The Diary

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 33*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Trials*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~The Diary~

With a 'pop' she appeared in front of her doorstep. Retrieving her key from her pocket, she opened the door and entered her manor. It was dark; of course, her father was most likely sleeping. He was, after all, suppose to pick her and Harry up at King's Cross. Exhausted, she made her way to the sofa and collapsed onto it. Her eyes snapped open as a floorboard creaked. Grasping her wand, which she had placed in her pocket, she jumped off the couch and pointed it at the figure.

"Hold it right there," ordered Remus Lupin with a wand trained on her. "Who are you?"

"It's me, Dad," she said slowly, "Kali." She lowered her wand and put it away. "Put down your wand."

"How do I know you are really her?"

"You're a werewolf," Kali exclaimed, "smell me!" She made a wafting gesture and pushed air towards him.

"My daughter doesn't usually smell of mud and..." He smelt the air again. "Sweat?"

Kali's eyes went wide. *Stupid, stupid, stupid! Maybe he won't know.*

"Smells like... quidditch or a certain quidditch player perhaps."

Kali winced. "Dad, I'm sorry, but just listen to me."

"I am just going to pretend that this exchange did not happen." She looked down. "It's better for my sanity and Harry's health if I just forget."

"Fair enough."

"Now, why are you here? I am supposed to pick you and Harry up at King's Cross tomorrow."

"There... there's something I have to tell you. You know how I have been rather... indecisive about my career choice?" He nodded. "Well, truthfully, I have a job or will have a job."

"What does this have to do with you leaving Hogwarts in the middle of the night?" Lupin asked impatiently.

"It starts tomorrow. I have to meet someone at the train station and they are going to take me to their headquarters for training," she explained.

"What training?"

"After Halloween, I got a letter from the International Defense League. They were looking for new recruits and they had selected me to become an agent. I read all the information they sent me but I put the letter away and didn't give it a second thought. I couldn't do what they wanted me to do. I could leave everyone and basically disappear. Then..." her voice broke but she continued, "V... Voldemort happened and I realized I was a liability."

Remus studied his young daughter as she waited for some type of reaction. "So you decided to run away."

"No! I'm not running away. What if word got out that I was related to Voldemort? He already knows for Merlin's sake! It's only a matter of time before others find out about me and some overzealous Death Eater or Dark Lord Wannabe comes after me because they think I'm his heir. Even the Ministry will be after me if word got out. They'll be after anyone who has ever shown me a speck of kindness." She paused. "It's safer this way for everyone involved."

"Did you tell him?" he asked.

"I'm only allowed to tell one person," she answered tonelessly, "I left him a letter telling him that I am safe, for him not to worry and to ask you for confirmation."

Remus sighed, "You know he is going to try and hunt you down. He won't give up." He began laughing, "He might even take up poetry again."

Kali laughed with him, "Don't even joke about that!"

~Platform 9 and 3/4, Next Day~

"Are you sure you have everything, Kali?" Remus asked.

"Yes," she answered, "the letter said to bring a week's worth of clothes, including one set of workout clothes and my talents."

"I can't believe you are going to be an IDL agent."

"Shhh, what if someone hears you?" she hissed.

"Miss Lupin?" asked a rough baritone voice.

Kali quickly spun around and faced a man, about the age of her dad. "Er, yes, I am Kali Lupin and you are?"

"Samuel Wise," he introduced himself, "I am from the IDL and I am here to escort you to the training facility, but we must hurry to catch our train."

"Ok." Kali hugged her dad. "I love you, Dad. Say goodbye to everyone for me."

She gathered her backpack, her truck was shrunk and stuffed in one of the pockets, and followed Mister Wise back through the barrier.

"Where are we going?" Kali asked as she tried to keep up with the man's quick pace.

"We are going to catch the train to Farrington."

"Farrington?"

"Then we will take the tube to London Paddington then take the Heathrow Express to the airport," he explained quickly.

"The airport?"

"How else will we get to Australia? You are too inexperienced to travel that distance magically."

"But I don't have much money or a passport!" she informed him.

He handed her an envelope. "All been taken care of."

Inside she found a first class ticket from Heathrow to Sydney, Australia and a passport, probably forged with magic. "I guess the IDL has everything under control."

"They always do."

About twenty-three hours later, the pair arrived at Kingsford Smith Airport and after another three hour drive they arrived at the training facility. "Your things will be taken to your room and the orientation is in the main area."

