Raising Harry: Chapter 11

Harry couldn't believe his eyes! Everything was so…magical, and new and exciting he just wanted to see it all! He practically flew to every single window there was to look through, and with each one his smile grew wider and wider. Katrina and Hagrid (especially) had a hard time keeping up with him through the large crowd that always seemed to be there. Katrina always got lost in the crowd due to her being fairly short, and as she dipped, ducked and dodged through people, she saw Harry go into the bookshop. She smiled, and remembered that was the first store she went into as well on her first visit to Diagon Alley. She motioned for Hagrid to follow, and Hagrid said "I'll jus' wait out 'ere fer ya," Katrina nodded, knowing he'd probably have a hard time getting through the door anyways, and she went in.

As she arrived through the door, she saw Harry looking through the books on the shelves curiously, and she suddenly had a flashback to her first visit to the shop, when she met a certain handsome Marauder.

August 20th, 1971

An eleven-year-old Katrina Belmont was browsing through the bookshop, searching for the books that were listed on her Hogwart's supply list. She was a slim young girl with somewhat bushy brown hair and sparkling hazel eyes, wearing a pink tee-shirt, a pair of bell-bottom jeans, tan flip-flops, a pink headband and silver charm bracelet. She had trouble reaching the potions textbook she needed, and kept jumping up and down trying to reach it, and when she finally grabbed it, she fell to the ground, and the four other books she was holding fell all around her.

She groaned slightly, and she heard a timid voice ask "A-are you alright?"

She looked around to find the voice, and her eyes fell on a skinny boy who was taller than her, and had light brown hair with warm dark brown eyes and a couple of scars on his face.

She smiled at him and said "Oh, yeah I'm fine, I'm used to it haha,"

He smiled slightly, but still seemed a bit timid, she got up and dusted herself off as the boy rushed over and helped her pick up her books, and as he handed them to her, she said "Thanks!"

He nodded, and she held out her hand, and said "Hi! I'm Katrina Belmont, and you are…?"

He hesitantly took her hand and shook it as he said "I'm Remus Lupin,"

She grinned as she said "Nice to meet you! Are you going to Hogwarts too?" He nodded, and she said "I wonder what it's like; I didn't find out that I was a witch until a few days ago actually, when I got my Hogwarts letter,"

He looked surprised as he asked "You're Muggleborn?"

She looked at him questioningly, and asked "Muggleborn?"

He said with a small smile "Oh, it means your family doesn't have magic folk in it. Muggles are another word for people who don't have magic."

She nodded understandingly as she said "Ohhh, well then yes I am, are you?"

He shook his head and said "No, I'm a Half-blood, my dad is a wizard, but my mum isn't."

She said "Oh. Well that's neat!"

They exchanged smiles, and she looked at the clock above the shelves as she said "Oh fiddlesticks! I promised my parents I'd meet them at the ice cream parlor around here in five minutes! I've got to go now, but it was nice to meet you Remus! I hope to see you on the train!"

He said "Nice to meet you too and yeah I'll look for you!" She grinned at him, and as she quickly carried her books to the register, she smiled to herself for making her first wizard friend.

Back to where we left off...

"Uh, Mum?" asked Harry, and Katrina snapped out of her memory, and she smiled as she answered "Yes sweetheart?"

He asked "Um, are you okay?" She nodded and she said "Oh, yes I'm fine; I was just remembering my first time in this shop. Are you ready to go?"

He nodded, and she asked as they left the shop and regrouped with Hagrid "So, where to next Harry?" He looked around, and he saw that there was an ice cream parlor next door.

He asked "Can we get ice cream?" She looked thoughtful for a moment, and she said "How about we grab some lunch first, and then after looking through a couple more shops, we can go to the ice cream place. Sound good?"

He grinned and said "Okay!" and they looked to Hagrid, and he said "Sounds good te me!" Katrina grinned as she said "Alright! Let's go to the restaurant over there,"

About an hour later, once they finished their lunch of a hearty stew, crusty bread and cider, they walked outside and looked around. Harry thought about where he wanted to go next, when suddenly he noticed a girl about his age being dragged by her mother by the arm. When the woman let go, and shoved her inside a shop, Harry caught a glimpse of a bruise on her shoulder where the mother just let go. Harry frowned, and walked into the shop after them, and Katrina said "Harry, wait!" but he didn't listen.

