Faith, Hope, and Love: Faith

The New Year Begins.

The compartment door opened for the third time that day and Harry and Kari looked up, having been in the middle of a conversation about who would have enough courage to teach Snape legilimency.

Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood stepped in cautiously, as if they were afraid of getting yelled at. Kari's face broke into a wide smile without her having to force it. She'd always liked the youngest of the Weasleys. Even though Ginny was a year ahead, she'd never treated Kari like a little girl, and they had often studied Potions together, and later, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ginny had even tried to get her to join the DA for awhile.

As for Luna, well, she tried to stay out of Luna's way. There was something decidedly not right with that girl....

"Ginny, Luna, hi," she said, standing up and moving over to make room for them. She winked at Ginny. "Just trying to convince our beloved Seeker here that a couple of red-headed Chasers are just what the Gryffindor team needs. Maybe you can help."

Ginny grinned back at her and looked back at Harry, relief obvious in her eyes. 'They must've really been worried about him,' Kari thought.

"Yeah, I've been talking to Ron too. Hopefully, having the two of them on our side will increase our chances." She gave a big pair of puppy-dog eyes to Harry and sat down across from him.

Harry, who had raised an eyebrow at Kari's lie, just laughed and put his hands up in mock self-defense. Kari stole a glance at Ginny and Luna's faces. Ginny looked like she was about to cry; relief was an understatement. Luna just smiled and buried herself in her magazine. Well, it was good to know her efforts weren't wasted on Harry.

"It's a really good thing Dumbledore got Fudge to get rid of that lifetime ban on you, Harry, I don't think I liked Seeking much," Ginny said, relaxing into an easy subject.

"I know, I don't think I would've been able to survive without Quidditch this year," Harry said.

Kari closed her eyes and relaxed as Ginny and Harry got into an argument over Slytherin's chances of doing well in Quidditch this year. Luna was busy with her magazine, but Kari also knew Luna didn't trust her.

She glanced over at Harry, laughing with Ginny about some Seeker move she had tried last year and utterly failed at. They made such a cute couple....

The compartment door opened yet again and Ron and Hermione walked in. They took one look at Harry's happy face and both of them visibly relaxed.

'Damn. I wonder if he knows how much he's loved,' Kari thought as she watched Harry greet them. 'If he doesn't, secrecy be damned, I will physically pound it into his head.'

"Sorry I've been such a pain lately, guys," Harry said as Ron closed the door. Hermione's eyes filled with tears.

"You haven't been a pain, Harry--," she said.

"Yes, I have," Harry interrupted, holding up his hand. "I've been sulking and pouting and it's time to stop. Sirius wouldn't want me to go through life crying over him and feeling sorry for myself." Harry paused and swallowed. "He would've wanted me to be happy. He always did."

Hermione let out a tiny cry and flung herself at him, sobbing and trying to say how sorry she was at the same time. Ron casually wiped his eyes and tried to look supportive. Ginny was laughing and crying at the same time. Luna just looked over her magazine and smiled at Kari.

Kari almost laughed out loud in nervousness. With that one, simple gesture she knew Luna knew about her interference. Damn, that girl was scary. 'I just hope this doesn't backfire on me,' Kari thought. 'It sure could get awkward when he learns the truth.'

A plump witch peeked her head into the compartment.

"Anything off the trolley?" she asked.

"YES!" a chorus of voices replied in unison, causing another round of laughter.

Once everyone had gotten their treats, Hermione finally noticed the little redhead in the corner.

"Oh... um, hi, Kari. We didn't see you there," she said. She looked a bit nervous, considering the topics she and her friends had just covered. Kari, who was currently chewing on a chocolate frog, just waved. However, Ron turned to look at her.

"Kari? Who are you?" he asked.

"She's a Gryffindor fourth-year," Hermione said, lightly hitting him on the shoulder. As prefects, they were supposed to have a good knowledge of almost everyone in their House, excluding first-years of course.

