A/N: This is my first story, no harsh criticism here, I just want pointers. Tell me what you think. Please review!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter (I wish I did!), I only own Catie Potter. :p
"Ugh, come on James! We're going to be late!" a young eleven year-old girl shouted to her brother James. Today they were both going to Hogwarts for the first time, they've known about magic since they were born. James and Catherine (Catie) Potter were twins, son and daughter of Charles and Ellen. James and Catie did not look totally alike, James had raven black hair and Catie adorned beautiful curly brunette locks.
"We're not going to be late, you are paranoid!" James said catching up to his sister. One of the things the two did share were hazel eyes, Catie's had flecks of blue, silver and green around her orbs, while James had the average hazel eyes.
"Oh shut it," Catie snapped.
"Ok now you two, that's enough!" Ellen, their mother, scolded.
"Yes mum," they said gloomily.
"Ah, all right now here's the barrier, you first James." Charles, their father said, looking around for any muggles looking. James nodded and obeyed running towards the barrier, which enveloped him a second later.
"Ok, Catherine dear it's your turn," Ellen said patting Catie on the shoulder.
Catie looked up at her mum. "Will you come see us off?" she asked.
Ellen smiled. "Of course, now go! The train leaves exactly on time!"
Catie smiled and darted for the barrier, she closed her eyes and when she opened them a scarlet train was before her. "Whoa." she said awestruck.
"Catie, come on!" James shouted from the other side of the platform. Catie turned her trolley and brought it to the men that were loading the train; she took off her trunk and lifted her pet carrier where her cat "Cleo" was.
"I've already found a compartment; here I'll take your trunk," James said, taking Catie's trunk and climbing aboard the train. Catie followed him hastily; it was four compartments to the left when you boarded the train. 'I got to remember this..' she thought setting down Cleo's pet carrier, while James loaded her trunk onto the rack next to his.
"I can't believe we're actually going!" Catie squealed.
James smiled at her. "Come on, we have to go say good bye to mum and dad," he said. She nodded and followed him again off the train, where their parents were waiting for them.
"Oh Catherine, you look so darling! Don't forget to feed Cleo now, understood?" Ellen said excitedly.
Catie nodded vigorously. "Yes, mum." Catie hugged her mother while James hugged their dad, then they switched.
"Good bye, dad," Catie said hugging her father tightly, he picked her up.
"Could you do something for me Catie?" he said before returning her to her feet.
"Yes dad?" Catie asked beaming at her father.
He leaned down to her ear and whispered, "Keep your brother out of trouble will you?"
Catie giggled and nodded. "Yes dad!"
Then the bell rang, James turned to Catie. "Time to go, get on, get on!" he said pulling her wrist to the stairs. Once they were safely on the train, they found a window and waved and smiled at their parents, as they slowly disappeared. Finally the platform could not be seen and they entered their compartment, Catie took the seat next to the window and drunk in the scenery, while James meddled with the food their mum had packed for them. Cleo meowed from her crate.
"Oh, I'm sorry Cleo, there now," Catie cooed taking her out of the crate. Cleo lay content in Catie's lap, Cleo's coat was colored like a lynx. Suddenly someone tapped on the door, James and Catie both looked up and a thin scrawny boy with long black hair stood at the compartment door.
"There's no more room anywhere else. Can I sit here?" he asked.
Catie and James and shrugged. "Sure." they said.
Sighing Catie stood and put Cleo in James arms. "I'm going to look around, I won't get lost James," she said exiting the compartment, and ignoring her brother's protests. Slowly she walked down the corridor, smiling as she looked into other compartments, then she saw a lone very thin boy sitting alone. He had sandy blond hair and Catie was determined to make this boy feel better, so she opened the compartment door and sat across from him.
"Hi," Catie said energetically.
The boy smiled. "Hi."
"So, what's your name? Mine's Catherine but only my mother calls me that. Everyone else calls me Catie," said Catie, still smiling.
The boy chuckled a bit. "I'm Remus, nice to meet you Catie."
"Don't you have any siblings coming to Hogwarts?" Catie asked.
Remus' face went solemn. "No," he mumbled.
"You're lucky; I got stuck with James...my twin brother," Catie quickly added, "Want to come meet them? There's room in our compartment."
Remus laughed again. "Who is 'them'? I thought you said you had one brother?"
Catie felt her face go a light shade of pink. "Well, my cat and James. Them," she corrected. Remus nodded his approval then followed Catie out of the compartment into the one James was in. When Catie returned she found both boys laughing hard at some joke. Catie rolled her eyes and scooped up Cleo.
"For heaven's sake what's so funny?" she snapped at them.
James snorted. "Nothing Cate, keep your pants on," he said before bursting with laughter with the other boy again.
Catie turned to Remus. "Sorry 'bout them. This is James and Cleo...And you are?" she asked glancing at the dark haired boy.
"Sirius Black," he said.
Remus smiled. "Remus Lupin." Remus began rubbing Cleo behind the ears, and she purred loudly.
James' jaw dropped. "You have a way with that cat mate. Only Catie here can tame it."
Catie scowled at him. "She hates you because you're always tormenting her poor thing. Wait a second, James what happened to her tail?" Catie examined the kittens tail, the tip was missing.
James and Sirius smirked. "I don't see anything, do you Sirius?"
"No I don't James." Sirius answered smirking. Glaring at the two of them she returned Cleo to her carrier then turned to the boys, and crossed her arms.
"James! Mum told you not to mess with Cleo anymore! If I find a single hair out of place I will personally hex both of you to high heaven and back." Catie said firmly. Sirius seemed unaffected by Catie's threat; while James lost some color in his complexion then leaned towards Sirius.
