Chapter 1:
"Kara Marin Ayres get your butt out of that bed this instant! You are going to be late!" I groaned, pulled a pillow over my face and rolled over. It turned out that I rolled too far over and I ended up face first on the floor. I curled up on the floor, waiting until the very last minute. "Kara I will tell you one last time, the Weasleys are waiting for you to go to Diagon Alley. If you do not get up this instant they will leave without you." With that I bolted straight up and sprinted down the hall into the bathroom.
I hopped into the shower, quickly washing my hair and then drying it. I scrambled back to my room and threw on a gray sweater with black skinny jeans and gray converse. I grabbed a pink and silver bracelet and some pink earrings. Grabbing a piece of toast I hopped into the fire place and picked up some floo powder. "NUMBER TWELVE GRIMMAULD PLACE!" I shouted, clearly and I was instantly transported into the Weasley's current living room. The twins were in the living room, smiling evilly at something they did to Ron, who then walked down the stairs, pink. I burst out laughing, freaking the twins out as they had not realized I was behind them. Fred was the first one to react, picking me up and spinning me around.
"How's my favorite girl?" he asked still spinning me. He then tossed me to george, with ease, who caught me and spun me around even more. They continued to this until Charlie Weasley walked into the room and stole me from the both of them.
"What is it with this family and carrying me around?" I asked Charlie, exasperatedly.
"You're just a big baby to all of us," Charlie winked, placing me on the kitchen counter. It was probably easy for them to carry me around, seeing as I was, well tiny. I was fifteen years old and only 90 pounds. Then, the infamous Harry Potter walked in the room, and did a double take when he realized I was there. I jumped into his arms, and he fell over from the impact. You see, Harry was the only one around here that was relatively my size. I was 5'2 and he was 5'5. He called us small, I called us fun-sized.
"Harry!" I exclaimed, my red hair blowing in his face. My hair wasn't Weasley red, it was a deep, dyed red. It looked dyed, at least, but in reality it was totally natural. Also differing from the Weasley's I had tan skin and pale, blue green eyes. After we got up, (Harry helping me) I hit Harry on the arm. "You didn't write me back! It kills me inside, that you don't love me, like you used to!" I wailed, dramatically clutching onto his shirt and fakely balling my eyes out. Harry just laughed. "You heartless ba- Mrs Weasley! How great to see you!" I recovered quickly, and Mrs. Weasley waved her wooden spoon at me and glared in a warning manner.
"Kara Marin Ayres!" Ginny called, "Kare-Bear!"
"Mini Ginny!" I mocked, earning a glare from her and a laugh from Harry. Ginny was actually quite a bit taller than me, being almost two inches taller than Harry, so I decided to call her that. "Let's go! My mum said that I could get an owl this year! And I can't wait to get the Care of Magical Creatures book!" Ginny and I were best friends. We were in the same year, a year younger than Harry and Hermione and Ron, and we had a group of fifth year friends, who we rarely got to see in the summer.
I ran into the living room, excited to get to Diagon Alley and I grabbed the floo powder, and yelled out where I was going. I tumbled out into the Leaky Cauldron Ginny following less than a second later. Then the twins appeared grinning madly as everybody else scrambled out of the fireplace. We then ran to Diagon Alley, quickly dispersing to get whatever we needed for the year, and Fred and George Went to open their shop. First, Ginny and I went to Madam Malkins, seeing as she was the only girl in the family her mum always got her new robes. My family was pretty well-off. My step-parents were both purebloods, Gryffindors, and my stepdad was an auror. My stepmum worked very high up in the Ministry. Let's just say, if anything were to happen to Cornelius Fudge, she would be in charge.
As soon as I stepped into Madam Malkins I was met by a pair of surprisingly warm, grey eyes. The owner of the eyes was none other than foul, loathsome evil little cockroach, Draco Malfoy. Only I didn't think of him the same way as Hermione. Ginny was still waiting outside, talking to Dean Thomas, so it would be a few minutes. I quickly glanced around, and then, after realizing there was no one around I threw my arms around him. "I missed you! Why didn't you write, Drake?"