"Oh, right," Ron said, as if he'd known it all along. "Good to see you again."

"You too," Kari said, grinning as he flushed. For the sake of mercy, she decided to change the subject. "So, what are you guys taking for classes this year? You've got to begin studying for your N.E.W.T.s, right?"

Hermione nodded, and immediately took control of the conversation, giving them all an account of what was expected of fifth and sixth years, while somehow managing to admonish Harry and Ron for their horrible study habits. Kari was suddenly glad she didn't have to worry about any of that until next year. Harry and Ron only responded to Kari's question with what classes they were expected to take, and Kari wasn't at all surprised that Harry's curriculum seemed to driving him to become an Auror.

"You have to take Potions again, mate?" Ron asked incredulously. "Rotten luck."

"I know," Harry replied, "Snape's not going to be happy about it either."

"How'd you get into the N.E.W.T.s Potions, Harry?" Hermione asked. "I thought Snape demanded an Outstanding on the O.W.L.s to get in." Harry ran his fingers through his hair nervously, messing it up even more. Kari suppressed a snort of laughter.

"I really don't know," he said, looking perplexed. "I just signed up for it after I got my results and a letter came back telling me I was in."

"What'd you get on your O.W.L.?" Ron asked.

"I only got an Exceeds Expectations," Harry said. "I don't know how I even managed that."

"Maybe he's changing the rules," Ron said, but looking dubious even as he said it. He decided to switch subjects. "I got an O in Defense Against the Dark Arts, thanks to you, mate." Harry brightened immediately.

"Me too, and I talked to some of the other members of the D.A. that took O.W.L.s last year. Seems we all got above Average," he said, proud of his accomplishment. He looked hopefully at Ron. "Did you take Potions?"

"No," Ron said. Harry's shoulders fell. "Sorry, mate. But you've still got Hermione to keep you company. She got O's in all of her O.W.L.s."

"Great job, Hermione," Harry said, turning to her. She flushed.

"What did you go into?" Kari asked.

"Everything but Divination and Muggle Studies," Ron answered for her, rolling his eyes. Hermione scowled at him.

"It's all a matter of organizing your time," she said, "which you will need to do if you expect to pass McGonagall's class this year. I've heard she gets brutal."

At this point, Kari stopped paying attention because Ron and Hermione got into one of their famous arguments, which kept going through a couple games of Gobstones and Exploding Snap, and didn't end until they reached the Hogsmeade station. Both Ron and Hermione got off the train believing they had won and Harry and Ginny just rolled their eyes at them. Kari was getting off when she felt a familiar weight on her shoulder.

"Hello, Shadow," she said to the cat, who purred and rubbed against her chin, "did you have a good trip?"

"'There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,'" Shadow replied. Kari laughed at his quote. She and her mother had read quite a lot of Shakespeare over the summer. At least he hadn't made the train break down.

"No more Hamlet for you, Mr. Kitty," Kari laughed. Shadow snorted his laughter.

"You're the one who read it to me, Miss Kitty," he said, and Kari smacked him lightly. His response was to purr louder in her ear as they got into one of the coaches.

To her dismay, she got into the same one that Malfoy and his friends had just "acquired" from some second years. She was about to retreat, but the carriage had already started down the road. So Kari just smiled and sat down.

Malfoy glared at her while Pansy Parkinson stuck up her nose and Crabbe and Goyle started cracking their knuckles. Kari winced. This was not a good way to start the school year. She needed something to take their minds off of her. Then she got an idea.

"Shadow," Kari said, reaching into her hair and pulling out the cat on her shoulders. Malfoy and the others stared at her. "'Where be your gibes now, your gambols, your songs, your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? Quite chop-fallen?'" Kari grinned at the cat, who was also staring at her. But he caught on quick.

