To Trust

"In the immortal words of the Doors: The time to hesitate is through."

~ Lucas - Empire Records

To Trust: Chapter One ~ The Girl

"On three, right?" said Harry. "One - two - three-"

He and Cedric both grasped a handle.

Instantly, Harry felt a jerk somewhere behind his navel. His feet had left the ground. He could not unclench the hand holding the Triwziard Cup; it was pulling him onwards, in a howl of wind and swirling colour, Cedric at his side.

... And then without warning, Harry's scar exploded with pain. It was agony such as he had never felt in all his life; his wand slipped from his fingers as he put his hands over is face; his knees buckled; he was on the ground and he could see nothing at all, his head was about to split open.

From far away, above his head, he heard a high, cold voice say, "Kill the spare."

A swishing noise and a second voice, which screeched the words to the night: 'Avada Kedavra!'

A blast of green light blazed through Harry's eyelids, and he heard something heavy fall to the ground beside him; the pain in his scar reached such a pitch that he retched, and then it diminished; terrified of what he was about to see, he opened his stinging eyes.

Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the ground beside him. He was dead.

Harry opened his eyes to stare at the dark ceiling before him. He sat up sweating. It had been two weeks since he had last heard from the wizarding world -except for the occasional letter from his best friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger- and each night had been like this night. A dream would come to him, usually ending with his death, and the death of everyone who was close to him.

Harry sat up, draping his feet over the bedside. Reaching to his night side table, he located the lamp switch and flicked it on. Light flooded the room, causing Harry to squint as his eyes adjusted to the sudden flood of light.

Wiping sweat from his forehead, he then stood up walking over to his small desk where the night before he had left his glasses. Locating them he put them on and the room came into focus, allowing his eyes to settle on the clock: 3:42.

"Fantastic," he muttered, sitting down in his desk chair, turning his attention to the desk.

His desk was covered with his potions, history of magic and transfiguration homework. Harry sorted the parchment out into the three different subjects and put them away in the desk drawer.

Picking up his eagle feather quill and bottle of ink, he walked over to his school trunk and put them back in.

Inside the trunk lay two other objects: his firebolt, and his invisibility cloak.

The Firebolt is a top of the line Quidditch broom that was given to him by his Godfather Sirus Black two years back. It had helped him win many Quidditch games and even to get him past a dragon once.

The invisibility cloak once belonged to his father, James Potter. Dumbledore gave it to Harry for Christmas in his first year. Since then he's broken more school rules with it unknown to all the teachers, except of course Dumbledore.

Harry picked up the firebolt turning it over in his fingers. The staff held few chips and not one stick was out of place. It looked brand new. The Firebolt hummed in his fingers, itching to be flown. And Harry itched to fly it.

The sky was still dark out, and the sun wouldn't rise for another few hours yet. Harry glanced at the clock: 3:57. 'Perfect,' he thought.

Harry ran to his bedroom door, doubling back to grab his invisibility cloak for good measure.

He quietly made his way down the stairs skipping the second last stair, and quietly opened the front door.

The night was cool and crisp. As a cool breeze hit him, Harry found himself wishing he had had the sense to dress before rushing out to fly. But it was too late to turn back now. Throwing the invisibility over him, and checking to make sure his feet were covered, Harry mounted his broom and kicked off the ground.

The wind rushed through the thin cloak, and Harry rose higher and higher into the air.

'This is the life,' he thought.

Harry flew over fields, homes, and buildings before returning home landing on his roof to watch the sun come up. A cool breeze whipped its way through the invisibility cloak, causing Harry to shiver and wrap the cloak tighter around him.

It was about 6:00 when the sun peaked over the horizon. Harry sighed at the sight. He was amazed that something so beautiful could exist in a world that contains so much evil.

Sighing once again, Harry sat staring into the sky as the darkness turned into light. He stared aimlessly into the different shades of blue that painted the sky. It was moments before he realized that he was staring at something else also. A dark shadow was flying towards him, blanketed by the sun. As the figure neared, its shape and features became more defined to Harry. The sight caused his heart to beat quickly. The shadow was of a person riding a broomstick, flying towards him. They had both legs draped over one side and their face was covered with the hood of the light blue cloak they wore.

Harry sat still as the person neared. They began to descend about three streets away from where Harry was sitting at that very moment. Without thinking twice, Harry mounted his broom and took off towards the street.

When he got there he noticed a girl standing on the corner. She had the blue cloak Harry had seen the person wearing slung over her arm. Harry judged she was about his age. She had black hair held into a bun with what looked to be a stick. She was wearing a yellow halter top, and dark blue jeans. On the floor beside her sat a small tabby cat, and in a cage still attached to her broom sat a tiny barn owl.

