Author's Note: I have always loved the Harry Potter series. This particular story will start about half way through the third book Prisoner of Azkaban. Enjoy! Be kind, please review!
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter books do not belong to me. They belong to one J.K Rowling.
"Oh, grandmother, what big ears you have!"
"The better to hear you with".
"Oh, grandmother, what big eyes you have!"
"The better to see you with".
"Oh, grandmother, what big hands you have!"
"The better to grab you with".
"But, grandmother, what a dreadful big mouth you have!"
"The better to eat you with".
The Brothers Grimm, Little Red Riding Hood.
Chapter One
'It's still staring' Katie Bell thought as she not for the first time that night peered over her book. An enormous ginger cat sat some ten feet away on an armchair and gazed at her. 'Is this normal cat behavior?' She wondered. Not being a cat person herself, this cat's behavior was quite perplexing-
"Not to mention unnerving" She muttered to herself. Forcing her eyes back onto her book she tried to concentrate on the words but the stare penetrated her concentration.
"I'm just tired." Katie said in an attempt console herself. With an exaggerated stretch she chanced a look at the large oak clock that sat in the corner.
"Past midnight" Katie groaned. "This is the last time I blow off Potions homework for Hogsmeade" She swore to herself. It was a bold face lie, but it made her feel better all the same. As was her usual nervous habit she ran her fingers through her hair, causing blonde strands to fall into her face.
"The Wolfsbane potion was first brewed in 1978 by former Hogwarts graduate Damocles, A —"
Movement caught her eye and she abruptly stopped reading. The cat had jumped off the chair and began to advance on her location.
"Shoo! " she hissed as she waved her arms feeling thoroughly ridiculous. Aside from lowering its head slightly her actions did little to effect the mangy cat. Still it came.
Growling slightly Katie slipped off her slipper and launched it at the ginger cat. It yowled in surprise and retreated slightly. This gave Katie more satisfaction than she liked to admit.
With a disapproving look the cat walked over to the portrait hole nodding its head towards it then back at her.
"What?" Katie blinked in surprise. "That is definitely not normal cat behavior" she whispered to herself.
Katie found herself standing before she acknowledged the decision to move. Entranced by the cats stare she approached the portrait hole.
"Did you just want to be let out?" She asked. It being a cat did not answer, but did yowl softly at her approach in encouragement. She didn't have a familiar but she guessed that simply allowing the cat to roam the grounds could not hurt. Opening the door she gestured for the cat to leave.
"Go on leave me in peace." She muttered. Her eyes were drawn through the portrait hole and lingered on the darkness it revealed. A knot in her stomach formed. She had never been a fan of the dark. The addition of the cats piercing eyes to the darkness left her very uneasy.
"I'm not going to stand here all night" She ran her fingers through her hair and wet her lips. "Fine stay in if that's what you want." She had barely grasped the edge of the door when—
"Get off!" The cat had leapt onto her side and gripped onto her nightgown. She hissed in pain. She managed to shake it off, but no sooner had it touched the ground then it leaped at her again.
"What is wrong with you!" she backpedaled in an effort to dodge, but even years of Quidditch couldn't help her grace on land. She backed up into a table and tripped over it hitting the ground hard. Dazed she barely felt it when the cat leapt onto her chest. She came back to reality when she felt it rummaging in her sleeve pocket with its face.
"Stop!" she lunged at it with her other hand, but her reflexes were to dull from the fall. Her hands met air as the cat sprang away with something in its mouth.
Fumbling to her feet she rubbed the back of her head in pain. Searching the room for the cat her eyes drifted to the portrait hole and her breath caught.
"You brat, bring that back here this instance!" she said lowly. The ginger cat stood at the open door of the portrait hole watching her. Grasped in its small mouth was her wand.
"Good kitty, nice kitty." She whispered lowly while taking small steps toward it. She had never seen a cat look so amused before. "That's right, stay there." She cooed. As she approached the cat took a step back. Seeing her chance to get her wand back she threw her body into a lunge.
