I think I kinda like you.

A Harry Potter Fan-Fiction

Disclaimer: I Do not own Harry Potter or its Characters or settings, those are owned by J.K. Rowling. (only the main character is mine)

Kathleen Grey stared at the piece of parchment in her hand, her eyes scanning it over and over again and as each word sank in her eyes became wider.

Dear Kathleen Grey,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress

Kathleen shuffled the parchments so she could read the second page.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

UNIFORM First-year students will require: sets of plain work robes (black) plain pointed hat (black) for day wear pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings) Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS ( All students should have a copy of each of the following):

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1-5) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand 1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) 1 set glass or crystal phials 1 telescope 1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.

Her father, who was standing over her let out a sigh.

"This has to be a prank." Kathleen said folding up the piece of paper and leaning back on the couch of their two bedroom, second story, run down New York apartment. She and her father were in the business of magic tricks, her father being a magician, and she his assistant. She was sure someone had dropped the letter off to make fun of them, most people did, they put on great performances but it didn't stop people from teasing the widower Magician and his daughter.

"I would agree with you, if I didn't know that it was real." Her father said going over to the owl that had delivered the letter and stroked its breast feathers making the bird trill and click its beak happily.

"What do you mean?" Kathleen asked looking at the envelope the paper had come in.

Her father let out a sigh. "your great, great, great grandfather got the same letter a long time ago, it's been passed down for a while, I still have it somewhere, probably still packed up. Said he was a wizard of some sorts, unfortunately, Magic hasn't been seen in our family since, save for the last few generations of Magicians, but that's just illusions and tricks."

Kathleen stared at her Father, he had no reason to lie to her. "And you didn't think about sharing this information because…?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

"Didn't feel the need, I didn't think anyone in our family would ever get the letter again, while we waited for it, it didn't come to any of us, until now I guess. Though no offence, you haven't really shown any real magical properties. " he said taking the letter from her and reading it over to make sure he didn't miss anything. "But I suppose this Professor Dumbledore feels different." He frowned trying to think where he heard the name.

Kathleen sighed and took the parchment back reading over everything she needed. "…Well…I hope they don't mind if I bring a tiger instead of cat…I suppose it counts."

"You want to bring Mittens? I thought you would have wanted to bring something a little less….big." her Father said with a raised eyebrow.

"He's still a cub, so I figured it would be fine for a year since I still have to train him to jump through a hoop…" she said with a shrug as if it were normal, she loved her little tiger cub, he father gave him to her a month ago as a present, he figured she herself would be a magician someday and needed her own tiger to bond to since her father's tiger Jacob never listened to her commands.

"Or, you just want to bring him cause you don't want to leave him alone with me and Jacob." Her Father said with a chuckle.

"you men are bad influences on my little cub." She said going back to the parchment. "okay…they said they will be waiting for my owl….I don't have an owl…how am I supposed to reply?"

"they sent one, just send it back with a reply…"

"oh…right. So…what about my books and stuff, where and I supposed to get those?" she said

"hang on, I might be able to find some of your grandfather's old books." Her father said leaving the living room and disappearing into his bedroom to dig through a few unpacked boxes.

While her father was looking for her great grandfathers old things, Kathleen pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and began writing back to Professor McGonagall.

Dear, Professor McGonagall.

I am happy to have received your letter, and I am sending this one in reply. Thank you for accepting me into Hogwarts, I am looking forward to seeing it this coming fall. though, as I do not have a normal cat, I was wondering if I would be allowed to bring my Tiger, Mittens, he is still a cub, and is well trained since he performs in my father's Magic act, we are a family of magicians, it's a tradition thing since my very great grandfather once attended Hogwarts.

I hope this letter reaches you soon, I don't want to show up to school with an unauthorized pet and get in trouble. I figured since he was still a type of cat it would be fine, you know as long as he doesn't try to eat anyone. Also, how do I get to Hogwarts?

Oh and one more thing, I am nearly sixteen now, so…I don't know if that's the normal age for 'first-years' or this letter just arrived late, if it did arrive late, does that mean I have to stay longer than most or are there extra classes?

Sincerely, Kathleen Grey.

Kathleen read over her letter and sighed, it would have to do. She folded it up and put the name of the school on the front with Professor McGonagall's name on the front and held it out to the owl who took it with a soft hoot and flew back out the window and off into the distance.

Just as the owl took off, Kathleen's father walked back into the room with a stack of old books in his arms and a slim white stick that was nearly as long as Kathleen's forearm.

"Is guessing that is my grandfathers wand?" she asked taking the books and the wand from her father. She set the books down and examined the wand, when she shifted it around to fit her hand properly and warm feeling ran through her and it just felt right to hold the smooth wood in her hands.

"yeah, there was a piece of paper next to it, it's supposed to be made out of a white Birch tree branch and is infused with a dragon heartstring. You know the more we talk about this the crazier it sounds…but at the same time I guess it explains a lot about the family line of magicians." Her father said scratching his chin. "Anyway though, we better get you some new clothing...I am glad my father held on to all of Granddad's old school things but you'll need more then that if you're going away for a bit."

Kathleen nodded, she was glad she and her father were successful Magicians or she would have to settle for her old things, the only reason they lived in a rundown apartment was so they didn't have to waste so much money on rent in the more high class places. They were slowly fixing it up though so they didn't have to live in a complete dump.

It was about three weeks later that Kathleen received a letter back from Professor McGonagall, she read the letter and smiled in relief.

Dear, Kathleen Grey.

