Saved by a Bell
Summary: Winning a war is about more than defeating the enemy, sometimes finding the traitors who hind in the background before it is too late is far more important. Sadly, Harry Potter learnt this the hard way - after a long struggle, it ended with his death and now someone else has to pick up his plan to fix everything. Even if they really, really wish they had more than half finished notes and hazy twenty-year-old memories.
Author's Note: I have a fixation with time travel stories, they are by far the style I tend to get the most enjoyment out of reading. I don't really know how this one started though; I picked Katie largely because I saw her name, looked at her wiki page, then realised 'She's Harry's friend, a DA member, but never would have gotten all the details.' So a time traveller, working on limited information, trying to save everything. I came up with the story title after picking Katie, it is, however, a wonderful title.
No warnings for this one, it's a fairly tame friendship time-travel starter.
Characters: Katie, Harry, Hermione
Disclaimer: I own nothing in relation to Harry Potter, save my own opinions and ramblings (such as this story) on the subject.
1st of September 1991, Kings Cross, London
"Well, this is it." She looks across King's Cross station, recently having said goodbye to her parents and sneaked back through the barrier from platform nine and three quarters after they left. She had things to do, things beyond what one might expect from a slightly nervous looking second year. "Time to make some old friends, again, and maybe save the world. Or doom it... It's mostly the friends' thing." She mutters, psyching herself up.
"Where is he?" She'd tried to catch him in Diagon earlier in the summer, but her parents weren't willing to let her go out alone - unsurprising, considering she had still been eleven - and didn't have time to take her to the alley "There's the Weasley dad again... still scoping out the station." Shaking her head, she mutters quietly "Surprised he hasn't been arrested, so very, very suspicious."
A small black-haired boy comes into view, and the red-head she had been watching vanishes suddenly; the girl looks around and sees the boy and smiles. While flanked by an overweight old man and pre-teen whom she doesn't recognise, along with a horse-like woman following behind, she's found her target.
Seeing the jibes the adults are throwing out she pushes herself off of the wall she was leaning on and walks over, stopping by them to stare at the owl. That owl is just as beautiful as I remembered. "Are you maybe... catching a train to a school in Scotland?" She tries to keep her eagerness out of her voice and project uncertainty. Easier than she expected really, the glares of the two adults are surprisingly intimidating.
She hates being this short again. She had worked for that five-foot-four, and while not tall, she at least wasn't this much of a midget!
"What, are you one of... them too?!" The fat-man speaks forcefully at her, not quite shouting in the station. Flinching at the spittle sent her way the girl steps back slightly,
"If you mean... Well, we're not supposed to say it in public, but, um owls and post have something in common, if that makes sense, at all?" I really need to work on this nervousness, one year of being back and it's like I've lost all my confidence around adults. She thinks that over for a moment, Maybe that's better, less likely to get discovered.
The man sputters for a moment while the woman glares, but he manages to growl out "Well, if you're one of those... you take the boy. Keep him away from us girl." The insult clearly, the man grabs the fat-child and drags him away - presumably back to his car.
Turning to the slightly surprised black-haired boy, she smiles at him "Hi, I'm Katherine Bell, but you can call me Katie - you know how to get to the train?"
"I'm Harry, um, Harry Potter, and, er, no, I don't. Sorry?"
"That's a bit odd, your guide should have..." She shakes her head, she had known this, but it was still strange, "Anyway, it's just over here," Katie helps push Harry's trolley over to the wall between platforms nine and three quarters, "It's easy, we just need to push through the wall - it's not solid for... well, us students."
"What?"
"I know, weird right? C'mon, push with me!" She grins at him and starts pushing the trolley into the wall - Harry hesitantly helping her. Soon they break through, slipping onto the platform - just before they do Katie hears a rather loud "-packed with Muggles of course-", to which she can barely suppress a smirk.
Not this time, hag.
Seeing Harry's surprise and awe as he looks at the masses of witches, wizards and the brightly shining Hogwarts' Express only forces Katie's grin wider. He's so adorably innocent. "We should get on quickly; maybe find another first year to sit with so you can make a friend in your year." By 'another first year' I mean one singular, specific one.
He looks up at her - well, not much up, to her chagrin - "Oh, I thought..." Worry is depressingly clear on his face until Katie responds.
"That I would be your friend? Of course I will! But I'm a second year. Even if we're in the same house - and I'm a Gryffindor by the way - I'll have different classes, a different schedule." Seeing his face light back up makes Katie feel like her smile is going to be a permanent fixture for a while, I never thought I'd like children this much. Or maybe it's just him?
