Harry Meets His Match

Chapter 6- Surika’s OTHER Side

“So, you were eight when your parents died?” he asked. Her face twisted into a hurt expression. “Yes.” she answered. Harry could hear her voice break slightly. “Oh…” he started. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… I shouldn’t have asked you that…” “It’s okay. It’s just painful to remember. I was very close to them.” She forced her lips into a very strained smile. Harry wanted to reach across the table and wrap his arms around her. He felt terrible for asking her such a question. Being only one when his parents died, he didn’t know much about love and family. He didn’t know how painful it was to lose someone so very close to you, and being old enough to suffer emotionally from it.

“Hey, Surika.” Harry began. He had an idea. “Why don’t you come to Hogsmeade with me on Saturday? It’ll give you a chance to get more comfortable with our world.” Surika started to look uncomfortable with this offer. “Oh… I don’t know…:” “Please? You can even use my Invisibility Cloak if you want. Nobody but me would know you were there.”

Surika seriously considered the offer. She liked Harry and all, and she was enjoying getting to know him, but… with all of those people around? She still didn’t know who it was that killed her family. It could be anyone. Even someone in this world. She shuddered at the thought of a tall, dark figure in a black trench coat and hat, snatching her in Hogsmeade, snapping her neck, and leaving her dead in a pool of blood. She shook the thought away.

“Maybe I should go…” she thought to herself. The guy wouldn’t kill her in such a big mass of people, and besides, Harry’s Invisibility Cloak would provide some sort of protection. She looked at Harry. “Well… I don’t…” “Pretty please with a cheery on top?” Harry begged and grinned at her. His grin was her undoing. She grinned and shoved him off the bench, playfully.

“That’s pathetic!” she chortled. Harry got up from the floor and straightened his askew glasses. “Hey! That wasn’t very nice!” he laughed and ran around the table, caught her, and ruffled her hair vigorously. She shrieked and sprayed him with water. Harry let go in surprise, and stared down at his drenched shirt.

“Oh, you are not getting away with that!” He smirked and pulled out hid wand, muttered something, and water shot out of the end, drenching her before she had time to react. “ACK!” she shrieked. Harry grinned triumphantly, but he celebrated too soon. Surika brought him down and sat on his stomach. “I got ya where I want ya, and now I’m gonna… TICKLE YA!” she teases, and then began to tickle him viciously. He laughed out loud and tried to wriggle free. Surika looked up and stopped. Everyone was staring at them. Her face turned red and she got up off of him.

“Sorry…” she apologized to Harry in a near whisper. Harry got up from the floor and dusted himself off. “I have to go… I’ll see you later…” Surika said, and turned to leave the Great Hall. “Leave the cloak for me in Hagrid’s cabin.” she whispered, just barely loud enough for Harry to hear. “So, you’re going?” he asked, but she didn’t answer. She quickly left the Great Hall and was soon out of sight.

Harry was baffled. For one bright moment, she was having the time of her life, laughing and flirting with him. What happened in that split second that she looked up? Why did she stop? Somehow, he knew that she didn’t stop just because the people were staring. It had to be something much deeper than that.