that the first rule of pranking is to be alert and not get distracted in a way that would allow someone to pull one over on you.

'Am I falling for him? I can't be! He's my only true friend and I don't want to lose that because my hormones finally decided to kick in!' she thought as she brushed her long black curls furiously. 'Okay, take a deep breath and calm down,' she told herself, jumping out of the way as Lavender threw a shoe at her.

Scowling at her immature roommate, Destiny quickly grabbed her book bag and broom, running out the door before she was forced to retaliate.

She had decided to get up early that morning to fly around before she had to go meet the Potter's and go to breakfast. Flying always helped calm her nerves and today she was going to need it. Halloween- according to Destiny- was the worst holiday ever. On Halloween, because it was the night when the veil between the world of the living and the dead was thinnest, her powers had a tendency to be... excessive. It was the best time to use Necromancy though, for it was also the time when her powers were at their strongest. On the Night of the Dead, she was with out a doubt, the most powerful creature in existence. She became nearly invincible.

'Oh, please don't let me accidentally make anything dead, visible... Or worse! Something living, invisible!' she thought as she climbed onto her Nimbus 2000.

Destiny was immediately drenched as she flew out the door. She flew down to the Quidditch pitch and did a few laps before landing and running to the forest where she was to meet the Potter's.

"Hey!" she called when she saw them.

Glancing upwards, James cocked his head and said, "You know, I think the sky is puking."

"Ew!"

With a sad look, Lily said, "No, the Angels are crying. And soon, the rest of the world will join."

Nobody spoke as the rain soaked Destiny to the bone. There was nothing to say. They all knew that when the morning Post Owls arrived, some poor kid was going to find out what it meant to be touched by death. With a sad sigh, she thought, 'Nobody should know the feel of Deaths touch. Especially not a child.'

With a feeling of determination, Destiny said shortly, "All the more reason why we need to act now. Now is the time to start fighting back! I'm at my most powerful today, let's go get rid of the sorry bastard!"

"No," James said firmly. "You attack him alone, you've signed your own death warrant. Only with Harry by your side will you be victorious. Another reason is, Harry isn't ready. You may want to try to be recruited by the Order of the Phoenix. They can be a major help and-"

"They won't let me into their little club. They'll know what I am and will deny me entrance."

"Which is the point. Trust me."

Suddenly, Destiny realized what James was getting at. Her eyes widened as she said, "Oh! ... You know I feel bad tricking Harry like this..."

At this, Lily giggled, "Someone's in love!"

"I am NOT!"

"Then why else would you care so much?"

"Okay, maybe I like him a little, but- HEY! Mind your own business! Changing the subject now. What's up with Hermione?"

Snickering loudly, James said, "That's not exactly changing the subject."

Elbowing him into silence, Lily explained, "Hermione's jealous of Harry spending so much time with you. When you weren't here, she still had a chance, but now she knows that it's just a matter of time until he falls in love with you too."

"Harry doesn't love me. Besides all the guys here see me as a friend- well for the moment they do-, not as a girl."

With an exasperated gesture, Lily said, "Open your eyes! Guys are drooling over you!"

"Why?" Destiny asked meekly.

"If you can't figure it out, I'm not telling you." After a moments silence, Lily continued. "Go eat breakfast. If you stay out here, you'll catch your death."

With a confused look, Destiny bent down to pick up her battered old broom. Without bothering to turn around to see them, she said, "I'm going to meet my father tomorrow. What should I say?"

In a quiet voice, James answered, "I think it's time you started making your own choices. Nobody can live your life for you and that is precisely what Lily and I have been doing... We've talked it over and we've decided that the best thing we can do for you is leave and let you make these decisions on your own. Don't come here to meet us again, we won't be waiting."

Closing her eyes in silent pain, Destiny asked, "Where are you going?"

"Away. We'll come back when you are ready to lead the army you were born to command..."

"You don't have to leave! I can-" She stopped when she turned and realized that she was alone. Blinking back tears, she headed to the castle.

'I'll show them!' she thought angrily. 'I'll show them I'm not acting like a kid!' she stopped walking as soon as the thought crossed her mind. 'Okay, maybe I am. Well, we'll just have to fix that. First things first, I need to let Dumbledore and Harry know what I am and that I'm on their side. Next I need to let my father know I exist. Lastly, I need to start training again. I shouldn't have let being treated normally go to my head and the best way to deal with that problem is to go back to being how I was before I started trying to be like everyone else.'

Feeling more confident than she had since before coming to Hogwarts; she walked into the Great Hall. She was amazed at how wonderful she felt now that she no longer needed to worry about what other people thought. 'Has it really only been two months since this hell began?'

As she walked to the open seat by the "Dream Team", she was aware of people waving at her. She didn't even bother to acknowledge them or to try and paste on a fake smile. She slid into a chair and began to concentrate on her food.

