Here is my new version of If He Only Knew. I do not own anything from the world of Harry Potter. Please enjoy.


If He Only Knew (Revised)

Chapter One

Katherine Peters and her parents walked through King's Cross, stopping between Platforms nine and ten. Katherine, an eleven-year old girl excited to begin her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, attempted to lead her parents through the barrier, but they hesitated.

"Come on," Katherine teased. "You're acting like you've never heard of Platform nine and three quarters before."

"Of course, we know about it, but you try walking through walls." Mr. Peters said, both he and his wife looking at the wall apprehensively.

"I will." Katherine said with a smirk, and walked through the wall, cart and all. The Peters stared in disbelief, and then looked quickly around to see if any of the Muggles noticed, but none had. Then Katherine's head appeared in the wall, "Are you coming or what?"

The Peters grabbed each other's hand and walked through the wall, closing their eyes just as they were about to make contact. But they went through the wall and opened their eyes to see a red train waiting for the students of Hogwarts to arrive. They stared at it in wonder because they had heard stories of the Hogwarts Express from Katherine's biological parents for years, but they never imagined how magical it would actually look. Their eyes turned away from the train to see their foster daughter. Katherine's dark brown hair was moving slightly in the wind and her green eyes were twinkling in excitement as she looked at the train.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Katherine smirked at her foster parents. The Peters rolled their eyes as they closed the space in between them and their daughter.

"Yes, yes, you know all." Mrs. Peters said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm just glad that she's going to school and she'll have to prove that she does." Mr. Peters joked, his brown eyes crinkling in amusement. Katherine laughed as she placed a hand on her trunk, which had been removed from the cart while she was waiting for the Peters to follow her.

The Hogwarts Express blew its whistle, signaling that it was about to depart.

"Get on the train, honey." Mrs. Peters said, hurrying Katherine and her trunk towards it. "Write to us every day."

"I will if the owl can find you in whatever tropical jungle you're hiking through." Katherine teased as she and Mr. Peters put her trunk on the train.

"We're only going to the United States." He said.

"What? Your first trip since I was dropped into your laps and you're only going to the States?!" Katherine asked, pretending to be flabbergasted.

"We have to start slow!" Mrs. Peters said to defend their decision. The train whistled again, more urgently this time. "Have a good term, sweetheart!"

Katherine waved goodbye as she went into the train, dragging her trunk behind her. She turned down the corridor to the right and saw her best friend walking towards her. His name was Draco Malfoy and he had white blond hair that was slicked back, he was also already wearing his Hogwarts robes. In contrast, Katherine was dressed as a Muggle because she and her parents had to take the London Underground to get to King's Cross.

"There you are." Draco said, trying to not sound relieved. "Follow me, I have a compartment."

Katherine knew that he was annoyed that she did not go to King's Cross with Draco and his parents because he was worried that her Muggle foster parents would not be able to find the platform before the train left. Draco sometimes willingly forgot that the Peters did know things about the magical world, but Katherine usually tried to not let it bother her. She had known Draco since they were five and she spent nearly every day since at his house. His parents adored her just as she adored them, and she and Draco behaved like siblings.

Katherine followed Draco into an empty compartment, and they placed her trunk on the shelf above one of the seats. Katherine sat down near the window, waving to the Peters as the train pulled away from the station. Draco sat across from her and stared out the window with a bored expression. Katherine saw his parents, who waved like gentiles at both her and their son. She waved back, and soon the platform and the people on it were out of sight.

"How are you? I haven't seen you for two weeks." Draco said, pretending to be aloof; his new behavioral trend was to act like his father.

"I'm fine, but I told you that I wouldn't see you until school started since we were getting ready for it." Katherine said, eyeing Draco cautiously. She liked him a good deal, but he always liked to annoy her. She had the feeling he was about to start some sort of argument.

"And you found all your supplies?" Draco said, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. Katherine knew that he was upset with her for not going to get school supplies in Diagon Alley with him and his family, but she had hoped that he would be over it by now.