"oomph!" the air forcibly left her lungs she grasped the end of the cats puffy tail. With a shriek and cat like speed it turned around and clawed her across the cheek. In surprise she released her hold and clutched her face. The cat used this moment to make its escape running into the darkness.
Katie cursed vehemently as she watched it run away. She quickly scrambled to her feet and tore after it with all the speed she could muster. She leaped through the portrait hole then stopped as she realized what she had just done. Turning quickly she watched as the portrait hole swung closed behind her.
"Damn it!" the door stood there barred. Running her fingers through her hair anxiously. She became suddenly aware of the darkness of the castle. Sirious Black was on the loose. Common rooms were locked from the outside past curfew. The only way back in would be to get a teacher to let her in. Sinking dread hit her. No way into the common room. No wand. Dementors. Not to mention a serial killer on the loose. She released a nervous laugh.
The sound of a yowl behind her made her jump. There it was. The source of all her problems stood some ten feet down the hall. The wand was on the ground at its feet. It released another low yowl. 'Is it taunting me?' her jaw dropped.
"You!" she hissed "I am going to skin you alive." With that, the cat once more grabbed her wand and took off down the hall rounding the corner. Her temper went through the roof. Blowing caution to the wind Katie took off after it.
Katie inwardly thanked god for the years of Quidditch as she ran up seemingly endless staircases. Ignoring the screaming of muscles and fueled by rage she shot up another set of stairs and vaulted over a ledge landing at that threshold of yet another set of stairs. Despite her speed she still barely kept the cat in her field of vision. It seemed like every hallway she rounded she would just catch a glance of a ginger tail as it rounded the next hallway.
A stitch in her side gave her pause. Stopping at the top of the last staircase she panted. 'haha no more stairs' she gasped. Despite her fatigue she felt a sense of victory.
"Seventh floor, nowhere to run now" renewed by this knowledge she moved forward listening for the cat. She crossed into the middle of a long stretch of hallway. It occurred to her suddenly that she had never really looked around on the seventh floor before. Around her numerous paintings moved as if alive. It all seemed rather eerie.
'Who is Hogwarts decorator?' she though absent-mindedly as she passed a rather disturbing painting of a witch being burned at the stake. Trying to ignore her growing unease, as reality flooded back in she pressed onward.
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty." She sing songed menacingly, surprised, as her voice seemed to fill up the emptiness of the floor. She crept around a hallway becoming more and more aware of the noise she must have made on her mad chase. Her eyes searched the wide hallway. There it was at the end of the hallway waiting patiently for her.
"Dead end kitty cat" well it wasn't completely true. The cat still had some hallway left, but if memory served there was nothing but a couple of classrooms at the end of the next hall. She doubted strongly that they were left open. The cat seemed to appraise a wall hanging that it stood next to, and then ran once more toward the dead end.
Dashing after it she could taste her victory when unexpectedly, it switched directions and ran between her legs before she could catch her bearings. Cursing she turned around rapidly and gave chase. Thankfully the cat did not run towards the stairs but instead continued forward toward the opposite end of the hallway. Just as she was so close she could touch it, the cat once more gave her the slip by darting around a suit of armor and passing by her once more.
"Oh come on!" she screamed, letting her temper get the better of her. She turned around once more and stomped in the cat's direction. It stood in front of the wall hanging once more. No longer running it just surveyed her carefully. Then it did the most disturbing thing it had done all night. As she approached, it calmly walked through the wall hanging and disappeared.
Katie blinked and rubbed her eyes. 'What had just happened?' She walked to the end of the hall to make sure she wasn't seeing things. The end of the hall revealed nothing. Frowning she tugged at her blonde mane in frustration.
"Cats can't open doors" she muttered herself ' This one made that perfectly clear'" she added as an afterthought. "Cats also can't walk through walls" groaning she walked back to the wall hanging and pressed her hand against it. She could feel solid stone beneath it.