Harry watched as she took a small piece of paper from her pocket, read it and then looked up at the sign she stood under, as if to see if she was in the right place.

Still watching her actions, Harry landed in a tree, scaring the birds as he rustled the branches. Startled by the sudden movement in the tree, Harry lost his footing and fell to the ground taking many of the branches with him.

The girl whirled around at the sound, pulling the stick out of her hair, which Harry now recognized as a wand. Her hair fell about three-quarters of the way down her back.

"Is someone there?" she asked, edging forward. Her wand was extended, and the cat by her feet walked a bit in front of her.

She was at the tree now, examining the branches that had broken. She prodded one with her wand, muttering something under her breath. When she backed away, the branches on the ground jumped up and mended themselves, like new. Gawking at what she just did, Harry didn't notice her cat slowly walking towards him. The small tabby was coming towards him, its nose in the air smelling.

Noticing the cat, Harry sat very still as it and the girl neared. As the girl got closer - much to Harry's relief - she picked up the cat and put it on her shoulder. She continued to walk closer until she stood right over Harry.

Now that she was close to him, Harry could make out the uniqueness of her face. She had big gray eyes, and freckles covering her nose. She looked up at the sky, then over at the house they were in front of.

"I don't know A.J. I could have sworn I heard something," she said, scratching her cat's head.

The girl took two more steps forward bringing her an inch from tripping over Harry's leg. Harry closed his eyes, waiting for her to trip when he heard: "Ms. Kreen?"

The girl turned around stepping away from Harry. He let out his breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in. Opening his eyes he saw an older woman standing before him with her hands held firmly on her hips. Ms. Figg was on the corner staring at the girl.

"Ms. Kreen," Ms. Figg repeated. "What in the world do you think you are doing?"

"Well I was just -you see I heard a crash -and then I just."

"Ms. Kreen. Do you realize that it is 6:30 -in the morning-, we are standing in the middle of a muggle neighborhood, and you are performing magic, because you thought you heard a crash which was more then likely JUST A BIRD?"

"But Ma'am it wasn't a bird. It sounded too big to be a bir-"

"Raccoon then"

The girl opened her mouth to protest, but Ms. Figg silenced her. "Enough. Now... where is your sister?"

"My sister Ma'am?"

"Yes your sister, the one who was to accompany you. I don't remember which one. Nebula, Nova, or Superior maybe?"

"Debtheria actually."

"Whichever. And where may I ask is she?"

"Uh... -um- well, we got separated, um- uh- over London and-"

"Ms. Kreen, it would do best in the future not to tell falsehoods around me. Now let's try this again. Where is Debtheria?"

Sighing, the girl responded, "Back home at her friend's house."

"Your mother will be notified of your sister's irresponsible actions."

"Oh no! Please Ma'am, please. I promised Debt I wouldn't tell. Please!"

Ms. Figg stared at the girl, before sighing and removing her hands from her hips. "Very well. But in the future, I suggest you travel with a partner. I don't think you realize how important to the Order you are right now."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Yes, yes. Now collect your belongings and come inside. It's freezing out."

Ms. Figg headed towards her house. The girl put her cat down on the ground and put her hair into a bun once again with the help of her wand. Her cat didn't seem to think that they were finished with the investigation and started to head towards Harry once again, as the girl walked to the corner and picked up her bag and broom.

"Astral-Jenna let's go," she called to the cat and headed into the house.

*~* *~*

It had taken Harry about a half an hour to get his firebolt out of the tree, and about fifteen minutes more to walk back to number four privet drive. The house never looked inviting to Harry, but at the moment it never looked so good to him either. Harry stepped though the door to be greeted by an enraged Uncle.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"

Harry cringed. Not the person he really wanted to see right now. "Uncle Vernon, good morning. Lovely day isn't it?"

Harry watched his Uncle look him over. Harry knew he must look a mess. Of what he could see of his pajamas they were torn and in some places, stained by blood. His hair was probably a mess (although that was nothing new) and he wasn't wearing any shoes.

His Uncle was now red in the face as he spat out, "Don't be funny with me boy. Where were you?"

"IF you must know, I was out flying."

"Why you!?!"

"I don't need you temper right now. I'm sore and need rest..."

"Don't you talk to me like th-"

"And I need to owl my Godfather." There he had said it. The magic words: God and Father. Harry watched as his Uncle's face went from bright red to an odd shade of green.

"Now if you'll excuse me." With that, Harry walked around his Uncle and past his Aunt (who had appeared in the kitchen doorway when Harry had entered), and up the stairs into his room.

