It was quite an unusual way to become headmaster of a school. A phone conversation verging along the lines of "hello, sorry to bother you but our headmaster is dead and we fear another murderous siege, please do come and work here!" Is hardly a sign that the job was one of the most appealing the educational system had to offer. Nonetheless, Chrestomanci had accepted the job gracefully as a temporary measure, until a more suitable candidate could be found. Namely someone who knew something about running a magic school. As it were, he was finding it increasingly difficult to understand the four children he already had living in the Castle. Watching them from the window, he sighed. Julia, Janet and Roger seemed to be becoming more and more confident and self-assured every day. He worried about Cat, though. Cat seemed to be growing more introverted by the day, and he had no idea why. He knew Cat had immense talent, but the psychological ramifications of bottling up ones feelings- something which Cat seemed to have become very accustomed to- could be immense. So he made a decision.
A few weeks later
Cat was surprised when the Sorting Hat put him in Slytherin. After researching the different houses, he didn't think that he would end up there. Then he reminded himself of his previous beliefs- years ago when he begged Chrestomanci not to give him magic lessons because he feared the repercussions- that he was secretly terribly evil. This conclusion only strengthened this earlier theory. Am I evil? He had also noted the curious and surprised look on Chrestomanci's face when he was put in Slytherin. It was a fleeting, momentary shift of facial muscles, something so insignificant that only those who knew him well would notice. To all others his expression remained impassive. On a brighter note, Cat could tell that the entire school thought Chrestomanci was quite mad. Sailing into the Great Hall ten minutes late with the most luxuriously embroidered dressing gown and the exquisite top hat which made him seem so tall, thin and elegant that everyone else looked incredibly banal in comparison. Cat noticed that everyone, including the Slytherins, seemed quite wary of Chrestomanci- some were even terrified. Cat remembered when he first met Chrestomanci and their meeting had the exact same effect on him.
"Can I borrow a quill?" asked a pale, thin boy who was standing over him in the Slytherin common room. "Of course" replied Cat. "Thanks" the boy said, sitting down on the couch opposite him. Cat noticed that he was staring at him with intense curiosity. "So do tell me, I hear the new headmaster has brought his nephew with him. Are you Eric Chant?" "Yes" Cat replied, "But everyone calls me Cat. What's your name?" "Oh," The boy replied, offering his hand "I'm Draco Malfoy"
"Come in!" Chrestomanci said, almost frantically. When Millie entered his office, it was all she could do to keep from laughing. There were papers everywhere, books littering the floor, and portraits of previous headmasters throwing disapproving glances at the unsightly mess and the annoyed, new headmaster. One of them opened their mouth, presumably to criticise. Chrestomanci turned around "Oh do shutu-" Millie coughed "-the window please Millie dear" he managed to blurt as Professor McGonigilly or whatever her name was entered the room. "Ah, Chrestomanci, how are you settling in?" "Well, to be perfectly honest Professor Mc- Professor, I'd settle in an awful lot better if I could find a place to sit" "yes, I do apologise for the mess that was left" she told him, "We've hardly touched Professor Dumbl-" she stopped, as if it were to painful to continue, then said "We've hardly touched this office since the Death eaters were here. As I told you this morning, we were afraid they may have set some traps" "never mind traps, with a mess like this you're more likely to die from an unfortunate series of paper cuts" Chrestomanci noted. He sighed. It was going to be a very long night.