Secrets and Truths

Chapter Six
An Unexpected Twist



Harry stood frozen in place. Of all the things he expected this was not one of them. How could he have misjudged her so badly? Here he was by himself, out of ear and eyeshot, with no one to help. His only thought was why me? He had to make himself listen to what she was saying. Surly she was telling him of her evil plan to abduct him and take him to Voldemort. But listening closer he realized that in fact she was saying something else.

“HARRY, snap out of it…get your wand out…NOW!”

'Oh…she must want me to give it to her…he started to hand it to her.
Why bother fighting, I’ll lose in the end anyway...I always do…'

“Harry…Harry…ugh…POTTER!”

That got his attention.

“Huh, what?”

“What are you doing, I don’t want your damn wand.”

“You don’t? You’re not trying to take me to Voldemort?”

“UH, no. Stop acting like an idiot child. Apparently you didn’t notice that we’re being followed.”

“Oh…I just thought that’s why you would want me alone. Why did you want me alone?”

“Not now, are you going to help me out here or what. Or are you…”

He saw her eyes widen and she didn’t have the chance to finish her sentence. In an instant he saw a figure leap from the trees and tackle her to the ground. They landed with a thud as he saw a second figure appear. Harry regained his composure, aimed his wand and fired a Stupify at the intruder. It happened so quickly that he didn’t hear Althia yell to him.

“Harry don’t, it’s…” but it was too late. She saw the red light leave the wand and hit the girl in the chest. She fell to the ground unconscious.

“GET OFF HER!” He spat pointing his wand at the girl straddling Althia.

She slowly rose up and stepped away from her. He noticed her giving Althia a pleading look. Althia just smiled at her then looked to Harry.

“Put your wand away Harry, it’s okay. I know them both. They’re not a threat to either of us.” She said as she got to her feet.

“You know them? Who the hell are they and why did she just tackle you?”

“Oh that, she’s a strange one, gets her jollies that way. She always does it when you least expect it too.” She replied as she went to the new girl and hugged her.

Harry was reeling. What the hell just happened? How could he go from fearing for his life to totally confused? He still couldn’t believe he was willing to give up his wand without a fight, what was he thinking? He shook his head to clear it before speaking again.

“You still haven’t answered me as to who they are.”

“Sorry…” she said pulling away from the girl “…let me introduce you. This crazy chick here is Siria and over there, lying unconscious is her twin sister Banji. They’re the friends I mentioned earlier.”

“I’m hurt Harry” the new girl said. “ We’ve already met and you’ve already forgotten me and my poor unconscious sister.”

Althia and Harry both stared at her shocked. Althia didn’t know how it was possible and Harry thought she did look familiar but for the life of him couldn’t place her.

“Where did I meet you?”
“Where did you meet him?” They asked in unison.

“This past summer, at Gringotts. You weren’t paying attention to where you were going and ran smack dab into Banji knocking her on her butt. You know that’s twice now, expect some payback in the future.” She laughed. “ It was a brief meeting, but a meeting nonetheless.”

Harry thought for a moment. He didn’t remember everything from that day, but remembered the bank. He remembered going to draw out money to support himself with because Uncle Vernon had thrown him out. He remembered running into a girl before Dumbledore had shown up out of nowhere, escorted him back to the Dursley’s and insisted he be allowed to remain at Privet Drive. Uncle Vernon had been outraged. He thought of the repercussions, shuddered and stopped the memory there.

“Alright there Harry” Althia asked.

“Yeah, Mmm fine. I do remember that, come to think of it. Guess I just didn’t recognize you at first, sorry.”

“No harm done. You might want to wake Banji up though. And be warned, she’s a grump when she first wakes, naturally or from spell-induced sleep.

Harry cast an Ennervate and stepped back. He saw her eyes flutter open then slam closed. She reached her hand up and gave them a slight rub, marring her makeup. She removed her hand and gave Harry a venomous stare.

“What the fuck was that for! I didn’t even do anything. Why didn’t you curse her, she’s the one that came barging out of the trees at you! And because of you I find myself once again on the ground, dirty with fucked up makeup. The least you could do is help me up.” She said reaching out her hand.