The room was cool, like outside, because the window was constantly open to allow visitors to enter. And as Harry entered he noticed three of such visitors. Three owls were currently sitting on his desk. The first was a large brown owl, which hooted impatiently at Harry as he entered. The second was his very own snowy owl, Hedwig. And the final owl, which wasn't exactly sitting on the desk, but rather jumping up and down, was Ron's owl Pig.

Harry first took the letter from the brown owl. Once it was relieved of its burden, the owl took off out the open window.

Harry opened the letter to discover it was what he had been waiting for all summer:

Dear Mister Harry Potter,

It is my greatest pleasure to inform you that arrangements have been made for you to visit Mister Ronald Weasley for the remainder of the summer. The arrangements have been made for July 14 ("Two days from now," Harry exclaimed.) to September 1.

Yours Truly,

Albus Dumbledore

Harry was ecstatic. This was the best news he had received all summer. He was once again leaving his dreadful Uncle, Aunt and Cousin to go live with his best friend for the remainder of the summer.

Grabbing for Pig, Harry already guessed what the letter said. Sure enough inside the envelope was a short hurried letter, written in what Ron called handwriting:

HARRY!!!

I just got Dumbledore's letter! Dad says we will be at your house at 10:00 on July 14. We won't be late I promise.

Ron

Ps. we'll drive this time. You can tell the Muggles that!

Smiling, Harry grabbed a spare piece of parchment and his quill and ink and scribbled a note to Ron:

Hey Ron,

That sounds great! Ten o'clock is perfect. Make sure you're on time though. My Uncle nearly bit my head off when you were late last time. JUST DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO GET ME OUT OF HERE ASAP!!!! See Ya Soon.

Harry

Finding an envelope in his trunk, Harry put the letter inside. As an after thought Harry decided to add:

Ps. you won't believe what I saw today. I'll tell you about it later though.

With great difficulty he tied it to Pig's leg and the small owl was zipping out the window in no time.

Finally Hedwig was left. She was sitting patiently on her perch waiting for Harry to relieve her of the letter she carried. Harry took the letter and gave Hedwig a small piece of bacon from dinner the night before. Hedwig cooed happily then proceeded to drink from her water dish.

Harry smiled watching her and then turned his attention to the letter in his hands. Opening it he recognized Hermione's neat handwriting immediately:

Dear Harry,

How are things going? From your last letter you seemed extremely bored. I do hope your alright and the muggles aren't ruining you summer too badly. I'm afraid I'm not writing with good news. My parents were asked to speak in a dentist's convention in North America, Canada actually, and I'll be spending my summer there with them. The convention is only a week but we have family there, so we've decided to spend the summer visiting them. I'm very sorry that I can't go to Ron's this year. I would really like to. I'll keep writing, and you better keep writing back. While your at Ron's you had better do your homework ('Figures she would say that,' Harry thought), you won't have me there to remind you. Anyway, I'd better be off. I have to pack. I'll meet you and Ron September 1^st either on the train or on the platform. See you soon,

Love From,

Hermione

Harry sighed. 'Well spending the summer with one friend out of two is better then none I suppose,' he thought.

Harry put the letter aside, got dressed, and headed downstairs for breakfast.

He entered the kitchen to find his Uncle, Aunt and Cousin sitting at the table. Harry took his spot beside his Aunt and grabbed an orange and began to peel it. The table was deathly quiet as Harry peeled the orange. Dudley seemed intent on studying his grapefruit that sat in front of him. He was poking it with his index finger; unhappy with the size of the fruit he was given. Harry examined his cousin. He was a very massive boy. He had been on a diet for over a year now and to Harry it seemed to have done nothing at all. If anything, he had gotten bigger.

Next to him his Aunt was twisting her napkin in-between her bony fingers. She looked as if she were trying to keep something in. Probably about Harry going out flying. His Uncle was doing almost the same fidgeting motion, only the napkin in his hand was slowly deteriorating as he tore it into tiny pieces. His face was red and Harry knew what was coming when he slammed his fists down on the table, startling Dudley and snapping Aunt Petunia out of her trance.

"What did you think you were doing anyway, boy? You will be doing chores for the next month to-"

"Well that won't work now will it," Harry replied cutting him off. He was sick of them being ignorant to his way of life. "I'm leaving in two days for the Weasley's."

"YOU'RE WHAT?"

"You heard me."

"I'm not letting those ... those irregular people in my house ever again. You are not going."

"So you'd rather I stayed here for the rest of the summer?"

His Uncle opened his mouth to protest then suddenly though better of it.

"They will be driving. And wearing normal mug- I mean normal people clothes. So you don't have to worry about that," Harry said. "Besides, they are coming whether you like it or not. I already gave them the go ahead. So if you'll excuse me, I have homework to complete." Harry rose from the table that was now drowned in an uneasy silence once again, and went upstairs to his room.

