A Good Time For Change

Chapter 2

At the ball...

Kelli danced like an angel. You wouldn´t guess it by the way she walked, but if you saw the way she ran, oozing like ink, you would´ve known she was a dancer, born and bred. She danced with Cornelius Fudge, Remus Lupin, half of the ministry, all the men of the Weasley clan, and so many others, chatting comfortably all the while.

After dancing for two hours straight, and being passed around like a prized trophy, she made her way back to the table where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were sitting. Kelli sat down breathlessly, blowing a curl out of her face, but beaming.

"I guess it´s kind of nice to have a birthday party," Kelli said, taking a sip from a bottle of butterbeer. She waved to a handsome young man dressed in silver dress robes.

"Who´s that?" Hermione asked, giggling.

"Have too much butterbeer, `Mione? You don´t recognize him? He´s my partner, Jack, you know, he drove the limo." Kelli took another sip of butterbeer. Darn good dancer, too. "So, Harry," Kelli said, casually, "I haven´t seen you exactly cutting a rug out there. Why aren´t you out there dancing like a madman? Only every girl in the building would love to dance with you." She motioned to a waiter. "Champagne, please." The waiter nodded and fairly ran off.

"I--I don´t like dancing," Harry replied, blushing.

"Nobody ever taught you, eh?" Harry nodded, blushing even more. "Only one way to solve that, my friend. Come on." Kelli pulled him out of his chair and onto the dance floor.

Harry stammered that he didn´t know how, but Kelli cut him off. "Do you want to be a total disgrace at every ball you go to?" He shook his head. "Then listen, and learn. I´m the best you know." She laughed.

"What do I do?" Harry asked as the orchestra began playing a slow waltz.

"Okay, you put this hand on my hip," Kelli pulled his hand into place. He blushed, and turned his head away. Rolling her eyes she said, "I put my hand on your shoulder," she did so, and found herself blushing as well, "and then we clasp these hands." Kelli smiled, and said, "Now, keep time to the music. You´re the man, so you have to lead. One, two, three, one, two, three." Harry caught on fairly quickly. "You´re doing beautifully!"

"Thanks," Harry replied, looking down on her. Kelli was about...convert from feet...1.5 meters tall, and Harry was about...1.9 meters. [Author´s note: Damn these American schools. They don´t teach you metric until you´re already stuck with their ridiculous system!] Obviously, he was a good deal taller.

"So, Mr. Potter, did you know I´m going to be transferring to your magnificent Hogwarts this year?" Kelli asked, trying to start up a conversation. "What house do you suppose I´ll be in?"

"I don´t know. You´re obviously clever, so you could be a Ravenclaw." Harry thought for a moment, "But you´re also very helpful, so you could be a Hufflepuff." Kelli made gagging noises, and Harry chuckled. "Of course, you´re sly and cunning, so you could make a great Slytherin."

Kelli shivered and said, "Don´t even joke about that." Smiling, she said, "I might have to talk to people like--"

"May I cut in?" came a syrupy voice from beside them. Standing there, looking resplendent in forest green and silver dress robes, was none other than Draco Malfoy.

Damn etiquette to Hell, Kelli thought silently. Of course it demanded she be civil and dance with him. Kelli had recognized the young man at once, and--though handsome--didn´t feel like ruining her first birthday celebration in years by dancing with the fellow. She nodded, with a pasted on smile. Mouthing to Harry, "Etiquette, I´ve got to," she took Draco´s offered hand.

Draco held her a little to close for comfort. "So you´re the lady of the hour, Kelli. It´s a pleasure." He kissed her hand, and she felt rather sick. When they started to dance, however, she was pleasantly surprised to find he was excellent at it. That branch of his education--at least--had been well-covered.

"Thank you," Kelli replied, trying not to look him in the eye. "So, Master Malfoy," she noticed he blanched at the name, "did you know I was transferring to Hogwarts next term?"

An almost-wicked smile crossed his face. "No, I hadn´t any idea. I´ll hope to see you in Slytherin. You´d make a fine addition to our house, my dear."

Obviously, the stupid git didn´t know she was muggle-born. Oh well, it was easier to avoid a scene by not telling him. She smiled and said, "Well, actually, I was thinking I was more of--"

"May I cut in?" a pleasant, Irish voice said from behind. Someone with a voice like that couldn´t possibly be malformed or a Slytherin! Her smile grew, and nodding to Draco she spun around. The voice, apparently, came from a well-built young man with sandy-brown hair and pleasant blue eyes. They danced quickly out of harm´s way.