He returned the hug, but grimaced as soon as I asked, "I'll tell you at Hogwarts," was all he could say before the door opened and Ginny walked in.
"Watch where you're going, Ayres!"
"No-good Slytherins like you aren't worthy enough for me to look at," I sneered, then winked as he walked out the door. Ginny grinned at me, as madam Malkin rushed over, taking measurements and scrambling around the two of us. She then handed us our robes and we were out the door.
"Okay, let's go get our books," Ginny groaned, as we headed to Flourish and Blotts to get our stuff. Ginny grabbed our books and stuff off of the shelves (I was too short) and headed to the register.
"Wait, Gin, I'm taking advanced sixth year potions. I need to switch the books!" I said, hopping off of the ladder I was on to grab my books, and placed the other potions book back on the shelves and went to pay.
"Deary, that'll be 7 Galleons and 19 Sickles." I placed the money on the counter and we then walked out and went headed towards the twins shop. I saw Draco run into the animal shop and I screeched at Ginny.
"I'm going to get my owl!" I ran into the shop and Ginny continued on her way.
"You know, some people would think that you are following me, Ayres."
"But if I was you wouldn't even know I was anywhere near you, Malfoy. I am, infact here to get an owl, so if you'll excuse me," I walked by him, but he caught me by the waist.
"Finally getting your own owl, are we?" he laughed, remembering all of the times I had to beg him to use his owl. I laughed at him and looked around the shop for an owl, my eyes finally landing on a small barn owl. Well, it looked like a barn owl, but it was light blue with black spots. 'What are you gonna name him?" Draco asked, curious.
"His name shall be Kevān, Kevān the Guardian of the mail of Kara Ayres," I said indignantly, going to the register and handed him the 37 Sickles. I put Kevān in his cage, said goodbye to Draco and flounced to The Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, excited, that for once, I was looking forward to the year. That was until I saw him.
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He was standing there, ever so casually, scanning the crowd, looking as if he was bored. He was wearing a long, black cloak, and a pair of nice looking dragon-hide gloves to hide his scarred hands. He had a dark grey hat (of the muggle kind) pulled over his eyes, but wasn't bored, at all. He was looking for me, but quite a task that was. Nobody ever found me if I knew they were looking for me, and that is why I almost got sorted into Slytherin. I quickly latched myself onto the closest person's arm (thankfully I knew him, it was Lee Jordan. He was most likely walking to the twins shop, where I was going to take refuge. I smiled up at Lee and he grinned, surprised to see it was me. We chatted about school, and quidditch (I was taking over his position as quidditch commentator, as he had graduated). We walked right by him, right under his nose.
As soon as we made it to the shop, I spotted Ginny talking to Dean and I ran and jumped on her back, so I could be almost as tall as Ginny, but I doubted I would ever be anywhere near Dean's height. Dean laughed as Ginny stumbled and tried to throw me off her back. I clung on for dear life, and cried, "Mini Ginny! Don't kill me! I ain't no bloody Death Eater!"
"Sure had me fooled," Ginny replied, and, even though she couldn't see me, I stuck my tongue out at her. I looked around the shop in awe, wondering how the twins came up with all of it. Things flew here and there, exploding in people's faces in colorful sparkles, or disgusting (Sometimes wonderful, if the twins particularly liked you) smells. There were people everywhere, and it was like being in a rainbow. There were people smiling and laughing, and pointing at random pranking items. There was one kid hiccuping, and another vomiting, and quite a few feathery children. Then I saw the best thing in the entire shop. There was a shelf filled with miniature Puffskeins! I ran over and grabbed one off of the shelf, cradling it to me. Suddenly Fred (or George I couldn't really tell) appeared dressed in a red and gold suit and picked me up, again. He laughed as I struggled against him, but brought me into the supply room.
"Hold your Hippogriffs, Kara, I just wanted to give you your specially made, one of a kind, Blue Spotted Pygmy Puff!" He said dramatically, unveiling a tiny blue creature with white spots.
"I shall name him Toyka, and he shall be mine!" I squealed grabbing him and running out of the room in excitement! I was so excited I almost ran out the door to show draco. But I didn't get the chance to, because he walked in before I could.
