Chapter Eleven: Hogwarts

The three Blacks and Harry stood at the baggage claim in the busy airport of London. Harry stood slightly apart, looking around at the place he'd once called home. It was strange, but ever since his move to the US, England had become just another place on the map. Harry had even lost much his English accent, and he often used American words instead of the English terms he'd grown up using. Yet, Harry had missed his birth home, and he was very happy to be back.

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The flat was quite small. Three small bedrooms, a tiny bathroom, a sitting room, and a miniscule kitchen made up the entire place. Alex instructed that Harry and Kevin would share the largest room, Kit would have the smallest, and he would take the middle one. Their furniture had already arrived, and they spent four days getting used to England and unpacking whatever they could. All too soon, they were reloading their trunks and heading to King's Cross, exactly one week before the starting day, ready to board the Hogwarts express.

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Severus Snape was down in his dungeon rooms. Once again he had failed to get the Defense Against the Dark Art job. Once again, he thought. Snape shook his head, quite disappointed in himself. The job had been right in his grasp. A knock at the door interrupted the angry teacher's thoughts.

"What?" barked Snape.

The door opened slowly, revealing a slightly harassed Professor McGonagall.

"What do you want Minerva?" snapped Snape angrily.

"You know Dumbledore would have let you have the job, but someone better came along. Shame really." God she was really rubbing it in, thought Snape, watching McGonagall wander around his study. "Aside from that, Dumbledore wishes you to go up to the entrance hall. The new Defense teacher and his companions will be arriving shortly."

"Fine," said Snape, brushing past Minerva, heading out to the damp hall, and storming up the stone stairs. Minerva sighed and followed him. So immature, she thought, so immature.

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"So, are you going to show me around Hogwarts?" They had finally arrived at Harry's school. Alex had gone to meet the staff and attend a meeting. Kit and Harry were now standing in the large entrance hall, as Kevin had decided to go with Alex.

"Uh, okay," said Harry, taking his friend's arm and leading her to the Great Hall.

"This is the Great Hall. It's where we eat and have important meeting and events, like the Christmas Ball held last year. I think they'll be holding it again." Harry added as an afterthought.

"Wait, wait, wait!" said Kit frantically, pulling out a book and a quill, looking around the Great Hall, and begin to write, or do, something in the book. Harry didn't even try to look. He knew Kit liked her privacy, and Harry respected that. Plus, he could always get her to tell by putting on a puppy dog look.

"Down those stairs are the dungeons, where Snape works. They also house the Slytherins. Come on, I'll show you." Harry led the way as they walked down into the cool area underneath the giant school.

"Here is the Potions room," said Harry, waving one arm around. Kit looked, and again busied herself in the book, following Harry out.

"I guess they're having the meeting down here," remarked Harry, pointing to the large door that read "Please Keep Quiet". "So the next stop would be upstairs, since I can't let you into Slytherin.

"Up here are the classrooms," Harry said as they reached the top of the marble stairs. "This is the Transfiguration room. Charms is across the hall. There's Filch's office. Trust me, you never, EVER, want to go inside there. Up these stairs is the way to the Astronomy lab. Here is Alex's classroom." They'd gone up five floors, and Kit was still scribbling away. "Ancient Runes, is in here. Muggle Studies is down that corridor. History of Magic is in there. Five flights up is Divination. Arithmancy is to the right. We'll both have to find our new classes for this year on our own. By the way, what did you sign up for?"

"Hmm?" Kit replied, checking the room number of Arithmancy. Patiently Harry repeated his question.

"Oh. For the classes you guys chose in the third year, I've got Ancient Runes, Divination, and Care of Magical Creatures. I've got all of the newer classes: Study of Magical Society, Study of Animagi, and Undoing Miscast Spells. You?"

"Same thing," Harry replied. "I have a feeling you and Hermione will drive Ron and me crazy. Were you top student at Dragonspawn?"

"Yeah," replied Kit, snapping her book shut. "Is that all of the classrooms?"

"Yes. Come on, I'll introduce you to Dobby and Winky. They're house elves here," Harry prayed that Kit wouldn't show an unsuitable reaction.

"Awesome. Let's go," said Kit, reopening her book. Harry led the way downstairs. The two ate lunch while down inn the kitchens, chatting with Dobby and Winky. Harry noticed that Winky seemed to shine while next to Kit, and Kit loved talking to the house elf. There was no talk of Barty Crouch or anything that had happened last year when Kit was there. Instead, Winky showed her new friend recipes, talked about England, listened to Kit's troubles. After lunch the two kids excused themselves from the kitchens, and headed outside,

"What are we doing now Mr. Tour-guide?' Kit asked.

