Chapter 4: Return of the Gryffindor Four
There wasn't much to do the rest of the summer. The press wouldn't leave them alone. Dumbledore visited often, and checked on the four of them. Ron, living nearby, was practically living with them, and Ginny came over sometimes. Harry had the impression that she was jealous of Cate, because f the looks she sometimes gave her, and then looked to him.
They tried to sneak out to go shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley. It didn't work very well. It was reported in Witch Weekly exactly what size robes Cate and Elizabeth wore, and their choices for the upcoming school year. Sirius had brought Remus Lupin along, and the two of them sat in the Leaky Cauldron the whole time.
" The press is evil Harry, evil I tell you." Cate said, shaking her head violently, and denying a photograph once more. " I wonder what gossip will be out next. Haven't we all had enough already?"
" Aye, we have." Harry replied.
" It still strikes me odd though that any intelligent news staff would waste good film on Sirius Black." Remus said, as Sirius gave him a playful shove and a glare.
" Because I'm always next to Elizabeth, that's why. Don't see any on the press of me next to you, now do you?" Sirius grinned, causing his eyes to sparkle like Cate's always did.
" So did you have a good day shopping Catie, Harry?" Elizabeth asked, rolling her eyes and grinning a Sirius and Lupin.
" All except for the press." Harry answered. " I've already done some early Christmas shopping as well."
" You're mental, Harry." Cate said. " Now what are you going to do when the season comes?"
" Be stress free about knowing what to get certain people."
" Honestly, you take the fun out of things."
" You sound like Hermione."
* * *
Then finally the day to go back arrived. Everyone was in a frenzy, to get what they needed. Sirius was still asleep, but he didn't have a need to go. He had a small job at the Ministry, and Elizabeth did too, but she didn't start until next week.
" C'mon Harry!" Cate yelled. " Do you have the shoes?"
" What?"
" The Invisibility shoes!"
" Oh, yeah, packed in the trunk."
" Good. Mum, we're ready to roll!"
" Okay."
The owls were calm, and it was a quick ride to King's Cross Station. After bidding Elizabeth goodbye, she sped off; probably to wake Sirius and tell him he had to get up for work. Cate and Harry were early, and had the compartment for themselves for a while. Then Hermione wandered in, and finally Ron, and the train just about left Neville, who was there half a minute before it left. There was no sign of Malfoy, so far anyways. The ride was very pleasant. It was actually a nice day for once when they arrived at the castle. They took their seats at the Gryffindor table as they usually did, to wait for the sorting.
" Anyone else wonder who they got for a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year?" Hermione asked rather excitedly.
" We all do, they're different every year. The only good one so far was Lupin." Ron drawled on. " I wish they got him again. Wouldn't it be nice?"
" Yeah, sure would be." Harry said sadly. " But look- There's an extra chair set up. Any new class. The rest of the staff is here."
" Hmm. Makes a girl wonder." Cate said. " Wonder how you keep track of all these people!"
" It's not too hard. Shhh! The Sorting's starting." Hermione hissed.
They watched through the tedious sorting of new students, everyone extremely hungry. But before the feast, Dumbledore interrupted. He indicated the empty seats next to Snape, and smiled.
" As you probably know already, we have had a different Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher every year.. I'd like for you to meet this year's hopefully permanent teacher, Professor Sirius Black."
Everyone applauded loudly. Cate's jaw dropped and Harry grinned. So that was where Sirius had been. Harry thought he'd make an ace of a teacher, and was glad they got a good person this year. But he thought it even funnier, that bunches of girls were eyeing him up.
" And I have a special International treat for you all this year. The Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not be held this year." Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not again. Not another Tri-Wizard Tournament. Please not another tournament. But Cate looked interested, and slightly angered.
" We at Hogwarts are proud to participate in the first ever, International Student Quidditch Cup." Dumbledore smiled, his blue eyes sparkled. " In October we will be holding a house tournament to decide which house's team will represent our school. I say good luck to all of you!"
The hall buzzed, and heads turned to the Gryffindor table. This year they were without Fred and George. But their new Beaters were trained well by them, and were completely capable. Chasers were superb, and their Seekers, Harry and Cate, were the beast hands down.
" Coaching the team representing us is Miss Elizabeth Retton."
" Oh I can't believe it." Cate said, with an expression of shock, horror, and excitement. " Both my parents are at school with me!"
Lizzie attracted looks from many of the boys, but more importantly, Severus Snape. Sirius sat safely between he and Elizabeth, snickering. Cate shot them a few " Why didn't you tell me!" looks.
After the feast she approached them. " Mum, dad. I hope you aren't going to embarrass me." Cate teased happily. " But really, I'm glad to have you here."
" That's why we're here Catie." Elizabeth grinned. " So are you excited about Quidditch this year?"
" Of course!" Harry laughed. " A chance to play other schools! Better than the Tri-Wizard Tournament by far I'd expect!"
They chatted with Sirius and Elizabeth for a while, and Snape watched them in the background, with distaste.
" Oh hail the Gryffindor Four." Sneered a cold voice from behind them. Draco Malfoy was still at school. " Has your pride gotten even bigger this year? Well I think it'll end good and well once you get a taste f the Slytherin team this year."
Cate fell to the ground with laughter. " Is that supposed to scare us Malfoy? Oh. What a laugh. Thanks, that really made my day complete!" She giggled and skipped off, dragging everyone with her.