As she steps onto the train she surprises him by quickly casting the levitation charm on his trunk to get it on board, a couple of adults glance at her for a moment but their gaze doesn't linger long. So long as she's standing on the express, she's technically at Hogwarts and can cast spells. If she was on the platform however, it would have been illegal.
Watching their looks she can't help but think; Nonsensical wizard laws. Maybe we can fix that? Probably not worth it, not my call anyway.
She hurries Harry along as she spots the swarm of redheads making their way through the barrier. She had intentionally gotten on the train in the first carriage, so she can check each compartment as she looks for her second reason for this adventure of hers.
"I'll be looking in the compartments for a good one to join; if you're okay with that?" she reaches her off-hand out towards him so he can take it, before wondering if he actually will.
He looks at the hand for a moment, then hesitantly takes it. Seemingly extremely embarrassed, or maybe unsettled by even this small contact, he replies "I, um, yeah. I'm okay with that, I guess." I'm going to have to work on that. She'll help too, once she figures it out.
She walks down the train at a brisk pace, Harry trailing on behind her, still holding her hand, with the trunk levitating in front. She's three-quarters of the way down the train before she spots who she's looking for.
Nose buried in a book, a small brown-haired girl is sitting all alone, trunk open in front of her with several books sat at the top of her, mostly, neat packing.
Pushing the door open Katie asks, "Is it alright if we join you in here?"
The girl startles for a moment, before collecting herself to give a reply, "Of course, the compartments are for up to six students. Oh, you're doing the levitation charm, you must be really advanc- No, you've got house colours... Gryffindor, you must be a second, or third year? I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself, I'm Hermione Granger, it's um, nice to meet you." The sudden blast of a Hermione tirade nearly sends Katie into a fit of giggles, but she manages to keep it to just a smile, "Sorry, I must be..."
"No, no. It's fine. I'm Katherine Bell, call me Katie, and this is Harry. And yes, I'm a second year Gryffindor - I found Harry a little lost out on the muggle side of King's Cross, so I decided to help onto the train, and help him find another first year to talk to." Hermione smiles brightly as Katie responds, then looks somewhat expectantly at Harry.
Harry's retreated somewhat, but after Katie's put his trunk away and sat him down opposite Hermione, then taken a seat herself he manages to respond "Hello, I'm, um, Harry Potter, it's nice to meet you-"
"Are you really? I know all about you of course - I got an extra few books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Am I?" Harry's response has him nervously looking at Katie, who fails to suppress a giggle.
"Goodness, you-"Hermione cuts off, turning to stare at Katie for a moment.
"Sorry, that's was, um, adorable? And yeah, he's in those books. But Modern Magical History is badly embellished, and Rise and Fall is... Not accurate. Great Wizarding Events, however, is accurate. You know in Events it says he was placed with Muggles, whereas Rise and Fall says he was taken away for secret training by Headmaster Dumbledore? It's the former." She looks at Harry "Unless I'm reading things wrong?"
"You knew I was, um, famous?"
"It would be hard not to! I just didn't say anything because, well, it would have been a little rude." Katie gives Hermione a little glare, causing the other girl to flinch back a little.
"Sorry... I, I don't meet people who are in books... Ever. I got excited." Seeing Katie's eyes soften at her apology she brightens back up a little and looks at Harry "Sorry. I'm Hermione Granger, it's nice to meet you, Harry."
Harry manages a little smile as she apologies and reintroduces herself "It's nice to meet you, Hermione." He looks back at Katie "I, thought you would leave... Once you found me somewhere to sit, um, so you can go to your own friends." Hermione is looking him over curiously as he talks, seemingly taking in his rather drab and patched up attire, along with his nervous attitude.
He is so adorable. Katie glances at Hermione for a moment She's going to figure it out pretty soon, I'm sure. Shaking her head, she responds to his question, "That would require me having friends. I know a couple of girls in the year above me, Alicia and Angelina, but they have their own friends. I don't get on with my year mates much." For one, three of them end up being blood-bigots, and I remember watching another two get murdered. Little hard to associate with them. She looks them both over for a moment, "We could be friends, if you like, that way I can go to hang out with my friends and stay here." She finishes her sentence with a grin, and spots the apprehensive smile on Hermione's face, as well as the surprised but happy look on Harry's.
"I'd like that." Hermione manages to project more confidence that Katie expected, but she does remember her being more confident right at the start of her first year... Hopefully she can keep that confidence this time. Making a decision, she quickly leans over and pulls the younger - but not by much - girl into a hug, causing her to release a surprised "Eep!".
"Great! What about you Harry?" She also takes this opportunity to whisper in Hermione's ear "I don't think he's been treated well, but don't mention it, just be friendly, okay?" Hermione hesitantly nods, and then they both turn to look at Harry, though Hermione is blushing fiercely.