*~* *~*

The next few days passed by slowly for Harry. His Uncle seemed to come to terms with the arrival of the Weasley's, but that didn't mean he still didn't punish Harry for going out flying. Harry had worked two days straight. Cleaning the car, cutting the grass, painting the garage, painting the bench on the deck, painting the deck, moping the kitchen, cleaning the kitchen... and so on, and so on. Petunia didn't lift a finger for two days straight.

Finally the day came. Harry had awoken early as usual, and the tension in the house was overwhelming. So when 9:00 came around, Harry decided to go for a walk to pass the time. Going outside he breathed the warm summer air. So far the day hadn't turned out too bad. He walked down the street and started absent mindedly towards Ms. Figg's house. He hadn't seen the girl, only known to him as 'Ms. Kreen' since his accident in the tree. He had meant to try to find more out about her, but with the work his Uncle had given him, had kind of put an end to that idea.

He was now rounding the corner of Ms. Figg's street, when he noticed the girl sitting on the front lawn. She was wearing a yellow tank top with pink stars on it, and beige shorts. Her long black hair was held back in a yellow studded bandana. She was sitting cross-legged on the grass a book open on her lap, and books scattering the floor around her. The book she read seemed quite massive, and the sight of her sitting there reading it, somehow reminded Harry of Hermione. Her cat was chasing after a butterfly attempting to pounce on it, by crouching in the grass and sneaking up on it. The butterfly was perched on a tulip in Ms. Figg's garden. As the cat went to pounce on the flower, it was stopped in mid air.

Harry watched in amazement. The girl held her hand out in a closed fist. She brought her arm in close to her, and the cat came to hover in front of her.

"A.J., what have I told you about Ms. Figg's garden?"

The cat mewed softly.

"Don't go near it. She'll have my head! Now I have to finish studying, so chaise a grasshopper or something." With that she lowered her hand and released her fist and the cat was free to go.

Harry still stood on the corner to the street slightly hidden from view behind the tree he had fallen out of. He stood watching until he finally decided to walk down the street and maybe get a closer look at what she was reading. He started across the street to the same side she was on and walked down the sidewalk, careful not to seem too suspicious. As he crossed paths with her, she didn't move at all. Or even look up. She just continued to read. Harry looked casually over the book titles that lay on the floor. Some included: Telepathy Defined, Prophecy of the Ninth Female, and Entering the Mind: The History of Telepathy. Leaning over the book she was reading as he walked by, Harry read: "...always make sure you are not overwhelming yourself when using your power of telepathy. This can be very dangerous..."

Harry continued to walk down the street and didn't stop until he was sure he was out of view. 'Telepathy? Dangerous?' Harry thought. 'What's that all about?' Making mental note to see if Hermione knew anything about Telepathy, he made his way back to his house.

Harry entered the house to find his Uncle reading the paper (although his eyes didn't seem to be moving), his Aunt dusting the windowsill (there was no dust to be seen, yet she continued to dust) and Dudley sitting in one of the larger armchairs chewing on his tongue. The site was not unusual to Harry. Last time the Weasley's came to pick Harry up, they were acting in the same manner. The air in the room contained so much nervous energy that Harry decided to wait out the remaining minutes in his room.

At exactly 10:00 a car pulled into the driveway. Harry looked out his window to double-check it was them. Sure enough, three redheaded individuals were stepping out of a green Ford. The one in the lead was most defiantly Ron.

Harry raced down the stairs and into the front hallway to open the door, but was disappointed to find his Uncle had beaten him to it. Ron was standing in the doorway looking at Harry's Uncle with a look of impending doom on his face. Mr. Weasley came up from behind Ron and stepped in front of him.

"Well hello there," Mr. Weasley said addressing Uncle Vernon. "Its that time of year again I suppose."

Vernon replied with a grunt and allowed Mr. Weasley, Ron, and to Harry's surprise Ginny in the house.

"Well now Harry, how have you been?" Mr. Weasley said, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Not too bad," Harry replied.

"Well that's good then. Now, Ron and Ginny, why don't you go upstairs and help Harry down with his things? Don't want to stick around too long."

Vernon replied to this with another grunt.

Ron and Ginny complied and followed Harry upstairs to his room. Once they were safe inside Ron let out a sigh of relief.

"I thought you Uncle was going to kill me. The look on his face when he answered to door to see me on the other side. Not too inviting now is he," Ron said flopping down on Harry's bed.

"Well what did you expect?" Harry replied.

"Well I guess I wasn't expecting that," Ron replied sighing. "He's a big old brut isn't he?"

Harry laughed. "I guess you could put it that way. Where are Fred and George?"