"To be, or not to be: that is the question," Shadow quoted eloquently. The Slytherins stared at the talking cat with round eyes. "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them. To die: to sleep; no more; and, by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to," Shadow sighed dramatically. By this time, Crabbe and Goyle had their mouths open again.

"'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wish'd. To die; to sleep; to sleep? Perchance to dream! Ay, there's the rub; for in that sleep of death what dreams may come, when we have shuffl'd off this mortal coil...."

This continued until they finally reached the Hogwarts gate, where Malfoy and the others left both her and the talking cat without any verbal abuse on their part. Grinning, Kari made Shadow finally shut up and promised him the finest piece of fish she could find at the feast as she left him to make his own way to Gryffindor tower. 'Shakespeare does have its purpose after all,' she thought as she joined the other Gryffindors.

She grinned at her year-mates and sat down next to Dennis Creevy, who was a year below her. He just looked at her quizzically for a moment before engaging some of the other third years in a discussion about which clubs they should be involved in to help them with their studies. It wasn't long before he was advocating the D.A., if only because Harry Potter was the leader.

Kari wondered if the D.A. would be allowed to continue this year; apparently Umbridge had disbanded it last year. If they were, they would most definitely have to change their name; just because Fudge was taking Dumbledore's side now didn't mean the Minister wasn't still afraid of any ambitions the Headmaster might have.

She glanced at the teacher's table as the first years made their way in the Great Hall. Dumbledore looked as serene as ever, McGonagall looked just as stern, and other teachers were just the same as Kari remembered them from last year. The only one who appeared to have changed was Snape.

Kari did a double take as the first years started to get sorted. Snape looked happy. He looked like something had gone his way for once. Kari felt a lump of dread creep up on her. Had he somehow managed to boot Harry out of his classes? Had Dumbledore given him some special privileges this year? Then Kari calmed down. There was a perfectly good reason for Snape to be in a good mood; he thought Sirius was dead.

Kari scowled at the Potions Master. From what Dumbledore had told her, he would be happy about that. Well, he wouldn't be happy if her summer project came out in the open. Kari smiled and looked at the teacher's table again. There were no new teachers. Had Dumbledore been unable to find a replacement for Umbridge? She dearly hoped the old toad wasn't coming back. The first years were done sorting now and Dumbledore was standing up to make his speech.

"First of all, to those who are returning for another wonderful year at Hogwarts, welcome back! To those who have just started," he indicated the first years, most of whom blushed, "Welcome! There are a few rules that we all need to remember to make this year more enjoyable..." Kari stopped paying attention as Shadow brushed against her leg under the table.

"I thought I told you to go back to the tower," she hissed at him so no one else could hear. He sniffed the air.

"'I burn, I pine, I perish,'" he said plaintively, "Surely you'll share with a poor, starving kitten."

"Oh, be quiet," said Kari, giving up. He wasn't going to wait until after the feast for his treat, that was for sure. "And stop quoting Shakespeare. It's getting annoying."

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"

Kari kicked at him. Shadow hissed back at her.

"Doesn't he usually do this at the end of the feast?" Shadow whined.

"It must be important. Now shut up, I'm trying to listen," Kari said. Dumbledore was finishing up.

"...and before we all dig into a most wonderful feast, it is my pleasure to announce that Professor Severus Snape, our Potions Master, will be taking up the position of our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in addition to his previous duties."

Everybody stared at the Headmaster in silence. Then someone from the Slytherin table let out a whoop and soon the whole table was cheering loudly for their Head of House. The rest of the tables either clapped without enthusiasm or followed Neville Longbottom's example and went as white as parchment. The Slytherins, however, more than made up for the other Houses' silence. They were banging on the table, clapping loudly, and catcalling.

It was common knowledge that Snape favored his own house above the others. Now they would have an even bigger advantage over the rest of the houses as far as points went. There was definitely going to be a party tonight in the Slytherin common room. Dumbledore finally held up his hand to quiet them.

