Chapter Two
Katherine spent the morning before classes started eating breakfast and receiving her schedule from Professor McGonagall. She was annoyed once she realized that she had the same schedule as every other Gryffindor first year because she did not want to see them all week long. They had Herbology three times a week, where they learned about all the magical plants that could kill them way too easily –exactly what first years need to know. They also had History of Magic, but luckily only once a week since Professor Binns was absolutely boring. Katherine was disappointed because she loved history, but he made it torturous to hear. They had Defense Against the Dark Arts three times a week, but Professor Quirrell spent most of the lesson trying to get out a sentence because he was nervous and stuttering. Astronomy was at midnight on Wednesdays and Katherine did like looking at the stars, but not learning it in the middle of the night. Charms was twice a week and she had no complaints about Professor Flitwick yet. Potions was at the end of the week, so Katherine had yet to deal with it. On Thursday, though, Katherine's first class was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall.
Katherine and Hermione arrived very early because Hermione refused to ever be close to late to any class. McGonagall was writing at her desk when they entered, she looked at them over the top of her glasses as they took the seats in front of her desk. McGonagall went back to her writing as the two pulled out books –Hermione pulled out her Transfiguration textbook, while Katherine pulled out a novel. Slowly, the rest of the first year Gryffindors arrived and began to fill up the classroom. When it came time for class to start, McGonagall rose from her desk and looked at the two empty seats to Katherine's right.
"Where are Potter and Weasley?" She asked, looking down at Katherine.
"They are probably lost, professor." Katherine responded.
"Possibly, Miss Peters. I bet you I can scare them when they arrive." McGonagall said with a small smile.
"You bet me, professor? What shall we bet?" Katherine said, her green eyes glinting mischievously.
"If I cannot scare them, you do not have to do your homework tonight," McGonagall said. "But I scare them, you have to do an extra assignment of my choosing."
"Deal, professor." Katherine grinned. Hermione and the rest of the class looked shocked by the familiarity already between Katherine and McGonagall.
The door opened and Katherine along with the rest of the class whipped around to see if Harry and Ron had arrived. The two walked in and looked relieved. Katherine turned around and saw McGonagall had disappeared, and now there was a tabby cat with black markings around its eyes sitting on top of her desk. Harry and Ron ran to the empty desk, exclaiming relief that McGonagall was late as well.
Suddenly, the cat jumped off the desk and transformed mid-jump into McGonagall. The two boys jumped a mile into the air.
"That was wicked, professor." Ron exclaimed, sounding like the breath had been knocked out of him.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. Now, should I transfigure you into a watch, so that at least one of you would be on time?" McGonagall asked, looking at them fixedly.
"We got lost, professor." Harry said sheepishly.
"Perhaps a map, then." McGonagall said before gesturing to the two to sit down. "Oh, and, Miss Peters, see me after class for your extra homework."
Katherine smirked and mimicked tipping a hat to McGonagall.
Friday brought with it the first Potions lesson. Katherine was sitting in between Ron and Harry, who was sitting next to Hermione when the door flew open and the black-haired professor who spoke to Professor Quirrell during the Welcome Feast flew in like a giant bat.
He, Professor Snape, spoke quietly so that everyone had to strain to hear. He launched into a sermon about how potions did not involve silly wand waving, but careful measurements and precise movements.
"Potter!" He suddenly snapped. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Katherine looked at Harry, who had a panicked look on his face, while Hermione's hand shot into the air. Katherine glanced back at Snape to figure out why he seemed to hate Harry already, but Snape's face was blank, except for a slight curl of his lips.
"Well, fame doesn't seem to be everything." Snape sneered. "Where can you find a bezoar?"
Hermione practically jumped out of her seat with her hand waving in the air. Harry looked as if he'd rather be swimming with the giant squid than sitting in this class. Katherine saw Draco and his idiot cronies laughing, which, along with Snape's growing sneer, was making her angry. Harry had only been in the magical world for a month; Draco didn't even know where to find a bezoar. It was unfair.
"Still nothing? Can you read books, Potter?"
Harry kept looking into Snape's cold eyes, but he was internally freaking out.