"Get out here this instant" She screamed and began pounding at the stone with her fists. "You evil, mangy, flea ridden sack of-"
"Don't stop on my account" a voice interrupted. Katie's face turned red. There she stood in the middle of a hallway, dressed in nothing but a nightgown, one slipper missing, screaming at a wall. She slowly turned around to face-
"Cho!" she sputtered "What are you doing here?" the small girl eyed her with amusement. Her relationship with Cho had always been…tense.
"Yes, clearly my presence is what is worth discussing." Katie's eye caught the Prefect badge that rested on Cho's chest. Cho was dressed in uniform; her hair was immaculately tied back into a ponytail.
'Shit' Katie cursed in her head.
"Excuse me?" Cho narrowed her eyes. Or perhaps she had said that last part out loud.
"There was a cat!" Katie cringed at her choice of words.
"A cat." Cho clarified. "There are many cats, in this castle would you like to narrow it down?" Her voice held a clearly mocking tone, but Katie continued on anyway.
"A big mean ginger cat" She held out her hands to show the size "it stole my wand." Her face burned, one of Cho's elegant eyebrows rose.
"Wanted to do some spells I suspect." Cho's eyes lighted up with amusement.
"Yes!" Katie paused and shook her head "Wait, No!" She threw up her hands in frustration "I don't know what it wanted." She stated finally. "But it walked through this wall!" She pointed at 'said' wall dramatically.
"Let me get this straight." Cho folded her arms around her chest. "A big cat stole your wand, came here and walked through a wall." She stated matter of fact.
"Yes! I know it sounds crazy but…" Something suddenly struck Katie. "Wait a minute." She paused thinking critically.
"What, was the cat also tap dancing?" Cho added with a sardonic grin.
Katie looked at Cho critically then walked up to her with narrow eyes. "You're in the same year as me."
"Yes, I'm not sure what that's got to do with anything." Cho looked nervous suddenly. "Well off to bed with you, delinquent." Cho made as if to leave but Katie grabbed her.
"They don't assign prefects until fifth year!" she growled, she turned Cho to face her then grabbed at the pin, only to have her hand go through it. An illusion. Cho had the decency to look guilty. Katie's embarrassment was suddenly forgotten.
"You let me babble there for the last five minutes and you are equally guilty right now?" she asked exasperated.
"It's not my fault Gryffindors have no common sense when breaking rules." Cho retorted. "Really was that your best excuse?" She pulled her arm free of Katie's grasp. "A cat stole my wand and lead me to the seventh floor then conveniently disappeared by -" Katie eyes suddenly lit up with understanding and turned back to the wall. "Are you even listening to me?" Cho demanded, as Katie suddenly seemed to be ignoring her.
"You're right!" Katie yelled.
"I… I am?" confusion was evident on Cho's face "Right about what?" She added.
"I couldn't figure out what that cat was doing." Katie seemed to be explaining more to herself, than to Cho. "It was leading me here!" she said finally.
"What?" Cho shook her head and frowned, walking over to the wall that Katie was now poking at.
"The cat wanted to bring me here, it wants me to follow it." Just as the words left her lips the wall began to move as if it were made of water.
Katie and Cho jumped back in surprise as a door solidified as if from nowhere. Built into the bottom of the door was a small Kitty door. Cho's jaw dropped in surprise. Katie turned smugly and faced Cho.
"I told you I'm not—" she stopped midsentence as she caught sight of something coming up the stairs. Cho looked at her confused then followed eyes over to the staircase. Cho sucked in her breath and took a step back. A scrawny dust colored cat stepped up the last step, then turned its lamp like eyes on the two girls.
"Mrs. Norris." Cho hissed, "What is with you and cats?" She growled. Katie responded by giving her an exasperated look. Before either girl could make a move to stop her, Mrs. Norris, darted back down the stairs quick as lightning.
