What if Harry had a twin sister? What if Voldemort had cursed the two of them? What if they were the Boy and the Girl Who Lived? What if the girl was sorted into Slytherin? What if she became Snape's prized potion's student?

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of J.K. Rowlings' writings/ideas. If I did, do you think I would be writing in here? Katherine Anne Potter, however, is my idea, although I would be the first to admit L. M. Montegomery's influence in terms of spelling. I also owe the name Penhallow to L. M. Montegomery's wonderful book, A Tangled Web, which I recommend highly.

Katherine Potter walked into the Great Hall of Hogwarts, after briefly attempting to straighten up her appearance per Professor McGonagall's wishes. As the she and the other first year students walked behind Prof. McGonagall, she examined the teacher's sitting along the table at the top of the hall. One, in particular, caught her eye: tall, dark haired, sullen looking man dressed in dark robes. She wondered if he always looked so disgusted with life in general, but her further musings were interrupted by a gasp from her brother as he looked up and saw the ceiling, or, rather, the apparent lack thereof. She noted that the girl from the train, Hermione, had an explanation for it, and was now explaining that it was really enchanted, referring to another book. That girl would make a great study partner, Katherine thought. Then she turned her attention to the hat sitting on a four legged stool by Professor McGonagall. It had burst into song. After the audience listened to the song and applauded, the hat bowed to each of the four tables of students in the great hall. Katherine raised one eyebrow at the spectacle and watched as Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones were declared Hufflepuffs by the Sorting Hat. Losing interest in these declarations, she turned slightly to observe the faces of the teaching staff at the top of the hall. She thought she recognized Albus Dumbledore from Harry's chocolate frog card, and blushed slightly with surprise as he winked at her. The tall, sardonic looking man, she noted, was also looking down at her and her brother with an expression, which intermingled contempt and reluctant interest. Glancing back at her brother, Katherine noted that he had a peculiarly anxious looking expression on his face. Temporarily dismissing the cranky professor she turned and nudged her brother, "What's wrong Harry?" she whispered. Harry Potter shrugged, but still looked anxious, "It's just, that this reminds me of getting picked for teams in gym." Katherine smiled encouragingly at him, "It's not like Dudley's here, Harry. Besides, it's really more like role call. If you notice, we're all being called in alphabetical order." Katherine smiled, this time with a slight bit of amusement as she watched her brother's face register relief. Absentmindedly, she began staring up at the ceiling again, allowing herself to become entranced in her surroundings and toning out the sounds of the hat calling out house names.

It was with a start of embarrassment that she realized that her name had been called, probably more than once. The professor who had led them into the great hall did not look pleased, to say the least. She could feel a red flush creeping across her face as she hurried up to the Sorting Hat and put it on. She found, to her surprise that it began to speak to her in a low voice, "Hmm," it said, "brave, but not overly reckless. Very determined, stubborn you might say, . . . and intelligent. You'd do well in Ravenclaw. On the other hand, you're definitely one to get things done; any you'll use unconventional methods to do it if you have to. On the whole, I think you'd do well in Slytherin."- Katherine shrugged –"Really," the Hat said, "You don't mind? Then, I'd better go with, SLYTHERIN!"

After this exceedingly loud declaration, Katherine removed the Hat and wondered briefly why she would mind being in Slytherin. Then she walked down towards the table where she saw her brother, starring at her in shock. Feeling a bit self conscious, she hurried down the aisle and found a seat next to her brother at the table. Seating herself next to her brother, she looked around the table at Harry and his companions and voiced her question, "What's wrong?" Two of the red-headed boy's she remembered from the Train Station starred momentarily in disbelief and then answered. "Weren't you listening? You were just sorted into Slytherin."

"So?"

"So," another red haired boy with some sort badge on his robes answered, "you were supposed to go to the Slytherin table, not the Gryffindor."

Katherine looked around the room once more and noticed, for what seemed like the first time, the different colors and decorations at each of the four long tables in the hall. She could feel herself turning red with embarrassment. Harry, stood up and put an arm around her shoulder, and she glared back at the red heads.

"So? I just wanted to sit by my brother." Embarrassment was now taking second place to annoyance. Secretly, she was beginning to feel thankful that she wasn't sorted into Gryffindor; although, Slytherin might be just as bad.

"Yeah, Percy," George said, "She just want's to sit near her brother!"

"Seriously, Percy," Fred continued, "don't be such a git."