"What is the difference between wolfsbane and monkshood?" Snape asked.
Hermione's hand somehow went even higher, but Snape was ignoring her.
"I don't know," Harry said. "But if you want an answer, ask Hermione."
The entire class went silent, except Katherine who started laughing.
"Shut up!" Snape snapped at Katherine, and then snapped at Hermione, "Sit down!"
Both girls complied as Snape moved to stand in front of Harry. "Potter, asphodel and wormwood create the Draught of Living Death, a very powerful sleeping potion. A bezoar is a stone that can save a person from most poisons, and it is found in the stomach of a goat. Monkshood and wolfsbane are the same plant, which also has the name of aconite. Now. . . . Why aren't you all writing that down?"
Everyone scrambled for their quills and began furiously scribbling on the parchment. Except for Katherine, who sat with arms crossed, glaring at Snape as he glared at Harry.
"That will be ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Potter." Snape said.
"And how many points for yours, sir?" Katherine asked with a hard edge in her voice. Snape looked at her incredulously.
"My, my, you two certainly want to lose your House all of its points in the first week." Snape said mockingly.
"Can we win points? Haven't you just rigged the game?" Katherine snapped back. The entire class was breathless. Draco was trying to signal to Katherine to knock it off, but she was ignoring him.
"Detention, Miss Peters, tonight, my office. Bring dragon-hide gloves." Snape said before turning around and moving back to the front of the room. Katherine was about to make another snarky remark, but Harry stopped her.
The rest of the class went by with them trying to make a potion to cure boils. Snape walked around criticizing every potion except Draco's. Neville's potion exploded, melting his cauldron, and Harry got blamed for it, losing Gryffindor another five points. Both Katherine and Harry were about to argue, but Hermione and Ron stopped them.
After class was over, Katherine and Hermione headed back to Gryffindor Tower because they were finished with class for the day. Unfortunately for Katherine, Professor McGonagall was waiting for her in the Tower's common room, which was empty for once.
"Miss Granger, I must speak to Miss Peters alone." McGonagall said. Hermione gave Katherine a told-you-so look before heading off to her room.
McGonagall stared at Katherine for a moment before sighing exasperatedly.
"Katherine," McGonagall said breathlessly and tired. "It is too early in the year for me to have to give the discipline talk."
"You're referring to Potions today," Katherine said simply. "Professor, he was bullying Harry."
McGonagall sighed again. "That does not matter, Miss Peters. Here you are a student and you must respect your teachers." McGonagall raised her hand to stop Katherine's protests. "Even if Mr. Potter is being bullied."
Katherine looked down at the ground and tried to control her anger. McGonagall put her hand on Katherine's shoulder. "Count to ten, Katherine, and, just this once, I'll let you out of our bet."
Detention with Snape was not as bad as he led Katherine to believe; it was worse. He was writing at his desk in his office in the dungeons when she arrived. She stood in front of the desk, holding her dragon-hide gloves in her hand, waiting for him to speak to her.
"Miss Peters, you neglected to tell me that you are a dear friend of the Malfoys." Snape finally said after a long silent moment, looking up at her.
Katherine kept silent, eyeing Snape cautiously, one can never tell which way the conversation will go when the Malfoys are mentioned.
"You see, I mailed a letter to your parents informing them of your . . . insubordination," Snape's eyes glinted when he saw Katherine clench her first in anger. "But the owl came back with a letter from Narcissa Malfoy."
Katherine felt her stomach drop. Snape gestured for her to look behind her. Katherine turned around to see Narcissa's head floating in the fireplace. Katherine's blood turned cold and she began to curse whoever invented the Floo network.
"Katherine." Narcissa said disappointedly. "How old are you? You must respect your authority figures."
"Narcissa-" Katherine started.
"No, Katherine, you must control your anger and you cannot be snarky to your professors," Narcissa interrupted. "You are lucky that I intercepted the letter. What do you think your parents would think? They are on vacation for a week and you are trying to get yourself expelled."
Katherine stared at her feet, shamefaced, but feeling her anger grow with every second. Snape was the one at fault, but she was the one in trouble. Then she whipped around to glare at him.