"I, um, I'd like that too." He shifts nervously, not sure how to react to one of the two girls he's now friends with suddenly hugging the other.
Releasing Hermione, Katie gives her a little nudge towards Harry. He was big on the fact she was his first hug, so I'm not taking that away; just wish I knew when it bloody happened. Hermione glances between them for a moment, before getting up, tentatively placing a hand on his arm and smiling.
"I've not had many, or well any, friends before. So, I'm very glad to have you both now - would you like to borrow the books you're in Harry? So you can read what people have written about you?"
As he nods, she gives a nervous smile before pulling back, then pulls Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century out of her trunk and passes it to him, "Here you go, I'll let you have the others once you finish with that one, okay?"
"Alright, thanks." He looks down at the book with a smile on his face. "I... I didn't have friends either, and this... This is the first time someone's lent me something too... Thank you, Hermione."
Well, it's not just him. They're both adorable. Maybe I actually do like kids? Makes me almost regret becoming a spinster... Thank the heavens for second chances.
Hearing how happy he is just to be lent a single book leaves Hermione gasping and on the verge of tears, so Katie reaches over to take her hand a give it a squeeze, grabbing her attention so she can mouth 'Well done.' Which has the girl responding with a bright, if slightly watery, smile.
With a whistle the train starts to pull out of the station, "You two, watch the window; the transition from the platform isn't something you want to miss." Katie can't conceal her own excitement, there really is something special about the twisting of space used to get the Hogwarts Express out of the platform and onto the muggle rail lines.
She watches happily as both Hermione and Harry peer out the window with awe on their faces as the world shifts and snaps, before they are on a northbound set of rails which is largely cleared to permit the express to travel north, out of London, safely.
-oOoOo-
"Are we on a normal rail line?" Hermione can't help herself, she has to ask questions, "Hogwarts a History didn't mention this- did we just jump sideways on the tracks?!"
"The train does that sometimes, the muggle trains have a schedule we have to work around, and the tracks don't always let the express shift lines when it would want to, so it just... jumps sideways." Katie seems pretty knowledgeable too Hermione, and she has been nice.
It hadn't felt good to have her rudeness towards Harry pointed out, but she had been wrong to go on at him like that. Especially now that she can look at him and see how underfed and scraggly he is. Not even to mention the clothes he is wearing.
The Potters were a wealthy family, and he's famous, so what on earth is going on? Who does he live with?
As much as she wants to, she doesn't ask; she doesn't know him well enough - and she knows from her mum and dad that abused children don't like talking about what happens to them. She wants to help though, so she'll be his friend, if he'll let her.
The fact he was so happy to be lent a book makes her hope he likes reading, it would be nice to have a study partner. Katie being a year ahead means she can help, but she'll already know everything Hermione needs to study, so Hermione won't be able to help her back. Which isn't fair, and... and means she probably won't be her friend for long.
No one stays my friend unless I help them study... Feeling a little sorry for herself, Hermione almost doesn't notice as Katie speaks up again.
"I just realised, we didn't introduce the fourth person in our compartment. Harry, what's the name of your beautiful owl?" The owl - whose name Hermione doesn't know, actually opens an eye and barks as Katie says that they are beautiful.
"Oh, er, Katie, Hermione, this is Hedwig. She was my... my birthday present from Hagrid. He's the one who took me shopping for school supplies." Hermione notices the hesitance on saying she was his present; Is it... like the book? The first birthday present he's had...? No, can't be - he's got to get so many gifts from people...
But he's wearing rags... Hermione shakes her head lightly to clear her thoughts, before hearing Katie actually say hello to the owl "Hi Hedwig, I'm Katie, it's nice to meet you." To Hermione's surprise, Hedwig gives a short bark, bobs her head and seemingly bows.
Momentarily both Katie, Harry and Hedwig are looking at her, so she succumbs herself "Hi, uh, Hedwig. I'm Hermione." She still can't help feeling a little odd about doing that, but as Hedwig bows to her, she knows that the owl did understand, her intent if not her actual words.
She has had nearly two months to get used to being a witch, and some things are still very, very strange.
"You said she was a birthday present, right? Well, we know when your birthday is Harry - sorry - but we should all know each other's, only fair. Mine is the twenty-eighth of August, so I'm the baby of my year. What about you, Hermione?" It's remarkably hard to sit quietly with Katie, she seems to want us to... talk, to really be friends. Hermione can't help but feel a little wistful at that thought.
"My birthday's the nineteenth of September, so I guess-"
The door to the compartment slams open, and a redhead - Why does Katie look annoyed? - bursts in and says, "Anyone sitting there?" pointing at the seat next to Harry, which he promptly sits in "Everywhere else is full."