"Yes, did your father buy you a new broomstick?" If anything could distract Draco, it was Quidditch. Draco's face lost its attempt at aloofness and his gray eyes lit up with excitement.

"He said that he would buy me one next year if I made the Quidditch team, though he did agree with me that first years should be allowed to bring their own brooms." Draco said.

"And what would you do with your broom? You aren't allowed to try out for the Quidditch team until your second year." Katherine smirked, making Draco frown.

"I would show everyone else how to fly properly." Draco said pompously. Katherine smiled, but did not say anything because hurting Draco's ego would not make the trip enjoyable for her.

About an hour later, an older woman pushing a cart opened the door, and asked if they wanted anything. Katherine bought a couple Chocolate Frogs and a few Cauldron Cakes, while Draco bought nearly one of everything. Katherine soon regretted buying the treats because she had to ration the money Professor McGonagall gave her for the entire year.

Since Katherine grew up with Muggles, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, and Minerva McGonagall, the deputy headmistress, assumed that she would need to have someone explain the magical world to her, which is what they do for Muggleborns to help them adjust. So, Professor McGonagall arrived on the Peters' door step a few weeks ago and began to lecture about how the magical children of Britain were sent to Hogwarts in order to learn how to use their powers.

"Now I know that you are scared to realize that magic exists." Professor McGonagall had said to the Peters as she stood in the doorway.

"Actually, Professor, I have known about magic for a long time now." Katherine had interrupted with a charming smile. Professor McGonagall looked taken aback, which seemed to be a new feeling for her. "My parents were magical, but they died soon after I was born, so I have been living with my mom's friends, the Peters, since then.

"I am also excellent friends with the Malfoy family." McGonagall pursed her lips at that, but Katherine smiled softly. "Don't worry, I know their reputation, but the point is that I know about the wizarding world.

"But I'd hate to make you feel as if you wasted the journey," Katherine smiled charmingly as she gestured to the living room. "Why don't you join us for a cup of tea and I can annoy you with questions about the courses I will have to take?"

McGonagall accepted, and soon she and the Peters were sitting in the living room, each enjoying a cup of tea. McGonagall stayed for over an hour, answering some of Katherine's questions, while telling her to wait and see to some other questions. She also listened to Katherine and her foster parents tease each other, while smiling softly as they did. By the time she left, she and Katherine had formed the beginnings of a great friendship. She also gave Katherine some wizarding money because she had a very small amount left to her from her parents, and she needed it for when she got out of school.

"Why didn't you get Bertie Bott's?" Draco asked, pulling Katherine out her thoughts. Katherine made a disgusted face.

"I'm currently shunning Bertie Bott's. I got a popcorn flavored bean and it was nastier than the vomit one I tricked you into eating." Draco frowned and both of them glared at an imaginary bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans like it betrayed them.

After they finished the candy, Draco's friends, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, two brutish simple idiots, opened the door to the compartment. Katherine didn't like them and she was pretty sure Draco didn't either, but they did whatever he said and he liked that.

"Draco, we're bored. Let's go explore the train." Crabbe said. Katherine was impressed he managed to produce not just one, but two complete sentences.

Draco agreed and rose, but then he looked at Katherine questioningly. She shook her head and waved him off. He left with Crabbe and Goyle following him like dogs. Katherine pulled out a book about the Muggle monarchs of England and read for a while. Draco came back after she had finished a couple of chapters without Crabbe and Goyle.

"Meet anyone interesting?" Katherine asked, watching him sit down across from her again.

Draco shook his head. "No, but people were saying that Harry Potter is aboard."

The book fell from Katherine's hand and slammed onto the floor. Draco looked at Katherine in alarm, but she quickly removed the shocked expression off her face, and picked up the book.

"Sorry, it slipped." Katherine said, smiling embarrassed.

"Anyways," Draco said, moving on, but still looking at her oddly. "It turns out that I have met him before. It was in Diagon Alley a couple weeks ago and I only realized it because I overheard someone describing what he looks like."