"You're the bully! Why does no one yell at you? Why are your feelings the most important?" Katherine yelled. Snape grounded his teeth.
"Katherine, please." Narcissa said from behind her.
Everything melted out of Katherine. She loved Narcissa. Lucius and Narcissa welcomed her into their home at least four times a week. They had been parents to her just as much as the Peters had been, and she loved them. She had to do as Narcissa asked.
Katherine sighed. "I apologize, sir. My outburst in class was rude and I apologize for it."
"Thank you, Katherine." Narcissa said as Snape grinned victoriously.
"Dismissed, Peters." Snape said, and Katherine practically ran away back to Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione was waiting for her in the common room. "How was detention?"
"He tattled on me to Narcissa, Draco's mom," Katherine explained when Hermione looked confused.
"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked, watching Katherine's clenched hand shake in anger.
"I'm going to have to fly under the radar for some time. I think if I get another talk from McGonagall and Narcissa, I'll be pulled out of schools by my parents." Katherine muttered angrily.
So, Katherine flew under the radar for most of the next week. She held her tongue even during the flying lesson when Draco stole Neville's Remembrall after Neville lost control of his broom and broke his wrist. Harry tried to get Draco to return it, but both ended up chasing each other on their brooms. Katherine held herself back because if Madam Hooch, the instructor, came back and found her in the air, she would be in deep trouble. She thought she should get a reward for not rushing into the air when Draco threw the Remembrall to the ground, when Harry chased after it, and caught it a few feet from the ground, and pulled up without hurting himself. Katherine was astonished, and quickly was happy that she did not jump on her broom because McGonagall was racing over to Harry, and then dragged the shamefaced boy away.
Katherine flew under the radar the rest of the day. She even managed to not lose her temper with Harry and Ron at dinner. Hermione and she overheard Draco challenging Harry to a wizarding duel at midnight. When Draco walked away with Crabbe and Goyle, Hermione walked over to them to tell them not to do so. Katherine held her tongue even when they were being unnecessarily rude to Hermione, who was right.
That night, Hermione made Katherine wait in the Gryffindor common room for the boys in an attempt to stop them. They came down the stairs and into the common room around eleven thirty, and Hermione stood up to stop them.
"Harry, I can't believe you're doing this," Hermione said, mimicking McGonagall's stern tone. At this, Katherine stood up and moved to where she was flanking Hermione, standing between the boys and portrait hole. "You're going to make us lose more points."
"Go back to bed!" Ron said furiously, gesturing widely at the stairs to the bedchambers. "Come on, Harry."
The two pushed past the girls and went outside the portrait hole. Katherine shrugged her shoulders because they had made their choice and now she could go to bed. But, no. Hermione jumped through the portrait hole and Katherine followed because she wasn't going to let them get into trouble.
"You're being selfish!" Hermione whispered furiously at them, as the portrait closed behind Katherine. "Do you care about Gryffindor? You're going to lose all the points Professor McGonagall gave me in class!"
"Go away." Harry muttered annoyed.
"Hermione, let them. Let's go to sleep; they can think about what we've said tomorrow on the train back home." Katherine said, grabbing Hermione's arm. She nodded, but the two turned around to see that the Fat Lady had left, so they could not get back into the Tower.
"What are we going to do?" Hermione said shrilly. Katherine shrugged her shoulders, and looked down the corridor where the boys were quickly walking away.
"Guess we've got to go with them." Katherine said before jogging down the corridor to catch up with them. Hermione was jogging right behind her. The boys looked at them when they caught up, but kept walking to the meeting place.
The four soon got to spot where Draco told Harry to meet, but Draco was nowhere to be seen.
"Well, you got tricked." Katherine said, lips twitching. She was about to start laughing, but then she locked eyes with a cat, Mrs. Norris, Filch's number two. "Guys, run."
The four ran down the corridor, raced up the Grand Staircase, all certain that Filch was going to catch them at any moment. Harry ducked into a corridor with the others following close behind. Ron tripped and crashed into a suit of armor which was standing in the corridor. The loud clanging noise attracted Filch.
"They're over there, my sweet." They heard him say from the Grand Staircase to Mrs. Norris.
