Teotihuacan

Chapter one-The New Student

"Hermione? Did Professor Dumbledore say what the assembly was for?" asked my best friend, Harry Potter as he sat down beside me at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

"No. I honestly don't know what this assembly is for," I said, crossing my arms on top of the table and rested my chin on them.

"Maybe he's going to tell us that the Slytherin's are really from Mars," added my other best friend, Ron Weasley.

"We already know that," Harry muttered, rolling his eyes. "That's nothing new."

Ron snorted.

I glanced at them sideways irritably and turned my attention onto Professor Dumbledore who arose from his seat behind the Head table.

"I have some wonderful news! There will be a new student joining us this year. She comes to us from a magic school in Ireland. She will be spending the year here and a student from here will be spending his year there. I hope you all make her feel welcomed. Katie, please enter," Professor Dumbledore said kindly.

The double doors to the Great Hall opened and a young woman began shyly walking down the center aisle. The boys began sniggering. I slowly raised my head off my arms. The young woman was slightly chubby with shoulder length reddish blond hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in a dark green plaid skirt, a white shirt which, was under a solid green V-necked vest. A black robe was over that with a red, blue and gold crest on it. She had a sweet and kind looking face. Her hair was pulled over one shoulder in a topsy-tail. She was smiling nervously.

"Woof!" I heard someone cough from the Slytherin table.

I glared over at the table. Malfoy had his head buried in his arm and he was slapping the table with the other hand. I could see his shoulders shaking and knew he was rolling.

Katie reached the Head table.

"You can sit anywhere you'd like. Where ever you choose to sit, you can stay wit the girls from that house," Professor Dumbledore said kindly.

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," Katie said.

She had the brogue and it sounded lovely. Malfoy and his fellow cronies or 'lumps' just began sniggering more.

No one from the Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin table made room. I couldn't believe the Ravenclaw's or Hufflepuff's. They normally weren't standoffish.

Finally, getting irritated more, I scooted closer to Ginny, who was sitting on my right.

"Here Katie. You can sit here with us," I called.

Katie beamed and began heading toward us.

"Leave it to the Mudblood to make friends with barnyard animals," I heard Malfoy guffaw.

I gave Malfoy a glare that even made Ron shrink. Katie sat down beside me.

I got a whiff of a sweet smelling perfume.

"Thank you so much. I was afraid I'd be sleeping outside," Katie said, gratefully.

She studied our gold and maroon ties and gray vests with the same maroon and gold stripes stitched along the V-neck.

"What house is this?" she asked, brightly.

"Gryffindor," Harry replied softly.

"Do you have houses at your school?" Ron asked.

Katie nodded. "Oh yes. I'm from the Laryen house. There's four houses like here at Hogwarts…there's the Laryen House, the Cazcet House, the Troydre House and the Edwey House,"

"Cool," Harry said.

Breakfast began as usual except people staring and whispering to their neighbors about Katie. I frowned.

"Don't they get bored with talking about people who are different from them? I would think they'd get bored,"

"Neh, not as long as Malfoy is leading those rumors," Ron said.

"Are they laughing at me?" Katie asked.

I saw her expression. She was close to tears and her lower lip was trembling.

"Yes,"

"No,"

I glared at Ron.

"It's okay. I know they are. I'm used to it," Katie said, quietly.

Harry looked shocked.

"Do you mean people tease you everyday?"

"Just about," Katie replied bitterly. "But they're right. I'm fat, ugly and stupid."

My lower jaw dropped.

I couldn't believe Katie was siding with those ingrates. She obviously didn't see just how pretty she was. The weight had nothing to do with it. I thought she was a lovely person. I'm usually good at judging character and I could see she seemed like a nice, easy-going person. I couldn't understand why she would believe what people are saying about her…either to her face or behind her back.

I looked at Harry. I could see he was just as shocked as I was. Ron seemed uncomfortable.

Before I could open my mouth, Malfoy shouted across the hall.

"Hey, Katie? Where do you sleep back home? With the livestock?"

Laughter rang out from the entire Slytherin table. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff's just shook their heads.