"What does he look like?" Katherine asked interrupting Draco.

"Apparently, he has black hair and green eyes, and that lightning bolt scar." Draco said.

"And what did you think of him?" Katherine asked, but she was trying to mimic Draco's bored expression, trying to pretend that she didn't care.

"He didn't say much, but he was with that gamekeeper guy father told us about. You know, that half-giant?" Draco wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Must you say that?" Katherine asked, sounding tired because she'd had this conversation before with him.

"But he is a half-giant." Draco protested.

"That doesn't mean you have to be disgusted." Katherine said, but she didn't want to argue any further. All that would happen is that they would both get angry and neither would change their opinions. So, she changed the subject. "What wand did you get?"

Draco opened his mouth to say something, but then he decided to follow Katherine's lead instead. "It is hawthorn, unicorn hair, ten inches, and yours?"

"Bristlecone pine, which is one of the oldest tree species in the world-"

"-Of course you would have that." Draco interrupted with a smile.

Katherine smiled in response. "And dragon heartstring, and about twelve inches."

Draco nodded. "I'm glad you were able to find Ollivander's."

Katherine's smile faltered. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Draco said, even though his tone negated his statement. "You were the one who decided to refuse our offer to take you to Diagon Alley, and decided to rely on your Muggle parents to take you there."

"Draco." Katherine grounded out after she jumped to her feet in anger. Draco jumped up as well with his fists balled at his sides.

"We have continually offered you a chance to live properly! To live with a proper family! But you stay with those Muggles!" Draco yelled, and then put his hands up, mockingly placating her. "Yes, yes, I know that they were friends with your parents and they are your connection to them, but you don't even use your parents' last name, so how much do they really mean to you?!"

Katherine ignored that last bit with great difficulty and said icily. "And whose name do I use? My Muggle foster parents'. They are my family. I don't want a proper one."

Katherine stormed towards the compartment door, violently swinging it open to come face to face with Crabbe and Goyle. With a frustrated growl, she pushed past them and down the corridor. The two idiots distracted Draco so he didn't come after her.

Katherine walked down the corridor for a moment before stopping because she almost stepped on a toad sitting in the middle of the carpeted corridor.

"Hello, who are you?" Katherine asked it as the anger left her. She reached down and picked up the toad. "I would keep you, but I can't afford to buy you food" –That's why Katherine didn't have a pet with her. "So, who do you belong to?"

Katherine kept walking down the corridor. With any luck, she would run into the person missing the toad; if not, she might have to find some way to obtain toad food.

She went on, talking to the toad in her hands, until her way was blocked by two students who looked to be her age. They were speaking into a compartment, but then shut the door and turned to her. One was a round face, worried looking boy, while the other was a girl with very bushy brown hair.

"Hello," The girl said briskly, as if this was the tenth time she had to ask this question. "Have you seen a toad?"

"Actually, I have!" Katherine replied pleasantly, revealing the toad in her outstretched hands.

"Trevor!" The boy exclaimed in relief, gladly taking the toad from Katherine. "I better go put him back in his cage. Gran will kill me if I lose him again."

Neville and Trevor trotted off, leaving Katherine and the girl.

"Thank you for finding his toad. I'm Hermione Granger, by the way." Hermione stretched out her hand and Katherine shook it with a smile.

"Pleasure, I'm Katherine Peters." She said. However, an awkward silence fell on the two. Hermione, after completing her self-appointed mission, did not have anything to do, while Katherine had no desire to return to her compartment with Draco.

"It was nice of you to help him find his toad." Katherine said before the silence became unbearable.

"It was a good way to spend the time," Hermione said before looking at her wristwatch. "Though we should be arriving soon."

"How do you know?" Katherine asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I read how long the journey takes in Hogwarts, A History and determined when we should get there."

Katherine smiled amused. "You've certainly done your homework."

