"Catherine?"

I slowly turned my head before meeting his face. I recognised him, why? From where? He was old, had a kind gentle face, long white beard and…were those bells?

"Catherine?"

"Uh…yes…I'm…..Catherine" I couldn't even speak properly, Every time I tried to say a word all the air in my lungs got caught in my throat. I felt like I was drowning.

He gave me a gentle smile "I know you are, perhaps we should move into another room?" I turned to look down at my father "No I can't, I have…I have to…oh my god"

I finally broke down. All I could do was cry. My face fell into my hands and the tears just started to pour. I was wailing probably sounding like a banshee, not like I cared. Before I knew it I was gently being moved, walking but I didn't know to where. When I had finally sat down I looked up to realised I was in my living room, Pictures of me and my dad scattered everywhere, Why did he bring me into this room out of all of them? The man handed me a tissue which I gladly accepted blowing my nose. I didn't really care how attractive I sounded or looked right now.

After a few moments of silence my tears started to subside and my sobs started to lessen, but the occasional hiccup escaped.

"Catherine do you know who I am?

I shook my head no, sure I recognized his face but I couldn't put a name to it.

"My Name is Albus Dumbledore; I'm the headmaster At Hogwarts"

"Oh…right" I had started to calm down a little more, the hiccups had stopped. I kept telling myself not to cry, I had to be strong, at least while this guy was talking to me.

"I'm so sorry about your father"

"Yeah…it was…my"

"We know who it was, your mother" I looked into his eyes, all I could see was pity. Why of all people did I have Bellatrix Lestrange as a parent?

My Father had told me about my mother from the begging, that she was a Death Eater. When he first met her he didn't know all this, didn't know she was married either. She wanted him to join but he refused. After she had me I was dumped on my dad and was told if he wouldn't join the Death Eaters he could be of some use and raise me since she didn't want to.

"She's not my mother" I finally said after being lost in my train of thought "Well not really. Only by blood association unfortunately"

"Indeed" he took in a breath before continuing to speak "The reason I am here now is because I had made a promise to your father"

I just looked at him puzzled, I had no idea my father had spoken to this man about anything.

"Your father was always terrified your mother would come after you and him. He used to be a student at Hogwarts actually."

"Yeah he told me, but he didn't want me to go there"

"While he was alive yes, he thought if you went and people would find out about who your mother was certain students in particular, well they wouldn't treat you equally; he also felt you would fall in with the wrong crowd. Certain people in Slytherin to be exact."

I just stared at him; I had discovered my father dead less then 5 minutes ago now he was telling me all this, it was a little hard to digest.

"He also felt it would be easier for your mother to find you, if she ever did escape."

"Yeah that's why he wanted us to live in such a muggle populated place, seeing as she hates them and wouldn't go near them, guess he was wrong about that though."

"Well when your mother escaped last year he came to me, he knew something bad might happen and asked if anything did happen, he wanted you to come to Hogwarts."

"But. I…can I? This late? Wouldn't I be in my 6th year or something?"

"Well at the time your father felt it was best to keep you with him. But now…after such events, perhaps being with people your own age would be an advantage. You also could get some real training for any, future events."

Future Events? I guess everything they said was true then "Well that didn't seem to help my father" I could feel the tears again and Dumbledore could sense this.

"Perhaps not, but wouldn't you want to attend? You don't have to Catherine. It is after all a suggestion, but it is what your father wanted."

I looked at him then gazed around the room. I looked at the pictures of me and my father. My 5th birthday party. Me and him at the park. All the images were looking at me, Smiling, Laughing.

Happy.

Not anymore.

I took a deep breath "Ok Professor. If it's what my dad wanted. I'll go"

"Excellent" he produced a letter from his pocket "This has all the details, books you will need, robes, I assume you have a wand"

"Yes of course" I took the letter from him and studied it "Do you always come prepared"

He gave me a slight smile "Well I thought you might say yes."