Now they react. Why didn't they budge over to make room for her when Dumbledore said she could sit anywhere she wanted?

I looked at Harry. He leaned forward. Katie looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"Don't listen to that prick," Harry said smiling. "He always has something to say even when people aren't talking to him."

Katie managed a smile.

"Thanks. Oh…where are my manners? I'm Katie O'Malley," she said as she extended her hand.

"I'm Hermione Granger," I said, shaking her hand.

"Harry Potter,"

"Ron Weasley,"

Ron and Harry took turns shaking her hand.

"Harry Potter? The Harry Potter?" Katie asked, wide eyed.

Harry blushed and nodded.

"I've heard so much about you,"

Harry just continued to blush.

"So, we'd be happy to show you around the castle," I offered cheerfully.

"Really? That would be really nice of you," Katie said, smiling.

Once breakfast was over, we gave Katie a quick tour of the castle and then headed to Potions class.

"Wow…your Potions class is held here in the dungeons?" Katie asked, awed.

"Yes. Do you have a Potions class?" Ron asked eagerly.

"Yeah and I have a Muggle Studies course, a Vetas Course, and basically the same ones as you. I did a little background studying on Hogwarts before I came," Katie said, sheepishly. "I feel so embarrassed and stupid."

I smiled. "Don't be embarrassed and you're not stupid. I would've done the same thing if I were in your shoes,"

Katie smiled as we entered the Potions class. The Gryffindor's were on the right, the Slytherins' on the left. Katie sat with us. The rest of the Gryffindor's turned around and eagerly said 'Hello' to Katie. She just beamed and sat down in-between Harry and I. I was on the aisle.

Professor Snape came in, his black robes billowing out behind him. As soon as he reached the front of the class, he turned around and faced everyone. Immediately, his eyes landed on Katie.

"So, there's a new student here. Don't think you can get away with not doing work here just because you're from a different school," Professor Snape said, smirking.

Katie looked as if she was slapped in the face. Her color drained from her face.

"But-but Sir…I don't know your material yet," Katie stammered nervously.

"Do not call me 'sir'. You will refer to me as 'Professor'," Professor Snape snapped.

Katie looked even more upset.

Finally, Harry jumped in.

"We'll teach her, Professor. I assure you," Harry said, emphasizing the word 'Professor'. He was giving Professor Snape a false grin.

Professor Snape's eyes narrowed at Harry.

"Just what she needs…a swelled head to match yours," Professor Snape said.

Harry just narrowed his eyes at the Professor. Snape said nothing more and then turned his attention back to the class.

"Today you will be making the Outré Potion. This was used as a calming drug, like the Muggle Valume. Here are the ingredients,"

Professor Snape waved his wand at the blackboard and the ingredients appeared written on the board. We began copying them down.

I gave Katie spare bits of parchment and an extra quill. She too began copying them down.

I heard whispering to the left. I slowly raised my head. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were huddled together, whispering and occasionally glancing over at Katie. I knew they were up to something…more than likely something nasty. I leaned across Katie and nudged Harry.

"Those two are up to something…I know it," I whispered to him.

Harry's emerald green eyes narrowed behind his black rimmed glasses. Katie looked up.

"What's going on?" Katie asked.

"Malfoy and his fellow cronies are up to something nasty," Harry said.

"It has something to do with me…doesn't it?" Katie asked.

I felt bad. She just arrived here and already Malfoy is going to try and do something to her.

Harry discreetly pulled out his wand and slipped it behind Katie's back, aiming it at Malfoy.

"Harry," I hissed reprovingly.

"I don't care. I'm tired of Malfoy trying to hurt other people," Harry growled.

"Madronit!" Harry whispered.

A thin jet of blue was released from the tip of Harry's wand. It hit Malfoy right in the leg.

His leg became stone. Quickly, Harry slipped his wand back into his robes and sat up straighter as if nothing happened.

"Professor Snape! My leg!" Malfoy cried as he frantically tried to yank his leg up, but it was stone and wouldn't budge.

Professor Snape came over and examined Malfoy's leg.

"Who cast the Madronit charm?" Professor Snape demanded whirling around to face the rest of the class.

