Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter.

Warnings: This centers around Harry and my own character.

Pairings: Mainly HarryxOC, RonxHermoine

A/N: I wrote the majority of this story back before book six came out – the original is still on another website – but I went back over to it today and realized that I could do so much better – so here is my attempt. This chapter is unbeta'd.

New to Hogwarts

By: akirk85029

Hermoine arrived two weeks later and was immediately introduced to Kate. They all seemed to hit it off completely. Hermoine was pleased to have someone there that actually had read some of the same books she had.

Harry, Kate, Hermoine, and Ron were all sitting at the tables outside talking when Errol arrived with their Hogwarts letters. Molly walked over and looked with Kate at her letter. "This is new," Molly said causing everyone to turn their attention to her. "Kate has to be at school a day early…" but before she could finish Harry interrupted.

"Me too." Harry commented unsure of what was going on. He had never heard of anyone having to be at school the day before the term started.

Ron and Hermoine shook their heads showing that they didn't have to be at the school early, it was just Kate and Harry that had to be.

"Well, everyone give me your lists and I will get everything for you." Molly said collecting everyone's lists and placing them with Ginny's that had yet to be opened.

"Why do you have to be there early?" Ron asked wondering out loud to himself.

Kate and Harry just looked at each other and shrugged neither of them knowing why.

Crookshanks suddenly leapt out from under the table and ran after something no one could see to determine what it was. Hermoine yelled after him and they all jumped up to try and catch him.

They were all running blindly after Crookshanks until they came to a fork in the path. Hermoine reached out and swiftly grabbed Ron by the arm and ran to the left into the field dragging Ron with her.

Harry and Kate decided to go to the right, into the woods surrounding the Weasley home. They walked in calling for the cat, unsure if he had really come this way. They both turned around to head back because they weren't making any progress, when Harry's foot caught in something and he fell forward.

Kate turned around to ask Harry something when a mass collided with her sending her flying backwards into the ground. She grunted as the same mass landed on top of her.

"Sorry!" Harry uttered after they landed but he didn't get up, he just noticed he was inches from her lips, and he felt a sudden strong urge to kiss her.

Kate looked up at him and she felt something stirring in her stomach, she lifted her head up as Harry bent his down and they kissed softly, barely a brush of their lips. They both felt the electricity that was there, but both jumped up as there was a quick, loud crack to their right as though a branch broke. They looked around diligently trying to find the source of the noise but they didn't find anything.

Ron and Hermoine came running up from their left. Harry and Kate looked to them trying not to give away what had just happened between them. Hermoine told them not to worry about it any longer, Crookshanks would eventually come back.

Harry and Kate couldn't keep the smile from their lips as they walked back towards the house catching quick glances at each other, glad that they were walking behind Hermoine and Ron.

Once they all got back they decided to play some quidditch and Ron even talked Hermoine into joining. Harry and Kate jumped at the opportunity to take their mind off other matters for the moment.

As the game was underway, Harry watched as Kate played and was pleasantly amazed at how good she really was at the game. Even though they were playing a miniature version of the game since they only had four people, it was still nice to be able to play against someone that kept him on his toes. He just didn't notice that Kate kept sneaking looks at him as well thinking the same thing.

Molly meanwhile was in the kitchen preparing dinner and watching Harry and Kate's small interactions when Arthur came home from work.

"Hello dear!" Arthur said as he kissed his wife on the cheek while wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Arthur, do you think we should say something to Kate and Harry?" Molly asked unsure of what to do, she wanted to keep them both protected.

"No, besides if they do end up really liking each other that's just fulfilling the first part of the prophecy." Arthur stated as he nuzzled his wife affectionately until she hit him because she knew he was trying to distract her.

Molly sighed and continued to watch them all play. "Yes, but it's the second part that worries me!"

"Dumbledore will keep an eye on her; Voldemort doesn't stand a chance to get near her." Arthur replied trying to give his wife some sort of comfort.