The expressions of the student's around her were mixed. It seemed that several of them thought that she had some more devious goal in mind, particularly the boy with the prefect badge. She paused as she looked in the direction of a table decorated in green and silver that the red headed boy was pointing at. Several persons from that table also appeared to be looking at her with bemused expressions. At least, they didn't look like her like "Look," Katherine said to the boy with the badge, "I'm waiting to move again after the Sorting is over. I don't want to disrupt anything."

The boy rolled his eyes, but nodded, "Just make sure you're at the right table when the feast begins."

Katherine glanced at Harry and the two of them rolled their eyes. A few of the other Gryffindors began smiling in an unsure manner at their prefect.

Fortunately, he became distracted when the boy from their compartment on the train stepped up to be sorted.

Seconds later Ron Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor, and the twins Fred and George were clapping him on the back. The boy, Percy, who had been giving her such a hard time, was also distracted by Ron Weasley's sorting. In the distance, Katherine could hear the Professor McGonagall, calling out the name, "Zabini, Blaise."

"I'd better get to the Slytherin table, before Percy Weasley notices me again," Katherine whispered to Harry, rolling her eyes in her characteristic manner.

Harry grinning back at her and shrugged her shoulders, "It would have been easier if you were in Gryffindor with me."

"Or you, in Slytherin with me," Katherine replied.

Harry's face darkened slightly, "Actually, I asked not to be sorted into Slytherin."

Katherine turned her head to the side and fixed Harry with an inquiring 'spill it' expression, but glancing toward the front of the hall she saw that Blaise was already headed towards the Slytherin table and that he was the last first year student to be sorted. She shrugged, and kissed Harry on the cheek before skipping over to the Slytherin table. She'd talk to him after the feast. In the meantime, she needed to brazen out her faux pas with the Slytherins, several of whom were giving her decidedly unfriendly looks as she walked towards the table behind Blaise Zabini, who (if his slow, measured steps were any indication) appeared to believe that the inscrutable, but vaguely hostile, expressions on the faces of his fellow Slytherins were fixed on him.

Not surprisingly, Draco Malfoy was the first to speak. "Well, look here, see who's finally come to grace the Slytherin table with her presence! What happened Potter, decided that the Gryffindor dunderheads were a bit much, even for you?"

Before she could think of a suitable reply, an older boy cuffed Malfoy on the side of the head spoke for her, "Stow it, Malfoy." The boy turned to her and pulled out a chair for her.

Blushing with surprise, Katherine sat down, thanking the older boy, who shrugged. Further conversation was put to a stop as the school headmaster began to speak. Anticipating a boring perfunctory speech about the new school year, Katherine was somewhat surprised when the school headmaster said his 'few words,' "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

It was with a barely suppressed grin that Katherine accepted Blaise Zabini's offer to pour her a glass of pumpkin juice. The Dursley's, no doubt, would be horrified by such a speech, on the pure basis of its abnormality.

Leaning back in her chair, Katherine held her glass of pumpkin juice, savoring a meal where she was allowed to eat was she like, and didn't have to deal with Dudley's, incessant whining, Aunt Petunia's frequent demands that someone procure, some condiment or another, and Uncle Vernon's leering glances. Most particularly, however, it was a relief to be free from concern about Harry's concerns about Uncle Vernon's leers. Perhaps it was just as well that she and Harry had been sorted into different houses. It was actually at relief to be able to eat a meal without worrying about someone else. Smiling to herself, Katherine looked back up towards the teacher's long table and continued her earlier ruminations about the different professors at the table. She had already decided she like Professor McGonagall, the professors seemed to be a person who would put of with little of the ridiculous in her classes and would insist on fair dealing come hell or high water. She wondered if the headmaster taught any classes. It seemed unlikely, given the school's extensive staff, but she was sure that he would make an effective and fun teacher. His non-sequitor comments tickled her fancy. To her surprise, he seemed to have noticed that she was watching him, and winked at her from across the room. Katherine pressed her lips together in surprise before she smiled back at him. Then she allowed herself to return her attention to the people sitting around her. Most of her fellow Slytherins appeared to have forgotten that she was there and were talking amongst themselves. Malfoy appeared to be bragging about his family's connections to the other Slytherin first years, Blaise Zabini and Millicent Bulstrode. Another boy, Marcus Flint, was hounding some boy named Adrian Pucey about something called Quidditch practice. From what she could gather from the conversation, Quidditch was some sort of wizard ball game. If the expression on Marcus Flint's face was any indication, he was a fanatic about the game. Katherine caught the glance of a girl sitting across from her, who was also listening to Marcus' tirade about ceaseless vigilance and constant practice, and the two of them shared amused smiles. Katherine decided to introduce herself, "I'm Katherine Potter."