"God, I don´t know who you are, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart," Kelli said, and stood on tip-toe to kiss the man´s cheek.

"I saw you dancing with my mate Harry, and then saw you get swept off with the Slytherin skunk, and figured I´d best save you. I´m Seamus Finnigan, by the way." He smiled.

"Kelli Roberts," she replied.

"So you´re Kelli Roberts, I hadn´t seen hide nor hair of you since I got here. My father´s an Unspeakable for the ministry, and decided to drag me along."

"Oh thanks. I feel really great knowing you were dragged to the first birthday party I´ve had in..." she did some mental calculations and said, "three years."

"Shoot, you haven´t had a birthday party in three years?" Seamus cried. The Irish-man shook his head. "´Tis bad luck to go so long without one."

"Thanks for warning me ahead of time," Kelli said, sarcastically, but the harshness of her voice was cancelled out by the bright smile on her face. "It´s not my fault. I just forget. I´m almost always on assignment."

"Assignment?" Seamus raised his eyebrows at her. Kelli bit down hard on her lip, almost drawing blood from that most unfortunate feature of her face.. Can´t believe you said that, you idiot! You´re becoming a blonde like you´re damn sister, Teddi!

"I work for the American Warlocks Association for a Better World, also known as the AWAFABW." Kelli smiled. "I told them we should change the name, but they said it was as much an American tradition as quadpot is. God, I hate that game! I much prefer Quidditch."

Seamus got a dreamy look on his face. "Ah, Quidditch...Wonderful sport. What position do you play?"

"Keeper. I´m the best one my age...on the other side of the Atlantic, that is." Kelli laughed as the song ended. "I´m modest, aren´t I?" Looking at her watch she said, "This is where I must leave you, my good Irish sir."

"´Til school starts, then?" Seamus asked with a wink.

"Definitely." Planting a kiss on his cheek, she headed back to the table where the entire Weasley clan and various friends had gathered. Kelli sat down in between Harry and Ron. "That champagne here, yet?" she asked.

Just then, the waiter came bustling back with several bottles and a huge tray covered in glasses. He quickly filled them, then, bowing, he walked away. "Thank you!" Kelli called after him.

"Aren´t you a little young?" Arthur asked, sounding disapproving.

"Of course. But I´ve been going to parties like this for three years now. I´ve learned some anti-drunk spells along the way." She took a sip of the champagne and said, "Ah...That´s good stuff. Anyone else?" Everyone grabbed a glass. "Hold it, I´ll cast the spell on all of you." Kelli pulled her wand out of her handbag, and said, "Yade Erfk Nurd!" and everyone felt a little spark go through them.

Molly raised her glass and said, "To birthdays past, present, and future!"

"Here, here!" Arthur said, as they all clinked glasses and gulped down their champagne.

"That is good," Ginny said, smiling.

"Golden effervescence, mate. Like floating on air, isn´t it?" Kelli asked.

"Definitely," Fred said.

"That was a rhetorical question, Fred," Kelli said, smiling over the rim of her glass.

"Of course it was," he replied, blushing slightly.

"May I please have your attention?" Cornelius Fudge´s voice rang out through the hall. The magical microphone screeched for a moment, and then there was silence. "Would our birthday girl please come to the conductor´s stand?" he asked with a large smile.

Kelli stood up, waved to her friends, and wove her way through the crowds of people until she reached the conductor´s stand. Fudge helped Kelli up onto it, and she smoothed her dress.

"Maestro?" Fudge asked, and the orchestra started playing "Happy Birthday to you." Everyone began to sing along, and then burst into applause at the end. As everyone was singing the Chef had wheeled out a towering, fifteen-layer chocolate cake, which was adorned with white frosting roses on chocolate frosting. Fifteen candles were on top.

"Make a wish, my dear?" Fudge asked, and Kelli closed her eyes for a moment. A smile lit up her face, and she blew out all the candles in one large blow. Everyone applauded as Kelli cut the cake. Fudge gave Kelli a kiss on the cheek, and then handed her a piece of the cake. Smiling, she returned to her seat amongst her new friends.

"A slim little thing like you? How could you eat that and stay as skinny as you are?" Ginny asked with a laugh. She tried to snatch a bite of the cake with her fork, but Kelli slid her plate away with a chuckle.

"I eat like a horse. You should see me with a giant tub of popcorn. I scarf it down faster than you can say Quidditch." Kelli smiled as she finished off the cake with one last, enormous bite. "Same with chocolate."

Hermione stood up, and said, "We ladies will head over to the powder room about now." Ginny giggled, and she and Kelli followed her. It took nearly fifteen minutes to get there, because people kept stopping Kelli to congratulate her.