"Thank you," Kali said to the man, "Thanks for everything Sam."

Kali followed the carpet to the hall where a small contingent of people was gathered. "I thought the IDL only accepted the best."

Kali spun around and came face to face with a blonde haired wizard about the same age as her. "Are you implying that I am not a suitable candidate?" Kali questioned the man who, in her opinion, looked like a beach bum.

"Not at all, cutie."His demeanor and accent screamed American. "You just look like a good hex could finish you off."

"Would you like to try, Mister..."

"Quinn, Jonathan Quinn," he introduced.

Kali held back snickers. He had obviously seen too many Bond films. "Kali Lupin."

"You won the Triwizard Dueling competition!" another voice joined in. The woman shook her hand rapidly. "I was so excited when you won! I always knew you'd win."

"Er, thank you. I wish I had that kind of confidence during the tournament," Kali told the person.

The woman left and Quinn smirked. "So, you won one little tournament and the IDL accepts you into the program."

Kali rolled her eyes and sighed, "If you are going to continue to act like an immature, stuck-up arse then I don't want to associate with the likes of you."

"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Kali turned to face the direction of the voice. Slightly raised above the rest of the group stood several severe looking people, reminding her of McGonagall. Currently a man with a dark mustache was talking. "Welcome to the first day of the International Defense League Basic Training Program. After the intensive tests, which will be conducted this week, those of you who have passed will be assigned into different departments for specialized training. Those of you who fail to make the cut will be sent home. When you return to your rooms after dinner, you will find your packet of information concerning your testing schedule. If you have any questions please ask one of us. Thank you."

~Day Two, Intelligence Testing~

"Welcome to your first test. I know it must be hard for some of you to be up at six in the morning, but I hope you will be able to scrape enough brain cells to perform with some decency. As you all know I am Brian Maddock and I am the Head of the Intelligence Department of the IDL and you will be participating in a twenty hour intelligence test. Don't worry; we will give you time to eat, but not much." The auburn haired man smiled at the looks of horror on some of the recruits' faces. "This test will be gauging your knowledge in ten subjects. Those subjects are World Wizarding History, Muggle Studies, Magical Creatures, Herbology, Astronomy, Transfiguration, Charms, Arithmancy, Potions and the Dark Arts and Defense; in that order." He smiled again as some began to look slightly ill. "Each exam will have a two hour time limit. When you finish your current exam, raise you hand and I shall give you another one. Good luck, your first exam begins... now."

By lunch time, an exhausting six hours later, Kali had completed the first four exams. By dinner time, another six hours after lunch ended, she had finished four more. And by the time she finished her Dark Arts test, all Kali could do was collapse onto her bed and pass out.

~Day Three, Physical Fitness Testing~

"I see you all have survived Maddock's tests. That might not be true after today's testing," bellowed the same stocky, mustache baring man from the first day. "I am Daryl Johnson and I am Head of the League's department concerning the art of war. I will be testing your physical fitness and prowess. It is this test that gets the most people sent packing. The group will be divided into four groups. Let's get cracking."

After some light warm-ups, Kali's group stood in front of a vaulting horse. Their objective, get over it any way they could. By the time it was Kali's turn, most of the group had gone and succeeded. *Can't be that hard,* she thought when she started her run. She jumped on the springboard, placed her hands on the vault and... slipped causing her to awkwardly flip over the vault and land on her back.

"Lupin! What was that?"

"I did make it over, sir," she replied when she stood up.

Johnson growled, "If you were being chased by hostiles, you'd be dead now. Next!"

After sit-ups, push-ups, bent arm hangs and flexibility test; it was finally time for lunch and an hour break. Then laps in the pool and an endurance bike ride over difficult terrain. Of course the torture did not end there. After dinner, there was sprinting and a two mile run.

~Day Four, Strategy and Tactics~

"Welcome Miss Lupin, I am Daniela Maki and I am the Head of the Tactical Department," introduced a slim and petite raven haired woman in a sharp suit.

"Good afternoon," Kali replied as she sat down in the seat in front of the desk.

With a flick of a wand and some muttered words, Ms. Maki conjured a model of a single story house with an open roof so one could see the interior. "The first part is a hostage situation." Kali nodded. "A group hostiles of unknown number are holding a family of four hostages in the master bedroom."

"What are my resources?"