" Now I'll take you outside to show you the greenhouses. And you can meet Hagrid," said Harry. "Come on!"

Hagrid greeted Kit with a warm smile and a gruff hello, and invited his visitors in for tea. Harry noticed how attentive Hagrid was when Kit spoke about her home. The gruff giant had tons of questions about the dragons and other creatures.

After tea Hagrid showed them the boundaries of the Forbidden Forest, and unlocked the greenhouses for Kit to peek inside. Hagrid had to leave soon after that, so the kids were left to their own devices until dinner.

Harry decided to take Kit over to the lake, and she spent the entire rest of the time talking with the merpeople. Meanwhile, Harry went and fell asleep under a tree, trying to get used to English time again.

It was just beginning to get dark when the two kids headed back up to the castle. Once inside, they were greeted by Dumbledore, who took them into the Great Hall.

Dinner was delicious. Thick slices of juicy ham, fluffy mashed potatoes, chicken soup, and hearty, soft chunks of bread were just a portion of the entire meal. And at the end was desert. Large pies in an array of flavors. Ice cream to one's highest dreams. Delicious cakes with perfectly frosted outsides. Soft cookies that seemed to melt in your mouth.

After dinner, Harry, Kit, and Kevin all retreated to Alex's rooms, where they were showed places to sleep. Alex spent the night up, talking with his new peers and working hard on getting to know the castle. Harry noticed that Kit and Kevin didn't fall asleep as fast as usual. Instead, they stayed up for a long, long time. Several questions weighed on Harry's mind, keeping him awake. Would Kit and Kevin be affected by the merpeople? And did they always stay up that late? Did being at Hogwarts bring out the magical-ness of their family more? Would that mean they would turn against him?

Finally Harry fell into a light, restless sleep, dreaming of vampires and merpeople.

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At last, the day to return to Hogwarts had come! The Weasleys stood at Platform Nine and Three Quarters, saying their good-byes. Ron couldn't wait to arrive and see Kit and Harry again.

Quickly he, the twins, and Ginny scurried aboard the huge scarlet train, waving good-bye to their parents. Mrs. Weasley was calling something about being careful, though Ron wasn't really paying attention. He had other things to think about; for instance, where to find an empty compartment, and who to sit with. The answer to both of his questions came quite quickly. Hermione poked her head out of a compartment to his left, beckoning him inside.

"Hey Ron!" she said cheerfully, already dressed in her long black robes. "Where's Harry?" she asked, peering around him.

"He stayed with Sirius and his family over the summer. Sirius' younger brother, Alex, is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts. " Ron answered, kicking open his trunk, trying to find his new robes. His father had gotten a large raise over the summer, for being with the ministry for such a long time, and Ron's mother had bought everyone new robes, and other needed supplies.

Hermione was currently going on and on about her trip to Bulgaria. "And then Mr. and Mrs. Krum took over to this beautiful restaurant, Viktor had practice that night you see. Oh! And I got to watch them practice! Ron you would have loved it! They were all so sleek, so fast, so daring. I couldn't believe it! It was so utterly amazing Ron. The thrill of a lifetime! They let no one in you see. I mean, just ordinary people. You have to be a VIP to watch" Ron eventually tuned out. Bulgaria wasn't that interesting, and Ron was bored of Viktor Krum talk.

"Ron, are you listening?!!" snapped Hermione.

"Always," Ron replied, stretching and turning his gaze from the window.

"It didn't look like it," said Hermione suspiciously. "Anyway, did you finish all of your homework? And what are your new classes?"

"Yes mother, I did finish all of my work. And for new classes, I chose everything that Kit and Harry chose." Ron answered, buying a pumpkin pasty and a few other things from the witch with the food cart.

"Who's Kit?" asked Hermione, stealing one of Ron' s chocolate frogs when he wasn't looking.

"Kit is Sirius' younger sister. She's our age. Kevin, that's another of Sirius' siblings, is the twin's age. "Ron said, looking for the missing frog. "Hermione, have you seen where my frog went?"

Innocently Hermione slipped the frog's wrapping into her robe pocket and answered, "Not the slightest clue Ron. Maybe you ate it and don't remember".

"I guess so," muttered Ron, still looking.