After "freshening up" for about ten minutes, they headed back out to find that the dancing as back in full swing. Hermione was quickly snatched for a dance by a dark-skinned boy who introduced himself as Dean Thomas. Then, a tall, skinny boy came over with a camera, and asked if he could take a picture.

"Colin, can´t you just leave her alone? She doesn´t like getting her picture taken," Ginny said. The boy´s face took on a down-cast look when Kelli intervened.

"Wow, is that a Digital Nokia XL 3200?" Colin nodded, happily. Kelli noticed his hands were shaking though. Poor fellow.

"Yeah, I got it for my birthday. My dad was saving up for ages." Colin beamed with pride.

"Hey, Colin, would you mind coming over to our table and taking some pictures? I´d really appreciate it." Kelli´s smile was so warm and inviting that the boy couldn´t resist. "It is my birthday, you know." She winked at Colin.

"Of--of course, Kelli."

After the Weasley crew, Harry, and Kelli had posed for about ten pictures, Ginny was swept off her feet by Colin--not literally--and they disappeared onto the crowded dance floor.

"I´m ready for my promised dance, now," Ron said to Kelli, smiling. Kelli looked up at him.

"You know, I don´t think I realized how tall you were. I´m not sure I´ll be able to reach your shoulder." The two of them laughed.

"I could always stoop over!" That time, everybody laughed. "But seriously, would you care to dance?" He offered his elbow.

Kelli managed to stop laughing long enough to nod, and with a wave to Harry and the Weasleys, she and Ron made their way onto the dance floor. "You gangly thing," she said, "you´re so high up, you don´t even notice you´re stepping on my poor little feet."

"Oh, gosh, I´m sorry!" Ron said, lifting up a foot and nearly falling over. He just barely kept his balance. Breathlessly, he said, "I should find a shrinking potion."

"I´m just kidding, if you´d stepped on my foot, you would´ve broken this." Kelli lifted her dress enough for him to see the glass slipper on her foot. "I would´ve had to kill you if you´d done that." She took a hand and pretended to slice her neck with a finger. "Dead as a doornail, you´d be. Where´d that expression come from, anyway?"

Ron shrugged. "Ask Hermione." That cracked them both up, and they were barely able to get fifteen meters away from the table, what with all the laughing.

"You´re looking magnificent, Miss Roberts," came a familiar voice from behind Kelli. "That, or somebody spiked the punch." Kelli spun around to encircle Remus Lupin in a fierce hug. Damn you, Lupin, Kelli thought, cursing him silently. Sending me on a meaningless mission so I´d realize it was my birthday.

"I can´t believe you sent me to the Weasley´s, you wily, old coot." Kelli gave him a quick squeeze and then released him. "Thanks, by the way. Is it the new moon, tonight, then?" Remus nodded. "That´s good. It would be dreadful if you showed up at my first birthday party in years, looking like Death himself."

"Why do you assume that death is a man? Isn´t it usually a female in legend?" Remus asked, raising his eyebrows. Man´s clever, Kelli said to herself. You´ve definitely got to give him credit.

"You men blame everything on women. You can´t find your wand? Wife must have hidden it someplace. Favorite tie has a stain? Must´ve been your wife who forgot to use Spray-n-Wash." Kelli rolled her brown eyes and said, "I´m practically spitting nails I´m so upset with all you men. Dragon slayer John Wayne delusions," she muttered. [Authors note: I completely stole that line from the Paradigm of Uncertainty. You should all read it; it´s fantastic.] Smiling she said, "Of course Death´s a man. Who else would be stupid enough to take the job?"

"Ouch," Arthur said, walking over to shake Remus´ hand. "Good to see you, Lupin." He had a broad, good-natured smile on his freckled face.

"Likewise, Arthur," Remus replied with a smile. "How´s the family?"

"Come see for yourself," Arthur said. He led Lupin back to the table. Happy conversations soon ensued among the Weasleys and their friends, and no one noticed Kelli slip away, as Hermione and Ginny arrived after several dances. After about fifteen minutes, Hermione finally asked what she´d been wondering for the past ten.

"Did anybody see where Kelli slipped off to?" At that point, everyone looked around, wildly, trying to see where the young woman had slipped off to. When she didn´t turn up on a first quick look, everyone split up into the crowd to go looking for her.

When Hermione literally bumped into Seamus Finnigan he shook her hand with a good-natured grin. "´Mione! Lovely to see ye´, me dear. But why the worried look on your pretty, little face?"