Hermione's eyes narrowed challenging, which was so comical that it made Katherine's smile grow. "I have already read all of our textbooks plus many more books about the magical world."

Katherine raised her eyebrow and her eyes twinkled in amusement. She was impressed because no other eleven year old would read all of her textbooks before school even started. Katherine smiled, and then noticed that Hermione was wearing her Hogwarts robes.

"I suppose I should get my robes on." Katherine said, gesturing to Hermione's robes. Hermione's face fell because she thought that she had driven off yet another potential friend. Katherine saw this and realized that most people would not like Hermione's know-it-all tendency, but Katherine didn't mind it. "Hermione, there is an annoying best friend in my compartment, can I join you in yours?"

Hermione's face brightened into a brilliant smile. "Of course!" She said eagerly.

"Excellent," Katherine smiled widely. "Let's go grab my trunk, and then we'll head to your compartment."

Hermione was excited. She had made a friend who wasn't annoyed by her. Katherine, for her part, didn't mind that Hermione was a know-it-all. Truth be told, Katherine was a know-it-all also, but she was better at controlling it than Hermione seemed to be.

The two walked to Katherine's compartment and found that Draco was still in there when they got there. Katherine walked past him to get her trunk.

"Katherine-" Draco started.

"Hermione, this is my friend, Draco Malfoy," Katherine interrupted him, but kept her back to both of them. "Draco, this is Hermione."

The two shook hands in greeting as Katherine got her trunk down from the shelf above the seats.

"Katherine, I'm sorry about what I said." Draco said as Katherine pushed past him, dragging her trunk behind her.

"We'll talk about it later." Katherine said with a tone of finality.

"Katherine, I am sorry." Draco said almost whining. Hermione was watching the conversation with interest, but Katherine didn't like people knowing her disagreements with other people, so she decided to end the conversation quickly.

"I believe you are," Katherine whispered, so that Hermione couldn't hear. "But I think that you are only sorry that you angered me, not about what you said.

"Now, we'll talk about this later." Katherine spoke at normal volume for this sentence, and then she and Hermione left the compartment.

They walked quickly to Hermione's compartment. Hermione was trying to figure out what happened between Katherine and Draco. But she didn't want to ask because she didn't want to annoy Katherine and lose her only friend. Once they got to the compartment, they put Katherine's trunk on the shelf above the other seat. Hermione sat down on the seat under her trunk, and watched as Katherine pulled on Hogwarts robes over her clothes.

"Why did you read all your textbooks already?" Katherine asked as she fixed the robes so they were straight, and then sat down.

"I don't want to be behind," Hermione said, sounding insecure. "I didn't know I was a witch until Professor McGonagall showed up at our house a couple weeks ago."

Katherine then realized that Hermione was a Muggle-born. She reminded herself not to tell Draco, or if he was being particularly annoying, she could tell him that he shook hands with a Muggle-born.

"Professor McGonagall also showed up at my house." Katherine said, and Hermione's face brightened in hope that she had met another Muggle-born.

"You're like me?" Hermione asked hopefully.

Katherine smiled sadly. "No, I'm a Half-Blood, but I grew up with Muggles after my parents died. They were best friends with my parents, so they knew about the magical world, and they told me about it. And Draco is a Pureblood, meaning everyone in his family has always been magical, and he taught me a great deal, as well."

"Oh," Hermione deflated and looked down at her shoes.

"You shouldn't be worried. Those like me are only educated in magical pop culture, not actual spells and such. Underage wizards aren't allowed to learn magic until they are at school." Katherine said reassuringly, and Hermione seemed appeased.

"I'm sorry about your parents." Hermione whispered, remembering that she had forgot to say that before.

"It's quite alright. They died a long time ago, and my foster parents are wonderful." Katherine said.

"What do they do?" Hermione asked, trying to change the subject to a nicer subject.

"They're travel writers, though they haven't done much travelling since they obtained me," Katherine laughed at her little joke. "They like to travel to remote areas, but you can't really take a child there, so we've just been travelling around the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. Most of their books lately have just been guides to places like London and such."