"Well that's just great!" Cho turned and rounded on Katie "She's off to get Filch, now we're both caught and it's all your fault." She poked her finger into Katie's chest.
"Me?" She sputtered, "How on earth is this my fault?" She whispered back sharply "What are you even doing here?" she waved her hands to accentuate her point.
"Well, that is to say…" Cho fumbled with her words. They both froze as they heard a voice coming from downstairs.
"Naughty children out of bed!" The voice was absolutely gleeful.
Both girls froze in place. The sounds of footsteps were getting closer and closer. Katie looked widely around her trying to find a place to hide.
Jumping to action Katie grabbed Cho's arm then threw the newly visible door open, thrusting Cho inside. Cho made as if to protest but Katie clamped her hand on Cho's mouth as she forced the door shut behind her. Nothing but darkness met them.
"Shhhhh!" Katie hissed, Cho sent her a glare but ceased with her struggle. Katie lowered her hand. They both listened at the door silently. They could hear footsteps and annoyed grunts but little else.
Katie jumped slightly as Cho silently withdrew her wand.
"Silencio" She murmured. The spell caused the outside world to go quiet. She turned to Katie perplexed "What, did you think I was going to attack you?" Katie looked sheepishly at Cho. "It would serve you right for getting us in this mess." She muttered.
Katie's temper flared. "Get you into this mess?" she sputtered "I got myself into this mess thank you very much!" She scowled. "You just tagged along."
"You had to make so much noise, I'm surprised you didn't wake the entire school!" Cho was in her face. A retort hot on her lips, Katie suddenly stopped and looked puzzled.
"Why are you here?" she asked carefully "Just feeling like a late night stroll on the seventh floor?" she continued. "A little far from Ravenclaw wouldn't you say?" She towered over the petit girl. Cho flashed her wand warningly.
"I don't have to explain myself to you." Cho stated haughtily dodging the question. Katie rolled her eyes but backed down all the same.
A rustling in the room caused them both to jump.
"What was that!" Cho asked her voice coming out more high pitch then she probably would have liked. She gripped at Katie's arm tightly. 'Ouch' Katie winced.
"Would you calm down?" Katie whispered as she tired to release Cho's vice grip. "It's probably just that stupid cat." Cho's face flushed and she jumped back embarrassed. Katie hid her grin under her hand.
"Not so tough after all." Katie teased. She really couldn't help herself. She found Cho's embarrassment oddly pleasing.
"Right." Cho muttered.
She squinted into the darkness trying to see what moved.
"You wanna give us some light?" Katie asked after a moment.
"Lumos" Cho whispered. Red light erupted from the tip of her wand and illuminated the room. Squinting their eyes to the shock of the light, the room slowly came into focus.
Clutter. All that could be seen was clutter. Katie rubbed her eyes. It seemed that there was not one square inch of the room that was not covered in something. Mountains upon mountains of junk covered the room. Everything in the room appeared to be in some state of disrepair. To her left Katie could see stacks of molded books. A large cabinet sat on its side. There was a snapped in half broom stick amongst the junk. Katie whistled her surprise.
"One hell of a broom closet, wouldn't you say?" She picked up the broom to accentuate her point. "Jet Star 350" She read the side. "They haven't made these in at least fifty years."
"Have you ever heard of this place before?" Cho asked in wonder, forgetting their earlier arguments. Katie shook her head while examining the room.
"Good luck finding your wand in here." Cho said after a moment. Katie frowned in response.
"Yeah, right." Katie groaned. "Well we might as well get started!" Katie threw the broken broomstick in a corner.
"Excuse me?" Cho snorted "Your wand, your problem."
"Have anywhere else you gotta be?" Katie shot back exasperated "I'm sure Filch would be kind enough to escort you." Katie turned back towards the mess kneeling down to sort through a pile of papers.
"Why would I want to dig through filth?" Cho asked sullenly.