"I know but if she becomes what the prophecy says, she will be his weakness, Voldemort will kill her to get to Harry, to make him suffer!" Molly pointed out trying not to let her voice rise. She was already so worried about Harry, Ron and Hermoine, and now she had to add Kate to the mix.

"Don't worry so much dear, there's a third part to the prophecy!" Arthur reminded his wife. Molly started to speak, but Arthur continued, "I know that no one alive knows what the third part said, but we can hope it was good can't we?!" Molly held onto Arthur and hoped he was right. She didn't want to think about what would happen if he wasn't.

Harry and Kate didn't have much time to talk alone during the day so they usually waited until everyone fell asleep and then Harry would sneak into her room and they would talk for hours. They talked about everything and anything. On more than a few occasions they had fallen asleep and woke early in the morning in each other's arms. Harry didn't know why he felt more comfortable on those nights that he would have to sneak back into Ron's room before everyone woke up than on any other night.

It was soon the day that Kate and Harry were supposed to go to school early. Molly had to wake them up extra early as Arthur was going to ride with them on the Knight Bus to the school gates and then head to work after they were safely on school grounds.

Harry and Kate both came downstairs and ate breakfast half asleep as they had stayed up late again last night. After breakfast they walked out the front door with Arthur and waited as he held out his wand and climbed on board the Knight Bus when it appeared before them.

The bus arrived in Hogsmeade near the gates leading towards Hogwarts. Arthur saw them off the bus and gave Kate a customary hug good-bye and shook Harry's hand and solemnly climbed back on the bus for work, he worried sometimes when the kids were out of his sight, he didn't admit it most of the time because he didn't want to have Molly worrying more than she already was.

Kate and Harry smiled at each other as they gathered their belongings and began the walk towards Hogwarts. Kate was excited about seeing her new school for the first time and was glad that Harry was there with her so she wasn't by herself.

Dumbledore was waiting for them as they approached the entrance to the great hall. He was pleased to see the both of them and was even more pleased that they had arrived unharmed. "Ah Kate, it is a pleasure to meet you and of course Harry it's always great to see you." Dumbledore said as he greeted the both of them.

Harry and Kate smiled and greeted him in return. They followed Dumbledore as he led them to the lunchroom where Professor McGonagall stood with the sorting hat firmly in her grasp.

Dumbledore turned to face Kate. "I felt you would rather be sorted into your house now instead of in front of the entire school with all the first years!"

Kate smiled at him, thanking him greatly. She was glad that she would not have to do that, she knew that it would be a little embarrassing to be up there with all the first years waiting to get sorted.

Harry sat down at the front of the Gryffindor table and watched quietly as Kate went up to the old, worn stool and sat down waiting for her sorting to begin.

Professor McGonagall placed the hat gently on Kate's head and everyone waited in silence for a moment until the hat passed its judgment and placed her in Gryffindor. Everyone clapped including Harry, who finally released the breath he had been holding.

He had been hoping that she would be placed in his house. She was different from anyone he had ever met. She felt safe to him and yet at the same time she excited him.

Dumbledore beckoned for Harry to come closer. "Now as both of you are the only two students that got accepted into the Auror career track, we have some things we need to discuss."

Harry and Kate smiled and let Professor McGonagall start the discussion on what will be expected from them during the school year.

After the lecture Harry and Kate had received, Harry decided to show Kate around Hogwarts and told her about the different things that had happened during the years he had been there when they passed a certain place. They happened to be down on the quidditch field when it started to rain heavily and they made a run for it hoping to get to the closest shelter to the school.

They made it to Hagrid's hut, but soon realized he wasn't there when he didn't answer the door upon Harry's loud knocking. Harry groaned and then spotted some decent covering on the edge of the forest, Harry grabbed Kate's hand and led her there glad for the small bit of cover even though it was a mute point as they were both soaked already.

They found an overturned hollow log and sat down on it next to each other with Harry still holding onto Kate's hand. Harry turned his head towards Kate and couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked even drenched from the rain. He put his arm around Kate when he saw her small shiver and smiled as she leaned into him.