Before Hermione can answer him, Katie speaks "Odd, the train is ever expanding - and was built to sit a thousand. There's only, maybe four hundred students at the moment, is everywhere else really full?" Hermione can tell Katie's biting something back, she doesn't seem to like this boy.
"Yeah. I dunno, but there's space here isn't there?" The boy brushes Katie off before turning to Harry and glancing at his forehead. At his scar! Oh, that is so rude! Hermione had managed to not stare when looking for the scar - although she had glanced for it, it was under his fringe, so she hadn't seen it.
"I'm Ron Weasley, who're you?" He's really rude. He's still just staring at Harry... is Harry shifting away from him?
"I'm Hermio-" as she tries to introduce herself Ron gives her a look that cuts her short and has her shrink back - it's just like the looks the bullies gave her in school.
"Katherine Bell." Katie introduces herself coldly but reaches over and gives Hermione a side hug.
"Harry Potter..." At least Harry and Katie don't seem to think this is alright...
"Cor, really? So, you really have - you know..." Ron points at Harry's forehead.
Somewhat reluctantly Harry reaches up and moves his fringe, and Hermione can't help but look herself although she does notice out of the corner of her eye that Katie seems to have closed her eyes.
"So that's where..." Ron tries to talk more but is cut off.
"Are you really doing this?" Katie's voice sounds thoroughly annoyed, and she is outright glaring at Ron. She's protective of Harry, feeling the arm around her again, Hermione pauses in her thoughts for a moment and maybe me? Why? We're just first years - Harry is understandable, he's famous, but even then, she's going out of her way to be nice. And now she's offended because they were pointing out the scar... Which he got when he lost his parents! Oh, that's horrible, why would someone try and remind him of that!
But that doesn't explain why she's being nice to me, I'm just a first year. A bookish, boring... Feeling a squeeze from Katie, Hermione realises she lost track of the conversation while running through her train of thought.
"If you're going to be rude to the girl who was in the compartment first, you should just leave. This is Hermione's compartment, not mine, not Harry's and definitely not yours." Katie now sounded quite angry, "If you don't go I'm going to find a prefect - and there will be trouble for you, there are rules on the express."
"Yeah? And why would they believe you over me?" His voice indignant, Hermione can barely hear the words he mutters next, "... Mental, bossy girl." Bristling at what he said, Hermione almost gets up and storms out of the compartment - but remembers, just, that Katie said it was her compartment, she was there first.
"Why would they believe a second year with a perfect record, over an angry firstie? I do wonder."
"My mate Harry will back me up!" The smug grin on Ron's face makes Hermione feel a little ill and looking at Harry - who had shifted over to be sitting right up against the outside wall - he seemed to feel similarly.
"Really? I hate to do this Harry - but I think you need to speak up, as do you Hermione." Katie looks at them both for a moment, seeing Harry and Hermione's unease at stepping into the argument, she changes tactic. "Although it might just be easier to leave him here and find a new compartment, there's probably an empty one at the back."
Hermione shakes her head, and Harry seems to follow her lead on that - Katie looks between them both for a while and nods, then starts up a conversation about topics from A History of Magic, starting with Hedwig's name, and going on to give some advice on how to handle the history class. Such as earplugs, or muffs, and reading the textbooks rather than listening to the teacher.
Is it really that bad? Can't be - history is so fascinating, no teacher could make it that boring! And there's so much more than goblin rebellions and giant wars...
The three manage to keep a conversation which Ron, no, Weasley - who knew wizards thought calling someone by their first name without permission is rude? That wasn't in the guidebook! - had difficulty engaging in. Katie even started quizzing both Harry and Hermione after they told her they had both read all their textbooks already, much to the redhead's frustration.
After Weasley makes an abortive attempt to switch the conversation to Quidditch - what kind of name is that? - Katie brushes him off, saying they'll have their fill of Quidditch talk at the castle, and moves on to demonstrate some simple spells.
Weasley quickly butts in to demonstrate a spell his brothers had shown him which was fake, only for Katie to demonstrate the real spell. While his rat is a brilliant yellow, she starts talking about it.
"The colour change charm isn't really a charm, it's transfiguration. It's just bundled into a charm spell, so it doesn't have to have a specific target or focus like most transfigurations. Trying to change a button into a beetle won't work if your button isn't what you expect it to be; you need to know what you are altering as much as what you are turning it into." Hermione can't help but grab a make note of that, some of the textbook makes so much more sense now! That's why it was talking about 'knowing the item!' She ends up grinning brilliantly at Katie.
Katie who is frowning at the rat whose colour had changed back, did she expect it to last longer?
At this final embarrassment, Weasley finally grabs his things and storms out of the compartment, leaving the three in relative peace. Until Katie starts giggling uncontrollably.