The girl from across the table grinned, "I know, you made quite an entrance. I'm Cassandra, Cassandra Lestrange." Cassandra paused, apparently groping for subject matter. "Is it true that you and your brother have been raised by Muggles?"

Katherine almost blinked at the question. Cassandra's tone seemed to carry a mixture of genuine curiosity and condescending superiority. She remembered Harry's comment about how Malfoy had told him that Muggle-born witches and wizards oughtn't to be allowed into Hogwarts. Katherine decided to brazen it out, "Yes," she said, "So I'm afraid I'm a little ignorant about some things in the Wizarding world. I was wondering, what is Quidditch? Some sort of ball game?"

Cassandra laughed, "You could say that," she answered, "Although sometimes I think it resembles some sort of religious cult that takes over the lives of its adherents." She went on to explain the game briefly, outlining the basics of how many balls there were and how many players, what their roles were and how the game ended. "My parent's are both avid fans of different teams, so I have to admit that I've mostly tried to avoid the game. There's nothing quite as disconcerting as watching your parents hex each other over the results of a Quidditch match. Here at Hogwarts, each House has its own Quidditch Team, which is probably the main reason we have such a strong inter-house rivalry. Marcus is the Slytherin Team Captain, and he's determined to make Slytherin take the House Cup for the seventh year in a row. Even Professor Snape, our House's Head Teacher, is ridiculously set on it."

Katherine glanced up at the teachers table and then turned back to Cassandra, "Which is Professor Snape?"

"He the tall, dark, one with the slightly greasy hair," Cassandra replied, "He teaches potions, and he's the only professor in the school who favor's Slytherins. Looks like he's talking to our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Quirrell. Doesn't he look ridiculous in that turban?"

Katherine nodded, and then gasped as Professor Quirrell looked in her direction, she could feel the ball of her left foot burning, and, for some reason, a cold, tingling sensation of unease traveled up and down her back. Somehow, she felt sure that Professor Quirrell had something to do with her discomfort, but before she had time to consider this idea thoroughly, Cassandra interrupted with a concerned question, "Are you alright, Katherine?" Katherine nodded and smiled reassuringly, and Cassandra continued describing the school's professors to her. After a few minutes, Professor Dumbledore stood up and began to speak.

"Ahem -- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."

Katherine smiled despite herself, when she noted that Dumbledore's gaze had fallen on the Weasley twins at the Gryffindor table. She had a feeling that the Weasley boys would provide her with some very amusing entertainment throughout her stay at Hogwarts. The boy had apparently noticed her staring at them and George winked at her, whilst Fred lifted and imaginary hat from his head and nodded in greeting. Then she forced her attention back towards the headmaster.

". . . second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.

And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Katherine lifted one eyebrow and glanced at Cassandra, who looked back at her with no little alarm. She whispered, "I really wish, he would just tell us what it is back there. I hate ominous threats." Cassandra paused and then retracted her statement, "Actually, I hate ominous threats when someone else is making them."

Katherine smiled at Cassandra's comment, and then returned her attention to Dumbledore, who said, "And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Cassandra moaned and shuddered in response to this statement and Katherine noted that none of the teachers looked particularly enthusiastic about this plan either. She soon found out why.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!"

Katherine looked at Cassandra and shared her grimace of horror as the school's students burst into a horrible, clashing cacophony of sound. Every so often, Katherine could make out the words through the horrid clash of tunes and decided she rather wished she hadn't. Finally, the different singers began to finish, the Weasley twins finishing last, their version of the school song resembling a slow, funeral dirge. Katherine joined in the ending applause, more out of relief that it was over, than anything else. She noted that Professor Dumbledore clapped the loudest and then he spoke a few words concerning the beauty of music before sending the students of to bed. Katherine joined Cassandra as the two of them followed the Slytherin Prefect, Dameon Knightly, towards the Slytherin Dormitory. She waved good-bye at her brother and mouthed the words, we'll talk tomorrow, as she watched him disappear with the Gryffindor prefect, Percy Weasley.

Well, what do you think? Should I continue? I warn you all, I am a busy girl. I work full time and I am going to graduate school, so I need the encouragement of a review to continue.