Disclaimer: I do not own Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hogwarts, or any of the creations in this story, except for: Catherine, Elena, and Professor Beckinsale.
Authors Note: The first chapter's not that great, it's gets better! I promise!!
Chapter 1
Another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had started. Harry, Ron and Hermione's sixth year to be exact. All the students were now seated at their house tables, and the first years had just been sorted.
As Professor McGonagall carried the hat and stool out of the hall, Dumbledore stood up at his spot at the staff table. Silence fell over the hall as the students waited for him to begin his speech.
"Good evening to you all, and welcome back to Hogwarts. As you may have noticed, there are some different things about our Opening Feast this year." He spoke softly, gestured to the billowing red, stage curtain behind him. The curtain was covering the area where the teachers usually ate, and it looked more like a stage than it usually did. (The staff table had been moved farther down, closer to the house tables.) "For the next two years, and possibly longer, we will have some very special guests joining us. They come from Flueracot's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Canada, which offers an International Level dance program. They have selected their top ten dancers to work and perform with us this year. Two of the young ladies are in their sixth year, and two In their seventh, the rest have already finished their schooling. The four who are still completing their education will be doing it here, they have previously been sorted into their houses, rules and dress code have already been discussed. I would like you to note that they will not be wearing robes, and you need not remind them, they are only needed to dress entirely in black for their stay.
Along with this, two of the ladies have volunteered to teach a dance program for any Hogwarts students who are interested." Dumbledore paused briefly, signifying that he had completed this topic. "I would also like to welcome Professor Beckinsale, out new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." A warm welcome applause filled the hall, and then died down. "And now, we have a performance from the Flueracot dancers."
Professor Dumbledore backed out of the way of the magical stage, taking his seat at the staff table.
The velvety curtain glided upwards smoothly, revealing five young ladies, dressed in black dance pants, white halter tops, tap shoes, and stylish hats. Music started out of what seemed like nowhere, and they began dancing. The show piece started with a routine that began with tap, with only half the team, then changed to jazz, using the whole team (a total of ten).
When the ladies completed the performance, a roar of applause filled the great hall, louder than ever before. The group ran gracefully off the stage, the applause continued for at least another two minutes. Over at the staff table, Dumbledore stood up, the hall quieted slowly.
"And now, on with the feast." He said, and, on cue, the golden platters on all the house tables filed with food.
Over at the Gryffindor table, Ron, Harry, Seamus, Dean and Neville were in deep conversation while Hermione and Ginny watched in disgust as the young men shoveled down their food.
"I hope some of them are in our house." Seamus commented about the dancers, while forcing a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his already full mouth.
"Yeah!" Ron replied, "The sixth years would be nice."
"True that!" Dean responded, raising his goblet before drinking.
Not even a minute after, the four of the dancers who were still in school came walking into the Great Hall. The two seventh years continued, to the Ravenclaw table, while the two sixth years stopped at Gryffindor's, sitting not to far away from the people who had just been talking about them. They had chosen to sit with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
One of them looked older than sixteen, with dark, sleek black hair that fell just to her shoulder blades. Her puppy-dog like, deep brown eyes were gorgeous, as was her smile. She was already in a deep conversation with Lavender. The other girl looked exactly sixteen, her shining red hair was just above her shoulders, her blue eyes glittered in the magical light of the Great Hall.
Ron looked at the dark-haired one, puzzled for a few minutes, then, shouted out to his friends
"Oi! That's one of Charlie's friends." Then, across the table to her, "Hey! Catherine!" She looked up, smiling when she saw who had called her name.
"Ron!" She called, jumping up from her seat and walking over to him "How are you?"
"I'm pretty good." He replied, "I didn't know you went to Flueracot's! I thought you went somewhere in Europe."
"Nope." She smiled, "I was in London until I was one and a half, then I and mum moved to Canada."
"Were you supposed to go to Hogwarts?" Hermione cut in abruptly.
"If I had still been in London, yes." Catherine replied coolly, flicking her dark hair behind her shoulder.
"Are you a sixth year?" Ron went on as if there had been no interruption. She sighed lightly.
"Yes." Then looked around, "Are you going to introduce me to your friends?"
"Oh! Right!" Ron whipped around to the table. "This is Seamus, Dean, Hermione, Neville, Ginny." He gestured to each person as he named them, "And of course, you'll know Harry." A look of utter confusion took over Catherine's face.
"I'm sorry, who?" The faces she had been introduced to stared back at her in awe.
"Harry Potter." Ron repeated, "The only known person to ever defeat You-Know-Who!"
"Oh! Yes, I have heard of you." She stated to Harry, then turned to the rest of them. "I'm Catherine. You can call me Cate." She waved, smiled brightly, then went back to her spot and continued talking with Lavender.