A tiger is a little extreme for a familiar, but I suppose if you are bonded to Mittens, you may bring him. As for getting to Hogwarts, I realize that you are in the United States and as Hogwarts is located in Europe, Professor Dumbledore will be arriving at your house on August 31st at Seven o' Clock, through means of Floo powder, so I do hope your home has a fireplace.

And yes we have seen that your letter of admission had arrived a few years late, we were not aware of your magical abilities until recently, it could be caused by the fact that you live farther away, or your magic is just now showing itself a little later than most. You will still be placed in fifth year, but you will have extra classes with each of your assigned teachers in order to catch up, this will be helpful since the Ordinary Wizarding Level tests (O.W.L.'s) are required to be taken by all fifth years. Also you will have to be sorted with the rest of the first years, I do hope you are placed in my house, Gryffindor, from your letter I can tell you would be a fine addition.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress

When August 31st rolled around Kathleen was sitting in the dining room eating Tacos with her father. They had been a little quiet this evening, not sure what to say to each other. It was Six-thirty in the afternoon and Kathleen's bags were sitting beside the couch in the living room and Mittens was stretched out beside her feet. She had gone to her living grandmothers farm to pick him up the day before, since they couldn't have the tigers in the city her grandmother had offered to keep them at her farm outside of town and they could pick them up whenever they needed the big cats.

Kathleen sighed as she finished her third Taco. "Well, Professor Dumbledore should be here soon…" she mused looking at the clock.

Her father nodded. "got everything packed? Books, robes, toothbrush…" he asked thinking of the things she would need off the top of his head.

"Yeah, and my wand is in my inner pocket of my suitcase." She told him giving him a small smile as she stood from the table and gathered their plates to do the dishes one last time before she had to leave.

When Seven o' clock rolled around Kathleen was leaned back into the sofa watching T.V. , she never really watched it, except when her favorite show was on, right now she was zoned into a new episode of Doctor Who. She loved the show for its pure imagination and perspective on Time.

As soon as the clock flicked from Six-Fifty Nine to Seven there the fireplace flared with green fire that made Kathleen jump and Mittens (who had been sitting beside her) to growl and caused the fur on the back of his neck to raise.

Her father came running into the living room only to find a tall old wizard stepping into his living room from the hearth of the fireplace. He had on velvet purple robes with gold trim and a matching pointed hat, he also had an extremely long beard that fell towards his belt and long silver hair to match. His eyes were bright electric blue and his face was very kindly, but wrinkled in a graceful manner to indicate that he was very old.

"Please forgive me if I startled you, I am Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have come to pick up Kathleen Grey if she is ready." He said with a kind smile on his face, his eyes twinkled with amusement as they fell upon Kathleen and Mittens. "so I assume that, that is Mittens your familiar? Minerva told me about your letter and your request to bring him. He will be most welcome, and might stir a little curiosity among the other students."

Kathleen liked him already. "Thank you sir, And I am very ready to be on my way to Hogwarts, I have been waiting anxiously for the past month for this." She said standing up and smiling back at the elderly man. She reminded her of her late Grandpa Eric.

Dumbledore nodded and looked at Kathleen's Father who was standing infront of the T.V. looking a little sad and nervous. "Don't worry Mr. Grey your daughter with be safe in our hands, and you will see her during Christmas time and on Summer break. I assure you we will take good care of her, just like she was our own child." He held out his hand for Kathleen's father to shake.

"I am sure you will, I'm just a big worry wart when it comes to my Daughter, and please, Mr. Grey was my father, you can call me Jack." He said taking the old man's hand and shaking it before releasing it to pull Kathleen into a hug. "now you behave and I want to see letters at least once a week…you might be fifteen, but to me you will always be my little one, and I always want to know what you're up to. Whether it be mischief or a lazy day I want to know." Jack said ruffling her hair

"don't worry dad, I will write. And stop messing up my hair, you always do after I brush it."

Dumbledore waited patiently while father and daughter said their goodbyes and then he gently lead Kathleen into the fireplace with Mittens in her arms.

With one final look around the apartment Kathleen and Dumbledore vanished in a flash of green fire. For a few seconds Kathleen felt herself being pulled here and there and felt as if she was spinning extremely fast until she suddenly stopped and stumbled out of a fireplace into the middle of a large office with shelves that held books and small trinkets and the walls were covered in pictures. She looked down at Mittens as he shuffled in her arms, the experience must have made him a little uncomfortable, as it had been for her.

"It's okay Mittens, I think we are here, so no more fireplace jumping for us…for a while I hope." She reassured the Tiger cub as Dumbledore stepped out of the fireplace behind her.

"Welcome to Hogwarts Miss Grey, I will call a house elf to show you to your temporary room until you can be sorted into a house and you can put your things down and get comfortable. I suppose since you have already eaten you would like to go to bed early, or rest a little. If you want any snacks feel free to ask one of the house elves, and they will bring you whatever you wish to eat for tonight, tomorrow you may take a tour of the school and get used to our surroundings, I would go with you but myself and the other teachers will be busy preparing for the other students that will be arriving tomorrow night. If you ask for a House elf named Dobby I am sure he would love to accompany you around the castle, or perhaps one of the other students would take you, there are a few already here that I had to pick up as well that might be wandering around the castle. " Dumbledore said snapping his fingers so a house elf appeared beside him. He leaned down and whispered his instructions to the small creature which waddled over to Kathleen and bowed. "enjoy your stay Kathleen, I know your Great, Great, Great, Grandfather certainly enjoyed his. "

Kathleen smiled at the house elf and the old man, she should have been surprised to the small creature, but for some reason it just felt right to see it. She set Mittens down beside her and held onto his leash as the House elf took her hand and lead her to the door. "Thank you sir, I am certain I will enjoy it here." She said before the door shut behind her.