We all looked back at him with innocent stares.

"Who cast the Madronit charm?" Professor Snape repeated.

Again, no one replied. We were all looking at each other.

"It was Potter," Malfoy spat glaring vehemently at Harry.

"What? I was sitting here the entire time working on the potion," Harry said, shocked.

"Yeah right," Malfoy snickered. "I know it was you."

"Did you see Potter?" Professor Snape asked Malfoy.

Malfoy's blue eyes glittered maliciously.

"Yeah,"

"That's a lie!" Katie cried suddenly as she stood up. "You didn't see him at all!"

"Shut up, pig," Malfoy snapped.

"Harry didn't use the Madronit charm," Katie said, taking a deep breath. " I did."

Harry looked at me. I could see the shock and surprise in his emerald green eyes.

"You?" Professor Snape said, narrowing his eyes at her.

Katie nodded.

"No. It wasn't her…it was me," Harry said, also as he stood up.

"Which one of you was it?" Professor Snape snarled.

Harry and Katie looked at each other. Then, Ron stood up.

"It was me, Professor. It wasn't them," Ron said.

All I did was cross my arms on the table and I put my head down.

"Very well…20 points from Gryffindor and remain after class for detention…all four of you," Professor Snape snapped.

We all sat down again and began working silently on our potion. I didn't understand why I had to stay since I had nothing to do with it. I was angry with Harry for even starting it.

After class, we remained and wrote 50 lines of "I will not use the Madronit charm in Potions class" and naturally, Snape took the twenty points from Gryffindor.

KATIE.

I glanced over at Harry. He looked up at met my gaze. He gave me a big smile. I smiled back. I thought he was really cute. I couldn't believe that these three best friends would stand up for a complete stranger. I was so insecure and I mistrusted everyone…except maybe these three. They seemed totally different than the rest of the people.

I couldn't understand why he would get himself into trouble just for me. I felt someone nudge me on my right. It was Ron Weasley. He has short light auburn hair and blue eyes. He leaned close.

"So what's it like back in Ireland? I bet it's gorgeous. I've heard my dad talking about it a while ago," Ron whispered.

"Aye, it's gorgeous. I miss it though. But I'll be glad to go back home when this year's over," I said, sighing.

Ron looked upset.

"You don't like it here huh?"

"I like it here, just not a few people if you know what I mean," I said as I put down my quill.

"Yeah…Malfoy and his lovely, sweet, friends," Ron said, sarcastically. "Who wouldn't miss them?"

I giggled.

Ron grinned.

"But you three seem different. I'm glad to know you," I said, softly.

Ron began blushing.

I leaned close to Ron. "Hey…I'm just wondering…is Harry seeing anyone?"

Ron's facial expression dropped.

"Erm, yeah…Hermione," Ron said, swallowing. "I'm not though."

"Poo. Oh well, let's get back to work. I can't believe that Professor Snape made Hermione stay too. She didn't do anything," I said.

"Yeah. I know…he's a prat," Ron choked out as he turned his attention back to his parchment.

HERMIONE.

I had just happened to over hear what Ron and Katie were talking about. I couldn't understand why Katie didn't pick up Ron's hint that he wasn't seeing anyone. Maybe she was just insecure?

I glanced at Harry. He met my gaze and just shrugged.

After we did our lines, we then headed to Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall helped Katie with the spells we were using today. Katie's wand was a newer model. It was 11", mahogany and it contained a unicorn hair. Katie seemed to be getting the hang of things and relaxed immediately until Malfoy started his crap.

Professor McGonagall heard him and deducted 30 points from Slytherin and made him stay after class for 3 days for detention.

Malfoy was rather subdued after that, but he kept throwing Katie malicious expressions.

Harry and Katie began talking. I hung back and pulled Ron aside.

"Hey…you like her…don't you?" I whispered as we walked a few feet behind Harry and Katie.

Ron nodded.

"Well, I think she's insecure so you might want to give her a chance to see that her thoughts about herself are wrong," I said.

Ron nodded again.

"Thanks, 'Mione,"

I smiled.

We hurried to catch up to them. I had no idea that things would get worse.