"You are in charge of a team of two operatives you each have wands. Operative One has a small med kit containing a roll of bandages, wound cleaning potion, burn-healing paste, a bar of chocolate and an antidote for most poisons. Operative Two has an empty vial and a vial of exploding potion. You have an invisibility cloak and that is it."

"Back up?"

"Not coming; too risky."

"Do the hostiles have any affiliations?" Kali asked still pondering over the situation.

"Not that you know of," she answered.

"Alright, are there any doors or windows open?"

"A small bathroom window," Daniela pointed to a bathroom that was connected to one of the small bedrooms.

"Alright, I order Operative One to wait where they are as back up for injuries and to get help when I give a signal. Operative Two and I will go under the cloak and make our way to the window. I look in."

"You see the door is closed and there is no one in there."

"I go in with O2. When we are both inside, I kneel on the ground and take a big whiff. What do I smell?"

"Excuse me?"

"I smell the air coming from the crack of the door."

"Why?"

"To see if I can smell anything that seems... abnormal in the room." The agent seemed a little confused. "I am half werewolf my sense of smell is slightly heightened."

"To what extent?"Maki asked.

Kali shrugged. "I'm not sure, but can we continue please?"

"I am sorry but we cannot continue this exercise," Maki said coldly.

Kali was taken back. "What why?"

"This exercise was created for human applicants. We have to create a new test for you."

Quite shocked and a bit angry Kali asked, "I am not human?"

"You are a dark creature or at least part dark creature," she told Kali, in poorly hidden disgust.

"Since it is unlikely that someone is in the bedroom seeing as the bathroom window is open, O2 and I go in. Using my senses to navigate the way to the hostages and hostiles, I tell O2 to cover for me while I go in, under the cover of the invisibility cloak, and shield the hostages with a spell. Then I help O2 fight off the hostiles so that the hostages can get out to O1." After she was done, Kali exited the room without another word.

~Day Five, Practical~

Of all the tests, Kali felt best about the practicals. It would be like her OWLs and NEWTs all over again. The dueling? She may not be the best of the group, but she was confident in her abilities. Not to mention that she wanted to prove that she did deserve to be there, even if she is part werewolf.

~Day Six, Psychological Evaluation~

"Hello," Kali greeted as she entered the small room.

The young Asian woman looked up from her desk and smiled. "Hello," she paused and looked down at her papers, "Kali. I'm Dr. Oon-Heh Kim. I will be asking you some simple questions to gauge whether or not you will be able to handle jobs the IDL might assign you to."

"Ok, seems like a good idea to scan potential agents."

"Quite, not many people are well suited for our line of work. There is a lot of stress and mental strain involved. It becomes a part of everyday life. We have to be sure that you can handle life threatening situations, death of other agents and the overall risk involved."

Kali arched her eyebrow a little. "Do you know who I am?"

The doctor looked down at her sheet, "You are Kali Lupin, graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1998 as Head Girl." Oon-Heh looked back up at Kali with a perplexed look.

"What it doesn't say on that little sheet of yours is that I was one of the students who fought against Voldemort when he attacked the school in April. I saw fellow students die. I almost died as well," Kali told her, "If that is not a pure example that I can indeed handle the stress of this line of work you should also know that if I was not invited here I would be at the Auror Academy. Frankly, I do not know why I should even be here. They are just wasting our time."

"You honestly think that?" Dr. Kim asked.

"I honestly do."

Kim wrote something down. "What if someone were after your father or your significant other? If you have one that is."

Kali laughed. By far this was one of the most ridiculous questions the doctor could have asked. "Do you know who Harry Potter is?"

"Of course, I had to study modern European history in school."

"Well, obviously, you have not been keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip. I used to date Harry Potter, quite seriously this past year and my father works as an Auror of sorts. So you see that is not a 'what if' to me and I think I handled it well."

"I suppose I should just tear up the rest of these questions then."

~Day Seven, Results~

"I would like to congratulate all of you who have survived testing," boomed Johnson's voice, "as you well know, we can only select a portion of you to receive specialized training. When your name is called we will hand you your results packet and any letters that have been sent to you this past week. Abram, James."

After what seemed like an eternity, 'Lupin, Kali' was finally called and she stepped up the front where she received her results and eleven letters, most of which were from Harry. She retired to her room. "Letters or results? Letters or results?" she asked herself. She quickly grabbed the results packet and ripped it open. "Day two, performed above average on all tests. Day three, below average. 'I have never seen someone more in need of exercise since I began participating in training.' Johnson doesn't seem to like me. Day four, above average. Lupin showed control of emotion when provoked. She completed the mission with creativity and with the priority of the hostages' well-being before her own." Kali reread her day four results. *So, she was trying to get me mad. Touché,* she though. "Day five, excellent. Day six, a very balanced individual."