"I'm just saying it looks like we're stuck here until morning, " Katie said passively. "Time goes by faster when you keep busy."
"Fine" Cho relented "But you owe me big for getting me in this mess."
Katie bit her tongue to stop herself from retorting. Better to let Cho have her way for now.
Cho approached a large oak cabinet. Katie watched as she listlessly opened the door and looked inside. "Ugh!" Cho squawked quickly closing it and taking a few steps back.
"What?" Katie jumped to her feet.
"Whatever it was, it's dead now." Cho responded with a grimace.
"Oh" Katie blinked in surprise as Cho's words sunk in "Ew!"
"Agreed." Cho said firmly.
The ridiculousness of the situation wasn't lost on the two. Katie started laughing before she could stop herself. Cho looked up surprised but couldn't suppress a smile. For a moment the tense atmosphere relaxed slightly. After her bout of laughter subsided Katie surveyed the room once more.
"I'd say over there is a better place to start." Katie indicated to a table that was covered in a variety of junk. "Looks safer at least." Cho nodded in response and began sifting through the clutter.
"What does your wand look like?" Cho asked after awhile as she curiously examined an old cauldron.
"The wands made of Yew about 10" with a Unicorn core" Katie recounted.
"Oh, well isn't that interesting." Cho said mysteriously.
"What do you mean by that?" Katie stopped her search to look over at Cho.
"You can tell a lot about a witch or wizard by their wand." Cho replied simply.
"What does my wand say about me?"
"It says you have a dark secret." Cho said ominously wiggling her fingers in the air for effect.
"How do you reckon that from a wand?" Katie laughed nervously.
"Unicorn hair is used for the wands of the pure of heart."
"So?" Katie responded dully "Many wizards use Unicorn hair for their wand's core."
"That's not the interesting part!"
"Go on then!" Katie wasn't sure she wanted to know what Cho was going to say. Curiosity won her over.
"Unicorn tail is usually paired with Rosewood or Willow." Cho considered for a moment "They are types of wood that are known to have strong healing properties."
"Okay, still not seeing the problem." Katie interrupted.
"Well it's just that I've never heard of Yew being paired with Unicorn hair before." Cho continued.
"Why's that you suppose?"
"Yew is a highly toxic plant." Cho explained, "Mixing a pure core with an impure wood seems a bit paradoxical." Cho concluded. "Wouldn't you say?"
"Whatever." Katie turned back to the clutter.
"Just making conversation!" Cho held up her hands defensively.
"Let's just get back to work." Katie was getting tired and they were no closer to finding her wand. Cho shrugged and carefully stepped into the center of the room.
"Hey!" Cho called out suddenly "Over here!" Katie dashed over as quickly as she could, careful not to step on debris.
"Did you find it?" Katie asked hopefully.
"Look over there." Cho pointed straight across from their position. Standing on table that was covered by a sheet was a large ginger cat. In its mouth was Katie's wand.
"There it is!" Katie yelled in relief. She took a step forward but Cho grabbed her arm.
"You are going to startle it!" Exclaimed Cho. The cat eyed them and yowled as if to reply.
"Can't you summon the wand?" Katie asked anxiously.
"I wouldn't dare in this place." Cho frowned "God knows how many wands might come flying out of this room."
"I'm gonna to make a grab for it." Katie slowly began to advance on the cat. It eyed her and lowered its head dropping the wand onto the sheet-covered table. With a burst of speed Katie leaped forward reaching for the wand. In the same instance the cat dashed away. Missing the wand, Katie gripped the edge of the small table pulling the sheet with her as she slid to the ground.
"Ouch" She moaned, covered in the dusty old sheet.
"Cat got away." Cho observed rolling her eyes at Katie's display.
"S'okay." She mumbled embarrassed. She fumbled with the sheet for a moment and victoriously pulled out her wand. "I got it back!" She said gleefully.