"Wait, that sounds familiar. I think we used one of their guides when we went to Glasgow. What are their names?" Hermione asked, scrunching up her face as she tried to remember.

"John and Marie Peters." Katherine answered, and Hermione gasped, confirming she did use their book. "Yes, so now that I am in school, they can travel to the areas they most want to go."

"Because you're in school?" Hermione asked, confused. However, she was mostly confused as to why Katherine wasn't insulted that foster parents felt that they couldn't travel with her.

"Because I'm not living with them for several months at a time." Katherine clarified, but when she saw Hermione open her mouth to question why Katherine loved her foster parents when they decided to travel now because she could not be with them. "What do your parents do?"

Hermione was caught by the change in subject, but she answered nonetheless. "They're dentists."

"I'm afraid that they would not have much of a career in the wizarding world. When we find something wrong with our teeth, we fix it with magic." Katherine said.

"Really?" Hermione looked really excited and raised her hand to her front teeth, which were larger than normal. Hermione noticed that Katherine saw the action and color rose to her cheeks, but Katherine pretended that she hadn't noticed.

Suddenly, the train began to slow down and its whistle blew. Hermione jumped up excitedly and ran to the window, but their compartment was on the wrong side of the train to see anything.

"We're in Hogsmeade because the train doesn't stop at the school." Hermione said matter-of-factly. Katherine nodded that she understood as the train slowly pulled to a stop.

"Exit the train. Your trunks will be taken returned to you later." A voice commanded throughout the train.

Hermione went to the door, but Katherine rummaged in her trunk for her wand, and then put it in an inside pocket of her cloak. Hermione raised an eyebrow, but Katherine just smiled good-naturedly. It was a good habit for her to get use to carrying her wand. They two exited the compartment and followed the other students off the train.

"Firs' years! Over here!" A voice bellowed. Katherine looked and saw a giant man with a bushy mane and beard. Hermione looked at him curiously.

"That's Hagrid. He's the groundskeeper at Hogwarts." Katherine explained as the two went over to him, and joined the rest of the waiting first years. The other students walked past them all to horseless carriages.

"How do the carriages pull themselves?" Hermione whispered.

"Magic." Katherine said seriously. Hermione looked at her and Katherine shrugged. "Magic will be the answer most of the time from here on out."

Hermione laughed and seemed to relax. She was nervous about starting school, whereas Katherine was not, so Katherine was attempting to calm her down.

"This way, all!" Hagrid ordered, herding the first years with his arms towards several boats. Katherine and Hermione got into one with a set of twin girls. Once all the first years were abroad, the boats set off across a black, dark lake.

After several moments, the boats turned a corner and Katherine had her first look at Hogwarts. It was a castle with high towers and looked like it spread over a good deal of territory. The lake in front of them seemed to stretch around the castle, but it was dark so Katherine wasn't sure.

The boats carried the students through a tunnel in a cliff face, which the castle was resting upon. The tunnel soon ended at what seemed to be an underground harbor of sort. The boats stopped at the shore and everyone piled out. Hagrid led them into a passageway in the rock that deposited them at some stone steps that led to a large oak door, which flew open to reveal a stern looking woman wearing a green set of robes.

"The studen's, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said, as Katherine and Hermione positioned themselves near the front of the group.

"Thank you, Hagrid." Professor McGonagall said, and Hagrid left. McGonagall surveyed the group, and Katherine smiled at her when they made eye contact, which resulted in a very small smile appearing on McGonagall's face.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress and I teach Transfiguration." McGonagall said very straightforwardly. "You will wait here until we are ready for you. At which point, you will be sorted into one of the four houses and join your new House for the Welcome Feast. The people of your House will be with whom you have classes and spend some free time in your common rooms. Good behavior will win points for your house, while mischief will lose points." McGonagall looked at Katherine, who pretended to be insulted, but failed because she was smirking. "Wait here until I come to get you."