Kali put the results aside and made a silent wish. She reached her hand into the envelope again and brought her letter of acceptance or denial. She unfolded it and read...

Kali Lillian Lupin,

We are please to inform you that you have been accepted into the Intelligence Division of the International Defense League. Please report to Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America on Monday for specialized training.

Sincerely,

Brian Maddock, Head of Intelligence Division

She had made it! She had passed, despite her rather embarrassing physical fitness. She grabbed her father's letters and ripped them open, she wanted to read them quickly so that she could write him about the results. The first was just wishing her luck and the second was about Harry. The third got her attention because it said two very important things.

"The Order needs you. You have to speak at Sirius's trial." The letter had included the Daily Prophet article about the upcoming trial. Sirius had turned himself in but demanded a trial be held this time around.

Kali opened Harry's letters one by one. The first several, all written within a span of a day it seemed, begged her to return or at least talk to him. The next couple asked her things about why she wouldn't tell him anything. The last one was about Sirius's trial. His worries, his fears, his hopes, his dreams were all written on that single sheet of parchment. At the very end was scrawled a wish.

Please come back, Kali. If you don't testify, the jury might see it as questionable behavior for someone who is supposed to defend Sirius Black. The trial starts Monday, next week, please come. I need you too. I miss you.

And Forever,

Harry

She was supposed to go to Boston on Monday, but Sirius's trial. She had to speak to Mister Maddock... now. She ran out of her room and ran down the halls in search of her new boss. "Mister Maddock!" she called every time she turned a corner.

"He's in the cafeteria."

Kali turned and saw Ms. Maki leaving a room. "Thanks!"

When she reached the cafeteria doors, Kali burst through them as if she were being chased by rabid garden gnomes. "What is the meaning of this?" Johnson asked as he stood, towering over her with a disapproving glare.

"I need to speak to Mister Maddock. It's urgent!" she yelled.

"What is it, Kali? Are you unhappy about your placement?" Maddock asked as he walked up to them.

Kali looked slightly appalled. "No! I am extremely happy to be in your division, but I do have a problem of a... personal nature," she explained.

"My office is just in the next hallway. We can talk there." Once inside the office, and seated comfortably, he asked, "So, what is this problem?"

"Well, Mister Maddock," Kali began.

"Please, call me Brian," he interrupted.

"Brian," she said slowly, "I received several letters from home and they informed me that I need to return home for a trial."

"Are you in trouble?"

"No, but a friend is and I need to speak as a witness; it is very important that I go. A man's life is on the line." She handed him the newspaper clipping and waited as he read.

"Sirius Black?You want to go back to Britain to defend him?" he asked, a bit astonished.

"Yes, he's innocent and only Harry and I know about Wormtail's capture."

"Wormtail?"

"It's a long story and it's really Harry's and Sirius's story to tell. Suffice it to say that Black is indeed innocent and I need to be at the trial."

"It begins the same day as training," he told her.

"I know," Kali said sullenly.

"I will provide a portkey for you back to your home, but you must report back to Boston at six in the morning the day after the verdict is made."

"Thank you, Sir!" Kali ran around the desk and hugged him.

"Yes, well," He separated himself from her embrace. "Another portkey will be sent to you so that you can return to Boston quickly."

"Thank you!"

"Be back here with your belongings within an hour."

"Yes, Sir!"Kali ran out the office.

"Call me Brian," he yelled after her.

~Ministry of Magic, Courtroom Ten~

This was her fourth day back in Britain and Sirius's third day of trial in courtroom ten. Both Harry and her dad had used a good bit of gold to hire a Wizard attorney to help Sirius's case. The first day had been a recounting of Sirius's various crimes that he had been charged with. The second day, many friends of Padfoot's testified his character both now and in his youth. But this, the third day, was for Kali's and Harry's testimony. More so Harry's, since the media was mad with confusion as to why he would defend the man who had been convicted for the murder of his parents.

Dumbledore and she had rehearsed her story numerous times. The truth couldn't be told. If the Wizarding population found out about Kali's relation to Voldemort they might throw her in Azkaban. Harry was just coming back from his questioning.

