Chapter 2: Firecall

Kat entered the Great Hall with a slight spring in her step that evening. She sat down with her friends who gave each other knowing looks. It was all over the school that Severus Snape had asked Katerina Potter to the Halloween dance and that she had said yes. Many weren't sure which shocked them more. The fact that the greasy boy asked James Potter's sister to the dance or the fact that she said yes.

"So are you going to tell us about it," her friend Holly asked as Kat put dinner on her plate.

"Tell you about what? Today was a pretty normal day."

Casi choked on her pumpkin juice and Anna had to slap her back a few times. Between her gasps for air she managed to sputter, "You need to rethink your definition of normal. If the rumors are to be believed then your day was anything but normal."

"Yeah, sounds like Severus is already very attached to you," Holly said. "He walked you to every single class, right? Did the two of you already start snogging in the broom closets?"

Kat's friends snickered as she turned red from embarrassment. They only laughed harder when she glared at them.

"It really isn't any of your business. Find something else to talk about you gossiping harpies," she quipped.

Anna sighed dramatically and Casi and Holly had the decency to look slightly ashamed. There was a short silence as the four friends looked at each other, trying to think of a different topic.

"Are you sure there was no making out that you want to tell us about, Kat," Anna asked as she flicked her golden blonde hair out of her face just in time for mashed potatoes and gravy to splatter against her right cheek. She wiped it off cheek using her napkin. "Now, Kat, that was very childish."

"Does it look like I care? You Americans are so nosey."

"No we're not and point taken. So I heard that we're supposed to have a special Hogsmead trip so we can get our clothes for the dance."

"Where did you hear that," Casi asked.

"Professor Kettleburn let it slip in Care of Magical Creatures this afternoon."

Holly was so excited that she was practically bouncing in her seat. Her chin length brown curls bouncing as well. "I can't wait! Did he say when it would be?"

"Halloween is only two weeks away. It has to be soon. We tried to get the date out of him, but he was tight-lipped for the rest of the class."

"I can understand why. He probably wasn't supposed to say anything in the first place. What do you think, Kat?"

"I think Dumbledore is about to make an announcement that I actually want to hear for once," she said, her eyes fixed on the head table.

Her friends quieted down along with the rest of the students as Dumbledore stood up. Everyone was looking at him anxiously. He took a moment to make sure he had every single student's attention before saying, "As some of you might have already heard, there will be a Hogsmead trip in two days so students can buy dress robes for the dance. You will have two hours to buy everything you need. If a single student misbehaves while in Hogsmead the trip will be cut short and the dance will be cancelled. I am sure that everyone can restrain any desire to perform any humiliating pranks. Everyone should be able to enjoy themselves."

Kat tuned the rest of Dumbledore's speech out and glared at her brother and his friends. If they even thought about ruining this for her she would make their lives hell. They would finally know what happened to those that pushed her too far. She needed someone whose presence alone could discourage any type of pranks.

Drumming her manicured fingers on the table she tried to think of someone. After a moment she quickly reached for her bag and dug out parchment, ink, and her favorite emerald green quill. She hastily wrote a letter, folded it, and tapped it with her wand to seal it. Quickly explaining to her friends where she was going, she ran out of the Great Hall and to the Owlry. In her hast she didn't notice that she was being followed.

She hurried to the Owlry, taking the stairs two at a time. She felt as though nothing could deflate her good mood. However three people that she loathed didn't cross her mind until she saw them standing at the entrance of her destination. She stopped short wondering how they had gotten there before her. They hadn't left the Great Hall before her. She was very certain of that. She quickly ducked into an alcove and watched them. Normally she would gladly hex her brother, Black, and Pettigrew into the Hospital Wing, but she didn't want to risk being banned from the Hogsmead trip.

Maybe they would leave her alone for the same reason she was hesitant to go near them. Then again hell would be more likely to freeze over first. She knew she still had some floo powder