After Katie finishes giggling over his departure, she finally speaks "Well, some people will try very hard to... be your, um, friends if they think they can get something from you, Harry. I... I don't want you to think I'm like that, but I did have reasons for looking out for you. I just can't really tell you what they were." She heaves out a sigh, before finishing with "I can promise they aren't malicious, and that being your friend is more of an end, than a means."
Some of what Katie says feels really... adult. Mature. Realising Katie's gotten uncomfortable, Hermione shuffles over next to the slightly older girl to return the hug she received earlier Even if she has reasons for befriending Harry, and maybe even for befriending me, she did. I like her. I have a friend - friends. Smiling at Katie, Hermione says "Everyone has reasons. I wanted to have friends, and I was curious. So, um, you're still my friend Katie." Left unvoiced is her worry of Unless you don't want to be...
She can feel her heart-warming as Harry also pipes up with "It's okay... You helped. I'm okay, no, I'm happy you're my friend Katie, and you Hermione. He was... He was mean. A bully."
Katie's returned bright smile is somewhat in contrast to her response "He isn't the only one, just don't forget to stick up for your friends. Both of you, look out for each other." Hermione gives Katie an affirming nod, which Harry mirrors, followed by both giving each other little grins as they realise that they aren't alone anymore.
Later the food trolley comes by and Harry buys some of each sweet - although Katie swears off anything other than a chocolate frog and pulls a small salad from somewhere. "You'll be able to eat yourselves silly at the feast - so don't worry about being a little hungry now."
The three find themselves napping lightly, when a prefect opens to door to tell them to put their robes on as the train is reaching Hogsmeade soon. Katie ushers Harry outside the compartment briefly, before pulling a set of robes out of her small shoulder bag.
"How did you do that?!"
"Space expansion charms." Katie's response is simple, and she can see Hermione is still curious, so she continues "Bigger on the inside than out - anything that fits through the opening can fit inside. I keep my trunk, shrunk, in there too."
As she ends up staring at the bag wondering how many books she could keep in such a bag, Hermione has to be prompted to finish changing so the two girls can take their turn outside the compartment while Harry changes.
Less than ten minutes later Hermione feels upset that Katie has to split up from them as they head for the boats, and almost unconsciously reaches out to take Harry's hand. The two head down with the rest of the first years after greeting Hagrid.
-oOoOo-
Having just said a short goodbye to Katie and a giving a brief hello to Hagrid, Harry finds himself following Hagrid down a steep path while holding hands with Hermione. When did she take my hand? It's not uncomfortable, somewhat reassuring in a way, the path is dark, and he can't see much of anything beyond a few nearby students and the next steps down, so having something to anchor himself helps.
Reaching the bottom of the steps he can hear Hermione gasp, looking up he can see why - a great black lake stretching before them is overshadowed by a gleaming castle atop the cliffs on the far side, towers and turrets shining in the night.
"Hogwarts a History mentioned the view from the lake, but this is, it's magical!" Hermione whispers just close enough for him to hear.
"Yeah." I wish it was easier to say more, but I don't have that book... "It's brilliant."
"No more'n four to a boat!" came Hagrid's bellowing voice, as Harry sees a small flotilla of little boats floating along the shore.
He turns to Hermione and says "C'mon, let's grab one." As he tugs lightly on her hand he can see she's smiling - Is she smiling because of the view, or... - She follows behind quickly and they manage to get into an empty boat. A pair of brown-haired boys, neither of who Harry recognises, joins them while Weasley, the scowling redhead gives Harry a glare.
What's wrong with him?
He might not have had a problem with Weasley taking an interest in him if he'd been on his own, but Katie hadn't liked the boy, so Harry was wary from the start - and then he asks to see my scar... I don't get why it's so special, can't they leave me alone? - Hermione had been nosey at first, but went quiet after Katie reprimanded her, so she hadn't meant to be rude.
She did look at my scar when I showed it to Weasley, but she didn't stare at it like he did.
But Weasley took offence to his friend standing up for him. - My friend, my friends. I've got to stand up for them as well. - So he didn't like the boy, he felt like the blond boy he'd met in Diagon Alley, just in a different way.
He hears Hermione whisper, as she tries not to break the still quiet that had descended on all the students who were looking up at the castle, "Can you believe there's a giant squid in the lake? It's supposed to be friendly, but I'm not sure..."
"How big?" He whispers back,
"Huge, as big as the train, or bigger. The book wasn't very specific." He can hear the complaint in her voice about the book lacking details, so he tries mimicking what he saw Katie do back on the train - and gives the hand he's still holding a light squeeze.