Hermione wrung her hands fretfully. "Oh, everyone was talking and Kelli slipped off. We can´t find her anywhere."

"Now, don´t you worry your pretty, little `ead, love, we´ll find `er in a jiff, you´ll see." Seamus gave her a reassuring hug, and wandered off in the opposite direction, craning his neck to look for the telltale, fiery-red dress.

Meanwhile, Ron and Harry were nervously knocking on the door to the ladies´ loo. "Kelli?" Ron asked, tentatively. "Are you in there?"

Through the door came Ginny, who shook her head, looking frantic. "She isn´t in there. Oh, where would she have wandered off to?" Ginny bit down on her lip, her freckles standing out sharply in her abnormally pale face.

"Who knows? The other side of the Atlantic, perhaps?" came an all-too-familiar voice from behind. You could almost hear the smirk on the person´s face.

"Malfoy," Harry murmured through clenched teeth. Ginny grabbed a hold of the backs of both boys´ dress robes.

"No you don´t, gentlemen. You won´t be killing anyone..." with an unpleasant glare at Draco she added, "yet. Malfoy, have you seen Kelli? I know you were dancing with the poor thing earlier." Harry and Ron stared open-mouthed at Ginny, whose face was the same color as her hair, she was so angry. This was not the timid, little Ginny whose elbow landed in butter at the sight of a cute guy. This was Virginia May Weasley, and she sure as hell was going to let everyone know it.

"´Fraid not, Weasel," Draco sneered. Apparently undaunted, Ginny sneered right back. Harry and Ron´s jaws slackened even more.

"We´ll be off, then. Do tell your mother she needs a muggle nose job, and your father he needs to get a bloody clue. Ta-ta, darling!" With a cheerful wave, she dragged Harry and Ron away from the now slack-jawed Draco Malfoy.

"Go, Ginny!" Harry said when they were out of hearing distance. "I almost thought you were going to turn him into `Malfoy, the Amazing, Bouncing Ferret´ for a second there. That would actually have been an improvement, really. However, I doubt you´ll be having a pleasant time of it on the train September 1^st.

"Yes, well..." Ginny apparently lost her train of thought in her anger. "That smarmy git deserves to be shoved down a rat-infested garbage shoot." Then, she muttered, "Even though his wand´s shoved up his arse so far he probably wouldn´t even notice."

"Ginny!" Ron said, amazed. "If Mum heard you talking like that you´d be grounded!" He didn´t look altogether displeased with her comment, however.

"Yeah, well, it´s not like you don´t swear like a drunken sailor when she´s around," Ginny muttered, as she stormed off to find her American friend.

"She´s really changed for the better, today," Ron said, amazed. "I think this Kelli girl will be a good--if not foul-mouthed--influence on all of us. I wouldn´t be surprised if she turned out to be girl-friend material."

"That´s you, alright, Ron. Hormones always in charge of your brain and bodily functions, eh?" Harry elbowed Ron suggestively, who gave him a shove. This normally would´ve been okay, except for the fact that at that moment the friends were passing a large water fountain. Erm...with obvious results.

"Oh, God, Harry! I´m so sorry! You must be bloody freezing!" Ron muttered a drying spell as Harry climbed out of the fountain, earning disapproving looks from the witches and wizards around them.

With a scowl, Harry led his friend off in search of Kelli once more.

***

In a dark room, not so far away, Kelli´s voice was heard. "The plan is set. I have them wrapped around my little finger. This is going to be a blast." She let out an evil chuckle that would´ve sent chills down the spine of the hardest-taunted of wizards.

"Perfect," came a woman´s reply. "Everything is falling easily into place. You´ve done your job well, Kelli. For that, you will be duly rewarded."

With a quick nod, Kelli exited the room. Bustling down an empty hall, she followed a labyrinthine maze of halls, until she reached a blood-red, marble door, that had no visible handle. "Open," she said, but not in English. The words that slipped out of the girl´s mouth were serpentine.

Exiting out into the dark night, Kelli closed her eyes and shivered. Then, looking up at the star-filled sky, the tears that had been obscuring her vision finally fell. She could make out the constellation of the Big Dipper. I thought the constellations were different over here. "God," she murmured. "If you´re out there, listening, or watching, or whatever the hell it is you do, I could really use your help." Glass shoes clicking along the pavement as she danced along the curb for a moment, with an imaginary partner, humming a familiar tune softly, before slowly Disapparating. She muttered, "This is going to be a loooooong year."

The last thing that could be seen of her, were her glass shoes, slowly waltzing on their own. Then, they too disappeared. All that was left was the soft hum of the wind, echoing Brahms´s lullaby.