"In there!" Harry said, pointing to a giant wooden door. The four ran over, but it was locked.
"We're doomed!" Ron whined.
Hermione rolled her eyes, and pulled out her wand. "Alohomora!" The door popped open, and the four went inside quickly, Harry shutting the door behind them.
"They must have gone up to the fourth floor, my sweet." They heard Filch say from outside of the door, meaning he was in the corridor.
"Guys." Ron whined again. The other three looked at him and saw he was staring in abject terror at something behind them. A giant three headed black dog blinked at them once they turned around. The only reason it hadn't attacked them was because they had startled him.
Katherine stepped in between the dog and the others, putting her arms out to protect the others, as it started to get over its initial shock.
Harry flung open the door, Hermione and Ron ran out, while Katherine somehow leapt out backwards –she chalked it up to adrenaline- and closed the door behind them. Keeping the giant dog locked safely behind it.
Luckily, Filch had left, and the four ran to Gryffindor Tower. When they got to the entrance, the Fat Lady was back and looked at their sweaty faces in astonishment.
"Where have you been?" She asked.
Katherine shook her head and said while breathing hard, "Pig snout."
The portrait swung open at the password, and they ran inside the common room. Harry and Hermione flopped down on the couch, while Ron flopped down onto one of the armchairs. Katherine stood standing as they all caught their breath.
"What is that thing doing in a school?" Ron finally asked in horror.
Hermione stood up, her annoyance with the boys back along with her breath.
"Didn't you see it was standing on something?" Hermione asked vexed. Katherine tried to remember what the dog was standing on, but she had been too busy trying to figure out which head was going to strike first.
"The floor?" Harry suggested lamely.
"A trapdoor. It's guarding something." Hermione said, glaring at the boys.
"Well, let's not find out what, okay?" Katherine said. "Harry and Ron, next time Draco wants to meet you somewhere –anywhere!- do not listen to him."
"Yes," Hermione agreed, still glaring at the two. "You could have gotten us killed –or worse, expelled. Now I'm going to bed before you come up with another stupid idea."
Katherine followed Hermione up the stairs, but she saw that Harry seemed to mulling over something. She raised an eyebrow in curiosity, but she decided she would ask later.
Hermione decided to ignore the boys, which was great for Katherine because it is easier to stay under the radar if you stay away from people who attract trouble. Or at least she tried.
At breakfast about a week later, Katherine and Hermione were sitting far away from Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table. The mail arrived, and an owl dropped a postcard from the Peters for Katherine on the table in front of her. The postcard said they had just finished touring Washington, D.C., and they were now on their way to New York City.
While Katherine was recounting the Peters' adventures in the States to Hermione, Draco came over and sighed angrily in Katherine's ear. Katherine turned around on the bench so that she was facing Draco.
"Good morning, Draco. You remember Hermione." Katherine said, but Draco just sneered at Hermione because he had since realized that she was a Muggleborn.
"Potter has a Nimbus Two Thousand." Draco whispered angrily.
"A broom." Katherine said to Hermione because she had a questioning look on her face. Then she turned back to Draco. "Why does he have it?"
"McGonagall bought it for him. Apparently, he is the only first year who is allowed to have a broom." Draco said, his jealous rising.
Katherine smiled softly at Draco. "You know it's your fault right? If you hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall, and let Harry show off his flying skills, he wouldn't have a broom right now."
Draco made a guttural noise, and then walked away quickly. Katherine smiled as she turned back around to eat her food.
"I assume you're still angry at him for what he said on the train." Hermione said, looking quizzically at Katherine.
"Yep," Katherine said. "Pass the eggs please."
"If Harry has a broom, does that mean he gets to play Quidditch?" Hermione asked in whisper to keep other people from hearing as she passed the eggs.
Katherine shrugged, placing some eggs on her plate. "Maybe. Who knows?"
"How do you play Quidditch?" Hermione whispered very quietly like she was embarrassed not to know something.
"You mean you haven't read Quidditch Through the Ages?" Katherine asked with an amused smile.
"Shut up." Hermione whispered, staring at her plate as the blood rushed to her face.