"Wow... You look like crap," Harry stated. When she didn't bother to answer him, he waved a hand in front of her face and called, "Hello! Earth to Destiny!" As she slapped his hand away, she felt a pang of regret run through her. Harry didn't deserve to be treated like this. He had been nothing but nice from the start.

'No!' she told herself. 'I'm sick of pretending to be something I'm not.' Looking at him though, she felt her mind become even clearer. 'But, perhaps, with Harry, it's not pretend. It's almost like wanting to be with Lily and James except more so... Oh, Lord, NO! They were right. How can I be falling in love with Harry Potter?'

*****

Harry was getting a little worried. Ron, Hermione and him had looked all over for Destiny before heading down to breakfast.

"Where do you think she went?" Ron asked, just as worried.

"She left just after I got up," Hermione stated carelessly.

"What if You- Know- Who attacked her!"

"Oh, come on Ron! What's the chances of that happening?"

Harry sighed as he listened to his friends bickering. "Let's go eat guys. She'll turn up and if she doesn't, we'll see her in class."

When breakfast was halfway over, Destiny did indeed show up. When he saw her, his mouth dropped open.

She had worn her hair down for the first time instead of putting it up in some elegant up-do. Usually, she was always perfectly groomed, with perfect hair, make-up and clothes. Today though her hair- along with the rest of her body- was soaked, plastered, and matted in curly ringlets. What startled him the most was her expression. She wore a hardened glare and her eyes were like topaz ice chips. Her mascara had run down her face, giving the impression of war paint. Usually very bouncy, he was surprised when she totally ignored the little fan club that had started to fawn over her and sat down next to him without a word or glance.

Trying to lighten her mood, he told her how bad she looked- the guaranteed way to get her attention. She didn't respond in the slightest. When he tried to get her attention again, he was shocked once more when she smacked him away.

Apparently so were Ron and Hermione.

"What is your problem?" Hermione demanded in a nasty voice. She immediately backed down though when Destiny turned and stared at her with cool commanding eyes.

Harry, not wanting to make Destiny's mood any worse just smiled and said, "Everyone's entitled to having a bad day. So... Quidditch try-outs... You game?" he asked, nudging her to get her attention.

He could tell she was trying not to smile, as she said, "No pun intended?"

"Of course not. So what do you say? Beater, Chaser..."

"Sure... When's try-outs?"

"Tomorrow. It's going to freezing if it doesn't stop raining though."

"Cool," Destiny commented absentmindedly.

"Well, let's go to class," Hermione said.

"Hermione, can I talk to you for a sec? Alone?" Destiny asked. Turning to face the others, she said, "We'll see you in class." Grabbing Hermione arm, she drug her into an open classroom.

"Well?" Hermione asked annoyed.

"I know why you hate me."

Startled, Hermione said, "I don't hate you."

"Yes you do. You hate me because Harry had been spending all of his time with me. You hate that you might have competition for Harry's affections. Well, you need to know that, yes; I do like Harry as more than a friend, but... BUT, I would rather be his friend than risk putting a rift between you two. Is there anyway we can make a deal of no hard feelings towards whoever he ends up liking?

"No... I've known him for years and no matter how hard I try, he never sees me as anything but a guy friend who knows about girl things. But you... You just show up one day and within seconds, he's head over heel in love with you."

"He doesn't love me. He's a teenage guy. They doesn't know what love is."

"Well HE does. You'd have to be blind not to see it."

"He doesn't even know me, not really. If he did... well, there's no difference between one person and the next. They're all the same. All prejudice," Destiny said, showing emotion for the first time that day.

"I knew you were hiding something. You always change the topic though. What is it you're so afraid to let others know?" Hermione asked, feeling concerned despite herself.

"Ask me that again tomorrow. You'll get to hear an insane story if you do." Taking a deep breath, she changed the subject back to what they had been previously discussing. "Do you still hate me?"

"No, it's not your fault. Besides, what kind of friend would I be if I let a guy get in the way? But if you hurt him, I'll make you cry!"

With a snort, she grabbed Hermione's wrist and drug her off to class. They hurried in and came up short.

"Oh, no!" Hermione said.

"Are we late?" Destiny asked carelessly.

"Yes Black, Granger, you are," Professor McGonagall said as she advanced on the two girls.

"Oh good! I thought something serious had happened!" Destiny exclaimed before bouncing to an empty seat.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor! EACH!"

As the day progressed, people were continually shocked by Destiny's attitude. She had always been really nice but now she snapped at people when she was angry, refused to apologize, and didn't seem to care what anyone thought.

The only person her behavior didn't change around was Harry. She would still laugh and joke and was willing to look like an idiot with him.

'What's going on?' Harry wondered to himself. 'Maybe she's just worried about Sirius.'

But Harry couldn't help feeling that something was coming. Something big that could destroy the world as he saw it. It was coming and would reach them soon.