"Congratulations." Cho said dully. There was a moment of silence as Katie checked over her wand making sure the cat hadn't damaged it. Something caught Cho's eye.
"What do you suppose that is?" Cho indicted behind Katie. Katie scrambled to her feet and turned around.
"Whoa!" What the sheet had been covering was not a table at all. They were both shocked to see a large stone basin.
Katie and Cho exchanged curious glances and peered inside the large bowl. Inside there was a strange translucent fluid. Silvery threads moved like worms at the bottom. Something gold caught Katie eye. On the bottom something was shining brightly. The threads blurred her view.
"There is something inside!" Katie observed.
"This feels wrong." Cho muttered. "We should—"
Katie reached forward to grab the object inside the basin –
"Hey!—Petrificus Totalus!" Cho called out startled.
Suddenly a cold sensation ran up Katie's body. Her hand wouldn't work. Her body didn't work for that matter.
"What are you thinking about?" Cho snapped sounding very irritated. "You were just going to put your hand in the big magical bowl were you?" Silence followed. Katie noticed she also couldn't seem to talk.
"Sorry, full body-bind." Cho raised her wand and released it. "It was the only thing I could think of to stop you." She lowered her wand then continued over to the basin examining it carefully. Katie stretched her body irritably making sure everything was once more functional.
"You could have just said something." She muttered darkly.
"Would you have listened" Cho raised her eyebrow "You should thank me. What if it was cursed?"
"Cursed?" Katie's eyes widened "I didn't think of that." She admitted. Cho looked like she wanted to lecture her but seemed to placate herself.
Well this is all rather suspicious wouldn't you say?" Cho indicated to the basin. "And there is a well known dark wizard roaming the school."
"You think Sirious Black is behind this?" Katie glanced around the room.
"Do you usually get led around the school by cats?" Cho inquired patronizingly.
"I somehow have my doubts about Sirious Black being a cat."
"Perhaps the cat was enchanted." ignoring Katie's comment "Can you Imperio a cat?" Cho wondered out loud
"Imperio?" Katie scrunched her face in confusion.
"Do you ever study?" Cho spat out irritated "This is like trying to solve a puzzle with a monkey!"
"Hey!" Katie's temper flared, "Do you ever thaw out?" Cho's eyes flashed angrily. They stared at each other contemptuously.
"This isn't helping." Katie muttered turning back to the basin. "Whatever this is someone wanted it found." She concluded.
"Why did they choose you?" Cho asked narrowing her eyes suspiciously. Katie ran her fingers through her hair.
"I have no idea." Katie said quickly "Probably just a fluke." She reasoned.
"Right." Cho stifled a yawn, "In any case we should leave it alone until we know what we're dealing with."
Katie yawned stretching her arms over her head. Her sleeves fell down her arm revealing her upper arms. Katie heard a slight gasp.
"What?" Katie asked warily. Cho's eyes were fixated on her newly exposed skin.
"On your elbow." Cho started to point. Katie gave a start and quickly pulled up her sleeves.
"It's nothing." Katie said quickly, kicking herself for her carelessness. Cho's face was white. Tension filled the room.
"Cho—"
"—Filch has probably gone." Cho said suddenly "I have to go." She turned quickly and walked to the door.
"Hey, wait!" Katie called out.
Without turning back Cho opened the door and walked into the night. The loss of the wands light left the room in complete darkness. The room was eerily quiet. Katie frowned.
"She saw." Katie whispered to herself dazedly.
She placed her hand on her elbow feeling the skin there. The tattoo there was small but it was black and contrasted with her pale skin. She traced the number '6' with her finger. She didn't have to see it to know it was there. Not anymore. She had always been careful to keep it covered.
She stared at the door that Cho has just fled from. Her mind was working overtime. How had she recognized the tattoo? Why had she reacted so strongly? If there was one thing for sure, it was that there was more to Cho than met the eye.
Many thanks for giving this story a read! Your reviews would be especially appreciated :)
-SunHops