They stayed that way watching as the rain continued to fall, talking about trivial things, when Kate turned to look up at him. Harry brought his hand to her face taking in how soft her skin felt and drew her closer and he kissed her with a little more pressure than their first kiss. Harry was elated as he felt her soft lips meld with his own. After the kiss broke, Harry stared into Kate's blue eyes, "Uh, Kate, I know I should um, I mean I'm sure you know how I feel and I know we met only about a month ago but I really like you and will you go out with me?" Harry rolled out all at once and looked at her hoping she felt the same way and that he didn't sound too stupid.

Kate smiled at him knowing how she felt as well, glad that she wasn't the only one feeling this way. "Yes."

Harry leaned in and kissed her again.

When the rain started to let up Harry reluctantly removed his arm from around Kate and got up off the log helping Kate up as well. They made their way out of the entrance of the forest and as they turned towards the school they both saw Hagrid heading their way.

"Well, there ya two are, Dumbledore's sent me to fetch ya, dinner's a waiting." Hagrid stated while motioning for them to follow him.

Harry took Kate's hand into his squeezing it slightly as they followed. Hagrid slowed down his pace so that he could talk to them.

"Well Harry, how ya doin'?" Hagrid asked glad to see him again.

"Good Hagrid, its real good to see you back." Harry said grinning. "Uh Hagrid, I would like you to meet Kate, she's my girlfriend." Harry stated abruptly, happy to introduce her as his.

Hagrid greeted her and smiled at the two of them. He was a little surprised at the sudden announcement as he had never met this girl before and from what Dumbledore had told him, she was new to the school at that.

They walked into the hall and were surprised to see the rest of the teachers there. They were all there for dinner. Hagrid walked up to the teacher's table and Dumbledore motioned for Harry and Kate to follow and they did hand in hand.

As they took their seats at the table, Dumbledore proceeded to introduce Kate to all the teachers. Professor McGonagall then advised Kate that she had added her to the Gryffindor quidditch team as most of the people have graduated. Ron was still on and Ginny, but she then proceeded to tell Harry he would have to choose the rest. He almost choked on his pumpkin juice.

"Me, why?" Harry asked trying to wipe his mouth from the juice he had coughed back up.

"Because you're the new captain" McGonagall said smiling.

Harry was not sure whether to be happy or not, he saw what it did to Wood and Johnson being the captain. Dinner continued with the teachers talking about the first term and Harry and Kate talking about quidditch.

Harry was so happy; Voldemort was the farthest thing from his mind since he had stepped off the Knight Bus at the Weasley's. Kate was just as happy, she hadn't felt this good in a long time, even when her parents were alive. She felt some guilt at that but when she was with Harry it just felt right.

Harry woke up on the couch in the common room and for a moment wondered where he was at until he felt something move across his chest and he realized that Kate was with him. He smiled moving his hand gently gliding up and down Kate's back.

Kate soon started to wake up feeling well rested; she turned to find that she was nearly lying on top of Harry. She moved slightly to his side so she wasn't weighing him down and smiled as his arm tightened briefly around her.

They both half heartedly rose from the couch and went into their respective dorm rooms to change for the day. They made their way downstairs and had breakfast with the staff again and noticed that there was a new person at the table that Harry could only guess was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and he grinned when he was proved right when Professor Dumbledore introduced them to Professor Damon, who looked so pale Harry thought he could pass for dead.

Harry had an immediate dislike for the new professor though when he noticed that he kept sneaking glances at Kate. Harry knew that Kate had noticed the same thing because he could tell that she was no longer comfortable as she kept squirming in her chair. After breakfast they decided to head outside to fly around the quidditch field because they knew they could be somewhat alone out there. Harry knew at approximately this time all the other students were probably getting on board the Hogwarts Express.

A/N : Well, here's another chapter. I hope it's satisfactory. A couple little mysteries there (probably not that big:)) Well, hopefully I haven't bored anyone yet. Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks.