(This should've been updated earlier, but the site was messing up. And so, with solitaireclay07's continued blessing, here's chapter 3! Just a heads-up, I'm updating so quickly, because I'm trying to take advantage of all this free time while I still have it. I'll probably be quite busy as soon as school picks up again, since it's just started, and I have a tendency to drop projects when I lose interest because I have so much going on, and the story's mood just gets away from me. Also, sorry if the tone sounds rushed. It's hard trying to fit a whole book into one chapter. I should've thought this through :p)
Third Year
"Mum, hurry up, I see them!" Cathy walked as fast as she could through the sea of people crowding Flourish and Blott's, dragging Ivy along.
"Hold on, Cathy!" cried Ivy, finally getting her daughter to stop. From outside, they could see Gilderoy Lockheart (the reason behind the crowd) having his photo taken with Harry. Ivy scanned the crowd inside as Harry stepped away from the smoky flashbulbs and the soon-to-be professor's blinding smile, returning to the Weasleys. She counted all the Weasleys present, noting the youngest one, whom Cathy had mentioned. Her face contorted to a frown as she finally noticed the Malfoys. Suddenly, a fight erupted between Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley. The crowd pushed and shoved, eager to either get out of the way or watch. It took a while for Ivy and Cathy to wade through into Flourish and Blotts. Thankfully, by then, the fight was over.
Cathy froze as the crowd pushed her and her mother right in front of the older Malfoy. But Lucius Malfoy's gaze drifted right over her head and latched onto her mother.
"Ivy", Lucius sneered in greeting. He turned away, then, locking eyes with Mr. Weasley. Then, addressing Draco, he announced that their business there was over, and left the bookstore.
"Mum, dad, this is Cathy Bennett", said Fred, breaking the silence.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you both", Cathy said, hesitantly.
"Oh, hello, dear, I've heard so much about you!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, obviously glad to avert everyone's attention from what had just happened.
"This is my mum", Cathy said, suddenly shy, gesturing to Ivy behind her.
"Hi, Molly Weasley, right? Nice to meet you", Ivy said, shaking hands with the Weasleys as Mr. Weasley snapped back to attention. As the adults started talking, Cathy turned to Harry.
"I heard about the break out", she said, clearly amused, "brilliant"
"It was mostly Ron, and Fred and George", said Harry, grinning.
Soon the mood had lightened as everyone resumed shopping for school things. The adults talked amicably. Ivy, in particular, was interested in Mr. Weasley's job at the Ministry, and she also told them about her job at the Daily Prophet. Mrs. Weasley, as it turned out, was a fan of Ivy's first novel, "Laurel Hills", and was pleased to discover that now that Cathy was at Hogwarts for most of the year, Ivy had started working on a new novel. Cathy had been introduced to Ginny, and was at that moment telling her what she could about how Fred and George planned pranks, though even Cathy, herself, was occasionally left perplexed. Mostly, Cathy was relieved that she and her mother had been received as friends.
Cathy sauntered over to the Gryffindor table at breakfast one weekend morning. As soon as they noticed her coming over, Fred and George immediately moved over to make some space between them. A few Gryffindors glanced over, wondering what a Hufflepuff was doing there, but the upperclassmen paid no attention. They were used to seeing her stopping by occasionally. Cathy sat there, smiling widely, until she sensed the sullen atmosphere.
"Good morning", she greeted everyone in general, though she noticed that the sullenness was emanating from Ginny, who sat on the other side of the table, and two seats away. She raised an eyebrow at Hermione.
"Fred and George went a little too far this time", she explained, simultaneously chastising and apologetic. Cathy frowned at Fred who was next to Hermione, and therefore the closest target for her disapproving stare-down.
"We were just teasing. Besides, we apologized", he said defensively. From down the table, Ginny got up wordlessly and left.
"She's probably off to write about us in her diary", said George. Cathy elbowed him.
"It's true. We've seen it", said Fred.
"Well, don't read it! A diary is supposed to be private, and filled with a person's personal thoughts. Also, people shouldn't be made fun of for having one", countered Cathy.
"You have one, don't you?" teased Lee Jordan, who had previously been sitting across from Fred, but now sat across from Cathy. He and Cathy had become friends as well, since he'd also join in the twins' general mischief.
"Okay, I was going to tell everyone the news…" Cathy said, knowing she'd just successfully changed the subject.
"What's that?" asked George.