She looks at him and smiles, and he can't help smiling back, hesitantly, but he does.
As they enter a dark tunnel through a wall of ivy Hermione huddles up a little too close to him in the boat, and truthfully, he finds her being that close a little unnerving. It's a relief when they come into the underground harbour and can get out, where he can get a little distance. He limply tries to free his hand from hers but seeing her smile falter from his attempts, he stops.
I may want my hand back, but it's not worth upsetting her.
To Harry's surprise she lets go on her own; not seemingly happy to have done so, but she did. She still stands nearby, close enough to grab a hold of one another again, but makes no attempt to do so.
She then quietly murmurs a "Sorry," to him as they see Hagrid call out about a toad and one of their boat mates call out "Trevor!" loudly, then go and take the toad from Hagrid. He lost his pet? Makes sense he was looking upset in the boat.
As they climb up the stone steps towards the castle Harry finds himself slipping briefly, before Hermione catches him - as she lets go he decides to take her hand back, she had just helped him. Her responding smile makes Harry certain made the right decision, she can hold his hand as much as she wants if it makes her happy.
This is looking out for each other, right?
They finally reach the top of the steps and find themselves stood in front of a giant oak door, at which point Hagrid turns around to call out "Everyone here? You there, still got your toad?" before raising his fist and knocking on the door three times.
The castle door swung open at once, revealing a tall, stern-faced, black-haired witch wearing green robes. As she passes her eyes over all the students, Harry finds himself squeezing Hermione's hand nervously, and releases some tension he didn't know he had as she returns the gesture.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." Her response is terse, easily dismissing Hagrid, as she goes back to eyeing Harry and the other new students.
She brings them inside, and while they can hear all the other students, including Katie, on their left McGonagall leaves them in an empty chamber off the hall. Wanting to escape the press, Harry brings himself and Hermione over to one of the walls; gaining a bit of open space from the throng that is their peers.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall spoke loudly and clearly, "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room." I want to be in Katie's house, I know that much. But how?
Having realised it's important, Harry listens attentively to the rest of McGonagall's speech, hoping for some clue on how to get himself into a specific house. Only to realise he's forgotten what house Katie was in, and finds his cheeks flushing with embarrassment at being so stupid as to forget something that important.
When the Professor finally tells them to wait until she returns, he turns to Hermione only to see her muttering spells under her breath, he tugs on her lightly to catch her attention "Hermione," She stops her repetition abruptly, and turns to him with a look, which quickly fades as she registers that it was Harry who said her name.
"Harry?"
"Um, we, no, I want to be in the same house of Katie..." he says, nervously, unhappy that he needs to ask Hermione what house Katie was in - and hoping that she remembered.
She smiles "It is we, Harry, I do too."
"I, er, forgot. That is, I forgot which house she was in." He looks down, unable to meet her eyes,
"Oh." Her voice shows her surprise at the implied question.
"Do you...?"
"Yes. Gryffindor." Her voice is tinged with disappointment in his mind, but then she pulls his head up so she can look him in the eye "Harry, asking questions isn't bad. Katie's a Gryffindor - so let's both join her, okay?" Her shows concern rather than disappointment, and despite flinching at her touch, her smile pushes away his nervousness.
"Thank you Her-" He starts, before getting interrupted,
"Are you Him, then, Harry Potter?" Three boys march up to the pair, two thickset and frowning and flanking the third as they look at Harry, and the one in the middle he recognises as the blond boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop.
"Yes, I'm Harry Potter," Harry says as he glances at the two mean looking boys on the sides.
The blond sees where Harry's looking, and gestures to them in turn "Oh. This is Crabbe, and this is Goyle," clearly not caring much to properly introduce them. "And my name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Hermione gives a little snort at how he introduces himself, and Harry can barely hear a muttered "Bond, James Bond." Coming from her - far too quiet for the others to hear.
Malfoy may not have heard what she muttered, but he zeroes in on her snort "Think my name's funny, do you? And who are you?" his voice condescending to the extreme.
Hermione looks him in the eye, "My name is Hermione Granger, Malfoy." It doesn't sound like how she had spoken before, and Harry feels like she's mocking him by being especially proper in how she speaks to him.
"Granger? That's not a wizarding name," He sneers horribly at Hermione before turning back to Harry, "You should find better people to hang out with, Potter. You don't want to go about making friends with the wrong-" Malfoy finds himself interrupted by Hermione, who bowls over his rant
"Malfoy, you haven't heard of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers then?" Harry can remember it; Katie had mentioned it on the train. The founder... "Founded by Hector Dagworth-Granger? Perhaps you don't know your wizarding families Malfoy, but if so it seems foolish to make assumptions." Go Hermione! Harry thinks, as he sees Malfoy's cheeks tinge pink
"How dare you interrupt me!" His voice is raised, but any further retort is cut off by shrieks coming from the rest of the first-years.