Katherine laughed. "Don't worry, the game is easy to understand. There are two teams of seven players, and four balls. For each team, there is one Keeper, three Chasers, two Beaters, and one Seeker. The Keeper and the Chasers play mostly with the Quaffle, which is a football-sized ball that is the only non-magical one. The Keeper protects three goal hoops at the end of the pitch, while the Chasers try to throw the Quaffle through one of the hoops to get ten points per goal. The Beaters mess with the Bludgers, which are two baseball-sized balls that fly around and try to knock players off their brooms. The Beaters carry around bats and try to send the Bludgers at the opposing team. Lastly, there is the Snitch, which a golfball-sized ball that whizzes around the pitch. It is very hard to see and the Seeker has to catch it before the opposing Seeker. When the Seeker catches it, the game is over and his team gets one hundred and fifty points. Whichever team has the most points at the end of game wins."
"I assume there are fouls and such?" Hermione asked.
"Yep, they're mostly focused on not seriously harming another player." Katherine said.
"Do you play Quidditch?" Hermione asked.
Katherine nodded. "Draco and I play at his house. The Malfoy Manor has enough land that we are not spotted by Muggles, which would be illegal."
Katherine flew under the radar for the next two months. On the morning of Halloween, the Gryffindor first years had Charms class. Professor Flitwick made them divide into pairs, so Harry was partners with Seamus Finnigan, Katherine was with Neville, and Hermione was with Ron. They were working on a Levitation spell with the incantation Wingardium Leviosa.
Katherine went first. No matter how much she swished and flicked, she could not get the feather in front of her to levitate. After a few tries without success, she told Neville to try.
"Vingardium Leviosah!" Neville said in a shaky voice and pointing his wand at the feather. There was an explosion and when the smoke cleared, Neville's feather was no longer on the table; it was attached to Katherine's noise.
"Oh no!" Professor Flitwick said, rushing over to her. "Mr. Longbottom, you must focus on pronunciation and you must swish and flick! Miss Peters, I suggest you go to the Hospital Wing immediately."
Katherine laughed once she got sight of herself in a reflection. "I believe you're right, Professor."
Neville was falling over himself apologizing, as Katherine put her books away and swung her book bag over her shoulder.
"Neville, relax," Katherine said, still laughing. "I think I can pull off this look rather well."
Neville was still distraught as Katherine left the classroom, telling Hermione she'd see her later.
Katherine had to spend the entire afternoon in the Hospital Wing because Madame Pomfrey didn't know exactly what Neville had done, so there was a great deal of trial and error. But by dinner, Katherine's nose was free of a feather, and she was ready for the Halloween Feast.
When Katherine got to the Great Hall, after running down the Grand Staircase at neck-break speed, she tried to find Hermione at the Gryffindor table, but couldn't. Instead, she saw Harry and Ron pigging out on the main entrees halfway down the table. She walked over to them and stood behind them.
"Have you two seen Hermione?" Katherine asked. Harry wouldn't look her in the eye, and Ron was staring at his plate, his ears burning.
"She's in the girls' bathroom." Harry muttered, still not meeting Katherine's eye.
Katherine ignored her rumbling stomach, and ran quickly out of the Great Hall and to the girls' bathroom. Once there, she heard sobbing coming from one of the stalls.
"Hermione? It's me, Katherine." She said softly to the stall. The sobs stopped for a second, and then the stall door opened. Hermione's face was streaming with tears and her bushy hair was more bushy than normal. Katherine was at her side in an instance, pulling Hermione into a hug.
"Ron is so mean." Hermione said, and explained in between sobs that Ron had been nasty to her because she had been able to perform the Levitation spell, while he could not. Katherine held Hermione as she cried into her shoulder, patting her on the back, and promising revenge on Ron the minute Hermione gave the signal.
Suddenly, the door banged shut and a nasty, foul stench filled the room. Katherine let go of Hermione and turned around. A twelve foot tall, grey, huge troll carrying a huge wooden club blocked the doorway.
"Hermione, get in the stall." Katherine said calmly, eyes locked on the troll, as she pulled out her wand. Hermione was frozen in terror until Katherine nudged her, then she went into the stall.
The troll roared and raised its club.