Suddenly a thump came from the backroom and I froze in terror "Don't worry" he said while rising "It's just the order; they have come to sort out this tragic mess."

Tragic. That's what my life had become. Tragic

Dumbledore walked towards the door before turning to me. "Your aunt have been contacted and will be arriving shortly, perhaps you should get your things together?"

"What abo,"

"The order will take care of your father, don't worry. Your aunt will sort out the funeral."

"Oh right..." I sludge past him and up the stairs "Guess I better get packing then" I gave him a final glance before leaping up the rest of the stairs and running to my room.

As soon as I entered my room I slammed the door and leaned my back against it, slowly sliding down before ending up on the floor, I brought my knees up to my chest hugging them against my body. Must not cry. Must not cry.

My eyes already stung and my chest hurt like hell. I couldn't actually believe I had managed to breathe without forcing myself to. That's when I saw my reflection. God I looked Pathetic. My face was pale with the exception of my eyes which where now red and bloodshot. My lips had gone all puffy and my hair was tangled. I crawled over to my nightstand before grabbing my brush and forcing myself to get those ungodly knots out of my hair. I was pulling my hair so hard I thought I might rip it out of my scalp but I didn't care. I looked back into the mirror to see my hair had now gone back to its original state wavy around my shoulders. Why was I even caring about my hair at a time like this?

I made a mental list of everything I need grabbed my trunks from under my bed. Clothes, shoes, toothbrush, books. Funny how my whole life now fitted into 2 trunks. I sat there starring at my wall. God this had happened so fast. Talk about breaking it to me gently.

My head suddenly snapped up. I needed something of my dads.

I made my way to his room. As soon as I entered it hit me, it smelt just like my dad. He always smelt like a weird mixture of grass and cigars. He loved gardening and cigars were his only vice. He said everyone had to treat themselves to something. I went through my dads clothes and found 3 jumpers. I'll be taking those. I then made my way over to his beside table and picked up the picture of me and him when I was a couple of months old. In the picture he gently held me in his arms, Rocking me back and forth, while I slept, Yeah definitely taking this as well. I grabbed a few other things, one of his cigars, his favourite book. Wuthering Heights. My dad was such a softy he actually named me after the main Character, Catherine Earnshaw.

After packing everything up I trudged with my things down the stairs to be greeted by my Aunt Joan, she was a plump woman early 50's, Dark brown hair just like my dad and me, only hers was greying a little. She always wore a smile on her face, but when I looked at her, I could see her eyes, red from crying, and her face was all blotchy.

"Oh Cathy dear! Come here!" As soon as she said those words I dropped the trunk I was currently carrying and sprinted towards her holding her tight, I didn't want to let go, and I started crying again.

"Sssh hush now, its ok" I didn't respond. I just held on tighter.

"Are you all packed?" she asked my gently stroking my hair. Sniffling I responded "Yeah, I just wanted to get a couple of pictures from the living room"

"Of course dear, I was talking to Dumbledore and he told me about you going to Hogwarts, are you sure that's what you want?"

I sucked in a breath. Was it? Looking down at my feet I answered in a small voice, "Uh, yeah, it's what my dad wanted."

She pulled my face up gently looking into my eyes "Only if you are sure"

"Yeah. Yeah I am"

She glanced over at Dumbledore before looking back at me. "Well ok, get the things you needed so we can get out of here. Ok?" I gave her a sad smile before making my way towards the living room. I grabbed a few pictures before placing them into my trunk.

Dumbledore reached out his hand before giving me a slight smile "Well I guess I will be seeing you in September." I smiled back before weakly grabbing his hand and giving him a half hearted handshake "Thank you professor."

Me and my Aunt made our way towards her car...car? "Aunt Joan, what's with the car?"
"Cathy dear I couldn't possibly handle a broomstick in my condition."

But you can handle heavy machinery?

After placing my trunks in the back I gave Dumbledore a slight wave before he had the last word. "And don't worry Catherine. The Sorting Hat isn't that Scary."

Sorting Hat?