As they all turn to look at the source of the sound, Harry pales and feels Hermione squeeze his hand tightly, as if she were trying to crush it - he can't blame her, really, as he watches twenty or so ghosts stream through the wall.
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance-"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost - I say, what are you all doing here?"
One of the ghosts, wearing a ruff and tights, looks them over, and as no one answers the previous question speaks out "New students! About to be sorted, I suppose?"
Harry, along with a few others he can see, manage to nod mutely at the ghost.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" The jovial ghost seems oblivious to the terror coating the faces of the students "My old house, you know."
The ghosts and students' attention is then caught by a sharp voice, "Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony Is about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned, and the ghosts swiftly left through the opposite wall - the collective relief of those waiting to be sorted.
As Professor McGonagall tells them to form a line, Harry notices Hermione pulling him along, he resists until she turns and hisses quietly at him "I want to avoid Malfoy and Weasley, if we can."
"Right." He whispers back, now following her lead.
They follow behind McGonagall, making their way to the opposite end of the line from Malfoy and Weasley, who seemed to have found each other and started a game of insulting each other. Just before passing through into a set of double doors, Professor McGonagall turns around and calls out "Malfoy, Weasley." Her tone means she needs to say no more words, as both fall deathly quiet under her harsh gaze.
Turning back around she opens the doors and leads the procession into the Great Hall. The thousands of floating candles and glittering gold plates were fascinating by themselves, but as he looks up he sees the sky above him.
"It's enchanted to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts, a History." Harry turns to look at Hermione as they walk up to the table at the end of the hall where the teachers were sitting and sees her flush lightly. She can't help but blurt things out. He realises, wondering if it would be endearing, or annoying as time goes on.
Even with her words, it was hard to believe the hall wasn't open to the sky - with the moon shining down on them providing more light than many of the candles and leaving the table of the green students – Slytherins he realises - better lit than anywhere else in the hall.
They were lined up facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The ghosts were dotted here and there, far less terrifying spread out amongst the students than in a giant swarm. The staring faces of the older students however, were making Harry nervous and fidgety.
One face however doesn't make him nervous, and when he notices Katie he feels Hermione release his hand to give her a little wave, and sees Katie return it. Too uncomfortable to wave himself, he simply smiles in her direction, hoping that's enough.
Professor McGonagall drops a stool in-front of them and places a pointed wizard hat on top of it. Harry can't help but notice how old, frayed and dirty it is, his Aunt Petunia would never have let anything like it in her house. Then again, it was probably magical - so even if it was clean she wouldn't let it in the house.
Glancing at Hermione he sees her wringing her hands nervously and chewing her bottom lip, he soon realises he's doing much the same and forces himself to stop. Why didn't Katie tell us how we get sorted?! For the first time since meeting her he feels frustrated with Katie; but it passes, She must have had a reason.
Chancing a look in Katie's direction, he's caught unawares and jumps as the hat begins to sing.
He learnt two things from the hat's singing: One, the hat is bad at singing, and two, he needs to be Brave and Chivalrous to be a Gryffindor.
Great. Brave. He thinks, desperately trying to squash the fear he might not be sorted into any of the houses and be turned away to go back to the Dursleys.
Quite a few names are called before the one he was listening for, "Granger, Hermione!" Professor McGonagall shouts, causing the girl to practically leap at the stool and jam the hat on her head.
It takes nearly three minutes for the hat to finally call out "GRYFFINDOR!", leaving a beaming Hermione to run over to the table Katie's sat at, where Katie waves her into a seat next to her.
Please let me join them. He pleads, although not entirely sure what or who he's pleading to.
He notices Malfoy is almost instantly gets placed in Slytherin, as if the hat didn't even take a second to decide. Even if I don't get Gryffindor, I really don't want to end up in Slytherin with Malfoy. Harry hadn't liked Malfoy back in Diagon Alley, adding in Hagrid's attitude towards Slytherins and Malfoy's little show in the entrance hall, Harry definitely didn't want to end up in that house.
A continuing plethora of names passes by as he waits his turn, before finally "Potter, Harry!" is called out.
Only for his heart to start pounding, as he hears the entire hall burst out whispering his name, asking whether he's really the Harry Potter. As he sits down, and the hat begins to cover his eyes, he sees every single body in the hall crane to get a better look at him.
But that is soon hidden, and as the black rim of the hat covers his eyes, he begins hearing a voice in his head - strangely, it sounds something like a mixture of voices rather than a single one.
