The Mystery

Chapter Three

The New Student(s)

The rest of the ride to Hogwarts was uneventful and still Malfoy had not said anything... to Harry anyway. He would talk to anyone else trying to be his usual nasty self but something had definitely changed him. Before the carriage ride to the castle Harry swore he had seen a figure dressed in blood-red robes and another figure dressed in plum robes. Both were fleeting glances and both had the hoods pulled over their faces. The one in plum was between two people that Harry recognized as Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall. Harry then knew that they had caught the trunk snatcher.

Seated in their carriage Harry was watching the thestrals and wondered how he could have thought that they were ugly and ungraceful. They reminded him of scaly unicorns with wings and without a horn. Suddenly Hermione snapped her fingers in Harry's face and snapped him out of his daze.

"As I was saying I seen the person McGonagall had and I haven't seen her before. She must be new but then she's as old as we are."

"That's why she went through the 6^th year's trunks, she wanted to know what we have this year," Ron said sympathetically thinking about what Snape would do just for performing illegal magic on the train. Hermione glared at Ron and turned to Harry. "Where do you think she's from?" Harry shrugged.

"I don't know. What did she look like?" Harry just asked to be able to think for a minute. Everyone finally slipped into to silence until they reached the castle. Harry followed Hermione and Ron into the banquet hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table beside Fred and George. Awaiting the Sorting Ceremony, Harry looked around the room to see if he could identify the new student. Then McGonagall came out with the new first years, who looked terrified and the new student in plum. The Sorting Hat was already on the stool in front of the teachers table and was humming slightly to itself.

"Now, first years, when I call your name please come up and I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted into wither Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw." And McGonagall called the first name and the boy went to Hufflepuff. Harry realized that the Sorting Hat had not made a speech like it usually does before the sorting. Finally there was one little boy left and the student in the plum robes still with the hood up over their face. "Zander, Noah," McGonagall called and the boy went up to the stool and sat down.

Before the hat had touched his hair the Sorting Hat shouted, "Slytherin!!" and Harry had the worst case of de javu. When Harry had been at his first year the Sorting Hat had placed another person in Slytherin without touching his hair as well - Draco Malfoy. Harry knew nothing good could come of this. Now at least they would be able to meet the new student when they were sorted. But before McGonagall could call a name Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Please let me have your attention for a moment. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has come to an important step to it's future. The transferring of students from different Wizarding schools. I know that this young lady's transferring experience is not the best of circumstances but nonetheless, she is here and has opened the doorway for many more students that in the future wish to transfer can." With this said Dumbledore sat down and Professor McGonagall stood back up.

"Matthews, Kali," McGonagall called. The figure in the plum robe strolled forward and sat on the stool. "Please remove your hood so that I may place the Sorting Hat on your head," Professor McGonagall said and the figure raised creamy white hands and drew back the hood. She was beautiful Harry thought and took in her vivid green eyes (just like his) and her straight brown hair. Not mousy brown like Hermione's, Kali's hair was a rich mahogany brown. Her long hair framed her heart-shaped face. McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head and it perked up.

"Never have I seen before,

A white maiden, whose name's from lore.

Her sister's is the same as well,

An old curse upon them fell.

Now I'll sort you all the same,

But listen to me and no one's to blame.

Slytherin!"

The Sorting Hat had surprised it seemed even Professor Dumbledore and as the Slytherin table clapped and applauded a stumbling figure dressed in blood-red emerged from the door that Professor McGonagall had brought the first years through. This figure controlled their balance then went up to Professor McGonagall who gave a little squeak, and with her eyes wide cleared her throat for attention. The Slytherins calmed down and Harry noted that Kali had seated herself away from the rest of the occupants of the table.

"Matthews, Keira." The figure moved to the stool and removed her hood as well everyone in the hall gasped even, it seemed, Snape. Keira was identical to her sister Kali, same green eyes and mahogany hair, but that wasn't the weird thing because Fred and George Weasley were identical, the amazing thing was Keira was Kali's mirror image exactly. The eyebrows were the same and everything. McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Keira's head and waited for her to be placed in Slytherin as well as Kali. Finally after a minute the Sorting Hat moved.

"The name's the same,

Their appearance too.

One means Black Haired,

The other Black Energy.

So figure which witch is for you,

It's all in the name.

Of course I'll sort, where shall you go?

With you sister, I think no,

Gryffindor!"

And yet again the Sorting Hat had surprised everyone, Harry felt like the hat had been talking to him not just Keira. He cheered all the same as she came to join her fellow Gryffindors. Her long hair had billowed out of her hood by the time she got to the table and Harry seen that both her and Kali had a crease in it at the same exact spot. Hermione scooted down closer to Ron to give Keira a place to sit. Which placed her right in front of Harry. Keira smiled as she sat down.

"Hello and welcome to Gryffindor House," Hermione said as her usual greeting to anyone that was sorted into their house. Keira smiled and looked around for her sister, Kali. Who, Harry thought, gave Keira a very awful look, but Keira just smiled and turned back around. "So, what school did you transfer from?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, Salem's School of Gifted Witches and Wizards," Keira said smiling. Hermione looked confused. "Oh, you've never heard of it have you?" Hermione shook her head no with about fourteen other people who were eavesdropping on the conversation. "It's located in the United States of America." Comprehension dawned on Hermione and she smiled.

"American, your American? That's wonderful, no wonder the accent." Harry was a little cross with Hermione he had not detected an accent, maybe a lack of one but hey. "Well, anyway, I'm Hermione Granger, this is Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Fred and George Weasley..." Keira's eyes widened at so many Weasley's. "And this is Harry Potter." Hermione paused for the effect that Harry's name made on other witch and wizards but Keira just nodded.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Keira Kali Matthews. Kali and I come from a long line of the Salem Matthews." Hermione just stared at her as if she was dumb.

"I said this is Harry Potter." Keira smiled again.

"And I'm Keira Matthews..." Harry saw where this was going and interrupted taking Keira's offered hand.

"Hermione, not everyone is aware of the things I do. Nice to meet you Keira... Did you say your name was Keira Kali Matthews?"

"Yes, and my sister's name is Kali Keira Matthews." Fred and George piped up for this one.

"Why did your mum name you both names?" Keira looked a little uneasy.

"Aren't you two magical twins too?" Fred smiled.

"Fred and George, the magical twins at your service." Keira shook her head slightly.

"So your name is Fred George Weasley and his is George Fred Weasley?" Ron laughed and Fred and George sneered at her.

"Good Lord no, woman. Why would our mum name us like that?"

"Because to be magical twins you have to share the first and middle name with your twin, but magical twins have more in common than that..." Keira would have continued but Professor Dumbledore had just stood up to commence the feast and everyone including Keira and Kali were too busy stuffing their faces.