"Down!" Katherine yelled, twisting as she jumped, knocking Hermione to the ground as the troll swung its club, destroying the top part of all the stalls. Katherine brushed the debris off them, and then pushed Hermione forward. Just in time because the troll swung its club and took out the toilet they were just in. Katherine was still holding onto her wand, but realized that two months of magical education had failed to teach her how to fight a troll.
Katherine kept pushing Hermione forward, but they reached the end of the room, and were trapped in a corner. The troll kept swinging its club, destroying the toilets, and making the pipes spray out water in all directions. Hermione was whimpering and Katherine's brain was whirling as she tried to create a plan to somehow get them out.
The troll roared again, and Katherine jumped out from the corner, pulling Hermione with her, both barely missed getting hit by the troll's club. Now, they were in plain sight of the troll, standing at the far wall, in between the stalls and the sinks. The troll stared directly at them and raised its club. Katherine raised her wand, setting her jaw defiantly.
"Run for the door. On my signal." Katherine commanded to Hermione who was shaking behind her.
The troll started to swing, Katherine prepared to cast Lumos in an attempt to blind the troll long enough for Hermione to run around him and to get out of the bathroom. Suddenly the door swung open and distracted the troll. It turned around, and Katherine glanced around him to see Harry and Ron.
"Wrong bathroom, boys!" Katherine teased, relief filling her since reinforcements had arrived.
"Is now really the time for jokes?" Harry asked, pulling out his wand as the troll started to advance on him.
"Fine! Let's just finish it off!" Katherine said, maneuvering Hermione under the sinks to hide her from the troll.
Her yell made the troll turn around. And Harry did probably the stupidest thing she had ever seen –this coming from a person who was going to use Lumos against a troll. Harry took a running jump and fastened his arms around the troll's neck. He also managed to get his wand stuck in one of the troll's nostrils.
The troll began to spin around, swinging its club wildly. Katherine slunk to the floor with Hermione to avoid getting hit by an errant swing. She still had her wand out, but it might as well be stuck in the troll's nose too, for all the good it was doing her.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron shouted.
Katherine watched in amazement as the troll's club floated upwards, and then fell, hitting the troll in the head with a sickening crack. The troll swayed, and then fell flat on its face. Its head barely missed landing on Katherine's legs. Harry got to his feet and pulled his wand out of the troll's nose. It was covered in boogers and Harry wiped it on the troll's trousers. Katherine got to her feet and helped Hermione up.
"I should have thought of that." Katherine said, looking at Ron. "Thank you."
"Merlin!" A voice exclaimed from the doorway. All four of the first years looked to see Professor McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell regarding them and the unconscious troll.
Snape was bent over the troll, checking to make sure it was really out cold. McGonagall was furiously glaring at Harry and Ron with lips so pursed they almost looked nonexistent.
"What were you thinking?" McGonagall said in cold fury. Neither Harry nor Ron answered. "Why aren't you in the dormitory? You are lucky you weren't killed."
Snape gave Harry a piercing look, making Harry look at the ground.
Then a small voice spoke up from behind Katherine. "Professor McGonagall, they were looking for me."
"Miss Granger?"
"I thought I could deal with the troll . . . I-I-I had read about them . . . I-I-I went looking for it." Hermione said, moving out from behind Katherine, sputtering and shaking from the leftover fear.
Katherine was impressed. Hermione had learned a great deal about lying from her.
"If Harry hadn't distracted the troll and if Ron hadn't knocked it out, I would be dead right now." Hermione said, and Harry and Ron tried to look as if this was the truth.
"Miss Granger, you behaved foolishly." McGonagall said, making Hermione hang her head in shame. "Five points from Gryffindor. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, you are lucky, but I have never known many first years to be able to take on a troll. Five points for each of you. Professor Dumbledore will hear of what happened. Now, all of you, return to Gryffindor Tower."
McGonagall and Quirrell left first with Harry, Ron, and Hermione following. As Katherine tried to follow, Snape stopped her. He waited until the others had left before turning his piercing gaze on her.
"And what was your role in all this, Miss Peters?" Snape asked, never breaking his gaze with her.
"There was a dangerous troll loose in the castle. Where else would I be?"