"Thus, many of our upper classes will be combined in order accommodate Professor Snape's time schedule. We are in the process of finding a replacement for the Potions Master, but, for now, Professor Snape assures me that he will be able to manage. Now, our feast is getting cold! Let us all dig in!"

With that finishing statement, the feast finally appeared. Kari and her classmates wasted no time in filling their plates. However, down the table, a few others had lost their appetite.

"Come on, Neville, you've got to eat something," Hermione pleaded, pushing some potatoes towards him. He just shook his head and looked sick.

"I thought I was done with him when I didn't sign up for Potions," he moaned. The others looked at him sympathetically. "Gram's making me take Defense Against the Dark Arts because You-Know-Who is back!"

"I know what you mean, Neville," Ron said, taking the potatoes away from Hermione, "but we've got to keep our strength up if we're going to face him for another year, right?"

"I guess so," Neville admitted, and slowly began filling his plate. He still looked immensely depressed, though.

"Think of it this way, Neville," Harry said, "You've only got to put up with him for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione and I still have to take Potions with him too." Neville looked appalled.

"Why did you take Potions?" he asked, incredulous. "I wouldn't have taken it again even if it was my best subject."

"I have to if I want to become an Auror," Harry replied.

"An Auror? Wow, Harry," Neville said, looking both awed and nervous, "that's a really dangerous job, especially with You-Know-Who back." Of course, he would know.

"Voldemort has been back for awhile now, Neville," Harry said, ignoring the common jump around the table, "you know that."

"Yeah, but now he doesn't need to keep it secret anymore, does he? There's sure to be a major attack soon," Neville said.

Kari stopped eavesdropping on the older students as Shadow nipped at her fingers. She spent the rest of the feast feeding the cat under the table and mulling over what Neville had said.

He was right; there was going to be an attack soon. The Dark Lord would want to remind the Magical community of how powerful he was and he would want to strike hard before the Ministry and Dumbledore got their forces completely assembled. The only question was when and where.

It certainly wouldn't be Hogwarts. Dumbledore still had quite a bit of power and Voldemort would want to build up his forces first. Would he attack Harry? He might, although Kari personally thought that that would almost be as stupid as attacking Hogwarts. Not only did Harry Potter have so many protections around him that the owls had trouble getting through, but that boy had power.

Kari shivered as she thought back to that train ride. Doing legilimency on him had been harder than she expected; he had a very strong will. And then afterwards, when she had had to face him with his wand ready? Kari shook her head quickly, remembering the waves of magical energy coming from him when she had upset him. It had been all she could do to maintain a casual look.

How on earth could his friends stand it when he was really mad at them? She did not want him to ever be that angry with her again. He might blow her up without even meaning to! But then again, Voldemort had plenty of power himself. So maybe he wasn't as afraid of Harry as he should be.

.......................................

Two Weeks Later

.......................................

"You. Are. Insane. You actually want to be involved in a sport where half of the balls want to try to take your head off and two members of the team are armed."

"Shut up, Shadow, and hand me that hair tie."

Shadow jumped down from his perch on Kari's bed and jumped up to her vanity, grabbing the hair tie in his mouth. He then jumped to her shoulder and allowed her to take it from him.

"I still say you're insane."

"And I say that if I'm stuck here doing nothing more than homework and worrying about the Dark Lord, I'm going to become even more insane." Kari brushed back the few stubborn strands of hair that had refused to go into her ponytail and nodded in satisfaction.

Today was the Gryffindor Quidditch team tryouts. She wasn't the greatest flyer in the world, but at least she knew that she had more control over her broom than some of the oafs who had played last year. She shook her head at the memory. Gods, that had been so disgraceful. This year would have to be better. Especially since Harry was the new Captain.