"At home," To Harry's surprise it was Ginny who spoke up. "Mom caught them leaving the house with some of their newest inventions for your cousin to try, and made them stay home."

"That's a drag. I was kind of hoping to see Dudley turn into a canary or something."

"I don't think that would be much of an improvement," Ron remarked from his position on Harry's bed. "He looks like a whale with hair. A canary would just make him look like a fat muggle going out for Halloween."

This remark caused Harry and Ginny to laugh hysterically. But Ron sat up and looked at the two saying, "What? It's the truth ain't it?"

"True," Harry said between gasps. "Very true."

When the laughter finally subsided, Ron and Harry picked up Harry's trunk and began to carry it (or rather drag it) down the stairs. Ginny followed carrying Hedwig's cage.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Mr. Weasley was seen examining the Dursley's television set. "Ingenious," he was heard saying under his breath. "And this is all done with k-ball and sat-lights."

"Oi, Dad," Ron said getting his father's attention. "We've got everything."

"What?" Mr. Weasley replied tearing his attention away from the television. "Oh! Yes, yes, very good. Well we best be going then."

Harry's Uncle and Aunt stayed in their positions not saying a word, or moving at all really.

"Okay then," Mr. Weasley said uneasily. "Let's just go."

Mr. Weasley helped Harry and Ron out with the trunk, and Ginny put Hedwig in the backseat. Climbing into the car, Harry let out a sigh of relief.

"Remind me Ron," he asked. "Why I ever go back there?"

"Beats the hell out of me. I haven't been there more then five minutes and hate it already. I don't know how you can stand it for days let alone years!"

"I'm not exactly sure I know either. So um... how long is this car ride exactly?"

Ron let out a yawn, and held up 4 fingers.

"FOUR HOURS? You're kidding me?"

"No my friend, I'm not. You might as well sit back and enjoy the ride. Because I assure you it will be a long one."

Ron leaned back and closed his eyes, and in minutes was sleeping.

'Lazy ass,' Harry sighed, turning to the look out the window.

*~* *~*

Before Harry knew it, he was unloading his trunk from the back of the Weasley's car and greeting the remaining Weasley family who didn't go along for the ride. After about 15 minutes of 'Hello's and 'I'm fine Mrs. Weasley, I swear' s, was up in Ron's room collapsing on the cot set up for him in the insanely orange room.

"So what of it?" Ron asked Harry sitting down on his own bed.

Harry looked at him, "So what of what?"

Ron sighed reaching for a piece of parchment on his dresser and read aloud, "Hey Ron. Period. That sounds great! Exclamation point. Ten o'clock is perfect. Period. Make sure you're on time though. Period. My Uncle nearly bit my head off when you were late last time. Period. Just do whatever you can to get me out of here ASAP!!! Exclamation point , Exclamation point , Exclamation point. See Ya Soon. Period. Harry Ps. You won't believe what I saw today. Period. I'll tell you about it later though. Period." Ron paused then repeated, "So what of it?"

"First of all," Harry started. "I would like to point out that I'm very glad you can tell one type of punctuation from the next."

"And I would like to point out we were not a minute late this time. So what of it?" Ron repeated for the third time.

"You know your beginning to sound like a broken record."

"A broken what?"

"Never mind."

"So tell me what you saw, or I'll continue with the broken ray-cord thing."

"Record."

"Whatever. Just tell me."

Harry sighed and began to re-enact the events of his flying incident to Ron. Ron was silent through the entire thing, down to the part where Harry read from 'Ms. Kreen's' book. When he was finished, Ron sat on his bed silent. Harry was about to speak when Ron spoke out.

"Was she cute?"

Taken aback, Harry stammered, "W-what?"

"You heard me: Was... she... cute...?" Ron repeated slowly.

"Well I guess so. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Nothing really. Just curious. I don't know what you're worried about, Harry. It's just a girl, going to visit her Aunt or something."

"I don't think you get it Ron," Harry started, getting up to pace the tiny room. "I've gone over to Mrs. Figg's house millions of times, and there was nothing to show she was a witch. Except for her cats of course."

"Well, maybe she just didn't want to tell you."

Harry stopped pacing and looked at Ron. "What do you mean by that?"

"Maybe she had a good reason not to tell you she was a witch."

"Like what?"

"What's with all the questions? I don't know. I'm not physic."

"Ya but-"

"OI! RON? HARRY?" A voice shouted to the two boys from outside.

Ron got up and walked over to the window. Opening it, he leaned out to see Fred and George staring up at him, their broomsticks slung over their shoulders.

"What?" Ron called back.

"You wanna play a little Quidditch?" George yelled back.

"Sure," Ron answered. "Be right down."