There wasn't much to do the rest of the summer. The press wouldn't leave them alone. Dumbledore visited often, and checked on the four of them. Ron, living nearby, was practically living with them, and Ginny came over sometimes. Harry had the impression that she was jealous of Cate, because f the looks she sometimes gave her, and then looked to him.
They tried to sneak out to go shopping for school supplies in Diagon Alley. It didn't work very well. It was reported in Witch Weekly exactly what size robes Cate and Elizabeth wore, and their choices for the upcoming school year. Sirius had brought Remus Lupin along, and the two of them sat in the Leaky Cauldron the whole time.
" The press is evil Harry, evil I tell you." Cate said, shaking her head violently, and denying a photograph once more. " I wonder what gossip will be out next. Haven't we all had enough already?"
" Aye, we have." Harry replied.
" It still strikes me odd though that any intelligent news staff would waste good film on Sirius Black." Remus said, as Sirius gave him a playful shove and a glare.
" Because I'm always next to Elizabeth, that's why. Don't see any on the press of me next to you, now do you?" Sirius grinned, causing his eyes to sparkle like Cate's always did.
" So did you have a good day shopping Catie, Harry?" Elizabeth asked, rolling her eyes and grinning a Sirius and Lupin.
" All except for the press." Harry answered. " I've already done some early Christmas shopping as well."
" You're mental, Harry." Cate said. " Now what are you going to do when the season comes?"
" Be stress free about knowing what to get certain people."
" Honestly, you take the fun out of things."
" You sound like Hermione."
* * *
Then finally the day to go back arrived. Everyone was in a frenzy, to get what they needed. Sirius was still asleep, but he didn't have a need to go. He had a small job at the Ministry, and Elizabeth did too, but she didn't start until next week.
" C'mon Harry!" Cate yelled. " Do you have the shoes?"
" What?"
" The Invisibility shoes!"
" Oh, yeah, packed in the trunk."
" Good. Mum, we're ready to roll!"
" Okay."
The owls were calm, and it was a quick ride to King's Cross Station. After bidding Elizabeth goodbye, she sped off; probably to wake Sirius and tell him he had to get up for work. Cate and Harry were early, and had the compartment for themselves for a while. Then Hermione wandered in, and finally Ron, and the train just about left Neville, who was there half a minute before it left. There was no sign of Malfoy, so far anyways. The ride was very pleasant. It was actually a nice day for once when they arrived at the castle. They took their seats at the Gryffindor table as they usually did, to wait for the sorting.
" Anyone else wonder who they got for a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year?" Hermione asked rather excitedly.
" We all do, they're different every year. The only good one so far was Lupin." Ron drawled on. " I wish they got him again. Wouldn't it be nice?"
" Yeah, sure would be." Harry said sadly. " But look- There's an extra chair set up. Any new class. The rest of the staff is here."
" Hmm. Makes a girl wonder." Cate said. " Wonder how you keep track of all these people!"
" It's not too hard. Shhh! The Sorting's starting." Hermione hissed.
They watched through the tedious sorting of new students, everyone extremely hungry. But before the feast, Dumbledore interrupted. He indicated the empty seats next to Snape, and smiled.
" As you probably know already, we have had a different Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher every year.. I'd like for you to meet this year's hopefully permanent teacher, Professor Sirius Black."
Everyone applauded loudly. Cate's jaw dropped and Harry grinned. So that was where Sirius had been. Harry thought he'd make an ace of a teacher, and was glad they got a good person this year. But he thought it even funnier, that bunches of girls were eyeing him up.
" And I have a special International treat for you all this year. The Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not be held this year." Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. Not again. Not another Tri-Wizard Tournament. Please not another tournament. But Cate looked interested, and slightly angered.
" We at Hogwarts are proud to participate in the first ever, International Student Quidditch Cup." Dumbledore smiled, his blue eyes sparkled. " In October we will be holding a house tournament to decide which house's team will represent our school. I say good luck to all of you!"
The hall buzzed, and heads turned to the Gryffindor table. This year they were without Fred and George. But their new Beaters were trained well by them, and were completely capable. Chasers were superb, and their Seekers, Harry and Cate, were the beast hands down.
" Coaching the team representing us is Miss Elizabeth Retton."
" Oh I can't believe it." Cate said, with an expression of shock, horror, and excitement. " Both my parents are at school with me!"
Lizzie attracted looks from many of the boys, but more importantly, Severus Snape. Sirius sat safely between he and Elizabeth, snickering. Cate shot them a few " Why didn't you tell me!" looks.
After the feast she approached them. " Mum, dad. I hope you aren't going to embarrass me." Cate teased happily. " But really, I'm glad to have you here."
" That's why we're here Catie." Elizabeth grinned. " So are you excited about Quidditch this year?"
" Of course!" Harry laughed. " A chance to play other schools! Better than the Tri-Wizard Tournament by far I'd expect!"
They chatted with Sirius and Elizabeth for a while, and Snape watched them in the background, with distaste.
" Oh hail the Gryffindor Four." Sneered a cold voice from behind them. Draco Malfoy was still at school. " Has your pride gotten even bigger this year? Well I think it'll end good and well once you get a taste f the Slytherin team this year."
Cate fell to the ground with laughter. " Is that supposed to scare us Malfoy? Oh. What a laugh. Thanks, that really made my day complete!" She giggled and skipped off, dragging everyone with her.