"We'd like to bring up Kali Lupin for questioning," the lawyer announced.

Kali, with a small box, slowly made her way up to the chair next to the judge, Amelia Bones. "Please state your name for the record."

"Kali Lillian Lupin," she said clearly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Percy writing.

"Miss Lupin, how do you know the defendant?"

"He's one of my father's best friends from his days at Hogwarts."

"Do you think he is innocent?"

"No," Kali answered. The crowd gasped. "I know he is innocent." She quickly finished.

"And why is that?"

"Because Peter Pettigrew is alive."

"Yes, Mister Potter said the same thing, but if he is alive where is he?" the lawyer asked.

"Right here in this box." Kali handed the box to the Auror.

"There is nothing here but a half dead rat," the Auror said as he looked in.

"Of course there is. Pettigrew is an unregistered Animagus and goes by the name, Wormtail."

The Auror muttered some spells and soon a scared man, huddling on the ground, appeared. The courtroom was abuzz with chatter now. "Order," Bones said, "Order!" When the commotion died down, she said, simply, "Continue."

"Where... where did you find him?" the lawyer asked.

Kali launched into the story of Wormtail masquerading as Scabbers and his return to the Dark Lord. She finished, "I saw him flee into the dungeons and I had Harry follow me. When we reached a split in the corridor, I went right and he went left. Wormtail, or Pettigrew, was at the end of my corridor. I stunned him quickly and brought him to Headmaster Dumbledore for safekeeping 'til Mister Black could turn himself over."

"That is all Miss Lupin."

~Day Five, Ministry of Magic, Courthouse Ten~

Day four of the trial was Sirius's and Wormtail's testimony. On day five, the verdict was given. Kali sat next to Harry, their hands firmly clasped. They hadn't really spoken about anything but things involving the trial. Their feelings, Harry's mostly, and what different things could mean. Now, all that mattered was Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

"Pertaining to the case of Sirius Black, this court finds him..." Kali held her breath and squeezed Harry's hand a little tighter. "Not guilty. Auror please set Mister Black free. Mister Black, you have my apologies for your wrongful imprisonment." The last of it was lost in the roar of the room. Camera flashes were going off everywhere and everyone was on their feet. Kali watched as Harry ran towards his godfather and hugged him, more camera flashes. That image was probably going to be on the front page of every British Wizarding newspaper.

Kali slowly made her way to Sirius, wanting to hug him also. Before she could make it all the way to him, Harry hugged her, nearly squeezing the life out of her. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear, "Thank you."

After a many, many good hours celebrating, (the verdict was given at noon) Harry and Kali were walking around London. "This is my flat," Harry said as they past a rather modest looking building. "Would you like to come up?" he asked nervously.

Kali looked at her watch. It read nine o'clock. "I have to get up early tomorrow. I have to go to work and I have a lot of..." Harry silenced her with a kiss. "Well," she said slowly, sort of dazed, "maybe a nightcap is a good idea." Harry held out his hand and she took hold of it and followed him in.

Later, much later, Harry called out, "Kali?"

"Right here, Harry," she said from the loo.

"It's five in the morning. What are you doing up?"

She walked back into the bedroom wearing plain black work robes. "I need to go back home to get my things. My portkey activates at six."

"You're leaving again?" He had accepted that she wouldn't tell him where she was going.

"I have to Harry," she said as she sat next to him on the bed.

He looked at her mournfully. "When will you be back?"

"I don't know, probably not for a good long while." She paused for a second as she ran her fingers over his hand. "We shouldn't do this to ourselves, Harry. We can't live our lives with a night here and a night there. I might be gone for a year or more and... it's not fair to either of us." Her voice broke slightly as she said the last line.

"Why?"

"Because it isn't, Harry."

"Why do you have to run away?"

"Stop that! Stop questioning me. Stop making this so hard," she cried. Harry enveloped her in a hug. "I have to leave. Why are you making this so hard?" she asked as she hugged him back.

"Because, I never want to lose you."

"I could be gone for a long time."

"Then I'll wait."

"I want you to be happy."

"I'll be happiest waiting for you." He pulled away enough to see Kali's tearstained face. "And forever."

Kali smiled slightly. "Always."

They kissed but Harry pulled away. "We shouldn't start something we can't finish."

"Very right," Kali replied out of breath. "I better go." He nodded. "I'll write to you when I can." Kali stood and apparated back to her home.