Ron brought his head back in the window and looked at Harry. "Look," he sighed. "If you're really that worried about it, talk to Hermione. I'm sure she will be just as worried. I figure, if you don't see her again, you've got nothing to worry about."

"I guess your right."

"That's right. I'm right. Now get your broom. We've got to go kick Fred and George's butt in two on two Quidditch."

*~* *~*

The days passed quickly at the Burrow, and before Harry knew it, they had received their letters, and were off to Diagon Alley to buy what they needed for the new school year.

"Now remember boys, speak clearly. I don't want a mishap again," Mrs. Weasley said giving Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Ginny and herself some floo powder.

Fred and George went first, followed by Ron. Before Harry stepped into the fire, he removed his glasses and tucked them neatly into his front pocket. He threw the powder into the flames, spoke his destination, and before he knew it, he tumbled out of the fireplace. When Harry opened his eyes, he looked up to see Ron, Fred and George standing over him.

"You really need to learn how to land," George commented, holding out his hand.

Harry accepted it and George pulled him up. Putting on his glasses he saw Mrs. Weasley and Ginny step out of the fireplace.

After a quick trip to Gringotts, Harry and Ron were off on there own for an hour looking around at the different shops, and picking up a 'few things' for Hermione.

"She said a few things in her letter," Ron remarked while reading over the letter for about the third time. "Dear Ron and Harry," Ron read out loud, in a voice mimicking Hermione's. "Since I'm not going to have enough time to pick stud up for school, I'll need you to pick up some stuff for me. You won't need to worry about books thought. I'm having them sent to me. I need you to get: 7 packs of 200 pieces of parchment, 3 new eagle feather quills, two pounds of frog legs, eye of newt and pi-a-nash quills, a new cauldron (size 2), a new set of standard potions ingredients and a new set of dragon hide gloves (Mine have holes. Do you believe it! Holes!)," Ron paused. "You know," he commented, "she's asked us to get her everything but the bloody kitchen sink!"

"Yes, well its Hermione," Harry replied picking up 9 packages of parchment. "God forbid if she didn't have the right type of quill, or ran out of parchment halfway through the year."

Ron was picking up three new quills for Hermione, when Harry caught a glimpse of a girl with long black hair walking outside the store window. Is heart began to race. 'Was that...?' All summer long he hadn't given 'Ms. Kreen' one thought and there she was, in Diagon Alley at the same time as him.

"HARRY," Ron yelled, snapping Harry out of his trance. "I said: 'Do you think these will do?'"

"Um... Ya, sure whatever."

Ron stared at Harry. "What's wrong? You look like you saw Snape in a bathing suit or something."

Harry shuddered. "God no. It's nothing. Yes I'm sure those are fine."

Harry's gaze turned back to the window. His mind began to back track. 'No it couldn't have been her,' he thought. 'It was probably just someone else. Ya, someone else. Lots of girls have long black hair.'

After an hour of shopping for themselves and Hermione, Harry and Ron headed over to Flourish and Blotts to meet Mrs. Weasley and the others.

"Okay now boys..." Mrs. Weasley started.

"and girl," Ginny put in.

"... and girl. Get all the books you need from your list and I'll meet you all at the cash."

Fred and George headed off in their own direction looking for their books, as did Ginny. Ron and Harry split the list in two (since they both had to get the same books anyway) and set out to find them.

Harry was assigned the bottom half of the list which included Transfiguration, Potions, and Divination books. Finding Transfiguration and Potions was easy, but the Divination books were stored in the back where hardly anyone ever went.

Harry walked through the dust-covered shelves, lugging the four large textbooks along with him. He searched the shelves for Mind Over Matter : A Look into the Future. Another ridiculous book he was meant to pay for by an absolutely insane Divination teacher.

After a few minutes of looking, Harry dropped the books he was carrying and sat down on them. He looked up at the massive amount of books surrounding him. "How am I ever going to-"

"Found it," a female voice called in a row behind him.

Harry stood up and carefully peered through the books into the next row. In front of him was the girl he had seen on the night he had gone flying. She stood in the next row looking up at the books. She wore a pale yellow skirt with a light pink tank top. There was a pile of books on the floor beside her and perched on top was her cat.

'So it really was her,' Harry thought carefully watching her from in-between the books.

"How did you find it?" Came another female voice. A girl entered the row. She was much older, 20 or 21 maybe. She had short dirty blonde hair and was of medium height. She wore a pair of dark blue jeans and a light green t-shirt.

"How else would I find it? I looked," said the girl known to Harry as 'Miss. Kreen.'

"Well were is it then?"

'Miss. Kreen' pointed up to the top shelf to one of the larger books. "Mind over Matter: A Look into the Future. It figures it's on the top shelf."