McGonagall left and the first years began to chatter nervously. Someone claimed that the sorting was a test, and then Hermione started reciting the spells she might need to use in such a test, while others were claiming that an older sibling said that they had to fight a troll. Katherine bit back a smile. She knew exactly how they were going to be sorted, but she was having too much fun watching everyone's imaginations run wild.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Harry Potter. So you have come to Hogwarts." An overly familiar voice drawled from the back of the group. Katherine tried to find Draco, but couldn't see him because there were too many students in the way.

"Can you see?" Katherine whispered to Hermione, who shook her head in answer.

"My name is Draco Malfoy." Draco said, but then Katherine heard a snicker close to Draco. "Think my name is funny? Should I ask yours? No, I won't bother. Red hair, freckles, hand-me-downs. You're a Weasley."

Katherine inwardly groaned. The Weasleys were one of Lucius Malfoy's, Draco's father, favorite topics to complain about and Draco was probably going to repeat exactly what Lucius said. This was not going to be good.

"Potter, soon you will realize some families are better than others. It's better for you if you don't make friends with the wrong people. I can help you." Draco said. Katherine's face fell into her hands as an attempt to hide her second-hand embarrassment. Why did Draco think that this was going to end well for him?

There was a slight pause as if everyone was waiting for something.

"No, thanks, I can figure that out for myself." A voice said from the back of the group, and Katherine assumed the voice belonged to Harry Potter.

Katherine could feel Draco's anger, but he was prevented from saying anything by the appearance of some ghosts on their way to the feast. Several of them introduced themselves such as the Fat Friar, who was the ghost for Hufflepuff, one of the houses.

McGonagall soon came back and led the students through a stone foyer and through a grand set of large wooden doors. The students were led up a makeshift aisle between two long tables filled with students. Katherine looked and saw that there were four tables in total, and then one table on a small stage filled with what she assumed were the teachers.

"It is bewitched to look like the sky outside does." She heard Hermione next to her whisper to no one in particular. Katherine looked up and realized Hermione was talking about the ceiling.

"Hogwarts, A History?" Katherine asked, and Hermione nodded. "Hmm, I could use you during a trivia night."

McGonagall made the first years stop before they got to the steps leading to the professors' tables. She walked up the steps, and then moved to the side of a stool that held a patched up hat. Katherine saw that most of the other first years were staring at it with questioning looks. Suddenly, a tear near its brim opened and the hat began to sing, catching the first years, except for Draco and Katherine off guard. He sang about the different houses and their traits, and then finished by asking them to try him on and see.

When the hat was done, McGonagall shook out a scroll that just appeared in her hands, facing the first years. "When I call your name, you will come up, put on the Sorting Hat, and then go to the table corresponding to your house."

"Gryffindor's table is the far right one, Ravenclaw is the next one, then Hufflepuff, and then Slytherin is over at the far left." Hermione whispered quickly.

"Thank you, now neither of us will look the fool." Katherine said sincerely because the Peters and Malfoys told her a great deal, but they didn't tell her which table was which.

McGonagall shouted out the first name and a timid girl went to the stool, put on the Sorting Hat, and was sent to Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff table erupted in clapping and cheering, which made Katherine smile because it seemed that everyone enjoyed the Sorting, except, perhaps, the first years.

The next girl was named Susan Bones, but Katherine spent the entire time Susan was being sorted trying to figure out why Susan's last name sounded familiar. Katherine didn't figure it out, so she just shrugged and watched as more students were sorted after Susan Bones. After Justin Finch-Fletchly, it was Hermione's turn.

McGonagall called her name, but she was frozen in fear. Katherine pushed her forward, and then her feet started working. Hermione walked up slowly and anxiously to the stool, and then put on the hat. After a moment, the Sorting Hat shouted "Gryffindor" and Hermione smiled at Katherine, who was clapping for her, before going to the Gryffindor table, which was cheering.