Hmm, difficult. Very difficult. More courage than is perhaps healthy, I see. A fine mind, with an interesting... Oh, but that drive, that desire to prove yourself - very interesting. Now, where should I put you?
Gryffindor, please, put me in Gryffindor.
Gryffindor? But you could be great, oh so great, in Slytherin.
Please, I want to be in Gryffindor, my friend - friends - are there.
Hmm... Miss Granger, oh, she was a hard one too. She, like you, fit Slytherin well - and Ravenclaw - but circumstances denied her that house, but they do not for you. I see much greatness for you in Slytherin, Mister Potter.
But-!
Your other friend though... Miss Bell. She is more mysterious than you know; curious, curious. Yes, your heart is set, and truly, it is fate once again. But before I call it out, a word of advice Mister Potter,
What? You mean I can-?
Think, Mister Potter, you have a mind that would suit a Ravenclaw, if you use it, and a knack many would pay a dear price to make their own. Don't let that mind go to waste. That is my advice to you, Mister Potter.
Oh, I'll keep that in mind... Um.
Well, best get on with it. Do try to live up to the Nobility of your house; it has been lacking of late. Do us proud in "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry gets up, and trying to ignore the loud shouts of "We got Potter! We got Potter!" coming from a pair of red-heads, he rushes over to Katie, who had made room for him between herself and Hermione. He grins at the two of them and finds them grinning back.
He was at Hogwarts, he had escaped the Dursleys, he was going to learn magic. But most importantly, he had friends now.
-oOoOo-
Getting out of the carriage and into the great hall to take a seat is almost mechanical as she goes over what information she has about what's coming up - Draco didn't introduce himself on the train, which was supposed to be an annual thing, so that was off. There's the flying lesson accident that got him on the team - not that she can help, or do anything about that, she'll have her own class at that time.
Then there's the stupid duel, she can talk them down from that if it happens. Finding out about the Cerberus is important for some reason... A stone, of some sort. How she wished the notes were more detailed.
And then there was Halloween. The troll. She needed to keep track of Hermione and Harry that day, no matter what. If she had the map it would be easy - but she has no idea who has it, the bloody notes only said, 'Get Map, fast.' Not where the map was, who had it, or even how to use it.
As the first years walk into the hall Katie makes sure there's space around herself for her two firsties, then waves to them both smiling. Hermione waves back, looking a little nervous - did I forget to tell them about the hat? Agh! Wait, no... I definitely tried, it must have been... That's why no one ever knows in advance! It's a kept secret! - as she does a little wave back.
Katie can see the two are standing near as far away from both Malfoy and Weasley as they can, which is good. From Katie's perspective at least. The headmaster is probably not so amused that his rook is ignoring his pawn so soon.
As Hermione's name gets called, it's all Katie can do to hope she didn't make them change houses - she had to take a gamble last year, on whether she could shift their allegiance, or rely on them returning to Gryffindor. She had chosen the safer bet of Gryffindor; although the hat had argued with her that she deserved Slytherin for her meddling plans, her lack of ambition - Katie knows she's more a follower than a leader - and determination to see things through got her back in Gryffindor.
As the hat calls out Gryffindor, Katie waves Hermione to sit next to her, and is happy to see she does.
Soon enough it's Harry's turn, and much faster than she remembers the first time around, the hat calls out Gryffindor once more. As the chants die down and Harry settles in next to Hermione - Katie having shifted so Harry was in the middle, safer from pressuring strangers - she can't help but feel like there's hope.
Hope she might win, that she might succeed. She didn't know everything - she was working off of incomplete notes, and memories from an outsider to events more than twenty years old - but she was damn well going to try. The previous end result had been a disaster, and she wasn't going to let her master, the Dark Lord Potter, have to rise in vengeance of his stolen love this time.
Well, maybe there could be a little rising in vengeance. Harry James Potter made for a damn hot Dark Lord.
-oOoOo-
AN: I had a few things I was trying to practise in this segment; multi-way conversations (not just one-to-one talking) and keeping the scene, while shifting perspective. I also used strong internal monologues for Hermione, which I think fits her worrying and overthinking personality - generally, I'm happy with this.
Even if I have no idea what kicked me off into turning Katie Bell into a time traveller.
Any feedback is welcome, I'm still very much in the practising stage, and writing shorter openers or one-shots is me trying to figure out how exactly to write, before I commit to anything longer than one or two chapters.
EDIT: It turns out a friend of mine made a point to me, which lead me to do some editing and add a Harry section; he pointed out that without Ron Harry may well have gone to Slytherin, I knew he wouldn't (and why) but I decided to add in Harry's perspective from getting off the train, to the sorting to clear that up.
It got bigger than I expected, to be honest. There were also some other, minor, edits within the text.