"Well get it down."

"Okay, okay. Hold your horses." Miss. Kreen looked around, then placed two fingers from each hand on her temples and squeezed her eyes shut tight. The book in question began to shake and then came free of the shelf and lowered itself down slowly into the other girl's hands.

"Well done M.S." The older girl said, handing Miss. Kreen the book. "I can't believe how much you've improved. Come to think of it, you haven't made anything explode since you got home. That's a big improvement in it's self."

"Very funny. You know I couldn't help that! It comes with the emotions."

"Ya, ya I know. But I still can't believe you spent the entire summer with Mrs. Figg! Mind the pun, but she's a Witch!"

"You don't know the half of it, Baby-G. You know she made me call her Aunt the entire time, but she refused to call me by my real name. It was always Miss. Kreen then and Miss. Kreen that. It was a NIGHTMARE!"

"Well, the Order was pleased with your progress. According to Dad anyway."

"Ya, he told me."

"Anyway, let's get out of here. I've had enough books for one day."

"I just need one more thing."

"What's that?" The older girl asked, hands on her hips.

"Telekinesis: Entering the Mind Volume 2."

"Telekinesis? I thought you were done with all that?"

"Nah, of course not. Mrs. Figg wants me to continue to study it along with all the other courses I'll be taking. If I was a muggle I'd have a nervous breakdown."

"No kidding," the other girl replied. "Well find it and I'll meet you at the register. K?"

"K. Just give me a minute."

Harry quickly ducked behind a book cart as the older girl passed by his row. 'Miss. Kreen' or 'M.S.' or whatever her name actually was, continued to look around the shelves.

Harry stood up behind the cart and went back to where he left his pile of textbooks. Peering through the shelf again, Harry watched her as she continued to walk down the aisle until she reached the end. She paused suddenly pulling out a book. She brought the book over to where her cat slept and sat down and began to read.

Harry watched her from the next row. 'Who is she anyway?' Harry thought to himself. 'Should I be worried? I mean I didn't see her all summer... Mind you I never left the Weasley's house, but still. Its like she's... Following me or something. What's her deal?"

"HARRY," shouted a voice startling him.

He jumped around to see Ron coming around the corner into Harry's row. "There you are mate. Did you find the books?"

"Shh!"

"Why? It's not like we're in the Library or something."

"Shh," Harry repeated. "It's her."

"Her? Who's her?" Ron whispered.

"Just look," Harry said peering in-between the books once again. But when he looked, she was gone.

Harry raced into the next row. Not a trace of her. Her bay, books, even her cat was gone.

"I think you've gone mental man," Ron said looking down the aisle. "But at least you found the Divination books."

"What? I never..." Harry started but stopped. On the floor sat two copied of Mind Over Matter: A Look into the Future. 'How did she...?' Harry thought.

"Yo, Harry? Earth to Harry. Come on, my mom's waiting," Ron grabbed the two books and dragged Harry to the front cash.

*~* *~*

"She was in the store Ron. She was the one who left us those books," Harry said pacing around Ron's room. The trip home from Diagon Alley had been a blur. His mid had been somewhere else. He wanted to know who she was and why she was so important to this 'Order' he kept hearing about.

Ron still couldn't believe he missed seeing her once again, but still thought it was no big deal. At the moment he lay on his bed, eating chocolate frogs he had bought at the Candy/Joke shop in Diagon Alley and watching Harry pace across the room.

"You're going to wear a trench into my floor if you keep it up."

"You know what else? She was looking for the same books as us. Why would she need that book?"

"Did you ever think that maybe- just maybe- she went to school too. And maybe she also takes Divination?" Ron sighed. "Okay, let's make sure I've got this right. You were back there looking for the Divination book..."

"Right."

"And you saw her and another girl- whose name is Baby-G?"

"Yes."

"Miss. Kreen levitated a book from the top shelf down into the other girl's arms. The book being the one we need for out Divination class?"

"Right."

"They were talking about this 'Order' thing, and how much 'Miss. Kreen' has improved. But you also found out her name could be M.S.?"

"Correct."

"The she needed a book on Telekinesis?"

"Right"

"And that's when I came in and she left us those books."

"Right"

"Well then... there are four questions to be answered."

"Four? What four questions?"

"One," Ron started getting up from his position on his bed. "Who is she? Two: What is the 'Order'? And Three: What does M.S. stand for?"

Harry thought for a second, "Right. Wait. You said four questions. That was three."

"Number four would be: What's for dinner? Cause I am starving."

"Ron," Harry said rolling his eyes.

"What? Thinking makes me hungry."

"What do you think we should do?" Harry asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Well you already sent a letter to Hermione about it. I say we just wait for her letter back. She always seems to have an answer."