A bit later a Neville Longbottom was called. Like Susan Bones, Katherine thought his name sounded familiar, but could not figure out why. When he reached the stool, Katherine got a good look at him, and realized that he was the boy who owned the toad, Trevor. The hat took a long time with Neville Longbottom, but then sent him to Gryffindor.

Draco was next. The hat barely touched his head before it sent him to Slytherin. He smirked proudly at Katherine, who rolled her eyes, but clapped for him nonetheless. Soon, McGonagall was calling out the P's. The twins who sat in the boat with Hermione and Katherine were Padma and Parvati Patil; Padma was sorted into Ravenclaw and Parvati in Gryffindor.

"Peters, Katherine." McGonagall said. Katherine set her shoulders back and walked confidently towards the Sorting Hat. Unlike the other first years, Katherine wasn't nervous because she did not care which house she got sorted into. She was not nervous about getting into Slytherin because she decided that she would be the only good Slytherin and spite its reputation. As Katherine got to the stool, McGonagall smiled a very small, almost non-perceptible smile, which made Katherine grin at her. Katherine sat on the stool and put on the hat.

"Well, aren't you a difficult one?" That hat said in Katherine's head. Katherine had to admit that he was right. "Very clever and kind and knowledgeable and very brave. Perhaps, even foolhardy."

Katherine had to admit that she probably was foolhardy. She always liked doing dangerous tricks when she and Draco rode on his brooms at his house. The Sorting Hat was still muttering, trying to decide which house for Katherine.

"Perhaps, Slytherin? You're clever and cunning, and you can be subtle." The Sorting Hat said. As Katherine stifled a laugh at that last part, her green eyes fell on one of the first years, who had dark messy hair and glasses. "Oh, what's this? . . . Now, I see . . . GRYFFINDOR!"

The students only heard the Sorting Hat say Gryffindor and the Gryffindor table erupted with cheering. Katherine quickly took off the hat and went to the table, refusing to look in the direction of the other waiting first years. She sat down next to Hermione at the table, who was sitting next to a tall red haired boy, wearing a badge that said P. He introduced himself quickly as Percy Weasley and said that he was one of the prefects for Gryffindor.

"Potter, Harry." McGonagall said, and then the Great Hall erupted in whispers. It seemed like everyone except Percy and some red haired twins sitting near Percy were the only ones not asking if she said Harry Potter. Hermione turned to Katherine to tell her about her own meeting with Harry Potter on the train, but Katherine's eyes were locked on the dark haired boy as he walked hesitantly towards the Sorting Hat, so Hermione kept her mouth shut.

Katherine caught movement out of the corner of her eye, and she turned her head to the right to see the High Table. A man in purple robes with a long silver beard was looking at her from his seat at the center of the High Table. Katherine recognized him from the Chocolate Frog cards as Albus Dumbledore. He looked at Katherine as she looked at Harry for a few moments, and then turned his attention to Harry, who was fidgeting as the Sorting Hat took a long time to decide. Finally, the Sorting Hat shouted Gryffindor, and Harry eagerly half-ran to the table after taking off the hat.

The entire Gryffindor table erupted in cheering. The red haired twins were shouting, "We have Potter!" and Percy grabbed Harry's hand, shaking it vigorously, while the rest of the table clapped so hard that their hands hurt. Katherine was clapping as well, and smiled friendly to Harry as he took the seat across from her.

She didn't have time to introduce herself before McGonagall moved on through the list. After two students, a red haired boy named Ron Weasley was called. Katherine guessed that he was related to Percy and the red haired twins because all three held their breath as Ron put the Sorting Hat on his head. The Sorting Hat waited a minute before shouting Gryffindor. Ron joined the table, choosing the seat on Harry's right, while his brothers cheered and clapped him on the back.

The last student was one of Draco's friends named Blaise Zabini. Katherine liked him because he was quiet, but she always felt like he was quiet because he was too busy observing everyone to discover some secret. Blaise was placed in Slytherin and he quietly walked to its table, sitting next to Draco.