Harry heard the other two girls giggling behind him but extended his hand to the girl on the ground. She took it, rose from the ground and brushed herself off. She mumbled a thank you to him and walked to her sister and friend and Harry followed.

“Why is it that when you do something stupid Siria that I always get caught in the cross-fire? Where is the fairness in that?!”

“Life is not always fair dear sister, it’s not my fault you didn’t dodge the hex.”

“Oh just shut up, give me a damn mirror then don’t talk to me for the rest of the day. By the way Althia, good to see you again.”

Althia just shook her head and smiled.

“Nice to see you both too. I see you two haven’t changed since last year. But what are you doing here?”

They explained to her that they would be attending on a temporary basis. Their school had suffered hurricane damage and was being repaired. They had been allowed to choose, with parental/guardian permission, where to be transferred and had chosen Hogwarts. They knew Althia would be attending so took the opportunity to be with her. And although their mother had been born and raised in the UK they had never been there before this past summer and that was brief. Once they got a taste of it they knew they had to come back. Why not kill two birds with one stone they figured.

Harry had remained in the background just taking in the new girls. Looking at them you wouldn’t think they were twins. They had the same slender shape and looked to be about 5’8” tall. Banji had long flowing golden blonde hair that laid in soft ringlets and sapphire eyes. Siria had short choppy pink hair in the back but her much longer bangs were blue and she had violet eyes. Both were dressed in school uniforms and robes, but like Althia, Siria chose to wear blue jeans. He noticed their piercing’s as well. Siria had her nose, lip and brow done, Banji, just her nose.

“This is just to cool. Who would have thought we would be together again so soon? As much as I would just love to stand around and chat we need to get going, we’re running late and I still have something to attend to before we get there.” She said as she started walking again, the other three following her lead.

“We were wondering, why you didn’t take a carriage?” Siria asked.

“That my wicked friend is a long story so I’ll make it short. I happened to piss a couple people off so I thought it best to avoid them for now. And I pulled Harry along for the ride, uh, walk.”

“You have such a natural ability to do that so I’m not surprised. But on the first day, that’s a new record I’m sure.”

Althia just rolled her eyes and gave no comment. She was glad for the distraction when Harry spoke.

“Hey” Harry asked, “How did you two get here?”

To his surprise Banji answered him.

“We took a plane to London and then flooed from the Ministry to the Headmasters office this afternoon. When we knew it was time for the train to arrive we walked down to meet you, well Althia, but then brain-food there came up with another plan. You saw how miserably that failed.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I can’t believe Dumbledore let you walk to the station.”

“Who said he let, us do anything.” She said with a mischievous grin.

“What? You snuck out? How did you manage that?”


Hearing his question Althia and Siria decided it was best to walk on a bit. Harry was on his own with this subject.

Banji stopped walking as well did Harry. She stepped up to him coming mere inches from his face. Being this close he could see the sparkle in her eye and the faint scent of Hawaiian Ginger. The moon shone in her hair causing a halo effect. He was torn from his illusion when she spoke.

“SNEAK…I, Harry Potter, do not sneak! Remember that. I went right out the front doors.”

“So… you just walked out. I don’t bloody think so. If Dumbledore didn’t give you permission, you HAD to sneak.”

“NO I DIDN’T! Just because you may have to revert to doing such a thing, doesn’t mean I do. I have my ways around situations like that.”

“Okayyy. So what are those ways?”

“Ha, you don’t really think I would just tell you do you? Maybe if you’re really nice to me until It’s time for me to leave and give me something I want, I’ll tell you…but NOT before!” she said as she started walking again.

Nice, he could do that. If there was a way to get out of the castle through the front doors without using his invisibility cloak he had to know. But give her something she wanted? What could that possibly be? So he asked.

“What do you want that I could give you?”

“That Harry, is something for me to know and you to figure out.”




****************************TBC***************************

A/N: Reviews are ALWAYS welcome...go on you know you want to!