Besides, she really did need a change. Transfiguration was the usual nightmare with McGonagall, but with Snape teaching two subjects, his temper had gotten even shorter. Just the other day a girl had run out of his classroom sobbing because of something he'd said to her, and he had still docked her House points for leaving class early. Kari simply learned to keep her head down and not to make eye contact. Potions was actually easy for her, but Defense Against the Dark Arts was a bit harder and she had to concentrate in order to keep up.

It didn't help that she had never been healthy. She was already going to the hospital wing at least once a week because of different illnesses. If it was going around Hogwarts, chances were she would catch it.

She also couldn't sleep well, thinking of all the different things the Dark Lord might do in the future. Madam Pomfrey had told her to get some exercise to keep her blood flowing. Quidditch would definitely do that for her. It might even help her take her mind off of less-pleasant things. She grabbed her broom.

"Are you coming, Shadow?"

"Of course! I wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to laugh myself silly as you try to operate that stupid piece of wood."

Kari ignored him as she hurried down the stairs and out the portrait hole with the cat still on her shoulder. Shadow hated flying and he still hadn't forgiven her for taking him with her on her first flight out of class during her second year. Needless to say, his yowling hadn't helped her concentration and they had ended up in a tree. It hadn't been a pretty sight.

"You'd better not distract me," Kari warned.

"Hmph. You'll have enough distraction with him there."

Kari said nothing, but she felt herself blush a little. They got down to the Quidditch pitch without further comment, and Shadow left her shoulder as she mounted her broom. She certainly wasn't the first one here, but she wasn't the last either. There were six other people here, four of them from last year's team.

Alicia Spinnet, Ginny Weasley and Ron Weasley were practicing already, with the two girls trying to get shots past Ron, who was guarding the hoops. Kari had to admit, the three of them looked pretty intimidating. Ginny and Alicia worked together very well. Below them, Harry Potter was talking to the two Creevy brothers, Colin and Dennis. Both of the brothers were on broomsticks, but Colin had his camera around his neck as well. Kari shook her head. He was going to get that thing smashed if he wasn't careful.

She pushed off from the ground just as Ron fumbled with the Quaffle after making a save and dropped it.

"I got it," she called to the two Chasers, catching it before it hit the ground. She tossed it back to Ginny as she flew towards them. "Can I join you?"

"Sure," Alicia said, "you can go after Ginny gets in another shot. I think she enjoys the concept of throwing things at her older brother," she added as Ginny flew towards the hoops again.

"I heard that," Ginny called over her shoulder. Alicia and Kari grinned as she made Ron do at least three figure eights and then tossed the Quaffle into the nearest hoop before he could catch up.

"You know, I do believe you're right," Kari said, mock pondering.

"All right, all right, so I do get some evil amusement out of all of this," Ginny said, also grinning, as she tossed the ball to Kari. "You're up, Tomoe."

Kari thought about her options for a second and then flew at the hoops as fast as she could. She saw Ron's eyes widen a second before she took her shot, still flying at him at top speed. She looked like she was going to ram him. He ducked and the Quaffle flew into the hoop with no interference. Kari, meanwhile had already veered upward to avoid the collision with him. She looked down to see what kind of chaos she had created.

Ginny was doubled over on her broom laughing. Alicia had made a dive to retrieve the Quaffle from the ground, giggling. Ron was telling Ginny to shut up, which of course, only made her laugh harder. Kari looked at Harry to see what his reaction was, but was surprised to see him looking at her with a calculating and almost disapproving gaze. His eyes then moved to Ron and his expression became worried.

Kari felt her enjoyment of the prank wither away. What was he worried for with Ron? Surely they knew that she would've stopped in time? Or was it something else?

Kari went through her memories. Suddenly, she remembered one of the Gryffindor parties after a game. Ron had been sitting down in a corner alone, holding his butterbeer and looking absolutely miserable because he hadn't been able to save anything. Was that what Harry was scared of? That Ron wouldn't have any self-confidence?