Harry sighed sitting down on his cot. "Alright, but I hope it arrives soon."

*~* *~*

Hermione's letter arrived a few days later, but as to Ron's original thoughts, it wasn't that helpful.

Hello Harry and Ron,

I can't wait to see you both again. The summer is almost over, and as much fun as I'm having here, I can't wait to get home, and back to school. I hope you've both done all your summer homework. I finished mine weeks ago, and started reading through all of next years text books. As to your previous letter, I think you have nothing to worry about. I'll see you both on platform 9 ¾ on September 1^st.

Love Alwys,

Hermione

"Well that was loads of help. I'm so glad we wrote her," Harry said to Ron sarcastically.

Ron shrugged, moving his queen, taking Harry's rook. "Check Mate. Good try though there Harry." Ron gets up stretching. "I figure Hermione is just not that worried about it. She's just saying what I've been saying all along. Its no big deal."

Harry sighed. "I guess your right."

*~* *~*

Much to Harry and Ron's dismay, September 1^st arrived just as it did every year. They were awoken by Mrs. Weasley at the crack of dawn. They shoveled in a few egg sandwiches, then packed their trunks into the back of a car on loan to Mr. Weasley by the ministry, and headed out the door, going back only twice: once for Ron's forgotten dress robes (whether they were forgotten by accident or on purpose is yet to be determined) and a second time for George's broom stick.

They made it to King's Cross Station with ten minutes to spare.

"Alright," Mrs. Weasley started when the faced the barrier. "Harry and Ron, you first."

Harry and Ron turned their trolleys to face the barrier and ran straight through to see the shining Hogwarts train on the other side.

Finding an empty compartment, Harry and Ron unloaded their trunks, then exited the train to go say good bye to Ron's parents.

Stepping off the train, they found the Weasley's almost immediately (the red hair is hard to miss), and discovered that they were accompanied by a girl with long, straight brown hair.

"Hermione?" Ron asked mouth hanging wide, and they approached.

"Ron! Harry!" She exclaimed as she ran to them, giving each a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I've missed you both so much. How were your summers?"

Harry looked over at Ron to discover that he too was very much in shock. Hermione looked good. She had straightened her hair, so it was no longer the frizzy, out-of-control hairstyle they were use to seeing on her. She wore a navy blue mini-skirt with light pink flowers on it, and a navy blue v-neck tank top with one large pink flower on it in the center. She also wore makeup, which she had never done before. If they had of been told back in June, that the next time they saw Hermione she would look like this, they would have laughed.

"Sum- mmer?" Harry stammered. "Our summers were great. How was yours?"

Hermione looked Harry and Ron over quizzically. They both looked just like the Harry and Ron she'd left behind in June, but somehow they were different as well. Harry was defiantly taller now. He was only a few good inches shorter then the usually taller Ron, and was a bit more built then he was two months ago. Probably from playing Quidditch with Ron, Fred and George all summer, Hermione told herself. Looking over Ron now, she saw he'd changed too. He too was more built then he was two months ago. His face was now more rugged and manly, where it used to be young and childish. They had both changed so much over the summer that Hermione almost felt sad for missing it.

"My summer," she replied finally after a long pause, "was great. I visited places all over Canada and the US. Its very different from here. But there was a plus side. Under-age Witches and Wizards are aloud to use magic, so I got to practice all my spells and charms for this year."After a quick goodbye to the Weasley's, Harry, Ron and Hermione hopped on the train as it started off towards Hogwarts.

Unlike past years, the train ride was uneventful. The trio spent the trip talking about their summers, and what the new year would be like. All three refused to bring up the events of the past year. Harry didn't bring up the black-haired girl; Ron didn't bring up his knowledge of Harry's dreams he'd been having all summer; and Hermione didn't bring up her worries about the threat Voldermort lay on them all. For the train ride, they were just normal 15 year olds, gossiping about their summer.

Soon enough they were in their uniforms and the train was arriving at Hogsmead station. After their ride in the horseless carriages, they found themselves seated in the Great Hall, listening to the sorting ceremony.

Seven new Gryffindors were added to the bunch this year. Four girls and three boys, all eager looking to do Gryffindor proud.

The meal went through as usual. Nothing weird happened until the students began to exit the Great Hall. As Harry, Ron and Hermione, began to ascend the stairs the large doors in the Entrance Way flew open as a hooded figure on a broom stick flew in, followed by a large trunk that landed a loud thud that echoed through the quiet hallways, as each student turned to stare.

The figure landed gracefully atop the trunk, and reached to pull back their hood. As they did so, thick, long, black hair fell down the persons back. She turned to face the crowd of students as Harry let out a gasp.

"It's her!"