He walked inside the shop, searching for the girl and her mother, when he spotted them by the cash register. The girl had tears in her eyes and looked frightened while the mother was talking to the man behind the counter. He looked at the girl, who had long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, blue eyes and wore a light blue t-shirt, dark jeans and blue sandals. He approached her, and asked "Are you alright?"

She looked startled as she looked at him, but answered "Yes, I'm okay."

Katrina found Harry and said "There you are! And I see you've made a friend! What's your name sweetie?" she added with a friendly smile, and the girl answered with a small smile "I'm Mary,"

Harry held out his hand and said "I'm Harry!"

They shook hands, and smiled at each other, but suddenly the mother turned around and said sternly "I thought I told you to stay quiet you little-" Katrina looked disapprovingly at the mother, and Mary's mother sniffed as she said "Come on darling, we have better things to do than chat with Mudbloods."

Katrina's mouth fell open, and Hagrid, who stood right behind her said "Now tha's not very nice, apologize te the lady,"

Mary's mother turned around and said "Oh shut up you big oaf!" Hagrid said angrily "Hol' on now, ye can't jus'-" but the woman left the shop, dragging Mary behind her, who had an apologetic look on her face as the door closed behind her.

Katrina was still in shock: she hadn't been called that since she was in school. Hagrid put his hand on her shoulder as he asked "You alright? Don' listen to 'er, she's just-"

Katrina smiled softly as she patted Hagrid's hand and took a deep breath as she said "It's okay Hagrid, I'm fine. I just hope that poor little girl is okay," Harry and Hagrid nodded solemnly, and Katrina said "Well Harry I think I could use that ice cream now, how about you?" Harry offered a small smile, and they headed out of the shop door. As they left, Katrina wiped away a tear that had trailed down her cheek, hoping Harry and Hagrid didn't notice, but they did, and frowned at each other. They went into the ice cream parlor, and ate their ice cream quietly, but it was still enjoyable.

They headed back to Hagrid's bike and hopped in, and soon once again they were flying through the air, back to Hogwarts.

Once they arrived, Katrina hugged Hagrid as she said goodbye, and as he let go of her, he said "Don' let people like tha' woman get ya down, now. Yer a wonderful person, Katrina, it don' matter if yer a Muggleborn." Katrina smiled softly as she said "Thanks, Hagrid. You're the best." Hagrid smiled, and then turned around and shook Harry's hand, which shook his whole arm as he said "Nice te see ya again Harry! Hope I'll be seein' ya again soon!" Harry grinned and said "Yeah!" Katrina put her arm around Harry as they walked inside the castle.

She said "Harry, I'm so sorry your birthday ended like that. I wanted it to be such an exciting day for you," Harry smiled as he said "It was, Mum. I didn't like that woman, and I feel bad for Mary, but it's not your fault. I still had a really nice day, thanks." She smiled as she hugged him, and he hugged her back. They continued walking until they met in front of Dumbledore's office, and McGonagall was there waiting.

McGonagall smiled as she said "Ah there you are! Did you have a nice day?"

Katrina smiled as Harry said "Yeah!" and they walked to Hogsmeade together where they all apparated back to McGonagall Mansion. As Katrina went inside, Harry stayed behind with McGonagall for a moment as he asked "Auntie? What does 'mudblood' mean?" McGonagall looked shocked, and said "It's a very cruel word, Harry! Where on earth did you hear that?"

Harry said quietly "A woman called Mum that today, and it hurt Mum a lot, so I was wondering what it means."

McGonagall calmed a bit as she said "Oh my, the poor dear. Well Harry, Ms. Belmont is a Muggleborn, her parents were not magical, and some people frown upon that. They are usually Purebloods, or people who are related to a long line of wizards on both their parent's sides. A 'mudblood' is a cruel word for people who are muggleborns, it means 'dirty blood'."

Harry frowned, and said "That's awful." McGonagall nodded, and said "Yes, well we'd better get inside before Ms. Belmont wonders what happened to us! I believe she baked you a cake for the occasion."

Harry grinned as he asked "Chocolate?"

She smiled as she said "I believe so!" and they headed inside, to find Katrina holding a chocolate cake with ten candles on it, just waiting for Harry to blow them out. Harry grinned as Katrina and McGonagall sang 'Happy Birthday' to him, and he wished for his Mum to never be called a 'mudblood' again.