"This afternoon, I'm trying out for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team"
Cathy wondered why she'd even told them she was trying out. How would she tell them that she hadn't gotten in? That is, if she failed. She cursed her excitability again when she saw seven familiar figures in the stands. The seven were four of her roommates (Annabeth was already one of the Beaters), Lee Jordan, Fred, and George. Lucky for Cathy, there were only four people (including herself) trying out for Chaser. Then again, there was only one spot open.
Cathy tried to recall the mechanics of the tryouts, running them through her head so she could effectively ignore Annabeth practically crushing the people trying out for the open Beater position. Soon, it would be their turn. After all, the only positions that needed filling up were Beater and Chaser. The mechanics were as follows. First, Cathy and the other three hopefuls would be divided into two groups. Each group would be like a mini-Quidditch team, with one Beater and Keeper (chosen from the existing team members), but without a Seeker. Also, only one Bludger would be put to use. The two mini-teams would then play against each other, and based on a combination of how well each person performed and who won the game, the new Chaser and the reserve would be chosen.
Finally, it was time for the Chaser tryouts. Cathy mounted her broom and followed her teammates to the field. The current Seeker (Cedric Diggory, rumoured to be in the running for next year's team captain) and the reserve Keeper took up the positions of each team's Beaters. The positions of Keepers were taken up by Annabeth and one of the current Chasers. The players' performances were then reviewed by team captain and Keeper, Zoe Applebee, and the other current Chaser who wouldn't be playing. Since they wouldn't be using the Golden Snitch, the game would end when one of teams reached 100 points (each shot being worth 10 points).
Cathy's muscles tensed, anticipating the whistle. Zoe Applebee opened the chest containing the balls, and unlatched one of the Bludgers, allowing it to zoom into the air of its own accord. She picked up the Quaffle, and with a shrill burst of her whistle, threw it high into the air.
Immediately, Cathy flew at the Quaffle, noting in the back of her mind that she'd have to dodge the other players flying in the same direction, including her teammate and competition, Alexa Summerby. Suddenly, something flew, centimeters from her ear, knocking her off balance. It was the Bludger. Directly ahead, Annabeth was in position to bat it at the other team's general direction. Lucky for Cathy, her teammate caught the Quaffle as she regained balance. Cathy followed as the other two Chasers closed in on Alexa, attempting to pressure her into releasing the ball.
"Alexa!" Cathy shouted, hoping the older girl had heard through the whipping wind surrounding them as they flew. Apparently, she had, because Alexa surprised the other team by dropping the Quaffle…right into Cathy's waiting hands. Cathy was close enough now, to throw the Quaffle into one of the goal posts, but she knew she was too close to their Keeper to make the shot. The other Chasers were off Alexa's tail now, and right on hers. They fell for it. Instead of tossing the ball through the ring, she tossed it away, and to Alexa, who promptly shot it into the goal post to the far left; too far for the opposing team's Keeper, who had been waiting near the right goal post.
The game became more intense after that. The other two Chasers, as it turned out, had been competing with each other and in an effort to step up their game, started working together as well. As it turned out, Cathy had no problem tuning out the frantic cheering of her friends. Although, later on she'd discover that no one but her friends had been cheering, and then she was embarrassed.
"Cathy", said Lisle, approaching Cathy who was, again, reading as she sat on a couch in the common room.
"Yeah?" Cathy felt a rush of concern at Lisle's countenance.
"The results came out…for the Quidditch team", Lisle never could hide how she was feeling.
"So, I didn't get in, then", Cathy felt like someone had taken a huge axe to her ego. She slouched onto the couch. "Well, I guess I'm really not that athletic. That's fine. Mum's not very athletic." Cathy mumbled mostly to herself.
"No! Cathy, you did get in, but you're just reserve Chaser", Lisle said, rushing, "You were amazing! I never knew you could play, but you were a whirlwind out there!"
"Wait. I'm reserve?" Cathy's eyes widened.
"I thought…it would be alright? Alexa Summerby is in her seventh year. This is the last Quidditch season she could ever tryout for", Lisle stared warily at Cathy's slack face, "I think it was a 'might as well, since it's my last year', kind of thing", she added in a mumble.
"No. No, that's…woah, I got in!" Cathy whooped and laughed, then apologized for startling the other students in the common room that night. "I never thought I would be so happy to be someone's second choice!"
"I'm so happy for you too!"Lisle said, joining in on Cathy's celebration.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Cathy shouted, dragging Fred and George behind her, hands on one of each twin's wrist with a vice-like grip.