"Oh! Hermione, where's my frog! Maybe you ate Ron," a high pitched falsetto sounded in the halls. "Oh dear, I can't my frog. Oh dear!" Ron clenched his hands into fists. Even when disguised, the voice could always be linked to a pale blond "Ferret"; Draco Malfoy had been listening to them.

"Oh! Maybe you didn't buy one Ronny! Oh that's right, you can't AFFORD them!"

Jumping up, Ron stormed over to the door, throwing it open. He had grown a good deal over the vacation, something Draco and his buddies hadn't counted on. He now towered over all three of them, furious, with steam almost coming out of his ears.

"What did I say last year about talking dirt about my family Malfoy?" Ron said, every syllable trembling with rage.

The shorter boy stared. And stared. And stared some more. It was a full five minutes before Draco, Crabbe and Goyle got over the shock of seeing the tall redhead.

"I don't remember, care to enlighten me?" Malfoy replied, doing his best to make his voice cool and nonchalant.

"As you wish," Ron retorted, picking Malfoy up by the collar and slamming him into the wall of the train. Malfoy whimpered.

"Boys! You there, with the red hair. Put him down," the food cart witch had returned, sensing commotion. " Move along there now. I don't want any more trouble out of the lot of you," Malfoy and his cronies left, casting baleful glances after them.

Glowering, Ron returned into his compartment, where Hermione still sat, now feeding Crookshanks a pumpkin pasty. Ron ignored her. He was still seething when the Hogwarts express arrived at the station half an hour later. At least he was until he heard Kit and Harry's voices from across the platform.

"Ron! Ron!" they called, waving to him. Ron's sour mood vanished immediately. Just like the situation with Malfoy, Ron towered over him best friend, who hadn't grown that much. Kit, however, was a different story. She was about an inch shorter than the tall redhead was. Hermione followed Ron over to their friends. Introductions were quickly made, and the two girls began to talk about the upcoming classes.

Sighing, Harry and Ron followed them into the horse-less carriages up to Hogwarts, where the Sorting would take place.

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"Where should I go?" Harry heard Kit ask Ron.

"I don't know. Let's go over to Dumbldore," Ron replied. Harry watched them go jealously. Why does Kit have to be so pretty? Harry thought. He and Ron had never really competed over a girl, and Harry didn't want to start now.

The hall suddenly became quiet as Professor Sinistra carried out the Sorting Hat and the three-legged stool. Harry looked up as Ron sat down beside, keeping a space saved for Kit.

The Sorting passed rather quickly, with Gryffindor receiving a load of new first years. Then it was time for Kevin and Kit to be Sorted.

"This year we have two transfer students from Dragonspawn, USA. Please welcome Kevin and Katrina Black," Dumbledore announced grandly. The school applauded. "They will be Sorted just like the first years. Go ahead you two and try on the hat."

Hermione leaned over Harry to get a better look at Kevin.

"Oh isn't he cute?" whispered Hermione, her eyes filling with star-struck love.

"Oh, please," muttered Harry.

Kevin was first to try the hat on. It took a couple of seconds before the hat finally screeched, "Gryfinndor!" the Gryfinndors yelled happily.

Kit was next. Harry and Ron crossed their fingers. This time it was a full minute before the hat screeched "Gryfinndor!" again. Kit gently sat the hat back down and trotted over to the Gryfinndor table amidst hearty cheers. Kevin had sat down next to Fred and George, and was chatting with Lee Jordan.

Grinning shyly, Kit sat down between Ron and Harry. Hermione gave the girl a cheerful smile, and in minutes they were leaning around the two boys, still talking about the course schedule. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Um. Excuse me, Kit? Would you like some salad?" It was Neville Longbottom.

"Oh! I'm sorry. Sure I'll take some salad. Thanks," Neville blushed as Kit sent a smile his way. Dinner was quiet and comfortable. Kit and Kevin had soon been introduced to everyone in Gryfinndor and everyone knew them. All of the sudden questions were flying up and down the Gryfinndor table: "Are those real fangs?" "What's up with your eyes? "Are you related to Sirius Black?"

All too soon it was time for dinner to end, and the tired Gryfinndors headed up the marble stairs and into Gryfinndor tower.

Hermione showed Kit where everything was in the girls' dormitory. Kit claimed one of the empty beds in the corner, next to Hermione.

Not even bothering to change into her pajamas, Kit flopped into bedbut wasn't there for long.