"Before I give any announcements, let's enjoy some food." Dumbledore announced from his seat, and then plates of food appeared on the table.

Katherine helped herself to some food and offered some to Hermione, who looking at the table in astonishment.

"How did it appear?" Hermione whispered to Katherine.

"You mean Hogwarts: A History didn't say anything?" Katherine asked, fighting off a smile. Hermione turned to Katherine and glared, which Katherine laugh. "I don't know, Hermione, magic?"

"You're useless." Hermione muttered and Katherine laughed in agreement.

At this point, Katherine realized that Harry Potter was watching their conversation. Katherine put down her fork and offered her hand to him across the table.

"Hello, I'm Katherine Peters." She said with a friendly smile.

"Harry Potter." He matched her smile and shook her hand.

"Did you enjoy the train ride?" Katherine asked.

Harry looked taken aback; he had been expecting her to ask him some question about his celebrity status because many people have been asking him since he arrived in the magical world.

"It was enjoyable. Ron and I ate a good deal of candy." Harry answered, gesturing to Ron, who was stuffing his mouth with food. Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust at that, while Katherine tried not to look like it bothered her.

"That is fun. Hermione and I spent most it discussing growing up living with Muggles." Katherine said.

"You grew up with Muggles, too?" Harry asked, sounding just as relieved as Hermione did that he found a person like him.

"It's more like I grew up in both worlds. My parents are Muggle, but my best friend and his parents are magical." Katherine said with a smile.

"Do you know any spells?" Harry asked nervously. Katherine could tell that he, like Hermione, was worried about being behind in class.

"No, I don't. I just know how to not poke my eye out with my wand." Katherine said. She spoke loud enough that even the Weasley twins heard her and joined in the laughing from the others who had heard. Harry looked relieved.

Katherine watched as Harry's attention moved away from her and the others at the Gryffindor table. Harry looked at the High Table for a few moments, looking at a professor wearing a purple turban, who was speaking to a black haired man wearing all black.

"Ouch!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing his forehead.

"Harry, what's wrong?' Ron asked, while the rest of the people around Harry wearing looking at him worriedly.

"Nothing." Harry said quickly, and then looked down at his plate. Katherine was looking at Harry curiously, and then looked at the dark haired professor, but did not understand. She decided to ask Harry at some point later.

Too soon, Katherine was finished eating and feeling like she needed a nap immediately. But Dumbledore rose from his seat, walked around the High Table, to a podium that appeared where the Sorting Hat stool had been before dinner.

"I know you want to sleep in order to be wide awake for classes tomorrow, but I have just a few announcements." Dumbledore said with a twinkling smile. "The Forbidden Forest located on the ground is, in fact, forbidden for students to enter. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, wants to remind everyone that magic is not allowed in the corridors between classes. Try-outs for Quidditch will take place next week. Finally, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out-of-bounds for this year for those who do not wish to have a painful death."

"Is he serious?" Katherine heard Harry ask Percy.

"I believe so," Percy said with a frown. "Though usually he gives a reason, or at least tells us prefects."

Dumbledore was smiling at the students as if he did not warn them about dying if they entered the wrong corridor. "Now, off to bed."

Percy got up and yelled at the Gryffindor first years to follow him. Katherine and Hermione walked together in silence because they both were so tired as Percy lead them through the castle. They used staircases that kept moving to go up and up and up to the seventh floor. Finally, Percy led them to a large portrait of a large woman. Percy said the password and the portrait swung open, revealing the common room to the Gryffindor Tower.

"Remember the password or the Fat Lady won't let you in." Percy warned the first years. Then he led only the girls up some stairs to a large room with five beds. Katherine and Hermione saw that their trunks had been put at the foot of beds next to each other. They smiled at each other before jumping into their new beds.

Katherine didn't fall asleep immediately. She went over in her head everything that happened, but soon felt her eyes grow heavy. Katherine fell asleep seeing green eyes half-hidden behind round glasses.