"I don't know, Fred. I'm feeling a bit too lazy to go out today", said George. Obviously teasing, insisted Cathy's thoughts.
"Yeah, you know what George, maybe we should take advantage of the castle being relatively empty", agreed Fred.
"Absolutely not", said Cathy, dropping their wrists and spinning around to face them. "You both promised me the Hogsmeade Grand Tour, and if you're not delivering, I'm just going to have to leave you both and join Paige, Norah, and the others." Cathy crossed her arms and squared her shoulders, though she noticed there was much to make up for in terms of height.
"Well, we wouldn't be having this problem now, would we, if you'd let us sneak you in when we offered last year?" insisted George with a smirk.
"No, the anticipation is part of the fun. Now, let's go!" she said, running in the general direction of Hogsmeade, knowing they'd follow.
"I thought the anticipation was part of the fun?!" teased Fred. Sure enough, he and George were running after her.
Cathy's happiness was short-lived. Later that year, a message written in blood announced that the "Chamber of Secrets" had been opened. Something was petrifying Muggle-borns. Professor Lockhart (who by now everyone realized was a phony) started a dueling club, which Cathy and her friends opted to join, though more for the experience, than Lockhart's fumbling tutelage.
"I don't believe it, personally", Fred said, suddenly. The three of them (herself, Fred, and George) had been cleaning up in the empty potions classroom without magic after dinner. They were there to serve their time in detention for pulling a particularly vile prank on a Slytherin after he'd called Cathy's friend, Sam, a mudblood. Truth be told, Cathy had noticed how some of the Slytherins had become increasingly braver in their bullying since this so-called "Chamber of Secrets" had been opened. It scared her.
"Don't believed what?" Cathy asked absently as she gingerly arranged ingredients on some shelves.
"That Harry is the heir of Slytherin, of course", answered Fred.
"None of us believe it", said Geoge, who was scrubbing something pink and green from the bottom of one of the many cauldrons.
"Honestly, Fred. One would think you'd know that by now", Cathy mock tsk-ed as she threw a grin over her shoulder at Fred.
"Alright, then, I was only letting you all know how I felt about it, as a member of the student body", Fred said, letting the broom drop to the floor as he raised both hands in mock surrender, feigning hurt.
Things took a turn for the worse when Hermione was found petrified. As soon as they heard the news, they came to see her at the hospital wing. The sight of her still alive (apparently) wasn't reassuring compared to the wakefulness eerily frozen on her face.
"There's nothing we can do, is there?" Cathy said, defeated. Madame Pomfrey had just ushered them out of the hospital wing after visiting Hermione again. She'd hoped to see some improvement, though now Cathy realized how illogical that was. She felt two hands gently take hold of hers.
"Not much, but we can keep watch of her while she's in there-", said Fred, tossing his head in the direction of the hospital wing.
"-And we can watch out for the other Muggle-borns. Maybe they shouldn't wander about alone", added George. Cathy gave both their hands a squeeze, comforted by the fact that they were purebloods, and therefore unlikely to be petrified. She felt horrible and selfish thinking about it. Still, she made sure to accompany her Muggle-born friends whenever she could. She was especially glad most Muggle-borns were Hufflepuffs, because the Hufflepuff basement was probably one of the safest places for Muggle-borns in the entire castle.
Relief flooded Cathy, and most everyone else at Hogwarts. She didn't know how they did it, or really, how they'd done it again, but Harry, Ron, and even Hermione, had defeated the basilisk (because now they knew what had really been attacking). And best of all, Ginny was alive and well. Fred and George wouldn't let her out of their sight for a while after her return.
Coming home, the students found platform nine and three-quarters crowded with concerned families. Even outside the magical barrier, students were swarmed by their parents, younger siblings, and in some cases, even grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there too, and though Mrs. Weasley gave everyone an asphyxiating hug as she saw them, she held on tight to Ginny the most. Cathy, herself, was greeted by Ivy, of course, and Ivy pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, worry, and then relief, etched on her face. Pulling away for a while, Cathy sought out Harry who stood alone, having gotten his hug from Mrs. Weasley. Cathy gave him a short, awkward hug. Before she and Ivy left the station, she made sure to thank him, after all, it wasn't just Ginny's and the petrified Muggle-borns's lives he'd saved; it was every single Muggle-born student's life, and that deserved a genuine "thank you".