If that was the case, she had better repair the damage she had done, and quick, Kari decided, turning her broom back downwards. She flew towards Ron and Ginny, the latter of whom was still laughing.

"The problem with that trick," she said, as she came up beside them, "is that it only works once, so I had to get you when you weren't ready for it. Sorry."

She saw Ron's face lift a bit and knew that he was already feeling better.

"It was absolutely brilliant!" Ginny said, clapping her on the back. Kari grabbed her broom to avoid being pushed off it. "I can't wait to see the Slytherins' faces when we...."

"Ahem," Harry said, approaching them on his broom and clearing his throat. Ginny shut up immediately. "Technically, the trials haven't even started yet."

"Right," Ginny said sheepishly.

"We'll wait a few more minutes for any others to show up," Harry continued, looking out onto the pitch. Kari couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at how confident he looked. He was nothing like what he had been on the train a couple weeks ago. He was totally in-control and was acting as though leadership was the most natural thing for him.

'I would fight for him. Heaven help me, I might even die for him if he asked me to,' Kari thought to herself. 'There's just something about him that makes me want to follow wherever he leads. What is it? Charisma. But he acts as though he doesn't even know he has it. He's so at-ease...'

Harry glanced at her and Kari quickly looked away to avoid being caught staring at him. She would have to be careful. She didn't even want to imagine what kind of rumors would start if she was caught staring at him, especially after Ginny knew that they had been in a compartment together on the train.

For an unexplainable reason, she really didn't want Ginny to be mad at her for any reason. And it was obvious that Ginny still had her heart set on Harry. No matter what she said. Not that Kari minded. They made a cute couple. But there was always Cho, too.

Some rumors had spread that Harry and Cho had gotten back together not long after the first day back. Kari was dying to know if it was true or not, but she really didn't have any right to ask. She and Harry still weren't friends, at least, not close ones.... Ok, she needed to change the subject quick, before the silence became unbearable.

"So, Harry, you never told me just how you got Snape to let you into his upper Potions class. Maybe I can use it in one of my classes," she said, feeling nine kinds of stupid as soon as she opened her mouth.

"I still don't know exactly why he changed his mind, but I've noticed he's been avoiding McGonagall lately," he said with a grin. "She told me last year that she'd help me become an Auror no matter what, so maybe...."

"Hi, Harry!"

Everybody looked down to see a bunch of fifth year students ready to take off from the edge of the pitch. Behind them, it looked like a couple of fourth years also had their brooms. Following them was maybe a sixth year or a seventh year, judging by his size.

"All right," Harry said, as the newcomers joined them in the air. "Let's get started."

It was hard work, but Kari enjoyed it. Colin had to leave early because he did, in fact, get his camera slightly damaged when it hit him in the face. Harry made them all take shots against everyone trying out for the Keeper position (Ron did really well, surprisingly, though Kari managed to get one through him, he must've been practicing over the summer break), then he teamed them up against each other.

Kari was teamed up with Ginny as Chasers for their team. Harry had tried to put her as Seeker, but the seventh year had wanted that position, and Kari was trying for Chaser, not Seeker. (She already knew nobody could beat Harry in that area, so why even try? The seventh year was so stupid.) They had two Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper and a Seeker on each team. Kari had been paired with Ginny as the Chasers for their team.

She rarely scored herself, but she was often the reason why Ginny was able to get so many past Ron. She was fast, so she was often able to get in the way of the other players so her teammate could score. And Ginny was plenty fast herself and not at all afraid to try new things. Alicia was grinning like crazy when they finally got done. Their team had only lost by thirty points because Harry, being on the other team, had caught the Snitch before the other Seeker could.

"I couldn't keep track of both of you at the same time!" Alicia said, her eyes sparkling. "It must be that damn red hair!"

Ginny and Kari laughed with her. Even Ron was grinning by the time Harry announced that the new team members would be posted the next night in the common room.