"She means it mate," he whispered. Catie sat down looking proud, and Remus sat down next to her. Then she caught Remus' quizzical look.
"I've been studying for first term since I received my Hogwarts letter," explained Catie.
"Oh, I have too," Remus said smiling beautifully again.
"Really? We can study together!" Catie exclaimed bouncing in her seat happily.
"I'd be honored to study with you, Catie," Remus said calmly.
"That is if you both are sorted into the same house," Sirius said plainly. "What house do you three want to be in?" Sirius asked, straightening up in his seat.
James shrugged. "I dunno, my dad was in Gryiffindor, my mum was in Ravenclaw."
"Everyone expects James and I to be sorted the same. Although I don't think James will make it into Gryiffindor, I think he'll be placed in Hufflepuff," Catie finished, smirking.
James sighed. "With your brains you're destined to be in Ravenclaw I've got no hope for Gryiffindor. But it sure would make Dad happy."
Catie rolled her eyes. "He won't care. So what about you two, where do you want to be sorted?" she asked.
Remus shrugged. "Just coming to Hogwarts is a miracle for me, I'd love to be in whatever house you're in though Catie." He said grinning. Catie smiled, she loved Remus' smile, it was so beautiful.
Sirius sighed. "My parents really want me in Slytherin, but I don't want that. All evil wizards come from there." There was silence for a few short minutes until Catie's stomach started growling.
"Did Dad say there was a candy trolley? I'm getting hungry, and there's no way I'm eating that," Catie said pointing at the smashed sandwiches stuffed in James' pocket.
James laughed. "Yeah, why don't you go track it down? Here's my money, I want licorice wands, and chocolate frogs," James said pulling out three galleons.
Sirius smiled. "I'd like Berty Bots Every Flavor Beans, and a Chocolate Frog," he said handing her two galleons.
Catie turned to Remus. "Want anything?" she asked.
"Anything chocolate would be nice," he said, he handed her a single galleon. Catie nodded, memorizing their orders, and then left the three. Eventually she found the trolley, a flame-red haired girl roughly the same age as she was, was standing in front of her getting her order. As she turned around she smiled,
"Hello," she said briefly before running off back to her compartment.
Catie smiled and watched her leave, then turned to the lady. "I need, one 'Berty Bots Every Flavor Beans', four 'Chocolate Frogs', three 'Licorice Wands', and two bars of chocolate please," Catie said, handing the lady seven galleons.
"There y' go dearie," the lady said. Catie nodded her thanks then walked off arms full back to the compartment. Once inside she handed out the sweets,.
"Ok I have Berty Bots and a Chocolate Frog for Sirius," she said throwing them to Sirius, "Two Licorice Wands and two Chocolate Frogs for James," Catie said handing them to James, "Two bars of Chocolate for Remus, and one Licorice Wand and Chocolate Frog for me." She handed Remus his chocolate bars then bit into her candy wand.
It wasn't long before a prefect came along and told them it was time to change into robes; Catie went to the bathroom to change for privacy. No way was she changing in front of three boys! Several minutes later she returned and, with James' help, stuffed her muggle clothing into her trunk. Catie sighed as she slumped back into her window seat.
"I hope we get there soon, that candy won't hold me forever," she said, frowning.
"I have to agree with you on this ones," Sirius said looking down at his stomach. Finally the train came to a stop, and the first years were told to bring out their things to the station, so they could be brought to the castle.
"James, I can do it!" Catie protested. James was insisting upon taking both their trunks down to the station.
"Fine! Take your ruddy trunk, I was just trying to be nice!" he snapped. Handing her the handle to her trunk, Catie took it, and marched off the train, cat carrier and trunk in hand. Then she handed it off to a seventh year that placed it with the other first year's luggage.
"Firs' year's this way! Firs' year's over 'ere!" a loud voice boomed. Scared, Catie ran over to James and clutched his arm. James didn't seem afraid; if he was he was hiding it well. A large giantly figure stood swinging a lantern ushering other first years to follow him, he brought them to boats. Four allowed in each, Remus, Catie, James, and Sirius all piled into one, gazing intently at the castle, as the boats magically followed after the giant's. Once they reached the other side, and got out of the boats, the figure brought them up two staircases before they caught sight of a middle-aged witch, wearing emerald green robes and a black pointed hat.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," the gigantic figure said.
The witch smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Hagrid. Follow me," McGonagall said, turning on her heel and leading them into a room, where they were to wait until she returned. Barely ten minutes later she returned and led them into the Great Hall, it was as extravagant as their parents had said it was. Catie still clutched James' right arm tightly in her hand.
"When I call your name you shall come forth," McGonagall said sternly.
Sirius and Remus, as well as the same red haired girl from earlier "Evans, Lily" were sorted into Gryiffindor until finally,
"Potter, Catherine!" she shouted. James gently unclenched Catie's hand, and nudged her forward, Catie gulped and walked up the steps to the stool and sat down, all the students were staring at her, then they disappeared as the hat covered her eyes.
'What an amazing mind, Ravenclaw perhaps? No, there's plenty of courage here as well. Maybe…GRYIFFINDOR!' The hat said, shouting 'Gryffindor' to the whole school. Professor McGonagall took the hat off her head, and she partially ran to the Gryiffindor table, sitting next to Remus, and across from Sirius, then her brother was called.
"Potter, James!" Catie watched intensely as her brother marched up the steps and sat on the stool,
'You are quite like your twin sister you know. Maybe with a hint more bravery, I know exactly where to put you…GRYIFFINDOR!' the hat shouted. Catie, along with Sirius and Remus, stood and cheered. James walked slowly over to them and took a seat next to Sirius. Eventually the sorting finished with, "Zabini, Clover!" a tall lanky brunette haired boy was sorted into Slytherin, then the feast began.