Even though she was pretty confident, Kari was still ecstatic to see her name right next to Alicia and Ginny's for the position. Ginny and Alicia were delighted as well, and the three of them shared at least ten new ideas for maneuvers before Harry, grinning, told them to go to bed so they could be ready for practice in the morning.

.........................................................

In three months, it was obvious that the Gryffindor team was the best by far. They won all of their matches easily, even though Kari was often in the hospital wing for minor injuries due to the fact that she was constantly trying to give Ginny and Alicia an upper hand by distracting the other players. It worked well enough, but it made her the target of many bludgers, some of which she couldn't get away from.

Shadow said she was suicidal, and suggested that she get an anti-depressant from Madam Pomfrey. And after watching her wake up at about 5 o'clock every morning for practice, he also said that she was insane and should be locked up.

Fortunately, his complaints fell on deaf ears, for Kari was having the time of her life. Madam Pomfrey's idea that the sport would help her get through her stress and sleeping problems was working out perfectly. Between the horrors of the classes of Snape and McGonagall and Quidditch games and practice, she was now worn out enough at night to not even care about the Dark Lord, much less worry about any plans he might have. Shadow tried to press the issue once or twice, but Kari sent him off, only half hearing his mutterings about fools, blindfolds, and how tasty ostriches were, as she struggled through Transfiguration homework. Gods, how she hated that subject.

McGonagall was as good a teacher as any other, but Kari's mind just didn't seem to want to comprehend all of the minor details that were necessary for complex transfigurations. She had to write out almost everything that had to be taken into effect before attempting anything. Even McGonagall, patient as she was, found this endlessly frustrating, especially when Kari showed no signs of trouble in her potions class, where the same level of detail was usually required.

Finally, McGonagall decided that it was her religious beliefs that was holding Kari back, as she had been taught that God's creations were perfect the way they were, and should not be changed the way they were in Transfiguration.

This explanation left Shadow howling in laughter for weeks, as he pointed out that something like that would affect all of Kari's magic, not just her Transfiguration skills. Kari, however, allowed McGonagall to believe that her theory was correct. After all, she couldn't give her teacher any better explanation.

She didn't, however, mention any of this to her mother in her letters to home. Mother had been raised devout Catholic and had passed the faith to Kari, which was why McGonagall might've thought she was correct. However, despite the initial shock of learning that her daughter was a witch, Mother hadn't said anything against what Kari was learning. In fact, she often told her daughter to study more often to get her grades up.

"What should I get Mum for Christmas, Shadow?" Kari asked one night after reading her mother's letter. Shadow, who was curled up in a ball, stretched lazily before answering.

"I don't know, but you've got that Hogsmeade trip coming up if you want to make good use of it," he suggested.

"Oh, right," Kari said. She had completely forgotten about the trip. "but I don't know if I really want to get her anything magical...."

"Not everything in Hogsmeade is magical, Kari," Shadow said, rolling his eyes.

"Well, then, any suggestions, Mr. Know-It-All?"

"Nope. You deal with the mushy, lovey-dovey, Christmas crap. I'm going back to sleep."

You know, sometimes it just didn't pay to have a semi-Dark Creature around.... Kari went back to trying to figure out what her mother might like from a magical community that wasn't exactly magical itself.

............

............

Author's notes: Just in case any of you Shakespeare junkies were wondering, here are the quotes I used and where they come from:

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." --Hamlet, II:2

Where be your gibes now, your gambols, your songs, your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? Quite chop-fallen? --Hamlet, V:1

To be, or not to be: that is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end them. To die: to sleep;
No more; and, by a sleep to say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die; to sleep;
To sleep? perchance to dream! Ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffl'd off this mortal coil.... --Hamlet, III:1

I burn, I pine, I perish. -Taming of the Shrew (can't remember where it is, sorry.)

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? --Sonnet 18

There you go, everyone. Please don't kill me. At least, not yet. The next chapter is coming soon, I promise!